Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 174
April 17, 2023
‘Shehzada’ Review – Royal Waste of Time
After streaming the 2023 movie “Shehzada” on fast-forward, I still felt a stab of pain in my heart about the time wasted watching it. Directed by Rohit Dhawan, “Shehzada” is a Hindi remake of the 2020 Telugu film “Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo,” which starred Allu Arjun. In the Hindi version, Kartik Aaryan portrays Bantu, a young middle-class boy who is unloved by his mean father Valmiki. Unbeknownst to anyone, Bantu was swapped as a baby in the crib and is actually the heir of a very wealthy family.
While I haven’t seen “Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo,” I can imagine Allu Arjun pulling off the action-comedy hero role with a lot of swagger. However, Kartik Aaryan wasn’t able to grab attention or be entertaining in this irritating remake. Kriti Sanon plays Samara, Bantu’s love interest, and while I really enjoyed watching Kriti and Kartik Aaryan in the 2019 romantic comedy “Luka Chuppi,” their chemistry just wasn’t watch-worthy in “Shehzada.” Ankur Rathee is mildly entertaining as the dumb man-child Raj Nanda who was replaced with Bantu as a baby and thus gets to live the life of a prince in the Nanda family.
Despite talented actors such as Paresh Rawal, Ronit Roy, Sachin Khedekar, and Manisha Koirala in the support cast, the movie is gratingly boring. Neither the comedy is funny enough, nor are the action scenes compelling. To make things worse, there are a bunch of forgettable songs strewn throughout the runtime, and the dialogues are simply terrible.
It’s a 1.5 on 5 from me.
Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc – Ep 1 Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
If Demon Slayer’s Entertainment District season did a fantastic job of bringing Japan’s Edo Era Yoshiwara to life, then the Swordsmith Village Arc begins with an almost mesmerizing tour through the magical Infinity Castle. Here, all the upper-rank demons gather to report to Muzan Kibutsuji after one of their own is defeated by Tanjiro and his gang. Ufotable, the studio behind this franchise, goes all out to flex their detailed finish to the animated backgrounds, and the characters could’ve used the same kind of finesse.
With a solid 45-minute runtime, episode one of Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village starts off exactly where Entertainment District ended. The lead trio – Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke – lie bloodied from their victory over an upper-moon demon. It takes almost two months for the boys to recover from their wounds, and Tanjiro has a dream featuring an older man who looks like him talking to a mysterious swordsman. Tanjiro sets off to the Swordsmith Village to get himself a new weapon and spots the man from his dreams in the real world there. Who is this new guy? We don’t know yet.
“Simply titled ‘Someone’s Dream,’ episode one is intriguing and will reawaken fans’ interest in this series, especially after the amusing introduction of all the top existing demons who work for Muzan Kibutsuji. A few other fun characters are also introduced, and the creators appeal to male viewers with the buxom Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, who has a semi-nude opening scene while relaxing in a hot spring. Mitsuri has some hilarious interactions with Tanjiro and is endearingly doting on his sister Nezuko, making her an instant hit.
Basically, we get a pretty exciting start to the season, with a whole bunch of characters yet to show us their full potential!
Stream the series on Netflix.
April 16, 2023
Mrs Undercover Review – Radhika Runs This Show
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram) Click Here For Audio Version.
Radhika Apte at one point had become synonymous with Netflix India, so I just automatically assumed “Mrs Undercover” would be there, but it’s actually on Zee5. Interestingly, I last saw Radhika in the 2022 Netflix movie “Monica, O My Darling” in an entertaining cameo as corrupt cop ACP Naidu and she is back to playing an officer of sorts. In the 2023 action-comedy “Mrs Undercover,” Radhika Apte plays the lead role of Durga, an inactive special agent who leads the hectic life of a housewife looking after her bossy husband, cute kid, and aging in-laws. However, when a serial killer goes on a rampage, murdering women in the streets of Kolkata, Durga is forced by the special forces chief to help with their investigation, even though her skills as an on-field agent have been rusty for 12 years.
Directed by Anushree Mehta, who co-wrote the story with Abir Sengupta, “Mrs Undercover” wastes no time in unveiling the face of its primary villain, who goes by the alias ‘Common Man.’ Sumeet Vyas, who usually plays funny or ‘good boy’ roles, is seen in a new avatar as a brutal killer who preys on confident career women. However, the creators fail to seamlessly juxtapose the gory methodical killings of the ‘Common Man’ against the simpler comedic antics of Durga. What really ruins the clash of these two worlds is the insertion of several preachy little speeches about how housewives are “not just housewives.” While the movie opens with a gruesome crime, the rest of the runtime looks like it belongs to a different title.
Regardless, “Mrs Undercover” is quite funny in parts, and Radhika Apte is absolutely charming in the dual-shades of an underappreciated clumsy housewife and the more confident undercover agent trying to nab a most-wanted criminal. Rajesh Sharma is entertaining as Chief Rangeela, who pushes Durga to re-evaluate her priorities and break from her domestic routine. Unfortunately, Sumeet Vyas doesn’t get enough character build-up to leave a lasting impact on the viewer as the antagonist.
While the first half is quite gripping, the writers lose the plot later. The climax turns out to be over-dramatic and looks like it’s from some grand saas-bahu serial by Ekta Kapoor. I almost expected an choreographed action-dance sequence with angst-y music and lyrics while a bunch of women in red sarees fought evil. Instead of being an emotional grand ending where the protagonist prevails over the villain, we get a cringe-worthy sequence that includes more unnecessary preachy dialogues about the capabilities of an average woman. The creators are lucky to have a talented cast that pulls off the confused script.
It’s a 6 on 10 from me. Stream it on Zee5
April 15, 2023
Scott Pilgrim Volume 3 Review
Scott Pilgrim is growing on me! Except for some minor confusions that may arise over the timeline, volume three of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic book series “Scott Pilgrim” is completely fun and delightfully chaotic. Titled “Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness,” the edition is packed with madness rather than the promised sadness. Remember – Scott has to defeat Ramona Flowers’ seven evil exes to continue dating her. He has successfully beaten two of them so far, and the third one is the focus of volume three, or so it seems.
Also Read: Scott Pilgrim Volume 1 Review
In an interesting plot twist, Envy Adams, one of Scott’s recent ex-girlfriends, is introduced to the readers. Scott had dated Envy during college, and the breakup had left him devastated. Envy is now a successful singer, and volume two ended with a cliffhanger: Ramona confirmed that Envy’s current boyfriend, Todd, is her third evil ex. In a nonsensical sub-plot, Todd is known to be vegan, which apparently gives him extra superpowers, making him a formidable opponent in a fight. How will Scott handle this new challenge when he’s already carrying a lot of emotional baggage from his past with Envy?
Bryan Lee O’Malley’s slightly childlike illustrations are a perfect match for the exaggerated, game-like story of Scott Pilgrim. If you’re planning to read this comic-book series, be sure to pick up the color edition. The glossy panels are vibrant, lively, and downright entertaining. Beyond the cutesy artwork, Bryan excels at maintaining continuity in the story while keeping the sub-plots of secondary characters running as well. Knives Chau, a character one might expect to be phased out by volume three, continues to have funny little cameos throughout the issue.
Just like the previous volume, this one too is mixed with some flashbacks to explain Scott’s history with Envy Adams. His interactions with Ramona Flowers on the other hand are limited, yet there’s a slow and steady bond blooming between the two. Filled with music, fights and hilarity, “Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness” was perfect material to pass time.
It’s a 5 on 5 from me.
Unintentional Love Story – Series Review
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Show any movie buff a romantic pottery scene, and they are bound to think of that iconic, sexy scene from “Ghost,” featuring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. The 2023 Korean series “Unintentional Love Story” evokes cute first-crush jitters with a similar pottery scene, sans the sensuality, and does it really well.
Directed by Jang Eui Soon, the series is based on a webtoon titled “Biuidojeog Yeonaedam”. It stars Gongchan as the protagonist, Ji Won Young, a budding professional who loses his first job due to a bribery scandal involving his senior. Ji Won takes a vacation to a beach town, where he accidentally meets the famous ceramic artist, Yoon Tae Joon (Cha Seo Won), who is sought after by his company. In order to get his job back, Ji Won agrees to spy on the artist and help find a way to end Yoon Tae Joon’s self-imposed exile. But falling in love with the charismatic older artist wasn’t part of the plan.
Spread over ten 30-minute episodes, the best thing about “Unintentional Love Story” is the cinematography. Set against a small, beautiful beach town, many scenes unfold either in Yoon Tae Joon’s lavishly traditional home or his pleasing pottery workshop and shop. “It’s so fascinating, like magic,” Jo Won exclaims in a scene while watching Tae Joon smoothly make a cup, and as a viewer, I was equally mesmerized, longing to be able to breathe in the earthy smell of the fine clay, which starts out as a shapeless lump and then slowly turns into fine crockery.
However, the story wasn’t very compelling, especially because the primary conflict about a young professional spying on an artist for his firm seemed absurd. Cha Seo Won, as the confident and cold Yoon Tae, who goes soft for the handsome Ji Won, definitely makes hearts flutter with his mere screen presence. The two leads make a striking on-screen couple, although some of their interactions looked like they were written by a high-school student for a fluffy teen novel.
Han Do Woo is endearing in his supporting role as Kim Dong Hee, an openly gay coffee-shop owner who employs Che Seo Won and is sort of best friends with Yoon Tae. Won Tae Min plays Dong Hee’s childhood friend, Go Ho Tae, who is a bit of a ruffian and keeps changing girlfriends and is surprisingly upfront about wanting to date Done Hee. While their subplot is entertaining, the writers don’t give a conclusive end to their tale.
Some more maturity in the writing would have elevated this drama much more. Instead, we get a slightly cringey and cliched ending, which has the usual silly jealousies and juvenile behavior that would have been more appropriate if the protagonists were teens and not grown-up men with their own baggage. Regardless, it’s an engaging romance series.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me.
April 14, 2023
True Spirit Review: Feel-Good but Phony
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
While watching the 2023 Netflix film “True Spirit,” I couldn’t help but side with the journalists in the story who thought it wasn’t a good idea for a 16-year-old kid to decide to sail around the world unassisted. The movie is based on the real-life tale of Jessica Watson, who set sail from Australia with a lot of love and support from her family. “True Spirit” might remind some viewers of the 2007 American biographical drama “Into the Wild,” but unlike 24-year-old Christopher, who couldn’t survive living out in the wild, Jessica had fortune on her side and returned home a sailing hero.
Directed by Sarah Spillane, “True Spirit” stars Teagan Croft as Australian teen Jessica, who dreams of becoming the youngest person in the world to sail solo and non-stop around the world. When her first dry-run ends within a day after she hits a merchant vessel while taking a short nap, there are a lot of questions in the media about whether a 16-year-old should be allowed to undertake such a perilous journey. Despite strong skepticism and multiple hurdles, Jessica wades into deep waters to make her dream come true.
As far as cinematography goes, “True Spirit” is beautiful to look at and has some great oceanic shots. However, it excessively romanticizes the high seas and its dangers. Teagan Croft as Jessica reminded me a lot of “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown, but the same cannot be said about her acting skills. Teagan seemed more like a teen model on a long sea holiday than a young sailor battling anxiety, loneliness, and mother nature on a journey of a lifetime. Anna Paquin stood out a lot more in her smaller supporting role as Jessica’s mother Julie Watson, who wholeheartedly supports her dyslexic daughter’s ambitions but cannot help but have her heart in her throat knowing her little girl is out alone at the mercy of unpredictable waves and storms.
Vivien Turner delivers an adorable performance as Jessica’s sprightly younger sister, Hannah Watson, who takes on the responsibility of handling the media for her family whenever they require an update on Jessica’s progress. However, “True Spirit” tends to gloss over the many challenges that come with navigating the world alone, resulting in a Disney-like adventure about “taking risks and following your dream.” Unfortunately, the script is cluttered with cliches, forgettable dialogue, and familiar tropes, which make it difficult to truly engage with the story. Despite the creators’ attempts to portray the difficulties of sailing solo, it all seems a little too easy and therefore comes across as rather deceptive.
“True Spirit” has a typical emotional but happy ending – the protagonist getting the kind of climax they deserve. The rest of the story could’ve used some more work to make the audience really connect with onscreen Jessica.
It’s a 6 on 10 from me.
April 13, 2023
Dracula Devours Crew in ‘Last Voyage of the Demeter’
Universal Pictures has released the trailer for their upcoming horror film, “Last Voyage of the Demeter” which is loosely based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel, “Dracula”. The opening scene of the trailer immediately evokes memories of Count Dracula’s voyage from Romania to London for anyone familiar with Stoker’s work. The story of this adaptation follows the ill-fated crew of the Demeter, who find themselves facing an evil being that feeds on the blood of both animals and humans.
André Øvredal directs the film, and the title itself may give away the story or, at least, create certain expectations that nobody in the crew will survive. Nevertheless, the film looks intriguing. In a departure from most Dracula adaptations, the filmmakers portray the count as more beast-like than human, giving the antagonist a more evil and menacing appearance. While the trailer offers only fleeting glimpses of the blood-sucking creature, it might have been better if the filmmakers had withheld its visage, thereby building anticipation around its appearance.
From the trailer alone, “Last Voyage of the Demeter” promises to be a pure horror movie, where something malevolent picks off its victims one by one. Who will survive? We’ll have to wait and see. The film stars David Dastmalchian, Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi and Liam Cunningham.
Release date: August 11, 2023
Astonishing Times Issue #5 Review
“I used to think heroes never lose. But now I know the truth. Some things can’t be stopped. Eventually, everyone loses.”
The finale of the 5-part comic book series “Astonishing Times,” written by Frank J. Barbiere and illustrated by Arris Quinones and Ruaire Coleman, begins on a rather grim note. Issue #5 primarily explores themes of doom and devastation, but the panels are drenched in a burst of flashy neon tones. While the plot escalates too quickly with clichés and delivers a rushed climax, the A+ artwork is sure to keep readers hooked to the pages.
Also Read: Astonishing Times Issue #3 & #4 Review
Protagonist Noah Sans’ idol and superhero partner Kokin is almost defeated, so it is up to the reporter to somehow take on the evil villain in the tale. In my review for Issue #1, I mentioned how the setting of this series reminded me of “The Boys”. At that point, I wasn’t sure if the comparison was fair because, while superheroes are revered in “The Boys,” they are forgotten entities in “Astonishing Times.” However, Frank J. Barbiere employs a major plot twist that is eerily similar to a significant story arc in “The Boys,” which will make readers go, “aha! That’s a Billy Butcher move” (Billy being one of the protagonists from “The Boys”).
“Astonishing Times” makes for a decent quick read, but the creators could have developed a longer and more in-depth tale to give the superhero genre a more fitting tribute.
It’s a 3 on 5 from me.
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It’s a 3 on 5 from me.
April 12, 2023
Shazam! Fury of The Gods – Quick Review
All the ingredients that made the 2019 movie “Shazam” an absolute fun children’s movie are also present in its 2023 sequel “Shazam! Fury of The Gods,” but their potency is toned down. Directed by David F Sandberg, the sequel does have an entertaining first half, but things get snooze-inducing after the interval.
Plot overview: Sisters Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu) wreak havoc on earth after retrieving their father’s weapon from a museum. It is up to Shazam (Zachary Levi) and his five superhero siblings to save the planet from their wrath. However, dubbed “Philly Fiascos” by the media, can the group take on the evil Goddesses?
The film begins with an exciting museum heist by the Goddesses, and then viewers are treated to a hilarious little scene (also in the trailer) with Shazam venting on a couch to whom you’d assume is a shrink, but it turns out to be a pediatrician. We get to meet the rest of the children-turned-superheroes trying to save people from an ongoing bridge collapse, which was very reminiscent of the Doc Ock bridge scene from “Spiderman No Way Home”. The special effects are pretty great in some parts, but the dragon was far from impressive.
With an ensemble cast, the problem with “Shazam! Fury of The Gods” is that nobody gets enough space to shine. Even ace actors Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu fail to pack a punch as intimidating vengeful villains. All the other actors are forgettable in their bit parts thanks to a script that squanders all its potential.
Despite the grand scale of destruction and monsters in the sequel, the second half was so weak that at one point it basically feels like an extended advertisement for M&M candies.
It’s a 6 on 10 from me.
April 11, 2023
Jack O’Frost Review – Cozy Romantic Drama
The basic premise of the 2023 Japanese series “Jack O’Frost” is somewhat far-fetched: it’s about an artist who partially loses his memory after an accident, but the only thing he cannot remember is his boyfriend. However, if you’re willing to overlook that, the six-episode series directed by Yasukawa Yuka and Takahashi Natsuki is a heartwarming romantic drama that explores what it’s like to start over with a loved one.
Kyoya Honda plays the protagonist Okusawa Ritsu, an artist who is in a live-in relationship with Ikegami Fumiya (played by Suzuki Kosuke), a salesman. The show starts with the couple celebrating Ritsu’s birthday; they are deeply in love with each other, but the night ends in an ugly fight that leads them to break up. Ritsu storms out of the house, meets with an accident, and loses his memory. Fumiya sees it as an opportunity to start anew with his lover, but how long can he keep up the charade of being a platonic flatmate?
I saw Suzuki Kosuke last in the forgettable high-school romance “Takara-Kun to Amagi-Kun”, where he played the rather memorable role of Katori, the protagonist’s best-friend. But unlike the wise, calm and mature Katori, Suzuki’s Fumiya is a lot more emotional. Both lead actors have a cozy endearing chemistry and the warm toned cinematography makes the series easy on the eyes.
Funnily, I wasn’t keen on watching “Jack O’Frost”, because the title and synopsis made it sound like a rather flimsy drama. But the creators slowly unravel an intimate story about two lovers trying to find their way back to each other. Except for the far-fetched memory loss bit, most of the plot is driven by realism and the leads make it worth your time.
It’s a 7 on 10.
