#Friday 20.0: Netflix Movies: Turbans and Profanity

Each week I will (try and) share a small segment of something useful I learnt. While this is for my own amusement I hope it resonates with my lovely readers.

I spotted lots of Turbans

I recall watching the movie Inside Man a very long time ago, a film that I have watched many times over. But what added more delight for me was spotting a Turbaned Sikh appearing in the movie. That man was actor and producer Waris Ahluwalia. Here is a scene from the movie. I can’t explain the delight whenever I see a Turbaned Sikh on screen. It’s a joy many immigrants must have experienced in Britain whenever a Turban wearing Sikh was seen on television (which wasn’t very often).

Over the weekend we were flicking through Netflix and came across an old movie called The Terminal. I’d seen most Tom Hanks movies so not sure how this one escaped me, but I’d heard it was a good family movie. So we all made a movie night of this one. I won’t spoil it, but highly recommend this one if you haven’t seen it. By the end of the movie, not only were we glad for the main character in the film but overjoyed that we may just have spotted the most amount of turbaned Sikhs in the movie. If I wasn’t mistaken, we counted 7. That’s the most I’ve seen in a Hollywood movie…see the film…was I right?

Tom Hanks masterful as ever

AK vs AK

So another Netflix movie session, how else do we fill the time during Tier 4 restrictions here in the UK. This time we come across the following movie:

This Bollywood movie follows the spat between director AK and movie star Anil Kapoor. In the film the disgruntled director kidnaps Anil’s daughter and then follows him with LIVE camera as Anil frantically tries to find his daughter. On concept I’d give the film 7/10 but that drops sharply because of the amount of swearing in the movie. As the movie goes on, profanity such f***(+ er) and m*****f***** become common place – it’s overload. I had a similar complaint when Sacred Games was released on Netflix a few years ago, the use of profanity was excessive. Come on AK, just because it’s Netflix, you don’t have to swear!

Have a safe and healthy 2021 peeps

#Friday 18.0: Some films just pull me in…everytime

Each week I will (try and) share a small segment of something useful I learnt. While this is for my own amusement I hope it resonates with my lovely readers.

When I put off sleeping on time

It’s nearing 22.30 and I put the leftovers in the fridge. Then turning off the kitchen lights I head to turn off the TV. An advert appears stating the next movie is Good Will Hunting.

“Great film that” I tell myself.

“I’ll catch the first 15 minutes and then head to bed”.

It’s nearing 23.50 and the film is reaching its epic climax, that final confrontation (no spoiler alert). Once again I’ve fallen foul of being sucked in to a great movie. That’s view number 8 I think….

I can add Deads Poets Society and The Godfather to the list of “keep me up films”.

Is there a movie that would keep you glued instead of going to bed?

Film Review – Departures [World Cinema]

If I discount Bollywood as World Cinema for now, then I would have to go back as far as some of the Hal Hartley movies, when I last saw something of a similar genre.

While scanning earlier this week I came across this movie, Departures.  It’s a Japanese movie and when I read the synopsis, it sounded very interesting.  In a nutshell, the movie centres around a failed musician who moves back to his home town and by fate ends up working in a funeral parlour.  The movie shows us how the main character, Daigo Kobayashi, played by Masahiro Motoki, comes to terms with his new responsibilities and how those around him adjust to his job.

There are three things that struck me about this movie:

1. The very calm essence played throughout this movie, it’s very subtle, delicate, some of the characters have an almost soft as tissue personality; it kind of draws you in.
2. It shows you the Japanese culture in respect of dressing the dead for their funeral, the precise accuracy merged with sublime delicacy, as not to upset the family members by moving too rashly.
3. The movie shows how mourning family members sit still, motionless while the funeral professionals  are dressing the deceased, which includes applying full facial make-up.  When the family finally see the end result, the still emotion breaks free and the mourners cannot contain themselves.  Such is the creative work of the professionals that the body seems no longer dead, but someone alive who just won’t wake up or respond.  There is a scene in the movie where a grieving husband turns to the funeral professionals and says, “this is the best I have seen her look”. 

I have included a trailer from the movie, if it tickles your fancy, please get it, I would recommend it.

I don’t normally do Bollywood Song Posts…but..

Okay, tis the season this week to present our fellow bloggers with tunes from the past it seems.  Blogger friends It’s My Thoughts and The British Asian Blog posted some nice tunes respectively, check it out on their sites.

So, why not join in the fun.  Here’s my choice, well two actually from the movie Guzaarish, featuring

Hrithink Roshan & Aishwarya Rai

It’s my movie of the year and possibly has sneaked itself in my top 10. All the elements of this movie are just so right, I was glued to the screen and haven’t been like that for quite a while.  It’s a Blu-ray purchase without a doubt.

So, please enjoy my choices.

Chaand Ki Katori Hai

Udi

A movie quote that will always be your No.1, no matter what!

Ok, so this is not my No.1 quote but might be for a lot of other people, however I am interested in knowing why a particular movie quote is your all time favourite?