Arre deewanon...

A very filmy weekend..

Mum is shocked coz every day that she calls, I am forever watching a movie. But I have to tell ya, this Netflix is really addictive and is too cool :) I have upgraded in fact to 3 movies at a time rental!

But anyways, this weekend was not just about rental movies but 2 latest ones.. Don and Jaan e mann.

Don.. well.. well.. The moral of the story is do not try and remake any movie of Mr. Bachhan's!!
Its just not possible :) Every inch of the screen screamed for his presence, every dialogue spoken and every fight sequence. Big B is big B!

Shahrukh.. oh well.. I am confused.. People who know me know that I really really have a soft spot for him. Despite all the hamming and the not that great looking reasons...I sincerely believe that he is all about energy, its something that fills up even the most emptiest of the screen or screenplays...well, at least he tries.. There are movies which would not have been without him.. there are scenes which would not have the same effect if not for him.. More often than not, I think he is best in Yash movies, whether chopra or johar productions.. Maybe its the subjects or the candy floss romance, I don't know.. All I know are that these movies have their moments..Moments that make the movies bearable, moments that stay with you. After all movies now a days do not have the capability to hold your attention for the entire 2-3 hrs of the duration. Its only the moments that remain in your memory, some movies do not even have that.. Actually most do not.. But like I said, Shahrukh's movies have them.. even the latest disaster KANK.

Remember - "Mohabbat ke zamaane guzar gaye janaab, ab chote mote pyaar se hi kaam chala li jiye aap " :)

Or the evergreen - "senorita, bade bade shehron me aisi choti moti baaten hoti rehti hain"

But... alas, his energy or that overboard enthusiasm for seeming like an arrogant cold blooded killer, could not save the movie from being a dud that it is.. What do I think the problem was?.. I don't think the movie failed technically, I dont think the movie failed the intent or that the performances were bad.. But there are 2 key factors for a remake to succeed (IMHO)

1. You need people(actors) who will not make you cringe and then cry for the people from 70's! Which means that every actor or role needs to match up against the older one.. Which unfortunately just does not happen. And with all due respect, its too much to ask for.. How can you expect Priyanka to ooze that impish sexiness of Zeenie man ! Its just not possible..

2. You need to take a side when you want to re-make a movie.. Either you just do it cut to cut like the older one and don't care about the modern sentiments (which is a little like what Devdas intended to do). Or you have to just take the basic script but adapt it completely to look like a DJ Aqeel remix :)

I think Farhan tried to do the latter and wanted to make a remix.. But it fell short.. For like umpteen reasons.. the top of the list being, too much missing Big B :)) The movie is slow.. It just doesn't grab you like a caper should.. The dialogues are eeks! For a complete modern adaptation, at the least dialogues should reflect the modern sensibilities.. I mean, at the end of the day, if you just say the dialogues in your head, I am sure you will realize on your own accord that they are corny and so not like something any sane person will say..

"Main tumhare saath hoon bete, tumhe ghabraane ki zaroorat nahin hai" - Who can believe that a so called yuppie looking Arjun Rampal can talk like that to an equally yuppie looking and sounding son of his !!??

I think Farhan thought snazzy chase sequences, hot babes and designer costumes (a la velvel jacket) will do tha trick, but my dear, as much as i loved your other movies, you really need a reality check..in the form of.... Fataak !

Even the hairstyles which I thought was one of those talked about things in his movies falls short, Don's hair cut is soooooo D'uh, especially of the bumpkin Vijay.. Its really quite similiar to the nerd one in Main hoon na !

Which is sad, coz as it is people can't wait to rip SRK apart.. And in this movie he had to share a space with Arjun Rampal who is sooo infinitely good looking! Like infinitely.. I am sure babes in some screens, looked twice at him and thought, hmm why fight for him (SRK) when i can have a piece of that :) (muuaaaaaaaaaahhh)

I was dazed and confused after seeing that movie.. I kept asking myself how someone who could make DCH and Lakshya could not know a Dud when you see it in the making ?? How.. Well.. I had to see DCH all over again just to get DON outta my head....

You know what, this made me think (and yes, I do have a lot of time on my hands, vot to do..) I think this is how the movie should have been.. It shoudl have actually been a sequel to Don, you know,. Don 2....:)

So, the movie starts from where the previous one left off.. The Don is thriving and played by the ever saucy Mr. B. Enters a new cop, a la Junior B (AB baby :p) and the chase begins.. But little do they know that Abhishek is really Zeenie and Big B's son ! (aha !) .. The race continues till the last shot where Big B holds a gun to his head and just before AB grabs to ctahc him.. dishhhhkaonnnnnnnn... "Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin......."

See that would be an apt sequel for the movie and yet racy and modern..(yes, yes lot of time and jobless...)

But sigh.. yeh log meri sunte hi kahan hai :P

.... Jaan e mann review to come....