Le Violon Rouge (The Red Violin)

I have been thinking of writing about "The Red Violin" since i saw it. I saw this movie by chance. Yes, i am really happy to have stumbled upon it.

This movie is about an epic journey of a perfect musical instrument, The Red Violin. Some might say the movie is a collection of small stories and I wouldn't disagree. The movie shows us the journey of the beautiful red wooden piece for over three centuries around the world and several owners, eventually ending up in an auction .

The movie begins with the tension filled auction in contemporary Montreal, where "the red violin", a famous Nicolo Bussotti violin, is being auctioned off. It is also attended by New York-based musical historian (Samuel L. Jackson). But instead of staying with the auction all the time, we flash back to the creation of the violin in 17th century Italy and then follow it as it makes its way through an 18thcentury Austrian monastery/orphanage, a violinist in 19thcentury Oxford and China during Mao's Cultural Revolution. Each time it brings the person who owns it a lot of fame, but also bad luck and despair, often resulting in the death of the owner or someone the owner really loves.

It is not just an ordinary drama or thriller, 


The story is as original as it can get. The physical setting, the background score and the superb acting only authenticates the movie. So we might feel uncomfortable with the subtitles, but it only makes you feel the movie more and draw you into the story more.

Enough about it, I will not give away any of the plot in hopes that when reading this you will take my advise and see this film and judge it yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Happy watching :D

Trivia: According to wikipedia: The film was inspired by one of Antonio Stradivari's violins, the Red Mendelssohn (1721), which is currently played by Elizabeth Pitcairn, heiress to the PPG fortune, whose grandfather purchased it for her 16th birthday for $1.7 million at auction at Christie's London. She is one of the few soloists who performs the Red Violin Chaconne composed for the film by John Corigliano.

OMKARA: Vishal Bharadwaj's adaption of Shakespeare's "Othello"

Omkara is an adaption of Shakespeare's  Othello. We all are aware of the story of Othello either by reading the original or by word of mouth, but watching it on the big screen is a different experience altogether, and mind you when the director is Vishal Bharadwaj then the experience becomes all the more memorable.  I still remember when i first watched this movie i was awestruck but the sheer magic he created on screen.

Omkara/Omi (Ajay Devgan) heads a band of outlaws in a semi-lawless rural area in Uttar Pradesh. Bhaisaab's (Naseer's) election win promotes Omi, leaving his "Youth Leader" seat empty. In a logical political move, Omi selects Kesu Firangi (Vivek Oberoi) as his successor ignoring his loyal right-hand-man Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan). Green with envy, Langda slowly poisons Omkara's mind against Kesu leading him down a path too dark for anyone's good. Kareena, Konkona & Bipasha play Omi, Langda & Kesu's love interests respectively.

When Vishal is directing the movie he makes sure he takes the actors whom he can either mold or are just exceptional. Ajay Devgan is brilliant as usual, though on the flip side, his U.P. dialogue does come across as forced. Nonetheless, Devgan made a fine Omkara. Kareen showed that she can perform too. Well, with Vivek Oberoi, Vishal made him act this one time. Konkona Sen, she is a beautiful actor with genuine talent, she was a treat to watch, she commands her scenes and takes control of her fantastic dialogues, making the rest of the cast look like amateurs.

Saif Ali Khan was the soul of this movie. He did in this movie what Pankaj Kapoor did in Maqbool with Abba Ji, which is to re-invent how a character is portrayed, it can only be achieved by legends. Langda is a bit of Jack Sparrow and Bill the Butcher at the same time, which means quality. The best thing was, for the entire movie Saif killed himself to become Langda. Where Dil Chahta Hai gave Saif Ali Khan a new life in the industry, Omkara showed his versatility. Omkara proved that he could be more than just a comedy or second lead actor. He won Popular Award and Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role.

Another character who made a mark with this movie is Deepak Dobriyal who is simply perfect, providing the appropriate and realistic relief from the intense proceedings of the plot. His idiocy and pining for Dolly are laudable.

The opening scene of the movie was one of the best i have seen in recent times. Another scene that was really scary and haunts me till date is the scene with the eagle on the wedding day.

Have you seen the movie? which one is your fav scene?

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is one of the rare movies which does justice to the book. The best thing i did was reading the book before watching the movie, which is so masterfully written by Khalid Husseini.

The Kite Runner is a multilayered story about friendship, family, betrayal, guilt and redemption. The story takes place over three separate time periods in 1978, 1988, and 2000, with the two earlier periods presented as extended flashbacks. It is a story of two childhood friends Amir and Hassan. Amir comes from a wealthy family in Kabul, he worships his gruff father, Baba (Homayoun Ershadi) and Hassan is an illiterate who adores Amir. Hassan's father has worked for Baba his entire life. Amir loves his younger friend in his selfish fashion, but because Baba favors Hassan, Amir also betrays him.

The start of the movie shows Amir a young, just-published novelist who lives in California with his wife. One day he receives a phone call from an old family friend, Rahim Khan. He asks Amir to come see him and tells him "there is a way to be good again".

I prefer not telling the whole story, so go watch it yourself, even if you have read the book it will be a great watch, you wont be disappointed. 

Every major and minor characters acted well, i was especially floored by Ahmad Khan Mahmoodcada, who played young Hassan.
My favorite line of the movie is "For you, a thousand times over"



Happy watching :)

Temple Grandin...different, not less!

I wish it was not a TV movie. If released theatrically it would have surely won an Oscar.
The movie is an excellent biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who in the 1960’s through 1980’s revolutionized the stockyard / slaughterhouse industry.This movie places us inside Temple's brain and lets us view the rest of the world from her point of view. This film gave a different view of the character in a way many other films of this sort often fail to do, it enabled us to appreciate the fact that this person is an intelligent, nuanced human being who simply sees the world differently than a "normal" person. To see Temple battle her own inhibitions and logically formulate solutions to situations which might be simple for most people but which are tremendously challenging for her is both thrilling and intensely affecting. One of the most intriguing elements of the film is the manner in which it accentuates the fact that many problems those with autism have are generated by the often inconsistent, illogical, exasperating way in which "normal" individuals conduct themselves. It's both infuriating and mind-boggling to see the manner in which Temple's masterful mental processes are dismissed as goofy, weird, and stupid by so many of her peers.

Claire Danes plays the title character and I was amazed how well she acted, she did such a convincing job that I forgot I was watching Claire Danes on screen it was as if I could see/feel what Temple Grandin is going through, this is what we call getting into the character or being the character.
Mick Jackson’s direction is brilliant, he so amazingly shows us how Grandin is able to picture things in her mind. Catherine O’Hara is great as Aunt Ann and Julia Ormond is phenomenal as Temple’s mother who is sometimes frustrated, sometimes angry and sometimes helpless watching her offspring doing something strange and blaming herself for the child’s condition.
My only complain in the movie is that they should have focused a little bit more on her growing years and shown more about her sibling and her father rather than just mentioning them once. Still its a great watch.
Do yourself a favor go watch this movie.
Happy watching☺

Watch Temple granding receiving Emmy Award:


Emmys: Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Directing, Actress (Danes), Supporting Actor (Strathairn), Supporting Actress (Ormond). Golden Globe: Best Actress (Danes).

Groundhog Day is here...

What if you are stuck in one day?? Yes, thats what happens to a weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray), who finds himself living the same day over and over again.
He is a self-obsessed weatherman and imagine how painful it is for him to relive the same tedious Groundhog day in a lame small town Punxsutawney, PA.  He doesn't like anything about his job, isn't fond of his co-workers, and is forced to spend the night in the same town due to heavy snow. However, when he wakes up the next morning he finds its the Groundhog day again and the events of the previous day are happening all over again. The same thing happens the next day and the day after and so on.  The whole movie is how differently he lives each day.

You might think it would be boring to watch a movie which plays one day repetitively but Groundhog Day is full of ingenious ideas and successfully throws up new developments and delightful twists at every opportunity. The fill has some memorable dialogue. Its not just another comedy it has a much deeper meaning to it, it will make you think of some serious questions.

Even when i watch this movie today i enjoy it thoroughly, it is as fresh as it was in 1993 its only because the theme underlying the humor will never go out of fashion.




Watch this movie if you haven't already and please let me know whether you liked it or not.
Happy watching:)

Sunshine Cleaning: Two sisters and their messy lives.

SUNSHINE CLEANING shines all the way.

Wow! I avoided this movie while it was in theater based on certain negative reviews it received, but couldn't keep my eyes off from it. Watched it and realized how real reel life can be. From the producers of Little Miss Sunshine but except for the word "Sunshine" and presence of Alan Arkin there is no other similarity. 

Sunshine cleaning is a story about two sisters, Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Emily Blunt). Rose, whose life is not very rosy after her head-cheerleader days, now she is a single mom struggling to look after her troubled seven year old son, Oscar (Jason Spevack). She has a long-running-futile relation with her married high school sweetheart Mac (Steve Zahn). Norah is more or less a general screw-up, still living with her dad, a salesman with a lifelong history of ill-fated get-rich-quick schemes from selling Shrimps to selling Popcorns. After Mac's suggestion, they start a business cleaning crime scene for much bigger money. As they climb the ranks in this very dirty job, they find new respect for each other and he closeness they have always craved finally blossoms. By building their own improbable business they open the door to the joys and challenges of being there for one another-no matter what- while discovering personal healing in the most unexpected way. 

The Focal point of this movie is Rose and her crushing self-doubt. The portrayal of Rose by Amy Adams is brilliant. I cant imagine anyone else doing what Adams did to this character. Even Emily Blunt played Norah equally brilliantly. All other supporting casts are good. 

I wouldn't say this movie is for everyone, its not a sweet and cute movie, watch it only if you have a taste for movies whose dark and bittersweet coating hides a slightly gooey, feel-good soft centre. 

Happy Watching :)

Sliding Doors.

There have been times in life when we look back and think.."what if..?" Many filmmakers are fascinated by this concept of destiny, the road not taken. Sliding Doors is not the first movies which touches the concept of destiny, this issue has been fodder for several movies. But what makes it a special movie is the concept's treatment. It was rather a brave step for Peter Howitt to make his directorial debut in an uncharted territory in 1998, but paid him off well.



The movie hovers around two versions of Helen's life (Gwyneth Paltrow) after she catches/misses a train. How the destiny of two Helens unfolds is the movie plot. Paltrow, i would say is the heart of the movie and is a delight to watch. For me SLIDING DOORS is a quiet romance that entertains as well as makes you think. A lovely fable about fate, love and life. For me this movie has romance, humor and infinite possibilities.
Worth mentioning scenes are when she almost catches her boyfriend cheating, the boat scene and of course the climax.

Happy watching :)

How many boxes of popcorn will you give this movie (out of 5)??

Priceless...an Enjoyable flick!

Ahh, I love french Comedies, even though the story is old and told many a times but French Cinema always presents it in a freshly manner. 

In this entrancing French comedy Audrey Tautou plays gold-digger, Irene who has a series of relationships with wealthy older men for the benefits, nice hotels, good food, and the gifts they give her. She has supreme self-confidence and makes no apologies for what she does. The other main lead, Jean (Gad Elmaleh) is just the opposite, meek and will capitulate in almost any circumstance. He works as a bartender in a Hotel. 

In one uncontrollable night Irene mistakes Jean for a wealthy man. They have a night of passion, but when her boyfriend finds out, he dumps her. Rejected by her ticket to financial security, she focuses instead on the hotel worker, unaware that he is as poor as she is. Poor Jean is deeply smitten with Irene, so much that even after she realizes he's poor and is angry at him for wasting her time, he continues to gladly bankrupt himself just to be with her. At one point he offers her a one-euro coin for 10 seconds of her time. He spends the 10 seconds gazing at her with huge love-struck eyes. ( isnt that Cute) . Now now Irene and Jean have an intense emotional and physical attraction for one another, but she needs more money to 'survive' than he can afford, and he needs the sponsorship of his own mistress to keep himself afloat. How they resolve the entanglements that tear them apart is both amusing and heartwarming.

 The plot twists and turns as the film progresses, but, since this is a romantic comedy, we have a fairly good idea of where things will end up - but it still is fun to watch this odd couple volleying back and forth. This isn't any kind of masterpiece, but is effortlessly crafted and thoroughly entertaining with spectacular locales.

Happy Watching..

How many boxes of popcorn will you give this movie (out of 5)??

Dil Chahta Hai....What the Heart Wants. Definitely(D) Captures(C) ur Heart(H)

I remember the last day of school so clearly, it seems like yesterday. All my friends and I were sitting outside the class in the sunshine, all of us speculating about where we would be years down the line and what would we be? (thanks to facebook we all are still in touch). But thinking of your school days makes you want to re-wind your life back to those days..

That’s the sort of thing you reminisce about when watching a film like "Dil Chahta Hai".

It is based on debutant director Farhan Akhtar's diaries of his trips to Goa, his 1996 month-and-a-half long stay at New York, and a storyline narrated to him by a friend. It tells the story of three friends graduating from college and transitioning into life as adults. Each individual has a different perspective of life and love in particular.

Sameer(Saif Ali khan) is a firm believer of love, always on the lookout for that special someone. The only problem is that he wears his heart on his sleeve and lets it get run down by ladies all the time. On the other hand Siddharth (Sid) is a mature sensitive guys, who is an introverted artist and still searching for the meaning of life, the most mature of the three, is not interested in trivial romances and is dedicated to his work.. but strikes a chord with a much older, alcoholic divorcee who shares his love of art. Aakash is a non-believer in hardwork and love. He thinks love makes a healthy relationship more complicated so all his relationships never last more than two weeks.

The story takes you forward in their lives and how things get complicated and difficult as life moves forward.

One of the highlights (and also less talked about) of the movie is its Cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran, who has done a brilliant job. Especially some scenes like breakdown of Aakash, song Tanhai and some scenes in Australia and Goa were just amazing.

As soon as I finished watching Dil Chahta Hai, a film that is a good three hours long, I wanted to hit play and watch it all over again. The feeling I had when it came to an end was like the one you sometimes get when you finish reading a good book - satisfied and sated, but regretful that you have to leave that perfectly created fictional world and the characters you have come to know and love so well, so soon.

I wanted to write some more about the movie, but decided against it! Instead i would ask you to rent it asap and enjoy the movie! Do watch this movie at least once. This movie is a toast to friendship and love.

Let me know whether you liked it or not.

Happy Watching!

you can find the whole movie on youtube with english subtitles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRKwagKd7Ls&feature=related

Love Me If You Dare! Wickedly Delicious.

Are You Game Or Not??

French film has always been more creative and offbeat than standard Hollywood fare (atleast i think so), and like all French movies,  this movie may not be for everyone. But if you like exploring different ideas, and complex characters, then you should give it a try. It's a very unconventional movie. 

I am a big fan of Marion Cortillard since I saw her in La môme, I am always on a look out for her movies. I came across this movie while browsing the French section from Netflix, and I'm glad I chose this one! This movie tells the story of Julien(Guillaume Canet) and Sophie (Cotillard), who meet in grade school and make a pact that binds them together for a lifetime. Their pact/game revolves around a little tin box, a toy painted to look like a merry-go-round. When one hands the other the box, along with it comes a dare. The other "Must" do what they've been dared to do. This begins as a childhood game and continues into adulthood, where it gathers dangerous and dark undertones.

The Dares that they play at times are very funny and other times it would make you think "what in the hell...", I would request to suspend your belief for once while watching this, just open your mind and heart.

The movie's first shot tells us something we don't understand at the time. The last scene explains it, and yes it's creepy for some people. But actually the beauty of the last scene is it leaves you with your imagination, so it all depends on your perception.

I am not sure whether you’ll like it or not but am sure of one thing, you won't get bored. And if you know French, I suggest you watch it in French, though it is available with English subtitles.

P.S: One of the highlights of the movie is its music. They have used Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" as the sound track, which suits it to the core. 

ROMANTIK--A Turkish Treat!

I am delighted to be invited by the “AddPopcorn” team to write a guest post. I am not a big movie fan but I like to explore and AddPopcorn is a great place to discover unique movies from around the world. So I decided to do my bit as well and share this Turkish movie with you.

In life there are inevitable moments where we assume and judge a person, a place, an occasion, or a thought. And we go ahead and take actions. Actions, regardless right or wrong, they have butterfly effects on our environment and change our lives for the better or the worse.

The movie “Romantik” presents a love story between a girl and two men that love the same girl. When her boyfriend has to leave her to run away from the law, he comes back after three years only to find out that she is about to marry his best friend. He feels betrayed and she is confused. Things start happening...

It might sound like a cliché story or it is a cliché story. However the amazing point with the movie is how it plays with the audience. It shows the audience only one part of the story and as soon as we start assuming why the characters act the way they do, the story changes and shows us how bias we were. It is a great lesson the movie gives with a sweet love story and romantic scenes. There are great actors in the movie including my favorite Turkish actor “Okan Bayulgen”. He is a sensation in Turkey with his intelligence, humor and the ears that stand so far from his face that he could easily use them on his sailing boat. No seriously, he is a great actor and he chooses great movies. The other actor is a great singer who played for this movie for the first time.

I think “Romantik” is a nice movie with a great purpose and very easy to watch. I love the soundtrack  of  this movie as well. Worth watching it J

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The Royal Tanenbaums: A Must Watch!

The Royal Tanenbaums: A Must Watch!

The movie starts with Alec Baldwin narrating the film as if reading a novel. Royal Tanenbaum, played by Gene Hackman, wants to reenter the lives of his abandoned family. He does it by faking cancer. Each of the Tenenbaum kids was a precocious genius: Chas (Ben Stiller) made a killing as a child investor. Richie (Luke Wilson) was a junior tennis champ and three-time U.S. Nationals winner.

The adopted Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a playwright who won a 50,000-dollar Braverman Grant in the ninth grade and then they had Eli Cash (Owen Wilson) as their neighbor and childhood friend. Their past resentments are bitterly held against Royal when he suddenly reappears, claiming to have six weeks to live and a desire to reconnect with his family. Thrown together under one roof, Royal tries to make amends by driving them crazy. His urge to be a part of their life is somewhat inexplicable, and though they resist, they also open the doors just a bit. In one funny moment, Royal kidnaps Stiller's two overprotected sons and takes them on an outing that includes running in traffic, shoplifting and swimming. He also offers to take them all to the cemetery to visit their grandmother's grave, forgetting that Stiller's wife is also buried there.

There are so many reasons why i like this movie, its not one of those regular comedy, its just DIFFERENT. There are endless hilarious scenes and all in the cast are absolutely radiant and deserve praise.I like the scenes where Gwyneth Paltrow locks herself in her bathroom and her conversation with her weird husband (played by Bill Murray). The dialogue delivery is just brilliant. If you listen to all the dialogues carefully you'll die laughing. The concept of Dalmatian mice is just so hilarious, the spots on the mice were actually created using a Sharpie pen.
This film truly depicts the creativity of Wes Anderson, he has a unique way of looking at the world, even if its ridiculous. This was Wes Anderson's third project with Owen Wilson after Bottle Rocket and Rushmore, as writers. Luke Wilson has appeared in all the three movies.

The Blue Umbrella: A Beautifully Simple but Impactful Little Fable

Blue Umbrella is a screen version of Ruskin Bond's short story Blue Umbrella.
The protagonist is Biniya (Shreya Sharma), a precocious girl who lives in a picturesque mountain village. The town is a stopping point for tourists on their way through the mountains. One day, Biniya meets a group of tourists and trades her lucky necklace for a beautiful, blue Japanese-style umbrella. The blue umbrella stands out among the alpine greenery, and Biniya and her umbrella become the town’s main attraction. Tourists pose for photos with her when they stop at the local snack shop, run by an old man named Nandu (Pankaj Kapoor). Nandu covets Biniya’s blue umbrella, as do several other adults in town. He tries to trick and bribe her into giving him the umbrella, but she isn’t interested. When the umbrella is stolen one night, Nandu is Bindiya’s prime suspect.
At her request, the cops raid Nandu’s shop, but the umbrella’s not there. Humiliated, Nandu vows to buy his own umbrella. A short while later, Nandu receives a delivery: an umbrella exactly like Biniya’s, only red. He becomes the de facto mayor of the village, though heart-broken Biniya still harbors suspicions about him.

But what's really incredible about the film is the sheer spirit of humanity that pervades and shines through the entire film. It is indeed ironical that the film that has been named the 'best children's film' at the Indian National awards is actually not a kiddies’ flick at all. But The Blue Umbrella can make you feel like being a child all over again- rather like Nand Kishore in the film, who despite all his vices still retains the child in him.
I won't say anymore about this one. If you are reading this I will urge you to watch this. It's a real cool piece of cinema, a great pleasure for the eyes and the mind. I am regretting for not watching the movie in theater.
And yes, an umbrella plays one of the main characters. ;)



Happy Watching :)

Golden Globe Award Winner "The Painted Veil"

I am so glad to have been able to watch this movie. This is the third screen adaption of the W. Somerset book: "The Painted Veil" and this is one of the most beautiful adaption. Its cinematography topped with haunting acting by both the lead actors is truly amazing. I have come to admire Edward Norton not only for his intense acting but also for his choice of films.

You cannot watch this movie without getting engrossed into the character's life. Yes, it is a slow paced movie, but for me the slow pace really enhances the beauty of the movie.

The story is interesting and believable. Naomi Watts clearly depicts a beautiful, spoiled and restless society girl who hastily marries a conservative micro biologist Dr. Walter Fane(Edward Norton), who is simple, dull, introvert and practically lives for his study of infectious diseases. From the start, the marriage was destined to fail. Kitty starts to look for affection in the arms of another man( played by Watt's real life then boyfriend and now husband, Liev Schreiber) . Walter finds out that his wife is having an affair and suggests a remedy and the remedy he propose raises eyebrows. He will either give her a divorce and effectively make her a social pariah, or she will have to follow him into a sort of purgatory—he's decided to take a post in the north of the China, where there's been a cholera outbreak and she must accompany him. She is left with no choice. Here starts a new journey which changes their lives forever.

The scene where Dr. Fane confronts Kitty is superbly done. That is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. If you have seen this movie tell me your favorite scene.
And if you havent, watch it!
Happy watching!!

P.S.: Confession: I'm a bit of a sucker for love stories that start after the wedding:)

Halloween Special –A tale of two sisters (A South Korean Psychological)

The horror genre in Asia has traditionally been dominated by the so-called J-horror - the Japanese horror phenomenon that sees a lot of young girls in pajamas with dark, raggedy hair hanging in their lethal faces. But as Korean cinema rose to regional prominence and domination over the last few years, a new, so-called K-horror has risen to challenge the Japanese authority.
A tale of two sisters is based on an old Korean folk tale, the story is about two sisters, the quiet Su-yeon(in a dramatically commanding performance) and her protective older sister Su-mi. The teenagers have just returned home after treatment at a mental health clinic. The cause of their stay isn’t immediately clear, but attention quickly shifts to their less-than-ideal home life. The girls live in a stately and secluded home in the country with their father and stepmother. Their stepmother, who Su-mi refers to as “that woman,” has a penchant for cruelty and immediately begins to torture Su-yeon. Su-mi is outraged both by this and her father’s cold and distant behavior. Sounds pretty typical for the Asian horror genre, but as soon as the movie looks like it’s shaping up to be your standard haunted-house fare, it gives you a new twist.

The stepmother’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, and the decor of the house seems to change randomly. But what is really suspicious is the obliviousness of the father to these strange occurrences. Is the house truly haunted, or is someone in the family slowly losing their mind?
When the lines between fantasy and reality get completely erased it becomes impossible to stop watching this movie. What is wrong with this family? What dark secret are they hiding? There comes a point in the movie where you will have no idea what is going on, but rest assured that most of the mystery will be explained in the end.

Other than the great acting by the cast, i was really blown away by the cinematography of the movie, it's beautiful, filled with the contrasting spring colors of the fields and the dark reds used to decorate the house. The shifting hues and shadows within the home really give it a life of its own and do much to elevate the dark mood. This movie will really elevate your halloween mood 0_0
Watch it for the sheer brilliance of the performance and story-line, I am sure you won't be disappointed.
Do let us know whether you liked it or not,
Happy watching

Lagaan: Once Upon a TIme in India!

An Indian modern classic "Lagaan", Nominated as Best Foreign Language Film at Oscars 2002, shows India during the Victorian Age, taking us back to 1893. The movie centers on the village of Champaner, which is controlled by a cantonment of British soldiers and their mustache-twirling Captain, Andrew Russell (Paul Blackthorne). Every year the villagers are required to pay a lagaan, or land tax (a form of taxation that the villagers have to pay to their Kings, who in turn pays the British for protection against invading forces and rivals from other Kings); this year there has been no rain and little crop yield. Young, rebellious Bhuvan (Aamir Khan, who also produced the film) takes a wager proposed by Russell: if, in three months' time, the villagers defeat the soldiers in a game of cricket, they will be excused from the tax for three years. On the other hand, if they fail, they must pay three times the normal tax and so, probably starve. The movie revolves around how Bhuvan convinces the villagers and creates a team of 11 to play against the team of Andrew Russell. Russell's kind-hearted sister Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley) opts to secretly help the Champaner team with teaching them the game, and even hopes to play the field between the two sides.

The middle of the film focuses on two plot strands - the local team's haphazard preparation for the match aided by Russell's sympathetic sister Elizabeth, and the romantic triangle that develops between Bhuvan, Elizabeth and Gauri(Gracy Singh), the local girl smitten since childhood with Bhuvan.

Director Ashutosh Gowariker captures the beauty and simplicity of rural life in India at the turn of the century. The vast landscapes and majestic palaces make for enchanting settings to tell the story. As a musical, the film also captivates with well choreographed dances.

Fair warning--this is Bollywood cinema, so there are certain things you can expect up front. First: the film is long. Second: there will be a good amount of singing. Yes, there are a number of songs involved, but they're not bad. In fact, Bollywood musical or not, this is a decent flick. The music by A.R. Rahman, of Slumdog Millionaire fame, takes the movie up a notch.
A very enjoyable and entertaining flick.

Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi .

Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi .

This is one of the best Israeli movies i have seen(the other good Israeli movie which i liked was Summer of Aviya). This is one of those low-key gems that will bring a smile to your face and warm up your heart with very little effort.
This is a movie about a teenage boy Shlomi(Oshri Cohen), who lives with his family who are nothing but a bunch of jerks. His mother is an iron fisted lady and likes to shout at everybody and anybody and harbors resentment against her husband who slept with her closest friend. He keeps coming back trying to reconcile. His soldier brother is as bratty as can be, his ill grandfather keeps hallucinating about World War II, and then there is Shlomi's sister with her own problems with her husband, so she continually comes over, bringing her twins. He spends his days trying to solve problems of his dysfunctional family or cooking. He loves cooking and is a fabulous cook, everybody loves his food, especially his cakes.
Things begin to look better when a beautiful girl moves next door and expresses interest in him. Soon, Shlomi is forced to choose between the way things have always been and the way they could be. What will he do? Find out yourself.
The Film is not a groundbreaking one but it is competent and entertaining enough to be a pleasant 90 minutes spent on some weekend evening.
Enjoy this weekend with popcorn and this movie and don't forget to tell us about it.
P.S: the movie is in hebrew with english subtitles.

Bombay! Based on true incidents.

This movie is about Hindu-Muslim conflicts back in 1990s and the director (Mani Ratnam) used the backdrop of romeo-juliet love story.

Bombay is the story of Shekhar (Arvind Swamy) and Shaila (Manisha Koirala). A south indian hindu man falls for a simple beautiful muslim girl. Their traditional conservative family decline their request to get married.They marry against family wishes and move to Mumbai. The man starts to work as a reporter for a large daily newspaper. Eventually, the couple has twin boys, Kabir Narayan and Kamal Basheer. The twins are raised in both religions. For six years, the family live in Bombay, settling in well, and begin the process of repairing relations with their respective families.

Meanwhile, in India, religious extremism launches each community against the other, causing a wave of Hindu/Muslim riots that leave hundreds dead in Bombay. The rest of the film is set during the December 1992-January 1993 period when the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid controversy raised religious tension in Mumbai and other parts of India, which sparked rioting and violence.Targets of violence from both sides, Shaila and Shekhar worry increasingly over the safety of their children, who do not have a fixed religion. They are constantly under threat. The growing tension threatens to bring tragedy to the family and during this tensed situation, they lose their children in the city and the parents of Shekhar and Shaila get burnt in their house.

The BIG SCREEN!!!

  "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".

This has been one of my all time favorite lines and am sure most of you know which movie is it from. MOVIES, for some, its a source of entertainment, and for others, its a form of an art. At times movies are more specific to the culture, its a cultural artifact. According to wikipedia: a movie is "a story conveyed with moving images"

We all remember different movies for different reasons, we have started this blog to write about some famous, some non-famous, some dark, some not-so dark, some documentaries, basically all kinds of movies which have affected us in more than one way. This blog would be a mixed bag of random observations on the movies we watch. Our intention is not to make this as a news site rather a place for thoughts (all kinds) and opinions on movies.
Discussions and comments are expected.