My Friend Ganesha

Rating 6/10

I happened to watch this movie with my lil niece.When did we last see an animated movie.We did catch glimpses of animation in Raju Chacha,Hum Tum..but the most successful one has been Hanuman.

Story: The movie shows a family comprising of Father(Aditya),Mother(Aarti),Son(Ashu).
The parents are very busy in their daily chores and the child feels lonely.His only friend is the maid (Gangu Tai) in the house.The child happens to rescue a mouse in the rain and he is told by his maid that the mouse is Ganesha's pet.Now the child gets interested and the maid narrates the story of Ganesha to him.The maid tells him that Ganesha can be your friend.
After sometime the family suffers from a crisis.The maid convinces the family to get Ganesha home.As soon as Ganesha comes in the house all good things start happening,the child is happy and the family comes out of the crisis.

My Review: Well a simple story indeed but what stands out is the animation.The interaction between Ganesha and the Child is the USP of the movie.However,I as a viewer could not digest few things like the Father having problems at work,father's sister being blackmailed by her boyfriend;these things were rather vaguely presented.
The film targets little children but to leverage that advantage the movie must have released during the summer vacations and the advertising campaign should have been more aggressive.
Overall a fun movie to watch and my niece laughed a lot and enjoyed every bit of the movie with the pop corn falling all over the place.

Miss Potter (2006)

I am not entirely sure how I ended up watching the movie Miss Potter. The DVD cover had a photo of Renee Zellweger’s and Ewan McGregor in a lip lock. Did Zellweger snag a typecast role of a Bridget Jones like character? The blurb about the movie on the back of the DVD case screamed sappy romantic comedy as well. So my expectation for this movie was set to the likes of “the holiday” and “the family stone”. I was pleasantly surprise to find that the movie was so much more than a silly romantic comedy. Even with the directorial attempts to mellow down Miss Potter’s story she comes across as the fierce firebrand feminist that she must’ve been. After I watched the movie I realized that categorizing this movie as a silly romantic comedy was an evil marketing ploy.

Miss Potter is a movie based on the true story of an extraordinary woman called Beatrix Potter who struggled against the societal constrains of being a woman in a time (early 1900s) when women were compelled to become housewives. In her quest to become a published writer and artist she fought tooth and nail to become a financially self-sufficient woman. She reminded me of J. K. Rowling, not merely for the common denominator of Potter but for their struggle (as women) to become published writers and their amazing success as writers of children’s books. Isn’t it disgraceful that after all the struggle women have gone through to be able to make it in a man’s world, even today, Joanne had to publish her books under the name J.K. Rowling to conceal her identity as a woman, in an effort to appeal to the male readers? Maybe a similar reasoning went into the marketing strategy of Miss Potter. Who would want to watch a movie about a woman protagonist who struggled to be accepted as a scientist, writer and artist? The audience would much rather prefer Miss Potter to be a love story. The movie makers took a lot of liberties in the storytelling and as a result compromised on Potter’s achievements. Potter had printed and sold some of her stories on her own but in the movie all the props for publishing are given to the male lead that Potter falls in love with. I guess they didn’t want the guy to look like the side-kick and wanted him to have a substantial role in Potter’s success as a writer.

The movie makers entirely ignored many of Potter’s accomplishments so that she does not overshadow the other (male) characters. There was not even a mention of her scientific achievements.I am a little miffed at all the historical inaccuracies of the movie but at the same time I was glad that this movie introduced me to this wonderful woman. I wish I had read all the stories about Peter rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck when I was little. But like they say, ‘better late than never’. So I bought her entire published collection and although the stories are for little kids I must admit that I enjoyed reading some of those stories even now. You have to read the Jemima Puddle duck story if you haven’t already.

So here is remembering Miss Potter who was an extraordinary woman and still wins the hearts of people with her amusing stories. Happy Birthday to you Miss Potter ! I wish I could be half as accomplished as you were.

Provoked

This picture is by Jagmohan Mundra. A story based on Kiranjeet Ahluwalia. It happened long back 1989. An Inidan woman killed his husband by burning him. This was case unique. This film is a flashback of (Kiranjeet) Aishwarya Rai. The film starts with burning of the husband by wife leaving a question in the minds of the audience why??? The answers are given later. How Kiran and Deepak started their life as any other lovely pair. The start was very happy like any other couple. But things go worst as the days passed by. The abuse was sexual, verbal, physical and mental. The money was not spend on home for even food but was spent on girls. This picture clearly depicts the mental agony she was going through. She was an not so fluent in English and was not able to tell anything about her turmoil to the police officers who thought that she was the murderer and used every means to get her a sentence for life term. But things changed when the press and people started supporting her. This led the case to be considered for retrial which never happened and her term for 3 years was accepted as the full term. She was released in 1992 and is leading her life in London. This picture is not about just Kiranjeet Ahluwalia. Her release helped four other women later to be released who were facing the same charges. The domestic violence depression was finally accepted as a legally accepted depression. This was a huge victory for women, because before this it was a cold blooded murder. This is a landmark case in the history of UK totally redefining the rights and the position of women in such trials. The picture is a nice depiction of all the incidences. Performance by Aishwarya Rai is commendable. She brings out Kiranjeet very well. Performances by others are also good especially by Nandita Das. Film can be seen not for fun but for a reason, for a cause that is affecting 50% population of the world. Kudos to Kiranjeet...

Rating : 5.5/10

Roman Holiday - Charming!

This much copied classic is one fun filled film. At the helm of things are 2 legends - Gregory Peck and the b-e-a-utifull Audrey Hepburn. She is damn cute and incidentally won an Oscar for the performance in this film.

The film is about this Cute Princess who is on a tour across Europe as a PR activity. She feels constrained and her life is Scheduled and protected. She craves to break free when she sees people dancing on the streets. So she escapes at night. Gregory Peck is a reporter who lives on loans. He never has cash. He stumbles into her that night and there starts the magic. The chemistry is electric. The humour subtle. The princess is so happy to be just an unknown girl. Gregory realises shez the princess and to get the most amazing story, takes her around Rome for a whole day. Quiet obviously they fall in love, but the sense of duty towards her family and country takes the princess back to her castle, while the reporter throws away the biggest story of his life - for he doesnt want to expose the princess.

What is so charming about the film is the story, the subtle comedy, the chemistry between the main actors and the amazing acting by them. Just looking at the innocent looking Audrey, you believe she is the Poor little rich kid who craves freedom. Gregory plays the perfect gentleman with the witty retorts and charming one-liners. Overall this movie is one hell of a charmer. Do not miss it. ( Dil Hai Ki maanta Nahi - the remake of this film was a very good adaptation - I must add!! )

Casablanca - Eternal Charm

Cast : Humphrey Boggart and Ingrid Bergman.

I have seen this movie in the top movies of all time list several times, so I had to see it and judge for myself. So, I watched it and it turned out to be an outstanding movie.

This movie is set in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. This place is not taken over by the Germans and is the place through which people can leave for America - if they get a "letter of transit". Rick - Humphrey Boggart is an owner of a night club in Casablanca and is quiet an influencial man. The local Police under command of the captain Louis Renault comes to Ricks club to catch a person who has robbed two "Letters of Transit". This they know is for the safe escape of a Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo, who is presently in Casablanca with his wife. They dont want him to escape because he had escaped a Nazi Concentration camp and was fighting a battle against the Germans. The Captain is aiding the Germans in getting Victor caught again and send him to a concentration camp, but they know they cant catch him without any evidence of wrong doing in a neutral territory. The guy who smuggles the Letters gives them to Rick for safeguarding, before getting caught.

When Victor and his wife Isla Lund (Ingrid Bergman) arrive at the famous night club, Rick recognises her as the girl who broke his heart recently. He loved her deeply and she had said she would come with him, only to leave him completely at sea, when the time came for escape from a city attacked by the Germans. He hates her for it. Isla loves Rick and wants to explain why she did not come with Rick. She tells him how she was already a married lady before she had met him. But abck then she was told that Victor had been killed in the concentration camp. On the day of the escape Victor had come back, so she cudnt leave him. She respected Victor a lot for being a revolutionary fighter and she could not possibly leave him when he needed her the most. She pleads Rick to give her the Letters of Transit for Victors escape, because it is for the greater good. Rick, jealous as ever first denies and then agrees on one condition -that she would stay back with him. She agrees. Then Rick plans the escape. The movie ends with an amazing sacrifice by Rick, for the greater good - because he sees what a great man Victor is. Don't worry, nothing happens to him - this movie has a happy ending :)

This may seem a movie surrounded by war, but is a great love story. One which has Seperation, Pain, Suffering, Sacrifice and Passion. Ingrid Bergman is one of the most beautiful woman you would ever see. She is spectacular. Humphrey Boggart is the spine of the film. He displays pain, jealousy and swagger with equal ease. I can see how these two are legends of Cinema. Overall the story is the winner. It was an Oscar winning movie of 1942 and runs for just over 90 minutes. But it surely is endearing and engaging. I enjoyed watching it and I will surely watch it several more times. I recommend this classic to one and all. Ah! Ingrid - U R divine:)

PARTNER

Rating 3/10
Strongly Not Recommended

Sohail Khan Production!David Dhawan Production!Salman Khan,Govinda,Katrina Kaif!Seems like a good recipe for success.But wait where is the script!Oops!!!Forget....sometimes that is also important to make a movie work.It is surely not another Biwi No.1 or Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.

Story: Prem aka Salman Khan is the love guru changing life of people getting into the love territory or have lost their love.His love interest:Naina(Lara Dutta).Now one thing for sure...she is looking real hot in the movie.But that is about it.She is a newspaper journalist and a mom and happens to bump into Prem(Salman Khan) everytime she is being traced by some gangsters.Too much coincidence u see!Now guess what Bhaskar(Govinda) is doing the movie.He is madly in love with the rich and stylish Priya(Katrna Kaif) whom he wants to impress.So now he approached apna Prem for guidance.At first Prem keeps avoiding him bcoz he think it is impossible to impress that rich gal but later the mission is on.Ultimately Prem helps Bhaskar find his love and he finds his true love too.

My view: The movie has a boring and confused pace and there is no logical flow that can be seen.Few moments in the movie are good and that is about it.And ofcourse the movie is inspired by the hollywood flick "Hitch" but lemme tell you absolutely no match to that.The movie is dragged in the second half and one moment when it seems all issues have been resolved and everybody is happy the movie still doesn't end.It keeps uss wondering What Next!!! and like a typical Ekta Kapoor soap a new thing crops up bringing unnecessary differences between the couples.But yes now when the movie ends the last scene is indeed hillarious.What makes us smile now is also that the movie has finally ended.Oh!!What a relief!

Final Comment: Watch it at your own risk!!!!

The Grudge 2

Rating 6/10

First thing first,if you looking forward to watching Grudge 2,watch the Grudge 1 first,and if you really want to be terrified watch the Original Ju-On.The movie continues where it was left,the curse is buliding up and grudge is spreading.

The Grudge 2" takes place in three separate timelines. And that makes the movie even more comlex.The main plot involves events occurring immediately after the events of the first “Grudge." Here, Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn) rushes to Japan to be at her sister Karen’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) side. It seems Karen has suffered some sort of mysterious accident, and Aubrey is urged by their mother .....

I stop here without revealing much into the plot,Takashi Shimizu has done a comendable job,and left enough a space to create a sequel,release awaited 2007.

Zodiac - Meticulous

Cast : Jake Gyllenhal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr.

Rating: 6.5/10

I went to this movie with my mind full of expectations of a psycho thriller which would end with a twist that wud stun me, because thats what David Fincher has always given me. Be it Se7ev or Fight club or The game, he has never dissapointed. In a way the end does surprise me, but not in the way I wanted. It is after all a movie based on real life events and real case files and hence there is no artistic freedom to David.

The movie is meticulously made - because it plots down 22 years of pursuit of a killer named ZODIAC, from 1969 to 1991. Its about this serial killer who has an unconfirmed number of killings.He appeared first in 1969 and then killed people with gaps of months and even years. It shows the pursuit of 3 people - 1) Journalist - Downey Jr. 2) Cartoonist - Jake Gyllenhal and 3) Policeman - Mark Ruffalo, who tried to solve the mystery of this killer. This killer used to send letters to the Press and tell them how he killed people and if they did not put weird crypted notes on the front page he would kill more. Also, he used the cypher symbol and the name ZODIAC which he picked from a watch brand. This killer was hungry for Publicity and tried various stunts to get that. 22 years of pursuit by the 3 guys is shown painstakingly.

Acting is top class and Downey Jr. gives his role the Johnny Depp- Jack Sparrow kinda spunk. The movie does has its boring bits, but again it is because the movie traces all the events that occured during the pursuit. It also has some loose ends, which seem stunning because if that would have been the case, police would have caught the killer much earlier. It some how depicts the lack of coordination between the police officers in various states of the US. But the atmosphere and the detailing is meticulous (I cant find a better word). I think David should return to the SHOCK genre he belongs to after this, because he has done a good job on real life stuff - but I rather have his shocking fantasies. Watch this 2 and a half hour movie for the story and dont hope for a twist which you cannot comprehend.

Transformers and Potter review

Transformers:


I felt like the story for Transformers was a well conceived idea that was aborted before it was carried to full term. The movie was a one trick pony and without the transforming there was nothing more to it. The dialogues were pitiful and the story line was predictable.

As usual the good guys came from a poorly funded lab and so had the older technology and the villains had great funding and so had all the cutting edge gizmo. The adapting morphing gibberish speaking robot on the evil side was especially cool. But in the end good conquers evil with all the set backs. Oops, sorry I gave away the ending without a plot spoiler warning. But seriously, if you didn’t know the ending before watching this movie you got to be from another planet.

Every action movie has to dabble into philosophy…the philosophy usually being science is evil. But in this one it was, humans are sadistic war mongering bastards and deserve to die but even monsters deserve a second chance except if the monsters happen to be robots that are more advanced than the transformer robots.

Then of course there is the love angle…well okay being a teenage centric movie it was more of ‘coming of age’ sexual tension. Watching the sweat covered tight abs of a (teenage) girl glistening in the sun, made me feel like a cradle robbing pervert…even though I am a non-lesbo and non-man.

Overall the movie sucked like an average Hollywood flick. So go watch it for special effects but expect nothing more.


Harry Potter and the order of phoenix:



Never compare a movie with a book (it was based on) because the book will always outdo the movie. How can any film-maker meet the expectations of a reader’s fantabulous mind imagery? The book is not limited by length, time, budget or special effects. David Yates, the director of HP 5 did a decent job considering that he was faced with the additional challenge of directing the HP movie based on the longest book (so far) of the HP series.

The special effects (as with most movies nowadays) were very well done…especially the final battle scenes. It was a good editorial decision to not drag a movie for more than 2.5 hours but the editing took its toll on the movie by making it incoherent in many parts. I can’t imagine how the people who have not read the book could keep up with the movie plot. Yet there were scenes that could’ve been vastly improvised. Especially in scenes like the one where you know who (and by you know who I don’t mean he who shall not be named) is struck by the avada kedavra curse and falls in the arch and Lupin holds onto Harry who is now squirming and screaming noooooooo…in super slow motion. Ugh!

The actress who played Dolores Umbridge was very successful in bringing out the viciousness of the character, all with a smile on her face. Luna “Loony” Lovegood was also perfect for the role. The only cast member I didn’t like was the guy who played (the new) Dumbledore. Even his walk is too hasty and unsophisticated for Dumbledore. Sheesh!

Anyhow, I was left pondering about the plot. Why wasn’t McGonagall at the ministry of magic in the final battle? In Book 5, why doesn’t Harry consort with McGonagall in Dumbledore’s absence as Dumbledore has already advised him to do that when he isn’t around or accessible? I want to end this post with a final comment which is really a general objection for all the stories with human transformation themes. Hulksters are you listening? You got to figure out what happens to the clothes during transformations. With JKR’s stories it is with Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail. When they become animals they shed their clothes but when they transform back they are never naked. Ok fine it is magic!

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Rating : 6 / 10

If you ask me frankly, this was just another movie. I dint find it special. But Harry Potter is Harry potter and it does carry that WOO factor, so one time watch is recomended. I liked this book because fo the dark connection between harry and the dark lord, but sqeezing all that into a movie seems a tall order.

The story has reached the point where the dark lord has risen again and is making his army. At the same time the ministry is in complete denial of this fact. They go to the extent of publicizing Harry and Dumbeldore as Plotters and Liars. Dumboldore also starts creating his army to fight the evil. All this is the build up to the 7th film. I wont elaborate on the story, bcos most of us have either read it or dont want to, so its immaterial!

The tone of the movie is set as dark and gloomy, which is apt. But the movie is slow and tedious. The direction is OK, but the editor is seriosuly handicapped and had to cut away major parts to make it a 2 and half hour movie!! The magic created in the books, is not duplicated on the screen and only during the dying few minutes, you are held spell bound. Its worth a watch for fans. Fantasy films are anyways timepass to watch, watch it on big screen.

Jana aranya ( The middleman)

Jana Aranya (The middleman) is a film about the nature of politics and the state of an average youngster in Calcutta of early 70's. It is about the trials and tribulations of the protagonist (Somnath Bannerjee) and his transition from an innocent bystander to someone who is in the middle of the seething world of corruption. It touches upon many dilemmas which he faces in his daily life and also about the fatality of the choices that he makes. It looks at the issue from an all encompassing point of view. What makes the film superior is its ability to be non judgmental and to present the situation without being didactic. Kolkata in early 70's was a heady mix of disillusionment and idealism even in the face of destruction. It was also when the Marxist government was voted in power for the first time. The political undertones are very much evident in the background and leave you with a wistful feeling. Satyajit ray again demonstrates his genius with a seemingly "simple" film which has the immense potential of arousing mixed emotions in us.

Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso or the paradise of cinema is one of those unforgettable movies which keep playing through your mind long after you have seen it. It talks about many simple things of life which are so often overlooked but also have the inherent nature of being the part of our collective conscience. Although on the surface it seems to be an uncomplicated story of a man and his coming home; it is in fact made up of many layers and shades of meaning.

It is a tale of a young boy for whom cinema has acquired gigantic proportions and has ceased to be a few hours' endeavor. It also portrays the beauty of the friendship between a middle aged man and a young boy.

The film is like a journey full of ups and downs and is very nostalgic. The high point of being that although all of us may not have had such experiences but still we can relate to them and participate in them across generations. This is what makes the film beautiful and a satisfying experience. Go watch it for its ability to strike a chord with you, no matter who you are and where you are.

Awarapan

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Ashutosh Rana, Ashish Vidyarthi, Shriya, Mrinalini Sharma
Direction: Mohit Suri

The Movie has borrowed it's theme from Korean Movie A Bittersweet Life.

The movie opens with a container which has brought numerous girls for trading and how one of them tries running but get caught. The next scene with Emraan Hashmi as a Hotel Employee, where a murder has taken place. The person involved in murder is a relative of Emraan's Boss.

The movie rotates around Emraan who had an girlfriend in India who was a Muslim and Emraan an atheist, the movie goes in flash back every now and then for the story of Emraan with his girlfriend Shriya who had died.

To forget all this Emraan came down to Hong Kong and became Trusted man of Don Played by Ashutosh Rana (Mallick). Ashish Vidyarthi (Younger brother of Don Mallick) is against Emraan as the murder in hotel was committed by his son and Emraan handed him to Police.

Ashutosh was going to London and gave Emraan job to check for a Pakistani Lady Mrinalini Sharma, if she has anybody else in her life. Eventually he finds out that there is one and is then instructed to kill her and her boyfriend and then came the twist when Emraan changes from a bad guy to a good guy because he remembers of his Dead girlfriend, the plot for which is very well made in the movie as his Girlfriend has always asked him to free Birds and get the blessings of Allah...

The movie has too much of guns and bloodshed. Shot mostly in HongKong the Art Director was unable to take full use of it. Though the story of the movie is not good enough to leave anything to imagination, individual performances by Ashutosh, Shriya and Ashish are good. Emraan for the first time has not kissed any female in this movie. Though Mohit Suri has not been able to keep up his reputation of Woh Lamhe in this movie but all in all movie is average sort.

Rating 3/10 (Can go for it)

"Aap ka saroor "

This movie has the distinction of belonging to the rare but increasingly growing categories of extremely unwatchable, loosely made films. It surpasses all records of loose editing, bad screenplay, useless dialogues, incoherent situations, and the unique ability of jumping from flashback to the present without the audience having a clue. For all mortals who would still want to hear the non existent storyline...

The movie begins with Himesh (or HR as he is known throughout for some incomprehensible reasons) on a tour in Germany and he is arrested for the murder of a journalist.A sting video apparently shows him misbehaving with and then killing the journo. His time in jail is mostly spent in thinking abt Ria ( Hansika Motwani)...who is his event manager. Love blossoms in typical Reshammiya style with songs in nasal twangs thrown in. There is also a problematic father-of-the-girl who tries to nip the love in the bud. Among these complexities is the villain- (Darshan Jariwala) who is a sponsor but is in deep debt so he wants to remove HR from this planet. Also thrown in is Mallika Sherawat as a lawyer who also doubles up as a bar dancer primarily. The climax is the much awaited revelation that Khurana had worn mask exactly like HR’s face and then killed the journo...so that he could pay off his debts...

Confused ?..Thats exactly how the movie is supposed to make you feel...still feel like going for it ?....May God help you survive the ordeal...amen !!

Die Hard 4 - Old Spice - stays alive.

Rating : 6.5 / 10

Staying true to its name, Die Hard - this franchise does not die. Its the kind of no nonsense full-on action flick it was meant to be and kudos to the creators for sticking to the gun. Too many times we have seen movies which have a series - that try something different, that do not stick to their core competence, but thank god this one doesnt.

Imagine the worst terror that can be inflicted on a country -

1)take away its transport,

2)then its financial services,

3)then its basic public facilities like gas, power, water etc.

Then take over the media and inflict terror in the hearts of the people, create hara-kiri and absolute mayhem. Thats the plan a super whiz guy has for US of A. He gets together a team of braniacs - hackers and tricks them into making algorithms to breach every damn security in the US. then he eliminates each one before executing his three step recipe to mayhem. Meanwhile, Detective Mclean ( Bruce Willis) is having atough time with his daughter(Mary Winstead) - she is totally pissed off with him and doesnt wanna speak with him. He is called to pick up one of the Hacker's and he reaches there just in the nick of time and saves him from being eliminated. Then starts total non-stop action where Bruce and the hacker(Justin Long) are chased in cars, in trailers, in helicopters - and our cool as Ice cop eliminates one baddie after the other. The bad guy (Timothy Olyphant) gets really pissed off when Bruce kills his kung-fu girlfriend. He picks up Inspector Mcleans daughter and keeps her captive. She's made up of the same spunk, her father is and give sthem a tough time. Bruce finally comes over to the Baddie Den and blows away everyone. He remains the only - die hard - unsung hero - while the whole US police and defense system is trying to take control of the complete mayhem.

Bruce plays the role with such panache that you have to bow to him. He hasnt lost an iota of his class. You wont believe the things he does and wont think for once that he is 60 !!! You can totally believe him ramming a car into a helicopter, shooting and kicking off the baddies, getting up after being trounced and shot and thrown down 3 stories etc and he actually fights off a fighter plane with a trailer truck! The no nonsense, in your face, slick wit cop Mclean lives on - fingering the baddies in the right places!

The Die Hard lovers should die if they dont watch this one. Go on and watch this simple, straightforward, non-stop action flick. Dont dwell on the few things which seem too convenient for Inspector Mclean - its meant to be his movie.

Apne - A movie about relationships!!!!!

Rating : 5.5/10

The film Apne is very close to my heart. As it is based on Punjab and being a Punjabi I may be little biased towards its review. This movie is about relationships, emotions and action. The movie mainly revolves around three characters Dharmender (baldev Chaudhry ) and his two sons Angad (sunny deol) and Karan Singh (Booby Deol). The film start from flashback in which a close friend of dharmender giving interview to media about his life, his struggle and how his sons help him to fulfill his dreams and bring back his pride.

Dharmender who was a boxer and won silver medal in Olympics for country and right now staying with his family in small town of Punjab.. But due to jealousy some opponents cheated him and he got dopping charges from American boxing association and banned for 50 years. Because of that he gave challenge to American boxing association that he will prepare one player from his country who become world champion and bring back his pride.

For that dharmender start preparing his son Angad ( sunny deol) but at one point of time due to financial position of home he left boxing and start his business due to which dharmendar start hating him and even stop talking to him. HE was not able to approach his other son Karan Singh (booby deol) because when he was a child in one accident his left hand got paralysed.

But one day his close friend comes to him and tells him that one channel has organized world heavy weight championship and ask him to start coaching. He got one boy who was interested and start giving coaching to him. But when he learnt almost everything from Dharmender he cheated him and joined some Australian coach who made three world champions. Because of this he was almost broken and in between his second son hand start functioning.

So his son ask him that coach me and I will fight for your pride. And like hindi films a hero can do anything he start winning his matches but in finals his opponent (current heavyweight champion) cheated him and won the battle and in that match karan singh was severly injured. So, to take revenge from that player Sunny ask his father to coach him but because he knows that in a month it is difficult to prepare a player who fight against world champion so he refused to coach him.

Here u all know hindi movies sunny start practicing and dharmender son helped me in this and after one month he was ready to fight. And in a good fight match ultimately Angad won and not only take revenge of his brother but also bring back his father pride.

Overall, this movie has everything ya music is not that good but title song was very nicely composed from Himesh a very different from old Himesh Songs.

About performances

Dharmendra is the central force of ‘Apne’. Without him the movie would lose its soul. It is both surprising and pleasing to see Dharmendra deliver a powerhouse .His character’s dream, his dejection, his resentment, his endearing charm and his anger is so very believable. Dharmendra proves yet again that he has not lost command over the craft of acting.

Sunny Deol looks a little aged and worn out for his role in the film. Despite this, he delivers a notable performance. Though for the most part he stays restrained and mellowed, but when his wrath is invoked, the actor gives you goose bumps with his performance.

Bobby Deol’s acting is to the mark. He remains understated and doesn’t have as many dialogues in the film as the other Deols

The film’s heroines Katrina Kaif and Shilpa Shetty have small roles. Kiron Kher is brilliant yet again in a natural performance.

Director Anil Sharma gets many things right in ‘Apne’. Rather than focusing on action, he taps the emotive appeal of the film’s story. The result is a film that can leave you with moist eyes.

Dot the I - shocking!

Rating : 6.5/10

had seen this movie sometime back but had not planned to write a review of it untill I saw the promo of "NAQUAAB", the soon to be released ABBAS MUSTAN thriller with Akshaye Khanna and Bobby Deol. It seems to be a frame by frame copy of DOT THE I. Even in the promos you know it. I would wish you all to see DOT THE I before this movie comes to the theaters, bcos the film, the story is completely original, shocking and brilliant. Abbaas Mustan have a sure shot success in their hands!

This is not a main stream Hollywood film, it is probably a small budget intelligent flick. It was realased in 2003 and that you might not heard of it, is a testament of of its lack of popular stars. We miss loads of such good films.

There are 3 prime characters in this film and just a dozen extras. One rich, lonely man - Barnaby Caspian (Brilliantly potrayed by James D'Arcy) , one deeply enchanting lady - Carmen Collazo ( Natalia Verbeke - you have to see her to believe her beauty - her sex-appeal, when she dances - you are completely floored) and one poor enchanter Kit Winter(Gael Garcia Bernal - the perfect chocolate boy) The story is about deception and betrayal, but thats true about many triangular love stories. This story is truly different - its shocking.

Carmen is about to marry Barnaby, when on her bachelorette party - she meets this dreamy eyed guy Kit. As a part of some Bachelorette fun, she kisses this stranger in front of the whole restaurant. But its much more than a small kiss, its something deeply seductive. Later, she dwells on the kiss, and starts to think why did she stay lip locked for such a long time with this stranger, when she loved another man. At the same time, Kit falls in love with Carmen ( who wudnt!!!- she's wow) Then starts the betrayal, Carmen's illicit affair with Kit. Meanwhile, some ghost of the past comes back and haunts Carmen. She is afraid for her life, but Barnaby assures her safety and love forever. When Barnaby comes to know about this affair, he is completely shattered. What happens next is what's shocking. You would never know whats happening, and you cant even imagine. Its twisted and truly different.

The performances are simply great - Carmen plays the perfect lady in distress. She exudes amazing feminine sexuality and portays her helplessness with utmost grace. Kit is good , but Barnaby is awesome - playing the multifaceted character with aplomb. The screen play and direction fit the storyline perfectly and I have no complaints. I think this movie would satisfy anybody who sees it. Its the perfect pot-boiler for a Bollywood Flick and hence the apparent lift for Naquaab! The real winner is the story .

This movie was completely written off by Americans and was a complete flop, but still I dont think it deserved that. Maybe it lacks substance and maybe it seems too far fetched, but it is original and shocking.

This movie is rated R for strong sexuality and explicit language, so for all those Under 18, I think Naquaab will be their best way of knowing this twisted script. The thing that goes for this movie is that its not the usual run of the mill kind of stuff. Pick up the DVD today.

'The Foutainhead' - the movie

External Links: Cross-posted on Movie Reviews IMDB Entry.

Its is not everyday that you watch a 1949 Hollywood flick - but when it is based on the famed novel - 'The Foutainhead' - the period of the movie doesn't matter; the story of Howard Roark is as fresh and as inspiring today as it was 70 years ago.

But watching a 1949 hollywood movie makes you remember those 'Black & White' cinemas we used to watch on Doordarshan in our childhood - Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar types! The dialogue delivery seems weird and melodramatic. If you have ever seen one of those Clint Eastwood 'Inspector Callahan' movies, the dialogue delivery is in the same style, albeit even more accentuated.

I would say that the performances are good - by 1949 standards. Gary Cooper, with the wooden dialogue delivery does a perfect portrayal of Roark and Patiricia Neal is perfect as Dominique Francon who is the detached from world but selflessly dedicated to Roark. Robert Douglas also gives perfect evil smiles as Elsworth Toohey - the demagogue. Raymond Massey as Gail Wynand too does justice to his character so does Kent Smith as Peter Keating.

BUT But but, still the movie feels more like the characters are reading the dialogues from the novel even enacting the scenes exactly as described in it. For example, when Gail Wynand is awarding the last contract to Roark at the end of the movie, his expression can be paraphrased exactly as Rand wrote in the novel; I quote:

Wynand's face was more than the face of a stranger: a stranger's face is an unapproached potentiality, to be opened if one makes the choice and effort; this was a face known, closed and never to be reached again. A face that held no pain of renunciation, but the stamp of the next step, when even pain is renounced. A face remote and quiet, with a dignity of its own, not a living attribute, but the dignity of a figure on a medieval tomb that speaks of past greatness and forbids a hand to reach out for the remains.

Technically speaking, while the near-perfect portrayal of the scene would work to the credit of the actors, for a first time viewer, who hasn't read the novel - the gestures would seem animated - one would feel the lack of realism and a flavour of mythological drama in the direction of the movie.

Not the movie crew's mistake at all, I would say. The Fountainhead is a story of characters - the essence is not so much in the sequence of events (which can as well be compared to one of the 'Angry Young Man' Bollywood flicks of the 70s and 80s) - the crux of the story is in the characters that make it up. Unfortunately, in limited time of the movie, it is difficult to give time for development of characters - especially with so many of them being unique and intense.

So for those who haven't read the novel, with an expectation of seeing some drama - the movie should turn out to be a good watch. But for those who have the time and the urge - nothing would beat reading the novel itself!!