Dingataca Reviews

Action Replayy (2010)

Good for a laugh, but don't expect outstanding cinema

[31 December 2010]

I feel that I'm being quite generous on my rating of 7/10, as I was expecting a lot from Action Replayy and it did not live up to those standards. With Akshay Kumar playing a lead role, I was expecting gut-bursting laughs, and thankfully, that has fulfilled it's promise. I found the humour to be the saving grace in the movie, and there are laughs. I would not call them gut-bursting laughs, but there were many comical moments that evolved into a hearty laugh from me. Akshay did not disappoint.

The plot is basically non-existent, and is loosely adapted from Robert Zemeckis's genius "Back to the Future". Sadly Action Replayy is not in the same realm in the slightest. It's sad that BTTF has to be linked to this as it is a poor adaptation of a classic movie. The lack of plot is the key factor which lets the film down. In addition, the film is quite jumpy and many important details are left unexplained, confusing the viewer.

The casting is well done, although I never would have placed Neha Dhupia in her role of Mona. I feel she has the talent capacity of a grape, and was not wrong as she was just a pretty face in the movie. Akshay was lovable and funny, and the physical transformation we see him in is hilarious. He makes a fantastic geek. Aishwarya as his love interest was an interesting choice - they have not been seen together on screen for a while and I was curious to see the outcome. She looks stunning on screen, the 1970s style and attire suits her brilliantly and she looks very much like a Hindi Film heroine from that era. Her performance was satisfactory, I enjoyed her in the role of Mala, and there's no denying she performed well, if we excuse some overacting. Rannvijay Singh as Kundanlal was irksome and brings out a lot of the comedy in the movie - he was a great villain. Rajpal Yadav as always, made me laugh. However the most striking piece of the puzzle was the newcomer Aditya Roy Kapoor as the protagonist Bunty. He's very appealing and for one of his first few films I'd say he did a good job. There were points where I found him quite irritating but it was more the fault of the poor screenplay and lack of storyline. Bunty screaming "Woo Hoo!" at seeing his parents fall in love, made me cringe immensely, but I hold this more to the script and not him. Kirron Kher and Om Puri are wasted, but as usual play their parts par excellence as expected. And there is even another fresh face playing Bunty's love interest Tanya.

I loathed the "time machine" scenes because they were done with about the effort of a five-year old. We were told the bare minimum about the time machine and the CGI-travelling-through-time sequence is terrible. I also found the music less catchy than what I expected, and some of the lyrics are terrible - "all my ladies and my mans, and my mans and all my ladies!" - there were very few good quality musical bits.

Action Replayy is a flawed film, with it's plot (or lack of) being the main letdown, but I still wouldn't say this film is not worth watching. As much as I didn't want to, I did find the humour amusing and there are definitely laughable moments in the film. Action Replayy is more lighthearted than anything, and should be seen with an open mind and low expectations. This is good for a lazy evening in, but don't watch this expecting a great cinematic experience, because it's not that sort of film. If you're looking for an easy laugh, however, this could be it.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

A slightly lacklustre ending for such an excellent franchise

[27 May 2008]

Like a lot of people, I was greatly anticipating the release of this film. And although I saw it two days ago I had to wait 48 hours before reviewing simply because I could not make up my mind about the film. 'Kingdom...' had good elements and bad, but the positives thankfully overshadow the negatives, even if it is by the skin of their teeth.

The plot was entertaining but mixing Indy with Star Trek ultimately proved to be a failure. Although entertaining and shot well, the whole extraterrestrials theme was weak and doesn't feel right. I felt it didn't really go anywhere; the film seemed to be based around dreadful metal skulls, I wanted the old Indy back! The whole 'X Files' thing going on was pretty much unrecognisable and in my opinion was the worst thing in the film. The script was powerless and shaky for an Indiana Jones movie, and there was even a point where I was cringing . The shoddy C.G.I was just fuel to the fire.

On a better note, the cast was in top shape. Apart from Cate Blanchett doing my head in with her awful mixed accent, I was pleasantly surprised and loved the actors. Harrison Ford was brilliant. He did little wrong, and I liked the way he confessed, in character, that he wasn't a young man anymore. I'm glad he didn't carry out a charade of pretending he's in his prime, something a lot of great actors have sadly done in the past. I was greatly surprised Ford would reprise his role so well, but his dry and sly humour is long gone, something that will be missed, but on the whole he was great. Shia LaBeouf was shocking. I saw him first in 'Transformers' and 'Holes' and thought he was very good, but he was outstanding as Mutt. He was very convincing and steals the show more than a few times. I never really found him annoying and was glad he was there, he had some funny scenes and lines and is memorable. John Hurt as Oxley was just painful to watch, seeing he was insane for basically 90% of the movie. It was a relief to see him back to normal, unfortunately it was too late to enjoy by then. Karen Allen coming back as Marion Ravenwood was great, I'll admit she overacted a bit, but it was nice to have her back and although she was cheesy, she was fun and lightened the mood. I found Cate Blanchett to have the worst performance out of the lot; she was awful and I could barely stand her throughout. She was not menacing or convincing, just irritating and embarrassing. Irina Spalko did not come alive, it was more of 'Irina Spastic' who did. Ray Winstone wasn't that memorable, but he was good as Mac.

I found the ending and start of 'Kingdom...' to be the weakest. The beginning just didn't do it for me, it just didn't have that same punch as the previous Indiana Jones films. It wasn't thrilling and interesting, which is what really let it down. The ending wasn't much better. It was cheesy and the whole 'Wow I found my long-lost son, I'm so happy' theme plain tacky. I expected more from Spielberg as far as the ending was concerned. However, the action was great and re-created the magic of the previous films. There was suspense, and despite the plot being dull, many parts were intriguing.

All in all, this movie is watchable only for the performances. If you are a die-hard fan, you should go see it. But if not, I'd avoid. Seeing it would probably put you off the other three, which in contrast, are just superb. Indy didn't deserve this.

About a Boy (2002)

Great fun!

[15 April 2008]

Will (Hugh Grant) is the envy of every man. He doesn't work, drives a fast car, enjoys casual relationships, and at 38 has rid his life of all responsibilities...until he meets Marcus. A unique 12 year old boy who turns his life upside down.

Hugh Grant as Will was expertly cast. He was hilarious, charming, and ridiculously attractive - perfect :) He played his part effortlessly and provided a lot of the humour throughout the movie, though this was subtly taken over by the many moving, sweet moments that he also contributed. This is arguably his best ever performance. Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, I hate to admit, was very very VERY good. I saw the TV show in which he stars, 'Skins', and thought he, and the show, were both awful. But I have to say he was great as Marcus. Rachel Weisz appears only halfway through the film and was decent enough I guess, she didn't have much to do (and seemed pretty bored doing it anyway). Toni Collette as Marcus's mum was fantastic. I actually thought she was a hippie with issues - that's how well cast she was!

On the whole, About A Boy is an unforgettable and heartwarming Britcom, that does complete justice to the novel.

Rain Man (1988)

A sensitive and moving view of Autism with beautiful performances

[12 April 2008]

Self-centred salesman Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) kidnaps the autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman) he never knew existed to try and claw back his inheritance. Rain Man is about two brothers, and their new, forming relationship, learning to live with and love each other, and making that understanding that only brothers have.

Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt is without doubt one of the finest performances I have ever seen from Hollywood in the last two decades. The standard I think he set with Rain Man is one that is difficult to beat - he was extremely impressive as an autistic man. The way he walked, talked, even his eye movement and facial expressions, were all perfect. I was bowled over by his talent, and found him to be extremely believable as Raymond. Now, I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, but I have to admit he was very, very good in his role of the thoughtless, cynical, and arrogant Charlie Babbitt. This was probably the best he's ever done in his acting career. In addition to two wonderful performances, Cruise and Hoffman's connection on screen was fantastic, resulting in truly emotional, moving, and many times humorous, occasions. They had me floored.

I found Rain Man to have amazing cinematography. The entire casino sequence, I thought, was filmed beautifully. And a commendable mention must go to the elevator scene, with Raymond and Susanna. I found that scene to be truly heartbreaking, but at the same time sweet. The ending is one of those moments that cannot be explained; a unique closure that is truly soul-stirring and touching. Overrall, this is a poignant, powerful view of the human spirit.

Rain Man is a rare gem, and one which cannot be forgotten.

No Reservations (2007)

A slice of romantic drama gone awry

[10 April 2008]

Catherine Zeta-Jones is Kate, a perfectionist head chef obsessed with her work. When her sister tragically passes away and leaves her with a child to raise (played by Abigail Breslin), and her new sous-chef (Aaron Eckhart) threatens to take over her perfectly managed kitchen with his exuberance and free spirit, she struggles to adjust, but soon realises not everything in life can be handled as expertly as roast quail.

I found Catherine Zeta-Jones monotonous and irritating in this movie. She seemed to have only ONE voice throughout the whole film, she showed no emotion, even in the most serious scenes. Aaron Eckhart makes up for her, but does not manage to save the film. His character was seriously underdeveloped - apart from liking opera the audience was told nothing about him. However he and Zeta-Jones did have an impressive subtle chemistry. Abigail Breslin as Zoe, was mediocre. Her brother Spencer Breslin was never interesting to me and she is pretty much the same. Also I didn't find her believable enough as a girl grieving for her deceased mother.

Overall, 'No Reservations' is a pretty bland dish, despite being cooked in a smart kitchen. 5/10

28 Days (2000)

Good for such a serious topic - but not good enough

[10 April 2008]

Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock) is a successful New York writer who's everyone's favourite party girl. Life to Gwen and her boyfriend Jasper (Dominic West) is just a fun filled exercise in debauchery; stumbling from bar to night-club to hangover, until, Gwen's alcohol-fuelled display at her sister Lily's wedding results in a drunk-driving charge and a court order to spend 28 days in rehab. Determined she does not belong, Gwen refuses to conform to the unique set of rules and rituals she is faced with. It's only through the relationships she forms with the other patients and her counsellor, Cornell (Steve Buscemi) that she begins to realise there may be more to life than being the life and soul of the party.

Sandra Bullock's performance as Gwen was average compared to her other movies. The movie in general was pretty entertaining, but nothing great. Bullock was strong in her performance as Gwen but it was not powerful enough to create an impact. However, it was strong enough to allow her to carry the movie alone - the other members of the cast all performed well but I felt their roles were not large enough. The only problem I had with '28 Days' is that the movie seemed to flit between comedy and drama. Humour was added during the serious moments and vice-versa, causing the end result to not be as good as it could have been. I felt '28 Days' should have stuck to one of the genres rather than switch constantly between them.

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

A masterpiece full of sensitivity and emotion

[8 April 2008]

Sense and Sensibility is the story of two sisters: reserved and pragmatic Elinor (Emma Thompson) and passionate, wilful Marianne (Kate Winslet). When their father, Henry Dashwood, dies, by law his estate must pass to the oldest son from his first marriage. Suddenly homeless and impoverished, his current wife and daughters find themselves living in a simple country cottage. The two sisters are soon accepted into their new society. Marianne becomes swept up in a passionate love affair with the dashing Willoughby (Greg Wise), while Elinor struggles to keep a tight rein on the family purse strings and to keep her feelings for Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant), whom she left behind, hidden from her family. Despite their different personalities, they both experience great sorrow in their affairs, but they learn to mix sense with sensibility in a society that is obsessed with both financial and social status.

Emma Thompson, was outstanding as Elinor. The quality of her acting for this movie is almost indescribable, and she brought a lease of life into Elinor that I doubt anyone else would, with that amount of finesse and realism. She broke my heart with her story as Elinor, and I was also impressed learning the fact that she penned the entire Screenplay for this movie. Kate Winslet also shined as Elinor's dreamy younger sister Marianne. The second half of this movie belongs primarily to Winslet, and the first half to Thompson, though each steal moments from either half. Winslet was extremely impressive as Marianne, she was extremely believable with her tearful and emotional outbursts for Willoughby - I wanted to applaud her in those scenes. Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars was believable enough, but nothing great. I am a fan of his movies and was disappointed with his performance, though he had some notable body language, like the stiff walk, thumb-twiddling, and upper-class British accent (which he actually has in most movies). Greg Wise as Willoughby seemed like a decent choice: his role wasn't powerful or big enough to comment on in detail. Alan Rickman shocked me, I have only ever seen him as Snape in the Harry Potter series and was really shocked to see him as the emotional, gentlemanly Col. Brandon. The rest of the cast were also very good and contributed to the classic story.

All in all, Sense and Sensibility's biggest strength is the powerful and applause-worthy performances given by Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Ang Lee's direction combined with the acting power of these two actresses was bound to make a success, and it did. Jane Austen should be proud.

Aquamarine (2006)

A pretty bad 'tweenage' adaptation of The Little Mermaid

[7 April 2008]

Aquamarine is about two preteen girls who rescue a stranded mermaid and find themselves giving her lessons in love. Aquamarine (Sara Paxton), the mermaid, who is trying to escape from her serious father and pending sea marriage, needs to find love in 3 days or she will have to return to the ocean to be married. Claire (Emma Roberts) and Hailey (JoJo), two girls who live on the beach, decide to help her, and together they try to get the new hot lifeguard Raymond (Jake McDorman) to fall in love with Aqua.

Performance wise, this movie lacked a lot. Sara Paxton as Aquamarine was the only half-good thing in this movie, along with the creepy caretaker Bruce Spence. Emma Roberts as Claire was pretty annoying - I don't like her weird little show Unfabulous, and I don't like her here. As Julia Roberts's niece I would have expected more. JoJo wasn't anything great either, I'm not a fan of her music, and after this, I'm not a fan of her acting. Jake McDorman suited his part at Raymond (in terms of looks - he's kind of cute), but his hair-flipping and showoff/jock accent got on my nerves.

I'm a big fan of The Little Mermaid, but this adaptation, to be honest, sucks. The ending is a little unpredicted but very cliché. I guess for young girls (or really feminine boys...whatever floats your boat) up to age 10 or 12, it would be okay, perhaps even good. But anyone else, I'd avoid this at all costs.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

Much better than what I expected

[6 April 2008]

I saw this movie mainly out of impulse. I had read the book before and thought it was superbly written with an interesting story. I admit the movie was not as good as the book, but I was very surprised about how much I actually enjoyed the film.

4 teenagers and best friends are split up for the summer, all heading in different directions. Carmen (America Ferrera), a 'drama queen', is off to South Carolina to visit her father, who does not live with her, only to get a surprise when she gets there; Bridget (Blake Lively), the sporty one, travels to a soccer camp in Mexico where she meets a guy; Lena (Alexis Bledel), a shy and beautiful girl, is headed for Greece where her grandparents live; and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), the rebel, is staying at home for the summer, where she becomes friends with Bailey, a 12 year old with leukemia that doesn't leave her alone. Some time before their separation, the friends find a pair of thrift shop jeans, that somehow magically manage to fit them all perfectly despite their completely different sizes, shapes, and builds. The four decide to share these jeans throughout the summer, each one posting it to the next, to somehow keep them together while they are apart. The girls seem to underestimate their magic, because the 'traveling pants' do much more them keep them together; it bears witness to all their difficulties and struggles during the summer and connects them, even though physically they are not together.

The four actresses all performed very well, though it is impossible to say which was the strongest performer, as each role was very different. I liked Amber Tamblyn a lot as Tibby though, after reading the book and seeing the film she seems perfect for her role. The little girl playing Bailey was not outstanding but cute enough. And the irritating guy who was Eric, Bridget's love interest, I found, could not act. And not to mention that it looked seriously dodgy, because he looked about 10 years older than her... Carmen's dad and family were adequate, their roles weren't big enough to comment much on. Overall the four protagonists were the stars, each one contributing immensely to the mood and style of the movie. They all shone and deserve full credit for the enjoyable approach and fun-factor in the film. The most impressive thing of the film was how the director Ken Kwapis managed to entwine the four stories together, I found the way the stories were linked to be better than the book in that aspect. I will watch this again, simply because it is great fun.

Greatly exceeded my expectations.

The American President (1995)

Politics and love - proves to be an interesting combination...

[4 April 2008]

President of the USA, Chief Executive, and widower, Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) falls for a lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), and then freefalls in the polls. Bustling staff members, a sneering opponent, state dinners, formal protocol, informal moments, global crises - all come into focus as the President explores the balance between private romance and public Presidency.

The American President fits into a category that seems to fly over the romantic comedy label and sweep under the intense political drama tag. In short it is a very well made mix of both with outstanding performances from the entire cast. Michael Douglas shined as the powerful and charming leader. He delivered the best performance in the film and suited his role extremely well. The charisma and subtle attractiveness he exuded was impeccable and I believe that this is one of his best to date. Annette Bening was above average, I didn't find her to completely match Douglas in terms of performance but she was decent and fitted into the shoes of the attractive, confident lobbyist(though I don't find her that pretty to be honest). Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, David Paymer, Anna Deavere Smith are all wonderful as the President's speedy staff, and Shawna Waldron plays a small but effective part as Lucy Shepherd, the President's daughter.

The American President is an engaging movie that will capture your attention till the very end, a very large part of that due to the dominant and impressive performance given by Michael Douglas.

Like Stars on Earth (2007)

Beautifully made, and full of inspiration

[25 March 2008]

Everyone knows Aamir Khan the actor - now they have seen Aamir Khan the director - a sensitive and artistic director with a fine eye for detail. A maker of true quality cinema; a director who extracts the best from every actor, every department, every person contributing to his movie.

Ishaan Awasthi (Darsheel Safary), is a young boy of eight who admires and adores the simple things in life, such as Nature, colours, animals and toys. The 'real' world - as his parents tell him - which consists of grades, neatness, and homework, is just too tiring and boring for Ishaan to deal with and he spends his time daydreaming and having fun. Unlike his older brother Yohaan, who has earned an admirable reputation for his top marks and studious attitude, Ishaan cannot seem to focus, however hard he tries, and reading and writing are torture on his mind. Ishaan starts a reputation of his own, one of mischief and bad behaviour, and is ultimately packed off to boarding school, to be "disciplined". Torn away from his family, and isolated in a world of bright, prim-proper children, Ishaan is lost in a new world, of misery and and tears. His impressive talent for painting and drawing is barely recognized - he cannot fit in academically and this is causing him to succumb to stress and fear, not to mention killing his self esteem completely. One day a new art teacher joins his school, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan), who encourages the children to think bright an bold; fill their minds with imagination; dance, sing, express themselves. As the other kids grow to love Nikumbh, Ishaan barely acknowledges his new teacher, and remains in his daze of homesickness and gloom. Nikumbh sees past Ishaan, and views the pain in his eyes, and using his kind, patient nature, he discovers that Ishaan suffers from Dyslexia - a learning disorder which is the cause of his low marks. Nikumbh holds out a helping hand to Ishaan, and becomes the one person to look past the grades and see the boy inside, resulting in a close and caring friendship, and exulting Ishaan into the clouds once more - but this time to find his foothold.

Taare Zameen Par is Aamir Khan's directorial debut, as well as his debut as a producer. One very impressive thing about his direction is the pace of the movie, which progresses naturally until the very end. The cinematography and production design were superb, as was the music. The added animation, which surprised me, was better than anything I expected for a Bollywood movie; much crisper and sharper, transporting the viewer to the world of Ishaan's dreams. The A-Grade script by Amol Gupte also contributes greatly, and I did not find the ending to be "cheesy" or too dramatic in the slightest.

The fine performance by Darsheel Safary stands out, and the little one is sure to be remembered for his fantastic portrayal of Ishaan Awasthi. Though I found he didn't speak much throughout the movie, he brought a life to his role and endeared himself to the audience. His performance brought a lump to my throat on more than one occasion, and reminded me of certain parts of my childhood. Whenever anyone says 'CHILD STAR', I will think of him. Aamir surprised me once more by letting the little one carry the movie forward, and only appearing just about halfway. Even then, Aamir did not steal the film, though he did give a powerful performance, and the spotlight was kept on Darsheel. The two actors playing Ishaan's parents, Tisca Chopra and Vipin Sharma, were adequate, though I was more impressed with Chopra than her male counterpart. The chemistry between the cast seemed good, though I thought Darsheel and Aamir's on screen connection could have seemed stronger.

The soundtrack amazed me. My favourite song, had to be 'Maa'. The amount tears I shed during that one song is hard to explain. The beautiful lyrics added to the charm of the song, and even hearing it now makes me want to cry my heart out. 'Bum Bum Bole' is a lighthearted and catchy track picturised on Aamir, and 'Jame Raho' is an addictive number which was used and picturised very well. 'Kholo Kholo' is a soulful song with again, gorgeous lyrics, leaving 'Bheja Kum', an interesting track, used to show Ishaan's trouble at Boarding School. The title track was also lovely.

I really regret not having seen this when it released. After viewing it, I strongly believe this is the best movie that came out in 2007, every film seems weak before Taare Zameen Par, it overshadows almost every movie by far.

A great and inspiring experience.

Meet the Robinsons (2007)

The best Disney animated movie I've seen in a long time

[25 March 2008]

I watched this movie just by chance, and was really surprised about how much I enjoyed it. With a good plot twist and amazing animation, Meet The Robinsons is great fun for any age and is one of the few Disney films that isn't complete and utter rubbish nowadays.

I am a huge fan of the Disney animation movies and I was really pleased to finally see a film that isn't complete trash from their camp. Recently nearly everything they release seems to be unrealistic, weak and pathetic; they're churning out stupid films, awful compared to their beautiful era of older renaissance movies, the much loved classics loved by all. Meet The Robinsons is the best production I've seen Disney let out since Tarzan (1999), and I'm glad to say that.

The animation is stunning - complete 3-D brilliance. The characters are also extremely well developed with much more depth than one imagines for an animated production. The plot was simultaneously pleasurable and intriguing with a twist or two, adding to the drama and excitement.

Welcome back Disney...

Fanaa (2006)

Tere ishq mein, meri jaan, fanaa ho jaye...

[24 February 2008]

Fanaa is a gripping tale of true love, terrorism, loss, and freedom. It's also about making the right choices, and listening to your heart, which is cheesy but kind of true.

Zooni Ali Beg (Kajol) is a beautiful, confident, witty Kashmiri girl, whose only problem in life is the fact that she can't see. She's blind. Despite this, she shares a warm and loving relationship with her parents, Nafisa (Kiron Kher) and Zulfikar (Rishi Kapoor), who adore their daughter and always dream of her finding her 'prince'. Zooni travels to Delhi with her friends, who are also her dance troupe, for a performance, and secretly hopes to bump into love on the way. Once in Delhi, Zooni meets Rehan, their tour guide, who has a roving eye for women. Rehan is completely fascinated by Zooni, and she by him, despite her friends' warnings about his Casanova personality. Rehan shows Zooni how to see without her eyes. How to view Delhi's beauty despite her blindness, and bowls her over with his poetry. The two soon fall in love, and Rehan admits Zooni to a hospital for an operation that will regain her vision. Zooni's eyes open, but they never see Rehan. He was killed in a bomb blast by IKF - Independent Kashmiri Front - a ruthless organization that desire an independent Kashmir. Zooni's world is destroyed, and she returns home, where she later delivers a baby boy, who she names Rehan Jr, in memory of her love. Seven years later she gets a desperate knock on the door, by a wounded army officer in need of urgent medical attention. Zooni helps nurse him back to health, but she has no idea how this one man can turn her world even more upside down, and cause her to make decisions in life that she never thought she could.

Kajol owned all the way through. I though Aamir was very good also but just could not match her. She looked completely stunning and held the top spot till the end. I strongly believe this is one of her best performances, and was quite surprised because I have seen a lot of Kajol's movies and I have never thought she'd play a blind girl with so much conviction. But she was amazing. Aamir was not as powerful compared to his female counterpart but he was extremely convincing as Rehan. But I liked him much more in the 1st half, sprouting poetry. He looked a little old in the 2nd half, which was slightly off-putting. Tabu delivered a very fine performance, second only to Kajol. Her new look really suited her and she was great as the intelligent Anti-Terrorist official. Rishi Kapoor and Kiron Kher were perfectly cast as Zooni's parents, and an honourable mention goes to Ali Haji, who played Rehan Jr. He was so cute and outstanding for his age. Shiny Ahuja and Lara Dutta made small, forgettable appearances.

For me the best thing about Fanaa was the chemistry between Aamir Khan and Kajol. They were superb individually and when they were together it was even better. Some of Aamir's best moments were when he was with Kajol, and vice versa. I never thought they'd make a good on-screen couple but I was proved wrong.

The soundtrack of Fanaa is a big plus point. Each track is beautiful and I thought worked very well in the film. My favourite was 'Mere Haath Mein', a lovely song with even an even better picturization. Not forgetting that Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan together is like sex on lyrics!:) 'Des Rangila' is an inspirational melody, and 'Chand Sifarish' has a really catchy tune to it. 'Dekho Naa' is also worth a mention, I loved the way it was used to create a romantic mood. The dialogues and choreography were great.

All in all, Fanaa is a very well made movie, that isn't exactly up to the standard that Kunal Kohli set with Hum Tum, but close. And Kajol's performance makes it worth it.

There's Something About Mary (1998)

One of the 90's best comedies

[17 February 2008]

Ted (Ben Stiller) has been in love with Mary (Cameron Diaz) since High School, and thirteen years later, he is realising his life is going nowhere because of it. He decides to track her down, using the help of a top-notch private investigator named Pat Healy (Matt Dillon), and try to rebuild the relationship they once had. But when the investigator also falls in love with Mary, it isn't easy for Ted to find his lost love, and madness follows, all about Mary.

Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller had a very impressive chemistry together, and I always think of this as one of Diaz's best roles. She was a very good Mary, and she made the character very likable with her charming smile. I found there to actually be something about her, but maybe it was just the way they portrayed her. Ben Stiller was mediocre, but does provide some very funny moments and contributes immensely to the film. The way he voiced it over was also a good touch. I thought Matt Dillon as the private detective was a great choice and he was an good villain, though a little too creepy. All the other actors were excellent in their parts, (especially the seven-minute abs guy, who was hilarious).

The only problem with this movie, and it is a small one, was how 9/10 of the sequences in the film aren't 'laugh out loud funny'. I found a lot of the film to to be entertaining, and/or sweet, but not a lot of it made me actually laugh my guts out. Another thing I found annoying, how they said the F word in nearly every sentence. I felt they overused it, in some parts of the movie was necessary to curse, but the majority of the time it seemed fake and tacky when the characters swore. I mean, it would have been just as funny without that much swearing.

A little raunchy, but very entertaining.

The Namesake (2006)

It blew me away...

[17 February 2008]

*Minor Spoilers*

I have wanted to watch this movie from the very beginning, but never actually got around to it, and now, after watching this last night, I wish I had watched it earlier. But better late than never.

The film starts with Ashoke Ganguli, (Irrfan Khan) a bookworm, marrying Ashima (Tabu), a trained classical singer. The two then move from Calcutta, East India to Queens, New York; essential as Ashoke must continue with his engineering career. The change is difficult for both, especially Ashima, and she strives to adjust to her new life and the new culture she is now living in. Soon after the couple have two children, Sonia (Sahira Nair), and Gogol (Kal Penn). Gogol was named after Ashoke's favourite author Nicholai Gogol, and we learn that the name means a lot as the film progresses. The film then shifts perspective to Gogol's life. We see Gogol as a teenager, his battles with his name, neither Indian or American, and the ridicule he suffers as an adolescent. We then see Gogol pursuing his career as an Manhattan-based urban architect, and his personal struggle to find his own identity without letting go of his inherited background.

The Namesake deals with loss, life, relationships and the main characters evoke a collection of emotions which vary from gaiety to misery, pain to love. We get a look into cultural clashes, traditional values versus Americanized, modern thinking. But I found the The Namesake is not a nationality war, but a mature and understanding tale, full of tolerance and experience. And just watching the movie, I was given an insight of what many people, including even my parents, must have been through. It was extremely moving.

The performances of the main characters - the Ganguli family, have been some of the most powerful performances for me to watch on screen. Irrfan Khan and Tabu, two of the finest actors in Indian Cinema, perfected their roles and brought life into their characters. They were, for me, the finest performances, the REAL stars. They also had a fantastic chemistry, which was subtle and pure. Khan was outstanding as Ashoke, this is the first movie of his I have watched, and I now see what makes him such a admirable, first-rate actor. Tabu was also brilliant. Her performance as Ashima was so realistic to me. I saw in her what I see in my grandmother, devotion, sincerity, and most of all, acceptance. I was endeared to her character instantly - "Ashima means without borders, limitless". A particularly memorable scene would be her and Ashoke waving goodbye to their family in Calcutta, a moment that had me spellbound at the reality of the scene. Kal Penn was extraordinary as Gogol. Being an Indian myself, also one not living in my homeland, I could identify with Gogol a lot. His performance was full of sensitivity and emotion and it really came through to me. We see his growth as a rebellious graduate to a fine young man, and I was not expecting this from Kal Penn at all, as his filmography is full of stereotypical, comical roles, but he proved me wrong.

Mira Nair's direction of this movie is a blessing. I thought it was miraculous of her to fit an entire 2 generations and 3 decades in two hours. And the pace of which she did it with is beautifully done. Her cast choice was great, and I found The Namesake to have a certain class, a certain sensibility to it. Her depiction of Calcutta and New York was one of the key points in the film, and I loved the way she made them both so real. She made a bustling, colourful Calcutta, and a dull, raging New York so genuine. They were both so similar, but again so different.

"We all came out of Gogol's Overcoat".

The Sound of Music (1965)

My favourite musical of all time...

[27 January 2008]

Maria is a young lady studying to be a nun, but is unsure of convent life, as her whole personality, her whole way of living is very different from every other nun in the Abbey. She is sent away to be a governess to seven children, of the Von Trapp family. Their father, Captain Georg Von Trapp, is a widower and very harsh on his children, treating them like he would do to his naval army. When Maria arrives she changes this, and brings music and laughter into the household, but not even Maria can change all the events that are about to come...

Many have grown up with this movie, and I am one of them. As a child I loved The Sound Of Music, and I still do. A timeless classic, The Sound Of Music can be watched again and again. It is a universal movie, and there is a squeaky clean plot. No sex, no drugs, and no violence. Perfect for family audiences.

This was the second film I saw with Julie Andrews, and I loved her more in this movie than I have with any of her other films. This is my favourite role of hers. She was the perfect Maria - her smile, her kindness, her attitude and confidence, and her angelic and enchanting voice. She looked beautiful, and her chemistry with Christopher Plummer was indeed wonderful. He was a good Captain Von Trapp, though he started off a bit rocky in my opinion. But his performance greatly improved throughout and by the end I could not imagine anyone else in his role. The children, every single one of them, delivered fine performances. They had exceptional singing voices, considering their age, and kudos to their choreographer for their dance sequences, especially in "Do-Re-Mi" and "So Long Farewell", which they were brilliant in.

I strongly believe the popularity of The Sound Of Music is mainly to the outstanding musical score by Roger and Hammerstein, but there are more factors to consider. For example, the gorgeous scenery, the acting (Julie Andrews owns this film), the universal family appeal, or maybe even the values that the film embraces. They are so decent. The popularity factor could be due of any one of these, however I believe it was the music. Each song is so wonderfully crafted. I cannot choose a favourite out of the songs, but I have always had a soft spot for "Do-Re-Mi". I never really liked the song "Edelweiss" as a child, but now when I listen to it, I love it. It is highly underrated. "My Favourite Things" is a great song, very catchy, and really exposes Andrews' beautiful singing voice. "The Lonely Goatherd" also did that, but this time with...brace yourselves...PUPPETS! I remember watching that song over and over again and giggling with my family at the puppets and the yodeling - a lovely memory. I also think "Something Good", and "I Have Confidence" are nice songs, and the same goes for "So Long Farewell", with the children. And I cannot forget the outstanding choreography and singing in "Sixteen Going On Seventeen", Liesl and Rolf's chemistry in that song was cuter than a cocker spaniel.

There are many subplots in The Sound Of Music, like the romance with Liesl and Rolf, the war and escaping, the Baroness's entry into the lives of the Von Trapps, the singing competition, Maria's trouble in the convent...but the main story would be of the family, and their story together.

Definitely one of my 'favourite things'!

Along Came Polly (2004)

A funny and cute comedy with 'Ben and Jen'

[16 January 2008]

Along Came Polly is not a masterpiece in the rom-com genre, but I did enjoy it, and although the humour is sometimes gross, it does make you laugh. However I would not consider this to be one of those movies to watch again and again. A one time watch, or just once every so often is good enough.

Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) analyses risk for a living and is an extremely cautious man, with an extremely cautious life. When he marries Lisa (Debra Messing), everyone considers them the perfect couple, as they are well suited to one another. But when Lisa cheats on him on their honeymoon with their Frenchie-French scuba diving instructor Claude (Hank Azaria...BUFFED UP!), Reuben's heart breaks. He returns to New York and bumps into Polly Prince (Jennifer Aniston), and they begin dating, despite being very different. Polly lives in the moment, Reuben thinks ahead. Polly loves ethnic food, Reuben hates it. Polly isn't too big with long-term relationships, whereas Reuben swears by it. Nevertheless their relationships seems to work. But when Lisa comes crawling back to Reuben, he is forced to make a decision. Who will it be, the free-spirited Polly, or Lisa, with whom Reuben shares a lot in common?

I thought this movie was very cute and I liked the ferret :). Ben Stiller's performance was not outstanding in this movie but he did play Reuben well, and to be honest I cannot imagine another actor as Reuben at all. He has a very identifiable voice and the knack of just being plain adorable. I would not say he owned the movie, like he usually does, but he certainly was very good. Jennifer Aniston was also just over average. I loved her in Friends, Bruce Almighty, but sadly I don't think she did as well as she could have. But her role was smaller than I would have thought. I really liked her character Polly Prince though, and I think this was because Polly was so much like myself. The last-minute planning, being untidy, liking ethnic food, the hunting for keys...all of this screamed 'ME' all the way through, and I thought Polly was a very realistic and likable character. Hank Azaria was so cute as Claude! Okay, so he was meant to be the villain, but come on, he's BUFF. He has a six pack and the French accent was just amazing. He is really talented if he can do about 5 different voices in 'The Simpsons' and then the Frenchiest French accent ever, here. Debra Messing made a small role as Lisa but she wasn't anything great, Philip Seymour Hoffman was hilarious as Sandy Lyle. I thought the character was gross, but very likable.

Not the best from Stiller or Aniston, but still delivers laughs.

Salaam-E-Ishq (2007)

Salaam-e-...Ah forget it...

[6 January 2008]

(**Some Spoilers**)

I think Nikhil Advani tried to be too clever with this one, and it backfired on him. He did everything right with Kal Ho Naa Ho, unfortunately this one does not live up to the standard he left. I have to say I expected a lot more from this movie, being a Kal Ho Naa Ho lover, I thought this would be of the same level, unfortunately not.

Salaam-e-Ishq is a poor Love Actually ripoff. Love Actually isn't the best film ever made I admit, but it is better than this and it isn't a friggin' 3 and a half hours long! And Love Actually had EIGHT couples/story lines, and managed to be much shorter than Salaam-e-Ishq, whereas Salaam-e-Ishq has SIX couples/story lines, and is SO much longer. Then again, trust Bollywood to add in like a million song and dance sequences.

The stories: Tehzeeb and Ashutosh (Vidya Balan, John Abraham) are a young couple in love and cannot keep their hands off each other, when Tehzeeb loses her memory, she forgets him and their love, and Ashutosh must get it back. Vinay (Anil Kapoor) and Seema (Juhi Chawla) who have been married for a long time. They live in London, have 2 children, and a large house. However Vinay is not content with this and his relationship with his family breaks when he gets involved with a much younger woman named Anjali. Shiven (Akshaye Khanna) and Seema's sister Gia (Ayesha Takia) are engaged, but Shiven has a commitment phobia and gets cold feet very easily. Gia loves him deeply but when she realises his cold feet she leaves him. And Shiven has to get her back somehow. Kkamini (Priyanka Chopra) is an item girl in the Film Industry but craves to be a full-blown heroine, unfortunately the media won't take her seriously and neither will film directors. Kkamini creates a phony lover named Rahul to push her into the media spotlight, but when a Rahul (Salman Khan) comes along she is forced to go with it and her lie becomes a reality. Raju (played by Govinda) is a taxi driver with big dreams of love. He believes one day his blonde, blue-eyed dream girl will step through the airport doors and into his taxi. One day it happens, but not in the way he expects. Sohail Khan and Ishaa Koppikar make small appearances every now and then as Couple Six, who want to spice up their personal life.

The performances seemed very forced, and I was not impressed. Juhi Chawla, was the only one who acted in the whole film. She was practically screaming "I am the only decent performer" throughout the whole 3 and a half hours, and I wish she had been given a bigger part. She was so wasted. Anil Kapoor, her on screen husband didn't impress me. He was so wooden and did nothing but look stoned in his scenes, which was meant to be 'love'. He also fell in love with a young girl who I found extremely unattractive, and the scenes with Juhi and Anil's kids was seriously exaggerated. But I liked the Juhi-Anil story best and found it the story which was the most real.

Priyanka Chopra looked strangely gorgeous, but her storyline with Salman was utter rubbish. Since when do publicity stunts come true? Their plot was a load of b.s and the performances of both of them were just as bad. They had the worst storyline but the most screen time in the movie, I wonder why (hint hint, director was scared of Salman)

Another story that was very well done was the Gia-Shiven story. Akshaye Khanna is a really good actor. I haven't seen many of his films but I saw Dil Chahta Hai and I loved him in it, and he was just as good here. He was in a very Chandler-Bing-from-Friends mode, but he did it well and his on screen chemistry with Ayesha Takia is memorable. They didn't have too much time together but I really liked their story.

Vidya Balan and John Abraham's try on Tehzeeb and Ashutosh was cute but not perfect. Vidya played her part well but John did not seem to match up to her. Not only did he seem very fake all through the movie but his performance was really over-the-top. He needed to tone it down a little and be more natural.

Govinda was extremely good as Raju but I didn't like his partner Shannon Esrechowitz. Her attempt to speak Hindi was an a poor attempt to be like Alice Patten from Rang De Basanti. On the other hand she had a good chemistry with Govinda and some of their scenes together are the most memorable in the film. Ishaa Koppikar and Sohail Khan just embarrassed themselves throughout and made me cringe every time they came on screen. Since when people get intimate like that I do not know. Thank God their parts weren't big or I would have been extremely irritated.

Salaam-e-Ishq is commercially successful but there is barely any substance. This would have been a great film if it had been executed correctly.

High School Musical (2006 TV Movie)

What the HELL were they thinking here?!! *SPOILERS*

[6 January 2008]

Truly one of the most hideous movies I have ever watched in my life. Seriously, what is this trash?! Fine so I guess this film and everything associated with it is not exactly aimed at me, or my age group, but after hearing so much about it I had to see what the fuss was about, and watched it. I am now pleased to say that this is utter CRAP. It should be called Crap School Musical - High School Musical is not the right title at all.

You know why? Because this isn't a high school, it is more like a happy dream world. Since when is high school this easy? I've been through High School and it is NOT like this. It is very difficult, but at the same time it is a very good period of life. Whatever High School is, this isn't it. And since when do studies and grades not seem to matter in high school?! Because this crap fest, has barely any mention of doing well in school...what a bad message for kids today.

The characters were quite one-sided. They had no depth. Troy was all about basketball. I know basketball players are all about their sport but puh-leeease. The actor Zac Efron was pretty bad too. His female counterpart Gabriella or Vanessa Hudgens whatever her name was, was equally bad. I think she's pretty but that is kind of all she did. She didn't have much to do in the film anyway, she just acted like a wussy teenager, who's scared to face the world. She has a nice voice though I guess. The other main characters, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel?) who was pretty obviously gay (what kind of sad teenage loser would spend all his time performing with his sister?!) and Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), who has THE most irritating voice I have ever heard, and a costume designer who I think should be fired immediately. She dresses too mature for her apparent age, and she's meant to be a teenager in this film, and also, what kind of school would let the kids wear clothes like that? What kind of school would let the kids SING AND DANCE EVERY FLIPPING FIVE MINUTES EVEN?!

I don't understand why there is so much hype about this film. It is by far one of the most awful productions I have ever seen to come out of a camera. I LOATHE the High School Musical phase. And now this crap-fest movie has dolls, iPods, clothes, posters, and all sorts of accessories coming out as its' merchandise. WHY?! Why do parents want their kids to be influenced by this rubbish?!

The songs weren't please-rip-my-ears-out bad, but they weren't good either. 'Breaking Free' seemed to be the only half-decent song on the album, but all the rest of it seemed trashy. They were not head-tapping good. The choreography I am forced to admit was kind of better than I expected, the dances were well organised and full and flowy. However this does not save the film.

The main problem I had with Crap School Musical was the plot. It was too unreal and I couldn't identify with anything in the whole movie. I wasn't expecting outstanding cinema, but at least a decent storyline would have been nice. The ending irritated me too. Finishing with a song was corny, and the song sucked too. Another bad thing about Crap School Musical was the way they focused on the stereotypes so much. They zoomed in on them, and I know this was all about "breaking free" and "doing it on your own" but isn't that a bit too much? The whole 'Stick To The Status Quo' song sequence was one of the most cringey things I've ever seen. Teenagers that are stereotyped often want to get out of the mould they are in, rather than stick to it, as they were implying. Since when do they like things as they are? High Schoolers are always insecure about themselves, going through mood swings, and just generally rebel against the world. This was just so UNREALISTIC.

If you want a good high school drama, watch Grease or even Hairspray, which at least has a message. If you want a trashy film to give you nightmares and make you loathe it for life, watch High School Musical.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

6.5?! What?! NO!!!

[5 January 2008]

Mrs Doubtfire is truly one of the best family films I have ever seen and it honestly deserves a much higher rating than what it has. I have watched this probably over 50 times and each time I love it even more. I refuse to accept the low rating for this film! It is a much-loved classic for everyone!

Mrs Doubtfire is about Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) and his struggle in life just so he can see his children. After Daniel and his wife, Miranda (Sally Field) call their relationship quits and get divorced, Daniel finds life a little hard to cope. Especially as he is not permitted by the court to see his three children Lydia, Chris, and Natalie anymore (limited visitation rights), until he gets a good stable job with a steady income, shows he can look after a house, cook, and all the other things men find it difficult to do by themselves. Daniel is desperate and his heart breaks when he cannot see his children whenever he wants. When Miranda places an ad in the newspaper searching for a nanny/housekeeper, Daniel takes action. With a little help from his makeup artist brother, Frank, Daniel becomes Mrs Euphegenia Doubtfire, an elderly Scottish nanny. This is Daniel's struggle to fit in and make it work as a nanny, and sort out his own messy life in the process.

I truly love this film. As well as showcasing Robin Williams' finest acting talent it gives out a powerful message about divorce which is important today (check the divorce rates, people!)...AND this movie was made in '93! Go figure.

Robin Williams is amazing as Daniel Hillard. This role was made for him and he could not have done it better. The voices, the look, the smile, the whole character in general, screams Robin Williams. His performance is outstanding and there isn't much that I can't say that hasn't been said before. Sally Field is a decent Miranda. She does not match Williams' excellent performance (not that she needs to), but does dish out a good end result. The three children, Chris, Lydia, and Nattie (Matthew Lawrence, Lisa Jakub, and Mara Wilson from 'Matilda' fame) surprise you by playing their characters very well. My favourite was Nattie, the little one, her big eyes and cute little lisp had me "Aww-ing" my brains out. And yes, Pierce Brosnan does make a cameo as Miranda's new man. He looks very charming and gets away with being the baddie, well he's the baddie in Daniel's eyes!

This is a film which is very entertaining and dishes out a very strong message at the same time. If you haven't watched this yet you have to immediately!

Big Nothing (2006)

A very thrilling but funny journey...

[5 January 2008]

Big Nothing is about Charlie (David Schwimmer) who settles for a job as a tech assistant. He meets Gus Dickinson (Simon Pegg) and together with waitress Josie (Alice Eve) they plan to blackmail the local Reverend. Their plan goes awry, setting off a chain-reaction of unfortunate events that makes it the longest night of their lives.

I would not call this film one of the best ever made but I definitely think it is worth a much higher rating on IMDb. Higher than a 6.8 at least. It is a dark comedy and has been made very well for it's genre. But I admit I don't know too much about dark dramas/comedies as I don't watch too many.

I thought the movie is very engaging but starts out a little slow. But as the movie progresses the tension builds up and the story gets a lot more interesting. Especially in the 2nd half.

I definitely think this is one of David Schwimmer's best roles yet. I have seen many of his movies and am an avid "Friends" fan and Big Nothing is one of his projects which really shows off his acting skills. His character Charlie did have a few Ross-Geller-from-Friends reminders in him but overall was great and much different from the sweet, lovable character he usually plays. I am glad he acted as Charlie and I'm sure he will break out of the softie mould he is stuck in soon. Simon Pegg made a very thrilling Gus. He was basically perfect and I thought he was the strongest performance in the whole film. I hate to admit it but Alice Eve was a very good Josie. She had a kind of slutty but sexy appeal and her voice was perfect for her character. She did not seem out of place at all. Her performance spruced up in the last 45 minutes or so though, that was when her real acting began.

I didn't find a single "dull" moment in this whole movie and I definitely think it is worth a watch. Especially if you don't watch dark and serious looking, thriller type films. This would be a very good place to start.

Dumbo (1941)

Earns a special place in your heart

[1 January 2008]

Dumbo is a 64 minute film, very short compared to other movies. But Dumbo is better made and more entertaining than a lot of films today!

After a long wait, the day is finally here for Mrs Jumbo, a circus elephant, who has been waiting for her baby for a long while. But when the Stork delivers her baby, she is surprised to find he has enormous ears, almost the size of 3 elephants ears put together! Her baby is nicknamed 'Dumbo' by the size of his ears, and is ridiculed among the rest of the elephants. After a large fiasco, his mother is locked away and he is forced to fend for himself with a herd who won't accept him and treat him as an equal. But Dumbo, with his only friend, Timothy Mouse, emerge successful, and make his mother proud.

I love the songs, especially "Baby Mine", which is emotional, and if you can't cry during "Baby Mine", you are heartless! Even "Look Out For Mr Stork" was catchy and sweet. "Pink Elephants On Parade" is also very entertaining, and depicts Dumbo's drunken hallucinations, though the video was more fun than the song itself. It reminded me of the Heffalumps And Woozles song from Winnie The Pooh slightly, they are similar.

For a film made in the 40s, the animation of Dumbo is fabulous. Everything was perfected, from the trains to the giraffes. And Dumbo was just too cute. The floppy ears, the ADORABLE and innocent smile, the child-eyes that melt hearts. There is nothing not to like about him.

One of Disney's classics!

Mary Poppins (1964)

A family favourite and Julie Andrews in one of her best roles

[1 January 2008]

I love Julie Andrews. I mean, who doesn't? She's one of the classiest women we have today, as well as having some of the best films to her name, she is a very beautiful lady, and has maintained that even today. Mary Poppins is one of her best roles and one that I know many of us will never forget - it has earned a place in our hearts and having grown up with it has been lovely. She is the real Mary Poppins, and her version of the classic character is probably the most famous and most loved.

With a fantastic music score, great performances, and a cute-as-hell story, there isn't much to not like! My favourite songs are "The Perfect Nanny", the catchy "Spoonful Of Sugar", and of course, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" with the adorable animation and Dick Van Dyke.

The only real problem I had with this movie was the length. It was quite long and the songs also went on for quite a while. Nevertheless, it is a great film, lots of fun, it is just the length that can be a problem.

Dick Van Dyke was very charming in this movie. Although I admit he can't do a cockney accent :), he was good in his role and his goofiness added to the appeal of his character. Julie Andrews was as always, fantastic. She was startlingly beautiful in this film, so much that it is scary! She was "practically perfect"! But as well as giving her character Mary Poppins a lovable, sophisticated, and magical side, but she definitely added some grey layers, like she made sure that Mary Poppins was vain and also very spooky in a way. The children were also very sweet and contributed to the movie tremendously.

Definitely one of the best musicals of all time.

Love Actually (2003)

Starts off weak but grows on you after a while...

[29 December 2007]

With one of the biggest star casts I have ever seen, and 8, yes 8, different story lines, I was expecting a rom-com that I would adore. I didn't exactly ADORE Love Actually, but I do admit that it is a very cute movie which I enjoyed a lot.

As I said, there are 8 whole different stories. Each one is completely different and I think that some are better than others.

Couple #1 - Harry (Alan Rickman) and Karen (Emma Thompson) have been married for many years. Now with 2 growing children and lots of tension from work, Harry is going through a lot of stress, and gets involved with the seductive Mia, his secretary from work. Christmas approaches and Harry buys her an expensive gold necklace, when Karen finds out, she instantly realises he is having an affair. Can their relationship survive?

Couple #2- Jamie's (the charming Colin Firth) girlfriend is found to be having an affair with his brother. Heartbroken and upset, he goes to relax in his French cottage to forget it all. Jamie becomes dissolved in his writing, and can think of nothing else, until he meets the sweet Aurélia, a nice Portuguese woman who becomes his housekeeper. Slowly an indescribable bond forms between the both of them. What happens from there?

Juliet (played by Kiera Knightley) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are a young pair in love. On their wedding day, Peter's best man and best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln) videotapes the pretty ceremony. When Juliet sees the professional video of her wedding day she is shocked, as it is disastrous and the colours have gone wrong. Wanting a videotape of her special day, she sweetly asks Mark for his copy, even though she knows he is always cold and angry towards her. When Juliet sees the video Mark had took, she is stunned. They are all close-ups of her, smiling and laughing, and Juliet finds out Mark is secretly in love with her. How will she deal with this is the story of Couple #3.

Couple #4 - Sarah (Laura Linney) has been in love for Karl (the cute Rodrigo Santoro), ever since she joined her office, -which we learn is Harry's design company-, which was over 2 years ago, a fact that everyone seems to know. Sarah unfortunately has a brother with a mental illness and she has to regularly mess up her life to support him, as she feels it is her responsibility. Karl and Sarah get together and she is incredibly happy, until her brother seems to ruin her relationship with Karl forever. This is the story of a brother/sister love as well as relationships and one of the best in the film.

Judy and John (Joanna Page and Martin Freeman) romance blossoms over the set of an erotic movie, as they are the body doubles. The pair are very comfortable with each other, even though they are working together and there is constant nudity and sexual actions. Their relationship gets stronger over time and they are Couple #5.

Couple #6 - Daniel is a widower and is now a single parent, raising his stepson Sam. Sam is miserable over the days and Daniel, trying hard to take over his newly-found responsibility, tries to find out what it is. He finds out Sam is "in love" with a pretty young girl singer from school, who is co-incidentally named Joanna, which was the name of his late wife. Daniel, still getting over the loss of his love, forgets it for the sake of his stepson and encourages Sam to tell Joanna how he feels towards her. Their lovely journey of a father and son, and also their love lives, is #Couple 6.

The newly elected Prime Minister, David (the dashing Hugh Grant), has a soft spot for one of the members of his catering staff, called Natalie (Martine McCutcheon). They pursue a silent relationship, not much apart from some flirting. After a situation with Natalie and the President of USA, David redistributes her, as he is beginning to think his feelings for her are affecting his job. After a Christmas Card fiasco, he realises his love for her and sets out to find her. Together they make up the cute #7th Couple.

Lastly, Colin (Kris Marshall) is a wannabe playboy. Failing with almost every girl he meets, he sets off to America to find love, to the amusement of his best friend Tony. He finds 3 sexy girls who let him stay with him...He is #8.

It is difficult to choose a favourite storyline because each one is different but very lovable, and for example, David and Aurélia are the funniest couple (with Aurélia being hilarious in her Portuguese dialect), but Mark and Juliet's awkward bond being the most understandable and difficult. Each actor gives a great performance and many scenes will leave you moved. Love Actually is not just a romance, it is a comedy, (though the romance factor takes over the comedy). The humour is very British, so people from other parts of the world may find it weird to understand, but all in all, it is a great movie with lots of fun, that will help you understand love. The ending is particularly moving and the most interesting feature of Love Actually is definitely the way the director has entwined all the stories.

A charming Brit movie.

Casino Royale (2006)

James Bond at his best! *MINOR SPOILERS*

[29 December 2007]

Casino Royale is a a new take on the 007 series. Here we see Bond for the very first time, and Daniel Craig does such a fantastic job. Craig plays Bond just as he acquires he 007 status, this is the first story of Bond - Bond is a novice. Daniel Craig's portrayal of Bond was a very raw character who doesn't fit the 007 mould and still has to find his feet, his place, his confidence. Usually Bond's portrayal is more rugged though suave, not raw.

I will have to repeat myself over and over until I bore you, about my love for Daniel Craig's performance in this movie. Craig as James Bond is one of the most amazing performances I have seen of 2006 and 2007 put together in Hollywood. Never before has a Bond been so humane, so understandable, so dashing. Craig not only has incredibly gorgeous good looks, but he can act superbly and I cannot stress more how much he fits the character of James Bond! This is undoubtedly his best performance and I sincerely hope he will remain as Bond for a long time and produce more great 007 movies. I LOVE him in this movie...:)

The stunts in Casino Royale are another impressive feature. Riveting and thrilling, Casino Royale will glue you to your seat, eagerly waiting for more. Thankfully it doesn't disappoint and gives the audience fantastic scenes throughout. Casino Royale starts and finishes on a good note. A very memorable scene to me personally is the naked, pain-stricken James receiving punishment from Le Chiffre.

Vesper Lynd, the new Bond girl, played by Eva Green was also a commendable performance. She is very different compared to any other "Bond Girl". Vesper Lynd is an equal to Bond, they have the same sense of humour, the same style, the same way of thinking. After all that, they even have a great chemistry! Vesper is beauty and brains. Craig and Green have a connection on screen, they seem to gel very well and all their scenes together are memorable and great to watch. My favourite scene of them together would be their first meeting in the train, exchanging sarcastic remarks and witty jokes to each other. Eva Green truly is a Bond girl, and a remarkable one at that. She became Vesper Lynd, and had some of the best lines in the whole film.

Judi Dench as the irritable M was, as always, fantastic. She is one of the only actresses of her age group that I enjoy watching apart from Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren. She is immortalised as M. Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre was also a great performer, the cold eyes, the bone-chilling smile, the greasy hair; he does it all and in my opinion is one of the best villains of the decade. Caterina Murino as Solange was also decent enough.

What I like best about this film is that James Bond is a very humane character, he has feelings, he fell in love for crying out loud, and he was even willing to give up his job for his love. He is not a agent with a heart of stone, he is a young man finding himself and maturing with time. As the movie progresses, the story gets more serious and the thrilling meter grows higher and higher. The tension I felt before the Poker game was indescribable.

One more very interesting point in this movie is how James Bond was so different from every other Bond movie. He was immature, not fully ready for what he was taking on (of course he acquires it all as time goes on). For example, when Bond was asked whether he likes his martini shaken or stirred, he said "Does it looks like I give a damn". And honestly, NO Bond worth his pedigree would say that, because Bond ALWAYS likes his martini shaken, not stirred, in every movie of his. This showed Bond had a lot of growing up to do, before becoming what he is - a fantastic secret agent.

To sum it up, Casino Royale provides star-studded performances, TERRIFIC stunts that will clench your fists, a story that will stir your soul, and a Bond that you will never forget. This is a masterpiece.

The name's Bond. James Bond.