tariqzafar-12020 Reviews

Killing Me Softly (2002)

Fun watch with good lessons

[9/10 · 17 May 2024]

Don't understand so many negative reviews for the movie. Its a nice thriller. The lesson here is not to just go by the looks and infatuation and marry someone quickly without any thought. The girl Alice leading a normal life comes across a handsome dude Adam on a street and ensues an affair. Yearning for passion she goes on to leave her boyfriend and marries a stranger about whom she knows very little. The way he beat a petty thief should have been a red flag of his lurking anger issues. Then they hastily get married. But then she starts finding clues about his psychotic behaviour from some hidden letters.

From here on its about her pursuit to find the truth about his actual nature. So it does build up a tense atmosphere. I would say its not even that predictable. I was kinda expecting the brother and sister to be both complicit in the wrongdoings but was wrong. So watch it to have some light hearted thriller with some good looking folks. Not every time do you need to focus your energies to understand a movie.

Inspector Rishi (2024– )

Gripping unique show with its share of flaws

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

The shows starts at an interesting note. A group of forest officers is helping an elephant with glass shards stuck in its feet causing a wound. And then a group of tribal people are shown preparing for a ritual. Then it delves into a couple of deaths that are happening under mysterious circumstances. The villagers believe these are caused by a forest spirit called Vanarachi. The show then explores the origin of the folklore and its relationship to the deaths if any.

While the storyline is unique, it could be also a bit confusing at times. But that can be excused as all the bits are revealed toward the end although there might still be some threads hanging.

The minor flaw of the show is showing the personal lives of the three investigation officers. Each of them is carrying their own baggages which kind of digresses focus from the central theme of the show. But if you stick till the end, the twist is worthy of the wait.

One Day (2024)

Binge flix

[10/10 · 15 February 2024]

This is a great rom com story. I was wondering what will they show in 14 episodes but it never gets boring. And the last episode was waterworks. You see lives of two individuals through a number of years being from friends to lovers. How they get mature through all these years. Wading through youthful years to having more mature outlook toward life. But they don't forget each other and have a strong bond going on bordering on romance. They say opposites attract and thats what happening here. While Emma is a geek interested in politics, writing and intellectual stuff, Dex likes to take life easy and yet they console each other during various phases of life.

People here commenting about the lead pair's lack of chemistry seem to be missing the usual character of a chirpy white girl and expect an fantasized romantic tension going on right from the first moment. Let me tell you it is this director's interpretation of the novel. I didn't find Ambika Mod to be lacking any chemistry or emotions. She is a shy girl in the beginning who is awkward around her crush. During the later interactions their chemistry grows and by the end you can see their deep emotions toward each other.

Wilderness (2023)

Slow and unavailing

[6/10 · 25 January 2024]

This show was advertised as something you would love if you loved You. But its a distant comparison. They are nothing alike. The series starts well and could have been made into a decent thriller if it didn't start to become preachy about gender traits how men are disloyal by nature. All the sympathies that Liv gathers are lost when she sends her husband to jail for a long sentence for a crime that he didn't commit. The story is not so compelling.

Leaving aside that also its not very engaging. Usual cliches of cheating and revenge and framing the cheater for a crime they didn't commit. To be honest ending was quite predictable. Acting by Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson Cohen seems fine. Overall watchable once for good looking characters.

River Wild (2023)

Fun thriller

[8/10 · 19 January 2024]

Dont go by these reviews. It's fun to watch. I watched it during a flight and kept me entertained. Yea one could say that Gray had a few chances when he could overpower Trevor but he didn't and there was an explanation that they were childhood friends and he felt guilt-ridden to have caused Trevor to have spent three years in prison. Until he realized that Trevor had lost it. The river rafting stunts seemed difficult and must have required training from the cast. Kudos to them for the hard work. Although Adam Brody is mostly associated with humour and sarcasm, his acting as a bad boy was convincing. Leighton Meester looked tired even before the action sequences started although her acting was good.

Valeria (2020–2024)

One word, clichéd

[7/10 · 4 July 2023]

Usual tropes of friendship of four girls we have seen infinite times. Valeria is a writer facing a writer's block, then finding inspiration from her real life escapades of cheating and her struggles.

Then her friend Lola has a wrapped relationship with a committed man. Other friend Nerea is a lesbian and has her own issues. Lastly Carmen is the intelligent one competing with her boy friend.

Valeria sounds selfish and lazy girl. When her husband asks her to be more responsible and find a job, then she is complaining that she wants to concentrate on her writing. Its good to follow your dreams but running away from your responsibilities? She is busy hooking up with Victor behind her husband's back.

Other girls are fine but nothing much new to offer. Lots of sex scenes. Is still watchable though if you have nothing better to watch. Comparing with Sex and the city is not fare. Those stories and characters and acting were out this one's league.

Lust Stories 2 (2023)

Fun to watch

[7/10 · 1 July 2023]

Personally I liked the second and fourth one more.

Konkana sen brings a fun story exploring voyeurism. Tilotama Shome plays a woman living by herself in a city and has a house help taking care of her home in her absence played by Amruta Subhash. Shome discovers Subhash having sex with her husband but inside Shome's apartment. Initially she is repulsed but then she finds it as a way to vent her own sexual feelings by watching them having sex hiding in her own house. On the other hand Subhash realizes that Shome is watching and pleasuring herself. One day it leads to a standoff between them. As things cool off they warm up again and as it suggests begin this game of voyeur again. I would say a fun different angle.

First one having Neena Gupta I guess is too loud. She is a granny who is very vocal about her granddaughter trying sex with her arranged hubby before marrying. It could have been probably good doing this kind of talk in private but she brings up during family meetings and seemingly embarrasses everyone. And then is quite nosey in asking how it went. I think this story was a bit overdone as is not the case with even most liberal households.

I couldn't pay much of attention to the one having Vijay and Tamanna.

Last one with Kajol was interesting. Kajol is wife to an abusive man who treats women like toys and forces himself on them. You would think it would go the usual way of the abusive husband getting punished in the end and the woman will take a sweet revenge but there is a twist in the end. It was a bit unpredictable.

Succession (2018–2023)

One of the shows that leaves you brooding after the finish

[10/10 · 12 June 2023]

The show started out slow and had to keep watching it and then after a point there was no turning back from the intrigue it had built up during those slow build up. The show's primary focus is the equations between the father and siblings and also among themselves. These are all complex selfish characters who actually might love each other but also trained in deception. Despite the equation with their father they are deeply disturbed at their father's demise that you wouldn't expect. They all have a love-hate relationship throughout.

Despite their love for each other the siblings have a very strong sense of competition going on. They are ready to have a third person take charge rather than have one of them rule the roost. Kendall puts himself as the most experienced and may be out of the three he might be. He comes across as a vulnerable tragic figure. During his lows he lacks assertiveness and confidence. But as hard as he tries he never got success either against his father or against his siblings. Then there is Shiv who is a lone female trying to make it in the world of men. Earlier she is led on by her father that he is going to nominate her as the CEO. Then its her brothers who take on as joint CEOs and she is left aside. Although she shows support for Kendall but you can see she still has her reservations and could easily sway. Lastly it is Roman, the spoiled brat. He feels he should he should rise to the occasion given his father's legacy but he probably doesn't want to. He tells his father he is ready to take the job but if he has any reservations about him then he should probably not. He would be the one to get the money and move on. He might always ready with some snarky comment but he comes across as someone who likes to live in shadows.

And then love the characterization of Greg and Tom. Greg is like the naive guy who enters the fray. But he is always belittled by his cousins and Tom. And Tom is ready to make his way to the top. He is a mixed character in that he is quite a conservative family man but he is also ready to do some boot licking to reach his goals.

Lastly the charisma of Logan and his acting chops seem he deserves all the awards. The commanding patriarch who has a way out of every situation. Its partly his fault he never showed a strong affinity for any of his children to be his successor. He favoured one over the other at different times. But never let the control wrest out of his hands till he was alive.

The last scene leaves an impact on you. Makes you think what drove the decisions of all of them. What each of them might have been left with.

Tin & Tina (2023)

Quality psychological horror but leaves you confused

[9/10 · 27 May 2023]

Not sure if I should call it horror, there are definitely moments of scare though not arising from a ghost but acts of creepy children.

The kids are brought up in a convent and due to indoctrination bring religion in every aspect to the extent of harming others. The wife is not really comfortable with them from the get go while the husband is always justifying their wrong doings.

During the initial parts of the movie it seems that its just the evilness of the children that is at play here but the end makes you question if its just the children or there is something else in the play.

The writers suggest both. On one hand it seems the siblings were conspiring to invade their house and might even have come before the couple's car at night and the music being played. But during the fire they are nowhere to be found and one wonders if they are capable enough to escape the convent on a stormy night and burn a man all by themselves and the wife searching for her baby tries the suffocation method to try find him back and starts having faith again.

Is the movie trying to infuse faith in people who have lost it. The end leave you with questions and confused. But still it turned out better than expectations.

Horizon Line (2020)

Unrealistic but fun

[6/10 · 22 May 2023]

I would say that the movie was quite unrealistic. It seems like the forces of nature are meaning to kill these two characters. First they got stuck in storm then doing some stuff out of the plane while its flying at top speed. Then finally see an island. Bad landing. Reach the island but island sinks during high tide. And then they showed a glimpse of a shark. Was expecting a shark attack too when they finally got a boat to rescue in. Thankfully didn't happen.

Although edgy, the movie was quite ridiculous at various places. It is quite unrealistic to imagine somebody able to cling along the plane while it is flying. Don't know much about fuelling but using beer to fill up the fuel tank sounded over the top as well. These two had some superhuman powers that they survived through these circumstances. But can be a watch one time.

Outlast (2023– )

Ended on a good note

[8/10 · 19 March 2023]

Watched this show in one go. I agree that the show lost a bit of direction in the midst. Instead of survivalist skills people resorted to betrayal, stealing, bullying. The delta team had to suffer so much in cold weather because these dickheads stole their sleeping bags in that cold weather. And then these two evil women harassed the Bravo team lone guy to either save his camp or his kayak. I seriously wanted that team to fail miserably and not win and I am glad none of the three mean people from that team were able to win. Still not totally satisfied as two of them reached the finals too. And you feel bad for the members who had to leave because of all this bullying. But they still had a choice to give back to these people which they didn't take. Perhaps they didn't deserve to win either because they were not as tough as the winners. The winners deserved to win. At the end it is a reality show and which ones are not scripted in parts. I don't agree with the low ratings show has received. It is still an interesting show. If the people on the show are evil its on them. One of the guys sums it up correctly that whatever evil tricks they were doing its not out because they had to survive their, it is who these people are in real life.

Scream (I) (2022)

Fun to watch but glaring gaps

[7/10 · 16 March 2023]

I would just say its a fun watch if you don't have too many expectations. Sounded silly at times. The identity of one of the killers was not difficult to predict. Let me count anomalies. In one of the scenes Dewey (David Arquette) fires at the masked person. However, the actual killer didn't seem to have any gun shot wounds or anything. Did I miss something? Also after he shot the killer, instead of containing the killer or calling the police, they were just leaving? The killers are killing people in broad day light in front porch and no one sees them. And then the sheriff had called for extra force at her house but no one was there when her son also got killed. The hospitals are completely empty I guess especially to make it easier for the killers to do their jobs. Your brains will start to hurt thinking about so many gaps. So better just watch and enjoy.

Bodyguard (2018)

Thrilling but too many easy confessions

[8/10 · 31 January 2023]

The series started on a high note and seemed like a spy thriller. The good thing about this series is that it leads you in quite a few directions and in the end all those directions reach dead end and the conclusion is both surprising and a bit stupid. First it was Rob the Home Secretary's assistant who was easily convinced by David to confess the conspiracy by Secret Service. Then in the end while the mafia kingpin and David's corrupt boss were having a conversation he intrudes and gets them to confess so easily. I was surprised that the kingpin was not escorted by any other gunmen or anyone. Lastly Nadia who was caught in the first scene as a scared brainwashed wife not wanting to detonate the bomb in the first scene and shown scared during interrogation suddenly out of nowhere confesses that she is the master mind and engineer behind the bombs. In the starting scene if her intent was to play a scared housewife she did well but in the hindsight you think why was she wearing the vest herself when she was a genius who could make more of these. And why would blowing up the train help the kingpin if he was a co-conspiracist in this, when this would have triggered the passing of the law giving security services more powers even more easily. Seems like they started on a high note but going along there were so many loose threads that they decided to just cut them all and have everyone confess easily and finish.

The Midnight Club (2022)

Starts promising but gets boring

[7/10 · 27 October 2022]

I haven't read the stories but this one didn't keep up my interest. Some of the stories that these kids tell are interesting but the main storyline is not going anywhere. To maintain the horror quotient they add a small scene having ghosts of an old man and a woman in each episode but you never get to know who they were. The plotline of cult also goes nowhere and no miracle happens. The character of the woman who got her illness miraculously disappear is shown to be having an ulterior motive but we never get to reach there. I had started to watch with high expectations but somewhere got lost. You can still appreciate it as a drama about a bunch of teens living at a hospice and trying to spice up there lives sharing horror stories but wouldn't call this a horror as Midnight Mass was. The atmosphere is chilling and dark and the locations are beautiful. That does add to the story telling.

The Watcher (2022– )

Great edge of the seat thriller

[9/10 · 16 October 2022]

I would say this is a series worth watch. Its a real edge of the seat. Keeps you all hooked up right from the first shot. Nora and Dean move to a dreamy house with their children and then the nightmare starts getting threatening letters from a watcher who watches their every move. Right in the suspect's list there are nosey creepy neighbours, previous owners, a greedy realtor and the couple themselves. They point the accusation in all directions and all suspects have some leverage to hold if they left the house. Without giving too much away, the end was still a bit unsatisfying. I really liked the acting of Bobby as Dean. Others like Naomi Watts and the neighbours were nice too ik acting department.

Come Play (2020)

Okayish but not great

[6/10 · 14 October 2022]

This movie is about a child who has issues speaking and is undergoing a therapy. While there are some unresolved issues with his mom played by Gillian Jacobs. He is haunted by a ghost that shows itself through electronic devices or electricity and haunts people who are lonely. This poor kid is caught in his spell while playing with a new tab. It wants to become his friend but is ready to kill people acting as obstructions like his parents. Some scenes are highwired towards the end but may be having watched other movies my threshold for scarejumps has increased or may be it was not that scary. So I would give a 6. Acting is fine by everyone.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022)

Not worth your time

[4/10 · 20 June 2022]

I would say leaving apart Sanjay Mishra, Rajpal Yadav and Ashwini Kalsekar's patches here and there it was largely boring. I wasn't expecting a witty or sophisticated movie in the first place, even something like No Entry would have worked. The movie claims horror comedy when it offers neither in an honest form. Not sure what Tabu is doing here. She deserves much better roles than this.

Kiara Advani's character decides to play dead to let her sister get married to her fiance. She brings Karthik's character to her home and hide in a manor. Not sure why she couldn't stay in a different city altogether till the wedding finishes. She is roaming all over the palace and hardly gets caught except once or twice. Karthik claims to talk to her spirit and these people are letting a stranger stay trouble free. The less said the better. All actors overact trying to keep the boat floating but hardly anything works. This is not a blot on the first part which was much more fun and clear cut.

The Last Kingdom (2015–2022)

An epic show

[10/10 · 13 June 2022]

I started a bit skeptical having heard that the show is better than Game of Thrones. But it gradually turned out to be even better in many terms. Yea it doesn't have any fancy storylines like that of white walkers or witches but what it does have is an air of sophistication, it seems and looks grand. The battle scenes are well picturized and the politics is well captured. It just centres around Uthred and doesn't boast of as many story lines as Game of Thrones and his relationships with King Alfred and then later on King Edward and how he manages to be both a Dane and a Saxon. Sometimes he is torn between the two trying to show his loyalties to both. Most of the plotlines happen to make Uthred win and there are hardly any setbacks for him except for may be on personal fronts. The enemies are short lived. Only thing that remains constant is the rivalry between Saxons and Danes with different Dane leaders rising to the occasion to confront Uthred. All in all a great show.

The Lincoln Lawyer (2022– )

A compelling story line

[10/10 · 13 June 2022]

The show quickly comes to the point of describing a lawyer who ran out of practice because of an accident and subsequent drug problems but got his act together. His life is entwined with his two ex wives and a daughter and some other characters. I was compelling to give a 9 but seeing these bad ratings i bumped to a 10 as it doesn't deserve much more than that.

The central running story line is really engaging and full of unexpected twists. Loved the main character. He was confident enough for the role and played very well. The way he turns upside down the arguments during the trial grips your attention. But there are a couple of side plots going on that act as just fillers and kind of divert your attention from the main plot. Gets a bit annoying that you are so immersed in the story and suddenly some some side plot kicks in. Could have been easily squeezed to 8 episodes if they stuck to the main plot.

Other than that no complaints. Had to watch the whole thing together. It was that engaging. Hoping to see more seasons in future.

The Weekend Away (2022)

Kinda formulaic yet enjoyable

[6/10 · 14 March 2022]

Got a chance to watch this movie as heard from the reports that it is topping charts and also because if Gossip girl star Leighton Meester. Starts with her meeting an old friend for some time together and have fun until the friend disappears and she becomes a suspect. The movie follows several common tropes of cheating, disloyal husband playing foul etc. They put in some half hearted twists in between thus making it an enjoyable thriller recommended for a light watch. Does a presence of a bead from the dead girl prove anything that someone was a murderer? Some twists were even laughable and once you think in the hindsight dont even make sense but then as I said its still enjoyable but nothing to relish on.

Soorarai Pottru (2020)

Great realistic movie

[10/10 · 12 December 2021]

Watched this movie dubbed in Hindi. May be some of the elements are dramatized or exaggerated for the screen but the movie evokes emotions and one wants the lead to succeed in taking the concept of air travel to the masses. You are taken through the wild ride he goes through in achieving his dream. But the main lesson is he never gives up on his dream and that is what separates successful people from others the passion to succeed and do something worthwhile. Thats how big ideas come to reality. Bollywood can learn a thing or two from their counterparts in the south to make a good movie without being overtly lavish.

Haseen Dillruba (2021)

Surprisingly good

[9/10 · 5 December 2021]

Reading the name I was suspecting a B grade-ish movie but watched it because of good names of Tapsee and Vikrant. And it turned out a fairly engaging movie. Starts with problems faced by a couple in the arranged marriage institution and high expectations of a girl and the actuality she faces and then an extra marital affair and then turns into a mystery all with moments of light hearted comedy in between. The movie feels quite earthly and the mystery builds up well and the ending was not even that predictable. At times you think whats the play of Tapsee's character. The actors perform all well. Both Tapsee and Vikrant have given a great performance and so did the supporting characters. Reminds you of middle class dramas in the past like Sathiya.

Chehre (2021)

Absurd concept

[6/10 · 30 November 2021]

The movie starts on an interesting note. A group of old retired men play a game with lost strangers to find out if someone has committed a crime by delving into their pasts asking questions. At one point Amitabh Bachan says that it's impossible that anyone's past is flawless without any serious sins or crimes and one must have committed something for which they could be indicted. Really!! Emraan Hashmi sounds too confident to say that he hasn't ever committed a serious crime for a person who just killed someone. And then Amitabh Bachan goes to the extent of being preachy. Emraan Hashmi's crime is not about any rape but Amitabh gives a long monologue how rape survivors face injustice and rapists tread free. A good message but nowhere related to the offence Hashmi had committed. What started as a good mystery fare turns into confusion and lead actors trying hard to justify their parts. Acting wise everyone is fine. Whats weak is the script.

The Trip (2021)

Enjoyable but not for faint hearted

[8/10 · 13 November 2021]

Although I enjoyed the movie and it was quite a thrill ride, it definitely had a lot of bloodshed and violence and may not be everyone's cup of tea. But otherwise the pace and execution was pretty well done.

Aftermath (IV) (2021)

Thrilling lead up but average climax

[7/10 · 8 November 2021]

The story of a strange couple. A wife who cheated on her husband and he is all romancing and all with her but only can't get intimate because of her cheating. Anyway the wife experiences that some apparition or a person is hiding inside the house but doesn't appear on cameras before but does appear at the end.

The husband doesn't believe her anytime and thinks she is delusional or cheating on him again and covering it up. But it has its moments and keeps you engaged. However the end was kinda half cooked. But still watchable.