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Anhoni Patel Administrator Besides being Managing Editor of SF Station, Anhoni Patel writes fiction and reviews. She is the author of "All Good Things Die in L.A." and is currently at work on her second novel. Her many passions include movies, food and books. But not necessarily in that order. |
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 | The Beautiful People Have Arrived, and They're Dancing It's no secret that Bollywood movies are rife with cliché, spectacle, and melodrama -- it's part of the package; you get some elaborate song and dance numbers but have to swallow down one-dimensional characters and cookie-cutter storylines along with them. But what happens when you try to combine this mix with a traditional English story from the 18th century?More |  | Regurgitated Romantic Fare for the Terribly Foolish at Heart It's the whole "stripper fantasy". The notion that the woman (or man) who is seductively writhing and undressing in front of you is doing so not because of the money you are shoving down their g-strings but because they are actually attracted to you. Guess again. It's their job to make you feel that way and, no, they don't secretly have the hots for you. 'The Wedding Date' takes this indulgent fantasy to a whole new level.More |  | Sweet Music that Will Move You For some reason, middle-aged men seem to be paired quite often with Scartlett Johansson. Is it the roles she just so happens to choose? Is it her lot in life since her breakout role in 'Lost in Translation'? Do casting agents scrutinize her and say, "I know just what you need -- a forty-five year old!" In fact, every single movie in which I have seen her ('Lost in Translation', 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' and now 'A Love Song for Bobby Long') includes some man twice her age thinking something about her he probably shouldn't.More |  | Not Just A Pretty Face Presented as half-documentary, half-Asian soap opera, this movie is at once astonishing and inspiring. Based on the true story of Thai boxing champion Parinya Charoenphol, a shy and sweet yet conflicted young man who stumbles into the fierce world of boxing only to become a national icon who then uses his new found savings to have a sex change.More |  | Get Ready, It's Gonna Be A Long Ride Like a bad road trip, 'Are We There Yet?', seems like it will never end. Picture a mini-van full of crying babies with colds, picture having severe dysentery without a rest stop in sight, picture no A/C in a humid Louisiana summer, and picture a stereo system from 1982 with nothing on the radio but Barry Manilow (sorry, Barry) all rolled into one and you'll know how it feels to watch this movie.More |  | Stay at Home and Read the Comic Book Instead (i.e. the book is always better) I'm sure the 'Elektra' comic books are great. I'm sure the get-up Elektra wears actually looks cool. I'm sure "The Hand", which comes across as completely ridiculous in this film version, are scintillatingly evil villains instead of X-Men rip-offs. Which is why you should go to your nearest comic book store and buy a copy of those instead of paying to watch this laughable celluloid mutilation.More |  | Tough Love I'm in conflict. A part of me hates saccharine feel-good movies with their happy endings, inspirational stories, moving soliloquies and overwrought soundtracks. They are so completely unrealistic it's disgusting. On the other hand, I'm a total sucker for them: I cry; I'm moved; I cheer for the underdogs; I download the soundtrack etc. In fact, I cried -- ahem, I mean teared up -- three times during 'Coach Carter'.More |  | The Best Films
1. Super Size Me
Every single person living in America should see this movie. Morgan Spurlock creates an insightful, revealing and scary documentary about how poor eating habits (read: greasy, nasty, sugar-laden fast food) can make your body rot from the inside out.More |  | Not that Great Afterall Epics are in. The works of Homer and J.R.R. Tolkien and Shakepeare have been mined. Musicals have been whipped into celluloid extravaganzas. Even the Bible has been exploited. The annals of history are now being combed through for figures worthy of biopics. Who better of inspiring a grand production other than military leader Alexander the Great?More |  | A Wild Treasure Hunt Using National Symbols for Clues I've always known something was up with the Masons. I mean have you ever looked at a dollar bill; I mean really looked at it? Have you ever noticed how many buildings there are with the words "Masonic Temple" written on them? And why were so many of our Founding Fathers Masons (and it's not because they liked building things)? Well, conspiracy theorists and Freemason-enthusiasts can finally rejoice with the release of National Treasure.More |
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