Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 187
January 27, 2023
12 Reasons Why I Love Her – Graphic Novel Review
A guy arrives with hand-picked flowers at the door of his date and is greeted by a big bouquet of blooms she buys for him. It seemed like the sweetest thing, but the guy doesn’t think so… The graphic novel ’12 Reasons Why I Love Her’ by Jamie S. Rich and Joëlle Jones dives through the relationship of Gwen and Evan, who have a mutual love for music and movie but are quite different in their outlook towards romance.
The narration is non-linear, the story unfolds in flashbacks that aren’t in sequence. So, chapter one starts with Gwen and Evan’s second meeting and first official date, while the novel ends with how they met. Because of the non-linear storytelling, a few times it felt like a new character was gracing the pages and I had to back to confirm that the illustrations were in-fact representing the same leads.
The artwork by Joëlle Jones is the best thing about ‘12 Reasons Why I Love Her’, it’s expressive and reminiscent of old newspaper comic strips. The characters aren’t fleshed out well and Evan is a jerk, especially in the introductory chapters, so I didn’t think he deserved a second chance by Gwen. It’s a relationship doomed from the beginning, Gwen gives Evan a second change despite concluding he is a ‘repressed jock asshole’ on their first formal date. It’s a case of a red flag slapping someone on the face and yet them deciding to give things a shot. An eventual break-up is looming around the corner for such relationships.
One of the primary reasons I got myself a copy of this graphic novel was because ‘A Boy & A Girl’ by Jamie S. Rich had been a fun read. But ‘12 Reasons Why I Love Her’ never gets fun, except for the last chapter, which draws an exciting first meeting between the lovers. So I am giving brownie points for the art and the cute ‘strangers to lovers’ beginning.
It’s a 3/5 from me.
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Listen to – 10 Graphic Novel Recommendations Under 10 Minutes
January 26, 2023
Blue Lock Episode 15 Review
(Read ‘Blue Lock’ Episode 1 Review if you have no idea what the show is about)
After being branded an ‘average Joe’ by Naruhaya, Isagi Yoichi continues to grapple with his existential crisis in the 15th episode of Blue Lock. He needs to figure out a way to beat his opponents or say goodbye to his soccer career and dreams.
Titled ‘Devour’, the episode was interesting in terms of animation as the creators play around with different styles, something they haven’t been doing much lately. However, the plot and pace has been slower episode 13 onward, with a lot of focus on Isagi’s internal monologue instead of actual action or soccer. Viewers also get a flashback into Naruhaya’s past and what playing soccer means to him; however at this point in the series the throwback was a little unnecessary.
While the ‘two versus two’ game does get over in this edition, it wasn’t as fun as I was expecting it to be. But at least we aren’t left in suspense about who gets to move further up in ‘Blue Lock’!
Stream the series on Netflix.
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Listen To ‘The House – An Unusual Animated Anthology’
January 25, 2023
‘Pathaan’ Review – Karan-Arjun save this trainwreck
By Sumith Jhawar (Twitter | Instagram)
Pathaan is 2023’s first much anticipated big Bollywood release starring one of the most historically dependent stars in Hindi cinema. His last few movies range from strictly ordinary to outright awful, only exception being ‘Dear Zindagi’, so there has been a lot riding on this movie for Shah Rukh Khan and Hindi cinema in general.
Pathaan’s basic storyline is the beaten to death India-Pakistan dosti-dushmani, terrorist makes a big plan only to be neutralised by a literal one-man army/agency. Deepika is an ISI agent who never seems to be on one side. John does what John does best – being a single tone, muscle flexing, wooden looking villain, the same combination which shot him into stardom in Dhoom (2004) and he has been typecast into similar roles ever since.
A lot of the budget has been splurged on visuals in terms of only the locations. Honestly, do those locations still qualify as exotic? Are we still wowed by drone shots of Spain and Russia? I know I am not. There are too many set pieces which are ridiculous like the jet-pack scene, the frozen river scene or the whole lock and key of the vault stealing episode. It could’ve worked if you are kept hooked onto your seat by characters like in the recent Tamil joyride ‘Vikram’. The side characters of Pathaan are just fillers who service their brief purpose and are bumped off soon after.
An action movie works for me when the action is novel coupled with smart humour or strong emotional connect. A perfect example being the Avengers series which was high on action as well as humour and emotional quotient. Pathaan fails in both departments. The humour was cringy and the supposedly emotional scenes ended up being unintentionally funny. Sample this: SRK asking a Russian sex-worker if she wants to make some extra ‘boobles’ when she bends down to reveal her cleavage.
Full marks to Shah Rukh for all the hard work put in to execute the hand-to-hand combat scenes which are showcased exquisitely in his intro and the post-interval train sequence featuring a thrilling cameo by Salman Khan. Of the 2.5 hours in the film, I only enjoyed the half an hour – the start, the post-interval scene, and the post credits scene featuring a brilliant exchange between the two Khans about how the country (Bollywood) cannot be trusted in the hands of the next generation because they lack the charisma of the old lot.
One can’t help but feel that Bollywood is still suffering from a lack of good writing and relatability, things money can’t buy. The wait for an original, wholesomely enjoyable Bollywood film continues.
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Listen To – 5 Reasons To Stream ‘Trial By Fire’ On Netflix
Five Reasons To Stream ‘Trial By Fire’ On Netflix
We list five reasons under five minutes on why you should stream the 2023 series ‘Trial by Fire’ starring Rajshri Deshpande and Abhay Deol on Netflix. Listen in and subscribe to our channel.
January 23, 2023
Copenhagen Cowboy – Neon Drenched Satire
From the biblical ‘Last Supper’ to modern vampire fiction, the 2022 Netflix series ‘Copenhagen Cowboy’ takes subtle digs at a lot of things and is a twisted metaphorical tale of a gifted young woman called Miu who gets entangled in the web of Copenhagen’s dingy criminal world. She silently navigates a depraved world of rapists, drug peddlers, blood-suckers, contract killers… all on her own terms through the show. Is she an angel or a demon? It’s up to the viewer to interpret.
Created by Sara Isabella Jonsson Vedde and Nicolas Winding Refn, ‘Copenhagen Cowboy’ stars Angela Bundalovic as the mysterious Miu, who is considered a ‘lucky charm’, someone who can shower fortune on others. The title has nothing to do with the content of the show, but since the plot doesn’t have a clear focus or theme, the creators could’ve have named it anything and it wouldn’t have mattered. Although ‘Neon Demon’ kept popping up in my mind, the title of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2016 horror film which would perfectly fit this six-episode-long story.
The cinematography and storytelling are an interesting blend of retro and modern aesthetics, with 80s synth-pop music peppered through the episodes that should thrill those who seek nostalgia in stories. Angela Bundalovic as Miu strangely reminded me of Tilda Swinton, more specifically the actor’s eccentric character Zelda from the bizarre zombie movie ‘The Dead Don’t Die’. Like Zelda, Miu can throw a punch and take care of herself in a world that’s as bad as living through a zombie apocalypse. A few fight scenes were reminiscent of famous Kung Fu style movies, even though the show’s pace is a lot slower than action flicks and has many moments where people are simply staring into the void.
The first half of the series felt like a satirical commentary on the exploitation of refugees, young women are lured into first world countries and pushed into the flesh-trade business with little hope of escaping a life of slavery. The creators sometimes use literal metaphors to define things, for example a character who is a sexual pervert only gets to grunt like a pig whenever he is onscreen instead of speaking the human tongue. A literal symbolism for the term ‘filthy sexual pig’. Angela’s Miu keeps escaping all sorts of horrendous men unscathed, speaks very little and yet manages to be the glue that holds this series together.
‘Copenhagen Cowboy’ is a distinctive auteur work, although Jonsson Vedde and Nicolas Winding Refn’s stylistic preferences are akin to Panos Cosmatos, who also prefers slow shots, retro tones and eclectic musical scores. While it made for a bizarre watching experience, the series was an interesting break from the usual rabble.
It’s a 6/10 from me.
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Listen to – ‘The Closet’ Horror Comic Series Review
‘The Director Who Buys Me Dinner’ Series Review
Look, if one had to rate Korean mini series ‘The Director Who Buys Me Dinner’ on the basis of the cast’s ‘visuals’, a lot of us would probably give the primary cast an 8 or 9 on a scale of 10 – they are all exceedingly attractive. But the script is so harebrained… it’s hard to keep your interest up until the end. The plot is similar to another 2022 Korean series called ‘First Love Again’, so the basic concept isn’t even new – an immortal man waits for hundreds of years to finally get a ‘happy ending’ with his first love.
Directed by Yang Kyung Hee, the show stars Park Young Woon as Min Yu Dam and Park Jeong Woo as Seol Dong Baek. Park Young Woon is both intimidating and dashing as Min Yu Dam, the director of a company who hits on the cute new employee played by Seol Dong Baek. The two were lovers ages ago in a past life, but Seol Dong Baek was brutally murdered in the woods and Young Woon blames himself for his tragic demise. The story is muddled and has a random villain who makes no sense – popular problematic K-pop idol Dennis Lee (Jang You Sung) hates Min Yu Dam and unexpectedly falls for Seol Dong Baek.
This could’ve been a straight-forward sweet romance about a guy trying to woo his junior by going out for dinner every day but is made messy by an incomprehensible historical past and an unnecessary third-wheel in the present. All the actors are actually pretty great, but the story progression is weak and uninteresting. It’s not a bad series if you are looking to watch some handsome Korean oppas on the screen.
It’s a 5/10 from me.
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Listen to ‘The Discomfort of Evening’ – Book Review
January 22, 2023
‘Delicates’ Graphic Novel Review – Comforting
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
After reading two disappointing literary classics, the graphic novel ‘Delicates’ by Brenna Thummler came as a cozy break for my exhausted little brain. A sequel to the beautifully drawn ‘Sheets’, ‘Delicates’ is glorious to look at and follows teen protagonist Marjorie’s life after she saves her laundry business from going bust and makes a few new friends including a ghost called Wendell.
Brenna Thummler’s artwork, colors, a soothing palette of blues and pinks, provides near perfect visual stimulation. The graphic novel is comforting, filled with delicate moments that cover a spectrum of emotions without dialogues. There are plenty of conversations in the book, but they are also broken by beautiful silences, of panels where just the scene speaks for itself. You feel like a second-hand spectator vacationing in the memories of the protagonist.
One of the highlights of ‘Delicates’ is the introduction of a new character called Eliza, a quirky aspiring photographer who loves to capture haunted places. Eliza is a little like Marjorie, except she still is a loner with no friends and is passionate about the supernatural world. Brenna Thummler spins a seamless tale about friendships, hobbies, bullies and finding one’s own voice in the chaos of middle-school shenanigans. I absolutely loved reading this graphic novel, especially because of the gorgeous artwork.
It’s a 5/5 from me.
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Listen to – 10 Graphic Novel Recommendations Under 10 Minutes
January 21, 2023
‘That 90s Show’ Review – Timepass Kinda Throwback
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
People! The colloquial term ‘Timepass’ has made it to some dictionaries now (even though it’s underlined in red right now, indicating a spelling error) and Macmillan Dictionary defines it as “the act or fact of spending time, especially doing nothing important or useful”. Example – “That 90s Show on Netflix is good timepass”. Although when used in a sentence like that, it means – something that’s not great or useful, but you don’t mind spending your time on it because you have nothing better to do.
Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith reprise their roles as Kitty and Red Forman, now grandparents to 15-year-old Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) who floods their basement with her gang of silly teen friends when she decides to spend the summer with the retirees. On paper, the idea sounds like an absolute hoot, in reality ‘That 90s Show’ feels a lot like a Nickelodian/Disney kids show that’s not kid-friendly, and the adult cast clearly outshines the teen line-up.
It takes a few episodes to warm up to the primary teen gang, they younger bunch seemed a little wooden and awkward at first but get a lot more endearing and entertaining as the show progresses. However, Debra Jo Rupp as granny Kitty is the show-stealer in this spin-off, she is more energetic and spirited than the six teens combined. A lot of the original cast make tiny cameos throughout the show to loud cheering from the audience (some parts of the show was recorded in front of a live audience), so the series will hold some nostalgic value for older fans. However, ‘That 90s Show’ is a comedy that stands on its own and one needn’t have seen the older show to make sense of things.
Let’s talk new cast – Callie Haverda as shy nerdy Leia Forman is sweet, and Ashley Aufderheide plays her neighbour and new friend Gwen who introduces Leia to the rest of the gang. Mace Coronel instantly reminded me of Ashton Kutcher even before he is revealed to be Michael Kelso’s son Jay Kelso, brownie points to the casting team on that. Sam Morelos and Maxwell Acee Donovan play Nikki and Nate, symbolizing the quintessential ‘opposites attract’ couple (apart from Red & Kitty) – Nikki is the smart domineering one, while Nate is the dumb jock. Reyn Doi plays Ozzie, the only one in the teen cast who has the most definitive personality, he is exuberant, smart, sarcastic, and gay. He is out to his friends in the show and is working towards telling more people around him. The LGBT+ representation might seem ‘woke’ to some, but Ozzie fits perfectly well within the group.
From the Formans having to deal with teens in their basement again, to Leia experiencing a lot of her ‘firsts’ at her grandparent’s place, ‘That 90s Show’ isn’t rip-roaring hilarious but does have plenty of laughs and it feels like the younger cast could really get their bearings in a season two. Good timepass.
It’s a 7/10 from me.
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Listen to – 10 Graphic Novel Recommendations Under 10 Minutes
January 20, 2023
‘Trial by Fire’ Review – Fiery No-Frills Series
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Based on a book of the same name by Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the 2023 Netflix series ‘Trial by Fire’ wastes no time introducing the primary tragedy and theme to its viewers – two parents rush to the scene of a cinema fire where their two teen children were watching a matinee show. Rajshri Deshpande is arresting as Neelam Krishnamoorthy, a mother possessed to find out what led to her children’s deaths.
Created by Kevin Luperchio and Prashant Nair, ‘Trial by Fire’ is spread over seven episodes and tells the tale of the 1997 Uphaar cinema blaze which snuffed out 59 lives and several others injured. Rajshri Deshpande is arresting as Neelam Krishnamoorthy, a mother possessed to find out what led to her children’s deaths and to ensure those responsible for the avoidable deaths face consequences. Abhay Deol plays her stoic husband Shekhar and together the Krishnamoorthys fight an uphill battle for justice against the rich and powerful Ansal brothers, the men who owned the cinema hall where several safety rules were flouted.
The first episode is gripping and does a fantastic job of setting the pace for the rest of the show, which is about an ordinary middle-class couple’s fight against the system and its sluggish judiciary processes. Rajshri Deshpande’s Neelam is the driving force of the story, who has her moments of despair but is bolstered by her husband to rise each time she falls. From chasing cops for leads, govt officials for documents and fellow victims’ families for support, the lead couple is inspirational in their steely determination that fuels them for over two decades of court-drama, media scrutiny and multiple hurdles. To the credit of the creators, they also put some spotlight on the kind of mental toll such a trial can take on a person.
Largely seen from the point of view of the victims’ families, episode six titled ‘Villains’ was the only weak link, where the story slows down a little and the focus shifts to a small pawn who is made to take the fall for the fire. With just seven episodes to boot, a few characters are simply forgotten or given hasty conclusions. The cinematography and screenplay were simple, sharp and without frills. The actual Uphaar fire is shot in a way that makes the viewer feel like they are watching news footage of the blaze; the focus is never on the flames, but on the struggle of those trapped in the inferno, making it a gut-wrenching to watch.
A lot of actors play smaller parts with aplomb, like Ashish Vidyarthi who plays a goon-like Neeraj Suri who is tasked by the Ansals’ legal team to buy the silence of all those who could pose trouble for them. Anupam Kher and Ratna Pathak Shah play Captain Hardeep Bedi and Mrs Bedi, on the surface their roles might not seem too crucial to some – they play an old married couple who go to watch ‘Border’ together on the unfortunate day – but their brief sub-plot gives faces to the daily lives of the victims. The creative team has obviously dramatized some incidents for emotional effect and does bring about the desired catharsis.
The Krishnamoorthys didn’t get the kind of justice they were hoping for, but they achieve far more than anybody around them expected them to with their limited means. Stream the series on Netflix for a gritty drama symbolic of a common man’s unbreakable spirit.
It’s an 8/10 from me.
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Listen to – 10 Graphic Novel Recommendations Under 10 Minutes
January 19, 2023
Blue Lock Episode 14 Review
(Read ‘Blue Lock’ Episode 1 Review if you have no idea what the show is about)
Phew! Episode 13 ended on a crushing note for Isagi Yoichi, just when you thought his inner ‘ego’ was rising to take on everybody in the ‘Blue Lock’ facility, things change. One setback and the hero becomes a shattered pile of broken dreams.
The only good thing to come out of the last edition was the fact that players are finally taking notice of Bachira’s skills and he gets picked over an adaptable player like Nagi. Titled ‘The Geniuses and the Average Joes’, episode 14 presents a bit of an existential crisis for Isagi, he is convinced of being just a useless player who cannot hope to compete against the top monstrous strikers who’ve made it to round two of ‘Blue Lock’. But it isn’t just Isagi who needs to determine his future in the game, Nagi too needs to learn to win without Reo on his side.
Again, this episode wasn’t as entertaining, not just because Isgai wallows in self-pity for most of the runtime, but also because there’s no light moments. Only the ‘additional time’ towards the end credits had some comic relief, while the rest of the story was tense and too verbose. Thankfully, the crucial second stage rivalry battle begins towards the end, so there’s finally some exciting competitive soccer to watch!
You can stream the series on Netflix.
Subscribe to our Podcast show by the same name on YouTube.
Listen to – 10 Graphic Novel Recommendations Under 10 Minutes
