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SyFy really doesn't put out the best stuff these days but damn if Revival didn't hook me right from the start with its first episode, I was not expecting this series to be this good and have such a great opening. The show kicks off in this small Wisconsin town where dead people just start coming back to life and its not your typical zombie bullshit where everyone's brain dead and walking around moaning. Most of the "revival" come back pretty much normal, which makes everything way more interesting and fucked up at the same time, there are some with scars or body damage but there are also those who seem to have other abilities that we are just starting to discover. Dana Cypress is our main character, she is a cop who us trying to get the hell out of this small town with her kid Cooper but then Revival Day happens and suddenly she is stuck dealing with all this supernatural crap. Her dad Wayne is the sheriff, so that creates this whole awkward situation where she is working for him while also trying to escape the family business, this might sound familiar for some. The episode opens with this crematorium scene where dead bodies just start getting up and walking around, not just walking but talking and action all normal like they were never dead, which was pretty damn creepy and set the tone perfectly for what we are dealing with here, the feeling was so funny because I had just finish Dead City S02E06 episode so my brain set the signal "Zombies" but they are not, they are Revivals.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13951052/
• Platform: Peacock

The mystery aspect is what really grabbed me though because Dana ends up investigating this dead horse situation that turns out to be way more complicated than it seems. There was human teeth scattered around the scene, which is gross as hell but also makes you wonder what the fuck is going on in this town, how and why is all this happening?. She meets Ibrahim, who is this CDC guy that shows up to help figure out what's causing all these dead people to come back and their chemistry is pretty solid even though she initially just wanted to hook up with him at a bar. The way they handle the relationship between Dana and her sister Em is really well done too, you can tell there are some serious family issues going on but they still care about each other, so the series not only keeps building up the hole revival event but also the characters around it, its not just focus on the main event. Em's character is dealing with her own problems, she has got this bone disease called osteogenesis imperfecta that makes her bones break easily but she's also hiding something major from her family, he moment I saw her without knowing I imagine she had to be a revival but nobody is action like she was so the episode does a great job of building up to that final reveal without making it feel rushed or forced, which is harder to do than it looks, it was a real jaw dropping surprise.

The series does great at not only showing the supernatural and horror aspect of what is going on and continues to unfold but there is others in town who get heavily affected by the psychological impact of having dead people come back to life in a small community. You've got people like Mrs. Shaw who lost her husband just one day before Revival Day, so she is dealing with all this grief while watching everyone else get their loved ones back, between the weirdness and creepy you cant stop feeling bad for her, she just had no luck and keeps asking why and if anyone can do something about it, about a situation that nobody has a clue, I think just been her and on top a lonely old woman adds a lot of emotions and really makes you feel bad for her. That's some heavy emotional stuff right there and the show doesn't shy away from showing how it affects people differently from some been scared of the revivers, others want to help them, and then you got people like the mayor who is trying to figure out how to manage this whole situation politically, in my opinion he is just taking advantage of the situation to generate rating for himself. The episode shows how the town is divided about what to do with these people who came back, which creates this tension that runs throughout the whole thing. Wayne's character is interesting because he is trying to maintain order while also dealing with his own family falling apart and David James Elliott does a solid job making him feel like a real person instead of just a stereotypical small town sheriff.

The action sequences are pretty good too, not that we getting car chase or people jumping out a plain but the small fight scenes feel like they belong and fit to the episode and in fact they have been building up as Dana keeps investigation, especially that barn fight scene near the end where Dana had to fight this crazy old lady who keeps pulling her own teeth out and they keep growing back, aside from not understanding the "rules" of revivals she is clearly not mentally ok. This particular reviver seems different from the others, she is violent and has super strength, yup its not only about coming back from death, this right away makes me questions about whether all revivers are really as harmless as they seem, what other powers they have? we already know their flesh can heal from Ibrahim small experiment with Dana back at their improvise lab. The fight scene was simple but started to put down bodies very fast, it felt brutal and chaotic without being over the top and when Em shows up to help her sister, that is when things get really interesting because is WAS dead as I thought but looks like nobody knew about so it is possible she died alone and nobody knew and lucky for her now she is back but there is much more to her dying because she had some romantic problems going on. The series doesnt just Data Dump everything at once, its more complicated than it seems and it doesn't try to explain everything right away but gives you enough information to understand what is happening, like the healing factor that the revivers have is explained pretty well through Ibrahim's character, showing how they can regenerate from new injuries but not from stuff that happened before they died, this are all questions that will eventually start getting answers. This creates some interesting possibilities for future episodes and makes you wonder what other abilities these people might have, almost like now we going to start finding others with abilities aside from super strength and regenerating.

The ending was a jaw dropping moment, HUGE WTF!!! when they reveal that Em is actually a reviver and I think this was handled perfectly because she is screaming IM DEAD but they never specify it before, they even include that she has been missing for some time so it all look normal, even though you could probably see it coming if you were paying attention. Romy Weltman who plays Em does a great job playing someone who is trying to hide this huge secret from her family and when she gets stabbed through the stomach and then heals up is so ironic and that scene makes me laugh because the first words was "dont tell dad" between sisters, it was hilarious. The way she cuts off that crazy lady's head with the scythe was badass, also didnt felt over the top because the cut was very awkward, I though she was going to shop the entire head but it was just the top of the skull and then asking Dana not to tell their dad shows how complicated this whole situation is going to get. The episode manages to balance all these different elements, the family drama, the supernatural mystery, the small town politics and the action sequences without any of it feeling forced or out of place, no wonder why this series 93% from critics and 88% from audience. Melanie Scrofano brings this great energy to Dana's character, she seems tough but also vulnerable and you can see why she wants to get out of this town while also understanding why she stays to help. The episode had good dialogue that feels natural and character development that doesn't feel rushed, which is something a lot of shows struggle with in their first episodes.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #revival, #syfy, #supernatural, #zombies, #wisconsin, #mystery, #family, #drama, #revivers, #death, #resurrection, #smalltown, #police, #investigation, #healing, #teeth, #barn, #fight, #secrets, #grief, #emotions, #characters, #premiere, #episode, #supernatural

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The first Mortal Kombat I watched, which I remember vividly well, had Liu Kang, Jonny Cage, and I think Sonia as the lead characters, where they entered into the Mortal Kombat Tournament filled with so many deadly fighters. I remember back then asking myself why anyone would want to enter into such a competition when you know you could die just because you were fighting in a cage. But now that I am much older, I understand that there is an honour code that comes with these battles, thereby making it more enticing for the fighters to engage in such battles.

The new Mortal Kombat titled Uncaged Fury is coming this October 2025, and it will have Karl Urban acting as Jonny Cage, who I think might be the lead focus. Like I mentioned earlier in this post, Liu Kang was the focus of the first Mortal Kombat movie, but this time it will be Jonny Cage. Although with what I can see from the teaser I watched this morning, after receiving a notification from IGN's YouTube channel, I can tell there will be a lot of action, and above all, film tricks.

Here is the Teaser Video from IGN's YouTube page if you would like to get a taste of what is coming in October 2025.

I do not want to jinx it, but I am a bit excited about what they have to offer in this movie, since Mortal Kombat happens to be one of my favourite games, along with NBA2K. Mortal Kombat brings back nostalgic memories of my childhood whenever I play the game, and NBA2K is a huge passion of mine for basketball and contact sports.

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Its catching up time and I didnt want to leave haing on Episode 5 of Dead City Season 2 in fact it was better that the first four imo and it felt like the show finally found its groove again after that kinda slow first four episodes. The whole power struggle between the Dama and the Croat reached a boiling point and watching Negan manipulate everything from the shadows was just like the kiss of death. This episode literally changed everything, from Maggie almost getting hanged to that brutal scene where the Croat just lets the Dama burn alive, it was chaos from start to finish and it was very satisfying although Narvaez death was too easy, after all the series is not perfect and I dont not expect it to be as its a spin off aka milk that cow. The way they killed off multiple group leaders in one episode was bold as hell since its a big reset button, especially considering how long they have been building up these factions. Narvaez from New Babylon getting taken out by walker Roxanna was poetic justice at its finest, the woman who preached about order and control gets destroyed by the very chaos she helped create. The whole Central Park execution scene was intense too, with those foragers doing their mourning ritual that attracted all the walkers, it was actually pretty smart storytelling but still look a bit low effort or just too evident still I guess it was all about this big reset for the series. Hershel's confession about working with the Dama hit different this time around, you could see how torn up Maggie was about her own son being manipulated by this woman and in the case of Hershel I really thought he would take Dama's side but with her diying it would not make sense. The character development this season has been way better than season 1, everyone feels more real and less like they are just going through the motions. Ginny turn out to be bitchy AF this season, from the quiet girl to pointing a gun at Hershel was a moment that made me actually gasp, like tf you doing but then she redeemed herself by saving Maggie later so I guess we are good.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18546730/
• Platform: Prime Video

The methane facility stuff and all the political maneuvering between the different groups was handled way better than I expected especially with Negan trying to convince Christos to join their side only to watch the Croat gas everyone I didnt see that coming, I thought Negan would have a bigger confrontation with the Croat although revenge was so sweet. That whole sequence where they reveal Christos was actually protecting women and children was a nice touch, it gave his character more emotion instead of just being another tough guy villain, same as when he explain how they were just surviving and basically had to look though but they are rely not into it but just playing along. The way the Croat showed up and just wiped out the entire group was brutal but also showed how unstable he has become, this scene really reminds me of good old savage Negan, dude is clearly losing it and taking everyone down with him. Negan's reaction to all the innocent people dying was interesting too, you could see him questioning whether he is on the right side of this war. The fight over power between all these factions have been the strongest part of this season, way more interesting than the generic zombie action we usually get. Bugal showing up at the end was perfect timing and I love how he has been playing everyone against each other from the background. The production values continue to be top notch, that Radio City Music Hall location was gorgeous and the whole burning building sequence looked incredible. The acting has stepped up too, especially from the actor playing the Croat, his breakdown scene with the Dama was really something special from the moment he first loose it after feeling Nega had his back but then feels he didnt right away, thats he moment Croat realize he fucked up and too the bait, that is exactly why then he goes back to Dama to talk and basically apologize.

What really worked for me was how they handled the Dama's death scene, because I was getting tired of her whole mysterious puppet master thing. The Croat calling her out for being nothing without him was a long time coming and watching their partnership implode was satisfying in a twisted way, it was about damn time. The rat symbolism throughout the episode was heavy handed but effective, especially with that final shot of Negan cleaning the guts off his boot, I mean we all knew it was him. It's clear he orchestrated the whole thing by killing the Dama's pet rat and then convincing the Croat that she doesn't respect him, classic Negan manipulation using people's insecurities against them to get what he wants. The fact that he didn't have to get his hands dirty this time shows how much he has evolved as a character, he is smarter and more calculating now. The Croat's descent into madness has been building all season and this episode was the perfect payoff for his story, his decision to let the Dama burn was cold blooded but also understandable given how she has been treating him like garbage. The whole power vaccuum this creates is gonna be interesting to watch, especially with Bugal positioning himself as the new big bad ass in town. I'm curious to see how Negan handles being the leader of this methane operation without the Dama pulling the strings, because if Croat accepts he killed Dama on purpose then him and Negan might stay together, after watching episode 5 it felt like it has been worth watching the series so far.

The execution scenes were probably the most intense moments Dead City has ever done, except for that time Maggie fought that fkn huge zombie in the underground tunnels and I'm not just talking about the hanging itself but the whole build up to it, how Maggie goes back and still gets caught because Ginny help, which in fact make her look stupid because then she backtracks latter on the episode. Narvaez's plan to use Maggie as bait to lure Negan and the Croat into a walker trap was actually dumb af, I was rooting for Narvaez to get killed asap and Im glad she got killed the moment she grab some power. The way the foragers accepted their fate and didn't fight back against the walkers was haunting, something I didnt expect, I though they were going to at least turn around, it showed how different groups have adapted to this world in their own ways and just accept how some things are. The walker attack on the execution site was chaos but good chaos, with everyone scrambling to survive while the dead poured in from all sides. Roxanna coming back as a walker to kill Narvaez was probably the most satisfying death in the entire series so far, that woman had it coming. The fact that they managed to make me care about these side characters before killing them off shows how much the story telling has improved. Pearly's role as the voice of reason throughout all the madness was important too although he still look stupid like when Maggie tried to save him from the box and he decided to stay in with Roxanna tf??, although he has become a solid supporting character. The whole sequence with Maggie almost dying really showed how much Hershel means to her and you could see the desperation in her eyes, this episode proved that Dead City works best when it focuses on character relationships rather than just zombie action.

The series have been ramping up and Season 2 of Dead City is starting to feel like an improvement and making it fit with the other two spin off actually going on too, I think it represents everything that has been working about season 2 so far, the political mind games, the character development and the willingness to make big changes to the point of resting the rules of the game with Dama and Narvaez death, who is going to remain as the leaders and what will be their actions?. The way they handled multiple character deaths without it feeling cheap or just for shock value was impressive, each death served the story in some way. There is also the Croat's transformation from loyal follower to potential main villain has been one of the best character story lines in the Walking Dead universe in the last few years along with Negan's return to his manipulative roots felt natural and it's clear he has learned from his past mistakes. The pacing of this episode was perfect, it never felt rushed but also never dragged, every scene had purpose. I'm actually excited to see where they take the story from here, even though I can watch all the other episodes Im planing on finish two per week as I catch up with other series. The balance between the different factions has been maintained really well, no other group feels overpowered or under powered, imo this episode gets a solid 7.5/10 from me, it's everything I wanted Dead City to be from the beginning, dark, complex and willing to take risks with its characters, I know this is not a series for everyone but I did enjoy watching.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #walking, #dead, #city, #negan, #maggie, #dama, #croat, #episode, #season, #recap, #review, #manhattan, #survival, #zombie, #apocalypse, #drama, #characters, #death, #power, #manipulation, #betrayal, #factions, #television, #spinoff, #entertainment

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Welcome 💖 Bienvenidos

Apple TV dropped Murderbot couple of weeks ago and Im just starting to catch up on some of the TV series, I wasn't expecting to get this hooked on a cyborg having an existential crisis but here we are. Its kinda different watching a Robot come up with so much drama, not your typical robot show where some shiny android learns to love humanity through heartwarming moments and cheesy dialogue or go totally rogue on humans, this is about a security unit that hacked its own programming and now spends most of its time watching soap operas while secretly wanting to avoid human contact at all costs, not only because he finds humans stressing but to not blow his cover. Alexander Skarsgard voices this antisocial killing machine with the kind of stealth although not dead man style that makes you forget you're watching a sci fi show, it feels more like listening to your most introverted friend complain about having to attend a work party or just been around others in the office cafeteria. The story could not be more simple but brilliant, take a corporate owned security robot, give it free will and watch it realize that freedom is way more complicated than just jail breaking himself, especially when you are stuck protecting the very species you find incredibly annoying. I found the first episode very entertaining as I can relate a lot to the introverted bot, the series doesnt try to be an action series even though there is some shooting and monsters but its more about how Murderbot tries to be as stealth as possible between humans, its neither about be profound or preachy about artificial intelligence, instead it just lets our reluctant hero bitch about everything while secretly caring more than it wants to admit.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18177528/
• Platform: AppleTV+

Rottentomatoes Rating

The episode starts with this cyborg finishing up a mining gig where the human workers treat it like garbage, using it as entertainment by making it raise its arm for no reason except to be assholes, I think this was the OG flashbacks he kept getting before going full murderbot, he mention several times how they get recycled so I wonder if a little piece of that falty software or material stay with him. Six months of been treat like crap and our future murderbot finally cracks the code on its governor module, the thing that forces it to obey every human command no matter how stupid or degrading and suddenly it's free to make its own choices. But instead of going on a killing spree or escaping to some distant galaxy, it does something weirdly human, it goes back to work because the alternative is getting melted down by the corporation that owns it. He self named Murderbot, he then gets assigned to a new team of scientists from some hippie commune called Preservation Alliance and right away you can tell these people are different because they actually feel bad about essentially renting a sentient slave for their expedition. Dr. Mensah and her crew are describe as these well meaning environmental researchers who hold hands and hum together to make group decisions, which obviously makes our cynical cyborg want to crawl into a corner and die from secondhand embarrassment, I think we going to get a lot of context and character development on this series as how they started describing every other person that comes up going through the entire team.

Things get interesting when a giant centipede creature attacks two of the scientists during their survey work, forcing Murderbot to spring into action and save them even though it technically doesn't have to anymore but all he wants is to continue downloading content and avoid humans, does this cyborg goes full pirate on the humans downloading all kind of content? a moving Piratebay? jajaja thats hilarious. This rescue scene is where we see the real conflict at its core, our rogue bot could have just stood there and watched these people get eaten but instead it throws itself into danger to protect them, getting seriously injured in the process and the aftermath is even more complex because when one of the scientists freezes up in shock, Murderbot removes its helmet to show its human like face and tries to comfort her by basically saying "everything will be alright, you got my word", something it learned from watching too much television. Taking off his helmet make him look vulnerable and ends up being a huge mistake because it's completely outside normal security behavior, leading to suspicion from the team's tech expert who starts questioning whether their protection is malfunctioning or worse almost blaming Murderbot of them not getting proper secure data about their maps or worst been it operating outside of the system control. Right from episode one there seems to be this perfect balance between the action sequences with character development, never felt one sided, showing us that beneath all the sarcasm and misanthropy, there is something heroic about this character that it doesn't even recognize in itself. You can feel the internal struggle as Murderbot grapples with having choices for the first time while still being trapped by circumstances beyond its control, creating this perfect metaphor for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a job they hate but can't leave.

The mystery element kicks in when the team realizes their corporate supplied maps are missing crucial information about dangerous wildlife which explains why nobody warned them about the giant death worms lurking underground, but then again their tech leader Gurathin, who is a human with implants that enhance his capabilities, still believes there is something wrong with their security cyborg when in fact was never his fault, you will grow a grudge against this Gurathing for sure. There is definitely some corporate conspiracy building up, probably involving the same company that manufactures security units and then deliberately creates situations where they are absolutely necessary for survival. While all this is going on the core of the series starts to heat up as Murderbot is dealing with fragmented memories of its previous assignment, seven seconds of footage showing what appears to be a massacre involving security units and dead humans but it can't tell if he was the perpetrator or just witnessed the violence. These flashbacks add a dark enigma to the character that keeps you guessing about whether our security unit might actually be dangerous, even though everything we have seen suggests it's more likely to quote soap opera dialogue than hurt innocent people. The social relationship between the team members create additional tension as they debate whether to trust their obviously unusual security unit, with some seeing it as a person deserving of kindness while others view it as a potentially lethal piece of equipment that needs to be shut down immediately. The episode ends with Dr. Mensah checking on Murderbot's wellbeing, a gesture of genuine care that completely terrifies our antisocial hero because it's never experienced anyone treating it with basic human decency before, all he does is day dream how he kills every human around him to not blow his cover.

I know this show is going to be so relatable for many, I actually do a 100% from the point that most of the time I enjoy been alone and not having people around me but there are sometimes when I do want to go out and do it to feel different for a moment until I go back to the same capsule mode, this time combine those circumstances with a literal cyborg assassin, every awkward social interaction and desperate attempt to avoid human contact feels like watching someone with severe social anxiety trying to navigate a workplace full of extroverts. The series has this perfect balance between humor and emotions, making you laugh at Murderbot's internal monologue while also feeling sorry for a being that's trapped between two worlds without belonging to either one. Alexander Skarsgard brings exactly the right energy to this role, delivering the kind of dry, self deprecating personality that makes you forget you are watching someone play a robot instead of just a really antisocial person. The production values are solid without being flashy, creating a believable future world where corporate capitalism has extended its reach across the galaxy and turned sentient beings into rental equipment. This first episode sets up what promises to be a fascinating exploration of identity, freedom, and the question of what it means to be human when humanity itself seems pretty questionable most of the time, all wrapped up in a package that's entertaining enough to make you forget you're getting a philosophy lesson. I'm giving this one an 8 out of 10 because it manages to be funny, thoughtful and truely engaging while avoiding most of the pretentious bullshit that usually comes with AI stories, definitely worth watching if you just want to see a robot complain about having to give speeches.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #murderbot, #cyborg, #skarsgard, #apple, #robot, #security, #android, #corporate, #dystopia, #comedy, #antisocial, #television, #scifi, #artificial, #intelligence, #freedom, #awkward, #introvert, #drama, #future, #conspiracy, #violence, #humanity, #entertainment, #streaming

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I gotta be honest here, when I first heard about this whole live action How to Train Your Dragon remake happening I was like "meh another cash grab situation" because the truth is that live action movies are not the best, Netflix have been having some success with One Piece and Avatar but movies? not really. After watching Disney absolutely butcher most of their classic animated movies with these soulless live action versions I wasn't exactly too eager to watch this but then my wife watch it and said it was great, so I had some spare time and decided to jump in. DreamWorks actually pulled it off and I'm kinda shocked about how good this turned out to be, this isn't just some random director coming in and trying to put their own spin on something that was already perfect, Dean DeBlois who co directed the original animated version came back to do this one, which makes all the difference in the world. You can feel that this guy actually cares about the source material, he's not trying to reinvent the wheel or add some weird modern twist that nobody asked for, Disney should take a page out of this. Instead he took what worked perfectly in 2010 and basically gave us a live action version that feels like watching the animated movie through a different lens but still keeps all the heart that made us fall in love with Hiccup and Toothless in the first place. The whole thing runs about thirty minutes longer than the original but it doesn't feel bloated or stretched out like most of these remakes do, it just feels like we are getting more time to hang out in this world that we already loved.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32246771/

Rottentomatoes Rating

As any other live action the cast is key, they didnt work with ultra known names, this is where things could've gone really wrong but somehow they managed to nail pretty much every single casting choice. Mason Thames as Hiccup is absolutely perfect and I was worried about this one because Jay Baruchel's voice was so iconic in the animated version but Thames brings his own energy to the role without trying to do some weird impersonation, you cant use the same voices because they it might give the impression of a cartoonish human so got to be cautious with faces and voices that at least have some similarities, in fact they manage to do it on this movie. The kid actually looks like he could be Hiccup, he got that skinny, awkward vibe but also has this determination that makes you root for him from the very first scene. Gerard Butler coming back as Stoick is probably the best decision they made, because this dude IS Stoick and seeing him physically become the character instead of just voicing him adds so much more weight to those father son moments. Nico Parker as Astrid was another casting choice that really worked out in favor of the movie, she got this fierce energy that makes her believable as someone who could actually kick ass in dragon training, but she also has these softer moments that make the romantic subplot feel natural instead of forced, things really flow. Nick Frost stepping in as Gobber was a smart move too as he brings this different energy than Craig Ferguson did in the animated version but it still feels right for the character, its like somehow some of the characters on the live action have small contrast to the animated version but still work out, after all on the live action you are also looking for that human character side. The supporting cast of teenage dragon trainers all worked pretty well too, they managed to give each of them their own personality without making them feel like cartoon characters trying to exist in a live action world.

The CGI and production value in this movie are absolutely incredible and this is coming from someone who usually complains about CGI in these big budget movies. Toothless looks amazing, even though he doesn't look that massive as someone would expect from a dragon, he got all that cat like charm that made him so loveable in the animated version but now he feels like a real creature that could actually exist in this world, still looks animated and very fictional and not like a dragon from other productions but making him look fierce and menace was never the plan as they were trying to replicate the animated version. The flying scenes are probably the best part of the whole movie, there is something about seeing these sequences in live action that just hits different, especially that test flight scene where Hiccup and Toothless are learning to trust each other, plus the music on every one of this scenes. The island of Berk feels like a real place too, they filmed a lot of this in Ireland and you can tell because of the awesome looking landscapes and give the whole thing this epic vibes that works perfectly for the story. The dragon designs are all dead straight the same as to the animated versions but they also try to gave it this realistic texture that makes them feel more dangerous and powerful as a dragon is suppose to be, which actually adds to the emotional impact when these characters are learning to overcome their fear. Going back to those musical themes, they really kick in ad add to the fantasy side of the movie, especially during the emotional beats between Hiccup and his father making The action sequences feel bigger and more intense than the animated version but they never feel overwhelming or like they are trying too hard to be a blockbuster.

Its not easy to stay faithful to the original content once its out for some reason, I still haven't figure out why most of the time since the entire formula is there in front of you, wonder if its because of rating or audience preference, this remake does manage to stay within the lines and still justifying its existence, mostly like a very good upgrade to the content, as most of this live action versions feel pointless. This one actually understands what made the animated version so special and finds ways to enhance those moments instead of changing them just to be different of sell something totally different to the original vision. The father son relationship between Hiccup and Stoick has even more emotional punch here because you are seeing real human actors bring these characters to life, those moments where Stoick is struggling to connect with his son hit harder when you can see the pain in Gerard Butler. The friendship between Hiccup and Toothless is just as magical as it was in the animated version, maybe even more so because seeing a real person interact with this dragon makes the bond feel more life and real. The pacing is really good too, they added some extra scenes that give the supporting characters more development without slowing down the main story plus the humor works really well as it did to the animated version, it's not trying to be a comedy but there are good laughs that come from the characters being themselves rather than forced jokes expecting the audience to laugh, its the characters just having fun. As the whole movie is very emotion I also think that the darker moments hit harder too, when things get scary or emotional, the live action format really helps sell those moments.

The bottom line in my opinion this is some of the best life actions I have seen considering I have no attachment at all to the animated version, this is probably the best live action remake of an animated movie that I've ever seen and I have been through a lot of terrible ones over the years, that Avatar movie in 2010 or the many Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya life action movies, dont get me started on those because I dont know WHEN someone is going to make things right for those last two. Dean DeBlois and his team understood that the key to making this work wasn't to reinvent everything but to take what was already perfect and find a way to make it work in live action without losing any of the heart or magic. The cast is great, the effects are amazing, the story still works perfectly without drastic changes just because its humans now and it actually feels like it was made by people who love the original animated version instead of executives who just wanted to make a quick buck. My only real complaint is why a live action because the animated version didn't need to be remade but since it does exist, I'm glad they did it right, the original movie is not as legendary as say Aang story imo, so why make it a live action just exactly as to the original movie and not make a sequel??. Still this is how you do a live action remake, Disney should take notes instead of continuing to pump out soulless versions of their classics that nobody asked for, Snow White (2025). If you loved the original How to Train Your Dragon, you are gonna love this one too since it's basically the same experience but with real actors and better effects, which is exactly what it should be. I'd give this thing an 8 out of 10, it's not perfect but it is damn close to being the perfect remake and that is ay more than I ever expected as I first watch the live action and then the animated version lol.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #remake, #dragon, #hiccup, #toothless, #dreamworks, #liveaction, #faithful, #casting, #effects, #flying, #viking, #berk, #stoick, #astrid, #deblois, #butler, #thames, #parker, #frost, #animation, #blockbuster, #sequel, #heartfelt, #adventure, #family

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I finally caught Final Destination Bloodlines after hearing all the hype about it being the best one since the original and the wait was worth it, even though it took them 14 damn years to get this thing made. This sixth entry in the franchise manages to do something I didn't think was possible anymore, it actually feels fresh while still giving us all the gory death sequences we have been craving since 2011. The movie opens with this insane 1968 sequence at some fancy restaurant tower that's basically the Space Needle but not quite, where our grandmother character Iris has this vision of the whole place collapsing in the most brutal way possible. What I loved about this opening is how they took their time building up the tension, showing you all these little details that are gonna go wrong, the penny getting stuck in the fan, the gas leak, people jumping around on glass floors like idiots. The kills in this opening sequence are absolutely savage too, we're talking people getting split in half by elevators, crushed by pianos and falling hundreds of feet onto spikes, all rendered with some pretty decent CGI that doesn't look as cheap as I expected, but here is where it gets interesting, this isn't just another group of random teenagers getting picked off one by one, instead we are following an entire family bloodline that was never supposed to exist because grandma saved everyone that night.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32246771

Rottentomatoes Rating

The family theme is what really sets this apart from the other sequels because when you are watching cousins, brothers, uncles and moms trying to protect each other from death's design, you actually start giving a shit about these people instead of just waiting for them to die in creative ways. Stephanie is our main protagonist, she is having nightmares about her grandmother's vision even though she never met the old lady and when she finally tracks down Iris living in this ridiculous fortress house covered in spikes and razor wire, that's when things get real. The explanation they give for why death is coming after this whole family makes perfect sense within the franchise's logic, basically if you save people who were supposed to die, their kids and grandkids become targets too because they were never meant to be born. Eric is hands down the standout character here, he got all the best lines and actually made me laugh multiple times, which is rare for a horror movie that isn't trying to be a straight comedy. The guy covered in piercings and tattoos but he is also the most caring member of the family, especially when he is trying to save his younger brother from getting killed. His death scene in the MRI machine is probably one of the most cringe worthy things I have seen in any Final Destination movie, watching those piercings get ripped out by the magnetic field while he is folding in half backwards made me physically uncomfortable, got to say the movie does a great job of misdirection too, setting up obvious death traps and then shifting gears at the last second to catch you off guard.

The family theme is what really sets this apart from the other sequels because when you are watching cousins, brothers, uncles and moms trying to protect each other from death's design, you actually start giving a shit about these people instead of just waiting for them to die in creative ways. Stephanie is our main protagonist, she is having nightmares about her grandmother's vision even though she never met the old lady and when she finally tracks down Iris living in this ridiculous fortress house covered in spikes and razor wire, that's when things get real. The explanation they give for why death is coming after this whole family makes perfect sense within the franchise's logic, basically if you save people who were supposed to die, their kids and grandkids become targets too because they were never meant to be born. Eric is hands down the standout character here, he got all the best lines and actually made me laugh multiple times, which is rare for a horror movie that isn't trying to be a straight comedy. The guy covered in piercings and tattoos but he is also the most caring member of the family, especially when he is trying to save his younger brother from getting killed. His death scene in the MRI machine is probably one of the most cringe worthy things I have seen in any Final Destination movie, watching those piercings get ripped out by the magnetic field while he is folding in half backwards made me physically uncomfortable, got to say the movie does a great job of misdirection too, setting up obvious death traps and then shifting gears at the last second to catch you off guard.

The second half is where things get a bit messy though, the whole sequence at the fortified house feels rushed and the explosion that kills the mom doesn't make much sense and I say this probably because of the timing. They also do this thing where they make you think the cycle is broken when Charlie revives Stephanie after she drowns but then the movie pulls its classic Final Destination ending where death gets everyone anyway, this was predictable for me because I saw the other movies but after so long I know will caught off guard many. The train derailment finale is visually impressive but feels like they were just trying to top the log truck scene from the second movie and honestly it works even if it is completely over the top. That final shot of the logs flying through the air and taking out our last two survivors is brutal as hell and perfectly captures the franchise's "death always wins" mentality. The CGI during the movie felt more of a hit or miss, some of the practical effects look great but when they rely too heavily on digital blood and gore it starts to look a bit cartoony. The performances are mostly solid for this type of movie, nobody gonna win any awards but everyone commits to the material and sells the fear and desperation their characters are feeling, same goes for the script that has some clunky moments where characters have to explain the rules of death's design but that is pretty standard for these movies and it doesn't drag things down too much, almost like mansplaining tbh jajaja.

Final Destination Bloodlines isn't gonna revolutionize horror or anything like that but it's exactly what fans like have been waiting from the franchise after that terrible fourth entry nearly killed the series, I thought it was done but since 2023 doing sequels or reboots is trending then why not. The movie delivers on all the things that make these kind of movie work, creative death sequences, good build up and tension, characters you can actually care about and that dark sense of humor that keeps things from getting too serious and fall into the scary tension type of movie. The family angle really does make a difference in how depp you fall in the story, watching these people try to protect each other adds emotional weight that was missing from some of the earlier sequels. On the flop side, the dialogue can be cheesy and some of the death setups require characters to make incredibly stupid decisions but that's part of the charm with these movies. The Tony Todd tribute aspect gives the whole thing a bittersweet quality that elevates it above just being another gore fest, his final scene moved me and serves as a perfect sendoff for the character and the actor. The movie also does a good job of honoring the franchise's legacy while adding new elements to keep things interesting, the bloodline concept opens up possibilities for future sequels without just repeating the same formula over and over, an aspect I think clearly resonating with critics and audiences after watching the scores of the movie and basically me be on the same page and I can see why because it feels like the creators actually cared about making a good movie instead of just cashing in on the brand name. If you are a fan of the franchise this is definitely worth watching, I'm giving Final Destination Bloodlines a solid 8/10, it's not perfect but it's a hell of a return to form for a series that I thought was dead and buried.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #horror, #finaldestination, #bloodlines, #death, #franchise, #sequel, #gore, #kills, #family, #premonition, #tony, #todd, #bloodworth, #stephanie, #eric, #iris, #mri, #train, #penny, #tower, #explosion, #carnage, #brutal, #creative, #entertaining

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I'm gonna be straight with you about these final three episodes of Andor season 2, they're good television but they ain't the explosive finale I was hoping for after those incredible episodes 7-9 bach that had me wanting MOAR Star Wars. Don't get me wrong this is still some of the best Star Wars content I have seen in the past years both Mandalorian and Andor constantly delivering, the acting is phenomenal, the production values are through the roof makes you feel each episode almost if not a movie and the character development is palpable but something about these last episodes felt like they were more concerned with setting up Rogue One than giving us a satisfying conclusion to the story I have been following for two seasons, the Rogue One thing is because thats what was everywhere, not that I'm a big Star Wars wiki. The whole thing starts one year after the Gorman massacre in 1 BBY now which means it's literally months away from the events of Rogue One and you can feel the weight of that connection. Luthen and Kleya are still running their rebel network from Coruscant but everything is about to come crashing down because Dedra has finally figured out who Luthen really is, she has been tracking Project Axis for so long that it has become her obsession and when Lonni Jung rings the "big bell" emergency signal, you know shit is about to hit the fan. The problem is while all this setup is masterfully done, it lacks the punch or excitement that made those Aldhani and Gorman episodes so damn good, it feels more like a chess game moving pieces into position rather than the explosive climax I was looking for, the series as I mention before really leaves you wanting more, if they do another Season that interconnects would feel more like a rebranding tbh, something in between those lines Andor 2.0.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9253284/

• Platform: Disney+

The meat of episode 10 goes around Luthen's final meeting with Lonni Jung, who has been using Dedra's security codes to dig through classified files and has stumbled upon the Empire's biggest secret, the Death Star project. Jung's basically burned his cover completely, he knows Dedra is onto him and he's desperate to get his family to safety but Luthen being Luthen decides to kill him instead of helping him escape because that is apparently the only way to keep everyone safe. It is a cold move that shows just how far Luthen has fallen into this dark world of rebellion, he's become someone who can murder an ally without blinking an eye and while Stellan Skarsgard sells the hell out of this moment, it doesn't feel as impactful as it should. The real showdown happens when Dedra finally confronts Luthen at his antique shop, she has been dreaming about this moment for years and when she pulls out that Imperial starpath unit from season one, you can see the satisfaction on her face, but Luthen not going down without a fight, he tells her the rebellion has spread everywhere now, it's not just him anymore, it's a galaxy wide movement that can't be stopped, then he tries to kill himself with some ancient Jedi blade rather than be captured, he should have gone for his heart instead or throat, honestly was very dumb attempt of suicide. The whole sequence is very well shot and acted but it lacks the emotional weight it should have because I knew from the beginning that Luthen's not making it out of this alive. The episode does great with Kleya's backstory through flashbacks, showing us how she and Luthen met when he was still an Imperial sergeant named Lear who saved her during some brutal pacification mission, it's heartbreaking stuff that explains their father daughter relationship but it feels rushed and could have used more time to breathe.

Episode 11 shifts gears and focus on the aftermath of Luthen's capture with Krennic interrogating Dedra about how much she knows about the Death Star project and this is where the episode really shines because Ben Mendelsohn is absolutely terrifying as Krennic when he is pissed off. Turns out Dedra's been reading classified files that were accidentally forwarded to her, which is honestly hilarious because the Empire's downfall basically starts with a clerical error, just like someone hit "reply all" on the wrong email and now the rebels know about their superweapon, just to think about it makes you laugh. Krennic is furious because Dedra went rogue to capture Luthen, she broke protocol to feed her own ego and now she has compromised the entire Death Star project so they throw her in prison just like they did to Cassian back in season one and damn that was so satisfying to watch. Meanwhile Kleya is hiding in the old safehouse trying to contact the rebellion and when Cassian gets her message, he immediately drops everything to come rescue her and that too was a badass to the bones scenes, bringing Melshi and K-2SO along for the ride. Not gona lie, this last three episodes had their moments of glory, both the rebels and the Empire close in on Kleya's location but the action sequence that follows feels a bit underwhelming compared to the prison break or the Aldhani heist, K-2SO gets some great moments tossing stormtroopers around like ragdolls but it's over too quickly and doesn't have the same weight as previous action scenes. What bothers me most about this episode is how it sets up all these great character moments but doesn't give them room to breathe, Partagaz listening to Nemik's manifesto and realizing his life's work was meaningless could have been a powerful scene but it's rushed and feels more like checking a box than exploring the character's psychology.

Episode 12 feels like its trying to pack up everything and move into Rogue One, shows over move on and this is where the series really feels like its struggling to bring closure like trying to please both at once. Cassian brings Kleya to Yavin 4 where the rebel leadership is skeptical about Luthen's intelligence, they have never trusted him and his methods, even though none of them would exist without his network, it's frustrating to watch these characters dismiss the man who basically created their rebellion. Mon Mothma looks great in her Rogue One outfit and seeing her interact with Saw Gerrera over hologram is cool but these scenes feel more like forced fan service than organic story, the episode is just trying to check boxes to make sure everything lines up with the movies rather than focusing on the characters we have been following for two seasons. The revelation that Bix was pregnant when she left Cassian is supposed to be this big emotional moment and while it's beautifully shot with her walking through the grain fields holding their child, for me it also feels void because we haven't spent enough time with their relationship this season. Seeing Dedra in prison wearing the same uniform Cassian wore is poetic justice but these moments dont feel at all like climax, just events we were all expecting to happen and enjoy, they're wrapping up loose ends rather than delivering proper closure. The episode ends with Cassian heading off to meet Tivik on Kafrene, which is literally the opening scene of Rogue One and that connection is satisfying on an intellectual level but it doesn't feel like a proper ending to the story we have been watching, it's more like "tune in next time" except we know exactly what happens next because we've already seen the movie.

In conclusion the final episodes are not bad for a TV series by any means, the performances are incredible across the board, the production design is stunning and the writing is still miles ahead of most Star Wars content, in my opinion Andor is the best Star Wars TV series we had and I think only having two season might save it from its demise, Andor does suffer from being too beholden to existing continuity. Instead of giving us a satisfying conclusion to Luthen's story, we got this rushed death only satisfies the plog of what they planning to bring ahead, instead of exploring the emotional fallout of everything that's happened, we get setup for a movie that already happen irl and instead of the explosive action sequences that made season one so damn good, we get careful maneuvering to make sure nothing contradicts established canon, I guess this is the kind of situations when you want to stick to lore and events in the future of a story that already happen irl for the fans to watch. The whole thing feels like it's playing it safe when it should be taking risks and that's frustrating because this series has shown it can deliver incredible television content when it's not worried about connecting to other movies but I guess that was season one. They really created something special with Andor, they proved that Star Wars can be mature, complex and deep emotions but these final episodes feel like they are more of a concerned procedure with strict rules than being a good ending. I wanted to see Palpatine or Vader show up, just a little cameo, I wanted some massive action sequence that would match the Aldhani heist, I wanted an ending that felt like a conclusion rather than a transition. It's still better than most of what Disney has given us and I will probably rewatch the whole series but I still think it deserve a better ending.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #andor, #season, #episodes, #rogue, #one, #rebellion, #empire, #luthen, #clea, #cassian, #deathstar, #krennic, #dedra, #k2so, #yavin, #scarif, #kyber, #project, #axis, #lonnie, #sacrifice, #legacy, #action, #finale, #spy

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En un mundo de asesinos descubierto por las cuatro películas que conforman la franquicia de "John Wick", surge "Ballerina", el nuevo spin-off de esta franquicia que relata una historia en donde la venganza de una joven mujer llamada "Eve Macarro"; ella siendo niña vio morir a su padre lo cual le genero un gran odio que la llevó hacia la organización Ruska Roma, lugar en donde recibiría un duro entretenimiento para convertirse en un arma letal y así tener la fuerza y agilidad para cumplir su merecida su promesa; esa elección no solo la llevará a enfrentarse con despiadados asesinos, sino también a un mundo regido por muchas reglas.

In a world of assassins revealed by the four films that make up the John Wick franchise, comes Ballerina, the new spin-off of this franchise that tells the story of the revenge of a young woman named Eve Macarro. As a child, she witnessed her father's death, which instilled in her a deep hatred that led her to join the Ruska Roma organization, where she would undergo rigorous training to become a lethal weapon, gaining the strength and agility needed to fulfill her long-awaited promise. This choice will not only pit her against ruthless assassins but also immerse her in a world governed by many rules.

Este film es también conocido como "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" contó con la elección de Len Wiseman como director, lo cual me causó preocupación porque considero que en ese rol cuenta con tan solo un buen trabajo, me refiero a "Underworld" (2003) y es por eso que mis expectativas era bastante bajas, ya que también existían rumores sobre reacciones poco convincentes en las pruebas realizas con ciertas audiencias, justamente eso originó reshoots los cuales estuvieron realizados por Chad Stahelski, director, guionista, productor y creador de la franquicia, inmediatamente tuve la noción de que él no dejaría fallar este film y así fue. "Ballerina" cuenta con una duración de dos horas y en donde pienso que el primer acto es dirigido por Len y tanto el segundo como el tercero, lo completa Chad; justamente la hora con veinte minutos finales, es suficiente para observar el cambio radical de la producción, ya que en ese tiempo ofrece excelentes escenas de acción que hacen brillar a su protagonista; el talento de Chad es muy evidente, ya que revive al personaje principal que demuestra fuerza y actitud al realizar coreografías de manera destacable, no solo en combates mano a mano, sino en los enfrentamientos con armas.

El guion escrito por Shay Hatten, es bastante genérico, es simple y también aburrido; los personajes nuevos y los ya conocidos no ofrecen absolutamente nada por los pobres diálogos; a pesar de no haberme gustado el guion, de igual manera existe elementos positivos, el cual tiene que ver con que la narrativa es desde el punto de vista de una mujer que está enfocada en la venganza y que le es difícil sentir empatía con todo lo que le rodea, en eso creo que es algo que se puede desarrollar mejor en algún otro film basado en este nuevo personaje. Los diálogos excesivos y forzados en el primer acto, junto a la dirección de Weisman en la primera media hora de metraje, son lo que no me ha gustado de esta película.

This film, also known as "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina," featured ** Len Wiseman** as director, which caused me concern because I consider that he has only one good work in that role, I am referring to "Underworld" (2003), and that is why my expectations were quite low, since there were also rumors about unconvincing reactions in the tests carried out with certain audiences, which led to reshoots that were carried out by ** Chad Stahelski**, director, screenwriter, producer, and creator of the franchise. I immediately had the feeling that he would not let this film fail, and that's how it turned out. "Ballerina" is two hours long, and I think the first act is directed by Len and the second and third acts are completed by Chad. The final hour and twenty minutes are enough to see the radical change in the production, as it offers excellent action scenes that make the protagonist shine. Chad's talent is very evident, as he revives the main character, who demonstrates strength and attitude by performing remarkable choreography, not only in hand-to-hand combat but also in gunfights.

The script written by Shay Hatten is quite generic, simple, and also boring; the new and familiar characters offer absolutely nothing due to the poor dialogue; Despite not liking the script, there are still positive elements, which have to do with the fact that the narrative is from the point of view of a woman who is focused on revenge and finds it difficult to empathize with everything around her. I think this is something that could be developed better in another film based on this new character. The excessive and forced dialogue in the first act, along with Weisman's direction in the first half hour of the film, are what I didn't like about this movie.

No pienso en ser exigente con la actuación de Ana de Armas en su interpretación de "Eve" y es que su personaje no tiene permitido demostrar otro aspecto, sino que es el de cumplir su venganza; su personaje no demuestra vulnerabilidad, pero si el ímpetu de querer sobrepasar cualquier regla o autoridad para realizar su cometido, eso me ha gustado en la manera en como se escribió el personaje y que Ana hace todo lo posible para plasmar en la pantalla, el problema es que de igual manera, pienso que es víctima por lo malo que es el guion, aunque su compromiso como actriz en su primer y completo protagonismo en un film de acción, es algo de admirar porque ella realiza todas sus escenas de combate.

I don't think I'm being too harsh on Ana de Armas' performance as Eve, because her character isn't allowed to show any other side to herself other than her desire for revenge. Her character doesn't show any vulnerability, but she does show a determination to break any rules or defy any authority in order to achieve her goal. I liked the way the character was written and how Ana does her best to bring it to life on screen. The problem is that I also think she is a victim of the poor script, although her commitment as an actress in her first leading role in an action film is something to be admired because she performs all her own fight scenes.

Mentiría si digo que disfruté por completo de Ballerina, pero existe fallas que me hicieron creer que se estuvo cerca de tener un fracaso para esta franquicia; en mi opinión hizo falta minutos para desarrollar mejor la historia, no solo de su protagonista, sino también de otros personajes secundarios y esto me hace pensar en el tiempo perdido en las escenas filmadas para ofrecer un contexto o justificar a esta historia que es parte del mundo creado desde John Wick, lo cual posiblemente se pudo hacer mejor sin afectar el desarrollo de la película, a pesar de todo lo dicho, de igual manera celebro la decisión de salvar esta película al ofrecer a Chad las riendas de este proyecto, lo que fue muy acertado y me hace pensar que posiblemente no se esté tomando buenas decisiones con respecto a que directores y escritores sean parte de este ya gran franquicia de acción. Este segundo spin-off no fue perfecto, pero espero que puedan aprender de los errores para realizar producciones de calidad en los próximos a estrenar, para así llegar a lo que espero sea el final de John Wick cuando se estrene el quinto film. 

I would be lying if I said I thoroughly enjoyed Ballerina, but there are flaws that made me believe it was close to being a failure for this franchise. in my opinion, it lacked the time needed to better develop the story, not only of its protagonist but also of other secondary characters, and this makes me think of the time wasted in scenes filmed to provide context or justify this story that is part of the world created by John Wick, which could possibly have been done better without affecting the development of the film. Despite all that has been said, I still applaud the decision to save this film by giving Chad the reins of this project, which was very wise and makes me think that perhaps the right decisions are not being made regarding which directors and writers are part of this already great action franchise. This second spin-off was not perfect, but I hope they can learn from their mistakes to produce quality films in the future, so that we can reach what I hope will be the end of John Wick when the fifth film is released.

Cover image edited in canva; the image was taken from the following source