"A Sin On Sacred Ground": PJ Explained Slams "Kantara: Chapter One" For Ruining War Scenes With Humor
YouTuber PJ Explained delivers a scathing review of "Kantara: Chapter One," praising Rishab Shetty but calling the film's use of humor in war scenes "a sin on sacred ground."
The highly anticipated prequel, Kantara: Chapter One, has just dropped, and while critics are universally praising Rishab Shetty’s “generational performance,” one prominent YouTuber is calling out a “sin” that he says fundamentally ruins the film: the insertion of humor into sacred war scenes. PJ Explained, in his spoiler-free review, delivers a scathing personal criticism that could spark a major debate among fans and filmmakers alike.
Kantara: Chapter One, the first part of the Kantara prequel-logy, was expected to recreate the magic of its 2022 predecessor, which set a new standard for epic religious experiences on a small budget. And while the film largely delivers a “proper theatrical experience” that is “technically and visually gorgeous,” PJ Explained found a glaring flaw that he simply could not overlook.
“The first thing that disconnects you the most from the film is its humor and fillers,” PJ Explained states in his Kantara Chapter 1 Review. He argues that the film relies too heavily on “typical cartoonish humor” from southern films, especially in the first half, which wastes time and feels out of place.
But his most profound criticism is reserved for the film’s depiction of war. In a powerful and deeply personal take, PJ Explained slams the decision to inject humor into the most intense and climactic war sequences.
“During the climax war sequence, when you are all locked in, wondering what will happen in the final moments, they used humor. And not just once, but three or four times,” he recounts, his voice filled with frustration. “In that intense war sequence, where people are coming and dying, losing things from their past, inserting that kind of joke is something I find completely unacceptable.”
He goes further, calling it a “sin on sacred ground.” For PJ Explained, the battlefield, the ran-kshetra, is a “divine, holy place.” To make jokes there, he argues, is “an offense to your own film, showing that you aren’t taking your final moments seriously. You are diluting it immensely by showing humor and filler there.”
This controversial take from PJ Explained Kantara review is sure to divide audiences. While many might appreciate comedic relief, PJ Explained’s purist view of war and violence suggests that some moments are too sacred for levity, especially when it undermines the film’s dramatic impact.
Despite this significant flaw, PJ Explained still praises the film’s many strengths. He calls Rishab Shetty Daiva performance “generational,” stating, “The man was born to deliver his performance as the Daiva… It feels like a blessing, a sacred offering (prasad), when those moments kick in.” He also highlights the film’s top-notch CGI, the epic Daiva reveal after the interval, and the magical music that serves as the “real soul of the movie.”
Overall, Kantara: Chapter One is a technically brilliant film with a powerhouse performance from Rishab Shetty. However, PJ Explained’s scathing criticism of its misplaced humor in war scenes raises a crucial question about creative choices and audience expectations in Indian cinema review.
Do you agree with PJ Explained’s take on humor in war scenes? What do you think of Kantara: Chapter One? Let us know in the comments!
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