Mission Istanbul

Terrorism is a global issue and varied film-makers across the globe continue to make movies/documentaries/short films that expose the ghastly face and effects of terrorism. Apoorva Lakhia charters that path as well in Mission Istaanbul.

In Mission Istaanbul, there's an Osama replica, bunkers in Afghanistan where he is supposedly hiding, also a television channel that telecasts exclusive footage from the terrorists (its called Al Johara here), a George Bush lookalike… Lakhia seems to have incorporated snippets and vignettes from real-life to celluloid in an effort to make the goings-on relatable and believable.

But, somewhere in between, the fight against terrorism becomes too Bollywoodish as the two heroes eliminate an entire army of terrorists and put an end to the nefarious activities of a TV channel. And that's difficult to gulp!

Perhaps, Lakhia's intentions are right, to make a hard-hitting film that marries realism and fiction beautifully, but the writing indulges in too many cinematic liberties and that's precisely why Mission Istaanbul goes off target.

However, lovers of action fares are in for a treat, since the stunts, action and chase sequences in Mission Istaanbul are truly captivating.

Sure, a few sequences aren't for the faint-hearted, but you can't help but put your hands together for these sequences and the men behind those death-defying stunts. All said, Mission Istaanbul goes off target!

Vikas (Zayed Khan) is one of the most promising journalists in the country. Owais (Suniel Shetty), who heads a controversial Istanbul-based news channel Al Johara, makes him an offer to head the channel. This offer comes at a time when Vikas is undergoing a divorce with his wife Anjali (Shriya Saran).

But little does Vikas know that the decision will change his life forever. Owais is killed and Turkish commando Rizwan (Vivek Oberoi) tells Vikas that if he decides to quit as well, he would be bumped off as well. In a place where the gun has the last laugh, will a journalist survive or will he fall prey like many others?

Mission Istaanbul unravels at a feverish pace and that's most important for a thriller. The story travels from India to Turkey to Afghanistan to Turkey again, in the very first hour.

The characters are well-established, the script is laced with incidents that seem straight out of newspapers. Coupled with Lakhia's execution, top notch cinematography and stylish action, the film begins to grow as reel after reel unspools.

But, alas, the film goes for a toss in the second hour. Things actually stagnate as the two heroes turn into super- heroes and combat an army of villains on land, sea and air.

By the way, they don't get bruised even once! Lakhia and writer Suresh Nair seem to have substituted action for content and that's the most glaring flaw.

In fact, you feel that Lakhia and Nair must've decided to go on a vacation in the second hour, entrusting the responsibility on the stunt directors to conclude the second hour.

There's not much scope for music in the film, but in terms of composition, just one track -- 'Jo Gumshuda' -- is easy on your ears. The Abhishek Bachchan track is such a waste. Even the tune is completely forgettable. Gururaj R.J.'s cinematography is top notch. Action, as mentioned earlier, is the hallmark of the enterprise.

Both Vivek and Zayed come up with competent performances. Vivek does a fine job, essaying his part with ease. But why does he sport a smirk on his face most of the times?

The director could've avoided that! Zayed is equally charged. In fact, you witness a new Zayed in this film, the renewed confidence shows. Shriya Saran is wasted. Shweta Bhardwaj does well in stunts, but wears one expression all through.

Suniel Shetty (sp. app.) is as usual. Nikitin Dheer is effective. First JODHAA AKBAR, now Mission Istaanbul, this boy's going from strength to strength. Shabbir Ahluwalia is another talent that needs to be tapped by film-makers. He's very good!

On the whole, Mission Istaanbul rests on action and only action to salvage the show. But that's not enough. At the box-office, this mission won't work

Money Hai Toh Honey Hai

David Dhawan and Priyadarshan triggered off a trend -- of making brainless comedies -- and thus began a wave of leave-your-brains-at-home laughathons.

Inspired by the success of these ha-ha-he-he fares, every second film-maker decided to join the bandwagon for that elusive Hit. But, of late, no-brainer comedies have reached a saturation point.

Ganesh Acharya's Money Hai Toh Honey Hai actually tests the patience of the viewer. Fine, you don't expect a riveting storyline from a film of this genre, but you definitely expect laughs, don't you? You expect to be entertained, don't you? Alas, what you get to see is definitely not good, not even bad, it's verrry boring!

In his debut film SWAMI, Ganesh Acharya proved that he knows his job well, but what is this? How did the makers okay the script (writer: Muazzam Beg) in the first place? What did the actors see in this script? Did they want to be a part of a mini-multistarrer for the heck of it?

Money Hai Toh Honey Hai is like flying in an aircraft without a pilot. You don't know where it's headed!

Money Hai Toh Honey Hai deals with six characters: Bobby (Govinda) is a happy go lucky guy, who runs away from home to prove himself.

Lalabhai (Manoj Bajpayee) becomes wealthy, but he's back on the road as his business fails and he loses all his money. Gaurav (Aftab Shivdasani), a copywriter, is fired from his job.

Manik (Upen Patel) is a struggling model who sleeps with a middle-aged fashion designer (Archana Puransingh), hoping to make it big.

Ashima (Hansika) is a successful TV star, but she's not happy with her career and is desperate to do films as the lead heroine. Shruti (Celina Jaitley) is a struggling dress designer.

One fine day, they all get an SMS informing them that they are the owners of a 1,000 crore company. However, their happiness does not last long for the lawyer reveals that there's a loan of 1,200 crore on the company and they must repay it and until the loan is repaid, they would be kept under house arrest.

The story sounds interesting on paper, but on celluloid, it's non-existent. Prem Chopra picks up random cellphone numbers and makes them calls. He wants them to inherit his fortune.

But the entire first hour is devoted to why they became losers. It's only at the interval point that you expect the story to begin. But does it take off? Nope!

Instead of sticking to the core issue, it meanders into meaningless sub-plots, which only add to the boredom. The finale at the fashion show (well choreographed by Achala Sachdev) is interesting, but by then you're exhausted and want the movie to end.

The writer of this film is the biggest culprit. The writing touches a new low with this film. Ganesh Acharya tries to pack in funny sequences, but just two bring a smile -- the Archana Puransingh-Upen Patel track and Govinda's encounter with a Vijay Mallya lookalike, who is surrounded by a bevy of beauties.

The songs too show up without any valid reason whatsoever, although a few songsare tuneful and well choreographed.

Now to the performances! Govinda looks too old for his part. The role demanded a 20 + actor and Govinda looks completely out of place here.

The age shows! Imagine, he calls Jawed Sheikh his father and Ketaki Dave his mother!!!! Besides, why is behaving so kool by speaking in English? It looks fake! You feel sad to watch an actor of the calibre of Manoj Bajpayee being reduced to absolute nothing. Is he the same actor who acted in SATYA? And ZUBEIDAA, PINJAR and 1971?

Aftab Shivdasani looks right for the part, but he hardly gets any scenes. Upen Patel does a good job and his scenes are truly funny.

Hansika goes over the top. Celina Jaitley gets no scope either. Archana Puransingh, besides Upen, provides a few laughs. She's excellent. Prem Chopra is wasted. Ravi Kishan too doesn't impress.

On the whole, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai is a poor show. At the box-office, a damp squib!

Actress

Aayesha Takia
Aditi Gowariker
Aishwarya Rai
Amisha Patel
Amrita Arora
Amrita Rao
Antara Mali
Asha Parekh
Bhoomika Chawla
Bhumika Chawla
Bipasha Basu
Celina Jaitley
Daina
Deepal Shaw
Deepti Bhatnagar
Diana Hayden
Dimple Kapadia
Divya Bharati
Diya Mirza
Esha Deol
Gauri Karnik
Gayatri Joshi
Gracy Singh
Hema Malini
Hrishita Bhatt
Isha Koppikar
Jaya Bachchan
Juhi Babbar
Juhi Chawla
Kajol
Kangna Ranaut
Kareena Kapoor
Karishma Kapoor
Kashmira Shah
Katrina Kaif
Kim Sharma
Kirti Reddy
Koena Mitra
Lara Dutta
Madhubala
Madhuri Dixit
Mahima Chaudhary
Mala Sinha
Malaika Arora
Mallika Sherawat
Mandakini
Mandira Bedi
Manisha Koirala
Meena Kumari
Meenakshi Seshadhri
Meera
Mumtaz
Namrata Shirodkar
Nandita Das
Nargis
Neetu Singh
Neha
Neha Dhupia
Nigar Khan
Nutan
Parveen Babi
Payal Rohatgi
Perizaad Zorabian
Pooja Batra
Pooja Bedi
Pooja Bhatt
Poonam Dhillon
Preeti Jhangiani
Preity Zinta
Priya Gill
Priyanka Chopra
Raima Sen
Rakhee
Rakhi Sawant
Rambha
Rani Mukherjee
Raveena Tandon
Reema Sen
Rekha
Rimi Sen
Rinke Khanna
Riya Sen
Sadhana
Sameera Reddy
Sandali Sinha
Shabana Azmi


Shamita Shetty
Sharmila Tagore
Shilpa Shetty
Shweta Menon
Smita Patil
Soha Ali Khan
Sonali Bendre
Sonali Kulkarni
Sridevi
Suman Ranganathan
Sushmita Sen
Tabu
Tanisha Mukherjee
Tanushree Dutta
Tara Sharma
Tina Munim
Twinkle Khanna
Udita Goswami
Urmila Matondkar
Vaijantimala
Vidya Balan
Waheeda Rehman
Zeenat Aman