You

Season : 2

Genre : Psychological Thriller

Language : English

Network : Netflix

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is on the run...He wants to disappear from his ex lover turned enemy Candace Stone (Ambyr Childers)  who knows too much about his dark past and who wants to destroy him...So Joe is Joe no longer,he is a new man ,in a new city....A city with 4 billion population to blend in.....He is in Los Angeles,using a new identity,that he 'borrowed' from some one....

The last thing Joe wants is a relationship in his life,which can fall apart any time...But as they say true 'Love' finds you in your worst...That is exactly how Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti ) came to Joe's life...How long can he resist himself from falling for this beautiful woman,who is deeply in love with him?

Not so long.....How will Joe handle this new relationship? Wil he learn from his past mistakes or will they destroy his life ? And is this innocent rich girl any match for the real Joe and his dark secrets?

 Season 2 of everybody's favorite psychological thriller series is great..It delivers as much as or more than Season 1....

Don't waste time....Go and binge watch it..

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,Missouri

Director :MMartin McDonagh
Genre :Drama
Language:English
Year :2017

To what extend will one go to get the Justice they deserve?
What is Justice?
What exactly is the idea of crime and punishment?

Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand)is a middle aged woman who is divorced.Her daughter is raped and killed and police is unable to arrest the culprit.She wants justice and she puts up three billbords asking questions aimed directly at the Police Cheif, Wiloughby.

Mildred Hayes - A bad ass women or is she ? I think it is just a mask she wears because she doesnot want anybody to see how vulnerable she really is.


Bill Willoughby(Woody Harrelson ) - A chief who tries his best to solve the case.A family man who loves his wife and little kids more than anything.A helpless cancer patient who has to decide between holding on or leting go...

Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell) - A lazy officer - a mamma's boy-a person who has the potential but who wastes it.....But eventually one who changes....

The film shows the various shades of each character - their strengths and weakness .

We are all fragile and we are all going to fall and break - but we have to live on,evenif broken.That is the idea and yet there are some who are not strong enough.
End of the day it is our choice.


Brilliant watch.

Secret Wars

Creators :Jonathan Hickman,,Esad Ribic
Genre : Superhero
Published by : Marvel Comics
Status : Completed

The multiverse is collapsing..
The Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe are colliding with each other...
After the collision a group of heroes ( Mr.Fantastic,Spider-men,Captain Marvel,Cyclops and Black Panther)and a group of villains (Thanos,Blackorder,Evil Reed Richards,Maximus and Namor) find themselves in a new world...

A world called Battleworld....
A world protected by Stephen Strange...
A world created by a GOD with metal face and green hood...

A world that belongs to Doom....

This was my marvel read after a very long time and it was literally an epic - by story and art..

Hickman - you beauty -why haven't I found you a little earlier?

Ribic is simply put,brilliant with his pencils..

Excellent read....

Batman : White Knight

Creators : Sean Murphy
Genre :Superhero
Published by : DC Comics
Status : Completed

When have we got the best Elseworlds stories from DC? The answer is simple - when it was about Gotham,the Bat and the Clown Prince.

Sean Murphy's 8 issue mini series is no different.'White Knight' is the another addition to the list of great DC Elseworlds stories.

Gotham is corrupted.Those in power are misusing it and exploiting the poor.G.C.P.D is trying hard to control the criminal activities.
Gotham's guardian,it's Dark knight - The Batman - is tired and weak after years of crime fighting.

A new hero is rising - a man who want to help the poor and save Gotham.A man who has a plan.A man who recently gained control over his insane alter ego - a man called Jack Napier or as familiar to all - The Joker.

When the writer and artist is the same person a masterpiece is born.That's is what 'White Knight' is - a great miniseries from Murphy with brilliant art and thrilling story.


Loved it.....

Gifted

Director :Marc Webb 
Genre :Drama
Language:English
Year :2017

Mary (Mckenna Grace) is a seven year old girl,living with her uncle Frank (Chris Evans) She is a genius who can solve math problems in seconds.A gift she inherited from her late mother,who was a well known mathematician. When the teachers at the school discovers Mary's abilities,they advise Frank to send her to a school where she can be provided with the facilities she deserves.But Frank don't want Mary to miss being a normal kid. When Mary's grandmother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) is informed about the situation,she comes to take Mary under her care,so that she can make her a genius like her own daughter.

This is a beautiful film-an emotional ride which will bring tears in your eyes.The real star is the cute little Mckenna Grace,who delivers a heart touching performance.When we look at Frank,we will see a guy who loves his niece,a guy who is a little confused,but who will do anything for her life to be good. That is where Evans wins as an actor.(There is no shade of Captain America here) Lindsay Duncan also performs well as an old woman who is trying to fulfill her dreams through her grandchild.

A soul touching film
Excellent watch..

Castelvania

Seasons : 1&2
Genre : Horror / Fantasy
Language : English
Network : Netflix

The Church kills a woman who uses science to help people,calling her a witch and follower of Sathan. They are unaware that they had done far worse.

The woman was wife of Vlad Dracula Tepes,the Vampire Lord.Many though of him as a fictional character,but he was real.Dracula decides to avenge his wife's death my wiping out the entire human race from the face of the earth.

Trevor Belmont is the last member of the Vampire hunting family. Fate joins him with a speaker magician and another supernatural being and they decides to stand against the
Vampire King.But will they survive the wrath of Dracula?

Vampires..
Monsters...
Big dark Castle...
Blood...
Sword fights...
Magic....
Heroes...
And Count Dracula himself....

Greatest show I watched in recent times...
Finished 13 episodes with in 2 days....
Magnificent is the word..

Loved it...

See

Season : 1

Genre : Science Fiction,Drama

Language : English

Network : Apple TV+ 

Future.

Mankind has lost the power of sight.They depend on the other senses to survive in a world that has lost all the progress of our time.Light is considered evil among people.Anyone who is born with sight is called a witch...And they will be killed by army of Queen  Kane,(Sylvia Hoeks)  ruler of the Payan Kingdom.

Baba Voss (Jason Momoa) is the chief of Alkenny tribe.He is a fearsome warrior with a dark past.One day a woman called Maghra (Hera Hilmer) comes to the village.She was pregnant. Baba Voss falls in love with Maghra and marries her and promises to raise the new born as his own..They are assisted by Paris (Alfre Woodard) an old wise woman in the tribe.

Everything changes when Maghra gives birth to twins - a boy and a girl - with vision.Babba Voss has to fight his own tribe to protect the children..Also Queen's army under the command of Witchfinder  Tamacti Jun (Christian Camargo) is moving towards the village....Babba Voss is forced to escape into the wild,starting a journey that will take them to the unknown........

'See' is Apple TV 's sci - fiction drama that got people excited because of the theme and the leading man Momoa...Maybe the concept is new to others,but being a Keralite  ,this was familair to me because the 1997 Malayalam film 'Guru' explored a similar theme.However the film discuss spirituality where the series transforms in to an action packed journey with twists and turns in every corner.....

Loved the first season..

Waiting for S2........

Wytches

Creators : Scott Synder,Jock
Genre :Horror
Published by : Image Comics
Status : Completed

Charlie is a comics book creator (seems like a rip off of Scott himself),who just moved in to a new town,with his wife Lucy and daughter Sailor.They wish for a new start,trying to get pass the dark past.But things goes out of hand,when Sailor is hunted by an ancient evil called Wytches.Charlie must fight the unknown to save his daughter....Otherwise she will be gone forever...

Wytches tells a horror story on the surface,but in the core it is a father and daughter story.It is a good one from Scott,supported by suitable art by Jock


Good read

Feathers

Creators: Jorje Corona 
Genre : Fantasy
Published by : Boom Studios
Status:Completed

There is City - protected by the white walls, it is the place of the rich and powerful.

There is Maze - outside the walls, it is the home of poor,it's slums filled with orphans who calls themselves mice.

Two worlds - Exactly opposite to each other.

Poe is a boy who was abandoned in the slums.He is different from every one ...Because he is covered in black feathers - a special one who is born to make a difference.Raised by an old man in the Maze,he is yet to find his place in the world.

Bianca is a girl born in the city,in a wealthy family.She wish to go outside the wall.She want an adventure and is pretty sure about that.

What will happen when the boy covered in Feathers and rich city girl meet each other?

A friendship - that will change everything.

It is simple and good read with art that reminds you about those fairy tales you heard as a kid.

Loved it..

Grisha Trilogy Book 3 : Ruin and Rising

Writer :   Leigh Bardugo
Genre : Fantasy
Language : English    

The final chapter in the story of a peasant girl who became the Sun Summoner.Her journey to find the fire bird begins ,Mal and her friends are with her.But will it be enough to face the Darkling?

Grisha is among my favorite book series with the it's interesting characters and story.

Loved it, especially the villain -Darkling - the one who loved and lost and I got a thing for guys like that,I guess.

Perfect ending of a great series..

Waiting for the Netflix adaptation I may read Six of Crows in the mean time.....

These Savage Shores

Creators : Ram V ,Sumit Kumar
Genre : Fantasy
Published by : Vault Comics
Status : Completed

Colonial India.
Malabar.
A special guest arrived in the Zamotiri palace from London..He came in a ship of East India Company...They thought he came to spend a peaceful vacation..But they were wrong...He came because the people of London identified him - identified him for what he relay is - someone who can't walk in the sun...Someone who loves to roam in the night....

Lord Perrefont thought the new land belonged to him.....But there in the shadows,lurked someone more ancient than him....Someone who was more dangerous and powerful than a vampire...

When was the last time Kerala was explored in a graphic novel?
A long time ago,in 'Odiyan' (That was a great book..Sadly,the third volume never came out)

So,I waited for someone to do some magic ...
And here comes Ram V and Sumit Kumar with this great book - the story line - the panels - the colors - everything is perfect.....

Must read...Don't miss this masterpiece....

You

Season : 1

Genre : Thriller

Language : English

Network : Netflix

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is a young book store manager who lives in New York.One day a beautiful lady walks in to his store.Her name is Beck (Elizabeth Lail) and she is a budding writer.Joe falls in love with Beck and decides to be her Prince Charming.But the task is not easy as she already got a boy friend and girl gang.But Joe is not a man who will stop because of some small hurdles on the path -he is a man who will do 'anything' for his love.

You' is not a romantic drama -it is a psychological thriller which will make you watch episodes back to back because of the twists and turns.

Totally loved it....

Waiting for S2.

The Witcher

Season : 1

Genre : Fantasy

Language : English

Network : Netflix

Continent is a land formed my many kingdoms..Most of them are enemies trying to take control of the other. Continent is occupied by not only humans- there are ellfs,dwarfs and other beings ....It is  a land where magic exists...and  monsters too.........

Geralt (Henry Cavil) of Rivia is a witcher.A mutated human being who is raised to hunt and kill monsters.He is known as 'The White Wolf'.He thought he can run away from his destiny...He thought wrong....Destined to protect a child,he searches for her in war ridden Continent.....

Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) of Vengerberg never thought she will become a mage.She was rescued from her poor home  by Tissia,the head of sorceress....Yen was born special...with magic in her blood....destined to become the greatest  sorceress of the continent...It will take some time for her to realize her power..but then again,all great things takes time........

Ciri (Freya Allan) is the princess of Cintra.Her parents died when she was an infant.She was raised by her grand mother,Queen Calanthe.Unknown to Ciri,there is something hidden in her....Something passed on to her from her parents...something powerful and dangerous....

Geralt,Yennefer and Ciri are connected to each other....Three entirely different people destined to be together......

 The latest Netflix original is an adaptation of the fantasy novel series written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski..I had read the first book There is also a famous game franchise based on the same.The series focus more on the novels ,rather than the game.I was really hyped for the series because I am a fan of fantasy and another reason was Henry Cavil. Geralt was his big next after playing Superman.So how was the experience? 

It begin with a stunning pilot then went a little confusing.. Because the story of the three main characters are set in three timelines.But if you watch carefully there were Easter eggs which will help to understand and connect the dots...As the show progress ,everything will make sense.
The show ends with a cliffhanger setting everything perfectly for next season....

Loved it...

Grisha Trilogy Book 2 : Siege and Storm

Writer :   Leigh Bardugo
Genre : Fantasy
Language : English

Alina and Mal ran away and tried to lead a normal life.But the Darkling found them and dragged them right back to the middle of the chaos.As a second amplifier is attached to her body,Alina realized there is no turning back from being a Grisha - not just a normal Grisha -perhaps the most powerful of them all....

The second chapter of the epic saga introduces some new interesting characters and keep the reader busy with the old ones..

The tale of love,friendship and power continues......

Great read..... 

The Nightmare before Christmas

Director :Henry Sellick 
Genre : Mystery 
Language:English
Year :1993

Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween town,where all the monsters of the world lives. Vampires,mummies,ware wolfs,zombies,witches and ghosts and everyone loves Jack - their Pumpkin king.But Jack is lonely - he feels something is missing.One night he discovers a magic door deep in the forest - a door to Christmas town.Jack decides to plan Christmas in his own style.But what will happen when a monster with a skull face replace beloved Santa Claus?

From the imagination of mastermind Tim Burton comes a dark yet magical tale... Will the society accept someone who wants to do good if he looks bad? Will they look beyond the outer appearance ?

There are some brilliant scenes where Jack took a bone from his own body and throws at his dog Zero and a Skeleton Cock that crows to receive sun etc. - something weired and brilliant that we can see only in a Tim Burton product.

A musical I really loved..Awesome watch..

Grisha Trilogy Book 1 : Shadow and Bone

Writer :   Leigh Bardugo
Genre : Fantasy
Language : English

Ravaka is a kingdom ravaging with war.At the border there is the shadow fold,filled with flying monsters called Volkras.It was created by the Black Hectic,hundreds of years ago and since then it has been a curse.

The kingdom is ruled by an inefficient king.The one who is controlling everything is the mysterious Darkling,the head of the Grisha army.Grisha are gifted people with powers who help to protect the kingdom.

Alina and Mal were war orphans who grew up in a Noble's house.They are best friends.When they grew up,she became a map maker and he a tracker...

Once crossing the fold,they were attacked by the Volkras.In the face of danger,to protect the people she love,Alina produces a power...A power which was within her..the greatest grisha power - Sun Summoning....

Things will never be same for Alina and Mal..
In the split of a seconds,their life changed...

First book of Grisha trilogy is a great read.

It kept me hooked with it's brilliant writing,amazing characters and twists.

Great read..

Mother!

Director :Darren Aronofsky
Genre : Mystery 
Language:English
Year :2017

There are movies which will confuse us ..and there are movies which will disturb us..But what will happen when one movie achieve both?We will go insane..That is exactly what will happen when we watch Mother!

A poet (Javier Berdam)and his wife(Jennifer Lawerence) lives in a beautiful house.One day a doctor (Edd Harris) arrives there .He happens to be poet's fan.Next day his wife also arrives.Poet invites them to stay with them.But gradually,poet's wife realizes that the guests are about to ruin their life.

Darren Aronofsky delivers the most irritating movie of the century. I prayed the movie to end and when it was finally over,I had no idea what it meant.Thanks to google,I read the explanation and then it began to make sense.
The film is full of symbolism which tells about the relationship between God,Mother Earth and Human race.

A very disturbing film but a brilliant creation.

Mindhunter

Season : 2
Genre : Crime 
Language : English
Network : Netflix

Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) are back...They are back to discover more about the behavior of criminals ....to dive deep into their minds and discover things...Things that are not so familiar to normal people..because those thoughts came out of insane minds.....And they need to make sense of it all...Because that is the only way they can save innocent people from other serial killers.... Welcome to the second season of the crime drama based on true events...

The first season portrayed the struggles faced by the duo,as most of other people in the department didn't really thought what they were doing can help in catching a criminal.Hopefully the situation has changed now..There are people in power who believes in their method and who are ready to provide the resources and support.The new head of Department Gunn (Michael Cerveris) ,helps them to form a behavioral science unit.Headed by Tench and assisted by Ford and Doctor Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) the department aims to interview captured murderers and analyses the results to form studies ,which will help to catch other serial killers out there.More support from the department means one thing -access to more criminals ,who were not available earlier..As the agents and doctor starts the hunt by meeting the notorious criminals of '70s and '80s ,the viewers are in for a very intense experience -because seeing murderers themselves telling what made them do it ,is never fun...It is disturbing and thought provoking....This is not a Netflix show which you can binge watch,because you will require time to recover after each episode..Trust me....

The show is adapted based on Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit; by: John Douglas; Mark Olshaker As it is based on real people and true events,the audience will get the chance to meet some of the most notorious criminals of the crime history -David Berkowitz / Son of Sam, Dennis Rader / BTK Killer ,Edmund Kemper ,Elmer Wayne Henley Jr. etc.This season also shows the investigation of Atlanta Murders and the involvement of the special unit in the capture of Wayne Williams.

So,if you have watched and loved the first season,you are in for a treat as the second season is bigger and better .If you are not,and if you love serious shows realted to crime and criminal psychology,'Mindhunter'  is the perfect show for you...And hey what to expect from a show produced by David Fincher? 

Loved it...Waiting for next season

Do check my review of season 1 :

https://fantasticworldofvish.blogspot.com/2019/02/mindhunter.html

Looking for Alaska

Season : 1

Genre : Drama

Language : English

Network : Hulu

 Miles Halter (Charlie Plummer) wants to find his greatest something from life...It is an idea he got after reading a book.For a change and to discover life away from his parents he joins a boarding school.There he gets a group of friends - The Colonel (Denny Love) , Takumi (Jay lee).Then there is 'The Eagle''(Timothy Simmons) who controls the campus,Dr.Hyde (Ron Cephas Johes) who teaches religion,and a lot of others...But the one person who captures Mile's attention other than anyone is Alaska Young (Kristine Forseth) - a beautiful care free girl ..But agian,was she only that or... something more? Miles will discover soon...because he is going to fall in love with her...

The Hulu original series is an adaptation of John Green novel.It is a tale of love ,friendship and human relationships.Every character will touch you and the audience will fell connected ..And be warned as beautiful as it is,,this series is going to break your heart....

Looking for Alaska is both tragic and beautiful at the same time,a series that touched the soul...

Loved it....

Ready or Not

Director :Matt Bettinelli Olpin,Tyler Gillett 
Genre :Thriller,Mystery 
Language:English
Year :2019

It is Grace's (Samara Weaving) wedding day...She is marrying Alex (Mark O'Brien),the man she loves..Grace is very hjappy and excited to join Alex's big family.She always dreamed of a big family as she grew up as a foster child...and she thought she is the lucky girl..She thought wrong....

There is a tradition in Alex's family.On the wedding night,the bride must play a game with the other family members...A game that is written on the card she picks...Grace picks up the card that says "Hide and Seek' She thinks it is a simple game that children plays.....But actually it is a bloody game where the others hunts and kills the bride before the sunrise...Grace will discover the truth soon..whether she is ready or not....

The film is not the greatest thriller of the decade or something like that...It keeps you engaged for the run time without boring you...

Give it a try if ypu love R rated action movies...