Z

Had my first visit to a theatre in months, and while it is hardly anything to cheer about, having spent 2-3 weeks in a maze of midterms, homework assignments and course projects, a relatively *free* weekend was cause for some much sought after recreation. So, The Legend of Zorro it was then, as a pre-cursor to the much eagerly waited Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.

Now, this post is not a review of the film for two reasons:
a) The film doesn't command a review
g) Neither does it need one

For The Legend of Zorro comfortably sits in its own class of movies which (the very few) people go to watch for the sheer enjoyment of the lack of any seriousness in the film, and well, Catherine Zeta Jones. But what makes watching this movie truly heartening is the fact that Masala movies have come full circle. For years Indian films have relied on Hollywood (apart from Bond movies) for its regular suply of ideas, stories, action, music and more. Now we finally we have a film that has outrageously ripped off equally outrageous and ingeniuos ideas from past Amitabh Bachchan starrer Bollywood films. I ain't kidding - you have in the film the protagonist demanding of Jesus the reasons for his predicaments (ala Amar Akbar Anthony) and metallic objects pertaining to religious faiths doubling up as body armour against enemy bullets. If it was the Billa no. 786 in Deewar, its the Cross here. Same difference. From the clash of the alter egos, to the final action sequences, the dialogues (literal translations of "main tumhari jaban kheench loonga"), the kidnapping of the heroin and the couple's son, everything is refresingly unoriginal. But I have no compaints... I got exactly what I had expected - nothing more, nothing less. Now if only these guys could look up to Rajni and Mithunda... they'll realize what they have been missing all these years!