pranayjalvi

Starring Ji Chang Wook, The Manipulated is an intense action thriller that centers around a man wrongfully accused of murder and who gets out to take revenge on the perpetrator.

With 12 episodes, the series is tight, had a lot of action scenes and the pacing was very convincing. The characters could have been written more smartly, since a few of the characters (especially Tae Joong's friends) had no contribution to the story at all.

The action choreography were very good. The antagonist was way too overpowered and rich and the show failed to explore more of his past and how he became what he became.

The show takes a certain turn with the death racing game but it was not totally disappointing. The show focused too much only on the main character and his world, while keeping aside the side characters.

The finale was too crammed up, a lot of things happens in a span of 45 mins. There should have been atleast one more episode to have a proper ending. The ending though not disappointing, felt heavily tushed.

Overall, The Manipulated is a stylish action thriller that does many things right, if not all. And seeing Jichang Wook in action was genuinely refreshing. Not the best of the year, but definitely watchable drama.

My Rating : 8/10.

Nuremberg has it's flaws, even though it is marked with a great performance by Russell Crowe. The tragedies and aftermath of war have become a common theme, and is undoubtedly important to address as well.

While the performances were great and it captures the enormity of the trials. But I still feel the story touched the surface of something that was far more complex. The emotional impact during the trials could have been more, the black & white reel style of the court was genuinely lacking.

The film is mostly viewed from Douglas' (Rami Malek) point of view, his connection and analysis of the people who did the most heinous crimes and the roots of it. The conversations between the characters in the film was genuine and moral at times.

Technically, the film is good, if not great. The score is not that important to the story, but still fits with the scenes. No concerns with the cinematography as well. The supporting cast weren't as impactful, and I wish the german cast had actual german actors to make the conversations more authentic.

Overall, Nuremberg is far from being the best docudrama film on atrocities of war, however Crowe's standout performance will make you forget other aspects, but not his presence.

My Rating : 3.5/5.

Pluribus had a strong concept and potential, however the execution throughout the season leaves the viewers wanting for much more than provided. The pacing is irritatingly slow and while the opening sequences of couple of episodes promises intrigue, the show gets bogged down in heavy dialogue sequences that rarely advances the story.

An individual who has given us shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, comes short of expectations with Pluribus. Technically though, the series is very strong. The cinematography stands out, creating visually striking moments that captures our attention. The music, although not bad, does very little to the story.

The plot is uneven. While some episodes hints at structured story, the overall narrative is disjointed and never answers the questions it asks. The ideas are there, but are not totally explained or executed with a clear mind. The character, especially Carol, had a good writing, however becomes inconsistent and unconvincing towards the end of the season.

Overall, Pluribus is a season with strong concept and weak execution. The show is slow and inconsistent, offering only glimpses of a compelling story. Not lives up to the full potential, however still rooting for the next season to have an improved outcome.

My Rating : 6/10.