PHANTOM Reviews/Box Office thread. - Page 28

This is the movie, which you will wish that comes true.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan's filmmaker Kabir Khan, is back with his new flick, Phantom. This venture will shed light on the 26/11 attacks that took place in Mumbai in the year 2008 and speaks of a story, you wish were true.' It will present a take on how justice that could have been brought to Indians post these horrific attacks. 7 years later, the culprits still haven't been caught, let alone convicted, which is precisely Phantom's point.

The trailer starts with a narration and presentation of footage, pictures and other clippings from the 26/11 attacks in 2008. The very crux of the film is made clear with this crisp, to-the-point beginning, with a dialogue when one says - We Indians can't do anything, and can only stop playing Cricket. (Sirf Cricket khelna band kar sakte hai).

Soon, we are taken into a mission, where certain authorities decide to seek justice for the 2008 disaster, and hire a paagal aadmi' (Mad Man) for their mission. Enter, Saif Ali Khan {Meet Daniyal Khan}, a former Army officer who was kicked out from the force due to a tragic incident. Court-martialed because evidence points out that he was not with his team when the enemy attacked, he yearns to earn his stripes back. As it so happens, there is a covert intelligence group, who is seething that the Centre has not been able to avenge the 26/11 Mumbai carnage.

He will be hired by RAW for a mission to kill the Pakistani terrorists who were involved in the horrific 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. He will meet Katrina Kaif aka Nawaz Mistry, a former RAW agent who now works as a security counselor and supplies arms to refugee camps. She helps Saif on his mission. He will meet the LET leader and its members by hook or by crook and will be travelling various places for it and then later makes his way to Pakistan, in order to get closer to his goal. There follows a shocking turn of events, gripping action scenes and more.

The entrance and body posture of Saif Ali Khan really looks powerful for such movie, however, his negative fan following is to be boosted upon and should be converted into positive one's. His dialogue for the movie is -

"America ne Osama ko uske ghar me maara tha,

To HUM BHI UNKE GHAR ME GHUSKE maarenge."

Katrina Kaif will be looking gorgeous as ever, but her performance will fail to live up to her character, and that will be a minus point in the movie. The actress will lack the intensity for such a kind of role. The action scenes in the film are well executed and thrilling. What brings them alive on-screen is the fantastic background score which works well with the violence shown.

I would like to give a salute to Kabir Khan for coming up with a brilliant concept as such. We all have discussed about what happened and the way it did. People have craved for justice and carried out marches, asking for the same. But a visionary like Kabir has managed to truly paint an ideal picture and captured the feelings of most Indians in relation to the 26/11 incident. The storyline is unique and its pace will be fast as his other movies, which will be a strong point about the film.

The music is decent one. Saaware is being very soothing romantic number. Rest of the songs are being average tracks. However, the second half of the movie will lower the impact of the movie. The ending scenes will tend to get slightly dramatic in such kind of movies, if the same can be handled, the impact could have been greater.

Saif Ali Khan is convincing in his role as a vengeful ex army officer. The actor plays the role perfectly with the appropriate amount of zeal, wrath and passion.

The best dialogue is-

"We are not attacking Pakistan, we are just attacking terrorists"

Phantom will truly win a million hearts, especially of those who were either victims of the 26/11 attacks or lost their loved ones. Kabir came to the point and had the guts to make a risky film as such, which I feel is praise worthy.

FINAL WORD

Do not miss this film. It will win you over, thanks to Kabir Khan's vision and implementation of the same. I stand convinced that this truly is a story I wish were true. Kabir has simply highlighted what most of us feel and would want in reality. A brilliant plot, teamed with thrilling action, Phantom is a must watch.

Rating - 3.5 out of 5