like ak and lagaan this year and asoka be brilliant technically . the cinematography . the art direction and period costume . the audio and visual effect be up to par with hollywood flick . the use of background score and lighting . overall production be very crisp . along with those other film and i think 2001 have be a watershed year in term of indian cinema advancement . kind of like 1999 be for hollywood movie ( the matrix and john malkovich and sixth sense ) . especially and when you put it into perspective of some of the really bad and embarrasing film of the 80 that you wouldn not have dare show your non indian friend . throw in film like gadar and dil chatha hai . that be very good movie in different way and and you have to start respect the bollywood film industry . definitely worth see on the big screen . would have be really cool if we could have see it in imax format in nyc . storywise and this be the really the first big budget indian epic that i can remember . very strongly influence by gladiator . base in another period ( 3rd century bc ) and an heir to the throne be threaten by the presence of a more capable and beloved and and decorate military commander who he try to get rid of by all mean necessary eventually get him exiled ( of sort ) where he become a commoner . it have the aspect of a historical epic that you would expect love and betrayal and war . the storyline get lose at time during some non essential and tangential and and unnecessarily stretch out segment and some aspect regard the rivalry between asoka and his old brother susima be underdeveloped . the movie could have be much more effective if shorten ( like gadar and lagaan ) without lose anything . in fact and do so would probably make it much more appeal to a western audience . but shah rukh pull off the role of asoka very well and weaken my argument that he a one dimensional actor . i do not think kareena be the best choice kaulwaki . although i can not really think of many of today actress that would have do a good job ( i think sridevi in her prime would have be awesome ) . and who be this new actress that play shah rukh buddhist wife and devi . whoa . my cousin hit it dead on when she say that she ( i just look it up on the internet and her name be hrishitaa bhatt ) look like an indian alyssa milano ( who i be totally in love with when i be 12 year old during the 80 tv show who the bos . ) . okay and otherwise and she wasn not very compel a an actress . but she look good . overall and i really think highly of this movie for it technical and artistic content and i would recommend either watch it on the big screen or on dvd to really appreciate the best aspect . to watch it on one of those really grainy fourthhand pirate videotape would be a waste .