Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) Review

After 10 years the DCEU has finally come to its end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The first film was a big success both in terms of quality and financially but lots has happened since then and I watched the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film is set four years after the first with Arthur Curry as the King of Atlantis and a new father when a ghost from his past in Black Manta returns to try and destroy his world. 

Main Character

Jason Momoa is back as Arthur Curry/Aquaman and once again he is really good here. He is just clearly having a blast in the role and I think that really helps in terms of making you like the character. You can see that Arthur is really struggling with all of his responsibilities and though that is kind of pushed aside at certain parts I did like that it was included. With this probably being his last time playing the role, it is easy to say that Momoa has been great in this role and has added much needed freshness to the DC universe. 

Supporting Characters 

Patrick Wilson reprises his role as Orm and he is a real highlight here. Momoa and Wilson's chemistry is easily the best thing about this film, there is charm but anger still there from the first film and both of them deliver there. I mean it is way to similar to Thor & Loki but that isn't Wilson's fault and he does an admirable job in the role. 

Randall Park made his return as Dr Stephen Shin from the post credit scene in the first Aquaman and he gets a sizeable role here which is great and he is a fun aspect of the film. He gets plenty of screen time and Park chews up the screen and just conveys his character really well. 

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II gets a bigger role as the main villain Black Manta this time and I have really mixed feelings here. I think Abdul-Mateen is doing his best and has a real presence on screen it is just the writing for his character that doesn't quite work. Black Manta is given plenty of screen time here but the film never evolves his motivations and his link to a certain object makes him feel like a secondary part of the film. 

Nicole Kidman and the much maligned Amber Heard are back from the first film as Atlanna and Mera but there roles are basically cut in half which in Heard's case makes complete sense. But it means they are really insignificant here and feel like they are just here because they were in the first film and not for any narrative reason. 

Story

The main factor of the story is the dynamic and relationship between Arthur & Orm and that is handled pretty well to be honest. The two of them have good chemistry together and it does feel like they are genuinely growing as people and with their relationship. The rest of the story is a mess, as mentioned above Black Manta's character is all over the place and isn't well written. Other characters are given nothing to do and it has an ending that is literally ripped from another comic book film. 

Script

This film isn't as serious as some of the other films in the DCEU. It has that banter in it and it is chuckle worthy for sure, but falls flat of really funny moments and writing that makes these characters really fun. The emotion also falls short and actually comes across as quite cringy which is a shame because there was quite a bit of potential here. 

Style 

Recent comic book films have had some poor CGI but this films CGI is pretty good especially with the difficulties that come with a film that takes place underwater for a majority of it. Black Manta's costume in particular is awesome and one of the better designs in any recent comic book film. But the film is paced poorly, it was just pretty boring at times, especially in the first act. I felt like the film was way longer then it actually was and that is never a good thing. 

Overall

Overall, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is an above average sequel. It is a big drop off from the first film but it still is a pretty fun time at the cinema and has all the things you would expect from a superhero film in 2023. It certainly isn't one to rush out too but maybe down the line it could be worth a watch. 

Rating - 6/10

Wonka (2023) Review 

This film has been in the making for a while now, but Wonka has finally come out and I have watched it so here is my review for the film. The premise of the film shows the origins of Willy Wonka as he looks to create a chocolate shop that will brighten up everybody's life. 

Main Character

Timothee Chalamet plays the titular character and he does a fantastic job in the role. You can just see that he is having a blast in the role and for a film like this it really helps having a protagonist that you care about and an actor that clearly cares about it. Without comparing him to previous incarnations of the character, I thought Chalamet was charming and charismatic as Willy Wonka. 

Supporting Characters

This cast is huge, which means I won't be able to go through everybody but I will say everybody seemed to have a blast here and it adds to the film. 

Calah Lane plays Noodle, a character that works with Wonka in order to try and achieve success together and she gives a really strong performance. The chemistry between her and Chalamet is really good and believable, it feels like two siblings working together and it is executed well. 

Paterson Joseph plays the villain Slugworth and I thought he was a fun villain. I mean he is over the top and ridiculous but he knows it and decides to make it more campy and cheesy but for this film it just works and he is a fun part of the film. 

Olivia Coleman & British Comedian Tom Davies plays some of the more minor villains but they are a highlight of the film and really do a great job of treating Noodle and Wonka poorly to make you sympathise for the protagonists. 

One of the highlights of the film was the performance of Keegan-Michael Key as the Police Chief. The guy is super funny and the way his character progresses throughout the film is the funniest gag for me and Key nails it. 

Lastly, even though its a smaller role Hugh Grant makes a pretty memorable performance as the Oompa Loompa. It was controversial casting and Grant himself wasn't overly happy with the role but I liked his character and the fact that he isn't in the film that much probably makes it better. 

Story

The story is okay, it does a good job in setting up the character of Willy Wonka and what we all imagine he will become as he gets older. It is a simple good vs bad and you care about the protagonists and dislike the antagonists so works for the family film it is. It does get a bit much towards the end of the film and slightly convoluted, it also takes a bit of time to wrap up the film when it could have been a little shorter. 

Script

The script has some pretty funny and heartfelt moments that fit the overall feel of the film and I was enjoying it. But it definitely has some weaker bits that look at the lowest common denominator of humour and some reveals at the end don't quite hit like the film wants it too. 

Style 

The film looks fantastic, it is incredibly colourful and vibrant which is really fitting for the character of Willy Wonka and the vibe of the film. One thing that I haven't mentioned is that this film is a musical with lots of singing. I found it a bit of a mixed bag, some good musical numbers but some not so great ones that won't be very memorable. 

Overall

Overall, Wonka is a good film that was definitely a fun watch. This is a great family film and I think young kids will enjoy watching Wonka for sure. 

Rating - 7/10

Reacher Season 1 (2022) Review

Ahead of the release of the second season, I decided to go back and watch the first season of the acclaimed Prime Video show Reacher. I got through it pretty quickly and here is my review for the show. The premise of the show sees a mysterious man get arrested for murder but is needed by the police to help solve the crime. 

Main Character

There have been a few films based on the character of Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise in the lead role which didn't quite work. This time we get Alan Ritchson playing the lead role and he was perfect for this role. He is physically intimidating person but you can tell that he is fantastic at his job and that he is one step ahead of everybody. He is very charismatic and Reacher is one of the better characters that I have seen in a TV show. 

Supporting Characters

Malcolm Goodwin plays Oscar Finlay who is a police detective who sort of works with Reacher. He is a really interesting character here, there is a huge juxtaposition between Reacher & Finlay and I think that is why it really works and why this character adds so much to the role. 

Willa Fitzgerald plays Roscoe Conklin and she is great on the show. The chemistry between her and Ritchson is brilliant and a true highlight of the show. She is a strong character and from the moment she is introduced Fitzgerald does a great job. 

Maria Sten is bought in as Frances Neagley and she is a fantastic addition. We don't meet her till like the mid-point of the show but its a great new character, she has a history with Reacher in the war and I liked the dynamic between the two as former war buddies. 

Bruce McGill plays the Mayor and he is exactly what you would expect, he is a snivelling corrupt Mayor and he really is great as this unlikeable guy. 

Overall, every single performance is fantastic and I really credit the entire cast for their hard work. 

Story

The story is very effective, its basis is pretty simple. We see this outsider get arrested but it ends up that he is crucial to investigating what exactly is going on and it is done really well. It feels like the town of Margrave is its own character and that it controls what Reacher does. However, I think they slightly fall a bit flat on the ending, it feels a little rushed and a little convoluted which kind of goes against the overall vibe of the show. 

Script

The script is fantastic, Reacher is sometimes a man of few words but when he does talk he is both charming and intelligent. There is a lot of drama & intensity to the dialogue but almost moments of gravity and humour that makes the people and situation feel real. 

Style

The show is paced really well. The 8 episodes flew by and I was interested throughout each one of them because they all feel slightly different. The action is fantastic, it moves really well and feels brutal, it is violent but only a few times does it ever get very gruesome but they are very gratifying. 

Overall

Overall, Reacher is a fantastic show that had me gripped throughout. This is easily the better depiction of the character and if you are a fan of crime shows then this has to be seen and now I am really excited for the second season. 

Rating - 9/10

Loki Season 2 (2023) Review

Out of all the MCU Disney+ shows Loki was the best for me and it is also the only one so far to have a second season. The second season has finally finished and I have watched all 6 episodes and here is my review for it. The premise of the season picks up right where the last one finished with Loki trying to figure out what is going on with the branching timelines while trying to save the TVA from He Who Remains and his variants. 

Main Character

Tom Hiddleston has been playing Loki for so long now but this is easily his best performance in the role. He nails every aspect of this character to make him on of the most interesting in any film or TV show. Loki isn't the villain he once was but he still has those traits and the inner conflict is there and it is shown beautifully. He is scared after the events of the previous season and Hiddleston does an amazing job of conveying all types of emotion and he deserves awards for this amazing performance. 

Supporting Characters

I remember when it was revealed that Owen Wilson was cast as Mobius that I didn't understand how it would work. But he gives the best performance of his career here, the dynamic between himself and Loki is fantastic and is one of my favourite parts of the show. He has a real arc here and I loved seeing it progress throughout the season with Wilson nailing it. 

Sophia Di Martino is back as Sylvie and though this season doesn't revolve around her as much as the previous one does she still plays an important role and Di Martino nails it. She is clearly conflicted over her actions in the first season and throughout the show it puts that at the forefront of the performance and she does a great job. 

The only really major addition to the cast for this season was Ke Huy Quan as OB, an inventor at the TVA who helps Loki and Mobius. He is so energetic and adds so much to this show, he just really fits in with the crew and it is really cool seeing him in great roles lately. 

I am not going to mention his legal issues but Jonathan Majors is back in a larger role this season and he is fantastic, he plays a few different roles and I love how he is projected throughout the show and how he has been making all the variants feel very different despite being played by the same man. 

Story

The story is fantastically created. It follows on from the major cliff-hanger of the previous season and makes it even better. It improves on all of the characters and makes us care about them, especially with Loki himself who goes on a great character journey leading to the final which is an amazing episode of television. 

Script

The show is really written well, people criticise Marvel for an overuse of comedy sometimes but that is not present here. Here we have a brilliant blend with great characters being written really well and I can't stop praising it. 

Style 

The show looks beautiful, you can clearly see the care that has been put into it and the huge budget behind it. No matter what time period it is showing it nails it and kept me engaged throughout. It flowed really well and I was never bored during the 6 episodes. 

Overall

Overall, the 2nd season of Loki is a masterpiece and should be seen by everybody. They have taken this supporting character and turned him into the best character in the franchise, it feels like a fulfilling story arc over 2 seasons and I think this is one of the best things Marvel has ever done. 

Rating - 10/10

The Marvels (2023) Review

I think most people can agree that this isn't currently the best time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and some of their projects haven't got the best responses. The next film to come out under this banner is The Marvels and I saw it the other day and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Captain Marvel get her powers entangled with Kamala Khan & Monica Rambeau forcing them to work together in order to try and save the world. 

Main Character

Ever since she was cast as Captain Marvel it feels like Brie Larson has received a bunch of unnecessary criticism and I am going to say that I thought she was really good here. It seemed that she was actually having a lot of fun here and she made Carol Danvers a likeable character and one that I actually cared about. She has progressed as a character and the film does a good job in making her less over powered then she has been in previous films. 

Supporting Characters

I wasn't a huge fan of the Disney+ show Ms Marvel but I can't deny that I really enjoyed Iman Vellani's performance as Kamala Khan in this film. She is a complete fangirl here and she added so much energy to the film and was really fun as part of this larger project. 

Teyonah Parris reprises her role as Monica Rambeau and I thought she was very good too, she is the most serious of the three characters and the film does an okay job of showing that but Parris sells it well and makes you care about how her character has been affected by other characters actions. The chemistry between these three characters is what carries this film. 

Samuel L Jackson is once again back in the role of Nick Fury and he is clearly having the blast. The serious character from Secret Invasion is gone and he is here for comedic relief and though that is a little frustrating I can't deny that it was fun watching him here. 

Zawe Ashton plays the main villain Dar-Benn and she does a decent job, this won't be one of the most memorable MCU villains but I thought the character was pretty well written and Ashton did the best she could with the amount of screen time she had. 

Story

The story is okay, I think it does a really good job of establishing the three characters in case you haven't seen the Disney+ shows that Kamala & Monica are in. It establishes a bond between the three main characters and the issues that concern them, they also give the villain an interesting motivation that makes some sense. But the issue is that none of it is developed enough, it feels a bit rushed and like certain arcs aren't given enough time to shine and that holds the film back a bit. 

Script

The script is also just okay. There is some pretty good humour and some moments of conflict that hit hard but there just isn't quite enough. It doesn't take many gambles and is quite generic which leaves it a little short. 

Style 

The film looks pretty good it avoids the CGI issues of some previous MCU films and has some fun action sequences that due to some certain story choices allows for some real creativity. It's more of a pacing issue that the film has, it takes a bit of time to get going and then seems to rush at other times which makes it a little jarring. 

Overall

Overall, The Marvels is a good fun film. It will not save the MCU but it is a quick and easy fun film to go see, I think the reviews have been pretty harsh and I think it is worth a viewing especially for comic book fans. 

Rating - 7/10

Echo Season 1 (2024) Trailer Review

After her appearance in Hawkeye, the character of Maya Lopez/Echo gets her own spinoff show here and there has been some pretty bad reports that have come out about the production of the show. But we now have a trailer for the show so we can make some early judgments on what to expect for the show that comes out next year and here is my review for the trailer. 

Wilson Fisk is back as we see the origins of his relationship with Maya

The big twist of Hawkeye was the reveal that Wilson Fisk AKA The Kingpin was bought into the MCU after his amazing appearances in Netflix's Daredevil and it was revealed that he is a father figure to Echo. Here we learn more about the start of the relationship between Maya & Fisk and shows how she became the person that she is. 

Maya Lopez is still a bad person

Despite the fact that she is going to be the main protagonist of this show, this trailer is making it quite clear that she is a bad person. She is a mobster in Hawkeye and despite some good moments she is violent and capable of bad things and that is seemingly going to be able to allow her to do some bad things here. 

Echo is deaf and an amputee

This trailer does a good job of reminding us that Echo is a deaf character but also that she is missing a leg and has to use a prosthetic to help her move about. I suspect that will be bought into play here with possibly her losing her prosthetic during an action sequence. 

The show seems to be embracing Echo's Native American background 

It was again slightly addressed in Hawkeye that Maya has a Native American Background and that is emphasised here by seeing her community. I expect that they are going to be under attack from the antagonists in this show which causes her to go on her rampage. 

Charlie Cox is back as Daredevil

Last time we saw Charlie Cox play Matt Murdoch/Daredevil was in She-Hulk but he is back here. We only see a brief glimpse of him in an action scene here but it is important to mention that he is back to wearing the Red suit from his own Netflix show with Marvel Studios clearly listening to the fan response after his previous appearance. 

Wilson Fisk survived the events of Hawkeye

I mean this was pretty obvious by even though he was shot in the face by Maya in the Hawkeye Finale, Fisk has survived just minus an eye. This is going to be important for The MCU and I think it is pretty easy to predict that he will be revealed as the main villain here and maybe other projects in the future. 

This is going to be a violent show and closer to the Netflix Marvel Shows Tone. 

The biggest thing for me here is the fact that this show is going to easily be the most violent thing that has been officially made by the MCU. We see plenty of blood, people getting beaten to a pulp and people being shot in the face, it feels like the Marvel shows that Netflix made and I am very happy to see that. 

Echo will be the first title under Marvel Spotlight

So it wasn't in the trailer but shortly afterwards Marvel Studios and Disney announced that Echo will be the first release under a new banner called Marvel Spotlight. It is believed that these shows/films will be more violent and focus on street level heroes that aren't that connected to the main MCU continuity. I really like this and think it will allow us to see characters that we haven't seen done properly in a while and is something fresh for this universe. 

Overall

Overall, I wasn't very excited for Echo before seeing this trailer. However, I am now really excited for this show and the fact that all the episodes are being released on the same day means it will be an easy watch and I am really hoping that this is really good. 

Tomb Raider (2013) Review

Between the releases of Mortal Kombat 1 and Spider-Man 2, I wanted to play an older game that I remembered enjoying so I decided to replay the reboot of Tomb Raider. Now that I have paused playing the other games, I have completed my playthrough of this game and here is my review for it. The premise of the game sees a young Lara Croft and the rest of her crew stranded on an island that has some mysterious challenges for survival. 

Characters

Camilla Luddington takes over the iconic role of Lara Croft and she does a fantastic job in this game. She delivers her lines well and I felt like she was realistic in the role, she is new to the majority of this stuff but has enough training to make it believable that she can stand up to the opposition. I cared about Lara and this is easily the most brutal depiction of the character ever, it isn't sexualised and treats her as this survivor that this whole game is building her up to be. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the characters don't fair so well. There is a big crew that arrives with Lara on the island but none of them are particularly interesting. The best the game does is Sam who is Lara's best friend and Roth who is her mentor but these aren't that great and it makes some emotional moments fall flat. The rest of the crew are super generic and I didn't care about any of them even though the game clearly wants me too. 

The villains are also poor. It is just some random group of mercenaries led by a guy who offers very little to the character. They do introduce some different villains towards the end of the game but don't really explain them very well and leave it too late to introduce them. 

Story

Despite the lacklustre characters, I actually really liked the story that was told here. It depicts this young woman trying to survive on this island by using just her wits and weapons she can get a hold of. Lara's personal journey really works here and the actual story does a great job of telling this origin story for the character we all know and love. 

Side Content

The side content is a mixed bag. Even though this game is called Tomb Raider, the actual Tomb's are a side content and they are pretty well done. These activities made me think about how to complete them and it feels more like a traditional Tomb Raider game which is nice to see. However, there is some side content that feels like window dressing and underdeveloped. For example, there is hunting in this game, but it isn't actually its own thing and is way worse then a game such as Red Dead Redemption 2. The collectibles are also pretty dull and didn't really incentivise me to collect them. 

Gameplay

This game is really fun with its gameplay. You start with a bow and arrow and as the game progresses you collect more weapons and tools to use to help Lara. The movement and platforming is really fun and traversing this massive island was a joy. But I did feel some of the gameplay was a little janky and hard to use, especially with the gunplay. I do wonder if they did that to link with Lara's quality which does make some sense but it was a little annoying. Also the final boss battle felt way too easy and like they rushed the ending which was a big shame. 

Graphics

The graphics for the game are fantastic. The character models looks great and the island as a whole is really fun to travel across and never get bored of. It is a really nice looking and sounding game that clearly has a load of hard work put into it. 

Overall

Overall, Tomb Raider is a good game. It does a really good job of building up the character of Lara Croft and despite some miscues I had a good time playing it. It is probably really cheap now so I would recommend giving it a go if you have the time. 

Rating - 7/10

A Haunting in Venice (2023) Review

I was a fan of the Murder on the Orient Express that came out a few years ago so I finally got around to watching A Haunting in Venice and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Hercule Poirot in retirement, reluctantly accept to go to a seance. When a murder takes place it is up to Poirot to figure out who the killer is and whether they are from this realm or beyond. 

Main Character

Sir Kenneth Branagh plays Hercule Poirot for the third time and he also directs the movie. He is clearly passionate about the role and I thought he was great in the film, he encapsulates what I would expect from Poirot with his intelligence and the way he deduces crimes. But this film also looks into his character and how he is dealing with something new and how it makes him really question his faith which I thought was a nice addition here. 

Supporting Characters

Like the other films in this franchise it has a big cast and they pretty much all do a really good job. I was really surprised that Tina Fey was in this film and is actually a major part of the film. She has good chemistry with Branagh and doesn't go too much into the comedic area which was nice to see from her. 

Jamie Dornan plays a doctor here and they do a good job in showing his character off and spending time in making us care about the situation he has been in. Dornan is a really good actor and it is nice to see him move on from his 50 Shades of Grey stigma. 

Kelly Reilly is an actress that I haven't seen do enough but she is great in this film. She is the owner of the house that the seance takes place in and Reilly's character has plenty of depth to her and she does a good job with it. 

The rest of the cast are also effective and as you see Poirot interviewing everybody you learn more about them and the motivations they have for being there and why they might be the killer. 

Story

The film is a good old fashioned whodunnit and when it comes to that style of film it really works and kept me intrigued throughout. There are many suspects and all of them are intriguing and the film keeps you on your toes as it goes on. It also nails the final reveal in my opinion, it is explained really well and makes sense with the overall arc of the film. However, there is one specific element of the story that falls a bit flat and by the end of the film I kind of felt like it wasn't resolved which was a bit frustrating. 

Script

The script in the film is okay. The drama was well delivered and as I mentioned above the actual writing for all the twists and turns was well done and well realised. But without going into spoilers I felt like the more supernatural stuff wasn't particularly well written and was my least favourite part of the film. 

Style

The film looks really good, it is pretty creepy and Venice as a setting feels like a character on its own. The film is also paced well, it is a pretty short film but it is slower paced and makes you pay attention to what is going on in the film. However, like most films that have an horror element there is an overuse of jump scares here. I am fine with 1 or 2 but there were just too many and it loss its value as the film progressed. 

Overall

Overall, A Haunting in Venice is a good film that did its job effectively. It is a solid whodunnit and if you are a fan of films like that with a bit of horror chucked in there then this is a film for you. 

Rating - 7/10

Spider-Man 2 (2023) Review

Over the last few years Insomniac have released two fantastic Spider-Man games. This has led to much anticipation for the sequel to the original game and its spinoff Miles Morales. I have played through this entire game and here is my review for Spider-Man 2. The premise of the game is set a few years after the original game, both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are Spider-Man and using their powers to help New York but not succeeding in their personal lives. However, the return of an old friend and a new powerful enemy forces them to work together to face their biggest enemies. 

Characters

Yuri Lowenthal reprises his role as Peter Parker and he is fantastic, to me he is an absolute perfect choice for this video game Spider-Man. He plays the experienced version of the character well and this game pushes him in different ways that the previous one does. He is brilliant here and I think he deserves to be in the same discussion as the iconic film versions of the character. I have even got used to his new face here and I am totally fine with it. 

Nadji Jeter also reprises his role as Miles Morales and he is also great in the role. We have really seen his journey over the three games and the chemistry between him and Peter is fantastic. He is given a really interesting story here and it shows a more serious side that maybe his game slightly missed. The game does ebb and flow but it does feel like two equal lead characters and that is fantastic to see. 

Laura Bailey is back as Mary Jane Watson and she is once again great in her role. She supports both the Spider-Men really well and they give her a story herself but it doesn't overshadow the main plot and she does the character real justice. 

Graham Phillips is here as Harry Osbourne and he is fantastic, it feels like these characters have known each other for years and credit to Phillips who has joined the cast and felt like he has always been there. He also has a really interesting character arc and it follows up really well with what we have been told about him in the previous games. 

Jim Pirri plays Kraven The Hunter and I love this portrayal of the character. He is physically intimidating but you see how his mind works throughout the game and what his motivations are for the actions that he takes. He is a great villain that is perfect for the story that is being told here. 

Also he was in the trailer so I will say Venom is fantastic when he is used here and that is all I will say. 

Story 

This story is fantastic, it does a fantastic job of showing Peter and Miles in their own difficult situations but also situations that affect both of them in their personal life and as Spider-Man. It weaves characters into the story and provides plenty of emotion throughout with a solid ending here. Personally, I actually think I preferred the story in the first game but that doesn't mean this one isn't fantastic in its own way. Some are arguing that it isn't long enough and I kind of get that, but I think it uses everything effectively and it still took me around 18-20 hours to complete which for me is plenty for a video game.

Side Activities

The game has plenty of side content and it is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some excellent side missions, one in particular really hit me and made me realise that the game developers really cared. They also do a really good job of setting up future threats for Peter & Miles which is something a bit fresh here. But the majority of the side missions end up seeing either Spider-Man doing the same activity multiple times and it just gets a bit repetitive. I know most open world games has this but it felt like it here and I wasn't a huge fan of it this time. 

Gameplay

Insomniac decided to go with a more revolution over evolution of the gameplay. It is pretty similar to what we received in the previous two games. This game is pretty clear that Miles & Peter play differently and it provides fresh gameplay in different activities. It provides fantastic action and web swinging along with the web wings allowed for easier traverse across New York. Also yes the MJ missions are back and at first I sighed but they are way better here and I didn't actually mind them and appreciated that Insomniac decided to improve this factor instead of just getting rid of it. 

Graphics

This game looks beautiful. The character models are great and I love how both Spider-Men look in their costumes and it is great to see them in action. The other villains also look fantastic with Kraven, Lizard and Venom all being beautifully represented here. It shows New York in a fantastic way and made me care about it, overall it is a great looking game. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man 2 is a fantastic game and one of the best superhero games that has ever been made. It tells an amazing story and manages to showcase both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in a really great way. It falls a little short with its side content and overall length but It is still absolutely worth a purchase and anyone with a PS5 must give it a playthrough. 

Rating - 9/10

First Impressions - Loki Season 2 (2023)

2 years ago we got the first season of Loki and it was universally appreciated and to this date is my favourite of the MCU Shows. Yesterday, we got the first episode of the second season and here are my first impressions of the show with spoilers in all their glory. 

Takes place right after the season 1 finale. 

The episode starts off right where the first season finishes. Loki is on the run from the TVA who don't know him in a world where He Who Remains/Kang openly runs the TVA and wants him taken out. It really delivered on its promises from that finale and introduces a new type of time travel in this episode. 

Loki is time slipping, ends up in the original timeline and reveals Kang. 

So it is revealed that Loki is time slipping between the past, present and future in this episode. When he makes it back to the present, he is reunited with Mobius and reveals to the TVA that He Who Remains is the one run the TVA and they had all been tricked. 

Introducing OB played by Ke Huy Quan

In the trailers, it was revealed that Ke Huy Quan would have a role on the show as TVA Member OB and he is one of the most entertaining parts of the show. He is full of energy and has great chemistry with Hiddelston and Wilson in the scenes he is in and I hope he gets more time to shine this season. 

Loki is trying to stop Kang from taking over the world

After the events of last season, Loki knows of Kang and all of his variants planning on taking over the world and another trip to the future here shows that Loki is clearly on this path. It is curious whether this will lead into Avengers: Kang Dynasty and what the implications are for the future of The MCU. 

Who is working with Kang? 

When he is in the past, Loki finds a recording from He Who Remains/Kang where he is thanking somebody for being on his team during a war. They even play the recodirng twice which makes me think that it is crucial for the story. The question is who is working with Kang, I think the most obvious choice is Renslayer who we don't see in this episode. Her comic counterpart is close with Kang so I think that is the choice they will go with. 

Everyone is trying to find Sylvie

In the future scene, Loki sees Sylvie and works out that she might be able to help them in stopping Kang. The TVA are also trying to find Sylvie so they can truly find out what happened between her and He Who Remains as Loki isn't completely sure. The post credit scene shows Sylvie appear in a McDonalds in the past and trailers have shown that she plans on staying there. 

Overall

Overall, the first episode of Loki Season 2 was a good start to the season. I don't think it's the best episode they have ever done but it is a solid start to the season and I think it will get even better as it goes on. 

Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Review

Over the last few years I have become a fan of Mortal Kombat, the first few trailers for the new game Mortal Kombat 1 had me super excited for this sequel/reboot and I have now played enough of it to review it, so here is my review for Mortal Kombat 1. The premise of the game is set after the events of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. Liu Kang has created a new timeline which sees legendary characters reimagined and able to make their own decisions in the new era. 

Characters

After the events of the previous game Lord Liu Kang is now the protector of Earthrealm and I really like his character progression. He is now the god in this universe and he plays the role really well, he has clearly tried to help as many characters get a fresh start and his new timeline is interesting. 

There are some iconic characters who are changed up such as Raiden, Kung Lao, Scorpion & Sub-Zero. They are all so different from the previous timeline and I like how the game really doubled down on it and gave them the attention that they deserve. 

But some of the lesser known characters also got time to shine with Reptile, Baraka & Mileena all having way more to do then they have in previous titles. It makes this game feel fresh and new to fans of the franchise and I give the game real credit for that. 

Pretty much every character is great (apart from Nitara) and I really give credit for to the developers for fleshing them out and making them more interesting then they have ever been. 

Story

The story is a reboot/sequel and it does a brilliant job changing up establish characters and setting this up as a new but exciting timeline. It gives lesser characters important roles and is a fresh story that kept me guessing throughout. However, I do have a complaint and it is one I had in Mortal Kombat X. There are 2 characters here who play major roles in the story but are paid DLC, it means they are complete and Neatherealm are making us pay extra for characters that should already be a part of the roster. Also I am used to having dialogue between the characters in the other modes but it isn't here and it makes the game feel a bit lifeless. 

Side Activities

The game adds a new mode called invasions. It is basically a board game type simulation where you go between short fights with modifiers and gaining unlocks. I actually enjoyed it and switching between characters for tactical advantages. I mean, I couldn't play it for long spells because it becomes repetitive and dull but in short doses its pretty fun. I also had quite a lot of fun with multiplayer, I am not great at the game but for the most part I managed to hold my own and get some wins. Towers is the same as usual and does a decent job in keeping me interested with some good character endings. However, it just feels like something is missing. The lack of creativity in the customisation and the lack of a Krypt this time does make certain aspects feel a little under developed. 

Gameplay

The one thing that hasn't let Mortal Kombat games down is the gameplay. The game is a lot of fun and flows really nicely. All the characters feel unique and that time has really been taken to craft them and make them play really well. This game introduces Kameo Fighters, they assist you in battle and all feel different, its a fantastic addition to the game and adds more layers to the gameplay. Fatalities are brutal as always and violence is definitely still here in the bucketloads. 

Graphics

The game looks fanatastic and continues the great graphics from the previous game. It looks incredibly life like and full of colour. The Stages that the battles take place on are so in depth and it is clear that care has been put in to make it all unique. As I mentioned Fatalities and Brutalities are over the top and the violence is still at the forefront of the franchise. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is a great game that I thoroughly enjoyed, It feels like a great fresh start for the franchise and though I still think improvements can be made this is a great step in the right direction. 

Rating - 8/10

Ahsoka Season 1 (2023) Review

Ever since her live action debut in The Mandalorian Season 2, I have been hyped to see Ahsoka get her time to shine in her own show and yesterday the final episode of the first season of Ahsoka came to Disney+ so it is time to review it. The premise of the show sees Ahsoka on the hunt to locate Grand Admiral Thrawn and prevent his return, others are looking for him too both allies and enemies of the former Jedi. 

Main Character

Rosario Dawson is once again back as the titular character and she is really good. I have seen some people complaining about her stoic behaviour but I think that is all to do with where her character is during this story. Dawson, has that playful nature that we know Ahsoka has but it is fascinating seeing how she has grown over the years and where she is in terms of her faith in the Jedi. I really liked Rosario in the role and felt she encapsulated what Ahsoka is like for live action. 

Supporting Characters

This is a big cast and there are some characters that I am intentionally not going to talk about because of their roles in the show. A major surprise here was the use of Huyang with David Tennant reprising his role from The Clone Wars. I thought this was going to be a minor role but he is one of the most important characters on the show and he is brilliant. He is the perfect partner to Ahsoka and his use of sarcasm is really funny and I am really happy he was included here. 

Natasha Liu Bordizzo takes over the role of Sabine Wren and they do a lot with her character to show progression from her appearance in Rebels. There is more of a defined relationship between Sabine & Ashoka then there was in that show. Sabine has clearly struggled since the finale of Rebels and Bordizzo portrays that really well adding more depth to her character. 

Similarly, Mary Elizabeth Winstead takes over the role of Hera Syndulla and I thought this was a good representation of her. They give her a side story and it was actually pretty interesting and Winstead does a good job as Hera and is solid in continuing this characters legacy from Rebels. 

Unfortunately, before the show came out Ray Stevenson passed away. It was tragic then and after watching this show it feels even worse here as I think his portrayal of Baylon Skoll is the best part of this whole show and he is amazing. Baylon is one of the most interesting antagonists in any film or show in recent years. The way Stevenson carries himself makes himself believable and an intimidating presence but with that sense of calmness and understanding, it is a shame we won't see Stevenson get a chance to show his amazing ability on screen again. 

There are other characters here, especially ones seen in other Star Wars projects and all I will say is that they are all handled really well and I give credit to all the performers who nailed it here. 

Story

The story is really good. The show manages to balance the stories of older characters while bringing in new ones such as Baylon. It opens up new areas for Star Wars and does an excellent job in getting me invested in these characters and the time of Star Wars that we are in which is largely unexplored in canon. However, the only issue is that there isn't really much finality to this season, everybody is set up for the future and it kind of makes this feel like build up to future projects and I think at least a few story elements could have been completed here. 

Script

The show is really well written, I think it balances those who have watched Rebels and Clone Wars and those who haven't. It is funny at times but pretty serious and I like how these characters are developed and the ones who are now live action are as I would imagine from their animated counterparts. 

Style

The show looks fantastic. The action scenes feel new and fresh, there are a few lightsaber duels and they all feel different and all are awesome. It shows areas of Star Wars that we have never seen before and it is shown really well with a very clear big budget. It is also paced well and every episode feels slightly different with a solid structure. 

Overall

Overall, Disney gets plenty of criticism for its handling of Star Wars. But I have really enjoyed a lot of the stuff and Ahsoka is a top tier show that as a huge fan of the lore satisfied me for sure. For me, this is a must watch and one that will deliver for the fans. 

Rating - 9/10

One Piece Season 1 (2023) Review

This show has been a worldwide phenomenon the last few weeks and I have now watched the live action version of One Piece. I have never watched the animated version of the show so I am going in blind and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a group of pirates come together in order to attempt to look for a long lost treasure. 

Main Character

Inaki Godoy plays Monkey D Luffy and he is a great lead character here. He is a lot of fun and he is so energetic that you can't help yourself but become interested in him. Sometimes it can be a bit much but overall I really liked Luffy and felt like this was a genuine performance. There is some development here for sure and this is a fun lead performance. 

Supporting Characters

The best character on this show is Zoro played by Mackenyu. He is an awesome character and is easily the best part of the action sequences, his sword play is ridiculously entertaining and his deadpan comedy really worked for me. 

Emily Rudd plays Nami and she is a good character too, she is a focal point of the show and her character gets time to shine. There are flashbacks about her that explains the more mysterious parts of her character and along with Luffy & Zoro are a great trio of characters. 

Garp played by Vincent Regan is a great antagonist, he is the vice admiral of the marines and is trying to eradicate piracy, in particular Luffy. He is a nuanced character and there is more to him then some moustache twiddling bad guy. 

There are so many other great performances that I will just say that everybody is great and I had a fun time seeing them all do their thing and clearly care about their characters. 

Story

The story is great, it especially does a fantastic job in building up the main characters and building this whole universe up. It has the pirates story and the marines story and I thought both were great and linked to each other very well. It is also great at having individual stories in the episodes while having a larger narrative. The finale really delivers and sets up a bright future for live action One Piece. 

Script

This show delivers with some dramatic moments and some genuinely funny moments. The chemistry and delivery is pretty spot on by all the performers. However, this show does get a little too cheesy and ridiculous for me. The show thrives on being over the top but there are a few moments where it took me out of the show. 

Style

This show looks amazing. It is full of colour and brightness and I love some of the designs here, whether that be costumes, locations or weapons and it all nailed it. The pacing of the show is fantastic and each episode did a great job in introducing and developing multiple characters on this show. 

Overall

Overall, One Piece is a fantastic show, It looks amazing and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I recommend that everybody watches it, especially those who are fans of fantasy shows as this is one of the better ones of the last few years. 

Rating - 9/10

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) Trailer Review

Despite very little fanfare and very little promotional material, we finally have our first trailer for the upcoming film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. I am going to look through the trailer and take the biggest things from it. 

This film is set 4 years after the original film. 

Straight away in the trailer we find out that this film is set 4 years after the first film and that Aquaman has become a father. He has also been King of Atlantis the entire time, which is a job that clearly frustrates him. We have seen him in small cameos in recent DC films but I highly doubt any of them will be acknowledged here. 

Black Manta is back and is the main villain

Black Manta played by Yahya Abdul-Matten was an interesting side villain in the first Aquaman film but was ultimatley a small part of the film. He is back here and he is clearly taking a step up in terms of his role. He still holds a massive grudge against Arthur Curry and by having a new weapon he is trying to destroy the whole of Atlantis. 

Is Tom Curry killed off here?

Tom Curry played by the amazing Temuera Morrison is a nice addition to the cast and a good father to Arthur. But there is a shot in the trailer which shows his house burning, does this herald the death of Tom or is it just a red herring in the trailer. His death would make sense as Black Manta's grudge with Aquaman started with the death of his own father so would link well as a story. 

Atlanna is back but Vulko is not. 

The trailer confirms that Arthur's mother Atlanna played by Nicole Kidman reprises her role in this film. It has been pretty much confirmed that she will be Arthur's biggest ally and helping him run Atlantis. It is like she is taking the role of Willem Dafoe's Vulko from the first film, it has been confirmed he won't be back for this film which is a shame. 

Patrick Wilson is back as Orm

At the end of the first film Orm is arrested and loses the right of King of Atlantis. He is brought back here and it seems that he will be a reluctant ally of Aquaman as they look to stop Black Manta. It does seem a very Thor & Loki relationship and it will be interesting to see how Orm and Arthur's relationship is handled during this film. 

Amber Heard is back as Mera, but very shortly

In a fleeting moment in the trailer we see Amber Heard as Mera. It is clear that she is married to Arthur here and she gave birth to their child. However, after all the controversial events in her personal life it is likely her role will be significantly reduced here. Director James Wan has said it was always the plan for her to have a smaller role but I have no doubt the real life stuff has had an impact on the film. 

Overall

Overall, this looks like a fun film. DC have had some bad times recently and clearly have little faith in this film but this trailer got me a bit more excited and it will be nice to see this character one more time before the big DC reboot. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) Review

The original Red Dead Redemption has been remade for the PS4 and it is available for the PS5 so I do eventually want to play through it. So I decided to use this as an excuse to replay Red Dead Redemption 2 and give it a review so here it is. The premise of the game shows the origins of the Van Der Linde Gang and how the members are on the run from the government and from the world of industrialisation. 

Characters

There are so many characters in Red Dead Redemption 2, that I will not have a chance to go through them all but just know that everybody is fantastic. The main protagonist Arthur Morgan played by Roger Clark is one of the greatest characters I have ever seen in any medium and it is a true pleasure to play as him. Clark gives an amazing performance and records an insane amount of lines for the game. The character has true development and I got so invested in his character and it was a real joy to play as Arthur. 

Reprising his role from the first game Benjamin Byron Davis plays Dutch Van Der Linde and this is also an amazing performance. If you have played the first game then you know where he goes but that doesn't make it engaging to watch this characters development over the stage of the game. Davis voice acting here is phenomenal and makes this one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. 

Rob Wiethoff also reprises his role as John Marston from the first game and even though he plays a smaller role then he does in that game, the use of his character is great. The relationships between John & Arthur and Dutch & John really drives this game and is the cornerstone on things that are great for this game. 

This game also has one of the most despicable characters ever created in Micah Bell played by Peter Blomquist, this character is sneaky, violent and untrustworthy but I can't help but love the delivery of his character and how Blomquist delivers his lines to really make you love to hate Micah and it is amazing. 

As I said at the top, all the characters are fantastic. Sadie, Charles & Hosea are some that really shine but I really mean that everybody is great and gives really strong performances. 

Story

The story is brilliant. There are these group of outlaws that do bad things but you can't help but care about their goals and wanting to see them succeed. The main characters have fantastic development and there is so many good things here with a great ending. There is an epilogue for the game and I actually enjoyed playing it, it isn't as great as the main story but it bridges the gap between the two games really well and I am glad it was there. 

Side Content

There is so much content here that it is insane. Arthur meets many interesting people as he ventures to different parts of America in this game and the majority always want some help and they are pretty much all interesting and fun people. They are fun and provide many different activities to do and some actually contribute to the main story and the character of Arthur. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is brilliant, the gunplay is very exciting. You get access to different types of weapons during different missions and it is very fun to choose what you want to use. The Dead Eye Mechanic is brought back from the previous game and it can change your situation so fast if you are struggling in combat. The hunting and fishing mechanics are also fun and makes things that could be tedious be pretty fun. 

Graphics

The graphics for this game is amazing. The cutscenes seem lifelike and despite being a previous gen game it looks brilliant. There is so much attention to detail for the characters, locations and weapons and it just raises everything up a bit. 

Overall

Overall, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic game and one of my favourite games of all time. I have put almost 400 hours into this game in my life and it deserves every minute. It is a true open world experience and one that can't be missed by gamers anywhere. 

Rating - 10/10

Hatton (2023) Review

A documentary about famous British Boxer Ricky Hatton has been marketed heavily by Sky and has been released. I sat down today and decided to watch it and here is my review for the documentary. The premise of the documentary looks at the long career of Ricky Hatton as he faces the highs and lows that came out of his career. 

This documentary should receive praise for the fact that it doesn't really hide back from the dark times that Hatton has gone through and makes it clear that at least in his eyes he kind of sees himself as a bit of a failure despite the fact that he was a World Champion in Boxing. But seeing his drinking and drug abuse issues brings it into the light just how tough being this figure can be. 

It does a good job in showing the rise of Ricky Hatton from an amateur to being the world champion. We see the relationships he builds up such as with his trainer, his parents and his ex fiance and how they are all affected by things that happen in his life. 

Though my biggest criticism of this documentary is that it is a bit short, with the adverts it only clocks in at 90 minutes. This means that they try and go through so much but the majority of it just feels a bit undercooked and like we only get the minimal of information from it. 

Overall, Hatton is a pretty simple and short review because it is an above average documentary that is a quick watch. It deals with some pretty dark stuff and shows how Hatton's life was affected by big events but it needed to be longer or even turned into a 3 or 4 episode series to really give you more depth on certain factors. 

Rating - 6/10

 The Equalizer 3 (2023) Review

I have enjoyed the previous Equalizer films and finally we have a third film in this franchise and possibly the final film of the trilogy and here is my review for The Equalizer 3. The premise of the film sees McCall end up in Southern Italy where he becomes a part of the community, it ends up this community is run by the mafia which springs him into action. 

Main Character

Denzel Washington once again reprises his role as Robert McCall and he is fantastic. I feel like there are few true movie stars left and Denzel is one of them and oozes charisma in this role. He is believable in both the nice guy and as this menacing killing machine. This film is truly elevated by the performance of Denzel Washington and I am glad he agreed to do this film. 

Supporting Characters

Dakota Fanning plays a CIA agent and she is good in the role, she has good chemistry with Washington and it is nice to once again see her acting. Her role and character aren't particularly interesting but Fanning is good here. 

The rest of the cast suffer a bit though, everyone just feels incredibly generic with no character. All the people, protagonists and antagonists in Italy are by the numbers and they offer very little to this film, though everyone is really trying their best. 

Story 

The story is okay, I do like the story that involves the development of Robert McCall and it is always fun seeing Denzel Washington taking down bad guys in the pursuit of justice. It is just a bit like we go through the motions here and don't get much that is new here. Plus they have a story involving terrorists and it brings Dakota Fanning's character into the film and it doesn't need to be here, it doesn't really affect the film and I wonder what the whole point of it was. 

Script

The script is functional, there are some alright dramatic scenes and humour, though I think it was raised by Denzel Washington's performance. There isn't much meat here and it dulls it down to your pretty generic action film. 

Style

This film is easily the most violent of the trilogy and when the action is taking place it is very cool and seeing Washington take down these mobsters is very fun. But the pacing of the film is a bit all over the place, after the first action sequence there is a big lull and it really took me out of the film. 

Overall

Overall, The Equalizer 3 is an above average film. It is one of those generic action films that works well for the fans of the franchise but isn't one that you need to rush out and see. 

Rating - 6/10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) Review

The end of the rebooted Modern Warfare franchise is coming out later this year so I decided to replay the beginning of the rebooted franchise Modern Warfare and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game is set in 2019 and sees terrorists try and take down the world, this is until a group of elite soldiers attempt to stop them. 

Characters

Unlike the previous Modern Warfare games, you see yourself playing as actual talking characters in Kyle Garrick and Alex. These are pretty decent characters and it is just nice to play as these characters with them having real interactions with other characters both heroic and villainous. 

This game was heavily marketed by the return of Captain Price, this time played by Barry Sloane and he is great in the role. He is pretty similar to the previous version but is really rugged and tough, he also does some questionable things but always with the best intentions for his team and the mission. He is great in the cutscenes and has a good relationship with the other characters. 

Farah & Hadir are two characters newly introduced to the franchise here. They are the leaders of the uprising of Urzikstan. They are great new additions to this franchise, the game does a fantastic job of developing their characters and showing their motivations. 

The only issue with the characters is that of the villains. There are quite a few villains here and none of them are particularly interesting, General Barkov is the main villain but he is barely in the game and it feels like they all took screen time away from each other. 

Story

The story is okay, as I mentioned above it was really cool to play as characters that would communicate with others while the game was going on. The game also does a fantastic job of setting up Farah & Hadir's story. I also appreciate that this game doesn't use much from the previous rendition of Modern Warfare, really apart from Price being here none of it is the same. But as I mentioned above, the villains aren't that great which does bring the story down. Also, I just felt there were a few too many stealth missions here that got quite repetitive. 

Side Content

Really the only side content here is the multiplayer. Now the multiplayer is really fun, you have all of your traditional COD game modes and the customisation is detailed, probably a little too detailed but you can tell that lots of love and spirit was put into this multiplayer. But I had a problem with Spec Ops, this was to have a multiplayer that linked to the main story, that is a great idea but the missions are dull and they have weird modifiers on them which feel unnecessary. Also the lack of single player content other then the campaign is a big let down. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is the best part of the game. The gunplay is fantastic and overall action flows really nicely. You can Mount walls and cover to aid with aim and that is a big help to somebody like me. This gameplay is tough and you will die a lot, but it is really fun and never really slows down. 

Graphics

The game looks fantastic, the in game graphics are really good and the action feels realistic and brutal. The cutscenes look really great with the acting being top notch from everybody. The problem is that at least for me the cutscenes kept glitching out, I am not sure if it just my disk or whether it was a big issue but for me it was. 

Overall

Overall, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is an above average game. It has some really fun gameplay and decent attempt at rebooting the franchise. But this game falls a bit flat overall, it doesn't hit the highest of notes. Now that it is pretty cheap it is probably worth a pick up but don't expect the quality of the original Modern Warfare Trilogy. 

Rating - 6/10

First Impressions - Ahsoka Season 1 (2023)

So after the small teases in The Mandalorian Season 2 & The Book Of Boba Fett, we finally have the first two episodes of Ahsoka on Disney+. and there was plenty to talk about especially for fans of Star Wars Rebels like myself. There will be spoilers here, so if you haven't seen the episodes yet then it is probably worth watching the episodes first before coming here. 

Rosario Dawson is great as Ahsoka 

As I said before, we have seen Rosario Dawson play the role of Ahsoka Tano in live action but she really gets the shine here and is fantastic. She definitely takes cues from the animated version but realises that the character has moved on even from there and her character is way more impatient and not accepting of the Jedi way which is interesting to see. 

Ray Stevenson is amazing as Baylon Skoll

Though, for me the best performance so far is that of Baylon Skoll played by the recently deceased Ray Stevenson. He isn't just some evil cackling villain, there is a presence there and a real care for the history of the Jedi Order. He is just fantastic and it is such a shame that we will only ever see him perform as this character in this show. 

Morgan Elsbeth is a Night Sister

This was only briefly mentioned but I thought it was a big enough plot point that it needed to be discussed. We met Morgan Elsbeth in The Mandalorian and here she has been confirmed to be a member of The Night Sister cult. These characters were introduced in The Clone Wars and were shown to be dark side users with evil motivations, it was believed they were all killed off until we met Merrin in Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and now Morgan here, I wonder if we will see her use her powers in this show. 

Sabine Wren is a failed Jedi Padawan

At the end of Star Wars Rebels we saw Ahsoka & Sabine team up to go and find Ezra Bridger. But this show reveals that things were a bit more advanced then that. It turns out that Ahsoka became Sabine's Jedi Master and attempted to train her. It was revealed in Rebels that Sabine had no connection to the force so unsurprisingly this doesn't go well and it causes the two characters to have a fractured relationship until this show. 

Hera is a General in The New Republic

Hera is played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead and she is great, we also see that Hera has kept her title as General in The New Republic. She is one of the heads of the new government and a big part of keeping the good guys going. I am curious to see if her son Jace turns up in this show as there has been no mention of him so far. 

Who is Marekk? 

A mysterious member of the villain team is seemingly the last Sith Inquisitor called Marekk. Now Marekk has a mask so it isn't exactly clear who they are. I have seen rumours suggesting that Marekk is either Ezra Bridger or Cal Kestis but I personally don't like either of those theories. My belief is that Marekk is either a nobody which makes you wonder why to have the mask and create all this intrigue or it is Barris Offee. Barris is a failed Jedi from The Clone Wars who betrayed Ahsoka and turned to the dark side. The way Marekk moves, I think it is a female and Barris has clear connection to our lead character. Though if it is Barris, I hope the reveal comes soon so it doesn't leave it too late to give her some story. 

No Grand Admiral Thrawn yet

Those hoping for Grand Admiral Thrawn in these first two episodes will be disappointed. Both sets of characters are trying to locate both Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger and even though we see Ezra via hologram we see none of Thrawn and I am fine with that. I have stated before that I don't think Thrawn will be in the show that much and this happens here. 

Huyang is back and is once again voiced by David Tennant

Huyang was a droid voiced by the brilliant David Tennant in Clone Wars and he is back here for this show. He wasn't in many episodes of Clone Wars but was a pretty memorable character, he is back and I love how he is presented, he is sarcastic and actually adds plenty of humour to the show. 

Are we heading to The World Between Worlds? 

Towards the end of Star Wars Rebels, we were introduced to a plain of existence called The World Between Worlds. This dimension allows the person in it to move across space and time to influence any event that they want such as Ezra saving Ahsoka in Rebels. The markings of the dimension are all over this show and the markings from the map look just like The World Between Worlds. If we end up here, it would be huge for the future of Star Wars and could mean massive things for the future. 

This is basically a Star Wars Rebels Sequel

Yes, this is an Ahsoka show and the focus is on her and her troubles. But there is no denying that this is basically a Star Wars Rebels Live Action Sequel. Ahsoka, Hera & Sabine are the main characters and we see their troubles since that show ended and it is the main influence. I think you can get by if you haven't watched Rebels but the show is certainly better if you have. 

Overall

Overall, I loved the first two episodes of Ahsoka. As you can tell by the length of this post, there is plenty of intrigue and discussion points here and that is great to see. It feels like a Star Wars Show for Star Wars Fans and I am happy to see that. 

Blue Beetle (2023) Review

DC is in a bit of a flux right now as they are between the end of DCEU and the start of the new DCU, but we have Blue Beetle now and I saw it last night and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young man become combined with an alien scarab that gives him special powers, this causes him to be hunted down by nefarious enemies. 

Main Character

Xolo Mariduena has been a young actor mainly known for his really good work on Cobra Kai. He plays Jaime Reyes here and he is great in the role. He brings plenty of vibrance to the role of Jaime and he nails the emotional scenes too. This is just a really likeable main character and I thought he did a really good job of being a lead for a character that I am pretty sure the majority of mainstream viewers no very little about. 

Supporting Characters

This has a large group of supporting characters and some of them work, some of them don't. Bruna Marquenzie plays Jenny Kord and is a big ally to Jaime Reyes, she was good in the film and I liked the chemistry between the two of them. It was nothing special, but it worked in this film and I think she has a pretty decent future ahead of her. 

This story really focuses on family, the main one being the Reyes family and all of them do a fantastic job in really building that bond. George Lopez is probably my favourite as his uncle and he provided the most laughs in the film. But all of them were great in their roles. 

But the villains of this film fell flat for me. Susan Sarandon plays Victoria Kord and she is just really dull, she doesn't really add much to this role. It's not that she is terrible or anything like that it is just she is the most forgettable part of the film. They try to give the other villain Carapax some character but it is way too late to get the impact that I think people wanted. 

Story

The best thing I can say about the story is that it is pretty functional. It does a good job with the Reyes family and how their bond strengthens Jaime and his ability as Blue Beetle with this linked to Jenny and her family it works too. But this is a really generic story, it would have been way better if it came out 15 years ago but we have seen everything here before in other films. It tries something towards the end of the film to rise it up but it doesn't quite work and makes the film feel a bit cheesy and predictable. 

Script

The script is okay, there is some decent humour and drama in there that makes this an entertaining watch. But sometimes, the humour feels a bit forced, I mean it feels like some of the weaker MCU films with comedy that doesn't quite work. The drama also is a mixed bag with some of it not really working in the context that they want. 

Style

The film looks pretty good. I like the design of the Blue Beetle suit, especially with it being a mostly practical suit, the film has some real exuberant colour and feel to it which is really great to see. Though, as I kind of mentioned before, the pacing and structure of the film doesn't quite work and is quite generic with a few lacklustre action scenes. 

Overall

Overall, Blue Beetle is an above average film. This is an entertaining watch, especially for a new character on the big screen, but it plays it pretty safe and never does enough to push itself into a better film. If you are interested in this film then I would say give it a chance, just don't expect the next Dark Knight. 

Rating - 6/10