Hollywood Bollywood Kollywood

Ale Ale song from Boys

2008-03-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

One of my favorites in tamil songs.....

On the same note, love "sutrum vizhi" song from Ghajini

Tare Zameen Pe (2007 : Hindi)

2008-02-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Another one from the Aamir Khan stable with him in his elements. Amir Khan has been, from the launch of his first movie, a little ahead of contemporary Hindi cinema. He has proved one more time that he is maturing in the art of movie making/acting. Simply said that's his way of sharing his evolving experience. Much in contrast to actors who tend to stagnate.

It's about a special child "Ishaan Awasthi", who seems to see life from a different perspective, not because he wants to, but thats the way God perhaps created him. His ambitious father however sees him, as they say in the movie, as another horse that he needs to breed for the "race called life & career". An illustration of middle-class India in its battle for survival of the fittest. The father overlooks the probability that his 8-year old is perhaps not meant for the regular races, and pushes him further into isolation by packing him off to a boarding school. While the kid battles the indifference and taunts thrown at him, Amir Khan, his art teacher, lets him free his imagination and creativity and bring forth the special quality Ishaan has and not the other so-called regular kids.

Ishaan wins an art competition, gets on the cover of his school's year book and begins to be coveted by all. That's quickly said, but watching the movie is bit of a dramatic experience especially if you are watching with women around. Man!! they cry a lot!! Can't blame them....listen to it once.....you will know what I am talking about!!! Sentiment sells the most with Indian audience.

Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

2007-04-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

A biographical Drama, starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, is about a struggling salesman trying to sell a less needed product and his troubled marriage. Finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet with his paltry earnings, Chris suddenly stumbles upon the idea of becoming a stock-broker. He earnestly goes on to apply for an internship in a stock brokerage firm hoping to get selected for a full time position. The decision sparks his seperation from his wife and he gets custody of their only son. The movie from then on depicts the adverse conditions Chris goes through in his attempt to make a new career and take care of his son at the same time. He goes through homelessness, hunger, humiliation,jail and tax seizure. Though a tear-jerker, on the whole it's a compelling and moving story that ends with Chris succeeding in his endeavors and becoming a millionare.

The Holiday (2006)

2007-03-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

A romantic comedy that kicks off with two women (Cameron Diaz & Kate Winslet)who live five thousand miles apart but are dealing with the same problem: men. The two swap homes through a home exchange website hoping to forget their troubled lives. Not only do they manage to get over their past but also find new loves in their new places. A simple story line with good dialogues and backed by neat performances by the cast makes the movie a "should watch" item.

Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006 : Hindhi)

2006-12-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

It was a good entertainer. But can never match the first part. Probably an overdose of "Gandhigiri" spoiled the show. Short circuit's dialogues were hilarious. Atleast for a couple days after you have watched the movie, the song "pal pal har pal" can keep you hooked.

Another knight in the making...

2006-04-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

Talking of movies, it behooves upon me that I write about my good friend, Anand Alagappan, a talented young director aspiring for a niche in the tinsel world. He has to his credit a short film called "No Exit" and a travel documentary spanning 14 episodes. The film "No Exit" was selected for screening at a film fest at Naples, Florida. Would you believe that the only other Indian movie selected was that of Mani Rathnam's? Kudos Anand !!!

Read the reviews about Anand's movie and his future plans at Yahoo movies, The Hindu and ChennaiOnline.

Click here to watch the movie No Exit.

Indian audience can also watch it at www.youtube.com

The Pianist

2006-03-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

A true story of a famous Polish pianist, Szpilman, this film is a tale of a musician surviving the Nazi oppression in Warsaw. The movie mostly dwells on portraying the minute details of a man living on meagre or no supply of food and water, waiting for the Russians to liberate Warsaw from the clutches of the Nazis. I found the Nazi era movie "Life is beautiful" more appealing.

Eyes Wide Shut

2006-03-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

Starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, it's a movie about sexual fantasies and how its takes a couple for a roller-coaster ride. The sex ceremony depicted in the movie reminded me of the Pagan ritual described in the book "The Da Vinci Code".Over flowing with nude scenes, I found it to be a slow-paced movie with each scene dragging forever.

Ghajini (2005: Tamil)

2006-02-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

A Indian version of "Momento", this movie about a memory-loss patient( Surya) who is out to avenge the murder of his girl friend (Asin). Great job by Surya, but I liked Asin more for her performance. The song "Sutrum Vizhi azhage" has stayed back in my mind.

Bluffmaster (2005: Hindi)

2006-02-24T14:01:00.001-08:00

A good effort at the CONMAN (hera pheri) stuff. But, if you have seen MatchStick man, you would end up being disappointed with this Hindi version. For those who don't follow Hollywood, this is a different treat.

Rang de Basanti (Hindi : 2006)

2006-02-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

A provocative movie about waking up and standing upto one’s own beliefs. The first half is humorous and the second half is quite serious sending across oft-repeated powerful message of fighting against corruption in modern-day India. On the whole a colorful and intelligent movie. Amir Khan dazzles asusual.

Thank God! Stars like Amir Khan, Amitabh, Rani Mukerjee etc are still in Bollywood.

Raising Helen (2004)

2006-02-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

Kate Hudson, who has been enjoying the glitter of a flourishing career at a top model agency is suddenly jolted by the death of her sister and her husband. Their death bestows upon her the responsibilty of raising three kids. As she flounders and as well has fun doing her new job of being a mom, she finds support in a handsome pastor, who also helps her in the choosing between the life she loved and the life with loved ones.

A good comedy worth watching.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

2006-02-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

A powerful inspirational drama starring Robin Williams as an English poetry teacher, who inspires his students to think "out-of-the-box" and "follow their own instincts." The motto is "CARPE DIAM", meaning "sieze the day". This incidentally reminded me of a simple story from the book "Chicken soup for the soul". A bunch of students form a secret club that becomes a source of inspiration for them, and each of them break out of their own shackles and reinvent themselves.

Replete with verses from great poets, this movie is a real literary treat. A must watch for poetry lovers.

Matchstick man

2006-02-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

....starring Nicolas Cage, is a story of an agoraphobic conman with no one to claim as his own. A skilled scamster, Cage, suddenly is confronted with his long last daughter. While he begins to learn the ropes of fatherhood, his daughter picks up the secrets of his trade. As the story winds in and out, Cage, in the end finds himself swindled of all his earnings by his partner and his own daughter, who again turns out not to be his daughter.
A good film by Riddley Scott.

Must love dogs

2006-01-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

Punch line : "I hear that the universe lets your heart expand and grow back even bigger after you go through a lot pain"

A pathetically slow movie. Period.

A good dialogue from Goodwill Hunting

2006-01-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

Robbin Williams (to Matt Damon):: "There's nothing you can tell me that I can't read somewhere else. Unless we talk about your life. But you won't do that. Maybe you're afraid of what you might say."

Saravana (2006: Tamil)

2006-01-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

I managed to sit through this Pongal release starring Simbhu and Jyothika. I had never seen any movie of "the little super star" before, except when he used to jump around and over-act with his dad. Can't even think of him, when there's Jyothika to write about. She has in addition to putting on weight, been on the path of maturing as an actress.

My rating: Tests your patience.

Pretty Persuation ( 2005: Hollywood )

2006-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Starring Evan Rachel Woods (as Kimberly), James Wood, Selma Blair etc, the movie is profuse in its graphic adult visual and language content. At times even reaching shockingly vulgar levels.

I Started out thinking it must be just another story towing the line of sexual harassment and stuff. I was wrong on that. The plot turned out to be a case of Kimberly leaving no stone unturned to exact revenge against a friend who steals her boyfriend, and also achieve fame (errr..notoreity) to fulfill her aspiration of becoming an actress.

I would rate it as an above average movie.

Paramasivan ( 2006: Kollywood )

2006-01-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

Starring the recently-slimmed-down Ajit and the eye-lid batting Laila, the movie revolves around another oft-repeated theme of getting a prisoner, waiting to walk up the gallows, to fight some evil forces. Kashmir Terrorism, in this case. Ajit, as an actor still seems to be struggling with his acting. Wonder, how he still manages to get roles. Prakash Raj was, as always, good and thankfully took charge of the movie for most part of the time. Atleast, the movie is quite fast paced. Can watch once, if you have nothing else to do.... like me.

The graphics in the fights and stunt scene could have been rendered better. Indian cinema still has a long journey to make before it can catch up with Hollywood, when it comes to generating good on-screen graphical effects.

All the real girls (Hollywood)

2006-01-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

God knows why I ever ordered it on Netflix. An extremely slow and pathetic movie. But for photography, nothing more to write home about.

Prelude to my ramble

2006-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

I founded this place, so I can scribble about the innumerable English, and a little less number of Hindi and Tamil movies, I keep watching. If you are looking for some serious reviews, keep away!