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Bahubali, Afternoon Delight and the 5th Mission Impossible

Two distinct genres.  Two distinct periods.  Three films.  One a childish fantasy with R rated activity, the other a MA (mature audiences) film with a cheesy ending and the third a completely action packed adrenalin rush with impossible superman like sequences.

We watched (or tried to) these three films this weekend. 

I could not go through the torturous 'Bahubali' (strong armed) - I tried but just could not.  I had heard it was somewhat of an epic production and seen a lot of press for this mythical adventure (part 1 of 2) on desi television.  I did not have any pre conceived idea or data points on the director but later found that the film was one of the top grossing items produced by Indian cinema.   Rajmouli has some critical acclaim as director but I could not keep up with the Victoria's secret like setting along with Harry Potter like flying coupled with Mahabharata type of deep base yelling only to be further confused late in the narrative as to who is who anymore.  The witch faced fifth degree burned mother of the protagonist (I think) added to the grotesque goings on.  I walked out on her screams.

'Afternoon Delight' is a comedy for the 40 something set - I know I have been binging on them for some reason - where a frustrated, rich Beverly Hills type Jewish mom is looking for some excitement outside of psychiatrist visits and answers to avoid sexual inactivity (high on the agenda).  The banter amongst the coffee clatch or whatever Jewish food recipe that they gnosh on and the comedy is watchable but not noteworthy.  Apparently it got some directing awards - for the woman director (never heard of).

The best of the lot was Tom Cruise in his latest incarnation as an action hero attempting the impossible.  This time to steal some secret and digitally encrypted, illegal accounting ledger from a water tank with the help of a svelte and sexy Swede called Rebecca Ferguson.  Involving the usual set of clichéd 'they are getting closer' dialogs but with fancy camera work and wonderful location shooting including London, Vienna and parts of Morocco, the whole shooting, exploding thriller was a good break from fixing a broken dishwasher.

Bahubali and Mission Impossible to me are part of the thriller genre while the afternoon sex movie was more romantic comedy.

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