Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 152

One Piece Episode 1, 2 Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Manga master Eiichirô Oda, the creator of the popular anime series “One Piece,” was absolutely right when he said that Iñaki Godoy was destined to portray the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. Taking on a character with unique abilities is not new to Iñaki, as evidenced by his role as a shape-shifting Chupacabra in the Netflix series “The Imperfects.” While Iñaki might not have achieved perfection in that show, his portrayal is infectiously energetic as Luffy, capturing his boyish charms and impish attitude flawlessly.

Plot overview: Gold Rogers, the king of the pirates is caught and executed by the marines, but not before he reveals to a packed crowd that his greatest treasure is somewhere at the Grand Line, all in one piece. His declaration sets off a golden era of pirates, with several ships and crews trying to find the coveted treasure. Chief among them is a spirited boy named Monkey D. Luffy, who want to become the next king of pirates and get hold of the legendary “One Piece”. But first, he will need to find a loyal crew and the map to the Grand line!

Titled “Romance Dawn”, episode one introduces most of the primary characters of the show and even includes flashbacks of Luffy’s childhood to explain his pirate dream and how he became a stretchy-bendy being. Emily Rudd is interesting as the thieving Nami, who like Luffy, is looking to steal the map to Grand Line from the marines. Mackenyu is quite badass as the green-haired pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro, although, considering Zoro from the anime, a hunkier/bulkier more imposing actor would’ve been more apt for the part. But anyway, since this is an English series with a mixed cast, viewers will have to put their expectations from the anime aside to best enjoy this show.

The cinematography is definitely lavish and even all the special effects are executed smoothly, including all the scenes featuring Luffy extending his body parts during fight scenes. My biggest gripe with the screenplay is the fact that the creators set too many scenes during the night, giving us a lot of dimly lit scenes that just take away the charm of the fantasy settings. It’s probably just an artistic tactic to save money on the sets and do an easier job with the special effects, because brighter scenes will make it easier to spot flaws. However, the darker scenes also dampen the fun of watching a grand fantasy action series like “One Piece”. Each time a daylight scene would come on the screen, I would enjoy those moments a lot more than the evening/dusk bits.

Episode two titled “The Man in the Straw Hat” explains Luffy’s attachment to his signature hat and also sees the trio (Luffy, Nami and Roronoa Zoro) trapped with a psychotic clownish Pirate, who wants to steal their stolen map to the Grand Line. It’s here where the show truly picks up pace, with an exciting Pirate villain, some poignant flashbacks and the beginning of a lasting friendship between the three leads.

Dimly lit scenes continued to dominate the runtime, and I guess I will just to repeat this fact in each episodic review. Apart from that, “One Piece” is quite an entertaining live-adaptation, even though the jokes could’ve been funnier and a slightly more exaggerated tone could’ve made things more exciting.

Stream the series on Netflix.

Read Next: The Monkey King Review – Cheeky Quest for Godhood

Also Read: Is Netflix Planning “Mask Girl” Season 2?

SRK Fully Embraces Action Hero Era in Jawan Trailer

Shah Rukh Khan dons so many avatars in the trailer for his 2023 film “Jawan” that it’s hard to keep track! It kind of reminds us of Kamal Hassan’s 2008 hit film “Dasavathaaram”. In fact, the “Jawan” trailer has all the makings of a South-Indian action blockbuster, complete with the versatile Vijay Sethupathi playing the primary antagonist in the film! Besides, it’s directed by Atlee, who has delivered action hits like “Theri” and “Mersal” in the past. So it’s going to be an interesting south meets north mash.

While the trailer starts off with Shah Rukh Khan portraying a badass bald hijacker trying to cut a deal for himself, we also see him as a fully decorated special forces officer refusing to bow down to anti-national forces. “Jawan” boasts an ensemble cast, with Deepika Padukone, Priyamani, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, and other actors making their appearances in the official Hindi trailer.

He might be the ultimate Bollywood romantic hero for most fans, but Shah Rukh Khan fully embraces his action hero era in this high-octane trailer. The film is set for a September 7 theatrical release. You can watch the Jawan trailer below.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The phrase “coming-of-age” cannot get more literal than it does in the 2023 movie “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Based on the 1970 novel by Judy Blume and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, this film turned out to be an entertaining slice of both nostalgia and relatable moments, even though it’s set in my mother’s timeline and not mine.

The opening shot of the movie is a lovely summer camp scene of a bunch of little happy girls in color-coordinated swimsuits jumping into the water and having the time of their life. It’s symbolic of the carefree lives kids live before puberty complicates everything. Abby Ryder Fortson plays the 11-year-old protagonist Margaret Simon, who returns to her parents in their New York flat after summer camp, only to learn that they are going to move to New Jersey. Upset and anxious at first, Margaret soon makes new friends, tries to fit in with the gang, while also trying to figure out her feelings about religion.

Rachel McAdams and Bennie Safdie play Barbara and Herb Simon, Margaret’s parents, who both come from different religions. While Barbara is a Catholic Christian, Herb is Jewish, and the couple doesn’t enforce either religion on their daughter and believe she should choose her faith when she becomes an adult. However, the couple is unaware that Margaret has her own unique way of interacting with God. Meanwhile, she is also busy navigating schoolwork, new friends, crushes, and her changing worldview.

The cinematography is beautiful, with pleasant summer pastel shades permeating most scenes; it almost looks like a Wes Anderson film but without the surreal theatrical perfection. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” has a more “slice of life” tone, with a gorgeous color palette. If it weren’t for the distinct ’70s style clothes and hairstyles, with a few tweaks, the story could’ve been placed in any timeline, and the plot would still be relevant. Kids still want to grow up soon, be more popular among their peers and sneak around to do things they aren’t supposed to. There’s a scene where Margaret and her new gang steal a Playboy magazine from one of their dads; it reminded me of the time when a girl in our class had stolen her father’s copy of Debonair (the Indian counterpart to Playboy), and all of us girls huddled in the back benches to go over the pictures inside.

Elle Graham plays the sassy Nancy Wheeler, new neighbor and classmate, who immediately befriends Margaret and initiates her into a secret girl group with funny rules. For example, the members cannot wear socks, and they must tell each other about the boys they like. While most of the film is about Margaret fitting into the new group, one of the primary themes of the story is about the difficulties young people face while trying to understand how religion works. Margaret goes to both a Jewish Temple and Sunday Church, and even though both experiences open new doors for her, she doesn’t really feel like God is there. The portrayal of the young girl’s struggle with faith is poignantly expressed.

Abby Ryder Fortson is the star of this film; she is adorable and goofy as Margaret, capturing all emotions of the character with an innocent charm. She also perfectly emotes the awkwardness of a young girl when it comes to things she is not an expert at, like talking to the boy she likes. Elle Graham was also exuberantly great as the narcissistic Nancy, who is constantly making up stuff to seem “cool” to her friends. Rachel McAdams as Margaret’s artistic mother Barbara was a little too good to be true, but she instantly makes you root for her due to her heartfelt portrayal of a sensitive and supportive mother. Kathy Bates plays Sylvia, Margaret’s mother-in-law, who is upset over her family moving away to New Jersey. Sylvia is a typical mother-in-law, absolutely doting on Margaret, but cold and not too nice when it comes to Barbara. Benny Safdie as Herb Simon, however, has his wife Barbara’s back when needed and doesn’t allow anybody to put down his wife. It was a welcome change to see Herb not representing the typical “mama’s boy” and standing by his wife and daughter in times of crisis.

Spread over 1 hour and 46 minutes, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is evenly paced and thoroughly charming. Even though I haven’t read the book, this film makes me want to read Judy Blume’s novel since live-action adaptations usually do not fit in everything from the original work.

Rating: 8 on 10. You can stream the film on Netflix.

Read Next: You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah Review

Also Read: Is Netflix Planning “Mask Girl” Season 2?

Dinosaur Love Review – The T-Rex Game Is More Fun

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

I first stopped watching this series after five episodes, then resumed seeing the rest after a few weeks just so I could write the review with a better perspective. And no, the remaining episodes weren’t much better. “Dinosaur Love” is a Thai college romance, with almost no story, so it’s funny that it needed two directors – Tonnam Piamchon Damrongsunthornchai & Zaanook Jukkroww Nipitpon Muangsinun – or maybe it’s the case of “too many cooks spoil the broth”.

Zaanook directed the 2022 series “Remember Me”, which was a bittersweet nostalgic show about childhood friendships and love, “Dinosaur Love” on the other hand is completely forgettable and quite cringe-y. The ten episode follows senior Engineering student Dino (Pepper Pongpat Unhapipatpong), who falls in love with cute junior Rak Passakorn(Kong Montree Pattarachitphinyo) and aggressively pursues him. More than half the series is about the courtship and then the last few episodes show how Dino becomes overtly possessive and then the two encounter a few random problems and suddenly the show ends.

The screenplay for the series was choppy, with several abrupt transitions and sudden change of scenes. For some reason, the creators seem to be obsessed with making everything look too bright, so all actors have too much make-up on and there’s a bright filter running throughout the runtime, with a lot of overexposed shots. If that’s not bad enough, the background score was just terrible. Dinosaur Love included lots of cartoon kind of sounds, meant to add comedic effect, a lot like the exaggerated effects you would hear in shows like “Tom & Jerry”. The choice of background sounds would be absurdly ridiculous in some scenes; for example, there’s a scene where Dino is meeting his family and other guests to discuss marriage, and there’s a crow-like cawing sound accompanying their interaction; it is meant to be comedic, but isn’t funny at all. I wondered if the sound was coming from somewhere else and even paused the episode to double check if I had something else playing on a different tab, that’s how irritating the effect was.

There was something off about Pepper Pongpat Unhapipatpong and Kong Montree Pattarachitphinyo as lead couple Dino and Rak. Despite several romantic scenes between the two, their chemistry was mechanical and a lot of it also had to do with the awful direction. Both their characters are single-dimensional and stereotypical. Dino is an alpha male who pursues his target relentlessly, while Rak’s character is like a dumb innocent damsel in distress. The juvenilization (it’s not a word, but still) of Rak was extremely irritating to watch. Nicknamed ‘bunny’ by Dino, Rak is like a thirteen-year-old lost child with no individual thought, instead of an adult college student. The actors too didn’t have enough charm to rise above the plot’s ridiculousness.

Here’s the most hilarious thing about “Dinosaur Love”, it starts with a bunch of different college students discussing famous campus love stories and that’s when they start to narrate Dino and Rak’s romance, but by the end of the show, the opening trope is completely forgotten. It’s like the creators were under some tight deadline to finish filming the series, so they just served viewers a rushed romance with a string of repetitive scenes and random shenanigans. None of the sub-plots and secondary characters were even necessary in the tale. This should have been a 3 episode mini-series. Playing the pixelated T-Rex game that appears on Chrome when your internet isn’t working is more enjoyable than watching “Dinosaur Love.”

Rating – 3 on 10. The show is on IQIYI

Read Next: Be My Favorite Review – Enjoyable Time-Travel Rollercoaster

Also Read: Is Netflix Planning “Mask Girl” Season 2?

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The trailer for “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” gives the whole story away; if you’ve seen it, you know what to expect. Although, I was hoping for a slightly funnier film, but it turned out to be like most high-school comedies, but with 13-year-olds instead of older teenagers. Which isn’t a good thing.

Directed by Sammi Cohen and written by Alison Peck and Fiona Rosenbloom, “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” follows Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler), who’s been planning to throw the most epic Bat Mitzvah party and win over her crush, Andy Goldfarb (Dylan Hoffman). However, her plans are ruined when she has a fallout with her best friend, Lydia (Samantha Lorraine). To make things worse, Lydia starts dating Andy. The whole Bat Mizvah plot is very similar to Netflix’s “13: The Musical”, which was more fun due to the songs and dance.

“You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” features the entire Sandler family. Adam Sandler portrays Danny Friedman, the onscreen father to both of his daughters, Sunny and Sadie Sandler who play sisters Stacy and Ronnie, respectively. Adam’s wife, Jackie Sandler, takes on the role of Lydia’s mother, Gabi. They should’ve just cast Jackie as Mrs. Friedman, given that both Sunny and Sadie resemble her a lot. While the cast delivers what is asked of them, the writing lacked imagination and didn’t evoke enough laughs for a comedy film. The infusion of Jewish customs, traditions and beliefs was a nice cultural touch to the story and the kids are show attending Sunday Hebrew school to learn more about their religion and ancestors.

Sunny Sandler delivers an entertaining performance as the teen protagonist, Stacy, who is infatuated with her crush and attempts to fit in with the “cool” kids. However, she didn’t quite fit the profile of the “not-so-popular kid”, as she is easily the most attractive girl in her class. Her appearance reminded me a lot of actresses Liv Tyler and Camila Morrone from “Daisy Jones and the Six,” both of whom are stunning women. Samantha Lorraine was adorable as Stacy’s best-friend Lydia, but the character is treated terribly throughout the story. Adam Sandler and the older actors step back graciously to let the younger cast shine. Sadie Sandler in her smaller part as the older practical sister who is constantly watching horror movies with her best-friend Zaara (Zaara Kuttemperoor) had the most laid-back and likable character.

Even though the primary theme is supposed to be about the importance of friendships, family and traditions over passing crushes, the execution tells a different story. For example, Stacey doesn’t think twice before spreading a nasty false rumors about her childhood best-friend and breaking her heart. Basically, “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” was just about a self-centered teen trying to hard to impress the boy she likes, betray her best-friend, treat everybody terribly and in the end getting away with all of it just because of one kind act. If only one big party could fix everything in real life too.

The musical score is packed with viral pop hits that social media users would have encountered countless times on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and the likes. The cinematography is bright, snazzy and colorful, just like most Netflix offerings in the genre (think “XO, Kitty”), so most of it is visually quite pleasing. The wardrobe of the kids is very pretty for most parts, but simultaneously ridiculous, because some of it is too expensive and the teens drop names of designers like they are models. I really appreciated a scene in which Stacey’s mother prevents her from purchasing an expensive dress, stating that it costs more than their house, and instead selects a more affordable option. However, the intended lesson in frugality is compromised when the mom later presents the pricey dress as a gift to Stacey.

If thirteen-year-olds today really are like the kids in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”, it’s kind of worrying. On the other hand, if the portrayal is far from reality, then it’s even more problematic to witness adult writers peddling narratives that can twist teen viewers’ perception of crushes, clothes and values. Despite all the plot problems, Sunny Sandler and Samantha Lorraine deliver endearing performances and have some great supportive onscreen parents. For those who can just oversee all its flaws, it movie might prove to be fun mindless watch for the weekend.

You can stream the film on Netflix.

Read Next: Happiness for Beginners – Movie Review

Also Read: Is Netflix Planning “Mask Girl” Season 2?

The All-Nighter Review – Vigilante Vampires Take Over

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

This comic books series was like “Batman” meets “Castlevania”, sort of!

Created by Chip Zdarsky and Jason Loo, “The All Nighter” is a five-part comic book series about a bored vampire flipping burgers at an all-night diner, completely bored out of his mind. That’s no way for a nearly immortal being to live. So, inspired by his favorite superhero movies, Max, the protagonist, decides to become a caped hero, and his origin story is straight out of the panels of a Batman comic. No, Max does not lose his parents to a brutal mugging. Instead, he saves a middle-aged couple from being mugged in a dark alley, probably also preventing someone from becoming an orphan. The scene instantly made me think of Thomas and Martha Wayne; and “The All-Nighter” is filled with such allusions to popular comic book scenes, characters, and tropes.

Issue #1 of the series starts with a rather angst-filled scene introducing Cynthia, who works at “The All Nighter” diner, and is fuming at a customer for calling her ‘doll’ while placing his order. Cynthia is calmed down by Joy, a young girl. Right on the second page, two regular cops who’ve been visiting the diner for years remark about how Joy hasn’t aged at all in the time they’ve been eating at the place. The humans think it’s a rare condition, but readers are informed that the diner is run by a group of four vampires. Nobody seems to be happy with their situation, but it seems like the best way to keep a low profile in a world where their kind is rare. But tired of his mundane life, Max decides to become a caped crusader who takes on criminals in the night. Joy’s sub-plot was a throwback to the bratty Claudia from “Interview With The Vampire”, both are adult vampires trapped in a child’s body, which can be exceedingly frustrating.

Published by Dark Horse Books, the artwork in “The All Nighter” carries a style quite typical of established DC/Marvel superhero comics, characterized by vibrant and bold panels along with striking coloring. While the first two issues prove to be quite gripping, the pacing notably slows down starting from issue #3 onward. The creators attempt to introduce numerous new characters, creatures, and sub-plots, we to making the series rather chaotic to follow.

Adding to the confusion is the concept of “Takers” – an evil group that persecutes non-humans when they step out of line. The exact origins of this group are never properly explained, further muddling the narrative. While Chip Zdarsky adheres to established superhero and vampire archetypes, the infusion of inspiration from popular culture feels excessive, and it overshadows the essence of the vampire fiction elements. Apart from a few pages depicting Max and his friends enjoying blood-smoothies, there’s little that truly portrays them as creatures of the night.

“The All Nighter” heads towards a pretty predictable end, but makes for an entertaining read due to the blend of two beloved genres. Read it if you are a superhero comic book fan with a soft spot for vampire fiction too. It’s also available on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: It Won’t Always Be Like This – Graphic Novel Review

Also Read: The Madman’s Library – Book Review (audio version below)

Funny Woman – Short Horror Film Review

Don’t talk to strangers.

Don’t be too greedy.

Definitely don’t gamble.

Those are the three takeaways from the four minute short horror film by Dark Fun Horror productions starring Delnaaz Nozari as the protagonist. The story follows her as she encounters an eccentric woman in a dingy garage. While not as complex as “The Elevator,” one of the production’s more recent shorts, “Funny Woman” leans more towards being creepy than outright scary.

The character known as the “Funny Woman” is dressed in a strikingly loud manner, resembling someone ready to attend a 1980s rave party. She sports oversized red goggles, a floral scarf wrapped around her hair, and a camera oddly suspended from her neck. Although the plot’s direction becomes evident, the film remains an entertaining watch within its four-minute duration.

You can stream the film on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.

Is ‘Mask Girl’ Season 2 Possible?

Major story spoilers ahead

Did you enjoy watching the Netflix series “Mask Girl” and are wondering like us if there could be a season two? While a spin-off on the same lines will be easier, a direct sequel is also quite possible. Even though there has been no talk from Netflix about a sequel to the show, considering how the show ended, there’s definitely enough scope for one.

While the 2023 installment of Mask Girl ends with main protagonist Kim Mo-mi dying, if we’ve learnt anything from shows around the world – nobody is dead until we see the body burnt or buried for sure. The climactic moments of the show feature Kim Mo-mi’s daughter Mi Mo wistfully watching her mother perform as a child. Since the show already hinted at how Mi Mo shared her mother’s passion for dressing up, singing and dancing, a sequel could focus on Mi Mo carrying her mother’s legacy forward by becoming a masked online performer herself. Basically, a literal “Mask Girl 2”.

Even though the series concludes with Mi Mo coming to terms with her mother’s criminal past and becoming at peace with her own situation, she is only a teenager and there’s a whole world waiting for her. And a season two could be quite exciting and could explore more diverse themes.

If you haven’t seen the series, listen to our quick recap of the show in under 5 minutes –

Film for Her by Orion Carloto – Quick Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Growing up, my father often told me that I’d never get any work done if I continued to daydream about my past. My mother always encouraged it; she said it’s the only reason why great artists are so respected. I never grew out of that – reminiscing.

Orion Carloto

I came across the poetry book “Film for Her” by Orion Carloto while exploring poetry titles available on my Kindle Unlimited subscription. Initially drawn by its simple yet striking book cover, I assumed it was the work of an independent writer. Intrigued, I decided to give it a shot.

This turned out to be more of a personal scrap-book, or like the title suggests, a film album of sorts for the author herself. It is filled with pretty photographs, intimate short personal essays, and, of course, a collection of poems. The content is tailored for the enjoyment of the author’s inner circle or fans. I had no clue that Orion Carloto is a popular YouTuber/model and discovered that only after looking up the author online, since the photos in the book featured model-esque individuals.

Some of the poems do have well-written lines that are enjoyable to read, but most of them were slightly repetitive and sounded like things you’ve already read in other poetry books with much better imagery. However, it might prove to be a good pick for younger readers who aren’t used to reading classical poetry, since most of Orion Carloto’s poems are about love, mental health and personal struggles, and are also easy to understand.

Through her poems, Orion reinforces familiar notions about writers, suggesting that one might require four cups of coffee, a pack of cigarettes, or a bottle of alcohol to ignite their imagination. And while this does hold through for many, I guess reading about the same things again and again becomes tiring. There’s not a lot of original thought in there. I enjoyed looking at the photographs more than the poetry in “Film for Her”.

Rating: 3/5

Read Next: It Won’t Always Be Like This – Graphic Novel Review

Also Read: The Madman’s Library – Book Review (audio version below)

Killer Book Club Movie Review – Scream for Teens

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The Spanish horror film 2023 “Killer Book Club” (original title: El club de los lectores criminales) starts very true to its title theme – a woman is burnt alive in a library like room filled with books. The scene however shift to 6 years later, where eight college kids, who are part of a book club, become victims of a psycho clown killer. The clown writes and enacts their deaths, chapter by chapter.

Directed by Carlos Alonso Ojea and written by Carlos Garcia Miranda, the Netflix film “Killer Book Club” stars Veki Velilla as the primary protagonist, Angela – a published author and literature student. She becomes the target of a twisted, masked murderer, along with her seven other friends. These eight friends are all members of a college book club, united by their shared love for horror stories. Consequently, when an anonymous online user vows to end their lives while exposing their shared secret, they all begin to doubt each other. With an easy runtime of 90 minutes, the movie has a predictable plot which was like a mash of “Scream” and Netflix’s 2022 horror series “The Midnight Club”. And even though “Killer Book Club” does have a few well shot shocking violent murders, the overall effect is quite underwhelming.

Veki Velilla sports a distinctly “Girl Interrupted” style haircut in the film – an unruly Caesar cut that gives the impression she took the scissors to her own hair. Strangely, the cut doesn’t appear to complement her character, making it a bit difficult to envision Angela as the ambitious student and mildly successful author she’s meant to portray. In the movie, all eight characters receive nicknames, yet hardly any of them seem to embody their respective roles convincingly. In fact, the decision to introduce eight suspects within a 90-minute story wasn’t a great idea from the start. There isn’t enough time to flesh out their personalities, so most viewers wouldn’t care much about anybody’s death.

The cinematography is good enough for a horror flick, with quite a few night scenes which are dimly lit but still have enough illumination for viewers to understand what is happening. Surprisingly, the “Killer Book Club” has very few jump scares, and the background music doesn’t have much character or recall value. Staying true to its title, the movie has some scenes shot in a pleasant looking college library and there are tone of book appearances throughout the runtime. With a small roster of character and more seasoned actors, this could’ve been far more entertaining.

You can stream “Killer Book Club” on Netflix.

Read Next: Mask Girl Review – Wicked Web of Delusions, Deception & Vengeance

Also Read: Ooku Review – Fascinating Retelling of Edo Era (Audio Version Below)