(trailer review) - Dune: Part 3

(TEASER TRAILER) 

The previous trailer for this film did absolutely nothing for me. Maybe it was the mood I was in, or maybe it's because I loved the first two films so much that I was already sold. At this point, I don't need convincing—I just want to watch the movie. So, you'd think another trailer wouldn't change my mind. Well... I've done a complete 180. This is the trailer that got me excited. Maybe it's because release day is finally creeping closer, but this looks absolutely phenomenal.

The trailer opens with Paul confronting Chani as she angrily reminds him that she trusted him, and that he swore he'd never seize power in his own name. Their confrontation is intercut with flashes of happier times, brutal battles, and Paul walking away from absolute devastation. It's an emotional opening that immediately sets the tone.

Things only escalate from there. Paul asks, "What do you know about me?" before someone replies, "You have conquered the galaxy. You have destroyed thousands of worlds, and I think you are way beyond redemption." That's a hell of a line. We then get what initially looks like a sparring session before it's revealed to be a fight with someone who looks like Duncan, who claims to have brought Paul a peace proposal that would ultimately destroy him.

Then the trailer just starts showing off. Massive battles, our best look yet at Robert Pattinson's mysterious character Feyd-Rau, the Fremen standing on a beach with crashing waves—a visual I never expected to see in Dune—and the princess, played by Florence Pugh, warning that anyone trying to stop Paul has just signed their own death warrant. Feyd-Rau says, "I've found someone," before Chani slams her fist into the sand and summons a sandworm, all cut together with more breathtaking action. The trailer ends with Paul simply saying, "I'm sorry."

Visually, this looks every bit as spectacular as the previous films, but this trailer also feels far more emotionally charged. It hints at the consequences of Paul's choices, raises plenty of questions, and somehow leaves me wanting even more. Mission accomplished.

(series review) [STREAMING] - X-Men '97: Season 2

 

If you read my review of the first season of X-Men '97, you'll know I loved it. It captured everything that made the '90s series special, but with a richer colour palette, stronger voice acting and even more ambitious storytelling. Best of all, it fully respected what came before, continuing storylines from the original five seasons instead of pretending they never happened.

It never spoon-fed the audience or leaned too far into being overly mature or childish. The themes were darker, but it was still every bit as accessible as the original series. Rather than a reboot or retelling, it felt like a genuine continuation—just upgraded.

Now we're two years on, with Beau DeMayo no longer involved. It'll be interesting to see where the storytelling goes, but based on these opening episodes, the series hasn't missed a beat.

Episode 1

Following the events of Season 1, the X-Men have vanished, leaving Bishop and Forge to search for them across time. Forge eventually finds Storm, Wolverine, Morph, Cyclops, Jean and Nathan Summers in the distant future, where Mother Askani leads the fight against Apocalypse. Realising they'll need more allies, Cable joins forces with Psylocke and Archangel to recruit two new members for the battle ahead.

Episode 2

Back in 1997, mutant children flee to the X-Mansion seeking safety, only to be intercepted by X-Factor, the government's mutant task force. Meanwhile, Cable assembles his new X-Force team to hunt one of Apocalypse's Horsemen, War. A meeting with Emma Frost quickly goes sideways, landing them in X-Factor's custody, but Jubilee finds a way to rescue the captured mutants and get them to safety.

Episode 3

In ancient Egypt, Magneto believes En Sabah Nur can still be saved, while Charles insists his future as Apocalypse is inevitable. Magneto attempts to steer him onto a different path, but Rama-Tut's manipulations continue pushing En Sabah Nur towards his destiny. Elsewhere, Beast, Nightcrawler, Rogue and Professor X study future technology in the hope of returning home, only to be accused of working alongside Rama-Tut. As tensions boil over, En Sabah Nur clashes with the X-Men, Bishop joins the fight, and Rama-Tut moves to eliminate them all.

(trailer review) - Shrek 5

 

You know what? I don't actually think I've seen Shrek 4. I definitely watched the first and second movies, and I'm pretty sure I saw Shrek the Third at some point, but Shrek Forever After? I genuinely can not remember watching it. Maybe I saw a trailer and was not interested at the time, or maybe I just thought the franchise had run its course. Whatever the reason, I kind of drifted away from Shrek. But after watching this trailer, I might need to jump back in.

I thought this was genuinely funny. And more importantly, it reminded me of something I had forgotten about these films: how much of the comedy relies on Donkey, or does it? In fact, by the end of this trailer, I found myself wondering if Eddie Murphy has secretly been the star of this franchise the entire time. I do not remember the previous films well enough to say that definitively, but he absolutely steals every moment he's in here.

The trailer opens with a narrator introducing us to an ogre and a donkey, "who once embarked on a magical journey to Further, Further Away. Before the narration can really get going, Donkey interrupts, excitedly talking about going on another adventure with Shrek and the family.

Straight away, the energy feels familiar, and I am immediately reminded of Donkey's song about being "On the road again".

Donkey starts talking about getting himself into shape for the holiday, listing all the areas he needs to work on, before trying to launch into a song. Every time he starts building momentum, Shrek tries to reassure him that what he's thinking isn't actually happening, which only makes the whole exchange funnier.

Then we get one of the trailer's biggest laughs when we see The Gingerbread Man standing between two gingerbread women, proudly shaking his jelly and declaring that he's "caked up like a freaking bakery." I will not lie, I laughed. From there, the trailer kicks into full chaos mode.

Donkey finally gets his wish, and the adventure begins. While travelling through a town, a snowman casually turns towards them and asks, "Wanna date a snowman?" which feels exactly like the kind of random joke these films thrive on, but it's the snowman's voice that is the problem here.

Then the montage starts, and there are flashes of what looks like Princess Fiona flying on a broomstick like Elphaba from Wicked, moments that suggest the gang is being chased by the authorities, Donkey somehow being transformed into a ram, prison scenes, action sequences and, because it's Donkey, a completely random rendition of Roxanne, which is hilarious. 

The whole thing feels silly, energetic and completely aware of how ridiculous it is, but does not seem over the top.

What surprised me most was that the jokes actually landed. Not every animated sequel manages that, especially this many films into a franchise, but this trailer had me laughing more than I expected.

If the film can maintain this energy for its full runtime, then Shrek 5 could end up being a lot more fun than I initially thought.

And if nothing else, Eddie Murphy looks like he's having an absolute blast.