Tag Archives: Film Reviews

Hulchul: My Favorite Hindi Priyadarshan Movie! It’s All About the Cast

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I asked for requests for Hindi films to write about, and someone suggested Hulchul.  So, yay!  I have an excuse to write about Hulchul!  One of my favorite films, and definitely my favorite Hindi Priyadarshan movie.  I understand it is a remake of a Malayalam film, but I suspect even after I watch that, I will still like the Hindi version better.  Because what I like about it isn’t just the plot and direction, but how that interacts with the casting.

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English/Vinglish: A Movie in Which a Mother Can Be Other Things Too, But Chooses Not To

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Happy Mother’s Day!  I could post something about Mother India or Aradhana or English Babu Desi Mem, one of those where the mother-son relationship is super important.  But it’s not a day for mothers and sons, it’s a day for mothers!  So instead I am posting about a movie in which a Mother gets the spotlight all to herself.

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Why Socha Na Tha Reaffirms the Arranged Marriage

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I just posted a thing about summery songs, and one of the commentators reminded me of “Abhi Abhi” from Socha Na Tha.  Which then reminded me about Socha Na Tha as a whole.  I looooooooove Socha Na Tha!  And I feel like, as Imtiaz Ali gets further and further from his roots, his first big break film is getting forgotten.  And it shouldn’t be!  Because I think it is better than what he is doing now.  And it says something much more interesting about Indian society than all the Tamasha‘s and Rockstar‘s and Highway‘s put together.

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The Kangana and Hrithik Drama Finally Got Me to Watch Krrish 3! WOW, That is a BAAAAAAAAAAAD Movie!

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I never thought the words “this is worse than Krrish!” would leave my mouth, but by golly Krrish 3 did it!  Although at least it was fun-bad, not anger-inducing-bad like Ki & Ka.

Also, I realized halfway through the film, every single cast member has been part of a massive potentially career ending scandal!  Viviek, Priyanka, and now Hrithik and Kangana.  And heck, Rekha in the original!  But not Priety.  Unless I am forgetting something.  She had the mob testimony thing, the messy Ness Wadia break-up, the bad plastic surgery, but I don’t remember any really really huge thing.

(moviemavengal is more forgiving than me in her review)

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Kireedam: Well, That Was a Total Downer!

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Everyone said “Watch Kireedam!  Watch Kireedam!”  They did not say “Watch Kireedam and then be depressed for a week!”  Evil!  You got me to watch it, and now I am all depressed!  And not depressed in a “the nobility of the human spirit triumphed, even if the ending was kind of sad” kind of way like a classic Amitabh movie, but in a “Gosh darn it!  Why’d it have to end that way?” kind of way.

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Thenmavin Kombath: Hey! That Hindi Director I Like is Actually From Kerala!

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Priyadarshan!  I love Priyadarshan, his comedies are always funny, and yet somehow heartbreaking.  Sort of “you look at the worst situation possible, and you can either laugh or you can cry” feeling.  And somehow I did not realize until I watched this film that he came out of the Malayalam industry.

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Innale: A Nice Old Soothing Malayalam Film, That Reminded me of Outlander and Archie Comics

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I’ve had such a hectic week at work!  For no real reason.  I do tech support for a small software company, and some weeks all of our users have questions, and some weeks they don’t, and I really can’t predict why!  Anyway, to relax, I decided to check out one of the older Malayalam films that had been recommended to me.

(moviemavengal just watched it as well, check out her review here)

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Left Right Left: How it Looks From the Female Side of Things

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I watched Left Right Left!  I am very confused.  I am hoping people in the comments can help me.  I think I got the main thrust of the characters and the overall theme, but the details of exactly what happened and when and why escaped me.  Mostly because I don’t know a lot about the Kerala Communist party.  Or maybe it is the all-India Communist party?  I don’t even know enough to know which one it is!  But at least the relationship/female side of things more or less made sense to me, so that’s the part I will talk about.

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Happy Anniversary Aish and Abhi! I Hope Your Relationship in Real Life is as Good as in Guru and Kuch Naa Kaho!

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I follow Amitabh on twitter (of course), and he mentioned today that it is Aish and Abhi’s wedding anniversary.  Congrats Aishwarya and Abhishek!  I have complicated feelings about your relationship (simple version: why no more babies?  I need more Bachchans in the world!), but I love love love you as a couple onscreen.  Specifically, in Kuch Naa Kaho and Guru (Sarkar Raj is a mess, and I haven’t seen Dhaai Akshar Prem Ki (has anyone?)).

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Malayalam Film Review to Tide You Over Until Fan-Fever Passes

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I feel bad, I know I have a lot of faithful readers who are more here for the regional stuff than the Hindi, and I’m not going to have time to watch another regional film for another few days, not until I’ve seen Fan several more times.  So I’m going to go ahead and post a review on a film I watched a while back and never covered here.

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Shahrukh Week! Last Day! THANK GOD!!! 24 hours from now I will be sitting in a theater burbling with excitement (sorry in advance to the people sitting next to me) I only hope it is as good as Chak De, India!

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Shahrukh himself is very open about how he doesn’t really “act” in most of his movies.  There are 4 that he consistently cites as performances he is actually proud of: Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Swades, Chak De, India, and My Name is Khan.  ICha’ll probably talk about all of these films at some point, but for Fan week, I want to talk about Chak De, because it shares the most with Fan.

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Happy Shahrukh Week!!! 2 Days Left for Fan! To Kill the Time, Let’s Talk about Don!

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I can always talk about Don!  Always always always!  It’s just such a brilliant movie in so many ways.  Shahrukh’s performance, of course, but also the script, and how it uses our knowledge of the original to support its underlying trickery.  Oh, and if you haven’t seen Shahrukh’s Don yet, DO NOT READ ON!!!!!  Just watch the movie instead.  Normally I don’t care about Spoilers, but oh my gosh, if you go into Don unspoiled, it is so awesome!

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Shahrukh Week: Fan and Om Shanti Om

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4 more days left to Fan!  It’s TOO LONG.  I’m going to DIE.  Although, not as long as between Om Shanti Om and Rab Ne.  I actually got into a conversation with a stranger on the bus once about how frustrating that was.  Anyway, to try to alleviate the AGONY of waiting, I am also going through Shahrukh’s filmography looking at related roles.  Saturday, Billu.  Sunday, Asoka (although that was more about meeting the royals), and today, Om Shanti Om!

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Shahrukh Week Continues! In Honor of the Royal Visit, a Discussion of His Royal Performances!

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Happy Shahrukh Week Day 2!  Only 5 days left for Fan!  Of course, he is taking a break from Fan promos (although supposedly there was a discussion of having the royal couple do a “Jabra Fan” dubsmash) to greet the royal couple.  I’ll also take a break from Fan, to think about Shahrukh and his royal roles.

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Law Point: I Had a Really Really Hard Time Getting Past the First Five Minutes

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Law Point!  My third Malayalam film of the week!  I have to get them all out now, because Fan-Fever starts next week and I will be dedicating my life to that for the foreseeable future.  Anyway, I really liked the plot and the actors and the characters and all sorts of other things in this film.  But the introduction of our hero was so evil, it kind of distracted me the entire time.

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