We skipped Helicopter Eela and saw this instead, and it was such a good decision! I recommend you do the same.
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2009 Week: The Most Important Malayalam Film of the Year, Ritu
What an interesting movie! I read that it is supposed to be the start of the new age films, but it actually reminded me a lot more of Aalkkoottathil Thaniye. And other films I’ve seen from that classic 90s/late 80s era.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Nayakan, Pellissery’s First Film, It’s All About the Faces
Woo, I only have one Pellissery film left to watch! And also, booo I only have one Pellissery film left to watch. I will be so sad when it is over.
Continue readingJallikattu Review (SPOILERS): This is the Reason I Stay Off Social Media
What a brilliantly disturbing movie. If you are a film person, someone who admires camerawork and inventive images and so on, you can watch it. If you are someone who tends to get emotionally involved in a film, maybe stay away, there are some very disturbing emotions here.
Continue readingJallikattu Review (No Spoilers): A Nature Documentary With “Man” as the Subject
Look at that, I’ve now seen almost all Lilo Jose Pellissery’s movies! And it’s not easy, they take a lot out of you, these films.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Two Premam Reviews Combined into one to make a 3rd. Like His Love Stories!
This is gonna be weird. I wrote a Premam review very early on. And then I came back and reviewed it a second time. And now I am going to put these two reviews together into one awkward review.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: 9, Forbidden Planet With a Twist
Well, this is an interesting idea! That possibly was not explored as fully as it could have been explored. But hey, Prithviraj wears glasses and is unshaven, it’s still worth watching.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Peranbu, The Messy Reality of Parenting
An odd movie. Good on Mammootty for agreeing to be in it and doing such a good job. Good on the filmmakers for not pulling any punches with the reality of what they were showing while still being hopeful.
Continue readingBrothers Day Review (SPOILERS): A Brother for Women Who Really Need One
I saw a movie! In theaters! And stayed awake the whole time even though I was up way too late last night and it got kind of dull there in the middle and I really wanted to go to sleep.
Continue readingBrothers Day Review (No Spoilers): A Movie For People Who Really Really Love Prithviraj
I did it! A Malayalam movie opening day in theaters! I am so tired. I almost fell asleep in the theater, but then I didn’t. And now I have achieved things and I can write the review.
Continue readingFemale Films Week: Ohm Shanti Oshaana, A Happy Grand Finale
I love this movie so so so so much. And so far as I can tell, everyone who has watched this movie has also loved it so so so so much. It’s just lovable!
Continue readingFemale Films Week: 22 Female Kottayam, Finally a Woman Fights Back
This movie is super satisfying to think about after all the depressing movies we have been talking about, and the ones that tried to make a sexual power relationship something romantic and nice instead of dangerous and unhealthy.
Continue readingNRI Week: Jacobinte Swargarajyam, the Dubai Immigrant Experience
I have no idea why I love this movie so much. But I do! And when I started thinking about NRI Week, I knew I had to include it.
Continue readingNRI Week: Ranam! Desi Moter City
Shoot, I think I just reposted this a little bit ago. Oh well, it is still good and worthy of getting the review posted again.
Continue readingNRI Week: Ivide, An American Family Story
This is such a fascinating wonderful movie, so many themes woven into it, and no easy answers. And tragically, it is impossible to find with subtitles. Looks like it might be available through WorldCat (the extreme University version of inter-library loan) and on the UK, India, and Australia amazon on DVD. And also, Movie Time Video, the wonderful New Jersey store that offers rent-by-mail. So if you live in one of those three countries, or have access to WorldCat, or a rental account with NJMT, you can watch it! Otherwise, you can struggle along with the Einthusan no-subtitles version. Thankfully a lot of the dialogue is English, so you might be able to make it work.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Ranam, Desi Detroit
Well, I know at least one of you also watched this, so the two of us can have a nice discussion about non-toxic masculinity and Prithviraj being hot.
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Sakhavu, for May Day
I finally watched it! Ages after it came out. For those of you who like Communists/Communism, this is a great movie for gently explaining the importance of collective action. For those of you who like “cuddly” type men (you know who you are!), this is a great movie for giving you nice sofa like Nivin striding around with his big arms and trunk.
Continue readingHappy May Day! Iyobinte Pusthakam, My Favorite Fahad Faasil Movie
Okay, I am slowly getting to understand Kerala history. I just need to watch Pathemaari and Celluloid, and I will know everything! This movie covered me for 1900 through 1946. Also, the British were really horrible, weren’t they?
Continue readingFriday Malayalam: Joseph, A Story of a Life and How it Ends
Despite einthusan’s best efforts to foil me, I did in fact manage to start and finish this movie. And it only took me 5 days of trying! To be fair to einthusan, it is also the fault of my consistently weak internet. It can handle the fancy well-designed streaming sites, but einthusan puts it under a bit of a strain.
Continue readingSunday ReRun: Annmariya Kalippilannu, a Little Girl Goes After Everything She Wants However She Has To!
This is such a great movie, for once the kind of amoral no excuses whatever it takes attitude of the action hero, shows up in a tiny little girl
Continue readingMonday Malayalam: Kumbalangi Nights, The Freedom of the Outcasts
I saw it! Thanks to all of you telling me I had to! And there are some truly beautiful moments. But it’s also very Malayalam, isn’t it? Any other film industry, this would be a tragic gritty story. Malayalam industry, it’s feel good!
Read morMalayalam ReRun: City Of God, My Favorite Malayalam Film
This is a very long and detailed review, as is appropriate for such a deep and complex movie. So, prepare yourself! Strap in for a lot of detail and discussion!
Continue readingWednesday Malayalam: Aravindante Athidhikal, The Power of the Mother
A nice pleasant not terribly challenging movie. Which somehow is what I always expect from Vineeth Sreenivisan starring movies. And a very nice movie to think about and maybe watch as we all worry about Sreenivisan in the hospital.
Continue readingEnte Ummante Peru Review (SPOILERS): The Family That Chooses You is Sometimes Better Than the Family You Are Given
I am very excited to write this review because I am hoping you can help me figure out this plot! I almost have it straight, but not really.
Continue readingEnte Ummante Peru Review (No Spoilers): Tovino is a Sweet Muscular Gummy Bear
This was a random impulse. No new Hindi film was playing this week, I was planning to see the NTR film but then a big snowstorm came up so I wanted to get home earlier and this film was playing at 5:15. Anyway, so glad I saw it!
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