3 Idiots

[Ms Thrifty]

Has anyone seen this Bollywood film? I'm usually a bit wary as there are never any advance reviews for Bollywood films since they all open on the same date internationally and even when they do, the UK critics rarely review them, so all you get is perhaps rather gushing comments on IMDB. But one of my friends is raving about it - she liked it so much she has seen it twice, so I'm going to try to catch up with it whilst it's still showing.

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Its been given 8.1/10 with 6,775 votes on IMDB. I have heard it is very good too, supposed to be really funny. I have not seen it yet. Might try to see it also!

Synopsis (via IMDB):

Two friends [Madhavan and Sharman Joshi] embark on a quest for a lost buddy. On this journey, they encounter a long forgotten bet, a wedding they must crash, and a funeral that goes impossibly out of control. As they make their way through the perilous landscape, another journey begins: their inner journey through memory lane and the story of their friend--the irrepressible free-thinker Rancho [Aamir Khan], who in his unique way, touched and changed their lives. Its a story of their college days that swings between Ranchos romance with the spirited Pia [Kareena Kapoor], and his clash with an oppressive mentor, Viru Sahastrabudhhe [Boman Irani]. And then one day, suddenly, Rancho vanished. Who was he? Where did he come from? Why did he leave? The friend who influenced and inspired them to think creatively and independently, even as the conformist world called them three idiots. Where is the original idiot now? Finally, in misty mountains of unparalleled beauty, the friends find the key to the secret. Loosely based on the Chetan Bhagat best seller "Five Point Someone", Three Idiots is a comedy of ideas that is as provocative as it is funny, as wildly entertaining as it is insightful.Three idiots dares to challenge the monotonous stream of education persisting in India without going too much into a social propaganda but the tone in which it delivers is light. A laugh-riot that talks about the most important of human pursuits: self-actualization.

[anakin]

A couple of friends of mine have also sung its praises. I've added it to my LoveFilm queue... don't tell hubby!

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Also be warned...it is around 3 hours long!

[anakin]

Surely nothing new for a Bollywood film. Part of the fun.

[Ms Thrifty]

Indeed, and most of them are designed to have an interval, though you don't always know whether the cinema will actually honour that intention or just play it straight through.

[anakin]

When I was a kid growing up in Switzerland, we had intervals in most movies. Don't know if they still do that (we always b*ght ice cream!) but was sorely disappointed to find they didn't do it here. Less ice cream to be had...

[Beate]

The only interval I can remember was during the 4 hour version of Dances with Wolves.

[Ms Thrifty]

I suppose nowadays cinemas rely on people b*ying all their food supplies on the way into the auditorium. Though my local cinema still has (or used to, until I started boycotting the chain last year) an ice cream salesperson actually coming into the auditorium just after the ads and trailers and before the feature starts.

[kevinknapman]

Intervals originally came about due to the fact that it took about 4mins to change reels. So it was out of necessity. But then technology improved and the need went. I guess some countries kept doing it because it was a good chance to sell food. I remember going to Amsterdam in the early 90's and being shocked that they had an interval. Now it's only occasionally used in the UK for very long films to give people a chance to stretch their legs, go to the toilet, but more food etc. I think some cinemas also had an interval during Titanic.