M3GAN 2.0

Director - Gerard Johnstone (M3GAN, Housebound) 

Starring - Allison Williams (Get Out, Erased: The Murder of Elma Sands), Violet McGraw (M3GAN, The Haunting of Hill House), and Amie Donald (Sweettooth, M3GAN)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Miss me?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Blumhouse is often hit or miss with me.  Movies like Freaky, Happy Death Day, The Purge, and The Black Phone are just a few that I like.  However, it's not often that I cross paths with a Blumhouse flick that I actually enjoy.  They are known for doing quick cash grabs with bold titles from even bolder filmmakers.  Their films tend to fizzle out fairly early and extremely predictable.  A few years back they made waves among pop horror fans when they released M3GAN.  I was on the fence about the film but found myself actually enjoying it.  Hell, it was one of the few horror titles that my children actually enjoyed (they are kind of lame).  I was actually excited when news of a sequel broke and was looking forward to checking it out.  As soon as I could I hit play on it for review!

     The film once again follows Gemma (Williams) and her niece Cady (McGraw).  M3GAN had been destroyed and Gemma became an advocate for the usage of A.I. Cady is struggling with everything that has happened and no longer having M3GAN to help her cope with the loss of her parents.  When the military accidentally unleashes a trained assassin modeled after M3GAN, they both find themselves turning to M3GAN to save them when the new model has become self aware and Gemma could be her next target to destroy.

     M3GAN 2.0 abandons what made the first film so much fun for a more modern and sleek sci-fi feel that doesn't work.  Fans went into this one expecting more M3GAN with horror and was greeted with something completely different that not only disappoints but leaves a bad taste in the viewer's mouth.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  We are back with more unlikable characters especially the film's dual protagonists.  I found myself wanting the new sentient robot to take out Gemma and Cady through most of the film.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the cast but these characters are poorly written in my opinion and extremely unlikable.  I would much rather seen the film follow Cole and Tess over Gemma and Cady.  The story for this one abandons the horror element and goes for a more pop sci-fi vibe with some espionage scattered throughout.  The tone and style of the first film is what made it so much fun while the sci-fi aspect and predictability of the story makes this one a tough one to finish.  I'm always honest my reviews and this one is extremely tough to finish.  Finally, those looking for some blood and great effects will be very disappointed.  We get a lot of visual effects and a small body count but we don't get memorable deaths.  I went into this one expecting more fun kills and was very much let down.  Overall, M3GAN 2.0 feels almost like a joke played on the fans of the first film.  We have returning characters but nothing that made the first film so enjoyable returns in the sequel.  This is one I would highly recommend skipping.   

Babezilla vs Cyber Skanks: Rise of the Mechababezilla

Director - Andrew J. Chambers (After School Lunch Special, Babezilla vs. the Zombie Horde)

Starring - Stephanie Love (After School Lunch Special II: Sloppy Seconds, Bikini Car Wash), Jessa Flux (Curtains for Christmas, Crackcoon), and Kelsey Livengood (Attack of the Corn Zombies, Air Fryer Slaughter)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often that you find a sequel better than the original but it does happen.  While a lot of these are controversial, I stand by what I say.  Movies like T2: Judgement Day, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The Devil's Rejects, so several more are films that I find more enjoyable than the original.  A recently bought two films from Hobjob Productions to add to my October horror binge.  The first film was the horror comedy Babezilla vs the Zombie Whorde.  It had a fun fun moments but the overall film was a bit of a let down.  I followed that up with the second film which was the sequel Babezilla vs Cyber Skanks: Rise of Mechababezilla.  This follow up film was more enjoyable than the first.

     The film once again follows Babezilla (Love) who has used her popularity after the first film to break out in the adult film business.  However, twins to the original brothers from the first film that created the zombie whorde, wants revenge.  The create cyber skanks to defeat who and they complete their mission.  However, Babezilla is not down and out.  Her mother advizes her to find Master Beta to train her so she can beat the cyber menace and Mechababezilla.  

     There was a lot of things I liked about the first Babezilla film but so many scenes were unnecessary and it destroyed the film's pacing.  However, that is not the issue with the sequel.  The film has much better pacing and focuses more on the characters and not just one's sex appeal.  The acting in this one is consistent with the first.  Love once again stars and does a decent enough job but it's still evident that her career is mostly adult films and not genre flicks.  Her dialogue is a bit stiff...just like those watching her.  The supporting cast is just as sexy and offer up some campy acting that is fun especially for those of you that dig films like Psycho Ape and Death O'Lantern.  I see so many familiar faces and how a lot of them are not afraid to bare it all for a sleazy comedy.  The story for this one is a clear nod to Godzilla vs Mechgodzilla but with that Babezilla charm.  Honestly, it works for what it is.  The action is very funny, the actual comedy finds it's mark, and the film is not predictable at all.  I could see the saga of Babezilla continuing and it should.  Finally, the film has a lot of different effects.  We have more campy visuals, great costumes (who doesn't love busty robots), and a lot of deaths  While the film doesn't have the best practical effects, it is still able to deliver some unforgettable and rather imaginative deaths.  Overall, Babezilla vs Cyber Skanks is not going to be winning any awards but god damn is it fun.  This is the kind of money that you can pound a few beers or pop an edible and enjoy.  It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend checking this out on blu instead of the SFW edit on YouTube.  

Justice League: Warworld

Director - Jeff Wamester (Legion of Super-Heroes, Green Lantern: Beware My Power)

Starring - Jensen Ackles (The Boys, Supernatural), Ike Amadi (Primal, Trollhunters: Defenders of Acadia), and Troy Baker (Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Last of Us)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

While most of the movie world is busy arguing over the DC cinematic universe and the future that James Gunn has in store for us, I have been waiting on the DC animated movies to hit store shelves. While a few the last year or so were a but underwhelming, I still thoroughly enjoy them. A few weeks ago I was sent Justice League: Warworld for review. This was a title I was very unfamiliar with but a quick google opened me up to a world of characters and storylines I was oblivious about. Like always I want to thank WB and DC for sending this one over for review. 

    The film follows Diana Prince, Bruce Wayne, and Clark Kent who find themselves in various tales without their memories or how they got there. However, their quick wit and seeing familiar faces awakens some memories. Bruce Wayne, the world’s greatest detective, starts putting all the pieces together when he discovers he is on Warworld and Martian Manhunter is being imprisoned. Mongul is using his psychotic ability to control the entire plant but Lobo betrays him wanting control of the planet himself. While Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman is unconscious, they are saved by Harbinger who warns them of the impending Crisis. 

      Warworld is easily one of the best DC animated films I’ve reviewed in the last year or two. There is a few others that I enjoyed more than this one but it’s near the top in my honest opinion. It’s a story that we will never seen get a live action adaptation and I’m ok with that because this animated adaptation works. I know this review is going to catch hell in the comment sections of various social media platforms once this goes live because it’s not horror and so on but I don’t care. It was enjoyable and I look forward to any other DC animated film that is brought our way. The voice acting in this is fantastic. Jensen Ackles is the voice of Bruce Wayne and once again makes fan wish someone would hire him to don the cowl. He does a phenomenal job as the caped crusader and I look forward to other animated adventures with him cast. The rest of the voice casting is fantastic as well but Ackles is the star of the show in my opinion. The story for this one makes you think this is a series of shorts or an anthology but as each segments end we start to see the characters begin to remember each other. It’s the slow progression with each segment that starts to build the overall story. It was very effective and seeing a sci-fi noir, a sword and sandal fantasy film, and a classic western in the in the DC universe was very enjoyable. Finally, I loved the animation style. This is the type of animation that I truly enjoy. It’s more of a traditional approach that brought me into the DC animated universe to begin with. I don’t mind when they take on other styles of animation but this one is more my speed. Overall, Warworld is not the best of the animated DC films but it is one of the better ones. I loved the story and voice acting along with the return to the traditional animation style. I highly recommend this one.

M3gan

Director - Gerard Johnstone (Housebound, Terry Teo)

Starring - Allison Williams (Get Out, Horizon Line), Violet McGraw (Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House), and Ronny Chieng (Godzilla vs Kong, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Friendship as evolved"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Blumhouse is not a company that I closely follow but when they release something I do like I absolutely fucking love it. Movies like Black Phone, Freaky, and Happy Death Day are movies that I absolutely love while films like Paranormal Activity, Halloween, The Invisible Man are films that I could barely finish. With that being said, there is more films from Blumhouse that I don’t care for when compared to the ones I love so I tend not to get too excited when they announce a new project. When I originally saw the press release for M3gan I was a little unimpressed with it all. However, as more and more of the film was revealed I found myself just a little curious about the film. Prior to the film’s physical release I received a massive press kit with a lot of goodies and trinkets inspired by the film which did put me in the mindset to see it. When I was finally able to check it out I found myself impressed with it. I could see this being the beginning of a new franchise for horror fans. 

      The film follows a toy designer who is working with cutting edge technology and is under a tough deadline to deliver the next hit when she is assigned custody of her niece after her sister and husband die in an auto accident. She gets the idea to combine a prototype with AI to create a friend for children that helps them learn while giving the parents a bit of freedom. However, as M3gan learns more and more about what she really is and her connection to the little girl she finds herself crossing the line to protect her regardless of the body count she leaves in her path. 

      I went into M3gan expecting to find a dull remake of Child’s Play with a gender flipped doll. I was fully convinced that the story was centered around the production of the AI doll but the evil consciousness of one of the creators was transferred into it. I was wrong. The movie was very straight forward and gave us a more modern spin on the classic killer doll sub-genre that hasn’t been as fun since the Child’s Play franchise took over. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing where we will be going next because there is no way Blumhouse and the others involved will sleep on the popularity of this film. The acting in this one is probably the weakest aspect of the film. All of the characters are extremely annoying. They are unlikable from beginning to end and when the bloodshed finally hits you are fully prepared to watch them all die in the most gruesome fashion. The cast is one of the reasons behind this. The characters are very one dimensional and their performances are very lackluster. The lack of energy and intensity made most of the scenes have less of an impact on the viewer than it was intended. As much as I enjoyed this one I still found myself rolling my eyes during the death scenes or scenes with any sort of action due to the casts lack of commitment. The film would be one of my favorites in my collection if the cast would have gave viewers some characters that we could enjoy. The lack of personalities and likability really held this one back. The story for this one was nothing like I expected but did follow the trailer and marketing material. We follow a children’s companion with AI as it becomes self-aware and too close to her human. This results in several deaths associated with her and the company she was manufactured at. It was very modern and piggybacked off the idea that smart devices are becoming so prevalent relied upon that it makes sense it would eventually make it’s way to something like this. When you mix that with the broken family and rebuilding after the loss of a mother/sister and how they relied on the M3gan unit to repair them instead of bonding in a natural way. I really liked the story and how it was done I just wish some of the characters were likable. Finally, the film has some enjoyable deaths that fit the film wonderfully but they are not as imaginative as I would have liked. They are bloody, violent and work with the story very well but if you are looking for plenty of blood and gore then you will be very disappointed. With that being said, the visual effects are great and the practical, though limited, looked great as well. Overall, M3gan is not my favorite Blumhouse production but I liked it. The story has so much potential to become a classic horror franchise and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. Check it out.

Heavy Metal

Director(s) - Gerald Potterton (Cool McCool, Ghost Ship), John Bruno (Star Trek: Voyager, Virus), and John Halas (Midsummer Nightmare, Tales from Hoffnung)

Starring - Richard Romanus (Wizards, The Sopranos), John Candy (Blues Brothers, Uncle Buck), and Joe Flaherty (Back to the Future Part II, Happy Gilmore)

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Adventure/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Louder and nastier than ever"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was born several years after 1981's Heavy Metal was released.  I was born in 86 and grew up through the 90s.  Heavy Metal was before my time but for some reason I remember it becoming a topic of conversation among some of my friends in elementary school.  I think it was because someone had seen it on HBO or Cinemax one day and seeing animated tits made them want to tell their friends.  I can't remember how we were watching it but I remember telling my uncle, who was only a few years older than me, about the film and he showed it to me for the first time.  It was a fun watch but I struggle to see why it would have the following that it does.  Anyway, it has been several decades since my last viewing and when I saw that Umbrella Entertainment was releasing it on blu I decided now was the perfect time to revisit this one.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys.

     The film follows an extraterrestrial orb that is brought to Earth by an astronaut.  However, the orb kills him and then terrorizes his daughter with tales of it's evil exploits and the death and devastation it has left in it's wake.  

     Heavy Metal is a fun animate sci-fi bases anthology but it's one of those films that I just don 't see how someone could be obsessed with it.  It has a large following and the dedicated fanbase will protect the film at all costs.  I enjoyed it just fine but it's a movie that I can't re-watch without many years between each viewing.  The voice acting in this one features one hell of a cast with some names you would not expect to find in a sci-fi based anthology series with an early 80s metal soundtrack but we have some seriously heavy hitters like John Candy in this one.  Sadly, the voice acting lacks emotion for the most part and just feels like a quick table read was recorded and laid over the animation.  There is no real acting with the voice acting which makes most of the scenes feel a little awkward and cheap.  The stories for this one are so much fun.  They blend sci-fi with fantasy, adventure, horror, and so many other genres.  Most of the stories work and fit the theme of the film but the later segments do feel a bit rushed and uneven.  I don't know if they were missing their deadline or tossed in at the last minutes but they do lack the charm that the earlier segments have.  Finally, the film blends several different types of animation to create something visually beautiful.  There is some instances where I didn't care for the animation but most of the film does a fantastic job blending the different styles together.  Also, there is some animated gore and nudity for those of you in the mood for that.  Overall, Heavy Metal is enjoyable for a first time watch or if you are in the mood for something you haven't seen in awhile.  The Umbrella release, which is part of their Beyond Genres line, is great for collectors looking for something new to add to their shelves.  Check it out.  

The Great Yokai War

Director - Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition)

Starring - Ryunosuke Kamiki (Bloody Monday, Summer Wars), Hiroyuki Miyasako (The Laughing Policeman, Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial), and Chiaki Kuriyama (Battle Royale, Kill Bill Vol. 1)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Fantasy/Comedy/Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I originally received the Yokai Monsters Collection set from Arrow Video I was under the impression that it house four films from the late 60s and early 70s.  I had never seen these films before but the trailer for the films looked extremely fun.  That was the reason I reached out to MVD to see if I would review it.  While 100 Monsters, Spook Warfare, and Along with Ghosts were exactly what I expected.  I was surprised that the fourth film was more modern and was directed by legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike.  The film, The Great Yokai War, was a loose remake of Spook Warfare and my favorite film in the set.  It was absolutely amazing and I'm extremely grateful that it was included in the set.  Once again, I want to thank MVD and Arrow Video for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young boy who moves in with his grandpa in a new town.  During a festival he was chosen as kirin rider which is expected to protect the yokai, a group of ancient creatures and beings.  However, this could not come at the worst time as an evil man and his army of mechanical creatures ravage Japan in search of yokais that he uses to turn into his mechanical followers.  It's up to the kirin rider and the surviving yokais to stop the evil man and his mechanical abominations.

     The Great Yokai War is absolutely fantastic.  It's a fantasy adventure film for children but I found myself loving every minute of it.  It does try to capture that look and style of the original Yokai trilogy but it has a more modern influence.  Regardless, I thought it was absolutely fantastic and the highlight of this set.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters have just as much personality as the creatures which makes the scene way more enjoyable than the previous films in the set.  They are funny, full of energy, and work so well together.  Honestly, I loved the entire cast and the characters they portrayed.  I know there is a sequel and I seriously hope it features returning cast and characters.  The story for this one is a loose remake of Spook Warfare but it adds much more to the story.  As I stated earlier, this is a film aimed to children but I found it to be funny and very charming.  I loved how it used Spook Warfare as the basis for the film while building so much more to it.  It's a superhero movie that reminded me a lot of the Japanese super sentai shows and clones except it had Miike's touch and the Yokai Monsters influence.  You never know what to expect and the film progressed and the pacing is damn near perfect.  The film is over two hours long but it doesn't feel that way while watching it.  The writing is smooth and not lazy as the other films.  Finally, the film has plenty of make-up and practical effects along with some dated visual effects.  I loved the look of the yokai and really loved the cyberpunk look of the mechanical creatures but some a good bit of the scenes used some dated visual effects that just don't hold up well now.  It doesn't ruin the film but it is very noticeable.  Overall, The Great Yokai War is a must see for fans of Japanese cinema and those of you that grew up with shows like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and so on.  It's absolutely fantastic and you will not be disappointed.  I highly recommend it.  

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion

Director(s) - Hideaki Anno (Cutie Honey, Gamera 1999) and Kazuya Tsurumaki (Revival of Evangelion, The Dragon Dentist)

Starring - MEgumi Ogata (Vampire Princess Miyu, Hell Teacher Nube: The Movie), Megumi Hayashibara (Gundam vs Hello Kitty, Blue Exorcist), and Yuko Miyamura (Hyper Police, Spectral Force)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Neon Genesis Evangelion has really opened up the door for me to the world of anime.  Since I've started this weird and wild journey I've found myself creating a wishlist on Amazon and setting up queues on Hulu.  I seriously enjoyed the series and need more of this in my life.  When Shout Factory sent over the release I noticed that there was two film in the set.  After watching the series I quickly made my way to the first film and was very disappointed.  Read my review for that film if you want to know why.  This made me hesitant to watch the second film but curiosity got the best of me and I finally caved in.  It was solid but it was nowhere near as fun as the series.

     The film picks up with the Eva pilots who learn about a secret group within themselves hellbent on triggering a global killer known as the third impact.  As they fight to survive they uncover the true nature behind the Eva project and what the angels really are.

     The End of Evagelion is not as good as the series but it is leagues better than the abomination that was the first film.  I liked the direction that the film took but the writing just felt lazy.  There could have been so much more to this film than it was.  The voice acting follows right in line with the series.  The same cast returns to voice the characters from the series.  The voice acting isn't bad but a lot of the voices just doesn't match the characters that well.  I didn't hate it but the fact that the characters had voices that seemed a little silly did bring some of the scenes down.  The story for this one tries to fix the ending that was delivered in the show but it doesn't fully explore the idea it lays before us.  They either lost the budget for a second season or just didn't have the time to do it right but the film feels like such a missed opportunity.  I like where it when with solving the ending of the series and how half assed it was but it feels almost cheap.  Finally, the animation is in the same style as the series but not as bloody and oozy as the series.  IF you are looking for something a little darker then you will be disappointed.  Overall, The End of Evangelion is a superior film to the first and does a decent enough job at expanding the series but it still falls a bit short in my opinion.  The series had such a great idea and the movie only builds upon it but it doesn't go to the depths the series does.  It's worth a watch but don't expect a film as great as the show.   

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death (True)2

Director(s) - Hideaki Anno (Shin Godzilla, Gamera 1999), Masayuki (Revival of Evangelion, Manga Entertainment: The Art of Anime), and Kazuya Tsurumaki (The Dragon Dentist, Kill la Kill)

Starring - Megumi Ogata (Love Deeply, Tokyo ESP), Megumi Hayashibara (Pokemon: The First Movie, Pokemon), and Yuko Miyamura (Battle Royale, Berserk)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Earlier in the week I started my adventure of watching my first anime series.  A few weeks back Shout Factory, on behalf of their GKids label, sent over a review copy of their Neon Genesis Evangelion series.  I've never been into anime but I was open to it so I decided to watch it while I played Elden Rings.  Honestly, I found myself focusing more on the show than the game and eventually turned the game off to watch the show.  I fucking loved it and now have a massive cart full of animes to order from Amazon.  The release from GKids also included two films in with the special features.  As soon as I finished the series I quickly made my way to the special features to watch the two films.  The first was Death (True)2 from 1997.

     The "film" is an hour long retelling of the show consisting of segments from the show edited into a more condensed form.  

     What the fuck is this horseshit! I was fully prepared to dig into a feature length Neon Genesis Evangelion film but what I was given was a rehashing of the series.  If you needed a refresher on the show before watching a new movie then this one would have been pretty solid.  However, after just finishing the show and hitting play on this I have to say that I'm very disappointed.  The voice acting in this one is exactly what you get in the series because...it is episodes from the series trimmed down.  No need to really go in depth here because if you are reading this then your probably already read my review on the series.  The story for this one is, as I stated earlier, episodes from the show trimmed down to highlight the important parts.  The film is around an hour long so a lot of character development and arching themes from the series has been removed.  Finally, the animation is the same as the show but we don't get to enjoy a lot of the action and bloody moments like the series.  Overall, Death (TRUE)2 is a huge waste of time.  It's cool that it's part of the release but I would never recommend this one to anyone to watch.  It's a huge waste of time.  

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Creator - Hideaki Anno (Shin Godzilla, Gunbuster)

Starring - Megumi Ogata (Bleach, UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie), Megumi Hayashibara (Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon: MewTwo Returns), and Kotono Mitsuishi (Pokemon, Ghost Stories)

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "A new world. A new technology.  One last hope for salvation"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm not much of an anime fan.  I've tried to be more receptive of them in recent years but when I was younger I often avoided them.  I do love both Vampire Hunter D films but that is about the extent of my anime knowledge.  Several months back Shout Factory announced the release of 1995's Neone Genesis Evangelion on blu.  I wanted to explore some animes so I decided to check this one out.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I wasn't able to spin it right away but as I found myself obsessed with Elden Ring I decided to multi-task and finally break out the series.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.  

     The show takes place many years after a group of giant beings known as Angels wiped out most of humanity.  The surviving humans have grouped together in giant cities that can be driven underground in the case of an angel attack.  To fight the angels, scientists have build giant mechs known as Evas that are piloted by teenagers that are synchronized with the machines.  With their very existence on the line they still find time to worry about the normal teenager things like love, maturity, family, and so on.

     I'm very surprised by how much I actually liked this show.  It was a lot of fun even though it sizzles out by the last two episodes.  Hell, I liked it so much that I may start checking out some other animes now.  Who knew that Neon Genesis Evangelion would be a gateway anime?  The voice acting in this one is one of the few aspects of the show that I didn't like.  The voices didn't match all the characters in my opinion while others were perfectly cast.  This was very inconsistent and made the show have some unintentionally awkward scenes dude to the dialogue.  If the voice cast matched the characters then the scene and the series would have been just a little more enjoyable.  The story for this one is a lot of fun but it feels like the writing became lazy or they just gave up during the last leg of the show.  With that being said, I fucking loved the back story, the betrayal, and the mechs.  It's a great sci-fi action series with some seriously impressive lore.  I know there is two films that follow the series and I can't wait to spin them.  Finally, the animation is great.  We get some blood, a lot of awesome fight scenes, and some light gore.  Genre fans, especially those open to anime, will greatly appreciate this.  Overall, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a fantastic series that may spark a love for anime if you were not a fan already.  I highly recommend grabbing this release from Shout Factory as part of their GKids line.  

Superman: The Complete Animated Series

Creator(s) - Joe Shuster (Peacemaker, Krypton), Jerry Siegel (Harley Quinn, Supergirl), and Bob Kane (Titans, The Death of Superman)

Starring - Tim Daly (The Sopranos, Justice League: Doom), Dana Delany (Tombstone, Camp Hell), and Clancy Brown (SpongeBob SquarePants, Dexter: New Blood)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The last son of Krypton" 

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in elementary school I was on a one way ticket to horror when I discovered the Goosebumps and it's cheaper clones like Shivers and Deadtime Stories.  However, I was a typical kid as well and loved shows like Batman Beyond, The X-Men, and the wildly more popular Superman: The Animated Series.  This show was huge at my school and I'm sure it was just as popular at every school across the world.  I absolutely loved it and remember snagging episode collections on VHS when I would visit stores like K-Mart and so on.  It was a huge part of my childhood but as I got older and the show was no longer airing on cable I found myself completely forgetting about it until I received a press release from Warner Bros. about the blu release.  I couldn't pass up this trip down memory lane so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  I had been sitting on it for a few weeks but after a tiring work week last week I decided to spend my Sunday relaxing and revisiting this classic series!

     The series follows Clark Kent, who was born Kal-el on Krypton, who is sent to Earth as an infant when his planet was destroyed.  The sun gives him super strength along with other unbelievable abilities and he uses those to save Metropolis and, on occasion, the world. 

     Superman: The Animated Series was a top tier animated show when I was a kid.  I had so many different toys from this series and would often trade then with other kids at school.  Everyone, regardless of socio-economic standing or background, had toys from this show, and a lot of them were rocking shirts, backpacks, lunchboxes, and so on.  It's was a popular series that would only be overtaken by the likes of NWO and Goosebumps.  It was great to revisit it and show my kids this show even though they had no interest in.  My daughters are typical girls who don't care about superheroes and my son only like dinosaurs.  They might not have enjoyed it but I had a blast.  The voice acting in this one is just as entertaining now as it was the first time I watched these episodes.  Tim Daly is great as the voice of Clark Kent and Clancy Brown is Lex Luther in my opinion.  The supporting cast fit their characters very well but these two make the show for me and their work here is fucking legendary.  I know Brown is mostly known for SpongeBob now but he's fucking amazing as Luther.  The story for this one spends two episodes on his origin story before spinning into classic encounters and adventures.  Some are new to animation while others are retelling of now famous encounters and struggles.  Honestly, each episode is great and it's hard to find some that just wasn't fun.  It was great story telling that I think is fun for all ages.  Even as an adult I was finding themes, like organized crimes and so forth, that went over my head as a child.  Finally, the animation is fantastic and almost iconic now.  It's similar to Batman Beyond in looks but the style of Superman combines that classic 50s and 60s "retro futuristic" style with modern settings.  I absolutely adore the look of this series.  Overall, Superman: The Animated Series is essential viewing for millennials and fans of the modern DC animated films.  It's fucking fantastic and a must own for collectors!  I highly recommend it.  

Star Trek: Discovery Season Three

Creator(s) - Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Star Trek: Voyager) and Alex Kurtzman (Clarice, Tales from the Darkside)

Starring - Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time..), David Ajala (Doctor Who, The Dark Knight), and Blu del Barrio (The Ready Room)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi/Adventure

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last week or so I've been spending all my spare time watching Star Trek: Discovery.  As I stated in my season one review, I wasn't the most avid Star Trek fan but I do enjoy most of the series and films that I've seen with Picard rekindling that spark.  However, Discovery is a new obsession that I'm struggling to kick.  Hell, I even took personal time from work to watch season and three.  After binging the third season I have to admit that I'm still obsessed with the series but the third season is the weakest so far.  It's not bad but it's not as riveting and indulging as the first two seasons.

     This season begins with Michael (Martin-Green) and the crew of the Discovery 900 years into the future.  The Federation is just a fraction of it's former self after a catastrophic disaster where ships carrying dilithium crystals exploded killing millions.  Many planets under the Federation has left blaming them for the cause.  Now ships are struggling with space travel due to the lack of dilithium.  Michael and the rest of the Discovery crew set out to uncover the real cause of the event, known as The Burn, to clear the Federation's name in order to bring peace and preservation back to the galaxy.

     Discovery has some seriously dedicated fans along with Star Trek fans that dislike the show for trying to shoehorn itself into Star Trek mythos.  I understand where the second people are coming from but I fucking love this show.  This particular season doesn't really try to force itself into existing Star Trek mythology and creates it's own.  I liked it but it does struggle a bit.  The acting in this one is consistent with the other two seasons.  The characters are unforgettable and the cast dives deep into their roles.  It's hard to see where the acting ends and the character begins.  I love the casting and the new characters introduced has just as much personality as the existing characters.  A lot of great casting and writing went into this.  The story for this season does step away from the bright future and happy endings of the previous seasons to a more bleak and unpredictable future where the Federation and what it once stood for is now in question.  I did like this direction but it does take a long time for it to pick up.  In fact, it doesn't really pick up until the 10th or 11th episode.  While it does a great job at creating character and story development but the action doesn't really pick up until the later episodes.  Finally, the film is still as visually stunning as the first two seasons. We get fantastic make-up effects, amazing sets and wardrobe, and the visuals are outstanding.  Overall, season three is still an amazing season but it does lack that kick that the first two seasons had.  I highly recommend it.  

Star Trek: Discovery Season One

Creator(s) - Bryan Fuller (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dead Like Me) and Alex Kurtzman (Sleepy Hollow, The Mummy)

Starring - Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead, Space Jam: A New Legacy), Doug Jones (Hellboy, Crimson Peak), and Anthony Rapp (Dazed and Confused, Adventures in Babysitting)

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Tagline - "At the edge of the universe, discovery begins"

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm not the most avid Star Trek fan but I did spend a good bit of my childhood watching reruns with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  We mostly watched the original series but I've spent my fair share of time watching Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.  In recent years I've become obsessed with the new Star Trek trilogy along with the newer series.  Over the last few years I've been lucky enough to review the first season of Picard and Lower Decks.  Both are fantastic series that takes on on different parts of the Star Trek universe.  I had heard of Star Trek: Discovery before as well but I had never had the chance to see it until I was sent the first three seasons for review.  While I was on Thanksgiving vacation I decided to tackle it and it was a fantastic show.  

     This season follows Michael (Martin-Green) who is raised by a Vulcan and his human wife after her family was killed by Klingons.  He raises her to use logic over emotions which serves her well when she enlists in the federation.  However, she is headstrong and her impulses leads to the death of her captain and a war between the Klingons.  Six months passes and she is transported to the Discovery to help the captain while she is in prison for treason.  This leads them on several missions before the entire vessel finds themselves in a parallel universe where the federation is an empire that kills all alien species.  

      I'm loving the new Star Trek series.  Picard was fantastic and visually stunning while Lower Decks was the Star Trek for fans of adult animation.  Discovery was just as visually stunning but the story and characters are the part that is the most compelling.  I absolutely loved it and couldn't stop binging it.  This is not your typical Star Trek series but it does feel like Star Trek.  The acting in this one is nothing short of brilliant.  The series features so many amazing cast members that has made a name for themselves in horror and sci-fi.  We have Doug Jones who is known for his work with Guillermo del Toro along with Sonequa Martin-Green from The Walking Dead, Anthony Rapp from Dazed and Confused, Shazad Latif from Black Mirror and Penny Dreadful, and Jason Isaacs from the Harry Potter series.  Also, the film brings several new faces that I was unfamiliar with and everyone delivers unforgettable performances.  Discovery did bring Mary Wiseman to my attention who is now my new crush.  The story for this one is exactly what you would expect from Star Trek.  The story is fully submerged in the federation but we get other aspects from various other series like the Vulcans, Klingons, and other fan favorites.  With that being said, the story takes us through parallel dimensions, war, and the federation hierarchy.   I fucking loved it and couldn't look away even if I tried.  Finally, the series is absolutely beautiful. The visual effects are top notch and never show a sign of weakness while the make-up and creature effects were great as well.  Overall, season one of Discovery is an unforgettable and an important part of television history.  I highly recommend this for any sci-fi and Star Trek fan.  

Injustice

Director - Matt Peters (Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War)

Starring - Justin Hartley (Smallville, Robot Chicken), Anson Mounts (Inhumans, Star Trek: Discovery), and Laura Bailey (Guardians of the Galaxy, Constantine: City of Demons)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Gods among us!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     DC has created a mess with their live action films but they have a thing or two to show Marvel when it comes to their animated efforts.  A few years ago I was turned on to the DC animated universe and I've been hooked ever since.  Most, if not all, were seriously fun films that I love revisit often.  A few months back I received the press release for the newest animated film Injustice.  This was one I was extremely excited about so I kept a close eye on the release.  As the release date approached I was quick to request a copy and a few days later a review copy of the film arrived on UHD.

     The film follows Superman on a different Earth that is forced to accidentally kill Lois Lane and her unborn child after the Joker arrives in Metropolis.  Grieving and heartbroken, he kills Joker and decides to use his powers to force peace on the world.  The Justice League is divided on his decision to police the world.  Wonder Woman and Cyborg stands behind Superman while Green Arrow, Batman, Plastic Man, and other appose him.  As Superman and his followers police the world, Batman and the others work on a way to stop Superman before it's took late.

     I was extremely excited to check out Injustice and the artwork for the film only peaked my curiosity.  I enjoyed it but it's predictable which does take away from the impact of the story.  I really did enjoy it but I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The voice acting in this one is great.  The cast's voice really fits the characters they were portraying.  These characters are iconic and fans have seen so many different voice actors portray them but I believe Injustice has probably been the best acted animated DC film I have seen to date.  With that being said, no one really stands out.  Everyone is on the same level which makes each scene work for the story without having someone steal the scene.  The story for this one set on another Earth and follows Superman who has embraced his power and turned into a world policing force where he bring about peace regardless of how many people die as a result.  This story is scary to think about but after watching Superman: Red Son and Brightburn it no longer has the same impact as it would have if it was released a few years ago.  Also, the film is rather predictable which also takes away some of the fun of the story.  Finally, the animation looks great and in line with the recent DC animated films.  Nothing really stands out but it looks good and works for the film.  Overall, Injustice is very enjoyable and a little unnerving considering the storyline.  I really enjoyed it but I feel that this film was a little too late and a few years passed a time that it would have worked in it's favor.  I highly recommend it.  

Commando Ninja

Director - Benjamin Combes (The Last Human in the Milky Way, Hopkins)

Starring - Eric Carlesi (Spotter's Rift, Wendigo), Philippe Allier (Exodust: Sick World as Legacy, PTOLOMEA), and Stephane Asensio 

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "More destructive than a commando, more deadly than a ninja, he is the...commando ninja"

Format- Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I can already hear the keyboard warriors crying over this not being a horror flick but after a month long horror binge for Halloween I'm feeling a little burned out.  After spinning he Peekarama Fantasm double feature I decided to keep the non-horror going.  This time I turned my focus on a Vinegar Syndrome partner label release with Commando Ninja from ETR Media.  This looked like the perfect cheesy action flick that I needed right now.

     The film follows Vietnam veteran John (Carlesi) who lives a reclusive life of peace and tranquility.  That is until his ex-wife is murdered and his daughter is taken by ninjas who are controlled by a crime lord who is using time travel to build an army to take over the world.  Now John, who vowed to never kill again, goes on a murder rampage through space and time to retrieve his daughter from the evil crime lord and his ninja henchmen.

     I was extremely excited to check this one out and it was a lot of fun.  However, it wasn't as wild as I was hoping.  I laughed and enjoyed myself but I can point you in the direction of several more films that do what Commando Ninja does but better.  The acting in this one is campy and extremely cheesy but it's fun.  The cast knows the films that this film is parodying or paying homage to and fully dives into all the cliches and stereotypes that makes those 80s action flicks so much fun.  It does kind of wear thin as the film moves on but I wouldn't call it bad.  The story for this one is pure nostalgia where we get 80s pop culture, gaming, music, and fashion mixed in with action, war, and post-apocalyptic films which is a lot of fun.  With that being said, some of the scenes are painfully drawn out and dull.  I enjoy the great lengths the film goes to deliver on that wild and over the top story that made director to video late 80s and early 90s action films were but the long scenes were difficult to follow.  Also, I feel as if this one stretches a fun idea a little too long.  Kung Fury, a short that is very similar to this one, knows that it didn't have enough material to run the length of a feature length film and Commando Ninja should have followed their example.  Finally, the film has plenty of effects.  We get some blood, solid visuals, not so solid visuals, and so much fucking gore especially in the later portion of the film.  Those of you with an eye for the red stuff will really enjoy the last 15 or 20 minutes of the film.  Overall, Commando Ninja is a lot of fun and a movie I would highly recommend pairing with Kung Fury and Manborg.  It's a lot of fun but I feel as if it was a little overdone especially by this point.  Regardless, it's well worth a watch.  Check it out.       

     

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

Director - Ethan Spaulding (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, Scooby-Doo: Return to Zombie Island)

Starring - Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter, Quarantine), Joel McHale (Deliver Us from Evil, Stargirl), and Ike Amadi (What If...?, Wizards)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Fantasy/Action

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Warner Bros. has been absolutely killing it with their animated releases.  Over the last few years their DC animated films have been nothing short but amazing.  A few were just good but a majority of them were films that really stuck with me.  Sometime back they tackled the Mortal Kombat film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge.  This was a surprisingly bloody and a very enjoyable film.  When I saw that Scorpion's Revenge director Ethan Spaulding was helping another MKL installment I was all about it.  When it was close for the physical release I reached out to WB and they were kind enough to send the film over on UHD to review.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows Lord Raiden and Shao Kahn who agree to visit the elder gods to propose one last mortal kombat for the fate of the Earth realm.  The elder gods agree and a new mortal kombat is held.  While this is going on we have Scorpion and the new Sub-Zero as they fight off the new cyborgs of the Lin Kuei as they try to resurrect the mad god who wants to bring an end to all the realms.

     Battle of the Realms has started something with me that I hope I get to see be continued.  Scorpion's Revenge was a great animated film but Battle of the Realms has really pulled me into MK storyline and I hope that WB continues with these films with more backstories, spinoffs, and sequels.  The voice acting in this one works.  I really enjoyed the range a lot of the cast provided to the characters and how their voices really fit the character.  Honestly, no one really stands out but everyone does a fantastic job with their iconic characters.  The story for this one put some of our favorite MK characters in the middle of yet another MK tournament but that is not the full extent of the story. We get a much bigger story to prevent repetitiveness along with some fun backstories for other MK characters.  The film does get a little too talky at times but the action more than makes up for the slower scenes.  Finally, the animation for the film looks great.  To make the film even more enjoyable is we get some extremely gruesome and graphic death scenes that look great.  Thee are the type of kills that you can only get from an animated flick but they are very enjoyable.  Overall, Battle of the Realms was a great MK film and one that I hope inspired WB to follow up with more MK flicks.  I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see what they bring us next.  Check it out.  

Transformers: The Movie

Director - Nelson Shin (My Little Pony, Dennis the Menace in Mayday for Mother)

Starring - Orson Welles (History of the World: Part 1, Shogun), Robert Stack (1941, Airplane!), and Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek, The Outer Limits)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Tagline - "Beyond good, beyond evil, beyond your wildest imagination"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was born in 1986 and lived through the end of the 80s and up through the 90s.  I'm a product of the 90s but I'm very much obsessed with the 80s.  When I was little, around 5 or so, my uncle introduced me to the cartoons he watched in the early 80s.  Cartoons like He-Man and Transformers.  He-Man is a phenomenal show but the Transformers really stuck with me.  So much so that I'm still slightly obsessed with it to this day.  I was in middle school when I first saw Transformers: The Movie and it absolutely gutted me.  Watching my favorite Transformers die was gutwrenching but I still loved the movie.  I bought the DVD when it was released and still toss it in on occasion.  When Shout Factory announced the UHD release of the movie I had to jump on it to revisit.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows the Autobots who are waging a war with the evil Decepticons for control of the planet Cybertron.  As their war wages on they find themselves outnumbers and outgunned.  To make matters worse, a giant planet eating robot names Unicron has set it's sight on Cybertron and the keeper of the Matrix of Leadership.  The last surviving Autobots flee Cybertron to regroup while Unicron transformers dying Decepticons, including Megatron, into heralds of his own chaos to hunt down the Autobots.

     Transformers: The Movie crushed the childhood of so many children when it was released.  I was late to the party by sometime when I finally watched it but the impact was still the same.  It's a phenomenal film but that story line really hits viewers, especially Transformer fans, extremely hard.  The 80's was the decade for Saturday morning cartoons and a lot of those cartoons founds themselves landing several movies like My Little Ponys: The Movie, Masters of the Universe, and so on but Transformers: The Movie has everything fans of the cartoons of the time could ask for.  The voice acting in this is leagues above the animated series.  We have Orson Welles voicing one of the biggest animated villains in cartoon history along with Leonard Nimoy knocking it out as Megatron's upgrade Galvatron.  Robert Stack tackles Prime's replacement Ultra Magnus while Judd Nelson voices my favorite of the G2 Transformers, Hot Rod.  We get some familiar voices returning for the original run of Transformers but the new additions are what sticks out the most.  The story for this one brings out a wide range of emotions.  The point of the film was to transition American audiences from the first generation of Transformers and the toy line to the second generation.  This G2 run included Unicron, Hot Rod, Galvatron, Kup, and others while ending fan favorites like Starscream, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and so on.  While this made sense from a marketing standpoint it was crushing to many fans as they watched their favorite characters die.  Aside from that, the film is an absolute blast.  We have so many new characters with memorable personalities along with a lot of action on a much bigger scale than the show.  Finally, the animation is better in some aspects than the show.  This is the UHD release so you can expect to see some great imagery as colors pop and a lot of the more darker scenes are much more enjoyable with this release.  I know the DVD release I've had for some time had some dark scenes that forced me to adjust the brightness a few times during my many viewings.  Overall, Transformers: The Movie is one that has stuck with me for many years and still delivers.  I wasn't around during the film's initial release but I can only imagine how hard it hit fans.  This is a must own release from Shout Factory that I highly recommend you grab.  It's essential for fans of Transformers.