thePopcornExplorer

I am fully aware how amazing anime can be, but I wasn't expecting such a moving and beautifully written piece of work.

I knew this was from the creator of the famous One Punch Man (which I enjoyed but didn't necessarily loved), so I was expecting some laughs at least but what I got instead was way more surprising and powerful.

Sure there are a lot of comedic moments and to an extent it's one of the key aspects of this show, however the depiction of the psychological themes that range from acceptance, anxiety, suppressing feelings, sense of belonging and much more is probably some of the best I've seen ever from any movie or TV show.

The metaphors and the creative narrative that uses the psychic powers as a direct comparison to real life struggles that we experience is simply outstanding.

I can't tell you how many times I resonated with Mob, there were so many touching moments where I was holding back my tears (ironically!) and the blend of comedy with these powerful dramatic moments was just perfect.

The story is fun, it's easy to follow, the animation was off in the biggening but it quickly became beautiful specially during battle scenes! The characters are likable and it's one of the most meaningful shows I recall seeing in recent years, filled with so many beautiful messages, it's almost therapy in anime form.

I can't recommend the show enough, on one hand it's good they didn't extend it but on another I would love to continue to see more from Mob... you go through the spectrum of all emotions while watching it yet somehow it manages to also be a cozy type of anime.

I'm really glad I watched it...!

Superhero fatigue is no joke. After years of continued commercial success (and, to an extent, critical success), this genre seems to have run out of creative fuel a long time ago.

People often talk about the Infinity War saga as peak Marvel, and while I agree those movies were great, let's not forget that there were always some very average flicks before it as well-the major difference was that they didn't come as often and weren't shoved down audiences' throats like they are now. With a new movie or series constantly being released, it's obvious that you can't maintain quality control at that pace.

I truly believe these films are their own form of entertainment. Martin Scorsese was heavily criticized a few years ago for comparing them to roller coasters, but I don't see the issue. There's room for all kinds of genres, and superhero films have always belonged in that "pure entertainment without much depth" category-which I think is totally fine.

Of course, audiences mature, and after so many movies and TV shows, repetition is inevitable. So even if you go in with the right mindset, a lot of the later MCU content is simply poor-there's no way around it.

But then Thunderbolts enters the game...

I want to highlight that at the end of the day, it's still a superhero movie, so don't go in with the wrong expectations. HOWEVER, there were several key aspects that, in my eyes, made it far better than any recent superhero film:

The acting was phenomenal-Florence Pugh especially didn't hold back at all. She really delivered, and it's clear she was made the lead here, which was a great decision.

The humor, while not groundbreaking, was much better than the overused jokes that sneak their way into the final cut of nearly every other MCU movie. It struck a great balance between dramatic tension and just enough comedic relief-without exaggerating and undermining the suspense and stakes.

And most importantly-and surprisingly-for once the movie actually has a relevant and meaningful message. The villain, and the way he was built around themes of mental health, was terrific. I really wasn't expecting them to take that narrative approach. It's not a deep exploration of the mind, but it does tackle real issues and blends them perfectly into a fictional story.

I really hope Marvel takes this movie as an example for the inevitable future installments. I heard it didn't do well at the box office, which is a shame-but still, I have hope.

It's a bit hard to describe the feeling I was left with after watching Sinners. You can love a movie because of its story, the way the narrative is built, the characters, the cinematography, the actors, the meaningful messages or thoughtful lessons it conveys... each movie has its own strengths and ways to impact you - Sinners to me was a perfect metaphor, a lesson in history and a tale of struggle disguised as a thriller.

I am not a fan of horror movies at all, but I wouldn't consider Sinners a horror movie or at least not a dark one or heavily relying on the horror aspect, it's an entertaining film that blends many styles together in a spectacular fashion through amazing cinematography, editing and music.

It's an over the top narrative but with compelling characters providing their back story slowly to keep you engaged.

The first act is quite long in order to introduce you to all the key players but it feels organic, however the true strength of this film are the several meaningful messages it depicts in the middle of all the supernatural elements.

The vampires representing the appropriation and the assimilation of culture, the false promise of free living and community that directly translates into US history.

The loss of cultural identity - the depiction of the traditional Irish songs used as a twisted weapon - two oppressed people (Irish and African Americans) that used powerful songs in their own social revolutions and how that same cultural heritage is distorted.

There are so much more amazing moments that convey messages of subversion, resilience, survival.. all that through the lens of an interesting narrative accompanied by beautifully stunning musical moments and that shot of the bar during Sammie's song... the mix of past and future... that's movie magic right there... If this review feels a bit abstract I would encourage you to watch the film and research the meaningful elements portrayed in it afterwards, you won't be disappointed.