My brief review of the film

Rating: Null/10 (26 September 2005)

An adventure film complete with exciting bits, comic relief, but also a fair share of shortcomings, the final 45 minutes or so of the production help it to rise above the norm, with thought-provoking ideas about the characters, the motivations they have, and religion as a way of life. The balance of the film - the first hour and a bit - is nowhere near as solid as this end section. The tone is uneven, Caine's slipping accent is very noticeable and it feels totally implausible. The characters' motivations are also hard to decipher in the first half of the film, and at times it is just plain difficult to understand what exactly is happening. Still, there is a good general feel for Indian and other cultures, thanks in part to great costumes and sets. The overall picture is the best thing for one to judge, and overall there are many good aspects about this production. It is not quite the masterpiece that some claim it to be, but is solid viewing nonetheless.