2.0

India, 2018, 148 minutes, Colour.
Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Adil Hussain.
Directed by Shankar.

Maybe not so much of an arresting title but an intriguing one.

A bit of background to the reviewing of this film. An Indian confrere sent an email, an alert to the release of this film in India, commenting on its science-fiction story, its interest in technology, its environmental message, writing about it in terms of Gospel messages. By providence and synchronicity, the Australian release was at the same time as the release in India, so off to see the film.

The writer-director is a celebrated Indian director, Shanker. There is some wild imagination that has gone into this film as well as an enormous budget (probably some millions of dollars just for the final credits sequences, elaborate costumes, singing and dancing).

For fans of science-fiction beyond the usual, 2.0 is well worth noting. It is set in the future – but visually it is firmly anchored in the present. Its story and its action are a challenge for the present.

An inventor (Rajinikanath) has been successful with a robot, Chitti, but it has been decommissioned by the government. In the meantime, the inventor has created another robot, an attractive female robot, Nila (Amy Jackson) who acts as his assistant. What immediately happens might send a shudder of terror down the audience spine. Crowds of people are going about their ordinary business, interacting – well, not quite interacting, all on their mobile phones. A lot of details reminding us of all the conversations and preoccupations that people have and their absolute reliance on their phones. Suddenly, all the phones are swooped out of people’s hands, drawn up into the sky like a flock of birds. And the population of the city, Chennai (this is a Tamil film), bewildered, lost, then queueing up to reclaim phones or get replacements.

There are many panicky government scenes, officials trying to deal with the situation, some exposed as exploiting corruption deals.

This is a film that runs for almost 3 hours so there is a lot of detail, colourful detail, the government calling in the inventor, his justifying his participation, his resurrecting Chitti (with something of an Elvis lookalike) and going into action.

Throughout the film there are swarms of mobile phones cavorting through the air, along the roads, destroying villains…

Americans and other international audiences will be very impressed by the special effects – and those who sit through credits remembering that in certain many of the American big-budget spectacles, there are many Indian names contributing to CGI and effects. This film certainly proves that they have great skills.

Things change for the second act, audiences reminded that a man hanged himself at the opening of the film and then flashbacks exploring who he was, his love for birds and their conservation, his denunciation of mobile phones and the effects of radiation destroying birds and creation. He is now an incarnation of vengeance, a power of evil must be combated.

So, not only does Chitti go into action (as well as experiencing some demolitions), but multiple robots are created to confront the daemonic avenger (from 2.0 to 3.0). And, smartly, some mini-Chittis.

For the fans, this is all quite absorbing – although, this may be a Tamil thing, the robot Chitti and his facial expressions are a little stupid and offputting even though he achieves his ends. (The inventor and Chitti are played by the same actor.)

So, as the 2 ½ hour mark is approaching, and we have experienced this world of plot and effects, what about the good intentions of the conservationist, what about his villainy and cruelty in getting vengeance, and what about the role of mobile phones and their indispensability? Fortunately, there is little homily at the end combining all the themes coming out on the side of right.

Here is the comment from our Indian confrere, how he has interpreted 2.0:

“The concerns of this cosmos can carry the creatures away from the Creator. But only the constant compassion of Christ can carry them closer to Him. Luke 21:34-36. 2.0 is a brand new movie of a popular Indian director Shankar. He captures the audience with his catchy message that moderate use of radiation, reduction in the number of networks and moderate use of mobile phones can lead the new generation to a constructive development. Hats off to the VFX. The three digits 2.0: starting from 2 can remind the people of the scriptural passage: "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst"; dot ( .) persuades us to keep a dot not only to radiation but also to all our negativity; and O reminds us of our constant praise and thanksgiving to the Creator for his wonderful and beautiful creation such as birds. Therefore, let us praise God constantly and courageously like the chirping of the birds in the woods: O, Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder...In solidarity pay a visit to Chevalier Bhavan bird sanctuary.�

1. Spectacular science-fiction? Plot, effects? In comparison with other futuristic films?

2. A film from India, a moral perspective? Politics? The environment? Robotics?

3. The skill of the special effects, the spectacle? In the budget of the final credits sequences, the singing of the dancing and the effects?

4. The title, a series of robots, the role of the inventor, the response to the robots, the initial success with Chitti? The inventing of Nila as an assistant? The appearance of each robot, personality?

5. The city of Channai, the vastness of the city, buildings, streets? The continued sequences of the disappearance of the phones?

6. The reaction of people, the details of conversations, people helpless without their phones? The role of the authorities? The plans to retrieve the phones, people queueing outside the stores? Disputes? The shops and restocking? The crooked businessmen and his plans, comeuppance?

7. The role of the phones, swooping and sweeping, like birds, but on the ground, pavement? Leading to destruction and death?

8. The authorities, the meetings, the various officials, the discussions, corruption, saving face? The higher authorities, taking responsibility?

9. The authorities, the inventor, the jealous rival? The role of Chitti in the past? The decision to make a new model? To make a number of the robots?

10. Chitti, his look, the touch of Elvis Presley, the strange grin and giggle? The contrast with Nila and her glamour?

11. The opening with the man hanging from the tower, the explanation of the background, the revelation of his career, his attitude towards the birds? Causes, excessive use of phones, radiation and the effect on people?

12. His death, becoming an evil spirit, the power of the spirit, moving as an avenger, shape shifting, especially with the phones like the birds? The destruction?

13. The buildup to Chitti, the confrontation, various of the robots being dismantled and destroyed? The effect on the inventor? On the authorities?

14. The decision to make a mini-Chittis? Their effect, the combating of the evil spirit?

15. The authorities and their being defeated? The authentic authorities and their decisions? The rival, crimes, dangers, action?

16. The buildup to the climax, the confrontation with the evil spirit, destruction?

17. The final explanations, the moral of the story, the message about the environment and responsibility?