extreme_weasel

This movie snuck into my heart. At first, I was interested in the premise: make a womaniser spend time exclusively with a prudish woman, while she relies on him to get her back to her fiancé. And then I got swept up in their transition, since they both end up in quite different emotional places.

At opposite ends of the romantic scale, they are each naive in their own way. And their journey matures them into opening their hearts to something deeper.

The soundtrack is excellent, and matches the beats and themes of their expanding horizons. And the songs are justified in-world, which is smoother and more appealing than interrupting the narrative for a song-dance spectacle.

The settings are beautiful. I've lived and worked in Europe, so I can relate to both sides of the tourist industry - and the enduring appeal of old world culture.

It was also satisfying to see SRK directed to play a subtle and somewhat bitter character, with frustration brewing under the surface that flares every now and then. As Harry, his internal battle is much more than 'chasing skirts' as he struggles with guilt and shame of longing for and rejecting his homeland.

Sejal is quite quickly shocked out of her apparent confidence when threatened by the darker side of foreign cities. Anushka plays her as sweet and a bit unco-ordinated, but when it really counts Sejal's inner strength (her true beauty) is bold and effective.

Despite Harry's bravado, she can see through to his fears, and challenges him - to get out of the prison of his own making.

There are some scenes that didn't make the final cut. From what I've seen of these, they add some context to the challenges and attraction between Harry and Sejal - but ultimately, the theatrical release has everything it needs to complete the journey into meaningful, honest love. One exception I'd prefer was included is when they each realise what is at stake, what they truly want, but won't tell each other the truth.

If anyone turns up to this expecting Raj, or any more flamboyant SRK characters, they'll be doing a disservice to themselves and this movie. It is pleasingly subtle and sweet.

I'm shocked to see people giving this low ratings and harsh critiques. It's well made, and - if nothing else - is a fresh setting for a will-they, won't-they light romance. What people seem to have missed is the real heart of the story and writing, which is well-delivered by these two lovely actors.

"Jab Harry Met Sejal" has now entered my top 10 list of romantic movies.

Living through these events, trying to make sense of them, still witnessing the fallout and the persistent spin - it was reassuring to see Battleground Melbourne shine a light on the very human tragedies. As with any event that has impacted the world, these stories must be told, and must be available for future generations.

This is not a straight forward movie experience. It combines elements of live theater with classic farce, woven together with an obvious love for the source material.

Cinematography, editing, score, and set and costuming attention to detail conjure a believably pre-industrial London. We see the world first through the eyes of a boy ingenu, which lends to the slightly fantastic.

It smoothly transitions through 'highlights' of the book, without being too thin or fleeting. The creators have consciously chosen to lean into the comedic aspects of events, while still giving weight where appropriate.

Performances are perfectly tuned to the array of idiosyncratic characters. None of the actors outshine the others - a true ensemble. And it is an extra pleasure to see Hugh Laurie and Peter Capaldi in scenes together.

It evolves through episodes which tie together beautifully in the conclusion, especially with the final line.

The end credits retain the style and are a pleasing conclusion.

Now, one of my favorite films.