Movie Review - Chandni Chowk To China

Movie Review : Chandni Chowk To China
By AgensisThursday, January 15, 2009
Source: In.com

A small village in China is terrorized by one cruel gang lord, Hojo (Gordon). Fed up of his tyrannies, the hapless villagers consult an astrologer who tells them that China’s most famous ancient warrior Liu Sheng has re-incarnated and he is the one who will kill Hojo.

Two villagers go in the hunt of this re-born Liu Sheng which happens to be one staying in the famous Chandni Chowk of Delhi in India

This bloke Siddhu (Akshay) in real is anything but their warrior they are in the look out for. Working in a paratha shop, as a vegetable cutter, the portly Siddhu is forever chasing dreams of a luxurious life without wanting to do hard work to achieve it. His foster father, Dada (Mithun) is fed up of his lethargic ways and always tries to make him realize his hidden potential.

The two Chinese villagers finally find Siddhu and with the help of a fraud Chinese astrologer Chopstick (Ranveer) manage to take him to their village in China. Chopstick too tags along as Siddhu’s translator. During the journey, Siddhu encounters Sakhi (Deepika) a popular model and falls for her instantly but soon his hopes come crashing as he comes across her lethal side of that of a thief.

But little does he know that its not Sakhi but her long lost twin Suzie aka Meow Meow (Deepika again) whom he has got confused with. What happens when Siddhu arrives in the remote Chinese village and how Hojo reacts to his arrival and what it leads to forms the rest of the film!

There had been lots of expectations raised from the slick promos of the film but unfortunately, the film doesn’t really end up being the joy ride it promises to be. The biggest flaw of CC2C lies in its predictable script which packs in all the 70s masala including lost and found, revenge drama, the triumph of good over evil just that the setting is changed from India to China.

The film begins well with a superbly shot fight on the wall of China but then the pace dips as Siddhu’s daily life is introduced. Then again post the interval any average cinegoer can predict what is in store at what intervals and there is where boredom starts creeping in.

You keep looking at your watch hoping it to end. Also, despite a good built up given to Hojo’s Kung Fu expertise and hopes raised about the one on one fight between him and Siddhu, the climax fight ends up being very short and disappointing.

Amongst the most redeemable factors about CC2C is Akshay Kumar. He makes you laugh, cry and cheer for him but then again he is let down by an average script.

But it’s a great treat watching Akshay going back in the action mode and doing some really breathtaking Kung Fu stunts. Deepika Padukone in a double role does well but the chemistry between her and Akki is clearly missing. Gordon Liu as the villain is simply superb. He manages to bring out terror just with a stare. Ranvir is good as usual whereas Mithun impresses in the few sequences that he gets.

The music of the film appears better when watching the songs onscreen as they have been very lavishly picturised, especially the title track. The film scores full marks on the technical front. But we wish we could say the same about the script!

The film is a must see for hardcore Akshay Kumar fans, for the rest well one can only say that if you want to get nostalgic about the 70s cinema with some humor mixed with it then going for this 2 hour 40 minutes film won’t be a bad idea. -Sampurn Media

Chandni Chowk To China: Old wine in new bottle

Rating: 2.5 out of 5*

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ranvir Shorey, Mithun Chakravorthy and Gordon Liu

Direction: Nikhil Advani

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Ghajini cheers non-smoking lobby Ameer Khan Movie

‘Ghajini’ cheers non-smoking lobby:

Movie Conveys `No Smoking’ Message With Line ‘Yahan Smoking Allowed Nahi Hain’

Bharati Dubey & Malathy Iyer | TNN

Mumbai: After years of booing actors who light up on screen, anti-tobacco activists seem to have found something to cheer about in Aamir Khan’s ‘Ghajini’. The recently released film is sending out a no-smoking message, earning kudos from long-time crusaders on Saturday.
According to research, 52% of children have their first puff after watching a celebrity light up. Moreover, Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss had requested Bollywood filmmakers to not show actors smoking on screen.
“We appreciate the efforts of and thank to A Murugadoss, the director of ‘Ghajini’, and Aamir Khan for highlighting such an important issue,’’ said Dr P C Gupta, director of Healis-Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, who has been in the forefront of the campaign to ban smoking in public places. In ‘Ghajini’, the character played by Jiah Khan is walking down the steps of a mall when she spots some men blowing smoke in people’s faces inside the mall. The camera then pans to a ‘No Smoking’ board before Jiah says, “Yahan smoking allowed nahi hain.’’
When contacted, Murugadoss said, “I have never encouraged smoking in my films. If you look at this film, even the negative characters don’t smoke. In fact, the scene in the film that does have smoking is actually against smoking.’’
The director added, “Youngsters worship actors and follow them blindly. So I always try to project my actors in such a manner that his or her character does not glorify things that are not good.’’
Aamir himself said a balance should be struck between discouraging smoking and ensuring artistic freedom. “I fully support the drive to help people to quit smoking and I would strongly advise the youth not to get into this harmful habit in the first place. However, I don’t think a ban on smoking in films makes sense. Films are a creative medium and are meant to reflect different aspects of life, good and bad. Murder is illegal in real life, but we don’t put a ban on it in films. But we should definitely make every effort to discourage smoking in real life.’’
Regional officer Vinayak Azad, of the Censor Board for Film Certification, said there is still no official ban on smoking in films. “As for ‘Ghajini’ promoting the ban on smoking in public, it is a good thing and more producers should do this through their films,’’ said Azad.
Director Mahesh Bhatt had filed a case against the health ministry’s notification banning smoking on screen. The case is still pending in the Delhi High Court.
Bhatt said, “My writ has put a roadblock in the path of the government’s ban on smoking on screen.’’
It may be noted here that the Union health minister had taken strong objection to Shah Rukh Khan smoking in the film ‘Don’. READMORE...