Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Kuselan (one avathar) Vs Dasavadar




vs
Movie Critics Tear Apart DasavatharamDasavatharam is the second dud in a row from Tamil film star Kamal Haasan.
If Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006) was a bitter pill to swallow for Kamal Haasan’s fans, Dasavatharam is a bigger disappointment because of the heightened expectations raised by the ten roles Kamal plays in this movie.
An incomprehensibly mediocre movie, it’s a shame that Dasavatharam is the best that someone with 35+ years in the Tamil movie business can come up with.

A total mess of a story is compounded by a mostly so-so performance by Kamal Haasan (except in some roles like the Indian intelligence officer Balram Naidu, Patti and Rangaraja Nambi) and below par music.
Since Kamal Haasan also takes credit for the story, screenplay and dialogs in Dasavatharam, it’s only right that the major discredit for the movie should also accrue to this manga madaya (stupid fellow).
If the overall story - with the distracting side stories - is a jumbled mess, the dialogs are hopelessly banal. No life in them at all. Even a movie like Mozhi featuring a bunch of B-grade stars like Prakash Raj and Prithviraj had better dialogs.
Much of the movie centers around the efforts of a U.S.-based scientist Govind Ramasamy (Kamal Haasan’s primary role in the movie) desperately trying to safeguard a deadly germ vial (containing a strain of the Ebola virus?) and prevent it from falling into the hands of a really nasty element called Christian Fletcher (Kamal Haasan again).
The fight to grab the deadly vial that starts in the U.S. ultimately ends in India after many boring detours.
Some of the roles that Kamal plays in Dasavatharam like the activist Vincent Poovaraghan, George W.Bush, the singer Avtar Singh, the 7-ft tall Kalifulla Khan and the Japanese martial arts expert Shingen Narahashi were very poorly fleshed out. It was as if these characters were included just to hit the magic number of ten and justify the title of the movie. An example once again of the sloppy work by Kamal in the story department.
Makeup work for the many roles Kamal Haasan plays in Dasavatharam is a mixed bag. While the makeup was decent for the Indian RAW officer Balram Naidu, Rangaraja Nambi and Patti (grandma), it was sub-mediocre for some of the others, particularly Christian Fletcher and George Bush.
Mallika Sherawat’s pole dance number in Dasavatharam is one of the crudest and most disgusting dances we’ve had the misfortune to ever see in a long life. Plain awful. Even the late Silk Smita used to do a better job in these voluptuous dance scenes.
None of the songs had any magic in them. Himesh Reshammiya’s music failed to evoke much enthusiasm in the audience and several members of the audience at the Multiplex Cinemas in East Windsor (New Jersey) were walking out during the song/dance sequences.
One of the few saving graces of Dasavatharam was Asin Thottumkal’s performance. In her role as Andal, a conservative Brahmin girl from the temple town of Chidambaram as well as in an earlier brief appearance as Kothai, wife of a 12th century Vaisnavite devotee Rangaraja Nambi (Kamal Haasan), Asin brings some life to this dreary movie.
The other saving grace in Dasavatharam was the special effects, usually hopelessly crude in Tamil movies. Some of the Tsunami scenes as well as some of the action scenes were nicely done.
Dasavatharaam reminds us of all the weird things crazy people do just to get noticed or make it to the Guiness Book - eating 500 burgers, standing upside down for two days, walking backwards for three weeks, dancing on a buffalo’s back, fighting with a donkey or some other equally silly antic. Kamal Haasan tries a similar attention-grabbing gimmick - for the first time, 10 different roles in a movie. So what? It’s still a lousy movie and overall a bad freak show.
If a crappy fiasco like Dasavatharam is all that we can expect from Kamal Haasan after forking out $15 for a ticket, it’s time this dinosaur of the Tamil movie industry moves on to less taxing pursuits, like aadu, maadu maikara vela (a cowherd, grazing goats and cows).

Kuselan entering with a bang


Nayan flags off Kuselan busNayantara, the heroine of Superstar Rajinikanth starrer Kuselan has officially kicked off the Kuselan publicity campaign with operating Kuselan Bus today. The bus is having the mobile photo exhibition of Superstar Rajinikanth. The programme...


Kuselan trailers on Mobile phonesNow the stunning Kuselan trailers are available in your mobile phones too. Bay Talkitec and Saimira Access Technologies have signed a record...

Rajinikanth Deserves Better than Gayathri
Kuselan featuring superstar Rajinikanth, Pasupathy, Vadivelu, Meena and Nayanthara is set to release in theaters across U.S. on July 31 / August 1.
Here are the showtimes for Kuselan Tamil movie in the U.S.:
Kuselan Movie Showtimes in New Jersey
North Bergen, NJ
Columbia Park Cinema 123125 Kennedy Blvd.North Bergen, NJ 07047Ph: 201-865-1600
July 31 9:00 PMAug 1 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 2 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 3 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 4 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM8:00 PM
East Windsor, NJ
Multiplex Cinemas at Town Center Plaza319 Route 130 NorthEast Windsor, NJ 08520Ph: 609-371-8470
July31 9:00 PMAug 1 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:15 PMAug 2 11:30 AM3:00 PM 6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 3 11:30 AM3:00 PM 6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 4 1:00 PM4:00 PM 8:30 PMAug 5 1:00 PM4:00 PM 8:30 PMAug 6 1:00 PM4:00 PM 8:30 PMAug 7 1:00 PM4:00 PM 8:30 PM
Edison, NJ
Movie City1655 Oak Tree RoadEdison, NJ 08820Ph: 732-404-0555
July31 9:00 PMAug 1 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:15 PMAug 2 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:15 PMAug 3 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:15 PMAug 4 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM8:00 PM ****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in New York
Queens, New YorkBombay Theatre68-25 Fresh Meadow LaneFlushing, NY 11365Ph: 718-358-2929
July31 9:00 PMAug 1 6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 2 11:45 AM 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 3 11:45 AM 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 4 8:00 PMAug 5 8:00 PMAug 6 8:00 PMAug 7 8:00 PM
Spring Valley, New York
Maveli Twin Cinema 59Kennedy Mall, 57 Kennedy DrSpring Valley, NY 10977Ph: 631-777-1122
Aug 1 9:30 PMAug 2 6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 3 3:30 PM7:00 PMAug 4 7:00 PMAug 8 9:30 PMAug 9 6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 103:30 PM7:00 PMAug 117:00 PM
Williamsville, New York
Eastern Hills Cinema4545 Transit RdWilliamsville, NY 14221Ph: 716-632-1080
Aug 1 9:30 PM
Rochester, New York
Dryden Theater900 East AveRochester, NY 14607Ph: 585-271-3970
Aug 2 11:45 AM3:15 PM
Utica, New York
The Uptown Theater2014 Genesee StUtica, NY 13502Ph: 315-797-0020
Aug 2 9:30 PM
Syracuse, New York
Palace Theatre2384 James StreetSyracuse, NY 13206Ph: 315-463-9240
Aug 3 3:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Boston
Lawrence, MA
Showcase Cinemas Lawrence 1-6141 Winthrop AvenueLawrence, MA 01843Ph: 978-686-2121
July31 9:00 PMAug 1 12:00 PM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 2 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 3 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 4 1:30 PM4:00 PM8:30 PMAug 5 1:30 PM4:00 PM8:30 PMAug 6 1:30 PM4:00 PM8:30 PMAug 7 1:30 PM4:00 PM8:30 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Connecticut
Bloomfield, CT
Bloomfield 8 Cinemas863 Park AvenueBloomfield, CT 06002Ph: 860-242-3456
July318:30 PMAug 1 4:00 PM7:00 PMAug 2 1:00 PM7:00 PMAug 3 1:00 PM7:00 PMAug 4 4:00 PM7:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM7:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM7:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM7:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Virginia
Falls Church, VA
Loehmann Twin Cinemas7291 Arlington BlvdFalls Church, VA 22042Ph:703-573-8593
July31 9:00 PMAug 1 6:30 PM10:30 PMAug 2 11:45 AM 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 3 11:45 AM 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 4 8:00 PMAug 5 8:00 PMAug 6 8:00 PMAug 7 8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Bay Area
San Jose, CA
IMC 61433 The AlamedaSan Jose, CA 95126Ph: 408-830-9999
July 31 6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PMAug 1 4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PM11:15 PMAug 2 1:00 PM3:00 PM4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PM11:15 PMAug 3 1:00 PM3:00 PM4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PMAug 4 4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PMAug 5 4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PMAug 6 4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PMAug 7 4:30 PM6:15 PM8:00 PM9:30 PM
Century Berryessa 101171 North Capitol AveSan Jose, CA 95132Ph: 800-326-3264
Aug 1 1:30 PM5:30 PM9:30 PMAug 2 1:30 PM5:30 PM9:30 PMAug 3 1:30 PM5:30 PM9:30 PMAug 4 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM8:00 PM
Fremont, CA
Cinedome 8 Fremont39153,Farewell DriveFremont, CA 94538Ph: 800-326-3264
July319:15 PMAug 1 1:00 PM5:00 PM9:00 PMAug 2 1:00 PM5:00 PM9:00 PMAug 3 1:00 PM5:00 PM9:00 PMAug 4 4:15 PM8:15 PMAug 5 4:15 PM8:15 PMAug 6 4:15 PM8:15 PMAug 7 4:15 PM8:15 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Los Angeles
Phoenix Adlabs - Norwalk 813917 Pioneer BlvdNorwalk, CA 9065Ph: 562-804-5615
Aug 1 3:00 PM7:00 PM11:00 PMAug 2 1:00 PM3:00 PM5:00 PM7:00 PM9:00 PM11:00 PMAug 3 1:00 PM3:00 PM5:00 PM7:00 PM9:00 PMAug 4 2:00 PM5:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 2:00 PM5:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 2:00 PM5:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 2:00 PM5:00 PM8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Seattle
Renton, WA
AMC Renton Village 825 South Grady WayRenton, WA 98055Ph: 425-228-7242
July31 8:00 PMAug 1 7:30 PMAug 2 12:00 PM4:00 PMAug 3 12:00 PM4:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Galaxy Peachtree Funplex 86135 Peachtree ParkwayNorcross, GA 30092Ph: 770-448-7002
Aug 1 12:00 PM3:30 PM7:00 PM10:30 PMAug 2 12:00 PM3:30 PM7:00 PM10:30 PMAug 3 12:00 PM3:30 PM7:00 PM10:30 PMAug 4 12:00 PM4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 12:00 PM4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 12:00 PM4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 12:00 PM4:00 PM8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in IllinoisBloomingdale, IL
Fun Asia Bloomingdale324 West Army TraiBloomingdale, IL 60108Ph: 630-529-1000
July31 8:30 PMAug 1 6:00 PM9:45 PMAug 2 11:00 AM2:30 PM6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 3 11:00 AM2:15 PM5:30 PM8:45 PMAug 4 8:00 PMAug 5 8:00 PMAug 6 8:00 PMAug 7 8:00 PM
Peoria, IL
Nova Cinemas3225 N Dries LnPeoria, IL 61604Ph: 312-375-9960
Aug 1 8:30 PM
Bloomington, IL
Bloomington Galaxy 14 Cinemas1111 Wylie DrBloomington, IL 61701Ph: 312-375-9960
Aug 2 10:30 AM
LeRoy, IL
The Princess Theatre300 E Center StLeRoy, IL 61752Ph: 312-375-9960
Aug 2 1:30 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Michigan
Novi, MI
Phoenix Adlabs Novi Town Center 826085 Town Center DriveNovi, MI 48375Ph: 248-465-7469
July31 9:00 PMAug 1 3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 2 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMAug 3 11:30 AM3:00 PM6:30 PM10:00 PMMAug 4 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Texas
Austin, TX
Cinemark Tinseltown 175501 South Interstate 35Austin, TX 78745Ph: 800-326-3264
July319:00 PMAug 1 1:00 PM6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 2 1:00 PM6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 3 1:00 PM6:00 PM9:30 PMAug 4 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Arizona
Mesa, AZ
Cinemark Mesa 161051 N. Dobson RdMesa, AZ 85201Ph: 800-326-3264
July319:00 PMAug 1 1:00 PM6:00 PM9:00 PMAug 2 1:00 PM6:00 PM9:00 PMAug 3 1:00 PM6:00 PM9:00 PMAug 4 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 5 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 6 4:00 PM8:00 PMAug 7 4:00 PM8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Florida
Jacksonville, FL
San Marco Theatre1996 San Marco BoulevardJacksonville, FL 32207Ph: 904-396-4845
Aug 2 10:00 PMAug 3 12:30 PM
Tampa, FL
Channleside Cinemas615 Channelside DriveTampa, FL 33602Ph: 813-221-0700
July 31 8:00 PMAug 1 8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Missouri
St.Louis, MO
Wherenbergh St Charles 18 Cine1830 First capitol Drive SouthSt.Louis, MO 63303Ph: 636-946-1862
Aug 1 8:30 PMAug 2 2:00 PM6:00 PMAug 3 3:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Minnesota
Brooklyn Center, MN
Brookdale 8 Cinemas5810 Shingle Creek PkwayBrooklyn Center, MN 55430Ph: 763-566-0508
Aug 1 7:00 PM10:00 PMAug 2 2:00 PM5:00 PM8:00 PM10:00 PMAug 3 2:00 PM5:00 PM8:00 PM****************************Kuselan Movie Showtimes in Wisconsin
Madison, WI
Market Square6604 Odana RdMadison, WI 53719Ph: 312-375-9960
Aug 2 9:00 PM
Milwaukee, WI
Marcus Value Cinema6912 S 27th StOak Creek, WI 53154Ph: 312-375-9960
Aug 3 12:30 PM
Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any errors or changes in showtimes. Please confirm the movie timings with the theater before going.