Unfortunately, I was able to watch only the first hour, so while I wait to view the rest of the movie, here are a few random thoughts:
Yay, elephant! **claps**
In some ways, this feels like Kaalai: Part Two.
It's uncomfortable watching Simbu act like a coward, getting pushed around, running away from folks--oh, hai now! He's beating up the goons! This is the Simbu I'm used to seeing!
I guess Santhanam is the heir apparent to Vivek; he seems to be the go-to "comedian" in films these days. As with Vivek, I find him more irritating than funny.
Sana Khan looks pretty. Facially, she reminds me of Simran. She's yet another Mumbai export. At this point, I think she'll either be a one film wonder or she'll do the bunny hop from Tamil to Telugu and to possibly Kannada if she fails to get a foothold in the first two industries.
Hello, gratuitous shots of Sana's breast, navel, and lips!
Simbu getting turned on in the movie theatre. A little OTT there.
Oh, look! Phallic symbolism! (I'll admit, I laughed, 'cause I have a filthy mind.)
Hello again, Sana's navel!
I like the picturisation of "Nalandhana", even though I got a few "Kutti Pisase" and "Gutkha Lakkadi"(both from Kaalai) flashbacks. Simbu appears to have picked up some new dance moves, thank goodness.
I recognize this scene from some stills I viewed on indiaglitz a while back.
Aside from the comedy bits and the pervasive feeling of déjà vu, I like the film. It's rather good, and I can't wait for the 2-in-1 DVD so that I can watch it uninterrupted--oh wait, I think it got it. More later.
ETA 01/01/09: I forgot to add last night that Simbu looks really good as a temple priest. His meekness was a turn-on for me, but I didn't like seeing him taking abuse from others. Be quiet and soft-spoken but kick ass when necessary, that's what I say.
I wish he had followed Vishal's example and developed a six-pack for those scenes where he's exposing his torso.
I do like watching him fight. Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight. And more fight, fight, fight, fighting.
Certain parts of "Tamilan Endra" remind me of "Podu Aattam Podu", Simbu's intro song in Vallavan.
Like Meena, Sneha was born to wear saris. She looks so alluring in traditional clothes.
I love the "Machaan Machaan" song. The picturisation is so sexy. Sneha looks seriously gorgeous, and she and Simbu make a nice-looking pair. I can't wait for the better picture quality of the Ayngaran release.
Oh, crap. Gotta wait again.
ETA 2: Fighting in spite of getting stabbed brings to mind a scene near the end of Dum.
Death scene very effective.
Nice transition to the present.
Billa scene. Took me a second to recognize Nirosha from Soora Samharam(awesomely bad cop movie from the 80s). Funny, but maybe lasted a couple of minutes too long. And what's up with the goras who sound like bad voice-overs? If you're gonna hire white actors, at least get ones who don't make me cringe every time they open their mouths.
For some reason, the way Simbu's dressed in the "Where Is The Party?" song makes me think of the eighties aerobics craze.
Okay, this feels like the Lal-Simbu fight scene near the end of Kaalai.
Wow, Sana really looks like Simran with those specs.
Even with its flaws, I still think it's a pretty good popcorn flick. I hope it does well enough to make up for Kaalai.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Yeh To Kamal Ho Gaya(1982)
I've been obsessed with hunting down and watching this movie ever since I came across these song clips on YouTube. Judging from the description on imdb.com, it appears to be the Hindi remake of Sattam En Kayil. As usual, I don't expect anything earth-shatteringly great, but I want to see it for two very shallow reasons:
1. Hannah Mitchell and Kamal Hassan seem to have more chemistry than Kamal and that French actress in Sattam En Kayil. The former pair were not remotely believable as lovers, IMO. Even when he smooched her, it felt so staged and passionless.
2. Hannah Mitchell--who happens to be the sister of the person who uploaded those videos, BTW--is one of the few blonde women I find genuinely attractive. By that I mean, her face doesn't look like the back end of a Mack truck, but because she has blonde hair, she's automatically upgraded to "hot" or "gorgeous". She's actually very pretty, and I seriously wish I were as flexible as she was/is.
The VCD is available from WebMall India, but it would cost about $18 to have it shipped to the US :( And I don't want to order four additional movies I don't really, really want just to make the shipping charge more palatable. **sigh** If only it were available from anytamil; I'd pay only $2.98 for shipping.
I have a feeling that if it's ever released on DVD, it will be an Eagle DVD, which means I'd have to order at least five copies because I know the first one won't play at all, the second and the third will freeze halfway through, and the menus probably won't work on the fourth copy. (Yeah, I've had a few money-wasting experiences with Eagle DVDs. I think they're worse than Video Sound.)
1. Hannah Mitchell and Kamal Hassan seem to have more chemistry than Kamal and that French actress in Sattam En Kayil. The former pair were not remotely believable as lovers, IMO. Even when he smooched her, it felt so staged and passionless.
2. Hannah Mitchell--who happens to be the sister of the person who uploaded those videos, BTW--is one of the few blonde women I find genuinely attractive. By that I mean, her face doesn't look like the back end of a Mack truck, but because she has blonde hair, she's automatically upgraded to "hot" or "gorgeous". She's actually very pretty, and I seriously wish I were as flexible as she was/is.
The VCD is available from WebMall India, but it would cost about $18 to have it shipped to the US :( And I don't want to order four additional movies I don't really, really want just to make the shipping charge more palatable. **sigh** If only it were available from anytamil; I'd pay only $2.98 for shipping.
I have a feeling that if it's ever released on DVD, it will be an Eagle DVD, which means I'd have to order at least five copies because I know the first one won't play at all, the second and the third will freeze halfway through, and the menus probably won't work on the fourth copy. (Yeah, I've had a few money-wasting experiences with Eagle DVDs. I think they're worse than Video Sound.)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Enakkul Oruvan(1984)
Tamil remake of Karz. I thought about ordering the VCD from anytamil a while back, but hesitated.
Pros: Kamal Hassan and Shobana
Cons: Wasn't wild about Karz, and not sure if the Tamil version is any better. And, even though it's listed, it might not be available(e.g. Yavanika, Vismayathumbathu).
**sigh**
Pros: Kamal Hassan and Shobana
Cons: Wasn't wild about Karz, and not sure if the Tamil version is any better. And, even though it's listed, it might not be available(e.g. Yavanika, Vismayathumbathu).
**sigh**
Monday, December 29, 2008
Unnai Ninaithu(2002)
I came across this title while randomly browsing Nehaflix. When I saw that Sneha(or "Snega", as she's listed on the site) was in the cast, my interest was piqued, and I immediately Googled for more information about the film. I found a link to watch it online, but the site refused to cooperate, so I read a couple of reviews to try to get an idea of whether or not I wanted to buy it.
From The Hindu: "...Here is a young employee of a lodge, who goes out of his way to help his impoverished neighbour and his family — and all he gets in return is humiliation. What is worse, he takes it all lying down. The climax is on expected lines and the treatment lacks punch...If tedium sets in, in the climax the dialogue is the culprit. The similes, metaphors and aphorisms that go on endlessly test your patience..."
From Now Running: "The actual story occupies only 60 percent of the length of the film Rest of the time is eaten up by the so-called comedy of the inmates of the Lodge--Sundarrajan, Charlie & Co. If this was not enough, these are the songs!...If you examine the film in isolation without the comedy(huh?) & songs then Vikraman's story screenplay has only some minor flaws...But, the irksome comedy & its background score and the mind-boggling achievements within the course of a song--how long is Vikraman going to cling on to this formula?"
It doesn't sound too promising :( I'm getting a headache just thinking about the "so-called comedy". On one hand, I want to get it just for Sneha since I like her, and I want to see more of her movies, but on the other hand, I don't want to spend most of my time pressing the fast-forward button. **sigh** I might have to leave this in the "Better Off Not Buying" pile. I really wish I could've checked it out first, because I would hate for my curiosity to get the best of me and end up with something that just sits on my bookshelf, collecting dust. (Speaking of which, I guess I should try to watch Deepavali all the way through at least once. Got it for Bhavana and what little I saw before falling asleep bored me. Live and learn, I guess.)
03/13/09: My curiosity finally got the best of me and I ordered it. The verdict? I would say that the "so-called comedy" eats up SIXTY percent of the movie. I think I spent more time with my finger on the fast-forward button than I did actually watching the film. I wish there were some way to edit DVDs so that I could remove the scenes that annoy me, or slow down the pace of the flick.
Shallowness: Surya looked cute, but I think he's much better-looking without the thick 'tache and pouffed-up hairdo. Laila was lovely, but her character was passive and irritating as fuck. The only time she showed some spunk was when she took Surya to task for beating up her sleazy, would-be fiance. Sneha was gorgeous, as usual. I've said it before and I'll say it again: She was made for saris. Sneha in a sari is way sexier and more alluring than any chick wearing next to nothing.
I would describe this as "an otherwise okay movie marred by unnecessary comedy". I liked the scenes with Sneha and Surya best, mainly because Sneha actually showed signs of life as opposed to Laila, who did little more than sleepwalk her way through the film. Having said that, I would like to check out more of her movies, but only if she's not doing the meek and demure thing. She strikes me as being more of a bubbly Jyothika type.
From The Hindu: "...Here is a young employee of a lodge, who goes out of his way to help his impoverished neighbour and his family — and all he gets in return is humiliation. What is worse, he takes it all lying down. The climax is on expected lines and the treatment lacks punch...If tedium sets in, in the climax the dialogue is the culprit. The similes, metaphors and aphorisms that go on endlessly test your patience..."
From Now Running: "The actual story occupies only 60 percent of the length of the film Rest of the time is eaten up by the so-called comedy of the inmates of the Lodge--Sundarrajan, Charlie & Co. If this was not enough, these are the songs!...If you examine the film in isolation without the comedy(huh?) & songs then Vikraman's story screenplay has only some minor flaws...But, the irksome comedy & its background score and the mind-boggling achievements within the course of a song--how long is Vikraman going to cling on to this formula?"
It doesn't sound too promising :( I'm getting a headache just thinking about the "so-called comedy". On one hand, I want to get it just for Sneha since I like her, and I want to see more of her movies, but on the other hand, I don't want to spend most of my time pressing the fast-forward button. **sigh** I might have to leave this in the "Better Off Not Buying" pile. I really wish I could've checked it out first, because I would hate for my curiosity to get the best of me and end up with something that just sits on my bookshelf, collecting dust. (Speaking of which, I guess I should try to watch Deepavali all the way through at least once. Got it for Bhavana and what little I saw before falling asleep bored me. Live and learn, I guess.)
03/13/09: My curiosity finally got the best of me and I ordered it. The verdict? I would say that the "so-called comedy" eats up SIXTY percent of the movie. I think I spent more time with my finger on the fast-forward button than I did actually watching the film. I wish there were some way to edit DVDs so that I could remove the scenes that annoy me, or slow down the pace of the flick.
Shallowness: Surya looked cute, but I think he's much better-looking without the thick 'tache and pouffed-up hairdo. Laila was lovely, but her character was passive and irritating as fuck. The only time she showed some spunk was when she took Surya to task for beating up her sleazy, would-be fiance. Sneha was gorgeous, as usual. I've said it before and I'll say it again: She was made for saris. Sneha in a sari is way sexier and more alluring than any chick wearing next to nothing.
I would describe this as "an otherwise okay movie marred by unnecessary comedy". I liked the scenes with Sneha and Surya best, mainly because Sneha actually showed signs of life as opposed to Laila, who did little more than sleepwalk her way through the film. Having said that, I would like to check out more of her movies, but only if she's not doing the meek and demure thing. She strikes me as being more of a bubbly Jyothika type.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Dhaam Dhoom(2008)
I've viewed bits and pieces of this since receiving it a few days ago. I'm watching it again, this time from the beginning. These are just my first impressions based on what I've seen so far:
Jayam Ravi looks too much like a regular guy to pull off the lip-syncing, choreographed dancing thing. (I'm referring to the "Pudhu Pudhu Vazhi" song as I type this.)
I can't quite wrap my mind around Kangana Ranaut as a village belle. She looks nice, but I think I prefer the boozed-up and drugged-out characters she played in Gangster and Fashion, respectively.
Because I like repeating myself: Jayam Ravi looks too much like a regular guy to pull off the lip-syncing, choreographed dancing thing. (This time, it's the "Dhikku Dhikkuennu Manasu" song.)
Lakshmi Rai looks gorgeous. Her face has a bird-like quality that I find appealing.
I remember Jayaram from Panchathanthiram, Manassinakkare, and most recently, Aegan.
The shots of Russia are beautiful.
I think this movie, like so many others, is going to take a while to grow on me.
Jayam Ravi looks too much like a regular guy to pull off the lip-syncing, choreographed dancing thing. (I'm referring to the "Pudhu Pudhu Vazhi" song as I type this.)
I can't quite wrap my mind around Kangana Ranaut as a village belle. She looks nice, but I think I prefer the boozed-up and drugged-out characters she played in Gangster and Fashion, respectively.
Because I like repeating myself: Jayam Ravi looks too much like a regular guy to pull off the lip-syncing, choreographed dancing thing. (This time, it's the "Dhikku Dhikkuennu Manasu" song.)
Lakshmi Rai looks gorgeous. Her face has a bird-like quality that I find appealing.
I remember Jayaram from Panchathanthiram, Manassinakkare, and most recently, Aegan.
The shots of Russia are beautiful.
I think this movie, like so many others, is going to take a while to grow on me.
Athadu(2005)
Yeah, I was "eh" on this at first, but after watching Athidhi for the ten millionth time I decided that I needed another Mahesh Babu fix. So I thought I'd give this another chance. I'm glad I did, because it's actually pretty good. It may very well be bumped up to "really good" after I watch it a few more times.
'Cause I like to keep it brief:
I prefer the longer hair Mahesh sported in Athidhi, but he still looked good.
I'm torn as to which pairing I like best: Trisha-Vijay or Trisha-Mahesh?
Hi, Prakash Raj, how ya doin'? (He actually didn't bug me in this movie. I must be getting used to seeing him all the time.)
Suniel is considerably less irritating when he's not constantly saying "angle". (Prior to this, Athidhi was my only exposure to him.)
Trisha was her usual cute, bubbly, and sexy self.
I liked the picturisations of the "Chandamama Chandamama" and "Avunu Nijam" songs.
The shoot-out inside the church with the flying pigeons and the slow and stop motion made me think of Mission: Impossible 2 and The Matrix.
I had a feeling that tenth marble would come in handy.
'Cause I like to keep it brief:
I prefer the longer hair Mahesh sported in Athidhi, but he still looked good.
I'm torn as to which pairing I like best: Trisha-Vijay or Trisha-Mahesh?
Hi, Prakash Raj, how ya doin'? (He actually didn't bug me in this movie. I must be getting used to seeing him all the time.)
Suniel is considerably less irritating when he's not constantly saying "angle". (Prior to this, Athidhi was my only exposure to him.)
Trisha was her usual cute, bubbly, and sexy self.
I liked the picturisations of the "Chandamama Chandamama" and "Avunu Nijam" songs.
The shoot-out inside the church with the flying pigeons and the slow and stop motion made me think of Mission: Impossible 2 and The Matrix.
I had a feeling that tenth marble would come in handy.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Short takes, pt. 2.
I might do more in-depth posts on some or all of these, but for now:
Ek Nai Paheli(1984) - I hope I didn't imagine the chemistry between Kamal Hassan and Hema Malini. Kamal's wig was weirdly hypnotic.
Ullasa Paravaigal(1980) - Not what I expected. A disappointment. I got sick of watching Kamal and Rati Agnihotri getting chased by foreign actors in the second half.
Sivappu Rojakkal(1978) - The wonderbread shirt rocks. Loved the Kamal-Sri chemistry. The "Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! Nothinnnnggggg!" scene is one of my favorites.
Tik...Tik...Tik(1981) - Madhavi's blue bikini is forever etched in my mind, as are the scenes of Kamal lying shirtless in bed and Kamal in his underwear. The ending was very anti-climatic.
Vanakkathukiriya Kathali(1977) - I love Sridevi but I gotta admit, this movie is very slow and boring. It puts me to sleep whenever I try to watch it.
Ek Nai Paheli(1984) - I hope I didn't imagine the chemistry between Kamal Hassan and Hema Malini. Kamal's wig was weirdly hypnotic.
Ullasa Paravaigal(1980) - Not what I expected. A disappointment. I got sick of watching Kamal and Rati Agnihotri getting chased by foreign actors in the second half.
Sivappu Rojakkal(1978) - The wonderbread shirt rocks. Loved the Kamal-Sri chemistry. The "Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! Nothinnnnggggg!" scene is one of my favorites.
Tik...Tik...Tik(1981) - Madhavi's blue bikini is forever etched in my mind, as are the scenes of Kamal lying shirtless in bed and Kamal in his underwear. The ending was very anti-climatic.
Vanakkathukiriya Kathali(1977) - I love Sridevi but I gotta admit, this movie is very slow and boring. It puts me to sleep whenever I try to watch it.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Karz(2008)
Granted, I watched only bits and pieces of various parts on YouTube, but I didn't think it was that bad. Yeah, it feels dated, and there are gazillion and one songs, and both Himesh Reshammiya and Shweta Kumar are horribly miscast, yet I kinda liked it. I wouldn't spend money on it, but I would probably watch it if it were one of those edited-for-television, Sunday matinee movies.
I must confess, I have a tiny crush on Himesh's wig. I couldn't stop staring at it. I thought it had more personality and screen presence than the person wearing it.
Urmila, for the most part, looked good. I found her sexier and more alluring than Shweta, who, despite her pretty cat eyes, was as unremarkable on film as she was in the movie stills. I had hoped she would turn out to be one of those people who's more telegenic than photogenic, but no such luck. And the fact that she doesn't seem to possess any charisma or acting talent doesn't help, either.
I wish Dino Morea and Himesh had switched roles. While Dino is also a little long in the tooth to be convincing as a young rock star, I'd rather look at him for 2+ hours than Himesh. I'm not exactly a fan, but I definitely consider him eye candy.
From what little I saw of the original Karz, I wasn't impressed. For me, it was one of those movies that sounds more interesting than it really is. I didn't give it much of a chance, of course, but for right now, I'll trust my initial reaction of "Uhhh...I should've bought something else."
I must confess, I have a tiny crush on Himesh's wig. I couldn't stop staring at it. I thought it had more personality and screen presence than the person wearing it.
Urmila, for the most part, looked good. I found her sexier and more alluring than Shweta, who, despite her pretty cat eyes, was as unremarkable on film as she was in the movie stills. I had hoped she would turn out to be one of those people who's more telegenic than photogenic, but no such luck. And the fact that she doesn't seem to possess any charisma or acting talent doesn't help, either.
I wish Dino Morea and Himesh had switched roles. While Dino is also a little long in the tooth to be convincing as a young rock star, I'd rather look at him for 2+ hours than Himesh. I'm not exactly a fan, but I definitely consider him eye candy.
From what little I saw of the original Karz, I wasn't impressed. For me, it was one of those movies that sounds more interesting than it really is. I didn't give it much of a chance, of course, but for right now, I'll trust my initial reaction of "Uhhh...I should've bought something else."
Aegan(2008)
I ordered the 2-in-1 DVD just now. I thought, "What the hell? If it sucks, I hope it's a good kind of suck(e.g. Showgirls), and not a bad suck(e.g. Satyam)." According to the director, Raju Sundaram, Aegan is not a remake of the Bollywood film, Main Hoon Na. Even though I haven't seen the latter(and don't plan to), I'm 99% certain that the former is a copycat. Not that it matters. I mean, if I allowed some filmmakers' penchant for plagarism to get in the way of my movie watching, I would have very few DVDs in my collection. **knowing grin**
Nayantara is the main reason I bought it. She's not the greatest actress, but I think she can be pretty good(e.g. Raapakal, Yaradi Nee Mohini), and I find her sexy, which is usually all it takes to catch my attention. And since I liked Ajith in Billa, I figured I might like him in Aegan, too. I hope I'm not disappointed.
I'll return to this entry after I've watched it.
ETA 01/22/10: It's been a while since I last watched this flick but, this movie sucks. Lord knows I'm not an SRK fan but I'm sure Main Hoon Na is a lot better. Still, I liked Ajith, big gut, facial hair, and all. I wish he'd leave the action stuff to Vijay and do more films like Vaali and Mugavari.
Nayantara is the main reason I bought it. She's not the greatest actress, but I think she can be pretty good(e.g. Raapakal, Yaradi Nee Mohini), and I find her sexy, which is usually all it takes to catch my attention. And since I liked Ajith in Billa, I figured I might like him in Aegan, too. I hope I'm not disappointed.
I'll return to this entry after I've watched it.
ETA 01/22/10: It's been a while since I last watched this flick but, this movie sucks. Lord knows I'm not an SRK fan but I'm sure Main Hoon Na is a lot better. Still, I liked Ajith, big gut, facial hair, and all. I wish he'd leave the action stuff to Vijay and do more films like Vaali and Mugavari.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Short takes.
Or, "When I Can't Think of Enough Words to Type a Full-Fledged Entry".
Zeher(2005) - I think I'm the only person who doesn't hate this movie. I honestly liked it more than its Hollywood "inspiration", Out of Time.
Kadal Azhivathillai(2002) - Prakash Raj strikes again, this time as Simbu's overly paranoid father. However, last night, as I watched him in Pokiri, I felt something approaching warm fuzzies, probably because it's been a while since I've watched a movie that he's in.
Yogi(2007) - I prefer the Kannada original. Also, I like Prabhas better in stills than on film. When I see him in pics, I'm like, "Mmmmm...", but when I see him in action, I'm less than impressed.
Dishyum(2006) I like this movie but I don't love it. I'm not sure why.
Takkari(2007) - Nitin doesn't do anything for me. The Tamil original, Thiruvilayadal Aarambam, wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but I prefer the pairing of Dhanush and Shriya Saran to Nitin and Sada(who I thought looked sexy, although a tad sleazy(nothing wrong with that) in a couple of songs).
Black Cat(2007) - I could've done without the shots of a bare-chested Suresh Gopi, but overall, I was able to cope. Meena looked a tad aged, but still pretty. (Which reminds me, I need to inquire about that Dreams DVD that doesn't look like it will ever be in stock again.)
Naan Adimai Illai(1986) - This is the movie that solidified my love for the 'Devi. A couple of my favorite lines are "I am going-talking, you are going, going, going!", and "This is a decent home and not a bar!"
Zeher(2005) - I think I'm the only person who doesn't hate this movie. I honestly liked it more than its Hollywood "inspiration", Out of Time.
Kadal Azhivathillai(2002) - Prakash Raj strikes again, this time as Simbu's overly paranoid father. However, last night, as I watched him in Pokiri, I felt something approaching warm fuzzies, probably because it's been a while since I've watched a movie that he's in.
Yogi(2007) - I prefer the Kannada original. Also, I like Prabhas better in stills than on film. When I see him in pics, I'm like, "Mmmmm...", but when I see him in action, I'm less than impressed.
Dishyum(2006) I like this movie but I don't love it. I'm not sure why.
Takkari(2007) - Nitin doesn't do anything for me. The Tamil original, Thiruvilayadal Aarambam, wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but I prefer the pairing of Dhanush and Shriya Saran to Nitin and Sada(who I thought looked sexy, although a tad sleazy(nothing wrong with that) in a couple of songs).
Black Cat(2007) - I could've done without the shots of a bare-chested Suresh Gopi, but overall, I was able to cope. Meena looked a tad aged, but still pretty. (Which reminds me, I need to inquire about that Dreams DVD that doesn't look like it will ever be in stock again.)
Naan Adimai Illai(1986) - This is the movie that solidified my love for the 'Devi. A couple of my favorite lines are "I am going-talking, you are going, going, going!", and "This is a decent home and not a bar!"
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Zara Si Zindagi(1983)
Hindi remake of Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu, a 1980 Tamil movie starring Kamal Hassan and Sridevi. (I've been meaning to type a post about this, BTW, but I can't seem to find the right words to express why I love this movie and what it means to me.)
I've been obsessed with watching this film ever since I first found out about it. I'm sure the original is better, but I still want to see it because of Kamal Hassan and Anita Raj. Anita isn't necessarily a favorite actress of mine, but I found her alluring in some of her early and mid-eighties films, and she kind of fascinates me because, aside from the most basic facts, I know very little about her. (And I'd rather keep it that way so that she retains the mysterious aura I've created for her, haha.) I wonder how she fares in Sridevi's role, and if she and Kamal have any onscreen chemistry.
I doubt a DVD release is in the cards since, AFAIK, it was a huge flop. I don't think there's a VCD available, either. There may be a VHS copy floating around somewhere, but it's highly unlikely that I'll get my hands on it. Apparently, it can be viewed or downloaded here, but I should first find out if anyone else has used this site and what their experiences were before signing up.
I've been obsessed with watching this film ever since I first found out about it. I'm sure the original is better, but I still want to see it because of Kamal Hassan and Anita Raj. Anita isn't necessarily a favorite actress of mine, but I found her alluring in some of her early and mid-eighties films, and she kind of fascinates me because, aside from the most basic facts, I know very little about her. (And I'd rather keep it that way so that she retains the mysterious aura I've created for her, haha.) I wonder how she fares in Sridevi's role, and if she and Kamal have any onscreen chemistry.
I doubt a DVD release is in the cards since, AFAIK, it was a huge flop. I don't think there's a VCD available, either. There may be a VHS copy floating around somewhere, but it's highly unlikely that I'll get my hands on it. Apparently, it can be viewed or downloaded here, but I should first find out if anyone else has used this site and what their experiences were before signing up.
Tashan(2008)
'Tis the season and I feel like wasting money on shit I wouldn't normally buy, like the Tashan DVD that's currently $7 at Nehaflix. AFAIK, it got mostly negative reviews, but I rarely allow that to stop me, as I tend to like whatever the critics and/or the masses hate.
The good: Kareena Kapoor - I like 'Reena, and I'm probably one of the few people who doesn't mind her slimmer frame.
The maybe-not-so-good: Anil Kapoor - His presence killed many a desire to buy certain Madhuri Dixit movies. I don't hate him, I just wish he hadn't been in every other release during the late eighties and early nineties. I found him tolerable in Salaam-E-Ishq, but I dunno if I'll be able to put up with him in Tashan.
Akshay Kumar - Something about him turns me off. I get a "tries TOO hard to be funny/charming/likeable/etc" vibe from him.
Saif Ali Khan - I haven't watched any of his movies, so I can't say whether or not he bugs. I do think he and Kareena make a better-looking couple, though. I always thought Kareena and Shahid looked mismatched.
The verdict: I don't know. I should probably watch it online first.
The good: Kareena Kapoor - I like 'Reena, and I'm probably one of the few people who doesn't mind her slimmer frame.
The maybe-not-so-good: Anil Kapoor - His presence killed many a desire to buy certain Madhuri Dixit movies. I don't hate him, I just wish he hadn't been in every other release during the late eighties and early nineties. I found him tolerable in Salaam-E-Ishq, but I dunno if I'll be able to put up with him in Tashan.
Akshay Kumar - Something about him turns me off. I get a "tries TOO hard to be funny/charming/likeable/etc" vibe from him.
Saif Ali Khan - I haven't watched any of his movies, so I can't say whether or not he bugs. I do think he and Kareena make a better-looking couple, though. I always thought Kareena and Shahid looked mismatched.
The verdict: I don't know. I should probably watch it online first.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Bombay To Bangkok(2008)
I ordered it a few minutes ago since it was only $5 at Nehaflix. I've sort-of wanted to watch this solely because it's so rare to see a non-white woman as the foreign love interest. I don't expect anything great, but I hope I don't wind up disappointed(e.g. Satyam).
I know nothing about Shreyas Talpade except I believe he's in Welcome To Sanjapur(sp?), which I also sort-of want to watch because of Amrita Rao(ever since Athidhi, she's become my new fave gal). Facially, he reminds me of another actor--is it Ritesh Deshmukh?
Lina Christensen is pretty, and she, too, reminds me of someone, but I can't think of who. I'm going to have to stop paying attention to the entertainment industry altogether so that everyone will stop reminding me of other people.
I will have to come back to this after I've watched it.
ETA 12/24/08: It wasn't good, but it was watchable. I wish there had been more running from the bad guys, more bad guys who were actually bad instead of lame, more shots of Bangkok, and a climax that wasn't such a big, yawning "Who cares?" The only thing that held my interest was the cute pairing of Shreyas and Lena. The movie would've worked better had it just been a "boy-meets-girl, but neither can speak the other's language, however love conquers all in spite of their cultural differences"-type romantic comedy.
I know nothing about Shreyas Talpade except I believe he's in Welcome To Sanjapur(sp?), which I also sort-of want to watch because of Amrita Rao(ever since Athidhi, she's become my new fave gal). Facially, he reminds me of another actor--is it Ritesh Deshmukh?
Lina Christensen is pretty, and she, too, reminds me of someone, but I can't think of who. I'm going to have to stop paying attention to the entertainment industry altogether so that everyone will stop reminding me of other people.
I will have to come back to this after I've watched it.
ETA 12/24/08: It wasn't good, but it was watchable. I wish there had been more running from the bad guys, more bad guys who were actually bad instead of lame, more shots of Bangkok, and a climax that wasn't such a big, yawning "Who cares?" The only thing that held my interest was the cute pairing of Shreyas and Lena. The movie would've worked better had it just been a "boy-meets-girl, but neither can speak the other's language, however love conquers all in spite of their cultural differences"-type romantic comedy.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Satyam(2008)
10/07/08: I don't have the DVD, but I'm watching a five minute preview online. If I were so inclined, I would download and install the Veoh player so that I could view the entire movie, but I'd rather not do that. I'm leery of downloading stuff from the internet.
From what I've seen, it looks like it might be worth getting the 2-in-1 if/when bhavanidvd offers it for $9.99 or less. Nayantara is the main reason I want to see it, and I'm also intrigued by Vishal's six-pack abs. I don't expect anything great, just mindless, escapist fare, something you'd watch on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon while lounging in bed and eating a big tub of popcorn.
ETA 12/12/08: I have the DVD, and I watched most of it last night. I fell asleep during the "Paal Pappali" song, so maybe I missed something great, but my initial reaction? I hate it. I can see why it flopped at the box-office. Maybe after repeat viewings it will slowly grow on me, but right now, I wish I had ordered Dhaam Dhoom instead.
Other thoughts:
I thought the key to enjoying this movie would be to not take it as seriously as the performers did. That didn't work.
According to Wikipedia, Vishal is only 31, but the hairstyle, thick moustache, and his stern facial expression made him appear 45, IMO. I think he should go back to whatever look he had going on during his blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in Dishyum. IIRC, his 'tache was less abundant, and he wasn't sporting that pouffed-up, immobile 'do. From what little I saw, he appeared quite handsome.
His six-pack abs were a visual treat, however.
Nayan looked pretty but with regards to her so-called comedy scenes, "She hams badly", to quote a reviewer.
I am not a fan of children in non-kid themed movies. The kiddie shenanigans should've been left out entirely.
There were so many extraneous fight and comedy scenes that I kept forgetting what the movie was supposed to be about. At one point, I wanted to give this film some focus tablets.
I was "eh" on Upendra in Aishwarya but I liked him in Satyam. I wish he had gotten more screen time.
The "Chellame Chellame" song was nice, and the picturisation was sexy. I would be very suprised if Nayantara and Vishal didn't have an affair during the filming of this movie, because as soon as I saw them striking poses and getting up close and personal with one another I thought, "Yeah, they had sex."
The only thing I liked about "Ada Gada Gada" was Nayantara in that Catwoman costume. She looked hot. Too bad she wasn't wielding a whip and role-playing with Vishal.
The "Loose Penne" refrain was funny. I figure it was a poke at Nayan's ex, Simbu.
Considering how bad Satyam is, I should've liked it, but I guess even I have my limits. I'll try to watch it again tonight, this time in its entirety, and see if I feel differently.
ETA 12/15/08: I watched it a couple more times and I guess it's not quite as bad as I originally thought, but the annoying comedy sequences, silly stunt fighting scenes, and long-ass speech delivered by Vishal at the end have killed its chances for further repeat viewing, at least in the immediate future.
BTW, I ordered Dhaam Dhoom and Kuruvi today. I watched the latter online, so I know what I'm getting, but I fervently hope that the former is much better than the 5 minute Veoh preview suggested.
ETA 12/22/08: Okay, I lied. I HAVE watched it repeatedly. I'll blame my fondness for "Chellame Chellame" and Vishal's bald head. My final verdict is that it's really not THAT bad. I could still do without the kiddie antics, the lame comedy scenes, and Vishal's superhuman stunts, but overall, it makes for pretty decent mindless viewing. Even Vishal's long-ass speech and the "Ada Gada Gada" song have grown on me. I won't say it's one of my favorites, but at least I've watched it enough to feel that I've gotten my money's worth.
From what I've seen, it looks like it might be worth getting the 2-in-1 if/when bhavanidvd offers it for $9.99 or less. Nayantara is the main reason I want to see it, and I'm also intrigued by Vishal's six-pack abs. I don't expect anything great, just mindless, escapist fare, something you'd watch on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon while lounging in bed and eating a big tub of popcorn.
ETA 12/12/08: I have the DVD, and I watched most of it last night. I fell asleep during the "Paal Pappali" song, so maybe I missed something great, but my initial reaction? I hate it. I can see why it flopped at the box-office. Maybe after repeat viewings it will slowly grow on me, but right now, I wish I had ordered Dhaam Dhoom instead.
Other thoughts:
I thought the key to enjoying this movie would be to not take it as seriously as the performers did. That didn't work.
According to Wikipedia, Vishal is only 31, but the hairstyle, thick moustache, and his stern facial expression made him appear 45, IMO. I think he should go back to whatever look he had going on during his blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in Dishyum. IIRC, his 'tache was less abundant, and he wasn't sporting that pouffed-up, immobile 'do. From what little I saw, he appeared quite handsome.
His six-pack abs were a visual treat, however.
Nayan looked pretty but with regards to her so-called comedy scenes, "She hams badly", to quote a reviewer.
I am not a fan of children in non-kid themed movies. The kiddie shenanigans should've been left out entirely.
There were so many extraneous fight and comedy scenes that I kept forgetting what the movie was supposed to be about. At one point, I wanted to give this film some focus tablets.
I was "eh" on Upendra in Aishwarya but I liked him in Satyam. I wish he had gotten more screen time.
The "Chellame Chellame" song was nice, and the picturisation was sexy. I would be very suprised if Nayantara and Vishal didn't have an affair during the filming of this movie, because as soon as I saw them striking poses and getting up close and personal with one another I thought, "Yeah, they had sex."
The only thing I liked about "Ada Gada Gada" was Nayantara in that Catwoman costume. She looked hot. Too bad she wasn't wielding a whip and role-playing with Vishal.
The "Loose Penne" refrain was funny. I figure it was a poke at Nayan's ex, Simbu.
Considering how bad Satyam is, I should've liked it, but I guess even I have my limits. I'll try to watch it again tonight, this time in its entirety, and see if I feel differently.
ETA 12/15/08: I watched it a couple more times and I guess it's not quite as bad as I originally thought, but the annoying comedy sequences, silly stunt fighting scenes, and long-ass speech delivered by Vishal at the end have killed its chances for further repeat viewing, at least in the immediate future.
BTW, I ordered Dhaam Dhoom and Kuruvi today. I watched the latter online, so I know what I'm getting, but I fervently hope that the former is much better than the 5 minute Veoh preview suggested.
ETA 12/22/08: Okay, I lied. I HAVE watched it repeatedly. I'll blame my fondness for "Chellame Chellame" and Vishal's bald head. My final verdict is that it's really not THAT bad. I could still do without the kiddie antics, the lame comedy scenes, and Vishal's superhuman stunts, but overall, it makes for pretty decent mindless viewing. Even Vishal's long-ass speech and the "Ada Gada Gada" song have grown on me. I won't say it's one of my favorites, but at least I've watched it enough to feel that I've gotten my money's worth.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Classmates(2006)
I knew whodunnit the second that person appeared onscreen. The other individual was a red herring. And when I heard the words "barely hanging on", I correctly guessed that A) Sukumaran(Prithviraj) would survive and B) the ending would be a happy one. I wish Suku had been found dead, and that the movie had ended on a somber note. I don't like forced happy endings; they feel like a cheat. **scowl**
But despite the predictable and too-neatly-resolved conclusion, I liked the movie. I was hesitant to watch it at first because of all the positive buzz surrounding it. I usually end up feeling disappointed by or very "meh" about such films. While Classmates isn't great, it's good, and I can see why it was so well-received. Plus, I bought it at a discount, which made it even better, because while I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I would want to pay full price for it. (Yeah, I'm cheap.)
In Kana Kanden, I admired Prithviraj's acting but was underwhelmed by his looks. I didn't think he was ugly, I just didn't feel he was as good-looking as some reviewers claimed. However, in Classmates, I found him quite handsome. I don't know if it was because I was seeing him in his--for lack of a better term--"natural element"(i.e. Malayalam movies), or if, like Vijay and Mahesh Babu, his physical attributes simply took a while to grow on me. **shrug** Regardless of the reason, I now want to check out some of his other movies like Chocolate, Anandabhadram, and Avan Chandiyude Makan.
I remember Narain from Ore Kadal. He's a good actor. I might have to give Anjathe or Chithiram Pesuthadi a look-see.
From the "You Remind Me Of..." files:
A bearded Prithviraj = Kamal Hassan in Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu
Kavya Madhavan at certain angles = Asin, particularly when sporting braided pigtails
Radhika in some shots = Mallika Sherawat, mostly in the eyes, which I find chuckle-worthy because Radhika's character wore traditional Islamic dress, and Mallika, aside from her burqa wearing stint at a Mumbai airport, isn't exactly known for covering up :)
I wonder how the Telugu remake compares. I sorta want to see it because of Sada.
But despite the predictable and too-neatly-resolved conclusion, I liked the movie. I was hesitant to watch it at first because of all the positive buzz surrounding it. I usually end up feeling disappointed by or very "meh" about such films. While Classmates isn't great, it's good, and I can see why it was so well-received. Plus, I bought it at a discount, which made it even better, because while I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I would want to pay full price for it. (Yeah, I'm cheap.)
In Kana Kanden, I admired Prithviraj's acting but was underwhelmed by his looks. I didn't think he was ugly, I just didn't feel he was as good-looking as some reviewers claimed. However, in Classmates, I found him quite handsome. I don't know if it was because I was seeing him in his--for lack of a better term--"natural element"(i.e. Malayalam movies), or if, like Vijay and Mahesh Babu, his physical attributes simply took a while to grow on me. **shrug** Regardless of the reason, I now want to check out some of his other movies like Chocolate, Anandabhadram, and Avan Chandiyude Makan.
I remember Narain from Ore Kadal. He's a good actor. I might have to give Anjathe or Chithiram Pesuthadi a look-see.
From the "You Remind Me Of..." files:
A bearded Prithviraj = Kamal Hassan in Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu
Kavya Madhavan at certain angles = Asin, particularly when sporting braided pigtails
Radhika in some shots = Mallika Sherawat, mostly in the eyes, which I find chuckle-worthy because Radhika's character wore traditional Islamic dress, and Mallika, aside from her burqa wearing stint at a Mumbai airport, isn't exactly known for covering up :)
I wonder how the Telugu remake compares. I sorta want to see it because of Sada.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Priya(1978)
"Darling, darling, darling, I love you, love you, love you. Darling, darling, darling, I love you..."
**sigh** I miss uploading videos to YouTube. I feel like such a failure for being unable to violate copyright laws like the gazillion or so other users. Anyway...
I watched this for the umpteenth time last night. I wish I could clearly articulate why I like this movie so much. There's an explanation floating in my head, but it would make sense to only me, so I'll just say that, among other things, it makes me nostalgic for the seventies, and Sridevi is, well, Sridevi. I love her. I'm so glad Nehaflix had this in stock, because I was kicking myself for the longest time for not ordering it from India Weekly many moons ago.
Rajnikanth looked suave and every inch the hero. I'm firmly on Team Kamal, but I'll admit that Rajini is charismatic, and has star quality. I also liked him in Naan Adimai Illai, 16 Vayathinile, Ninaithale Inikkum, and Gayatri. I haven't watched any of his recent films, but at some point, I may check out Sivaji and try to focus more on Shriya's beauty than the obvious age gap between her and Rajini.
I wish I could find information about Asna, the actress who played Rajini's love interest. I thought she was beautiful, and I liked that a non-gori was cast as the foreign girlfriend. I'm not sure of Asna's ethnicity, but her character was Malay-Indian. Since my Google-fu comes up with nada, I'll assume that in real life she was at least part Malay.
Trivial blather: I think the dress Sri was wearing when she first meets Rajini is the same one she wore in Taxi Driver. And the white dress she had on in the scene when she was signing those contracts may have been borrowed from the set of Sivappu Rojakkal(or vice versa).
**sigh** I miss uploading videos to YouTube. I feel like such a failure for being unable to violate copyright laws like the gazillion or so other users. Anyway...
I watched this for the umpteenth time last night. I wish I could clearly articulate why I like this movie so much. There's an explanation floating in my head, but it would make sense to only me, so I'll just say that, among other things, it makes me nostalgic for the seventies, and Sridevi is, well, Sridevi. I love her. I'm so glad Nehaflix had this in stock, because I was kicking myself for the longest time for not ordering it from India Weekly many moons ago.
Rajnikanth looked suave and every inch the hero. I'm firmly on Team Kamal, but I'll admit that Rajini is charismatic, and has star quality. I also liked him in Naan Adimai Illai, 16 Vayathinile, Ninaithale Inikkum, and Gayatri. I haven't watched any of his recent films, but at some point, I may check out Sivaji and try to focus more on Shriya's beauty than the obvious age gap between her and Rajini.
I wish I could find information about Asna, the actress who played Rajini's love interest. I thought she was beautiful, and I liked that a non-gori was cast as the foreign girlfriend. I'm not sure of Asna's ethnicity, but her character was Malay-Indian. Since my Google-fu comes up with nada, I'll assume that in real life she was at least part Malay.
Trivial blather: I think the dress Sri was wearing when she first meets Rajini is the same one she wore in Taxi Driver. And the white dress she had on in the scene when she was signing those contracts may have been borrowed from the set of Sivappu Rojakkal(or vice versa).
Thamizhan(2002)
Dubbed into Hindi as Jeet.
I briefly considered buying this, sight unseen, simply because I was in the mood to waste money. But something told me to check for it online, so I did. It was a wise decision. Not even the late nineties look/feel of this movie could convince me to give it my undivided attention. Jumping ahead to certain parts didn't help, either. I didn't think it was bad, just not my cup of tea.
The main reason I wanted to check it out is because I was curious to see Priyanka Chopra in a south film. I'm not a fan, but I have moments when I like her, and I find her pretty, even gorgeous, at times. In this flick, however, she wasn't doing it for me. I thought she looked a bit awkward and overly made up, particularly in the "Hot Party" song. On the other hand, I was kinda diggin' her heavy pancake and colored lenses in the "Ullathai Killadhae" song. Go figure. **shrug** Anyway, from what I saw, she didn't have much of a role. She basically showed up long enough to daydream about or make goo-goo eyes at Vijay.
Speaking of whom, while he had the "plump, middle-aged" look going on, I was able to tolerate it.
Back to Priyanka: her dubbing artist sounded familar. I think she may be the same person who dubs/has dubbed for Shriya, and maybe Simran, Jyothika, Trisha, and/or Asin. I'm not sure. Just about everyone sounds the same these days.
What else? I thought Revathy looked pretty. And I liked the picturisations of the aforementioned "Hot Party" and "Ullathai Killadhae" songs. But the movie as a whole(or the few parts I watched, rather) couldn't grab my interest, so I will have to waste money on something else.
I briefly considered buying this, sight unseen, simply because I was in the mood to waste money. But something told me to check for it online, so I did. It was a wise decision. Not even the late nineties look/feel of this movie could convince me to give it my undivided attention. Jumping ahead to certain parts didn't help, either. I didn't think it was bad, just not my cup of tea.
The main reason I wanted to check it out is because I was curious to see Priyanka Chopra in a south film. I'm not a fan, but I have moments when I like her, and I find her pretty, even gorgeous, at times. In this flick, however, she wasn't doing it for me. I thought she looked a bit awkward and overly made up, particularly in the "Hot Party" song. On the other hand, I was kinda diggin' her heavy pancake and colored lenses in the "Ullathai Killadhae" song. Go figure. **shrug** Anyway, from what I saw, she didn't have much of a role. She basically showed up long enough to daydream about or make goo-goo eyes at Vijay.
Speaking of whom, while he had the "plump, middle-aged" look going on, I was able to tolerate it.
Back to Priyanka: her dubbing artist sounded familar. I think she may be the same person who dubs/has dubbed for Shriya, and maybe Simran, Jyothika, Trisha, and/or Asin. I'm not sure. Just about everyone sounds the same these days.
What else? I thought Revathy looked pretty. And I liked the picturisations of the aforementioned "Hot Party" and "Ullathai Killadhae" songs. But the movie as a whole(or the few parts I watched, rather) couldn't grab my interest, so I will have to waste money on something else.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Ganda Hendathi(2006)
From an interview with producer Shailendra Babu:
His remarks remind me of the time when, just before Showgirls was released, Joe Eszterhas urged underage kids to use their fake IDs to sneak in so that they wouldn't miss the film's "message", or some such hilarity. Maybe it's just my family, but I can't imagine any of my older relatives, parents included, sticking around long enough to decipher "the message" behind Thilak and Sanjana's numerous--and often eyebrow-raising(for me, anyway)--make out sessions. For instance, the scene where Thilak smears ice cream on Sanjana's face and licks it off would be enough to make them vow to never watch another movie with me again.
I, for the most part, don't have a problem with skin show, so I enjoyed the movie. **grin** I mean, how could I not love an unintentionally funny, almost scene-by-scene, song-by-song rip-off of Murder? As soon as I saw Thilak fake falling to his equally fake death in front of an obvious blue screen, I knew that my $9.93 had been well-spent.
I would describe Ganda Hendathi as "awesomely bad, and delighfully sleazy". For me, it's right up there with Hawas(2004) and Fun(Can Be Dangerous Sometime) in terms of unrepentant skeazyness. Murder may have had better production values, but I like the Thilak-Sanjana pairing better than the Emraan-Mallika one. The former appeared to genuinely enjoy each other(although, a couple of times, Sanjana appeared hesitant and/or uncomfortable). If they actually hated one another during filming, then they're better actors than I initially thought.
"Oho Nasheyo" and "Nidiregu Raja" don't get stuck in my head as often as their respective Hindi counterparts, "Kaho Na Kaho" and "Bheegey Hont", so I'm automatically partial to them. Plus, the picturisations are sexier and more in-yer-face(e.g the ice cream licking scene I mentioned earlier).
Sanjana is cute, but I wish she'd ditch the blue contact lenses. Yeah, they're her eyeballs and she can stick whatever she wants on them, but personally, I prefer the way she looks with her natural eye color.
I...like Thilak, to put it delicately. And his hair makes him look like "he belongs in a Pantene commercial", to quote a YouTube commenter.
Vishal Hegde looked like such a sad sack with his flat hair and specs that I felt sorry for him. At least he wasn't quite as forgettable as Ashmit Patel. (I have nothing against Ashmit, really, it's just that I honestly forget that he was in Murder.)
I think I'll watch this tonight. I need to take my mind off the stupid-idity going on right now.
Do you mean to say 'Ganda Hendathi' is for wide section of audience?
Definitely! Even if it is adult certificate, the boys and girls, married couple and the elders can view this film for message in it. It is not enough if you tie the Mangalasutra. In case the husband and wife step on different path what happens in life is the theme of this film. The film has meaningful end.
Source
His remarks remind me of the time when, just before Showgirls was released, Joe Eszterhas urged underage kids to use their fake IDs to sneak in so that they wouldn't miss the film's "message", or some such hilarity. Maybe it's just my family, but I can't imagine any of my older relatives, parents included, sticking around long enough to decipher "the message" behind Thilak and Sanjana's numerous--and often eyebrow-raising(for me, anyway)--make out sessions. For instance, the scene where Thilak smears ice cream on Sanjana's face and licks it off would be enough to make them vow to never watch another movie with me again.
I, for the most part, don't have a problem with skin show, so I enjoyed the movie. **grin** I mean, how could I not love an unintentionally funny, almost scene-by-scene, song-by-song rip-off of Murder? As soon as I saw Thilak fake falling to his equally fake death in front of an obvious blue screen, I knew that my $9.93 had been well-spent.
I would describe Ganda Hendathi as "awesomely bad, and delighfully sleazy". For me, it's right up there with Hawas(2004) and Fun(Can Be Dangerous Sometime) in terms of unrepentant skeazyness. Murder may have had better production values, but I like the Thilak-Sanjana pairing better than the Emraan-Mallika one. The former appeared to genuinely enjoy each other(although, a couple of times, Sanjana appeared hesitant and/or uncomfortable). If they actually hated one another during filming, then they're better actors than I initially thought.
"Oho Nasheyo" and "Nidiregu Raja" don't get stuck in my head as often as their respective Hindi counterparts, "Kaho Na Kaho" and "Bheegey Hont", so I'm automatically partial to them. Plus, the picturisations are sexier and more in-yer-face(e.g the ice cream licking scene I mentioned earlier).
Sanjana is cute, but I wish she'd ditch the blue contact lenses. Yeah, they're her eyeballs and she can stick whatever she wants on them, but personally, I prefer the way she looks with her natural eye color.
I...like Thilak, to put it delicately. And his hair makes him look like "he belongs in a Pantene commercial", to quote a YouTube commenter.
Vishal Hegde looked like such a sad sack with his flat hair and specs that I felt sorry for him. At least he wasn't quite as forgettable as Ashmit Patel. (I have nothing against Ashmit, really, it's just that I honestly forget that he was in Murder.)
I think I'll watch this tonight. I need to take my mind off the stupid-idity going on right now.
Dum(2003)
The scene where Rakshita attempts suicide by slashing her wrist immediately brought to mind the saying, "Remember kids, it's down the road, not across the street." (Emphasis mine.) I just thought I'd mention that, 'cause I'm a sick fuck. Anyway...
I obsessively watched and rewatched this movie last week. I don't know why. I guess I was just in the mood for mindless-yet-still-entertaining-to-me fare. **shrug** I often get this movie confused with Kuthu because the plots are similar, and the heroines in both films are Kannadithis.
I believe this was the third Simbu movie I ordered after discovering him in Vallavan. I like it mainly because the character he plays reminds me of some of the guys I had crushes on in high school. I don't recall any of them having pocket knives, but I'm sure they carried concealed weapons of some sort. **chuckle**
Rakshita was also the heroine in the Kannada and Telugu versions of this film(Appu and Idiot, respectively). I thought she looked really beautiful and sexy, but there were times when I wanted to scrape the pancake off her face. And while I don't mind a woman having meat on her bones, I felt she was a little too fleshy for some of the outfits she wore.
I find Ashish Vidyarthi hot in a FILF kind of way. However, he's becoming the new Prakash Raj in the sense that he seems to pop up in nearly every movie I own or have watched online.
I obsessively watched and rewatched this movie last week. I don't know why. I guess I was just in the mood for mindless-yet-still-entertaining-to-me fare. **shrug** I often get this movie confused with Kuthu because the plots are similar, and the heroines in both films are Kannadithis.
I believe this was the third Simbu movie I ordered after discovering him in Vallavan. I like it mainly because the character he plays reminds me of some of the guys I had crushes on in high school. I don't recall any of them having pocket knives, but I'm sure they carried concealed weapons of some sort. **chuckle**
Rakshita was also the heroine in the Kannada and Telugu versions of this film(Appu and Idiot, respectively). I thought she looked really beautiful and sexy, but there were times when I wanted to scrape the pancake off her face. And while I don't mind a woman having meat on her bones, I felt she was a little too fleshy for some of the outfits she wore.
I find Ashish Vidyarthi hot in a FILF kind of way. However, he's becoming the new Prakash Raj in the sense that he seems to pop up in nearly every movie I own or have watched online.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Nishabd(2007)
AKA "I Feel Blue. So Very, Very Blue."
The relentless blue tones were pretty at first, but after a while, my eyes started to hurt and I wanted to tell RGV to knock it off.
Speaking of RGV, he obviously has a thing for a woman's legs and feet. The numerous shots of Jiah Khan's lower limbs reminded me of his obsession with Antara Mali's gams and peds in Naach.
I think Jiah Khan is a pretentious bitch(pot, meet kettle), but I like her. She has an unusual look that I find appealing. And I love her hair. I swear, if I had either her or Mallika's tresses, I'd get whiplash from flinging my head around so much.
Ms. Khan is the sole reason I bought the movie. Acting-wise, I thought she did fine. More than likely, she was just playing herself, with a few minor edits. At times, her character brought to mind Drew Barrymore's in Poison Ivy, particularly during the scene where she playfully drags Shraddha Arya into the shower with her. (Which is weird, because there wasn't any such scene in Poison Ivy, but there ya go.)
Quick thoughts about the other actors:
Amitabh Bachchan - He acted well and fit the part. I got the same "Ohhhhh, I wish he were MY daddy!" feelings I had when I watched Aetbaar.
Shraddha Arya - Facially, she reminds me of someone, but I can't think of who, and it's driving me nuts.
Revathy/Revathi - I remember her from Oru Kaithiyin Diary, Thevar Magan, Iruvar, Thoondil, and Dil Jo Bhi Kahey. I wish I had ordered Punnagai Mannan when it was available from India Weekly.
It's been close to a year since I last watched this movie. Typing about it makes me consider digging it out from wherever it is and rewatching it.
The relentless blue tones were pretty at first, but after a while, my eyes started to hurt and I wanted to tell RGV to knock it off.
Speaking of RGV, he obviously has a thing for a woman's legs and feet. The numerous shots of Jiah Khan's lower limbs reminded me of his obsession with Antara Mali's gams and peds in Naach.
I think Jiah Khan is a pretentious bitch(pot, meet kettle), but I like her. She has an unusual look that I find appealing. And I love her hair. I swear, if I had either her or Mallika's tresses, I'd get whiplash from flinging my head around so much.
Ms. Khan is the sole reason I bought the movie. Acting-wise, I thought she did fine. More than likely, she was just playing herself, with a few minor edits. At times, her character brought to mind Drew Barrymore's in Poison Ivy, particularly during the scene where she playfully drags Shraddha Arya into the shower with her. (Which is weird, because there wasn't any such scene in Poison Ivy, but there ya go.)
Quick thoughts about the other actors:
Amitabh Bachchan - He acted well and fit the part. I got the same "Ohhhhh, I wish he were MY daddy!" feelings I had when I watched Aetbaar.
Shraddha Arya - Facially, she reminds me of someone, but I can't think of who, and it's driving me nuts.
Revathy/Revathi - I remember her from Oru Kaithiyin Diary, Thevar Magan, Iruvar, Thoondil, and Dil Jo Bhi Kahey. I wish I had ordered Punnagai Mannan when it was available from India Weekly.
It's been close to a year since I last watched this movie. Typing about it makes me consider digging it out from wherever it is and rewatching it.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Tum? A Dangerous Obsession(2004)
The opening credits were cool, and the first half was not-bad, but the second hour took a nosedive after Karan Nath's character got bumped off. And the actual killer's motive? Totally laughable considering that I knew from the get-go that he couldn't care less about a vagina.
Manisha had moments of her former prettiness, but still looked a few years older than her actual age at the time(32? 33?). I don't know if she was made up to appear that way, or if the drugs and alcohol had already taken a toll on her face.
Karan Nath was cute, but to say that he sucks as an actor would be an understatement. The scene where he's all wild-eyed and puffing on a cigarette while trying to contact Manisha is not to be missed.
How/why Karan became obsessed with Manisha remains a mystery to me. I would suggest that it was because of her stellar bedroom skills, but she was passed out drunk during the encounter, so...
Natanya Singh was too heavy and too tarty-looking for me to believe she was a fashion model. I know this is a movie and it doesn't necessarily have to be realistic, but still...no.
Despite its stupidity, this movie was in my "watchably bad" pile for the longest time. What can I say? I have a soft spot for idiotic films(well, some of them). The more skeazy and/or unintentionally hilarious a particular flick is, the more I tend to love it.
Manisha had moments of her former prettiness, but still looked a few years older than her actual age at the time(32? 33?). I don't know if she was made up to appear that way, or if the drugs and alcohol had already taken a toll on her face.
Karan Nath was cute, but to say that he sucks as an actor would be an understatement. The scene where he's all wild-eyed and puffing on a cigarette while trying to contact Manisha is not to be missed.
How/why Karan became obsessed with Manisha remains a mystery to me. I would suggest that it was because of her stellar bedroom skills, but she was passed out drunk during the encounter, so...
Natanya Singh was too heavy and too tarty-looking for me to believe she was a fashion model. I know this is a movie and it doesn't necessarily have to be realistic, but still...no.
Despite its stupidity, this movie was in my "watchably bad" pile for the longest time. What can I say? I have a soft spot for idiotic films(well, some of them). The more skeazy and/or unintentionally hilarious a particular flick is, the more I tend to love it.
E(2005)
I like Nayantara, but I found her character, Jyothy, so irritating. During the scene where E(Jeeva) beats her, I seriously wanted to join in. I guess I should've appreciated how she was trying to reform him, but her Jiminy Cricket act only made me roll my eyes and wish that less screen time had been devoted to her and that stupid gold chain. In Nayan's defense, however, she did look pretty, and I liked the "Kala Kala Kalai" number(although, she lacked the body and the dance moves to really pull it off).
I'm still on the fence about E's change of heart near the end. I liked his "anything for money" attitude and seemingly unredeemable nature, and wasn't too thrilled with how he suddenly developed a conscience several minutes before the closing credits. On one hand, it "had" to happen since he discovered how his grandmother and Jyothy's sister died, but on the other hand, it felt too abrupt. I think Dr. Ramakrishnan's(Ashish Vidyarti) machinations should've been revealed to E. sooner. **shrug**
Complaints aside, I think E is a pretty good timepass. I've rewatched it enough to have gotten my money's worth. **wry grin**
I'm still on the fence about E's change of heart near the end. I liked his "anything for money" attitude and seemingly unredeemable nature, and wasn't too thrilled with how he suddenly developed a conscience several minutes before the closing credits. On one hand, it "had" to happen since he discovered how his grandmother and Jyothy's sister died, but on the other hand, it felt too abrupt. I think Dr. Ramakrishnan's(Ashish Vidyarti) machinations should've been revealed to E. sooner. **shrug**
Complaints aside, I think E is a pretty good timepass. I've rewatched it enough to have gotten my money's worth. **wry grin**
Rock N Roll(2007)
Or, "Things I Think About Just Before I Have To Get Up".
I tried to watch this about a year ago. For some reason, I thought it would be good--or rather, I hoped it would be good since Lakshmi Rai was in it. I like her, even though I've never seen any of her films. Rock N Roll would've been the first, but I gave up after a few minutes. As soon as I saw Mohanlal's ponytail, the whole movie went downhill for me. (There's just something about a middle-aged man sporting a ponytail that triggers my "Ugh!" reflex.) But now I'm thinking I should give it a second chance. Just ignore the ponytail and wait for Lakshmi to appear onscreen. Maybe I'll do that--if it's still online, that is.
ETA: I ordered it, along with Black Cat. I hope I don't regret my purchases. **wry smile** I was desperate to spend money, and it's taking forever for the Ayngaran version of Kuruvi to be in stock. Plus, I "need" more fodder for this blog, hahahaha.
ETA2: I don't regret either of my purchases. They were both watchable, although right now, I'm leaning toward Black Cat as being the more entertaining of the two. Maybe I will elaborate further on each film when/if I can come up with something semi-coherent.
I tried to watch this about a year ago. For some reason, I thought it would be good--or rather, I hoped it would be good since Lakshmi Rai was in it. I like her, even though I've never seen any of her films. Rock N Roll would've been the first, but I gave up after a few minutes. As soon as I saw Mohanlal's ponytail, the whole movie went downhill for me. (There's just something about a middle-aged man sporting a ponytail that triggers my "Ugh!" reflex.) But now I'm thinking I should give it a second chance. Just ignore the ponytail and wait for Lakshmi to appear onscreen. Maybe I'll do that--if it's still online, that is.
ETA: I ordered it, along with Black Cat. I hope I don't regret my purchases. **wry smile** I was desperate to spend money, and it's taking forever for the Ayngaran version of Kuruvi to be in stock. Plus, I "need" more fodder for this blog, hahahaha.
ETA2: I don't regret either of my purchases. They were both watchable, although right now, I'm leaning toward Black Cat as being the more entertaining of the two. Maybe I will elaborate further on each film when/if I can come up with something semi-coherent.
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