Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Spoonatects Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

kosmasp Even if you didn't know everything points out to the previous "entry" that was called East is east. So they thought they'd make another movie with immigration and other problems crammed into one movie. Actually the movie has really high ambitions trying to light even the grayest of areas and everything that surrounds it.Unfortunately though the ambitions might have been to high to reach. It's not a bad movie by any means, but trying to juggle all the threads of the story proves to be more than difficult. It does seem to stir away from time to time instead of focusing on certain problems. Which in itself wouldn't be a bad thing, but again it doesn't have total control of everything that goes on, which might leave you with an unsatisfying feeling.

TheLittleSongbird East is East was a very enjoyable movie, with a great cast and a perfect balance between the funny and the poignant. West is West is a more than worthy successor. I agree some of the secondary characters were little more than caricatures and while there are some funny moments both visually and in the script, some of the humour does for my tastes get rather slapsticky. That said, it is a good-looking film and has a great well-paced story complete with a well-observed look at the cultural divide. The soundtrack appeals, the script sparkles with a number of moving and identifiable scenes and West is West is directed beautifully. Once again, Om Puri and Linda Bassett are outstanding in the leads, and while a brat at first Sajid wins you over in the end. Jimi Mistry's cameo was neat but all too brief. Overall, worthy sequel and a very good film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Murli Despite my disappointment of East Is East I was still looking forward to watching the sequel especially since the excellent Om Puri and Linda Bassett were returning to reprise their roles as husband and wife. Initially I was a bit disappointed but after a second viewing it really hit home and I really enjoyed the movie.Om Puri was really the shining star. His backward, obstinate set in his traditional roots character really faces his demons in this sequel, learning some valuable lessons. Puri did a fantastic job of showing the variety of emotions of someone in his predicament: Growing up in the old style, adjusting to the new style in UK and then having his worlds collide when he returns to Pakistan with his youngest son.At first I didn't have any sympathy for Sajid, the youngest son. He was rude and a total brat. There was not that much likable about him. But as I started to understand the world from his eyes: the racism in UK, that he was confused about his cultural identity and that his father didn't make things easier by not understanding him better. I liked the way the director showed the transformation in Sajid.East Is East had more humorous moments than East Is East, especially regarding Maneer's wedding prospects and it provided light hearted moments in a movie that tackled some serious and tough themes. The music in the movie is fantastic and the song at the end will definitely tug at the heartstrings. Anyone who has ever said goodbye to a loved one, friend or family, not knowing if they'll ever see each other again, will find some identity with the song. All in all this is a recommended watch, and at least twice. Once to get a feel for the movie and then the second time to understand the characters and their motivations. Om Puri, Linda Bassett and the wonderful music are the very reasons to watch this hidden gem, for the tones and themes will remain with you long after the movie has ended and it's a very pleasant feeling.

musanna-ahmed The plot of West is West is the cinematic equivalent of a car ride – it drives quickly (to Pakistan), runs out of petrol upon reaching its number one destination, and then the characters refill it for the rest of the journey. In other terms – the film picks up pace very quickly at the start, almost as if deliberately rushing Sajid off to Pakistan. When at Pakistan, it's about 15-20 minutes into the film and an hour and a half remains so the whole plot (which is primarily Sajid's issue in England that apparently will be fixed by his father's tyrannical insistence of adapting to the environment in the Punjab) has to be stretched over that time. That is when it begins to lack the lustre it began with as it moves a lot slower than the time in England. Then the characters and a subplot of the brother Maneer in an engagement/marriage situation uplift the film mightily and the overall result is positive.It's a positive result but not the best. There are blemishes in the camel coloured land. Obviously not literal ones (in the sense of blemishes on appearances) which are visible to the naked eye because the location choice is brilliant; Pakistan is recreated in a realistic landscape even though it is reported that it was filmed in India. The faults of the film can be detected when observing the pace of the film. One was, like stated in the second paragraph, the pace of the plot when the family reach Pakistan. Another was Sajid. Newcomer Aqib Khan is a great substitute for Jordan Routledge as the runt of the Khan litter. But he is infected with a flaw that is his abrupt shifting between scenes. For example, we first see him heavily insult the character Zaid and mere seconds later we see him listening to his command of following him as if they have bonded as friends instantaneously. And the third was the editing decisions. The film strikes a good balance between emotion and humour but it's erratic. One – the cross cutting between Sajid and George alters between funny and serious. Two – there's a pivotal scene where both Mrs Khan's are involved in a conversation that turn their relations from heated to cordial, but it's one of the best scenes in the film.They are the main negatives of the film, as a standalone, that come into mind. Yes, it can be classed as a standalone – it isn't necessary to have seen East is East in order to grasp the story because the past events aren't recapped or looked at again but having seen East is East will enlighten the experience and an understanding of the marriage theme and the characters from that film will be on hand. West is West has a completely different story that arguably qualifies it as a standalone. It's accepted as a sequel as a bonus because of some of the recurring characters, screenwriter, and producer that were BAFTA nominated and therefore made their names in the British film industry for East is East and hence reprised their roles in West in West to create something of that great standard.West is West unfortunately isn't of the great standard set eleven years ago but that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable film. Whilst East is East is the more lively film, West is West is the one carried a lot more sentimentally. Despite his quick mood changes, Aqib Khan is terrific as Sajid. The classic one-liners – "Not old enough to get married so don't ask!" – have been upgraded to ones that would just be of a teenage kid's and are nailed by Khan such as "You can f*ck off and all, Mowgli!" By saying that they're of a teenage kid's, expect heavy use of swearing and not just from Sajid. The rest of the cast is brilliant, especially Om Puri as the seriously funny (oxymoron intended) George Khan. Unlike in East is East, his character develops throughout the film culminating in someone who could look back and notice a great change in himself. There is also a definite development in Sajid as he steadily learns to adapt to the Pakistani culture. The themes of the film are excellent. This time, it isn't just about marriage – it also has the themes of culture. West is West tells a story that demonstrates how we should be tolerant to the environment in the sense that we live in a multi-cultural society. People from different cultures live together and if not deeply, we should at least broadly learn to appreciate our cultural differences. An underlying theme of the film is respect – how we should respect the other cultures and people, on the whole. The dominant reason for Sajid being sent to Pakistan is to learn to respect his progenitor. Whilst it won't have the same replay value nor be as big of a word-of-mouth hit as East is East, West is West has very enjoyable content on offer that might not fulfil the expectations of those willing for it to raise the bar that East is East set for future films of the same kind, but can satisfy an audience and leave the impression of it being a good film if not great. With a heart and sheer amusement, it's certainly not a sequel flop.Verdict: "The original is always better" has become a common remark in the film industry when comparing a sequel or a remake. In this case, that is true but as a fresh film, West is West is a delight to watch. And because the original is always better, don't go in to see something on par or criticise because of the inferiority. Think of the overall film as the cinematic equivalent of a baby – it has roots but it's something new.