Rating: 
Summary: Suprisengly Great
Review: What makes a great movie is that the viewer should leave watching this film with a good taste in the mouth that "the movie was good. I enjoyed it." This movie delivers exactly that. The movie shows how traditional values get in the way of the dreams of a British Indian girl looks at. Making "curry", cooking "roti", and singing praises of her husband is a cliché of any Indian girl. How about playing football (soccer in British) Sounds strange? Well, that is what you are all set to witness. A British Indian girl is just about excellent playing football (soccer) and wants to excel in it. But that's not her parent's cup of tea. More than that, she falls in love with a white guy? The Indian cliché family is not going to stand for it. How she hides, runs, and gets her bit of the world is all, "Bend it Like Bekham" is all about. Wait a second, did you think than the movie is a serious melodrama? Hell No! It's an out and out comedy. The comic scenes are extremely hilarious and make you laugh and enjoy the good times melt on the big screen. This movie was surprisingly great, when my cousin brought this film I thought typical chick flick, but it is for some reason a great film. This is a must see film.
Rating:
Summary: Oligobi?
Review: Family values and girl power rules in this movie. The story is about a tomboy girl growing up in a traditional Indian family, which of course is more partial for her to be more feminine as she grows up and learn how to do housework. Jess, the tomboy star, is infatuated with soccer and her idol is avid Beckham and we all know what that leads to...her having the need to be just like him. So behind her family's back, she sneaks around, join a women football team and have her gay bestfriend cover up for her. She has another new girlfriend named Jules, and both of them gets into a few weird fix with their family, eg their parents thinking they are lesbians. On the side, they are both in love with their coach and of course jealousy would really be in the way of their friendship. One day, the coach got the team an European cup match and of course it would end up in the newspaper where the parents found out their daughter is still playing soccer! *gasps!* Watch it if you like a story about family value and girl power. I'm mostly into this movie because of it's comedy ^_^
Rating: 
Summary: (4 1/2 STARS) GREAT FLICK!
Review: My mother insisted I watch this movie, even though I'm
not really a soccer fan. I'm very happy I did! It's
really funny, and the acting is really good. The lead
girl in this movie is Indian, but she talks with an
english accent, which is pretty interesting. You don't
have to like sports, to like this movie, you just
have to like movies. You'll enjoy this one!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful, Positively Inspiring Film
Review: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM tells the tale of a soccer-loving teenage girl named Jesminder, or "Jess" (Parminder Nagra) whose traditionally-minded family emigrated from India to England. Jess finds herself torn between honoring her parents' wishes to learn traditional Indian women's skills (such as cooking a traditional Indian meal) and honoring her heart's desire to play football (aka soccer). When her sister becomes engaged to be married, the family pressure increases for Jess to set football aside, at the same time as Jess begins to realize how much she loves playing... and winning... football games! Jess is fortunate to have friends and family who care so much about her, although there are many ups and downs. Adding to the humor and tension of this film are frequent misunderstandings about who's kissing whom, as parents struggle to figure out what's going on and how to get their kids' lives back on track. Fortunately for all of us, the kids are focused on helping one another make their dreams come true.
The entire cast in BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is fabulous, and the film is at times hilarious, heart-breaking, sad, and uplifting. I was tremendously touched by Parminder Nagra's acting in the role of Jess, as her every expression conveyed tremendous warmth, intelligence, and inner fire. The other star player on the team is Jules, played by Keira Knightley, and she was every bit as riveting to watch as Parminder.
BEND IT is a truly amazing and inspiring movie with a powerfully positive message... that great things can be accomplished when you stick with them and don't give up, and when you've got supportive friends and family. I loved watching this film so much I had to start watching it all over again when the end credits ran!
Rating:
Summary: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GEM
Review: What an enjoyable movie this is. The story is sweet and uplifting and full of great performances by all the actors and actresses in it. If only every movie could be this much fun. In addition to a great story and acting I got to see pictures of the very handsome Beckham and hear some great songs like Move on Up by Curtis Mayfield and Inner Smile by Texas. I got to see a little soccer which is my favorite sport in the whole world and even got to enjoy once again the beautifully sweet and somewhat demonic face of that great actor named Jonathan Rhys-Meyers! I've seen him in just a handful of films and he never fails to enthrall me. What more can I possibly ask for in a movie? This film delivers!
Rating:
Summary: Unusual Theme:Soccer Movie
Review: 2/23/05 The movie although really meant for the minors(a/k/a teen youth) would and does have enough "stuff that good scripts ar made of" to appeal to adults. The actors was convincing , the few up close action scenes on soccer were well photographed and a "peep into the life of the Indiastans"(they called them Indians in the movie but the Native American Indian does not live as close to them as the Pakistans who were once part of India) was very interesting.The movie did resemble some of the Indiastans' "Bollywood Movies" in the engagement party and wedding reception scenes.
Rating:
Summary: Well...brilliant.
Review: This is one terrific film, probably one of the best where a sport is at center of it. Amusing, with ok dialogue (the overuse of "brilliant" gets a bit tiring). Has a great messege, and a feel-good ambiance.
Interestingly enough, David Beckham only appears in the film for a few seconds. The title is apt however.
We follow a young Indian girl (Jess) as she gradually tackles all her troubles. She is a "brilliant" footballer, whose parents are an extremely conservative Indian family, and don't liker her "chasing a ball around the park," but she is really good. Enter Jules, a girl of same age who is on an all-girls soccer team. The two become friends and Jess gets persuaded to join. Needless to say, this adds to Jess' problems, oh and then she falls in love with her coach, who is not Indian, further adding to her problems.
Juliet Stevenson, who plays the mum of Jules, is absolutely hilarious. She has some very funny scenes and quotes.
Lots of laughs, love, and family drama. It deals with many touchy issues in a tasteful manner. The movie is definitely worth checking out.
In My Humble Opinion
Rating:
Summary: East meets West with a touch of Aloo Gopi!
Review: As far as British comedies featuring Indians go, this movie ranks a sweet number one above 1996's "East is East". The movie, as cliched as it sounds, is as tasty as the various Punjabi cuisine featured in it.
The director, Gurinder Chadha, directs this movie like a Bollywood musical-cum-Chariots of Fire-cum-dramedy. Like her recent film, Bride and Prejudice, this movie centres around the trials and tribulations of an Indian family living in a "goreh" country and the likes of Mr. Posh Spice's occupation.
Like Mira Nair's "Missisippi Masala" and "Monsoon Wedding", the centrepiece of this movie is surprisingly not a climatic soccer match alone. It intercuts with an exhurbent and exhilarating wedding party, full of colours, music, dance and food. Chadha finds the right balance in inserting familial cultural clash in humourous ways. Jessminder's mother is a riot. Armed with a traditional mindset and recipes for a full Punjabi dinner, meat and vegetarian, she steals the show with her sharp repartoire in regards to her "wayward" daughter.
This movie is highly recommended for those looking for a good family movie during Christmas or Thanksgiving. At least it will make you rush out to find a good Indian restaurant.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Crowd Pleaser: This movie is the Top
Review: It doesn't matter if you like football (soccer) or even sports at all -- If you have ever had a dream this is a movie for you. At first glance this movie appears to be a brit-flick-chick-flick but it is a whole lot more. I cant say enough about what an enjoyable movie this is. The cinematography is beautiful and it has a great soundtrack that really gets the audience in a happy mood.
The story is fresh and while the theme may not be you don't notice it because the characters, both Indian and British, are well crafted and greatly portrayed. The Indian family is of course very idiosyncratic and the director, being Indian, pokes a little fun at her own culture -- of course with the best intentions. But she doesn't save this just for the Indians, "Jules" parents (the English Set) are two riotously humorous characters.
Beyond this, the script is so well written with fresh humor and great sequencing. I think the film really is a gem. The best part about the film is its wide appeal. This is one of those rare movies you can watch with your extended family and they will all love it. Of course the film resonates best with adolescents but I haven't found a single person who hasn't said this film is at least good.
One warning: The soundtrack is catchy and you may need to buy it.
If you have seen the film in theaters or on TV you are still missing out. Get the DVD its packed with deleted scenes (which are understandably not a part of the original film), an aloo gobi recipe and a great commentary -- just to name a few things. This is one of the DVDs you will have and watch often but that is why you buy a DVD -- innt it!)
Ted Murena
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Feel-Good Film
Review: I caught this movie by accident the other night on a cable movie channel & boy was I happy I did. The plot/storyline is nothing new; however, the actors are superb. It also gives some insight into the culture & mores of a middle class East Indian family & what their daughter has to go through to pursue & develop her love & talent for soccer. See it, you can't help but feel good after it's over.
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