One of Netflix’ newest foreign language series Freud is available on the streaming giant now. Should you watch it or skip it? Read on our review to find out.

NOT A Sigmund Freud Biography

First, let’s get this out of the way. Nope! Although the character is based on the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, Netflix’ new series “Freud” is NOT a biography of the Austrian neurologist. So you may want to look elsewhere if that’s what you are looking for.

Instead the Austrian-German/Hungarian show re-imagines the life of Sigmund Freud in his youth solving mysteries with the help of psychoanalysis/hypnosis to solve mysteries in the Austrian capital Vienna in 1886. And as mentioned, it is a foreign language series so unless you can both speak German and Hungarian, subtitles are a must.

The series stars Austrian actors Robert Finster (Sigmund Freud) and Georg Friedrich (Alfred Kiss) alongside Swiss actress Ella Rumpf who portrays Fleur Salomé.

Interesting

Having said the show’s premise above, you’ll immediately think the show interesting. And you are not wrong. While the series does not give many insights to the famous neurologist Sigmund Freud, having the man solve mysteries using psychoanalytic methods sure sounds fascinating.

Séances, hypnosis, and some stimulating psychological behaviors are depicted in the show and in a lot of ways it was thought-provoking. Also, expect some kind of horror and thrills in the show. And once again, do not expect this to be realistic (at all). “Freud” is simply a fantasy mixed with little to no accuracy in its characters and plot.

Still, in some ways, it gives quite the perception on how mysticism kind of paved the way to science. Also, it serves some insight as to what or how persons with mental disorders were dealt with during the 19^th century.

Questionable

The series isn’t bad at all; however, I found the show’s decision to drag Sigmund Freud’s name in the series questionable. The series would have gone perfectly fine without having the real Freud’s name involved in any way. The show’s premise is already motivating enough for a lot of viewers (me included).

Having said those, there are a lot of opportunities still waiting to be explored in the series but the show’s “questionable” decisions may have caused some viewers to not continue on with the show.

Still, I am hopeful the series would return for another season and perhaps make good use of the opportunities it presented for itself and then maybe, just maybe, redemption.

Currently, the show has produced 8 episodes for its first season which started streaming on Netflix since March 23, 2020.

Skip or Watch?

There are some really remarkable things to watch out for in this Netflix’ “Freud” series but it can be quite a challenge and too much for most viewers to continue on with the show with its problematic characters especially the highly erroneous depiction of Sigmund Freud.

VERDICT: SKIP. FOR NOW.

Here is salida|etc’s rating for season 1 of Netflix’ Freud.

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 third season of the hit series arrived in Netflix on the first day of 2021. Based on characters from the widely popular 80s/90s Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai 3 is here to jumpstart the year. Cobra Kai Never Dies.

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

2021 Gets A Jumpstart

Originally intended for release on Jan. 8, 2021, Netflix decided to move the release of the show a week early on the first day of the new year because why not? It’s long overdue anyway and we all needed something to jumpstart 2021.

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) are back at it again to reignite their karate rivalry. Now with the original Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) in the mix, things get more heated than ever. The valley is in danger and the Miyagi-Do and original Cobra Kai students’ lives gets turned upside down after that infamous Karate incident at the school.

Aftermath

The love rectangle between teens Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser), and Tory Nichols (Peyton List) set up that devastating second season finale.

Now, the students, parents, and teachers in the valley face the consequences of that event. This is where the show starts to show its true strength.

Writing has always been the strongest points of Cobra Kai and the trio of Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg gives out an eerily accurate and timely treatment of the situation, showing us exactly what the aftermath of events like these play out. From students getting bullied even more, to the teachers not really being able to do anything, and down to the parents fearing for the lives of their kids. All of these feels a little too realistic. Add to all that a wicked sense of humor and this show is easily relatable to all viewers alike.

A Third Perspective

The first two season of Cobra Kai showed us that there are always two different sides of a story. One hero can be a villain to someone else’s story. In Karate Kid, we saw Daniel LaRusso getting bullied by Johnny Lawrence, in his perspective. But Johnny Lawrence saw it the other way around as he explained back in Season 1.

Cobra Kai 3 showed us there is another perspective yet that we had not seen. The truth.

John Kreese’ back story is explored extensively this season. Karate Kid II characters Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) and Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto) also return as the now-modernized Okinawa is put into the spotlight once again as the two meet with LaRusso once more for a much-needed reunion and reconciliation.

So, what exactly is the truth? The truth is there is still a lot of stuff we need to know. People will always look at things differently, including us viewers of the show. I guess we will all find out once the show is over. In the meantime, let’s enjoy Cobra Kai 3 while it lasts.

Skip or Watch?

We talked about how the first two seasons of Cobra Kai were badass. Cobra Kai 3 manages to maintain that identity while expanding on its main characters.

With a realistic script plus a wacky sense of humor, the third season of Cobra Kai checks all the boxes and lives up to the potential of its first two seasons.

Definitely, a must-watch!

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Cobra Kai Season 3.

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.

Obi-Wan Kenobi has just wrapped up its first (and only?) season. Ewan McGregor returns as the titular character in this mini-series set in this rapidly expanding Star Wars Universe.

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

The Star Wars Universe Expands

I always figured there would be more Star Wars stories coming after the success of the first season of The Mandalorian series, which already has two seasons under its title, by the way. First with The Book of Boba Fett premiering back in December of 2021. And now, with a more well known and much beloved character with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, Birds of Prey) returns as the titular character. The show promises to take a deeper dive on the lives of the Jedi Master and his dark-side-turning Padawan Anakin/Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) after their fiery showdown in Mustafar. The Star Wars Universe has definitely expanded its reach with the addition of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

Nostalgic

Obi-Wan is back. Darth Vader is back. That’s it. For most Star Wars fans, myself included, there is no need to say more. And yes, seeing both characters once again sharing the same scene and exchanging lightsaber blows just never gets old. It still gives me the shivers every time.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series succeeds in this aspect. The overwhelming sense of nostalgia just hits different when it comes to the Star Wars franchise. Seeing our favorite characters come to life once again along with a young Luke and Leia, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, and the Organas is always a feast for the eyes.

Pointless?

Yet in all the wistfulness, the Obi-Wan Kenobi series still fails. Mainly because there is really nothing to it. The show was supposed to take us deeper into the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Ben Kenobi as he prefers himself to be called during this time period. But no, instead of answers, the show just leaves us with more ambiguity which begs the question: what is (actually) the point of this show?

Sure, the show still manages to keep things tense even when we already know the fate of most of these characters. The confrontations of Obi-Wan and Anakin who is now in full Darth Vader mode keep the audience going. However, there’s got to be more than just nostalgia here.

All in all, it feels like the audience can just watch the first episode and go straight to the finale and they still won’t feel like they missed anything. The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith did better as far as giving Obi-Wan Kenobi a backstory. The series? Not so much.

I can’t help but feel like the producers would have been better off if they had created a series about the adventures of a young Princess Leia instead.

Skip or Watch?

Obi-Wan Kenobi heavily relies on the nostalgia brought about by the massive Star Wars franchise. Fans of the series will enjoy the show. However, it just fails to deliver to its promise of showing another side to the beloved Jedi Master. Ultimately, the series wasn’t just the one we wanted to see.

For the hardcore fans, this is a must-watch. But for the rest, maybe skip this one.

VERDICT: SKIP!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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 Philippines’ Department of Health has confirmed its first case of the 2019-nCoV involving a 38-year-old Chinese woman on January 30, 2020. Information about the virus has circulated online and other media faster than the virus itself. Some false, some true.

salida|etc has compiled all the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of the virus.

Protect Yourself and Others

• Wash your hands with soap and running water when hands are visibly dirty. If your hands are not visibly dirty, frequently clean them by using alcohol-based hand rub on soap and water.

• Wash your hands
  • after coughing or sneezing
  • when caring for the sick
  • before, during, and after you prepare food
  • before eating
  • after toilet use
  • when hands are visibly dirty
  • after handling animals or animal waste

• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue. Throw tissue into closed bin immediately after use.
  • Clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water after coughing or sneezing and when caring for the sick.

• Avoid close contact when you are experiencing cough and fever.
• Avoid spitting in public.
• If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider.

Practice Food Safety

• Use different chopping boards and knives for raw meat and cooked foods.
• Wash your hands between handling raw and cooked food.

• Sick animals and animals that have died of diseases should NOT be eaten.

• Even in areas experiencing outbreaks, meat products can be safely consumed if these items are cooked thoroughly and properly handled during food preparation.

Shopping in Wet Markets

• Wash hands with soap and water after touching animals and animal products.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid contact with sick animals and spoiled meat.
• Avoid contact with stray animals, waste, and fluids in market.

Working in Wet Markets

• Wear protective gowns, gloves, and facial protection while handling animals and animal products.
• Remove protective clothing after work, wash daily, and leave at the work site.
• Avoid exposing family members to soiled work clothing and shoes.

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water after touching animals and animal products.
• Disinfect equipment and working area at least once a day.

Stay Healthy While Traveling

• Avoid travel if you have a fever and cough.
• If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider.

• Avoid close contact with people suffering from a fever and cough.
• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.

• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue. Throw tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If you choose to wear a face mask, be sure to cover your mouth and nose. Avoid touching mask once it’s on.
• Immediately discard single-use mask after each use and wash hands after removing masks.

• If you become sick while traveling, inform crew and seek medical care early.
• If you seek medical attention, share travel history with your health care provider.

• Eat only well-cooked food.
• Avoid spitting in public.
• Avoid close contact and travel with animals that are sick.

Myth-Busters

Can pets at home spread the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)?

• At present, there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets. This protects you against various common bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella that can pass between pets and humans.

Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?

• People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. WHO advise people of all age to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?

• No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment. However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics since bacterial co-infection is possible.

Are there any specific medicine to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?

• To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care. Some specific treatments are under investigation and will be tested through clinical trials. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range of partners.

Author’s Note

There are still a lot of unknowns about the 2019-nCoV but contracting the virus does not mean an automatic death sentence. Equipped with the right knowledge and observing proper hygiene, we can combat this disease together, as one Earth.

DC FanDome|From Wonder Woman to Justice League #TheSnyderCut, these are the biggest teasers/trailers revealed on Day 1 of DC FanDome!

1 Kristen Wiig’s Cheetah Revealed Wonder Woman 1984 New Trailer

Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) showed up in the first trailer of Wonder Woman 1984 which was released way back in December 2019 and it had all the fans asking.

Fast forward eight months later and WW84 has officially revealed one of the two major villains in the movie in Barbara Ann Minerva/Cheetah (Kristen Wiig). While the trailer mostly focused on Barbara Ann’s apparent transition, we later get a first look of her in her Cheetah form seemingly ready to take on Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) herself.

Wonder Woman 1984 also stars Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord and is scheduled to be released on October 2, 2020!

2 Behind The Scenes Look at James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad

I think we’re all in agreement when I say that Suicide Squad 2016 sucks. And that’s probably why Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment brought in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and 2 Director James Gunn to have another go at the anti-heroes team of The Suicide Squad. And by the looks of it, this newly casted version seems better.

Whatever the case is, we will not find out until the movie is released in 2021!

3 Robert Pattinson in Full Gear as The Batman in First Teaser Trailer

This is it! Our first look at Robert Pattinson donning The Batman cape has been revealed. Up until this point, we have not really seen Pattinson in full Batman suit with only a few snips and teases from Director Matt Reeves on how exactly he will look like.

Thankfully, we can all rest easy because as far as I can tell, Robert Pattinson as Batman is 100% fire 🔥🔥🔥! And judging from the overall look and feel (I literally had Goosebumps) of the teaser trailer, this is going to be good, I hope.

4 Justice League #TheSnyderCut Official Trailer Reveal

This one’s a little complicated. It’s been nearly 3 years since Justice League hit theaters with generally mixed reviews from critics. And while Zack Snyder took directing credits under his name, it was Avengers (2012) director Joss Whedon who completed the project after a personal tragedy struck the original director. Millions of unhappy fans then started a petition online to Warner Bros. and DC for the release of the fabled Justice League #TheSnyderCut leaving the bosses with no choice but to grant the fans’ wishes.

Zack Snyder has long since confirmed the existence of #TheSnyderCut but now we have video proof that it does exist.

#TheSnyderCut or Zack Snyder’s Justice League as it is officially called will be available for streaming in 2021 and is said to be divided into four 1-hour parts. Wait, what??? Oh, well, whatever. I’ll watch it anyhow.

The official trailer looked nothing like what we all saw in 2017. So, is it going to be better than the original? We’ll all find out in 2021! One thing’s for sure, though, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is going to be different.

Watch More on DC FanDome

Now, I’m not sure whether or not WB or DC can commit to the dates announced during the DC FanDome Event with this pandemic still going on, but hey, one can always hope.

There’s a ton more news and updates announced in the DC FanDome event. You can be view the event here.

Got a movie or TV series that you would like for us to review? Drop us a message and we’ll get to it.

Assane Diop gets inspiration from Arsene Lupin novels and sets out on a revenge journey for his wrongly convicted father. Part 1 of the Netflix series Lupin is streaming now.

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

Gentleman Burglar

Created by French author Maurice LeBlanc, the tales of Arsene Lupin is a well-known novel character and the name itself may already be synonymous to the word burglar. But what separates this infamous persona from other book characters (other than the fact that he always gets away) is that he is never violent, only using his wits and skills to outsmart his opponents every single time. Thus, earning him the nickname “Gentleman Burglar”.

In Netflix’ Lupin, the gentleman burglar moniker is brought to life by Assane Diop played by Omar Sy (X-Men: Days of Future Past) in present day France, where tales of the legendary Lupin are still revered and celebrated by fans worldwide. Fueled by vengeance for his wrongly convicted father Babakar Diop (Fargass Assandé), Assane channels Arsene Lupin to pull off the most complicated heists in the most gentleman burglar-y way.

Packed with Surprises…

Fans of the Lupin novels may already recognize some of the events in the series as it closely resembles the events in the novels. Despite that, however, Netflix’ Lupin will still manage to surprise even the most hardcore Lupin novel fans.

Each episode of Part 1 is packed with tons of twists and turns that will keep the audience engaged down to the last minute of all its 5 episodes.

Storylines and characters are all well-written. Backstories are explored in depth all while maintaining a certain mystery. Storytelling is another fine aspect of the series. It jumps back and forth from one timeline to another with all the backstories. Yet, Lupin is still relatively easy to follow. The series still retains a certain complexity to it, but it never over-complicates stuff.

…and Fun

Another great thing about this show is how the actors were cast perfectly. The younger versions of the characters shown during flashbacks look eerily like their older iterations. That just goes to show how dedicated the crew for this show is.

Omar Sy is without a doubt suited for this role. His charm and appeal perfectly embody the very essence of the gentleman burglar persona that he is trying to copy. It’s always a pleasure to see actors having fun in their roles and Omar Sy certainly looks like he was having fun on the set of the series. Now You See Me director Louis Letterier made sure to keep the fun part.

No, the show is not funny in a comedic way, but it is fun in the sense that it completely succeeds in always having a few tricks up its sleeve. No dull moment whatsoever. Even when things seemed a little predictable, a few shocks come up and throw you off once again. That, to me, is the definition of fun.

Skip or Watch?

Netflix’ Lupin is a gripping mystery tale that packs a ton of surprises and most of all…fun.

The only downside to this show that I can think of is that there are only 5 episodes in it. In any case, Part 2 has already been announced and may arrive as early as within this year.

Do yourselves a favor and give this show a watch. This is high-quality entertainment and an absolute must-watch.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Lupin.

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.

Filipino Avengers fans, reassemble!

SM Cinema will be bringing back Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame in select SM Cinema theaters nationwide. Luckily for us Cebuano fans, SM Cebu will be one of a few SM theaters that will re-release the film. You need to hurry, however, as Endgame will only be available in SM theaters for 3 days from July 12 to 14, 2019.

The prolific studio has previously made the same announcement a few weeks ago. In fact, a good number of international theaters have already re-released the film since June 28 clearly in a bid to finally dethrone James Cameron’s Avatar and become the highest grossing film in the world.

Thankfully, SM Cinema has finally followed suit. Find out if an SM theater will show this new version of the film by viewing the official SM Cinema announcement below.

https://www.facebook.com/SMCinema/photos/a.10151547382656859/10156641733336859/?type=3&source=57

But hey, if you thought the first release was long, Marvel disagrees with you . Why? Because a few minutes of previously unseen footage will be included in this new release extending the 3-hour plus runtime even more. A post-credits scene will be featured too, so you’ll have to stay until the end to find out what it is.

Endgame is only 15 million dollars away from finally dethroning Avatar as of this writing.

Will Avengers: Endgame become the highest grossing movie of all time with this re-release? Let us know what you think 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.

Anthony Mackie stars in Outside The Wire, Netflix latest science fiction/futuristic war film. Keeping its promise to release new movies every week, the film is now available for streaming starting January 15, 2021.

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

Sci-Fi/Future Warfare

Damson Idris (Snowfall, Black Mirror) and Anthony Mackie (Point Blank, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier) teams up as Lt. Thomas Harp, a drone pilot and Captain Leo, a highly advanced robotic super soldier, to stop a potential nuclear war.

Now this genre isn’t exactly new but Outside The Wire introduces something new to the formula; social awareness or social/political commentary or something similar to that. In any case, however you want to call it, this seems to be a decent recipe for success. Or is it?

Intriguing…

Helmed by Swedish Director Mikael Håfström (Evil, The Rite), Outside The Wire starts off okay. The characters, however flawed, are introduced carefully. Anthony Mackie’s take on a sentient super cyborg is superb and gives off just about the right amount of charm. Damson Idris’ Lt. Harp is right up there with him. Though I can’t help but think his character seems out of place and even unnecessary to a point.

Outside The Wire also tries to raise some tough questions. Do the needs of the many really outweighs the need of the few? How is it that the US is seemingly always in the middle of other nation’s civil war? What is good and what is evil? Is the world better with human beings at the helm?

These are questions that nobody knows what the answers really are, but they sure make an intriguing plotline. Still, intrigue should be coupled by answers or the film should at least try to explain why it doesn’t have one. Outside The Wire fails miserably on this note and simply settles for a vague uneventful ending.

…but Forgettable

The streaming service signed on some big players with actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johnson, Meryl Streep and filmmakers like Zack Snyder, Antoine Fuqua, Shawn Levy, all scheduled to feature this 2021.

It is no wonder then why the visual effects look great in this film. Something that I didn’t quite expect for a film of this scale. Netflix is certainly stepping up in this area and in a lot of areas, for that matter.

Action scenes look good too, although I would bet you won’t really remember them later. Outside The Wire looks absolutely good on the outside but feels a little too hollow on the inside. This film may gain a lot of viewers now but give it a few months or weeks and I don’t think a lot of people will remember this film.

Skip or Watch?

Outside The Wire manages to keep everything intriguing for most of its running time but significantly disappoints with an ending that you’ll most likely forget sooner rather than later.

Netflix has promised to release new movie releases every week for 2021 with Outside The Wire as one of its first offerings. On that note, skip this one and hope the next ones will be better and deserve a watch.

VERDICT: SKIP!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Outside The Wire.

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.