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Asterix83
Reviews
Chang Yue Jin Ming (2023)
The best Asian drama ever!
Thanks to Netflix, I am an avid follower of Kdramas now. When I started watching C drama, I never expected to complete the 40 episodes....way tooo long for me. However, 'Till the end of the Moon' simply blew me over by its spectacular storyline and amazing acting. The story is thought provoking with a profound philosophical message. Luo Yunxi as Tantai Jin did an amazing job taking the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions. The character development of Tantai Jin as the story progresses was done with such finesse that I am sure he would be etched into the memory of anyone who watches this series. His story gives you some valuable lessons in life. I felt a deep sense of sadness and loss at the end. However the ending is apt, though I wish there could be a second season and we can watch more of Tantai Jin's journey.
'Till the End of the Moon' is the best drama I've ever watched so far. Hats off to the creators of this amazing series!
Gyeolhongyeyak (2016)
Wow! What an amazing story
I was expecting an ordinary, sad romance but was pleasantly surprised by the amazing story of Marriage Contract. I would say that this was the best Korean drama/romance I have seen so far. The makers of the series takes the viewers through an emotional rollercoaster with powerful performances from the lead actors. The series is a classic example of the "contract marriage" trope, but it's executed well with a compelling storyline.
Here are some of the things I enjoyed about Marriage Contract:
* Great performances: The lead actors, Lee Seo Jin and Uee, have excellent chemistry and deliver believable performances. The child actress who plays the daughter is also a standout. Lee Seo Jin was simply spectacular. An actor who communicates emotions through his eyes and expressions is indeed a great performer and nuanced actor. I would say that Lee Seo Jin is the best actor of all times.
* Emotional journey: The series takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, with moments of humor, sadness, and joy.
* Compelling story: The contract marriage premise is a tried-and-true trope, but Marriage Contract manages to keep it fresh with its well-developed characters and interesting plot twists.
If you're looking for a Korean drama with a good story, strong performances, and a healthy dose of melodrama, Marriage Contract is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared to shed a few tears!
Malayalee from India (2024)
A feel good movie
Before watching the movie, I had checked the ratings and comments in IMDB and hence did not have much expectations. But I was pleasantly surprised to see a feel good, nice movie which had its comic elements. The storyline is good, the dialogues and script were great. Nivin Pauly was amazing in his role. What his character experiences in the movie is a much needed lesson to all malayalee, jobless youth who wile away their time playing politics and being a burden to their families and society. The movie also touches upon our current politics and prejudices. Overall a nice package in a well made movie. Don't go by the poor ratings and negative reviews. It's a decent movie.
O.Baby (2023)
Superb movie
Don't go by the ratings, they're totally fake! However the reviews of the viewers are spot on. The movie is simply superb and worth watching. Kudos to the writer, director, cinematographer, actors and everyone who worked on this project. The most underrated movie this year. It very subtly gives the viewers a glance into the exploitation of forests, its native dwellers, deep-rooted social prejudices and the apathy of the authorities. Hats off to the creator Ranjan Pramod and the superlative performance of Dileesh Pothan, aka O Baby! Loved the pet dog. He's beautiful and so adorable. His 'acting' was very fine as well.😍 I sincerely hope the makers of the movie have taken all the necessary precautions to keep him safe during the scenes. A must watch!
Joseonroko Nokdujeon (2019)
Beautiful and entertaining period drama
The Tale of Nokdu is beautiful drama. It begins as a comedy and gradually transforms into a political action story. Stunning locations, cinematography and actors makes this drama an unforgettable journey. Kudos to the casting director for choosing Jang Dong-Yoon as Nokdu. I have never seen a male actor portray the role of a woman with such finesse. He is gorgeous as a woman and as a skilled warrior. It was a treat to watch him shine in both the characters as Lady Kim and Nokdu. I hope to see more of him. Its also interesting to watch Lord Cha - Kang Tae-Oh transform from a charming young man to a villain. Go Geon Ha was hilarious and so were the widows of the village and the little girl and her father. Overall The Tale of Nokdu was a treat to watch.
For me this drama deserves a 10/10. And the actor Jang Dong-Yong deserves to be at the top of the best actors list.
Ildan Ddeugeobge Chungsohara (2018)
An adorable rom-com
Never thought a series could be so endearing and enjoyable. The story unfolds when Jang Seon as the rich man with OCD meets his polar opposite, the slovenly Gil Oh. Jang Seon's quirks and his initial encounters with Gil Oh were simply hilarious. Its interesting to see such different people eventually fall in love. Kudos to the scriptwriter and director who gradually transforms the story from a comedy to romance and eventually a very emotional rollercoaster. All other characters like Dr Daniel, Jang's mom, Gill's dad, her friend and colleagues at work played their part so well. Amazing acting by the lead actors Yoon Kyun and Kim Yoo. Yoon Kyun was wonderful displaying varied emotions with ease. Hope to see more of his series/movies.
The music was mesmerizing especially Cosmos by Huh Gak. It just kept playing in my head for several days!
The series is a beautiful blend of comedy, drama, romance and tragedy! We binge watched it and loved every single episode! Kudos to the creators!
Guardian (2021)
A badly made Malayalam thriller!
Most of the movie was a masterclass narration by SSP Nandakumar to DSP Meera Mohandas. Saiju Kurup as Dr Arun was the only saving grace. While the plot was interesting, the script and direction were simply horrible. The ending was abrupt. SSP Nandakumar's condescending and dragging narration was hard to listen to and ruined the movie for me. Mediocre acting by Sijoy Varghese, Miya George and Shiyas Kareem was a dampener. For a cop who claims to never accept 'defeat', the 'know it all' SSP gave up way too easily at the end
Overall - A pathetic attempt to replicate Drishyam but fails miserably. Not worth your time, so please skip it.
Farhana (2023)
Wow! What an amazing movie!!
Well what can I say about Farhana..started off as a slow, ordinary movie and then it zooms off like a rocket! Farhana is story of a housewife who joins a call centre to earn a livelihood. When she moves to a new department which involved romantic chats with strangers, she struggles initially but was saved when she meets Dhaya. The long conversations with Dhaya was poetic and filled with love. As the viewer is lulled into a breezy romance, the story abruptly changes shade into a dark thriller and picks up pace. The event which leads to this change was when Farhana and Dhaya make plans to meet.
Loved the way how the director manages to mold the movie into different genres with ease. Kudos to Nelson Venkatesan and his story-telling & direction. Thoroughly enjoyed this movie!
Express (2022)
Like a fast paced action movie!
Loved the series! A hidden gem amongst the Spanish shows/series. I am surprised to see such a sub-par rating on IMDB. Those who haven't watched 'Express' yet, go ahead and enjoy this fast paced, action plus thriller series. Never a dull or boring moment and I just binge watched it!
The series is about a talented cop who left the police force and joins a corporate. While all seemed well in the beginning but over a period of time, takes a dark turn towards the end. Makes one think if pharma, health care sectors etc, benefit when people are scared/under stress, what makes them stop from deliberately creating a few incidents so as to boost their sales. Kudos to the makers of this series and the amazing actors. Looking forward to the next season!
Jack N Jill (2022)
A complete train wreck!
A complete train wreck of a movie. Expected much better from Santhosh Sivan who's well known for his cinematographic skills and direction. The movie did have a list of eminent actors but their talent was wasted on a weak script and pathetic direction. The overall plot was good and with good direction and script could have been a much better movie. The only saving grace was Manju Warrier and the song 'Angane'. Manju Warrier's classical dance and the song were simply genius. Kudos to her and the creators of Angane. You deserve a huge applause for making a brave attempt to save this dud movie. A word to Kalidas and Shaylee Krishen - acting is not everybody's cup of tea. I sincerely hope with this movie Mr Santhosh Sivan retires from cinema. As audience we would like to remember him as a talented genius and creator of movies like Urmi instead of crap like Jack and Jill.
Rekha (2023)
An unsettling revenge movie
The initial half an hour of the movie was quite ordinary with not much of a glimpse of a potential masterpiece. But as the story moves along, it picks up pace and leaves you stunned in the end.
Jithin Issac Thomas and Vincy Aloshious kills it with nuanced performances and superb detailing. It's just not a revenge drama, but one with a subtle message delivered by the main protagonist Rekha towards end - the peer pressure of the need for a 'line' or relationship made her fall for Arjun with disastrous consequences. Unni Lalu plays the role of Arjun, a complex seemingly harmless personality. His unveiling to the audience from being a simple, smiling guy in a shop to a vicious psychopath was very well taken. Overall, a great movie.
Aar Ya Paar (2022)
A wonderful action packed series
It's extremely disturbing to see and know how indigenous population are exploited and their lands grabbed by vested interests. The series' Aar Ya Paar's main theme revolves around how a larger corporation exterminates tribals in a protected area and occupies their land to mine uranium.
The main protagonist is a tribal who seeks revenge against the perpetrators and in the process gets sucked into a much deeper conspiracy. A well made series with some amazing characters and great action. Kudos to the makers of this awesome series. A must watch and a rare gem amongst the plethora of web series released nowadays.
Axone (2019)
Simple and thought provoking movie with elements of humor
Axone was a simple yet thought provoking movie on the experiences of North East Indians living in Delhi. It's quirky, funny and serious at the same time. The last 20 minutes displayed the rich diversity of NE India with aplomb. Loved every bit of the movie. All the characters did a phenomenal job in playing their part be it the cranky grandma or Minam's friends who put in all the effort to make her wedding special. Btw, never realised proxy wedding was practised in India in certain communities even now. The character of Shiv was amazingly funny and adorable! Chanbi and Upasana played the strong female leads and Minam's loyal buddies who were the heart and soul of the movie.
Kooman (2022)
What an astounding movie!!!!!
Krishna Kumar & Jeethu Joseph have created a superb masterpiece with Kooman! The plot begins with a story of an ordinary, egoistic cop with shades of grey and then evolves into the story of a serial murder. And then begins a game of cat & mouse between the cop and the killer. A very well made plot with amazing performances from Asif Ali, Jaffar Idukki, Renji Panicker and Hannah. The locations and cinematography were amazing! The final twist in the end has truly made the movie a treat to watch. Kudos to the makers and all the artists who made this movie a truly remarkable treat to watch. Hats off to all.
Sabaash Chandrabose (2022)
Hilarious movie!
Can a television set create havoc in one's life??! The movie takes one back to the past when television was a novelty. A simple movie on rustic village life which gets disturbed with the arrival of a television set in one of the homes, obviously of that of a 'Gulf malayalee'. The story unfolds when the main protagonist, impulsively takes up a challenge to buy a better television than his neighbour during a petty quarrel. This leads to a series of hilarious events which makes the movie a treat to watch!
What I loved most are some of the scenes which one can see in most villages in Kerala some 30 years back. A well made movie, great script and excellent performance from all the actors.
200: Halla Ho (2021)
Such a hard-hitting, well-made movie!
'An unjust law is no law at all' - one of the statements made the main protagonist towards the end of the movie says it all. The whole story line is based on a real incident which happened in Nagpur where a group of women lynched a mobster rapist & murderer inside a court room. The movie describes the incidents which forced these oppressed women to take such a drastic step. It also shows how the law and administration failed to protect the poor and downtrodden women against criminals. Amol Palekar as the lawyer/ex-judge makes some very valid observations on caste, social justice and the numbness of the society towards atrocities against Dailts. When the women finally manage to gain courage and fight back against the goon, it was a moment which makes one feel like true justice is served.
Eesho (2022)
A thriller with a social message
Loved this movie! It's a gripping thriller with a good storyline and an interesting twist in the end. The incidents cited in the movie which convey a social message is heart-wrenching, and loved the way the Director/Writer managed to weave in a social message into this thriller. I am quite surprised to see so many negative reviews about this movie which is quite harsh. Honestly I liked it and it's worth watching. Kudos to the makers for doing a phenomenal job in creating this movie! Jayasurya was a treat to watch as the main protagonist who kept the viewers guessing on his true intentions till the end. Jaffer Idukki did a phenomenal job as the innocent and honest watchman Ramachandran who despite being a poor ordinary man was steadfast in his ideals against a powerful adversary. Overall a decent watch.
Saakini Daakini (2022)
A well crafted movie
While Saakini Damini seemed like a comedy initially, the way the story develops into a serious theme of organ trafficking was phenomenal. Both the main protagonists evolved well from being a couple of bickering kids to serious cops. While the first 30min of the movie seemed slow, it quickly picks up pace and thereafter was a treat to watch. The action sequences were well done and seemed natural. Both Nivetha Thomas and Cassandra did justice to their respective roles. Nivetha's comic timing and witty remarks were funny. Kudos to the makers of the movie! Indian/English Cinema needs more such gems!
A Model Family (2022)
A thrilling K-drama
Another well made K Drama! Jung Woo was simply superb as the main protagonist, the ordinary Professor who gets entangled with the Mafia. A well crafted series with superb visuals and a good storyline.
Hwan Hon (2022)
The Best K Fantasy-Drama!
A very well made Korean Fantasy-Drama. While it seemed more like a fantasy and martial arts story initially, the series gradually evolves with elements of comedy, politics and romance. The script and direction are phenomenal and so are the characters. Kudos to the makers!
Silverton Siege (2022)
A well-made movie
While initially surprised by the poor rating, I later realised that it's because the real events were a bit different from the incidents portrayed in the movie which led to a divided audience. Usually such a deviation from real events lead to a mess, but Silverton Siege turned out to be masterpiece! Its so well made and the characters well developed that the movie was a treat to watch. Kudos to the makers!
The Great Indian Murder (2022)
The most boring and lazy 'mystery series'
Extremely lazy attempt at a murder mystery. The only saving grace of the series was the very talented array of actors. It's sad to watch such a talented bunch grossly misutilized by a lazy script and poor direction. The makers did try to make it interesting by adding unnecessary sub-plots which made the storyline confusing and boring. Wasted my time watching this.
Shining Girls (2022)
Mind-blowing thriller
While I initially thought this was just another ordinary thriller, after a few episodes I realized it's anything but ordinary! What makes it truly unique from the rest is the gripping storyline with intertwining timelines which initially deceives you into believing in a certain outcome and then bham out of nowhere you realise you were on a entirely different journey! Wagner Moura as the journalist Dan Velasquez does a phenomenal job, in a character very different from his role as the infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar of the Netflix fame Narcos. Jamie Bell and Elizabeth Moss were a treat to watch. Kudos to Silka Luisa and team for creating this masterpiece.
Antakshari (2022)
Gripping thriller!
The movie depicts how a victim of exploitation and a horrible crime end up being a psychopathic killer. The movie is interspersed with distrubing sub-plots by the writer/director Vipin Das. The child artist who plays the role of young Kishore does a phenomenal job. Kudos to the makers of the movie!
Tumbbad (2018)
An Indian Masterpiece
Mitesh Shah, Adesh Prasad, Rahi Anil Barve, and Anand Gandhi have created this masterpiece after 6 years of hardwork. Tumbbad is that kind of a horror which scares the living day lights of even a brave soul! Such a well-made movie, so well-scripted, amazing direction and phenomenal acting by all the characters. Sohum Shah did a commendable job as Vinayak, the main protagonist whose greed led to his ruin. The story occurs in Tumbbad, a village plagued by continuous downpour. In addition to the spine chilling events, the movie has a powerful message of the perils of letting greed overtake ones principles. What happens to Vinayak in the end is so spine-chiling that it leaves the audience in shock!