Critic-ഓമനക്കുട്ടൻ-A New Adventure-Review Pg 323

[bhat]

Lazy
------
Movie - Mili
23/1/15 @ PVR Lulu

Review
--------
Make no bones about it. Rajesh Pillai's long in the making 'Mili' is quite a lazy effort. Even at the level of a character study movie or an inspirational make over tale of an introvert girl, 'Mili' counts much less than what you may desire to watch. What could have been Malayalam's own take on a famous genre, turns out to be quite a lackluster affair without much depth or interest. 'Mili' is quite a disappointment, to put it in milder terms.

The first half of the movie is kind of shocking, because it may make one realize how flimsy the whole plot is. Initial parts are confusing with really important characters related to Mili never being mentioned properly. Her family relations are presented in haste. Even her characterization looks uneven. She is presented as a harmless introvert,but soon is shown as an irritant to her room mates. Her mischievous and zero morale characteristics seem conflicting. Her family bonding never explored apart from her father's. What could have been a soulful lullaby song - 'Kanmaniye', goes almost unregistered in a new room clean up sequence. The Interval sequence and the facebook announcement are hard to digest. Below Average first half.

Post Interval, things start to look better. Mili's exchanges with Nivin's character and her opening of new day care etc are better portions of the movie. But issues created around the stopping of day care seem quite forced, artificial and for the sake of it. But by then you are kind of ready to take in anything, so that the plot progresses. Many portions seem edited out and characters do not seem to have needed relevance, due to edited portions. By the end, there is a fund raising event for starting new day care and Mili's customary speech. The end credits roll in without much sense of accomplishment or a triumphant make over story. Average second half.

Performance wise Amala Paul does her part quite decently but her character does not have much meat in terms of the plot. Nivin is quite an extended cameo without much of a character. His initial portions look quite in disinterest. Praveena, Sai Kumar, Sanusha, Shamna Kasim etc complete the rest of the cast. Direction by Rajesh Pillai is quite ordinary without creating the much needed gusto, gumption and triumph for Mili. Not even attempting comparisons with 'Traffic' but even on plain terms, it should be a disappointing outing. Music by Gopi Sundar is good but few tracks never get used properly. Camera suits the story and editing leaves much to be desired, even being about 10 minutes short of 2 hours.

'Mili' is based on a famous genre about personal triumph of an introvert, underdog girl but sadly it may not be the inspiring tale which it went out to achieve. Keep your expectations low and you may get a clean but slightly tedious movie to watch.

Verdict - Lackluster
Rating - 2/5

Depress cheyunna vidham moshamayi thonni padam........Rajesh pillai tries to work with a weak and utterly formulaic script and flounders badly....absolute rubbish except fr amala's committed performance....predictable each step of the way..boring,preachy and what not....could easily be worst films of the year....for me....badly want my money back..

[AnWaR]

Unique Friendship
----------------------
Movie - Picket 43
25/01/15 @ PVR Lulu

Review
------------
During the climax of Director Major Ravi's new movie 'Picket 43' there is this scene in which Hari (Prithviraj) shouts emotionally across the border. He vociferously requests Pakistani soldiers that his friend Musharaff (Javed Jaffrey) be taken to the hospital where his wife is currently in labor. A detail probably only he knew for the friendship they both shared. All the incidents and lead up to this moment seem quite meaningful at this point, because there is a unique friendship story that is told. A friendship that not many around them can understand or digest. Friendship with an expected enemy. This is the moment when 'Picket 43' may connect with you.

About 13 minutes short of 2 hours, 'Picket 43' is the story about a loner Indian soldier who finds an unexpected friend across the border. The movie is set with a decent but slightly languishing pace in the initial parts but moments with the dog (amusingly named as Bacardi) and Hari's monologues keep you interested. His family and love angle seem cliched but passable. Set in beautiful locales of Kashmir, movie should reach interval with a watchable tag. While under attack from militants, the movie progresses as flashback cuts on Hari's memories. The interest is kept alive.

Post interval, the movie delves deeper in to Hari - Musharaff friendship and also the life of Musharaff. As the troops close in to rescue Hari, the movie switches gear to enter a climactic fire fighting. Its from here on till the end of the movie, that rescues it from being just an average fare. Hari's determination to rescue his friend, his resolution at the face of people who do not understand his unique friendship, the final concerns for his friend and his post incident dedication to duty can win your hearts. 'Picket 43' ends up being an above average fare at these finale moments.

Prithviraj puts in a solid performance and comes up as a fulfilling actor. Its a tough act to perform with very less characters on screen. Many of his scenes are quite nuanced and natural. The finale is quite heart touchingly done. Javed Jaffery is surprisingly good for the role he has. Bacardi, the dog is a nice screen presence. Direction by Major Ravi hold the movie closely to its theme and purpose. Jomon T John's camera is adding on to the movie. Ranjan Abraham's editing is quite solid as well. Technically, the movie holds on.

'Picket 43' tells a unique story of friendship in a different setting. It could easily have been boring but keeps you decently interested in most parts and then rises a few notches during the last 20 minutes to pack in some punches. Worth a watch.

Verdict - Above Average
Rating - 3/5

thanks again bhai....

[AnWaR]

Same opinion about picket 43 bhai...likd it...will watch mili today matinee...

threadil onnum parayoolla alle...

[critic]

Fireman - Does it Fire?
19/2/15 @ Kochi PVR

Review

In 'Fireman', the attempt is to create a fresh premise using Firemen and Fire rescue as a backdrop. So from the word go tension has to start building up and lead to an incident. Here its about a road accident involving an LPG tanker which starts leaking, sending the local police and fire force in to a tizzy. Mammotty as 'Vijay' is leading the rescue operations. If and how the firemen manage to rescue people and avert a great disaster forms the rest of 'Fireman'. The question is does it Fire?

It partially does. The initial portions have the much needed freshness. Some of the incidents looks forced. In a movie which is completely tied with incidents happening in a short span of time, this looks glaringly obvious. Nyla's character gets a promising introduction but soon fizzles out and looks unrealistically pedestrian. Vijay taking over the reigns of the operation and the way this switch happens looks dramatic. Interval twist is good.

With the second half, the writers try to up the ante with more and more issues thrown in to the plot. More and more of it looks forced and unconvicing. As time passes by, one feels the movie has almost lost its plot. Vijay can easily solve any issue in a matter of minutes (even from the first half), so the bigger the issue thrown in, we never feel the hero being challenged. With the criminals and the police in parallel search of the hidden villain, the movie finally enters its climax with a twist. The twist covers up all the forced events to an extent, because it cuts your thoughts regarding this. And whether you would be bothered to watch it all over again for verifying the twist is too much of an ask. By the end, Fireman seems ok but bland at most times.

Direction is patchy but merits for selecting a fresh premise. Story about the unsung heroes who rescue people fighting with fire, is quite undertold till now. Much work has gone in to the Script and deserves credit. Mammotty as Vijay is his usual self. Graphics is quite tacky.
'Fireman' tries hard and at times really hard. It hits some right notes as well, but then thats that and just about it.

Rating - 2.5/5
Verdict - Average

[Spunky]

Thanks critic :)

[critic]

Depress cheyunna vidham moshamayi thonni padam........Rajesh pillai tries to work with a weak and utterly formulaic script and flounders badly....absolute rubbish except fr amala's committed performance....predictable each step of the way..boring,preachy and what not....could easily be worst films of the year....for me....badly want my money back..

Yes, bhat ji. Sorely disappointing that one. Good to see you share the same opinion.

[Mayavi 369]

Thx Critic

[Jaguar]

Thanks Critic

[baadshahmian]

Thanks Critic....

[dual star]

Fireman - Does it Fire?
19/2/15 @ Kochi PVR

Review

In 'Fireman', the attempt is to create a fresh premise using Firemen and Fire rescue as a backdrop. So from the word go tension has to start building up and lead to an incident. Here its about a road accident involving an LPG tanker which starts leaking, sending the local police and fire force in to a tizzy. Mammotty as 'Vijay' is leading the rescue operations. If and how the firemen manage to rescue people and avert a great disaster forms the rest of 'Fireman'. The question is does it Fire?

It partially does. The initial portions have the much needed freshness. Some of the incidents looks forced. In a movie which is completely tied with incidents happening in a short span of time, this looks glaringly obvious. Nyla's character gets a promising introduction but soon fizzles out and looks unrealistically pedestrian. Vijay taking over the reigns of the operation and the way this switch happens looks dramatic. Interval twist is good.

With the second half, the writers try to up the ante with more and more issues thrown in to the plot. More and more of it looks forced and unconvicing. As time passes by, one feels the movie has almost lost its plot. Vijay can easily solve any issue in a matter of minutes (even from the first half), so the bigger the issue thrown in, we never feel the hero being challenged. With the criminals and the police in parallel search of the hidden villain, the movie finally enters its climax with a twist. The twist covers up all the forced events to an extent, because it cuts your thoughts regarding this. And whether you would be bothered to watch it all over again for verifying the twist is too much of an ask. By the end, Fireman seems ok but bland at most times.

Direction is patchy but merits for selecting a fresh premise. Story about the unsung heroes who rescue people fighting with fire, is quite undertold till now. Much work has gone in to the Script and deserves credit. Mammotty as Vijay is his usual self. Graphics is quite tacky.
'Fireman' tries hard and at times really hard. It hits some right notes as well, but then thats that and just about it.

Rating - 2.5/5
Verdict - Average

same opinion..thnks for de review