Commented on laikar's review
Jan 17, 2009 06:12 PM
Howdy again :) This was indeed a remake of a south movie I believe. Not that I watched either version -- just explaining (away) some of the oddities including the culotte. Heck, especially the culottes :)
Commented on laikar's review
Jan 17, 2009 06:00 PM
By the way, forgot to ask -- what does your title mean? I can translate some words, but can't put them together!
Commented on laikar's review
Jan 17, 2009 05:55 PM
Nobody ever says if he really was cheating in the quiz show or not. That's the big suspense, eh? :p
Howdy? Very thoughtful review. You seem really impressed. Perhaps I should watch it then. At least to find out if our hero wins the big money. And the girl. I bet he did. For all the poignance, it'...s a movie after all :)
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Commented on laikar's review
Jun 11, 2008 06:04 PM
What? No special mention at all of the attractive Charlotte! :p I had no idea what it was all about from the bits and pieces that I watched on TV. You have a very interesting take on the whole series. I wasn't quite sure why so many women liked this show so much. I think I'm beginning to understand.... A bit. Quite amusing too to read that the men are enjoying it more than the women. Very well written as always. And no, I am not watching :)Read More
Commented on laikar's review
May 20, 2008 07:26 AM
Quite likely the critic on the back cover only read the first few pages before writing that blurb. It is quite annoying indeed when a book does not live up to its initial promise. More so for the critics. And you thought the readers had it tough :)
Your reviews are looking more and more like lit...tle theses -- or maybe it's just me seeing theses in everything around me these days. No, by that I am not saying it is too dry and never read. It is as extensive as it is perceptive, and yet very unlike theses, is a joy to read :) Wonderful work. Urban angst though, is the least of my concern these days and so happily there is no danger of me going anywhere near this work for now. And based on what you say, possibly ever.
I am not very much a fan of Japanese cuisine (would you believe they actually like to eat healthy -- how strange is that?) -- the seaweed is a big turn off, though I've enjoyed Japanese pan cakes (okkonamiyaki or something). But I know quite a few who enjoy it.
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Commented on laikar's review
Apr 19, 2008 01:49 PM
Quite inquisitive aren't ya? :) Pray tell me why you think it cannot be useful to me. I am not so unromantic really :)
Regarding the kiss, it was just famous (or infamous) because the two leads reenacted the kiss during the award show -- something that was on TV during my dinner time. It later ca...me out that they were also seeing each other off screen. But it surely doesn't rank along with a over enthusiastic Richard Gere bussing Shilpa Shetty hard enough to send a few cranks run and consult their Indian tradition and culture manual in a frenzy :)
Good on ya, again then, for writing such a not so useful review. Happy? Just joking :)Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Apr 17, 2008 12:36 PM
Loved your review :) Yay romance! We never get bored of it. Interesting story about the boatman. Never watched or read the Notebook. But I believe the film is quite (in?)famous for its award winning kiss scene in one of those endless award ceremonies. Appropriately perhaps given the comments about i...t being some trashy romance story. There you go. Always informative. That's me :)Read More
Commented on laikar's article
Rabri and Aai
Apr 08, 2008 05:52 PM
:) Fair enough. But I do care. I make sure the one in my dreams isn't chubby and sans a hubby. No, seriously, I am happy for her to have found someone. (I know I don't have to be happy for Abhishek. What me turning green? That's just the lighting really :) You seem to have done a lot of research abo...ut this site. I think mouthshut should hire you. By the way, very nice gallery photo too.Read More
Commented on laikar's article
Rabri and Aai
Apr 06, 2008 11:06 AM
Same here! It must just be completely coincidental that Aishwarya showed up in my dreams too recently. I mean like everyday:) Kidding. My dreams usually make no sense whatsoever. So this is what you've been up to. Sounds quite lovely. Very familial. Your Aai must be very strong willed to be so refre...shingly cheerful at an advanced age. I'll have to second the comment about happy names too. On a different note, this website curiously now appears to be more of a social networking site than a consumer review site. Maybe that was the idea all along and I am just slow to catch up. Not that there's anything wrong with that ...Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Jan 27, 2008 05:55 AM
Great review! Interesting dig at Bengalis :) The movie sounds like a curious work. But it also appears to seriously delve on a topic that I am not too familiar with :)
Incidentally, I've never taken a chance yet with dubbed movies. I always get this bizarre image of 'floating dialogs' watching th...e few minute promotions of them -- kinda like reading a picture book with talk bubbles. Do you know enough Bengali to watch the original?
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Commented on laikar's review
Dec 07, 2007 01:51 AM
... and the friend is as usual late to the review :) A very eloquent one at that. I meant the review of course. Not the friend :)
You've pretty much said all I could have and more.
'even the deepest sadness is viewed with a gentle humour that elevates the pathos to clear-eyed acceptance without... diminishing its profundity.'
Many, if not all, of the characters should also be familiar to most Indians, I think, especially the English-speaking variety.
And interesting profile of yours as a reader and movie watcher. Not that I didn't suspect or anything. Just kidding.Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Nov 26, 2007 04:03 PM
I might quite enjoy a movie like that though I am probably not familiar with the originals enough to appreciate the burlesque. Still will give it a go -- your comments about Deepika are very tempting indeed :)
There was a hilarious parody of tamil movies in the form of a TV series eons ago by a ...wonderfully gifted comedian of the Tamil filmdom. That was perhaps one of the best TV shows I watched as a kid.
A lovely review too as always.Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Oct 29, 2007 06:19 PM
'sad scene mein sitaar, entry pe dhol, tense scene mein psycho ka music' -- hilarious stuff this. So now I know the Indian versions of the ridiculous laugh tracks used in American sitcoms.
Commented on laikar's review
Oct 12, 2007 04:46 AM
Mo, I didn't intend to put down your nice review at all with the 'discourse' comment -- it was meant to be on a lighter note about the religious reference. After that, I was just trying to add my theory/opinion on the topic but ended up giving my very own ... well, let's say discourse? :)
Commented on laikar's review
Oct 11, 2007 04:06 AM
That was a wonderful writeup. If enough people read it, the movie may yet be saved from being a commercial flop :)
I of course duly agree with your discourse on the virtues of a truly egalitarian society. And most people would too, when written down like that. But not many would recognize the soc...ial conditioning within them that they often rely upon to judge others, which really is the problem. As you imply, often these things are dressed up in a way that is so seductive to the egos of the dominant society, and so brutal and crushing to the oppressed.
To be sure, there are status/class divisions in most western societies too. While still stupid, at least theoretically, there are opportunities to work your way up. But the Indian caste system is more insidious because it doesn't even let you do that by pinning your worth solely to your birth.
And just a minor point. The statement ’’every major invention in the world has been made by the whites ...' is not really true but most accept it as a fact. What is true is that most modern scientific/technical inventions have been made in western countries (with contributions from all demographics of course). The correctness of the statement is not such a big deal by itself, but very often it is used as an instrument for the very same social conditioning you are talking about.Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Sep 24, 2007 05:58 PM
Quite an odd title indeed for a thriller. The movie sounds different. There are some hollywood movies along similar lines where the hero unexpectedly turns a sleuth -- no, I am not insinuating anything :) But then I can't remember any of them by name at the moment (which probably says as much about ...those movies as it does about my memory). Enjoyed reading as always.Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Sep 05, 2007 06:12 PM
Nice review, and nicer comments section! Don't know much about SRK or Aamir -- now, don't blast me you closet Aamir lover; I promise I'll learn. So now you know why it was targeted at NRIs -- it was all my fault, sorry :)
The fairness cream for men does sound a bit queer though. And, I suppose '...arrogance' and 'confidence' are really one and the same thing -- often the difference is just about who is being described.
Yeah, I've noticed the obsession with fair skin too; but mostly from Indian women (sorry). I suppose it is a tad too complicated to understand that beauty is more than skin color, just as learning is more than using memory pills for quick retention. On the other hand, a simple 'do this trick to get that' formula is very easy for everyone to appreciate and follow. So ...Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Jun 15, 2007 05:19 AM
... sounds like delta made some pretty bad screw-ups to ruin your vacation. Customer service for airlines these days have gone from bad to worse. I've never flown Delta, but had to contend with some rude staff traveling by Lufthansa once, among other experiences, and often even if you succeed in mak...ing your point, they've already messed up your nice holiday plan. Sadly, air travel is a necessary evil.
Fly safe to India, and I will write soon.Read More
Commented on laikar's review
Apr 29, 2007 06:35 PM
(Updated Apr 29, 2007 06:38 PM)
... review that was. Alright, so now I know where to go to appreciate life. And beauty, and glamor, and perfectly coiffed women who may incidentally happen to be topless :)
But, but ... they don't thrust upon others their pretentious sense of morality at every opportunity? Not even issue arrest w...arrants for men kissing women? No way! Incredible indeed.Read More
Commented on pri20's review
Apr 06, 2007 08:33 PM
... well-written review.While I am no fan, I've liked all Ben Stiller comedies I've watched so far (including 'Meet the Parents'!) I agree too that the main draw of his movies is that they stay true to the comedy theme. No cheesy morals or messages to take home -- just plain good humor.
