MovieChat Forums > Holiday (2014) Discussion > Yet another Bollywood junk

Yet another Bollywood junk

posted 10 years ago by ke_neth1981
14 replies | jump to latest

I decided to watch a Bollywood movie for a change, especially since all the Hollywood movies have already been watched. I chose the top rated and ended with this super-flawed, senseless dog-pile of a movie.
Keeping in mind Bollywood is by default melodrama, I decided to overlook an army 'Jawan' dancing around trees with his lady-love. So here's some of the other potholes that could not be ignored.
1. When Virat stamps his feet in front of Govinda, the puddle splashes on Govinda's face. If a car tyre goes through a puddle on the road, water will splash on the sides rather than in front. Similarly, if he stamped in front of Govinda, the puddle would splash on the sides and not in front and definitely will not rise so high over such a short distance, since the 2 were standing at arm's length

2. What was the significance of the teddy bear when Virat sits down on the sofa, when he goes to see Sahibaa for the first time? Comic effect? If so, then what was the point? Where is the continuity in any way?

3. The actresses entry for the first time, the mistaken identity of the grandma to be Sahiba, cliched to the point of death.

4. Sahiba slapping her father was censored. Is the general public so naive and is abusive children unheard of in this part of the world? One movie that I can think of as of now, Hope and Glory (1987). The female lead slaps her mom over a dispute and the movie was released 27 years ago. There are lots more.

5. Mukund pets a dog. The scene I believe is shot technically incorrectly. The camera should have been closer to the 2, portraying proximity and love. It could have been a great shot.

6. Sahiba is in the boxing ring. Her stance is completely incorrect. She should've taken a 2 minute course in boxing for that scene. Which was more comic than the director would've intended it to.

7. At 30 mins, the terrorist in bus panics and runs. Anyone who has seen 26/11 CCTV footage knows terrorists don't panic. They are trained for months, even years before being given an assignment. Death is an option for them. They will do anything to ensure the completion of the task. This one reacted like a typical pickpocket.

8. The director as in all bollywood movies, breaks the fourth wall for the umpteenth time and has to explain no one in Virat's family knows he is a DIA agent. He also has to spoon feed by explain the full form of DIA and what they do to ACP Ashok Gaikwad[An ACP does not know what DIA is? lol]. (c'mon)

9. Virat picks a 12 member team to take out the 12 terrorists. No one questions on whose authority. Despite his bravery, not only can he be removed from the army, he can also be court-martialed alongwith all of his accomplices. But no one asks. He wasn't their commanding offer in the army either.

10. The terrorist held captive, does not think why was he left untied and unattended. He neither calls nor makes contact with his superiors to make decisions when he escapes.

11. Now that the 12 are dead, the leader takes it upon himself to exact revenge. Terrorists look at the big picture[Anybody remember Roja (1992)?] they don't spend money and resources on personal revenge. If they wanted to, why would they even talk? Just kill 12. Abduction and threats for one man?

Intermission

12. Virat explains to Mukund what sleeper cells are[fourth wall. pathetic really!] Who in the audience doesn't know about sleeper cells. In a nation that's been plagued by terrorism, its hard to find anyone who doesn't know what sleeper cells are. Even then, he explains wrong. Sleeper cells normally do not have a head. They are usually units or divisions of terrorists acting independently of each other. One unit does not know who or what the other units' orders are. So if one cell is taken out, it does not affect the other cells[The Siege (1998)].

13. Sahiba and Virat visit Govinda who tells the pair he cannot marry her since he's marrying his neighbor. He assures Virat he hasn't touched her, implying she is still a virgin. Sahiba is supposedly a beautiful, independent and rebellious girl by nature and yet the director has managed to show her as a virgin???? How many women do people find in the world, who are of marriageable age, beautiful, and at the same time time not engaged or ever has been?
(BTW, Akshay is the main lead, so why is her name leading the cast list on IMDB?)

14. Virat deploys Rocky the dog to locate his sister after she has been abducted. I don't know, but can dogs sniff people travelling by car?

15. Virat kills the terrorists and frees the girls.
a. The terrorists do not have anyone standing guard at the entrances and exits of the building.
b. Virat shoots and kills many terrorists and they all stand in queue awaiting for him to shoot them down.{Think of a airport boarding line}
c. Virat is out of ammo. Amazingly the others out of ammo too at the same time.[I Dream of Jeannie?!]

16. It was too much for me I walked out.

In interviews with these artists, if they are asked their favorite author, or film, most of them will look towards the west- Hollywood or otherwise. The names of films I have mentioned in brackets are also fantastical in nature. However they have the blend between reality and fantasy. This? This is what I call utter crap. Question is, who is to blame? They, who make these, or we, people who eschew the fact that film-making has evolved in the rest of the world, people who want an idealist film in a less-than-ideal world? Stuck in a time loop, reliving movies of the 60s and 70s...

[–] saurabhsun 10 years ago

Ok I would like to try and answer to your plotholes or whatever your problems with the movie are. I don't know if you are from India or where or if you watch Bollywood movies often, but most of the Bollywood movies like these are entertainment tools and not something to be so serious about and find faults in them. You need to leave your nitpicky and overly critical brain at home and enjoy the movie for the sole purpose of entertainment and fun. Same goes for the ''dancing around the trees with the lady-love''.

1. Seriously? I am amazed you are questioning this and even applying physics to this. Not sure of you know who Govinda is, he is one of the classic actors of comedy genre and the whole theatre was bursting in laughter at this scene because it's a light-hearted scene not to be taken seriously.

2/3/5/6. Same as 1. Light-hearted scenes not to be taken seriously.

4. Censored in what sense? It wasn't censored forth me.

7. There are many things to support this scene. A bomb was ticking and he had to be out of its reach; not all terrorists have to have a history of long training, could have been a small time killer. Also, when you watched the movie so closely, he had maps/blueprints/sims in his bag which he couldn't have shown to the police guy checking everyone.

8/12. I don't know about you but even I didn't know what or who DIA or sleeper cells are before they mentioned and I guess same goes for 99% of the viewers. Are they even real in life in India?

9/10/11/14/15. Yea a valid point but again its a superstar based movie and doesn't require questioning the ethics of each of his act, like keeping people in his cupboard.

13. How did you derive her virginity from the scene? See 1. He just meant that he hadn't touch her literally or had any dates or relation with her.

I don't mean to sound defensive or against you but I just want you to enjoy Bollywood movies as is. I want you understand that these are movies of comedy genre and not meant to be any serious story or scenes. Just leave you brain at home and enjoy the scenes individually. These are some great actors and I really liked the movie so I had to defend it. Agreed that Hollywood cinema is much more serious and meant to be free from any stupid scenes or plotholes and tries hard to make it all sensible for the viewers. Bollywood has a very different kind of audience who just loves to chew popcorn while watching the movies and laugh at them without questioning how/why/what and not to take movie-going experience seriously. These movies are meant to be fun and give you a good time instead of mind-bending action movies.

[–] ke_neth1981 10 years ago

I don't know if you are from India or where or if you watch Bollywood movies often, but most of the Bollywood movies like these are entertainment tools and not something to be so serious about and find faults in them.You need to leave your nitpicky and overly critical brain at home and enjoy the movie for the sole purpose of entertainment and fun. Same goes for the ''dancing around the trees with the lady-love''.

Obviously, you have overlooked the first few lines of my post.

1. Seriously? I am amazed you are questioning this and even applying physics to this. Not sure of you know who Govinda is, he is one of the classic actors of comedy genre and the whole theatre was bursting in laughter at this scene because it's a light-hearted scene not to be taken seriously.

2/3/5/6. Same as 1. Light-hearted scenes not to be taken seriously.

Well frankly, there is nothing to be amazed about and I can safely assert you don't watch too many movies from around the world. Be it Hollywood, French cinema, Russian, or otherwise. Answer this, how many films has Bollywood produced which are flawless[comic or otherwise] and how many films has these industries produced which are equally flawed? Since you say light-hearted, then maybe you should watch and point out similar flaws in American pie, Due Date 2010 etc
As for Govinda being a superstar, so was Dustin Hoffman in Rainman 1988 and Tom Hanks in Terminal(amongst others). How many actors in BTown can actually play a character role? Think and answer before you say Shah Rukh Khan! Simple answer- less than 1%. Now who is really a superstar? The one who plays all roles according to his/her individuality, or ones who mould themselves in accordance with the film's/director/author's requirement? Much of the Indian audiences have not yet started to understand the difference[pity].

4. Censored in what sense? It wasn't censored forth me.

Maybe you meant the scene wasn't blurred. But that buddy isn't the only mode of censorship. You see it wasn't a full shot. There was a cut in between. The hand striking, next scene the dad holds his cheek. If you had seen Hope and Glory, you'd get a precise example of what I mean.

7. There are many things to support this scene. A bomb was ticking and he had to be out of its reach; not all terrorists have to have a history of long training, could have been a small time killer. Also, when you watched the movie so closely, he had maps/blueprints/sims in his bag which he couldn't have shown to the police guy checking everyone.

Almost every other thread is posting the same question. Please read them all before answering. You will have your question answered.

8/12. I don't know about you but even I didn't know what or who DIA or sleeper cells are before they mentioned and I guess same goes for 99% of the viewers. Are they even real in life in India?

That's what I meant spoon-feeding the audience. Not everything is supposed to be explained through conversation. Lot of things are there that's supposed to be known by people, observed and understood through character's actions, as also left to the viewers imagination to ponder over[though not in this case], that's part of effective film-making.
Also the question arises with us is why do we have to either be spoonfed, or we assume everything. Take for instance your statement, how do you know 99% of the viewers did not know? Did you ask the 99%, or were they screaming about that?

9/10/11/14/15. Yea a valid point but again its a superstar based movie and doesn't require questioning the ethics of each of his act, like keeping people in his cupboard.

Again serves as a prop that certain people like to take things for granted. Why should we let them get away? As I have said before, the world is evolving, and so is movie-making. We should instead raise the bar too. Demand more disciplined films that are better and far superior than what we are served today.

13. How did you derive her virginity from the scene? See 1. He just meant that he hadn't touch her literally or had any dates or relation with her.

Its a simply deduction really. If her being a cherry wasn't an issue, then all that would matter is him being with her regardless of whom she has been with in the past[including Govinda], till she is officially with him and their relationship was still at its nascent stage at that time, when people are yet unsure of their relationship-just part of human complexity. In any any case, that remark of Govinda was surely a pretty cheap one, but that's only my opinion.

I don't mean to sound defensive or against you but I just want you to enjoy Bollywood movies as is. I want you understand that these are movies of comedy genre and not meant to be any serious story or scenes. Just leave you brain at home and enjoy the scenes individually. These are some great actors and I really liked the movie so I had to defend it. Agreed that Hollywood cinema is much more serious and meant to be free from any stupid scenes or plot-holes and tries hard to make it all sensible for the viewers. Bollywood has a very different kind of audience who just loves to chew popcorn while watching the movies and laugh at them without questioning how/why/what and not to take movie-going experience seriously. These movies are meant to be fun and give you a good time instead of mind-bending action movies.

Technically speaking, once you go Hollywood its almost impossible to come back. You get to see and understand the depths of their standards, and how they are evolving by the day. Even after 55 years, Btown has not been able to produce 1 film to even come close to what Benhur did in 1959, lol! As Neil Nitin Mukesh points out aptly, Bollywood stars would not get even an average role in Hollywood. http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/we-are-nowhere-c lose-to-hollywood-neil-nitin-mukesh/article1-789528.aspx and so does Madhavan http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-r-madhavan-we-are -far-behind-from-hollywood-in-acting/20131004.htm.
Entirely as a suggestion, I would think you should read my comments in detail before answering, because many of your doubts are actually cleared in my posts and that now, I am merely reiterating. Also before posting, if you'd actually watched any of those movies that I had mentioned, you wouldn't have pointed out a lot of things, since they would've already been answered. Goodluck!

[–] saurabhsun 10 years ago

Seriously, you make me laugh. I don't want to pick a fight here but you really taking it so seriously. THIS IS A LIGHT-HEARTED MOVIE NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
I still don't get your Bollywood history or where you from or even how old you are, and what have you said in your first few lines which I haven't grasped?
And I have seen enough world cinema to understand the different regional differences in cinema styles and audience. And to let you know, Bollywood audience would just flop and deem non-viable financially as well as critically any Hollywood classic movies. It's like saying how a Hollywood musical movie is so much better than a Bollywood musical or comparing English songs to Hindi ones. Some things can't be compared due to the largely different target audience. The flavours of chips they sell in US are different from UK and entirely distinct from India ones. You just can't compare every thing, simple as that, and you are so crazy or naive to compare the cinema.

If you didn't understand my answers at the first go then you can't understand at all. All your complaints are so kiddish and funny to an average Bollywood-watching-Indian.
The most important thing you fail to understand is that it's not that all Movies are an art form or a representation of the society or a story-teller or whatever, and it is so hugely wrong on your part to assume and expect this of every Director/Actor in India. In India, 99% MOVIES ARE A SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND PURELY ENTERTAINMENT ONLY, something you laugh about and enjoy for 2-3 hours and then forget about. And that is what makes us Indians happy and don't really want serious cinema to take over every Friday night. And the proof to disprove you is the collection and reception of this movie. And I would really want you to go and watch other super-duper blockbuster hits of Akshay Kumar such as: Waqt, Garam Masala, Hera Pheri and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, and would love to hear your comments on them. Maybe they would change your opinion of the Bollywood business. And dude seriously, where are you from?

[–] ke_neth1981 10 years ago

Seriously, you make me laugh. I don't want to pick a fight here but you really taking it so seriously. THIS IS A LIGHT-HEARTED MOVIE NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
I still don't get your Bollywood history or where you from or even how old you are, and what have you said in your first few lines which I haven't grasped?
And I have seen enough world cinema to understand the different regional differences in cinema styles and audience. And to let you know, Bollywood audience would just flop and deem non-viable financially as well as critically any Hollywood classic movies. It's like saying how a Hollywood musical movie is so much better than a Bollywood musical or comparing English songs to Hindi ones. Some things can't be compared due to the largely different target audience. The flavours of chips they sell in US are different from UK and entirely distinct from India ones. You just can't compare every thing, simple as that, and you are so crazy or naive to compare the cinema.

If you didn't understand my answers at the first go then you can't understand at all. All your complaints are so kiddish and funny to an average Bollywood-watching-Indian.
The most important thing you fail to understand is that it's not that all Movies are an art form or a representation of the society or a story-teller or whatever, and it is so hugely wrong on your part to assume and expect this of every Director/Actor in India. In India, 99% MOVIES ARE A SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND PURELY ENTERTAINMENT ONLY, something you laugh about and enjoy for 2-3 hours and then forget about. And that is what makes us Indians happy and don't really want serious cinema to take over every Friday night. And the proof to disprove you is the collection and reception of this movie. And I would really want you to go and watch other super-duper blockbuster hits of Akshay Kumar such as: Waqt, Garam Masala, Hera Pheri and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, and would love to hear your comments on them. Maybe they would change your opinion of the Bollywood business. And dude seriously, where are you from?

Are you trying to say it is okay to have flawed plots and concepts in cinema? Maybe you are. But what I am trying to assert is, the story, screenplay, casting, directing, editing, lighting etc has to be on the money since they are viewed by the multitude. If a history professor teaches Akbar was born in New Zealand people will laugh. That kind of mistake is simply not acceptable; a mistake, on the flip side, in a movie has to be intentional- to add a window of opportunity for the development of the story[all genre included]. The best example is Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. You have cited the aforementioned examples merely in terms of revenue earned instead of the content richness.

From what I deduce, you are simply resorting to debate without your facts. I understand you are a fan/part of Bollywood and I am not trying to change that, but then you getting aggressive is the epitome of the fact that you have not done your homework [or deliberately choose not to]. The very statement of 'starting a fight' and getting hysterical proves a lot of things, not to mention the fact that you are taking things personally whereas I am targeting a wider audience.
Not just you but the greater half of the population simply eschews the fact of evolution. Question is not about variation in style[Bollywood, really?!], but rather evolving. While other industries have moved on in their complexities of style and plots, Bollywood clings on to the same age old storyline time and again. As far as ignoring the flaws are concerned, can you name a few bollywood movies which are impeccably flawless [to the layman like me, at least]?
As i surmise, you mean to say a light-hearted film can be flawed; so a serious film will be flawless? Is that so?, I am ready to accept provided you can name 1 film which can surpass an A-grade Hollywood film, or better, 1 'serious' film which is flawless[remember I can and will name a dozen western films which are without a detectable fault-technical or otherwise, or with negligible goofs, or simply- impeccable and lo behold! all are comedies none the gloomy kind].
One thing, when you comment or you want to justify something, please do so within the scope of the OP, not resorting to arguments but rather backing up your statements with distinctly discernible proof and stats as I have done time and again. In any case my initial objective has been achieved- to make my review public for all interested. Adieos!

[–] saurabhsun 10 years ago

Yes, I am trying to say that it is fine to have flawed plots and concepts in cinema for the sake of emphasising on the comedy in the movie of comedy genre. The movies I mentioned of Akshay Kumar were my favourite ones, not sure about their revenues. What I have been trying to say is that the audience in India doesn't really pin-point out the flaws in the plots of Hindi movies or not enjoy a movie because of plotholes. Like I said, they just enjoy that 2-3 hours laughing at a comedy movie without caring about the small complaints you had mentioned and the Directors make the films accordingly. Obviously I am defending being a fan of Akshay Kumar and Indian movies itself. What I have been trying to assert is that a person not used to these movies(the larger population you mention outside India) will definitely complain about these things but then you will be compelled to complain in almost all the movies, especially the Super-Hit ones. There are some movies (3 Idiots, Kahani, Rajneeti etc) which can be called flawless or with-not-many-flaws and were hits, financially as well as critically. You are correct in saying that Indian movies should change be more like Hollywood cinema but then that is never going to happen, simple as that, this kind of movies will always have flaws and will become hits. And no one cares about that, or listen to critics like you. Just enjoy the movie as is without considering yourself in the Director's seat.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] vishwas-verma 10 years ago

Sorry could not through each of the points raised by you.. But this movie was complete junk and garbage!!!

[–] Dreadnought-448488 10 years ago

This was a piece of sh*t movie with huge plot holes. And it is because of people like saurabhsun that these movies get made.

[–] saurabhsun 10 years ago

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

Critical reception[edit source | editbeta]

Critic Subhash K. Jha gave the film 4.5 stars out of 5 and states that It has all the trappings of a superlative masala entertainer, plus a thought provoking message on the uneasy relationship between the army and civilians.[13] Taran Adarsh gave 4 stars out of 5 and states that it is a slick action-thriller that keeps you engrossed, enthralled and captivated all through, thanks to its fascinating premise and a watertight, razor-sharp screenplay.[14]

Box office[edit source | editbeta]

Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty collected INR112.45 crore (US$19 million) nett in India in 5 weeks.[1]

It is because of people of India that these "kind" of movies get made.

[–] ke_neth1981 10 years ago

After coming back to India after 8 1/2 years I actually realize that people here still choose to copy from their western counterparts rather than use their grey matter, and as statistics reveal quite rightly so, if you copy someone will always have to be ahead of you, for you to copy. :) But then we are all groomed that way from our childhood. We are taught what is expected of us to like and dislike rather than explaining the difference and giving us the choice. Here we are taught...there, they learn[difference!]

[–] Aryia 10 years ago

Oh my...
I can't even answer all your points. Your first 5 points are ri-di-cu-lous. The grandma scene is cliché, so what? It was funny and lasted 5 seconds. The scene with the dog should habe had another angle. Lol seriously?

Holiday is one of these films you watch for ENTERTAINMENT and FUN.
Some films are thought provoking, others move you, others make you laugh, others thrill you, others make you have a good time. Your nitpicking for a film that aims at being a fun ride is nonsensical.

dancing around trees

How typical. I see many people criticizing musical numbers that way and it always baffles me. What a lack of imagination. How do you even enjoy films (oops apparently you don't enjoy most of them seeing how you are overly critical)??
Musical numbers (apart item numbers) are representations of the characters' feelings, thoughts etc with music (*gasps*) and dancing (*gasps*)... It doesn't make sense to reduce it to "dancing around trees".

You obviously dislike masala films and you shouldn't have watched this.
When you watch a Pixar or Dreamworks I do hope you don't nitpick that way? Well it's the same for masala films. You have to stop taking things seriously and remember that films are fake stories and not documentaries...

From 2014 watch Dedh Ishqiya and Highway. From 2013 Shahid and Lootera... Know how to choose your movies.

[–] ke_neth1981 10 years ago

Why are you screaming???

[–] bluersun 9 years ago

Well, it's the first time I've seen the star of an action movie dance and sing one minute then kick a bus-load-if-kids-bombing terrorist in the face the next.

Ah well, must be a cultural thing I suppose...

[–] prafull-ambekar 8 years ago

I took ill after watching this movie. Your comment aggravated my condition and i felt ashamed of myself for having watched this movie. Anyways it took me around 25 mins. to watch the whole movie. FFed The songs, the buffoonery, the stupidity and the naivety. When I saw the 45 plus Akshay and Govinda acting coy with the 2 girls in their twenties, i wondered about my existence. Army man dancing with teenagers on the road. Let's not even go there.