sriram_m Reviews

Prey (I) (2022)

Only Dpiritual Duccessor to original and classic 'Predator (1987)

[10/10 · 19 August 2022]

I would say 'Prey' is the only spiritual successor to original and classic 'Predator (1987)', very close in sprit, yet it is more refined, unique in its own style. In fact, it is not spiritual successor. It is 5th instalment from official Predator franchise. I hate other sequels. They are inferior and poor. We have witnessed director Dan Trachtenberg's brilliance in '10 Cloverfield Lane'. He is more of a world cinema kinda director.

Most of us had grown watching Predator movie using VHS Tapes and VCDs, DVDs again and again. We have that nostalgic connection with the film. Prey is a feast for such people.

I recommend you to watch Comanche language version instead of English version. Sound of Comanche language is soothing to ears. It is so indigenous and organic. I can't bear indigenous people talking English, that too as fluently as native speakers. We saw that happened in 'Pathfinder' and '10000 BC'.

The film is technically brilliant and beautiful. Shot with love and passion. Action is precise, razer sharp and breath taking. Suspense is nail-biting. Scenery is picturesque. Atmosphere is rich with vivid colours of nature.

All you need is to watch it with good sound setup.

Xuan Zang (2016)

Rarest Spiritual Masterpiece

[10/10 · 6 June 2017]

Produced by Wong Kar-wai and directed by sixth generation Chinese director Huo Jianqi (who previously directed Postmen in the Mountains (1999) and Naan(2003), "Xuan Zang" is the first Indo-Chinese co- production by the state-owned China Film Corporation and Eros International.

The story depicts the 17 years long legendary seventh century spiritual journey of Buddhist monk Xuan Zang (Hsüan-tsang), who dissatisfied with the translations of Buddhist texts available in china and wanted to collect originals from Nalanda, from China to India during the Tang dynasty and whose famous journey served as an inspiration for Chinese fantasy classic "Journey to The West."

Eyes are not enough to see the splendor of this masterpiece. Those picturesque and unseen Chinese landscapes are breath-taking. This lavish and high budget spiritual adventure epic is memorable and rare kind. A film must not miss.

This film was selected as the Chinese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.

Kabali (2016)

A Realist and Artistic Achievement

[24 July 2016]

Can one fuse "Un Prophete (2009)" kind of realistic and artistic story telling with larger than life image of "Super Star" Rajani Kanth. Challenge is Pa.Ranjith have to harmonize totally two different and opposite shades and contrasts. Did he succeed? Yes. May intellectual screenplay of first half bothers masses, may some dramatized actions scenes of second half bothers Cinephiles/World Cinema lovers. Though certainly the film belongs to world cinema. How Pa.Ranjith handled super star in down to earth and realistic way is extremely risky thing. Fans always want to see Rajani Kanthi as super human. That aspect may disappoint some common audience. Simple introduction scene of Rajani Kanthi in jail tells Pa.Ranjith courageous commitment to realistic approach.

This film is powerful and touching with smooth and sensible emotions. World cinema lovers will enjoy it for sure. Pa.Ranjith gives hope to Indian cinema with his distinctive and artistic way of film making. Watching Super Star in "Un Prophete" kind of international quality filmmaking is pleasing to eyes and heart. People have to appreciate the transition of Indian mainstream cinema to world cinema arena.

Finally, does one need a story for Rajani Kanth? Actually, no, people don't need a story for Rajani Kanthi's film. He is enough with his powerful magic. People need a movie from him, not what kind of film it is. It doesn't matter. He is the "Super Star" of Asia. People do celebrate his films as a festival or carnival with great unconditioned joy and love.

Beloved Sisters (2014)

With Rich Literary Quality Rarely Found in Period Films

[10/10 · 1 July 2016]

What makes this film so profound is its genuine literary quality(rarely found in period drama films); masterful and artistic portrayal. Background score haunts soul with its mellow and beauty. This masterpiece gives rich and profound experience to audience with its intellectual, complex and poetic tone.

The film is based on the life of the German poet Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) and upon his long relationships with two sisters, Caroline and Charlotte von Lengefeld. This film won't focus on Schiller's relationship with Goethe, as some people may expect, since they are such giants in German literature and history.

There are two cuts of the movie available, shorter cinema version and the Directors cut. I recommend longer version of 138 mins to experience true substance of the film.

The film was nominated for the Golden Bear Award at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival, and had its premiere at the festival. It was selected as the German entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.

Beyond the Hills (2012)

A movie in the proportion of great masters works

[10/10 · 25 January 2016]

This film raises many questions about the course of life, the way it is, yet it won't give any answers. It won't give any conclusions. In the middle, in the deep frustration of experiencing futility of life, it leaves us alone. Makes us suffer and question the meaning of life.

How the threads of wisdom and ignorance were interwove in the fabric of life, as inseparable! Is there an eye to distinguish the ignorance and can lead us to salvation? A salvation from our own ignorance, misery we created ourselves, and the misery given by life. As long as there is ignorance, there will be darkness. There can be no light in life.

It is one of the greatest classics of our time. Great piece of art. Director Cristian Mungiu's way of portraying a story is incomparable and it is in the proportion of great masters works.

It Follows (2014)

One of the best horror films ever, a classic

[10/10 · 12 December 2015]

"When there is torture, there is pain and wounds Physical agony, and all this Distracts the mind from mental suffering, So that one is tormented only by The wounds until the moment of death. But the most terrible agony may not be In the wounds themselves But in knowing for certain that within an hour Then within ten minutes, then within half a minute Now at this very instant Your soul will leave your body And you will no longer be a person And that is certain The worst thing is that it is certain." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Masterclass execution. Original and powerful work. Cult classic. Intelligent and subtle way of developing psychological distress with unnerving imagery and great music is of literary quality.

"It Follows" is one of the all-time greatest horror films. There are great horror films out there, but this one works in different way on your mind. It is purely psychological. It gives traumatizing and devastating effect on our psyche with slowly flowing imagery. Slowly you will be surrendered to its gloomy, fearful and cruel world of brooding fear. You will lose yourself. The fear will soak into your heart. It will haunt you and make you disturb even after watching the film with strange uncontrollable emotions. It gives sleepless nights. Exceptional quality of this film wakes eerie and catastrophic world inside you. The nameless fear associates with the very questions of death.

How Dostoevsky quotes recites during the characters facing trauma gives profound and philosophic effect on audiences' inner world.

The Cut (I) (2014)

The Cut" is a deep wound to human heart

[10/10 · 12 December 2015]

"The Cut(2014)" is Turkish born German director Fathe Akin's first high budget lavish international film. Fathe Akin got death threats from Turkey because of making this film on the backdrop of world's largest genocide after Nazi Holocaust, the Armenian genocide. In Turkey today it is a serious crime to use the word "Genocide" in reference to the systematic expulsion of Armenians from Turkish Soil in the period from 1915 to 1923. During this time 1.5 million Armenians were either murdered outright or perished on forced death marches through the Syrian Desert. A few Turkish intellectuals have spoken out against the official Turkish policy of Genocide.

"The Cut" is the deep wound to human heart. It is an intense and emotional journey which depresses our soul. The scale, immensity and quality of this masterpiece makes us remember Chinese master director Feng Xiaogang's "Aftershock (2010)". The scenes like protagonist Tahar Rahim (of "A Prophet" fame) watching Charlie Chaplin's film makes us emotionally outburst.

This is one of the very important films about history. An intense and dark masterpiece about humanity.

Kadal (2013)

Everything is Soulful

[10/10 · 1 February 2013]

KADAL(2013)

This is the film that I am waiting (a completely uncompromised original film) since long time (after Amritha) from Mani Ratnam. I feel it is near to his own heart and have true literary values and philosophy of life. It is more deeper than it seems. We must surrender to its magic to know it. It is an experience which I never imagined. Total surprise. Totally unique. Totally revolutionary. The film touches the soul, inner cores of heart. What an unbelievable experience...

Mani Ratnam is auteur...we shouldn't expect same from him again and again. Sometimes he is beyond our imagination and ability of understanding. We should be preparing for a total surprise.

What I mostly liked in this film is music of life, sadness in life, divinity in life. Way of life is mysterious. Now we can believe one can be transformed; one can grow in a life time. The film gives that hope to humanity. The world needs love and forgiveness. The people talk about these things are rare. That is why we respect Mani Ratnam. He expressed these true values of life in this film. They are subtle and deep. Sometime difficult to grasp.

Boy fishing scene is beautiful and beautiful and climax fight is technically superior and fearful. He used highest technical values for this fight. And it is not only a fight; he incorporated in it philosophy, and positivity of life.

Man is far higher entity than what he imagined about him. There is greatness in him hidden. Life will bring it out, sometimes forcefully. It is the way of life. We compare this story with world's greatest writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy's short story "Saint Sargai", for its philosophy and literary standards. This kind of films are rare in India.

Great music, great visuals and sheer poetry…it is KADAL.

The Tall Man (2012)

Many Parents Don't have Right to raise their Children

[10/10 · 21 October 2012]

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. - Khalil Gibran

Parents want to make their children exact copies to them. They don't give freedom to grow by their own way. Children can't study art, they can't study music, and they can't study literature according their own wish. Society or system wants to make children like machines to fit in its pattern. Regime needs killing machines (Soldiers) and slaves to its false ideologies, and to work in offices and to invent new weapons to kill each other. To change this chaotic and war torn and loveless world, children must grow creatively and with love, without society's marks and prints on their hearts; freely and more freely. You can't compare this film with Pascal Laugier's horror cult classics like Saint Ange and Martyrs. It is not a horror movie or typical thriller movie. Don't disappoint watching expecting these things. It is a movie for intelligent audience, who want to think about life and the world around us. Pascal Laugier not only a director, he is a great thinker also. Only great thinkers could make this kind of films. Main plot of this move is secret and unique. Don't try to know it before you see this movie.

The Monk (2011)

One of the Greatest Masterpieces of Our Time

[10/10 · 30 June 2012]

"Isn't it strange how we fail to see the meaning of things, until it suddenly dawns on us?"

Are monks greater than common people spiritually? Finally, this monk sees purity in common people more than him. What is right, what is wrong, who will decide it? What is sin, who will judge it? Is it church? Or priests? Is it relation between man and women a sin? It is the story of monk who has seen the cruelty of his traditional monkhood and illusions of his purity. At the time of facing world and his inner instincts, he becomes meaner than a criminal. His cruel pride of holiness becomes not but vein.

Director Dominik Moll becomes one of the great directors in the world with this move. The way he made this movie is highly spiritual. His insight is outstanding. Photography and music are soul stirring. Amazing sound recording and art.

Some Traditional Catholics may not like this movie. But seekers of truth belong to any religion must watch this movie. It is truly artistic and philosophical. It is highly recommended.

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)

Masterpiece. Sensitive and Poetic. May be Best Japanese Film since Two Decades.

[10/10 · 23 May 2012]

Director Takashi Miike has emerged and grown as an explosion of artistry in modern Japanese cinema, from controversial past image, from international notoriety for depicting shocking scenes of extreme violence. He became an auteur to write his mark in modern world cinema. With unmatched emotional intensity, using silence as fierce force, he got abilities of higher order. With incomparable emotional portrayal, unmatched visual precision, beauty and poetry, he became a legend of modern cinema. His style is slow, powerful, intense, beautiful and spiritual. With Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai(2011) Takashi Miike is ought to have great respect as much as akira kurosawa got. His style of making is like injecting venom directly into our nerves, instantly it flows to our brain, spreads all over the body to every cell of it, and blocks all the movement of consciousness so potently, instantly. We are not but to surrender to its emotional potency and masterful artistry. Suddenly we become helpless and merge into visuals of painful melancholy. We become helpless as the characters of his movie. In fact, we are all same as human beings, since the beginning of human race. Our inner emotions are same. Our instincts are same. But there is awaking in some souls. They struggle for truth. They need to fight with brutality of customs, traditions and with ignorance of cultural madness. Characters of Takashi Miike's new movies are indeed spiritually awakened, and able to understand the true values of life. They fight with traditional madness in the name of respectability and the honour. Ignorance is darker than darkness. It is the cause of all the misery of mankind. His characters have wisdom of life. They fight with ignorance.

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai(2011) is more matured than his magnum opus 13 Assassins(2010). Those who liked 13 Assassins(2010) for solely action sequences may not like Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai(2011), but who liked visual artistry of 13 Assassins(2010) should not miss this movie. Final action sequence is unique and unforgettable. People who like gore may disappoint to watch it. But indeed it is a classic samurai sword fight we can't imagine to see on a screen since the birth of cinema, for its classic nature and action choreography. I am sure no one ever composed such a sword fight in the history of cinema. One must prepare to see an epic about poverty and ignorance, rather than to watch merely an action movie. It is very sensitive movie. Legendary music composer ryuichi sakamoto's mystical music made this move as sensitive as true to life, like pure poetry, to create a transcendental experience. Takashi Miike is not only master of swords, indeed he is¬ master in human expression. We can't see him in the shade of his past movies. Right now he is a master. No one can deny it.

Stone (2010)

Greatest Spiritual Movie which is Beyond the Perception of Some Critics

[10/10 · 23 April 2012]

''The Painted Veil''s director John Curran's masterpiece "Stone(2010)" is one of the greatest spiritual movies of our time. It can be matched with the novel 'Death of Ivan Ilyich' by Leo Tolstoy, for its spiritual quality and depth. This movie couldn't get critical acclaim and failed at box office because the message in it is simple. Simple things are difficult for people to understand. It is as simple as the protagonist denies using the word spirituality. He likes to say it is life; understanding of life, what really necessary is to see 'what is?' This movie questions everybody's life. It is the story of a convicted arsonist(Edward Norton) who turned into saint or Wiseman. He questions the absurdity of everyone's life. In that questioning he pulls the parole officer Robert De Niro psyche into crisis. An unwanted crisis about the need to knowing 'the meaning of life'; the crisis from which we are always skillfully escaping. An unavoidable crisis we would face today or tomorrow or day after tomorrow. The question of life always remains for us. Naturally, this question disturbs the audience who see the movie. This movie is not pleasant for common man's taste buds. So they don't like this movie. But who are explorers of life, who are struggling to know the meaning of life should not miss this master piece. Edward Norton's performance is astonishing. We need not say about Robar De Nero. Milla Jovovich is outstanding. Finally this movie is a gem of our time, which has been ignored ridiculously.

Raavanan (2010)

A spiritual journey with poetic insight - RAAVANAN

[10/10 · 21 June 2010]

What a man seeks from maniratnam's movies. Not but purity, poetry, beauty, artistic intensity(Very few can reach such depths) and finally truth. What is his intrinsic authority to define what right and what is wrong?

Some of his movies are fierceful with electrifying emotions and some are merely soulful and poetic like torrents of silent river with the dancing of light and shadow. May sometimes intellectuals and mob can't find entertainment from his movies. But few are with vibrant and sensible hearts with child's like enthusiasm could feel the power, depth and humility in his movies. He is one of the greatest artists of our time which world couldn't able to understand. He didn't get fame what he deserves. Like the poems of rabindranath tagore, as you muse and feel more and more you will get more spiritual experience from his movies. Like terrance malik's movies his movies dissolve with nature and poetic sadness and with life's music. They will open our hearts to life, love and beauty.

For those who want to know what life are, what are morals, what is right and what is wrong. Are they prefixed and reformulated. Or shall we explore, question ourselves with abundance of love in our hearts towards the things of world to know ourselves what is truth. That journey is RAAVANAN. Few may don't like this movie because they may not get thrill from the movie. Only sheer poetry, exploration of truth exists in the movie. Master story teller's hands are as soft as ever. Though, for this movie those are more complex because those are now more simpler.

Raavan (2010)

A spiritual journey with poetic insight - RAAVAN

[10/10 · 21 June 2010]

What a man seeks from maniratnam's movies. Not but purity, poetry, beauty, artistic intensity(Very few can reach such depths) and finally truth. What is his intrinsic authority to define what right and what is wrong?

Some of his movies are fierceful with electrifying emotions and some are merely soulful and poetic like torrents of silent river with the dancing of light and shadow. May sometimes intellectuals and mob can't find entertainment from his movies. But few are with vibrant and sensible hearts with child's like enthusiasm could feel the power, depth and humility in his movies. He is one of the greatest artists of our time which world couldn't able to understand. He didn't get fame what he deserves. Like the poems of rabindranath tagore, as you muse and feel more and more you will get more spiritual experience from his movies. Like terrance malik's movies his movies dissolve with nature and poetic sadness and with life's music. They will open our hearts to life, love and beauty.

For those who want to know what life are, what are morals, what is right and what is wrong. Are they prefixed and reformulated. Or shall we explore, question ourselves with abundance of love in our hearts towards the things of world to know ourselves what is truth. That journey is RAAVAN. Few may don't like this movie because they may not get thrill from the movie. Only sheer poetry, exploration of truth exists in the movie.

Master story teller's hands are as soft as ever. Though, for this movie those are more complex because those are now more simpler.