Mission Istaanbul: Darr Ke Aagey Jeet Hai!

Did Apoorva Lakhia who directed the reasonable 'Shootout at Lokhandwala' really direct this turkey? It's shocking to see a film where almost nothing works. The concept was good - use current world events to make a thriller on international terrorism. Alas, the execution is terrible. The fight scenes are ludicrous (did anyone even try?) and the acting mostly abysmal. Vivek Oberoi maintains a perpetual smirk on his face. It seems all the money was wasted on boring item-numbers. It feels like and is a complete waste of time. A film to be shunned and forgotten.

Overall 1/10

After "Shootout At Lokhandwala", I was expecting another decent outing from the director Apoorva Lakia. Also, that the movie was shot in Istaanbul made me eager as I hadn't seen any other Indian movie that I can recall which had been shot so extensively in Turkey.

But like it often happens I was disappointed for judging a book (in this case movie) by its cover. A movie on a serious issue like terrorism cannot, just cannot start off with 2 songs in the first 15-20 minutes. That for me killed it. Then some stunts that looked more like an advertisement for a Cola company, made you wonder if actors like Zayed have any future in Bollywood. Even Viveik was way over the top. Shriya Saran has been wasted. The only saving grace is the bad guy-Niketan Dheer. He has to be the smartest villain ever seen in an Indian movie.I was actually rooting for the bad guy!!! Avoid this movie about an Indian Journalist (played by Zayed) getting a job in a Turkish news channel (al-Johara) which is a direct mouthpiece or world's most wanted terrorists. And then how Zayed gets entangled in a web of lies and conspiracies.

It seems most of the reviewers have just seen the review of this film and have written their comments.

Mission Istaanbul - superb action. This is a movie where the makers have been fearless enough to show terrorism in its true colours - a business run for money and power. Ideology is just an excuse to hide something very ugly.

The scenes of stoning a woman as a sport in Afghanistan are chilling. We have heard about it, but nothing like this has been attempted on Indian screens before.

The makers of the film should be lauded for making a superb entertainer and actioner.

Both Vivek Oberoi and Zayed are great in their roles. It does seem that you are watching a Hollywood actioner.

Watch the film and decide for yourself.

I had a lot o expectations from the film after SHOOTOUT IN LOKHANDWALA. The makers have delivered.

The story revolves around a talented Indian journalist who lands up in Turkey and a commando on the trail of terrorists. Set predominantly in Istanbul at rubbish locations and it's really hard to tell that it is set in another place other than India. The screenplay is bad and it is about 2 hours and it felt like a 3 hour movie but the last 15 minutes saved the whole film. The casting may not have the top actors in the lead roles but they all acted quite well and it has to be Zayed Khan's best role to date, if he works hard then he can do a good job. He acted well after the bad performance in the garbage movies Cash & Speed. Vivek Oberoi has a very different look e.g. long hair and a darker tone which did suit his character. The film is directed by Apoorva Lakhia who also made Ek Ajnabee & Shootout at Lokhandwala, both of them were good but Mission Istanbul could have been better in so many ways. The soundtrack has different kind of songs for everyone. The best songs are Jo Gumshuda which is very romantic and Mission Mission which rocks. It is the first Bollywood film shot in Turkey but it could have been shot in different and better locations instead of the same place over and over again.

OK - for those who hate reading, a one word description for this "movie" will be AWFUL!

And for those who want to know why... read on.

Let's praise it first - Vivek Oberai gave a bearable performance. Sadly, there's nothing else! Zayed Khan has just forgotten acting. The choreography and the soundtrack is disgusting - and trust me, that's the right word. The stunts are worse than even Tashan. The storyline is totally balderdash. The twists are horrible. Serious action scenes look more like a comedy.

Honestly speaking, I could have rather re-sat through Tashan or Kismat Konnection than spend Rs 60 on this piece of Indian Cinema.

No wonder it's premiere is being held in Dehradun... in a garden!