Meet IRA – India’s first very own Artificial Assistant. And she has chosen none other than the charmer-who-remains-as-hot-as-ever, John Abraham as her boss. Put the two together, and we get India’s first true-superhero character a-la Iron Man. But with some loopholes!!
John Abraham’s Attack- Part I, is an honest attempt to make India’s first true sci-fi super-hero thriller. Indeed, it was a pleasure to be able to comprehend the process of transformation of a solider to a super-soldier, and that too in my native language – Hindi. Replete with high-octane action sequences & slick cinematography, Attack does provide its viewers with an engaging movie-watching experience.
Directed by debutant, Lakshay Raj Anand, the film clearly has a few firsts to its credit. For instance, the integration of Artificial Intelligence, as a vital character in the film and the mass-hostage drama staged at the Indian Parliament, which is scripted as more barbaric & ruinous than ever.
The film opens with a bearded man talking about, what else – Jihad. And then moves to a surgical-strike kind of gun-fire sequence. John seems to have got a hang of action sequences like no one else. The action choreography here is at par with hit war action films like Saving Private Ryan and Platoon. Of course, he manages to nab the target but lets free a young naïve jihadi.
Then enters his love interest – Aisha – played by Jacqueline Fernandes. As the humble love story begins to develop, a terror attack at the airport snatches Aisha from Arjun, leaving him paralysed and disoriented too.
But his paralyses make him, an idle human subject for the implant of an AI chip in him. Enters – Saba – a scientist very well played by Rakul Preet Singh. The chip, planted at the nape of his neck, enables Arjun to resume his mobility in his super-soldier avatar. He is now hale and sinewy, even to take on the massive Parliament attack all by himself.
In a run-time of 2hrs 6 mins, the film is edited well. It’s a well-written script with a dash of humour punched at the right places. However, I felt that there should have been at least one heart-swelling patriotic moment, especially when it evinces India’s readiness to become a super-power with the help of AI technology-driven military forces.
The makers have already mentioned the possibility of Part 2 of the film! There’s definitely scope for Saba’s brain & Arjun’s brawns to develop as a super-hit franchise.
As an avid Bollywood buff, I’d love ‘it’ to become one.
For now – ‘Attack – Part 1’ gets 2.5 PopCorn Stars