Monkey Man (2024)★ 6.8/10

As Dev Patel's directorial debut, “Monkey Man” has its strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, it's clear that Patel has put considerable effort into the action choreography and visual composition, and in the script, a desire to elevate the source material can be felt. On the other hand, his handling of pacing, editing, and narrative structure is still somewhat unpolished, leading to a disjointed viewing experience.

The film's numerous close-ups, point-of-view shots, and shaky camera work in the action scenes made for an uncomfortable viewing experience. These stylistic choices didn't add to the storytelling. They, in fact, disrupted it. The film’s use of night scenes and lighting is meticulously done, and the set design is complex. I hope the director will consider using more medium and wide shots in the future to allow viewers a clearer overview of the scenes.

This film was really impressive, considering all the challenges the production faced. Dev Patel really kept things together and organized. The camera work in the big fight scenes is immaculate and powerful. Dev Patel did some outstanding fight scenes and some really brutal moves. It's just that the script is a little weak.

This movie is incredible! It masterfully mixes Indian religion with political issues. But some parts are a little draggy, it would've been better if they had trimmed the runtime by about half an hour. The action scenes were intense, and the lead actor was so cool during these scenes. Dev Patel is seriously charming. And I was blown away when I saw the end credits. Dev Patel wrote, directed, and starred in this whole movie! That's amazing!

This young director, who also plays the lead role, did a great job with this genre film. It's hardcore and entertaining. But there was just too much meaningless dialogue, maybe because they were trying to give us too much info. It'd be better if they cut back on the talking a bit; it would help balance out the dialogue scenes with the action scenes. But fortunately, the pacing in every action scene was spot-on. It's not groundbreaking, but it offers a good time.

It's a simple tale of an underdog seeking revenge. The plot tends to drag and become convoluted, and it could benefit from being shortened by about a third. The action scenes have their highlights without the flamboyant style of traditional Indian films. The music during the massacre scenes creates a noticeable impact. In the chaotic brawl near the end, you can see slow-motion shots that beautifully capture the traditional Indian attire, with skirts swirling as blood splatters. The regional aesthetics are absolutely mind-blowing.

To be honest, the plot is poorly written. The action scenes are decent, but the choreography is terrible. And the climax lacks any impact at all. I patiently waited, expecting some excitement during the ending, but it was yet another disappointment. Ugh. I definitely wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone.

This movie's first part is quite remarkable, with every detail thoughtfully designed. However, it does feel a bit clichéd to have the character immediately dive into revenge after intense training. Personally, I think it would be more thrilling if the story's sequence were adjusted, directly showcasing the reckless revenge without too much foreshadowing while simultaneously revealing all the intricate details of the revenge plans.

It's a lengthy movie with some interesting ideas and standout moments. The action scenes are thrilling and well-executed, but the pacing of the overall narrative could have been better controlled. More screen time could have been dedicated to action sequences. Anyway, the visuals are well-executed, but I was just not into it.

That was incredible! It was super exciting to watch, with non-stop fight scenes lasting about twenty minutes, and the editing was really fast-paced. The cinematography was incredibly creative, featuring plenty of telephoto lenses. And there were tons of inventive shots and unique filming techniques that I'd never seen before, which totally grabbed my attention! I could really sense that every frame was carefully crafted in composition and color.

As a young director and action choreographer, he successfully maintained the intensity and watchability of the film as a pure genre piece. However, there was too many nonsense dialogues, possibly due to excessive information. Since it's a B-rated action flick, reducing the narrative elements, simplifying the storytelling, and balancing the action and dialogue scenes might have been better. Nevertheless, the pacing of the action sequences was good; while not innovative, it didn't leave the viewer feeling tired.

This thrilling revenge flick may start a bit slow and chaotic, but it quickly picks up the pace. The protagonist's constant beatings and rapid progress in the temple may disrupt the story's flow. Plus, the supporting characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth and personality, like they were serving as doormats. However, the revenge storyline was clear, and the discussions about religious politicians "brainwashing" the masses added some depth. I’m not sure if the director had any specific allusion in mind. Overall, it's a watchable film with some good moments.