RottenTomatoes reviews are coming in. Right now its at 67%. I was reading an interview with the director who proclaims her intentions for the movie, and says that the film is of course submersive. I don't know, doesn't look like it from the previews. I've seen the preview so many times that if I see it once more I am sure I'll break down and watch it in theatres.

@bABA - Well there's a difference between racist attitude to "the other" or sort of xenophobic tendencies, but your distinction between that and skin color is internal and also has a heavy class/wealth factor. As in paler fairer skin means one's occupation does not involve outdoor physical labor. However its become so prevelent people hold that view even within the same class by now, and also a sign of mobility befores how well one can go about anglosizing their features. I don't think it helps at all if film reinforces that. That's kind of why I cannot possibly interpret Bride and Prejudice as being "submersive" material. It seems to be reinforcing tons of stereotypes even for international consumption.

Its happened. Oh I knew it would. My resistance has broken.

I was thinking about Chadra's discussions around subversiveness and the question came to me on if the films seem a little regressive to us (including choice of main star) because the audiance its intended for is actually local? I don't know, since its in english right? But is this movie going to get wide distribution in India, because then I'm sure her choice of an already big name to bring in audiances will help. While the culture clash thing is getting a little dated in my book, I think this might actually be about appealing to the regular Bollywood watcher/fan, and that it might be *sneaking* in some commentary if that be the case.

I mean, Chahda is no newcomer to the scene. IMDB had here hand in about 14 productions, including Bhaji on the Beach (which I had not previously been aware of). She's re-making I Dream of Jeannie too.

Shoot, I think I might actually end up watching this movie.

i have no idea what you juts said but sure, as long as you tried and are happy with your decisions : )

Oh no...rotten tomatoes is loving it. 34 entries and its at 76% fresh, 87% cream of the crop! That's odd considering the review i read at the times panned it as My Big Fat Sari Wedding. Check out the review, which cuts apart Chadra's multiculturalism. i don't know, for me it depends on if she's using these recognizeable methods to turn inwards or internationally. It may not work on a global level, but her selection of Rai and the dancing numbers are much more useful if the distribtution is big in India, were people accustomed to Bollywood flicks might be unsusectably recruited to new content.

So yeah, this movie is about as subversive as My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I'll marry who I want to damnit!


But really, it was ok and pretty pleasant. Its just that these remakes of Austen novels are starting to feel dated because they really still are all about marriage. I think Chadha did a fine job trying to address cross-culturalism, but its just not necessary at this point and in this fashion. It needed to be a bit more subtle in deadling with imperialism, orientalism, and feminism. Ah well, it still had the most famous line in the book,

"If you don't marry him, your mother will never talk to you again. And if you do, I'll never talk to you again."

To which she replied, "If that's what it takes to shut you up, then I will marry him this instant"


:razz:


I love bastardizing old books \:D/

To which he said, "Thank goodness and good riddance. I wanted you the hell out of this house ten years ago you ungrateful little *****. :razz:

Actually, that would have been great. Marriage as revenge on the parents and the social confines...woulod have been much smarter than the film turned out.

I had a tough time evaluating this one, because as a simple love story its fine, but as a version of Pride and Prejudice.....its not. Ultimately I settled for a C+ over a B/B- becuase Chadha herself said how it was supposed to have broader cultural resonance...which it doesn't. So I couldn't give it points for that. But it was ok to watch. I don't know, I expect more from Austen remakes by now seeing as how she's become part of the cannon of female wirters dealing with social issues. Its odd but I just can't get all that excited anymore about a movie that doesn't use a love story (especially one that ends in marriage) to explore larger things. At least relationship issues, etc. This plays like an old-fashioned love story, the emphasis being on old-fashioned.

As for Rai, this sets her up perfectly to enter American film actually.

Finally got to see this last night and I enjoyed it for the most part.

I think the biggest problem was once the narrative left its native India the pacing slowed down dramatically and really lost a lot of its potential.

Most of the dance numbers were cheesy and silly, but the music was great and the choreography was well-done. It is a shame it started out so well and then suddenly lost all of its steam.

And of course the underlying moral was as common as it could ever be. Is there no other stereotype we can attach to India? It is really getting silly the amount of films that use the "marriage for love" cliche.

Anyway, I'd give it a solid B but I was dissapointed at the end after the masterful first few minutes.

It was pretty easy fare. I said I had a tough time critiquing it because as an old fashioned romcom its quite easy to enjoy, but its higher ambition fell short.



It became a love story, that's it. Pretty run-of-the-mill. Honestly, even when it was in india it was still riddled with some spoon-fed themes of race relations. I expected more from Chahdra after Bend it Like Beckham, And that's saying alot, since I wasn't that in love with beckham either. But it was a much stronger movie and much more relevant ultimately than Bride was.



Welcome to Bollywood!



Really? I'd say it was pretty evenly paced actually. It didn't really take a nose dive.



Mmmhmmmm. Considering the past decade of computer savvy and opening of job and customer markets there, it still seems a bit odd to me that none of the daughters worked. None had special educational training, and that all their trappings of "modernity" were only attached to their "personal strength," shopping for western clothing, and their ability to speak frankly about sex. Meh, I wasn't all that convinced.

As personalities, their strnegth and colour show through fine, but as metaphors for race and gender readings, they fall incredibly flat.



Glad someone else got to see it. What ever made you decide to pick it up?

Hmm...maybe it was just me as far as the pacing goes. Could be that I'm still really sick and so, being that it was almost 2 hrs. long and I kept pausing it, the movie seemed to drag. I might try and rewatch it again soon just to see if my suspicions are correct.

As far as why I picked it up? I actually had wanted to see it originally, and the when I found out it was a musical I decided it was a must-see. I wasn't all that in love with Bend it Like Beckham either, but it wasn't a bad movie. It was fun, more or less like Bride and Prejudice maybe a little bit moreso though.

I do think that Chahdra has a good eye for a director and do anticipate the next film. Hopefully, the cliched "arranged marriage vs. love" won't be so overused again.

The 'Punjabi Wedding Song' did it for me. Funny film.

However this is not a pure Bollywood film, Bollywood deserves more credit!

Aishwarya Rai should be the next Bond girl. She has the looks.

Just listening to some of the music again, and actually Aishwarya Rai has a very good voice when singing solo in more of a ballad form.

It does? :-s

Oh, but I do agree with Algren she'd make a good Bond Girl. Especially considering several movies have already taken place in India, etc, and yet always had anglo heroines for some reason. SOmething that didn't happen when Bond was in the far east though.

you know in most indian movies, those songs are never ever sung by the people themselves.

She has the look, so yeah I'd say she could be a great Bond girl. Maybe it would help if I was a fan of the franchise...:wink:

Really. I'd like the find out.

Absolutely not. They produce 1,000+ films a year, but God forbid any of them should contain an ounce of originality!


But Indian cinema, that doesn't just consist of Bollywood. There's much more to it. I think that, as India becomes more prosperous, more and more Indians will be able to break free from Bollywood and independently produce films on their own. We might be in for quite a few treats

Yes. I was about to say, it never ceases to amaze me how am industry can produce 1200 movies a year about getting married. They can whip out such large lavish productions as well because they just mimick the same forms over and over and over again. Its like weak MTV music videos. Just because there's alot of song-and-dance doesn't mean all that much effort or ingenuity went into making it. And so much of them are still grossly regressive.

I agree that as the entire country becomes more film saavy, they're going to start to demand better movies. There's always been a non-Bollywood indurty there, and such films as the APU trilogy are considered far more complex and intelligent. I hope to see these productions take over the space.

Its one of the reasons I ended up being so harsh on Bride and Prejudice. Because Chadra, in interviews, has said how subversive and original and progressive the movie was for having borrowed Bollywood "feel" but ultimately it was still about marrying hwhoever rai damn well pleased. As a love story it was ok, as anything else, it was pretty dissappointing. If anything the cross-cultural thing was emohasized less than the class and gender issues in the more direct adaptations are. I thought the A&E version with Jennifer Ehle (Of Pride and Prejudice) was much smarter, even though it didn't coach itself as being politicaly suggestive or socially critical.

EDIT: ...Bollywood deserved a [u]bit[u] more credit.

But most of you are right. Most of the movies are all about the same subjects. They're a bit too predictable and lack originality. Most frustrating thing are their numerous remakes of Hollywood blockbusters.