jkavi2804 Reviews

From Straight A's to XXX (2017 TV Movie)

A Satisfying Lifetime Movie That Makes Audiences Question Their Own Morality and Prejudices

[10/10 · 19 July 2020]

The "most helpful" reviews on this site rated this movie 1 star, not because the movie was bad, but because it didn't align with their beliefs. So, if you are open-minded and are willing to watch this movie without judging the character for her choices, you will probably enjoy this movie.

Miriam Weeks has resorted to porn in order to pay her college tuition fees. Some reviewers questioned why she didn't go to another school or why she still continued doing porn after being outed. Simple, those were her choices. I mean, name one biographical movie where the character was perfect.

But, I personally found this movie to be brilliant. I agree that in line with modern feminism, women should be able to do whatever they want with their bodies. In the film, Miriam was shamed for acting in porn while almost everyone watches it. The reviews here parallel the movie because they justify the harassment she faced just because she did porn and made certain choices that they did not agree with.

However, from a pure cinematic point, this was a surprisingly well-made. Director Vanessa Parise deserves a pat on the back for her terrific work on this film as she keeps it constantly engaging and interesting. The star of the film, Haley Pullos, also does an amazing job as the main character. She portrays the vulnerability of the character very well, especially in the latter scenes where she faces harassment and becomes overwhelmed. I truly felt for her and her plight in those scenes. In the interview scenes, she mirrors the real Belle Knox quite well that it is uncanny. Clearly, she has done her research. The editing and cinematography also serve the movie well.

As a person who closely followed the real-life Belle Knox story, I can say that this film is 95% accurate. Yes, she was unjustly slapped and abused in her first scene. Yes, she did cut herself. Yes, she did get shamed at the awards ceremony. No, a stranger did not come into her room at night demanding sex.

On a final note, I believe the social commentary in this film was on-point. In the end, Miriam says that she believes society will be more accepting of careers like porn in the future. Well, it's 2020 and business is booming on sites like OnlyFans. Many women, and men, are doing porn and almost no one bats an eye.

Gifted (2017)

It reminded me why I love movies in the first place

[10/10 · 26 January 2019]

I was on a Marvel marathon recently. I was watching Civil War when I suddenly remembered a Chris Evans movie called "Gifted".

So, I decided to watch it today and I was moved to tears by what I saw.

"Gifted" is directed by Marc Webb, whose Spider-Man films I actually enjoyed. His direction is focused and heartwarming in nature here as well.

This movie is powerfully acted. Everyone does an amazing job but the stars here are obviously Mckenna Grace and Chris Evans. They both sell the father-daughter dynamic quite well and you feel their ups and downs.

Technically, this is a great film. Some lovely songs are interwoven in between scenes and the cinematography is brilliant.

"Gifted" also raises some important questions on parenting and what's really best for a child.

Overall, a fantastic film that you should see with your child to remind yourself why you became a parent in the first place.

Both your turbulent emotions, as well as Fred the Cat, will stay with you long after the credits roll.

10/10

Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018)

One of the best of 2018

[10/10 · 21 December 2018]

2018 was a fantastic year for Tamil cinema. Imaikkaa Nodigal is another example why.

Kudos to the director for believing in the audience and crafting a detailed and twisty plot that requires attention. Usually, I can predict the twists in a movie but this one had a few tricks up its sleeve. Nice!

Performance-wise, everybody is at the top of their game. Nayanthara and Anurag create perfect tension in their scenes while Atharvaa and Rashi add some sweet innocence to the cold proceedings of the plot.

Hiphop Tamizha has brought their A-game and delivered easily my favorite album of the year. Hence, I wasn't bored or annoyed at the beautiful songs like Vilambara Idaiveli and Neeyum Naanum Anbe. His background score elevates each scene to perfection as well.

The fact that I was totally invested for the near three hours of the movie says a lot. This movie combines Atharvaa's love track and Nayanthara's crime track into an entertaining film. I loved the love scenes, fight scenes, and emotional scenes.

This isn't your average cat-and-mouse cop thriller. I would definitely recommend a watch and I guarantee you will find at least one thing to love about this brilliant film.

Sarkar (2018)

More Message than Movie!

[5/10 · 6 November 2018]

This isn't a Thuppakki, Kaththi or Mersal.

Every year, I go to the cinema to catch the latest Vijay movie and be entertained. Sarkar does this, but only to some extent.

Remember the 12-man shootout scene from Thuppakki, the coin fight scene from Kaththi, or how about the bridge scene in Theri. These are the scenes that you would eagerly discuss with friends after the movie.

But, Sarkar doesn't have anything like this. Even the comedy and romance portions are cut down here. A. R Rahman's songs always have a permanent place on my playlist and they are as energetic as ever. But their placement in this movie are questionable. Other than 'Oru Viral Puratchi', the other songs are oddly placed. In fact, Vijay himself doesn't seem to have his usual energy and youthfullness in these songs.

Keerthi Suresh and Yogi Babu are criminally underused, which is a real shame, since Yogi Babu had the biggest laughs in this very serious movie.

But what about the story?

In typical A. R. Murugadoss fashion, we have a brilliant plot, strong social commentary, and thoughtful facts thrown at us. This would make a superb article in a magazine. But, in a movie, it gets.... tiresome.

Thuppakki was about soldiers, but it's action and thrills backed it up well. Kaththi was about farmers, but it's emotions and magical moments carried it forward.

Sarkar is less of a movie and more of a social message (think : Appa ). Vijay is not given any time to have fun here. Everything he says is criticism, a call to unite, a warning to his enemies.

Oh dear, what happened to his boyish behavior? Plus, the villains here are bland. Remember the cold Vidyut Jamwal from Thuppakki. We were afraid of him. He was an equal to Jagdish.

Here, all the villains (yes there are more than one) are caricatures of real politicians instead of terrifying movie villains.

Even the fights don't have any real impact. The villains show up and get beaten up. They don't do anything evil to the hero or the people. So, every punch and kick feels.... hollow.

But, what about our star? Vijay. Well, he hardly has any fun here. He is totally serious. Every dialogue is delivered with anger, rage and urgency. It gets boring and monotonous soon enough.

Bottom-line : It is a good film that teaches and preaches, but hardly entertains.

Horns (2013)

Love Hurts Like Hell

[9/10 · 17 December 2015]

What a film! I mostly watched this movie because of Daniel Radcliffe but this movie deserves two thumbs up. Here's the highlights:

PROS:

1. It has many genres in one movie. The movie skips from genre to genre easily without effort.

2. The spectacular cast. Daniel Radcliffe is excellent as the spurned American boyfriend but so is Max Minghella, Juno Temple and Joe Anderson. They have equally good chemistry with each other and shine brightly in their respective roles.

3. The screenplay is top notch. You will not feel bored throughout this film as it keeps you hooked on every scene, be it the comedy scenes, or the thrilling ones. AND, there is a touch of emotional depth added (not too melodramatic and not too stale) to give this movie a flare.

CONS:

1. The scenes do get cheesy sometimes, but only for a few seconds each time, so you won't be too annoyed with them.

2. There isn't enough "shock effect" (a twist) at the end of the movie.

Actually, these "flaws" are probably just me being picky. Just watch this movie with normal expectations, and I GUARANTEE you will love it.

VERDICT: A DARK, THRILLING SUPERNATURAL COMEDY THAT IS SURE TO PLEASE, IF NOT AMAZE YOU, WITH A GREAT SCREENPLAY AND STELLAR ACTING.

Vedalam (2015)

Sure It's Cliché, But It's Still Great

[7/10 · 13 November 2015]

Sorry if I'm straying of topic, but in this day and time, originality is a rarity. I mean, it's not like you could make an original story in an hour, right? So, we should give this film a break and judge it for what it is, and not compare it to classics like 'Baasha'.

This film is a masala film, which is to say it is an entertainer that it uses most of the popular genres in films (action, comedy, romance, family etc.) to cater to a vast audience. Hence, we should not blame it if it is lacking in one of them.

Sure, Soori's comedy makes you wince more than it makes you laugh and Shruthi Hassan's role in this movie is less than a love interest but more of a reason to listen to a flashback from the hero and of course there are those gaping plot holes. In fact, most of the events in this movie purely occur due to coincidences.

BUT, if you are willing to overlook those errors and set your expectations low, you will enjoy this masala flick.

'Thala' Ajith does justice to his role as a loving brother and as a baddie don in this movie. Even if you hate the plot and other characters, you can count on him to make it worthwhile to watch this movie.

Lakshmi Menon portrays the character of Ajith's sister very well. Just the right amount of kindness and lovingness to make her likable and not too much until she becomes annoying.

Anirudh strikes gold with this album. Songs are top notch, especially 'Veera Vinayaka' and 'Aaluma Doluma', a number that will make you want to get up and dance away. The background music during the fight scenes are great as it gives that feeling that you are about to be blown away.

Thambi Ramaiyah should be given an honorable mention for only he could have pulled off his character's caring and worried state at the right time. This movie also has some scenes that are quite emotional but might come of as melodramatic to some (it really depends on what type of person you are).

Director Siva should focus more on the script as well as the commercial elements in his next movie. If only the script was better, this movie would have become a blockbuster as well as a critical hit and would have stayed in the audience's mind long after they have left the cinema.

However, if you are looking to be fairly entertained for about 2 hours, I suggest you to go for it and judge for yourself.

Aambala (2015)

Action-Packed Masala Family Entertainer

[10/10 · 17 March 2015]

I watched this movie with my family, and I was never bored for a second. Right from the beginning, you know Aambala is that family movie that can tick all (or most of) the boxes on your checklist. Lots of comedy? Check. Action-packed fight sequences? Check. Catchy songs? Check. All-star cast? Check. I can go on and on about the awesomeness of this movie, but some of you don't have the time to read all this, so to summarize the movie...

Pros:

1. Sundar.C's direction. The moment you see his name on a movie, you can expect lots of comedy and family entertaining elements in that movie.

2. Santhanam and Sathish's comedy. Both comedians can deliver hilarious punch dialogues and work well with their co-stars.

3.The cast. Vishal and Hansika are in their top usual form. Vishal as the somewhat serious, somewhat awkward type of guy and Hansika as the cute and bubbly girl people enjoyed seeing in Theeya Velai Seyannum Kumaru. Sometimes, however, their co-stars like Prabhu, Ramya Krishnan, Vaibhav Reddy and others steal the limelight.

4. Hip Hop Tamizha's music. The hip hop songs and background music (bgm) keep the movie alive and vibrant. I loved all the songs (especially the 'Inbam Pongum Vennila' remix). In fact, I may have to write a separate review just to explain how AWESOME they are. A brilliant effort for a debut music director. I'd say he could be the next Anirudh Ravichander.

5. The dance choreography. The songs were beautifully choreographed. The song 'Pazhagikalam' was wonderfully choreographed and edited, making it something you want to watch over and over again.

Cons:

1. Sometimes, Santhanam's and Sathish's comedy don't deliver. But, hey, not every joke can be a winner.

2. Some may regard this movie as clichè. Frankly, this isn't supposed to be an award winning movie. It's a masala family entertainer.

Conclusion:

A marvellous effort from director Sundar.C. And a must watch for those of you who are bored or looking for a good comedy to watch. And parents, want to give your kids a treat? Then , this is your movie. I guarantee your kids will thank you for letting them watch this. And, I also guarantee you will not feel bored too.

The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2014)

Best. Horror. Movie. Ever. Enough said.

[10/10 · 2 January 2015]

Don't trust all the bad reviews about this movie. To me, it was a brilliant sequel that deserves praise and applaud. The whole movie is eerie and creepy. The plot is also well written. There are a lot of 'jump scenes' in the movie as well. The cast? Spectacular.

Set 40 years after the first movie, during World War II, its about a group of children who seek shelter in the mysterious Eel Marsh House where they awaken the house's darkest inhabitant. This movie can stand by itself, you don't have to watch the first one to understand it. It is also very thrilling, as it delves deeper into the mysterious past of 'The Woman In Black'. If you're a horror movie buff who enjoys getting nearly scared to death, then this is the movie for you.

Some other reviewers wrote that some scenes were "predictable" or "laughable". These people are either crazy or they watched another movie because I found the movie unpredictable and scary. Other movies like Oculus and The Conjuring are called scary because of the 'tension' and 'suspense'. That is just garbage! Tension and suspense enter the category of thriller, not horror. THIS is what horror movies should be like.

Also, don't bring kids 9 years and under to watch this. I know it is a PG-13 movie, but it is as scary as (or even scarier) than last year's 'The Conjuring'. I do hope there will be another sequel or more movies like this.

Lingaa (2014)

Seriously...

[6/10 · 19 December 2014]

I went to see this movie with my family, I didn't have I expectations but I was totally unprepared for the horror that awaited. The movie, in my opinion, was the worst movie this year. The beginning was a bit funny, thanks to Santhanam's comedy, but the flashback was a disaster. I know there are many kind people in the world, but come on, who in their right minds would be kind enough to lose their post, all their wealth and their status all for some people whom they've never met before? Actually, I was sort of rooting for the evil British guy, because he was WAY MORE likable. Sonakshi Sinha was very irritating and the whole plot was sort of unbelievable, and not in a good way. The ending was even worse! The filmmakers rushed the end way too quickly, with not enough time to get to know the main villain all that well. I know Superstar is old, but was it necessary to put in all that jumping and prancing around. And there were loads of goofs too, such as:

1. When Lingaa is hiding with Anushka in the cupboard, Anushka accidentally steps out. The CCTV camera would have picked this up and when the police review the CCTV footage, they would have seen her. Yet, the police do not call her for an inquiry.

2. After he stole the necklace, he put it on Anushka and walked out in a crowd. There had to be some guards nearby and even if there weren't, it's very unlikely that nobody saw the huge necklace and wondered why someone would be wearing a priceless necklace in the middle of the night for no apparent reason.

3. When he was trapped in the temple, he was wearing his normal clothes, the temple is dusty and full of cobwebs and there is no source of fire. But, when the temple opened, he was wearing a dhoti, the temple looks good as new and they had fire (even if there was a fire source, it is highly unlikely that it would still function after 70 years).

4. Why did the villain bring Anushka on the hot air plane? I know he loved her and all, but by then, he had known she was on Lingaa's side, so he must have guessed she would try to stop him.

5. At the end the police forgive Lingaa for theft and just ask him to come for an inquiry because he was "royalty". He was a thief who stole a priceless jewel and eluded police capture, yet the police are very kind to him.

These are only some of the faults in this movie, so do yourselves a favor and DON'T WATCH this movie.