Reviews

Yes, the movie fails on a number of cases- especially character development of Bose himself. It seems to me the whole thing was written and directed in haste. Further, some of the scenes were absolutely unnecessary (what is the need for a showing a German U-Boat firing a torpedo at a ship in this movie). Some of the war scenes were also very badly done. One expected a lot more from a director of Benegal's reputation.

I thought the lead actor was very good but again fell short of expectations. But I would ask all Indians to watch the movie. BeThe movie wakes you up to the life and struggles of this hero. Before this I didn't know too much about the man.

This is one of the most thought provoking movies to come out of Bollywood in recent times. I loved the characters of pretty much everyone in the movie but felt that all the good work was little bit undone by the length. Yes, Lagaan was long too but then it had a cricket match running and that was enough to maintain the intensity. However, it has to be said that AR Rehman's background score especially during the scenes when Shahrukh Khan travels by train and boat is nothing short of brilliant.

The movie also fell a little short in that it failed to address all the ideas about India that it raised. However, I am giving it high ratings because the script is good and fresh and the director has done his job passionately.

Its good to see Gowariker doing movies close to his heart and not falling for the "mass-hit" formula which many other promising directors have done.

Prashanth

One of the best movies to have come out of India in the last ten years. Traces the story of a well-respected man in a small village who is conned into coming to the city and starting a business.

He goes to jail for false charges of swindling money. He struggles to come to terms with life in jail. On the outside terrible things happen to his young son and daughter. The people who cheat him screw around with his kids further.

To find out what happens next watch the movie. Watch out for Kamal Hasan's acting. He is a legend in his own right in India. Can't believe this movie bombed in the box office.

I dont know who came up with the ' bright idea' of advertising the movie as a ' extra-terrestrial' thriller but this is one movie that the big bosses at the studios in Hollywood could have advertised better. Independence Day kind of film.

I beg to differ.

It seems to me that the two most important things in life are FAITH and FAMILY and not in that order and this film explores them both beautifully.

Faith is important in anything one does,in life ,in work,in god ,in the one you love,in your books ..and need I say about ones Family(sure we might not totally 'love' some of them).

ONE THING YOU SHOULDNT DO:

please dont take this movie at face value...that is dont expect a movie about aliens and please dont expect a lesson in science from the movie.

what the films about?

the film center around one family(meaning :no SUBPLOTS )whose head is A MINISTER (played brilliantly by Mel Gibson),he loses his wife in a horrible car accident and also as a result loses his trust and belief in god.

His family includes his brother(Joaquin Phoenix...emperor in GLADIATOR),his daughter and son(two of the cutest kids you can hope to find) all characters portrayed with a great deal of emotion.

The family is taken through a emotional roller coaster as a result of the crop circles and the notion of aliens invading the planet.

THE most amazing part of the movie????

In such a situation the entire family normally looks up to the head (in this case MEL GIBSON),instead they find that he is cracking under pressure and the thought that he could lose his entire family.

the ENDING?

some of the people I know didnt enjoy the ending too much as they felt it was too superficial and not too dramatic,again I beg to differ.

I am not gonna give it away But if you are gonna watch the film,my advice purely is,do not take it as it comes,think about it.

If the movie does not make you ask yourself some basic questions about god or faith ;then it does mean that the desired effect which shyamalan had hoped to bring through hasnt worked.

As for the coincidences part,it is left to each one of us to take in our own way