So many "reviews" here already, but the movie isn't even released yet! It was slated for December 2021 but got delayed because RGV, so far as he says, wanted a simultaneous worldwide release and there was an issue with launching in China on the scheduled release date. Then we got a date in July 2022, which has passed without a release also. Meanwhile, RGV continues to sporadically keep up interest with new trailers and social media posts... you could joke that so many different trailers have been released that if you put them together you'd get the whole movie, but no that's just a joke not reality.
All the reviews so far boil down to two kinds:
1-3 if you already hate RGV and/or you're a prude that hates sexual content of any kind 7-10 if you are already a fan of RGV and/or you're a perve who loves sexual content of any kind
Based on historic trends when it comes to Indian films and RGV films (that show any skin), I expect this movie to also be review-bombed.
Me, I'm in the middle. I've loved RGV's earlier films as most people do, but I also like a lot of the movies that have been unfairly panned by Indian society for unreasonable reasons. It's amazing the level of prudery and puritanism still remaining in the land of the Kamasutra and Khajurao long after dropping British rule.. even more than the British have themselves, today. But I do admit RGV's quality has been dropping and a mixed bag since the 90s and 2000s.
I like what I'm seeing so far from the trailers. It's mostly thanks to the amazing Pooja Bhalekar. This movie is possible only because she exists, and RGV discovered her with his somewhat miraculous discovering abilities. She's the first REAL, professionally trained, born-and-raised martial artist to become an actress in India. She's kind of the Instagram generation of martial arts heroines, she often posts beach bikini shots on her social media but at the same time... she seriously does know martial arts! Martial artists in cinema haven't been great actors going all the way back to Bruce Lee himself (seriously, I love Bruce Lee, but has anyone argued that he should have won an Oscar for best actor? Nope, and his legacy is doing just fine otherwise), but when they're good at what they're good at, that's what matters, and we can already see that Pooja is amazing at action. Until now, the best martial arts action I'd seen in an Indian film was in James (2006) from Mohit Alawat, who is not a martial artist but could look like one thanks to great fight choreographers. Pooja and RGV have worked with professional Chinese martial arts film choreographers for this film and it shows, but few, if any other Indian actresses or even male actors could have pulled off what we've already seen from Pooja, let alone their own stunts. No Akshaye Kumar fight scene in history has ever looked as convincing as anything from LADKI's trailers, even if he did do them himself.
Now, if you think Pooja wearing a bikini negates any level of skill or intelligence she has, that's up to you. Clearly, she seems to be loving showing this self of her's to the world, this balance of sexy and dangerous. You can say this was only made for men, but then explain the millions of fans of Megan Thee Stallion and her music and videos? It seems even more women love her than men do!
Never mind the bikini, let's not ignore that Pooja is somehow able to fight effortlessly in traditionally Indian clothes like a sari. I haven't even seen that in video games! It makes me wonder if it'd be harder to fight in a sari or a kimono. Scientists have to get to work on this! But really, everyone noticed her fighting in a bikini but no one sees how she's actually getting messy and dirty and taking the hits too, she's not afraid to make even frightening faces in the midst of battle...
I'm still looking forward to the film since I saw the first of RGV's many trailers. As a fan of Bruce Lee films, martial arts films, Indian films, RGV's films, and now also as a fan of Pooja. I just hope there's a way to see it in 4K from here in Canada... it looks perfect for theaters, but I doubt that will happen here.
Pooja doesn't look to reach the levels of Jeeja Yanin of Chocolate fame (the making-of for that movie is brutal!), but so what? In this world we need more Jeeja Yanin of all kinds from all backgrounds... there's too few female martial arts heroes and Pooja is helping that pool grow.
I even like what I see of the story so far. It's simple, partly silly and partly serious, but it works for me. In a martial arts film, a good story is a bonus, not a necessity. I like the idea of there being a love triangle between the main gal and guy... and Bruce Lee. Her obsession over her long-departed teacher and her mortal lover is interesting and also pretty funny, and the movie knows how to subtly laugh at its self (whenever they kiss, there's an image of Bruce Lee somewhere in the background). At the same time, the movie is also about the reaction men have to her and how they are threatened by her power, so they try everything they can to reclaim power over her again... this threat against their perceived "manhood" is enough to drive the villains in this story. She puts up a good fight as she's pulled deeper into conflict with them, but it's shown realistically as she's still human and not a marvel superhero... she has to take a lot of hits to the chin, even she has to shed tears.
The homages to Bruce Lee even extend to the great music, with one song being entirely full of Bruce Lee teachings and quotes... and it manages to sound great.
To summarize, yes this is a preview, and I'm obviously positive about what I've seen so far and am looking forward to the movie. If there's any weakness I see it might be in the story and dialogue, but you can count the martial arts movies that do those things well on one hand.
All the reviews so far boil down to two kinds:
1-3 if you already hate RGV and/or you're a prude that hates sexual content of any kind 7-10 if you are already a fan of RGV and/or you're a perve who loves sexual content of any kind
Based on historic trends when it comes to Indian films and RGV films (that show any skin), I expect this movie to also be review-bombed.
Me, I'm in the middle. I've loved RGV's earlier films as most people do, but I also like a lot of the movies that have been unfairly panned by Indian society for unreasonable reasons. It's amazing the level of prudery and puritanism still remaining in the land of the Kamasutra and Khajurao long after dropping British rule.. even more than the British have themselves, today. But I do admit RGV's quality has been dropping and a mixed bag since the 90s and 2000s.
I like what I'm seeing so far from the trailers. It's mostly thanks to the amazing Pooja Bhalekar. This movie is possible only because she exists, and RGV discovered her with his somewhat miraculous discovering abilities. She's the first REAL, professionally trained, born-and-raised martial artist to become an actress in India. She's kind of the Instagram generation of martial arts heroines, she often posts beach bikini shots on her social media but at the same time... she seriously does know martial arts! Martial artists in cinema haven't been great actors going all the way back to Bruce Lee himself (seriously, I love Bruce Lee, but has anyone argued that he should have won an Oscar for best actor? Nope, and his legacy is doing just fine otherwise), but when they're good at what they're good at, that's what matters, and we can already see that Pooja is amazing at action. Until now, the best martial arts action I'd seen in an Indian film was in James (2006) from Mohit Alawat, who is not a martial artist but could look like one thanks to great fight choreographers. Pooja and RGV have worked with professional Chinese martial arts film choreographers for this film and it shows, but few, if any other Indian actresses or even male actors could have pulled off what we've already seen from Pooja, let alone their own stunts. No Akshaye Kumar fight scene in history has ever looked as convincing as anything from LADKI's trailers, even if he did do them himself.
Now, if you think Pooja wearing a bikini negates any level of skill or intelligence she has, that's up to you. Clearly, she seems to be loving showing this self of her's to the world, this balance of sexy and dangerous. You can say this was only made for men, but then explain the millions of fans of Megan Thee Stallion and her music and videos? It seems even more women love her than men do!
Never mind the bikini, let's not ignore that Pooja is somehow able to fight effortlessly in traditionally Indian clothes like a sari. I haven't even seen that in video games! It makes me wonder if it'd be harder to fight in a sari or a kimono. Scientists have to get to work on this! But really, everyone noticed her fighting in a bikini but no one sees how she's actually getting messy and dirty and taking the hits too, she's not afraid to make even frightening faces in the midst of battle...
I'm still looking forward to the film since I saw the first of RGV's many trailers. As a fan of Bruce Lee films, martial arts films, Indian films, RGV's films, and now also as a fan of Pooja. I just hope there's a way to see it in 4K from here in Canada... it looks perfect for theaters, but I doubt that will happen here.
Pooja doesn't look to reach the levels of Jeeja Yanin of Chocolate fame (the making-of for that movie is brutal!), but so what? In this world we need more Jeeja Yanin of all kinds from all backgrounds... there's too few female martial arts heroes and Pooja is helping that pool grow.
I even like what I see of the story so far. It's simple, partly silly and partly serious, but it works for me. In a martial arts film, a good story is a bonus, not a necessity. I like the idea of there being a love triangle between the main gal and guy... and Bruce Lee. Her obsession over her long-departed teacher and her mortal lover is interesting and also pretty funny, and the movie knows how to subtly laugh at its self (whenever they kiss, there's an image of Bruce Lee somewhere in the background). At the same time, the movie is also about the reaction men have to her and how they are threatened by her power, so they try everything they can to reclaim power over her again... this threat against their perceived "manhood" is enough to drive the villains in this story. She puts up a good fight as she's pulled deeper into conflict with them, but it's shown realistically as she's still human and not a marvel superhero... she has to take a lot of hits to the chin, even she has to shed tears.
The homages to Bruce Lee even extend to the great music, with one song being entirely full of Bruce Lee teachings and quotes... and it manages to sound great.
To summarize, yes this is a preview, and I'm obviously positive about what I've seen so far and am looking forward to the movie. If there's any weakness I see it might be in the story and dialogue, but you can count the martial arts movies that do those things well on one hand.