Go Goa Gone

Go Goa Gone is a Bollywood zombie comedy, with several laugh out loud moments.  In a nutshell, three friends end up going to an island near Goa for a rave party sponsored by the Russian mafia.  One of the drugs passed around ended up turning people into zombies, and the friends, along with a few other survivors, try to find a way off the island, while avoiding being eaten by the zombies.  Saif Ali Khan was a riot as Boris, an arsenal-toting member of the Russian mafia, a bit reminiscent of  Woody Harrelson's character in Zombieland.  Rather than being a Bollywood remake, it was an original story that payed homage to other films.  A familiar line that stood out was Boris quoting, "I'll be back."

Aside from its comedy genre, what impressed me about the film was that, before it began, Saif Ali Khan introduced the film with a brief warning about smoking, drinking, and drug use.  He emphasized it by relating his history as a smoker and the heart attack he had at 36.  Bollywood films always include a warning about smoking if it is going to appear on screen, but this one was actually powerful.  And the movie itself was a hilarious warning about the risks of drug abuse.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan

 It's a pleasure when a movie lives up to the hype and turns out to be just what you were hoping for.  Jab Tak Hai Jaan ("until I breathe this life" or "as long as I live") was worth the anticipation.  The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan as Samar, Katrina Kaif as Meera, and Anushka Sharma as Akira, tells a tale of star-crossed lovers and includes all the melodramatic trappings that make for a good romance and generate lots of tears.  There are true love, danger, amnesia, joy, sadness, anger, separation, making deals with God, wrestling with God, plenty of singing and dancing, a moving poem, and Shah Rukh Khan.  My hankie was well-used.

The film begins with a dedication to director Yash Chopra (sadly, without subtitles), who died less than a month before its release.  During the credits, instead of bloopers or an item number, clips show Chopra directing his final movie and interacting with the actors.  A fine tribute to a beloved Bollywood icon.

Vicky Donor

I never got a chance to see Vicky Donor in the theater, but got to enjoy it on Bollywood Hits on Demand.  On the surface, it was a comedy about a ne'er do well, Vicky Arora, who is recruited to be a sperm donor.  Complications arise because he is embarrassed about his successful "job" and doesn't tell anyone what he does to make a living.  Above and beyond, the film touched on some serious issues like prejudice and the importance of sperm donation.  And it worked as both a comedy and an issue film.

There was the added bonus of getting to see John Abraham dancing in an item number.  What I like about John Abraham, who produced this movie, is that though he has been in several big hits, he also does smaller films like Water, Kabul Express, No Smoking, and the should have been widely released New York, that tackle important issues.  He's only in the item number, but the movie certainly has his mark on it.

Cocktail

No, not the 1988 Tom Cruise film, even though some of the movie apps and ticket vendors would have you believe it is. Cocktail is a 2012 Bollywood film starring Saif Ali Khan as a playboy living with two women: his girlfriend, Deepika Padukone, and her roommate, Diana Penty, who he ends up falling in love with.  A lot of it takes place in the dance club scene, and the music and lifestyle weren't my cup of tea.  There was one hysterical scene with Saif Ali Khan dancing around dressed in, shall we say, female attire.  My overall view is that it wasn't a great film, but it passed the time. 

   

Bol Bachchan

Bol Bachchan was a rollicking good time!  The acting, the music, the dancing, the cinematography - all way over the top.  It was an outrageous screwball comedy, perfect for a hot Friday evening.  Ajay Devgn as Prithviraj Raghuvanshi, butchering the English language, and Abhishek Bachchan as Abbas Ali, pretending to be Abhishek Bachchan (not THE Abihishek Bachchan), were a riot.   

Teri Meri Kahaani

I wasn't expecting much from Teri Meri Kahaani, a cute romance taking place in 3 different time periods: 1910, 1960, and 2012. Overall it was a pleasant piece of fluff and gave me a chance to enjoy Shahid Kapoor.
 

There were some treats. "My Darlin' Clementine" was incorporated into some of the 1960 music. Some of the 2012 dialog was done via texting and Facebook postings - an interesting take on the 21st century life style. I especially enjoyed the music and dancing in 1910.
 

What blew me away was that Shahid Kapoor's 1910 character was a poet and that I recognized the influence (if not actual quotes) of Rumi. There's something to be said for education. You just never know when what you learn may come in handy and give you a fuller appreciation of something.
 

Oh, yes, and I did cry at the end.