Josh - Liebe im Bandenkrieg

Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwariya Rai play twins that have fun terrorizing innocent, law abiding people under the banner of protecting what they consider to belong to them.(as in a town and its people) I found this to be an entertaining film which showcases Shah Rukh Khan's acting ability. I'm sure he received many fans after the release of this film. I do feel the duo were a little close to be brother and sister, but this could just be cultural differences. Aishwariya Rai is as cute as a sister should be, but tried too hard to look young. Girls can't possibly be bouncing around India chewing gum and throwing their hair around like that. Can they?

Reaching a career high with DDLJ, SRK has managed to bring us a string of above average movies including Mega-hits Dil To Pagal Hai and 1998's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The years 1999/2000 saw 'King Khan' make some seriously trashy films - the forgettable Baadshah (SRK ego booster) and the overhyped PBDHH; an inexplicably bad movie, and the 'unable to find an audience cause it was an art film', "Hey Ram".

Shahrukh Khan is a talented actor and I still rate him above one hit wonder Hrithik Roshan. The fact is he needs to dump Aziz Mirza and Juhi Chawla - his chosen heroine for these awful films, and team up with some good directors. The 'Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman' and 'Yes Boss' char aren't working.

Mansoor Khan's 'Josh' is an example of what I'm talking about. Shahrukh's character is more of an antihero and it allows him to tap into the intense badboy streak in him he, gave up on, in films like 'Daar', because he was worried about becoming typecast - see Ashutosh Rana. Mansoor Khan lets SRK bring out his character and tune it to perfection. Since the film took 4 years to make there is a maturity in his character.

Max, is one half of Max and Shirley, the movie's 2 protagonists. He's arrogant, rude, violent, bitter and laid back. He oozes with attitude and charisma. SRK makes Max someone the audience sympathize with one minute and then hate the next. She's the cute mischievous girl next door, in awe of her brother but slowly coming into womanhood herself.

Eventually, Shirley finds herself having to choose between the man she loves and her domineering brother's intense hatred for him. Aishwarya Rai pulls off one of her greatest performances ever - sans make up and designer outfits. Actress wannabes, this is acting!

On screen chemistry with Aishwarya Rai is brilliant, especially as they play siblings and not love interests. On screen rivalry with Shard Kapoor is the basis for an otherwise passable love story. Similarities with Romeo and Juliet and Mansoor's earlier QSQT are apparent.

Eventually it is a case of actors outperforming a film. As the opening credits appear with a mean soundtrack, Josh instantly struck a chord with every testosterone charged male out there. If only the end had not been so disappointing. I guess after Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, the audience was expecting more. Mansoor, what happened? The first half of the film was excellent. Set in a quaint sea town in Goa, where gang wars spill out onto the streets everyday. The west side story take off visible in the opening number 'Sailaru, Sailare'.

The film loses steam in the second half with a property deed subplot but picks up to an above average climax and then losing balance altogether to come crashing down to a ridiculous anticlimax. I guess even good directors run out of ideas. At least the film did well at the box office - I suppose with 2000 being the year it's been so far, producers are lucky just to break even.

SRK - you were spot on with this film. Give up producing and stick to acting...none of us need another ABCL debacle. You will be remembered as someone with dignity and persona.

As to the film itself - it's worth watching once. Skip the end if you want to, but the microcosm of Max and Shirley's world in the first half is reason alone to watch it. Something to watch on a Sunday afternoon I guess. A poor ending lowers this to average fare.

PS: This was the first time I saw SRK scared in a movie, and I loved it.

One of the stylish movies in Bollywood. Styles from Shah Rukh Khan. The serious clash between two rivals. Beautiful, beautiful songs. Everyone, specially Srk, Chandrachur, Sharad, Aishwaria, even the small casts did very very well. Everything is super fine unless the last some minutes. I love this entire movie without the ending. Recommended.

Mansoor Khan's "Josh" has two rival gangs - Eagles - led by Max (Shahrukh) and Bicchu headed by Prakash (Sharad Kapoor)vying for fame and property. Max's twin Shirley (Aishwarya)falls in love w/ Prakash's bro (Chandrachur).

Good perforamances from SRK;AR;and Sharad Kapoor.A pleasant music score,impressive action sequences and beautiful cinematography in Goa (India) hides the absence of a tight script and sloppy direction. Do not keep your expectations too high.

Chandruchur Singh as Rahul ruined the movie for me other than the bad direction of the film. He didn't fit the role and did fairly but they could have had someone else play his part. He got annoying after a while and wouldn't have mind if Max chocked him to death. Anyone had any idea who could have played it better? I am not aware of who was known when this film was made but if I can recast the movie from the actors now, I would want it to be Abhishek and maybe potentially Saif or Ajay (except he would look older than many in the film).

JOSH had good scenes but too many lacking so it could have been potentially better. Aishwarya and Shah Rukh have great chemistry even as twins and I would say did justice with what the movie had to offer which you would know once you have watched it. It isn't one of Shah Rukhs or Aishwaryas best movie but I would love to see the two star in a movie again! The songs were okay and Upun Bola was fun to watch. Also the solo Aishwarya did towards the second half of the movie. She, I would say compared to the movies I've seen, by far the best dancer in Bollywood. The ending was too predictable. Even though they tried to suspense it, it wasn't good enough. Between 6 and 7 out of 10. Without Shah Rukh or Aishwarya, it would be 5. Overall, I would say this movie is average. Watch it for Shah Rukh and Aishwarya chemistry! :)