Original Title: タイガー＆ドラゴン

About fifteen years ago, I stumbled upon the world of Asian entertainment with “that one drama, that one movie and that one actress.” Little did I know that this encounter, driven by my admiration for Yu Aoi, would take me in a media adventure all over the world, which I have been revisiting this year.

Tiger & Dragon revolves around the life of Tora Yamazaki –played by a tongue-swinging Tomoya Nagase– nicknamed Toraji (‘Tora’ as in ‘tiger’) a rough young yakuza who discovers his love for rakugo storytelling when his boss –amicable and super soft Tsurube Shofukutei– sends him to collect the debt from his rakugo master friend Shokichi-san –played by a super funny Toshiyuki Nishida– who in turn has lost his rakugo heir Ryuji (‘Ryu’ as in ‘dragon’) –played by a lovelorn Junichi Okada– to bad mesh fashion. Hence, ‘Tiger’ and ‘Dragon.’

Rakugo is a traditional Japanese form of comedic storytelling, where a performer sits alone on stage, dressed in a kimono, kneeling on a cushion, and using -usually- only a fan as prop, engaging the audience solely with wit, humor, and varying voices [1]. It is like this that Tiger & Dragon episodes begin with characters setting the situation up, the episode linked to a specific story that Tora must learn, according to the deal he’s made with Shokichi-san. Written by comedy-eccentric Kankuro Kudo, who would later write the massive hit of Amachan; in the famous NHK Morning Drama timeslot; he shows his great ability to write situations that have managed to retain its humor after all this time. Even without the assistance of detailed fansub explanations, the jokes and wordplay still elicited genuine laughter. Japanese puns that once flew over my head now bring a smile to my face, as my proficiency in the language has improved significantly (from almost zero) since my first viewing. This, of course, is strengthened by the incredible chemistry between the actors and their comedic timing. Nishida never fails to make me crack up, even in heartbreaking movies like A Ghost of a Chance.

One of the most amazing qualities about the show is also its ability to breathe life into each and every character, no matter how minor their role may be, whether that be Ryuji’s heartbreaker Megumi-chan (Misaki Ito), his best pal Chibi T (Kenta Kiritani), his store assistant Risa (Yu Aoi), the yakuza boss’ son Ginjiro (Takashi Tsukamoto), the restaurant owner Ta-chan (Toshinori Omi), elder brother talento Donta (Sadao Abe) and rakugo student Donkichi (Shota Shunputei), alongside Dontsuki, Donburi and Udon; the narrative masterfully weaves subplots and unique stories for even the most peripheral characters.

Fifteen years later, I find myself appreciating the humor, chemistry, and strong writing of this series a lot more. Tiger & Dragon is truly a timeless gem once you make some effort to tear down the language and cultural barriers, but once you do, it will continue to enchant fans who fall in love with Japanese television and culture.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Release Date: February 24th, 2023
Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Screenplay by: Jimmy Warden
Cast: Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Brooklynn Prince, Christian Convery, Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Elizabeth Banks’ latest directorial effort, following the quite disastrous Charlie’s Angels reboot, is so edgy and campy that it almost tires the viewer by the end. Loosely -very loosely- based on a true story, Cocaine Bear centers on a black bear who comes across a stash of cocaine, ends up ingesting it, and goes on a killing spree looking for more coke. If that sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is.

The film is barely over 90 minutes long, but it feels a bit longer due to its hit-or-miss gory humor. The campy gore is appreciated, but much of the edginess wears out quickly- the foul language humor loses its rebellious tone and eventually becomes a bit annoying, unless you’re a heavily-monitored teenager. If you’re one of those and are able to catch the movie, you might get a thrill.

Though the setup as to how everyone encounters the infamous bear is well done— the kids (Prince and Convery) skipping school, Russel setting out to find them, as well as Ehrenreich, Jackson and Liotta setting out to find their coke cargo, Margo Martindale’s performance is always a highlight. She’s playing a loser park ranger, who hasn’t been able to do anything beyond that because -according to her- the teenager punks who cause trouble in her area. She also has a crush on Ferguson’s character and gets humorously blocked by Russell as a third-wheel on their park search. I almost wished she could’ve had her own hero moment.

If you’re a fan of absurd fun, or a Sharknado or two, you might find some enjoyment in Cocaine Bear, but for most viewers, it will be a mixed experience. If you’ve already seen this one, why not top it off with a marathon that includes Cocaine Shark and The Velocipastor? At least those films embrace the over the top label fully.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Original Title: Les Trois Mousquetaires: D’Artagnan
Release Date: April 5th, 2023
Directed by: Martin Bourboulon
Novel by: Alexandre Dumas
Screenplay by: Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière
Cast: François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green, Lyna Khoudri, Louis Garrel, Vicky Krieps, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Eric Ruf

Martin Bourboulon’s most recent adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ novel refreshingly holds up to the most successful previous adaptation- the 1973 Richard Lester version starring Michael York as the titled D’Artagnan and included Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay, Christopher Lee and Geraldine Chaplin. Bourboulon’s two-part entry in the Dumas’ Musketeers world -for those who are not familiar with the story- revolves around the young and daring Gascon, D’Artagnan (Civil), who arrives in Paris to become a Musketeer. When he encounters Athos (Cassel), Aramis (Duris), and Porthos (Marmaï), they set out to protect the honor of the Queen (Krieps) and defend France against the conniving Cardinal Richelieu (Eric Ruf) and his spy, Milady de Winter (Green).

With the development of technology and advancement in the filmmaking process of high-adrenaline action movies of the last 20 years, The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan looks amazing, with somber atmosphere and incredible mise-en-scène, the fast pacing and scattered humor makes it feels brand new and exhilarating. The chemistry between D’Artagnan and the musketeers is genuine, and you become quickly invested in their loyal friendship as they embark on an increasingly wild mission. The movie’s main highlight though, is undoubtedly Eva Green’s portrayal of Milady de Winter, her performance is intoxicatingly playful, her beauty stirring, and Green infuses her role with a seductive, conniving charm that often permeates her filmography.

While certainly enjoying many of the movie’s action sequences, however, I sometimes found myself wishing that Bourboulon would’ve refrained from using so much hand-held camera style action so spread through Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass’ works, as it can seem chaotic and disorienting. However, with the plot twists and close calls, the visually stunning film will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end!

Overall, The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan is an extraordinary film that shows Bourboulon’s ability to breathe life into a classic tale. Its fantastic interpretation of a beloved story accompanied by an innovative execution results in a thrilling experience! Fans of the classic tale should look out for the upcoming The Three Musketeers: Milady, directed back-to-back with this project, which seems to be one of the most ambitious in the history of recent French cinema.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Release Date: April 5th, 2023
Directed by: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Polack
Screenplay by: Matthew Fogel
Cast: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an absolute delight for both fans of the Nintendo classic IP and moviegoers with little children alike! The film startled animation fans by how close it looked to the actual Mario Bros Nintendo universe, as opposed to the sometimes-loved-sometimes-hated 90s adaptation, pushing this adaptation closer to the visual qualities of 2019’s Pokémon Detective Pikachu, which frankly I enjoyed quite a bit even though I didn’t grow up with the franchise.

As evil Koopa King Bowser (Black) manages to take over the Super Star, and plans to marry Princess Peach (Taylor-Joy) and take over the Mushroom Kingdom, our story really starts with brotherly plumbers Mario and Luigi, who have recently set up their own plumbing service [lovable cheesy commercial included]. After a disastrously wet first case and wanting to make a big name for themselves, the brothers decide to save Brooklyn after they see the city’s water main leak on the news, ending up accidently sucked into a Warp Pipe and separated into worlds they had no idea existed.

It is true that one of the aspects of the film that jumps out is the possibilities of world-building, leaving open the prospect of developing Yoshi’s World and Donkey Kong. It was hard to not think about merchandise, different types of games and future developments of Nintendo amusement parks. The movie is visually spectacular and action-packed, with the Rainbow Road scene undoubtedly stealing the show. The use of vibrant colors, as well as dizzying twists and turns made the almost non-stop racing sequence the most fun for viewers.

Though I enjoyed the playful banter between Mario and Donkey Kong (Rogen), whom Mario encounters on his Hero’s Journey where he also meets his spirit companion Toad (Key), the film is anchored in the brotherly love between Mario and Luigi, which drives the brothers throughout their adventure.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie also stirs your nostalgic feelings when you hear the the music cues from the original NES game— while everyone is losing it over Bowser’s Peaches [MV], what really took me back to being a kid was briefly hearing the Underground Theme [1]; the NES OST is really an outstanding achievement in simple music.

Overall, this new Super Mario Bros entry is a total smash hit— as seen from their smashing box office records in less than a month of release, and it hasn’t opened in one of its main markets yet, which is Japan. The film is the perfect entry to the overly zealous Nintendo (who are known to hunt down anything on the web that relates to its material), they will make you respect their IP because they know it’s their bread and butter.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Sometimes you’re just in the mood for some good ole wholesome content. After Fuller House released its timely conclusion, hitting you with a brick and making you realize that time just goes by SO FAST; Netflix (surprisingly) had left a cheesy hole in my heart. And apparently, there’s nothing better than some Country Comfort.

Starring (S5) American Idol alumni, Katharine McPhee, playing Bailey, a woman who wants to make it in the country music business alongside her boyfriend (Boone, played by Eric Balfour) in their -still- up-and-coming band. When Boone decides that their band needs fresh blood to make it big, he replaces her with a brand new lead singer. Storming off from the bar they play at, Bailey ends up heartbroken at the Harmony Hills Ranch where Beau (Eddie Cibrian), a widower father of five kids, hires her to become their in-house nanny.

Wholesome family antics ensue, as we get to meet the Haywood kids— cocky ladies’ killer eldest brother Tuck (Ricardo Hurtado), slightly geeky and lanky Brody (Jamie Martin Mann), the youngest business savvy brother Dylan (Griffin McIntyre), snarky but smart cookie Cassidy (Shiloh Verrico) and adorable Chloe (Pyper Braun).

Like with the Tanners, the series premise revolves around the children having to deal and overcome missing their deceased mothers, learn to live life, and eventually grow. For instance, on Ep.01 Crazy [1][2] -episodes titled with different songs- when Cassidy storms (no pun intended) out into a storm, and we discovered she hasn’t been able to stand her family singing songs together since the passing of her mom. She also hasn’t been able to step into a church (Ep.03 Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign [1]); and the whole family has to deal with Beau’s new relationship with Summer (Janet Varney), who -surprisingly- is very likable while trying extremely hard to be embraced by her boyfriend’s children, especially that smartass Cassidy (in Ep.06 Summer Lovin’ [1], they walked right into it).

However, let’s be honest— we were just all suckers for that special cameo by LeAnn Rimes on Ep.05 Blue [1], and we all sang along to Can’t Fight the Moonlight [1]. No? Was it just me? Clocking at a little bit over 20min. per episode, the rest of the ten episodes fly by in a breeze, giving you one or two more surprises down the line.

Oh, baby, you’re The Right Kind of Wrong [1]~

Rating: ★★★¼☆ 

All trivia and song data seems to be available on Fandom Wiki.

You can catch Little Big Women on Netflix (probably worldwide); and according to Letterboxd, you can catch Fagara on iTunes US, AsianCrush US, Rakuten Viki (only US so far) and geoblocked FandangoNow US.

Directed by Prashanth Neel, the film is expected in multilingual dubs for major Indian markets, and brings back Kannada film actor Yash in the role of Rocky. K.G.F: Chapter 2 also features Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon and Srinidhi Shetty, who debuted in the first film installment.

A release date still hasn’t been set.

Directed by Will. I. Am , Pasha Shapiro + Ernst Weber.

— Update Jan. 2021 —

Since the release of the video, it has been taken down, possibly, due to copyright complaints.