In some ways, Lagaan is quintessential Bollywood. Except it's much, much better.
Lagaan (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:59
Fresh:56
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.9/10
Consensus: Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for language and some violence
Runtime: 3 hrs 44 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Theatrical Release:May 8, 2002 Limited
Synopsis: Considered to be a modern classic of Indian cinema, LAGAAN is a musical drama which tells the story of a central Indian farming village in 1893. The village waits for the monsoons to come and rain... Considered to be a modern classic of Indian cinema, LAGAAN is a musical drama which tells the story of a central Indian farming village in 1893. The village waits for the monsoons to come and rain on its crops, but the ground remains dry and infertile. Meanwhile, British ruler Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) demands lagaan--or double normal taxes--from the villagers. When it becomes clear that they can't pay, Russell challenges the villagers to a game of cricket, a game they know nothing about. Teaching the villagers about the game falls on the shoulders of farmer Bhuvan (Aamir Khan). As they begin to learn, the villagers are inspired to go up against Russell, with tax negotiation as the stakes for the game. Full of choreographed musical numbers and climaxing in a pulse-pounding cricket match, LAGAAN is a fun, heartwarming British/Indian production that should have no difficulties translating across other national borders. [More]
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Suhasini Mulay, Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Screenwriter: Ashutosh Gowariker, Sanjay Dayma, Kumar Dave
Producer: Aamir Khan
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
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Reviews for Lagaan
Crackerjack entertainment -- nonstop romance, music, suspense and action.
...a rousing fantasy of bloodless revolution against capricious colonial rulers.
A movie that amply delivers on the epic promise of its title, entertaining, enlightening, and emboldening viewers with its deceptively simple premise and execution.
It's a fairy tale that comes from a renowned Indian film culture that allows Americans to finally revel in its splendor.
A lavish epic, a gorgeous love story, and a rollicking adventure yarn.
Two hours of melodramatic musical married to two hours of underdog sports intrigue, if the picture also shares the weaknesses of both genres, more's the pity.
The film's got a big scope and a big heart, even taking time to decry class, social, and racial discrimination.
Although it tries to be much more, it's really just another Major League.
The action here is unusually tame, the characters are too simplistic to maintain interest, and the plot offers few surprises.
An enormously entertaining movie, like nothing we've ever seen before, and yet completely familiar.
An involving, easily digestible hunk of pure entertainment that could be the trigger for Bollywood's long-awaited crossover to non-ethnic markets.
After having seen this Cinemascope extravaganza in a theater, on DVD and video, I still think the big screen experience is worth it.
It works its magic with such exuberance and passion that the film’s length becomes a part of its fun.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
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