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

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.

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

My Hero Academia is one of the best and most popular animes right now. The series, created by Kōhei Horikoshi, is very popular, not only in Japan but also around the world, and the anime has just finished its fourth season and has a fifth one already in development.

This film focuses on Deku and the other students of Class 1-A while they are on Nabu Island, a very peaceful place, doing some real hero work. However, our favorite heroes will soon face a new enemy that threatens the whole island: the supervillain Nine. With All Might retired and the Pro Heroes far away, Deku and his friends are the island’s only hope.

Heroes Rising is, in general, a very good movie, with amazing action sequences where all the students get a moment to shine, and a story that’s more interesting than the one we got in Two Heroes. The only thing I didn’t like about this film was that it ended.

My Hero Academia has one of the best leads and supporting characters I’ve ever seen in any anime, so watching all of them fighting the villains of Heroes Rising was absolutely incredible. Both Deku and Bakugo shine in this movie, especially in the third act, when they have to fight together to defeat Nine. Every time Midoriya teams up with Kacchan, Heroes Rising, but also My Hero Academia in general, are at its best.

The villains in this movie are great. Most of them don’t have a lot of screen time, but their quirks are very cool and visually striking. As the main antagonist, Nine is a much more memorable foe than the one Class 1A fought in Two Heroes. The only problem one could have with Nine is that he is too similar to All For One. Besides that, his quirks are cool and his backstory is well developed. Plus, his fight with Deku and Bakugo is the best part of the movie.

The animation is great, and the music in the movie makes every scene even more memorable. As I said before, this movie is fantastic. I’m sure My Hero Academia fans will love it, and even if you are just a casual fan, Heroes Rising won’t disappoint you.

Locke & Key

After many years of announcements, cancelations, and ordering pilots, Locke & Key is finally a reality thanks to Netflix. This new TV show based on the popular comic book series created by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez is a very intriguing and enjoyable adventure that hooks you right after its first episode. Now that the show has been out for more than a week, it’s time to discuss both the good and the bad elements of this show, WITH spoilers.

The story and the mysteries

One of the strongest aspects of Locke & Key is its story and the way it handles the many mysteries that appear during this first season.

If you like fantasy worlds, comic books, and magic, this show is perfect for you. Every single magic element that we got in this season was absolutely amazing, especially the keys. To be honest, these magical objects are what make the show so interesting and binge-watchable. Every time a new key was introduced, I was eager to see what it could do and how they were going to use it. In fact, one of the coolest things you can do when you watch Locke & Key is thinking about how you would use the keys. And believe me, there are a lot of things we could do with them. Even their design was incredibly interesting.

There are also a lot of mysteries around the keys, the house and some characters (Dodge!) that keep us hooked. However, one good thing about this show is that when you finish season 1, you actually get some answers. Of course, by the end of episode 10, there are still some questions that remain unanswered and new mysteries that I’m sure we will explore in season 2. However, the main enigmas, like Dodge’s identity, Rendell’s past or what was behind the Omega Door, were solved. That was good because when I finished the season I didn’t feel like I wasted my time in a story with no real answers.

Also, the story never felt slow and I never thought that we were going nowhere. The screenwriters did a very good job handling so many storylines and characters, and they always move the story forward. And even though there are some Netflix shows that can’t handle 10 episodes, that was not the case with Locke & Key. In fact, I would say that 10 was the perfect number of episodes for the show: we had time to get to know the characters and their personalities, explore Key House, dig into the past and even laugh a bit.

Bode, Dodge, and the rest of the characters

Yes, Locke & Key has a very strong story, but the characters in the show are a bit bland. The problem with most of them is that they make a lot of dumb decisions, which sometimes I could understand because if it weren’t for them, there would be no show. However, there were some moments where I really felt like the characters did something or acted in a certain way just because they had to do it, so the story could continue, and not because it was the best thing to do or the right way to act.

There are two exceptions though. Bode Locke and Dodge. Jackson Robert Scott, who stole every minute he had on-screen in It: Chapter One is the star of this show. His character, Bode, is not only the best and most coherent Locke but also the funniest, bravest and most intelligent character in the whole show. He is the one who discovers the keys and how to use most of them, and even though he is the youngest of the siblings, he understands the danger they are facing and could have avoided some of the things that happened in the final episode.

Alongside Bode, Laysla De Oliveira’s Dodge was definitively the most intriguing character. She is a very deadly, dangerous and competent villain, who even murdered a child in cold blood by pushing him into a subway rail (that was scary and shocking). But even though she is the villain, I really enjoyed every time she was on-screen. De Oliveira did a very good job with this character, which honestly could have been a very typical and insipid bad guy.

Tyler and Kinsey were the ones who made some of the dumbest decisions. Now, I have to say, Connor Jessup and Emilia Jones are great actors because even when their characters did the stupidest thing imaginable, I still rooted for them. They had a very nice brother-sister relationship, which the writers handle very well, and both Tyler and Kinsey had good moments during some of the episodes. But they really need to start listening to Bode, or they will end up throwing their mother through the Omega Door.

The rest of the cast is ok. Most of the characters were there for plot-devices reasons, but the actors did a nice job. Some of the secondary characters that I really liked were Rufus, Gabe (who we will need to keep an eye on in season 2) and Joe.

A great show in general

Locke & Key, as I said is very enjoyable and intriguing. It’s not a perfect show by all means, but it has the potential to become one of Netflix’s greatest. They have great production designs, great VFX, a good set of writers and a very nice cast. Season 1 ended with some mysteries still unanswered and raising new questions, so I really need to see where we are heading.

The producers have already said that they are working on season 2, so it’s just a matter of time that Netflix confirms it. And I’m really excited to see more of this world: more keys, more magic, more demons, and more Bode. If you like fantasy, magic and a good mystery, go ahead and watch Locke & Key, you won’t regret it.

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.

Little Women and the art of moviemaking

There are many different versions of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story, Little Women, and all of them have something special and unique, something that differentiates them from the previous version.

However, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is, without a doubt, the best adaptation of the story, and it will remain that way for years. So now, let’s discuss why this new adaptation of Alcott’s Little Women is a perfect movie.

After Lady Bird (2017), Greta Gerwig became a sensation in Hollywood, and a lot of people, including myself, were eager to see her next project. Gerwig really understands young audiences, so the fact that she decided to adapt Little Women was a pleasant surprise. And she has a very unique yet traditional style, that old-school critics also love, making her the perfect fit for the project.

In a recent interview, we learned that Gerwig was hired to write the script for the movie, but she insisted on directing it too. And I’m sure that no one could have done a better job directing this movie, because she really knows how to get the best out of the whole cast.

Gerwig’s strength as a director is her ability to handle such a big cast. We know for sure that Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) is the main character in this story, but the other characters are really important too, and they all have at least one scene where they get an opportunity to shine.

However, even though I think that Gerwig is a great director, her script is what impressed me the most. She made all the characters likable and created a story that goes from good to absolutely perfect. And even if you already know what happens because you’ve read the book or have seen other versions, there is a lot to enjoy in this film. Gerwig successfully creates a modern yet faithful adaptation of a timeless story, with enough room to develop all the characters, without making a film that is “too long” or is “too crowded”.

Now, when the movie started, I didn’t think it was as good as some people had said. The film begins with Jo March trying to get some money selling a couple of short stories she has written, and after that, we go back in time, to see how Jo’s life was when she lived with her sisters and her mother. These first 20 minutes of the movie introduce the characters and their personalities, and even when this part was good, it wasn’t something we haven’t seen before. However, once we begin to see how all of the characters were in the past, and how they are in the present of the story, the film becomes something truly special.

The cast does an excellent job portraying their characters in both the past and the present, and we can see how much they’ve changed and grown over the years. Florence Pugh really stands out in the movie, not only because her character (Amy) is the one who changes the most, but also because she shows that growth through his acting. The whole cast is amazing, but I think that Florence Pugh is the one who really shines in the movie, from the very beginning.

Emma Watson, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep all do a great job as always, and even Bob Odenkirk, who plays the role of Mr. March and doesn’t have a lot of screen time, makes an impression. Sadly, Beth March, played by Eliza Scanlen, is the only character, in the whole movie, whom I never really cared about. Eliza Scanlen’s Beth never felt like a real person to me, and I think that’s because Scanlen didn’t do a particularly good job with the role. In fact, everything related to her character, especially the emotional impact that Beth has in the story worked because Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, and Chris Cooper made it work.

In the end, Little Women is the kind of movie everyone will enjoy. It’s funny and emotional at the same time, it has an important and universal message, the music and the cinematography are great, and the cast is wonderful. Greta Gerwig has created one of the best movies of the year, and definitively the best adaptation of the classic story. I really hope audiences give this film a chance because I’m sure that they will not regret it. Even if you have seen other versions of the story, go and see this one. It’s absolutely perfect.

 

Spider-Man: Lejos de casa

Peter Parker, nuestro amigo y vecino superhéroe, decide unirse a sus mejores amigos Ned, MJ, y el resto del grupo a unas vacaciones europeas. Aunque el plan de Peter sea dejar sus heroicidades atrás durante unas pocas semanas, pronto desecha esas ideas para ayudar a regañadientes a Nick Furia a desentrañar el misterio de los ataques de varias criaturas elementales que están creando el caos en el mundo. 

Tras los acontecimientos de “Vengadores: Endgame”, muchos estábamos impacientes por ver un mundo en el que la mitad del planeta debía acostumbrarse a la nueva vida a la que regresaban después de cinco años. Y que mejor manera de acabar esta Saga del Infinito que con Spider-Man, en una aventura veraniega que nos lleva a recorrer Europa y a salvar el mundo nuevamente.

“Spider-Man: Lejos de casa” es, en resumen, la perfecta aventura que necesitábamos después de Endgame. Llena de humor y acción a partes iguales, esta nueva cinta del trepamuros pasará a ser una de las mejores películas de Spider-Man hasta la fecha.

“Lejos de casa” tiene un solo inconveniente: el principal giro argumental no será una sorpresa para los fans del personaje. Durante la primera mitad de esta cinta vemos como Spider-Man interacciona con Mysterio, un “héroe interdimensional”, de igual a igual, mientras luchan con los elementales. Sin embargo, aquellos que conozcan un poco al personaje, o hayan visto otras versiones del trepamuros, sabrán perfectamente que Mysterio no es precisamente un “héroe”. A pesar de esto, el origen de Mysterio como villano no solo está perfectamente actualizado, acorde con el universo en el que Spider-Man se desenvuelve (o desenvolvía), sino que además mantiene la esencia del origen que dicho personaje tiene en los cómics.

Jake Gyllenhaal hace un increíble trabajo interpretando a Quentin Beck, y no es exagerado decir que su Mysterio se ha convertido, casi al instante, en uno de los mejores villanos del Universo Cinematográfico de Marvel. Gyllenhaal consigue hacer que Mysterio, un villano relativamente desconocido, se convierta en una de las mayores amenazas que el héroe arácnido a tenido que enfrentar en mucho tiempo (sin contar a Thanos y su enorme ejército espacial).

Tom Holland sigue demostrando que es el mejor Peter Parker / Spider-Man que ha existido, gracias, principalmente, al increíble carisma que desprende en pantalla. Debido a los acontecimientos que tuvieron lugar en Endgame, Holland también tiene la oportunidad de explorar el lado más dramático del personaje, y consigue hacerlo sin problemas.

El resto de personajes también destaca más en esta cinta con respecto a la anterior, en especial la MJ de Zendaya y Betty, interpretada porAngourie Rice. Sus personajes cobran más importancia en esta secuela, y ambas actrices hacen un gran trabajo.

Otro de los aspectos en los que podemos decir que “Lejos de casa” supera a “Homecoming” es en la acción. En esta segunda entrega, el director Jon Watts desata todo el potencial del superhéroe, y, en especial, de su villano. Las escenas de Mysterio, y en concreto una que tiene lugar al final del segundo acto, son uno de los grandes momentos de esta cinta. Visualmente, Mysterio es un personaje que podía dar mucho de sí, y Watts consigue que sus escenas sean realmente memorables. Por otro lado, Spider-Man no se queda atrás, y, además de verlo jugar con varios gadgets nuevos, también se explota al máximo sus habilidades arácnidas (incluido el famoso sentido arácnido, o, como deciden nombrarlo, cosquilleo de Peter).

En conclusión, “Spider-Man: Lejos de casa” es una gran secuela, y una increíble aventura del superhéroe. Es una pena que, quizás, sea la última en la cual veamos al personaje dentro del Universo que Marvel Studios ha creado, pero tendremos que esperar para saber más. A pesar de todo, el futuro del personaje es prometedor, en especial si tenemos en cuenta la increíble escena post-créditos que nos presentan en esta película.

Shazam!

La vida de Billy Batson (Asher Angel), un joven huérfano de 14 años, normal y corriente, cambia por completo tras un encuentro con un viejo hechicero. A partir de ahora, cada vez que Billy grita la palabra ‘Shazam!’ se convierte en el superhéroe adulto Shazam (Zachary Levi). Aunque con un niño en su interior, el poderoso cuerpo de Shazam hace lo que cualquier adolescente con superpoderes haría: ¡pasárselo bien!

Warner Bros. y DC parecen haber encontrado el camino a seguir. Después de algunos tropiezos, las últimas películas de superhéroes del estudio han resultado ser un éxito. “Aquaman” alcanzó los mil millones en recaudación estas Navidades, y ahora “Shazam” se ha convertido en una de las grandes sorpresas de este año, tanto para la crítica como para el público.

En mi caso, no disfruté tanto de “Aquaman” como por ejemplo sí lo hice con “Wonder Woman”, la que hasta ahora era, en mi opinión, la mejor película de este nuevo universo de DC. Sin embargo, “¡Shazam!” lo cambia todo, y creo que, sin dudas, se ha convertido en una de las mejores películas de DC en general.

“¡Shazam!” tiene solo un pequeño problema: el comienzo es un poco lento. La escena inicial sienta las bases de la trama, y es importante que esté ahí. Sin embargo, cuando pasamos a conocer al joven Billy, la trama se estanca un poco hasta que consigue sus poderes. Es a partir de ese instante, cuando la historia despega.

El guion es, sorprendentemente, uno de los aspectos más fuertes de esta cinta. Tanto Henry Gayden y Darren Lemke, encargados del guion de esta película, consiguen crear un pequeño mundo, dentro de lo que podemos considerar el universo de DC, en el que todos los personajes y elementos que introducen encajan a la perfección. La historia está llena de sorpresas, acción, y comedia, y ninguno de estos aspectos choca en absoluto en el producto final. Además, la historia tiene un componente emotivo que funciona perfectamente, y nos ayuda a empatizar con la mayoría de los personajes, en especial, Billy y Freddie (interpretado por Jack Dylan Grazer).

Zachary Levi ha nacido para interpretar a Shazam. Su habilidad como cómico no choca en absoluto con los momentos más serios de la cinta, y además, ayuda a que nos encariñemos con el personaje. Su química con Jack Dylan Grazer es perfecta, y ambos destacan en pantalla cuando están juntos.

Por otro lado, Mark Strong como el Dr. Thaddeus Sivana también es una grata sorpresa. Al principio parece que su personaje no va a tener una gran presencia, pero conforme avanza la cinta vemos que no solo es un gran villano, sino que además es uno que da miedo. Sivana no se detiene ante nada, y demuestra que está dispuesto a lo que sea para lograr su objetivo.

El resto del reparto también hace un gran trabajo. La mayoría de los niños que forman la familia de acogida son realmente carismáticos, pero no puedo hablar mucho de ellos sin entrar en spoilers.

En general, “¡Shazam!” es una gran película de superhéroes. Merece la pena verla en la gran pantalla, y sobre todo verla pronto, porque uno de los aspectos que la hacen tan especial es no conocer muchas de las sorpresas que se han guardado. Desde luego, una grata sorpresa y un auténtico paso hacia delante para el futuro de DC.

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.

Warner Bros. and DC are back in the game. The studio is finally able to deliver very high-quality superhero movies that most people seem to enjoy. “Aquaman” was a complete success and it was able to join the billion-dollar club. Now, it’s the turn for “Shazam!”, a light superhero comedy that everyone will love.

I didn´t love “Aquaman”, mainly because of the story, but I thought that “Wonder Woman” was one of the most amazing superhero movies of 2017, and until now, it was my favorite superhero movie of this new DC universe. However, “Shazam!” has changed everything, and now, I can say that this movie is probably, the best DC superhero film we’ve ever seen.

There is only one problem with this movie: the first act is not as good as the others. I know they have to establish the basic elements of the story, and they do a great job with the opening sequence, showing how a young Dr. Sivana discovered the existence of the wizard Shazam and the Rock of Eternit. The problem comes when we meet Billy, and that is when the story stops progressing as much as it should. But after Billy gets his powers, the movie becomes a rollercoaster of emotions.

The script is one of the most solid aspects of this movie. Both Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke, who are the screenwriters in charge of this story, do an amazing job creating a small but believable world inside this huge superhero universe. Every single character and element they introduce fits perfectly within the story and the world of Shazam. There are a lot of Easter Eggs, references, and surprises that they have been able to hide from the trailers, and it is magical to witness some of them on the big screen. The movie is also full of action and comedy, but also emotion, and none of these elements is out of place. In fact, this emotional aspect of the movie helps us to connect with the characters, especially with Freddie and Billy.

Zachary Levi was born to play this role. He is very funny and charismatic but also delivers in the more serious moments in the film. His chemistry with Jack Dylan Grazer is undeniable and both actors shine when they are together.

Mark Strong’s Dr. Sivana is also a nice surprise. At first, I thought that he would be a forgettable villain, mainly because his motivations weren´t as solid as they could have been. But as the movie progresses, you start to realize how dangerous he truly is, and I would love to see more of him in the sequel.

The rest of the cast also does a great job with their characters, but I cannot talk much about the other foster kids without getting into spoiler territory.

“Shazam!” is a very good superhero movie. It is funny and entertaining, and there are a lot of things you haven´t seen in the trailers, that I’m sure you will want to experience in the cinema. I really hope DC continues with this franchise, and maybe in the future, they can include other heroes to fight alongside Shazam.