Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 172
April 29, 2023
The Eighth Sense – Surfs Through Love, Trauma & Campus Conflicts
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
There are some TV shows that make you wonder why the main character isn’t in therapy, and then there’s “The Eighth Sense”, which starts off with a scene where an exasperated mental health professional asks the hero to spell out his troubles.
Directed by Werner du Plessis and Inu Baek (who produced “To My Star”), the ten-episode series follows Jae Won (Lim Ji Sub) as he returns to his Seoul campus after completing his mandatory military service. The final year student becomes attracted to freshman Ji Hyun (Oh Jun Taek), who works as a part-time employee at an eating joint. Equally interested in the handsome senior, shy country-boy Jun Taek joins the surfing club after spotting Jae Won in promotional posters. However, Jae Won’s past baggage and mental health issues make their romantic story more complicated than the average campus couple.
The Eighth Sense” gets a lot of its ingredients right, from its cast to its music and cinematography, resulting in a series that looks and sounds great. Although Jae Won and Ji Hyun don’t have a typical “meet cute” first encounter, the first two episodes establish a palpable attraction between the two characters. As they go on a trip with their club, they grow closer, and the surfing subplot is both integral to the story and adds freshness and depth to the series.
Oh Jun Taek, played by Ji Hyun, is absolutely endearing as the introverted, hard-working character who gradually transforms into a more confident and assertive version of himself, unafraid to stand up for himself when mistreated. Lim Ji Sub’s Jae Won, on the other hand has a slightly dual-toned personality and the actor captures his varied emotions aptly. He’s lively, carefree, and caring around his friends, but in reality, he struggles to keep up appearances and relies on prescribed medication to maintain his mental health. Jae Won’s growing friendship with Ji Hyun becomes his safe space and their chemistry is riveting. However, the series puts a lot more focus on their parallel lives on campus with their own set of friends, and while all those interactions were engaging, it definitely makes you wish the lead pair were given more screen time together too.
While the inclusion of therapy was laudable in the plot, the actor playing Jae Won’s shrink felt more like a fortune-teller offering words of advice than a mental health practitioner. Lee Mi Ra delivers a standout performance as Yoon Won, the surf club president and Jae Won’s drinking buddy. She’s one of the most lively characters in the show and unexpectedly delivers one of the most emotionally-charged scenes, where she breaks down over her struggles with finding a job. Jung Seo, who plays Ji Hyun’s boss at the eatery, makes an entertaining cameo as a wise and outspoken older woman who loves listening to college kids’ problems and is always happy to help them out. On the other hand, Park Hae In’s portrayal of Jae Won’s ex-girlfriend, Eun Ji, is slightly generic. She’s oddly oblivious to his lack of interest in her and needlessly cruel to her juniors.
Episode six marks a definitive point in Jae Won and Ji Hyun’s relationship, and there’s a beautifully shot collage in the last few minutes. However, the episode ends with a completely unexpected twist, one that’s believable even if difficult to accept. One of the primary conflicts in “The Eighth Sense” stems from Jae Won acting unlike his usual self, which causes a lot of pain and confusion for the innocent Ji Hyun. Trauma shouldn’t be used as an excuse to behave in unacceptable ways, and the writers could have chosen a better climactic conflict rather than the cliched trope where someone hurts people they love because they think it would protect them.
The makers use Conan Gray’s song “The Story” in episode nine, which perfectly marks another turning point for the protagonists and the story returns to the uplifting romantic mood of the first half. Werner du Plessis and Inu Baek could have actually ended things with episode nine if they wanted to, but episode ten is a sweet, fun addition that gives viewers a better curtain call. Like sea waves that swallow anything you carve out on the sand, episode ten washes out any disappointment viewers may feel in some of the previous episodes. Ji Hyun is like a warm ball of sunshine that helps calm down Jae Won’s stormy heart. “The Eighth Sense” is worth a watch and has a high re-watch value.
It’s a 8.5 on 10 from me. Stream the series on Viki.
April 28, 2023
“In Winter’s Garden”: Slow-Burn Horror with Sneaky Twist
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A fading horror author hurts his back and finds himself in a posh retirement home for the wealthy called “Winter’s Garden.” The beautiful name masks its morbid implications; it’s where residents spend the last days of their lives, withering away. “In Winter’s Garden” by Mark Hurst follows the protagonist Bernard C. McMasters, who is convinced that the doctors and nurses at his new place of residence are vampires. Why else would they need to draw vials of blood from the residents every week? However, everyone, including his daughter, believes the writer is letting his wild imagination get the better of him.
While readers may have doubts about reading horror fiction with an aging or dying hero, Mark Hurst’s way with words conjures up a vivid world filled with sinister creatures. The book has quite the perfect setting for a horror novel – a retirement home away from civilization, with cold nurses who seem to be sucking the life out of their old patrons. The prose makes it easy to imagine the Victorian-era buildings and premises of Winter’s Garden. One scene where Bernard discovers a secret pathway to a sinister underground tunnel harboring a monster reminded me of “Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets”, you’d think a huge basilisk would spring out the dark corners and devour someone.
Like his last novel, “The Long View,” the author keeps the character roster short, so readers never get confused between who is who. Bernard’s fraught relationship with his daughter Rosie is done well. Despite being neglected for most of her childhood and growing up years, Rosie does her best to keep things cordial and always checks up on her father. The author befriends a bunch of interesting senior citizens at the retirement home, and Ruby the ballet dancer was the most fun one in the group. A ballet dancer when she was young, Ruby sounds like the kind of person you’d want to age into – still light on your feet, optimistic, cheery, and charming. There’s a mysterious character called the Colonel, who made for an interesting addition towards the second half of the novel. Even though his character makes only a brief appearance, he seems to have a strong hold over the protagonist and serves as his motivation to fight the demons at Winter’s Garden.
Having read some of Mark Hurst’s previous works, I was hoping for a lot more blood, gore, and demons in this novel. Instead, it was a slow-burn horror fiction with just enough graphic content to make you squirm a little. Obviously, since the protagonist isn’t a strong healthy man, the action sequences are limited, but while some parts seem implausible, other scenes seem painfully real. Like Bernard struggling breathlessly to climb a flight of stairs while being chased, or nearly passing out while running on the treadmill. It took me a few days to finish the novel, but it was gripping until the end. There is a sneaky, surprising twist towards the end, and the climactic scene keeps things satisfactorily open-ended.
It’s a 4 out of 5 from me.
Citadel Ep 1 & 2 Review – Rather Run-off-the-mill
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The most exciting part about Episode One of Amazon Prime Video’s spy thriller series is a fancy train the story opens with. Created by Bryan On, Davil Weil and Josh Applebaum, the series follows top spies Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and Mason Kane (Richard Madden) who work for an organization called “Citadel” which is supposedly a cut above CIA, FBI and is almost mythical in its status. During a mission, the two are ambushed and their memories wiped out by the nefarious “Manticore,” which destroys the entire Citadel organization. With no memory of the past, the spies face the challenge of fighting a powerful, elitist group that aims to unleash chaos worldwide.
Episode one doesn’t do much to excite viewers about this spy thriller and the action sequences on the train are chaotic, made more annoying by unstable camera-work. But the train, it’s like a luxury hotel on wheels, with stunning window views and it made me think how the 2022 film “Bullet Train” would’ve looked a lot more cooler than it already is if it had a similar setting. Both Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden look dapper as secret operatives, but their banter as Nadia and Mason comes off as excessively pretentious, rather than the cool, sarcastic, and fun dialogue that the writers intended. In-fact, the first time I laughed while watching this series was when episode two was half-way done. It was when Mason Kane tells a colleague “We are two guys in a van with a briefcase. We’re the plot of dumb and dumber.”
It’s only in the second episode, titled “Spies Appear at Midnight,” that the series finally hits its stride. The dialogue is better written, and the plot twists become more entertaining. However, some of the twists are so absurd that it makes one wonder why the writers didn’t go all out for a more exaggerated and entertaining story-line. I am not asking for “Everything Everywhere All At Once” level crazy (although, why not?), but something close. So, while the show doesn’t feature universe-hopping super-villains, Lesley Manville does an excellent job as the aging but shrewd Dahlia Archer, the broker for “Manticore”. However, this sets up high expectations for the real villains, and hopefully, the next few episodes will be more engaging.
You can stream “Citadel” on Amazon Prime.
“One More Time” Movie Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Lonely, miserable, and stuck in a menial retail job, Amelia wistfully remembers her 18th birthday party on her 40th birthday and wishes she were a teenager again. A freak accident fulfills her desire, and she wakes up in her childhood home on the day she turned 18. Is this her chance to start over?
Directed by Jonathan Etzler, the 2023 Swedish Netflix movie “One More Time” stars Hedda Stiernstedt as the jaded Amelia, who keeps reliving her 18th birthday and doesn’t know how to break the loop. The plot is similar to the 2019 Netflix comedy “Little,” where a woman in her 30s reverts back to her thirteen-year-old self, but “One More Time” also incorporates a “Groundhog Day” style time-loop twist. The 1993 classic not only gets a mention in Etzler’s film, but the protagonist also watches the Bill Murray flick in hopes of finding a way to break the loop.
The cinematography is colorful, bright, and has a very 80s/90s aesthetic, reminiscent of films like “Clueless” and “Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion.” The first half was slightly irritating, largely because 40-year-old Amelia behaves like an idiot when she wakes up as her younger self. There are very few traces of her adult self, despite her friends claiming that she talks like their moms. Back in time, Amelia tries to make her relationship with boyfriend Max (Maxwell Cunningham) last longer and also attempts to repair her fractured friendship with former bestie Fiona (Miriam Ingrid). Despite getting multiple shots at the same day, she isn’t able to ‘fix’ much.
While the friendship theme is sweet, “One More Time” fails to capitalize on the comedy potential of the time-loop genre. It does have some great fun moments, and Miriam Ingrid is a lot more likable in her smaller cameo as the unpopular student rejected by her childhood friend than Hedda Stiernstedt’s selfish, self-centered teen Amelia. The peppy music helps uplift the mood of the script, and the flashy colors make things more engaging too.
Overall, “One More Time” is a decent one-time-watch that puts its focus on friendships, family, and the importance of staying grounded.
I would rate it a 6 out of 10. Stream it on Netflix.
April 27, 2023
5 Best Stages From Boys Planet
Boys Planet (BP) may have ended, but the competitive performances will remain eternally fresh online. Some of the later songs featured in the final few episodes were original tracks performed by BP contestants for the first time, and they are now synonymous with their act. I was just watching one of those songs online and decided to compile a list of my 5 favorite acts from the reality show. Because, why not?
1. Backdoor (Stray Kids) – The ‘K’ group members, including Han Yu Jin, Jiyun Seo, Kim Ji Woong, Kim Min Seoung, Kim Tae Rae, Kum Junhyeon, and Yoo Jong Woo, gave “Boys Planet” fans the first applause-worthy performance on the show. They deservedly became the first group on the reality show to win the opportunity of having a special stage re-enactment. Yoo Jong Woo killed it as the center with his powerful gaze and expressions, while the rest of the contestants backed him up with immaculate in-sync performances. Three boys from this group won the show to become part of the winning debut K-pop band called ZeroBaseOne, while five of them made it to the final 18! This performance convinced me to watch the rest of the reality show and received a lot of cheers from fellow trainees.
2. Zoom (Jessie) – Haruto, Keita, Ollie, Park Hyun Bin and Wumuti delivered one of the most fun stages on Boys Planet, the fresh choreography that was led by Wumuti was playful and extremely entertaining. Despite everybody’s apprehensions during the show about Park Hyun Bin taking the ‘killing part’, he does pretty well as the center, even though Haruto and Keita shine most with their rapping. It’s a shame none of these members made it to the final nine of “Zerobaseone”.
3. Jelly Pop – An original composition that the finalists performed on the last episode of the show, “Jelly Pop” didn’t sound as fun when it was first introduced, but when the boys took to the stage and sang it like pros, the beats kind of get stuck in your head. Or at least it kept playing in mine! Zhang Hao, who placed number one in the end led this stage with the killing part and was accompanied by Jay, Kum Junhyeon, Lee Hoe Taek, Park Hanbin, Park Gunwook, Na Kamden, Seok Matthew and Yoo Seungeon. Both the singing and dancing was pitch perfect, fun and had a very summer touch to it.
4. Law (- Yoon Mi Rae & BIBI) – Very few contestants were interested in performing this track due to the challenging choreography, but the team that ended up going for “Law” absolutely slayed the stage. Han Yu Jin, Lee Ye Dam, Na Kamden, Park Hanbin and Wang Zi Hao packed a slick song-dance in this powerfully choreographed number which is quite different from the original.
5. Love Me Right (EXO) – Performed during the first mission when all contestants were still part of the show and strictly divided into “K” and “G” groups, a lot of fans debated which team did it better. For me, the ‘G’ group performance was a lot more fun to watch, especially due to Jay’s smooth vocals and the easy camaraderie between the trainees, even though some of them were a little shaky while singing. “K” group on the other hand did not fumble with their singing at all and gave a near-perfect stage. I’d say it’s a bit of a tie, even though I have seen the ‘G’ group performance a few more times than the ‘K’ one.
Chains of Heart Review – Train-wreck
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
First off – the chemistry between the leads Haii Sarunsathorn Tanawatcharawat and Boom Raweewit Jiraphongkanon is electric in the 2023 Thai series “Chains of Heart”. There’s plenty of romantic tension between the two and its palpable just through the glances and stars exchanged between their characters Ken and Cheng Talu, even though Haii has more steamy scenes with Kut Tanawat Sukfuengfoo who plays the other main lead. Someone should give Haii and Boom another series, one that has a better script, because “Chains of Heart” was a confusing, silly, unintentionally comic show. The two actors could’ve easily pulled of something like KinnPorsche, but sadly, their show is not even half as entertaining. It took me half-a-dozen episodes to understand where the makers were trying to go with the story, because the plot is all over the place. The series is so painfully predictable, that viewers would keep thinking maybe there are some clever twists saved for the last. There aren’t.
Directed by Term Rungradit Rungamonwanit, who doesn’t have any other titles to his credit, “Chains of Heart” has a dramatic intriguing start, but begins to lose steam as the plot unravels. Forest officer Din (Tanawat Sukfuengfoo) and Ken (Haii Sarunsathorn Tanawatcharawat) are deeply in love with each other, but their seven-year-long relationship ends abruptly when Din is chased by illegal smugglers. Din disappears after falling from a cliff and is assumed to be dead by most. When a mysterious Chinese businessman called Cheng Talu begins to passionately pursue Ken, despite being attracted to the new suitor, Ken is convinced that Din is still alive and become exceedingly suspicious of the new man in his life.
The cinematography is picturesque in parts, especially in the scenes set in the interiors of Thailand. However, the action choreography was quite mediocre. Tui Kiatkamol Lata looked menacing as the villain Inpha, a corrupt officer who makes money off smuggled wood and is after Din’s family. However, his character was generic and easily forgettable, and the same goes for all the other goons in the series. The characterization of the leads is not any better. Ken is introduced as a badass martial artist who can kick butt, but is reduced to a sobbing, dumb mess who always needs to be rescued. Cheng Talu is your typical brooding action hero who appears out of nowhere, is invincible, and it’s seriously hilarious that nobody reports him to the police for constantly stalking Ken, all the way from China to Thailand. Marc Pahun Jiyacharoen plays Din’s brother Hin, who also has a romantic subplot that could have been completely removed from the show.
“Chains of Heart” is just not able to maintain a coherent thread of events as a romantic action thriller, and one of its biggest twists is both far-fetched and can be guessed in the first episode itself. If you want to watch something in the same genre, the 2020 thriller “Manner of Death” is a far better series.
It’s a 4 on 10 from me for “Chains of Heart”. You can stream it on on iQIYI
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April 26, 2023
Scott Pilgrim Volume 5 Review
After “Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together,” you’d think Scott would be a little more grown-up, what with the new job and all. Okay, maybe washing dishes doesn’t magically make one an adult, but still. Anyway, let’s first do a quick recap of what has happened so far. Scott has defeated four of Ramona’s evil exes and still needs to defeat three more before he can continue dating her in peace. His band “Sex Bob-omb” hasn’t been playing or practicing much as Stephen’s been busy recording an album for them. And in not a very nice surprise, Scott has to fight the next two rivals together because they are twins and do everything together. LOL.
Also Read: Scott Pilgrim Volume 4 Review
Titled “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Universe,” volume 5 by Bryan Lee O’Malley is a fun and zany addition to the series that puts more focus on friendships than romance. This volume is less about action and more about the supportive, sweet friends in Scott’s life. Even though Ramona sort of kicks him out, he keeps finding a couch to crash on. Kim Pine, who plays drums in the band, is featured on the cover and definitely stands out the most in the edition. Kim will manage to burrow her way into some soft corner of your heart if she hadn’t already. Her silent support for Scott is just as heartwarming as Wallace’s loud cheerleading for his now former roommate.
Bryan Lee O’Malley balances every character’s page-time engagingly, so nobody fades from your memories. Scott’s ex-girlfriend Knives Chau continues to be hilariously relevant in this mad comic-series, as she is still madly in love with him and is now plotting to kill Ramona Flowers! Things get surprisingly serious towards the last few pages, but the overall mood remains buoyant. Will Scott get his “happily ever after”? Or is he just doomed in love? It’s the next volume that holds definitive answers.
I love this series and would again recommend that you read the color edition. It’s also available on Kindle Unlimited.
It’s a 4.5 on 5 from me.
April 25, 2023
Evil Dead Rise Review – Doesn’t Let Down!
The 2023 horror movie “Evil Dead Rise” has a hair-raising start, quite literally! Directed and written by Lee Cronin, the film begins with a menacing buzz over a beautiful lake where a lone girl is sitting and reading a book. After painting a deceptively tranquil picture with a hint of danger, the supernatural madness unfolds soon enough and a well-done shot of a possessed woman rising from the lake’s water announces the title of the movie. However, the actual story begins in a high-rise somewhere else.
Actor Lily Sullivan plays music technician Beth who is always on the road but reaches out to her estranged sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) when she is going through a hard time. What would have been an emotional reunion of two siblings turns into an adventure from hell for the family. Ellie’s son Danny (Morgan Davies) unwittingly summons evil forces, who take over his mother’s body and go on a bloody rampage in their rundown building. “Mommy Love You To Death” is a befitting sub-title for the film, as an evil Beth gives her three children an experience that will traumatize them for the rest of their lives if they live to see another day. If you aren’t a fan of too much blood and gore, steers clear from splatter-fest. “Evil Dead Rise” is slightly more gorier than horror-comedy “Cocaine Bear”, which is also a 2023 release, both films should appeal to the same kind of horror fans.
For a horror movie with limited settings, the cinematography in “Evil Dead Rise” is visually engaging, and all the scenes are well-lit, despite the majority of the plot unfolding at night, with a power cut to boot. Thriller and horror filmmakers should definitely take notes from Lee Cronin on how to avoid annoying viewers with dimly lit shots that do little to move the plot forward or make it more sinister. Fans of the “Evil Dead” movies by Sam Raimi are going to be thrilled to bits with the several nods and tributes Cronin gives to Raimi’s work. From the book of the dead, weird incantations to the classic chain-saw scene, there’s some great throwback tributes to the older titles.
Alyssa Sutherland is fantastically creepy as the possessed Ellie after the blood of her own kids. The decision to keep Beth’s human features and distort them a little works well with the script. The director should’ve added some more conflict between the human Beth and the demonic entity trying to take over her body would’ve made some of the family fight scenes more powerful. Lily Sullivan puts up a tough front as Beth, the aunt trying to protect three kids from the demented mum, however, she isn’t given enough biting action scenes to make a complete badass.
I don’t think “Evil Dead Rise” takes itself too seriously and thus is able to deliver a decent amount of laughs and a very entertaining blood-bath filled horror ride. Lee Cronin cleverly ties up the climax with an allusion to the opening scene, so we come a full-circle with the promise of a sequel.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me.
April 24, 2023
A Tourist’s Guide To Love Review – Like An Ad
The 2023 Netflix movie “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” is more like a promotion for traveling, rather than a cinematic experience. It is brimming with cliched dialogues, such as “A tourist wants to escape life. A traveler wants to experience it.”
Directed by Steven K. Tsuchida, the movie stars Rachael Leigh Cook as Amanda Riley, an executive at a travel firm, who heads off to Vietnam to explore its tourist industry after breaking up with her long-time boyfriend. Scott Ly plays tour guide Sinh Thach, who teaches Amanda to abandon her tour books/guidebooks and explore his homeland through his eyes.
Apart from some breathtaking views of Vietnam, both natural and historical, “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” does not have much to offer. The entire story is shown in the trailer, making its 90-minute runtime feel boring and dragged out. The chemistry between Rachael Leigh Cook and Scott Ly is lukewarm, and their conversations seem too scripted. It would have been better to create a ten-minute travel advertisement instead.
Stream the film on Netflix.
April 23, 2023
Freddy – Quick Movie Review
Kartik Aryan stars as the shy and asocial but successful dentist, Dr. Freddy Ginwaala, in the 2022 romantic thriller of the same name. In a turn of events, he finds himself caught up in an affair with a married woman, Kainaaz Irani, played by Alaya F. However, the relationship quickly becomes complicated, leading to unprecedented consequences.
Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, the movie starts off on an interesting note with Dr. Freddy visiting the same cafe for five years, meeting women from a wedding website. However, due to his social awkwardness, his dates never materialize, as he tends to stare at their breasts. Quite a creepy protagonist really. So, it’s almost a miracle when the beautiful Kainaaz takes an interest in him after getting her wisdom tooth extracted at his clinic.
Kartik Aryan’s last serious role in the 2021 movie “Dhamaka” left much to be desired, but he delivers as the invisible Dr. Freddy Ginwaala, a 27-year-old who believes in soul-mates and is haunted by a traumatic childhood. Alaya F looked a little too young for her part, but she is riveting as Kainaaz. Her dual character as the young housewife trapped in an abusive marriage seeking comfort in her dentist is more challenging. However, Dr Freddy’s borderline creepy behavior makes it hard to root for him.
The pace of the movie may test the patience of many viewers, and it takes a lot of time for things to get interesting. When the more brutal parts of the thriller are unveiled, they may not be compelling enough. The music by Pritam, especially the romantic number called “Tum Milo,” is surprisingly nice and helps in establishing the chemistry between Dr. Freddy and Kainaaz.
The film’s cast delivers their brief performances well, but much of it is too familiar, silly and almost mundane. “Freddy” is a decent one-time watch for those who aren’t used to watching dark thrillers but find the genre entertaining.
You can stream the film on Disney Hotstar.
