Mayank Shrivastava

Kalki 2898 AD Review "Kalki" attempts to present an intriguing narrative about the end of Kalyuga and the birth of Kalki, drawing on mythological themes and contemporary cinematic styles. However, it falls short on several fronts. Plot and Storyline: The central premise of the movie—how Kalyuga will end and Kalki will be born, with Ashwathama coming to his aid—has potential. Unfortunately, the execution is marred by a lack of coherence and depth. The storyline is a mishmash of ideas seemingly borrowed from successful films like "Black Panther," "Avengers: Endgame," "Mad Max," and "Iron Man," but without the originality or finesse those films possess. The narrative is bogged down by unnecessary fights and poorly written dialogues that even a 10-year-old could improve upon. Performances: Prabhas, the so-called big star from the South, delivers a lackluster performance with zero comedic timing and uninspired action sequences. His portrayal of the protagonist is more about style over substance, especially in the first half, which is filled with needless show-off moments that do not advance the plot. Visuals and Logic: The film's visual storytelling raises more questions than it answers. The concept of the world's population being concentrated in a single city is illogical, and there is no explanation for the disappearance of oceans or powerful countries. This lack of world-building weakens the overall believability of the film's setting. Supporting Characters: Amitabh Bachchan's introduction as Ashwathama a few minutes before the interval is one of the few highlights. However, despite his powerful presence, the character fails to make a significant impact due to poor integration into the storyline. Key Scenes and Flaws: One particularly nonsensical scene involves Prabhas's friend securing a job in a complex where the elite live, and inexplicably bringing Prabhas along as a temporary employee. This leads to an absurd sequence of singing, dancing, and entering restricted areas, culminating in Prabhas being thrown out without any real consequences. The security inconsistencies and lack of logic in these scenes are glaring. Action and Climax: The second half is dominated by action sequences blatantly copied from "Avengers: Endgame." Ashwathama, shown as immensely powerful, can throw huge vehicles but struggles with simpler tasks like saving Kalki's mother. Prabhas's character inexplicably transforms into Karna from the Mahabharata to save Kalki's mother, only to revert back to a normal human and kidnap her, leading to an abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Conclusion: "Kalki" concludes with a promise of a sequel, but fails to deliver a coherent or engaging narrative in its current form. The title is misleading as Kalki is barely featured, and the focus remains on Ashwathama and Prabhas's underwhelming performance. The movie could have explored the birth of Kalki and its aftermath in more detail, providing a more satisfying and logical storyline. Instead, it leaves the audience with more questions than answers and a sense of disappointment.

Review of Mirzapur Season 3 (Warning: May Contain Spoilers) Mirzapur Season 3 was highly anticipated, but it has left fans feeling disappointed for several reasons. First, none of the major characters made a significant impact. Characters like Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) and Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal), who were strong and central in earlier seasons, were not used effectively this time around. The political schemes in the show made little sense. The strategies and alliances were confusing and unconvincing, making the political aspect of the series feel shallow and boring. Another major letdown was the lack of meaningful fights between the main characters. The exciting confrontations we looked forward to were instead given to supporting characters, which made the show less intense and exciting. Many of the political plots introduced in the season were left unfinished. Characters involved in these plots often died without any resolution, leaving their stories incomplete and unsatisfying. Golu’s transformation into a gangster felt forced and unrealistic. The role didn't suit her character, making it seem awkward and unnatural. Season 2 ended on an intriguing note, but Season 3 did not continue from that point. Instead, it introduced new subplots that seemed to be there just to set up a potential Season 4. This made the season feel disconnected and disjointed. Despite the hype created by trailers and teasers, Season 3 did not live up to expectations. Fans, who had been waiting for years, were left disappointed. Guddu Pandit’s character was particularly disappointing. Once powerful and vengeful, he was shown as weak and helpless in Season 3. Fans who had hoped to see his dark side were let down by his subdued role. Finally, the show portrayed everyone as very powerful, but none of these characters achieved anything significant. This made the portrayal of power feel empty and meaningless. In conclusion, Mirzapur Season 3 failed to deliver the impactful storytelling and character development that fans were hoping for. The confusing plot, underused main characters, and lack of logical progression left much to be desired. Despite the hype, the season did not live up to the previous ones, making it a disappointing addition to the Mirzapur series.