Altered Carbon (Netflix Show) Season 1 Review

Altered Carbon is an American Television series which has created waves since debuting on Netflix. It is one of the best Sci-fi series that I have seen in recent times.

Altered Carbon is based on the 2002 novel of the same name and features a dystopian future around 350 years from today where Alien technology has helped the human race in creating a technology by which human consciousness and memories can be stored on a physical device, called the Stack, and can be transferred to different bodies, called sleeves, usually created artificially by cloning. The technology has allowed for the ultra rich to be immortal by continuously transferring their consciousness from one sleeve to another, while the poor do not have ausu privileges. To weave a story around this concept must have been a herculean task but it has been handled very well. I have no idea whether the novel has the same story line as the series, but it must have certainly helped the makers.

Altered Carbon is as much a philosophical series as it is Sci-fi. The series raises many questions regarding the religious implications of the technology as man has technically stood against nature and God. It also raises the Ship of Thesus question whether the man once transferred from one sleeve to another is still the same man. The series also features escort services of the most advanced kind with the help of the sleeve transfer technology, which combines human ruthlessness with pleasure. It brings to fore one of the most disturbing questions about the extent to which humans can go once they achieve god like powers of extending life. The series asks you all these questions but also keeps you entertained throughout. Thus the series has got elements for both the philosophical and the sci-fi audience making it an entertaining watch for both kinds of audience.

The series also has a lot of nudity which is an essential part of the story. At no point does the nudity go over board to make you cringe. Credit has to be given to all the main actors who all have such scenes and look comfortable in the scenes. The actors have done a good job but they are somwhere left lagging behind the brilliance of the plot and the story.

The visuals of the series are superb and it can be seen that a lot of money has been spent in bringing the story to live screen as the production values are excellent. The visual effects only add to the brilliant visuals which make the series visually appealing.

Overall this is a series for all sci-fi fans and one must watch this, though I must say you cannot watch it with family because of the nudity and violence. I must thank Netflix for bringing this to the Indian audience as otherwise this show would never have been alllowed to screen in Indian television.

Rating - 3.5 / 5

Black Panther Movie Review

Black Panther was the most awaited movie of the first quarter of 2018 and it is also the last Marvel movie before the most talked about movie of the year, Avengers Infinity War, releases later this year. Black Panther had too much riding on its shoulders and it has not let down on its expectations.

Black Panther is not a superhero movie in the true sense but is about characters fighting for their homeland, which is Wakanda here. The movie's story flows like a bollywood movie with father son relationship and revenge woven into the movie's plot. Where the movie deviates from being bollywood is in its action sequences and showcasing of Wakandan technology. The action sequences are very innovative and keep you glued to the ongoings in the movie. The other innovative thing is the Wakandan technology that has been shown in the movie. It is difficult for a normal man like me to imagine such technologies and to make it look so exciting was a difficult task which has been done very well. The screenplay of the movie also looks flawless as no scene in the movie seems pointless. Thus the movie has been very well written and translated into celluloid. The movie has mind blowing stunts and visual effects, which together with the innovative style is great to the eyes. Wakanda city also looks visually stunning

Chadwick Boseman as Tchala and Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger are the stars of the movie. However all the actors have done a good job in their respective roles. The actors have also been given their due as all the roles are important to take the movie ahead. However special mention has to be given to Martin Freeman who has done a commendable job in a short role.

 

Ryan Coogler has both written and directed this movie. He has done a commendable job in directing this movie and has given the movie a very modern look. This movie looks refreshing as Ryan got a chance to introduce the world of Wakanda to the audience. He has also been roped in to direct the next instalment of the franchise and it will be intersting to see what he has to offer in that movie. The movie truly speaks volumes of the directorial style of Ryan Coogler.

Overall this movie has brought in freshness to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one can't wait to see what Black Panther adds to the Avengers Infinity War. All MCU fans should go and watch this visual and creative masterpiece.

Rating - 3.5 / 5

Padman Review

Padman is a movie inspired by the story of Arunachalam Muruganatham who invented a machine to create low cost sanitary pads. Helmed by R. Balki and starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, the movie tells the story of Arunachalam's journey from a village welder to an entrepreneur.

The movie has a good and entertaining first half and a more serious and better second half. The movie's narrative is fast and keeps you engaged as an audience. This is another one of those movies which are based on true events, but the names and events are changed to suit both the movie's scale and keeping in mind the all India audience. If we ignore the changes that have been made to make this movie, then it is a good movie to watch. The way the movie flows from one scene to the next without any hiccups make it an easy watch.

Akshay Kumar as the protagonist, Lakshmi has essayed the role with sincerity and looks the part every bit. Radhika Apte as Lakshmi's wife is very good in her role. Though she doesn't get a lot of screen time in second half of the movie, she has done the best out of the three lead actors as a village woman who doesn't believe in breaking age old traditions. Sonam Kapoor is refreahing in the movie but offers nothing new when compared to the other roles that she has done in past.

R.  Balki is a very talented director and we have seen him handle complex subjects with ease in movies like Cheeni Kum, Paa and Shamitabh. Compared to those movies Padman seems a comparatively easy movie to direct, though his handling of the subject of menstruatiom and sanitary pads should be commended. I am waiting with bated breath to see what is the next subject that he is going to handle. I am surely going to watch his next.

The movie's music is not great but merges well with the movie's mood. There's nothing great to talk about in the cinematogtaphy department but this was not a movie where the cinematographer's special skills were needed. So nothing to complain about here. However one needs special mention of the dialogues of the movie which are great but never go over the top. Akshay's monologue at the end of the movie in Linglish, as he called it , deserves special mention as it didn't have proper grammar but had a great impact.

Overall this is a movie that you can watch with your whole family without cringing inspite of the subject. So go and watch this gem from R. Balki.

Rating - 3.5 / 5

Tiger Zinda Hai Review

Tiger Zinda Hai was one of the most highly anticipated movies of Salman Khan after the Tubelught debacle. The movie has already collected over Rs. 200 crore in box office collectons within a week of its release in India. Lets have a look at where the movie works and where it doesn't.

The movie has an ok first half with action oriented introduction scenes for both Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, which doesn't make much of a sense as we already know the characters from Ek Tha Tiger. The movie has a good premise but the way the script has been written makes it loose its intensity and runs like a regular movie. Even though you want to know what is going to happen next you are not engrossed enough in the movie. The second half of the movie is better and it has a lot of action sequences, some of which have been lifted from Hollywood sequences. One instance on why the movie is not well written is the Terminator shooting sequence where Salman Khan does not get hit even though many people are shooting at him. Scenes like these though make for great watching but make you question the detailing of the script. However the movie has good action sequences in the second half and if you are ready to ignore the details, then the movie is an entertaining watch.

Salman Khan as always plays the over the top action hero very well and Katrina looks superb in the movie and has performed some of the best action. Sajjad Delafruz as the villain, Abu Usman, is refreshing and looks and acts like a terror organisation leader. Paresh Rawal is good in the scenes that he has been given. All the other actors seem just like character fillers with not much of an identity.

Ali Abbas Zafar seems an good director but he lacks a clear vision of how the film should look. Thus even though he does a good job at directing the movie, he leaves a lot more to be desired for. The editing of this movie also could have been better as it does not have the crispness as it could have.

Overall the movie is entertaining for Salman fans but offers nothing new for the audience in general.

Rating - 3 / 5

Star Wars - The Last Jedi Review

This sequel to the critically acclaimed and box office super grosser Star Wars - The Force Awakens was one of the most awaited movies of 2017. And it didn't dissappont most of the fans of the franchise. Why I say most of the fans is because some fans hate this storyline. However lets look at how good or bad is the movie.

The Last Jedi is the longest movie of the franchise till date and at times it does feel like a drag, mostly towards the end where the movie could have ended in multiple situations but it goes on. However the last 45 minutes of the movie are what make it memorable as it has many twists and scenes that have not been seen in other episodes of the franchise. Thus by the movie's end you do not feel the length as a drag. The best part of the movie is its different take on a lot of aspects of the original franchise and this has not gone down well with a few die hard fans of the franchise. Though the way the story has been shaped augurs well for the future instalments. The movie has some remarkable and breathtaking scenes which remain with you even after the movie has ended. The visual effects are superb and the way the action sequences have been presented are also a first for the franchise.

Daisey Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn and Oscar Isaac as Poe have played their rolea well and have been able to bring out the dilemma being faced by them. But the star of the show is Mark Hamill who is returning as Luke Skywalker who seems to essay the role with ease.

Rian Johnson has made the movie in his own way and has successfully changed a lot of the aspects of the franchise's storytelling. He has made this movie his own and one cannot wait to see how he brings the story to a culmination and what all surprises he has in store for the audience.

The locations have been captured very beautifully and lend their depth to the storytelling. The background score is also good keeping it in sync with the franchise.

Overall this is a movie for all science fiction fans which should not be missed.

Rating - 3.5 / 5