Just like JJWS did not get due recognition when it was released owing to lack of publicity, Apne too falls in the same trap. There should have been promos like the father being disgraced in his hey-days and his dreams of regaining the lost glory. The non cooperation of his eldest son and the physical impaired second son, all could have made into interesting promos to give out the message that its a boxing based movie interlaced with emotions.
Anyways the movie is definitely watchable. Apne has Dharamendra written all over - this should be termed as his "real" comeback movie (if you were to excuse his appearance in Metro & Hum Kaun Hain). It showcases the untapped potential of the actor who is ready for his next innings. Bobby Deol is the next one who gets lions share (was he jumping between the sets of JBJ and Apne) Sunny plays the cry-baby who gets a make-over only in the final act.
The story is innovative and commendable (as said earlier, it bears strong resemblance to JJWS, only role-reversal with lots of glitz and glamour). Screenplay does get engrossing as the movie progresses.
Observations::
01. The pain and anguish of Dharamendra at the beginning of the movie seems incomprehensible. As the movie progresses the movie goes into a series of flash-backs to provide answers. Sorry but the damage is already one. Instead, the movie should have started with the flashbacks.
02. Bobby miracle recovery is quite filmy. Hints should have been dropped that his brain has healed and needs a trigger. It seemed as a lame excuse when it was attempted to be justified.
03. Bobby's climb to success should have been more screen-time for the audience to digest. It appears hurried.
04. The penultimate 30-minutes end up being a typical Sunny Deol fare and gives an alien feel to the whole movie.
05. The liver transplant at the climax is over the top. The movie should have ended with Sunny's victory.
06. Jonny Brown as Luca Garcia does his part well. But too many English lines does mar the hardcore Deol fans.
07. Victor Banerjee: Under-utilised and a bad choice to use his voice as narrative.
08. Jawaid Sheikh - I wonder why does the Amitabh Bachchan of Lollywood vying for blink-n-miss roles. Better to serve in heaven than reign in hell?
09. Not required in the movie were Shilpa Shetty (served only to cry with hubby Sunnyji), Kiron Kher (served for melodramatic moments), Katrina Kaif, Divya Dutta & Rajendra Gupta.
The boxing match sequences are well-executed. Has a few resemblances to Million Dollar Baby (narrative of Victor Banerjee?).
Sports based films which generally are hit or flop... there is no middle ground. Boxing - the moment you utter the word probably only Mohammed Ali comes to the mind of Bollywood audience and the thought process ends at that. For a sports movie to work in Bollywood you either pack in a solid punch and let movie do the talking or need a big star to break this mould (SRK - Chak De...). Until then this genre needs more caving in Bollywood.
PS: Its fun to see Deol sons miming the dance steps of Dharam paaji.
PS(2): Amar Singh? What on earth was that!!!
Anyways the movie is definitely watchable. Apne has Dharamendra written all over - this should be termed as his "real" comeback movie (if you were to excuse his appearance in Metro & Hum Kaun Hain). It showcases the untapped potential of the actor who is ready for his next innings. Bobby Deol is the next one who gets lions share (was he jumping between the sets of JBJ and Apne) Sunny plays the cry-baby who gets a make-over only in the final act.
The story is innovative and commendable (as said earlier, it bears strong resemblance to JJWS, only role-reversal with lots of glitz and glamour). Screenplay does get engrossing as the movie progresses.
Observations::
01. The pain and anguish of Dharamendra at the beginning of the movie seems incomprehensible. As the movie progresses the movie goes into a series of flash-backs to provide answers. Sorry but the damage is already one. Instead, the movie should have started with the flashbacks.
02. Bobby miracle recovery is quite filmy. Hints should have been dropped that his brain has healed and needs a trigger. It seemed as a lame excuse when it was attempted to be justified.
03. Bobby's climb to success should have been more screen-time for the audience to digest. It appears hurried.
04. The penultimate 30-minutes end up being a typical Sunny Deol fare and gives an alien feel to the whole movie.
05. The liver transplant at the climax is over the top. The movie should have ended with Sunny's victory.
06. Jonny Brown as Luca Garcia does his part well. But too many English lines does mar the hardcore Deol fans.
07. Victor Banerjee: Under-utilised and a bad choice to use his voice as narrative.
08. Jawaid Sheikh - I wonder why does the Amitabh Bachchan of Lollywood vying for blink-n-miss roles. Better to serve in heaven than reign in hell?
09. Not required in the movie were Shilpa Shetty (served only to cry with hubby Sunnyji), Kiron Kher (served for melodramatic moments), Katrina Kaif, Divya Dutta & Rajendra Gupta.
The boxing match sequences are well-executed. Has a few resemblances to Million Dollar Baby (narrative of Victor Banerjee?).
Sports based films which generally are hit or flop... there is no middle ground. Boxing - the moment you utter the word probably only Mohammed Ali comes to the mind of Bollywood audience and the thought process ends at that. For a sports movie to work in Bollywood you either pack in a solid punch and let movie do the talking or need a big star to break this mould (SRK - Chak De...). Until then this genre needs more caving in Bollywood.
PS: Its fun to see Deol sons miming the dance steps of Dharam paaji.
PS(2): Amar Singh? What on earth was that!!!