maneetmusic Reviews

12th Fail (2023)

A very well made movie - Hard work & Resilience pay

[9/10 · 13 January 2024]

A simple but well made story about how hard work and resilience pays even for the poorest of the poor.

It's remarkable as its based on a true story of Manoj, who fought against all odds and showed resilience to succeed.

The actors all do their parts really well. The story is well written and the screenplay is consistent till the end.

You end up empathising with all the characters. Specially Manoj and Shraddha.

You know it will end well, but it's the setbacks and sub plots and the sheer resilience, keep the viewer attention.

It's not exceptional for the story or its message, but it is special for the reminder it gives us, and for doing it very well.

It's a feel good movie end to end.

The Brothers Sun (2024)

Good action story with one extremely stupid character.

[8/10 · 13 January 2024]

A very well made series when it comes to action sequences and a good plot. The Taiwanese gangster family drama with honour and obligations that spills over to America, adds freshness to the Netflix range.

Michelle Yeoh adds class to a decent cast. In fact, she soars above the rest as a Triad member in hiding, an over protective Mom, a lady that's yards ahead of everyone with her wits.

But in Bruce Sun, they probably made the stupidest, most idiotic, most exasperating character in the history of Netflix series.

They were probably trying to go for a Jackie Chan style bumbling, funny but good hearted character. But they ended up making a cowardly, unreliable, disloyal, extremely stupid character.

You never feel sorry for him, never connect with him or even empathise with him. I wonder why Sam Song Li didn't ask the script writers to do better.

Since Bruce is so central to the story, the presence of this character 'almost' single handedly spoils an otherwise brilliant plot and a well constructed storyline.

'Almost' being the operative word. But the story, Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chein, the action sequences, the Taiwanese American flavour; rescue the series.

Echo 3 (2022–2023)

An average show that doesn't know it's rhythm

[4/10 · 5 March 2023]

It starts brilliantly, infact it explodes. Every character is full of action, full of personality. Even the flashbacks are meaningful.

And after 2 episodes, the director probably realised that they had to make a 10 episode series.

So then the show meanders painfully slowly - you are shown the grays of the characters, meaningless flashbacks increase, the story YO-YO's.

And here we are, with a series that is painful to watch, but you still do, hoping that the director will find his initial energy. It never does.

It perhaps should have been a movie, not a show.

I almost gave up on it at the 7th episode, in exasperation. Except I was unwell, at home, with nothing else to do.

So I watched the entire thing, and reviewed it for you.

So you don't have to go through this.

Treason (2022)

A wasted star cast

[3/10 · 10 January 2023]

When I saw the star cast and read the plot, I was intrigued.

But the scripting of the characters, the direction and the editing are so bad, it's as if some high school freshers were asked to do this project.

You are scripting characters from MI6, Britain's premier spy agency, the agency that James Bond & M represent. Atleast in cinematic folklore, they are the finest and slickest spies in town.

And then you have Adam Lawrence, a bumbling spy who seems to know nothing about spycraft and has no resources. And MI6 seems like a rogue one man department run from his wine cellar.

The CIA does contract jobs without thinking and nobody questions who Dorian is and why he is someone else.

I hope the people who made this, don't make spy movies or series again.

Please, I beseech thee.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

A truly beautiful story

[9/10 · 8 March 2021]

One of the most positive and yet heartbreaking story that I have seen.

The horrors of war and a parent determined to shield his child from it.

The acting is brilliant, the direction immaculate and the screenplay is exquisite.

One of those movies that you will never forget.

The Border (2008–2010)

One of the best Crime Dramas ever made

[10/10 · 6 March 2021]

The Border is probably one of the best Crime Dramas ever made. It's well scripted, the screenplay is well knit and paced, the characters are well written, the setting of Toronto is fresh, and the plots are varied and amazing.

Managing this consistency for 3 seasons is a Directorial achievement.

I have watched most American, British, German, Australian, Scandinavian & some Indian dramas. In my opinion The Border is right up there with NCIS and that without glamourising certain actors.

I think this show deserved at least 10-12 seasons.

Also, a bit miffed that they left the last episode the way they did.