When more Yautja culture is revealed in Predator: Killer of Killers, what’s revealed is exhilarating and I’m sure we want more!
Available to Stream on Hulu
Spoiler Alert
Over the years, the lore surrounding the Yautja has evolved. In the latest installment, Predator: Killer of Killers, they seek more than just the thrill of the hunt. From standalone films to crossovers with the Aliens universe and various comic books, each iteration adds something new to this elite race of galactic hunters.
Should one of their targets survive by defeating a Predator, that individual earns a mark of respect. Without giving away too much of this animated magnum opus, the story by Dan Trachtenberg (who also directs) and Micho Robert Rutare raises the stakes. It honors the tradition of the original film while incorporating familiar elements from both the live-action entries and comic books—such as the possibility that a clan leader might offer the victor a place among them.
Disney really should stop remaking fond classics, especially with Lilo and Stitch, and simply concentrate on coming up with original material.
Spoiler Alert
The live-action Lilo and Stitch movie will not please everyone, and when it’s significantly different from the original material, not everyone is going to enjoy it. When this young girl’s relationship (wonderfully played by Maia Kealoha) with Myrtle (Emery Hookano-Briel) is nonexistent, I groaned. Their conflict makes up a significant part of the series as this rival believes her family is better than most Polynesians. To be exact, this girl has a superiority complex. And as for the two aliens who would eventually become friends with the title characters, even I was wondering why change them up that much?
A lot of the humour comes from Jumba’s mad god complex and Pleakley’s belief he knows this world. Even in the alt-universe versions of the series, the new showrunners never changed their purpose; and I’ve looked at both Stitch! and Stitch and Ai (review links) to know why some characters stick around. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen are decent when performing their own stuff, but when trying to live up to the past material, they really do not measure up.
Without this double act done proper, what’s presented doesn’t make too much sense. I wanted to hear the big hippo hybrid speak with a Russian accent. As for the one eyed alien, what made him a fan favourite is because of all the cross-dressing ventures. Even in human form, to see Billy confused about gender roles and still wear a dress would’ve been a hoot, but it was not done! Continue reading “With Lilo and Stitch in 2025, What’s Significantly Bad Isn’t All That Extremely Good”
The reason Fountain of Youth is not playing at theatres may be because there’s no good weekend to have its debut. The filmmakers spent a lot of money on achieving authenticity, which is a shame given this busy blockbuster season.
On Apple TV Plus Spoiler Alert
The choice in which Skydance Media produced work to view over the weekend was tough. I could’ve gone to the theatres for the latest Mission Impossible or stayed at home for Fountain of Youth. The latter won me over because it has an archaeological idea which I believe, at the time of writing the screenplay, predicted the discovery at the Pyramids of Giza. If the real world claim of tunnels underneath from two years ago and last March is true, I’m wondering how many modern day seekers are going to find a way down those tunnels said to exist underneath! I won’t say how this connects with this story, as it’s a massive spoiler.
Here, Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) is on the quest for the fabled Mesoamerican landmark, which is the title of this movie. Unlike a certain Indiana Jones movie, the story unfolds in the present day and sees him running away from people trying to stop him from stealing artifacts that contain a clue to where the spring may lie. The result has a few entertaining chase sequences like those from the movie, National Treasure, but not quite hitting the high notes like when Indy returned in the fourth film, Dial of Destiny.
Hornclaw (Lee Hye-yeong) was not the assassin she was now until one night, some (American) army guy broke into the restaurant she worked at and something snapped in her. That first taste of spilled blood turned her worldview around, and she became The Old Woman With The Knife. This tight thriller suggests she is in the business for life. As a lady past her prime, she can get away with nearly anything!
There’s a lot of terrific back and forth showing her development as not only an individual who should be a grandmother, but also as a ruthless killer. Lee has that presence which rivals Michelle Yeoh and I’d love to see these two together on a project. As a character who could challenge Georgiou, I’d want to see that match up! Both are like bloodhounds!
Legendary filmmaker Tsui Hark is one busy man! And we got a recap on what to expect soon in theatres. Not only can we get to revisit the classics, but also expect his trademark style in two upcoming projects.
Release Date: June 20, 2025
Shanghai Blues has been updated to 4K and unlike other releases, Tsui Hark knows that audiences have to experience this classic on the big screen instead of just releasing it to disc! This film is one part comedy and another romance. As for what’s next on this auteur’s plate, fans can look forward to the release of Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants sometime this year, and in pre-production is Shih, Queen of the Sea. The former is a new take on a fond tale and the latter concerns one of the meanest pirates to sail the Asiatic seas! Both are equally ambitious works, and we’re glad this filmmaker is not retiring soon.
Shanghai Blues Plot Synopsis
In 1937, after The Second Sino-Japanese War breaks out, a soldier and a young woman have an awkward meet cute in darkness under a bridge as they seek refuge during a bomb raid. Although they can’t see each other’s faces, they promise to meet again after the dust settles. Ten years later, the soldier, now a burgeoning songwriter and tuba-player in a marching band, is back in town desperately searching for his would-be soulmate. As fate would have it they end up living in the same building unbeknownst to each other. Through a series of mishaps he mistakes her new ingénue roommate for his love interest and wacky love triangle hijinks ensue.
Shanghai Blues in 4K (sample image)
Consummate auteur Tsui Hark almost single-handedly reinvented Hong Kong cinema in the 80s and 90s with uber-kinetic genre opuses, amping up cinematic spectacle whether with special effects or sheer unbridled energy. This Hong Kong styled homage to the screwball comedies of yesteryear features black belt level slapstick and delightfully droll romcom shenanigans. With striking mise en scène and inspired production design Shanghai Blues, “…luscious, loving and a lot of fun…one of Tsui Hark’s most enjoyable works” — Richard James Havis, South China Morning Post.
The 4K restoration of SHANGHAI BLUES was supervised from the original negative by Tsui Hark with L’Immagine Ritrovata and the soundtrack remixed by One Cool Sound.
Tsui Hark Biography
This filmmaker is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in Hong Kong cinema, known for his innovative style and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. He emerged as a key figure during the 1980s Hong Kong New Wave, challenging genre conventions and censorship restrictions with films like Butterfly Murders and Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind. And with his film series Once Upon a Time in China and Detective Dee turning into major commercial successes, Tsui remains of the highest-grossing filmmakers in Chinese-language cinema.
In 1984, Tsui co-founded Film Workshop, leading to a series of commercially successful films that defined the golden era of Hong Kong cinema. Works such as A Chinese Ghost Story, Swordsman, and Once Upon a Time in China solidified his dominance in Asia. After directing films in Hollywood, Tsui returned to Hong Kong in the mid-1990s and expanded his reach globally with films like Iron Monkey and Time and Tide, which reinvented the Hong Kong action genre for international audiences.
From 2011, Tsui ventured into 3D filmmaking with films like Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon. His film The Taking of Tiger Mountain 3D earned him the Best Director award at the Golden Rooster Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Other notable achievements were co-directing and co-producing The Battle at Lake Changjin, a record-breaking Chinese film that garnered Best Directors and Best Film awards at the Golden Rooster Film Awards. Most recently, his film Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, was an Official Selection for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, and his adaptation of the classic Jin Yong novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes was released in 2025.
Although the number of genre films seems small in this year’s Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, the number of drama are always high as the 2025 event is ready to rumble starting tomorrow!
Runs: May 1st to 7th, 2025
When I have a fondness for films made in Asia, I’m always excited to see what the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will screen. This event kicks off tomorrow, and I’m always curious about who may become the next Bong Joon Ho. Or rather, wonder if this event will premiere the next exciting genre flick! My coverage over the years always considers this side of the show before extending the list to other movies that pique my interest.
And while some years offer more fantastical works than others in the short film category, there’s still some good drama to find! This top picks in what to see also considers this category too.
Chinatown Cha-Cha
China, Directed by Luka Yuanyuan Yang
The 92-year-old previous nightclub dancer Coby Yee decides to get back on stage again after joining the senior dance troupe Grant Avenue Follies. Together they go on a tour for the last time, bridging once isolated Chinese communities in the US, Cuba, and China.
From Okinawa With Love
Japan & USA, Directed by Hiroshi Sunairi
In the 1970s, Okinawan photographer Mao Ishikawa worked as a barmaid for African American GIs and published an impressive photography book.
Available to Stream on Hulu
Spoiler Alert
On Apple TV Plus
Release Date: June 20, 2025
This filmmaker is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in Hong Kong cinema, known for his innovative style and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. He emerged as a key figure during the 1980s Hong Kong New Wave, challenging genre conventions and censorship restrictions with films like Butterfly Murders and Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind. And with his film series Once Upon a Time in China and Detective Dee turning into major commercial successes, Tsui remains of the highest-grossing filmmakers in Chinese-language cinema.
Runs: May 1st to 7th, 2025
The 92-year-old previous nightclub dancer Coby Yee decides to get back on stage again after joining the senior dance troupe Grant Avenue Follies. Together they go on a tour for the last time, bridging once isolated Chinese communities in the US, Cuba, and China.