Director Milo Neuman’s approach to “Blue Beetle” for this DC Showcase is pretty fin as it watches like an incarnation of the old Hanna Barbera cartoons. Think “Blue Falcon” meets “Johnny Quest” and you’re there. “Blue Beetle” takes the often under used costumed hero known as Ted Kord and runs with his concept, turning him in to something of a quipping avenger who works off of the overly serious The Question, and it’s a fun preview in to what DC isn’t but should be doing with these overlooked characters.
Blue Beetle (2023)
After a year that’s been filled with nothing but losses from Warner and the now finished DCEU franchise, “Blue Beetle” is the win that they sorely needed. Thankfully, I’m very elated to say that Angel Manuel Soto’s adaptation of the acclaimed DC Comic is a great film. It manages to pull off a lot of what “The Flash” and “Fury of the Gods” didn’t by offering a fantastic narrative and some wonderful action, packed with great themes about family, culture, and unity. “Blue Beetle” is teeming with positivity, even when it’s at its darkest, as it promotes a lot of universal ideas of leaning on family, figuring out how to endure through pain, and figuring out your inner power.
Dark Windows (2023)
It’s surprising how out of left field Alex Herron’s “Dark Windows” has come, as it’s a movie that sneaks up on you but leaves you exhausted by the time the credits roll. “Dark Windows” is one of the best horror movies of 2023 but it’s also one of the most depressing movies I’ve seen in years. It’s a movie that pulls no punches and will leave you wrecked with despair and thinking about what you’ve just seen for a while. I was very certain that I knew what was going on during “Dark Windows,” but then writer Wolf Kraft subverted all of my expectations and really sent a cold chill up my back.
Demonic Toys: Jack-Attack (2023)
I’m assuming that these side quests for characters from “Demonic Toys” and “Puppet Master” are leading to something big down the road, but I can’t be too sure. Truthfully the side quest/spin offs of the flagship Full Moon franchises have been really hit or miss, but “Jack-Attack” has so far been one of the best. It’s only an hour in length and is short on story, but it compensates in carnage and some cool kills.
Fallen Drive (2023)
“Fallen Drive” opens up with a silent scene of what looks like a human body wrapped up in garbage bags and duct tape. From there what unfolds is what can best be described as an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” as directed by Neil Labute. Co-Directors and Writers Nick Cassidy and David Rice deliver what is a powder keg of a thriller that revolves around the concept that high school truly never does end. From the jumping point, “Fallen Drive” is teeming with so much tension that it’s literally seeping from every scene.
Five Great Minority Movie Heroes, Part VII
This Friday sees the release of “Blue Beetle” one of DC Comics’ most popular teen superheroes who’s garnered much acclaim and fandom over the years. The new vision of the classic DC Comics hero spotlights Jaime Reyes, a young latino teen given an alien technology which grants him a super powered body of armor that allows him to become a powerful superhero. With a great cast, and what looks like excellent action, I’m hoping “Blue Beetle” garners as much success as 2023’s “Spider-Verse” movie. In either case, in anticipation here is the seventh edition of our “Minority Movie Heroes” series.
These are five more minority movie heroes we loved.
Miguel Wants To Fight (2023)
Director Osmany Rodriguez’s “Miguel Wants to Fight” is a lot like a Gen Z version of “Max Keeble’s Big Move” mixed with “Three O’Clock High.” It’s a coming of age movie about a teen who makes a self realization in the midst of a big move to another town. Except the premise for the movie is what you see in the title. Our main character is teenage Miguel who is looking for a fight before he leaves; except it’s a tad more complicated than that.