Bipasha's blog

Boy - bollywood is really exploring the blogs as a marketing tool for new hindi films. You can check out Bipasha's blog for her upcoming film Apharan. I think reading about an actor's viewpoint as a part of a film production process would be more interesting rather than reading about things after the fact ... the best though would be an individual's blog that is project independent. That is the only way to make a connection with a human being rather than with a project - which is at best transient in nature.

Mangal Pandey Disappoints

Although I appreciate the exploration of a very interesting historical subject, on the whole I was disappointed by Mangal Pandey as a film. Although the acting by both Aamir Khan and Toby Stephens is commendable, the entire film just does not come together effectively. It seems disjointed. Loosely structured. It fails to create empathy for the lead character. It gets lost in building several sub-plots which tend to distract and further remove the audience from the main story in the film. And although the songs are actually pretty good when listening to them on a CD, they become another source of distraction in the film - with several instances where the film cuts from a pretty intense scene directly into a totally unrelated song - wasting the emotional energy that might have been built up by the prior scene.

The canvas of the film did not seem as grand as they could have ... should have been. The trip to Afghanistan seems like a waste - for a meager 5 ordinary minutes in the final cut. It seems that in the interest of casting a somewhat known "white" actor the director lets the story of Gordon Williams dominate the screen - instead of focusing on the main protagonist: Mangal Pandey. My hypothesis is that the script would have been a lot tighter had the movie jumped straight into the main plot - and stayed with it.

I know there is a continuing debate about the historical inaccuracies portrayed in the film. Just google "mangal pandey + historical inaccuracies" and you'll find plenty to read about this subject. My take on this: sure as a filmmaker you can adjust your frame of reference - but ... BUT ... if you start to stray from the essence of history than you are doing your audience a disservice. But let's get real - moviemaking is a business - and producers are constantly going to look for ways to brand a film "as a true story" and yet fill it with "all that sells" ... be it sex, violence or in the case of Mangal Pandey - a girl-on-girl dance that was fun to watch - but did it really belong in the film?

On a technical note, although I was not impressed by the cinematography and sets on the film, I was impressed with the sound design. This is an area where Hindi films have made a lot of progress in the past 5 years - and I was happy to see it take another step forward with MP. So should you go watch it? Sure, why not? At least that way you will have a right to have your own opinion! :)

Mangal Mangal

I have yet to see Aamir Khan's new film: "Mangal Pandey: The Rising" - but it's been getting pretty good reviews - which I have tried to avoid reading. And I read some reports that box office real good on opening day but spattered out a little - which is usually a good sign - from my perspective. Of late the mass and I do not seem to be so aligned.

In any case I ran across a blog that Aamir is running (as a promotion) for the film. Go check it out - we'll see how long he keeps it up. I know they're planning a US release under the name "The Rising" ... hope it's a successful venture. Looking forward to watching the movie (hopefully) this weekend.

Wong Kar Wai on 2046

One of my all time favorite directors new-to-America film "2046" will be released theatrically in August. I have watched this movie on DVD - not one of his best films in my opinion. But even an average WKW film is better than the most.

Here's an article about a screening of 2046 in New York.

The Casual Friday

The Casual Friday: I find this guy pretty funny. Perhaps it is the obsession with farts and alcohol. :)

One of my favs:

7. Took off the door sign from the Work Out room, and put it on my neighbors door.

Mastercard Ad Parody

A friend just sent me this link to a pretty funny parody of the Mastercard commercials - it's a little old - but nevertheless here you go:

http://www.yjd40.dial.pipex.com/mastercard.html

Clip has volume - so be sure to adjust prior to opening.

Weird-ass Day.

Take my word for it. Good night.