I could seriously do without this part of the review. When you're watching the Boss kick ass and demolish everyone in sight as a humanoid and play cowering yet brilliant scientist at the same time, you just can't be objective
ROBOT
U/A; ACTION; SCI-FI
Dir: Shankar
Cast: Rajnikanth, Aishwarya Rai, Danny Denzongpa
Rating: ***
WHAT'S IT ABOUT: I could seriously do without this part of the review. When you're watching the Boss kick ass and demolish everyone in sight as a humanoid and play cowering yet brilliant scientist at the same time, you just can't be objective. Here's trying my best...
Vasikaran (Rajnikanth) is a gifted scientist who has spent 10 yearsu00a0in seclusion, building the most human-like robot he can, to the extent of completely ignoring his long-suffering girlfriend Sana (Rai). He has two incompetent fools for lab assistants and a kameena senior scientist Dr Vohra (Denzongpa) for a mentor.
When Vasi makes a breakthrough and outs his creation, the jealous mentor doesn't play ball and tries to bring him down every chance he gets. Meanwhile, our hero tries to make the robot his mom names Chitti as human as possible, to the extent of loaning it to his girlfriend. Several rescues and antics later, Chitti gets struck by a bolt of lightning (no really, quite literally) and begins having emotions. Things get really nasty when the humanoid falls in love with Sana and starts stalking her to a point that he screws up a presentation that Vasi was to make to the Indian Army.
The scientist hacks his creation to pieces and has his assistants throw him out in the trash. If only dismantled robots stayed dead!
Vohra finds out and gets on Chitti's trail and sets out to rebuild him and make him a destructive force.
WHAT'S HOT: Rajni rocks! There's really no other way to say it. The well-oiled team of R Rathnavelu (Cinematography), Srinivas M Mohan, Frankie Chang, Eddy Wong (Visual Effects), Sabu Cyril (Art Direction) and Peter Hein (Action Direction) give Rajnikanth and Shankar awesome technical support. Their collective vision sees this film through its several continuity flaws and somewhat weak storyline.
Shankar's execution complements the charisma and screen presence of the Boss.
And yeah, the make-up department actually manages to make Aishwarya Rai more gorgeous than she actually is (or was, until recently). Danny Denzongpa puts on a solid show as the thinking villain.
And whatever you do, don't miss the last few reels and the climax.
WHAT'S NOT: Now, if only the storywriting was as solid. Anthony (Editor) seems to have forgotten why he's getting paid. Most of the first half and the film's middle could do with some serious trimming. At two-and-a-half hours, the film goes on and on and on. The songs are godawful and unnecessary. The music scored by A R Rahman is the most forgettable ever.
WHAT'S THAT! Chitti does an Edward (a la Twilight) and sits outside Sana's window and swipes away a mosquito, then when she sends him off on a fool's errand (to get the l'il bloodsucker to say sorry to her). He actually takes her up on the request and follows the mosquito to a swamp and threatens him to do as he says ufffd or else! Just one of many Rajni moments!
WHAT TO DO: This movie deserves full marks simply for perfectly casting the ever-dependable Rajni and making the most of the VFX at its disposal. Take a bow, Shankar. And if you still haven't called your nearest theatre for tickets, you better. It's an experience you can't miss. Dot.
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