[mobike008]

Finally, after more than a month, finished "Warrior" on Netflix.

Watching 30 episodes was a big deal. Especially for someone like me who does not like period drama. But, the fights and drama kept me engaged.

A few things about this series

1. Bruce Lee wrote the story himself and directed by his daughter
2. Period drama and martial arts. Heady combination for first time.
3. Beware- Plenty of sex scenes that crop up over the series so not really a family series.
4. Best martial arts ever filmed on television. Period
5. Action is gory and bloody. Not for the weak stomached.
6. Drama and Storyline is pretty interesting.

Liked the hero who was the main reason that I never gave up watching despite being 30-episodes long.

Will rate this a solid 4/5 (IMDB has rated it 8.4/10).

[ajmat]

Started watching Sugar on Apple TV

First episode was engaging and shows some promise

[Gannu_1]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Finally, after more than a month, finished "Warrior" on Netflix.

Thanks. Next on the watchlist. Presently doing a rewatch of GoT and S8 remains.

Read that Jonathan Tropper is the showrunner who was the co-creator of Banshee from Cinemax. Quite sure the stunt sequences will be epic. Looking forward!

Originally Posted by mobike008

Watching 30 episodes was a big deal.

30 episodes over 3 seasons i.e.

Was wondering if shows went back to the Prison Break style seasons with 20+ episodes for each season!

Thanks for the recommendation.

[libranof1987]

Yeh Meri Family, Season 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS6u...=TheViralFever

Every once in a while, I like to watch such shows that allow you to have a laugh over very relaxed, healthy content. Considering how almost every show across OTT mediums has some negative arc, shows such as these seem like a fresh breath of air.

[Sen_auto_sation]

The Gentlemen (2024) on Netflix
My rating: 6/5
IMDb: 8.2

The script, the plot, the casting, the acting, locations and most of all the direction by Guy Ritchie (and everything else that went into the production) of this series, is simply put, stupendous, spectacular, phenomenal, and more such adjectives come to mind (hope most of you get the drift). Guy Ritchie has not just done what he does best again but it could be held as his greatest of all times work (at least a very special work by him). Yes, I do sound like I am fanboy-ing hard (I confess, have loved the director Guy’s works, over the years, and a huge fan).

As a segue, I also wanted to give a shout to @mobike008, fellow TeamBHPian—if my brain ever had its twin, your quoted post in its entirety would be a perfect case in point—word for word.

Thanks @mobike008 for a perfect review of this extraordinarily entertaining OTT series (clearly one of the best to come out in recent times).
I couldn’t have imagined two different people could think so alike!

Originally Posted by mobike008

What an absolutely amazing series. I don’t make an effort to write long drawn reviews and generally like to keep it simple. Heck, Gentleman deserves a little bit more ink than most others for sure. This has every scene, dialogue and settings marked with “Guy Ritchie” trademark..

This series is like a homage to what proper British humor and action is in an inimitable Guy Ritchie style. I plowed through the first four episodes like a man possessed..

Only difference being, I’m actually writing this post/review after binging on the full series — twice over! Yes, you read that right, especially when I couldn’t find a better content to watch over another weekend, I actually ended up binge-watching its entire season again!
In fact, the second time around, found it more entertaining than the first watch, even while knowing the plot and sequence of events, noticed more details that made for a better viewing experience.

Originally Posted by mobike008

This show has got “Cult Classic” stamped all over it… it’s that good…
If you like English humor, violence and odd ball characters spawn across the entire series mouthing some brilliant & witty lines...

Totally a cult-classic in the making from our times. Rest assured that it has familiar patterns most fans of Guy’s productions have come to relish over the years and yet it feels fresh and keeping with the times. There is a great juxtaposition of dark humour with comedic relief, maintaining an equilibrium throughout its run-time.

All the actors were cast / acted brilliantly—the lead protagonist, actor Theo James (playing the new Duke) is an absolute stunner!! He is suave, vulnerable, assertive, and the like, as his character goes through a full 360 transformation in the course of the narrative. If he is able to find scripts/directors like this in the future, he could become one of those legendary actors ( like how @mobike008 made a reference to his potential as a 007 agent for the British Secret Services )
One of the antagonists, actor Kaya Scodelario (playing a gangster) perfectly complemented the lead protagonist, becoming his partner-in-crime. Then, there was an usual mix of quirky, oddball, unstable, volatile, etc., players in the plot that are an usual Guy fare—and they all performed outstandingly, getting into the skin of the character.

Originally Posted by mobike008

I need to watch the original movie as well. Anyone seen it and have any comparisons?

You know what, I felt that urge, too, and ended up watching the movie by Guy Ritchie of the same title, as well, released back in 2019.

The Gentlemen (2019), available on Lionsgate app
My rating: 4.5/5
IMDb: 7.8

It’s a great watch (highly recommend for viewing). I felt it was superb for its time and had some similarities to the current webseries (given it’s a spin off) but it is not the same—so one would enjoy it for its own plot/storytelling.

[NG_EV]

Fallout: Prime Video

I have watched upto episode 7. Initial 4 episodes were good. There is some slowdown after episode 4. I have not played the game.

Rating: 3/5

[amol4184]

Fallout on Prime

I am a fan of post apocalyptic series/movies. To that effect Fallout on Amazon Prime is an excellent show. Probably a head and shoulders above some of the other shows I saw in recent times.

It is witty in some parts and cast acts well. The protagonist grows on you slowly.

But the show is definitely not for family or something to watch with kids. It is *quite* gory and violent right from the beginning. Some scenes left me flinching and violence reminded of "The Boys" in many ways.

The apocalyptic world creation is supreme looking with truly deep and realistic CGI. People who have played Fallout and Fallout 76 will instantly connect to it and relate some of the plot even though it is not very direct.

Music is all from 40-50s and is EXCELLENT just like in the games. Dialogues are good, characters are quirky and various after effects resulting from nuclear fallout are amusing. I like it!

Overall I think this series gives proper justice to Fallout games and regardless whether you played the games or not provides a rewarding experience. The first few minutes of very first episode are incredible and felt better than the game.

If we just consider video game to TV series adaptation I think this is an 8/10 and definitely better than other game to TV like Arcane or Halo. The best IMO is still "The Last of Us". But I digress, watch this. I don't think you will be disappointed. It will help you wash off poor taste left by other Amazon shows - Rings of Power and Wheel of time.

Solid 4/5 from me.

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Enough has been said already but I can't stop praising Shogun.

Absolutely! This episode deliberately takes a slower approach that shows a mastery over the storytelling. There are so many beautiful interactions, like when Toronaga-sama & Mariko exchange poetic snippets. Not sure if it is haiku, but each sentence has so much deep meaning behind them.

It is said that making and serving tea is a deliberately long custom and there is a certain etiquette to the whole process. When Mariko and her husband share the tea, it is fascinating just to see how delicately the tea is prepared, or the deft rotating of the utensils. So much attention to these things, it is so deeply satisfying to watch.

There is humor too, as when the clueless Anjin tries to ally with Yabushige who is obviously enjoying the praises until reprimanded by his cousin's cold stares. The way he lands back to earth was genuinely funny! Or the facepalm moment when the priest finds out his new church in Edo is going to be next door to the courtesans!

Man this episode is just killer!

[arnieshwartz]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Adding to the praise rolls for Shogun, I just wanted to add one more

"I think Shogun is one of the best series ever made. Period"

S1E8 took it to a different level altogether!

Has anybody else felt parallels or similarities between The Last Samurai and Shogun?

You have to admit there are some similarities -
Both depict a Westerner traveling to Japan, learning about their ways, and helping a group fight in a civil war.
You could also argue there are differences -
Shogun is an ensemble piece that immerses the viewer in a new world, while The Last Samurai focuses primarily on Tom Cruise.
The Last Samurai is historically fictional, but plausible. Some say that Shogun is an accurate depiction of feudal Japan.

Whatever the case may be, and as someone who enjoys period movies, I feel that the latest adaptation of the 1975 historical novel by James Clavell is indeed blockbuster stuff!

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by Sen_auto_sation

The Gentlemen (2024) on Netflix
My rating: 6/5
IMDb: 8.2


As a segue, I also wanted to give a shout to @mobike008, fellow TeamBHPian—if my brain ever had its twin, your quoted post in its entirety would be a perfect case in point—word for word.

Thanks @mobike008 for a perfect review of this extraordinarily entertaining OTT series (clearly one of the best to come out in recent times).
I couldn’t have imagined two different people could think so alike!

Thanks for such a glowing feedback and praise for my review. Yup, it’s strange that two people can think so alike which is a surprise for me too.

I have always been a fan of British humor as it’s subtle, classy and needs bit of IQ to understand the deep layered meaning of their dialogues which is a refreshing style at humor compared to over the top, loud and trademark American humor.

Since my review, I did complete it and nothing changes and my rating still remains 5/5 as it’s one of the best work out of Guy’s stable. Btw, that’s a nice idea of watching it again, I can see it again just for the chicken scene, Theo, Kaya & Daniel.

Well, If you liked Gentleman, I will recommend this one as well. And, yet again this is after watching just 3 episodes out of 8. This has a vague hint of “Gentleman” but, in a different world.

Crooks
OTT : Netflix
Rating : 4/5

I stumbled upon this series which hit Netflix recently. Last week, I saw 3-episodes in one night as it was a totally intriguing crime caper.

This series gave me a "slight feel" of Gentleman due to the various characters and unpredictability but, set in a different world which is the crime gangs of 3-different countries (Austria, Germany & France) and 2 races (Arabs and Europeans).

Story in a nutshell : An Austrian gang tries to steal a precious coin from an Arab gang who in-turn have stolen it from a museum. What ensues is mayhem, confusion, killings, revenge and unveiling of true relationships.

Fast paced, Nail biting storyline and action. Also focuses a bit on little things about the cultural differences of each of these countries (Having visited these countries, I can totally relate to it )

We have seen Austria, Germany and France (especially Marseilles as place for Uber rich) from our touristy eyes but, this series takes you into their seedy world.

Need to find time to finish the rest of the episodes and by the way things are moving, I am sure my review will not change much.

P.S : The Austrian Driver- Joseph Muckstein reminds me so much of “Amjad Khan” the one and only from Sholay movie. I partly loved it because of Joseph who is a crucial character in this series.

Check it out. It's interesting and most certainly can be watched once.

[SithDefender]

Holy Mother of God ! The last episode of Shogun had me on the edge !!! This is getting better each episode, if that were even possible!

[mobike008]

To Catch a Smuggler
OTT : Disney +/ Hulu
Rating : 4/5



We stumbled upon this wonderful series about a month ago. 6 Seasons and 8 Episodes each. We watch it on and off, like one episode in a couple of days as a filler.

It's an interesting, intriguing series about how US border protection forces protect the folks trying to smuggle contraband, drugs and other illegal goods (e.g : Shark Fins, huge contraband of fake brands) into the US.

The series mostly focuses on 3 major airpots (JFK, MIA, LAX & Atlanta) which faces the maximum influx of people trying to smuggle goods.

How the authorities identify, interrogate and follow up on cases (Let some of the passengers carrying drugs deliberately go and follow them to catch the big fish).

It's shocking to see the amount of drugs that get smuggled into the US and the various means and methods (Some are so innovative..) to bring in drugs into the US.

Every episodes focuses on different type of situations and how the officers try their best to stop these illegal entries.

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by SithDefender

Holy Mother of God ! The last episode of Shogun had me on the edge !!! This is getting better each episode, if that were even possible!

Shogun needs a separate discussion thread. It's that good.

---—---
In other news, "The Regime" has finished its run on HBO.

I originally rated it 3/5. After the finale, I'm going to say it's 1/5.

The series is supposed to be satire but as the episodes passed it just kept getting ridiculous in a puzzling way. Nothing makes sense. I don't think satire is even the right word to describe this show.

The time jumps are vast and almost seem like the show makers didn't know how to tie the loose ends so they just jumped the time and changed subjects.

In a nutshell that's what this is - so many loose ends. In the end I was left asking questions like what about this? Oh what about that? What happened to xxxx?

The show makers have said there's no plan for season 2 and for once I'm glad.

[ranjitnair77]

Bluey

I was wondering if there were any fans of the Australian animated series Bluey in here? I started watching it along with my 4 year old daughter and I can honestly say that it ranks amongst the best animated shows for young adults. I sometimes watch it by myself. It's that good.

As a summary, the story revolves around Bluey, her younger sister Bingo and their parents Bandit and Chili. While the context is very Australian, the themes of family, good parenting, nostalgia, acceptance, understanding and love are pretty much universal. Bandit is probably a role model for a dad raising a child.

Here's one of the best episodes ever called Sleepytime which reduced me to tears at the end. It's masterful. I would highly recommend watching this with your kids if you haven't. The show streams on Disney + Hotstar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxoqJ0Pmux0

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Shogun needs a separate discussion thread. It's that good.

Well, it has already ended. If you really think about this, the main lead of the show is actually Toda Mariko, making this a female-centric show. But they didn't overdo it like Mulan or Rings of Power.

In the book, Anjin was the main lead, but they managed to tweak it and make Mariko more important in the show. And it worked very well. Anna Sawai did a stellar job.