No sleeping. Train may get late one day.

I'm not exactly sure how to say this, but Farhan Akhtar was a director I fell in love with when I saw Dil Chahta Hai. And his talent depicted throughout Dil Chahta Hai assured me that this guy will expand the bounderies of cinematic language in Bollywood. But after having just seen Lakshya, I'm now skeptical of what Farhan is actually capable of. The film is quite lovely in parts, but too derivative and ultimately hollow. Perhaps, Javed Akhtar as the writer is the film's extensive drawback, he hasn't written a solid script in ages. From Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan jumps entirely into new grounds with Lakshya, to me, it was obvious that he tried really hard to provide Lakshya with a refreshing sent, but largely fails. If Farhan works better as an "original" thinker by scripting his own films, than, I sincerely hope that he doesn't direct anyone elses work in the future(alteast not Javed's). I suppose the subject matter in film's second half is now a days quite difficult for anyone to perfect in Bollywood(except perhaps Santosh Sivan). It would have been nice had the script focused alot more into Karan Sighall's psychological understanding of himself and what would really suit him best for his achievements in life. It also would have been nice had they extensively used a DV camera in the war sequences, otherwise, they were poorly shot. That said, Hrithik Roshan was good and "Main Asia Kyon Hoon" is one of the best choreographed songs sequences I've seen in a while.

You want them to use a DV camera for the war sequences? They were poorly shot on film????? What are you talking about?

Well Arsh, I always suspected you were Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare type... And don't you just love Govinda's hairstyle. I bet you tear out a pics of him from magazines and show your barber exactly how you want your hair to look like...

Mani Ratnam used DV-cam technology for the fighting sequences in Kannathil Muthamittal, and there results were breathtaking. Lakshya sort of teases the use of DV-cam, but not enough, I would have like it had it been given greater use.

The battle sequence shot during the dark were too jarring. It was hard to identify with who was who, the cinematography gave too much focus on weapons being fired back & forth which made it really unwatable, atleast for me it did. A designated view point on the battle would have made for a more interesting watch.

Thnx for the compliment.. Dont u feel better? now

Unfortunately, I havent watched either film in its entirety yet to give a proper comment on this DV-cam thing u are talking about. However, DV certainly doesnt match the resolution of 35mm film by far and I've the seen the result of DV to 35mm transfer in 28 Days Later. It was great, but the resolution was no match for film.

I wouldn't want mainstream Hindi filmmakers to adopt this low-cost technology - but its great for independent filmmakers.

I do know that Lakshya used a process called Digital Intermediate Film, which is basically a kind of colour grading process as I understand.

I don't remmber Mani Ratnam using DV-cam to shoot the fight sequences in KM. I think fight sequences were shot using undercranking or overcranking shutterspeed of the film camera to create a different reality. The same effect was used in Saving Private Ryan by Janus Kaminski.

Even though I liked the gritty look of 28 days later, it looks like crap in HD.

Fellas, correct me if I'm wrong. And it seems that I am perhaps wrong. I used the judgement of DV-cam projection purely based on a second hand opinion. I had seen Kannathil Muthamittal with a film student from my university, and was told that the sharp looking fighting sequences at the end of KM were filmed using a DV-cam. Which further led me to believe that Farhan also used bits of this method in Lakshya too, because some of the similiarties were there. Perhaps my understanding on this issue is indecisive.

I expected you might be talking about the effect popularised by Spielberg/Kaminski in Saving Private Ryan. Essentially, by speeding up the shutter speed (not frame rate) in a film camera, such that the image registered on each frame has less motion blur than which is present in a 'normal' 1/80 sec shot footage.

The technique was used extensively in Yuva and Khakee and is pretty common in Hollywood action films.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is the film to see, DTS version, if u want to see WAR MOVIE!

KOOL, I am afraid u might not like LAKSHYA sound track? but Bonus CD is GOOD imho, Javaid Akhtar songs!

BTW! DID ur LAKSHYA(FATE)get better second time on!?

Seen LAKSHYA today and I thought it was a waste of time and money. Apart from Hrithik's trendy haircut at the beginning of the film, and the mountain climbing scenes at the end, there was nothing new in the film. Same old anti-paki war and one-sided viewpoint... How many times, do we have to see the same plot over and over again?

That's precisely the reason it appeals to certian people. One-sided viewpoint?...as if there's another side to the story! An Indian film wouldn't show Pak's 'version of events' as a Pakistani film would never show India's 'version of events' as to be expected. If you don't like Indian films about war, simply don't watch them. I don't know why people are still complaining when they should know by now what to expect.

The thing is there should have never been an India-Pak war, then they'll be no reason to make films like this! These films shows the bad relations between these two countires, which is no lie. As relations are improving there will be a decline of 'patriotic' or 'war' films which will continue to last until everything turns sour again. Then you can expect a repeat.

I think both countries know they have to co-operate if they want a successful future.

Of course there is another viewpoint, but this forum is about Bollywood entertainment, not about addressing political issues. And perhaps thats exactly my point, I would like to see Bollywood promoting art, rather than being used as a political tool to increase hatred. If Bollywood films were more artistic, they would not need to address these issues, as they are better left for the politicians. Such patroitic films are merely one sided emotional dramas, and it does not matter whether relationships between the two country are good or bad, its a shame for India that its main form of art is becoming so corrupted by politics.

As for choosing not to watch such films, I been watching Bollywood films from the time they started, so I am not going to avoid watching them now. From the golden era when Islam was glorified to today's one-sided emotional war crap, I have seen them all!