It went from man wants to get revenge for murder of a loved one (John Wick story) to man wants to get revenge for Mother India, marginalised people like trans women. (Woke John Wick story)
I rarely enjoy an action movie throughout, so when I do it must be fucking spectacular.
I'll process it later but now straight after it is finished - it is fucking spectacular.
Indian police acting like US cops and most of the people speaking english. That's the weirdest part. They could make it natural.
Ambitious…. But messy.
There is some good stuff here but also some things that just didn’t work. At times the action looked phenomenal, at other times I couldn’t follow what was happening with the shakey cam and the way some of it was cut. I liked the story and exploring the past. The training break between 2nd and 3rd act was the weakest part of the movie. Also felt little unsatisfying with the way it wraps. I think Dev showed some good traits though and will definitely check out whatever he does next. Shout out to Shantel Copley, he’s great as always!
Spiritual yet violent. Last 30 minutes
Omg this movie literally made me not regret watching it before so i could analyse it for school. The symbolism, characters, cinematography. the Shirtless scene!!! This man knows the female gaze. This man knows how to direct action .
Move over John Wick..
The only thing I'd say is, that like all movies now it felt a bit too long. No film needs to break 2 hours, it's not a drama..
Dev Patel you will always be famous!
seen tvhhgj jkhnk jokhn bjjjjjb nonnb njjjb
Stop feeding that dog. Its gonna keep coming back expecting more. It just gives her hope.
Far from a simple debut for Dev Patel, this movie will be on my memory for a long time. This is a breath of fresh air over the so beaten up action movie genre. Here you will not find a bulked bulky manly male, capable of fighting an army without a single scratch. Instead, you will find a sensitive, hurt, sad man, who can see the grand scheme of things, but fails to understand his own role in the whole mess, so he simply STFU and moves on with the roles that life will present to him, while dreaming of some day achieving his goals (much like every ordinary man nowadays, if you ask me: hurt, lost, unable to deal with his feelings, raging war against shadows because of that).
It is impossible not to see some influences, especially John Wick as many have pointed out. But it stops at that: influence (mostly in regards of the fighting scenes and some visuals) and that is it. Although the movie may seem "formulaic" at first, give it a second thought, pay closer attention to the details and the background. The story being told here is much deeper than a simple "revenge movie" as it may seem on the surface.
The opening quotation above is one of the most interesting scenes I have seen here. So much is told with so little, there is a lot of subtext in such a small, simple scene. Up to this scene, it is almost impossible to say if Monkey Man was looking at the woman or his nemesis, romanticaly interested or studying his next move. The second time the Monkey Man goes into the penthouse and sees the same woman with the policeman, a very known music starts playing in the background: Roxanne by, not ironically, The Police. Although the song depicts a man who falls in love with a prostitute and wants to "save" her from this life, later we see that the Monkey Man has a much greater goal than just simply "save the girl" or "avenge his mother".
When he gets to the temple, he meets Alpha, his savior (who, pay attention, is "male and female; neither and both" - "Alpha", commonly associated with the most masculine attributes in the '4chan redpill groups', here is a transgender woman). Alpha then leads the Monkey to "remember who you are". Later, the Monkey returns her the favor after giving them the money to save the temple (a note reading "Time to remember who YOU are"). This is what will lead to the hijras in assisting the Monkey at the end: "We [the hijras] were warriors before they drove us here", told him Alpha, and after remembering that, the hijras took arms and helped him with his plot. When the prostitute also comes to his aid, he barely looks into her eyes, not because he doesn't feel anything, but because he cannot stop a bigger plan because of a romantic interest. Also, when confronting Shakti, the Monkey only asks two questions: "Do you even know my mother's name? Do you know any of their names?". It may all have started because of his mother, but his goals were political, rather than simple revenge.
Yes, the movie is filled with political analysis and criticism, and heavy doses of social commentary, all boiled up the ultimate level: the personal level. And that is the point of the movie. Politics IS personal. Society IS personal. Both affect our lives from macro to micro cosmos, so the macro should also be affected by the micro cosmos, even if a single man needs to start a revolution. But above all, the movie is a kick in already hurt manhoods out there: the silent type is not strong alone, and can only achieve his goals with the aid of women, be them cis or trans. Deal with that, macho.
All your life you have been fighting to feel pain. You need to fight for a purpose. Fight... for all of us.
'All your life, you’ve been fighting to feel pain.
You need to fight for a purpose.'
idk why people think it's like john wick, aside from the action. the story isn't very similar nor especially formulaic. he didn't start out as a badass, like others. or at least not knowing he was a badass. that's where the above quote comes in. yes, it starts out as a revenge story. yes, plenty of them exist and plenty of people enjoy em. and to think it moves away from the revenge? uh, did you not see him kill rana? you could feel the years of pain erupt like a fire.i didn't care for some of the fight scene cinematography. all the actors were perfectly cast. wish the woman he connected with had a bigger role. 7 ½
Dev patel, Who touched every aspect of the indian culture.
this was so bad I couldn't watch more than one hour. this movie sucks.
Great action, lack of substance... Lets wait for 3 to 5 years and see how Shahrukh does on the remake...
Monkey Man - :heart:x7
A clumsy revenge seeker at first - turns into John Wick through a Rocky (1976) style awakening with deep cultural significance backing him up. The action scenes are pretty good and quite violent and bloody.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
This movie reminded me of John Wick movies action packed. Yeah, it is a MUST WATCH.
Literally can't wrap my head around those saying this film is formulaic or been done a million times.
The careful, inclusive, radical political commentary with a collectivist message alone sets it apart in the genre; the creative, fresh, daring, deftly masterful cinematography, hypnotic soundtrack, snappy choreography, and impeccable sound design take it into a stratosphere all it's own.
Never before in my life have I been so utterly transported by and emotionally invested in an action flick, despite being a huge fan of the genre.
I am absolutely on the edge of my seat to see what Patel does next.
Rated a Connor 5, normal 6
To boil this down to "Indian John Wick" feels reductive of what's being done here. Dev Patel's first directoral outing is an impressive, huge swing; a socially and politically-charged revenge flick, but there is an overbearing feeling of collapse under these lofty ideas that I just can't shake. There is a loss of cohesion when a tale of vengeance is spread this thin, and while everything is a feast for the eyes and ears (god the soundtrack is so GOOD!) you can feel Patel's struggle to keep all his ducks in a row as the narrative chews and chews the fat. Some impressive highs, but they're extinguished by continous lows in the pace and plot that I can't look past. Excited for the future, I hope Dev continues down this path.
In "Monkey Man," we're taken on a journey through the complex tapestry of contemporary India, where the film dives deep into the harsh realities of poverty, inequality, and societal divisions.
What struck me most was how the movie vividly captured the essence of life in India, from its vibrant energy to the struggles faced by the different societal classes. Scenes of families sleeping on pavements and working children painted a stark picture of the everyday challenges millions of Indians endure. While the protagonist's journey doesn't explicitly focus on the hardships of the less privileged, he understands and provides a poignant commentary on Indian society's harsh truths.
Alphonso: But your living the life bro
Alphonso: we are rolling with the kings now, huh
Kid: they don't even see us
Kid: they are all up there living, and we are stuck here in this
Kid: that's no life bro
Alphonso: So what are you gonna do about this huh, monkey man
The film's authenticity and attention to detail are commendable. The filmmakers succeed in creating a world that feels lived-in and genuine, from the bustling streets to the cramped living spaces, capturing the essence of urban India.
I found the portrayal of the politician and his endorsement by Baba to be particularly insightful. It reflects a common phenomenon not only in India but also in other countries like Sri Lanka. The film's exploration of blind allegiance to leaders without critical thought serves as a stark reminder for individuals to think independently and avoid becoming mere followers.
Moreover, the film subtly reminds us of a universal truth: regardless of our backgrounds or social statuses, we all face struggles, especially when confronted with mortality. This observation resonates deeply, transcending societal divides and highlighting our shared humanity.
In "Monkey Man," we're taken on a journey through the complex tapestry of contemporary India, where the film dives deep into the harsh realities of poverty, inequality, and societal divisions.
What struck me most was how the movie vividly captured the essence of life in India, from its vibrant energy to the struggles faced by the different societal classes. Scenes of families sleeping on pavements and working children painted a stark picture of the everyday challenges millions of Indians endure. While the protagonist's journey doesn't explicitly focus on the hardships of the less privileged, he understands and provides a poignant commentary on Indian society's harsh truths.
Alphonso: But your living the life bro
Alphonso: we are rolling with the kings now, huh
Kid: they don't even see us
Kid: they are all up there living, and we are stuck here in this
Kid: that's no life bro
Alphonso: So what are you gonna do about this huh, monkey man
The film's authenticity and attention to detail are commendable. The filmmakers succeed in creating a world that feels lived-in and genuine, from the bustling streets to the cramped living spaces, capturing the essence of urban India.
I found the portrayal of the politician and his endorsement by Baba to be particularly insightful. It reflects a common phenomenon not only in India but also in other countries like Sri Lanka. The film's exploration of blind allegiance to leaders without critical thought serves as a stark reminder for individuals to think independently and avoid becoming mere followers.
Moreover, the film subtly reminds us of a universal truth: regardless of our backgrounds or social statuses, we all face struggles, especially when confronted with mortality. This observation resonates deeply, transcending societal divides and highlighting our shared humanity.
In "Monkey Man," we're taken on a journey through the complex tapestry of contemporary India, where the film dives deep into the harsh realities of poverty, inequality, and societal divisions.
What struck me most was how the movie vividly captured the essence of life in India, from its vibrant energy to the struggles faced by the different societal classes. Scenes of families sleeping on pavements and working children painted a stark picture of the everyday challenges millions of Indians endure. While the protagonist's journey doesn't explicitly focus on the hardships of the less privileged, he understands and provides a poignant commentary on Indian society's harsh truths.
Alphonso: But your living the life bro
Alphonso: we are rolling with the kings now, huh
Kid: they don't even see us
Kid: they are all up there living, and we are stuck here in this
Kid: that's no life bro
Alphonso: So what are you gonna do about this huh, monkey man
The film's authenticity and attention to detail are commendable. The filmmakers succeed in creating a world that feels lived-in and genuine, from the bustling streets to the cramped living spaces, capturing the essence of urban India.
I found the portrayal of the politician and his endorsement by Baba to be particularly insightful. It reflects a common phenomenon not only in India but also in other countries like Sri Lanka. The film's exploration of blind allegiance to leaders without critical thought serves as a stark reminder for individuals to think independently and avoid becoming mere followers.
Moreover, the film subtly reminds us of a universal truth: regardless of our backgrounds or social statuses, we all face struggles, especially when confronted with mortality. This observation resonates deeply, transcending societal divides and highlighting our shared humanity.
This is a story that nearly every action drama films have similar twist and turns. A man wants revenge on his family's death. Then adds he got trained, adds a dash of well known mythology, in this case Hanuman (Indian's Monkey King or Son Goku or Sun Go Kong).
For westerners, this film is a fresh ideas. For Asians, it's it's enjoyable but it's a dime a dozen. Whichever it is for, just enjoy the film.
It dragged at times, but at times the action sequences were good, it's worth a watch as long as you can sit through those times when the movie seems to drag
Awesome, everything here is very well done, very careful with the details. The story is great, very well scripted, the scenes are breathtaking, choreography, sequences, angles and cameras very close to everything, always giving the impression that we are inside the movie. The performances are great, the characters are striking and well-developed, and the presence of many cultural elements helps to give this masterpiece a unique tone.
Hardly worth watching. Minimal fight scenes mostly him doing stupid stuff and nowhere near what fight club is
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Doesn't take a genius to conclude that so called "links to roots" was just PR stunt and almost none of the associated people have iota of knowledge of Indian mythology to which they made failed attempt to parallel. If anything it was mockery besides obvious tell tale signs of creating narrative in international stage. Pick any south Indian movie, it will have better implementation of similar storyline without forcefully adding religion to the mix.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Dev Patel tries hard and it's okay for a first movie as a director, but unfortunately not much more than that. The story is very predictable and banal, we've seen it a million times in other movies.
The actions scenes are decent, but there is just 15 minutes of them or so in the whole movie, 5 minutes in the beginning and 10 at the end. The rest of the movie is an endless boring moaning with sad eyes, almost two hours of it.
And his teeth are way too white and shiny for the guy from the slums, who eats from garbage cans.
Like John Wick that its clearly inspired by it's just formulaic going through the motions, nothing new to see here.
This film was an important view of what it looks like to stand up to murderous fascism, those who use their outsized power to put their boots on the throats of those they oppress.
For being Dev Patel's first directing film, is not bad. The thing with this kind of one-against-the-world movies, is that mostly they all feel the same: Equalizer, John Wick, Sisu, Nobody, any Jason Statham movie. The plot is nothing new, just with the twist of being in an indian setup. Which I came to realize it doesn't suit me. Never seen any indian movie, but even after seeing this one, which it is (I believe) an americanized version of what an indian movie could be; I know don't like an all-indian setting. Maybe the result of ingesting years and years of american products, but even that this movie its ok; watching it I felt some rejection towards it. Still, I believe is a fair 6 because the fight scenes are pretty cool. The in-between? not so much
a good surprise, this movie has a beauty cinematic and good history :clap:
That's the real deal! John Wick on Indian steroids. Really worth watching!
Dev Patel brings a fresh perspective to the classic themes of old Bollywood in Monkey Man, infusing them with Hollywood's flair for vengeance. With Patel's nuanced performance, the film navigates a complex narrative, exploring themes of love and revenge in a way that captivates audiences. Monkey Man transcends cultural boundaries, offering a gripping cinematic experience that resonates with viewers worldwide. Patel's portrayal adds depth to the character, elevating the film to new heights. Monkey Man is a must-watch for anyone seeking a compelling blend of Bollywood charm and Hollywood sophistication.
The movie came out right before a significant election in a country known for its diverse culture and vibrant democracy. Dev Patel shows everything that's been happening in the country for over 30 years-religious terrorism, ethnic cleansing, mob culture, and hate politics are all shown without holding back.
Nowadays, due to Al, there are lots of song edits that make you feel sympathetic towards people you should be criticizing. This movie reminds us to be firm and stand up to technology that tries to control us instead of being fair.
Enjoyable action flick.. felt like two different movies with the first hour setting things up, which, to be honest, was a little slow but really increased the pace in hour 2. The action was enjoyable even though at times I couldn't make out who was hitting who?. I know it's Dev Patels first movie as director and he has done an incredible job, its exciting to see what's next. Good movie and well worth a 2nd watch when it's on streaming.
I so enjoy a good vengeance movie, and I loved almost everything Dev Patel did in this one. His passion and creativity are impressive and admirable, and I hope he is so proud of this vision brought to life! It always excites me to see just one fresh or unique element I have not seen in a movie before, but Monkey Man had nearly a dozen moments like this! I had my cringe face on for much of it bc OUCH! It was wonderfully brutal! My only complaint is a very small one, and an honest question: Why did his character in the movie make a point to bleach his mask before looking for his final fight...and then just...take it off right as it started..? I wonder if some scenes with the mask were cut bc the idea just seemed a bit randomly abandoned. I hope a later rewatch will bring me better understanding! Also, if you are someone who needs subtitles due to hearing loss or processing delays, you may want to look for subtitled screenings OR watch via streaming if/when the option is available to you. I missed some details due to my own difficulties (some accents can be a challenge), but it was still more clear to me than the average Christopher Nolan film (not to compare the content at all). Overall, I had so much fun watching, and I will be thrilled to see more from Dev Patel in the future, no matter the genre!
The action scenes and fights, well, the rest is not bad, but it is not necessary to show the same memory several times. The Indian John Wick, sometimes yes, although more like the raid.
It's a by the numbers action flick, but the story told to reach each of those numbers was unique enough to keep things interesting.
The opening stanza of the story drags on for way too long. But once they move on from that the movie picks up a LOT.
In the main / climactic stanza, the fight scenes really do step it up. The action, choreography, cinematography is all pretty damned amazing. It makes this one heck of an action movie. Left me quite happy.
There are parts of this movie that don't work for me. But when it goes hard, it goes so relentlessly hard.
(Childhood trauma really is a bitch)
Like an over-caffeinated kangaroo on a trampoline, Monkey Man is jumpy.
The story of a poor boy from a lower caste in India who grows up to be John Wick jumps around in time, antagonists, and movement, as much of the it is filmed with a hand-cam.
While the movie isn't as arty as it claims (it is, after all, just an nth incarnation of John Wick) the frequent action scenes, the wonderful cinematography, and the strong directorial presence (Dev Patel helms his first feature) mean that Monkey Man is a solid film that delivers.
This movie is already good on its own, but it becomes 10x better when you know what Patel went through to get it made.
The movie has already cemented itself as a classic of the vengeance subgenre, with echoes of Woo and Park Chan-wook, while bursting with enough originality for it to avoid feeling like a carbon copy.
It's a primal yell of a directorial debut from Dev Patel, already an underrated actor, who uses his unique experiences with religion and his own Indian heritage to bring the story of the film to life.
You can smell the blood and sweat wafting through the screen
"If a man wishes to challenge the gods, he must become more than a man. He must become a beast."
A commendable directional debut for Dev Patel, I can see the potencial, but Monkey Man is short of "good". It's very much an Indian version of John Wick with a strong inspiration from The Raid movies. Some intense action sequences that deserve praise but I expected a little more considering the aforementioned inspirations. It's short of a few more action sequences for me and the second act was so boring it slowed this down to the point where I wasn't enjoying it anymore. It killed all the tension established in the first act. Thankfully it picked back up in the third act but because the second act was so slow I expected an even bigger payoff in the third act which it didn't quite deliver but... almost.
I applaude the attempt at character development, it's a rare thing in these movies, but I think it should have been more sprinkled throughout the runtime instead of an entire second act. The folklore/cultural stuff was a nice touch but there's too much of it. Too much shaky cam during some fight scenes, it's hard to look at and follow everything that's going on. Very stylish movie all around, memorable visuals, love the neon lighting with the mirrors, intense editing (perhaps too intense) and I digged the musical choices BUT an overdose of that drum instrument. Overall Monkey Man was a decent watch but it's mainly held back by the second act.
Why do these people think they are making a Terence Malick film? Just stick with the action.
Dev Patel really said I'm gonna outdo the bathroom fight scene (MI:6) and the kitchen fight scene (Tenet) and the elevator fight scene (Winter Soldier) while also addressing social and political themes and call it "Monkey Man"
Pretty disappointing. The action was great, but there was far too much time in between action scenes for my liking. Still, a promising start for Dev Patel's directing career and I hope that his next film will alleviate some of my pacing concerns.
At its center, Monkey Man is the same revenge story we've seen dozens of times. Dev Patel attempts to mask its unoriginality with South Asian folklore, dizzying camera work, and strange music choices. There are moments that it works, but in the end, I celebrated the arrival of the closing credits more than I did the main character's final victory.
Monkey Man was a decent directorial debut. I went into it expecting a standard revenge thriller that has become so popular in the wake of John Wick, but I think it has a bit more depth to it than that. A bit. It sort of indirectly tries to tackle more complex sociopolitical criticisms, but it doesn't really do so head-on, making it feel a bit tacked on. The cinematography is at times really stylish and striking, and at other times, devolves a bit into shaky cameras and quick edits that feel chaotic during action sequences. Dev Patel is a star, but this isn't necessarily the best showcase of his acting. I think, for a debut, it's still surprisingly strong, and I prefer this to something like John Wick because it does attempt to at least give the character more depth. Though it does drag a bit in the first half, specifically near the middle. The second half is much stronger. I think the movie is at its best when it is setting the scene with some beautiful non-action cinematography.
It improves on the John Wick formula by taking itself way less seriously and not blue balling the viewer with too much schlocky worldbuilding. Patel’s directing is quite solid; I like how much of the character development is done visually, the visuals are always brewing with atmosphere and the final set piece is great. As a performer, I was completely sold on the physicality of it. He’s not afraid to turn the violence up to something that resembles The Raid, which I very much appreciate. Honestly I think you could have something great here if Patel overhauls his editing style next time around, because that aspect kneecaps this entire film for me. It’s like he wants to do something wild and bold, but overshoots in the process. Some of the early chase scenes are extremely overedited (the constant jump cuts and shaky cam don’t exactly help either), the pace loses all momentum during the boring second act, it’s got too many montages and flashbacks, he inserts real life footage to imply a layer of depth it never earns, the music choices are sometimes off; it’s a lot of bad choices piling onto each other. I also couldn’t really get into the villain, every time we cut back to that character we’re reminded of him being corrupt but there’s no real attempt at development. It’s just not a great film by any means, but I’d still love to see a sequel. Pulling a movie like this together as your debut feature is impressive, even with it being unrefined.
5/10
Slightly too long, but pretty much every other element of 'Monkey Man' is more than enough to compensate.
I had a very good time watching what is Dev Patel's directorial debut. He himself is outstanding, having portrayed the role of the titular character perfectly. I had only seen the guy in two films ('Slumdog Millionaire' & 'The Last Airbender') prior to this, so very much happy to see him act further. An excellent job from him on and off screen, I'm happy that he managed to get this made in the end.
As noted, I do think the run time could've been trimmed a little. It's not a major issue of mine, at all, but at a few moments I did feel my interest wane a bit. The story itself is a good one though, one that is entwined with a lot of fight (literally) but a lot of feeling too. Visually, it's a beauty. As for those behind Patel, Pitobash and Vipin Sharma are positives; Ashwini Kalsekar does well too.
Most definitely worth a watch, especially on the big screen! I enjoyed myself, all in all.
That shit went hard, damn.
I don't think I've seen anything like that since The Raid movies? While it's not all on THAT level, nothing really ever came close. And first time (full movie) director Dev Patel? Mad props yo.
Shout by PrisonMikeBlockedParent2024-04-25T22:15:03Z
Yeah I've had my fill of Justin Peele movies and his so called "take" on white people in America and I will not sit through any more of the CRAP that this idiot makes.