Movie Review: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

If you told me years ago there would be a Spider-Man movie featuring all the different kinds of webheads and wallcrawlers out there today in comics - I would have been beside myself and freaking out at how exactly that would come together. Fortunately - seeds were planted by Marvel and comic book writer Dan Slott on how to exactly get around this problem by actually bringing ALL SPIDER-MEN AND WOMEN TOGETHER in the 2014 comic book crossover called "Spider-Verse". That storyline saw every conceivable variation and alternate universe Spidey come together to battle a common threat - and through that narrative came the possibility of actually adapting the concept for cinematic purposes and having more than just Peter Parker and his alter ego appear in the big screen.

Fast forward to 2018, and Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, and Marvel have put together something that is undeniably one of the most AMAZING films to feature our friendly neighborhood hero and everything that he stands for - "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse". The first animated Spider-Man film to expand on the character and his other alternate counterparts, Into The Spider-Verse does feature Peter Parker, but puts most of the spotlight to young and relative newcomer Miles Morales - better known to comic book readers as the other hero to bear the name Spider-Man! First appearing in the Ultimate Marvel Universe and created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli, Miles is the heart of this animated feature - serving as the main character and thread that tells one huge yet special story of a power, responsibility, and what makes Spider-Man such a beloved character throughout the world.

Thanks to the folks at Columbia Pictures Philippines, my teammates of Spider-Verse PH and I, along with a few good friends got to see a VERY SPECIAL advance screening of "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" a few days ago, and I was literally BLOWN AWAY not just by the visuals and the fact it was pure fan service, but because it is a true LOVE LETTER to all of us Spidey fans who have adored, admired, and idolized the character and what he stands for. Spidey Co-Creator Stan Lee, who passed away earlier this month, would have been VERY PROUD to see this movie if that's any indication of how great this is.

What makes this movie different is what makes it so AWESOME. Check out my thoughts on "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" below.

Movie Review: Creed II

It's been three long years since the young and energetic Adonis Johnson Creed stepped into the boxing ring and carried on the torch passed on by his mentor/ "Unc" Rocky Balboa in 2015's "Creed" - the very first spin-off film of the long running "Rocky" film franchise and one that follows the career and journey of a new fighter who inherits two legacies from two former rivals turned friends. The first film's director, Ryan Coogler of "Black Panther" fame, made a daring attempt at continuing the Rocky Saga through fresh eyes - this time through the late Apollo Creed's son and how he rose through a huge challenge to carve his own legacy while honoring his father's at the same time.

Fast forward to 2018, and a sequel that was only natural to happen comes forth delivering not just the next chapter for Adonis Creed, but also a fight that acts as continuation of the fight that took his father's life and changed his mentor Rocky Balboa forever. "Creed II" pits the young boxer against Viktor Drago - son of "Rocky IV" antagonist and Russian Boxer Ivan Drago - the man who killed Apollo Creed in an Exhibition Match 33 years ago. After climbing to the top of the mountain and becoming WBO Champion, Donnie's life turns upside down with this very personal challenge - one that complicates his progression as a fighter and soon to be husband and father. As his girlfriend/ fiancee Bianca becomes pregnant with his child and his relationship with his "Unc" Rocky becomes strained over choosing to fight the Dragos, Creed must learn to rise beyond his own demons and his father's shadow to fight for what is more important in his life than anything else.

Movie Review: Ralph Breaks The Internet (Wreck-It Ralph 2)

As one of the break out hits of 2012, "Wreck-It Ralph" was a surprisingly awesome and loving tribute to video game fans worldwide - telling the story of the titular character who is the villain in the game "Fix-It Felix Jr." yet yearns to become a hero. It was filled with nods and cameos from popular and obscure video game franchises that sent hearts flying - and the retro gaming presentation of Ralph's gaming world inside a fictional arcade joint called Litwak's Family Fun Center & Arcade was just a touch of nostalgia that appealed to the inner gamer inside all of us. I even reviewed the film, and as a gamer myself I absolutely LOVED IT.

Fast forward to six years later, and a long awaited sequel finally sees release in theaters and brings Ralph and his best friend Vanellope von Schweetz back for a new adventure that is BIGGER than any one of them can imagine - exploring the INTERNET. The aptly titled "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is Disney's 57th feature length film and sees Ralph and Vanellope traveling to cyberspace to acquire an object that will save "Sugar Rush". What they discover however is all the kinds of things and temptations the World Wide Web will bring - including most of all the power of "Social Media", the convenience of eBay, and the numerous memes and online games that populate and preoccupy the lives of netizens worldwide. The sequel also sees cameos and appearances by familiar characters - from Disney's numerous Princesses to the characters and wonders from the Marvel and Star Wars franchises . This animated film is LITERAL eye candy and it delivers so well with its luscious visuals and 3D animation.


Disney's Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks The Internet | Trailer 2
John C. Reilly returns to provide the voice of the heroic yet very clingy and insecure Ralph, who pretty much is in the center of the reasons why he and his best friend have to travel to the interwebz to seek the item for Sugar Rush. Sarah Silverman also returns to be Vanellope, and she is festive and lovable and glitchy as ever! Also joining the cast is Wonder Woman herself Gal Gadot, who voices a new character in Shank - a superb racer girl from the online game Slaughter House. There are tons of voice actors to name and credit in this film, but they all deliver their A game, and this was certainly the all-star animated crossover that got a WONDERFUL Disney treatment tackling themes from gaming and net life combined!

Overall would I recommend Ralph Break The Internet? ABSOLUTELY! I love Ralph's adventures and this cements itself as another Disney franchise in the vein of Toy Story and The Incredibles that I'd love to see more films of! Catch it in theaters c/o Walt Disney Studios Philippines!

Rating - 5/5

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Two years after the release of the very first Fantastic Beasts film, a dark chapter that many have anticipated and waited for in J.K. Rowling's "Wizarding World" film series finally reveals itself in theaters - continuing the adventures of the eccentric yet clever Newt Scamander as he investigates a case given to him by mentor and former professor Albus Dumbledore. Of course, that case revolves around one "Gellert Grindelwald" -  a Dark Wizard who wanted to orchestrate a revolution that could have grave consequences in the world of magic and beyond.

That in itself is the premise of "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" - the second of a planned five movie prequel series set before the events of the Harry Potter films and featuring heroes we haven't known and those younger and well before their time in the Potter films. Directed by veteran franchise director David Yates, The Crimes of Grindelwald acts as an "Empire Strikes Back" sort of sequel - giving more emphasis to Grindelwald and his portrayal in the big screen by the ever talented Johnny Depp. After being revealed at the end of "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" when his "disguise" as Pecival Graves (played by Colin Farrell) was blown by Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Depp's Grindelwald is in full force and free to act as the unopposed dark magic user with plans to wipe out the old Wizarding order and supplant it with his own. This in turn leads to a series of events that has returning characters Tina Goldstein, her sister Queenie, and the No-Maj friend of Newt, Jacob Kowalski.

Also returning in this sequel is Ezra Miller - who reprises his role as the lost and angry Credence. Seeking to find answers and the love of his lost family, the film shifts its focus away from 1920's America and into Europe - where much of the story takes place in Paris and London. Harry Potter fans will also get to see a familiar name in Nagini - the future snake pet of Lord Voldemort who still retains her humanity and acts as Credence's closest friend in the Fantastic Beasts timeline.


FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD - Final Trailer
Playing of course the young Albus Dumbledore is veteran actor Jude Law - and he is an exceptional presence as he is one of the main links between the Fantastic Beasts series and the Harry Potter films later on in the Wizarding World timeline. His story is quiet interesting and further establishes more of the future old headmaster of Hogwarts' past, as well as his complicated relationship with Grindelwald. Speaking of pasts, Newt's old flame Leta Lestrange also makes her debut in the series, as does Newt's own brother and Leta's fiancee Theseus Scamander (played by Callum Turner).

As with the previous film, Fantastic Beasts is definitely another chapter in magic and wizardry no JK Rowling or Harry Potter fan will want to miss. There's more to the story down the line, but this dark chapter is another ride you will not want to miss if you want to see more of the Potterverse. It is now playing in theaters - courtesy of Warner Bros. Philippines!

Rating - 4/5

Movie Review: Overlord (2018)

Few movies manage to capture that sense of thrill, unpredictability, and a plot that sounds pretty straightforward and B-Movie like yet surprisingly comes out as one of the sleeper hits of 2018. That's Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot Productions' "Overlord" in a nutshell - a War Horror film produced by seasoned director J.J Abrams and directed by Julius Avery that tells the story of a group of paratroopers that are dropped into Nazi territory the day before D-Day to take out enemy towers... Only to discover something more sinister is at work that could change the course of the war if unleashed.

Overlord Trailer

From the onset - Overlord looks like your typical World War II film with Germans conducting ihumane  experiments to turn their soldiers into superhuman weapons, but it becomes more involved and personal as the story runs its course. You follow the story of Pvt. Ed Boyce, his commander Corporal Ford, and a ragtag band of surviving American soldiers as they are dangerously airdropped in enemy lines to conduct an important sabotage mission. What follows is a lot of tension, collusion with an unexpected ally, and a lot of dread that could make for a nice shooter and stealth game. I've compared much of the movie to the classic iD Software game "Wolfenstein", and it shows with its action, pacing, and concepts that remind me of the Nazi shooter that sees all kinds of enemies and monstrosities out to kill you as you march to defeat Hitler and his soldiers.

Now the comparisons to Wolfenstein aside, Overlord makes for one heck of popcorn movie with its good share of gore, dirty comedy, and stuff you'd expect from Abrams' produced films. The protagonist Boyce played by Jovan Adepo is likeable and it's definitely Abrams giving another young actor his shot at stardom. Corporal Ford is played by former hockey player Wyatt Hawn Russell, and he's a pretty strong and awesome deuteroganist character too. The main baddie is Game Of Thrones' own Pilou Asbaek - who shows his demented and twisted side like Euron Greyjoy by playing the Nazi commander Captain Wafner. All these elements make for some good casual war horror movie fun in Overlord - with the Nazi zombie monstrosities giving standard gruesome fare that you root for the heroes to shoot and dispose of before they get killed grotesquely.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend Overlord to fans of War films, Horror Movies, and those who want to see Abrams and his company succeed in yet another experiment that has potential to spin-off to other sequels. I definitely would like to see more of these movies and adding some monsters and horror fare like in the vein of Cloverfield is always welcome. Big thanks to UIP Philippines and Columbia Pictures Philippines for bringing this movie to our shores! The film is now playing in cinemas around  the Philippines.

Rating - 4/5