movie – Page 3 – The Chaos Within

I’ve watched the movie yet again – I’ve lost count as to how many times I’ve watched it, but it, as always, leaves me hollow, pained and angry.

It really is surprising how an unknown actor, after a mind-blowing performance as your favourite fantasy character, can suddenly become an inspiration; an idol. That’s exactly what happened with Gary Oldman. I didn’t know about him before Batman and Harry Potter. Having been lucky enough to read the books before watching the movies, easily my favourite character was Sirius Black. Of all the stories I’ve read post Harry Potter, I can still confidently say Sirius is my favourite. I’m not joking; I’m totally Sirius!

The moment I read the episode of Sirius’ death, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t ever watch the movie. The book and the words haunted me and I knew the movie wouldn’t be better. It proved worse. A few months later I, just like every other fool, thought I was ready to see the movie at last. I needed some time after the book and I indeed took it. Only, my calculations of being mature enough to handle it, were pathetic.

After his appearance in the 3rd movie, Gary had really made a mark on me. I was enjoying that moment when you realize that an actor did total justice to the character himself. Yes, I did enjoy the feeling. Having expected to see Gary as Sirius in the fourth movie, I was terribly disappointed. But no matter, I told myself, I’ll be soon watching part 5 and I’d see Sirius again. By this time, he felt like family.

When I did see him, I was utterly awed. He looked nothing less than handsome. What I liked most about Sirius is the fact that he turned a blind eye towards others’ view of himself. He wore decent robes and looked decent but underneath all those niceties that mischief and spark in the eye were still intact, unscathed. And I felt Gary had incorporated every cell of Sirius’s non-existent body into his own, and I adore him for it.

When I finally got round to watch the 5th movie, I honestly believed that I was prepared, despite knowing that it would be difficult to witness. I was mistaken. It wasn’t difficult; it was heart breaking. Every time I saw Harry and Sirius in the same frame (which wasn’t many) I could feel the powerful rush of emotion in my veins.

The movie being well poised, when the sad part came, I was first moved and then infuriated, which I feel even to this day. The movie had an extra piece of exchange between Harry and Sirius moments before Sirius’ death. When Harry artfully disarmed Lucius Malfoy, Sirius appreciated him, “Nice one James”. Those were his last words.

Sirius addressed Harry as James; Harry’s father and Sirius’ best friend. Sirius saw James in Harry while Harry saw his godfather as the closest he felt to a father. The brief relationship between them is one of the most beautiful relationships in the story. Sirius’ last words made my insides squirm. The old friendship story between James, Sirius and Remus ran amok in my head.

In less than a minute after this came Sirius’ death. That was irritating. Very.

Just after a wonderful scene from his own imagination, the director and the crew, did ultimate injustice to Sirius’ death. I’ve already mentioned (more than once, I think!) that Sirius is my favourite. Insulting his death got my blood boiling.

As far as I know, Sirius was never hit by a Killing Curse. It was another spell that threw him off-balance, right through the veil.The movie didn’t show it that way though. They seemed to think that a killing curse would’ve been interesting. So they made it that Bellatrix had cast a killing curse, thus killing him even before his body floated through the veil.

Sirius was not such a fool to let his wand-arm hang loosely by his side and catch a killing curse squarely on his chest, and I feel the movie had been filmed so. Watching it, with the knowledge that it shouldn’t have been that way, felt like Sirius’ character was incomplete.

I know I am a bit late in watching the movie. The internet is probably scattered with reviews about the movie. But I really had to write about it.

I watched the movie, with my family (minus my brother).

Half an hour into the movie, I had planned to pen down my views. From that second, I began analyzing every scene, every move and every word. And I can only say: WOW!

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen beauty in a movie. Beauty in the sense, natural scenery. As the movie continued, I mentally made note of what I wanted to write.

But be warned!

You won’t find a clear review here. I am not going to be neutral. What you’ll find here is a sheerly biased views. You are free to disagree.

About the movie. Yes. I saw Raavanan years ago. I was stunned by the landscapes. Kumki and Prabu Solomon have given the Raavanan crew a heavy run for their money’s worth.

There aren’t many breathtaking clearings in Kumki’s woods in comparison to Raavanan’s. Still, the trees, trees and more dense trees give the viewer such a feeling of longing. Sometimes it even made me wonder if there are any such forests left. Such was the greenery.

There was one remarkable waterfall in the movie. (Jog falls in Karnataka) The real effect was brought in front of the eye because of the angle and height in which it was pictured. Just brilliant. Every where throughout the movie, the cameraman’s eye has been purely extravagant. I’m blown away and am surely not the only one.

When has a Tamil movie survived without music? Seriously, wonderful music. Good and captivating lyrics, nice picturisation and soothing music all over.

Another highly significant factor, in my opinion, is the use of words. We could hear some rarely used Tamil terms which were good to the ear.

Well, that’s about it, I think.

No. Wait, I forgot – Vikram Prabhu.

I thought I heard someone say that this was his first movie. Hard to believe. He appeared to be easily comfortable in his role. His acting was natural, and he made me feel that no one else would have best suited the role. He just perfectly fitted in, like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

It was also good to see some decent costumes in Tamil cinema. At long last! The story demanded it, of course, yet, I liked the fact that even the songs were well covered.

From the positive side, this movie is a must have in every collection.

Now, moving on to the undesirable features of the movie. There’s not much I can say, considering that I liked the movie.

First thing that struck me as quite odd was the elephant (hero’s உடன்பிறப்பு). Nothing wrong with the elephant, but I was a bit worried that the hero didn’t speak much to his so-called brother. Unlike a conventional movie, the hero had only a limited number of people and his elephant around him. There were no friends. Naturally, I expected the elephant to be the hero’s best companion.

The lack of intimacy between the elephant and the hero was unusual. I mean, usually, when a hero is madly in love with a girl, he bores his friends. Our hero too did that, but I felt the elephant was left out of the story for some time.

Another thing I wasn’t crazy about, was Thambi Raamaiya’s comedy. Yes, there were some parts where he did well, but the not-too-great comments actually subdued the good parts.

Finally, the graphics at the beginning scenes of the wild elephant. It was a bit too obviously artificial.

Those are the negatives, from my point of view.

Well, after reading all this, if you ask me if this movie conveys a social message, the answer is , yes. It does have a message, though I am not sure if it was intentional.

~Never place others’ lives (especially the ones you love) in peril for your own pleasure. The outcome may be devastating.~

Haven’t seen the movie yet? Come back after you do and share your views.

Enough said.