Movie Review: Lightyear (Non-Spoiler Review)

Ever wondered what was the story behind Toy Story’s best-selling space themed toy Buzz Lightyear? Me too and a million other Toy Story fans who grew up watching the original Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios animated film - and at long last this month we finally get the answer to that burning question that’s been festering for nearly three decades! Lightyear - the animated spin-off movie that focuses on the legendary space ranger and his origin story has arrived in theaters, and providing the voice of the character himself is none other than hot shot Hollywood star and Captain America actor Chris Evans!

Thanks to Walt Disney Studios PH, Stratworks, and SM Cinema, I got to see this amazing animated adventure for the whole family at SM Megamall’s IMAX theater in glorious 3D! It was definitely an experience, and this film needs to be seen by those who enjoy Pixar films, space adventures, and of course the story of the man himself, Buzz Lightyear!

Here’s some photos from the premiere - which happened on June 11 Saturday and had some friends cosplaying as Buzz and space rangers!

After the jump, I’ll share my short thoughts and opinions about this animated adventure - which opens today in cinemas around the Philippines! This is non-spoiler and no details about the plot will be discussed, so dive right in!

Movie Review: Top Gun: Maverick

 

"Top Gun" was one of the most impactful movies to come out of the 1980's - a film that not only blended style, action, romance, and adrenaline into a story about naval aviators learning of aerial combat, but also introducing the world to an up and coming Tom Cruise alongside a star-studded cast that includes Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Meg Ryan. While this Tony Scott directed movie received generally mixed reviews from critics upon its release on May 16, 1986, it was a commercial success and remains one of the most popular action drama films of all time. This reverence coupled with interest on a follow-up got Tom Cruise, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Paramount Pictures to work on a sequel, and the aptly titled "Top Gun: Maverick" finally soars into theaters worldwide starting this week!

Thanks to UIP Movies Philippines, Paramount Pictures PH, and SM Cinema, I was invited to watch the highly anticipated blockbuster on IMAX at SM Megamall this past May 20th - and this film is absolutely A MUST WATCH in that format. Tom Cruise makes no exception on his skills as an actor and action star, and he delivers a cinematic experience like no other that pays in spades and gives Top Gun enthusiasts the follow-up they've long dreamed about.

After 36 long years since the release of the original and people listening to the adrenaline rush filled soundtrack that includes Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone" and Harry Faltermeyer's epic Top Gun Anthem theme, Tom Cruise and team deliver a product that is leaps and bounds the definition of a perfect sequel and then some. The audience was captivated by the aerial dogfights, the nostalgia of seeing an older Maverick passing on his teachings to a new generation of Top Gun pilots, and an actual story that fans new and old can relate to and feel good about from start to finish.

So without further ado and putting the SPOILER WARNING up, here's my review for Top Gun: Maverick - one of the BEST action movies and Tom Cruise films I've ever seen!

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (NON-SPOILER Reveiw)

 

One of the most fascinating things about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that it continues to grow and push the boundaries of what we can expect not just from Marvel Studios movies - but the superhero genre and Hollywood cinema as a whole. As everyone slowly returns to a sense of normalcy while also learning to live with the pandemic, our side of the world finally gets the return of Marvel films released on the same week as the US! Being an international release we get it a few days early - and the very first MCU movie for 2022 is none other than the long awaited Doctor Strange sequel and next Phase 4 installment in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”!

Thanks to the folks at Marvel Philippines, Walt Disney Studios PH, and SM Cinema - my friends and I got to see this highly anticipated Marvel movie - which is directed by Evil Dead and Spider-Man films director Sam Raimi and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange/ Doctor Strange, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong as Wong, Xochiti Gomez as America Chavez, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mordo, and Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer. The film continues plot threads established by past  installments such as Doctor Strange (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), WandaVision (2021), What If…? (2021), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), so there’s a lot of backtracking and watching to do if you haven’t been keeping up to date with Marvel Studios projects and want to be up to speed with what’s going on in the MCU.

This is a NON-SPOILER review for the film, so I won’t go into detail on what happens (and the internet has a tons of leaks), so if you plan to see this with fresh eyes stop here. Otherwise continue on and see what I think of this 28th film in the MCU!