elshikh4
I'm sad. No, I'm really sad. How come a potentially super movie like this goes wrong like that ?!! Well, it didn't go so wrong, but sure it wasn't that right either ! It's a (Seven Samurais) story, yet with 11 fighters, being old ones, having a dishonor they want to wipe as a salvation. It has a B-movie gold, however the movie insists on being not that shiny. Review with me; not all the 11 are being spotted on, so why the big number from the start? We didn't go through the already cared about characters appropriately; it goes like this; one drunk, one rich, one mouthy...etc namely hasty without much writing to utilize the stereotype or make it less tacky. And most of them weren't even done appropriately in the first place (Naseeruddin Shah loves children while having a child of his own, and not being a lost child himself !). The matter of the girl calling the police to forbid the leads of continuing the mission, just for feeling afraid that they may die, is so idiot it's unbelievable. How the corrupted police officer would collect the handsome financial award for capturing the criminal while he'd let him escape ?! And that rich man of the team, he just approved to spend his money, financing the mission, building a school, so easily. Rather, every time these men have a problem with each other it solves itself so easily, for instance; they disagreed, and half of them is about to leave, then they suddenly unsay and stay (??!!).The music is another electronic hell, with no taste but to disparage everything and annoy us. The editing was utterly nerves; it deprived the movie of any specialty, and turned the whole thing into accelerated hubbub. Then, the guy who played the villain, OH MY GOD, he wasn't the worst of this movie; he was the worst Indian actor I have ever seen yet ! What the heck is that? At one point I said to myself why they didn't hire the American comedian (Chris Rock) instead? He would have been at least funnier, and in a comic sense as well ! While being supposedly scary, his scenes came to be laughable due to his flamboyant make-up and imbecile performance. That turned me off, before devastating the power of the conflict. The reputation of holding the record for the highest number of extras and the biggest action sequences filmed in a Hindi film IS shamefully false. The action sequences aren't expensive or excellently made. Average, or in best cases, decent is the word for it. And finally (Urmila Matondkar), as a cameo in the singing sequence, was massively silly and instead of looking sexy she looked like a freaking robot ! In fact, the dance was nerves; just like the movie itself. So as you see, it was generally between average and nerves.I only loved the different format for the Samurais this round, the satire against the police as helpless but colluding; which's something unusual in a story of that sort, the way the script handled the storyline of the village people; from absolute cowards or peace-loving, to brave solders who take their usurped rights by war, and the loose performance of the charismatic (Amrish Puri) as nearly the opposite of anything he used to be before (stealing the show from the movie's lead Om Puri). However I don't think (Akira Kurosawa), the director of the original (Seven Samurais), is so happy with this remake. The movie's makers should have made what could equal such a valuable director and movie. Otherwise why to regard him at the start with a special board ? It's something the makers of the much better and more successful remake (Sholay – 1975) didn't do ! This unprecedented gesture of nostalgia and respect promised of more, but the result was less !(China Gate) is a clear case of B-grade movie-making that ate up A-grade stuff. And the potentially super movie, which you know and have seen many times in many versions, had been disappointed. That's why I'm pretty sad. It reminded me of the story of the handsome prince who was witched into something else his self. Apparently the magic of Bollywood this time was more like evil voodoo, transforming the prince into…Hmmm…not a prince at the least !
long-ford
This film works as an overlong homage to 'Sholay'. Here a bunch of squabbling, overweight and dishonored former army men fight to capture a notorious bandit and reclaim their pride. Om Puri and Danny Denzongappa are good but Amrish Puri steals the show. The sparks between Amrish and Naseer are worth watching. Urmila has an item number and it's a foot-tapping one! The villain is suitably hammy, though not very tough. The film does tend to drag and could have been at least a half hour shorter. Still, it's watchable for the most part at least on television/DVD.Overall 6/10
Anupam
This is another WONDERFUL movie by RajKumar Santoshi, the creator of Ghayal, Ghatak, Damini. Though the movie is inspired by blockbusters like Sholay (Hindi), Seven Samurai but has somehow prints its own identity. This movie has more than 12 actors but the director has beautifully characterize their roles. You would remember each and everybody even after leaving the theatre. I think this is the first Hindi movie which has no young actors in it and typical love story. The other highlights of the movie are excellent cinematography, live sets and superb acting. If you prefer technicially brilliant movie, this is one, you must see.-Anupam
Danno-20
The story of China gate is basically stolen from Kurosawas Seven Samurai, which isn't very strange since it's a great story. Seen in a cinema in Bombay, it was an extraordninary experience in every way. The action scenes were explosive, to say the least, and the characters absolutely marvelous. The way the plot suddenly is interrupted by amazing dance- and song performences is indeed a different experience for western people filled with the American way of making films.If you didn't like Schindlers list, this is the movie for you. It's sure to give any mindless Hollywood action pic an even match.
