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Masters of the Universe (2026) Trailer - Review

2026-01-26T14:45:00.008+05:30

In the continuing revival of 80s properties, we get our first look at the upcoming He-Man film. From casting to production design, the trailer suggests a project that understands both the mythology and the escapist spirit that has made the franchise so beloved across multiple generations of fans.

Check out the trailer below:

I am liking the casting so far. The central trio — He-Man, Teela, and Skeletor — stand out immediately. He-Man carries the physical presence and heroic gravitas expected of the character, while Teela comes across as capable, grounded, and emotionally anchored to the world around her. Skeletor, meanwhile, oozes menace and looks like he means business. Together, they give the impression of characters who belong in a mythic conflict rather than a purely nostalgic revival. All three look and breathe the part.

Visually, the trailer leans heavily into world-building. The sets, costumes, and props reflect a deliberate attempt to make Eternia feel expansive and tactile. Guy Hendrix Dyas (Inception, Superman Returns and X2:X-Men United) seems to be delivering his best work yet.

A notable moment features Teela piloting a hovercraft with Adam as a passenger, underscoring his unfamiliarity with this larger world and its advanced technology. Plus Adam reunites with his mother. All these aspects reminded me of Aquaman and I am hoping that these actors will do a better job with their roles.

The science-fiction elements are handled with clarity and scale, once again evoking comparisons to the underwater kingdoms of Aquaman.

Musically, the score in the trailer is serviceable and supports the imagery without overpowering it.

I obviously liked the much expected “I have the Power” scene.

The only thing that bothered me is the look of Cringer. Hopefully the movie will deliver once he transforms into Battle Cat.

This trailer managed to hold my attention at a time when most others have failed. If the final film can capture the pure joy of adventure, optimism, and the heroic spectacle that has always defined He-Man at its best, it may well deliver the kind of pure escapist entertainment that the property and the fans deserve.

Image Sources: Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Releasing International

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Alien: Earth Episodes 1 and 2 - Review

2025-08-16T22:49:00.003+05:30

Noah Hawley, the creator of the 2014 FX series Fargo, has created this latest installment in the long running Alien media franchise.

In the year 2120, the USCSS Maginot, a Weyland-Yutani research vessel, returns to Earth after a 65-year mission to collect extraterrestrial specimens. Morrow (Babou Ceesay), the cyborg is aboard the ship as it crashes into Prodigy City, a sprawling metropolis owned by the ambitious Prodigy Corporation.

A search and rescue team is sent and it includes Hermit (Alex Lawther), a medic for Prodigy and the brother of Wendy (Sydney Chandler). Wendy is a young girl whose consciousness has been transferred into a synthetic adult body. This procedure, conducted by Prodigy, is part of a larger, morally ambiguous project to create superhuman soldiers from terminally ill children.

Wendy has been keeping tabs on Hermit using Prodigy's resources and now decides to rush to his rescue alongside a group of hybrid children. Their journey into the heart of the disaster zone is fraught with danger, not only from the Xenomorph but also from other grotesque entities unleashed by the crash.

The aftermath of the crash continues to unfold. The body count rises and the victims include a few elites who are having a lavish party in the building. The introduction of the Xenomorph, though familiar, is rendered with a fresh intensity, showcasing the alien's masterful ability to blend in with the surroundings.

The episode delves deeper into the ethical quandaries surrounding the hybrid children. Wendy's heartfelt reunion with Hermit underscores the emotional depth of the narrative. The siblings' bond, tested by time and circumstances, serves as a powerful testament to the enduring nature of human connection.

The supporting cast is solid for a horror genre production. Timothy Olyphant, arguably the most recognizable name in the cast, is his usual stoic self as Kirsh, Chief Scientist at Prodigy. Samuel Blenkin plays Boy Kavalier, the trillionaire owner of the Prodigy corporation and brings the necessary arrogance to the part. Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia represents the voice of reason and tries to make Boy Kavalier do the right thing.

Alien: Earth is not just a reimagining of a beloved franchise; it is an evolution. Hawley has taken the foundational elements of the Alien universe and expanded them, infusing the narrative with philosophical musings on identity, consciousness, and the ethical implications of technological advancements.

The production design is exemplary, with each setting meticulously crafted to immerse viewers in this dystopian future. The sound design deserves mention, with the eerie silence of space juxtaposed against the cacophony of chaos, amplifying the tension and unease. If the soundtrack reminds you of Fargo's soundtrack, that is because both the series have been scored by Jeff Russo.

In conclusion, Alien: Earth is a bold and ambitious series that honors its roots while charting a new course. It is a testament to the enduring relevance of the Alien franchise and its ability to adapt and resonate with contemporary audiences. As the series progresses, one can only hope that it continues to explore the depths of human nature and the cosmos with the same intensity and introspection as these first two episodes.

Image Source: FX on Hulu

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X-Men '97 (2024) Trailer - Review

2024-02-17T20:08:00.008+05:30

In the age where studios are remaking 70s/80s movie franchises (that do not need one), here comes some delightful news: the critically acclaimed fan favorite series featuring our favorite mutants is getting its share of the spotlight. Instead of getting remade, the series is being continued with several of the voice actors returning. Marvel Studios already indicated this in the brief Illuminati scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

I enjoyed the original X-Men: The Animated series for the excellent voice work, characterizations and specifically for portraying Cykes as the leader of the X-Men. This was before Bryan Singer (with adequate support from Hugh Jackman) positioned Wolverine as the most important X-Men figure.

Check out the trailer below:

Cykes is front and center in the series, if the trailer is a fair representation. Yes, Wolverine still gets his one liners and brandish his claws menacingly. Still refreshing to see the true leader finally retaining his top spot.

Scott Summers is one of my favorite X-Men - a great leader and inspiring figure. The series is set to further his story line with Jean Grey, who is pregnant (with presumably Rachel Summers). I expect Mr Sinister to make his appearance shortly.

Some of my other favorites also appear - Storm, Rogue and the Master of Magnetism himself. The returning voice actors include Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm), Lenore Zann (Rogue), George Buza (Beast), Cal Dodd (Wolverine), and Adrian Hough (Nightcrawler).

Magneto and Cykes get new voice actors (Matthew Waterson and Ray Chase respectively). I loved the performances of both Norm Spencer and David Hemblen. Both brought such gravitas to their performances.

I got the same chills after hearing Cykes' line: “To me, my X-Men”. And Magneto's appearance at the end was the icing on the cake.

As expected, they are retaining the original style of the animated series. Already, we have got a preview of the Sentinels. We also get a quick look at Daily Bugle headline: “Is Spiderman a mutant?”. This is a reference to the crossover episodes on another classic Marvel animation show Spiderman: The Animated Series: “Chapter IV: The Mutant Agenda” and “Chapter V: Mutants' Revenge”.

The only thing about the trailer that struck me as odd is Magneto's face. He looks almost cartoonishly evil. Hopefully, his character will be as fleshed out as the classic series did.

The series premeries on Disney+ streaming service on Mar 20 2024.

Fingers crossed that this will be even better than the original series.

Image Sources: Disney+, Marvel Animation

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Godzilla Minus One (2023) Trailer - Review

2023-11-12T16:01:00.001+05:30

After a long time, here comes a trailer that has got me interested in the final product. Godzilla Minus One, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, looks set to return the titular monster to his full glory.

I enjoyed both Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong. G:KOTM had an excellent soundtrack from Bear McCreary and boasted of amazingly well executed versions of King Ghidorah and Mothra. G vs. K had excellent visual effects and the fight scenes were top notch.

As the reader might have noted, Godzilla is not mentioned as he did much of an impact. In both the movies, he needed support from Mothra and King Kong to take down Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla (possessed by Ghidorah) respectively. While it can be argued that Godzilla has always had help to best Ghidorah, he also looked quite bulky and not as agile as one would expect.

Check out the trailer below:

This movie looks to course correct that by having a lean and mean one who packs quite the punch. The plot goes like this - As Japan reels from the effects of World War II, a new threat emerges in the form of the titular character. Gone is the protector version we saw in the Hollywood movies and here we have an absolute brute who means to lay waste to Japan (as they usually do). His roar is thunderous and as he engages the Japanese army and navy, his anger is palpable.

The visual effects look amazing and credit to Takashi Yamazaki and his team. The acting looks ok for a movie of this genre. We know the story and we are mainly in for Godzilla himself and the action scenes. On both these accounts, Godzilla Minus One scores.

Hopefully, the movie will be a blast. The movie already opened in Japan and has been declared to be a blockbuster. It will be released in other countries in December. Hopefully, when the inevitable sequel happens, we will see this Gojira face off against King Ghidorah.

Image Sources: Toho Studios, Toho Company, Robot Communications

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Man of Steel (2013) - Revisited

2022-04-24T19:03:00.014+05:30

Back when I saw this movie in 2013, I found it to be a disappointment. I enjoyed exactly two scenes in the entire movie: the Superman flight scene and his aerial rescue of Lois (preceding the Smallville fight sequence). I also liked Antje's performance as Faora. Other than that, the movie did not impress me.

I found Man of Steel (MoS) to be the polar opposite of the Richard Donner/Chris Reeve 1978 Superman: The Movie:

Cavill's Clark Kent/Superman is almost 100% humor/smile free (except for the last shot at the Daily Planet)
Like Clark, the movie itself has a grim tone, which would befit Batman or Punisher or Spawn better.
The cinematography choices is also dark and is probably one of the main reasons this movie did not strike a chord with me
Lois Lane already knows Superman's secret identity, even before they meet. Plus the chemistry between Henry Cavill and Amy Adams is non-existent.
Hans Zimmer's soundtrack does not have a single romance track. John Williams' love theme is still one of his best works.
The action sequences are way overdone. The movie starts with one (set on Krypton), the second is set in Smallville and the finale in Metropolis. Except the first one, the special effects in the the remaining ones appear unfinished multiple times. We can overlook the lack of humor and the characterizations, but the way these action sequences have been handled is puzzling.

Revisited MoS after a long time and finally came to terms with it. This is a modern take on Superman in the same vein as BBC Sherlock is on the 20th Century Victorian detective. The obvious difference is that while the BBC show also takes deviations, it is a very well made show with great casting choices (among other things). MoS still remains a mixed bag. Yes there are some positives, but the movie still suffers from a number of weak spot. Let us get started.

The opening prologue on Krypton feels unnecessary and serves only to remind us that Warner Bros had provided only one mandate to Zack Snyder: make the movie as action packed as possible. If further proof is required, look no further than the casting and characterization of Jor-El. Clearly, Snyder is a fan of Gladiator - in addition to Russell Crowe, we have Connie Nielsen as Hippolyta and Hans Zimmer providing another bombastic soundtrack. One final link would Joaquin Phoenix who played Joker.

Back to the prologue - a good example of a prologue well done would be the one at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring. That was such a good beginning to the movie and the trilogy. The Krypton sequence on the other hand looks generic and Jor-El is a martial artist/scientist who can go toe to toe with General Zod (Michael Shannon) and ride dragon like beasts (reminded me of Avatar though).

This entire sequence could have been done away with and the money would have been better spent on making the Smallville and Metropolis action sequences better. The city wide destruction and Superman snapping Zod's neck has been widely criticized and commented upon. I can understand that these were justified from a story point perspective, but the low quality of graphics in the fight sequences is something that Zack could have improved on.

To give Zack and the movie due credit, I liked the scene where Faora-Ul (Antje Trauje) gives special breathing gear to Lois Lane (Amy Adams) in the Kryptonian ship. Also Superman struggling to adjust to the Kryptonian atmosphere was another nice touch. I mention this point specifically for one main reason: When watching Avengers: Endgame, I was struck by how Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Dr Stephen Strange and other humans were able to adapt so quickly to the atmosphere on Titan and breath without the help of any special instrument/aid. So kudos to Zack and team.

The other aspects that the movie absolutely delivered are the flight scenes featuring Supes and the Kryptonian ships. The design of the alien ships is another strong point.

The final and the best thing about the movie is Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. Following John Williams' iconic work is a daunting task. Hans delivers a great theme to both Supes and Zod. The movie would lose half its impact without the soundtrack. Superman's first flight scene and his aerial rescue of Lois are two examples. Some might complain that it is bit loud, but I nevertheless enjoy the soundtrack and think of it as a great companion piece to Williams.

I did find couple of loop holes in the plot:

In Zack Snyder's Justice League, it is revealed that General Swanwick (Harry Lennix) is actually Martian Manhunter in disguise. The question is: why did Martian Manhunter not help Supes against the Kryptonian invasion? He could have helped and still maintained his secret identity. Related query: how come Supes did not see through Manhunter's disguise, considering that he would have some anatomical differences from regular human beings?
Another thing to note is that probably half of Smallville know's Superman's secret identity. After being rescued by Supes, Lois arrives in a police car at Clark's home in Smallville and addresses Superman as “Clark” right within hearing distance of the cops. So what was the point of General Swanwick's 12 million dollar worth satellite to keep tabs on Supes. Plus, cannot Swanwick (as Martian Manhunter) just read Supes mind and know his true identity.

All in all, MoS is a better Science Fiction movie than a Superhero movie featuring Supes. I think of it as an alternate universe take (similar to JL: Gods and Monsters).

Click here to read all my posts related to DC Comics.

Image Sources: Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, Syncopy

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