Tuesday 27 December 2011

Belle Epoque

1992 by Fernando Trueba - Spanish movie

Belle Epoque actually refers to an era in French history. This era coincides with the pre Franco era in Spain as well. Still I am not really convinced about the title for this, simple but beautiful comedy on love.

Fernando runs out of his civil war duties and meets Manolo. He then really sets out on an exploration tour of the 4 beautiful daughters of Manolo.

I am not sure if the world exploration is right or insulting. But that is exactly what happens, nearly. Manolo has a tryst with each and every daughter of Manolo and finally marries one. Simply put, this is a really wonderful comedy on sex and love. At the same time, the background is full of Spanish civil war.

It is quite an easy watch of a young man being seduced by four beautiful ladies, all sisters. May I say that it is actually a classic. I enjoyed it immensely that I would not mind watching it once again right away. There are funny moments, but there are also many moments which any man will easily identify with. I bet any man would have fantasised at least one scene in this movie, sometime in his life.

The young man and all the four daughters were incredibly charming too. The youngest of the daughters is one Penelope Cruz, who really looked very very young.

A very charming and lovable movie indeed. 

Don 2

2011 by Farhan Akhtar - Hindi movie from Bollywood

A lot of facts related to this movie, are well enough to keep me far away from the theatre. Add to it the fact that, it is in 3D. Still I ended up watching it, only because of some reviews, all of which described it as sleak, stylish, bla bla bla...

Farhan Akhtar is yet another person from Bollywood who would love to make Hollywood style movies, which was proved right away with his debut film, Dil Chahta Hai. That one was exactly like a Hollywood Romantic comedy, but it was really looking fresh, for a Hindi movie. Now Don 2, is only another attempt to make a Hollywood style movie, by Bollywood.

Watch all those famous movies from Hollywood, including the Oceans 11/12/13, Matrix's, Italian job and many others including the Mission Impossible's and various other action ones. Sure, one cannot watch all this again before watching Don 2. But if you remember anything from all these movies and then watch Don 2, you will really understand what I am saying.

I could not find anything original in this movie. Sure it looks sleek and stylish by Indian standards. But for the subject matter and rest, it is just like watching another Hollywood movie with Indian actors, mostly and occasional Hindi and Indian English, and of course, some songs.

If this trend is continued by Bollywood, I mean trying to make Indian movies which looks exactly like Hollywood, soon there will be only a couple of differentiating factors between Bollywood and Hollywood, ie for the occasional use of Hindi and a few songs in Bollywood movies.

I also dont understand why this need to make all these movies in 3D??? It is a real suffering, for hardly noticeable benefits.