Critic-ഓമനക്കുട്ടൻ-A New Adventure-Review Pg 323

[critic]

Dr. Do Less
------------------------
Movie: Apothecary
10/8/14 @ PVR Lulu

Review
-----------
May be somewhere early in to the second half, one may sense a question running through your mind while watching Madhav Ramadasan's latest movie 'Apothecary'. And that question may be close to this - 'Is selecting a different, timely and topical subject, enough to make a good movie?’ As you may discover while walking out of the cinema, the answer probably is a 'No'. 'Apothecary' does need mention for the theme - medicine testing, for some fine moments scattered here and there and 2 mention worthy performances. Apart from that the movie may sadly fall below expectations.

The setting is a new age hospital where a Senior Neuro Surgeon played by Suresh Gopi is often tempted to allow medicine testing on his patients upon pressure from his management. The guilt pangs that haunt him and his reversal by the end, to stand for what is right forms the story of 'Apothecary'. Suresh Gopi looks fresh since we have not seen him much on the screen and puts up a competent performance as the main lead. Jayasurya sometimes shocks you with his shaven look and rakes up sentiments in few scenes. His performance is note worthy as well. Asif does not have a character except a bit of villainary towards the end. Abhirami's comeback is a mere caricature of sorts.

When a movie is based in the medical world, one may expect the making, setting and presentation to draw us in to that world. But that does not happen here. The hospital scenes look barely set in the real world of a hospital. Doctors, their body language, properties, presentation of scenes, all look kind of 'staged'. Coupled to that is the intentional switch to a part intuition flashback involving Jayasurya and Suresh Gopi, which is repetitive. Even the dead/affected patients who try to create an impact on Suresh Gopi's mind look repetitive after a point. The ending scenes involve heightened dramatism, so much so as a stage play and leaves you with an irked feel.

Technical aspects may leave you much to be desired. The director needs kudos for choosing such a subject but when it comes to making and executing it, it sadly falls short. Many of the portions look sadly amateurish which is belittling of the theme. Background score, Editing and Camera do not seem to do full justice to the theme in question.

'Apothecary' deserves mention and brownie points for the chosen topic, story in an age where even ace makers trod the safe line. But then again one cant deny of the let downs the movie goes through while it lasts on screen. Here is hoping that the next outing from the director is going to be a headier mix of subject and execution, so that it makes a great movie all in all. There is definitely something to hope for!!


Verdict - Tedious
Rating - 2/5

[yodha007]

Thanks bhai!....
Surprising.....ivide 5 star rating okke vannu!....so, box officil disaster akum alle?

[ClubAns]

Maverick Madness
------------------------
Movie - Hi, I am Tony
26.07.14 @ PVR Lulu

Review
-----------
For starters, if you are in to watch Lal Jr's new movie "Hi, I am Tony" expecting it to be a 'normal' movie, then you are in a completely wrong hall. Now, even if you are ready to see something different, you may be a tad more prepared to invest patience and hope in this 'Psycho Styled Bloody' movie which tries to instill fear through blood, gore and crude violence.

The movie begins at a languishing pace with adequate hopes of good making thrown in. Asif and Mia move in to the lavish and purposefully stylized flat, which looks awesome to say the least. Proceedings are slow but quite fresh. Soon Toni (Lal.Sr) arrives and interest starts to rise. Despite his mad ways, the scenes to have him inside the flat and interactions post that, look tedious. But hope can still be alive if you have the fore-told patience. But soon the 'Interview' sequence begins and the movie drops many a levels to boring. The ones in the audience still with the movie at Interval, may be few and far in between (incidentally this reviewer was one).

Second half dashes all the good signals and pure blood fest reigns in. The effort is to purposefully induce so much violence, blood to may be shock and awe the audience. But the effort sadly looks lame without a terse script and an overall plot. By the end, some predictable twists are used to try and salvage the effort but by then its too late.

Cinematography needs mention as a positive aspect. Also, possibly is the efforts put in by Lal.Sr, Miya and Asif Ali in that order. Action sequences are done with some effort.

Not sure if the movie deserves browine points for being an 'experiement', but then it sorely disappoints even at pure audience engagement level. Finally, the most important point - Why dont the makers insist for an 'A' certificate or the Censor board makes sure not to give U/A for such movies? There were kids in the audience, who were possibly in to watch a fun holiday movie and one felt sorry for them for having to watch such violence.

Rating - 1.5/5
Verdict - Sore Eyes.

Unequal Opponents
--------------------------------

Movie : Vikramadithyan
25.7.14 @ PVR Lulu

Review
------------
Mostly everything in the plot of Lal Jose's latest movie 'Vikramadithyan' is cliched and predictable up until the climax, such that even though with a script that hits green patches at times and dull patches at others, the movie puffs and pants to end up as an 'Above Average' watch.

So much of the first half passes in flashback (with the childhood of the lead cast), that it becomes worrisome and boring at a point. Thankfully at the brink of all being lost, the narrative focusses on the lead cast and makes a slight come back of sorts. At Interval, its quite mixed feelings that may come to you.

Second half starts of much better with the race to be a Police Officer among the lead protagonists. But it should be said that its never much a movie about 'opponents'. The show seems one sided, with Dulquer Salmaan being the only one to leave an impression. Only he has a role which seems to best written and adequately performed. There is nothing much for others to do except for Anoop Menon. Dulquer almost makes a boyish charm in his acting to graduate to a man. May be his best performance to date. Unni, Namitha, Lena, Joy Mathew complete the cast but they all should be easily forgotten after the movie.

Direction by Lal Jose is okay but the plot is so rooted in cliches that its almost uninspiring. Music is quite disappointing. Visuals are smooth and augument the proceedings. Editing could have been better with the pace of the movie, which almost feels like 3 hour plus.

The climax catches you 'off guard', because you quite dont expect it in a movie so predictable till then. Whether its logical and convincing is debatable and a different point altogether. All in all, 'Vikramadithyan' is your quite typical commercial formulaic movie presented decently well. Go in with the obvious expectations and should not disappoint you much.

Rating - 3/5
Verdict - Above Average.

Dr. Do Less
------------------------
Movie: Apothecary
10/8/14 @ PVR Lulu

Review
-----------
May be somewhere early in to the second half, one may sense a question running through your mind while watching Madhav Ramadasan's latest movie 'Apothecary'. And that question may be close to this - 'Is selecting a different, timely and topical subject, enough to make a good movie?’ As you may discover while walking out of the cinema, the answer probably is a 'No'. 'Apothecary' does need mention for the theme - medicine testing, for some fine moments scattered here and there and 2 mention worthy performances. Apart from that the movie may sadly fall below expectations.

The setting is a new age hospital where a Senior Neuro Surgeon played by Suresh Gopi is often tempted to allow medicine testing on his patients upon pressure from his management. The guilt pangs that haunt him and his reversal by the end, to stand for what is right forms the story of 'Apothecary'. Suresh Gopi looks fresh since we have not seen him much on the screen and puts up a competent performance as the main lead. Jayasurya sometimes shocks you with his shaven look and rakes up sentiments in few scenes. His performance is note worthy as well. Asif does not have a character except a bit of villainary towards the end. Abhirami's comeback is a mere caricature of sorts.

When a movie is based in the medical world, one may expect the making, setting and presentation to draw us in to that world. But that does not happen here. The hospital scenes look barely set in the real world of a hospital. Doctors, their body language, properties, presentation of scenes, all look kind of 'staged'. Coupled to that is the intentional switch to a part intuition flashback involving Jayasurya and Suresh Gopi, which is repetitive. Even the dead/affected patients who try to create an impact on Suresh Gopi's mind look repetitive after a point. The ending scenes involve heightened dramatism, so much so as a stage play and leaves you with an irked feel.

Technical aspects may leave you much to be desired. The director needs kudos for choosing such a subject but when it comes to making and executing it, it sadly falls short. Many of the portions look sadly amateurish which is belittling of the theme. Background score, Editing and Camera do not seem to do full justice to the theme in question.

'Apothecary' deserves mention and brownie points for the chosen topic, story in an age where even ace makers trod the safe line. But then again one cant deny of the let downs the movie goes through while it lasts on screen. Here is hoping that the next outing from the director is going to be a headier mix of subject and execution, so it it makes a great movie all in all. There is definitely something to hope for!!


Verdict - Tedious
Rating - 2/5

Thanks critic for the reviews.........................

[Jaisonjyothi]

@critic appothicary movie convey cheyyan shramikkunna messagile social relevance and boldness ,charectorsineyum starsineyum oru tarattilumulla cinematic.shades kodukkatte present cheythathu...melvilasattilenna pole tane boxoffice vijayangalk vendi vittuveezchakal cheyatirunnath okea anu ennile prekshakanu e cinemayude tottalityil kittiya feel....ittaram subjects realistic ayi presnt cheyunnathu kondanu a dramatic feel ennanu enik.thonnunnath....Technically movie well made annenu njan parayunnilla but as a normal viewer really enjoyd.it.....

[wayanadan]

thaanxxxx critic

[critic]

Thanks bhai!....
Surprising.....ivide 5 star rating okke vannu!....so, box officil disaster akum alle?

Welcome yodha ji. Opinions will differ. BO ariyilla. Seems an offbeat kind of attempt.

Thanks critic for the reviews.........................

Welcome Club ji

[critic]

@critic appothicary movie convey cheyyan shramikkunna messagile social relevance and boldness ,charectorsineyum starsineyum oru tarattilumulla cinematic.shades kodukkatte present cheythathu...melvilasattilenna pole tane boxoffice vijayangalk vendi vittuveezchakal cheyatirunnath okea anu ennile prekshakanu e cinemayude tottalityil kittiya feel....ittaram subjects realistic ayi presnt cheyunnathu kondanu a dramatic feel ennanu enik.thonnunnath....Technically movie well made annenu njan parayunnilla but as a normal viewer really enjoyd.it.....

@Jaisonjyothi Jaison, theme nte nobility and message okke well intentioned and received well also. pakshe as a moviegoer personally i felt disconnect. May be its just my problem. pakshe have to convey what i felt. felt it could have been better directed. hospital scenes nte presentation thanne udhaharanam. many scenes felt like happening in an empty mall. doctors nte okke body language. avaru use cheyyunna properties. angane thudangi cheriya karyangalil vere disconnect thonni. which are kind of very important to draw the viewer in to such a world. jayan episode was nice pakshe athum over kill ayi second half ayappol. pinne SG de fear and shock instances okke kore vettam repeat of the same thing. Asif, Abhirami okke character wise onnum effect cheythilla. Pinne climax oru stage play scene pole thonni. Realistic aaya medical backdrop setting feel cheyyunillarunnu. Pinne as a movie engage cheyyunnath valya factor thanne. First half seemed little more promising than by the end of it. Once again, nobility of the message well noted and well received but that apart athu mathram karanam nalla oru cinema ennu parayan personally thonniyilla. May be its just me. :)

thaanxxxx critic

Welcome wayanada

[veiwer]

critic friday ee cinima kandirunnu
i felt disaaponted
pakshe ellayidathum positive review ayathu kondu najan pinne review onnu ittilla
enikku thonniyathu
chila scenukal serial pole ayirunnu
BGM too dramatic, emotion level kootan vendi BGM nte sound kootiya pole thonni
suresh gopiyude body language a charactoriny yojichathalla
theme wise good anu
pakshe realestic realestic ennu alukal parayunnu, pakshe enikku thoniyilla
hosptialail entho oru artificiality anubavapettu
karanam ithu poleyulla hospitalil eppozhum rush undaville , ellayidathum thirakkayirukkum, gatil, OP roomil, pharmacy roomil, chumma varantahyil vare alukal undavum, evide athu anubhavapettilla
abhiramiyude abhinayam okke entho charactorumayi connection kiitunnilla,
oru theme kandittu mathramanu alukal ithra positive review idunnathenkil athu madav ramdasinode cheyyuunna chathi anu
adella as a total cinima very good anenkil ente ullile preshakanu karyamaya entho sambavichitundu
karanam adyamayitanu ithreyum postive review vanna cinima kandittu njan disappoint akunnathu

[critic]

critic friday ee cinima kandirunnu
i felt disaaponted
pakshe ellayidathum positive review ayathu kondu najan pinne review onnu ittilla
enikku thonniyathu
chila scenukal serial pole ayirunnu
BGM too dramatic, emotion level kootan vendi BGM nte sound kootiya pole thonni
suresh gopiyude body language a charactoriny yojichathalla
theme wise good anu
pakshe realestic realestic ennu alukal parayunnu, pakshe enikku thoniyilla
hosptialail entho oru artificiality anubavapettu
karanam ithu poleyulla hospitalil eppozhum rush undaville , ellayidathum thirakkayirukkum, gatil, OP roomil, pharmacy roomil, chumma varantahyil vare alukal undavum, evide athu anubhavapettilla
abhiramiyude abhinayam okke entho charactorumayi connection kiitunnilla,
oru theme kandittu mathramanu alukal ithra positive review idunnathenkil athu madav ramdasinode cheyyuunna chathi anu
adella as a total cinima very good anenkil ente ullile preshakanu karyamaya entho sambavichitundu
karanam adyamayitanu ithreyum postive review vanna cinima kandittu njan disappoint akunnathu

Thanks viewer. Opinions vary cheyyum athu saramilla. you should put your review still.
ningalde ullile prekshakanu preshnam onnum ella ennu venam karuthan. Just keep watching movies and like/dislike as per self.
i also felt the same. it will be quite an injustice to the director if someone says that all is well since the theme is noble and different.
BGM was irritating at times and quite in uni mode during climax.
SG kore bhaagangal ishtapettu. But movie kind of lets it down during the progress.
Hospital setting thaankale pole enikkum valya oru block arunnu.
Athu staged setting pole thonni. ottumikka samayathum. real oru hospitalo doctorso ayi thonniyilla.
ennalum engane oru theme pulli try cheythath kollam.
but athu kond nalla cinema ennu parayan thonniyilla.
next time a different theme nalla cinema aakkaan paattatte.

[Jaisonjyothi]

critic friday ee cinima kandirunnui felt disaapontedpakshe ellayidathum positive review ayathu kondu najan pinne review onnu ittillaenikku thonniyathu chila scenukal serial pole ayirunnu BGM too dramatic, emotion level kootan vendi BGM nte sound kootiya pole thonni suresh gopiyude body language a charactoriny yojichathallatheme wise good anu pakshe realestic realestic ennu alukal parayunnu, pakshe enikku thoniyillahosptialail entho oru artificiality anubavapettu karanam ithu poleyulla hospitalil eppozhum rush undaville , ellayidathum thirakkayirukkum, gatil, OP roomil, pharmacy roomil, chumma varantahyil vare alukal undavum, evide athu anubhavapettillaabhiramiyude abhinayam okke entho charactorumayi connection kiitunnilla, oru theme kandittu mathramanu alukal ithra positive review idunnathenkil athu madav ramdasinode cheyyuunna chathi anu adella as a total cinima very good anenkil ente ullile preshakanu karyamaya entho sambavichitundu karanam adyamayitanu ithreyum postive review vanna cinima kandittu njan disappoint akunnathu

Macha machante abhipayam endhu tane ayalum ativide parayam....ivide arum angane cinemaye point to point criticize cheyyan nilkunnavaralla ennanente vishwasam..ellavarum avaravarude opinion parayunnu...4 perk oru cinema ishttapettenu karuti athu nammukum ishttapedanamennilla....ororuttarkum oro view point anu...chila scenes enik bgm/camera angle vechu ishttapettenu varam machanu ishttapettilenum athonnum karyamakaruth...abhiprayam endhu tane ayalum parayu...