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    « Makdee (2002) | Main | Chashme buddoor (1981) »

    November 05, 2007

    Comments

    akshay shah

    Nice review here Filmigeek! didn't like TAAL much at all with the exception of Rehman's surreal music and ofcourse the gorgeous Miss Rai:).

    Ghai lost his "midas touch" a long time ago. PARDES was the last claim of the "showman" as such and his last well made film too. TAAL was just too long, and didn't offer anything new. The otherwise brilliant Khanna was pretty flat here too. I have a great weakness for Anil Kapoor in these "massy" supporting roles from this one to BIWI NO.1, and I liked Anil's eccentric Vikrant act quiet a bit..

    BTW Saw GANDHI MY FATHER the other day, would love to hear your thoughts on that one...

    Keep up the good work,

    A.Shah

    maxqnz

    Thanks for the excellent public service as always, carlaji. Your review made me smile, and given our very similar tastes reinforced my decision not to watch it. Not being a huge fan of Anil "Caesar" Kapoor, this medically diagnosed spastic is not sure he likes the company he's apparently keeping. ;-)

    Maru

    I saw Taal a long time ago but I do recall my lack of enthusiam for the film equalled yours :). A.R. Rahman's fantastic score is only thing that has stood the test of time.

    "as a Shah-Rukh-Khanish dandy, he is even less convincing than Shah Rukh Khan himself..." That comment caught my attention --- harsh, filmigeek! I agree that Akshaye's self righteous and bland hero was less than interesting but at least he does not ham (or at least not much!) and stays away from the quivering lips and voice and the excessive head shakes :) . I'm not the greatest Akshaye fan, but as you can probably tell SRK is a often a whipping boy :P

    carla

    Maru: SRK a whipping boy! Would only that it were so in my world. In the tiny world of American, non-desi fans of Hindi film, I find myself frequently the lone voice of "What on earth is so appealing about that smarmbucket?" But I think my point got lost in service of my overwrought attempt at a clever turn of phrase. I didn't mean that Akshaye was SRK-ish in lip-quivering hamminess; rather that the character's "you know you want me" arrogance was the type that SRK's most obnoxious (but apparently, to others, swoon-worthy) characters often display. I found it a boring role on Akshaye, who has proven himself a subtle actor capable of much more interesting, and much more human, characterization.

    On reflection, though, your comment helped me conclude that "charming" is a better word than "convincing" to convey what I meant, and I have edited the original accordingly.

    maxqnz: apologies for the less-than-scientific use of the term. :)

    Akshay: Thanks. Aishwarya leaves me cold; can't always say why. She was at her best in *Taal* only when dancing.

    Maajhi

    Haha! Carlaji! You have outdone yourself. I'm tempted to recommend some movies you can meticulously take apart instead of ones you'll like, because the former reviewed by you are entertaining reads too. "skyrocketing to fame inducing whiplash in a normal young woman" lol. Really, where do you come up with such exquisite imagery? Brilliantly crafted, excellent wordsmithy! Enjoying your reviews more than ever. It's been too long a hiatus. Keep 'em comin.

    maajhi

    "Mansi's instantaneous stardom added nothing to the story apart from a platform for an army of backup dancers in flaming spandex bodysuits. " Another line among many that I'm lol'ing at.

    carla

    Maajhi, thanks very much. I do enjoy writing about films I dislike! Perhaps that's why so many professional film critics seem to hate everything. I saw another film last weekend that I *loved* and I am finding it much more difficult to write about than *Taal* was.

    Sunny

    Hey Carla,

    Nice review :)

    I thought Taal was a pathetic film...and that's the reason I never went out to buy it for my collection. The music was the only good thing about it and I still fail to understand why this film was a success in the UK...perhaps it had more to do with Rai's new acclaimed status at the time of numero one heroine with the hit status of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam?

    I always remember the extremely messy ending...what was supposed to be the wedding of Kapoor and Rai turned out to look like a carnival?


    Actually, I think the only portions that stick out in my mind is when Mansi pulls the necklace and it shatters into pieces and the subsequent portion when she is sitting with her father and they witness the "western" version of Taal Se Taal...

    Apart from that, a mundane sorry excuse for a story...it always annoys me when beautiful songs are wasted in pitiful films!

    Maru

    Carla, whether you're a desi (like me) or not the club that is baffled by SRK's appeal is a small one and therefore it is a delight to find a kindred spirit - at least wrt to SRK non-love :)

    I seem to have abandoned the topic at hand altogether --- not such a bad thing perhaps given that Taal has few takers here. I'm curious - what is this movie that you loved that you are having trouble critiquing?

    maxqnz

    "Carla, whether you're a desi (like me) or not the club that is baffled by SRK's appeal is a small one and therefore it is a delight to find a kindred spirit - at least wrt to SRK non-love :)"

    Aap akela(i?) nahin hain! :)

    maajhi

    maxqnz, it's "aap *akele* nahin hain" not "aap akela nahin hain" :). Forgive me, I'm anal, and English is already forbidden correction territory where you're concerned, so I take what I can get ;).

    maxqnz

    Maajhi, please NEVER feel the need to apologise for correcting me, in any language. I actually realised as soon as I posted that I'd goofed, but knew that correction would be forthcoming. I thrive on it, and look forward to it, even when its an error in that bastard (distant) cousin of Hindi which is my mother tongue. :)

    Maru

    maxqnz, shukar hai ki aur bhi log hain jo SRK ko dil aur jaan se nahin chahte! i'm so glad that i'm not 'akeli' on this one!

    maajhi, feel free to correct me too as necessary :)


    maajhi

    Saw a fantastic movie called "Children of Heaven" today. If you all get a chance, watch it. It's simple, but very moving. It's in Parsi, with English subtitles.


    yves

    Hi Carla,
    Yes, utterly right with Taal... I enjoyed your comment about Akshaye's soulful eyes and Vikrant being "spastic"! And true enough, only the film's sangeet made the difference for me... Unless of course, but that's where you wouldn't necessarily see the interest (you say she "adds little to the mix"), there is Ash's amazing youthful face too in Taal!
    all the best
    yves

    carla

    Yes, Aishwarya really does nothing for me. I suppose she's beautiful (though I don't always think so) but even if she is it's a kind of beauty that leaves me completely cold; I don't respond to her at all.

    Vee

    Frankly, I haven't liked a single Subhash Ghai movie after Karma. Not sure if I will like that anymore either, was a kid when I watched it.

    Amity

    Well written article.

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