Reviews

I Live in America, in a city so small that it would take you half an hour to drive around it. I had always wanted to see water ever since i heard it was being made, and me being a fan of Deepa Metha's movies ever since Fire came out, could not wait. The wait was prolonged even further when it was released in Canada almost a year before it came out here, that was such a tease. And on top of all that, my city being so small and the movie being an independent film, it would not be shown until the local independent theater decided to show it. Well i was ecstatic when last week it was being shown for one day. I bought my ticket online was so excited that tomorrow i would finally get to see the movie. As I entered the theater almost an hour before the show, the usher told me that the theater i was in had no air conditioning, and its Florida and the temperature outside was a whopping 105 F, still i wasn't going to be hindered by a few beads of sweat rolling down my face. There was no one there, but understandably, after all it was "an hour before the show". so i waited. 2 minutes before the movie, and there was only me and my buttered popcorn. I was happy, because i felt i could thoroughly enjoy the movie as i would have no interruptions from the peanut gallery. It started. I got chills down my spine. the excitement, the opening scene the colors, i knew i was in for something spectacular. How right i was. The movie follows a girl of about 8 who is a widow and is sent to an "ashram" for widows like herself. The treatment of these widows, and the intense life that these women are forced to live was eye opening. You find yourself falling in love with the movie, its subtlety, its use of minimal dialog and maximum expressions. I have to admit it is not hard to cry during or after the movie, and i am someone who never cries at movies. I was truly moved. I was moved not only by the movie but by the deep love of the director who was adamant in making this movie, despite the death threats to her and her crew, despite her sets being torn and burnt down. It makes you angry to think that people are unable to create art, express themselves because of the small mindedness of a nation's belief. If you go see the movie for one thing, be it to support a persons freedom to create, because when we loose that, we loose ourselves.

First of all let me start out by saying, i love Jim Carey, and i love Tea Leon, so the question that keeps playing in my mind over and over again is: "why didn't i love the movie?" the movie, apart being a remake, (which are rarely any good) has some major flaws. oh there's nothing wrong with the acting, Jim and Tea are in top form. The problem is with the story. Its a comedy dealing with some serious issues. The thing with movies like these are, there comes a point where you just absolutely have to pick: drama or comedy. If this movie was just a comedy, it would have been brilliant, but when you bring in a serious undercurrent, you're thrown back. there are a lot of things i wish this movie would have done. I still give it a 7, because you are guaranteed a laugh by tea and Jim, but overall, i was disappointed

There is one scene in the movie when the song "Najane Mere Dil Ko Kya" begins, and the camera is focused on simran, and as she walks out the train station she turns back and longingly looks for some sort of answer. This is the type of thing great movies are made of. Dilwale Dulhania is a feel good movie based upon a very cliché plot, but somehow the originality of the actors set this movie far apart from the rest. It was the scene at the train station in London when you realize the acting is so convincing that you forget you're watching an actor and completely submerse yourself in the character. Shahruck khan may be the leading man in bollywood today, but kajol in this movie definitely stole the thunder from right under his nose. This is when you realize that although bollywood can mass produce movies every year, the ones that one should look forward too, are the ones where the leading actors have the most convincing chemistry. since kajols marriage, she had taken a hiatus from movies, and shahrukh khan had to make these epic love stories with other actresses, such as preity zinta and rani mukherjee. but the fact remains that not one single pair in bollywood history will ever compare to the pair of shahrukh khan and kajol, there movies will go down in history as being the very epitome of bollywood.

I have to say this is one of the finest stories in India cinema. The acting is stellar. Kajol is fantastic, and i enjoy her more playing roles that are out of her norm. The one thing i have to say about this movie is that the music is fantastic. The other thing, its a very colorful and hilarious movie and a bit of a tear jerker towards the end. Although one many not recognize the other lead actors, although they are quite famous in the south. I think the ambiguity that these actors bring works in the movies favor. The musical numbers are very well directed, and they transport you into another world. Especially the song "chanda re" it is beautifully choreographed. You will definitely be humming to the movies tune long after you have watched it.

I've been watching Bollywood movies ever since i can remember. Most i will not lie, can be extremely cheesy, and overly melodramatic. Sometimes the stories are so similar, that you get frequent attacks of Deja vu watching them. That said, i have to say this movie was a gem, in every sense of the word. The story was like none other, and although the central theme of love is similar to those found in mostly all Bollywood movies, this movie has found a new interpretation for it and that is the foremost reason that it stands out. The mystical and almost mythical setting of the "haveli" in Rajasthan is so beautiful that you are immediately love struck. The film is almost a two part event, the first beginning out in India, and then moving to england. There is so much detail in the characters, their emotion, that you cant help get caught up by each one of them. In a way you fall in love with each character. Anil Kapoors' acting is superb, and Waheeda Rehman's performance is ever glowing. There are three show stealer's of this epic movie. The first Sridevi, this has to be one of her finest acting performances, and by this role she has permanently written her name in history and being one of India's finest actresses. The second is Anumpan Kher, who's acting is so over powering that he is to me one of the lead actors in the movie. He not only brings comic relief to the situations, you actually find yourself waiting in anticipation as to when he will show up. The third show stealer is the music. The music is fantastic, and every song works, this is quite an effort since in most Bollywood movies, songs come out at you from nowhere. The music till today sends chills down my spine. The beautiful melodies, and most memorable, and evoke ones one passion. A most well done film

I am a huge fan of Kirsten Dunst, ever since bring it on came out, i cant seem to get enough of her. This is why i was very disappointed when i saw this movie. First of all can i just say, in a weird way i felt like i was watching a commercialized version of "Garden State" which in my mind was a brilliant movie. So just watching this movie and the similarities i found myself fighting to love this movie. Like Natalie Portman in garden state, Kirsten Dunst plays the lucky go happy, neurotic girl, but unlike Natalie Portman, Dunst is very bad at portraying that. I felt she was trying too hard. Orlando Bloom, well its hard to concentrate when he's doing a really bad American accent, and he tries really hard bless his heart, but sorry it ain't working. the only delightful part of this movie id have to say is the ever fantastic Susan Sarandon, and even though she doesn't have a major part, i was constantly waiting for her to come back on. So in conclusion, I was really disappointed by this movie, especially since its by the same guy that gave us jerry Maguire and vanilla sky. If any of you are thinking about watching this movie, i have only one piece of advice for you, go watch garden state instead, you wont feel cheated.