Reviews
Bridesmaids (2011)
Goofy and funny
It's a fun one time watch. Directed by Paul Feig. Life of a unsuccessful pastry chef whose best friend moves kn and is ready to get married; the funny competition between herself who is the maid of honor and one of the bridesmaids. The cute love story with the cop who actually loved her cakes when the bakery was in business, and keeps telling her to go back into it. There are good messages at parts, like when she hit rock bottom another friend comes over and tells her the problem is not the world, it's herself, so the solution has to come from her as well. Really good acting by everyone. Also a small message in Helen's story, on how money can't buy friends.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
The suspense always
Watched season 1 and 2. The suspense in both, especially season 2, is incredible. Season 1 introduces us to the character of Mickey Haller; he is a daring intelligent criminal lawyer. Who had a scuba diving accident and took a break from practice, and now wants to get back. And providence brings to him the cases of a top criminal lawyer who got murdered. He defends a rich tycoon who is the head of a video game business, and is accused of murdering his wife. In season 2 it is a construction head, and how the nearby restaurant person gets accused of it. In between there are small cases that Mickey defends with his presence of mind and intelligence.
Journey of Love 18+ (2023)
Mathew Thomas time
18 plus: directed by Arun Jose. Lemme say Mathew Thomas stole the show. In Acting. In dance. Naslen actually took a backseat this time though the movie is centered around him. And this is a first, not something I've felt in the prior movies they were together. Story is a simple love story with elopement. The message at the end of higher and lower caste is good. Most higher caste people do preach and not practice, when it comes to their own family. Loved the friendship sacrifice moment of Mathew Thomas, and the intensity in his face as a party worker. Overall I would say one time watch, boring mostly except for some moments of good acting by Mathew..
Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016)
Dizzy
It was hard to keep watching. With the camera turning back and forth and almost inducing a seizure and migraine. There is a suspense that's interesting. Story is essentially of two murders and how a police officer (Rahman) with his assistant is unraveling the case. And meets with the murderer and an accident at the same time. Finally he is handicapped, and a youngster comes to talk about this case to him. Turns out this youngster has a deep role in the case as well. The idea is actions done during peak emotions are not to anyone's best interest. I guess if the camera movements were more stable, at least one can keep watching. Didn't feel much thrill either.
Friday Night Plan (2023)
Brothers
Directed by Vatsal Neelakantan. Really good feel nice movie of brotherhood. All the cast are amazing. Babil Khan ( Irfan Khan's son) and Amrith Jayan will steal your hearts as the most amazing cunning loving brothers. It's about how Juhi Chawla goes out of town for work, and the two brothers go for a Friday night plan party. Babil khan being the new hero as he won the football match for the school, suddenly the party gets all interesting for the brothers. How they prank the other school kids, and all the brotherly moments, and how the real connection is what results in love, is nicely shown. Everyone acted really well.
Vijay Superum Pournamiyum (2019)
Feel good movie
Directed by Jis Joy, this is a good one time watch movie. An accidental pennukanal at the wrong house where the prospective bride and groom gets locked in a room, results in a long conversation. Conversation in which it is clear that he is talented but aimless and disorganized. And she is focused and disciplined. So bring them together, and it's the perfect business. Of good food and good music on wheels. Fun to watch Renji Panicker and Siddique as respective supportive dads. Darshana Rajendran was really good as supporting actress. Chitra has a short but beautiful role, just lovely to hear her sing on the streets.
Pathaam Valavu (2022)
Father's justice
Directed by M. Padma kumar, Story starts with Indrajith being an efficient police officer, his wife is about to give birth. He goes to tackle the case of a missing guy in parole before taking leave. The guy is Suraj and he's on a mission, of vengeance against the people who destroyed his beautiful small happy family. The suspense was fantastic. Absolutely loved it. The justice has to come from a daughter's father. The acting, by everyone, is amazing. Suraj Venjaramoodu is just at a different level. We are blessed to have an actor like that in our language. Absolutely phenomenal. Overall great movie.
Neymar (2023)
Absolute fun
Really enjoyed this lovely movie. Story of two close friends who are together in everything. One of them loves a girl, and as part of getting close to her, gets a dog. He is Neymar. And Neymar is phenomenal. I mean I am no dog lover, but this dog should get National award. He is fantastic. How they made him act like that is beyond me. Neymar causes some issues in the community, and Mathew's dad gives him away. And the two friends realize he is in Pondicherry and take off. Over there, story takes an even interesting twist with the dog competition. Thank you Sudhi Maddison for such a feel good story. The fathers of the kids coming and renewing their friendship is also awesome.
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005)
Love Family
Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch
Directed by Michael LaBash and Tony Leondis.
Really cute watch. Jumba and Aunty Peakley have settled down with Nani and Lilo as well in earth. Lilo has a hula competition she is practicing for. But it's seen Stitch keeps malfunctioning. Jumba realizes there was a problem while charging Stitch initially. How they showed the love and unity of Stitch and Lilo is very touching. Towards the end seems Lilo's love and concern is what kept Stitch alive. The family theme continue 'Ohana'. Loved Nani's cute little love story as well. The background music is soothing to listen to.
Jailer (2023)
Style
I get it. The Rajnikanth charm. The movie is all masala. But every moment is clap worthy. Story is essentially a retired jailer (who was phenomenal) getting into a deity stealing racket when his son who is supposed to be a righteous police officer in that case, goes missing. Loved seeing laletan in a small but stylish role. The murders are gruesome to the extreme. Jackie Shroff also has a small but significant role. One person who is also AMAZING is Vinayakan. His acting is phenomenal. Overall definitely an entertainment oriented movie. Great background score for Rajni. And love his cigar/cigarette trick.
Kurukkan (2023)
One time
Directed by Jayalal Divakaran. One time time pass movie. Silly comedy dialogues scenes for all actors. There is death of an instagram influencer, and Vineeth Seeenivasan who is a police officer is investigating it. He fixates on Shine Chacko as the murderer, and creates a story and fake witnesses to make him the culprit. Shine being tech savvy defends his own case. Oo antava vava by Vineeth Sreenivasan, and all his comical scenes, is hilarious. He did really well. Sreenivasan is the usual fake witness for the police: He gets his dues as well at the end. Overall fun for a one time watch. And great to see Vineeth Sreenivasan being comfortable in any role.
Ozark (2017)
Phenomenal
Really phenomenal, intense story. Gripping from beginning to end. Every Byrd member is spectacular. How Marty Byrde uproots his family to the Ozark to launder money for a Mexican cartel, and gets some of the locals there into the twisted game. Ruth Langmore is phenomenal. Wendy is a cold calculated cunning person beginning to end. Marty meanwhile has some humanity to his actions. In their game, they end up destroying some lives around them. But ultimately it's their life and their game. Absolutely loved the ending with the Chicago PD guy. Jonah had to have a contribution. And the fact that he is a mini Marty only adds to the plot. The murders are gruesome, so unless of a strong gut don't watch this.
Por Thozhil (2023)
Gripping
Awesome movie! It's thrilling, with twists and suspense.. just a wonderful serial killer movie. Everyone acted really well. How the brilliant but jumpy police officer gets his act together when the need arises, under the guidance of a master in the game, is fantastic to watch. The way the senior explains how to read a criminal from a crime scene was interesting. And the way the bookish knowledge of the brilliant youngster paid off at time of need was also wonderful. Essentially a series of women are killed in a certain way, with their hair tied to their back to their wrist and neck slit. The use of pressure point by the killer to make the victim faint is explained. Overall great movie by. Hard to believe the movie is made by a debutant Vignesh Raja. He has set the bar really high for himself in the future!
Love Aaj Kal (2020)
Career vs love
The idea is good, love vs career, what to focus on. And whatever you choose, will it make you really happy. I can say it was fun to watch Randeep Hooda. He's an absolutely fantastic actor, natural! The story of him and Leena was nice, Aarushi Sharma was a nice fresh face to watch, and good acting. Karthik Aryan was good and natural. Sara Ali Khan is overacting. Unfortunately. Maybe at some point Seif Ali Khan's genes will wake up in her.
Essentially Karthik Aryan is truly in love with Sara, and doesn't want to do anything casual with her. While she is all for casual relation while managing career. But they fall in love, and Sara initially taken by the beautiful love story of Randeep and Leena, was ready to give up everything. Till she realizes how the other story didn't work out, and her mother's constant dialogues on career takes effect and she breaks up with him. To only find no happiness in life. And finally they she goes searching for him. Ok for a One time watch.
Amala (2021)
Terrible watch
It's hard to describe how painful this watch was. Boring story of the birth of a psychopath who is obsessed with a girl, and any girl that reminds him of her (he accidentally kills the real one) is also getting killed by him. There is no suspense, there is no thrill, more of awkward startling moments here and there. And the killer seems Invincible. And to know that they are planning a part 2 is just painful. Will need a better script and direction and screenplay if attempting that. Acting was also average. It's really a waste of two hours of your life. Rajisha Vijayan is meant for the second part, so don't watch this movie expecting to see her.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Family
Lilo & Stitch: Directors: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois. This is. Disney animation movie. How an extraterrestrial creation lands on earth and becomes friends with Lilo, a little Hawaiian girl. Kilo and her sister has a loving but disorganized life. Her sister is trying to show social services that she is capable of taking care of the kid. Lilo gets stitch at a rescue pet shop, buys him in fact, and tries to discipline him. In the process he learns about being a family. Ultimately the aliens all come to capture stitch. But they are also impressed by the strange feelings of love and being a United family. How the lost duckling's story is used to get stitch to feel those emotions is nice.
Luca (2021)
Friendship
Luca: released in 2021, animation movie nu Pixar for Walt Disney. Directed by Enrico Casarosa. It's the story of a young sea monster Luca who aspires to see the world above the sea, and in fact manages to do it with Alberto, another sea monster who lives in land. He teaches Luca of the difference and beauty in living in land, experiencing gravity, air. They both turn into monsters if water touches them. They aspire to ride a Vespa, and for that they brave going into the nearby town of Portorosso. The people of Portorosso though have been instructed to kill any sea monster, so they gotta be really careful. How they manage to meet Giulia, and take part in and adventurous race, to make money for the Vespa is inspiring. Their friendship is beautiful to watch. In the process Luca is curious, about books, the sky and stars, and want to learn. Very happy ending where Luca's parents who were against him coming to the human world, is proven wrong by him.. there are good and bad humans, need to pick the right ones, like Luca's grandmother points out.. and she said it right, Luca seems to know to do that. The ending with credits is long, but sit through it as it shows pictures of Luca's and Alberto's life after the last scene; and at the very end Uncle Ugo, Luca's see through uncle who lives deep in the ocean, has a small section.
Kerala Crime Files (2023)
Dedication
I felt the series is to highlight the dedication kerala police shows towards any case, even if it's the case of a murdered prostitute. I mean, everyone wants to be good at their job. Loved the background music throughout by Hisham Addul Waheeb. Aju Varghese is excellent as the police officer Manoj. How they start the investigation of the sex worker found murdered in a lodge, and finally end the case in Day 6 (so 6 close to 30 min episodes), chasing every evidence with thoroughness and dedication, to finally be face to face with the murderer, was a good watch. In fact everyone acted well, the young police officer who shows a lot is zeal in his job (Sanju Sanichen) also stands out. The frustration they felt when at the end of every evidence the murderer seemed to have slipped off, till the real clues come to light, was palpable.. good watch!