Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi Brings ‘Predator: Badlands’ Home

February 17, 2026 Mike Manalo

This past year director Dan Trachtenberg, who brought us Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers introduced us to the franchise’s first Yautja protagonist, Dek, in Predator: Badlands! Portrayed by breakout star, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, both Trachtenberg and Koloamatangi infused pathos and complexity into Dek, bringing us something completely different; a sympathetic and richer side to Yautja culture.

Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

NOC Review: ‘Predator: Badlands’ is an Enjoyable Sci-Fi Romp

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 Mike Manalo

Redefining a classic franchise is a difficult thing to do. Countless remakes and reboots of beloved classics from Poltergeist to Child’s Play have withered and died at the cinema. The Predator franchise, specifically, has even seen its share of wasted potential (see Shane Black’s failed attempt from 2018).

Interview, Movies, Sci Fi

Into the ‘Predator: Badlands’ with the Stars and Director of the New Film

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 Mike Manalo

It’s incredible to think that in just three years, director Dan Trachtenberg has reinvented the Predator franchise in such a profound way!

Conventions, Sci Fi1 Comment

SDCC 2025: The ‘Predator’ Blasts Hall H into the ‘Badlands’

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025 Mike Manalo

There are very few staples in the world of pop sci-fi that have had the lasting impact of the Predator franchise. While the series has seen its shares of ups and downs since 1987, in recent years, it’s seen a considerable upswing thanks to the terrific efforts of filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg. Starting with Prey, continuing with Predator: Killer of Killers, and now coming up on Predator: Badlands.

Animation, Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi

NOC Review: ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Destroys All Expectations

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025 Mike Manalo

Holy crap! I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to see the future of the Predator franchise play out. After an incredible revival with Prey, director Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator universe keeps getting more and more exciting, as evidenced with his latest creation: Predator: Killer of Killers!

Animation, Interview, Sci Fi1 Comment

Hunting the ‘Killer of Killers’ with ‘Predator’ Directors Dan Trachtenberg and Josh Wassung

June 6, 2025June 9, 2025 Mike Manalo

Hear that faint clicking sound? It means the Predator is on the move! Ever since Prey, Predator fans everywhere have been clamoring to see more from director Dan Trachtenberg for this franchise. And Trachtenberg, per the usual, did not disappoint one bit, as Predator: Killer of Killers has absolutely proven.

Movies, Sci Fi2 Comments

Prepare for the ‘Badlands’ with the First-Look at ‘Predator: Badlands’

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025 Mike Manalo

Since Prey, the Predator franchise has returned to true glory. Following the negative reception of Shane Black’s The Predator, director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) was brought in to resurrect everything with Prey, which was universally beloved both as a terrific installment in the franchise and as a fantastic example of Indigenous representation done right! Now, in a terrific decision, 20th Century Studios is officially bringing Trachtenberg back for a brand new adventure in the Predator universe: Predator: Badlands!

Streaming, Television

Hulu’s ‘The Great’ Has Been Renewed for Season 3

January 11, 2022 Sophia Soto

Tony McNamara’s The Great will officially return for a 10-episode, third season! The series is part of Hulu’s highly successful slate of female-driven comedies and is currently nominated for three Critics’ Choice Awards. The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Bayo Gbadamosi, and Belinda Bromilow.

Streaming, Television

Hulu’s ‘The Great’ Cast on Season 2, Catherine’s Decisions and Working with Gillian Anderson

November 18, 2021November 19, 2021 Laura Sirikul

The second season of the hit comedy-drama ‘The Great’ returns this Friday and there’s a lot going on for the mother-to-be Catherine (Elle Fanning) who has just overthrown her husband Peter (Nicholas Hoult) for the Russian throne.

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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