Skip to main content

Blue Beetle (2023)

 


Blue Beetle is a niche comic book hero and this is his origin story adapted to fit the silver screen.

Blue Beetle is directed by Angel Manuel Soto, who has brought you hits like. *checks notes* Oh he hasn't really done anything worth seeing. I'm sure he would disagree with me but let me be frank: I take issue with both his direction and how he promoted the movie. The film could have used more time in the oven as the CGI isn't up to par. Many scenes felt they could have been cut and I wonder if it was his choice to intentionally steal scenes from other comic book movies. There are scenes taken straight from Iron Man, Spider-Man, and even Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It doesn't seem like homage either.

There are two shining parts of the movie and those are Xolo Maridueña and Bruna Marquezine who have on-screen chemistry. They make the movie at least bearable to watch. Belissa Escobedo on the other hand couldn't help show her attraction towards Xolo despite being cast as his sister. This is probably Soto's fault for not catching it. She exudes contempt and is generally an insufferable girl boss. One out of four that is. That's right there are four girl boss characters who each have a chance to save the main character who happens to be a man. Feminist overtones are through the roof, four girl boss characters, two female CEOs, Grandma straight up murdering incompetent male soldiers, both male father figures are beta and one of them is a manchild with George Lopez. I know he was supposed to be the comic relief but most people in the audience didn't laugh at any of his quips including the hate for Batman which still confuses me. 

Susan Sarandon really phoned it in on this one. She delivers exposition and doesn't even attempt sinister emotion with mediocre writing. One of her worse performances and I loved her in Speed Racer.

The movie steals good scenes from other movies and doesn't add anything new to the comic book genre that you haven't already seen. Marquezine and Maridueña save the movie from being a complete disaster. The movie is just barely above Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Result: C-

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psycho Killer (2026)

Psycho Killer (2026) is a religious-tinged detective thriller that leans far more into procedural tension than outright horror. Directed by Gavin Polone , who is better known as a producer than a filmmaker, the movie benefits heavily from its screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker , the writer behind Se7en . His fingerprints are all over this. The writing is sharp, layered with foreshadowing that only fully clicks at the end, and structured in a way that constantly feels like it is building toward something inevitable. The gorgeous  Georgina Campbell plays the detective tracking down the titular killer, and she carries the film with confidence. You'll remember her from Barbarian and recently Cold Storage.  The script gives her plenty of emotional range to explore, from controlled professionalism to visible cracks under pressure. She handles the lore-heavy exposition well and grounds what could have been overwhelming backstory. It is another strong showing for her and proof she c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cold Storage (2026)

Cold Storage (2026) is a sci fi horror thriller that surprised me in a good way. The writing is solid enough that it actually calmed some of my worries about Disclosure Day coming later this year since the same writer is involved. The story holds together and stays engaging, even when the visuals do not. The CG is laughably bad at times, but the acting/chemistry keeps the movie watchable. Jonny Campbell directs, with the screenplay by David Koepp , known for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man . His writing here is tighter than expected, which is why it gives me more confidence about Disclosure Day. The direction is straightforward and lets the script do most of the work, even if the effects budget clearly limits what can be shown on screen. He needs a redemption after  Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Joe Keery , known for Stranger Things and Free Guy , is the main reason I showed up. He proves he can handle a leading role after Stranger Things and carries the film with a relax...
Post a Comment
Read more

Crime 101 (2026)

Crime 101 (2026) is a crime thriller that checks the basic boxes of what should work, but the writing never tightens enough to make it compelling. It hits familiar beats, runs longer than it should, and never quite earns its tension. It feels like a good movie outline stretched into a full runtime. Bart Layton , known for American Animals and The Imposter , directs, and his uneven filmography shows here. The structure is serviceable, but the pacing drags and the scenes lack urgency. The direction is competent without being memorable, and the film never finds a sharp identity. Chris Hemsworth , known for Thor and Extraction , plays the reclusive criminal at the center of the story. He tries to lean into a quieter, more internal performance, but he does not fully sell the damaged foster child mentality the script is aiming for. The performance feels like an attempt rather than a transformation. Mark Ruffalo , recognized for Spotlight and The Avengers , feels like he is on autopilo...
Post a Comment
Read more