China Gate

If a viewer has seen both the classic films "Sholay" (1975) and "The Seven Samurai" (1954) ... "China Gate" (1998) offers zero suspense whatsoever.

Credited as an homage to the Japanese master director Akira Kurosawa, "China Gate" is better described as COMPLETELY derivative of the two referenced classic movies. I do not make this assertion lightly. But "China Gate" was so poorly done that at every single major crisis point I predicted EXACTLY what was going to happen, simply because the equivalent character in "Sholay" did this or Toshiro Mafune in "The Seven Samurai" did that. Every Single Time.

I had thought, when I bought the movie, how could a film possibly go wrong with such a fantastic cast of great veteran actors?

Casting the two Puris -- Om Puri and Amrish Puri -- as, well, two Puris was a nice touch, I'll grant you. Naseeruddin Shah delivered, as did Danny Denzongpa (always one of India's most underrated actors, in my opinion). But the rest of the ten 'old soldiers' were given nothing to work with. I never could even remember their names. The role allotted to poor Tinnu Anand, for example, was less memorable than that given the character's dog. (The dog's name was Jigar. ;-) Mukesh Tiwari tried hard, in his film début. But since he was tasked with a carbon-copy impression of Gabbar from "Sholay", his villain Jageera was on the whole less interesting than the character's pet vultures (who were overused to a fault).

More than anything, though, "China Gate" strikes me as an example of a director overwhelmed by an overambitious project.

EVERY department seemed out of control. Scripting, for sure. Others here have suggested "China Gate" is half-an-hour too long. I would argue the whole first hour could have been tightened up to about 5 minutes; it took forever to finally get our characters to The Mission. Editing was horrible. The film is said to have had a huge, almost unprecedented budget. But if so, the budget did NOT end up 'on the screen'. For what should have been an action extravaganza, the stunt work never felt fresh or interesting. As others have noted, botched stunt shots were frequently left in the finished film that should have been left on the cutting room floor. And even when the director finally gets round to a 'big' scene with his top actors, he completely buries the dialogue under overheavy use of what has to be THE MOST INTRUSIVE background score I've ever experienced in a movie!

Rajkumar Santoshi is a veteran director, and I have enjoyed some of his other projects. But in reflection, I have thought best of what were always his comedy films. Perhaps an attempted epic drama such as this was simply beyond his scope?

Deeply disappointed in this one.

4/10 solely in honour of some great actors who gave a game performance in a losing effort.

This is another WONDERFUL movie by RajKumar Santoshi, the creator of Ghayal, Ghatak, Damini. Though the movie is inspired by blockbusters like Sholay (Hindi), Seven Samurai but has somehow prints its own identity. This movie has more than 12 actors but the director has beautifully characterize their roles. You would remember each and everybody even after leaving the theatre. I think this is the first Hindi movie which has no young actors in it and typical love story. The other highlights of the movie are excellent cinematography, live sets and superb acting. If you prefer technicially brilliant movie, this is one, you must see.

-Anupam

China gate is inspired from hollywood film seven samurai. Usp of the film is its cast. All veteran actors from theatre background form the team. Script is strong and tight. Debutant villain mukesh tiwari as jageera is brilliant. All actors deliver stellar performances. Amrish puri and naseeruddin shah's scene during rock falling scene is brilliant and sensitive. Direction by rajkumar santoshi is first rate. Each scene has to say something or the other. Each scene delivers a message. Each character is well connected to each other. It's just not an adventure film rather it's a movie with various dimensions and human emotions.

Comparing it with Seven Samurai or Sholay will be too ambitious, but writing it off like the way many have done is a bit too harsh for a film which is beautiful in its own way.Many would say that it is a bit too tad and stretched.They are right.May be if it was made today, the length would have been half an hour less , making the film much more sleek than it is.Character portrayal of a few of the members of the gang is shady.Cinematography at times is sketchy .Sans these errs,the film stands tall.It is great to see many of the stalwarts of parallel movies are coming in the same frame for a commercial effort.Brilliant job done by the two Puris,Danny and Naseeruddin.Seeing Mamta Kulkarni in a complete different avatar from the streamy roles she was known for is a welcome break.The movie has its high points like the cattle scene or the Sarfraz-Puri relation portrayal and definitely an engaging climax.Mukesh Tiwari is swashbuckling as Jageera, a character which has unfortunately been forgotten,failing to secure a place amongst the likes of the Gabbars or Mogambos.However, the highest achievement of the film lies in its central theme- a band of retired army men who have been deserted by the society in different ways succeed in the upheaval task of thwarting a menacing bandit's rule despite several stubborn obstacles.In the way they make you laugh,love and cry with them.The theme song by Sonu Nigam is lovable.So is the gyration of Urmila Matondkar in Chhamma Chhamma.Overall, even though it has gone into oblivion with the passage of time, it is a masterpiece from a very good film maker.

I love this movie.

No great names but amazing actors like Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Danny to name a few.

Mukesh Tiwari made a remarkable debut and impressed all. "Chamma Chamma" was a craze at that time. Reminds me of the my child hood days when i never missed a new release!

N story is not dissimilar to grt sholay..!!