Latest Reviews

Kantara (transl. Mystical Forest) is a 2022 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film written and directed by Rishab Shetty. The film stars Shetty as a Kambala champion who is at loggerheads with an upright forest officer, Murali (played by Kishore). However, the movie mixes mythology with present day corruption and greed. TheContinue reading “KANTARA (2022) – KANNADA BLOCKBUSTER FALLS SHORT OF GREATNESS”

Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 American epic science fiction film directed by James Cameron and a sequel to the 2009 box-office smash Avatar. 13 years is a long wait for a sequel. Avatar (2009) when it released, became a pioneer in terms of the cinematic experience. WearingContinue reading “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (2022) – AVATAR’S LONG AWAITED SEQUEL IS AS MESMERIZING AS THE ORIGINAL”

Where the Crawdads Sing is a 2022 American mystery thriller drama (basically even the director and producer couldn’t decide the genre) film based on the 2018 novel of the same name. It was directed by Olivia Newman from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar, based on the novel by Delia Owens.Continue reading “WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (2022) – A DISAPPOINTING ATTEMPT TO TURN A LOVE STORY INTO A MYSTERY THRILLER”

X is a 2022 independent slasher film written, directed, produced and edited by Ti West. It is from arthouse distributor A24 and a slasher movie about what really horrifies us. Writer/director Ti West (from The House of the Devil fame) builds a movie that a youth-obsessed society is far moreContinue reading “X (2022) – TI WEST SLASHER FLICK ASKS SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS”

Far Cry Primal is a 2016 action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is a spin-off to Far Cry 4, and the tenth overall installment in the Far Cry series. It is set during prehistoric times and follows the story of Takkar, an unarmed hunter whoContinue reading “FAR CRY PRIMAL (2016) – ENTER THE LAND OF OROS AND DISCOVER YOUR PRIMAL INSTINCT IN THIS PRE-HISTORIC MASTERPIECE”

The Big Bang Theory was an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady which ran on CBS from September 24, 2007 to May 16, 2019, having broadcast 279 episodes over 12 seasons. It follows two roommates Sheldon and Leonard – both scientists – whose lives change whenContinue reading “THE BIG BANG THEORY (2007 – 2019) – A FUN LIGHTHEARTED NERDGASM WHICH SPELLED DOOM FOR THE LAUGH TRACK”

Connor Iggulden is a British author who writes historical fiction, most notably the Emperor series and Conqueror series. In 2007, Iggulden became the first person to top the UK fiction and non-fiction charts at the same time. His series “Conqueror”, covers the Mongol Empire created by Genghis Khan – IgguldenContinue reading “THE CONQUEROR SERIES BY CONN IGGULDEN (BOOK REVIEW) – TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO THE WORLD OF GENGHIS KHAN AND THE MONGOLS”

An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) in respect of the income or profits earned by them (commonly called taxable income). Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times the taxable income. Taxation rates differ by type or characteristics ofContinue reading “THE CASE AGAINST INCOME TAXES – WHY IT IMPOVERISHES THE PEOPLE”

Anyone who has been following the news lately has not been immune from hearing about the Russo-Ukrainian War, which although having begun in 2014, after the Ukrainian Revolution and the seizure of Crimea, escalated rapidly in 2022, with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2021, Russia began a large military build-upContinue reading “WHAT SUN TZU WOULD NEVER DO – THE RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR ASSESSED THROUGH THE ANCIENT CLASSIC”

The Gray Man is a 2022 American action thriller film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Dhanush, AlfreContinue reading “THE GRAY MAN (2022) – NETFLIX ACTION THRILLER IS ENTERTAINING BUT PREDICTABLE”

Nope is a 2022 American science fiction horror film written, directed, and co-produced by Jordan Peele under his Monkeypaw Productions banner. It stars Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, and Brandon Perea, the film follows two horse-wrangling siblings who attempt to capture evidence of an unidentified flying object.Continue reading “NOPE (2022) – SAY HELLLLLLLLL NOPE TO JORDAN PEELE’S SCI-FI DOWNER”

The Northman is a 2022 American epic historical action thriller film directed by Robert Eggers. Based on the legend of Amleth, the film stars co-producer Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe. The film is heavily influenced by Norse mythology. It demands audiencesContinue reading “THE NORTHMAN (2022) – ROBERT EGGERS DELIVERS HYPER-VIOLENT VIKING VENGEANCE BRILLIANTLY”

Thor: Love and Thunder is a 2022 American superhero comedy film based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic UniverseContinue reading “THOR – LOVE AND THUNDER (2022) – WOKE THOR IS A DOWNER DESPITE INITIAL PROMISE”

The Black Phone is a 2021 American supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and stars stars Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, and Ethan Hawke. The Black Phone is about a child who after being kidnapped is able to communicate with the former captives of his abductor.Continue reading “THE BLACK PHONE (2021) – ETHAN HAWKE SHINES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR THRILLER”

The Lost City is an action-comedy released in 2022. It stars Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum as a romance novelist and her cover model, who must escape a billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) and find the lost ancient city described in one of her books. The film co-stars Da’Vine Joy Randolph, withContinue reading “THE LOST CITY (2022) – LOW-KEY ENTERTAINER DOESN’T DISAPPOINT”

Rang De Basanti (literal translation: Paint it Saffron ) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language drama film written, produced and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Sharman Joshi, Cyrus Sahukar, Kunal Kapoor and British actress Alice Patten.Continue reading “RANG DE BASANTI (2006) – COMING OF AGE MOVIE THAT MADE BOLLYWOOD GROW UP”

The Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022 can be pitched in several ways – The Right against The Might, The Democracies versus The Autocracy, The NATO versus Russia or a David versus Goliath scenario. But reality is far from such simple categorizations. A war which has been destructive for Ukraine, crippling forContinue reading “WHY INDIA’S NEUTRALITY IN THE ONGOING RUSSO-UKRAINE CONFLICT IS THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD”

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a 2022 American superhero film is the sequel to Doctor Strange (2016) and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Sam Raimi and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, BenedictContinue reading “DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022) -A THRILLING EXPLORATION OF THE MULTIVERSE IN MARVEL’S LATEST OFFERING”

Death Race is a 2008 American dystopian action thriller film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It stars Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, and Joan Allen. The premise is straightforward – in 2012, the collapse of the US economy and the subsequent increase in crime rates leadsContinue reading “DEATH RACE (2008) – CARS AND BLOOD FLOW FREELY IN THIS JASON STATHAM ACTION FLICK”

The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster, portraying the difficulties that he faces as he tries to balance his family life with his role as the leader of a criminal organization.Continue reading “THE SOPRANOS (1999 – 2007) – ONE OF THE GREATEST TV SHOWS EVER MADE”

The Batman is a 2022 American superhero film and a reboot of the Batman film franchise. This reboot brings in Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/The Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz (Catwoman), Paul Dano (The Riddler), Jeffrey Wright (Lt. James Gordon), John Turturro (Carmine Falcone), Andy Serkis (Alfred), and Colin Farrell (TheContinue reading “THE BATMAN (2022) – A MOVIE THAT IS LOYAL TO THE TRUE ESSENCE OF BATMAN”

All of Us Are Dead (Korean: Jigeum Uri Hakgyoneun; lit. Now at Our School) is a South Korean coming-of-age zombie apocalypse horror streaming television series. It stars Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Kyu-hyung, and Jeon Bae-soo. The series mostly takes placeContinue reading “ALL OF US ARE DEAD (2022) – KOREAN ZOMBIE THRILLER IS DEVASTATINGLY HAUNTING”

King Richard is a 2021 American biographical drama film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin. It follows the life of Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, who were executive producers of the film. It stars Will Smith inContinue reading “KING RICHARD (2021) – WILL SMITH SHOWS US WHY HE DESERVES AN OSCAR IN AN INSPIRATIONAL BIOPIC”

Come and See (Russian: Idi i smotri) is a 1985 Soviet anti-war film directed by Elem Klimov and starring Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. The film focuses on the Nazi German occupation of Belarus, and the events as witnessed by a young Belarusian partisan teenager named Flyora, who—against his mother’sContinue reading “COME AND SEE (1985) – SOVIET WAR FILM SHOWS THE TRUE HORRORS OF WAR”

Eternals is a 2021 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics of the same name. It is the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Chloé Zhao, of Nomadland fame. As with most Marvel films, this one has an ensemble cast with evenContinue reading “ETERNALS (2021) – PREPARE FOR ETERNAL BOREDOM IN THIS #DIVERSITY SNORE-FEST”

Kingdom is a 2019 South Korean political period horror thriller streaming television series, created and written by Kim Eun-hee, available on Netflix. It is set in the 16th century three years after the end of the Imjin War. Kingdom takes place in a fictional, medieval-inspired Joseon Kingdom and blends politicalContinue reading “KINGDOM (2019 – 2021) – KOREAN ZOMBIE THRILLER IS A HIT”

The Haunting of Bly Manor is an American gothic romance/drama streaming television miniseries created by Mike Flanagan, and released on October 9, 2020 by Netflix. It mostly acts as an adaptation of the 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, but also includes other elements either basedContinue reading “THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (2020) – NETFLIX’S HORROR MINISERIES IS A HIT”

No Time To Die, which for the sake of typing I am going to refer to as NTTD in this post, is a 2021 spy film and the twenty-fifth in the James Bond series. It is the last featuring Daniel Craig play the 007 we enjoyed for such a longContinue reading “NO TIME TO DIE (2021) – THE NAME IS BOND, “WOKE” BOND”

Red Notice is a 2021 American action comedy film written, directed, and produced by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Dwayne Johnson, who also served as a producer, stars as an FBI agent who reluctantly teams up with a renowned art thief (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch an even more notorious criminalContinue reading “RED NOTICE (2021) – NETFLIX ACTION THRILLER FALLS FLAT”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a 2021 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Shang-Chi and the Legend ofContinue reading “SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2021) – MARVEL’S LATEST IS BETTER THAN THE ETERNALS AND THAT’S ABOUT IT”

Dune (titled onscreen as Dune: Part One) is a 2021 American epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is set in the far future, it follows Paul Atreides as his family, the noble House Atreides, is thrust into a war for the deadly and inhospitable desert planet Arrakis.Continue reading “DUNE (2021) – DENIS VILLENEUVE’S SCI-FI EPIC REINVENTS THE GENRE”

Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series developed by Peter Berg, that is inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger, which was adapted as the 2004 film of the same name by Berg. The series is about a high school football team in theContinue reading “FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2006-2011) – A MASTERPIECE WORTH BINGEING ON”

300 is a 2007 American epic historical action film based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. 300 depicts one of the greatest last stands in world history – where 300 Spartans (and about 6700 Greeks) fought a million Persians (about 100,000-150,000Continue reading “300 (2007) – THE HISTORICAL ACTION MOVIE THAT MADE MILLIONS OF MEN ALL OVER THE WORLD ASHAMED OF THEIR BODIES”

Squid Game is a South Korean survival drama television series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk for Netflix. The series revolves around a contest in which 456 players are chosen from different walks of life to compete in a series of children’s games. Each of them is deeply in debt and chosenContinue reading “SQUID GAME (OJING-EO GEIM) (2021) – KOREAN THRILLER IS THE BEST THING YOU WILL STREAM ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW”

Sacred Games is an Indian Hindi language crime thriller that is based upon Vikram Chandra’s 2006 book of the same name. Having read the book I was looking forward to the seeing the show and was not disappointed, which is mostly the case when Movies or Shows are based onContinue reading “SACRED GAMES (2018 – 2019) – NETFLIX’S HIT INDIAN THRILLER IS A GAMECHANGER”

Fortress of War is a 2010 Russian-Belarusian war film based on the June 1941 defense of Brest Fortress against invading Wehrmacht forces in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. Events are narrated from the perspective of 15-year-old Sasha Akimov,Continue reading “BRESTSKAIA KREPOST (FORTRESS OF WAR) (2010) – RUSSIAN WAR FILM HITS HARD”

The Many Saints of Newark (marketed with the subtitle A Sopranos Story) is a 2021 American crime drama film directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner. A prequel to Chase’s HBO crime drama series The Sopranos, it takes place during the 1960s and 1970s inContinue reading “THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (2021) – THE SOPRANOS PREQUEL THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR”

The Terror is an American horror drama anthology television series. The series is named after Dan Simmons’s 2007 novel, which serves as the basis for the first season. It premiered on March 25, 2018 and the second season, subtitled Infamy, premiered on August 12, 2019. The first season was developedContinue reading “THE TERROR (2018-PRESENT) – AMC’s HORROR ANTHOLOGY IMPRESSES AND ENTERTAINS”

F9 (also known as F9: The Fast Saga and internationally as Fast & Furious 9) is a 2021 American action film directed by Justin Lin. The film stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, KurtContinue reading “F9 (2021) – LATEST IN THE FAST AND FURIOUS SERIES LEAVES LOGIC AND PHYSICS IN THE REARVIEW”

The Djinn is a 2021 supernatural horror starring Ezra Dewey, Rob Brownstein, Tevy Poe and John Erickson (be impressed with that star cast whoever they are). The movie was released in certain theaters but was then released video-on-demand. However, what impressed me about the movie was not the scares butContinue reading “THE DJINN (2021) – SUPERNATURAL HORROR FAILS TO ENTERTAIN”

Jungle Cruise is a 2021 fantasy adventure film starring Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti and since the movie is set in a jungle, Hollywood’s go-to-guy for action in the jungle, Dwayne Johnson. The movie’s plot is simple with the captain of a small riverboat taking a groupContinue reading “JUNGLE CRUISE (2021) – EMILY BLUNT AND DWAYNE JOHNSON ON A CRUISE TO NOWHERE”

The White Tiger is a 2021 drama film written and directed by Ramin Bahrani. The movie is based on Aarvind Adiga’s 2008 novel of the same name. The movie, like the book, provides a darkly humorous perspective of India’s class struggle in a globalized world as told through a retrospectiveContinue reading “THE WHITE TIGER (2021) – ARAVIND ADIGA’S NOVEL ADAPTATION FALLS SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS”

1917 is a 2019 British war film directed and produced by Sam Mendes starring George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman in starring roles. The plot seems simple – two soldiers are given seemingly impossible orders to reach 1600 soldiers of the 2nd Devon battalion, who are about to launch an offensiveContinue reading “1917 (2019) – A VISUALLY STUNNING WAR DRAMA SHOWING THE HORRORS OF THE GREAT WAR”

Wrath of Man is a 2021 action thriller film directed by Guy Ritchie, who teams with Jason Statham again after 16 years and the fourth collaboration between the two, with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Revolver before it. Jason Statham stars as Patrick Hill or “H”, whoContinue reading “WRATH OF MAN (2021) – JASON STATHAM PUNCHING HIS WAY IS ALWAYS A THRILL RIDE”

The Pirates of Somalia is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by Bryan Buckley. The film stars Evan Peters (famous for being the more popular Pietro Maximoff or Quicksilver), Al Pacino (famous for being Al Pacino), Melanie Griffith (famous for Working Girl and Buffalo Girls), and Barkhad AbdiContinue reading “PIRATES OF SOMALIA (2017) – AN ENJOYABLE INSIGHT INTO LIFE AMONG SOMALIAN PIRATES”

Godzilla vs. Kong is a 2021 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard, which continues the events from Godzilla: King of Monsters and Kong: Skull Island. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall and Kyle Chandler, who form the “mostly irrelevant human cast”. Five years after GodzillaContinue reading “GODZILLA VS. KONG (2021) – THE MONSTER VERSE THROWS UP ANOTHER VISUALLY EXCITING BUT NON-STIMULATING PUNCH-UP”

Nobody is a 2021 action thriller starring Bob Odenkirk (of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame). Plot wise it is one that seems done over and over again in Hollywood movies – an unwilling man with a dark past, forced to go to war against evil men who threatenContinue reading “NOBODY (2021) – BOB ODENKIRK CONVINCES AS AN ACTION HERO AND GIVES JOHN WICK A RUN FOR HIS MONEY”

Ted Lasso is an American comedy that premiered in 2020 on Apple TV+. It stars Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American football college-level coach who gets hired to manage a fictional Premier League football club – AFC Richmond. The show delivered Jason Sudeikis his first ever Golden Globe thisContinue reading “TED LASSO (2020*) – OPTIMISM AND CHEER FLOW EASILY IN THIS JASON SUDEIKIS COMEDY”

Spartacus: Blood & Sand was the first season of the American television series Spartacus. The series was inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus (played by Andy Whitfield in the first season and Liam McIntyre for the third and fourth season, after Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with cancer), a ThracianContinue reading “SPARTACUS (2010 – 2013) – HIGHLY ENTERTAINING ROMAN ERA DEPICTION OF GLADIATORS AND THE SLAVE REBELLION”

Boss Level is an upcoming American science fiction action film, available on the streaming platform Hulu from March 5th, 2021, directed by Joe Carnahan and stars Frank Grillo as a retired special forces soldier, Roy Pulver who tries to escape a never-ending time loop that results in his death. MelContinue reading “BOSS LEVEL (2021) – HILARIOUS TIME LOOP ACTION COMEDY IS A MUST WATCH”