Cast Away (2000)

Time-abiding Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a globetrodding FedEx executive, is on his way to Malaysia on an assignment. His plane, while over the Pacific, runs into a storm and the plane crash leaves Chuck washed up a deserted island. Imprisoned by huge waves, deadly reefs and trapped in a world with no clocks, Chuck must adapt to his strange surroundings. To survive in the harsh conditions, he must get down to the basics - learn to build a fire, to crack coconuts, fish for his food and find a place to keep him safe from the elements. There is but one silent companion, "Wilson", a volleyball that was one of the packages that washed up on shore. He also has a watch that his fiancée, Kelly Frears (Helen Hunt), gifted him as she bid him farewell at the airport as he left with a promise to be back for New Years'.
Will Chuck get out of the island alive and meet his one true love whose memory is the only thing that keeps him going? 
Tom Hanks has successfully carried the movie all by himself for a major part of the film. Another true winner!


Word for the day :-
circadian - (of biological processes) recurring naturally on a 24 hour-cycle , even in the absence of light fluctuations

Hamari Adhuri Kahaani (2015)

Flowers can do what a million words could probably not accomplish - With their simplistic and aesthetic beauty flowers brighten the darkest corners, bring a smile to the saddest face, enhance the happiest occasion and also bring two hearts together. Vasudha (Vidya Balan) is a single mother and a gifted florist who works for Aarav Ruparel (Emraan Hashmi), a successful hotelier. Aarav is smitten and eventually falls in love with Vasudha who has many an occasion to showcase her flair and prowess with flowers and her dedication to her job. However, there is one hitch that stops Vasudha from grasping what her new life has to offer. Hari (Rajkumar Rao), her husband who had abandoned her just a month after the birth of their child, has not been heard from for five long years. He soon returns a wanted terrorist. Torn between her filial duty and the love of her life, Vasudha must make a tough choice.

Love transcends all barriers and a field of calla lilies helps to eternally unite Vasudha and Aarav .....

The title track from the film

Word for the day :-
miasma - an unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor

In her Shoes (2005)

Rose and Maggie - are two gorgeous sisters who are poles apart! Rose (Toni Collette), the elder of the two, is a hard-working and successful lawyer. She is involved in an office romance and living a life where she only dreams of the vacations she "plans" to take some day. Maggie (Cameron Diaz) on the other hand doesn't have a job, knows how to party, has no place of her own or a relationship to tie her down. But she dreams of making it big someday.

Down and out of her luck, Maggie decides to shack in with her sister. While Maggie doesn't mind helping herself to Rose's possessions - her immense collection of shoes, jewelry and her pantry for that matter, Maggie crosses all boundaries when she sleeps with Rose's beau. Furious and unable to take anymore Rose throws Maggie out of her house and possibly her life too. Finding herself on the streets Maggie heads out to Florida in search of the maternal grandmother (Shirley Maclaine) that she's only just heard about. 
Depressed with her situation, Rose quits her high-powered job and is looking to slow things down. With no news of her sister, Rose sets out in search of Maggie and is soon knocking her grandmother's door.

An intricately woven tale of relationships ~ of love and forgiveness.

                              "To Sisters"!

Word for the day :-
unctuous - excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

US Naval flight officer, Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) and his companion Jeremy Stackhouse make a great team behind their fighter jet. However, after 7 years in the navy, Chris is disillusioned with his role and he hands over his resignation to his commanding officer Admiral Reigart (Gene Hackman). Left with just two weeks on the aircraft carrier in Bosnia, Chris takes a test run with Jeremy during which time they come across some suspicious activity in a demilitarized zone and they decide to veer off their planned course and collect photographic evidence. En route, their plane is shot down by a couple of missiles. Chris takes off to radio in their position and Jeremy is captured and executed by the Serbs'. So begins Chris's ordeal as he  tries to escape from his ruthless Bosnian-Serb pursuers and survive.  

On the icy mountain slopes in war-torn Bosnia - dodging landmines, snipers and hoping to get across evidence of a possible genocide of the Bosnian population, this action packed war film is a nail-biter all the way through.

Word for the day :-

egregious - outstandingly bad; shocking

Dennis the Menace (1993)

It's a beautiful, crisp morning filled with the sound of chirping birds and peaceful enough to want to enjoy the morning paper. But if you listen carefully, you'll hear the dreaded rattle of a bicycle, the sound scary enough to frighten away birds, cats and squirrels alike. Oh and Mr. Wilson too! Who else can it be but Dennis Mitchell - the next door neighbor's pesky son. And you better watch out! The blond haired little Dennis, always armed with a slingshot, is no angel and that's what most people who've dealt with Dennis will tell you. All of his good intentions don't amount to much as it ends up bringing nothing but misery to Mr. George Wilson. On different occasions, Dennis has shot an aspirin down Mr. Wilson's throat, broken his dentures, ruined his barbequed chicken successfully getting the chicken to taste like paint, dropped a burning marshmallow  on Mr. Wilson's forehead- and the list is exhaustive.

Mr. Wilson has been chosen to host this year's garden party, an event he has been eagerly waiting for. The showpiece will be his 'mock orchid', a rare plant that blooms once every forty years, only to wither in a few seconds. Unfortunately, Dennis's parents have to be out of town at the same time and Dennis is now living with the Wilson's. Mr. Wilson is only too convinced that Dennis will somehow mess things up. Will Dennis be able to redeem himself and save the day?
Absolutely fun and rib-tickling.

 "Dennis the menace" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dennis_the_menace.jpg#/media/File:Dennis_the_menace.jpg

Word for the day :-
leonine - of or relating to the lion

Hachi: A dog's tale (2009)

Professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) makes a train journey everyday to get to and from work at the University. As the story goes, little pup Hachi who is making his way from Japan to the United States is soon lost at an American train station when he breaks free from his cage. As destiny would have it he bumps into Parker. The adorable pup wins Parker's heart and he decides to take the puppy home for the night, hoping to find his rightful owner the following day. Curious about the dog, bearing a collar with a Japanese symbol, Parker seeks help from his Japanese friend.

His friend is able to tell him that the symbol in Japanese reads Hachi, meaning "good fortune" and symbolizes the lucky number 8. After several failed attempts to locate the owner, Parker and Hachi soon form a bond like no other. Hachi accompanies the professor to the train station everyday and he waits patiently for his return at 4 each evening, a sight not lost to many. It is the end of life's journey for the professor who dies of a heart attack, one fateful day, while teaching. But Hachi continues to keep vigil for the next nine years in the hopes of his return.
This is a movie inspired from a true story of a dog from Japan that

The statue at Shibuya Station, Japan

dates back to 1924, before World War II. Before Hachi's death a bronze statue was erected at the Shibuya train station in 1934 to honor a dog's loyalty, unflinching love and faithfulness.
Tears galore. 😢

The Godfather (1972)

'The Godfather' is a saga of the Italian - American mafia scene with the rise of the Corleone family, in particular. Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), comes from humble beginnings in Sicily and he had to escape with his life to the Americas. He gradually grew to be one of the most feared, respected and powerful mob bosses. Covert dealings leading to betrayal and deception, leave much death in its wake. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) had long since turned his back on the family business to fight in the World War, returning home a decorated war hero. Once an attempt is made on his father's life and Michael's oldest brother is savagely massacred, Michael is forced to take the reins from his father and he is sucked into the vicious circle of mistrust and revenge. But all this power must come at a price! Fearing for her life and that of her children, Michael's wife - Kay (Diane Keaton) must make a difficult choice - can she risk the life of her children or must she leave the man she has trusted and loved for practically half her life?

I have searched for similar movies but there is none like The Godfather. It's one-of-a-kind! Extremely riveting and based on the book by the same name, authored by Mario Puzo, this movie must definitely go down on your  'must watch' list of movies. And believe me, you will not be disappointed.

Word for the day :-
nebbish - a pitifully ineffectual, luckless and timid person

36 Chowringhee Lane (1981)

36 Chowringhee Lane, Calcutta. The tinkle of a bell announces the arrival of an rickshaw  that comes to get Ms. Violet Stoneham (Jennifer Kendal) to school. A teacher by profession, Violet resides alone in a cozy flat. At the end of her day she goes home, prepares a cup of tea and sits down to read and write replies to the letters she receives. She owns a beautiful gramophone, a decent collection of records and a cat for company.

Her predictable routine is soon broken when she happens to meet the vivacious Nandita Roy (Debashree Roy), an old student. Nandita and her boyfriend, Samaresh Moitra (Dhritiman Chatterjee) need a place where they can spend some time alone. They love the solitude of Ms. Stoneham's flat and to alleviate her loneliness Ms. Stoneham is only too willing to accommodate them. They spend many a happy afternoon together. Soon Nandita and Samaresh get married and one Christmas Ms. Stoneham bakes her Christmas cake and decides to  surprise the newly weds. But who will be surprised instead?

Deeply moving and thought provoking.

Word for the day :-
dalliance - a period of brief or casual involvement with something

Ratatouille (2007)

This is the first animated movie that I'm writing about.

"Anyone can cook!" - Says chef Gusteau. That holds especially true for Remy.

Remy (Patton Oswalt) is a resident of Paris - the culinary capital of the world. His refined sense of taste and smell, however, have no outlet. After all Remy is a rat, who is dying to cook!

He happens to meet Linguini who is employed as a garbage boy at Gusteau's Restaurant. Hidden under Linguini's (Ian Holm) toque blanche, Remy finds the medium through which he can showcase his talent and his uncanny love for food. After running through the sewers of Paris and trying to break away, Remy and Linguini become proud owners of the French Bistro -  "La Ratatouille".
I detest rats and who doesn't! All furry, scurrying around and nasty .... But after this movie, I do not think these hairy little creatures are that bad after all ...

Word for the day :-
diurnal - of or during the day; non-nocturnal

To rats and cheese! ↴

Pretty Woman (1990)

'Pretty Woman' is the ultimate fairytale.

Edward (Richard Gere)  is a successful and ruthless, albeit handsome, businessman. He is in LA on business and finds himself lost on his way to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. So he picks up a prostitute, Vivian (Julia Roberts) who is only too happy to help him find his way for a fee. What starts out as one night in a swanky hotel penthouse suite turns into a week of romance. Under a tough exterior forced on by difficult circumstances, Vivian is like any other girl. Does Vivian's dream come true and does the knight she has always dreamed of arrive on a white horse to rescue her from the tower? 

Escape into the world of shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive, take a flight on a private jet with the gorgeous red-head dressed to the nine to watch the opera, catch a game of polo with the elite of LA ...

Feast your eyes on the drop-dead gorgeous Edward and beautiful Vivian as their story unfolds!



Word for the day : -
afebrile - not feverish

Parineeta (2005)

The movie is an adaptation of a 1914 Bengali novel by Sarat Candra Chattopadhyay.

Calcutta, 1962. There are three families living next to each other. Lolita (Vidya Balan), who was adopted by her maternal uncle and Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan), Navinchandra's son, have grown up together - the best of friends. As time passes and having fallen in love with each other they get married on the quiet. Meanwhile Lolita's uncle is under duress to pay off a long-standing loan for which he was forced to mortgage his house with his wealthy neighbor, Navinchandra, a ruthless businessman. Navinchandra has impressive plans for the property, hoping to convert it into a hotel. When Lolita gets wind of Navichandra's plans she seeks help from their neighbor whose brother  Girish (Sanjay Dutt) is visiting from the UK. Seeing Girish and Lolita together and unsure of her intentions, Shekhar's jealousy drives them apart. 

The quintessential Bengali woman in her white and red-bordered saree, kohl-lined eyes, vermilion adorned forehead cast in lamplight is just beautiful beyond words; tea at Flurys, dinner at Moulin Rouge and golgappas in front of the majestic Victoria Garden. For someone like me, who has never been to Calcutta, it's a treat to watch.

Visually appealing, great music with an enthralling storyline. I love, love, love this movie.

All the songs are beautiful in this movie, but this is a favorite.


Word for the day :-
truculent - eager or quick to argue or fight

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Now this is a movie that I can most relate to.

A dysfunctional family makes a road-trip from New Mexico to California. The youngest member, Olive (Abigail Breslin), is taking part in the Little Miss Sunshine contest to be held in Redondo Beach. The VW Bus making the journey has on board father (Greg Kinnear), a struggling motivational speaker and life coach, color blind brother (Paul Dano) who has taken a vow of silence, suicidal maternal uncle (Steve Carell), paternal grandfather (Alan Arkin) who is Olive's pageant talent coach and last but not the least is mother (Toni Collette) who is trying, albeit unsuccessfully,  to somehow keep it all together.
Tragedy strikes when grandpa "gives up his ghost" enroute and the family has to lug him around till the funeral arrangements can be made. And the showstopper - Olive's little bawdy dance number that steals the show! An absolute hoot!

Word for the day:-

troubadour - a French medieval lyric poet composing and singing especially on the theme of courtly love

The Sound of Music (1965)

A musical film based on the life of the Von Trapp Family against the backdrop of the German takeover, before the second World War. 
Vivacious and tomboyish Maria (Julie Andrews) is a postulant in an abbey in Salzburg. Her services are requested by a widowed naval captain (Christopher Plummer)  seeking a governess for his seven children. Soon Maria yodels her way into the hearts and lives of the Von Trapp Family.
Tough times call for tough measures! Captain Von Trapp's pride and love for a motherland so dear  will soon be put to the  test. Austria is to be lost to the Third Reich and that compels the Captain to take a drastic step.
Mellifluous numbers like - Maria, Sixteen going on Seventeen, my favorite things, Do-Re-Mi, The Sound of Music, The Lonely Goatherd, Edelweiss, So Long, farewell, Climb every mountain, will leave you humming. 
One of the best songs ever: -



If you've not watched the movie yet, which I'm sure you have, then you simply must. I've don't known anyone who has and who hasn't fallen in love with it.

Word for the day :-

postulant - a candidate for admission to a religious order

Indecent Proposal (1993)

Diana (Demi Moore), a successful realtor and her husband, David (Woody Harrelson), a noted architect, dream of building a home in Santa Monica someday. It will be a home that is an eclectic mix of what David knows and loves about architecture. However, the recession rears its ugly head and the couple fear the bank will repossess their land. Down and out on their luck and not left with much choice they head out to Vegas hoping lady luck smiles down on them.

Fate intervenes when billionaire John Gage (Robert Redford) sets eyes on the beautiful Diana. He is rich, suave and he always gets what he wants. So he has an offer that is hard to resist - he offers David a million dollars for a night with his beautiful wife. Will they heed the voice of reason or give in to temptation! Can Gage put a price tag on love?

This is a test of Diana's and David's love and here is to hoping they will stand the test of time!
Slip into this love story and watch Demi Moore and Robert Redford light up the screen.




Word for the day :-
equine - of, relating to, or characteristic of a horse

Runaway Bride (1999)

And I'm in love with Julia Roberts! 
I did play hooky from school to watch this movie.

Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) from Hale, Maryland, is notorious for making a quick escape just as she is set to walk down the aisle. And she is soon planning her fourth wedding. Ike Graham (Richard Gere) a New York columnist, writes a report on the 'Runaway Bride' that contains a number of errors that costs him his job. Seeking vindication he is determined to get to the bottom of things and he is sure Maggie will stay true to her reputation and she will flee for the fourth time as well. He is not prepared to when he faces the beautiful Maggie and the sheer possibility of falling head-over-heels in love.

The movie has some amazing soundtracks with one of my favorites - 'Blue Eyes Blue' by Eric Clapton.


Word for the day:-
loquacious - tending to talk a great deal

Leap Year (2010)

Hidden among the rolling hills of the beautiful Emerald Isle is a lore - a man has to accept a wedding proposal that has been made on Leap Day. Anna (Amy Adams) has to be in Ireland, come hell or high water on the 29th. Having reached a little Irish village she now has to find her way to Dublin. So "Anna from Boston" hires an innkeeper (Matthew Goode) to drive her and her trusted Louis (her Louis Vuitton, in case you're wondering) to her fiancé. Her journey is not an easy one, her path being wrought with obstacles like storms, superstitions, thieves, stubborn cows, hailstones and even gate-crashing a wedding. As she traipses through the picturesque country of bubbling brooks, ancient cemeteries, picturesque hills and valleys  she hesitates as she nears her destination. The eventful journey has her at a crossroad! A tough choice is hers to make- to marry the cardiologist she has travelled over 3000 miles for or the charming Irish innkeeper?

To be honest, it's not one of the greatest movies I've seen, but I could still watch it a few times since I like Amy Adams.

Word for the day :-
eschewed - deliberately avoid using; abstain from

Jab We Met (2007)

What would you do if the train you're trying to catch seems to be out of reach, picking up speed but leaving you behind with an unknown and paralyzing fear. It is the fear of losing the one chance you have in life of making the right choice!

'Jab we Met' is a warm love story of a Punjabi girl, Geet (Kareena Kapoor) who runs away from home to be with the man she loves. On the train to Shimla, she meets a handsome but depressed businessman, Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) who has been dumped by his girlfriend and who has walked out on his family business. What ensues is a beautiful movie of finding love amide the lush fields of Punjab and the majestic hills and gushing streams of Shimla. The music is warm and mellifluous and will have you tapping your feet to some great Punjabi music.

What better way to enjoy this movie but to dig in to hot parathas laden with ghee and accompanied with a Patiala lassi!
And something to hum along to -


Word for the day:-
asterism - a prominent pattern or a group of stars that is smaller than a constellation

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The year is 1947. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is a banker by profession leading a normal, peaceful life. But it all changes when he is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Despite his claims of innocence he is sentenced to two life terms at Shawshank. It is here that Andy meets and befriends Ellis Boyd Redding (Morgan Freeman) and they forge a bond of friendship that will last them a lifetime. 
During his 19 year stint in prison, Andy helps fellow inmates graduate high school, he opens a library, he assists the prison employees with their financial matters and helps the warden in his money laundering scheme.

Ellis aptly describes Andy when he says, "Some birds aren't meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright".
So how long can Andy stay in prison and risk losing his sanity for a crime he hasn't committed? Can he escape to freedom and to a life on the golden sands of a beach in Mexico that fondly beckon?
The movie is slow but surely ends with a bang. A must watch!

Word for the day :-
Fragonard - French artist whose rococo paintings typified the frivolity of life in the royal court

Bawarchi (1972)

When the golden threads binding each relationship gets tarnished  with the dust of ego, arrogance and unforgiveness, the resulting lack of communication and misunderstandings that arise thereof leave in it's wake a dysfunctional  and unhappy family. This movie is about the Sharma household, residing in Shanti Niwas, in other words an 'abode of peace',  which is anything but peaceful. This joint family is notorious for not being able to retain a cook  or a bawarchi for more than a month. Unexpected and a welcome surprise is Raghu's (Rajesh Khanna) smiling face early one morning, knocking at the door seeking employment. He is intelligent, a jack of all trades and bubbling with wit and humor. Raghu soon wins over the family and peace and happiness descends on Shanti Niwas. But hiding behind all the laughter and cheer Raghu seems to have a hidden agenda. An Indian take on the affable Mary Poppins.

A light, delightful movie, inspired from a Bengali film, this movie was directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

My happy number -

Word for the day :-

effete - over- refined

Julie & Julia (2009)

"Is there anyone out there who's reading this?", says novice blogger, Julie.

Julie and Julia is a beautiful tale of two women who couldn't be more different. They hail from different backgrounds, different worlds and even different time periods but both lives are inextricably intertwined by one common passion, their love for food. 

Julie Powell (Amy Adams) has  moved to Queens and is not loving it there. The apartment that she and her husband are renting over a pizzeria is small with a tiny kitchen and that doesn't help. She feels stuck in her job that seems to be going nowhere, cramped in a cubicle day after day, listening to heart-rending stories of callers reeling from the 9/11 tragedy. To break the monotony that's become her life, Julie takes on a bold project of cooking 524 recipes over a period of 365 days - all recipes inspired from her favorite cook, Julia Child.
Going back many years we follow the life of Julia in her youth. While Julia (Meryl Streep) was in France, while on one of her sojourns with her husband, she starts culinary school to become the only woman to join Le Cordon Bleu in the 1940's. She became an accomplished cook and published author of  "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". Her passion and perseverance making her a legend.
This movie is about love - the love for food and sharing it with the ones you hold dear and of course butter, something that defines good French food. 
Kick back with a lovely glass of red🍷, roasted garlic with some brie on baguette and as the French say, "Bon Appetit"!

Word for the day :-
carrion - dead and decaying flesh