'Black Adam' - DC and Dwayne Johnson Level Up Their Action and Comedy

DC has once again extended their universe and seems to be starting to finally reach the same level as Marvel during its glory days and whether that's good or bad, it's a matter of preference at this point. Sure this doesn't have the brooding atmosphere of Matt Reeves' The Batman nor it has the groundbreaking storyline of the women in and out of Wonder Woman, but this has the same ingredients the audience are going to look for when they watch a superhero movie. Black Adam has it all and with this, it seems like DC is proclaiming that it's their turn or at least they're giving their rivalry a higher competition.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Black Adam wastes no time in the action department, to a point where there's almost no breathing room in between each of the action sequences and if there's any, it either introduces a couple of new characters and superheroes--some are fleshed out, some exists for the needed humor they're usually criticized for, and all are generally likable. This movie also offers a new world with compelling history that elevates this movie even more, and it's great at world building. It's good to see a superhero movie move away from the usual city these movies are accustomed to be set. The middle-eastern inspired Khandaq is actually my favorite part of the film.

Then there's Dwayne Johnson, the go-to person of studios that want to make more money out of their ideas. Here, he's not afraid to be savagely brutal and murderous because the thing is people are going to like him whatever he does. That's probably problematic but it's just what it is. The character he's portraying, Black Adam, the antihero doesn't like to be noble. He only cares about his family and dark sense of justice he likes to wield onto the world. Good thing is there's Justice Society of America, a team of modern day heroes who neutralizes him whenever he wants to be vengeful. So there's him and there's them and the conflicts surrounding their background and goals make for a great popcorn superhero movie. It doesn't hurt that the cast consisting of Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge to name a few are in it to have fun and give Johnson more of the spotlight.

Johnson is known for blockbusters and he doesn't veer away from that and instead, DC uses his appeal and what he's known for to make a superhero movie that will capture even more fans. They created a formula that's infused with different kinds of action sequences involving slow-mos, the desert, CGI, flying and all, a character-centric comedy that again is very reminiscent of the Marvel humor, and a cast that's going to make people root for, cry for, and laugh about throughout the film. It's going to bring back the superhero movies people loved during the 2010s and for that it's easy to declare that people are going to love it. Even when it's probably going to be criticized for the same old thing all over again. Case in point, it's entertaining point blank and sometimes that's the only thing that matters for moviegoers and superhero comic and movie fans.

'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' - Weirdly Charming--Singing Crocodile, Scraps-Eating Humans, Warts and All

It doesn't matter whether the title "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" is giving you LSS of Don McLean's American Pie or that TikTok Pinoy novelty, Paro-Paro G (fly high, butterfly) going into the movie because you're going to have a different one when you come out of it. It's the newest musical movie with songs from the composer of The Greatest Showman. That's the only thing you must know to be convinced that this one has a great set of songs and numbers. Because the more you get to know its premise, the more you might find it weird and random. But that's not necessarily a bad thing when its oddliness would charm anyone with a heart. It's weirdly charming--singing reptiles, scraps-eating humans, warts and all.

Columbia Pictures

To make the premise of this singing crocodile film become less random, let it be known (especially if you don't) that this is based on a book series by Bernard Waber of the same title. It stars a larger than life showman Javier Bardem, a comeback star Constance Wu, and the voice of award-winning vocalist Shawn Mendes as the voice of Lyle, the singing crocodile.

Instantly, the film introduces Javier Bardem as a washed up magician searching for new tricks to include in his performances. He discovers a little singing Lyle and decided to take care of him so he could be his prop in his performances in return. He's a bit of a charlatan, a con man, but definitely not one dimensioned. After all this is a family film--so as much as his character uses Lyle for money, we get to see his nicer side. And whether his intentions are good or bad, we get to see Javier Bardem dancing and absolutely enjoying himself with his comical dance numbers to the tune of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's earworms.

Not only Javier Bardem was put to the test, because the film also shows a happy and lively Constance Wu dancing and singing with a crocodile. Her character takes a while to warm up with the reptile, understandably so, but we also get to see her bond with Lyle and even eat scraps as one of their bondings. It's crazy, but again it's cute at the same time.

As most family movies are, it's expectedly heartwarming. So there's also that for families to enjoy when they watch this film together. It's honestly just a harmless, stress-free, feel good movie... that it got me to enjoy it even if there's a lot of it that are too random and strange. That's probably the film's number one appeal next to its music.

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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is now showing in PH Cinemas.

MTRCB Rating: PG

'The Woman King' - Like a Live Action Disney Princess Movie, But Make it Regally Bloody

Big-budget blockbusters have become exhaustingly repetitive in the past few years so when something as epic like The Woman King, or Top Gun: Maverick, RRR, and even The Batman happen, it already feels easily like a theatrical experience gamechanger. Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Woman King, for one, feels like a live action Disney princess movie, but make it regally bloody. It’s a fierce coming-of-age tale as much as it is an epic display of heroism by none other than Viola Davis as General Nanisca, an aging warrior who has a vision to assist the kingdom of Dahomey from engaging in the slave trade. Here, she is ferocious (as usual) and restrained at the same time, and she's backed up by the next generation of powerful talent in Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and a whole lot more.

Columbia Pictures

Starting with a prologue that's going to remind of any Star Wars film, it establishes the crisis yet remarkable story of the Agojie in the 1800s, a woman-centric unit of warriors who protect their King (John Boyega) and especially their African Kingdom of Dahomey with battle skills and savagery like no other. Just by this premise, it already feels fresh when most historical epics have men fighting against men for their male leaders. Here, apart from Viola Davis' Nanisca, she's also assisted by her two unique but equally lethal sidekicks--Izogie, an Agojie lieutenant; and Amenza, as her right hand in the army.

It is with Thuso Mbedu's Nawi, a young woman in a village outside the walls of the kingdom that makes The Woman King even more interesting. Her story as an orphaned girl who has had to learn and fight for survival that gives this movie its beating heart. After resisting all of her father's attempts to have her married for wealth, she is handed to Agojie where she makes an impression and possibly a familiar blood to the eyes of Nanisca. Here the film slightly becomes a bit similar to the like of Mulan or The Karate Kid.

But what those other films don't have is this cast of amazing performers where each character, lead or supporting, makes a case for the prize of best scene stealer. Everyone could hold a candle against Viola Davis even when Davis herself gives another commanding performance who knows when to be predominant and when to be subtle. Of course, the credit also belongs to the writers Dana Stevens and the actress and now also a writer Maria Bello who created these layered characters that has significance in each other's lives and the kingdom of Dahomey.

It sounds dramatic but the film boasts of several war battle scenes as well and while they might not be the most compelling we've seen, they're still decently bloody and brutal that made the audience squirm several times. Blood, tears, flesh, bruises, you name it, and all in an elegant African war style.

The Woman King, overall, is a standout among its contemporaries because it knows how to flesh out its characters and provide a good stake of risks for the leads apart from the usual war battles people already expected to come out of something like this. Something that's basic on paper but difficult to execute and this movie skillfully did.

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The Woman King opens in PH Cinemas today, October 5th.

MTRCB Rating: R-13