cool_jojo_007 Reviews

Delhi Crime (2019– )

Season 2 is an improvement over Season 1

[8/10 · 26 August 2022]

Season 1 had more heinous crime towards an individual whereas this tracks a spree of crimes which is well shown. Good investigation and follow through, especially to find out Guddu's whereabouts.

One complaint, and a majorly overlooked part worth a complaint- that all the uber rich women go to a particular beauty parlour, however the said parlour is a dilapidated small place which doesn't look realistic considering their upmarket tastes. Also considering IPS Neeti commits so many goof ups that it seems silly that she's not even reprimanded or given a warning.

Most of the series is pretty solid, I personally believe an improvement over Season 1 with more twists and turns and gripping content.

Shabaash Mithu (2022)

Wants to be a cross between Dangal and Chakh De

[4/10 · 15 August 2022]

The direction took a very safe and predictable approach of the same old underdog eventually prevails approach which was pretty straightforward and boring.

We have a wonderkid like the girl in Dangal who can play cricket shots. Instead of her father training in Dangal we have Mithali's friend who teaches to think Bharatnatyam (a classical Indian dance) but play shots instead. Why don't actually cricket academies around the world don't hold these dance classes to teach cricket is beyond me.

Rest of the movie has same old tropes of brother being favoured due to his gender but she surpassing him as predicted, facing other inner team challenges but rising to the top, et cetera. To be honest many plot areas are very similar to Chakh De but at least even being predictable, that movie had conviction to hold the audience's attention.

A very mediocre attempt. I'd skip it.

Newton (2017)

Such a class apart this movie is..

[9/10 · 3 August 2022]

It's such a travesty that I didn't watch this gem before. Such a brilliant film.

The performances, the setting, the implications are so real, so raw. I never knew Amit Masurkar had such chops to direct what I'd say is international level of cinema. Just a treat to watch this. 9.25/10.

The Dark Knight (2008)

My favourite movie of all time

[10/10 · 4 July 2022]

Still the only movie, when it plays, on some channel, or some OTT platform, if I see one scene...I have to finish the entire movie. Can't turn my eyes away. Even for a second. It's so not a movie, if your life's best and most thrilling roller coaster ride. Christopher Nolan, you are God's gift to cinema.

Interstellar (2014)

A hundred years later..

[10/10 · 4 July 2022]

This movie will be considered as a must watch for everyone. Amongst the top 3 of all time. In terms of a visual spectacle, it is a masterpiece. If you haven't seen this already, you are missing out something essential in your life.

Love, Death & Robots: Sonnie's Edge (2019) Season 1, Episode 1

This deserves its own series ? 🙄 Really ?

[9/10 · 22 June 2022]

It's like people have not Sonny's edge clearly or paid any attention. Most of the comments are around Omgggg this deserves its own series!!!

Why exactly ? Sonny's body is damaged beyond repair. It's already revealed that Sonny is actually within Khanivore. What else is left to reveal ?

Dunno why people would go gung-ho for a full series about Khanivore. Pretty sure it would be a animated slugfest.

Now, a mention about the wonderful parts. The animation was amazing, the characters were well chosen, and the music was haunting and thrilling ! I simply loved watching it from start to finish. A brilliant short.

Love, Death & Robots: Jibaro (2022) Season 3, Episode 9

Reminded me of a Bollywood movie

[5/10 · 17 June 2022]

But not in a good way. I am an Indian but the dancing without reason thing doesn't bode well with me. If it's absolutely necessary to show a dance then do it by all means, but the siren is supposed to be an extension of a fish like form, and they don't dance, so why does she have to?

I really loved the animation. I thought it was beyond excellent. I would have appreciated that even more had it not been for blurry and headache inducing shots. I liked the concept but because of the excessive choreography and jittery takes I wasn't able to enjoy it like the majority seems to have.

Modern Love Mumbai: Raat Rani (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

The plot that goes nowhere

[3/10 · 22 May 2022]

A woman and man are together. Man leaves woman. Woman moves on in life.

That's the plot. If this is not the DEFINITION of wafer thin I don't know what is. Adding upbeat folk music won't make it a masterpiece like Amelie nor Life is Beautiful. That requires an actual plot and a lot more conviction than simply trying to enforce a "crossing the flyover" metaphor.

Fatima Sana's performance is well beyond the borders of over acting and dramatization. Feels like a performance in a street play of a public service message than an actual normal person. In fact, halfway through the episode it became quite clear why her husband left her. She clearly has ADHD and is overtly hyper over seemingly nonsensical things. For a non biased viewer, it could have been confused with her character being on cocaine the whole time she was on screen.

There isn't enough to salvage an emotional response out of the viewer because simply, the treatment wasn't convincing. Wish more of the time was spent on montages of the past/existing relationship with Lali and Lutfi were shown to give some foundation, rather than showing mindless shots of Lali crying and/or laughing like a maniac every time she is on her cycle.

Not a great start to a show.

Panchayat: Parivaar (2022) Season 2, Episode 8

Season 2 was very average as compared to Season 1

[4/10 · 21 May 2022]

Season 1- 9/10 Season 2- 4.5/10

Looks like paid ratings and bots are doing a good job of boosting ratings but word of mouth is the truth. This is a very average season, the fun and charm of Season 1 was missing, the story moves extremely slow and the sub plots were either not interesting or predictable, like between Rinki and Abhishek. Season 1 was so, so good that Season 2 looks very very average compared to that.

Panchayat: Naach (2022) Season 2, Episode 1

This show has gone to the dogs

[3/10 · 19 May 2022]

Gone are the simple portrayals of life in a village, the innocent jokes and the lush rural settings. This season is more about showing Abhishek tailor made shirts and trousers, an extremely predictable love angle between Rinki and him, and insipid acting by the title cast.

The story moves at a snail's pace. Very slow, very drab and lacks the charm of season 1. The cast frankly, seems bored. The stories are stretched to a point where you feel cheated just because season 1 was so damn good. The dialogues are so not funny, that they have to overdose that with their background music to make sure people understand this scene has comedy.

Turned a brilliant series into a pile of crap. Now o hope they should have left this at season 1 only. Extremely disappointed.

The Premise: Butt Plug (2021) Season 1, Episode 5

Just too good !!

[10/10 · 10 May 2022]

BJ Novak really is a genius ! This is not only hilarious, it has a great plot, the actors were bloody BRILLIANT !! Can't find a fault. Also a great lesson in morality for revenge seekers.

Kabir Singh (2019)

Good raw movie. Ending let me down.

[6/10 · 28 April 2022]

People are busy commenting on what Kabir's flaws are. So what ? Are we only supposed to make movies on good boys ? A film could be a story told about anyone, a don or a king. Whether his character is misogynistic or his lady love endures his abuse is not the debate here.

As a film, it's well made. Good cinematography with a great performance by Shahid as the edgy, snappy, and eccentric doctor with a lot of anger and substance abuse issues.

However, the ending seemed way too simplified and tied with a golden ribbon. Logical follow through would mean he undergoes rehab or withdrawal symptoms, or get another job, however skipping all of it he gets his girl back skipping all of the above steps. Too rushed and convenient at the end of it.

K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018)

Pacing of the film killed it for me

[5/10 · 28 April 2022]

Watched the movie because of the high rating. Gave me a severe headache because this was one of the worst paced movies I have ever seen.

The sob storyline of the mother and Rocky was stretched to a point I kept forwarding the portions with such heavy drama. While on the other hand, the politics of Kolar fields, the rise of Garuda, the games played by Adheera and the history of KGF was told quickly over a montage of shots and a few lines. Why ? That part seemed interesting because we would know about the politics of the power struggle in KGF but that happens before you can blink your eyes.

Guilty Minds (2022– )

Had high hopes from this one. Let me down.

[5/10 · 26 April 2022]

When I realised this was a courtroom drama/thriller with a case every episode, I was really happy. India desperately needed a courtroom drama, which, if good could have continued for several seasons like Law and Order etc.

However the plot is wafer thin. The cases picked are not that interesting. There is underlying feminazi theme ongoing which is annoying and unnecessary. Within the courtroom the protagonists are allowed to give speeches, there are hardly any objections. There is no cross examination of the witnesses. The lawyers shown here at their best are like Harvey Spector when heavily sedated. If I were the lead's opposing lawyer, there would be 5 different ways of disproving every statement she made. However in the show the opposing lawyer merely looks on in wonderment.

Many of the plots have been straight lifted from other shows. Especially the hiring non married females episode, and others. Also, the resolutions of each episode you can see coming a mile away. Wish the plots would have taken some inspiration from real life twisted court case files and turned it into a modern courtroom thriller. Alas.

Don 2 (2011)

No, it's not a Hollywood crime heist movie.

[9/10 · 26 April 2022]

Hard to believe, but yes. This is actually an Indian movie. Little faults here and there but amazing production values, plot, and cinematography. Some didn't like SRK acting like that but I think he pulled off the cocky, arrogant prick quite well.

Enough twists and turns without looking jaded. My go-to recommendation to anybody for an Indian heist movie along with Special 26. And just like Special 26, could have done without the silly songs.

Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (2022– )

Jim Sarbh as Wiz is just super annoying !

[5/10 · 24 March 2022]

It didn't seem like a subconscious voice talking to Ray, it seemed like Jim was trying a stand-up comedy routine. Ended up skipping forward Ray and Wiz's conversations after a time because they were just getting too loud and annoying with Wiz cracking age old sitcom one liners. He really turned into a mediocre joke machine on cocaine after the pilot episode.

Even the role played by Rahul Bose is so overtly melodramatic. The background music telling that THIS IS COMEDY doesn't help either. It could have been nuanced and subtle. Instead it ends up being loud and trying too hard to be funny at times.

The Office: Customer Survey (2008) Season 5, Episode 6

Oh that fake phone call scene is HILARIOUS !

[10/10 · 26 February 2022]

One of the funniest scenes of the entire season ! The way Michael says to Dwight covering the mouthpiece after making the 'million dollar sale'- 'See how it's done?'...so damn funny !

Malignant (I) (2021)

Honestly, this was a lot of fun..

[9/10 · 17 February 2022]

Loved the camera angles, the background music and the over the top final 30 minutes of so which really makes it stand apart from other "horror" movies.

I have always been a massive fan of James Wan and his work and he didn't disappoint this time either !

A Thursday (2022)

Great topic, unimpressive treatment

[7/10 · 17 February 2022]

It's a sensitive issue and it was also handled nicely, but the glaring loopholes and level of suspension of disbelief required was just too much.

The performances of Yami, and the guy who played her fiance were believable, others were quite uneven. Especially Neha Dhupia, seemed an a civilian who was forced to be a cop for a day. Neither it made any sense for her to be heavily pregnant and/or her strained past relationship with Atul (her ex-husband and current deputy) because it brought nothing on the table for the purposes of the story.

For much of the movie the police is shown making efforts to go in the house where children are held hostage but surprisingly for a single person and no accomplices, shooting at her from a distance with the help of nearby rooftops aimed with snipers by scoping/heat signatures was not even disucussed.

The PM following almost every instruction of a terrorist to the T was also quite unrealistic.

And finally, when Yami reveals that *SPOILER* one of the men she had kept hostage was also her rapist, it didn't make any sense. How can she, knowing fully well that she will kill him eventually, and was ready to go to jail, didn't even torture him through out the time he was kept bound and gagged by her? She just treated him exactly like any other hostage and didn't pay much attention to him till the end when his true identity is revealed. For the harrowing time she went through her whole life because if this man, a couple of bullets pumped into his belly and him being killed in a flash seemed too easy of a punishment for him and quite frankly, felt flat. Considering in one scene, she is even bandaging his feet when he got hurt. Why even?

But, watch it for Yami's performance and the message it is trying to send.

Gehraiyaan (2022)

Don't know why but it reminded me of Closer (2004)

[7/10 · 11 February 2022]

The stories are not exactly the same but there were some parallels I could draw between the 2004 gem Closer starring Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen and Jude Law and this film amongst the web of relationship discomfort, lies, deciet and layers of the characters.

Gehraiyaan may not be as hard hitting as Closer (which is one of my favourite 'strained relationship' movies) or as uncomfortable, but it has its moments. The lead characters did an okay job and there were some moments that were certainly relatable in the context of modern relationships, which can go wayward.

But, it took a little bit of an easy route by tying a nice ribbon to conclude Zain's story, and Deepika's troubles, which much of the movie was spent on- regarding her pregnancy issues with Zain, also resolves itself.

There are small plot points which are unexplainable, but a major plot hole doesn't make sense. After Zain died, Alisha drove the yatch back to the bay and the police just adjudged it as a suicide by him ?! If he did commit suicide, how the yatch come back to the bay on its own ? Also, a mere checking of phone records of Zain would show him meeting Alisha on the yatch that night. Plus surely the deck is filled with her fingerprints and whatnot. How on earth can the police miss that ?

If you are willing to let go of these niggling issues, you might enjoy the film if strained relationship dramas are your forte.

Run Hide Fight (2020)

Honestly, I can't understand the low Metacritic ratings

[8/10 · 7 February 2022]

Is it just because it was based on a school shooting ? Or something else ? For me it played like a taut thriller. Some stupid critic wrote it's a cross between Elephant by Gus Van Sant and Die Hard. I think it was more of a cross between You're Next (I love it) and We need to talk about Kevin, somehow.

It was paced perfectly, good cinematography and screenplay and believable action. Probably the only flaw I can point out is that the protagonist could have been given better lines. She's 18 but she talks like a 13 year old teen with anger issues. The dialogues need a little refinement. Other than that, it was a good thriller which will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Not for the squeamish.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

Not as good as the first two but..

[8/10 · 2 January 2022]

It has a rewatch factor, primarily because of the great acting led by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. A special note to Ruairi o'Connor playing Arne beautifully- right amount of vulnerability/possession look in his face.

It's more of following the clues which leads to a twist as compared to earlier ones which focused on the exorcism and the events that lead to it. The jump scares aren't that great either, and the eerie chill was missing as well. Well cannot expect James Wan-esque direction but was satisfactory as a standalone film if not compared to its predecessors. What elevated the film was surely the performances. 7.5/10.

Jimmy Carr: His Dark Material (2021 TV Special)

It is very funny, and funnier because it offends the snowflakes

[8/10 · 26 December 2021]

To be honest, it was quite funny. Great one liners and good timing on the punchlines. The funnier thing to observe is how much this has offended the snowflakes who are usually so concerned about each and everything triggering them (right to the point of people not using pronouns in their display name). Loved it.

This is like the antidote to the lecture/sermon of Hannah Gatsby which the audience feels 'obliged' to clap/cheer for her because if they don't they are misogynists/sexists or whatever. Not because she is funny, in fact quite far from it. You can hear people 'actually' enjoy Carr's jokes and the groans when he pushes the boundary. Really good.

Single's Inferno (2021– )

3rd episode is the BOMB lol

[8/10 · 26 December 2021]

Honestly..the times I snorted out laughing in the third episode is too many !! 🤣🤣 It was just so funny with Se Hoon being left AGAIN and all the jokes on him ! That line "I don't think we will ever find out what Se Hoon's profession is" left me dead 😂

Hannah Gadsby: Nanette (2018 TV Special)

It's like people HAVE TO like it otherwise they are sexists and misogynists

[2/10 · 6 December 2021]

Oh my God what a tiresome rant. Yeah we get it. You are a misandrist, a lot of things had gone wrong for you. But you have successfully managed to (not fool, but) make adults admit that this is comedy, unless they want to be judged as sexists, racists, misogynistic pigs, etc.

But no, it's so not comedy. I would listen to these rants if they had a twist of dark humor. It's not dark humor, it's a plea for the audience to dare them to clap. It's almost like they have to, lest they be shunned by the new Woke, Snowflake, or Cancel culture. It's sickening. To be very, very honest- I had to watch a Patrice o'Neal Nasty special to remove this filth from my system and enjoy some REAL comedy. Rest in peace Patrice, glad you weren't here to see what has the world turned into.