My Sassy Girl Film Review

Love- There is both joy and pain in it, because that's exactly how the life is. There are so many different ways of expressing your love without saying 'I love you’. What if a film carries this with no pointless nail on sex, kiss and yet it turns out to be one of the most 'romantic' cinematic experience? My Sassy Girl (in Korean Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo) is the perfect mix of comedy, drama, romance and some of the best storytelling I've ever seen. This movie is so beautiful; has the most well defined characters you'll ever see on films that are true to how they really are. The situations are so interesting and absorbing that you tend to forget that you are being influenced by all the over-romanticizing.

I saw this movie with absolutely zero expectations; was almost asleep and watched it at a friend's place to pass the time. The uncut version of the film lasts 137 minutes (2 hours and 17 minutes), quite long for a romantic comedy. But it was so craftily written that one would not notice time ticking by. At no point in the movie does annoy, and that's a hard task indeed. There are little hints (Which at first may seem meaningless) thrown in the story which will come back to play a major part in the film later on. You can come back to it again and again and you'll always notice something new and this made me to watch it again and again.

The story begins when Kyun Woo, an immature but eccentric 25 year-old college student who doesn't have a clear direction in life meets the bizarre, drunken girl on a train platform late at night. Hilarity guarantees in the following scenes, how she becomes his girl friend, who has the faces of caring, psychopath and weird, seizing chances to slap him and humiliate him. The film has three parts- first half, second half and Overtime. The first half showcases the bizarre attitude of the girl to which the boy succumbs and does everything for her, setting up pure comedy and witty, hilarious sequences. The second half of the film explains the girl's bizarre attitude and unfolds all the drama behind the girl's comedic behavior in the first half. A very cleverly written script turns the laughing audience into a crying one in a short span of time. The odd sequences in first half are linked as the second half unfolds with pure melodrama. But the 'overtime' part brilliantly concludes all the comedy and drama that spread-out in the preceding two parts. The heart-warming ending (which I will not reveal, for I recommend that people watch it) left me laughing in tears.

The entire movie focuses on just two people, 'Kyun Woo' (Cha Tae Hyun) and Jeon Ji Hyun (Her name isn't even mentioned during the entire film, so we call her ‘The Girl’). The stars did a very good job of keeping up 'very' good chemistry. The guy who plays Kyun Woo has the most wonderful facial expressions. Since we see everything from Kyun-Woo’s point of view, his emotions varies from shambling, shy, pitiable and adorable for scenes when required. The girl just cracks me up with incredible expressions. Her enigmatic charm and acting (she laughs, threatens Kyun-Woo and cries in same scene) makes the film very appealing. Some of her expressions are just priceless; sometimes she needn’t say anything, her expressions speak for what we ought to know.

The exciting moments in the film were a surprise action scene, a blind date that bowls you in splits at the end, squash ball that always hits hero’s face, hero giving 10 rules to date to her new boyfriend. The cinematography of the film was outstanding, for it captured every scene perfectly, also showcasing the good-looking milieu of Korea. The soundtrack very much added to the emotion of the film's most significant sequences. I like the piano piece very much when Kyun Woo gives her a rose as she plays. Though the movie moves at a smooth pace, Jae-young Kwak's screenplay and direction, added with smart dialogues are incredible, keeps us occupied.

I'm sure some would avoid this film simply because it's Korean - but that's where you'd make a mistake. This one was certainly worth watching. Absolutely entertaining but maintaining a touching side to it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, no matter who you are. I guarantee it. Please avoid the poisoned lift of this film under same title in Hollywood (2008) and Bollywood version of Ugly Aur Pagli starring Mallika Sherawat.

A corner in my soul

There's a corner in my soul that I call my own,
That I turn to when I'm faced with hamlet's dilemma,
That signals when I'm at the crossroads,
That leads me by hand when I'm lost.

There's a corner in my soul that's my very own,
That lifts me up when I'm down,
That rushes in solace when sorrow strikes,
That soaks up my tears when I need to cry.

There's this hidden corner in my soul,
That gives me breathing space when life sucks,
That gives me company when lonely,
That's always by my side rain or shine.

There's a corner in my soul that I call my own,
That introverts and lets me bask in glory,
That never robs me of those rare moments of joy.
That let me be me.

My Name is Khan film review

The top three reasons why this movie is worth watching

Shah Rukh Khan's welcome-change performance
The SRK - Kajol chemistry
Wizardry of Ravi K Chandran with the camera
The last time you ever felt the Khan magic was in movies like Swades, Don and Chak De India. This time again it is the Khan magic that keeps MNIK going. In fact it is all the more the Khan factor that makes the difference as we did not have a Ashutosh Gowariker or a Faran Akthar or an Amit Shimin to share the credit of making a good movie. However I would not want to overrate Khan's performance in the movie and make it sound like an award winning performance of his. It is refreshing to see him in such a role after seeing him play the usual run-of-the-mill kinds in the last few movies of his. He can now calmly go back to his formula rom-coms in the next couple of movies, apparently the only thing he does best even when in sleep.

The movie begins with Rizvan Khan embarking on a journey to meet the President of United States and tell him that he is Khan and that he is not a terrorist. Why would he do that? Because Mandira(Kajol), after a personal tragic event, in a fit of rage wanted him to return back to her only after he met the President. The analogy being that meeting the President is an impossible thing and the cause of the tragedy was almost as unpardonable. The event separates both of them and Rizvan who is madly in love with Mandira wants to get back to her. A person challenged with autism, Rizvan is someone who applies his senses more rationally than emotionally, he is intelligent, straight foward and of course very lovable. Rizvan continues to narrate his journey as writings to Mandira in his scribble book, while he narrates the journey of his life to the audience.

The intial meetings between Rizvan and Mandira and how they eventually grow into each other are probably the most 'feel good' parts of the movie. These bring the beautiful chemistry between SRK and Kajol, what we got to see after years, the last being in Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham. The 'marry-me' episodes between Rizvan and Mandira are subtle and mildly hilarious yet does not compromise on some mature romance in the movie. Thanks to Karan Johar, this time he didnt have SRK and Kajol wear colorful clothes and do their songs running around the trees. One would surely be delighted with the first half of the movie that has the chemistry between SRK and Kajol, the magical on-screen combo from the good old DDLJ days. Kajol still looks fresh and beautiful as we saw her last in KKKG.

The second half of the movie has its own doses of melodrama, cinematic cliches and the predictable sequences that dulls the freshness factor of the movie. Spinning the tale around events of the 9/11 attack is definitely old wine in new bottle. The respite being that it is not overdone like in movies such as New York, rather it is very subtly taken care of while not letting the seriousness dilute either. SRK carries the second half of the movie well on his shoulders which otherwise has a lot of scenes that give you a 'seen-somewhere-before' feeler. Of course, while sequences still being predictable, like the 'somewhere from the blue friendly media' bringing Khan's journey and his good deeds to the eyes of the world or the autistic hero being a messiah during crisis in a hurricane struck county or even the last minute tension-building scene of the hero being stabbed, Karan Johar tries to strike a balance by giving them a better treatment and presentation while it still is Khan who keeps the audience glued to the screen.

The other biggest credit to the movie is the technical crew behind the product. Ravi K Chandran shows why he is still one of the top cinematographers in India through this movie. He has his knack of showing the artists and the locations so beautifully that it keeps the audience absolutely mesmerized while he ensures that it never disturbs the viewers attention. His work is so natural and poignant. Double thumbs up to Shankar, Eshan and Loy for bringing some great music to the movie. 'Sajda' is one song that stirs the soul with some Sufi meltdown while 'Tere Naina' adds to the romance quotient.

MNIK is not a tearjerker, not a path breaking movie, but definitely a good heartwarming one to watch. When you walk out of the theater what leaves a lingering effect in your mind is one name and the name is 'Khan'.

ONE

-> To realize the the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a grade.

-> To realize the value of one month ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.

-> To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly.

-> To realize the value of one Hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

-> To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed a train.

-> To realize the value of one second, ask a person who has escaped from an accident.

-> To realize the value of one millisecond ask a person who has won a silver medal in Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have, and treasure it more because you shared it with one special, special enough to spent your time with and remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history.

Tommorow is Mystery.

Today is a gift, that's why it's called the Present.