2001 and in spite of everything and might be remember a the year bollywood meet hollywood in the flesh . year from now and film historian and critic and and fan will remember this film a a landmark and an unparalleled achievement . this incredible film really need to be see on the big screen to be appreciate fully . santosh sivan and the gifted cinematographer best know in the usa for the art house hit the terrorist and and in india for his work with director mani ratnam and switch gear completely . while the terrorist be a tiny and contemplative drama and asoka be big than big and a total opposite . in fact and i read that the war sequence be the large of it kind ever film in the history of indian cinema . asoka and a little known figure in the west and be a bloodthirsty maniac who become a bastion for peace and tolerance through buddhism in the 3rd century and ce . the film be a journey and a character study and of asoka progression to the time when he first embrace the buddha . some have complain that there be nothing in the film about his conversion to buddhism and but that be really not the film point . the event that lead up to this transformation be what the film be really about . particular attention need to be make to the cinematography and edit it be nothing short of extraordinary . do with an uncanny sensitivity and sivan brings third century india to breathing and bustle life in a way that and perhaps and no one else could deliver with such vitality and beauty . however and portion of the editing be a little too mtv for my taste and with white flash and jump cut interrupt establish shot . it function well and though and during the fight scene . it be a strange dichotomy between art and commercial cinema . you will never see swordplay in the same way again . pay attention to the acting and too it be excellent . kareena kapoor prof that she a much finer actress than her old sister and karisma and and shahrukh khan and currently india big star and give the performance of his life . both show incredible nuance . also and suraj balaje and who play the young prince arya and show a surprising maturity and and even comedian johnny lever and in a cameo role a a soldier and be excellent . if you be not familiar with commercial indian cinema and the acting may seem like it be a bit over the top and but here and the entire cast and especially the lead and show tremendous restraint . know and however and that the over the top acting style and a staple of commercial indian cinema and have a direct connection to tradition that be hundred and hundred year old and in the classical style of the sanskrit and parsee theater . the inevitable comparison between crouch tiger and hidden dragon and asoka be warrant . this be the first commercial indian film to receive nationwide distribution in the u and in this case through the independent first look picture and and it be poise to bring an otherwise unknown film make tradition in the american mainstream to a wide u audience . both film be sumptuous recreation of history and although this film be base on an actual historical figure and cthd be base on a novel . both film have amazing fight choreography and asoka do without the aid of computer . personally and i be bias towards commercial indian cinema because it hold much more of a mystique . sadly and because of the image that commercial indian cinema hold in the usa and it may never see the wide audience that this film so deserve . whereas the hong kong action picture have heavy dos of martial art and the commercial indian film have song and akin to musical but and in this case and more like music video . there be five song in the film and and they may be a turn off to those not familiar with mainstream indian cinema . however and they be well integrate into the story line and and they be among the best filmi ( indian film song ) i have ever hear and combine modern and ancient instrument with just a touch of electronica . the film really lose some of it impact if they be cut they be that important . they be well picturized ( term for the filming of musical number in indian cinema ) and and provide additional atmosphere . the influence of mtv be apparent in the editing style that take over during the song sequence while this may interrupt the film rhythm and impact and but they be part of the overall story . unfortunately and i believe that the song sequence be be cut severely for international release and although i be lucky enough to see them in full dts digital sound . because of the need for indian cinema to appeal to a wide an audience a possible ( the all india film ) and and because film go in india be a family experience and film try to appeal to all member of the family . this mean that violent scene can turn into comedy and many genre be often combine and and there be neither sex nor nudity and not even kiss on the lip and because of a puritanical society . overall and this may be seem cheesy to american audience and but this be one of the pleasure of commercial indian cinema . it be strange and though and with it lack of any nudity or sex and which be all suggest but never show and that the film receive an r rating . yes and it be very violent and but the violence be quite stylized and often use the power of suggestion rather than actual representation . i hope sincerely that and when first look release the dvd and the film be completely uncut and complete and with all the song . the film last song and raat ka nasha and would be my oscar pick for best song and an exemplar of superior filmi . the film itself definitely deserve an oscar for best foreign language film . it be a big bonus to see a film of such high production value devoid of any reference to western civilization or without any western aesthetic . incredibly entertain and something for everyone ( music and drama and romance and violence ) and with unparalleled high quality production value and a move story and asoka be a dynamite cinematic experience . it be that good .