Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 133
November 25, 2023
Ancient Voice – Short Horror Film Review
Inspired by Turkish legends, the short horror film “Ancient Voice” unfolds like a VLOG by a paranormal investigator. The film, directed by Can Sagir and co-written with Erdeniz Tunç, is a quick foray into the supernatural, taking the audience on a journey through a small town with eerie mysteries.
The story centers around Efe (Samet Kiziltas), a town resident intrigued by the discovery of dead animals in an abandoned house. Curious about the potential connections to local lore and legends, Efe teams up with Zeynep (Berna Toy), a journalism student, to explore the spooky house. Little do they know that their quest for answers will lead to dangerous consequences.
With a runtime of just five minutes, “Ancient Voice” dedicates a significant portion to setting up the basic plot. However, the actual supernatural elements receive only a ‘blink-and-miss’ appearance, leaving viewers wanting more as the end credits roll. The film does incorporate classic horror elements, featuring an abandoned house and sightings of dead creatures. These elements contribute to the eerie atmosphere, setting the stage for the unfolding mystery. The background music, simple yet effective, builds suspense and complements the visuals.
While the attempt to tell a horror story rooted in local legends is commendable, the film’s brevity limits the potential for a more immersive experience. A few extra minutes could have allowed for a more thorough exploration of the supernatural aspects. The climactic conflict feels rushed, and the ending is somewhat cliched. A more nuanced resolution could have added depth and originality to the narrative, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.
Rating: 2.5 on 5.
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Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 8 Review
Yor’s latest mission to protect Olka and baby until they get onto another ship is still ongoing in “Spy x Family” season two. Before Yor can ensure Olka boards the next ship, they are surrounded by a horde of dangerous assassins eager to kill them all. Will they be able to make it?
Read: Spy x Family Episode 1 Review for plot overview
Titled “The Symphony Upon The Ship/Sister’s Herbal Tea,” episode eight of Spy x Family starts off with a tense scene of Yor trying to stealthily get Olka to the rendezvous point, but unfortunately, an enemy is able to pick up their scene and track them. The episode is almost wholly focused on Yor Forger’s fight with the deadly assassins gathered on the luxury cruise ship to collect the hefty bounty on Olka’s head. A few brief scenes feature Anya and Loid going to see fireworks and then having a good time while the sky lights up with pyrotechnics. Yor takes advantage of the loud sounds from the fireworks’ event to finish off her opponents.
While the animation for “Spy x Family” has always been on the simpler side, this edition had some clever albeit random sequences where Yor’s bloody battles are juxtaposed with scenes of her colleagues having fun onboard the ship. The pace slows down a bit in the second-half, when during a crucial life-and-death scene, Yor begins to once again have an existential crisis about why she is still doing such a dangerous job. Her ruminations were similar to what fans saw in episode 7 “Who Is this Mission for?”, so it felt slightly repetitive, but this time around, Yor finally has more clarity on what she really wants to do.
This edition was darker than most other “Spy x Family” episodes, with few comedic scenes and a lot more slicing, dicing, and blood splatters. Surprisingly, the cruise ship adventures aren’t over just yet, which means we still don’t know if Olka and child will attain their freedom. There could be more twists in the next episode, although it seems unlikely now. The end credits roll in earlier than usual, and the “Sister’s Herbal Tea” story is a post-credit filler about Yuri Briar recalling what it was like to grow up with his elder sister Yor.
You can stream Spy x Family on Netflix.
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Dewdrop Book Review – Super Cute
Dewdrop is a 40-page illustrated children’s book by Kay O’Neill and it was available for free on my Kindle Unlimited subscription so I didn’t think twice before getting it, since Kay’s works are usually easy to read and almost always cute to look at.
A pop of bright colors and fantastical animals, “Dewdrop” is about a bunch of animals preparing for a sports fair celebration and how Dewdrop the cheery protagonist encourages everyone to have fun and do their best. Dewdrop is an adorable pink creature, who loves to take naps, eat worms and do cheer-leading.
This is a book for 5-9 year olds and is definitely perfect for them, with positive encouraging messages about how kids should try to enjoy what they are doing and not take undue pressure – it’s all about participation. If you are looking to gift a bright uplifting picture book for kids, pick this up. ‘Aquicorn Cove’ by Kay O’Neill however is my favorite title by the author-illustration, which has a very Ghibli-like magic to it, which is twice Dewdrop’s length and absolutely beautiful.
Rating: 5 on 5.
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November 24, 2023
Flora and Son Review – A Dusty Guitar Binds It All
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Being a mother is hard enough, but the difficult level goes way up if you are a high-school drop out and become a mom at seventeen. So 30-something Flora, a Dubliner who lives in a shoe-box size home, struggles to keep her teen son Max out of juvenile prison. She fixes up a guitar fished out from a dumpster and gifts it to Max as a way to keep him creatively distracted but he rejects the present. So, the guitar becomes Flora’s new refuge and eventually becomes a bridge between the feuding mother-son.
Written and directed by John Carney, known for “Modern Love”, the 2023 music based film “Flora and Son” stars Eve Hewson as the titular Flora, who cannot decide if she wants to be a frivolous party girl or a responsible mom to her delinquent teen. Orén Kinlan plays the rebellious Max, who is vociferously vocal about hating his mother and prefers spending time as his dad Ian (Jack Reynor), a struggling musician. “Me whole life you don’t get me anything, then you come home with this dusty piece of shit a day after me birthday and expect me to turn into Ed fucking Sheeran?” is his strong worded rejection of his mother’s gift (guitar).
Eve Hewson is feisty as Flora, a young woman grappling to find equilibrium between her vivacious party-girl persona and the responsibilities of motherhood, often resorting to escapism or sheer childish antics herself to evade reality. Eve Hewson emotes a whole range of emotions with just her eyes, be it an animal-like lust for a stranger at a club, angst for not being able to rein in her son, or a puppy-like smitten face for her new guitar teacher, the actor captures Flora’s capricious personality with engaging vigour. Which brings one to the guitar teacher – Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Jeff, a failed American musician who lives in LA and offers online Guitar classes. Flora signs up for his class and their first class is ridiculously boring, with the interactions sounding like Flora signed up for some spiritual retreat. But Jeff is cute, so Flora keeps coming back for more and learns the Guitar with an impressive speed, although, their interactions make it hard to believe she learned anything at all!
“Flora and Son” picks up pace only after the first 30 minutes and has a much better second-half, where the characters finally start having more realistic interactions than phoney scripted conversations. Flora and Max’s Tom & Jerry like relationship remains central to the story, even though the plot threatens to become a soppy long-distance romance between Flora and Jeff. It’s hilarious how after mocking Ed Sheera, Max ends up writing a very Sheeran-like pop love song called “I’ll Be the One”, which was a very cute teenage number and Flora even convinces Max into making a music video out of it. The mother-son bonding over the video was the sweetest scene in the film. However, it’s not all hunky-dory for the family and prison seems to become a real threat as Max refuses to mend his ways.
The original soundtrack by John Carney and Gary Clark is the heart of the tale as music emerges as the biggest hero in “Flora and Son”. It acts as a slow balm that helps repair Flora’s broken relationship with her son and gives both more direction in their life. A track called “Meet in the Middle” that Flora sings with the guitar teacher Jeff on a terrace video call had a very “La La Land” (the 2016 musical which received 11 Oscar nominations) charm to it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt sings and plays like a professional in the film, while Eve Hewson’s voice is rawer and in sync with her character.
From starting out as slow story about a trashy clueless mother in constant battle against her teenager, “Flora and Son” lives up to its title, delivering a quirky emotional mother-son tale with a dash of romance on the sides. While the best of stories start to fizzle out by the climax, John Carney’s musical bows out on a high point, with a fun live performance of an original song by the protagonists.
Rating: 7 on 10. You can stream “Flora and Son” on Apple TV.
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Weathering Short Film Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
No natural phenomenon comes close to being as painful as giving birth to a human, and the grief of losing a child is incomparable. So when journalist Gemina loses her baby in labor, she is inconsolable, her grief intensified by the terror of a stranger lurking in her house, trying to kill her.
Directed and written by Megalyn Echikunwoke, the 2023 short horror film “Weathering” stars Alexis Louder as protagonist Gemina, who wages a lonely battle against heartbreak and a potential intruder who means her harm. The film starts off with visceral scenes in the hospital of Gemina bleeding out as the doctors scramble to save her and the baby. The pregnancy plot was slightly reminiscent of the short story “Zikora” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which also starts off with a Black woman struggling to give birth. But while Zokora focused on its heroine’s turbulent relationship with her domineering Nigerian mother, Gemina’s problems are more internal.
With a runtime of 20 minutes, “Weathering” is both crisp and tense for large parts. Alexis Louder delivers a compelling performance as the vulnerable Gemina, whose hopes of holding her baby in her arms are shattered, leading her to unravel emotionally. Despite its limited duration, the movie skillfully explores the physical and psychological toll that a stillbirth takes on women.
In addition to Gemina’s personal trauma, her inability to focus on her next journalistic piece adds another layer of complexity to her problems. The film introduces an element of suspense as the audience wonders who is trying to attack her, and it also delves into how those close to her attempt to take advantage of her fragile state of mind. Avid thriller/horror fans would be able to predict the big climactic twist beforehand, it’s a well-used trope for such stories. Despite the predictable climax and an underwhelming generic ending scene, “Weathering” is a good one-time watch for thriller fans.
Rating: 6 on 10. You can stream the short film on Netflix.
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November 23, 2023
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 18 Review
Hope you are here after Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 episode 17. Minor spoilers ahead
And finally, the graph dips. After the explosive “Thunderclap” editions that included Sukuna versus Gojo and Sukuna versus Mahoraga fights, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 18 might not feel as epic, but is a powerful push forward in the series.
Titled “Right and Wrong”, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 18 opens with series lead Yuji Itadori slowly trudging along Shibuya’s alleys, after he takes back control of his body from the dastardly Sukuna. As Yuji struggles to come to terms with the devastation caused by Sukuna, the episode switches attention to Nanami Kento’s fate. The jujutsu sorcerer is brutally battered, half-burnt and on the throes of death, yet he continues to fight cursed spirits in Shibuya. Fans of the series who haven’t been reading the original manga by Gege Akutami might have been led to believe that Nanami was killed due to Gojo’s lethal attack in the past. So, his re-emergence at the end of “Thunderclap Part II” would’ve come as a huge revelation for some fans.
The animation is visibly simpler in this edition, however, there’s a riveting juxtaposition of scenery in the first half, where Nanami imagines an quiet life for himself in the beaches of Malaysia while fighting the grotesque creatures in Shibuya. Nanami’s final stand unfolds like a poetic dance of death – a nostalgic piano piece plays in the background as the blood-soaked exhausted Nanami butchers cursed spirits, and his killing motions are mirrored in an alternate scenario, where an unscathed Nanami is swaying happily against calming blue waters of a beach. The sequence is heart-wrenching.
“I’ll build a house on an empty beach. The books that I have bought but never read have piled up like a mountain. I want to read them slowly, as if I’m retrieving the time lost”
Nanami Kento
The second half of “Right and Wrong” sees Yuji charges against the devilish Mahito, who is on par with the Joker from Batman comics in terms of sadistic villainy. Mahito’s powers don’t make for a great visual spectacle, the animated sequences aren’t the best either, so their battle lacks the firepower of the previous face-offs. But Mahito’s creepy smile, larger than life personality, devious tactics and childish antics make the fight with Yuji Itadori entertaining.
A lot of the animated sequences were drenched in darker tones this time, marking a significant change in the color palette. This complements both the grim nature of the Shibuya arc and the timeline, as it is past 11 pm. Swiftly paced and packed with multiple savage fights, the episode leaves viewers in the midst of not one but two major showdowns. Not only is the Yuji versus Mahito chapter far from over, but nobody seems to have gotten close to the sealed Satoru Gojo, since there’s no update on Mei Mei’s encounter with Pseudo Geto. On the bright side, a whole lot of action, twists, and surprises still await Jujutsu Kaisen fans.
You can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Netflix or CrunchyRoll.
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See You On Venus Review – Bright Palette, Bland Plot
A teenager is about to jump to his death when a spirited girl stops him and then barges into his home uninvited, offering him an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain for 10 days. Yeah, the teen romantic drama “See You On Venus” could prove to be a little too silly for some of us. Reverse the genders and you have a creepy stalker on your hands.
Directed by Joaquín Llamas and written by Victoria Vinuesa, the 2023 romance stars Alex Aiono as protagonist Kyle, who was in a fatal car-pile-up that killed one of his classmates and crippled a close friend. While Alex escapes unhurt, he loses his zeal for life and even ignores a coveted college scholarship. Just when he is about to give up everything, he meets Mia (Virginia Gardner), an energetic annoying girl his age, who stops him from killing himself and then takes him on a road-trip. So the story follows how Alex and Mia start out as complete strangers and slowly fall in love as they travel together. Alex is the serious, ruminative male lead battling trauma, and he doesn’t even attempt to make any conversation with Mia at first, but the boisterous, overenthusiastic girl manages to win him over. (Obviously.)
Thanks to the “Spain road trip” plot, the cinematography of the film is bright, beautiful, with lots of scenic shots of tourist places. Getting to look at some of the pretty picturesque backgrounds was the most enjoyable thing about this movie, because the plot is absurdly optimistic. The writers stuff a whole bunch of cliches into the tale, including the far-fetched idea that some sun, sand and a blooming romance can cure away crippling depression in less than two weeks. If it only were that easy.
A “Lion”-like plot (the 2016 movie starring Dev Patel & Nicole Kidman) involving Mia’s attempt to find her birth mother makes things interesting, but in the end, when an emotional re-union does take place, viewers don’t even get to hear what transpires. Suddenly, Mia’s life-long dream takes a backseat over her newfound romance for a guy she’s known for a few days. Besides, Alex Aiono and Virginia Gardner have very little romantic chemistry as leads Kyle and Mia. The awkward silences between them were a lot more convincing than their contrived affection. The story would’ve been a lot more likable if it was a “strangers to friends” tale, than the exaggerated “strangers to lovers” progression.
Cliches can be cute and entertaining in some romantic films, “See You On Venus” wasn’t it. With a minor plot tweaks, the movie would’ve been a lot better.
Rating: 5 on 10. You can stream “See You On Venus” on Netflix.
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A Good Day to be a Dog Episode 7 Review
A Good Day to be a Dog’ story so far: The protagonist, Han Hae-na (Park Gyuyoung), accidentally kisses her colleague Jin Seo-won (Cha Eun-Woo), triggering a curse that transforms her into a dog from 12 am to 6 am every day. The only way to break the curse is for the same person to kiss her while she’s in her dog form. However, Jin Seo-won is afraid of dogs, so Han Hae-na tries to help him overcome his fear. Meanwhile, her protective sister Han Yoo-na (Ryu Abel) keeps coming up with schemes to end the curse as soon as they can.
Viewers finally get to see the dreaded mom both Han Hae-na and Han Yoo-na are so scared of in episode seven of “A Good Day to be a Dog.” With only ten days left for Hae-na to end her curse, failing which she will remain in her dog form forever, her mother (Jung Young-Joo) demands to know who her boyfriend is and even wants a meeting set up between them. Yoo-na convinces Seo-won’s nephew Choi Yul (Yoon Hyun-Soo) to be her sister’s fake boyfriend and hilarity ensues.
While half the episode maintains a lighthearted tone, it also continues a significant twist from episode six, where a jilted ex-boyfriend of Yoo-na takes pictures of Hae-na and Seo-won together. As it turns out, he uses the photo to publish an article about a family suffering from a curse that turns them into dogs, and a shady journalist shows interest in pursuing the crazy story. Kim Min Seok plays the new entry Kang Eun Hwan, the journalist/antagonist for this edition, and is instantly unlikable; so that’s a job well-done.
Yoon Hyun-Soo is effortlessly clueless and endearing as Choi Yul, who has to pretends to be his teacher’s peer and lover. There are also some romantic scenes between the lead pair, although a rather clichéd scene where both of them struggle to tell each other what’s on their minds drags the pace of the episode down in the second half. Hae-na literally stops Seo-Won while he is still mid-sentence, clearly trying hard to say something important to her. Not only does she stop him to say her own piece, but after interrupting him, she rushes to the bathroom to rehearse what she wants to say. Seriously?
Anyway, except for the slow bits, it’s entertaining to watch the growing chemistry between Park Gyuyoung and Cha Eun-Woo, whose characters are steadily getting closer with each passing episode. Cha Eun-Woo very convincingly emotes the love-struck look whenever Seo-Won is around Hae-na. I wish there were some more flashback scenes to explain their historical past and connection to Lee Bo-kyeom (Lee Hyun-woo). Unfortunately, the history teacher Lee and the new mysterious Shaman character get very little space in this edition, so viewers will have to wait to get more insights into what is brewing between the two. Meanwhile, there’s also tension and suspense over whether the journalist will be able to expose the dog curse in Hae-na’s family.
You can stream A Good Day to be a Dog on Viki.
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November 22, 2023
Stamped from the Beginning Review
The etymology of a word can reveal much about history and our world. For instance, the term “slave” finds its roots in the Latin word “sclāvus,” as the Slavs were frequently captured and traded as slaves in medieval Europe. The transatlantic slave trade involving Africans transported to America began in the early 16th century. My awareness of this etymology deepened after watching the Netflix documentary “Stamped from the Beginning,” which is based on Ibram X. Kendi’s non-fiction book of the same name. Although, slavery has been around for ages, extending back to biblical times, the Old Testament recounts the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt for several centuries.
Directed by Roger Ross Williams, “Stamped from the Beginning” is akin to a non-fiction feature film. Animated recreations of historical events are seamlessly woven together with expert interviews, file footage and photographs, offering viewers a concise history of slavery in America and the enduring prevalence of anti-black ideas in the country. For anybody who hasn’t read extensively on the subject, the documentary provides a lot of food for thought, forcing you to take a closer look at some historical figures of America.
With a concise 90-minute runtime, it’s understandably challenging for the makers to encapsulate the entirety of Ibram X. Kendi’s 600-page book. Nevertheless, they commendably select riveting accounts to illustrate the insidious nature of anti-Black ideas in the country. However, inclusion of historical data, graphs, and info-graphics would have enhanced the documentary’s coverage of violence against Black Americans. Except for a brief graph with the headline “Black Americans Are Killed by Police at a Much Higher Rate than Americans,” lacking specific numbers or percentages, there is a scarcity of statistics. Had it not been for that fleeting graph, the omission might have gone unnoticed. Nonetheless, the documentary effectively utilizes news clippings to underscore numerous instances of unprovoked Black killings, highlighting the undeniable white privilege prevalent in America.
The documentary lays emphasis on the crucial role played by Black women in exposing the horrific treatment they endured at the hands of their white masters. The creators illustrate Harriet Jacobs’ life, the African-American woman who wrote the book, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”. It was published in 1861 and stands out as the first-hand account that vividly illustrated how women in her position faced relentless sexual harassment and abuse from their owners. All these accounts are accompanied by fitting background tracks, all of which are by Black artists, creating a poignant and resonant atmosphere throughout the documentary.
Overall, “Stamped from the Beginning” is just about the right duration, with well-spoken interviewees and is a good place to start for foreign viewers looking to learn about the history of slavery in America.
Rating: 7 on 10. You can stream it on Netflix.
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Leo Review – A Musical Lizard with Sage Advice for Kids
“Don’t cry. Crying is for weaklings. Don’t cry. It’s lazy and dumb. Dry those tears; they make you look ugly. Suck it up, you mustn’t succumb.” – That doesn’t sound like a very good pep talk for a kid, does it? Those are the lyrics from a song in the 2023 animated musical “Leo”, but before you fume – it’s only meant as a joke. After the song, a kid reads out the importance of crying and how it releases oxytocin and endorphins, which makes one feel better. So, Leo endorses “let it go”, Elsa style.
Directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim, “Leo” has been written by Robert Smigel, Adam Sandler, and Paul Sado. The musical follows a 74-year-old lizard, Leo (voiced by Adam Sandler), who has spent all his life in a classroom and now wants to escape to live his life before he finally dies. As Leo plots his escape with his turtle friend Squirtle (Bill Burr), a new substitute teacher forces her students to take turns caring for one of the class pets at their homes. Thus begins Leo’s real adventures, every weekend he spends quality time with one 11-year-old, listening to their problems and helping them out.
So Leo basically serves as a therapist for the kids, telling each one that they are the only one who can talk to him, to make each child feel “special.” The script navigates various kid problems, poking fun at helicopter parents (literally, with one kid having a drone following him), humbling bratty kids, and empowering children with different struggles. If nothing else, “Leo” is a warm albeit comedic look at how children have big feelings and a listening ear helps them go a long way. Ms. Malkin (Cecilia Strong), the strict substitute teacher, serves as the antagonist whom all the children fear; her character feels like it was inspired by Roald Dahl’s malevolent Trunchbull in Matilda.
The animation is bright, cute, and charming in bits and pieces; however, the lack of effort in some of the story’s minor characters is pretty glaring. For instance, some zoo animals that appear in the second half look like they are out of an early 2000s animated movie. “Leo” largely relies on the character’s “wisdom” and Adam Sandler‘s gruff, guttural old man voice to power the story. Because for a musical, the songs are incredibly mediocre despite the funny and witty lyrics. But that could’ve been deliberate – it’s a lizard and eleven-year-olds singing their heart out and they needn’t be perfect.
With a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes, I’m uncertain if “Leo” can maintain pace with the short attention spans of its primary target audience – pre-teen viewers. The second-half feels stretched out and could’ve used more imagination or should’ve been trimmed. Nevertheless, it succeeds in being an enjoyable kids’ film that even an older audience might find chuckle-worthy.
You can stream “Leo” on Netflix.
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