I'M BACK! Updates, Cosplay, and Game Review: Spider-Man (PS4)

Yes folks... I'm BACK and with a video game review to highlight that fact! After a brief hiatus and reevaluation of things in the past few months, I've decided to blog ever so often rather than force it on a daily basis (see my news site Pop Culture Crusader). As it is, I've gotten so busy with work, cosplaying, and multitasking on a lot of things can only been done so much, and it's time to give myself a bit of break on putting pressure on myself to blog on a daily basis... But here I am again missing the blogsphere and writing again as I prepare for my next set of adventures! I'll try to be more active on this site with my personal entries aside from movie and game reviews - so that being said: here we go with the first entry in a while!

Movie Review: Ant-Man and The Wasp

Sometimes it pays to be the little guy among the bunch of heavy hitting superheroes with their own movies, and in the case of Marvel Studios' 2015 film "Ant-Man" - the gamble to introduce a size-changing superhero who also happens to be the creation of Stan "The Man" Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby paid off in spades when it was introduced as a concept that was part superhero flick/ part heist movie. Originally under the direction of Edgar Wright, the "Ice Cream Trilogy" director also wrote the screenplay alongside Joe Cornish. However, Rudd left the project in 2014 due to creative differences - with Peyton Reed stepping in to take over directing duties and bringing the final product to the big screen on July 2015. Opening to critical acclaim and with veteran actor/ comedian Paul Rudd emerging as a hilarious and awesome casting choice for the main role alongside a stellar supporting cast that includes Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, and Michael Douglas, a sequel was definitely happening... And it has finally arrived in theaters!

Thanks to Walt Disney Studios Philippines and Marvel Philippines, I got to see the aptly titled sequel "Ant-Man and The Wasp" last week - which brings Peyton Reed back in the director's seat and Rudd and Lilly reprising their roles as the titular Pym Particle using heroes. With a great balance of action, drama, and comedy, this is one Marvel Cinematic Universe film that definitely deserves to be put out there following the emotional impact of the previous MCU movie, Avengers: Infinity War. No spoilers will be served on this review of course... But I will say that this is an ASTONISHING SEQUEL. Here's my full review for the movie, which is now playing in theaters!

Movie Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

It's been three years since fans returned to the island of Isla Nublar and saw a theme park with dinosaurs realized anew with "Jurassic World" - but like its predecessor "Jurassic Park" two decades ago, something amiss happens that causes any concept of controlling dinosaurs to be overruled and the human made attraction piece destroyed in the process. It took guts to retell Steven Spielberg's in a brand new film series that reignited interest in the franchise, but the 2015 was very successful and sequels were definitely going to happen as a result of that success.

Fast forward to 2018, and Spanish director J.A. Bayona takes over from fellow director Colin Trevorrow in continuing the story with the new follow-up called "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" - set exactly three years after the events of "Jurassic World" and seeing fans revisit the dinosaur inhabited island one last time as it faces the threat of destruction through volcanic eruption. Familiar faces return in Chris Pratt,  Bryce Dallas Howard, and even a cameo by veteran Jurassic Park movie star Jeff Goldblum - who reprises his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm. Naturally, there's more to just saving the dinosaurs and getting them off an island - as those with hidden agendas act on their own interests once again that sets up a formula for chaos and destruction because of man's own hubris and selfishness.

Thanks to UIP Philippines and Columbia Pictures Philippines, I got to see the film in IMAX 3D and it was simply another breathtaking experience to see all the dinosaurs in action - from the Tyrannosaurus Rex to Blue the Velociraptor! Much like its predecessors, Jurassic World falls on the category of giving viewers and dinosaur fans a chance to see these creatures brought to back life in the big screen millions of years after they became extinct. Does it hold up to its promise of bigger and better? Check out the review below!