The question of what Elio can become depends on where he can fit in.
Although PIXAR’s latest film, Elio, doesn’t quite soar to the heights of the studio’s earlier space-set stories, its heart is undeniably in the right place. The film follows a young boy (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) grappling with loneliness after the loss of his parents. Isolated at school and barely bonding with his overworked aunt, Elio retreats into daydreams of the stars—until one night, fantasy becomes reality.
Rather than face military camp, he sends a hopeful message into space, only to be abducted by aliens who hilariously misinterpret his call as an official message from Earth’s leader. The setup is absurd in the best way, and kicks off a cosmic misadventure through a bizarre intergalactic council known as the Communiverse.
Until a feature length film finally gets off the ground (pardoning the pun), the short film AstroNots is ready to launch on streaming platforms.
AstroNots is finally landing after playing at twenty more film festivals worldwide! Anyone who has not seen this hilarious short film at their local event or Fantasia Film Festival 2024 can now stream it through Film Shortage, beginning June 23, 2025. When I interviewed the creative team last year, producer Andrew Seaton said they want to make a feature film length version of this film. Although not much has progressed since, he confirmed writers Adam Dunn and Aaron Glenane are working hard on putting a script together.
He said, “We are excited about the prospect of taking these characters and their unique dynamic even further. What we love is that we have an odd couple road-trip movie, set in space. Something truly hilarious and unique.”
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”
If you didn’t hear the news about the Kung Fury 2 leak, then I got a recap before the video got taken down and thoughts on who should help bring it to the masses.
Wild Eye Releasing should pick up the tab to deliver David Sandberg’s sequel to Kung Fury. This homage to various genres, ranging from 80s style tokusatsu to buddy cop to sci-fi is a godsend. Kung Fury 2 is a no hold barred bonkers as Last Action Hero! Thankfully, newcomers or those who haven’t heard of this cult film can find the original on YouTube (or scroll to the end of this article to see the short).
If you are a fan of Power Rangers or even TMNT, this indie movie is for you! It’s a wonderfully hilarious parody of 80s schlock cinema, and all those cheap budget exploitation films from the 70s even count too! Apparently, last Friday a sizzle reel of the sequel leaked online, and with no surprise, it’s no longer available. Other folks may have since reposted it, but there’s no word on when those will disappear too. Someone might attempt to put it online again on another, less vigilant service.
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 Blues Brothers is mostly a cover band, just what they represent is much more than to bring that Chicago Blues sound to the masses. Their passion and need to connect with the genre’s essence must be honoured in this upcoming graphic novel, The Escape of Joliet Jake.
The beloved Blues Brothers whom two generations have grown up with are not gone. Instead, there are plans to bring this franchise back to the fore with “forays into television, film, live events, music and much more,” according to one press release. Everything begins with the graphic novel release of The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake. While Dan Aykroyd will not be performing at every stop (he is getting on in age so he’s most likely not going to be as intense on stage), his presence will mean everything why his daughter is taking charge of continuing on!
All I can think of is the attempt with Blues Brothers 2000. This movie pays tribute to the first film and shows how the music changes style from one side of the country to the other. And it also reveals that to be a brother means you just have to embrace the music, and that’s all anyone needs to chase the blahs away.
Although PIXAR’s latest film, Elio, doesn’t quite soar to the heights of the studio’s earlier space-set stories, its heart is undeniably in the right place. The film follows a young boy (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) grappling with loneliness after the loss of his parents. Isolated at school and barely bonding with his overworked aunt, Elio retreats into daydreams of the stars—until one night, fantasy becomes reality.
AstroNots is finally landing after playing at twenty more film festivals worldwide! Anyone who has not seen this hilarious short film at their local event or Fantasia Film Festival 2024 can now stream it through Film Shortage, beginning June 23, 2025. When 
Spoiler Alert
Wild Eye Releasing
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.
