Agent Vinod

[anibap]

One of the most anticipated release of this year for several reasons ...my reason is Sriram Raghavan

I heard this being shot in several countries and should look gorgeous in Blu, but the big question is how good is Sriram's movie?

So, how many of you have seen it by now? what's the reaction like? come on guys... I'm all ears...

[srkbeno.1]

After hearing your anticipation to watch this film, I don't feel like breaking it to you. But here goes. I saw the movie Day 1 (today) because i've been waiting for this movie a long time now. I guess i should start by saying, its not the worst movie i've seen. But its not by any stretch a good movie either. Saif ali Khan left no stone unturned as a producer. The film has some really good locations, the action is pretty good and he fits the part. The biggest let down was the director and the script. At many points in the film i felt lost, when there were sudden twists in the story i realized i didn't even know that the twist was even possible, if you know what i mean. The movie drags on and on and on. Alot of scenes seemed like they were Spoofs off of other films. Players in my opinion was a better movie even tho i hated players.. Kareena kapoor's character was just annoying. Over all, the 8 of us who went today unanimously agreed that it was a waste of 3 hours. In fact nearing the end the audience seemed really uncomfortable. Good attempt by Saif ali khan but in the end a big thumbs DOWN.

2/5

[ravenus]

Ditto. I was hoping this would be an enjoyable mesh of old-skool Bollywood masala with new-age slickness, but this was just a cold uninvolving mess. It's like they made a list of locations they wanted to shoot in and then scribbled out a script to fit those places in. There are major continuity issues and scenes that make no sense whatsoever. And somebody please lock Kareena Kapoor in a box and throw it into the sea.
The original Agent Vinod wasn't a good film by any stretch but I think even that one was more coherent than this.

[anibap]

Thanks Sameer and Suresh for sharing your views on the film. I was planning to make a trip to my local cinema today before leaving for Turkey tomorrow, but now I'll skip and wait for the DVD/BD.

[sanjay0864]

I just got back from watching the movie and I enjoyed it. A little disappointing, but all in all it is good entertainment. This is certainly not a movie for the Indian masses though. Too complicated for them and worse, not enough explaining. Although towards the end, the director does succumb a little to the typical bollywood style of explaining things. I specially liked the background score and the quirky, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. Most importantly, I enjoyed watching a Hindi movie without cheap, crude & vulgar jokes. Also for once, the songs in the movie do not impair the flow of the movie.

[ravenus]

@Sanjay:
I don't know if this was restricted to my viewing, please tell me if these things happened in your viewing as well: (putting this in spoiler tags, people that haven't seen the film should avoid clicking on this)

[Show spoiler]There's a scene where Saif and Kareena are running away from a bunch of bad guys in a parking lot (she's wearing a red dress, I think) and then suddenly it edits to a scene where he's pulling her out from a car dicky without any depiction of how she got in the dicky.
What was the whole bit about the Somalia jaunt? Why do the baddies go to Somalia and hang about with African warlords if the intention is to detonate the bomb in Delhi?

[sanjay0864]

Originally Posted by ravenus

@Sanjay:
I don't know if this was restricted to my viewing, please tell me if these things happened in your viewing as well: (putting this in spoiler tags, people that haven't seen the film should avoid clicking on this)

[Show spoiler]There's a scene where Saif and Kareena are running away from a bunch of bad guys in a parking lot (she's wearing a red dress, I think) and then suddenly it edits to a scene where he's pulling her out from a car dicky without any depiction of how she got in the dicky.
What was the whole bit about the Somalia jaunt? Why do the baddies go to Somalia and hang about with African warlords if the intention is to detonate the bomb in Delhi?

Please excuse my memory a bit, since age seems to be catching up a bit sooner with me than with most. With that disclaimer in place:

[Show spoiler]It is following the bomb blast in the hotel with the airport security chief, that Saif crashes into the Colonel's car in the parking lot and then opens the car trunk to let Kareena out. It is after this that the Colonel's henchmen show up in the parking lot and they chase Saif and Kareena. The obvious implication being that even after the bomb blast in the hotel, Agent Vinod still does not trust Ruby (Kareena's character) and therefore puts her in the trunk of the car.

Regarding the Somalia jaunt, it is actually quite logical and well scripted. This is for several reasons, one is that the bomb was packaged and labelled as medical equipment for 'Doctors Without Borders', thus making it less likely for higher scrutiny when leaving Riga. Also, it is mentioned that 'twelve' flights have taken off from the country and thus they could be tracked and checked when they land at their respective destinations. Somalia in it's war torn state can be assumed to not have very high level of scrutiny at the airports, specially not for a flight carrying medical supplies for 'Doctors Without Borders'. But, the most important reason for the Somalia jaunt is, that Somalia is the haven and hotbed for high seas piracy. Since, it would be at the very least quite risky, if not nigh impossible to get the bomb through security and customs scrutiny in India, the most logical way to do so would be by sea. What better place to find transport for such a venture than Somalia?

[ravenus]

^Thanks for the replies. I'm still not convinced about the dicky thing but your other explanation makes a good amount of sense. If only the makers had also taken the time to spell some of these things out better instead of wasting time on mujras. I still think the movie would have been MUCH better if it had curbed the globe-trotting a bit for a less harried narrative.

[Anurag1700]

Honestly guys, I just cudnt sit through this film at all. Sanjay, really appreciate your insight but please do tell your secret of understanding an incoherent mess of this level !! For by your explanation, i guess i am too indian an audience to even watch one scene of Agent Vinod without yawning through and without rolling my eyes.

and btw , one last thing,

Originally Posted by ravenus

And somebody please lock Kareena Kapoor in a box and throw it into the sea.

++++1 to that.

[intacto]

A tad too long but Agent Vinod turnd out to be a fun film though has its flaws and given that i went with no hope and ya watch out for raabta song sequence in the movie..amazing!!

[sanjay0864]

@Anurag1700 - I am sorry if my comments have come across as being condescending. But the fact of the matter is, that this is certainly not a movie that the average Hindi movie audiences can fathom. I commented to my wife several times while watching the movie itself, that the movie is way too smart for the average Bollywood movie audience. From comments I overheard while walking out of the theater, my observation seemed to be right on the spot. I would go out on a limb to say, that this is a movie that many people will enjoy more, watching it a second time around. But then again, there is of course the matter of personal preferences and tastes.

Originally Posted by intacto

A tad too long

I totally agree with this. The movie certainly dragged on a bit longer than necessary and some editing would benefit the movie immensely. Some portions in the middle of the movie too could do with some tighter editing.

[sanjay0864]

By the way, I forget to mention that it was a pleasure watching the movie in a conventional film projection theater, none of that ugly digital stuff. Also, except for some minor portions, the movie has an excellent sound mix. I really cannot remember the last time, when the sound mix of a Hindi movie actually stood out for me. Not for the right reasons at least. I truly hope Eros does full justice to this one, because 'Agent Vinod' truly has the potential to look and sound awesome on Blu-ray. I for one, will be looking forward to the blu-ray quite eagerly.

[myflix]

@sanjay0864, My friend also said the same thing that Somalia scenes were kind of unrelated to the movie. Thanks for explaining Somalia episode. Yes, the Movie was too complex and too long, but clever. Blu-ray will rock.

[zombeaner]

My review is online for those of you know who where I write. I was disappointed. There were a lot of fun moments, but never any real danger, and the climax was just poorly executed. 2.5/5

[kskies2]

I saw this movie online, so obviously the quality was really bad. It wasn't the best movie ever, but I liked it better than recent hits like Ra.One and Bodyguard.

[FreakMan]

i agree 100% with the review and comments from sanjay. I watched it twice, the first time i watched it for free and although i enjoyed the film i was a little disappointed. When i went to watch it a second time with some family I enjoyed it much more because I understood the film better. The film could have been easily trimmed by atleast 20 minutes, but other than that i really like the film. Hope its gets a great blu-ray release.

[bollywood karim]

I liked Agent Vinod, for the locations and the brisk pace of the movie jumping form Afghanistan, Morocco, Russian, the rich palette of locations and Saif's suave , reminded me very much of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. The action in this movie and Saif's versatily and the action scenes are really narrowing the gap between bollywood and hollywood action thriller genre.

I loved the fight scenes, very well done. I am a a sucker for ISI, Pakistan, India political action intrigue thrillers, i am fascinated by the drama. Loved the Pakistan scenes since i have never set foot in Karachi. The wedding song with Kareena was very well done, and this thriller is very comtemproray with all the Indo Pak geopolitics.

I hate Kareena Kapoor, i didn't like her in this movie, Deepika Padukone or Priyanka Chopkra would have been a better pic and the chemistry would have been better. Kareena doesnt' play the negative role very well, her bright eyes are more for romance scenes than that of a cold blooded terrorist that she plays in the movie. Her acting was horrible.

I loved Saif in the movie, for a 40 year plus actor he was amazing in action scenes. His flexibility and the complexity of fight scenes was very impressive. The car chases were a little mediocre just racing thru alleys, don 2 was better in this department.

I think this movie will be great in blu ray due to the colorful locations and cast and action. The villans were very memorable kazaan i liked. Though i cant understand why you would let an enemy roam your compound and go for lunch with your doctor with no bodyguards if you are hardcore bad guys like Kazaan.

Yes the ending was very cheezy and unbelievable, and there was no belivablility that Saif loved Kareena, not even one song between them too, no holding hands, that was not developed in the movie so when she " suffered her fate" spoiler , there was no sadness, you didn't sense the loss.

Definately worth watching

[urbanriz]

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[sanjay0864]

Originally Posted by bollywood karim

Yes the ending was very cheezy and unbelievable, and there was no belivablility that Saif loved Kareena, not even one song between them too, no holding hands, that was not developed in the movie so when she died, there was no sadness, you didn't sense the loss.

I am not sure there was any 'real' love implied between Saif & Kareena. It was more of an attraction which may have developed into more, had there been less turmoil and more time in their lives. You are overlooking the fact that the total time span of the time they know each other is only 3-4 days. I for one am glad the director did not focus more on any romantic angle between the two. The movie would have actually been better off without any of it at all.

[urbanriz]

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