For me, K3G is THE quintessential Bollywood movie - even though it was made with much higher production standards and more money than most of the lot. In fact, it is a film that sweeps you off your feet, exactly because it is so perfect in the technical sense: stunning cinematography (kudos to Kiran Deohans), art direction, costumes, editing, coreography... The song-and-dance scenes are a real treat for everyone, both Indian and non-Indian.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
I've seen the film two times and both times thoroughly enjoyed it, though I basically didn't like the message and though it was too hypocritical and sentimental. As for the hypocrisy, the storyline and directing swiftly obliterate for example the quite obvious fact that Yash Raichand wants Naina (played by beautiful and lovely Rani Mukherjee) to marry his son Rahul because he himself is attracted to her (as is hinted to in the "Shava Shava" song and dance scene). The nationalistic bits (British people standing up in amazement when hearing the Indian national anthem - I beg you!) were simply annoying, as was all that obscenely paraded consumerism (Dolce & Gabbana seems to have sponsored the movie - they had their logo onscreen almost every ten minutes or so).
I found the movie's central message also very annoying: love your parents, even if they behave to you as if you were a piece of crap - then one day they will forgive you that you left them because you were angry at them for treating you that badly (and you are also allowed to forgive them a little bit, if you please to do so). The father's authority is never really questioned throughout the story, not even in the final scene - the only time this happens is maybe in the scene where his wife Nandini tells him that he is "not God" - but then, who is?
The all-star cast was most impressive (who had this most over-the-top idea to get all these people together for one film?!), the acting was generally quite good, though Amitabh Bachchan had been better in other films (for example in a very similar role in 'Mohabbatein'), Shah Rukh Khan was good and believable. Hrithik Roshan looked gorgeous :), even though I still doubt if he can really act. But his screen presence and dancing were excellent. Kajol was very unnerving in the first part, but got better in the London scenes (though her naive and fervent Hinduism and longing for an idealized Bharat didn't make her character very sympathetic). Kareena Kapoor was great fun as the self-obsessed Poo who seemed to be straight out of the Hollywood flick 'Clueless' (though when I watched the film with a Hungarian friend he told me that he hated the superficial criticism of Western ways expressed through her character). Thus I didn't like at all when in the end she conformed to the Indian ways and became a good housewife - and all this for a man sporting Dolce & Gabbana clothing and driving a most expensive red sports car!
All in all I'd still recommend K3G to everyone who wants to see a top Bollywood production of today with excellent song and dance. But, honestly, if you want to see a really good and personally satisfying Bollywood flick - better go and watch 'Lagaan'.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
I've seen the film two times and both times thoroughly enjoyed it, though I basically didn't like the message and though it was too hypocritical and sentimental. As for the hypocrisy, the storyline and directing swiftly obliterate for example the quite obvious fact that Yash Raichand wants Naina (played by beautiful and lovely Rani Mukherjee) to marry his son Rahul because he himself is attracted to her (as is hinted to in the "Shava Shava" song and dance scene). The nationalistic bits (British people standing up in amazement when hearing the Indian national anthem - I beg you!) were simply annoying, as was all that obscenely paraded consumerism (Dolce & Gabbana seems to have sponsored the movie - they had their logo onscreen almost every ten minutes or so).
I found the movie's central message also very annoying: love your parents, even if they behave to you as if you were a piece of crap - then one day they will forgive you that you left them because you were angry at them for treating you that badly (and you are also allowed to forgive them a little bit, if you please to do so). The father's authority is never really questioned throughout the story, not even in the final scene - the only time this happens is maybe in the scene where his wife Nandini tells him that he is "not God" - but then, who is?
The all-star cast was most impressive (who had this most over-the-top idea to get all these people together for one film?!), the acting was generally quite good, though Amitabh Bachchan had been better in other films (for example in a very similar role in 'Mohabbatein'), Shah Rukh Khan was good and believable. Hrithik Roshan looked gorgeous :), even though I still doubt if he can really act. But his screen presence and dancing were excellent. Kajol was very unnerving in the first part, but got better in the London scenes (though her naive and fervent Hinduism and longing for an idealized Bharat didn't make her character very sympathetic). Kareena Kapoor was great fun as the self-obsessed Poo who seemed to be straight out of the Hollywood flick 'Clueless' (though when I watched the film with a Hungarian friend he told me that he hated the superficial criticism of Western ways expressed through her character). Thus I didn't like at all when in the end she conformed to the Indian ways and became a good housewife - and all this for a man sporting Dolce & Gabbana clothing and driving a most expensive red sports car!
All in all I'd still recommend K3G to everyone who wants to see a top Bollywood production of today with excellent song and dance. But, honestly, if you want to see a really good and personally satisfying Bollywood flick - better go and watch 'Lagaan'.