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From the director of Barbarian, Weapons is a slow burn horror film that takes it time in putting the pieces in the puzzle, with a unsettling yet assuring climax.
The movie starts with an incident right of the bat and leans on mystery to build and establish it's premise. The camera work is impressive, especially in showcasing every character's point of view. Weapons takes its time laying out an elaborate story, repeatedly shifting perspectives and main characters until the myriad strands come together in immensely satisfying fashion.
The only non-positive aspect was the pacing. While it's given that the movie is a methodical slow burn horror that takes time to reveal it's hand, I still felt that few scenes could have been trimmed down a bit, making it shorter by 10-15 mins probably. The characters were written well and every one of them getting their own mini POV was really impressive, on both technical as well as storytelling level.
Overall, a slow pace and a constructive narrative structure keeps Weapons continually engaging, while its talented cast of actors brings depth to each character, making this one of the best horror films of the year.
My Rating : 8.5/10.
The movie starts with an incident right of the bat and leans on mystery to build and establish it's premise. The camera work is impressive, especially in showcasing every character's point of view. Weapons takes its time laying out an elaborate story, repeatedly shifting perspectives and main characters until the myriad strands come together in immensely satisfying fashion.
The only non-positive aspect was the pacing. While it's given that the movie is a methodical slow burn horror that takes time to reveal it's hand, I still felt that few scenes could have been trimmed down a bit, making it shorter by 10-15 mins probably. The characters were written well and every one of them getting their own mini POV was really impressive, on both technical as well as storytelling level.
Overall, a slow pace and a constructive narrative structure keeps Weapons continually engaging, while its talented cast of actors brings depth to each character, making this one of the best horror films of the year.
My Rating : 8.5/10.
Takopi's Original Sin is a gut wrenching depiction of trauma, guilt and loneliness about 3 people and how an alien tries to bring happiness into their life.
The plot follows a happy octopus alien sent from Happy Planet who aims to bring a smile on Shizuka's face, who is bullied at school and abandoned at home. The anime consists of only 6 episodes, but it burns through suicide, child abuse, bullying, parental neglect, moral injury, and the sheer, existential nausea of trying to do good in this sick, depraved world. It's not long, but it's lacerating.
The characters are painfully well-drawn, and just as gracefully understood. No one here is simple, and no one gets off easy. The sheer, exhausting effort of trying to make someone else happy when you barely understand what that means is what lingers more than the tragedy itself. The unexpected twist that is served in Episode 5 becomes a turning moment of an already burning anime, leaving us shocked.
The final two episodes barrel through six years of consequence, intercut with scenes from fractured pasts. The ambition is a bit too much to absorb, and the show stumbles slightly in orienting us within the tangle of perspectives. However, Takopi becomes one of the most finest animes in recent times, depicting human emotions in it's truest form. Undoubtedly the strongest contender for the Anime of the Year.
My Rating : 4.5/5.
The plot follows a happy octopus alien sent from Happy Planet who aims to bring a smile on Shizuka's face, who is bullied at school and abandoned at home. The anime consists of only 6 episodes, but it burns through suicide, child abuse, bullying, parental neglect, moral injury, and the sheer, existential nausea of trying to do good in this sick, depraved world. It's not long, but it's lacerating.
The characters are painfully well-drawn, and just as gracefully understood. No one here is simple, and no one gets off easy. The sheer, exhausting effort of trying to make someone else happy when you barely understand what that means is what lingers more than the tragedy itself. The unexpected twist that is served in Episode 5 becomes a turning moment of an already burning anime, leaving us shocked.
The final two episodes barrel through six years of consequence, intercut with scenes from fractured pasts. The ambition is a bit too much to absorb, and the show stumbles slightly in orienting us within the tangle of perspectives. However, Takopi becomes one of the most finest animes in recent times, depicting human emotions in it's truest form. Undoubtedly the strongest contender for the Anime of the Year.
My Rating : 4.5/5.
S Line is a dark and gripping mini-series that combines mystery, psychological tension, and social commentary in a unique and disturbing way.
The story follows a girl who can see red lines above people's heads, revealing their sexual relationships. For others, the line is visible only if they wear some random glasses.
Each episode follows a different case where someone gets the glasses and their life takes a dramatic turn. What starts as curiosity often ends in tragedy, and the deeper the story went, the more disturbing it became.
The pacing was slow but reasonable. With only 6 episodes, the story was building effectively, however out of nowhere, the final episode takes a whole different path and the series ends up disastrously without giving a proper explanation of glasses, the girl's ability to see the red lines or the supposedly cult that was seen in the final episode. The show could have been so good, but the finale made it into a disappointing affair eventually.
Overall, S Line is a wasted potential, that had a great story, but went wrong due to it's confusing and unexplainable ending.
My Rating : 5/10.
The story follows a girl who can see red lines above people's heads, revealing their sexual relationships. For others, the line is visible only if they wear some random glasses.
Each episode follows a different case where someone gets the glasses and their life takes a dramatic turn. What starts as curiosity often ends in tragedy, and the deeper the story went, the more disturbing it became.
The pacing was slow but reasonable. With only 6 episodes, the story was building effectively, however out of nowhere, the final episode takes a whole different path and the series ends up disastrously without giving a proper explanation of glasses, the girl's ability to see the red lines or the supposedly cult that was seen in the final episode. The show could have been so good, but the finale made it into a disappointing affair eventually.
Overall, S Line is a wasted potential, that had a great story, but went wrong due to it's confusing and unexplainable ending.
My Rating : 5/10.
Starring Park Bo Gum and Kim So Hyun, Good Boy is a story of group of Olympic players, who are now part of police force through a special recruitment program.
The drama is a blend of humour, action and romance. A group of police force forms a unit to catch a criminal mastermind that has every person under his control. The cast and the premise is promising, however with some flaws.
The premise is well-built but the episodes felt too stretched out, the characters are well written but feels one dimensional at times. The action choreography is very good and keeps you hooked to the screen. Oh Jung Se as the antagonist is the show stealer. His facial expressions and dialogue delivery was commendable. The romance scenes between the ML and FL were a little more than required. The production is good and many scenes are creatively shot.
The plot is fairly straightforward. Money + Greed = Corruption. Crime pays -> do more crime. Our team are earnest but they are mostly incidental heroes. The police is inept most of the time and is always one step behind. Hence the need for our Band of Misfits.
Overall, Good Boy is a good cop action drama that blends action and humour. Although it's far away from being a great show, it's a fun-to-watch drama that will entertain you for sure.
My Rating : 7.5/10.
The drama is a blend of humour, action and romance. A group of police force forms a unit to catch a criminal mastermind that has every person under his control. The cast and the premise is promising, however with some flaws.
The premise is well-built but the episodes felt too stretched out, the characters are well written but feels one dimensional at times. The action choreography is very good and keeps you hooked to the screen. Oh Jung Se as the antagonist is the show stealer. His facial expressions and dialogue delivery was commendable. The romance scenes between the ML and FL were a little more than required. The production is good and many scenes are creatively shot.
The plot is fairly straightforward. Money + Greed = Corruption. Crime pays -> do more crime. Our team are earnest but they are mostly incidental heroes. The police is inept most of the time and is always one step behind. Hence the need for our Band of Misfits.
Overall, Good Boy is a good cop action drama that blends action and humour. Although it's far away from being a great show, it's a fun-to-watch drama that will entertain you for sure.
My Rating : 7.5/10.
Directed by Celine Song (Past Lives), Materialists is romance centered movie that showcases the stages of love and life in a modern day society. While it is not in the same ground with Past Lives, this directorial by Celine Song still wins heart.
The movie is not just a plain rom-com. It shows the desireability, requirements and collective value of person as a romantic partner. While I do not like the concept of dating in real life, the film manages to portray people's need for love is materialistic nowadays, instead of emotionally driven.
Coming to the characters - Dakota Johnson was okay, if not good. Pedro Pascal was charming, wish he had more screentime. Chris Evans was the MVP, with charm in his eyes and innocence in his dialogues. The direction was good and the cinematography gets an additional praise, while I felt the dialogues could have been better.
Overall, Materialists is successfully seductive, eventually revealing a few potential deal-breakers but otherwise proving an engaging date. A modern day love story that shows connection nowadays is built upon materials, rather than emotions.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
The movie is not just a plain rom-com. It shows the desireability, requirements and collective value of person as a romantic partner. While I do not like the concept of dating in real life, the film manages to portray people's need for love is materialistic nowadays, instead of emotionally driven.
Coming to the characters - Dakota Johnson was okay, if not good. Pedro Pascal was charming, wish he had more screentime. Chris Evans was the MVP, with charm in his eyes and innocence in his dialogues. The direction was good and the cinematography gets an additional praise, while I felt the dialogues could have been better.
Overall, Materialists is successfully seductive, eventually revealing a few potential deal-breakers but otherwise proving an engaging date. A modern day love story that shows connection nowadays is built upon materials, rather than emotions.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
Recently Marvel movies have been receiving mixed reactions and amidst of all these, we get Thunderbolts - a group of quirky superheroes that are trying to fit into the role they are entitled with.
While I admit that this is one of the decent Marvel movies in recent years, it is far from what we have seen over the years. Pugh's performance was visible and somehow I felt that she was the one holding the whole movie. The rest of the misfits, I did tried to like them, but none of them were funny or interesting to watch.
The introduction of Lewis Pullman as Sentry is a fascinating character. The film waits long to show his powers and the dark side associated with him. The movie emphasizes more on the characters and their personal growth, rather than just beating the hell out of an underdeveloped antagonist.
Overall, Thunderbolts is a decent film, if not very good; that is driven by Pugh's performance and good writing of the characters.
While I admit that this is one of the decent Marvel movies in recent years, it is far from what we have seen over the years. Pugh's performance was visible and somehow I felt that she was the one holding the whole movie. The rest of the misfits, I did tried to like them, but none of them were funny or interesting to watch.
The introduction of Lewis Pullman as Sentry is a fascinating character. The film waits long to show his powers and the dark side associated with him. The movie emphasizes more on the characters and their personal growth, rather than just beating the hell out of an underdeveloped antagonist.
Overall, Thunderbolts is a decent film, if not very good; that is driven by Pugh's performance and good writing of the characters.
A spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan features in this remake of Campeones, wherein an assistant coach is given a punishment to coach specially disabled children for Basketball.
The writing was good and direction by R. S Prasanna, blending humour and fun without drifting away from the core storyline, gives a strong balance to the film. The pacing was decent, but the runtime could have been shorter by 20-25 minutes.
Talking about the performances, the characters of specially disabled were portrayed skillfully, with Aamir helming his role with precision. Genelia's act was short, but still felt impactful; and so were the rest of the others cast. Although it was far from his best performance, it was good seeing AK to give a positive performance.
The soundtrack blends well with the story and gives an uplifting + enjoyable vibes. The most important thing is the message that the movie gives - every person is special in their own way. Not the best I have seen, but Sitaare Zameen Par is an enjoyable film with good performances and a strong message.
The writing was good and direction by R. S Prasanna, blending humour and fun without drifting away from the core storyline, gives a strong balance to the film. The pacing was decent, but the runtime could have been shorter by 20-25 minutes.
Talking about the performances, the characters of specially disabled were portrayed skillfully, with Aamir helming his role with precision. Genelia's act was short, but still felt impactful; and so were the rest of the others cast. Although it was far from his best performance, it was good seeing AK to give a positive performance.
The soundtrack blends well with the story and gives an uplifting + enjoyable vibes. The most important thing is the message that the movie gives - every person is special in their own way. Not the best I have seen, but Sitaare Zameen Par is an enjoyable film with good performances and a strong message.
Based on real life incident of 2003 Muthanga Incident, Narivetta is a gripping tale of police atrocities that affects the life of a tribal community seeking fairness for the land they reside in.
While it is based on real life, I personally felt the depiction was not effectively done. The character of Varghese Peter, played by Tovino Thomas, is praiseworthy and the cinematography is neat, capturing the essence of Wayanad.
The problem I had was with the screenplay. Although the story is shown from a policeman's POV, the urgency of the characters, the tension due to the protests were not much visible. The story and struggles of the tribals should have been given more focus as well.
The first half was slow and focussed too much on the character rather than the main issue, the second half was decent but went into too much melodrama. A significant portion of the initial part of the film focuses on the lead character's romance and his economic struggles. While it may have been intended to provide background for his motivations, it feels unnecessary and disconnected from the central narrative. These subplots seem to divert attention away from the core issue at hand, making the first half drag and somewhat irrelevant to the main story.
Overall, Narivetta is an average film that takes a very important historical incident and makes it into a tacky cinema, that focuses more on the character, rather than the incident.
While it is based on real life, I personally felt the depiction was not effectively done. The character of Varghese Peter, played by Tovino Thomas, is praiseworthy and the cinematography is neat, capturing the essence of Wayanad.
The problem I had was with the screenplay. Although the story is shown from a policeman's POV, the urgency of the characters, the tension due to the protests were not much visible. The story and struggles of the tribals should have been given more focus as well.
The first half was slow and focussed too much on the character rather than the main issue, the second half was decent but went into too much melodrama. A significant portion of the initial part of the film focuses on the lead character's romance and his economic struggles. While it may have been intended to provide background for his motivations, it feels unnecessary and disconnected from the central narrative. These subplots seem to divert attention away from the core issue at hand, making the first half drag and somewhat irrelevant to the main story.
Overall, Narivetta is an average film that takes a very important historical incident and makes it into a tacky cinema, that focuses more on the character, rather than the incident.
Arriving after 5 years, the sequel to one of the well received Netflix original movie, The Old Guard 2 continues the story of immortals that fights against a new threatening enemy while reuniting with an old friend.
To start with, the sequel is a total mess. The characters are poorly written, the direction feels weird at times and the story is weak. Every element of this sequel was overdone that even Charlize Theron's performance couldn't save the sequel.
Even with introduction of Uma Thurman as the antagonist, the writing doesn't give her role the justice. A truly dreadful film, it was as bad as the initial film was good. There was no plot, no storyline, poor acting and a dreadful ending. A shocker - I was really looking forward to this, but sadly it did not work for me.
With very basic plot and underwritten characters, The Old Guard 2 is a mess that could not be saved, even with Theron's screen presence. One of the disappointing outlets I have seen this far.
To start with, the sequel is a total mess. The characters are poorly written, the direction feels weird at times and the story is weak. Every element of this sequel was overdone that even Charlize Theron's performance couldn't save the sequel.
Even with introduction of Uma Thurman as the antagonist, the writing doesn't give her role the justice. A truly dreadful film, it was as bad as the initial film was good. There was no plot, no storyline, poor acting and a dreadful ending. A shocker - I was really looking forward to this, but sadly it did not work for me.
With very basic plot and underwritten characters, The Old Guard 2 is a mess that could not be saved, even with Theron's screen presence. One of the disappointing outlets I have seen this far.
Throughout the years, Wes Anderson has brought stylish production and ensemble casting in his works, that gave us a unique piece of storytelling. The Phoenician Scheme follows the same path, but the outcome is not much enticing as his earlier works.
As usual, the film looks nice and quirky with it's colourful production. However, it had less substance. With an ensemble cast, Anderson knows how to put every character in use, even with a short cameo. The real find of the film is Mia Threapleton, daughter of Kate Winslet. She had that charismatic performance that, I believe, was the highlight of the movie.
The structure is episodic, somewhat elliptical, and occasionally clumsy. Even the widely imitated and parodied Anderson style, with its symmetries and whip pans, wavers toward the end, leading to an incoherent climax. The gags are present, but are not funny. And while it's not fair to compare TPS with Anderson's previous works, the movie might not gain much reaction, even from the Andersonites.
Overall, The Phoenician Scheme is an another well crafted spoof movie by Wes Anderson, that has a good production and characters, however a not-so-good storyline and an incomplete climax that does a damage to itself. It's a 50-50 take, you can either skip it or watch it..!!
As usual, the film looks nice and quirky with it's colourful production. However, it had less substance. With an ensemble cast, Anderson knows how to put every character in use, even with a short cameo. The real find of the film is Mia Threapleton, daughter of Kate Winslet. She had that charismatic performance that, I believe, was the highlight of the movie.
The structure is episodic, somewhat elliptical, and occasionally clumsy. Even the widely imitated and parodied Anderson style, with its symmetries and whip pans, wavers toward the end, leading to an incoherent climax. The gags are present, but are not funny. And while it's not fair to compare TPS with Anderson's previous works, the movie might not gain much reaction, even from the Andersonites.
Overall, The Phoenician Scheme is an another well crafted spoof movie by Wes Anderson, that has a good production and characters, however a not-so-good storyline and an incomplete climax that does a damage to itself. It's a 50-50 take, you can either skip it or watch it..!!
A new addition to the long standing karate franchise, KK : Legends is a disappointing mess that has nothing to offer and is just a money making opportunity.
As a big fan of Karate Kid movies and recently finished Cobra Kai series, I had very high expectations with the movie; especially after hearing about Jackie Chan's and Ralph Macchio's appearance. However, it was trainwreck from the start till the end. One of the most disappointing addition to a franchise I have seen this year.
To begin with, the movie felt super rushed at the very start itself. The main character Li was underdeveloped and nothing was shown on screen with regards to his personal and school life. Barely any time is spent on the characters or the tournament. Felt like every scene came with a speed of a flight and left us wondering what we are even watching.
The plot itself is the weakest link of the movie. Moving to a new city and becoming a champion of the tournament with training in a short time; and also for someone who is in debt - sounds super super crazy and unrealistic. Honestly, it makes me think how the script even got finalized to make this mess.
The only positive thing was seeing Mr Han and LaRusso working together with a very short appearance of Johnny Lawrence. I really wish this movie was never made. Highly recommended to not watch this movie..!!
As a big fan of Karate Kid movies and recently finished Cobra Kai series, I had very high expectations with the movie; especially after hearing about Jackie Chan's and Ralph Macchio's appearance. However, it was trainwreck from the start till the end. One of the most disappointing addition to a franchise I have seen this year.
To begin with, the movie felt super rushed at the very start itself. The main character Li was underdeveloped and nothing was shown on screen with regards to his personal and school life. Barely any time is spent on the characters or the tournament. Felt like every scene came with a speed of a flight and left us wondering what we are even watching.
The plot itself is the weakest link of the movie. Moving to a new city and becoming a champion of the tournament with training in a short time; and also for someone who is in debt - sounds super super crazy and unrealistic. Honestly, it makes me think how the script even got finalized to make this mess.
The only positive thing was seeing Mr Han and LaRusso working together with a very short appearance of Johnny Lawrence. I really wish this movie was never made. Highly recommended to not watch this movie..!!
From the makers of hit horror film - Talk To Me; the Philippou brothers bring another horror movie that looks similar to other movies in the genre, but is more visceral than their previous work.
The plot follows two siblings, who are taken under a foster mother after their fathers' death. The characters were written well, especially Oliver, the most suspicious character of the movie. Sally Hawkins performance is haunting as well as emotional. Her trauma being converted into madness is depicted flawlessly.
The major concern I had with the movie is it's pacing. The first half takes too much time for something to build up, only providing with a very little glimpse of what's coming next. The conversations are long, the thrill that needs to keep us hooked felt missing and somehow it got annoying to wait for something to actually happen. The second half though gave some chilling moments, but the overall emotional impact didn't hit hard as it should have.
Overall, Bring Her Back is not a very bad film, but is poorly paced with little momentum and thrills. The follow up to Talk To Me doesn't work much eventually, is all I have left to say for the movie.
The plot follows two siblings, who are taken under a foster mother after their fathers' death. The characters were written well, especially Oliver, the most suspicious character of the movie. Sally Hawkins performance is haunting as well as emotional. Her trauma being converted into madness is depicted flawlessly.
The major concern I had with the movie is it's pacing. The first half takes too much time for something to build up, only providing with a very little glimpse of what's coming next. The conversations are long, the thrill that needs to keep us hooked felt missing and somehow it got annoying to wait for something to actually happen. The second half though gave some chilling moments, but the overall emotional impact didn't hit hard as it should have.
Overall, Bring Her Back is not a very bad film, but is poorly paced with little momentum and thrills. The follow up to Talk To Me doesn't work much eventually, is all I have left to say for the movie.
A reboot with a new cast, James Gunn brings Superman back after a poor reception of last appearance of this superhero in Dawn of Justice.
The movie starts in an unconventional way; rather than your typical start, the movie starts in a middle of something and although bits enjoyable, the movie felt incomplete.
David Corenswet as Superman does a great job in capturing the essence of the character with no unnecessary addition to the personality. Nicholas Hoult has been on a role since last year and has definitely nailed the role of Lex Luthor. The MVP of the story is Krypto, adding fun to the story. The humour was a hit or miss, sometimes it felt funny while sometimes it made me think why the dialogue was written.
Coming to the direction, James Gunn has been successfully handling the superhero movies that came under his bucket, and with Superman it's no different story. The camera work was dynamic, although I didn't like the CGI and action sequences much. The fight scenes didn't had much impact and gravity like your regular superhero movies. The execution was half-baked on many instances.
Overall, Superman is a fun reboot, aptly handled by James Gunn. While there are good moments, the film could have been much better in terms of writing and visual effects. Nonetheless, you can enjoy it atleast once.
My Rating : 3/5.
The movie starts in an unconventional way; rather than your typical start, the movie starts in a middle of something and although bits enjoyable, the movie felt incomplete.
David Corenswet as Superman does a great job in capturing the essence of the character with no unnecessary addition to the personality. Nicholas Hoult has been on a role since last year and has definitely nailed the role of Lex Luthor. The MVP of the story is Krypto, adding fun to the story. The humour was a hit or miss, sometimes it felt funny while sometimes it made me think why the dialogue was written.
Coming to the direction, James Gunn has been successfully handling the superhero movies that came under his bucket, and with Superman it's no different story. The camera work was dynamic, although I didn't like the CGI and action sequences much. The fight scenes didn't had much impact and gravity like your regular superhero movies. The execution was half-baked on many instances.
Overall, Superman is a fun reboot, aptly handled by James Gunn. While there are good moments, the film could have been much better in terms of writing and visual effects. Nonetheless, you can enjoy it atleast once.
My Rating : 3/5.
Our Unwritten Seoul follows twin sisters Mi-ji and Mi-rae as they swap their lives to find themselves. What begins as a simple switch grows into a layered story of family, love & identity. The twins, though have different traits, ultimately have the similar nature and try to sympathize with each other, as the show moves forward.
Starting with the premise, it is a basic plot that we have seen in many dramas before, only with a twist of twins. The struggles one individual goes through and people around them that helps them to recover from their sufferings - a trait we see in most of the dramas. The positive thing about the drama are the characters; each of them are finely written with their own struggling backstory and their way of dealing it.
Similar to many dramas, the runtime for this K-Drama feels a bit stretchy, even though with 12 episodes. The cinematography is very beautiful where we see landscapes of Seoul, along with the flashbacks of teenage time of the characters, that are crafted very well. The background score is decent that blends well with the story and the scenes. Park Bo Young gave a strong performance, and although I felt the drama had less spark, her performance remained a strong highlight throughout the show.
Overall, Our Unwritten Seoul is a light hearted drama about self healing and overcoming struggles that works due to good performances, but is pulled back by stretchy runtime and cliché romantic moments from being a great show.
My Rating : 6.5/10.
Starting with the premise, it is a basic plot that we have seen in many dramas before, only with a twist of twins. The struggles one individual goes through and people around them that helps them to recover from their sufferings - a trait we see in most of the dramas. The positive thing about the drama are the characters; each of them are finely written with their own struggling backstory and their way of dealing it.
Similar to many dramas, the runtime for this K-Drama feels a bit stretchy, even though with 12 episodes. The cinematography is very beautiful where we see landscapes of Seoul, along with the flashbacks of teenage time of the characters, that are crafted very well. The background score is decent that blends well with the story and the scenes. Park Bo Young gave a strong performance, and although I felt the drama had less spark, her performance remained a strong highlight throughout the show.
Overall, Our Unwritten Seoul is a light hearted drama about self healing and overcoming struggles that works due to good performances, but is pulled back by stretchy runtime and cliché romantic moments from being a great show.
My Rating : 6.5/10.
An original anime directed by legendary Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy, Terror of Resonance), LAZARUS is a visually compelling anime that has good animation and character design by MAPPA, however is pulled down by weak story and over-the-top plot.
LAZARUS is a story about finding a scientist who disappeared after creating a medicine, which evidently will start killing it's consumers in 30 days time. While the premise sounded strong and the trailer looked good, the execution on the screen fell short. The storytelling is generic, uninspired, and often clumsy. There's no real tension, mystery, or emotional payoff. Everything feels like a rehash of sci-fi ideas that have been done dozens of times before, and done better. Although the anime started well, the second half got confusing with multiple subplot introductions and an inconsistent pace, resulting in an unpleasant outcome.
The best part of the anime is supposedly the music. Jazz, electronic, and ambient styles all come together to elevate scenes that otherwise wouldn't have much emotional impact.
Overall, LAZARUS is a classic case of wasted potential. It boasts top-tier animation, an impressive soundtrack, and a big-name creative team - but fails to back it up with anything meaningful narratively. Lazarus looks like prestige anime, but underneath the polish is a forgettable, soulless experience. A beautiful disappointment.
My Rating : 2.5/5.
LAZARUS is a story about finding a scientist who disappeared after creating a medicine, which evidently will start killing it's consumers in 30 days time. While the premise sounded strong and the trailer looked good, the execution on the screen fell short. The storytelling is generic, uninspired, and often clumsy. There's no real tension, mystery, or emotional payoff. Everything feels like a rehash of sci-fi ideas that have been done dozens of times before, and done better. Although the anime started well, the second half got confusing with multiple subplot introductions and an inconsistent pace, resulting in an unpleasant outcome.
The best part of the anime is supposedly the music. Jazz, electronic, and ambient styles all come together to elevate scenes that otherwise wouldn't have much emotional impact.
Overall, LAZARUS is a classic case of wasted potential. It boasts top-tier animation, an impressive soundtrack, and a big-name creative team - but fails to back it up with anything meaningful narratively. Lazarus looks like prestige anime, but underneath the polish is a forgettable, soulless experience. A beautiful disappointment.
My Rating : 2.5/5.
Jurassic World : Rebirth aims to breathe a fresh life into the franchise, but falls flat with a story that isn't going anywhere. Directed by Gareth Edwards - who helmed The Creators, Godzilla reboot etc - the new entrant in the franchise boasts powerful visuals but has little to offer in terms of writing and story.
The first half of the movie is slow paced and boring, with nothing to offer other than dialogues and setup for the adventure the characters are gonna make.
The best thing about the movie were the visuals; the dinosaurs looked great and the island is beautiful. Yet, it somehow felt an inspiration drawn from Skull Island. The score was good and thrilling, however I felt it didn't fit with the modern day survival scale.
The second half gets better with some action immersive and cliffhanger scenes which takes us back to the original film's thrills and chills. However, there's low emotions on character deaths and no tense moments. There's some fun to be had here, but overall, Jurassic World Rebirth feels indicative that this franchise is not different from what the original film tried to say about the ethics of cloning dinosaurs. Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and the rest of the cast are intriguing and sympathetic throughout, but Gareth Edwards doesn't quite recapture his signature flair with the franchise.
My Rating : 2.5/5.
The first half of the movie is slow paced and boring, with nothing to offer other than dialogues and setup for the adventure the characters are gonna make.
The best thing about the movie were the visuals; the dinosaurs looked great and the island is beautiful. Yet, it somehow felt an inspiration drawn from Skull Island. The score was good and thrilling, however I felt it didn't fit with the modern day survival scale.
The second half gets better with some action immersive and cliffhanger scenes which takes us back to the original film's thrills and chills. However, there's low emotions on character deaths and no tense moments. There's some fun to be had here, but overall, Jurassic World Rebirth feels indicative that this franchise is not different from what the original film tried to say about the ethics of cloning dinosaurs. Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and the rest of the cast are intriguing and sympathetic throughout, but Gareth Edwards doesn't quite recapture his signature flair with the franchise.
My Rating : 2.5/5.
F1 : The movie is a visual spectacle that delivers big time. It's an absolute blast and one of the most exciting movies to come out this year.
Starting with the story, yes, it is formulaic and adapts a cliché trope. The story has good characters but weaker arcs and emotional depth is minimal. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes is charismatic and Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce is something that was surprisingly good. The other supporting cast were good in their respective roles. Of course it feels dramatic at times, but it never disappoints.
The direction by Joseph Kosinski is praiseworthy. Making an edge of the seat film with unparalleled direction and pioneering filmmaking, F1 delivers a great cinematic experience. The score by Hans Zimmer is energetic as well as moving. The cinematography and the visuals are something the makers should be boastful of.
To summarise, F1 doesn't bring anything new to the table, however Kosinski's skillful direction paired with absolutely dashing Brad Pitt brings a fresh breath of thrill and joy in this 155 minutes edge-of-the-seat racing drama, that is nothing short of cinematic triumph.
My Rating : 4/5.
Starting with the story, yes, it is formulaic and adapts a cliché trope. The story has good characters but weaker arcs and emotional depth is minimal. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes is charismatic and Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce is something that was surprisingly good. The other supporting cast were good in their respective roles. Of course it feels dramatic at times, but it never disappoints.
The direction by Joseph Kosinski is praiseworthy. Making an edge of the seat film with unparalleled direction and pioneering filmmaking, F1 delivers a great cinematic experience. The score by Hans Zimmer is energetic as well as moving. The cinematography and the visuals are something the makers should be boastful of.
To summarise, F1 doesn't bring anything new to the table, however Kosinski's skillful direction paired with absolutely dashing Brad Pitt brings a fresh breath of thrill and joy in this 155 minutes edge-of-the-seat racing drama, that is nothing short of cinematic triumph.
My Rating : 4/5.
Mercy for None is a gritty revenge thriller filled with John Wick style action sequences and a story that portrays punishment to those who betrays the honour.
The story is about Nam Gi Jun who leaves his gang to lead a peaceful life, only to come out and take revenge on those who killed his brother. The main character, So Ji Sub as Nam Gi Jun is absolutely magnetic. The guilt and rage on his face was enough to ride the show, even with a predictable ending.
The tone of cinematography is dark, as it should be. While the action was good and the pace was smooth, some characters could have been explored more via backstory or something. The series does include a number of brutal scenes, which may not be suitable for everyone, but these moments contribute significantly to the overall impact of the story, enhancing its intensity and emotional weight. Each scene is crafted to elicit strong reactions, making the viewing experience even more immersive and keeps you on the edge of the seat.
Overall, Mercy For None is not the best revenge series that I have seen, but is a strong addition to the revenge fueled series that I have seen over the years.
My Rating : 4/5.
The story is about Nam Gi Jun who leaves his gang to lead a peaceful life, only to come out and take revenge on those who killed his brother. The main character, So Ji Sub as Nam Gi Jun is absolutely magnetic. The guilt and rage on his face was enough to ride the show, even with a predictable ending.
The tone of cinematography is dark, as it should be. While the action was good and the pace was smooth, some characters could have been explored more via backstory or something. The series does include a number of brutal scenes, which may not be suitable for everyone, but these moments contribute significantly to the overall impact of the story, enhancing its intensity and emotional weight. Each scene is crafted to elicit strong reactions, making the viewing experience even more immersive and keeps you on the edge of the seat.
Overall, Mercy For None is not the best revenge series that I have seen, but is a strong addition to the revenge fueled series that I have seen over the years.
My Rating : 4/5.
Danny Boyle's long awaited return to the franchise he created in 2002 finally returns to the big screen - scarier, more disgusting and terrifying.
After 2 decades of ongoing epidemic, the third installment is based on a small town that has been kept protected from this outburst. The post-post-apocalypse genre is at an interesting place, as by the time we catch up with young Spike, played by Alfie Williams, a whole generation of people has grown up after the end of the world. The movie is a more emotional, character-driven drama that's punctuated by zombies rather than a true genre flick.
Talking about the characters, they were aptly written, although I felt the character of Isla had a very minor impact. Alfie as Spike and Aaron as Jamie was convincing, with a pinch of Ralph Fiennes at the end.
The digital cinematography was amazing and so was the frantic editing, the camera movements + zooms and the night vision scenes drenched in red lightning. It's a zombie horror but with an emotional heart, the story is about survival, fear and love and not just killing. Already excited for the sequel to see where Spike's journey will take him. A weird, but wildly amazing is what I will say about this movie, period.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
After 2 decades of ongoing epidemic, the third installment is based on a small town that has been kept protected from this outburst. The post-post-apocalypse genre is at an interesting place, as by the time we catch up with young Spike, played by Alfie Williams, a whole generation of people has grown up after the end of the world. The movie is a more emotional, character-driven drama that's punctuated by zombies rather than a true genre flick.
Talking about the characters, they were aptly written, although I felt the character of Isla had a very minor impact. Alfie as Spike and Aaron as Jamie was convincing, with a pinch of Ralph Fiennes at the end.
The digital cinematography was amazing and so was the frantic editing, the camera movements + zooms and the night vision scenes drenched in red lightning. It's a zombie horror but with an emotional heart, the story is about survival, fear and love and not just killing. Already excited for the sequel to see where Spike's journey will take him. A weird, but wildly amazing is what I will say about this movie, period.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
Brought by Guy Ritchie; the man behind movies like Snatch & The Covenant, Mobland is a slow-burning psychological gangster drama that sometimes slips into familiar clichés but is overcome by strong performances, especially by Tom Hardy.
To begin with, the writing and editing is sharp and Ritchie's style reflects on the show. The pacing is something which I felt uneven wherein initial episodes did a slow build up for the big reveal, while some cliché tropes like unavailable father had little to no impact, as a viewer. The show also earns points for not giving it all away. It demands attention, observation, and patience-traits that reward you with compelling character arcs and some good plot twists.
With a length of 40-45 minutes per episode, the story doesn't feel stretched out and every character gets a good screen time. However, the only complain is that not may characters (even the Harrigans) were provided a backstory that could have brought more emotional depth to the show.
Mobland is an ambitious, slow-burn crime series that mostly succeeds thanks to strong performances, sharp writing, and its commitment to psychological depth. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own seriousness and lacks emotional depth, the show still delivers a fresh take on the gangster genre.
My Rating : 4/5.
To begin with, the writing and editing is sharp and Ritchie's style reflects on the show. The pacing is something which I felt uneven wherein initial episodes did a slow build up for the big reveal, while some cliché tropes like unavailable father had little to no impact, as a viewer. The show also earns points for not giving it all away. It demands attention, observation, and patience-traits that reward you with compelling character arcs and some good plot twists.
With a length of 40-45 minutes per episode, the story doesn't feel stretched out and every character gets a good screen time. However, the only complain is that not may characters (even the Harrigans) were provided a backstory that could have brought more emotional depth to the show.
Mobland is an ambitious, slow-burn crime series that mostly succeeds thanks to strong performances, sharp writing, and its commitment to psychological depth. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own seriousness and lacks emotional depth, the show still delivers a fresh take on the gangster genre.
My Rating : 4/5.
Clown in a Cornfield does have the elements of a slasher horror; killer violence, short backstory and fast forward to present day with a character introduction , but is brought down by uneven jump scares and not-so-good writing.
We see a lot of slasher movies nowadays as it has become a box office winner due to low budget and moviegoers attention. The movie does contains a lot of gore and gruesome deaths, however it does seem a rip off of Pennywise meeting Art The Clown in a Salem's Lot atmosphere.
Coming back to the characters and writing, it truly feels that both were underutilized and somehow the jump scares or the atmospheric tension of an evil clown nearby doesn't reflect in the face of those characters. Neither scary nor tense enough to get yourself immersed, Clown in a Cornfield is another slasher movie that is instantly forgettable.
My Rating : 2.5/5.
We see a lot of slasher movies nowadays as it has become a box office winner due to low budget and moviegoers attention. The movie does contains a lot of gore and gruesome deaths, however it does seem a rip off of Pennywise meeting Art The Clown in a Salem's Lot atmosphere.
Coming back to the characters and writing, it truly feels that both were underutilized and somehow the jump scares or the atmospheric tension of an evil clown nearby doesn't reflect in the face of those characters. Neither scary nor tense enough to get yourself immersed, Clown in a Cornfield is another slasher movie that is instantly forgettable.
My Rating : 2.5/5.
A slow paced murder mystery thriller, Nine Puzzles is a smart concept with a very good execution, even though the pacing might be inconsistent for many.
The drama balances multiple layers of mystery, from cryptic puzzle pieces and reflection clues to complex interpersonal relationships that intertwines with the serial murders. The setting is tense, with every character under radar and suspicion falling all over everyone.
What begins as a whodunnit quickly evolves into something more thematic. The show explores the consequences of institutional failure and what happens when someone decides to punish those systems in the most literal way. But what keeps the show human is how it focuses on the fallout: guilt, loyalty, memory, and how trauma shapes who we become.
The cast, whether it be leads or the supporting, every character was portrayed as they should be. The fascinating aspect of the drama is it plays with the memory, like you will connect the dots towards the final episodes from your recollection of the initial episodes. Overall, the emotional layers to this murder mystery is well written, although the pacing was too sluggish and draggy. But nonetheless, it will keep you hooked until you know the perpetrator behind all of these.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
The drama balances multiple layers of mystery, from cryptic puzzle pieces and reflection clues to complex interpersonal relationships that intertwines with the serial murders. The setting is tense, with every character under radar and suspicion falling all over everyone.
What begins as a whodunnit quickly evolves into something more thematic. The show explores the consequences of institutional failure and what happens when someone decides to punish those systems in the most literal way. But what keeps the show human is how it focuses on the fallout: guilt, loyalty, memory, and how trauma shapes who we become.
The cast, whether it be leads or the supporting, every character was portrayed as they should be. The fascinating aspect of the drama is it plays with the memory, like you will connect the dots towards the final episodes from your recollection of the initial episodes. Overall, the emotional layers to this murder mystery is well written, although the pacing was too sluggish and draggy. But nonetheless, it will keep you hooked until you know the perpetrator behind all of these.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
Introducing Ana De Armas into the unit, Ballerina is a worthy addition to the John Wick franchise, but with a weak storyline and heavy reliance on action.
Talking about the characters, they seem underdeveloped and thus looked bland on the screen. The protagonist doesn't get a good build up and the movie feels like emotionless revenge saga, at times. No proper backstory of the antagonist and the motive adds more pain to the wound.
Technically, Ballerina is very stylish and the action sequences are choreographed effectively. The cinematography and the editing could have been better and the final fight scene (with the flamethrower) was literally over the top for me.
Although there were some negative aspects, it was still fun to watch Ana De Armas punch, shoot, stab and blast everything and everyone on her way. A wick-edly entertaining addition to one of the best action franchise.
My Rating : 3/5.
Talking about the characters, they seem underdeveloped and thus looked bland on the screen. The protagonist doesn't get a good build up and the movie feels like emotionless revenge saga, at times. No proper backstory of the antagonist and the motive adds more pain to the wound.
Technically, Ballerina is very stylish and the action sequences are choreographed effectively. The cinematography and the editing could have been better and the final fight scene (with the flamethrower) was literally over the top for me.
Although there were some negative aspects, it was still fun to watch Ana De Armas punch, shoot, stab and blast everything and everyone on her way. A wick-edly entertaining addition to one of the best action franchise.
My Rating : 3/5.
Starring Rami Malek as Charlie Heller, The Amateur is a spy thriller about a CIA operative that goes on his own to seek revenge on those who killed her wife.
Starting with the story - it had a good build up after a slow start and the techniques and mechanisms used had me hooked. It mixes the throwback feel of an old-school spy story with an engaging scenario about a tech-savvy CIA analyst thrust into the field for decidedly dark reasons.
Visually, the film does a good job of expressing how haunted Heller is. Not only he is mourning his wife's death, but also focused and stern on taking revenge. Rami Malek does a fitting job of an operative driven by vengeance. The direction by James Hawes is noteworthy and displays the push and pull of technology vs old-school espionage effectively.
Overall, The Amateur reinvents nothing new in this genre, however keeps us hooked with Rami Malek's tech loaded take on adversaries that is both intelligent and gripping.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
Starting with the story - it had a good build up after a slow start and the techniques and mechanisms used had me hooked. It mixes the throwback feel of an old-school spy story with an engaging scenario about a tech-savvy CIA analyst thrust into the field for decidedly dark reasons.
Visually, the film does a good job of expressing how haunted Heller is. Not only he is mourning his wife's death, but also focused and stern on taking revenge. Rami Malek does a fitting job of an operative driven by vengeance. The direction by James Hawes is noteworthy and displays the push and pull of technology vs old-school espionage effectively.
Overall, The Amateur reinvents nothing new in this genre, however keeps us hooked with Rami Malek's tech loaded take on adversaries that is both intelligent and gripping.
My Rating : 3.5/5.
Starring Lee Jae Wook, Dear Hongrang is a blend of historical romance, mystery and melodrama set against a backdrop of betrayal and deceit.
The drama started well, with flashbacks of sibling love and the mystery of snow man in the story, a praiseworthy cinematography and the most important highlight of the show - the soundtrack. The romance between the leads was sudden and not well-developed. It was as if they fell in love simply because the story needed to move forward, and for no other reason. They had no on-screen chemistry, and they were not given enough time to form a bond that would justify the decisions they made.
The mystery element was taken over by politics and also the antagonist arc was underdeveloped leading to a messy and chaotic ending. Many character arcs were not even touched, especially of the snow man that has been talked about from the start. The only thing that truly did wonders in the whole drama was the haunting yet beautiful soundtrack.
A good fantasy drama on the paper with a subpar execution and unexplored characters holds back Dear Hongrang from becoming a praiseworthy drama.
My Rating: 2.5/5.
The drama started well, with flashbacks of sibling love and the mystery of snow man in the story, a praiseworthy cinematography and the most important highlight of the show - the soundtrack. The romance between the leads was sudden and not well-developed. It was as if they fell in love simply because the story needed to move forward, and for no other reason. They had no on-screen chemistry, and they were not given enough time to form a bond that would justify the decisions they made.
The mystery element was taken over by politics and also the antagonist arc was underdeveloped leading to a messy and chaotic ending. Many character arcs were not even touched, especially of the snow man that has been talked about from the start. The only thing that truly did wonders in the whole drama was the haunting yet beautiful soundtrack.
A good fantasy drama on the paper with a subpar execution and unexplored characters holds back Dear Hongrang from becoming a praiseworthy drama.
My Rating: 2.5/5.