Netflix movies are becoming lazier by the day (remember Drive? That was something), and I, honestly, am so done with it. I was really intrigued by the trailer of Mrs Serial Killer – rich colours, Manoj Bajpayee and an interesting premise.
Oh boy, was my analysis wrong.
Mrs Serial Killer Review
Mrs Serial Killer Review: Mohit Raina
Twists and turns… Not really
I have so many questions about Mrs Serial Killer. However, we’ll get into that in a bit. Let’s talk about the story first.
Mrs Serial Killer follows Sona, who is married to Mrityunjoy, a Bengali doctor. They share a loving relationship, which is multiplied when Sona gets pregnant. However, there is also a serial killer on the loose who is murdering unmarried pregnant women in brutal ways.
Here comes Imran, a police officer who is also Sona’s ex, who is trying to catch the serial killer. He takes Mrityunjoy’s things from his house and apparently frames him for the murders. After this, Sona takes it upon herself to free her husband and abducts her neighbour, who is a kunwari pregnant girl, Anushka.
Mrs Serial Killer Review: Manoj Bajpayee, Jacqueline Fernandez
The idea here is to make the court believe that the killer is still out there, and thus, they have to let Mrityunjoy go. Miraculously, that works, although the body isn’t that of Anushka. I don’t know how the coroner didn’t get to know that after conducting an autopsy, but I think I am expecting too much here.
However, in the film’s big revelation, we get to know that Mrityunjoy is, indeed, the killer. But alas, the big reveal was so predictable that you could see it from a mile away.
Slow slowwww
Mrs Serial Killer Review: Manoj Bajpayee
That brings me to the fact that this movie is really damn slow. For a thriller, it is boring and plain annoying at times. The dead bodies reminded me of Hannibal, the NBC series starring Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen. No, don’t get me wrong. It obviously wasn’t showcased THAT well, but the references were there.
Moreover, no one really knows what is going on, and some characters seem to forget that they are in a movie, and thus, have to act. There are plenty of unnecessary scenes which dragged the movie on, and you tend to skip ahead frequently.
Now, when the “interesting” parts come along, they aren’t really as action-packed to make up for the annoying bits. Moreover, there are some very odd directional and stylistic choices which, honestly, did nothing for the scene or the movie.
Mrs Serial Killer Review: Jacqueline Fernandez
I’ll also add here that the revelation behind Mrityunjoy’s mental instability is so lacklustre. It is something that we have heard time and again, and we are bored with it. And that is also why it lacks the punch which should have made this scene the defining part of the entire movie.
In addition to this, there is some unnecessary swearing throughout the movie, which is just. No. It’s cringey and very uncomfortable to hear – especially because it is not at all necessary.
To cast or not to cast?
Mrs Serial Killer Review: Jacqueline Fernandez
I am still quite unclear about why Jacqueline Fernandez was cast for this role. The whole movie rests on her shoulders, yet she is not a capable actor to emote the emotions that are expected from a potential serial killer. She’s bland and stiff, and her sadness and despair are unconvincing. The supporting cast is as bad as the lead actress. You can make out that everyone is trying very hard to salvage some shred of acting, but my god, do they fail. The most annoying character for me was probably Anushka’s boyfriend – not only is he a jerk, but his acting is terrible.
The only saving graces were Manoj Bajpayee and Mohit Raina. They tried to make something out of a movie that had everything going against it. Bajpayee’s Mrityunjoy is a maniacal serial killer, and the actor does well to showcase the various facets of the character. Raina, as the lovelorn, revenge-seeking Imran, is commendable as well.
Characters who don’t watch movies
Mrs Serial Killer Review: Jacqueline Fernandez
You know, I always wonder if characters in movies watch movies? Like, are they deliberately written to be dumb, or is there something that I am missing? The last scene of the movie is a showdown between Mrityunjoy, Imran and Sona. Imran stabs Mrityunjoy, who in turn stabs Sona. Imran thinks that Mrityunjoy is dead; however, if you have ever watched a movie in your life, you’d know that a stab in the back with a scalpel does not kill anyone.
And even if you didn’t know that, why does the inspector not know that the serial killer he thought to be dead, is, infact not dead? How is it possible that there were no police posted there? Why did the doctor not give him this news? I don’t know, and honestly, neither will you.
Which brings me to the question: did anyone notice that the background music throughout the movie is uncannily similar to Roshni Se from Asoka? Or is that just me?
Mrs Serial Killer is streaming on Netflix right now.
Beloved actor Rishi Kapoor died today, April 30, in Mumbai at the age of 67. The jovial actor, who kept doctors entertained till the last, battled with leukemia for two years and spent the greater part of last year in New York to receive treatment.
The Kapoor family released a statement after the actor’s death:
“Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.
He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.
He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.
In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.
He would not have it any other way.”
Actors, family and friends have expressed grief at his passing. The film fraternity was reeling from the death of Irrfan Khan’s death, who passed away yesterday, on Wednesday.
Amitabh Bachchan’s Tweet
In such a moment of grief, let’s remember the versatile actor with the help of some of his most loved movies –
Mera Naam Joker (1970)
Rishi Kapoor started his career as a child actor in Mera Naam Joker where he played the young version of his father’s character, Raj. He won the National Award for Best Child Artist for his performance. The film follows Raju as he faces several hurdles in his life with regards to the matters of the heart. However, working as a clown in a circus, he makes others life at the cost of his own sorrows.
Bobby (1973)
Bobby
Rishi Kapoor made his film debut as a lead actor with Bobby. The film follows Raj, a rich Hindu boy, who falls in love with Bobby, a poor Christian, as they try to go against all odds to defend their love.
Khel Khel Mein (1975)
Khel Khel Mein
Two friends, Ajay and Vikram, try to prank Ghanshamdas and ask for a ransom from him. However, things take a twist when the man turns up murdered the next day. This was the first film starring Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor as a pair which was a hit at the box office.
Amar, Akbar, Anthony (1977)
Amar Akbar Anthony
Three brothers separated at birth and brought up in different religious households, are reunited due to the twist of fate. They then decide to exact revenge on those responsible for separating them.
Karz (1980)
Karz
Monty is shocked when he learns the truth about his past life where he was murdered by his wife. The murder eventually rendered his family homeless. He goes on a path to set things right with the help of his lover.
Prem Rog (1982)
Prem Rog
Devdhar decides to help Manorama after she is rendered helpless due to the death of her husband. However, his decision invites the wrath of his family and villagers.
Saagar (1985)
Saagar
Raja’s love for Mona is left unfulfilled when she falls in love with Ravi. However, their love draws Ravi’s grandmother’s ire, who does not approve of their relationship.
Chandni (1989)
Chandni
After Chandni’s fiancé, Rohit, is paralysed in an accident, she is forced to move to Mumbai. Once there, her boss falls in love with her as well. In a twist of fate, Rohit comes back for her and thus she must choose between the two.
Damini (1993)
Damini strives to get justice after she witnesses her brother-in-law and his friends raping their househelp. Although she faces many obstacles, she tries to overcome them with the help of her husband and lawyer.
Love Aaj Kal (2009)
In a technology-driven world where love is on speed-dial, an old-fashioned romantic tells his own love story to a man who is going through a breakup.
Kapoor & Sons (2016)
Rahul and Arjun’s already rocky relationship takes a toll when they return home to visit their ailing grandfather – especially when Tia enters the equation.
Rishi Kapoor has been an inspiration to many actors throughout generations. His charismatic personality and chocolate-boy good looks made him a class apart from his co-actors. Bollywood will miss you, sir.
Critically acclaimed veteran actor, Irrfan Khan, died in Mumbai on 29th April at the age of 53. The actor had been battling with a neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of cancer, since 2018. Reportedly the actor remembered his mother right before dying. “Amma has come to take me,” was reportedly his last words.
An official statement was released after his death :
I trust, I have surrendered”; These were the some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heart-felt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer. And a man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen. It’s saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him passing away. Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him. After having been struck by lightning in 2018 with the news of a rare cancer, he took life soon after as it came and he fought the many battles that came with it. Surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about, he left for heaven abode, leaving behind truly a legacy of his own. We all pray and hope that he is at peace. And to resonate and part with his words he had said, “As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it.”
The death of the beloved actor has left a void in the hearts of his family and friends and the cinema world and also in the hearts of millions of fans.
T 3516 – .. just getting news of the passing of Irfaan Khan .. this is a most disturbing and sad news .. ???? An incredible talent .. a gracious colleague .. a prolific contributor to the World of Cinema .. left us too soon .. creating a huge vacuum .. Prayers and duas ????
Saddened by the untimely demise of noted actor Irrfan Khan. A rare talent and a brilliant actor, his diverse roles and remarkable performances will remain etched in our memories. A big loss to the world of cinema and millions of film lovers. Condolences to his family & admirers.
Let’s remember the veteran actor’s contribution and his huge canvas of films throughout the years.
Salaam Bombay! (1988)
Irrfan Khan started his career with the 1988 film Salaam Bombay. He featured as the letter writer in this film. It depicted the day-to-day life of children living in the slums of Bombay. Though initially cast as Salim, a street kid, his role was significantly cut down to a more minor character. This was done mainly because Mira Nair believed he didn’t fit the role of a malnourished street kid. In relation to this, Irrfan later said “I remember sobbing all night when Mira told me that my part was reduced to merely nothing. But it changed something within me. I was prepared for anything after that.” And this point gave us the iconic and loved Irrfan we all dearly miss today.
It was India’s second film submission to be nominated for the Academy Award for The Best Foreign Language Film. The film was among the list of “The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made” by The New York Times. It won the Audience Award at Cannes Film Festival, 1988.
Maqbool (2003)
Considered as one of the best performances of Irrfan, Maqbool is a 2003 crime drama film based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Maqbool (Irrfan Khan) is the right-hand man of Jahangir Khan (aka Abba ji), a powerful don. However, things take an ugly turn when Maqbool falls in love with Abba Ji’s mistress Nimmi. Irrfan depicts the psychological impacts on Maqbool after he kills numerous people, especially Abba Ji.
His performance as Maqbool left the viewers in awe of him and there was no turning back after this.
Life In A… Metro (2007)
Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma
Irrfan Khan had been a part of the Indian cinema for a long time. Therefore, he saw the industry transitioning and growing. In his 2007 film, Life In A… Metro, Irrfan plays Monty, a socially awkward guy. Khan shows his perfect comic timing backed with witty one-liners and his incomparable perfection in this Indian musical drama film.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Dev Patel and Irrfan Khan
In this 2008 British crime drama film, Irrfan Khan played the role of a cop in Mumbai. While the movie mostly takes its viewers back to the past life of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), Khan acts as the link between the past and the present. The command Khan holds on his character in the film is simply commendable. The worldwide release of this film brought both recognition and love for Khan and his proficiency.
7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Irfaan Khan
“Ik baar to yun hoga, thoda sa sukoon hoga… na dil mein kasak hogi, na sar mein junoon hoga” – Wasiullah Khan
In this Indian black comedy film, Khan plays the role of a poet, Wasiullah Khan. Susanna’s third husband, who is a thoughtful and romantic poet in the morning and a sadomasochist at night. Therefore, he becomes the epitome of cruelty and pain for her. A different man altogether, the depiction of Wasiullah is done with ease and poise by Khan. It seems as if he is living in the character and proved once more that he is the ultimate character artist.
Paan Singh Tomar (2012)
Irrfan Khan in Paan Singh Tomar
In this 2012 biographical film, Khan plays the title role. It is the story of an army person turning into a dacoit. In one scene in the film, Irrfan’s Tomar expresses his frustration by saying, “Desh ke liye daude to kisi ne na pucha, ab baaghi ban gaye to sab ehi naam jap rahe Paan Singh Tomar.” The amazing gravity and rawness of Tomar’s character have been depicted with all justice by Khan.
While promoting the film, Khan had told Time magazine that he was drawn to the story because “it follows the hero once he has been forgotten”.
Life of Pie (2012)
Irrfan Khan as Piscine ‘Pi’ Patel
“In the end, I suppose, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.”
This hard-hitting and beautiful line has been all over the web since Irrfan’s demise. Wonder where it comes from? In the 2012 Ang Lee adaption of a boy’s survival at sea, Khan plays the role of adult Pi (Piscine Patel). In a segment where Pi talks about life and death and his journey, these lines are said and now are to be remembered forever.
The Lunchbox (2013)
Irrfan Khan as Saajan Fernandes
A movie as perfect as it could have been. A love story with just epistolary. Romantic much? Meanwhile, when Saajan accidentally starts getting lunches with notes in them (which are not meant for him.) An affair starts to bud and begins to blossom. The simplicity of the characters and their portrayal is what makes this movie one of the best performances of Khan.
Saajan: “You are young. You can dream. And for some time you let me into your dreams. And I want to thank you for that.“
Haider (2014)
“Darya bhi main, darakht bhi main… Jhelum bhi main, chinar bhi main… dair bhi hoon, haram bhi hoon… Shia bhi hoon, Sunni bhi hoon, main hoon pandit… main tha, main hoon aur main hi rahoonga.” – Roohdaar
In this adaptation of Hamlet, Khan plays the role of Roohdaar (the ghost of Haider’s father.) He intensifies Haider’s desire of seeking revenge for his father’s death. The adaptation was made to portray the political intrigue and history of Kashmir. Khan being an important part of this masterpiece makes it even more perfect.
Hindi Medium (2017)
Irfaan Khan as Raj Batra and Saba Qamar as Meetu
“Ek France banda, German banda speak wrong English… we no problem… ek Indian banda say wrong English… banda hi bekaar ho jaata hai ji” – Raj Batra.
The story revolves around Raj Batra played by Khan, who is a loving father and husband. For him, nothing matters more than his wife’s happiness and his daughter’s well-being. The beauty with which Khan brings on screen the desperation and love of a family man is commendable.
The whole canvas of Irrfan Khan’s films can never be truly captured and neither can words do the true justice to these artworks. He has always been a source of inspiration to the youth or to anyone who aspires to be something. The loss of this veteran actor seems so personal to everyone that it’s difficult to let go. We will miss you, legend.
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Netflix’s new teen drama/comedy series Never Have I Ever caught me completely off guard. In the first few episodes, I was completely ready to “smack” Devi, our protagonist, since the brown person in me had had enough of her tantrums. But by the end of it, I was left feeling weirdly mushy and a crying mess.
Never Have I Ever is an important series. I have grown up watching and loving Bend It Like Beckham, the 2002 movie by Gurinder Chadha, as well as her other movie, Bride and Prejudice. Those were the epitome of what Indian life is like in America, and naïve me thought one day I’d get to live that life too. But then I grew up and… well. That’s a story for another time.
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Darren Barnet, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review
Smacking… or maybe not
Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher’s Devi, the Sanskrit word for ‘goddess’, is anything but that. She’s brash and arrogant and absolutely intolerable. She recently lost her father in a tragic accident and has gone through too much pain in her life. However, as I mentioned before, the brown girl in me, despite knowing and understanding all her pain and suffering, was furious when she called her mother the b-word. She throws her books out of a closed window, shattering it in the process, and something like that would definitely have gotten me slapped at home. As Nalini puts it after threatening to hit her, “smacking is an acceptable punishment in many third-world countries.”
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Jaren Lewison, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
It is no surprise, thus, when we hear that the show’s narrator is the brilliantly ill-mannered tennis legend John McEnroe, who also makes a sweet cameo in the end. His and Devi’s temperaments are a match made in heaven.
So many feelings
The biggest positive about Never Have I Ever is that the show does not try to portray Devi in a positive light ever. She is always raw, and all of her flaws are always out in the open for everyone to see. Her pain at the loss of her father is absolutely heartbreaking. It shattered her so much that she lost the ability to walk for three months after the tragedy.
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Devi also isn’t some helpless little girl who has a backup plan. Most of the time, her backup plan is screaming or breaking things. Honestly, I understood, because all of us, at some point in our lives, have felt that (although we haven’t done anything similar because of the aforementioned smacking). The fact that she tries to forget her problems with the help of boys is also very real. I remember when I was a teenager, fitting in and finding a boyfriend seemed like the most important things in life. And thus, we feel bad for and angry at Devi when she ditches her friends to go meet Paxton. We are as confused as our protagonist.
Arcs that we like
Another very beautiful thing about Never Have I Ever is that all the characters have such great arcs. We have Devi’s friends, Eleanor and Fabiola, who have their own demons to tend to. The former realises in the middle of the hall on a random school day that she is gay, while the latter tries to find validation from her mother, who really doesn’t care about her.
We also have Devi’s cousin Kamala, who just had her first boyfriend, who is trapped in an arranged marriage orchestrated by her parents. It’s a very real problem for desi girls, and Kamala, realising that Steve isn’t the one for her, is a big victory for her personally. We also have Nalini, Devi’s mother, who, although she is very strict on her daughter, loves her but is unable to showcase it.
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Poorna Jagannathan, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Even the people who probably should not be that important to the story are what keep it going. Paxton, Devi’s crush, is a confused teenager, and their slowly budding friendship is heart-warming to watch, even though he really is kind of a douche. Ben, who is always at loggerheads with Devi, is also a heart-warming character. I cried during the episode, which focused on him, because loneliness is something we all probably fight against each and every day. His and Devi’s changing dynamics and her finally realising that she might have fallen for him really did it for me. It was probably the best way to end the series.
Fun galore
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani
But all the drama and emotions do not take away from the show’s humour. Never Have I Ever is a delicate balance between drama and humour. The part where the entire family goes to attend a Ganesh Puja was probably the funniest part of the show. I can attest that brown aunties do indeed behave like that. There are more such subtle and not-so-subtle moments of fun in the show, and it offsets the deep emotional weight that you might sometimes tend to feel.
Performances and all that
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi V is a revelation. Her performance does not, for one second, give away the fact that she is a first-time actor. Devi’s repulsive behaviour – her selfishness, pettiness and ungratefulness, but deep sadness underneath it all – is brilliantly portrayed by Maitreyi. She constantly tries to make herself and everyone else believe that she is more American than Indian and is constantly trying to get her mother’s approval. You end up sympathising with and loving her because she is so real.
Never Have I Ever Season 1 Review: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ramona Young, Lee Rodriguez
My favourite character in the series, however, was Nalini. Poorna Jagannathan as Devi’s mother was infuriating as well. She’s too strict on her daughter, something Indian parents are famous for. American audiences might be alarmed at her threats of casual violence, but she never lets that be her defining characteristic. She’s strong and does not give away her feelings easily. But underneath it all, she is just a mother in a foreign land who is trying to get over the loss of the love of her life. It’s heartbreaking and empowering. Her vulnerability under a tough exterior will probably remind you of your own parents and the things that they do for us.
Final Thoughts
Never Have I Ever is one of the most brilliant shows that I have watched in some time. If you can get over the irritation of the first few episodes (trust me, Devi is annoying af), it’s a beautiful coming-of-age series that never really strays from its end goal – to showcase the strength of the three women in the Vishwakumar house.
Never Have I Ever is available on Netflix right now.
Honestly, I am a junkie of all things drama. I love dramatic shows even if it’s quite nonsensical. Thus, on a Sunday afternoon when I had not much to do, I thought streaming Too Hot to Handle, Netflix’s new reality dating game show, won’t be such a bad idea. And god was I wrong.
Too Hot to Handle season 1 isn’t really anything new in the world of reality TV, with hundreds of other dating reality shows already in the market such as Love Island, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Love is Blind and many more. There’s also Big Brother and its Indian counterpart, Big Boss and even though they aren’t traditionally dating shows, let’s be honest, too much drama has gone down there.
Too Hot to Handle is a show that takes a few hot and sexed-up singles and puts them on an island for the summer. But there’s a twist, they have to refrain from any and all sexual contact. Seems entertaining, right? The description alone got me excited to binge it because honestly, who doesn’t want some mindless entertainment right now?
However, I really wasn’t satisfied, much like the contestants, and was left feeling quite… meh. And I’ll tell you why.
Spoiler warning for all 8 episodes below!
To touch or not to touch?
Too Hot to Handle
Too Hot to Handle‘s rules for sexual contact, or what constitutes as such, were too vague. What can be sexual contact for me, might not be the same for someone else. Lana, the all-knowing virtual assistant, should’ve pointed it out and made it clear from the get-go. Instead, she just vaguely put everything under one banner and did not specify what was what. Thus, throughout the season, the contestants and the viewers were left confused as to what exactly is sexual.
Also, we never really get to know how much each violation costs. Sure, once you’ve broken the rules, Lana does tell you how much will be deducted, but why not just tell them from the first? Not telling this did not contribute anything to the show, honestly. Maybe if the contestants knew, they would have had more trouble choosing to decide with their head or with another body part.
It’s all about the money
Francesca and Harry
The prize money that Lana declared at the beginning of Too Hot to Handle, was too little. And the rules regarding who gets it and who doesn’t is very unclear as well. $100,000 is a lot if given to one person, but if it’s divided among a lot of people, isn’t much. We never really get to know this throughout the season. And I honestly think Lana didn’t think the rule through either. Moreover, since the rules were not clear, they would walk away with 10 grand each – considering no one did anything naughty and if divided among everyone.
Actually, it will probably be less considering, well, taxes. Moreover, the funniest part is that the vacation that they are on probably costs more than the prize money. So, what’s the point? There was another problem here as well. Since the prize was so low, the contestants didn’t really care about breaking the rules since, well, sex > meagre money. I guess rule-breaking does add to the spice factor of the show, but people didn’t even care about the money at all, so what’s the point anyway?!
Lana, you backstabber
Too Hot to Handle
The all-seeing virtual assistant in Too Hot to Handle is supposed to keep an eye on the contestants and make sure they do not do anything naughty. However, there are no rules as to whether or not she would give out the names of those who actually do anything. There are times when she does and times when she doesn’t.
When Francesca and Haley kiss, she outs them in front of everyone. However, wouldn’t it have been more fun if she didn’t say anything and they had to figure it out on their own? This could’ve increased the entertainment factor, as well as the drama. However, Lana giving out the names just took away from the fun factor of the show.
This isn’t a coffee shop, Matthew
Matthew and Nicole
Contestants just come and go as they please in Too Hot to Handle. First off, Lana throws Haley out because she is negative Nancy. However, that girl was amazing at creating drama. Why throw away someone who will provide entertainment, after just a couple of episodes? And then, Matthew just decides to leave on his own accord, and that’s somehow allowed? Why? He was so hyped as someone who looks like Jesus and whatnot and then one fine day he just leaves. How is that logical?
Stop annoying me
David and Chloe
The weirdest part of Too Hot to Handle was the fact that the narrator annoyed me. I mean, sure, snarky and humorous are what I live for, but hey, pipe down sometimes. It’s also amazing how in a group of people, every single person annoys you. Not one character was likeable. In addition to this, the girls were all dumb and the guys were total -add explicit word here-.
AND they were sex-crazed. Although that probably was the point, but my god, how can every person every 5 seconds want to bone someone? It became annoying after a point, honestly. Moreover, there was no balance, some people were too spiteful, while some were just plain meh and others too full of themselves. And wit? Well, I think I am asking for too much here. Even Matthew, who was apparently “spiritual” and a “thinker” was annoying with the constant lecturing. No. One. Cares.
No growth there
Sharron and Rhonda
Lana desperately wanted us to believe that the contestants went through a lot of “growth” throughout Too Hot to Handle. However, tell me what growth Kelz or Bryce went through, please? Kelz, till the last hot minute, was too fixated with the prize money to make connections or grow as an individual. Bryce… well, no one cared about him.
Plus, we also had Chloe, who got her “heart broken” after one day out with Kori (who, thankfully, was eliminated. Hated that guy with a passion.) Why do they get to win the prize money? Some people grew more individually and as a couple than some others. So, shouldn’t the prize money also get distributed accordingly? It’s like the creators did not want to go through the headache of making a decision and was just like, I don’t care just distribute everything.
Also, do you know how much each of them got at the end? $7,500. And that’s before tax. No wonder none of them cared.
So, with that, I’d say, binge on other Netflix shows that are 100 times better than Too Hot to Handle. It doesn’t give you wit and neither does it give you entertainment. It just leaves you unsatisfied with a sour aftertaste in your mouth. And no one needs that.
Otherwise, season 1 is streaming right now on Netflix.
Every studio around the world is having to shift movies around and rearrange its calendar due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. That includes Paramount, who has decided to push back the release of Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8.
The Tom Cruise movie, which has a cult following of its own, will now release on November 19, 2021, instead of July 21, 2021. On the other hand, the eighth instalment of the franchise will release on November 2, 2022, instead of August 5, 2022.
The date shift puts M:I 7 against Disney’s untitled live-action movie and Warner Bros.’s Will Smith drama King Richard.
On the other hand, M:I 8 will also face competition from Warner Bros.’s Shazam! 2.
Mission: Impossible is an action spy film series that is based on and is a follow on from Bruce Geller’s TV series of the same name. The movie stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF).
Mission: Impossible
All the movies of the franchise have been big earners. Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the sixth movie of the series, earned $791.1 million on a budget of $178 million. It is the highest-grossing movie of the entire series. The one before, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, earned $682.7 million on a budget of $150 million. The series, as a whole, has been able to rake in $3.570 billion on a total budget of $828 million (all 6 movies).
The seventh and eighth instalments are supposed to be directed by Christopher McQuarrie.
Other movies that are getting new release dates are:
The Chris Pratt-starrer sci-fi movie The Tomorrow War will now release on July 23, 2021. Previously, the movie was supposed to release on Christmas this year. At the moment, it stands without any competition, since the date was previously occupied by M:I 7. However, it will release the week after Spider-Man 3 and Space Jam 2 and the week before Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
The Dungeons & Dragons reboot will release on May 27, 2022, from November 19, 2021.
Animated movie Paw Patrol, based on the hit children’s series, will release on August 20, 2021.
Spell, the Omari Hardwick horror-thriller, has been removed from the studio’s calendar.
Blue Story, which was previously supposed to release on March 20, does not have a date yet.
— A Quiet Place Part II (@quietplacemovie) March 12, 2020
Paramount had previously pushed back the release of A Quiet Place Part II to September 4. Apart from this, the studio also pushed back the upcoming James Bond movie No Time To Die and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (January 15, 2021).
Other than delaying movies, a lot of movies have also opted for a digital release including The Lovebirds, starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, which will release directly to Netflix.
The coronavirus has proved to be a curse for the entertainment industry. However, streaming services are enjoying monopoly at the moment, with people subscribing to these services to entertain themselves in the midst of self-isolation.
Based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks, Extraction is the debut film of Sam Hargrave which hit #1 within a few hours of its release on Netflix.
Hemsworth, the Mercenary
Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake
Set in Kimberley, Australia, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a hyper and competitive mercenary, whose tragic past is always at the back of his mind. He is tasked on a mission to save an Indian boy who is abducted and is held hostage in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Tyler’s pain is reflected when he jumps off a cliff to meditate at the bottom of a pool or when he frequently takes OxyContin. Even after realizing that he won’t get any money for the mission and that they have been played, he does not leave the kid behind and decides to get him home. The character has several layers – ruthless mercenary, pained father and husband and the one with paternal instincts for the boy. Hemsworth is also seen speaking Bengali in one of the scenes!!
The Rivalry
Priyanshu Painyuli as Amir Asif
Amir Asif is the biggest drug lord of Bangladesh – known as Dhaka’s very own ‘Pablo Escobar’. He’s Ovi Mahajan Sr’s rival and is a ruthless man. He commands kids to be thrown from roofs in order to extract information. While Mahajan is in prison, he decides to abduct his son – Ovi Mahajan Jr. (Rudhraksh Jaiswal). The tussle then begins when Mahajan threatens his lieutenant Saju Rav (Randeep Hooda) to either save Ovi or risk losing his own son. Mahajan tells Saju that Ovi’s kidnapping isn’t about any ransom, it’s about humiliating him.
Mahajan can’t pay the said ransom because his finances are frozen, but his people still hire the agency Tyler is called through, to rescue the boy. However, later it comes to their realization that they are being played and that another guy is out to rescue the boy (Saju) and hiring them was just a way to make it easy. Not to forget that Dhaka’s Escobar has a stronghold on the police and the army.
Mission: Impossible?
Chris Hemsworth and Rudhraksh Jaiswal as Tyler Rake and Ovi Mahajan Jr.
Keeping in mind the power Asif holds in Dhaka, it seems pretty impossible for Tyler to rescue Ovi. The streets are either filled with his goons or with police and army. But one thing that’s common is that everyone is thirsty for Tyler’s blood. There is a $10 million reward on Ovi’s death. This is later revealed by Gaspar, in whose house Tyler and Ovi hide for a while. The duo later finds out that Gaspar sold them out in order to get the reward money.
Although Tyler could have easily given away Ovi for the money, he followed his heart and went against Gaspar. However, tragedy soon followed, and while Tyler and Gaspar were fighting, Ovi shot the latter in panic. This incident highlights how the two have formed an unlikely bond as well as the fact that Ovi’s loss of innocence.
The Final Calling…
Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake
After all the escaping and hiding from Asif and his people, it was time for the great escape. The time for finally getting Ovi home, as Tyler promised. Tyler contacts Saju to get the boy through the bridge checkpoint and dodge the police as he distracts them by risking himself. Saju tries to get him through but eventually gets caught and that’s is where the bloodshed and gore begins. The viewers do not get a breather during this final fight of Extraction, it keeps them at the edge of their seats.
During the firefight, Saju is sniped by Asif’s colonel. He is later sniped by Khan (Tyler’s partner). Tyler continues to cover the extraction and is severely wounded in the shootout. He asks for Ovi to run as fast as he can to the chopper and leave. After Rake is shot on the back of his neck, Ovi feels immense grief and is pulled away by Khan. Meanwhile, Tyler jumps in the river and is gone.
Unexplained Ending
Rudhraksh Jaiswal as Ovi Mahajan Jr.
The final scene of Extraction shows Ovi 8 months after the incident. He takes a high dive in the pool and then calmly stays inside for a few moments just like Tyler did initially. As he comes out, he notices a white figure noticing him. But the viewers never know if it is Tyler or someone who’s back from Dhaka. The film has a rather ambiguous ending and is open to interpretation.
The idea to sort of keep it ambiguous, you know, based on different audience responses in the testing and so on about kind of what they believe would have happened or wanted to happen. And we shot a few different versions of the ending just as a sort of a backup. And I’m thankful for that, that Sam insisted on doing that just to cover all bases, you know?
– CHRIS HEMSWORTH TO CINEMABLEND
Overall, Extraction is a fun watch for action-thriller lovers. Just tighten your seat belts for excellent fight sequences throughout the film. The movie is streaming now on Netflix.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused huge problems for studios and productions around the world. Most movies have been pushed back and all filming has stopped for the time being. Moreover, no one really knows when filming can start. Adding to that list are Sony’s Spider-Man movies.
The studio was initially releasing two movies, one in 2021 and another one in 2022. However, both the movies in the Spider-Man universe will now be delayed. One of them is the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which will now release on October 7, 2022, instead of April 8, 2022. Another one is the third instalment in the Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy. The movie, made in partnership with Marvel Studios, will now release on November 5, 2021, instead of July 16, 2021.
Other movies in the Spider-Man universe such as Venom: Let There Be Carnage will now release on June 25, 2021, instead of October 2020.
Doctor Strange
This, of course, has created a huge ripple effect in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney now has to delay two of its other movies – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder. Both of these movies were recently moved and are shifting back further to accommodate the new changes. The Doctor Strange sequel will now open on March 25, 2022, instead of November 5, 2021. On the other hand, Thor: Love and Thunder has shifted up one week, from February 18, 2022, to February 11, 2022.
This is a big change for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The change, however, was necessary since Doctor Strange was supposed to release before the third live-action Spider-Man movie.
The untitled live-action movie is the third instalment in the series, after the series was re-launched with Tom Holland in the helm playing the title character. The previous movies in the trilogy include Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).
The coronavirus has not only affected movie releases but has also forced theatres to shut down all over the world. However, it has helped streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and others to enjoy monopoly when it comes to movie viewing.
The Nightingale
The Spider-Man franchise was supposed to end with Spider-Man: Far From Home after the deal between Sony and Marvel fell apart. However, there were many reasons for the two studios to work together again. Apart from the huge revenues that the previous two movies generated at the box office (Homecoming made $880.1 million while Far From Home raked in $1.1 billion), the success of the Spider-Man movies opens up other avenues for the studios which have proved fruitful for them both.
Other than Spider-Man, several other movies were also shifted around:
Fatherhood will release on April 2, 2021, instead of October 23, 2020.
Man From Toronto will release n September 17, 2021, instead of November 20, 2020.
Uncharted moves from October 8, 2021, to July 16, 2021.
The Nightingale, which was previously supposed to release on December 25, 2020, does not have a release date at the moment.
The coronavirus pandemic has shifted and stalled the release and production of innumerable movies and TV shows. While directors and producers try to figure a way out of this mess, Warner Bros. has made the decision to shift the release of the highly-anticipated The Batman.
Matt Reeves’ The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, was previously slated to release on June 25, 2021. However, with the current health hazard, that seems to not be working for the makers. Instead, they have decided to release it on October 1, 2021 – a slot occupied by DC’s The Joker last year. The production is currently stalled in London, and instead of relocating, Reeves has decided to resume shooting once it is safe enough. Meanwhile, Reeves is currently going through footage, since a quarter of the film was already shot.
However, Batman’s current date is already occupied by Paramount and 20th Century Studios’ untitled films.
On the other hand, DC’s The Flash will release a month earlier on June 3, 2021, instead of July 1. That date, again, already has a Warner Bros. movie slotted. Moreover, Shazam2!, which was to release on April 1, 2020, will now come out on November 4. However, there is a Disney untitled live-action movie on that date.
Warner Bros., however, is sticking with its release date of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, which is scheduled to come out on July 17, 2020. It is also sticking with the August 14 release date of Wonder Woman 1984. The latter was previously scheduled to release early in July.
Other than The Batman, The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Neward will now release on March 12, 2021, instead of September 25. It will go head-to-head against Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon.
Other than these two, King Richard, the biopic starring Will Smith, is being delayed a full year. The movie, which is based on the lives of tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams and their father Richard, is now releasing on November 19, 2021, from November 25, 2020. The movie will, moreover, share space with Paramount’s Dungeons and Dragons and an untitled Disney movie.
Tenet
Other than these, Lisa Roy’s Reminiscence will be releasing on April 16, 2021. It is a sci-fi film starring Hugh Jackman, Thandie Newton and Rebecca Ferguson. It will go against Sony Pictures Animation’s musical Vivo.
Warner Bros.’s untitled Elvis movie will also be moving from October 1, 2021, to November 5, 2021. Baz Luhrmann is directing the movie.
This comes after a slew of Disney movies had to move their dates including big-budget Marvel movies. It created a huge domino effect which forced many movies to shift dates for the next year or two.
Even though theatres are still shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, theatre groups are hopeful that cineplexes can open around June. However, others are concerned as to how many people will be comfortable to be packed inside a theatre, that too beside strangers. If that is the case, then it really is concerning for August releases, especially Wonder Woman 1984.
(This is a fun write-up with loads of spoilers because we like those kinds of things here. This quarantine has gotten hold of all of us, you know? So, laugh a little and wash your hands.)
Ah, the alleys of teen romance and angst. You know, Netflix has this teenage romance movie trope that it really likes to capitalise on. And let me tell you, it’s annoying. It’s the same movie over and over again, with a little twist here and there. But damn, does Sierra Burgess is a Loser take the cake in the terrible list?
First and foremost, this isn’t a review – it’s a 2018 movie, and I’m not crazy to review it after 2 years. However, I hate this movie with the fire of a thousand suns, and I will give you my opinion on this dumpster fire of a teen flick that is supposed to represent the “love” of an entire generation of kids – and why it is problematic on an absolutely different level.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: Shannon Purser
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review
We start off with…
Now, we all have been there, right? Having body image issues, crushing on someone who we think is out of our league – we’ve been there, and we have done that. So, this is where our lead protagonist comes in – Sierra Burgess. She’s the person we are all supposed to root for. She’s nerdy and geeky, and she can cut down her bullies using her apparent wit.
She, however, is not traditionally attractive. And let’s face it, who amongst us is, especially in high school? You would be scared if you saw me at that time. So, she’s not happy with how she looks because she is kind of chubby and her fellow students bully her for the same, especially Veronica (the typical mean girl). Her mom is a motivational speaker, and her dad’s a writer who only talks in other writers’ quotes. Yeah, it is as annoying as it sounds.
Other than the general lack of “attractiveness”, she’s smart and very good with her studies, and she wishes to get into Stanford. She also has a black friend (Dan), because you gotta mix it up, I guess? And he’s just there to offset Sierra’s general irritable personality – that’s about it. Sierra also has this weird superiority that I have come to hate in people – the “I am not like other girls” trope.
First off, girl, don’t, just don’t, be like that. Putting other women down does not make you better in any way. Second off, you make it seem like you’re oh-so-better than everyone and are not like the other girls, and two seconds later, you cry about how unattractive you are. Every teenager does that – so what is it with the fake superiority? Like, Sierra’s depiction is so flat, she has absolutely no personality whatsoever – other than being a total buzzkill.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: Shannon Purser, Kristine Froseth
All of this rage I’m feeling is like, not even from the first half of the movie. Like, the male lead hasn’t even come into the picture yet. Sigh. So, from minute 1, you hate the protagonist and the antagonist. The only person I seemed to root for was Dan. You know your movie is in trouble if the only character you root for is, well, a side character.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: Catfishing my way into someone’s heart
Anyway, moving on. In comes the boy-next-door we love to love, Noan Centineo. His character, Jamey, is a jock who has a crush on Veronica and thus asks for her number. However, Veronica, being the “bad girl”, gives him Sierra’s number. Afterwards, Jamey starts talking to Sierra, thinking that she is Veronica.
The two start to have a bond and talk about “deep stuff” like what animals they would like to be and the stars, and whatnot. At no point, during this time, does Sierra think that, oh, hey, he thinks I’m someone else. I should probably tell him. Nope. She knows the truth, yet she goes on talking to him without telling him what’s going on. There is a term for that. It’s called catfishing. And it’s illegal.
Sierra, however, being “different” does not stop there. She goes and gets Veronica into this grand plan and tells her that she will tutor her if she agrees to help her catfish Jamey. AND SHE AGREES. Okay, so not one person in this movie has a sense of morality. Like, you can’t just do that! But they do. And in a very bonding, catfishing way, Sierra and Veronica become great friends. I also thought that their friendship was better than the romance between Sierra and Jamey. And you know why? Because that “relationship” was based on a foundation of lies.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: Noah Centineo
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: There are more fish to be found
HOWEVER, if you thought catfishing was bad, honey, you are about to get a treat. So, as this catfishing is going on, Jamey and Veronica go out on a date because how long can you talk to each other on the phone, right? Sierra follows the pair around everywhere, like the stalker that she is. And after they’ve been to the movie and stuff, Jamey goes in for a kiss in an empty parking lot. And, oh my god, Sierra / Veronica makes him close his eyes, and Sierra kisses him. Like, my dude. That is NOT okay, because that is sexual assault.
Jamey was going to kiss Veronica, but instead kissed Sierra. That means that he did not know who he was kissing, and maybe if he knew, he wouldn’t have kissed her or whatever. But the point here is, he did not give consent to kiss Sierra. And my god, the music in the background while this sexual assault was going on – made my blood boil to no avail. As I mentioned earlier, Sierra has this air of superiority about her. So, since she thinks that she wants to kiss Jamey, well, she’s gotta kiss Jamey, and that’s that. Regardless of what he wants.
And all of this is somehow justified by her unattractiveness? Like, the world doesn’t owe you anything for being who you are. No one has it ideal, you know? But that doesn’t give you the right to be an out-and-out terrible and trash person. She lies to everyone around her – like, she says she likes Jamey but lies to her left and right. There’s also a scene where she meets Jamey and pretends to be deaf. Who does that? Sis, that is a genuine problem that a lot of people struggle with. Is that supposed to be cool? Don’t do that. Ugh.
I don’t know what the producers, director, and everyone else thought about this whole thing. Is it something they think people usually do, or do they want this movie to be an example for teenagers all around? Because that’s a terrible example to set, considering the movie came out on Netflix, and it’s a very popular place for that age demographic.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: RJ Cyler, Shannon Purser
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: Just some more fish
Okay, so after that, Jamey kisses Veronica because, well, he thinks they are dating. And Sierra sees that, and she’s pissed. She has this weird sense of ownership over people, even though she has been lying and manipulating every person in her life. But somehow that’s okay because she’s… ugly? Like, no, no, it’s not. Trash behaviour is trash behaviour – regardless of your perceived problems.
Afterwards, sitting on her high horse, she sabotages Veronica’s image in front of the entire school (by hacking into her Instagram account and sharing personal information, no less), and Jamey gets to know the truth about the catfishing. He’s visibly pissed – as he should be – and you think, finally! Finally, Sierra’s gonna get what she deserves, right? RIGHT?
WRONG.
She goes home and cries like the world is at fault. She cries to her parents, “Do you know how hard it is to be in high school and to look like this?” Sis, not one of the problems that you are facing right now is because of your perceived ugliness. It’s because you’re a trash person. You catfished a guy, sexually assaulted him and then totally burned your best friend. None of these things happened because you are ugly. You are a terrible person, and someone needs to tell you that.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser Review: Shannon Purser
However, no one tells her that. She cries some more and wallows in self-pity – and not for one moment does she realise that she should apologise or that she might be at fault. Nope. So, she makes a song and sends it to Veronica, who somehow forgives her immediately, even though Sierra never truly apologises for the things that she did. Also, the song is the most annoying thing ever, like, it doesn’t really say sorry. Just that, I am different, and I need everyone to accept me. I am sure being different is fine, but that doesn’t mean you get to be a bad person using that as an excuse.
Later, Jamey comes to her house, gives her a sunflower and kisses her as if nothing had happened. And I’m like, what the hell? The whole last scene made it look like he’s the one who is apologising for not accepting her creepy ways. Not only does it make it seem like men have no authority over their bodies and consent, but it also makes it seem like women are always the victims, no matter what they do. And that is absolutely not true! It is also a dangerous thing to tell teenagers who really know no better and get inspired by these stupid teen dramas too damn fast.
Final Thoughts
Okay, so here I am, gonna talk about the conventionally unattractive person that Sierra is supposed to represent. For me, Sierra wasn’t ugly – she was normal. Like how people are in real life. Not like drop-dead gorgeous, but not Gollum either. She represents you and me, and that’s great considering that she doesn’t go through a stupid transformation in the movie and set an impossibly high standard. But damn, the movie does so much worse with her character.
Like, you could’ve done so many things, depicted genuine life struggles or whatever. Yet, you decided to make her a victim of her own doing, who literally screws anyone and everyone over. And all because she’s “ugly”. Like, why? The world owes you nothing, and thus you cannot sexually assault, harass, feign a disability or do anything like that because you think you’re ugly. That’s not how life works. You work with what you have.
The problem here is that teenagers are gonna think this is cute. I know because I’ve been there, and it happens. Older me, however, realises the toxicity of this whole situation. And the thing is, there could’ve been so many ways her “unattractiveness” could’ve been dealt with, like they could’ve delved into the problems and come out with positive solutions or something.
However, telling teenagers to catfish others and hurt them is that really what we should be aiming for? Because that’s really problematic – especially more so because Sierra comes from a privileged background – a good home, a good school, a good friend. To not even consider those and just use something that no one has any control over in a way that can essentially ruin lives, that’s just nasty.
So, teenagers (and others) who are planning to use this movie as something to lean on – please don’t. Be nice people – trust me, that is what matters in the long run.
