Lagaan: Once Upon a Time In India (2001) Reviews
- Starring:
- Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, (more)
- Director(s):
- Ashutosh Gowariker
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Category:
- Music & Performing Arts
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful This movie is worth seeing for two reasons: 1) you can learn how to play cricket and 2) the musical/Bollywood routine about Krishna and the Gobi girls is wonderful. This routine is exactly what a ... Read More This movie is worth seeing for two reasons: 1) you can learn how to play cricket and 2) the musical/Bollywood routine about Krishna and the Gobi girls is wonderful. This routine is exactly what a musical is all about long, silly and immensely entertaining song and dance routine with elaborate costumes and settings. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful I rented this out of curiousity, and I am SO glad I did. Although it's quite long (almost 4 hours), both my roommate and I truly enjoyed all of it. The actors were wonderful, the big music numbers ... Read More I rented this out of curiousity, and I am SO glad I did. Although it's quite long (almost 4 hours), both my roommate and I truly enjoyed all of it. The actors were wonderful, the big music numbers were fascinating, and overall this was a great movie experience. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in seeing something other than the standard "Hollywood" movie! Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful This movie is an instant classic. Few movies capture the spirit and passion that the Indian villagers have. A passion not replicated elsewhere. So worth watching. And funny, romantic, exciting also ... Read More This movie is an instant classic. Few movies capture the spirit and passion that the Indian villagers have. A passion not replicated elsewhere. So worth watching. And funny, romantic, exciting also with all your typical Bollywood songs thrown in. Good ones. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful Though the movie provided some insight into certain aspects of (historical) Indian culture and though some of the characters were interesting, there was something innocently juvenile about the whole ... Read More Though the movie provided some insight into certain aspects of (historical) Indian culture and though some of the characters were interesting, there was something innocently juvenile about the whole film. The dancing and the music were were nice (extravagant in many ways, but perhaps borderline tawdry), and some interesting (though by no means new) ideas were introduced. The acting was of poor quality by professional standards, with the exception of a few, including Aamir Khan, the lead role. The portrayal of the English is borderline, if not all the way, ridiculous, and so are many other parts of the film. The writing of the screenplay, in general, seems relatively amateurish (e.g. very long, and seemingly random, spoken narratives within the film). Overall, a mediocre film, which is not to say it did not have some good qualities. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful For all of you Bollywood regulars and cricket fans, this movie will entertain you. Aamir's acting is good,the cricket parts are really hilarious sp the interpretations of the villagers about cricket. ... Read More For all of you Bollywood regulars and cricket fans, this movie will entertain you. Aamir's acting is good,the cricket parts are really hilarious sp the interpretations of the villagers about cricket. Some songs are very well done and the costumes are beautiful. Worth watching .
Review for an American audience with no interest in cricket or any experience of a Bollywood masal film: rating **1/2:Just as I would not appreciate anything in a sports movie made about american football or golf,this movie will leave the non- cricket playing people stone cold, also the movie has may songs and dances for no reason other than this how bollywood films are made!The acting will be very average and very strong black and white characters with no character shades of gray. So if you are looking for something thoughtprovoking or about Indian history, Do not watch this movie. If you like musicals , can tolerate reading subtitles and want to escape to a dreamland, then you might like this movie. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful A four-hour demonization of the Raj (British colonial rule), with nice scenery and costuming, good acting and a satisfying story line. One must wonder at the insecurity of the producer of so ... Read More A four-hour demonization of the Raj (British colonial rule), with nice scenery and costuming, good acting and a satisfying story line. One must wonder at the insecurity of the producer of so jaundiced and historically revisionist a screenplay -- but to the extent this can be ignored, the film does entertain. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful From the beginning I expected another epic tale of India's revolution from Britain ("Legend of Bhagat Singh") but this film quickly turns into a very locally set story about a game of cricket. Lagaan ... Read More From the beginning I expected another epic tale of India's revolution from Britain ("Legend of Bhagat Singh") but this film quickly turns into a very locally set story about a game of cricket. Lagaan isn't ideological enough to be about race or politics and doesn't have enough hit songs to be an endearing Bollywood film. This Amir Khan project has decent cinematography but not enough plot to keep you interested for the 3-plus hours running time. I'm befuddled as to why this is the ONE hindi film you find in EVERY video rental store/service. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 9 people found this review helpful This is one of the worst movies I've seen. I had to force my self to finish watching it. I order to survive this long ordeal (3 hours 45 min) I had to fast forward through the lame singing ... Read More This is one of the worst movies I've seen. I had to force my self to finish watching it. I order to survive this long ordeal (3 hours 45 min) I had to fast forward through the lame singing routines. This movie is a example of how not to make a movie. If you don't want to go insane avoid this miserable tale of stupidity. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No |
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