Kingdom

Anirudh Ravichandran's initial impression of "Kingdom," stating that the first 40 minutes looked great, holds true; however, had he seen the entire film, his statement might have been different. The movie felt disjointed, as if two different screenwriters worked on the first and second halves. The opening act effectively established a proper spy thriller atmosphere, building tension and intrigue. Unfortunately, the latter half abruptly shifted into a generic "saviour temple" narrative without a cohesive blend, losing the focus and tension that made the initial spy phase so engaging.

The film missed several crucial opportunities to elevate its narrative. Firstly, the villain and their motivations remained underdeveloped, leaving it unclear whether their actions stemmed from regional discrimination or simply a problematic psyche. This lack of depth prevented the audience from building any genuine hatred or understanding towards them. Secondly, the emotional stakes felt low, particularly before the pivotal revolt scene, which needed more emotional groundwork. Furthermore, the relationship between the hero and heroine, as well as the bond between the hero and his brother's Family, lacked sufficient development, diminishing their impact on the story.

Finally, the movie's approach to setting up a sequel felt heavy-handed. Instead of a background voice explicitly detailing future events, a more visual display would have been preferable, allowing the audience to interpret and discuss possibilities. This approach would leave room for reviewers to analyze and break down potential plotlines, fostering a more engaging post-viewing experience. Additionally, certain scenes felt abruptly cut, and the "AI shots" in the second half were noticeably strange, further detracting from the overall cinematic flow.

The basic plot and the core characters do have potential, and the first half manages to hold mild interest. But from the get-go, the storytelling feels a bit patchy, and by the time the second half arrives, the film begins to lose steam completely. Many scenes feel flat, emotions don't land as intended, and the narrative never really builds momentum. The climax is just about okay-neither satisfying nor disappointing, just safely passable.

Vijay Devarakonda is a talented actor who has delivered few brilliant performances in the past and a few that fell short but this stands out to be his weakest performance to date.

Satya Dev also brings a grounded intensity to his role.

Bhagyashree looks fine, but her acting doesn't rise above average-it might be time she explores more glamorous roles that play to her strengths.

The rest of the cast are serviceable and do their job without any major highs or lows.

On the brighter side, the technical departments shine. The production values are impressive-locations are picturesque, sets and props are tastefully designed, and the costumes and makeup are neatly done. The cinematography is rich and adds visual appeal, while the background score enhances a few key moments, though it doesn't stay memorable. Two of the fight sequences stand out with slick choreography and decent buildup-they offer some of the film's rare bursts of energy.

The direction doesn't falter entirely, but it doesn't elevate the film either. With a sharper script and more emotional depth, this could have been a far more engaging watch. As it stands, it's a film that plays it safe and ends up being just about tolerable. Not a must-watch by any means, but if the trailers caught your eye or you're a loyal Vijay Devarakonda fan, it might just pass the time.

As all anticipated for this movie and come back for vijay , well let me tell you this movie lived upto it's expectations, strong bgm by Anirudh and others characters too lived their roles , i specially appreciate sathya dev for his role , his role left a deep impact in the movie. And Bhagya filling the gaps , you have really watch this only the biggest scenes as possible.

People walked in to watch Kingdom hoping this can be the Vijay Deverakonda comeback the audience is rooting for, and performance wise, it completely lives up to those expectations. But the film's screenplay and writing play a faltering part. VD makes a roar with his acting in the film. Satyadev Kancharana also supports really well. Bhagyashri Borse has minimal screentime and her character doesn't leave any impact. The initial runtime of the movie is well written and draws you into its world along the interval block. Other than that, the progression remains gradual. Anirudh's background score plays a strong part in elevating scenes. The camera work is impressive and the frames look cinematically fascinating in storytelling.

The film had immense potential to draw you in 3/3 emotionally but it largely misses those high moments you expect from Gowtham Tinnanuri as a director. When the emotional buildup finally leads to the reveal, the payoff feels flat. The second half suffers in terms of engagement due to underwhelming subplots, an unsatisfying backstory around the 'chosen one' arc, and an antagonist played by Venkitesh VP, whose motivations fail to leave an impact. The climax feels rushed and does not land on a note you would expect from a film with this kind of tonality. Overall, Kingdom scores well in performances and technical aspects but falters in its storytelling and emotional resonance.

OVERALL 6/10.

Storyline pace is good but not very engaging still watchable.

Vijay worked very hard to fit in its character,his work shows his hard work and dedication.

Character building of all characters where good overall. Only some characters are poorly presented.

Only Anirudh's BGM can't do Magic, you have to work hard to fit in it.

• No Song that's the Good Part.

Story is good but I as an audience have watched many movies like this one, wanted more action, thrill and entertainment.

I was not expecting much from this film.

I will not say any other movie references for this film ya somewhere you'll feel once But it's okay because the movies genres are going through that tunnel of old school stuff with new shoes.

Action scenes were okay okay but Raw.

Storyline is Good but don't see that much effort to make an impact that character really matters, I personally don't felt connected.

Overall a good watch. Good one by Vijay after many years. Wink.