NOT GREAT BUT GOOD ALRIGHT. Review on Koi Mil Gaya

First things first. Let me take time to answer some questions.

Is the movie worth it?

Yes for a major part of the movie but no for a dumb last 20 mts. or so.

Is Hrithik good?

Yes, he should win all awards next year. Anything else I should say? But no I dont think he is as good as say Amir Khan in Lagaan but yes better than anything else in recent memory. He does go overboard in emotions but mostly it is in check.

What is Preity doing in the movie?

Looking good and thats it. She makes perfect pair for Hrithik alright but this must rank as her most dumb and masala role to date. She has thinned beyond comprehension and looks distinctly like a doll in some scenes. Her emotions are however, more in check.

There was Rekha........?

You go in the movie with this question and you come out of the movie with this question. Oh yeah! there was her. What RGV did to her in Bhoot appears saintly compared to this. Looks like an alien and half mad herself, emotes in Nirupa Roy style and dresses awh! so awfully.

And the kids.........

Certainly the best thing in the movie. The sweet girl and Sardarji are the best though all are equally good.

Oh the Alien?

He sux. So big time. I mean most of the time we see him in dark and his color was like duh! He makes you vomit more than like him. Although not as irritating as the parrot in MPKDH, he is not a patch on what could have been done. Where did the budget go? I dont know what is wrong with him. Maybe someone not fed on E.T. will like him better but he looked like a deformed blue whale to me with eyes borrowed from cows.

SFX?????

Decent. Though we have seen better in Hindi movies themselves. Mr. India, Bhoot and Chota Chetan. The space ship looks like an antique collection and the lights are all wrong. Only time they work are when they experiment with people and them going crazy.

Direction?

Confused. Not know what to make, emotional melodrama, comedy, sci-fi or plain old triumph of truth. He concentrates on Hrithik and Hrithik alone forgetting the mother angle, Preity and Alien as well. Hence, the film suffers from too much Hrithik.

Story, screenplay etc.

Lifted directly from E.T. The minute the alien lands on earth, it is all E.T. Ofcourse, the usual Indian style kitsch thrown in.

Art Direction and Camera Work

They are the best thing in the movie. Camera works like a dream, creating a soothing environment in first half and raunchy pace in second. Small time town comes to life and the sets look real and not candy floss. Though it must be said, they are not as path breaking or brilliant as they are made to be. Wont win over Bhoot or Qayamat.

Music and Lyrics

Read the review on Music. Background score in competent and uses orchestra to the fullest. What does keep rocking? Is it om om om. Someone plz. tell when he/ she watches.

Editing

Too liberal in second and concentrates on Hrithik all the time. There are time when you have had enough of him. Second half is too much and needs drastic cuts and please cut off all the Rajat Bedi and Johny Lever parts. They do precious little to the story.

Overall Analysis

A weak climax kills the movie and surprisingly it is the non-alien part of the movie which actually is better that is first half. An alien is an alien not a super powerhouse please and the naivity with which it is put down our throats kills it. I think they should change the climax, it is not right. Then there are uniquely Indian movie bloopers. How they deduce that an alien is left behind will put even a kid bemused. There are plenty of such bloomers in the script. Further, with the mayor, honest cop etc. being the usual Bollywood caricatures, the film does not really look that Hatke. Watch Prem Chopra, Mukesh Rishi in their usual style. Johny Lever is as usual loud. Rekha has the rawest deal in the movie. Emphasis on super natural is more and science less and that may just pull the movie down.

Preity Zinta looks gorgeous and finally someone with whom Hrithik grows as an actor and regardless of the fate of the movie it will do good for him. The children bring life to first half and the alien almost chokes it in second. Overall a decent movie, may just do the trick but they do need to use the scissor a lot. Although what they will cut will be difficult since they have not left a single masala out. Haila Re is the worst picturized song, masala to the core, with all sorts of funny costumes and choreography. Comedy, emotion, action, skimpy dresses, children, alien, religious symbolism, crude bollywood caricatures and songs - enough to keep you there for three hours and also provide repeat audience but not what makes great cinema.

What could have been a path breaking venture for the audiences would go down as only half baked attempt which comes out as sleak packaging of all the usual Bollywood prototypes. A film targetted at everyone with all the elements of the pot pourri, but give me Mr. India any day.

FINAL WORD - DO GO WATCH THIS MOVIE. AND TAKE ALL THE KIDS ALONG. THE EXCITEMENT MAY LAST A LONG TIME. I WILL GIVE IT FOUR STARS FOR IT IS ENTERATINING FOR MAJOR PART AND SWEET AS WELL. AND THERE IS PREITY ALSO YOU KNOW.

ADVISE

Do not go anywhere close to E.T. if you are going to watch this. Your liking for the movie will come down a lot.

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P.S The movie though inspired by E.T. takes the Mr. India meets KNPH style of screenplay, I wonder how many agree to this?