Kingdom

Kingdom blends myth and legend, refugee drama, stylized action along with good visuals and standout BGM by Anirudh. It's the bgm, and screen presence of VD and Satyadev that carries the film more than the narration. The story is reminiscent of recent films like Retro and that's why it feels familiar. The first 15 minutes or so upto the title card is probably the best scene in the first half, or even in the entire movie. But the second half seems to falter a bit with more drama, and some predictable plot twists. The pre climax and climax scenes were well shot. In short, they've tried to make something memorable, but since it heavily borrowed from recent films, it's predictable, and yet partially satisfying for a one time watch. It's one more popcorn movie, don't expect something extraordinary from Kingdom, and it won't disappoint.

This movie begins on a promising note, as if another director from Andhra Pradesh were about to conjure the magic of Baahubali through the well-worn trope of reincarnation. But halfway through, the promise caves in. The movie slumps so badly in the last fifteen minutes that a narrator's voice-over is introduced to keep the movie from falling apart at the seams. Unfortunately, the Telugu industry's fascination with sequels is partly to blame: the second half feels less like a story than a prologue to a sequel that will never see the light of day after the cold reception of this movie. Another chink in the armour is its depiction of female characters. A noticeable pattern in successful Telugu movies is that women are written as powerful presences. However, this movie is fixated on masculinity, articulated through male violence -- which itself lacks grace and panache. To crown all, the movie lacks a decent musical score. Without one, it should give up its dream to become a saleable commodity in the Telugu industry.

Bad writing Bad taking Worst narration No characterization Wrong emotion in wrong timings Need lot of patience for complete this movie, I don't know how this script selected and converted to movie basic level failure Lot of audiance are begging director don't make part 2 😭 If vijayadevarakonda continue like this definitely his carrier in high risk.

Anirudh Ravichandran's initial impression of "Kingdom," stating that the first 40 minutes looked great, holds true; however, had he seen the entire film, his statement might have been different. The movie felt disjointed, as if two different screenwriters worked on the first and second halves. The opening act effectively established a proper spy thriller atmosphere, building tension and intrigue. Unfortunately, the latter half abruptly shifted into a generic "saviour temple" narrative without a cohesive blend, losing the focus and tension that made the initial spy phase so engaging.

The film missed several crucial opportunities to elevate its narrative. Firstly, the villain and their motivations remained underdeveloped, leaving it unclear whether their actions stemmed from regional discrimination or simply a problematic psyche. This lack of depth prevented the audience from building any genuine hatred or understanding towards them. Secondly, the emotional stakes felt low, particularly before the pivotal revolt scene, which needed more emotional groundwork. Furthermore, the relationship between the hero and heroine, as well as the bond between the hero and his brother's Family, lacked sufficient development, diminishing their impact on the story.

Finally, the movie's approach to setting up a sequel felt heavy-handed. Instead of a background voice explicitly detailing future events, a more visual display would have been preferable, allowing the audience to interpret and discuss possibilities. This approach would leave room for reviewers to analyze and break down potential plotlines, fostering a more engaging post-viewing experience. Additionally, certain scenes felt abruptly cut, and the "AI shots" in the second half were noticeably strange, further detracting from the overall cinematic flow.

Positives: Excellent camera work, Vijay Deverakonda's presence, some good Anirudh music, initial Hyderabad constable scenes, high production values, authentic Sri Lankan/South Indian locations, and an attempt to blend an old template with a new visual style.

Negatives: Overly layered, confusing screenplay with illogical plot developments; unclear character motivations; lack of detail and clarity; clichéd and ineffective heroine track; frustrating and silly proceedings in both halves; routine plot tropes (tribal/saviour/chosen one); ineffective sentiment; nothing new musically from Anirudh; too many familiar elements; unrealistic makeovers for a period drama.