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.

A Minecraft movie will be truly enjoyable for those with a connection to the original content. But for those who have never been attracted to digital building, the movie version is unlikely to appeal. Based on the opening weekend, the production has already been a huge financial hit, so although we have reservations about the quality, the numbers are proving the makers right in terms of success.

Thank you for reading our recent article. If you’ve seen the film, write us a comment and describe how you left the cinema. As a player, did you imagine it to be like this? Did you wish for a similiar adaptation? All feedback is welcome. We’ll be back with another review soon. In the meantime, watch lots of movies and series, and make a big bowl of delicious POPZ Popcorn to go with it!