Detective Pikachu (2019)

it had been a long time since i have visited a theater to watch a movie with my cousins, they are are younger than me, and if there is something thing i can be childish with them for is animated movies especially the one that have nostalgic value for me. and this one had me hooked with its name.

for those who were under a rock for the past two decades and especially those who even missed the near impossible to miss phenomenon of Pokemon Go, which had my grandparents the things furthest from anything pokemon referring to it, dont know what a pokemon is please watch videos to catch up. in gist its a video game about catching creatures and training them to fight………yeesh saying like this gives off a illegal animal fight vibe to it. now this game was so popular that it gave rise to cartoons merchandises and lots more, but the crème de la crème was the anime, that by the way still going on. during my childhood the timming of 5p.m was a fixed time for me and my friemds to sit in front of a t.v to watch th e;atest adventures of pokemon.

And so when i heard that there is gonna be a live action adaptation of this beloved property, i was freaked out i had always heard that no video game adaptation ever worked out. i was afraid i would be let down so i distanced my self form promotion and trailers of it, i planned on just keeping it as a subconscious reminder that this film exists. so how i ended up in a movie theater showcasing this movie with my cousins simple, my cousins are kids i was the sitter and they wanted to watch it. and in retrospect i am glad they did.

now let me tell you a bit about the movie, it is a loose adaptation of a video game with the same name, in which our main protagonist Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) come to Ryme City upon hearing of his father’s disappearance, and upon meeting a talking Pikachu who is a self-proclaimed detective, voiced by now forever the Deadpool voice Ryan Reynolds going on a quest to solve the case. Along the way meting various people and pokemon like lucy stevens (Kathryn Newton), the energetic reporter with her Psyduck, Howard Clifford (Bill Nighy) the man who founded the city and the legendary Mewtwo.

the visuals were great able to see how the world was molded in a way that showcased the presence and the integration of the Pokemon into the society helped the world fell immersive. though only a few of the Pokemon out of the current list of 807 were showcased it was still done well. there were many things that could be added or changed in the movie but why would i complain when it did the one think i hoped it would it didn’t endanger my nostalgia….

63 movies down………..437 to go.

see you soon

goodbye

The Mammoth Task 2.0

375 days back I had a crazy idea, i had embarked on a task, a Mammoth task to cover 500 movies in one year, a audacious task, a ludicrous task………………………………………………………………………..and after 375 days after 61 movies, i have come in front of you readers to regretfully let you know i have failed.

but i am not here to make excuses i am not here to give up, this mammoth will be tamed by me even if i have failed the time limit…..i will finish the remaining 438 movies (yes i published one move movie before this one).

A year back i had not written a single post, now i have written 62, so why retreat

see you soon

adios

Lucifer (2019)

the highest grossing Malayalam movie, it was such a big deal there where ads for its premiere on t.v. on bill boards, such a big thing that its getting a sequel, such a big thing that the most asked question to me when i returned to my hometown was not how was i but whether i had seen it and i hadn’t oh the uproar my cousins made hearing that. so finally i was made to sit down and watch it along with my cousins all younger than me, all eyeing my reactions to scenes all long as if seeing me undergo a rite of passage. i saw the movie and passed the rite, and am here to speak my mind about it.

so how was it you ask, it was good or better term is entertaining just what the doctor orders when the patient lacks Masala in life. Containing action, drama, suspense, twists, backstory, big reveals and lots more. this itself is the films boon and curse, covering all the basis to appease all parties while effectively just reducing the depth of a lot of the story line. By adding all these elements and subplots the movie gives off a feel of trying to hard, i might be bit hard on the movie but its only because it was such a big thing, i got hyped up a bit to much.

lets talk about casting as in a star studded film, of course there is the main man Mohanlal playing the enigmatic Stephen Nedumbally whose true reveal is just a hype up for the sequel a trend a lot of movies doing nowadays just hyping people for the sequel. for those who have watched bollywood movies might spot that there is an bollywood actor in this malayalam movie, Vivek Oberoi playing Bobby the antagonist of the movie, and i might say he played it well. this is also the first directorial debut of one of my early favourite malayam actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, and i have to say in the movie he does do a good job it is that i like his action scenes more than his overall product.

Mohanlal and Vivek Oberoi

now let me talk about my favourite scene from the movie now this might not be a highly classy or a great scene in fact its just my favourite for the fact that this scene gave a look into how this movie had a super interesting political drama undertone to it that wasn’t explored by the director because of the of exposed action genre. the scene happens under a bridge were two opposing party members are conversing, one of them a member of Stephan’s party has been a double agent as they converse and the element of him being exposed comes to light, the one he was talking with offers him a cigarette and takes out a gun, telling him how stupid he was to believe only he could be a only spy in this underbelly of politics, ending the scene with a gunshot.

there were many such scenes that enticed me but they came in far and apart, as the movie has a lot of the subplot that does help the story in their own way but at same time never truly give resolution to themselves. clouding the story up, yet just like i began this monologue, this is a masala film with all the elements in it just enough that you would enjoy and can hardly complain.

62 movies down……………….438 to go

see you soon

Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)

RED CLIFF 1&2 (2008-09)

i am a fan of history, more specifically the wars in history in how they shape the course of history. that’s why i have a affinity for war movies. i have been indulging myself with a lot of Chinese media for some while in particular 3 kingdoms from Manga-Manhua, T.V. series to movies (but not the novel itself ……yet).

this period was so interesting for me that i was very exited for this movie, and the 1st reaction after watching it were mixed. Now all the kudos to the team that made the movie for its defiantly a good movie but as someone who knows bits and pieces of the story more than average it didn’t satisfy me, but its a movie i would recommend to others to watch to know a bit of unknown history. its a movie i think works best for people who are unaware of the general premise or have a shallow understanding of it, as they will get to see the way they wars were conducted in past and how certain actions and idea sparked and changed histories. how arrogance can be your undoing and how even mighty fall.

the movie mostly about the battle of red cliff that happens during the 3 kingdoms period of Chinese history (220–280 AD). its the fight between the mighty Wei army led by Cao Cao and the allied kingdoms of Shu and Wu forces. where its a battle of survival for the later. choosing the red cliffs as their site of battle to get the field advantages. forcing the Wei army into a naval battle which they were not accustomed to. Cao Cao is the self proclaimed prime minister of the Han empire which he is basically in control by placing a puppet emperor in place and wanting to conquer the entire china declares war on the remaining two kingdoms. A alliance out of necessity is form by the 2 kingdoms Shu and Wu. having their greatest minds and generals on the task which was nearly impossible.

the battle is famous for its strategies that the sides enforced to gain the upper hand, negating the opponents ploy with their own and how one genius, Zhuge Liang changed the game. now i dont want to say to much about how war pans out as i feel some moments are best experience with no knowledge so for any reader who hasn’t watched it give it a go.

how will i rate the movie, about 6-7 for both parts combined as thats how i watched it.

61 movies down………….439 to go.

see you soon

再见 (Zàijiàn) (See you again in chinese)

Mikhael (2019)

a while back i sat down with my dinner to watch a movie, it had the cast that showed promise, it had the genre i like, but it lacked the execution i wanted.

but oh boy oh boy…………the movie is so bland its so hard to put it in words, but i will try to do some justice to it (i guess).

movie starts with some promise with its intense scene and atmosphere you think you are in a treat for a thriller action movie with a revenge plot as its basis. As we are shown the antagonist gang members controlling the city being killed by an unknown assailant. I swallowed my first bite by this point. after about 30 mins the title is shown, to me the last good mins of the movie for as the title sequence which was a animated sequence started i had premonition movie is gonna suck.

from here on we are introduced to the main protagonist who was revealed to be the mystery assailant Dr. Mikhael John (Nivin Pauly) a kind hearted man, a karate expert and unlucky romantic. then the back story of how he caused his dads death when he was a child by underage driving is shown this is the first bad scene in my eyes though its not a bad plot it goes nowhere and is shot so oddly that i honestly was laughing how it played out.

bad scene 2 – the catalyst to the whole story, is the suicide of a don’s (Siddique) son because of being humiliated by Mikhael’s sister (Navani Devanand). and the don wanting to act out revenge. again just like earlier scene this also feels so fake and inorganic. i had finished one roti and was wondering why i sat down for this.

i dont think i should go on continuing listing all bad scene for me that list would be too long for this movie is one bad scene after another. one thing i noticed after counting so many of odd scene is that the actors sometimes themselves realised how crappy this movie they are in is as the lifelessness seen in their eyes when the act the scene was becoming more and more evident.

there is this one scene i just have to mention it was so odd to me in its placement and way enacted that i had to pause my dinner and the movie and think for a few minutes why it was so, Marco Jr. (Unni Mukundan) the final bad guy of the movie even though he literally serves no function expect the final action fight, Is in serach of Mikhael and tracks down his house then goes in and takes a bath while waiting for him to arrive, and leaves after the bath as mikhael doesnt arrive. this is when i shut down my brain and concentrated on the food.

i finished my dinner, thanked the gods for the meal and cursed the existence of this movie and went to sleep.

now i am not saying this movie is a shipwreck, who am i kidding its a shipwreck on a train wreck during a traffic jam. did it make sense ,NO just like this movie. please don’t watch it

60 movies down……………….440 to go

see you soon

Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)

Game Night (2018)

the story about a couple Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) who both are competitive by nature regards to everything especially games of any sorts, it is especially how their relationship began, so they and there group of friends (Sharon Horgan,Billy Magnussen,Lamorne Morris,Kylie Bunbury) have game nights every once in a while and everything was good until Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) comes to town, Max has always been afraid of his brother and wasn’t comfortable in his presence for he always wins whenever they competed in any games, having a complex because of his brothers insane skill in games.

thus one such game night Brooks asks Max and friends to indulge in a new game, one in which he is kidnapped and they need to solve the riddle to save him thus in-turn winning a prize. this is when a shocking turn of events happen instead of fake kidnappers as per the game real one show up as Brooks was involved in some shady stuff. thinking the game has started the gang splits up to win the prize slowly discovering they had gotten themselves in more trouble than they thought.

the movie does have some fun scenes but also a lot of not so much scenes, placing it on the list for the movie you watch when there isn’t much else to see. it is the comedy movie that a free Friday and tub of popcorn is perfect for.

59 movie down…………441 to go.

see you soon

goodbye

Aanandam (2016)

young adulthood is the point of our lives that are most remembered to us for the memories we make and the effect the have in shaping our lives, and such the journey and the companions are also among the most cherished.

the story follows the Industrial tour of by the second year students of a engineering collage, as they make plans to tour the lands of Hampi and Goa. we get into this story with the introduction to the 4 boys of the story, Varun the boy scout, Kuppi the goofball, Gautham the fake rockstar and Akshay the hopeless romantic the one that propelles the story a coming a age story for our protagonist as the go through the trials of friendships and love. it is a common knowledge in the college that the greatest relationships are formed during the Tours and such this one gets planned by the boys such to help all the guys and gals. especially Akshay who is in love with Dia, to whom he has not even talked to before. and that is something his friends are eager to help him with fir there own amusement and for possible help for him.

now the movie is definitely a cliques fest with not much that would feel overly unique with aspects of nostalgia being show to you in a forced manner yet to me the movie was genuine fun to watch maybe its the hopeless romantic part of me. but give me nostalgia and i gobble it up.

the good points of the movie is the cinematography that showcases a beautiful landscape and scene also the interactions between the groups, but where the things wherent so alright was the story leaned on the romance potion a bit to heavily towards the end which kinda made the first half friendship theme take a back seat thus the resolution to the theme was a bit underdeveloped to me.

58 movies down……..442 to go.

see you soon

Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)

The Layover (2017)

this is not a good movie and being honest here the only reason i watched it was fir the 2 lead actresses Kate Upton and Alexandra Daddario.

the story is about two best friends Meg and Kate (Kate Upton and Alexandra Daddario) after a bad day decide on a spontaneous trip for self discovery too solve their problems, Meg is a outdooris free spirited girl while Kate is a reclused shy girl but both have their wild side and this side comes out when during their flight they meet a handsome man by the name Ryan (Matt Barr). as it becomes evident that both are eyeing the same man they try their hardest to leave a impression on him. this is when a great chance is presented to them in the order of a hurricane than grounds their flight thus allowing them to meet and interact more, but this only increases the competition between the girls who now are fighting with nothing held back to the point of breaking their friendship.

it is just a chick flick trying to showcase the concept of friendship between two girls getting tested because of a guy. the only reason for the recommend would be for the Cast, i dont think there is any other to watch.

57 movie down……….443 to go

see you soon

goodbye

Upgrade (2018)

A Cyberpunk action revenge story, about a man with enhanced abilities due to Cybernetic enhancements.

the story is set in the future when the use of technology has become so common place that there are self driving cars, computer controlled houses etc. all this time there are also people like our protagonist Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) who prefers to do things the old fashioned ways. one day when on one such self driving car due to a malfunction cause an accident in which he and his wife Asha Trace (Melanie Vallejo) get injured. only to realise it was done by a group of thugs for some unexplained reason these thugs kill Asha and shot Grey too. Grey survives but has been reduced to a Quadriplegic due to his injuries, this is where a friend of his Eron keen (Harrison Gilbertson) a extremely smart CEO of technology company comes to him with an offer to allow him to move again the catch being he has to have a chip and super smart chip get inserted into his brain step. this chip is the future having multiple capabilities and enhancing functionalities. these new abilities allows Grey to track down his wife’s killer and find out who put a hit on her and ans that might not have been what he expected.

the film has very nicely choreographed action sequences that are made with a technique and fixes the actor in the middle all the while all the movements occur around him it might feel a bit disorienting but pays of as gives a much more robotic presence to the movie.
Logan Marshall-Green kudos to him the are action scene where his body and facial expression need to be so vastly different to sell the scene and he is able to convey that portion of the scene of effortlessly.

do i recommend it, oh i do it is a fun action cyberpunk movie that has a good story to keep you interested with fun action sequences that can just be the thing to watch.

56 movie down……….444 to go

see you soon

goodbye

Joseph (2018)

it’s a Malayalam thriller-drama about a hidden racket being discovered when one retired police officer tries to investigate his families accident.

we are introduced to the protagonist Joseph Parekkattil a retired police officer who from our first observation is a alcoholic, is called by a senior officer for his expertise on a homicide case that has occurred. here he shows us his innate skills observation and deduction while analysing the crime scene and figuring out the culprit in a quick swift manner. we are later showcases the backstory to the life of Joseph his lose of is daughter and his separation from his wife due to his trauma from one of his earliest cases. a incident then occurs that acts as the catalyst to the main story, his ex-wife dies in a vehicular accident. Joseph upon his investigation figures out that its more than a accident and that there is something fishy going on with accidents. his and his friends dive into the a deep corrupt racket of Organ donor and Hospital malpractice, and to bring these acts to life Joseph might have to bet his life.

the acting of Joju George as Joseph Parekkattil a worn out retired police officer who after the lose of his daughter has been distant from any life outside filling himself on cigarettes and alcohol was enacted so brilliantly that his expressions really showcase the transformation of a person who goes through such an ordeal. A performance that got him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actor for the film.

the movie does have moments when the tension is lost which it had built up over past scene and that is my biggest fault with the movie, for a thriller the movie doesn’t utilise its structure properly and what we are left with is a tension less thriller movie. the overall story is good but the pace and structure of story just doesn’t gel.

not a bad movie has good performance by the lead, a movie that is watchable but not that high on the list for me.

55 movies down………445 to go.

see you soon

Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)