Mission Istanbul

The idea is there, the story line is there, the direction is pretty good too...then why does this movie fail to make an impact? any impact.

Not a convincing story? Maybe with a stronger presentation - a better screenplay as well as more realistic characterization the film would be more engaging. Mixing reality with fiction is not an easy job, and being a Da Vinci... needs one to have a solid grip on the story - from the start and right till the end.

The talented Mr. Oberoi, seems to be in dearth of good roles. Zayed is trying to find his foot, his positioning in the market but am not sure if he fits well along side Suniel shetty and Vivek oberoi. In this movie too, he seems like he's walking along boys bigger than him and fights yet bigger boys, not convincing enough.

Yes Tom cruise got away with the similar act in The Firm :) Yes somehow this film does remind The Firm, but the characterization was pretty solid there.

The movie starts off without building Zayed's character. We are expected to belive when the story suggests that Zayed is among the big boys. Other than Zayed's physique, his step-up personality is probably his strongest positioning points. Comedy? nah! I think it will be quite sometime before we can laugh at Zayed's jokes. And taking him as a wonderkid at just face value, not quite possible too. The story teller needs to convince people about taking this guy seriously. Seriously, I mean it :)

Suniel Shetty was there for a little while, wonder what he was doing in that negligible screen space. Vivek Oberoi some how has that confidence and charm, that suggests bigger things for him - I wish him luck - his past movies - especially Company has left a great impression.

The attempt at portrayal of Afghanistan and a terrorist camp have been good but inadequate. I mean, when there have been films like Kabul express, The kite runner etc, one must not try and get away with a shot in the desert and a helicopter. The realism was missing. I'm sure that the screenplay must have been completed in record time, the focus seemed to be in completing the movie rather than telling a story. Could've worked more on Istanbul, on Zayed's character, on Villain's character, on the psyche behind these guys....not just the physique of these guys :)

Screenplay lacked in several respects. Consider Zayed calling his wife, while in middle of Live Telecast as well as Important Tele-interviews and things like a terrorist organization which is supposedly very dangerous having a malfunctioned elevator leading to their most secretive location. A couple of people broke in easily on the "13th floor". The thrill of 13th floor's secret was wrapped up in a couple of minutes.

One could easily miss this movie. It falls in almost none of the genres...or maybe I'm forgetting some. It's not a fun watch...where you can get away with anything..as long as someone's laughing. Nor is it totally an action packed sequel, 'cause the action comes in pieces. Nor is it reality oriented. I'm not sure, who can I suggest to find time for this one :(

Mission Istanbul? You may want to abort this mission.

- Om Puneet Saraf

Tried to emulate english action flick Bourne series.. but no where close to that. even the music is somewhat lifted.... stupid comedy in between which looks horrible and a nuisance to tolerate.. What was Bush duplicate doing there.. why was there Mountain Dew campaign used so much in the movie Producer wanted to make some money since not confident on Friday release..

Ok, Actually I didn't watch the film yet but you can call this a preview! Alright first I don't know when it's releasing someone says 11th July and someone says 25th July and some idiots say that it has aldready released. It's driving me crazy! Zayed Khan is some Aaj Tak Journalist and his wife is Shreya Saran. First I thought their chemistry wouldn't look good . But after hearing 'Jo gumshuda' I think they look alright.

 I get so confused Zayed is first all 'jo gumshuda blah blah' with Shreya Saran. Then he is flirting with Shweta Bhardwaj. (Remember the song ' World hold on '). Then Shweta is flirting with Vivek Oberoi (Remeber they kiss in one scene). Then Vivek is walking away from Shweta's car and she is glaring at him like as if he killed her or something. Then Shreya is back and she is hugging Zayed. How much more twisted is this gonna get????? Cause I'm lovin it! Alright! So Zayed is this newswalah and Suniel Shetty offers him an offer to work for his contreversial istanbul channel. Shreya begs him not to go but he goes and she divorces him. Suniel Shetty wants to retire and settle with his Irish girlfriend (Suniel Shetty? Irish girlfriend? Bul it's impossible alright!)

 Now we shift to Vivek Oberoi. Vicky is a turkish commando. Well, to describe him.....um....he is working for the good but still it is against the law. The long hair suits him well, He looks almost like Johnny Depp. I like the scene where he tells Zayed "Mr.Sagar, Your life is in danger". He says it in such style and keeps his cool. Is someone else got to know about it they would be screaming stuff you wont even find in dictionaries and they'll be running in circles and squares and stuff. Shweta's got really cute clothes in the flm. She plays 'Lisa Lobo', a lara croft type of charecter. She's gonna be bollywood's first action girl. (Sniff) I'm so proud of her. Well Zayed trusts Lisa, and one day he sees that Lisa has been cheating on him and can't trust her anymore (Maybe he sees Vivek kissing Shweta). Then he witnesses Shabbir Ahuwalia kill Suniel Shetty. Things go crazy and all his companions turn his back at him and nothing is what it seems. He has been talking to Abu Nazir (A terrorist) through some web cam, and he realizes that Abu Nazir had died long back. Someone has been using old videos of Abu nazir and dubbing their voice. That someone is Niketan Dheer.

 Niketan has a seen where he fights these martial art guys. He's got a great body. And I saw Shweta trying to kick him in one scene. Yeah, Now it's getting confusing alright. Zayed sees Shabbir kill his friend but why is he only after Niketan? Shweta is flirting with Zayed, what does that have to do with her kicking Niketan during his Martial arts practice? And why is Vivek shooting at.....Nothing?! And why is Shreya really mixing her fashions in the film?And what does Abhishek have to do in this film anyway? Why is George Bush doing a cameo? Why is there no cheese in my sandwitch and why am I asking you all these questions? Okay......Take a chill pill! I also don't understand how Vivek and Zayed will meet in the film. I mean like Zayed just holds a microphone and goes blah blah blah and Vivek just wears a military suit and holds a gun and does whatever commandos do! Okay Vivek plays 'Rizwan Khan'. Really cute name! He got punished for something he didn't do in the past. Now he is given a chance to prove his innocence. That is quite sad actually, Somewhat like SRK's situation in 'Chak De! India'.

Well for the songs, Mission Mission sounds good but they could go a little easy with the swear words. I cant believe they said the f-word!!!! It was so loud and crystal clear! Even a deaf person can hear it! I Vivek in this song! He looks so sexy!

 Jo gumshuda is an awesomely romantic song sung by turkish singer Ege and Shaan - Mahalaxmi. I like the part where they say ' Dastaa wohi'.

 Nobody like you sounds like some international song really! Sung by Neeraj Sridhar. It also has some rapping.

 Apun ke saath is my most favourite song in the album! It not only has got Vivek Oberoi in it, but also sounds fantastic! Almost like ganpat!

 I actually think 'World hold on' sounds good while everyone says it sounds embarrasing. Dildaara is okay. I like the remix of Jo Gumshuda and World hold on.

I heard the climax of the film is very hot, Zayed put on 15kg and it is a shirtless fight between Zayed Khan and Niketan Dheer. Oh yeah! Niketan is the bad guy in the film. I saw the fight sequence in "The making of Mission Istaanbul" on Zoom. Zayed and Niketan are fighting in the first floor of a building and they try to smash each other of the building through the glass window. They both end up falling. Then Vivek Oberoi is there, He's there on this Yamaha bike holding a super-cool gun and he just rides the bike very very fast and is shooting at the same time. I have no idea who he is shooting or what he is shooting or even why he is shooting. All I can say is he's got really good muscles. What I know really well is that Zayed wants to kill Niketan and Vivek wants to kill Shabbir. There must be a million questions in your mind now about the film, Go for it. The film's got an international setting and has mind-blowing stunts by Vivek Oberoi and Zayed Khan. Zayed said " We almost died doing the stunts! You will die watching them!" My most favorite stunt is where Vivek and Zayed jump on helicophter and then jump into the sea before it explodes. Really I think everyone will like this film!