Just this weekend I re-watched Jodhaa-Akbar and (bleh) Race.  For reasons unknown to myself I did like a lot of Race even when I know I shouldn’t I guess my affection for Saif Ali Khan outwins my dislike for Akshaye Khanna and random violence.  I fast forwarded a lot and wasn’t always paying attention.  I did, however go see Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.  Ranbir Kapoor is working towards become as famous and welled loved as his father.  I fully support him.  He plays the sweet and vulnerable role very well, as well as being relatively stuck up and above the rules.  I even liked him in Wake Up Sid, which in general is a an unlikeable character.  I’m glad to say Ranbir also has another film coming out this December (the 11th to be exact) and I’m looking forward to it.  There’s something about  Sikh in his full beard and turban…  I giggle like a school girl at the trailer – all I’ll say is wait for the last five seconds of his speech.

I’m also excited for Three Idiots – the new Aamir Khan movie.  It will the first one of his I get to see on the big screen, I’m excited!

I’m happy the Brookdale 8 is playing these movies check them out here. They always put what’s comeing soon and list when they are playing all the different shows.  They show Telugu and Tamil films too – but they don’t he subtitles so I haven’t seen any of them yet.  If Maghadeera comes back for another showing I probably will go on Sita-ji’s recommendation.  I’m sure there are other films coming out soon, but I don’t know about them – oh except Kurbaan, which is a terroromance and I’m pretty uninterested in it.  I’ve not found one that I like yet.  I’m just a happy-ending kind of girl!

Until later – Alvida!  (Ja-ne fits better though as I’ll see you later!)

PS – I just read in a despcription of My Name is Khan that SRK’s character sets out to meet Barack Obama! LOL.  That will be interesting!

I’m sorry about my extended absense.  Cold weather means no internet for me, so I only get online during the weekends.  I just thought I’d share my Bolly-tastic Halloween costume with you all! 

Ha-ppy anniversary, ha-ppy anniversary, ha-ppy anniversary HAAAAAPY anniversary!

It’s my Bolly-versary today!  One year ago today I received Om Shanti Om in the mail from Netflix and subsequently became obsessed with all things Bollywood.  If I had a large readership I would consider having a give-away or something.  Instead I’ll post some pics along with my updated film list!  How exciting!

I don’t know if Om Shanti Om is really a good beginner Bollywood film.  It’s very reference heavy and has lots of inside jokes and things that are probably hard to understand, but I loved it. I recall thinking “Who is this guy?  He’s the main actor in this film, he is kind of odd looking isn’t he?”  I’ve become such a huge Shah Ruk Khan fan in the interum now that I can’t quite imagine not loving him.  I mean, I loved him by the end of Om Shanti Om.   With the great musical numbers, great action scenes and funny, quippy dialogue I knew I had stumbled across something amazing.  I kept Om Shanti Om for nearly a week, watching and re-watching the picturizations and immediately ordered a copy for myself.  (No, I did not support piracy and bought the official version.)  I’ve since watched it several more times (Maybe not start to finish as is proper, but jumping around from scene to scene as I felt like.)  and I’ve come to appreciate so much more about this movie than I did as a complete newbie.  I reckognize new tongue-in-cheek jokes and references to older films.  I still want to see the three movies that are represented in Dhoom Taana.  I know now that the scene in the tent where SRK is overheard saying “No ma’am, in friendship there are no sorries, no thank you’s” is a quote from Main Pyar Kya.  (My first Salman Khan film btw and my favorite, it was all down-hill there for me with Sallu-uncle I’m afraid)  I also recognize all of the people featured in Deewangi Deewangi.  I sometimes am surprised that I was able to follow and understand Om Shanti Om as much as I did when I was such a newcomer to the genre and culture.  I’ve covered a lot of ground in the last year.  I wouldn’t say I’ve dipped my toe in the water of southie films, but rather sniffed the air.  I have so many others films from Bollywood to watch on top of my first loves of Korean/Japanese and Chinese stuff too.  Not enough time to cover them all!   Here is my list of stuff I’ve managed to see so far.  It’s slightly incomplete because I totally spaced when I started renting from the local library and forgot to track what I was watching. (T__T) (Jenna is crying twin waterfalls! – If you get this joke kudos to you) So, I’m sure I’ve missed a few here or there. But, this is the majority list.  I’d celebrate my other anniversaries, but I can’t particularly pin-point when I fell in love with the other cultures.

1942: A Love Story

36 China Town

8 X 10 Tasveer

Aa Ab Laut Chalen

Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage

Ahista Ahista

Aitraaz

Andaaz

Asoka

Baabul

Baadshah

Beta

Bhool Bhulaiyaa

Bobby

Bommarillu (S.)

Bombay to Bangkok

Boothnath

Bunty Aur Babli

Chak De! India

Chalte Chalte

Chandni Chowk to China

Chori Chori

Chori Chori Chupke Chupke

Chup Chup Ke

De Taali

Deewane Huye Paagal

Deewar

Delhi 6

Devdas

Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke

Dhoom

Dhoom 2

Dil

Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Hai Tumhaara

Dil Maange More

Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa

Dil Se

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Don (2006)

Don (1978)

Dor

Dostana

Drona

Dus

Eklavya

Fanaa

Fashion

Fiza

Gadaar

Golmaal: Fun Unlimited

Guru

Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya

Heyy Babyy

Hulchul

Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain

Home Delivery

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Hum Kisise Kum Nahim

Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam

Humko Deewana Kar Gaye

Humraaz

I See You

Immaan Dharam

International Khiladi

Iqbal

Ishq

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

Jaan-E-Maan

Jab We Met

Jeans

Jewel Theif

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

Jodhaa Akbar

Kal Ho Naa No

Kaminey

Kambakkht Ishq

Karan Arjun

Karz

Khakee

Khiladi

Kidnap

Kismat Konnection

Kisna

Koi..Mil Gaya

Koyla

Krrish

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamaana

Kyun! Ho Gaya Na

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

Laagan

Ladie Taylor

Lage Raho Munna Bhai

Lakshya

Love Aaj Kal

Love Story 2050

Luck By Chance

Lucky: No Time For Love

Main Hoon Na

Main Khiladi Tu Anari

Maine Prem Ki Diwani Hoon

Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya

Maine Pyaar Kiya

Mann

Mission Istaanbul

Mission Kashmir

Monsoon Wedding

Mr. India

Mujhse Dosti Karogi

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi

Munna Bhai

Musafir

Na Tum Jaano Na Hum

Naksha

Namastey London

Nayak: The Real Hero

Om Jai Jagadish

Om Shanti Om

Omkara

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

Padayappa (S.)

Paheli

Parineeta

Partner

Phirl Milenge

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

Rakht

Race

Ram Jaane

Rangeela

Rock On!!

Saawariya

Salaam-E-Ishq

Sarkar Raj

Shaan

Sholay

Sorry Bhai!

Sunday

Swades

Ta Ra Rum Pum

Taal

Tashan

The Hero

The Mistress of Spices

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

Umrao Jaan

Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi!

Veer-Zaara

Vivah

Welcome

Yaadein

Taadon Ki Baaraat

Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke

Yes Boss

Zamaana Deewana

Zanjeer

Whew! It’s been a whirlwind Bolly-year.  Hopefully there are many more to come!  I’m looking forward to Wanted and Dil Bole Hadippa in theaters in the next couple weeks.  I also am looking forward to my Sonu Niigam concert.  Hopefully it will actually happen this time!  I’m heading to my room to watch Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and possibly, in celebration (if I can stay awake) Om Shanti Om.

Tip of the iceburg? Down? Maybe?

Daniel Henney is someone that I’ve been following for awhile now.  He was born and raised in the Mid-West United States (like me!) and is somehow a huge star in Korea.  (O_o)  It helps though, if your mom is Korean and you are very handsome.

Evidence:

Daniel (as featured in Cosmo)

I first spotted him in My Name is Kim Sam-Soon and fell head over heels in fandom.  So, I’ve followed him in his other various acting bits (My Father, Seducing Mr. Robinson) and have watched his Korean get better with each new attempt.  Something else that amazes me!  He does all this and isn’t even fluent in the language!  It gives some courage to a girl trying to go back to school and become at least profficient in a language enough to get by over there.  So, imagine my surprise while I was watching tv (gasp!) last night and I spotted him in a promo for Three Rivers that’s premiering this fall.  I planned to at least watch the pilot because Alex O’Laughlin is starring in it and I miss seeing him in Moonlight.  The television masters always seem to cancel my favorite shows. That’s probably why I don’t watch that much American television, the stuff that does appeal to me ends before they finish the story line even.  At least in Asia they plan for a show to be one season, have a beginning, a middle and an end.  If it was REALLY good and REALLY popular they extend it and create separate story lines that could stand alone if need be.   It got me excited enough to dream about him last night.  Can’t remember much, just that he was there.  All I can hope for is that the show does well so two of my favorite actors get a chance to shine and show America what they’ve got.  Now, if I could just find a way to sneak on set. . .

This weekend I watched Main Khiladi Tu Anari

(& Saif Ali Khan)

I had started the film a couple weeks ago, but didn’t quite get into it after the un-subtitled rendition of My Adorable Darling with Saif looking obnoxiously adorable himself:

D'aawww

I was highly distracted by two (major) things during this song sequence.

#1) Guys in weird0 shirts:

::snort::

#2) The same kind of weird light effect they used in the first Khiladi film:

hmmm

I know that actors age and get older and this was one of Saifus’ first films, but I never did get over how different he looked.  I’ve decided that the main thing just might be the smile lines around his lips.  Because otherwise I can’t put my finger on it.  (Obviously his hair is different, but heck, it was the early 90’s and I’ll cut him some slack!)

Baby Saifu!

This might have to be an purchased movie. . . not many get that award, so it was pretty good! (8.5/10)

I watched Kidnap last night (eh.) and that this was the first successful hip-hop routine I’ve seen (so far) in a Bollywood film.

This link is only the song promo I think because it is cut into pieces.  But I that Minissha did an amazing job with the choreography.  The closest thing to pass for a really good hip-hop dance is this.  (Second place goes to the kids dancing in Mr. India)  I’ve seen attempts to use a hip-hop influenced dance routine, but they always have it so mixed with classic Bollywood moves that it’s never really true hip-hop. This alone was worth sitting through abnoxiously long chase scenes and stiff acting from Imran.  (What happened yaar?)

She looks like Preity here - na?

What is this nonsense?  Shahrukh Khan was DETAINED in US customs?  What the hell?  Is the US trying to give My Name is Khan extra publicity and verify the contents of the film?  I am ashamed to be from this country some days.  Poor SRK!  His family was scared because the crazy Indian press spread the word that Shahrukh had been arrested and not just detained by customs.  His son was worried for no real good reason.  I hope this doesn’t put Shahrukh off to the US any more than he already has been.  Gah.  Way to make me angry US customs-wallah – way to go.

Here’s a picture of “Angry Shahrukh” for you:

::sigh::

Upcoming films:

Coming quick (August 14th)

Shahid Kapoor in what appears to be a very serious and drama-intense film..

To my dismay this film keeps getting pushed back, most recently I believe it’s to be released on October 16th.

Starring Ritesh Deshmukh as "loser" Aladin & The Big B as Genius! (The date has changed since the poster release...)

Gracing us on September 18th:

Cross dressing Rani & cricket playing Shahid! Hoorah!

Together again after a bit of a train wreck in Love Story 2050:(September 25th)

Harman Baweja and 12 Priyankas!

And finally releasing on October 2nd:

Ranbir Kapoor. Happy to see him again after Bachna Ae Haseeno.

Rain.  Digging through some recent photos I acquired of Rain and thought I would share:

Oh, but to be a fly on the wall in the room here:

Two of my favs!

Here is promoting his new clothing line Six to Five:

Rain? Honey? PLZ stop wearing those glasses.

Ugh! I hate those glasses he wears.

Promo for the Rainism tour in Japan:

Yummy. . .

Here’s a random shot from a soccer event he was involved in. (I just liked the colors in it.)

Goal! (?)

I told you he was all bloody!

Dark and broody - my kind of man. Wait? What?

Great performance shot.

Nice shoes!

Here he is bringing me flowers at the end of a long day at work. I know you’re jealous, try to hold it in:

D'aww!

And last, but not least: Rockin’ the Hanbok:

SHO SHWWEET!

Ok, got that out of my system.

I’m going to say that I’l have issues with this movie only because I know Rain’s going to be beat up a lot and there is a shot of him floating around out there covered in blood.  I hope he doesn’t die at the end, because that would just make me sad.  I hate movies where the main character dies at the end – don’t you?

“Fear not the weapon, but the hand that wields it.”  Riiiiiight….