I read the premise and watched the trailer. It seemed to be a sports movie with an underdog theme. I thought it would be perfect for my developmentally disabled daughter since she loves those types of movies. I was very wrong. I am not religious at all and my daughter couldn't understand 85% of the movie. I can't believe that I paid good money to have to listen to that crap. The only good part was the race at the end and it seemed to take forever to get there because my daughter kept asking me when the girl would be running. The races were few and far between. The one star is the gratitude that I felt when it ended.
Reviews
10 Reviews
Enthiran
(2010)
So disappointed! (major spoilers)
9 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
So much was expected and so little was delivered. Although I am not a big fan of this type of film, I absolutely loved The Terminator and Alien. Unlike these two films, Endhiran failed to involve me emotionally with any of the characters; in the end, I didn't care who lived or died.
It was also hard to digest the pairing of Aishwarya and Rajnikanth. I cringed every time they touched. In all of India, could they not find a younger actor to play this role? And did the character of Sana really need to be a college student? Additionally, the movie was excruciatingly long. Was the mosquito scene really needed? And the scene where the robot helps a woman in delivering her baby looked so fake that I was embarrassed for the director; if it can't be well done, then why bother doing it? This did not really add anything to the story. Also, the climax went on and on and on and on and on and on. I mean, get it over already! I know a lot of people love this kind of action, but enough is enough.
The script was illogical in parts. When Dr. Vasigaran decides to do away with Chitthi, he cuts him up in pieces, then throws it in the trash. Should he not have removed a computer chip or something? Is this not how he dismantles the bad robot in the end? And how did the robot end up in the bad scientist's car? When did he have time to create so many replicas of himself? It seemed to take Dr. Vasigaran forever to create just one.
And now for the music. I suppose that the songs were suitable for this type of movie but I did not find one memorable song in the bunch. I mean this is A.R. Rahman we're talking about! I also thought that the transition to the songs were so badly done, it was almost like a jolt to the system. As for Aishwarya's dancing, that was the only thing that I enjoyed in the whole movie. It has been a long time since she has done so much dancing and she is so good at this. I must say however that I much prefer it when she dances a traditional Indian dance than this modern stuff.
So, all in all, 2 out of 10 for Aishwarya's dancing!
It was also hard to digest the pairing of Aishwarya and Rajnikanth. I cringed every time they touched. In all of India, could they not find a younger actor to play this role? And did the character of Sana really need to be a college student? Additionally, the movie was excruciatingly long. Was the mosquito scene really needed? And the scene where the robot helps a woman in delivering her baby looked so fake that I was embarrassed for the director; if it can't be well done, then why bother doing it? This did not really add anything to the story. Also, the climax went on and on and on and on and on and on. I mean, get it over already! I know a lot of people love this kind of action, but enough is enough.
The script was illogical in parts. When Dr. Vasigaran decides to do away with Chitthi, he cuts him up in pieces, then throws it in the trash. Should he not have removed a computer chip or something? Is this not how he dismantles the bad robot in the end? And how did the robot end up in the bad scientist's car? When did he have time to create so many replicas of himself? It seemed to take Dr. Vasigaran forever to create just one.
And now for the music. I suppose that the songs were suitable for this type of movie but I did not find one memorable song in the bunch. I mean this is A.R. Rahman we're talking about! I also thought that the transition to the songs were so badly done, it was almost like a jolt to the system. As for Aishwarya's dancing, that was the only thing that I enjoyed in the whole movie. It has been a long time since she has done so much dancing and she is so good at this. I must say however that I much prefer it when she dances a traditional Indian dance than this modern stuff.
So, all in all, 2 out of 10 for Aishwarya's dancing!
Dil Ka Rishta
(2003)
Movies from my childhood imagination
8 October 2010
Dil Ka Rishta's script is like it came from my childhood romantic imagination. I love romantic movies, I love musicals, I love beautiful people. This movie has it all. It was my very first real Bollywood movie. As I watched it, I could not believe my eyes. An extremely beautiful leading man falling for an extremely beautiful leading lady, songs galore, drama, comedy, music, dance, etc. Does a movie need anything more? I know that the script is a little hard to take for the western world but, let it slide, and embark on this wonderful ride that is Bollywood. Aishwarya carries the weight on the movie on her able shoulders especially when it comes to the dancing. She is a wonder to behold! In all of the songs, she is a revelation but more so in Saajan Saajan.
Bride & Prejudice
(2004)
This film changed my life! No really, it did!!
8 October 2010
On a lazy Saturday afternoon at Zellers (back in 2005), I was browsing the new releases in DVDs. I came across this movie and thought it looked like fun. I didn't know any of the actors but I loved Gurinder Chadha's Bend It Like Beckham. On top of that, one of my all-time favourite movies is Pride & Prejudice (the Colin Firth version) so I thought, how could I lose? I watched it later that night. At first, I felt a little disappointed because I thought that the lead actress did not look Indian enough. But it did not take much longer for me to be completely enraptured with her. I really enjoyed the movie even though I thought that the script was a bit rushed in the second half and the dialogue was not very witty. More importantly, this film opened the door to a whole other world. The world of Bollywood!
The Perfect Game
(2009)
Wonderful family film
8 October 2010
I went to see this movie because my daughter loves sports movies. It was completely enjoyable although a little bit clichéd.
The acting was not that good but there were so many feel good moments that I could completely forgive any faults I may have found. I even clapped at the end.
My daughter's friend was cheering as if he were actually at the game. What made this even more special is the knowledge that this "perfect" game actually happened and, along with the end credits, we got to see the actual players. This is a great movie for the whole family, and that in itself, is a great feat!
The acting was not that good but there were so many feel good moments that I could completely forgive any faults I may have found. I even clapped at the end.
My daughter's friend was cheering as if he were actually at the game. What made this even more special is the knowledge that this "perfect" game actually happened and, along with the end credits, we got to see the actual players. This is a great movie for the whole family, and that in itself, is a great feat!
Hunting and Gathering
(2007)
Thoroughly enjoyable
16 July 2008
From beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Every member of the cast was excellent but I particularly loved Guillaume Canet. I first saw him in Jeux d'enfants and fell in love with him (who wouldn't?). As for Audrey Tautou, I finally saw what all the fuss was about. I have seen Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, but I didn't care for it at all.
I only wish that this film had been longer so that we could have been better acquainted with Philibert since he was such an interesting character.
I also loved Françoise Bertin's performance as it was very touching. I identified with the struggle that many of us face in trying to care for someone and trying to earn a living.
All in all, a very commendable film.
I only wish that this film had been longer so that we could have been better acquainted with Philibert since he was such an interesting character.
I also loved Françoise Bertin's performance as it was very touching. I identified with the struggle that many of us face in trying to care for someone and trying to earn a living.
All in all, a very commendable film.
Rails & Ties
(2007)
Great performances in extremely improbable script
18 June 2008
I really liked this movie even though it made me cry so much that I had a headache. Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden and Miles Heizer made me believe that I was looking into their lives and Alison Eastwood's direction clearly had something to do with that. The script however was very unbelievable. But then again, does it really matter? When I turn to movies, I want to escape reality because reality is not that great (at least mine isn't). I'm not saying that I enjoy crying but I enjoy a movie that can bring me into their world and, for 100 or so minutes, I did not, for one second, think of my world. So I, for one, will look forward to seeing more from Alison Eastwood!
Sarkar Raj
(2008)
Bring your earplugs!!
7 June 2008
I am a huge fan of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan and they were the only reason why I wanted to see this movie since I am not a fan of the genre. They both performed very well and the story was OK. What ruined it for me in a major way was that excessive "background" music. It was so bad that I had to block my ears at one point. It's as if the filmmaker thought that the audience was so stupid that, unless he used overly dramatic music to underline either what was said or what just happened, then the audience would not grasp the importance of it. I also did not care for the weird camera angles. Since I do not understand Hindi, I had to rely on the subtitles and quite a few times, they were unreadable because the words were blended in with the background. As for Amitabh Bachchan, I don't know what all the fuss is about!
The Sweetest Thing
(2002)
What was that????
2 February 2008
This is by far one of the worst movies I have ever "tried" to see and by that I mean that I had to stop the movie after about 40 minutes. There was nothing funny about it. I even wanted to throw it in the garbage but I figured I may as well bring it in to Blockbuster since they buy back used DVDs. To portray young professional women or any women in such a disgusting way is beyond comprehension but then, after reading some of the reviews, I can understand why film makers produce such trash. What did it for me was seeing Christina Applegate trying to use the urinal in one of the filthiest bathrooms I had ever seen. And everything that came before that was not much better. I have seen Knocked Up and The Forty-Year-Old Virgin and loved those movies in spite of the crude humor but The Sweetest Thing is nothing like that. All it did was make me cringe. Avoid at all cost.
Swami
(2007)
Stupid priorities
18 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The 4 points are for the 4 leads only. Their performances were quite good. The story however was pointless.
Major spoilers
The mother would rather give her husband a rocking chair that he had been wanting since he was a child than get an operation that would save her life so that she could be around to raise their young child??? Is that even a choice that a sane individual would consider? Then, 20 some years later, the son, his wife and their child leave the father behind to move to America in order to fulfill the mother's dying wish. Was that really necessary given that a lot had changed in 20 years. The son was making a good living and could provide well for his family in India. What was the point of breaking up the family and leaving the father all alone? Add to that the introduction of all the stupid characters in the later part of the movie. Was that only to fill time? I fast forwarded through that garbage.
End of spoilers.
This movie should only be seen for the fine performances of Manoj Bajpai and charismatic Juhi Chawla (her part was too short for me since she was the main reason why I wanted to see the movie). The other 2 younger leads were also quite good and I look forward to seeing them again.
Major spoilers
The mother would rather give her husband a rocking chair that he had been wanting since he was a child than get an operation that would save her life so that she could be around to raise their young child??? Is that even a choice that a sane individual would consider? Then, 20 some years later, the son, his wife and their child leave the father behind to move to America in order to fulfill the mother's dying wish. Was that really necessary given that a lot had changed in 20 years. The son was making a good living and could provide well for his family in India. What was the point of breaking up the family and leaving the father all alone? Add to that the introduction of all the stupid characters in the later part of the movie. Was that only to fill time? I fast forwarded through that garbage.
End of spoilers.
This movie should only be seen for the fine performances of Manoj Bajpai and charismatic Juhi Chawla (her part was too short for me since she was the main reason why I wanted to see the movie). The other 2 younger leads were also quite good and I look forward to seeing them again.
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