Altered Carbon: Season 1 - Thoughts

It's been a while since I've seen a show as intriguing and gripping as Altered Carbon. From the promo material I got the sense that it was worth checking out, as I usually enjoy sci-fi. From the get go it grabbed my attention, and at the end of the first episode left me longing for more. The premise of the future is interesting, while not completely new. The city, its dark moods, neon lights, and pace, somewhat reminded me of Blade Runner, while the interrogation constructs felt more like The Matrix. Some elements of the sci-fi world were new, like the Stack and Sleeve concept; but I'll leave that for you to watch and figure that out.

What differentiates Altered Carbon from several of the other sci-fi action shows is that its ongoing plot is really quite intricate, and requires some serious following. It's not necessarily something you can casually multi-task and watch. While I won't put it at the complexity of say True Detective, its somewhat there in its plot depth. The individual episodes all work towards creating the bigger picture, while not really being mini sub-plots like some other shows.  As the show kicks off, there are several backstory aspects that feel like they're missing; but rest assured that over the course of the season, everything gets covered decisively.

Most actors are new, and surprisingly pretty decent. The characters develop well with the plot, with the performances doing apt justice. Even the AI character was likeable. While there is an expected attraction, leading to a romance between the lead characters, it doesn’t come across as corny, and serves as an otherwise expected component.

For a sci-fi fan, what Altered Carbon delivers is a well thought out, intricate plot, that manages to stay mysterious, interesting and entertaining through its 10-episode length. With a satisfying number of gadgets and tech, coupled with good action, and supporting visual / sound effects, it makes for a great sci-fi watch; easily the best on TV right now.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (Futuristic sci-fi at its very best)

Coco - Snapshot

Released late in 2017, Coco made most of the 'top movies of year' lists. Having been blown away by Inside Out, I waited for the Bluray release of Coco, and got my hands on a high bitrate 1080p HD rip, with a 7.1 channel, DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack. 

It's fair to say that expectations were high, and as with movies before it, Pixar didn’t fail to impress. Coco is themed around the Day of The Dead culture in Mexico, and at the core is about family. The narrative also touches upon aspects of aspirations, choices, and ties it all together with music. The presentation is lively, colorful, and the 3D animation is beautiful. The characters are very likable, and the story is really heartwarming. Some of the closing moments were really emotional, and I can see why many reviewers have said that they were in tears. The DTS soundtrack was absolutely amazing, and on a good surround home-theatre comes alive; making for a high-energy setting, with noticeable use of surround, and crisp sound effects. 

While I won't put it in the same league as Inside Out, because that took creativity to another level, Coco makes for great family entertainment. Kids will love it, and adults should find it light and entertaining. No surprises as to why it won the Oscar for best animated feature of 2017.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Mexico, Music, and all that good stuff)

Children of Men - Snapshot

An interesting take on the future, questioning perhaps what we all take for granted… What if child birth indeed becomes impossible?

Set in the UK, the movie has an appropriately British feel to it. At its heart it’s a drama, thriller; so expect for several slower conversational and inter-personal drama elements, while navigating the bigger world-crisis plot. Though just a few, the intensity and reality of the action scenes are great, the bike chase and crash scene being a good example. Rather than going with a traditional build-up, and entertainment focused action, opting for a 'plunged into crisis' sorta perspective. The life in the warzone later in the movie is also phenomenal; creating for a setting that feels literally chaotic, with gritty in your face explosions. Performances from the leads characters played by Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine are good, helping keep the slower deeper aspects of the narrative tight. If you're into post-apocalyptic themes, which aren't purely action packed, Children of Men is worth the watch.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A post-apocalyptic thriller with a twist)

Fate of the Furious - Snapshot

What started out as an illegal street racing flick for petrol head's, over one and a half decades has transformed itself into a full-blown action blockbuster franchise, taking on the world's deadliest criminals, and cyber villains. In the Fate of the Furious, Dominic Toretto goes rogue, aligning himself with a mysterious terrorist, while Hobbs and the rest of the team try to stop them.

Between franchise writer Chris Morgan, Universal Studios, and the producers including Vin Diesel, they've figured out a successful formula that can be rehashed without end. What's even more intriguing is that in large part it works. While the plots change, and new villains are introduced, the team, the plan, and the impossible antics in cars remain constant. For Fate of the Furious, there's a good deal of well-choreographed car chase sequences, with the hacked car sequence being a new addition, one which was visually lasting. The game is certainly taken up a few notches, from tanks in previous installments to a gargantuan nuclear submarine in this installment; nothing unexpected though if you've watched the trailers. From a narrative perspective, Fast & the Furious is becoming an action soap opera, re-introducing old characters, giving them slightly modified roles, but keeping them all in the mix. Also notable is the slow assembling of an elite squad, similar to Sly's band of brothers in The Expendables movies; regular cast heavyweights now including Vin Diesel, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and Jason Statham. All of this predictability, coupled with the clearly impossible circumstances, would point towards sure failure, but surprisingly results in an entertainment extravaganza like no other. With the right amount of action, humor, and cool cars, it's not surprising that Fate of the Furious set the global box office record, earning an estimated $532.5 million worldwide in its opening weekend. With that, the Fast & Furious franchise is one of Universal's most successful, grossing over $4.4 billion to date. As a viewer, if you can overlook the sometimes-failed logic, and overly macho dialog, you can expect to be supremely entertained!

My Recommendation: Watch It + (High speed entertainment, now on ice)

Find Me Guilty - Snapshot

I hadn't heard of Find Me Guilty, but it came highly recommended from someone with an eye for quality movies, so I made sure to get my hands on it, and check it out. The movie is a court room drama, based on true events surrounding the longest every mafia trial in US history. The plot follows Jack DiNorscio, a mobster with impeccable integrity, who defends himself, in a seemingly impossible case, with the odds stacked against him.

The lead role of Jackie D, is played by Vin Diesel, which is a huge departure from his usual bad-ass, action hero performances. The narrative rests heavily on his character and his performance is just fabulous.  Historically, Jacky D was a lovable character, who won the hearts of the jury and the public, and in keeping with that, Vin Diesel delivers a Jackie D, who from his smile, mannerisms, and dialog delivery, is truly warm, and all heart. If anyone was under the impression that Vin Diesel was all about crazy, modern, in your face, action roles, guess again. His standout performance in Find Me Guilty, is testimony to his acting chops. Other memorable supporting acts include Ron Silver who plays the judge, and Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones Fame. Expect great character dynamics, and solid acting, adding a level of intensity to even simple scenes. Though the movie starts of a little slow, it becomes incredibly gripping as it develops. The closing moments are downright emotional. The jazz music that plays throughout in the background is a nice touch, adding to the setting and context of the period. The 6 channel DTS surround soundtrack serves the movie well, creating a fitting courtroom ambience, and ensuring clear dialog delivery from the center channel. If you enjoy courtroom dramas, you'll love Find Me Guilty. It should come as no surprise that the man who brought us 12 Angry Men in 1957, continues to blow us away in this genre. Kudos to Sidney Lumet for yet another work of art. 

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (A courtroom masterpiece, both in terms of direction and performance)

Cyborg X - Snapshot

I decided to check out Cyborg X after seeing some of its promo material; I figured it could make for an off-beat yet interesting sci-fi action movie, like say TC 2000 from 1993.  The plot sounded interesting enough, with weapon manufacturers, cyber viruses, and the battle for humanity.

Sadly, after dragging myself through one and a half hours of drudgery, it was clear that the movie was yet another, low budget, forgettable, TV movie. The plot borrowed elements from the Terminator franchise, with machines supposedly having taken over. Some scenes were literally replicated, like say the carpet of skulls, which is a usual in the opening sequences of most Terminator movies. The execution was also poor, with boring action sequences, and terrible effects. The combat logic was also skewed; in some instances, the cyborgs were made out to be indestructible, but the protagonists would pointlessly waste rounds of ammo on them. But in some other circumstances, they could plainly be taken down. The worst part was the god-awful dialog; Cyborg-X takes the cake for perhaps one of the worst scripts ever. Every verbal exchange was cliché and stereotype. While at times it felt like a spoof, the attempt at keeping it serious was deplorable. Besides the end of the world plot component, the narrative also touches upon a grieving mom, and her assuming a maternal figure of sorts. Sadly, it felt very artificial, and didn’t seem to fit in to the overall story. There was a good deal of dismembering and gore, which was probably aimed at viewers hoping for some slasher sorta appeal. Performances were hopeless, and even Danny Trejo, and top billed Eve Mauro, couldn’t save Cyborg X. Music was the only decent facet, with it setting the mood appropriately at times. The video I was sampling was a DVD rip. Picture was just okay, but audio was terrible; over emphasized bass, which for most part was out of control. Though it was a Dolby Digital AC3 soundtrack, there was no valid use of surround.

My Recommendation: Skip It (A post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, action flick that deserves to be forgotten).

Independence Day: Resurgence - Snapshot

The return of the Independence Day franchise to the big screen, made for easily my most anticipated movie of the year. After all, the original Independence Day from 1996, was one of my all-time best sci-fi action blockbusters.  I'd watched all the trailers as they became available, and also the customary preparatory re-watch of the original, a day before my weekend at the theatre. My expectations were high, but I was fairly certain I'd enjoy it. It's been 20 years, both for me and in terms of the plot, and the ruthless aliens were back to exact vengeance on the human race…. 

As the movie got underway, what stood out most was the very different pace. Things were a lot more relaxed and audiences were eased into past familiarities. Almost everyone from the original cast were back, to drive the narrative; albeit in older or grown-up avatars. The only exception being the Jake Morrison character played by Liam Hemsworth, who was a new addition. While he did an okay job, for me it was Jeff Goldblum in his David Levinson role that remained to be the most interesting; closely followed by Bill Pullman as President Whitmore. The plot expanded on the original, adding all the usual elements of sequels; be it bigger alien space ships, more advanced tech, larger scale chaos, and such. The movie retains the same brand of humor woven into the narrative, being very much in line with the original. The level of detail into the aliens is increased, making for better understanding, while also satisfying the sci-fi aficionados. It also helped develop the scope for an ongoing franchise versus a single standalone movie; heck, who wouldn’t wanna see more ID4. As expected of Rolland Emmerich, Independence Day: Resurgence is an all-out special effects extravaganza; the effects look superb, and the scale of destructive chaos is truly mammoth. If you're a fan of the original, or love big budget, sci-fi action movies, you can't not enjoy this sequel. While it fails to wow audiences the way the original did 2 decades ago, Its very entertaining, and totally worth its 2 hour runtime.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A long awaited sequel to the beloved 90's sci-fi blockbuster ID4)

Independence Day - Snapshot

Roland Emmerich's Independence Day is easily one of the most memorable sci-fi alien action blockbusters of all time. I remember seeing it at the time of its release in 1996 in the theatre, with a classmate from high-school.  I recall that both of us where amazed by the movie, and kept talking about it for several days after. With the sequel upon us, it was about time to re-visit the original. Firing it up, I was quickly drawn in, and in familiar territory. The movie's pacing is just brilliant. From the opening sequence, it's incredibly engaging, and literally non-stop. Viewers can expect to be gripped and thrilled, all the way through to the 1 hour 15 minute mark, which is quite a feat. Its only after that, that the plot slows down a little. That said, even post there are a good deal of fast paced action scenes. Easily it's one of the most well planned narratives ever; 2 and half hour of entertainment, visual effects, and fun. From the get go there is some humor in the scenes and dialog, helping keep things light, in the face of looming disaster. The movie has a gripping orchestral soundtrack that reminded me of Spielberg movies such as Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. Though I'd expect that most people have probably seen the movie, in an effort to avoid spoilers, let's just say that the alien energy weapon and its weakness is very reminiscent of the logic explained for the weapon of mass destruction in the recent Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie.  Effects do look noticeably dated, but that aside, it's still an awesome sci-fi blockbuster. Great performances all round, from Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica Fox, and Margaret Colin. The characters are interesting, and though a tad stereotype, they're likable. Independency Day is undoubtedly one of Roland Emmerich's best movies. There were some obvious goofs, and some poor acting from extras, but outside of that, there's little to complain about. Sound effects are really impressive, even the opening titles have some neat use of 5.1 surround. The content I was sampling was a Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 4 gig Bluray rip. While I usually prefer higher bitrate, it wasn’t bad. Even 2 decades later, Independence Day made for a solid watch. It's Incredibly entertaining, features some really good action, and is set in an intriguing sci-fi premise.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (An all-time great sci-fi action blockbuster)

Earthfall - Snapshot

I came across Earthfall as part of my movie research on IMDB. From the plot it looked like a TV movie, based on elements from disaster movies such as 2012, and Armageddon. Notwithstanding its low rating, I decided to get my hands on it and check out it. As someone who loves sci-fi movies, I was hopeful; budget constraints may hamper a star cast and expensive special effects, but could still yield a refreshing sci-fi flick.

Boy was I let down! Earthfall ended up being a very draggy, low budget TV movie, with poor special effects, and even the scientific rationale provided in dialog, made no sense. The narrative was disconnected, and though under 1 and a half hours long, it felt slow, long, and I found myself nodding off on multiple occasions. In terms of the characterization, there are obvious stereotypes; some immature teenage kids, some bad elements, a funny side kick to the lead, a family with little time for each other, owing to busy demanding work life's. As with bigger disaster movies, there is a government defense initiative, but how the planned solution was to work, was not clear. Overall, Earthfall was very un-engaging. The copy I sampled was a 3 gig HD rip, from a Digital Web source. Video was good, with picture being clear with good definition. The sound-mix was a Dolby Digital AC3 6 channel track, though there was no memorable use of surround or positional sound.

My Recommendation: Skip It (A disastrous, poorly thought through low budget disaster movie)

X-Men: Apocalypse - Snapshot

I was looking forward to X-Men: Apocalypse, and in usual tradition I set out to re-watch all 7 previous movies in the franchise, in preparation. Fresh with the knowledge of the entire X-Men movie timeline, I proceeded for the IMAX experience of Apocalypse. The opening credits sequence is true to the X-Men movie style, now with a little Egyptian Pyramid flavor, keeping in context with the theme. The 3D presentation of these opening credits are well worth the 3D moniker, truly drawing in the audience; on IMAX it was amazing. The narrative sets things up well, and plays out beautifully. One of the major successes of the franchise is keeping the timeline under control, aiding in the various movies seamlessly working with each other. While there are some questions if you really analyze things, they are miniscule at most. This may not seem like a big deal, but there have been past sci-fi entertainment efforts that have totally blown it in this department, the original Heroes TV series being a classic example. Beyond the first season it became pointless, owing to poorly managed time travel powers, making everything fairly pointless and irrelevant. Director Bryan Singer and writer Simon Kinberg deserve to be applauded, as the X-Men movies magically maintain the past, present, future, including various changes and iterations. What started with X-Men: First Class, in the sense of origins and backstories, continues with this movie. More new characters are introduced, and work their way closer to a future audiences are familiar with. The feeling of being able to relate, is truly rewarding for the viewer. The scale of the destruction is massive, in line with the absolute power that is the new Apocalypse character. As with old movies, Magneto has a key role; though it would have been nice to see the plot not have to rely on him as much. We welcome back Quicksilver, who contributes to perhaps the most standout scene is the movie. Supported by the music of Eurythmic's Sweet Dreams, the slow-motion montage combines memorable elements, including special effects, an effective story board, and narrative humor. Where the movie slightly disappoints is the action sequences; there are hardly any notable ones.  Mid-movie there is a nice little character appearance, without which perhaps the movie would have been incomplete as an X-Men movie. Being the 8th installment, its easily one of the longest running movie series, and kudos to the studio for managing to successfully sell another X-Men movie. In conclusion, while X-Men: Apocalypse failed to wow me, it was a great watch, and a great action flick.

My Recommendation: Watch It+ (16 years and going strong, with more X-Men to be Xpected)

Last Vegas - Snapshot

Last Vegas came highly recommended from a friend, so I decided to check it out recently and was blown away by how awesome it was. It replicates the Hangover formula, but rather than being a cheesy rip-off, it’s a classy comedy act. It retains the dynamic of the group of guy friends going to Vegas for a bachelor party, but swaps out the 30 something guys for an ensemble of legends in their 70's. The cast includes Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. In true Vegas fashion, there are crazy parties, hot women, and celebrity cameo's including 50 Cent and LMFAO. In addition to the humor, the movie also has its share of deeper elements, including good core values, a positive depiction of senior citizens, friendship, love, and life's realities and complexities. The age thread is woven into the narrative well, in a sense that enhances the humor and the plot. It goes without saying that the 4 leads performances are superb, resulting in perhaps what was a true gold-class, comedy experience. The content I sampled was a high bitrate 1080p Bluray rip, with a DTS soundtrack. Video was clear and bright, and had a similar vibrant presentation to the Hangover movies. Sound was peppy, as expected with such movies, with loud bass and dance music during the scene transitions, ensuring a lively viewer experience.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (A Hangover rehash that plays the age card with quality)

The Purge - Snapshot

I came across The Purge as part of my regular movie research. It caught my attention, easily standing out for being conceptually different, and being some very serious fiction. The plot though practical, also sinks to new levels of human depravity. In terms of entertainment presentation, it has elements of a dark slasher thriller, like say the Wrong Turn, focusing on the survival effort. Also emphasized is the family unit dynamic. The main crux being the struggle of humanity versus efficiency. It depicts human beings in different states of acceptance... The young boy, naïve and innocent; clearly seeing humanity over all. The father torn between providing for his family which comes with some compromise, and his humanitarian values; faltering at moments. The mother being strong about her morals, and serving as a guiding force. Performances from Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey are superb, being totally believable. There are some predictable plot twists, and there is a looming sense of helplessness, which is presented well. As a negative, the narrative has some annoying moments. Overall, top grade acting from the leads, and a unique yet unpleasant premise. The audio was presented by means of a DTS soundtrack, which featured noticeable use of positional sound.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A fictional future that places logic over humanity)

The Broken - Snapshot

The Broken is a British movie from writer and director Sean Ellis, that explores a mysterious chain of events, and its effect on the McVey family. Gina McVey played by Lena Headey is the first to notice things being off, and the narrative follow's her investigation to get to the bottom of it. The movie is slow, and dark. There is very little dialog, with some sequences having no verbal exchanges at all; thus putting a greater emphasis on the acting and scenes for context, which is done effectively. The movie is also billed as a horror flick, which is partially accurate; though there are no obvious ghosts, gore, or sudden scares, it's about how the mood is built, and there is a tremendous sense of eeriness.  Ellis does a great job of creating a haunting experience, while Headey puts in a powerful performance; the combination making for a great movie experience, filled with intense suspense. While I don’t want to give too much away, the plot bares resemblance to an episode of the Twilight Zone with Bruce Willis, from 1985. What's really impressive is that as you watch the movie, the premise and setting are fairly obvious, and though nothing is explained, its laid out for the audience very plainly. There's no spoon feeding, but it results in a rewarding experience. 

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A slow, eerie, dark thriller that truly impresses)

The Fantastic 4 - Snapshot

Though the 2015 reboot of The Fantastic 4 received largely negative feedback, as someone who pays little attention to others opinions, I watched the movie recently, and found it pretty decent.  One of the most obvious differences is the younger cast, especially Reed Richards; which was quite a departure from the first movies and the cartoon. As the plot evolves, the super powers of the characters and the science behind it is presented to the audiences in a more plausible manner. It's an origins movie of sorts, rather than being a fight the big bad villain; so there are no waves of battles and action. The special abilities and special effects to depict it are seamless and look natural. One of the standout scenes is the black hole sucking in trees and cars from the highway; when you see it, you'll know. The movie does have a few slower moments, but pace is okay. The friendship of Ben and Reed is somewhat explored, but character development is otherwise limited and weak. The teams connect and rapport with Sue is especially limited.  This iteration of The Fantastic 4 really serves as a starter, with perhaps room for considerable development in following movies. But with its lackluster showing, the push from the studio for future sequels is questionable. If you like The Fantastic 4, action movies, or comic adaptations, it's worth the watch. But if you have very set expectations, of what the movie should be like, it may not be for you.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A new look at The Fantastic 4, that veers away from the usual formula).

Captain America: Civil War - Snapshot

As part of what is now a long ongoing superhero saga, Captain America: Civil War continues a little after the events of AntMan; that said, since it involves a lot of the other characters, in a sense it feels like a more complete follow-up to the Avengers: Age of Ultron. With the exception of Thor and Hulk, who are MIA as expected, the rest of the gang is back, now with additional entrants. It's fair to say that Marvel sticks to its usual formula, and successfully gives the audiences what they've come to expect and want. Though not overly complex, the plot remains interesting, and gripping for its long 2-and-a-half-hour runtime. The action sequences are really nice, especially the opening battle, which is quick, yet with a solid sense of impact. Similarly, there are other memorable fights through the course of the movie; the sequence wherein Captain America is holding down the helicopter which is attempting to take off being one of them. If you're wondering what separates this from the Avengers movies, I guess the crazy super villains with global domination are saved for epic Avenger grade plots, while lesser villains, with twisted Hydra-esque sinister plots are more reminiscent of Captain America movies. Staying true to its title, there is a political aspect to the movie, which forms the crux of the struggle. It also succeeds Captain America: The Winter Soldier well, bridging several pieces of the long developing plot, while also connecting the characters. I saw this one in the theatre and enjoyed the crisp bright digital transfer. Sound was nice, fitting the action perfectly; the score was triumphant and grand in Marvel movie style.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (The final Captain America titled movie in the Marvel lineup)

The Danish Girl - Snapshot

Billed as a biography, The Danish Girl is based on the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Over its 2-hour runtime, the movie explores their romance, and Lili’s discovery and transformation, into what was the first ever transgender. Owing to its queer theme, getting into it I was perplexed with regard to what could be expected. Thankfully director Tom Hooper did an extraordinary job, transforming a dramatic theme into a movie with an artsy feel. From the get go, the movie is beautiful. The opening sequences are picturesque, and that same beauty remains as the movie plays out. Every shot, even the most basic ones are stunning. The framing and setting is outstanding, contributing towards a powerful and memorable visual experience. The sets and recreation of Copenhagen in the 1920's is breathtaking, adding to the visual splendor. Video detail is also incredible, with skin textures, pores, and fabric weaves, being quite noticeable. The plot is slow, and shows the struggle and gradual transition of Einar to Lili. The movie is serious, and coupled with the intensity of the plot, and deep performances, it's not well suited for casual entertainment. Performances are stellar both from Alicia Vikander who plays Gerda, and Eddie Redmayne who plays Lily/Einar. Gerda’s character has a natural confidence and energy, which later transitions to a serious struggle, finally culminating in a realization of love. It’s a performance that will leave you with little doubt as to why she won the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role, in 2016. With Einar’s character it’s his soft gentle feminine ways, which over the course of the narrative manifest in a self-discovery of inner feelings and desires. Again there is some sense of struggle, at times making an effort to suppress, though clearly being torn. As much as the movie is about the transformation of Einar to the lady Lily, it is also the transformation of a difficult theme to what could be seen as art and beauty; kudos to Tom Hooper on achieving that. The accompanying musical score is deep and perfectly fitting, adding to the overall mood of the movie. One of the keys to the narrative is that the story is told more from the perspective of Gerda, versus that of Lily, placing their romance at the core.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A visually beautiful narrative, exploring the pioneer transgender)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Snapshot

For those who follow movie news, you'd know that most charts listed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as the most anticipated movie of 2016. It released in theaters in March 2016, interestingly to some mixed reviews. Neither were people saying it was awesome, nor were people saying it was terrible. In terms of box office stats, people were watching it, and the movie was making money. I finally got around to seeing it late in April, and found it to be a worthwhile watch. For starters it's a follow-up to 2013's Man of Steel. While not imperative, having watched the former helps in a sense of continuity. The movie is dark, and therein does justice to both the comic adaptation, as well as it being a Batman movie. Though the pace is gradual, there is more emotive depth to the narrative, adding contextual buildup. It is unlike the fast paced action movies in the Marvel lineup. Perhaps a lot of the mass market disappointment was because audiences expected a wall to wall action flick very similar to the Avengers. To be fair, if that was the expectation, then the viewers should have watched a Marvel movie instead. You can't fault Dawn of Justice for being different, dark, and original. While the similarities are limited, there is one theme that is clearly similar to Captain America: Civil War, that being the possible need for human political oversight, of these super beings. Henry Cavill continues as Superman, and Ben Affleck takes on the role of the caped crusader, Batman. There was much concern as to whether Affleck could pull it off, and he did surprisingly well, surpassing several past performances. Overall Zack Snyder does an impressive job, continuing a plot that started with Man of Steel, covering a good deal of comic stories, creating a movie that does feel like its roots are in a comic book, and building the base for future DC heroes movies. Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL require special mention for the awesome musical score in Dawn of Justice, adding in large part to the dark and deep mood.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A comic adaptation from the DC Universe that dares to be different)

Man of Steel - Thoughts

Superman is possibly the first superhero I was introduced to, and I recall watching my first ever Superman movie, the 1983 release Superman III, when I was a little kid on VHS. In the recent years I watched the 2006 release Superman Returns, but didn’t really enjoy it owing largely to a poor viewing experience, resulting from a badly scratched DVD.  When I heard of the 2013 release, Man of Steel, I wasn’t in a rush to see it, and thus gave it a miss in the theatres. In this reboot the earth is threatened by an alien race, and Clark Kent is forced to come out of living in the shadows, and save the world as Superman.

I don’t recall any rave reviews from my friends who saw the movie, and I remember mixed comments from critics. Many people were posting comments on Facebook about a lot of smashing, and stuff being thrown around. After my rather long 143-minute experience with the movie, I would like to remind audiences that we are indeed watching Superman, not a human being in a metal suit with a big ego, or a rich billionaire who has taken up the fight against crime. The magnitude of the action is nothing short of gargantuan, and it also explains the crazy 225 million dollar production budget.  The story unfolds brilliantly, with a good deal of Clark’s origin and Krypton’s past being explained. His human family, the values they instill, and his struggle to stay beneath the radar, is very nicely done. Lois Lane’s introduction to Clark’s existence, and the relationship that develops between them is also presented seamlessly. The entire backstory, plot, and character development is exposed to the audience in a calm and natural manner. The overall narrative process is brilliant, and director Zack Snyder’s work is very commendable. The reboot truly feels wholesome, not missing the mark on any particular requirement. It would be hard not to feel sufficiently satisfied after watching Man of Steel.

Irrespective of his limited filmography, Henry Cavil who plays Clark Kent does exceptionally well. Being an origin story, the character is a lot more complex, and there is a dark side prior to his ascension to the iconic Superman character that the world learns to accept. Something that stood out both in terms of narrative brilliance and character execution was the Superman character, who stands for all that is good and right, is a gentleman, can hold his peace, and most importantly embodies hope, that we can all look up to. Amy Adams plays Lois Lane, who I initially found unimpressive, but with the development of the plot, I felt was a perfect fit. In her case as well, it was how she evolved into the character and its requisites. On a trivial note, at some point I confused her with Jenna Fischer of The Office fame.

I watched Man of Steel on Bluray, on an India release disc. Picture quality was excellent as expected with Bluray, and the initial scenes in Kryton were stylized having a goldish beige tint. The special effects were awesome, but as much as I loved the presentation on Bluray and a big screen home theatre TV, I do believe that seeing this movie in the theatre would have been better; the scale of the action would have been superb.  Sound was competently presented by means of a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, played on my 5.1 speaker setup. It complemented the action sequences beautifully, the positional sound being very evident from the opening sequences in Krypton, with the air-ships whizzing around.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (Nothing short of Super!)

How To Get Away With Murder: Season 1 - Snapshot

I downloaded Season 1 of How To Get Away With Murder a while ago, and finally got around to watching it recently. Though the name of the show is quite explanatory, I got into it with unclear expectations as to how things would be presented. Running with the murder element, the show tries to maintain a dark look, especially with a lot of the scenes in the dimly lit Keating residence. There is a law element, a group of graduating classmates, and a murder twist at play, as the narrative progresses. The main murder plot runs the course of the season, with other individual cases forming the sub-plot for each of the episodes. While the shows tries to be a little different, it ends up trying its hand at many things, sadly succeeding at none. As a law show its poor, with the court room litigation being okay, but weak compared to other comparable serials. The classmates come off as silly and juvenile, with none of the characters being really likable. Viola Davis who plays Annalise Keating is pretty hardcore, and does a good job, but her character is annoying at times, thus making her hardly likable. Personally, the only characters I found moderately interesting were Frank and Laurel. At some points it reminded me of the MTV murder mystery show Eyecandy, but at least that presented itself as a teen pop-culture show, with a techie hacking crime element. How To Get Away With Murder on the other hand masquerades as a complex show, which in reality it isn't. Another very average show it shared similarities with was Scandal; with a lady at the helm driving a team to work on individual pieces to achieve a final desired outcome. That show too failed to impress, as does this one. In conclusion, though the show came highly recommended, it's just about an okay watch. I wouldn’t waste my time on Season 2. 

My Recommendation: Watch It – (Law students learning the loop holes of the legal system, to get away with murder).

Pryda 10 Vol. III - Snapshot

I got my hands on Pryda 10 Vol. III shortly after its release in Nov 2015, knowing that Eric Prydz’s work wouldn’t disappoint. A couple of days later I fired it up, and I was instantly impressed. I wasn’t even 30 seconds into the first track, but I knew it was gonna be amazing. The melody built up, and when the deep bass kicked in at the 1 minute 15 seconds mark, what was great just became easily the best Progressive House I’ve heard in a while. If you have a nice sound system, with a sub-woofer, you will not be disappointed by the audio experience. As the opening track, One Day, drew to a close, expectations were high, and in keeping with those expectations, track 2 - SOL, continued to impress. It makes you wait a little longer, with the haunting beats kicking in at around the 2-minute mark. 

As the album played out, I was wondering if the quality would remain consistent, and to be fair it was good. Most tracks are nice, and there are several memorable tracks in the set, including INOX, Crossings, and Arpe. I was just listening to it on a relaxed Saturday at home, but I can totally see myself playing it in the car while going on a long drive. For that matter, it would probably work in a club setting too. If you enjoy good Electronic music, you just can’t go wrong with Pryda 10 Vol. III. It’s so good that I’m annoyed at myself for not listening to it the moment I got it.

My Recommendation: An Aural Extravaganza (Progressive House that’s amazing from the get-go!)