DON 2 - THE CHASE CONTINUES: Shah Rukh is Back!

 
DON 2: The Chase Continues review by Diana (Italian Cinema Hindi Blog)

Rating: *****

Have you been on holiday and have totally relaxed? Have you been enjoying the seasonal festive banquets, oblivious to whatever is happening in other parts of the world? Or have you returned to normal daily life, becoming absorbed in the same everyday boring duties? 

In case you did not know: THE KING IS BACK. 

Drop it all and take the first plane to Mumbai, London or any other place in the civilized world (Fiji, for example!) And without stopping for food, sleep or even calling your mother to tell her you have landed safely, head to the nearest cinema to watch Don 2: The Chase Continues. You will never be the same again.

PLOT

Don (Shah Rukh Khan, who else?) has been ruling the Asian underworld for five years. By becoming increasingly powerful,  he has ended up challenging drug traffickers who operate in the European market and has therefore become an inconvenient competitor for them. He has less friends than foes and there are many enemies who wish him dead. He therefore decides to surrender to the police in Malaysia, not without offering an agreement to his old acquaintances, "wild cat" Roma (Priyanka Chopra) and inspector Malik (Om Puri). Don is hence arrested but once he finds himself in jail, he eventually meets Vardhaan (Boman Irani).

REVIEW

In 2006, Farhan Akthar took up a challenge against living legend Amitabh Bachchan by directing a remake of Don (1978). Don: the Chase Begins Again was born. The ending was different from the original and the main characters were revamped. The locations, soundtrack and general look of the film became modern and refined.  

Shah Rukh Khan, having reached the utmost peak of his charm, returned to the screen successfully starring as a villain. The King of Bollywood was perfect for the part and he skillfully reinvented the role and made it fully his own. Five long years afterwards, a sequel seemed inevitable given that Shah Rukh Khan absolutely shines in the role of Don. The storyline's possibilities are endless, the opportunity was there to be seized. Additionally, SRK and Farhan Akhtar have raging fun together (see it for yourself by watching both Shah Rukh and Farhan Akhtar interviewing each other on The Times of India website). 

Don 2 follows in the same style as Don: The Chase Begins Again and does not disappoint at all. Greater action, a fast pace, surprising and spectacular special effects. The film is an Indian blockbuster that is closer to what we are used to watching in Western cinema, even though Bollywood, of course, has never had anything to envy. With Don 2, however, even the die-hard fan of action-movies "Made in the USA" will be seduced. The movie's feel is very cosmopolitan, but, fortunately, lasting over two hours, the film will present a special screening at the 62 th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival.The most refined palates, that of the bloodthirsty Hindi cinema, do not feel betrayed. The plot is intriguing, the direction is in the hands of one of the "boys" most stylish and talented on the square (by Farhan!), The protagonist is one of those that leave their mark. Don 2 is already a legend. Stone-cold audiences and wallflowers should refrain from watching. Everyone else... HAVE FUN!

Positive points: 

- Don, sporting wild long hair, kicks and punches better than a jujitsu champion, wearing a uber-cool cream coloured linen jacket.

- Don wearing an orange uniform in prison dominates a handful of shots, erasing decades of cinema by  becoming the most unrepentant, brazen and sexy quintessential bandit ever to have graced the screen.

- Don, and his dangerously swaggering walk, his new-dandy look (the leather jacket worn under the coat will might make sensitive souls lose a few hours of sleep), walking the streets of Berlin totally free.

- Don, cigarette in hand, voluptuously surrounded by a cloud of smoke throwing a smug glance at the mirror. 

- Don, the irresistibly seductive and elusive criminal. Don and the sexy villainous look in his eye. Don and his vitriolic wisecracks. Don: ruthless, sardonic, arrogant, über-cool, elegantly self-controlled, at times becoming suddenly angry and impetuous, burning ice. D-O-N!

Warning: Impressionable young girls are adviced to handle with caution.

- Shah Rukh Khan, who, shortly before the sixth minute, relieves the pain and frustration of all his Italian fans repaying their devotion with a few simple words: "Italian restaurant... you know spaghetti bolognese, a glass of red wine... What? Don't you like Italian food? What a shame..."
- The D initial of Don, tattooed on Shah Rukh Khan's arm, which is, among other things, protected by copyright
- Hrithik Roshan appears in the film during a delicious cameo. It is only a few minutes but is truly tasty. 

- The song Zara Dil ko Thaam Lo and its Making Of.

Negative points:

Negative points? Hahahahahahaha! 

TRIVIA- The film's official website is highly interactive. You may even register and participate as an agent aiming to capture Don.- Don 2 is the first sequel in SRK's career. For Farhan Akhtar it has implied a return to directing after a five year absence. He had not experimented anymore behind the camera ever since he had filmed Don: The Chase Begins Again.- Don 2 was created in 3D with the help of Chuck Comisky, who has already participated as technical staff in Avatar and Sanctum.- Many of the phrases uttered by Don, in the first film, have become popular and gained cult status. One of these: "Capturing Don is not difficult, it is impossible", is already a catchphrase.

 During the promotion of the sequel, a set of videos under the title "Don Says" have been released, featuring the best lines from Don. My favorite? "Who says miracles do not exist Take a close look at me."  Don Says videos.

- To the delight of fans and marketing gadget lovers, producers have also planned the release of a comic book, Don: The Origin, which unveils Don's background as well as a video game for Playstation 3 and the Android platform.
- For a taste of the beautiful soundtrack, head to the following links: Hai ye Maya, Mujhko Pehchaanlo and Dushman Mera Don 2.
- To enjoy the scenic shot where SRK is launched from the roof of the Park Inn Hotel at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, click here.

Visit the Don 2 official website
Purchase the Don 2 soundtrack
Read about Don 2 in Wikipedia
Download Don 2: The Game Lite for Apple devices
Play with Don 2 on Facebook
Follow Don 2 on Facebook and Twitter



DON 2 
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Kunal Kapoor, Boman Irani, Om Puri, Aly KhanJabar, Sahil Shroff, Florian Lukas, Special Appearance - Hrithik Roshan 
Written by Farhan Akhtar, Ameet Shah, Amrish Mehta
Directed by Farhan Akhtar 
Produced by Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Shahrukh Khan
Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy
Lyrics Javed Akhtar
Choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant 
Distributed by Reliance EntertainmentYear 2011