Article Updated 20 October, 2006 10:48:15 PM IST   Don - The Chase Begins Again By Prema K. ©2006 Bollyvista.com   One has to be really brave to remake an Amitabh classic, and even gutsier to try getting into his shoes. Well, let's say it right from the beginning that both have failed. For those who haven't watched the original, the new 'Don' might be a new experience but there's a hitch. Farhan Akthar has added a twist in the end that makes some major parts of the film seem illogical. But for those who've seen the 1970s original, this one is a letdown! The new version lacks the power to engross the audience. Besides the sluggish pace of the songs, the film unravels at a very slow pace. The 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala' seems forced. 'Aye Mera Dil', is a disappointment. Kareena has truly done a bad job. The only advantage that the new version has over the old one is that it is far more glossy, stylish and more visually appealing. But hey, what about the content and the logical sequence of events. The twist in the end would have been good if the director had taken care of a few things. Now for the story. The drug trade is booming. Trafficking between Asia and Europe is at an all-time high. There are rumors that a dreaded gang has moved their operational headquarters to Kuala Lumpur. This is headed by Singhania (Rajesh Khattar), but the business is managed by his lieutenant Don [Shah Rukh Khan]. An Indian officer D'Silva (Boman Irani) has sworn to put an end to this. He knows that the capture of Don is his key to unlocking this puzzle. And he succeeds one day. Don is captured and D'Silva puts his plan into action. Unknown to even his own department, D'Silva recruits and trains a man, Vijay, who is Don's lookalike. Vijay is artfully put back into the gang and manages to give D'Silva all the information he needs. But in a bizarre twist of fate (as expected by the audience!), D'Silva is killed during a raid and the secret that Don is in fact Vijay is buried with him. The only people who realize that he's not the real Don are two members of his gang and they are seeking their revenge. Vijay manages to escape and is now on the lookout for the one last piece of evidence that can get him out of the mess. Helping him in this are Roma (Priyanka Chopra) and Jasjit (Arjun Rampal). To say that there are loopholes in the screenplay is an understatement. For instance, how does SRK kill Kareena when the fact remains that he himself admits that there aren't any bullets in his gun? Why does the real Don try to behave like a clown when he's trying to escape a little before the climax. It was understandable when we thought he was Vijay. Singhania is eliminated so easily. It's child's play to kill a drug baron. Arjun Rampal just vanishes from the film. Does a high flying gang just incorporate a girl into the gang just because she's being chased by the cops and gives them the slip very skillfully? One can't rave about the music as nothing is original. But full marks to the director for showing the twist in the climax so effectively. Full marks to the cinematographer and the action director also. Both are truly of international standards. The fight sequence between Don and Chunkey Pandey in the beginning of the film, D'Silva chasing Don before capturing him is superb. Even the fight scene between Don and Jasjit is superb. Without trying to be unfair, we have to say that SRK does not come up to Mr. Bachchan as Don. The latter truly looked like Don as well as his look-alike, Vijay. Priyanka Chopra carries off her part well but don't even try comparing her to Zeenat Aman. The stunt when she rescues Don as well as her chase scene with the cops in a bid to fool Don's men, are superb. Arjun Rampal's character hasn't been developed properly. Kareena Kapoor looks alluring in a small role except when she does the Helen number. Isha Koppikar is okay. Boman Irani is fantastic. Om Puri is completely wasted. On the whole, Don is a disappointment but the hype about it combined with SRK's presence have garnered it a good initial. But expect the collections to drop in a few days. *** (Three Stars) *poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/29/7137