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.
Bloodride Review: Netflix’s new series is everything you need to binge right now. It’s horror, it’s an anthology, it’s 6 episodes long, and each is of 30 minutes long. With foreboding music, creepy atmosphere and one scary story after another, this is the perfect companion on a warm night. The stories are tense and taut and are the perfect length so that it doesn’t get boring. Every story is different, and not all are supernatural horror – something that I loved. But I can assure you, every story will gnaw at your brain.
So, this is your spoiler warning because I’m going to talk about every story in this really well-made series, which stars Stig R. Amdam, Anna Bache-Wiig, Ellen Bendu and others.
So, the series starts off with a bus which is driving down a dark and stormy road. It’s filled with different people, and it’s going towards an unknown destination that is never revealed.
Bloodride Review
Ultimate Sacrifice
Bloodride Review: Ultimate Sacrifice
Molly is extremely unhappy with her husband’s decision of moving all of them to the countryside. However, opportunity strikes when she gets to know that there is an ancient Viking burial ground in the woods nearby, where, if she sacrifices something that she loves, she will be rewarded with riches. However, her greed takes a dark turn when she tries to murder her family, but is, instead, killed. But if you think that’s twisted, wait for the last scene.
Bloodride‘s starting episode itself was insanely entertaining. From the get-go, you realise that something is off with Molly. She just doesn’t care about her family or their needs. She just wants to go back to the city. However, no one really prepared me for her psychotic break. It was absolutely terrifying and came out of the blue. But what was more terrifying was the end twist. I kid you not, that was absolutely twisted.
This one gave me major Pet Sematary vibes!
Three Sick Brothers
Bloodride Review: Three Sick Brothers
Three brothers go on a holiday to their father’s secluded cabin after the youngest, Erik, is released from the psychiatric hospital. Their fun and games turn sour, however, when Erik is forced to watch his brothers stab a hitchhiker they had picked up to death. However, all is not as it seems, and it is revealed that Erik’s mental stability is still questionable, as the entire thing that happened was all in his head until he burns down an entire petrol station.
Like the previous one, I really had no idea where this story was headed. I genuinely thought that Erik’s three brothers were the psychopaths who killed their father, making him take the fall for it. However, the fact that it will all be in Erik’s head was absolutely stellar – also, that last twist – absolutely horrifying.
Bad Writer
Bloodride Review: Bad Writer
This is the most twisted episode of the lot. I am still a bit confused about it, honestly.
Olivia is a privileged girl who has just joined a writing class where she meets an awkward fellow student and her instructor. However, soon everything takes a dark turn, which makes her, and us, question reality. However, it all comes to a head when we realise that it was all a lie, a figment of the imagination. The truth that comes out in the last, though, is much scarier.
This twisty story is probably my favourite because it made me so confused. At first, it might seem like a silly supernatural story, with the two writers trying to “out write” each other. But soon, when the truth is revealed, it is much scarier. Because you know that there is no backspacing this mistake.
Lab Rats
Bloodride Review: Lab Rats
A wealthy pharmaceutical titan throws a party with his most favourite employees to celebrate a newly invented prototype. That, however, goes out the door when one of them steals it, and he traps and endangers everyone’s life to find the culprit. When he thinks he has worked out everything in his favour, he has to pay the ultimate price for playing with his employees’ lives.
Although it was quite obvious that one of the people in the party had stolen it and that they’d be caught, the ending was definitely not expected. It goes to show the horrible effects of greed on people and how it affects their relationship with their loved ones.
The Old School
Bloodride Review: The Old School
Sanna is a young teacher who has newly joined a school which has just reopened after 40 years. From day 1, she hears the cries and calls of children but is unable to see who they are. She soon realises that a past tragedy has intertwined itself with her life and thus tries to investigate and find out the truth.
This is the only true-blue horror story of Bloodride. The story will make you think and question the previous maintenance man’s motives, but you’d be wrong in your judgment. The violent and bloody end just adds to the creepiness of the situation and makes you realise that what you thought since the first minute has all been a lie – you’ve been played.
The Elephant in the Room
Bloodride Review: Elephant in the Room
Two new recruits try to uncover the mystery of a horrible tragedy that befell their company before they joined. However, when they thought that they had uncovered the truth, they were faced with facts that pointed out their horrible mistake.
This episode points out why I’m afraid of office parties. Although the pair genuinely try to understand and uncover the truth of their office, it becomes clear that not all is as it seems, and sometimes it’s better to keep some skeletons buried.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely enjoyed the series. It’s got no extra frills, no-nonsense about weird howling ghosts and terrible jump scares that you can make out from 1 mile ahead. It’s a series that makes use of dark humour very well and uses its limited runtime effectively. The series never loses sight of the story and keeps on its path throughout. My one problem, though, was what was the point of the bus if nothing is going on there? I waited for the bus to do something after the final episode, but well, there wasn’t anything.
Feel Good Season 1 Review: Mae Martin, Charlotte Ritchie
While the whole world is practicing Quarantine, Netflix brought to its viewers a series that’s semi-autobiographical and a feel-good must-watch on the app. Written by Mae Martin, who is also starring in the series and Joe Hampson, Feel Good was released on March 19.
The series revolves around Mae, a stand-up queer comedian. She meets George, another woman, at a stand-up comedy club. Mae is intrigued by George, and they share an intimate moment later in the evening. Before, she comes to know that George hasn’t dated a woman before. Initially, a relationship buds between the two, which brings them both happiness and companionship.
Feel Good Season 1 Review: Charlotte Ritchie, Mae Martin
Mae is an addict whom George comes to know by coincidence. To which she assures her that she has been “clean for a long time.” Later, she finds herself a sponsor as a form of help, but before that, she denies that she needs help. Mae confessed to George that she had been a cocaine addict and had been kicked out by her parents. She sold drugs, overdosed and went to jail.
As George deals with Mae’s addiction history, Mae adjusts to George hiding their relationship from her friends and family. We later realise that maybe George is ashamed or afraid of accepting her relationship as she lies about the marriage invitation and doesn’t take Mae with her to the marriage. Eventually, this emotional roller coaster leads to Mae going back to her substance. Every time she sees an opportunity to get back to it is accommodated with high-pitched noise in the movie.
Feel Good Season 1 Review: Mae Martin, Charlotte Ritchie
Mae’s addiction history and her insecurities, mostly related to her sexuality and her parents’ not accepting her, give her a bold and beautiful personality. After all the mess between George and Mae, we see a spark between Mae and Lava, her sponsor’s daughter. They also share an intimate moment after Mae and George break up.
All’s well that ends well, Mae and George get back together and continue to love each other, and George also accepts her relationship in front of her friends and family.
Lisa Kudrow (FRIENDS) plays the commendable role of Mae’s mother, who seems to be pretty disconnected from her daughter. Her character may seem cold at first, but ultimately, we realise that she loves her daughter. She immediately agrees for Mae to come back home as she hears her cry and fall weak. Though throughout the film she is mostly seen on video calls, she does justice to her character and leaves an impression.
Final Thoughts
Feel Good Season 1 Review: Charlotte Ritchie, Mae Martin
For a semi-autobiographical work, Mae Martin and Joe Hampson have drafted the narrative beautifully, where each character has their own importance in the movie and its progress.
Based on Jennifer Niven’s 2015 novel of the same title, ‘All The Bright Places’, starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith, widely covers Mental Health Concerns, Suicide, and Grief. The movie shows Niven’s lovers, Violet and Finch, differently from the novel and many important character details were excluded from the film.
Violet Markey and Theodore Flinch, two struggling teenagers, meet each other by sheer coincidence of fate. Change each other’s lives forever. As they engage with the emotional and physical scars of their past. In this journey, they realise that even the smallest places and moments can bring someone happiness and meaning.
All the Bright Places Review: Elle Fanning, Justice Smith
The movie mainly focuses on Violet, who is grieving the death of her sister, Eleanor. Finch meets Violet when he talks her down off a bridge. Later, fascinated by her, Finch asks her to be his partner for a school assignment to “wander” their home state of Indiana. During these excursions, they get to know each other more and eventually fall in love.
But while Finch is helping Violet process her grief and finally move on in her life. Finch himself is dealing with dark moods and mental health issues. Instead of accepting the help Violet offers him, he prefers isolating himself for days. To which his friends say, “It’s normal.” The sparking romance depicts the healing nature of companionship and the toxicity of co-dependence in a way that’s as relatable as it is romantic to the viewers.
All the Bright Places Review: Elle Fanning, Justice Smith
“All The Bright Places” judiciously avoids some of the major flaws of the much-controversial and trending series on Netflix, “13 Reasons Why”, addressing similar concerns. Like the blame game played after one’s suicide, and depicting self-harm scenes without trigger warnings. As in this film, the makers show no dead body or suicide scene of Finch. It is denotatively represented by actions.
The movie ultimately has a heartbreaking, rather sudden ending that could be triggering for some viewers, but still somehow manages to leave its audience on an optimistic note towards life.
#1 in India today, Guilty on Netflix is a take on the #MeToo movement. In Dharma style by Karan Johar and Ruchi Narain, written by Kanika Dhillon and Atika Chohan.
The Netflix original is led by Kiara Advani, who plays the protagonist Nanki, a college student whose boyfriend, Vijay Pratap Singh, is accused of rape by another student, Tanu Arora who is shown as a small-town attention-seeking girl, ‘bold’, ambitious, who openly expresses her desires – sexual or otherwise. Though the main focus is on sexual desire and none other. In this process of accusation and the search of truth, Nanki experiences intense anxiety attacks and is under medication. Which eventually makes her testimony unreliable.
The film begins with the perspective of the lawyers fighting the case for Vijay (VJ) and his powerful parents, as he interviews his friends and band members present on the day of the incident. Through this, we are taken into flashbacks of the day the crime is said to have happened.
There is an accurate representation of Delhi, DU student lingo and the vibe and the tone of the movie is set in accordance with student life, unlike the typical High-class candy colleges in Karan Johar’s movies.
As the story progresses the writers manipulate stereotypes and make-believe its audiences the outcome of the story. Which as the climax is reached is unravelled as a different scene altogether. In addition, there Is an undertone of judgments that people form about others and how they can be wrong.
The film presents a good premise overall, but for a film that is entirely dependent on the he-said-she-said narrative, there isn’t much focus on Tanu’s point of view as a victim. There are a lot of factors that keep the audiences engaged in the narrative of the movie which is two hours long – use of soundtracks which do not overpower the narrative, the storytelling, the individual struggles of each character and the power dynamics involved in hiding the truth behind the heinous crime.
On the other hand, The final monologue of Kiara Advani in some way or the other kills the importance of the issue that has been dominantly covered in the film. The Rape Culture and the suffering and humiliation faced by Victims. But also raises the issue of patriarchy in Indian society and how “Men will be men” mentality has seeped in the very cores of people.
Nonetheless, Guilty is a must-watch film, as it is different from conventional Bollywood drama and denotes the misuse of power and authority.
Ah, domestic abuse and gaslighting. The weapons abusers use to mentally and physically manipulate and control their spouses. Some bruises you can see, but most are so deeply ingrained in the victim’s mind that they cannot be seen and cannot be escaped from.
The Invisible Man Review
The Story
The Invisible Man Review: Elisabeth Moss
A cruel reminder of what abuse does to its victim is Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man, a re-telling of H. G. Wells’s novel by the same name. The Invisible Man follows a woman named Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) who stages an elaborate escape plan to run away from the clutches of her abusive boyfriend Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Adrian is apparently a genius in the field of optics and has amassed a lot of wealth and power because of it.
He is also a control freak and micro-manages everything in Cecelia’s life – from what she wears to what she eats and how she dresses. Things like these grew into physical assault, and Cecelia was trapped in a relationship from which she couldn’t escape. However, when all seemed to have worked in her favour, news came to her that Adrian had committed suicide and had left his huge wealth to her.
The Invisible Man Review: Elisabeth Moss
Although this news does shock her, she is relieved – Adrian can’t find her anymore, and she can live her life how she wants to. But that is, unfortunately, far from reality. It soon becomes apparent to her that Adrian has found out a way to become invisible, and he uses that power to alienate her from the people around her. The police also refuse to believe her. In such a situation, she takes matters into her own hands and decides to exact revenge.
First off, I’ll mention here that the ending was so satisfying. I know revenge is probably not the best thing to live your life for, but people who have been victims of abuse will tell you otherwise.
Abuse, abuse, and abuse
The Invisible Man Review: Oliver Jackson-Cohen
The nature of Adrian’s abuse is kept from the audience – we don’t ever exactly get to know what he actually did. It is, however, apparent in the way she stages the escape – all parts of it were well thought out for quite some time. In a scene which stuck with me – the dog’s collar. It was apparent how much Adrian liked controlling everything around him – the people and animals living with him were just objects to him that he could use whenever he wanted.
Cecelia’s campaign sends Adrian into a deranged, manipulative campaign against her. But before that, you kind of feel happy and put your guard down, seeing how happy Cecelia feels hearing of Adrian’s death. She becomes carefree, has fun with her friends and even goes for a job interview. However, when she becomes unconscious there and later finds the bottle of Diazepam that she used on Adrian in her bathroom counter, her world comes crashing down. You can see the shift in her mood and her psyche.
She is again pulled back into Adrian’s clutches. And the worst part is, as is the case with abuse situations in general, people refuse to believe her. I mean, I’d probably be a little skeptical is someone comes and tells me that someone is invisible, but that’s not the point. There’s a deeper meaning here – how abuse victims are usually suspected and questioned. How people ask them whether they are sure if they are overreacting because he seems to be “such a nice guy”.
Belief and Doubt
The Invisible Man Review: Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen
As I previously said, the cycle of abuse does not just stop with abusers. When people decide to come out with their stories, they are shunned by society, saying that they are overreacting, “Is it that time of the month?”, she’s lying, she’s insane. These comments and judgments are routine – abuse victims are routinely questioned, harassed and made to go back to the darkest time of their lives because society loves to believe men.
That is very nicely portrayed in The Invisible Man – Cecelia is put in a hospital to receive psychiatric help because no one wants to even entertain the possibility of what she is saying. It is also important to see here what technological advancements can do and how they can harm people if they are allowed to grow unhindered.
The invisibility angle is also a smart one, in the context. Men abuse because society allows them to – they either turn a blind eye to them or worse, facilitate the abuse. Men don’t really need to literally vanish to perpetuate heinous gender-based crimes. An absence of scrutiny is also a form of disappearance – if you aren’t looking at someone, they just might as well be invisible. And that is scary and, sadly, the reality for a lot of women. Because it’s not just them they are fighting against, it’s all the men and women who helped, stayed silent or looked the other way – it’s the society in general.
Final Thoughts
The Invisible Man Review: Elisabeth Moss
In The Invisible Man, Cecelia is haunted not only by Adrian, but also by his brother, Tom, who is an equal accomplice. He is Adrian’s brother and his lawyer. According to Cecelia, he is an exact copy of Adrian, just without the spine. Tom is a constant reminder of his brother – he tells him that he is also a victim of his brother, comforts her and tells her that Adrian is dead and that all of this is in her head. However, what we get to know is all a lie. Tom is as much a part of Adrian’s sick plans as Adrian is. He is also a manipulator like his brother.
The Invisible Man reminds us that men like Adrian are everywhere – they are powerful and rich and feel invincible because we make them feel so. They win time and again because society loves to cherish rich and powerful men, and this gives them the power to control and abuse others. They feel concealed and protected because that is exactly what society gives them.
The biggest problem, probably as to why we turn a blind eye to these people, is that the monster still hasn’t reached us… yet.
I made the mistake of reading reviews before going to watch the Imitiaz Ali-directed Love Aaj Kal. I mean, that’s a huge taboo in my book, to be honest. Because you see, movies are very personal experiences. In most cases, your understanding of a movie will not align with that of another person’s. So, I was actually ready to absolutely hate it and come back and rant about it here. But boy was I surprised by my reaction.
Love Aaj Kal Review
Jo Tum Naa Ho
Love Aaj Kal Review: Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan
Love Aaj Kal is a movie that spans two timelines: 1990 and 2020. And the 1990 love story was my absolute favourite. It was actually what made the movie very tolerable. Aarushi Sharma is probably the best part of Love Aaj Kal for me. Her effortless acting and beautiful, quiet demeanour complemented her role as the fiery but very quiet Leena. Raghu and Leena’s love story formed the crux of the story. Randeep Hooda as the older Raghu (or Raj) is also excellent and is the other good part of the movie.
Haan Main Galat
Love Aaj Kal Review: Kartik Aaryan, Arushi Sharma
However, all is not well. Actually, most aren’t. Although the 1990 part was excellent to watch, the same cannot be said for the 2020 part. Veer and Zoe’s relationship is an eye-sore. Firstly, Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan make the perfect cute millennial couple, but, as actors, are incapable of carrying on their shoulders a movie that has so many intense emotional scenes. I liked Kartik in his previous movies, but they probably worked because he didn’t need to invest much in emoting different emotions.
Veer is, in a way, like Joe Goldberg, but more awkward. He will give you serial-stalker/killer vibes from the moment he starts stalking and pursuing Zoe relentlessly. At one point, I was expecting him to take her to the secret lair under his house – complete with a glass cage. Also, what is it with him telling Zoe that she is “special” and thus he cannot have sex with her? It’s 2020 – that is not a thing anymore! However, he is tolerable as Raghu and his bumbling acting seems very genuine.
Galat Ho Jaa Tu Bhi
Love Aaj Kal Review: Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan
Sara Ali Khan is another ball game. I mean, I don’t even know where to start. There was just too much acting. Normal people do not react the way she reacted to situations, and her shrill screams did not help with the affairs at hand. By what little idea I have of acting, I think the whole point is not to let the audience be immersed in the story. However, I was aware of Sara’s every reaction throughout and thus constantly hindered from having that experience.
Rahogi Meri
Love Aaj Kal Review: Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan
All, however, is not lost. There were a lot of parts that I genuinely quite liked. The entire 1990 part, obviously, but especially the dance sequence between Raghu and Leena is very close to my heart. Apart from that, the Rahogi Meri song’s picturization is so beautiful (Raghu and Leena in the train! I cannot!).
Also, Veer and Zoe’s last scene, where she finds him after searching for him all over Himachal – absolutely amazing. Simone Singh is quite nice as Zoe’s mom, who is very abusive towards her – not physically, but definitely mentally. The way she put all of her problems on Zoe’s shoulders from a young age and basically moulded her into a very disturbed individual is something people don’t usually pay attention to – but definitely should.
Par Rahena Chahiye Kya?
Love Aaj Kal Review: Sara Ali Khan, Kartik Aaryan
With all things said and done, the entire conflict that Zoe and Veer have is entirely in Zoe’s mind. Veer is somewhat of a puppy who will come running to Zoe whenever he is called. It’s quite pathetic and annoying. There is no conflict because right before any conflict can arise, Zoe overthinks and messes things up – it’s quite underwhelming.
At one point, she has a complete meltdown at Veer’s house, in front of his parents. That scene was so cringy that it made me angry. Zoe gets a job in one of her dream companies in Dubai and decides not to go there because she wants to stay close to Veer. That’s great – her choice. She then proceeds to insult Veer because she decided not to go… and tries to portray it as if it is his fault, when he didn’t even know about this entire episode before this point. Throughout this entire sequence, instead of sympathising with the protagonists, I just wanted them to shut up.
In Conclusion
Love Aaj Kal Review: Sara Ali Khan, Kartik Aaryan
Love Aaj Kal is an entertaining watch if you have nothing to do over the weekend. The songs are the best part of the movie, and every single one is amazing. The direction and costumes are great, and if the acting were better, you could probably be able to salvage something. It made me yearn for Deepika and Ranbir’s pairing because the film gave me such Tamasha vibes. If, however, you have high expectations from Imtiaz Ali, give this one a skip.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was a 2018 phenomenon that Netflix came up with. For once it wasn’t an absolute trash fire and had believable characters and an interesting (and very sappy) storyline. It was directed by Susan Johnson and based on the book of the same name by Jenny Han. When Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky got together in the end, we were desperate to get to know what happened to them but were quite sure that there wouldn’t be more instalments.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Cast
Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Jordan Fisher, Anna Cathcart, Janel Parrish, Ross Butler, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Trezzo Mahoro, Holland Taylor, Sarayu Blue, John Corbett
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Writers
Sofia Alvarez, J. Mills Goodloe
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Director
Michael Fimognari
Because I mean, the whole point of rom-coms is happy endings – and TATBILB got just that. However, when I got to know that they’re coming out with two more sequels I was a little disappointed (and excited). Because, really, I hate sequels. They do nothing but ruin good movies by trying to milk the success of the originals. So understandably, To All The Boys 2 had pretty large shoes to fill.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Review
Largie!
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Review: Noah Centineo, Lana Condor
In the first movie, Lara Jean is an introvert who has one friend. She wrote love letters to people she had intense crushes on, with no intention of sending them. She had no experience in the dating world and was probably a little confused when she got into a fake relationship with Peter. However, the second instalment shows Lara Jean as a bit more confident… because she is now actually dating Peter. He’s the perfect “boyfriend material” – cute, a little dorky, tall (so tall!), doesn’t rush her for sex, apologizes for being late profusely and makes up for it. He’s the perfect boyfriend and apparently the only problems that are there, are due to Lara Jean’s insecurities, specifically in relation to his previous relationship with Gen.
However, what was cute in the first movie, seems dragged out in this one. The first movie was about two kids falling for each other, this movie highlights the problems that they face. Because, honestly, the two share nothing in common, other than the fact that they’re both very good-looking people.
A Worthy Opponent
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Review: Lana Condor, Jordan Fisher
The situation does not seem to look up as John Ambrose, the fifth recipient of Lara Jean’s love letters, comes into the picture. She is immediately smitten by him and as she starts hanging out with him, she becomes increasingly confused about her feelings for these two men. Thus, she does not tell him that she is dating Peter. Because honestly, she doesn’t know. Peter seems right, someone she knows, but John is someone with whom she had chemistry and seems to share a lot of things in common with as well. However, the love triangle that Lara Jean creates for herself doesn’t seem like a world-ending phenomenon that rom-coms (and teenagers) are so good at creating. It seems like a minor inconvenience at best and blows over fairly easily.
P.S. I Still Love You
The movie is good considering Netflix rom-com standards (I mean, we can never forget Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) but really, why does Lara Jean have to fall for the sensitive white jock? There’s nothing wrong with it because he isn’t a terrible person. But the movie could’ve done something different. However, it does do good justice to teenage drama and high school shenanigans. The amount of confusion that she goes through is probably something that we all have faced. She wishes Peter was more anonymous and overthinks about his relationship with Gen, which is, frankly, something we have all done so many times.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Review: Noah Centineo, Lana Condor
To End It…
For people who love sappy rom-coms (like me), this is an entertaining watch. I mean, sit back on Valentine’s if you, like me, have nothing to do and Netflix and Chill seem like a good option. On top of that, the costumes and set designs are really good and add to the feel of the movie. They will definitely provide some outfit inspiration if nothing else.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is now streaming on Netflix.
Okay, I’m just gonna
agree from here on out that I was digging Joe throughout the season and wanted
him to be happy and content. But hey, who are we kidding? Joe is a sociopath.
And I’ll tell you why. Also, You is difficult and may have different
interpretations. So please bear with me.
You Season 1 Review
You Season 1 Review: Elizabeth Lail, Penn Badgley
I Beck Your Pardon?
I read in a lot of places how Joe is a hopeless romantic and treated Beck the way that she deserved. And I’m like, girl, no. No one wants or deserves a stalker in their lives. Joe’s entire pursuit of Beck relied on him stalking and manipulating her. He monitored and controlled her every move, even without her knowing it. I mean, sure. Benji and Peach were terrible people who hurt Beck, too. But they didn’t deserve to die for it! And definitely not because they “got in the way” of Joe’s control over Beck. Remember, if they were still alive, Joe probably wouldn’t even have had a chance with Beck. And that is how life normally works. Because at the end of the da,y it’s Beck’s life and her choices. If she chooses to be with Benji, then that’s her choice, too. There’s no need to save her – because she doesn’t need saving. Also, a core thing here is, Joe wasn’t doing anything for Beck; he was doing everything to fulfill his selfish needs. So, when he says, “You are better than that.” “You are worth waiting for.” – Remember, that is not what he means.
He’s giving an excuse to himself and us for his stalkerish behavior. Remember those times when he’d watch her change, masturbate or have sex? No one else was watching her, in spite of her windows being wide open. And you know why? Because that is what normal people do. Good people, who have a sense of right and wrong, do not do this. However, he did. He followed her and watched her very private moments from afar. Furthermore, he went on to masturbate to her (and then proceeded to help an old lady after finishing. Ew). He isn’t a hopeless romantic. He’s a stalker. Is that really the kind of person anyone needs in life?
An Unstable Narrator
You Season 1 Review: Penn Badgley
It’s really easy to feel for Joe. His reasoning behind his extremely problematic behavior seems solid, and you think, yeah, he’s right. Beck really does need help because she can’t take care of herself. However, there are two problems here.
Firstly, no one asked for Beck’s consent in this situation. It’s her life (I know I’m repeating this). Unless and until she wants help, no one can force their decisions on her, even if it’s in her best interests. Also, the thing here is, Joe really doesn’t have Beck’s interest in mind. From the get-go, he wanted her for himself. He was fascinated with her. However, if he wasn’t a stalker and didn’t manipulate her, would she be interested in him? It is also to noting here, Joe read all of Beck’s emails. All of her actual thoughts about him that she shared with her friends, he read and acted accordingly. So, the relationship becomes very one-sided in that case. If Joe didn’t have Beck’s email, would he still have a chance? I think not. There have been numerous instances when Beck had stopped responding to him. But he came back into her life every time because of the emails. So this is not just a clear violation of privacy, but it also goes to show that Beck and Joe were doomed from the start – it was Joe’s manipulation that kept the relationship going.
Another point here is that we get this entire story from Joe’s perspective. And that is exactly where the problem lies. Joe is an unstable narrator. You can never understand whether Peach and Benji, whom we have grown to despise, are actually like that, because they come in Joe’s way. He wants to “own” Beck, and they are the thorns in his path. So, obviously, he hates them and paints a picture such that we grow to hate them too.
Candace: A Story Forgotten
You Season 1 Review: Penn Badgley
Throughout the series, especially in the first season, we get to see that Candace, Joe’s ex-girlfriend, is an afterthought. Joe never really delves into her story – neither does he want to. Candace is best left dead in the dark, literally. Or that’s what Joe thought. However, the way Joe treated Candace gives us an exact picture of how he is as a person. He flips out when Candace breaks up with him, so much so that he kidnaps her and leaves her for dead in the woods. And there she would’ve lain, had it not been for her zeal to live. She was left behind like trash.
The second season does her no justice as well because although she comes back to exact revenge on Joe, she is left murdered by Love and then promptly forgotten. Moreover, throughout season 2, we see Joe conjure up tricks to get rid of her. Any sane person would find a way other than murder to get away from someone. However, Joe isn’t sane, and the fact that everyone thinks of him to be is scary.
Love…And Other Drugs
You Season 1 Review: Shay Mitchell
Season 2 also brought us to Love, Joe’s new “you”. Although he gives us the impression that he has changed and is trying to stay away from all things love, yet we find out that his pursuit of Love isn’t organic at all – in fact, it was all pre-planned. His job at Anavrin, the way he manipulates Calvin – it screams textbook, Joe. He hasn’t changed. He’s just lying to himself and us about his intentions.
However, as season 2 progresses, we see that he might be a changed man. Especially in his dealings with the people around him, like Delilah, Elle, Forty, Love and her friends, Joe seems to be more accommodating and even accepting of the fact that he might not be the ideal person he thought he was. That’s why, in the last few episodes, when Candace traps him with Delilah’s body in the cage, he decides to repent for his sins instead of running away. He wants to change and be better for Love because, in his eyes, Love is too good for him. She’s sweet, sensitive, caring and a kind soul who deserves the world and all the love that it has to offer – something that he was deprived of. However, when Love comes clean about her crimes, he is shocked. So shocked that he immediately thinks of pretending to love her just to escape (as he recalls what Beck did when she was trapped in the cage). Therefore, we’re left to wonder again about Joe’s sanity.
A New You
You Season 1 Review: Penn Badgley
In the last episode, Joe seems trapped by Love. Sure, he stays back to give his child a good father, but he doesn’t love Love anymore. And the moment he hears and then lays his eyes on the woman sunbathing in her yard, he’s back to square one – a cycle is born again. This is definitely a nod for season 3, and we’re supposed to wonder who this new woman is since she is clearly married and might be older than Joe. However, it goes on to show that Joe will never be happy with one person; he will never settle. He wants to put his love interests on a pedestal too high for a person. It’s not possible for a person to be that perfect. And thus, this cycle will continue if no one puts a stop to it.
In this context, we do get to know Joe’s background and why he is the way he is. An abusive father, a mother whom he loved dearly and depended entirely on, who was an adulterer and an out-and-out toxic environment where he was forced to murder his father to save his mother. All of these things had a huge impact on his psyche and made him the person that he is. His need for control and dominance, and the thought that only he knows what is best for his love interests, stem from the abuse in his past. But does that justify his behavior – the murder and the stalkerish behavior? It surely doesn’t.
You Season 1 Review: Elizabeth Lail, Penn Badgley
Summing Up
Joe has definitely put me off dating for the foreseeable future. And trust me, you don’t need a significant other who thinks that it’s okay to control every bit of your life. That ain’t healthy.
