'Saawariya' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Peter's review of 'Saawariya' has been posted. He says it's a visually
breathtaking film, one with some fine music, engaging characters, and
a winning romantic charm. This Blu-ray is a must-see, with five star
video and similarly well done audio. Supplements are lacking, but this
is still worth a look to see how good Blu-ray can truly look.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1317/saawariya.html

[Geonosis]

I just rented this, and about to watch it. Sounds good, I can't wait.

[project-blu]

well the 5 star video review clinched it for me. that always screams "look at meeeee!"

23.55 on amazon due to the 10% code that i still be rockin, free ship, not too shabby

[twonunpackmule]

Bollywood Films always make me throw up a little in my mouth. I think it's the whole idea of "production design" over "story" that bothers me. My teacher loved them...I still don't know why.

I definitely understand the comparison to Baz Luhrmann. It's pretty much his approach in a nutshell.

P.S. I find his films to be downright terrible.

Anyway...

The 5 star video has me intrigued. However, most Bollywood films are beautiful...that's the inherent nature of the culture; Great costumes, great architecture, beautiful women...etc. If the films looked bad, then the world would make fun of them. I mean really...it can't be hard to make India look great.

[ben1080p]

Im gonna give this one a rent

[mpbolly]

I watch Bollywood films because I'm Indian. But, listen to me very carefully. THere are some films that aren't worth the time.

I know, there is like maybe two at most films that are awesome.

Here is the list of directors to watch out for, and these are directors that are in the Spielberg and Cameron kind of calibur, so here is the list:

Yash Chopra
Aditya Chopra
Karan Johar
Sanjay Leela Bansali

Sanjay Leela Bansali is the director of Saawariya. Now, Saawariya isn't exactly a huge hit back in India, exactly, it bombed, but it did well outside of India. But, if like if Gigli did bad in America but it did well in UK for example (which is probably not true and I'm not comparing Saawariya and Gigli, but you get the picture where it may bomb in it's own country, but may do well in other countries because of the different cultures)

If you want a GREAT introduction to Bollywood cinema, watch all or either of these films

- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
- Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1996)
- Vee-Zaara

These three films are examples that are similar to how we wait for say a Spielberg movie or a Peter Jackson movie, not action wise, but in story wise.

The directors I mentioned above are the top notch directors that people anticipate their movies for each year.

[Geonosis]

Saw the movie, it is visually appealing. The music is good, I loved when Lilipop sang. "The caricature of the face, tra-la" it was just too funny lol It was an enjoyable film, and just a feast for the eyes.

Ending spoiler:

Spoiler:

The ending was sad, poor Raj. I knew it was too good to be true, I figured Imaan would show up.

[dankir]

Picked it up today for my mom

[sanjay0864]

Originally Posted by mpbolly

Here is the list of directors to watch out for, and these are directors that are in the Spielberg and Cameron kind of calibur, so here is the list:

Yash Chopra
Aditya Chopra
Karan Johar
Sanjay Leela Bansali

If you want a GREAT introduction to Bollywood cinema, watch all or either of these films

- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
- Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1996)
- Vee-Zaara

These three films are examples that are similar to how we wait for say a Spielberg movie or a Peter Jackson movie, not action wise, but in story wise.

The directors I mentioned above are the top notch directors that people anticipate their movies for each year.

Veer Zaara & Saawariya are certainly not representive of the best from Bollywood. Rather, they represent the kind of cinema that finds favor only with the Indian diaspora lving overseas. People in India dont seem to care too much for the Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali type of films anymore. Both of them represent the decay and stagnation of the majority of Bollywood cinema. Their films are the same stereotypical, repetitive mush that keeps being repackaged and recycled for the Indian diaspora. Who seem to be starved for a connection with the India, that they have left behnd decades ago. Guys, India has moved on and it is time that Bollywood starts reflecting that change.

Anyhow, here is my personal choice of movies from the last 15 odd yrs. These films are not neccesarily the very best films from the period, but they are a good representation of the various genres of films from Bollywood.

01. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)
02. Taal (1999)
03. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
04. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)
05. Lagaan (2001)
06. Monsoon Wedding (2001)
07. Devdaas (2002)
08. Maqbool (2003)
09. Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
10. Black Friday (2004)
11. Swades (2004)
12. Parineeta (2005)
13. Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006)
14. Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) (Sequel to Munnabhai M.B.B.S. from 2003)
15. Omkara (2006)
16. Rang De Basanti (2006)
17. Gandhi, My Father (2007)
18. Johnny Gaddar (2008)
19. Taare Zameen Par (2008)
20. Jodha Akbar (2008)

[Kotatsu Neko]

I watched this one tonight and enjoyed it. It's visually absolutely spectacular and sounds great too. Bansali is a real visualist, up there with Ridley Scott and (almost) Tim Burton. Fantastic BD transfer too.

The story itself was decent, fairly typical stuff, and I saw the ending a mile off.

Still, a good transfer and an entertaining movie.

[Sarang]

Kotatsu is that review right? The only subs are those for hearing impaired?! I really don't want to see a slew of more of these films only having SDH for the English dialogue as the option.

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by Sarang

Kotatsu is that review right? The only subs are those for hearing impaired?! I really don't want to see a slew of more of these films only having SDH for the English dialogue as the option.

I'm pretty sure there was a non-SDH english subtitle track since I didn't see the normal extra SDH text when I watched it earlier today.

It seems that the actors mix in a lot of English lines during this movie - not sure if this is normal for this type of movie.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Originally Posted by Sarang

Kotatsu is that review right? The only subs are those for hearing impaired?! I really don't want to see a slew of more of these films only having SDH for the English dialogue as the option.

No, there are regular subs there for sure.

[dominica]

Agreed with the Review.

Reference Video. Great story to watch with the girl/wife.

[mpbolly]

Originally Posted by sanjay0864

Veer Zaara & Saawariya are certainly not representive of the best from Bollywood. Rather, they represent the kind of cinema that finds favor only with the Indian diaspora lving overseas. People in India dont seem to care too much for the Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali type of films anymore. Both of them represent the decay and stagnation of the majority of Bollywood cinema. Their films are the same stereotypical, repetitive mush that keeps being repackaged and recycled for the Indian diaspora. Who seem to be starved for a connection with the India, that they have left behnd decades ago. Guys, India has moved on and it is time that Bollywood starts reflecting that change.

Anyhow, here is my personal choice of movies from the last 15 odd yrs. These films are not neccesarily the very best films from the period, but they are a good representation of the various genres of films from Bollywood.

01. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)
02. Taal (1999)
03. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
04. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)
05. Lagaan (2001)
06. Monsoon Wedding (2001)
07. Devdaas (2002)
08. Maqbool (2003)
09. Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
10. Black Friday (2004)
11. Swades (2004)
12. Parineeta (2005)
13. Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006)
14. Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) (Sequel to Munnabhai M.B.B.S. from 2003)
15. Omkara (2006)
16. Rang De Basanti (2006)
17. Gandhi, My Father (2007)
18. Johnny Gaddar (2008)
19. Taare Zameen Par (2008)
20. Jodha Akbar (2008)

I tried to not overwelcome newcomers with these films. But, from the list you created, I don't consider some of those really great films. I listed some that were sooooooooo hyped up and lived to their expectations. So, my list shows films that were popular before they got released and people were waiting for them............ it's like waiting for The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones, Iron Man, ......... movies that people know are made by top notch directors.

But, some on your list, I dont' really consider movies to be in a starter package for newbies....... such as Munnabhai M.B.B.S. and it's sequal, there were scenes in it that were just so stupid and really immature. Taal....... come on??? Taal is so cliche and predictable, the only thing going for it was the incredible music by A.R. Rahman. I can't believe you left out Dil Se... now that is a well made movie.