Bollywood dancing meets ice skating

Isn't it obvious that they're fans of Aishwarya Rai? I can't fault them for their choice coz despite my personal dislike for Ash's off-film attitude, I do think she's the modern Dance Goddess of hindi movies. If you don't agree with me, watch this clip.

Charlie was so excited to dance, he could hardly keep himself from jumping about at the start of the dance.. lol. So cute.



This is the video of their competition dancing/skating to the same music.

Here's another one. It somehow reminds me of the Midsummer Night's Dream. But why suddenly there's an adaptation of Britney's poison?? LOL. Anyway, I thought the costume was elaborately done, just like in a hindi movie. Nice.

Oh my goddess...

I have no words while watching this clip. To date, I think it's the best courtesan dance scene I've ever watched from hindi films, yes.. that list includes Madhuri in Devdas and Rani in Mangal Pandey. And that is saying a lot, my friend. I love Rekha, but in terms of beauty in the dance performance.. Ash beats her hands down for Umrao Jaan. But of course, that's my personal opinion so it's useless to argue with me on this matter.. :P

Some guys should take a leaf out of this woman's book and just grow up..

.. and seeing that one of them is 7 years short of going into middle age, the situation for him seems rather pathetic, I think. She's happily married now and probably is working towards getting a baby soon. It's really tasteless and crass of her ex-boyfriends to yap about their past incidents together as if kissing (or hitting?) and telling would open opportunities ( for a comeback for one of them?) or make people understand them better.

And it's so typical for the guys to blame the girl, as if they hadn't a thing to blame and as if they had not been bringing the whole schbang unto themselves. Next time you want to impress your girlfriend by holding a press conference to broadcast your enmity towards her 1st ex-boyfriend who has been known to publicly hound and pester her to the point of violence, ask her opinion first whether you should go ahead with it.. comprende? Watching this clip, I sorta understand how Ash could go through all that muck with these two schmucks and still move forward as a winner in her personal and work life. She's a really cool customer.. strong-willed and clear-headed. Gorgeous too, yumm.

I was really surprised to know that Veer-Zaara was written for her though. What happened?? And when she talked about the domino effect, it makes me wonder at the intricacies involved in the dealings going on in a movie industry. No wonder Shah Rukh said that it's a very tough job, that the glamour exists only on screen after they've put on the make-up and lighting. I like thinking about such stuff coz I'm an escapist. I like wondering about things that I know I will never get involved in, that way I can be philosophical about it without getting hurt (hehe).

Dancing Goddesses - Devdas

Aishwarya Rai in The Last Legion

It's the only mention of Aish I could find by the Indian media... given in that snobbishly condescending, more-English-than-English way ex-colonialized Asians often have when gleefully describing their fellow countrymen's failure to reach a standard they've set for them.

For me, I don't understand what this splashy big waves thing that they want her to achieve. I personally think she's the best thing in the movie. And that's saying a lot seeing that I'm there mainly for Colin Firth. There're scenes when, while screaming fangirlishly at anything Colin does on-screen, I found myself silently criticizing his posture or his dialogue delivery or his sword skills. In fact, I caught myself thinking (quite a lot of times too, and while ogling him in his Commander apparel) ...what is the reason behind the filmmakers choosing Colin as Aurelius? He'd make a better Merlin, a much better one than Ben Kingsley, actually.

There's almost none of that non-verbal complaints playing like a broken tape recorder inside my head when Aish is on. I was too busy gaping in lovestruck awe. She's a demon in the sword-fighting scenes and very rawrly sexy when she's strutting around in that guard uniform. I have no problem at all when a warrior woman appears overtly sexy in a film, if she could give me a decent fight. And Aish fought good. I rewinded her fighting scenes so many times. She'd look hot wielding the blades alongside Xena, I bet. Her emergence from the water is very Ursula-ish, if I may say so myself. I especially liked it when she stamped all over the Commander's head. His face during the scene is so precious LOL!

Thing is, I have never understood how to watch a movie in the enjoyment of continuity or story as a whole. I've always been attracted to particular scenes or particular actors. I can catch a tiny fragment of a film and if it evokes deep emotions, I can cry big buckets of tears or laugh uproariously. Which is why I don't like watching films with people for the first time, or any time really. I tend to get too critical if I take a movie seriously and it robs me of the entertainment value the film has to offer.

The Last Legion is a very entertaining movie for me and I came out of the experience enthusiastically declaring that there's no way I can say the money I spent on it is a waste. Even with the crow-picking-a-severed-finger and Wilfula's face-banged-on-the-side-of-an-axe scenes intact, it's suitable for family viewing... well, my family anyway... and I'd definitely recommend it to my younger siblings and my dad (he's a history teacher so he'd most probably enjoy the Roman bit) when they come to visit next time.

Hoshiz...

Aishwarya Rai is the only woman who has cozied up, albeit only on-screen, to the two men I adore the most. Gah! I hate her! LOL ..naaa, just kidding. She's a goddess. How come this film was not talked about among her foreign projects? She's so handy with swords, isn't she? No wonder she wielded them in Jodha Akbar with such ease. If I could say so, her life on and off films really has the feel of a fairy tale... complete with the violent and unpredictable famous movie star ex-boyfriend. Now she's married a really sweet famous movie star whose family is probably the most powerful team in the Indian film industry.

And Colin Firth is as ravishing as always. I've realised that Colin has the kind of face and figure that can pair up with any heroine as a couple. I absolutely love him with Nia Long in The Secret Laughter of Women. I don't understand why journalists never mention that movie in their articles whenever they go on and on about Colin being a romantic lead. I think it's his second most romantic role (the Darcies will always take first place) to date. I can watch him in it again and again.

I can't believe I have this DVD in my living room. Yeah, I haven't watched it yet. Go figure.