Hello everyone, recently a series was released on Netflix named Hostages, which I have watched and completed. It has only five episodes, and the length of each episode is kept under one hour. You can easily complete this series in five hours. But let’s talk about whether you should watch it or not.

Basic Story

First, let’s discuss the basic story. What kind of story will you get to see? The story revolves around the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister. There, the Prime Minister is the most powerful, just like in India. Their husband gets kidnapped when he goes to treat the poor, and he is taken from there.

Now, the demand being made from the Prime Minister is that if you want your husband alive, you have to resign from your post. And she does not want to resign. And how the President of France gets involved in this. All these things you have to see in the series: what is their motive? Why did they kidnap him, and why are they demanding her resignation?

Talking about the series’ story, I have seen many stories like this. Only the characters change slightly. Sometimes the President’s son is kidnapped. Sometimes the President’s wife is kidnapped. But here, the Prime Minister’s husband has been kidnapped. So, all these things feel the same. And the motive behind why they have kidnapped the Prime Minister’s husband could have been shown in a much better way, with bigger things portrayed. But I think they didn’t have much in terms of the story.

Because of this, the story felt very engaging to me. On top of that, they must have thought not to make the series too long. That’s why they kept the series to just five episodes. But even five episodes felt too much to me. It was difficult to stay interested in the series because the things seemed repetitive and familiar, and the series didn’t feel interesting to watch from any angle.

I mean, if you haven’t watched any series like this before, then maybe you might find it interesting. But if you have watched series like this, it will be quite difficult to stay interested. On the other hand, Korean series create interest immediately, or if it’s a good series, it hooks you right away. But this series is just okay. It doesn’t create much interest.

Acting & Performance

Everyone’s performance is quite good, but I felt a bit of a lack in the production budget. Now, it could be that this is how it is in reality. The way the Prime Minister’s security and other people’s security are shown, the locations shown don’t feel very rich. It feels like they had a limited budget. That’s why things were shown on a small scale.

If a series is being made and it involves the Prime Minister or President, things are shown on a grand scale. The headquarters would be huge, massive. The Prime Minister’s security would be massive. There would be a lot of guards. The Ministers’ guards would be numerous. But here, things have been shown very normal, minimalistic.

It could be that this is how it actually is in the UK, I can’t say anything about that. But still, production-wise, it didn’t feel like much to me. On top of that, we don’t get emotionally attached to any character. Forget the Prime Minister’s husband; even if the Prime Minister dies, it wouldn’t make any difference to us.

So, this is an okay series. There’s nothing extraordinary about it. If you haven’t watched any series like this yet, you can watch it. But if you have seen other series like this, stay away from this one because, even though it’s only a five-hour series with just five episodes, it still feels quite heavy. Watching it requires a lot of effort because the series doesn’t hook you from anywhere.

I would rate this series 6.5 out of 10, which for me is an okay series. And this series is available in the Hindi language. There are no adult or nude scenes in it, but you still can’t watch it with family because some things come up that make it unsuitable. Otherwise, there are no such scenes in it. But still, don’t watch it with family.

The Naked Now (S01E03)

Airdate: October 5th 1987

Written by: J. Michael Bingham Directed by: Paul Lynch

Running Time: 45 minutes

It is almost universally acknowledged that Star Trek: The Next Generation represents the pinnacle of the Star Trek franchise’s enduring legacy, its original broadcast era (1987-1994) widely revered as the undisputed golden age of the entire universe. Yet, this period of unparalleled success emerged from profoundly shaky foundations. Gene Roddenberry’s later creative stewardship, particularly during the fraught first season, introduced decisions that alienated significant swathes of the established fanbase and generated palpable friction amongst cast and crew alike. Nowhere were these early creative missteps more acutely felt, nor more emblematic of the series’ troubled inception, than in the very first regular episode produced after the pilot: The Naked Now. This instalment, far from launching the Enterprise-D on a confident trajectory, instead stumbled clumsily out of the gate, setting a problematic tone that the series would spend considerable time overcoming.

The most persistent and damning criticism levelled against The Naked Now is its staggering lack of originality. Written by D. C. Fontana, a veteran writer instrumental in shaping The Original Series (TOS), the episode functions overtly as a direct sequel to TOS’s first-season entry, The Naked Time. While The Naked Time had successfully utilised a polywater-based intoxication to explore character vulnerabilities amidst impending doom, The Naked Now felt less like a thoughtful homage and more like a tired, uninspired photocopy. The fundamental premise – a mysterious pathogen inducing disinhibition and erratic behaviour aboard a starship observing a stellar phenomenon – was lifted wholesale, robbing the TNG iteration of any sense of novelty or progression expected from a new chapter in the franchise. Critics were swift to condemn this as a creative bankruptcy symptomatic of the show’s uncertain early direction.

The plot itself unfolds with wearying familiarity. In 2364, the USS Enterprise-D is dispatched to investigate the loss of contact with the SS Tsiolkovsky, a research vessel monitoring the collapse of a red supergiant star. Initial hails yield only fragmented, disturbing transmissions hinting at manic behaviour. A subsequent boarding party discovers the Tsiolkovsky’s entire crew dead, victims of the same mysterious affliction. The contagion swiftly jumps ship; Geordi La Forge is the first Enterprise crewmember to exhibit symptoms – profuse sweating, escalating euphoria, and rapidly deteriorating judgment. It becomes chillingly apparent that whatever devastated the research vessel is now infiltrating the Federation flagship. The culprit is revealed to be polywater intoxication, a phenomenon perilously close to destroying Kirk’s Enterprise nearly a century prior. Doctor Beverly Crusher, herself succumbing to the effects, frantically races to synthesise a vaccine. Meanwhile, the situation spirals: her son, Wesley Crusher, infected and emboldened, impersonates Captain Picard’s voice to seize command of Engineering. Simultaneously, the distraught engineer James Shimoda (Benjamin W.S. Lum), in a childlike stupor, removes critical isolinear chips, crippling the warp drive – a catastrophic error as the dying star’s imminent supernova threatens to obliterate the immobilised Enterprise.

The episode’s structural flaws are compounded by deeply unpopular character choices. Its reliance on Wesley Crusher as the pivotal figure – first plunging the ship into peril through reckless insubordination, then miraculously salvaging the situation through precocious technical brilliance – ignited fierce resentment among viewers. To many Trekkies, Wesley embodied the worst kind of "Mary Sue" fantasy, seemingly inserted as Gene Roddenberry’s idealised alter ego, granted impossible competence and narrative centrality that undermined the established command structure and grated against the more ensemble-driven ethos of TOS. This perception significantly damaged audience goodwill towards the character from the outset.

However, the most vociferous and enduring criticism targets the episode’s pervasive, crassly executed "sauciness." Unlike The Naked Time, where intoxication manifested in diverse ways (suicidal despair, manic singing, irrational phobias), The Naked Now relentlessly channels the polywater’s effects almost exclusively into quasi-erotic misadventures and forced romantic tension. We witness a disinhibited Dr. Crusher making clumsy, alcohol-fuelled advances on Picard; Deanna Troi exhibiting flirtation towards Riker; and most notoriously, Lieutenant Tasha Yar initiating a sexual encounter with the android Data. While superficially titillating for a primetime 1980s audience, these subplots are executed with astonishing narrative clumsiness. The humour derived from the characters’ intoxicated states falls utterly flat precisely because the audience, encountering these figures for only the second time (after the pilot), lacked any meaningful connection to their sober personas. The inevitable comparisons to TOS only heightened the sense of derivative, unearned titillation, making the "jokes" land with a thud rather than a chuckle.

Consequently, The Naked Now was eviscerated upon release. Accusations of unoriginality were joined by potent charges of sexism, particularly regarding the portrayal of female characters (Crusher, Troi, Yar) primarily as objects of desire or instigators of sexual situations when intoxicated. The sheer absurdity of Data, a being explicitly defined by his lack of emotion and biological processes, succumbing to polywater intoxication was widely condemned as a fundamental violation of established character logic. The backlash was so severe that Fontana herself demanded her writing credit be removed under the pseudonym "J. Michael Bingham," a rare act of professional disavowal reflecting profound creative dissatisfaction. Similar sentiments were reportedly echoed behind the scenes by disgruntled crew members.

Yet, amidst the justified criticism, faint glimmers of merit emerge. Gates McFadden, an actress with strong comedic instincts reportedly frustrated by the initial lack of levity in her role, visibly relishes the rare opportunity to showcase Dr. Crusher’s intoxicated vulnerability and misguided romantic overtures. Her physical comedy and flustered delivery provide the episode’s most genuinely watchable moments. Furthermore, the Yar/Data encounter, however problematic in conception, undeniably became one of TNG’s most infamous and frequently discussed early moments. Its sheer audacity, coupled with the even more memorable epilogue where Yar tells Data that „it never happened” transcends the episode’s crass setup.

Ultimately, The Naked Now remains a significant misfire, a clumsy, unoriginal, and often cringe-inducing relic of TNG’s awkward adolescence. Its flaws – derivative plotting, poor characterisation, questionable sexual politics, and logical absurdities – are undeniable and severely hampered the series’ launch. Fontana’s disavowal and the audience’s scorn were entirely warranted. However, viewed not as a standalone piece but as a historical artefact within the broader, triumphant arc of The Next Generation, its status has subtly shifted. It is no longer merely a "worst episode" contender, but rather an endearing, if deeply flawed, piece of nostalgia. It captures a specific, uncertain moment before the show found its confident voice – a reminder of the messy, human process behind crafting what would become the franchise’s golden age.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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Im pritty sure that many people and I included though that this could be a really good movie and why? Easy answer Luc Besson was involved as a writer alongside George Huang who directed it, but you know more for Luc Besson, just for you to know he is the writer and director of two greatest movie in Hollywood ¨The Professional¨ and ¨The Fifth Element¨ and many more but now Im only going to mention this two, if you have time watch it are great and you will thank me, returning to this movie something that I thought is that this could be a new version of a Fast and the Furious because included one of his most beloved actor Sung Kang only that here he wasn´t part of a good family. The whole setup seemed perfect on paper, you got Luke Evans playing this DEA agent who goes undercover in Taiwan to take down Sung Kang's character who runs this big drug operation but then it turns into this weird family drama when Evans discovers his ex girlfriend is now married to the guy he's trying to arrest and they have a kid together this information let you know that things wont be easy for the agent and that is notice at the moment that you see the trailer with all those actions scenes and car chases through the streets of Taipei but even though all seems well done we can notice that the production team couldn´t decide if they wanted to make a serious crime thriller or some kind of family reunion movie with explosions and let me tell you something at the moment I knew that Luc Besson was part of this project I belived this could be something good because in almost of his movies he tries to give us interesting characters with this unique life and also though the same about Sung Kang because he always bring a unique way to play his characters but at the end it seems that so many ideas were taking and never fit together giving us at the end a really expensivie film but without heart.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28142896/
• Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Rottentomatoes Rating

Ok I know that when we have movies with explotions, chases, family issues and drugs in somehow you are going to see different moments that will show every situation but here in Weekedn in Taipei is so obvios that they couldn´t trace a line to connect everything in a perfect way theres to many storylines but you don´t see that any of those stories received the attention they deserve you got Evans character dealing with his past relationship drama while also trying to stay undercover and complete his mission, then there's this whole thing with the kid who finds out his real dad is the guy trying to arrest his stepdad and decides to steal some important files because he's upset about dolphins getting killed, oh my god this is one those part in the movie that came in and you get like What is going on? Really, he is going to steal something so important because now he is concern about the dolphins dying and is so easy for him to steal that from his dad (now stepdad), is like they needed an excuse and the most stupid one to make the kid commit the rob also Sung Kang's character is supposed to be this ruthless crime boss but he spends most of the movie acting like a concerned father figure who just happens to run a drug empire on the side, which might work if the script gave him more depth but instead he just comes across as this generic villain who occasionally shows emotion meanwhile Evans continue doing his best with what he's given but his character is like millions other agents that we have seen in many generic movies about agents in undercover mission nothing in this role making shine or special and in addition all that family drama with his exgirlfriend and new son is not deep enough to make us, the audience care about all that drama.

Always the best part of the movie are the action scenes,in Weekend in Taipei theres some cool action scenes but that are far away of being memorable but you at least can enjoy like this kitchen fight scene early on where Evans takes on multiple guys using various cooking utensils that should be exciting and at the beginning it was but it goes on way too long and starts feeling repetitive after the first few minutes you can think that they really effort and spent a lot of time creating this choreography but at the end you just get bored sometimes less is more another scene is the car chase through Taipei has some nice moments where you really get a sense of the city and its streets, but again it doesn't bring anything new to the table that we haven't seen done better in other movies just cars driving fast and occasionally crashing into things without any real sense of danger or excitement, if you are a person that has seen many movies with this kind of topic, you know that could be done in a better, another scene that Im still thinking that it supposed to be serious or more as a fun scene, it is about a violent moment mixed with almost comedic family drama that doesn´t combine at all, it feels that one again the production team didn´t know what to do and they just said ¨hey, lest do it violent and fun¨, everything about the movie feels rushed and poorly planned, like they run out of budget, time or emotion to continue with the project and decided to ended as quickly as possible.

I was really excited to see what this two directors will bring to the table with Weekend in Taipei but sometime things dont happen as expected and I do believe that this movie had the potential to be sometime way better of what I saw and I mention this because the movie premise was good, a federal agent undercover in an Asiatic country behind of a huge drug dealer discovering that his old love now is with this person and worst discovering that he has a son that has been raised all this time by this man, then you add all the luxury, luxury cars, the essence of other country no the classic views of America that is not wrong is just that the idea of see others countries in a movie is always cool, it sounds all good for me but the way it was done it was get me mad and more for the carrier Luc Besson with Sung Kang and Evans all sounded like a good movie but I was wrong. Sung Kang character was wasted with poor scene that only shows more are concerned dad than a real mafia king and Evans with his ex girlfriend issues that should be the center of the story because you know she hide that he has a son all the interaction between feels force instead of showing a real conflict between them and what they are facing inclusive all the setting of Taipei feels wasted because while you can see a beautiful city and doesn´t feel integrated or part of the story, looks more that an exotic place than a home, probably many people will say that Taipei is a really exotic place I have never been there but in this movie as I said doesn´t feel like a home for any of the characters.

I just feel disappointed, it seems that I have huge expectation about this movie just for the names that formed part of this movie but this is when we always think that a name is not everythign. Luc Besson great writer and director, Sung Kang and Luke Evans are good in what they do but this time there combination didn´t work and Im not saying this because they are bad in this movie I said because they tried to do the best they can with what they received, a poor script and poor direction instead of their characters seems like what they supposed to be, DEA agent against a mafia boss fighting in a beautiful city as Taipei chasing each other and in the middle another fight one to save his family and the other to keep it, this movie was less than exciting was just another movie. Even though I do have to recognize the action scenes were competent but not enough to cover up for the lack of family drama that feels forced and artificial and the whole thing just lacks the energy and creativity that you would expect from something with Luc Besson's involvement. I know that I might be overreacting but I think the internet got my back on this one saying its BBAAADDDD, you will think well is just another bad movie, yes probably it is but the point here is that good directors and a production team should always work in a path to bring something good to the audience.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #weekend, #taipei, #review, #action, #besson, #kang, #evans, #movie, #thriller, #undercover, #family, #drama, #disappointment, #choreography, #chase, #taiwan, #crime, #boss, #agent, #potential, #wasted, #casting, #script, #forgettable, #mediocre

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Bueno Speak No Evil 2024 me agarr desde el principio, más que nada porque lo primero que vas a escuchar online es que es un remake de la película danesa de hace unos años y mucha gente ya está decidida a comparar las dos. Yo traté de llegar sin ese peso encima, porque la verdad a veces estos remakes sorprenden o por lo menos te dan algo diferente de qué hablar aunque no la den al cien. Como que a los diez minutos de estar viendo la peli ya sabía más o menos para dónde iba la cosa, esa vibra incómoda está en cada escena y empecé a notar que las conversaciones entre las dos familias tenían algo raro y ya estaba esperando a ver en qué momento explotaba todo. James McAvoy lo hace demasiado bien aqui de verdad, yo ni sabía que el tipo podía pasar de ser gracioso a de repente ponerse tan loco que parece otra persona, va más más allá de lo espeluznante y lo hace sin tener que gritar ni hacer locuras, todo está en cómo mira en cómo se le queda una sonrisa pegada un segundo de más o en esos chistes que tira y que de repente dejan todo helado. Hay varias escenas donde la familia está comiendo hablando de lo más normal y después te das cuenta que estás aguantando la respiración porque no quieres perderte cuándo va a cambiar el tono de un solo golpe.

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Si vas pensando que va a ser una montaña rusa pues la verdad que tienes razón solo hasta la mitad, porque esta peli como que te hace una jugada de entrada. La primera hora me la pasé sufriendo de lo lenta que es, solo hablan y los chamos jodiendo y ya, la familia invitada va llenándose de nervios y pasan un montón de detallitos que parecen inocentes pero a la vez me preguntaba por qué carajos esta gente no se va ya. Todo el rollo es que una familia gringa conoce a una pareja inglesa en vacaciones, todos parecen normales, los niños se caen bien y luego los invitan a una granja para pasar el fin de semana y desde ese momento sabes que eso no va a terminar bien, pero la película te hace dudar un poquito si tal vez solo son raros y no hay peligro de verdad, solo mucha incomodidad social. Pero nada que ver porque ya para la última parte todo se vuelve bien serio muy rápido. El ritmo aquí si se pone bueno y te juro que la última media hora se siente rapidísima después de tanto esperar que pase algo creo que eso es lo que hace que todo funcione, porque para cuando estalla ya tu estás con los nervios destruidos.

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Claro eso de que tarda tanto en llegar la tensión al principio me molestó pero viéndolo en frío creo que es de lo mejor que tiene. Te da tanto tiempo de analizar a los personajes que al final ves cómo estos papás pasan de dudar si se van o no y no querer ser groseros a quedar completamente paralizados de miedo. Te provoca ganas de gritarle a la pantalla agarra a tu hija y vete de ahí jajaja pero a la vez entiendes por qué no lo hacen. Hay un montón aquí sobre esa gente que prefiere complacer que hacerle frente a una situación, que se van sacrificando con tal de no armar un alboroto y se nota como los anfitriones se aprovechan de eso, es algo incómodo y en un modo que asusta mucho más que cualquier película de terror donde te salte un monstruo. Ahora viene la parte donde sí me quedé con sentimientos encontrados, a mí me gusta mucho el terror pero también creo que si te vas muy hollywoodense con el final pierdes lo que lo hace especial. La ultima parte cambió mucho con respecto a la orignial se fueron por algo más no queremos traumarlos de por vida para el final y quizás hay gente que no le guste esto y lo entiendo pero bueno aunque no logró el mismo golpe de la original igual tiene lo suficiente para dejarme incómoda. Solo que me hubiese gustado que no fuera tan buenos contra malos porque el mensaje de la original era que a veces el mal vence porque la gente buena es demasiado educada o tiene miedo de decir la verdad o defenderse. Aquí parece que al final quieren que todo el mundo salga tranquilo.

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En cuanto a la dirección está muy buena James Watkins sabe cómo mantener todo bien apretado hasta que importa y hay un montón de detalles pequeños como cuando le bajan el volumen al sonido de golpe o cuando dejan que el silencio pese y pese hasta que te da pena ajena. La música no es ruidosa pero sí te mantiene así como uinquito y hay que reconocer que no llenaron la peli de sobresaltos innecesarios, lo más feo está en las incomodidades sociales esos comentarios que duelen o los chistes raros donde no sabes si reírte o salir corriendo. El humor es algo raro y la parte visual está bien el campo inglés se ve tan bonito que hasta me hizo querer visitar el lugar hasta que las cosas se tuercen. El que sale volando con su actuación es McAvoy, eso sí cada vez que aparecía pensaba quien te hizo tanto daño para que puedas actuar tan enfermo jajaja, tiene esa cosa de ser totalmente normal, hasta simpático pero un segundo después crees que es capaz de cualquier cosa horrible. Mantiene todo el caos a flor de piel y nunca sabes con que va a salir y para una peli así es perfecto. Los demás también cumplen no vi ningún punto bajo, algo que es raro con pura gente sentada hablando. Lo que si tengo que decir es que si te gusta el gore o el terror puro, puede que esta peli te parezca suave pero si buscas tensión y buenas actuaciones e incomodidad verdadera te va a gustar bastante.

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Ya viendo todo Speak No Evil me dejó dándole vueltas después de terminar de verla y eso casi nunca me pasa, más con los supuestos thrillers de ahora que parecen todos iguales. Esta es una de esas pelis que se la pasa avisándote que veas las señales, como quien dice confía en tu instinto que nunca falla porque después te muestra lo fácil que es ignorarlas y lo que puede pasar si lo haces. Para mí está en el rango alto de lo que pueden ser estas pelis de terror psicológico lento, aunque sí me hubiera gustado que no jugaran tan seguro al final, porque se pierde ese toque de la original. Pero el ambiente, las actuaciones y todos esos momentos donde uno siente pura ansiedad valen la pena, más si ves que pueds aguantar una hora y media de tensión y pena ajena corrida. Después de verla me quedé así como inquieta y quizas esa la idea. Yo le doy un 7.5/10 y aunque el último golpe no fue tan fuerte como lo esperaba sí pegó suficiente, definitivamente no es una peli para cualquiera ni es de esas peli de terror para pasar el rato, aquí la tensión sube lento y te hace incomodar bastante, si decides meterla en tu lista vamos a ver cuánto aguantas sin querer gritarle a la pantalla.

[ENGLISH VERSION]

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Well Speak No Evil 2024 grabbed me from the beginning, mostly because the first thing you'll hear online is that it's a remake of the Danish film from a few years ago and many people are already determined to compare the two. I tried to arrive without that weight on top, because the truth is that sometimes these remakes surprise or at least give you something different to talk about even if they don't give it a hundred percent. Like ten minutes into the movie I knew more or less where it was going, that uncomfortable vibe is in every scene and I started to notice that the conversations between the two families had something weird going on and I was already waiting to see when it would all explode. James McAvoy does it too well here really, I didn't even know the guy could go from being funny to suddenly get so crazy that he looks like someone else, he goes beyond creepy and does it without having to yell or do crazy things, it's all in how he looks, how he smiles for a second too long or in those jokes he throws out that suddenly leave everything frozen. There are several scenes where the family is eating and talking about the most normal things and then you realize that you're holding your breath because you don't want to miss when the tone is going to change all at once.

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If you're thinking it's going to be a roller coaster ride then you're right only until halfway through, because this movie kind of plays a trick on you right off the bat. The first hour I spent suffering from how slow it is, just talking and the kids screwing around, the invited family is getting on my nerves and a lot of little details happen that seem innocent but at the same time I wondered why the fuck these people don't leave already. The whole thing is that a gringo family meets an English couple on vacation, everyone seems normal, the kids like each other and then they invite them to a farm to spend the weekend and from that moment you know it's not going to end well, but the movie makes you doubt a little bit if maybe they are just weird and there is no real danger, just a lot of social awkwardness. But nothing to see because by the last part everything becomes very serious very fast. The pacing gets good here and I swear the last half hour feels really fast after waiting so long for something to happen, I think that's what makes it all work, because by the time it starts you're already on edge.

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Of course, the fact that it takes so long for the tension to build at first bothered me, but looking at it cold, I think it's one of the best things about it. It gives you so much time to analyze the characters that at the end you see how these dads go from hesitating whether to leave or not and not wanting to be rude to being completely paralyzed with fear. It makes you want to scream at the screen grab your daughter and get out of there hahaha but at the same time you understand why they don't. There's a lot here about people who would rather please than deal with a situation, who sacrifice themselves in order not to make a fuss and you can see how the hosts take advantage of that, it's uncomfortable and in a way that's much scarier than any horror movie where a monster jumps out at you. Now comes the part where I was left with mixed feelings, I really like horror but I also think that if you go too Hollywood with the ending you lose what makes it special. The last part changed a lot with respect to the orignial one, they went for something else, we don't want to traumatize them for life for the end and maybe there are people who don't like this and I understand it but even though it didn't achieve the same impact of the original it still has enough to make me uncomfortable. I just wish it hadn't been so good vs. bad because the message of the original was that sometimes evil wins because good people are too polite or afraid to tell the truth or stand up for themselves. Here it seems like in the end they want everyone to go out quietly.

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As for the direction it's very good James Watkins knows how to keep everything tight until it matters and there are a lot of little details like when they turn down the sound all at once or when they let the silence weigh and weigh until you feel sorry for it. The music isn't loud but it does keep you like a little bit of a uinquito and you have to recognize that they didn't fill the movie with unnecessary jolts, the ugliest thing is in the social awkwardness, those comments that hurt or the weird jokes where you don't know whether to laugh or run away. The humor is kind of weird and the visuals are fine the English countryside looks so pretty it even made me want to visit the place until things go awry. The one that flies out with his acting is McAvoy, mind you every time he appeared I thought who hurt you so much so you can act so sick hahaha, he has that thing of being totally normal, even likeable but a second later you think he's capable of anything horrible. He keeps all the chaos going and you never know what he's going to come out with and for a movie like this he's perfect. The others also deliver I didn't see any low points, something that is rare with pure people sitting around talking. What I do have to say is that if you like gore or pure horror, you might find this movie mild but if you are looking for tension and good performances and real discomfort you will like it quite a bit.

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Already seeing everything Speak No Evil left me scratching my head after I finished watching it and that almost never happens to me, more so with supposed thrillers nowadays that all seem to be the same. This is one of those movies that keeps warning you to watch for the signs, as if to say it trusts your instinct that never fails because then it shows you how easy it is to ignore them and what can happen if you do. For me it's in the high range of what these slow psychological horror movies can be, although I would have liked that they didn't play it so safe at the end, because it loses that touch of the original. But the atmosphere, the performances and all those moments where you feel pure anxiety are worth it, especially if you see that you can endure an hour and a half of tension and running grief. After watching it I was kind of uneasy and maybe that's the idea. I give it a 7.5/10 and although the last blow was not as strong as I expected it did hit enough, it is definitely not a movie for everyone nor is it one of those horror movies to pass the time, here the tension rises slowly and makes you uncomfortable enough, if you decide to put it on your list let's see how much you can stand without wanting to scream at the screen.

TranslatedwithDeepL 

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"Jujutsu Kaisen" premiered in late 2020, it became popular in a short time and came out as one of the most talked-about anime of the year which is for a good reason. It is Adapted from Gege Akutami’s manga and the season one is animated by MAPPA. It lived up to its hype unexpectedly and has set a new standard for shōnen anime. Because of its memorable characters, perfect blend of fluid animation and high-stakes storytelling, another plus point is an unique world of curses and sorcery. Season one contains 24 episodes, it is one of the best anime I have encountered and I have added this to my top 10 anime list.

Plot and Storytelling

The story begins with Yuji Itadori, who is a high school student with amazing physical abilities but he has no fixed direction in life. Things started to change dramatically when he had to encounter a cursed object. The cursed object is Sukuna’s finger which draws curses into his school. His friends were in trouble because they were carrying the cursed object of Sukuna and Yuji wanted to protect his friends, so he had to swallow the finger of Sukuna and unwilling became the host of Ryomen Sukuna, who is the King of Curses. Now Yuji's body was taken over by Sukuna and he was supposed to get executed but the Jujutsu sorcerers, led by the enigmatic Satoru Gojo arrived meanwhile Yuji overpowered Sukuna and got back into his own body. Gojo decided to give Yuji a choice, one of them is that he has to join Tokyo Jujutsu High and help them find the remaining cursed fingers of Sukuna, or he will get eliminated immediately....

To be honest Yuji is much better than other shōnen protagonists who has blindly chosen to chase power, Yuji’s motive is to let people die properly and not in fear. This adds an emotional depth to his character and adds deeper importance to every fight.

Characters

Each characters are one of the strongest assets of Jujutsu Kaisen. Yuji is emotionally grounded, witty, good hearted and a refreshing protagonist. He is surrounded by an equally compelling cast. Nobara Kugisaki is unlike the typical female characters she is fierce and independent. On the other hand Megumi Fushiguro's character has intelligence, stoicism and hidden vulnerability. Together, they form one of the best trio and their chemistry brings a perfect balance to the heavy storyline.

Then, there is Satoru Gojo with his carefree personality and over powered abilities which made him the iconic mentors of the most animes. He is both terrifying and comic relief. Gojo changes himself when the situation demands, it's like he knows when to act as his role. He dominates every scene he’s in with his intriguing charisma, but he never has overshadowed the growth of the main trio. Which I feel is a good thing for the show.

The villains are the most intriguing such as Sukuna even though he is inhabiting Yuji’s body, his presence is a living horror, his unpredictable nature and cruelty always keeps the viewers on edge. The cursed spirits such as Jogo, Hanami and Mahito are not only mindless monsters but also intelligent antagonists with chilling philosophies. Particularly Mahito is one of the most disturbing yet a fascinating villain amongst other villains.

Animation and Fight Sequences

To be honest I have always been a big fan of MAPPA’s animation and they deserves a special praise. Every fight scene in "Jujutsu Kaisen" is a visually incredible. The choreography of the attacks, fluidity and attention to details of each battle is beyond typical action anime. Their fight is not only stylish but also brutal and emotionally satisfying. Also, I can not forget to mention about Gojo’s domain expansion, “Infinite Void,” which is one of the most breathtaking sequences in modern anime. The use of domain expansions cursed techniques adds a fierce element to fights, which makes them look more attention grabbing. The battles are totally engaging and unpredictable.

Themes and Emotional Depth

"Jujutsu Kaisen" shines with it's different kind of themes such as fear, meaning and death. Well, the struggle of Yuji with his desire to provide people dignified deaths and mortality adds an intense emotional layer to the storyline.

The anime even explores the thin line between monsters and human beings. The antagonist's such as Mahito, his manipulation reflects how fragile human beings identity can be, while Yuji struggles to deal with the most dangerous maniac Sukuna who lives inside him. These psychological undertones has deepen the story of the anime.

Soundtrack

I personally have felt that the soundtrack has enhanced every scene, most of the fighting scenes looked mesmerizing because of it and adrenaline-pumping beats in battle. The opening theme, “Kaikai Kitan” by Eve, is one of my favourite.

Final Thoughts

Well, in my opinion "Jujutsu Kaisen" season one is more than a shōnen anime. The concept of curses, sorcerers, friendship, balance between heart-pounding action and emotional storytelling is mind-blowing. MAPPA’s stunning animation has made it successful. It got hype for it's quality storytelling so I would never say it's over-hyped because I do not believe that.

For newcomers to anime, "Jujutsu Kaisen" is a perfect choice to begin with. For seasoned fans, it can give thrills and emotional weight. Season one leaves viewers with satisfaction and wanting more from the next season. The Season one is an anime that will be remembered for years to come. So, if you still have not watched this anime yet then this a sign to start watching it. I am really excited for the new season and willing to share more of my experiences with you guys. Don't miss this master piece currently it has 2 season and season 3 is expected to arrive in 2026 and I hope the time passes very soon. My ratings for this anime is 10 out of 10.

_{Here is the trailer}

Instagram _{Translation by Google Translate Images are from IMDB Thumbnail source}

Thanks For Reading!

Whenever I remember Modern Family I can't stop but always still laughing and shaking my head about all the madness.

So Modern Family is one of those shows that feels less like you’re “watching TV” and more like you’re peeking through the blinds into somebody’s house. Like, you’re not supposed to be there, but you just can’t look away. It follows three families, but they’re all tangled up together: Jay (the old-school dad), his much younger Colombian wife Gloria, and her fiery son Manny; then there’s Jay’s daughter Claire with her husband Phil (the goofy, dad-joke king) and their three kids; and finally Jay’s son Mitchell and his partner Cameron, who are raising their adopted daughter.

The funny thing is—it’s not just the comedy that gets me, it’s how real the chaos feels. Like that episode where Claire is running for town council, and Phil decides to “help” by making one of his cringe campaign videos… I was dying of second-hand embarrassment. I swear, if I were Claire, I’d have strangled him right there. But then—Phil gives one of his unexpectedly sweet speeches, and suddenly I’m like, damn, this man’s a disaster, but he loves her so deeply.

And Gloria? Oh my God, Gloria. The way she screams at people in her heavy accent, threatening violence but also trying to be classy—it kills me. Permit me to say I fell more in love and addicted to the movie because of her character, Spanish accent and the way she always gets her English wrong 😁. There’s this one scene where she’s upset that Jay isn’t being romantic enough, so she’s yelling in Spanish while smashing something in the kitchen, and Jay just sits there with his whiskey like, “I don’t even know what I did.” And Manny—her son—acts like he’s 45 trapped in a little boy’s body, sipping coffee, writing poetry about heartbreak at age 12. That dynamic had me cracking up but also weirdly reflecting on how kids sometimes grow up too fast because of what they see at home.

And betrayals and crazy little turns of this family? Whew. Such as when Claire and Phil accidentally enter their daughter Haley at the most awkward time possible, and instead of being the cool parents that they believed they were, they simply panic out of control. Or when Mitchell and Cam begin squabbling about who is the more decent parent and as a result they lose Lily in a carnival. I had the feeling of my heart in my throat-I mean, I am laughing one moment, the next I am actually nervous about that little girl.

Then, the great emotive thwacks come up when you are least prepared. Similar to the wedding episode, with Cam and Mitchell, where everything that could go wrong, kept threatening to spoil their special day. I was snickering at the cows running away, the car stalling, Gloria running around screaming--but then when they finally said their vows I got the tears. It occurred to me how visible their love affair was, particularly at a time when same-sex marriage on TV did not have this sort of warmth shown to them. This was that sort of moment when I went, Oh sh*t, this isn’t just an entertainment piece, this is history with a laugh track.

To be quite honest, what really resonated with me is how Modern Family makes me evaluate my own family. You know, all of us have that mix of mess, affection, misunderstanding, and salvation. I, too, am stubborn at times like Jay. There are times when I am over controlling like Claire as well. And sometimes, embarrassingly, I’m Phil--telling jokes that no one thinks are funny except me. Seeing them is like contending in front of a mirror that makes you laugh at the imperfections in yourself, rather than crying about them.

So yeah, Modern Family is more than a sitcom to me. It is the therapy made to look like comedy. It is dirty, noisy, humorous and brutally true. And perhaps that is the reason it grates on me, because although I am bent over in laughter there is always that little pinch of reality: Uh-oh, that is me.

Do you remember when Jay has that health scare? The moment when the sometimes rough around the edges patriarch (who always dismisses emotions with a grunt or a sarcastic remark) turns out not quite so invulnerable? The entire family congregates and it is the first time in a long time, that the laughter dies away. Gloria is attempting to be strong, yet you can see her eyes move around as though she is picturing how life would be without him-and it feels like it punches you in the gut. When Manny takes a step forward, fumbling around and trying not to make a big deal out of it, to distract her, that was one of those scenes where I just had to hold my breath and think, man, these two can be the most frustrating people ever, but they can not live with each other.

Or what of that episode where the mother of Phil dies? That one crushed me Phil, the perpetual doofus, the dad-joke generator, now completely devoid of his comedic stunts, is just plain silent sorrow. He reads through the letter she left him, and you can not be hard enough to not feel that pain. When he attempts to impart his knowledge to his children, intoxicating them with his goofy affection and her last request, it was as if the entire tone of the show changed slightly out of time. The episode stayed with me because it reminded me of something we do not often consider when we laugh at their adventures: time passes, people go, and families have to cling to each other with the losses.

Then there are the big rare all-in family moments- the ones that sneak up on you after the chaos. As it was when Haley was in the hospital, and all of them came, with their legs in the wrong place and their voices too loud, but you could tell they were scared to the bone. Or when Mitch and Cam finally adopt Lily, and the entire family, despite all the joking, jammed hugs and minor drama, wraps around them with this unspoken feeling of, we are a family. At those times it was like a gut-check. You could laugh one moment at Cam being so dramatic and the next moment you could find yourself fighting back tears because you understand- that is what it means to have a place, to have people who will not give up on you no matter how bad things are.

These are the episodes that stuck in my chest as far as Modern Family is concerned. It was a brilliant comedy, sure. The riot was fun. Yet the heartbeats were those rare silences--the waiting rooms of hospitals, the funerals, the departures--those were the heartbeats. They reminded me of how even the funniest, loudest families still live under the same truth that we all live under: love is fragile, people are mortal and laughter often masks how afraid we are of losing each other. Perhaps that is why I kept returning there, it was not only the jokes. It was about being reminded that, despite all the noise, everybody is just desperately trying to hold on to their people as long as they can.

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Sword Art Online is one anime that piqued my interest from the first episode till the last. Of course, there were some unnecessary scenes, but in general, the anime impressed me a lot. I have a long-list of anime to watch and interestingly, Sword Art Online is not the next on the list. I stumbled upon it by chance and it caught my attention and then I proceeded to download it. I don’t know what other anime lovers are saying out there, but this one right here is an underrated anime. It is like a gem that has not been discovered by many people. The anime is set in the year 2022 when everyone was obsessed with video games. In the midst of all other video games, a particular virtual reality game called Sword Art Online is released. 

This game is not your usual VR game. Players have to wear a headset called Nerve gear which transports them into the game, so they are physically present in it. They play the game as their own characters. You don’t feel physical pain in the game and you can long out anytime you want. Well, not until the creator of the game, Akihito Kayaba changes the whole narrative. The players soon realize that the logout button is missing. Akihito Kayaba appears to them in the game and reveals shocking information; the players are tapped in the game, meaning they cannot log out and the only way to complete the game is to clear all 100 floors of the floating castle. What is more concerning is that if the players die in the game, they also die in real life. 

[Source](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2250192/mediaviewer/rm3625351424/?ref_=ttmi_mi_33_2)

The anime revolves around Kirito, one of the players who is trapped in the game. He is a solo player who goes around leveling up and getting stronger. As the story progresses, Kirito finds himself in the midst of friends. Unfortunately, he lost his squad; people who were close to him and genuinely cared about him. Will Kirito and the other players manage to clear all 100 floors? How many people will they have to lose to the monsters for them to finally reach the 100th floor? Watch the anime to find out. 

[Source](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2250192/mediaviewer/rm2386741505/?ref_=ttmi_mi_14_1)

One thing I love about Sword Art online is that it blends both action and romance. I’m more into action-themed anime than romance themed anime. But I love it more when both niches blend. Sword Art Online primarily focuses on leveling up, defeating monsters and trying to complete the game. However, in the midst of this, there are beautiful love stories. For example, Kirito meets Asuna, a beautiful and intelligent player, and establishes a relationship with her. Not only does she help in battles, she also becomes his reason to live. 

I also like the fact that Kirito, the main character, is not overpowered. That would have ruined the whole thing. I totally enjoyed watching Sword Art Online and I recommend it to other anime lovers. 

Have you seen this anime? What are your thoughts on it? 

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Thanks for reading. 

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