Roadhouse (2024) takes the helm as a reimagining of the beloved 1989 classic, offering a modern twist on the timeless tale of barroom brawls and redemption.

This modern update is directed by Doug Liman and features a talented cast including Jake Gyllenhaal and Daniela Melchior.

Roadhouse 2024 vs Roadhouse 1989

The movie delivers on its action-packed premise. Slick choreography and intense fight sequences will keep viewers engaged throughout. Former UFC champion Conor McGregor’s character makes for a wildly entertaining feature film debut. The performances, particularly from Gyllenhaal’s Dalton and Melchior’s Doc provides greater depth than the 1989 version.

However, while Roadhouse (2024) succeeds in capturing the essence of its predecessor, it also struggles to distinguish itself as a truly original work. Despite the efforts to inject new life into the story, some may find it lacking the same charm and charisma that made the original a cult favorite. Then again, no one can ever compete against Patrick Swayze’s swag.

Both films are equally cheesy yet campy and makes for a good weekend popcorn home viewing. However, the updated version outshines the older (by a tiny bit) with better dialogue and action sequences.

SKIP OR WATCH?

Fans of the genre may enjoy the updated take on the classic tale, while others may prefer to stick with the original. It’s worth a watch for those seeking a thrilling ride, but those looking for groundbreaking cinema may want to skip it.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Roadhouse.

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.

Award winning filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho puts Korean films under the limelight with his dark satire, Parasite. Here’s what I think of it.

One To Watch

By now, you’ve probably heard about Parasite. Sure, you have. Thanks to the awards season, the film is becoming more and more popular and could even take home the prestigious Oscar for Best Picture come February. But does it deserve all the attention it’s getting? Well, yes. Yes, it does!

Just seeing the title and the movie’s official poster, one might ask, “Is this a movie about monsters?”. Bong Joon-Ho directed the Korean monster-film, The Host, after all.

Parasite – an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.

Dictionary.com

Well, the answer to that is again, yes. But not in the way you think. In a lot of ways, Parasite is a film about “Monsters”. Not those ghastly-looking ones you’ve seen in the movies but perhaps far more frightening.

Who exactly are the monsters in this film? Watch the movie and decide for yourself.

But know that this is one of the best non-English films I’ve seen (ever) and one that everyone needs to watch.

Timely, Relevant, and Wildly Entertaining

Parasite gives its audience tons of things to ponder about. Its depiction of the modern society resonates to all movie-goers. Relevant, even for non-Koreans. The movie will get you laughing at the Kim’s and Park’s family’s symbiotic relationship but at the same time hate yourself for doing so.

Equipped with a strong ensemble headed by Korean actor and Bong Joon-Ho’s frequent collaborator Song Kang-Ho (Snowpiercer, The Host), the film’s cast delivers a gut-wrenching and heartfelt performance that is one for the ages.

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It’s funny but not because of the punchlines but because of the un/fortunate circumstances that happens throughout the film.

This is a film that will take you on one of the most exhilarating cinematic thrill rides you’ll ever get on with its flurry of unexpected twists and surprises. One that will leave your mouths hanging open in amazement and will remember for a very long time.

Stunning Visuals, Engaging Themes

Now, Parasite’s themes are more mature and young children may not understand it, at all. But for more-developed audiences, its themes will surely strike a chord, with its focus on social disparity between the ultra-poor and the ultra-rich highlighted all throughout the film’s 2-plus-hour runtime. Plus, a beautifully written script relating everyday items and words to spark thought on social issues.

Of course, there is also the subtitles or as Bong Joon-Ho puts it, “1-inch-tall barrier” that the audience will need to overcome.

“Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Bong Joon-Ho

With or without subtitles, Parasite is nothing short of amazing.

Another reason why this movie is so good is its one-of-a-kind visuals. The Park family’s modern mansion – a gorgeous centerpiece where most of the stuff happens. The Kim family’s semi-basement apartment. Everything you see all seems to be thought-out and created perfectly!

Skip or Watch?

Director Bong Joon-Ho is in full command of his craft in this film here and there are not a lot of films that are as well-crafted and transcendent as Parasite. This black comedy from the masterful director mixes social commentary, engaging plot, and powerful performance from its characters.

Having said all of that, Parasite might just be the best movie of 2019 and is an absolute must-watch!

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is our rating for Parasite.

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.

Gal Gadot aka Wonder Woman lassoes her way into theaters and HBO Max for the final big budget film of the pandemic year, Wonder Woman 1984 (WW84). She re-teams with Chris Pine in this much awaited sequel for the beloved DCEU franchise.

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

In Full Control

Studios have long been in scrutiny for interfering with the creative team. The same thing happened apparently with the first Wonder Woman with Director Patty Jenkins (also directing the sequel) famously revealed that the Warner Bros executives insisting on that awkward Wonder Woman vs Ares battle.

I don’t exactly know this for a fact, but things seemingly have changed for Wonder Woman 1984; with Director Patty Jenkins clearly more in control of her craft. And it shows right from the get go. The opening scene with all its flair as well as the direction throughout the duration certainly feels natural and in synch with what it has established in the first movie. But, at the same time, sets up the movie for an even bigger and wider reach.

Fully-Embraced Roles

Gal Gadot has fully embraced her Wonder Woman persona in this film. She was good the first time around but this time, she’s great. There’s much more certainty with the way she moved, talked, fought ore even laughed in this iteration. Gadot has starred in four DCEU movies so far but Wonder Woman 1984 is definitely the best version of Wonder Woman we’ve ever seen yet.

But what’s a good hero without a good villain? WW84 goes in the right direction again by giving us not just one but two great actors to play them. Kristen Wiig shows off her versatility once more with her smooth interpretation of Barbara Minerva/Cheetah.

But of course, my personal favorite Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) nails it once again and quite frankly steals the thunder from Wonder Woman herself for a moment. This time, he plays Maxwell Lord, a dangerously potent enemy of our heroine.

Then, there’s Chris Pine (Star Trek), who mysteriously returns as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman’s love interest. As usual, Pine’s charms are off the charts and his chemistry with Gadot is as spicy as ever. And do note, Steve Trevor’s presence in the movie is vital to the story and is more than just a cameo of sorts. That said; let’s keep his mysterious return a mystery.

So Many Things, Mostly Good

Expect great things in WW84. Director Jenkins’ freedom in her creative choices is just one of the film’s core strengths. Characters are well-developed and the film really took the time to introduce the audience to the characters even when their back stories aren’t that convincing or even necessary.

The climax is quite a letdown though. I honestly expected a lot more and perhaps it’s a bad case of over-development of the movie’s major villains that had me expect more. Maybe a major reveal or a major plot twist towards the end would have helped, I don’t know. I just felt that there was still a lot of room for the creative to go crazy considering the lengths they went through during the build-up.

Visuals are great too. I would recommend watching this in IMAX if there is a safe one available in your area.

Overall, the movie as Wonder Woman herself puts it is “so, so many things” and most of it is good.

Skip or Watch?

Good character development or over-development, whichever way you look at it, Wonder Woman 1984 is still a good follow-up to the original 2017 version even when its ending is a little anti-climactic that it leaves you wanting for more.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Wonder Woman 1984.

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.

Netflix’ first original Korean series, Kingdom, a supernatural thriller set in the Joseon period and based on the webcomic series Kingdom of the Gods by Korean writer Kim Eun-hee and illustrated by Yang-Kyung-il, is here to revive the zombie genre.

Skip it or Watch it? Read our review to find out.

Stellar Ensemble

Series creator and author Kim Eun-hee teams up with director Kim Seong-hun to bring this Korean period thriller based on the webcomic series Kingdom of the Gods (also written by Kim Eun-hee).

Korean series/movie fans should recognize some of the actors in this series led by Ju Ji-hoon (Princess Hours) in yet another role as crown prince albeit a more mature but equally charming. Another familiar face that people will recognize is Korean actor Ryu Seung-ryong from the 2013 ultimate Korean tearjerker film, Miracle in Cell No. 7, although his appearance in the series is somewhat unrecognizable probably because he portrays a menacing villain. Rounding up the lead cast is Parasite director’s Bong Joon-ho’s frequent collaborator Bae Doona (The Host, Sense8).

All three leads prove to be great choices and balanced out by the supporting cast that includes Kim Sung-kyu (The Outlaws) and Kim Sang-ho (The Happy Life).

Intricate Storylines

Not many zombie films or series are as elaborate as Kingdom. A kingdom during its politically-driven transition of power, a contagion that leads to an unfortunate outbreak, a scheming minister, a doctor in search of a cure, a coup, a crown prince defending his people, a nation in peril, running zombies on the loose, and then a killer reveal in the finale.🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️

If you think that’s a lot to take in, you’re right. But even with all its complicated storylines, the series still manage to impress, tackling social issues (which funnily enough, some are still relevant even in the present), giving its leads some much-needed backstory while still leaving out enough details to maintain the mystery.

Everything is just so well-written, and the tension just keeps on building up episode after episode. And just when it feels like the characters get a much-needed break, another catastrophe happens.

Can’t help but think that if I was a character in the series, I’d be dead already.😂

Zombie Genre Revival

The thrill and excitement you’ll feel once you enter the supernatural world in Kingdom is so refreshing it takes me back to the first couple of seasons of another beloved zombie series, The Walking Dead. Now that I think about it, it’s kind of a downer how TWD kind of lost its flavor as the series progressed.

It sure feels like 10 years ago again when the zombie genre was on the rise. Hopefully, Kingdom does not trend down like TWD did, and perhaps give the zombie category a necessary revival. For now, though, let’s just enjoy the show’s run.

Season 2 which is coming in March 2020 is going to be wild! I’m betting on it.

Skip or Watch?

With thanks to the resurrection plant, Kingdom brings back some much-needed life to the zombie genre with its intricate plot, amazing action scenes, and stellar cast ensemble. The Korean show will give you thrills unlike any other and does not settle, upping the tempo a notch episode after episode.

With all that said, Kingdom is an absolute must-watch!

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is my rating for season 1 of Kingdom.

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.

This is it! After six long years, Frozen 2, the sequel to the award-winning animated film, is ready to venture “into the unknown”.

Will We Finally Get Some Answers?

“Why was Elsa born with magical powers? What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle?” These were the questions posed when Frozen 2 released its final trailer this September.

Will we finally get some answers? Well, the short answer is yes, albeit not in the way we hoped it would.

Frozen 2 still had the magic of the first Frozen but the narratives where quite lacking. It was nice to get to know the characters and the history of Arendelle some more but the answers we got weren’t satisfying, to say the least.

Perhaps it’s because the story became too mature that it ended up not as enjoyable and kid-friendly as the first Frozen film. The inner kid in us didn’t just quite like it as much, maybe.

Major Animation Upgrades

The film made up, however, with giving the animation some major upgrades. Like, seriously, the animation is just way better. Then again, the animation technology is way better than six years ago, but that’s kind of expected.

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Still, the animation upgrades were one of the strongest (if not the strongest) points of the film. It was on an entirely different level. Disney’s animators outdid themselves on this one. We could even notice how the characters aged as they should considering the three-year time jump.

Catchy Songs

Remember the song “Let It Go”? Of course, you do. That Oscar winning song is easily the most recognizable since it debuted on the first Frozen film from six years ago. It was the song that almost everyone (child and adult, boys and girls alike) know from heart. We know, you still memorize every line by heart. Don’t deny it!

Well, Frozen 2 is once again full of these catchy melodies. Anna (Kristen Bell) gets her own song numbers and as expected, Olaf (Josh Gad) manages to steal the spotlight once again with his ridiculous song number which was perhaps, the funniest part of the film.

Conceivably, the most memorable of all is “Into The Unknown” which is once again sang by Elsa (Idina Menzel). Ready your ears for you’ll be hearing this over and over again in the next six years or when Frozen 3 comes out, whichever comes first. This, despite the best efforts of award-winning song writing duo, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, setting the notes so high only Idina Menzel and Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco can reach them.🤟

Safe to say, “Into The Unknown” is Frozen 2’s “Let It Go”. Believe us, we’re singing that song in our heads at this very moment.

Also, this time, Kristoff voiced by our favorite Mindhunter agent Jonathan Groff, gets a song number of his own. A huge and incredibly heart-warming ballad for his dear Anna. Our hearts literally melted.

Subtle Messages

Even with its flaws, Frozen 2, in standard Frozen fashion, sends out some very meaningful messages.

Love is complicated and sisterly love is just as so. Sisters Anna and Elsa proves it at the expense of Kristoff, who was admirably patient enough to understand Anna.

Kristoff is probably the most patient and understanding male character in all of film history. Not only does he understand his place between Anna and Elsa. He understands too that he is no knight to Anna but his support instead. Kristoff’s words “I’m here, what do you need?” and “You got it” though seemingly not important is such a subtle and powerful message of love, it deserves a shout-out.

Kristoff’s love was something else, for sure.❤

Despite growing up as basically an orphan, Anna gets it with moving on despite all the hardships and then “doing the next right thing”.

Skip or Watch?

Making sequels to great films such as Frozen is never easy. A lot of them have failed. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case with Frozen 2.

The first Frozen set the bar maybe too high as far as Frozen 2 is concerned. However, it’s still in a class of its own and a must-watch.

Frozen 2 is good and in fact, one of the better animated films of this year. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the film receives an Oscar nod or two.

Here’s our rating for Frozen 2.

Let us know what you think of the Frozen 2 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.

Netflix’ adaptation of the book series of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher Season 1 is streaming on Netflix now. Here’s what we think of it.

Enter The Witcher

After hanging up his Superman cape, Henry Cavill takes on the mantle of Geralt of Rivia aka The Witcher, the monster-slaying mutant from the medieval fictional world known as “The Continent”.

The first season mostly focuses on how Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), and Princess Cirilla of Cintra (Freya Allan) is bound together by their interlacing destinies.

One of the greatest medieval fantasy series, Game of Thrones, ended in 2019. And now, here comes The Witcher. A show that promises to be as good (if not better) than GoT. But, is it?

A Lot to Hate…

Hmmm…

Here’s a quiz. How many times did Geralt of Rivia say “Hmmm…” in the first season of The Witcher? Well, we don’t know the answer either but it’s probably more times than he needed to. Really though, Geralt did a lot of “Hmmm-ing” in this series. At first, we loved how Henry Cavill said it (sexily). But a few episodes more into the season, and the word keeps on repeating, it becomes a nuisance.

Oh, and destiny, yes destiny. Destiny is possibly the second most spoken word of the series (annoying at times). Then again, this season was more about getting our main characters meet each other through, you guessed it, destiny!

The first season is told in a non-linear fashion and there are multiple timelines shown in the series. For us, this gets a little confusing and in some parts the plot looked incoherent although everything becomes clearer towards the end.

…But A Lot More to Love

But there’s a lot more to love here, too.

Firstly, the fight scenes. There’s a lot of doubts going in on how the show will replicate Geralt’s (sword) fighting styles and we think it’s safe to say that the fight scenes are one of the things the show got perfectly right. Well-choreographed and nothing short of astonishing. But be warned, some scenes get really bloody and gruesome even so don’t watch this with your children, please!

Also, there’s Jodhi May’s Queen Calanthe, the strongest female ruler we’ve seen on TV. And, of course, there’s Anya Chalotra’s Yennefer of Vengerberg, whose dedication in her craft and eventual transformation complimented Cavill’s brawny Geralt perfectly.

Toss A Coin To Your Witcher

Then there’s fan-favorite Jaskier (Joey Batey), Geralt’s personal singer/biographer. His song “Toss a coin to your Witcher” is still stuck in our heads, and we know it’s in yours, too. It has already sprung a lot of covers on YouTube. Go ahead, just try searching for the song on YouTube and you’ll see hundreds of covers from different artists in the search results.

The show also introduces us to some new monsters and superpowers that are unique to the world of The Witcher. And, there’s so much more to look forward to in the series considering that the first season was more like an introduction to the new characters. Here’s hoping for a grander second season.

Skip or Watch?

The first season of Netflix’ The Witcher seems to be more of a backstory rather than a complete one but there is a lot of things to look forward to. And with season 2 set to be released in 2021, The Witcher is looking more and more like everyone’s obsession in the next few years.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is our rating for season 1 of The Witcher.

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.

Tom Holland reprises his role as the titular character Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the 23rd movie under the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) which will officially wrap up Phase 3 of the widely successful Marvel franchise.

Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: FFH follows our favorite friendly neighborhood web-slinging superhero as he travels to Europe with his school friends for a summer field trip. Peter Parker and friends get some much needed vacation time until Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) decides to hijack the trip to recruit Peter on a mission teaming him up with a mysterious man who claims he is from another earth, Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal).

Know what to expect in the movie by watching the trailer below.

It’s A Wrap!

The film effectively and hilariously delivers to its promise of officially wrapping up Phase 3 of the MCU and offered some funny and clever answers to some of the burning questions after Endgame. One of which was, what exactly happens in the moment when somebody magically reappears out of nowhere after 5 years of being assumed dead?

Great Casting

Tom Holland continues to prove that Marvel’s decision was right when they hired him to play the character. Taking his role to new heights by delivering a great balance of charisma, humor, youth, and emotion. And with the undeniable chemistry between him and co-star Zendaya (MJ), for a minute I assumed they were real life partners, or are they? Jacob Batalon (Ned) is still as lovable as he was in his first outing as Peter’s best friend and sidekick.

What stood out though was Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Quentin Beck. Frankly because I thought that he was not the best choice for the role. Boy, I was so wrong! Then again, he is an award winning actor! I should never have doubted him.

The Story, Visuals, etc.

Spider-Man: FFH is without a doubt a Marvel movie. Funny, emotional, and most of all entertaining. Multiple callbacks and references to previous MCU entries are in this movie, so brushing up on your MCU movie list is recommended but not required, as FFH still manages to be its own movie. Oh, and most of those callbacks will be laid out to you explicitly by the film’s main antagonist whom I cannot mention yet as this might ruin your experience.

I kind of knew already going in as to who it will be based on the comics and animated series versions of Spider-Man so that slow build-up leading to the reveal bothered me a little. Still, the film manages to keep that mystery as less obvious as it could. Now that I think about it, the reason why I was a little bothered is the possibility that I might be wrong, after all.

The film makes good use of clever writing and while the main villain did not have any real superpowers but the illusion and theatrics more than make up for it. For a time, I felt like watching a movie within a movie.

FFH clearly spent a lot of budget and it shows in its stunning visual effects. I certainly did not expect that Doctor Strange-like effects at all. Watch it in IMAX 3D if you can!

Skip or Watch?

For all the long-standing fans of the MCU franchise, Spider-Man: Far From Home will help you recover from all that grief and post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the Infinity War and Endgame franchise. You’ll also get to say goodbye and sing a song to your favorite fallen superheroes for a final time. Non-fans will still appreciate the well written story and great acting from the star-studded cast.

So, yes, Watch!

And, Oh! You can see our rating for this movie below.

Watch Spider-Man: Far From Home in your favorite theaters now!

As always, feel free to leave a comment below!

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Charlie’s Angels 2019, the continuation of the Charlie’s Angels films of the early 2000s (Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle), is out now. Here’s what we think of Charlie’s Angels 2019.

Surprisingly Fun

Writer/Director Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect, The Hunger Games) offers a fresh take on the Charlie’s Angels franchise, keeping the film incredibly fun while maintaining great pace. Kristen Stewart steals the show with a surprisingly funny role as the wild and rebellious angel, Sabina Wilson. Without a doubt, this is one of our favorite performances of the Twilight saga star to date.

And while this iteration of the film is far from flawless, the chemistry among the three female lead stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott (Elena Houghlin) and Ella Balinska (Jane Kano) looked genuine enough to make the movie such a pleasure to watch.

Just when you are about to think that the film is going sideways, timely twists and turns help propel the film back to entertaining levels.

Honestly, we thought this wouldn’t be as exciting as we expected but we’re glad we were wrong and now we’re hoping for another sequel.

The Supporting Cast

Interestingly, there is another “Stewart” in the film with Sir Patrick Stewart (X-Men and Star Trek film series) playing John Bosley, a role played by Bill Murray on the Charlie’s Angels (2000).

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Elizabeth Banks in addition to her role as writer and director also plays Rebekah Bosley, the first former angel who became one of Charlie’s assistants or Bosley as they call it, who replaced Djimon Hounsou as Bosley.

Yeah, we know, too many Bosleys, that’s confusing. But to state simply, Bosleys are just a rank in the Townsend Agency.

Another more notable character is “The Saint” played by Luis Gerardo Méndez, the agency’s weapons and technology expert and the assassin who mysteriously did not have any talking lines.

Call Them Angels?

Tip: If you know what’s good for you, don’t call them angel. Take it from the sound track of the film itself.

Sure, this is Charlie’s Angels 2019, but Kristen Stewart, Princess Jasmine (we mean Naomi Scott), and Ella Balinska are no angels (or princesses), that’s for sure. Sorry Naomi, we just love you so much as Princess Jasmine, we can’t help but mention it.

But, make no mistake, these trio of women are more than capable of unleashing hell upon their enemies much like the super spies James Bond or Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible.

All About Women

As intended, Charlie’s Angels 2019 is all about the women with Elizabeth Banks outdoing herself. Clearly, the writer/director did her stuff by doing enough research and providing the roots to which the future “Angels” could stand on.

And since this is a film that boasts women as leads, stay tuned during the credits as some of the most prominent women in their respective fields are featured. We can’t tell you who they are, but you should be able to recognize them when you see them. This is one of those movies that you’d want your little kids to see and learn about women empowerment.

Men should not shy away from this movie either. Charlie’s Angels 2019, above all else, is a great action film, after all.

Skip or Watch?

Charlie’s Angels 2019 is all about the women and we found ourselves wanting a sequel by the time the credits rolled. So, watch!

Here’s our rating for the movie.

Let us know what you think of the Charlie’s Angels 2019 movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Elisabeth Moss stars as Cecilia Kass in this modern re-telling of the H.G. Wells classic, The Invisible Man.

And it is a must-see. Here are my top three reasons why.

3. It’s A Welcome and Timely Update

Originally intended to be part of Universal’s Dark Universe, which was supposed to start with the critical and box office failure The Mummy (2017), The Invisible Man is now just a stand-alone film based on the 1900s H.G. Wells novel and adapted film series in the 1930s to 1950s.

And from what I saw, the 2020 version is a welcome update to the novel and film it was based on. The writing effectively merged this classic with the modern world with relevant technology and social issues.

2. Elisabeth Moss

With already a Golden Globe Award under her name for her role as Offred in the award-winning drama based on the Margaret Atwood book of the same name, The Handmaid’s Tale, Elisabeth Moss shows us exactly why she should be recognized as one of the best actresses of her generation. Her portrayal of protagonist Cecilia Kass is just on-point I think she should be nominated for an acting award.

Yeah, I know, these types of movies do not typically get the attention of award-giving bodies, but they should make an exception for Moss’ Cecilia Kass. Acting with someone or something that’s not seen is strange, but she made it work. Her work on this film, to me, is on the same level as her work on The Handmaid’s Tale (if not better).

1. Simplicity is Beauty

Writer/Director Leigh Whannell adapted this H.G. Wells classic successfully by keeping his style simple yet modern, but the thrills and scares are impressively effective and more than enough to give even the hardcore thriller fans a good jolt.

Whannell masterfully made wide empty spaces more terrifying than many monster films out there. The movie will kind of make you feel like you really are up against something that you cannot see, and I was so impressed by how effective the direction was.

Who knows, if The Invisible Man becomes a box office success (which I know it will) maybe the Dark Universe will continue after all. Or this could be a start of a new Invisible Man (or Woman) franchise. Either way, I’ll be down for it.

Skip or Watch?

Need I say more? I just listed down three of the reasons why I liked the film and allow me to repeat, it’s a must-see.

Surely, it’s not perfect. I was kind of bummed with some of the scenes where I found it a little too dark to see and it wasn’t deeply explained how “invisibility” works.

But the writing is cleverly relevant and up-to-date and Elisabeth Moss’ award-worthy performance as the tormented protagonist Cecilia Kass is something to watch out for. And there is always beauty in simplicity. Also, be sure to stick until the end for that killer final scene which leaves the door wide open for a lot of opportunities.

Here’s hoping a sequel would happen soon.

Anybody else wants to see Elisabeth Moss return as “The Invisible Woman”?

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for The Invisible Man (2020).

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.

It was a long and dark road but the seventh film of Warner Bros.’ DCEU, Shazam! may have finally found the right formula for its own superhero universe.

Unusually Light-Hearted

The DCEU has been notoriously dark. Both plot-wise and visual-wise. This is especially true with Zack Snyder-helmed DCEU films, Batman v Superman and Justice League and even with Suicide Squad.

Strangely enough, director David F. Sandberg who is best known for horror films (Lights Out 2016, Annabelle: Creation) brings some unexpected brightness into this dark DC universe with an unusually light-hearted theme that is funny and family-centered. It could essentially pass as a family movie, a great one, for that matter.

A kid that can transform into a superhero by saying the words Shazam! out loud sounds like a ridiculous premise but that’s exactly what the film is aiming for. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, it’s what made most of the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) successful.

It’s not just about the fun either. Shazam! has bravely explored one of the lesser-tackled themes in DCEU – Family. Or in Billy Batson’s case, the lack of it.

Dual Role

Billy Batson played by Asher Angel and MCU alum Zachary Levi as his alter-ego superhero Shazam! makes for one of the wackiest dual roles in DCEU to date. Asher’s youth is equally matched by Levi’s fast-talking wit and charm. This is a tandem unlike any other and one that we hope would get a sequel or at least an appearance in future DCEU films. We heard one of Shazam!’s arch-nemesis, Black Adam played by Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs and Shaw), will be making his DCEU debut soon so a Shazam! return should be coming.

Shazam! is also one of the better origin stories as the film explores the origin of both Shazam! and Billy Batson’s persona. Meanwhile, Dr. Sivana, another one of Shazam!’s arch-nemesis proves to be a worthy adversary and actor Mark Strong is clearly suited and up for the role. He is not just another villain either with his back story also told in the film.

Jack Dylan Grazer’s Freddy Freeman role made up as one of the best sidekicks, too. The nerdy superhero specialist was there to capture Shazam!’s goofs on video and uploading them online almost like vlogging. Ha-ha! That was pure fun!

The Best DCEU Film To Date?

The DCEU made a lot of mistakes in the past. Most notably, with Batman v Superman 2016 and Justice League 2017. Boy, both films were brutally slammed by audiences and were basically a failure. Oh, and let’s not forget Suicide Squad 2016. Sorry, the movie was so bad we wish we could forget it.

Thank goodness Shazam! went in the same direction as Wonder Woman 2017 and Aquaman 2018. These three films are our top three DCEU film so far but Shazam! is the clear number one here. Don’t you think?

Shazam! entertains without trying too hard and the theme of a group of outcast kids sharing a home for foster kids is something families will appreciate. The fresh and young faces of the cast deliver an unexpected chemistry with Darla (Faithe Herman) as our favorite among Billy Batson’s step-siblings.

An unexpected twist during one of the fight scenes involving the kids is something to watch out, too.

Skip or Watch?

It is often a hit or miss with DC but Shazam! hits all the right marks for us and is a must-watch for DC comic book lovers and even non-lovers alike!

Here is our rating for the movie.

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

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