Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 136

The Garfield Movie Trailer Made Monday Better

We all know Garfield as the lasagna-loving, nap-taking, sarcastic tabby cat extraordinaire! With a penchant for lounging around, an aversion to Mondays, and a talent for transforming any ordinary day into a hilarious adventure. So it’s not a surprise that Sony Pictures entertainment dropped the official trailer for Garfield on a Monday.

The 2-minute, 52-second trailer starts with a super-cute flashback of how Garfield met John as a sweet little kitten. The first few seconds actually seemed a little odd because “sweet” is rarely the first word that would come to fans’ minds when thinking of the spunky cat. But fret not; within seconds, the mood of the trailer changes, and we meet Garfield as we know him—the lazy cat who is the boss of John and not the other way around. And in an interesting twist, the movie focuses on Garfield going on an unexpected adventure with his dad Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson).

While the animation may appear overly bright and cartoonish, it’s the characters and voice acting that promise to make the movie worth watching. Chris Pratt has lent his voice to the cat, and he sounds fantastic. Fans can expect the signature humor and charm they love from Garfield, and hopefully, the movie will deliver just that.

A Breeze of Love Review – Light Romance

Ban Dong Wook returns to college after a hiatus caused by chronic insomnia, with little interest in making new friends. However, he decides to join the basketball team to spend time with the captain, Lee Do Hyun, the only person around whom Dong Wook can fall asleep. Despite the team’s need for a new member to compete in tournaments, the usually friendly Do Hyun is hesitant about keeping Dong Wook on the team. A series of flashbacks unveils their turbulent high-school history.

Adapted from a webtoon called “Weather Forecast Love” by Gwendolyn and Samyoung, Korean series “A Breeze of Love” stars Shin Jeong You and Woo Ji Han as protagonists Ban Dong Wook and Lee Do Hyun respectively. While the story seems to be a “enemies to lovers” romance at first, there is more to the tale than just that. The primary plot, where the lead can only sleep in peace when Lee Do Hyun is near him, might remind some fans of the Korean series ‘Color Rush,’ which explored the idea of people seeing colors only when they are around their ‘soulmates’.

True to its title, the cinematography of ‘A Breeze of Love’ is bright, peachy, and boasts a palette befitting a summer romance. In contrast to many similar shows produced on a modest budget, where students participating in any kind of game often seem rehearsed and artificial, this series impressively showcases meticulously choreographed basketball scenes. The basketball subplot is convincingly executed, though Ban Dong Wook and Lee Do Hyun appear more like glistening models than sweaty, exhausted young college students after a hectic match.

Shin Jeong You’s character Ban Dong Wook is the typical handsome, broody protagonist, however, Woo Ji Han is a lot more endearing as basketball fanatic Do Hyun, whose character is first introduced as a lively, confident athlete, but he is a lot more timid, nervous in the high-school flashbacks. Woo Ji Haan smoothly shifts between the high-school and older personas of Do Hyun, while Ban Dong Wook’s character doesn’t see a lot of change or growth. The school settings were a lot like “A Shoulder To Cry On”, another webtoon turned drama, however, “A Breeze of Love” is a lot less angst-y in its tone. Shin Jeong You and Woo Ji Han make an incredibly good-looking onscreen couple and their chemistry is also pretty much on point.

Kim Hyun Jae plays Yang Seung Joo, a basketball player who has a crush on Do Hyun, but his subplot wasn’t fully fleshed out, and it seems like the actor could have used more screen time. Lee Seo Bin portrays the cheery Kim Hye In, who convinces Ban Dong Wook to join the college basketball team, unwittingly acting as a catalyst for the reunion between him and Do Hyun. The climactic conflict was predictable and quite unnecessary. The show could have been an outright ‘feel-good’ love story, given that the leads had already experienced their share of heartache in the past. Nevertheless, all’s well that ends well.

“A Breeze of Love” is only eight episodes long, with each edition lasting about 16 minutes and is evenly pace, so it’s pretty easy to binge-watch the entire show in one go. If you like campus romances with good-looking leads, definitely add it on your watch-list.

Rating: 7 on 10. You can stream the series on iQIYI.

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Mariko Between Worlds – Graphic Novel Review

“Social media is safe for anyone as long as you have a non-addictive personality, you’re mentally in a healthy place, and you’re not hiding anything at all from your loved ones!”

That’s a quote from the graphic novel “Mariko Between Worlds” by a side character and just so you know, “social media” in the book is a drug, a literal one that looks like tiny shiny pellets that can be eaten. The euphemism was fun though.

“Created by author Matthew Erman and illustrator Liana Kangas, “Mariko Between Worlds” is a sci-fi romance depicting a couple spending their last day together before parting ways. It reads like a romantic-comedy side story from Brian K. Vaughan’s “Saga,” the space-fantasy comic-book series, without the dystopian themes. Mariko, a human, is in a relationship with Rem, a blue-colored alien who is relocating to a moon for a new job. Mariko wanted to move with Rem, but the government rejects her visa application, so she decides to end the relationship.

The graphic novel’s artwork is a beautiful explosion of colors, with Liana Kangas’ illustrations vividly bringing to life this intergalactic space romance. The two protagonists decide to have a final adventurous day in the “Mall of Portals,” a colossal space mall offering unimaginable entertainment options. Multiverse bunnies, alien DJs, philosophical refrigerators, Satan-like bargain hunters – Mariko and Rem have one heck of a day, but things come to a head in unexpected ways.

At around 114 pages, “Mariko Between Worlds” is a fast-paced story featuring made-up words and terms that might be a little overwhelming for some readers. Despite the out-of-space narrative with aliens, Mariko and Rem’s romance resonates with human emotions. Mariko grapples with grief at the thought of parting with her boyfriend of four years, while Rem remains cheerful and optimistic, suggesting they celebrate their last day together and allow grief to take its own time. Anyone who has experienced the challenge of parting with a loved one due to distance might find Mariko and Rem’s story quite relatable. Despite being the one who suggests the break-up, Mariko is the one who desperately wants things to work out, but paradoxically, she is also the only one unhappy in the relationship.

The artwork and relatable romantic elements made “Mariko Between Worlds” an easy read, despite some chaos and confusion in between.

Rating: 3.5 on 5.

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Firestarter Quick Movie Review

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Based on the 1980 Stephen King’s novel of the same name, the 2022 movie “Firestarter” looks like it was made in the 1990s and it’s not a compliment. Directed by Keith Thomas, the film’s plot has been tweaked to set it in the times of wi-fi and smartphones, but for a story about a girl with pyrokinetic powers, the film is very dimly-lit and dull.

The plot is pretty simple: Charlie McGee (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) is born to a couple who participated in a research program that gave them supernatural powers, and she inherits the ability to set things on fire with her mind. While Charlie’s mom, Vicky (Sydney Lemmon), thinks the little girl should be trained to use her power, protective dad Andy (Zac Efron) believes it’s best for her to suppress them to avoid attention. However, an explosion at school brings Charlie under scrutiny and the McGee family is at danger of becoming lab rats.

If you’ve read the original novel, then definitely do not watch this live-action adaptation, because it is completely lifeless. The dimly lit cinematography exacerbates the issues, and aside from mentioning “wi-fi” and “google,” the creators make no effort to modernize the plot. Setting the film in the ’80s might have been a better choice, but given the minimal effort put into this 2022 version, that would be expecting too much. As far as the special effects with the fire scenes are concerned, they aren’t too bad.

“Firestarter” clocks in at just 90 minutes, limiting character development, yet shorter films have managed more fleshed-out protagonists. At first, it looked like the movie might offer a poignant father-daughter relationship, with Andy trying to mentor Charlie amid all their troubles, but there’s little emotional connection between Zac Efron and Ryan Kiera Armstrong. Despite its potential for horror, “Firestarter” falls short of expectations, ending up as just another forgettable horror/sci-fi film that perhaps didn’t need a big-screen adaptation. Watch it only if you have run out of interesting horror titles.

Rating: 4 on 10. You can watch Firestarter on Netflix.

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Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 6 Review

Sometimes it feels like “Spy x Family” would’ve been better off as a simple comedy about a spy father struggling to raise a little kid by himself because Loid AKA Agent Twilight and his adopted daughter Anya’s scenes together are just hilarious. Besides, nothing concrete is happening concerning Twilight’s mission “Operation Strix” as far as season two is concerned.

Read: Spy x Family Episode 1 Review for plot overview

Titled “The Fearsome Luxury Cruise Ship,” episode 6 of “Spy x Family” season 2 continues to focus on Yor Forger’s undercover mission to protect Olka and her son on a cruise, which is rife with multiple assassins looking to kill Olka and claim the bounty on her head. Yor is also worried that she doesn’t run into her husband and daughter, Loid and Anya, who are also on the same cruise. Meanwhile, Anya is having a blast on the ship, while Loid struggles to keep up with her excitement and enthusiasm.

This edition of “Spy x Family” is a good balance of both comedic elements and dark scenes. Episode 5 had ended with a revelation that there are bugs all over the ship, so episode 6 packs in some action and violence as Yor soon realizes their identities have been compromised. While Yor’s scenes are dark and serious, the other bits involving Loid and Anya are funny and entertaining.

Episode six is the strongest episode in ‘Spy x Family’ season two in terms of storytelling and action, and it also features the usual exaggerated imagination of Anya, which is one of the most fun ingredients of this anime series. “The Fearsome Luxury Cruise Ship” chapter ends with a major cliffhanger – Yor is faced with an intimidating enemy, but the end credits roll in just before their deadly fight begins! Fans will have to watch the next episode to find out what happens, as the cruise saga seems to be far from over.

You can stream Spy x Family on Netflix.

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Migi to Dali Episode 6 Review

Plot Overview – Based on a manga by Nami Sano, this mystery-thriller series introduces the audience to orphaned identical twins, Migi and Dali, who craftily scheme their way into the lives of an aging wealthy couple Sonoyama Osamu and Sonoyama Youko. The couple believes they’ve adopted a single child, Hitori, with no clue that they’ve unwittingly welcomed two brothers into their home, who have their own agenda. So Migi and Dali take turns to play Sonoyama Hitori.

If you thought episode 5 of “Migi to Dali” was weird, things just get weirder in six! So last episode ended with the twins getting stuck in the Ichijo mansion, which the boys are now sure was where their mother lived while she was alive. At first it seemed like it was the bratty Eiji Ichijo who forces Hitori (Migi) to dress up like a baby as a means to humiliate him, but the truth is far more twisted. Locked in a room, Migi does his best to hide his ordeal from Dali.

Titled “Who Killed The Parent Bird”, the first half of episode five is a challenge to watch, and Migi’s bizarre ordeal is amplified by the show’s horror-themed music. However, the plot finally gets entertaining in the second half, where the brothers collude to find out who in the Ichijo family might have murdered their mother. One of the boy’s dresses up as their dead mom and they spook each member of the Ichijo family, their reactions giving Migi to Dali ample clues about their mother’s connection to the wealthy household and who is most likely to be the guilty party. Their modus-operandi is both smart and comical, providing some much needed funny moments in the edition.

Unevenly paced, the episode, however, significantly pushed the plot forward and builds anticipation over how Migi and Dali will go forward with their investigation to prove their mother was murdered and that the Ichijo family had something to do with it.

You can watch “Migi to Dali” on Crunchyroll.

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The Killer Movie Review – Hard to Endure

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

“It’s amazing how physically exhausting it can be to do nothing. If you are unable to endure boredom, this work is not for you.” This is the opening dialogue of the 2023 film “The Killer” and it’s almost like the second sentence is a warning from director David Fincher to the viewers about the movie too. I rarely sleep before 2 am, and “The Killer” had me yawning by 11 pm.

The plot follows a contract killer (Michael Fassbender) who botches up a job for a billionaire client; consequently, two killers is dispatched to eliminate him, but they brutally assault his girlfriend instead. So, the primary killer embarks on a worldwide manhunt to kill those who attempted to kill him. It’s a familiar revenge story, served with philosophical musings that will seem exceedingly stale to those used to consuming literary works. The protagonist is your typical cold-blooded murderer, willing to take on any job as long as the money is right. “Trust no one” and “Forbid empathy” are among some of the mantras the killer constantly repeats to himself.

If it weren’t for the allure of a David Fincher film (with “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Fight Club” being some of my favorite movies) and the star power of actors like Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton, most viewers might not even be enticed to watch “The Killer” at all. It feels like a Michael Fassbender showreel, because the actor pulls of the part of being a cold, methodical killer with no moral scruples with perfection, but the character itself has no significant allure. The cinematography and the throbbing gritty music that plays through the runtime are the two ingredients that make this film watchable. The camera follows Fassbender’s character in a way that makes you feel like he is being stalked by someone, which adds an intriguing unsettling tone to some scenes.

With a 2-hour runtime, “The Killer” is awfully slow in the first twenty minutes, a deliberate choice to capture the tedium of being a predator patiently waiting for its prey. Even after the first act is over and there’s more action in the tale, the pace remains sluggish, lacking enough emotion, action, blood, or anything to keep you wholly invested in the story. Some viewers might like the slow, repetitive nature of this film, but it was pretty underwhelming for me.

Rating: 5 on 10. You can stream “The Killer” on Netflix.

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The Killer Movie Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

“It’s amazing how physically exhausting it can be to do nothing. If you are unable to endure boredom, this work is not for you.” This is the opening dialogue of the 2023 film “The Killer” and it’s almost like the second sentence is a warning from director David Fincher to the viewers about the movie too. I rarely sleep before 2 am, and “The Killer” had me yawning by 11 pm.

The plot follows a contract killer (Michael Fassbender) who botches up a job for a billionaire client; consequently, two killers is dispatched to eliminate him, but they brutally assault his girlfriend instead. So, the primary killer embarks on a worldwide manhunt to kill those who attempted to kill him. It’s a familiar revenge story, served with philosophical musings that will seem exceedingly stale to those used to consuming literary works. The protagonist is your typical cold-blooded murderer, willing to take on any job as long as the money is right. “Trust no one” and “Forbid empathy” are among some of the mantras the killer constantly repeats to himself.

If it weren’t for the allure of a David Fincher film (with “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Fight Club” being some of my favorite movies) and the star power of actors like Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton, most viewers might not even be enticed to watch “The Killer” at all. It feels like a Michael Fassbender showreel, because the actor pulls of the part of being a cold, methodical killer with no moral scruples with perfection, but the character itself has no significant allure. The cinematography and the throbbing gritty music that plays through the runtime are the two ingredients that make this film watchable. The camera follows Fassbender’s character in a way that makes you feel like he is being stalked by someone, which adds an intriguing unsettling tone to some scenes.

With a 2-hour runtime, “The Killer” is awfully slow in the first twenty minutes, a deliberate choice to capture the tedium of being a predator patiently waiting for its prey. Even after the first act is over and there’s more action in the tale, the pace remains sluggish, lacking enough emotion, action, blood, or anything to keep you wholly invested in the story. Some viewers might like the slow, repetitive nature of this film, but it was pretty underwhelming for me.

Rating: 5 on 10. You can stream “The Killer” on Netflix.

Read Next: All the Light We Cannot See Series ReviewAlso Read: ‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus – Book Review (Audio Version Below)

Pippa Movie Review – Plot Stays Afloat, Ishaan Soars

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“This is the story of the war which wasn’t waged against any nation, but against tyranny.”

The protagonist, Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron, serves as the narrator in the 2023 movie “Pippa.” The film recounts the story of three siblings, with two serving on the frontlines of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, while the third engaged in intelligence work behind the scenes.

Inspired by Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta’s book “The Burning Chaffees,” the film “Pippa” directed by Raja Menon offers a fictionalized retelling of the Bangladesh Liberation War. The story unfolds through the eyes of a young and rebellious character Balli (Ishaan Khatter), whose father is a martyr, and older brother Major Ram Mehta (Priyanshu Painyuli) a domineering 1965 war hero. Mrunal Thakur plays their sister Radha Mehta, who is studying to be a doctor, with a deep interest in cryptography and political affairs. How each sibling plays a crucial role during the war, contributing to the birth of Bangladesh, forms the crux of the movie. Simultaneously, the film also explores their fraught personal dynamics.

For viewers who might not know much about the 1971 war, “Pippa” begins with a brief history of the 1947 India-Pakistan partition and why East Pakistan wanted to be liberated from the west, presented through animated sequences. After the painting-like animated illustrations, the cinematography shifts to real humans and starts with a visceral massacre of students at Dacca University by the Pakistani military. The sequence was brutal, setting a somber tone for this war film. But the mood changes again when the film finally shifts its attention to the primary protagonist of the story, the young Captain Balram Mehta, who, in his introductory scene, is enthusiastically participating in a military exercise to test the PT-76 amphibious light tanks. “Pippa” is the name of Balram’s beloved tank, which helps him through the war. The cinematic variations in scenes, colors, mediums and mood within the very first half-hour was quite engaging, even though it isn’t as gripping throughout.

Ishaan Khatter, who was last seen as a goofy ghostbuster in the horror-comedy “Phone Bhoot” (“Fursat” if we count short films) before “Pippa,” plays the hot-blooded Captain Balram with aplomb. For the first few seconds, due to his youthful visage, it seemed unlikely that he would pull off a role that needed him to command younger soldiers, but despite his boyish looks, he confidently takes over the reins of his character. Priyanshu Painyuli’s character, Major Ram Mehta, is the first to go off to the front. He goes undercover as a civilian, pretending to be Bangladeshi, and joins the Mukti Bahini, the resistance movement fighting for East Pakistan’s liberation.

It’s interesting how Captain Balram, at first, is least concerned about East Pakistan’s affairs, deeming those seeking refuge in India as nothing but a burden on India’s resources. However, it’s his mother who reminds him that their family too had fled Pakistan when he was 2 years old and that people rarely leave their homeland out of choice during times such as these. In a rather soppy scene, Balram recalls his mother’s words when he finally reaches the front, encountering swathes of emaciated East Pakistanis sitting lifelessly in their villages.

The second half of “Pippa” is slightly slow and fails to recreate the ugly side of war in the same impactful manner as it does with the bloodied massacre of students in its opening scenes. And Radha Mehta’s subplot presents a peculiar juxtaposition in the movie that lacks compelling cohesion. While she works at a swanky, sparkly office that seems out of place for the 1970s (much like her attire), her brothers are engaged in the toils of the battlefield. Her narrative appears more like token female representation rather than a seamlessly integrated part of the tale. Nevertheless, token representation is preferable to none at all. Some of the smaller cameos were more riveting than Radha’s character, like Ramphal (Suryansh Patel), a young spirited soldier who is often mocked by his seniors for his simplicity, but his sincerity on the field shines through.

With a 2-hour runtime, ‘Pippa’ maintains a steady pace, and the plot is complemented by its soundtrack, composed by A.R. Rahman. While some tracks with their fast-paced beats perfectly blend with the mayhem of war, Rahman also incorporates haunting ballad-like music that personifies the devastation, deaths, and hopelessness of violence. After a significant amount of gunning, gloom, doom, and despair, the movie concludes with an emotional reunion. Even though the climactic moments don’t evoke the cathartic effect that most movies in this genre tend to have on viewers, “Pippa” ends on a triumphant note, with brotherhood and family taking center stage in the end. Ishaan Khatter and the supporting cast make this film worth a watch.

Rating: 7 on 10. You can stream “Pippa” on Prime Video.

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Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 16 Review

Hope you are here after Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 episode 15. Minor spoilers ahead

“If you can hit me once, I’ll work under you.”

With these words, Sukuna challenges Special Grade Jogo towards the end of episode 15 of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. So, episode 16 begins with a tense but brief glimpse of what happens to Jogo after Sukuna’s tempting yet near-impossible offer, but soon shifts focus to Megumi Fushiguro being chased by a crazed Toji.

Titled “Thunderclap,” Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 16 is split between two high-voltage exchanges: one between the young Megumi and Toji, and the other featuring the confounded Jogo and his idol Sukuna. Studio MAPPA has once again done a fantastic job with the animation, delivering fast-paced fiery action scenes that live up to the exciting title for this episode. The animation is smooth and perfectly conveys the sense of urgency and intensity of the explosive battles unfolding on your screen. Shibuya is practically engulfed in fire and smoke due to Jogo and Sukuna’s maneuvers.

Despite its dark, gory, and potent tone, this episode of Jujutsu Kaisen does pack in some comic relief too, with a funny scene featuring Panda and Kusakabe. The latter essentially fools Panda into wasting as much time as they can so that they don’t proceed towards Satoru Gojo and risk their lives. There’s also a slightly sentimental scene in the first half where Toji finally recognizes that he is fighting his own son. A brief flashback reminds viewers that Megumi Fushiguro is Toji’s son, although Megumi remains unaware of his identity.

The volcanic-headed Jogo felt like an underrated villain for the first time, mainly because he isn’t as exuberant, witty, chatty, or sarcastic as the other major antagonists in the series. And even though he is no match for Sukuna, even the king of curses acknowledges his powers, almost giving him a pat on the back for being a worthy opponent. Expect blood, sweat, literal fire, and a lot of characters cowering in fear over the awakened Sukuna’s terrifying powers.

Remember, nobody is anywhere close to rescuing the sealed Satoru Gojo yet, and things are only getting crazier, bloodier, and scarier. The Shibuya arc is undoubtedly the game-changer for Jujutsu Kaisen, and this latest episode is one of the best installments yet! “Thunderclap” ends with the entry of an intriguing new face and also with a mysterious cliffhanger.

You can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Netflix or CrunchyRoll.

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