Top-billed by Thor star Chris Hemsworth, Netflix has just released its latest action flick, Extraction. The movie is available on the streaming giant since Apr 24, 2020.

Should you watch it or skip it? Read on this review to find out.

A Mini-Marvel Reunion

Extraction is Director Sam Hargrave’s debut film after having previously worked as stunt coordinator for Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo (aka the Russo brothers), who by the way, are also the producers of this film and stunt double for Chris Evans’ Captain America. Add in another Marvel alum to the mix in the person of Chris Hemsworth and this movie is essentially a reunion.

Yup, these guys have worked with and are very acquainted with each other and that familiarity shows greatly in this movie as evidenced by Hemsworth looking like he is absolutely comfortable and having fun – so to speak – with his role.

Gorgeous Fight Scenes

I actually expected this movie to be a really good action film knowing that a former stuntman is sitting in the director’s chair. Such was the case with Hobbs and Shaw and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch when he transitioned from stuntman to Director.

Suffice to say my prediction wasn’t wrong. The fight scenes are, for lack of a better word, gorgeous. The action is incredibly well-choreographed it almost feels like you are in a game of Call of Duty or the like. The transitions are so good only a seasoned stuntman could put together such a spectacle. There is a sequence where there is an incredibly lengthy time where it looked like it was shot in one continuous take, around a good 15 minutes or so of non-stop action. That sequence was pure rush!

Extraction is really a must-see for action lovers alike.

More than Just Action?

“Biggest drug lord in India versus biggest drug lord in Bangladesh.” This line from the trailer and the movie sure tells us that this is certainly an action movie and as mentioned, the action is undoubtedly its strongest suit. But it also tries to be something more.

Extraction did its best in trying to give this movie a “heart” with Chris Hemsworth’s character Tyler Rake bonding with his child co-star and mission Rudhraksh Jaiswal’s Ovi Mahajan Jr., the kidnapped son of the Indian drug lord in the film.

But, I felt like it doesn’t quite hit the heart that much. See, I just find it questionable for one man to be fighting to save one child while simultaneously killing everyone else. Well, that’s just me. But I do give the film credit for its attempt to be better than just an action movie. Like I said, “tried”.

Skip or Watch?

If you are a fan of the action genre, this one is definitely for you. But if you’re not, Chris Hemsworth’s charm and charisma should be enough to convince you.

Seriously though, Extraction is a gorgeously choreographed action flick that tries to be something more. And although it doesn’t quite hit the mark as to being something more, it is one hell of an action movie that will get your adrenaline juices pumping for pretty much the entire duration of the film.

So yeah, definitely watch.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Extraction.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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The live-action adaptation of Mulan, originally slated for theatrical release last March of 2020, is available on Disney’s own streaming platform Disney+ now!

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

From Theatrical to Streaming

The Covid-19 pandemic has messed up the film industry a lot with theaters worldwide opting to close their doors for at least until the disease gets under control. But several months have passed and the disease seems nowhere near under control. Now it’s time for the film studios need to make a decision. Postpone the theatrical releases some more or go to streaming platforms.

Understandably, Disney has chosen the latter for Mulan. The film which was scheduled to be theatrically released on March has found its way through studio’s own streaming platform, Disney+ which is sadly not accessible in the Philippines as of yet. But don’t fret because if you live in a country where theaters are allowed to open, Disney will have a traditional release in these countries.

Here’s hoping everything goes well in the Philippines and theaters will re-open soon, safely.

Mulan 1998 vs Mulan 2020

The animated version which was released 22 years ago in 1998 introduced us to Mulan with much critical acclaim. After all, the film was one of (if not the) first of its kind. It broke all Disney female character stereotypes and featured a heroine instead of a damsel in distress or a princess waiting for her knight in shining armor. Nah! It was simply just ahead of its time.

So, what’s new with the 2020 version of Mulan? Short answer: A LOT!

First and most notable of all is, THERE ARE NO SONG SEQUENCES. So, if you’re looking for an updated version of the songs like “Reflection”, you won’t find that here. That’s a little sad but you’ll hear an instrumental version of most of the songs in the background. You just have to fill it in with the lyrics yourself; you still remember them, anyway, right?

A lot of characters are missing here too. I mostly missed Eddie Murphy’s Mushu among others. But there are also some new characters added. Some are good and some are bad. You’ll see. The plot remained the same but certain stories and narratives were changed.

Unlike The Lion King 2019 live-action remake, which was basically a frame-by-frame copy of the original, Mulan made some interesting changes. Mostly good changes, the way I see it.

Skip or Watch?

So is it any good? Well, yeah!

Yifei Liu brought some justice to the titular character Mulan with her innocent yet fierce impression of the Chinese heroine. Veteran actors Jet Li as the Emperor of China, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, and Tzi Ma as Mulan’s father Hua Zhou, as you would expect, impresses. But it was actress Gong Li’s surprise character (which I will not reveal for suspense) that set this film apart from the original.

The 1998 version was a masterpiece but Mulan 2020 is gorgeous in its own right. Despite the absence of song numbers and the comedic relief brought by Mushu, the film still holds up quite good I feel like it deserves to be seen in a bigger screen.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Mulan 2020.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Black Widow kicks off Marvel Studios’ return to the big screen after a long break due to the pandemic. Originally scheduled for a May 2020 release, catch Scarlett Johansson as she returns one final time as the titular character. Now, the question is: Should you skip it or watch it?

Read on this review to find out.

Marvel Studios Returns

After a long hiatus, Marvel Studios finally returns to the big screen. This time, with the original sole female Avenger leading the way in Black Widow. Believe it or not, but it has actually been two years since we last saw a Marvel Film with Spider-Man: Far From Home released way back in July of 2019.

Originally, Black Widow was scheduled for a May 2020 release, but we all know what happened in 2020. Marvel did give us some small screen comfort with WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the still running Loki series through Disney+. But we still miss those larger-than-life Marvel films. And although not every theater in the world is open and will be able to show the movie in the big screen, it’s still good to know that the wait for Black Widow is finally over.

Get to Know Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Black Widow whom we last saw in Avengers: Endgame. And since all of us basically saw Endgame, we all know what happened to her character and in essence it kind of spoils the ending of the movie.

Still, don’t let that fact discourage you. Black Widow still has a lot of stories to tell. There are still a lot of things we don’t know about her, after all. This film tries to fill in those gaps and then gives us a deeper understanding of what makes Natasha Romanoff the greatest spy/assassin/hero.

Humor, Action, Heart

Helmed by critically acclaimed director Cate Shortland (Somersault), Black Widow comes out great. That opening credits scene to the tune of Don McLean’s American Pie feels so light and good you know at that moment the movie is going to be great.

As one might expect, the film is not short of action sequences. It is, after all, a Marvel movie. The patented action, humor, and heart has always been a proven formula. Black Widow is no different and perhaps even excels in more ways than one than its predecessors.

The supporting cast are great as well with David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) leading the pack. But it is Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova who shines brighter than the rest. Her effortless charm and wit are on point. It should not come as a surprise if she takes over as the new Black Widow. The post-credits scene confirms we will see more of her in the future and I am so looking forward to it.

Skip or Watch?

Black Widow is a bittersweet addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film which also celebrates the return of Marvel Studios into the big screen gives fans of the original female Avenger the send-off she deserves.

Black Widow, though still part of a larger film universe, stands tall on its own and with that said, it is an absolute must-watch.

Catch the movie on Disney+ at an extra cost but if theaters are open in your area, you should definitely see this on the big screen (safely).

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Black Widow.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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WandaVision, the MCU’s first television series comes to a close after a 9-episode run on streaming service Disney+.

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

MCU Drought is OVER

Finally, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come back to life. In case you forgot, the last MCU movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home was released way back in July 2019. It was supposed to be followed by Black Widow in April 2020 but then we all know what happened. And while we did get some much-needed appetizer from the series finale of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD in 2020, the year still felt like a drought for most MCU fans, me included. Then again, the movie and the entertainment industry in general suffered huge blows with some major releases eventually finding their homes in streaming platforms.

Thank God for Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime and all the streaming platforms out there for making 2020 much bearable.

Fast forward to 2021 or roughly one and a half years since the release of Spider-Man: FFH, we finally get to see WandaVision.

Ambitious

The 9-episode series features Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) in a sitcom series that travels progresses decade after decade. Now, one may wonder how Vision came back to life after Thanos killed him and took the mind stone for himself back in Avengers: Infinity War. Obviously, I’m not here to spoil anything but the answer can be found when you watch the series.

It’s been a long-time coming for MCU fans and dare I say it, WandaVision does not disappoint. Unless, of course, you are one of those fans who reads all the internet theories about a show and sulks every time those theories are proven wrong. LOL.

WandaVision really holds up on its own. The visual effects alone are breathtakingly gorgeous. The series feels more like a 4.5 hour movie rather than a television show. The script perfectly captures the hilarity typical of Marvel productions. I’d go so far as to say that it is one of the most ambitious television shows I’ve seen so far.

It’s only drawback, I would say, is that it’s released one episode each week with only the first two episodes released in the first week. I’m not exactly a fan of that setup because it gives a lot more time to speculate and theorize. I’m not a fan of that either. I want answers right away. Why make us wait when all the episodes are completed anyway?

Elizabeth Olsen Shines

But the emotional level of WandaVision is what elevates it from the rest of the pack. We all wondered what the effects of the events of Avengers: Endgame would be to the other heroes. We saw what it did to Peter Parker/Spider-Man but it was actually Wanda who suffered the most and had everything taken from her.

WandaVision explores on that deeper and it gave us one of the most beautiful lines ever: “But what is grief if not love persevering.”

Indeed, Wanda lost everything but Elizabeth Olsen gained all the praises in return for her spot-on portrayal of the grieving Wanda Maximoff. The pain, the grief, all the emotion in Olsen’s face will give everyone major goose bumps.

Elizabeth Olsen definitely shines bright in scarlet on this one.

Skip or Watch?

Despite the year-long MCU drought because of the pandemic, the WandaVision series proves that Marvel Studios still got it. The series not only satisfied the hunger of most MCU fans but also drops major hints as to where the studio is going. Spoiler alert: The MCU is not going away anytime soon.

Oh, and be sure to stay for the patented mid-credits and post-credits scene.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for WandaVision.

Let us know what you think of the series by giving it your own rating or commenting below. Got a movie or TV series that you would like for us to review? Drop us a message and we’ll get to it.

The sixth movie in the widely successful sci-fi robot-smashing action Terminator franchise is back with James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar, Terminator 1 and 2) returning as producer and directed by Tim Miller (Deadpool). Here’s our Terminator: Dark Fate Film Review.

The Official Sequel

If you can no longer remember what happened to the three movies immediately preceding Dark Fate, Terminator: Rise of the Machines, Terminator: Salvation, Terminator: Genisys, don’t worry because according to the film’s original creator and director James Cameron, the events that took place in those three films were basically ignored in Dark Fate. Then again, they weren’t as good as the first two so we bet you already forgot about them anyway.

So, let’s be clear. Dark Fate is the official sequel to The Terminator (1984) and Terminator: Judgment Day (1991).

Still confused? The video below will help you understand better. Or continue reading our Terminator: Dark Fate Film Review.

Going back with the R-rating

The last three films came out with a more wholesome theme than the James Cameron’s version, which is probably the reason why, for some fans, those three were a letdown.

This time, James Cameron entrusted the franchise to someone who is no stranger to R-rated movies, Tim Miller, who made his directorial debut in 2016 with Deadpool. “Enough of a resume for you?”

This definitely worked out well as it allowed for the movie to depict as much violence as necessary to give the audience a superior story.

That said, kids below 13 years old, this one’s not for you. Sorry.

Cast and Plot

T1 and T2 are arguably the films that catapulted Arnold Schwarzenegger to super stardom. And obviously, he’s back…one more time. This time, as a much older version of the time-traveling robot assassin.

The real stars of the show, however, were the women. Headed by Linda Hamilton, who returned to her Sarah Connor character with much anticipation from fans, the cast also includes Mackenzie Davis (Blade Runner 2049) who plays Grace, a human converted into a cyborg and sent to the past to protect Natalia Reyes (Dani Ramos) from the more advanced and deadlier robot the Rev-9 played by Gabriel Luna (Agents of Shield).

Plot sounds familiar? Well, it should be, because this is basically the premise of the Terminator movies. But no, Dark Fate did more than just recycle its predecessors’ plot. For one, the time travel logic in this film, though not sound, was not as messy as the other films in the franchise. What’s best is that the film provided enough twists and significant departure from the film’s original source material all while maintaining its identity as a Terminator film.

Be sure to check our trailers page for more videos.

Stand Outs

If you are a fan of the franchise, watch out for callbacks from the T1 and T2 films such as the iconic line “I’ll be back”. Only this time, Linda Hamilton gets to say it. Schwarzenegger’s lines as the Terminator provide some comic relief. Meanwhile, Gabriel Luna’s portrayal of the new robot villain proved to be a great casting choice. We also can’t help but appreciate the costume designs, although simple, stayed true to the film’s roots. And finally, the two newer ladies Mackenzie Davis and Natalia Reyes could be on their way to mega stardom with the incredible performance they did in this film, if they aren’t already.

Embed from Getty Images

Skip or Watch

Definitely a must-watch! Terminator: Dark Fate has absolutely resurrected the franchise and is the sequel that the fans deserve.

What did you think of the movie? Tell us by commenting below or by giving the film your own rating.

Read more of our reviews on this page.

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Godzilla vs Kong smashed its way into theaters and HBO Max last March 2021 becoming the first blockbuster hit this pandemic season.

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

King vs King

After defeating Ghidorah and claiming the title as the King of the Monsters in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla defends his crown against another massive enemy in Kong. The giant ape and protector of Skull Island sets out once again to defend his territory against one of the fiercest monsters in the MonsterVerse.

Who wins this battle? Well, that’s for you to find out.

What I can I say is that if you’re looking for a monster against monster film extravaganza, then you will surely be satisfied with this one.

Forget About the Humans

The human element has always been a problem for the Legendary’s MonsterVerse as seen in Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and the same with Kong: Skull Island (2015). The same can be said about Godzilla vs Kong. It’s not that the human characters in these films are bad or played badly, they are actually good. Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown reprises her role along with her on-screen father Kyle Chandler as Madison and Dr. Mark Russell. The Legend of Tarzan star Alexander Skarsgård joins the cast along with Vicky Cristina Barcelona actress Rebecca Hall. All pretty interesting characters with Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews together with child star Kaylee Hottle having more interactions with Kong himself.

But towards the beginning of the clash of the monsters, the characters seem to drop off the screen and essentially out of the fight. And frankly, I did not miss them. As interesting as the human characters storylines are, they did not feel as important to me as they should be. See, I came here for the monster battles not the human element. Director Adam Wingard seems to understand this and gives us exactly the monster battles we need. Forget about the humans. This film is titled Godzilla vs Kong and it should be all about the monsters. And guess what, it works!

More MonsterVerse Please!

The monster fights in Godzilla vs Kong are an absolute stand-out. The literally larger-than-life battles are as fun as they are devastating to watch. All the previous entries from the MonsterVerse seemed to lack the human elements to succeed but Godzilla vs Kong took things a little further and almost completely forgets about them humans. And against all odds, it worked.

That said, it should be a no-brainer for the studios to greenlight more MonsterVerse movies in the future, if they haven’t already. And maybe, put the monsters in focus again.

Skip or Watch?

Godzilla vs Kong is exactly what it needs to be – a film that gives more importance to the monsters and the monster battles. Forget about the humans and all the science stuff, it’s all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo anyways.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Godzilla vs Kong.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Army of the Dead hit Netflix over the weekend a week after its theatrical release in select theaters. Netflix tap director Zack Snyder on this one, so the question is: Should you skip it or watch it?

Read on this review to find out.

Smarter, Faster, Organized

Cue Zombie by The Cranberries as Dave Bautista headlines this zombie heist movie from visionary director Zack Snyder. Army of the Dead marks the filmmaker’s debut on the streaming giant, Netflix. Originally written by Snyder himself after the success of his remake of George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead in 2004, the zombie heist film finally got the greenlight in 2019 with Netflix backing it up.

A decade and a half later, the undead are back. This time, they are faster, smarter, and organized and yeah, there’s a zombie tiger too. And oh, let’s not forget, there’s a 200-million dollar locked in a vault surrounded by Vegas zombies at stake here.

The Zack Snyder Style

So taking all of those wild plotlines in, there is really no other director that could possibly tackle all of those in one movie than the master himself, Zack Snyder. The legendary director of the recently released Zack Snyder’s Justice League aka the #SnyderCut is in full control this time around. As he should be.

Snyder’s inimitable filmmaking style is on full display here with those distinct slow-motion sequences that look effortlessly cool. The flawless integration of computer-generated effects, the effectiveness of those green screens. This really feels like a Zack Snyder movie. Army of the Dead is a great combo of great action sequences and impeccable sense of humor.

Actors Dave Bautista (Scott Ward) and Ella Purnell (Kate Ward) feels like a great father-daughter tandem. Omari Hardwick (Vanderohe) and Ana de la Reguera (Maria Cruz) are great supporting actors. Matthias Schweighöfer (Ludwig Dieter) and Tig Notaro (Marianne Peters) are show-stealers. Nora Arnezeder (Lily/The Coyote) and Samantha Win (Chambers) are real butt-kickers. The cast and the characters they play are neither shallow nor that deep but layered enough to be memorable.

Maybe Too Long?

Snyder’s Army of the Dead is 2 hours and 28 minutes long. Highly unusual for the zombie genre to have this long of a runtime. Some would even say it may be too long. And indeed, it is. Still, from a storytelling standpoint, I feel the runtime is just right. I don’t believe the movie would feel complete otherwise. We’ll just have to survive some of the boring parts, though.

This, for me, is where Zack Snyder needs to find the balance. Most of his films always feels like it’s never going to end. Sure, it makes for a more compelling story, but it also starts to become like a trip to SnoozeVille at some point. 2.5 hours is still a long runtime for a movie even more so for a zombie movie.

Balance, dude. Balance.

Skip or Watch?

Army of the Dead is definitely a highlight of Zack Snyder’s filmmaking career. The action sequences are always fun, and the humor is on point. Packed with an awesome cast headed by Dave Bautista and Ella Purnell, the movie is a sure-fire way to spice up your weekend movie nights.

Army of the Dead makes zombie movies cool again.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Army of the Dead.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Mark Wahlberg and director Peter Berg reunites for a fifth time for the action comedy film, Spenser Confidential.

The film has been streaming on Netflix since March 6, 2020 but should you watch it or skip it? Read on this review to find out.

Charming Cast

Loosely based on Robert B. Parker’s Spenser character and Ace Atkins’ novel Wonderland, Spenser Confidential follows ex-cop/ex-con Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) along with fellow ex-con Hawk (Winston Duke) as they unravel a criminal conspiracy involving dirty cops in Boston.

Honestly, I had no idea how this new duo would fair against some of the fairly established crime-fighting duos in film like Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys and Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s Lethal Weapon among others. And while they are not as good as those previously mentioned, they sure have a place in the genre.

Wahlberg with his grit and Duke with his youthful free-spirited self, the two leads seemed to be in sync with one another and are quite charming, if I may say so. Add to that the convincing old-guy-you-can-run-to performance of Alan Arkin as Henry Cimoli and Iliza Shlesinger’s Cissy Davis providing a much-needed comic relief, and you have a pleasurable piece of entertainment.

Oh, and music star Post Malone and UFC star Donald Cerrone has some fairly important cameo, so that’s added bonus.

Decent Plot

There’s almost always a dirty cop/s conspiracy play in movies of this genre and it sure is the same thing with Spenser Confidential. Well, there are still some things to like about its plot. I, for one, liked the fact that it was straight-forward. Not too many mysteries and tying-up stories-together happening.

Normally, when that’s the case, the film becomes either uninteresting or predictable. That is still true for Spenser Confidential but somehow, I felt that dullness and predictability, in this rare occasion, work. See, this isn’t your murder mystery a la Knives Out or larger-than-life conspiracy movie. No, it’s not like those at all. It’s just a straight up action comedy film and consequently the straightforward storytelling just works.

I just don’t feel like there’s a point in dissecting the film as you watch it. It’s just not that kind of movie. For all I care, Spenser Confidential is just pure fun and entertainment. And I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Skip or Watch?

Spenser Confidential is certainly NOT up there with some of the best buddy-cop films of all time but it sure finds its place in the genre even with its exceedingly familiar police conspiracy plot. That said, it’s still an entertaining film and there’s not a lot of new entertaining films out there with this coronavirus thing happening.

So, if you’re looking for a new film that knows a thing or two on how to throw a punch, Spenser Confidential is one you should consider on your list.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Spenser Confidential.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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The Skywalker saga has ended with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker but there’s a lot more stories to tell in the Star Wars universe and The Mandalorian series from Disney+ is proof of that. We finally got to watch the entire first season. Here’s what we think of it.

 What is it about?

By now, you have probably heard about The Mandalorian series. No? Well, how about “Baby Yoda”? Sure, you have!

Available on Disney Corp’s very own online streaming service, Disney+, The Mandalorian is a space western series set in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of The Return of the Jedi (1983) and follows the adventures of a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter beyond the reaches of the New Republic.

Released in November of 2019 on Disney+, the series released new episodes weekly thereafter and completed its 8-episode run on December 27 of the same year which means all episodes are streaming on Disney+ now.

It is also the first live-action Star Wars TV show. Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Lion King) serves as the series creator so we expected much a lot from this show. And in a lot of ways, it does not disappoint.

A Good Start…Awesome Finale!

Our favorite Pedro Pascal (Narcos, Game of Thrones) stars as the titular character and he is spot on, which is weird, considering that he wears a helmet almost all throughout the first season.

However, the series is not without its flaws either. In two or three episodes, there’s a lot of repetitive things going on. The Mandalorian goes to another planet, meets a friend, defeats several foes, and leaves for another planet.

But not to worry, folks. There’s a lot of action to keep viewers entertained. Awesome visual effects, great acting, and good script helps too. Seriously, the special effects for the show is way beyond what it should be, and the visuals are very close to what we’ve seen in way bigger Star Wars movies. And of course, “Baby Yoda” is there to entertain, and the story, though still young, is indeed promising.

And don’t dare miss the final episode of the season. It is the most exciting episode of all. Packed with a lot of action and surprising revelations which helps build up all the excitement for Season 2.

“This Is The Way”

The Star Wars universe (much like our universe) just keeps on expanding and one can only imagine where it will go next. And if things go in the same way The Mandalorian goes, then we’re all in.

The Star Wars saga has ended on the big screen (for now). But with The Mandalorian’s success, Star Wars TV shows may just be the next big thing for Star Wars (and Disney).

And we’re all for it!

The Star Wars universe is huge and TV series may just be the best platform to tell their stories effectively.

This is the Way, indeed!

Skip or Watch?

The Mandalorian is one of the most watched TV shows of 2019. And there’s some good reason behind all the hype. It is a great series that explores the Star Wars universe further and perhaps better than even some of the Star Wars movie releases.

The Mandalorian is a pleaser, and even non-fans of the franchise will appreciate its beauty.

VERDICT: WATCH

Here is our rating for the first season of The Mandalorian series.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the most anticipated follow-up to 2018’s smash hit Black Panther has finally arrived. But without its lead character, can the sequel still live up to its predecessor? Read on this review to find out.

A Fitting Goodbye

2018’s Black Panther is the best Marvel movie ever! Yep, I just said that. But with the tragic passing of its lead, Chadwick Boseman, in 2020, questions loomed over the continuity of the beloved character. What is going to happen to the Black Panther character in the MCU?

Wakanda Forever addresses all of this in perhaps the best way possible – there is no replacing Chadwick Boseman. He shall forever live on as King T’Challa. And returning Director Ryan Coogler honors him with a goodbye truly fit for a king.

Letitia Wright’s Shuri gives out the performance of her lifetime and perfectly portrays the anguished sister. That scene on the beach is as quiet as it is gut-wrenching. But it’s actually Angela Bassett who steals the show with an absolutely stunning performance as the Queen Mother Ramonda. Her piercing and emotional delivery embodies the perfect balance of grieving mother and compassionate ruler.

Introducing Talokan

Wakanda has opened up its doors to the world after the events of the first Black Panther movie. In Wakanda Forever, we get to explore the nation once more and then some. Introducing…Talokan, a nation of underwater dwelling people headed by its leader, Namor/K’uk’ulkan played astoundingly by Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta Mejia. The underwater world, however, doesn’t quite live up to the world-building treatment that Wakanda received in the first movie. Still, Talokan is a beauty. As gorgeous as Wakanda but also just as fearsome as its land-dwelling counterpart.

Best MCU Movie of 2022

2022 isn’t the best year for the MCU, at least in terms of movies. The Marvel TV series seemed to have done a lot better with Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and even the animated series What If…?. The movies on the other hand, well… Doctor Strange 2 was OK but Thor 4 felt like a bad sitcom.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was the studios final hope. And thank the gods it delivered. Try as it might, though, it still doesn’t quite live up to the masterpiece that is the first Black Panther movie. Regardless, Wakanda Forever handily beats out the other movie entries of 2022 by a huge margin. The direction, the emotions, the world-building is just on a different level.

Skip or Watch?

While it’s not quite up there with its predecessor, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is easily the best MCU movie of 2022. The gravity of emotions and the powerful performances of the cast sans Chadwick Boseman lifts the film up from what I can only call an underwhelming year for the beloved Marvel franchise. Expect all the elements of a MCU movie to be present but better.

Wakanda Forever is an absolute must-watch for the MCU fans and non-fans alike.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

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