Blue Beetle is the third DC film of 2023 and this one serves as an origin story for the titular character. Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) returns home to Palmera City after graduating from university. He finds out his family is struggling and about to be evicted. When Jaime has a chance encounter with Jenny Kord (Bruna […]
Author: Kieran Freemantle
Strays Review
From the humans that brought us 21 Jump Street and Cocaine Bear comes an adult spin on the animal picture. Reggie (Will Ferrell) is a sweet, naïve Border Terrier who lives with an abusive owner, Doug (Will Forte). Doug tries to get rid of Reggie by playing ‘fetch and fuck’ where Doug would abandon Reggie and Reggie manages to […]
Haunted Mansion Review
The 2023 version of Haunted Mansion marks the second time Disney has attempted to turn their theme park attraction into a film. Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield) is an astrophysicist turned paranormal tour guide in New Orleans. He has become a jaded and bitter man after his reputation is ruined when he designs a spectral camera. Ben gets an […]
Gran Turismo Review
2023 has been the year of video game adaptations. The Last of Us has released critical acclaim and The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the Twisted Metal TV series have been well received by fans. Gran Turismo joins them with a film inspired by the games and real-life events. Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) is an avid Gran Turismo player and dreams of becoming a professional racing […]
Meg 2: The Trench Review
After a five-year break, the Megalodons return in a sequel to The Meg. Cult filmmaker Ben Wheatley takes on the directional duties for his first studio film. Five years after a Megalodon attack on Sanya Bay, Mana One has continued to explore the Mariana Trench for scientific research. During the latest exploration mission, Jonas Taylor […]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have had many iterations over their four decades of existence. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have put their own spin on the property with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. 15 years ago a vial of ooze falls into the sewers after the TCRI raided Baxter Stockman’s (Giancarlo Esposito) secret laboratory. That […]
Joy Ride Review
Directed by the writer of Crazy Rich Asians, and written by two writers of Family Guy, Joy Ride is a female-centric comedy that sees a group of Chinese American women going to China for raunchy misadventures. Audrey Sullivan (Ashley Park) and Lolo Chen (Sherry Cola) have been friends since childhood having grown up in the small town of White […]
Talk to Me Review
Talk to Me is an Australian horror film and the directional debut of the Philippou Twins. It’s a film that had a lot of buzz around it since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Mia (Sophie Wilde) is a teenage girl who is still grieving for her mother who passed away two years prior. When […]
Pop Culture Maniacs Podcast #37: Barbenheimer
Kieran Freemantle and Jean Henegan discuss the Barbenheimer phenomenon and share their thoughts on Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer Review
Movie fans always anticipate Christopher Nolan’s films. He moves into the world of biopics with his historical epic about J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer follows the life and career of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), from 1926 to 1954. This includes his student days in Cambridge and travelling around Europe to learn from the best physicists, teaching […]