Avengers, End Game

Aeons to get started....But does it get started at all??

I declare that I am not entirely alien to Marvel Comic characters and enjoy Iron Man, his swagger and quirks. I certainly enjoyed the last installment of the Amazing Spiderman,his energy, curiosity, innocence and sense of adventure. I admire at the charm of Chris Evans, Captain America, the brooding eyes of Mark Ruffalo, Hulk, the ever attractive Scarlett Johansson and the domineering presence of Josh Brolin, Thanos.

My cousin clamoured for the Avengers and it was a joy accompanying a Marvel fan. The childlike enthusiasm spurred me on to watch the End Game ASAP.

We thought we were a few minutes late, but no harm seems to have been done, as, I had all the time in the world to catch up with my mails, surf around the internet, whatsapp, all for a good 60 minutes before any action began.

Significant time was spent on educating us about the difference between Time Travel and Time Heist, and for whatever reason, the makers took a repetitive swipes at 'Back to the Future'. Had they learnt something from it, they could have at least made a movie, half as entertaining as 'Back to the Future'.

For all the imagination spent on the Marketing blitz, could there have been an effort to surprise the audience to some measure?

Avenger's single interesting and pleasant sequence, happens to be, Tony Stark travelling in time to meeting his father almost at the time when he was born. It reminded me of the protagonist in 'Indru Netru Nalai', a Tamil Film, where the  protagonist travels in time , and is almost present there(if my memory serves right) to assist in his girl friend's birth.

And as with the other Avenger series, there are half a dozen profound dialogues that are peppered.

The fans where very much in love with the avenger's, the kind of reception that each of the character's got as they became alive, brought the entire theatre alive. The hooting and shouting, are a part of the pleasure of watching movies in the hall.

But Alas!!, nothing seemed unpredictable, not sure if there were any mind boggling action blocks, the music seemed louder pointing to some action, which seemed to be invisible, and I am not sure if my understanding is correct, there could have been some gnawing gaps in the plot, as I thought Loki had disappeared with his loot somewhere in between never to surface again!!!

The climactic battle is cluttered and is a free for all. I am not really sure if there is any underlying logic or tension.

When the fans love the franchise so much, I guess there has to be atleast a shred of responsibility.

I can understand the fans going crazy about the franchise, but I am not able to comprehend the rating by the critics, I am a bit confused, if I have lost my ability to process a film.

I guess we do not need superheros to save the world, we probably just need normal human beings with good old integrity.

I do not believe much in the rating system. But for a change I will rate Avenger's End games with a single Star.

VellaiPookal

A slick and smart thriller

Vivek reinvents himself as a hero, solving a case in Scenic Seattle.

IN 1979, when 'Ore Vanam Ore Bhumi', the first movie shot in the US, was released, there was so much hype surrounding its release. In 2019, US is our backyard.

Thanks to directors like Vetrimaran, Selvaraghavan and the likes, Tamil films have been localized, with the grime and dust of North Madras, the preferred environment for any criminal story. Madurai comes a close second. Our ears tingle as we are hit  hard by the rusticity of the Madurai landlords, drug lords and 'manal' mafia. Mumbai is the third preferred choice. Dharavi is the centre of the universe, with all its nook, corner and crevices, bubbling with criminal activity. And of course the messiah, no Moses, also lives with them!

Give me a break.  Aha!!! Thanks to Vivek Elangovan, transports us to the scenic Seattle. Lot of lung spaces, punctuated by those lovely buildings, scenic drives, eyes filled with flora and fauna of delightful hues!!!

Against this backdrop, is an intricately weaved investigative thriller. The movie is dedicated to the love of Tamils and Tamil Cinema. True to its word, the thriller, includes spaces for Indian(Tamil) Sensibilities, family, relationships, and a subtle touch of melodrama. In some ways, I felt despite its tension,  a charming pleasantness about it.

There are quite a few people who compare Vellai Pookal with Vettaiyadu Vilayadu, since it is set in the United States. I liked the first forty minutes of Vettaiyadu Vilayadu, but did not subscribe to the violence and gore of the film and found the movie repulsive. The biggest drawback of vettaiyadu Vilayadu, was that the conversations between Kamal and his partner were dull and drab bereft of humour.

In VellaiPookal, The verbal chatter between Vivek and Charlie is a delight with an undercurrent of  humour, tongue in cheek retorts, the subtle sarcasm all blending seamlessly with the narrative.

Mercifully there is not much of violence and gore!!!

How about Chinna Kalaivanar, Vivek? Well since he has reinvented himself as a hero, he does an about turn and becomes:

CHINNA NADIGAR THILAGAM

Yes, when a whole generation of stars have been influenced by Sivaji Ganesan,. why not Vivek

I thought specifically, Thanga Pathakkam Sivaji, surfaced, time and again. Given the fact that vivek himself  has taken swipes at Sivaji, in many of his previous films, in a most serious sequence, when Vivek, calls out for the OFFICERS, I could not help SMILING.

Vivek's eyes are noteworthy, and they do talk a little more than his verbal chatter.

Charlie don's the role normally what Vivek would and he makes your smile.

Watch it and be prepared to be surprised and deceived.

Mahendran J, Celebrating a Genius

Will always be remembered as the film maker, who helped Tamil Cinema, change its grammar irreversibly. 

Those visually alluring frames, that left you in wonderment, forever changed the way cinema was processed in Tamil Nadu.

Action spoke louder than words. The Silence had suddenly become sensational, relegating the verbal diarrhea to the background. 

The camera caressed the background lovingly and captured the emotions of the actors with a precision that left an indelible mark in your mind. The frames captured so much life, the temple tank and its fishes, those undulating pathways on the mountain ranges, the fluttering wind!!!, those uncluttered villages filled with simpletons, and damsels with their large lovely 'bindis' bathed in innocence.

If K. Balachandar can pride himself with introducing Rajinikanth, it is Mahendran who has distinction of firmly imprinting Rajini in 'Tamil consciousness'. Forty years later, we do not have a movie that showcases Rajini's talent as well as Mahendran did.

When Uthiripookal released in 1979 with a A certificate with almost no known faces, a running time of 2 hours, on Diwali day. Nobody expected the movie to be a silver jubilee. 

Forty years later, Uthiripookal feels so fresh, making you yearn for the lovely little village and its villagers. 

We will remember Mahendran for not only introducing the brevity in communication, but also ache for a portion of ourselves that we may have forever lost.

Thank you, Sir for enriching our lives beyond measure.