I saw Don! - All MEMBER Reviews GO HERE - Page 5

Originally posted by: Fashion_2005

Mad, hot and... Khan, the film has everything

times.series@archant.co.uk
27 October 2006


The thrills come mad, hot and wicked sweet in Don, the movie to beat this winter in the race to push your pulse rate past the danger zone. And please don't ask if the plot makes sense.

It does, and it did the last time too with Mr Bachchan in it. But here's what counts: ShahRukh Khan is back and surprisingly from the first scene of the film he takes it to the limit - running, jumping, punching and kicking with an intensity that could cut steel.

You should also know that it was a welcome break to see Khan in an all action film rather than him sitting on a park bench next to the beautiful actress and sobbing. Having said that, the true star of Don is director Farhan Akhtar. He takes to feature directing like the tabloids take to Khan. He's all over it. This is one director who does more than keep the actors from bumping into each other as they wear disguises and play dare-devils. Going way beyond the call of action flick duty, Farhan Akhtar gives each character moments that resonate.

The year is 2006. The drug trade is booming. Trafficking between Asia and Europe is at an all time high.

It is at this time that the Malaysian intelligence and anti-narcotic department are called upon for assistance by their Indian counterparts. The cartel is based in Kuala Lumpur headed by the dreaded Singhania, but what many people do not know, is that the business is truly managed by his trusted lieutenant Don (ShahRukh Khan).

A man who lives life on the edge, Don is constantly expanding the size of his empire while evading arrest or death at the hands of his enemies, both within and outside the law.

Fearless, cunning and ruthless, he is unstoppable in his pursuit of absolute power. Not once, not twice but several times the slick Don reminds the audience that he cannot be caught and that one line - Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hain is the benchmark of the film. His chief pursuer is DCP DeSilva (Boman Irani).

He is a man who has sworn to put an end to this nexus of evil and knows that in capturing Don lies the key to unlock the puzzle. And one day, he succeeds. Don is captured and DeSilva puts his plan into action. That's when the actual pace of the film starts or should I say - the chase begins?

Unknown to even his own department, Desilva has recruited and trained a man who is a spitting image of Don. His name is Vijay (ShahRukh Khan again!). Vijay infiltrates the cartel and manages to give DeSilva all the information he needs to bring it down. But in a bizarre twist of fate, DeSilva is killed and the secret that Don is in fact, Vijay, a police informer, is buried with him.

Then, Vijay is captured and immediately in the next couple of scenes he escapes, not from the prison, but from the aircraft, and that's where the biggest flaw of the film comes. Agreed that DeSilva taught Vijay to dress, walk, talk and kill like the original Don. But did he actually teach him skydiving?

Vijay is now on the lookout for the one last piece of evidence that can get him out from this mess. Helping him on this quest are two people. Roma (Priyanka Chopra) and Jasjit (Arjun Rampal). What happens next will take you by surprise. So, go and catch...oops! Watch Don.

Don is loaded with fancy gadgetry and intimidating jargon but its most amusing conceit is Don's occasional habit of hiding behind an actual mask of another character. Didn't get it? You will once you see the film.

For ShahRukh Khan, the Don, each new challenge has the urgency of a do or die initiation rite into the next level of manhood. Sexy without being sexual, he doesn't know the meaning of the word 'relaxation'. He is too busy proving himself as a master technician in the game of life to take time out for a leisure and pleasure.

On the rare occasions that he does sidle up to Kamini (Kareena Kapoor), love becomes yet another dutiful test of skill executed with grace under pressure. Don is so thoroughly dominated by its star cast that its subsidiary characters like Om Puri and Isha Koppikar register only fleetingly.

One exception is Narang (Pawan Malhotra). The story certainly has enough twists and surprises to keep audiences guessing until the last minute. The music is not the typical Shankar - Ehsaan - Loy type but the one which stands out in lyrics, choreography and cinematography is the title track Don.

Boman is brilliant, Arjun gets a little scope, Priyanka looks and acts strong. Don cannily hoards its flashiest action - adventure moments until the very end, then unleashes them in a delirious rush that is brief but still worth the wait. ShahRukh Khan and Don are definitely incomparable and catapults you into the wildest movie ride of the year.

RATING: ****

Great review 👏 Thanks for sharing

Originally posted by: DizzyBanana21x

DON 2: REVENGE OF ROMA 😆

tht would be awsome.farhan should make a sequel to the film

Originally posted by: amna malik

tht would be awsome.farhan should make a sequel to the film

I agree..

i really badly want to see this movie!!!!