#bollywood really doesn't deserve him

[lastofthe20thcenturygirls]

fuck filmfare all my homies hate filmfare

[triviareads]

Tastes Like shakkar sounds so good! What are your top 5 books with brown or desi characters?

I enjoyed Tastes Like Shakkar a lot more than I was expecting, and have relentlessly been shilling it ever since. It's such a solid romance, the sex was good, a lot of the desi family stuff (the concept of being a "family manager") really hit, but it never took away from the main romance. Also, it's always nice to feel "seen" in the books you read even though it's pretty rare for me, but since this was specifically about Indian-Americans in the NY-NJ area, I really felt that.

Here are books with desi rep apart from Tastes Like Shakkar that are in my top 5:

Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai: I debated putting my other fave by Alisha, Serving Pleasure, on here but Wrong to Need You portrayed a less-troubled desi family dynamic than Serving Pleasure so I'm picking this. Sadia is a widowed single mom grappling with her attraction to her brother-in-law, Jackson who's just returned after a self-imposed exile related to a mysterious fire. The restrained tension between these two is so hot (ok maybe not entirely restrained; she doesn't recognize him when he first returns and nearly has sex with him lol). Also, Sadia, like Jiya below, subverts the passive Asian woman trope on multiple levels, and based on the dynamic between her and Jackson.

I also liked how Sadia's large, close-knit Pakistani-American family was portrayed; they may not see eye-to-eye all the time, but they love one another and are willing to learn and compromise.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert: Zafir Ansari is truly a prince among men; him and Dani go viral for his rescue of her, and they start fake dating so his football charity can get some positive attention and donations. I like how Zafir was the romantic one among the two of them (and is a Bollywood romance fan, predictably), and is also great in the sack so... a winner, basically.

Also, Talia wrote this lovely exploration of grief (Zafir lost his dad and brother) and this really sweet relationship between Zafir and his SIL, and his family as a whole which I appreciated.

Sink or Swim by Tessa Bailey: I know Tessa has gotten a lot of flak for her portrayal of Latinx characters (which, deserved imo), and she's otherwise by and large stuck to writing white characters, but I can't deny she did pretty damn good job of writing Jiya and her family, who are desi, in this book. Here are my full thoughts on this.

The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert: Friends to lovers AND probably one of the only unrequited love books I'll ever recommend only because I love Jasmine so much (even while she's STRUGGLING to figure out that yes, Rahul has had feelings for her ever since she deflowered him on the... I wanna say library floor), and Rahul Khan is adorable and a stern, stern man who can absolutely get it. Similar to Zafir above, Rahul's dad also dies during the book (there's a lot of flashbacks) and Talia portrayed Muslim funeral customs and just the general family dynamics thoughtfully and in such an emotional way.

Hard Way by Katie Porter: lol my problematic fave because there are a few things that are just so weird in terms of rep: For one, the author keeps putting Sunita, the heroine, in "indian inspired" clothes, for example, some kind vaguely described professional suit inspired by a saree? Like, this woman is an attorney who works for a United States congressman. She's probably wearing a regular-ass suit like the rest of the people in that office. Also, her nickname in law school was the "Ice Queen of Bangalore" which was meant to be microaggressive, but the nickname literally makes 0 sense to me since she was raised in AMERICA, and considering half the Indians I know can't make the connection between being Kannadiga and possibly being from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, what are the chances these white mfs can, right? And the weird thing is, she narratively sort of "reclaims" her nickname, but it was such a cringe one to begin with and I don't even know why the authors bothered to put it in in the first place.

BUT Sunita is the only Kannadiga heroine I've ever read (I am. kannadiga, to clarify), she's a martial artist, she's struggling to work out her marriage with her husband (I'm a sucker for that shit), she's good with being kidnapped and zip-tied straight from the grocery store by her husband because it's a mutual fantasy, and she attends yakshagana performances (also very personal to me and my family)! Do you know how rare it is to see any of these things as far as brown heroines go? Maybe I have a lower bar for South Asian rep because there are so few romances that have South Asians who don't hate themselves/the culture AND have good sex scenes, but hopefully that will change as time goes on.

[nuatthebeach]

come let's walk for miles

thanks @narukoibito for giving me the prompt "don't go. stay." and just encouraging me to pop out of my shell and post again! i had so much fun writing this drabble!

title is the english translation of the song "aao milo chalein" in the bollywood movie "jab we met."

comment here on AO3.

The crisp crunch of the snow pressing against his boots is but a dim noise to his ears, easily muffled by the heavy weight of his clouded thoughts. Whimsical lights hang about the village, like fairies dancing in homes of glass, bringing life to an already lively and bustling community. Rich aromas of spices and bakery goods waft to meet his reluctantly curious nose. From a distance, he can see children holding hands, prancing in circles, books resting on the grass not far from them.

Suddenly, memories of too pristine drapery, burnt bread served in small portions, cold spaces and even colder company flash before him, and he reconciles instantly that for the person beside him who deserves a thousand shimmering lives, the one he could provide is laughably unfit.

He chooses instead to clear his throat from the overwhelming constriction building within. “Welcome home."

Harry isn't even sure she hears him until her voice reaches his ears this time, less strained but equally quiet. "Thanks. You've…we've come a long way together. I couldn't have returned home without your map and knowledge of the terrain and…well, your company."

Long way together, indeed. He starkly recalls the night they first met a month ago; he was nearly passed out at the pub, his ratty travelers’ attire dragging on the floor. In contrast, her finely stitched gown - though roughly hiked halfway up to her knees - allowed her easy passage to approach him and demand guidance back to her home. One of her many demands from him, as it would soon appear. He listened as she spoke of how a neglectful carriage had failed to pick her up while in town doing business across the country. Locals suggested that he - a troublesome albeit spatially adept traveler - could help her.

A bag of coins had clanged against the table before Harry could form the words "what's in it for me?"

Turns out, there was a reason why she was in such a rush to return home so quickly. It's the same reason why after weeks of navigating rocky territory and shady inns - all made surprisingly easy with her laughter by his side - he musters all the courage he can…

And shrugs these complicated feelings off.

"For all your talk of disliking sugar, you sure do come from a place with a lot of honey cakes." He lifts the sweet sample to his lips, sinking his teeth in appreciatively. Something to keep his mouth busy, at least.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work very well. "Mmh, nice. You can really feel the corn amongst all that syrup. Good to get your vegetables in."

She sighs, her breath misting the air from his periphery.

"Honestly, I'm quite jealous." That last word chokes in his throat. "You've been stopped four times already with people offering you this. They're that excited to see you again."

"Harry - "

He can’t bloody stop himself, can he, because the next thing he knows: "I bet Dean would have this waiting for you right by the door." The intake of her breath is sharp, not so much a warning but a tense silence. "It must be in the betrothed handbook or something. 'Feed thy wife or face wrath.'"

"Very funny."

"That's why we came here, isn't it?" The reason why she was in such a rush. The reason why the ring sits on her finger, a delicate piece he caught his eyes tracing several times over the past month.

A reminder that she's not his, that she can't ever be his - he's a lonesome wolf, strings to his abusive aunt cut years ago, his proper language a residual to his pseudo-rich past. And she. Well, she's of the lifestyle of everything he left behind, of everything he hates.

So why does he not hate her?

He pauses at a nearby cart to pour himself some ale to mask his fidgeting.

"Harry."

Jaw clenching, he forces down his drink in burning gulps, really letting the seconds drag. "Ginny,” he mimics.

He hears her huff.

"So this is it, then. You're just going to keep evading my departure? Through flimsy humor?”

Pushing through the sharp pain her words evoke, Harry takes in a harsh breath. "There's nothing to evade. You're getting married. And based on everything you've yapped in my ear about so far, to a really nice man."

"Yes…but that was before - "

Smashing the remnants of the honey cake in between his fingers, more decadent and rich than anything he's had the pleasure of tasting in his meager life, he snaps in two. "What should I say, Ginny? Don't go? Stay? Maybe Dean likes to whisper sweet nothings to you, but personally, as a mere acquaintance, I - "

Her fingers tug at his arm with unsurprising strength, forcing herself into his space. His stomach can't help but lurch at how the sunset paints her hair in ways that pedestal the lush sky only second to her attention.

"An acquaintance?” Her voice falters. “Is that all I am to you? Just…more than a stranger?"

He swallows, a chill settling low in his gut. Cruelly, he delivers the blow anyway.

"With time, acquaintances become strangers too."

Sure enough, the rageful tempest that battles its way across her fierce features is nothing in comparison to the aching realization that he is breaking her heart all the same. Like his damage was decreed collateral from the start of time, he watches her pieces shatter too.

"Well," Ginny whispers, eyes glassy, voice severe. "Allow me to speed things up for us then."

Harry doesn't turn to watch her leave. If he did, he might never stop.

[film-in-my-soul]

10 Movies I Love:

I was tagged by @glitterisblue, so here we go!

1. Sunshine (2007)

Some of the best cinematography I've seen, with a group of compelling characters and a beautiful science-fiction story that doesn't let up once it really starts. Danny Boyle is one of my favorite directors, and this film is at the top of my recommendations every time.

2. Spotlight (2015)

My teacher showed us this film in our pre-production class the year it was up for the Oscars; only 1 scene, and I went home that day itching to watch it. I then proceeded to watch it three days in a row because I was blown away.

3. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

I'm not usually one for dramatic romance films, and I knew going into this one, even as young as I was when watching it, that it was going to hurt, but never have I been so emotionally devastated. A story that grips you and rips you apart with some of the most compelling acting I've seen.

4. Love Actually (2003)

Any of my friends will tell you that romcoms are not my go-to film genre, but this movie has it all. From complex relationships and an amazing theme that is explored through so many different stories. There are tears and laughs and those little "aw" moments wrapped up in a genuinely amazing and lighthearted (for the most part) film.

5. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

I've seen as many iterations of this story as I can get my hands on (with zombies and in the style of Bollywood), and I can't seem to get enough. There's a reason that Elizabeth and Darcy's romance is a classic, and I love it.

6. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Come on, are any of us surprised? Top Gun: Maverick sunk its claws in me and delivered a film experience I think has really been missing in the mainstream for the last few years. I think it's clear the time and attention that was paid to both the technical and story aspects of this movie, and it's well deserving to be praised.

7. The Shape of Water (2017)

To pick 1 Guillermo del Toro film is nearly impossible, but I think The Shape of Water is both the freshest and one that incorporates everything I really love about him as a filmmaker into one cinematic masterpiece. From his use of color and reliance on stellar actors, this film is such an experience that keeps my faith that film can really excel past the current standards.

8. An American Werewolf in London (1981)

I love werewolves and werewolf movies, and the first one I always think of is An American Werewolf in London. It revolutionized monster makeup and monster transitions, and it plays with such interesting ideas and the true physiological horror that the werewolf presents. It's a classic and holds up, even over 40 years later.

9. October Sky (1999)

Another film I was shown in school, though this time it was junior high. I fell in love with the simple and inspiring story. The atmosphere and the relationships between the characters have such a good feeling, and even though there are moments of heartbreak, it's just a phenomenal watch that I think anyone could enjoy.

10. Doom (2005)

Look, I know what you're thinking. But I will be the first one to tell you that I love popcorn movies. I love sitting down to put on a mindless sci-fi horror with A-list actors that are filled with silly one-liners and stupid characters. Popcorn movies have such a special place, and I think if people aren't putting at least 1 popcorn film on their lists, they're not being completely honest with themselves. A movie doesn't need to be a masterpiece to be loved; you just have to feel good and have a good time when you watch it.

~

I'm gonna go ahead and tag some people. Looking forward to seeing your movies :3 - @thestarlitnight @icemav86 @mistmarauder @blackestglass @cristinuke

[indra-istari]

Miraculous Movie: Brain Thoughts As A Series Watcher

ft. Boyfriend

Why are they calling the Butterfly miraculous evil??? have there not been good butterfly miraculous users??? Nooroo doesn't deserve this slander

Also i think it's funny that they're rivals now lmao

The heart????

someone get her brown contacts im scared

THE VA CHANGE FOR SINGING IS LIKE A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE

what the fuck. Why did no one get to wear her colorful designs??? what's with the boring ass white???

fuck gabriel and his rich fucking car

Nathaniel going from talking to Ivan to being 100 feet away when the shot changes

Why's Emilie's arm like that??

Gabriel: "I'd give every moment i have left to see you in this dress" ok horny mf

why does Luka go to their school?

NOOROO WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN "CAT NOIR MIRACULOUS"

also they made the butterfly miraculous kinda ugly.

THEY GAVE ADRIEN AN ENTIRE CAT TO HIDE???

WHYD THE AKUMA SCREAM AT HIM??? NAZGUL LIKE TOO

CARELESS WHISPER????

they like catboyified Adrien like 2x more

the songs???

They got rid of Adrien's very minimal critical thinking skills

Gabriel in his freaky ass basement: skulls edition

Disney Villain tbh

why'd they give Gabriel fucking Agreste the best song (so far)

Boyfrien Note: What the fuck is happening

Alya is gay for Ladybug?? based

So if the Miraculous don't have voice altering identity magic stuff how the fuck do people not easily figure out their identities?

WHAT HAPPENED TO GABRIEL??? why does he look like Pitch from RotG??

Gabriel, force choking a teenager: I am doing the right thing!

i need them to make tikki blink more please for the love of god! PLEASE

oh he exploded

Finale Thoughs:

Me - I could skip all the songs except Gabriel's

Bofrend - What was that? It's really funny that they cut right before the kiss

[getmemymicroscope]

There's fun bits, for sure. Sohail/Isha's story is, while (quite) a bit ridiculous, fun. Also, way too short - they're barely there. John/Vidya's story is sad, but there's interspersed comedy which is fun. Govinda's story has also got it's moments. Unfortunately, even with a near 4-hour run-time, there isn't enough time to really introduce many of our characters beyond simple trait or two (doesn't clean up after himself, but is truly in love; ass; ass; super ass; daft; horny; brainwashed by the patriarchy; clueless; unlucky enough to be in 2 big accidents).

The Priyanka/Salman story is probably a bit ridiculous, but is also very "showbiz". At least Tinu Anand's character isn't a complete ass. The Ayesha/Akshay story feels very similar to Shaadi Se Pehle, which released the year before this movie. And not in a good way (I did enjoy that movie, at least in parts) - he just seems like a hammy character who doesn't really deserve the happy ending he gets.

That the Juhi/Anil story ended the way it did, with her essentially ignoring everything for the sake of family, feels exactly like the ending we got from the Shilpa/Shiny/Kay Kay story from Life in a ... Metro (which, like Salaam-e-Ishq, also released in 2007) and is, quite honestly, frustrating/disappointing and, probably, very much Bollywood/cultural bowing down to "marriage" and "family." Like, I get it, but ... she deserves better. The idea that her entire happiness revolves entirely around his happiness and she just has to ignore everything (luckily for her, she wasn't there to watch that disaster of 'creepy clean-shaven Anil dances at a bar') is ridiculous. She should've left him.

Also, that plane thing - it's 2007! How the fuck is he running through the gateway into a boarded plane ... and they let him have a full on conversation with her? Like, that should be impossible - Bollywood romanticization of last-second airplane scenes or not. Catch the next flight, asshat. Hell, earlier, you even fucking lied to your kids. Also, don't they close the doors at the gate once the airplane is boarded? He would've needed one of their passes/codes to open that. Everyone at the airplane failed there, if we're being honest.

I think if we rated the stories in terms of just overall fun/best story, it'd be: 1) John/Vidya (for a touch of drama, without being overly crazy), 2) Govinda/Shannon Esra (I get why he didn't tell her, but also, like, tell her, you daft fool!), 3) Sohail/Isha (we needed more of them, but also, like, there's no story here at all; it entirely depends on you being able to laugh at his/their misery), 4) Priyanka/Salman (there is some emotion/humanity that they come close to hitting here, but the background just makes the whole thing kinda creepy), 5) Ayesha/Akshaye (Ayesha deserves better; Akshaye's a loser, but the other guy she was going to marry is somehow worse), and 6) Juhi/Anjana/Anil (yikes; no; yuck).

Speaking of Ayesha's suitors - how the fuck does she see this whole thing unfold with groom and Stephanie and then just be like "yeah, lets continue." And how does her father, or mother, or sister, or brother-in-law (the ass that Anil is, even he should know better) not just be like "wait, no, don't."? Not one person is willing to step up and be like "this is a mistake" - Ayesha's character needs to scrap everyone in her life and start over, now.

And then, mid-wedding, Priyanka and Salman decide "eh, let's just have a full heart-to-heart (and propose!), while everyone at the wedding is waiting for us to finish so they can finish their 7 pheres." What a disaster.

At least the songs are good - but honestly, while they do go on for a bit (and, early on, come in quick succession), for a nearly 4-hour movie, one could argue that there aren't enough songs. I do love them all though, especially the title song, Mera Dil, and Tenu Leke.

In terms of "massive cast/multistory" films in 2007, Honeymoon Travels was undoubtedly better (even with the random foray into the supernatural/superpowers), and apparently Just Married (which I haven't seen yet) was also better (I believe it). A big starcast is nice, but it can't save a movie where we have little plot and even less character building.

[miss-gee-gee]

So THIS is the apology? This ADULT man...a fully grown ADULT throws around a couple of half-assed sorry messages to people and then has the audacity to retweet ONE Indian dude who says he doesn't care?

His intentions are very clear. He knew what he was doing and he isn't apologetic AT ALL.

THIS IS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY

THIS IS NOT AN APOLOGY

GMMTV GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER

P.s. For whatever reason, if you choose to continue watching this show please know that it is alright. But please also know that there is NOTHING WRONG with calling out your favourite shows for problematic behavior.

Edit: This man also retweeted another Indian person's tweet that said this was a sweet nod to Indian fans and Bollywood. I swear our people really get on my nerves sometimes.

Edit 2: And now he's blocking all the people who are calling him out. Now no matter what anyone says I REFUSE to believe this wasn't intentional. Yesterday, I gave them the benefit of doubt and thought it was just ignorance. After all this I have understood that their intentions were indeed to mock and make fun of another culture, which happened to be from my country. I am now certain this person wouldn't hesitate before doing the same thing with other cultures. He deserves zero support.

Honestly, I stopped watching the show when I saw that one of the main leads is 17. I know a lot of people think 17 isn't a huge deal as it is very close to adulthood, but I was uncomfortable and I just decided to stop watching. I only watched Ep 4 part 4 after I saw all the tweets, and man, just when I thought this show couldn't get anymore disappointing.

[unetherealfeelings]

Sushant Singh Rajput

**Trigger Warning**- Suicide, Depression 

I apologise, this will be a long post, but I felt the need to spill my thoughts and possibly gain some closure. Please bear with me 🥺☹️

I think it’s been over a week I have been sulking and hiding away in the recesses of my mind. Ever since I found out about Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, I haven't been able to get over it as I normally do with celebrities. I feel a sense of despair and misery and they don't seem to be dissipating anytime soon. For better or worse I have resorted to watching his films that I haven't caught up on. I think in some twisted way I believe that watching his past films will bring me some form of closure. But really it’s deepening the ache in my heart, with the realisation he wouldn't be around for another brilliant performance, that shatters me. 

I partly blame myself for this ache. I feel responsible as an avid movie watcher, I have always been aware of his films, I simply didn't take the leap of faith to watch them, if only I had, I would have understood the depth of his talent earlier. 

In fact, I recently got around to watching Detective Byomkesh Bakshy and the ease of how he slipped into the role of a brilliant eccentric Sherlock-Esque character blew my mind. The role completely irradiated the actor’s presence behind the character and I completely and utterly believed he was the Detective. It is a testament to his acting prowess and the ability to slip into roles in almost a seamless manner as if, they were made especially for him.

Then there was Sonchiriya, what a helluva ride that film was, yet again I was completely convinced watching him as an outlaw bhaagi blindly following his iron-hearted leader, then later the despair from his leader's death and the final conviction to do the right thing for the once in his life. It was every bit heart wrenching and soulful watching Lakhna, finally receive the redemption he so desperately sought. 

Speculations and News Coverage

I have been reading the speculations around his death, all over the world, people are trying to come to terms with his death whether it was pre-mediated murder or really a suicide. The fact of the matter is no matter what the conclusion turns out to be, he’s gone forever and solving this case isnt going to bring him back. I think even now days later I haven't come to terms with it. How could it happen? What exactly transpired leading him to make such a drastic decision? Who is to blame for his untimely death? Ultimately, there is a pain in the realisation that a man every bit talented and bright as him, had decided at some point that death would be the only way out. Pain, that to some extent the industry he worked and poured his soul into, may have played a part in his terminal downfall. 

Oh and don't get me started on the media's news coverage.  I haven't seen such a degraded level of humanity than what journalists, TV channels and reporters have displayed these past few days. Has a human life become so worthless that you refuse to give mourners the right to grieve in peace, the soul of the departed to rest in peace? That you had to share such confidential pictures of such a sensitive case all over the internet? It absolutely disgusts me, that there are people out there who would be willing to sell their dignity, shame and morals for TRPs. Utter scum, that’s all. 

Change is vital for great films and great artists 

Regarding the clusterfuck of emotions, accusations and outrage happening in Bollywood right now, I believe it had to happen at some point. I’m heartbroken that it took a preventable death for Bollywood and the audience to finally break this dam. I hope and pray that a productive and significant change is brought on by the chaos, that this outrage isn't one that merely blows over in the coming days. There needs to be a solid change in Bollywood which grants promising and genuine fledgeling talent easier access to auditions, directors/producers without needing the backing of big names, money or godfathers. And, what even is the need for an elite society of Bollywood stars? We get it, you make good movies and are bankable profit bringers, but if you can't even be decent humans and refuse to get off your high horses then I don't see the point of even worshipping such ‘stars’.  As long as we the audience, the film watchers support art made by the sub-par talent of nepotism spawn. Filmmakers, talent agents and  producers won't be pressured into actually producing good quality films with talent that actually deserve a chance to shine in the starry filmy world.  

Your Mental Health is in your hands 

I think the most important takeaway of this horrifying incident is the fragility of life and the value of prioritising your mental health. Listen, you are precious, your life is precious and you are worth so much more than the sum of your parts. If you take the decision to end it all, think about the people in your life who would be the most affected. The void left by your absence will never heal because you would have taken a piece of them with you forever. No matter what you think of yourself, know that there are people out there who are going to miss most, the parts of you that you think are flawed. All your insignificant quirks, flaws and imperfections that make you lovable, inspiring and most importantly human. We live in a world, so stricken with becoming perfect that we forget, we were created to be human;imperfect, chaotic and confusing. Never ever think your precious life isn't worth it, I guarantee that there will be someone will be affected by your loss. Please, for the love of all that is good and bad, reach out if you are in pain and suffering. Depression is a horrifyingly isolating illness, it locks you up in the darkest and most vulnerable corners of your mind, depriving you of love, confidence and your will to fight. So, just if there is someone out there you trust, friends, family, therapists, helplines, heck, even me reach out, please. For the sake of your future self, for what you could become in the future. For the possibility of a life full of love, hang on, please. 

May peace be with you Sushant 

As for Sushant, well I guess there is nothing much left to say, we can praise his work, the wonderful and down-to-earth personality that we lost to the stars too soon. In the end, it's all just a sad reminder of our futility in stopping his death. His death leaves a scathing reminder, that mental illness doesn't discriminate. Not between the rich, poor, famous, literate or illiterate we all fall prey to it. However, the difference between life and death is how we choose to battle it, in silence or with a support system. You get to decide what you want to do with your life, don't make it one you’ll regret. I’m sorry Sushant, I'm sorry you had to take such a decision to find your peace. I hope now that wherever you are, you are filled with the peace and love that you didn't get, here with us.

Sushant Singh Rajput (1986-2020).                             Lives on Infinitely through his films and art 

[getmemymicroscope]

Stretch of DNFs

I do write a bunch about the movies I do watch, but I guess I might as well make a quick blurb about why I don't finish some of the movies I start. Mostly cuz, well, why not?

Fukrey 3 (2023)

I really did want to enjoy this. I mean, I really liked Fukrey - movie and songs, and Fukrey 2 wasn't too bad either. Sure, no Ali Zafar hurt a bit, but the rest of the cast remained. Alas, it just wasn't meant to be. I did get in a slight bit, but eventually it just became too much. Somehow, after everything, Choocha remains a complete idiot - it's gone from slightly funny to mostly just frustrating (him with the popcorn-related mess, for example). And then he goes and spoils their 'plan' (didn't anyone tell him not to, or was it just them saying they wouldn't tell him for our own sake?). And the final straw was when they got to the airport and he didn't know how to use the water fountain. It was funny for a second, but then it continued and he never picked it up - and then, the minute I turned it off was when he asked Lali to make his hands into a bowl so that he can drink from it (and, even worse, his 'friend' Hunny just shrugs and is like 'do it'). We're 2+ movies in, now, and if he's still treating you like this, he's not your friend. Lali deserves better. But yeah, that airport scene was my final straw. I didn't really laughed much up to that point, and that was a sign to give up. Bollywood's obsession with friendships where the friends really don't seem to give a shit about each other is just ... not my cup of tea.

The Lady Killer (2023)

Apparently this movie was so mediocre that it flamed out, which isn't new for Bollywood, but also so subpar that it was released without being fully edited. According to Wiki, it only sold 293 tickets on its first day, which is crazy because Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar aren't exactly nobodies. So subpar, in fact, that it bypassed the 'streaming' route after falling out of theaters and immediately got released for free on YouTube. I got a bit into this movie too - it's clearly attempting, at bits, to be a 'gritty thriller' - but really suffers there because it is just slow and boring. I guess some point maybe they were going to address the whole fucked up 'Bhumi doing it with her dad' storyline - but that's just hard to stomach. Sure, sexual assault - but, like, the story doesn't immediately make it out as bad; instead, Arjun Kapoor's character makes it all about "I liked you and then I saw you doing this and now I'm hurt." Which, uh ... okay. And maybe there's a bit of Stockholm syndrome going on (I didn't get in far enough to see), but her immediate reaction isn't 'help me' or anything, but instead she smiles (seductively?) and just teases him. Teasing him!? He just saw you having sex with your dad! There's nothing to be seductive about here. Maybe it eventually picks up. I doubt it though. It feels like the story had some potential, if you get past the ick, but it just gets bogged down in trying to be "look at how dark and gritty and creepy I can be."

Visfot (2024)

Riteish and Fardeen Khan. Really wanted to like this. But then I got afraid this was gonna be some subpar attempt at a Taxi No. 9211 story (which I love), and was worried. Hard to do that well (though Selfiee did a decent job). Luckily, it isn't that - I don't think. On the other hand, it's just a mess to begin with. Fardeen has a friend who is an insult to the idea of friendship, and why he's hanging out with him, no idea. Obviously that leads to shit hitting the fan. Plus there's this completely unnecessary 'sensual' scene between Fardeen and Krystal D'Souza that lasts for like 5 seconds. Pointless. Then Riteish shows up, has an annoying kid, and then finds out his wife is cheating on him. Oh, and there's some weird bullshit going on that leads to Fardeen in a car with Krystal and Riteish's kid - and when he asks her who the kid is, instead of responding, she just stutters and remains silent. I made it to the point where Riteish goes to the hotel where his wife is and just gave up. This type of story requires brilliant story-telling and your ability to care for the characters - and as fucked over as he might be (by his own stupid decision to take the dumb jacket instead of just throwing it out!), you don't feel for Fardeen's character. And that, combined with a bunch of annoying characters (the kid, Krystal's boss person, Fardeen's 'friend') just becomes too much.

Welp, those are the DNFs for the past week. Hopefully this week will be better.

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So, the Wiki synopsis of the plot says a bit, but at the end, it finishes with what amounts to "Rekha escapes from the asylum with the help of Saif, and they set off to bring the villains to justice." ... I've never been the biggest fan of Rekha (honestly, I think it is her voice?), but this sounded fun enough to watch. (Or at least it said that before I watched the movie.)

However, what we really have is: bad guys kills Rekha's father and have her admitted into in insane asylum (obviously the doctor is gonna be in cahoots with them, because there is no way she would've been admitted otherwise). There is a lot of very unethical shock therapy going on. Then she spends most of the movie in the asylum, having lost her mind (or, at least, pretending to have lost it, waiting for some unknown perfect time to break this act). She finally finds that reason late (in like the final quarter of the movie), and breaks out - with the help of a couple of other asylum inmates, NOT Saif Ali Khan, and sets out for revenge on the 3 baddies. She takes care of 2, helped by the fellow inmates in one of the cases; it is only during the 3rd one where, after he escapes to the streets, she just happens to come across a incidentally-there Saif, who helps her out in ending him. (Also, despite what Wiki says - it was not a 'difficult journey.' Rekha had literally no issue at all dispatching the first 3 villains, and the 4th one - sure, he killed a few folks and ran for a minute and shot someone else, but she didn't really have much struggle with him either, beyond taking a couple of punches and having to climb up the side of a building.)

Otherwise, Saif just has a very minimal role (but, of course, the songs) in which he peripherally crosses paths with Rekha before she is committed and otherwise just fails to get a job. Oh, and has a couple of songs with Madhoo in an otherwise DOA love story. Madhoo has a even smaller role than he does, and the track with her and Deven Verma not only goes nowhere, but entirely disappears - that 'comedy' track is quickly replaced by a Bollywood stereotypical insane asylum comedy track that feels like it is the same as every other movie involving institutionalization.

Also with a small role is Mohnish Behl, whose go as a not-bad guy has him as a cop that has him told to stand down when he thinks something is off with a case, then suspended when the bad guys kill the suspect he was interrogating, and then ultimately killed when he tries to help Rekha with the ultimate baddie (Danny). No wonder he always plays the bad guy - still ends with death, but usually comes with a bigger role. Hell, the bad guys even get a song/dance here while he just gets to sit around off-screen on suspension, probably wondering why he chose to be a cop when even the head officer won't let him investigate something he feels is fishy.

Rekha's quest for revenge is also very much sidetracked by the typical Bollywood attempt to mix comedy and action, resulting in way too much failed comedy and Rekha just sitting around the asylum and not enough of her teaming up with Saif to go kick some bad guy butt. Of course, he doesn't have much reason really to go around doing that - short of the whole "help those in need" sort of thing - which is probably why he's missing for most of the 2nd half of the movie (except when they need to throw in a song to, I guess, interrupt the attempts at comedy?).

Our baddies are the worst type of baddies - willingly putting kids at risk with addictive, toxic tonics to increase the money they make. Very real for the way this world is going. Depressing. Anyhow, not that vigilantism is the answer, but ... they had it coming, and they deserved what they got. Who didn't deserve it? Mohnish Behl, and Asrani. And, of course, Rekha and her stint in the asylum, and Saif in his spell as the unsuccessful, jobless, 'disappointing my dad' son.

Udaan - not a bad movie, but also not exactly what Wiki said it would be at the time.

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I know this movie came out in 2012, but like, if you look at any of the posters you find online for this movie, Kunal Khemu and Amrita Puri look as if they were created by AI. It seems so fake. It's jarring, really.

(Also jarring - I know I said I was going to watch Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns today - not that it matters, since no one actually reads any of this. But whatever. I did turn it on. But it was going even slower than the first go-around, and apparently their tortured relationship has gotten even worse/messier, and I couldn't do it. So there ends that.)

This bad guy starts, and ends, the movie by telling people he's about to kill about his deep down secret - how he's someone other than who he claims. Which, as a viewer, does literally nothing, because no one else in the movie ever even thinks about this guy he claims he really is, let alone mentions it. Throwing that in really seems entirely pointless, and accomplishes very little, since the trap for him was set up for something completely different anyways. ... But still, for someone who claims to have faked his death to get away from 1 country and ... well, I don't remember what he said after that because I got bored by his irrelevant bragging ... he's kind of an idiot. Like, that should be something you keep hidden forever.

It's not immediate, and her reaction is completely justified even when the truth comes out, but it is nice to see that he owns up to his mistake. I mean, he immediately ruins it by being like "how many times do I have to apologize" and other shit and then immediately going over to "go to hell," but at least he tells her and immediately ends the whole "blackmail" possibility. I mean, it would've been better if he'd avoid that situation altogether, but hey, I guess this still beats the other, worse alternative...

You do really feel bad for Amrita Puri's character, throughout. She's so excited at first, even just to tell her story about why she's worried, and he shuts her down. And then, in a brand new world, she gets left behind - the initial party, of course, but then also the subsequent dinners at home, crescendo'ing with the birthday. She's so bubbly, which in Bollywood normally means that tragedy is about to hit. Apparently they don't like people being bubbly for a full movie (maybe partially because they end up talking A LOT, and the movie doesn't want that).

This whole "ruining one's life to chase a professional dream" has been done to death by Bollywood, I feel (though, I can't name a movie off the top of my head, but I'm going to blame that on it being almost midnight and on having worked for 14 straight days), so in that sense, the movie doesn't really add much. That doesn't make it bad, or even not good - it just means that it'll get lost amongst the fray of other such movies.

But it does have some fantastic songs - Aarzoo, Gunaah, Teri Yaadon Se, Jo Tere Sang - so, if nothing else, I'll be listening to one (or more) of those on repeat tomorrow.

There's a whole bit where she's justifiably upset (depressed?) early on, and her friend is talking about how you get adjusted to this sort of lifestyle and can't go back to whatever you grew up with and ... that is very, very true. It sucks you in and makes you part of it. And it is very sad, really, that that is how society works.

Aarzoo deserved better - and I'm glad she got it at the end (if you ignore everything that happened for the entirety of the movie).

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In what ended up being a bit of poor timing on my part (thanks to a late/furious push to finish book #42 - the unfortunately disappointing Bill, The Galactic Hero, which most definitely was not "the funniest sci-fi book" or anything close to "similar to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"), this movie, while started in 2023, ends up being the first movie I have watched (or, at least, finished watching) in 2024 (I guess, technically, I only watched the last 40 or so minutes of it in 2024, but hey - that where it is going to fall).

I know, I know - this is all about Dom & his family, and apparently there's some real real-life beef between Vin Diesel and The Rock, but like, I did really enjoy the banter between The Rock and Jason Statham. Kinda makes me excited to watch the spin-off. Of course, I also really enjoyed the 'not your typical babysitter' scene with Statham.

You had to figure Dom going rogue was going to be something like that - especially when he's spent 7 movies, plus the beginning of this one, being all "family." It is unfortunate that his decisions cost Elena her life, though - that was pretty sad. She deserved better than going out like that - at least a fight sequence, or something.

The movies, like in general, seem to love this trope of a loved one being like "that turn with them as a bad guy wasn't the real them" and "I will die on my hill that they're still good" and what-such nonsense. Of course, it's a movie (or a book), so it always works out that they're right - but god, for that entire time where they refuse to see all the bad that said loved one is doing, they can be so fucking insufferable. Like, here, we all know Dom isn't doing this by choice -but we're distant viewers. Letty ignoring the death and damage, the stealing of the EMP, the crashing into Hobbs and getting him jailed, and just losing her shit when someone suggests that maybe Dom has actually gone rogue is just - annoying. Like yes, he saved that girls life before. That doesn't mean he'll never suddenly have a change of heart. One good deed (or even ten good deeds) doesn't mean someone can't change, or turn evil, or whatever. To pretend that that will never happen is just ridiculous, no matter how much you want to believe otherwise.

Cipher, hopefully, is not her real name. She's clearly bad - plus she kidnaps a mother & toddler, and has the mother killed! - but, like, her goal seems to be to hold world powers accountable - which is very valid (though, stealing the sub and launching a nuke to prove that point is, obviously, verifiably insane). She almost feels like one of the many Batman villains (Mr. Freeze & Poison Ivy come to mind) - reasonable goal, but probably not the best way to go about with it (though, then, I don't know how she'd make them give two hoots about her otherwise).

That entire scene on the ice felt very much like that Bond movie - or, after the fact, I think the Bollywood movies War and Pathaan also tried to get fancy with on-ice climax sequences. How does the ice not break with that many explosions going on? Crazy. It was pretty cool though, I'll admit.

On to the next one!

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So, let's start with the obvious. This movie is definitely entertaining. Salman's guest appearance is entertaining/hilarious, and the 'masala' factor is clearly there. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it more than, say, Singham or Simmba (though, the overall plot point in Simmba was more painful) or something, but it was definitely entertaining. And, as for the YRF 'spy universe,' I definitely preferred this to the Tiger movies and War (War's War-like twist, which I only knew cuz I had watched War not much before, aside).

But is this movie "movie of the year" award quality? No. I was reading something recently about the Oscar and how occasionally (frequently?) good movies miss out because some movies are made in an 'award-friendly' manner (in the Oscars, they seem to vote for those weird 'awardy' movies as opposed to like anything that entertains), and this movie is definitely in that category of awardy (unlike the Oscars, Bollywood movie awards are definitely a popularity contest, and being SRK's first movie in years - and first entertaining, ?good?, movie in even longer - is all you really need to be award-worthy, and pretty much guarantees them a clean sweep; which is unfortunate, because it's not deserving of that).

Stylish action? Sure. Good, clean, well-written plot? No way in hell. But that's not why you're watching this movie anyways.

There were so many things that brought back memories of other movies - Darr was blatantly obvious; when they're racing up the train, it almost felt like their "race" in the song Yeh Bandhan Toh in Karan Arjun; the on-screen text, and the Deepika/John very predictable dynamic of 'with him, not with him, with him, not with him,' and the flying wings, were all reminders of Race; John with the motorcyles, and some of his dialogues, and the camera angles as him and SRK are talking atop that truck, were very Dhoom-like; the sequence in the snow and on the ice almost felt like a callback to (multiple) Bond movies.

That controversy around that song was obviously pointless - just stupid losers getting butt-hurt about nothing - but, god, that song was just not good. I guess it helped build up some anticipation for the song, but yikes. Jhoome Jo Pathaan was slightly better. The background music in the action sequences and with John was pretty cool.

Much like War before it, this movie suffered from what felt like just 'too much.' It kept dragging on at the end, as if it didn't want to end. The bit was Dimple dragged on - I get they're trying to be patriotic, but it just plain dragged, and her "embrace your death" sentiment (why are you taking your helmet off if it isn't doing any good, but also not any harm?) before ultimately just offing herself just felt blah. They stop John, but he tricks them; they stop John, but he tricks them; they stop John, but he tricks them - just over-and-over again. What they really needed to do, and Bollywood never would do, is have Deepika actually be on his team. We already know the whole set-up, which takes half of the fucking movie, is going to happen exactly like it is - and we also know that eventually she's going to change her mind. Tiger-like, even. (Even John Abraham jokes about this at one of the 'ends,' because even he knows how predictable this is).

Could SRK actually take John on in a one-on-one fight? I don't think so. And, unrelated, how'd he pull that switcheroo at the end?

Don't get me wrong - I was definitely entertained (up until I was bored, but then it became a bit entertaining again, maybe, at the end). I also realize that after his recent failures, this movie is going to 'save' Bollywood (also because Bollywood has been a shitshow as of late) - but that doesn't make it 'best movie' or anything. That just makes it an entertaining flick - and if, at the end of this year, this is the best Bollywood movie to have released, it's going to be another down year for Bollywood.

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This movie quickly started out as a 'hell no,' but I ended up giving it a shot (mostly out of boredom) and it did, eventually, become a bit better. Not much, but a bit.

The scene with Dustin Hoffman and Rachel Weisz was all sorts of creepy/disturbing - though, honestly, Hoffman's character was that almost every time we saw him.

I know I'm seeing this like 20 years after it released, so there's been a lot of 'con' movies since then - maybe this was more novel then. But, looking at it now, all the twists were super predictable and none of the characters were really there to make you fully sympathetic to them. Like sure, by pitting them against a creep, you want them to 'win' and all that, but it's not so much you like them as you really don't like Hoffman's character (and that first scene where our protagonist forces a kiss on Weisz to 'sell a con' doesn't exactly make him endearing either). And Price, or whatever his name was - the intermediary they're trying to swindle - well, you don't care at all about him.

The guy that is making our 'protagonist' tell this story - I don't even fully understand the purpose of all that, other than to give you an 'intermittent flashback' storytelling approach.

The 'twist' with Weisz, and then the second twist with her, were pretty obvious. The twist with Andy Garcia too. And with the guy Hoffman sent to keep an eye on them (and naming him Lupus? what?). Them getting away with the money was inevitable. And really, at the end, the worst part was that our main character is fine and that 'being shot' he goes through was so obviously a fake/part of the con - so he's just gonna up and do this again somewhere else.

This had the feel, at times, of one of those Bollywood 'black comedy' movies, but those usually end not so great for our main characters (live, but lose the money; get killed at the end; etc.) - this had no such thing. Everyone walked out unscathed (well, except the guy who died early on). Also, there wasn't much comedy.

I also got strong vibes of the movie Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina ... which apparently makes a whole bunch of sense, because a quick Wiki search just right now just informed me that EKEH released 2 years after Confidence and was, in fact, a remake of this movie. (Patting myself on the back for recognizing this.) I think I preferred EKEH (apart from that iffy Nolan-esque ending) because I thought the characters were better overall (poor Kay Kay Menon's character, though; he didn't deserve the shafting he got), and the friendship between protagonist and 'early death' guy was also better displayed (of course, that is one advantage to Bollywood movies having songs; this movie, you just had to take his word that he was close friends, and hurt about it). Of course, I also saw EKEH like 10 years ago, so maybe I'm slightly misremembering - though I do vaguely remember sorta enjoying it.

First movie of 2023 in the books. Lets see if I can top the 180 movies from last year (not looking great, honestly, unless a lot of good new stuff comes out; I feel like the number of older movies I still wanna see but haven't as of yet is dwindling quickly, aided by Bollywood's disastrous 2022 not really adding much to my 'to watch' plate).

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After Raksha Bandhan (or well, maybe before it - I don't know the exact release dates of the movies), another Akshay Kumar movie that decides to kill off the best character (though, in this case, maybe tied for best - Dr. Gabrielle and AP are both pretty cool).

So, so much infuriating stuff that takes an interesting-ish story and some cool characters (along with a whole bunch of shitty ones) and makes it painfully frustrating to watch.

Infuriating, #1: Akshay's character. He's so steadfastly "we need evidence"-mindset that it ruins his life, ruins the life of his wife/kid, and gets Dr. Gabrielle killed. And yet, he keeps at it. To a fault. From the start. I mean, even after the first combined-issue of his face and his kid, you'd think he would learn. But he doesn't. He forces them all to go with him, and it costs her her life - even as she, repeatedly, argued it wasn't necessary. He also fucking gets AP killed ... and then saves the bad guy!

Infuriating, #2: Akshay's character, again. He knows the bad guy is trying to kill him, and knows they might be considered as dead. So when he comes across them on the boat - he just stays in full view for the bad guys to actually see them all. Like, fucking hide you moron! We already hate you for being heartless and stupid and stupidly atheistic (like, there's a difference between being atheistic and essentially calling the entire religious history of your country a lie), and now this. ... And then, again, a bit later. Now we're also mad at him for getting Gabrielle killed (unrelated, why is it Dr. Gabrielle and not Dr. 'last name'?), and we have to sit and watch as we see someone looking for him and, instead of hiding or something, he just stares until the people can recognize him and start chasing. Like, what the hell dude?

Infuriating, #3: I know this is Bollywood, but what the hell was that song - both the actual song and the purpose of it in the plot. Such a mess. And a pointless song and time-waster, no less.

Infuriating, #4: Nushrratt Bharuccha's way-too-small role. And then the fact that he gets mad at her for knowing where he might be going because she cares about what he does and tries to pay attention. Ass. And, semi-related to this infuriating point: the guy is standing in a helicopter talking to them from mid-flight, and they hear everything he's saying?! That's not how this works. ... In fact, this entire fucking helicopter scene destroys the whole fucking movie. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS NONSENSE?! Utter fucking bullshit.

Infuriating, #5: They also kill the other character in running for "best character in the movie." (Another reason to absolutely hate that helicopter scene as the worst thing Bollywood has ever given us.) Poor AP. He deserved better. Hell, everyone associated with Akshay's character here deserved better. What a disaster of a person.

Infuriating, #6: The girls screaming "run fast" as he tries to get away from an about-to-explode helicopter. So, so annoying.

When this turns into a preachy courtroom drama, the infuriating things actually sorta stop because - as infuriating as some of it is, such as the other lawyer, and his preaching - it's so much better than everything we've seen up to this point (including the two horribly unnecessary deaths of the cool characters).

This movie tries to make vague hints to the Ramayan, but it really fails at the 'vague' bit of it: it's like hitting you in the face with a hammer. Him lifting the rock and walking on the bridge; AP being like Hanuman, further driven home by the playing of the Hanuman Chalisa when the realization hits him - it's a very, very painful hammer.

The deaths of Dr. Gabrielle and AP, though, absolutely crush. Especially Dr. Gabrielle, because you know she was right all along. And because she didn't deserve it at all - she'd been arguing against his pointless "we need more" nonsense the whole time - and it cost her her life while he got to continue on and put more people's lives at risk, repeatedly.

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It's been a long month of watching movies with friends/family, so there's a long way to go for me to catch up on what I've seen this month. Might as well start at the beginning. ... Also, I very much waffle on whether to actually count this as a 'Bollywood' movie or not, but at this point I'm leaning towards 'no' - the largely (entirely?) Indian (well, American-Indian it seems like) star cast and the very 'Indian'-ish plot set in America doesn't feel like enough in this setting. Even with the music number at the end.

The whole thing, to some extent, feels like a slightly poor attempt to Bollywoodize a story simply because there's Indian leads. I mean, it's a lot of generalization of Indian culture that almost gives it a bad rap - not as bad as Indian Matchmaking, mind you - and overly dramatic stuff that occasionally grates. But I don't think of it as an outright Bollywood movie. Not that that matters, really.

And don't get me wrong - it's not a bad movie. It's entertaining, it has some fun bits, and as a single guy who has seen something like this from my parents (though, thankfully, nowhere close to this level), there is definitely some truth to what is unfolding on screen.

After watching it (with parents and aunts/uncles, no less), it quickly became a short-lived debate about who was in the wrong: the parents or the kids. And, honestly ... ugh.

The family pressure and their unwillingness to not pressurize kids into things, the fucking annoying aunties/uncles that live only to gossip and ruin lives - it is definitely a part of the culture, I've seen/experienced that first hand. But the parents who are forcing kids into things simply because they're trying to avoid being gossiped about are equally at fault. She deserved better from her parents.

I felt anger growing at the parents in this movie, so I'm not going to focus on that at all. The bigger things for me were: his hiding his past (I guess I can see why, given how everything unfolded from the start) and, even more than that, her reaction to the revelation. Like, I get her being mad at him lying/hiding the past - that's valid; admittedly, when the relationship starts the way this one did, you do have to wonder when he would've been expected to tell her, since it's obviously not something you just tell willy-nilly on a first date. But her reaction appeared to be less about the lie and more about the fact that he invested in her - not just because he loved her or because he pitied her or something (he didn't), but because he'd seen her put in the effort and talk about it and he had come to believe in her and the cause. And yet she completely ignored that point. And that got frustrating to watch. He deserved better from her.

Fucking parents - on both sides! - and gossipy aunties. The worst.

The ending twist of 'cousin' was very cliché. And everything unfolding, out loud to everyone!, at her sister's wedding was just awful timing. Like, sure, you have issues with the society/culture and you're trying to make a point, and I get that ... but to do this all in the middle of your sister's wedding? Hell, in the middle of anyone's wedding? That's just ... awful. Pathetic. Awful. Sure, they got to tell the gossipy aunty to shut up (honestly, there was no sensible reason for her to be at the wedding, even, but that's another stupid cultural issue that is years from being done away with), and it's a movie so the sister was cool with it, but like ... no. You don't do that to your sister. (And he's all like "I don't want to do this now" and then blabbers on and on.) The sister deserved better from her family.

There's a lot of cultural things that are a bit frustrating, and this movie appears to have clearly been written by someone who was fed up with it and decided to air all their dirty laundry for the world to see. So yeah, there were funny bits, but all it really does is paint the whole culture in a negative light without really giving any positive views of much of anything.

I more recently saw another movie (Gujarati film, to be reviewed later) that also focuses on the ridiculousness of some of the cultural expectations (in that case, kids after marriage) and was even more annoying than this one (because of the ending); in light of that, this one is admittedly more fun (when I first saw it, I did actually enjoy it even with the absurdities; I would still say I enjoyed it, but I'm also aware that there's issues with it). I did like our leads, for the most part.

The overly dramatic mother, though - holy shit. I know it's an overplayed, yet easy to use, trope, but good heavens. These parents are out here ruining their kids lives and not even giving a damn, because at least then they can tell their neighbors "our kid got married." Whether the kid is happy or not is irrelevant to them, they just want the stupid gossip train to move on to someone else. ... And then the emotional blackmail after that.

The movie is lighthearted, sort of, if you don't think about it. But the minute you do start thinking, you realize just how problematic it is. And, maybe to it's credit in the overdramatization and overgeneralization of an entire culture, just how problematic certain mindsets in the culture are.