To the movies...

This is not a movie review (I’m not capable of that!). But before we start, you must know that my taste in movies is phenomenally eclectic – lots of comedy, some action / mystery, and very little drama. I watched Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par last night, after much persuasion from the missus and rave reviews (including adjectives such as “masterpiece”, “awesome”, and other superlatives and strong credentials) from friends, relatives and colleagues.

There were a few good parts last night… the music, the kid’s acting, etc. But the best part about has to be the café caramel gelato ice cream I had be,mfore the movie! Light-hearted – very – as it may sound, it’s true. The movie was watchable. The guy on my left was choking and the lady on my right (who happened to be my wife) was pouring buckets. What I thought was a fallen can of Diet Coke licking at my feet, turned out to be saline, watery fluid secreted by the lacrimal glands of viewers sitting in rows A to E behind me. And I was sniffing, and sniffing hard – a blocked nose (I’ve had a cold since last week) made worse by the brilliant ice cream (refer above).

In my opinion, going to the movies should be a source of fun, entertainment, and most importantly, distraction. Why, then, would I go to a movie that reminds me of world issues and humanity and being kind to animals? Don’t we get enough of that as it is? Movies with a message (many say TZP is one, and many others say it only sparks off an idea to ponder over), in my view, are not worth it. If I’m not able to consider those issues without the help of the movie (to whatever extent), what makes you think I will, after watching the movie?

After the movie, the wife and I spoke about the movie – and I told her what I thought of it. She says I cannot appreciate it (the movie) because I’ve never had some experiences (going to boarding school / hostel, dyslexia, etc) that others (including those we know, some very well and others related). And I say, do you need experience to understand other’s problems? Do you have to be a Jew to appreciate the Holocaust? I’m not saying one should stay away from issues by not watching movies that deal with them, but realisation of and reaction to issues is something that should come from within… The only time I’d like to cry at a movie is when it makes me laugh so much that I have tears streaming down my cheeks.

Now, assuming TZP is not a movie with a message (or more precisely, a movie without a message, which is probably saying the same thing, but sounds more agreeable)… I hear that it is Aamir Khan’s directorial debut, and that he deserves credit for that, and also for making the kid act the way he did. Agreed, but then after being in the industry for as long as he has, and for the dynamic kind of person he his known to be, this should be par for the course, eh? And also, when was the last time you cried at a movie, because of the quality of the director’s work? Isn’t is always the storyline and, therefore, the message?

To contradict my very first line, I think it was an overall 5/10. Anyone willing to fund my lawyer’s fees can call me on my mobile…am expecting to receive the divorce papers any minute now!