Sunshine — Movie Review

Sunshine (Maris Racal) has one dream. She wants to compete in the Olympics as a gymnast. She’s talented, determined, and supported by a dedicated coach (Meryll Soriano). Her family, especially her sister (Jennica Garcia), is also behind her every step of the way.

Everything seems to be falling into place for Sunshine and she is just one step away from entering her next big tournament. 

Then she discovers she’s pregnant.

She turns to her partner, Miggy (Elijah Canlas), hoping for support. But instead of helping her, he gaslights her. He dismisses her fears and avoids responsibility. From that moment, Sunshine’s world begins to fall apart.

In the Philippines, abortion is illegal and heavily frowned upon. Society judges women harshly for even considering it and Doctors are more likely to refuse to help you since they are putting their license at risks. The public sees abortion as shameful. That leaves women like Sunshine with few options. One of them are underground abortion pills. They are dangerous and unregulated, but it feels like the only choice she has left.

During this painful journey, Sunshine meets people who challenge her perspective on pregnancy and motherhood. One of them is a mysterious little girl (Annika Co) who appears out of nowhere. She is not real, but she feels real. She represents the unborn child growing inside Sunshine and she speaks frequently to her, sometimes convincing her to not to go through with the abortion. Sunshine also meets a young pregnant child who was sexually abused by her uncle.

All of these encounters build toward one powerful question for Sunshine.

Will she still go through with the abortion? Or will these encounters change her mind?

Happy Gilmore 2 — Movie Review

After winning his first Tour Championship in 1996, Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) continued to dominate the golf scene and build a fulfilling life. Over the years, he secured five more championships and had five children with his wife, Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen).

But everything changed when tragedy struck. During one of his games, Happy’s powerful drive accidentally killed Virginia. Devastated by guilt and grief, he quit golf to focus on raising their five children. The loss also pushed him into alcoholism.

For a long time, Happy disappeared from the spotlight. He lost their home, ran out of money, and now works in a supermarket just to get by. His four sons take on jobs to help support him and their younger sister, Vienna (Sunny Sandler). Vienna dreams of studying ballet, but the tuition is far more than Happy can afford.

One day, Happy is approached by Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie), the flashy CEO of Maxi Energy Drink and the new golf league called Maxi Golf. Frank invites him to play in an upcoming tournament. Happy declines and their meetup ends with Frank swimming with fishes.

But still, the encounter sparks something in him. With support from his kids and encouragement from his tenant, John Daly, he picks up a golf club again for the first time in years.

As Happy returns to the green, he discovers that he still got the powerful drive in his arsenal. But one the major problem keeping him down is his alcoholism. He must find the strength to overcome his addiction and confront his grief head-on if he wants any chance of making a real comeback.

Jurassic World Rebirth — Movie Review

Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) is a high-ranking executive at a powerful pharmaceutical company. One of their most ambitious projects is to find a cure for a deadly heart disease. To make progress, they need rare biomaterial samples from three specific dinosaurs. These dinosaurs are located on a remote and heavily restricted island near the equator.

To retrieve the samples, Krebs hires Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), a covert operations expert known for her experience with high-risk missions. Zora puts together a team for the job. She brings in Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), a friend and a seasoned field leader, along with LeClerc (Bechir Sylvain), Nina (Philippine Velge), and Bobby Atwater (Ed Skrein). Also joining them is Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a paleontologist brought in for his knowledge of dinosaur behavior and biology.

Meanwhile, sailing nearby is Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) with her daughters, Isabella (Audrina Miranda) and Teresa (Luna Blaise), and Teresa’s boyfriend, Xavier (David Iacono). When their boat drifts too close to the island, they are attacked by a Mosasaurus. Their vessel is destroyed and they become stranded in open water.

Zora and Kincaid’s team finds the shipwrecked family and rescues them. But with no way to send them back to safety, the team takes the family with them as they move forward with the mission.

Once they set foot on the island, they realize the difficulty of this mission. The island is crawling with more aggressive and terrifying creatures. Among them is a monstrous, genetically altered dinosaur called the Distortus rex. It is probably the most brutal creature on the island.

Superman — Movie Review

After stopping a war between Boravia and Jarhanpur, Superman (David Corenswet) finds himself in hot water. Though he ended the conflict, he is now under scrutiny for entering a foreign country and interfering with political affairs. One of his most vocal critics is none other than tech billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).

Lex claims that Superman might be a global threat because of his involvement in the Boravia-Jarhanpur situation. He proposes a solution to the U.S. government, a special task force he calls Planet Watch. This unit includes his most powerful assets: the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), Ultra Man, and a fleet of flying armored soldiers. However, the government is reluctant to approve his plan unless he can present solid evidence that Superman poses a serious danger.

While Lex looks for a way to bring Superman down, Superman continues doing what he does best. He saves lives. Whether it is stopping an enormous kaiju or going toe-to-toe with a mysterious iron suit, he shows up. He is not alone either. Sometimes, he gets help from his loyal dog, Krypto. Other times, the Justice Gang steps in. The team includes Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi). But their support is limited. They are under Maxwell Lord and his company, so their involvement depends on the situation.

Outside of saving the world, Superman lives a quieter life as Clark Kent. He works as a journalist for The Daily Planet alongside his best friend Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) and his girlfriend, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). Lois knows the truth about Clark and Superman, and they’re secretly dating. Though, it’s not working out perfectly as both would've want to.

But despite everything, from relationship issue to world-ending problems, one thing remains clear. The world needs Superman. So when Lex finally makes his move and begins to carry out his plan to eliminate him, Superman must find the strength to face his biggest challenge yet.

Uninvited — Movie Review

Lilia Capistrano (Vilma Santos) has a plan. She is going to kill billionaire Guilly Vega (Aga Muhlach) at his mansion during his 55th birthday party.

Why? Well, there’s a lot of reasons.

The Vega family is powerful, but they are also heartless, entitled, and dangerous. Guilly’s wife, Katrina (Mylene Dizon), is simply apathetic. She couldn't care less about her constituents. Their daughter, Nicole (Nadine Lustre), is a troubled young woman with drug addiction. 

But Guilly Vega is the worst of them all. He’s a corrupt politician with a long history of wrongdoings and crimes. One of the most horrific of it is the random abduction of Lilia’s daughter (Gabby Padilla) and her boyfriend (Elijah Canlas).

Lilia knows justice will not be served through the legal system. The Vega family has influence, money, and deep political connections. Even if she takes them to court, the outcome is almost certain. She will lose.

That leaves her with only one choice.

She must take justice into her own hands.

Espantaho — Movie Review

Pabling (Emil Sandoval) is dead.

His daughter, Monet (Judy Ann Santos), prepares for the traditional pasiyam, a nine-day mourning ritual meant to honor the dead and guide the soul into the afterlife.

Things take a turn when Pabling’s legal wife, Adele (Chanda Romero), arrives. She comes with her two children, Andie (Janice de Belen) and Roy (Mon Confiado), and they are determined to sell the family’s old ancestral house along with all remaining properties. Their plan will surely evict Monet’s family, including her son Keith (Kian Co), her mother Rosa (Lorna Tolentino), and her partner Jack (JC Santos), who are all currently living in the house.

As the family conflict unravels and intensifies, a mysterious entity which is seemingly tied to a strange painting of a scarecrow starts terrorizing the home.

My Future You — Movie Review

Karen (Francine Diaz) and Lex (Seth Fedelin) weren’t really looking for love.

Karen is more concerned about her mom’s relationship with her stepdad. It’s not that they’re a bad match, but Karen still longs for her real dad. Deep down, she wishes her parents would get back together.

Lex, on the other hand, is still processing the loss of his family, who died in a tragic boat accident. His adoptive parents treat him well, and he lives a comfortable life, but things just feel different. There’s a part of him that still feels disconnected with them.

So no, they weren’t searching for love. But somehow, they meet on an online dating app.

As they get to know each other, they begin to unpack their emotions and share pieces of their past. Then, they realize one huge thing.

They are living in two different timelines.

And the Breadwinner Is… — Movie Review

When OFWs return, they are often excited, with huge smiles on their faces. No more lonely days. No more video calls. No more packing of balikbayan boxes. 

Finally. Home.

But when Bambi Salvador (Vice Ganda) first steps back into her hometown of Pampanga, her face reflects confusion and frustration. For years, she worked tirelessly, doing odd jobs, from being a masseuse to drag, just to earn money to renovate their family house. Yet, the house remains the same, only older.

Apparently, the money for the renovation went elsewhere.

Bambi is understandably furious. Her brother, Biboy (Jhong Hilario), admits he mishandled the money. Although Biboy’s wife, Mayet (Gladys Reyes), insists that it was spent on efforts to earn more, it’s the feeling of betrayal that hurts Bambi the most. Her other two siblings, Buneng (Maris Racal) and Boying (Kokoy de Santos), also lied to her about the supposed renovation.

To make matters worse, Baby (Eugene Domingo), her estranged older sister, mysteriously returns from Italy, further complicating Bambi’s situation.

Despite being back to square one, tired, angry, and disappointed, Bambi, as the breadwinner of the Salvador family, picks herself up. She must do whatever it takes to save her family. 

Elio — Movie Review

When a boy named Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) discovers the Voyager Golden Record at a space exhibit, a wild idea occurs to him: maybe aliens exist.

Elio is a sad and lonely boy. His parents have died, and he now lives with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña). But she doesn’t seem to want him around. She is always busy, always scolding him, and worst of all, she is sending him to a youth camp.

Elio just wants to belong somewhere. Somewhere he is needed or wanted. He believes that place might be far from Earth. That is why he dreams of being abducted by aliens.

Then, one day, it actually happens.

Because of the Golden Record and a signal sent from Earth, a group of aliens arrives and abducts Elio. The problem is, they mistake him for the leader of the planet.

The aliens want Elio to represent Earth in the Communiverse, a council of alien civilizations. But first, he has to prove himself. Afraid of going back to his old life, Elio plays along. He must now convince Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), one of the most powerful creatures in the universe, not to destroy the Communiverse just because they rejected him.

Along the way, Elio meets Glordon (Remy Edgerly), Lord Grigon’s son. Glordon is cheerful and carefree. He is nothing like his father, who is obsessed with blasters, power, and destruction. Glordon does not want to hurt anyone, but he is scared to stand up to his father.

Elio and Glordon form an unlikely friendship, a friendship that could change the future of the universe and both of their lives forever.

KPop Demon Hunter — Movie Review

Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) are the stars of Huntrix, a wildly popular Korean girl group. Fans around the world adore them. Their songs, style, and energy can easily light up every stage.

But behind all the fame and glamor, the world doesn’t know their biggest secret.

They’re not just pop stars. They’re demon hunters.

For a long time, demons have roamed the Earth. They hide in the shadows and steal souls to feed their king, Gwi-Ma (Byung-hun Lee). Rumi, Mira, and Zoey were born with voices that carry a special power. When they sing, their music fills people with hope and courage. And when people are feeling fulfilled, the energy they give strengthens an ancient force called the Honmoon.

The Honmoon is what protects the world from Gwi-Ma’s evil. The more people believe in Huntrix and feel inspired by their songs, the stronger the Honmoon becomes. If enough hearts are awakened, they can create the Golden Honmoon, a shield so powerful that no darkness can break through it.

Meanwhile, in the demon world, Gwi-Ma is growing restless. His attacks have all failed and Huntrix is stronger than ever. That’s when a clever demon named Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop) comes up with a new idea. Instead of fighting the group directly, why not destroy their fanbase?

Jinu believes that if people stop listening, the Honmoon will grow weak. Perhaps, it will fade away.

As pressure builds for Huntrix to unlock the Golden Honmoon, Rumi faces a personal struggle. She is hiding a terrible secret to her group.

Rumi is part demon.

Every day, it gets harder to keep the truth from Mira and Zoey. She’s afraid that if they find out, it will break their bond and weaken the group’s power.

Rumi’s fear grows as Gwi-Ma and Jinu draw closer to victory. If she loses her friends’ trust, Huntrix might fall apart. And if they do, the world could fall with them.

28 Years Later — Movie Review

The film is set 28 years after the Rage virus. While the virus has almost completely died out across continental Europe, as most of the infected have perished from starvation, Great Britain remains under indefinite quarantine.

On an island separated from the mainland by a causeway lives Jaime (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), one of the community's most skilled scavengers. He resides with his wife Isla (Jodie Comer), who is battling a mysterious illness, and their 12-year-old son, Spike (Alfie Williams). As part of the community’s coming-of-age ritual, Jaime takes Spike into the forest to teach him the art of survival and scavenging.

During their trip, they encounter different types of infected, from a fat one to a child. But the most terrifying of them all is an Alpha, a rare variant that is faster, stronger, and smarter than the typical infected. These Alphas are nearly impossible to outrun or outfight, making them a threat to be avoided at all costs.

While staying at an abandoned house, Spike spots a fire in the distance. Jaime mentions that it is probably Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), a former survivor who now lives in isolation. According to locals, Kelson has lost his mind, and most people are afraid of him. However, Spike later discovers that Kelson is actually a doctor. With hope building inside him, he wonders if Kelson might be able to help treat his ailing mother.

Everything changes when Spike witnesses his father having an affair. The betrayal shakes him to the core and becomes the turning point of the story.

Spike decides to break the community’s rules to bring Isla to Kelson, risking everything to save her. With infected still roaming the land and the threat of Alphas making every step more perilous, Spike traverses the dangerous land with courage, love, and a bow in hand.

Deep Cover — Movie Review

Deep Cover follows a group of improv comedians who are unexpectedly recruited by a police officer (Sean Bean) to infiltrate a dangerous drug gang.

Leading the team is Kat Boyles (Bryce Dallas Howard). She’s a struggling stand-up comedian who also teaches improv on the side. Joining her is Marlon Swift (Orlando Bloom), an aspiring dramatic actor and one of Kat’s improv students. Completing the trio is Hugh (Nick Mohammed), a socially awkward IT worker who gets pulled into the mission despite his poor improv skill.

At first, everything goes surprisingly well. Using their skills, the trio manages to earn the trust of the drug lord, Fly (Paddy Considine). Their improvisational talents keep their cover believable, and for a moment, it seems like the mission might actually succeed.

But things quickly spiral out of control.

Suspicion starts to build and Fly begins questioning their identities. To make matters worse, the police seem oddly uninformed by the operation, leaving the trio out in the cold with no backup.

Now trapped in a dangerous game and with their lives on the line, the three have no choice but to rely on what they know best: improv.

Lost in Starlight — Movie Review

In the not-so-distant future, humans have achieved what was once only dreamed of: travelling to Mars.

Nan-young’s mother was one of the early astronauts sent to the red planet on a pioneering mission. But something went terribly wrong. Her father, unable to cope with the grief, lost his grip on reality.

Years later, Nan-young (Kim Tae-ri) follows in her mother’s footsteps. Now an astronaut herself, she carries the burden of legacy and longing. Her mission is to continue her mother’s work by cultivating life on Mars using a flower known as Amur Adonis, a symbol of hope and survival in even the harshest environments.

Despite her intelligence and training, Nan-young struggles with grief herself. Flashbacks of her mother paralyze her in crucial moments, raising concerns among her superiors about her mental readiness for such a high-stakes mission. Still, no door is ever truly closed. She may still have a shot if she can gather herself. A short break back in Korea might be just what she needs.

While in Korea, Nan-young meets Jay (Hong Kyung), a former band member who once wrote a song he assumed would never be heard again. One day, Nan-young plays the song, to his surprise. Nan-young reveals it is one of her favorites, a track close to her heart.

As they spend more time together, they begin to help each other face their deepest fears. Nan-young finds comfort and calm in Jay. Jay, on the other hand, finds a new reason to revisit his career as a musician. Their bond becomes healing.

Eventually, everything comes down to a single decision. Nan-young must choose between staying with the person who helped her find herself or returning to the stars to chase the dream that has shaped her entire life.

Mars is dangerous. And it is far, far from Earth. Far from Jay. But it is also her and her mother’s dream.

Can Nan-young leave behind the person she now loves to pursue the dream that defines her?

Only We Know — Movie Review

Only We Know opens with a professor named Betty (Charo Santos-Concio) giving a lecture on existentialism, absurdism, and the play Waiting for Godot.

A few years later, Betty is now retired. She spends her days doing ordinary things like painting, grocery shopping, and cooking for herself. Occasionally, her best friend Cora (Shamaine Buencamino) and Cora’s husband, Bert (Joel Saracho), visits her. During these visits, Cora often tries to set Betty up on dates. Unfortunately, none of them work out. The men she introduces to her are either perverts or too old.

Betty used to be married; his name is William (Al Tantay). No, he’s not dead. He simply left her for someone younger. Despite this, Betty and William remain in contact. Their relationship now feels more like a polite friendship. There’s no drama and you can just sense that there's acceptance on what happened between them.

Across the street from Betty lives Ryan (Dingdong Dantes), a middle-aged man who lost his wife a year ago. He’s still grieving and unwilling to move on. He refuses to date anyone and spends most of his evenings drinking alone. Though they live near each other, Ryan and Betty rarely interact.

That changes one day when Betty asks Ryan to host dinner for the two of them after he helps her with something around the house. Ryan hesitates but agrees. What starts as a simple gesture becomes the beginning of an unexpected and intimate friendship.

As they spend more time together, Betty and Ryan discover that they share more than just proximity. Both carry emotional wounds and unspoken sadness. Through long talks, quiet dinners, and everyday companionship, their bond grows stronger.

Together, they create something undefined. A relationship only they know.

How to Train Your Dragon — Movie Review

If other islands worry about pests like rats or insects, the island of Berk worries about something much bigger: dragons.

Dragons are vicious creatures. They steal sheep for food and destroy homes and crops with their fire. Every attack is a reminder that life in Berk is dangerous and unpredictable.

But Berk is home to the toughest and meanest Vikings. They don’t back down from anything, not even fire-breathing, high-flying dragons. The people of Berk are fearless. When a dragon appears, they fight it, capture it, punch it, or kill it.

Hiccup (Mason Thames) is the son of the Viking chief, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). As the chief's son, everyone expects great things from him. But Hiccup doesn’t fit the Viking mold. He’s thin, weak, clumsy, and far from fearless. He often ruins whatever he touches, much to the disappointment of his father.

His peers don’t see much value in him either. Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), Ruffnut (Bronwyn James), and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn) each have unique strengths and bravery that makes them useful in battle. Even Astrid (Nico Parker), Hiccup’s crush, is a fierce and skilled warrior. She’s easily the best Viking of their generation.

Still, not everyone has given up on him. Gobber (Nick Frost), Hiccup’s mentor, sees potential in the boy. He believes that maybe Hiccup doesn’t need to be a typical Viking. Maybe he just needs to stop pretending to be someone he’s not and start embracing who he really is: a thinker, a builder, a problem-solver. Someone who sharpens swords, creates strange gadgets, and invents new things.

Then one day, everything changes.

Hiccup encounters a trapped dragon. Not an ordinary dragon, but a Night Fury. Night Furies are known to be incredibly fast, dangerously powerful, and extremely rare. According to Viking law, if you see one, you must kill it on sight.

But Hiccup can’t do it. He raises his knife, then lowers it. Instead of killing the Night Fury, he sets it free.

The dragon, however, can’t fly away. Hiccup soon realizes that the Night Fury’s tail fin is damaged, making flight impossible. Hiccup decides to do something crazy, he builds the dragon a prosthetic tail fin.

Before he can test it, though, he must first do the impossible: earn the dragon’s trust.

As Hiccup spends more time with the dragon he named Toothless, he realizes something that could change everything: dragons might not be the enemy after all. They’re not mindless beasts. In actuality, they’re intelligent and emotional creatures.

This revelation forces Hiccup to question everything his father and his entire community believe. Maybe they’ve been wrong about dragons after all.

Predator: Killer of Killers — Movie Review

Predator: Killer of Killers is an anthology film told in different chapters.

The first story follows Ursa (Lindsay LaVanchy), a fierce Viking warrioress leading her son Anders (Damien Haas) and their clan to destroy the Krivichs. Ursa harbors a personal vendetta against the Krivich leader, Zoran, who was responsible for her father's death.

After a brutal battle between Ursa and Zoran, a Yautja suddenly appears and slaughters what remains of both clans.

The next chapter centers on two samurai brothers, Kenji and Kiyoshi (both voiced by Louis Ozawa), sons of a powerful warlord in feudal Japan. One day, their father demands a duel between the two to determine his successor. But Kenji, unwilling to fight his own brother, runs away. Kiyoshi, bound by honor, stays behind and accepts his father's title.

Years later, the brothers reunite, and a fateful duel begins.

Unbeknownst to them, a Yautja has been watching from the shadows, studying their combat. When one brother emerges as the clear victor, the Predator steps in to face the superior warrior in a deadly one-on-one battle.

The next part is set around 1941 to 1942, during the Battle of the Atlantic. This chapter follows fighter pilot John Torres (Rick Gonzalez).

While on a mission, John realizes the enemy aircraft they are fighting isn’t from Earth. It is actually a Yautja starship. Despite orders to stay grounded, John takes to the skies to warn his squadron.

But, it’s too late.

Outgunned and outmatched, John pushes his skills to the limit in a desperate dogfight to bring the alien vessel down.

In the final segment, all surviving “fighters” find themselves captured and taken to a distant planet ruled by the Yautja.

There, they are pitted against each other in a gladiator-style deathmatch. The goal? Prove themselves worthy to face the ultimate Predator warlord. Only the strongest will survive.

Ballerina — Movie Review

Ballerina (2025)

When Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) was a young girl, she witnessed the murder of her father by a man known as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). From that moment on, she swore to track him down and avenge her father's death.

Following the tragedy, Winston (Ian McShane), the owner of the New York Continental, brings Eve to the Ruska Roma. There, she meets the Director (Anjelica Huston), who takes her in. In Ruska Roma, Eve trains as a ballerina and a deadly assassin, becoming one of their most capable operatives.

Years later, during one of her assignments, Eve encounters a cultist bearing a distinct mark that resembles one she saw on her father's attackers. The mark reignites her thirst for revenge. Ignoring direct orders from the Director not to meddle with them, due to a longstanding truce between the Ruska Roma and the Chancellor’s faction, Eve turns to Winston for help in tracking the cult down.

Her investigation leads her to the Prague Continental, where a man named Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) is staying with a young boy. It isn’t long before she discovers the hotel is filled with cultists and assassins, all hunting Daniel.

When the situation spirals out of control, Eve agrees to honor Daniel’s wish to protect the boy at all costs, all the while continuing her pursuit of the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, because Eve disobeyed the Director’s orders, the Director sends her most formidable enforcer to stop her: none other than the Baba Yaga, John Wick (Keanu Reeves).

Karate Kid: Legends — Movie Review

4 decades, 3 karate kids. Now, we have a new one!

Li Fong (Ben Wang), a teenager from Beijing, moves to New York after his mother (Ming-Na Wen) lands a new job in the city. He brings with him a deep knowledge of kung fu, having trained under his great-uncle, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). However, as Li moves to a new place, he makes a vow to leave martial arts behind. This promise is in respect for the tragic loss of his older brother, who was stabbed by a vengeful opponent following a tournament match.

Life in New York proves to be challenging. Li struggles to connect with others and feels like an outsider in his new environment. Things begin to change when he meets Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley), the daughter of a pizza shop owner and the only child of Victor Lipani (Joshua Jackson), a former local boxing champion. Mia is kind, outspoken, and welcoming, and the two quickly form a close friendship. As they grow closer, Li begins to develop feelings for her.

However, not everyone is happy about this new bond. Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Connor Day (Aramis Knight), takes issue with it. Connor is a local karate champion known for his aggressive attitude. Jealous and threatened, Connor targets Li, looking for an opportunity to bully and humiliate him. Eventually, he challenges Li to settle things in a local martial arts tournament.

Li finds himself torn. His promise to never fight again weighs heavily on him, especially with the memory of his brother’s death still fresh. But if he declines, it's an invitation for Connor to bully him more. Plus, the prize money could help Mia and Victor with their pizza shop. Seeing his student’s internal conflict, Mr. Han reaches out to someone who might be able to guide Li in a different way. So he enlists the Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a former karate champion and longtime student and friend of the late Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

Daniel introduces Li to Miyagi-Do Karate and helps him rediscover what martial arts are truly about. It’s not about revenge or proving strength, but about finding balance, peace, and the courage to face life’s challenges.

Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning — Movie Review

Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in another explosive Mission: Impossible. But this time, he’s not facing a terrorist leader, a contract killer, or a rogue double agent. This time, the enemy is far more dangerous, unpredictable, and unrelenting, an artificial intelligence known only as the Entity.

Ethan’s mission, should he choose to accept it, is to stop the Entity from unleashing global destruction, erasing all of humanity. The only way to stop it is to retrieve its source code, which lies at the bottom of the ocean in a sunken Russian submarine called the Sevastopol.

There are just some problems: Ethan doesn’t know where the Sevastopol is, how to reach it, or what to do with the source code once he finds it. And time is running out. With every passing minute, the Entity grows smarter and more powerful, slipping deeper into the world’s nuclear systems and becoming nearly impossible to contain.

To make matters worse, an old enemy is after him. Gabriel (Esai Morales) is back. And he will stop for nothing to gain control of the source code before Ethan can.

As always, Ethan assembles his loyal, tight-knit team. Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), the ever-reliable tech field agent. Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), a veteran hacker. And Grace (Hayley Atwell), a skilled thief turned IMF operative.

Together, they devise a high-stakes plan to outmaneuver both Gabriel and the Entity. It’s not perfect, and unexpected problems always seem to find them, but if there’s one thing this team knows, it’s to find a way.

Lilo and Stitch: Movie Review

Who would’ve thought that after 23 years, Lilo & Stitch would rocket back into theaters? Not for a sequel, but for a live-action remake.

Naturally, some fans are nervous (including me!). The original Lilo & Stitch is a beloved Disney classic. And let’s be honest, Disney doesn't exactly have the strongest track record when it comes to translating animated films into live-action. Their latest, which is Snow White, was received pretty badly.

From the moment I saw the news about this remake, it felt unnecessary. In fact, I feel like most of Disney’s live-action remakes are unnecessary. There’s rarely a compelling reason to retell the same story, especially when the original is already outstanding, if not perfect.

For those unfamiliar, Lilo & Stitch tells the story of a spirited Hawaiian girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha). After the tragic loss of their parents, her older sister Nani (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong) steps up to raise her, even though she's barely an adult herself.

Nani juggles the pressures of work and caring for Lilo, all while under the watchful eye of child welfare services. If she fails to keep up with her responsibilities, she risks losing custody of her little sister.

Lilo eventually adopts a strange blue "dog" from an animal shelter; she names him Stitch. Stitch (or Experiment 626) is an alien creature genetically engineered for destruction. He has escaped from a galactic prison and landed on Earth, prompting the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham) to order his immediate capture. To retrieve Stitch, she sends down Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis), the evil genius who created him, along with Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), an expert on Earth.

Naturally, things spiral into chaos because of Stitch. But despite it, Lilo refuses to let Stitch go. To her, he’s Ohana. And Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

Now, this live-action version does make a few changes that set it apart from the animated film.

The first change lies in its interpretation of Ohana. In the original, Ohana basically meant sticking together through tough times. But in the remake, it takes a more grounded approach, suggesting that sometimes, Ohana also means letting go or walking separate paths in order to grow. While it’s a thoughtful revision, it’s also a challenging concept to communicate clearly to younger audiences. And unfortunately, at least for me, the film doesn’t quite manage to explain it in a way that lands emotionally.

Second, the focus of the story leans more heavily toward Nani. The emotional core becomes her struggle to hold everything together like her job, her relationship with Lilo, and her role as a young guardian. This angle gives Nani more depth, something the original only briefly explored. However, this shift also sidelines Stitch’s own journey of self-discovery and finding a home. So key moments like Stitch running away with the Ugly Duckling book, symbolizing his longing for belonging, are missing. That’s a big loss. Stitch’s arc of finding his own family was what gave the original its emotional pull.

Furthermore, some bold choices in this version may not sit well with fans. For instance, this version recasts Jumba as a villain. Cobra Bubbles, one of the most unique and memorable characters in the original, plays a much smaller role. And David is more of a comic relief. These changes strip the film of some of its original charm and personality.

Still, the remake isn’t without its strengths. One welcome addition is the character of Tūtū, a warm, quick-witted elder who brings both humor and wisdom to the Pelekai sisters. She adds a new dynamic that feels natural and heartwarming.

The casting also deserves praise. Maia Kealoha and Sydney Elizabeth Agudong are excellent as Lilo and Nani. They truly embody their characters and bring an authenticity that honors the original. And of course, Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch! Sanders is unrivaled. No other actor could voice Stitch than Sanders.

So, which version is better? That’s hardly a debate. The animated film wins, hands down. Nothing can replicate the beautiful watercolor backgrounds, the straightforward emotional storytelling, or the perfectly cast voice actors.

This live-action version can stay, though. I don't really hate it. Even if it has a lot of misses, you can still feel that its heart is in the right place. It’s the same story, mostly, with a few creative changes. But those decisions, as odd as they are, do give it a slightly fresher perspective.

3/5