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Reviews
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023)
Good way to spend time
Went into the movie not expecting anything and it turned out to be a pleasant watch. Does not cover anything groundbreaking but offers glimpses into family dynamics, relationship troubles and how dreams, burdens and misunderstandings play into daily life. Initially found it to be a strange premise for a movie but it does manage to cover interesting topics such as inter cultural clashes and familial expectations and roles getting in the way of what a person really wants to achieve. Cute story with a decent ending. Some parts of the movie feed into negative stereotypes especially about women despite trying to comment on social issues. Performances could have been better.
Gumraah (2023)
Predictable mess
The first "plot twist" is obvious to absolutely anyone watching yet the movie spends half the run time trying to convince you there's something novel about to come your way. When the reveal finally comes no one is shocked and then you have to sit through another hour of strange plot points and badly done scenes. The movie thinks it's smarter than it is and tries to create a lot of tension surrounding the mystery but fails miserably. Nothing about the story is realistic despite being inspired from true events and the movie drags. Not a fun watch and the ending did not make it worth a minute of watch time.
The Flash (2023)
Strange and confused
This movie had been plagued by media storms and controversy and ultimately had a huge weight on its shoulders. It came no where close to being the blockbuster from DC fans were waiting for and instead was just bad. The plot is pretty straightforward and not particularly difficult to do but still the movie disappoints. The film looks bad with the CGI looking unfinished in most parts and there is not much interesting happening on screen to distract from how ugly certain scenes are. Disappointed and not sure how this was meant to usher in a new era for DC. The same storyline has been executed better through the tv show.
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Not as good as it's made out to be
YJHD definitely holds a top spot in the most iconic Bollywood movies of 2013. However the nostalgia can't make up for what is kind of a bland storyline with a bunch of good songs thrown in. The story is just not fully developed and doesn't have any sort of emotional appeal.
Good to watch just to have a good time, but don't go in expecting to gain a new perspective on youth and love and life (despite the movies attempts to throw in "deep" quotes and romanticise those themes)
The acting is just okay. Nothing to really point out as special or bad. It's a good film to watch some pretty scenes of a trip to Manali and a look into a Crazy Rich Indian Udaipur wedding.
Queen (2013)
Fantastic character journey
It's so easy to get enchanted by the Queen of the film, Rani. She's gullible, sad and scared at the beginning, but goes on such an incredible transformation.
It's so refreshing to see a Bollywood movie not about "boy meets and girl and they fall in love". It's just the story of 1 character, with the side characters serving as catalysts for her change. You really understand everything Rani is going through because of the fantastic performance and direction. You feel for her when she's sad, laugh at her when she's naive, root for her when she's trying and most of all be proud when she succeeds.
Student of the Year (2012)
Fun and nostalgic
Such an iconic movie. Honestly not sure what I would think of it if I was watching it for the first time, but even on my 3rd rewatch it remains really enjoyable.
Not every little detail makes sense or is consistent, but it's just a blast overall. A bit too long, but the fantastic score helps keep it interesting.
To a viewer not acquainted with Bollywood this will come across (even more so than other films) as a musical. Some things are a bit unrealistic but at the end of the day it should be enjoyed for what it is - an escape. It's quite easy to get drawn into the "fantasy" world of St Teresa, and the trio is fleshed out fairly well.
Mismatched (2020)
Something new
I think this was cute binge, short and sweet. It surprisingly included a variety of characters and explored them well. Some parts were cringey and it isn't an award winning show for sure, but not as bad as people make it out to be.
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
S1 - something newish
This is a cool take on the murder mystery genre, with a lot of twists and turns that seemed to never end. It's really satisfying to peel all the layers and watch the main characters go through the same detective like thought process as the viewers.
Just a "fun" way to explore an otherwise dark topic. Turns the true crime genre on its head. Not the best for bingeing because it can get tiresome at times.
The Boys (2019)
What a show
When I first watched this show I described it to others as what would really happen if superheroes existed. However Butcher using a laser eyed baby as a weapon takes away from the realism just a bit.
Great show which is satirical and pokes fun at not only the superhero genre but also includes takes on important sociopolitical issues. It's extremely bizarre, fully self aware and insanely messed up, but keeps you absolutely hooked into the world of Vought and the Boys. Antony Starr deserves all of the praise for his fantastic portrayal of one of the most well written villains out there.
Crazy gory and at times hard to watch, but it definitely keeps you on your toes because it's
not predictable or like other shows that revolve around superheroes.
The first season worked as a relatively contained story and might be the best season. Two and three keep managing to up the stakes but that's what makes it lose its grounding a little bit. It will be a tough task to contain it again for season 4.
Definitely one of the most interesting shows out there and a worthy addition to the otherwise oversaturated supe genre.
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022)
Conflicting
The pilot was the best episode for me. It had all the makings of a great mystery show with a villain who seemed to have a really interesting motive. But soon after that the show started being less and less compelling. I'm not sure if it was the performances which were all over the place or the fact that the main motive behind the villain targeting the liars being a bit ... stupid?
Punishing the 'guilty by association' doesn't seem like a smart idea. The principal had no real reason to include the girls when the real issue was with their mums. It wasn't justified in the way the first A's motivations were in the original show. By the end of this show A had been reduced to just a crazy killer on the loose out rather than a smart, cold and calculated villains of the original show. Even with the attempts at horror Archie is now just a senseless antagonist rather than actually sinister as he was built up to be.
Also for everyone saying not to compare it to the original - it's hard not to when they still share a name and a universe. I think this show tried to separate it self but would have succeeded if it was unlinked entirely then.
Something was missing and I think it could have been so much greater than it was.
Never Have I Ever (2020)
Funny and lighthearted
If you know what you're getting into, I think this is a fun and light watch. Perfectly bingeable and character development is visible across the three seasons. Love seeing aspects of Indian culture being brought into the mainstream. A great thing about the show is that it doesn't take itself too seriously, which prevents it from being too cringey.
SEASON 4: shows some good character development for the main character which is much appreciated. Suffers from some cringey tropes but can be enjoyed it for it is - a lighthearted show.
I Am Groot (2022)
A bit pointless?
Groot is cute but Disney has wayyyyy too much money.
It would be enjoyable for very young children but even then it's just not a useful addition to the MCU. Too short to have any exploration of the character aside from surface level. Watching them back to back just made me confused as to what the intention behind the "show" was and I am extremely curious to know what the budget of it was.
Great job by the artists.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Cute classic
They use every high schooler stereotype and every already done trope in the book but still manage to make it work. Not a new idea but done so well that it's a must watch.
Spencer (2021)
Interesting
I think this was a really interesting movie for a number of reasons. The entire movie took place over the course of 2 days but it still managed to give some insight into Diana's relationships. There was not a lot of dialogue but rather used music to help tell the story. Some backstory on Diana would definitely be useful for someone watching the movie with no context. Also requires a major TW for ED, which was (realistically) harrowing to watch but could be extremely uncomfortable for some.
Khoobsurat (2014)
Cute
Cute Bollywood meets Disney type of film. I liked that it focused on the other characters in the film rather than just developing the romance. One time watch.
Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017)
If 'Jab We Met' and 'Tamasha' had a (weird) baby
I have unintentionally ended up watching 3 Imtiaz Ali films in a row and with this movie I can't help but notice the similarities with two previous works by him. The parallels between all are so apparent, with the story being pretty formulaic and plot following the same general arc. However, this movie seems to have just borrowed some elements from Jab we met and some from Tamasha and mashed them together in hopes for the best.
The broken man who can be 'fixed' by his love interest is a trope yet again repeated in this film, except this one has the least convincing romance of all. The age gap is one issue but I just couldn't see any chemistry between the two leads. The circumstances in which they "fell in love" also didn't make too much sense. When Sejal figured that Harry was an extremely lonely man and felt bad for him, she says that he should consider her as his girlfriend for the remainder of the trip. WHY!! Being his friend would have been good enough but instead the writers needed a way to rush the romance in.
It's not the worst movie I've ever watched, but the most interesting elements ended up being anything but the romance. I would say the cartoonish character of 'Gas' was more compelling than the two leads together - which is the biggest issue with this movie.
If you want to see some cool shots of Europe as inspiration for your next trip then you should go ahead and watch it. The soundtrack does heavily disappoint this time though.
Not Okay (2022)
Meh
I had no clue what this would be about as I hadn't heard much about it (except for talk about the costumes). This movie is trying to be a social commentary without taking itself too seriously - which is why satire fits well as a descriptor. However I don't think I walk away with any revelations about the dangers of lying on social media or anything really. I don't think the film did anything new or special but it wasn't a bad watch either. Mia Isaac's parts in the film were the only emotionally convincing ones.
Good costuming for sure though! Captures the look of 2020/21 really really well.
Tamasha (2015)
Not sure what I am missing
I don't think I was able to understand what the director wanted to convey at all. I see bits and pieces of various themes but none of them were committed to enough for them to stick. It's definitely a unique film and the story telling is interesting. Just didn't find it enjoyable.. just passable.
Jab We Met (2007)
Solid film
Just a really good film! I It was simple and just focused on the romance without being boring. The dance numbers fit in seamlessly and didn't seem as awkward as they usually are- which is a plus. Aside from a few extremely insensitive jokes that wouldn't run in this generation, it was a well-rounded movie which is worth a watch.
Elvis (2022)
Trippy watch
The direction was fantastic. Austin Butler gave a great performance. As someone who knew barely anything about Elvis before the movie, I left with respect for the man and an interest in his music. I would guess that was partly the point of the biopic. The movie felt like it was stretching a bit too long towards the end, but overall a really cool movie.
Ms. Marvel (2022)
Major points for representation
A couple of episodes in I was a bit unsure of the show because it is so tonally different from other shows by Marvel. Towards the end it became clear that it was aimed towards a younger audience. Despite this, it managed to touch on some important topics. Th most important part of this show was the representation, as it is basically a first in the MCU (Kingo felt more like a stereotype for some reason). Great to see South Asians represented well, with a good mix of comedy and historical context for those unaware.
Lupin (2021)
Binge-worthy and exciting
Pretty easy to suspend belief for the duration of the show. You just can't help but root for the hero, even if his journey is not realistic at all. Enjoyable and kept me hooked till the end, even if not all episodes were equally strong.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Well done movie
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie always attempt to be large scale epics, but this story centred around just one woman has been the most impactful one yet. Definitely think this was Alia Bhatt's best performance yet. Extremely well executed with great acting from everyone. The only issue for me was the colour grading of the movie, which made it seem like everyone except the protagonist was washed out in an extremely unflattering way.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Fun movie
Full of laughs and heart warming sequences. I had a good time in the theatre and was struggling to understand the backlash it keeps getting. It's not a perfect movie by any means and certain characters deserved more screentime/development. However if you go into the cinema just expecting a good time rather than a multiverse altering Marvel storyline, I think the experience will be enjoyable.
A lot of people are calling it a rom-com but it surprisingly also delves into the theme of family (specifically father/daughter) which I thought was interesting.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022)
Bizarre
From minute 1 the story was extremely unbelievable and the way the plot progressed seemed entirely stupid. It is meant to be a horror/comedy but that doesn't mean that the dumbest storylines are acceptable just for a few laughs.
Manjulika was great though - predictable twist towards the end but still the only memorable part of the film.