Gulaal : 'THE' Scene

"Tumhe kisne kaha ke MAIN sab ka istemaal nahi kar rahi"

Was watching Gulaal again and couldnt resist writing. No doubt that the movie itself is a masterpiece. But, i think this one scene deserves a special mention.

For those who havent seen the movie, contrary to popular belief, that its about college politics or the struggle for a separate rajputana state and has a 70s struggling flavour to it. The movie is above all this. All those things are sub-plots and the movie is about a simple need of recognition as legitimate children for a brother-sister pair. They need that recognition and WILL get it at whatever cost possible. Even if the cost is to sacrifice his own sister and going till ANY length to achieve it.

This particular scene takes the plot to the end when you realize that the helplessness of Dileep when he comes to know that the woman she blindly loved, doesn't love him at all and was only using him. She keeps on telling him the same thing again and again and He keeps on justifying HER actions. He tells her that she is BEING used and then she says 'THE' dialogue. Man.. THIS is wat script writing is all about. I just don't have the words to describe how i 'feel' when she says that one dialogue which sums up the whole movie in a sentence!!!

The struggle to realize the truth is so amazingly portrayed by Dileep, that it is just out of the world. The innocence which forms the basis of his character is still not lost and can be felt through his thick framed eyes too. You can almost reach Dileep's heart and feel the pain inside. The same guy who trusted this girl more than himself. The same guy who gave up everything for this one girl. The same guy whom most might term as a typical 'emotional fool'. The same guy who picks up a gun and kills 5 people becomes so helpless when he has to face the girl who 'loved' him.

Kiran on the other hand, is just as cold blooded as one can be. She knew what she wanted and was ready to go to any length for it and thats what she did. Be it using dileep or sleeping with other men to realize her goal. Even in this cold blooded portrayal you cant escape feeling for her too. In this one scene, you can feel the pain that she has gone through all her life, being called an illegitimate child. For her, Dileep is nothing more than a stepping stone in her bigger scheme of things.

'Trust' and 'Betrayal' are two sides of the same coin. Its just the way you look at it. Dileep trusts Kiran so blindly that even when she herself tells him the truth. He just cant believe it. He keeps justifying her actions and thinks that 'others' are using her. He just cant understand the concept of betrayal. he just needs to flip the coin and look at the other side. But he doesn't or rather he couldn't. The scene looks at the 'Love is Blind' cliche and multiplies it manifold. Dileep is so 'blinded' by love that he coudn't see the truth. You might call him 'naive, an idiot or a dumb-ass' who doesnt fit in 'today's' definition of love and relationships. But he is not all that. He is just simply in 'love'.

Phenomenal. Nothing short of it.

Transformers 2 : Revenge of the Fallen

Take $200 million, spend most on special effects, hire no script writers, spend more on special effects, don't give any screen space to the REAL actors, spend a little more on special effects!!! What do you get?? Bingo!!! Transformers 2. Its too long. Has too many special effects and explosions. The characters just keep jumping from one explosion to the others and that too in slow motion. It runs for 2 and a half hours and then suddenly stops. But ofcourse, for the next sequel!!!

THATs the problem, even after such a ho-halla abt the sequel. Rumors abt Optimus Prime's death. High expectations. Superb Marketing.Crazy spends on Special Effects. 2 and a Hour length.. and STILL you come out of the theater with not even a single moment that you can remember!! The movie only focuses on special effects and the moments are made of Actors AND Characters. The Actors dont do much apart from running and hiding. The Characters have all been established in the earlier movie and there is no growth therein.

As far as the special effects are concerned. They are KICK ASS!!! No doubt about it. But the novelty of idea of 'TRANSFORMATIONS' from robots to cars was good enough for the first movie. In the second one, much more was expected. Atleast a story line and you can't really make a successful movie ONLY out of special effects. If that was the case then world over, computer graphics artists would get paid much more than movie stars. Buts thats not the case.. AS YET!! And add to that not required PRODUCT Placements like LG and CISCO in every second frame!! Come on Mr Bay. Get a Life

The whole movie is nothing short of a Video Game with excellent graphics. From the first shot onwards you realize that the movie is not about logic or story line or anything else. Its only about spectacular action sequences and impressive graphics. But after a certain point(especially in a 2.5 hour long movie) you start to feel the need of a plot. You cant just keep on watching chase sequences after chase sequences. Explosions after Explosions. Transformations After Transformations. I guess thats what differentiates successful movie franchisees like Terminator or for that matter Matrix and Transformers. Honestly i cant remember ANYTHING worth mentioning about the movie.

Bottomline: I repeat, the action and special effects are just freakin Awesome BUT thats about it. There is nothing else. Generally i say, Forget the plot. Dont apply your brains. Go with friends. Sit back. Enjoy and Come back. This time around, i say, DON'T. Its not worth it. Watch the first part instead in the comfort of your home rather than spending money on this one. Or better still!! Go and watch Hangover Again!!

Feel-o-meter: 4/10

Kambakht Ishq: Akshay and Kareena should jump off a cliff.. or Better still.. Should be pushed from one!!!!

Bhaad mein gya review.. Aur Tel lene gayi FEEL. Pehle mujhe ye batao.. Who is this Idiot who wrote this piece of crap and what was the storyline?? A doctor forgets her wrist watch in a stuntman's stomach and they live happily ever after!!!!

This is like the shittiest movie ever. To give you a perspective Even Chandni Chowk to China was better or rather Less Worse as i say!!! I mean i dont even know what do i write yaar. It doesnt even deserve a mention anywhere ya. This is like nothing but a bilkul bakwaas and defective product in an attractive packaging. Bas publicity kar di. 4 hollywood stars se guest experience karwa diya. Bas ho gayi movie. I understand that some movies are brainless comedies but this is like sh*t.. No humor. No punchlines. No witty one liners. No script. No comic timing. NOTHING!!!!!

Kareena Kapoor just going down and down adjusting her inner wear trying to show her non existent cleavage in every second shot possible. The movie is full of sleaze too. I just did not understand why did she have to run, run and run in like a dozen shots in a skimpy top without any 'you know what'. I guess she was trying to give shilpa shetty a RUN for her money trying to Shut Up and BOUNCE!!!! Just pathetic ya. But i guess you cant do much if you dont have anything for script, story or direction. You just need to use cheap tricks. But this was not expected out of an A list movie with A list actors like Kareena and Akshay. This is in the same league as Masti and Kya Kool hai hum, just that the other had SOME comic timing.

Story bata ke kuch fayda nahi, because anyways its not gonna make any sense what so ever. Kab kya ho raha hai and kyon ho raha hai. Kisi ke baap ko nahi pata!!!!! Once toh i thought that director had taken a compulsory core leave and gave the director's cap to somebody else in some other unit who was shooting some other movie altogether.

Performance wise, NOTHING worth mentioning. Akshay is trying sooo hard to be funny that it is Sad. Kareena couldnt find time from adjusting her top to flaunt some you know what. Javed jaffrey couldnt do anything because he did not have anything to do in the movie. Boman irani is wasted in a cameo which could have been decent. Amrita Arora just comes in and goes out and in the middle is wearing like a dozen skimpiest thong bikinis possible and is either IN the pool, or AT the pool side or taking a bath. Gross just too Gross for me. Go and watch a C rated masala movie instead!!!

Music sucks anyways. There aint even ONE song worth mentioning. Although the title track which is more like an item song is still tolerable and is quite a clubbing kinda number.

I am very disturbed, almost angry at the fact that this movie was shot alongside A list hollywood stars like Stallone, Routh, Denise Richards etc and THIS is the reason the Indian movie industry is looked down upon globally. If they watch the movie, the impression of the Indian movies being ONLY full of trash and latka jhatka masala stuff will always remain. I guess there should be a ban on using Hollywood stars or even releasing a movie in the international market unless the script is approved by a central authority!!!! Kam se Kam kuch izzat to bachegi

Overall, The most bakwaaas movie ever witnessed by me. Akshay, Kareena, the director and the whole crew should release a public apology for making such filth. Bottomline, If somebody offers you a free ticket or may be WITH a couple of hundred bucks.. Run and Hide!!!!!

Feel-o-Meter : ZERO/Ten

(It doesnt deserve to be reviewed EVEN by a wella movie reviwer like ME)

The Hangover

An honest confession first. The review might be a bit biased since i am an absolute teetotaler myself and it may be very natural for me to not be able to relate to the incidents. But what the heck..
The movie had everything. Smooth Timing, Gripping script, Witty one liners, Nice chemistry, Starry Cameos, everything. I mean every checkbox was ticked. Dont know why but there was something that didnt work for me. May be the build up was too much. Every single person who had already seen the movie called or messaged me and said.. Freak, How come you havent seen it as yet, go and watch it.. Its Awesommmme.. In different words and accents, But the essentially FEEL was the same.. So as i was entering the theater i already had very high expectations and nothing short of Awesommmme would have impressed me and Exactly thats what happened. The movie is pretty amazing otherwise and has all the ingredients for a perfect comedy.
As far as the story is concerned, nothing needs to be mentioned as the name itself suggests that its about.... surprise!!!. A Hangover. 4 friends go for a bachelor party, get drunk and wake up to find out that the person who is supposed to get married tomorrow is not to be found, but a Tiger in the washroom!!! And then, starts the process to find out what happened last night in order to ascertain where their friend is. And THATs where the chemistry and the mystery is unfold.
Performance wise, Zach Galifianakis just beats the other 3 hands down. He is just tooo cool. Heather Graham's role is a total waste and dint even deserve to be in the movie. Mike Tyson's cameo is just not funny at all. But i think the movie should be seen for the chemistry between the four friends rather than individual performances.
Overall a pretty decent watch and in case you have had a Really Bad hangover anytime in your life. You are just gonna LOU it. Go with friends. Forget about Office, Relax, Sit back and Enjoy the fun.
Feel-o-meter : 7.5/10

Terminator Salvation

Okay.. First things first. Think of the ruthless terminator from the first movie and just make him around 60 Ft tall with mototerminators(which are nothing but terminators + ducati bikes) coming out of his thighs driving at a more than 120 mph dodging cars, bullets, flying pieces of scrap. Whats the first reaction??? Kick ass.. right?? Not really.. coz when you realize that THIS is all what the movie offers especially given the responsibility it carries on its shoulder given the legacy of the franchise. It isnt just enough..

Secondly. set your expectations straight.. What do you want to see in a Terminator Movie?? Kick Ass action, Ammmazing Special Effects and Hard core Chase Sequences. and THATs all the movie delivers.

As far as the story goes. I am sure that nobody is bothered about it anyways. Terminator Series has never been known for its screenplay or storyline, but for its futuristic look, crazy action sequences and a bit of masala. This is no different but to be honest. FEEL NAHI AAYI YAAR.

For starters, it dint feel like a Terminator movie at all. The franchise is known for its hard core feel and not toyish stuff like the transformers.. This feels like the sequel of the latter more than the former. And i guess thats where the problem lies. No where in the movie you get the FEEL of the original series. It feels like a different movie altogether with just a couple of characters taken from the original. McG has its share of blame to take in this case. I mean he still has too much of Charlie's Angels in him left, to fit in the shoes of Mr Cameron.

The storyline is not relevant except that John Connor is all grown up and is fighting the machines in 2018. Rest is all the same. A Terminator is sent to kill him the only difference being that the terminator this time around is in the form of a spy and he (or rather IT) doesnt even know that he is a machine himself. He considers himself as a man full of emotions!!! Nice twist to the story.. Performance wise, there was nothing to mention, even Christian Bale couldnt do anything about it coz there was nothing in the movie that he COULD do too. Its not a character specific movie but Franchise specific.

The problem lies is the Zabardasti ka Masala too.. Arnie makes a guest appearance, just for the heck of it. and All the good work that is present in the first half wrt the special effects goes waste when the movie becomes a drag and starts preaching the basic difference between the man and the machine and blah blah blah starts. So much so that you stop empathizing with the characters too. The Final battle too doesnt impress much. I guess the movie should have ended at the interval and a lot of people would have come out of the show happier.

Bottomline: If you have wella time, some extra bucks, already seen other movies this weekend and are an ardent T-series fan. Go for it. But come out before the second half begins coz it spoils the amazing stuff portrayed in the first half. Dont apply brains. Dont care about the minute details. Just go for the mind blowing action and especially the moto-terminators, coz they ROCKK..

Feel-o-Meter : 6/10

Dev D: Mr Rahman here comes Mr Trivedi. Run and Hide!!!!!

Well.. Firstly, i know i am writing it like 6 months too late but what the heck. The FEEL is still the same. Most of us are already aware that it is a Sooooper Album and complements the movie in every way possible. Its like a central character in the movie itself and lyrics don't feel like songs but a narrative. Without the sound track, i guess its very difficult for somebody to actually even imagine the movie.

Dev D. is the most versatile and complete album that i have come across in a VERY VERY long time. I mean i am just crazy about every f**kin track. There is not even a single song out of the 18 on the album, which can be classified even as Average. It is just amazing how different can all 18 songs be from each other and Still bind the movie together.

Sometimes, i actually wonder if Amit Trivedi himself composed all the songs!!! Its very difficult to imagine somebody compose songs so different from each other and including genres like rock, pop, folk, bhangra, semi-classical and EVERYTHING works!!!!

I am not sure how many would have noticed the 'By Gods' in "Paayalia". I am amazed to even imagine how he would have actually thought of putting these words in the song randomly and it is nothing short of genius. I think the soul of the music lies in the how different instruments have been used so imaginitively together and Amit Trivedi manages to get just the right mix.

Emosanayal Atyachar which obviously is the most popular track of the album for its DIFFERENT brass band sound and since everybody has already heard it like a million times so no point discussing it further. But i must appreciate that even the rock version although doesnt give the full FEEL of an international rock band still is not that bad either.

Bhangra songs like Hikknaal and Mahi Menu are just as good as they come. Former is fully unadulterated and rustic, and latter is more on the UKish bhangra pop.

Pardesi's fusion FEEL with English Lyrics at the beginning and then completely to folkish stuff, Use of Electronics, Turntables along with Sitar is out of the world.

In terms of vocals too, Amit leaves his mark in ALL the songs that he has sung, be it Duniya (specially when he says Horran bajaye), Aankh Micholi, Nayan Tarse or Saali Khushi.

Now the problem is that i think i can deliver a lecture or write atleast a post for EACH of the track but i dont really if others get the same FEEL that i get from the album or not. So wont even talk about it anymore.

The bottomline is that arguably this is the BEST ALBUM by far since a pretty long and i am just in love with it and Amit Trivedi is nothing short of GOD in terms of versatility. I would love to see how he beats THIS the next time he composes. Mr Rahman, you've got competition!!!! and IF this is not a flash in the pan, Start worrying as well.. Because THE trivedi has arrived.

Whats this 'FEEL' all about!!!!

"Best Feelings are those which don't need any words to describe them"
This ghisa pita cliche has been used by me like god knows how many times and again it has come back with an idea to have a blog dedicated to 'FEEL'. Something that cant be explained. But just felt.

Okay.. First things first. Everybody who knows of this one phrase can relate to it automatically. Others no matter how much i explain, can just never get it. So why bother??

FEEL aana is more like something that can never be defined, but may be described after a hell lot of an effort, which i am definitely not in a mood to put in right now. Ye woh bala hai jo Direct Dil se nikalte hue dimaag mein ghar kar leti hai aur phir jaane ka naam nahi leti. ;-)

Its a phenomena wherein you look, hear, smell something in this world and are just spell bound by it. No matter how trivial or normal it might appear to the junta around you. YOU are the only one who can experience it and normally it happens with in a zillion-th portion of a milisecond.

Have you ever experienced a new play or a song or a movie or a book or god knows what and just found it toooo ammmazing and just couldnt find words to describe it to somebody else. Thats what 'FEEL' aana is all about.

The funny part is that if i cant describe something in words, how the hell do i plan to WRITE on this blog!!! But, that shall be taken care of sometime later. Abhi toh.. Lets start.. and i hope with in a few posts.. The concept will be clearer..

Anybody who has a clearer understanding of the concept.. Pls write back so that i can incorporate the same in the blog too..

Take Care..