Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
(translates as "O heart, it is difficult")
2016
3/5 stars


After a chance meeting, Aryan (Ranbir Kapoor) and Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) become best friends. After a while, Aryan falls in love with Alizeh, but she remains in love with her ex-boyfriend. After an emotional split between the two friends, Aryan meets sophisticated poet Saba (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). They begin a relationship, but Aryan has not gotten over Alizeh.

This story of unrequited love has a generally well-written, mostly credible plot.  It has the feel, though, of a Western film, much more than a Bollywood movie.  It is not a family film, as it contains adult situations.  Kapoor acted well, and Sharma was charming and natural; Bachchan was a little stiff at times.  The music was okay, though I don't have an opinion about the lyrics as the version I watched didn't have subtitles for the songs.  This could have been a excellent emotional drama, but unfortunately the last chapter (so to speak) was neither moving nor convincing and made the overall movie ultimately unsatisfying.

Cast also includes Fawad Khan, Lisa Hayden, and cameos by Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt.

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.

Mohabbatein

Mohabbatein
("Love Stories")
2000
4/5 stars

Narayan Shankar (Amitabh Bachchan) is the headmaster of an elite and prestigious boys school, Gurukul.  Shankar believes in honor, tradition, and discipline, and disapproves of anything that would take a students mind off of his work--especially love.  Into this atmosphere comes Raj Aryan (Shah Rukh Khan), the new music teacher, who believes in the power of love, and encourages his students to break Gurukul's traditions.  Three of the students, Sameer (Jugal Hansraj), Vicky (Uday Chopra), and Karan (Jimmy Sheirgill) fall in love and, as a result, risk expulsion.

The love intersts are played by Kim Sharma, Shamita Shetty, and Preeti Jhangiani.  The cast also includes Aishwarya Rai, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, Archana Puran Singh, Shefali Shah, and Helen.

While being mostly predictable, this is a fully entertaining film.  Bachchan and Khan give strong performances, for which both received awards.  The six young people were credible and mature in their roles.  The music was good and the choreography, though not exceptional, was enjoyable to watch.  The girls' costumes, however, were mostly sports bras and super-short minis, an outfit not attractive for any of them.  One other negative point was having to watch Khan fake playing the violin--it was painful to see at times.  Other than that, this is a feel-good movie that was a pleasure to experience.

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.

Rai and Khan

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein
(translates as "Girl... In Your Love")
2013
3/5 stars

While reminiscing about his ex-girlfriend Dia (Kareena Kapoor), Sriram (Imran Khan) realizes that he is still in love with her.  They are polar opposites who separated over what social worker Dia saw as a lack of moral fiber in Sriram.  He locates her living in a small village and trying to get a bridge built for them.  To prove to Dia that he has changed and is worth her love, Sriram becomes involved.

The best thing about this movie is Khan: he is charming and natural, and fits the role perfectly.  Kapoor gives an average performance, appearing too stern at times.  The music, with the exception of two simply terrible songs, is average as well.  The story begins with much promise, but the character development and plot resolution was not convincing.  Overall, it's one that was mostly enjoyable, but nothing will be missed by not watching it.

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.

Kapoor and Khan

Race 3

Race 3
2018
2/5 stars


Shamsher Singh (Anil Kapoor), arms dealer, has three children: twins Sanjana (Daisy Shah) and Suraj (Saqib Saleem) , and step-son Sikander (Salman Khan).  The twins begrudge Sikander his share of their mother's fortune, as well as their father's partiality and set out to kill him.

Bobby Deol plays Sikander's friend Yash, and Jacqueline Fernandez plays Jessica, the love interest.

I was set to love this film, based on the great trailer.  Sadly, I was immensely disappointed.  The plot is so convoluted with twists and allegiance changes that it ceases making sense and becomes farcical.  The conversation is stilted and banal.  The music is simply terrible--bad enough that I fast-forwarded through the songs.  Ferdandez and Shah are dressed in the most trashy of clothing.  I'm giving the movie two stars because the film work, action scenes, and special effects were quite good.  Other than that, this movie is one to avoid.  Frankly, I suggest watching the trailer instead; you won't miss a thing.

P.S. This comes from a devoted Salman Khan fan.

Raazi

Raazi
("agree")
2018
4/5 stars



In 1971, Hidayat Khan (Rajit Kapur) is a double agent, spying for India on Pakistan, while his Pakistani friends think he is working for them.  When he learns that he is going to die from cancer, he arranges a marriage between his daughter Sehmat (Alia Bhatt) and Iqbal Syed (Vicky Kaushal), an officer in the Pakistani Army and son of a Brigadier (Shishir Sharma) so that she can spy for India as well.  After brief training by RAW, the 20 year-old Sehmat marries and begins a dangerous game of spying on her new family.

This mostly-believable thriller is well-written with a plot that is both emotional and intense.  Bhatt is convincing as Sehmat, both vulnerable and determined.  Kaushal is also credible as Iqbal, giving a strong performance. The film treats the Pakistani side of the conflict with sympathy.  Overall, this is a thriller that is sure to please.

Available with Amazon Prime.

Kaushal and Bhatt

Fan

Fan
2016
5/5 stars

Gaurav (Shah Rukh Khan) bears an uncanny likeness to Bollywood superstar Aryan Khanna (also played by Khan), and as a result he becomes obsessed with Aryan.  When Gaurav goes to Delhi to meet Aryan and is refused, he looses his mental balance and becomes determined to ruin Aryan.

The strength of this thriller is not the plot, though it is suspenseful and well-written, but the make-up.  Khan as Gaurav is made to look just enough like the real Khan while not looking like him.  Tough to explain, but it works perfectly.  Khan gives a great performance, as well, playing both parts superbly.  While this isn't a perfect film, the amazing cosmetic artistry pushes the movie into five stars.


This movie is available with Amazon Prime.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
(translates as "you won't get this life again")
2011
4/5 stars

Three friends, Kabir (Abhay Deol), Imran (Farhan Akhtar), and Arjun (Hrithik Roshan) take a road trip to Spain as a bachelor treat before Kabir marries Natasha (Kalki Koechlin).  Along the way, all three men come to terms with fears, futures, and life in general.  (Katrina Kaif also stars as a friend met along the way.)

The plot of this comedy-drama is well scripted.  The chemistry between the three is realistic and all main actors give natural performances.  The music is good as well.  Unlike typical Bollywood family films, it does contain kissing and implied sex.  It is quite enjoyable, both serious and funny, and worth watching.

Roshan, Kaif, Akhtar, Koechlin, Deol

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.