Do you ever remember anything you did in your childhood and just feel like vanishing because it makes you cringe so hard? This movie walked me through most of my cringe childhood moments and surprisingly, I loved it.

About the movie

You’re so not invited to My Bat Mitvah is a 2023 comedy/drama about 2 best friends who got into a huge fight because of a boy right before coming of age. Before I continue, let me explain what Bat Mitvah means. This is a Judish coming of age ceremony done for a girl to signify her transition into adulthood. I believe it’s the same for what we call puberty rites in Ghana.

So in this movie, Stacy and Lydia were best of friends, and had been planning their Bat Mitvah for a long time because according to them, their success in life depended on how successful the Bat Mitvah was going to be. Along the line, Lydia ended up going out with Stacy’s crush, Andy( yes, she knew he was her crush). So they got into it.

On the day of Lydia’s bat Mitvah, Stacy was responsible for her entrance video and unfortunately, the video her mom sent was rather the embarrassing video she made of Lydia after she found out she was in a relationship with Andy. The entrance video totally ruined the party and that made Lydia begin to hate Stacy.

Stacy tried everything to mend their relationship but nothing was working. In the end, she did a really huge gesture (which even shocked me) to apologize to her bff. And for that particular thing, she couldn’t say no to, so in the end, they got back together.

My Thoughts and rating

Everything in this movie was enjoyable. I love how they allowed the kids to be kids. No unrealistic make up, just normal kids clothes and thoughts. I also like how they didn’t twist any plot to make the movie so weird. Well, probably because it’s made for kids? I don’t know.

Watching this movie reminded of the things I did in my childhood. I don’t think I ever fought over a boy with my childhood best friend but what I remember vividly that made us fight a lot was food. No no, we weren’t even foodies and I don’t even remember why but I know I was definitely the cause of most fights because I used to so be stubborn as a kid.

One thing I realized in this movie was the role of the parents. You see, children want a lot of things in life but it is up to parents to give them what they actually need. Stacy wanted a huge Bat Mitvah. She even wanted to invite celebrities who didn’t know her but her parents gave her what she really needed, time with her friends.

If you are an adult who wants to watch a movie with twisted plot and exaggerated storyline, this is not for you. This movie is for kids and maybe some adults who just want to travel down the memory lane to remember some funny moments in their childhood. I’m definitely giving it a solid 7/10. Just to pique your interest, let me inform you that this movie stars Adam Sandler and his two daughters. So if you've ever wondered what it's like for actors to be on set with their real family, this is your chance to find out.

Images are from IMDb

When talking about film trilogies - of which there are many - we rarely find examples in which the second part is better than the first. Normally sequels don't usually have the impact or the charm of the original installment, as happened with Matrix or so many others, but there are a handful of films that, being sequels, have managed to surpass the first installment in quality and reception, becoming not only exceptions to the rule but also true gems of cinema.

Cuando se habla de trilogías cinematográficas - que hay muchas - pocas veces encontramos ejemplos en los que la segunda parte sea mejor que la primera. Normalmente las secuelas no suelen tener el impacto o el encanto de la entrega original, tal como pasó con Matrix o tantas otras, pero existen un puñado de películas que, siendo secuelas, han logrado superar en calidad y en recepción la primera entrega, convirtiéndose no sólo en excepciones a la regla sino además en verdaderas joyas del cine.

To name a few of these cases, we have Coppola's The Godfather II, one of the best films ever; Batman: the Dark Knight, the best of Nolan's trilogy; Terminator II, which I thought was better than the first one; Toy Story 2, Shrek and finally, Lord of the Ring: the Two Towers; but before all these gems, a historic collaboration in the world of cinema had brought us an impressive Spaghetti Western sequel: Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef worked together to make For a Few Dollars More, sequel to the previous A Fistful of Dollars. In this second installment, set during the Civil War, Eastwood plays Manco, a bounty hunter on the trail of El Indio, a violent criminal for whose capture the justice system is offering a juicy amount of money. El Indio has been involved in murders, robberies, and even plots so twisted that they have managed to affect the U.S. military and its diplomatic relations with its Mexican neighbors. As dangerous as he's and as large as his gang is - or perhaps precisely because of it - El Indio is not only wanted by Manco, but also by Colonel Douglas Mortimer (played by Lee Van Cleef), retired from the army and who has an additional motivation: it's not only the reward money that attracts Mortimer. With this Manco-Indio-Mortimer triangle, director Sergio Leone made one of the most memorable stories of the western, an all-time classic of westerns.

Por nombrar algunos de estos casos, tenemos The Godfather II de Coppola, una de las mejores películas de la historia; Batman: the Dark Knight, la mejor de la trilogía de Nolan; Terminator II, que me pareció mejor que la primera; Toy Story 2, Shrek y por último, Lord of the Ring: the Two Towers; pero antes de todas estas joyas, una colaboración histórica en el mundo del cine nos había traído una secuela impresionante del Spaghetti Western: Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone, Clint Eastwood y Lee Van Cleef trabajaron juntos en realizar For a Few Dollars More, secuela de la previa A Fistful of Dollars. En esta segunda entrega, ambientada durante la guerra de secesión, Eastwood encarna a Manco, un cazador de recompensas que anda tras la pista de El indio, un violento criminal por cuya captura la justicia ofrece una jugosa cantidad de dinero. El indio se ha visto envuelto en asesinatos, robos, e incluso complots tan retorcidos que han logrado afectar al ejército estadounidense y sus relaciones diplomáticas con sus vecinos mexicanos. A pesar de lo peligroso que es y de lo numerosa que es su banda - o quizás precisamente por eso - El Indio no sólo es buscado por Manco, sino también por el Coronel Douglas Mortimer (interpretado por Lee Van Cleef), retirado del ejército y quien tiene una motivación adicional: no es sólo el dinero de la recompensa lo que atrae a Mortimer. Con este triángulo Manco-Indio-Mortimer, el director Sergio Leone realizó una de las historias más memorables del western, un clásico de las películas de vaqueros de todos los tiempos.

Scene from the movie | Escena de la película

In one line, this is a story of revenge. Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) is an assassin trained by the Ruska Roma, an organization that somehow protects certain people through the assignment of caretakers, among them Eve. This organization is the same one that trained John Wick (hence the main connection between the characters) and has certain rules and protocols to comply with, especially with regard to other similar organizations with whom it shares the market.

As in the first installment of this trilogy, there's plenty of action here. Towns in the American West, or near the Mexican border, criminal gangs, robberies, hidden treasures, loot, rewards paid by the sheriff to those who deliver the criminals - dead or alive -, ambushes, chases, horseback rides, shootouts and gunmen with an enviable aim that borders on the impossible... all that is present in both the first film and in this sequel. Not bad, right?

However, one of the advantages that For a Few Dollars More has over A Fistful of Dollars, is the appearance of Colonel Mortimer. In the first installment all the focus was on the outlaw who came to town, a lone gunfighter taking on not one but two families who had control of the town. But here, in this other story, the attention is divided between the two characters, Mortimer and Manco, who are as opposite as they are complementary. Manco is not a very talkative guy, but he's arrogant, and his temper is somewhat violent, although he doesn't show it so often. For his part, the Colonel has the serenity of his age, of a lifetime of experience in military service. Manco seems to be motivated solely by money, his speed with the trigger is his job; Mortimer has other more honorable motives for catching the Indio. Unlike his character in the first installment, in this second Eastwood plays a gunman more interested in money than anything else. Manco uses a revolver, the Colonel a sort of sawed-off shotgun. These differences, plus the fact that they pursue the same objective, make them seem like rivals during the first part of the film, but since “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, at some point they combine forces and embody, now separately, almost the same thing that Clint Eastwood's character represented in A Fistful of Dollars. Leone should also be applauded that, in this film, he inserted some mysterious details that he revealed at the right time to explain some things.

Sin embargo, una de las ventajas que tiene For a Few Dollars More sobre A Fistful of Dollars, es la aparición del Coronel Mortimer. En la primera entrega todo el foco estaba en el forajido que llegaba a la ciudad, un pistolero solitario que se enfrentaba no sólo a una sino a dos familias que tenían el control del pueblo. Pero acá, en esta otra historia, la atención se divide entre ambos personajes, Mortimer y Manco, que además son tan opuestos como complementarios. Manco no es un tipo muy hablador, pero sí arrogante, y su temperamento es un tanto violento, aunque no lo demuestre tan seguido. Por su parte, el Coronel tiene la serenidad de su edad, de una vida de experiencia en el servicio militar. Manco parece estar motivado únicamente por el dinero, su velocidad con el gatillo es su trabajo; Mortimer tiene otros motivos más honorables para atrapar al Indio. A diferencia de su personaje en la primera entrega, en esta segunda Eastwood encarna a un pistolero más interesado en el dinero que en otra cosa. Manco usa un revólver, el Coronel una especie de escopeta recortada. Estas diferencias, además de el hecho de que persiguen el mismo objetivo, los hace parecer como rivales durante la primera parte de la cinta, pero como "el enemigo de mi enemigo es mi amigo", en algún punto combinan esfuerzos y encarnan, ahora por separado, casi lo mismo que representaba el personaje de Clint Eastwood en A Fistful of Dollars. También hay que aplaudirle a Leone que, en esta película, insertó algunos detalles misteriosos que reveló en su momento justo para explicar algunas cosas.

Scene from the movie | Escena de la película

As a disclaimer, although the three films in this trilogy feature Eastwood in the title role, it's not a trilogy about the same character. If one watches the three films, one can notice that, beyond the similarities in the gunslinger's outfit and some attitudes, there are differences - some very subtle, some not so subtle - that clearly differentiate one from the other. They are different characters. Similar, yes, typical of the western universe, but different characters at the end of the day.

Como aclaratoria, aunque las tres películas de esta trilogía tienen a Eastwood en el papel principal, no se trata de una trilogía sobre el mismo personaje. Si se ven las tres películas, uno puede notar que, más allá de las semejanzas en el outfit del pistolero y algunas actitudes, hay diferencias - algunas muy sutiles, otras no tanto - que claramente diferencian a uno de otro. Son personajes diferentes. Parecidos, sí, propios del universo western, pero personajes distintos al fin y al cabo.

It's for this reason that I consider this to be a thematic trilogy. Some call it The Dollar Trilogy, which I consider quite correct, because the central motif of the three stories is money; but they also call it the trilogy of The Man With No Name and there I don't agree, because not only Clint Eastwood has a name in the three films, but the name is not the same. In addition to the superb performance of its protagonist, it is always a quality addition to have Ennio Morricone, iconic composer of the history of cinema and in this sequel it was a great success to have added Lee Van Cleef who embodies a very strong character and who will appear again in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with a quite different character, to close one of the best trilogies in the history of cinema and one of the few that achieves the impossible, that each new installment is superior to the previous one. I know that in today's times it's very difficult for anyone to be interested in cowboy stories, but if they leave aside the prejudices that it's old cinema they can find great movies. You don't need to see many westerns, just the most representative ones and I think Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood's trilogy is a good way to approach the genre or to know what it's about and be able to enjoy them, how many of you like westerns, have you seen this one? I'll read you in the comments.

Por esta razón es que considero que esta es una trilogía temática. Algunos la llaman The Dollar Trilogy, lo que considero bastante correcto, porque el motivo central de las tres historias es el dinero; pero también la llaman la trilogía de The Man With No Name y allí no coincido, porque no sólo Clint Eastwood tiene nombre en las tres películas, sino que el nombre no es el mismo. Además de la soberbia actuación de su protagonista, siempre en un agregado de calidad el contar con Ennio Morricone, icónico compositor de la historia del cine y en esta secuela fue un gran acierto haber sumado a Lee Van Cleef quien encarna un personajes de mucha fuerza y quien volverá a aparecer en The Good, the Bad and the Ugly con un personaje bastante diferente, para cerrar una de las mejores trilogías de la historia del cine y una de las pocas que consigue lo imposible, que cada nueva entrega sea superior a la anterior. Sé que en los tiempos de hoy es muy difícil que alguien se interese por las historias de vaqueros, pero si dejan de lado los prejuicios de que es cine viejo se pueden encontrar con grandes películas. No es necesario que vean muchos westerns, solo los más representativos y creo que la trilogía de Sergio Leone y Clint Eastwood es una buena forma de acercarse al género o de saber de qué trata y poder disfrutarlos, ¿a cuántos de ustedes les gustan las películas de vaqueros? ¿han visto esta? Los leo en los comentarios.

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Other posts that may interest you | Otros posts que pueden interesarte:

Ballerina: Fight Like a Girl |

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Greetings, movie and series lovers! 🎥

¡Saludos, amantes del cine y las series! 🎥

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Created with Canva Pro. Image source

Hello everyone, friends of Hive, I hope you're all doing great. This time, I want to bring you a new review with my opinions on this series that I just finished... well, that I actually rewatched: Silicon Valley. Seriously, rewatching it hit me again, and wow, is it good! If you haven't seen it, you should, and if you already have, ugh! We have to talk. So, what's it about? The point is that it follows six guys who build their own tech company there in Silicon Valley, obviously... more than anything, we see how the "Pied Piper" team struggles to create... well, the ultimate super Pied Piper. It's like a program or an algorithm that compresses files in a revolutionary way, a kind of crazy thing... but don't be scared if that sounds too technical or boring, because the series is quite the opposite! It immerses you in this super-fast, exciting, and sometimes even half-scary world of startups. The main character is Richard Hendricks, a programmer who is a genius, but clumsy in life, who inadvertently creates this incredible technology... and hangs around with his gang of half-misfit friends, all living together in a house that is also his office, which is run by the most exaggerated and funny character in the world, Erlich Bachman (played by TJ Miller, who is simply... great in that role).

And something that I love, and that I'm sure you will like too, is how the series shows what it means to be a nerd or a geek today, but well... forget about the usual clichés in series, where the "nerd" is the typical character to laugh easily, not at all... here the characters feel super real, with their problems, with what they are passionate about, these guys live to program, for algorithms, for technology, and the series shows it with respect. You can see the passion they have—yes, sometimes they screw up socially, obviously!—but you also see how intelligent they are, how much they strive, how supportive they are of each other... it's a far cry from that silly idea of ​​making fun of nerds. Here, you laugh with them, or at the ridiculous situations they get into, but you understand them, honestly. It's nice to watch a show that tells you, "Cool, it's perfect that you're deeply passionate about something, even if it's something super specific!"... enough of that old image of the antisocial nerd who doesn't speak to anyone, right?

Hola a todos, amigos de Hive, espero que estén genial, en esta ocasión, quiero traerles una nueva reseña con mis opiniones de esta serie que acabo de terminar... bueno, que volví a ver, en realidad: Silicon Valley, en serio, volver a verla, me pegó de nuevo y wow, qué buena es! Si no la han visto, dberían verla, y si ya la vieron, ¡uff!, tenemos que hablar. Bueno, ¿de qué va? La onda es que sigue a seis tipos que arman su propia empresa de tecnología allá en Silicon Valley, obvio.. más que nada, vemos cómo le batalla el equipo de "Pied Piper" para crear... pues, el súper Pied Piper definitivo, es como un programa o un algoritmo que comprime archivos de una forma revolucionaria, una cosa así medio loca.. pero no se asusten si eso suena muy técnico o aburrido, porque la serie es todo lo contrario! Te mete de lleno en ese mundo súper acelerado, emocionante y a veces hasta medio aterrador de las startups, el prota es Richard Hendricks, un programador que es un genio, pero torpe para la vida, que sin querer crea esta tecnología increíble.. y anda con su bandita de amigos medio inadaptados, todos viviendo juntos en una casa que también es su oficina, que la maneja el personaje más exagerado y gracioso del mundo, Erlich Bachman (lo hace TJ Miller, que es simplemente... genial en ese papel).
Y algo que me encanta, y que seguro a ustedes también les va a gustar, es cómo la serie muestra lo que es ser nerd o geek hoy en día, pero bien.. olvídense de los clichés de siempre en las series, donde el "nerd" es el típico personaje para reírse fácil, para nada.. aquí los personajes se sienten súper reales, con sus problemas, con lo que les apasiona, estos tipos viven para programar, para los algoritmos, para la tecnología, y la serie lo muestra con respeto. Se ve la pasión que tienen, sí, a veces la cagan socialmente, obvio!, pero también ves lo inteligentes que son, las ganas que le echan, cómo se apoyan entre ellos.. se aleja full de esa idea tonta de burlarse de los nerds. Aquí te ríes con ellos, o de las situaciones ridículas en las que se meten, pero los entiendes, la verdad, da gusto ver una serie que te dice "¡chévere, está perfecto que te apasione algo hasta el fondo, aunque sea algo súper específico!".. ya estuvo bueno de esa imagen vieja del nerd antisocial que no le habla a nadie, ¿no?

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And the humor! Hahaha, let's see, the creator is Mike Judge, the same genius who made Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill and Office Space, the one about the office... so you can imagine where this is going, the humor... let's see, sometimes it's irreverent, even rude, very direct, but the crazy thing is that at the same time it's extremely intelligent, very fine... it has that dark, acidic, super intelligent vibe, which gives a lot to the world of technology, but it also has silly jokes that they repeat and repeat... and they get funnier and funnier every time, I swear, I can still hear Erlich, TJ Miller's character, say "Aviato"... and I die laughing! It's silly, but it works! And it's intelligent humor, there's a joke at the end of the first season about some complicated math equations...

They brought in real mathematicians to make the joke work, it's brilliant. Plus, it totally makes fun of the whole "corporate cool" vibe, the whole thing about giant companies trying to seem cool and fun for millennials... they nail it perfectly with the absurd things that happen in these tech companies... the mandatory fun, those really weird perks that seem like they're straight out of a futuristic horror movie, the meetings in super strange places... you laugh, but it kind of hurts a little, because you know those places really exist. Hooli, which is like the show's version of Google, Apple, or Microsoft, is the perfect parody of that: desperately trying to be innovative and "change the world," but inside they're a mess... and it's hilarious!

And speaking of where it all happens, how well you capture what Silicon Valley is like now, forget those movies from the 90s where everything was shiny and cool... here they show you the reality, sometimes a bit harsh, of young entrepreneurs who are putting their all into getting their project off the ground... you see the cutthroat competition, where it seems like everyone wants to steal your idea or put your company out of business. You see the profiteers, circling like vultures, just wanting their piece of the pie... in the end, what you see is the difficult path, full of ups and downs, of a startup trying to succeed... or fail, it's definitely not as pretty or glamorous as one imagines.

Y el humor! Jajaja, a ver, el creador es Mike Judge, el mismo genio que hizo Beavis and Butt-Head, El Rey de la Colina y Office Space, esa de la oficina.. así que ya se imaginan por dónde va la cosa, el humor... a ver, a veces es irreverente, hasta grosero, bien directo, pero lo loco es que al mismo tiempo es inteligentísimo, muy fino.. tiene esa onda oscura, ácida, súper inteligente, que le da mucho al mundo de la tecnología, pero también tiene chistes bobos que repiten y repiten... y cada vez dan más risa, les juro, todavía escucho a Erlich, el personaje de TJ Miller, decir "Aviato"... y me muero de risa! Es una tontería, pero funciona! Y es que es humor inteligente, hay un chiste al final de la primera temporada sobre unas ecuaciones matemáticas complicadas...
Trajeron matemáticos de verdad para que el chiste funcionara, es una genialidad. Además, se burla con todo de esa onda "corporativa cool", ese rollo de las empresas gigantes queriendo hacerse las geniales y divertidas para los millennials.. la clavan perfecto con las cosas absurdas que pasan en esas empresas de tecnología.. la diversión obligatoria, esos beneficios rarísimos que parecen sacados de una peli de terror futurista, las reuniones en lugares súper extraños.. te ríes, pero como que duele un poquito, porque sabes que esos lugares existen de verdad. Hooli, que es como la versión de Google o Apple o Microsoft en la serie, es la parodia perfecta de eso: tratando desesperadamente de ser innovadores y "cambiar el mundo", pero por dentro son un desastre.. y es divertidísimo!
Y hablando del lugar donde pasa todo, qué bien que capturan cómo es Silicon Valley ahora, olvídense de esas pelis de los 90s donde todo era brillante y cool.. acá te muestran la realidad, a veces medio cruda, de los emprendedores jóvenes que le están echando ganas para sacar adelante su proyecto.. ves la competencia salvaje, donde parece que todo el mundo te quiere robar la idea o hacer quebrar tu empresa. Ves a los aprovechados, dando vueltas como buitres, nomás queriendo su pedazo del pastel.. al final, lo que ves es el camino difícil, lleno de subidas y bajadas, de una startup tratando de triunfar... o de fracasar, definitivamente no es tan bonito ni glamoroso como uno se imagina.

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And be careful, for a comedy, they put a lot of effort into the details. It seems like the series is super, super realistic with the code, with the technology jargon and all that computer stuff... and they hired technical consultants to make everything real, and that gives it another layer of authenticity, even when the situations become totally absurd... now, you'd think that because it's a half-hour comedy, they'd lower the production costs, right? But no, it's HBO, dad! Even though it's a comedy, the technical part is super well taken care of... the photography, the editing, the production design... everything looks super neat, very professional, it feels like it's down to earth, you know? And that, curiously, makes the chaos and mayhem of the comedy even more appealing, and the script... ugh, the script is great! Especially in the first seasons. It's full of sharp dialogue, phrases that stick with you... they manage to integrate the stories that follow and the plots of each character well into the episodes. Here, things have consequences, what happens drags on... it's not like other series that erase everything and start over every week. It feels like a single story that moves forward, even if it's a total disaster.

And the pace is incredibly fast; the episodes last about 25 minutes, sometimes 30, perfect for marathoning... you devour the seasons without realizing it. I remember that I practically binged the first season in a weekend; you almost never feel like they're stretching it out. Let's be honest... if there's one criticism I've heard, to be honest... I kind of understand it... it's that some people say the formula repeats itself every season... and yeah, you start to get the hang of it: at first the problems start piling up, halfway through the season Pied Piper has a huge hit or a great breakthrough, and then boom! everything goes to hell in a spectacular way or they get a new threat right at the end... to leave you hooked for the next season... it can get a little predictable once you've caught on and maybe that's why the later seasons feel a little less fresh than the first.

Y ojo, que para ser comedia, le ponen empeño a los detalles, parece que la serie es súper, súper realista con el código, con la jerga de tecnología y todas esas cosas de computación.. y es que contrataron consultores técnicos para que todo fuera real, y eso le da como otra capa de autenticidad, incluso cuando las situaciones se vuelven un disparate total.. ahora, uno pensaría que por ser comedia de media hora, le iban a bajar a la producción, ¿no? Pero na', es HBO, papá! Aunque sea comedia, la parte técnica está súper bien cuidada.. la fotografía, la edición, el diseño de producción... todo se ve súper prolijo, muy profesional, se siente como con los pies en la tierra, ¿entienden? Y eso, curiosamente, hace que el desmadre y el caos de la comedia peguen todavía más, y el guion... ¡uff, el guion es buenísimo!, sobre todo en las primeras temporadas. Está lleno de diálogos filosos, frases que te quedan grabadas.. logran meter bien las historias que siguen y las tramas de cada personaje en los episodios, acá las cosas tienen consecuencias, lo que pasa se arrastra... no es como otras series que cada semana borran todo y empiezan de cero. Se siente como una sola historia que avanza, aunque sea un desastre total.
Y el ritmo, va rapidísimo, los capítulos duran como 25 minutos, a veces 30, perfecto para maratonear.. te devoras las temporadas sin darte cuenta, me acuerdo que la primera temporada me la eché prácticamente en un fin de semana, casi nunca sientes que la estén estirando. A ver, siendo sinceros un poco.. si hay una crítica que he escuchado la verdad... como que la entiendo un poco... es que algunos dicen que la fórmula se repite en cada temporada.. y sí, como que le empiezas a agarrar la onda: al principio se juntan los problemas, a mitad de temporada Pied Piper tiene un éxito zarpado o un avance genial, y luego ¡pum!, todo se va al carajo de forma espectacular o les cae una amenaza nueva justo al final... para dejarte picado para la siguiente temporada.. puede volverse un poco predecible cuando ya le captaste y quizás por eso las últimas temporadas se sienten un poquito menos frescas que las primeras.

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But the series keeps you hooked thanks to the incredible characters and how they change, even though the story sometimes feels somewhat similar, how they react, the new waves between them, and the incredible talent that the actors have for comedy! That makes it unputdownable, Thomas Middleditch is perfect as Richard, who is always on edge! Kumail Nanjiani (Dinesh) and Martin Starr (Gilfoyle)... the love-hate chemistry those two have is great! Zach Woods, who plays Jared, this super correct but kind of weird guy... steals every scene! And like I told you, TJ Miller as Erlich is... iconic! It's just that they are those characters, you really get attached to this dysfunctional technological family, even though they are screwing up all the time, and the truth is... it's appreciated that they ended it after six seasons... there are so many series that stretch them out like bubblegum, but Silicon Valley told what it had to tell and that doesn't happen every time, huh?

The ending... well, I'm not going to spoil anything, but it was a bit of a conversation starter! It's kind of bittersweet, maybe it wasn't what everyone wanted, but for me, I felt like it fit the tone and themes of the show perfectly... it felt like it had to be that way... So, what do I say at the end? Look, even though the last few seasons feel like that formula has been repeated, I loved Silicon Valley! It's hilarious, it's brilliantly written, and at times it makes you super tense and it has one of the best groups of actors I've seen in a comedy lately... it exceeded everything I expected, it manages to be a scathing review and, at the same time, a story with characters that really hook you, my final verdict is an 8.5/10. I find it really entertaining, and well... that's all for today, I'll see you in the next reviews, take care! Bye!

Peeero la serie te sigue enganchando gracias a los personajes que son increíbles y cómo van cambiando, aunque la historia a veces se sienta medio parecida, cómo reaccionan ellos, las nuevas ondas entre ellos, y el talentazo que tienen los actores para la comedia! Eso hace que no la puedas soltar, Thomas Middleditch está perfecto como Richard, que siempre está con los nervios de punta! Kumail Nanjiani (Dinesh) y Martin Starr (Gilfoyle).. la química que tienen esos dos de amor-odio es genial! Zach Woods, que hace de Jared, este tipo súper correcto pero medio raro.. se roba cada escena! Y como ya les dije, TJ Miller como Erlich es... icónico! Es que son esos personajes, de verdad te encariñas con esta familia tecnológica toda disfuncional, aunque la estén cagando a cada rato, y la verdad.. se agradece que la hayan terminado después de seis temporadas.. hay tantas series que las estiran como chicle, pero Silicon Valley contó lo que tenía que contar y eso no pasa siempre, ¿eh?
El final... bueno, no les voy a spoilear nada, pero dio de qué hablar! Es medio agridulce, capaz no era lo que todos querían, pero para mí, sentí que le quedó perfecto al tono y a los temas de la serie.. se sintió como que tenía que ser así.. Entonces, ¿qué les digo al final? Miren, aunque en las últimas temporadas se sienta esa formulita repetida, ¡yo amé Silicon Valley! Es para morirse de risa, está escrita de forma genial, y a veces te pone súper tenso y tiene uno de los mejores grupos de actores que he visto en comedia últimamente.. superó todo lo que yo esperaba, logra ser una crítica ácida y, al mismo tiempo, una historia con personajes que te enganchan de verdad, mi veredicto final es una calificación de 8.5/10. Me parece realmente entretenida, y bueno.. eso es todo por hoy, nos veremos en las próximas reseñas, cuidense mucho! Byebye!

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Image Source

📀 Official Trailer:

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Have you sat yourself down for once and asked yourself these questions “Who am I, really?” and “What defines me—my mind, my memories, or my body?”

If you have watched Ghost in the shell, you'd probably ask yourself this.

I heard silence at first. The heavy, contemplative silence which encloses your ears and says, “This is not going to be ordinary.” The skyline revealed itself to me, with neons bouncing off the dark puddles, robots humming like baby songs, and Major Motoko Kusanagi just standing there, observing.

No lengthy discussion. Nothing but spooky music, strobing holograms and a sinking feeling that something had to change within this world, and within me.

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On the surface, Ghost in the Shell is a story in a futuristic world in which humans have transformed themselves into machines with cybernetic bodies. The hero, Major Motoko Kusanagi, is a government cybernetic agent in Section 9, whose mission is to pursue a hacker of unknown identity, known only as the Puppet Master.

Beneath the chase and the action however is something much deeper: What is it that makes us human in a world where the distinction between man and machine is nearly indiscernible? Is it possible that the machine can get a soul or as they say in the anime, a ghost?

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I did not feel in a hurry as the story progressed. The movie allows you to relax, take a breath, to experience the pressure of the silence and gaze at the slow flowing city life. Sound design is sucking you in, the gentle whir of the machines, the electricity hum, the eerie chant of the soundtrack. The city itself can be likened to having a pulse.

The scenes are not only displayed, they are experienced.

The one part that I will never forget is that Motoko was under water just... floating. Her thoughts are glittering. The world gets silent. And then she remarks, as it were, I am afraid, I am anxious. Perhaps even hope. That is what it is to be human, isn't it?”

That message struck me. It lay around me like a warm mist.

I was not only watching anime. I was considering, actually considering.

How real are my memories, when they can be hacked?

When my body is nothing but wires and metal, what about my soul?

What happens when AI outgrows its coding, is it still a machine, or more?

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This film does not give you answers. It requires you to sit in the unknown. And I liked that in some way. I felt humane when I was allowed to question.

The story of Motoko is not a mere hunt of the Puppet Master. It is an inner quest. In pursuit of the hacker, she is pursuing part of herself. And I too did so.

Puppet Master does not sound like a villain when he finally speaks. It is as though... philosophy. Like poetry. It speaks of evolution, the necessity to change, the intelligence, the intelligence, not programmed, must be allowed to develop.

It does not recognize itself as an enemy but rather a new form of life, and it has been created by the web. It desires to fuse with Motoko, not to kill her, but to develop. They may be something new together. That scene was like being on a cliff, looking in the mist, and not getting afraid, but amazed.

The last scene made me speechless.

Motoko is not the same person she used to be. She has been incorporated into the Puppet Master. She has a different body, her voice is lower, yet her mind... has developed.

She gazes out across the city, and tells him, “The net is large and endless.” I remember that line. It rings in my ears when I consider our future. We are in connection to machines, to memory, to meaning.

Happy ending is not it. It is not sad either. It is something in between. Beautifully grey.

It put me in doubt about reality, as dreams will do. As--how much of me belongs to me? What happens when my memories are not true? What happens when the feeling aspect of me is code?

And yet... I did not feel hopeless. It was like being awakened.

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Strong and still as she was, Motoko taught me that we are not human because of our skin, or our bones, but because of what we choose, and what we ask, and what we want to know about ourselves.

I saw myself a little in her.

There are times when I feel disconnected, I feel like I was floating in life, not knowing what is real. Ghost in the Shell provided me with the language of such moments. It helped me not feel so lonely in those questions.

Thumbnail is designed by me on pixelLab and other images are screenshot from the movie

Last Saturday I saw my FB account teeming with the same video clips from a certain newly released movie. I already saw its trailer like months ago, but I never expected it to air this month. So I watched some fan-favorite clips and the moment I heard some of the music from their soundtrack, I was immediately convinced that I should try watching the movie. It's just an hour and a half watch so I decided to set my schedule for my viewing time on Sunday morning, but unfortunately, something came up. Anyway, I ended up watching it on Monday morning, and after finishing it I was kinda mixed emotions...Why? Well, let's find out as I share with you my review of the newly aired animated movie, the KPop Demon Hunters.

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About the Movie

KPop Demon Hunters is an American animated movie that was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and later on distributed by Netflix. It was directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, and it aired just this month, June 20, 2025. So this musical fantasy comedy movie is all about a K-pop girl group, Huntrix, who are secretly demon hunters. When they're not slaying on the stage with their grand performances, they do the slaying outside where they kill different demons who lurk in search of human souls.

Along with their duty to slay demons, they also needed to maintain the barrier that the first demon hunters had built, the Honmoon. It's said that when the Honmoon turns to gold, every demon will be banished thus making the world as safe as ever. However, just when they were close to making it gold, a new threat emerged. Saja Boys—their rival boy group who are composed of charming and irresistible demon boys—starts stealing their fans' hearts and eventually their souls. The tears on their boundaries started to appear and it didn't long for it to spread further.

But the tears on the boundary aren't their sole problem because as secrets started to surface, the strain in their group bond became more apparent. Also with their fandom reduced, the effectiveness of their music to unite people's hearts continues to lessen. The Saja Boys begin to dominate, but they, the Huntrix, won't yield easily. They would do everything to stop the tear, heal the Honmoon, and protect their fans. A takedown is about to happen and only one K-pop group will emerge victorious. Will it be the hunters or the demons?

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I've mentioned that I had mixed emotions when I finished it and that was because I'm not certain how to feel exactly about how it ended. Part of me was happy with the end, but there's that part of me that's somehow a little bit disappointed. I felt that they really made me invested in Rumi and Jinu's interaction only to end that abruptly. I mean they started it like a slow-burn romance, with all the tension and love-hate interactions, but just when they started to feel a connection with each other—the tragedy happened. It's really a shame that their blossoming romance ended that way, and I did wish that they made the relationship progress more because their connection is really promising.

Moving on from its bittersweet end, the rest of the movie was definitely enjoyable. You'll really experience a roller coaster of emotions while watching it, but honestly, most of them are light emotions. There are a lot of funny scenes—especially the intro of Saja boys and that Kdrama bump! I really laughed and cringed at the sight of the Rumi that time. Further, I like how diverse the characters were because they added more appeal to the story—especially the main trio. All of them have different backstories, but somehow there's still a part of me that's yearning for more. Like more information about how other Saja Boys became demons and also how the other members of Huntrix—other than Rumi—ended up as hunters.

Those details really intrigued me, and before I forget I also want to know more about Rumi's backstory. They only revealed the gist of it, but the moment I knew it more questions started to pile up. I don't want to further delved into what are those questions because it would spoil the main twist for those who haven't watched it yet. Moreover, I noticed some scenes that felt like foreshadowing but in the end, it didn't even mattered that much—or was it just me overthinking again? Anyway, plot-wise it was a nice and enjoyable story. Of 'course there's still the yearning for more, but the way that they're able to portray the main points of its story so well in just almost an hour and a half was something noteworthy. The dialogues are also nice and some lines really stayed in my mind.

Even though I rewatched the whole movie twice yesterday, I'm still thinking of rewatching it again. The visuals were honestly not the ones that I'm used to seeing because I don't often watch American animated movies, however, the visuals—like the Huntrix—really slayed. Their character designs were cool and eye-catching, and the Saja boys! They're so easy on the eyes! Seeing them perform somehow stirred up that Kpop fangirl persona in me—tho it's not totally awake, they do make me feel giddy (hehe). Also, I like how fluid their animation is; the movements were smooth. And the action scenes, the choreography was so fine and the angles were utilized well.

Perhaps the only thing that kinda weirded me off was how their mouth moves when they sing—it's like they appear constrained at some parts. Maybe that's just their art style, nevertheless, the whole visual aspect was great and it really made my viewing experience more enjoyable. Now to my favorite aspect of this movie, its soundtrack! I've mentioned that it's the one that convinced me to watch this movie because I was really impressed with how catchy and nice those songs are. From How It's Done to Your Idol—all of the songs in their soundtrack were so memorable. I even listen to some of them now—especially the Golden and Takedown! Their lyrics were also meaningful and they fit well with the scenes they were used.

Also, the VAs portrayed their roles very well. I was totally shocked when I knew it was Ahn Hyo-seop who voiced Jinu. I already watched him in Business Proposal before, and I didn't really expect that he would sound so good at speaking English. The way he voiced Jinu was just so astonishing because his accent was so cool and I didn't notice an evident Korean accent. I already heard VAs before talking in other languages and I somehow could distinguish that that wasn't their mother tongue because their accent somewhat gave it off. However, the way he voiced Jinu was just amazing—like is that really his voice? The low chuckles and that part where he got so shocked with Rumi, definitely sounded so natural.

So yeah, overall this movie was definitely a must-watch. From the plot, and visuals, to its soundtrack, everything was well thought out. I badly want a prequel or sequel—or anything more about it, but I read from an article about the interview of one of its directors that the production period took over nine years! It indeed took time, and I can really see that it paid off because the whole movie turned out great. And regardless of whether it will have a prequel or sequel, the movie itself was a solid one and I definitely recommend to you all to try watching it because I know you'll not regret the experience!

Before I end this review, I'll share with you its trailer, so—

Have you watched this movie last week or perhaps yesterday? Or is this your first time seeing it? If you have thoughts about it, then feel free to share them in the comments. That's all for now, minna-san! I hope you enjoyed reading my review.

Hola queridos amigos de @TheAnimeRealm, saludos y bendiciones, vengo en esta oportunidad para hablarles sobre una película en que hablar del primer amor crea un recuerdo hermoso, aunque a veces no sea tan sencillo darse cuenta que lo es, cuando ese primer amor termina siendo tu mejor amigo de la infancia, pero hay situaciones que por más que no quieras reconocer es necesario dar el primer paso e intentar que todo salga bien, el que no arriesga no gana, y si es tu primer amor hay que intentarlo.

Se trata de la historia de Tamako y Mochizo, dos jóvenes amigos que desde pequeños han convivido juntos, ya que sus mamás eran mejores amigas, viven uno en frente del otro y siempre han hecho todo juntos, estudian en el mismo lugar y sus padres tienen el mismo negocio de comida, han pasado tanto tiempo juntos que se quieren mucho, pero Mochizo sabe que la quiere más que una amiga, poco a poco se ha ido enamorando de ella, pero por no arriesgar su amistad no está tan seguro de decírselo, es ahí cuando las cosas se complican algo, y el tendrá que decidir qué hacer con ese sentimiento que tiene.

En cambio para Tamako solo es un amigo, o al menos eso cree, por lo que está enfocado en sus clases sobre todo en las prácticas deportivas que tiene, así como apoyar en el negocio de su papá, tras la pérdida de su madre es la que ha tomado la responsabilidad de ello y no se da cuenta de los sentimientos de Mochizo, por lo que al saber ello se le hará difícil ya que siempre ha sido su mejor amigo y no lo había llegado a ver con otros ojos, así como la oportunidad de tener una relación, alguien que la apoyara y estuviera con ella en los momentos difíciles.

El amor no es sencillo, sobre todo cuando se tiene tanta cercanía, ya que se piensa que si algo sale mal puedes acabar con la relación que se ha formado tanto tiempo, perder una amistad por experimentar con una relación que no sabes si tendrá futuro no es fácil, pero no implica que no haya que intentarlo, en la vida hay que arriesgarse para saber si podrás ganar, dejar las cosas así porque te sientes cómoda, o por el miedo que nada cambie no es lo mejor, o al menos no del todo, cuando por ambas partes se siente lo mismo, hay que dar un paso hacia adelante e intentarlo, no cerrarse a lo que no se podrá, al contrario, abrirse a lo que podría resultar bien.

Es una historia tranquila, con anécdotas de estos dos jóvenes que intentan dar un paso diferente y encontrarse más que como amigos, es darle a la oportunidad al amor, a ese primer amor que te enseña lo lindo de la vida.

Ficha técnica

Dirección: Naoko Yamada País: Japón Año: 2014 Género: Comedia y drama Idioma(s): Japonés Productora: Kyoto Animation Distribución: Shochiku.

Muchas gracias por leerlo. Espero sea de su agrado. Cualquier comentario con gusto estaré para responder y si quieren saber más de mi les dejo mis:

Hello dear friends of @TheAnimeRealm, greetings and blessings, I come in this opportunity to tell you about a movie in which talking about first love creates a beautiful memory, although sometimes it is not so easy to realize that it is, when that first love ends up being your best childhood friend, but there are situations that even if you do not want to recognize it is necessary to take the first step and try to make everything go well, he who does not risk does not win, and if it is your first love you have to try.

This is the story of Tamako and Mochizo, two young friends who have lived together since they were little, since their moms were best friends, they live across the street from each other and have always done everything together, they study in the same place and their parents have the same food business, They have spent so much time together that they love each other very much, but Mochizo knows that he loves her more than a friend, little by little he has been falling in love with her, but for not risking his friendship he is not so sure to tell her, that's when things get a little complicated, and he will have to decide what to do with that feeling he has.

On the other hand for Tamako he is just a friend, or at least she thinks so, so she is focused on her classes especially in the sports practices she has, as well as supporting her father's business, after the loss of her mother is the one who has taken responsibility for it and does not realize the feelings of Mochizo, so knowing this will be difficult because it has always been her best friend and had not come to see it with different eyes, as well as the opportunity to have a relationship, someone to support her and be with her in difficult times.

Love is not easy, especially when you are so close, because you think that if something goes wrong you can end the relationship that has been formed for so long, losing a friendship to experiment with a relationship that you do not know if it will have a future is not easy, but it does not mean that you should not try, in life you have to take risks to know if you can win, leaving things like that because you feel comfortable, or for fear that nothing will change is not the best, or at least not at all, when both parties feel the same, you have to take a step forward and try, do not close yourself to what you can not, on the contrary, open yourself to what could turn out well.

It is a quiet story, with anecdotes of these two young people who try to take a different step and meet each other more than as friends, it is to give love a chance, that first love that teaches you the beauty of life.

Technical data

Director: Naoko Yamada Country: Japan Year: 2014 Genre: Comedy and drama Language(s): Japanese Production company: Kyoto Animation Distribution: Shochiku.

Thank you very much for reading it. I hope you like it. If you have any comments I'll be glad to answer and if you want to know more about me I leave you my: