Khakhee - DD review

Language:  Telugu
Genre:  Action

Karthi is one of the few tamil heroes,  who has the stamina of pulling crowds to theatres.  Khakhee is doing great business in telugu - no surprises here. After the disastrous "cheliyaa",  karthi has put onus on debutant Vinod.  Let's see how far he has succeeded?

Khakhee is about a tough cop,  DSP Dheeraj's(Karthi)  struggle to nab famous robbery killings in 1995. Vinod has tried to show the story as real as possible.  He has done his homework well and it is evident in every frame.  Out of 160 minutes, there are numerous edge of seat moments. Without a single clue, how police solves the long pending dacoity is well shown and also the history of the dacoits is shown with a proper research. Rakul is good as female lead.

Karthi is elegant as a police officer. Rakul's innocent character suits her. Abhimanyu singh, as head of the gang is scary. Except for first song, others can be avoided. But bg score is impressive.

+++++++++++++++
Interval episode.
Bus chase.
Action sequence in desert.
Realistic screenplay.

------------------------------
Karthi-Rakul's romance is little boring.

If you like dark themed cop thriller,  go grab your tickets.

My rating:  3.25/5

Last words:  Out and out cop thriller. 

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Justice League - DD review

Justice league - DD review
Language:  English
Genre:  action,  superhero

After Marvel's Avengers,  now it is DC's turn to save the world from foreign invasion. Bruce wayne aka Batman tries to unite all the super heroes to fight against Steppenwolf and his parademons. Steppenwolf seeks to unite the mother boxes,  which is the source of super power that can terraform any planet.  As usual,  all the super heroes foils his plan.  Story is nothing new.

Excellent CGI effects and few scenes ties you to the seat.  Story lacks its depth and if you are critical about storyline,  it  may not impress you.  If you are a DC fan and if you love action scenes, it might impress you. 

The scene in which superman is brought to life is really weird.  Introduction scene of wonder woman is not related to the story.  Story line is highly flawed.

My rating: 3/5

Last words:  Just OK league. 

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Garuda vega:  DD review
Genre:  Action
Language:  Telugu

A well made hollywood like Tollywood edge of the seat thriller.  It's out and out Praveen Sattaru's film.  How a NIA officer busts the country's biggest scam forms the crux of the story.  Movie is highly technical with high production values. First half of the movie is a blockbuster with an unexpected and a brilliant interval bang.  Second half lacks pace with a simple climax.

After ankusam,  aahuthi,  Rajasekhar has got a very good role.  He lived up to expectations as an brave and intelligent officer and a trouble some husband.  Pooja is ok. Some scenes between pooja and rajasekhar are boring.  Other notable performers are adith and naazar.

+++++
Interval bang
Technical values
Screenplay
Action sequences
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Importance of garuda vega is not convincingly explained
Climax is flat

My rating: 3.25/5

Tollwood film with international standards

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Thor Ragnarok - DD review

Language:  English
Genre:  Action, Superhero

For Marvel fans,  this is really a colorful treat. Amazing action scenes,  powerful performances and humorous conversations and much more is Thor Ragnarok.

According to Ragnarok prophecy,  Asgard is burned to ashes by a demon,  Surtur. Thor defeats Surtur,  returns back,  thinking he has prevented Apocalypse.  But Asgard has got a real villain in the name of Hela,  goddess of death,  first born of Odin.  Hela defeats Thor and Loki,  sending them to the garbage planet,  sakaar.  Hela raises army of the dead and Fenris,  the big wolf,  by killing everyone who comes in her way.  On Sakaar,  thor has to fight hulk in the battle of gladiators,  run by grandmaster.  Thor, Hulk,  Valkyrie and Loki has to escape Sakaar to save Asgard,  in mission revengers.  Are they successful?

Hela,  played by kate blanchett is so far the most powerful villain of the Marvel. Hela is vigorous,  powerful and has got all the skills for a ferocious Villain.  Kate blanchett simply nailed it.  10/10 for Hela.  The script writers infused a high dose of comedy in almost every scene,  which made the script full on entertaining.  The screenplay is highly entertaining and thrilling with edge of thriller scenes.  9/10 for script writers/directors. BG score is refreshing,  resembling 80's songs and visual effects are top notch. Action scenes are unbelievable.  9/10 for visual experiences.  The scenes between Thor and Hulk,  Thor and Valkyrie,  Thor and Loki are of the highest quality.  9/10. I like the Grandmaster character.  His body language and psychotic attitude is fun to watch.  A brief appearance of Dr.  Strange enthralls you.

My rating:  4.5/5

Finishing touch:  This is the best movie of Thor series and one of the best from Marvel. This Thor is thoroughly entertaining. 

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Dasara Winner??

Dasara movie festival started with the release of "Jai lava kusa". Trailer has garnered lots of hopes. Thanks to NTR, who has done triple role for the first time in his life. As expected, NTR has given his life time performance, especially through "Jai" character. Director Bobby has missed a golden chance of making it a blockbuster, with his pretty ordinary story and screenplay. His inexperience is clearly visible in handling the script. DSP's tunes and NTR's action completely saved the movie. May be routine movie lovers and NTR fans might like it. For other, its out and out ordinary movie.

Within a week gap, SPYder released. Trailer didn't give any hopes for superstar fans. Cheap visuals in the trailer let down the expectations of fans. Yet there is only one hope, Murugadoss. Good story line, engaging narration, BG score and powerful villain role are the main positives of Spyder while songs, tamil nativity, no heroism and cheap visuals are the drawbacks. Tamil audience might like it but surely not Telugu audience. Intelligent screenplay for a normal hero would have been accepted by Telugu audience. You have a top hero of Tollywood, yet Villain gains upper hand in every scene is a Big no for Telugu audience. Only a section of audience will like it. For others, its a dud.

Late in the game , Mahanubhavudu. Trailer made us believe there is "Bhale bhale Magadivoy" like super hit movie coming up. But it's not "Like" its exactly replica of "Bhale Bhale Magadivoy". Memory loss replaced by OCD. First half is dead slow. Second half with Maruti's typical humour saved the movie. Thaman's music and second half comedy literally saved it. Otherwise it's a huge failure. 

To me, there is no clear winner of Dasara.

While first timers are making huge success in the industry with "Arjun reddy" and "Ninnu Kori", old guns are still finding their form. Established directors should do their homeworks properly, because there is a threat from the next generation.

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Arjun reddy - DD review

Language: Telugu
Genre: Love

Arjun reddy is a modern devdas, who is lost in love. Does he finds his way back!? This is the base story. Simple, ain't it? No, Arjun reddy is more than this. It's a path breaking, radical movie. It's a revolution in Telugu cinema history. Not because it has countless smooches, explicit language, bold scenes but because of the unconventional content and progressive hero characterization.

Arjun reddy is a medico, topper in the pre-medical exam and also the topper of medical college. Biggest problem is his anger management issue. He is feared by many in the college. He falls in love with a tulu girl(Preeti). After few twists and turns, he becomes a drunkard and drug addict, after his girl is forcefully  married to another guy, because of caste problem. A renowned surgeon Arjun reddy falls to a level of  a impoverished who can't afford his drink. Does he gets back his life? Does he move on?

Vijay as Arjun reddy is impeccable. The characterization of Arjun reddy is of high standards. His attitude carries throughout the movie in all scenes. His emotions are intense -be it cuddling his girl or fighting with her. Shalini as Preeti is good as innocent first year student who falls in love with hero and tries to control hero's anger. Kamal kamaraju, kanchana are family members who understands Arjun. One important character who always understands Arjun and stands for him is his friend Rakesh. He has got tremendous screenspace and a good role. Radhan's music is good. Sandeep Vanga has chosen a matured content and delivered it raw and real. Except for the cinematic climax, every frame is real.

Positives:

Vijay devarakonda
Sandeep reddy Vanga (director)
Concept
Hero characterization
Favorite line: "Suffering is personal. Let him suffer"

Negatives:

Length
Adult content might keep away certain sections of audience.

My rating: 3.5/5

Last words: Biopic of Arjun reddy.

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Anando Brahma - DD review

Language: Telugu
Genre: Horror comedy

Horror comedy is a golden goose in tollywood. Even a below average movies minted profits for producers. Success rate of this genre is high. But it is not easy to generate fun with ghosts. First timer, Mahi has taken a very novel thought and showed  in a crispier way. As the name suggests, audience will experience "anandam brahmanandam".

Story: NRI Rajeev kanakala visits India, after he hears news of the death of his parents. He tries to sell his ancestral house, haunted by ghosts. He gives a contract to Srinivas reddy to prove there are no ghosts, so that he can get a better deal. The experiences of Srinivas reddy and his friends and the story of ghosts forms the rest.

First half of the story is bland while the second half is hilarious to the core. Resemblances of Hollywood movie "the others" is clearly seen in first 15 minutes. This movie starts where "the others" ends. First half is just introduction of Srinivas reddy, Shakalaka Shankar, Vennela Kishore and thagubothu Ramesh and Tapsee. Interval Bahubali dialogue is funny. Director is very intelligent enough to link the characters of 4 lead comedians to the story. Vennela kishore's deaf and night blindness, Srinivas Reddy's reverse emotional therapy, Shakalaka Shankar's movie craze and drunk Ramesh. These weaknesses generates continuous comedy for 40 mins.
Tapsee has better roles than this. This may not be her best.

No wonder it got into profit path in 3 days. Reason being Novel concept and a miniscule budget.

++++++++++++++++++++
Shakalaka shankar's ramdev baba, k a Paul and Pawan Kalyan dialogues.
Vennela Kishore padavinodam.
Concept

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No so interesting introduction of characters

My rating: 3/5

Tagline: Their weaknesses are their strengths.

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