MovieChat Forums > Holiday (2014) Discussion > WTF is this!?

WTF is this!?

posted 10 years ago by Scottl4784
9 replies | jump to latest

I will start by saying I am American. I came across this film and decided to watch it based on the tagline which made it seem like an action film. However upon watching I was very confused as to what the heck this is supposed to be. It came off as a musical comedy if anything really. There were moments where I was so confused as to what I was watching I had to check the box to make sure it was correct. What is with all the dancing and just plain stupidity that has nothing to do with the plot in this god awful movie? Someone please explain!

[–] chrelle 10 years ago

So this is your first Bollywood movie?
How to explain...... Indian Cinemagoers just love singing, dancing and really goofy comedy mixed with over the top action, acting and everything else way over the top!
Takes some getting used to, but it is all (for me anyway) extremely entertaining!

And yes English is not my first language.

[–] roderfota 10 years ago

It hurts me to know that this was your 1st experience with Bollywood films. This is a non-Indian speaking for Indian Cinema. They have their share of plain bad and plain Genius films. Unfortunately you chose a wrong one. These are my recommendations -

Rang De BasanTi
Commando
Madras Cafe
Omkara
Haider
Maqbool
Kaminay
3 Idiots

[–] zooymtoo 10 years ago

Can I ask a question that may seem stupid?
Is the ending sequence of Slumdog Millionaire an example of Bollywood?

I ask because I love that ending song and dance sequence and rewatch it from time to time..

[–] iamripu 10 years ago

Yes, that's Bollywood. But, only few movies end like that. Several song-dance sequences occur throughout the movies.

[–] khalek619 9 years ago

Try watching Udaan, A Wednesday, Kahaani, Haider and Shah Rukh Khan movies.

[–] chrichtonsworld 9 years ago

I am sorry you could have pleaded and got away with ignorance a few years ago but now you can't. You are even a member of IDMB. You could have checked this forum or the reviews before hand to decide whether this film would be for you or not.

While more and more Bollywood films stray away from the Masala flick (which means mixing up the genres) the Bollywood Masala flick is still far more popular with the majority.

I myself don't like the song and dance routines either. And rather prefer the more independent films that completely remove them and try to tell their story more conventional and to the point. But it will take a very long time for the Indian public to accept change in the format.

The CB Association

http://chrichtonsworld.blogspot.com/

[–] Useful_Reviewer 9 years ago

I'm not sure you're right there crichtonsworld. I was just about to watch this movie on Netflix, when I checked a couple of reviews on IMDB and a couple of forum threads. Neither review said there would be singing or dancing in the film.

The other forum thread didn't go into anything about music or dancing, so the only way I found out was by reading this thread, which the OP can certainly not be blamed for not having read before he started it.

So I'm gonna say it's not quite as easy as you think. I mean, how much research am I required to do before I watch a movie?

As for myself, I don't usually go to forum threads before I watch because so many spoilers are in the titles of threads (e.g. "Why did the protag's gf have to die??!!!!). But I have had just barely enough of a taste of Bollywood to suspect that an action flick might start out like The Warriors but end up all West Side Story.

Thanks for the warning, crichtonsworld. Cool eyes, btw.

When I was your age, television was called books!

[–] witster18 8 years ago

I don't think it's the posters fault.. I saw this flick come up as similar to something I was looking at and it said 7.5 so I clicked on it... Looks interesting and right up my alley till I read the original post... Honestly, I haven't seen many Bollywood movies... I've seen Byomkesh Bakshi, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Kahaani... and personally thought each was a tad over-rated on this sight.. Now, I love "Slumdog Millionaire" but am I right to assume that's the most "hollywood" of films that might ever be classified as Bollywood(or not even Bollywood officially at all?).. I gave it a 10(one of only 44/3650)..
I guess my biggest problem with Bollywood films is that I just don't find the humor. I guess it's kinda like Korean film being cross-genre, but I find the humor in Korean films... plus I loath musicals - so I guess Bollywood films in general probably not going to appeal to me.

Kahaani 5.5-6/10 overrated on IMDB
Gangs of Wasseypur 6.5/10 overrated on IMDB
Byomkesh Bakshi 6.5/10 overrated on IMDB

give me a few more suggestions and I'll give them a chance... but this may be a lost cause venture.

[–] prafull-ambekar 8 years ago

Well now you understand the pain and torture we Indians have to endure on a regular basis. I challenge you to watch few of these movies and live to tell. Dabang, Ready, Bodyguard, Kick, Happy New Year, Dhoom 3 and Dilwale.