Tag Archives: Naperville Sun

Movie Review: Taare Zameen Par (2007)

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1.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Eight-year-old Ishaan is punished for his poor performance in school, until a caring art teacher realizes that the boy is dyslexic. Aamir Khan, who plays the teacher, uses his directorial debut to criticize the Indian educational system’s treatment of special needs students. Taare Zameen Par is overly long and treads no new ground for anyone who has even a passing familiarity with learning disabilities. But Khan at least does a credible job of showing the world as seen through Ishaan’s eyes.

No Rating (violence, language); 164 minutes; The movie’s title translates to “Like Stars on Earth”

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on December 27, 2007

*I expand upon the above capsule review in this 2011 post about Peepli Live‘s failed Oscar bid.

Movie Review: Welcome (2007)

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3 Stars (out of 4)

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When Rajiv (Akshay Kumar) meets Sanjana (Katrina Kaif), he thinks he’s found the girl of his dreams. Too bad her brothers are mobsters. Kumar is charming enough in Welcome, but Sanjana’s brothers, played by Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, steal the show as they try to curb their violent instincts to appease Rajiv’s family and see their sister married at last. The slapstick comedy moves along quickly, apart from a preposterous final action sequence that drags on a bit.

No Rating (violence, language); 160 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on December 28, 2007

Movie Review: Aaja Nachle (2007)

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3.5 Stars (out of 4)

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New York choreographer Dia (Madhuri Dixit) returns to India to rescue her hometown’s cultural heritage by staging a musical. The story is predictably heartwarming, as Dia’s determination gradually wins over the town that once shunned her, but the plot is just a pretext for Dixit’s superb dancing. Fans of dance-centric films like Strictly Ballroom or Footloose will be spellbound, especially by the epic musical performance the characters stage at the end of Aaja Nachle.

No Rating (violence); 145 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on December 7, 2007

Movie Review: Om Shanti Om (2007)

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3.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Even death can’t stop B-movie actor Om (Shah Rukh Khan) from proving his love for superstar Shanti (Deepika Padukone). The beautiful sets, extravagant dance numbers and dozens of cameos make this film both a love letter to Bollywood and a great example of the genre. Thanks to writer/director Farah Khan’s commitment to her vision and Shah Rukh Khan’s comedic skills, Om Shanti Om is perfect for new Bollywood-goers, yet rewarding for longtime fans.

No Rating (violence); 160 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on November 16, 2007

Movie Review: Saawariya (2007)

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1.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Based on a Dostoevsky short story, Saawariya follows a lonely musician’s efforts to woo a young carpet-weaver as she awaits the return of another man. The movie looks gorgeous, thanks to the saturated blues of the sets and costumes. Unfortunately, the two lead characters are boring and unlikable. Slow motion shots of the pair running in the rain are supposed to convince the audience of a romance that doesn’t otherwise seem to exist.

PG (brief nudity, violence); 142 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on November 16, 2007

Movie Review: Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman (2007)

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2.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Vibha (Rani Mukherjee) saves her family from financial ruin by moving to Bombay to become an escort, though her secret isolates her from her loved ones, physically and emotionally. The complex relationships between Vibha, her sister Chutki (Konkona Sen Sharma), and their mother (Jaya Bhaduri) effectively convey the themes of female empowerment and sacrifice. But the musical numbers in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag feel shoehorned in, and Abhishek Bachchan is wasted in a role that’s basically a glorified cameo.

No Rating (sexuality, mature themes); 140 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on October 19, 2007

Movie Review: Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)

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3 Stars (out of 4)

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When the mansion Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) inherits appears to be haunted, he turns to his psychotherapist friend Aditya (Akshay Kumar) to explain the mysterious happenings and ease the fears of his superstitious relatives. The resolution is clichéd and drawn-out, but Bhool Bhulaiyaa is saved by its climactic dance number and Kumar’s terrific comedic acting. The awkward English subtitles are sometimes hard to follow, but the humor and chills translate well.

No Rating (violence); 155 minutes

This review originially appeared in The Naperville Sun on October 19, 2007

Movie Review: God Tussi Great Ho (2008)

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1.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Writer-director Rumi Jaffery’s attempt to recreate the success of Bruce Almighty with a Bollywood-style remake of the film falls flat. In God Tussi Great Ho, AP (Salman Khan) blames God (Amitabh Bachchan) for his failing career and girl troubles, so he’s granted divine powers to see if he can do a better job running the world. The characters are unappealing, and Jaffery coaxes hokey performances out of the actors who portray them. This one won’t get a sequel.

No Rating (violence); 152 minutes