Vimal Samuel

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Been a while since I've watched something that doesn't try to be anything. Just a story that elicits humor and some mystery as well. I was browsing Netflix for good movies and decided to check out award-winning ones. This was one of the movies that caught my eye. Firstly, 'cause Mammootty's in it, and secondly, the plot sounded authentic. The movie starts slow and does have that art house feel in the way the camera doesn't move at all, but lets the character move in the shot itself. What begins as a routine pilgrimage turns into a literal out-of-body experience for James, the main protagonist, played by Mammootty. I really enjoyed watching the absurd situations play out because that is where the hidden humor lies. Life is like that, some things are just so ridiculous that there is nothing else to do but laugh. One character that stood out for me, is the mother who is the only one who believes that her son has returned. And the scene where James enacts a scene from a Rajnikanth movie is amusing, too. In many parts of the movie, I had to ask myself, "What is going to happen now?" The story is like that. And no explanation is offered. Like everyone in the story, the audience is also left wondering what the hell is going on? That's art! Watch it.

Wow! Love the idea behind the story. The make-up artists did a great job of making the animals look authentic. Thomas Cailley, the director, and Cailley and Pauline Munier, the writers, have succeeded in retaining the humane aspect of the plot by having characters that want to help instead of reacting in fear. The story has an element of mystery as you're always unsure of how things will develop, and that's the art of good storytelling. Overall, I found some scenes very moving even when the possibility of communicating through words has diminished. It does make one wonder how you would react in such a situation. If you were one of those "changing," would you gladly welcome it? And if you were one of the spectators, would you focus on self-preservation? Recommended.

The pandemic definitely affected the brains of some people. I don't know if you've noticed, but most of the highly-anticipated movies since Corona have been a letdown. This is another of those. Apart from impressing Ryan Reynolds himself, this movie does little in the scope of superhero movies or action movies. It's basically the same old trope of messed-up guy trying to make sense of his existence after losing someone important and then finding himself by doing something useful. This isn't a plot. It's kindergarten story-telling. As much as I dislike 3D, I wanted to see if Ryan could bring something new to the table. I accept that was my mistake. Ryan has typecast himself into the external monologue-nitwit that Deadpool has become. He's like that ex you still have feelings for, then she starts talking, and you realize why you left. Sure, if you like Ryan, this movie was probably like the icing on the cake. For every line that Wolverine delivers, Deadpool has a couple dozen of his own. It's ironic, that his suit doesn't actually have a mouth. I'm sure you're thinking that I dislike this movie just because Deadpool talks too much. And you're right, but I also dislike it because it's like the overpriced popcorn and coffee you get at theaters: Sure it's tasty and looks great, but it's pure indulgence and I'm not falling for that.

I'm not sure how much of this is based on truth, but kudos to the director, Lee Tamahori, for making it look so authentic. The plot is simple yet effective. The savagery of British settlers and the Maoris themselves makes the plight of the central character, Thomas Munro, even more tragic. I wouldn't say it is as spellbinding as Apocalypto, but I think this is in the same league. The story manages to showcase some aspects of Maori culture and the reasoning behind those practices. I began watching it because of Guy Pearce and continued till the end because of the Maoris. Expect bloodshed, romance, and tiny bits of wisdom.

Undoubtedly, it is an interesting show! My only qualm is that the makers might have borrowed a recurring theme in the plot from a South Korean show, released in 2022, called "Trolley." That show also revolves around the "trolley problem," which deals with the dilemma of whether to sacrifice one person to save a larger number of people. As soon as Ashutosh Gowariker's character, Admiral Zibran, brought up the theory in a scene, I was reminded of the Korean show. There is no other similarity between Kaala Paani and Trolley, though many of the climactic scenes seem to deal with this theme in some way or the other. On the whole, the writers and directors of the show have put together a thrilling and exciting story that is relevant in present times. I enjoyed watching the backstories and character development of Chiru, Ritu, Ketan, and Jyotsna. Not to give away too much, but the deaths of some of the main characters took me by surprise. I find the character of Ketan Kamat, played by Amey Wagh, the most interesting because he is one of those people who doesn't see things in black and white. His character adapts to the situation that he is in, which might lead him down a good or bad path. I guess he fits the adage of "survival of the fittest," which is another recurring theme in the show. Would I recommend this show? Definitely! I binge-watched it in three days despite a bad internet connection. I promise you'll be on the edge of your seat as this roller-coaster of emotions unfolds. P.S. As for the trolley problem, I don't think I would sacrifice one person to save many. I would let fate decide.

I came to know about the show while working on a work project. I was curious to see if the show was worth all the hype. At first, I thought it might be based on a true story but turns out that it's fictional. Anyway, after the first few episodes, I realized that the series was made well. Although the back and forth along the timeline makes you pay more attention, it keeps things interesting as well. It was a bit of a bummer that the first season ended with some unanswered questions, which does add to the overall effect, but I would have preferred some closure. The second season was more engaging with the type of crime as well as the storytelling. It was interesting to see how Baptise's life had changed as well. His determination to solve the case was even more apparent, and the twists in the plot kept him following every clue he could find. Thankfully, the season ended on a somewhat positive note, if you overlooked the body count along the way. Definitely worth it for anyone into investigative crime stories.

So many twists, but the plot keeps you engrossed. I would have preferred some supernatural element to the story because there was scope for that. I think the writers did a great job in keeping the momentum. I, on the other hand, was very keen to find out where they had done the shooting because of the TN 43 number plates, but it evaded me. There were some scenes that looked a bit familiar to places I've seen in Ooty. The soundtrack is also quite fitting, especially for the festival procession scenes. The subject matter that results in the deaths in the story is dealt with in a sensitive way, and though it is a very important issue, the final episodes of the show spiral into a depressing vortex. One question still remains: What happened to Ammani?

Quite a controversial question in modern times, but the closing moments of the documentary reveals a pretty straightforward answer. Came across Matt Walsh's videos on YouTube and though I didn't think this documentary would be groundbreaking content, it did answer some of my own questions such as when the Trans movement started and how it gained so much media attention. It's true that gender identity has become a minefield, but it's refreshing to see that some people still care about the truth.

Great show! The first few episodes really caught my attention. I liked how the story unraveled bit by bit. And a competition focused on tasting wines and food - Yes, count me in. Though I'm a novice at recognizing any kind of wine since I only like wines that are homemade and sweet, I understand why enology is an interesting subject. Imagine tasting a bottle of fermented grape juice and being able to discern how, when, and where it was made. That is crazy! Anyway, this story manages to intertwine the dying wish of an eccentric wine collector with the lives of two talented and equally eccentric people who could benefit from his death. Some parts of the show seem a bit drawn out, but the final episode was quite moving. If you love wine culture and family dramas, this is for you.