REVIEW: Spy x Family Code: White is a slice-of-life spy thriller with over-the-top action and a distracting amount of anime food

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April 8, 2024

Ever since its debut, the Forger family from the Spy x Family anime series has become an inescapable staple of fandom conventions. So giving Spy x Family the full feature-length film treatment was much deserved! Code White is a standalone story that doesn’t rely too much on the anime series’ arc aside from also taking place during the ongoing conflict between the European-inspired countries of Westalis (West) and Ostania (East). The Forger family go on a vacation and visit the winter wonderland of Frigis but the trip turns out to be less relaxing than they initially thought, so now they have to fight their way to get back home. With all the hype surrounding Spy x Family Code: White before its release, was it able to deliver? Let’s find out!

Photo Credit: Encore Films Philippines

“Forger Found Family” moments

Most of the humor is derived from this badass family adjusting (and sometimes failing) to domestic life while trying their best to avoid exposing their secret identities/abilities. Loid (Westalian spy) and Yor (Ostanian assassin), in particular, often go overboard in trying to keep up the family-friendly ruse by applying their “special set of skills” to the most mundane tasks such as meticulously mapping out the grocery list or slicing food with lethal precision. And since Anya can read minds, she knows all the tea and does the most to prevent revealing the secret so she can keep her new family together. There’s also a big, fluffy dog named Bond who can predict the future whom Anya can communicate with thanks to her telepathic abilities.

Some of the funniest scenes for me include Loid overanalyzing the trajectory for a carnival shooter while also uncovering the foul corruption of the vendor who rigged the game, Yor whenever she gets into feral mode, and Anya trying to control her bowel movements (more on that later).

And of course, majority of the Loid/Twilight x Yor or TwiYor shippable scenes where they both fail so hard at communicating with each other despite being the best at their jobs. Some notable TwiYor moments feature Yor jumping on top of Loid in public (in a wholesome way!) while going on a drunken rant, Loid’s misguided attempts at reassuring Yor only to make her freak out more, their almost kiss which ended with Loid getting clobbered. To paraphrase a saying, they’re the best representation of “They’re a little confused but they’ve got the spirit!”

Deliciously decadent desserts

The Spy x Family series is also known for showcasing mouthwatering meals that make me want to desperately press my face against the screen. In Code White, it was all about indulging in a visual feast of cakes and pastries. When Anya joined a baking competition at her academy to win the coveted Stella Star, Loid went the super “extra” mile (for the mission and for the plot), and whisked his family away to Frigis so they could learn the ways of making the Meremere. This delectable dessert lived rent-free in my mind with its buttery, crumbly crust base, tart-but-sweet filling of assorted fresh fruits, moist sponge cake layer, and a generous dollop of fluffy meringue frosting that’s slightly burnt on top. Wait, what were we talking about again?

Photo Credit: Encore Films Philippines

Holding in your 💩 will save the world

Protect Anya at all costs! This pint-sized powerhouse was the standout star with her meme-worthy facial expressions, which screamed in ALL CAPS without uttering a word as she reacted to everyone else’s intrusive thoughts. My favorite storyline in Code White featured Anya and Bond–with the pre-cog dog acting as the “straight character” to her hurricane of chaos.

Mildly spoilery but Anya accidentally swallowed the movie’s Macguffin and when she’s eventually caught by the enemy, they force her to go to the toilet and let nature take its course. For the rest of Anya’s screentime since then, she wobbled about, summoning sheer willpower and muscle control to stop herself from pooping out the Macguffin. Anya’s tummy troubles were so visceral that you couldn’t help clenching it inwards in a mix of anxiety and sympathy. And to make matter worse, this poop-related predicament went on for an excruciatingly long time that it personally felt like torture. (Easily one of the “Top 10 Most Stressful Moments in Anime”)

And I had never felt more relieved for a character than when Anya was finally able to sit on the toilet.

Photo Credit: Encore Films Philippines

TL;DR Newbie-friendly intro to the anime series

Sure, the film does fall back on the anime’s episodic formula but why mess with a classic? It’s not Spy x Family if I don’t see Loid being weirdly intense about a minor chore, Yor being a shy babygirl while showing off her superhuman strength, and Anya going full Anya.

It was also nice to see familiar faces in the supporting cast such as Fiona Frost (simping over Loid), Franky (shooting his shot with a potential date), Damian (tsundere-ing over Anya), Yuri (being a Yor-obsessed younger brother), among many other brief appearances.

Admittedly, I was frustrated at the lengths that Spy x Family will go to in order to maintain the status quo (TwiYor not happening, Loid and Yor never finding out each other’s occupation nor Anya’s ability and so on) because it was really to the point of defying logic. For example, for a spy, Loid was impossibly dense and still hasn’t figured out that his waifu was not just an ordinary lady even as she openly has shown her fighting skills. And were they not suspicious about the contrived coincidence of all the Forgers somehow ending up in the same warship for the final battle?!

Speaking of fights, the high-flying action was definitely worth the cinematic treatment with Loid piloting the CG machinery and that fiery showdown Yor had against a super soldier. (That finishing move with the lipstick? I stan forever!) Among the new enemies, the main villain was mostly a forgettable despot with Yor’s adversary being the most memorable antagonist. (Who was a baddie and a “baddie!”)

But at its core, beyond the retro-style espionage and wacky domestic hijinks, Code White is a wholesome and heartwarming movie that tests the collective resolve of a found family who may not be ready to reveal their secrets to each other just yet but have enough trust to have each other’s back amidst the flying bullets. And to quote Henry Henderson, Spy x Family Code: White was “ELEGANTOOO!”

Spy x Family Code White is still showing in select cinemas. Thank you to Encore Films Philippines for the invite!

REVIEW: Godzilla x Kong is my kaiju-themed, cinematic creature comfort as a monster lover (Humanity, who?)

By

karenmae

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March 30, 2024

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I’m a Godzilla girly with perpetual heart-eyes for monsters, of course I’m going to enjoy the enemies-to-friends/reluctant allies journey and pink kira-kira love energy beams of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. UwU

Oh yeah, some of the humans from Godzilla vs. Kong returned such as Dr. Ilene (Rebecca Hall) and the adorable Jia (Kaylee Hottle). But I was mostly there for Godzilla, Kong, and the other Kaiju plus, the friends and foes made along the way. (Mildly spoilery stuff ahead!)

The yassification of Godzilla and other Kaiju

When I saw Pinkzilla’s energy beam charge up then released with a powerful “SKREEONK,” it felt like pure mahou shoujo/magical girl poetry in motion. (The way I excitedly clapped every time it happened, though!)

Other Titans also made the battlefield their runway and served Kaiju couture as Kong wielded a mecha gauntlet, Tiamat was primordially pretty in pink, Shimo looked cool in winter wear, and Mothra was mother in a smattering of hues and fuzz plus, glittering sparkles wherever she flew.

Putting the “Donkey” in Kong

Most of the plot revolved around Kong and his existential crisis and–spoiler alert–he’s not the last of his species. Kong even gained a new sidekick with the younger Suko…but not before throwing the kid Titan around like a melee weapon. (Can you say, “child endangerment?”)

So for the rest of the film, since their dynamic was pushed for comedic effect, I unofficially dubbed them as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong from the Nintendo video games. (The Donkey Kong Country theme played in my head every time they were on the screen and I expected them to start throwing barrels.)

Cartoon villainy in my Kaiju film?

Skar King is the online search result of a typical bad guy: He’s got the lava-riffic lair in Mount Doom, the feral minions, the corrupt warlord fit (complete with a skeletal bandolier), and the evil throne (where he moodily slouched), to name a few. I could imagine the Skar King suddenly launching into a Shakespearean monologue, detailing his plans for world domination.

Plot, what plot? People, what people?

If you’re worried about catching up to the previous films and the Monarch series then you can rest easy knowing that the plot doesn’t matter. There were times when the movie felt disjointed because it was trying to present separate films and genres that didn’t converge properly to get the desired payoff at the end. If they just leaned into the comedy and camp more, it would have been more consistently entertaining.

Some of the characters were engaging enough as comic relief, such as conspiracy podcaster Bernie (Brian Tyree Henry) and Titan/Kaiju veterinarian Trapper (Dan Stevens), who wore the visual shorthand for the beach-bumming cool guy–a brightly colored, button-down Hawaiian shirt.

Where is the Godzilla x Kong buddy cop chemistry?

As someone who was raised by fanfiction, an “x” between two names represents a significant relationship between the aforementioned characters. My disappointment was immeasurable when it came to the lack of a slow burn development that would make way for the eventual odd couple camaraderie. Godzilla and Kong only had a brief pyramid-leveling brawl before squabbling up against the common enemy.

The minimal joint screentime in Godzilla x Kong made me suspect some sort of behind-the-scenes animosity (hehe) between the two Titans while filming that would eventually hit the tabloids.

TL;DR: Kaiju comedy, maybe?

Despite the plot not plotting, Godzilla x Kong is a massively entertaining popcorn flick that’s best enjoyed as a group. Most of my LOLs were from the unintentional cringe comedy of the Titans. (Again, see: Kong throwing a kid Kong around.)

There were several Titan throwdowns (particularly, a suplex) with even some fight sequences literally elevated to dizzying heights. (I’m pretty sure there was a Mortal Kombat fatality somewhere in there.) Personally, I would have wanted more monster action. (Um, you know what I mean!)

Since they shared equal billing, Pinkzilla should have gotten more screen time and UwU friendship moments with Kong because aside from monster action, monster friendship is magic.

Godzilla and Kong is now showing in cinemas nationwide! Thanks to Warner Bros. PH and SM Cinema for the invite!

Current Obsession: Reneé Rapp and the Mean Girls Musical Soundtrack

By

karenmae

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February 15, 2024

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The way that Reneé Rapp has me and everyone who watched Mean Girls (and her highly entertaining press tour) in a chokehold is unreal. I am aware that her portrayal of Regina George is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of every high schooler but she could probably step on us all and we’d thank her for it.

My girl was born for this role and even played Regina in the broadway production of the musical and according to an official press release, Tina Fey, who wrote both the original 2004 Mean Girls film and the broadway adaptation, and producer/Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels had to convince her to try out for the role. “She actually said she wasn’t sure she wanted to do Broadway,” Fey explains. “Lorne and I convinced her she’d be wasting her talent if she didn’t take a run at this.”

And the queen bee Rapp herself said, “I look back and my jaw is on the ground. I know now how lucky I am. Women in comedy are not often granted the space to be sexy and funny and I think all the girls here are.”

She also calls the character the “head b*tch in charge” A.K.A. HBIC and shares, “She’s really sexy and powerful, but is also really endearing when you get to know her. She is a villain but you’re forced to empathize with her at times.”

Since watching the film, the following songs have been living rent-free in my head and are as follows:

“Meet the Plastics” (Reneé Rapp)

As soon as Ms. Reneé Rapp sang, “My name is Regina George,” I immediately fanned myself.

“Sexy” (Avantika)

A bop that definitely reflects the progressive feminist direction of current bimbocore content. Plus, Avantika giving us Karens a good reputation!

“Revenge Party” (Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Angourie Rice + cast)

I am such a glutton for a visual assault of saturated colors so this entire performance was like my Pinterest mood board materialized into reality.

“I’d Rather Be Me” (Auli’i Cravalho + the cast)

The voice of Moana aggressively encouraging the crowd to flip the bird? Enough said.

“Not My Fault” (Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion)

This dance floor burner hits so hard for almost three minutes GAY!!! Basically this year’s queer/sapphic anthem. Best believe that I will be swiveling my hips to the beat and pay tribute.

Mean Girls the musical is still showing in cinemas c/o Paramount Pictures International and UIP.

Photo Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”

REVIEW: Anyone But You serves equal opportunity eye candy and Y2K rom-com energy

By

karenmae

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February 14, 2024

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Anyone But You starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney is giving “enemies to lovers,” “there was only one bed,” “fake relationship,” and “unresolved sexual tension.”

The film gave me a much-needed dopamine boost with every kilig scene reverting this grown woman into an embarrassing tween prone to giggle fits. As someone who grew up during the peak of 2000s rom-coms, I’ve been yearning for the warm embrace of a romantic fantasy starring a ridiculously good-looking cast dealing with low-stakes problems while having the financial freedom to be dramatic against a gorgeous backdrop complete with luxurious accommodations. (If I wanted more realism, I would just scroll through a dating app.)

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are also the ultimate onscreen thirst trap power couple by simply existing. There was no doubt in my mind that Bea and Ben would be my OTP (one true pairing) endgame due to their intense chemistry, engaging mutual roasting, and so-thick-you-could-cut-it sexual tension.

The intimate moments featured in the film were tasteful, romantic, and sensual but with just the right amount of spice that would make you fan yourself a few times. Love scenes in general run the risk of becoming focused solely on the male gaze so I felt relieved when it was an equal opportunity kind of deal. So when I tell you that I will be watching their scenes together on repeat once it’s on stream—I am not exaggerating. (Respectfully!)

And the supporting cast was not just there for eye candy as they provided a break from the bickering with Beau (Joe Davidson), the stereotypical Aussie A.K.A. B*tch Hemsworth, doing effortless comedic heavy-lifting during his limited screen time. And if you’re a fan of local rom-coms then the Pinoy-style parenting/meddling of Leo, Innie, Carol (Michelle Hurd), and Roger (Bryan Brown) will be all too amusing and annoying. And I could not help gushing over Claudia and Halle being the most adorbs queer couple who are #RelationshipGoals!

I am also here for the return of Natasha Bedingfield with “Unwritten” becoming the theme song for the film. It felt like a nostalgic nod to when director, Will Gluck, made the very same singer’s track, “Pocketful of Sunshine,” the LSS of the early 2010s.

Was Anyone But You a groundbreaking concept that will change the romantic comedy genre forever? Hardly, but its predictability and familiarity (because the hot couple will always end up together no matter what) is a source of comfort in an uncertain world full of ghosting and situationships. So bring on the rom-com revival!

I’d Recommend It To…

Fans of either Sydney Sweeney or Glen Powell (or both!) who would like the opportunity to appreciate their appealing physique respectfully. (And that’s not even mentioning the rest of the crazy attractive supporting characters.)
Viewers who were raised by the feel-good era of late ‘90s and Y2K romantic comedies.
2000s kids who believe that Natasha Bedingfield’s music is long overdue for a revival. (Can you say, Easy A?)
Cassie (from Euphoria) apologists who just want bestie to be free from a toxic relationship.
Thirsty viewers who would prefer to see an equal opportunity intimate scene.
Book/fanfiction guys, gals, and non-binary pals who love classic relationship tropes such as “enemies to lovers,” “only one bed,” “fake relationship,” and then some.
Those who have a special place in their heart for Pinoy rom-coms that feature cringey but relatable interactions with the family.
Unapologetic romantics who can unironically quote cinematic and literary love confessions by heart.
Anyone who’s planning a revenge trip soon because the location is definitely social media snap-worthy. (Not to brag, but to inspire.)

Thank you, Columbia Pictures for the invite! ^^

Picture Credit: Columbia Pictures

REVIEW: Mean Girls (2024) POV from a millennial auntie

By

karenmae

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February 8, 2024

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As a millennial tita who saw the original Mean Girls when it came out 20 years ago, it was a surreal experience to find myself inside the cinema once again to watch an updated version for Gen Z and still mad relate. Before y’all rant about how they keep rebooting everything, Mean Girls is an adaptation of the broadway musical and not a remake of the 2004 film.

The Updated Vibes

Have you ever looked back at your finished work and felt the rising urge to revise and resubmit the whole thing? Tina Fey did just that! There were some jokes and inappropriate scenes depicted in the original that were so not “grool.” I’m relieved that the LGBTQ+ community was no longer used as a punchline—save for the iconic “too gay to function” comment which is a must. Seeing Tina Fey and Tim Meadows back in their roles as part of the faculty lent some familiarity and also helped ease this auntie into watching a new Mean Girls movie.

The Fashion

Since Y2K clothing has been back with a vengeance, some of the fashion looked similar to the OG Mean Girls. Yes, with its cropped tops and layering, the very same fashion that has haunted every millennial tween/teen well into adulthood. The costume department even directly referenced some of Cady Heron’s signature fits from the original film such as the blue plaid flannel shirt, the black-and-pink house party dress and the powder blue top.

The new film also made room for the modern-day trend of more diversified aesthetic options and its subcategories among the student body. Special mention to Janis Ian’s graphic eyeliner and whatever was going on with that string because yes, work! I was hoping The Plastics’ outfits would stand out more because they’re supposed to be teen royalty and maybe having a more eye-catching and specific core theme (barbiecore, old money, etc.) would have helped provide more visual shorthand that differentiated each character.

If I remember correctly though, Regina George’s look was supposed to be more androgynous (and similar to Reneé Rapp’s actual style) for equal opportunity thirst-trapping. Her warrior angel costume understood the assignment. (Ma’am!!!)

Avantika plays Karen Shetty; Renee Rapp plays Regina George; Bebe Wood plays Gretchen Wieners and Angourie Rice plays Cady Heron in Mean Girls from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Pictures.

The OG + The Broadway Musical = The 2024 Movie

Making movie musicals accessible to non-theater nerds can be a challenge so I totally get why they tried borrowing elements from both the 2004 film and the broadway production. However, the general high school experience is all sorts of unhinged, cringey, and ripe for over-the-top theatrics.

Some parts of the film could have been more extra AF, like with Angourie Rice’s portrayal of Cady Heron, I appreciate that she was able to capture that similar timidness Lindsay Lohan had in the original but she could have channeled her broadway counterpart (OBC Cady Erika Henningsen) when it came to the songs. Cady’s musical numbers reflect her intrusive hormone-addled thoughts so she could have projected that thirst more.

I think Auli’i Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey retained that same level of feral energy that the OG Janis and Damien shared. And I am not biased as a fellow Karen but I think Avantika’s Karen rocked it in her one solo number and wanted that same opportunity for Bebe Wood’s Gretchen to flex her humor because the latter was one of my faves in the original.

And Reneé Rapp as Regina George? Every time she appeared, I felt like I should have gone down on my knees in reverence because mother has graced us with her presence. (Ma’am! Part Two)

TL;DR

The new Mean Girls movie was able to update the film for a new generation and depict how magnified the high school experience is these days with social media and the digital landscape that never forgets.

Jokes and sus plot points that should have stayed in the drafts were left behind in the past (where it belongs, obvs) with the updated dialogue and quips providing a welcome change. Seeing students outwardly and freely expressing their identities and queerness onscreen hit me in the feels. (Gay band members making out? I stan!)

I would have wanted more theatrics *cue jazz hands* and dramatic costuming but I’m not that salty about it. My nitpicking aside, the fashion was still popping and I need that pink corset in my life. Also, there were some fun cameos like Ashley Park (OBC Gretchen), Jon Hamm, and more.

Mean Girls is for the guys, gals, and non-binary pals and deserves a sing-along screening because you will be disrupting your seatmates when the songs start hitting, trust. Yep, still making fetch happen.

Mean Girls is now showing at the cinemas!

P.S. Thank you, Paramount Pictures and UIP for inviting me to the screening.

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures International

REVIEW: Manda-Lore, Din Wick, and Adorabu Grogu Makes S3 LIT

By

karenmae

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April 19, 2023

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The Mandalorian Season 3 brings us more space fantasy beatdowns, adorabubu Grogu kicking butt, and crazy thicc armored warriors. (This is the Way!)

If you’re down with world building, then this season gives us both the “Manda-lore” backstory and catches us up with supporting characters from the series. This season also serves as a reminder that I must finally finish marathoning The Clone Wars animated series and Star Wars Rebels. (Soon!)

Courtesy of Disney

My favorite episode served Space Fantasy Police Procedural

In Chapter 22, Din (Pedro Pascal), Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff), and Grogu take a break from the agawan-ng-lupa drama (translation: fighting over the land/planet telenovela trope) for a fun side quest. This episode had everything: buddy cop banter, technicolor fever dream elite aesthetic, Blade Runneresque seedy underbelly, droids at a bar, Jack Black, Lizzo, and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd)! I am obsessed.

The sixth episode really committed to the police procedural theme with street chases, interrogations, and even a scene where somebody asks to “enhance” the footage. We are also reminded that Din isn’t cool with droids, especially CIS Battle Droids (See: Mando’s backstory in the first season). He’s kinda like that one grizzled cop with an initial prejudice that eventually gets subverted except Mando still dislikes droids with a few exceptions.

Without spoiling anything, I didn’t expect to hear Separatist talk again—it sounded way too similar to certain folk in ~real life~ who would miss the “good ol’ days” that disregard human rights. ICYDK, the Separatist movement was a whole thing with Count Dooku from the Prequel Trilogy and The Clone Wars series.

The sixth episode was my personal fave but I can see how it can be divisive if you’re used to the usual flow of the Mando series. Plus, Grogu is now officially a knight. (That’s SIR Grogu to you!) And of course kween Bryce Dallas Howard directed this episode.

Courtesy of Disney

The action-packed scene from the season finale was giving “Din Wick”

The show has tons of well-executed battle choreography but the last episode was definitely the highlight of the season. The whole sequence where Din went “Han Solo” mode, throwing hands and blasting at the Troopers as he runs/slides from one deactivated shield to another until he takes everyone down. It was giving John Wick and video game action realness!

Courtesy of Disney

TL;DR THOUGHTS: I’M FEELING IT!

The third season started slow but picked up pace midway once all the key players finally joined the battle to retake Mandalore. They spent way too much time down those caves but hey, at least we got Bo-Katan’s throne of depression out of it. While the main plot focused on Mandalore, we also got a glimpse of how different characters coped (detachment, delusion, and general trauma) following the events of the OG Trilogy.

The finale was satisfying enough that it could be a fitting end to the series as a whole. But it’s probably not the last time we’ll see Din and Grogu—you never know where they will pop up next. So while we’re waiting for the next season, it’s a good time to marathon The Clone Wars series to get more context.

You can watch all seasons of The Mandalorian and other Star Wars-related content on Disney Plus!

REVIEW: “Are we there yet?” Quantumania is a superhero family road trip

By

karenmae

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March 8, 2023

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AntManandtheWaspQuantumania-KeyArt — © 2022 MARVEL.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania kickstarts Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) which finally explores the titular micro dimension after teasing its appearance in the previous films.

The first movie had Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) go subatomic, which was a one-way ticket to the Quantum Realm (luckily, he escaped), the second was all about Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) searching for a way to bring back Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfieffer).

And now the whole Lang and Pym Ant-fam gets sucked into the quantum Realm thanks to Cassie Lang’s (Kathryn Newton) Quantum Satellite. When Scott asked in the last film, “Do you guys just put ‘Quantum’ in front of everything,” guess it served as meta foreshadowing for Quantumania.

With the movie receiving mixed feedback and lacking the presence of the iconic X-Con trio, is it still worth the watch?

An awkward family vacation in the Quantum Realm

The Quantum Realm looks like a half-psychedelic mind trip and half-sci-fi fantasy universe with a generous amount of slimy substances and gelatinous bugs. If you’re freaked out by insects with fibrous appendages and anything with a suspicious squirm then you will need to mentally prepare for supersized versions of these creatures. Some of the scenes might also look a bit sus, with Lord Krylar (Bill Murray) entangling with giant tentacles and Hank Pym shoving his arms elbow-deep into thick goo—all shown in great detail.

The cityscape gets less creepy-crawly with a set design that somebody just grabbed from the Star Wars props department. While it seems way too familiar with other fictional worlds, the dimension is still a visual treat. (Shout-out to the forest and the multi-eyed Broccoli alien!)

There’s a lot of focus on a brewing rebellion (like Star Wars?) planned by the Freedom Fighters. Sadly, no mention of the What If series’ fifth episode, where the zombie virus is traced back to the quantum realm. (Perhaps in another universe?)

The supporting characters need more support!

The absence of “those three wombats” Luis (Michael Peña), Dave (Tip “T.I.” Harris), Kurt (David Dastmalchian) can be felt. Filling the void were Quantum Realm inhabitants such as Jentorra (Katy O’ Brian), the leader of the Freedom Fighters, Quaz (William Jackson Harper), a humanoid who can read minds, Veb (David Dastmalchian, who previously played Kurt), a squishy creature obsessed with holes. Among the new crew, There’s also Ant-Man villain Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) who went through an uncanny valley transformation as M.O.D.O.K. and reached new levels of cringe. Quaz and Veb were the standout favorites providing entertaining quips.

Ant-Man is known for its hilarious heist sequences, X-Con’s bumbling antics, and Luis’ overly complicated narration. So when Scott was tasked with a fetch quest, the mission hit differently without his hype men.

Janet Van Dyne is The Wasp

Janet is the real MVP of the movie because she was able to survive in a new dimension for 30 years and held her own against Kang (Jonathan Majors). She even guided everyone else across the realm and threw hands at Kang for the second time. Hank Pym did his thing with the ants, too. It goes to show that age ain’t nothing but a number!

Kang “This isn’t even my final form” The Conqueror means serious business

It’s not even clear at the beginning what Kang is really capable of but we’re shown how intimidating the next Avengers villain is going to be through Janet’s wartime flashbacks and other stories. And this is before he actually shows up. Kang is a multiversal conqueror with a genius-level intellect and access to 31st Century tech. He also has a terrifyingly calm manner of speech that will stress the eff out of anyone. His tone is very “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.” In his weakened state, Kang is a tough boss fight so one could only imagine him at full power. (He even talked about defeating an Avenger.) Thanos, who?

The post-movie credits might force you to do your Marvel homework. In Loki’s season finale, Kang’s variant called He Who Remains (HWR), whose hyperactive energy is the complete opposite of The Conqueror, gave a warning, “And if you think I’m evil, well. Just wait until you meet my variants.” Quantumania’s post-credits also hint at a multiversal war care of the Council of Kangs.

TL;DR THOUGHTS: IT’S SO MID IT’S OKAY

It’s more serious than the previous Ant-Man films but Scott is still as goofy as ever especially when flexing his newfound Avengers fame, hanging out with Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), and the blatant Baskin Robbins product placement. One of the highlights include the Probability Storm where—without spoiling anything—Ant-Man serves peak Scott Lang humor.

Despite some points for improvement, it’s refreshing to see a superhero family kicking ass together. Nobody’s a damsel or dude in distress with the Pyms and Langs each getting their own action sequence. After all the brooding “I-need-to-stay-away-from-my-loved-ones” series and movies, we need less drama and more awkward interactions. (With uncomfortable parental TMI moments like an actual family!)

So if you want an epic superhero movie then it might feel mid for you. Quantumania is more like a series of unfortunate events during a family trip with all roads leading to Kang. But it’s a break that you didn’t know you needed before the chaotic multiversal mayhem that will be MCU’s Phase 5.

Four Sexy Summer Scents for your Skin

By

Kristine Chan

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April 2, 2020

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Loading the car up with camera equipment, I take one look at my home and try to remember if I’ve forgotten anything behind. Today was going to be a long photo shoot with various models across different locations. Having gone over everything mentally once again, I closed up the trunk of the car and jumped into the driver’s seat.

“Keep the calm flowing through your veins when everything is chaos.”

I whispered to myself as I fastened my seatbelt and began driving off. There were things to do, people to see. First stop was Avenue Park, where I met up with Alice. It was a great experience to collaborate with her and her modern look and short bangs haircut.

I felt utterly inspired by her outfit to edit it entirely in my style with a lot of pink and blue. Thanking her for her effort to meet with me this day, I left the premises after two hours of shooting.

My next stop was due to be the outskirts of the city. That was where I met up with the following model: Livia.

I felt inspired by this one, so I urged her to pick some flowers from nearby.

Making a beautiful bouquet, I then urged her to hold them in her hands and pose for the photos. She looked very lovely like that. Within a couple more pictures, I knew we had the perfect picture.

So after another hour taking photos, I ended the session and ran back to my car as the next location was to be near a lake. The drive was going to be pretty long and I had to get a move on.

Turning up the volume on the radio, I kept driving for another hour. It was going to be sunset soon, and I had to get there before that to capture the golden hour.

When I finally arrived on the scene, I insisted we move to the lake area so we could capture the beauty of the last rays of sunshine. As I instructed her to turn her back to the lake, she squinted into the sun and put her hand up to keep the rays from her eyes. It was then I took out my camera and took the first photo.

“Keep that pose. It’s perfect.”

I told her and moved around to get the perfect shadow and light on her face. Within a few more minutes of moving around, we managed to end this photo shoot on a high note.

As exhausting it had all been, it probably had been the most fun I had had in a long time. The pressure of taking the best photo and the running around had me fueled with adrenaline the entire day. Was it worth it? Of course, it was!

Get Energized with a Hand Massage Tip

By

Kristine Chan

-

April 2, 2020

0

Loading the car up with camera equipment, I take one look at my home and try to remember if I’ve forgotten anything behind. Today was going to be a long photo shoot with various models across different locations. Having gone over everything mentally once again, I closed up the trunk of the car and jumped into the driver’s seat.

“Keep the calm flowing through your veins when everything is chaos.”

I whispered to myself as I fastened my seatbelt and began driving off. There were things to do, people to see. First stop was Avenue Park, where I met up with Alice. It was a great experience to collaborate with her and her modern look and short bangs haircut.

I felt utterly inspired by her outfit to edit it entirely in my style with a lot of pink and blue. Thanking her for her effort to meet with me this day, I left the premises after two hours of shooting.

My next stop was due to be the outskirts of the city. That was where I met up with the following model: Livia.

I felt inspired by this one, so I urged her to pick some flowers from nearby.

Making a beautiful bouquet, I then urged her to hold them in her hands and pose for the photos. She looked very lovely like that. Within a couple more pictures, I knew we had the perfect picture.

So after another hour taking photos, I ended the session and ran back to my car as the next location was to be near a lake. The drive was going to be pretty long and I had to get a move on.

Turning up the volume on the radio, I kept driving for another hour. It was going to be sunset soon, and I had to get there before that to capture the golden hour.

When I finally arrived on the scene, I insisted we move to the lake area so we could capture the beauty of the last rays of sunshine. As I instructed her to turn her back to the lake, she squinted into the sun and put her hand up to keep the rays from her eyes. It was then I took out my camera and took the first photo.

“Keep that pose. It’s perfect.”

I told her and moved around to get the perfect shadow and light on her face. Within a few more minutes of moving around, we managed to end this photo shoot on a high note.

As exhausting it had all been, it probably had been the most fun I had had in a long time. The pressure of taking the best photo and the running around had me fueled with adrenaline the entire day. Was it worth it? Of course, it was!

Get Instant Deep Sleep with this Pillow Spray

By

Kristine Chan

-

April 2, 2020

0

Loading the car up with camera equipment, I take one look at my home and try to remember if I’ve forgotten anything behind. Today was going to be a long photo shoot with various models across different locations. Having gone over everything mentally once again, I closed up the trunk of the car and jumped into the driver’s seat.

“Keep the calm flowing through your veins when everything is chaos.”

I whispered to myself as I fastened my seatbelt and began driving off. There were things to do, people to see. First stop was Avenue Park, where I met up with Alice. It was a great experience to collaborate with her and her modern look and short bangs haircut.

I felt utterly inspired by her outfit to edit it entirely in my style with a lot of pink and blue. Thanking her for her effort to meet with me this day, I left the premises after two hours of shooting.

My next stop was due to be the outskirts of the city. That was where I met up with the following model: Livia.

I felt inspired by this one, so I urged her to pick some flowers from nearby.

Making a beautiful bouquet, I then urged her to hold them in her hands and pose for the photos. She looked very lovely like that. Within a couple more pictures, I knew we had the perfect picture.

So after another hour taking photos, I ended the session and ran back to my car as the next location was to be near a lake. The drive was going to be pretty long and I had to get a move on.

Turning up the volume on the radio, I kept driving for another hour. It was going to be sunset soon, and I had to get there before that to capture the golden hour.

When I finally arrived on the scene, I insisted we move to the lake area so we could capture the beauty of the last rays of sunshine. As I instructed her to turn her back to the lake, she squinted into the sun and put her hand up to keep the rays from her eyes. It was then I took out my camera and took the first photo.

“Keep that pose. It’s perfect.”

I told her and moved around to get the perfect shadow and light on her face. Within a few more minutes of moving around, we managed to end this photo shoot on a high note.

As exhausting it had all been, it probably had been the most fun I had had in a long time. The pressure of taking the best photo and the running around had me fueled with adrenaline the entire day. Was it worth it? Of course, it was!

Myriad

Karen Mae

REVIEW: Exhuma blessed me with sexy shamans, riotous rituals, and delicious-looking dirt