RA.ONE

First thing first, it is great to be in Bhopal, I have seen a movie in Bhopal after a long time. The last movie I watched here was a disaster called ‘Sucker Punch’. However coming to the movie in question, one of the most awaited and anticipated movie of the year; RA.ONE, does it deliver? Well there is no straight answer.

Shahrukh’s last release (apart from his 3 movie cameo appearances in between) was in Feb 2010, so after about 21 months he comes up with the most expensive movie in Bollywood (175 crs). First of all there were rumors that the movie was inspired from ROBOT, which actually is not true, even Rajnikant Sir makes a special appearance in the movie, which for me was the best part of the movie. Jackie chan was approached for an important part in the movie, which he eventually turned down. Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra also makes special appearance in the movie as well. And everybody has seen the trailers of the movie, so the quality of special effects is no mystery. Can some thing go wrong, well yes and it dose go wrong at a lot of places.

To make myself clear, the plot where a villain comes out of a video game is not a problem for me, you have to accept a basic premise for any movie to enjoy, it may be accepting a 45 year old Aamir Khan to play a college boy in ‘3 Idiots’, or accepting that Anushka Sharma cant recognize her husband in a different getup in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’. So I am comfortable with the idea that a super villain comes out of a video game, but my problem is, although the villain may have the same intellectual capacity in the real world as he had in the virtual world, but how do you account for the same physical capabilities he has in the game to be carried of in the real world, which defies physics from the very beginning. Because an artificial intelligence program can develop by itself and could transmit itself from one location to another makes sense, but the powers enjoyed by a video game character in a video game can not be just transmitted to an ordinary suit. Another weakness comes in the climax when somehow Shahrukh’s son is able to make a connection between reality and the game, it just doesn’t makes any sense.

Even the director needs to evaluate his humor quotient, as in the initial 15 minutes of the movie, you get a Priyanka Chopra in an irritating role, and you get a Shahrukh who looks terrible as a south Indian and plays the character without any conviction. Abuses by Kareena dose not enlighten anybody neither it entertains.

However leaving all the negative things said above in the backburner for some time, the movie is watch able, the effort and money put in could be felt without any effort. Especially the local train sequence is best of the lot. Performance wise Shahrukh has done well as G.ONE but failed as Shekher Subramaniam, Kareena is fine when she is not abusing, the kid who plays Shahrukh’s son is good, Shahana Goswami and Arjun Rampal dose not got any scope in the movie, although Arjun is the main villain, the Chinese actor is likeable, Sanju Baba in guest appearance is excellent, best performance for me is by Suresh Menon with his 3-4 minute of role.

The movie may remind you of Terminator-2 :The Judgment Day, in various scenes or in the general feeling of the story, where a robot is trying to kill a little boy and other is trying to save him, only difference being in Terminator the robots came from future, in RAONE they came from a computer game. The climax of RAONE also leaves a possibility of a sequel if the movie does ample business, which looks a certain possibility.

So altogether on the script level the movie could have a few flaws, but that should not stop you from watching it at least once. And if you have kids in home, they are going to love the movie.

Rating **1/2

Force

Going to movie after a favorable review saves money, time and a possible headache. Yet the question remains, which reviews to believe. Of late I have realized that the movie reviews are like statistics, you can justify a favorable review of a bad movie by highlighting a single good point of the movie or vice-versa.

However coming back to the review of the movie in question, one can safely assume it to be a decent film. Yet another remake of a South Indian blockbuster; ‘Force’ not only boast of likeable raw action sequences, but also decent performances from overall cast and gripping drama.

The movie more or less walks on predictable lines, involving a police team dedicated to finish narcotics trade, and a gangster on hunt of these policemen and their families. The movie starts with good pace and maintains that speed throughout the climax.

John Abraham is a senior official in anti narcotics department of police, his strength is, that he has no weakness. No family member to think of, and no back story that could pinch him in his butt. With the help of a new found informer, he and his team are able to finish four gangs dealing in different varieties of drugs. The problem starts to arise when the team discover that they have been setup by a different gang headed by Mukesh Rishi, the gang in question planted the informant to the police department so that the anti narcotics department will finis off the competition for them, and then they could have a free run.

During the unfolding of above said events another threatening situation arises for John, as he falls in love with Jenelia Desouza, realizing he has now developed the weakness, which by now he has avoided in his line of duty, but like all, he surrenders in front of heart and plans to get married. It is during this turmoil when nightmare begins for the police team, as a new enemy emerges who has no regard for convention and would attack when you least expect. This in all leads to a dark and bloody climax for the movie.

While watching the movie you may easily be able to predict the upcoming events, but the sheer pace with which the drama unfolds keeps you away from any distraction. Even the situations shown in the movie are not new to Bollywood, but the treatment keeps you interested added with good dialogues and nicely placed characters. The director has done his job well, all the characters have got scope to play there part, and it’s not just about the Hero and the Heroine. However a big difference from the original movie is the characterization of the main villain. In the original, he is more practical and dose not exposes himself to the police, but in ‘Force’ he has no qualms about giving open challenges, which for one looks indigestible. However the overall treatment of the subject keeps you away from such logic finding thoughts.

In all a watchable movie on a lot of accounts; entertaining and time pass.

Rating ***1/2

I have not seen Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam; so it will be wrong for me to compare or contrast it from Sahib Biwi aur Gangster, I just had a chance to read its synopsis.

Although there are certainly some similarities in both the movies, like both have a ‘haveli’ filled with a Sahib, who although is broke but can’t compromise with his royal attitude and life style. Then there is a desperate biwi, who wants to keep his husband away from the other woman and close to herself; failing to do so she tries to attract her husband’s attraction by continuously consuming Vodka. (I don’t know which brand or product was used by Meena Kumari in the original); and then there is the external catalyst that enters the ‘haveli’. ‘Aamir khan being replaced by Shahini Ahuja’ i.e. ‘Ghulam’ being replaced by ‘Gangster’.

Jokes apart, what separates the two movies infect are the motives of these characters and the circumstances that evolve due to their constantly changing relationship. The backdrom has been changed from sleepy West Bengal, to Modern day U.P. surrounded with high political ambition and supported with gun power.

Sahib (Jimmi Shergil) is a highly influential but financially challenged descendent of a royal family, with a half crazy Biwi (Mahie Gil), he lives with a couple of his loyal henchmen. He tries to survive on occasional help from his step mother, and rest on government contracts and sometimes through his muscle power. Genda Singh is his constant enemy who is trying to beat Sahib by any possible means, he plants his mole in the Haveli, and the mole is none other than the Gangster (Randeep Huda) who happens to be the nephew of Sahibs honest driver.

Drama keeps on intensifying with introduction of each character, although the focus remains on the three main characters, but the supporting cast has been given proper individuality as well. The man playing the role of State Minister stands out, other artists have also played there character very well. In the lead roles, Jimmy is just fabulous; he looks royal and pissed-off simultaneously, he has got some of the best dialogues that you may have listened in the last few years. Mahie has came close to give competition to Kangana Ranaut to play mentally challenged roles, she dose her part well, although Randeep Huda is ok-ok, but he has not optimized the opportunity that this role provided. But altogether the performance of all the actors is very fine.

People who love intense drama, added with some very good dialogues, should watch this flick. Although the movie had ample scope for violence and abusing, the director has refrained himself from getting ‘realistic’, for which he deserves full marks.

Rating ***.