Tag: binge-watch

  • Binge-watch these movies, seasons this holiday week

    Binge-watch these movies, seasons this holiday week

    The first day of Eid-ul-Azha went flying by and I am sure all of you have your hearts and stomachs filled with warmth and love from being around your dear ones. Eid is one occasion when families and friends gather together and this becomes a great excuse to watch all the movies and seasons you have on your list.

    Here are a few recommendations.

    1: Ms Marvel

    Streaming on Disney+, Ms Marvel has already captivated audiences with a fine storyline, characters, and our own Pakistani stars featuring in it.

    Poster of Ms Marvel

    Fawad Khan has finally made an appearance in the fifth episode of Ms Marvel. Fawad plays a man from the pre-partition era. Pakistani actors Mehwish Hayat, Samina Ahmed, and Nimra Bucha are also playing important characters in the Marvel series.

    2: The Umbrella Academy:

    Packed with action, drama, science, fantasy, and a touch of superhero elements, the latest episodes of The Umbrella Academy are trending. Get some popcorn and binge-watch the season on Netflix.

    The Umbrella Academy poster

    3: Peaky Blinders:

    The Shelby brothers are back on Netflix with their latest season. This historical fiction and crime drama is back with Tommy Shelby, a dangerous man, who leads the Peaky Blinders and the show has massively great reviews.

    The Shelby brothers

    4: Man vs Bee:

    A homeless man looking for work is mistaken by a businesswoman for her new housesitter.

    Man vs Bee

    Rowan Atkinson is at his usual best with his comic timing in the British comedy streaming television miniseries.

    5: Modern Love:

    A co-production of Amazon Studios and the New York Times, this anthology series explores love in all of its complicated and beautiful forms, as well as its effects on the human connection. Each episode brings to life a different story that has been inspired by the newspaper’s popular Modern Love column.

    Modern Love poster

    6: Fleabag

    A dry-witted woman, known only as Fleabag, has no filter as she navigates life and love in London while trying to cope with tragedy. The angry, grief-riddled woman tries to heal while rejecting anyone who tries to help her, but Fleabag continues to keep up her bravado through it all. Catch Fleagbag on Amazon Prime with a pack of caramel popcorn and you will stay hooked.

    Poster of Fleabag

    7: Catastrophe

    During a business trip in London, an American named Rob meets Sharon, an Irish teacher with whom he shares incredible chemistry. While the two plan to have some fun with no strings attached, things go awry when Sharon learns she is pregnant. The unexpected news inspires the recent acquaintances to try and make it as a couple, despite nonstop complications that include hailing from different countries and a pregnancy that is not without risks. Get hooked to Catastrophe on Amazon Prime.

    Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan play a couple dealing with the stresses of marriage in the Amazon Prime series Catastrophe. Delaney and Horgan also co-created and co-wrote the series.
  • Feel-good movies to watch during Eid holidays

    Feel-good movies to watch during Eid holidays

    Living through these testing times can take a toll on you mentally and with Eid this year being completely different than what it used to be in the past, The Current decided to round up a list of feel-good movies you can watch on Netflix for a short break from these bleak circumstances.

    Note – Most of them are not recommended to be watched with the fam.

    Check them out below:

    Khoobsurat

    Let’s face it. Fawad Khan has been missing from our TV screens for far too long which is why it is the perfect time to watch Khoobsurat. In Khoobsurat he plays a dashing nawab who is caught off guard when a clumsy girl comes to his palace to treat his father. The film is a treat for Fawad Khan fans as they get a chance to see the actor at his finest and shirtless too!

    Miss Congeniality

    This action-comedy follows Gracie Hart, a tomboyish detective, who goes undercover and participates in the Miss United States beauty pageant as a contestant after her department learns that the event is under threat from an anonymous bomber.

    Leap Year

    A delightfully entertaining rom-com about a woman who decides to propose to her boyfriend on February 29 after waiting years for him to pop the question. However, on her way to Ireland, a storm forces the flight to divert to Wales and land there. While Anna hires a boat to take her to Cork, she ends up at a small seaside village called Dingle because of the severity of the storm where she meets a handsome Irishman.

    Holidate

    Holidate follows two strangers who meet at a department store after Christmas and before New Year’s Eve and exchange their Christmas horror stories, which stem from them being single. When they realise that they both pretty much have the same problem, they decide that they’ve had enough of dating strangers or being single on holidays, and plan to become each other’s ‘holidates’ – meaning they will be each other’s dates on every holiday for as long as they’re both single. While their relationship is strictly platonic and comes a set of rules and no strings attached, who can control their heart?

    Trust us when we say this, all single Pakistanis will relate to Holidate.

    How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

    Two people with completely different motives start dating each other to win their respective bets. Fireworks are bound to spark when this happens.

    Always Be My Maybe

    Two childhood sweethearts reconnect 15 years later. Although the old sparks are still there, the two live in different worlds.

    Set It Up

    Two overworked and underpaid assistants come up with a plan to get their bosses off their backs by setting them up with each other. If you need a break from work, this film is definitely one to watch.

    Christmas Wedding Planner

    A wedding planner is in the midst of planning her cousin’s lavish and exclusive wedding when a private investigator thwarts her plans and turns her world upside down. Watch for a warm, fuzzy feeling.

    The Princess Switch 1 & 2

    Another Christmas rom-com. This Vanessa Hudgens film will remind you of your teenage years and make you sigh.

    The Perfect Date

    A high school student creates an app to offer his services as a fake date to make money for college. However, his plans get complicated when he ends up falling for one of his dates. This film is witty, quirky and full of zest.

    Ibiza

    Ibiza follows Harper, a 30 year-old-single woman from New York who travels to Barcelona on a business trip, where she ends up hooking up with a famous DJ. Those missing their wild parties should definitely give this a watch.

    Swiped

    A popular college guy Lance and his nerdy roommate James, a college freshman, create the ultimate hook-up app and make lots of money from it. But when James discovers that his divorced mother is using the app, unexpected consequences follow.

    Crazy Rich Asians

    This film is the East Asian version of “Kya woh larki hamare sanskar aur hamari sanskriti samaj paegi” – I mean Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. But it’s a fun and easy watch with lots of grandeur.

    Qarib Qarib Singlle

    When two polar opposites, Yogi and Jaya, meet through a dating app, they rediscover themselves while they set out to revisit their past. A must-watch if you’re an Irrfan Khan fan.

    I Feel Pretty

    The film which deals with body issues will make everyone feel pretty by the end of it.

    Game Night

    The film follows a group of friends whose game night turns into a real-life mystery after one of them is kidnapped by apparent burglars. If dark comedy coupled with a mystery is your thing, you will certainly enjoy watching this.

    Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments.

  • Malala shares a list of her favourite TV shows, films

    Malala shares a list of her favourite TV shows, films

    If anything the pandemic induced quarantine gave everyone a chance to binge-watch endless TV shows and films. Malala Yousafzai, in a recent interactive session with her Instagram followers, asked them to share their recommendations and listed TV shows and movies she recently watched and enjoyed.

    Malala revealed that she recently watched and enjoyed The White Tiger, Wolfwalkers and Soul.

    Read more – ‘Family-friendly’ movies you should NOT be watching with your family

    The White Tiger

    Based on Aravind Adiga’s book of the same name, The White Tiger explores poverty and class struggles in modern-day India. The book was published in 2008 and won the 40th Man Booker Prize in the same year. Meanwhile, the cast of the movie includes Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Adarsh Gourav besides Rao. It has been directed by Ramin Bahrani. The final instalment in directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s “Irish folklore trilogy” 

    Wolfwalkers

    Wolfwalkers is an animated movie and has been directed by Tomm Moore, and Ross Stewart. Wolfwalkers is the final installment of the Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s “Irish folklore trilogy”.

    Soul

    Soul, produced by Disney, revolves around the Joe, who is a middle school band teacher , who suddenly finds his soul detached from his body. The movie premiered at the London Film Festival on October 11, 2020.

    Malala further revealed that she loved Boys State.

    “In this documentary, it’s amazing to see teenage boys act like established politicians,” said Malala. “Some have strong convictions based on their own experiences. Other boys will just say anything for power and to win the support of the crowd.”

    Malala added that she would love to see Girls State too.

    In December 2020, Malala joined TikTok to raise funds for her charity organisation.

  • What to watch this long weekend

    What to watch this long weekend

    Ah, the long weekend is here and with COVID-19 still posing a threat, time to kick back and binge-watch movies and shows while staying cosy at home. Here’s a list of new releases hitting streaming platforms this weekend.

    AK vs AK

    Termed a mockumentary (a film or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary), AK vs AK features Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap with Sonam Kapoor also putting in an appearance. The film’s official synopsis reads: “A brash film director (Kashyap, as himself) kidnaps the daughter of a movie star (Kapoor, as himself) and films the star’s desperate search for his daughter in real-time as his next blockbuster.”

    The film has received raving reviews and looks very different from what Bollywood usually has to offer.

    Read more – Anil Kapoor’s upcoming film ‘AK vs AK’ gets into trouble with the Indian Air Force

    The Midnight Sky

    George Clooney heads to the post-apocalyptic world in this new space drama for Netflix which he has directed himself. While the film has opened to mixed reviews, Clooney’s performance and getup in the film have been highly appreciated. The film is already trending at number one on Netflix Pakistan.

    Coolie No 1

    Featuring Sara Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan in the lead, Coolie No 1 is a remake of the 1995 film of the same name starring Govinda and Karisma Kapoor. The film is a through and through Bollywood masala film with colourful dances, sets and crass comedy. While it probably does not have anything new to offer, we’ll just sit through it to make comparisons and trash Bollywood for repeating the same problematic tropes and not coming up with anything new.

    Bridgerton

    Netflix’s big Christmas drop, Bridgerton has been described by several reviews as a period drama which sees Downton Abbey meets Gossip Girl.  Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling romance novels, the show follows the powerful Bridgerton family as they navigate London high society in the 18th-century. According to reviews and critics, the series is fuzzy, romantic and highly bingeable but hollow at the same time. But if you’re a sucker for period romance, you’re bound to enjoy it – I know I will.

    The Undoing

    Though this murder mystery featuring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant is a couple of weeks old, it is totally worth the watch. The six-episodes series is gripping, intense and will have you on the edge of your seat as you guess who the killer is. And while it does drag at a few points, the stellar performances more than make up for it.

    What are you looking forward to the most?

  • How Netflix revolutionalised the way we watch TV

    How Netflix revolutionalised the way we watch TV

    In the not-so-distant past, TV viewers were forced to wait a week for the next installment of their favorite shows, parceled out by networks in half-hour or hour-long increments.

    To understand how we got here, look at Netflix (NFLX.O).

    At the start of the decade, binge watching involved VHS tapes, DVD box sets or long nights glued to a DVR. TV cable hits included Homeland and The Wire – hour-long dramas with complicated plot lines that needed to be watched sequentially.

    Watching Saturday Night Live on a Sunday became normal, and viewers started to lose track of the broadcast schedule.

    In November 2010, Hulu, which debuted in 2008 as an ad-supported streaming video site, launched its subscription service, including full seasons of certain shows.

    Around the same time that the broadcast TV schedule was losing its hold on viewers, Netflix was beginning to invest in original content.

    In 2011, it struck a deal for its first original show, the political thriller House of Cards. It released all 13 episodes of the show’s first season on Feb. 1, 2013. That July it followed with the entire first season of Orange is the New Black.

    Viewers were hooked, and the cultural shift accelerated. “Binge-watch” was a runner-up to “selfie” for the Oxford Dictionary’s 2013 word of the year.

    Netflix championed this new kind of consumption, commissioning a survey to determine how many people binge-watch, and why.

    “Our viewing data shows that the majority of streamers would actually prefer to have a whole season of a show available to watch at their own pace,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos at the time.

    While some say the decade technically ends a year from now, the end of this year will be marked by many as the conclusion of the second decade of the 21st century. And as the new decade begins, the trend may start to reverse.

    AT&T’s (T.N) forthcoming HBO Max streaming service will debut one new episode of its original series per week. Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) Disney+ is releasing episodes weekly for new series including the Star Wars-related The Mandalorian. Apple (AAPL.O) released three episodes at the same time for dramas The Morning Show and See – and is doing so for most other Apple series – followed by one episode per week.

    Media companies are hoping a longer release schedule will generate buzz and create more of a shared experience among viewers.

    Just like the old days.