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Reviews
Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)
Love travelogue
In a bid to try something "different' movie makers experiment with several different ideas. This movie is kind of an experiment which as one of it's characters is kind of just an average. It reads like a diary and has a very simple and basic storyline - nothing more, nothing less. The basic premise is very Jab We Met but any other comparison to the original movie would be unfair. This does not match up.
There are a few moments in the movie that are really sweet and even touching so to say. The Goan school tour, the analysis of personalities and even Rahul's genuine reaction to Rianna's rejection.
The rest of it is somewhere between a tourism ad for Las Vegas ( in winter which is unique) and Goa. Every character is so definite in personality and diametrically opposite that it is hard to accept such exaggerations. Rianna and Rahul are opposites and so are their families, their backgrounds , lifestyle etc. They meet in a way that is possible only in Hindi movies and their relationship develops in a similarly unique and somewhat unbelievable manner.
This is a feel good movie so it is nice to watch it when you are low. Of course there is no significant story progression and it's more like a snapshot of two people interacting for a week. Many people have disliked the ending but to me that was the only honest part in the entire movie.
Tanu Weds Manu (2011)
Smaller moments make the movie..
Tanu weds Manu was a low budget surprise box office hit in India that probably was unexpected even for the directors. It does have some merits to it's credit though.
1. The setting is of course the film's strongest point. North Indian middle class family setting well supported by the ambiance and cinematography. The train ride, the rooftops of houses and the gully's everything adds to the rustic beauty of the movie. 2. The supporting characters especially Madhavan's friend who acts pretty convincing as well as Kangana's best friend who actually acted way better than the heroine herself.
The story in itself is beyond believable so definitely one is not expected to use logic. If you are also wondering why opposites always attract in Bollywood movies, that's because no one really shows what happens later on. I would have really liked to see how a nerdy, soft spoken overly polished NRI can peacefully coexist with a a loud ,foul mouthed rebel with absolutely no cause or conviction girl. However, one is not to think of this and enjoy the movie. Of course, he is madly in love with her after seeing her pass out and later hearing her cuss and swear. It proves again and again that in arranged marriages beauty still prevails. The story progression is pretty good although it's hard to understand where Kangana is coming from or why she is the way she is..or actually why Madhavan does what he does. But then again..forget logic...
Nevertheless the movie has a certain charm that cannot be missed. You still enjoy and identify with the smaller moments in the movie. Jimmy Shergill who is one of the supporting characters gives more attention to his role than needed. Everyone else is good where they are. Kangana does the loud mouthed part very convincingly , falls flat where subtlety is required. The songs are exceptionally good and very appropriate..beautifully sung.
If you enjoy simple narratives and love stories you may actually enjoy the movie.
How Do You Know (2010)
Wish I hadn't known..
This is one of those movies where the trailer is deceptive and far more appealing than the actual movie. I subscribed it on netflix and really had to plow through the movie to get it done. Let me count what all went wrong with this movie 1. They should have made it as an independent film instead of a big budget A lister kind of Hollywood fare. So no expectation no disappointments.
2. There are separate story lines going on in the movie which have little connection or logic between them.It was like watching different movies in the same reel.
3. Except Paul Rudd who fit the role like nobody's business , everyone else was awkward. Agreed Jack Nicholson can pull through anything but Oh my God, Reese witherspoon was beyond reproach. Her character was the most badly scripted role ever. She is almost bipolar - one time prepped and charged , one time down and sad..One time decisive , next minute indecisive and confused. And why why why could the director NOT LET HER FINISH A LINE WITHOUT PAUSING AND CHANGING TRACK 10 TIMES!! What she's doing throughout the movie is anybody's guess.Owen Wilson is not worth mentioning really.
4. They cheat you by coining it a romantic comedy. No one had chemistry with each other ( except the pregnant secretary and paul rudd as her boss)and no it was not really funny. Most lines are preachy if at all anyone is allowed to complete a thought.
5.Almost too sappy right till the ending but not a single passionate , breathtaking moment , not even a decent kiss.
Shaitan (2011)
A little more evil ...
First things first..Bejoy Nambiar does really good as the first time director of this dark and gritty fare. The cinematography, background music and chase scenes are done brilliantly. We have seen Mumbai's raw , unadulterated face exposed in several movies but that does not make it boring to watch, especially when done right.The cast , most of whom are first timers do a pretty decent job..some more than others. The introduction scenes explains the basics without spoon feeding the audience. Some scenes are cringe worthy and too stark but it warns the audience that this won't be a sugar coated anything movie.Even the storyline is interesting
But..yes there is a but here.Had shaitan been released a couple of years back, there would not have been that many movies for a comparison. However ,as standards for Indian movies get higher, bolder and even deliciously original expectations increase. Shaitan has the right tone but the characterization falls flat..and takes the plot down with it..
When the characters got introduced there seemed to be a pattern emerging..KC was the rich kid with an unexplained violent streak, Dash was the initiator who gave a damn about anyone, Neil was the timid one with secret desires , amy the crazy one with ideas and tania the follower..Once the movie progresses all characters go haywire...Dash sets the plan but cannot convince anyone of anything...Amy goes crazy purely on her own devices...and KC who is supposed to be mean and violent grows a conscience and becomes scared..the rest just bolt. Since the friendship doesn't go beyond merrymaking , the falling out holds no merit...The only character which remains true to its form ( mainly because it was one dimensional) is the cop's. The other characters in the movie are not too bad..
I haven't watched Paanch but looking at some scenes on youtube, KK Menon's character seems scary , wild and completely unpredictable...That's not the case here..The Shakespearean darkness of plot..the sense of pure evil is actually missing in here...Instead there are 5 kids who are ordinary in extraordinary circumstances..maybe I am missing something...
A little more shaitani and we would almost be there...
Then She Found Me (2007)
Helen Hunt has to continue searching..
Browsing through netflix's instant play collection and getting increasingly frustrated by the minute, I suddenly saw this movie cover with well-known faces and a promising storyline. So confident was I that I did not even bother with the reviews. Well it isn't a bad movie but one should not really rely entirely on just the cover and the storyline..
I kind of understand what Helen Hunt intended to do - make a realistic movie with a comic touch. However the only real part of the movie was Helen Hunt's sans makeup, tired and anemic face staring at us..I am all for breaking the sex symbol norm in Hollywood...But her look would have been more appropriate had the character in the movie just survived the holocaust or was recovering from cancer.
Moving on...the movie has too many central themes - helen hunt's character wants a baby but wait - her husband leaves her so she gets into a rebound relationship with a handsome but childish Brit...no it's about her getting pregnant .. Hold on.. it's that she suddenly gets to know her birth mother...Ummm confused? So is poor Helen - constantly ,all throughout the movie. For someone who wanted to break the makeup norm in Hollywood..how about breaking the cliché of middle aged American women always looking confused and attractive men finding it endearing?..
The parts of her with Bette Midler start off neither funny , nor striking but get much better and start to make sense.Their chemistry isn't quite there but there are some good moments..mostly credited to Midler... as a matter of fact the second half seems more genuine than the first half ... Colin,Broderick even Midler and Hunt all stay in their comfort zones..no one is stretched beyond..It was like everyone wanted to add that extra but was asked not to..
It isn't exactly an excellent director debut for Hunt but she will probably get there someday..
7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
Ingredients better than the final dish..!
Every once in a while one comes across a movie where everything seems to be perfect yet the final outcome doesn't come through as it should. Saat Khoon Maaf falls under that category..good techniques , haunting ambiance , good cinematography and excellent acting and yet the end result leaves you wanting for something better.
By now everyone knows that the movie is about the character Sussana killing her husbands. The biggest flaw for me was the way the character was portrayed. Some viewers enjoy having a detailed and concrete rationale behind why someone kills...but to me a psychological thriller has a heightened sense of unpredictability when there is no explanation provided as to why someone would kill...Agatha Christie had it , Hitchcock nailed it too.. ..Sussana kills because she kills - no reasons no justifications hence no predictability.
This is where Bharadwaj goes wrong according to me. The movie gets bogged down by routine and predictability...By the third murder you know how it goes and even where it goes. Bharadwaj also provides a half baked explanation of the character which doesn't make much sense. Why did she not leave any of her husbands when she had the chance to? Because she keeps snakes as her pets? Because she kills stray dogs? Because her staff has a macabre and lopsided sense of justice ?Really? Dark visuals and moments will just go this far...then the storyline and execution has to take over...I felt nothing for Sussana - neither scared, nor sympathetic nor annoyed.. Priyanka Chopra did her best in whatever the director asked her to do but somewhere it did not quite work out...The same with the other characters in the movie...Neil Nitin Mukesh had the most chilling effect of all and he did excellent justice to the role..John Abraham was a surprise too...But in the end I was expecting something that never came....
Aisha (2010)
Rescue impossible: Emma cries for help!!
There is a scene in the movie where Abhay Deol looks at Sonam and accuses her of being shallow. He may have been talking to the director of the movie. I don't know how many times poor Jane Austen may be rolling in her grave. Forget about adapting from the book (which is a true masterpiece ); it wasn't even able to copy from another classic of its kind.
The story does not progress with any logic – scenes seem to have been cut and pasted to fill in the gap. The character Emma is supposed to be a complex one – she is vain, narcissistic and controlling yet has charm and an attractive appeal about her. You love to hate her. Aisha, on the other hand , seemed plain dumb. Fighting with her childhood friend and acting like a bitchy teenager when another hot girl comes into the picture (a totally irrelevant addition) is really not a show of character. The love-hate equation with Abhay Deol should have been crackling but they keep arguing unnecessarily throughout the movie. Sonam doesn't look very convincing in her I-know-what's-best attitude.
As for the characters - Sonam has potential but is slowly becoming a bimbo expert. However she usually looks pretty in her movies and has a good sense of style so her styling in the movie seemed way off. The outfits were meant to emulate the Manhattan street style but looked odd and out of place. Abhay is his smart Alec self but looks so disgusted with his co star, you wonder how he fell in love with her. The supporting characters actually add flavor to the movie. Amrita Puri is fabulous, with good roles and opportunity she can make it big. Cyrus looks very genuine and appears to be a typical Delhi boy. Ira Dubey goes from headstrong and blasé to gentle and soft in 2 consecutive frame which confuses everyone.
The only scoring point was the movie's music which is very apt , youthful and a true delight..wish the movie was the same..!
Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008)
A teenage love story..
I was feeling guilty to put up any comments after seeing pages after pages of excellent reviews by the viewers. I understand everyone loves a love story but I am still wondering whether some of the reviews came from the movie makers themselves!! The " Friendship eventually ends up in love" concept in bollywood is at least two decades old. The famous dialogue in Maine Pyaar kiya " A girl and a boy cannot be friends" has been reinforced by several movies over a period of time( Jo Jeeta, Kuch kuch hota hai etc etc). In this movie we of course see an urban GenY couple with no parental objection issues , no rich girl poor boy hassles and apparently no love clashing career plans that lovers faced in the older days. Instead in modern India it's the couple who create their unique problems by misunderstanding their love for friendship ( not the other way round mind you!). And so it goes on..They are not just " good friends" but BFF (best friends forever for people who grew up in the 90's) who call each other by cute names , spend their each waking moment together and go as far as searching each other's life partners. Lot of things happen till they eventually realize what everyone else knows from the time the movie begins. Imran and Genelia fit the young, hip couple and thankfully are actually young enough to be college going kids. However, acting isn't that important so Genelia keeps up her annoying act of been a spoilt , loud teenager and Imran wavers between sensitive, timid and yet protective - a routine he has repeated umpteen number of times by now. However, the positives of the movie is that it targets the youth section of the audience which is obvious from the innumerable good reviews it received. It has some degree of freshness at least where situations and jokes go..The characters are not badly placed either except they are created for the sole purpose of putting these 2 protagonist in the limelight. Dealing with their love life is everyone's goal plan. At the end it gets lot of it wrong but something right and makes a fun watch - Try it if you don't mind a teenage love story.
Break Ke Baad (2010)
To break or not to break..
Break ke Baad is not a movie that many people will be able to relate to but some definitely will. It is not particularly entertaining but in a juvenile way it does deal with some situations that are probably relevant with a lot of Gen Y couples. Aaliyah is a girl who wants everything in life without really bothering about anyone around her. This fact is shown by some irrelevant details like making her smoke a cigar, talk trash and get drunk in cinema halls but then bollywood movies have never been subtle. Diametrically opposite in personality is her childhood boyfriend who is sensitive , caring , selfless to the point that he spoils her completely - of course it was necessary to show his inclination towards cooking because businessmen are rarely sensitive. A very genuine rooftop scene reveals their very skewed relationship. Eventually Aaliyah wants to pursue with her ambitions so we know a break up is evident. She wants to move on he wants to hold on...and so it goes on and on...and you know it is getting confusing. The director drives home a lot of points all summed up in intelligent dialogues by everyone who seem to know whats up with the two protagonists except they themselves... Finally they decide to grow up so that they audience can call it a love story and go home...
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
A Sunday afternoon watch
I haven't read the book yet so the premise was pretty new and creative to me. The movie takes a rather serious case of retail addiction and tries to make it hilarious. Well it succeeds in parts but not all of it. The problem with the movie is that they tried to make it overly cute and too much of a typical romcom movie.
I am not very fond of Isla fisher - she maintains the cute quirky girl with a heart of gold routine yet again in this movie. Despite having so many flaws, making innumerable stupid mistakes and having very little grace , she manages to impress a supposedly top leading media house, the readers of the city and finally her boss. Why you wonder? I guess the audience still loves Julia Robert clones who score top points for acting weird. I personally didn't find her the least bit lovable. Moving on, the film shows ( in a rather naive , sweet way) the dire consequences of being a shopaholic. Of course, been a romantic light hearted movie it always works out in the end and we hope the character has learned a lesson.
The film did not require excellent acting so all the characters were good at whatever they were required to do. The film has some nice moments where the intense desire to buy something comes across as very real. The cinematography and Isla fisher's costumes are gorgeous befitting the purpose of the movie. Pretty decent movie overall - not extraordinary , not a total bummer either. Nice for a afternoon watch with the girls...
Anjaana Anjaani (2010)
Been there, done that..
I am sure my review won't be any different from the ones already posted. The movie starts with an unusually depressing premise for a bollywood style romance. It sounds promising but the director was probably instructed not to be too experimental because he quickly recovers himself and falls back into the routine of making a painfully boring love story. The first half has a few rare, blink and u miss it funny moments.The saddest part is that Priyanka and Ranbir actually have an excellent chemistry. So much scope and talent gone to waste! The hypocrisy also kills the mood. On one hand the protagonists are shown as modern , living on their own terms kind of characters who share an apartment , and when need arises , even a bed. Yet it becomes necessary for the director to force their virtuousness down our throats. Anyway the second half adds nothing to the story except some tears and then some more. Instead of making an entire movie on killing themselves they should have just made those two kill someone. Now that would have made an interesting story.
Pyaar Impossible! (2010)
It is impossible..!!!
I decide to take a chance on this movie one boring afternoon while browsing through the instant play foreign movie listing. Now I am going to take pleasure thrashing it to my heart's content. Pyaar Impossible is another of those overdosed clichéd romance stories that get churned out by Yash Chopra's factory production year after year. However hard it tries to prove itself to be an atypical movie , it is anything but. The movie starts with the two protagonists in an American university continuing the Chopra obsession with catering to it's NRI fan base. Alisha an extremely hot girl ( ya she actually is! ) is lusted and worshiped by a nerd. All nerds in the world fall only for women whom they can never have. Since it is a bollywood movie the nerd of course never moves on and 7 years running still dreams of his lady love. The "love" happening without them having a single conversation with each other and entirely due to her sexy outfits and sexy attitude or the lack of either. Since miracles never cease to exist in such movies he lands up begin the now conveniently divorced hot chick's bratty daughter's ( the most annoying kid in the history of Indian cinema) nanny. How he gets hired is a story that will call for protests from the child services department.The rest is predictable with nerd getting tips from a 6 year old on " how to score with mom" . Horror of horrors , she even asks details on how they spent the night together !! Uday Chopra's personality befits the role he plays while Priyanka Chopra who is usually so talented hams throughout the movie trying to behave like an American born and bred. Her exaggerated body language and expressions gyrate on your senses and you have to stick to concentrating on her looks. The movie has very few good moments one of them been where Uday very candidly proves how much looks matter. Ya this is an impossible love story but in Bollywood anything is possible!
I Hate Luv Storys (2010)
I love to hate such stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have liked KJO's movies in the past..despite all the mush and drama they have always had humor, a certain maturity and even sarcasm. Somehow made it watchable. I sincerely believe that one needs intelligence to even cleverly copy or properly insult someone else s work. This lame and boring movie has no intelligence to do either ; it makes fun of love stories - even going to the extent of saying love stories are clichéd and then repeats the cliché in every possible manner, emulating love stories we have seen a dozen times before. Not just the broad outlines but even the sub-plots are picked from somewhere. Samir Dattani gives a white flower to Sonam every time they meet ( uhhh..subodh from DCH anyone?! ).The background score of KJO's past movies in almost every 3rd scene made me start hating him!! Imran khan should stick to cool and cynical ( he can't emote to save his life) and stop aping his uncle. The female character is the role of a dumb , confused bimbo to the hilt. Why oh why can't directors create humorous , witty female characters who can actually give back sharp comments instead of just raising eyebrows and laughing silly. She consistently maintains her dumb routine even when a nobody subordinate makes fun of her fiancée. Really, despite the fact that all her movies come through her dad's undying efforts sonam kapoor can do better. I am not even going to comment on the other characters , I feel really sorry for them actually.I don't know who the target audience was for the director because the story was juvenile even for teenagers. I am still thinking if there was anything good in the movie - oh yes I didn't really watch the entire movie. !!