Rating: 
Summary: Bend It Like Becham
Review: I saw this movie while in China and loved it. It touches all the nerves of merging societies and is neatly sprinkled with giggles. No one is spared; mom, dad, sis, best friend, the coach, the team- I think even a dog gets kicked.Do yourself a favor...... see it!
Rating:
Summary: Aloo Gobi
Review: I had seen this movie on one of my UK flights. It was so funny that I kept on seeing it over and over again.
It is hilarious - a stab at Indian culture and sense of humor -
A must see, can't wait for it to be on DVD so that I can share it around
Rating:
Summary: Light-hearted and brilliant
Review: At first glimpse this movie may seem like yet another culture clash/immigrant movie. And to some extent that's true, but there's much more that's tackled as well.
Ok first off the Title - David Beckham is to Soccer (or Football as non-Americans call it) as Michael Jordan is to Basketball. (He's also Posh Spice's husband, but that's besides the point for this movie).
The movie is basically about a British-Indian girl's struggle to achieve her dream - to play professional football, and yet still somehow balance her other priorities. But along the way the movie also helps smash a few cultural stereotypes, gives a pro-feminist message and manages to make you laugh out loud all in the space of two hours. What I loved best about this movie is that all the people in it were so real, and so normal, and also how the drama/melodrama was kept to a bare minimum. I also liked how the semi-conservative Indian father's objection to his daughter playing was not that she was a girl or that she was Indian but that he felt that there would be too much struggle. Or how it's not just the conservative Indian family which has problems with their daughter playing soccer but also the English family as well - "There's a reason Sporty Spice is the only one without a fella". This movie was a hit in England, and also in India, where people of both countries felt that it hit really close to home. Hope you Americans enjoy it too. If you liked Monsoon Wedding, you'll really like this, and if you hated Monsoon Wedding, you'll still really like this.
Rating:
Summary: A BRILLIANT FILM ABOUT MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!!!
Review: This is a gem of a film, which was released in the UK and Australia in 2002. It deals with a young girl's dream of becoming a professional football player, and how she must face first her traditional family values from India. There are many layers in this film that make it a delight, but the strength of it is that it rings 'true'. For anyone who's a second generation migrant in an English-speaking country, this film will make you laugh and cry. For others, it will open your eyes. The film deals with love, honour, family, faith, dreams and friendship. It's a feel-good movie in every sense of the word, and if you don't like football (soccer in the USA and Australia), you will at least have a new appreciation as to why some people love playing the game. It also showcases a bunch of talented actors and an inspiring soundtrack. This film will make you want to follow your dreams, no matter what the odds.
Rating:
Summary: Goooooooooaaaaaaaaallllllllll!
Review: The British seem to have a knack for coming up with light, clever, character-oriented film comedies that never condescend to their audience, but still manage to be crowd-pleasers. FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL was the first of the "new wave" of these pictures, and BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is the most recent: a note-perfect creation about family, growing up and, most importantly, being able to curve a free kick like Manchester United's right midfielder, David Beckham. Directed and co-written by Gurinder Chadha, a Briton of Indian extraction, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is a surprisingly effective piece of work. Telling the story of Jessminder Bhamra, a British Indian on the cusp of womanhood and played to perfection by relative newcomer Parminder K. Nagra, the film is steeped in both British and Indian cultures. Jess, as friends and most family call Jessminder, is an extremely talented footballer with a devotion to the David Beckham, captain of England's national team. She is a top student with university prospects, and has two traditional parents who want nothing more for Jess than for her to marry well and make a career for herself in a high-paying and respectable profession. Needless to say, football is not part of the plan. When Jess meets Juliette, another tomboy with footballing talent and ambition, and begins organized play for a girl's team, things grow complicated very quickly. Jess's story is played against the background of another drama: the engagement of her older sister, Pinky, to the son of rich and well-respected parents. While Pinky chooses a more traditional path for her life, she is also a bit of a free spirit. Both sisters must learn how to weigh their individuality against the demands of culture and family without any party being shortchanged. In less assured hands, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM could have been rendered completely opaque to international audiences. As it is, Chadha holds the audience's hand as his film skips nimbly over all pitfalls while working through Jessminder's tale. As a result, no one ever feels shut out, even as the story indulges the quirks of British football culture and the religious and social structure of Indians. And lest there be any mistake: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is uproariously funny. For certain, there are serious topics at stake in the picture, including a romantic subplot involving the coach of the girl's football team. Jonathan Rhys-Myers, most notable for his portrayal of the smarmy Steerpike in GORMENGHAST (2000), essays his somewhat underwritten role, and earns some good laughs. Bollywood megastar Anupam Kher makes his English film debut in this picture as Jess's father, and demonstrates the charisma that only a veteran of over 100 films can have. British actress Shaheen Khan plays Jess's mother, Mrs. Bhamra, and steals her every scene from her fellow actors with a genuine portrayal and witty delivery. A supporting cast composed primarily of Indian actors, every one of whom does an exemplary job, deftly handles the minor subplots that arise. From start to finish, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is a delight that should not be missed. The growing popularity of football (AKA soccer) in the United States, particularly among young women, is acknowledged by the film and is, in fact, a part of the story itself. In an American film, this might have translated into a clumsy, commercial play for moviegoing dollars, but Gurinder Chadha's movie is warm, friendly, and heartwarmingly sincere. Even those who don't know an offside from a red card can respond to that.
Rating:
Summary: Bend it Like Beckham Scores!
Review: Bend it Like Beckham is the story of an Indian girl living in England who is obsessed with Manchester United soccer captain, David Beckham. The story follows her as she tries to wins her parents over to the idea of letting her play soccer with a local girls team. The family is not keen on the idea and try to force her into a more traditional role in the home. She secretly keeps playing, and the team wins several big matches. There is also a love interest with her coach and a lot of confusion with her family over her relationship with a team mate.
The film is totally charming and you find yourself cringing, laughing and cheering throughout. It also touches on issues of body, sexuality, tradition,race and family without being too cliche or forced. It is a definate must see, and I can't wait to buy it on DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Bend it like Beckham
Review: This film is wicked and you must see it!
It's about a muslim girl who loves playing football. Someone asks her to be in a girl's football team and her family doesn't let her! :-( But she sneaks out pretending that she has a job. I'm not very good at writing reviews but there is one fact that might wanna make you buy it....
At the end you can see David Beckham and Victoria!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: spicy vindaloo and football
Review: A WONDERFUL MIX OF CULTURES (PUNJABI,IRISH,BLACK & ENGLISH)
WITH FOOTBALL AND LAUGHS TO BOOT....WITH AN AMAZING SOUNDTRACK
FEATURING BANGRA,DANCE,ROCK,POP AND EVEN A CLASSICAL TRACK
WONDERFUL CAST WITH STANDOUT PROFORMANCES FROM THE ENTIRE CAST
Rating:
Summary: funny and touching
Review: i never really watch chick flicks with a bit of comedy but i was told this was a great movie so i decided to watch it. humor: 8/10 violence: 2/10 story(what its about): 9.6/10 by the way those things i put up there are just things i usually look for in a film overall: 9.25.
Rating: 
Summary: A Different Comedy!
Review: 'Bend it like Beckham' is a sweet, fresh and funny film, which despite the not so original script, manages to remain interesting and enjoyable all the way. The plot uses women soccer as a excuse(original) to tell the story of a young, Indian girl, who idolizes David Beckham (having her room literally full of his posters). It describes her attempts to fulfill her dreams, which most of the times bring her in direct contrast with her family and society (not so original). Apart from the script, I certainly enjoyed the ethnic/cultural character of the film, which reveals (always in a humorous way) the traditional Indian way of life, touching subjects such as religion, family, clothing, even cooking (delicious!) The soundtrack of the film is simply brilliant, including an intriguing combination of modern, brit pop songs, and traditional (or not so traditional) Indian songs - pay close attention to the wedding song and the end titles song. All the soccer scenes (including the close-ups) are very well shot. The fact that most of those scenes include girls, who prove how smoothly they can handle the ball, makes them even more enjoyable! Concluding, 'Bend it like Beckham' may not be a masterpiece, but it will certainly leave a big smile on your face. PS The film even offers a suggestion as to how you can explain the off-side rule to someone ignorant! Try it and see if it works.
| 
