Blue

If I may broadly categorize Bollywood films into two camps. One, the original works, which might even extend to remakes of films from the other regions in the subcontinent, but seldom seen outside of it. The masala formula would work its magic into creating an entertaining tale filled with a song and dance extravaganza. Then the other would be the stitching together of elements from other films, seldom referred to as paying homage or acknowledged if at all, and trying to pass them off as originals. These tend to be predictable, and plainly concealing a bad, if non-existent story. Blue unfortunately falls into the latter category.

I had originally wanted to watch this on the big screen, given its tooting of the horn that it's the first to feature stunning underwater photography in a Bollywood action film. But the result here, for an actioner, is something that left much to be desired. While references to Into The Blue can be discounted by virtue of it being just another treasure hunter movie set in the high seas, the other sequences here were something that you would have seen before, from boring MI:2 motorcycle chase scenes, the Bourne Ultimatum for fisticuffs on board a boat, to the one that takes the cake involving a gunfight that was a lift out from Bad Boys 2.

Lines were also found lifted from films like Hitch, but thankfully this was kept to a minimum. Set in the Bahamas with locations like Thailand also included, this film dwells on the search for the missing sunken ship Lady in Blue, which is said to contain treasures beyond a man's widest dreams. A simple, carefree fisherman Sagar (Sanjay Dutt) holds key to the location of the ship, given a diving expedition with his dad when young which resulted in a tragedy. His good friend, rich playboy Aarav (Akshay Kumar) desires that Sagar would come to his senses and make them both richer, but to Sagar it's a secret that he would bring to the grave.

Enter Sagar's reckless brother Sam (Zayed Khan) who's being pursued by thugs all the way from Thailand for a sum of 50 million dollars that he owes, and you know just what the solution is for our reluctant Sagar. As mentioned the film got made through the stringing of action sequences one after another, with room for some romance between Sagar and Mona (Lara Dutta, and Sam and Nikki (Katrina Kaif in a short supporting role), but the much touted underwater action scenes turn out to be nothing more than a drop in the ocean, much of it against faceless thugs who seem to appear quite conveniently to challenge our testosterone filled trio.

There's a nice twist to the story about families which gave the weak story some sense, but alas this was too little too late, as the finale was one hurried affair that seemed more like a haphazardly inserting a coda just for the sake of, damage having already been made by the uninspiring action and plot. If only it had taken time to further develop the characters beyond their cardboard caricatures, which would have made it all the more palatable in terms of story, rather than to stick its guns to the action which were cobbled from films made in the West.

Anthony D'Souza had everything going for him... Budget wise, Stars wise, Music wise, but despite all these cherry's... he fails to make a convincing fare. The script is a complete mess.

The first hr is very slow, the film doesn't move. Songs come up, including 'Chiggy Wiggy'. The second hr picks up, with the climax {which is the only proper Under-Water sequence in the film} standing out. However, the twist in the climax doesn't create any impact.

A R Rahman's music another sore point. One just doesn't get the feeling of the Legendary Music Director's genius in here.

Performance wise: Akshay Kumar is strictly okay. Sanjay Dutt is as usual, though he's looking very fat in the film. Zayed Khan is bland. Lara Dutta looks amazing and does a fine job. Katrina too looks gorgeous, as ever in a cameo appearance. Rahul Dev is good as the menace. Kabir Bedi is wasted.

On the whole 'Blue' disappoints big time.

Blue, directed by Anthony D'souza is a brainless, forgettable action-thriller that quickly sinks without a trace. Let me say this right away: anyone expecting anything other than the sight of Lara Dutta in a skimpy bikini, or indeed Akshay Kumar with his shirt off, is going to be very disappointed. The film's hare-brained plot involves a coveted treasure buried at the bottom of the ocean, and a reluctant Sanjay Dutt playing Sagar, a working class, regular-Joe in the Bahamas who refuses to seek it out even though he seems to be the only diver in the world who knows where and how to find it. No amount of coaxing from his friend and employer Aarav (played by Akshay Kumar) will do the trick. But the out-of-shape Dutt – whose unsightly man-boobs suggest he's been bunking too many sessions at the gym – finally agrees to take the plunge when his kid-brother's life depends on it. Sam (played by Zayed Khan wearing a single expression throughout) is in trouble with some goons who must be paid $50 million immediately. For a film that's titled Blue, most of the action here involves bike chases and car explosions, while the underwater portions are gorgeously filmed but evoke no real excitement. To be honest, in fact, the tension never heightens to the point where you worry about the protagonists. How can you, when you notice even the sharks are swimming peacefully around them, oblivious and uninterested even when underwater brawls result in blood being spilt! Blue suffers from a dull script and inane dialogue, and is cursed with characters that are as shallow as the waters they paddle. You want to burst into laughs when Lara Dutta (playing Sagar's girlfriend Mona) slips into Miss India mode and complains that they have no money to realise her one dream of setting up a marine research facility. The lady does not show so much as a passing interest in fish, by the way! Coming back to the business of the buried fortune, let's just say we've all participated in school treasure-hunts that were more challenging than this one. We're told the fortune hasn't been retrieved in 60 years, and yet Sagar leads the way to the loot as if it's lying in his backyard. Neither slick nor fast-paced, this film lumbers in circles before crashing into a moronic finale involving ridiculous back-stories about dead family members. In the end, despite its travel-brochure look that might afford some momentary National Geographic-style relief, Blue doesn't have a shred of intelligence, and it sinks in a sea of lame writing and laughable performances. Sanjay Dutt sleepwalks through his scenes, and Akshay Kumar overdoes the smugness. As for Zayed Khan, how I wish the makers had spent the fee they paid him to hire a few more sharks and include a few more thrills instead. The music by AR Rahman is strictly average; even the item song by Kyle Minogue can't save this film from reaching its watery grave.Director Anthony D'souza's Blue's has flashy exterior and it's one dead fish. Watch it strictly at your own risk.

Blue,one of the most anticipated movies of 2009 is a foolish movie.

Being told Bollywood's most expensive film the film turns out to be so cheap.

Anthony D Souza,the director wasted a terrific opportunity.His direction is average.

The music is by A.R Rahman,is surprisingly bad.

What makes me give this film 2 stars is mainly for its the stunts and photography.

Performance wise-Sanjay Dutt is overweight.Akshay Kumar is okay.Zayed Khan needs a crash course for acting.shows you how to wear the two-piece, and look like a goddess of the sea.Katrina Kaif comes in the very start,leaves off and comes in the climax.Thats it.Rhaul Dev is half baked.Kabir Bedi has no dialogs.

Overall Blue is a fool

Anthony D'Souza had carefully handpicked all the ingredients to make a hit movie. Noteworthy is the cinematography which is top-notch. The underwater sequences are shot with aplomb. The background music is as good as any Hollywood movie. The songs from A R Rahman who is riding high on the success of Slumdog Millionaire are great. The choice of locales is great. And finally to rope in the international audience Kylie Minogue is roped in. The media is used effectively to generate curiosity and ensured audience is flocked to cinema halls. What else more can you ask for? Ahem - story please. Yes - amongst all the gloss and glitter somebody just seem to have forgotten to choose/ validate a proper story/ plot to base it leading to the entire affair falling like a pack of cards.

° Akshay Kumar yet again jumps on the other side to do an extended version of his character in "Ajnabee". And adopts his son's name as the screen name. BTW - the goatee didn't suit his looks in any manner.

° Sanjay Dutt was miscast. He was big, bulky and appeared averaged for the character. Also pairing with Lara seemed cradle-snatching.

° Zayed Khan makes an attempt to ultra-cool. The whole sequence of Rahul Dev and Kats is so badly written even a blind can see it coming.

° Lara is surely hots in Blue. For the first time I had to take note of her - seriously. She leaves no stones unturned to flaunts her figure in an aesthetic way.

°Kats adopts funky-techno look in her special appearance. She experiments her looks with the piercing and sadly doesn't look quite appealing.

° Rahul Dev is as usual dependable.

° Kabir Bedi role can be timed in seconds.

The execution is sleek and no two ways to that. In many movies one complains that length should have been trimmed to deliver the impact but it seems in "Blue" the editor has done a magnanimous job to extent that it fails to sink into the audience.

Mr. Anthony D'Souza - don't even think of any sequel to it ref: Air.

PS: And the "Sarkar/ Sethji" was literally getting on my nerves after a while.