The Expression Hub

  • In a holiday mood

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Emma de Caunes,Willem Dafoe, Maxim Baldry,Jean Rochefort

    Directed by: Steve Bendelack

    Genre:Comedy

    “You must go on adventures alone to find out where you belong.”

    -Sue Fitzmaurice

    This post should have been a bit earlier to arrive when the holiday season had just started. But thanks to my excitement of the largest festival of democracy, it got a bit delayed. Which brings me to ask you a volley of questions- did you guys cast your vote?And if so, how did you feel? Also, if you did not cast, so when are you going to cast?Do tell me about the same in the comments section. I will be happy to hear about the same.

    Since , it is the holiday season, so why not we celebrate the same by picking choices related to the same?Holidays are a great way to unwind and relax.They help us to escape the usual rut of life as well as offer meaningful experiences. Therefore, lets pack our bags and get set for an exciting summer . And if you don’t want to get out of your houses then no worries, I have the recommendations which will make you have fun in the summer and pass the time. Let’s dig in by bringing some memories and nostalgia . What are those memories about? Read on to find out more.

    Story line: Mr. Bean wins a holiday to the beautiful city of Cannes. Mr. Bean plans his holiday right by focusing himself and by being intent on getting the directions right. But it seems his holiday to Cannes has something else in store for him. While dining at Le Bleu, Mr. Bean starts causing trouble which leads him to escaping the hotel to avoid facing the wrath of the people. He gets on a train but wants that moment to be captured on his video camera. So, he requests a film director to shoot him. The film director ends up shooting him on the camera but ends up leaving his son on the train which leaves the film director feeling distraught. This and many more comedy of errors take place with Mr. Bean. Will the comedy of errors keep him entangled and ruin his trip?Or will he be able to reach his destination and be able to have a good time?After all, vacations are supposed to be for having a good time .Also, will Mr. Bean be able to reunite the director’s son with his father or will more trouble ensue?

    Scrutiny: This is a movie which will bring a lot of childhood memories and nostalgia if you have been a Mr. Bean fan. I never watched Mr. Bean in my childhood(might sound shocking but that’s the truth). So, I decided to watch it. After watching it, I had a mixed bag of feelings- I was laughing out aloud also but I was also having a feeling of cringe.The reason might be that there are scenes which might have made you laugh as a child ; the same very scenes might not appeal to you as an adult. Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean tries to make you laugh out aloud but sometimes it seems as though the humor has been forced upon. Though one thing that appealed to me was the cinematography . The visuals are appealing that it makes you feel as if you are on a trip to France. It captures the aesthetic beauty of the countryside as well as the city side. That was one of the major highlights of the movie which really appealed to me. So, a huge shout out to the team behind the cinematography.

    The Sentiment: A movie which might bring some nostalgia and childhood memories to some, but a movie which if needs to be watched should be watched for its beautiful cinematography rather than its story. This was the feeling I experienced after watching this. However, if you are a person who can laugh at any silly jokes , then this one is for you. And also, if you are a big fan of Mr. Bean and would love to have some nostalgia reminiscing about the good old days, then this one can try doing that.

    Quote-Unquote: Sabine : [after finding out Mr Bean is wanted by the whole of France, angrily]  Who are you? Where are you going?Mr. Bean : [takes out picture of Cannes and pokes it]  To the beach.

    Mr. Bean with the director’s son

    Que: What is the name of the movie in which Sabine makes a debut?

    a. Payback Time

    b. Playback Time

    c. Back to the Past

    d. Fast forward to the future

    Continue reading →: In a holiday mood

  • Future doctors or scammers?

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Genre: Drama

    Number of episodes:8

    Presented by: Lionsgate India

    “Youth isn’t always all its touted to be.”

    -Lawana Blackwell

    What is it to be the youth of the country which has a very large population?Is it supposed to be an enjoyable or a memorable experience or is it supposed to be a way of survival? People survive on a day to day basis by different ways. Some try to earn their living through a honest living while some others work day in and day out to make their dreams a reality. While some just make themselves a product of social validation and feed upon the attention received by it . On the other hand, there are people who in the name of hustle end up taking ways which are supposed to be illegal but quick ways to earn money even though there is a huge risk involved. Which way is correct depends upon the character and life values one has been brought up with. The person whose only objective is to earn quick money will end up resorting to using unfair means which is valid in the eyes of that person. But if a person is not willing to bend his or her ethics , then they will not fall into such traps and instead make money in an ethical and a legal manner. This and many more topics related to youth are discussed in this week’s pick with a shade of politics added to it. Intrigued? Read on to find out more.

    Synopsis: Jugaadistan is a story which is set in the national capital of the country. Everyone wants to live a life that is super thrilling, super exciting and super thriving in nature. With social media taking a center stage, this has become even more prominent. But at what cost ?This is explored in the series through the eyes of the characters of the series. The series is set in a medical college which is supposed to be a place from where doctors are supposed to graduate but is becoming a place for shady businesses. How and why is explored throughout the series raising some questions as regards to the quality of education as well as some serious questions with some politics thrown at the backdrop.

    Assessment: This show tries to explore the multiple issues faced by the youth of a country. It is aptly said that the future of a country lies in the hands of the youth of the country. But is the future of a country safe enough ? That is the question which the series tries to ask to its viewers as it tries to a very sad picture of the state of education in the country and how education has just ended up being a business. Though the series tries to highlight various issues and tries to do so being relevant but the story just seems to be written in a shoddy manner . Pieces of a story are supposed to connect with one another and flow in a seamless manner. Here they just end up confusing the viewer as well as frustrating them . Characters which are supposed to inspire you are also shown like damsel in distress initially and then suddenly out of the blue emerge heroes without any proper context. Or are shown to be people who despite having the power do not want to exercise it because of lack of spine or will .🙄

    The view: What could have been a great opportunity to showcase the problems faced by youth or to showcase the plight of the education system in a country like India ends up being a pathetic tale. Even though others might have found the show too interesting and praised it , but for me personally, it just ended up being a major headache. So, it is best to avoid the same and save yourself from the embarrassment. And maybe a major headache as well. Hence, if you are willing to take the risk, do take it on your discretion.

    Rating: * and a 1/2 stars

    Baap Dialogue:”Losers are not those who fall down. Losers are those who refuse to get up.”

    Que: What is the name of the newspaper for which Tarush Khetrapal works?

    a. The Campus Beat

    b. The Standard Times

    c. The Modern Times

    d. The Tribute

    Continue reading →: Future doctors or scammers?

  • Cost of a ballot?

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Author: Shivam Shankar Singh

    Genre: Non-fiction

    “We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.”

    -George Orwell

    The elections in my country are in full swing with two phases already over and a few more to go . It is supposed to be a very dramatic event with the major political parties as well as their political candidates throwing slew on each other or on each other’s ideologies so that they can attract what is supposed to be the most precious asset according to them- the vote of the common man. After all, the common man’s vote is responsible for electing a government. But is elections only about the common man’s vote? Or is it something more than what meets the eyes?

    This is the question that a person who has seen the functioning of how elections work from the ground level attempts to answer in his book. And the picture he paints is a very murky one and not as rosy as it looks from afar. Shivam Shankar Singh’s How To Win An Indian Election: What Political Parties Don’t Want You To Know delves deep into how an election takes place and what all goes behind the scenes of an election. He is a person who has headed the data analytics and campaigns for the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Manipur and Tripura legislative assemblies under the guidance of Ram Madhav, who is the party’s National General Secretary.

    He writes that since 2014, the way elections are fought in the country have changed drastically. Earlier, the traditional forms of media played a major role in shaping the opinions of the voters. Though, they continue to play a role in shaping the opinions, but it seems that data has emerged as a new weapon . This is because data can be obtained freely and can be used to swing votes in favor of a party. Also, when you correlate the data obtained from the Election Commission of India with data sets obtained from telecom firms and research groups , it becomes easier to predict the voting patterns. Apart from this, the book also highlights the role of WhatsApp thus bringing major issues like fake news, and how information can be distorted and manipulated thus playing with the sentiments of the voters unknowingly. This is supposed to be a very wrong and unethical thing to do but isn’t everything fair in love and war? And aren’t elections supposed to be a battle for votes ?

    Analysis: As you read the book, you are actually surprised to know that the field of politics is not only murky in our country but also in other countries like the US, which is supposed to be acting as the flag -bearer of democracy. Democracy is supposed to be a form of government which is supposed to be of the people, by the people and for the people. While the by the people and of the people parts might seem true but is the for the people section actually in practice in democracies across the world?That is a question that is worth pondering .

    The book tries to highlight the brutal truths about the cost a democracy has to pay as it delves into the what happens behind the scenes of an election. It deals with issues like fake news, paid news,of how politicians control segments of media and manipulate the public, of how real issues remain unaddressed while some other narrative is pushed into the minds of the people. Also, people who want to be a part of the system to clean it up cannot do so because the power of money, muscle often overtakes the power of idealistic ideology one has while entering the field. This overtake leads to a compromise in the principles an individual or a movement or an organization trying to make the change. Or if the principles are not compromised, then they will just pull themselves out of the dirt because of lack of resources.

    Verdict: A book that is going to give you some serious food for thought especially if you think that elections are all about just having your elected representatives knocking on your door and asking for your vote. It is way more than that . It opens a can of worms about what goes behind in conducting what is supposed to be an exercise to elect your representatives. So, if you are interested in knowing what goes behind the scenes and how your elected representatives are elected, this is a treasure of information. Also, if you are a lover of non-fiction and are interested in knowing how the elections work, this is a must read. And lastly, since the election season is at its peak with all the elected representatives trying to attract our attention, then what better way to understand their psychology isn’t it?

    Rating: **** and 1/2 stars

    Cite Bite:“A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.”

    Que: How do parties garner the vote of a community which is not voting for it?

    a. By instilling fear

    b. By dividing them on some other parameter

    c. By instilling a sense of victim hood

    d. By giving them bribes.

    Continue reading →: Cost of a ballot?

Hello,

I’m Roshani

Welcome to The Expression Hub! I’m Roshani, who loves to express herself through the medium of writing. This blog is my little corner of the internet where I dive deep into the world of movies, books, and web series—reviewing, analyzing, and sometimes just ranting about the stories that make us laugh, cry, and question everything.

Beyond reviews, you’ll also find my personal musings—random thoughts, life reflections, and the occasional deep dive into the things that inspire me. Think of this as a space where art meets emotion, and where honest opinions matter more than star ratings.

Join me as we explore incredible stories together, one post at a time. Have a recommendation? Let’s talk—I’m always up for discovering something new!

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