Jurassic Park...

Guess what… few days back, I don't know why and how, I was thinking about one of my favorite movies- Jurassic Park (first part) and yesterday it was coming on Sony Pix. Thank God I was reading that section of the newspaper in the evening (which I rarely do) and saw that it is coming at 9 p.m. J

I am totally in love with its theme music and merchandise and the whole concept of the movie. I also had a video cassette of JP and would religiously watch it after every school exam got over (even if it was just a trivial unit test). My bade bhaiyya happened to be even more involved with this movie. I remember him making a T-Rex painting on a chart paper and pasted on the main entrance door of our home in Jaipur and innumerable JP logos in his drawing book, which looked complete replica of the original ones… I can recite the movie frame by frame and always wanted to visit the actual JP theme park in those automatic cars… wow!!!

Let me keep making a list of the old movies that I want to watch so earnestly… God, can I have ET please???!!!

I Hate Luv Storys

When the name itself is wrong, how can the movie be right? Luv? Storys? I guess the spellings are Love and Stories respectively. I was eagerly looking forward to this movie mainly because of two of its songs: the title track and "Jab Mila Tu". "Bin Tere" song is also nice. Starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor and don't like any of them, though I am surprised why girls are crazy about Imran and Sonam is tagged as most stylish and beautiful actress of Bollywood. Imran Khan is an expressionless actor, yet to show his forte. I mean, in emotional scenes, it seems that he is giggling, only to be realized that actually he was sobbing. Yet to see his romantic side and he is camera conscious. My personal recommendation for him as far as his looks are concerned: Please change your hair style (though there is not much scope left there, but if Sunny Deol can get his hair straight and Salman Khan got new hair altogether, anything is possible in Bollywood), please do something about your eye brows (they are so thick, looks like those of Kroor Singh of Chandrakanta) and please don't show of your body till you get atleast 4 packs and some more flesh (your mamu looks way better and charming than you). You looked starving in that song (Sajda). I thought, only Arjun Rampal is expressionless, but you are giving tough competition to him.

Sonam Kapoor. Not much to say about her. She is okay in the movie, though, obviously will take her few more movies to be called a sensational actress, she has some potential, I guess. Thanks to media, she is made famous for her "style icon" image. But yes, she was much much better than Imran.

The movie was a satire on Karan Johar's movie and the character Veer, the director in the movie, is totally based on KJ. I believe, KJ was aware of the fact that he is being made fun of in this movie (he is the producer of this film) and so KJ agrees that he makes same type of movies and labelling them "Different" but has got magic to keep the audience hooked to his movies. Veer is making a film in this movie and while making it what all happens with Imran and Sonam, how they realized that they love each other and imagined themselves in place of the main leads of that film. Imran, again I am stuck with him, could not carry his Casanova image. Please take few tips from Salman Khan (he has played Casanova in dozen movies). But I must compliment him for pulling off the title song nicely. Though, he still was conscious but atleast he danced well. Only if the film that was being made in the movie could have properly used the other romantic movies, it could have turned well. Why was Puja Ghai (the main lead in Veer's movie) shown as Anushka Sharma of Tujhme Rab Dikhta Hai and then Rani Mukherjee of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and then Aishwarya Rai of Mohabatein?? What kind of character was that? Only to pick up famous shots of all the love stories was not justified. Anyways. The movie was enjoyable in the first half and in the second half also, except when Sonam confessed of being in love with Imran and till Imran also realized that he is also falling for Sonam, this part was boring. Scene of Dil Chahta Hai was stolen and used here: When Imran calls his mom after many years (his mom used to call him) and she sensed that he was not being normal (though, he was anyways speaking flatly, I wonder how his mom sensed that her son was crying) and Imran breaks down. In this scene in DCH, Imran's mamu made me cry and here, I was laughing when Imran's eyes were not showing any sign of tears and he looked stupid when he was so-called crying. When Imran's friends make plan and is shown executing it. Stolen from Kal Ho Na Ho. The most irritating thing being: "idhar udhar ki baatein, waherah wagerah"

All in all. This movie was okay types and could have been watched on DVD, instead of going to theater.

(PS: All the Imran Khan fans, forgive me for reviewing Imran more than the movie but could not stop myself)

This is the Rajneeti...

Went to watch the much awaited movie on this Saturday- Rajneeti. The reasons being- Prakash Jha's movie, amazing star-cast, anticipation of how Katrina Kaif would portray the role of Sonia Gandhi, it being a modern day Mahabharata, expecting a good direction and story etc etc. Though the story was more or less expected- how ugly the politics can become but was interested in its execution.

The songs had already become my personal favorites, slow and melodious but discovered that a fast number which I had become fan of (thanks to the FM radio) was of Rajneeti only. Anyways. The opening and reviews of the movie has been great, which further encouraged us to go and watch it.

We missed the beginning, thanks to my laziness on Saturday, for which I should not be blamed, because I get only the weekend to rest and if...Ok, sorry for diverting from the topic. So the movie. Before getting into the movie hall I thought that Katrina Kaif is the central character and Ranbir Kapoor has a real short role, kind of guest appearance. But as the movie moved on, I realized that Katrina has an important role but not the main protagonist and Ranbir Kapoor had the longest and the most important part to play. The pace of the movie was fast and gripping. Manoj Bajpai back in form after a long hibernation and as usual acted superbly as an angry son furious over being neglected by everyone as the next natural heir to the party supremo post, including his own father. Nana Patekar as silent pillar to Arjun Rampal and Ranbir Kapoor, playing the Rajneeti. No songs were included in the movie, apart from being played here and there in the background. The scene where Arjun Rampal is blown up in the blast was terrible. For a long time there was a silence and the noise kept ringing in my ears for long. I guess that scene reminded me (us) of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Arjun Rampal does have a very strong voice, I must say, though he remains expressionless most of the time ever since he has started acting.

Ajay Devgan is a superb actor but I think he could have done much better than this. He seemed confused and diverted from his character when Manoj Bajpai included him in the party. As in, he entered with lot of aggression but afterwards looked as if he was caught and dragged unaware of what is happening around; the expression on his face after seeing off Nana Patekar when he named his father as the candidate from his village and I thought he would react more aggressively when his biological mother would unfold the truth that he is her son. But he was cool and calm and much more concerned about his loyalty towards Manoj Bajpai.

Another thing. The sequence when Bharati tells her truth to Ajay Devgan, it was too much of Hindi which is not used in today's time, specially this coming from an urban lady was not acceptable. This kind of Hindi is expected to be used in official communications in politics but not in personal lives. Also, apart from everything else, I was not much convinced of so many murders and too much of violence shown in the movie. Those killed were not just the side kicks of the politicians, they were the prominent members of the leading parties of the nation. Amidst all the killings and violence, the elections were still on and Ranbir Kapoor, a suave and PhD student (far away from being political) managed to float an entirely new party in just few days prior to elections, get his brother married and manage funds for the party, file for the candidatures and even bribe away few of the ministers from Manoj's Party.

But all in all, I may rate it as 3 or 3.5 out of 5. Much much better than so many recent movies and must watch types after 3 Idiots, though 3 Idiots was like 5/5.

Ajab Prem...Gazab Kahani...

7th November, 11:45 p.m. Thats when I entered my flat after a tiring official trip and was so happy to be back because next day was Sunday and that meant sleeping till 10-11 in the morning. But my roomie casually asked me, if I had received the SMS for tomorrow's movie show. Equally casually, I announced "No, what time is the show?". 10 a.m., for which we should get up by a maximum of 8 a.m. WHAT???????? All my late sleeping plans went down crashing and felt like cursing my friends. How can a tired engaged girl, whose fiancee is in the same city, go out for a movie in the early morning with her friends, rather than with HIM...!!! But then, the program had already been fixed.

And believe me, the movie turned out to be an awesome laugh riot. Ranveer Kapoor is cool and the movie has a fresh feel. The movie is directed by Mr. Rajkumar Santoshi, who had earlier directed Andaz Apna Apna, and that movie is one of my all time favorite comedy movie. Don't expect any story in the movie but just comedy sequences. After such a long time, watched a movie in which the entire hall was laughing at the same time. Songs are cool to listen (was not expecting this from Pritam). Towards the end of the movie, I could notice some similarities with AAA (the earlier movie), specially the fight sequence which was full of confusion and the villain-cum-comedian.

So, finally, I had forgiven my friends :)

Whats Your Rashee...

Another movie seen... Two movies in two weeks, good, I am recovering after the movie draught in Chennai. This week watched Whats Your Rashee, by Ashutosh Gowarikar, at Hyderabad with bhaiyya-bhabhi and my two cousins. Last show (or call it late night show).

All five of us were looking forward to Priyanka's role in our respective Rashee (sun sign), and were all prepared to prove that she was best in our rashee. The first Priyanka (Anjali) was awesome. I still can't stop laughing when I think of her, even when I am sitting alone. The way she walked and giggled. Harman Baweja, whom I had started calling Hrithik baweja, since he so closely resembles Hrithik Roshan, was good in this movie. I hope that I would start calling him Harman Baweja after this.

And hey, I got so happy at one point. When Harman's mother (in the movie) was first shown, I thought that I had seen this lady, but could not get where. But once she smiled it instantly clicked in my mind. She was Manju Singh, the girl who played the role of Amol Palekar's sister (Ratna) in my favorite movie of all time- Golmaal. After a movie of 1979, I had seen her in 2009. Wow. I loved her in Golmaal.

The movie was good. Although a bit lengthy, and I would realize its length when songs would come. Poor Harman. To meet 12 girls, he had to sing and dance on 12 songs. But one song which I was looking forward to, was not included in the movie. Sad. Nice comic sequences, specially by Dilip Joshi and Rajesh Vivek.

This one was a different movie by Ashutosh Gowarikar, after Lagaan and Swades. Apart from dozen songs, the movie was good to watch.

Disco..khisko...

Hmmm.. I once wrote about the lost melody and stupid lyrics in Hindi movies these days. Well, another example. "Disco wale Khisko, aji Desi Beat Bajani..", "..fikar hi gham ka papa hai.. chewing gum hai chabbi ja, handpump hai dabbi ja..." . But I am liking the second song (remix version) these days because of its beats and more so for its video. Saw this movie.. Dil Bole Hadippa, this weekend. Nothing new, just a typical of Yash Raj Movies (except the Switzerland locales). India-Pakistan "friendship", NRI boy-village girl, they fell in love, my daddy greatest concept, Punjab, thousands of colorful dancers, girl's ever inspiring speech (thank God, less of glycerine this time). So, nothing new, but ya, refreshing to watch after heavy dose movies like Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal...

By the way, Dil Bole Hadippa, Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal, Kambakht Ishq, Do knot distrub, Aagey se Right, Love Story 2050, Quick Gun Murugan, Wanted, Aloo Chaat...movie titles are a bit weird...

Now the movie for which I am most eagerly waiting is the 3 Idiots. No, not because I can relate to the title, but because it is based on the Indian Bestseller- Five Point Someone, by Chetan Bhagat and also because Amir Khan is one of the 3 idiots (I think he is playing the role of Ryan). This is one novel which each Indian student or youngster loves, till now I have not met anyone who disliked the novel. Just pray that the director could make such engrossing movie out of that novel (else it would be a big disaster). And just now read on Wikipedia (while googling- Yes, Wikipedia has answers for everything, I wonder how) that "it is loosely based on 5 point someone, though it is denied by Hirani (Rajkumar Hirani- The director)". The director playing safe, huh...

Whatever, lets see...

Animation...

Hi... Another weekend passed by. This time, I was indeed busy on Friday and Saturday. But Sunday... "My Dear Sleep". And yes, I once again watched Madagascar-2(Escape to Africa). Its an animated movie and I am always ready anytime to watch any animation movie. Few of the good ones that even you can watch are: Madagascar-1 & 2, Wall:E, Surf's up, The Polar Express, Stuart Little- 1 & 2, Kung-fu Panda, Ratatouille, Ice Age-1 & 2, Shrek-1 & 2, Cars. They are so logical. No loose ends of the story. And yes, they actually have a story and teach you a lot in fun way. No vulgarity, and no songs, and can be seen with the family. These are the traits missing in most of the Hollywood and Bollywood movies, or for that matter in any non-animated movie (I don't know what do we call those movies which are not animated).

If we notice, in most of the animation movies, animals or otherwise non-living things are the main protagonists and its not only about making you laugh by looking cute or making strange sounds, they show various emotions. Wall:E is a story about a robot, who falls in love with another robot and how he follows her, takes care of her, even gets hurt (I mean, his wires and motherboard are mishandled), but ultimately rescues her and the mankind.

Madagascar is about four friends, a zebra, lion, giraffe, and a hippo. They are inseparable, and whatever comes their way, they are there for each other. Eventually, giraffe and hippo get married. I wonder, how their kids would be. In Stuart little, a rat has been adopted as a second child by a human couple and provide him with all amenities as their human kid (small versions of bed, brush, chairs, car...). The story of Ramayana and Hanuman is also made in animation form. Its not slow and covers almost all major events and is fun to watch.

Came to know just few days back, while surfing the internet, that the first animated feature film was made way back in the year 1917- The Apostle and since then each year there had been atleast 8-10 animated feature films released in various parts of the world. And I thought, its the recent development.

So, anyone please suggest which one to watch next.....