Rating: 
Summary: Film highlights India's unavoidable secular transformation
Review: Those born into a Western social milieu often feel inhibited from speaking frankly about other cultures. The virus of political correctness has worsened this sad situation to the point of absurdity. However, it is to everyone's benefit that we overcome this fear. Director Mira Nair has brilliantly revealed the conflicts of a modestly affluent Indian family's desire to embrace the values of Western Civilization while still retaining their ancient roots. Some of the old ways are no longer deemed preferable, but the price of transforming to a brave new world is steep and existentially risky. Great Britain may have imposed its colonial rules and language upon the Indians, but its citizens have been free for over half a century. Does everyone have to be westernized? Where should today's secularized Indian draw the line? How many more Indians will add Sweet-and Low in their morning tea and drink Coca-Cola during lunch? Is the widespread availability of pornography simply a legitimate price that a free society must pay? The father and mother are well educated and concede that their children have minds of their own. Their daughter, though, is about to be married to a young man in an arranged marriage. This young lady is currently involved with a married scoundrel and rightfully hesitates to commit to man she hardly knows. The poems of Tagore are among her reading materials, but so is Cosmopolitan and she realizes that much of the modern world finds this custom to be most peculiar. Moreover, they will almost immediately be moving to Houston, Texas. Why should a liberated woman go along with her parents's wishes? Is this truly the path to a happy and fulfilled life?The wedding takes place during the monsoon season. The lives of the whole family is wrapped up in the project. All the relatives plan on attending and actively participating in the festivities. Even the paid organizers of this grand event are caught up in the excitement. We follow the trials and tribulations of these people as they work out their anxieties and make choices of the utmost importance. The music is fantastic as are the colorful ceremonial scenes. India is rapidly becoming a leader in the sciences and economic development. Its burgeoning professional classes have little use for the caste system and sexism. Eventually this great country may become the center of the civilized world. After all, there is no guarantee that the United States will forevermore be the dominant power. Monsoon Wedding will not only entertain both Indians and non-Indians alike, but also provide insights to the challenges that lay ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Stop reading this and go see it!
Review: Six stars, hands down. This movie will make you feel good. I'm glad I saw it in a theater. Like "East Is East",I'll bet this movie is still good on video but more fun when seen with a crowd of kindred souls. I can't say why this is one of my top ten films. It just is. I usually don't care for romance films, wedding films, etc. Also, a good tenth of the scenes are underexposed, grainy, or unintentionally out of focus. Never mind all that. This film is just TOO good. Maybe I would feel different if I were Indian; my perspective is that of an American of non-Indian heritage. However, I just loved the characters in this movie, and loved the way the actors portrayed them. There were so many GOOD storylines. I'm not going to spoil them by recounting them. Just go see this film and find out for yourself. After the film was over, the 50-something lady next to me in the theater said, "In the beginning I couldn't understand the accents. But at the end I just wanted to get up and dance along with everyone on screen!" Listen, I am a vinegar-y and dour type, but I WANTED TO DANCE WITH THEM, TOO! I'll buy this movie on dvd for sure!
Rating: 
Summary: Monsoon Wedding
Review: Monsoon Wedding was one of the best movies I've seen this year because of its wonderful spirit. I felt like standing up and dancing. This is a movie to watch when you're depressed. It's funny and sometimes but rarely sad, emotional and sometimes very physical. The cast is great and couldn't be better. It's really one of those movies that just makes you look at life and want to live it better. This movie just brought up my spirit and soul. It's simply about an Indian wedding. It's really interesting to see all the customs that take place in India. It's hysterical how all the characters work together. This movie must have been so much fun to make. The beginning was kinda slow, and you have to pay attention to know who the characters are, and once you know, you're in for a very original and lively treat.
Rating:
Summary: Monsoon Wedding makes you want to dance off your chair!
Review: Monsoon Wedding is the perfect combination of drama, comedy, family, music, love, and culture. Everything from the colors to the soundtrack, the theme and the mixture of the scenes in the streets on Delhi contrasting with the family and the wedding preparations give this movie a round-about feeling of every day life. The contrast of different issues like language, religion,marriage, those who live in the U.S.and those who live in India, but most of all I think the contrast of such a happy occasion as a marriage and a sad one like the revelation of a horrible secret within the family, is an incredible risk to take since it can so easily become too confusing or badly made, but they pull it off in such a wonderful way that the audience is never bored and never feeling the same emotion for the duration of the film. Culturally speaking it is wonderful to see a family with all its love and flaws like any other family. In the tradition of such movies (for example, Eat Drink, Man Woman, The Wedding Banquet) Monsoon Wedding joins in giving audiences delight, happiness, pride, sadness, and a wonderful feeling as they leave the theater. Everyone should watch this movie more than once...just for the hell of it!!
Rating:
Summary: Really Loved It!
Review: This film is a must see!! it makes you laugh, cry and sigh over the romance. It is sooo realistic that you feel you know the characters and that they're your long lost relatives (although ur not even indian!). I loved the way it was filmed and the story line was amazing. I've seen this film twice within 24 hours and i don't mind watching it again. The best part is that there is really no single main character, you get an insight on the stories of all characters, its like reading short stories on them all. Amazing performance from the whole cast. If your into modern indian/english movies, i recommend "Bend it like Beckham" its in the same league!
Rating:
Summary: Wedding preparation chaos is not unlike monsoons
Review: The chaos surrounding a big wedding is can be appreciated in every culture. And as the large Verma middle-class family from Delhi makes preparations, we get a glimpse of Indian culture in this heartwarming Indian import now playing in several art theaters. The Indian born- American educated director, Mira Nair, has a wonderful sense of the human experience, and we get to meet some very memorable characters. The whole film is a constant whirl of a bright mix of many colors and colorful characters, and it's easy to confuse the many wedding guests. The several monsoon rainstorms just highlight the continuous action. There's never a dull moment and there are constant surprises and an excellent portrayal of Indian customs. The people speak English, Hindi and Punjabi, sometimes within the same conversation, and you have to keep alert at all times to follow the action and read the subtitles. It's a good film, on many levels. But it just didn't engage me enough to keep me from dozing off for a few minutes. Perhaps it's just that in spite of some very interesting themes, it was a little too lightweight for my personal taste. I do recommend this film though. There's something enjoyable here for everyone. And if you're not familiar with the culture, you'll learn a lot.
Rating:
Summary: A true gem
Review: This movie shows how movies should be done -- from the acting, to writing, direction, all of it. Every actor is brilliant, so much so that one is completely swept into the roles without once thinking of the acting or actor. The portrayals of humanity's diversity is perfect in the unique characterization of each person, and yet the universality is true to form in all the dilemmas. The director brilliantly brings the viewer into each heart, into the home, into the infrastructure of the group as a whole. Many points of view felt as though one were watching an actual home movie, it was that realisitic, yet stylized and platformed as drama. I cannot say enough about this movie. It sings. It is justice for the human heart. Bravo, bravo, bravo, a standing ovation to each and all. The true purpose of marriage is the brilliant gift of this movie and all the talents that went into its creation. It is a triumph for Love between Man and Woman.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: Another reviewer said there was no reason for the wedding to have taken place. I read another review where someone said that Aditi wanted to give her life direction so she decided to get married. I believe that. We have to remember that in India culture marriages are routinely set up this way. The couple meet briefly and if they are pleased they get married. We saw how the groom accepted Aditi even when she disclosed her secret behavior. As the groom he said they had as good a chance together as if they'd met in a club themselves. I believe that. In the United States we've gotten away from honor and belief in life long marriage. This film celebrates courtship and marriage. At least in Indian culture the couple marries for life. They may not live happily ever after but they marry for life and I think that's something to aspire to and celebrate. Even the director herself has gotten divorced from her first husband and remarried. So that sort of blows my theory of life long marriage. I still feel it's something to aspire to and celebrate. At least in this film it's about celebration of a new beginning and not going down some superficial checklist of must haves a potential broom or bride must posses. As far as filmmaking goes there is a lot to learn from this film. It was sensual and beautiful and no one had to take their clothes off. Bravo!!
Rating:
Summary: A must see! Again and again!
Review: I could not stop myself from going to see this move again and again especially since I find myself engaged to an Indian man. I loved the street scenes and familial scenes of India. One of my personal disappointments was that the stunning Randeep Hooda, the Australian cousin wasn't given more screen time! His smile is as enchanting as Vasundhara Das's green eyes. As with the American trend of using only stunners in magazine ads & films it seems Indian's do that also but I must say they are better at it. The entire cast was stunning in the acting department. Vijay Raaz was a real scene stealer! I'll never look at a marigold the same way! I really wished this film wouldn't end. I'd love to see some sort of sequel! If you're a single gal this movie is a must see. It may help put your view of dating and marriage in perspective. I've already bought the CD it was for sale at the movie theatre. Now I can't wait for the movie to come out on VHS. I'll continue to watch it again and again. Thank you Mira Nair! Thanks to everyone who worked on the filmtrack also it's all stellar!
Rating:
Summary: Funny, delightful, upbeat, yet it felt real
Review: This is a movie about a wedding in modern India. By the time the movie ended -- much too soon -- I felt I knew these people. More than that, I wanted to meet them and be their friend. Despite a couple of dark moments, the overall tone is very upbeat. Wonderful images of the country and an ancient and astonishing culture.
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