Genre: Action, adventure, comedy, drama

Rated: 16

Directed by: Jake Schreier

Written by: Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo, Kurt Busiek

Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

B-vengers

Marvel continues to reform the comic book movie industry. There is every reason to do so, because in order to remain relevant and interesting for the audience, a change of the old formula is inevitable. While the current releases cannot match the success of the previous era, there is a strong sense of innovation on the side of the studio. With Thunderbolts, they have succeeded in offering something new to fans of the genre by using honest self-reflection as a source of inspiration, but with a much more mature approach and a serious tone.

Yelena (Florence Pugh) from The Black Widow is struggling to find her place in the world. Since her sister’s death, she’s been running errands for the O.X.E. group with no purpose. Her latest mission brings her into conflict with former members of the organisation. She soon discovers that the fate she’s been assigned by her employer is different from the one they agreed upon. With his newfound „allies”, he must stop their former boss, Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), while also confronting his own past. In the maelstrom of events, Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), also pays his respects, playing a special role in this chaotic situation.

Underneath the clichéd comic-book movie surface, Thunderbolts is a cathartic work that is mostly aimed at adults. Not because of the foul language of the heroes or the violence. But mainly because the themes it deals with are important and valid ideas for people in their late 20s, early 30s or older. Scenes that radiate a depressive mood of burnout and futility are virtuously replaced by humorous and absurd sections. In contrast to the repetition of a global threat, the story is much more personal, focusing on psychological aspects.

Despite the trailers promoting the movie as Marvel’s Suicide squad, that’s not the case. Some of the jokes are a bit more heavy-handed, but Thunderbolts is a much more emotional, empathetic piece of work. The film doesn’t lie to itself, and there’s plenty of time for action-packed, fast-paced sequences, so those looking for more of the same old entertainment can find it.

As usual, there’s an extra scene after the credits, so we recommend you stay until the end of the screening. We’re looking forward to your comments on the film. On the comic book movie front, July promises to be an exciting month, with the Fantastic Four from Marvel and the new Superman from DC. If you liked our article, please share it with others. Watch lots of films and series. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty movie and series-watching snack, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.

Genre: Sci-fi, thriller, adventure, drama

Rated: 14

Directed by: Ariel Kleiman, Janus Metz, Alonso Ruispalacios

Written by: Tony Gilroy, George Lucas, Tom Bissell, Beau Willimon, Stephen Schiff, Dan Gilroy

Starring: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Denise Gough, Genevieve O’Reilly

NOTE: This review refers to the first 3 episodes of the second season

The Star Wars universe expands further. In the time since the conclusion of the latest film trilogy, the creators have been characterized by a search for direction. Of the various stories, Mandalorian stands out for us, its western approach a familiar yet novel idea that quickly caught our imagination. Andor is an action-adventure for the older generation, mixed with some political thriller and drama.

The story continues to focus on the uprising against the Empire. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) faces internal conflicts and dissension among the rebels. Confusion is also growing among the leading politicians. Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) is forced to make increasingly difficult decisions to keep his spy network, which he has built up at great cost, together. As a member of the Galactic Senate, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) faces the increasingly nerve-wracking challenge of maintaining a semblance of loyalty to the Empire while secretly aiding the rebels.

Everything comes together for a good Star Wars series: exciting storylines, complex characters, action-packed scenes. Andor ranks among the better productions. The visuals and tone are serious, full of tension, and realistic. We visit diverse locations in the galaxy far, far away, some of which may be familiar from previous films and series. Already in the first three episodes, the harsh jungles of Yavin 4 appear, along with the luxurious Chandrila, home to political intrigues, and the agricultural planet Mina-Rau. The music selection is sometimes unusual, even including electronic tracks, which otherwise sufficiently enhances the atmosphere.

The aforementioned down-to-earth approach, while fitting well with the basic theme of the series, takes away an important characteristic of Star Wars: mythicism. There is a complete lack of fairy-tale like mystery, such as the omnipresent Force. There are no epic heights, just ordinary people fighting for their lives against the Empire machine that is ready to crush everything. Since this is part of the concept, it is ultimately acceptable, but could have been smuggled in to a minimal degree.

The episodes of Andor‘s second season so far have only set the stage for what is to come, but it has given us a promising opening. We will certainly continue to watch the new episodes and recommend them to you.

What series have you seen since the third trilogy? Are you waiting for the Mandalorian movie? We want your opinions in the comments. If you liked our article, share it with others. Watch lots of films and series. And if you want a delicious snack for watching movies and series, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.

Genre: Comedy, adventure, action

Rated: 12

Directed by: Jared Hess

Written by: Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener

Starring: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen

The latest cinematic trend to adapt computer and console games is conquering the industry. It was only a matter of time before the Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog movies were followed by Minecraft, which has sold more than 300 million copies since its release in 2011 and is now the best-selling video game in the world. So it’s no surprise that movie studios have seen the fantasy in it.

The story is really just an alibi for spending nearly two hours in the universe of virtual architecture. Steve’s (Jack Black) childhood dream comes true when he discovers mysterious building blocks in a mine that open a portal to the Overworld. In time, he becomes a master builder, moving routinely through the makers’ paradise. The complications begin when he discovers a portal to the Nether. He finds unexpected help from Garrett „The Garbage Man” (Jason Momoa), Dawn, the mobile zoo owner (Danielle Brooks), and Henry and Natalie, a pair of awkward siblings (Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers). They must defend the Overworld from the unknown threat, supporting each other.

A Minecraft movie has all the must-see visual elements that are typical of the game. Whether it’s different raw materials, plants or mobs. The plot is also rolled forward by the crafting as the most important gameplay component. Some of the jokes can make you laugh, and there are a few well-done gags among them. If we were to make a checklist of what should not be missing, we would not have a sense of lack based on what we saw.

The story and the sketchiness of the characters somewhat spoil our impression of the film. There is no doubt that the visuals are impeccable in recreating the look of the game, but we have the feeling that everything else has been subordinated to this goal. The story is predictable from the first five minutes, with no unexpected twists or even some emotional tension. There are also a lot of exaggerated, not well-written jokes in the film. The cast is not very interesting either. True, they at least meet the expectation of running around on the set. Momoa and Black overact their roles throughout, and you can quickly become bored with them. But the smaller ones in the screening were fun, and that is what counts after all.

How did you like the film? Do you agree with the academy’s decisions? What was your personal favorite? We look forward to your answers in the comments. We’ll be back soon with another recommendation. In the meantime, watch lots of movies and series, and if you like our content, share it with others. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a delicious snack for movie and series nights, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.

Genre: Thriller, sci-fi

Rated: 16

Directed by: Aoife McArdle, Ben Stiller

Written by: Dan Ericson

Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry

After a three-year break, another successful series has returned to streaming to ensure that home entertainment fans are not left without content. The conclusion of the first season alone left a lot of questions unanswered, but the sequel has added even more twists to the already complex storyline of Severance.

Mark (Adam Scott) has no difficulty separating work and personal life, as he has a unique workplace where a surgical procedure has essentially done it for him. Part of his personality is working in the office, and when the shift is over, a part of him is activated that has nothing to do but enjoy his free time. There is no passage between the parts of the self, and no memory to disturb this artificial balance. One day, however, a grain of sand gets into the machinery.

Severance is a sophisticated sci-fi thriller that makes the most of its creative, thought-provoking premise. After two seasons, the plot remains exciting, even if the story moves forward slowly. All the main characters are very realistic and believable, and the dialogues between them do not have a ‘scripted’ feel at all. That is why, while watching the series, we were curious about the background mystery, the thriller thread, but getting to know the characters was even more enjoyable. The other big plus was the visuals. The monotonous, depressing, grey milieu of Lumon Industries was brilliantly created with the greenish-blue-white colour scheme, the uniform corridors reminiscent of a labyrinth, and the monochrome displays of the cathode-ray tube monitors. A coherent, well considered atmospheric design defines the whole series.

A common mistake in mystery series is to ask the audience too many questions at once, to obscure too many details. The more patient can remember what they have seen, but if they are frustrated in the short term by not understanding what is going on, they can easily lose their enthusiasm. This is the feeling we had with the second season. A more gentle dose of mystery would have made the episodes easier for us to enjoy. The previously mentioned strengths were enough to keep us going, but they will not be enough for the sequel.

Severance became even more complicated and mysterious for the second season. Its rating will depend largely on how much its viewers like watching something that prompts them to investigate. Those who like twisty, unpredictable stories may find it a real treat, while others may find it boring after a few episodes. Give it a try and see if you get lucky, and it meets your taste.

How did you like the film? Do you agree with the academy’s decisions? What was your personal favorite? We look forward to your answers in the comments. We’ll be back soon with another recommendation. In the meantime, watch lots of movies and series, and if you like our content, share it with others. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a delicious snack for movie and series nights, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.

Genre: Historical drama

Rated: 18

Directed by: Brady Corbet

Written by: Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold

Starring: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce

The Aesthetics of Concrete

On the first Sunday of March, the 97th Academy Awards took place, and they were not without surprises. While most people found The Brutalist and Emilia Perez to be the frontrunners, it was Anora that ultimately took home the award for Best Picture. The competition was tight, and overall, the awards were well-deserved. Among the winners, The brutalist became our favorite.

Hollywood continues to create great productions, but it is relatively rare to see ambitious projects like director Brady Corbet’s new work. The first thing everyone says about the film is its length. Indeed: at 3.5 (!) hours long, it will put most people off watching it. We sat down in front of it with similar feelings of disapproval, but our opinions on the subject have become more balanced. We have seen a lot of movies recently that we thought were completely unreasonable to cut to more than 2 hours. For example, the latest chapter in the Toretto clan, Fast X, stretched unnecessarily to nearly 150 minutes, but even Scorsese’s latest directorial effort, Killers of the Flower Moon, was needlessly stretched to 210 minutes. The brutalist, however, belongs to the lineage of grandiose stories spanning multiple decades, like Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, or even There Will Be Blood.

László Tóth (Adrien Brody), an architect, escapes the horrors of World War II from his homeland, Hungary, to the United States. The hope of a new life comes when a wealthy factory owner, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), commissions him to build a grand community center. László gets the opportunity to recover from his traumas and, through his employer’s connections, reunite with his wife, Erzsébet (Felicity Jones), who remained in Europe, and his niece, Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy). However, in exchange for this generous offer, he must pay a heavy price.

The brutalist was awarded three Oscars, and each one was well-deserved. Adrien Brody has not been this powerfully present on screen since The Pianist. He portrays a man bearing the pain of the past, feeling alienated and escaping into addictions, with complete naturalness. Although Felicity Jones did not receive separate recognition, her performance is just as fantastic as Brody’s. She plays a supportive, strong woman who overcomes the horrors she faced with her emotional intelligence. The music provides a mechanical, monotonous background, but the main theme is rich in emotion. The cinematography and camera work are top-notch. It is almost unbelievable that despite the low budget, the film is full of such wonderfully visual scenes.

There are only a few negatives that we must mention. Mr. Van Buren could have received more attention. While Pearce performed admirably, his character deserved more development. This is mainly because key moments in the story are connected to him, and we did not get to know his personality and motivation thoroughly enough. The other problem is that Zsófia was almost entirely sidelined. With the presence of more experienced stars, there wasn’t enough opportunity to get to know her better.

Due to its extensive runtime, it is only shown in cinemas on a few occasions. If you have the time, feel free to attend a screening. It is an excellent drama with great performances, which is outstanding in both visual and musical aspects. Most copies include a 15-minute intermission, making it more comfortable to watch. For those who find this experience too much for one day, it will soon be available for streaming.

How did you like the film? Do you agree with the academy’s decisions? What was your personal favorite? We look forward to your answers in the comments. We’ll be back soon with another recommendation. In the meantime, watch lots of movies and series, and if you like our content, share it with others. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a delicious snack for movie and series nights, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.