DON 2

Don! It's a very powerful word that depicts a very powerful man. And a very powerful man is a every man's and every woman's fantasy. No wonder that both Don and Don 2 have worked well at the box office. The trick is simply to bring what everyone fantasizes about, to reel. Not to mention that the director, Farhan Akhtar, does whatever he does very well.

I am not an action junkie. So, this movie did not generate excitement within me (except that I am contemplating getting a 'D' tattoo on my arm just like Don). But, it did for all my friends who loved the man, Shah Rukh and all his charming gimmicks (I do too). They even compared Don 2 to Mission Impossible 3 and claimed that the former was better. As for me, I did crush some nachos and pop-corn in my mouth while I watched SRK in Armani suits and Priyanka in fitted tanks and pants. We all watched the six packs on the screen while we had our family packs on our lap. :)

Like most action movie of the crime genre, there is a very elaborate plan to rob something and become even richer. And the plan heavily depends on hacked surveillance and systems information. Is everything really available by clicking on a computer? I tend to think not. The movie continues to show a secret, unfulfilled romance between Don and Roma. So sad! Roma's just wasting her life yearning for a man who is nothing but a myth. Don 2 doesn't fail to throw in some surprises for the audience, some of which we may have figured out though. And you'll get no points for figuring out how the movie ends. After-all, "Don Ko Pakadna Mushkil Nahi...".

Dookudu (2011)

Daring and Dashing. The words are so apt for this young Hero (Mahesh Babu) in a fitting police suit.

Let me tell you about the story first. Shankar Narayan (Prakash Raj) is an idealistic politician in Hyderabad who thinks and does good for his people and the people love him back. But, rival politician and a Mumbai gangster, Nayak (Sonu Sood) plot together and assassinate the good man. Years later, Shankar Narayan's son, Ajay (Mahesh Babu) picks up his father's traits, to become an IPS officer with incredible records. He is just a chip of the old block and much more i.e. daring and dashing. So, he devises his own plots and sub-plots to avenge everyone who was involved in his father's demise. How could an officer from the IPS, devise such fraudulent schemes such as reality shows with third-rate actors is beyond me. But, thats the best plan he could adopt for dramatic politicians and gangsters like the ones in Dookudu. The politicians, gangsters, reality show actors and even the IPS officers give comic relief to the audience amidst the blood and gore. The theatre around me resounded with happy laughter from the funny dialogues and antics of the actors.

The hero, whom my friend recommended was the reason I tagged along with my friends to see the movie. He looked dashing and very casual in checked shirts, which he wore throughout the movie. But, I liked him best when he donned his police suit (towards the very end of the movie), because he is a police man afterall (who is on a secret mission and hence, the fashionable clothing). Mahesh Babu has undergone some transformation from his earlier days! Today he looks better and his styling works because women like bad boys. Just see his before-after pictures on Google images.

The heroine (Samantha Ruth Prabhu), while pretty is only lip gloss to this movie. Her designers made very pretty clothes for her and we all hope to copy them soon. Ofcourse, we'll look only quarter as good as her, with corsets to control the flab and no padding to help us achieve that hour glass figure. :)

The songs, they are meant to be heard and enjoyed in a theatre. The only one that stuck and keeps drumming in my ears is the night-club soundtrack (Puvvai Puvvai) which featured an even more beautiful woman (Parvati Melton) dancing opposite Mahesh Babu. Her google images are not as flattering as her appearance and performance in the song, which I (and many men) enjoyed very much.

The violence is never ending in this very long movie. I waited, not very patiently, for the intermission because I had felt as much tired and beaten as the villains had been. During violent fight sequences, I resorted to covering my eyes and ears with my sticky fingers (they were sticky from eating Nachos, Cheese and Salsa).

Overall, I'd say I enjoyed this movie with my friends. And the rest of the audience loved it much more than I did because I had a disadvantage which others didn't.

This was my first Telugu movie and I don't know the language. :)

Green Lantern (2011)

I love "super hero" movies. They show men in very good light ;)

I had to watch "Green Lantern" because I like Ryan Reynalds. When I found that he had married Scarlette Johannson, I didn't appreciate it. And when I found out that he had indeed divorced her, I was pleased. Ofcourse, I wonder why his marital status should even matter to continue long distance fascination. :)

"Green Lantern" isn't in the same class as other super-hero movies like Superman or Spiderman. It is based on comic book series, "All American Comics". Ryan Reynalds looks awesome and well-toned in the green suit. The story goes like this.

Hero is promising but a loser.
Hero is entrusted with a power that gives him responsibility.
Bad man enters.
Save the world and get the girl.

There you have it, folks. Please judge for yourself whether you want to see it.

Five Fingers (2006)

"Five Fingers" is not a well-known movie. I never heard of it until I read a review of it on the Economic Times. It had a favorable review and good actors such as Lawrence Fishburne and Ryan Phillppe. I can't tell too much about the story because this a suspense thriller and I'll just spoil your movie experience. 

Ryan's character comes to Morocco to assist in a charity food program. He has 1 million dollars from an unknown donor. In Morocco, he is kidnapped and the kidnappers torture him to find out his true identity. To know more about this story, you'll just have to watch it. I'll just say, you'll be surprised. 

I liked it but won't tell you that it was mind-blowing or use any other flattering adjectives. Watch it and tell me about other movies similar to this.

The Adjustment Bureau

Hmmm, this movie is a romantic thriller. Apparently. I just don't buy that a man will yearn and wait (for years) for a woman he happened to meet in a men's room. Granted, men are very often taken in by opinionated, spunky women, not realizing that the very same attributes will get on their nerves after the honeymoon ends.

Anyway, this has a very odd story that was adapted from a book. There are a group of men (likened to Angels) who wear hats and govern people, their emotions, decisions and the paths that their lives take. There is even someone who is called The Chairman (likened to God) who has the ultimate authority over human lives. I'm not sure if it includes other life forms. Or perhaps, only those with the 6th sense need some governing.

Matt Damon plays a politician who has a promising career that could lead him to the White House. He meets a woman (Emily Blunt) and falls in love with her. But, the men in hats don't approve and try to persuade him to give her up. Don't worry. True love will prevail.
Ok, I didn't enjoy this movie. I think Angels have better things to do than handcuff a man who is adamant to meet some woman. After all, life on earth flourishes due to procreation and higher beings cannot object to that.

The Whistleblower

I'd wanted to watch "The Whistleblower" which released this year, but I couldn't find a copy that included subtitles. There are some scenes where Bosnian and Serbian languages are spoken and I doubted that perhaps there were too many of those for me to follow. But, there are only a few such scenes and you can get by without understanding them fully.

Human trafficking. It is a reality, that I sometimes can't grasp because I live in a very safe world. But, there are places that are too dark and evil, and some people, even some very young, get caught in this unnatural world. Inspired by true events (read the news article), the movie goes on to show you what happened in Bosnia when a female police officer discovered sex trafficking and that the peace keeping forces were either playing blind or were directly involved.
When you read about human trafficking, one thing emerges commonly. The people you trust are almost always the people who get you involved in it. The people who are supposed to protect you, help you, are almost always the people who rip your life apart.
"The Whistleblower" is well done and explains to a small extent, the evil happening at large.

FROZEN

Frozen is a story of three young people, whose lives take a deadly swing when they decide to ski one last time before the snowy slopes close for the week. Just three actors and they are all that the movie requires to keep you frozen to your seat. The background score compliments their dire situation and everything that you see in the movie could happen to anyone in a cold place. The movie didn't make much at the box office but that does not indicate its ratings by any means.

Friends with Benefits (2011)

I should be doing things of consequence now (you know, utilize my time better) but this is what movie buffs do when they get some time. They watch movies! And so, I watched "Friends with Benefits" starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. This is another romantic comedy which does not deviate from the template that most romantic comedies follow. The concept of friends allowing each other to be unattached lovers is not new this year. It has already been explored in "No Strings Attached" which wasn't vastly entertaining either. There, I have slyly told you what my opinion on this movie is. Still, I am not unhappy at having watched it once.

I think a friend could make a great partner in a romantic relationship even if it turns out to be a fleeting romance. I think it's healthy for people to explore possibilities (i.e. relationships) with real friends. Because, if you don't experience, couldn't you end up on a long march towards "till death do us part"?

One Fine Day (1996)

One fine day, a man and a woman meet. At first, they dislike each other only to "like" each other very much, a few hours later. However, these aren't two single people as you usually see them in romantic comedies. Luckily for these characters, they are both recently divorced and have a child each. I think, this is a great package. Sure, they come with some emotional baggage. But, at least, they've learnt a thing or two from a previous marriage and are less likely to commit the same mistakes. Right?

Why is it that female protagonists are almost always written to be control freaks and men are depicted as carefree and childlike? Because, it is true? But, is this how couples always are in relationships? Opposites of each other, at least in certain matters? Anyway, I think this polar difference is quite annoying if you have to live with it. Why did God bring men from Mars and women from Venus? Why!
Coming back to the movie, it's a fine romantic comedy. Michelle Pfeiffer is beautiful and Clooney is extremely charming. I'd seen this movie a long time ago. But, I saw it through experienced eyes recently and hence, the review of this 1996 movie. If you haven't seen it before or if you are hunting for a virtual romance, try this one.

Norma Rae (1979)

I read the article "30 Must See Movies for B-School Student" on The Economic Times (6 August 2011) and I was intrigued. I thought "Wow, I can learn something from watching movies? Super!".

So, I'm starting with "Norma Rae", for which, Sally Field won the Academy award among others. You can learn that sometimes it takes one person such as Norma Rae, a young mother with two children and a string of bad boyfriends, to help form a union for the stressed workers of a textile company in a small town. It takes perseverance and grit to lead the way. Anyone can shake things up and be a leader if they had the stomach for it. It also helped that Norma had a supportive family behind her while she did what she felt was right (in the case of the union) and what she felt like she wanted (in the case of her relationships). This was a time when women were not considered quite equal and a (bad) reputation sticks for life. I like the scene when her tired dad tells her that he'd come over and take her for a nice dinner since they hadn't seen each other for a while. I like the scene when Norma tells her young children about her past and their respective dads knowing that tongues would wag after her night at jail. I like the scene when Norma's husband tells her that he is going to watch her grow old if she'd gotten herself in jail and had made her only call to somebody else.
The movie initially reminded me of "North County", which is about the happenings of a woman in a male dominated industry, but the subject was quite different. Norma Rae made a good movie on a quiet, rainy afternoon. Enjoy it, if you can.

DELHI BELLY (2011)

Because I'm not a fan of crude comedy, Delhi Belly didn't make me want to hit the theaters after its theatrical release. But, some good reviews from friends and my partner (who watches movies very selectively) prompted me to give it a watch. I pulled my cousin along, who being on a two-month long vacation, needs regular dozes of entertainment. Otherwise, he resorts to napping often during the day. He was skeptical about this Bollywood comedy and was unsure that it would suffice as entertainment on an already dull afternoon. So, we both sat down without high expectations for this 95-minute movie that has no intermission for a bathroom or a snack break.

Having watched the movie, I applaud this production from Aamir Khan. Delhi Belly reinforces one's belief that AK is a perfectionist who makes few but good movies. The movie grabs your attention right from its opening credits which start by showing you the squalid apartment of 3 bachelors who get entangled (by accident) in shady business as the movie progresses. What's interesting about this movie is that its makers have made it as vulgar as things sometimes are and yet, you can unabashedly laugh over this comedy of errors. For example, constipation can usually draw some laughs from the audience. Fart sounds are just extremely funny to us humans. But the movie makers pushed this a little further and didn't hesitate to show you a stool sample, as well. Heh! O.K. Before you decide that this is really dirty, stop! The story requires it and its all part of the comedy. I watched the movie in English and I wasn't disappointed with the dialogues. I wouldn't have understood its Hindi version, anyway. All the actors seem to have been carefully chosen for the movie. All of them, except Imran Khan are either fresh faces or character artists who've only done smaller, insignificant roles earlier. The soundtracks and the background scores are all very, very good, stimulating pieces of music, especially Saigal Blues. Love it!

My thumbs are all up for this movie! Hit it!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

ZNMD will catch your attention when you look at its poster. What a great, good-looking cast, Zoya Akhtar roped in! I've been waiting for it to release since the soundtracks started airing on 9XM. My enthusiasm for this movie was so high, I grabbed a bunch of tickets a day before it released, for the 2nd day show and headed out with friends, all eager to spend an evening with like-minded souls or ogling at Katrina. Even a 3-year old kiddo was eager to see Katrina Kaif. She is amazingly beautiful and its a double treat watching her on the big screen. Ofcourse, the male actors aren't far behind either. Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol, they are all handsome, chiseled, cool (not simply because one of them shows off a black Apple Macbook) and attractive. Abhay is the only guy who didn't bear his chest while Hrithik and Farhan show plenty of well-toned skin. ;)

So, the story of ZNMD is not unusual. It's a story about three friends going on a journey (extended bachelor party before one of them weds Kalki Koechlin's character) and discovering more about themselves and life. Because they are mostly wealthy, they go to Spain for a few weeks. Almost everything about their journey, experiences, conversations and the relationships they share are very real and identifiable. With friends, you share everything and yet, you still keep some secrets. With friends, you tell what you think, even if they hate you for it. You're friendship runs deep but sometimes you hold a grudge for some bad deed. You have different opinions and you argue. You share many experiences and you laugh over it. You form a tight circle that formed, probably, from your childhood. You are not brothers or sisters, but you know each other very well. You are not thick as blood but water flows easily.

There is not much drama in the movie. So you won't see sloppy sentiments or a battle between good and bad. ZNMD will take you on a journey with these wonderful and beautiful actors and remind you of what you've done with friends. Or maybe, it will prod you to embark on a such a journey with your buddies. Either ways, you just might enjoy it. I did. It's running in theaters now but it's bad timing due to Mumbai blasts. God bless the people of Mumbai.

TROY

"Troy" is one of those movies you can watch over and over again because there are so many interesting characters, each so different from one another and together they make up a great story adapted from Homer's legend.

There is Agamemnon, a greedy king who created wars just to carve a larger, ever expanding Greece on his map. He would say the word "peace" as if he were spitting. He would bellow "burn Troy" and laugh at the destruction only to celebrate his victory.

Hector, the wise and brave prince of Troy (played by Eric Bana) wanted to protect his country and his family. He would rather have lived a simple life, watching his son grow than kill other sons on the battle field. 

Paris is the young prince of Troy, because of whom the story begins. He thought love was enough to ruin his country and bring soldiers to Troy's beaches.





Helen of Sparta, who later came to be called Helen of Troy, has beauty that is legendary. She runs away from her vulgar husband, Menelaus, only to bring grief to Troy.

Priam, the king of Troy who, unlike his son is superstitious and unwise and thought that listening to the priest and his omens would bring victory to his country and protect his people. Hector warned him not to attack while the Greeks sorted their issues on Troy's beaches. Paris warned him to burn Poseidon's offering from the Greeks. But, Priam wouldn't listen to wise counsel.

Breseis is a royal princess and cousin to Hector and Paris. She chose to be a priestess but fate led her to worship Achilles instead. She teaches him that glory is not glorious if killing is the means to it.

And then, there's Achilles, the seeker of glory, the bravest of men, most talented of warriors. This character is aptly played by Brad Pitt and no other man could have. If Achilles did look like Brad, why did the people worship Greek gods when there was Achilles on land? Hector and Achilles, could have been brothers because both were valiant and courageous. Achilles was wild and fierce while Hector was wise and noble. But, Achilles's anger and Hector's error got in the way of a better life.

There are so many brilliant, sometimes sad moments in the movie. You must watch the opening scene which also introduces Achilles and the fight sequence between Hector and Achilles which displayed more of latter's signature strike and stance. There's a scene where Priam pleads with Achilles, to let him take his son's body home. When Achilles whispers "I'll see you soon, brother" to Hector's dead body, you'll drop a tear along with Achilles. There are many other interesting scenes. I almost know all the scenes well and each time I watch, I look for something that I missed earlier. You can also learn a little bit about battle strategy of yore. Somehow, history's battle techniques seem a lot more heroic than today's guns and bombs.

If you haven't watched the movie or rerun it recently, get a chance to do it.

Insidious

I didn't know what the word "insidious" meant until I looked it up after watching the movie. And now, I understand why they named the movie so. Insidious means "awaiting a chance to entrap".

I can't tell you much about the movie without taking all the thrill out of watching it. It got an A- on Yahoo user ratings and my friend thought it was scary. So, I took a chance. See, I love horror movies or so I thought until I watched the "Exorcist" movies. After watching them, I kept the light on for many days and would hear the spine-chilling voice of the movie's demon. But there are other horror movies that have come and gone and have not left a lasting effect on me. Most horror movies are repetitive with a similar storyline. You know, it is about a haunted house or of demonic possession or about the undead, etc. Insidious was all that but still managed to be a little different. Sometimes, even the repetition works if it manages to scare the audience. Was it thrilling? Yes. But, not by showing green vomit and hoarse voices.

So, go ahead and take a chance on this horror.

The Proposal

Ofcourse, you have watched this movie already, right? If not, come on! What are you waiting for? This is my current  #1 favorite movie in the romantic comedy genre with my #1 all-time favorite actress starring in it, Sandra Bullock. I am writing this review on "The Proposal" long after I watched it for the first time and after many more reruns of it. My movie blog is incomplete without it.
Sandra Bullock is a great actress and she looks good in this movie despite being in her 40s. Wow! She is 46 now and that makes me worry because I'd like to see her starring in a lot more romantic comedies. I hope that she retains her youthfulness and charm for years to come. In this movie, she stars alongside Ryan Reynolds who is 34 years old. That's a huge age difference but you feel no trace of that as you watch this fun movie about a ruthless publisher and her assistant who is blackmailed to marry her, so that she can retain her visa status in the States.

I love so many scenes in this movie and never tire of watching it all over again. I love the guy who plays Sitka's exotic dancer cum storekeeper cum bartender cum wedding officiant. I love the granny who fakes a heart attack to hush her warring son and grandson. I love Sandra's dance around the fire and her wacky 'chant'. I love the names chosen for the protagonists, Andrew and Margaret. Classic. I love it when Andrew races up the stairs, loosening his tie, to look for Margaret who left him "wifeless" at the altar. I love the scene where Sandra drops a dime to dial into Sitka's Internet connection and the archaic modem tones that she wonders about. Ok, I can go on and on.
Just go and watch it, alright!

Trust (2011)

As I promised, this isn't a review about another romantic comedy. This is a drama about a serious subject that not many people accept as a reality.
"Trust" goes through how pedophiles lure young children into believing that they are "friends" who understand them. How parents react when they find out they had no inkling of what was going on, right in front of them all the while. How the child is groomed by the molester and comes to believe that nothing wrong happened and that he (the pedophile) isn't to be blamed, until that nagging feeling of guilt and violation comes to light.

What might surprise you is that pedophiles aren't what you picture them to be. They don't necessarily have crooked, stained teeth with lecherous eyes. They are among us, as teachers, counselors and in other such respectable positions. They have access to children. The last scene in the movie shows you that.

Karmayog.org lists some statistics from India about child molestation. The numbers are quite alarming and the statistics are not in favor of our children. Don't assume that statistics are just a manipulation of numbers and only represent a sample group. If anything, it could only be the tip of an iceberg.

Marry Me

Yea, I know. I've been watching too many romantic comedies and maybe, you're bored reading about them. I promise, my next review will cover another genre. "Marry Me" is not a movie you can catch in the theaters because it's made for home viewing i.e. LifeTime. So, I didn't think it would entertain much when I started to play it. But, Lucy Lui plays the lead and I wanted to while away some more of my time. Besides, romantic comedies simulate artificial glow for sometime. :) It comes in two parts and stretches to about 3 hours or so. But, fear not, it does entertain. The comedy is good, the timing is good and you can laugh a bit while Ray, Lucy Lui's character, searches for her fairy tale to happen and people try to tell her that she'll only end up an old maid.
Are there any girls/women who don't dream about the fairy tale? I don't mean castles and prince's (although it did happen for Kate Middleton). Ofcourse, a pauper wouldn't do either. Doesn't everyone (i.e. from the female species) dream about finding a loving, affectionate, chivalrous, handsome male, who'll sweep her off her feet, whisk her to beautiful locations and shower her with beautiful gifts. I think it must be the influence of movies and books that make women wish for this fairy tale cos' it sure doesn't happen in real life. By the way, I do wonder, what do men want? Do they have an equivalent of this fairy tale? Or are they just unconsciously looking for a woman who'll do all their work. :)
Back to the movie... so, that's what the movie is about. Ray gets dumped by her boy friend and worries if her fairy tale will ever happen. And then all of a sudden, she gets a lot of male attention. But which one is the one that she wants? Like I said earlier, it is entertaining. So, give it a shot.

Something Borrowed

You can appreciate a movie when you relate with it, or catch a glimpse of yourself, a slice of your life or something that you know and understand from experience. When you find such a movie, you can relive your memories or feelings again and again, just like that. It's just a few clicks and taps away.  :)
I know that "real" life is what happens after "The End", but there are some sweet moments before it too, that leave a lasting impression on you. Like, your best friend who'll tell you what she thinks, exactly, without editing. Like, the times you shared with your buddy and held nothing back. Like, the sweet sensation you feel when the person you love declares the same love for you. Like, the heaviness and pain in your heart when love doesnt go too well. Like, the view of your man, when you come around the corner and he's waiting for you. Sweet!
Ofcourse, these are just some of those moments in our dramatic lives and you can catch all this in "Something Borrowed". All the actors are cute and keep it real. Kate Hudson is awesome, sexy and her expressions are endearing. John Krasinski is that buddy you'll love to have. Colin, the new guy has done well too. Do watch this movie about two best friends, and find out what happens when the fiance and friend fall in love. I don't declare that this was a great movie but that, it was fun watching and another movie that I'll re-play, whenever, to go back to before "The End".

London Dreams

Don't bother watching this Hindi drama. It's about an Indian band trying to make it big in London, when personal ambition and pride of one man takes precedence and brings them all down. The story is a tried and tested one and could have worked again. But, the film-makers screwed up in every imaginable way. Music, characterization, story-telling... bad, bad, bad. Asin looks good. Period.

Buried

Buried is  a thriller where the movie credits need only show 'Ryan Reynalds" for playing the only character who appears on camera (Oh no! There was a snake and one other human on his mobile video stream). The movie is set in a coffin and because I knew this, I avoided watching it for as long as I could. But, when I decided to watch it, I was surprised. I don't know what I expected in the first place. But, I didn't think that an event in a box would turn out to be thrilling and I also did not expect that the whole movie would be shot in the box! I don't want to reveal too much about the movie or its ending, but as IMDb or Yahoo Movies will tell you, the story is about a contract worker who gets kidnapped by Iraqis and is held hostage in a coffin. He has a pen, lighter, a tiny flask with some liquid and a mobile phone with enough minutes to make international calls. The latter was added "kindly" into his coffin by his captors. 

Ryan Reynalds is a good actor and he's the only reason why you'd consider watching the movie to begin with. But, after that, the movie takes over and you are at the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I'm surprised how this character was in the coffin for as long as he was, without panicking and choking in his own fear. So, the movie shows you what adrenalin can do if it kick over but then, destiny will play its part too. So, please do watch and tell me what you think. 

Morning Glory

Morning Glory is a comedy about how a young, newly hired, executive producer revitalizes a channel's morning show and its crew. The show is dying and soon to be extinct. The staff is unmotivated. And then like a breath of fresh air, in comes this young, hard-working, smart woman with new ideas. So, that's what the movie is about. There's Harrison Ford who plays the part of a brilliant, bitter old man, very well. There's Diane Keaton who plays his co-anchor. Still, they are both underutilized and the characters don't seem good enough for these legendary actors. Rachel McAdams is cute. The characters learn two things. 

"Don't work too hard and let your life go by". 

"Don't hang on to your past glory. Change with the times". 

I would recommend that you watch this movie just once if you don't have anything else to watch or do.

Tanu Weds Manu

Based on the movie's trailer and soundtracks, I thought this one would crackle with wit and amusement. I like Madhavan (a.k.a Maddy) and the beautiful Kangana and was therefore, inspired to watch the movie. However, for the most part, Madhavan appeared un-spirited and ordinary. Well, his character is an NRI doctor who leads a tedious, unromantic life making pacemakers in London. Instead of transforming into the night in shining armor after meeting the love his life, he continues to shine less brightly than even before. Kangana's character is a rebel. And why she is so, I couldn't figure out. She defies her parents in everyway she can. She consumes alcohol, puffs cigarettes and parades with one man every week (where do you find so many desirable men, anyway?) just to spite her parents who seemed quite sweet to me. Anyway, the director/writer didn't bother to elaborate on her rebellious nature. 

I just felt sorry for Maddy because he's a charming actor with a charming smile. And I hate to see that wasted on a dull character. There was just one line that I liked from the movie. Kangana's character (Tanu) tells her friend that Manu was the only one who didn't try to "customize" her. I thought that was a nice way to explain what we do in relationships. Tweeking, customizing, training our partners to be whatever it is that suited us. 

The dullest moment in the movie was the climax scene with Tanu's boyfriend (Jimmy Shergil) darkly pointing a pistol at Maddy, while Maddy stands dull, fearless (apparently) and Kangana tearfully standing by Maddy. All that rebellion disappeared once she fell in love with the unlikely candidate. Imagine this scene with them and a crowd of supporters for each side. The angry mob should have actually pounded at each other without even knowing the reason for the riot. Instead, they stand in pin-drop silence and listen to a monologue from Jimmy. Jimmy continues to point his gun at Maddy and only hints at bloodshed. Why does Maddy stand still? Because, he says, "this feels right". Remember, if you're right, someone else is wrong and then things could go very bad. So, you either fight or flee. But, adrenaline was one thing not flowing through this NRI man or this movie. I think you can skip this one. If you liked this movie and you're a bit surprised by my review, please pardon. I just expected more from this cast and the movie.

Last Night

On a night when I couldn't get any sleep, when my mind juggled thoughts of this and that, I watched this movie. As the movie cover illustrates, it is a drama about what happens between two couples, one evening. Will they, wont they?

Michael and Joanna are a married couple of three years and one evening, they have a tiff over Michael's very attractive work-mate, Laura (Eva Mendez). The next day, Michael leaves on a business trip with Laura, where they spend time together. Joanna meets her ex-boyfriend, Alex and spends the evening with him. Will they, wont they? That's the question you'll be asking yourself and then, what's next? Alex's friend advises him not to ruin a virgin relationship with a friend by sleeping with his ex-girlfriend, who is married and has a "life" with her husband. Because, what's next? All relationships culminate in a stalemate or a state of equilibrium, anyway.

Anyway, you can watch this one, if you like this topic. I, for one, spent an hour without tossing and turning in bed.

The King's Speech

Wow, what a movie and what an actor Colin Firth is!

I thought the movie would be too serious for frivolous movie watching. But, I was taken by suprise by the movie's novel storyline. Colin Firth won the Oscar, this year and so did the movie and boy! was it well deserved or what?

Without elaborating too much, the movie is about a Prince of Britain who, has a speech disorder and in-spite of it, must master public speaking, his insecurities, to shoulder royal responsibilities and eventually, become its king.

Don't make the mistake of avoiding this movie on the grounds that its too serious for your taste. Just turn it on.

Beautiful Girls

This drama released in 1996 and is a story about five 30-something friends (men) who come together for the high school reunion. Actually, one of them comes back to visit his quiet home town, where the rest of his friends live less glorious lives than they imagined for themselves. All except one short fellow, are at crossroads in their respective romantic relationships and by the end of the movie, come to terms with relationships, commitment and women. Hence, the title,'beautiful girls'. Don't watch this movie expecting an array of beautiful women seducing the male characters and yourself. 

There's Natalie Portman playing the role of an insightful and bright 13-year old who develops a crush on her new neighbor. Uma Thurman plays the role of a woman who is visiting a cousin, ruminating about her own love life while making the men think for themselves too. Even if Rosie O'Donnell plays a very small part in the movie, she makes her mark. I enjoyed her advise to the men on the pointlessness of fantasizing about "perfect" women because even perfection isn't lasting. But, isn't that what we all want! Women included.

Go ahead and watch the movie once if you can.

Knocked Up

I'm a fan of Katherine Heigl and so, I watched this 2007 movie based on a friend's recommendation. The movie is a romantic comedy. I am cringing when I use the word 'romantic' because there is nothing romantic about the lead actor. His character is a plump, unemployed who lives with similar such friends and knocks up Katherine Heigl. :( I feel awful for judging such a person this way. Sorry! I love fairy tales which are based on perfection.

I just couldn't identify with Katherine's character who, in-spite of being hot, gets knocked up by this plump guy she meets at a bar. She decides to have the baby and raise the child with the same guy. I mean, she wanted to try to get to know him and have a relationship! She doesn't know or like him the morning after the mishap. Yet, she makes this life altering decision involving this unknown person. Ok, that's the movie. I don't need to freak out.

However, the movie had a few funny scenes with unemployed friends and their money-making website, "Flesh of the Stars". There's even Paul Rudd playing Katherine's brother-in-law and his comic responses to his marriage and foul-mouthed wife. There's this scene where Paul (in a drunken state) displays five different chairs at a Vegas hotel room and goes through varying emotions while he sits in each one of them and talks about his marriage. Ha, ha!
I'd give this movie a 3/5 because you can watch it for some comedy and while away your time. It's not my usual handsome-boy-meets-girl flick but I should be ready for something different, right?

The Company Men

Starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, Chris Cooper

"The Company Men" is a drama about high ranking corporate employees from GTX Corporation who lose their jobs to corporate downsizing and restructuring. The story tells what happens to them and how their lives change. The story isn't new. I don't know if there's been another movie along the same lines. But, the truth about downsizing for share price increase and thousands of jobs lost while some at the top take millions home, have been in the news for a long time now. Kevin Costner plays a small role here. However, he and all of the other do a very convincing act. The movie makes you wonder if you take your job for granted. Somewhere along the way, you may have forgotten that your job pays the bills. Will you be ready for a lifestyle change if you didn't have your job?

On the whole, its a good movie that gives you something to think about.

How do you know?

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson

How do you know, what? I don't know if it was an editing problem with the copy of this movie or not, but some scenes ended abruptly while some began with no prelude. 

But, we are an intelligent audience, who having watched many movies, should figure the movie out. I couldn't tell where the story was going but I guess that's what Reese's and Paul's character were going through. Change and confusion. Well, a bit like real life! Reese's character didn't know what was in store for her after her sports career ended and Paul's character didn't know how he was to defend himself against the crime he was accused of. The other lead actors were under utilized. Jack Nicholson had a very small role as a father who had his own anger management issues and Owen Wilson is a sportsman wanting to be monogamous with his girlfriend (Reese). 

Reese looks a bit old at times and her facial expressions were old and familiar too. On the whole, it's not what I wanted to see on a Saturday afternoon. I wanted to relax and transport myself (if only for just 1 hour) to somebody else's life. The movie didn't fit the bill and it didn't give me anything new and interesting, either. Skip it! 

I'm not updating the "The Skip List" because published blogs are not posted again.

The Skip List

This isn't a movie review but a growing list of movies that you can skip and not watch unless you have no other choice.

• "The Resident" starring Hilary Swank

This one is supposed to be a thriller about a tenant and her nightmare experience at the hands of her voyeuristic landlord. The movie may have fallen flat on me because I expected better from Swank and expected the movie to thrill me. But, it was predictable throughout and offered no chills. Skip it!

• "Dabaang" starring Salman Khan

Don't bite my head off for putting this on the list. I don't enjoy action movies but my other half enjoyed this movie and found the dialogues witty too. I'll say that Salman looks very fit in his cop outfit. This movie will be loved by his die-hard fans and also the ones who understand hindi comedy better than I do.

• "The Kids are Alright" starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo

Well, it got a few nominations and awards but I'm saying "skip it" if you don't want to watch Mark Ruffalo playing a love-sick, discarded lover. In the movie, the kids of lesbian parents want to meet their biological father and they do. But, after he has an affair with their mother, everyone leaves him out in the cold. It's not how I picture Mark Ruffalo. As you can see, I am not an objective movie critic.

The Black Swan

This suspense drama rightfully won Natalie her Golden Globe award. I'm sure she'll win the Oscar's, as well. Natalie is an amazing actress and she was right for the part of this ballerina who overly stresses over her debut as the principle ballerina in her company. Even someone who knows nothing about classical dance can appreciate the "swan lake" ballet at the end of the movie. Her character's transformation from "white swan" to "black swan" in the ballet is dramatic and telling of the character's own transformation from being frail to unconstrained and bold. Vincent Cassel plays the overpowering ballet director and his role was crucial to the film too.

I don't think I have seen too many movies of Natalie Portman. The one's I have watched are "Star Wars" and "Where the Heart is".  I wouldn't recommend "Star Wars" to anyone but a sci-fi fan. "Where the Heart is" is a good drama that you'll remember Natalie for.


Beautiful, isn't she?

Killers

"Killers" is an all-in-one action/romance/comedy but, this combination did not appeal to me. Killing cannot be comedic. Also, I could predict what the movie held in suspense but I won't reveal for your sake. However, you can still watch it if you like Katherine Heigl and if you are a fan of Ashton Kutcher. The host of Punk'd is adorable.

Other movies of Ashton's that I like better are "The Guardian", "A Lot Like Love", "Valentine's Day". I've watched "A Lot Like Love" a few times on cable and it never tired me. "The Guardian" has Kevin Costner too, who manages to make hearts flutter regardless of his age.

Another unlikely but interesting movie from Ashton is "Personal Effects" that has one of my favorite actresses, Michelle Pfeiffer. Yes, it's about a relationship between an older woman and a younger man but there's a lot more to the story. I'm eagerly waiting to see "No Strings Attached" starring Ashton and Natalie Portman. It's running in theatres now.

Look at him!

Life As We Know It

Everybody dreams of having a happy family. Such a happy family comprises of two loving partners (din't want to restrict this to a man-woman combo) and 1, 2 or 3 children (I have seldom heard people mention a number larger than this). The happy-family concept also seldom or possibly never includes in-laws lurking in the background or foreground. ;) I'm not kidding but I just wanted to say something cliched about in-laws.
Anyway, I'm rewriting this blog because I've watched the movie (fully) many times and again today and I haven't stopped enjoying it. So, it deserves to be re-reviewed. 
This is a romantic comedy and its the kind I always love to watch. The story was slightly different while following the same pattern of man-woman-meet, fall-in-love, some-misunderstanding and together-forever. I love the lead actors (Katherine Heigl & Josh Duhamel) and they share a great chemistry in the movie. Josh is a handsome, all-american dude and who wouldn't consider having a family with him. He wears a confused but endearing look for most part of the movie. He's awesome, girls. 

The story is about two single people who are required to take care of their friend's baby after the unfortunate parents die in a car accident. Parenting is hard and that's what these two realize. But, it also makes them love and want to be a family. Apart from the lead actors who are a handsome duo, there are other characters who also make the movie enjoyable. The social worker. The neighbors. You'll just appreciate all of them.
I also watched "Love and Other Drugs" after "Life As We Know It" but that one didn't do it for me. It followed the same theme but the woman had a chronic illness. Not happy!

Band Baaja Barath

I love romantic comedies. You can't expect anything new from this genre of movies, but that's what you want. You know what you'll get. What makes them interesting and watchable again, are the lead actors, if they can convincingly enact the magical chemistry between two people, called love.


Band Baaja Barath is a refreshing movie sans SRK and others from the Karan Johar clan. These new, young actors play their parts well and with 'masti'. I like 'Dum' and 'Ainvayi' songs.  which are good dance numbers. Anushka's been a good actress right from her first film. Ranbir Singh is an interesting actor who dances well, has a lot of energy and got the brat-boy look and his lines out very nicely, for this movie. Yash Chopra is going to cash in on the success of this pair by following up with another movie very soon. Can't wait!


Check out a high quality video of the songs at youtube. I know a 3-year old who'll watch this with me :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV2fOLL-24Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY1CgwcwhW4

Fair Game

I watched this movie for Sean Penn and Naomi Watt who make an interesting cast of actors.

It's a great story (adapted from real-life) about a CIA covert agent whose identity is revealed and her actions are questioned when controversy stirs up over a high-profile operation at Iraq. Her principled husband stands up for her as she committed no fraud but she prefers to keep her dignity and silence intact. 

You'll want to applaud the agent for her determined silence when media and politicians and even the agency rattles against her. She could have bickered too and lashed out against the agency but she was a patriotic agent by choice and training and it had become a huge part of her real persona.

Other political thrillers you could watch are "Nothing But The Truth", "The Contender". They are all about honorable women who wouldn't compromise on their principles when things get rough.