Review of Sholay (1975) by Art S — 11 Jul 2013

Hey, it's a rip-roaring good time, as two criminals help a former police officer in his (extremely personal) battle with a gang of bandits, led by a particularly evil guy. This is Bollywood, so characters spontaneously break out in song and/or dance (or are forced to do so, in one scene).

The music adds a lot, especially to the more extreme psycho-drama elements (and they are very extreme). But still the film is goofy and good-natured, like a Hong Kong film from the same era; the action sequences have that similar low-budget feel.

However, this is very much a western with horses, gun-play and some rocky terrain straight out of Budd Boetticher. Unlike most westerns, it is 3 1/2 hours long (but suprisingly well-paced).