Tag: (2017)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

their are various objects, smells phases and many more that have the ability to transport a person to an era where worries boiled down to the simpler things. A term i read in a article long back Objects of Innocence one of my favourite phases.

Jumanji is one such phase, i fondly remember the film. as a child i oh so dreamed about having a chance to play the game have fun with real life adventure, a world of fantasy and wildlife that was just out there.

I have always been spilt on the concepts of sequels or spin offs that in many ways are trying to capitalise on the nostalgia market, i don’t condemn them yet they just never sit well. As such any critic or value of the film I see tends to coated by a layer of biases. The film is over all a fun ride the charisma of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan along with the chemistry they generate can be called the true core of the film. As for the story i am not really on board with it, it just does the bare minimum to save the Jumanji name and give itself a reason to use it.

Now all in all if someone asks me was it fun I will say Yes, if someone asks me to recommend a game like film would I, Yes, and was it better than the first NO (imo).

126 movies down……..374 to go

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goodbye

Paddington 2 (2017)

a sequel in many ways the hardest thing to do after the success of the 1st film, there is just so much that can go wrong just so much expectation to balance. yet if the balance is perfect the result might stun everyone.

i loved part one and 2 just added the cherry that’s even i didn’t know i wanted. what can i even say about this film its just so good. the best way i can say is heart, only the great sequels remember to not lose the heart of the original as sequel is made and stuff get added. Paddington 2 has its predecessors heart and charm and builds upon it with same vigor and passion. if you saw the 1st the 2nd is no-brainers.

it not only has the heart but also adds its own narrative tot he world it created, where 1st film was a passive story of Paddington facing challenges thrown at him, 2 involves his own action and becomes active storytelling with his quest to find thew book. with its colourful sets and characters it never fails to set the smile back to your face.

my 4th bear or teddy bear related film of the week and probably the last for some time and glad it was sweet.

112 movies down……..388 to go

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Cheerio

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)

i like comedy movies like most people i presume, few names are very synonymous with this genre like Adam Sandler, i wanted a light movie and looking at the cast of this film i was under the impression the film would the usual Sandler films lazy jokes and script but i was in for a surprise i sure didn’t read the whole cast list nor the films valuation.

i will say right of the bat best Sandler film (i am aware Uncut Gems (2019) exists but i haven’t watched it yet), since he alone does shoulder the film and acts his part so convincingly i was only left to wonder where was this skill hidden in his filmography, this was something everyone in the cast brought the characters in the film feel real enough that u can project people you know from your life into them. and the dialogue man, i can eerily remember having conversation derailing of topic with both parties talking over each other, its such a unusual thing to see in movies yet the fact its here makes the conversations between the two brothers and their fathers always feel so genuine to and fro that can happen to anyone. the effective grounding techniques is really worth admiring when used to effortlessly. credit where credit is due to Noah Baumbach (writer director).

teacher asks me question – me – dumfounded, poker-face and go to sleep mode

the film might not be for everyone with the dialogues and dysfunctional family drama style, but its one the few i recommend just so that more eyes fall on this great movie.

102 movies down……..398 to go

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goodbye

Maayavan (2017)

another one of my YouTube random movie selection that was surprisingly good, the only reason I selected it was the thumbnail was interesting (yes, got click baited). A Tamil Sci-fi Crime movie that stars Sundeep Kishan as out protagonist Kumaran a police officer, who stumbles across a peculiar case where random murders by different individuals yet having the same modus operandi.

the movie is a rare sight in the Indian movie industry where Sci-fi is something that gets low exposure and even when given executed poorly, yet exceptions do exist and I am glad this one was such a case. the prime theme of the movie is the concept of immortality that is achieved due to the advancement of technology and science and how in the hand of wrong individuals it is a power that is scary.

the film does a good job mixing the sci-fi element into a crime thriller, and gets into the thick of it, from the start, keeping the tension high. The direction of the film is also focused and try to keep the viewer on the scene at hand and progresses the story.

my only issue with the film as a whole was its ending more precisely the small epilogue-ish scene, the fact that it cuts to the 20 years ahead, though it acted as a manner in which Kumaran escaped the cruel fate. To me it is just a hollow easy way out that was chosen by the writers if it wasn’t so the ending would have been the scene with Kumaran shooting The army officer and his love interest. that ending would have left a stronger impact as well as played better the internal theme of the movie about the rapid advancement of technology that is gonna help human achieve immortality.

83 movies down…………417 to go

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Piriyavitai (Tamil goodbye)

Mukkabaaz (2017)

realism that is what this film tries to depict, the gritty nature and life of the normal Indian sportsperson in the sport scene who’s life gets controlled by the corrupt official.

what makes this movie interesting to me, juxtapose to Rocky series i recently viewed, in this film fight is just the medium to add a base to the story and we have reason to care for the results of the fight, till the last one. much like the Rocky 1. this film concentrates more the the character dynamics than sports using it just as a backdrop. In the story we follow the trials of a talented Boxer Shravan Kumar Singh (Viineet Kumar), working under the head of the boxing association Bhagwandas Mishra (Jimmy Sheirgill) who purposefully derails his training making him do odd house chores and doesn’t let partake in fights. this is the point where our protagonist falls in love with Mishra’s niece and marries her. Mishra not the type to let go starts scheme to torment the family and ruin Singh’s boxing career even escalates into Kidnapping.

though when i am writing the film’s plot it feels filmy, yet its the same type of issue that gets heard every now and then from the lower brackets of sports scene in the country, people in power tend to control the lives of talented individuals. even at the end of the film Singh loses the fight intentionally as Mishra asked so that the slate could be made clean. but as a viewer this moment you realise that to Singh by this point the fight didn’t matter what mattered what he loved his wife and thus he accepts to the terms.

the movie showcases a love for the sports as well as the people that inhabit that eco system directly and indirectly, thus balancing the drama and the sports aspect of its core.

80 movies down………..420 to go

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alllvida.

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

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goodbye

Logan (2017)

Featured

for 19 years there existed a character from comic book in real life portrayed to such an amazing extent that we cant even think of someone doing it other than him. ya i am talking about Hugh Jackman as the wolverine.

the story begins with us getting to see the old man Logan (Hugh Jackman) the worn out tired a husk of his former self, The wolverine in name only. fight of some random car tire Smugglers and still taking beating from them. this a a year far in future and the age of mutants is supposed to be long gone with no new ones being born since 25 years, there are only 3 known mutants left and 2 among them plan to kill themselves as living has become a hassle. these 2 mutants are Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and wolverine. it is during this time that they come across a new age mutant Lara (Dafne Keen) and decide to save her from people who want to capture her and make her into a weapon. only to realise there are more mutants like her, many kids who have been modified to become mutants. wolverine even though reluctant to help decides because of his good heart helps them anyway. All the while the organisation is after them to capture and terminate Wolverine.

the grittiness of this movie is its charm, it was a very good decision to make this movie a R rated one as to convey the intensity and raw emotions the movie needed to shed its much more kid friendly atmosphere that previous films had, not saying that it lacks such moments no, yet it capitalises of its bloody conflicts to convey the inner turmoil our protagonist suffers and why his decisions that he makes makes sense to us.

there is a sense of realism that Hugh has in this movie that could be that as the manner the movie ends and him having played this character in multiple movies in that past 17 years (till the time of the release of this movie). we see the effort he takes to play him again and it feels truly heart warming and tear inducing. i wont be lying if i say i weld up in the last scene of this movie as i knew and some corner of my heart this was coming though inevitable it still is a sad feel-full moment.

a movie i recommend thus for that fact it marks the sup-possible end of a 17 year old character being portrayed beautifully.

47 movies down……….453 to go.

see you soon.

goodbye

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

i know i know another marvel in a row, but i ENJOYED the shit out of this movie, this is now among my favourite marvel movies. A movie that knows its character, knows what need to shown and what we the audience want.

i dont think i need to tell you about Spiderman you might know better than me. this is story a coming to age story of Spiderman after The civil war incident caused him to get too confident on his skills and in his suit that he falters, only to find his footing back to understand what needs to do and what it means to be a friendly neighbourhood spiderman.

Tom Holland‘s performance as the spiddy was awesome he has the charm that felt so much enticing he makes me remember the childish nature any kid would have, its just that he is a kid with superpowers. Michael Keaton as the Vulture was fantastic, his character and the back stroy makes his actions and decisions so understandable to the audience that grounded the movie and the plot. the supporting cast also does a good job to keep the movie in its light mood, finally Robert Downey Jr. as Tony was just being Tony.

the favourite part, or the part that told me this movie will not disappoint was the scene early in the movie that showcased to us the daily routine of spiderman going around Small crimes sometimes making mistakes, joking around. that to me sold this movie the movie wasnt about an end of the world scenario and that is its biggest strength as that is what allows this movie to explore the much more rooted story and themes.

33 movies down…….467 to go.

see you soon.

Excelsior

CIA : Comrade in America (2017)

people always seek better life for themselves and their family, some do it for something they desire but sometimes even doing so becomes so hard people decide take up drastic measures.

A Malayalam Adventure movie about a communist boy Aji Mathew (Dulquer Salmaan) who in his college falls for a junior Sarah Mary Kurian (Karthika Muraleedharan), he is a homeland loving hard core communist while she is a more upbeat NRI type girl. their love for each other blossoms at first sight, but due to some unexpected incidents Sarah is taken back to america here she came from for her marriage that was decided by her family. She calls up Aji and tells him to Come to america for her to convince her parents as she doesn’t want to marry and loves him. this makes Aji try to get to america but unfortunately unable to get visa makes him take a drastic decision to get into america the illegal way. this is the journey that the story is about crossing multiple borders Aji makes it to mexico from here its a long trek to cross the border with him are many fellow humans who yearn for a better life across the border some wanting to visit family or loved ones. Along the way they get ditched by their guide, run into people trying to kill them they survive but start to dwindle in hope and number. they are finally caught but manage to escape Aji makes a run for it and is finally in American. he goes to his contact in america to settle down. its here he gets to know that Sarah never thought a Homeland loving boy like Aji would ever come to america anyway and only called to reassure her position to him, and had accepted the marriage already. This Gives Aji a shock but he realises that the journey to reach was more valuable to him than Sarah now and he is thankful to her for this and leaves to get back to Kerala.

the movies shows the troubles people go though in life and the things people and ready to do for the hope alone for the better life across the border. the struggles people face while they cross such a dangerous path where only their hope drives them.

i wouldn’t recommend this movie honestly not a bad movie but it didnt hit any notes with me, A can see tag and a rating of 5/10.

27 movies down…….473 to go

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Pinne kaanam (malayali goodbye)