Topic: Tom's Random Reviews

[Tom]

Title: The Day After Tomorrow
Year: 2004
Director: Roland Emmerich
Rating: 12
Length: 124 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Italian: DTS 5.1, Spanish: DTS 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish

Stars:
Dennis Quaid
Jake Gyllenhaal
Emmy Rossum
Dash Mihok
Jay O. Sanders

Plot:
When global warming triggers a new Ice Age, tornadoes flatten Los Angeles, a tidal wave engulfs New York City and the entire Northern Hemisphere begins to freeze solid. Now, climatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid), his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) and a small band of survivors must ride out the growing superstorm and stay alive.

Awards:

BAFTA	2004	Won	Achievement In Special Visual Effects	Karen E. Goulekas, Neil Corbould, Greg Strause, Remo Balcells
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	2005	Won	BMI Film Music Award	Harald Kloser
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Won	Best Action Sequence
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Breakthrough Female Performance	Emmy Rossum
Saturn	2004	Nominated	Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn	2004	Nominated	Best Special Effects	Karen Goulekas, Neil Corbould, Greg Strause, Remo Balcells
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie - Drama/Action Adventure
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Won	Best Single Visual Effect of the Year	Karen E. Goulekas, Mike Chambers, Christopher Horvath, Matthew E. Butler (For the tidal wave)
Visual Effects Society Awards	2005	Nominated	Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture	Karen E. Goulekas, Mike Chambers, Greg Strause, Remo Balcells

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Interactive Game
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

What a shitty movie. I had avoided this one because I had the feeling that I would not enjoy it. But years of avoiding it I thought I'd give it a chance. I wasn't expecting a good story, but at least great special effects. I got no story with uninteresting characters and got cheap looking effects. All the effects were very obvious CGI shots. I am expecting them to look more realistic in such a high budget movie. I am now disappointed with myself that I couldn't stay away from the movie. And this is from someone who very much enjoys Independence Day.

Rating:

[Najemikon]

Tom, you shouldn't be disappointed for wanting to see this. I actually quite enjoyed it, but accepting it for what it was (predictable junk). Independence Day is another matter entirely. It isn't a 'great' film. Possibly not even a 'good' film, but it's incredibly good entertainment and very watchable. There is a world of difference between the two.

I have, however, no wish whatsoever to see 2012. In fact, Achim trashed that recently... I wonder what he thought of this or ID4?

[Tom]

Title: Independence Day
Year: 1996
Director: Roland Emmerich
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 147 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 3, Commentary: Dolby Digital 3
Subtitles: Commentary, English, German

Stars:
Will Smith
Bill Pullman
Jeff Goldblum
Mary McDonnell
Judd Hirsch

Plot:
July, 2nd. Some aliens come in a huge ship. They place their UFOs all over the world and blow everything apart. July, 3rd. We try to strike back and fail miserably. July, 4th. We give them a cold and blow them apart.

Awards:

Academy Award	1996	Nominated	Best Sound	Chris Carpenter, Bill W. Benton, Bob Beemer, Jeff Wexler
Academy Award	1996	Won	Best Visual Effects	Volker Engel, Douglas Hans Smith, Clay Pinney, Joe Viskocil
AFI	1996	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001)
Amanda-prisen	1997	Won	Beste utenlandske spillefilm	Roland Emmerich
BAFTA	1996	Nominated	Achievement In Special Visual Effects	Tricia Ashford, Volker Engel, Clay Pinney, Douglas Hans Smith, Joe Viskocil
BAFTA	1996	Nominated	Sound	Bob Beemer, Bill W. Benton, Chris Carpenter, Sandy Gendler, Val Kuklowsky, Jeff Wexler
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	1997	Won	BMI Film Music Award	David A. Arnold
Cinema Audio Society Awards	1997	Nominated	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film	Chris Carpenter, Bob Beemer, Bill W. Benton, Jeff Wexler
Golden Raspberry Awards	1996	Nominated	Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million	Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich
Grammy Awards	1997	Won	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television	David A. Arnold (For "Independence Day")
Hugo Award	1997	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Action Sequence
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Breakthrough Performance	Vivica A. Fox
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Won	Best Kiss	Will Smith and Vivica A. Fox
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Male Performance	Will Smith
MTV Movie Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Movie
Satellite Awards	1997	Won	Best Film Editing	David Brenner
Satellite Awards	1997	Won	Best Visual Effects	Volker Engel, Douglas Hans Smith
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Actor	Jeff Goldblum
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Actor	Will Smith
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Costumes	Joseph Porro
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Director	Roland Emmerich
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Music	David A. Arnold
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn	1996	Won	Best Special Effects	Volker Engel, Clay Pinney, Douglas Hans Smith, Joe Viskocil
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor	Brent Spiner
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress	Vivica Fox
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Writing	Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Younger Actor	James Duval
Young Artist Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film – Actor Age Ten or Under	Ross Bagley

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Kinofassung (139 min)
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

After watching the horrendous "The Day After Tomorrow" I had the urge to watch Independence Day again. I still enjoyed it very much. Yes, the characters are clichèd. Yes, the story gets a little too patriotic. But it still 100 times much more fun than the other movie. The characters, even if they are stereotypes, are a joy to watch. I especially like the interactions between Jeff Goldblum and Judd Hirsch. The effects are holding up quite well. Probably because they relied more on models than on CGI. The latter which usually gets outdated much faster.
I just looked at the cast list and a name sprung out to me: Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) as Major Mitchell. I can't believe that I didn't notice it!

Rating:

[DJ Doena]

I just looked at the cast list and a name sprung out to me: Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) as Major Mitchell. I can't believe that I didn't notice it!

He's the guy who gives the president the mike before he gives his speech. And the guy who says to the son that his father (Randy Quaid) was a brave man.

[Tom]

I just looked at the cast list and a name sprung out to me: Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) as Major Mitchell. I can't believe that I didn't notice it!

He's the guy who gives the president the mike before he gives his speech. And the guy who says to the son that his father (Randy Quaid) was a brave man.

Yes, I gathered as much. I just cannot believe it that I didn't recognize him. I probably would have, if I had known he was in the movie and I would have looked out for him.

[Achim]

I have, however, no wish whatsoever to see 2012. In fact, Achim trashed that recently... I wonder what he thought of this or ID4?

I enjoy ID4 for what it is, just like you. It, predictably, has it's cheesy moments but in overall is well made and engaging for the most part.

The Day After Tomorrow is just boring all the way through. My eyes hurt afterwards, that I much the film made me

[Dragonfire]

I didn't care for 2012. I've seen worse..but it wasn't that great.  Just a redo of some of the other movies with the world being destroyed in a different way.

[Tom]

Title: Dil Bole Hadippa!
Year: 2009
Director: Anurag Singh
Rating: FSK-0
Length: 141 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: German

Stars:
Shahid Kapoor
Rani Mukherjee
Anupam Kher
Dalip Tahil
Rakhi Sawant

Plot:
Slender, barely 5'2'', assisting a dance troupe, Veera Kaur's dream is to represent the 9-time losing Indian Tigers cricket team. The team, led by Choudhary Vikramjeet Singh, have never won the Aman Cup against their rivals, Pakistan Champs, led by Pathan Liqayat Ali Khan. She dons the guise of a turbaned Sikh, complete with beard and mustache, and calls herself Veer Pratap Singh. In this way she manage to convince the new, rather arrogant and brash Team Captain, Rohan Singh, a British County Cricket all-rounder, and the son of Vikramjeet, to include her in this team. Things all appear to be going well until accusations are leveled against her for attempting to sexually molest Rohan's leggy girlfriend - none other than Miss Chandigarh 2008, Soniya Saluja - which may well blow her cover, and prevent her from ever playing for any Indian Cricket team

Awards:
Extras:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Poster
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

The story isn't anything new. A woman wants to play a male-dominated sport, so she disguises herself as a man to be able to play.
I didn't expect much but if it's a movie with Rani Mukherji in it, I am sure to check it out. Even though I like Rani, and she has proven herself to be a great actress (see "Black"), I had doubts that she could pull of this role believably. But I really enjoyed her portrayal of the male Veer. They made the choice to play it for fun, and it works.
And again I enjoyed a movie set in Punjab, like previously "Veer-Zaara". Though it means even more dance numbers than an average Bollywood movie, I enjoy those more than most of the "modern" dance numbers of movies set in Mumbai.



Rating:

[Tom]

I recently watched "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" again. That movie really put me again into the mood of watching some Bollywood movies, and even order some new ones. Besides enjoying the story of this movie, I was enjoying the songs (in my opinion quite catchy) and the dance choreographies very much. I even bought the soundtrack now.

Here the songs from the movie. I wonder if I am the only one here who can get some enjoyment out of these:

Some background: Surinder is visiting his old teacher on the day his teacher's daughter is supposed to get married. Surinder falls in love with her. After a bus accident the groom dies and the bride's father (the teacher) has a heart attack. As he is dying, he has one final wish, that his daughter marries Surinder, so that he can die peacefully knowing his daughter (Taani) is in good hands. Surinder and Taani grant him this wish. Surinder now tries to cheer up his new bride. As she loves to dance, she takes part in a dance school. Surinder disguises himself as "Raj" and becomes her dance partner. As I said in my review, this has a little superhero movie feel to it. Surinder is the mild-mannered and shy person, who becomes the hip "Raj".


This first clip is early on in the marriage and shows Surinder's feelings for Taani



This clip is the so-called "item number". A lot of Bollywood movies have those. It usually is a song unconnected to the story and has usually an "item girl", a famous actress or singer, doing the dancing. In this movie it is a day dream by Taani. The song is a tribute to five decades of Bollywood movie history. Each part pays tribute to one decade (1940s-1980s) and each part has another famous Bollywood actress dancing. Among these Kajol (40s segment), Preity Zinta (70s segment) and Rani Mukherji (80s segment), names you will often find in my reviews.



This one is showing "Raj" and Taani practicing for the big dance tournament



The next clip is "Raj" showing Taani a good time



In this short clip Taani comes to the realization that she also has feelings for Surinder and that she won't leave him for "Raj"



This is the finale, in which Taani learns that Surinder and Raj are one and the same and she comes to recognize what Surinder has done for her

[Tom]

Title: Baazigar
Year: 1993
Director: Abbas-Mustan
Rating: FSK-16
Length: 180 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 1
Subtitles: German

Stars:
Shah Rukh Khan
Kajol
Siddharth
Shilpa Shetty
Dalip Tahil
Johnny Lever

Plot:
Wealthy widower Madan Chopra has two young and marriageable aged daughters, Priya and Seema. Madan would like Priya to marry Vicky Malhotra, his business associate, to which she reluctantly agrees. Seema attends college and is seduced by Ajay Sharma and aspires to marry him secretly. But when they go to register the marriage Ajay mysteriously kills Seema by throwing her off a multi-storied building. A grief-stricken Priya is unable to forget this incident and what she does not know is that Vicky is not what he claims to be.

Awards:

Filmfare Awards	1994	Won	Best Actor Award	Shahrukh Khan
Filmfare Awards	1994	Won	Best Male Playback Award	Kumar Sanu
Filmfare Awards	1994	Nominated	Best Movie Award
Filmfare Awards	1994	Won	Best Music Director Award	Anu Malik
Filmfare Awards	1994	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress Award	Shilpa Shetty

Extras:
Bonus Trailers
Music Videos
Scene Access

My Thoughts:

This was the first big role of Shah Rukh Khan. And also the first of many movies for the screen couple Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan. This movie caused a controversy when it was first released: SRK's character unexpectantly and brutally kills one of the love interests.
Overall I enjoyed this movie even though it has weaknesses. I have a little hard time watching older Bollywood movies because the production quality is not that great. This movie is from 1993, which is one of the oldest Bollywood movies I have seen so far.
Only the last ten years or so the production quality got much better as international interest in Bollywood movies increased and also Hollywood movies had a bigger audience in India and therefore Bollywood movies have had real competition and were forced to improve.

Rating:

[samuelrichardscott]

Tom, I see you quite like your Bollywood movies. Can you give me some recommendations for having enjoyed Home Delivery and My Wife's Murder both released by Eros? I also have seen a few others in that sort of movie budget/cast/quality range I also enjoyed and I have Preet Na Jane Reet in my to watch pile.

[Tom]

Finally! Someone who shows interest in Bollywood movies besides myself 
Until now it seemed I was writing my Bollywood reviews just for myself.

I don't know any of the three you have mentioned, so I cannot base my recommendations on those.

I will try to give some recommendations based on different aspects:

Ghajini
I can recommend this one also to those vary of Bollywood. I think it is really accessable to western audiences.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
The mother of the modern Bollywood rom-coms.

Black
A great Bollywood movie without the typical singing and dancing.

Veer-Zaara
One of my favorite romance movies.

Lakshya
A war drama. Interesting to see how well they fit songs into this one. It has one of my favorite Bollywood soundtracks and great choreography.


There are many others I can recommend (some of which I already watched multiple times). Here is a list of all Bollywood movies I have rated so far. The ones I have written a review for are linked. Do not wonder that there are some non-Hindi movies listed. I have also marked movies having Indian directors and partially Indian cast as Bollywood movies in my collection.

Title	Rating
Aaja Nachle (2007)
Anjaam (1994)
Baabul (2006)
Baazigar (1993)
Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008)
Baghban (2003)
Black (2005)
Bride & Prejudice (2004)
Bunty aur Babli (2005)
Chalte Chalte (2003)
Chori Chori (2001)
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001)
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002)
Dhoom (2004)
Dil Bole Hadippa! (2009)
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006)
Fanaa (2006)
Fire (1996)
U, Me aur Hum (2008)
Ghajini (2007)
God Tussi Great Ho (2008)
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
Hum Tum (2004)
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Jab We Met (2007)
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
Fight Club: Members Only (2006)
Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000)
Koi... mil gaya (2003)
Krrish (2006)
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007)
Lakshya (2004)
Main Hoon Na (2004)
Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003)
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000)
Mission Kashmir (2001)
Mohabbatein (2000)
Mr. India (1987)
Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002)
Nina's Heavenly Delights (2006)
One 2 Ka 4 (2001)
Paheli (2005)
Saathiya (2006)
Saawariya (2007)
Salaam Namaste (2005)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)
Umrao Jaan (2006)
Veer-Zaara (2004)
Viruddh... Family Comes First (2005)
Yaadein... (2001)

[Tom]

I guess you depend on English language releases. I have the luck, that there is distributor (Rapid Eyes Movies) here in Germany, who releases a lot of Bollywood movies in good quality. With the British Eros releases I have mixed experiences.

I will try to compile a list of movies, which I can recommend, and have a decent UK release.

For now the above list shortened to UK releases I own:

Title	Rating
Baabul (2006)
Black (2005)
Bride & Prejudice (2004)
Chori Chori (2001)
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Fire (1996)
Ghajini (2007)
God Tussi Great Ho (2008)
Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000)
Mission Kashmir (2001)
Nina's Heavenly Delights (2006)
Paheli (2005)
Saawariya (2007)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

[Tom]

Here a few available UK releases:


Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Decent price at Marketplace. Two disc release with a bunch of extras.

Lakshya
Seems to be a decent release, though not quite cheap.

Fanaa
Very good price at Marketplace.

Kal Ho Naa Ho
Decent price at Marketplace.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Good price at Marketplace.

Taare Zameen Par
Very good regular price. It says that it is a 3-disc release.

Black
Very good price at Marketplace.

Ghajini
Good price at Marketplace

Jab We Met
Available regularly. Good price at Marketplace.

[samuelrichardscott]

Thanks. I ordered Black and Fanaa.