Category: Cinema

When The Legend of Gatokaca and an Eternal Conflict Returns…

The rich Hindu mythology brought to life in The Legend of Gatokaca requires some foreknowledge to truly appreciate what this film is about.

Legend of Gatotkaca Blu-Ray CaseAvailable to Stream on Hi-yah and purchase on Amazon USA

Indonesian filmmaker Hanung Bramantyo wants to show to the world that The Legend of Gatokaca is built from folklore. It certainly shows why superheroes were once gods a long time ago. This individual is from the Mahabharata, an epic tale which includes fascinating elements from Indonesian mythology that put others to shame. Much of it gets explained throughout the film from the eyes of Professor Arya (Edward Akbar) and a student Erlangga (Jerome Kurnia). They teach Yuda (Rizky Nazar) about the past, and why it all matters if he’s to be the reincarnation of a demigod hero, Gatotkaca.

To get new audiences up to speed and yet move the modern update forward is better paced than other works I’ve recently seen. Although, the details go by quite fast and the 130min run time is rather long, I’m glad to have the home video release so I can rewind or pause. That way, I can make sense of the lengthy exposition.

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Diving Into Why Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken will be a Fantastic Summer Hit

The details and trailer is now here for DreamWorks Animation’s latest and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken looks good!

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie PosterStories about coming out of one’s comfort zone is often a winning scenario in storytelling. In Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken what’s presented looks like more than girl coming out of her shell. She will have huge challenges to face and one of them includes dealing with an eternal war between her species and an other.

As the title and trailer suggests, this young woman will have to not only deal with high school problems but also experience her Sweet 16 in a way that could potentially the attention of the world.

I get the sense we’ll have a story that’s going to be very different from A Little Mermaid. Althouth the last films from DreamWorks presented some cutting edge visuals which were good, sometimes all we need are the basics–an eternal tale about how species from the aquatic world can get along instead of keep fighting it out. And as for how Ruby will embrace her legacy depends on whether Krakens from long ago were ever treated as adversaries. They were first introduced in Scandinavian lore and over time, films like Clash of the Titans helped popularize the Greco-Roman version. They are huge and terrifying. Sailors often thought of them as terrors as the opening narration suggests. But in this story, they are actually protectors of the seven seas.

Perhaps what we don’t know is that they were stopping ships from carrying dangerous cargo hence these attacks. What’s presented is no different from how Namor wants to prevent land dwellers from invading his kingdom. Although what’s revealed so far doesn’t show connections to classical legends, I’m hopeful more will be revealed when this film releases June 30, 2023.

Partial Spoilers and the Trailer follow:

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Kubrick by Kubrick is Essential Viewing for Cineastes

To know what makes a filmmaker tick almost requires that person to interview himself, hence the title Kubrick by Kubrick.

Kubrick by Kubrick Movie PosterLevel 33 Entertainment
Coming to Digital on March 21, 2023

To watch a documentary by Gregory Monro about Kubrick by Kubrick is very revealing. In a work that’s composed of archival footage, photographs and audio interviews, we venture into his world that’s not necessarily oblique. It was slated to be released in 2020, but due to the pandemic and getting this work to distribution, more years would pass before it can become accessible to the masses to view.

It’s rare to understand any individual unless you’ve spent a lot of time with him, but since he passed away in 1999, it’ll be tough to ask him what prompted him to develop those movies me made that way. Stanley Kubrick is a visionary and this work is based on the interviews conducted by French film critic / magazine editor Michel Ciment. Through some newly found recordings, he explains why he’s created works like A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket. As a result, we learn they represent a side of him which wants to explore society and the ills that come with it.

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Spin Master is Fast with Release of The Flash Toys so They’re Not Gone Tomorrow

Whether people want to support the next film from DC Entertainment or not, The Flash toys may well be something kids want–especially when there’s a Batwing involved!

The Flash Teaser Movie PosterSpin Master Toys is getting far ahead of the game with the release of The Flash toys ahead of its release on June 16th.

Whether these super hero movies do well depends on how much merchandise is out there these days. With Shazam: Fury of the Gods, all we have so far are product from Funko! Pops and McFarlene Toys. Having additional product from the said movie to play with is a good thing and to not have enough can hurt overall impressions. I’m surprised there is no dragon, since I’d really want to own that!

But for The Flash, I still feel it’s all about the caped crusader. Batman will be the hero more so than the Scarlet Speedster. I’m glad this toy company knows that and in their first wave of product release, have the latter item available:

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When Shazam! Fury of the Gods Has Focus, What’s His Inspiration?

When we’re dealing with the classical antiquity as core concept for Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the entire Greek pantheon better show up!

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Movie PosterAll the DC movies from this year exist in a strange place. Since they’re not part of the new universe, they aren’t necessarily considered ongoing canon. That’s because of Warner Bros/Discovery wanting to revamp everything. After Black Adam (my movie review and commentary can be read here) did not invest enough into the legends and lore, I had trepidation regarding Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

I love the idea of incorporating mythology from ancient cultures into any superhero movie treatment. When done right, some heroes are just modern day updates to classical figures. For example, Horus is the spiritual predecessor of Hawkman. For the titular hero in this franchise, he embodies the best traits from six Greek divinities–Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

But when a sisterhood from Greek myth decides it’s time to torment Billy Batson (Asher Angel and Zachary Levi), he’s in trouble. They are targeting his surrogate family to reacquire the power bequeathed to them by Shazam (and The Wizard). The death of the gods and to resurrect them is a big theme.

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