Bend It Like Beckham
April 27, 2003
By:
Nearly a year after its official British release, I finally watched Bend it like Beckham. Living in America there was no way to watch the movie expect from the Internet, and those who know me I can't stand poor quality movies so I just simply refuse to watch downloaded Internet movies. Even when the pirated DVDs were released; again I refused to watch it. I finally brought the British DVD and had it shipped over to me. I hooked up my laptop to the big screen and watched the movie; I could not believe I had waited so long to see this movie. However, I'm glad I did wait, apparently the Internet and pirated DVD version were so poor in quality they even had scenes rearranged or even deleted.
As Bend it Like Beckham started I was amazed at the amount of celebrity faces that I saw within the first five minutes. Of course, with the name starring England's most superb football player David Beckham, one would expect celebrities, but they just seemed to be popping out from everywhere!
A quick summary of the movie: Bend it like Beckham revolves around a 18 year old Punjabi girl, Jess, living in Hanslow, a local town near Heathrow Airport in London that is heavily populated by Indians. Jess eats, sleeps and dreams about being England's top football player. She loves football and importantly loves David Beckham. Her room is a shrine to Beckham posters, jerseys and anything in relation to Beckham.
As Jess is playing football with her mates one day in the local park, a player from the local girls football team sees her. Jess is invited for a try out which she excitedly goes to. She tries out and makes the team. Now does she tell her parents? In the meantime, her sister is getting married and the family is preparing for the wedding, typical Punjabi style.
As the movie progresses, Jess goes through quite a lot trying to stay on the team, practice and play at the games. She certainly has her ups and downs and the typical Indian melodrama by her parents makes the movie incredibly comical.
As any Indian movie goes, there has to be a love plot. Jess obviously falls for her young Irish coach. However that is not good, he can't have a relation with anyone on the team, her best friend who invited her to the team, also likes the coach, but remember he is Irish and not Punjabi Sikh as her parents want!
Throughout the movie, there is always a chance of an American football scout looking for talented women to go to America (Santa Clara University in fact which is just down the road from us here in Silicon Valley.) Later in the story, Jess has to choose between her coach, her friend, her family or her goals! (To play football professionally.)
So what is the outcome? Well, you'll have to watch!
I love this movie! I actually want to sit down again and watch it over and over. It's truly hilarious! The Indian jokes, the typical melodrama! It's amazing that all Punjabi Mums seem to be preprogrammed with the same melodramatic comments and sayings! They all have the same story for every experience. I felt as if it was my Mum in the movie!
The celebrity list goes on and on in this movie, with both English footballers, commentators, and with Indian actors and actresses including Bollywood legend Anupam Kher, the Good Gracious Me comedians, and even B21- one of the best Bhangra groups in England! It seemed like a non-stop celebrity train and of course, a very close resembling extras for Mr. David Beckham and Posh Spice.
The acting was decent along the board. There were certain characters, such as the friends and even at times the sister that could have been better, but the Jess, who was played by Parminder Nagra, was excellent. She went from being the simple Punjabi girl at home, to the football player, to stunning clubbing outfit, to the traditional Indian suit and sari. No matter what, she looked amazing! (Very beautiful if I say so myself!) I do look forward to watching more of her movies.
Other main characters were played by: Keira Knightley, Johnathan Rhys Meyers, Archie Panjabi, Shaheen Khan, Shazney Lewis, Frank Harper, Juliet Stevenson, and Ameet Chana
I do not know how many times I have to say this movie is truly wonderful and enjoyable! It has even motivated me to go out and play some football (Soccer!) In fact I wanted to go out and play during the movie but the wit and wisdom, and suspense stopped me from doing so.
As Bend it Like Beckham started I was amazed at the amount of celebrity faces that I saw within the first five minutes. Of course, with the name starring England's most superb football player David Beckham, one would expect celebrities, but they just seemed to be popping out from everywhere!
A quick summary of the movie: Bend it like Beckham revolves around a 18 year old Punjabi girl, Jess, living in Hanslow, a local town near Heathrow Airport in London that is heavily populated by Indians. Jess eats, sleeps and dreams about being England's top football player. She loves football and importantly loves David Beckham. Her room is a shrine to Beckham posters, jerseys and anything in relation to Beckham.
As Jess is playing football with her mates one day in the local park, a player from the local girls football team sees her. Jess is invited for a try out which she excitedly goes to. She tries out and makes the team. Now does she tell her parents? In the meantime, her sister is getting married and the family is preparing for the wedding, typical Punjabi style.
As the movie progresses, Jess goes through quite a lot trying to stay on the team, practice and play at the games. She certainly has her ups and downs and the typical Indian melodrama by her parents makes the movie incredibly comical.
As any Indian movie goes, there has to be a love plot. Jess obviously falls for her young Irish coach. However that is not good, he can't have a relation with anyone on the team, her best friend who invited her to the team, also likes the coach, but remember he is Irish and not Punjabi Sikh as her parents want!
Throughout the movie, there is always a chance of an American football scout looking for talented women to go to America (Santa Clara University in fact which is just down the road from us here in Silicon Valley.) Later in the story, Jess has to choose between her coach, her friend, her family or her goals! (To play football professionally.)
So what is the outcome? Well, you'll have to watch!
I love this movie! I actually want to sit down again and watch it over and over. It's truly hilarious! The Indian jokes, the typical melodrama! It's amazing that all Punjabi Mums seem to be preprogrammed with the same melodramatic comments and sayings! They all have the same story for every experience. I felt as if it was my Mum in the movie!
The celebrity list goes on and on in this movie, with both English footballers, commentators, and with Indian actors and actresses including Bollywood legend Anupam Kher, the Good Gracious Me comedians, and even B21- one of the best Bhangra groups in England! It seemed like a non-stop celebrity train and of course, a very close resembling extras for Mr. David Beckham and Posh Spice.
The acting was decent along the board. There were certain characters, such as the friends and even at times the sister that could have been better, but the Jess, who was played by Parminder Nagra, was excellent. She went from being the simple Punjabi girl at home, to the football player, to stunning clubbing outfit, to the traditional Indian suit and sari. No matter what, she looked amazing! (Very beautiful if I say so myself!) I do look forward to watching more of her movies.
Other main characters were played by: Keira Knightley, Johnathan Rhys Meyers, Archie Panjabi, Shaheen Khan, Shazney Lewis, Frank Harper, Juliet Stevenson, and Ameet Chana
I do not know how many times I have to say this movie is truly wonderful and enjoyable! It has even motivated me to go out and play some football (Soccer!) In fact I wanted to go out and play during the movie but the wit and wisdom, and suspense stopped me from doing so.
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