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Authors: Members of ANEWFACE Group

If you can't wait for Lakshya's release, then try this...

Hey all, if you're as excited about the release of Hrithik's only film this year as I am....then you probably have pulled out all your hair, chewed off all of your fingernails, survived at least 3 heartattacks, twiddled your thumbs off, and tapped your heels impatiently about 59 mins. out of an hour. HEHEhe.. But we still have to wait, unbearably until it releases on June 18. So I've made list of already released films that may share the same theme as Lakshya, according to the sypnosis that Farhan has given us from his recent Interviews... he say's its about a man's progression through an experience of a lifetime. a "finding yourself," kind of film. Here is my list... those of you who hasn't seen these should really go and rent it, it'll get you in the mood for lakshya. And for those who has seen these films, watch it again.. :

1. Born on the Fourth of July - starring: Tom Cruise and Kyra Sedgwick. A film about a high school jock who has everything he wants in life, a good family, friends, and a girlfriend that loves him. He gets drafted to the Vietnam War and experiences a transition that will change his life forever and things will never be the same. (My rating for this film: 8 stars, out of 10.)

2. Forrest Gump - Starring: Tom Hanks, Sally Field, and Robin Wright- Penn. If you still haven't seen this then i don't know what Planet you are from!! Story evolves around a simple man and how he progresses through life living in the 1950s-70s. He also goes to the Vietnam War and experiences first hand battle, in this film he makes an impact in the war more then the war making an impact on him. (my rating for this film: 10 out of 10!)

3. Casualties of War - Starring Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn. An innocent young man goes to war in Vietnam and witnesses the brutality amongst his fellow officers against a village girl. He grows as a person and finds himself in a battle with his conscience through the rest of his life. (My rating: 7 out of 10.)

4. Schindler's List - Starring Niam Leeson and Ben Kingsley(Ghandi superstar!) An industralist Nazi who is as much a womanizer cares about nothing but making money and expanding his business. The story takes place during World War II, the haulocaust. He hires Jews to run his facility because their cost of labor is cheap, but soons finds out that the percieve him as next to god for he is their only hope of survival during Hitler's reign. This film doesn't have any scenes in the battlefield but shows a man's growth in wisdom, and his purpose in the world. Greatest Spielberg Movie ever made. (My rating 10 out of 10).

5. Snow Falling on Cedars - Starring Ethan Hawke and Youki Kudoh. This movie takes place during World War II, when Japan and U.S. conflicts are high. Its about two childhood sweet heart who fall in love, but their love must be kept secretly because the boy is white and the girl is japanese. After the Japanese bombs Pearl Harbor, many japanese-americans are sent to concentration camps. The lover's depart and Ethan goes to war. Years later they meet again, only now whats keeping them apart is a murder case involving the girl's husband. This film has a lot of themes to it, not just a war. Its mystery, courtroom drama, love, war, and racial prejudice. But I enjoyed it, Ethan's character goes through an emotional experience in the movie. (my rating: 8 out of 10)

6. Courage Under Fire - starring Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Matt Damon. The protagonist is a female in this film. A general or Colonel, Denzel, is on a mission to investigate the mysterious death of the first woman to recieve (I'm not good with military terms but she gets something honorable). As the story develops you find Meg's character going to war from a housewife to a courageous soldier. I think this takes place during the war on Iraq in the 80s-90s. (My rating: 9 out of 10)

7. In Love and War - Starring: Chis O'Donnell and Sandra Bullock. During World War I a young wounded soldier is sent to the battlefield hospital where he meets a vulnerable nurse and they fall in love. Torn apart by the war and their differences, the movie shows the impacts that war does to lovers and how they progress as people. I think this is a remake of Ernest Hemingway's Farewell to arms. (My rating: 5 out of 10).

8. Captain Correli's Mandolin - Starring: Nicholas Cage, Penelope Cruz. A love story between an Italian soldier and a greek village girl during WWI, when the Italians were patroling greece. A womanizing, arrogant, charming Captain's life is changed when he falls in love with the beautiful village girl. Her world turns upside down as well, brought together and torn apart by war..the theme of emotional growth is also evident in this film. (My rating: 7 out of 10)

9. The English Patient - Starring: Ralph Fiennes and I forgot the actress's name. It takes place during WWI, when a british pilot is found burnt but still alive. He is sent to a small town in the care of a lonely nurse. His love story unfolds with every passing day that he spends with the nurse, as he tells her about his affair with a rich man's wife. The nurse sees his stories as salvation for her love affair with an Indian officer (the famous villian from Kama Sutra, I don't know this actor's name). (My rating: 9 out of 10)

10. Mission Kashmir- starring I don't even have to say.. you all should know this already.. Love this movie, my rating : 12 out of 10... hehehe..

Well here's my list.. feel free to add more and If anymore comes to mind, I will truly share.. Oh yea, when watching any of these films make sure you have a box of kleenex by your side!! Hope this helps with the anticipation for Lakysha!

-Rosebud

Nice list of films. Farhan is heavily inspired by foreign films, so I am some of the films in your list will have inspired him. A few others to consider:

1. Platoon -- this is one of my favorite war films. The film is narrated from the perspective of Charlie Sheen, a rookie soldier who goes to Vietnam and evloves as a person.

2. Upkar -- One of Farhan's favorite directors is Manoj Kumar. And Manoj Kumar's Upkar which is one of the biggest hits of all time has a war backdrop for a love story and the relationship beween two step brothers. Check this movie.

3. Vijeta -- Shahshi Kapoor's Vijeta was a movie that I liked a lot. I don't think it clicked at the box-office. The film showed how a young air force cadet's life evolved during his training. It stars Shashi Kapoor's son Kunal Kapoor --- I think his name was Karan in the movie. Check it out. I especially liked Supriya Pathak in this movie.

-Stockgoose

That was finely written and detailed account on films that may in a way relate to the core of Lakshya, not necessarily by script. As a matter of fact, some of the films you selected are my personal favorites as well.

I'll take the opportunity to add one other favorite of mine onto the list: Saving Private Ryan.

This movie may be very dissimilar compared to the war films you listed below, but it is undeniably one of the highly appreciated and adequately made movies of recent times that has the backdrop of a war, et cetera. Steven Spielberg portrayed the characters and their situations at that time flawlessly

-Ranveer

Ranveer,
I was going to add Saving Private Ryan but you beat me to it! :D Man, this is one superb film. And I agree with you with regards to the characters.
Rosebud's and Stockgoose's list are great as well coz they've included most of my fave war-related films but I've a few more to add. Here goes:

Tigerland - This film is more of a character analyis type of film. No battle field action. Rather, the turning point in the film for the characters involved took place in a hellish training ground (before being shipped out to Vietnam) called Tigerland. I think Colin Farrell shines as Bozz (a brash, charismatic, independent and outrightly defiant recruit whose leadership and character brought his men together). He did such a great Texan accent that you forgot his Irish!

Hamburger Hill - Based on a true story. Platoon is a great film but somehow I like this one better. To quote the film's caption : "War at its worst, men at their best"

Full Metal Jacket - one of my all-time fave war films.

I recently saw Buffalo Soldiers but this one is about soldiers at war with boredom after the Cold War. It's very distubing if what happened in this film do happen in reality. Something that makes you wonder... I believe this film is considered a dark comedy although I fail to find much that is funny (the things some of these soldiers do actually angered me! :D). But I think it's a good film.

PS. Did you watch Band of Brothers on HBO. Awesome series! :D

-Wati