The Movie Review of The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

In The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a family man struggling to make ends meet. Despite his valiant attempts to help keep the family afloat, the mother (Thandie Newton) of his five-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) is buckling under the constant strain of financial pressure. No longer able to cope, she reluctantly decides to leave. Chris, now a single father, continues doggedly to pursue a better-paying job using every sales skill he knows. He lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, and although there is no salary, he accepts, hopeful he will end the program with a job and a promising future. Without a financial cushion, Chris and his son are soon evicted from their apartment and forced to sleep in shelters, bus stations, bathrooms, or wherever they can find refuge for the night. Despite his troubles, Chris continues to honor his commitment as a loving and caring father, using the affection and trust his son has placed in him as an impetus to overcome the obstacles he faces. Below is piece of conversation between Father and Son which I liked most in this movie. Infact these all lines so motivating that it force everyone to think once... Just enjoy the lines but request is there... Plz try to understand the wordings...
Christopher Gardner (Father): Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. Not even me. All right?
Christopher (Son): All right.
Christopher Gardner (Father): You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it.

Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Thandie Newton, Brian Howe
Director: Gabriele Muccino

Movie Review of Valentine's Day (2010)

This movie is the American version of Love, Actually. Except it does not center around Christmas, but, who would have guessed, it plays out on Valentine’s Day. It consists of many different stories of many different people, but whose lives all cross each other during the day. It’s got love-sick kids, a marriage proposal, happily married seniors, first time sex high-schoolers, lying husbands, desperate singles, happy gays, an Indian restaurant, and above all, lots of love and hope. And an all-star cast to make it work.

Even though it is very much a copy of Love, Actually in the way the movie is set up, you will soon forgive writer Garry Marshall for that, as it is still good. My absolute favourite character in the movie is Liz, who has just started dating her boyfriend Jason. But what she did not tell him is that she also works as a telephone operator for lonely guys. Anne Hathaway does the most hilarious phone sex with a Russian accent I have ever seen. She does it believable and even gets Queen Latifah, her boss, into it.

But there is also Ashton Kutcher as a romantic florist, his best friend Jennifer Garner and her love-interest Dr McDreamy Patrick Dempsey, and valentine haters Jamie Fox and Jessica Biel, and more. There is a story for everyone, and also an actor to drool over for everyone, with this very pretty cast. I don’t want to give away too much, as each storyline is rather short and by describing each one, I would ruin the film.

This movie is a rather exact, but a lot more cliché copy of Love, Actually. If you like that sort of thing, this is totally for you. If you’re not a big fan of sappy love stories, leave this film alone. Or take your girlfriend to score some major points with her.

Review: My Name is Khan (2010)

This is possibly that rare time, it appears, that the lead actor of this film has pushed himself to perform a role, rather than just play himself (Swades and Chak De India come to mind as distant second and third exceptions).

It doesn’t speak too well for a career of about 60 films over nearly two decades. Habit formations are strong. It’s hard to perceive Shah Rukh Khan as a character. More losses of inhibition such as this could find this leading man a softer spot in Hindi cinema history. Until now, he’s likely to be recalled as a unique super-star, not an actor – a combination of the two being reserved for Amitabh Bachchan, and thereafter Aamir Khan alone.
Shah Rukh plays Khan in this film by that name. For many portions though, you aren’t certain the director’s name is Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham).
The ambition of the screenplay itself (Shibani Bhatija) is compelling enough to elicit that compliment.
The film of course crushes the most popular post-9/11 prejudices of our times. The case isn’t new. Which is that while most global terrorists may be Muslims - all Muslims aren’t terrorists. And that no religion, including Islam, preaches violence against the innocent.
The hero Rizwan, a devoted believer, quotes the Prophet from the Koran, “With the loss of one innocent life, dies humanity alongside.” He sees worldwide consequences of September 11, 2001, under that same light. This gentleman grew up as a kid around an inexplicably dated, 1983 riots in Bombay (unless I read the year wrong). He moved to be with his brother in the US, after his mother’s death. He also grew up with a mental challenge, Asperger’s syndrome. Few know this condition well. It’s hard to tell whether Shah Rukh’s manners match the mental disorder, or is even consistent, if at all. Rizwan appears to have a problem dealing with crowded spaces, loud colours, intimate hugs, expressing emotions, or voluntarily reacting to common external stimuli. His cognitive skills though – grasp of factual knowledge -- seem much superior to normal humans. By the looks of it, he isn’t quite the sociable candidate for a door-to-door salesman’s job. But that’s what his brother offers him, to sell a beauty product, at salons. This is how he meets his girl, a Hindu widow with a child (Kajol – excitably 'Goldie Hawn', in her grin and floppiness). They live together as family. Her li’l son becomes the step-dad’s best pal. Their love for soccer and Manchester United may be odd for America. They still play the fool together. Until 9/11, which changes their lives as it did for many.
Forrest Gump in its scope, Rain Man in its approach, slightly convenient in its ‘Bollywood opera’, world-class in its photographic treatment (Ravi K Chandran), more sorted than Kurban (from the same producer, along a similar theme); you can sense, throughout, honesty in the film’s purpose.
There is least empathy for a problem you haven’t faced yourself. This film expresses that well. Being looked down as Muslim is at some level a global reality. Prejudices are part of human DNA, Americans being no exceptions.
If anything, the lunatic mainstream in urban India – Shiv Sena and its sorts -- is more generous in its bigotry. They took on the secular Muslim superstar before this film’s release. They’ve taken on before, South Indians, then North Indians, even one of their supposed own, if the surname’s Tendulkar. We know the villains in this movie. They could be outside its theatre. They make My Name Is Khan even more important for its subject’s worth.
The posters have been announcing this film’s arrival as a moment that’ll change the way the world thinks. Unlikely. A commercially successful, massively scaled mainstream film that doesn’t just make a song and dance of it all could certainly change Bollywood forever. Of all, I’m glad Johar also made that move. Sure, this movie’s a risk. Shouldn’t each be anyway?

Top 14 Most Romantic Movies in the season of LOVE

Feeling romantically challenged? Or maybe you’re looking for some movies to share with your Valentine. Bring out the hankies and ice the champagne, if these 14 movies don’t put you in the mood, nothing will.

1. Casablanca (1942)

Romantic Leads: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

How Romantic: You know the story, yet this film remains a Hollywood classic in which all the elements--acting, script, direction, photography, music--come together with panache. It's a cliché, but it's true: They don't make 'em like this anymore.

2. Sabrina (1954)
Romantic Leads: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden
How Romantic: A tale about a chauffeur's daughter living on a wealthy Long Island family's estate who falls for the family's playboy-ish son, but later realizes that his all-business, serious older brother is the one she really loves. Audrey has never looked more fetching. Plus, it holds out hope for all us grumpy, older bachelors still searching for the perfect mate.

3. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Romantic Leads: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
How Romantic: The movie's love-struck climax comes at a New Year's Eve celebration when Harry runs miles and miles to tell Sally: "I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

4. Gone With the Wind (1939)
Romantic Leads: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh
How Romantic: The epic story of a woman who can cope with everything during the Civil War except losing the love of the man she thinks she wants to another woman, then realizes too late that she's let the true love of her life slip through her fingers forever. It's devastatingly sad that the two destined lovebirds simply can't communicate enough to be together.

5. Titanic (1997)
Romantic Leads: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
How Romantic: The classic rich girl meets poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks--only you know their love is doomed from the very start when they board the ill-fated Titanic. The fact that true love can never die has never been so poignantly portrayed.

6. An Affair to Remember (1957)
Romantic Leads: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr
How Romantic: Handsome playboy Nicky and beautiful singer Terry have an affair while on a cruise and both agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months. However, an unfortunate accident keeps Terry from the reunion. Will Nicky discover the truth behind her absence and reunite with his one true love, or has fate and destiny passed them by? The final scene is wonderfully romantic and is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes, as love conquers all.

7. Romeo and Juliet (1968)
Romantic Leads: Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey
How Romantic: No matter how many times you watch this, this rendition of Shakespeare's classic leaves you absolutely breathless (and weepy) at the end, despite already knowing the stunningly beautiful couple's fate before you press Play.

8. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Romantic Leads: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan
How Romantic: A newly engaged woman hears a widower on a call-in radio show talking about his departed wife and becomes obsessed with meeting him, convinced that he may be her one true love. A sweet romantic comedy with perfectly cast stars.

9. Pretty Woman (1990)
Romantic Leads: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts
How Romantic: A wealthy, cold-blooded business tycoon chances to meet a bright, spunky Hollywood Boulevard hooker. He hires her to be his companion for a week, spruces her up and--well, you can figure out what happens next. This twist on an old formula is surprisingly delightful.

10. Love Story (1970)
Romantic Leads: Ryan O'Neal, Ali MacGraw
How Romantic: Boy-meets-dream girl in the ivy-clad walls of a New England University. They set out to start the perfect life together, despite familial objections, only to find Mrs. Right stricken with a fatal illness. Be prepared with extra tissues.

11. Annie Hall (1977)
Romantic Leads: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
How Romantic: The amorous adventures of a neurotic New York comedian and his equally neurotic Midwestern girlfriend Annie Hall. The film traces the course of their relationship from their first meeting, and serves as an interesting historical document about love in the 1970s. It's still Allen's best film.

12. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Romantic Leads: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard
How Romantic: When a struggling writer moves into a Manhattan apartment, he befriends his irrepressible neighbor, a woman who lives off her good looks and charming ways. As Paul learns more about Holly, the friendship between the two hustlers turns to love. Gamine Audrey Hepburn is at her most charismatic here.

13. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Romantic Leads: Richard Gere, Debra Winger
How Romantic: A naval officer wanna-be and a blue-collar local girl living just off base are looking to find paths out of their dead-end lives, and find each other. Is their love enough to save the day? You betcha.

14. The Way We Were (1973)
Romantic Leads: Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand
How Romantic: They meet in college, but years pass before a romance blooms. She's a political activist; he's bored by politics. She's stern and serious; he's easygoing and laid-back. Although they love each other deeply, their differences begin to tear them apart. The high-water mark among modern tearjerkers, this bittersweet tale makes a fine romantic-movie litmus test, as its heartwrenching melodrama is every bit as sweeping as its ambitious story arc.