Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 243

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

Hedy Lamarr – Graphic Novel Review

‘Hedy Lamarr – An Incredible Life” is a graphic novel written by William Roy and the illustrations are courtesy Sylavain Dorange. I hadn’t even known of the actor/inventor Lammar until I read a book on different women who aren’t celebrated enough a while back. It barely had 4-5 pages on the Hollywood actor, but was enough to pique my curiosity. So I didn’t think twice before getting a full-fledged graphic novel dedicated to her life.

The book starts with Hedy as a little girl in 19, with a ‘cool’ dad who loves to explain her how things work. So Hedy becomes a curious child who takes joy in inventing & fixing things. But as she grows older, the theater bug bites her, and she decides to become an actor. Roy & Dorange chart her tumultuous life, first as a scandalous rising star in Austria, then as the trapped wife of a jealous Billionaire and finally her twin life as that of a typecast Hollywood ‘man-eater’ and secret inventor.

I love the colorful illustrations, however, the biggest flaw of the art is how it fails to capture Lammar’s beauty. It could’ve been a deliberate distortion of her facial feature by the artist, but just that it blunts the primary message of the story – how a woman’s intellect was overlooked because she was stunningly gorgeous. Take a look at the panel from the book below, Hedi is pictured with a house-help, and they look like siblings.

Apart from that, the art is very enjoyable, it has a dreamy touch to it, like illustrated fairy-tale books made for little kids. Although Hedy’s story isn’t exactly child-friendly. There’s a lot of sexism, prejudice and unsavory advances that the protagonist faces, although, the writer has probably toned stuff down. The book has a moving climax that wraps the life of an icon neatly, but it just feels like something was missing. Lamarr remains an enigma even after the 100+ pages you get on the actor.

If you don’t know much about Hedy, this is a good graphic novel to find out more about a figure who was misunderstood and not recognized for her true potential. She truly did have an incredible life, slices of which William Roy and Sylavain Dorange are able to capture very well.

It’s a 3/5 from me.

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

Listen to Episode 59 for 9 great animated film recommendations.

Love Story Review – Sweet Slow-Burn Romance With An Abrupt End

I’ve never seen a movie starring Sai Pallavi, until mom suggested we watch the 2021 Telugu movie ‘Love Story’ on the Indian streaming app ‘Aha’. Directed and written by Sekhar Kammula, this seemingly simple romantic tale at first glance, soon takes on themes of caste complications and ugly internal family tussles as the story progresses.

The film starts with Revanth (Naga Chaitanya), a simple boy from a poor family, who runs a small dance center in Hyderabad. His life changes when a new girl from his village moves into the building next to him. Sai Pallavi plays new girl Mounica, an engineer looking for a job in Hyderabad to escape her domineering rich family. Unfortunately, she is a complete dunce with terrible grades who is prone to panic attacks. So despite getting a cheat-sheet from a friend for a written test at a job interview, she fails to land the position. After a series of rejections and admonitions from everyone around her, a dejected Mounica breaks into an impromptu dance on Revanth’s terrace one morning, stunning onlookers. This scene was the high-point of the film, Sai Pallavi is a mesmerizing dancer, with such sharp/clean moves that it’s hard to believe she is not a trained classical dancer. Her movements are fluid, expressions joyous. It’s been a long time since I was captivated watching an actor dance on screen. Perhaps it’s her simple appearance that takes you by surprise, because she transforms into a swan (or a peacock like Revanth in the film call her) when she moves to the rhythm of music.

Love Story’s strength lies in its simple relatable characters and the earnest performances by lead actors. Mounica is an average girl, with sub-par grades, from a family that strongly believes in caste/class divide. Her character is written consistently, while Revanth on the other hand is an odd mix of gullible and practical. How these two fall in love and fight to be together is the bulk of the story, and a predictable sub-plot of abuse is also thrown in the mix. Three-fourths of the film is entertaining, filled with easy laughs, but the last 45 minutes feel drawn and overstretched. The climax is so abrupt that it feels like the editor was under pressure to wrap up the movie. It’s as if the makers suddenly realize the plot has gone on for too long and needs to end.

In-fact, a lot of things towards the climax feel ridiculous and contrived. For example, Mounica’s character books a hotel room near a bus-stop because she gets her period unexpectedly. There’s a big restaurant right next to the hotel, where she could’ve just gone into the restroom and done the same. As a woman who’s traveled enough in rural parts of the country, with friends who’ve traveled a LOT more, I know of nobody who’s booked an entire hotel room just to change and put a pad on. And given that Mounica’s character doesn’t even earn much, it seemed like a dumb thing to do. Or maybe it just falls in line with her dim wit. The scene is quite important in the movie, which is why I feel the need to whine about it a little, anyhow….

‘Love Story’ strikes a good balance between a mass entertainer and a film with a social message, so Sekhar Kammula has done a laudable job with this production. He should’ve tried cutting some earlier bits in movie, to give us a better climax, instead of the inconclusive rush job at the end. Watch the film for a riveting performance by Sai Pallavi.

It’s a 6.5/10 from me.

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

Listen to Episode 56 for three fun Netflix Show Recommendations

Single All The Way – Quick Review

Netflix’s 2021 romantic Christmas comedy ‘Single All The Way’ has a familiar plot at the center of it – a single man doesn’t want to look pathetic in front of his nosy family, so he convinces his flatmate/best-friend to pretend to be his boyfriend for the Christmas holidays. If you’ve seen enough romantic films, you already know where the story is going.

Directed by Michael Mayer and written by Chad Hodge, ‘predictability’ is definitely not a problem with this film. Those who love the romance genre are always up for a good old ‘friends to lovers’ tale. Michael Urie plays Peter, the protagonist and Philemon Chambers plays his super-cute bestie. The two unfortunately don’t have any chemistry. Chambers is endearing in his role of a writer/handyman who has a cheery demeanor that warms the hearts of those around him. Urie on the other hand didn’t look comfortable for most parts and delivered a lot of dialogues through clenched teeth. Jennifer Robertson who plays Peter’s sister too seemed to speak through clenched teeth and all her laughs are fake as hell. Kathie Najimy gets the nicest character, she is the loving mom who is cool enough to set up her son on a blind date with a hot gay gym trainer. Jennifer Coolidge has a cameo as her sister Sandy, which is clearly meant for comic relief, but isn’t amusing and almost unnecessary.

Visually, the film is colorful and vibrant, with some beautiful scenes. I loved the bits with snow covered-trees and Christmas decorations. The first half does elicit decent amount of laughs; Peter’s family is sweet, supportive and their banter makes for a fun watch. Towards the second-half however, things slow down drastically and it’s hard to keep yourself invested in the plot. Maybe a little tweak to the cast would have made ‘All The Way Single’ a lot of entertaining that it otherwise is.

It’s a 5/10 from me.

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

Listen to Episode 59 for 9 great animated film recommendations.

Nayattu Review – Arresting Tale of Cops Vs Cops

More often than not, we have policemen divided into ‘good cop’/’bad cop’ roles in Indian cinema. They are either the bad guys, the ones taking bribes, foisting false cases, harassing families of the protagonists or they are portrayed as swaggering supermen saving the downtrodden and beating the system. The popularity of films like ‘Singam’ & ‘Dabangg’, both of which incidentally came out in 2010, saw a resurgence of hero-cop movies. Come 2021, there’s ‘Nayattu’, a cop movie that stands out from the crowd, where policemen are puny pawns of a twisted political system.

Written by Shahi Kabir and directed by Martin Prakkat, the film follows the story of three cops, who become unwitting victims of a complicated caste case embroiled in politics. They are wanted after their car meets with an accident, leading to the death of a young man. However, the man at the wheel, a civilian, flees from the scene, leaving them in a mess. Kunchacko Boban plays Praveen Michael, the protagonist, a fairly new cop at the bottom of the ladder at his local police station. Joju George plays his senior Maniyappan, a laid-back cop who loves to drink, but never drives drunk. And then there’s Nimisha Sajayan as rookie cop Sunitha, who is being harassed by some cousins who are political activists. How these three cops get framed in a murder case and are chased by their own fraternity makes for a gripping watch.

The first 15-20 minutes are a little slow and slightly confusing to follow for non-Malayalam speakers, despite English subtitles. A string of incidents constantly unfold, each seeming very disjointed. Impatient viewers might be tempted to switch off, because the plot takes time to come together and make sense. But once the pace picks up, director Martik Prakkat ensures his actors keep you intrigued throughout the rest of the film. The whole ‘cops versus cops’ chase, where loyalties are tested, and lives are on the line, is executed well.

All three protagonists are believable and deliver measured performances. Joju George as Maniyappan was the most entertaining of the trio, he is very convincing as the dejected drunk cop, although his character tends to get on your nerves a little. He is flawed and not a great asset for a team on the run from the system. Yama Gilgamesh as Anuradha, the lead investigating officer in the cop-case is a total boss-woman, despite not having any typical ‘killer’ lines. And that’s really the strength of ‘Nayattu’, everything that happens in this drama is steeped in reality. The theme of how caste-politics plays a major role in state elections is brilliantly done. As viewers, you feel a sense of frustration with the events, and that’s exactly the effect the director is hoping for.

In the quintessential cat-mouse chase, sometimes, it’s the cops that are the mice. That’s the message ‘Nayattu’ leaves you with. The pace slackens a little towards the climax, but an unexpected twist redeems the slow turn of events in the second-half. Prakkat and team don’t give us the ending one would typically hope for. The film might leave you feeling a little dejected, but it will be worth your time.

It’s a 7.5/10 from me. You can stream ‘Nayattu’ on Netflix.

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

Listen to Episode 59 for 9 great animated film recommendations.

Nine Great Animated Films on IMDB Top 100

In the latest episode of Abstract AF’s podcast on Youtube, we quickly tell you why you should watch the the nine animated creations that are on the IMDB list of Top 100 movies. While Disney giants like ‘Toy Story’ and ‘The Lion King’ are the obvious favorites that made it to the top, the dark and poignant Japanese movie ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ has been given a very high rating by users too.

Listen to the episode and please subscribe to the channel.

The Summit of The Gods Review – Stunning Symphony of Fiction & Reality

For most mere mortals who’ve never experienced the rush of being atop any of the tallest peaks in the world, nothing can ever compare to the real deal. However, the 2021 animated film ‘The Summit of the Gods’ directed by Patrick Imbert, about climbing Mt Everest, manages to leave viewers with bated breath at points.

Based on the manga by Jirô Taniguchi and Baku Yumemakura, ‘The Summit of The Gods’ is serious, gripping and cleverly combines fiction with real slices of mountaineering history. The plot follows reporter Fukamachi’s attempt to track down a man called Habu Joji, who is in possession of a camera owned by the famous mountaineer George Mallory. Both in the film and in reality, Mallory had gone missing while scaling Mount Everest in 1924. Whether he managed to reach the summit remains one of the biggest mysteries in the mountaineering world.

Unlike most glossy contemporary animated films, Patrick Imbert’s film has a very simple 90s style animation. The movie feels like comic panels in motion, although the bits with the mountain-climbing are surprisingly detailed and breathtaking, versus rest of the regular scenes.

Through Fukamachi’s reporter eyes, the makers try to explore what drives mountaineers to risk their lives and scale impossible peaks. The fictional Habu Joji is a bit of an anti-hero, he is obsessively ambitious and doesn’t lack in courage, but is also exceedingly self-centered. All he wants to do is scale the most dangerous peaks in the world and accomplish feats nobody else has. How the fates of these two men collide is a tale worth watching.

It’s laudable how the screenwriters steer clear from the temptation of exaggerating and dramatising things. Mountaineering isn’t romanticised and rookie viewers can understand the gravity of just how dangerous scaling the Everest can be. It’s no mean feat and only those with superhuman will and grit can make it to the top. Despite being an animated feature, the journey of the protagonists feels as real as it can get. The carefully picked background score helps in heightening the tension and maintaining a steady pace.

For those who have zero interest in mountaineering and prefer their movies with a lot of action, romance, humour – “The Summit of the Gods” can seem like a futile watch. But for those who are open to this genre, it’s a stunning animated film that keeps you invested in its characters till the end. For those who can see it, the story is a universal celebration of the human spirit – of how we continue doing things we are passionate about, even if there isn’t any monetary benefit in it. Or perhaps it can be seen as an existential ode – life is too short & pointless to not do things that give us an adrenaline rush/inexplicable joy.

It’s a 8/10 from me.

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Listen to Episode 50 for a lowdown on 22 Studio Ghibli films

The Rose Villa Review – A Thorn In Your Eye

The only thing nice about the 2021 thriller ‘Rose Villa’ is the Villa in which majority of the story unfolds. It looks like a vintage guesthouse, surrounded by greenery and is the kind of ‘5 star’ homestay you would like to book on a holiday. But the movie is the kind of film you’d want to be warned about by friends or folks on the internet.

Written and directed by R.J. Hemant, the story follows a young couple who get invited for dinner by an elderly pair they’ve just met. They go to a remote property called ‘Rose Villa’ and the young couple finds themselves trapped by the odd owners. Despite a decent plot-line, this was a mess of an affair.

I don’t see the point of writing a detailed review, because there isn’t much to discuss. It was hard to concentrate on anything that was happening on the screen, no single scene demands your attention, you could casually listen to it and still follow and guess what’s going to happen next. The acting is sub-par, the plot predictable, the direction ridiculous. I was sitting with our pet-dog, and chose to speak to her throughout the runtime.

The climax was so badly directed, it makes you want to gouge your eyes out. The biggest high-point about the production is the short-runtime and even that feels long. It’s a 2/10 from me. Skip. Skip.

If you still want to stream it, it’s available on Amazon Prime.

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

Listen to Episode 56 for three fun Netflix Show Recommendations