(trailer review) - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

(TEASER TRAILER)

So, we have an official trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and as I go to review it, I think back to when I was first introduced to him. You see, I think I was first introduced to superheroes by having a DC The Falcon figurine when I was maybe, four years old? But movies? It had to be Michael Keaton as Batman. My cousin had The Batman (1989) on VHS and I watched that movie over and over and over. I was a fan of Michael Keaton the actor. My cousin was too. So, to have Michael Keaton in something else called Beetlejuice, of course, we had to watch it. very different to Batman but funny, creepy and in some places, scary for my little mind. This trailer looks like it continues exactly where the last one left off all those years ago as it seems they have captured the crazy tone to this weird and wonderful, cult film.

This trailer shows a little more than the teaser trailer and what we get here is pure greatness. From the uttered lines, "Death is hard"..."sometimes I think life is harder", what a statement! Morbid sense of perspective that reminds me of something I believe Wednesday Addams would say, the irony... But as soon as Astrid says the name 3 times despite being told specially not to, Beetlejuice's entrance is grand! And from that moment chaos ensues, just like it should when The Juice is Loose. This trailer makes me smile and is exactly (if I thought about it, considering how much time has passed) what a Beetlejuice film would/should be like. A mischievous ghoul always causing trouble. Let's just hope this is the Top Gun: Maverick to the Top Gun than the Coming 2 America to Coming to America.

(series review) [STREAMING] - X-Men '97

X-Men '97 continues the popular X-Men show called 'X-Men: The Animated Series', which came out in 1992 with our favourite X-Men characters. Cyclops, the leader of the X-Men, his girlfriend Jean Grey, and Storm, Beast, Gambit, Rogue, Wolverine, Morph and Jubilee attend a school run by Professor Charles Xavier. Following the events of the fifth season, Charles Xavier flies off into space with the Shi'ar Empire for healing, after an assassination attempt on his life and leaves the school in the hands of his dear friend Erik "Magnus" Lehnsherr aka Magneto, one of the X-Men's greatest foes. Not having much trust in Magneto, for obvious reasons, the season kicks off here and we are on a rollercoaster ride that goes high, goes low and at a pace where if you blink, you might miss a chunk of information.

Calling the show X-Men '97 harkens back to the original animated series and with the "replication" of the art design, this show, whilst very jarring at first, "seamlessly" continues on from the previous stories told whilst building from the 5 years of visual backstory and decades of comic book lore for the writers to sink their teeth into and for us, the viewer, to watch, like and devour, unless of course you do not like the art style, storytelling and modern day artistic flare. What I will say from the get-go is that, you do not necessarily need to watch the previous 5 seasons that came before X-Men '97 to know or understand going forward, but it would also help if you did. Also, the jarring "transition" from season 5 to season 6 (X-Men '97 being season 6) is more of a visual problem to overcome than it was with season 4 to season 5. Season 5's visuals/animation were terrible, but to have the art designs modernised and the animation brought up-to-speed to where we are now in society with animation, is something you will absolutely and quickly adjust to and enjoy.

Episode one introduces us to the characters, who they are and what they can do. If you are a first-time X-Men watcher, this is for you. If you have watched the OG series, you are looking at the well-needed "upgrade" you never knew you wanted. I have never heard some things said or discussed or seen how some characters move in this show before now. For new viewers, I can only guess the movement and the action is a nice to see, where people who grew up on the animated series might see this episode and think "WOW!" because if you were to compare everything in this episode to a single episode OR season in the OG series, this show frankly, blows it out of the water. Like it should, right, it was a different time. The first few episodes are great and the storytelling is amazing. What I will say, the introduction to story elements and in some cases, popular story-arcs are "rushed" through at a speed that does not really allow to sit with you. Some things happen quickly and you are onboard with it or you are not. This is the show.

As the episodes get on, we see supporting characters like Forge who pops up in a Storm story-arc and with Morph turning into anyone and everyone, the cameos are plenty. In the earlier episodes, you see Morph turn into Angel and in the latter episodes, The Juggernaut. But towards the end of the season, seeing characters like The Hulk (slight spoiler) does put a smile on your face considering, the Avengers are NOT the X-Men and they are two completely different teams within the same universe but with this happening, helps flesh out the world they are living in. Not to mention that last episode, wow! There are also some creative decisions made that struck me as a stroke of genius. Not only are you stroking the nostalgia factor with the show in of itself, but hitting that other medium you know people will be familiar with of that time, the nineties. I believe I said "So cleverly done and the kind of easter eggs for comic book readers and "other" [blocked out due to spoilers] alike were superbly done."

The original series (mostly know as the OG series) used to have story-arcs than ran over a few episodes. 'Something something, part 1 of 3' etc. X-Men '97 does this twice in this season (once really) and with only 10 episodes, it is the last three that really roll into one continuous story, although, the entire season IS the continuous story. An example of what I mean is, The Marvel Cinematic Universe most commonly known as the MCU has three phases. Each phase was a combination of smaller stories leading into a finale (so to speak) an Avengers movie, but the over-arching story of Thanos coming to snap the galaxy away with the infinity gauntlet, spanned the three phases. X-Men '97 does something similar here and the over-arching bad guy for this season runs throughout and the final confrontation is a spectacle that ends with the promise of something else bigger to come.

I have said this before, "I honestly feel that the people behind this show sat down with Disney and said "... I have this idea where we want to make an X-Men animation, in the vain of all past animation, style and story, with modern-day animation art and techniques, but continuing the stories from the animated show from the 90's and mine the stories even more..."".  And this is exactly what they did. They raised the stakes, they touched on stories from the comics that were only hinted at in the OG series. They have targeted the children who are now adults and delivered a sensibility for the times we live in now whilst still focusing on being set in the 90's. By dropping this show weekly, you are keeping the focus on the X-Men and keeping it in the zeitgeist. Every week you are talking to your colleagues, friends and family about it for the entire duration of when it is airring. If you were to binge the show, (a little like the Fallout series), the talk about the show will last a few weeks if you are lucky and just a bit longer if it was really good.

This show deserves the buzz although I do believe they should slow the pacing down just a little. All the voice acting is great, the animation and design is great, the music is superb, the stories are simply wow, but to slow it down just a tad. I know we only have 30 minutes but maybe break the story into two episodes? There is not a need to overly explain everything as we are all smart enough to understand, but the break-neck speed in the story telling is, for what I'd imagine, for those who have short attention spans and to keep them entertained. I feel a lot of the information thrown into the show is very heavy and very political but very X-Men. X-Men is about outcats and people who are discriminated against due to their being, being a mutant, being a different colour, having abilities whether they wanted it or not. Soo much is touched on in this season as the writing is incredible. The dialogue is phenomenal. You definitely do not get this in the OG series but this form of storytelling is perfect for what the show is and always has been and it sits comfortably within the narrative. The drama in this show on levels much deeper than surface level storytelling and family dramas. Maybe to slow down the pacing a touch so it can sink in would be great, because the balance of drama and action, is perfect. Waiting patiently for season 2 though. Well done Marvel, Disney. Oh, and bring back Beau in some capacity if you cannot bring him back fully. He knows what he is doing and if you ask around, might be the person who has single-handedly (with a team of course) carried the entire Marvel business on his back with this show alone.

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(trailer review) - Twisters

 

Twister was a film from the 90's. A time where special effects were getting better and disaster movies were in abundance. The film had a great cast and if I remember correctly, a single tornado (nicknamed, a Twister) strikes, devastating an area leading to tornado hunters looking for tornadoes to capture on camera, for.......reasons. The stinger (the money-shot which is meant to get people hyped and excited for the movie) was a cow caught in a Tornado flying around for a little comic relief. Did I watch this movie, I think so, maybe not. I actually do not remember as it was soo long ago and I remember bits of it. It was never a movie I was really interested in that I remember seeing and rewatched it several times. If anything, it is highly likely I remembered the trailer. So this trailer, not only do they use the same font, the film seems to act as a spiritual sequel rather than a direct sequel, maybe? But it does look interesting.

This trailer did not do much for me if I am honest. I was never really a fan of the Twister movie for the fact I do not even remember watching it, so I am not really the intended audience for it, but to watch a disaster movie, I am interested in it a little. Just a little. Maybe to see all the destruction and such, not that I am even remotely intrigued in this movie due to the actors involved. A lot of people are talking about Glen Powell and his rising stardom and I recognise him from Top Gun: Maverick, but other than that I actually do not care for him, the actors involved or the movies/the franchise, however this might be one of the best positions to be in due to not caring for it, going to see it and possibly liking it. We will see

.

(trailer review) - A Quiet Place: Day One

(TRAILER ONE)

What is really wild, is that an actor turned director, known for his role as Jim in the American version of The Office, directed two movies before he directed the first 'A Quiet place' and now, he is simply hitting them out of the park. The first A Quiet Place was great. Whilst everyone was talking about Birdbox, there was a strong rumble about A Quiet Place that I watched it and was blown away. Anyone who has watched it, REMEMBERS THAT SCENE! you know which one. The one with the stairs!!! Never in life have I ever felt the tension in a movie more than that scene in a movie. I am pretty sure, the bathtub scene (I cannot remember clearly if it was exactly the same scene, but that) was also a moment where I was under a lot of stress. He then comes out with a sequel and whilst not as great as the first one, in regards to tension, still an amazing second entry to the franchise. However, this trailer, although not directed by John as he was likely busy directing 'IF' and this trailer looks like we are here again, at the edge of our seats, stressing out and I love it.

This second trailer does it for me. Not like the first one did not, especially as, by this point I am already bought into the franchise, but I noticed in this trailer, the military bombed the bridges so whoever is IN New York, is stuck there. It reminded me of Batman Begins and 21 Bridges if I am honest, but the share pandemonium is phenomenal. As I stated in the last trailer review "This trailer gives me Hollywood big budget horror and somewhat, a catastrophe vibe like a Cloverfield". I can see when everything hits the fan, the town scene in A Quiet Place Part 2 where everyone is running and they are driving in reverse and trying to get away, this trailer is show us, again...day one and and how a bustling city like New York, with all the loud sounds, music, people, trains, taxis, will be silent. Seeing Joseph Quinn here will be good for the Fantastic Four and MCU fans, but in all honestly. I only hope this Michael Sarnoski guy does not fluff it up. I heard Pig with Nicholas Cage is good, so we shall see. It looks epic though! I cannot wait.

(trailer review) - The Boys: Season 4

 

(OFFICIAL TEASER)

I do believe that the murmurs of superhero fatigue are dying down. A couple years ago, people were saying that people are suffering from Superhero fatigue, however, I always challenged that because although that was being said, people were still going out of their way to watch shows like 'Invincible' and 'The Boys'. But these are comic book shows that have seemingly created a shift in the mindset of people who were watching WB's DC universe with Batman, Superman and the like, along with Disney's Marvel, Ironman, Captain America and the like. The Boys is different. The Boys is dark humour. The Boy is gory and also, insanely weird, everything the two aforementioned franchises are not and this trailer proves that.

If you have been following the story of Billy Butcher, he is a man who is seeking revenge on those who are super-powered and he has recruited a team of people to do the same. Huey, Mother's Milk, Frenchie and the Girl. Now along for the ride is Starlight and they all plan on taking down Vought, the corporate business behind Superheroes and their main supe, Homelander who not only is becoming out of control but is seemingly coercing Billy's son into doing the same as him. This trailer shows that there is tension rising and the supes are rejecting their corporate overlords to be recognised as God's and maybe, just maybe...enslave those who are not like them. Sometimes a second trailer is needed but with The Boys, the storylines and the action is so greatly done, upon one trailer, I am already interested and involved.

(trailer review) - Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

 

And Just like that! The franchise that is the Jurassic Park or World, for that matter, is back after a 14 year absence. So you understand what I mean, let me break it down for you. Jurassic Park came out in 1993. A great film which probably stands as still the best Jurassic movie. Four years later, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park 2) came out and four years later, Jurassic Park 3. The films declined in quality since the first one and then there was a 14 year "break". The franchise was resurrected and and in came Jurassic World in 2015, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018 and Jurassic World Dominion in 2022. Whilst again, these films have declined in quality, a little (and I wanted to argue the fact they were pumping these out every few years), I think the main issue with these films (and most films if we really think about it) is the quality of the storytelling. Just so you are aware as well, There is another Jurassic World movies coming out in the next few year directed by Gareth Edwards, the man behind, Monsters, Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story & The Creator (a film I loved). So it is hard to say if it will be any good but we will see.

I say all that to say this: - This trailer looks great and I think it is the story that is doing it for me. Whilst giving me a Big Hero 6 vibe with the animation, the story looks like there is more depth to what is going on. A shady corporation/organisation using Dinosaurs to track people and kill them, maybe? I am not sure of the motive but imagine having that level of control. What did these kids see? Are we going to see these kids or people ripped into two etc, probably not, but I like the sluethness of it all and trying to find out what is going on and bring it to light or trying to stop it. I cannot say I watched Dominion but I think I watched Lost Kingdom and I thought it was alright and Jurassic World was good, but of they really want to branch out and do more with the franchise, this is definitely the way to do it. Maybe another trailer would do it more justice, but so far, I am interested.

(episode review) - X-Men '97 - Episode 8

 

I'm going to keep this review, shorter than the others because this is a 3-parter.

After the events of last week, we now know who the villain is, what he is doing and what he has been doing all along. A carefully laid plan to essentially wipe out or/and enslave mutants. We saw the enslavement of mutants in the '92 show which was recapped in this season. We now know who built the power dampening collars and who instructed them to be built. We now know where the more advanced sentinel came from, who instructed the attack on Genocia and what the ultimate play was. Lastly and more importantly, we now know... 'Magneto was right'.

This show is so well told, with some 'blink and you'll miss it' cameos and Easter eggs among other things. Funny, Poignant, Intelligent, Clever and the action is soo well done I felt like if I were to do a watch along, a 25-30min show would end up being 50mins to an hour because of the amount of times I would rewind a scene because it was soo good. The dialogue alone is so well written as the show highlights racism, homophobia, slavery, genocide, prejudices and the behaviour of people who fear what is different to them in such a unique way that if you are not clued up to the messages, it would go over your head. 
There are two moments, maybe even three in this week's episode that will excite fans. One is an amazing fight scene... scratch that, wait...a fighting sequence that leads into another incredible fight scene, the "trinity" moment and a cameo (maybe even 2). This is only part 1 of 3, two more to go.