Reviews by Reno

BBC's television mini series about spy drama of pre world war II tension. Seen lots of lots of world war movies but this one commence before the beginning of the war where spies from different region of Europe collide each other. So it is a cat-mouse game with many dangerous path ahead. It was a beautifully shot movie with sufficient art structure to construct curiosity in both the episodes. Definitely not like James Bond movie with lots of strong action sequences. I don't know about this book so I can't remark any differences between two. It had all the ingredients like romance, friends, betrayal, family and threats that a man as a spy who can go through in reality.

It was based on the book which set in October 1937 in the capital of Poland, Warsaw. A French spy Jean Francois Mercier is assigned to look the situation on the German border. As his first report confirms something big is getting ready by the Hitler which creates diplomatic tension between the neighbouring countries especially Poland. So he hires some people to do inside jobs and that put many in danger. So constantly the locations change when characters start to explore in the cities between Warsaw, Paris and Berlin. Between all this he meets a young French woman and instantly fall in love with her. When the country near to be at war, what are their plans and how it can be executed is the rest which unfolds in an exceptional manner.

It is a television series and does justice for what it has to be so if you are expecting like a Hollywood movie you will be let down. David Tennant was Amazing, one of his best performances I have seen. It was a bit slow in pace but if you give a day gap between two episodes it won't affect you much with the speed. You must remember it was not like todays spy movies where there is lots of equipment available to get in touch with the main office. But then it was left to that one man and he must take all the tough decision himself in the tight situations. So in my opinion this mini series about serious issue was way better than the commercial movie which deal with the same subject. I believe it is a fine adaptation so you may try if you are interested.

After 9 years from his first directional venture, 'Primer' director came up with this challenging concept in science fiction theme. I think it is an underrated movie of the year. Good story but a little confusing to understand the story flow like the movie 'The Tree of Life'. Sometime it is hard to know which comes first and what portions fit where. Especially I am still not able to get how the shooting at the end takes place.

Like I said the time and places were playing the tricks on the viewers. Giving an attention while a watch is the best one can nab what the director is wanting to tell us in his movie. That means it is not a message movie but a brain twisting science-fiction with art form connecting to the life cycle of the earth. You might remember the movie 'The Golden Compass', where every human is connected with other living creatures other than his own type. (That was fictional fantasy but this one is told on the backdrop of biology.) Yeah that is where this story is very near to get connect with to explain in a simple way, other than complicated ones like 'The Tree of Life' and '2001: A Space Odyssey'.

The movie is visually enjoyable because of a fine photography which looked a lot like a dream that happening right now. So the only question I am eager to ask the director is as capable to narrate the story with a powerful tool then why should he take a decade to make another one. I believe he will come up with something extraordinary than his first two in very short time. I don't care if he on boards big name actors or fresh faces but looking forward to his next venture. Looks like he's the man to look out in the future from the director's chair.

This is the second time I was tricked and cheated. When I saw the movie 'John Tucker Must Die' I was in the same state as now where they deceived me by telling John will die but he never was gonna. So you know now that John is not going to die. The title from both the movies are metaphorical, that's all. Okay, now we gonna talk about this movie. I must say this B movie impressed me a lot. Who are all these people, I really don't know anyone other than super cool Paul Giamatti. His addition to the story boosted the movie. In fact his role was a similar one to Rafe Spall in 'Life of Pi' and Christian Slater in 'Interview with the Vampire'.

A character called Dave recalls his recent unexpected adventures with his best friend John to a reporter. So as he begins to unfold the story it frequently flip in and out between two dimensions. Like, the invention of evil creatures so the Dave must perform a series quests that comes across behalf of the human race.

Remarkably the movie was shaped with two unknown actors. For that we must hail the director, he did what should have been done. Most of the filmmakers could have been tumbled and collapsed but this director managed to bring the best of it. If you ever wondered to give it a try to B movie then its the perfect time and perfect product. So put your faith in it and go for it.

7.5/10

I was thinking the first century of the third millennium where the meaning of cinemas is rewrote. There's been lots of chances we can see and one of those were the beginning of adult-comedies. Recently 'Ted' made lots of waves among movie goers. So here comes the another one from the actor of '50/50' who also debuted as director. Making first is always challenging one, not many had tasted success but he handled very nicely his crew as well the co stars. It was a nice script based on today's world and the path the youngsters moving.

The story centers around a character Jon who lives by his own principles. He does everything like every other guy like watching porn and masturbating. One day he meets his girl and begin to give his full commitment to it. Sometime he has to break his rules to obtain from opposite, so the remaining portions explais how far he would go and sacrifice his life for a girl.

Definitely it tells the unexpected truth to the older guys who are troubling to understand present technology that affecting people in a strange way. I was talking about online porns and this movie deals about the same theme. The trouble maker in a serious relationship, we can call it a new way of cheating. I believe this movie is not for everyone, if you are okay with adult theme as a comedy then it will be fine. I can call it a rare movie about online porn video addiction.

I had many laughs while a watch this movie. You know why, for who else it could be, none other than our Ben Affleck. He was in a negative role in the movie but for me he looked more like a chocolate boy who is ready to romance than vicious villain. I liked his acting but not as a villain. I am not doubting his capable of performance but I felt the character should have been replaced with another actor. Then the movie would have been in a different position than now.

Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton were okay, at least the best parts came from theirs portions. The movie had a good and convincing story but not freshly written script for this particular movie. Throughout it was predictable including the end twist so it is hard to amaze you with its content in anywhere of the length and breadth of the movie. In a simple word to explain the movie, it is like a chess game where two players move their pawns carefully to gain victory over another. The good thing was the locations which are out of usual United States and minus was there's no thrilling stunts or scenes except the ending. For me it was okay movie, can be tried out once, only if you are interested but I won't recommend it to skip either.

6.5/10

I never liked either movie from 'Percy Jackson' duology. If it was released 20 years ago it would be considered a good movie but now it is children movie like 'Narnia' series. I am not denying anything about graphics, it was good though but the movie has not pleased me hence I decided to put into an average or below list.

There's noting much special about the movie to praise. As usual the young team of demigods who are select begin quest to save their kind from rise of an evil force. So the path they choose to accomplish the mission will get affected by the obstacles which they must face. With all these troubles, takes them to the grand ending where the final exciting visual fx feast comes in a quite nice show.

Like the first one, I already forgot once I finished watching it. So won't remember much to tell about it, decided to conclude my review of it here itself, right now...! That's it then!!!

'The Vow' meets 'The Hangover'

Actually it was based on a true incident which happened back in the 90s. Brilliant movie, never thought a Tamil movie can have a market for theme elements like it, I mean the movie had no songs especially duets in foreign locations, no known actors or a director and missing usual commercial masalas that we usually see in a Tamil movie. It all starts with a single sequence of comedy theme and takes to a couple of situations.

I had an awesome time with this non-stop fun, especially expressions were simply great, everyone was good, Vijay Sethupathi had a great last year (20012) with back to back hits, just like 'Pizza' he excelled in his part, hope he continues his good work. I had lots of 'Laughing Out Loud's during a marriage reception scene.

Hope many movies like it make on his way in the future. It is one of a top Tamil movie from the year 2012. Recommended, don't miss it especially if you know the language you will have wonderful time just like I had.

'The Adventures of Yellow Dog' meets 'My Neighbor Totoro'. There's a reason to say that. This movie is very much similar movie to 'The Adventures of Yellow Dog'. The place where the movie shot was kinda reminds the village with trees and paddy fields from the movie 'My Neighbor Totoro'. The brother-sister combo as well resembling two sisters. If you liked these two titles you would love 'A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies' for sure.

Definitely it is an inspiring movie. But many scenes were not realistic especially rescue operation stuffs looks clearly a fake with amateur stunts. Just like seeing a commercial movie where story had caliber to deliver a fine product. I think they missed as opportunity to make this movie as an wonderful drama. For a story like this it would have been slow in pace to development required artistic presentation. But character emotions had a strong hold on the important scenes. Yes it is a tearjerker movie with lots of commercial elements.

The little girl and the dog's performances were excellent and in few parts grandfather role as well. There were sufficient humours to make us laugh in few portions. As they say it was based on real events but a fiction story. The story follows as a family with two kids and a father and a grandfather who live in a village next to a big city which divided by a river. These kids find a puppy which comes across from nowhere on their way to go and play in a place called moon. With a struggle they finally get a permission to raise the dog. The days go on, after a few years the village get hit by a major natural disaster which disconnects from the outside world. The rest of the story tells how the people who were trapped get escaped from the tragedy.

[Spoiler alert] I was a little disappointed for the product's final output and I could not resist mentioning it. This movie traveled in one direction, sometime that did not make any sense. Like, this story had no surprises and only had a happy ending as expected. On two occasions they had a chance to make a deep emotions by eliminating characters like the movies 'Hachiko' 'Red Dog' and 'Star Watching Dog'. Sentiments easily attract families so they missed to do that magic.[Spoiler alert]

There's two reasons why you must see the movie. If you are a animal or dog movie fan you should go for it. And of course if you like emotional stories that mean a tearjerker movie fan then it the right movie to choose.

The third and final movie of the 'Paradise' trilogy which sets in the summer holiday. Just like the previous two movies this one happens to the parallel timeline but in different locations with different theme and people. The movie which unfolds the story of 'Hope' of a teen girl and her summer vacation at weight loss camp. She was left there by her aunt and before that by her mother in her aunt's house. So all the three movies were interconnected by the characters from one family. And this, the last movie of the trilogy briefs the teenagers issues especially the fat ones and their perspective.

The 13 year old Melanie was sent to the weight loss camp in her summer holiday as per the agreement from her mother. As she joins the others from the camp her innocence seemed to be gone. Unexpectedly she undergoes her first love experience and expects to lose her virginity. On the other side of the story, the friends hangout and partying at late night puts further trouble to her relationship with whom she considered her boyfriend.

This final episode of the trilogy portrayed from a girl's angle which definitely stands as the title promised. The director again did not hesitate to give his new and experimental approach to the problems faced by the people in the contemporary world. His bold attempt is what gave us the three spectacular movies which deals on the different contents and characters. Definitely such movies are not made to make money. But to show the people from different parts of the world about the direction of travelling new culture over the old. These movies are not for entertainment, if you are aware what you watching and what's the purpose of it then you won't be a disappoint much. Like I said three movies, three different locations, three different people and for three different audiences (unless you are a movie buff who watch all the three).

The second movie of the 'Paradise' trilogy which sets in the summer holiday. Like I said in my previous review all the three stories happen in the same timeline in different locations with different themes and people. This movie which unfolds the story of 'Faith' of a woman in her 50s. And her devotion and affection towards Christ. Be ready to to see drama on a serious subject within a few dark humorous.

Anna Maria is a nurse in a private hospital. In her summer vacation she begins to do a missionary work as spreading the religious awareness to the people of Austria. Some of her friends' support it by joining the prayer she orange in her home and sometime she goes door to door to every house in her neighborhood. As planned the expedition runs smoothly until her long gone husband return home which shook her. Her real faithful will be tested when he begins to interfere into her work.

It was quite a nice second movie of the trilogy. It mainly speaks about the honest dedication of a religious stuffs. Sometime clash between another religious showed in the movie was very much true. The director's approach in this second movie was very much artistic. But in scenes where he showed about sex hunger like outdoor orgy and masturbation were totally not understandable. You know, unlike the first movie 'Paradise: Love' I thought it will be exactly opposite and a pure spiritual content story. The director had a different opinion in his mind and mixed with multiple sub-contents. In the end, the ends of both the movies were not much distinct but the audience will be divided especially adult and spiritual theme fans.