Journey to the Center of the Earth (the new one): Adventure a la video game with Brandon Fraser sweating and being generally adorable? yes, please...
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995): The movie that propelled Shahrukh Khan to mega stardom and celebrated its 700th week in theaters in March of 2009. It is a romance threatened by arranged marriage and all sorts of difficulties. The music is beautiful, Kajol shines (as she always does) and it is a joy to watch Shahrukh Khan dance.
Drona (2008): Fantasy epic with Abishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Kay Kay Menon. I will adore a movie with Kay Kay Menon in an instant. He is such a talented actor and as the bad guy/demon dude is as enjoyable as Alan Rickman in Robin Hood. If not more - cuz he's a demon! The actors do most of their own stunts, which is a little disconcerting at first, I am used to green screens and stunt doubles: semi-real looks kind of fake at first. My only real issue with the movie is one song. That hurts me. You'll know it when it starts, just hit mute and wait for the story to pick up. Really.
Honeymoon Travels Private Ltd. (2007): Ensemble piece about 6 newly married couples on a honeymoon tour of Goa. Did I mention the part about how I adore Kay Kay Menon? Yeah, he's in this. As are Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi - two actors who just make me happy, they are so good. I would recommend seeing Om Shanti Om or Don first, just for the joke. It's worth it.
Don (2006 & 1978): Mistaken identity gangster/cop movie with dancing? The new one features Shahrukh Khan as Don, some incredible fight scenes and much travel in Malaysia. Amitabh Bachchan originated the role in the 70's film, and it is totally worthwhile to see both of them. The first half of the movies are almost identical except for the clothes. There are some unreal fights and moments in both of the movies, thought the 70's movie suffers a bit more for them - at least according to one of my friends, but I thought it was brilliant. Good music, good acting, and I would still like someone to explain to me why the new Don is as good a movie as it is, because I can't explain it.
The Spirit (2009): I love movies based on comics that I've never read, and likely never will. Also, I love Samuel L. Jackson. 'nuff said.
The Punisher (2008): See above. Subsitute Ray Stevenson. Yummy bone crunching guns go 'splodey...
The Blue Umbrella (2007): My new favorite director is Vishal Bhardwaj, who also directed Omkara, about which I will rave whenever given the chance. Or just whenever. The film is based on a children's novel about a young girl who trades a necklace for a blue umbrella which becomes the object of desire for some others in her village. It is absolutely serene and pointed and a joy.
The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) (2000): What utter joy and parody and romp and ridiculous in wigs with skirts! They are going to perform at the Lied Center in March of 2010 and I'm already all sweaty about it if that tells you anything. Funny men are just fucking awesome.
Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey (2002): This is one of those films that really highlights the power of film when used for a specific purpose: to showcase the rhythms that people around the world experience and create and have for centuries or decades or years or days. It is bright and brilliant and moves from one clip to the next without losing a flow or leaving the viewer/listener wondering what would happen next, how the song would end - although it is a survey, intended to fire curiosity and awareness, which it does. It was good for my soul. Captivating.
Everybody Says I'm Fine (2001): Tale of a hair-dresser/salon owner in Bombay who hears the thoughts of his clients through their hair as he cuts it and what happens when he meets a woman whose thoughts are closed to him. Best line (that gets quoted frequently): "your saintly soul behind benign eyes..." Very odd movie. Much beloved. In English. And hey, surprise Boman Irani!
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Seriously? You didn't see it? Okay, it's at the library, check it out. We'll talk after.
Bandidas (2006): Could Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek be any more fabulous? No? I didn't think so. This is not a chick flick. This is a movie for the girlz. Just saying. I want them to make more.
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006)
The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008): Noah Wylie gets to be cute and funny and action-hero-y and get and lose the girl! How do you not love this? Formulaic and slightly more than a little moralistic and fun. Bob Newhart and Jane Curtin and Olympia Dukakis are a more than excellent supporting (literally) cast. The Library itself is the stuff of story-telling and imagination. I hope they make more.
Swades (2004): Shahrukh Khan as a NASA scientist who travels back to India to find his former nanny and bring her to the States so that he can care for her in her dotage. It doesn't work out that way. I loved this movie. I would like to see the longer version that was released in India, but as I do not (as yet) speak Hindi, and the only copy we have around is not subtitled (although the subtitles for this movie lend credence to the opinions of people who think subtitles are stupid (check out my entry on the King James Version of the song lyrics)), I will be patient and persist. The music and landscape are sweeping, the story very simple and straightforward and deeply moving, especially as I am one of those who finds belonging to a land incredibly powerful and moving (the child of Vikings and colonizers and wanderers finds home more transient than most).
Death at a Funeral (2007): British farce done very well. The grinning scene is worth everything. Avoid the commentary with Frank Oz, though. I found it difficult and sort of, um, repetitive? Alan Tudyk is just brilliant. As is Matthew Macfadyen. Fun Fun Fun.
Thus concludes this installment! I will turn the page before next time and we'll see how long it takes to catch up! (should be about two more entries before I'm current)
Enjoy!
