Shortboxed announced its first ever live convention on Wednesday — Shortboxed LIVE.
“Shortboxed LIVE is a community celebration of comic books and art, featuring the best dealers in the industry” the company said.
Set to appear at the May 7 event at the Santa Clara Convention Center are a slew of vendors and artists, including the legendary Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Head over to https://shortboxed.com/live for more info on tickets and guests!
Jeremy Renner spoke out yesterday, just days after his terrible accident, which left him in critical yet stable condition.
“Thank you all for your kind words … I send love to you all,” he wrote on Instagram
The Avengers star was critically injured in a snowplow accident in Reno, Nevada.
While trying to get his car out of the snow, the acclaimed actor was run over by a snowcat or snow removal machine, according to local authorities.
“We believe this is a tragic accident,” authorities said yesterday during a live press conference.
Our own CaptionedLife has more information on the tragic accident below.
The successor to Knives Out, Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion moves on with a new mystery that can only be solved by the detective skills of Benoit Blanc as a group of rich, shallow, and self-entitled friends are brought together to a Grecian island getaway for a murder mystery game. Only the game turns into reality through a shocking turn of events and dramatic reveals. The question remains: Whodunnit?
Read Also: “Babylon”: A Colorful and Obscene Love Letter To the Art of Filmmaking
As many remember, Knives Out was an absolute favorite of 2019 and helped revitalize the murder mystery genre with its unique flair in the way it utilized even the most common tropes. Glass Onion continues to do the same but manages to stand out as a separate story. It’s not a sequel, it’s not a follow up or continuation. It is its own story in what will hopefully become a library of stories. Through this movie alone, I feel as if Rian Johnson understands the genre and the modern day audience it’s intended for as well as the niche group of people the movie is targeting. And personally, it didn’t feel long at all as it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time while debating who the culprit is.
Much of the suspense and intrigue has to do with the incredible casting choices, each of whom understood their characters and performed their roles so well. I won’t give much away but Janelle Monae was surprisingly spectacular in her role, especially when the twist of the mystery is finally revealed. Daniel Craig continues to shine as the lovable Benoit Blanc while the rest of the cast manage to come off so despicable and horrible that I just hated all of them in the end. But more shocking to me is that I found myself rooting for some of these characters, even for just a minute before going back to hating them.
But here’s what really makes the movie shine: the “glass onion”. The film understands that not only do mysteries have layers, but so do people. Throughout the film, we see the layers of the mystery and story be peeled back one by one, but it’s not until each individual character’s layers are unveiled that we see progression of the investigation. Glass Onion sprinkles so many clues within brief moments that either have no context or attempt to insinuate anything other than the truth of the situation. It is constantly throwing us off the trail as we try to stay on the trail, and it actually works.
Is Glass Onion a commentary on the rich? Definitely. Does it criticize their shallow personalities, selfish and performative choices, and fake intelligence? Absolutely. And I love to see it! But there’s a lot more to this movie than just that. Without a doubt, it is one of my favorite movies of the year and has me craving for more murder mysteries from Rian Johnson. It is witty and hilarious, it is full of suspense, and mixes in twists and cliches in a way that feels fresh and new. If you loved Knives Out and if you’re a fan of Benoit Blanc, I encourage you to watch Glass Onion…and then watch it again.
Samosa Rating:
Glass Onion receives 5 out of 5 Samosas.
Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix.
Runtime: 2h 19m
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish follows our outlaw feline hero, Puss as he embarks on a journey to find the legendary Last Wish and gain back the remaining 8 of his 9 lives that he’s already lost. All the while, something or someone is haunting him every step of the way as he struggles to cope with his mortality in this beautiful and hilarious fairy tale.
Read Also: Strange World: A Vibrant and Worthwhile Exploration That Isn’t What It Seems
If you’re at all a Shrek fan like me, you will love this movie. It’s not common for animated sequels to live up to the original but having watched both adventures with Puss in Boots back to back, I can say that The Last Wish lives up to our cat friend’s reputation. Not only is another fantastic round-up of fairy tale characters we all know and love, but it touches upon some really difficult topics that are usually hidden from younger audiences. As adults, we’re able to pick up on these themes easily but introducing them for children is almost as if we trust to eventually comprehend these lessons as time goes on. Frankly, I expect nothing less from DreamWorks.
As a lover of animation, I just adored the shifting of art styles as it went from a stationary or calm moment with our usual 3D animation to an action-packed, butt kicking scene with animation that looks hand drawn or painted. And much like the rest of the Shrek franchise, several of the fairy tale elements and characters are designed with vibrant colors with an edgy flair. The entire film I just kept thinking how much I wanted to live in this eerie yet childlike world they’d designed.
As far as the cast goes, Antonio Banderas brings the same energy he did a decade ago but this time, with a touch of vulnerability that further develops the character. I will always love Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws as she too expresses vulnerability and strength throughout the movie. And that leads me into all the new characters and the story as a whole.
The Last Wish excels in giving us a story that presents so many new characters along with what their motivations are or what their backstories were. Whether it was Goldilocks or Perro, each of them was an extremely pleasant surprise, especially given the voice acting talents of each of them. Not one character was left hanging, brought in without purpose, or lingered past their welcome. I loved that each character’s paths intersected with one another in some way, all the way up until the end and it never felt overcrowded or that someone was getting more spotlight than the other.
Again, if you’re a Shrek fan, then Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is a must watch. With its gorgeous animation, familiar soundtrack, adorable charm and well-times humor, this movie hits the mark as an enjoyable sequel and addition to the Shrek franchise. If anything, it has made me love the character of Puss in Boots even more and caused my appreciation for fairy tales to skyrocket.
Samosa Rating:
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish receives 5 out of 5 Samosas.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is now playing in theaters.
Runtime: 1h 40m
Without giving much away, Damien Chazelle’s Babylon follows the progression of filmmaking in the 1920’s and onward as it transitions from silent to sound films. Throughout the movie, we see multiple characters and their journey to stardom as they each navigate the harsh realities of this creative and rambunctious world.
Read Also: Pinocchio: A Darkened Yet Child-like Twist On The Classic Tale
Getting right to it, I have to admit I had a hard time staying focused on the movie. The runtime of three hours is usually a cakewalk for me but in the case of Babylon, I could not help but feel every minute of it and caught myself checking the time more frequently than not. There were several moments that felt gratuitous and frankly, they didn’t really justify the 3hr run for me, and felt excessive and didn’t seem to add to the overall plot. There were parts of the movie that felt overly ambitious and redundant to the point where I was telling myself, “Yes, I get it. The 1920’s were wild. Let’s move on!”
However, I can’t deny how much I loved the dedication and love that was poured into the movie. Despite being fictional, Babylon explored some of the most groundbreaking moments in the art world that changed the way stories were told. To me, it’s crazy to think that so much of this happened just a century ago and the film feels like a colorful and obscene love letter to the art of filmmaking. My personal favorite moments were centered around the process of making a movie, the chaos that surrounds it, and the relief that comes when you achieve what you set out to do, no matter how small. And the original score by Justin Hurwitz is one of my favorites for the year and it perfectly encapsulates the energy of the movie.
The cast was certainly phenomenal as they gave their soul to this movie and the characters they portrayed. Brad Pitt was probably my least favorite performance but the story surrounding his character as well as that of Margot Robbie’s was intriguing to say the least. But if I’m being honest, as much as I loved her performance, I feel like Margot Robbie’s role continues to push her into being typecast as the same character and I’d love to see her be able to use her talents for something different. Jovan Adepo and Li Jun Li were spectacular, but ultimately, Diego Calva stole the show as he took the focus off everyone and aimed it at himself.
No matter what, Babylon is a film that is perplexing for me as I have so many conflicting feelings about it. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it, either. I disliked some of the stylistic choices and unnecessary additions of scenes that made it drag on longer than I think we needed. And yet, the more I think about it, the more I liked it and had an understanding of it. I went from telling myself that Babylon isn’t a movie for me to having a strange and deeper appreciation for it.
It is not a perfect movie. It is messy and gross, but it also doesn’t shy away from the realities of what Hollywood was a century ago and how much of it mirrors what it is today while also showing how different it is. If you love the history of filmmaking, movies about making movies, or if you just love movies, Babylon is a must-watch. You might like it or you might not, there’s no right or wrong answer. But there’s no denying that this was Damien Chazelle’s way of expressing his love for the art of film.
Samosa Rating:
Babylon receives 4 out of 5 Samosas.
Babylon is now playing in theaters.
It’s a new month AND a new year! As always there’s a slew of new comic book runs coming out! Here are my Top 3 new comic book runs to start off the New Year!
Wanda Maximoff has finally found some semblance of peace in her life. Run a witchcraft shop, helping others who have hit their lowest points with her powers has become her day to day. Until a young woman fall through the door of her shop. She tells Wanda a story of a small town driven mad by an unknown force. Now the Scarlet Witch must use all her power and knowledge to uncover and defeat this new threat.
The brand new, solo Scarlet Witch #1 is set to hit selves on Jan. 4th.
Do you like fairy tales? One classic fairy tale almost everyone knows is Jack and the Beanstalk. A boy trades the family cow for magic bean…it’s a story that has been retold thousands of times. But has it ever been told…in space?
In this retelling Jack is a mechanic, being forced to sell a broken robot at the space bazaar. Instead of beans, he ends up trading this robot for navigation unit containing charts to deep unknown space. Will he and his crew find riches? Or will this journey to the abyss end in tragedy?
Grimm Space #1 is making a landing in comic shops on Jan. 11th.
Christian tradition says that Judas was paid 30 coins of silver to betray Jesus. Have you ever wondered what happened to those 30 coins? Since that betrayal, there has been a war in the shadows against the demons created by this act. Now, a family that has been fighting this war for generations has been split apart. The secrets of the coins, and the war they caused are about to come to a head.
This new series Coins of Judas from new publisher Band of Bards is set to hit store shelves on Jan. 18th.
You can find all of these and countless others at PREVIEWSworld.com
Every generation has films that define them. Over the past few years, we have been getting films about Gen Z that are a commentary on the generation’s culture or are stories about our experiences.
In 2022 alone, there have been 5 films released focused on Gen Z culture: Senior Year, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Not Okay, The Fallout and Do Revenge.
Here are my ranking of these films and whether or not I recommend you to watch them.
1. Do Revenge : Recommend 👌
Streaming on Netflix
Synopsis: A dethroned queen bee at a posh private high school, Drea, strikes a secret deal with an unassuming new student, Eleanor, to enact revenge on one another’s enemies
Do Revenge is a dark revenge teen comedy that strongly defines Gen Z while also paying homage to previous generations. It features an all-star cast of Gen Z royalty, including Maya Hawke, Camila Mendes, Austin Abrams, Rish Shah, Talia Ryder, and Alisha Boe.
This film is very much a product of Gen Z culture, with its vibrant colors, depiction of queerness, use of social media, portrayal of fake allyship and misogyny in our generation, and the outfits and soundtrack, which include a song by the Gen Z-defining artist Olivia Rodrigo. “Do Revenge” tells the story of two women trying to move on with their lives after a traumatic event, all while exploring what it means to be a woman in Gen Z. The film also has a shocking twist that will surprise you. If you enjoy films like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Heathers,” “Clueless,” “Jennifer’s Body,” and “Jawbreakers,” “Do Revenge” is definitely worth your time.
2. The Fallout – Reccomend 👌
Streaming on HBO Max
Synopsis: In the wake of a school shooting, Vada, Mia and Quinton form a unique and dynamic bond as they navigate the never linear, often confusing journey to heal in a world that feels forever changed.
“Fallout” is the most raw and emotional Gen Z film in my opinion. School shootings are an unfortunate event that many in Gen Z experience and fundamentally change them forever. This film captures all those emotions in this heartbreaking tale.
The Fallout captures this in a very subtle manner and takes you on an emotionally tumultuous journey with our characters . It is not an easy watch but one I highly recommend if you have the emotional capacity for it.
3. Not Okay : Recommend – if you can stand the main character 🤔
Streaming on Hulu
Synopsis: A misguided young woman who is desperate for friends and fame fakes a trip to Paris to upgrade her social media presence. A terrifying incident takes place in the real world, which becomes a part of the imaginary trip and offers all she wants.
Not Okay is a satirical Gen Z comedy that explores the toxic relationship with social media, social media activism, and the illusion of being an influencer, all of which are significant parts of the Gen Z experience.
While millennials also experience these elements, most of Gen Z has grown up with social media, influencer culture, and the larger internet from day one, which has shaped our values as a generation. “Not Okay” is a brightly-colored, trendy, cringe-worthy comedy about being an influencer through the eyes of the main character, Danni Sanders.
Danni Sanders is intentionally unbearable throughout the film, so if you can tolerate her, I highly recommend giving this film a watch. However, if she is too much for you, it might be best to skip it.
4. Bodies Bodies Bodies: Recommend 👌
Rent on Amazon Prime – streaming on Showtime eventually
Synopsis: When a group of 20-somethings gets stuck at a remote mansion during a hurricane, a party game gone very, very wrong ends with a dead body on the ground and fake friends at every turn as they try to find the killer among them.
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a Gen Z slasher film that is similar to “Among Us,” except that there is no guessing about the killer. In this film, people are actually being slashed and the survivors are trying to figure out what is happening.
The film is very much a product of Gen Z culture, with dialogue featuring snappy one-liners, slang, and buzzwords that are common among Gen Z, as well as discussions of social justice issues such as white privilege and social status. The activities of the characters, such as vaping, drinking, and using their phones as flashlights, are also typical of Gen Z. The cast, which is mostly made up of Gen Z actors, adds a layer of authenticity to the film since their acting is quiet natural. While the film suffers from pacing issues and somewhat shallow characters, it is a true representation of Gen Z culture.
5. Senior Year: Pass 🫠
Streaming on Netflix
Synopsis: A high-school cheerleader falls into a coma before her prom; twenty years later, she awakens and wants to return to high school to reclaim her status and become prom queen.
Rebel Wilson may be iconic, but this film is not worth watching. Although the idea behind the film is interesting, its execution falls short.
It is overly exaggerated, cringeworthy, and Rebel Wilson’s character, who is the lead, is unlikeable and annoying. While I don’t dislike the portrayal of Gen Z in this film, a lot of it feels forced, partly due to the exaggerated sequences and very corny dialogue. If you’re looking for something to hate watch, I would recommend “Not Okay” over this film.
“I like things that look like mistakes” – Frances Ha
Frances Ha is a 2012 American comedy-drama film directed by Noah Baumbach. The film stars Greta Gerwig as Frances, a 27-year-old aspiring dancer in New York who struggles to find her place in the world. As she navigates the challenges of adulthood, Frances learns to embrace the uncertainty of life, finds her own path and is a reminder that it is okay to be a little lost.
There are not many coming of age stories for those in our 20s and so Frances Ha is a singular unique tale for many of us. 20s are often the most transformative and challenging decades for many of us so its a surprise there are not many films with characters in this stage of life. As someone who freshly entered their 20s, Frances Ha is a film that spoke to me and my personal thoughts for so long.
Frances is many of us. She is awkward, unusual, messy, childlike and free spirited and really more about vibing to live rather than having a solid structure for life. She makes mistakes, is lost, and does not have a lot of confidence in herself. She is living day by day by doing the bare minimum to survive life but never anything bigger. She is chaotic, disorganized, and still has the spirit of a curious exploring child in her. None of these are necessarily detrimental to her but in retrospect to her peers, it can feel like she is falling behind who are finding success in their careers, love and are “settling down”. And isn’t that often many of us in our 20s? This is why watching Frances and her journey made me and will make so many others feel validated in our experiences and give hope for the future. This film will make anyone feel seen in a big or small way which makes for a emotional and distinctive experience.
The main themes in the film with Frances is identity and purpose ( the defining pinnacle of our 20s). With heavy themes to explore, the film is an equal mix of simplicity and complexity. The cinematography is “simple” as the entire film is in black and white which creates a timeless experience with the film to complement France’s journey. The film is also simple in its scenes following Frances’s life. For her its work, home, friends, one trip with her family, and constantly moving around which is a relatable lifestyle for the audience. There is nothing dramatic or large that happens to amp up the viewing experience. It quiet literally feels like an extended vlog of Frances’s life as she’s just living. These choices to have a simple help craft an immersive and personal experience for the audience.
The complexity and power in this film is in the script. It is full of life while trying to define what is life. It has a naturalistic dialogue that is phrased smartly where there are many powerful lines that are impactful. The screenplay never feels corny or overindulgent but has its little quirks with each character’s unique personalities . The script makes sure to portray each character uniquely with their lines giving them depth and authenticity. This film is not here to make a point but rather to capture the raw human experience and the choice to make it as simple as it can be makes the film masterful. The film also has a playful soundtrack, loose costume design, and a smooth transition between the scenes . It feels like a video camera reel our parents make of us when we are kids. Greta is the perfect actress to play Frances with her awkward expressive emotions and carries herself too strongly. Noah Baumbach’s direction is strong and straightforward which fits the film to convey the story. Noah does not try to do anything inventive which further contributes to the film’s genuineness.
In conclusion, I highly recommend everyone to check out Frances Ha because the film reminds us it is okay to be lost in life and everything will slowly work out all in 90 minutes.
Rating: 9.5/10
Frances Ha is streaming on Netflix
If you know me, you know that I am a huge fan of Disney, specifically Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My family and I have had a special connection to this place and absolutely love visiting whenever we can. I love seeing the excitement through my child during our time there. They get so wide-eyed and jaws drop whenever they see their favorite characters out on Main Street or running away from Kyle Ren on Rise Of The Resistance. There is so much about the place that makes it so magical (at least, the pre-Chapek days).
As someone who also loves the Christmas holiday, I had on my bucket list to visit Disney World during the holiday season. I’ve heard nothing but outstanding and exciting things about seeing there with how it gets transformed and all of the special additions that make the most magical place on earth even more magical. Well, I was able to check that off my list as we went a few weeks ago, and I absolutely loved our experience there.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit Disney World during the holidays, here are five reasons why you should go.
If you didn’t know this, Disney World transforms their parks’ decorations overnight, when the park closes for the day on October 31st, and then magically set up by the time the park opens the next morning. There are so many decorations around each of the four parks as well as the resorts and Disney Springs. Each park has its own Christmas tree that stands at least 50 ft or taller, its own special decorations that are unique to its location, and holiday lights wherever you go. My absolute favorite park decorations are at Hollywood Studios, where their decorations have a classic 50s-60s vintage feel to them.
Now you might be thinking that you don’t have to go to Disney World to get this kind of merchandise when you can just order this online straight from the Disney store website. And that’s true. But I think there is something different about seeing some of this merchandise in person that makes it more enticing and exciting than looking at it on a screen. They have an abundance of merchandise at all of the parks and resorts that are great for the holidays, from having a cookie plate and cup of milk for Santa, to ornaments from the various Disney properties like Marvel and Star Wars, tree decorations, shirts, magnets – you name it, they probably have it! Magic Kingdom has a Christmas store right inside Liberty Square, and Disney Springs has an entire store of holiday-themed Disney merchandise, as well as a section inside the World Of Disney store.
Disney World has always been known for its creative takes on food, snacks, and drinks, and the holiday is no exception. No matter where you go, you can find a holiday-themed food or beverage item, such as Melted Snowman Sugar Cookie, S’mores Hot Cocoa, Christmas donuts, and more! Each member of our family had specific tastes but we were able to find something that everyone could enjoy with each of their treats. But the tase is only half of it – the decorated presentation of each of their treats is also so majestic that part of you doesn’t even want to eat it!
Located at the Grand Floridian Resort, Disney World has created a 14-foot tall Gingerbread House since 1998. Each year, they make a different house so no two houses are alike. Every single piece (with the exception of a few mechanical pieces like the door knob) is made out of gingerbread, and there are usually over 20 hidden Mickeys located on the house! Every day, cast members stand inside the house, selling a variety of treats that they make. Their most popular item is the gingerbread shingle, which is a six-inch long, shingle-shaped soft gingerbread with a layer of chocolate on top. We tried it out this year and as someone who is not a fan of gingerbread, I really enjoyed this!
A magical Christmas at Disney World wouldn’t be complete without Santa. There are a number of ways that you can see Santa at the parks – and all for free! (If you want a photo with Santa, they do take a professional photo for you that you can pay to have, but they also allow you to take your own photo on your phone as well). We got to see Santa this year in the Hollywood Studios Christmas parade that they hold every day, led by a dancing Pluto and Santa’s reindeers. We also took our child to sit next to Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas at EPCOT, and our kid was nothing but smiles the whole time.
Hulu’s 7 Days stars Karan Soni and Geraldine Vishwanathan as Ravi and Rita, two millennials who are pushed by their parents to meet each other during the early days of the pandemic. As the world suddenly shuts down to prevent the spread of illness, Ravi and Rita find themselves forced to shelter in place together, which leads to unexpected discoveries about one another and themselves.
Read Also: “Four Samosas”: A Worthwhile South Asian, Wes Anderson-Style Comedy You Need To Watch
For a film that is limited in its physical setting, there is so much that happens in the span of just 90 minutes. It’s a simple plot that is set during a time that is still fresh in all of our minds as we remember widespread panic, obsession over doom scrolling numbers, and de-sanitizing everything we touch. And while that is an active part throughout the film, it doesn’t overshadow the story’s purpose and message, as well as the development of the characters.
Even though we are introduced to two characters of South Asian background, it’s clear that they are polar opposites from how they initially interact with one another. But it’s this exact dynamic that puts them in a position of vulnerability, allowing them to open up to each other, call each other out on their perspectives or actions, and ultimately find understanding of the other person. It’s something we don’t normally get to see with South Asian-led films, so it’s refreshing to watch, especially thanks to the outstanding performances by Soni and Vishwanathan.
7 Days is funny and heartwarming while managing to throw in moments of relatability of something we’ve all collectively had to experience. However, the movie is careful not to indulge in the trauma of its audience as it merely intends to give comfort and succeeds in giving us a quick love story between two people that feels like a slow burn. In a world that has greatly changed in recent years, it’s safe to say that 7 Days is ultimately a story about finding love in the midst of a worldwide crisis, and that is something quite remarkable.
Samosa Rating:
7 Days receives 4.5 out of 5 Samosas.
7 Days is available for streaming on Hulu.
