'Gotham' pilot review

The 2014 fall TV premiere season has started and the newest and one of the most promising entrant in TV this year is 'Gotham'. It is based on the pre-life in the city of Gotham before Batman incarnates, as in the DC comics. The series had garnered a lot of attention after its announcement due to the huge success of yet another DC based TV show, the 'Arrow'. The pilot was premiered in San Diego Comic con too, where a few fans got the first glimpse of the forthcoming series.

The pilot was rated not so favorably then. Some people felt the series missed the charm of the other DC adaptations. Now as the pilot has been released to viewers, we can now see it for ourselves. The first impression for me was similar, but before you stop reading and concluding about the show, I would like to note that there could be a silver lining in the end. The episode races against time to establish its world. It starts with a couple (exactly a couple) of shots of the city Gotham, and rushes off to bring in the characters of the show. Before you know it, Bruce Wayne's most important turning point in life is over and done with, and there enters the main character of the show, Det. Gordon. Then comes Riddler, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Fish mooney, Gordon's partner Harvey, Alfred, and by the end all the characters have been not just established, but most of their origin stories have been completed. Yes, in just one episode.

Now the silver lining I was talking about was in the realization that what has been promised in the trailers and  other promotions have already been delivered. Now that leaves you with a season full of the 'unknown'. You thought this was all the season was about but, you have mistaken. Obviously now there has to be more, and each of these characters have more important roles to play; some will bring more menace, while some will save the city.

Back to the pilot, if the acting and writing were any indication for the future episodes, I would say without any doubt that this will be the single season of 'Gotham'. An episode that dashes to the finish line has writing so bad, that you could yawn in between certain scenes. The scene where Gordan tells little Wayne that he will capture the killer is one such moment. Gordon's love interest is equally lame, but of course she has secrets of her own(for the sake of the show). So is the background music. Too loud and unnecessary in most parts. For a show of this concept, why hasn't anybody felt concerned for some good music??? The show in great measures lack originality.

The show clearly indicates that it won't be focusing on Wayne or Batman at all. If it had, it wouldn't have messed up the scene where young Batman's parents are murdered. We would have seen why that moment was so life changing for Wayne. It would have touched upon the relation of his with his parents. The pilot doesn't do that, but I hope future episodes do. I have a feeling Det. Gordon wouldn't be able to carry the show on his own for long.

The acting side has also been terrible. The only saving grace according to me was Jada-Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney. Even if her lines were not good enough, she salvaged it from ruining her character. But the same cannot be said of any of the others. I look forward to more from Robin Taylor as Penguin, but bad writing can destroy him too.

But as I mentioned I am ready to give 'Gotham' another chance, and so waiting to get a peek on the next episode. Here it is, the trailer of episode 2 'Selina Kyle'.

'Crossbones' on NBC seems stale and outdated

The new series that opened on NBC the last week, based on the pirate legend BlackBeard, managed very few good reviews. The content was old, and the making proved to be abysmal. The series named 'CrossBones' seemed to stagger from the very beginning, with the screenplay racing towards an invisible finishing line, gulping up almost enough content that could have made a season worth of stuff on TV. The introductions to the characters were bad, only to be saved the shame, by even worse use of actors. Imagine a man of John Malkovich's demeanour, delivering a threat to someone, and we as audience feel nothing, but ordinary words coming out of a bald man's mouth.

The immediate comparison to Starz 'Black Sails' would make it more difficult for this series. 'Black Sails' achieved the status of moody pirate tale, with plots that delivered its darkness to the audience, unlike 'Crossbones', which linger in a space between comedy and stupidity. The actors are almost pathetic, and nothing they do seems to work.

Its upto the writers now, to change the fate of this new series, else we might not really want it to return again.

'Crossbones' coming on NBC on May 30

The above is the trailer of NBC's new pirate show based on the character of BlackBeard, the legendary pirate king. It is called the 'Crossbones'. It feature John Malkovich as the pirate.

If you loved this year's previous pirate outing with Starz's 'Black Sails', then you are more or less likely to love this premise too. While some of the pirate characters have been already introduced to you in 'Black Sails' and the other pirate movies we got before, 'Crossbones' is more likely to follow only Blackbeard.

The trailer looks more bright and funnier than the dark 'Black Sails', but I wouldn't put it as a good thing here for 'Crossbones'. Lets wait and see if John can bring in fresh approach to this pirate saga. We will get to see it on May 30, when it premieres on NBC. Until then, wait patiently.

'Gotham' comes this fall on FOX network

After DC's ground breaking and successful outing with their 'Arrow' series, now they have extended their hard-hitting tv arena from Starling city to Gotham city. Introducing 'Gotham', a series based on the pre-Batman times in the crime-ruling city of Gotham. The main focus of this series would be on Detective Gordan, and his relationship with the boy who lost his parents, Bruce Wayne. The first season trailer has already come out, and we are promised more than just Batman and Gordon. We also see the earlier versions of Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler. I promise you, this trailer is more than enough to get your pulse racing. Come fall, and they would come to you on your television sets. Until then, brace yourselves for this riveting trailer.

Game of Thrones : Two Sword s04 e01 review

**SPOILERS**

Finally, we are back at Westeros, and the fun has already begun. Starting with a beautifully edited recap, with the climax having Ned Starks head sliced with his sword, just leads us to the marvellous start this season has just made. The sword of Ned Stark is the beginning, and is the first sword as mentioned in the title. We see Tywin Lannister melting the blade to forge two new ones. He presents one to his favourite son, Jaime, but is clearly unhappy with the turn of events, where he got his sword hand severed (in the last season). The crowd favourite Tyrion is brought in very next, giving an impression, that he is there to stay.

This episode does bring in a load of new characters. To begin with, as the Dornish men marches in to attend Joffrey's wedding, they bring the hot headed brother of the king of Dorne, Oberyn Martell. Now he is not a big fan of the Lannisters and he is come with a heart for revenge. Along with him, the beautiful paramour of his, Ellaria Sand. As Tyrion puts it, "It means more trouble".

Danearys marches to Mereen with her huge army and her dragons. The dragons flutter and growl dangerously, as Danaerys wonders if she would be able to tame these beasts. Her romances with Daario Naharis continues, and we therfore get to see the man who has been recast. Well, lets say he is an upgrade.

Sansa is traumatized, and tries to hide away from the world, but meets a new friend. Shae is getting irritated with Tyrion, as he restricts her advances, and this reaches the enemies ears. Cersei is looking for chances to get the thing she loves most, Power, and Jon Snow faces a trial in front of the crows where he reveals Mance's attack plans.

The wildlings are gathering, and a new group has joined Tormund. Enter Thenns, and their leader the Magnar. Down south, the preparations for wedding is going on with grand enthusiasm. But not to forget, the hurt wolf, the little Arya riding with the Hound. They see a group of King's people vandalising an Inn, and one of them has got Arya's blade. Yes, the second blade in the title, The Needle. As they attack them, Arya grabs her blade back, and with cold eyes, and vengeance in her tongue, puts the blade through yet another name in her checklist.

Who was missing this episode was, Bran, Theon, Asha and the Stannis battalion, along with the two masterminds of King's landing, Littlefinger, and Varys. But you can see them coming soon. Watch the next episode's trailer.

Wait till next week,to carry on with their exciting journeys through Westeros.

'The Flash' displays his full costume

Since Grant Gustin appeared on the CW's hit series 'Arrow', based on the DC comics character the 'Green Arrow', as Barry Allen, there was an excitement in air about the new show CW was churning out. This new show will be fully based on the heroics of another one of DC's comic superheroes; 'The Flash'. Two episodes were dedicated to the establishment of this character in CW's TV world, where he disappeared after being hit by a lightning.

A few weeks later, CW came out with the first photograph that shows Gustin in the mask. The mask of 'The Flash'. Internet was buzz with talks about this new look, and there were many feedbacks given. Now another photo has been revealed which shows Gustin in his full attire. The one big long shot of 'The Flash'. Right below!

 

What do you think? This guy will be hitting your screens soon. So get ready for some super action.

Om Shanthi Ooshana review

By now, we have seen quite a formidable number of malayalam movies where the main characters are in first-person narration mode through out the film. This one too, though starts with Salim Kumar narrating in his typical 'Kath(ththth)a Presangam' style, has Nasriya interrupting him in within five minutes, asking him to let her tell her own story. She talks about how she was while growing up, what she thought of love, how she met her dream boy, and as the posters show how she 'vallachufy' the guy.

When you ask what exactly is the story, if the above line doesn't satisfy you, then all I can say is 'Entoro Ento'. But if you are OK with it, then you would be interested  to know what else drives this movie. Since youtube has given a fair advantage to short film makers, and the exceeding popularity of these kind of simply funny stuff, based on some lost love, or how girls dump guys, your college love, or similarly cliched short films gain lot of interest among youngsters, today's movies also shamelessly try to imitate these films. While a lot of the comedy which drives this movie is similarly based, and is funny too when you watch them, the sad part is it doesn't linger enough for us to rethink and laugh while you are sleepy in your classroom, or wandering on the road.

Nasriya as the main lead, is everything Nasriya should be and always has been. The bubbly, froward child with charms and innocence that us malayalees like. Has she been any different the whole movie would have bombed. Nivin Pauly on the other hand, shed his innocent face, and returns to his debut look in 'Malarvadi Arts Club', threatening people on the road who looks at girls. This extra macho guy with a sense of righteousness steals our heroines heart, and from then its her vain attempt to get this guy to love her back.

Nasriya's father character is an open minded Christian, who believes Christ died for everyone in this world, not just the Christians. He also records his own songs and listens to it. Don't know why I mentioned it. Actually don't know why the film mentions that because it doesn't come anywhere in the film again. But then there is the short film style impact I was talking about. Some random joke in narration that is not important to the story.  Aju as Nivin's old friend turned foe, is decent, but he has done much better roles before, especially in 'Thattathin Marayathu' which made me a fan of his.

There is VijayaRaghavan, Vineeth Srinivasan, Vinaya Prasad, some new girls, etc in small roles. Well, there is Lal Jose too, but why was he in that role is the question. Also it seemed too forced a role. Sometimes it bothers when you see the same people again and again in movies made under the same banner.

The movie is simple, and in some ways funny. But I have seen better attempts than this one, which banks on Nasriya to do their job. Well, watch it for her anyway. I know you will :P