68. ABRAHAMINTE SANTHATHIKAL (2018)

ABRAHAMINTE SANTHATHIKAL

 Language       -       Malayalam (India)

Genre             -       Thriller

Director         -       Shaji Padoor

*ing                -       Mammootty (Derrick Abraham), Anson Paul (Philip Abraham), Kaniha (Diana)
IMDB             - 9.3/10

PLOT- Derrick Abraham is one of the most efficient Police officers in Kerala, but his negligence in a serial killer murder case makes him to suffer punishment suspension. At the same time his brother is sentenced to murder on false charges. Now Derrick must find out the truth behind his brother’s case and to regain his lost confidence of being an efficient cop.

 MY VIEW- Abrahaminte Santhathikal is the first directorial venture of the debutant Shaji Padoor, who had been worked as Assistant in many blockbuster films including Ramaleela, Pulimurugan, etc. The movie begins with darkness, rain and everything just needed for a Thriller movie, influences of Haneef Adeni is purely visible in the movie (he is also the writer in this movie). In the beginning it concentrates purely on the Christian verses and bible stories as the killer leaves clues regarding Christianity. But later it deviates from its main theme and changes into an emotional drama, you will never feel like that you are in for a Dark thriller. From that moment onwards, the movie becomes an ordinary one with clichés and expected climax. Viewers will surely feel lag in many places of the movie. It’s better to have no fights than to witness some idiotic moves. There is no thriller with twist, that is the new ideology of Malayalam industry, so considering that criteria, director ends it with some low standard twists. There are no remarkable backgrounds, but still songs have good quality.

VERDICT- Abrahaminte Santhathikal is one of the most anticipated movies of Mammootty after “Great Father”, it even carried positive reviews from almost all corners after its release. But honestly, I’m disappointed with this movie. I think it even gained much critical response than the previous Mammootty movie “GreatFather”. For those who have not experienced many movies can feel it as a good emotional thriller, but for others its not a big thing.

Trailer-https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7345930/videoplayer/vi210221849?ref_=tt_ov_vi

67. KILL ZONE 2 aka Sha Po Lang 2 (2015)

KILL ZONE 2

MARTIAL ARTS SPECIAL

Language          -        Mandarin (China)

Genre                 -        Martial Arts, Action, Thriller

Director             -        Cheang Pou-soi

*ing                    -        Tony Jaa (Chatchai), Wu Jing (Chan Chi Kit), Zhang Jin (Ko Chun)

IMDB                  -        6.8/10

PLOT- When an undercover Chinese cop “kit” is on the verge of finding the master mind behind a drug syndicate, his cover is blown and thrown into a prison in Thailand. A guard in the prison “chatchai” prevents him from escaping the prison, but at one point he believes the Chinese inmate but became confused when he finds that the Warden of the prison who helps him financially for her daughter’s illness is carrying on illegal activities. Now he should either save the Chinese cop or should stand with the Warden and at the same time, he has to find a bone marrow match donor for his daughter who suffers from Leukemia.

MY VIEW- Kill Zone 2 is a sequel to the 2005 Donnie Yen movie, but it only has resemblance in name with the Yen movie. It follows completely a new story line with new characters. The 1^st SPL movie was a melodrama for me, even though it has some fights of Yen and Wu Jing, it was purely concentrated to show the emotions rather than to portray ass kicking. But this part is entirely a proper package of everything. It has emotions, gun fights, fist fights everything for an action thriller. It started in a non-linear style, with many stories and everything comes to fill the place in the second half of the movie. In my plot, I didn’t give much explanation of the movie because it has many layers which are interlinked together. Even though it’s a Chinese movie, both Tony Jaa and Wu Jing (wolf warrior fame) have equally important role. Zhang Jin (Ip Man 3 fame) plays the tough villain role, he was really outstanding with many heavy scenes for him and fighting Tony Jaa and Wu Jing together in one fight, it reminds me of Mad Dog in Raid Redemption. There may be stunt doubles, but I feel actors in the south Asian movies takes more risk in their profession than anyone else. This movie will surely make us think about their risk, it’s also an example of some fine cinematography and background music.

VERDICT- Martial arts action thrillers have one thing in common, it will have a weak plot that leads to fights and blasts. But Kill Zone 2 is different it has a mature story line with many breathtaking fights, so it’s a must see martial arts thriller.
Trailer- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3197766/?ref_=rvi_tt

66. IP MAN 3 (2015)

IP MAN 3

MARTIAL ARTS SPECIAL

Language     -      Cantonese (Hong Kong)

Genre          -      Drama, Martial Arts

Director       -      Wilson Yip

*ing             -      Donnie Yen (Ip Man), Zhang Jin (Max Zhang), Mike Tyson (Frank)

IMDB           -      7.1/10

PLOT

In 1959, after fleeing from his homeland Foshan, Ip Man is leading a low-profile life, but when his son’s school is threatened by local thugs for a property builder known as whale boss, the Wing Chun master comes for the protection. But at the same time he has to deal with his wife’s illness and also have to face a challenge from an another Wing Chun fighter who claims his style as the authentic one.

Ip Man 3 is the third movie in the Ip Man film franchise, which shows the life of Wing Chun Grandmaster of the same name and the master of Bruce Lee. As it is a biographical movie, it was almost like a drama action, rather than innumerable fist fight, but still every fight has its own standard. When Donnie Yen fight against Mike Tyson, he tries to give more blows to his lower body as Tyson is very strong with his punches. Donnie Yen's wife publicly expressed her worries that Mike Tyson might hurt Yen. However, it was Yen who ended up fracturing Tyson's index finger while filming the fight scene. Climax fight with Zhang jin was really another terrific scene with fist, sword fights. Yen uses one inch punch of Bruce Lee in the final fight with Zhang jin, to give respect to the Master of Bruce Lee. Even though Woo-Ping Yuen (Matrix, Kill Bill fame) was credited as action choreographer, he himself accepted that Yen choreographed most of the  fights.

Ip Man series mostly gained positive reviews across the world and is considered as one of the best Martial Arts franchise in the world. Yen decides to stop being Ip Man by the end of 2^nd part but later due to the effort of director Wilson Yip he again became a part of it. Now the 4^th part is on production. Yip Man 3 is a pure martial arts movie which deals different styles like Wing Chun, Muay Thai and Boxing. It will always be a good choice for Martial Arts lovers.

Trailer- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2888046/