24 posts tagged “movies”

A bit of a mix up from my usual Bollywood filled ones.  Just a couple I've seen recently while my mom was busy watching her Stanley Cup games :P

Namastey London DVD

Namastey London
Well, after Bhool Bhulaiyaa, my first movie with Akshay Kumar, I wasn't a huge fan of him at all.  So I thought I would give him another chance.  Didn't work.  Even though I wasn't a fan of his character in this movie (I thought it was creepy how he just followed her around all doe-eyed), it still made me realise that it was probably him as an actor that I didn't like.  So, I won't be going out of my way to see more of his films.
Otherwise, the movie was a little cheesy.  Perfect Indian guy vs. stereotypical freewheeling Westerner.  Perfect Indian Guy follows girl around with the most pathetic puppy dog eyes until she falls in love with him.  Whatever.  Not terribly impressive, nothing terribly new.  Oh, and + gratutious skanky western club scene.
Oh, and I reitterate my annoyance at voice over singers that are WAY off from actor's normal voice. It was really awkward when Akshay would start singing.

The Prophecy

Sweet Rain (Standard Edition) DVD

Sweet Rain
Another thing I don't know if you knew about me, was that before I got into Bollywood I watched lots of Chinese movies, and occasionally Japanese ones.  Well, I got this one because of Takeshi Kaneshiro who I just love. This is a Japanese movie, but her does both Japanese and Chinese ones (you might know him from Perhaps Love, a Chinese musical that I know everyone would just LOVE, or more popularly, House of Flying Daggers).  This is another one that sort of ties into what I was saying part of why I liked The Prophecy, he plays a Shinigami, aka Grim Reaper.  Very cool.   I thought it was a good movie.  Had an indie type feel that I can't really explain, maybe because of the lack of a typical love interest, but the whole story is just very well told.
Oh, and there is a talking dog, that doesn't actually talk or move its mouth, which is a welcomed relief from all the creepy talking Disney style dogs in America.
Recommended movie!


That's it for now!
Oh, and I caught about 10 minutes of an original Star Trek episode that was on TV today.  Something to do with Tribbles or whatever that are just balls of fluff that come out of everywhere.  It was pretty enteretaining and very 70's colourful.  Plus, my parent's informed me it was a classic episode.  *shrugs*  I'm trying to download some, but it is very slow going.

~Nikki

I've been very absent from this journal since my move.  Things have been busy getting the house together and I haven't had time to read or watch many movies, and I don't even have my sewing machine out yet, so none of that to post either.  Well, just in case some people are out there still, I do have a few things to post.  I'll try to remember some of the movies I've seen recently.  Bollywood and otherwise.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire
Yes, I am aware that I'm the last person in the world to see this movie, but I just watched it tonight.  I thought it was fantastic.  I actually didn't know anything about the movie at all, and while I knew it was a mainly English production, I didn't actually know that it was all spoken in English!  It didn't detract from the movie at all.  I really thought it was a fantastic movie.  I thought Dev Patel did a really amazing job and he is just adorable, isn't he?  Very interesting way to tell the story as well.  Really, really enjoyable.

Maya Memsaab

Maya Memsaab
This was a retelling of Madame Bovary, a book which I enjoyed, but I have to say, I didn't really like the interpretation.  Especially of the character Maya (Madame Bovary).  I understand that Madame Bovary wasn't entirely stable, obviously, but I thought they made Maya way too insane.  I just...didn't really find watching it very enjoyable.  Not that it was awful or anything, just not great.  It was almost worth watching just for SRK, but not enough to recommend my mom watch it.

Star Trek [Theatrical Release]

Star Trek
First movie I've seen in the theatres in months.  Simply amazing!  Fantastic!  I loved it :)  I didn't know any more than the average person does about the first Star Trek series.  I'd never seen an episode even though I enjoy the other Star Treks.  But ever without that experience, I thought it was just fantastic.  Definitely something that everyone can enjoy, not just hard core fans.  Which was very smart of them to do.  I'm really hoping they make some more.  I loved the characters and the way the changed up the story line.  Very cool.  Great movie.

Australia

Australia
Another one that took me a long time to see.  Since I'm sure everyone has seen it, I'll just say that I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

The Duchess

The Duchess
I enjoyed this greatly while I was watching it, but for what I remember, it obviously didn't stick with me.  Very interesting story about her life, though they left out a lot of her part in politics, which would have been interesting.  Mostly her love life.  Which, hello Dominic Cooper, not hard to watch at all.  I was wary that with everything I heard about all the fashion in the movie it would turn out something like Mary Anotionette, which I'm quite glad it didn't.  Some people thought that it moved too slowly in parts, but I guess they can say that about any period peice, but looking back I thought it covered her life very quickly. 

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Widescreen & Full Screen Edition)

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Very cute movie :)  First one I watched on the new HD TV actually, so it was interesting in that itself, lol.  Even without that, it was very well done, I thought.  Cute story, fast movie and omg, I love Lee Pace.

Enough for now?  Not too many for the past few months.  I'm trying to find some time to go see Wolverine before it leaves theatres :P  Also trying to talk someone into see Star Trek again in the IMAX, but alas, to no avail.  Sadness.  The theatre here really sucks.  I'm so use to massive screens and stadium seating as a given in a movie theatre.  This theatre (and I imagine many in most parts of the country) was like the dollar theatres back in Texas.  Ah well, something else to get used to.
I hope everyone is doing well!!

~Nikki

[EDIT]  Oh, and I forgot, I won't bother adding this on my LJ because they already know, but I also watched Twilight.  Once again, last person in the world.  It was the most ridiculous movie I've ever seen.  That's all I have to say.  Almost worth watching just to make fun of it in a more educated way, lol.

Bah, I just lost my post.  Anyway, here are a few reviews of some movies I've watched recently (and not so recently).  Also, since my hard drive broke, I've been borrowing my mother's hard drive (I don't have a TV, she felt bad that I wasn't able to watch movies) and it is about twice as big as mine was.  So, while I was slow to download new movies on mine because I had run out of space, no problems here!  So more movies in the future :)
Also made an awesome phyllo pastry for Thanksgiving, I'll put up the recipe soon

Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India

Lagaan
Probably one of the few people who have ever seen a Bollywood movie and hadn't seen this one.  I had watched half of it ages ago, but the subtitles in the second half of my movie were messed up, so I downloaded another copy and was FINALLY able to watch the whole thing!  Very good movie, I really enjoyed it.  Two things that I wasn't a huge fan of: most of the songs and the English lady.
I really didn't think the English lady was a very good actress, more than that, I just didn't enjoy her character that much.  Oh god, and that song she sang?  Awful!  So awkward in the movie.  I'm not a huge fan of AR Rahman to begin with, so it isn't a surprise that I wasn't big on many of the songs.  'Radha Kaise Na Jale' was probably one of the only exceptions.  I also thought some of the playback singers for the villagers where not picked very well, someone with a deep voice would get up and sing in a high one, that type of thing.  Those few times when you are watching Bollywood movies and it seems very obvious that they aren't singing.
All in all though, I thought the movie was very good.  I enjoyed the story, Aamir Khan and the girl were fantastic.  I was also a fan of the English Captain (the actor I mean), I thought he did a good job.  Definitely recommended, and while I may be biased in my dislike for AR Rahman, I have to say that if this is your first Bollywood movie, please don't judge it by the songs.  The movie itself is really fantastically made.  And hey, he is really popular, so maybe I'm the odd one out.

Baazigar1993

Baazigar

I really enjoyed this movie.  The first movie SRK and Kajol were in together.  Plus, SRK plays a semi-bad guy.  He did a fantastic job!  He started out as a bad guy in movies, not the Romeo that he became, so it was interesting to see.  He wasn't all bad, though there is probably something wrong when you side with the guy who killed some innocent girl.  It is, admittedly, a little disturbing.  I haven't convinced my mom to see this since she isn't ready to see him in a 'bad guy' role yet.  I think it is a must see for any SRK fans, it is a really good older movie of his.  Most of the songs are pretty decent, I really enjoyed 'Yeh Kali Kali' at the nightclub.  One complaint with it was the cop who was in love with Kajol's character.  I don't have any problems telling you this, as it completely came from no where and had nothing to do with the story.  It popped up in a really creepy stalkerish song towards the end and was never mentioned again.  I thought that angle was totally unnecessary.  Oh, and SRK had green eyes.  Very nice.

Parineeta

Parineeta
Really, really great movie.  I loved Saif Ali Khan.  The music was great, the relationship between the characters was great, the story was great.  All round enjoyable movie.  Go see it.

Umrao Jaan

Umrao Jaan

Almost worth seeing just because Aish looks so beautiful in it.  And the costumes!  The songs were okay, though I can't remember them totally, so not memorable.  I think there was maybe one song outside of the songs she danced to as a courtesan, one between her and Abhishek, and I wasn't impressed.  Not to mention they really picked THE worst playback singer for him, I don't know what they were thinking, it wasn't like his actual voice at all.  And their chemistry wasn't that great either.
Okay movie, not really that good.  Eh.

English Babu Desi Mem (1996)

English Babu Desi Mem
Not a bad movie.  Would have been made infinitely better with subtitles during the songs you lazy bastards at the distribution/subtitle company.  The melodies were good at least.  The story was a bit ridiculous, but enjoyable.  Same for SRK's acting, lol.  I did enjoy the dance numbers.  I wish I had watched it again before sending it back.  Ah well.

Yaadein...

Yaadein

I really enjoyed this movie!  I mean, not 'great' per se, but definitely an enjoyable romance.  Had quite a few parallels to Mujhse Dosti Karoge, but there are only so many Bollywood plot formulas out there.  And I like Hrithik and Kareena together.  Most of the songs were pretty good, a few I would label 'bad' just because I couldn't get past the awful, awful dance numbers, but most were fairly decent.  Ah, off subject (sort of), there is this one scene were Hrithik is just being over the top angsty and he is outside with his arms outstretched and his head down and god, his shoulders were almost creepy they were so massive.  The whole pose/scene was a little ridiculous anyway, but I was....taken aback.
Definitely enjoyable :)  Fairly typical as far as the romantic drama bollywood movies I enjoy though.  I'll watch it again, definitely.  I now have to decide whether I want to keep it or give it to my mother for Christmas.  Damn.

Black

Black
Bollywood version of Helen Keller.  Really great acting all around though, I was very impressed, I don't really expect any less from Amitabh or Rani though.  Very sad story as well (obviously!), but a really, really well done movie.

Raincoat (2004)

Raincoat

I guess 'artsy' is the way to describe this movie.  Or 'like an independent film',  Very different from other Bollywood movies I've seen, though I still thought it was really enjoyable.  I like these types of movies though.  Almost the entire movie takes place during a long conversation at Aish's place, with a few flashbacks.  I would really recommend the movie, but it definitely isnt' for everyone.  I really don't think my mom was a fan.  Though I'm almost certain she watches the movies for the songs, dances, and bright costumes.  Just like she watches western movies for pretty landscapes.

20704440

China Town
My first black and white Bollywood movie!  I really liked it.  The first part was definitely like 'Don', almost exactly.  Or rather, Don was like China Town.  In any case, once I was able to get past no subtitles during songs, I really thought the movie was very enjoyable.  The songs themselves sounded nice, the acting was good, the story was good.  Definitely a good experience for my first b&w.  It was one of those 'instant' ones on Netflix, so I may try renting a few more of them.  I really enjoyed it.  Movies have changes so little, lol.  And the 180 turn around redemption at the end was a bit ridiculous.  I guess family is more important there than here, so finding out you have a family could change a life time criminal and jerk into a good person.  I believe it :)

Baabul

Baabul

Rani and Bachchan did a fantastic job, great acting.  I really wasn't a fan of the rest of the acting though.  For one thing, I think everyone knows, I hate Salman Khan.  I wasn't aware he was in it or I may not have rented it.  Even my mom doesn't like him.  She told me she never understood how I just hated Christian Bale without reason until she felt the same about Salman.  Also, this was my first movie with John Abraham and I have to say, I wasn't terribly impressed with him either.  I won't be seeking out his other movies, I thought he was a pretty bad actor, to be honest, and his character was a bit pathetic.  So, while the relationship, acting, and story between Bachchan and Rani was almost enough to make up for the awful casting....it wasn't quite.  Unfortunately.  It had potential, but I would skip it.  Unless you feel differently about the actors.




Um, I think that is it.  I hope I haven't missed any, some of these were from a very long time ago! My mom has Chameli and Ram Jaane that we rented from netflix, so once she has watched those, I'll be posting about those as well.
Oh, I was just thinking, if you compare this post to my early Bollywood ones....you'll find that I am running out of SRK movies, lol.

~Nikki

I know I haven't been doing the Vegan MoFo enough, but I haven't cooked anything recently, like my last post said...SOOOO many leftovers!  Well, I ventured into Gobi Ka Parathas.  Not too bad, I'll post about them tomorrow.

Anyway, eating the Gobi Parathas made me think of Mukhse Dosti Karoge, which I had just watched, which made me think of posting here.  So, that is how my mind works.

Mujhse Dosti Karoge

First things first.  This is my mother's new, absolute favourite movie.  She is obsessed with it.  I ordered it from her netflix account and she was absolutely raving about it.  So, I finally got it from her and I've watched it many, many times since I don't own it and will have to give it back :P  I thought it was a really good movie.  The first time I watched it I didn't know what my mom was raving about.  It was a good movie, all star cast, etc, but she was crazy about it.  Maybe that put me off?  The second time I watched it I liked it a lot more than the first.  The music grew on me more, I wasn't all worked up about wondering how it was going to end (American movies always end happy, Chinese movies always end horribly depressing, but Indian movies?  It's a toss up!), and I definitely ended up enjoying it more.  The cast is obviously fantastic.  Kareena's character reminded me a bit too much of her role in K3G, but I got over it. However, unlike K3G, the director didn't make Hrithik's eyes huge and red when he cries...which...he does.  Obviously.  As if he doesn't gush like a waterfall in any movie he makes.
Anyway, I liked the story, it isn't a secret that I love angst.  I didn't like Hrithik's dad.  At all.  And the end scene could have been better, but it wasn't bad and I wouldn't say 'don't watch the movie' because of it.  I really liked Uday Chopra's character, I wish he hadn't been such a secondary character (or the sacrfical lamb - if you watch bollywood, you know this term).  He did a great job acting and I genuinely liked his character.
Music was definitely enjoyable.  There was a great Medley song in it too, really interesting, I haven't seen that done before.  A lot of music from 70's films, and some from newer ones (Oh, I cracked up when Hrithik started singing 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai').  Got me downloading some of the older stuff.
Oh, and found another ripped off/reused/recycled melody (the song from Koyla and the song from Krrish was the first one I noticed).  This was one of the Medley songs and he started singing and it just sounded so familiar.  Different words came into my head and I realised it was the same melody as the song from DDLJ

Ok, so, I'm a nerd.  I think you should watch this one, it was one of the better ones. On to the next movie...

Yes Boss

Yes Boss

Okay, I thought this movie was cute!  Not much to say about it, I wouldn't say typical storyline, but nothing too special.  Very enjoyable though.  Very cute :)  Good music, light drama.  Recommended if you want something light :)
Oh, and since when did Abhijeet (playback singer) have a lisp?  I swear, there is a very audible lisp in one of the songs.  It was actually distracting.  I mean, I get it that the song is supposed to be cute and light...but really? 

Bm_one2ka4

  One 2 Ka 4

It was totally by accident that I watched 2 SRK and Juhi Chawla movies.  Both were good though!  I enjoyed this one as well.  SRK's role is definitely different in this one compared to the last one.  He is a bit more bad-ass.  The story is also a bit darker than a lot of his other movies (he still plays the good guy, I haven't gotten up the will to watch Darr yet...).  Kids annoy me in general, so I wasn't fond of the kid's roles (hauntingly familiar if you've seen Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic) and the songs that had them in them were pretty obnoxious.  Only two though, the rest of the songs were fantastic.  Another good one that you should see if you are a fan.  All around entertaining, drama, romance, mystery, action (seriously, do cops in India really get into that many shoot outs?  Makes me never want to go there)

Vivah

Shahid Kapoor (and Amrita Rao for that matter) is just the cutest thing on two legs.  You know it, I know it, everyone knows that I think so, lol.  No difference here!  I only downloaded it because of him, so that didn't fail me. Really cute story, young people falling in love.  It is beautiful.  There is a itty-bitty-tiny twist and drama at the end, but it is sort of dismissed in the blink of an eye for how serious it was.  Which was odd.  Because, as entertained as I was while watching the movie, and as cute as it was, when it ended I wondering what had actually happened.  Then I realised....nothing.  There really wasn't much of a plot.  The 'villain' (/step mother) was a weak character and didn't really do anything and was, of course, forgiven much to easily.  So...that didn't really add to the plot.  The 'big twist' (as I'm sure they try to call it) was at the very end and really didn't affect the story that much.  But...like...nothing happened.  No hitch in the romance, no obstacles to overcome.  Hmph.
Like I said, I was entertained while watching it, and I may even watch it again, but at the end I realised that there wasn't a plot.

Guddu

Guddu
I don't know if I could say that I could get over how annoying not having subtitles during the songs is and watch this movie.  Not because it annoyed me more than usual, but because the movie just wasn't that great.  The premise, I'm sorry, was a little ridiculous in itself.  Miraculously cured brain tumors and eye transplants are almost as ridiculous as getting your throat slit open and having a witch doctor in the forest sew it up and make you not mute anymore (except that wasn't the main premise of that story and the rest of the movie made up for that piece).
It was a while ago since I watched this, so I don't remember too much.  Only that I wasn't impressed and while it wasn't a bad movie persay, I'd probably have to be pretty desperate for something to watch before I put this one in again.



And I'll just point out that I also watched Saathiya, but it was so long ago that I'll wait to watch it again before I write a review for it.  I enjoyed it though, if you are wondering :)
Wow, some of these movies I watched a really long time ago.  It is possbile that I've missed reviewing some because it was so long ago that I assumed I had already done it....


Oh, and I also didn't get any replies about the mystery songs in Veer-Zaara.  Not that I just want people to comment, but I'm honestly wondering if the dvd version has these songs in it.

~Nikki

Watched a few new ones lately.  Not all winners, which I'm sure you are surprised to hear coming from me!

Swades Shah Rukh Khan Hindi DVD

So, I watched this like, months and months ago, but the last bit was left off of the one I downloaded.  So then I bought the movie so I could see the whole thing before I reviewed it, which also occurred months and months ago.  Needless to say, I procrastinate.  And, oh ho, I thought the last 5 minutes or so were cut off the movie, turns out it was like....15 seconds.
No matter!  The movie is absolutely brilliant!  A bit off topic but this is probably the only foreign film I've watched that had something good to say about America.  In any case, the movie was very intelligent and heart-stirring in its realism.  You become as shocked as SRKs character at some of the scenes they show and as frustrated as when he tries to explain that culture and traditions are not only one of the most important things in a country, they are also what are holding it back in some aspects.  I suppose you could say it was a 'message movie' but it was still fantastic.  The story was great, the characters were great.  Highly recommended.

200px-Zamaana_Deewana

Zamaana Deewana

While I'm sure that having subtitles during songs would have made the movie much better, once again, our lazy ass friends at Eros didn't think it was necessary.
Putting my endless annoyance at lack of subtitles during songs aside, I have to say that I really enjoyed this movie!  I thought it was a lot of fun and the plot had a few twists in it that I wasn't expecting.  Well, I was expecting something because a few times during the movie I was like 'While this is sweet and touching, how on earth are they going to fill the rest of the time?'  Turned out to fill the time just fine.  It is a fairly typical SRK romance flick/role, but, as always, enjoyable.  Had something of a Romeo & Juliet plot going on as well, which is always nice.  Oh man, and there is this scene during one of the songs....I'm just going to say, if you are a SRK fan (girls) you have to see it.  Speaking of songs, even though I didn't know what any of them were about, the songs/melodies were really great as well.  I tried to download them, but can't find them anywhere.  So if you come across them, let me know!
Recommended if you like this kind of movie.  Nice romance flick.  Very entertaining.

Ishq Vishk

Ishq Vishk

So, I downloaded this after seeing Jab We Met because Shahid Kapoor is just the most adorable thing on two legs.  Still adorable in this movie, but I wouldn't say it was nearly as good as Jab We Met.  This is a pretty typical high school chick flick type movie (even if it does take place in college), but it was enjoyable while I was watching it.  I don't know if I would go as far as saying it was 'great' or anything, but it was entertaining enough.  Shahid was great, even more adorable than in 'Jab' (and more of a jerk as well) and Amrita was lovely, even if her role reminded me a bit of her part in 'Main Hoon Na'.  The other girl?  The 'attractive' one that everyone was in love with?  Not attractive at all.
So, eh, not great, not bad, forgettable songs.  Watch or don't, there are probably better ones out there, but if you were thinking about watching it anyway, go for it.

200px-Laaga_Chunari_Mein_Daag_Poster

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

I was disappointed in this movie.  It could have been so much better.  The story was alright, the songs were okay, but it could have been so much more.  My main complaint was that the characters seemed totally undeveloped.  I like that Bollywood movies are longer because they have a chance to develop the side characters, but not so in this movie.  Not only where there too many 'disposable' characters (treatise on life I suppose?) but even the important secondary character were...well...unimportant.  Specifically Abhishek's role, who, for a major part of the story line was probably in it for all of 5 minutes.  You sort of expected him to come back, but it seemed like he was totally forgotten in the story after the first time.  Rani did a good job, there was a good message in it (well, more or less, better to not become a escort at all, but still) but all in all, the movie could have been better.  Another one of those, 'see it or not, whatever' movies I'm afraid.

200px-Bhoolbhulaiyaa

Bhool Bhulaiyaa

My mom is annoyed with me over these movies.  She bought herself an external harddrive so that she could watch more (she spends more time watching movies/tv than I do), but I still have this old, crappy harddrive that holds less than half of her new one.  And it is chock full.  The only reason I can download anything on it is because I can delete some of the movies that I buy.  Anyway, well, she wants to download some more movies, some new ones, but she doesn't know how.  My response 'Oh dear, well, I would give you some of mine, but I can't FIT ANY MORE'.  Petty, I know.  It is better though, she doesn't know how to download them, she wouldn't know how to find subtitles, I spend a LOT of time fixing subtitles, etc.  But alas, no room.  Along with an iPhone, a bigger harddrive will be a gift to myself whenever and if ever I find a job.
So, here are a few new movies I've seen.  Not as many as I thought since the Olympics and then the DNC took up most of the free time I had on the vacation to Massachusetts, but a few anyway.

Saawariya

Saawariya

It's a bit hard to categorize this movie.  It was interesting, to say the least.  The set and directing was SO much like Moulin Rouge that I had to laugh a few times.  It was a bit darker though, it fit for the story, which was fairly dark.  I've never read Dosteovsky's 'White Nights' but I did get a Dosteovsky vibe from the stories and the characters.  Obsessive is a good way to describe it.  I always need to watch movies more than once to really get a good feel for them, but I liked this.  I could definitely see where someone wouldn't though, the Dosteovsky base for the story is powerful and sometimes overly emotionally obsessive in an uncomfortable way (not awkward, but just it really draws you in emotionally, does that make sense?).  I also really enjoyed the music, it was very different, but I loved the sound.  Ah, one thing I didn't like, there was a point where Rani's character throws out Ranbir and so girl was like, 'why did you do that, you love him' and that was the first and last time you heard anything about that.  Which was out of place and awkward.  Maybe because I'm partial to Rani, but I wish they would have developed that aspect of their relationship more.
But, like I said, I could see where people wouldn't enjoy the movie.  But if you like Dosteovsky, I think you would like the movie.  Worth giving it a shot in any case, yeah?  Couldn't hurt :)  I really need to watch it for a second time.

Krrish (2 Disc Collector's Edition)

Krrish

God, with a cover like that, how can it not be a little ridiculous??
Even with the notable absence of dear Jadoo, I still may have enjoyed this movie more than the first (Koi..Mil Gaya).  It is a different genre of movie though, much more action oriented than the first. But how could Hrithik running around like a super hero with his freakishly massive arms not be nice to watch?  Haha, that aside, I thought the music was infinitely better than the first (I didn't like the music in the first at all) and the plot had some nice (if corny) twists and kept it interesting.  Despire what the cover may imply, this was not a typical superhero movie, he didn't act the part of the superhero for probably more than 10 minutes, the movie had much more than that and that just happened to be a small part of the plot line.  Good though, happy ending, etc.  They did a good job mixing decent story with a few action sequences which makes it hard to classify it in one or the other genre, which makes it more interesting than just being strictly one.  So, because of that, I would say to go watch it.  Definitely worth it, even if you were a bit iffy on the first one.

Hum Tum DVD 2004

Oh, this movie was so great!!  Maybe if I had seen 'When Harry Met Sally' more than once, like, 10 years ago, I wouldn't think it was all that interesting.  But since I don't remember it I can't say whether it was lossely or tightly based off of it.  I do know that, whatever the case, this is going on my list of favourites.  I thought it was really enjoyable.  The plot never lagged, the characters and their interactions where great, and the music was pretty good too.  Highly recommended, for girls and guys!

Pardes

Pardes

Wow, I was a HUGE fan of this movie!!!  Definitely on my favourites list as well.  The music was fantastic, and while the plot definitely had a noticeable DDLJ vibe, it still held its own.
Nothing else to say, but I really think that everyone would enjoy this one.  Highly recommended if you enjoyed DDLJ at all.  I LOVED this movie.

Koyla

Koyla

What can I say?  I like movies.  I really thought this one was great too.  (I can hear you guys now, geez Nikki, watch something without SRK!  But hey, he makes good movies).   He had a good mix between his typical 'lover' role and his 'revenge' role, but in a good guy-retribution type way.  There were a few plot holes, I don't want to ruin the story for you, but some of their magical medical procedures just totally baffled me.  Oh, and did I mention that SRK's character was a mute? It worked for him ;)  Didn't stop him from singing a song (lip syncing....though....that is what they do in bollywood so you could hardly tell.  I don't know why he had to pretend to be singing in the first place.  Oh, and you will recognize the song if you are watching the movie in this post.  It is EXACTLY the same as a song in Krrish.  Exactly.  Rajesh Roshan did both of them, and maybe he figured that we wouldn't notice, the movies being 10 years apart and all....but I did.  I'm still trying to decide which one I like better, lol.
Oh, and Amrish was back at his role of crazed psycho.  I have to say though, he made me more uncomfortable in this movie than in any of the others I've seen him in, and that is saying a lot.  Usually he is just an ass, but in this one, I was squirming in my seat at how creepy and pedophilic he was.  It was really, really nasty.  And it is really saying something if I can watch this movie, with as uncomfortable as he made me, and still say I liked this movie.  Really, that was how much I didn't like his character (though well acted, he freaked me out) but enjoyed the movie.  Also recommended.
 

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

Going on 'vacation' for a little over 2 weeks (I leave on Tuesday but am heading to my parent's tomorrow and leaving from there) so I doubt I'll have any sort of reliable internet connection.  Anyway, figured I'd get this stuff out.  Mostly reviews that I'm sure I'd forget about if I waited :P

The Kite Runner

Not Bollywood!  Surprised?  I ordered this off my mom's netflix, mainly because I knew someone in it (okay, for like 5 seconds, but still!).  A lady that talked at the marketplace was the director of my studyabroad group.  I was excited when I saw her even though I knew she was in it.
Anyway, I'm sure I could have gone a while without seeing this movie and not really thinking anything about it.  But, I have to say, I'm glad something compelled me to see it because it was a really beautiful/sad film.  I thought it was really, really great.  It always makes me sad to see/read/hear about how so many middle eastern countries digressed the way they did.  Especially sad for the people who remember the way it was before the various revolutions when they were so much more free.  Really sad.
Anyway, I recommend this movie.  I can see where not everyone would like this movie but it would be hard to judge who would and who wouldn't like it.  Hey, couldn't hurt to watch it, right?

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Koi...Mil Gaya

Oh my god, can I describe how adorable this movie was??  SO cute!  Not really what I expected either.  Jaddoo was just the cutest little alien I had ever seen.  The relationship aspect to the story was interesting, but sweet.  Oh, and this was the first movie I watched after learning about Hrithik's thumbs and they made it really obvious (as a connection to the alien), but I just kept looking.  Then I had to watch some of his other movies to see how obvious they really were.  Not really.  My mom watched this movie and didn't even notice it the first time....so.  Anyway.  Super cute.  I've downloaded the sequel and plan on watching it while on vacation :)  It looks quite a bit different.

Taal (2000)

I thought this one was really enjoyable with minimal cheesy dance numbers (those 90's style ones, you know what I'm talking about).  Not much to say (plus I watched this a while ago).  Cute movie, the dude looks just like a sad-puppy version of Elvis, but it wasn't too annoying.  His character was a bit psychotic though, seeing as how he was the reason she wasn't with him.  Whatever.  The music was great, but not 'the best ever composed for Indian cinema' which I've heard it described as. Maybe I need to watch it again.  I didn't really rush to download the soundtrack or anything, but it was still good.  Ishq Bina was probably the best song.  Anyway, enjoyable, go see.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, this is another example of why, if Bollywood movies showed actual Indian culture and reality, why their engagements and weddings are within a week of each other.  Any longer and you know your fiance's TRUE love will come and take them away.  And then the significant other will be swapped at the same wedding ceremony and all the guests (and the sacrificial lamb/i.e. former SO) will be just as happy as with the previous pair, no matter what side of the party they were on.
I just watched KKHH last night too, which is what made me think of this...

Josh

Josh

One of the movies that I had bought.  Based on West Side Story.  But....let me say....leave it to Bollywood to make West Side Story have a happy ending.  I was dreading the entire second half of the movie because I thought I knew the ending.  Nope. 
Well, I have to say, I enjoyed that they spent more time of SRKs character, Max (NO, not for the reasons you are thinking!!), to humanize his character.  He was the leader of his gang, but he was also obviously a person, he had a crush on a girl, he acted silly with his sister, he listened to the priest, it was nice to see them give him a human aspect.  The original West Side Story spent very little time on the other characters.
Okay, and I hate to sound shallow, but there was something that really bothered me...."Tony"'s character (Tony from West Side Story's equivalent in this movie, I already forgot his name) was SOOOOOO unattractive!!  Like....distractingly so.  It would have been so much better and more believable if he was at least a little attractive.  Oh god, I sound like an awful person, but I had to get that off my chest.  Bad casting right there.
Oh....and SRK had a song.  Like...he was actually the playback singer.  Yea.  Seriously.  It was hilarious.
So, not a replacement for West Side Story (which I LOVE), but it was good in its own right.

Singing SRK

I think you can find the song in there.  Wait for him to be singing a ridiculous sounding song in a leather jacket.  About 2:40 in.  The entire video is pretty hilarious though, lol.  I would like to believe that he does actually sound like Udit Narayan.  It's kind of cute though.


So, that's it.  See, not many!  I've been saving the new ones to watch with my mom on vacation. I don't know what I've been doing.  I was fed up with my sewing failures so I was taking it easy there...but....I don't know what I've been doing.

Well, I was buying fabric to attempt some shirts (for my indian-inspired skirts...shirts I would probably never wear out, but would be fun to have) and it turned out that the clearance fabric was 50% off....so...yea.  I bought a bit more than I had anticipated.  Just consider it more attempts at making something I like since I'm working without a pattern.
This is my first attempt.  I really don't like the design now that it is done, I'll be trying something else with the other fabrics.  I used this fabric first because the colour turned out to not match.  But anyway, this is what it looks like (not totally finished yet, just a start)

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A few new ones.  I just wanted to rave about Jab We Met (which I just finished watching) so I figured I would try and remember some others that I've watched recently.  Oooh, and I went to the theatre in Dallas that plays Bollywood movies to see Thoda Pyaar.  It was so much fun!  I'm in love with that part of town, I've never seen so many Indian restaurants in my life!  Restaurants, grocery stores, sari shops, etc, etc.  Awesome area.  I did get a few of those 'are you lost or something?' stares when I was at the theatre, but whatever.

Jab We Met

I'm glad I'm not as close minded as my mom who will grudgingly, and only if forced, watch a movie without SRK in it.  A friend of mine recommended this movie and it has been sitting around on my computer for a while.  I was trying to think of something to watch tonight and this wasn't orginally one of the ones I was deciding on, but MAN, I'm glad I watched it!!  This was fantastic!  I really enjoyed it, on a purely chick-flick level and not really as much serious drama as some others.  It was a fantastic movie and that boy was SO CUTE.  I'm going to look up some of his other movies now (Shahid Kapoor).  Adorable is really the only word to describe him.  Highly recommended.  For the movie, not the boy.  I'll put this on my 'favourites' list (along with the 50 other movies)

Oh.  And I don't think I've mentioned before, and it isn't a new revelation at all, but there is something very attractive about men dancing.  Especially Punjabi/Bhangra dancing.  I don't know what it is about it....but yea.  Very good style of dance.  'Macho'  \\

Don (2-Disc Set)

That Wiki page has some pretty big spoilers, I would avoid it until you have seen the movie.  Apparently the ending in this one is totally different than the original movie (Amitabh Bachchan in the 70's or something).  That change changes the ENTIRE movie.  But enough of that.  I don't want to ruin anything
I'm sure you already know from my earlier post that I really enjoyed this movie.  I can't look at it from an unbiased eye, but SRK was BRILLIANT and fantastic in his bad ass-ness.  Very cool.  I enjoyed it.  It was just....awesome.  My enlarged vocab obviously eludes me at the moment.

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Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic
I was worried this was going to be too much of a kids movie.  Even when it started I was worried it would be really cheesy.  I really enjoyed it though! Sort of an Indian Marry Poppins.
It definitely had some seriousness in it and enough of an adult plot line that adults would enjoy it.  Probably more so than kids now that I think back on it.  It was cute, it had some sad moments, romance, loving kids, family, etc.  Very enjoyable.  Even my mom liked it, though she mentioned that no one was as good as SRK, lol, that he is the only one who should make movies.  Not that she doesn't like Saif Ali Khan, but she is a bit obsessed.  A monster I tell you, I've created a monster.

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Bhoothnath

Ok, so, I created a monster.  I was at my parent's house all last week playing nurse for my mom who just had surgery.  Well, what did she want to do?  Watch Bollywood movies.  Like hell I was going to argue with that.  So, Tuesday through Friday we watched AT LEAST 3 movies a day, sad, I know.  Well, before this she had only seen two or three and she loved them, and last week was the starter.  She is, quite possibly, more obsessed than I am.  When I finally came home this weekend, she called me after I left to tell me that she had only waited a few hours before putting in another movie, lol.  Not only that but, so far, she won't watch anything that doesn't have Shahrukh Khan in it!  HA!  I find this all too hilarious. Well, it started out that we just watched movies I had already seen (most only once).  With the exception of a few, we watched almost everything that I have reviewed here.  Towards the end we started watching some that I hadn't seen yet.
I won't review Swades yet because the stupid thing cut off 5 minutes before the end, so I bought it a few days ago and I'll review it once I finish the whole thing, it was good so far though.

Paheli

My mom and I both really liked this one!  She liked the costumes and everything, all bright colours because it was a fantasy story and me, because I'm a bleeding heart romantic.  Sweet movie.  I couldn't help but feel really bad for the 'real' husband though, poor guy must have been so lonely and they just kind of shoved him out.  The poor guy, it made me want to cry but I wasn't sure if you were supposed to side with his character (not that I did, the ghost just made my romantic side melt, but still).  Anyway, this movie was a lot of fun and very sweet, go see it :)

Asoka

I thought this was a really well made movie, definitley had a historical epic feel going for it.  I was apprehensive about Kareena in it, but she won me over.  The story was so tragic though :(  And to think I thought it was so bizarre when I went to see Batman a few weeks ago that someone's girlfriend gets killed and they instantly turn into a raving psychopath.  Not so rare it seems.  I thought the part with the buddhist girl was sweet, but seemed like it was just to fill out some time, I didn't see the effect it had on the plot so much (other than he turns buddhist, but they made the correlation seem irrelevant).  And I thought it would suck to be her when your husband is obviously and unsympathetically in love with someone else, however dead.
Oh, and guys, the action/fight sequences were pretty fantastic, I have to admit.  I thought SRK did a fantastic job in this movie.  And, unrelated, my mom thought he was really pretty in it.

Karan Arjun

Karan Arjun

Ok, so maybe it was because of 'Duplicate' but I started fearing some of these older movies that I bought.  I'm glad I got this one though, however obnoxious not having subtitled songs is.  And excluding the fact that I just kept thinking about that story I read about Salman and SRK getting into a huge fight at some party a few days/week ago.  But, other than that, I thought this movie was fantastic!  I will never see Amrish Puri as anything but completely psychotic, no matter what role.  He is seriously creepy. All the elements in this movie were really well done (ignoring the ridiculous level of evil of Puri's character and that the tom girl was instantly a perfect dancer), I really enjoyed it.  Definitely a movie I think guys and girls would enjoy.

Baadshah

I pulled a muscle in my back today, so I decided to watch a movie since I couldn't move.

Veer-Zaara

Veer-Zaara

I've watched a couple movies since my last post, but haven't really been floored enough to post about them.  This movie, however, was fantastic.  It's been sitting there for a while waiting for me to watch it, but I was almost scared to because I've heard so many good reviews.  I wanted to wait for a perfect time so I could really appreciate it.  Well, other than the sharp pain from my back, today was the day.  I wish I hadn't waited so long!
What a beautifully-sad movie!  It was fantastically done and that trick from the beginning (I won't mention it) really threw me for a loop. 
I've seen a trend in a few movies that I've watched.  The bad guys are the ones who spoil the peace processes between India and Pakistan or have set prejudices against the other, etc.  The 'heroes' are always the ones that overcome the boundaries that are there.  Now, I obviously can't comment on the attitudes of young people in India and Pakistan, but I imagine that the presence of these sentiments in the movies reflect the ideals of most people, otherwise they wouldn't threaten their blockbuster by putting that in there.  It would be nice to see a new generation that can bring peace. 
But those are hardly ever the ones in power, are they?
Anyway, I highly, highly recommend this movie.  The story was fantastic, the songs were beautiful and not obnoxious and it was just a wonderful movie.  In a happy/sad sort of way :) 
This is going on my list of favourites.  It is one of those that can be classified as a new classic, if that makes sense.

Chalte Chalte

Chalte Chalte

Now, it doesn't really seem to stack up after watching Veer-Zaara, but this was a cute movie.  It was fun to watch and a cute, feel-good romance.   Don't really let that put you off, because, overall that may have been what it can be described as, it also has a lot of real-life elements.  That is what the story is about in fact, the inside and result of a 'perfect' fairy-tale like love story.  Where there is love, there is pain I guess.
It isn't overly sappy, and isn't overly emotional (like Devdas, or Kal Ho Naa Ho, or even Veer Zaara), so it is one that can be watched anytime and many times.  In my opinion :)

Mohabbatein -2 DISC SET