Jab We Met - Notepad » meetu’s notepad

29th October 2007

Jab We Met - Notepad

posted in Hindi Movies, Movie Notes, meetu |

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review. Warning: this section has some details that could distort your experience while watching the movie. I strongly recommend reading this only after you have seen the movie or if you have decided not to see it.

Quick Review

An entertaining first half that establishes the characters and an emotionally charged second half keeps you interested in a rather regular love story. The story is as far from reality as can be, but then, that is what escapist cinema is all about, right?

Rating: Wait for video release (Rating Scale)

See full review

Plot Summary

The full-of-life Geet (Kareena Kapoor) meets a very glum Aditya Kashyap (Shahid Kapoor) in a train. She forces him to talk to her, to amuse her and to take her to Bhatinda. What transpires in this journey and thereafter, is what we see in 2.5 hours.

What worked

The use, or rather non-use, of sound. Especially, the sound of the train used to drown the irrelevant dialogue.
Amazing how good Kareena looked, even though she was wearing a t-shirt over a Patiala salwar.
Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor’s performances in the scene where he meets her in Shimla - Terrific emotionally charged scene.
Kareena Kapoor’s change of expression from laughter to sorrow in the Shimla hotel room scene.
Use of overacting by Shahid Kapoor to show discomfort in the Shimla hotel room scene.

What didn’t

Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here

A number of transitions in characters’ attitudes happen without a satisfying reason -

Aditya’s attitude towards his mother
Anshuman’s attitude towards Geet - explanation given for the change is rather lame.
Geet’s family’s attitude towards her eloping. All the build-up toward them opposing her wedding translates to nothing.
Geet’s change of heart for Anshuman was rather haphazard.

The taxi scene was shot very shoddily. It felt like I was watching a movie from the 50s.
The sets and lighting of Ratlam city were shabby too.
Does every person from the entire Sikh community really enjoy embarrassing himself/herself?

Nitty-Gritty

This section lists things that I think are not important to the overall impact of the movie. In most cases, it could be explained away by something like, “we noticed the glitch after the scene was shot and there were schedule/budget issues and thus we could not re-shoot it”. I like giving the makers the benefit of doubt, but I am amused nevertheless. Hopefully, they will tickle you too.

Can you really go from a second class compartment to the AC compartment from inside the train?
How is Geet managing to fit an everlasting supply of clothes in a small backpack?
Why is Geet’s family in business suits most of the time?

Back to main review

This entry was posted on Monday, October 29th, 2007 at 1:34 pm and is filed under Hindi Movies, Movie Notes, meetu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On November 6th, 2007, ligne said:

I actually saw this movie about 2-3 times already. Mostly because its a feel good movie..without me having to worry about the unrealistic aspects of it.

Some of the diaglouges are really very direct and situationally funny.The transformation of kareena frm irritating to cute..is done quite well.

The last half hr of the movie is a little silly. There is no logic in kareena’s change of heart. And Anshuman is made to look unecessarily stupid.

posted on November 6th, 2007 at 6:02 am

2 On November 14th, 2007, Jenny McCann said:

I really enjoyed this movie. My general coments are:
1. Kareenas’ acting was great. She didn’t over act and her transformation from bubbly young girl to a person going through heartbreak was very affectively portrayed.
2. I liked the mirror affect used to show how both characters help each other through a hard emotional time a different points in the film - Kareena does this more convincingly as Shahid does over act in some scenes
3. Great shots of scenery and good spot numbers

Bad things
1. Shahid uses the “over pointing at servants/ people below him” technique far too much.
2. Plus some of his costumes are very dodgy, though he still looks very handsome
3. Action shots of the train/cab makes it very obvious that a toy train was used and that the car isn’t moving - come on guys this is 2007, not 1977!

posted on November 14th, 2007 at 6:05 am

3 On August 20th, 2008, Amrit said:

I think the way Sikhs were portrayed could have been done fairly better. I don’t believe that the director work hard on this part of the film/story.

Enjoyed the songs and Kareena’s acting.

posted on August 20th, 2008 at 7:34 am

4 On September 23rd, 2008, silvano dsouza said:

i agree on some of ur flaws
i like the film a lot but the entire last 30 mins were too predictable
i mean they could show directly them re uniting or atleast in 10 mins
and why show anshuman like a jackass in the last mins

posted on September 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm

5 On October 27th, 2008, alina said:

PROS
The film had some fantastic comic moments. I especially liked the part where Aditya and Geet jump into the lake, and Geet’s ire at the stationmaster.

Shahid’s understated, introverted personality was outstanding, especially in his handling of emotional moments ( with emphasis on less talk, more expression and body language).

Kareena was also excellent, both as the exuberant Geet in the 1st half and the subdued Geet in the 2nd half. The transition was effectively portrayed.

And of course, the chemistry between the lead pair was OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Thats what kept us watching!!!!!!!

CONS
Shahid’s acceptance of his mother was without rhyme or reason!I think his mother’s role should have been more fleshed out. Would it have been too much to ask that she gave some response when Aditya accepted her back?

Also,don’t any of the other men in Geet’s life have any fire in them? I mean you see the girl you are going to marry hug another guy and all you can do is look away?? no confrontation, no recrimination!! Too unrealistic!!

And of course, shots of the train and taxi were also badly handled.I mean, a toy train, I ask you!!

posted on October 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pm