Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 84
July 30, 2024
The Tormented Issue #1 Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
This is off to a great start!
Chuck Austen entertainingly sets up the primary premise of the 5-part horror comic book series “The Tormented”. It’s like re-imagining paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a comic-book universe and focusing on their child’s journey into the supernatural world, ghost-busters style. The artwork by Patrick Olliffe echoes the gritty, noir style of DC comics, or even Marvel stuff for that matter.
The first issue of “The Tormented” follows Ryan, who loses his TV job for a baking show, only to be surprised by a camera crew at his door, announcing they’ve got a ghost-hunting show approved with him as its host. Ryan’s parents were famous paranormal experts, like the Warrens from “The Conjuring” universe, complete with a creepy basement museum filled with eerie artifacts. But Ryan has no interest in following his parents’ footsteps, nor does he want to ‘fake it’ for the new show, because the ghosts in his life are far too real! But the producers won’t back off, so Ryan must decide if he’ll embrace or escape his haunted destiny.
Even though the first issue of “The Tormented” is less than 30 pages long, like most other Comixology series – “Parliament of Rooks”/“Simulation Theory”/“By A Thread” – I didn’t feel the need to read at least two issues before writing a review because creator Chuck Austen fantastically draws in horror fans into Ryan’s world. From childhood trauma, to adult uncertainties, including therapy, the first chapters packs in enough twists to keep readers excited about wherever the plot is heading. Besides, I’ve already warmed up to Ryan, an interesting asocial, introvert, who is open to self-improvement, and maybe even fighting the ghosts of his past.
Rating: 4 on 5. “The Tormented” is also on Kindle Unlimited.
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July 29, 2024
Savi Review: Prison Break Thriller Lacks Chutzpah
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Savi Sachdev, a content housewife living in the UK with her husband Nakul and their son, faces drastic upheaval when Nakul is arrested for murder. With overwhelming evidence against him, Nakul is convicted. Left with no legal recourse, Savi decides to break him out of prison and flee the country with her family.
Directed by Abhinay Deo, the 2024 Bollywood movie “Savi” is a remake of the 2008 French thriller “Anything for Her,” which was remade in Hollywood as “The Next Three Days” with Russell Crowe in the lead. While the original story followed a husband’s daring plan to rescue his wrongfully convicted wife, “Savi” reverses the gender roles and stars Divya Khosla Kumar as its titular protagonist. Harshvardhan Rane (“Dange”/“Haseen Dillruba”) plays Savi’s husband Nakul, and she is confident that he couldn’t have murdered anybody.
The prison-break theme of the tale is a fascinating thriller element; however, “Savi” fails to establish Nakul’s character in a way that would make you want to root for him. Viewers are simply expected to side with Savi because she is the protagonist. “Don’t underestimate a simple housewife” seems to be the movie’s unsaid tagline, as cops keep referring to her as “just a housewife.” The film reminded me of “Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway,” which starred Rani Mukerjee as a Bengali homemaker fighting against the world to regain custody of her two children who were wrongfully taken away from her. But Divya Khosla Kumar is no Rani Mukerjee and is unable to elevate Savi’s character beyond the stereotypical Indian wife who magically channels her inner goddess when her family is threatened.
Anil Kapoor plays author and ex-convict Joydeep Paul, whose book about escaping high-security prisons inspires Savi, so she seeks his help for her prison-break mission. It’s absurd that a stranger would help a random woman out, but viewers meet Joydeep as a frustrated, lonely author suffering from writer’s block, so this new adventure from his reclusive author life is incentive enough. Anil Kapoor’s easy flair as the smart, master-of-disguises Joydeep Paul is the only truly entertaining aspect of “Savi.” The rest of the movie moves at a humdrum, bland pace, and Savi’s transformation from a helpless, lost homemaker to a criminal mastermind isn’t convincing at all.
The eventual prison break attempt is far less thrilling than anticipated, with barely any tension in the air. In an unintentionally funny scene, even Savi’s husband Nakul says (in not so many words) that escaping from the UK police is an awful idea. The last few minutes of “Savi” do deliver a few nail-biting seconds of suspense, eventually closing the film on an emotional, triumphant note. But because Savi and Nakul’s characters don’t undergo significant development, the climax feels quite unsatisfactory.
Rating: 2 stars out of 5. You can stream “Savi” on Netflix.
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July 28, 2024
Land of Women Review – Wine, Comedy, and Carmen Maura
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Gala, a wine connoisseur who is just about to launch her own luxury wine store in New York, is forced to flee the country with her daughter Kate and mother Julia when she discovers her husband owes millions of dollars to some very bad men. Gala doesn’t tell the truth to Kate and Julia, and takes them to the picturesque town of La Muga, Julia’s hometown, where they are met with surprising hostility. Turns out, Gala’s mother has been keeping a few secrets of her own.
Created by Ramón Campos, Paula Fernández, and Teresa Fernández-Valdés, the 2024 Apple Original series “Land of Women” is inspired by author Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel “La tierra de las mujeres” and stars Eva Longoria as protagonist Gala. However, it is Gala’s mother Julia, portrayed brilliantly by Carmen Maura, who is the absolute star of the show – a flirtatiously feisty woman with a vibrant past and a fading memory. Victoria Bazua, plays her grand-daughter Kate, a sweet, artistic teen, who has a hard time coming to terms with their Spanish escapade. It’s a little like “Schitt’s Creek” meets “Ginny and Georgia”, since it’s about a broke family moving to a small town to hide from the bad guys.
Spanning six episodes, the first episode of “Land of Women” entertainingly sets up the primary premise of the tale, with Gala, Kate, and Julia finding themselves uprooted from their daily lives and thrust into the uncertainties of living in La Muga, where everybody treats them as “outsiders”. From crashing their car into a local’s vehicle, to finding out that their ancestral property has been sold off, losing all their money, and even landing in jail, the women have a hell of a first day in La Muga. Gala gets off on the wrong foot with Amat (Santiago Cabrera), who owns their property, but she manages to strike a deal with him to stay there and help make quality wine at a local vineyard for money. But first, Gala has to win over everybody at the all-women-cooperative who run the vineyard, because they seem to hate her mother.
Each episode of “Land of Women” begins with a flashback to explain the primary trio’s (Gala/Kate/Julia) past and characters, and I found Carmen Maura’s past to be the most colorful. Helena Ezquerro plays a younger Julia in flashbacks, which show her to be the town’s playful seductress. Carmen Maura as the older Julia is joyous, cheery, and full of spark, and she vividly portrays the fuzzy daze someone with early onset of dementia can go into. Keen to help Gala out of the financial mess they are in, Julia also goes about causing comical trouble by trying to get money in crafty ways. However, Julia’s relationship with her estranged sister Mariona (Gloria Muñoz) was the best explored bond in “Land of Women”.
One of the most comedic conflicts in the tale is the mystery surrounding the identity of Gala’s father. Julia tells Gala that her father is dead, but in reality, she isn’t sure who he is because she slept with multiple men. The strongest candidates are the town’s senior cop, Andreu (Pep Anton Muñoz), and their revered priest (Joan Pera). All the senior actors are hilarious in their supporting roles. Another surprising revelation comes in regards to Kate’s story, but I won’t talk about that to avoid any more spoilers. Victoria Bazua is a delight as Kate, who can be annoyingly brash at times, but she is young, doesn’t know any better, and is overall a good kid with a reliable head on her shoulders.
Eva Longoria is entertaining as the strong, independent Gala, doing her best to clean up the mess her husband lands her in. However, Gala’s plot progression is often cliched, and the potential romance brewing between her and the handsome Amat was lackluster. There isn’t much chemistry between the actors, and their “enemies to almost lovers” dynamic was on the bland side. The writers should’ve given Kate a cute little summer love story, if the creators really wanted some romance in this otherwise straightforward family-comedy. But of course, there’s also more complications in the form of the armed hitmen who are after Gala’s family for their money.
Regardless of some of its predictable twists and turns, “Land of Women” is a breezy-comedic tale that explores the bonds between its three leads, their own personal problems, and how they slowly integrate themselves with the locals of La Muga. For Julia, it’s about reconnecting with the people she grew up with, for Kate and Gala, it’s about finding new roots. Since the series is set in a charming Spanish town surrounded by lush vineyards and the splendor of nature, it makes it easier for the women to adjusting to their new environment. Viewers get an interesting glimpse into how wine is made, with several scenes set in the winery. The writers also incorporate local festivities into the story, and the vibrant cinematography kinda makes you want to take a vacation in Spain.
The last few episodes of “Land of Women” show goons Hank (Jim Kitson) and Kevin (Amaury Nolasco) tracking them down and causing significant trouble for the women. I like the fact that they weren’t painted as typical ‘bad guys’, and have a weirdly friendly streak to them, so much so that Julia even tries to flirt with them to see if she can win them over. Although the men repeat their threat from episode 1 – to either pay up the debt within a few days or face the gun. Will Gala be able to pay off her debts or at least get rid of the hitmen? The suspense is maintained until the very end, although this series is rarely thrilling as other dramas about financial bungles and leans towards a “slice of life” tone.
“Land of Women” ends with two major cliffhangers, leaving viewers with two unresolved mysteries and the promise of a second season. It would have been much better if the creators had concluded the series with a decisive climax. However, as long as Carmen Maura gets more screen time, I’d definitely watch a second season. Watch the series if you’re looking for a light, comedic show about three women navigating their own challenges in a new scenic little town. The romance is pretty thin though.
Rating: 3 stars on 5. “Land of Women” in on Apple TV.
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7 Most Memorable/WTF Twists in “The Boys” Season 4
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Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead. Click here for spoiler-free review of “The Boys” Season 4
The Boys – Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso), Annie AKA Starlight (Erin Moriarty), Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), and Frenchie (Tomer Capone) – are still on their quest to kill Homelander (Antony Starr), the super-villain of their world in Season 4 . Known for its shocking graphic violence, the series continues to deliver mad moments, which makes it the kind of TV show you shouldn’t be watching while eating anything. We recap seven of the most sticky surprises from the penultimate season.
Bringing back dead characters to life is the oldest trick in the book for television series, especially when the writers are running out of ideas and realize they shouldn’t have killed off a popular face. But given the countless deaths in “The Boys,” you’ll keep guessing who Eric Kripke and the team decided to bring back to life if you haven’t seen season 4 of “The Boys” yet. But anyway, we are keeping that twist off the list because it just doesn’t feel like a “WTF” moment to see dead guys come back to life. We mean, who thought fans would get to see Hugh Jackman as Logan AKA Wolverine again after he died in “Logan,” but Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy convinced him to come back for the 2024 “Deadpool & Wolverine” again!
Okay, let’s not digress and get back to our list of the seven twists that we thought were the most memorable ‘WTF’ moments in “The Boys” season 4. We’re going to start from the weakest surprise moment to the strongest one. Also, even though Butcher killing Victoria in the season finale seemed unprecedented, there’s a chance she might not be dead, so that’s not on the list.
Seven: Kessler being a figment of Billy Butcher’s imagination
This twist was foreshadowed well; Billy was already hallucinating seeing his wife and having conversations with her. So when his friend Joe Kessler (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) shows up out of nowhere and starts colluding with Billy on killing Homelander, things did feel a little off. The “Fight Club” style reveal that Kessler wasn’t a big WTF moment, but it was a pretty recall-worthy part of the season, considering how Kessler keeps egging Butcher to orchestrate a genocide of superheroes by unleashing a highly contagious virus that would only affect superhumans. The virus was introduced in “Gen V” season one, so those who saw the spin-off show will be expecting the revelation.
Six: Tek Knight’s Sex Dungeon Romp with Webweaver
The Boys decide to infiltrate an exclusive invite-only party being hosted by billionaire superhero Tek Knight to find out what their enemies are plotting (Homelander, Victoria Neuman, Sister Sage). Hughie decides to masquerade as Webweaver, a Spiderman rip-off, to plant bugs at Tek Knight’s house. However, he is mortified to discover that Webweaver isn’t a regular guest when he is led to a basement floor, housing a sex dungeon. Hughie’s decision to wear Webweaver’s suit backfires awfully, and he gets a lifetime’s worth of trauma. Even though this subplot felt contrived and seemed like it was there simply to shock the viewers, it does the job of scarring the viewers a bit too.
Five: The Barn Massacre by V’ed up Animals
Now this was a great plot twist! We weren’t expecting flying pigs brutally killing humans because they’ve been injected with compound V, the drug that gives superhuman abilities to people. Even though the scene was teased in the trailer for “The Boys” season 4, watching what exactly happens was wacky as hell. Who knew the all-powerful Victoria Neuman or the cocky Billy Butcher would find themselves panicking to save themselves from a bunch of barn animals!
Four: Ashley taking V to save herself
This happens in the last episode of “The Boys” season 4 and was pretty unexpected. Although, obviously, it makes complete sense—Ashley is scared shitless for her life, knows the Supes are going to kill her, so her only chance to survive is by gaining superpowers herself. Viewers only get to see Ashley injecting V into her blood-stream, so her new powers continue to be a matter of suspense that will only be known next season.
Three: Hughie’s Dad going berserk at the hospital
Even though a desperate Hughie backs off from injecting his dying father with compound V to extend his lifespan, his mother does it! And while, as viewers, we knew he was going to get messed up with the V in his bloodstream, watching Hughie’s dear old sweet daddy going on a murderous spree in the hospital was something else.
Two: The shapeshifter becoming Starlight
If Hughie were a cat, it would be safe to say that “The Boys” season 4 puts him through seven lifetimes worth of trauma! As if almost getting raped by Tek Knight in Webweaver’s costume wasn’t awful enough, Hughie also unwittingly has plenty of sex with a shapeshifting supe, who takes the form of his girlfriend Annie AKA Starlight. And just when we thought the supe was done playing with Hughie, they (we don’t know the character’s gender) go an extra mile and propose marriage to Hughie! That was another level of evil. The fact that the shapeshifter rips off their skin from their body while shifting was also grotesque.
One – Firecracker lactating for Homelander
We just got grossed out by typing that sub-header! Like Hughie, the viewers have been scarred too, but Firecracker’s ambition to stay in power is praiseworthy. The fact that she would go to the lengths of taking drugs to lactate and cater to Homelander’s kink for breast milk was obviously the biggest WTF moment of “The Boys” season 4.
Honorary mention: Homelander visiting the Vought lab where he was raised and maniacally killing a bunch of people and then basking in their blood probably made episode 4 of “The Boys” season 4 the best edition of the season. It’s just that any kind of violence perpetrated by Homelander has ceased to be surprising anymore, but Antony Starr’s portrayal of Homelander is still very much the USP of the series. Homelander continues to be one of the most anxiety-inducing villains on the screen!
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July 27, 2024
Lovely Short Horror Film Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A few years ago, I was traveling to Cambodia to see the famed Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap and had a long layover in Bangkok. What struck me most at the airport was a cosmetic shop I stepped into to buy some sunscreen; the place was filled with skin-lightening products and ads. These beauty creams were a stark reminder of how deeply colorism runs across the globe. In India, we had the notorious “Fair & Lovely” cream, which was renamed to “Glow & Lovely” in 2020 due to its blatant problematic message that only ‘fair’ skin is beautiful. As a brown girl, I’ve had my share of “don’t spend too much time in the sun” advice from older folks, so the short horror film “Lovely” by Naomi Shroff-Mehta hit a chord with me.
“Lovely” follows Indian-American teenager Ria (Ashwini Ganpule), whose mother ensures she uses skin-lightening creams to better her complexion. One day, when Ria runs out of the cream, she steps into the basement to grab a new tube from a carton filled with the creams, only to meet a mysterious stranger lurking in the shadows, waiting to befriend her with ulterior motives. This stranger (Elyse Ahmad) is fair, lovely, and friendly, and promises to make Ria fair forever too. Naomi Shroff-Mehta uses a classic devil’s bargain trope in this horror, even though Ria doesn’t know what the price will be.
About 16 minutes long, “Lovely” opens with a shot of Ria’s mother (Susie Abraham) massaging her scalp before putting some fairness cream on her face. It’s an interesting opening scene, with the massage establishing the close bond between mother and daughter, yet the mother doesn’t embrace Ria as she is. Even though “Lovely” isn’t very scary, it’s a gripping metaphorical horror film about how parents pass on their insecurities to their children, trapping them in the pursuit of absurd beauty standards. The obsession with wanting “lovelier” (fairer) skin is like a curse running through the family, and it’s up to the mother and daughter to either break the chain or remain compliant victims.
Except for a tiny overdose of theatrics in between, the short film is subtle, swift, and entertaining. It ends with a clever climactic scene, which marks an emotional end to the mother-daughter’s tale, with some blood and violence of course, since it’s a horror movie. Viewers are left with a clear message: someone who appears ‘fair and lovely’ can be grotesquely ugly in character.
Watch “Lovely” on YouTube.
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Happily Ever After & Everything In Between: Book Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“OMG, look at us, we’re so in love, and so cute” – that seems to be the essential story of the comic book ‘Happily Ever After & Everything In Between’ by Debbie Tung. This collection of comic strips shares glimpses of the author’s married life as newlyweds, and unlike its title, the creator shares only selective sweet parts of her relationship. There are no highs and lows, just a steady cutesy high, which becomes quickly boring, because it is nothing we don’t already see “influencer” couples doing regularly on social media.
‘Happily Ever After & Everything In Between’ came out in 2020, and is very similar to Catana Chetwynd’s ‘Little Moments’, which was published in 2018. Both their art styles are simple, although I prefer Catana’s roundish, childish illustrations more, they are a lot more adorable. Debbie Tung’s illustrations have a lower recall value. Although as far as the content is concerned, sure, a lot of readers will finds some bits funny or relatable. Like when Debbie and husband have a hard time deciding what to watch on TV, or how they prefer to laze around the house together on an off day. Or when they go grocery shopping but forget the one thing they actually stepped out for. Yeah, happens to us all.
I feel like this book is an illustrated gratitude journal, where instead of writing about what she is grateful for, the author draws the mushy moments from her romantic life. I haven’t read Debbie Tung’s earlier works—Quiet Girl in a Noisy World and Book Love—which are critically acclaimed, so I cannot compare ‘Happily Ever After & Everything In Between’ with them. However, it will probably be best enjoyed by those who are already fans of her work.
Would I recommend the book to any of my friends? NO. Would I gift it to anybody I know? NO. Am I a bitter single woman with cats/dogs? NO. The only reason I got this book was because it was available to me for free as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Rating: 2.5 on 5.
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Bloody Ishq Review: This ‘Raaz’ Wannabe Is a Screechy CGI Car-Crash
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
One of the tricky truths about box office success is that “success” is measured by how much a movie makes over its budget. For instance, Rohit Dhawan’s “Shehzaada” (2023), starring Kartik Aryan, was made on a budget of INR 65 crore but made only 47.4 crores, so it’s considered a flop. On the other hand, Krishna Bhatt’s “1920: Horrors of the Heart” (2023), starring Avika Gor, was made on a budget of INR 10 crore and made over 17 crores, making it a hit in terms of monetary success. Even though they are from very different genres, I picked these two to compare because I rated them both 1.5 stars out of 5.
Now, Avika Gor is back in another horror film – “Bloody Ishq,” directed by Vikram Bhatt and Manish P. Chavan and written by Mahesh Bhatt. The story follows Neha (Avika Gor), who loses her memory after almost drowning in the sea, only to find out that she lives in a haunted bungalow on a secluded Scottish island with her shady husband Romesh (Vardhaan Puri), who is clearly hiding secrets from her. As a deadly ghost keeps trying to mess with Neha, she attempts to investigate what transpired before her accident, convinced the ghost is connected to her “love story”. It feels like Vikram Bhatt was aiming for a “Raaz” (2002) repeat, which frankly looks like a horror masterpiece in comparison (it was a solidly entertaining horror movie for the time).
Despite its intriguing premise, the awful special effects in “Bloody Ishq” make it an eyesore from the very first scene. Almost everything seems to have been shot on a green screen, Avika Gor’s Neha looks like she is trapped in a VR horror game from the early 2000s. The weird camera angles, which often follow Neha like a character in a video game, with evidently fake backgrounds, make the film unintentionally funny at points and incredibly distracting. “Bloody Ishq” manages to be worse than “1920: Horrors of the Heart” in terms of cinematography and visual effects. It makes me see the Netflix horror film “Asvins” in a fresh light because at least it was shot in an actual manor in Kent and thus boasted an authentic setting. If the directors had chosen to set “Bloody Ishq” in India, perhaps on a fictional island off the coast of Mumbai, and filmed scenes in real locations, it would have significantly enhanced the movie’s engagement factor.
Avika Gor is the only one who puts in any effort in her acting; everybody else portrays their characters like they are rehearsing for a college play. Neha and Romesh are supposed to be madly in love with each other, but the chemistry between Avika and Vardhaan Puri is like a love affair between a fish and a cat. In some of the romantic scenes between the two, it looks like Neha would prefer to hang herself than share a bed with her husband. There’s too much melodrama between the two characters, with Neha often behaving like a neurotic dumb damsel in distress. “I might have lost my memory, but I am not stupid,” she tells her husband in one scene, which sounds ironically funny. Girl loses her memory and makes no effort to find out anything about her past because there’s no WiFi or phone network on the island, not until a ghost tries to kill her.
Romesh’s character feels creepy from his first entry, leaving no scope for suspense over how he could be the troublemaker in the tale. “Bloody Ishq” should’ve instead been titled “Gaslight” (a Sara Ali Khan thriller that isn’t very watch-worthy either), because Romesh could win the “onscreen gaslighter of the year” award. He is the kind of husband who manages to find ways to blame his wife for his errant actions. The ghost is the least scary thing about “Bloody Ishq”, whose appearance weirdly keeps changing, leading viewers to think there might be more than one supernatural spirits in the mansion. And in of the most random/funny sequences of the film, Neha decides to communicate with the ghost by playing the piano. What even? Kaha se mila ussey yeh idea? (Where did she get this idea from?)
With a 2-hour 18-minute runtime, “Bloody Ishq” is an overstretched nightmare, with a convoluted twist at the end that only cements Mahesh Bhatt’s fascination with the “other woman” trope and offers nothing new to viewers in terms of storytelling. You begin to wonder why the creators even made this half-hearted attempt. There’s probably a different story there.
Rating: 1 out of 5. “Bloody Ishq” is on Disney+ Hotstar.
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July 26, 2024
The Wolverine Legacy: Every Hugh Jackman Wolverine Movie in Order
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From the moment he first unsheathed those iconic adamantium claws, Hugh Jackman became synonymous with Wolverine, the gruff yet heroic mutant who quickly became a fan favorite. Over the course of nearly two decades, Jackman’s portrayal of the legendary X-Men character took us on an unforgettable journey through time, epic battles, and deeply emotional moments. Whether he was saving the world, delving into his mysterious past, or simply dropping a perfectly timed one-liner, Jackman’s Wolverine has left an indelible mark on the superhero genre. So, let’s don our leather jackets, ready our healing factors, and embark on a wild ride through all the films where Hugh Jackman brought the “Ol’ Canucklehead” to life.
X-Men (2000)Role: Introduced as a mysterious, rugged mutant with retractable claws and a healing factor. He joins the X-Men to fight against Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants.X2: X-Men United (2003)Role: Wolverine delves deeper into his past, seeking answers about his origins while helping the X-Men thwart a military scientist’s plan to eradicate mutants.X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)Role: Wolverine faces personal and moral dilemmas as he confronts the Phoenix (Jean Grey), a former lover and teammate, who poses a catastrophic threat to humanity and mutants alike.X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)Role: This prequel explores Wolverine’s early life, including his traumatic past, his relationship with his half-brother Victor Creed (Sabretooth), and his transformation through the Weapon X program.X-Men: First Class (2011) (Cameo)Role: Wolverine makes a brief appearance, delivering a memorable line when approached by Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) to join their cause.The Wolverine (2013)Role: Set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, Wolverine travels to Japan, where he faces his mortality, battles the Yakuza, and confronts his inner demons.X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)Role: Wolverine’s consciousness is sent back in time to the 1970s to prevent a dystopian future. He works with younger versions of Xavier and Magneto to alter history.X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) (Cameo)Role: Wolverine appears as a Weapon X experiment, showcasing a more feral and uncontrollable side, assisting the young X-Men in their escape from the Alkali Lake facility.Logan (2017)Role: Set in the near future, an aged and weary Wolverine cares for an ailing Professor Xavier. He embarks on a final mission to protect a young mutant, Laura (X-23), discovering she is his daughter.Deadpool 2 (2018) (Cameo)Role: Wolverine appears in archival footage from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, used humorously by Deadpool in a time-travel montage. And if you don’t think this counts then there’s –Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) : A reluctant Wolverine teams up with Deadpool to stop the world from getting destroyed.Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine is widely regarded as iconic, blending the character’s gruff exterior with moments of vulnerability, and contributing significantly to the success of the X-Men film series. Any actor who takes over the role in future will have some big shoes to fill in!
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Deadpool & Wolverine Review: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman Claw Out Blood & Laughs
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Director: Shawn Levy
Writers: Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
If Deadpool is ‘Marvel Jesus’ (his words, not mine) or the ‘Marvel Messiah’, then Wolverine is the messiah’s daddy in a flashy yellow suit, straight out of comic-book canon.
“Just saw Deadpool & Wolwerine. Nonsensical and fun as fuck. Worth a theater watch.”
That’s the first thing I texted my BFF after stepping out of the movie hall. She texted back saying she was planning on watching it when it comes out on a streaming platform, so I upped my pitch: “This is the most fun film Marvel’s made since Spiderman No Way Home, and is funnier for those who enjoy Deadpool’s R-rated sex jokes.” She sent a “crying with laughter” reaction to my message and may or may not be convinced about going to the theater to watch “Deadpool & Wolverine,” but if you’re either character’s fan, I hope you get to see it on the big screen. It’s worth the outing.
Like some of the previous time-bending, universe-hopping Marvel stories (think “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”), the 2024 “Deadpool & Wolverine” is about Deadpool’s quest to team up with the Ultimate X-Men member – Wolverine – so that they can save the world from collapse. Only problem? The Wolverine in Deadpool’s universe is dead, so he has to find himself a Wolverine from an alternate universe who wouldn’t shred him to pieces at first sight and agree to save a different world. Given Deadpool’s indestructibility, Wolverine does cut through almost every part of his body until he is finally convinced they should both be on the same side. Watching two near-immortal superheroes practically mutilating each other before shaking hands? Could be fun for some, repetitive for others.
Also Read: The Wolverine Legacy: Every Hugh Jackman Wolverine Movie in Order
“There are 206 bones in the human body, 207 if I am watching Gossip Girl,” Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool hilariously notes to the viewers while breaking the fourth wall in the very first few minutes of the movie. He goes on to brutally kill dozens of bad guys while dancing to N-Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” in what’s definitely one of the most hilarious openings to any action movie. The character clash between the wordy Wade Wilson (Deadpool) and the quiet, broody Logan is obviously the USP of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” heightened by their contrasting spandex suits, Deadpool in his trademark red-and-black costume, while Wolverine is in the iconic yellow suit. It’s like watching London’s red bus driving alongside New York’s yellow cab. Hard to miss. Although a lot of the jokes might be lost on those who haven’t been following the MCU religiously or are not too up-to-date with pop culture.
One might wonder – if the world is ending, what are the Avengers doing? Don’t know. Don’t care. We just need to remember this is Deadpool’s story, so he gets to save the world with Logan, okay! As a long-time Wolverine fan who didn’t think we would get to see Hugh Jackman suit up as the iconic hero again, not after the emotional farewell to his character in the 2017 “Logan”. So “Deadpool & Wolverine” is like a bonus gift to X-Men fans. It almost feels like fan fiction, really, with some pretty killer violent sequences that come as close as a Marvel movie can be to “The Boys”, just that the Marvel guys don’t zoom in to the blood-splattered body parts to gross viewers out. Like when Deadpool and Wolverine mincemeat their enemies in a bus, and all we get to see are the windows slowly turning completely red. Deadpool of course keeps reminding viewers how Disney took over Marvel, so there’s some lines they still cannot cross, like when he exclaims “Fuck you, Fox! I’m going to Disneyland!”. LOL.
From epic, unexpected cameos to reviving Marvel heroes whose movies bombed at the box office to giving viewers a ridiculous rip-off of the wasteland from the “Mad Max” movies, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is an out-and-out entertainer, complete with a ‘Dogpool’ dog. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in this universe is a washed-out hero, “the worst Wolverine there is,” we’re told, but he is still the angst-ridden good guy we’ve come to love in the MCU. So, even though Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool dominates screen time and gets the maximum dialogues, the mere presence of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine gives the film an emotional heft that it wouldn’t have been able to pack in otherwise.
Just go watch “Deadpool & Wolverine” for Hugh Jackman and maybe Ryan Reynolds.
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Also Read: Mother-Daughter Murder Night Book Review (Audio version below)
July 25, 2024
Taapsee Brews A New Triangle in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ Trailer
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Maybe the magarmachch was a bit too much! But otherwise, the trailer for Netflix romantic-thriller ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ starring Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey promises to be an entertaining sequel to their 2021 movie “Haseen Dillruba”.
Directed by Vinil Matthew, the sequel sees Taapsee Pannu reprising her role as Rani, who is still under the cops’ radar for the murder of her engineer husband Rishu (Vikrant Massey) and the missing Neel, with whom she had an affair. Unknown to the cops, Rishu is still alive and had simply sacrificed his hand to make it look like he was dead. The husband and wife are still together, but another love triangle brews on the horizon. Sunny Kaushal plays Abhimanyu, the new man who falls for Rani, and the stage is set for more drama, maybe even bloodshed, in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba.
“Kismat ki lakeerey haatho main chhapi hui hoti hai dost, humney toh uss mohabbat ke liye haath ko hi ukhaad ke phenk diya,” Rishu is seen telling Abhimanyu in the trailer. So the movie once again pits the husband against Rani’s lover, but will someone die again? That we don’t know, as the trailer successfully keeps up the suspense. And if someone does die, who will it be this time? Pati? Patni? Ya woh? And in the weirdest twist, there’s a crocodile cameo too! The special effects for which are questionable. So we’re going to hope the animal conflict is going to be minimal in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’. The film released on August 9th.
Watch the trailer on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.
