Aishwarya Rai

Kuch Naa Kaho
$16.00
LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!!

The story, the music... IT WAS SO GOOD!!! GET IT...!!!!

LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!! LOVED IT!!!

Sarkar Raj (2008) Dvds Aishwarya Rai, /Abhishek Bachchan,
$6.83
Sarkar Raj is an intense political drama and is essentially a study of power; it explores the politics of development and takes a fresh look at the tradition versus modernity debate. When Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai - Bachchan), CEO of Sheppard power plant, an international Company, brings a power plant proposal to set up in rural Maharashtra before the Nagres, insightful Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) is quick to realize the benefits the power plant can bring to the people. After convincing Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan) who is against it for various reasons, Shankar undertakes a journey along with Anita to the villages of Maharashtra to mobilize support from the masses. However, things are not what they seem to be and Shankar's dream project gradually becomes a political minefield. It is in this backdrop the evil forces mightier than ever, mushroom and gang up to bring down the regime of Sarkar and obliterate Shankar's name from the political horizon.

The Last Legion
$12.95
Last Legion / B000VKL6ZM

*Spoilers*

It's probably safe to say that "Last Legion" isn't going to win any huge accolades - on the surface, this is just another Roman / Medieval / Dark Ages action adventure that we've all seen before.

But on closer look, there's an awful lot here to like. The acting is really quite superb for an action-adventure movie, with Kingsley in particular shining in every scene he's in. Philosopher, scholar, teacher, surrogate father, magician, and warrior monk - all these roles combined would normally feel implausible and cheesy, but Kingsley pulls the combination off beautifully. Perhaps it's because of the wounded and slightly doubtful air that he brings to each scene that makes him feel nevertheless human and vulnerable, or maybe it's because he's given some genuinely witty and intelligent dialogue. Also, just for the record, this is probably the first movie I've seen Colin Firth in where I actually liked his character, which is a relief because all this time I thought I didn't like him and now it seems that I actually just don't like arrogant characters. The supporting characters deserve a call-out, too - the young caesar is very well written indeed, which just the right blend of insecurity and sheltered I've-been-raised-to-rule na���vet���.

And can I just take a moment to thank "Last Legion" for including a warrior woman that doesn't come off like a cardboard stereotype? She's serious (as well she should be) without being a stereotypical hormonal jerk, she's competent without being invulnerable, she's emotionally interested in the hero without being a simpering love-sick idiot, and she's interested in strong men without going to Red Sonja extremes (not that I didn't like Red Sonja, mind you). Oh, yeah, and she's maternal towards the leading kid, but not in the oh-so-irritating "your mum died so I guess I'm the next one" resigned switcheroo that movies sport so often.

Steering back on topic, "Last Legion" sports a decent plot (even though the end "twist" is completely obvious from the first moment you see the sword), good dialogue, uniquely human characters (don't get me started about the actual members of the last legion, all of whom are delightfully human rather than Hollywood mindless cannon-fodder, yay), and really lovely action and sword-play, especially if you're a D&D nerd like myself and you enjoy seeing what an exotic swordswoman can do against a tribe of burly barbarians.

But, really, if you haven't guessed by now, I recommend "Last Legion" for the characterization of all the players, which sets it apart from all the other cookie-cutter Medieval Times movies out there. It's nice to see writers and directors make a real effort to have human characters, and it's especially nice to see what can happen when you throw some decent actors in a room and see what shakes out (as opposed to the more usual technique of tossing a couple of Big Names onto the screen and hoping that CGI will cover the gaps). In the end, it's still a cute, mindless cut-'em-up movie, but it's one that won't make your ears bleed from inane dialogue, and that's a plus in my book.

I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain)
$24.95
As most people buying this know this is an adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Sense & Sensibility'. It is a Tamal production from South India's 'Kollywood' industry. It is often described as Bollywood and in fact it is similar in its song and dance style, but 'Bollywood' is a blend of Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood. I wont relate the story as Austen's is well known and it part of the fun spotting the parallels.
I have owned this for a while but kept shifting it down the stack as it looked a bit more traditional and subdued and I prefer more staginess, modernity and power often. However, although it started looking more traditional, it became more and more modern and accessible and you stood very similar to current Bollywoods of the time.
The music is by international award winning A.R. Rahman and raises it to higher standards too. What really stood out for me was the cinematography as it is beautifully framed. Some of the dance numbers are beautiful, sometimes fairly energetic and at other times unusual.
The way they have taken the essence of the Austen story into a modern context of film-making, arranged marriages and a soldier dealing with feeling forgotten by those that sent him to war (where he came back partly disabled).
Tabu and Aishwarya are very good as usual. Mammootty as the older caring male was also good though I didn't really believe the developing love Ash's character had for him. Ajith as the filmmaker was also very good but for us Abbas (as a corporate high-flying romantic interest who sells out for money instead of fulfilling his promise to marry) wasn't that charismatic and ended up being the weak point. Perhaps he doesn't cross cultures as well.
If you love your Bollywoods try this Tamal one - though give it a little time to settle in as the pace and feel is just a little different to begin with.
It rates well above average generally elsewhere on the Net.