Movies Blogs

Salman Khan in Bodyguard and Nana Patekar in Shagird

A lot of noise surrounded Salman Khan refusing 6 crores from a security agency to wrap himself in his own security guard's uniform in his latest, "Bodyguard".  Then we heard that Nana Patekar will soon appear in his favourite (and most tried and tested) avatar in the movie, "Shagird"- an unconventional cop who gets mashed amidst the nexus of politicians and gangsters (Ab Tak Pachpan?).

But the underlying message that we read here is that our macho-men of Bollywood love exercising their testosterone on vigilante roles. Policing law-breakers and throwing punches at baddies not only puts them on a pedestal but also carves a much amiable image among their fans. Something that can hardly be achieved by playing the mushy boy-next-door, romancing atop Swiss Alps in designer sweaters. But what about the fearless action hero is so appealing that every actor can't wait to strap a cape around their neck? Let's draw up a list of possible merits of playing a numero uno crime-buster.

1. You get a

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Remember how many hearts went dhak dhak for Madhuri's wide-eyed innocent response to Neena Gupta's wildly suggestive 'Choli ke peeche kya hain?' in Subhash Ghai's Khal Nayak that kind of deified Sanjay Dutt's wildchild ways? If there was one woman who knew all about the business behind the blouse, it was Madhuri Dixit, the then reigning queen of Bollywood, who'd left contemporaries Sridevi and Juhi Chawla far, far behind in the desirable-desi-belle stakes. If it wasn't wooing men on the wrong side of the law with demureness-despite-threadbare-cholies, it was getting men with no knowledge of the birds and the bees up to amorous speed on what we're really here on earth for.  Psst. Juhi and Sridevi didn't stand a chance.

Madhuri's blouse-clutching insistence that it was only a living, four-chambered heart that beat a steady rhythm for her man from behind the sequins and sewed-on mirrors on her blouse left many young men (in the throes of adolescence and far, far beyond) curling their

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Skyline review

Skyline is a film of many firsts. The first alien movie to induce humour (unintentionally). The first time 95 % of the cast actually got a role in a 'real' production. The first time aliens who couldn't be tamed by nuclear missiles are forced to succumb to punches (the lead actor is actually seen throwing fists at one ET, 25 times his size in one scene). And hopefully the last time the talented VFX experts Brothers Strause (that's how Greg and Colin Strause are referred to) occupy the director's chair.

The film's plot is like a dozen other alien movies produced every year in Hollywood. Most of them only manage a DVD release. The basic premise is: aliens decide to invade earth, giant spaceships that resemble floating garbage dumps (emitting blue lazer lights) descend on Los Angeles to cause mayhem. This is when our instinctively-challenged cast decides that the safest place to take cover is by heading out on the streets (what is the collective IQ of the scriptwriters?). The lead cast

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As the title suggests, this is a take on the almost forgotten fairytale, 'The Red Riding Hood'. And once you watch this movie, it will scar your childhood memory of the original forever. And it's also foolishly apparent that this is director Catherine Hardwicke's very next after 'Twilight'. Werewolf there and here. Bad actors there, worse here. Regardless, this is how the film rolls...

Welcome to Wolfville. It's a very cold place (literally and metaphorically) where people dress like extras from a Robin Hood play and spend their entire lives fearing a certain werewolf. But for good reason, as intermittently through the film, village folk are brutally skinned by the furry beast. Gongs are hammered to announce that the wolf has claimed another victim. But the high fatality rate makes it a casual affair, so people gather about, make apologetic faces for a while and the body is carted away (where are all these bodies going?).

Swimming amidst this chaos, is the love story of our beloved

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kareena_1908_600x335A slideshow on Kareena's wardrobe malfunction (if you can really call it that) — is it actually worth a news story? Given that it's a Bollywood scoop, it's trivialization like this that gives journalism a bad name.

Since the twenty-hour news channels became the primary source of news propagation, it has been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism. When Peepli [Live] took potshots at the media, everyone including journalists nodded in unison. Some in the media also said that Peepli left them feeling exposed and vulnerable.

While I too had a hearty laugh watching Kumar Deepak's live reporting on the big screen, at the risk of being called the devil's advocate, I do feel that the media gets a raw deal very often. Whether it is sting operations on corrupt politicians or riot reportage, journalists are blamed for being insensitive, even provocative. Like Rajdeep Sardesai once said, "Bottom line: if you can't shoot the message, at least make sure you shoot the messenger."

Media activism

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What is it about this super spy that has given us some of most highest grossing films in entertainment history? "Bond, James Bond" and his hot Bond girls have sent people flocking to the cinemas every time a new movie is released. But another thing that's happened since 1962, when Dr. No (the first Bond movie) was in the theatres, is that many leading men have given an identity and a face to that name; and this in turn has given us the good fortune of having "our favourite Bonds".

Star Movies is showing a month-long tribute to this suave, spirited, and witty spy; and it's aptly called 'For the love of Bond'. And while I watch some of the most intriguing, action-packed movies ever made, I can't help but compare all the Bonds that have ever graced the silver screen, to pick and choose which one I really like the most.

Sean Connery

Some call him the ultimate Bond; no one can surpass him. Being the first Bond (with Dr. No in 1962), he has that advantage. Most Bonds are compared to him,

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Sigh. Movies. I love what the magic of the silver screen can do to you, how it can influence your life, mannerisms, even habits. And like any hopeless romantic, love, in all its forms, fascinates me. Over the years, I have watched many beautiful films with love as the main theme. And over the years, I have gotten to love a few of them, not to mention dislike a few as well.

Here is my list of romantic (not necessarily comedies) movies a girl must watch. And if you are a guy, I guarantee you WILL score brownie points if you plan an evening with your wife/girlfriend and one of these movie DVDs.

You've Got Mail (Trailer here)

Forget 'Sleepless in Seattle'! This is the one you have to watch. The second time Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan got together to star in a rom-com, it was magic; THIS was magic. The simplicity in this love story is one to die for, and if you have not watched the movie yet, I will not give any spoilers. But this I must say, have you stopped 'writing' to your beloved? This will

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If there is one thing I love, it is the rains. As the skies darken and the rains fall pitter patter, I become restless.  But then,  with the summer sun blazing, i can just dream about those songs which added a sizzle when they hit screen. Well, let me just stop writing and list some of my favorite rain songs.

And then it rained.  The music of the rains, the dreams she saw…

When it rains, says Chameli, she doesn't know where her mind flows.

Rain makes the heroine happy, and she dances with abandon.

Do raindrops talk? I feel they do, and so does the heroine

It is not just the heroine who likes to shake a leg, everyone enjoys this

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