JASMINE's THOUGHTS on How To Train Your Dragon 2025

Genre:

Family

Epic Action/Adventure

Fantasy/Drama/Comedy

Rating:

PG

Release Date:

June 13, 2025

Run Time:

2 hrs 5 min

Directed by:

Dean DeBlois

Written by:

Dean DeBlois, William Davies, Chris Sanders

Based on the book by:

Cressida Cowell

Production Co.:

Universal Pictures, Dreamworks Animation, Marc Platt Productions

Distribution Co.:

Universal Pictures

Social Media:

     

Cast:

Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, Murray McArthur

See Full Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.

As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Well, from all that was said about the making of this live-action adaptation, I was expecting much of the scenes from the animated film to come to life in this live action. Of course, I kept an open mind... with a side of high hopes. 😄

I would have to say that this live action adaptation definitely lived up to the hype. Luckily, the animated film showed on HBO the night before... haha! So... How To Train Your Dragon was definitely fresh in my mind. 😁 From beginning to end, this live action followed through. Of course, there were some changes and/or additions to the development of a few characters and scenes which worked with the cohesive and well-rounded story development and flow.

However, there is a particular scene that did not make it to this live action adaptation. Although the story flowed, this particular scene would connect another scene which would explain a particular action in another scene. 🤔🤔🤔 Now, if you watched it, and if you caught it, then you know what I mean. 🤣 I even liked that omitted scene in the animated film.

As for the CGI, I really liked how it worked. The dragons looked realistic. As for Toothless, they absolutely captured the realism in his animated facial expressions. The cinematography was breathtaking, especially during Toothless' flying scenes. It was beautiful. 😍

All in all, this live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon, was spot on when comparing it to the original animated film. We already know that no live-action film adaptation is ever going to be scene to scene exact. But, as long as the live-action film can capture that same feeling and stay true to the story, then I would say they did a good job. I would have to say that this live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon was almost flawless, but I whole-heartedly enjoyed watching this. 😄

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Lilo & Stich (2025)

Genre:

Adventure, Comedy, Family, Live Action, Drama, Science Fiction

Rating:

PG

Release Date:

May 23, 2025

Run Time:

1 hr 48 min

Directed by:

Dean Fleischer Camp

Screenplay by:

Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Mike Van Waes

Produced by:

Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a., Dan Lin

Production Co.:

Walt Disney Pictures

Rideback

Social Media:

    

Cast:

Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis

See Full Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family. The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, with a screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, and stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, and introducing Maia Kealoha. Lilo & Stitch is produced by Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a. and Dan Lin, with Tom Peitzman, Ryan Halprin, Louie Provost, Thomas Schumacher serving as executive producers.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Okay... We already know live-action adaptations of Disney's animated movies have always been a hit or miss. That is why, I went in to the theatre with no high expectations. But... I would have to say all the teasers and trailer(s) that I have seen has gotten my hopes up... just a tad bit. 😆

Well, I walked out of the theatre satisfied. I enjoyed the movie. I was not disappointed. The casting was great. The casting was spot on, especially of Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Maia Kealoha definitely embodied the character Lilo. I absolutely loved that the voice actors from the animated movie was also in this live-action adaptation. Given that any adaptation will not be scene by scene exact, this Lilo & Stitch live-action adaptation is one of the best to date. I loved the story in the animated movie, and this live-action adaptation captured that feeling as well.

Of course, we already know there will always be a variation when it comes to any live-action movie adaptations. Yes, I was somewhat disappointed that Captain Gantu did not make it into this adaptation. I was also somewhat disappointed on the portrayal of Jumba and Pleakley. I was also disappointed with some scenes being omitted out. However, these were not, in no way, major disappointments that would deter me from loving this live-action adaptation. But, of course, I loved that other "major" scenes were included. I can see how that certain scenes were kept or omitted to keep that cohesive storytelling.

I get it though, any adaptations, be it a movie or a book, will always be a variation of the source material. What's important is that these adaptations stay true to the source material... Not skew so far off and away changing the heart of the story. In regards, to Lilo & Stitch, I still had that same heart-warming feeling I did with the animated movie. So... It is a win for me. 😆

This live-action adaptation of Disney's Lilo & Stitch is by far one of Disney's best adaptations thus far. This captured that heart-touching and heart-warming story of family. Like Stitch said, "This is my family. I found it all on my own. It's little and broken, but still good..."

Lilo & Stitch 2025 captured my heart, just as much as the animated movie did. 🤗

via GIPHY

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Oppenheimer (2023)

Genre:

Drama/History/Biography

Rating:

R

Release Date:

July 21, 2023

Run Time:

3 hrs

Directed by:

Christopher Nolan

Produced by:

Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan

Production Co.:

Universal Pictures, Syncopy

Distribution Co.:

Universal Pictures

Social Media:

    

Cast:

Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey, Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett and Kenneth Branagh

See Full Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is an IMAX®-shot epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.

The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Oscar® winner Matt Damon portrays General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Academy Award® nominee Florence Pugh plays psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, Benny Safdie plays theoretical physicist Edward Teller, Michael Angarano plays Robert Serber and Josh Hartnett plays pioneering American nuclear scientist Ernest Lawrence.

Oppenheimer also stars Oscar® winner Rami Malek and reunites Nolan with eight-time Oscar® nominated actor, writer and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh.

The cast includes Dane DeHaan (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), Dylan Arnold (Halloween franchise), David Krumholtz (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises).

The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan.

Oppenheimer is filmed in a combination of IMAX® 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography including, for the first time ever, sections in IMAX® black and white analogue photography.

Nolan’s films, including Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy, have earned more than $5 billion at the global box office and have been awarded 11 Oscars and 36 nominations, including two Best Picture nominations.

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*My Thoughts*

I’m here for the drama. The way documentaries could be made to keep people’s attention, Oppenheimer (2023) kept me in anticipation with its music, cinematic lighting, and transitions. It feels like a symphony watching this movie as it bounces back and forth from Oppenheimer’s 1954 security hearing and his years at Los Alamos building the atomic bomb. There are slow moments and moments of anticipation as he and his team test bombs. The scene in Oppenheimer (2023) that depicts this like a piece of art is the celebratory rally after the atomic bombs drop. It shows Oppenheimer’s secondhand guilt. He looks into the audience, who are cheering his creation’s success, but sees nothing but flashing lights and corpses instead of the citizens living in Los Alamos.

Oppenheimer (2023) holds my attention because it has the historical aspect and the atomic bomb, but it has humanity behind it. It is a romanticization of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life, played by Cillian Murphy. Starting the movie during his university years in England, Oppenheimer is filled with stress, as are many university students, riddled with anxiety, able to focus, sleeplessness, and homesickness. It is a good precursor of his personality throughout the movie. His mind is always racing, “hearing the music without needing to read the notes,” as Niels Bohr within the movie puts it. Oppenheimer sees particles and atoms depicted as sparks and little explosions throughout the movie. He’s brilliant, curious, and doesn’t seem to find joy in many things unless he can learn from them.

Oppenheimer (2023) also covers his relationships with others. Although perplexed by Oppenheimer’s witticism or belittled by his ego, men respect and admire him. Women are drawn to him because they find his intelligence enigmatic. Oppenheimer’s enthusiasm for quantum physics draws more scientific minds to him, especially when he begins researching and teaching at Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology.

Cinematically beautiful, but in the end, Oppenheimer (2023) could have been shaved down by thirty minutes. The ego between scientists made evident, the point of the movie came across, and relationships explored, by the end of the movie, I and other movie goers were getting restless.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Umma (2022)

Genre:

Drama/Horror/Mystery/Thriller

Rating:

PG-13

Release Date:

March 18, 2022

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

May 24, 2022

Run Time:

1 hour 23 minutes

Directed by:

Iris K. Shim

Production Co.:

Catchlight Studios, Raimi Productions, Stage 6 Films, Starlight Media

Distribution Co.:

Sony Pictures

Social Media:

Cast:

Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, Odeya Rush, MeeWha Alana Lee, Tom Yi

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

Umma, which is the Korean word for “mother,” follows Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter (Fivel Stewart) living a quiet life on an American farm, but when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her own mother.

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*My Thoughts*

Umma is a movie following a mother and daughter on their somewhat isolated bee farm, starring Sandra Oh and Fivel Stewart as Amanda and Chris respectively. The first few minutes are a quick introduction but immediately introduces Umma who will cause some supernatural trouble. After Amanda’s mother dies, her ashes are brought to the farm for a final and proper ceremony to put her soul to rest, but Umma’s spirit still lingers to see what has become of her daughter after so many years of animosity. Amanda’s daughter, Chris, knows very little to nothing of her grandmother or even the outside world because Amanda had been sheltering and home schooling her since she was a child. The only communication they have is with a local shop owner, Danny, who helps them with their groceries, selling their harvested honey, and occasionally keeps the two company when his niece comes to visit.

On the surface it seems a little plain, it uses a few jump scares, but Umma also uses clever patterns that show Amanda becomes what she fears the most, her mother. There are indications of trauma due to childhood abuse and gaslighting that cause Amanda to pass on the abuse to Chris. Unfortunately, it is up to Chris’s character to break said patterns and end the cycle of emotional abuse to gain her independence. The more Chris tries to break away from Amanda though, the stronger Umma’s hold on Amanda strengthens causing both to fear for their lives. Eventually, Amanda’s dismay to Chris wanting to leave for college gives Umma the opportunity to possess Amanda.

The supernatural aspect of Umma helps drive home the message of healing old wounds and gives Amanda and Chris opportunities to build a healthier relationship. Even Umma is at peace when Chris influences Amanda to break free. Although they respect Umma for helping bring them life and making them who they are, Amanda and Chris eventually help her pass on with a traditional ceremony. I would say the overall entertainment value is a three out of five stars, it’s a bit tepid throughout and no scene throughout the movie became memorable, but the execution and message are a five out of five.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on The Sandman (2022)

Genre:

Adult

Dark Fantasy/Horror/Drama

Rating:

TV-MA

Release Date:

August 5, 2022

Season:

1

Episodes:

10

Run Time:

37-54 minutes

Network:

Netflix

Based on:

The Sandman graphic novels by Neil Gaiman

Production Co.:

Netflix

Warner Bros. Productions

DC Entertainment

DC Comics

Distribution Co.:

Netflix

Social Media:

     

Cast:

Tom Sturridge, Boyd Holbrook, Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Charles Dance, Gwendoline Christie, Jenna Coleman, Mason Alexander Park, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Stephen Fry, David Thewlis, Ann Ogbomo, and more

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

There is another world that waits for all of us when we close our eyes and sleep — a place called the Dreaming, where The Sandman, Master of Dreams (Tom Sturridge), gives shape to all of our deepest fears and fantasies. But when Dream is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for a century, his absence sets off a series of events that will change both the dreaming and waking worlds forever. To restore order, Dream must journey across different worlds and timelines to mend the mistakes he’s made during his vast existence, revisiting old friends and foes, and meeting new entities — both cosmic and human — along the way.

Based on the beloved award-winning DC comic series written by Neil Gaiman, THE SANDMAN is a rich, character-driven blend of myth and dark fantasy woven together over the course of ten epic chapters following Dream’s many adventures. Developed and executive produced by Gaiman, showrunner Allan Heinberg, and David S. Goyer.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This Review contains NO spoilers

Although I haven't read the graphic novels, I was already enticed to watch this new series after watching the trailer and reading the synopsis. Now, after watching this first season, I am absolutely mesmerized with it! I enjoyed each and all of 10 episodes. The casting is great! The cinematography is stunning! The storytelling flowed seamlessly from episode to episode.

This is definitely a must watch for fans of dark fantasy and mythology. This contemporary adaptation of mythology and fantasy is mind-blowing and captivating. Each episode will take viewers on Dream's journey and struggle to adjust to the changes in time and history while he was imprisoned. This first season introduced viewers to the various characters and their connections to each other in the waking world and the dream world... and then some.

I was completely absorbed into the storytelling of this new Netflix series. I found it to be dark, fascinating, and dramatic. I also found myself having to watch scenes over again to understand the flow of the story better. Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad thing. I would say that even the smallest intriguing detail can make a difference in following the story.

After binge watching all 10 episodes, I am even more excited to see this series to continue on. Season 1 is just a tease of what to expect more of in the next season(s) to follow. I so hope The Sandman series continues with more seasons... with more stories to tell.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Charmed (2018)

Genre:

Drama/Supernatural/Fantasy/Mystery

Rating:

TV-PG

Release Date:

2018-2022

Seasons:

1-4

Run Time:

43 minutes/episode

Social Media:

      

Cast:

Melonie Diaz, Sarah Jeffery, Lucy Barrett, Rupert Evans, Poppy Drayton, Jordan Donica

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

After the tragic death of their mother, three sisters discover they are witches, and they must stand together to fight an onslaught of supernatural battles.

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*My Thoughts*

So, I decided to watch the entirety of the 2018 reboot of "Charmed” because I started watching the first episode, and I might as well finish it. As a huge fan of the original 1998 version, I must say that the 2018 reboot should not have been named “Charmed.” It could easily be its own series without using concepts from its 1998 predecessor. The 2018 reboot expands the magical world where in the 1998 version good and evil were simply split between demons and every other magical creature. “Charmed” 2018 changes the lore of the charmed ones and brings in modern twists to connect with a younger audience.

The series felt rushed and the sisters felt more like caricatures than people I could relate to. From the very first episode, the viewer is bombarded with socio-political topics without tact. Within the first fifteen minutes, Mel immediately goes on a hyper-feminist rant towards Harry, the charmed ones’ white lighter for this series. The strong feminist message is respectable, but it was forced and felt clunky. Macy is the eldest and most logical sister. Maggie is the empathetic and optimistic youngest sister. Moving further along, Mel, Maggie, and Macy’s sisterhood felt taped together by artists’ tape, it barely kept things together, even though they had three seasons to bond. They had their moments of unity but there wasn’t any onscreen chemistry. Even though the sisters from the 1998 version had drastically different personalities and interests, they could easily bond through magic or their experiences in romance.

While the original 1998 version allowed for growth over its eight seasons, the 2018 “Charmed” rushed everything. Macy, Maggie, and Mel’s sisterhood were introduced with Mel and Maggie as sisters attending the same college where their mother worked, and Macy is introduced as their half-sister after their mother’s death. These sisters were strangers to each other, which made their relationship empty. Each pivotal point thereafter, Harry and Macy getting together, Macy dying in the third season, and Mikaela replacing Macy, felt like goals that the writers needed to reach, but everything in between simply existed to fill up a time slot. I realized that I haven’t even spoken about most of the sisters’ love interests or even the antagonists of each season, but I would attribute that to just how forgettable they are, like empty caricatures. The only stable and almost tangible relationship in 2018 “Charmed” was between Maggie and Jordan.

While watching its four seasons, I held onto the hope that it would get better or live up to “Charmed” of 1998, but it did not rise to the occasion. To be fair, that first episode was already a red flag, but I’m stubborn. Since I started watching it, I might as well have finished it. The biggest remedy for the 2018 “Charmed” would have been better pacing and character development. In other words, if 2018 “Charmed” gave me more time or gave deeper meaning to the characters’ relationships, I would have earnestly cared about this universe and the storyline. With the ranting being said and done, 2018’s “Charmed” had its own merits. The lore behind these charmed ones and magics could have led the series into its own world of possibilities, different mythologies, types of magic, or magical creatures. The diversity of its cast gave me a sense of heart-warming visibility and inclusion. Their main hangout and the camouflage of their command center, Safe Space, had a welcoming and trendy college campus vibe to it which was nice. If I had to rate “Charmed” 2018 as a standalone series, I would give it a three out of five stars. It was entertaining for a full second, but because it is supposed to be a reboot of a beloved series, I will drop it down to one and a half out of five stars.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Dune (2021)

Genre:

Action/Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama

Rating:

PG-13

Release Date:

October 21, 2021

Run Time:

2 hrs 35mins

Directed by:

Denis Villeneuve

Based on the novel Dune by:

Frank Herbert

Screenplay by:

Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts

Production Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Entertainment, Villeneuve Films

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO Max

Social Media:

     

Cast:

Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac,Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Dave Bautista

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049”) directs Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ “Dune,” the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestselling book.

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Villeneuve directed “Dune” from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth based on the novel of the same name written by Frank Herbert. Villeneuve also produced the film with Mary Parent, Cale Boyter and Joe Caracciolo, Jr. The executive producers are Tanya Lapointe, Joshua Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present “Dune”.

source

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Wow! What an epic film... AND, it is the only part one! The cinematography was amazing. The story was compelling and intense. AND... Oh my goodness!!! The worms.... WHOA! 😲 It was impressive! The whole time I was watching this first part, I kept replaying the Dune 1984 film in my head. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to make a comparison between the two films. I enjoyed this 2021 film, and it was just the "tip of the iceberg" into the Dune Saga. I have to admit that while not comparing this to the 1984 movie, I found some similarities in some scenes. And... It was great! Ha! Moreover, this 2021 version is not trying to cram the entire book into about two hours, and was giving viewers more details. And, that's what I really enjoyed about this 2021 version. Although the 1984 version is probably a cult classic for me, I am also loving this 2021 film.

I was absolutely blown away with the beautiful cinematography and costumes. With a strong and fascinating story, I was in complete wonder watching the story of Dune being laid out in this first part of the film series. I love when film adaptations of books get made as close to the book as possible. Although I haven't read the book series... yet, I have watched other film adaptations of books not "following" the book (that I have read), and was ruined by it. I will have to read Dune to find out... Ha! Other than that, Dune was well worth the 2 hours and 35 minutes to watch this captivating and entertaining film adaptation. And... I am so looking forward to watching the next parts in the Dune Saga.

Yup! It is only the beginning!

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Ju-On: Origins Season 1 (2020)

Genre:

Horror/Mystery

Drama

Rating:

TV-MA

Release Date:

July 3, 2020

Episodes:

6

Run Time:

27-31 minutes

Language:

Japanese

Directed by:

Shô Miyake

Based on:

Ju-On by Takashi Shimizu

Production Co.:

NBC Universal Television

Distribution Co.:

Netflix

Social Media:

    

Cast:

Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, Ririka, Koki Osamura, Seiko Iwaido, Kai Inowaki, Ryushin Tei, Yuya Matsuura, Kaho Tsuchimura, Takemi Fujii, Ryota Matsushima, Haruka Kubo, Shinsuke Kato, Nana Yanagisawa, Atom Shukugawa, Yura Anno, Tokio Emoto, Nobuko, Sendo, Kana Kurashina

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

A paranormal researcher searches obsessively for a cursed home where something terrible happened to a mother and her child long ago.

source

*My Thoughts*

Ju-On: Origins is a Netflix original drama influenced by Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) and its American adaptation, The Grudge (2004). It follows the story of a paranormal researcher and author as he explores into the mystery of a cursed house. The story starts in 1988 with Haruka Honjo, Testsuya Fukazawa, and researcher Yasuo Odajima, where Odajima is collecting information for his new book. Haruka and Tetsuya are experiencing supernatural noises and hallucinations. At the same time, high schoolers Kiyomi Kawai, Yoshie Minakami, Mai Hyodo, and Yudai Katsuragi visit the cursed house causing Mai and Yoshie to disappearance and hallucinations throughout Kiyomi and Yudai’s lives. These six episodes fast forward from the 1980’s through the 1990’s and follow different characters who are all haunted by this one residence.

Netflix’s Ju-On: Origins has the same atmosphere as the 2002 and 2004 movies, giving me the same chill. Even so, the onryō of this short series takes a different form from Kayako, the onryō I was familiar with. This one does not crawl or appear as often as Kayako. The threatening gurgling from Kayako’s throat isn’t there. Instead, the onryō is a mother who mumbles the words “Together” and “buried.” She doesn’t seem as malicious, and I thought that took away much of the original mood. The sense of doom is gone and the constant change of perspective in six episodes also make it difficult to sympathize with the different characters. Although I remember the names of the main characters, any support is rather forgettable such as the prisoners or police officers that were interviewed by Odajima. Despite all that, the story is easy to follow with time stamps.

Overall, Ju-On: Origins is pleasant for the time it is on screen. It doesn’t rely on jump scares or constant bloodletting, but Origins is not something that leaves a lasting impression. The accompanying music to the end credits of each episode is more relaxing than ominous, but that is because I think ominous is relaxing. I know the curse is never-ending and it leaves the last episode predictable. Ju-On: Origins made me curious ever so slightly to know what happens next to Haruka and Kiyomi but once I completed the series, it seems dull.

My rating: