Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 114

Expats Series Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Created by Lulu Wang, the 2024 series “Expats” takes viewers to Hong Kong, where through the lives of different women, we get to explore themes of identity, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of the city’s expatriate community. Adapted from Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel, “The Expatriates,” the series unfolds over six episodes, each delving deeper into the lives of its three central protagonists: Margaret (Nicole Kidman), Hilary (Sarayu Blue), and Mercy (Ji-young Yoo).

From its opening moments, “Expats” establishes itself as a serious, slow-burn, contemplative exploration of the human heart, although the focus is on women who come from a place of privilege. The series opens with Margaret, a landscape architect, who is planning her husband’s 50th birthday party but is clearly dealing with some unresolved issues which threaten to unravel her calm facade of normalcy. Episode one maintains a tense suspense over what’s really going on and flashbacks in episode two reveal a tragic event that irrevocably alter the lives of the show’s primary characters.

Nicole Kidman delivers a tour-de-force performance as Margaret, capturing the character’s emotional turmoil with haunting precision. From the stifling grief of losing a child to the quiet desperation of navigating a strained family life, Kidman imbues Margaret with a disturbing stupor that can be heart-wrenching to watch. Her angst, anxiety, paranoia of doubting everything around her and helplessness seeps through the screen. Sarayu Blue shines as Hilary, Margaret’s friend who grapples with her own marital woes and societal expectations. Blue infuses Hilary with a quiet strength and resilience, navigating the complexities of her relationships with a nuanced grace that could be relatable to some.

Ji-young Yoo rounds out the central trio with her portrayal of Mercy, an American-Korean who’s from an ivy league college, yet struggles to find her place in the world. It’s Mercy who oftentimes serves as the narrator in “Expats”, and in the open commentary she talks about how “stories always focus on the victim. The person responsible for the calamity is never mentioned. I want to know about the people who caused the tragedies. People like me. Are they ever forgiven? Do they ever move on? Not a moment goes by when I am not thinking about what I’ve done…”

While some viewers may find the series’ deliberate pace testing their patience, it is this very pacing that allows the emotional beats of the story to resonate so deeply. “Expats” is not a series filled with explosive twists and turns; rather, it is a meditative exploration of personal struggles. Its women actors of-course take the center-stage, but the men in their lives too manage to hold their own against them. Jack Huston who plays Hilary’s husband David, emerges as one of the most flawed yet likable character in the series. When an incident dents their relationship, David begins to have a relationship with a much younger woman as a coping mechanism.

The title “Expats” creates an expectation that the show would explore the dynamics between the expatriate community and the local population, touching upon the complexities of cultural assimilation and identity. But Hong Kong is a mere background character in this story, and only gains more relevance towards the end when Mercy befriends a local girl called Charly (Bonde Sam). There are very few scenes where you see the primary characters struggling in a foreign city, primarily because they haven’t bothered to learn the local language and expect grocery store workers, police officers and doctors to speak English. At times, their lives of privilege are juxtaposed with those of their full-time helpers – women who leave behind their own families to work round-the-clock for wealthy expats.

Wang’s direction imbues “Expats” with a palpable sense of atmosphere, capturing the bustling streets of Hong Kong with a keen eye for detail. From the neon-lit alleyways to the tranquil beaches, each frame is meticulously crafted to evoke the unique energy of the city. From sweeping aerial views to intimate close-ups, the cinematography of “Expats” serves to immerse viewers in the emotional landscape of its characters. Only episode five, which was the longest edition, almost two hour long, felt slightly random in parts due to the introduction of two new characters, whose sub-plot don’t amount to anything conclusive in the finale.

In its final episode, titled “Home,” “Expats” provides a fitting conclusion to the journeys of its central characters. As Margaret, Hilary, and Mercy each embark on new chapters in their lives, there is a sense of both hope and despair that permeates the narrative, leaving viewers with much to ponder in the series’ wake.

Overall, “Expats” is a well crafted series that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. Through its rich storytelling, compelling performances, and stark cinematography, it offers a powerful reflection on the human condition, reminding us of the profound connections that bind us all together in our shared journey through life.

You can stream “Expats” on Prime Video.

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The Persian Version Review – Two Different Movies in One

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“Of course it is banned in Iran!” my friend exclaimed after looking up the 2023 movie “The Persian Version” online. The story follows the fraught relation of an Iranian-American filmmaker with her fierce, strict mother.

Directed and written by Maryam Keshavarz, “The Persian Version” stars Layla Mohammadi as the protagonist, Leila, who is a rebel by nature. Leila comes out to her family and everybody seems to be accepting of her sexuality except her mother Shireen (Niousha Noor). With a brood of eight brothers, Leila feels her mother doesn’t have any love left over for her, however, a flashback story reveals why Shireen is the way she is.

Leila gets a hilarious introductory scene – she is wearing a hijab, but it’s over a bikini with nothing covering her legs, her own take on the burkini. The first half of “The Persian Version” is super fun, with lots of funny moments, and retro flashbacks of Leila’s visits to Iran as a child with her family. There’s a very Bollywood-like dance sequence in the first half, where everybody dances to a popular English song, playing on a cassette that Leila smuggles from America on her plane.

The cinematography in “The Persian Version” is colorful, fun, and very retro. However, watching it can become quite confusing as the story does not unfold in chronological order. There’s no clear demarcation or transition to help you identify if the events unfolding on your screen are current or flashbacks, except for the parts where the characters are distinctly younger and portrayed by different actors.

Some bits of “The Persian Version” reminded me of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel “Embroideries,” which is a fun book about Iranian women – grandmothers, mothers, aunts, girls – swapping stories about their lives. Leila gets a lot of family tea (secrets) from her sassy grandmother, AKA Mamanjoon (Bella Warda), which also includes a ‘scandal’ that led to her parents fleeing Iran. The second half of the film feels like a completely different story, focusing on a teen Shireen (Chiara Stella) and the ‘scandal’ that occurred when she was living with her doctor husband in a remote village in Iran.

Both Layla Mohammadi and Niousha Noor are beautiful as the mother-daughter duo Leila and Shireen. While Leila’s character feels slightly directionless, her mother Shireen emerges as a strong immigrant woman who steps up to take charge of her large family when her husband is hospitalized and the medical bills threaten to put them on the streets. “The Persian Version” also celebrates the spirit and resilience of immigrants in the face of crisis in a foreign land. However, Maryam Keshavarz tries to jam in so many themes in this 1 hour 47 film that she is unable to do justice to any of them. Leila’s career, dreams, and love life are all half-baked, and ultimately, Shireen emerges as the central character, a young ambitious woman who climbs the ladder of success in her career, all the while taking care of her nine children and an ailing husband. Overall, it’s an entertaining slice of Iranian-American life, which feels like an exaggerated circus at times.

You can rent “The Persian Version” on Prime Video.

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For Him Review – Don’t Know Who This Is For

It’s probably best that I don’t rate the Thai series “For Him” because I gave up watching it after episode 7 and am pretty sure it doesn’t get much better. I did try seeing episodes eight and nine and ended up fast-forwarding almost all of it. It’s a twelve-episode show, and it’s hard to imagine how they stretch this story for so long! I shouldn’t even be admitting that I tried watching this series; it feels kind of embarrassing. But there was some chance this could turn out to be a guilty pleasure watch, maybe like the ridiculously wacky Thai show called “Secret Crush on You,” which was also a campus romance. But no, “For Him” has very few comedic moments, some courtesy of the supporting girl characters, but otherwise, it’s just unimaginably boring.

The show is directed by Wayu Pattharawut Sangyahya, who hasn’t been on the director’s seat before, and unfortunately, the inexperience shows right from episode one. The plot follows cute college student (Tor Atagorn Sonyot), who finds out his boyfriend is cheating on him, so they break up. He meets a handsome student called Him (Dew Nitikorn Pankram) at a bar, and Him immediately begins to pursue Nail. At this point, I am wondering if the weird couple name Nail-Him was supposed to be meant as a double-meaning joke. The two begin a casual relationship, which is complicated when Him’s friend begins to chase Nail too and it’s revealed that Him’s ex-boyfriend Blue looked exactly like Him. Intriguing plot twist that could’ve led to something more, but is never explored properly in the series.

So the story in a nutshell is – Him and Nail begin a casual relationship, but Him wants them to be serious, but Him’s friend tries to steal Nail and fails at it. Him and Nail probably live happily ever after. It could’ve have been a short two-episode show or a 30 minute short film, not with the insipid writing and direction. The lead actors are okay-ish, the make-up and styling team do very little to make the lead actors look their best. There’s a sub-plot involving another couple which was completely pointless. Maybe this show might work for a few viewers, but it wasn’t for me at all.

Final verdict – best skip it.

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These 8 Romance Titles Are Wildly Popular

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If you’re just beginning to dip your feet into the world of books and romance sounds like an appealing genre, here is a lot of novels that have been smashing bestsellers. Now, the publishing world is a bit of an enigma, so determining the absolute top-selling romantic books in the world can be challenging due to variations in sales tracking methods, regional popularity, and changing trends. However, these romance novels have achieved widespread acclaim and commercial success over the years:

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: “A Pride and Prejudice variant” is practically a sub-genre in itself, that’s how crazily popular this classic novel is! People just can’t stop making different version of this Austen story which was first published in 1813. Over two centuries later, it still remains one of the most beloved romance stories of all time, which follows the beautiful, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet and the reserved Mr. Darcy, who is handsome but not easily likable.“Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell: Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, this epic romance novel had won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937. It follows the tumultuous relationship between strong-willed Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara and the wealthy cynical Rhett Butler. It’s a really long book, over 1000 pages, so for many readers the length can be quite daunting, so if you don’t think you have the patience for such a long-winding romance, just watch the Clark Gable-Vivien Leigh film that came out in 1939. “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer: Yeah, this doesn’t even seem to need mentioning does it? If you’re reading, you already know about how popular this young adult fantasy romance series is, anyone with an internet interested in books would know about it. “Twilight” was published in 2005, and became a massive hit for its love story between the broody Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, a vampire who doesn’t age.

4.”The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks: This heartwarming love story, published in 1996, follows the enduring romance between Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson, spanning decades, with the couple going through a lot of rough patches. It relies on the classic trope of two people from different social backgrounds – the rich girl and the poor boy – falling for each other and making it work despite the odds. The story explores themes of love, loss, and second chances, resonating with readers who are drawn to heartfelt and emotional storytelling.

5. “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy by E.L. James: Here’s the most fun thing you need to know about this not very literary trilogy – it started out as “Twilight” fan-fiction! If Edward Cullen was a mysterious but crazily handsome vampire, Christian Grey the protagonist of “Fifty Shades of Grey” is a mysterious but crazily handsome businessman. the Despite mixed critical reception, this erotic romance trilogy, beginning with the novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” published in 2011, became a global phenomenon, captivating readers with the passionate relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.

6. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger: This inventive romance novel, published in 2003, follows the love story between Henry DeTamble, a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel involuntarily, and his wife Clare Abshire. It explores the complexities of a relationship between a man who has no control over his time travel abilities, so his wife who must cope with his unpredictable absences and returns.

7. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green: This young adult romance novel, published in 2012, explores the love story between Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two teenagers with cancer who find solace and connection in each other. Even though the story deals with heavy themes, the witty banter and growing friendship between Hazel and August is endearing and it contains a generous amount of of humor, romance, and hope that appeal to a wide audience.

8. “Bridgerton” series by Julia Quinn: This bestselling historical romance series, beginning with the novel “The Duke and I” published in 2000, follows the romantic exploits of the Bridgerton family in Regency-era England, captivating readers with its witty dialogue and charming love stories.

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One Day Review – Leads Dazzle In Exhausting Drama

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

After watching three episodes of the 2024 series “One Day,” I had a lightbulb moment (it’s a phrase we use in India for when someone takes their time to realize/notice/understand something), where I said to myself, “Wait, is this the same ‘One Day’ as the movie with Anne Hathaway?” Of course, a quick online search revealed that both the Hathaway film and this series are based on the same book by David Nicholls. And then I didn’t watch the rest of the series for a while because so much seemed familiar, that the story wasn’t exciting anymore. But eventually I finished the series, and I’ll admit I was in tears in the last episode, courtesy some fantastic acting by Leo Woodall, but that didn’t make me forget how frustrating (and boring) the middle episodes were!

Created by Nicole Taylor, “One Day” spans two decades and is spread over 14 episodes, starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall as the lead pair, Emma and Dexter. Each episode is set on May 15th of different years, from 1988 to the 2000s. Viewers witness their story through snapshots of their lives on this date, capturing their journey from the day they first meet and tracing how they fare in their lives each year.

The first episode is probably the best edition in the series, where the nerdy-cute Emma catches the eye of Dexter, the dashing handsome college heartthrob, for the first time. But it’s the night of their graduation, so despite spending a memorable night together, they must part ways the next day. However, the two continue to remain in each other’s lives, sharing a hot-and-cold relationship that continues to deepen over the years.

Now, since this is a Netflix series with a generous budget, there isn’t much to complain about the cinematography – the world-building is charming, bringing to life the 1990s, even though some parts don’t feel as retro. The music however is the soul of this show, with some of the background tracks making a scene seem a lot more romantic, sweet or poignant than it really is.

Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall are fantastic as Emma and Dexter in “One Day”. Ambika’s Emma is smart, sarcastic, and cocky, although sometimes she doesn’t seem to value herself enough. But she is no pushover either. Leo Woodall is perfect as Dexter. He has the boyish charms of Ryan Gosling from the romantic hit “Notebook,” combined with the playful innocence of Macaulay Culkin from his “Home Alone” days. Dexter is the handsome devil on campus, a Lothario who is dashingly charming, which easily blinds people to his self-centered, shallow ways.

“Why do these two even like each other?” I wondered at one point in the series. In the middle years of their friendship, they are close to miserable in each other’s company. If Dexter weren’t so good-looking, an intelligent, career oriented woman like Emma would never sustain a passionately romantic interest in a guy like him after being in the “friend zone” for years. He is like the forbidden fruit she wants to bite. Besides, there are plenty of instances in “One Day”, where the creators keep reminding viewers that they should excuse Dexter’s behavior because he doesn’t recover from this mother Alison’s (Essie Davis) death. Grief is no excuse for people to be vile to their loved ones, not over a consistent period of time.

And why does Dexter like Emma? Only because she is always around for him, because he knows of her hopeless crush on him. Emma tells him “I don’t want to be the consolation prize!” to Dexter in one of the latter episodes, and even though Dexter believably denies it, he is in denial himself – she is his consolation prize. His love for Emma is a case of “Mere-exposure effect”, she is the only constant friend in his life, who puts up with his shitty behavior over the years, so his close proximity with her makes him fall in love with her. I am not saying that’s wrong, I am just saying – it’s just not the kind of romance that leaves you feeling good.

Some aspects of Emma’s character don’t make sense unless you begin to rationalize them yourself. For example, it’s emphasized from the very beginning that Emma is academically brilliant – she graduates with top honors from a prestigious college. While her decision to tour with a small theater group in a rundown vehicle still makes sense as a young artist’s experiments at life, but her move to start working as a waitress in an awful restaurant in London was bizarre. If she’s not going to pursue her theater or writing dreams, why doesn’t she get a proper job? She does eventually get a teaching job, and so you think – okay, maybe the restaurant job was temporary. But why does she seriously begin to date a wannabe stand-up comedian called Ian (Jonny Weldon), who she clearly isn’t attracted to? Or at least their attraction isn’t palpable at all.

Emma probably deserves better than both Ian and Dexter. Or maybe Emma and Dexter do have an amazing time together through the years, but “One Day” doesn’t choose to show us the better part of their romantic relationship, not until their last few years together. While it’s a great literary trope to show just one day of a couple’s life over the years, it’s only able to show us where their relationship is at, not what it really is.

The last episode of the series tries to wash away all the flaws with their story with a heartwarming reunion party of sorts with all the major characters, the last minutes signaling the importance of friendship, family, and starting over after loss. It will be sure to make every movie/series crier cry, but like I said, it still didn’t make me forget the disappointing plot progression of the tale. Overall, the series manages to be an entertaining watch due to the earnest and brilliant performances by the cast.

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream “One Day” on Netflix.

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Masters of the Air Episode 6 Review

Overview: Follows the experiences of American Air Force officers leading the 100th Bomb Group in England for an offensive against Germany. Created by John Orloff, who’s co-produced the series with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the 2024 World War II series “Masters of the Air” is based on a book by Don Miller.

Part six of the series picks up from the tense ending of episode five – with Major John Egan landing in the Westphalia region of Germany. While he stealthily attempts to hide from the enemies, it’s like trying to camouflage a pen in a stack of needles. So Egan’s section in this episode is quite intense, and will have viewers on the edge of their seat, especially if they’ve grown to like the character (I have) by now.

Episode six simultaneously also explores the fates of Major Robert ‘Rosie’ Rosenthal (Nate Mann), the only pilot who gets flies his crew safely back in their last mission, and Lt. Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle), who loses his best friend Bubbles in the same mission. While Rosie and his surviving crew are sent on a retreat of sorts to recover from the horrors they experienced mid-air, Lt. Harry Crosby gets to take a small break at Oxford, where he meets an interesting British officer.

This was a slow, somber edition, which juxtaposes Egan’s brush with Nazi brutality in Germany with the breaks his luckier colleagues get to take to forget their war for a minute. “Some of the men were coming undone. They’d seen too many planes blow up in front of them. Too many friends killed,” Crosby says while narrating his experiences. However, while Crosby is able to take it easy at Oxford, Rosenthal is restless during his break which is practically forced upon him; he would rather be up in the air and ‘finish the job’ than pretend like a war isn’t going on. It’s an intriguing insight into how individuals react uniquely to identical situations. Some would be more than glad to take a breather from the guns, bombs, and deaths, while others fail to see the point if they must return to the front and confront violence once again.

Six episodes down, “Masters of Air” has settled into a rhythm, alternating between intense dogfights and more contemplative episodes focusing on character development. While some viewers may find the lack of a clear protagonist disorienting, I’m enjoying the series precisely for this reason. The shifting focus on different characters provides multiple perspectives and keeps the plot dynamic.

You can stream “Masters of the Air” on Apple TV+.

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Elemental Review – Flashy, Kinda Basic, But Fun in Parts

Rating: 3 out of 5.

“Sorry, Buddy, elements don’t mix!“

Ember is a fire girl, Wade is a water boy, raised in different worlds, the two are drawn towards each other, but fire and water aren’t supposed to mix. So what happens?

Created by Peter Sohn, John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh, the 2023 Disney-Pixar movie is set in a unique fantasy world where elements like water, air, fire, and earth live like humans. The film begins with a fire couple called Bernie and Cinder arriving in the big city and facing difficulty renting a place because they aren’t welcome as outsiders. Thus, from the very first minute, the film establishes itself as a metaphorical story about immigrants arriving in big cities like New York for a better life and facing discrimination and prejudice. Bernie runs a grocery shop, with his daughter Ember aiming to inherit it one day. However, when city inspector Wade—a water creature—accidentally discovers multiple violations on the premises, Ember embarks on a mission to save her father’s shop from closure.

Wade turns out to be a wealthy, cheerful young man who cries a lot, but it’s supposed to be a healthy sign for water creatures— their waterworks are always ready. Wade is always ready to cry at the drop of a hat, and ironically, the crying scenes in the film were the funniest. Meanwhile, Bernie is portrayed as a fiery, short-tempered beautiful girl, initially appearing super excited to inherit the family business. However, she suddenly declares it’s not what she wants. It’s okay for her to change her mind, the creators fail to convincingly develop this change of heart in the story.

While the designs for the elemental creatures are pretty basic, the animation shines best in creating a flashy, colorful world that looks like a mash of magical mythical cities from various cultures mixed with modern aesthetics. The result is a giddily flashy, colorful utopia, which, if the palette were any brighter, might maybe burn your eyes.

The whole “elements as humans” plot is quite original and fun, and parts of the movie are very entertaining and cute. However, overall, there’s just something that doesn’t feel quite fantastical about the story, despite the very obvious fantasy elements. The background music is distinctly Indian in several sections, with tabla beats standing out. However, a lot of soothing western pop tunes also run through the film; sometimes the music heightens a particular scene, other times it just feels random.

In the end, Ember and Wade have a very typical story – two people from different worlds who aren’t supposed to get along, but they fall in love anyway. Overall, “Elemental” is a cutesy animated film, with a very basic plot, but super flashy animation.

Rating: 6 on 10. You can watch “Elemental” on Disney Plus.

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Expats Episode 6 Review

Created by Lulu Wang, the 2024 series “Expats” is an adaptation of Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel, “The Expatriates.” The series delves into the lives of three American women residing in Hong Kong, each grappling with their distinct and profound existential crises.

Okay, so two new characters were introduced in Episode 5 of “Expats,” and I was hoping for something more concrete to come out of their sub-plots. If you were too, then prepare to be disappointed. However, in the larger scale of things, Episode 6, which serves as the season finale, was a poignant enough edition that puts all its focus on the primary protagonists—Margaret, Mercy, and Hilary—like it should have.

Margaret (Nicole Kidman) and family start preparing to leave Hong Kong, Hilary Starr (Sarayu Blue) flies to Los Angeles to visit her father who is in the hospital, while Mercy (Ji-young Yoo) grapples with the prospect of motherhood and the consequences that comes with it.

Titled “Home,” Episode Six stays true to its theme, delving into what home and family mean to each of the principal protagonists. Lulu Wang and the team capture various snapshots of life in Hong Kong: its daunting concrete buildings, bustling markets, posh sea-facing restaurants, and the never-ending stairs and streets winding around its steep slopes. There’s so much color and life that for a moment, you realize “Expats” could have been a lot more vibrant. However, it doesn’t fully capture the cultural melting pot and the differences these expats encounter in the city – that’s also because these characters remain in their own detached silos of emotions, grief, and personal interests.

Sarayu Blue finishes off the season finale strongest as Hilary Starr, who is ready to start her life afresh, minus her husband David. Sarayu delivers Hilary’s emotions and dialogues with iron conviction, from confronting her father over a rocky childhood to ending things with David and coming to terms with Mercy’s shadow in her life. Sarayu shines as the strong but flawed Hilary. Nicole Kidman is ghostly towards the end as Margaret, who feels reduced to a hollow shell when faced with the prospect of leaving Hong Kong; she equated the move to abandoning her lost son, Gus.

One of the most subtle and satisfying sequence in this episode is the sharp reality check served to Mercy by her new girlfriend Charly (Bonde Sham). Charly bluntly reminds Mercy of all her privileges, including an American degree (from a prestigious college that too), American passport, and tells her to stop using “I am cursed” as an excuse for all her pitfalls. Even though Mercy isn’t likable as a character, Ji-young Yoo convincingly portrays the lost, self-centered young woman, who prefers to run from responsibilities.

From the charming cinematography to the curated background music that accompanies each scene in the series, episode six of “Expats” is tense, well-paced, and introspective. All protagonists head towards a new direction in their lives, and there’s a sense of both hope and despair as the curtains come down on the last chapter of this series.

You can stream “Expats” on Prime Video.

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The Marvels Review – Flerkens Steal The Spotlight

Directed by Nia DaCosta, the 2023 fantasy-action film “The Marvels” is a lot like “Thor Love and Thunder” – funny, chaotic, but way more random. The story follows Kree leader Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), who gets her hand on a quantum band, an ancient artifact with the power to manipulate space and time. As Dar-Been begins to exploit her newfound powers, it leads to unexpected results, prime among them being Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), discovering that her powers have become entangled with her super-fan Kamala Khan, AKA Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and her niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). The trio bands together to stop Dar-Been from wreaking havoc on planets.

The first 25 minutes of the film are amusingly entertaining, with the lead trio swapping places each time they use their powers, before they eventually realize they are entangled. So, Kamala Khan is just having a regular day, daydreaming in her bedroom when she suddenly finds herself transported to space, while Carol Danvers teleports to Kamala’s room, which is full of Captain Marvel posters. Iman Vellani is exceedingly energetic and cute as Kamala/Ms. Marvel, and she hilariously captures Kamala’s starstruck behavior around Captain Marvel. I don’t understand why Carol Danvers is made to behave like a chirpy Gen-Z teen in the film though, and while Brie Larson manages to pull the part off, it was just weird to see her act like she is in high-school. Teyonah Parris doesn’t have as much screen-time as the other two, and even when she shares the screen with them, she is eclipsed by the other superheroes.

But you know who absolutely steals the show? Goose, Captain Marvel’s pet cat, who is actually an alien species called Flerkens. In this installment, Goose gets plenty of scenes, including a ridiculously funny climactic one with “Memories” playing in the background, the famous track from “Cats” the musical. If you’ve been following all the MCU movies, you’d have seen the cat spew giant tentacles out of its mouth and swallow things bigger than its size. And for those who aren’t fans of cats, well, they’ll have a big reason not to like “The Marvels” either.

The cinematography of this film was a mixed bag. Since the plot involves the Marvels traveling across space to different planets and places, there are a lot of special effects, most of which looked like they were from a fantasy game. The planet Hala, inhabited by the Kree, resembled DC’s Gotham, albeit bleaker and darker due to its sun no longer shining. A new planet called Aladna is introduced in “The Marvels,” boasting the most stunning set in the film. It’s a colorful, beautiful, beach-like planet that could belong to a Disney Princess movie. Park Seo-joon has a small cameo as Aladna’s Prince, which unfortunately is too short and could have been a little longer (like just 2-3 more minutes) to be more entertaining.

Just as the quantum band bends space and time, the writers of ‘The Marvels’ bend logic throughout its 1 hour 45-minute runtime. Here’s the simplest plot hole: in the first fifteen minutes, when the Marvels swap places, Kamala and Monica even swap outfits, but this outfit swapping stops the next few times. Or well, here’s a bigger one: Captain Marvel is referred to as ‘The Annihilator’ by Dar-Benn and other Kree inhabitants due to her fearsome powers. Yet, there are sequences of her battling regular alien soldiers who, ideally, should perish with just one hit. Anyway… the best way to enjoy watching this superhero adventure is to sit back, not question things, and just have fun along the way.

Rating: 6 on 10. You can stream “The Marvels” on Disney Hotstar.

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The Room Upstairs – Book Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“It was 1998, the year of Britney Spears and Furbies. My home was Birmingham, England. I was ten years old, and I was happy.”

Martin Gable recalls the horrors his family had to face when they unwittingly bring in a demonic entity into their home when he was ten years old in the horror novel “The Room Upstairs” by Iain Rob Wright. The experience scars him forever because even though his family was struggling financially, and he didn’t have the best relationship with his mercurial teen sister Sarah, at least he was a content boy who had a ‘cool’ best friend, a mother who cherished him, and a stepfather he got along really well with.

Almost 200 pages long, “The Room Upstairs” is an easy-to-follow story with limited characters and a simple narrative since the plot is narrated through the eyes of a preteen boy. Martin is a regular little boy who loves watching wrestling on TV, drinking soda, and dreaming of McDonald’s. Things take a terrible turn for his family when they buy some things from a car boot sale (that’s what yard sales are called in the UK), and Martin is the first one to make a connection with the car boot sale date and the awful violent events that occur in his home, beginning with the appearance of a mysterious door.

I like how the story doesn’t take place in an isolated place or in some crumbling old mansion; instead, Martin’s house is in a packed neighborhood, with their neighbors and friends only a call away. However, it’s a mystery man who shows up to help Martin and his family out of their terrifying ordeal as more and more people start to violently die around them and the police begin to get mighty suspicious.

While “The Room Upstairs” isn’t very scary, it does have some uncomfortable violent scenes that might make readers flinch. Maybe I am too used to watching a lot of horror movies to have a book give me jitters, but since the author uses simple language and doesn’t waste time on tedious descriptions, it turned out to be a quick and entertaining enough read. The climax concludes on a conclusive and optimistic note, where Martin, now much older, utilizes his experience with the sinister entity that traumatized his family to assist others in overcoming their own monsters.

Rating: 3 on 5. “The Room Upstairs” is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

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