MovieChat Forums > Theeviravaathi: The Terrorist (2000) Discussion > Simply a poor film.

Simply a poor film.

posted 18 years ago by tservo100
11 replies | jump to latest

The Terrorist is a movie with great expectations, unfortunately it achieves none of them. I am shocked to see that it rates so highly on here. I can only assume that many of the weaknesses in this film that would never be accepted in a domestic movie are overlooked by those who believe anything in the "foreign" section of the video store is a misunderstood masterpiece.
I loved the premise, the casting of the main character, and a couple of the scene's were well shot. However the story plods along at a glacial pace and is ridiculous at times and many of the details (especially the sound effects) completely disrupt any sort of suspension of disbelief you may have had.
Without sinking any more money into it this movie could have been so much better. With a better story and a greater attention to the little things this could have been a winner.

[–] hunnybfly 18 years ago

I have to agree. I found myself almost bored with the pace of the movie, and many of the scenes felt choppy or too artistic to make a point. The actress was wonderful, however, the direction, dialogue and story should have been more tight.

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

[–] turtlefart 18 years ago

Interesting. I disagree, though. I didn't plan to watch The Terrorist. Instead, I planned to sit on the sofa reading a damned good book while my boyfriend watched it.

I couldn't stop looking. Finally, I had to just put the book down and watch the movie. I found it riveting. I found the pacing perfect and the sound effects eerily wonderful. I enjoyed it.

[–] Camoo 18 years ago

wow.. this is one of the greatest films i have ever seen.. 'glacial pace', eh?

[–] cbeam-glitter 18 years ago

simply a crap comment

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] wrestlmaniac_2000 18 years ago

Totally agree with you there. I have no problem with foriegn films, I think they give us a great chance to look at other cultures and are a great way to broden our horizons. I had to watch this movie in a class I'm taking on terrorism, and I consider this to be the most borring movie I have ever seen. This thing moves so slowly it's painful to watch. I would be sitting there wishing I had the remote control so I could fast forward to the important scenes. Seriously, how much of this movie is just empty space?

[–] jijotomyp 18 years ago

Just look at turtlefart's comment. She could empathize with the woman terrorist despite the crapy dubbed dialogues, painfully elastic pace and loud sound effects. She must have been touched by inherent motherhood all females have,and is the only important aspect of this movie.
To me the movie came alive only when our would-be suicide bomber recognises she's pregnant. Unfortunately after a few minutes the film fell back into the coma it had started at. Just the fact that the director had to resort to an audio of the child's cry (used many a times in the movie) to bring out terrorist's thoughts about her child proves his lack of control on acting or even the lack of understanding of the medium of cinema. I found it too direct and dull.

The best thing about this movie is it's cinematography but I thought it didn't fit the theme. Beautiful, but out of place.

To sum it up: An ordinary movie, trying to act like an art film.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] minil_prexus 18 years ago

Horrible film, bad sounds, unrealistic nature for supposedly dramatic film.

[–] Zazznz 14 years ago

I'm sorry, how? My dead grandmother (even in her current state) is better than 'the filmmaker'

[–] full-option 15 years ago

I only saw this movie yesterday and I have to agree is was a very poor, slow movie.
What was John Malkovich thinking ?

I didn't encounter any moral dilemma, only many close-ups and constant groans and moans from the protagonist, that eventually got on my nerfs. Only the fact that she (maybe) was pregnant, was her moral dilemma. Too cheap, I think.

If terrorism is about beautiful, groaning pregnant ladies, that we have to be sympathetic with, I fear the wurst for human kind.

I also have Asoka, another movie from this director, and have yet to see it ; I really hope it wil be much better.

I you like slowpaced artistic movies that really get under your skin, try out the movies from director Noami Kawase.