Spyder – Spoiler Free Review

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If you want no spoilers at all, watch this video review I made minutes after coming out of the theater.  I saw the very first show in Chicago — one of the first in the US.  I liked the film, even if it’s not perfect.  It’s not my favorite Mahesh Babu film, that would be Pokiri or Athadu maybe, but I left satisfied.  AR Murugadoss, who made one of my favorites, Ghajini, has a compelling script.

The backstory of the villain is especially creepy.  It’s a story I’ve certainly never seen before.  The romance track with Rakul Preet Singh is not the emphasis of the film, but I enjoyed the sweetness of their relationship.

Good dance numbers, but the background score is notably good, and kept the tension going in this enjoyable thriller.

I will be writing and recording another review with spoilers – coming soon.

New Solo Teaser – Dulquer Salmaan as Shekar

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I found this Shekar teaser trailer really interesting.  The look reminds me a bit of Dulquer in Charlie.  We learn the character has a stutter, which I think Dulquer pulls off really well in the small amount of dialogue shown here.

The actress Dhansika who plays Rhadika in this trailer is just stunningly beautiful.  Loved the little bit of their romance shown, and wondering what leads to her tears and him being beat up in the end of the trailer.

Can’t for this film!!

Adam Joan – Prithviraj thriller in Scotland

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Prithviraj is always great, but this thriller, Adam Joan (Prithviraj’s character’s name) is sometimes too slow paced.  It’s a debut director, Jinu Abraham, and could have used a better editor.

Why is Prithviraj doing to religious based thrillers in the same year?  When the little captive girl was revealed to be half-Jewish in the film, I actually smacked my forehead in the theater.  It’s not laughable as Ezra was, but really, a Satanic cult??!!!

 

This song from the film, EE Kaatttu, was my favorite.  It shows scenes of the romance, and especially the honeymoon tree house that I want to be in RIGHT NOW.  There is another song after the interval that brought the film to a screeching halt, just as the action had started to pick up the pace.

The slow pacing of the film, especially in the second half, is my main issue with the film.

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One standout supporting actor was Narain, who I last saw playing with Prithviraj in Classmates.  One unusual thing, for an Indian film, is that the supporting characters playing the Scottish locals were all actually decent actors.  Often, the non-Indian actors seem like amateurs.  That was a refreshing change of pace.

Mahesh Babu SPYDER full trailer released!

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Still no subtitles, but Kartik tells me Mahesh is playing the equivalent of an FBI analyst.  The romance track looks so cute!  That boulder shot down the street — THAT I was not expecting.  Hmmm.  I’ll be there first day, first show to see what it’s all about.

Jai Lava Kusa Full Trailer looks Amazing!

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This Jr NTR trailer looks really good.  I was loving all the teasers of the three characters he plays in the film, Jai (Raavan type), Lava (the nerd) and Kusa (rowdy hero?), but now this full trailer with subtitles shows me how much humor will be in the film.  So funny!

I also love the indication of the big dance numbers, since NTR is a great dancer.  Also, the fact that the characters are related is NOT a big secret to be revealed as it is in so many other double role Indian films.  That’s refreshing.

I may not be able to see this one the first few days it’s out here in Chicago (it’s out on a Thursday here) and it’s killing me.

So excited to see NTR on the big screen for the first time!

Here’s the trailer with subtitles (which don’t work inside my reaction videos.)

Arjun Reddy – An Amazing Telugu Film

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Arjun-Reddy-1Many of my commenters on my Pardesi Youtube channel encouraged me to do a trailer reaction for Arjun Reddy, and then the drumbeat started, “When are you going to review Arjun Reddy?  It’s a sensation here!”

I am SO glad these people let me know about this film.  I’m not sure I would have gone to see it in the theater otherwise, and I’ve now seen it twice in one week.  It’s that amazing.

This video review is spoiler free.  I recorded it right after I came out of the screening.

 

I was gobsmacked by the film.  It is unlike any other Telugu film I’ve ever seen.  This is no Masala film.  It is raw and real, both in the story and the dialogues.  It’s a debut director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and was made on a shoestring budget.   It’s more like an indie film in many ways, and it is a sensation.

There is an intense romance between two medical students played by Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini.  I have never seen a romance with a seduction by pulling the girl out of anatomy class to draw the muscles and bones on her hand.

arjunreddy250717_002Because they are of different castes, here family is adamantly against them.  And then the film becomes very much like a modern Devdas, but it goes places I wasn’t expecting.

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Arjun is a complete hot head, and it’s a cautionary tale on how because he cannot control his rage, he loses everything in his life.

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The actor, Vijay Deverakonda is amazing in the role.  He was willing to show himself wetting his pants during an overdose, something I can’t imagine pretty much any other Indian actor doing (well, maybe Rajkummar or Nawaz).

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The film has intense romantic kissing just as a matter of course.  The freakin’ poster is the kiss.  A politician ripped the poster off buses, and Vijay at the press conference said, “Granpa, chill.”  There’s a real attitude around the film.  It’s not trying to be a film festival art film.  It’s out there, and proud about it.

This is a five star film for me.  It’s that good. It felt realistic in the way that Malayalam films often do.  I felt like the characters were real people and I was seeing inside their lives.  I love a film like Mirchi, too, but there are no machetes or goondas or Masala elements in Arjun Reddy.  Arjun Reddy is intense about his calling as a doctor, about his romance and his friendships.

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Rahul Ramakrishna, who plays Arjun’s best friend, was my favorite secondary character of the film.  He gets some of the best comedic lines, too.  He says at one point something like “People don’t understand what it’s like to be your friend.  It’s like I’m pissing all over myself and only I can enjoy the warmth.”  Amazing!

This is a film that is going to stay with me.  I cannot recommend enough that you try to see this film in the theater with a crowd.  I know I wasn’t getting all the wordplay, but people around me were laughing a lot at the dialogues.

Margaret of Don’t Call It Bollywood and I saw the film together my second time, and then we had an on camera spoiler filled discussion.  ONLY if you’ve seen the film already, should you watch this video.  Seriously, watch the film first, so you experience for yourself.

 

Margaret has on her blog a spoiler free review here, and a spoiler review here.

 

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Movie Review Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

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ayushmann-khuranna-saavdhan-bhumi-pednekar-reunite-mangal_84baecb4-769c-11e7-83e1-68866f5cbeee (1)I enjoy the chemistry of Bhumi Padnekar and Ayushmann Khurrana together.  This is a really sweet romantic film.  I have to hand it to Ayushmann to go there.  He is the same one who tackled sperm donation in Vicky Donor, a really enjoyable film, and now stars in a comedy about erectile dysfunction.

shubha_1501590643_725x725In an Indian romantic comedy, nothing is private, and every family member has to give their two cents about the couple’s predicament.

One of my favorite scenes has Bhumi insist that Ayushmann give her the band baaja baaraat she really wants, and when he does it is a glorious moment.

67073-blkqvcljdb-1504012014Both Bhumi and Ayushmann are riding the success this summer of their last pairing, Dum Laga Ke Haisha.  I wish their films hadn’t been clustered so close together.  I’m not sure the public is ready to see so much of them all at once.  This film has a lot of charm, and it’s definitely worth a trip to the theater.

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Hindi Trailer Roundup

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I am really looking forward to Varun Dhawan in Judwaa 2.  This seems like the perfect kind of comedy for him.

 

Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi seems like a good fit for Rishi Kapoor, but I’m not familiar with the actor playing his son.

 

Newton, starring Rajkummar Roa, will be the opening night film for the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.  I’m not going to be able to attend that screening, but Rajkummar will be staying through the weekend and doing a Q&A for his film Trapped.

 

Saif Ali Khan is remaking Jon Favreau’s Chef.  This is a good fit for him.  I’m going to enjoy seeing Saif as a father onscreen.

Telugu Trailer Roundup

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Here’s a roundup of some of the latest Telugu trailers.  I think I’m most looking forward to Chay Akkineini’s newest film.

 

Rana Daggubati is center in this trailer for what may be a web series.  Looks like a cross between Mr. Robot and Scandal:

 

Meda Meeda Abbayi:

 

 

Mahanubhavudu starring Sharwanand and Mehreen Kaur, directed by Maruthi.  I like this nerdy persona by Sharwanand, an actor new to me.

 

Paisa Vasool just looks insane.

 

Ravi Teja in Raja the Great:

 

I’m also really psyched for Jr. NTR in Jai Lava Kusa.