Sci-fi at your service
jl50
SonyLiv
*ing: Abhay Deol, Pankaj Kapur and Rajesh Sharma
Rated: 7.5/10
Short and sweet, this four-episode mini series gives out mixed feelings. There is an ambitious premise, that of time travel, physics codes, murderous outfits trying to hive off Bengal and a crazy physicist and his attendant at the centre of it all.
Sounds interesting but as the series progresses after the impactful first scene of a plane shadow over an untouched North-eastern hill proceeds to crash into a beautiful gorge down below, the plot becomes a bit mumble jumble of sci-fi, investigation and familial issues.
However, for most part, till the secret of this plane which has crashed 35 years after take-off, is hatched, the series is interesting. One would love to see more of Abhay Deol who despite being the central character, is wasted in the role of a CBI officer with a troubling secret that gets revealed at the end, but not before you guess it right.
So, the plane took off in 1984 and crashes 35 years later with only two survivors — one, a pilot who has not aged at all, the other a passenger, possible hijacker, who too has not aged a single day!
It is a creative plot which takes flight in the beginning, soars for some time and then, well, crashes into confusion and memory loss with many questions unanswered and ends hanging loosely. Talking about that would be a spoiler here so do tune in. You may or may not be disappointed depending on your level of involvement in the series.
Overall watchable and laudable for at least trying a somewhat viable science fiction narrative.
Pankaj Kapur is captivating in his Bengali babu role as is Rajesh Sharma as Deol’s co-officer. He has the talent to slip into any amount of characters with equal conviction.
Sappy and touches the heart
The one and only ivan
Disney+Hotstar
Episodes 4
*ing (Voice Over): Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Brooklynn Prince, Chaka Khan; Bryan Cranston, Ramón RodrÃguez, Ariana Greenblatt
Rated: 8/10
Any movie that has animals is sweet and makes one’s heart thump loudly. More so, when the film is inspired from true events. The One and Only Ivan is one such film directed by Thea Sharrock. The real life of Ivan, the silverback gorilla, is heart-wrenching — he was born in 1962 in the now Democratic Republic of the Congo and captured from the wild as a baby and brought to live with humans. He performed at a circus in a mall till the age of 27. It was after community protest that he finally found his way into a zoo with acres of land instead of a cage. He died at age 50, the oldest gorilla to have died in human captivity.
The film chronicles Ivan’s story which is sappy, sweet, cute and heart-wrenching. The last time one felt like this was for Born Free (1966), a brilliant movie about a true story of a British couple who teach their pet lioness how to survive in the wilds of the African jungles.
While in The One and Only Ivan, the makers have used CGI for animals, it doesn’t take away the life of these wild animals who should be out in the jungle rather than in cages. The artists behind the look of the animals have captured the expressions and emotions so beautifully especially of Ivan — from wistful to forlorn to complete disbelief that he is no long the headliner. His belief is that he is the best and can bring back the glorious days to entertain the human and yet he feels that the whole idea to showcase that he has to scream and thump his chest to show his anger doesn’t sit well with him because his father told him that anger is supposed to reserved for certain situations and not used to entertain.
Even though there is nothing new here that has not been shown and done in previous films, The One and Only Ivan manages to pull the heartstrings but not in a depressing manner. A movie that every child and adult alike must see.
Sweet little rom-com love, guaranteed
Netflix
*ing: Rachael Leigh Cook, Damon Wayans Jr, Jed Rees
Rated: 5.5/10
If the present pandemic is making you feel blue there is only one cure for it — watch a movie that guarantees happily ever after even though the concept and idea of finding love via a dating app may sound and appear to be strange. No to be cynical, but in India, we do know the real reason why people join the dating app to begin with. Despite how alien the concept may sound like Love, Guaranteed makes you tick off all the boxes when it comes to a rom-com and definitely ends up with a kiss in the middle of a courtroom to boot with everyone clapping — definitely an aww moment.
However, we know that things in real life don’t work like this and those who are looking for a more meaningful love story, stay away from this one since all one is going to get to watch is a Hallmark movie that has found its way on Netflix.
For the uninitiated to the world of Hallmark films, the movies shown here are sappy that join the dots that come with a rom-com. For those who are familiar with the channel, would know that Rachael Leigh Cook is a permanent fixture here.
Sadly, the movie has nothing new or fresh to offer even if the idea of a movie on love may make you want to settle down with popcorn. The upside is that one gets to see some of the picture-perfect locations of Seattle, US. Also, who doesn’t like a happy ending however unrealistic it may appear to be.
Watching this one is a good diversion for the weekend.
Lack of imagination cuts into interest
Freaks: you’re one of us
Netflix
*ing: Finnlay Berger, Thelma Buabeng, Gisa Flake
Rated: 5/10
Everyone loves a superhero movie. After all, we want to be like them; to have their power, be the good Samaritan and have the world at our feet. While Freaks: You’re One of Us may not be a Marvel or DC superhero movie, it is a German film directed by Felix Binder and written by Marc O, it doesn’t take away the fact that it is a superhero film — more like Spider Man who gets bitten by a radioactive spider.
Here though they are born with extraordinary powers — powers that make them different from the normal people and it makes them uncomfortable. No crazy gadgets or gizmos, just pure and simple super powers. Hence, they are locked away and treated like they are mentally unstable. For others, they are put in medication to suppress their power so that they can live among the normal.
The good is that the writer has the concept pat down but there are a few bumps along the way. First, the movie is very child-like and gives a very narrow and bird’s eye perspective to the storyline that has great potential. Second, it fails to build on the protagonist’s increasing awareness of her powers which are truly amazing. Take an example: A kick to a football makes it fly right out of the city and still flying or a punch to the gut makes the man fall 50 feet away and land on a car. Awesome powers of strength especially if you are a woman.
Watch this one if you love the underdogs have an upper hand.