Asterix83 Reviews

The Tale of Nokdu (2019)

Beautiful and entertaining period drama

[10/10 · 5 October 2023]

The Tale of Nokdu is beautiful drama. It begins as a comedy and gradually transforms into a political action story. Stunning locations, cinematography and actors makes this drama an unforgettable journey. Kudos to the casting director for choosing Jang Dong-Yoon as Nokdu. I have never seen a male actor portray the role of a woman with such finesse. He is gorgeous as a woman and as a skilled warrior. It was a treat to watch him shine in both the characters as Lady Kim and Nokdu. I hope to see more of him. Its also interesting to watch Lord Cha - Kang Tae-Oh transform from a charming young man to a villain. Go Geon Ha was hilarious and so were the widows of the village and the little girl and her father. Overall The Tale of Nokdu was a treat to watch.

For me this drama deserves a 10/10. And the actor Jang Dong-Yong deserves to be at the top of the best actors list.

Clean with Passion for Now (2018–2019)

An adorable rom-com

[10/10 · 10 September 2023]

Never thought a series could be so endearing and enjoyable. The story unfolds when Jang Seon as the rich man with OCD meets his polar opposite, the slovenly Gil Oh. Jang Seon's quirks and his initial encounters with Gil Oh were simply hilarious. Its interesting to see such different people eventually fall in love. Kudos to the scriptwriter and director who gradually transforms the story from a comedy to romance and eventually a very emotional rollercoaster. All other characters like Dr Daniel, Jang's mom, Gill's dad, her friend and colleagues at work played their part so well. Amazing acting by the lead actors Yoon Kyun and Kim Yoo. Yoon Kyun was wonderful displaying varied emotions with ease. Hope to see more of his series/movies.

The music was mesmerizing especially Cosmos by Huh Gak. It just kept playing in my head for several days!

The series is a beautiful blend of comedy, drama, romance and tragedy! We binge watched it and loved every single episode! Kudos to the creators!

Guardian (I) (2021)

A badly made Malayalam thriller!

[1/10 · 19 August 2023]

Most of the movie was a masterclass narration by SSP Nandakumar to DSP Meera Mohandas. Saiju Kurup as Dr Arun was the only saving grace. While the plot was interesting, the script and direction were simply horrible. The ending was abrupt. SSP Nandakumar's condescending and dragging narration was hard to listen to and ruined the movie for me. Mediocre acting by Sijoy Varghese, Miya George and Shiyas Kareem was a dampener. For a cop who claims to never accept 'defeat', the 'know it all' SSP gave up way too easily at the end Overall - A pathetic attempt to replicate Drishyam but fails miserably. Not worth your time, so please skip it.

Farhana (2023)

Wow! What an amazing movie!!

[10/10 · 8 July 2023]

Well what can I say about Farhana..started off as a slow, ordinary movie and then it zooms off like a rocket! Farhana is story of a housewife who joins a call centre to earn a livelihood. When she moves to a new department which involved romantic chats with strangers, she struggles initially but was saved when she meets Dhaya. The long conversations with Dhaya was poetic and filled with love. As the viewer is lulled into a breezy romance, the story abruptly changes shade into a dark thriller and picks up pace. The event which leads to this change was when Farhana and Dhaya make plans to meet.

Loved the way how the director manages to mold the movie into different genres with ease. Kudos to Nelson Venkatesan and his story-telling & direction. Thoroughly enjoyed this movie!

Express (2022– )

Like a fast paced action movie!

[10/10 · 2 June 2023]

Loved the series! A hidden gem amongst the Spanish shows/series. I am surprised to see such a sub-par rating on IMDB. Those who haven't watched 'Express' yet, go ahead and enjoy this fast paced, action plus thriller series. Never a dull or boring moment and I just binge watched it!

The series is about a talented cop who left the police force and joins a corporate. While all seemed well in the beginning but over a period of time, takes a dark turn towards the end. Makes one think if pharma, health care sectors etc, benefit when people are scared/under stress, what makes them stop from deliberately creating a few incidents so as to boost their sales. Kudos to the makers of this series and the amazing actors. Looking forward to the next season!

Jack N Jill (2022)

A complete train wreck!

[3/10 · 2 May 2023]

A complete train wreck of a movie. Expected much better from Santhosh Sivan who's well known for his cinematographic skills and direction. The movie did have a list of eminent actors but their talent was wasted on a weak script and pathetic direction. The overall plot was good and with good direction and script could have been a much better movie. The only saving grace was Manju Warrier and the song 'Angane'. Manju Warrier's classical dance and the song were simply genius. Kudos to her and the creators of Angane. You deserve a huge applause for making a brave attempt to save this dud movie. A word to Kalidas and Shaylee Krishen - acting is not everybody's cup of tea. I sincerely hope with this movie Mr Santhosh Sivan retires from cinema. As audience we would like to remember him as a talented genius and creator of movies like Urmi instead of crap like Jack and Jill.

Rekha (2023)

An unsettling revenge movie

[10/10 · 11 March 2023]

The initial half an hour of the movie was quite ordinary with not much of a glimpse of a potential masterpiece. But as the story moves along, it picks up pace and leaves you stunned in the end.

Jithin Issac Thomas and Vincy Aloshious kills it with nuanced performances and superb detailing. It's just not a revenge drama, but one with a subtle message delivered by the main protagonist Rekha towards end - the peer pressure of the need for a 'line' or relationship made her fall for Arjun with disastrous consequences. Unni Lalu plays the role of Arjun, a complex seemingly harmless personality. His unveiling to the audience from being a simple, smiling guy in a shop to a vicious psychopath was very well taken. Overall, a great movie.

Aar Ya Paar (2022– )

A wonderful action packed series

[10/10 · 22 January 2023]

It's extremely disturbing to see and know how indigenous population are exploited and their lands grabbed by vested interests. The series' Aar Ya Paar's main theme revolves around how a larger corporation exterminates tribals in a protected area and occupies their land to mine uranium.

The main protagonist is a tribal who seeks revenge against the perpetrators and in the process gets sucked into a much deeper conspiracy. A well made series with some amazing characters and great action. Kudos to the makers of this awesome series. A must watch and a rare gem amongst the plethora of web series released nowadays.

Axone (2019)

Simple and thought provoking movie with elements of humor

[10/10 · 22 January 2023]

Axone was a simple yet thought provoking movie on the experiences of North East Indians living in Delhi. It's quirky, funny and serious at the same time. The last 20 minutes displayed the rich diversity of NE India with aplomb. Loved every bit of the movie. All the characters did a phenomenal job in playing their part be it the cranky grandma or Minam's friends who put in all the effort to make her wedding special. Btw, never realised proxy wedding was practised in India in certain communities even now. The character of Shiv was amazingly funny and adorable! Chanbi and Upasana played the strong female leads and Minam's loyal buddies who were the heart and soul of the movie.

Kooman (2022)

What an astounding movie!!!!!

[10/10 · 4 December 2022]

Krishna Kumar & Jeethu Joseph have created a superb masterpiece with Kooman! The plot begins with a story of an ordinary, egoistic cop with shades of grey and then evolves into the story of a serial murder. And then begins a game of cat & mouse between the cop and the killer. A very well made plot with amazing performances from Asif Ali, Jaffar Idukki, Renji Panicker and Hannah. The locations and cinematography were amazing! The final twist in the end has truly made the movie a treat to watch. Kudos to the makers and all the artists who made this movie a truly remarkable treat to watch. Hats off to all.

Sabaash Chandrabose (2022)

Hilarious movie!

[9/10 · 30 October 2022]

Can a television set create havoc in one's life??! The movie takes one back to the past when television was a novelty. A simple movie on rustic village life which gets disturbed with the arrival of a television set in one of the homes, obviously of that of a 'Gulf malayalee'. The story unfolds when the main protagonist, impulsively takes up a challenge to buy a better television than his neighbour during a petty quarrel. This leads to a series of hilarious events which makes the movie a treat to watch!

What I loved most are some of the scenes which one can see in most villages in Kerala some 30 years back. A well made movie, great script and excellent performance from all the actors.

200: Halla Ho (2021)

Such a hard-hitting, well-made movie!

[10/10 · 23 October 2022]

'An unjust law is no law at all' - one of the statements made the main protagonist towards the end of the movie says it all. The whole story line is based on a real incident which happened in Nagpur where a group of women lynched a mobster rapist & murderer inside a court room. The movie describes the incidents which forced these oppressed women to take such a drastic step. It also shows how the law and administration failed to protect the poor and downtrodden women against criminals. Amol Palekar as the lawyer/ex-judge makes some very valid observations on caste, social justice and the numbness of the society towards atrocities against Dailts. When the women finally manage to gain courage and fight back against the goon, it was a moment which makes one feel like true justice is served.

Eesho (2022)

A thriller with a social message

[10/10 · 9 October 2022]

Loved this movie! It's a gripping thriller with a good storyline and an interesting twist in the end. The incidents cited in the movie which convey a social message is heart-wrenching, and loved the way the Director/Writer managed to weave in a social message into this thriller. I am quite surprised to see so many negative reviews about this movie which is quite harsh. Honestly I liked it and it's worth watching. Kudos to the makers for doing a phenomenal job in creating this movie! Jayasurya was a treat to watch as the main protagonist who kept the viewers guessing on his true intentions till the end. Jaffer Idukki did a phenomenal job as the innocent and honest watchman Ramachandran who despite being a poor ordinary man was steadfast in his ideals against a powerful adversary. Overall a decent watch.

Saakini Daakini (2022)

A well crafted movie

[10/10 · 2 October 2022]

While Saakini Damini seemed like a comedy initially, the way the story develops into a serious theme of organ trafficking was phenomenal. Both the main protagonists evolved well from being a couple of bickering kids to serious cops. While the first 30min of the movie seemed slow, it quickly picks up pace and thereafter was a treat to watch. The action sequences were well done and seemed natural. Both Nivetha Thomas and Cassandra did justice to their respective roles. Nivetha's comic timing and witty remarks were funny. Kudos to the makers of the movie! Indian/English Cinema needs more such gems!

A Model Family (2022)

A thrilling K-drama

[10/10 · 15 August 2022]

Another well made K Drama! Jung Woo was simply superb as the main protagonist, the ordinary Professor who gets entangled with the Mafia. A well crafted series with superb visuals and a good storyline.

Alchemy of Souls (2022– )

The Best K Fantasy-Drama!

[10/10 · 30 July 2022]

A very well made Korean Fantasy-Drama. While it seemed more like a fantasy and martial arts story initially, the series gradually evolves with elements of comedy, politics and romance. The script and direction are phenomenal and so are the characters. Kudos to the makers!

Silverton Siege (2022)

A well-made movie

[10/10 · 29 May 2022]

While initially surprised by the poor rating, I later realised that it's because the real events were a bit different from the incidents portrayed in the movie which led to a divided audience. Usually such a deviation from real events lead to a mess, but Silverton Siege turned out to be masterpiece! Its so well made and the characters well developed that the movie was a treat to watch. Kudos to the makers!

The Great Indian Murder (2022– )

The most boring and lazy 'mystery series'

[1/10 · 28 May 2022]

Extremely lazy attempt at a murder mystery. The only saving grace of the series was the very talented array of actors. It's sad to watch such a talented bunch grossly misutilized by a lazy script and poor direction. The makers did try to make it interesting by adding unnecessary sub-plots which made the storyline confusing and boring. Wasted my time watching this.

Shining Girls (2022)

Mind-blowing thriller

[10/10 · 14 May 2022]

While I initially thought this was just another ordinary thriller, after a few episodes I realized it's anything but ordinary! What makes it truly unique from the rest is the gripping storyline with intertwining timelines which initially deceives you into believing in a certain outcome and then bham out of nowhere you realise you were on a entirely different journey! Wagner Moura as the journalist Dan Velasquez does a phenomenal job, in a character very different from his role as the infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar of the Netflix fame Narcos. Jamie Bell and Elizabeth Moss were a treat to watch. Kudos to Silka Luisa and team for creating this masterpiece.

Antakshari (2022)

Gripping thriller!

[10/10 · 23 April 2022]

The movie depicts how a victim of exploitation and a horrible crime end up being a psychopathic killer. The movie is interspersed with distrubing sub-plots by the writer/director Vipin Das. The child artist who plays the role of young Kishore does a phenomenal job. Kudos to the makers of the movie!

Tumbbad (2018)

An Indian Masterpiece

[10/10 · 17 April 2022]

Mitesh Shah, Adesh Prasad, Rahi Anil Barve, and Anand Gandhi have created this masterpiece after 6 years of hardwork. Tumbbad is that kind of a horror which scares the living day lights of even a brave soul! Such a well-made movie, so well-scripted, amazing direction and phenomenal acting by all the characters. Sohum Shah did a commendable job as Vinayak, the main protagonist whose greed led to his ruin. The story occurs in Tumbbad, a village plagued by continuous downpour. In addition to the spine chilling events, the movie has a powerful message of the perils of letting greed overtake ones principles. What happens to Vinayak in the end is so spine-chiling that it leaves the audience in shock!

Etharkkum Thunindhavan (2022)

A serious theme doused in masala

[6/10 · 16 April 2022]

While the movie had a powerful message, the storyline was interspersed with unnecessary song/dance sequences and the typical commercial masala. What could have been a really good movie was ruined by a weak script and poor direction.

Fallet (2017– )

Hilarious cop thriller!

[10/10 · 14 April 2022]

The series is all about a bunch of inept cops solving a terrible crime! Adam Godley as the bumbling British cop was a treat to watch. So were the other characters - Lisa Henney as Sophie, Tomas as Klas, Tina as Norsk and Christopher as Bill. It was interesting how this team finally manages to catch the killer and giving the audience some amazing hilarious moments to roll over in laughter! Kudos to Jon and his team for creating this gem.

Night Drive (I) (2022)

Amazing Thriller!

[9/10 · 11 April 2022]

A nail-biting thriller by Vysakh and team. Excellent script, great direction and amazing acting. It's a story of how a bunch of ordinary people supported by an upright cop managed to thwart a powerful politician and a corrupt system. Except the unnecessary fight scene in the end, rest is a good watch.

Evil (2019–2024)

Well crafted series!

[10/10 · 23 March 2022]

Spine chilling series which made me a believer of evil and good. Well crafted horror/thriller with awesome characters and episodes. Some of the incidents have a logical reasoning instead of a supernatural angle, making it truly scary and believable. Kudos of writers, director and actors for creating this masterpiece!