Rating: 2.5/5
Starring Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya, Sky Force is an ambitious war drama based on true events during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. They try to mix a story filled with loss and brotherhood alongside action-heavy aerial sequences. While it works at times, the film lacks consistency leading to an emotionally moving film that feels choppy.
Sky Force Review: An Account of Valor and Devotion
The plot revolves around Squadron 1 of the Indian Air Force, who was given the tall order of avenging an Indian airbase’s infiltration by the Pakistani Air Force. The unit’s A Wing Commander Om Ahuja, a veteran officer, leads an attack on the heavily protected Sargodha airbase. Alongside him flies T Krishna Vijaya, a spirited new aviator whose zeal exceeds the bounds of the standard operating procedures. He is played by debutant Veer Pahariya.
At its core, Sky Force is about the sacrifice of men behind the fighter jets with the aim to integrate the human element with the grandiose of the war. Nonetheless, while the emotional focus of the plot is there, the overall plot feels disjointed and the characters’ personal arcs are shallow.
Sky Force Review: Interesting Clash of Action and Drama Gone Abound
The second part of the film is embellished with precisely struck precision bombing moves. The aerial dogfights are also quite commendable. The most impressive aspect of the movie is the airstrike on Sargodha, which was India’s first independent air raid. The spirit of the IAF fighter pilots is inspiring. They relied more on skill and courage rather than state-of-the-art technology available to them.
In contrast, though, the first half drags the pacing of the film because of an overdependence on CGI battles. The aerial battlegrounds are overly complex and rough. The straightforward sound design adds to the mayhem, as the intense engines and high-power background scores swallow the screams and other emotional elements. While the attempt to wow the audience is noteworthy, the method did undermine the overall effectiveness.
Sky Force Review: Noise Drowns Out the Deepness Within
A very noteworthy subplot involves the dynamic between Ahuja and Vijaya, where Ahuja mentors Vijaya. While this bond is emotional, it is overshadowed by the focus on visually appealing cinematography. The film fails to address the different forms of duty and honor, further dooming the story.
The pilots’ personal lives are skimmed over but not fully delved into. Ahuja grieving his pilot brother alongside Vijaya’s connection with his pregnant wife has compelling facets which, as interesting as they are, remain unexplored. Their narratives, if given room to breathe, could have woven a more elaborate emotional aspect to the story.
Sky Force Review: Changing Pace in the Last Fifth of the Movie
The film’s second act completely changes the pace of the movie by shifting from a war drama to an investigation thriller. Ahuja’s search for his missing protégé adds emotional weight and is where the movie becomes gripping. Even though the pacing is off in the film’s first half, the uncovering of Vijaya’s story midway through the second makes it more bearable.
Sky Force Review: The Direction Along With the Cast’s Performances
As for the stoic Wing Commander Ahuja role, his character is carried exceptionally well by Akshay Kumar. The promising strong-willed Vijaya character played by Veer Pahariya has great potential, but because of the fast pacing of the story, his arc feels neglected.
It is also the case with the supporting cast, such as Sara Ali Khan, who do not have a great deal of time making an impact and thus do not make much of a difference.
Both Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur appear ambitious as directors, although their goal is not achieved fully as there is inconsistency in execution. The narration fails to find an equilibrium in a mix of high drama and relevant content and prefers the more shallow approach.
Key Specifications of Sky Force
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | War Drama |
| Director | Sandeep Kewlani, Abhishek Anil Kapur |
| Lead Cast | Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan |
| Runtime | 125 minutes |
| Rating | 2.5/5 |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Amazing aerial action sequences in the second half of the film.
- Performances by Akshay Kumar are engaging and appealing.
- Satisfying culmination in the investigative storyline.
Cons
- The glaring CGI and sound blending is overly done.
- The pacing is inconsistent, the characters are lacking, and the development is weak.
- Plenty of the outcomes are set aside in single plot for inteeperated stories.
Sky Force Review – Final Thoughts
The film Sky Force looks to pay tribute to the courage displayed by India’s fighter pilots but struggles with focus and depth. The latter half of the film has thrilling moments and culminates in an emotionally charged sequence, but the path leading there is quite rocky. This movie’s silver lining rests within Akshay Kumar’s on-screen performance and the historic value of the story through his character.
This film is 125 minutes long, which is shorter than other dramatic-filled action war films. Such a feature will please viewers who do not appreciate long run times. For a movie summit is this lengthy with so many moving parts, Sky Force disappoints on multiple fronts.
If you are an enthusiast of drama-filled war films or Akshay Kumar, have a look, but do not raise your expectations too high.
