Citadel: Honey Bunny

I had very high hopes with this series especially after watching Citadel (Priyanka Chopra).

This series looks like very loosely made. We have some very good actors like Menon but not at their best. I did not have very high hopes from Varun Dhawan but the worst out of all was Samantha- I THOUGHT she was a good actor! But I was so wrong!

The series looks bad in terms of direction. It seems the actors were given scripts and told to do whatever they feel like with the scenes.

This really could have been a 7 plus rating series. Better direction and better choice of actors may have helped.

I am sure they spend a lot of money making it but overall it was a disappointment!

#anwarsays Anwar Says: Intricate storyline, polished action, top class cinematography are the highlights of this Russo's creation. But people expect more from Raj & DK, you may not go for a binge watch of this web series. It slows down many times and every other move is predictable. Director duo have been able to create suspense by setting it in 1992 and 2000 and frequently switching.

Chemistry of Varun Dhawan and Samantha is a treat to watch. Kay Kay Menon as sinister nails the character. But the character you are not going to forget is Kashvi Majumdar as Nadia , the 6 years old daughter of the couple. Her confidence and dialogue delivery are stunning. Casting director has made good research in picking the supporting cast.

One more feature of the series makes it watchable is the background score of Sachin-Jigar. Directors forgot to tell the audience, what was Operation Talvar. Overall not an outstanding spy thriller but you can go for it on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

#amazonprime #anwarsays #anwarsays #citadel #spythriller #fullofaction #varundhawan #samantharuthprabhu #kashvimajumdar #belgrade.

Didn't expect this from Raj and dk.

This is the worst work done by them. I have watched countless movies and webseries in my lifetime and in my opinion this is just an average series.

There are only a few positive aspects of this series.

1. The cinematography of this series is nicely done.(especially in the last episode) 2. All the actors have done a great job. (But sometimes in Samantha's dialogue and expression the situation doesn't fit completely,maybe it's because of her native language is not hindi) 3. The BGM of the entire series is nicely composed. It fits with the situation.

Now let's talk about negative aspects of the movie.

1. I don't know why but everytime when the story goes back and forth (1992 and 2000) they display the year everytime and I don't quite like it. They should have themed the series according to the years displayed. For example they could have given a slight dark gray themed in the year 1992 so it wouldn't be necessary to tell each and every time the years that are being showed.

2. The overall storyline of the series is very average and predictable in my opinion.

3. Sometimes the series goes out of the track it doesn't focu on the story. There are lots of scenes that wouldn't impact the overall story even if they weren't in the series.

4. In my opinion this series could have been a 2 and a half hrs movie instead of a 5 hrs series. The story could have been completed in 2 hrs there's nothing extra to make a series about it.

Honestly the another series of this franchise Citadel:Diana was also below average series.

5. There are alot of parts where the makers doesn't showcase things which could be impactful in the series.

Summary: This is an average series if you want to watch it then it's upon you. If you think you can watch a 5hrs series which could have been a 2hrs movie then go ahead. But if you don't want to waste your 5 hrs then I don't recommend watching it.

The final question is: Is it worth watching?

In my opinion No.

Now that I've watched all three of the Citadel series--American, Italian, and Indian--I can compare them to each other, which I don't think is the original idea, but I'll do it anyway. But, that comes later.

Anyway, Citadel: Honey Bunny is a difficult six-parter to work your way through, even though it had some pretty good action sequences. But, the story is so lame and the actors are not engaging enough at bringing their characters to life or to make me want to care. The kid was the best actor to watch.

Now, to the comparison. Of the three installments, and much to my surprise, I'm enjoying the Italian, "Diana" the best. In fact, I've watched it several times. Though it lacked great action ("Honey Bunny" wins the Action prize), the "Diana" episodes draw you in, make you care about what happens to the characters--and Italy has never been more beautiful. Finally, the original "Citadel" comes in second because of it's clever plot twist, and the best acting cast of the three.

Final scores:

Diana = A- Citadel = B Honey Bunny = C+

Citadel Honey bunny is a captivating spy thriller that follows the high-stakes missions of two elite agents, Honey and Bunny, as they navigate the dangerous world of a secretive spy agency in the early 1990s. Blending action, suspense, romance, humor, and emotional depth, this series strikes a great balance across its six episodes.

The pacing is tight and consistent, with each episode delivering a mix of adrenaline-pumping action and poignant moments that keep you invested. The show shines through a strong screenplay and dynamic character development, which elevate its otherwise simple premise.

Raj and DK have expertly crafted a gripping experience, turning what could have been a straightforward story into a thoroughly engaging narrative. The action sequences are particularly impressive-Varun and Samantha bring their A-game to the high-octane scenes, while the young Nadia (played by the talented child actress) steals the show in every frame. Kay Kay Menon, as always, delivers a standout performance and never misses the mark.

While a few plot points and character arcs could have been more fleshed out, Citadel makes up for it with its stunning action, solid performances, and cinematic flair. Overall, it's an exciting and well-executed show that makes for a binge-worthy watch.

7/10.