Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 238

Vanishing My First Love Review – Jumps Out Of Manga Panels!

The 2021 Japanese series ‘Kieta Hatsukoi’ or ‘Vanishing My First Love’ is an adaptation of a Manga by the same name. Out of curiosity, I read the manga, and the first episode is exactly how things happen in the comic. It’s as if the comic-book has come to life, readers can just watch it on mute and yet they’ll know exactly what’s happening.

Plot overview – Aoki Sota borrows an eraser from Hashimoto, the cute girl he has a crush on. To his shock, Aoki finds out the eraser has a boy’s name followed by a heart. Troubled, he drops the eraser and a student picks it up to give it back to Aoki. But not before noticing that his name ‘Ida’ is on the eraser, leading to the conclusion that Aoki has a crush on him. Not wanting to expose Hashimoto’s feelings, Aoki goes along with the misunderstanding, only to actually fall for the sweet and sincere Ida. What follows is a lot of confusion, comedy and sweet moments between a bunch of clueless high-school students.

Directors Kusano Shogo, Horai Tadaaki do a fantastic job of staying true to the original material with the opening episode. But as the story progresses, screenwriter Kuroiwa Tsutomu starts making a lot of changes, all for the better, making some of the silly scenes that seemed overtly exaggerated in the manga, more believable and sweet in the live-action series.

Actor Mishieda Shunsuke who plays protagonist Aoki is the beating heart of this show. He plays the shy, confused, comically bumbling high-school student to perfection. From his sad pouts to painfully awkward sequences of grappling his feelings for a fellow student, Shunshuke makes viewers root for his silly but sweet character. Meguro Ren as the calm but slow Ida, the object of Aoki’s new-found affection, offers great contrast to the jittery Aoki. The actor however does look a little old to play a high-school student, which he is – while Shunsuke was 19 at the time the series came out, Ren was at-least 24, older than the other primary cast members playing his classmates.

Fukomoto Riko as Hashimoto is Aoki’s twin sister, both of them suffer from low self-esteem and don’t have the confidence to pursue what they want. But their friendship is adorable, the two keep encouraging each other to find their voice. Suzuki Jin was almost unrecognizable as the impish Aida. His serious passionate persona from the series ‘Given’ is replaced by a fun, easy-going persona in ‘Keita Hatsuke’. One only wishes Ida’s pet-dog Mametaru had more screen-time.

The series has a high re-watch value and has a climax that’s as sweet as Christmas dessert. You’ll know if you see this series – a wholesome, cute teen romantic comedy. Unlike the Manga, the makers give viewers a conclusive ending that’s almost too perfect to be true. But hey, I am not complaining. It’s a 8/10 from me.

5 Ways ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Is Super Fun

We are done with the spoiler-free review of the 2021 film ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, which is probably the best live-action film of the friendly neighborhood hero. But to fully appreciate the film, one will have to reveal some plot details, so here’s a quick video highlighting 5 things that make the latest Marvel film pure entertainment. Spoiler ahead.

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Spider-Man: No Way Home Review – A Multiverse Throwback!

“This is why I don’t have kids,” Doctor Strange laments while trying to clean up Peter Parker’s multi-verse mess in the 2021 Spider-Man movie. It’s not the funniest punchline, but sort of sums up the movie’s theme – teen hero trying to get his life together but ignoring advice from the wise.

Plot overview: Spider-Man’s identity is revealed to the world, creating a lot of problems for Peter’s friends and family. So the teen super-hero turns to Doctor Strange for help – he wants everybody to forget who his identity. But thanks to Peter’s last minute interjections during the spell, it goes wrong and villains from different worlds show up in their dimension. Can the friendly neighborhood hero fight all these strange baddies and fix things for those close to him? That forms most of the plot.

Ever since the super cool 2018 animated film ‘Spider-Man – Into The Spider-Verse’ came out, a lot of fans imagined it would be hard to top that. However, the 2021 live-action movie directed by Jon Watts with Tom Holland in the lead borrows some of Spider-Verse ideas to give us yet another entertaining and delightful installment. Bringing back super-villains from the older spider-man movies was a master-stroke, since it has heavy nostalgic value for those who grew up watching Spider-Man titles of the early 2000s. Loud cheers went up in the theater each time an old villain showed up on screen, be it Dr Ock (Alfred Molina) or the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe). For those who haven’t seen the pre-2016 live-action movies, ‘No Way Home’ might not be as fun. Maybe the makers picked a Thursday release date because of the popular ‘Throwback Thursday’ tag on the internet, meant to take you back in time.

The cinematography is fantastic and worth watching in 3D, because a LOT of scenes have visual effects that wouldn’t be as enjoyable in 2D. Along with the multiverse-madness, there’s also a trippy sequence of Spiderman and Strange having a standoff in the mirror world, which was both chaotic and stunning to watch. Some of the action sequences weren’t as impressive as one would hope for them to be. For example, Spider-Man struggling to fight an unarmed Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin) was a little ridiculous. But for a film filled with magic, multiple universes and a whole bunch of things that don’t make sense; suspending logic and just lying back relaxed is the best way to go about watching it.

This movie is a triumphant teamwork of an ensemble cast, where everybody equally shoulders the responsibility of carrying the story forward and engaging the viewer. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, who reprise their roles as MJ and Ned Leeds, are both adorable in their supporting bits, the girlfriend and best-friend looking out for Peter Parker when the whole world has turned against him. Tom Holland still doesn’t look a day older than 18, and is just such a sprightly Spider-Man that it’s hard not to root for him. The theme of ‘second-chances’ felt a little half-baked, but manages to reel you in.

Trying to keep this review spoiler-free, so all one can say is, the first half of ‘No Way Home’ is quite solid. The second-half is a lot more emotional, with some very clever allusions to the older movies that will have fans tearing up. As the climax approaches, it feels like the story runs the danger of becoming a sob-fest, but the writers get a grip, throw in some light humorous moments and reclaim the pace of the film.

There is a post-credit scene that foreshadows the next Doctor Strange movie, so keep an eye out for that.

It’s a 8/10 from me for ‘Spider-Man – No Way Home’.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 59 for 9 great animated film recommendations.

The Girl From The Sea Review – Sweet Splash Of Island Life

The gorgeous cover and the beautiful splash of colors is what makes ‘The Girl From The Sea’, a graphic novel by Molly Knox Ostertag stand out. The story follows 15-year-old Morgan, who is part of a fun girl group, but she cannot wait to finish school and get away from her friends and family, so she can live her life without carrying secrets. But all her plans go for a toss, when one night, she meets a beautiful creature called Keltie, who saves her from drowning and makes her see life on her little island in a new light.

I love how Molly Knox starts off the story with a teen-group-chat, making it a relatable contemporary comic. Morgan and her best-friends discuss shopping, boys, parties and all the other regular stuff teen girls do. It’s a pretty cliche group by Morgan’s own admission. And then there’s Keltie, who is not like anybody she has met before. Will their two worlds unite in a happy ending?

While the story is cute, one feels like the author tries to squeeze in too many themes that make the graphic novel feel very rushed and unfulfilling. It’s a classic romantic tale with a touch of modernity, with a gay protagonist, ‘cool’ adults, endless texting and a predictable climax. However, all the characters are drawn so well, against settings that are completely inviting, that it will leave most readers turning pages till the end.

The mixing of modern day relationships, with fantasy-like elements, along with environmental issues makes for an interesting read. Although one wishes there was more story. It’s a 4/5 from me, extra love for the captivating artwork.

Algeria Is Beautiful Like America – Book Review

There’s not much to take away from the graphic novel ‘Algeria Is Beautiful Like America’ by Olivia Burton and Mahi Grand. The book follows Olivia’s quest to know more about the land her parents and grandparents came from – Algeria.

The title sounds like a promising look at the region, especially for those who know very little of it. But all we get are some exaggerated tales by Olivia’s grandmother, who fuels her curiosity for Algeria in the first place. Readers who aren’t familiar with its history get to learn a few new terms, like ‘Blackfoot’, a phrase for European origin folks who were born & settled in Algeria during French occupation, but moved to France after Algeria gained its independence.

Olivia’s need to explore her roots is understandable but barely intriguing. It’s not like she was uprooted from a different country, she was born and raised in France. She didn’t face any sort of discrimination or prejudice, and doesn’t seem to have had a rough childhood either. Her eventual trip to Algeria to find out more about her ‘roots’ is almost boring and uneventful. She meets lots of nice, warm people, is practically hand-held by a guide everywhere she goes in the new country. Basically, whatever happens to her is pretty forgettable. It’s the practical old man who shows her around who comes off as the strongest character in the book.

The artwork is very basic and unimpressive, it fails to capture the strongest point of the story – the so-called beauty of Algeria. We just have to trust Olivia’s word for the gorgeousness of the Alegrian landscape, because the art panels in the graphic novel sure as hell don’t capture any of its ‘beauty’.

‘If you don’t know where you’re going, take a look at where you come from”, a welcoming Algerian tells Olivia. That really sums up her quest – a young woman who doesn’t have much purpose in life, is enamored by the tales her grandmother told her of a lovely country, so she hopes traveling back will help her move forward. Which it sort of does.

It’s a 2.5/5 from me.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 48 for some great graphic novel suggestions

Shang Chi – Quick Movie Review

My motivation to watch this film was the lead actor Simu Liu. I had very recently been introduced to Canadian show Kim’s Convenience where Liu plays the son to a Korean immigrant couple who raised their kids in Canada, far, far away from their own homeland trying to keep their roots alive even as their kids are anything but Asian. The series is slow but warm, with generous doses of identity politics, an issue that finds a resonance in this latest addition to Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Shang Chi has fled China and his father’s tutelage to carve out an identity for himself and also in a bid to escape the horrors of his past, but as they say, you can run, but you can’t hide. After years of being on the run, Shaun, the monicker that he goes by in America is dragged back to China. What follows is an opulent journey to a hidden land and a battle that is as mythical as Marvel-esuque.

However the transition from an action sequence aboard a bus in San Francisco to an underground fight club in Macau to the folklore-in-motion jungles of the China borders on cliche sometimes. Dragons, pinnacled huts, archers and bright red costumes seem a tad-bit like appropriation on several occasions.

I am sure it was time for an Asian superhero to have his own film when it comes to MCU. Chinese immigrants form a a sizeable portion of the non-native population in America and the ABC (America Born Chinese) are considered pretty influential too. China remains a huge market for Hollywood films despite numerous regulations (Shang Chi hasn’t even been approved for a release in the country) Factors as these surely must have prompted the makers to come up with the movie but it almost inadvertently slides down the slope of stereotyping.

That being said, like most MCU films, Shang Chi too is magnificent- the special effects stunning, the attention to detail immaculate and the casting near perfect. The characters are likeable, even the villain has a shade of grey, making the film full of layers that unpeel as the plot progresses.

I enjoyed the film, and I am pretty sure you would too if you can let some evident stereotyping slide!

Palm Springs – Quick Movie Review

A romantic-comedy with a time-loop twist? Sounds like a fun enough film to watch with friends. So we picked the 2020 ‘Palm Springs’ directed by Max Barbakow. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti play Nyles and Sarah, two strangers who meet at a wedding and find themselves re-living the same day again and again.

The best bit about Palm Springs is how the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and is filled with fun moments. And despite being a light surreal comedy, it also managed to make its viewers seriously ponder upon the question – if given a chance, would you be okay with being stuck in the same day?

The cinematography is vibrant, with a dash of colors juxtaposed against the desert. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti have a refreshingly sparkling chemistry. The two have a lot of fun moments in the story and really look like they had a great time shooting the movie. Andy’s character Nyles is a bit of a man-child, who’s reconciled himself with the reality of waking up the same day every day, so he tries to make the best out of it. However, Milioti as Sarah is more serious and instead of just wasting the same day again and again, decides to do something about it. Her character is quite layered and believable.

It’s been a while since a movie under the ‘romantic comedy’ genre had me laughing so much. A talented cast is just an added bonus to the sharp, modern and witty script. Everyone in the support cast with their little cameos are fantastic. J.K Simmons in his brief role as Roy is a riot, a man who Nyles draws into the ‘time loop’ mess. Camila Mendes is sweet as Sarah’s younger sister.

If you are looking for a fun comedy to watch with friends, ‘Palm Springs’ is a pretty good pick. I loved it. And it’s a 8/10 from me. It’s available to stream on Netflix.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 59 for 9 great animated film recommendations.

Unsure of Kafka On The Shore?

Famed Japanese author Haruki Murakami loves to explore the magical realism genre, which allows for so many multiple meanings to one situation, that more often than not – readers are left to fend for themselves.

In the latest podcast episode of Abstract AF, instead of doing another Murakami explainer, we just take a spoiler-free look at his 2002 novel ‘Kafka On The Shore’. A book with two parallel plots and dozens of bizarre happenings.

Listen in and subscribe to our channel on YouTube.

Demon Slayer Season 3 – Let The Adventure Begin!

Episode One of Demon Slayer 3, starts off where ‘Mugen Train’ ended and the animation is as vibrant as ever. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke are all shattered by Kyojurou’s death, but instead of being broken by the Flame Hashira’s death, the three boys train harder than ever to overcome their weaknesses and become stronger slayers.

While the first episode is titled ‘Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui’, the senior Demon-Slayer doesn’t make an appearance until almost the end. It’s funny that Tanjiro doesn’t recognise Tenzen, who he has met in the past with the rest of the Hashiras. In episode 22 of Season One, Tengen Uzui was the one who offered to kill our hero in the most ‘flamboyant’ manner for breaking rules of the Demon Slayer Corps. Here’s a still from that episode.

While it’s strange that Tanjiro doesn’t remember the showy Hashira, a major part of the episode is spent in an emotional meet between him and Kyojurou’s younger brother. The sub-plot, even though necessary, is dragged out and slackens the pace. We get only one demon encounter, which was quite disappointing.

Although, in a fascinating twist, we get to see the series’ biggest villain Kibutsuji in a new form, with a whole new intriguing story. And even though Kibutsuji’s cameo is quite brief, it manages to revive your interest into the new chain of events.

Tengen Uzui sweeps into the scene almost last minutes, and ropes in Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke to come with him to the entertainment district of Tokyo, notorious for being home to several demons. So we are left with a fun cliffhanger, which promises an action-packed season three.

Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF

Listen to Episode 59 for 9 great animated film recommendations.

In Love of Books

I believe in stories of all kinds and lands
Of magic, mundane realities, or mermaids
Of odd men, powerful women or barmaids
Tales with color, tragedies or merry bands
Classics with outdated sentiments
Cookbooks with unheard condiments
Real life anecdotes of self-made personalities
Made-up exaggerations in multi-narrator

fantasies

All kind of books find home on my shelves
Save for compilations of ‘advice’ by moonlighters
Save ‘self-help’ titles by perishable authors
I’d rather read biographies of fake elves