REVIEW OF "NOAH"

Right from the teaser, Noah had my attention for it was a Crowe- Aronofsky project based on one of the first stories ever told. And did I come out disappointed? NO...

Story-line: That part is obvious. Noah is given the task of building an ark to shelter creatures that would restart the world after a flood destroys the present-but-sin-filled-world.

Russell Crowe, in the titular role, is all in. The whole movie shoulders on him and he has carried it all the way with ease. With a supporting cast that includes Connelly, Watson, Lernman, Winstone, Hopkins, this movie could well be one of the front-runners next year in the Oscars in the Acting category.

Next to Crowe what deserves the biggest applause is the visual department. Be it the black soil scenes or the deluge that destroys the world or “the watchers”, the CG have given a huge hand (a rarity in Aronofsky's projects) to render an epic status to this epic story. Crowe's narration of how God created the world in six days is a must watch CG-experience, probably one of the best of all time.

At 130+ minutes, this story might create a stretched feeling, especially after the deluge, but this was essential for the Noah's character and for the story to take shape.

I am a non-Christian and hence had a slight hesitation if my lack of biblical knowledge would wreak havoc to my movie experience. But, fortunately I was wrong and everything went like clockwork.

Noah- Visually beautiful, Stunning Cast and thus A MUST WATCH..

REVIEW OF "300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE"

Eight years and a spoof (Meet the Spartans) later, we have in our hands not a prequel or a sequel but a side quell.

Noam Murro’s “300 Rise of an Empire” is the story of how an Athenian General, Themistokles, launched a naval sabotage against the Persians causing distress much similar to what Leonidas does on land. This is perhaps the first time that I have come across a period movie based on naval warfare. As queen Gorgo puts it “the war takes place on the tidal waves of the soldier’s blood”.

Athenian general Themistokles ends the Battle of Marathon with a single arrow and becomes a legend over night. Ten years later he gathers a navy against Persian invasion led by Artemisia (Eva Green) who is as ruthless as Xerxes is. In the meantime Leonidas marches to the hot gates with his brave 300 and wages his own battle. All hell breaks loose after the slaughter of Leonidas and his “abs”tastic 300.

“Seize the glory” might seem catchy but the true undertone of the movie is “vengeance”. Xerxes avenges his father, Artemisia avenges her family, and off course Queen Gorgo avenges Leonidas and the 300.

Despite being a different take with a different lead cast, the movie has its similarities to 300(2006) thanks to Zack Snyder’s effort behind the screenplay. If Leonidas’ red cape was an indication to the bloodshed that follows, the Athenian’s blue cape is an indication of the naval fight that lies ahead. No matter how well the two stories are connected the towering presence of Gerard Butler is deeply missed. Eva Green appears to have taken the major shouldering. The occasional flashbacks cause a somber effect in the screenplay (Artemisia’s for example).

The major credit goes to cg team that has made a nothing but green-background-studio-set into a thousand year old floating battlefield. Despite the gut wrenching, blood pilfering, bowel squeezing moments during the war, the movie lacks the substance that made 300 a special movie. Yes, this time too there is a father-son angle but that doesn’t engage us as much as it did the last time. Perhaps it was the Spartan’s death wish of a climax or the 300 times 6 abs or Zack Snyder at the helm or all of it together, it was missing this time around.

By itself, “Rise of Empire” is a good Greek-naval-period movie, but as a sequel to the “300” it falls short of the expectations that it garnered. It’s still a good piece of entertainment but some fans of “300”, like me, will feel hollow when they exit the screen.

REVIEW OF NIMIRNDHU NIL

 I accidentally stepped inside the premiere of "Nimirndhu Nil" (NN) instead of "Thekkidi". But at the end of the day, I didn't regret the decision because NN is worth the money and the whistles.

Aravind Sivasamy (Ravi) is an straightforward-modern-day-Harichandra who sticks to the rules to the last inch. When his actions rub several people on the wrong side, they strike a major blow, literally, which forces Aravind to take a drastic step that alters the face of nation, as we know it, completely.

NN is a typical Shankar movie plot handled by Samuthrakani in his own style. When Ravi goes through a single day experience similar to Ambi (Anniyan) he wages a one-man-stand quoting ancient Tamil quotes and ends up facing the modern day wrath. Therein starts the cat and tiger (not mouse) game that hooks us till the end.

Ravi & Ravi with his big-right-eye and tall-stature has made the most of the responsibility on his shoulder. His naive attitude turned villainous gives the actor lots of scenes to flex his acting muscles. Though the film handles the serious issue of corruption it has its light moments too. Every character has a funny bone inside them that pokes out even in the middle of a very serious scene.

Amala Paul has little to contribute as does Suri. Gopinath is second best to Ravi with his Neeya-Naana Charisma mirrored through his role as a TV Anchor in the movie too. Songs, though only 4, are a let down. Nasser and Sarath Kumar are breezy cameos. 11 member committee of the "147" are good comic reliefs. The biggest tickler was off screen, when the on screen characters chanted "Aravind", few naughties behind me screamed "Kejriwal".

In an attempt to skin out corruption,the screenplay has slightly exaggerated here and there with a few logical slip ups. But, ultimately Aal izz Well.