A lovely and privilege couple of Brooklyn and having a dinner with a couple of friends, Joba and Quincy are the altruistic couple that are trying to live their live in the most positive and respectful way, in that dinner they are receiving their friend Caleb that has returned from a pilgrimage trip, he tells his experience and challenge the couple to pass from the same at him, a spiritual journey that will make found each other in a different way, Quincy didn’t want to do it but Joba convinced her to accept the challenge because they are good people, they donate to different foundations so they don’t have nothing to lose. Joba and Quincy travel and arrived to a cabin in the woods and they realized that it only has analogue devices such as a rotary phone, an Edison machine and religious iconography, after that discovery they were received by the Woodsman the man that will guide them through this journey. When the session begin a curiously labelled record is play and the couple realized after a moment that their bank account were drained, that their digital records were erased and that all their businesses are collapsing everything is a chaos and there is no turning back, with no more than the clothes they have on the Joba and Quincy begin the race of their life to found a way out the woods, facing a invisible threat, witnessing paranormal phenomena and trying to survive of whatever is now hunting them, in physical and spiritual way. The Woods Are Real is a movie that will try to give a lot of horror, trying to touch the spiritual and showing the mysterious journey of Joba and Quincy in the discovery that not everyone is good.
Alix Lambert is an artist, filmmaker and television writer, she has made many works as a filmmaker such as Rabbits 2006, Goodbye, Fat Larry 2023, Bayou Blue and Mentor but her remarkable productions has been The Mark of Cain with a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award and also nominated for a Guild of America Award for her work on Deadwood, as a writer she has also made her contributions in several magazines such as Stop Smiling, ArtForum, The LA Weekly to name a few, she was a writer on the video game Syndicate and was a staff writer and associated producer on John From Cincinnati and as an artist she have has the opportunity to show her work receiving international critical acclaim, showing her work in The Museum of Modern Art, The Georges Pompidou Center and the Kwangju Biennale. Lambert co-founded and co-artistic director of The Brooklyn International Theater Company with Nelson George and Danny Simmons. No doubt that director Alix Lambert has created a life of succeeds and I only mention a few but now in this new movie she is going to give a good and a topic that will make the audience how they react or act if something similar happen to them. A versatile director that is giving a new premise that will keep the audience waiting for know the truth.
Matt Dellapina take the role of Joba, Dellapina aside of being an actor is also a producer and for this movie also make a contribution as a writer adding a lot of creativity to the film, an actor know for his previous role as Kevin Can F Himself 2021. Chinasa Ogbuagu plays Quincy, she is an actress born in Nigeria and is best known for her appearance in the TV Series Easttown as Mare also work in The Girl from Painville 2022 and The Following 2013. Campbell Scott is the Woodsman, Scott is an actor with a rich filmography he is also a director and producer, is an actor that his career began in theater but his main role in the big screen was in the movie Longtime Companion of 1989, now he his giving his expertise in this role to provide that touch of knowledge in this movie. Other cast members that can be mention are Nick Westrate, Jeffrey Omura, Kathleen McElfresh, Teresa Avia Lim and Laura Esposito all these actor are giving life to The Woods Are Real.
The story follows Joba and Quincy a lovely and privileged couple from Brooklyn that are dedicated to live their live in a good way, trying to take the correct decisions and one of those in donate to proper foundations, everything in the life of this couple was perfect but everything changed when a friend of them returned from a long trip of pilgrimage and challenged them to test that perfect life and their values, Quincy didn’t want but Joba insist her to take up the invitation since they would have nothing to lose but they didn’t know that these challenge will change their life and will force them to find away to survive.
Audience Reception and Anticipation to the unknown
A movie that a fantasy film, with a twisted plot, moments of horror, suspension and intrigues. The Woods Are Real will give a journey through the existential exploration of ourselves and the critics and reviews will be given when the audience finally can watch the movie. Alix Lambert has created a world of mystery that will revealed on March 12th when the movie is premiered. The anticipation exist just to discover what is the real situation that the couple is going to face in the movie, lets hope is well received by the audience.
A little peek behind the scenes
Since the beginning was expected that the Alix Lambert would be the director of this production, she was the best option for her artistic vision and storytelling ability, now the movie its shown as a cinematic enigma with the intention of captivating audiences with the suspense, mystery and existential inquiry, for that reason the director invite the audience to enjoy the movie and more if you like the fantasy and horror movies. A movie that has no problems during filming and that is delivered in the scheduled time.
The Woods are Real is a movie that wants to give a lot of suspension and horror and a spiritual journey of a couple that materially speaking it has everything but they will face another true people on this world can be cruel. Director Alix Lambert and the way she tells story could be one the reasons this movie can be good, the cast will effort to bring a natural look in every performance and the plot of the story will need to be really good with different twist so as not to fall into the obvious. The Woods Are Real with it intrigue premise is a movie that the audience will enjoy to discover the end if Joba and Quincy finally managed to get out of the woods.
Monkey Man (2024) is an upcoming action movie that seem to promise to deliver a powerful message, nothing that has not seen before but there are a few aspects that will cause a big impact into this movie; a blend of exciting action and might provoke certain reactions from viewers when it touches on topics like corruption and abuse of the weak ones, this is a movie develop around the India culture so it might or not on purpose try to touch this aspects of now days reality within India.
As its a classic for this kind of stories, the action takes place in a city where the rich and powerful exploit the vulnerable and from this situation a man who was directly affected emerge as the center of hope for some people, might not save the world but can safe a few from this social and economical situation impacting a large population, driven by by the memory of his mother and the stories she told him about a mythical protector known as the “White Monkey” the main character takes on the role of a anonymous hero determined to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
The plot starts to develop with the main character as a kid and his struggles growing up on this society, consume by the corruption and power while this men will go beyond than most people would to challenge this social status, fueled by vengeance he will now try to put an end to the suffering of others but not before him going through a good doses of violence as a fighter to keep him sharp, there are those in power who will try to stop him at all cost to keep and maintain the grip on society.
At its core the movie digs into the concept of vengeance and the lengths an individual will go to seek justice in a corrupt society it tackles the theme of corruption and the abuse of power showing the insidious nature of systemic oppression and its devastating impact on communities.
The movie also looks at the power of storytelling and mythology as the main character’s mother’s stories about the “White Monkey” protector serve as a catalyst for his transformation into a anonymous hero this aspect highlights the role of stories in creating this new identity inspiring and providing hope in the face of such social and economical problems transferring power to those who abuse of it.
I could not find much information if there any specific reason why the movie tries to touch such provoking themes delivering more than just entertainment but also a powerful social message that might sound to the viewers, this is an important aspect to avoid viewers to call out the creator of the movie for pushing messages as its a usual practice now days although I personally don’t see anything wrong so far with it in this case.
The movie guarantees to be a visually beautiful one that makes use of a number cinematography techniques to carry its all the action and story to life the trailer gives a peek into the movie atmospheric look with excessive contrast lighting and deep shadows mainly on the city scenes, giving you that vibe of corrupt mega city.
Great camera movements and angles add to the tension and action throughout the fight and chase scenes will probably help immersing the audience, I really like the contrast when he has the mask on during the ring fight how the lighting make it look like a very dusty place and also provide that underground clandestine fight type of vibes, in contrast to other scenes where there is landscape, vegetation, it truly give shots of all kind of place
Dev Patel, the well known British actor from movies like Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, and The Green Knight, is going to direct his first movie, called Monkey Man, this is an interesting new step in Patel’s career, as he moves from acting to directing, him shifting into directing shows his love for telling stories and his interest in trying new creative things, he will act in the main role and also helped write the script with Paul Angunawela and John Collee, I think this shows how much Patel cares moving forward looking into trying new things to a evolve as some one who can not only perform the role of a character but also create something from a script or scratch, also about making a story that people will find meaningful at the same time it is a big deal that Jordan Peele, who won an Oscar and started the production company Monkeypaw and has decided to back Monkey Man. Peele, who made the successful movies Get Out and Us, really liked Patel’s work and pushed for the movie to be shown in theaters through Universal Pictures, instead of just on Netflix like originally planned. As an actor, Patel has worked with some very respected movie directors, like Danny Boyle, Garth Davis, and Armando Iannucci, all this has probably taught him important things about telling stories, making characters feel and look real, and making movies look so good. For Dev Patel being an actor also helps him understand how to get strong performances from the other actors in his movie, I’m sure movie lovers like me and people who like Dev Patel are excited to see how his first time directing turns out, with his talent, creative ideas, and support from important people in the movie industry like Jordan Peele, Patel has a good chance of making a big impact as a director and showing everyone that he’s a skilled artist in many different ways.
From what I have seen on the trailer I have no doubt this is going to be a great watch, even though some action movies basically give it all on a trailer it does not seem the case with Monkey Man, the story develops in multiple locations and times from when he was a kid, then while growing up he went through some fight training and now as an adult got tired for the system and its going against it, on a timeline with so much expansion I doubt everything was reveal on the trailer. It’s true that this movie probably is not going to show us anything new that we have not seen so far but it does gives a fresh face as a potential replacement for John Wick, fast fight and shooting action scenes had happen in the past but there is the culture mix on the movie too that will provide something different to it, can’t wait to watch this movie.
Shogun (2024) is turning into one of the best TV series I have seen ever, I think many viewers agree been that its online score remains so high after every episode, every scene is interconnected even though there are many characters on this story every single one of them have to do with the other in the middle of this war that is starting to shape up, consider there was already a war going on specially against Yoshii Toronaga but this war is expanding potentially putting part of Japan against Portugal leading this front will be Toronaga, things about to get very very spicy but first he needs to find a way out of Osaka, he already accomplish to delay and cause some division amount the rest of the council but there still a lot more to be done so he can go back home, most likely taking Anajin John with him.
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First thing I would like to mention from this episode is the Taiko’s Samurai Armor, the thing is so beautiful, all shiny, glowing with yellow and orange details even has a mustache probably representing his age and wisdom.
Taiko is ill and dying, everyone knows this, he first offer Yoshii to be the regent leader but he knew this would be the perfect excuse for this enemies to gather up and kill him for the power and taking over the throne, Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi knew Toronaga was smarter than that so he had already papers done where the council will be the five most powerful men of Japan including Toronaga and all decisions have to be taken under one common agreement.
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The Portuguese first intention was to get John killed for piracy but based on his journal he knows more than they though, even some of the Portuguese secrets that it was on their best interest to keep hidden from the rest of Japan, without direct intentions Toronaga will discover this, an event that will change everything and divide the Catholic Church and Japan including the Regent Council turning this entire story into a free for all match.
Teasing and incentivizing the split of the other four members of the council, Toronaga schedule an audience with John, he had no interest on him but what he can represent, within the council there are Catholic members who would consider John’s presence disrespectful and would be eager to finish him as soon as possible before moving forward with any other business and Toronaga knew this, he is a very smart man part of this because as a kid he was offered as a hostage what is consider a high honor and learn from other enemies.
Toronaga’s audience with John had a Portuguese father Martin Alvito and Toda Mariko as interpreters, Toronaga didn’t fully trust the Catholics so he had one of his clan who knew Portuguese to be present. Audience was interrupt by Ishido Kazunari who consider it absurd and disrespectful falling into Toronaga’s trap, Ishido’s presence there add certain importance to the audience forcing others to pay attention, meaning the other members of the council so it work out perfectly, John was detain and by now Toronaga had what he wanted from him, he didn’t mean anything to hiim anymore.
Mariko was the first one to understand Toronaga’s plan before everyone else but there was no certainty that it would work, not even Toronaga knew this for a fact but been there are their mercy it was his only chance and hope for at least delaying things and buy him some more time before the council dictate measures against him with the most possible outcome of death for him and his entire clan.
The next morning everything work out just perfectly, when Ishido and the three other members of the council meet to take actions against Toronaga there were higher matter to touch besides Toronaga but not for Ishido who demand from the other members to vote on Toronaga and then they can move into other business but religion and honor are first, Toronaga is political, this situation has created a delay on Toronaga’s future but he is not out of danger, once John is executed then Toronaga would be next.
Ishido makes a move incentivize by his anger against the members of the council who decided to pause Toronaga execution also after Yabushige planted distrust on Ishido against them, only working on this own benefit Yabushige suggested John could be a powerful ally in case the other members of the council decided to go against him. Ishido decided to take John under his protection, probably fake his death but never realize Yabushige was working for Toronaga at the same time although he knew about it but was probably not 100% certain, Yabushige rescue John and brings him back to Toronaga and its here with Mariko as interpreter that John finally told Toronaga about the Portuguese gun running bases protected by Ronin and the fact that Portugal only wanted to make them think they were independent.
I see a big great fight shaping up between armies where Portuguese will be involve too and makes me think if ships will soldiers will arrive or if this is just going to be a Civil War while Portuguese run away or stay out of the conflict, what John reveal was a big deal for everyone in Japan either if they are allies or not unless they are sell outs, honor goes above anything on this story just as an example they guy who interrupted the council audience insinuating Ishido insulted Toronaga, he had to offer his life and his only born son to get his honor back, this kind of attitude its insane and to some point barbaric, I get been this strict is probably the only way why everything is so perfect but still how you going to kill a baby just because his father made a scene?? tf.
Everything start with Dalton a UFC fighter that is going into disgrace until one night a woman approach him and made a offer to work for her in a bar called Road House at the beginning he wasn’t interested but seeing his condition he accepted and traveled to Florida to start his new job. Immediately at his arrived the owner of the bar informed him that he was hired because the bar was a place full of troublesome customers and constant fights and he will be responsible to ending it, when a fight start Dante shows his abilities showing the customers that he is not a person to play with but unfortunately in this job Dante also gained a lot of enemies, criminals that want to take control of the bar and will make Dante to face a lot of odd moments, full of action and on the edge of his tolerance. The movie bring is going to show violence, action sequences, fighting and explosions. Road House is a remake of the movie with the same of 1989 starring by Patrick Swayze and will analyze to confirm if will be as good as the original.
– IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359350/
– Platform: Prime Video
– Release: March 21, 2024
The recognition of Doug Liman’s began en 1996 when he directed his first major success the movie Swingers it was about Jon Favreau life, the film was writing and perform by the same Favreau and the critics were positives and more acknowledging that Swingers only cost $250,000, after that success the director just continue creating greatest blockbusters such as The Bourne Identity (2002), Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), The Edge of Tomorrow (2014) and American Made (2017). Liman’s now is bringing another action movie Road House that is a remake of the original Road House of 1989 starring by the unforgettable Patrick Swayze, hoping to become another cult film for the new generation like 1989’s Road House.
The protagonist of Road House is Jake Gyllenhaal portraying Dalton, Gyllenhaal is an actor that reach his pick with the romantic drama Brokeback Mountain (2005) for which he won a Bafta Award and was also nominated for an Academy Award, this actor takes every role he accepts to play very seriously giving a great performance every time. As a debut is the appearance of Conor McGregor, a famous UFC champion and is taking the role of Knox, the fighter had never participated in any production, making Road House his door to this new life as an actor. J.D. Pardo is more known for performed Nahuel in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 and Ezequiel Reyes in the TV Series Mayans M.C. Arturo Castro is Moe, he better known for his role in the TV Series Broad City and Narcos, Castro is a Guatemalan actor that has created his path in Hollywood. Billy Magnussen is Ben Brandt, Magnusen has work in different productions such as Into the Woods 2014, Game Night 201, Aladdin 2019 and No Time to Die 2021.
Dalton is a former UFC fighter but that now is trying to find himself when an opportunity came for him to work in a bar in Florida Keys but it won’t be easy because during that new life in the bar he will face and discover a web of deceit and dangerous trying to consume him, he is going to fight until he discovers the truth and can have a better life. This movie is coming with a lot of action, fighting, the appearance of UFC fighter Greg McGregor and big responsibility to give to the audience great performances. It is a story that want to tell how a person want to redeem his actions and start a good life.
I wasn’t aware about the movie Road House of 1989 starring by Patrick Swayze and now is coming a new version with the same name, as we now not all the remakes are good but is not bad to brings old movie to the present trying to gained a new base of fans, Road House 1989 has become a movie of cult and for that reason the new version probably will be judge hardly comparing the action and the performances of every actor, maybe will watch both movies to compare individually each one of theme because the premise is different talking about the main character in this new version that is UFC fighter but also to confirm if this remake will make justice and give more glory to its predecessor.
Road House 2024 is a movie that will give to the audience a lot of action, explosions and fights to enjoy if that is the genre of your preference but also is going to be judge hardly for be the remake of Road House 1989 a movie that has become a movie of cult with a group of fans that love every part of the original starting with the performance of Patrick Swayze, every detail will be seen just to verify that this new version does justice to its predecessor but the new version has different premise is about UFC fighter that try to find his place and at the same time brings the essence of the bar with the problematic customers. This new Road House could be great or a huge disaster. Let’s wait to see it and confirm what it will become.
The story is set in 1989 in a town of New Mexico forget by God, in the only gym of the town we can found Lou, the gym manager passing the day as many others but one day a special customer arrived, it was Jackie a bodybuilder that is on the way to Las Vegas for a competition but decided to spend a couple of days in the town to train before starting her journey again. Since the moment they met Lou and Jackie like each other, start knowing each other and elevate her relationship as a couple, to woman a abandon town living a passionate adventure but everything changed when Lou father called to do a job, she didn’t want to be part of that live anymore but her father force her to do so she has no other choice than follow orders, meanwhile Jackie decided to go the shooting range that the owner was casually Lou’s father, for Jackie was just another activity while she was in town but without knowing that Lou’s father was known as the crime lord of the town, arms dealer and a very dangerous man. Lou’s tried to keep that secret until the point that was impossible to keep the secret and the couple started to pass trough critics moments just to save their love. This story is about a father that wants more power and rule overall, a daughter that just want to be free from that life of crime and love immensely and about a bodybuilder that only wants to win her competition but in the road she get entangled into difficult events but facing them. Lou’s and Jackie are going to travel in torment, fighting against everyone and everything just to reach their goals and keep together.
Love Lies Bleeding will premieres in March 8th, viewers will see many images of fights, chases, blood, and scandal and the audience will discover what crimes those Lou’s commit, what kind of crimes those Lou’s family is involved and how the relationship of Lou’s and Jackie survive through all those criminal events that they will live together.
Rose Glass is a British director and screenwriter she made her debut with the psychological horror movie Saint Maud in 2019 the movie received two nomination in the Baftar Award and also she received the award for Best Debut Director with that movie. Glass is a raising director who has achieved recognition and good critics for her previous work with the horror movie Saunt Maud and now is bringing a total different vision with her new story Love Lies Bleeding trying to demonstrate that is a director that can work at any field and give a great result.
Kristen Stewart is Lou the gym manager, Stewart is an actress that is known for her role as Bella in the successful Twilight saga 2008 and also performed Diana Princes of Wales in the movie Spencer 2021 the same for which she received an Oscar nomination as Best Actress, she has a long list of performances in independents movies as well converting her in a multifaceted actress. Katy O’Brian is Jackie, with this role she is performing her first leading role, O’Brian is also a writer and martial artist and is most known for the role as Jentorra in the movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 2023 and for her role of Elia Kane in the famous TV Series The Mandalorian. Jena Malone is Daysi, Malone is an actress, musician and photographer she is known for her performance in the movie Sucker Punch 2011 as Rocker and for portrayed Johanna Mason in the Hunger Games franchise. Dave Franco take the role of JJ, Franco debuted in the drama TV Series 7th Heaven but he established his carrier with roles in movies such as 21 Jump Street 2012, Charlie St. Cloud 2010, Now You See Me 2013 and Nerve 2016. Ed Harris is Lou’s father, in all this cast Harris in the most experienced actor with more than 40 years in the industry he has gained many recognitions, acclaimed and applause from the critics in many of his roles that had also gave him an Oscar nominations, some of his works are Apollo 13 (1995), The Truman Show 1998 and The Rock 1996 just for mention some of it.
The story of Lou in set in New Mexico she being a gym manager who one date mate Jackie, a bodybuilder that was just passing through because her idea was to go to Las Vegas for a contest but the destiny decided that this to protagonist entangled in an adventure of love, obsession, desire, betrayal and crimes thought that path they are going to face situations really difficult and as ironic it is one of those path is against Lou’s father. Lou and Jackie are going to fight for her love and life and director Glass is going to guide the audience through an intense story keeping them engaged to confirmed if the couple will reach their goal.
Director Rose Glass is giving to the audience a story that is different but that is remarking situations that many people live as love as first sight, a problematic family, the search of happiness but also brings the dark side of society, the need of more power, the need of rule overall and the crimes that can occur in a a forgotten town. Love Lies Bleeding is a story that will give and show all those feeling that a person can have happiness, fear, lost, love, revenge and courage, Lou’s must face her most biggest fear that is her evil father just to gain her freedom from a family that only brings her harm and also fight for the love of her life. Jackie wants to win and she will do anything to reach her goal but also is going to accept and fight for Lou. This movie is something that audience will love or heat but to confirm we must wait to the premiere and judge.
There are two character that makes me wanting to like ECHO, this two characters are Dare Devil and Kingpin; there are several reasons for this, first is because I remember Kingpin the most from the Spider Man cartoons so brings back memories from when I was a kid and Dare Devil I have always like the red armor suit, although in this series looks a bit over weight or short I don’t know whats the deal, he is one of those super hero who has no powers, yes there is the fact that he train and develop his hearing more than anyone else although she doesn’t fly or shoot lasers, we can say he is on the same super hero category as Batman and Iron Man, this two other have no super powers neither its just their brain and training so for this I really like Dare Devil plus all the stunts he pulls on every movie or TV series he is in, remember how he catch that brick on Spider-Man No Way Home?
The first episode of ECHO but it is very evident that they trying to cover a lot of ground and time will be against it, this is the first Marvel show for 2024 and I was expecting it to be good but episode one I could only give it a 7/10 at best, most of the votes on IMDB are the same and Audience acceptance over all on RottenTomatoes is very low on the 65%, I only hope that this series is not that bad, 7/10 is an OK score.
Episode one try to resume how Maya Lopez lost her leg as a kid, her family from his father side was not the most straight, it looks like her fathers last name meant trouble everywhere they go, Maya and her mother got into a bad car wreck because some one cut the breaks out of their truck trying to hurt her father or family, her uncle is The Kingpin and runs New York who stop her before she became a trouble for him and gave her a job as part of his mafia but things didn’t go that well between them.
From previous videos and the trailer across episodes we are going to get more information about Maya Lopez roots, the story of how the first Choctaw people came to earth, from where she gets her power, part of their narrative on how things became to exist and their culture, that is something production and the Choctaw themself have try to communicate through this TV Series, make more people aware of their culture.
As a kid Maya had a very happy life living with her parents and having her cousin Bonnie coming home, although I wonder who is Bonnie’s father? things go so fast during the episode that Bonnie arrive with her grand parents to Maya’s house, I did look up online and I believe Bonnie’s father is Henry Lopez, I would also assume this because latter on when Maya comes back home she look for him and had a quick talk about her plans, Maya and Bonnie were very close and they consider themself as sisters.
When Maya and her mom got into the accident this was devastate for the family, Maya lost her leg but the worst part is that she feels its her fault her mom is dead, took some time for her father to let her know what happen, Maya thinks its her fault she is dead because she wanted hot chocolate and they had to go to the store. Her father was offered a job in New York, far away from Maya’s home town, the Lopez last name is means trouble and her grand mother Chula knew this, she never approve Maya’s father.
Maya had it rough growing up with this minor disability at first but she figure it out to overcome it although most people underestimate her and that’s part of her super power, Maya was full of anger, causing troubles left and right, she became really good fighter but her father was still dealing and making business most likely with the wrong people and that got both into deep trouble, the episode happens as the very same pace as I’m describing it, it felt like the story got really rush during the entire episode.
One night Maya comes back to the shop and finds someone inside killing every one on the shop, if you saw the Avenger movies and Dr. Strange you will recognize him right away, besides the first time ECHO shows up on the screen was on Hawkeye’s series, so cat is out of the bag, after the blip Hawkeye went rouge and start going after every possible criminal he knew, no matter the reason he wanted to kill them all, the more dangerous the mission the better, he lost his family during the blip so he was blind by rage, this most likely lead him to work with other criminals, he was not an Avenger anymore, he was an assassin, Maya goes into the shop and found her father dying after Hawkeye stab him.
After loosing her father Maya became double the trouble so Kingpin got her something to do, a purpose as he describe it, a place and a reason to keep going, she was a great fighter although was not a murder yet so at her first mission when things got rowdy she froze, didn’t know what to do looking at all this guys fighting and shooting, people dying on the spot, until one of them attack her and became her first victim. During this scene Dare Devil shows up although it was nothing special about it, they had a short fight that was not impressive at all, not saying it was bad but it was not the climax of the episode.
Hawkeye and Kingpin were the climax of the episode but things start to get rush, cut, slice, the damn episode became just this scenes after scene of nothing, just indicators of what was going on so for a first episode NO BUENO, I’m not the type of guy who gives up on a series that easy but I hope this gets better, at least Maya figure out who kill her father when she finds Hawkeye and he confess it was Kingpin who gave the order.
Again, scene after scene with not much context, some how Kingpin got hurt badly and Maya was there but this time she was different and capitalize on the opportunity to put a bullet on his head or at least that is what she thought, Kingpin was not dead and now there was a bounty on her head, she goes back home and asks her uncle Henry for help but not exactly to get out of the family business but to control it, sending a message to those who work for Kingpin, she thinks its time for a Queen, she is that queen.
I think its very evident that I didn’t like the first episode that much and it has nothing to do the the characters but with the story, there were events happening one after another like it was an entire flash back scene without much explanation of why some things were happening, if it wasn’t for the fight scenes it would be bad, in fact even the fight scenes themself were too short, I kept wanting to see Maya fight for longer, the Dare Devil scene was also short but I cant understand it was a teaser for whats coming up and that is what I hope that once The Kingpin gets on his foot again, probably on episode three thinks start to pick up the pace and we get some context of the things that had happen so far, after all this is only a five episode mini series and I know this have been mention before on my posts but I don’t want this to be another Secret Invasion event where the last episode is so crunch that send everything to shit. Event when I was going through the images and trying to build up the story it feels like there is no context to it, very little dialog with just the obvious so I didn’t enjoy as much as I wanted, I wanted to have some nice looking takes from the fights scene but there were very little that I could use.
In the spirit of conclusion I have decided that there are a few series I’m going to finish before moving forward, Special Ops: Lioness is one of them, I have recently been putting out other type of content that I wanted to start cover like articles about the Film Industry, Trailer reviews and soon I’ll be indexing data different but I still want to post my regular episodes recaps although they take me about four hours to do because of all the screenshots I take to put them into a “graphic representation” of the scene describing, at times it can be an exhausting hobby but I still like it or hate it depending on the day.
This series moves into split episodes, things never actually get to a conclusion in a single episode, they split the story here and there and episode five is the conclusion of four and opens the door to a situation I didn’t though at first but I think there is something going on between Cruz and Aaliyah, there is also the situation that Joe has been dealing with at home with her daughter Kate that got into a car wreck, part of the truth start go comes out like what her daughter really thinks about her and she also came up front with the reality that she is not the best mother but her reasons have valid grounds, she is a soldier after all and Joe’s husband has his own problems with that too, he can’t stand been with or without her, with actually turns a bit ironic because for been with Joe that’s her been on a mission she can’t talk about and that is killing Neal, looks like he can’t stand that situation anymore. Not much happen between Cruz and Aaliyah on this episode until the end they pick up on face time call where Aaliyah express herself/body just too much to Cruz and she notice it was too much so step back a bit, there might be a relationship brewing here but after all Aaliyah is like a bird on a cage made out of gold, she has everything she ever dream but at the same time has doesn’t own anything, not even her freedom.
On episode four Cruz went to a bar to party with Aaliyah and her friends where she got picked up by a guy who was a rapist, the guy drug her and pick her up after a fight started, Joe team got to her just in time on the woods where the guy was going to finish her on the spot, Joe took care of him and make him remember that moment for ever and think twice before raping another girl, Joe almost rip his balls apart, one kick after another. He never touch Cruz but she also didn’t remember a thing so she is was still confuse of what really happen but her team got there on time, well it was really close.
As I mention Joe’s daughter Kate got into a car wreck, so at the moment she had to deal with Kaitlyn , Kate and Neal at the same time, traveling from one place to another, Kaitlyn took her to the hospital but made sure she didn’t over extend her staying since there was business to take care of after she lend her team to Kyle, well not really her team.
Kaitlyn has been very supportive with Joe, this entire story is making me think that Joe is either the first or only Lioness that actually survive a mission, on first episode when she had to pull the trigger and drop a missile on a terrorist camp after her asset got discovered she ask Kaitlyn for advice like they have been on the same situation before and most of the Lioness doesn’t make it back. While at the hospital Joe and her daughter Kate finally got that conversation that settle things between them, she is not a kid anymore, got pregnant and almost die on a car wreck on top she lost the baby, at that moment Kate went through life time experience, got her ahead in time so fast that her life has fast forward almost ten years because how she knows what is to be pregnant and loose a baby, may be she didn’t go through the entire experience but for sure will never forget, Joe also comes forward and admit she is a shitty mother for not been there for her but it is what it is, she is a soldier. Lastly but still an important part of the drama Kaitlyn asks Neal not to give up on Joe, he still loves her but Kaitlyn knows its not an easy task to deal with Joe and her line of work.
Both Joe and Kyle gets their asses set on fire by Westfield, who is really the man behind the Lioness program and Kyle was something that should have never happen, Joe’s team is not hers it is lend by Westfield who is way higher on the government rank but Kyle intel was good so there is still a way to cover the shit show that they did on episode four after getting Kyle informant out of custody.
After Kyle intel was confirm they get lets say “yellow” light?” they can proceed with the capture mission but can shoot back if they get attacked? it was a capture mission only all this because no weapons or explosives have been confirm so far but once the targets get to the house they got monitor Two Cups and the rest of the team saw things were getting way hotter than they thought.
This scene where the get to the house was very cool, the shooting, bit dark but it was fast and clean, after confirm guns and explosives they finally get green light so its a capture/kill mission but no body is going to capture anyone besides they lack man power, as Bobby mention its a two squad mission and they are probably out number by two, got to mention that Cruz job was on point so at least she didn’t mess up, well she confirm it herself “this I know” before they went out.
Mission over, Kyle mess has been covered, Joe knows her daughter is alive but will take time to recover there are a few scars from all this, Kaitlyn thinks its a matter of time before another terrorist attack in US soil and Joe kinda mess up when she went back to the hospital, she was probably in a rush and didn’t clean up her face she still had blood and softy Neal notice getting all fired up asking her if she is now a hitman, WTF?? she is a soldier he knows it deal with it, he sees blood every day at the hospital but when his soldier-wife have some on her face then he goes all drama queen?
I would really enjoy a second season of this series, from what I have found online there is actually nothing about it, the series had good rating for what it is, this is not a AAA series although came together very well, there is some cliche here and there but nothing that makes you want to shut down the TV, action scenes so far have been on point, not every episode had them but I can say episode 1, 2, 4 and 5 had been the best at least for me, all episodes have over 7.5 on IMDB.
Episode five I thought was going to be a bit softy like Neal but that action scene pick up the speed of the episode very well, the drama at home with Joe is almost done with only Neal left so I think we wont have to listen to her daughter nagging anymore how bad of a mother she is, that was very annoying for a viewer who wants to see action and not a spoil child so I think for the last three episodes action is going to pick up a lot, I hope they don’t get to finish the mission yet because that would give us more chances of a second season.
After a tormeting 2023 movie season, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Quantum Mania, bunch of deceptions 2024 is full of hopes and I would love to have more action movies, comes in Civil War (2024), what looks to be a very promising movie not only because of the action side but because of all the drama that will carry since its view from the perspective of those out of the army, reporters, family, something that at the end not only will entertain your eyes but also put some reflection into your mind.
Civil War a science fiction movie directed by Alex Garland with a great cast including Kirsten Dunst and Wagner Moura, who doesn’t like this guy after Narcos or if we go back Tropa de Elite 1 and 2. Setup, the United States is going through a rapidly spreading civil war that has taken over the entire nation, a team of journalists attempts to infiltrate a heavily fortified capital.
“Civil War” shows us a fractured United States, a nation divided by ideological differences between sides, on the edge of collapse due to all of political and social problems that hammers hard the country. Part of the movie follow a family’s journey through the divided country trying to escape the dangers that come with this war that many didn’t ask for or support but they are in the eye of the storm, making their story a moving drama bringing probably in the perspective of what happens within the enemy lines, how people survive this hard moments.
From what I have seen on the trailer it doesn’t give that many details of why all started and who are part of each side, meaning the states, but I did notice a flag with two stars only, searching online also found information that says that there are two sides led by Texas and California, the Western Forces separate, creating their own republics and using sophisticated weapons, while the United States Loyalists, including Oregon, Washington and others, remain in alliance with the federal government.
I did mention that the story is covered by journalists in this case one of them is Kirsten Dunst who plays the role a reporter and Wagner Moura head of a rebellion, cover attacks to Wahshington D.C, the movie also involve hackers who in the middle of the conflict will take sides, this is a modern Civil War so it was expected for hackers to play a big role same as online media, on the trailer we see a lot of shooting, tanks, soldiers with a very familiar faces like Jesse Plemons who plays captain John Miller who is still loyal to the President and his target is to control the rebellion but it doesn’t end there, Miller is Kirsten ex-husband so figure out the drama, probably she demanding more info from him to cover up the story.
This movie will probably serve as a message, for those involve into conflicts most likely wont pay attention to it but to the global community of movie fans, send a message of reflection for everything that had happen in the past five years, there are high expectations for the movie to work out.
Civil War most likely will have a few side stories happening at the same time, the cast is just awesome including talents such as Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Jesse Plemons and Nick Offerman, each bringing to life supporting characters that fill out this side stories.
It is a theme that very few times is brought to the screen involving the country itself, most of the time this theme war movies are more like a fantasy, similar movies: Children of Men, The Hunger Games, The Purge. If we think about it they all represent how broken the society is in their own way to the point to promote chaos as the solution but this time the film bring this into a more “real” stage.
I really have to say that after the first trailer I personally have a lot of expectations for this movie, although I’m more of a TV Series guy I rarely put so much interest in a movie, there will probably be two more trailers with more scenes before the movie release in April, currently schedule for April 26. There are many questions that I have like for example when and why all this started? does the President die? other countries come in? could there be a second part to then movie into a World Wide event? I just can’t stop my brain from imagening what else is into this conflict.
After a never ending December Holidays as usual I’m behind a lot of content but I’m always looking forward since all it takes is a weekend night to put on the VR headset and burn through a few hours of TV series to catch up, there are a few series that will air on January that are worth watch in my opinion, there is a bit of everything from action, comedy, comic related, even some witchcraft. Here some of the TV series I will be watching on January, 2024 is set to be a great year for content after the Hollywood Strike is over now with writers, actors and studios in full force to pump out the backlog of productions and those that were patiently waiting their turn.
Some of the series I mention are on their first trailer so there will be more scenes and I will keep covering them and add more details to them on my profile at Micro Blogging platforms Inleo and Ecency.
I think Netflix have made a name when it comes to bring great Asian actors to expand their work across the globe,
The Brothers Sun is a comedy about a Taipei Gangster family, Charles Sun and his mother Eileen Sun have to deal with others Gangsters who are now trying to take power back after his father was shoot without anyone knowing the truth behind it, in the middle is his little brother Bruce who lives in L.A and has no clue about his family business, Charles and his mother are though but Bruce is nothing like them and wants nothing to do with this life style, just by looking at the trailer you can tell there will be a lot of action, blood and laughs, this is another one I plan to watch, probably not on January as I’m behind schedule most of the time.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17632862/
Air: Jan 4, 2024
Platform: Netflix
Trailer: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=nordflix/wteryeda
Sanctuary a series based on a novel written by V.V. James from 2020, to start with I know nothing about the novel but when I saw the trailer immediately remember “A Discovery of Witches” a great series were we had Elaine Cassidy who in this case play the role of Sarah Fenn is the main character. Sanctuary is a story based in the UK where witchcraft is real and is a common thing among residents but everything goes south when there is an accident and the main character Sarah Fenn becomes the main suspect about the death of a teenager who died on this accident, murder by witchcraft, probably dark magic and people start to go against it, the series develops in modern times, so I expect this series to look more “unreal” or say less traditional witch TV series like “Salem” or the very well “A Discovery of Witches”. Going through some comments online this is the very thing some fans of the Novel are already talking about that it goes far from the original story and it’s a common problem with book adaptations so if you have read the novel don’t expect it to be exactly the same word by word but I do think can be entertaining if you are a fan of witchcraft series.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21632986/
Air: Jan 4, 2024
Platform: AMC+
Trailer: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=nordflix/lrlfslpz
This is a series I have been expecting from some time since I heard about it, not necessarily because of ECHO herself but Dare Devil but know I got a bundle pack, got ECHO whose power is to copy any action or skill she sees, she is deaf and have a prosthetic leg; Kingpin and Dare Devil. ECHO character make it first appearance on Hawkeye the series that I haven’t watch reason I was not aware of it, after a rough season in New York she now comes back home and try to reconnect with her community and family but there is an entire war going on, this involves the ruthless Kingpin played by Wilson Fisk and you CAN NOT have the Kingpin without Dare Devil, by Matt Murdock; same as the Netflix series, the main reason I found out about ECHO, I have been waiting for a Dare Devil series after the Netflix version, this mini series is based on the comic although I do not know how close it is, five episodes only so it is very short and I fear the story gets crunch and feels too short for what it should be, PLEAS GOD this don’t be another “Secret Invasion”.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13966962/
Air: Jan 9, 2024
Platform: Disney+9
Trailer: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=nordflix/flnizjsn
A six episode Mini Series, comedy; by Seth MacFarlane a guy behind exits like Family Guy, American Dad just to mention two great animated comedy, its true that this will be streaming on Peacock and yes they are not known for putting out AAA content but its entertaining most of the time so this is a watch in my opinion as long as the keep the bear personality from the movies, I know its the same voice but what makes me laugh about the 2012 and 2015 movies was its personality, this time the story goes way back to its original owner John Bennett who wished his teddy bear friend Ted life, John Bennett character is been played by Max Burkholder who also work with Seth on Family Guy and American Dad so I think this could be a little gem in the rough that will make you laugh some.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14824792/
Air: Jan 11, 2024
Platform: Peacock
Trailer: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=nordflix/oqccdkmg
I’m in that group of people who are suckers for anything war related TV series, not that I promote war but because of all the drama and action it provides, its entertainment, comes Masters of The Air; I think this is going to be a banger, first of most of the series that Apple+ puts out are great and on top you got Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks producing a World War II drama series based on the book by Donald L. Miller, a series about the brave men of the 100th Bomb Squad during the Nazi War. Last war theme TV series I watch was “A Small Light” and I’m still pending on “All The Light We Cannot See”, two great productions that brought the drama of going through a war a civilian but this time we wont only have that perspective but from thousands of feet above on a bomber, back in the day there was not that much tech, things were very rough and different. The Cast in my opinion is OK, we got familiar faces, when I say OK I mean they are not ultra well known but have seen them in other movies and series, Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, Barry Keoghan.
This series is dropping two episodes on January 26, followed by a weekly release schedule until March 15, 2024, meaning this will make Friday nights special.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2640044/
Air: January 26, 2024
Platform: Apple+
Trailer: https://3speak.tv/watch?v=nordflix/ngqketlc
I think this will be enough to keep me entertain on those days where I have spare time to burn some hours, some others will be a must, I can see that already with Masters of the Air, ECHO and The Brothers Sun, I’m glad there is a mix on how the episodes will drop since it’s not my style of watching the entire series in two days, I’m a bit old school in that aspect back from the days we watch TV series from cable tv one episode per week but 2024 is set to be a great year in my opinion for entertaining and for crypto, most of my content is on the Hive blockchain using platforms like Inleo and Ecency, both great in their own way were you can actually own your data and can not be shut down so if you see this post on my blog feel free to contact and jump in to real Web3 platforms.
On 2024 Marvel better come up with something good to re vindicate, this new miniseries called “ECHO” will premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on January 9, and it is causing some what “sensation”, if they are any good, fans are in luck because the studio plans launch several television series, where we will see action, drama and also a lot of violence, I hope so. This miniseries shows us Kingpin and a Daredevil rivalry once again since ECHO actually show up from from Hawkeye and focuses on the character Echo from the Marvel comics. She’s a deaf Native American with an incredible gift, she can copy any move or skill she sees. As always this is my opinion from a regular viewer perspective not from a comic or Marvel expert.
Alaqua Cox plays Echo an actress I haven’t seen much before, went through her IMDB page and found nothing than Hawkeye and ECHO probably I didn’t look enough on top I’m not a Hawk eye fan so this is my first time, on the other side we have to well known actors Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk playing Kingpin and Charlie Cox known for his role as Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, well known duo, blast from the past.
I’m the type of viewer that don’t like to spoil things before hand but I got to say I know nothing about the ECHO story just few details that she can basically mimic or learn powers just by watching them? interesting Skrull type?. There is not much that the trailer explains about her story but seems she had a rough time at New York and now is coming back home to Oklahoma trying to embrace her roots and grip some of that power, find a place for herself between her community, I wonder if that’s where her powers comes from if its some kind of powers she inherited from her ancestors?.
After a rough 2023 for Marvels, Disney put their hopes on producers Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland for this miniseries, from interviews I found online seems like they are looking for that fresh start, a fresh vision focusing on the theme, identity, culture, but I hope they don’t go the woke path trying to propagate “messages”. ECHO begins phase five of the MCU called Marvel Spotlight.
Launching this mini series or any other production on 2023 was not an easy task at all with the Hollywood Strike full force for the most part of the year, the uncertainty of writers, actors, studios it was a mess. Both Disney and producer Marion Dayre had obstacles along the way too keeping the mini series delayed, it was originally planned to be released in the summer of 2023 and then date moved to January, 9,2024, I have seen some trailers and websites saying its the 10th although IMDB says its the 9th. Dayre commented on a podcast “The Writers Panel” how she became the head writer and how hard it was to deal with all the delays and Marvel itself, sounds like Marvel is the Diva type IMO.
To me Alaqua Cox brings authenticity to her role since she have quite the similarities to the ECHO character been both deaf and use a prosthetic leg so this is no joke, me myself I’m deaf on my right ear btw so can only imagine what is to be fully deaf, think about it a deaf super women and a blind agile no fucks given Dare Devil, she have not publicly reveal how she lost her leg, quite interesting she still keep it a secret but that is great in my opinion, everyone has the right for personal life no matter how famous you are.
ECHO went through so many changes during 2023 and one of the was Daredevil, at first it was so fucking weird and different from, IMO; its best version that’s the Netflix version, both now played by Charlie Cox but still quite different from the exterior, there is public reason why? is this a better improve version of Daredevil?. On Netflix version he was younger, probably a less polished version but it does intrigue me how close their stories are and which is the one closer to the comic or is this kind of situation where the same character can have different versions? I will give it a watch to Netflix version in the coming days just to have a familiar image before watching ECHO, probably even watch Hawkeye for some background.
The trailer looks cool and as most Marvel productions it promises a lot of action, there is some excitement behind it and I hope it is one of those side small stories that kick ass and not many knew about, as mention there is also this Daredevil “new version” and obviously cant leave behind Kingpin, big bad ass gangster.