What happens when Ajith Kumar aka AK makes a comeback with a banger at the box office \u2014 well, more like a remix? But is it any good, bad, or just plain ugly? What happens when your consciousness gets digitised? Meanwhile, Black Mirror <\/i>returns to remind us that the scariest thing about technology is that we binge-watch it voluntarily and are more than happy to lose our minds. Also on the radar this week are Dying for Sex<\/i> \u2014 yes, that\u2019s the real title \u2014 and Chhorii 2<\/i>, both of which lean into real-world horror.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the sweet and the sour, the good and the bad \u2014 and what to watch.<\/p>\n

HYPE CHECK: \u2018Good Bad Ugly\u2019<\/h4>\n

Ajith Kumar is back, cruising at the box office in a full-throttle fan service vehicle. Good Bad Ugly<\/i> is exactly what it says on the tin. The good is AK, obviously. The bad is also him. And the ugly? The copyright drama. <\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

GBU<\/i> is metafiction. AK isn\u2019t just the message\u2014he\u2019s the medium and the messenger. In the words of Tropic Thunder<\/i>\u2019s Sergeant Lincoln Osiris, here the \u201cscript reads him,\u201d not the other way around. There\u2019s even a moment where the director is heard from behind the camera, asking, \u201cCan we cut to a song with you and Simran for fans?\u201d AK glares. That would be too much. The star has spoken, without saying a word. The action is slick. Bullets-on-beat, punches as percussion\u2014Adhik Ravichandran goes full Edgar Wright without brakes. Bro\u2026 hesitate, bro!<\/p>\n

This week, it turned out that Ilaiyaraaja wasn\u2019t impressed that his classic songs were used without his consent. He has demanded \u20b95 crore in compensation<\/a>. The producers claim they acquired the rights and have the paperwork to prove it. Technically, since older film music was often created as work-for-hire, producers are considered the legal \u201cauthors\u201d and can assign rights to legacy labels. Morally though, it\u2019s like throwing a party in Ilaiyaraaja\u2019s honour without inviting him, because you already bought the merch.<\/p>\n

Should you watch Good Bad Ugly<\/i>? If you\u2019re an Ajith fan, this is your Diwali and Pongal. If you\u2019re not? First of all \u2014 GBU. God bless you, that is. Not in the mood for Tamil mass? Consider The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent<\/i><\/a> on Netflix. Nic Cage plays Nic Cage in a Nic Cage movie about Nic Cage. A bromance between star and maker, it\u2019s a meta action-vacation filled with callbacks and self-parody. Basically, what Ajith and Adhik are doing in Good Bad Ugly<\/i>, minus the Ilaiyaraaja track and plus his blessings.<\/p>\n

TV GOLD: \u2018Black Mirror\u2019 returns<\/h4>\n

Charlie Brooker\u2019s dystopian tech-thriller is back on Netflix \u2014 and, surprise, it\u2019s still depressing. But also: it is essential viewing. Last season went retro \u2014 because, let\u2019s face it, we already live in a Black Mirror<\/i> episode. This time, the show dives straight into emerging tech.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Neuralink is testing monkeys to see if consciousness can be digitised. Meta is teaching AI to read your thoughts before you post. In Japan, scientists have managed to digitise dreams to 70% accuracy, which is great news if you\u2019ve ever wanted your nightmares in HD. What could go wrong?<\/p>\n

Brooker offers six answers. Each episode is a standalone existential crisis. The opener begins with a couple noticing gum stuck to the ceiling while lying in bed. That tiny, gross, beautiful detail grounds us in reality, just the sort of texture we may lose once we start customising our consciousness to feel only what we want and remember only what we choose.<\/p>\n

If you loved episode four, consider checking out Black Mirror: Thronglets<\/i>, the Netflix game where you raise tiny creatures with consciousness as pets. Well, well, well\u2026 what could possibly go wrong?<\/p>\n

HEADS UP: \u2018Dying for Sex\u2019<\/h4>\n

Starring a fantastic Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex <\/i>recently dropped on JioHotstar. Don\u2019t be misled by the title\u2014yes, there\u2019s sex and nudity, but that\u2019s not the point. Adapted from a popular podcast, this sex comedy follows the journey of a stage-four cancer patient determined to tick everything off her sex bucket list.<\/p>\n

In a support group that seems oddly upbeat, Molly (Williams) asks, \u201cIs it a fun cancer?\u201d She\u2019s told they\u2019re early stagers. \u201cThey don\u2019t want to see us. They find us scary. They see us as ghosts.\u201d Depressed with her own group, she infiltrates the \u2018fun\u2019 group pretending she\u2019s not in stage four. What follows is a darkly comic, tender series that balances pathos with wit\u2014think 50\/50 but without the feel-good ending.<\/p>\n

Dying for Sex<\/i> also rethinks conventional ideas of sex. As one character asks, \u201cNormal sex? Who decides what that is?\u201d It\u2019s kink-and-fetish-positive, and takes a critical look at the legacy of shows like Sex and the City<\/i>, even blaming Samantha for promoting heteronormative frameworks.<\/p>\n

Fair warning: this one\u2019s not for everyone. Stories about cancer, death, and letting go can be cathartic but also triggering. Watch it when you\u2019re ready\u2014and ideally with a friend.<\/p>\n

\u2018Chhorii 2\u2019: Horror in the Real World<\/h4>\n

Wes Craven once said: \u201cThe best horror films are the ones where the monsters are real \u2014 the kind you read about in the newspaper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chhorii 2<\/i>, just out on Prime, fits the bill. The first film tackled female infanticide. This sequel focuses on the horrors faced by the girl child\u2014and the chilling hold of superstition and blind faith. It\u2019s a bit loud for home viewing, but gorgeously shot and tight enough to hold attention. Nushrratt Bharuccha gets a meaty part, joined by Soha Ali Khan in a sequel that\u2019s basic in storytelling but good-intentioned in messaging. Not subtle, but effective\u2014because the real horror here isn\u2019t ghosts, it\u2019s the world that still clings to the dark ages.<\/p>\n

Quick Picks<\/h4>\n

Hacks<\/i><\/a> is back with a new season on JioHotstar. Last season ended with the prot\u00e9g\u00e9 pulling off blackmail to force the mentor\u2019s hand. This time, the sparring is sharper, and from the first couple of episodes, it looks like the endgame is near. The question remains: will their working relationship survive?<\/p>\n

\n

Published – April 18, 2025 02:07 pm IST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What happens when Ajith Kumar aka AK makes a comeback with a banger at the box office \u2014 well, more like a remix? But is it any good, bad, or just plain ugly? What happens when your consciousness gets digitised? Meanwhile, Black Mirror returns to remind us that the scariest thing about technology is that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":245203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[9138,64218,197381,197380],"class_list":{"0":"post-245202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-black-mirror","9":"tag-good-bad-ugly","10":"tag-latest-movie-recommendations","11":"tag-show-recommendations"},"yoast_head":"\n