Sunday, July 15, 2007

Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) [ENGLISH]

Normally I never do reviews for English movies but I insisted on reviewing this "hyped" up sequel to the last 4 (The first two being gems and the 3rd being bad. 4th was good.) Warner Bros brings us the 900 page book onto the silver screen.

HARRY POTTER gets some stuff right and the rest well, not so right. The pacing in the whole film probably one of the biggest problem with the film. 30 minutes into the film and you're left to either snooze off the rest of the film or to become restless because the film is testing your patience.

Another problem with HARRY POTTER is that the film gets too dark and some of the dialogue is hard to understand or digest (mainly Rupert Grint/Ron's lines.) In a nutshell, HARRY POTTER doesn't live up to the book standards or the popcorn standards of entertainment at all. It just makes you wanna leave the theater immediately.

No need to go into plot detail since it's based off the book. But as far as Acting goes, it's a Dan Radcliffe show all the way. In fact, it would be right to state that all the kids have grown up right from the SORCERER'S STONE. But the actress who really surprises you is the character of Umbridge. She does her part fantastic as per the book's characterization. However, several parts from the book were chopped off to fit the movie within 2:30 hours of duration. I would imagine seeing them in deleted scenes perhaps?

On the whole, HARRY POTTER 5 is critically dull and ambiguous but it will face a tough B.O competition to the supreme TRANSFORMERS, which is already raking more money as we speak and to the August releaes: RUSH HOUR 3, BOURNE ULTIMACY, and more.

Rating: **1/2

Monday, July 2, 2007

Music Review - Kireedom (2007) [TAMIL]

After the much hyped "Sivaji - the boss" has finally released, the fans can now heave a sigh of relief and await their "thala's" next. Kireedom is a said remake of the Mohanan-Lolithdas 1989 Malayalam hit by the same name. With the treatment given by director A.Vijay,an associate of Priyadarshan, one hopes to give Ajith a much needed hit after that disaster that was Aalwar. But lets put that aside and focus on the music composed by G.V Prakash Kumar, better known as ARR's nephew who gave us VEYIL earlier this year. Kumar manages to salvate you his mesmerizing music that you would want to listen to all the songs (Vilayaadu is an exception but more on that later.)

"Vizhiyl" kicks off the start of the album with a nice background score and instrumental interlude. With singers Sonu Nigam and Swetha behind the voices, you are immediately sold for the song. Multiple hearings are a must for this track completely. This love duet is undoubtedly, G.V's uncle's early works in play. Also, Snnu has a better diction/prounciation than Udit "Sahana" Naryanan.

"Kannavelam" by Karthik and malayalam singer, Jayachandran give their soothing voices in this next soft melody. A situational number more or less but as I heard multiple hearings of this exact number, I started to enjoy it more than the first track. It's really catchy, especially Jayachandran's lines.

"Akkam Pakam" by Sadhana Sargam is another song in contrast to "Vizhiyl". Full credit goes for her tamil diction and prounciation. A rare thing that most northies can't do well (Yes Udit "Sahara" Narayan, I'm talking about you definetly.") Anyways, another addicting track with shades of ARR and Harris Jeyaraj. Another must hear.

They say all good things come with a stand-out. And I'm really taling about "Vilaiyaadu". Shankar Mahadevan has a good voice for kuthu/introduction numbers but did the album really need one? I understand that it's an Ajith film and to them [fans], an introduction song is truely a must. Like Rajni fans who insisit on SPB for Rajni's voice and whatnot. Anyways, the song is the usual hearings you hear in every Ajith movie, but honestly, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

"Kaneer Thuliye" by Vijay Yesudas makes up for the sore thumb that was in the last track. Though there are heavy shades of "Ae Ajnabi" from "Dil Se", the track shows Yesudas's versatality just like his father did in the past. Yesudas may have been jynxed with "Sahara" in Sivaji - ths boss, but this song truely makes up for the loss that was Sivaji. ARR's loss is G.V's gain indeed. The last song is a theme music compsed by Prakash Kumar himself. Something that should be looked forward to during the movie.

All in all. G.V Prakash deserves full marks for the awesome album that is Kireedom. A step up over his uncle, one hopes that he continues to give good music like this. Aside from "Vilayaadu", the album's worth picking up indeed!

Rating: ****1/2