Subtitled Bittersweet Bollywood blockbuster. Classic tale of Boy meets girl, marries girl, becomes a loony emperor and takes over the world, while girl organises the Resistance. It's a bit deeper than that, but how much exposition can you write in one paragraph about a fairly complex 3hr film? Acting is good throughout, no CGI and some good physical effects, topped off by some pretty good battle scenes. Unless you are asian, you won't recognise any of the actors (ok, maybe one of the brothers), but you don't need to, cos they all speak in foreign anyway. English subtitles are available on the DVD if you can't speak Hindi. Asoka is based (with the inevitable storytelling exagerations) on the true history and legends of the Indian Emperor Asoka of the 3rd C BC.

Oh yeah, and there's some songs. Not too many, and they don't get in the way too much. Hey, it is bollywood, of course it's a musical.



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