Dhoom 2 - (2 Disc set) Reviews

• DHOOM 2: flash overcomes substance

  
  By A2HVL790PBWYTU on 2007-02-06
  The following refers to the 2-disc dvd set of DHOOM 2.
  
  Begin plot SPOILERS here: DHOOM 2: BACK IN ACTION marks the return of relentless supercop Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) and his dubious bandana-clad sidekick Ali (Uday Chopra), who himself is now in the police force. Released two years after the 2004 blockbuster picture DHOOM (a blockbuster in India, anyway), this sequel tells of Dixit and Ali's efforts to nab flashy international master thief Aryan, aka Mr. A (Hrithik Roshan, KRRISH), who has a fondness for disguises and techno-gadgetry and specializes in outrageously daring heists. Dixit and Ali are aided by ACP Shonali Bose (Bipasha Basu), a buxom college friend of Dixit's who had been tracking Aryan for the past two years and had become an expert on him.
  
  But it's Dixit who figures out early on that Aryan has a pattern to his thefts involving numbers and the letter "A" and thus is able to predict the date and site of his next crime. That site turns out to be Mumbai and what happens there sets off a frenetic cat and mouse hunt as Dixit, Ali, and Shonali pursue Aryan from metropolitan Mumbai all the way to exotic Brazil. It's a good thing for Aryan that he bumps into a beautiful petty thief named Sunehri (Aishwarya Rai) who teasingly calls him "Funny Guy" and talks him into a partnership. But will Sunehri's allegiance be enough for Aryan to escape the grasp of Mumbai law? End plot SPOILERS.
  
  If you've already checked out the first DHOOM and liked it, then DHOOM 2 is more of the same. The hip posing, the attitudes, the buff bodies, the trendy wardrobe, the extreme sports style of action, that oh-so-catchy title tune...they're all here. This sequel showcases the same MTV-generated sensibilities of the first DHOOM. The polished, good looking stunts and elaborate action sequences again mimic the styles of John Woo and THE MATRIX. The thrills and intensity are juxtaposed with broad, goofball comedy and sizzling musical numbers, the last two being quite apropos of the Bollywood genre. And, yes, I did get weary of the glut of slo-mo sequences wherein the film tries to emphasize just how "cool" these folks are as they pose or bust a fight move for the camera.
  
  But, in spite of the corniness and cheesiness of it all, I'm giving this one three and a half stars because what matters most is that I had fun watching it. There's certainly enough eye candy here to lure in both genders. Though I enjoyed Abhishek Bachchan's work as the taciturn and unyielding Inspector Dixit, DHOOM 2, acting -wise, is served best by the chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, who actually seem to be the prohibitive stars here. The magnetic Roshan puts in an ingratiating performance (never mind that he seems too aware of how good he looks on screen), and he's certainly athletic enough and displays several spiffy dance moves reminiscent of Justin Timberlake. Aishwarya Rai, though her character irked me at times with her constant self-referencing in the third person, remains the most beautiful woman in cinema and in life and a wonderful dancer. I don't think she had her best performance here - she makes for an improbable thief - but never mind. She and Roshan sizzle and even kiss on screen (causing an obscenity charge to be filed against them in India because kissing in Bollywood is very frowned upon). Meanwhile, Uday Chopra is good, goofy fun as Ali. I'm glad there was a callback to his funny daydream bits from the first movie. Lastly, Bipasha Basu is good as the no-nonsense but still very smoking Shonali Bose. But, don't get me wrong, she's not as hot as Aishwarya. Geez, she's not even as hot as Roshan.
  
  Now on to the dvd set. The dvd packaging has a neat pull tab that simultaneously causes both discs to extend in opposite directions for your grabbing pleasure. Disc one has the feature film as well as an option for song selection. The 2nd disc contains these special features: "Master of Disguise" - a breakdown of Mr. A's various disguises; "Storyboard to Screen" - image breakdowns (rough storyboard to computer visualization to actual live version) of the film's action sequences; "D:2 Fashion Special" - interviews with the cast re the look and style of their characters; 4 minutes of deleted scenes; 2 music videos "Dhoom Again" and a remix of "Crazy"; tv promos; and the theatrrical trailer.
  
  Like the first DHOOM, DHOOM 2 holds a certain fascination for me in that the makers of the film seemed to blatantly care more about the look of the film, rather than the substance of it. The story is engaging enough, you can't really go wrong with a supercop versus charming master criminal scenario. But this movie, with its fast-paced editing and glossy, vibrant imagery, runs like a longer version of an MTV music video. And it seems to have worked as DHOOM and DHOOM 2 have made buckets of money, and, now, there's talk of a DHOOM 3. Me, yeah, I'm a fan of this series. The DHOOM films aren't too deep and thought provoking and aren't about to win any significant movie trophies. But it does what it sets out to do, which is to place the viewers in a world of escapism and then keep 'em there for two and a half hours or so. And, certainly, a film showcasing Aishwarya Rai playing hoops is worth viewing, right? Right.
  
  

• Dhoom 2 is a refreshing Bollywood movie...Might want to try the 1st Dhoom as well

  
  By A290A3XO7XK33X on 2007-02-03
  Dhoom 2...seen it, loved it. Before I continue with the actual movie review I'd like to comment on a couple of things. The first comment being the comparison between Bollywood and Hollywood; I personally don't think it's a totally fair comparison because we're talking about two extremes that are seeking a mutual ground. Both movie industries command respect in their own way and much so among those familiar with them. So a note of warning, if you're looking for Hollywood standard stunts with Mission Impossible type action and precision, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're a risk taker...Dhoom 2 is your movie.
  
  Another point I'd like to make is about the vibe on the kiss between Ash and Hrithik (the female and male lead characters in the movie). For goodness sakes Hrithik is married and Ash is engaged, but both are such good actors that they light up the screen so well and make their romance believable enough to threaten some people. Now that's what I call good! Dhoom 2 is definitely not the first Bollywood movie to have a scene with smooching in it, (see Neal N Nikki, Bunty Aur Babli, Bluffmaster, Kaho Na Pyar Hai, however short the kiss may be) but it is the first to make headlines and land in court for it. Another thing that baffles me about the Indian culture (I'm not Indian but a total Bollywood buff) is how the concept of Bollywood actresses in skimpy, revealing cloths swaying the most attractive parts of their blessed hourglass bodies to the exotic rhythms of percussion instruments is perceived as okay when a kiss is a taboo. Even the traditional sari with all the adornment and striking colors that make the wearer stand out only serve to accentuate the wearer's curves and most definitely arouse the senses of an observer, be it male or female. So it's fine to get as far as the edge, one may even fall over the edge as long as you're not caught locking lips, well...I think this is absolute contradiction.
  
  Now that's said Dhoom 2 is about an international thief (Hrithik Roshan). Like any thief of his caliber he has rules. He works alone; makes his own tools which include robots and holograms to use in a heist; wears disguise so no one knows his true facial features; steals only perfect priceless artifacts and has a knack for numbers. Plus he goes by Mr. A and leaves his mark behind after every heist.
  
  In India, there's the police department trying to catch up with Mr. A. before he starts the raid on Indian artifacts. The department's prominent trio is Jai Dixit (Abisheck Bachchan), Shonalia (Bipasha Basu), Ali (Uday Chopra). Their plans to catch Mr. A. all become futile, thereby taking the chase to Brazil. In comes Suneri (Aishwarya Rai). She's also a thief in her rights, but she is being plied to work with the police department in return for an expunged record. Well the story goes that she's able to convince Mr. A. enough that he breaks his rules. He takes her on as an apprentice and even reveals his true identity, so much so that they create a form of "trust" and then a romance ensues. Time comes for Suneri to decide to give up Mr. A. to the police or allow the romance blossom. Well you have to find out the rest in the movie and how she makes her decision.
  
  Pros:
  1. Noteworthy songs, partly in English with a lot of hip-hop vibe and attitude
  2. Good looking actors and actresses...a dose of Dhoom 2 might make you reconsider eating another burger
  3. Big name actors plus above average performances
  4. Action plus comedy plus romance plus adventure all rolled up in one movie. Funnyman Uday steals the show with all his pranks. I found myself cracking up in every scene he's in.
  5. Exotic locations plus really beautiful colors
  
  Cons:
  1. Not a well rounded plot. Bipasha's character could have been easily dropped out of the movie and one won't even know the difference
  2. Not-so-good lines/script for characters but compensated for with the sexual tension between the lead characters
  3. How hard is it to identify a guy in a bandana, fake side-burns and hair extensions as compared to when he's not.
  4. Stunt precision isn't...well how does a guy on roller blades outrun a helicopter? Why will you disembark a helicopter on motor bikes to start a high speed chase that might just as well be done in the helicopter and for goodness sakes from the rear of the tunnel too?
  
  Overall Dhoom 2 is a good movie. An above average attempt for a Hollywood thriller and a definite A-plus for a Bollywood movie...oops there goes the comparison again. If you can overlook the downside of the movie, Dhoom 2 is one of those movies you can just sit back, kick off your boots, relax and enjoy the ride.
  
  
  
  

• Dhoom 2

  
  By A2XB8M3NXW9Q0O on 2007-04-03
  What do you get when you combine hot celebrities, a cool storyline and awesome special effects? You get Dhoom 2. So why did I give it 3 stars? Well it was for the following reasons:
  
  - The following three characters are absolutely unnecessary in this film: the person who plays Abhishek Bachan's wife, Bipasha Basu (both roles) and Uday Chopra.
  - Bipasha Basu is lusting after Abhishek Bachan - a person who is already married and soon to be a father.
  - The sound track was average
  - Why can Bipasha Basu's sister who resides in Brazil understand when Uday Chopra speaks Hindi and not when Abhishek Bachan speaks Hindi?
  - Uday Chopra - he is working on the physique but that face should not be appearing in Bollywood films in a hero role
  
  The storyline was fine because it was suppose to be a kind of action/fantasy type of film. Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan had great chemistry. It was an unlikely pair, but it works out well. Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachan do a great job in this film. Aishwarya Rai was the only female who had an important role, but even her character is a bimbo who says "like" in every sentence.
  
  It was a nice movie and despite the flaws, I would recommend watching it.
  
  
  

• Fun... but a bit cheezy

  
  By A1TAZZ2355GO4B on 2007-05-07
  After all the hype, I had high expectations for this movie, but was somewhat let down after seeing it.
  
  - I would have expected the humor in a movie like this to be sharp, intelligent and witty; instead it was cheezy/slapstick and brought the movie down a few notches; detracting from its credibility/enjoyment in my eyes
  - many of the stunts were far from looking professional and just too unrealistic
  - Bipasha's twin sister was able to understand everything Uday was saying in Hindi, despite the fact she claimed she didn't understand Hindi!! ("Kya???")
  - I found Aishwarya's constant reference to herself in the 3rd person irritating
  - Rimi Sen (Abhishek's wife), like in many of her other movies, plays the same irritated hi-strung character that delivers her lines way too fast. Why does she always do this???
  
  I enjoyed their get-ups, and the song/dance numbers though... but it was way off the mark of what I was expecting.
  
  

• WHOA

  
  By A1N3IB6EK2WTTH on 2007-04-09
  I really enjoyed watching this movie, subtitles and all. It was fun. It had a little bit of everything in it...romance...drama...and action. The kiss at the end was worth the wait. I have just started watching Bollywood movies and I cannot grasp this "no kissing policy" in all their films. Oh...they can bump and hip grind each other and do just about everything that gives the impression of copulation, but no kissing? I find it ludicrous!
  I would have given this five stars but the third person dialogue of Aishwarya Rai's character had me rolling my eyeballs. What was up with that? As far as Bollywood movies are concerned, cheesy as most of them are, this one had some integrity. Worth the watch!
  
  
• as long as there're endless singings and dancings
  By A32AK8FOAZEPE2 on 2007-04-18
  in bollywood's movies, they would never have turned out to be great. taking this 'dhoom:2' in 2006 and 'dhoom' in 2004, if all the dancings and singings could be deleted and better yet, if the annoying clown-like detective jerk could be re-scripted in a more serious manner, both films would be great enough to be treated as better action movies like 'indiana jones' hindi style. but the stereotyped bollywood (even this patented indian movie logo was imitated from the word 'hollywood) movie industries could never get out of its own over-used tradition, every movie got to have dancings and singings that actually got nothing to do with the plot, storyline and the scenario, making every movie, no matter what genre they might categorize, become just a pretentious, unnaturally staged musical.
  'dhoom' and 'dhoom:2', regretfully said, are no exception here. they've got all the great and the hottest young actors and actresses in both movies, yet they shot themselves on their own foot again with unnecessary dancings and singings, although all these stuff were seriously performed, but they also ruined the natural flow of what a serious and suspenseful action movie should be.
  bollywood is just just like hollywood, they could never separate the fact that two opposite and definitely uncompatile elements, just like oil cannot be well mixed with water(actually never) unless it's pure musical, dancing and singing could never find an appropriate foothold in any other genre movie.
  the actions were all great in both movies, but why you never considered them great movies on the whole? did you ever realize it's because of those unnecessary dancings and singings?
  making a movie, at the same time marketing the sound track or songs in it, to cover all the possible venues making more extra money with co-produced music scores and songs are not just necessary evil now, it has long time become a must. take it or leave it, that's what a movie-goer got to deal with more and more.
  if the hindi bollywood movie industries want their movies to become real internationally popular, there should be two versions with two different scripts every time when they produce a movie: one with the traditional singings and dancings, one without any of them. then they might find out which one could be accepted and more popular internationally.
  this 'dhoom:2', just like the first one, is another drive-you-nuts noisy musical.
  
  
• mission impossible meets bolly wood
  By A2Q62T6H234LN0 on 2007-06-27
  this is an action and music pack movie were you see action comedy and the a music video all in one it is funny romantic and dose have what i call the fergie meets india version of music videos
  
  
• Bigger Louder Faster... but not Better
  By A3D6PN3YXPMTPF on 2007-08-27
  Dhoom 2 has more of what Dhoom offered: buffer guys, hotter girls, more slo-mo stunts and MTV-ready songs. Separately, each of these things are awesome. Together, it makes for a bit of a hot mess. I think I preferred the cohesiveness ( as such) of the first movie, because I had to turn my brain off even more than usual to watch this one. Abishek is scruffy and under-stated here, and no wonder with Uday chewing up the scenery, and Aish and Hrithik taking up all of the Stylists' time. Speaking of, it's amazing that two such beautiful people could generate so little chemistry. Even so, it's so much pretty and enjoyably so, especially in the picturisations of Dhoom Dhoom and Crazy Ke Ya Re.
  
  
• Possibly the Best Bad Movie Ever!
  By A2IUQMQV7NMOMR on 2007-11-25
  Sexy, funny, and full of action and dance scenes.
  
  Hilariously bad acting, stupid writing, and B-Movie action scenes.
  
  But %!$#!, the women are sexy. The dances are awesome. And it is supremely fun.
  
  Buy it and enjoy and wonderfully bad movie that few people in America have seen.
  
  
  
• This is an amateurish movie. Embodies what it means to be overhyped and substandard
  By A9E7JZ1328JC on 2007-12-13
  Cheesiness reaches its apex with Dhoom 2 - Bollywood's attempt at creating a believable action film. Dhoom 2 is tackiness amplified to epic proportions. The space allotted, regrettably, isn't sufficient enough for me to adequately lambaste this picture. Bollywood needs to understand, that merely mimicking Matrix style effects and a few of the stunts seen in the Mission Impossible trilogy, doesn't make their rendition of these action classics as engrossing as the original films were. The American and Chinese action films, which Bollywood is so desperately trying to emulate, win over their audiences because the acting is, at the very least, decent, and the stories are engaging for the adult mind.
  
  The stunts, by the way, which by looking at the previews for Dhoom 2, is the movie's main selling point, are not anywhere as visually believable or artfully done as the ones done by the American films that Dhoom 2 tries to copy. The editing is so poor that one only sees the very beginning and tail end of a flip or a death defying jump. I gather that this is purposefully done to mask just how far Bollywood has to go before they can ever approach the action choreography and special effects wizardry of the Wackoski brothers, John Woo, or for that matter, an amateur film student in an American university.
  
  Particularly laughable was a scene in which the two law enforcement protagonists of the film jump off their motorcycles and coast on their feet beside their bikes, while the bikes are careening down the tunnel. This is supposed to mimic the same stunt performed by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2. What makes this so hilarious is that the entire scene is done in fast forward and in obscure lighting, which presumably is done so that you wouldn't see whatever mechanism was sliding under them to make them seem as if they were sliding on their own. Furthermore, the action performed in MI2 was done because the logic of the scene required it, since Tom Cruise was using his bike as cover, as his adversary was shooting at him from the other side. In this scene, from Dhoom2, there simply is no logic, because the bikes were moving straight forward into the oppositions hands, and thus jumping and sliding along the bike's side makes no sense.
  
  Speaking of things that are illogical, Dhoom2`s plot, whatever little of it that there is, could have been written by a brain damaged dance choreographer, since it is inundated with flash, but bereft of substance. Basically you have a charming and narcissistic villain (played by Roshan) who seeks to steal priceless treasures and selects the locations of his various heists so as to form the letter "A" on the global map, which, naturally, is the letter of his name "Aryan". Yes, even the lowliest simpleton should be rolling his eyes at this. It would seem that Aryan is as self-absorbed with his own perceived greatness, in very much the same manner that the filmmakers seem to be fooled into thinking that they have created a grade A thriller. Both, trust me, are gross delusions.
  
  Aryan is being pursued relentlessly by a police detective and his colleagues. Eventually a romantic relationship ensues between Roshan's character and Aishwarya Rai's character (an aspiring thief who cannot be taken seriously) through several brief interactions and embarrassingly teeny bopper style dialog (I swear if Rai kept using the word "like" in front of every statement and kept referring to herself in the third person I was going to "like" throw my shoe at the TV).
  
  Speaking of dialog, a note to Bollywood movie producers: Don't have your law enforcement agents say idiotic things like "Aryan is the coolest criminal in the world" during police debriefing scenes. How absolutely asinine can you be? The criminal underworld and the police are supposed to be intensely antagonistic towards each other, not complementing each other like love struck school children. Granted there can be latent admiration, even among heroes and villains in a film, but the key here is that this admiration goes unstated.
  
  Ultimately the film goes back and forth, with twists that are pulled out of thin air. Again Bollywood needs to understand that a plot twist is only successful in impressing adult minds when there is a sufficient background story that subtly leads up to the twist. This film lacks both a back story and subtlety.
  
  All of this culminates in acting that are more one dimensional than Saturday morning cartoon characters, a plot that seems created ad hoc so as to provide an excuse to perform the poorly executed stunts, and finally a climax that is so anticlimactic that one sits through the dance infested end credits roll with a dumbfounded look as if to ask oneself: "how did I sit through such cinematic garbage for so long?"
  
  Sorry Bollywood, but if Dhoom2 is your submission for a good action film, then you need to stick to traditional song and dance number comedies and romances. Dhoom2 lacks originality - a thing that has eluded Bollywood ever since its inception. It is devoid of an engaging plot, or relatable characters. When one says they are Indian, there is much they can rightly be proud of. Dhoom2 and the Indian movie industry that spawned it, should give those same Indians ample fodder to contemplate disavowing their heritage. Yes, the movie is just that bad!
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Dhoom
• Kuch Naa Kaho
• Devdas (2 Disc Set)
• Dhoom
• Dhoom 2