Movie Review

Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it… ;-)

August 13, 2013April 5, 2014 DawnLeave a comment

When I heard about Chennai Express movie, I was kind of skeptical and made up my mind that I am not going to watch this movie. My reasons were that someone who is so from North and the movie mostly will be shot in Chennai and I could relate the settings, locations and the extras in the movie and my summary of the movie was a disaster and hence not to waste my time.

Accidentally meeting with friends and quick plan to watch this movie was on plate and nothing could tell me to say – “No”.

The best part was that irrespective of my presumption about the movie, I was quiet open to face whatever is being shown and to tell you the truth it was hilarious.

I mean I don’t remember the last time that I was in a theater and laughed out so loud that my neighbors could also join in me with it.

Good things about the movie, SRK who didn’t show anywhere as King Khan in the movie… he easily let go himself in the hands of Chennai folks and that really made it more hilarious and made the comedy to be true.
The communication of SRK and DP via songs was something very thoughtful I felt to be included in it. I also loved the part how they connected Chennai and Sri Lanka – hilarious.
Some of the assumptions of north folks about south and the words that they form to convey that (seatam for seat), they do know a bits and pieces of south language was quite well portrayed here.
Myself, being grown outside of south and being from south it actually sets up the stage to understand the joke from both ends.
Another key thing I liked about it was SRK’s movie and some of the dialogs or even songs were well used at right situation in the movie. That really gave more credit as SRK’s movie than a Rohit Shetty’s.

I really didn’t care about the “Lungi dance” song as it seems the over marketing strategy of it took it out of my mind. But I did like the song “1234 get on the dance floor” and “Kashmir main tu Kanyakumari” was another song that I liked it. I was not so much into ‘Titli’ song but one thing I felt like mentioning about SRK is he coped up well with the south dancers with those fast moves. I was really appreciating it based on his health conditions on shoulder etc.
The good part was that SRK was playing his age than a chocolate hero. DP was so so nothing great that I felt about her. Anyone could have done this role kind of feel she left.
Overall, worth watching one time and have a good laugh from your heart.
I enjoyed the Chennai Express ride and I would say it’s not bad to go and watch for one time at least 😉

“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone” 😉

"If The Phone Doesn’t Ring, It’s Me"

November 25, 2008April 5, 2014 Dawn6 Comments

Have you read this book by Chetan Bhagat, ‘One night @ the call center’- As always the book is always interesting than movie, because the author is writing the story with all his controls and senses where as when it becomes a movie, there are minor things that is important from the book’s perspective than in movie and vice versa.
I will say, I liked the movie ‘Hello’ as one time watch and that’s it. There are some good actors who have shown their sincere work such as Sherman Joshi, Sarath Saxena, Gul Panag, Suresh Menon (a talent wasted) etc.

“What we become depends on what we read after all the professors have finished with us. The greatest university of all is the collection of books.” ~ Thomas Carlyle

Besides, that I didn’t like the point where they are trying to show that Americans are fools – now am not sure if people do call for things like washing there garments in the dish washer asking why I shouldn’t be able to do so?? Duh!! Can you imagine? Who will make such a call?

“Showing-off is the fool’s idea of glory” ~ Bruce Lee

Another instance where to save people from lay –offs these 6 characters in this movie, they ask for more call volume (in call center the more volume of calls comes in more agents you need to attend them as customer service is supposed to be ….excellent and waiting period should not be more than a minute). Having said that, the callers are alarmed by saying that there is a virus attack on America and they should always call first them and only then use there appliances.
What rubbish? The moment this statement came out in the movie, I lost interest as this is not some kids’ movie…where you are trying to fool someone and trying to be smart!

First of all you cannot make such a wrong statement and fool the whole Americans and secondly, by saying so you are spreading terrorism! And I am totally against such chaos that they were trying to create mere to get those loads of call volumes in the call center and keep the jobs safe.

“Today the ringing of the telephone takes precedence over everything. It reaches a point of terrorism, particularly at dinnertime.”

I have worked in a Call Center in Canada and been in the Electronic Banking industry for long and I will say, people do have issues personal or career –wise but I don’t think anyone would react as it shows in this movie.

Atul Agnihotri, who made this movie, has added few celebrities and one can see that is to just hype the market value of this nothing else.

A movie, which is good for watching once but it upsets one’s mood too at the end.

“The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.” ~ Mohandas Gandhi

“Life is just a chance to grow a soul”

September 16, 2008April 5, 2014 Dawn31 Comments

The other day I was watching this movie ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’ (Bombay my life).
It basically was showing a bomb-blast and then life in Mumbai how it goes on!

It’s in between when I heard the news about a blast that occurred in New Delhi…and believe me I could feel what it could be as one was watching all this in the movie. The impact to the common people, the fear phobia, the chaos and the sufferings of all, was nothing different for New Delhi people and also the rest of the country too.

“Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.” ~ Anna Julia Cooper

It was sad but two things that this movie was conveying and that too to two set of different people.

One, to the people who creates terror in the world that no matter what you do life goes on still may be for a while that spirit is lost but it doesn’t take much time to regain that.

Secondly, to the people who starts searching for a terrorist in their own friends and neighbors and differentiate them from society. Try to show their anger on them and then starts the chaos as that becomes easier for the people to make a country get destroyed.

“True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.” ~ Albert Einstein

Together we can unite and deal with certain issues but we there is issues within ourselves then it’s more dangerous.

I would say a worth watching this movie. The actors are awesome like Paresh Rawal, Menon, Irfan Khan and so forth. It relates to everyone in the world as it was not only in Mumbai or New Delhi – but the terrorist attacked the WTC in NY too.

“Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.” ~ Corita Kent

“I think in art, but especially in films, people are trying to confirm their own existences.”

July 18, 2008April 5, 2014 Dawn11 Comments

As I said in my last post…things are settling slowly, got my laptop though had couple of issues but can’t complain :)!

I have been watching lot of movies these days and guess what – one thing I have realized having your office near your home is not a good thing: D!

I am sure lot of them would be surprised to read this, but believe me the closer your work place is to your home the more lazy one gets, as you know it will only take few minutes :D!

Hence my late nights are still up 😉 these days!
I happened to watch many movies – Hindi and English of which I may not write about all but yes few which I am sure my friends would enjoy will be mentioned here 🙂

I saw this movie ‘Mississippi Burning’ – Two FBI agents with wildly different styles arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists.

Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe have done a great job I must say and besides the whole crime drama made me hate those times as what was happening in 60’s.
I am sure any one will as one see the injustice and the torture that one had to go through.

Over all Alan Parker the director of this movie has done a tremendous job and one can see all the awards that this movie has got.

“Abhorrence of apartheid is a moral attitude, not a policy.” ~ Edward Heath

This movie made me quite emotional about the whole thing.

Then I saw my friend Aamir’s movie I mean to say another produced movie for his nephew Imran Khan – JT Ya JN for short form ;).
It is actually typical Hindi movie – nothing new story or so but presented in a different way and I am sure everyone will enjoy! Well, the success of the movie itself tells that 😀
I liked the acting of Imran Khan – though a lot his style resembled his uncle Aamir, may be coz I know him so well … lol!

“Life’s like a play; it’s not the length but the excellence of the acting that matters” ~ Seneca

I loved AR Rehman’s music and I loved the song ‘Kabhi kabhi yoon bhi Aditi’….
Over all good entertaining movie with good star casting such as Ratna Pathak-Shah and Naseerudin Shah, Jayant Kriplani and Anuradha Patel and Paresh Rawal which was a surprise to me !!!

“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music”~ Sergei Rachmaninov

But this movie ‘Vintage Point’ was something breathe taking. I mean you will have to hold on to your breath each time they show the story from 8 different angles! It was interesting with the star casts are amazing, why say more just watch it and you will love it 😉

Hope you guys enjoy too!
Happy Friday Friends

“Happiness is a wine of the rarest vintage, and seems insipid to a vulgar taste.” ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”

May 24, 2008April 5, 2014 Dawn11 Comments

This weekend had nothing much to do besides, the trailer of ‘Bhoothnath’- Hindi movie was kind of tempting may be because of Amitabh Bacchan!

So I had a chance to watch this movie and guess what through out it kept me engaged.
Usually, Children’s movie don’t do that well in Bollywood however recently there were good ones like ‘Taare Zameen Per’ and I can say this one adds too.

But as I was watching the movie and things were heading into positive direction, I was wondering more about how this will end :D….kind of thinking ahead due to that inquisitive mind …lol

Well, I think there is another English movie and I was wondering if its heading that way but as always Indian movies have some moral lesson to give and it did …!

Kind of emotional at the end of the movie but besides that I liked Mr. Bacchan pretty cool with his acting and singing too! No wonder the songs I loved them because it was written by none other than my favorite Javed Akhtar 😀

I enjoyed this movie as I see that kid inside me was thrilled to see all the magic stuff happening with the kid in the movie. We all had this fiction in mind some or the other stage where we wanted a secret friend who would be like a angel who could fulfill all our wishes comes true 😉

But in this even though angel is a friend, there are some basic ethics of life that he teaches to the kid. Over all a worth watching kids movie…!

“Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.” ~ Walt Disney

Another one I saw “Great Debaters” – Denzel Washington, its based on a true story and believe me friends….as you see this movie it literally takes you through the time when colored people were lynched and treated badly.

Some of the debates that came out were literally giving me goose bumps and it actually gives a wakening call to your inside human.

I felt sad after watching the movie not that the end was sad…as the end was awesome…! Through debates Black people were able to get their rights. They proved they are not less than any other people and they have the equal right to live in Unites States of America.

Everything achieved through peace and guess what, they were using MK Gandhi as the ideal, his tactical ways and the ‘Jallianwala Bagh Massacre’ that took place in Amritsar-India in 1919. I enjoyed all those debate sessions as they used to get real intense and I loved every bit of it….as it reminded some of my school days with radical topics that used to get into people while they are on the stage 🙂

I sometimes feel we are so lucky to have some of the advantages which we owe to many others who didn’t even survive to taste it.

“If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever.”

“Art raises its head where creeds relax”

April 28, 2008April 5, 2014 Dawn9 Comments

This weekend was quite a relaxing one. I happened to watch two movies, not that 2 is my limit though weekends used to end once upon a time in many movies 😉 5-or 6!!!
I saw Hindi ‘Krazzy 4’ and English ‘Next’ staring Nicolas Cage!

“Humor is a whisper from the soul, imploring mind and body to relax, let go and be at peace again.”

I have two things to say as now a days Hindi movies either they are copy of some or the other English movies if not then from some South Indian movies!!

“Painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realizing one’s sensations.” ~ Paul Cezanne

This movie kind of good but I felt the concept or the element that was tried to bring in was like the one ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ where Gandhi principles were brought in as how it can be workable even in today’s situations! So I would say I liked the songs almost all and yes the Sharukh and Hrithik’s dance number was cool!

“Xerox is a copying device that can make rapid reproduction of human error possible”

About ‘Next’ it’s a fiction yet cool. Imagine if you can see your future 2 minutes ahead 😉 isn’t that tricky yet funny: D…!
I found Nicolas Cage young from his last release 🙂
Over all it was fine I can say three Star…is that too much lol!

“The only relevant test of the validity of a hypothesis is comparison of prediction with experience” ~ Milton Friedman

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

March 21, 2008April 5, 2014 Dawn13 Comments

I used to wait for the days when in school I used to get holiday for Easter, Holi as
separately. This time when I see everything coming together its kind of a season of
celebration!

“Truly loving another means letting go of all expectations. It means full acceptance, even celebration of another’s personhood.”

Holi is color of festival in most part of India and I happened to see this movie ‘Black &
White’ a Subhash Ghai’s movie.

This time from the beginning of this movie I was telling myself this movie is like so many other movies based on terrorism, Afghan war and what not! But as the movie was progressing it took a different turn altogether.

Two things I liked about this movie- first of all the Director’s message- that there are other colors also in life besides black and white…try to see that through your own eyes.
I think a very beautiful thing is said and is something very meaningful with depth in it.
I would say watching movie will help understand this element.

“Artists can color the sky red because they know it’s blue. Those of us who aren’t artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we’re stupid.” ~ Jules Feiffer

So true I realized as I was writing my Hindi poetry on the occasion of Holi and I remembered how as a kid when friends used to color me with all different color and later when I used to reach home, my mom used to get mad at me and to avoid that look I used to go and take shower but the colors never used to go in one day :).
That time it didn’t made any sense but today when I think of it…I feel how those different colors in the mixed form used to stay together no matter what you try hard to wash it away but still they used to be so strong.

“Poetry is the impish attempt to paint the color of the wind.” ~ Maxwell Bodenheim

Today you look at us, we human all are same just because of some divisions, made by man whether its religion, color or race – we can’t even stand together forget about the strength.

Second thing that I liked about the movie ‘Black & White’ is that it’s different than what one would imagine – as a typical Hindi movie :)!!!

This is like a book that you are reading and each time you get to a new chapter there is something that adds up to your knowledge. Anil Kapoor that actor as usual has shined in his matured role as a Urdu Professor who is a Hindu by religion yet changes a terrorist guy to change his mind and awaken him about the facts of the radical moments and elements that causes pain to people and its country.

I would like to wish everyone a Happy, Colorful yet Peaceful Holi…..unite like the true colors in the sky – like one rainbow.

“The thing about performance, even if it’s only an illusion, is that it is a celebration of the fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities.” ~ Sydney Smith