New week brings a bunch of sequels

New week!

So this week there's a bunch to catch up on before screenings this week. We've got Ne Zha II, Nobody 2, and Highest 2 Lowest...new week, bunch of sequels.

I haven't seen Ne Zha or Nobody 1 so those have been added to the docket.

update: Finished Ne Zha and really enjoyed it. The animation was top tier and the story was beautiful as well. Rebellion, free will, family, and choosing your own destiny are some of themes played out alongside Chinese mythology. Side note: I love how they tell you there are extra credit scenes coming up so you don't miss out on anything. I look forward to NZII on Monday. The setup for the sequel is one of the extra scenes, so I'm already a little excited to see this play out on the big screen this time.

Ne Zha (2019)

Another "must see" this week is Alien: Earth. I haven't watched Alien: Covenant, but from my understanding with the Alien/Predator chronology, this show is closer to Alien (1979) and there isn't supposed to be too much Ridley Scott lore from Prometheus & Covenant.

It's just nice to see both Predator & Alien franchises taking their universes more seriously and giving us quality entertainment. With Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands coming out this year, I feel we're heading towards another showdown (albeit probably better) between our two monsters.

Alien: Earth (2025)

Seeing franchises take their craft seriously just reminds me how far Marvel has moved from their goal in 5 years. And it got me to thinking...are boardrooms responsible for most of the poor decisions being made...almost everywhere? Rumor is that Kevin Feige & his boardroom started taking away creative control from those who understood the comics and keeping it more and more for themselves. This got me thinking about how baseball front offices have exerted more and more ground level control. I'm not sure how many, if ANY, managers make their lineups anymore. Decisions are made by those who aren't playing the game and that BLOWS MY MIND. It's not just happening with movie studios and baseball teams, either. I would imagine every facet of life there are decisions being made in boardrooms that strictly focus on the bottom line and not the quality of the product. It's depressing and I'm not sure if that type of power will ever be relinquished. Which means more crap will be pumped out.

Kevin Feige, Marvel Entertainment

Speaking of baseball...I see what you did this past weekend, Cardinals. You had Yadi in the dugout for two games against the Cubs. Listen...I get the business decision to get butts in seats, but, in my opinion, it was a cheap ploy. Winning games gets butts in seats. I'm not sure the front office has the competitive spirit or financial fortitude to make that happen anymore so they want to relive the good old days and now it's just getting more lame with each stunt.

Yadi Molina, Cubs/Cards series (2025)

That's all that's floating around the noggin' today...ttyl xoxo

Next blog, I'll discuss Weapons, Ne Zha II, Nobody 1 and hopefully I'll get to see some Alien: Earth...