FeistyUpper
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
Stellead
Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
Kaydan Christian
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Avinash Patalay
With a string of movies geared up a sole intent of garnering Oscar statuettes, Asif Kapadia aims for BAFTA's with his outing. "The Warrior" is doused with all possible ingredients that would qualify for a perfect recipe to get nominations, if not win one.Let me give you an example:: If you happen to watch a Chinese movie and there happens to be a scene/ situation which is unfamiliar to us being Non-Chinese, "queer" is the immediate thought that would come to our minds. Exactly the same emotion any Non-Indian would get while watching "The Warrior" – uncivilised and probably barbaric. While the truth lies between the history, cinematic liberties and Mr. Kapadia's head.Are the coordinates of the place unattainable on GPRS? Probably not, for its a period movie and hey, the period is not stipulated. Having said that strong flavour of Rajasthan can be felt, including the folk songs. And who waved the magic wand to make the snow-clad mountains appear from thin air? Or should I read that as an early sign of global warming? And why do the main characters speak national language? Anyways, the screenplay is good though slow at times. Music is passable.Cast:: Irfan Khan:: Needs no mention. He is the Generation Next to Naseer and Om Puri.Noor Mani :: As a thief, very much believable.Damayanti Marfatia:: as the old lady – who seems to have jumped straight out of a storybook.The rest are passable.Bottomline:: The objective was fulfilled... hook or by crook.
cribyn44
Since previous comments have adequately summarised the main story line of this film, there is no need for me to repeat them. However..... I first saw this film on television a short while ago, and again over the Christmas period, on DVD. Seeing the film by itself, one can possibly enjoy the final cut for what it is, although I have to admit that my second viewing did tend to highlight the sparseness of the story-line and film. It is when one comes to see the film on DVD that the trouble begins. I would STRONGLY advise all viewers who have otherwise seen and quite enjoyed the film NOT to view the "extra" feature on the DVD entitled "Alternate and Deleted Scenes". Otherwise, you will be reminded of the Marcus Antonious speech in "Julius Ceasar".... "if you have tears, prepare to shed them now.......". For nearly one hour the viewer is presented with alternate or deleted scene after scene that did not make the final cut but whose cumulative effect is to underline how otherwise totally brilliant, impressive, and moving the final cut of the film could have been had they been included - and had made the film probably around 120-plus minutes of viewing time instead of its measly present 87 minutes. Time and again the exclusions really did make one wonder about the so-called film-making thinking and skills of the director and his film editor, given that all those exclusions would have superbly rounded-out not only the story line but also the "feelings" of involvement of the viewer. In addition, viewers should be warned that for virtually the whole of that hour of alternate and deleted scenes section, the director's voice intones non-stop about how superbly he thought his film-making skills were in lining up particular shots or how far better he thought it was to drop completely many shots. In addition, I found the director's uneducated use of the English language to be screamingly annoying....."He sort of got up and went into the desert...."; " He kind of did this as the camera follows him...."; and "like" this thing then happened....etc. I am of course paraphrasing, but that gives a taste of the horrendous misuse of the English language that one has to put up with in that section. In other words, what this film absolutely requires is a patron saint who will purchase all its rights from the present director, and start again with all the alternate and deleted scenes inserted in order to make it the masterpiece it really deserves to be.
kathuria_nidhi
Inspired by a Chinese fable as the writer-director Asif Kapadia admitted, the film progresses through rich imagery and metaphors suggestive of the human mind scape that is put through the test of tolerance, resolve and will. And just as a dull mind or an infant mind must go through a stream of experiences that must rip open the layers of dreary or steady existence, similarly it was essential for the story teller to envelope the snow-capped terrain of earth which must be climbed by a traveler who has sweat for the reasons he never challenged before, burnt his skin and bled too, both in his body and soul. There is almost a ghost-like resemblance with King Ashoka who goes through a change of heart and denounces blood- shed and war after the famous battle of Kalinga. One can't help notice similarity between the warrior hero and the character from Indian mythology Shravan who carries his blind parents. Even after initiating these referral points in his journey, the warrior-hero does not follow his crusade to the end, thus proving that he is not a superhuman, neither has any inclination to accept the role of Job from Christianity. He belongs to this era, where a man when pushed to his limit will break, or more appropriately, react. But the warrior-hero is not here to prove any fallacies or be put on a pedestal by those who look upon him as the one with a spine. He must take his own course, take responsibility for his actions and be the heir to the destiny misbegotten when he opens the gates of hell to please his tyrannical lord. It is the rule of the jungle that as soon as your shield is dropped by trick or by your own accord, the tyrants who live for nothing else, will attack you. Referring to the mythology again, in Mahabharata, Karan, who came into the world out of benediction of Sun God, was born with a shield, which no human sword could pierce. Tricked into removing it and offering it to the enemy in disguise, Karan didn't give up his other weapons, mainly his resolve, mental strength and pledge. Once again, coming back to our warrior-hero, who tends upon the path covered with thorns that shall pierce his bare feet and also make his soul bleed, he assumes the emotions of a human being contrasted with that of a warrior that almost led an animal like base existence. Through his transformation from a warrior to a human being, he realizes the simple pleasures of love, caring and life itself. The warrior-hero also gains the redemption pact when he chooses not to whet the appetite of his bloodthirsty sword. But the deal is only struck when his son must lose his life and pay for his father's deeds. The film is about Lafcadia (Irfan Khan) who lives in a violent world, but on his journey he seeks the strength to turn his life around – to become a much better person and, in a sense, a better father. The film is gripping until last half an hour, where it begins to drag. What is unique about this film is that with least dialogues or any verbal communication, the characters succeed in portraying pain and turmoil the writer chose for them. Irfan Khan is one of the superlative actors of the Indian film industry today, who uses his body and expressions most effectively and adds a new dimension to his character. Here too, Irfan puts his best foot forward in this realistic war saga woven with the morality tale in a film made by a visionary director from UK. Kapadia found a true street urchin who had been living on a train station platform since the age of 7 –Noor Mani, who reminds Lafcadia of his son in the film. He plays his part to the perfection and not even once gave an impression that he is acting. Damyanti Marfatia also played her real life handicap of blindness in the movie infusing some heart wrenching emotions with her realistic portrayal.The Story: Irfan Khan stars as Lafcadia, a skilled and deadly Rajput warrior, who works at the behest of a brutal local warlord (Anupam Shyam) who regularly sends Lafacadia to carry out such savage punishments as be-headings and pillaging raids of entire villages. Then one day, Lafcadia decides to go straight. In the middle of a massacre, a mystical encounter with a young girl brings about a moment of transformation in which the warrior drops his sword and vows never to kill again. Gathering his only son Katiba (Puru Chhibber), Lafcadia hits the road and heads for his native mountain village. But the warlord who controls Lafcadia will not let his warrior go. The warlord soon dispatches a second warrior, the ruthless Biswas (Aino Annuddin), to hunt down Lafcadia and bring back his head. Still Lafcadia will not be deterred. Challenging the strict codes of the warrior life, he will sacrifice more than he could imagine in his quest for a peaceful existence.
LivingDog
I read that this was a good movie but that it was slow. Yes it is "slow" paced, but would you play a sonata as if it was a car chase scene? Of course not. So it is with The Warrior. A man makes a choice and learns to live with it... I'm trying to be very general here so as not to give any bit of this wonderfully East Indian film away. (This is only subtitled and I, a slow reader, had absolutely no trouble following the story. I mention this b/c having to read long dialog while trying to watch scenes can be bothersome, but in this case it is absolutely no problem.)An overlord who dominates all the peasants in the surrounding land does it with an iron fist. He has a band of "warriors" (I think "mercinaries" might be a better term) who keep the people under the overlord's thumb. One, Lafcadia, played flawlessly by Irfan Khan, decides to stop.There is no action, but the characters are real and the plot is so thick you can cut it with a knife. If you don't like this one then you don't like films. I love this film ... if I could I would hold it in my arms ... 10+/10-LD_____________________________________________my faith: http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/jbc33/