Movies
I'm not a Bollywood fan, but I've been hearing some good things about this film, also from people who I tend to trust more than the usual critics. I just don't see it though. Yes, the action is a little over-the-top, but it only matches the over-the-top cheesiness that brings the rest of the production down. There are some fun action scenes scattered throughout the film, but it's not enough to keep a 3-hour film interesting. The performances are weak, the songs distracting, and the kitsch levels through the roof. I'm sure films like these have an audience, it's just not my cup of tea. Not the worst of the bunch though, but not something I'd broadly recommend.Read all
The answer to the question: can India rival epic Hollywood blockbusters? The answer is a resounding yes, though you are free to wonder whether it should. The only interesting bits here are the cultural elements, which are different from what you'll find in the average Hollywood blockbuster, but that's not enough for 150 minutes of film. The setup of the film is okay (though not too original), once it's padded with romance and action the film quickly slips into blandly familiar territory. I can't say I was very impressed with this, though the scale easily matches its Hollywood peers, so if you like those types of films, it's worth checking out.Read all
More of the same. The only reason for ranking this one lower is that knowing what was to come, I got bored a lot faster. And like its predecessor (and many other Bollywood films), this is a looooong endeavor. I could've done without the entire second half, though fans of the first will feel very differently. Nothing works. The romance is terrible, the action scenes feel fake, the performances are horrid and the second half is way too serious. The sillier bits during the first half are by far the best Baahubali has to offer, but even those are barely entertaining. I'm going to skip the animated version, I've had my fill of Baahubali after two films.Read all