Memorable, crazy movie

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Really bad attempt by British to make a Bollywood movie. The dancing is awful. I can dance way better!! (and I'm not much.) The acting is bad which could be the directing. There was an actor in it that I know is great. He had just a small part. Remember the guy who played Al Swerengen from HBO's Deadwood? I know he can do much better than this.Can't tell you just how much I hated it. Waste of time. THIS IS NOT A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE!!! Not even close. Just because they found Indian people in England and put them on screen doesn't make it Bollywood. Wow. They want me to do 10 lines of telling you just how crappy this movie is!!!!

So there I am in Blockbuster, trying to decide which movie I want to see when I head on over to the foreign film section. Being burnt out on the teenage-market oriented films over the last fifteen years I'm hoping that the other six continents on the globe can offer good old fashioned mature film making (yes, I'll even include Antarctica ... maybe there's some U.S. Army research type trying to make the next "March of the Penguins" with a camcorder).I perused the section, grabbed one title that won Cannes, another that Ebert raved about, then scrunch my lips as I examine the respectable (though somewhat limited) selection of foreign films. I see a plain white Blockbuster DVD case with "Bollywood Queen" written in plain black letters. I grab it, read that small dozen-word "paragraph" describing a small indy film, then shrug and head to the cash register.When I get home I popped the thing in my player, began to watch it anticipating on popping in one of the other DVDs into the machine, but instead was captivated by a magical film making style."Bollywood Queen", as the title suggests, leans towards the Indian musical genre, but it isn't strictly a musical in the Bollywood sense. It is an existential homage and tribute to the genre, and an attempt to introduce it and rework it for a larger movie going audience who can appreciate good film making.The classic Romeo and Juliet story is played out in this modern Londoner update. The two families in question are from different sides of the tracks and different cultural backgrounds. The young-hearts must overcome obstacles including, but not limited to, traditional family politics, racial prejudices, and criminality from both families to set themselves free. There's been some complaint by viewers of racial stereotyping. This is entirely incorrect, as the baser elements of society are not limited to any racial segment, but cut across both prevalent groups in the film.Interspersed within this drama are of course the musical numbers. They're there more for paying tribute and to enhance the overall surrealism that is the film's predominant theme. They're not huge lavish numbers one might expect from a golden age Hollywood production, but nor are they ridiculously kampy fare so prevalent in Bollywood offerings. They're brief, heartfelt, and to the point, but also a pleasure to listen to.The acting is very respectable and solid, though no Oscars will be won here, as was the intent. Humor, romance, intrigue and drama are mixed and balanced, but not overplayed. Director Jeremy Wooding and his cast definitely knew what they were doing as they create a warm world in which viewing couples can get pleasantly lost in for 90 minutes.Definitely a good couples film, or a film for anyone who likes good independent features.

This movie is directed towards a very specific fan base but also has an appeal to normal movie watchers. If you understand Indian culture and in particular the UK version, you will love this film. It will definitely appear to be a dopey film to someone who doesn't understand the cultural context, but if you get it, then you'll definitely GET IT.The movie has somewhat of a predictable ending in that it is a typical bollywood movie. But, I think this movie actually incorporates some satire in that it overdoes the typical bollywood stuff in a 'Matrix' kind of way. The movie is still very much boy meets girl, girl's parents don't approve, boy spirals for awhile, girl's big brother plays the over protective role, and in the end the parents get fussy until everyone dances and ends up happy.

The British filmmaker blended Bollywood with the Western film world to make a sweet story of a nice Indian girl living in London. Her family, of course, wants her to marry a nice Indian boy and carry on the family traditions, but she meets and falls instantly in love with Jay, a nice boy that is definitely NOT Indian. The songs (of which there are many) are delivered in the Bollywood style of breaking into song at any moment (even more so than in American Musicals). All songs are in Hindi, even though the main character states in the film that she cannot speak Hindi. The music is so obviously fantasy in the movie that it seems okay, though. This was a lot of fun, and an enjoyable story.