MovieChat Forums > Dangal (2016) Discussion > Totally over-rated

Totally over-rated

posted 7 years ago by naval-ninad-208-852103
32 replies | jump to latest

I am a fan of Amir Khan movies. They are not all good but mostly they are different with some message and interesting story like Lagaan, Fanaa, taare zameen par.

But this one just felt flat. It was just another sports movie. The characters are not well developed. We see amir khan acting tough from the start of the movie but no background is provided for his behaviour. The girls simply accept their fate after witnessing a child-marrriage. This could have been developed further.

It felt like director wanted to shorten the screen time on character development and focus on wrestling scenes which is a bad decision. Because they could have been playing any sport (cricket, football, running) but what matters is motivation behind the action of characters which felt lacking.

There was a possibility of this film taking many directions. The struggle of a woman wrestling in india was not well highlighted. We only see again amir khan acting tough and forcing his way into fights which just feels plain stupid. A few remarks by the people witnessing wrestling suggests their disapproval but this was also not explored.

His wife also gives up too easily to his demands(so much for women empowerment) and her character was also not developed.

The acting was good but overall the film lacked substance.

Even Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was better than this one.

Edit:

Thank you all for the responses and healthy discussions. Most of you didn't agree with me. I do understand all the points that u guys are making but overall this movie failed to impress me(maybe because it is mainstream or maybe I had better expectations). I was more taken back when people hailed it as the best indian movie ever on imdb.

Maybe it gets better on second watch. Maybe it doesnt. It is just a movie and not the end of the world.

Keep watching movies and having fun fellow IMDBers.

[–] ishan123903 7 years ago

You dont even know Aamir's spelling and sitting here judging a film. Just kill yourself, dumbass.

[–] naval-ninad-208-852103 7 years ago

Yes you are so right. spelling checks is what this board is for. Well done. Give this guy a cookie or something.

[–] beautiful_mind 7 years ago

Don't try to make different points other than popular things. People will call your name and curse you.

[–] kulbirdhillon 7 years ago

There is not point arguining with a person who either did not watch the movie or has no background knowledge of sports family.

[–] bollycritic 7 years ago

Let it go, OP. You have full entitlement to your opinion but you won't convince most people to agree with you. The film is a massive hit and very well made in my opinion.
Fanaa and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on the other hand were both a colossal bore in my opinion, but I don't need to convince you or anyone else. That is just my view.

[–] kulbirdhillon 7 years ago

Dangal is best movie made in Indian cinema in last 2 years and when it comes to Aamir khan this would be the best movie of his career.It highlights the importance of role of father/mother in upbrining the child. Child is a child who doesnt know anything about ambition future or achievement only parents knows that because they have passed through that stage of life. No parent can force their child to become something that he/ she doesnt want to. Parent can only take you the river but you still have to drink water yourself. If she didnt want to become something in life her father couldnt have forced. She liked beating up guys wven before she became wrestler father just explored that talent even further by putting her in right direction. If he had not done that she had probably fractured lot of bones. I hope that clarify some things for you .

[–] tomholland2016 7 years ago

don't forget that everyone has their own taste and your statement for saying overrated is not helpful at all, many people agree this to be one of the best of the best Bollywood movies of all time, so deal with it. The director managed to bring a 2 hrs 40 mins of story without too much dancing and singing like most Bolly movies.. The plot is simple but he could elaborate it wisely and convincingly overall.

This genre (Wrestling/Boxing) can be listed the same level as Warrior, The Fighter, Southpaw, Creed and Million Dollar Baby.

Even better when this is based on a true story.

[–] naval-ninad-208-852103 7 years ago

There is a saying in Hindi: Andho main kana raja
which means If you have a gang of blinds, suddenly one-eyed man doesn't seem too bad.

This is exactly what is happening to this movie. We have so much garbage that even a mildly good movie gets regarded as the best movie of all time.

I have never said Dangal is a bad movie but it is 7/10 at best.

Now if you tell me it is the best indian movie ever made, even better than RDB, Lagaan, Gangs of Wasseypur, Delhi-6, ZNMD and many more I'll have to strongly disagree.

[–] subhajittittu007 7 years ago

You liked Delhi 6....there is no conversation after this...u hve simply no idea of a movie

[–] tomholland2016 7 years ago

You see what I mean? You have your own genuine opinion, a few of the movies that you mentioned isn't the best to me.

It's you and only you, you can only use one brain and be given a heart and those two things interpret you in choosing what you really love.

It's not just Indians that watch this movie, I live in Malaysia and there are so many races I can see in the cinema hall I went into, Indian, Malay, Chinese and even American.

Some of us gave a standing ovation to the movie by the end of it.

Deal with it, the world doesn't always live up by your rules.

[–] praveen_cs04 7 years ago

Your thought process is dead. Sorry for the loss. RIP.

[–] naval-ninad-208-852103 7 years ago

Care to elaborate with any counter point or discussion. Or is your thought process dead too.

[–] nithin-narayan 7 years ago

I held the same view initially, but the beauty of most Aamir Khan films is that the 2nd watch is better than the 1st.

1st watch is for the hype, 2nd watch you begin to notice the genius that Aamir, the girls and the movie are. Give it a shot !

[–] kabul20008 7 years ago

But this one just felt flat. It was just another sports movie. The characters are not well developed. We see amir khan acting tough from the start of the movie but no background is provided for his behaviour. The girls simply accept their fate after witnessing a child-marrriage. This could have been developed further.

Several things you missed. First of all this is a biopic on Mahavir Singh Phogat. It's clearly stated that his big dream was to win a Gold medal, but failed. So then he wishes for a son to do what he could not, win a gold medal. His wife only give birth to daughters which make him sad and frustrated. As far as tough goes this is a biopic and the daughter said their father was 10 times more strict and tough in real life.

The girls don't simply accept their fate after child marrige scene, but the child-marrige scene make them realize that their father care about them. He could easily get rid of them by marrying them away, but he actually cares about them unlike the child bride parents... You totally misunderstood the scene.

It felt like director wanted to shorten the screen time on character development and focus on wrestling scenes which is a bad decision. Because they could have been playing any sport (cricket, football, running) but what matters is motivation behind the action of characters which felt lacking.

Motivation behind their actions was to fulfill their father dream and eventually their own dream of winning international medal. Which is btw mentioned close to 1000 times throughout the movie.

There was a possibility of this film taking many directions. The struggle of a woman wrestling in india was not well highlighted. We only see again amir khan acting tough and forcing his way into fights which just feels plain stupid. A few remarks by the people witnessing wrestling suggests their disapproval but this was also not explored.

Again you totally missed large portion of the film. There were plenty of taunts from other people, pressure from family, but Mahavir was focused and ignored them which shows that when you are doing something right you just ignore the ignorant people.

His wife also gives up too easily to his demands(so much for women empowerment) and her character was also not developed.

His wife gives him 1 year to convince the daughters. After 1 year the daughters themselves want's to do wrestling.

Your critics overall is very poor. Seems like you did not watch the film properly.

[–] Ihab_M 7 years ago

Weak arguments. The reason behind this movie achieving universal acclaim is due to the fact that it is one of the most well made mainstream Bollywood movie ever. Infact, I can't really think of such a finely made movie devoid of any unnecessary melodrama. Taare Zameen Par, 3 Idiots, P.K. in comparison had some elements of melodrama in them but Dangal was superbly paced with tight screenplay and also without any sort of over the top emotions.

Perfect introduction to Mahavir within 10 minutes. His passion for wrestling, his dream of a wrestler winning a gold for India, his brooding over the fact that his dream might not be realized since he has 4 daughters etc all were so well established without wasting too much time.

The scene where a town folk offers him sweet in a taunting manner because the former's wife had just given birth to a boy, was enough to show the mockery which he might have received in his time since he had four daughters and no son. And the problems a women wrestler would face? Well that was highlighted right in first match of Geeta where people mocked her for even trying to be a wrestler, some wanted to see her clothes torn to have some pervert fun, some were hoping she wears trunk because she was 'hot'. Once again, just one scene establishing the mentality. Good stuff.

I don't think any movie had such strong supporting characters that the main star was not even present in climax and yet, it was such an intense scene. It was because the character of Geeta was so superbly built in the movie that she was able to hold audience's attention and deliver a nail biting climax.

In my opinion, Dangal is receiving a very different sort of excellent WOM.. a kind where everyone is happy with the movie and those who aren't loudly announcing their opinion, are at least silently acknowledging that they have seen something special in a looong, looong time.

I think it is high time that people acknowledge the fact that Aamir does not star in good movies but good movies become even greater due to his presence in them. In terms of universal acclaim, just look at these movies -

Dil Chahta Hai
Lagaan
Rang De Basanti
Taare Zameen Par
3 Idiots
P.K.
Dangal

Out of his last 12 major releases, 7 were regarding as one of the best movies ever at the time of their release. All these movies have aged pretty well as well. And out of his last 6 movies, 5 have been all time grossers in terms of Box-office. No small feat.

I am a decent man in an Indecent time

[–] amitp5335 7 years ago

BMB was better than this one? In terms of music maybe. But in every other aspect, Dangal was way better.
His wife gave into his demands because that happened in real life. And did you not see how she was angry and strongly refused to allow chicken to be cooked in her vegetarian kitchen.
Dangal is the best mainstream film made by Bollywood in more than a decade. In terms of quality I would only put The Lunchbox or Haider above it.