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The Simpsons: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989)
Seems like a tasteful kick-off!
To be honest, this is my first time watching Simpsons episode. (Shocking, I know!) So starting with the first episode seemed like the obvious deal. I have to admit, though, I'm a tad bit surprised at how this went. It was a Christmas episode but I can't even point out if it was a great one at that. Certainly, there's some character growth there, but is it enough? I'd certainly like to see more to find out! :)
Team Kaylie: 19 Is the New 15 (2020)
Huh, this was surprising.
So I've been watching Team Kaylie lately and this episode, "19 Is The New 15" was rather interesting and surprising. Mainly because here, Kaylie's grandmother, someone who had been unheard of until now, arrives. Apparently, she believes Kaylie has just turned 15 because The Konrad Kronicles is 4 years late in her region. So she thinks it's time for her "quinceañera", a ceremony that happens upon turning 15.
Now over the course of the episode, we're more invested in Kaylie's family than in her friends so the kids take on the back-burner for a while. They spend their time planning the event and then ensuring that Kaylie , her mother and grandmother are on the same page. Ah well, things end up in a happily ever after but it is definitely a strange ride there.
I liked the addition and portrayal of the grandmother and am surprised that something like this wasn't done sooner. What I "didn't" like, however was how Valeria, my favourite character, actually annoyed me a bit. So I was left feeling heartbroken. But eh, I'm glad it's out there. I would love to see more of this soon! <3
Team Kaylie: The Old Witcheroo (2020)
An interesting addition
I feel like as the index of episodes from Team Kaylie increases, they grow more interesting. Don't get me wrong. The first five episodes of part 1 are still the best but as the season progresses forward, I begin to feel a certain connection towards the show.
This episode wasn't that exciting in itself but it was definitely interesting. We observed more of Valeria's witchy genes and found out why she was the way she was-at least why she was like "an American Girl doll". Then there were Kaylie and Colt and their beautiful yet exciting relationship. Colt's transformation over the course of the entire episode was definitely something I will forever remember.
Lastly, Ray Ray's sudden hint about being gay? Yeah, that wasn't entirely lost either. There have been so many theories about him being a gay character, and with the kind of diversity the show already has, having one gay character wouldn't hurt. I'm just excited to see when they'll reveal one!
Team Kaylie: An Ex to Grind (2020)
A great start to Part Three.
Oh, what a great start the third part of Team Kaylie has had with this episode. I'm telling you, it couldn't have been better. So many different things happen here. Not only do we see Kaylie deal with Colt's ex, who turns out to be a maniac but we also see Jackie's dark side. This new side of hers is strange, and honestly, very very hard to believe.
The highlight of the show, then, end up being Jackie and Valeria, who make for few of the best dialogues in the entire episode. Their chatter made up the most of it and it was livening, to say the least. Colt's ex arriving and all the kids worshiping her was a nice addition too. Amber's fangirling towards Margot was a true reflection of her personality.
I absolutely loved how the episode turned out and I hope the coming episodes give us more of such fun moments because boy-oh-boy, do I crave them!
Team Kaylie: Lights, Camera, Retraction (2019)
A redeeming episode
The third episode of Team Kaylie starts off with Rosa Blasi's entry, which was probably the best thing that could have happened to the show. We already find her to be a money-minded person from her very brief appearance in the first episode but here, we see her as a full cast member and boy-oh-boy, is it rejuvenating.
The episode is more focused on Ray Ray, Kaylie and Kit Konrad (Rosa Blasi). As Ray Ray takes advantage of his association to Kaylie (yet again) and tries to abuse her power, we see Kaylie growing and making sense of things in a way she probably had never done before. She isn't a bad person by heart. It is her mother who has forced her to be this way. Her mother, who is so money-minded that she is actually a brilliant addition to the entire series. Not to forget, it's the great Rosa Blasi!
I think the fact that we find Amber, Valeria, Jackie and Chewy going to extreme lengths to ensure Kaylie is fine, is another great thing about the episode. It shows how the group has finally accepted her as their leader (or well, co-leader) and how each of them have each other's backs!
Team Kaylie: Invasion of the Lumberjerks (2019)
A good episode.
This was a good episode, if you decide to not look at how bad of a message the kids seem to give here. They frequently disobey their superiors, starting from their principal, Principal Dana to Kaylie-their group leader, who is very much a part of the group now.
There is the usual trash-talking since the Lumberjacks and the Porcupines are now together. And there is the usual "Amber-knows-best-Kaylie-knows-trash" attitude from Alison Fernandez's Amber.
What really came to my notice was how the dialogues weren't really well-written. They say obvious things. Jackie, of all, says obvious things. And it gets on my nerves sometimes. I mean, this is a web series. You can SHOW such things instead of telling us. It's so much easier in a TV Series than it is in a boy, anyway.
Valeria's character seems to be the most interesting one, and I adored her. Ray Ray and Jackie came off as very two-dimensional. In fact, in one scene, Ray Ray actually says that he wants the Club to make up with her because he wants to island hop with her yacht. Now tell me if that is the kind of thing you are producing for humour, then if the humour is even worth it?
Principal Dana's questionable dialogues further spoil my fun.
Overall, it was a decent episode with a nice lesson at the end but there were SO MANY things that could have been better.
Team Kaylie: Be-wilderness (2019)
An okay start.
The first episode of Team Kaylie starts with Kaylie arriving at Pico Middle School after being sent for community service and leading the Wilderness Club. Now let's face it, it is obvious right from the start that leading a club like the Wildness Club, a club in which there is walking through the dirt, that such a club is not the right place for Kaylie Konrad. But she bears through it; if only because everyone else thinks she can't handle it and she wants to prove them wrong.
Despite how shallow of a personality we see in the start, by the end of the episode, we begin to see that there is more to her than that. As far as the development of a character is concerned, Kaylie goes through that.
As far as the other characters are concerned, though, there seem to be a lot of stereotypes. Jackie, for one, is a typical nerd. And Chewy is seen as a very creepy guy. The show and its creators try to make light of their characters by making us think it's all for fun but it actually leaves us more annoyed than happy.
Klaus (2019)
A reimagination of the Legend of Santa
"A true selfless act always sparks another."
If your kid has ever asked you where did Santa Claus come from or why is he the way he is, then this is the movie you ought to watch together. More than a month before Christmas last year (2019), Netflix released a Christmas movie that pulled everyone's hearts out. This movie was titled Klaus. Based on the myth of the Santa Claus (or is it a myth, really?), Sergio Pablo's Klaus is about how a friendship between an old man and a good-for-nothing postman results into the legend that is now renowned as of the Santa Claus.
Think of it like an origin story of the entire legend of Santa Claus. All of the myths regarding Santa Claus, say of the Naughty List or the one of where he watches everything or every other that you can think of, for that matter. It's not like Klaus has magical reindeer with him or that he fits into the chimney, but when you see the movie, you realize how the creators have explained all of that.
When Jesper, a student at the Royal Postal Academy, distinguishes himself as the worst student of the academy, he is stationed to set a postal office in Smeerensburg, a frozen island far into the North, with the ultimatum to get 6000 letters stamped by him else he would lose all of his inheritance. The thing about Smeerensburg that everyone fails to mention to him, however, is that it is the place of one of the longest and oldest feuds in the history of feuds-between the Krums and the Ellingboes. All they ever do is destroy the other person so there isn't much need for a letter. How then, will Jesper station his office? This is where Klaus comes in.
A movie popularly recognized to stand amongst the often-watched Christmas classics, Klaus also merits to be one of the best Netflix films for children and adults, alike. People from every which age can watch it and fall in love with it. The best part, however, about the movie is that it is beautiful to watch. Once you sit down, you don't even want to get up to bring popcorn!
It is no unknown fact that the movie has some very violent scenes, what with it being based on one of the oldest feuds known to man. Yet, not only do those scenes end quickly, but they are also portrayed in such a comical manner that it wouldn't be much of an issue to show to the kids.
What I also liked about the film was its central message: how an unselfish deed can go a long way. It isn't about giving and sharing, or how they are better. All it says is that if you do one thing for the goodwill of the people then other good things will follow. (Hint: Jesper's happiness at seeing Margu with the boat.) Some other things the movie talks about include the importance of education and of a proper community in the lives of the people. It also shows us why age-old grudges that hold no substance except their identity as a grudge better stay buried. That is why the transformation of the place was a huge thing, especially since it was based on simple steps that the kids took.
What adds more tangibility to the movie is Klaus's backstory. You find out a lot more about Klaus and why he does the things he do, adding more depth to the character. Not to mention how Klaus is huge but there aren't many fat jokes. Of course, it is mentioned and you also laugh at the way it is mentioned but you also deal with it. It's there; you can't do much about it.
Among the characters, I found Mrs. Krum to be the most spectacular character. She is evil but in her own way, she is also pretty funny. When you mix evil and comedy together, the outcome isn't always that great. Mrs. Krum proves to be one of those exceptions that actually do make it great. Mrs. Krum's son and Mr. Ellingboe's daughter are also pretty amazing. You'll have to watch the movie to find out why, but let me just say this here that these four people (Mrs. Krum, her son, Mr. Ellingboe, his daughter) probably make one of the best antagonist groups in the history of antagonist groups! Not only is their characterization amazing but their animation, too!
Of course, Jesper was another favourite. Yes, he is a cliche (not that the entire movie isn't filled with it) but his transformation from one of the most self-centered people to the guy who spends his time making a boat, is worth-mentioning. Klaus was another great character. I enjoyed his story. I fell in love with him. Their relationship together is something that shows what true friendship really is.
Miss Alva, a person desperate to leave Smeerensburg but who then ends up staying there for good-yeah, another character who I absolutely adored. Margu, the little Saami girl's importance in the movie doesn't go unnoticed. Had it not been for her, we might never have had a Mr. Claus. I also love how the movie consulted Saamis in its making.
Chhapaak (2020)
A Movie that makes you scream and cry!
If you're bored this weekend, have nothing to do, and are planning to watch a movie, then I have just one word for you: Chhapaak. This Deepika Padukone starer has the potential of being one of the best movies of 2020; not because it is Padukone's but because of the story.
Based on the story of Laxmi Agarwal, the acid attack survivor whose neighbour splashed acid on her back in 2005, Chhapaak tells the story of Malti. On the screen, we see Deepika screaming and crying in pain and it makes us want to scream and cry too! Keeping that in mind, it is important to mention that the most iconic scene in the entire movie was the one in which Malti was struck with acid. As the hot, burning liquid splashed her face in the middle of the market and she cried out in agony, only one old man out of the entire crowded market rushed to her aid. He poured water down her face and helped her out. It was disheartening to see how the entire market just stood there and watched while she cried out blindly.
The movie starts with the protests in Delhi back in 2013 against the Nirbhaya rape case. While the media is busy filming the protests, an old man tries to get the picture of an acid attack victim in front of the camera, probably his daughter; but the cameraman refuses to give him any attention. Meanwhile, Malti (Deepika Padukone), another victim unable to find a job owing to her face decides to work with Amol (Vikrant Massey)'s NGO in support for acid attack victims. Hearing the story of one such victim, she begins to relive her own story-a story that leaves us in tears and makes us want to gouge our hands out for letting this tragedy carry on.
A couple of years ago, when Malti was trying to get her attacker behind bars, she was also convinced that if there was no acid sale, there would be no acid attacks. She filed a PIL for banning acid sale and it went on for quite a number of years. So while all of this happens, more and more girls are being attacked. Amol's NGO tries to help them but with attacks happening all over India, there is only so much he can do before victims start dying from the attacks.
Malti's life is shown to be a struggle. The film doesn't waste time depicting drama, but tries to show us a figure who is powerful enough to fight on her own despite the barbaric attacks of the society. I am absolutely in love with how the direction worked in bring Laxmi Agarwal's story out in the open.
As the story progresses and her family's support dwindles due to her father's death and her brother's illness, Malti strives to make ends meet and survive.
There are many scenes in the movie that will make it hard for you to control your tears, for they show you all that Malti has to let go because one man couldn't take a "no". She cannot wear earrings anymore, cannot go out in the open without scaring one kid or the other, can only live her life through the shadows. With her lawyer and aunty's support, she soon rectifies that, but the damage has already been done. The thing that makes her character the most attractive is how she stands up for herself. You cannot get anything in life without fighting for it; and Malti learnt this the hard way. This is why it is important to take care of yourself while the world is busy throwing acid all around you.
Chhapaak isn't a movie for the weak-hearted. It is delicate, it is powerful and you have ought to understand the implications of such a disgusting crime and why it is wrong. If you think you are someone who can take in the horrors of life, then you must go and watch this one ASAP!
Team Kaylie (2019)
A throwback to the tween Disney shows of 2000s
Review:
On September 23, 2019, a tween comedy show, Team Kaylie premiered on Netflix. Starring Bryana Salaz as Kaylie Konrad, the lead protagonist, the show was all about a young wealthy celebrity sentenced to community service to a school after a brush with the law. At the school, the principal sends her to lead the "Wilderness Club" with members Amber (Alison Fernandez), Jackie (Symera Jackson), Valeria (Eliza Pryor), Ray Ray (Kai Calhoun) and Chewy (Elie Samouhi). While Kaylie was a self-obsessed character at the beginning of the show, with the help of this club, she develops emotionally into a more caring person.
A throwback to the tween Disney shows of the 2000s, Team Kaylie seems to be a direct inspiration from the life of the Kardashians.With their own reality show, the immense addiction to make-up and public images, the wealthy casitas, the show has it all. Perhaps, that is what makes it so special. While the show is about a very rich celebrity that not many kids will relate to, it also shows her dealing with daily life problems on her own. Sure, in the beginning Kaylie comes out as a very stupid character but by the end of it, she also comes out as a proper human being with irrational thoughts and desires. What attracts the readers the most towards the show is Salaz's brilliant acting towards a character that probably has it all.
When I sat down to watch the show, I was surprised at how similar the show came out to the real thing. I'm not saying that all billionaires live like Kit Konrad or act like Kit Konrad or even are as stupid as Kaylie but to some degree, it was there. Or perhaps the show was too stereotypical to be true. I can't really say for sure, not having been a millionaire, let alone a billionaire, in my entire life.
Overall, the show was very enjoyable and funny. I didn't laugh throughout, for sure, but I definitely smiled at more than one jokes. Most of the dialogues were, in fact, pretty funny. As the kind of show I would have loved in my tweens, I would recommend Team Kaylie to all the tweens. Parents don't need to be worried about the show's implication either since, although the characters come across as superficial in the beginning, they become more developed as the story goes forward, even Kaylie's mother, Kit Konrad.
Characters:
Kaylie Konrad - Despite the show being about a billionaire, something that has been done a lot many times by now, Bryana Salaz's Kaylie came as a breath of fresh air. I laughed at her and with her. Her development as the show goes forward is spectacular and something that would probably inspire a great many people. Also, is it too much of a coincidence that her name is Kaylie Konrad (hint, hint: Kylie Jenner) and has a picture that now has less likes than a potato?
Ray Ray - Let me just say that I didn't like Ray Ray. The character was too self-involved for me to feel any attraction towards him. In "Lights, Camera, Retraction" (Ep. 3), when Ray Ray goes rogue, he just about ends up ruining Kaylie's entire career. And that too for a thing he never did! Agreed that Kaylie was in the wrong in the first place, but it still felt a little annoying to see his self-involved self taking that advantage.
Valeria - Well, what can I say about this character except that it was a nice touch to the cast? Eliz Pyror's Valeria was all about being creepy. As a witch, she would try different curses and spells every now and then, making a buttload of jokes throughout the season. Nicely done, Valeria was also a pretty straightforward character that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jackie - Jackie was a combination of everything I hate about Sheldon Cooper, Amy Santiago and Monica Geller-Bing. And I mean it. If there was a character that included all the things one can hate about these three characters then Jackie would be it. Needless to say, the character was too annoying for my taste to even get a smile from.
Amber - Like Valeria, Alison Fernandez's Amber was a nice touch as well. If there is one character that I can say was probably the main one apart from Kaylie, then it was Amber. With her anger issues, her heartbroken self and all the other things that made her unique, Amber was a regular kid. Pretty relatable, if I may say so myself. Not only that but she was also the ones with the most brilliant and realistic ideas. Her desire to fulfill her dreams is what made her even more special If I was a kid watching this show, then I would certainly want to be Amber.
Chewy - Well, doesn't every show has that one character who is beyond disgusting? Samouhi's Chewy was just that character for us. He would eat anything and everything, including a scab of his own elbow!
Kit Konrad - Although Kit only appeared for 15 of the total 20 episodes, this Rosa Blasi played character was remarkable in its own self. At the beginning of the show, she appears to be one of the most condescending characters of them all. Her habit of always criticizing Kaylie despite Kaylie earning her buttloads of money is the joke in many episodes. I felt, however, that she should have been taken in more seriousness for if there is a mother that always criticizes her kids and kids such a thing on-screen, then they just might think it is okay; which really isn't.
Verdict:
My final verdict is that the show is worth-watching. If you're looking for a small show to binge-watch to take your mind off other things, then Team Kaylie is the one for you!