omarhussaini Reviews

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Better than the First? By: ABBAS H.

[18 July 2004]

A phenomenal entertainment piece with twists, turns and the occasional hero guessing his purpose. If you like action and a series of heartfelt chuckles than this movie is right for you. Now telling you the plot is a waste of yours and more importantly my time, so lets skip that. The movie offers you two hours of great action and humour. You don't have to be a genius to understand the plot. However if you are a typical " Nobody understands me!" teenager who wants Michael Bay type action - cars and planes blowing up - than go see I, Robot. As usual Toby Maguire, Kirstin Dunst and James Franco deliver more than believable performances that grab your attention and pull you into their characters. There are some flaws but an overall solid film. Spend your ten dollars on this movie and you won't regret it; unless you are an idiot. So sit back, enjoy and decide which one is better. But just in case you lack the proper knowledge let me put your mind - if you have one - at ease. Spiderman2 does in fact edge out the original.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Adventure on the high seas

[1 March 2004]

Peg-legs, swordplay, plank walking, ships, cannons and ancient curses. Now that's what a summer movie should be. We start off in the 1700s, give or take a hundred, in an island off - where else - the Caribbean. After 30 minutes of setup and character introduction, the island is attacked by the Black Pearl which takes Elizabeth Swann -the Governor's daughter- prisoner. But this be no random pirate attack. The pirates are victims of an Aztec curse that has left them in a state of undead and need Elizabeth's medallion to break it. The roguish Cap'n Jack Sparrow, former captain of the Black Pearl, sets off after them with Will Turner, his new sidekick. That's basically the movie. Now if you're coming into this expecting an intelligent drama about the dangers of sea life, well, forget it. Pirates is a movie whose sole purpose is to entertain, without insulting your intelligence, and entertain it does. It is one of those rare films that's good and fun, and much credit goes to Johnny Depp. One can only guess as to what compelled him to do away with the conventional Errol Flynn pirate and instead channel Keith Richards with a little PePe Le Pew. Depp is an actor who consistently rises above the script, regardless of the film's quality. The stumbling, slurred deliveries, facial expressions and goatee - things that would be out of place in another movie - only add to the performance because they fit in the context of the film. His performance is funny, eccentric, charismatic, and fully worthy of an Oscar nomination. It's time he got some recognition. Without him this would have been an average movie with a good performance from Geoffery Rush. As the mutinous first mate Barbosa, Rush also provides some humorous moments and has some good exchanges with Depp. Orlando Bloom is Will Turner, a blacksmith, who happens to be the reason for the curse. He holds his own as the movie pirate - looks, thinned mustache, ponytail - and Keira Knightley is even better as the damsel in distress. The production values - set design, costumes, cinematography -are first rate as are the special effects. The film also benefits from a rousing score courtesy of Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer. The movie could have spent more time in the editing room as it sometimes looses momentum. At two hours twenty minutes, it's about half hour too long. The direction is O.K. The battle scenes and sword fights could have been better choreographed. They come off flat and fail to provide any thrills. The only enjoyable one is the last one when Sparrow and Barbosa are moving in and out of the lunar beams. But these are just minor holes in an otherwise solid film. Pirates of the Caribbean is a fun swashbuckler with a good cast and should appeal to all, even if the wind occasionally goes out of its sails

Thirteen (2003)

Good, but nothing special

[26 January 2004]

Then again, it's not trying to be anything special. Thirteen is (first-time director) Catherine Hardwicke's cautionary tale of a good girl gone bad. The movie was co-written by thirteen year old Nikki Reed and based on her own experiences. But instead of just playing herself, Reed plays the bad girl and Evan Rachel Wood plays Reed. Holly Hunter plays the helpless mother with her own problems. Some people found the hand-held zoom-happy directing nauseating, but it does give the film a documentary feel - as if you're witnessing something real. (It might also have been the result of not having a budget). Although melodramatic and somewhat predictable, what elevates this film above other "afterschool specials" is the acting. First off, Evan Rachel Wood will be a big star. Her work here is in the pantheon of great child actor performances: Haley Joel Osment (Sixth Sense), Jodie Foster (Taxi Driver), Natalie Portman (Leon), and Kirsten Dunst (Interview with a Vampire). Holly Hunter turns in her best work in a decade and both her and Wood will receive Oscar nominations. Nikki Reed is also very good as is most of the supporting cast. Don't watch this film if you're looking for entertainment because there isn't any. This is not a film about teenagers pulling pranks resulting in hilarious situations. It is a simple movie dealing with not so simple issues.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Adventure on the high seas

[26 January 2004]

Peg-legs, swordplay, plank walking, ships, cannons and ancient curses. Now that's what a summer movie should be. We start off in the 1700s, give or take a hundred, in an island off - where else - the Caribbean. After 30 minutes of setup and character introduction, the island is attacked by the Black Pearl and Elizabeth Swann, the Governor's daughter, is taken prisoner. But this is not a random pirate attack. The pirates are victims of an Aztec curse that has left them in a state of undead and need Elizabeth's medallion to break it. The roguish Cap'n Jack Sparrow, former captain of the Black Pearl, sets off after them with Will Turner, his new sidekick. That's basically the movie. Now if you're coming into this expecting an intelligent drama about the dangers of sea life, well, forget it. Go see Master and Commander instead. Pirates is a movie whose sole purpose is to entertain - without insulting your intelligence - and that's what it does. It is one of those rare films that's both good and fun, and much credit belongs to Johnny Depp. It is a mystery as to what compelled Depp to do away with the conventional Errol Flynn pirate and instead channel Keith Richards with a little PePe Le Pew. Depp is an actor who consistently rises above the script, regardless of the film's quality. The stumbling, slurred deliveries, facial expressions and goatee - things that would seem out of place in another movie - only add to the performance because they fit in the context of the film. His performance is funny, charismatic, eccentric, and fully worthy of an Oscar nomination. About time he gets some recognition. Without him this would have been a (marginally) bad film with a good performance from Geoffery Rush. As the mutinous first mate Barbosa, Rush also provides some humorous moments and has some good exchanges with Depp. Orlando Bloom is Will Turner, a blacksmith, who happens to be the reason for the curse. He holds his own as the movie pirate - handsome, thinned mustache, ponytail - and Keira Knightley is equally good as the damsel in distress. The production values - set design, costumes, cinematography - are first rate as are the special effects. The movie could have spent more time in the editing room as it sometimes looses momentum. At two hours twenty minutes, it's about half hour too long. The direction is decent but should have been better. The story is well told but drags whenever Depp's not onscreen. The battle scenes and sword fights could have been better choreographed. They come off flat and fail to provide any thrills. The only enjoyable one is the last one when Sparrow and Barbosa are moving in and out of the lunar beams. Pirates of the Caribbean is a fun swashbuckler with a good cast and should appeal to all, even if the wind occasionally goes out of its sails.

The Last Samurai (2003)

Dances with Shogun

[17 December 2003]

Or is it? Although the theme of an outsider becoming part of a fading culture has been told countless times - most obvious comparison being the superior Dances with Wolves - Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai is a grand and intelligent film that stands on its own. Our tale begins in 1876 where burnt-out Civil War hero, Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), spends his days as an unconvincing drunk. He is approached by two of the Emperor's men who want him to come to Japan and train the military in modern warfare in order to put down a Samurai rebellion. The Samurai are fighting to preserve their culture as well as Japan's from becoming westernized. Eventually Cruise is captured and now has theological discussions with Katsumoto, the Samurai leader. The two men are from opposing cultures but share the same values and Cruise starts understanding who and what the Samurai are. The rest you can guess.

As you watch the story unfold, it becomes obvious that Tom Cruise has thrown himself into this role. He read Civil War diaries, Samurai articles, took martial arts, gained thirty pounds, and grew a beard! He also learned some of the language and studied Bushido, a code of loyalty and sacrifice. So you can't fault his preparation. Yet somehow he still comes off as Tom Cruise. And for this movie that's all you need. Think about it: Who would you rather have leading you into slow motion suicide battles? Tom Cruise or some "character". Cruise looks heroically handsome whether he's pointing a rifle, spinning a sword, getting stabbed, or doing the obligatory putting-on-the-armor scene before the final battle. His co-star, Ken Watanabe, brings a dignified presence to the role of Katsumoto. He is also a wounded man, defending the Samurai code even though he senses the end is near. Watanabe acts with conviction and his performance is worthy of award consideration. The rest of the cast is fine, there are no weak links. The movie's look is authentic and the battles are well choreographed and bloody. But there are some pacing problems and an unnecessarily long drawn-out ending. There is also too much of a been-there done-that feeling that is hard to ignore. The Last Samurai is a thoughtful film - meaning it will flop - but it's not the great epic that it aspires to be.

Baazigar (1993)

Star-making turn from Shahrukh!

[24 April 2003]

Baazigar is inspired by the Matt Dillon flick A Kiss Before Dying, which itself is a remake of the 1956 near-noir classic of the same name. The film revolves around 2 sisters, Shilpa Shetty and Kajol, and the men that come into their lives. Both men are played by Shahrukh Khan, so you can imagine the complications that will create. The first one's the typical Indian college student: perfect grades, dead father, sick mother......The second one is a race car driver (the cool one). Each has his own reasons for being with the girl and it's these motives and their repercussions that form the crux of the film. Now if you LOVE Bollywood movies, then stay away from this one. There is no happy resolution, or songs in the Swiss Alps, or Designer Clothing for the hero. In fact, the wardrobe and makeup departments seem to be on strike during this movie. But that's really a blessing because the actors' "natural" look complements the film's dark tone. Baazigar is a twisted tale of revenge with much tasteless violence, so you wouldn't want your hero cleaning blood off his GAP shirts every ten minutes (of course we wouldn't have such concerns if Salman had accepted this role). That reminds me, the acting in this movie is ...... well, it varies. The supporting cast doesn't impress: Rakhee's okay, Shetty's pretty weak (as are the two fathers), and the inspector is just sad. ON the other hand, Kajol gives a sincere performance that's a hint of things to come. She breathes life and brings restraint to a character that's usually butchered by over-the-top Indian actresses who substitute crying for acting. She's only 17 or 18 but her confidence and chemistry with the Rukhster are quite evident. But this is Shahrukh's movie. After Salman wisely turned it down, Shahrukh saw this as his big chance and capitalized. From studying for his exams and manipulating Shilpa Shetty, to racking up the body count and bringing down the house with Kaali Kaali Aankhen, the man held nothing back. He was still an actor at this point and played the dual role well. You're always able to tell which character's onscreen. This movie is like Darr - which was released a few months later - in the sense that whether you like it or not has nothing to do with the film itself and everything to do with the lead's performance. The film could have spent more time in the editing room as many portions drag, and some scenes feel flat due to the aforementioned lack of funding. In the end, Baazigar may or may not be good filmaking but it's a must for Shahrukh fans.

Dil Se.. (1998)

A case of "What could have been"

[12 March 2003]

Dil Se is an honest Bollywood attempt at a non-Bollywood movie. The film addresses the terrorist problem in the Kashmir valley with the backdrop of a love story. It shows India's war on terror and the wartime horrors that the Kashmiris endure. Shahrukh is a reporter for All-India Radio. While on-assignment to interview the leader of a terrorist group, he meets Manisha, and it's basically love at first sight - at least for Shahrukh. She doesn't want anything to do with him but Shahrukh can't take a hint. So far it's typical Bollywood, but the film's dark tone suggests something different. But due a weak screenplay, what had the potential to be among India's finest films, ends up as a "good Bollywood movie" - a 5 out of 10. In the first half Shahrukh talks endlessly about how much he loves Manisha from the heart, i.e. 'Dil Se' , but his love is nothing more than intrigue. She keeps ignoring him and even has some of her friends beat him up. Shahrukh is himself for the most part becasue that's all the script calls for. Only in the post-interval portions, like the interrogation and chase sequences, do we get a more intense Shahrukh. Manisha tries her best with the role but her character isn't well drawn out. We never really understand what her character is thinking and there is little logic to her actions. Preity Zinta isn't nervous at all acting opposite Shahrukh in her debut. She has a simple role and goes through it with ease. The director, Mani Ratnam, successfully creates the grim mood of the story and brings a sense of urgency to the last act. The cinematography is excellent and Gulzar's soundtrack is a gem - thoughtful, intelligent, and well-picturised - with Chaiyya Chaiyya being the piece-de-resistance. The film isn't in the same league as Lagaan or Dil Chaata Hai but, compared to Shahrukh films, he hasn't made a better one since. In the end, Dil Se is still one of Bollywood's better efforts with a real plot, real issues, and an ending that will leave you wondering...

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)

WHY?!

[1/10 · 20 January 2003]

No, really Why? After hitting the jackpot with his debut film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan Johar just repeated himself with this movie. That movie was about a girl trying to reunite her father with his best friend whereas this one is about a son trying to reunite his brother and father. What was done in 2 1/2 hours the first time, takes over 3 hours this time around Even the actors are just reprising their roles from recent films. Amitabh's good but both he and Shahrukh played these parts in Gurukul (Mohabbatein). Jaya Bhaduri did the same thing in Fiza and here she gets annoying really fast. Kareena Kapoor is annoying from the start and Hirthink just plays Hirthik. That leaves Kajol as the one bright light in this dreadful tale. She creates a new character, pulls off the accent, and doesn't overdo the comic scenes. The soundtrack is nothing to rave about. Johar's direction was not at par with his earlier venture. He directed that funhouse with a sense of speedy escapism which is clearly missing in the Hamlet-inspired sets of this film. Avoid at all costs!

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Thank God for Salman

[20 January 2003]

A story of two best friends and the woman who comes between, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was a huge hit that continued the downward spiral of Indian cinema. The success of all these films depends on two things: the performances and the soundtrack. The latter being the more important of the two. Shahrukh plays Rahul. He also played Rahul in Dil to Pagal Hai, Dilwale..., K3G, and Darr and this is the worst of his Rahul performances. You get the feeling that his heart is never really in the film which could be true since he was filming Dil Se at the time. Too bad it flopped. Kajol outshines him with her portrayal of Anjali, the once rejected Tom boy who now has Shahrukh and Salman fighting for her affections. I don't have much to say about Rani except that she holds her own and that's about it. And what of Salman? He steals every scene he's in, nails all the jokes (intentional or not), and his presence more than makes up for his acting. The soundtrack is good. I think the title track was filmed in Scotland, just in case you're wondering. The movie is by no means a must see - quite the opposite actually. But it is a cut above the recent Shahrukh duds like Mohabbatein and K3G as well as all the Hrithik films, so you might want to check it out.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: A Commentary

[27 December 2002]

This was the top Bollywood film of the 90s and after seeing it I really can't think of one that was better. There are some that are just as good but I can't recall seeing one that's better. The story's pretty routine: boy meets girl in Europe, they fall in love, girl is engaged to some other idiot, and the rest writes itself... Sound familiar? Well it wasn't back in '95 (or even if it was it wasn't done as well) and Aditya Chopra's treatment of the story was a big reason for it's success. In every other movie the couple first wants to kill each other before falling in love. But in this movie it's slightly different and more plausible. Shahrukh doesn't want to kill Kahol - I mean Kajol - and she doesn't really hate him either, she just (like the rest of us) is annoyed by the guy. Their situations aren't that far-fetched and their Europe storyline is played out quite realistically (of course the piano scene is an exception). This was the beginning of the "Shahrukh plays Shahrukh era" and, for what it's worth, he hasn't made a better movie or given a better performance since. Sure there are places where he overacts but there are just as many places where he's able to hit all his cues. His comic timing was never better and there was still some sincerity in his eyes, a reminder of the fact that he was still an actor, which has since been replaced by the cockiness of a megastar. This is the movie that shot him to superstardom and put him alongside Aamir and Salman. Kajol is just as good (if not better), and I think after their next movie they'll win the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The supporting cast is fine although no one really stands out. There are many moments in the film, most notably in the script, where you might feel a sense of deja vu. But keep in mind that this was the original, it's everything else that's a rehash. Bollywood headed straight for the sewer after this movie with almost all films, many of them starring Shahrukh, copying the same formula. Even at its 3 hour length the movie never drags till after the two-hour mark. I also want to comment on the film's Art Direction because it warrants a mention. Whether it's in Europe, England, or India, the movie has a very natural look to it. Unlike today's big films like Dil To Pagal Hai, or K3G, this movie looks good without trying to look good and I think that's a quality that's been lost on today's films. Too much attention is spent on the look at the expense of the story (if there is one!). The soundtrack of course is a classic, truly one of the all-time bests, with almost every song being a hit. The film won an unprecedented number of awards while breaking many records. There was a feeling that Aditya would follow in his father Yash's footsteps but regrettably the pressure got to him. He followed this up with the dreadful Mohabbatein which was slammed by audiences and critics alike. But so what. His first film was good, and with the current state of Bollywood movies - Devdas anyone? - you really can't get better than this.

Minority Report (2002)

Not for the Idiots

[26 November 2002]

Minority Report is a sci-fi whodunnit that reaffirms Stanley Kubrick's paradoxical belief that the cinema can both provoke and entertain. Set 50 years into the future, the film is about John Anderton (Tom Cruise), a detective who works for an organization called Pre-Crime which identifies and captures people just before they commit a murder. It does so through the use of Pre-Cogs, basically three psychics in a forever trance-like state, that have premonitions of the act before it actually occurs. The system was created by Lamar Burgess (Max von Sydow) and Iris Hineman (Lois Smith), and in the six years that it's been in place, there hasn't been a single murder. So far so good. But enter Danny Witwer (Colin Farell), an official of the Justice Department, who has some concerns of the legality and morality of the setup. Anderton completely believes in it but Witwer doesn't feel it's right to punish the people if they haven't committed the murder yet. Witwer also tells him that since the system was designed by humans, it's not perfect. There's always one flaw and it's always human. Now if you thought that Steven Spielberg was finished after Saving Private Ryan, well then you clearly haven't seen this film - or you might just be an idiot. He's taken Phillip K. Dick's short story and expanded it into a 2 hour 20 minute mind-bending race-against-the-clock thriller, complete with all the thrills, chills, and the required surprise twist that we expect from something of this scale. His direction propels the film while still giving us a multi-layered plot without slowing down the action. You need to pay attention to all the details because it's not an easy one to (completely) get in one viewing. If you're the type of person who likes to leave his brain at home before heading to the theater, then I suggest Attack of the Clones or maybe Goldmember is more to your liking. Acting-wise, Cruise, Farell, and Sydow are all good in their roles, yet it's Samantha Morton as the Pre-Cog Agatha who outshines them all. Her chilling performance provides the movie with some of its most memorable scenes and much of the sympathy that's supposed to go to Cruise's character ends up going to her. An Oscar nomination would be well-deserved, although it's doubtful she'll get one because of the limited screen time and since Dreamworks will probably push the disappointing Road To Perdition for the awards over this film. Technically the picture is flawless and should be a nomination sweeper with directing and picture nods going to Spielberg. A near-masterpiece, the movie is an easy 4 out of 5. Why not 5 stars you may ask ? Well it's because Spielberg, as usual, puts too much of his family/love theme into the plot. That's what ruined AI and it's also the one false note in this movie which, otherwise, is sci-fi film noir at its finest.

Tezaab (1988)

A Violent Love Story!

[19 November 2002]

When N. Chandra's Tezaab was released in 1988, it had all the ingredients of a flop: a story as old as the hills, unknown leading lady, modest budget, and Anil Kapoor. But due to its breakneck storytelling and lead performances, Tezaab emerged as one of the biggest hits of the 80s and, at the same time, unleashed the Madhu juggernaut that would dominate the industry for a decade. The premise is simple: Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit meet in college, have a fight, fall in love...you get the picture. But in a matter of seconds (minor spoiler here) everything, and I mean Everything, goes haywire as Anil is banished, Madhuri becomes a dancer, a gang war ensues, police corruption raises its ugly head, a young Johnny Lever raises his ugly head, and 2 scenes are ripped out of The Untouchables. In other words, you know you're watching an Indian movie! Before this film Anil Kapoor was useless. He had found success in supporting roles but, apart from Mr. India the previous year, wasn't having much luck as a leading man. That all changed here as Anil commanded the screen with his portrayal of Munna, an ex-patriot who now finds himself on the wrong side of the law. The raw edge that he brought to the character was perfect and one wishes he'd done more of these roles instead of the "nice guy everyman types" he plays today. As the long-suffering yet loyal Mohini, a psychology student forced into dancing by her alcoholic father - played well by Anupham Kher - Madhuri, who was about 21 at the time, gave the type of no holds barred performance that most actresses don't (and can't) give in their life. This was her big break and her determination to succeed is evident throughout the film yet she is never overshadowed nor overacts. The infamous "Ek Do Teen" number is here, complete with all the "Jhataks Mathaks" that accompanied her star turn and made it the nation's mantra. The film lost the Boscar (i.e. the Indian Oscar) to Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak although Anil did take the Best Actor trophy over Aamir Khan. Madhuri, in a close call, lost out to Rekha (if you care). There is an awful lot of violence in this movie - this is after all a MAN's love story, not some sissy Shahrukh Khan flick. The flashback technique that Chandra incorporated into the film kept it from being a bore without confusing the viewer. The story may not have been original, but it's the execution that made it a winner.

Tezaab (1988)

A Violent Story!

[13 November 2002]

When N.Chandra's Tezaab was released in 1988, it had all the ingredients of a flop: a story as old as the hills, unknown leading lady, modest budget, and Anil Kapoor. But due to its breakneck storytelling and smoldering lead performances, Tezaab emerged as one of the biggest hits of the decade and, at the same time, unleashed the Madhu juggernaut that would dominate the industry for almost a decade. The premise is simple: Anil and Madhuri meet in college, have a fight, fall in love...you get the picture. But in a matter of seconds (minor spoiler here) everything, and I mean Everything, goes haywire as Anil is banished, Madhuri becomes a dancer, a gang war ensues, a young Johnny Lever shows up, police corruption raises its ugly head, and 2 scenes are ripped out of The Untouchables. In other words, you know you're watching an Indian movie! Before this film, Anil Kapoor was useless. He was good in supporting roles but, apart from Mr. India the previous year, wasn't having much luck as a leading man. That all changed here as Anil commanded the screen with his portrayal of Munna, an ex-patriot who now finds himself on the wrong side of the law. The raw edge that he brought to the character was perfect and one wishes he'd done more of these roles instead of the "nice guy everyman types" he plays today. As the long-suffering yet loyal Mohini, a college student forced into dancing by her alcoholic father - played well by Anupham Kher - Madhuri, who was only 21 at the time, gave the type of no holds barred performance that most actresses don't (and can't) give in their life. Her desire to succeed is so evident in this film and she is never overshadowed nor overacts. The infamous "Ek DO Teen" number is here, complete with all the "Jhataks Mathaks" that accompanied her star turn. The film lost the Boscar (i.e. the Indian Oscar) to Qayamat se Qayamat Tak although Anil did take the Best Actor trophy over Aamir Khan. Madhuri, in a close call, lost out to Rekha (if you care). There is an awful lot of violence in this film - this is after all a MAN's love story, not some sissy Shahrukh Khan flick. The flashback technique that Chandra incorporated kept the movie from being a bore without confusing the viewer. The story may not have been original, but it's the execution that made it a winner.

Tezaab (1988)

A Violent Love Story!

[13 November 2002]

When N.Chandra's Tezaab was released in 1988, it had all the ingredients of a flop: a story as old as the hills, unknown leading lady, modest budget, and Anil Kapoor. But due to its breakneck storytelling and smoldering lead performances, Tezaab emerged as one of the biggest hits of the 80s and, at the same time, unleashed the Madhu juggernaut that would dominate the industry for almost a decade. The premise is simple: Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit meet in college, have a fight, fall in love...you get the picture. But in a matter of seconds (minor spoiler here) everything, and I mean everything, goes haywire as Anil is banished, Madhuri becomes a dancer, a gang war ensues, Johnny Lever shows up, police corruption raises its ugly head, and 2 scenes are ripped out of The Untouchables. In other words, you know you're watching an Indian movie! Before this film, Anil Kapoor was useless. He was good in supporting roles but, apart from Mr. India the previous year, wasn't having much luck as a leading man. That all changed here as Anil commanded the screen in his portrayal of Munna, an ex-patriot who now finds himself on the other side of the law. The raw edge that he brought to the character was a revelation and one wishes he'd done more of these roles instead of the "nice guy everyman types" that he plays now. As the long-suffering yet loyal Mohini, a psychology student forced into dancing by her alcoholic father - played well by Anupham Kher- Madhuri, who was only 21 at the time, gave the type of no holds barred performance that most actresses don't give in their life. Her desire to succeed is so evident in this film and she is never overshadowed nor overacts. The infamous "Ek Do Teen" number is here, complete with all the "Jhataks Mathaks" that accompanied her star turn. The film lost the Boscar (i.e. the Indian Oscar) to Qayamat se Qayamat Tak although Anil did take home the Best Actor trophy over Aamir Khan. Madhuri, in a close call, lost out to Rekha (if you care). The flashback technique that Chandra incorporated into the film saved it from being a bore without confusing the viewer. The story may not have been original, but it's the execution that made it a winner.

Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge (2002)

Garbage

[1/10 · 9 November 2002]

This movie is an attempt at...well it's an attempt at something, I just can't figure out what that is. Maybe the director set out to make a movie about a man trying to reconstruct his past , a la Memento, but he ended up making just another derivative Salman Khan movie. The plot, if you care, is about a guy who can't remember his past and so, like any Indian hero, leaves his "family" in search of his true identity... The first hour has Salman trying to act. The second hour has Salman breaking necks. And the third hour has Salman breaking necks while trying to act. This movie is inspired by the Hollywood film "The Long Kiss Goodnight" which wasn't much of a movie to begin with. Performance wise, Sushmita Sen is the best which should give you an idea of the quality of the acting. Salman continues to show his disinterest for his profession -- he never misses a chance to take off his shirt and display his deteriorating physique. Diya Mirza still can't act whereas the guy who plays Inder is just a waste of space. The action sequences are just a cut-and-paste exercise and the story is interesting for about half an hour before it gets predicatble and slowly gets to its climax. If you'ld like to waste three hours of your time - think Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Ghum - then you're in for a real treat. Otherwise rent something else.

Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

End of an Era

[9 November 2002]

With this movie ended the career of one of Bollywood's greatest. Yash Chopra has given us many great films such as Deewar, Silsila, Kabhie Kabhie, etc. But this movie pretty much forced him into retirement. His first movie of the 90s was Lamhe which was a complete flop, whereas his second movie, Darr, would also have been a disaster if not for Shahrukh Khan. When this film was released it became apparent that the man had completely run out of ideas. It's your typical boy meets girl scenario in which nothing happens for three hours except for dancing and singing and overacting and lack of acting and phony complications until we get to a well-executed climax. Shahrukh plays - drum roll please....himself! He's good in most of the scenes except when it counts, in which case he goes completely over the top. Akshaye Kumar has really nothing to do until the end, meaning he does nothing. Karishma Kapoor is pretty good although her role isn't really that difficult. The only one really worth watching is Madhuri who hits all the right notes and tries her best to save this "film". There are two good songs: the title track, and "Are re". The latter one is the standout. All in all it's a style-over-substance thing, sure to make teenage girls go wild and win all the top awards, which it did. 4 out of 10. It will be interesting to see what Yash does for his comeback film.

Naseeb (1981)

All-Star Idiocy!!

[7/10 · 8 November 2002]

Sure it's a great movie -- if you don't have a brain! The writers take way too many liberties with the plot. Nothing in this movie is realistic or plausible. Now I know you're probably thinking it's a movie and it's not supposed to be realistic...Give me a break. Of course it's a movie but how would you like it if Superman suddenly started to shoot web out of his wrists. Or Spiderman morphed into the Hulk. Some things just shouldn't happen! There is a scene here where one of the heroines is reading the villains' lips when they're backs are turned towards her. Also when Kader Khan realizes the true identity of who "Don" is, it's just not believable. He couldn't make the connection that fast - if in fact he were to make the connection at all. Also why the hell does Sinha marry Reena Roy? He doesn't love her and I thought that's what Bollywood films are about. On the plus side the actors all deliver for the most part. Amitabh and Rishi Kapoor nail down their roles. Shatrughan Sinha is just - weird. Amjad Khan and Amrish Puri are both really good. Of the woman Hema Malini's easily the best while Kimi Katekar is just horrible. The songs are really good as are the action sequences although the last one is a clear rip-off of the Towering Inferno and goes too long. Some Multi-starrers are made because the director wants to make a great movie (such as Amar Akbar Anthony) while others like this one are made to take your money. Coincidentally both of these movies are made by Manmohan Desai and there are many things about this one that tell you that it was supposed to be a sort of sequel to Amar Akbar Anthony (i.e. Amitabh's drunk scene in front of the mirror, two of the three heros play the same roles they did in the earlier movie, the actor who plays Dabisco also played Dabisco in the first one, Pran's character, the whole three heroes three heroines deal). The film definitely is a good one and I liked it as such ( 6 or 7 out of 10), but it certainly isn't great and didn't deserve to become the top Bollywood film of the 80s. But then again with the quality of Bollywood films you never know.

Silsila (1981)

Classic!!

[9/10 · 7 November 2002]

Silsila is based on the true story of Amitabh, Jaya, and Rekha. As with many great movies that don't follow the typical Bollywood format this was a big flop when it was released, and yet there is no one today who hasn't seen it. Like most Yash Chopra films this one looks great and so are the songs, especially the first two: "sar se sareke" and "ladki hai yaa sholaa" (I probably didn't spell that right). Unlike most of Amitabh's films this is more of an ensemble piece and the whole cast delivers. Amitabh gives a powerhouse performance as the poet whose life is suddenly shattered and he's forced to give up his happiness for Jaya. Jaya is also perfect and matches him all the way. Sanjeev Kumar steals every scene he's in especially the one at the airport with Rekha and the one when he's talking to Jaya at the hospital. Rekha is good although her performance is the weakest of the four. Shashi Kapoor does what he can in his small role. The subject matter was handled nicely by the writers (they never get too preachy) and there are many scenes, especially the ones between Amit and Jaya, and Rekha and Jaya where you wonder how that scene took place in real life. They also succeed with making you sympathize with all 4 individuals - (that might be why they were all willing to make the movie). I give this movie a 9 out of 10. The only thing that stops me from giving it a 10 is the ending. We aren't given a reason as to why Amitabh makes the decision that he makes. Also the big revelation from Jaya at the end of the movie doesn't really make sense. Apart from that the movie is flawless and a must see.