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.

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

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Project Power, Netflix’ latest addition, gives everybody a chance to get superpowers for 5-minutes.

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

Another Superhero Movie?

Superhero movies are just everywhere nowadays and thanks in part to the success of Marvel Studios the superhero genre is easily one of the most bankable movie genres in today’s film industry. And by the looks of it, we may be seeing more and more superhero films in the years to come.

So, is Project Power another superhero movie? Well, the answer’s complicated.

As can be seen in the trailer, anybody can have superpowers with a just a pop of a pill. Although said power only lasts five minutes and no one exactly knows what kind of power you’re getting or if you’re even getting one.

So, yeah, it’s kind of a superhero movie but it’s not just a superhero movie. There’s a lot more to this movie than what it shows in the trailer.

Curious Premise

“If there was a pill that could give you 5 minutes of pure power, would you take it?”

One line and I’m hooked, and why shouldn’t it? Everyone, at some point in their lives, wanted to have superpowers.

But as you might expect, there’s a catch. There always is. As I said above, this isn’t just a superhero movie. It’s also a drug movie, a revenge movie, a cop-buddy movie. Yeah, Project Power packed everything in hoping to please every moviegoer out there. And to a point, it does.

Somewhat Lacking

Actors Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt team up for the first time in Project Power and both actors were damn fine. Yes, they are. However, it is the young Dominique Fishback, who gets the most attention, with a role so perfectly portrayed the casting directors could not have chosen anyone better.

The duo of Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost who are best known for their underrated 2016 film Nerve captains Project Power. And if you’ve seen that one, you know what these two are capable of.

Interestingly, both Project Power and Nerve had that same level of thought-provoking premise. Both films were good and had strong foundations but as much as I liked Nerve, I felt there was something lacking on Project Power.

It gets you hooked and high on the Power pill but much like in the movie the high does not last long.

Project Power shows you bits and pieces of what more there is to the film and then abandon it for another set of bits and pieces of the film.

The movie kind of makes you go, “Oh, what could have been”. Still, you’ll find it watchable.

Skip or Watch?

Armed with a thought-provoking premise, Netflix’ latest film, Project Power, for the most part, passes. Awesome performances from its main leads and a specially-stellar performance from Dominique Fishback make this movie easily one of the more watchable films of 2020.

I’m still undecided, though, on whether this falls under the superhero genre or not. Regardless, I highly recommend you add this to your watch list.

Enjoy!

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Project Power.

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

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The New Mutants finally got released in this pandemic year after a 3-year long delay in production. We finally get to see the movie after its DVD and digital release this November.

Now, the question is, should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

3-year Long Delay

I can still remember back in 2017 when Fox released a trailer for a new movie in the X-Men universe; a different kind of X-Men movie. Posing a darker and much scarier tone, it got a lot of X-Men fans excited. 2017 went by and then 2018, and then 2019 and all fans got was a new trailer every year. It wasn’t until March 2020 when finally The New Mutants got the green light for its theatrical release and then the pandemic came. Ultimately, the film was released in August 2020.

Three long years of production issues and still the movie was not able to reach a lot of audiences upon its release. Don’t worry, though, as you might be better off missing this one.

People always say, patience is a virtue, and that good things come to those who wait. Sadly, this wasn’t the case with The New Mutants.

Disappointing

The New Mutants aimed to be the first film under the superhero horror genre. The result? A little bit of superhero and a little bit of horror. It’s not bad per se but there really isn’t a lot in it. Add to the fact that we waited 3 years only to see so little bit of anything, that’s just disappointing.

The cast which included Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair aka Wolfsbane, Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga (City of God), Blu Hunt (The Originals) and Henry Zaga  (13 Reasons Why). The actors did their jobs but the characters they played are simply just meh.

Not to take anything away from the other actors but it was The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy’s Illyana Rasputin aka Magik who stole the show. She was the little bit of superhero and the little bit of horror in the film and literally the only character I cared about. Too bad, though, the movie’s plot didn’t focus on her because if it did The New Mutants would have been a totally different movie. A better one I reckon.

The Fault in our Stars director Josh Boone helmed this one and I think it’s safe to say, this is not his best work.

Skip or Watch?

One would expect that after 3 years of shooting and reshooting that The New Mutants would be good or at least meet the viewers’ expectations: a superhero movie and a horror movie. Instead, all we got was just a little bit of both. And that’s just not good enough. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Anya Taylor-Joy’s Magik, I wouldn’t have finished watching the movie.

So, if you’re looking to grab a copy of The New Mutants, just don’t.

But if you really want to, get it through the links below.

VERDICT: SKIP!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for The New Mutants.

Let us know what you think of the movie 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.

We’re finally done watching Stranger Things 3! And in this post, we list down the Top 7 things we loved about the third instalment of the critically-acclaimed and widely successful Netflix original, Stranger Things.

WARNING!

Minor spoilers for Stranger Things Season 3 are in this post.

7. Everyone’s Back

Well, technically, not everyone. The characters who survived the previous two seasons are back, we should say. But you get it.

Possibly the biggest reason why the franchise is such a mega hit is the cast, specifically the children. So, it’s a no-brainer to bring them all back.

Series regulars Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb Mclaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp) along with Season 2 addition Max (Sadie Sink) all return to reprise their roles. Can you even imagine Stranger Things without these guys? We thought so.

Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) together with lovebirds Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) along with Steve (Joe Keery) all return to complete the lineup.

New characters will be introduced, too, and Erica (Priah Ferguson) will play a much bigger role this season. More on Erica later, don’t worry.

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6. The Shadow Monster aka The Mind Flayer

Speaking of returning characters, the Mind Flayer, a horrifying creature from another dimension and the show’s main antagonist is also returning.

Visibly teased in the previous season’s final episode, the shadow monster is bigger and more powerful than ever and is out to terrify the once-peaceful fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana once again.

Be forewarned. Some scenes involving the shadow monster are a little gross and gory even, so prepare your stomachs.

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5. Tween-age romance

Aww…Love!

At the end of Season 2, we saw the blossoming romance between Mike and Eleven and Lucas and Max. Season 3 bravely explores these relationships even more leading to some of the cheesiest scenes and sweetest lines in the show to date. Thank God for #Mileven!

We literally watched these kids grow up before our eyes and it was incredible. But seeing them fall in love on screen is just surreal.❤️❤️❤️

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4. 80s American pop-culture references

Boy, 80s music were great! And Stranger Things 3 made sure we got a lot of those. Tracks including Madonna’s Material Girl, REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling, Wham!’s Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go!) were among those featured.

The show also gave us a little bit of a tour of what the movie scene looks like at the time. A sneak preview of films, Day of the Dead and Back to the Future were shown in some of the scenes.

Anyone else want to try that controversial “New Coke”?

Also, am I the only who got that Terminator vibe from that incredibly strong Russian baddie?

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3. Priah Ferguson’s Erica Sinclair

The character which was first introduced in the 2^nd season as Lucas’ younger sister gets more screen time and dialog this time. And deservingly so, as Erica is such a stand-out and a bona fide show-stealer!

Erica Sinclair essentially cements her place as one of the show’s most-loved characters in the eight episodes of Stranger Things Season 3.

Having said that, one’s got to wonder why it took so long for the show runners to introduce us to her. Hey, Duffer Brothers, she’s never leaving the show, right? Right?

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2. The NeverEnding Story Duet

One of the show’s best parts and perhaps the most unforgettable moment in all of Stranger Things to date is “The NeverEnding Story” duet.

Dustin and new character Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) gave us one hell of a production number right in one of the most crucial moments of the show. Bad timing? On the contrary, the timing was just perfect!

The scene magically turned the show into a musical, a short but a sweet one, we must add!

Actors Gaten Matarazzo and Gabriella Pizzolo obviously got the chops and should star on a Broadway musical. Oh, wait! They already have!

Man, these kids are just too talented!

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1. The Letter

The third season of Stranger Things is for us, the show’s most emotional to date. And this was mostly because of; you guessed it, “The Letter”.

Chief Hopper is by no means “soft”. Nope! But the letter he penned for his adopted daughter Eleven, was so openly honest and heartfelt, it would make Hopper himself well up in tears.

Who would have thought that the lines “Keep the Door Open Three inches!” would hold so much meaning?

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What did you love most about Stranger Things Season 3? Tell us below!

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Netflix’ very first Belgian original series, Into the Night, is live on the streaming giant now. Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

What is it About?

Inspired by the digital novel, The Old Axolotl, by Polish science fiction author Jacek Dukaj, Into the Night is an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller that follows a group of people hi-jacked while on board a red-eye flight from Brussels, Belgium to Moscow, Russia.

Sounds dull? Well, here’s the catch. What appears to be a simple terrorist attack turns into an exhilarating race-against-time classic as the hi-jacker reveals that a deadly phenomenon involving the sun is killing everyone on the planet leaving them with no choice but to go, you guessed it, “Into the Night”.

The series is created by prolific producer Jason George and headlined by actors Pauline Etienne (Sylvie), Laurent Capelluto (Mathieu), Stéfano Cassetti (Terenzio), and Mehmet Kurtulus (Ayaz). Well, they’re not exactly Hollywood royalties, but they’re just as brilliant actors nonetheless. And you’ll be very impressed how good they acted on this, really.

A Unique Sci-Fi Thriller

I thought at first, “Another end-of-days series, huh?” and then I watched the first episode and just like that, I was hooked. Perhaps you can blame it on my somewhat obsessive-compulsive nature to want to finish what I started but Into the Night really does a great job of putting you on the edge of your seats. It just keeps on dropping bombs every darn episode and one just can’t help but want more.

“Like what now?” “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Those are just some of the thoughts (reactions, really) that popped into my head while watching the show. And I mean those as a compliment, truly.

I’ve been feeling a little bored lately with this stay-at-home situation – which is totally understandable, by the way.  But this series somehow managed to get me out of there without much persuasion needed.

Science/Fiction/Thriller?

I have to say, though, I wasn’t all convinced with all the science stuff in this series. Still, science is just one third of the genre that the show is in. It’s a science-fiction thriller, after all. And for me, the show leans more toward the fiction side. There’s just not enough of science in the show to convince me, otherwise. Or maybe I just didn’t understand the science enough? Now, that’s probably more likely. J

But whether the science in the show is real or not, I sure got the anxiety and excitement (the thriller aspect) that the show delivers. Who cares about the science, anyway? As long as the show made me feel good, that’s enough reason for me to watch it.

And, in case it’s not clear yet, let me just say it out loud, I WANT MORE. The six-episode first season is without a doubt great, but it is just not enough. I basically finished watching it all in one go. So, Season 2 better be on the works already.

Skip or Watch?

There are a whole lot of great Non-English language shows on Netflix and Into the Night is definitely one of them. It starts quite strongly and does an effective job on getting its viewers hooked by slowly assembling the pieces of this Lego puzzle. And just when you can paint a clear picture in your head of what’s really going on, you find out there’s so much more moving parts in play. And what you just lumped together is essentially a giant piece of an even bigger puzzle.

With all that said, Into the Night should be on your watch list.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Into the Night.

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

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Cobra Kai, the series sequel to Karate Kid (1984) finally finds a wider audience as it is acquired by Netflix from YouTube Premium. With two seasons already out and a third one coming in 2021, the question is, should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

YouTube Premium to Netflix

Back in 2018, Cobra Kai launched in YouTube Premium with only those who have premium YouTube accounts able to see the entire season. Surely enough, the show gained a cult following and a second season was green-lit.

Fast forward to 2020 and Netflix has gained the rights to the show and released both seasons back in June of this year. And with the streaming giant now at the helm comes an even bigger cult following.

Karate Kid Sequel

Back in 1984, Karate Kid was released to critical acclaim. The film introduced us to some of the most beloved movie characters in Mr. Miyagi and Daniel LaRusso aka The Karate Kid and spawned two sequels.

Now, 30+ years later, a new era has dawned. Cobra Kai which was the name of the rival dojo from the original movie comes back and continues the Karate Kid story. Only this time, it’s not just the story of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel. The story now shifts to Johnny Lawrence, Cobra Kai’s best student and Daniel’s former rival, and how the events of the first and second movie changed his life.

And yes, the original actors reprise their respective roles in the series with Ralph Macchio returning as Daniel LaRusso and Willam Zabka as Johnny Lawrence. Even Martin Kove who played the ruthless Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese returns for his role. Unfortunately though, Mr. Miyagi played by Pat Norita could not return as he sadly passed away back in 2005.

Nonetheless, the show brings back some precious 80s/90s nostalgia. Honestly, I feel like a kid again watching this show.

Two-Point Perspective

Well, we all learned about the story of the Karate Kid and partly the story of Cobra Kai as well from the original 1984 film. We also saw what happened (partly) to Johnny Lawrence after he got his face kicked in the finals of the All-Valley Karate Tournament.

In any case, if you have not seen Karate Kid, there’s a lot of useful flashbacks to help you understand the show’s narrative, so don’t worry.

This time, however, the show focuses more on Johnny and what his thoughts were during the events of the original film, in his own perspective. Of course, one would still root for Mr. Miyagi and Daniel but Johnny’s story is also just as compelling.

It is rare for shows or films to give justice to its antagonists but Cobra Kai does it so well. Every time you feel like you want to choose either Daniel or Johnny’s side, something happens, and you’re confused again.

The Miyagi-Do brand of Karate will always be about balance and Cobra Kai will always be about striking first and striking hard.

Perfectly Balanced

Similar to the teen drama we saw in Karate Kid, Cobra Kai isn’t also just about the karate. Teen drama is also one of its strong points. Aside from Johnny and Daniel’s renewed rivalry, we also get to see their kids battling it out in love and life itself.

Actors Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz), Tanner Buchanan (Robby Keene), and Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso) lead the way as far as teenage drama goes. Cobra Kai makes things more interesting by not just keeping up with the present, it also acknowledges the past in a realistic way. Because let’s face it, how the teens from the 80s and 90s lived are just not the same as the teens of the present live, I can’t even begin to compare.

And this is where the show does its best. It consistently finds the right balance by showing the realities of both the past and the present in a manner that is informative and not offensive.

Skip or Watch?

Cobra Kai deserves a wider audience and thanks to Netflix it finally does. And if you were a fan of the Karate Kid film series from the 80s, you are going to love this show even more. The characters we all loved watching as a kid, are all back for a perfect dose of 80s/90s nostalgia. The drama and the fighting are equally balanced as far as intensity. But more than that, it’s the well-written characters and the realism that makes this show one of the best series in right now.

All in all, this show is just so bad**s!

I’m sort of disappointed with myself for not watching the show at the time of its Netflix release. But, hey, I’m all caught up and now I want more.

A third season is coming as confirmed by Netflix and I’m pretty excited as to how the story of Cobra Kai will continue.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Cobra Kai Seasons 1 & 2.

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.

Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel docuseries provides insights to the tragic death of Elisa Lam at the (in)famous Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

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

Warning: This review contains spoilers. Then again, this case has been solved 8 years ago so I guess there’s really not much of a need for a spoiler warning.

Vanishing?

There was a lot of intrigue surrounding Elisa Lam’s case at the Cecil Hotel. Not to blame the LAPD, but in their desperate attempt to look for answers, the force sent out a video to media outlets to help determine what happened to the 21-year-old Canadian student. The case, consequently, became a wide-open Pandora’s box with the public now involved in an open investigation.

The hype, the intrigue, the public scrutiny diminished the tragedy of losing a student, a sister, and a daughter. And in present day, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel re-ignites that fire by putting the word “vanishing” in its title.

Seriously? We all know this case has been solved already. Putting the word vanishing in that title just suggests that there is some mysterious paranormal aspect to this case that people have not seen. Well, spoiler alert, there isn’t.

Misleading and Out of Focus

Elisa Lam died of accidental drowning. She drowned in a water tank on the rooftop of the Cecil Hotel. She was found there, face up and naked, by the hotel’s maintenance after residents and guests of the hotel complained about low water pressure and apparent discoloration. The investigators deduced that she had a mental breakdown after skipping her medications for a severe case of bipolar disorder.

These are the facts surrounding Elisa Lam’s death. She had a mental breakdown which ultimately led to her drowning inside the water tank of the Cecil Hotel. The documentary should have focused more on what caused her to miss her medications and should have explored more in-depth on the extent of her mental illness.

What we got instead is the over-sensationalizing of Lam’s case. The filmmakers chose to interview people that had basically had nothing to do with Elisa Lam. It is understandable not to hear from Elisa’s family in respect to their privacy. The docuseries seemed to focus more on the experiences of the amateur investigators/internet sleuths, their conspiracies, their theories and I don’t get why.

Sure, they were part of the story of Elisa Lam but they did not have anything to do with her. They did not know her at all. To hear things from their perspective is just misleading. They should have interviewed people who had close interactions with her instead. Perhaps her classmates from the university? I mean, people who (actually) know something about her and saw how she suffered from her mental disorder.

That would have given the audiences a much clearer picture of what happened as opposed to sending us into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories that never helped in any way at all.

The Other Victims

Sad as it was, Elisa Lam was not the only victim portrayed in the docuseries. The documentary also tried to give some context about Skid Row. The rows of homeless people in this part of town and how crime and people with mental illness could blend in seamlessly in the area. They are victims too.

But the saddest victim of all went by the stage name Morbid aka Pablo Vergara, a multi-talented musician, screenwriter, photographer, and many more, who was falsely accused as Elisa Lam’s murderer. Just because internet sleuths found videos of him at the Cecil Hotel and they considered his music videos disturbing. Surely, that makes him guilty, right? Well, at least the internet sleuths think so.

Morbid ended up in a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt and basically lost everything. All because of reckless false accusations from people who never cared for Lam and are just in there for the hype.

Skip or Watch?

Elisa Lam’s death was a tragic one and this docuseries does nothing to give justice to her memory. Instead, it focuses its attention on how so-called internet sleuths basically ruined the case. All while simultaneously destroying other people’s lives especially Morbid in the process with their barrage of conspiracy theories and bizarre “synchronicities”.

It should have focused more on Lam’s mental illness and the circumstances on how it became a factor on her untimely demise.

That said, skip this one.

VERDICT: SKIP!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.

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

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After much anticipation, Disney’s live action remake of “The Lion King” has finally roared into Philippine theaters.

In 1994, the animated version of “The Lion King” was released and became one of the most unforgettable films in the history of the studio. After almost 25 years, Disney has brought the film back to life (literally) with its live action version of the beloved movie.

 Here’s what we think of the new Lion King movie.

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Casting

Let’s start off with the casting. This iteration’s cast was simply star-studded.

James Earl Jones lends his voice to the King of the Pride Lands once again. And what a good decision that was as we don’t believe there could ever be anyone who could voice King Mufasa better. And as expected, he does so effortlessly in this version of the film. Great job (again), Mr. Jones!

Giving voice to Simba is actor Donald Glover (Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Martian). Nala, meanwhile, is voiced by none other than Beyonce herself. Both actors give justice to their respective characters. But we have to say, Beyonce was just flawless with Nala. Queen Bey deserves to rule the Pride Lands!

The most disappointing character, however, was Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave, Doctor Strange) as the main villain Scar. No, we’re not saying he was bad at it. Not at all. He was just…different. Maybe it’s because CGI Scar was so scary-looking we were hoping for Scar to sound more terrifying and more villain-y than he looks.

As we said, star-studded!

Other stars who lend their voices include Alfre Woodard (Sarabi), John Kani (Rafiki), Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as the film favorites Timon and Pumbaa. Shahadi Wright Joseph and JD McCrary also star as the voice of young Nala and young Simba.

Plot

Not much has changed with the plot in this remake. In fact, we don’t think they changed anything at all. It’s still the story of a young cub who couldn’t wait to be King…so on and so forth.

Some even claim that the film is just a shot-for-shot remake of the original animated version. Well, there’s some truth to that. Yes, there were some shots that are basically the same as the original. But those were the shots that are iconic and sort of trademarked already to “The Lion King” film. Director Jon Favreau would know better than to change those scenes.

Inexplicably, one of the most important things about this film, is missing. For whatever reason, we could not seem to get a lot of emotion out of this film. Maybe the CGI lions just need to go to an acting class or two?

The plot may have not changed much but expect a lot of differences in this film compared to the original version as they tried to make the film as realistic as possible and some scenes in the previous just would not make sense in real life.

The.Two.Best.Things.In.The.Movie.

Here’s the thing. The two best things in the movie are…Timon and Pumbaa!

Remarkably, in a movie whose main characters are lions, a meerkat and a warthog steal the spotlight.

Not to take anything away from the other cast but Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, who voices the characters Timon and Pumbaa, just nail it with their performances. Like Ejiofor’s Scar, they were different. But in the best possible way.

Their iconic “Hakuna Matata” song is still the funniest, most feel-good song in cinema history. Ever. And if you liked the version in the animated film, you’ll surely love the live action version even more. Hey, we’re still beaming until now because of it.

This movie would have been a lot worse if it weren’t for these two.

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Next-Level Visual Effects

Perhaps the most notable thing that this film gets right is the visual effects. The Moving Picture Company, the same visual effects company who previously worked with Director Jon Favreau in 2016’s live action adaptation of The Jungle Book is once again in charge of the effects.

The result? A far more advanced and incredibly realistic spectacle! The visuals are just as accurate as it gets, we doubt there has been any kind of movie with effects that could top the ones you’ll see in this one.

In some parts of the film, it felt almost as if you are watching a National Geographic wildlife documentary. Really, it’s that good!

1994 vs. 2019

Without a doubt, the 2019 remake has achieved a major milestone in terms of realistic visual effects. The effects were just so darn real. It made sense.

While there are certainly a lot of things that the visual effects got right, it somehow falls short as to giving the movie the heart and feels, a key factor that made the original animated version unique and deeply cherished.

It’s good, but…the animated version is better…probably!

Skip or Watch?

For reasons stated above, we simply cannot put this film on top of our list. However, for the most part, it was still a pleasant movie experience. Largely thanks to Timon and Pumbaa and of course the out-of-this-world visual effects. Geez, we’ve probably praised the visual effects too much, no?

So, if those are good enough reasons for you, then please, go ahead and watch. Otherwise, you’re still going to enjoy the movie, so watch it anyway!

Here’s our rating for The Lion King live action remake.

If you haven’t watched the movie yet, head to your favorite theaters now. The Lion King is showing in Philippine cinemas starting July 17, 2019.

When you’re done watching, be sure to let us know what you think of the live action remake of “The Lion King” by leaving a comment below.

Got a movie or TV series in mind that you would like for us to review? Not a problem, just drop us a message.