[Ted Lee]

i saw this last night and i must classify it as a definite guilty pleasure! there isn't a single original bone in it's body, but it is so well done you can't help but enjoy it.

i caught myself (and my girlfriend) with very large smiles on our faces throughout most of the movie. that is a definite good sign.

the movie tells the story of two girls, jess and jules.

jess and jules both want to play soccer. however, both girls have parents with different expectations. jess's indian parents want her to marry, learn to cook traditional dishes, etc. jules's mother wants her to be a girly-girl, date cute boys, etc.

the two of them become friends and chaos (of various proportions) ensues.

various subplots are employed, but well balanced. quite a few awkward moments are well done. there was a single plot involving jess's best friend that i didn't buy for a second, but it did lead to one of the best one-liners in the movie.

the comparisons to 'my big fat greek wedding' are inevitable, especially the ability for the movie to show the values (and quirks) of another culture.

i give this movie a solid "B"

[Michael Reuben]

I invite you to join the 2003 Foreign, Alternative and Independent Films, where there is already a discussion of this film in progress.

M.

[Ted Lee]

thx michael -

i saw your excellent review of the film there (i'm a long-time lurker there ), but thought it would still be okay to post a separate "dedicated" thread.

what's the correct procedure? if necessary, please feel free to merge/close my post.

thx!

[Michael Reuben]

There really isn't a "correct" procedure. The "alternative" thread was created so that reviews of movies with limited distribution wouldn't be scattered across the Movies forum, where they would ultimately scroll off. Sometimes a film that's reviewed in the alternative thread gets sufficient distribution and discussion to justify its own official threads (recent examples would be City of God and Far From Heaven), and then I'll usually copy over the relevant posts from the alternative thread.

I left this open in case other people are able to see the film and join in. If there's no other activity after a week or so, remind me by email and I'll copy your review to the alternative thread to preserve it.

For reference, my review is here.

M.

[Ted Lee]

will do! thx!

[Robert Crawford]

Michael,
Since this film is going to be distributed more than other lesser known films, I'm going to start separate Review and Discussion threads for it. I am really looking forward to seeing this film.





Crawdaddy

[Robert Crawford]

This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "Bend It Like Beckham" please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "Bend It Like Beckham" should be posted to the Official Review Thread.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.


Crawdaddy

[Michael Reuben]

Quote:

Since this film is going to be distributed more than other lesser known films

We'll know the distribution has gone wide when the backlash begins. "I just saw Bend It Like Beckham, and I don't get what the big deal is. It's just another coming-of-age movie. And I couldn't understand half of what those kids were saying."

M.

[Robert Crawford]

And I couldn't understand half of what those kids were saying.

There were a couple of scenes I wish there were subtitles because I couldn't understand the Brit slang fast enough.






Crawdaddy

[Michael Reuben]

You obviously got the gist. (I have an unfair advantage from years of watching British soap opera.) Glad you enjoyed it! I saw the trailer again yesterday (before Nowhere in Africa), and I still crack up every time Jess's mother opens her mouth. That's one determined mum.

M.

[Robert Crawford]

I was surprised to find out that the actress that played Jess is actually 27 years old.