MOVIE REVIEW - RAM LEELA

The background score for the opening titles ensured that i was in for a treat. And so it was. Bhansali has taken a cue from Anurag Kashyap and turned his 'Gangs of Wasseypur' into a musical.
Yes sir, the film begins by wanton shooting, of guns and beer bottles. Placed in Modi's Gujrat and given a fictional name, the film proves why the future PM chose to be a Bachelor. As Ranveer Singh (Ram) says, "Family hi dushman hai" (the family itself is the enemy), not to mention the red chilly and gun crazy sasural.

Deepika Padukone, as Leela, plays the mood swinging and body flexible belle with ease. She is daring daughter of the enemy tribe, unrelenting bride, no-holds-barred lover, damsel in distress, chieftain; confused? So was i. But then again, the raunchy dialogues and her curves made me forgive that. If Bhansali wished an 8-pack warlord who could play the role of a warlord, playboy and dejected Devdas, Hritik would have been a better choice. But, it is what it is.
Ranveer tries hard to be the pacifier, both with the script and between the two tribes. He dares to fall in love with Deepika from the enemy's side, and what follows is dating behind enemy lines. It is filled with sexual innuendos, a reason why a neighboring family with a kid left the hall. Sleazy sounds and phrases are aplenty, after all, Ram runs a "dirty picture" video rental (see the irony?).

Simple circumstances, and complex songs later, they become separated and become united, sort of, on Dussehra, and their story completed as Ram-Leela. The songs are shot well, with Clint Eastwood sketch in one, and folk dance with moves like Mike Jagger in the other. You can check your messages and email and even throw in Level 1 of Temple Run during the songs. Ram Leelas' run for days in North India, and this is what i felt as i came out from the multiplex. Why, i had even grown a beard. JaiHo Sanjay Leela!

What stands out is the portrayal of women. Bhansali does an excellent job of showing them as more than mere Leelas or Sethanis'. Baa (Supriya Pathak), not the Kyunki Ki Saas Bhi version, but the chieftain dressed in black and popping a gun version, takes your breath away, especially the scene where she shows Deepika who's the boss, using a nut cracker. This is priceless and only Bhansali could have pulled it off. The two windows, of opposing tribes, come forth with guts, guns and gumption, and the camera work, dialogue and background score proves this.  A scene where the wife removes bullets from her husband's body, because she is ordered that no piece of lead from the enemy tribe should enter the house, stops your breath and moves you. This is where Ram-Leela excels, and why you should watch it at the multiplex.
The Runn of Katch, during sunrise and sunset, is a bewitching. The lanes and by-lanes of Udaipur are another treat. The costume is sure to change the fashion industry, and the sexy choli is back. The songs will bring glory to our folk singers and the gems of music and voice they have; this is why i endorse this movie.

P.S: More than the booking counter, the washroom was filled. Three hours of movie, and air-condition will do that to you, and a word of advice: if you get front row tickets for this movie and you are a first timer in those seats, REFUSE INSTANTLY. Gyaan gained: Gandhi class, be it 200/- per seat multiplex or some dingy 25 bucks theater in an ally, is a pain in the neck.

MOVIE REVIEW-GRAVITY

Combine Discovery's I Shouldn't Be Alive with Apollo 13, with a dose of Avatar to it, and Gravity is what you get; brilliance, elegance and breath taking visuals.
For 160 bucks at DRC, it is worth every penny. You can read about who shot the movie, how, why and with what from other sites. But here is why you should watch it..
In order to know how insignificant your life really is, and to always see the "Big Picture", it is essential to get an outside perspective of things. In this case, your perspective is from space. And boy does it look good!
Of the countless 3D movies, it is one of the best to make use of the technology. It gives you the feeling of being right next to the astronauts servicing the Hubble telescope. The camera changes angle smoothly, as if the transition is transcendence. One moment you are inside the helmet of the astronaut, the next you are dodging a shrapnel heading straight for the International Space Station (ISS). The view of the earth, with the lights on and the Amazon, is something you have to see on the big silver screen, and not on your plasma one.
The background score for this is amazing. It is exactly what is needed to create the aura and the panic when you are tumbling in space. From ISS getting clobbered to your escape pod getting tangled, the background score, or the lack of it in some cases (no music in vacuum, remember) is apt.
That Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are paired is amazing in itself.  Clooney plays a brief, yet crucial part. Any woman would feel the Universe is hers when you have George Clooney, and Gravity gives you that, literally and metaphorically. Dialogues are another important part, and the deadly combo makes you even irritated when there is an intermission. You just DO NOT want to leave your seats. Sandra's role as the sole survivor reminds you of Sigourney Weaver's role as Dr Ripley in Aliens.
Gravity is made to lure the Indian audience and to ensure Rajeev Masand gives at least 4 stars out of 5 for this beauty. There is an Indian on board, speaking in an "what Americans think is Indian" accent, and eventually, you get to see his face (you may not like this scene). There is also George Clooney appreciating the sunrise on the Ganges. Guess someone should bring him down to earth and show how it really shines, corpses and chemicals adding to the glitter.
The attention to detail and use of common sense is greatly appreciated. The fact that space suits are not made for swimming, fire floats like bubbles in space; the makers read a lot and did their homework on this one. Yes sir, they did.
Do watch this movie. It's not just for nerds, nor just for kids, nor for Stephen Hawking fans. Its also for those who love cinematic excellence, are fascinated by earth, visuals, or just want to learn never to give up, even if you are lost in space.