NOC Review: ‘Blue Beetle’ is Genuinely One of DC’s Finest Films

August 16, 2023September 14, 2023 Mike Manalo

Yeah. You read that right. And look, I know the bar seems pretty low. When your past three releases include Black Adam, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and The Flash — one of which was sold as allegedly “one of the best superhero movies of all time,” when it actually was a complete mess of obnoxiousness and bad VFX — it may not seem like high praise. But genuinely and truly, Blue Beetle is actually a really terrific film.

DC Comics, Movies, Reviews

Family is Everything in ‘Blue Beetle’

August 16, 2023August 16, 2023 Laura Sirikul

Hero origin stories can become a little formulaic — where the hero thinks of themselves as a “nobody” but through the power of his loved ones and emboldened by tragedy, they prevail. The thing is that these formulas work. Everybody likes seeing the little guy win. Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) as Blue Beetle is no exception.

DC Comics, Interview, Movies

‘Blue Beetle’ Director Angel Manuel Soto Unleashes the First Major Latino Superhero

August 10, 2023August 10, 2023 Mike Manalo

The Blue Beetle is landing on August 18! And while many out there may be unfamiliar with the character, let me just say, Jaime Reyes is awesome! This is a movie worth celebrating, not just because it represents the first major Latino superhero movie to hit theaters, but because it’s actually really very good, and one of the best cinematic surprises of the year! And we at The Nerds of Color were lucky enough to sit down with the clever maestro behind the film, director Angel Manuel Soto!

Reviews, Theatre2 Comments

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Crabs in a Bucket’

July 16, 2023July 17, 2023 Edward Hong

What you first see: Actors dressed up in hilarious dorky crab costumes.
What you actually get: A brilliant satire about the impact of “crab mentality” on oppressed communities whose members work against one another instead of together.

DC Comics, Movies, Trailers

New Trailer for ‘Blue Beetle’ Has Landed

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023 Mike Manalo

It’s no secret that DC has had a rough year so far, with Shazam: Fury of the Gods and The Flash seemingly underperforming. But based on the trailer for Blue Beetle, I think all that is about to change. Because wow! It looks so fun!

Theatre

Latino Theater Company Announces 2023 Fall Season

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 Edward Hong

Latino Theater Company will partner with two Los Angeles-based Asian American companies and San Francisco’s Magic Theatre to close out 2023 with a fall season of exciting premieres at downtown’s Los Angeles Theatre Center.

DC Comics, Movies

New Motion Posters for ‘Blue Beetle’ Revealed

June 8, 2023June 8, 2023 Mike Manalo

We’re getting closer to the big screen debut of Jaime Reyes folks! And with the release of Blue Beetle we are going to finally get the first Latino-led solo Hollywood superhero movie ever. That is a huge step for representation, and there’s no better, more charming character to do this with than Jaime!

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

April 3, 2023April 12, 2023 Edward Hong

I have to make a conscious effort of reviewing plays I am invited to cover without learning anything about it and just go in completely blind. In this day and age, such an effort is difficult to do and even more so when the individual such as myself is an information devouring maniac.

DC Comics, Movies1 Comment

It’s Time for the World to Meet ‘Blue Beetle’

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 Mike Manalo

It’s been 15 years since Iron Man revolutionized the way comic book movies have been seen in Hollywood. Since then, we’ve seen the popular genre expand in ways that really foster representation and the idea of stories being told from all points of view, from Black Panther to Shang-Chi and of course Wonder Woman. And yet, there still hasn’t been a single big-budget superhero film told from the eyes and perspective of a Latino protagonist. Until now. Get ready to meet Blue Beetle.

Interview, Movies1 Comment

Speaking with the Stars of Lifetime’s First All-Latino Holiday Film, ‘Merry Textmas’

December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 Sophia Soto

Ariana Ron Pedrique and Rodrigo Massa star as Gaby Diaz and Alex Alvarado in Merry Textmas. The new holiday movie will premiere on Sunday, December 4 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime’s “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime.”

Interview, Marvel, Movies

Alex Livinalli on the Indigenous Story Within ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

November 7, 2022November 7, 2022 Mike Manalo

Talocan is coming for the surface world! After decades of stories on the printed page, Namor, Namora, and powerful behemoth Attuma are finally making their grand cinematic debuts in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever this Friday! And we, at The Nerds of Color, were blessed to have gotten an opportunity to speak with the man behind Attuma, Alex Livinalli!

Interview, Television1 Comment

James Roday Rodriguez on His ‘A Million Little Things’ Journey

March 31, 2022April 1, 2022 Sophia Soto

James Roday Rodriguez stars as Gary Mendez in A Million Little Things. The show originally premiered in 2018 and is currently in its fourth season. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10 PM ET on ABC.

Interview, Streaming, Television

‘Gossip Girl’ Star Johnathan Fernandez on Afro-Latino Representation

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021 Sophia Soto

Johnathan Fernandez can currently be seen in the Max Original series, Gossip Girl. New episodes begin streaming Thursday on HBO Max and the show has already been renewed for a second season. The actor is also known for his role in Lethal Weapon.

Horror, Movies, Streaming

‘Madres’ Star Ariana Guerra on How Film Can Tell Stories to Inspire Change

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 Bray Lawrence

Madres is a bit of an enigma as a film. Billed as a horror movie about a Mexican American couple in 1970 who move to California for better opportunities as the due date for their first born approaches, the film takes inspiration from a very real historical tragedy. In the years post WWII, California farm workers were subjected to hazardous working conditions which poisoned them with the deadly pesticides that were being sprayed over the crops. Madres aims to bring awareness to a forgotten disaster and Ariana Guerra wanted to make sure she was apart of this important story when she accepted the role of the film’s protagonist, Diana.

Animation, Anime, Gaming

The VO Actors of Global Majority You Need to Know: Krizia Bajos

August 23, 2021August 23, 2021 Edward Hong

Over the past three years, I’ve encountered some truly remarkable voiceover actors from the PGM (People Of Global Majority) community, so remarkable that I thought it would be a worthwhile endeavor to dedicate an article about themselves, their accomplishments, and where you can find them and do so every week. When will this end? Most likely never so as I cackle at the infinite posts this may generate, I am so very happy to tell you all that my spotlight for this week is on Krizia Bajos!

Reviews, Streaming

‘Frankie Quinones: Superhomies’ is a Must-Watch Comedy Special Experiment

July 16, 2021July 20, 2021 Bray Lawrence

Internet sensation Frankie Quinones arrives in a low rider with two of his most well known characters Creeper and Juanita in his first sketch and stand up comedy special on HBO in Entre Nos Presents: Frankie Quinones: Superhomies. Frankie takes us through musings and anecdotes of his life, his family, and the community he grew up in with a lovely celebration of how far he has come; however, he has a hard time withstanding the weight of sharing the stage with three strong personas.

Interview, Streaming

Frankie Rodriguez Represents on ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’

June 13, 2021June 14, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

If you have Disney+, you might have heard of a little show called High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. That tongue twisting title, which will be abbreviated to HSMTMTS from now on, headlines the story of the next generation of Disney’s premiere high school musical group.

Interview, Movies

NOC Exclusive Interviews with ‘In The Heights’ Director Jon M. Chu and the Cast

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021 Laura Sirikul

For our review of the film, click here.

The anticipated release of WB’s In the Heights is set to release this week, but the long-lasting impact of the film will affect many BIPOC, especially those from the Latinx community, for a lifetime.

Comics, Interview, Marvel

A Talk with ‘Reptil’ Writer Terry Blas about Marvel’s Shelf-Slashing New Series

May 26, 2021June 11, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

Let’s admit it, we all went through weird, unexplainable phases as children. Some of us really loved cartoons, some of us collected Pokemon cards, and if you were like me, you were really into dinosaurs. Perhaps even a bit too much into them.

Horror, Interview, Movies

NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ Actor, Andrea Andrade

May 26, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with Actor, Andrea Andrade to discuss her role in the upcoming film, ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It‘!

Comics, Reviews

‘La Mano del Destino’ Creates a Vivid, Action-packed Luchaverse

May 23, 2021May 22, 2021 Amanda L. Andrei

¡Mira! El Luchador is coming — and not just any luchador — La Mano del Destino, the champion with a mission, the fighter bent on reclaiming his rightful place in the ring, the man with the weight of revolutionary history upon him.

In La Mano del Destino, a new release from Top Cow and Image Comics, J. Gonzo creates a vivid, action-packed Luchaverse for us — an alternate 1960s Mexico that takes us into the Mexican sport lucha libre (literally “free wrestling”) and the home and memories of our hero, La Mano del Destino.

Comics, Marvel1 Comment

A Hero on a Massive Scale: Reptil Slashes Through Marvel Comics in Late May

May 15, 2021May 15, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

Imagine, waking up to find you have the ability to transform into any dinosaur you want. You could run as fast as a raptor, be as large as a T-Rex, or soar like a Pterodactyl (I know it’s not a dinosaur just roll with it). What sounds like the fever-induced dream of a child between the ages of 4-14 is every day life for Humberto Lopez, resident reptilian hero and Marvel’s next big thing.

Interview, Television1 Comment

NOC Interview: Benjamin Lobato on the Final Season of ‘Queen of the South’

April 21, 2021May 7, 2021 Sophia Soto

Benjamin Lobato is co-showrunner of USA’s Queen of the South, which is currently airing its fifth and final season. The popular series tells the story of Teresa Mendoza, a woman who is forced to run and seek refuge in America after her drug-dealing boyfriend is suddenly murdered in Mexico. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10/9c on USA Network.