Directors Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford on the Filipino Roots of ‘Forgotten Island’

March 30, 2026 Mike Manalo

What a week it has been for Filipino representation! Last Wednesday, we got our first glimpse of Dreamworks Animation’s Forgotten Island. On Friday, we unveiled our intimate interview with superstars H.E.R and Liza Soberano. And today, we’re continuing the streak with our conversation with the directors of Forgotten Island and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford!

Animation, Interview, Movies

Feeling the Filipino Pride with H.E.R and Liza Soberano from ‘Forgotten Island’

March 27, 2026 Mike Manalo

This week, Dreamworks Animation and Universal dropped a historic trailer for Filipino film fans everywhere. They revealed the first official look at their latest feature, Forgotten Island; Hollywood’s first Filipino-centric animated feature.

Documentary, Reviews, Tech

‘The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist’ is a Rousing Call for Humanity to Take Action

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 Swara Salih

Artificial Intelligence, or “AI,” is an intentionally misrepresented term. A vast collection of machine learning algorithms using vast quantities of human-made data for predictive analytics, it is ultimately more simple than we’re led to believe. Mainly this is the design of the capitalist tech CEOs who insist that towering and complicated AI simply must be part of our daily lives when in most ways we have no practical use for it and we can get by.

Animation, Movies2 Comments

How Dreamworks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ Fosters Filipino Culture and Folklore

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 Mike Manalo

I am a proud Filipino American nerd. As such, I grew up here in the US searching for, but never quite finding, mainstream Hollywood movies that propelled the voice of the Filipino community strongly.

Interview, Television

‘The Paper’ Star Ramona Young on Building a Character from Scratch

September 30, 2025October 2, 2025 Nikita Francois

The Paper has quickly proven to be the perfect follow-up to The Office. The new show picks up a few years after the events of The Office and introduces us to several new characters. We had the opportunity to speak with Ramona Young who portrays the no-nonsense and emotionally guarded Nicole Lee.

Horror, Reviews, Theme Parks

‘Universal Horror Unleashed’ Terrifies Las Vegas in a Frightfully Great Way

August 15, 2025August 15, 2025 Nikita Francois

In 2023, Universal announced a brand new Vegas-based attraction that promised year-round spooky haunts. Now that it has celebrated its opening day, Universal has proved that when it sprinkles its Hollywood magic on an all-new horror-themed event, their legacy as the creators of horror leaves no tomb undisturbed.

Animation, Movies

Dreamworks Unveils Filipino Animated Film ‘Forgotten Island’ for September 2026

April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 Mike Manalo

Okay, this one is close to the heart for me. To date, there hasn’t been a single (long-form) animated film centered around Filipino mythology from any of the major Hollywood animation studios. However, as of today, Dreamworks Animation has finally announced, we have one coming!

Horror, Interview, Movies

Dropping the Mic with the Cast and Crew of ‘Drop’ at the Red Carpet Premiere

April 11, 2025 Mike Manalo

Drop is now out in theaters! It’s one of the most fun in-theater experiences I’ve had this year, and I encourage everyone who hasn’t seen it yet to absolutely grab the popcorn, and go enjoy the ride. We were fortunate enough to attend the incredible evening of the film’s premiere where we got to speak with the terrific cast and producers of the film. Here’s what they had to say about the new Blumhouse thriller!

Animation, Movies, Toys

Lego Yourself with the New Minifigure Generator Inspired by ‘Piece by Piece’

September 25, 2024September 26, 2024 Mike Manalo

Piece by Piece, the upcoming biopic of Pharrell Williams, is not your average biographical film. Nope! As he does with all his work, Williams is teaming up with documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville to give us something with flair! And that’s a biopic that has been Lego-fied! And now they’re giving you a chance to Lego-fy yourself too!

Podcasts, Streaming, Television

The Middle Geeks Episode 66: ‘We Are Lady Parts’ Season 2 Review

June 3, 2024June 10, 2024 Swara Salih

Isa joins us once again to review the second season of Nida Manzoor’s masterpiece Peacock series, We Are Lady Parts!

Horror, Interview, Movies2 Comments

‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Star Liza Soberano on Filipino Representation

February 5, 2024February 5, 2024 Kelly Martinez

Lisa Frankenstein may be Liza Soberano’s first Hollywood production, but she’s certainly no stranger to show business. At just 26 years old, she’s already one of the most accomplished actresses in the Philippines.

Horror, Movies2 Comments

Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse are a Deadly Duo in ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Trailer

January 16, 2024 Kelly Martinez

A killer romance is headed to theaters just in time for Valentine’s Day. Focus Features recently debuted the official trailer for its upcoming horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein, starring Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse.

Television, Trailers1 Comment

Check Out the Season 2 Trailer for NBC’s ‘Quantum Leap’

September 22, 2023September 22, 2023 Laura Sirikul

Just when we solved one mystery, another one opens for the NBC series Quantum Leap.

Movies, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 53: ‘Polite Society’ Review with Roxana Hadadi

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 Swara Salih

We welcome Rocky back on the podcast to review Nida Manzoor’s Desi martial arts-comedy-epic, Polite Society! We also discuss the harrowing news out of Sudan, a new African animation anthology that includes Egypt and Egyptian creators, give our recommendations for the week, and much more!

Movies, Reviews19 Comments

‘Polite Society’ is an Action-Packed and Poignant Masterpiece

April 20, 2023May 1, 2023 Swara Salih

The Pakistani-British Khan sisters, Ria (Priya Kansara) and Lena (Ritu Arya) have dreams that deviate from what their community and family expect from them, namely to work in STEM and marry well to guarantee socioeconomic security. But Ria and Lena have dreams to work in the arts, whether that be stunt choreography for Ria or painting for Lena.

Interview, Movies

Staying Sharp with Anna Akana and Yoshi Sudarso from ‘Blade of the 47 Ronin’

October 25, 2022October 25, 2022 Mike Manalo

Blade of the 47 Ronin hits Netflix today! Back in 2013, the original film, 47 Ronin, debuted in theaters to unfortunate critical reception and low box office grosses. Nevertheless it was a moment in which Keanu Reeves really first acknowledged/embraced his Asian roots on film. In that grand tradition, it seemed fitting to reboot the franchise, but in the hands of Asian filmmakers, including director and expert stunt choreographer, Ron Yuan. He was able to recruit two amazing folks to the cast, renowned actress, comedian, and outspoken creator Anna Akana, and famed stuntman, actor, and all around Power Ranger, Yoshi Sudarso.

Movies, Sci Fi5 Comments

‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Brings the Original Gang Back Together

February 10, 2022February 10, 2022 Michael Lee

Jurassic World Dominion promises to be the epic conclusion to the commercially successful reboot trilogy launched in 2015 by Colin Trevorrow. While Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom may have been a lukewarm sequel, it set the stage for something much bigger. Because the finale unites two generations of the Jurassic era for the first time in the film franchise’s history.

Roundtable, Television

NBC’s ‘Grand Crew’ Doesn’t Want to be Compared to Other Shows

December 14, 2021December 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Every so often, when a new series is introduced, it is immediately compared to what people may consider to be the most related to that. This rings especially true for new sitcoms and comedies starring people of color. When NBC’s Grand Crew was first announced as a series surrounding the lives of a group of Black friends at a wine bar, there were so many comparisons to HBO’s Insecure and ABC’s Black-ish that it straight away was labeled as a “Black” show.

Horror, Movies

Evil Dies Tonight: ‘Halloween Kills’ Shares New ‘Look Inside’

October 7, 2021October 8, 2021 Jamal Michel

Jamie Lee Curtis assures us that Halloween Kills, the upcoming installment to the iconic Michael Myers and Laurie Strode saga, is a very different movie. In the new featurette from Universal Pictures, director David Gordon Green (Halloween, 2018) talks about raising the stakes with the franchise’s newest film, promising a “bigger, badder, nastier” version of the story we’ve known the last four decades.

Horror, Movies, Streaming

Catch Jamie Lee Curtis in the Final Trailer for ‘Halloween Kills’

September 21, 2021September 23, 2021 Jamal Michel

September is almost over, which means October is here, which means it’s officially spooky season. And what better way to ring in said season than with one of the icons of Halloween? Enter Jamie Lee Curtis in the final trailer for Halloween Kills, coming to theaters and streaming only on Peacock, October 15. The franchise’s latest installment is the 12th in a series that has come to encapsulate the true spirit of the night it’s named after.