Remade in Tamil as Kuselan, and in Hindi as Billo Barber.
I watched about forty minutes before directing my attention elsewhere. I have a feeling it might be another Rathri Mazha in the sense that on the first viewing, I'm not totally into it, but after seeing it multiple times I grow to love it.
I'm still not sure I want to pay $15 for the DVD. I'm afraid that shortly after I order it, it will be marked down to like, $7.99.
I'll have to come back to this later.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Totti Jaya(2005)
To paraphrase a YouTube commenter, "I like [Totti Jaya] because [Simbu] is QUIET!" **chuckle** While I find Simbu's finger-waving and overconfidence amusing and a turn-on at times, his laconic performance in this film is a refreshing change from his usual over-the-top, chatterbox antics in movies like Dum, Kuthu, Kadhal Azhivathilai, and Vallavan. He'll never be a great actor, but when he's not mimicking Rajnikanth or T. Rajendar, he can be pretty good. I wish he'd spend more time honing his acting skills than trying to live up to that silly "Little Superstar" moniker.
Speaking of which, the absence of his customary "Little Superstar Simbu" intro was another welcome relief. I think it should be bumped from of ALL of his future releases.
Gopika didn't have much to do except cry and/or look scared.
Linda Arsenio makes an appearance in the "Yaari Singari" song. (Totally pointless info: whenever I have this movie on before I go to sleep, I almost always wake up during that segment.)
Speaking of which, the absence of his customary "Little Superstar Simbu" intro was another welcome relief. I think it should be bumped from of ALL of his future releases.
Gopika didn't have much to do except cry and/or look scared.
Linda Arsenio makes an appearance in the "Yaari Singari" song. (Totally pointless info: whenever I have this movie on before I go to sleep, I almost always wake up during that segment.)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Kabul Express(2006)
"Oh! I didn't realize we had a choice here! Let's see...kabobs for breakfast, kabobs for lunch and, mmmmmm, kabobs for dinner. And oh, if you want a snack, kabobs again!"
Linda Arsenio's laughably bad delivery of those lines ranks right up there with Elizabeth Berkley angrily flinging her french fries and shrieking, "Different places!" in Showgirls. I'm so glad Linda was the only gori willing to go to Afghanistan. Her nonexistent thespian skills were a never-ending source of amusement for me. Had a more talented actress been cast, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the movie as much.
Her looks were an added bonus. She and John Abraham provided nice eye candy. I paid more attention to them than I did to the movie. Shallow, I know, but I'm usually not inclined to watch a so-called "serious" film unless there are good-looking actors involved. That way, if I get bored trying to follow the plot, I can shift my attention to the pretty faces on my TV screen.
Linda Arsenio's laughably bad delivery of those lines ranks right up there with Elizabeth Berkley angrily flinging her french fries and shrieking, "Different places!" in Showgirls. I'm so glad Linda was the only gori willing to go to Afghanistan. Her nonexistent thespian skills were a never-ending source of amusement for me. Had a more talented actress been cast, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the movie as much.
Her looks were an added bonus. She and John Abraham provided nice eye candy. I paid more attention to them than I did to the movie. Shallow, I know, but I'm usually not inclined to watch a so-called "serious" film unless there are good-looking actors involved. That way, if I get bored trying to follow the plot, I can shift my attention to the pretty faces on my TV screen.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Kana Kanden(2005)
I got this mainly for the "Chinna Ponnu Sonna Kelu" item number with Linda Arsenio. I honestly think it's the best part of the movie :) I like the way it's picturised, and I wish I knew how to download the song 'cause it's hot.
As for the movie itself, it was pretty good. The three leads--Srikanth, Gopika, Prithviraj--acted well, but I was partial to Prithviraj's character because of his deceptively affable demeanor. I swear I read somewhere--on another blog, perhaps?--that Kana Kanden is based on a novel, and that in the book, Madan(Prithviraj) begins charging Archana(Gopika) "consultation fees" from the day of their first meeting, and includes that amount in her and Bhaskar's(Srikanth) total debt. If that's true, I wish that had been used in the movie, because it would've highlighted just how ruthless a loan shark he was. (Maybe the scene where Madan gives Archana his cell phone as a "gift" was an allusion to that particular passage. **shrug**)
As for the movie itself, it was pretty good. The three leads--Srikanth, Gopika, Prithviraj--acted well, but I was partial to Prithviraj's character because of his deceptively affable demeanor. I swear I read somewhere--on another blog, perhaps?--that Kana Kanden is based on a novel, and that in the book, Madan(Prithviraj) begins charging Archana(Gopika) "consultation fees" from the day of their first meeting, and includes that amount in her and Bhaskar's(Srikanth) total debt. If that's true, I wish that had been used in the movie, because it would've highlighted just how ruthless a loan shark he was. (Maybe the scene where Madan gives Archana his cell phone as a "gift" was an allusion to that particular passage. **shrug**)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Makeup(2002)
I've had an unhealthy fascination with Laila Patel--now Sanaa/Saana Khan--since I first spotted her in Woh. I couldn't stop staring at her slightly cockeyed, heavily pancaked visage. I wondered what happened to her since Woh was DOA at the box office. One day, I was browsing the web and came across an article that mentioned her role in the Kannada film, Makeup, opposite Jaggesh. The VCD was listed on anytamil, but at the time, I had neither a computer or a DVD player that recognized VCDs, so I couldn't order it. Two years later, I now have all three.
Makeup is the desi version of Big Momma's House. I thought it was decent. Not great, but not a total waste of $9.93 either. I was already familar with the plot, and I knew better than to have high expectations, so I wasn't disappointed. As I blogged elsewhere, "The leading man, Jaggesh, isn’t exactly a heartthrob, but I managed to tolerate him. And I found Laila Patel appealing, man-in-drag appearance and all. I even thought she looked pretty in a few shots."
Makeup seems to be Laila's--now Saana's-- first and last foray down south. I don't know if she received additional offers from south producers, but if she didn't, I'm not suprised. She doesn't have the looks to be a mainstream heroine. She's more C-grade skin flick material.
Aside: Speaking of which, her upcoming Hindi film, Wafaa, is with the badly aged Rajesh Khanna. I watched the trailer and I must confess, the bedroom scene made my stomach turn. Not just because of the obvious age difference, but also because Rajesh looked like he didn't know what the hell he was doing.
As for Laila/Saana, I thought she looked nice in traditional clothes. At some angles, she resembled fellow Pak actress Meera(Nazar, Kasak). But while I was able to somewhat handle her May-December pairing in Makeup, I know I won't be able to sit through however many scenes there are of her canoodling with Rajesh, so Wafaa is a no-go.
Back to Makeup: I forgot to mention, the songs are nice. "Dimple Dimple" is my favorite, followed by "Jaka Jaka Janaka".
Makeup is the desi version of Big Momma's House. I thought it was decent. Not great, but not a total waste of $9.93 either. I was already familar with the plot, and I knew better than to have high expectations, so I wasn't disappointed. As I blogged elsewhere, "The leading man, Jaggesh, isn’t exactly a heartthrob, but I managed to tolerate him. And I found Laila Patel appealing, man-in-drag appearance and all. I even thought she looked pretty in a few shots."
Makeup seems to be Laila's--now Saana's-- first and last foray down south. I don't know if she received additional offers from south producers, but if she didn't, I'm not suprised. She doesn't have the looks to be a mainstream heroine. She's more C-grade skin flick material.
Aside: Speaking of which, her upcoming Hindi film, Wafaa, is with the badly aged Rajesh Khanna. I watched the trailer and I must confess, the bedroom scene made my stomach turn. Not just because of the obvious age difference, but also because Rajesh looked like he didn't know what the hell he was doing.
As for Laila/Saana, I thought she looked nice in traditional clothes. At some angles, she resembled fellow Pak actress Meera(Nazar, Kasak). But while I was able to somewhat handle her May-December pairing in Makeup, I know I won't be able to sit through however many scenes there are of her canoodling with Rajesh, so Wafaa is a no-go.
Back to Makeup: I forgot to mention, the songs are nice. "Dimple Dimple" is my favorite, followed by "Jaka Jaka Janaka".
Monday, November 17, 2008
Aayiram Kannukal(1986)
I wish I could curl up in bed and watch this. I wonder if anytamil has it in stock.
Was the plot--Shobhana dreams about murders before they happen--lifted from Eyes of Laura Mars?
Shobhana is gorgeous. These days, whenever I see her name, I'm reminded of how she was supposedly one of the four heroines in the now-shelved Marmayogi. (Another reminder: Dance Like A Man - the DVD is available from Nehaflix. If it were $8 less, I'd buy it.)
Mammootty looks nearly the same now as he did back in the eighties.
Was the plot--Shobhana dreams about murders before they happen--lifted from Eyes of Laura Mars?
Shobhana is gorgeous. These days, whenever I see her name, I'm reminded of how she was supposedly one of the four heroines in the now-shelved Marmayogi. (Another reminder: Dance Like A Man - the DVD is available from Nehaflix. If it were $8 less, I'd buy it.)
Mammootty looks nearly the same now as he did back in the eighties.
Takkari Donga(2002)
Did a quick flip-through the chapters to make sure I didn't have another defective disc on my hands.
In most scenes, Bipasha Basu's skin tone is so bleached out, it's practically yellow. I assume that has to do with the type of film that was used, because Mahesh Babu and Lisa Ray were sporting a similar look.
Was Bipasha that thin at the time of shooting, or were "Promise of a New Day"-type camera tricks used? I prefer her meatier appearance in Jism.
I'm not sure why I bought this movie, but I hope I like it.
Unrelated: Prithviraj looks rather handome in Classmates. (I'm doing a flip-through of this one, too.) In Kana Kanden, he didn't do anything for me, but looking at him now, I'm tempted to check out more of his films.
Kavya reminds me of Asin for some strange reason.
ETA 01/22/10: I tried to watch this movie, but I can't get into it. Skipping chapters doesn't help, either. I dig the cowboy getup, but not even the sight of Mahesh could convince me to keep this movie in my DVD player.
ETA 02/28/10: Last night, I gave it another chance and actually kept the disc in my DVD player long enough for a couple of re-watches. I'm not crazy about the movie as a whole but some of the song picturisations are nice. "Aleba Aleba" is my favorite, especially 1:34 to 1:54 ;) I liked Bips and Mahesh together. Minus the flood lighting and with a few more pounds, she would've been perfect. Lisa Ray was pretty but not as alluring as Bipasha. The outtakes during the end credits were fun to watch, as was Mahesh in that cowboy outfit. I'm not a fan of westerns but I could look at him in that getup all day.
In most scenes, Bipasha Basu's skin tone is so bleached out, it's practically yellow. I assume that has to do with the type of film that was used, because Mahesh Babu and Lisa Ray were sporting a similar look.
Was Bipasha that thin at the time of shooting, or were "Promise of a New Day"-type camera tricks used? I prefer her meatier appearance in Jism.
I'm not sure why I bought this movie, but I hope I like it.
Unrelated: Prithviraj looks rather handome in Classmates. (I'm doing a flip-through of this one, too.) In Kana Kanden, he didn't do anything for me, but looking at him now, I'm tempted to check out more of his films.
Kavya reminds me of Asin for some strange reason.
ETA 01/22/10: I tried to watch this movie, but I can't get into it. Skipping chapters doesn't help, either. I dig the cowboy getup, but not even the sight of Mahesh could convince me to keep this movie in my DVD player.
ETA 02/28/10: Last night, I gave it another chance and actually kept the disc in my DVD player long enough for a couple of re-watches. I'm not crazy about the movie as a whole but some of the song picturisations are nice. "Aleba Aleba" is my favorite, especially 1:34 to 1:54 ;) I liked Bips and Mahesh together. Minus the flood lighting and with a few more pounds, she would've been perfect. Lisa Ray was pretty but not as alluring as Bipasha. The outtakes during the end credits were fun to watch, as was Mahesh in that cowboy outfit. I'm not a fan of westerns but I could look at him in that getup all day.
Murder(2004)
I decided to type a quick post about this movie because 1) "Kaho Na Kaho" and "Bheegey Hont" refuse to get out of my head, and 2) I'm in the process of putting together my thoughts about the Kannada remake, Ganda Hendathi.
I can't remember if I watched this movie before or after Khwahish. I think it was after. Anyway, I thought it was okay. I liked the first half better than the second. The two things that stuck out the most for me were Mallika's resemblance to Halle Berry and her(Mallika's) shiny, bouncy tresses. She seriously has great hair. I want the name and phone number of her hairstylist.
I wasn't into Emraan Hashmi at this point(it took several viewings of Zeher for that), so I didn't pay much attention to him, but I think I may have thought he was cute.
I keep forgetting that Ashmit Patel was in this movie. It's like, "Oh yeah, Ashmit Patel. He played the husband." I remember him more from Nazar than I do this film.
I thought the seduction scene was hot, but when Emraan and Mallika started kissing, she opened her mouth so wide, I was afraid she was going to swallow him whole.
I became aware of and interested in Mallika after reading her boastful remarks on several internet sites when Murder became a hit. I liked her outspokenness and dare-bare act. The fact that she's a thirtysomething divorcée with a reputation for being a bitch only makes her more endearing to me. No matter how many braggadocious claims she makes, or tantrums she throws, or movies of hers that flop, I think I will always have a soft spot for Ms. Sherawat(née Lamba).
I can't remember if I watched this movie before or after Khwahish. I think it was after. Anyway, I thought it was okay. I liked the first half better than the second. The two things that stuck out the most for me were Mallika's resemblance to Halle Berry and her(Mallika's) shiny, bouncy tresses. She seriously has great hair. I want the name and phone number of her hairstylist.
I wasn't into Emraan Hashmi at this point(it took several viewings of Zeher for that), so I didn't pay much attention to him, but I think I may have thought he was cute.
I keep forgetting that Ashmit Patel was in this movie. It's like, "Oh yeah, Ashmit Patel. He played the husband." I remember him more from Nazar than I do this film.
I thought the seduction scene was hot, but when Emraan and Mallika started kissing, she opened her mouth so wide, I was afraid she was going to swallow him whole.
I became aware of and interested in Mallika after reading her boastful remarks on several internet sites when Murder became a hit. I liked her outspokenness and dare-bare act. The fact that she's a thirtysomething divorcée with a reputation for being a bitch only makes her more endearing to me. No matter how many braggadocious claims she makes, or tantrums she throws, or movies of hers that flop, I think I will always have a soft spot for Ms. Sherawat(née Lamba).
Friday, November 14, 2008
Japanil Kalyanaraman(1985)
Sequel to the 1979 film Kalyanaraman. I thought of this movie as I watched the video for "Appappa Thiththikkum" on YouTube. I usually try to avoid sequels, but out of curiosity I gave this one a look-see. While I would recommend the original Kalyanaraman(Sridevi rules!), I found the follow-up sufficiently entertaining. I liked the foreign locale(Japan), the fight scenes, the chemistry between Kamal Hassan and Radha, and Radha's overly made-up look. And the aforementioned "Appappa Thiththikkum" makes me seriously nostalgic for the eighties. (Don't ask why, it just does.)
Aside: The scene where Kamal's son quietly slips out of bed so that Kamal and Radha, who were lying on either side of him, can move closer together triggered a hazy childhood memory. I think I was about five, and I was sitting between my parents, in bed, blabbering something about a prince and a princess(or maybe it was a king and a queen, I don't remember), and at the end, I joined their hands together. The funny part is that they just kept staring at the TV. I doubt they even heard me, or were aware of what I did.
Aside: The scene where Kamal's son quietly slips out of bed so that Kamal and Radha, who were lying on either side of him, can move closer together triggered a hazy childhood memory. I think I was about five, and I was sitting between my parents, in bed, blabbering something about a prince and a princess(or maybe it was a king and a queen, I don't remember), and at the end, I joined their hands together. The funny part is that they just kept staring at the TV. I doubt they even heard me, or were aware of what I did.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Madanolsavam(1978)
Rich-boy-loves-poor-girl-who-later-dies-of-a-terminal-illness. This film, like Prem Geet and Khwahish, appears to have been "inspired by" Love Story. It was a bit overly melodramatic for even me, and I wish I could've taken an axe to the comedy scenes(I'm not really a fan of comedy tracks, or comedy in general, unless it has a dark or sarcastic slant to it), but aside from those minus points, I liked it. This would be the perfect movie to watch while lounging in bed, but it doesn't appear to be commercially available--in or to the U.S., that is--on either DVD or VCD.
Zarina Wahab is a dead ringer for Kangana Ranaut, which I find ironic(is that the right word?) considering that Kangana allegedly had an affair with Zarina's husband, Aditya Pancholi. She's also the only actress who I didn't think looked ridiculous wearing pigtails and hair bows. Normally, I hate that style on grown women because to me, it often looks a tad pornish.
The songs are melodious. "Sandhye Kannerithenthe" is my favorite, and I swear there's an English song that sounds similar to "Ee Malarkanyakal", but I can't recall the name. Maybe I'm just imagining things.
Oh, and another thing I wanted to take an axe to: the numerous bike riding shots. I wanted someone to steal that bike so that I wouldn't have to look at it anymore. I seriously think it had almost as much screen time as the two leads.
I liked how color coordinated Kamal and Zarina were at the end. He wore a white shirt and white pants, she was in a white hospital gown, covered with a white sheet, and resting her head against a white pillowcase.
Zarina Wahab is a dead ringer for Kangana Ranaut, which I find ironic(is that the right word?) considering that Kangana allegedly had an affair with Zarina's husband, Aditya Pancholi. She's also the only actress who I didn't think looked ridiculous wearing pigtails and hair bows. Normally, I hate that style on grown women because to me, it often looks a tad pornish.
The songs are melodious. "Sandhye Kannerithenthe" is my favorite, and I swear there's an English song that sounds similar to "Ee Malarkanyakal", but I can't recall the name. Maybe I'm just imagining things.
Oh, and another thing I wanted to take an axe to: the numerous bike riding shots. I wanted someone to steal that bike so that I wouldn't have to look at it anymore. I seriously think it had almost as much screen time as the two leads.
I liked how color coordinated Kamal and Zarina were at the end. He wore a white shirt and white pants, she was in a white hospital gown, covered with a white sheet, and resting her head against a white pillowcase.
Chanthupottu(2005)
Oh hai, defective DVD! Froze at the 56:04 mark. Should I order another one? Part of me is afraid that the replacement copy will be just as bad, or worse(i.e. it won't play at all).
I found Dileep even more appealing as a transvestite. Some of his mannerisms immediately brought to mind Johnny Lever's character in Anjaam(the only movie in which I thought he was funny, BTW). Acting-wise, I thought he did a good job, and he and Gopika made a lovely couple. (Yeah, I have an obsession with couples.) Dileep's gender bending made their relationship especially erotic.
Too bad I couldn't view this movie in its entirety. Bhavana, my latest "Actress to Check Out", is in it as well, and I would've liked to have seen her. Bah!
Just when I was having a good run of luck with non-defective DVDs, Sainikudu and this one had to fuck up on me. **sigh**
I found Dileep even more appealing as a transvestite. Some of his mannerisms immediately brought to mind Johnny Lever's character in Anjaam(the only movie in which I thought he was funny, BTW). Acting-wise, I thought he did a good job, and he and Gopika made a lovely couple. (Yeah, I have an obsession with couples.) Dileep's gender bending made their relationship especially erotic.
Too bad I couldn't view this movie in its entirety. Bhavana, my latest "Actress to Check Out", is in it as well, and I would've liked to have seen her. Bah!
Just when I was having a good run of luck with non-defective DVDs, Sainikudu and this one had to fuck up on me. **sigh**
Rathri Mazha(2008)
I'm going to have to come back to this, because it was a little too heavy for me to try to watch in one sitting. But here are my thoughts so far:
Vineeth and Meera Jasmine looked like members of the Blue Man Group in the opening scenes. I kept thinking, "Blue blobs, blue blobs, their faces look like BLUE BLOBS!" I don't know if the picture quality of the DVD is THAT bad, or if they were lit that way on purpose.
Talking to the camera: DO NOT LIKE!
Was there a bit of meta(?) involved when Meera's character, whose name was also Meera, says that Mammootty is her favorite actor? I immediately thought of how they worked together in Ore Kadal and wondered if she was making a winking reference to that.
"Dowry is hidden in the term 'appropriate family background'"--haha I like that!
Vineeth looks better in stills than he does on film.
This might take a while to grow on me.
ETA: I had it on repeat the other night, and I think some of it may have sunk in while I was sleeping because when I re-watched it yesterday, I definitely appreciated it more than I did on my first viewing.
I still think Vineeth looks better in pics, but when he wore glasses, I found him quite handsome. I wish there had been more scenes of him dancing. From what was shown, he appears to be a very beautiful and sensual dancer.
Vineeth and Meera Jasmine looked like members of the Blue Man Group in the opening scenes. I kept thinking, "Blue blobs, blue blobs, their faces look like BLUE BLOBS!" I don't know if the picture quality of the DVD is THAT bad, or if they were lit that way on purpose.
Talking to the camera: DO NOT LIKE!
Was there a bit of meta(?) involved when Meera's character, whose name was also Meera, says that Mammootty is her favorite actor? I immediately thought of how they worked together in Ore Kadal and wondered if she was making a winking reference to that.
"Dowry is hidden in the term 'appropriate family background'"--haha I like that!
Vineeth looks better in stills than he does on film.
This might take a while to grow on me.
ETA: I had it on repeat the other night, and I think some of it may have sunk in while I was sleeping because when I re-watched it yesterday, I definitely appreciated it more than I did on my first viewing.
I still think Vineeth looks better in pics, but when he wore glasses, I found him quite handsome. I wish there had been more scenes of him dancing. From what was shown, he appears to be a very beautiful and sensual dancer.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sachein(2005)
Or, "How I Learned to Stop Being Close-Minded and Like Vijay".
Prior to watching this film, I wasn't feeling Vijay. I was hesitant to watch any movie in which he starred because I didn't think I could tolerate him. But on a whim, I decided to view Sachein, mainly because I had developed an interest in Genelia D'Souza and wanted to check her out(uh, that didn't come out the way I intended, but whatever). I found Vijay suprisingly likeable, and over time, he grew on me to the point where I wished I hadn't been so quick to write him off.
If I took a shot every time Genelia said "Shut up!", I'd be dead from alcohol poisoning before the movie ended.
Bipasha Basu's brief, inconsequential role still has me wondering why she was cast in the first place. My guess is that the makers felt there "had" to be a rival for Vijay's affections, and they wanted someone who they hoped would draw a large crowd. I'm glad I didn't take a quick nap after the interval; otherwise, I would've missed her.
Linda Arsenio(Kabul Express) is a lousy actress even when you can't hear her speak. However, I must admit, she looked very pretty(but still phoren, in spite of her dark hair and dubbed Thamizh) in the "Vaadi Vaadi" song. If she hadn't decided to try her luck in Bollywood, she probably would've become the go-to firangi item girl in the south.
Despite the slow pace, unnecessary fight scenes, and utter predictability, I liked this movie. You just have to shut off your brain and go along for the ride.
Prior to watching this film, I wasn't feeling Vijay. I was hesitant to watch any movie in which he starred because I didn't think I could tolerate him. But on a whim, I decided to view Sachein, mainly because I had developed an interest in Genelia D'Souza and wanted to check her out(uh, that didn't come out the way I intended, but whatever). I found Vijay suprisingly likeable, and over time, he grew on me to the point where I wished I hadn't been so quick to write him off.
If I took a shot every time Genelia said "Shut up!", I'd be dead from alcohol poisoning before the movie ended.
Bipasha Basu's brief, inconsequential role still has me wondering why she was cast in the first place. My guess is that the makers felt there "had" to be a rival for Vijay's affections, and they wanted someone who they hoped would draw a large crowd. I'm glad I didn't take a quick nap after the interval; otherwise, I would've missed her.
Linda Arsenio(Kabul Express) is a lousy actress even when you can't hear her speak. However, I must admit, she looked very pretty(but still phoren, in spite of her dark hair and dubbed Thamizh) in the "Vaadi Vaadi" song. If she hadn't decided to try her luck in Bollywood, she probably would've become the go-to firangi item girl in the south.
Despite the slow pace, unnecessary fight scenes, and utter predictability, I liked this movie. You just have to shut off your brain and go along for the ride.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Aaja Nachle(2007)
Less than twenty minutes into this movie, I found myself agreeing with Filmfare writer Jitesh Pillaai: "Aaja Nachle didn't work because they took the queen of hearts and didn't have any romance for her. They took the biggest chartbuster called Madhuri and then came up with an inspid musical score. They took the dancing queen and gave her awfully choreographed sequences..."
I'm a Sridevi stan, but I think Madhuri is lovely and a wonderful dancer, and I was curious to see how she fared in her comeback vehicle. But aside from the opening shots of Madz in a New York dance studio, I was unable to appreciate the antiquated feel of this flick. Normally, I'm a sucker for just about anything that looks and/or sounds like a throwback to the eighties, but Aaja Nachle is too outdated for even me.
Pity, since I seriously considered buying this. I guess I'll spend my money on Classmates instead.
I'm a Sridevi stan, but I think Madhuri is lovely and a wonderful dancer, and I was curious to see how she fared in her comeback vehicle. But aside from the opening shots of Madz in a New York dance studio, I was unable to appreciate the antiquated feel of this flick. Normally, I'm a sucker for just about anything that looks and/or sounds like a throwback to the eighties, but Aaja Nachle is too outdated for even me.
Pity, since I seriously considered buying this. I guess I'll spend my money on Classmates instead.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Pandi(2008)
I am such a masochist. I watched nearly the entire movie before my common sense finally kicked in and screamed, "ENOUGH! Switch it off! Switch it off!"
The opening shots of Lawrence performing menial jobs around Dubai piqued my interest, but it quickly waned after the movie went into flashback mode to Lawrence's earlier days as a carefree youth in his village.
I will give Lawrence a kudo for trying his damndest to act like a hero in spite of having neither the looks nor the charm to be one. I tried to be open-minded but he's just too skeazy-looking for my comfort level. I can't shake the feeling that he's the type who makes slurping sounds at every female who passes by.
Sneha is the sole reason I sat through this drivel. I would've enjoyed her glam act a lot more had she been paired with a better-looking and/or more charismatic hero. I didn't detect any chemistry between her and Lawrence. I got the impression that she was just doing her job. I hope she was paid well.
The three songs with Namitha could've--should've--been left on the cutting room floor. I'm sure the frontbenchers loved them, but I found them forced and unnecessary.
I kept waiting for Pandi's(Lawrence) mother to get killed so that he could avenge her death and the movie would hopefully stop dragging so damn much. I thought she would get bumped off just before the interval, but the film was almost over before she finally made her exit. By that time, my brain and eyeballs were screaming for mercy, so I stopped the movie. I regret not doing that sooner.
Normally, I can handle and even appreciate stupid movies, but Pandi is one of the exceptions. I wouldn't watch this again even if someone gave me a free copy of the DVD.
The opening shots of Lawrence performing menial jobs around Dubai piqued my interest, but it quickly waned after the movie went into flashback mode to Lawrence's earlier days as a carefree youth in his village.
I will give Lawrence a kudo for trying his damndest to act like a hero in spite of having neither the looks nor the charm to be one. I tried to be open-minded but he's just too skeazy-looking for my comfort level. I can't shake the feeling that he's the type who makes slurping sounds at every female who passes by.
Sneha is the sole reason I sat through this drivel. I would've enjoyed her glam act a lot more had she been paired with a better-looking and/or more charismatic hero. I didn't detect any chemistry between her and Lawrence. I got the impression that she was just doing her job. I hope she was paid well.
The three songs with Namitha could've--should've--been left on the cutting room floor. I'm sure the frontbenchers loved them, but I found them forced and unnecessary.
I kept waiting for Pandi's(Lawrence) mother to get killed so that he could avenge her death and the movie would hopefully stop dragging so damn much. I thought she would get bumped off just before the interval, but the film was almost over before she finally made her exit. By that time, my brain and eyeballs were screaming for mercy, so I stopped the movie. I regret not doing that sooner.
Normally, I can handle and even appreciate stupid movies, but Pandi is one of the exceptions. I wouldn't watch this again even if someone gave me a free copy of the DVD.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Sivamani 98480 22338(2003)
I was going to give Majaa another chance, but chose to watch this instead after I discovered that both Asin and Rakshita were in it.
The premise of this flick appears to have been lifted from the 1999 Hollywood movie Message in a Bottle. I had a feeling of déjà vu during the scene where Rakshita is jogging on the beach and finds a bottle containing a letter written by Nagarjuna, whom she later tracks down and falls in love with.
Nagarjuna didn't have his jolie-laide in this movie either, but he did look good in a police uniform.
Does Prakash Raj ever take a break? For shits and giggles I peeped his filmography, and since the early 90s, he's acted in at least 100 movies, including this one, and has several more in the pipeline.
Rakshita is so sensuous-looking. I've had a crush on her since Dum. Minus her glamour, this movie would've been considerably less watchable.
Asin looked young and innocent. I found her particularly alluring in the scenes where she sported minimal makeup and tousled hair.
Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I felt there was more chemistry between Asin and Rakshita than either of them had with Nagarjuna. They also made a hotter-looking couple.
The "Yenaatiki" song looks like it was filmed at the same location as Rakhee's "Zara Zara".
I might get this movie. It's not great, but I feel that Rakshita and Asin have enough screen time to justify purchasing it.
The premise of this flick appears to have been lifted from the 1999 Hollywood movie Message in a Bottle. I had a feeling of déjà vu during the scene where Rakshita is jogging on the beach and finds a bottle containing a letter written by Nagarjuna, whom she later tracks down and falls in love with.
Nagarjuna didn't have his jolie-laide in this movie either, but he did look good in a police uniform.
Does Prakash Raj ever take a break? For shits and giggles I peeped his filmography, and since the early 90s, he's acted in at least 100 movies, including this one, and has several more in the pipeline.
Rakshita is so sensuous-looking. I've had a crush on her since Dum. Minus her glamour, this movie would've been considerably less watchable.
Asin looked young and innocent. I found her particularly alluring in the scenes where she sported minimal makeup and tousled hair.
Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I felt there was more chemistry between Asin and Rakshita than either of them had with Nagarjuna. They also made a hotter-looking couple.
The "Yenaatiki" song looks like it was filmed at the same location as Rakhee's "Zara Zara".
I might get this movie. It's not great, but I feel that Rakshita and Asin have enough screen time to justify purchasing it.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Aaru(2005)
I have the dubbed Telugu version that I watched about two years ago. Aside from the picturisation of the "Thottutae Thottutae" song, I remember very little.
For whatever reason(s), I've been thinking about this movie for the past couple of days. Based on my faulty memory, I have a feeling that it's kind of similar to Bheema. I intend to re-watch it tonight--if I can find it, that is. I can't remember if it's still on my bookshelf or if I put it in my closet.
ETA: It was in my closet. I watched about a half-hour before replacing it with Athidhi. The poor picture quality and obvious dubbing made me seriously considering spending $20+ on the Tamil version. Trisha looked like a dream in that white tennis dress. Surya looks best when he's playing a rowdy. Vadivelu's spoof of the "Kumari" song from Anniyan was funny. I will have it give it another look once I decide whether or not I really want to buy the Ayngaran DVD.
For whatever reason(s), I've been thinking about this movie for the past couple of days. Based on my faulty memory, I have a feeling that it's kind of similar to Bheema. I intend to re-watch it tonight--if I can find it, that is. I can't remember if it's still on my bookshelf or if I put it in my closet.
ETA: It was in my closet. I watched about a half-hour before replacing it with Athidhi. The poor picture quality and obvious dubbing made me seriously considering spending $20+ on the Tamil version. Trisha looked like a dream in that white tennis dress. Surya looks best when he's playing a rowdy. Vadivelu's spoof of the "Kumari" song from Anniyan was funny. I will have it give it another look once I decide whether or not I really want to buy the Ayngaran DVD.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mass(2004)
AKA "Where's Jyothika?"
For the longest time, I wondered if I were watching the right movie. I even double-checked Wikipedia to make sure that her name was listed in the credits. I wasn't really paying attention, so I thought that maybe she was onscreen while I was preoccupied in another browser window. Long story, short version: I slid the marker on the time bar to 1:22:25 and lo and behold, there she was, looking too cute in white and dancing with the maid.
I could be wrong, but it sounded as if Jyothika's lines were mouthed by the same person who dubs for Trisha in her Telugu movies.
While I'm on the subject, was Ileana's dubbing artist for Rakhee used for Charmi in this flick? Hmmm...maybe not, but that individual's voice sounds familiar.
Speaking of Charmi, she looked sexy in the "Mass Lallalaire" song. I especially loved the white top, skirt, and boots she wore near the end.
I preferred the Nag-Jo pairing to the Nag-Charmi one. With Jo, Nag approached the jolie-laide he had going on in Super, but with Charmi, he looked aged and horribly mismatched.
I think I'll wait for this to show up in the $4.99 and under bin. I'm not really crazy about this movie, especially since Charmi and Jyothika don't get that much screen time, but I wouldn't mind spending say, $3.99 on it if I were in one of my "Oh, I feel like wasting money on a cheap DVD!" moods.
For the longest time, I wondered if I were watching the right movie. I even double-checked Wikipedia to make sure that her name was listed in the credits. I wasn't really paying attention, so I thought that maybe she was onscreen while I was preoccupied in another browser window. Long story, short version: I slid the marker on the time bar to 1:22:25 and lo and behold, there she was, looking too cute in white and dancing with the maid.
I could be wrong, but it sounded as if Jyothika's lines were mouthed by the same person who dubs for Trisha in her Telugu movies.
While I'm on the subject, was Ileana's dubbing artist for Rakhee used for Charmi in this flick? Hmmm...maybe not, but that individual's voice sounds familiar.
Speaking of Charmi, she looked sexy in the "Mass Lallalaire" song. I especially loved the white top, skirt, and boots she wore near the end.
I preferred the Nag-Jo pairing to the Nag-Charmi one. With Jo, Nag approached the jolie-laide he had going on in Super, but with Charmi, he looked aged and horribly mismatched.
I think I'll wait for this to show up in the $4.99 and under bin. I'm not really crazy about this movie, especially since Charmi and Jyothika don't get that much screen time, but I wouldn't mind spending say, $3.99 on it if I were in one of my "Oh, I feel like wasting money on a cheap DVD!" moods.
Mantra(2007)
I thought about this movie last night as I was lying in bed. It's been so long since I watched it, my thoughts will be brief and based on my hazy memory:
Both songs should've been axed.
I didn't like how the hero "had" to be the one to unravel the mystery. It should've been a heroine-oriented flick.
I liked it, but would've enjoyed it a lot more if Charmi had been the main focus(see above comment). She was the reason I bought it, because generally speaking, suspense films don't really interest me.
Both songs should've been axed.
I didn't like how the hero "had" to be the one to unravel the mystery. It should've been a heroine-oriented flick.
I liked it, but would've enjoyed it a lot more if Charmi had been the main focus(see above comment). She was the reason I bought it, because generally speaking, suspense films don't really interest me.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Pokiri(2006)
The DVD is playing as I type this. I watched parts of the Tamil remake with Vijay and Asin a while back. From what I remember, it was alright, but I like the Telugu version better, mainly because I prefer the Mahesh-Ileana pairing to the Vijay-Asin one :)
ETA: I really like this movie. I can't believe I put off buying it for so long. The more I watch it, the less inclined I am to give the Tamil version another look-see. Vijay and Asin pale in comparison to Mahesh and Ileana. I like the former two, but not as a jodi, and I doubt Vijay looks as good in a uniform as Mahesh.
ETA 01/22/10: No one does the slo-mo run quite like Mahesh. Vijay couldn't even come close. Now, I have the Tamil version, and have watched it a couple of times, and it's not bad, it would be a lot better without Vadivelu, and the Asin-Vijay pairing isn't quite as awkward as I initially thought, but for whatever reason(s), I can take them better as a pair in Sivakasi.
ETA: I really like this movie. I can't believe I put off buying it for so long. The more I watch it, the less inclined I am to give the Tamil version another look-see. Vijay and Asin pale in comparison to Mahesh and Ileana. I like the former two, but not as a jodi, and I doubt Vijay looks as good in a uniform as Mahesh.
ETA 01/22/10: No one does the slo-mo run quite like Mahesh. Vijay couldn't even come close. Now, I have the Tamil version, and have watched it a couple of times, and it's not bad, it would be a lot better without Vadivelu, and the Asin-Vijay pairing isn't quite as awkward as I initially thought, but for whatever reason(s), I can take them better as a pair in Sivakasi.
Bhale Dongalu(2008)
Telugu remake of the Hindi movie Bunty Aur Babli. Aside from the "Kajara Re" video, I haven't seen the original, nor do I plan to.
I couldn't stand Tarun in Enakku 20 Unakku 18. Not even the presence of Trisha Krishnan and Shriya Saran could ease the pain of having to watch him. I remember thinking that a piece of cardboard had more charisma and screen presence than he did. But in Bhale Dongalu, I found him suprisingly bearable--well, when he shared the screen with Ileana, that is. On his own, he was still kinda annoying. He's just not leading man material, IMO. He's better suited to "best friend of the hero"-type roles.
Ileana was her usual lithe and lovely self. Generally speaking, I think she has a mesmerizing screen presence, and I love her occasionally over-the-top facial expressions and gestures. She looked especially good in the shots of her wearing a leather top and skirt in the "Romeo Juliet" song. (I wasn't feeling the boots, though. Heels, while less comfortable, would've been a better choice.)
I liked Charmi's item song, "Ee Malle Mogga". While I think she and Aishwarya looked equally spicy in their respective numbers, I give the nod to Charmi simply because I prefer her over Aish :-P
I wish the picture quality had been better. I felt like I was watching one of those cheap DVDs. (Probably because I was watching "one of those cheap DVDs", even though it cost $12. I should've waited for a bigger price reduction.)
Again, I haven't watched Bunty Aur Babli, so I don't know how Bhale Dongalu compares, but overall, I think it's a decent flick(mainly because of my crush on Ileana ;)).
I couldn't stand Tarun in Enakku 20 Unakku 18. Not even the presence of Trisha Krishnan and Shriya Saran could ease the pain of having to watch him. I remember thinking that a piece of cardboard had more charisma and screen presence than he did. But in Bhale Dongalu, I found him suprisingly bearable--well, when he shared the screen with Ileana, that is. On his own, he was still kinda annoying. He's just not leading man material, IMO. He's better suited to "best friend of the hero"-type roles.
Ileana was her usual lithe and lovely self. Generally speaking, I think she has a mesmerizing screen presence, and I love her occasionally over-the-top facial expressions and gestures. She looked especially good in the shots of her wearing a leather top and skirt in the "Romeo Juliet" song. (I wasn't feeling the boots, though. Heels, while less comfortable, would've been a better choice.)
I liked Charmi's item song, "Ee Malle Mogga". While I think she and Aishwarya looked equally spicy in their respective numbers, I give the nod to Charmi simply because I prefer her over Aish :-P
I wish the picture quality had been better. I felt like I was watching one of those cheap DVDs. (Probably because I was watching "one of those cheap DVDs", even though it cost $12. I should've waited for a bigger price reduction.)
Again, I haven't watched Bunty Aur Babli, so I don't know how Bhale Dongalu compares, but overall, I think it's a decent flick(mainly because of my crush on Ileana ;)).
Athidhi(2007)
It's so typical of me. I start out not liking or feeling "meh" about a particular actor/actress and then one day, bam! I suddenly like him/her. Such is the case with Mahesh Babu. After last night's viewing of Athidhi, he is my new onscreen crush. He looked so good, I got all fangirl "Squee"-y whenever he stepped in front of the camera.
I had to go to bed, so I didn't watch all of it, but what I did see, I liked. It's not a great movie, but it's watchable. I can tell this is one of those flicks that I'll grow to love after several repeat viewings.
Amrita was cute, and she shared good chemistry with Mahesh. I liked her comedy scenes, particularly the one where she imagines bashing up Sunil for acting like he was some kind of super stud. (Aside: His constant use of the word "angle" got on my nerves.) I'd like to see her in more Telugu films, especially since none of her Hindi ones inspire me to break out my debit card.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Amrita asks Athidhi if he ever loved anyone and he replies "Sridevi", and goes on to say that she's now married and has kids, and that he would've told her he loved her had he been born fifteen years earlier. Granted, those lines were in the script but still, I was tickled to hear that, being a huge Sridevi fan :)
Minus points: The beginning dragged a bit, and I wish there had been fewer fight scenes and a little more footage of the Athidhi-Amrita romance. Also, the songs were lackluster. This is the kind of movie that "needs" a great soundtrack in order to make up for its shortcomings.
But in spite of its flaws, I'm pleased with my purchase. I bought it on a whim, and it turned out to be a good choice.
ETA: The more I watch this, the more I like it. I still think the songs are lackluster, and that there are too many fight scenes, and I wish the director had had the guts to shoot an atypical ending(for a brief moment, I thought it was going to end on a sudden and somber note, but my hopes were quickly dashed), but despite that, I really enjoy this movie. Again, it's not great, but it's entertaining, and looking at Mahesh makes me all tingly inside :)
ETA2: Athidhi has become my "go-to" movie whenever I'm in a crappy mood(like now). "Khiladi Koona" and "Ornayano Pichi Pichigaa"(aka "Gona Gona Gona") have grown on me somewhat, but I like only certain parts of each song. I'm diggin' Mahesh's longer hair; I think it really suits him. I wish Amrita would forget Bollywood and join Telugu films. **chuckle**
P.S. I'm watching the "Valla Valla" song right now and I kinda like it, mainly because of the picturisation.
ETA3: I officially like "Khiladi Koona" and "Ornayano Pichi Pichigaa". Repeated viewings will do that, I guess.
I had to go to bed, so I didn't watch all of it, but what I did see, I liked. It's not a great movie, but it's watchable. I can tell this is one of those flicks that I'll grow to love after several repeat viewings.
Amrita was cute, and she shared good chemistry with Mahesh. I liked her comedy scenes, particularly the one where she imagines bashing up Sunil for acting like he was some kind of super stud. (Aside: His constant use of the word "angle" got on my nerves.) I'd like to see her in more Telugu films, especially since none of her Hindi ones inspire me to break out my debit card.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Amrita asks Athidhi if he ever loved anyone and he replies "Sridevi", and goes on to say that she's now married and has kids, and that he would've told her he loved her had he been born fifteen years earlier. Granted, those lines were in the script but still, I was tickled to hear that, being a huge Sridevi fan :)
Minus points: The beginning dragged a bit, and I wish there had been fewer fight scenes and a little more footage of the Athidhi-Amrita romance. Also, the songs were lackluster. This is the kind of movie that "needs" a great soundtrack in order to make up for its shortcomings.
But in spite of its flaws, I'm pleased with my purchase. I bought it on a whim, and it turned out to be a good choice.
ETA: The more I watch this, the more I like it. I still think the songs are lackluster, and that there are too many fight scenes, and I wish the director had had the guts to shoot an atypical ending(for a brief moment, I thought it was going to end on a sudden and somber note, but my hopes were quickly dashed), but despite that, I really enjoy this movie. Again, it's not great, but it's entertaining, and looking at Mahesh makes me all tingly inside :)
ETA2: Athidhi has become my "go-to" movie whenever I'm in a crappy mood(like now). "Khiladi Koona" and "Ornayano Pichi Pichigaa"(aka "Gona Gona Gona") have grown on me somewhat, but I like only certain parts of each song. I'm diggin' Mahesh's longer hair; I think it really suits him. I wish Amrita would forget Bollywood and join Telugu films. **chuckle**
P.S. I'm watching the "Valla Valla" song right now and I kinda like it, mainly because of the picturisation.
ETA3: I officially like "Khiladi Koona" and "Ornayano Pichi Pichigaa". Repeated viewings will do that, I guess.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Manmathan(2004)
When I first watched this movie, I made the mistake of expecting a sexed-up**, modern day version of Sivappu Rojakkal, the apparent inspiration for this flick. To say that I wound up disappointed would be an understatement. In short, I HATED it. I felt there were too many songs, too many shots of Simbu looking at the camera, and that both the backstory and the motivation behind the killings were stupid. I also didn't care for the gratuitous flashbacks to Jyothika getting raped. I thought, "Okay. I GET IT. You gotta keep the front benchers happy but please, I've had enough."
I've since learned, however, that this is the type of movie you cannot take seriously. Once I lowered my expectations and accepted it for what it is--a poor man's copy of Sivappu Rojakkal***--I had a more enjoyable viewing experience. Now, I just roll my eyes at the parts I find dumb or annoying, and mentally flesh out the scenes that I feel have the most promise.
Oh, and I thought Simbu looked hot, especially when he was acting(?) crazy. He's not conventionally good-looking, but there's something about him that gets to me.
ETA 11/25/09: I've been rewatching this on and off for the past couple of weeks, and I'm both amused and disturbed at how...blatantly? it enforces the "The virgin never dies" rule of slasher flicks. The one time Mythili(Jyothika) had sex(and with Madhan, no less), it was in a dream, and it was against her will, so she's still "a nice girl", and not at all like those sullied, slutty girls who willingly sleep around with guys whose sexual behavior isn't governed by the same rigid codes of morality. While that's nothing new or profound, it's just something that was on my mind while I watched this. I could go off on a tangent about how some guys can't make up their minds about female sexuality--if you don't have sex with them, you're "uptight", if you do have sex with them, you're a "slut", there's no middle ground, you can't be both a "nice girl" and enjoy sex outside of marriage--but I won't ;) I'll refrain from using this post as an online therapy session :P
ETA 12/29/09: Now that I think about it, and I meant to post this a lot earlier, the bleeding nose thing was most likely swiped from Valentine. And let me say for the umpteenth time that I got so sick of him looking at the camera and wiping his nose. Plz don't b breakin' the 4th wall, thx. I hate it when actors acknowledge the audience.
ETA 02/08/10: I've developed a liking for the scene where Madhan kills Vaishu and Seenu. Before, I didn't really give it much thought, but lately, I've been rewatching that particular scene and finding it humorous in a dark, politically incorrect way. What really makes the scene for me is the way Madhan clucks his tongue a la Ajith in Vaali and says, "Vaishu waiting" before ramming Seenu's head into the wall(or was it on the stairs?). I also liked watching him slam that blunt object(a vase? a trophy?) on Vaishu's head. (Yes, I have a sadistic streak.) It makes me chuckle because, if I were to discover that my best friend and boyfriend were screwing around behind my back, I can imagine myself behaving--or rather, wanting to behave in a similiar manner. In reality, I wouldn't react one-tenth as violently, but I'd sure feel like it, especially if I didn't fully rage, as I'm wont to do. (I'm one of those "slow to anger" types. I don't truly get pissed-off sometime after the fact.)
ETA 03/24/10: I'm already going to hell, so I feel no shame in admitting that I liked the rape scene. I didn't like the frequent flashbacks to it, because I'm a "once is enough" kinda gal, but the first time? Yeah. I'm convinced that scene is one of the reasons this movie was so successful.
Jyothika was so pretty. One reviewer remarked that she looked more like Simbu's mother. Eh, maybe, but I consider her type of "matronliness" to be of the "warm, comforting" variety. Like, she would just give you a big ol' hug and nice, hot meal if you were having a bad day. Or maybe I'm just giving this way too much thought.
Anyway, Jo seems like the kind of person I'd want to hang out with in real life. She has such a likeable screen presence. Yeah, she can be OTT, but I find her histrionics endearing enough to kind of forget their headache inducing-ness.
**It was certainly "sexed-up", but not in the way I hoped--i.e. more implied, less in-yer-face. For the most part, I don't mind getting hit over the head with the sexuality hammer, but there are times when I find it sexier to have to use my imagination.
***While SR is one of my favorite films, I don't think it's necessarily great, but what makes it so appealing to me is Kamal's eerie performance and the chemistry between him and Sridevi.
I've since learned, however, that this is the type of movie you cannot take seriously. Once I lowered my expectations and accepted it for what it is--a poor man's copy of Sivappu Rojakkal***--I had a more enjoyable viewing experience. Now, I just roll my eyes at the parts I find dumb or annoying, and mentally flesh out the scenes that I feel have the most promise.
Oh, and I thought Simbu looked hot, especially when he was acting(?) crazy. He's not conventionally good-looking, but there's something about him that gets to me.
ETA 11/25/09: I've been rewatching this on and off for the past couple of weeks, and I'm both amused and disturbed at how...blatantly? it enforces the "The virgin never dies" rule of slasher flicks. The one time Mythili(Jyothika) had sex(and with Madhan, no less), it was in a dream, and it was against her will, so she's still "a nice girl", and not at all like those sullied, slutty girls who willingly sleep around with guys whose sexual behavior isn't governed by the same rigid codes of morality. While that's nothing new or profound, it's just something that was on my mind while I watched this. I could go off on a tangent about how some guys can't make up their minds about female sexuality--if you don't have sex with them, you're "uptight", if you do have sex with them, you're a "slut", there's no middle ground, you can't be both a "nice girl" and enjoy sex outside of marriage--but I won't ;) I'll refrain from using this post as an online therapy session :P
ETA 12/29/09: Now that I think about it, and I meant to post this a lot earlier, the bleeding nose thing was most likely swiped from Valentine. And let me say for the umpteenth time that I got so sick of him looking at the camera and wiping his nose. Plz don't b breakin' the 4th wall, thx. I hate it when actors acknowledge the audience.
ETA 02/08/10: I've developed a liking for the scene where Madhan kills Vaishu and Seenu. Before, I didn't really give it much thought, but lately, I've been rewatching that particular scene and finding it humorous in a dark, politically incorrect way. What really makes the scene for me is the way Madhan clucks his tongue a la Ajith in Vaali and says, "Vaishu waiting" before ramming Seenu's head into the wall(or was it on the stairs?). I also liked watching him slam that blunt object(a vase? a trophy?) on Vaishu's head. (Yes, I have a sadistic streak.) It makes me chuckle because, if I were to discover that my best friend and boyfriend were screwing around behind my back, I can imagine myself behaving--or rather, wanting to behave in a similiar manner. In reality, I wouldn't react one-tenth as violently, but I'd sure feel like it, especially if I didn't fully rage, as I'm wont to do. (I'm one of those "slow to anger" types. I don't truly get pissed-off sometime after the fact.)
ETA 03/24/10: I'm already going to hell, so I feel no shame in admitting that I liked the rape scene. I didn't like the frequent flashbacks to it, because I'm a "once is enough" kinda gal, but the first time? Yeah. I'm convinced that scene is one of the reasons this movie was so successful.
Jyothika was so pretty. One reviewer remarked that she looked more like Simbu's mother. Eh, maybe, but I consider her type of "matronliness" to be of the "warm, comforting" variety. Like, she would just give you a big ol' hug and nice, hot meal if you were having a bad day. Or maybe I'm just giving this way too much thought.
Anyway, Jo seems like the kind of person I'd want to hang out with in real life. She has such a likeable screen presence. Yeah, she can be OTT, but I find her histrionics endearing enough to kind of forget their headache inducing-ness.
**It was certainly "sexed-up", but not in the way I hoped--i.e. more implied, less in-yer-face. For the most part, I don't mind getting hit over the head with the sexuality hammer, but there are times when I find it sexier to have to use my imagination.
***While SR is one of my favorite films, I don't think it's necessarily great, but what makes it so appealing to me is Kamal's eerie performance and the chemistry between him and Sridevi.
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