Bollywood Movie

Cinema Tycoon
$6.99
Do you have what it takes to become a Cinema Tycoon? This exciting and addictive new simulation let's you find out. You start with a small Cinema, then select the movies, manage the concessions, buy theater upgrades, and hype your Cinema to become the next Mega-Plex. Choose the next big hit to bring people in and avoid the flops. Watch your competitors. And don't forget to balance your costs, prices, and ticket sales. Cinema Tycoon promises hours of entertainment for everyone.

The Rough Guide To Bollywood Gold
$8.99
I like this CD just fine, but I have a picky issue with the packaging. It confused me to find that the "Gold" refers to a classic Bollywood era roughly 1960-1980. I was expecting a more contemporary collection because World Music slapped Aishwarya on the cover as an obvious marketing ploy. Why not one of the heartthrobs of the era?

The songs all have great character; the info in the booklet about performers and careers is nice; the extra data track interview with DJ Ritu is half good (she is interesting - the interviewer, unfortunately, is a dork who seems prepared only with superficial questions); some of the songs make me want to seek out the movies, and it was nice to hear the live, very rare version of R.D. Burman singing his own Mehbooba Mehbooba (though I think I like the version in Sholay better).

Luscious - The Bellydance Workout for Beginners
$14.98
I am very pleased with my purchase of Luscious. Even as a semi-accomllished belly dancer...the way the girls talk you thru the moves and create simple but elegant dance routines, is FUN! They always emphasize the fun portion while instructing the moves. I am very very pleased with this DVD...I have ordered others, but I think, this is my fave..I go back again and again..and the matrix portion allows you to choose to concentrate on a particular series for fine tune your "shake" or blended into a dance!

Sin
$24.99
This is basically the story of 'Witness moved from the Amish community to the mountains of India in Tibetan monastery and Nepalese looking surroundings. The cover would make it look like a skin flick but its nothing like that and the closest touch is a circumspect kiss. The 'sin' is the dilemma in the girls mind as she is being groomed to become a Tibetan nun yet has fantasies of a romance with the hero that are regarded as sin in that context.

The girl (beautifully rendered by newcomer Udita Goswami) is sent on a mission to Delhi to collect a boy who is the reincarnation of the monastery's Lama. When she collects his the boy witnesses a murder which turns out to have been committed by high up police with links to local gangs. A good cop (John Abraham), although shot, escapes with the girl and boy and returns them home. He nearly dies and so is nursed back to health by the girl and the monks. This is then the story of their connection and what happens when the rogue cops track him down.

I though this was beautifully done. The cinematography and location are superb and there is a sensuous feel for the material - which really isn't at all sexual or explicit - despite many of the covers to this DVD and the name 'Sin' (Paap). There is a lot conveyed through sensuousness and nuance. It looks at times at core Buddhist values and the inner battle of the girl and her father to find their way according to those values. I actually thought of 'Samsara' a bit watching this one (though that was much more explicit). So it actually had a bit more depth than 'Witness' did.

There is some haunting music but no song and dance in this Bollywood. It is one of the best things I've see John Abraham do. He was just very good and showed a lot more diversity and subtlety in his acting than the more frozen version he did seem to do in some other movies (though I see this shifting more recently). The monks and the girl's father (Mohan Agashe) are also very good.

For me this is quite an underrated movie. It tends to score average but I'd put it above that. Its cinematography is superb, acting good and the 'Witness' plot is still a good one in the meeting of worlds and how both are changed in the process. The extra depth with the girl's inner conflict over her Buddhist ideals is also added depth. Definitely a keeper for me.