Bahubali 2: The Conclusion

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Trevor M Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which I will forever refer to as Baahubali 2: Electric Boogaloo (and there's nothing SS Rajamouli can do to stop me), both succeeds and fails to live up to the expectations set by its predecessor. Much like the first film, it offers a mixed bag of gleeful enjoyment punctuated by occasional wet farts of disappointment that drag it down far more than they should. Just like its predecessor, Baahubali 2 tells two intertwined stories: the present and the past. Once again, the past narrative drastically outshines the present. I was not prepared for the first solid 45 minutes of this movie to be a slapstick romantic comedy—especially given the epic and dramatic cliffhanger that concluded the first film. Surprisingly, Rajamouli proves he can pull off a half-decent love story between a Baahubali and a strong warrior woman without resorting to stalking or an unbearably awkward love scene that drags on for an "are we there yet?" amount of time. The romantic comedy segment was unexpectedly delightful. Watching the goofy antics of Baahubali and his uncle, paired with the princess and her wonderfully incompetent brother (or army captain... honestly, his official position remains a mystery to me), provided endless entertainment. Their constant attempts to out-dumb each other, each in their own unique way, stole the show. It really demonstrates the lovable himbo Baahubali Jr. was supposed to become—a role he sadly never fully embraces. This segment also delivers an incredibly important moment for Baahubali Sr., where he's not just portrayed as a god-tier warrior, but as someone who pays attention to others and invests in their growth. He spends much of the film messing with a bumbling fool of a character, but when that fool bravely tries to stop Baahubali from doing something dangerous, Baahubali notices his hidden strength. Later, he places his faith in this unlikely ally and grants him a fantastic moment to shine. It's one of the film's best scenes. The continuation of the prequel story starts strong but gradually unravels as characters make increasingly illogical decisions, sometimes entirely out of character. Baahubali's mother, the queen, suffers the worst of this. Once depicted as perceptive and wise, she suddenly becomes oblivious to the obvious nature of her sons, despite previously understanding them perfectly. The prequel timeline culminates in Baahubali's death, as revealed in the first film—and the way it unfolds is far worse than expected. It frustratingly dismantles the honor and character of a beloved figure, feeling less like a tragic twist and more like the plot wrote itself into a corner. Returning to the present-day narrative, we're saddled once again with Baahubali Jr., or "Baahubali the Lesser." After hearing his father's story, he abruptly transforms into an epic rage monster, hellbent on revenge and overthrowing the government. The movie desperately wants you to believe Baahubali Jr. embodies all of his father’s noble traits. If they weren’t played by the same actor, this illusion would crumble entirely. Baahubali Jr. never gets a believable arc or motivation of his own—he’s simply a stand-in for his father. This is especially frustrating because a far better narrative path was available. The story would have made far more sense if Baahubali Sr. had simply lost his memory for 20 years and returned to claim justice himself. Likewise, Baahubali Jr.'s mother, once portrayed as a fierce warrior, barely speaks in the present-day scenes. Instead of driving the revenge plot as she should, she’s sidelined while her son goofballs his way through the action. Meanwhile, Avanthika, the love interest from the first film, is essentially erased from existence, with barely a minute of total screentime and zero speaking lines. The film’s climactic battle is visually impressive but narratively baffling. All the wrong characters are involved, and the movie limps to a conclusion where Baahubali Jr. is crowned king due to something his grandmother did 25 years ago—which also makes little sense. Ultimately, Baahubali 2 ends with a frustrating whimper instead of a bang. There’s a truly great film buried somewhere between these two installments, but it constantly undermines itself. Nevertheless, it’s still well worth the ride—a thrilling, chaotic rollercoaster of a movie that’s absolutely worth the price of admission. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review fernando a Excelente pelicula, muy recomendada, la he visto alrededor de 50 veces, me encanta la historia y me sigo emocionando con las buenas escenas de Bahubali y su musica, excelente actores, Kattapa excelente y fiel soldado, me transmite los sentimientos en cada escena es facinante. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/02/25 Full Review Advik M The best prabas film Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/16/25 Full Review Izzy H Absolutely great. Genuinely an epic Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Bahubali 2: The Conclusion

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