Tom's Alphabet Marathon Reviews

[goodguy]

Just noticed that myself while looking at the review index.

[Tom]

Title: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
Year: 2001
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Rating: FSK-6
Length: 214 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: German

Stars:
Shri Amitabh Bachchan
Aamir Khan
Gracy Singh
Rachel Shelley
Paul Blackthorne

Plot:
Queen Victoria's India. The year is 1893. Champaner… a small farming village in Central India. On the outskirts of the village stands a British cantonment, commanded by Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) - an arrogant and capricous man who wields the power of life and death over the villages under his jurisdiction.

'LAGAAN' - a story of a battle without bloodshed.

Fought by a group of unlikely heroes led by Bhuvan (Aamir Khan), an enigmatic young farmer with courage born of conviction - and a dream in his heart. Helped by Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley), an English rose who came to India and lost her heart, and Bhuvan's pillar of strength, Gauri (Gracy Singh), the young and perky village girl who dreams only of a home with the man she loves.

A story of extraordinary circumstances thrust upon ordinary people. Adversity faces with fortitude and injustice with dignity. Faith and courage come face to face with arrogance and ruthlessness… and the human spirit triumphs.

Awards:

Academy Award	2001	Nominated	Best Foreign Language Film
European Film Awards	2001	Nominated	Screen International European Film Award (non-European)
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Actor Award	Aamir Khan
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Director Award	Ashutosh Gowariker
Filmfare Awards	2001	Won	Best Female Playback Award	Alka Yagnik
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Lyricist Award	Javed Akhtar
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Male Playback Award	Udit Narayan
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Movie Award
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Music Director Award	A. R. Rahman
Filmfare Awards	2002	Won	Best Story Award	Ashutosh Gowarikar
IIFA Awards	2002	Won	Best Actor	Aamir Khan
IIFA Awards	2002	Won	Best Director	Ashutosh Gowarikar
IIFA Awards	2002	Won	Best Female Playback	Asha Bhosle
IIFA Awards	2002	Won	Best Movie
IIFA Awards	2002	Won	Best Music Director	A. R. Rahman
IIFA Awards	2002	Won	Best Story	Ashutosh Gowariker

Extras:
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Music Videos
Poster
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

Overall I enjoyed this movie. As I have previously stated I like movies about an underdog sports team of misfits trying to beat an established opponent. Though I have to say that it was better done in "Chak De! India". I think the main problem for me is the sport they are playing here: Cricket. I find it boring. I have this problem also with Baseball. In my review for "Chak De! India" I have written, that I was on the edge of my seat for the most part of the hockey matches. But here this hardly was the case.

The love triangle they were building up in the first half of the movie was promising, but as soon as at was really beginning, it was already resolved. It was rather abrupt. For this I recommend to watch the deleted scenes (on my release they were 30 minutes of deleted scenes, which seemed to be cut for time, not for quality).

Spoiler (hover to show)

There we get to see more lovely scenes between Bhuvan and Gauri. And it shows that his descision wasn't as abrupt as it seemed in the final cut, but that there never really was a choice because he has already decided from the beginning. He only was playing with Gauri and trying to make her jealous.

Finally I have to say, that I very much enjoyed the songs. Nothing really memorable, but well executed and fun to watch.

Rating:

[Tom]

I have completed my marathon now

[addicted2dvd]