Exploring the Extras of ‘Eternals’ on Digital

January 13, 2022January 14, 2022 Mike Manalo

For anyone following my reviews, you’ve most likely read my thoughts on Eternals this past November. To summarize, overall, I think this is a perfectly lovely, and bold film that challenges the traditional convention for the Marvel Cinematic Universe template, taking more from Alan Moore’s Watchmen than Avengers. I realize it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s fine. But for me, Chloé Zhao brought something incredibly unique into this 27-film franchise that I find severely underrated and quite special in its own right.

Marvel, Movies

The ‘Eternals’ Arrive on Blu-ray and 4K in February

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 Mike Manalo

As previously reported, Eternals is finally arriving to homes everywhere this January! And they’re bringing a whole slew of awesome special features and deleted scenes! Now, folks who weren’t able to make it to the theaters will finally get to see the ambitious and bold work of director Chloé Zhao, and her intergalactic, epic impact on the MCU!

Marvel, Movies, Streaming

‘Eternals’ to Stream on Disney+ in January

December 10, 2021 Keith Chow

Today, it was announced that Marvel Studios’ Eternals will start streaming exclusively on Disney+ on January 12, 2022. This is the most recent example of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s shortened theatrical window — two months after its premiere, following Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings which made its Disney+ debut in November.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel

Hard NOC Life 241: The Last ‘Eternals’ Review

November 8, 2021November 15, 2021 Hard NOC Media

Hard NOC Life is back with Keith, Dominic and Britney reviewing the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chloé Zhao’s Eternals. What did everyone think of the film? Why is is struggling to connect with certain audiences? What are its connections to internet stan culture, the DCEU, and The Last Jedi? Tune in and find out!

Marvel, Movies

Enter the ‘Eternals’ Press Conference

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021 Mike Manalo

The Eternals are here! This coming Friday, sees the release of Marvel Studios’ Eternals! And while the film has been drawing mixed reviews so far, I’m happy to report I personally enjoyed and admired it. It is a gutsy, daring movie anchored by bold direction from Chloé Zhao and beautiful, rich themes.

Marvel, Movies

Gold House and CAPE’s #OneOpen Initiative Kicks Off with ‘Eternals’

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021 Mike Manalo

True story. When I was growing up there was nothing else I loved more than going to the movies. Anytime my mom or dad would take me to the theater, it was like Christmas. I sat through the Home Alone‘s, the Mrs. Doubtfire‘s, the Disney movies, etc. My time with them, and the big screen, was what ultimately drove the passion I have for this industry. Movies have and always will mean the world to me. And that’s why I’ve made it my goal to do whatever I can to make even the smallest impact on this industry I care about so much.

Marvel, Movies, Reviews2 Comments

NOC Review: ‘Eternals’ is a Daring, Bold, Different Direction for the MCU

October 24, 2021October 24, 2021 Mike Manalo

I’ll get this out of the way now. If you’re expecting Eternals to be standard fare for the MCU, it’s not. This is going to be a divisive movie. And it’s because it’s heavy, it’s out there, it’s a bit slower paced, a bit more disconnected from the established films for now, and it covers a ton of ground.

Marvel, Movies

New ‘Eternals’ Featurette and Character Posters Arrive

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 Mike Manalo

Tickets are on sale and the countdown is on! And I can barely contain my excitement! On November 5, the Eternals are arriving! Marvel Studios‘ Eternals will be the third MCU film to hit this year, and with everything we’ve seen so far, it’s looking to introduce many things we haven’t seen before in this franchise (CELESTIALS!!!).

Marvel, Movies

Kingo Outruns Deviants in a Lexus in New ‘Eternals’ Commercial

October 4, 2021October 4, 2021 Mike Manalo

Okay, ordinarily we don’t use this site to plug car partnerships. If this was a regular thing, I’d be driving around in my sleek new all-wheel drive Lexus with self-parking features, and anti-collision sensors, and my bags of money in it’s incredibly spacious trunk with enough cargo space for you and the whole family (I’ll cash my check for this later). But since this one is quite funny, and since we simply can’t wait for Eternals to come out, we just had to share this!

Marvel, Movies1 Comment

The New ‘Eternals’ Trailer Emerges

August 19, 2021August 19, 2021 Mike Manalo

Marvel Studios dropped the latest trailer for Eternals. And I didn’t post it immediately because I spent the last 40 minutes watching it over and over and over. In fact, in the past 40 minutes the trailer has amassed 332K views on YouTube alone (probably all from me). But the fact of the matter is, THIS LOOKS SO FREAKING INCREDIBLE!

Marvel, Movies

An Extra Close Examination and Explanation of the ‘Eternals’ Trailer

May 25, 2021May 26, 2021 Mike Manalo

Yesterday, the first trailer for Marvel Studios Eternals dropped online and immediately broke the internet, trending at #1 on YouTube for a full day straight, and garnering 10M views in 17 hours alone! And let’s be honest, at this point it’s incredibly expected for several factors: the unwavering popularity of the MCU; the fact that the film represents Chloe Zhao’s follow up to the Oscar-winning Nomadland; and alluring and heightened curiosity around who these characters are and what their role is within the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wait a sec! Back up! Who are these characters?

Marvel, Movies, News1 Comment

The Sweeping, Epic Teaser Trailer for ‘Eternals’ Appears

May 24, 2021August 19, 2021 Mike Manalo

For anyone who needs further reason of why Chloe Zhao made history as the first POC woman to win an Oscar for Best Director–behold!

The first trailer for Marvel Studios’ Eternals has FINALLY hit the internet! And as we anticipated, this looks like no Marvel Studios film we’ve ever seen up to now! But before I go into how special this is, take a look for yourselves now!

Marvel, Movies, News

A First Glimpse at Chloé Zhao’s ‘Eternals’

May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 Mike Manalo

Today Marvel Studios dropped a promotional video celebrating a glorious return to theaters, and shared with us a brief look at things to come.

Among what was seen in the footage was our first glimpse at the highly anticipated Eternals, set to hit theaters November 5, 2021! While not a whole lot at this juncture, what we do see feels like an authentically Chloé Zhao film. Fresh off her historic Academy Award wins for Best Director and Best Picture for Nomadland, Zhao’s films are known for their gorgeous cinematography and beautiful landscapes, emphasizing the natural picturesque elements of scenic desert locations. And it looks like she’s taking that approach to tell the story of Marvel Studios’ gods. Here’s a quick breakdown of the limited look we got at the film.

Movies, Streaming

How Disney+’s ‘The One and Only Ivan’ Reflects Life in Quarantine

August 18, 2020May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

This is the first of many virtual press conferences the cast and creatives of Disney+’s upcoming film The One and Only Ivan had to deal with in the new age of COVID-19. Veteran actress Dame Helen Mirren, who voices Snickers the talented Poodle in the film, said in the virtual press conference of this new experience, “That’s the amazing thing about our job is that we’re always constantly exposed to completely new experiences, as this is this digital press junket. It’s a first for all of us.”

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Guest Post, Movies, Reviews

‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ Review

October 16, 2019October 16, 2019 Guest N.O.C.

By Russell Fung

Did anyone ask for a sequel to Sleeping Beauty?

I used to write English-language screenplays for a feature animation studio in China. They hired me to write sequels to Snow White and Cinderella, asking me to infuse Western humor so that it would appeal to an international audience. The experience was difficult because nobody could agree on what the story and message had to be. I was told, “It’s a movie for children, so don’t take the themes too far or too serious. It doesn’t have to be logical or make sense. It just has to be fun and pretty.” I left the projects amicably, because I didn’t want to write a generic story that didn’t resonate with the current human condition.

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Guest Post, Movies

‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ is All About Family and Growing Up

October 14, 2019October 19, 2019 Guest N.O.C.

By Esther Kim

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil reunites Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and Aurora (Elle Fanning) as they face their biggest challenge: growing up.

Sure, there are the fey people wanting to come from behind the shadows and a potential battle between them and humans, especially with an evil queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) pulling the strings from behind the throne. But the main story is really the relationship between Maleficent and Aurora.

“I feel the huge part of the success from the first film is that it had a strong emotional core,” said director Joachim Rønning during the global press conference in Beverly Hills. “I think that was the most important to me to continue telling that story. The story about Maleficent and Aurora. That’s what I can relate with as a parent, myself.”

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Fantasy, Movies, Reviews3 Comments

Maleficent is Seldom What it Seems

June 2, 2014September 8, 2019 Michel Buster

Beware ye who may read this, for there be slight spoilers ahead.

In an embarrassment of riches as far as summer movies go, there was one that I had no intention of missing in the theatres. Maleficent was that movie.

As you would expect, this is a retelling of a story that you only think you know. Like the mega-popular Broadway musical Wicked did for The Wizard of Oz, Maleficent retells the tale of Sleeping Beauty from another point of view. Oh, and what a tale it tells! But that is also where I had the most problem with the movie.

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