New york (Hindi)

I don't understand why some great movies have really misleading promos. Take New York for instance from wiki. The image is a typical "bollywoodish" one with two guys and a girl. It is from the great Chopra house which means someone like me will immediately associate it with "Rab ne bana di jodi", "Dil to pagal hai" etc. Not that those movies are bad, just that I don't really place them in the "must see" category.

On Sunday, when "Kambhakt Ishq" was housefull, New York was the only sensible choice left. I expected 150 minutes of love, friendship, ishq, pyar, mohabbat, yuck.. whatever. But New York managed to shatter all my preconceived notions. It deals with a very difficult line of how immigrants of Islamic origin have been treated post 9/11 without taking a stance. I really liked the movie for it's originality, content and presentation. Yes, there is a love track in the movie but that serves as a nice support instead of hindering the movie's pace. 

Minuses: 

1. The initial 45 minutes features too many songs. I don't like the idea of songs in movies (except may be under exceptional circumstances).
2. The length could have been trimmed towards the end making the movie more crisp.
3. The climax inevitably adds some needless sentiments with Katrina, John and the hero in the rooftop of the FBI headquarters with shooters in helicopters around them. This almost spoils the entire movie !

Pluses:

Everything else really. And for once Katrina has showed us that she has something beyond her NRI looks and legs.

If you are really into excusing movie makers for a few silly mistakes and enjoy the bigger thing called the "movie", then this movie could work for you. 

PS: By the way, this was the only movie where I saw many people of European origin filling the movie hall !