Devdas (2002)

[Drunk Monk]

Devdas was Bollywood's Cannes debut pic, the biggest budget Indian film to date. To say it's grossly opulent completely underrates it. It stars my fave, Aishwarya Rai, alongside smoldering heartthrob Shahrukh Khan and the cool dance skills of Madhuri Dixit. OK, first of all, if you're not into Bollywood, this might not be for you. It's like a crazy Jane Austen story, sweeping in magnitude, dripping with foreshadowing, full of meaningful keepsakes and gorgeously colorful. It's also three hours of thinking 'why can't these star-crossed lovers just get it together?' It's takes a least a half hour before the first good turn, and then the movie is pure oversentimental overromantic Bollywood. Several times I watched Shahrukh thinking, dude, you got these two outrageously hot women who love you eternally - romeo and juliet eternally - and you can't even get a kiss? Oh man. But Shahrukh is the only actor who might have a chance to pull off such a role. And he does get to kiss Ash's bloody foot. Ash is dazzling as always. Speaking of blood, I read that in production, a film hand was decapitated by a fan and it sprayed Ash with blood. Nasty. She went into shock after. Madhuri was the whore with the heart of gold - a totally unbeleivable character - but she's got great dance moves - refined muscle control melding breakdance and classical moves. Overall, I could have used a few more dance numbers, it moves rather slowly at points - but I enjoyed the lushness of the picture overall. And it showcases Ash so well. I'd watch her read the morning paper. Watch her in undying unrequited love? Oh yeah.

If you've never experienced pure Bollywood, this is a good starter. It's a big screen movie - a tiny tv screen just doesn't do it justice. Grab some samosas, some chaat and a mango lassie and make three hours of space for it.

In all honestly, I'm probably the only one here that has a soft spot for Bollywood from my India travels. But I'd recommend it to TQ becuase she reads romance novels and this is a big fat romance, Indian style. I'd recommend it to G because the sets are huge - two mansions and a whorehouse with it's own lake. I'd recommend it to PPFY because outside that gruff exterior, we all know he's a big softy who loves pedicures, bubble baths and chick flicks.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

A review and a shot. Who says monks aren't multitalented.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

DM wrote: "I could have used a few more dance numbers"

OK, Princess; maybe you should be spending a little more time up here in Frisco...?

Gruff PPFY

PS: Rai is totally hot.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Whatever happened to that film she was doing in Oakland? And why didn't the DM do an interview on that movie?

[Drunk Monk]

haven't seen that one yet. it's based in s.f. it's a stereotypic bollywood plot, fish-out-of-water indian in america. reviews haven't been that good - apparently no chemistry between her and dylan mcdermott, and dm doesn't think he wants to watch that. what can you say about actors who can't get chemistry going with ash? that's just wrong.

ever since that 'shot' DM has been visualizing some poor philipino woman using a wood rasp to manage ppfy's pedicure.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Whatever.

And despite all this mention of your mistress from India, all you can visualize is the PPFY in his skivies getting a pedicure? I think you need to check the wiring.

[Drunk Monk]

just trying to block out the real live ash covered in decapitated blood image. it's too carrie for me.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Keep the knives away from the boy

MUMBAI (Reuters) -
Two of India's biggest cinema stars, Abhishek Bachchan and former Miss WorldAishwarya Rai, are finally engaged after months of feverish speculation about their relationship, their families said on Monday.

The hush-hush romance of Rai and Bachchan, the son of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, had transfixed the Mumbai-based Hindi film industry, despite denials by the couple of sharing anything more than a healthy friendship.

On Sunday evening -- one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar -- Bachchan and Rai were engaged in a private ceremony in which Abhishek reportedly placed a diamond ring on his girlfriend's finger.

Let's all shed a single tear for DM's broken heart.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

How did Aishwarya Rai end up in this movie. DM's favorite actress is in a movie about King Arthur.

[Drunk Monk]

...Ash with double swords? Be still my beating heart. But I want to mention that I saw Pink Panther 2.

Dm's opinion: Dm would watch Ash floss her teeth. She stole every scene. It was a lot of decent actors - John Cleese, Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin, Jean Reno, all gaping at Martin making an ass of himself. Hard to say if they were acting or if they were in genuine shock about being stuck in this flick.
Mrs. Dm's opinion: Jeremy Irons is always interesting.
T's opinion: It was kind of funny.

[Drunk Monk]

I revisited this tonight on Kanopy. I have such fond memories of it that I wanted to see how well it held up, now that I’ve seen a lot more Indian cinema. It’s still gratuitously opulent - the set pieces are all garishly flamboyant. The acting is over the top. Every actor has red eyes because they have to cry in every damn scene. Ash, Madhuri, & Shah Rukh are all gorgeous in their prime of youth. The dance scenes  are rooted in tradition yet fresh. The Madhuri/Ash dance is particularly stunning. It’s a time honored tale, made into like 20 films already and the sheer audacity and sentimental overload of this one makes it shine. That ending is one of the greatest romantic gut punches ever. 

But not D00M recommended. It requires too much of for the non-initiated.

[Greg]

I've had a lot of practice hating films. I'm sure I can hate this one without too much bother.

[Drunk Monk]

I'd recommend it to G because the sets are huge - two mansions and a whorehouse with it's own lake.  

I stand behind this comment. The set pieces are mind blowing. You could just fast forward to the set pieces.

Two things stood out to me in this viewing. 

1. Ash (Paro) makes a funny comment about pot when her new in-laws invite her to join them as they are hitting off a hookah. I remember that standing out the first time I saw it. 
2. There a comment about the bitterness of neem, which I didn't get at the time. I get it now. I brush my teeth with neem (it's a traditional Indian tooth cleaner extracted from a tree that's now used in several brands of toothpaste). I don't find it bitter but I can see where one might.