• Entertaining and accessible film with high
production values
• Vibrant colors and exotic locations
• Good-looking actors and energetic musical
numbers
Cons
• Overly melodramatic acting style
• Simplistic plot
• Story gets off to slow start
The Bottom Line -
When I watched "Lagaan" recently on DVD, I was pretty
bored for about the first hour, but then the movie started to
work its magic on me, and I really enjoyed the rest of the film.
Product Description
•
DVD containing Bollywood movie "Lagaan"
•
In Hindi and English, movie is 3 3/4 hours long
•
Curious mix of historical drama, sports movie, musical, and romance
Reviewed by Ivana Redwine
"Lagaan"
"Lagaan" was made in India as a popular entertainment for
Indian audiences. In 1893 Indian villagers are forced by occupying
British soldiers to accept the following wager: if the villagers can
defeat the Brits in a cricket match, a crushing tax will be canceled
for three years; but if the villagers lose, they will pay triple tax.
Seventy-five minutes of the movie is taken up by the cricket match,
and along the way a romantic triangle develops and there are some
joyous musical numbers. I loved the exuberant visual style of "Lagaan,"
with its vibrant colors, exotic locations, and good-looking actors.
I also liked the simple, but effective, way the film tells its story
with very high production values. However, the acting style is extremely
theatrical, and I never became completely accustomed to the movie's
lack of subtlety.
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