Hero

Subject chosen is an apt one and is the need of the hour, but the presentation extends for about 160 minutes which tests your patience. Lengthy dialogues and mundane music.

Though the story was going to be a fight against corruption, this movie had some proper content in the form of scientific inventions instead of just preaching messages throughout. Though there were places which presented the cliché revolutionary feel, the way the director had used inventions and discoveries to combat the existing Indian education system was appreciable as a good level of research was put into it. I wouldn't recommend it a must watch movie, but is definitely a more than decent movie which you can give a try.

Arjun was probably the best thing that happened to this movie.

If you are a Marvel fan, this may remind you of the rise of Iron Man or technically any other superhero movie. The only thing is that the execution of the story could have been better/more believable/more engaging. It felt as if even the actors were not convinced of the story. But Arjun ad Abhay Deol are excellent actors, no doubt. If anything, watch for Arjun and Abhay. Absolutely stole the spotlight.

Well first things first, Plot is the real Hero of the movie. The movie had an original plot and environment setup which every Indian can relate to.

Technically also, no or only little compromises has been done. Cinematography is at top notch, only next to Super deluxe. Screenplay is slow (which most of the superhero origin movies are) yet gripping.

Bgm score elevates and emotes well for almost 90% of the movie. Songs are kept just to please the fans except Hero title track.

Character arc of main characters were likable and relatable too. Heroine, at first seems to be a typical Indian movie kinda heroine but she had her role in shaping up the lead character.

Arjun's acting was top notch and nailed it. He looks more fit, younger and stylish than Shiva. He carried his role so perfect and easily.

The villain role played by Abhay deol seems to be the mere personification of Indian education system, created the impact which it has to be.

To speak about negatives, there were few logical errors, some over the top unbelievable scenes, poor design of the Superhero costume and accessories, and Shiva's acting itself. Shiva's struggle to emote the character can be seen at many scenes. Even though, this was one of his best acting performance.

Tldr; Worth to watch.

Is it just me or are there too many message-movies coming out lately? Hero is an exaggerated attempt to kickstart a wave of superhero films, a genre that's yet to strike gold in Tamil cinema. But director P S Mithran seems to have forgotten that conventional mass leads in Tamil cinema have always been superheroes - they can do the unthinkable, they can beat up fifty thugs single-handedly, they look like average Joes but woo women who are always out of their league, and they can deliver preachy monologues on how everything in this world is a buzzkill.

Hero doesn't necessarily break new ground in that context. It asks relevant questions (like many other films before it) about the education system followed in India and how innovation is forcefully halted at the grassroots level. But the overdramatization of proceedings in the screenplay and the director's insistence on not doing away with clichéd elements such as a tepid romance track featuring Kalyani Priyadarshan that doesn't add anything to the film except extend its run-time (she's almost completely absent in the second half), a wronged supporting character straight out of Shankar movies (played by Action King Arjun Sarja who can still throw punches even while crippled), and a stretched first half that fails to fire on all cylinders.

When the film eventually gains pace in the second half, you're left to feed on a steady diet of technical mumbo-jumbo (such as ham radio walkie talkies, crawler cams, laser sensors, hacking into satellites, and lots more) that doesn't sit well with mainstream audiences. On the other hand, you have decently shot (but repetitive) action set-pieces that take place in the dark. Songs and BGM, a Yuvan effort, does not elevate the film much. The sermon on 'rough notebooks' at the end was both laughable and relatable at the same time. Hero is a film with more flaws than pluses and that makes it a tiresome 160-minute watch.

Again, a great concept doesn't necessarily translate into a great movie. Hero is a perfect example of it!