I think that the movie is cool with its emphasis on mysticism and romanticism. The fact that the lovers initially do not show each other their faces and will not touch each other is funny and says somehting about their culture. The movie relates to the book in its emphasis on the importance of family heritage.
I like the grand jestures and over the top movements. The chase scenes and her dancing are shot great. I want to see what happens when they find out they get married, much dramatic sad dancing will occur
I agree with Dean about the ironic possibility of sad dancing. I think that the girl in the family who tries to stir up trouble is going to try and ruin the relationship but the lovers will inevitably end up together in the end but probably not kiss or show any real signs of affection because that is the custom.
I actually really like the movie so far... even though I find it slightly cheesy, it's realy interesting to watch a movie that's so different from what I'm used to.
Devdas rox l0lz!! I think its hilarious how all Bollywood movies are like over the top Broadway musicals. The costumes and crazy gestures are really funny too.
Ok so the parts we watched today were crazy. devdas totally blew that prostitutes mind with his "your a friend,wife,daughter, or mother. if you are none you are a whore"
and i also think its funny that every culture loves the romeo and juliet type love affairs.
I dont think it will, i think she acted all vain when he came to see her because she was hurt, but she still loves him. And her new husband is not kind or caring for her so she will not lose her feelings for devdas.
Watching Devdas, I was kind of reminded of Tristan and Iseult. Their forbidden romance is much like the medieval one; two characters of different castes and places in life fall in love, and though the love is socially unacceptable, they cannot keep away from each other. Though we both felt sympathy for Tristan & Iseult and Devdas & Paro, the cultural norm (perhaps moreso for the former pair) prohibits their love. Tristan dies in the end, and so does Devdas. In the first case, we questioned whether Tristan's death and the lovers' tragedy contained a sort of admonition against breaking the Great Chain of Being and defying strict societal boundaries. Could Devdas' death (yes, we know he's going to die...) also reflect this?
I liked the dramatic effects that were taking place during the scene when Devdas was escorting the girl to her marriage. In an American movie even a drama, that would never happen. I also like the fact that in an english class, we watched a movie where the guy expected his newly married wife to only take care of the kids and prepare the house. Basically a woman's only real responsibilities.
At first the melodrama of this movie got on my nerves a little, but now I think I get that that's just how Indian movies are. Much like how Greek drama is often overwhelmingly, even cheesily grand in scope - works like The Iliad and The Odyssey have this "THE WHOLE WORLD IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE!!!" vibe to them - Indian movies seem to be overwhelmingly, cheesily romantic.
Once you get past the film's foreign conventions, it's easy to appreciate the surreal beauty of the cinematography, chiaroscuro-like lighting, fancy synchronized dancing, and other really cool artsy stuff. The plot is admittedly very cliche - going all the way back to Tristan and Iseult, as Michelle mentioned - but there sure is a lot of eye candy. (I'm not just talking about the hot lead female chick, though she definitely counts.)
I agree with John. The movie is, honestly, a visual delight. The settings are so splendid and grand and the costumes are so elaborate and beautiful. The dances are neat, and Paro is REALLY pretty. I've actually enjoyed watching this movie. And I'm not so disgusted as the cheese as everyone else is... even though this really is like an extended soap opera. I guess I get distracted by how pretty it is.
So it's late and I'm exhausted to I'm not reading the others ones so if i repeat please excuse me. I really like the music a lot, although I'm not crazy about subtitles. Actually, I lied I just read Stephen's post at the top. I agree on how it relates to the book. I keep almost getting them confused because they are so similar in the description of the culture and the practices.
i agree with taylor about the music. i like the variety of beats and instruments and how they change with the story. i hate subtitles, but i dislike dubbing or whatever it's called when they change the language but not the movement of people's mouths. i think i should just learn hindi so that i can understand it.
I found out something interesting, at least I thought it was. Devdas is actually a bengali love story written by a woman. My mother used to have a copy in their library in Pakistan. But there are so many Indian movie versions of the story now. So I think additions were made to fit into the Indian culture. I also appreciate how culture was not totally ignored, and the guy and girl did not get together even though it was sad. a little reality was demonstrated.
Obviously, the subtitles do not do justice. Some of the cheesy parts sounded even more cheesy in English. In reality though most of the dialogues were not that cheesy in the bollywood sense. In the olden times, people actually used the same phrases in everyday talk. Of course, now it is not that poetic/cheesy.I do believe that the movie does a good job of showing culture though.
I think that the movie is cool with its emphasis on mysticism and romanticism. The fact that the lovers initially do not show each other their faces and will not touch each other is funny and says somehting about their culture. The movie relates to the book in its emphasis on the importance of family heritage.
ReplyDeleteThe reference to Fragonard's swing is annoying.
ReplyDeleteApart from very good technical aspects, I could not find this movie any more tacky.
ReplyDeleteI like the grand jestures and over the top movements. The chase scenes and her dancing are shot great. I want to see what happens when they find out they get married, much dramatic sad dancing will occur
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dean about the ironic possibility of sad dancing. I think that the girl in the family who tries to stir up trouble is going to try and ruin the relationship but the lovers will inevitably end up together in the end but probably not kiss or show any real signs of affection because that is the custom.
ReplyDeleteI actually really like the movie so far... even though I find it slightly cheesy, it's realy interesting to watch a movie that's so different from what I'm used to.
ReplyDeleteI like the colors they use in this movie and the composition in each frame. there is always something to look at.
ReplyDeleteshe's ppppppprrrrrreeeeeeetttttttttyyyyyyy
ReplyDeleteDevdas rox l0lz!! I think its hilarious how all Bollywood movies are like over the top Broadway musicals. The costumes and crazy gestures are really funny too.
ReplyDeleteOk so the parts we watched today were crazy. devdas totally blew that prostitutes mind with his "your a friend,wife,daughter, or mother. if you are none you are a whore"
ReplyDeleteand i also think its funny that every culture loves the romeo and juliet type love affairs.
i love the dramatic expressions in bollywood movies. i also love the dancing. i really hate the girl who is trying to sabotage them.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with dean on the whole romeo and juliette thing. but, more importantly, when do yall think the candle will ever go out?
ReplyDeleteI dont think it will, i think she acted all vain when he came to see her because she was hurt, but she still loves him. And her new husband is not kind or caring for her so she will not lose her feelings for devdas.
ReplyDeleteWatching Devdas, I was kind of reminded of Tristan and Iseult. Their forbidden romance is much like the medieval one; two characters of different castes and places in life fall in love, and though the love is socially unacceptable, they cannot keep away from each other. Though we both felt sympathy for Tristan & Iseult and Devdas & Paro, the cultural norm (perhaps moreso for the former pair) prohibits their love. Tristan dies in the end, and so does Devdas. In the first case, we questioned whether Tristan's death and the lovers' tragedy contained a sort of admonition against breaking the Great Chain of Being and defying strict societal boundaries. Could Devdas' death (yes, we know he's going to die...) also reflect this?
ReplyDeleteI liked the dramatic effects that were taking place during the scene when Devdas was escorting the girl to her marriage. In an American movie even a drama, that would never happen. I also like the fact that in an english class, we watched a movie where the guy expected his newly married wife to only take care of the kids and prepare the house. Basically a woman's only real responsibilities.
ReplyDeletei enjoy the fact that it was perfectly acceptable to show devdas beat her with a pair of pearls and then smear the blood on her.... india is wierd
ReplyDeleteAt first the melodrama of this movie got on my nerves a little, but now I think I get that that's just how Indian movies are. Much like how Greek drama is often overwhelmingly, even cheesily grand in scope - works like The Iliad and The Odyssey have this "THE WHOLE WORLD IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE!!!" vibe to them - Indian movies seem to be overwhelmingly, cheesily romantic.
ReplyDeleteOnce you get past the film's foreign conventions, it's easy to appreciate the surreal beauty of the cinematography, chiaroscuro-like lighting, fancy synchronized dancing, and other really cool artsy stuff. The plot is admittedly very cliche - going all the way back to Tristan and Iseult, as Michelle mentioned - but there sure is a lot of eye candy. (I'm not just talking about the hot lead female chick, though she definitely counts.)
I agree with John. The movie is, honestly, a visual delight. The settings are so splendid and grand and the costumes are so elaborate and beautiful. The dances are neat, and Paro is REALLY pretty. I've actually enjoyed watching this movie. And I'm not so disgusted as the cheese as everyone else is... even though this really is like an extended soap opera. I guess I get distracted by how pretty it is.
ReplyDeleteSo it's late and I'm exhausted to I'm not reading the others ones so if i repeat please excuse me. I really like the music a lot, although I'm not crazy about subtitles. Actually, I lied I just read Stephen's post at the top. I agree on how it relates to the book. I keep almost getting them confused because they are so similar in the description of the culture and the practices.
ReplyDeletei agree with taylor about the music. i like the variety of beats and instruments and how they change with the story. i hate subtitles, but i dislike dubbing or whatever it's called when they change the language but not the movement of people's mouths. i think i should just learn hindi so that i can understand it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much we could understand without subtitles, the music and the expressions could convey alot, but then again the plot is so convoluted.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely not understand without the subtitles but maybe if I was more familiar with the Indian culture, I'd understand it better...
ReplyDeletethe subtitles helped, a lot. i think that i would have understood the emotions being expressed, but not so much the reasons for them
ReplyDeleteI found out something interesting, at least I thought it was. Devdas is actually a bengali love story written by a woman. My mother used to have a copy in their library in Pakistan. But there are so many Indian movie versions of the story now. So I think additions were made to fit into the Indian culture. I also appreciate how culture was not totally ignored, and the guy and girl did not get together even though it was sad. a little reality was demonstrated.
ReplyDeleteObviously, the subtitles do not do justice. Some of the cheesy parts sounded even more cheesy in English. In reality though most of the dialogues were not that cheesy in the bollywood sense. In the olden times, people actually used the same phrases in everyday talk. Of course, now it is not that poetic/cheesy.I do believe that the movie does a good job of showing culture though.
ReplyDelete