susi_little2000 Reviews

Thank You, Next (2024– )

There is more to this series than what's on the surface.

[7/10 · 29 May 2024]

First of all this series is beautifully shot and well made. Characters are very well explored and I think the writers do a great job of showing the complexity of human characters and relationships.

I found that in the end the narcissist was Leyla's finance Omer not Cem (played by Hakan Kurtas who does a great job at creating an aura of mystery around his character and who he really is) and the assumptions she made about Cem and the red flags raised were what she wanted to see to convince herself that she should stay away from him. Her fiancé (the narcissist ) did a great job of convincing her that she was the problem in the relationship exactly as Cem's ex wives described a classic narcissist they were describing themselves and Omer.

So there is a lot more to this series and contrary to some comments the ending is not pointless and characters complete their journey as far as the first season allows.

I Want to Live (2021– )

Captures and satisfies

[9/10 · 13 April 2021]

This series is highly underrated. Perhaps because it's not your average melodrama filled with light hearted dialogues and fancy locations. On the contrary the characters are complex and have depth. The dialogues make you think and every word contributes to the unraveling plot with each episode.

The acting is to the point and fits the nostalgic setting and the brilliance of endless close ups and beautiful camera work that captures the raw emotions of the series' characters.

All in all this an outstanding piece of film making for home cinema and it was not made just to fill in your average afternoon but to capture and move it's audience.

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Daisy what Daisy...

[6/10 · 3 June 2013]

Where does one begin to write a review for The Great Gatsby. The story line without the doubt is captivating and will save any production no matter who the director is.

Baz Lurhmann is without a doubt champion of modern interpretations and gets a 10/10 for his productions of Romeo and Juliet and Mullin Rouge. Gatsby however is a different matter. It is fine to use modern music in a 1920s film as long as it fits the story line and captures the mood the storyteller is trying to portray so desperately. In this case Luhrmann has definitely failed. You can not have people dancing Charleston to Beyoncé's Crazy Right Now or Jay Z's raps. You can not talk about the emptiness of the upper class of 1920's New York when the background score tells you, you are lost in somewhere in time

This unfortunately undermines what could have been a wonderful interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic. Of course there are elements that save the film. Toby Maguire IS Nick Carraway the best thing in the film. He narrates the story perfectly and took us on a great ride of emotion and helps us navigate our way through the craziness of Lurhmann's imagery and characters. Unfortunate Daisy (Carey Mulligan) the girl the whole fuss is about is only seen for 4 forgettable scenes in this film and I cannot help to wonder where in the film ''her voice smelled of money''. Why the obsession?

Myrtle (Isla Fisher) Tom's Mistress is shown twice. Why do we have to feel sorry for her? How about Wilson?

As for Di Caprio, his performance is the usual good but nothing unexpected. The element of mystery is completely absent from his performance and the phrase 'Old Sport' comes out of his mouth with the usual childish immaturity that is in his voice when he plays Jack in Titanic.

The last 20 minutes of this film and the intensity of the story line however save the whole production. You will come out with wet eyes and reflect on Gatsby because of those 20 minutes. Otherwise the 3D does nothing to make the scenes memorable or the images extraordinary. The characters a part from Nick and Gatsby are not explored enough for you to sympathise or understand them and certain crucial parts feels rushed.

Do see it and you will enjoy the experience of it as it is an over all good film but if you are a fan of the book, the old film or love the era then you will be greatly disappointed.

My Name Is Khan (2010)

very different from all Bollywood movies!

[7/10 · 11 February 2010]

Well I must say when I left the movie theatre I was really impressed and will go back to see this film one more time. Definitely worth Oscar nomination. This film is Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan and Indian cinema at its best.

The plot is very new and different and the message of the film is carried very well by the characters. The individuality of the characters stands out in this film. Especially Khan's character who is very unique. His dialogs makes you laugh makes you cry but more importantly his innocence, childlike personality and his message of Love makes you sympathize and fall in love with him right from the beginning. Unlike most Indian films the humour is not cheesy and mostly never before heard. The message of love is about a bigger picture which may start from the love between two people but takes a more global meaning. Karan Johar as a director and contributor to the story line should definitely be credited for his work and deserves recognition. The scenery and shots are really appropriated and well done.

Performance wise ShahRukh khan has definitely given his best performance so far. His portrayal of a person with asparagus syndrome is amazingly and artistically done in terms of acting on the same level as Sean Pan's performance in 'I am Sam'. Kajol gives a better performance at the second half of the film but her absence from the cinema shows in her acting during the first part, and although she goes through her own journey in the film and has an equal share at the second half her character is overshadowed by the strength of Khan and his performance.

No dance number in this film unlike a Bollywood film, but the music is beautiful and very well placed within the plot.

Over all this movie has taken the Bollywood cinema to the international standard. A must see for everyone. Even if you don't know anything about the Indian cinema