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.

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.

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

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.

The Thing About Harry

It’s been a couple of weeks since Freeform released The Thing About Harry, an original rom-com produced by the platform, directed by Peter Paige and starring Niko Terho and Jake Borelli. The story of two former high school enemies who become best friends and fall in love with each other is a must-watch if you are a fan of cheesy rom-com films.

But why should we watch The Thing About Harry? What makes this movie different from the other hundreds of rom-coms that we can find out there? Well, as you can imagine by looking at the poster, this is the story of a gay couple. So, if you haven’t watched the movie, go now and watch it, because we are going to discuss this film with spoilers.

The Thing About Harry is the kind of film you would expect. It’s, as some people have pointed out, a very cheesy movie, full of cheesy moments and dialogues. However, that’s not a bad thing at all. To me, The Thing About Harry really feels different from those other rom-coms we are used to watching, and that’s because both protagonists are part of the LGBT+ community.

It was really nice to see these two men falling in love with each other, becoming friends, fighting and struggling to find the love they deserved, because that’s something you only see in straight rom-coms. And I’m not saying that straight love stories are unnecessary, bad or uninteresting. Some of those stories are absolutely incredible, and I love them, but I’m not used to seeing that same story being told from the perspective of a gay man, so that’s what really changes everything about this film.

Peter Paige, the director and co-writer, does a great job creating two amazing characters, Sam and Harry, and telling their story. The way they interact with each other in every single scene is perfect, and I really felt their connection from the very beginning. That’s also thanks to the amazing acting from both Terho and Borelli. Both actors have amazing chemistry, one that you could notice just by the way they looked at each other. In fact, there’s one scene at the beginning of the movie when they have to spend the night in a motel room, and since that moment, I knew they were a perfect match. That whole sequence is wonderful, and it shows the incredible connection between these two characters.

The rest of the cast is also great. Britt Baron as Stasia is, without a doubt, the best secondary character in this film by far. She is very funny and charismatic, and her relationship with Sam, their friendship, was one of the best aspects of the movie. I loved how she was so “edgy” and “didn’t want a relationship with anyone” but ended up marrying Zack on Valentine’s Day. That was very funny.

The ending is also one of my favorite moments in the movie. I don’t know why, but even though I’ve seen hundreds of public love confessions, it’s something that I still enjoy. I love seeing people running and stepping into public events just to say “I love you”. And if you are a fan of rom-coms in general, I’m sure you love it too.

To be honest, The Thing About Harry is not a masterpiece. However, I think it is the kind of movie that you will watch countless times and love every single aspect of it. It’s very romantic, touching and funny, and sometimes, that’s all you need in a movie.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Cathy Yan, Christina Hodson, and Margot Robbie are the women behind the latest DC superhero movie, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). After her debut in Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn became one of the most popular DC characters, and soon after that, Warner Bros. announced a Harley spin-off, which would feature the Birds of Prey.

Now, before I review this movie, I have to say one thing: I’ve never been a fan of the Birds of Prey brand or the character of Harley Quinn. But I did enjoy Robbie’s performance in Suicide Squad, and I admit that she was definitively the strongest aspect of that movie. I think that Margot Robbie is a very good Harley Quinn, and she proves that again with this new movie, but as a producer, she didn’t choose the right partners for this adventure, which makes Birds of Prey a good film, and not a great one. That’s not a bad thing to say, I guess, but I think that Harley has more potential and if they decide to try again and make another Harley film, with a different team (like Gotham City Sirens), there are a couple of things that Warner Bros. and Margot Robbie should learn.

I’ll start with the good elements of Birds of Prey. Harley Quinn is, without a doubt, one of the best DCEU characters right now. Robbie’s performance is absolutely perfect: she embraces Quinn’s madness and humor, adding a bit of emotion to the mix, making Harley a very interesting character, someone who is not a hero but is a bit far from being a villain either. Her action sequences are the best parts of the film, and I would have loved to see more of her doing backflips and kicking people’s ass, so I hope we have a lot of that in The Suicide Squad, a movie that is currently filming.

However, there are two problems with Quinn’s character in this movie. The first one is that she is the only real character in the film, and the rest of the cast is just there to support her. Huntress, Cassandra Cain, and Montoya aren’t as interesting as Quinn, and they have almost zero personality, which makes their scenes in the movie a bit boring. Of course, this is not Robbie’s fault, but it’s weird to see how the writer develops Harley Quinn so much and forgets to give any kind of character arc to the other heroes. There’s one exception, and that’s Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell). She doesn’t have as much screen-time as Quinn, but she is the only character that really made a strong impression.

The story is just ok, to be completely honest and the editing is quite weird. Sometimes, for whatever reason, they decide to cut one of the action sequences to go back in time to introduce a new character or fill in some details. At first, it was not a huge problem, but when they did it several times in a row, it became really frustrating and boring, reminding me of the worst parts of Suicide Squad.

Also, as I said, only Harley has a compelling character arc, while the other characters are there just as support or because they are necessary for the plot’s development. Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) is not a very interesting villain either. He is not a very menacing or funny antagonist, even though McGregor does a good job with what he is given. Besides, he doesn’t even have good plans or memorable scenes whatsoever.

Birds of Prey is just an enjoyable movie. If you like DC, Harley Quinn or superhero movies in general, I think you will like this film. In my opinion, I think it’s worth seeing on the big screen, mainly because of Harley Quinn, her jokes and fight scenes. However, I also think that the story had more potential, and I hope that Warner Bros. understands what went wrong with this film. And please, put Harley in a better context next time, which is not a Birds of Prey story, but a Gotham City Sirens one. She should be fighting crime alongside Poison Ivy and Catwoman. Everybody knows that.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 3

Rejoice, witches! Our favorite witch is back! And this time, we are going to Hell.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina became one of Netflix’s most popular shows soon after its release, back in October 2018. Since then, we’ve had two seasons and one Christmas special (something that I hope they do again), and now Netflix has released the third season, and it’s already preparing the fourth one.

Is Part 3 of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina worth our time? The short answer is simple: absolutely yes! However, I’d like to talk a bit more about this new season, which overall, I thought was really good and introduced a bunch of new and cool stuff that we can discuss right now.

Before we begin, I warn you: this review is full of spoilers, so if you haven’t watched every single episode of CAOS Part 3, go ahead and do it. What are you waiting for?

Great, but not perfect

I will begin with the not-so-good elements of this new season because, as I said, Part 3 was great, but not perfect.

I love musicals with all my heart. I love Glee and High School Musical: The Musical: The series. I simply love it when the characters of a movie or a tv show start singing and dancing spontaneously. Up until this point, I’ve even enjoyed CAOS‘s musical moments, especially in season 2, when they did that Masquerade in front of Lucifer. However, I think that they’ve gone too far in this new season. Sabrina and Roz’s cheerleading was cool, but the pre-recorded music didn’t fit at all, and Theo, Harvey and Roz’s band was pointless. I did like the episode where the cheerleaders performed at the Academy and the witches used their energies to power up, but that was a very good idea and the musical number was very well integrated within the context of the story. Overall, I do think they need to stop introducing random musical numbers if they don’t fit in with the story. It’s just a waste of our time.

I’m also tired of Blackwood. I think he’s served his purpose, and now he’s just there for the sake of being there. I understand that he is going to be a crucial part of season 4, and I’m kind of intrigued about that, but I don’t care about his character anymore. To be honest, Prudence and Ambrose should have killed him when they had the chance to, because now that he bears the Mark of Cain, he’s practically immortal, so I guess he’s going to be around for a while.

Finally, and this is more of a request for next season, I need more powers. This season was great in terms of Witches using their magic, but due to the fact that Lucifer decided to punish the Coven (I can understand why) taking away their powers, we’ve had a season where the main characters were facing a lot of dangers, and they couldn’t do much about it. Now, as I said, I’m ok with what we got, especially in that final episode when the Coven defeated the Pagans. However, after seeing Sabrina flying and killing angels with infernal fire, I was hoping to see more of that. And I still think they can give that to us in Part 4, now that Sabrina is Queen of Hell. At least, one of the two Sabrinas we have now.

Why CAOS is a good show

Every time I finish watching any season of CAOS, I say to myself: I want more. And that’s a good sign. Netflix’s adaptation of the comics is really special, and if you think about why this show is so good, you find the answer easily: the cast and the story.

CAOS is not Game of Thrones. It doesn’t have the biggest budget of all times. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy this show, because we do.

The cast is probably the greatest aspect of this dark and satanic series. Starting with Kiernan Shipka, she was born to play Sabrina. She is incredibly charismatic, and she makes us love Sabrina and we root for her even when she makes mistake after mistake. But she is the main character, so making dumb decisions is in her nature. Without them, the show would be very boring. Plus, Shipka really sells her spell casting, which is not an easy task.

Shipka’s Sabrina is not alone in this show, and, even though she is the star and main character, the rest of the cast is just as great as her. Michelle Gomez is not only my favorite character but also a very complex one. Her relationship with Sabrina is one of the most interesting aspects of the show, and I really hope they explore it even more in Part 4. Gomez’s Lilith is not only funny and charismatic but also a very powerful character, who’s willing to do everything to survive. Her future with Lucifer and the son they are expecting is very intriguing, but I want to see how she handles the two Sabrinas situation when she discovers the truth. And she will because as Ambrose said, she notices everything.

Hilda and Zelda continue to be great characters, and their storyline in this season was very good. Zelda’s new love interest is promising and I’m very happy to see Hilda being happy. As for Ambrose and Prudence, they had some really good moments, and they are great characters overall.

And last but not least, let’s talk about Roz, Harvey, Theo, and Nick. Out of these four characters, I honestly think Theo is the best one. His role in the show has evolved a lot since season one, and his relationship with one of the new characters, Robin, was a key element this season. Roz and Harvey are good characters, but they don’t have much to do. Roz’s cunning is an amazing gift, but I didn’t understand why she never said anything about what she saw at the Carnival. I mean, a lot could have been avoided if she had said earlier to everyone that she just saw a weird half-human, half-goat creature with her powers. As for Nick, I just don’t like him very much. I understand he’s been through hell (literally), but the way he treated Sabrina, even after they got rid of that Lucifer’s essence he had inside, was really despicable. Besides, he didn’t have much to do this season.

Now, even though I don’t like some of the characters of this show, I still think they are the most important and interesting aspect of it. The way the writers handle all of these characters and storylines is truly amazing, especially in an 8-episodes season. I said it last week when I talked about Sex Education, and I’m saying it again: Netflix shows are popular because they have great characters and stories, but they are also good because the writers know how to develop interesting storylines and relationships between the characters. In a world post Game of Thrones Season 8, I really appreciate when writers develop good and coherent characters.

The new additions

Part 3 not only deals with our favorite characters as usual, but it also introduces some new ones. And I have to say, all of them are refreshing and exciting new additions to this show.

Sam Corlett’s Caliban could have been a very annoying Hell demon because his main goal is to get the throne and rule Hell, so his aspirations are a problem for our main characters. However, Caliban is not only funny and charismatic but also intriguing. The dynamic he develops with Sabrina was very cool and kind of sexy, and even though he betrays her a lot, something tells me that Sabrina will need his help in Part 4. Maybe their relationship could grow into something more. We’ll see.

Skye P. Marshall’s Mambo Marie is also a very powerful new addition to the Coven. I’m ready to see more of her Voodoo magic and, what’s even more important, her relationship with our favorite High Priestess, Zelda.

Finally, I really enjoyed Jonathan Whitesell’s Robin Goodfellow. His relationship with Theo was very cute, and the fact that he is a hobgoblin makes for a very interesting dynamic between him and the rest of the group. I do think that his storyline was a bit cliché at first, but I’m looking forward to seeing how he grows as a character.

The Pagans ended up being great adversaries. Their powers were very cool, and I really felt that the Coven was in real danger. I knew that all of the killings that happened during the final episodes of the show weren’t going to last forever, but I thought that the Pagans could hurt the Witches pretty badly because they had the power to do so. But the Witches didn’t have their powers when they were facing them, and once the Coven recovered and regained their strength, it was really easy to get rid of those old gods. They were good characters, but I won’t miss them a lot.

Give us more, please

Season 3 was great. The story of the Pagan gods and the competition to see who would rule over Hell were two very interesting storylines, but they’ve ended. Now we have two Sabrina, and one of them is Queen of Hell. However, having two Sabrinas is probably not a good thing, and I’m sure that both of them will realize that sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, Blackwood and his twins have released something that will cause trouble for the Spellmans, and even though I don’t want to see more of Blackwood, I’m actually intrigued by that mysterious creature and how it’s going to fight the Witches.

In general, I think that Part 4 is going to be as wicked and enjoyable as Part 3. I know they are already filming it, but there are a couple of things I really want to see.

I want to see more of Sabrina’s dark side. Now that she is Queen of Hell, I want to see what she can do, and she has both Lilith and Lucifer to teach her some cool stuff. And I want more of Lilith plotting against Satan.

I also want to see how they develop the twins, especially how they interact with Zelda and Prudence. I don’t know if they are supporting Blackwood because they want to, or because he cast a spell on them. Knowing Blackwood as we know him, the second option is not a crazy idea.

And last, but definitively not least, I want more of Salem. I don’t know how, but they need to find a way to make that cat talk, and he has to begin showing up more frequently. Otherwise, what’s the point of having him there?

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is probably returning later this year, so until then, let’s enjoy this third season, witches, and let’s hope we don’t have to wait long to see the story continue.

Praise Sabrina, Queen of Hell. 

Sex Education Season 2

Season 1 of Sex Education was one of the most interesting and revolutionary shows Netflix released last year. The 8-episodes British comedy dealt with a lot of important issues like sex, homophobia, slut-shaming and more, and wasn’t afraid of showing things like abortions or STIs, proving that a teen comedy could also be very educational.

Now, Netflix has released season 2 of this amazing show, and I’m very happy to say that it’s as good as season 1 and even better in certain aspects. To sum up, Season 2 picks up exactly where we left it: Otis and Eric are friends again, Otis and Ola are starting a relationship, Maeve and Adam are expelled, and the school is freaking out about a chlamydia outbreak.

One of the first things I want to say about this new season, and the show in general, is how impressive it is that the screenwriters are able to handle so many characters and storylines without making it feel rushed or messy. In fact, this new season not only handles every single character we knew from season 1 perfectly but also introduces new characters, giving all of them their own storylines and development.

The new characters are incredibly interesting. Chinenye Ezeudu’s Viv or George Robinson’s Isaac are great examples of what I said. They interact with the main characters and develop engaging dynamics with them, which makes their role in the show not forced at all. Some of these new characters are more relatable or likable than others, but all of them feel real.

As for our beloved characters from season 1, they all got very funny, romantic and (of course) sexual stuff to do. Asa Butterfield as Otis continues to be a very good protagonist, and his chemistry with Emma Mackey’s Maeve (sorry Ola) is incomparable. However, his storyline is interesting because of the other characters he interacts with, not because he is interesting on his own.

Maeve and Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) are still the best characters in the show. They both have complex stories and problems that we, as the audience, can relate to, and their relationships with the rest of the cast are great.

Gillian Anderson’s Jean was definitively a very important character in season 1, but I felt that her relationship with Otis should have been developed a little bit more. This season, the writers did exactly that, and it was great. The dynamic between Otis and his mother, Jean, is fascinating and I think that, by the end of this season, they are in a very interesting position that I’d love to explore even more. Plus, they also explored Jean’s aspirations and needs a bit more. Her friendship with Adam’s mom, Maureen, was one of the best elements they’ve introduced in this new season. It was nice to see Jean interacting with more people other than Otis or Jakob because that gives the character more depth.

I would love to talk about the whole cast, but it would be necessary to go into spoiler territory, so I’m just going to say that the rest of the characters were also great, and they all had their moment to shine. Adam’s development was amazing, Jackson’s story was also great to explored and Aimee became one of my favorite characters.

The show keeps handling important topics and social issues as good as they did in season 1. Sexual assaults, consent, anxiety, self-harm, fetishes, asexuality, and bisexuality are some of the new topics they tackled, always with humor and love, but also keeping in mind that they are something that happens a lot in our society, especially with teenagers. And it’s amazing to see a show like this and think about all of the teenagers around the world, who are watching the show, and can feel identify with some of the characters or their dilemmas. As I said before, this is a very important show that everyone should watch. Even if you think that you are not the kind of person this show was created for, try to give it a chance. The issues they present here are everywhere, all around us, and a lot of people (kids, teenagers or adults) suffer from them.

I’m also very impressed by the visuals of this new season. Sex Education is not only a very well-written show, but also a visually stunning one. Each shots’ colors, the sets, the lights, and the characters’ clothes are beautiful and striking. Sometimes, while I was watching the episodes, I felt the need to play pause and just look at the backgrounds of the school or the landscapes for a couple of minutes. That is a very strong choice that I really loved because it makes the show even more special and unique. TV shows are usually pretty generic, in terms of visuals, so I appreciated the fact that they’ve created a show that is not only interesting in terms of story and characters, but also bright and colorful.

I won’t say anything else about this new season and the show. If you liked season 1, you’ve probably finished the new season by now, and if not, go and watch the eight episodes as soon as possible. The ending will leave you wanting more and more, and I’m sure Netflix will renew the show for, at least, one more season. And even if you don’t like teen comedies or teen shows in general, I think that Sex Education is so good, and so relevant in today’s society, that you could end up enjoying it a lot. To me, this is one of Netflix’s best original series and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for season 3.