Since years, the Indian cinema fails to attract my attention and respect. The Americanized atmosphere, the must-be-plagiarized story, or just being weak were the problems. This time, forget it.
Now here's a movie that takes not the easy, but the hard way to do everything. There are some diligence and patience behind the CGI, the sets, the music, and the story; which is a creative take on the famous Arabian folk story: Aladdin and the magical lamp.
The story managed to be a romantic comedy mixed with fantasy, action and music. The matter of the Genie knowing Aladdin's parents, failing to rescue them, feeling responsible for their death provided the story with new spirit and catchy surprises. However, the character of The Ringmaster as the archenemy with his really creepy henchmen and woman, wanting the lamp along with the one million years meteor's flame--did impress me, being more new and catchy. Did I say earlier that this is a movie from Bollywood as well?!
The image is beyond dazzling. The comedy got me. The music is as high as any Hollywood music or maybe better. Most of the songs are instant classics; (You May Be) is great example. The action (The battles of the flashback, with the evil minions, and sure the last one) is perfect. The young director (Sujoy Ghosh) is marvelous; just recall where Genius and The Ringmaster meet head-on, or the inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac scene of (You May Be); How Enchanting!
(Ritesh Deshmukh) did a fine job whether as actor or dancer. He makes the role his own. And anyway THANK GOD THAT THEY DIDN'T USE (ABHISHEK BACHCHAN) AS IT WAS INTENDED. To tell you the truth, (Deshmukh) looks like the fair son that (Bachchan) didn't have. (Jaqueline Fernandes) is - in brief - a walking dream.
I envied the movie's makers to have (Bachchan) as the Genie. Who else him can be more magical? I laugh when I read something like "Genius's characterization is inspired by Robin Williams's take on the Genie in (Aladdin - 1992)"!! Genius's characterization is inspired by none other than the Big B. Follow the nice references to his old roles / the classic Indian cinema all along; talking about turning the impossible into possible (Amar Akbar Anthony - 1977), facing the bad guys in climactic fight but not before a song in a masquerade (Naseeb - 1981), The while suit in the party (Namak Halaal - 1982), etc. The movie understands which icon it deals with, being so proud of having him around. And he shows much brisk that can't tell how he was 67 year old. I only hated that his eyes were being covered for 75% of the time, by the cool hat or the white wig's long tufts.
Speaking about hating, many scenes and moments, in the first 2 acts, should have been deleted; Aladin at night demands from the Genie to have love without magic, then a next scene, in the morning, for saying nothing but the same thing!, Genie goes to assure that nobody remembers the first wish's dance by asking the teacher (Why?!), someone asks who's next in audition to know that Aladin is the next while we can understand it easily without that, The Ringmaster makes way over a mountain by outstanding stunt; I believe that fits being a smart introduction for him, or something that he does with one of the first 2 victims, not a totally extra scene that didn't affect anything. Some shots begin with somewhat long and unnecessary walking for the characters or moving camera over the city. Let alone that the movie waits, for more than its half, till the romantic comedy ends to let the hot action unfold. For instance, why The Ringmaster didn't try earlier to kill Aladin more than once?! That could have added some excitement, not delaying the conflict to very late phase.
All of the above did slacken partly the final product. Is it why it ended up as a flop?!! Is it how an original, fancy, lovable movie, with 4 years of working, huge budget, and A-list stars, went wrong?!!! Whatever the reason was; 5 out of 10 in the IMDb is not unfair, it's rather the unfairness!
This is surprisingly top notch and no less. Surprisingly as I used to get "The less" mostly from Bollywood lately. It's more like a festival of bright colors, imagination, and cinema. Despite its pace problems, I can't get enough of it. Therefore it's sad that it had to fail in the box office. But don't bother yourself (Ghosh), we need more wonders from your pocket, because dear.. you're the true "Genius". And this pure moment of happiness that you made will live forever.
Now here's a movie that takes not the easy, but the hard way to do everything. There are some diligence and patience behind the CGI, the sets, the music, and the story; which is a creative take on the famous Arabian folk story: Aladdin and the magical lamp.
The story managed to be a romantic comedy mixed with fantasy, action and music. The matter of the Genie knowing Aladdin's parents, failing to rescue them, feeling responsible for their death provided the story with new spirit and catchy surprises. However, the character of The Ringmaster as the archenemy with his really creepy henchmen and woman, wanting the lamp along with the one million years meteor's flame--did impress me, being more new and catchy. Did I say earlier that this is a movie from Bollywood as well?!
The image is beyond dazzling. The comedy got me. The music is as high as any Hollywood music or maybe better. Most of the songs are instant classics; (You May Be) is great example. The action (The battles of the flashback, with the evil minions, and sure the last one) is perfect. The young director (Sujoy Ghosh) is marvelous; just recall where Genius and The Ringmaster meet head-on, or the inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac scene of (You May Be); How Enchanting!
(Ritesh Deshmukh) did a fine job whether as actor or dancer. He makes the role his own. And anyway THANK GOD THAT THEY DIDN'T USE (ABHISHEK BACHCHAN) AS IT WAS INTENDED. To tell you the truth, (Deshmukh) looks like the fair son that (Bachchan) didn't have. (Jaqueline Fernandes) is - in brief - a walking dream.
I envied the movie's makers to have (Bachchan) as the Genie. Who else him can be more magical? I laugh when I read something like "Genius's characterization is inspired by Robin Williams's take on the Genie in (Aladdin - 1992)"!! Genius's characterization is inspired by none other than the Big B. Follow the nice references to his old roles / the classic Indian cinema all along; talking about turning the impossible into possible (Amar Akbar Anthony - 1977), facing the bad guys in climactic fight but not before a song in a masquerade (Naseeb - 1981), The while suit in the party (Namak Halaal - 1982), etc. The movie understands which icon it deals with, being so proud of having him around. And he shows much brisk that can't tell how he was 67 year old. I only hated that his eyes were being covered for 75% of the time, by the cool hat or the white wig's long tufts.
Speaking about hating, many scenes and moments, in the first 2 acts, should have been deleted; Aladin at night demands from the Genie to have love without magic, then a next scene, in the morning, for saying nothing but the same thing!, Genie goes to assure that nobody remembers the first wish's dance by asking the teacher (Why?!), someone asks who's next in audition to know that Aladin is the next while we can understand it easily without that, The Ringmaster makes way over a mountain by outstanding stunt; I believe that fits being a smart introduction for him, or something that he does with one of the first 2 victims, not a totally extra scene that didn't affect anything. Some shots begin with somewhat long and unnecessary walking for the characters or moving camera over the city. Let alone that the movie waits, for more than its half, till the romantic comedy ends to let the hot action unfold. For instance, why The Ringmaster didn't try earlier to kill Aladin more than once?! That could have added some excitement, not delaying the conflict to very late phase.
All of the above did slacken partly the final product. Is it why it ended up as a flop?!! Is it how an original, fancy, lovable movie, with 4 years of working, huge budget, and A-list stars, went wrong?!!! Whatever the reason was; 5 out of 10 in the IMDb is not unfair, it's rather the unfairness!
This is surprisingly top notch and no less. Surprisingly as I used to get "The less" mostly from Bollywood lately. It's more like a festival of bright colors, imagination, and cinema. Despite its pace problems, I can't get enough of it. Therefore it's sad that it had to fail in the box office. But don't bother yourself (Ghosh), we need more wonders from your pocket, because dear.. you're the true "Genius". And this pure moment of happiness that you made will live forever.