Change Your Image
galadraal
Reviews
Words of My Perfect Teacher (2003)
Not without it's flaws...but certainly interesting
I enjoyed this movie for so many different levels. for one it lacked the high 'sophisticated, philosophical' atmosphere that we see in other more in-depth documentaries on the Dharma. Due to this, it had an entertaining quality that allowed you to relax and open up to it. The messages shown in the documentary were I found quite lax, because there was no real depth. At the same time as an introduction to general Buddhism, it did a nice job. I watch the movie again and again because, as a student of Buddhism, I like to be reminded about the core ideas in a way that sin't as scholarly as other sources. I gave it an 7/10 because not only is it fun at times, but as a piece of entertainment it does not cookie cut Buddhism as other shows have done in the past.
Bollywood/Hollywood (2002)
Some spoilers...
I enjoyed this movie tremendously, not only because it is a spoof of most Bollywood movies but because it played so well on east Indian stereotypes. I found the love story interesting as it was so uncommon to see in some movies, and especially the fact that some of the content is somewhat taboo in the culture. It was also an over all fun movie. As you went on, the characters came to life until the love story suddenly hit you. I enjoyed very much the east meets west side, without focusing too much on the west (as some American movies tend to do.) I enjoyed very much the social commentary Mehta was talking of in the religious backgrounds of the two families, Sikh and Hindu. Religion played a very interesting and sometimes humorous role, and Grandmaji's comments about Hindu Gods being number one was so random and funny. Of course my most favorite part was Grandmaji's reaction to the death of the 'white whore' in a levitation accident. Overall a very funny, and witty movie and in my mind packed with social commentary.