Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

The time has come for us to meet the newest avenger: Shang Chi. After ten years of hiding from his father and the powerful organization he controls, the Ten Rings, Shang Chi must face his past and become the hero he is destined to be.

Marvel has done it again. It seems like Kevin Feige can’t fail at this point, because everything he touches becomes absolute gold. And now, the not so popular Marvel character Shang Chi has his own movie, and it is magical and brilliant. So, let’s discuss it!

Even though Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has some pretty good and interesting cameos and references, the world of the Avengers is not central to the story, which I appreciate. I don’t think we needed the Avengers here, at least not for now. We wanted to see Shang Chi become a hero on his own, and that’s what we got.

This film has the best action sequences in the MCU. The fights are perfectly choreographed and shot, the visual effects are absolutely perfect, and the third act delivers one of the most impressive battle sequences in the history of Marvel. And the way they reinvented the Ten Rings is brilliant, making them probably the strongest weapon in the MCU right now.

If Black Widow was a thriller, Shang Chi is pure Chinese magic. The story and the cultural references are perfectly crafted, so if you enjoy Asian culture in general, or Chinese specifically, this movie will not disappoint you.

The characters are very interesting and well-written, which makes you not only want to know more about them, but also see them again. Simu Liu is the perfect Shang Chi. His physicality is perfect and his moves are hypnotic and believable. And also, his chemistry with Awkwafina is undeniable. She is very good too, and her role is quite large actually. She’s not only the female lead, but also an incredible comedic relief.

The rest of the cast is magnificent. Tony Leung is a really intimidating but deep antagonist, which makes us care about him and his motivations. His dynamic with Simu Liu’s Shang Chi and his sister, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) is the center of the film, so the strength of this aspect determines the strength of the movie. And I have to say, it its quite strong. By the end of the film, you will care for the whole family, including the wonderful Fala Chen’s Li, the mother of our hero.

Meng’er Zhang’s Xialing is definitely the MVP of this film. Even though it’s her first acting role she did an amazing job with her part. She delivers a powerful performance, both physically and emotionally. I really hope she gets a couple of cameos in future MCU films and shows, because her journey has just begun.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton delivers a powerful and emotional origin story, full of action, heart and humor. I can confidently say that this film is, by far, the best superhero origin story ever made, and one of the strongest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you like Marvel, go watch it right now if you can. You won’t regret it.

The Suicide Squad

The first Suicide Squad was probably one of the most hated movies of 2016. The characters didn’t work, the story was a complete mess and it seemed like that group of villains would never team up again in the big screen.

It’s been five years since that film was released, and now it’s James Gunn’s turn to bring back the Suicide Squad. This time, a new team is assembled by the ruthless Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to take down a scientific facility where something big and dangerous is hidden.

The Suicide Squad is definitely a better movie than the original. And yes, it is a sequel. Even though you don’t really need to know what happened in the first film or the Harley Quinn solo movie Birds of Prey, fans will recognize certain faces and Easter eggs.

This time around, the story is actually interesting and well-constructed. It has some great moments where the characters shine and the action is pretty solid. The worst part of this movie is, in my opinion, the first sequence. To be fair, this part of the film really shows how disposable the characters are to Waller, and it makes us understand why this Suicide Squad exists in the first place. However, the characters that we are introduced here are not that interesting and the whole scene is not funny or thrilling.

Once we get to the main team, the story takes off. The characters that we get to know throughout this sequel are actually interesting villains. Idris Elba’s Bloodsport, Daniela Melchior’s Ratcatcher 2 and David Dastmalchian’s Polka-Dot Man have the best moments and story arcs in the film, and they deliver both the humor and the heart.

Melchior’s Ratcatcher 2 is without a doubt the best character DC has recently brought to the big screen. She also has the best scene in the entire movie, one that’s both emotional and grandiose. And she is the heart of the story, something I would have never said about someone who controls rats.

Now, The Suicide Squad is not perfect. The humor is one of the elements that don’t work, and that’s probably my biggest complain about this film. Most of the jokes are not funny and even Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn suffer from this. She has some good lines but overall, her jokes don’t land.

The action scenes are good, but I think they could have been better. The main issue with this aspect of the film is that the big bad, Starro, is way too overpowered for the squad. For instance, the final battle between the villains and Starro is pretty underwhelming, and it’s shocking that WB let Gunn made the same mistake again, having a third act encounter with a big CGI monster when the Squad’s power level is basically 0. However, I will say that the best part of the third act is definitely Ratcatcher 2’s saving the world moment.

The Suicide Squad is a solid movie. James Gunn has managed to fix some of the worst aspects that made the first film such a horrible DC story. However, I still think that there’s room for improvement here. If we get another Suicide Squad adventure, I think WB needs to choose a better antagonist, one that the Squad could realistically take down. Plus, the jokes must be funnier.

If you are a DC or even a superhero fan, you will enjoy this film. It’s a good one. Just forget about the first Suicide Squad and you’ll be fine.

Black Widow

The Marvel Cinematic Universe will never be the same. After Endgame, Kevin Feige and the Marvel team have expanded the stories of our favorite heroes to the small screen, giving them more time to explore the new corners of this vast universe. However, after a long hiatus, Marvel movies are back, and it’s exciting to see Natasha Romanoff on the big screen one last time.

Black Widow has been one of the most interesting and mysterious characters in the MCU for years. When we first met her, she was a top SHIELD agent with an obscure past. Unfortunately, even though her story seemed worth exploring, Marvel never gave her a proper solo film. But that’s no longer the case.

Black Widow takes us to Europe, where Nat is hiding from the Government after the events of Civil War. There, she discovers a dangerous secret about the Red Room, something that could destroy many innocent lives. That’s when she decides to team up with her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) to take down the Red Room and the man behind it once and for all.

Director Cate Shortland finally delivers an epic and trilling story where Natasha (Scarlet Johansson) isn’t just a side character. The film is on a par with one of the strongest MCU entries, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and it really delivers in terms of action and story.

There are a lot of plot twists and surprises along the way, but also a lot of humor and heart. Natasha and Yelena are one of the best MCU duos ever created and Johansson and Pugh’s chemistry is perfect. Their scenes are perfect, and Pugh’s Yelena is the best addition to the MCU we’ve had in years.

The rest of the cast does a really nice job too, even though they don’t have much screen time. Rachel Weisz and David Harbour shine when they’re together and also have some good scenes; and O-T Fagbenle has a very small but funny role, one that could potentially play again in future MCU movies or shows.

As I mentioned before, the action is absolutely perfect. Every single sequence is incredibly well-choreographed and shot, and every single punch felt very real and painful. This is the kind of action that we sometimes miss in the MCU, but Shortland and her team really delivered this time.

If I had to say something negative about this film, it would be about the second act and the villain. The story moves so fast that at one point it stops and you can feel it. This pause the film takes is used to explore Natasha’s family dynamic, and it is actually a pretty good and moving sequence, but the pacing is not as good as the rest of the movie.

On the other hand, Taskmaster is a very intimidating villain and all the action scenes where he’s involved are good. However, they could have done more with the character, and I really hope Marvel uses him again in future MCU stories.

Black Widow is a very strong and powerful MCU film, one that every Marvel fan will enjoy. It explores the darkest corners of this universe while presenting new and exciting characters that will become fan favorites. Natasha’s story deserved to be told and even though we had to wait a long time, it was worth it.

A Quiet Place Part II

A Quiet Place was one of the best movies of 2018. John Krasinski surprised us with a powerful, thrilling and moving story about a family who survived the apocalypse by living their lives in complete silence. Now, after 2 years of waiting for this sequel, A Quiet Place Part II finally arrived in theaters all over the world.

If you forgot how living in the world that Krasinski created felt like, don’t worry. The movie’s first scene is indeed a flashback that kind of explain how everything began, but Krasinski quickly returns to the current time. The story starts right where the first one ended, with Emily Blunt’s character ready to leave the family house.

The deadly atmosphere that surrounds the world of A Quiet Place comes back stronger than ever and the stakes are much higher this time. Yes, the family has an advantage against the monster (that very clever hearing aid), but the monsters are extremely dangerous, and the film makes you aware of that. Every single sound becomes a death sentence in this world, and Krasinski makes us, the audience, participate in this twisted game. Try eating your popcorns without feeling anxious.

Now, while the first film was smaller in scope than this sequel, it had an emotional side to it that I really liked. The cast succeeded in created a bond between us and these characters, and that made the ending of Part I a rollercoaster of emotions.

Part II is a more traditional apocalypse if you ask me. An amazing one, no doubt, but traditional. You have new survivors, more action and more worldbuilding. And I can confidently say that John Krasinski nails every single aspect. The ending definitely sets up a third part, but it also manages to open a world of possibilities in terms of possible spin offs.

The cast does an amazing job, just like they did last time, and the new additions are great even though they don’t have a lot of screen time. And yes, this family, especially the kids, keep making a lot of stupid decisions, but without them we wouldn’t have a story, so we should thank them I guess.

Horror fans must watch this movie, but I’m sure that anyone can enjoy it. Even if you didn’t love the first film, give this sequel a chance. And let’s hope Paramount doesn’t take years to make a third one.

Cruella

Cruella follows the story of Estella (Emma Stone), a young and talented fashion designer who wishes to success in a cruel world. When she gets the opportunity to work alongside one of the best designers in London, the Baroness (Emma Thompson), Estella discovers she is destined for greatness.

Even though at first Cruella may seem like the typical villain origin story, it is not. This Cruella is not the younger version of the 1961 animated antagonist: she is an alternate version of the character. And while she keeps some of the signature trades that made Cruella so iconic, like the black and white styles, this new version adds a lot of new material to the character and the story in general, making it a very new interesting take on the Disney villain. However, don’t panic. Cruella is still bad, or at least, very mean.

Emma Stone as Cruella in Disney’s live-action CRUELLA. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Cruella is the lost child of Joker and The Devil wears Prada. If you liked one of these movies, or both, you will definitely enjoy this film.

The story is really deep and dark, especially if you remember this is a Disney movie. Cruella is not the crazy lady who wants to kill puppies anymore. She is more complex: she has a tragic backstory, of course, one that makes you understand why she becomes Cruella.

A lot of people have been making fun of the movie because they’ve watched certain scene at the beginning of the film, so I want to make sure you understand this (spoilers): Cruella doesn’t want to kill dalmatians because they killed her mom. That’s absurd and far from the truth. In fact, as I said before, she is not interested in murdering dogs anymore. She has five at the end of movie! Including three dalmatians!

The actual reason why she becomes Cruella is more realistic and entertaining. They’ve made the character sympathetic, yes, but in a way where she’s still the villain. That’s where the comparisons with Joker come into play.

Emma Stone as Cruella in Disney’s live-action CRUELLA. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Two of the strongest elements in this film are the production and costume design. Fiona Crombie, Jenny Beavan and Tom Davies have created a world where “normal is the cruelest insult of them all”, as Artie would say.

Every set is perfectly structured and built, and if they added VFX in some of them, you can’t tell. I wish we could have seen more of the Hell Hall mansion, but I guess they’ll save that for the sequel. Hopefully.

The costumes are amazing. All of Cruella’s outfits are absolutely stunning, and again, I wish we could have seen even more! Jenny Beavan truly deserves the recognition for creating more than 40 different looks that still are special and unique.

Emma Stone as Cruella in Disney’s live-action CRUELLA. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The rest of the cast is also really good. Emma Thompson does an amazing job as the Baroness, an even meaner version of Miranda Priestley. She is actually the devil in this movie.

As for Joel Fry’s Jasper, Paul Walter Hauser’s Horace and John McCrea’s Artie, the new member of the gang, they are very funny and charismatic, and have the funniest scenes in the film, but also deeper storylines, which makes their characters more realistic. Also, the dogs are a great addition to the team.

Emma Thompson as The Baroness in Disney’s live-action CRUELLA. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Cruella is not a perfect movie. It’s a bit long and the CGI can sometimes take you out of the experience. However, I enjoyed it very, very much. It’s funny, entertaining, dark and visually stunning. Emma Stone shines in every single scene she’s in and the music is also amazing.

If you like Disney movies in general, you will definitely like this film. Just remember, this Cruella is her own character, and the story is NOT like the original animated film. Now go watch Cruella darling, and enjoy it!

Emma Stone as Cruella in Disney’s live-action CRUELLA. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WandaVision

The MCU is expanding. Super soldiers and armored billionaires are over. Now it’s time to explore new corners in this vast universe, alongside one of our favorite superhero couples: Wanda Maximoff and Vision. Beware, because this review has huge spoilers for WandaVision. If you haven’t seen the show, go watch it first.

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

WandaVision was one of the most anticipated Marvel and Disney+ shows of all times, not only because it’s the first Marvel Studios original series, but also because its premise was unique and bold. We truly didn’t know what to expect.

The show starts with the recently married Wanda and Vision, living a happy and peaceful life in Westview, New Jersey, as if they were inside an old sitcom. Somehow, they are finally experiencing what seems to be the perfect life. No Thanos, no Avengers. Just sitcoms. But we know something’s wrong. And that’s how the mystery begins.

One of the most amazing aspects of this experience was the weekly episodes. While Netflix nails the binge model, Disney+ really owns this way of watching shows. Every Friday, we watched WandaVision, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and that alone made the experience worth it. Of course, some theories were ultimately wrong, but I think the journey was so thrilling and full of great moments, that at the end of the day, that’s what we will remember.

Once you see the whole picture, you understand what WandaVision is really about. The big bad wasn’t Mephisto or Nightmare, or even S.W.O.R.D or Agatha. Wanda’s greatest foe was grief. And the show handle that perfectly.

As the decades of the sitcom world Wanda created change, you can see the different stages of grief she goes through. And even though she tries to do everything she can to keep Vision and his world intact, she can’t escape reality for long.

The first episodes show denial, that’s why the sitcom element is more prominent. Wanda is living her perfect life, and even though there are small inconveniences and little details out of place, she goes on with her fantasy. After that, we have anger, a moment we clearly see when Wanda pushes Geraldine/Monica trough the walls. And in that moment, we are shown Vision’s dead face, to remind us (and Wanda) of the real world.

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany as Vision in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved

I think one of the greatest elements of the show was Fake Pietro, or Fietro. “But Evan Peters wasn’t playing Peter, he’s not Fox’s Quicksilver, we were robbed!”. Well, I get that some people might have felt fooled, but I think that Ralph (Fietro) was a very smart move. Let me explain.

At this point on the show, Wanda seems to know that she did something wrong, but she can’t remember. Vision knows that too, and feels like Wanda is hiding something from him, which makes him no trust her as before. In that exact moment, Fietro appears. And when you see Wanda’s reaction, you know that she doesn’t recognize him, because he isn’t Pietro. But Vision doesn’t trust her, she’s alone, and she needs someone, a familiar face. And even though she knows that’s not her brother, she chooses to believe he is. And we, as the audience, do the same. We want to believe he is Pietro, or at least, a multiverse version of him, because we want Wanda to have someone she can rely on. And that move would never work if Evan Peters wasn’t playing that character.

If Fietro was a random actor, we, the audience, would have known from the very beginning that he wasn’t her brother. We wouldn’t have trusted him. But because we knew there was a chance, a small one, of Pietro being real, we chose to believe in him. And, of course, he wasn’t real. In her grief, Wanda chose to believe in him too, but when she faces the truth, she falls into the fourth stage of grief: depression.

(L-R): Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

When everything falls apart, we get to one the best episodes of the show: episode 8. After learning the truth about Agatha, with one of the most memorable villain introductions of the MCU, we go and explore Wanda’s trauma from the very beginning. This was not only brilliant and relevant, but also necessary, because the movies never really explored Wanda’s story.

We learned about Wanda’s obsession with sitcoms and how she was a witch before touching the Mind Stone, we see her bonding with Vision after Pietro’s death, and, finally, we see what really happened with Vision after Infinity War. After that, we witness how Wanda, feeling completely alone and broken, creates the sitcom world when her real powers finally manifest. And that’s when we hear, for the first time in the MCU history, the words we wanted to hear: “this is Chaos Magic Wanda, and that makes you, the Scarlet Witch”. And then, after the big finale with Wanda, Vision, Agatha, White Vision, the twins and S.W.O.R.D., we witness the rise of the Scarlet Witch, in all her glory.

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

The final episode is full of action, yes, but also emotion. Wanda’s fight with Agatha is visually stunning, and it’s great to see Billy and Tommy using their powers. Vision fighting Vision will be remembered forever as one of the most clever and amazing scenes in the MCU.

But when Wanda finally accepts her destiny and the reality she was trying to avoid, she has to say goodbye to Vision and the twins. That final sequence is full of emotion, “sadness, hope and love”. As the couple says, we will see them again for sure, but that doesn’t make the goodbye less painful.

(L-R): Jett Klyne as Tommy, Julian Hilliard as Billy and Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Suzanne Tenner. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

WandaVision is one of the best superhero shows I’ve ever seen. It’s a great exploration of grief and trauma, but also a perfect origin story for one of the most powerful characters in the MCU. Wanda’s story is just starting, but she’s not the only one we’ll meet again.

Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau has become a fan favorite, not only because of Parris ability to make a realistic and strong woman, but also because she shows the values that define a real superhero. And now that she also has powers, it’s safe to say that Captain Marvel will have a very useful ally.

And, of course, we have to talk about the twins. Billy and Tommy are definitely alive, and Wanda knows that. Reading the Darkhold is probably not the best idea, but I’m sure that we’ll see the repercussions of Wanda’s actions explored in the Doctor Strange sequel. After showing their powers, I can’t wait to see the twins again, and hopefully, they’ll grow up again to become Wiccan and Speed.

In conclusion, WandaVision is a must see for everyone who considers themselves a Marvel fan. This is the first Disney+ show Marvel has created, and the quality is undeniable. The show really feels like a very long Marvel movie, and the extra time is perfect to develop the characters that they never had the chance to explore in the movies.

(Clockwise from left): Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), Tommy (Jett Klyne), Vision (Paul Bettany), Billy (Julian Hilliard) Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 4

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina come to an end. Even though this show started in 2018 and became a huge hit for Netflix, the streaming service decided to cancel it last year, giving it a fourth and final season to conclude the story of Sabrina Spellman.

Is this final season worth-watching? The short answer would be yes. If you are a fan of the show, the characters and everything that makes CAOS special, you will enjoy these new episodes. Are they as good as the first ones? Is the ending any good? Let’s discuss.

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA KIERNAN SHIPKA as SABRINA IN CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Cr. DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX © 2020

Season 4 of CAOS is great. As a said before, fans of the show will definitely enjoy it. It’s on par with season 3, so it means that, unfortunately, it’s not as good as the first two parts.

The story this time revolves around the Eldritch Terrors, powerful and ancient entities that are eager to destroy the world. Each episode focuses on one of these terrors, which made the show feel a bit episodic, instead of creating a huge plot line that develops throughout the season. This is not something bad per se, it just means that some episodes will be easily forgotten once you finish the show. However, I will admit that episode 7 was the best episode of the season, and probably one of the best of the series.

The Terror are quite interesting, but some of them are more developed than others. In the end, they feel like means to an end, which is bringing back certain characters and the big bad of the season: The Void.

The cast is, as usual, incredible. If CAOS has something special that will make you forget the not-so-good aspects of the show, it’s definitely its cast. Kiernan Shipka, Michelle Gomez, Miranda Otto and Skye P. Marshall are the best part of this season, mainly because they have the more interesting plot lines.

The rest of the cast does a great job every time they are on screen. Luke Cook, Tati Gabrielle and Lucy Davis are wonderful, especially in this season. However, the special guest stars of episode seven are probably the greatest addition to this show and this season.

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (L to R) LUKE COOK as LUCIFER and MICHELLE GOMEZ as MADAM SATAN inCHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Cr. DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX © 2020

The ending was ok. You can definitely see how rushed it was, and that creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa had more stories to tell with this cast. However, Netflix canceled it, and at least, they didn’t leave the story open. It’s not a bad ending, but I wish we could have gotten a final season, or a special episode to wrap things up in a better way.

As Tony Stark would say, “part of the journey is the end”, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was quite the journey. Maybe it’s not the greatest show ever created, but I will always remember it. The good outweighs the bad, for sure, and these characters will always be remembered.

And who knows, maybe someday Netflix decides to bring back CAOS for one last adventure.

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (L to R) MIRANDA OTTO as ZELDA and LUCY DAVIS as HILDA in CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Cr. DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX © 2020

The Prom

After debuting on Broadway in 2018, The Prom became a huge musical sensation. Now, thanks to Netflix and Ryan Murphy, the world can finally experience this wonderful story, filled with great characters and amazing music.

Ryan Murphy is a particularly good producer, but he has his own style. I think that if you are not a Ryan Murphy fan, some of his shows and films can be difficult to sit through. However, sometimes he creates something so good and unique, that everyone can enjoy it. He did it with American Crime Story, and I think he does it again with The Prom.

The movie is incredibly bright and cheerful, and even though the story has its sad moments, by the end of the credits you’ll find yourself dancing and singing. And I think that’s how you know that a musical worked.

I would say that The Prom is the new Mamma Mia!, and I think that Meryl Streep has something to do with that. Her Dee Dee Allen is absolutely perfect: from her style, to her musical performances and funny lines, Meryl Streep’s Dee Dee Allen is the best character in this movie, and another example of how, sometime, stun casting actually works.

THE PROM (L to R) ANDREW RANNELLS as TRENT OLIVER, KERRY WASHINGTON as MRS. GREENE, MERYL STREEP as DEE DEE ALLEN, JO ELLEN PELLMAN as EMMA, JAMES CORDEN as BARRY GLICKMAN in THE PROM. Cr. MELINDA SUE GORDON/NETFLIX © 2020

A lot has been said about James Corden’s performance as Barry. Sure, Corden isn’t gay, but I think his portrayal of a gay man wasn’t offensive at all. In fact, I really liked not only his performance, but also Barry’s story arc. Plus, I don’t think we can criticize The Prom for not having good LGBTQ+ representation, when not only the story is about two lesbian girls, but there are a lot of LGBTQ+ actors in the movie. And their roles are significant.

For instance, Andrew Rannells is fantastic as Trent, and his song “Love Thy Neighbor” is one of the most funny and entertaining musical numbers in the film. And I can’t say enough good things about Jo Ellen Pellman performance. Her Emma is funny and relatable, and Pellman is definitely a very talented actor who can hold her own alongside stars like Meryl Streep or Nicole Kidman.

THE PROM (L to R) JO ELLEN PELLMAN as EMMA, ARIANA DEBOSE as ALYSSA GREENE in THE PROM. Cr. MELINDA SUE GORDON/NETFLIX © 2020

The rest of the cast also does a good job. Nicole Kidman and Keegan-Michael Key have their moments to shine, and they really do. Plus, we really need to appreciate Kerry Washington’s performance. Her character is very annoying and represents the worst of humanity, but Washington deserves the credit for taking that role.

And yes, the music is incredible. “It’s Not About Me” and “It’s Time To Dance” are the best moments, in my opinion, but there are a lot of numbers and every single actor has a moment to show their talent. And, as someone who hasn’t seen the Broadway musical, I have to say: I think that the movie format works really good with this adaptation, because the camera allows us to enjoy the choreographies and see the actors’ facial expressions.

I can’t say enough good things about this movie. The Prom is a celebration of love and music. Even if you aren’t a huge musical theater fan, I think you will enjoy this film. The songs are catchy, but they talk too, and the characters are very relatable and funny. I think this is the kind of feel-good movie you want to watch right now.

THE PROM (L to R) NICO GREETHAM as NICK, LOGAN RILEY HASSEL as KAYLEE, ARIANA DEBOSE as ALYSSA GREENE, ANDREW RANNELLS as TRENT OLIVER, JO ELLEN PELLMAN as EMMA, SOFIA DELER as SHELBY, NATHANIEL POTVIN as KEVIN, TRACEY ULLMAN as VERA, JAMES CORDEN as BARRY GLICKMAN in THE PROM. Cr. MELINDA SUE GORDON/NETFLIX © 2020

Blood Of Zeus

We all know a bit of Greek Mythology, or at least, we’ve heard about Zeus, Hera, Poseidon and the other Greek Gods. And if you are familiar with Zeus and the multiple myths about him, I’m sure you know that the guy wasn’t the most loyal of husbands.

The story of Blood Of Zeus follows a commoner living in ancient Greece, Heron, who discovers his true heritage as a son of Zeus, and his purpose: to save the world from a demonic army.

When I first saw the trailer for this new Netflix original, I though that the gods wouldn’t be a huge part of the story. Luckily, I was wrong. Blood Of Zeus isn’t just about Heron. Zeus and Hera are pretty much main characters as well.

Hera is one of the most interesting characters of the show. Her relationship with Zeus’s bastards has always been a bit rough, and that’s something that Blood Of Zeus shows perfectly. She was a true menace and a very solid antagonist throughout this first season. Plus, her powers are very cool, and the show doesn’t hesitate to use them a lot.

Zeus also uses his lightning a lot in this show, but I found his story arc a bit cliché. In fact, I would say that Blood Of Zeus‘s story is not as unique as I would have wanted. It’s not bad or boring, but I think we’ve seen the same story too many times.

Even though Blood Of Zeus isn’t the most original piece of entertaining out there, the show is very bingeable, and if you enjoy other animated series like Avatar, I’m sure you will like this one. The action sequences are absolutely amazing and the animation is quite good.

Blood Of Zeus is the kind of show you can watch in a single evening and never regret it. It’s full of action, blood and Greek Gods, and sometimes that’s all we need. It isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough. And we need people to watch it so Netflix greenlight a second season.

Love and Monsters

I know what you’re thinking. You saw this poster and said: “oh, another post-apocalyptic story”. Well, technically, it’s true. Love and Monsters is set in an apocalyptic world where humans are on the brink of extinction. But there’s more to it. This is actually a very solid coming-of-age story about Joel (Dylan O’Brien), a simple guy who decides to make a dangerous journey on the world’s surface in order to reunite with his girlfriend, Aimee, who lives just 80 miles away from him.

Overall, the movie is great. It has a very charismatic main character, a simple but solid story and particularly good action sequences. Plus, the film has a lot of heart, which makes separate it from other apocalyptic stories easier.

Dylan O’Brien is great as always. He is a very strong lead, and he practically carries the entire movie by himself, with the help of his adorable dog Boy. O’Brien’s Joel is very much a regular guy. He’s not very strong or skilled (something his friends remind him constantly). However, he doesn’t give up easily, which makes him someone we can root for.

Unlike Zombieland, which is a very similar film, Love and Monsters doesn’t have a very strong line up of secondary characters. Here we have Aimee (Jessica Henwick), Clyde (Michael Rooker), Minnow (Ariana Greenblatt), and a bunch of other characters without much screen time. Their roles aren’t bad or bland, they just don’t have much to do besides helping Joel achieve his goal. But all of them do a great job with what they have.

The monsters are also a huge part in this film, and even though this movie is not a big blockbuster like Avengers Endgame, the VFXs are very impressive. All the monsters that we see are unique and they all have different abilities. It’s very interesting and rewarding to see Joel facing different types of creatures and overcoming his fears.

Finally, I really think this new universe has a lot of potential (maybe we could see Love and Monsters Vol.2?) This world is huge, and I really want to know what happens with Joel and his friends after the events of this film. But even if we don’t get any kind of continuation, Love and Monsters is incredible. Sure, it’s not a masterpiece, but I don’t think it has to be one in order for us to enjoy it. It’s funny, entertaining and a bit emotional, so I’m confident a lot of people will love it. Plus, if you like Dylan O’Brien, this is a must see.