Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 144

Gen V Episode 4 Review

Things just got a little crazier and better in episode 4 of Gen V. Note – better only for fans who appreciate gory action shows like “The Boys”. Although the plot and characters were initially scattered in the first three episodes, the show is now beginning to find greater cohesion and intensity.

Read – Gen V Episodes 1, 2, 3 Review for plot overview

Titled “The Whole Truth”, the episode begins with a brief recap of the story so far – protagonist Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) and her college friends are leading their own investigation into the suicide of Golden Boy, who was near invincible superhero until he killed his professor and fried himself to death. The youngsters discover a top secret facility called “The Woods”, where Golden Boy’s younger brother Sam is confined against his will. Andre (Chance Perdomo) seeks out Emma’s (Lizze Broadway) help to infiltrate the place as she can shrink in size and their plain goes awfully wrong.

Episode 4 picks up the story from where Emma’s blood-laden debacle in ‘The Woods’, and also introduces a new character called Tek Knight (Derek Wilson), a superhero who hosts an investigative documentary series called ‘The Whole Truth’. Tek comes to Godolkin University with his camera crew with the agenda of pinning the blame of Golden Boy’s shocking demise on a scapegoat. Who will he choose? One of Golden Boy’s friends? The shape-shifting Jordan Li (London Thor/Derek Luh) who desperately wants to be number one? The girlfriend Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips) who’s already found a new lover? Or new girl Marie Moreau, who stands to benefit the most from his death. Tek Knight’s character serves as a powerful metaphor for ‘Vought International,’ the corrupt corporate company responsible for manufacturing superheroes and turning them into profit-driven puppets.

Tightly paced, with lots of blood and insane scenes that are on par with some of the wackiest moments from its parent show “The Boys,” Gen V episode 4 is completely entertaining. I will be nice and repeat my warning from the older reviews – avoid eating while watching this show, unless violently bizarre or gross scenes do not ruin your appetite. The special effects in the violent sequences are engaging. Furthermore, there’s so much happening that viewers barely have time to take in the cinematographic details, which is a testament to excellent camera work.

While the entire first season of ‘Gen V’ consists of eight episodes, episode 4 serves as a great midpoint for the plot thus far, featuring significant developments in the friendships and relationship dynamics among the primary characters. After initially opting to keep a low profile and remain a loner, Marie Moreau begins to recognize the value of human bonds and makes it her mission to discover Emma’s whereabouts, following her dispatch to ‘The Woods’ by Andre. Asa German’s character, Sam, has been on the sidelines up to this point, but he stands out in this edition as viewers gain more insight into his disturbed personality, his superpowers, and the toll the secret facility has taken on him. Are the friends making the right choice by attempting to rescue him? We’ll need to watch the remaining episodes to find out.

You can stream ‘Gen V’ on Amazon Prime Video.

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Khufiya Review – Engrossing Spy Thriller Let Down By Final Act

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

In movies, a spy’s role usually entails saving the world, which typically involves battling villains, performing daring stunts like cliff-jumping, wielding firearms, evading bullets, driving fast cars or piloting helicopters, and narrowly escaping death numerous times. However, sometimes, a spy’s duty is to spend hours seated at their desks, surveilling potential suspects as they go about their daily household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and dancing when they believe no one is watching. Or at least, that’s what the spies in Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Khufiya” are compelled to do as part of their job!

Loosely based on the novel “Escape to Nowhere” by Amar Bhushan, the 2023 film is a fictional story centered around RA&W agent Krishna Mehra (Tabu) who is tasked with uncovering the mole responsible for leaking India’s defense secrets. Set in the early 2000s, Khufiya unfolds in three different nations – Bangladesh, India and America. But despite the diversity of settings, the cinematography and world-building in “Khufiya” is quite straightforward, simple and realistic.

The movie commences with a nostalgic cinematic moment, featuring a misty rainy scene, accompanied by Tabu’s poetic voice-over as she describes a fellow agent, code-named Octopus. In a laudable casting decision, Bangladeshi actor Azmeri Haque Badhon portrays agent Octopus, who operates for the RA&W in Dhaka. Her mission is jeopardized due to the treachery of an insider. Indian authorities suspect Agent Ravi Mohan (Ali Fazal) of being the mole, and believe his wife Charu (Wamiqa Gabbi) to be hand-in-gloves with him.

Tabu delivers a flawless portrayal of the toughened agent as Krishna Mehra, leading a small team to surveil Ravi Mohan’s family, which also includes a preteen son and his spiritual mother. Thus begins an interesting game of espionage, lies, surprises and betrayals, which is sweetened by generous comedic moments in the otherwise tense drama. Last seen portraying the titular detective in Vishal Bhardwaj’s series “Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley,” Wamiqa Gabbi takes a sharp turn by playing a suspect in “Khufiya.” As the carefree Charu, Wamiqa delivers some of the film’s most amusing moments. Unaware of the surveillance, she dances with abandon to classic Bollywood hits within the confines of her home when she’s alone, offering comic relief not just to the audience but also to the officers spying on her. Ali Fazal on the other hand is quite the chameleon as Ravi Mohan, a doting dad and a self-claimed ‘patriot’, who is possibly selling his country’s secrets for easy cash. Navnindra Behl portrays Ravi’s elderly mother, an ardent devotee of a spiritual guru named Yaara ji, who frequently sings during his sermons. This provides Vishal Bhardwaj and his team with the opportunity to seamlessly incorporate two foot-tapping songs into the film.

While the first half of “Khufiya” is tightly knit and paced well, the plot begins to get a little too familial for a spy-thriller. A sub-plot about Krishna’s struggles with connecting with her teenage son after her divorce wasn’t necessary. We understand that emotional drama is a crucial ingredient for a Bollywood movie, but even the intelligence aspect of the story becomes somewhat silly. For instance, there’s a scene where a pivotal character needs to be drugged, so a mutton-based dish is spiked for them, and everyone at the dinner table invents absurd excuses to avoid eating it. How could that not raise suspicion? If it was done for comedy, it was ill-timed and not funny. The climax is underwhelming and falls short in comparison to the expertly woven web of lies and deceit prevalent throughout most of the film.

The final 15 minutes are so juvenile that it was almost embarrassing to witness the chaotic sequence of events. At a runtime of two hours and thirty-seven minutes, Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Khufiya” is a reasonably well-crafted espionage thriller, but the script could have benefited from more finesse to make it more gripping. Tabu is the film’s best ingredient and I would love to see her headline an entire spy series by herself, and Wamiqa Gabbi too shoulders Charu’s ever-evolving character with charm.

Watch “Khufiya” on Netflix is you are looking to stream a desi thriller.

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Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 11 Review

Hope you are here after Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 episode 10. Minor spoilers ahead.

Woah woah woah! There is no Mahito, no Pseudo Geto, not even the peculiar volcano-headed Jogo in this episode. However, it’s packed with powerful maneuvers, intriguing new adversaries, and wild flashbacks to keep you engrossed until the end.

Titled “Seance,” episode 11 of Jujutsu Kaisen focuses on Team Yuji’s relentless efforts to breach the curtain preventing them from reaching Satoru Gojo. The trio eventually figure out that the curse users who’ve cast the curtain must be outside its perimeter and soon locate them. All the sorcerers however are still quite far from rescuing Gojo or the numerous civilians trapped in Shibuya.

The episode’s highlight centers around the highly anticipated team-up of Yuji and Megumi as they engage in combat against a formidable new curse user named Jiro Awasaka. They must defeat Jiro as he possesses cursed objects that uphold the seemingly impenetrable curtain over Shibuya. “Honestly, compared to dealing with enemies, cooperating with this brat somehow tires me out even more,” Megumi hilariously thinks to himself as the duo put up a united front against Jiro. Megumi Fushiguro’s composed and collected demeanor contrasts effectively with Yuji’s chaotic energy.

Meanwhile, Ino finds himself facing a daunting challenge as he squares off against Granny Ogami and her grandson. Ogami employs a unique seance technique to combat her adversaries, which serves as the inspiration for the episode’s title, “Seance.” An exciting yet violent flashback, featuring a young Satoru Gojo, not only provides insight into Ogami’s unique powers but also offers a glimpse into the fear and animosity that curse users harbor towards Gojo.

Studio MAPPA continues to maintain a winning streak with its striking animation and expertly choreographed battles between sorcerers and cursed users. The subtle nuances in the characters’ facial expressions are skillfully portrayed, with Yuji’s reactions providing delightful comic relief. In contrast to episode 9, where a weighty background score played a pivotal role in intensifying the atmosphere, this episode relies more on ambient sounds, such as the resonating punches and explosive impacts, to maintain a gritty tone.

Episode 11 showcases the remarkable growth in both the intellectual prowess and physical abilities of Megumi and Itadori. Bursting with intense action, gripping drama, and even a sprinkle of humor, it’s merely the appetizer before the epic battles that lie ahead.

You can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Netflix or CrunchyRoll.

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MF Ghost Episode 1 Review

Set in a future where self-driving electric cars have completely replaced fuel-based vehicles, the 2023 Japanese anime “MF Ghost” is based on the manga series of the same name by Shuichi Shigeno. The plot focuses on a Japanese racing event called ‘MFG’, popular for featuring drivers competing in internal-combustion vehicles. The protagonist is 19-year-old Kanata Katagiri, a Japanese-British rookie driver who enters the MGF qualifiers to make a name for himself in the racing world.

In episode one of ‘MF Ghost,’ we are introduced to some of the primary characters of the series. These characters include 17-year-old Ren Sai-Onji, whose family is hosting Kanata, and 24-year-old Shun Aiba, a rank 9 MFG racer who offers to be Kanata’s mentor. Viewers already get hints at a potential romantic triangle between these three characters. To add an air of mystery to the tale, Kanata reveals that his real reason for coming to Japan is to find his father.

While the animation is colorful and engaging, the character designs are repetitive and somewhat unappealing. For instance, Kanata and Aiba appear almost identical, despite having no familial relation. The primary distinctions between them lie in their eye color and hairstyles. Fans of the manga series may not find issue with the characters’ similar facial structures, as the anime creators have faithfully adhered to the manga counterparts. However, introducing slight alterations to the characters’ features would’ve enhanced viewing experience. The animation is more engaging to watch when the focus is on background setting or the racing cars.

Titled “The Challenger from England”, episode one is about 24 minutes long and ends on a cliffhanger – Kanata is off to take part in the qualifying race. Will he become a serious contender in the racing world or will he simply crash and burn? Viewers will have to watch the next episode to see where the show is going. For now, ‘MF Ghost’ looks like another cliched racing story, where an unknown rookie who is bound to emerge as the hero in the sporting world. Watch the series if you are a fan of motorsports and love triangles.

MG Ghost is available to stream on CrunchyRoll.

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British Ice Graphic Novel Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (X | Instagram | GoodReads)

“I am anxious about the rumor regarding the disappearance of the previous commissioner and reports of unrest in the local community..”

Harrison Fleet from fictional graphic novel “British Ice” isn’t your typical old-school British diplomat. He lacks pretension, possesses idealistic values, and genuinely seems to care for those oppressed by his masters. The novel follows Fleet’s tumultuous journey as the new commissioner posted to a remote Arctic island, where he is greeted with a welcome colder than snowfall.

The natives of the island make no bones about their hostility toward the officer, his predecessor was ‘missing,’ and the vast, desolate expanse of snow surrounding his official residence only compounds his challenges. Fleet starts investigating why the locals harbor such animosity towards him and why this remote island holds such significance for the British. Fleet’s discoveries lead to the revelation of horrific secrets, including a blood-soaked colonial history marked by unchecked greed and unforgivable exploitation.

Written and crafted by Owen D. Pomery, the stark and simple illustrations instantly making readers feel the chilly, bleak atmosphere of the Arctic islands right from page one. While the graphic novel isn’t vibrant with colors, it also doesn’t adhere to a strict black-and-white palette either. Instead, the illustrations are awash in delicate shades of pale blue and white, mirroring the coldness of both the story’s settings and the treatment Harrison Fleet encounters on the island. A lot of pages didn’t have any dialogues at all, but helped in moving the plot along nonetheless. For example, one whole page had just the illustration of Harrison Fleet’s residence, built like a London town house, standing alone against large snowy mountains, with nothing else in sight. It establishes the protagonist’s isolation and how he is alone in his quest to uncover the buried secrets of the island.

Since the novel is only 128 pages long, Owen D. Pomery isn’t able to fully delve into the themes he aims to explore in this chilling narrative of ‘colonial oppressors versus natives’. Harrison Fleet makes efforts to get friendly with the locals, but is only met with dirty looks and disdain. In fact, it’s almost ironic that the white man turns out to be both the hero and the villain in the tale, while the natives of the remote island are mere bitter side characters, most of whom are never even properly introduced. Fleet’s most friendly ally in the tale is a local woman called Abel, however it’s later clarified that Abel isn’t even her real name, but “just the closest guess in English”. Foreigners not having the basic courtesy to learn a local’s native name and giving them an easy to pronounce nickname? Very British indeed.

British Ice” concludes with an intriguing and morbid twist. However, the climax appears to be rather convenient and rushed. It only takes a few days and some dumb lock for a new Foreign officer to come and uncover decades worth of dark secrets of a remote region. Regardless, the graphic novel makes for an interesting read, mostly due to the simple illustrations.

The graphic novel is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

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‘The Devil on Trial’ Netflix Trailer Unveiled

The “Devil Made Me Do It” case, which unfolded in 1981, centers around Arne Cheyenne Johnson. He infamously used demonic possession as his defense in the murder of his landlord. This historic and bizarre legal case saw supernatural elements collide with the courtroom.

A 2021 horror movie, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” featuring paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, has already explored this chilling tale. Netflix now offers its own documentary, titled “The Devil On Trial”, which delves into the eerie events with interviews of those directly involved in the real-life case. “When I was eleven, I was possessed by the devil” – the trailer for the documentary begins with this dramatic declaration by an interviewee.

In the official trailer for the Netflix documentary, viewers get a glimpse of Arne Cheyenne Johnson’s testimony, which has already sparked debate in the comments section of YouTube. Some might lean towards believing Arne was genuinely possessed, while others see him as a murderer who cunningly shifted blame onto the supernatural. Then are others who think it could’ve been a case of schizophrenia and that Arne needed the intervention of mental health experts and not exorcists.

However, the documentary might not bring entirely fresh insights, aside from previously unseen photographs and unheard interviews with key figures. Nevertheless, many horror enthusiasts are excited about firsthand accounts shedding light on what truly transpired—or at least what they believe did. “The Devil On Trial” will be available to stream on October 17.

Watch the trailer below.

Reptile Review – Moody, Slow, and Spooky

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Despite its slow, languid pace, the 2023 thriller “Reptile” might spook viewers more than the average horror movie.

Directed by Grant Singer, who co-wrote the story with Benjamin Brewer and Benicio Del Toro, “Reptile” is a tense, broody psychological crime caper with a gruesome death at the center of it. Scarborough real estate mogul Will Grady (Justin Timberlake) finds his girlfriend Summer brutally murdered in the house they were flipping. As multiple suspects emerge, the case turns out to be far more twisted than it appears to be.

Benicio Del Toro plays Tom Nichols, the police officer leading the investigation into the case, who often consults his wife Judy (Alicia Silverstone) on the leads he gathers. While the excessive focus on Tom and Judy’s relationship often seemed unnecessary, their significant screen-time begins to make sense towards the end. But through the runtime, you cannot help but be restless over wanting to see more of the criminal investigation in the case, than Tom’s petty jealousy over Judy smiling while conversing with a guy repairing their home. There are three primary suspects in the case: Summer’s boyfriend, Will Grady; eccentric ex-husband, Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman); and Eli Phillips (Michael Pitt), the angry son of a farmer whose land was purchased by the Gradys.

The cinematography in “Reptile” is moody and nostalgic, featuring a dominant warm color palette that evokes the feeling of the 1990s. Some of the scene transitions are brilliantly executed. For instance, there’s a sequence where one character is seen boxing frantically against a picture on his wall, creating a cacophony of noise. The scene shifts to Tom Nichols, who is disturbed by similar sounds, and it looks the like the character is boxing against his wall, but the noise is revealed to be coming from the repair work happening in his house. The scene switch is smooth, making you expect more such seamless scene transitions, although there aren’t many, despite ample opportunities.

Benicio Del Toro’s portrayal of Tom Nichols emerges as the most compelling character in this two-hour-long thriller. He plays an upright cop who passionately investigates Summer’s death and is confronted with a moral dilemma when an easy solution to wrapping up the case presents itself. All the other supporting characters serve as catalysts for Tom’s character development and defining moment in this complex case. He must navigate through workplace politics, ethical dilemmas, and deal with crooked criminals, all while making the tough decision to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to unmask the real killer.

The story unfolds in a manner that will keep you constantly wavering between two primary suspects. With the knowledge that the killer is still at large, “Reptile” often sends shivers down your spine, as you remain uncertain about when another murder might occur. Even though the slow pace of the film can be quite challenging at times, the background music oftentimes builds-up intrigue and the necessary suspense to keep viewers invested in Tom’s endeavors to solve the case. “There’s only one thing I love almost as much as I love you, and that’s being a cop,” Tom says quite dispassionately to Judy, in a tense scene towards the climax; and the character’s growth sure as hell makes you believe it.

“Reptile” is one of those rarer thrillers that gets tenser and stronger in its last act. The direction leads you to fear that maybe director Grant Singer will leave you with an open-ended “WTF” kind of cliffhanger in the end, making you draw your own conclusions. But surprisingly, the film ends on a decisive note and left me quite satisfied with the knowledge of what really happened. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries, watch this when you get the time.

You can stream “Reptile” on Netflix.

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Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Episode 1 Review

When a serial killer strikes in their city again, the rookie police officer, Totomaru Isshiki, is given only one passionate instruction by his boss: “Go home and sleep!”

“Why? I can handle working through two nights in a row,” the baffled officer asks.

“Someone useless hanging around investigators will only make things harder,” the boss responds candidly. Isshiki is crushed by the brutal honesty, while his seniors smirk, grin and laugh around him.

Episode one of the 2023 anime series “Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions” (original title: “Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri”) starts off quite hilariously and begins with Totomaru Isshiki’s attempt to convince a genius detective to join forces with him. The series is based on the manga “Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective” by Akira Amano, which follows the adventures of amateur cop Isshiki and the brilliant but asocial Ron Kamonohashi as they solve crimes together. The first meeting between the two is comical – while the latter takes Isshiki for an idiot, the police officer is immediately impressed by the detective’s incredible deductive skills. Even though they are absolute strangers, Ron is able to tell that Totomaru came to visit him after going to shrine to offer prayers, due to some minute details in his appearance.

The creator of the manga took inspiration from Sherlock Holmes, and Ron is, in fact, supposed to be a sixth-generation descendant of the renowned fictional detective. Once he hears the slightest detail of a criminal case, Ron cannot rest until he solves it. He also is quite the eccentric character and might be considered a sociopath by some. For example, when Isshiki and Ron arrive at a crime scene, Ron immediately lies next to the corpse and begins to make conversation with the body, while others look on stumped. “Corpses want to talk,” he grins and explains.

The animation in the anime series leans towards simplicity, with the creators relying more on the plot and characters to engage viewers. This strategy proves effective. In just 24 minutes, the episode manages to accomplish quite a lot, from introducing the main characters in an entertaining manner to having them successfully solve their first case! Although, the case was quite simple, silly and won’t inspire awe in viewers like the British series “Sherlock”, the anime is a fun take on the detective genre. The contrasting personalities of the mediocre and naive Isshiki against Ron’s impressive intellect and cynicism offer a wealth of comedic potential for future episodes.

Watch the series if you like the idea of a comical detective show on the lines of Sherlock Holmes. It’s also on Netflix.

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The Swan Review – Unsettling & Open-Ended

Rating: 4 out of 5.

“Some people, when they have taken too much and have been driven beyond the point of endurance, simply crumble and collapse and give up. Others however, though they are not many, who will for some reason always be unconquerable.“

“The Swan” is a short story by late British author Roald Dahl which was inspired by a newspaper account of real events, which has gotten a fresh lease of life by director Wes Anderson in a 17 minute life action adaptation. This is also the most serious tale among the quartet of short-films made by Anderson on Dahl’s works.

Actor Rupert Friend narrates the tale, which unfolds like a haunting stage-play. Friend rapidly draws viewers into the plight of a young boy named Peter Watson (Asa Jennings), who was simply bird-watching, unaware that he was being watched by a pair of bullies called Ernie and Raymond who are armed with a rifle and out to kill birds. The duo soon approach Peter, ties his hands up and begin to torment him in dangerous ways and the younger boy must rely on his wits to get out of their grip.

Rupert Friend theatrically reports everything unfolding on the screen, even mimicking the dialogues between the younger boys. It’s both slightly creepy and comical to watch an older man nonchalantly describe, verbatim, every little detail of a story about young boys. Just like Dev Patel’s frenzied narration made “Poison” a gripping watch, Rupert Friend helps hold the viewer’s attention in “The Swan” until the end. As soon as Peter’s hands are bound, a sense of unease takes hold, with one’s mind racing through countless scenarios in which the malicious Ernie could inflict harm upon poor Peter. And these feelings persist until the end, or at least they kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire runtime.

Asa Jennings has no dialogue in the film, but his body language and expressions effectively convey Peter’s helplessness and terror in the face of his bullies. As Ernie becomes nastier, Peter’s fear transforms into anger and insolence. This change is reflected through a swift scene transition, where Peter’s blue shorts and sweater are replaced by an all-black outfit. Wes Anderson’s cinematography is, of course, a crucial element, consisting of an interesting mixture of stark colors, movable sets, and a small section with stop-motion animation. However, unlike his short film ‘The Rat Catcher,’ where the animation was clearly demarcated by the presence of a giant rat, viewers might have to pay extra attention to differentiate real props from animated objects in ‘The Swan’. Ralph Fiennes makes the briefest appearance in the tale as Roald Dahl in this short too, as if to remind viewers it’s his story.

As far as thematic explorations are concerned, ‘The Swan’ is the strongest film in the quartet, which delves into the paradoxical natures of children. On one hand, there are the smart, kind, sensitive kids like Peter Watson; on the other hand, there are bullheaded, evil boys like Ernie, who think nothing of torturing those smaller and weaker than them. The film unexpectedly takes a fantasy-like turn towards the climax. Is Peter Watson able to escape his bullies unharmed? We are left with an open-ended and poignant final scene to draw our own conclusions. This short film is whimsical, absurd and leaves you with plenty of food for thought. It’s my favorite from among the four films made by Wes Anderson.

You can stream “The Swan” on Netflix.

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Migi to Dali Episode 1 Review

The phrase ‘twin-trouble’ perfectly describes twin brothers Migi and Dali from the 2023 Japanese anime series “Migi to Dali,” which is based on a manga series of the same name by Nami Sano.

Set in 1989, Episode one introduces Migi and Dali as two orphaned twins who scheme their way into getting adopted by an aging wealthy couple. The twist? The couple only adopts one kid, known to them as Hitori, and they have no clue that two brothers are pretending to be one person under their roof. While the protagonists are only 13-year-old boys, this is a mystery-thriller and the opening episode gives viewers glimpses into the two-faced nature of the twins, without giving away their real motives.

The animation designs are quite faithful to the original manga, although the background music, which largely consists of dramatic piano pieces, lends a horror-like tone to “Migi to Dali”. The way Migi and Dali smoothly deceive the couple is exaggeratedly absurd, but their antics are laced with theatrics that feel more sinister than comical. However, if you read the manga, the interactions between the kids and the elderly parents come off as more hilarious than in the anime.

Twenty-three minutes long, episode one is evenly paced and does a fitting job of establishing the unique personalities of the twins, who are indeed like two peas in a pod. Their trust & dependence on each other is both admirable and unsettling. It remains to be seen how the other episodes will play out.

You can watch “Migi to Dali” on Crunchyroll.

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