When Giving a Red Notice is a Impossible Mission

There are a few elements to like in Red Notice–namely a sense of being inspired by the animated Lupin the 3rd films.

Red NoticeSpoiler Alert

Banking on the talents of Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot to carry a film is one way to get a Red Notice. There are a few elements to like,  namely a sense of being a global spy type caper in the vein of Impossible Mission, but I see this film has an anime inspired root, namely Lupin the III. Like the thief, Nolan Booth (Reynolds) is crazy agile!

There’s some great wise-cracks from Reynolds (he excels at that). Johnson’s character (Hartley) is familiar and Gadot shines by being a villainess in the vein of The Baroness from GI Joe. As for whether they can all partner up is the name of the game because they’re art thieves.

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Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop: The Return of a Classic

Cowboy Bebop, the new sci-fi series streaming on Netflix, follows the exploits of Jet Black and Spike Spiegel, a pair of bounty hunters travelling the solar system while trying to make ends meet.

Netflix Debuts a Cowboy Bebop Trailer and a New PosterNow Available on Netflix

Cowboy Bebop, the new sci-fi series streaming on Netflix, follows the exploits of Jet Black and Spike Spiegel, a pair of bounty hunters travelling the solar system while trying to make ends meet. In their line of work, they have to deal with everything the solar system sends their way from drug dealing nut jobs to ridiculous fuel costs and everything in between.

Cowboy Bebop is also based off the classic anime of the same name from 1998 with the same characters and premise. Currently rated nearly 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, many consider it to be legendary, and I’m one of them. So when Netflix announced a live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop, I was excited. Though the fandom immediately split on whether or not this reboot was going to be good or if it should have been made at all. Remakes and reboots rarely have a very good track record, but I’m not against them at all, so I decided to be cautiously optimistic.

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Halloween Inspired Thrills for (Animated) Ghostseekers!

The best part of every Halloween season is in searching the catalogue of past hits to enjoy time and time again.

Jeremy Zag en Instagram: “Ghostforce #ghostforce #zagheroez #ghost  #superpower #superhero” in 2021 | Miraculous ladybug anime, Ladybug anime,  Miraculous ladybug comicPart of the every year’s Halloween fun is to partake in the paranormal. Whether that’s with participating in a ghost hunt or trick and treating, there’s also bonfires and sometimes just enjoying a program on television on those chilly nights. Nearly every spooky animated television series has a Halloween themed episode. This year has a few new entries from popular shows for this decade, but the the classics, I’ll fondly turn to Scooby-Doo. “To Switch a Witch,” is a favourite. The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour featured “The Headless Horseman of Halloween” and What’s New Scooby-Doo? featured “A Scooby-Doo Halloween.”

In part one, I offer my picks from series where the ghost is a key figure in the cast. 

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Who Has the Power in Mattel and Netflix’s He-Man and The Masters of the Universe?

The teens we find in He-Man and The Masters of the Universe are Eternia’s answer to Power Rangers…

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDbSpoiler Alert

Hasbro & Netflix’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe may not appeal to all longtime fans. It’s been redesigned, and the new power of Grayskull is a trans-dimensional force of nature to perhaps contain and explain why these retellings over the years exist. Thankfully, this latest version stays true to the first series where it tries to teach young viewers the value of friendship, trust and teamwork. 

Rob David, the showrunner, is drawing from a cleaned up series bible. Hasbro and Funimation never made one during their development of the 1983 show. After so many retellings on different fronts, namely three televised series and the comic books–this latest takes the best of and explains the complex relationships that exists in this world. The motives are much clearer. It’s also completely different from what Kevin Smith is doing in his continuation, MotU: Revelation.

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All Work and No Play in Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild

No knowledge of the Monster Hunter franchise is required as this story is a classic hero’s journey in disguise.

Image gallery for Monster Hunter: Legends of The Guild - FilmAffinityAvailable to view on Netflix

Not everyone can be a Monster Hunter, and if Legends of the Guildis any indication, this animated take makes for a better introduction than the dry live-action one from last year. Not everyone has to know the video game world, and this film does a better job at introducing the basics. Ever since its release in 2004, this franchise created by Capcom has its loyal cult following.

By going full CGI, this film has a lot more to like. The world is a lot more alive when compared to the live-action and the bringing together of characters from the games will certainly be a draw for those who know the IP in and out.

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Fate is Lie in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans – It’s Agonizing!

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans follows the same style as Homer’s The Iliad.

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021) - IMDbAvailable to view on Netflix
Spoiler Alert

The finale to the Trollhunters, Tales of Arcadia has all the key players–Jim Lake, Tobias, Claire, Binky, AAARRRGGHH, Crown Princess Aja, Prince Krel, Douxie and Archie–not ready to take on the Arcane Order. They’re the next threat in a long line of villains who want to restore the world to its old ways, a time before gods walked the Earth, and magic was pure. However, to do so means convincing one of their own, Nari, that their ways are true. This tale picks up from where Wizards last left off (review and analysis can be read here).

This movie is very crowded and needs that prologue to explain everything that’s happened prior–including why Armageddon must happen. The concept is very much taken from Nordic design (Ragnorak); everything must be destroyed before the world can be remade and this theme plays out anyways, much to my chagrin. This introduction could’ve been trimmed out in favour of new material, but not everyone will know Trollhunters, 3Below and Wizards inside and out. It’s terrific to see all the supporting characters return for even a few minutes, but that finale–a good portion of the fans for this series are angry. Spoilers follow:

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