Best Films of 2010

Better late than never I always say ... now onto my list!

5.  Band Baaja Baaraat

After getting "modern love stories" like Break Ke Baad, Love Aaj Kal, etc., BBB was just what I needed; a good ol' 100% Desi love story.  What I was most impressed with was Ranveer Singh, he's charisma and on screen chemistry was fantastic and felt natural.  By far one of the best male debuts of this year.



4.  Raajneeti

Speaking of our favorite Chocolate Hero of the moment, Mr Kapoor makes this film.  He's transformation in this film is epic.  I've got to commend Rabir for his ability to pick such unique roles, and more so his acting abilities.  It's films like this Rocket Singh that have truly set him apart from his contemporaries.  One very annoying factor is Sarah's inability to pronounce Samar!!! It's not a hard name to pronounce, I mean come on!



3.  Robot

Boom Boom Robo Duh Robo Duh ... if this isn't enough to get you in the mood for Robot then i don't know what is.   This film blew my freaking mind away! I can't say it enough I love Robot!  My only regret was having had watched it in Hindi! :-(



2.  Dabanng

This is masala at it's best! ... I wish there was more of this in Bollywood, but thankfully Salu has found his calling in the South ... and boy do we love him for it!



1.  Ishqiya

Vidya never ceases to amaze me, this is one actress that can truly be praised for her acting ability which we don't get much of from some of our current starlets in b-town.  Her ability to seduce with only words and a look is powerful and not something a lot of people have and for that I praise her even more.



Honorable Mentions:


My Name Is Khan (1st Half)

The first hour of this film was picture perfect ... everything i've come to expect from KJo and then some.  From the moment Rizwan meets Mandira I was with them at every moment.  Plus! The first part of MNIK has the infamous hair porn scene, which is a must for all you hair enthusiasts!

Biggest Disappointments/Highlights of 2010...

Overall 2010 was a very weak year for movies...honestly and sadly it was.  But the few highlights that we did get was worth it.  Sure we had to go through films like Dulha Mil Gaya and Chance Pe Dance, but all in all I still looked forward to every release with a big grin on  my face!


Disappointments of 2010:

1. My Name Is Khan (2nd  Half)
Believe me when I say this ... I worship the ground that this man walks on ... but the 2nd half of MNIK killed what could have been my favorite film of the year.  As much as i debated with myself on this issue, I still can't forgive KJo for his very offensive portrayal of African Americans.  It's not just that but after intermission everything is just a hot mess.  


If you're still interested in watching this film, I would more than gladly recommend the International version of this film, which completely and successfully cuts out the "Katrina" scenes out.  

2. Kites (Barbara Mori)
As a Latina infatuated, fascinated, or obsessed (as some might like to say) by the Hindi film industry; any attempt at representing the Latin community on the filmi big screen I would fully support.  Therefore, upon hearing that Barbara Mori would be in this film, already a fan of her Spanish novelas, I was a quite excited.  I always get a bit worried when Latinas are portrayed on non-Spanish outlets, it's always the same stereotypes.  And of course it was no different here ... which is why my disappointment mostly came from this.

3. Housefull, Action Replayy, Tees Maar Khan (Akshay Kumar)
Oh Akki, my golden man ... how I love thee!  All I can say is that I have seen every single one of his films since I first watched him in Tashan ... and will continue to do so.  I just really hope he does much better this year, I won't say that these were horrible films but they weren't great either.  Akki you need to get your mojo back!


Still love ya though!


Highlights of 2010:

1. Dabangg (SalMan Khan)
Ummm .... have you seen this film?!?!? ... 'nuff said!

2.  Tees Maar Khan (Katrina Kaif)
This girl just amazed me, and no i'm not talking about her acting...she looks AMAZING!   Anyways ... it took me some time to get on the Kat is Awesome train but now i'm on it.  I've got to give Katrina credit...she is hands down the hardest working actress in the industry!  And she deserves all the praise she gets... I mean someone of her background; couldn't speak Hindi and questionable acting skills ... has become one of the most bankable heroines in the Hindi film industry ... all i can say is You Go Girl!

3.  Ishqiya (Arshad Warsi)
This was my favorite film of the year, but Arshad really stood out in this film.  I had previously enjoyed his work in the Golmaal franchise, but his portrayal of Babban really put him on my radar, I can't wait to see what he brings for us in 2011.

Sallu Marathon ... My Mini Review of Maine Pyaar Kiya

I know, I know I have always expressed my dislike for SalMan Khan, he was the guy I loved to hate on...so it came as a shock when I finally watched Maine Pyaar Kiya and I was enamored with Salman.

I think it had to do with the fact that he was the romantic hero, which is something that nowadays I don't get from him.  In my heart that spot was reserved for Shahrukh, how close minded of me...I know.  But I was amazed at how much I really connected with his character, I loved every minute of this film.

Even the 'acting' by both of the lead actors...as one YouTube comment read, "And the best acting goes to the White Pidgeon!..." Which pretty much sums up how well acted this film was, but still even with these flaws I was in love with Salman's portrayal of Prem.

Another confession...I actually found Salman to be attractive...this is something I would NEVER EVER admit to...specially present day Sallu, but god! I would always question and think, try to understand why on earth do women find him attractive, oh well...I think for now I'll just stick to his older films.  It just seems to be a pretty comfortable spot for me, in order to truly appreciate him as a romantic hero.

Which further proves my obsession with Love Stories.  I just I'm just a sucker for that chocolate Bollywood romantic hero, there! I've said it!  Plus!!! Another bonus...the music was fantastic, My theme song in life is now officially, "Aaja Sham..."


Here's the one song that is just so wrong it's right!!!  You won't be disappointed!


Here's the Link for the film, I believe that it is a legal copy since the actual production company Rajshri released it.

... But I Luv Love Stories ... My Thoughts on I Hate Luv Stories

...It's films like this that remind me why I love Bollywood so much...

***SPOILERS***

As Simran {IHLS} says, "...यह फ़िल्मी दुनिया, रोमांटिक कहानिया ..."  This is everything I have come to love, obsesses, and expect from Bollywood films.  Of course the occasional thriller, comedy, and drama grab my attention...but what I have gotten from these films is exactly that...the melodramatic love stories that have filled my world with fantasies and possibilities.  Obviously I never expect any Raj + Simran, a la DDLJ, type of romance to occur in my life, but the possibility of it is what makes these films so inviting, exciting, and just plain addicting.

Now onto I Hate Luv Storys, I really enjoyed this film, but let's be honest who doesn't love romantic comedies???  Especially when you have a fresh jodi like Imran and Sonam. IHLS is the story of a girl, Simran {Sonam Kapoor}, who is infatuated with love stories.  Simran whom is also living a real life fairy tale life with the perfect boyfriend, romance, and life.   

Unlike J {Imran Khan} who is of course the total opposite of her, who hates the type of love stories that are recycled for audiences over and over, and Gasp! he doesn't believe in love!  I know...how shocking!  Of course like in every love story opposites always have a way of attracting each other, and this story is no different.  

But I think that what made this film just a little different from other romantic films are the clear references they make to classic love stories that most of the audience has grown up with.  Yes, i've read some of the negative reviews that say that because most of the DDLJ types of refrences made in the film don't work is because they are so overused nowadays thanks to film camps like Yash Raj and of course Karan Johar's Dharma Productions.  

Maybe it's just me, but every time I get a reference to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or any similar film I squeal like a school girl, just because I got it!  Plus!  I was so glad I had seen Sholay just days prior to watching this film...I  got all the Gabbar and Dhanno references!!!

{P.S. The only thing that really ticked me off during the film was the fact that songs had no subtitles!  Arg! I Live for English subs!!!}


My Top 3 Moments in the Film:

3.  The very beginning was already an indicator that I was gonna really enjoy this film.  The narrator was none other than the King of Romance himself, Shahrukh.  Not only that there was a sort of mini montage of different scenes from some of the most romantic films such as: DDLJ, Fanaa, etc.  Khan's voice help set the mood!

2.  When J follows Simran with the little fan.  There's this moment after meeting, J and Simran become friends and start hanging out and blah blah, but there's this super cute moment during the song, Jab Mila Tu, where J does all these typical filmi gags, and of course one of those is the wind blowing the girls hair.  Which is a super classic move!  

1.  As Raj said in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, "...you have seen enough Hindi films to know that a girl and a guy can never be friends.  After friendship comes love, pyaar, ishq, mohabbat."   So of course J eventually falls for Simran, follows the very same stereotypes of those romantic stories he loves to hate.  He has this daydream sequence in which he sings a song.  What makes this so funny is how he finally accepts that he in fact is in love and went through all these stereotypes in order to finally figure out that yes, he is in fact in love.

I missed you Blog!!! But at least I still have Aamir???

Ok, so I know I have been missing for almost a month now, but this thing called life has really been taking up a lot of time...so sorry!

Even with all these things I have been watching films, so no worries...
Thankfully, my friend LOVES buying movies, so I've just been mooching of her collection.  Unfortunately, she seems to have become infatuated with Aamir Khan...so I've had to watch mostly his films, which of course they were fantastic, but still I just don't like Aamir outside of his 'reel' life.

So let me just say a little something about the films I've so far seen of his...

Ghajini

I remember not wanting to watch this film when it first came out, the whole action theme didn't catch my eye, so I just lived on being one of the few people who hadn't seen the film.  But thankfully, IFC was hosting this Wake Up To Bollywood theme every Sunday morning, for about a month I think, and I went to my friends house and watched it.

I loved this film, yes it was action packed but it just about everything i love about films...there was love, evil guys, songs, *sigh* I enjoyed every second of it.  Now I truly understand why it was such a big hit!

Rang De Basanti

*SPOILERS*

Another fantastic film, Aamir really has a knack for picking great films.  But One person that really stood out for me was hottie Kunal Kapoor!!! *melts*

Ok...back to the film...yes! This is gonna sound really ridiculous, but hearing that white lady talk in Hindi was just so weird, I swear I thought her voice was dubbed by someone else, but soon I got over it.  I don't really want to say to much because the the ending made me tear up a little.

Dil Chahta Hai

*SPOILERS*

What can I say I really enjoyed this film.  I loved the whole bromance {which I will say is a guilty pleasure of mine} between Aamir, Saif, and Akshaye.  There are two thing I need to point out, I loved the whole idea of a younger guy being in love with the older woman, but I really had wished they hadn't killed her off.  I wished the relationship would have been explored a lot more, because of the fact that the only type of craddle-robbing relationships you get is that of Older men with much younger women *cough* Shahrukh Khan *cough*.  Not that I have a problem with that but I really wish we could see more of it in more Hindi films.  Wake Up Sid did a really good job at it, but Konkona didn't have great chemistry with Ranbir.

And next point, I will say that I am one of those who ever saw Akshaye being a 'romantic' hero, some guys just don't fit the bill, for me at least.  But there was something about Akshaye that really blew me away, I loved him.

Taare Zameen Paar

If you know me well enough, then you know I have a certain dislike for children.  Therefore, i really try to avoid films that have children as the main aspect of a film, but after hearing so much about this film I gave it a shot.

This was one of my least liked Aamir films, and this is not just because of the kids but I just can't stand seeing an older man make himself acting like a clown, and at some parts the film got too overly sentimental.  I would just roll my eyes, one scene in particular is when Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) looks at Ram (Aamir Khan) painting and realizes that it's of himself, and he starts to cry, I was like "oh, please!"  But don't get me wrong it was a pretty good film.

14 Day's of Pyaar ... Valentine's Day Filmi Style (Day 14)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

So today I finally finish my list of romantic Bollywood songs.  This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the last song.  I must also add that this is my ultimate favorite romantic song, and of course Shahrukh had to be in it.

Valentine's Day {Day 14}: Do Pal - Veer-Zaara

*Shahrukh Khan
*Preity Zinta

So enjoy your Sunday, and hopefully you get to spend it with the people/pets you love!
The First Part of the Song:

The Second Part of the Song:

My Name Is Khan ... And I'm Not A Terrorist!

I was glad I was able to watch this film on opening day.  There have been only a handful of films that I have countdown to like I did for this film, some of those would probably be all of the Harry Potter films.  I've already written as to how important this film is and why there's such big buzz and expectations.

You know how when you have all these expectations for a film and are just so excited because you don't know if it'll deliver what it promised.  And then when it does you are just left speechless, because you got what you wanted, and then some, you just kinda don't know what to say...

...Well, this is exactly how I felt once the film ended.  I was just soooo happy that after all this wait the film was just brilliant!!!  I don't want to keep praising it too much, but I would highly recommend watching it.  Shahrukh's portrayal of Rizvan Khan is outstanding!  His character is bigger than the film itself.

The chemistry between Kajol + Shahrukh comes out on screen as being so natural, you believe that this couple will be happy forever.  They truly are one of the industries' most enchanting couple.

***One thing I must point out that made me feel uncomfortable was the portrayal of African-Americans in the film.  I went with a couple of friends to see this film and we were discussing this in the car.  There is one moment where Rizvan Khan {Shahrukh Khan} ends up in Wilhelmina, Georgia.  We are introduced to two characters Mama Jenny {Jennifer Echols} and her nephew.  My friend had comment that they looked like 'slaves' their whole town looked like a slavery plantation; and I have to agree with her.  In the way they were dressed and how they talked it was as if we they were still living in the late 1700's.  I don't think it was done intentionally, but personally I was taken aback as I watched these characters.  This was the only big flaw I saw in the film.

I would still highly recommend this film, because Shahrukh is just phenomenal and deserves all the praise he's getting for this film.  Congrats to Karan Johar + Kajol + SRK for another soon to be classic film in the Hindi film industry.
Noor-E-Khuda

Marry Me

14 Day's of Pyaar ... Valentine's Day Filmi Style (Day 12)

 This my least favorite of all the 4 Karan Johar directed films, the film is just way too family oriented.  I know most Hindi films deal with family matters but this one was just too much for me.  Also I hated Hrithik Roshan's character, he's cries way too much...this in now way refers to the fact that he is a man, and that men shouldn't cry.  I can only handle so much crying from one character, it was just too much for my liking. 

Day 12: Suraj Hua Maddham - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham {K3G}

*Shahrukh Khan
*Kajol
*Amitabh Bachchan
*Jaya Bachchan

The only great thing about this film is the Rahul + Anjali jodi, it was pure magic!!!

My Name Is Khan is Out Today!!!

14 Day's of Pyaar ... Valentine's Day Filmi Style (Day 11)

I remember hearing so much about this film, before I bought it.  I had not seen any Shahrukh film at that time...I didn't know any of the actors, the saleslady at the video store recommended it to me.  This was the first SRK film I bought and watched.

Day 11: Main Agar Kahoon - Om Shanti Om

*Shahrukh Khan
*Deepika Padukone
*Shreyas Talpade

Wiki Fact: More than forty two well-known Bollywood stars appear in the course of the film, including thirty of them (not including the stars of the film) in one song alone {Deewangi Deewangi}.

14 Day's of Pyaar ... Valentine's Day Filmi Style (Day 10)

No list of love songs would ever be complete without including a song from this film.  Holds the record for being the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema.  It was also listed in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list.

Day 10: Ho Gaya Hai - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

*Shahrukh Khan
*Kajol
*Amrish Puri
*Farida Jaal

P.S: I can't wait for my My Name Is Khan { Less than 4 Days Left!!!}

14 Day's of Pyaar ... Valentine's Day Filmi Style (Day 7)

This is one of my favorite films ever, and it is hard just picking just one song...I went with Maar Daala.  There's just something about Madhuri Dixit in this song that always seems to captivate me.  For one thing she's stunning, her dancing is superb, overall she's  just perfection.

Day 7: Maar Daala - Devdas

*Madhuri Dixit
*Shahrukh Khan

Madhuri at her best...Enjoy!

SRK on Jonathan Ross ... 2/5/10

Ok! So when I heard online that Shahrukh was gonna be on this show, I was ecstatic to say the least.  For one reason being that Shahrukh would be only the second Bollywood actor to be on the show after Shilpa Shetty and her Celebrity Big Brother fame.  I loved this interview...he's was too funny!!!

So here is the SRK bits, hopefully YouTube doesn't take them down anytime soon...
Part 1

Part 2

14 Day's of Pyaar ... Valentine's Day Filmi Style (Day 6)

This was the first film Shahrukh film I watched on the big screen, and I probably ended up watching this film about 3 times after that.  So you could easily assume that I Loved this film.

Day 6:  Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi


*Shahrukh Khan
*Anushka Sharma

This is the (Sad) version of the song, sung beautifully by Shreya Goshal...