Oh ya, De Armas, looking forward to see her action in Ballerina..

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

It's been awhile since I watched a Marvel film in the cinema. The last one I watched was "Dr. Strange In The Multiverse of Madness" like a year ago (time flies!). Skipped the next 3 films largely due to the reception. Later when I did get to watch them - - it was as I expected, underwhelming. The last one, "Quantumania" was really mediocre IMO  Even the CGI was super inconsistent and Kang was reduced to like a run-of-the-mill villain that plagued some of the early Marvel films (after all the hype he provided us from "Loki").

Well, this time around, I thought it had to be special since not only was James Gunn returning (one last time for a Marvel film?) but it's also a farewell to the gang. I'm quite confident though, Star-Lord or one of the characters will reappear in the future (only watched the mid-credits scene, later I shall check the post-credits scene).

I went in with a cautious expectation (the last I checked on RT it was sitting at 79%, no audience score yet) so I felt safe since it was at least going to be good.

Well, in many ways, I think it surpassed my expectations. It was emotional in places, funny (the last few Marvel films felt forced), the world building was superb (especially the flesh planet that was reminiscence of the superb Eidos-Montréal Guardians of the Galaxy game that was released in 2021) and the ridiculous intentional background characters. There were even suits/armor that looked straight out of Power Rangers yet it felt right 

Clocking in at around 2 1/2 hours, I was surprised it didn't feel draggy or boring. There were barely any lengthy conversations or stop-gaps for the next phase of action, it was just non-stop fun. It felt like the older Marvel films to be honest that had that MCU magic.

As for the emotional bits:


As for the hype about Adam Warlock, I felt the writers (it was James Gunn only I think) didn't really know how to utilize him fully. I believe there were already too many things happening in Vol. 3, that Adam Warlock felt like a passer-by hero/villain-type thing. The scene where he was flying around was similar to Supes flying in "Man of Steel" which was super cool but unfortunately, there weren't many scenes of him doing that. Overall, I feel a little mixed about Adam Warlock's appearance though it was never a bad thing.

Cosmo the Spacedog was done and utilized well. I recognized that distinct voice almost immediately haha.. (voiced by Maria Bakalova, and heard she also provided mo-cap for it).

CGI was exceptional -- I noticed some jarring and inconsistent CGI in "Wakanda Forever" and "Quantumania" but this time around, it was superb.

Overall, this feels like a return to Marvel classic story-telling and humor. Did it feel like a farewell? Somewhat. I think we'll see more of the characters in the future but the gang itself I doubt it.



This one gets a nice 8.5/10 from me. Not really a must watch, but highly recommended if you want a return to form with what made you love the Marvel films in the first place.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Bar the second Venom movie, Sony's Spider-verse movies are showing Disney-Marvel the lost art of storytelling.

The origins story of Gwen Stacy/Spier-woman i great!

Hollywood's de-coupling with China is very displayed (in a good way).

I really like this movie.

There were parts I was concern about how long the movie was
I hope Sony can continue the great story telling.

I highly recommend this!

My Two Sen.

The Boogeyman (2023)

What a treat!?!

An actually scary horror movie!!!

I was kept at the edge of my seat.

I had squirmed.

I had shut my eyes.

I was concern for the characters in the movie!!!

Good job Rob Savage!!! I shall keep an eye out for your work!!

My Two Sen

The Little Mermaid (2023)

Wow, no love for this movie here...

What a difference 34 years make.

Why did I say that?

When the animated movie Little Mermaid was release in 1989, it was make or break for Disney Animation.

Disney Animation had been floundering (get it, a character in Little Mermaid is called Flounder) since Wlat Disney's passing. Disney animation always made their animated movies, WITHOUT script. They continued to do so after Disney's passing. I believe Jungle Book was the last Disney animation Walt was involved it. So what came after Jungle Book (1967)?

The Aristocats (1970)
Robin Hood (1973)
The Rescuers (1977)
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Oliver & Company (1988) (I did not even watch this... Not yet)

After The Black Cauldron many thought that Disney Animations days are numbered. Studio funds were reduced to the project put into Disney Animation products and if you had watch The Great Mouse detective, it looks more like TV movie rather than a feature animated movie.

Michael Eisner who was the head of Disney put his foot down and only greenlit The Little Mermaid (1989) project IF an actually script was written and used for the animation project.

It was a smashing success and a renaissance of sort occurred during the period for Disney.

Now we have the live action The Little Mermaid.

Most of the songs remain from the 1989 animation movie. Some are even expanded and new songs were written.

Why did I say what a difference 34 years makes?

When it was announce that Halle Bailey was to play Ariel in the live action movie, that news almost broke the internet (not is a good way).

It did not matter that Disney got

1) Javier Bardem as King Triton
2) Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
3) Disney spent 350 million dollars to product this movie.

They did not matter.

The public has spoken and before their even watched the movie, Halle Bailey, Ariel does not make.

I want to make things clear, I almost did not watch this at the cinema.

The general consensus out there is not good.

Unlike the rescue of the Disney Animation by the 1989 animation movie, this may end up losing Disney ALOT of money.

ALOT.

There are three new songs and one of them is actually very VERY good.

As for Disney prince go, Jonah Hauer-King is a very very good match to the animated Prince Eric.

Melissa McCarthy killed as Ursula

I can see where the money went in the movie.

In my humble opinion, some money could have been saved. Disney was over enthusiastic about the movie and over indulged in the production....

I did enjoy the movie.

The end was tweaked and I am still not sure if I agree with the tweak...

Overall it is actually a good live action adaption of the animated movie.

Do yourself a favour, go watch this with your love ones or little wants.

You will find yourself humming with Melissa McCarthy when she does the "Poor Unfortunate Souls".

I kid you not!!

My Two Sen

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) - enjoyable to watch.. go to watch it guys 
Extraction (2020) - Great action flick, I really enjoyed this one. Can't wait for Extraction 2...   

Extraction 2020 they added some sentimental value with great action. Hope they keep some good storyline on part2, rather than just action. Releasing next week!!!

The Flash (2023)

The movie started with a bang.

It actually looked like a continuation of Zack Synder's Justice League.

The new Flash suit is great!

What stumbled me at the beginning was... Ron Livingston now plays Henry Allen (in Justice League, Billy Crudup played that role).

Just a small stumble mind you... moving on.

What was the main stumbling block for me was


How did Barry learn about the speed force etc?

It was never explained.

I blame the choppiness on the reshoots and I understand there were many...

Overall I do believe it was worth watching.

It is entertaining.

Watch this at the biggest screen you can find.

When the movie works, it works! There are flaws....

My Two Sen

So did I. Just posted today...

dunno I demam or apa, no feel go watch flash....
but Abang say it is entertaining....

watch extraction 2 semalam.... hmm... quite fatigue

elemental got those lbgt elements ar?

wait on Disney + then

@skyline yipeee, I see this Sunday my dad free boh, bring him go watch

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Now, this looks like a 300 million dollars production.

Kudos to Tom Cruise, for showing the industry how to spend close to 300 millions and having it show on screen!!

Tom Cruise seems to have  conquer every movie genre, Action, Drama, RomCom.

The only genre he had fail to make an impact on it... Horror!!!

This movie is action pack.

Action pack to the gills.

Will four huge movies bombing at the Box Office (Little Mermaid, Elementals, The Flash and Indiana Jones 6) summer blockbusting looks, to borrow a term from the current generation seems.... meh!

Well based on what I had just watch, this movie may make 1 billion, worldwide. A true blue summer blockbuster!!!

It is NOT flawless.

The positives far exceeds the negatives.

I do not read up on movies I look forward to watch, so this movie had several surprises in stored for me.

There are two things that I may nitpick on, namely,

Tom Hollands recently lamented that why did the industry tout Tom Cruise's Top Gun 2 reviving cinema going, when his Uncharted brought in 400+ millionin the same year.

Kid, watch this movie. You still got ways to go...

That's it, that's My Two Sen.

Oppenheimer (2023)

I cannot talk about Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, without talking about Roy Orbison: Black and White Night (1988). This intimate concert of his had Tom Waits, Jennifer Warnes, J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne, k.d. lang, Elvis Costello, Roy Orbison, T-Bone Burnett, Bonnie Raitt, Steven Soles, Bruce Springsteen, playing instruments and singing backup!!!

Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer has Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr. & Matt Damon as "leads" and have to add followed by Alden Ehrenreich, Jason Clarke, Josh Hartnett, Alex Wolff, Josh Zuckerman, Florence Pugh, Dane DeHaan, Josh Peck, Jack Quaid, Rami Malek and Casey Affleck (some in blick and you'll miss them) in small roles.

I don't think anyone else in Hollywood now would have the clout to attract such an assemble of talents to be in his/her movie!!!

Could Christopher Nolan has single handedly put Hollywood back to work?

I am getting ahead of myself.

First and foremost, get you head in the right frame of mind before heading into this movies.

This is a dialogue-ee and drama driven movie.

You have to have a rudimentary understanding of World War II, the aftermath of the nuclear bombing of Japan and the Red Scare in the States during the 50s. Otherwise, you will be

A) Bored
B) Lost
C) Both the above.

I honesty know more about Einstein and Stephen Hawkins compared with Oppenheimer.

Nolan seem to be geniunely want to unfold this persons story to the world as "honestly" as he possible can.

Every single actor brought their A game.

Robert Downey Jr. is flexing his acting muscle like nobody's business showing he can be more then a assholey-wiz billionaire.

Pushing practical effect to display a nuclear explosion (some fans speculated his actually detonated a really nuclear bomb for the shot ) is no easy feat!

I whole heartedly applaud him for this work.

My concern is, are there alot more people who would do the same?...

My Two Sen.

Dear all. I will not be watching The Meg 2 due to all the really nad reviews it is receiving. Will save up for the next best thing.

why bother about other reviews?

just go and watch la... it's the "It's so bad it's good" type of movie at least it's entertaining

Jason is the new Chuck Norris now

Heart of Stone (2023) [Meh-flix]
Not even the allure of Gal Gadot can save this film.

Plot-wise, really straightforward stuff.. if there was a supposedly "PLOT TWIST" - I saw it from a mile away.
In fact, it is one of those shows that you clearly know who the main antagonist is right off the bat.
The action sequences were.. not very exciting. At all. <- almost as bad as Extraction 2

There is just nothing special or noteworthy about it.

Blue Beetle (2023)

Well, 2023 summer blockbuster had be... a rollercoaster ride.

Many many BIG productions turns out to be duds...

DC this year is probably still riling from, how hard The Flash bomb after the reviewers calling it the greatest super heroes movie made!

It BOMB spectacularly... (I did not think it was that bad. The production cost was way too high and the lead... Just had too many bad reporting prior...)

Even before Blue Beetle had launched there are soundbites saying this would bomb even harder...

I would like to ask, how to you even have an opinion about something if you have not even seen it? Can clairvoyance be true??

I have watched this and I can tell you this is a GOOD superhero movie.

Is it Avengers Infinity War level good?

It took Marvels many a movies to build up to Avengers Infinity War, that is NOT EVEN A FAIR comparison...

Think more along the lines of watching Iron man for the first time. You don't know what to expect and you were taken for a grand ride.

I am not suggesting this gives you the same feeling.

How can it possibly do that with all the superheroes movie released since Iron Man.

I am saying that it is an origins movie and should be judge on it's own merit.

Xolo Maridueña (what a name) does good.

I will award him the "most embarrassing super hero moment" award!!


Susan Sarandon does a good meanie

And this movie really show Fast and Furious and Shazam what it means to be a family.

I really enjoyed this.

Give this a chance and who knows, maybe you will enjoy it too!

My Two Sen

ooi, how dare you miss out on one of the most anticipated films of the month - Paw Patrol's Mighty Movie! The first one was not bad - had a few good laughs, me and kiddo looking forward to the second one next week! 

The Creator - This movie is like a breath of fresh air. When the studio overlords make it a point to drown the market with franchises and mindless sequels, 20th Century somehow decide to take a roll of dice with this. In short it's Last Of Us meets District 9. Great performance with newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles and off course the always dependable Allison Janey as a very engaging villain. It won't hurt that you have Gemma Chan and Ken Watanabe in the mix.

It's no secret Gareth Edwards rise in Hollywood pegged on his VFX background. He shot and VFX his debut feature all by himself kinda like Robert Rodriguez in the 90's. Here he did the impossible as the USD 80m production budget looks like a USD 300m end product. Again f*** MCU with their excessive CGI orgy fest. Here the VFX is integral to the storyline and you can see the envelope pushing merits of how they are being used.

This is not by any means a great masterpiece as there are some problems with the script but the performance and spectacle more than makeup over the shortcomings. John David Washington also performed a little better than the boring role in Tenet  but still not buying he deserves a slot on the a-listing of actors.