The movie is self indulgent. There has been no effort to adapt the story. Instead the play has been translated verbatim. The parts where it (the play) was modified actually made the story lose its thrust.
There is distinct two parts to the Solness (Samson) character in the play. The part before Hilda appears where he is in control and how he changes after she appears. The movie has lost that subtlty. Mohanlal (and most of the other actors) appears to have done no homework and has not understood the play at all. I remember reading an interview where Mohanlal said he is a director's actor. But if the director is not skillful enough to communicate what he wants, he is better off trying to intrepret the script according to his lights. Instead we get to watch him sleepwalk and mouth dialogs.
The direction and treatment was like a school play and not worthy of the medium.
I am sure there will be a lot of oohs and aahs until someone dares to say that the King is naked.
RE:Self Indulgent
by Kakes on Aug 25, 2008 08:07 PM
Bit taken aback by your comments on K.P. Kumaran. So i recommend you to watch Athithi to know who K.P. Kumaran is... have not seen the film.. so preserving my comments later... But definitely the subject has great potential.. so does the crew... so it's a tough job to screw it up... hope my hopes wont be shattered.. it was a great disappointment earlier when i watched ore kadal with great expectations, as the film was shades below the hype media and reviewers created...
RE:Self Indulgent
by Sreejith Kalyat on Aug 26, 2008 09:27 AM
Will certainly try to watch Athithi. Thanks for the tip. Hope you post your reaction after watching the movie.
Aakashagopuram classic by all means Albert Simson is one of the most powerful characters created in malayalam cinema over the last few years...As Mohanlal himself said, there is immense number of shades to his character...and mohanlal's portrayal of this character, is just magical...the subtlety he express in each of his movement...the body language...the way he brings out all those restrained emotions..... His involvement with character is simply awesome....he seems to have enjoyed playing every bit of this character...Movie is completely about this one character. From beginning to the end.
Now, coming back to the movie...KPK had a very challenging task before him. To make a convincing and faithful adaptations to one of the world's greatest writer's masterpiece work couldn't have been that easy. The point is that KPK have done masterfully. He was completely successful in keeping the essence and depth of the original...The movie is just 1hr 45 min and there is not even a single unnecessary scene.
Technical brilliance of the film adds to its perfection. All the technical achievements make sure that finally we can proudly show one of our malayalam movie, to the world. Camera and art was done brilliantly. Felt some minor faults with the editing, which however is easily forgettable...
RE:Mohanlal GOD of Acting
by Aditya Krishnan on Aug 25, 2008 06:23 PM
The music is yet another highlight. The part music played in creating the mood required for the film is inevitable. The films music will surely stay with you...
The film is highly symbolic and there is definitely a lot of things in this small film...it all depends on how you look at it...like all classics...the film will be rewarding only if you are ready to give it its due respect.. I heard many people complaining here, that the dialogues where not good....to all those guys, I just have one small advice...you guys are searching at the wrong place...you watched the entire movie from the wrong perspective...When you are watching AG, be inclined to accept an international genre of art and cinema. Be ready to get enlightened. Be ready to accept true art... Malayali audience always cry for change (‘variety’ is the word). Now, I certainly doubt such intentions. What do we need a positive change or a negative one. I’ am not sure. This movie wouldn’t be a box office success. But true movie lovers should watch this film (with the right inclination). And for that man, Mohanlal. Just to realise how blessed we all are. As for me, this movie was far beyond my intellect, and hence was a great enlightenment. Mainly because, rarely does such things happen in Malayalam. To make a final verdict, I would like to repeat that, Aakshagopuram is one of the best “drama”adaptation in Malayalam film history.
this paresh c palicha had earlier given annan thampi & maayavi three stars. those movies were crap. in his view those crap movies are better than this classic 'aakashagopuram'.
i almost fell asleep in the first half..and had to actually walk out at interval..wasted effort..could have been more dramatically done..with a gr8 complex storyline. instead i felt i was watching a play
RE:booorring
by Rix Ravi on Aug 26, 2008 12:10 PM
Mayur...wat kind of movies u think is gud..if dis movie is not good....I think des r ur suggested super hits and good movies of ur standard....Annanthambi,roudram,balaram vs taradas,bus conductor,thurruppugulan,bhargavacharitham naalam khandam,......?????
The story looks like it fits todays superstars perfectly and hats off to Mohanlal for playing these kind of roles. Unlike some great supertars who go to computer graphics to get thier wrinkles removed and romance 18yr olds and do the same thing for youngsters as said in this movie..Great Lal
I am not sure how far the movie was effective. The lingo used uin Akashagopuram was all but natural. There have been better movies where Mohanlal and Srinivas have done their best. However, the dialogue delivery in this case appeared to be a put on..rather than natural.Not sure if the director deliberately wanted that.On the whole unless you have read ibsens play its difficult to make out of the story. IT could have been crafted beteer.Guess the director must take a leaf out of Evano Oruvan a film based on a marathi play ion order to translate a play into a two hr movie.
