Stylish Blogger Award

Only (really) blogging for about 4 months now, I'm feel very proud and honoured by receiving this special award, which Jack L. passed to me. Once more: thank you so much, Jack.

The special thing about this award is, that the receiver must name 7 facts about him-/herself, and then pass it of to seven bloggers, that he/she admires (seems like 7 is a really special number - thinking about "7 Khoon Maaf", for example). At least that's what it says in Jack's post (I hadn't heard about the award before, and I don't even know, where it "came" from).

To start with, 7 facts about myself:

1. I have only two real movie pictures in my rooms. At my father's, it's a poster of Band Baaja Baaraat (which I haven't seen yet, by the way), and also a picture of Marilyn Monroe in that white dress, but I don't think that counts. At my mother's, there's a tiny postcard with the movie poster of Rebel Without a Cause, which I think I've seen when I was little... Oh, and then there's the big black/white pop art poster with pictures of different actors from the late Hollywood era.
2. I'm not only a film buff, but also crazy about books. Well, not only books, but everything readable. If there's nothing to read but a bad-looking book or magazine, I'll read it. I can't go from a flee market without buying a book (or a movie, for that matter), at least most of the time. There are about 16 unread books on my book shelves, because I just need to buy them when I'm in an Antic shop or something similar. And I don't want to count the rags of magazines that are laying around in the cupboards. Some of my books don't even stand on shelves, they're just stacked in some corners.
3.  My favorite TV shows are Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother and the fabulous, award-winning Türkisch für Anfänger ("Turkish for Beginners", read more). I don't watch them on television, though, except for DH... And the only one I've seen all episodes of is the last one, which I have on DVD - all three seasons. Sadly, it's ended now, but I can re-watch it a 1000 times with my sister and/or best-friend: It's GENIOUS.
4. I don't know what I want to be, or where I want to be, after I finish High-School in 3 1/2 years. I know that I'm going to study, and I know that I'm going to be in a large city, but where and what... I don't know. Some of my child/teenage job dreams include: marine biologist, astronaut, dancer, actress, director, fashion journalist, journalist, lawyer, dentist, designer, language-something and more.
5. Not that I want to bullshit or something, it's just that this might interest you or whatever: I've always been the best in my class. I was being offered to skip one class two times, also last year. I decided to stay with my class and friends though, but I think they're a little jealous and maybe "sad", whenever we get a test or our grades. My favorite subjects are German, History, Geography and English, but I'm really into politics, and it's sad we don't have a subject like that yet. 
6. Just as with movies, I don't prefer any certain genres in music... Well, apart from Soundtracks: There are so many different songs and genres in Soundtracks, and often songs are not composed for the films itself... I just love how music and picture is combined so beautifully in many films. That's why there is a lot of film music on my iPod (the nano 5g, red). Only thing I absolutely hate regarding music is this sleek, auto-tuned disco-pop, which is the most frequent played on our radio stations here. Most played songs on iTunes: Suno Aisha (movie "Aisha), Wouldn't it be Nice (The Beach Boys, but also featured in "50 First Dates"), Selfmachine and Spirit Golden (I Blame Coco), 80 Years (Dúné), Khwaja Mere Khwaja (movie "Jodhaa-Akbar"), Never Hear Surf Music Again (127 Hours) and that's it for you folks. I won't reveal more... Oh, other than my newest obsession: Opera, namely since I watched Match Point. I fell in love with the song "Mi Par D'Udir Ancora"... And this: though I dance Ballet, I do like classic music, but it's not my favorite or something.
7. Parties are up and coming within my social environment, now that we all turned 16 and so on... I think it can be fun, really, with good friends, just dancing (even though the music is not the best, obviously), but it's nothing I want to do every weekend. Also, alcohol is fine with me, though I don't really like it, but I think many people my age (also friends of mine) cross the line sometimes. They just want to be mature and prove they're old enough to make own decisions and stuff. It's the same with sex. I'd never planned on writing about sex on this blog, but why not - someone needs to say this: It's too early for many of them, and they don't prove anything by doing it. But they'll never realize, I just hope that not everyone is that stupid...

So, that was a lot about myself, but nothing that I wouldn't say in public, nothing that I would hide from anyone, and that's why I'm not scared of saying it online.

And finally, these are the bloggers that I hand this award out to:
Amaluu - http://bollystalgia.blogspot.com/
Beth - http://bethlovesbollywood.blogspot.com/
Dolce and Namak (split personality) - http://dolcenamak.blogspot.com/
Gaja Gamini - http://bollywood-ish.blogspot.com/
Louella - http://masalawbigosie.blogspot.com/
Ness - http://shahrukhislove.blogspot.com/
The Movie Snob - http://www.themoviesnob.net/

I know there are many other talented writers out there, I follow many of them, but these are the ones I think deserve this award the most. I'm aware of the fact that six of them are Bollywood blogs, but I think this part of the film blogger community needs something like this, and these are really good blogs.

Congratulations to all of you.

Mette M. K.

Spike Lee feat. Rahman

Recently (maybe a month ago, or so), I have officially become a member of LAMB (The Large Association of Movie Blogs). The idea of communities like that is something I appreciate very much, because that's what the internet really is: a community, society - made of smaller communities and societies. 
There are different "events" in the LAMB, and it says on the site, that they really like, when members participate in those events. I don't think the possibility that one of those events will revolve around Indian cinema is very big, and that's why I'll now publish my first post on a Hollywood movie. If you've read the "About"-page though, you'd know that I watch everything, every genre, every industry - everything that falls into my hands. This event that I'm participating in is "LAMBs in the Director's Chair - Spike Lee". I chose to write about his film "Inside Man" on this occasion... And you may guess, why...

INSIDE MAN (2006)


Director: Spike Lee

Starring: Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen

Please notice, that this review will be slightly different from "normal" reviews - it's going to be held as an interview with myself. I just thought, this is the first Hollywood review on Lime Reviews, so why not try something else than the usual stuff.

Just for fun, off course.

I hope you like it, if not, think about it as some sort of fancy project.

It is, somehow.


Why did you choose this film, instead of Lee's other known and acclaimed films, while this film is commonly called a Mainstream-production?
Well, I just... thought...

"Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya Chaiyya Chaiyya, Chal Chaiyya Chaiyya Chaiyya Chaiyya..."

And by the way, you should all have a look at the original song, everyone loves it, even non-Bollywood-enthusiastics. A shame it wasn't listed on the soundtrack (at least, wikipedia says so).

 - It's by my favorite composer, A. R. Rahman (just in case you didn't get my post title).

Did the song "Chaiyya Chaiyya" distract you at the beginning?

Yes, it did. I don't remember the start of the film... aside from Clive Owen telling us his name. Or saying, that he told us his name.

What about his (Owen's) performance - impressive?

If you call walking around with a poker-face impressive, then, yes. Personally, I think that only Marlon Brando can pull something like that off. I also didn't like that his character was such a anti-hero, that you're supposed to like - also this can be pulled off better by someone else, namely Hrithik Roshan. Off course, the bank robber had to tell the 8-year-old that he shouldn't play violent video-games. Audience is meant to laugh at that "funny" scene, and then think: "Hey, that guys actually cool.". However, I did like the scene where he tells us that he's told us his name.

So you prefer Denzel Washington?

I do. Well, first of all, I like men wearing hats. But forget about that; Denzel Washington is one of the actors that I'm quite fond of. He brings a impressive (here it is: impressive) realism into his characters, they actually seem to be real people. Many actors try to do this, but never truly success. Just that one scene where he lifts his voice saying "Pina Colada", which just makes you wake up again, because the rest of the dialogues and scenes is so monotone. That's also what I like about the film: When you just start to think it's boring, something changes, an interesting camera angle pops up or... well, Washington lifts his voice. There's also one scene, where he just coughs in the middle of a sentence, and I started thinking: "They don't cough. Most film characters don't cough, excluding they're sick or something. Or in a church.". Just very small details, that make you wonder, and I'm fascinated by that.

How about the flash-back investigations - did you like how they were... blurry?

Nothing against blurriness, but no, those scenes reminded me of the glitter-scene in Twilight - as I confessed already once, I like the Twilight-series, but that scene was too much (not to forget, that it was different in the book). And it's the same in this film - too much. Too cheap-looking.

Now, for the actors: What did you think about Jodie Foster?

Jodie... I've appreciated the way you act ever since "Silence of the Lambs", and you act different every time I see you. Different - but always as qualitative as the first time we met (your accent stays the same as well).

Did you know the "bank robbers" were talking Albanian?

I don't want to spoil anything, so let me just say: No, I did not, and I also didn't know, who it was, but I knew "where" he was talking, if you get me. And that was just too obvious.

Do you think the scene where the officers discuss the substations etc., while there are hostages in the bank, was macabre?

I think that scene was really good. First, I thought it was just what you proposed - macabre. But just for one split second. Then, my thoughts revolved about, how this was being realistic. It was. You need to think about, that there are people doing this every day, and how they just need to be calm, and get out of the situation sometimes. So, that was nicely done.

What was the most exciting part of the film?

The most exciting part was guessing what was going to happen. That's a common "trick" in hostage movies, and off course, it is working, though problem is: 1) it can grow boring very quickly and 2) when the end has come, you don't want to watch more of that movie, because the excitement has gone. Just what happens in this film - at the end, when the hostages have been released, you want to turn it off. Off course, the total solution comes just at the very end, but the time in between is a little boring. 

What did you think about the scene, where the hostages are released?

I thought: "There's a lot of people in blue painting suits here", and "I bet Cameron created the Na'vi after seeing this". 

And finally, what is your opinion?

"Inside Man" is very mainstream, but heading towards the positive corner of that section (so many mainstream movies - some of them have to be good). (Mostly) exciting plot (though well-known), without any big twists, but with two great actors and a fab soundtrack. That would be 2 1/2 stars, but it gets 1/2 more because of "Chaiyya".

Rating: 6.3

Thank you for reading,

Mette M. K.

Review: Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji [3 Idiots and... Love]

DIL TOH BACCHA HAI JI (2011) दिल तो बच्चा है जी

Title-translation: "The heart is still a child"
Director: Madhur Bhandarkar
Author: Madhur Bhandarkar, Anil Pandey, Neeraj Udhwani, Sanjay Chhel
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Omi Vaidya

Plot: Naren moves back to his child home - his parents are dead. Because the house is so big, he searches for some tenants and finds them in a shaadi.com employee, who'd like to be a poet - Milind - and the unemployed fitness teacher/ toy boy Abhay. All three of them have problems concerning love: Naren is attracted to a 17-years younger intern, while Milind falls in love with a radio VJane, interviewing him after a poet contest. Meanwhile, Abhay indulges in the luxury of being toy boy an ex-Miss-India, when suddenly he falls in love with her (grown-up) step daughter.



Written the 13th of March 2011
Madhur Bhandarkar is known for experimenting in his films, trying out unusual tactics, and establishing his actors welll (I'm talking about Fashion, Traffic Signal, Page 3 and the only film I'd seen from him until now: Corporate). With DTBHJ, he's jumping into the genre of rom-com for the very first time, this time with two well-known actors plus Omi Vaidya, who could already bring home the bacon in 3 Idiots. Besides, we have three until now rather unknown ladies. The male cast is one of the evident powers of the film, while it's possible to discuss the female part: In a unusual role for him, Ajay Devgn earns sympathy as charming pencil pusher/ male Naina (the one from Kal Ho Naa Ho). He also proves, that his otherwise nice voice isn't exactly adequate for singing.

Take a look at Emraan's trousers... 

Can't have everything. Shazahn Padamsee plays his "Object of Desire" - and here's the first crossroad we have; she's looking sweet, she's charming, her acting is all right, and I might be able to get used to her squeaking voice. Sadly, I also know, that most people won't be able to do that, and also they won't be able to accept her (current) lack of "X-factor". That's why I can already see her undergoing the same destiny as Kim Sharma and Esha Deol . That is, unless people are so attached to her, like for example to Deepika Padukone (and I'd rather see Sharma or Deol instead of her), that she can make it somehow. If that is what'll happen, I hope she takes that chance and get's it right.

Rumour has it, that Madhuri Dixit has been thrilled by Emraan Hashmi's portrayal of the usual Casanova-role, and as always, I agree. It's especially nice that he's able to portray this character in a slightly different filmic level than otherwise, and I think I'm not alone with that thought. Even though the main theme of the film is sex (and not love, though I bet the makers wanted it to be love), the level isn't drowning as much as it uses to in similar films, but stays near Sex & the City (a show/ film that I like, but don't idolize). Only huge minus is caused by the distinct discrimination of homosexual persons, which is much more conspicuous than in Anjaana Anjaani for instance. A "reputable" filmmaker does not need this, especially with a film, that's quite entertaining otherwise. Then there's one sentence at the beginning, about the life of Emraan's character Abhay, which should have been edited away quickly - just like the rest of those "introducing" sentences. Not working here; the audience doesn't like to be treated as if it's totally dumb or stupid.

I also wasn't very fond of Abhay's big love, Nikki: She pitches herself as a big charity-lady, and talks about original Indian qualities - in born-and-bred Hinglish?! Face covered with make-up, wearing an outfit that doesn't even have a touch of traditional Indian clothes? Furthermore, we never get to know her very well, which is why the sudden falling-in-love also lacks a fundamental credibility.

Somehow, I also don't have big problem with the age
difference. Reason: It's mentioned (!).

The "Hinglish-source-of-irritation" shows up in a different situation as well, namely when Milind recites his poems, which seem to be "good" only because they're in Hinglish. Not a patch on Hinglish, I don't see a big problem in using it, but however there are circumstances, under which its usage is rather semi-optimal. Apart from that, Omi Vaidya is adorable and cute - by the way, I was surprised that I liked his "Dream Girl" Gungun, played by Shraddha Das, somehow. She was indeed both honest and fake, and very capricious against him, but she just had something. Perhaps Shraddha Das just comes with a bigger portion of talent than the rest of that female guard, but I'm not able to tell after one film only.

What I liked about the film was, that it never became "uncomfortable", you were (almost) never ashamed, and that despite this... well, not very fancy story. Just one scene at the end got one or two soap-opera-splashes too much. I don't want to tell you to much, but to the makers: a little less dharamdham, when someone tells his/her girl/boy friend, that he/she has fallen in love with someone else. Better let the still piano go on. Apropos music: The soundtrack is okay, nothing special, but nice.

Then what is my conclusion, now... Let's put it this way: You can see this film, but you don't have to. In the field of films-named-after-great-songs, it delivers a much better performance than many others, like for example Aashayein (2010).

Rating: 5.0

Thank you for reading,

Mette M. K.

Hohohohohoho... hooohooo... (Li!)

HAPPY HOLI

On this occasion, let me present to you... my favorite Holi Song:

For the non-Hindi-speakers: Lyrics Translation

Mohabbatein was one of my "beginners"-films, and also one of my first DVDs. I still know, in which store I bought it... Well, my Dad bought it for me, back then.
It's a true Yash-Raj-ical magic-masala-rainbow-coloured Fluff/Candy Floss/Wavawoom flick.

Hey, I didn't hear you - louder?
Hohohohohohoooo... hooo... hooo... hooo... Soni Soni Ankhiyon Wali...

Review: Arundhati [Ties of blood or "Khoon Chala, Khoon Chalaaa"]

- This review is not critically intellectual or similar, as this is my first Tollywood film. But don't get used to it, I'll try to avoid writing like that. -


PS: I'll be on mini-hiatus for the next 4 days - I'm on a class trip/ politics simulation from Mon-Thu.

ARUNDHATI (2009) అరుంధతి


Director: Kodi Ramakrishna
Author: Ramana Chintapally
Producer: M. Shyam Prasad Reddy
Music: Koti
Starring: Anushka Shetty, Manorama, Sonu Sood


Plot: This film revolves around three generations. Arundhati is going to marry Rahul, so before marriage, she visits her native village. One night, she receives a phone call from Rahul, telling her that he's in fort Gadwal. But when Arundhati enters the fort, that is said to be haunted, the horrible past of her great-grandmother Arundhati, called Jejamma, fusions with reality and a fight of good against evil is once again held.


Written the 12th of March 2011

I chose "Arundhati" for "debuting" in the Telugu film industry (Tollywood)... It's been several months now, that I'm maundering about watching more regional Indian films, and I had actually thought I was going to slowly "train" myself with Siddhart's Telugu films. But I'm very happy now, that I chose this film. Despite the fact, that I'm certainly not very familiar with this film industry, I think that the film is a good representative, and a good beginning for inexperienced people... of a curious nature. That's because it's just totally exaggerating - but it's still good.
 I haven't seen The House of Flying Daggers, sadly, but that's why I bursted into laugh seeing that drum dance sequence. Oh yes, colourful scarves playing the drums... Additionally, there's tons of pink-looking blood, a good-looking, but evil because of evil voice Sonu Sood, and a lot of mythology. Plus a language, that I do not understand at all. I felt drawn back to the starting time of my passion for Bollywood, at least I thought, that I probably felt quite similar at that time. Thrilled, though not as thrilled as I was by Hindi, which I began learning very quickly, I listened to the dialogues and admired the squiggled letters. I learned one word already, actually: "Raa" meaning as much as "come". Leading actress Anushka Shetty, whom I obviously do not know ("Arundhati" was not only my Telugu debut, but also only my second south-Indian film, after "Bumbai"), fitted her role perfectly, but if she's really talented, I can't tell, as her role consisted of over-acting, mostly. 
Same for Sonu Sood, but as I already know him from other films ("Dabangg", "Jodhaa-Akbar"), this performance of his is only another plus point. It's namely quite different from his other roles. All supporting actors were all right, most of them over-acting grandly (by the way, does the fakir speak Hindi sometimes - it seemed as if?), only the fiancé is quickly forgotten.
Music... the aforesaid drum dance number did actually impress me, beginning very still and vulnerable, but then getting angry and fast, which is a great achievement of the singer. Otherwise, I don't recall any other fancy songs. 

Now, let's focus on the last point: Special-Effects. Honestly: I found them very brave. Many Indian films of this kind just focus on "scary" background score or similar, but here they really tried to build a mythologic world of horror. Seemingly, they didn't have the best technical facilities (or maybe it's a matter of the budget), but just that giving-it-a-try made an impact on me. It is trashy, but lately I often find myself as a fan of (good) filmic trash, so nothing of this was annoying to me. Rather amusing and entertaining. And about the blood; well, though I had already often read reviews and articles about south-Indian cinema, I was still "surprised" by the floods or seas of blood, but I had a sense of humour about it. Yes, that's absolutely possible. Especially, when the blood is pink.
Okay, the coconut-stoning was really a little crass, but you can look the other way for a while.


You see, I could write much more about this adventure of mine, but particularly I can recommend it to everyone, except for the weak minds. As I've read somewhere: "Do something you haven't done before, every day". A great advice, and I try to follow it, really. Of course, watching an unknown film also counts, that's something new as well, but why now get over yourself and jump into the cold water of a new film industry? (PS: A Hindi-remake of this one is also planned).

Rating: 7.1

Thank you for reading,

Mette M. K.