Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

ruganblue I personally feel that this movie has paved the path for the "END" of the golden era of ManiRatnam.Every Indian knows the capability and brilliance of ManiRatnam. Though he has had some duds at the box office even in his previous attempts no one has doubted his mastery over films.But I am sure that every loyal "Mani fan" or for that matter any viewer expecting quality movies would be thoroughly disappointed on watching this "CRAP".A film will never be rated as "GOOD" for any individual(s).This film boasts of a great technical crew...Rahman , Shreekar Prasad, Santosh Sivan,Manikandan,Sameer Chanda....and the list goes on.I have to accept the fact that every one has been very professional and loyal giving their 100% for the film except for two ....."ManiRatnam" and his beloved and so called brilliant wife "Suhasini".The most important aspects of films in India are " Story, Screenplay, Dialogue". The story of the film is a known one and hence no point on discussing it....though there could have been some interesting changes which would have made a familiar story ,interesting.Then the screenplay.I heard this "crap" by one of the members of technical crew after the film failed at box office ,saying "Mani wanted the viewers to have their own interpretations "- meaning ... the viewers were not good enough to understand the technical brilliance of Mani.WHAT A CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!Then come to the outrageous and melo-dramatic,old fashioned ,irritating ,bla bla bla....dialogs.This would have summed up my point.I assume.The funny part is "SHE IS IN THE LINE TO DIRECT YET ANOTHER CRAP". OMG!!! save people..Now at last to acting.I am personally very disappointed to discuss this part at end....so has been the negatives of the film. Though the characterization of the actors is still a question mark there is no doubt in the part played by the actors.Vikram and Aish were equally brilliant and awesome and the chemistry really did work well.And others too did justice on their part.This is the first time ... I don't feel sorry for being critical about the film and the technical crew.So much were the expectations!!!!!!

Goli Gundu Raavanan, is it really an open ended movie? Let's discuss! Prerequisite: Should have watched the movie Raavanan. As Mani (The Director) puts it, this is a story between the hunted (Ragini), the hunter (Veera), and the haVED (Dev). The movie clearly shows that in the eyes of Ragini, the opinion about Veera is a continuum, moving towards positive shade. But what is the limit of this continuum? Is it mere affection towards Veera or something more? How does Dev's portrayal travels in Ragini's perspective? Does Dev carry "the lovable husband" tag always until the train/trick scene? Although Dev has a negative shade* even before that, we need not assume that Ragini be aware of it, as she was purposely (read cleverly) avoided in/about those instances. So, to answer the key questions above here is an interpretation of the climax where Ragini waits for and meets Veera. In this scene, Ragini's intent to meet Veera is to clarify/question what Veera said to Dev and why. Veera gives his version of the bridge fight. In the fight, Veera has an upper hand and could have killed Dev, comfortably. He knows that Dev could come back and get him later. But for Ragini's sake he saves Dev. Valuing Ragini more than his life. On the other hand, Dev has been depicted in getting Veera through any means, including by tricking Ragini. Among these characteristics, obviously Veera is expected to stand out in Ragini's heart. That is the moment of love, the one curbed by Ragini for Veera until, which is emphatically expressed by her in Veera's words, "Buck Buck Buck Buck, Buck Buck!." So, here is where Mani shows that the pendulum (Ragini's dilemma) swing towards Veera. Eventually Veera gets killed, in spite of Ragini's effort to save him. To put this love in poetic words, when Vee"RA"ends, "RA"gini begins. So, the limit of the continuum is the opening up of the flood gates of love by Ragini towards Veera through "Buck Buck Buck Buck, Buck Buck!". Moreover, Veera's plead for Ragini's love is uttered through the song/words "Usuray Pogudhey" initially. In the end, Veera understands/complements Ragini's "Buck Buck …" by saying, "Usur Vandhurichu". Yes, the limit of the continuum is "LOVE"! This movie is definitely worth your "Buck Buck Buck Buck, Buck Buck!"***** Scenes depicting negative shades of Dev: 1. Sakkarai, the mediator gets killed by Dev. 2. Vennila's husband when pleading for life (hand)in excruciating pain, being tortured by Dev, than being offered help. 3. Dev's continued association with Hemanth, although the latter is responsible for Vennila's rape.Some Nu(is)ance allusions to Ramayana? 1. Raptor in Ragin's boat:Garudan? 2. Bridge, Ram-Sethu bridge? Dev/Ram-Sethu/Vikram/Veera bridge? *END*

dude-spen We know Mani Rathnam can handle epics quite easily and can twist it quite interestingly. Dalapathy starring Rajnikanth and Mamootty is the finest example. That is what I expected when I went to watch Raavanan. But watching the movie, I realized the story was never the center of attraction neither the direction of the maestro. What moved the movie along was the cinematography. Santosh Sivan and Manikandan have so effectively captured the beauty of the southern forests in the most mesmerizing manner.Coming back to the story, we find nothing new added to the epic except for the fact that the good has now turned evil and vice-versa. At the end of the movie, after witnessing the glorious work of the cinematographer, especially the climax scenes, we sense something missing altogether and the truth beckons on us that there is no credible storyline to the whole affair.SP Dev (Prithviraj) is on the look out for Veera (Vikram), a notorious tribal lord, a Robin Hood for many. He rules with his own laws and methods and this angers the police but are unable to do anything to capture him. To assist him there is Singarasu (Prabhu) and Chakkarai (Munna), his brothers. But soon something happens (revealed only in the second half) that makes Veera so revengeful that he kidnaps Dev's wife, Ragini (Aishwarya Rai). The rest of the story revolves around the Dev trying to rescue his wife with the help of Gnanapraksham (Karthick), a forest guard. The story moves on when the monstrous Veera starts a liking for Ragini.There was a time when I watched Nayakan, Iruvar, Roja, Dalapathy all with great enthusiasm and what I received from these movies were really great satisfaction as a movie buff. But watching this film with the same enthusiasm I felt robbed off all my money I wasted on the tickets. This is not a bad film but it is clearly not what I expected from a Mani Rathnam film. His direction has not proved anything with this movie. The old Mani Rathnam had style and substance in his direction but now what remains is just the style. Style alone cannot pace a thriller forward. The new Mani Rathnam has not provided anything interesting in this movie. It seems like the crux of the whole movie lies on the camera work.The acting of Vikram and Aishwarya Rai has to be applauded. They have given one of their finest performances. Vikram is like a vengeful monster who has kidnapped wife of the God-like figure on earth to settle a personal score. His performance is one of the highlights of the movie and which makes it watchable. It is a wonder we see such talent and beauty together and that is Aishwarya Rai; though her beauty is not of any relevance in the "plot" she has scored with a good performance. Prithiviraj as the tough cop has really matured into a fine actor. He has given a nice performance along with the other big names. Prabhu and Karthick have utilized their time on screen portraying their characters with ease and subtlety. Priyamani with her small cameo has given a memorable performance.But all this taken, at the end, we find the story to be clichéd and hope that the screenplay would have been better. The screenplay and dialogues penned by Suhasini Mani Rathnam does not show any ease or effectiveness probably because the story line is weak. By the interval time we feel exhausted at all that has happened but still we realize nothing has moved along. Second half proves better because of the short stint of Priyamani on screen and the final 15 minutes of the movie. And those 15 minutes is the only part in the whole movie that show "some" shades of Mani Rathnam direction. The characterization is so weak we never get time to realize the good has turned evil and vice versa or is it because it was so obvious from all the promos.A note on the music - AR Rahman is not at his best...but cannot say it was bad. It's okay and goes with the film smoothly.The plus point of the movie is cinematography, acting and the last 15 minutes….The movie deteriorates because of the absence of a fine story line and a poor screenplay which I believe are the most important materials in a film.It is not one of the best Mani Rathnam films and it cannot be called a thriller as there is no remarkable storyline to boast off and excite us. Watch the movie to see some good acting. But mainly, watch the movie to witness the amazing locales where the movie was shot through the eyes of Santosh Sivan and Manikandan, especially the last cliffhanging fight between good and evil.~ dillitalkies.blogspot.com ~

kimian First things first. 'Raavanan' is not what everyone thought so. It isn't a contemporary adaptation of Ramayana. Instead, it's the Valmiki's epic meeting Shakespeare's Othello. The master filmmaker Mani Ratnam has apparently taken inspiration from these greatest works to narrate a gripping story in his own inimitable style.'Raavanan', right from the day it went to floors, has been rising a huge hype and hoopla. And expectations soared a never before high before its release. Does the end product lived up to all? To this question, the answer is- With a huge star cast chipping in with their best, mesmerising shots, crisp editing and riveting music, 'Raavanan' ends up satisfying the appetite of the masses.It has been a gripping narration from the very first frame. After 'Sethu' and 'Pithamagan', another side of Vikram's acting credentials is exposed. As Veera, he is at free touching almost every aspect of acting.Aishwarya is pretty and comes out with her best. Prithviraj and Priyamani have taken the challenge of being part of a Mani Ratnam's film and delivered their best. John Vijay walks away doing a negative role.Karthik as forest guard fits the role to T. His expression and body language are something interesting. Equally attracting is Prabhu. Munna as Vikram's younger sibling gets a meaty role to play, which he utilises well.The shots especially in the huge jungle, water falls, hot chase and stunts have been canned at their best. The tone and texture is amazing. All credits go to Santosh Sivan. Rahman's music is the highlight and it gets more sheen with the way it has been shot. 'Veera Veera...' and 'Usure Pogudhey...' still chime in our hearts even as we walk out of theaters.Running for little more than two hours, 'Raavanan' will go down in the history of Tamil cinema as one of the finest and best. Cheers Madras Talkies and Mani Ratnam for rendering a class movie that is racy and entertaining too.Watch only in theaters...............