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‘Parallel World Pharmacy’: Trust me, I’m a pharmacist!

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Reviewed by Alicia Glass

 Based on a light novel of the same name from Liz Takayama, another in a long line of isekai or alternate-world anime, Parallel World Pharmacy tells the story of a pharmacist reincarnated in a world akin to 17th century France, with magic!

So Kanji Yukitani is a gifted pharmacist in the real world, obsessed with helping as many people as he can with medicine after his beloved sister died from a tumor he couldn’t treat. Inevitably, Kanji literally works himself to death, and reawakens to the life of the youngest son of the noble de Medicis family, who serve the royal family as doctors.

Pharma de Medici, as he is now known, is shocked to discover this new world uses actual magic known as Divine Arts to help practice their medicine. A large faith is centered around the Panactheos, the Gods who rule the Divine Arts, policed by the Holy Diocese and considered by the nobility to be their rightful due, and therefore only nobility and royalty have access to general healthcare, much less specialized treatments. Common folk have the option of joining the Saint Fleuve Guild, and hosting their own pharmacy somewhere in the city under the Guild umbrella, but that is the only way to consider doing such a thing. Until now.

It turns out, the real Pharma de Medicis was struck by lightning before Kanji’s soul was popped into his body, so much of his oddities after awakening were excused. But the light-up tattoos gracing his shoulders, a sure sign of the Panactheos’ favor and potential heresy at the same freaking time, scream otherwise. Pharma finds he now possesses the Divine Eye, a magic that allows him to correctly diagnose the ailment of a given patient, and he’s gifted with an overabundance of the other elements of magic, including the heretofore believed extinct None, which just keeps drawing further attention to him! Especially when his esteemed father Archduke Bruno de Medicis brings Pharma with him to go diagnose and treat the ailing Empress!

Diseases that are rife in 17th century France – tuberculosis, known here as the White Death, influenza, chicken pox, mercury poisoning, and everyone’s favorite, the Black Plague – are rearing their ugly heads to be mowed down by the Divinely inspired Pharma, and his zeal for the revolutionary thought that medicine is for all people regardless of station in life is making him enemies left and right, but also reformed allies too. One can’t argue with an official Royal charter from the Empress herself, not after Pharma, and not his official Royal Doctor father, cured her of the White Death.

And what does Pharma want to do with that Royal charter? He wants to open a pharmacy, where medicine is available to every last person, common or noble or Divine alike. And because Pharma has still managed to retain a modern-day sense of humor, or at least irony, the new pharmacy will be called Parallel World Pharmacy.

Surrounded by a host of allies – father Bruno de Medicis, still open-minded enough to embrace the changes in his son, especially when they produce clear medical results; tutor Eleonore, called Elle, initially terrified of the new Pharma, is now his strongest proponent and second-in-command when they attempt to stave off a Black Plague pandemic; house-maid and strong friend to Pharma, Charlotte, who of course is hired as an errand-girl to the Pharmacy; Chloe de Chatillion and her league of Noble ladies no longer being poisoned by mercury in their makeup, who open satellite makeup stores from the Pharmacy itself; reformed Diocese Inquisitors who now voluntarily serve as Pharma’s Holy Guard; even the Empress Elisabeth, very much alive after taking Pharma’s treatment against the White Death – Pharma does his best to give medicine to all, despite being hampered by his hosts age and physical stature, with an open mind and heart, as any real physician should.

Similar to the beloved past-future anime Dr. Stone and the isekai series Ascendance of a Bookworm, Parallel World Pharmacy is full of love and medicine, and can be enjoyed on Crunchyroll now!

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Review of “Good Bad Ugly”

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Director: Adhik Ravichandran 

Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran

Genre: Action / Crime Drama

Rating: 4.5/5


“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.

“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.

While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.

The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.

“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.

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Streaming

Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies

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In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!

When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting.  And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!

Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home. 

Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence. 

Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.

The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!

However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene. 

Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes. 

My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues. 

I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.

Presence is available to stream.

Three and a half stars.

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Streaming

Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)

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Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan


Overview

Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.

Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.

Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.

The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.

The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.


Rating: 9/10

Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.


Pros

  • Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
  • Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
  • Rich mythological lore
  • Epic fight choreography

Cons

  • Sparse episode release
  • Story pacing can be uneven at times

Final Verdict 9/10

If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.

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