Page 3 | Introduction!
Page 5-8 | Reel News!
Page 9-18 | August 2023 Reviews!
Page 19-21 | The Climax!
Page 23-24 | Coraline Review!
Page 25 | The Picks Are In!
Page 26 | Show Me the Money!
Page 27 | Cinematic History!
Page 28 | Happy Birthday!
Welcome to the first issue of Movie Mag where we highlight August 2023! Start your trip with major news from the past month including news on the strike, upcoming sequels, and more!
We then head to our reviews of August’s new releases which includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Meg 2: The Trench, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Blue Beetle, and Gran Turismo!
Check out The Climax featuring a work of art from HAL, a very talented friend of ours who took inspiration from The Last Voyage of the Demeter when creating their piece of art!
Did you catch Coraline back in theaters? We did! Check out our thoughts after seeing this movie back on the big screen!
Don’t stop now! Check out our picks for some monthly awards, how the worldwide box office for 2023 currently stacks up, celebrate the anniversary of some great movies, and wish some stars a Happy Birthday with us!
We hope you enjoy the first issue and we look forward to bringing you more movie content every month!
“Movies are dreams that you never forget.”
Radio Silence, a filmmaking team responsible for V/H/S and more, brought Scream back to life in 2022 and also brought us Scream VI, another box office hit in this horror franchise, but due to work load the seventh installment will be going in a different direction. Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day), will take over the director role for Scream VII.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
In Q2, HBO Max and Discovery+ came together to form Max on May 23, 2023. This led to a loss of 1.8 million streaming subscribers between April and June which left the company with 95.8 million total streaming subscribers going into Q3.
Source: IndieWire
Lionsgate has acquired Entertainment One’s TV and film operations from Hasbro for approximately $500 million and this deal is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. This has opened the door for a Monopoly movie that looks to follow the success of other IPs like Barbie and The Super Mario Bros
Source: Collider
Crayola, known for their crayons, is set to launch Crayola Studios. This will be a new division that will create movies and TV shows for families and children.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Danny and Michael Philippou will return to direct a Talk to Me 2 after being a box office success for A24. The screenplay is currently being written.
Source: Bloody Disgusting
A group of more than 50 Marvel VFX employees voted to unionize under the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). This is the first time VFX professionals have created a team to demand the same rights and more. Voting will take place until September 11th.
Source: Vulture
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to start shooting in September but will prioritize scenes without actors due to the strikes.
Source: Screen Daily
TALKTOME|A24
Barbie surpassed The Dark Knight which made $533 million at the domestic box office, making it the highest-grossing Warner Bros. film of all time.
Source: Screen Crush
Hasbro has launched a new division called Hasbro Entertainment. Projects based on IPs in the works include; NERF, GI JOE, Play-Doh, Peppa Pig, Transformers, My Little Pony, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering
Source: Variety
A table was released that broke down how much the WGA’s proposal would cost each major studio. The average cost was 0.18% of the major studio’s annual revenue.
Source: Deadline
Delays continue as studios continue to refuse to pay actors and writers with a fair wage. Dune 2 has been delayed to March 14, 2024, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was pushed to April 12, 2024, and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be pushed all the way to December 13, 2024.
Source: Discussing Film
Coraline earned $6 million in its limited re-release this past month, along with Jurassic Park which made $1.7 million in a weekend return for its 30th anniversary.
Source: Bloody Disgusting and SyFy
After voting, over 80% of Disney’s employees have officially shown their desire to unionize.
Source: Variety
Peacock has announced that they will be releasing a Jurassic Park x LEGO project to celebrate the 30th anniversary. The animated special will feature 65 million bricks in the making.
Source: Bloody Disgusting
CORALINE|FOCUSFEATURES
JURASSICPARK|UNIVERSALSTUDIOS
Whether you are a fan of the turtles, an artist, or just a pop culture fiend, this movie is for everyone! From unique animation styles to a fun voice cast this movie is sure to keep you hooked until the end. Nostalgia will also hit you like a bus in this movie with easter eggs throughout, referencing pop culture icons like Ferris Bueller, the Hulk, and much more! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is truly a movie for everyone that delivers on just about every aspect of the film.
We have heard this story before of four turtles getting mixed up with some radioactive ooze only to be discovered by a rat who takes them in as his own. However, Jeff Rowe gives us a back story in “Mutant Mayhem” that finds a way to be not only fun but fresh. Now all grown up Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Raphael (Brady Noon) are all in search of a normal life where they go to high school like normal teenagers. In an effort to make this happen, they team up with a high school journalist, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri) in hopes to take down Superfly (Ice Cube), and in return, society accepts them.
The animation is aesthetically pleasing using a combination of various sketches and scribbles that you’d see in a teenager’s notebook with a palette of colors that give off a rustic night feel. It gives off similar vibes to SpiderMan: Across the Spider-Verse, released earlier this year, yet it still stands out. Even if you aren’t a fan of the turtles, the art on display in this film is worth watching.
I don’t even know where to start with the soundtrack. “Mutant Mayhem” constructed the perfect soundtrack, straight from the 90s, and captures what it is to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. With hits like No Diggity, Shimmy Shimmy Ya, and Can I Kick It?, there is never a dull moment. It has been on repeat since I left the theater if that tells you anything.
One of the best aspects of “Mutant Mayhem” is the loaded cast. The boys bring a youthful voice to the ninjas in a half-shell that makes them feel like they are actually teenagers for the first time on the big screen. Loaded with talented veterans like Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd the comedy never misses in this film. The best of all was Jackie Chan as Splinter which I didn’t know I needed in my life until watching this movie.
The pacing for the most part is great. It is fast and action-packed which keeps you hooked for the entire 99-minute runtime. I would even argue that slowing it down and giving us more chill vibes and pizza parties with the turtles would have made this movie even better than it was.
There isn’t much to gripe on with this film but on a personal level, I have never been the biggest fan of Scumbug, and “Mutant Mayhem” confirms that for me. Every appearance for Scumbug is nothing but unsettling and was the only comedy that never landed for me. At the end of the day, if that is my biggest gripe, I think we’re doing just fine.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is without a doubt a great movie that will give “Across the Spider-Verse” a run for its money at the awards next year.
King
(yes. I am already abbreviating) is a SPECTACULAR animated film. I love Across the Spider-Verse as much as the next guy, but this is my animated film of the year. I would even say it’s my second favorite FILM overall, of the year (thanks to Oppenheimer). There are a million things to praise from top to bottom so let me just say from the jump: The animated TMNT film from 2007 was my favorite turtle’s film until Mutant Mayhem decided to swing its way into theaters August 2nd. I always have a blast at advanced fan screenings and of course this movie was no different.
A TMNT movie based around the four main brothers at the ripe age of about 15, trying to find their way into the human world, is genius. The level of emotion throughout the film that gets portrayed is perfect for a fun animated summer blockbuster and is very compelling for a story about mutated animals that do karate. This movie has passion, heart, tons of action, funny jokes, and a balance of love for each turtle. You can take the kids, take the teens: even take grandpa. Just make sure you’re there too.
A-Mikey, Donnie, Raph, and Leo are on a classic adventure of self-discovery, and social acceptance. This movie is so action packed for a 2-hour animated film with more style than we could ever appreciate. Their Father (Master Splinter) is an overprotective dad who’s had unfortunate run-ins with humans, which makes him decide to do his best to shelter his sons. But as the four boys lie night-to-night so they can have adventures in the world we live in, they encounter a gang of mutants led by Superfly. Superfly is a mutated mastermind of a fly that was being raised by the Incel tech genius: Baxter Stockman.
Now I don’t think I’ll be the first nor the last to say: this cast is perfect. Beginning to end: not a single casting I did not like. Getting Four unknown young teens to voice the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an overdue idea, that I have advocated for years. Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo), Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), and Brady Noon (Raphael): all remind me exactly what it’s like to spend time with 15-year-old, fun loving, dudes. Realistically I’m sure I would think they’re obnoxious after Five minutes, but they have such good chemistry that it gives me the urge to join in and scream “cowabunga”. The desire of all grown men is secretly to relive days like the ones in Mutant Mayhem. A bit of fun, some romantic desire, tons of goofs, and LOTS of fun. I cannot praise everyone enough who was involved in putting these four together.
Supporting characters are also great throughout the film. Jackie Chan’s Splinter is perfect. Ice Cube (Superfly) needs to voice-act more. I demand it. Ice Cube is menacing, cheesy, and loads of fun. Ayo Edebiri’s unusual version of April was my only concern. I put them to rest easily, because my faith in Ayo prevailed as I should’ve known. Smaller roles from John Cena (Bebop), Seth Rogen (Rocksteady), and Giancarlo Esposito (Baxter Stockman) were also pleasant standouts for me as well.
The last thing I cannot go a second without bringing up is the animation style. This style is much more grimy, dark, and disgusting than what we are used to in recent years. Specifically, the Spider-Verse movies have a similar abstract and insane animation style, but I think in my opinion: I have grown to like this style a touch more. Which is ironic because my three concerns from the trailers were April’s characterization, a lack of action, and the animation style being a mere imitation of the Spider-Verse films. All three things blew me out of the water and made me feel foolish by the end.
Why do I prefer this style now over cult classic: Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse? Simple. I have just gotten too used to the style of the Spider-Verse films and I was craving something unexpected and new. In June 2023 I got what I wanted in a smash sequel: Across the Spider-Verse. The problem is: I had very high expectations. Yes, that movie matched, and well surpassed my expectations. But I had a different perspective than most. Even though “Into the Spider-Verse” (2018) Is still my favorite animated film of all time, I still saw it as what it was meant to be. A massive steppingstone for new animation in Hollywood. Not the end-all be-all animated movie that should never be topped. Mutant Mayhem owes a LOT to ITSV, but I feel that debt is more than paid by being what it should be. -its own thing. ITSV is still my favorite animated film of all time, but I now get to spend time with a new animation style I can appreciate, and a universe I can live in a million times, before I’m ready for the sequel. The style of TMNT MM is consistent, satisfying, ambitious, and filled with lots of potential. Even random b-roll shots of Lamp posts and traffic lights make me starry-eyed and floored me. Every design is flawless, and I cannot wait to see shredder in his full animated glory.
What’s the future for Mutant Mayhem? The sky is the limit for these guys. So far, we already have confirmation of plans for a sequel, and a limited series set in this universe. I think expanding this out even more than these two mediums is an excellent idea. Add a special hour-long presentation about Casey Jones, a video game, and a comic run all set in this universe would be inevitably profitable, and as the turtles would say: “Totally awesome”.
TEENAGEMUTANTNINJATURTLES:MUTANTMAYHEM|PARAMOUNTPICTURES
Release Date | August 4, 2023
Director | Ben Wheatley
Distributer | Warner Bros. Pictures
The biggest issue with Meg 2: The Trench is just about everything. For starters, you could argue that the Meg wasn’t even the main antagonist with other Trench monsters wreaking more havoc. With poor lighting, weak acting at moments, and a story that doesn’t captivate your attention this is just another “shark movie” to add to the list of failed attempts.
Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) now leads a research team back into the deep depths of the ocean where they discover a mining operation with dark intentions. This discovery leads them into a battle for survival against a slew of prehistoric predators yet again.
I’ll begin with my biggest problem with this movie and that is the lighting. There is a good chunk of runtime that takes place below the Thermocline, which would obviously be dark, but the film does not do a very good job of enhancing the lighting just a little to allow us to see what is going on. The scenes under the Thermocline are very forgettable because you cannot tell any of the characters apart and all the action sequences are bogged down by the poor lighting. At parts, it leaves you confused as to what is going on.
The acting for the most part was solid, but it did have its moments. You know what you are going to get from Statham in an action movie, and he filled his role as expected. The most disappointing performance was Page Kennedy as DJ. He had a much bigger role in the sequel, coming back with the ability to fight and swim after the trauma he faced in the first movie. The only problem was the writing for this character was not great and it felt like it leaked into the line delivery a little bit. It ultimately made you cringe at most scenes in which he was featured.
Let’s continue this roast… Meg 2: The Trench featured a new character, Jiuming Zhang (Wu Jing) who is the brother of the late Suyin (Li Bingbing). The problem with this addition was from a technical standpoint, and that was the automated dialogue replacement (ADR). One of the hardest things to watch is when a moving mouth doesn’t line up with the words being said, and unfortunately for Jing, this was almost the entirety of the movie. Just another aspect that makes this film incredibly hard to watch.
Now I need to give a little credit where it is due. The action in this movie was very fun to watch throughout most of it. Albeit some of it was cheesy, some of the close calls of Statham on a jet ski avoiding sharks, make you clinch in suspense. However, this was not enough to salvage this film.
This was definitely a movie that did not need to be made and probably shouldn’t have been made. When it comes to movies about sharks, I’d rather watch Jaws 3-D than this one which if the rest of this review didn’t already show you where I stand, saying that should.
I did not watch the first Meg in 2018. I’m just going to say that and get it out of the way. The good news is you absolutely do not need to watch the first one to experience the second one. I never grew up on Jurassic Park or Jaws, so really, I never had any interest in these projects until I decided to make this movie magazine. Is it okay for me to review the sequel to a movie from 5 years ago that I never watched? Yeah, I would say it is. The Meg 2 gets you up to speed on everything you missed in a matter of minutes anyway. Thankfully it does so without doing a 3-minute intro to explain it.
Jason Statham is quite underrated. Yes, he’s a goofy action hero who takes his boofy movies a little too seriously. But that is incredibly charming in a movie like this where essentially nothing happens for the first 45 minutes. He is as mean and confident as ever but at least this movie gives you stakes in the character of Meiying. Jonas Taylor is the kind of expected character with Statham, but you must give credit to the man who just did his second action movie based on a prehistoric shark. And Statham seems to be having fun giving it all.
But what I did not expect from a film called: The Meg 2: The Trench is a lack of Meg in the movie. There is almost no interaction with a megalodon shark (except for a fakeout death at the beginning) until the last 20-30 minutes of the film. The Trench also adds a new landscape to explore in this world, but the problem is: I’m having a hard time caring when I can’t see what’s happening on the screen. Watching this at 2 in the afternoon was a mistake even though the sun was hardly coming through. This film is exceptionally dark every time there is an underwater scene. I had no complaints in any of the scenes that take place above water so clearly, it’s not a time and place issue.
The ADR for Meiying’s uncle: Jiuming was also God AWFUL throughout the entire film. I don’t know what happened or what reasoning there is, but half the time he was talking to anyone it looked like every word was half a second behind. I, by chance have done ADR before and I’ll admit, it can be difficult. But my god this is a major motion picture. Was there a time issue? Were the audio team on a crunch? I feel bad for Wu Jing because he was quite entertaining and charismatic. It’s just a shame his character got the shaft in the audio department.
The cinematography though was pretty good if I am honest. I loved a lot of the way this entire film was shot. I’m not much of an action film fan outside of superhero and scifi movies but the opening of this film had me wanting to just watch a full-length Statham action film. I think the stunt choreography was incredible and I think the direction of the opening scene was quite energetic and exciting. Small editing faults exist as well, but it was shot so well that it didn’t bug me too much. The Third act action was also stunning involving a meg and… an octopus. I’m not really sure why the Meg 2 features a double kaiju monster sea attack, but I was so bored I didn’t care. There is also a short section of the film where we get a hint of a Jurassic Park-esque side quest where some of the side characters are pestered by small Jurassic-era animals, which again was another way that this movie avoids the topic of Megalodons for some reason.
Speaking of side characters: DJ (Page Kennedy) might be the single most annoying side character I have ever seen. He reminds me a lot of Falcon from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in the way that he is the goofy minority character who turns out to be an action hero badass who makes jokes in the worst of times. The only difference is Sam Wilson is an enjoyable character with real thoughts and feelings and is more than a walking trope. Somehow this is my least favorite side character in a movie, and I only saw Blue Beetle a week ago.
All in all: I did not like this movie and I think it’s terrible. If Blue Beetle wasn’t so offensively bad: This movie would easily be the worst movie of the month. It’s got fun moments, but people act like this movie ramps up in a fun way and doesn’t take itself too seriously. That second statement I agree with.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter was the movie that I most anticipated coming into August, and it did not disappoint. Every time I saw the trailer as I waited for a showing to begin at the local Cinemark, I would scoot up in my seat and watch it like it was the first time. This movie did not disappoint, doing a lot of things right from the use of color to set the scene to the actual horror and suspense felt throughout. In my opinion, it is safe to say welcome back, Dracula!
Adapted from the book, “The Captain’s Log” this movie follows the merchant ship Demeter, as it sets sail to deliver cargo to London led by Captain Eliot (Liam Cunningham). Clemens (Corey Hawkins), a new crew member, discovers a lady and heals her back to health. Soon after, they discover that they are not alone and are in the presence of Dracula (Javier Botet) which turns this voyage into a fight for survival.
As I stated before, it was clear my excitement for this movie was high. I’ve never been the biggest fan of the 1931 adaptation of Dracula, but on the flip side of vampire movies, I am one of the biggest fans of The Lost Boys (sorry, I had to plug this movie). With that being said, it is usually hit or miss for me when it comes to vampires on the big screen, and this one was a hit. With a runtime of just under two hours, I was very pleased with how captivating the movie was and it provided gorgeous cinematography and a true feeling of suspense throughout.
The use of cool colors, especially blue, was one of my favorite parts of this film. The night sequences were filled with captivating blues created from various elements such as the lightning during the storm. Add in the occasional jump scare when a blue light flashes you’ve got yourself a fun time at the movies for horror fans. Jumping back and forth between the black night sky and the blue lights from nature, and throwing Dracula in the mix created a feeling that truly kept you on the edge of your seat as to what would happen next.
I was surprised by the gore in this movie. I won’t give anything away but will say that the weak-stomached may have a tough time with a couple of scenes in this one. Both the practical and visual effects were stunning from the use of blood to the new design of Dracula, which is now my favorite look of the dark one. This movie does not hold back at all showing that the direction of André Øvredal was all in, and it worked.
The acting was amazing, with Hawkins providing in my opinion the best performance of the month. The supporting characters were also excellent with David Dastmalchian turning in another great performance as the veteran crewmate, Wojchek. When you talk about Dracula, names like Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman are typically the first two mentioned, but Javier Botet in my opinion, is right up there with them with his adaptation of the lord of death. Providing impeccable mannerisms and movements from a malnourished Dracula to a killer with full power.
On the negative side, there isn’t much to say but here are minor things like checking the crates at night when the crew knows that’s when the attacks happen and reading the log in the rain as the ink runs that knock this a little but not enough for me to lower my score anymore.
I truly believe this is a modern horror icon and deserves a little more love and appreciation. If you haven’t already, and you can stomach the horror of Dracula back in theaters, I highly recommend grabbing your popcorn and giving The Last Voyage of the Demeter a chance!
By: Kory King
The difficult task at hand? Make Dracula respectable again. In the year 2023 Dracula as well as vampires have been represented in various ways in the past through media. Popularized through Dracula 1931, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Twilight, What We Do in the Shadows, Dracula Untold, and even through 2023’s own Renfield. but what makes The Last Voyage of the Demeter’s depiction of Dracula so special again? Well, he’s treated with a different kind of respect. He’s not a joke. He’s not a horny 18-year-old young man. And he isn’t just some creature of the night. He’s a lurking predator in the night that is somewhere closer to the depiction of Dracula in the Netflix hit show: Midnight Mass. A Demon-Spawned Gargoyle from hell that at first glance seems like a brainless, creature from the trench that is more zombie than Vampire. But that is certainly not the case as characters from the film may figure out overtime.
Great performances from cast members: Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, and a personal favorite of mine, David Dastmalchian. Also, a surprising standout performer and young actor named Woody Norman will find his way into your heart as the sort of mascot/little brother on the Demeter. And an additional standout performance from Javier Botet who plays Dracula like nobody’s business. Doug Jones (most known for his creature-like performances covered in makeup I.E Hellboy, The Shape of Water, and Pan’s Labyrinth) may have a matchup for the first time as my favorite depiction of Dracula (What we do in the shadows). Chemistry between Dastmalchian and Cunningham is a special, and lovable aspect of a retiring sea captain who is finally looking to give his loyal and trusty right-hand man his shot at glory. Hawkins and Franciosi make this movie in its entirety as the ship doctor, and a woman who is rescued from the cold and clammy hands of Dracula. It seems love begins to follow these two but when you’re stuck in the open seas with the prince of darkness on board, there may be no time for expressing it.
TLVOD is a dark, cold, and chilling tale that puts you in the perspective of a crew for a medium sized delivery ship that is harboring freight of which they have no understanding of. Engagement throughout the film does not hardly waiver in part thanks to director André Øvredal (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) who has a very personal way of entering the minds and perspectives of the prey, as well as Drac’s predatorial moments. The score is also loud, haunting, suspenseful, and well-fitting from Bear McCreary (10 Cloverfield Lane, Happy Death Day, Godzilla King of the Monsters). Moment-to-moment I found myself having a harder and harder time letting go of the crew as they are picked off one by one when the night comes. The Film stays true to the character of Dracula and the source material from Bram Stoker, while also finding a balance between old fashioned with modern visual flare, and new concepts that keep Drac fresh.
When the lights went up towards the end of the credits: How did I end up feeling? Disappointed. Disappointed that I was one of 10 people in my theater. Because I believe TLVOD coupled with Talk to Me (2023) (which I had just seen days prior), gave me hope in the modern-day horror genre. Although TLVOD leans more into a modern monster classic ripped from the 40’s I still walked away feeling like this universe has much more to offer. But sadly, due to poor box office performance as of lately I doubt a sequel is on the horizon. The ending is in no way a ham-fisted attempt at sequel-bate and is a very fitting/satisfying closing note. But it does show promise of things that could be to come. Dr. Clemens is now determined to stop Dracula from doing any more harm: chases Drac to Victorian era England where he is on the hunt for what seems to be a Jack the Ripper stylized version of Drac who now seems to be a high society member of England. The hunt is on, but I fear the dark and dastardly smile from Dracula may indicate that he enjoys the cat and mouse game from Clemens played by Corey Hawkins. The ending is chilling, exciting, and woefully ambitious when you realize no one showed up to watch the movie. But I implore you if/when The Last voyage of Demeter enters its way into streaming: take a chance on it. You may be decently surprised.
Release Date | August 18, 2023
Director | Angel Manuel SotoDistributer | Warner Bros. Pictures
Budget | $120 Million
I know what you are thinking after reading that title, and yes it is that bad. Now let me add that I haven’t seen every superhero movie ever made, but I have seen all of the DC Extended Universe, Marvel Cinematic Universe, X-Men franchise, Batman films, and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, and yes this is the worst superhero movie I have ever watched. I thought Black Adam and Morbius were bad, but they actually looked somewhat good when compared to Blue Beetle. This movie is nothing but a cheese fest with every superhero trope under the sun thrown into the mix with some poorly written characters and acting here for the cash grab.
This film follows Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) a recent grad returning home from college, who after a series of events finds himself in possession of an ancient alien relic called the Scarab that chooses him to be the symbiotic host and possess the power of the Blue Beetle. These newfound powers put himself and his family at risk as Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) seeks the power of the Scarab to create super weapons.
Kicking it off with the acting, it wasn’t all bad. I thought Xolo Maridueña and Bruna Marquezine both turned in solid performances, with George Lopez providing what you would expect out of the crazy uncle character. My true beef is with Susan Sarandon, who never acted like she wanted to be there. Every line that came out of her mouth was lazy and emotionless and it felt like she was truly there for a paycheck. It got so bad that I would get angered almost every time she appeared on screen. I was also not a fan of Adrianna Barraza who played the grandmother of Jaime. The acting wasn’t as bad as the writing for her character, but if you saw the word corny in the dictionary, this character would be the perfect example. Trying too hard to make Grandma a badass truly tarnishes the character throughout this film.
Another thing that really stuck out in this film is the use of just about every single superhero trope and the lack of originality in this origin story. The initial flight scene felt like it was taken straight from Iron Man (2008), and I get it, what else can you do there? The funniest (sarcasm) scene to me that falls under this umbrella was a scene that was nearly identical to a scene from Deadpool 2 (2018), and when watching it, you throw your hands up in disbelief. The trailer even shows a bus being cut in half which we saw a year ago in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). The sad part is that wasn’t it, it almost creates a challenge of how many tropes you can count with every watch.
My biggest pet peeve with superhero movies is when they try to lean on comedy too much to the point where the movie is not funny at all, and that is exactly what happened in Blue Beetle. No don’t get me wrong there are a few lines from Lopez that earn a chuckle from me, but not much more than that. When a movie does that it gets boring really fast, and it seemed every time the movie would start looking up a badly timed one-liner would shut it down immediately.
The story itself wasn’t horrible, but the execution was on multiple levels. I will probably give Blue Beetle another chance, but not anytime soon. I truly felt that this was the worst superhero movie I ever watched, and I entered the theater with some hope and left with nothing but questions.
From the moment I laid eyes on the leaked Blue Beetle suit in the behind the scenes set photo, I felt hope. That combined with the stellar casting of Xolo Maridueña I figured there was real potential in this project and in the people who were making it. However, whatever hopes I had been absolutely crushed upon the first viewing of the official trailers for Blue Beetle. A generic Spider-Man-like character receiving foreign powers that leads to a fun romp with a villain who looks like you’ll forget them as soon as you leave the theater. How does the movie hold up in comparison? Maybe even worse.
For the record: I think Xolo is an excellent choice. I think he had many moments that I would deem worthy of the mantle of Jaime Reyes. He and co-star Bruna Marquezine step into the world of pulp culture as two compelling actors with chemistry that radiates from start to finish. Damian Alcazar also brings a level of grounded heart and soul to an otherwise generic, cliche and predictable film. The action tends to be at times exciting and fits the style of the character. Blue Beetle keeps engagement by using a colorful showcase plus a clear understanding of the Blue Beetle abilities -ripped straight from the comics, games, and animated dc cartoons and movies. The cinematography was not standout by any means but overall was decent, with passable effects that more than suffice. There is a lot of love and heart for the Latino community, and director, Angel Manuel Soto makes sure to bring Hispanic presence and personality. But these things are far from saving the movie. Do not be tricked by these small pieces.
The movies biggest problem: The pacing. The pacing problem begins and ends with the mediocre, and otherwise unfitting humor. Blue Beetle’s humor does not fluctuate at hardly any point in quality throughout the film. That’s to say it’s because apart from 2-3 jokes in a two-hour attempt at a laugh-fest, the jokes are pretty unbearable. From the slapstick “I’ve got a hardcore grandma” trope, to long drawn-out sibling teasing that is far from believable. The humor undercuts the beauty of what this movie should have been. A strong, close, immigrant family who discovers that one of their very own has the power to save poor and suffering people just like them. To incorporate comedy well is to find the balance of somberness that tonally matches with the rest of the film. When the penguin makes his hilariously sleezy comments in The Batman (2022) you never lose sight of how awful and shitty the state of Gotham is. You still get the feeling that it’s only funny from our perspective. We all know Spider-Man is quite the jokester but even he isn’t laughing when Mary Jane or Aunt May are in danger at the hands of his rogues.
With that being said: If you grew up in a heavily Latino household, then this may be a superhero film for you. Honk for Jesus: Save Your Soul (2022) did not receive great reviews. But I ended up really appreciating that movie on a personal level thanks to my own personal experiences. But for me: I didn’t connect to any of the family members except Jaime’s father. The characteristics of each family having ranged from forgettable, to extraordinarily irritating did zero favors as well. Notice I haven’t mentioned George Lopez yet. That’s because he is somehow the second most forgettable character behind Jaime’s mother.
I would go 5-10 minutes actually beginning to enjoy the film and find myself engaged. But then the movie would handbrake turn into the most dumbfoundingly stupid moments that would undo all credit I was giving it just minutes ago. What makes me mad most is that this movie had lots of potential through and through and wasted it. Wasted it on dumb gags, for cheap laughs. And any heart in soul that I see people praising endlessly on social media makes me roll my eyes.
So how do I feel now that I never have to see this again? Well. That’s complicated. For starters I feel let down. I feel hungry. I feel desperate for DC to show me something worth watching. As far as I’m concerned: The Batman, James Gunn’s Suicide Squad, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Joker, and Aquaman are the only *FILMS* that didn’t leave me scratching my head and feeling guilty for defending DC entertainment. Personally, I am a DC fan over Marvel by a decent stretch. But this is getting harder and harder to justify. My hope in DC lays with Superman Legacy (2025 as of now) directed by James Gunn, who is now spearheading the new and rebooted DCU moving forward. Gunn is a fantastic director, and one of the truest comic book nerds in Hollywood to date.
As for the future of Xolo’s portrayal of Jaime? I’m not sure of that either. As I said: I like what Xolo did here. I think he’s got the look, the skills, and the personality. But he’s already 22 in universe. which takes him out of any chance of being a Young Justice or Teen Titans member. Which is a shame because Blue Beetle is a great character in my opinion: who works best with others. Our only hope is that he can make a good pairing with a to be casted: Ted Kord (heavily rumored as Jason Sudeikis), Booster Gold (most popularly fan casted as Glen Powell), or Firestorm (via Injustice 2. would be a better and more understandable choice. Outside of these parings: Jaime Reyes brings no satisfaction to me, and rings too cliché and hollow to be a solo character.
Release Date | August 25, 2023
Director | Neill BlomkampDistributer | Warner Bros. Pictures
Budget | $60 Million
I’ll be honest, when Gran Turismo was approaching all I could think was we were getting another movie that wasn’t necessary and will be above average at best. Boy, was I wrong. This action-packed biopic hits the ground running from the get-go and never lets you go. With gorgeous cinematography, a story that tugs at every heartstring you’ve got, and great performances across the boards, it is safe to say Gran Turismo exceeded my expectations.
Based on a true story, Gran Turismo tells the underdog story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), one of the best Gran Turismo players in the world who teams up with former racer, Jack Salter (David Harbour) providing them the opportunity to prove they have what it takes to compete in one of the most elite sports in the world.
In all honesty, I had no idea this was a biopic until about a week before the movie, and that made it a little more interesting, but like I said before I didn’t go in with high expectations. As an avid Stranger Things fan, I was excited to see David Harbour, and that was about it. To no surprise Harbour turned in a great performance, continuing to prove himself as one of the best supporting actors in the game right now. The real surprise was Madekwe who for me was a guy I had never seen before who just poured his heart out into this performance, and left you feeling every emotion in the book. With driving animations and his ability to portray emotion, there is no doubt this will lead to more big roles. It was also nice seeing a great performance from Orlando Bloom in Gran Turismo
This film was very well shot and made it feel like you were watching someone play Gran Turismo which was a really cool added feature to the production of this film. I am not the biggest gamer by any means, but the attention to detail was very well executed. I also can’t fail to mention the soundtrack. Using a mix of different genres but making it work was incredible. From Kenny G to Black Sabbath it all gets covered!
Now with any biopic, there are obviously some shifts in the timeline that make it more cinematic and I get that. I will never fault a movie for that, but I was a little disappointed upon a little research on the time shift this movie had, which I noticed when watching. I didn’t know a lot about the GT Academy, but I did know it was before 2020 and found out it took place in 2011 which means it would have been the PlayStation 3 era, which again a minor detail, but Sony used this as a marketing ploy for the PlayStation 5 and it takes a little hit for me when you go with marketing over accuracy. Not the biggest deal, but come on Sony, show some love to the third console.
Overall, Gran Turismo truly exceeded my expectations and is a very good film. I have found I am always a sucker for a good biopic, especially the ones that do a great job poking at your emotions, which is definitely the case in Gran Turismo. Don’t worry, even if you have never played the game (I never did), this is a movie that is still worth watching.
By: Kory King
Not once. Not twice. But three times. And Neill Blomkamp reigns supreme for it. When they announced that they were making a movie about Gran Turismo, of course I had the same thought most people did. “Oh my god it’s need for speed all over again”. And this movie is so much more than that.
A biopic about a young man named: Jann Mardenborough wins a Gran Turismo tournament that lands him a real chance at being an actual race car driver. And that premise could have been just that right there. A surface level underdog rocky story that made a gamer a racer. But this movie explores themes like pressure, love, pride, legacy, pain, and parental disconnect.
There is so much heart, warmth, and understanding of human beings in its 135 minutes. This movie took one massive turn in the climax of the movie that even I didn’t expect it. And somehow this is a biopic. When that moment happened: my jaw had to be scraped up by the theater staff. I was in shock, and even though I vaguely knew how it would end up: I was still anxious out of my mind to see what would happen.
The direction is simply: up to parr from Neill Blomkamp. “The District 9” (2009) director proves that he can make a down to earth and grounded story with human emotions that never go unchecked second-to-second. He also proves he can be the man of tension and action with every turn, bump, and acceleration feeling like a new experience. He gave personality and respect to a movie that pays a lot of homage to a game that is so loved by many. The acting is also superb from Archie Madekwe, David Harbor, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou. Archie specifically had the spotlight as Jann and gave every scene his all. His intense and emotional scenes were raw, and gut wrenching. Acting opposite in the father side of the dynamic was Djmon who brought excellence in every scene he shares with Archie. David Harbor also plays a tough Mentor in Jack Salter and proves that he can be as scary as he is inspiring. Every actor brought their A-game and I hope a lot of these guys get to work with Blomkamp soon. Also: credit to Jann to being his own stuntman in real life for his very own character. What an awesome incorporation of this man in a film about him without doing the obvious: make him the dad” trope.
Another special shoutout is owed to Lorn Balfe, who brings an incredible score here that still gives me nostalgia from his Assassin’s Creed III days. The soundtrack was patient but came out to play when it was needed, and Balfe turns in one of his best -in my eyes. I’m a huge fan and I have to say: I could only smile and roll my eyes when irresistibly pulled out my phone to see whose score was giving me chills. Of course, it’s you, Lorn. The rest of the audio team is also doing a fantastic job. Every engine roared, and tire screech made watching this film in XD worth it ten-fold. The cinematography just had so much synergy with the score that I couldn’t help but be wrapped at attention.
The story wasn’t complicated by any stretch, but it was compelling in its every move. And again, I must give that to Blomkamp. The wasn’t super heavy on the love side story, but it was just enough that it had me clamoring for more. The love story was less intense than the car racing moments, obviously. But it still gave me a relatable human moment. And being as turned off to those feelings as I can be -I never take those moments for granted. With that being said: I can’t recall the last time I watched a movie and the thoughts in my brain saying “oh god I hope he isn’t dead” were this loud and overwhelming. I knew Jann was alive to this day, but I couldn’t help but worry for this beautifully written character I had grown to love. I can be so stone-cold and jaded to films anymore, but this just hit me where I needed it. The beautiful visuals of Jann seeing the home GT car-kit also never grew old on me and even gave me some inspiration. Neill made sure to emphasize that Jann never lost that video gamer side to him, and a lot of themes are explored through that narrative. And that is the kind of respect that I wish all of Hollywood had for all the studio owned major IP’s.
Gran Turismo inspired me more than any film has since I watched Spielberg’s: The Fablemans, and that is nothing to be overlooked. I still can’t believe the Gran Turismo movie rocked my world as much as it did, but I’m glad to say I was pleasantly surprised. This movie deserves your love, and it has mine.
NAME
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HAL
Martins Ferry, OH
March 1st
FAVORITE GENRE
FAVORITE MOVIE
FAVORITE DIRECTOR
FAVORITE STAR
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ART AMBITIONS
Horror
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Sam Raimi
Sam Riley
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ART INSPIRATION
Genndy Tartakovsky The
Release Date | February 6, 2009
Director | Henry SelickDistributer | Focus Features
Budget | $60 Million
It is hard to believe that I was 9 years old when Coraline was initially released, but as a 24-year-old it was better than I remembered. I will say this movie was my little sister's comfort movie (2 years old at release), so I saw this movie so many times, to the point where I was burnt out on watching it. No fault to the movie, it kind of made me dislike it for a while. After not watching it for a decade, it was a very fun watch during its limited theater run this past month.
Coraline (Dakota Fanning) and her family move into a new apartment building full of eccentric people, due to her parent's work. After being ignored by her parents she explores their new home where she finds a secret door that holds an alternate world on the other side with the life she dreams of. It seems fun and dandy until her other mother and family try to keep her in their universe, forcing her to play a game to bring back her real family.
What a fun ride it was seeing this movie again for the first time in over a decade. Looking at this film as an adult, it truly is a beautiful piece of art. When it comes to stop-motion this is towards the top of the list, along with other entries from Henry Selick. The way the Laika team brought these figures to life is truly amazing, from the movement of hair to running water, and much more. They created a piece of art that at the very least needs to be recognized in itself. The rerelease has a really cool intro from the Laika team and taught me things like how many costume changes they created for Coraline, which you don’t really catch when watching.
As for the story itself, as a kid, this movie was a little scary, and even as an adult it had its moments. The final form of other mother is nightmare fuel for any child or adult (I won’t judge). It is a story that keeps your attention, although it starts a little dry, once the secret door is discovered you are going down the hill on the roller coaster and the twists and turns won’t stop till the end. The tunnel was always one of my favorite parts using the purples and blues that would make anyone want to give it a shot. In the alternate universe, they capture what looks like the perfect life, I’m still waiting for a gravy train to be installed in my home.
The supporting characters in this film are very memorable, from Mr. B upstairs and his jumping mice to Miriam and April who may show off a little too much for some peoples liking. You cannot forget about Wybie, who is the sidekick to Coraline, plus the unsung hero of the film, the cat, who is portrayed by Keith David, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Coraline is a movie that I honestly thought I would never see again after the amount of times my sister put me through it when I was younger, but I am glad this rerelease allowed me the opportunity to not only see it again but do so with a theater experience. I can safely say that this film will be watched again down the road, and I recommend you watch it again if you didn’t catch it last month.
By: Kory King
Coraline has been a niche staple in the Hot-Topic/Goth-Girl community since it first came out in theaters in 2009. The Henry Selick film was an immediate hit and instant cult classic for some. The dark gothic nature of this claymated film, about a girl who discovers a seemingly perfect world after constant ignorance from her parents: too busy to notice her nightly escapades through a small, locked livingroom door.
My experience: I was 8 years old in 2009 when I was dragged by the scruff of my neck by my sisters to go see this in theaters. In 2009 I was too focused on trying to be an “average sports lovin’ boy” and getting a sequel from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 (2007). I had no interest in movies that I saw as stereotypically for girls. I’m pretty sure my only take away from that theater experience was that I got to laugh and see old-lady boobs. After that I vowed to hate that movie for reasons I don’t know why, for the next 13 years. 2022 comes around and I’m full steam ahead with my old podcast: “Issue One Podcast” with a buddy of mine. Looking for something new and exciting to review we decided to give his girlfriend a spotlight episode for her birthday, and she chose the topic of Coraline. Instantly: I’m hooked. Probably one of my favorite intros to any film I have ever seen. The satisfying visuals of the needle fingers sewing Coraline’s doll together already shows a test of strength and skill of the animating team. The innovative use of techniques to portray wet hair, and transitions that belong in a Sam Raimi film. That coupled with a haunting score composed by Bruno Coulais gives an atmospheric feeling that is not unlike a Danny Elfman score with more subtlety. The voice acting is also a stupendous effort from Dakota Fanning to Teri Hatchet, and Keith David
Coraline is a tight story from beginning to end with rich characters, the most stunning Claymation visuals except maybe The Nightmare Before Christmas. You can see moments in this film as simple as the shower running and be blown away by the fluidity and creativeness of the team. If I went in detail-by-detail for every stunning visual, you would never get to the end of this review. The world created by Henry Selick and Neil Gammon is one that could be studied by college classes. There are hints of a larger world than what’s at hand, throughout the story that create an introspective into the history of the pink palace. There’s also hints towards previous films from Henry Selick including: the 1993 hit film: A Nightmare Before Christmas Coraline is mysterious, and sinister for a “family movie” or a “kids’ film”. One moment living rent free in my head is the scene where the “Other Mother” forces a smile on Wybie struggling to refrain from telling Coraline the truth about the world she admires so much. Later on, we see some serious contemplation coming from the “Other Father” as well who feels more akin to a dog on a leash. Only Henry Selick could leave this much tension to bite on in a claymated film. The use of POV makes for a claustrophobic environment in an otherwise wide and filled out world.
Coraline is a movie that I think every adult should experience just once. It’s a great scare for kids, and a really fun watch for anybody who can have fun living in a new world for a couple hours. It’s a 10/10 for me, and I think anyone would be hardpressed to find things they don’t like about this movie.
Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Music
Best Cinematography
Worst Performance
Worst Picture
Teenage Mutant Ninja Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Corey Hawkins Corey Hawkins as Clemens as Clemens
Bruna Marquezine Bruna Marquezine as Jenny Kord as Jenny Kord
Jeff Rowe Jeff Rowe
Teenage Mutant Ninja Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Archie Madekwe Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough as Jann Mardenborough
Aisling Franciosi Aisling Franciosi as Anna as Anna
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem
Teenage Mutant Ninja Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
The Last Voyage The Last Voyage of the Demeter of the Demeter
Susan
as Victoria Kord as Victoria Kord
Neill Blomkamp Neill Blomkamp Gran Turismo Gran Turismo
Gran Gran Turismo Turismo
The Last Voyage The Last Voyage of the Demeter of the Demeter
Sarandon Susan Sarandon
There's
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to you!
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The Departed (2006), Orphan (2009), The Conjuring (2013)
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August 14th August 14th
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THECONJURING2|WARNERBROS.PICTURES THOR:LOVEANDTHUNDER|MARVELSTUDIOStop 5 favorite movies 1.
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The Lost Boys
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top 5 favorite movies
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