My Top 5 Favorite Films

Part 3 of my series: My Top 5 Favorite Things (parts 1 and 2 are below)

My Top 5 Favorite Films

1. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Karan Johar, 2006)

Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kirron Kher, Rani Mukherji and Preity Zinta

I think I've lost count on how many times I have seen KANK. I think I was at 10 times last time I checked? Who knows. The point is if this movie has any flaws, I either don't notice them anymore or have figured out some way to justify them. That's how many times I've seen it and how much I love it. I understand how controversial it is and how many haters it has... but, you see, that's part of its charm. It's so special specifically because it can inspire love or hate. And it's just so darn funny. 

2. Dostana (Tarun Mansukhani, 2008)

Starring: John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Bobby Deol, Boman Irani and Kirron Kher

Countless movies have been made about love. Not many have been made on friendship. This hilarious tale is one of the sunniest, most good-natured and charming comedies to come out of Bollywood. If you're not laughing during the post-Desi Girl scenes, then I don't know what to tell you. Also the "Maa Da Laadla Mummy Mix" is just out of this world funny. 

3. Omkara (Vishal Bharadwaj, 2006)

Starring: Bipasha Basu, Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi and Konkona Sensharma

I've mentioned this movie at least once during both Parts 1 and 2 of this series. This is one of the best Shakespearean adaptations. That is because Bharadwaj effortlessly moves the plot to modern-day Uttar Prades without losing any of Othello's mastery. Everyone single person in the film is amazing in their roles especially Kareena, Konkona, Saif, Ajay and the guy who plays Rajan. And I just love the song "Namak Ishq Ka".

4. Jodhaa Akbar (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2008)

Starring: Ila Arun, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Sonu Sood

I had originally had Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya in this slot. But then I realized that I'd rather spend 210 minutes watching this movie than 145 minutes watching MPKK. Aishwarya and Hrithik's performances are stellar as well as those of the supporting cast. The music, costumes, cinematography and sets are all marvelous. The only thing that is not-so-wonderful are the large battle scenes. The three one-on-one fight scenes are exceptional. 

5. Kal Ho Naa Ho (Nikhil Advani, 2003)

Starring: Jaya Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Sushma Seth and Preity Zinta

I cry every time I watch this movie but always during different parts. Last time, it was when Jenny and mother-in-law Lajjo have their final blowout before it is revealed that Gia is not adopted but Jenny's dead husband's illegitimate child. This is just a strong movie all around that is full of laughs and tears. This is another movie where I just overlook any flaws due to my sheer love for it. 

Feel free to leave any comments. 

Thanks for reading my 3-Part series "My Top 5 Favorite Things"!

My Top 5 Favorite Actors

Part 2 of my series My Top 5 Favorite Things (part 1 is below)

My Top 5 Favorite Actors

1. Hrithik Roshan - The New Favorite

I used to really dislike Hrithik Roshan (I shudder to remember Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish and Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage). But recently, he's really impressed me. Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar, Luck By Chance contain great acting jobs by him. If you look back to Lakshya, Mujhse Dosti Karoge and Mission Kashmir, he's really impressive. Plus, he's like the best dancer in Bollywood. "Dhoom Again" is just a masterpiece of dancing ability. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Robert Downey Jr. 

2. John Abraham - The Criminally Underrated Favorite

No Smoking, Jism, New York, Dhoom, Water, Garam Masala - all excellent films. So why isn't John Abraham given the credit he deserves? It just might be because he's too good looking for people to take seriously. No, really, when people think of him they think of his Salman Khan-style shirtless appearances not the fact that John is talented. He also chooses some avant-garde scripts (No Smoking has got to be one the most original movies ever) so maybe that's why. Not enough people are seeing his best work. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Brad Pitt

3. Saif Ali Khan - The "Oh, yeah... he is pretty awesome" Favorite

From 1999 until now, Saif Ali Khan has turned into a powerhouse of talent. But it wasn't until recently that I realized just how re-watchable his movies are. Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Parineeta, Omkara, Race, Tashan, Salaam Namaste are movies that I just feel like watching sometimes and part of that is Saif Ali Khan's natural and effortless talent. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Paul Rudd

4. Abhishek Bachchan - The Continually Surprising Favorite

Every time I watch an Abhishek movie, I am prepared to hate him in it. And that's not just because she stole my bride away from me. But he always wins me over. I mean, there are some bad films where he is actually really terrible, but there are some times when he just nails a character and when he does, it is movie magic. Delhi-6, Dostana, KANK, Guru, Yuva, Sarkar Raj, Bluffmaster are all examples of this man's acting potential. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Russell Crowe

5. Ranbir Kapoor - The Boy Next Door Favorite

With only a few films, Ranbir Kapoor has proven himself to be a fine actor who achieves that status by playing a sort of everyman. He is extremely easy to relate to and comes off so very naturally onscreen. But he is so very good in his films. I feel like he is my best friend in every single one of his films and that is why he in on this list. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (of "3rd Rock from the Sun" and "(500) Days of Summer" fame)

Again, feel free to leave your own favorites and/or comment on mine in the comments section. 

Look out for part 3 coming very soon.

My Top 5 Favorite Actresses

I read this book High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. It's about the life and loves of a London record shop owner. It's a hilarious and insightful novel which I would recommend to all. In the book, the main character Rob and his two friends were obsessed with making lists of their top five favorite movies, books, actors, records, etc. 

I have since adopted this habit and have been obsessively compiling lists of my favorite things. It's a strangely addictive habit and if you look through my Philosophy notes, you'll see lists and lists of things with rejected entries scratched out and replaced. 

So, I've decided to share with you my top five favorite actresses, actors, and films in that order. So here we go! 

1. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - The Forever Favorite

I don't even remember when I started loving her... Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam maybe? One thing is for sure. I will always love Ash and everything she does no matter how awful (Mistress of Spices). Luckily for me, more often than not her films are excellent. Jodhaa Akbar, Devdas, HDDCS, Taal, Bride&Prej, Dhoom 2, Guru, Chokher Bali, Raincoat and even The Film That Failed Her Immensely Umrao Jaan. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Jennifer Garner (without the major butt-kicking awesomeness) 

2. Kareena Kapoor - The Black Sheep Favorite

Everyone hates Kareena Kapoor. But that's only one of the reasons why I think she's the cat's meow. I fell for her when I saw Chameli, which proved to me she could do a non-glam role. Years later, I read Othello again and re-watched Omkara. While everyone in that film is excellent, Kareena (as Dolly) absolutely NAILED the Desdemona role. I mean, she played Desdemona exactly as I had read her (naive but mysterious enough that you wonder if her innocence is an act). And that's when I realized that Kareena is an actress, not just a star. Then Jab We Met came out and I was floored. I don't even want to start on how brilliant Kareenz is in that movie because it will take forever. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Keira Knightley

3. Konkona Sensharma - The Art House Favorite

Konkona Sensharma is a good actress in that she is wonderful in every movie she does. Page 3, Omkara, Luck By Chance, Life in a Metro, Wake Up Sid!, the list goes on and on. And she is a dark horse candidate for the most beautiful Bollywood actress. If you don't love Konkona after Aaja Nachle, then I don't know what to tell you. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Kate Winslet

4. Priyanka Chopra - The "Everyone's Favorite" Favorite

I honestly cannot think of a person who doesn't love Priyanka Chopra. She's just so warm and pretty and friendly. And she is a good actress (What's Your Raashee?, Aitraaz, Fashion) with the right directors. There's something so inviting and charming about her that you don't even mind watching her bad movies (Krrish, Drona). 

Hollywood Counterpart: Penelope Cruz

5. Katrina Kaif - The Criminally Underrated Favorite

When I tell people that I love Katrina Kaif, they usually give me a look that means "you only like her because she's beautiful". Hello, I am not that shallow! Fine, Katrina's acting in her earlier work (Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Welcome, Humko Deewana Kar Gaye) is pretty bad. But she's grown. New York, Namastey London, Singh is Kinng - she does some solid work in these films. And she has potential to become as good as the other four in my list. With the right directors and characters, she can do wonders. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Scarlett Johansson 

So that's my list. Feel free to leave your top 5 in the comments sections as well as thoughts on mine. Happy Halloween!

10 Reasons to Skip "Blue", 5 to Watch It

Blue, directed Anthony d'Souza

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan, Rahul Dev and Lara Dutta with Katrina Kaif and Australian pop superstar Kylie Minogue in special appearances

Genre: Underwater action thriller (supposedly)

My rating: 5/10.

Aarav (Kumar) and Sagar (Sanjay Dutt) are 2 friends living in the Bahamas. With help from Sagar's brother Sam (Khan) and girlfriend Mona (Dutta) they go underwater to find some buried treasure in order to pay off a don (Dev). 

Top 10 Reasons to Skip Blue

1. It is horribly written. The dialogues alone are just atrocious and the film's situations are hardly believable even within the film's larger-than-life context.

2. There are only a few scenes underwater which is very disappointing, considering the underwater angle is probably what is selling the tickets. And Lara Dutta's cleavage, of course. 

3. I'm embarrassed that Kylie Minogue had to act in a scene so shamelessly stolen from Hitch (the part where Hitch hits on a girl by telling her his drink order). It's offensive because I'm sure she' s seen Hitch and I wonder what she thought of doing that scene. 

4. No one in the cast can act. A normally solid actor like Akshay Kumar seems just awful in a "why did we ever think he was cool?" sort of way. 

5. Katrina Kaif. I love her but she looks terrible with her lip ring and dreadlocks. It takes a lot for Katrina Kaif to look bad (she's so gorgeous normally) so when it does happen, like in this movie, it's jarring. And her character only has 10 minutes of screen time in the first half. Luckily, her part is so insignificant that she remains unhurt by any of this. SPOILER ALERT: She comes back in the end (and looks better, thank God). 

6. There are two (TWO!) motorbike chase sequences and both of them are unnecessary. The second one is like 20 minutes long. I went to the bathroom during it and guess what was still going on when I came back? 

7. The main hit song is called "Chiggy Wiggy". That's a deal-breaker, ladies!

8. The climax and post-climax are unraveled in a rushed way, leaving no time to breathe and process the twists. Normally, this is a good thing. But in this film, I got the feeling that the director rushed the events in an attempt to hide the plot holes and silliness. 

9. In the beginning, Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar are worried that a shark got into their fishnet and will eat the fish. Then the wind blows Sanjay Dutt's hat into the water. They both decide to jump in the water, fight the shark away from the fish and get the hat. They succeed. Yeah, this is that kind of movie. 

10. Did I mention that Lara Dutta is the main female lead? She doesn't do anything to help anyone even though Mona could have been a capable character. For instance, in the climax, she calls the Coast Guard and says "May Day, May Day! Come in Coast Guard... humein madhat ki zaroorat hai!" (as if the Coast Guard knows Hindi). They tell her that there is a hurricane coming. So instead of steering the ship to safety (she is shown driving the boat earlier) she runs to tell the guys. I was like LARA DO SOMETHING! 

It's funny because when Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra both debuted in Andaaz back in 2003, I guessed that Lara Dutta would become the better actress. 6 years later, I love and worship Priyanka and the sight of Lara Dutta on a poster makes me roll my eyes! 

Okay, now the Top 5 Reasons to Watch Blue

1. The music. A.R. Rahman's wonderful and eclectic score doesn't exactly get the treatment I would have given it. But, considering action thrillers don't exactly require songs, I was happy with what I was given. "Rehnuma" is the best song and it is used very effectively in the opening credits showing some beautiful underwater life. Same goes for the "Blue Theme" which shows the 4 leads swimming with the fish. "Chiggy Wiggy" is just awful but none of the blame should go to Kylie Minogue who is awesome. 

2. The few underwater scenes are expertly done. They are, in fact, the highlight of the movie (especially "Blue Theme" and "Rehnuma".)

3. It's short (1 hour, 55 minutes) so watching it isn't exactly a waste of time. 

4. If you like Lara Dutta only for her looks and her body (it's okay, you're not alone... she's so popular only for those reasons) then see this movie. As much as I hate her, she looks beautiful in a "I'm a tramp who's still monogamous so it's okay that I prance around in almost nothing" sort of way. 

5. Zayed Khan's awkward post-"Chiggy Wiggy" singing. He's walking out of the club and he's humming the song. It's just so awkward and hilarious, which is Zayed Khan's trademark really. God, that guy is the freakin' mayor of Awk-town!

So basically I am neither encouraging you to see Blue nor am I discouraging you. Again, I rate it 5/10.