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ponderer1982
Reviews
Where's the Party Yaar? (2003)
Biased, exaggerated, and hypocritical
This movie seemed promising with a decorated actor like Kal Penn starring in it, but unfortunately that ended up being the only attraction to this movie.
This movie is the most hypocritical movie I have ever seen. This movie has it all backwards, the South Asians who are born and raised in America are the ones who are being ostracized by the (what are referred to in this movie as) "FOBS". The American born South Asians are the one's who are constantly bending over backwards trying to please the "FOBS" because of their constant criticism of us being too "American". We are constantly struggling to find a balance in our lives and we are the one's being treated like outcasts because the "FOBS" are the ones who are so critical and stuck up with their own set of standards that they expect from us. The person who made this movie should try actually making something accurate and portray the struggles that South Asians living in America have to deal with. There is a reason why everyone has heard of Bend it Like Beckham, and that hardly anyone has heard of this movie unless you happen to be browsing around your local video rental store.
Bollywood Queen (2002)
A REALISTIC portrayal of the struggles that first generation South Asians have to deal with
I think the one or two reviewers who have given this movie an unfavorable review fail to realize that this movie was a SATIRE. Those educated in literature can spot the parallel to "West Side Story" in this movie. It deals with the very real struggles that first generation South Asians who were born and raised in western countries have to deal with. It exposes the REALITIES of how the older generations try to force old traditions on the younger generations and expect them to abide by them even when they can not even identify with them. It shows a real situation that many have to deal with, many South Asian parents force their children to choose between how the parents expect them to live their lives, or be true to themselves, and often times if they don't choose to live their lives how the parents expect them to live, then they disown their children. It sends a message to the parents, that if they weren't so stubborn and set in their old sense of thinking and traditions, then their children would still be in their lives and wouldn't be forced to take such extreme measures just to have a happy life.
Havoc (2005)
Could have been done with more class, but definitely a wake up call to those who fit the description of the characters.
I rented this movie only yesterday because I happened to see a commercial for it two days before that. The premise of the story intrigued me, I'm not a white person myself (which might be why I can see it from an unbiased standpoint, because I'm not Latino or Black either), but I grew up in New York City, so I can vouch for it's accuracy, because California isn't the only place that has "wiggas".
This movie could have been done with more class, the nudity was definitely unnecessary, they could've gotten the exact same point across having Hathaway and Phillips keep their bras on (as one of the other commentators said, some things would have been better off left to the imagination, and this was definitely one of those things). Because this shows yet again, the hypocritical double standard in Hollywood, that exposing a woman's breasts are no big deal, but exposing a man's privates, even in the unrated version mind you, is still a taboo. I don't know why Hathaway, as stunningly beautiful as she is, would see the need to take such a blemishing role. Some of the most respected actresses in Hollywood have the decency to put their foot down and refuse to do full on nudity in movies, such as Jennifer Aniston and Sarah Jessica Parker, and they are respected more for it. Elizabeth Berkley tried this same 360 move with Showgirls, and she's practically been laughed out of Hollywood with a scarlet letter "S" branded on her (those were her own words!).
Choosing Hathaway in particular to play a role like this is unconvincing since she looks like she's in her late 20s yet she's portraying a teenager, her face looks too angelic and smiley to be playing such a devious character.
The writing was a little skewed as well, some of the things that they had Hathaway say (such as, "teenagers think they are invincible"), is not something an actual teenager would say.
But as far as everything else goes, the acting was great, the decorated cast was commendable, and the plot line to the story is definitely a reality check to all those little rich kids who are never satisfied with their lives no matter how much they have, this movie shows them to appreciate what they have and to just be thankful that they're alive and don't have to deal with what people forced to live in the ghetto have to deal with, because these kids do think everything is a game and it's not. As another commentator said, it exposes the absurdity of gang life.
And also to agree with yet a 3rd commentator, this is a movie you'll only want to watch once.