Anyway, let me just end my ranting, or as I would like to call it, lecture here. This is the first edition of a weekly Friday newsletter that I will be releasing. Expect it every Friday at 10:00 AM(WAT). The newsletter basically covers the most interesting events and announcements that unfolded in the world of Cinema and TV during the week. What is The Cinephile Space, you ask? The Cinephile Space is simply my brand. I hope you like the name.

Without further ado, here are the headlines I found most interesting this week. Enjoy!!

The Punisher: One Last Kill Reveals a New Look

Jon Bernthal is suiting up again as Frank Castle, and we have a new look and a teaser. Marvel confirmed that The Punisher: One Last Kill drops on Disney+ on May 12, with Bernthal himself unveiling the teaser poster on Instagram. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Bernthal, the special is the third Marvel Television Special Presentation in the MCU. As for his MCU future beyond this, reports first surfaced in June 2025 that the Punisher would appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled for theaters on July 31, 2026

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew Has Been Delayed

Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew won't be arriving when fans expected. The release date has been pushed back from Thanksgiving to February 12, 2027, but that delay is good because Netflix is giving the film a full, wide global theatrical release, a significant step up from their original plans. The delay reportedly stems from a cast member being injured on set, which pushed the production schedule back by six weeks. After its theatrical run, the film will stream on Netflix on April 2, 2027. It marks it as Netflix's first-ever wide theatrical release. The cast is stacked: Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, and Meryl Streep lead the ensemble alongside young newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell.

Meryl Streep- The Devil Wears Prada 2 Star Calls Out Marvel

Meryl Streep is never one to hold back. During a press appearance for The Devil Wears Prada 2, Streep said films have started to flatten characters into easy moral categories, arguing that "what's really interesting about life is that some of the heroes are flawed and some of the villains are human, interesting, and have their own strengths." She made the comments on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show alongside co-stars Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, while discussing why she appreciated the moral complexity of her character, Miranda Priestly. The remarks went viral, stirring a wide conversation on social media.

The Night Agent Will End With Season 4

Peter Sutherland's mission is almost over. Netflix officially announced that The Night Agent will end with its previously greenlit fourth season, which has started production in Los Angeles. Series creator Shawn Ryan said in a statement that he has "been obsessed with eventually delivering a proper and thrilling conclusion to the show." New additions to the Season 4 cast include Abigail Breslin, Annabeth Gish, and David Denman, joining previously announced stars Trevante Rhodes, Li Jun Li, Titus Welliver, and Elizabeth Lail.

The One Piece Reboot Is Set to Release Next Year

Before you panic, this is not a reboot of the story. The remake will remove filler episodes and condense events into a more faithful retelling of Eiichiro Oda's manga, with improved, modern animation from the very first episode. Season 1 will adapt the first 50 chapters of the manga across seven episodes, totaling around 300 minutes, covering the East Blue Saga up to Luffy's meeting with Sanji. All seven episodes will drop at once on Netflix in February 2027, produced by WIT Studio. This is a rare case of a beloved series receiving a remake while the original is still ongoing, and it will undoubtedly pull a whole new generation into the world of One Piece.

House of the Dragon Gets a New Poster

The Dance of Dragons is nearly upon us. House of the Dragon Season 3 will launch on June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with new episodes airing weekly until the season finale on August 9. The show chose a creative approach to reveal the latest poster, distributing puzzle pieces to select fan accounts on X, which collectively formed the full key art. A new teaser trailer was also released this week alongside the poster.

Netflix Shares an Update on Blue Eye Samurai

One of the greatest animated shows Netflix has ever produced is coming back, just not as soon as some had hoped. Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 has been confirmed for 2027, with the extended production timeline reflecting the high standard the Emmy-winning creators are maintaining. To recap why this matters: after its debut in November 2023, the show entered Netflix's Global Top 10 for two consecutive weeks and charted across 50 countries, earning an 8.7/10 on IMDb and a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The wait will be worth it.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Gets Character Posters

The Gang is back, and this time, they brought Toph. Netflix dropped individual character posters for Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph this week, confirming that Season 2 of their live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres on June 25, 2026. Toph Beifong will be played by Miya Cech in Seasons 2 and 3, joining Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, and Ian Ousley as Sokka.

Season 2 of Harry Potter Has Been Approved

HBO is wasting no time with the Wizarding World. Season 1 is still on track to premiere on December 25, 2026, but HBO has already officially greenlit Season 2, titled The Chamber of Secrets, with filming set to begin this fall. Writer Jon Brown has been promoted to co-showrunner for Season 2, joining current showrunner Francesca Gardiner, with the duo tasked with keeping up the ambitious production pace needed for the planned seven-season adaptation of J.K. Rowling's books.

These are the exciting headlines for the week. Thank you for reading.

If you love TV, cinema, and anime. Don’t forget to subscribe

Subscribe now

You can also feel free to leave a comment if you are personally excited about any of the releases revealed this week. I want to hear your take.

Leave a comment

# 15 Ready or Not: Here I Come

Ready or Not: Here I Come is a sequel to one of the best action thrillers of 2019. Although it wasn't as good as the first part, it still delivers. It’s awesome. If you like gore, non-stop action, comedy and survival then this is just for you. Oh, and I love the two leading characters. It's a horrific action-thriller. The horrific element is due to the fact that the main characters are fighting devil worshippers who want to sacrifice them.

#14 They Will Kill You

This movie is actually similar to Ready or Not:Here I come but it is a little bit better. Zazie beats performance was more convincing. I just felt her rage more. If you want to know more about the movie I actually wrote an article on it sometime ago. You can read it here.

#13 Stranger Things Season 5

The final episode of Stranger Things aired on the first of January 2026. I started the new year with it. Although Season 5 was good, it wasn't as good as their previous seasons. Stranger Things peaked at Season 4. I love the main characters so much but the fact that they all survived undermines Vecna as a villain greatly. His dermogogons were not even defending him in the lair which was just lazy writing. For a villain that strong, his takedown felt a little too easy. I still enjoyed it though.

#12 Fire Force Season 3

The final season of Fireforce aired this year and it was great. The stakes have never been as high as they were in this season. This is undoubtedly the best season out of the three seasons. I enjoyed it so much and the ending was satisfactory and quite conclusive.

#11 The Rip

Matt Damon and Affleck do it again. This isn't the first time this duo has starred in a good movie together. You can watch the likes of The Last Duel, Air, and Good Will Hunting. As long as it is these two, they are sure to deliver. The title of the movie is metaphorical. It implies the robbery itself is the "rip" happening, while the cops are simultaneously "ripping off" the criminals.

I felt the paranoia the police officers felt in every scene. The tension was there. When a movie can convey such emotions strongly, there is a good chance it is a good movie, and this one is good.

#10 Bridgerton Season 4

This season of Bridgeron was practically a Cinderella knockoff. If you have seen it, you It will agree with what I am talking about. However, it was still enjoyable all the same. If you like the romantic genre, Bridgerton is for you.

#9 His and Hers Season 1

First of all, I love the lead characters in this show. Well they are some of my favorite actors ever. Tessa and Jon played their roles excellently. The show arguably has the best plot twist I have seen this year. In case you don't know, the show is basically a revenge thriller murder mystery. Tessa’s friends in high school did something unspeakable to her and by the time she became an adult, her high school friends who wronged her started dying one by one. You will never guess the killer.

#8 Invincible Season 4

Invincible season 4 is the second-best season of Invincible in my opinion. Unless they improve their animation, they will not top season 1. That's the only problem I have with the show. The animation kind of sucks.

Aside from that, it’s cool. In this season we got to see the strongest villain, we saw a lot of bloody, gory, and brutal scenes, some of which I actually find disturbing. It ended with a good suspense. I am excited for season 5.

#7 The Boys Season 5

Although Season 5 of The Boys hasn't ended yet, it has earned its place on the list. This season has some of the best satire in superhero history. Homelander calling himself god is similar to Trump portraying himself as Jesus Christ. It's so funny. The crazy thing is that they didn't see the Trump incident coming because they filmed Homelander religious psychosis before Trump got affected by a religious psychosis. Aside from that the Diddy reference, DEI reference, FCC reference, and other political references is what I am really enjoying in the show at this point. The show mocks American politics while giving us peak superhero television. It's great. I can not wait for the next episode.

#6 Daredevil Born Again Season 2

I don’t think Daredevil gets the hype it deserves. This season has been surreal. It has been great in every way feasible. It's just one episode left before season 2 is over. It has been tense, shocking and awesome. Daredevil Born Again is a sequel series to the original Netflix Daredevil series which aired from 2015 to 2019. I am so glad that Disney brought him back with this show.

Matt Murdock is a lawyer by day and a crime fighter at Night. His archnemesis actually became the mayor of the city. Now he has to fight the law because the law in Newyork has become unjust as a result of the thug that became Mayor. It's a conundrum. If you like superhero fiction, I strongly suggest it. Watch Daredevil and Daredevil Born Again. Thank me later.

#5 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2

This is a must-watch anime. Frieren is an adventurer. She is an elve that has lived for thousands of years. With the help of her comrades, she assists humanity by slaying demons. Demons want to wipe out humanity. This anime is adventurous, gorgeous, and stunning. Beautiful animation style, visuals, and characters. I love how magic is portrayed here. The anime actually starts slow but it becomes really interesting eventually.

#4 The Testament of Ann Lee

If you are a fan of Christian epics then this is for you. It's based on a real-life story. Basically, Ann Lee’s doctrine was that abstinence from sex even in marriage is necessary to be completely pure. To her, it was the only way she could hear God. Of course, this stance ruined her marriage. I wrote an article on the movie. You can read it here.

#3 Beef Season 2

The name of the show Is exactly what it is about. The show is literally about people beefing with each other. The things they do to each other are ridiculous. Keep in mind that this is an anthology show. In case you don't know what an anthology show is, it’s the kind of show that covers different stories. It doesn't stick to one plot. In the case of Beef, it is an anthology show on a seasonal scale. Each season tells a different story. This season tells a story about two couples who were simultaneously beefing each other. It's a great watch. Trust me. I won’t say more than that.

#2 Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Arc

The Culling Game is complex. I cannot fully comprehend it and I won’t even try to explain it to you. The Culling Game Arc in Jujutsu Kaisen is basically a game designed by an evil sorcerer to kill off the weak. You know what it means to cull a herd? If you do, then you will know what I am talking about. It’s basically a battle for survival of the fittest. Only the strong survive. However, our heroes are doing everything possible to stop the game so that the weak can also survive. It's not everyone who is a sorcerer. Unfortunately, normal civilians are caught up in the game too. That's why Yuji Itadori, Megumi, Maki, and others are in a race against time to stop the game entirely. JJK is by far the best animation I have seen this year. It’s insane. The animation keeps improving after every goddamn season and I love the fact that they referenced two beautiful movies in this arc. The movies they referenced are Kill Bill and Fight Club. If you haven't seen Jujutsu Kaisen, you don’t know what you are missing.

#1 Project Hail Mary

You might have already guessed that Project Hail Mary is my number 1. I already gave myself away with the extensive article I wrote about it two weeks ago. It’s a Masterpiece. It's good enough to be compared to interstellar. If you want to know more, just go and read that article. Enough said.

If you enjoyed this piece and you want to read more pieces like this please subscribe

Subscribe

Also, what 2026 titles have you come across that you really enjoyed. I would love to hear them.

Comment

The Avatar: The Last Airbender sequel recently experienced one of the biggest movie leaks in entertainment history.

The full film leaked in April 2026, months before its October release. And Paramount’s negligence is entirely to blame.

I haven’t watched the leaked version myself, but let’s be clear: this wasn’t inevitable. It was engineered by corporate incompetence.

Why This Leak Is Unprecedented

Movie leaks happen. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Wars Episode III, and The Expendables 3 all leaked before release.

The difference? Those leaked weeks before the theatrical release. Avatar leaked months early from what was supposed to be a streaming-only release. That’s never happened to a franchise this big.

The Timeline

-2021: Avatar Studios announces the project

-2023: First footage revealed at CinemaCon

-October 2025: Originally scheduled for theatrical release

-January 2026: Pushed back again

-December 2025: Paramount cancels theatrical release entirely. New date: Paramount+ exclusive, October 9, 2026

-April 12, 2026: Full movie leaks online

A Singapore-based X user (@ImStillDissin) posted clips and threatened to stream the entire film unless Paramount released a trailer. Within hours: 30 million views, 100,000+ likes.

Paramount’s response? Silence.

The Arrest

Police discovered the 26-year-old leaker had gained unauthorized access to Paramount’s media server.

He was arrested yesterday and faces up to 7 years in prison.

But here’s what matters: the leaker justified his actions by saying “it wasn’t even coming to theatres anyway.”

He had a point.

Why Paramount Failed

1. Zero Marketing

No trailer of substance. No awareness building. The first real content was a Target T-shirt. Even when directly threatened with a leak, Paramount wouldn’t release a trailer.

2. Killing the Theatrical Release

Avatar defined a generation. The original series remains one of Netflix’s most-watched shows nearly 20 years later.

Yet Paramount released the sequel streaming-only.

-40,000+ people signed a petition for theatrical release

-Original cast members called for theaters

-Director Lauren Montgomery said it “deserves to be seen in theaters”

- Animators expressed heartbreak at losing a theatrical celebration

Paramount ignored all of it.

3. Creating the Justification

The leaker felt no guilt because the film wasn’t coming to theaters anyway. A streaming-only release stripped the movie of perceived value in his mind. If Paramount didn’t think it deserved theaters, why should he protect it?

The Irony

The leaker’s short clips gave Avatar more marketing exposure than Paramount had provided in months.

Meanwhile, animator Julia Schoel condemned both the leak and Paramount, saying they worked on this for years expecting a theatrical celebration “just to see people unceremoniously leak the film and pass our shots around on Twitter like candy.”

What Could Have Been Different

-Release a proper trailer (the leaker literally asked for this)

-Announce a 45-day theatrical window before streaming (Paramount has done this before)

-Acknowledge fan demand (40,000 petition signatures)

Any of these changes the story entirely. Instead, Paramount’s indifference became a justification. I’ve already written extensively about how this decision undermines the franchise. You can find that analysis here

The Hypocrisy

When bidding for Warner Bros., Paramount criticized Netflix for streaming-exclusive releases. They promised to do things differently.

Then they did exactly what they condemned.

Bottom Line

Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the biggest animated franchises ever made. Paramount treated it like filler content.

The 26-year-old faces legal consequences for the leak. But Paramount created the circumstances that made it happen.

Paramount’s negligence. Paramount’s marketing failure. Paramount’s bad decision on theatrical release.

That’s where this disaster started.

Avatar deserved better. Fans deserved better. The artists deserved better.

Paramount failed on all counts.

This is the first piece about a masterpiece I am writing here on Substack. See what I did there? Lol

When a Space Movie Exceeds All Expectations

Prior to watching this magnificent film, I kept seeing it compared to Interstellar across social media. On Twitter, in a film enthusiast group I frequent, someone called it the “modern-day Interstellar.” That comparison hit differently because Interstellar is my favourite movie of all time. I love space fiction. Especially the kind that balances intellectual ambition with genuine emotional stakes.

Naturally, in light of my love for space fiction, I burned with the desire to see it even more urgently.

What Makes Project Hail Mary a Masterpiece?

Many things elevate this film to masterpiece status. In a nutshell, it boasts exceptional visuals that immerse you completely in the vastness of space, a compelling character-driven storyline that keeps you invested from start to finish, strong CGI work that feels authentic rather than overdone, a well-paced plot that never drags, and a significant emotional impact that lingers long after the credits roll.

You literally cannot watch this movie without feeling something profound. Personally, I cycled through happiness, sadness, anxiety, curiosity, surprise, and ultimately, deep fulfillment. The emotional range this film commands is rare in modern cinema.

The Outstanding Visuals and Symbolism of Project Hail Mary

The movie’s title itself encodes the central premise: the plan they devise to save Earth has little to no realistic chance of working. The name Hail Mary originates from the fact that the plan is a long shot, a desperate gamble. The team faced two stark choices: proceed with their audacious, seemingly impossible plan, or do nothing and watch Earth become uninhabitable.

Obviously, they couldn’t sit idle and accept catastrophe, so they chose action. The brave decision they made reminds me of a great truth about life itself: taking action is always preferable to inaction. If you do nothing, the situation cannot improve. This resonates deeply with me personally, and it’s the emotional core that gives this space opera its weight.

Ryland Grace: Belief Against the Odds

The protagonist, Ryland Grace, is a school teacher with an unconventional scientific theory that his entire field ridiculed him for. He was effectively blacklisted for daring to pursue ideas that sounded ridiculous to his peers. Yet despite the mockery and professional isolation, he held onto his convictions with unwavering determination.

The turning point? Someone believed in him.

Even though Ryland had lost faith in himself, someone recognized the brilliance in his ideas and saw potential where the scientific establishment saw only delusion. That belief transformed him from a forgotten teacher into a space explorer. It’s a reminder that sometimes all it takes to change your life is one person who truly believes in you. One person can be willing to stake everything on your ideas and your capacity to get the job done even if you don't believe that you can do it at first.

The Alien Bromance That Saves Two Worlds

Once in space, Ryland encounters an alien and their relationship becomes one of cinema’s most beautiful bromances. The alien’s home planet was also dying, so he ventured into the cosmos seeking salvation, just like Ryland. What unfolds is extraordinary: they don’t merely save their respective planets. In the most dramatic, emotional, and extravagant fashion imaginable, they save each other.

I won’t reveal the specifics. You deserve to experience this journey firsthand but the payoff is genuinely unforgettable. It’s the kind of character arc and emotional resolution that makes space exploration cinema worth making.

When Pop Culture Met Real-Life Space Exploration

Here’s where it gets genuinely magical: during the real-life Artemis II mission, when astronauts traveled to the moon and back, they brought the cultural impact of this film with them into space.

Upon seeing the moon’s majesty firsthand, one of the astronauts shouted the iconic line from the movie: “Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!” It’s a phrase Rocky (Ryland’s friend) delivers in the film, and hearing it echo from an actual lunar mission created a beautiful convergence of pop culture and reality. These astronauts saw the movie before they saw the moon. Talk about being among the luckiest people alive. I’m extremely jealous.

This moment crystallizes what makes Project Hail Mary special: it’s the perfect example of when sci-fi becomes reality. It portrays how art influences the experience of the actual cosmos. It’s the kind of cultural moment that reminds you why movies matter.

The Soundtrack: “Sign of the Times” as Space Anthem

I almost forgot to highlight the film’s most emotionally crucial musical moment. There’s a karaoke scene where the mission leader sings what has become, unofficially, a space anthem: Sign of the Times by Harry Styles.

Before this film, I didn’t fully appreciate this song, though it’s undeniably popular. Now, every time I hear it, I’m transported back to that scene. It’s arguably the perfect choice, perhaps the best creative decision in the entire film for how it deepens the emotional stakes.

Here’s why this moment works so brilliantly: everyone on that mission knows they might not survive. They’re taking the edge off before descending into the cold depths of space. The song functions as a collective breath, a moment of human connection before facing the unknown. Sign of the Times is bittersweet and soothing without being saccharine. It lightens the mood while acknowledging the weight of what’s to come. That’s masterful filmmaking.

Final Verdict: A Perfect 5-Star Space Opera

Ultimately, Project Hail Mary is a visually stunning, mind-blowing, and spectacular space opera with massive, significant layers of emotional depth. It will make you feel awe, leave you bamboozled, move you to tears, and deliver complete closure through a perfect closing scene.

The film is a seamless blend of Interstellar, The Martian, and Gravity. It takes the best of each archetype and creates something entirely its own. If you’re a fan of space cinema, intelligent sci-fi, or character-driven storytelling, this is absolutely for you.

It’s the only 2026 movie on my Letterboxd with a perfect 5-star rating so far. It’s a 10/10. Watch it. Enjoy greatly. Thank you for reading.

First of all, I am grateful that Netflix finally made this available to stream last week. Now, let's get into it .There are no major spoilers, but I promise you'll be pressing play before I'm done.

For Everyone Who Says They Don't Watch Nigerian Movies

All those members of the I don't watch Nigerian movies gang, you better watch this one. At its core, fiction is not just something that is not real; it is also a reflection of what happens in real life. And Behind the Scenes reflects, with painful accuracy, how Nigerians behave around someone they can easily bill. As a Nigerian, this one is for you.

What Is Behind the Scenes About?

Behind the Scenes is about a typical Nigerian family. Both parents of three siblings are dead. The story centres on these three siblings, and the central tension is simple: only one of them is wealthy, so every bill lands on her head.

The breadwinner is the second-born among the three. She was settling everything. I mean everything!!

She threw money at her family like they were her employees. Not thousands of naira. Millions. And her selflessness didn't stop at family; it extended to her friends too.

The Greed, the Entitlement, the Fake Lifestyle

Were they grateful for her efforts? No, they were not.

The movie captures something deeply relatable about Nigerian social dynamics. The sense of entitlement, the excuses manufactured to extract money while not using it for what was claimed, and the fake lifestyle built on someone else's sacrifice.

If you have ever been the person that everyone comes to, or if you know that person, this movie will hit differently.

The most ironic thing is that the breadwinner didn't carry an ounce of pride. She treated her staff like family. But her siblings who couldn't stand on their own financially were proud, and they used her as a bragging right. No amount of money was ever enough. They always wanted more, with little to no regard for her. That's where greed bleeds into wickedness.

What Happens to Her?

She paid for her selflessness dearly. I'll leave out exactly how, because you deserve to be surprised. What I will say is that the film earns every emotional beat.

The Lesson Behind the Scenes Is Teaching

Don't be stupidly selfless to people who are not grateful be it family or friends. And if you are the ungrateful type, learn to be appreciative. Don't reduce your benefactor to a walking ATM. Recognise what they sacrifice for you.

Final Verdict: 8/10

Behind the Scenes is a well-crafted Nigerian movie now streaming on Netflix, and it deserves your time. Watch it, sit with it, and then call someone you've been taking for granted.

Have you seen Behind the Scenes? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Zazie Beetz Finally Gets Her Moment and She Earns Every Second

Zazie Beetz has spent years being the best thing in other people's movies. Fans of Deadpool 2 know her range. Viewers of the criminally underrated The Harder They Fall saw her steal scenes effortlessly. In They Will Kill You, she finally carries a film from start to finish, and she does it brilliantly.

She plays Asia, an older sister on a single-minded mission. Her aim was to find her younger sister, Maria, no matter the cost. There's a backstory of guilt driving her. She abandoned her sister once. She is not about to let that happen again. If you are an older sibling, that protective instinct she carries throughout the film will feel deeply personal. She is not just a sister in this movie. She is essentially Maria's entire world. She is Maria’s family, protector, and her last lifeline.

That emotional core is what separates They Will Kill You from your average horror action film, and Beetz plays it with conviction.

The Gore Is Spectacular and Hilarious

They Will Kill You does not hold back. The gore is vivid, relentless, and in certain scenes, almost comedically over the top in the best possible way. Director Kirill Sokolov (Why Don't You Just Die!) brings a hyper-stylized, gonzo energy to the violence that keeps it consistently entertaining rather than exhausting. The fight choreography is genuinely spectacular. It's grounded, physical, and satisfying to watch.

The plot holds together for the most part, even if a few beats stretch credibility. But you are rarely watching this kind of film for airtight logic. You are watching it for the ride, and the ride delivers.

Myha'la from Industry is a Scene Stealer

If you know Myha'la from Industry on HBO, she plays Maria in this film. She is vulnerable, innocent and endearing. It is something of a revelation. She plays the younger sister with such warmth that you will genuinely feel invested in her survival from the first act. Her dynamic with Beetz is the emotional heartbeat of the entire film. Together, they are the standouts of a strong ensemble cast that also includes Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, and Heather Graham.

Yes, There Are Supernatural Elements — And They Work

Without giving too much away: They Will Kill You is not just a horror thriller. It has a genuine supernatural dimension baked into its DNA that adds a layer most action-horror films do not bother with. Think satanic cult energy, think Manhattan luxury apartments hiding very dark secrets. The genre cocktail here is action, horror, comedy, and the supernatural. The movie blends more smoothly than you might expect.

The Verdict: 7/10 — A Bloody, Entertaining Good Time

They Will Kill You is not a perfect film. Some story elements do not fully land, and its structure can feel slightly repetitive in the middle. But the performances of the cast, especially from Beetz and Myha'la elevate, the material considerably. The ending is unexpected and genuinely satisfying. I had a great time in the cinema.

If you are a fan of Ready or Not, films with fierce female leads, and horror that is not afraid to make you laugh between the screams, do not hesitate to put They Will Kill You on your watchlist immediately.

Rating: 7/10

They Will Kill You is currently in cinemas. Directed by Kirill Sokolov. Starring Zazie Beetz, Myha'la, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, and Heather Graham.

The Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer just became the first movie trailer in history to hit one billion views. The Marvel Renaissance has arrived.

Marvel was in a prolonged creative and financial slump from 2021 to 2024. In 2024 they had a big hit that made up to a billion. Deadpool and Wolverine, then 2025 happened. Now 2026 is looking even bigger. This is what a renaissance looks like.

After the release of Avengers Endgame in 2019, Marvel has been struggling to dominate popular culture like they once did.

Since Avengers Endgame it has been hit or miss and the franchise didn't have a clear plan as they did during the phases that led to Endgame.

From 2021 to 2025 we have had more misses. Some of the misses are Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania, Black Widow, The Marvels, Thor Love and Thunder and Captain America: Brave New World.

There has only been a handful of really good projects in the last 5 years. Spider-Man No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, Thunderbolts, Deadpool and Wolverine Fantastic 4:First Steps.

These are just the movies. For the series, the really great series that stood out are WandaVision, Loki, Daredevil Born Again, Moon Knight and Agatha All-Along. The remaining projects failed to leave a lasting cultural impact.

People got tired of Marvel in the last few years. The evidence is in the low box office performance of the movies. For example, Thunderbolts, The Marvels, Ant-Man Quantumania and Captain America Brave New World either flopped or were box office disappointments. The audience lost their trust in Marvel and it shows because these projects were critical and commercial failures.

In 2025, the pre-Renaissance period started.Both Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps earned above 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a feat Marvel hadn’t pulled off with back-to-back films since 2019.

Thunderbolts* landed an 88% critics score and a 93% audience score, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps earned 86% from critics and 91% from audiences.

Disney CEO Bob Iger called Thunderbolts* the “first and best example” of Marvel Studios’ refocusing strategy.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps opened to $117.6 million domestically and $218 million globally. The best opening weekend for any Fantastic Four film ever.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps easily became the best Fantastic Four movie ever made. It became obvious that Marvel started stepping in the right direction.

2025 became clear proof that Marvel became dedicated to returning to greatness.

The 2026 Marvel lineup is arguably Marvel’s strongest single-year lineup since 2019.

The 2026 Marvel Lineup And Why Every Project Matters

Wonder Man (Jan 27) — already out, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams alongside the returning Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (March 24)— reuniting Charlie Cox’s Daredevil with Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones.

X-Men ’97 Season 2 (mid-2026) — still the highest-rated Marvel title on Rotten Tomatoes , with Apocalypse joining the story.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31) — Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker following the events of No Way Home.

Avengers: Doomsday (Dec 18) — Robert Downey Jr. back as the villain Doctor Doom, with the Russo Brothers returning to direct.

VisionQuest (Fall 2026) — Paul Bettany returning as White Vision, concluding the WandaVision trilogy of shows.

Spider-Noir (27 May 2026)— A spinoff series about the detective Spider-Noir from the animated Spider-Verse movies.

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man Season 2 (Late 2026) —The upcoming animated series will continue the story of a young Peter Parker.

The Marvel Renaissance Has Already Begun:Two Great Shows Are Out Right Now

Season 1 of Wonder Man is completely out and it has been one of Marvel’s most critically praised Disney+ series.

Season 2 of Daredevil Born Again just started airing yesterday and the first episode has already drawn strong early reactions.

We have two good Marvel shows that are out already, and we will soon have two box office juggernauts this year.

Spider-Man Brand New Day and Avengers Doomsday. In short, the chances of Marvel releasing any bad or average project this year are very slim. They went back to the drawing board and the intention to deliver quality is unmistakable.

Why Avengers: Doomsday Could Be Marvel’s Biggest Film Since Endgame

The Russo Brothers are directing Avengers Doomsday. They previously directed Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame.These are Marvel’s most celebrated films both critically and commercially.They all made at least a billion.

Robert Downey Junior who acted as the iconic Iron Man in previous Marvel movies is returning for the role of Dr Doom who we all know from the comics and animation as one of the most iconic villains in Marvel’s history. This is probably the most anticipated casting in superhero history

Early teasers for Avengers Doomsday have already shown Steve Rogers(Formerly Captain America), Thor, the X-Men, and the Wakandans. This is signalling a true ensemble and large-scale event.

Avengers Doomsday is the first live action movie to feature both the Avengers and the X-Men.

The renaissance is very real and this is why.

With the moves, Marvel has been making recently, it is quite obvious that they are now prioritizing quality over quantity unlike the immediate years after Avengers Endgame which was mostly about quantity.

The Russo Brothers are back, the multiverse has a villain that is iconic as Thanos if not even more iconic, and 2026 is the closest Marvel has come to repeating the humongous success of 2019 which is by far their best year.

Both Spider-Man: Far from Home and Avengers Endgame got released in 2019, this 2026, both Spider-Man Brand New Day and Avengers Doomsday are getting released.

Back in the day, Spider-Man Far from Home and Avengers Endgame were the most successful superhero movies in 2019. Marvel would most likely repeat that this year with Avengers Doomsday and Spider-Man Brand New Day.

If Doomsday performs the way Marvel and the fans expect it to, this era of Marvel is going to be more than a renaissance it will become a brand new golden era.

In the 16th century, there was a legend called Ann Lee. Some people called her the female Jesus.

She grew up in a dirt-poor household with many siblings. She was only close to one brother. His name is William. He basically followed her everywhere.

Since she was a child, she attended church and she prayed. She believed in God deeply.

In her 20s, she discovered a church that completely aligned with her beliefs.

The people in that church called themselves the Shakers.

The way they worshipped wasn't that different from the typical Christian but there was something unique about it.

They confessed their sins out loud for everyone to hear.

I found that funny to some extent. Imagine if you stole something and the next day was church but you have to tell the whole church what you stole, who you stole it from and why you stole it.

It’s like the ground should just open up and swallow you while you are talking.

Anyway, Ann Lee officially joined the Shakers.

In every church meeting they always dance and they sing.

There is hardly a time when they talk normally during the sermon.

The way they move is like they are possessed. Just imagine a mannequin being blown by the breeze from left to right.

Ann Lee eventually married someone from the church.

Unfortunately, during her marriage, Ann Lee lost all her childrien. Some were miscarriages while some babies couldn't go beyond the first year of their births.

She thought it was God who was punishing her.

See, the thing is that Ann Lee saw sex in its totality as a sin against God, even if it is between a husband and wife.

In her mind, she was sinning against God by having sex with her husband.

When she was a child, she witnessed her parents having sex on a particular day. That's how small their house was.

The next day after she was so unfortunate to witness that, she boldly told her dad ”I know what you do to her“.

Her dad flogged her hands severely. Ann Lee’s mother had to intervene and tell her to stop.

Subsequently, after losing four children, Ann Lee decided to be intensely involved with the church.

Ann Lee started to organise and lead many church programs. The Shakers went on for days singing, shouting and dancing to the lord without stopping.

The neighbours got tired and filed a noise complaint to the police. The police came into the church, forced everyone to stop and arrested Ann Lee.

While in prison, Ann Lee received a vision from God. This vision became her basis for her life’s mission which was to spread her doctrine of Christ to the world.

She told the other Quakers about it. Basically, she wanted to form a movement where every member wasn't attached to the flesh in any way because that's how to talk clearly to God. She didn't want any of the members of her church to be involved in any kind of sexual affair, married or unmarried.

With her strong conviction, she interrupted other churches when they were having their programs and she started marching through the streets of England. They didn't want to hear her. She was assaulted.

Eventually, she decided to take her gospel to America.

Ann and her family travelled to America by ship. During the journey, Ann Lee and the Shakers started singing on the ship.

This scene right here is one of the best musical compositions I have seen in a movie. It was bold, beautiful and epic.

Others on the ship told Ann Lee and the Shakers to shut up. She simply asked God to forgive them.

A storm rocked the ship later during their travel. In the eye of the storm, Ann Lee told the captain not to worry that God is with them.

They later got through the storm. The skies became calm. The Captain of the ship and the other didn't bother Ann Lee and the Quakers again when they sang gospel songs.

They started to give them respect.

When Ann Lee and the Shakers got to New York in America, God led Ann Lee to a woman’s house. Upon getting there she called the woman by name and told her that God led her to the woman.

The woman never told Ann Lee her name before so she was fully convinced.

The woman decided to rent out the house to Ann Lee for a low price that she doesn't normally charge others.

She did this because she felt honored that God would send someone her way.

Ann later discovered that her niece was having a sexual affair with one of the Shakers. She had to let her niece and her niece’s lover go because sex was against her doctrine.

Her niece married the man she was sleeping with and Ann didn't oppose her wedding. They were free to wed but they couldn't be part of the movement.

Ann denied her husband sex for six years. He was frustrated, drunk and angry. It was after he had stated six years that it became shocking.

He demanded to have sex with Ann at the moment. He threatened to take a new wife. When Ann didn't agree to have sex with him, he went downstairs, brought a whore with him upstairs and paid the whore to be his wife in the presence of Ann.

She cried and her Husband left her.

Ann’s church members found land for them to settle in. The goal was to build a settlement. They started to build. Ann’s brother became discouraged. He wasn't seeing any new church members.

Ann assured William that new church members are coming. After a few years, the small community of Shakers grew into a small town.

The Testament of Ann Lee started to spread far and wide and people became converted.

As the town was thriving, American soldiers came to ask her if she would support their war efforts by pledging allegiance to what we know today as the United States of America.

America was a colony at that time and that was when they were fighting the English to gain independence.

Ann took the stance of neutrality. She didn't pledge allegiance to them. Eventually, she was arrested for that action. The charge was treason.

The Governor of New York demanded that they release her. The soldiers concurred and released her.

Subsequently, Ann Lee wasn't backing down after this. She traveled to another town to preach.

As she was preaching in a gathering, a group of psychotic men started burning the church with their torches of fire.

They dragged Ann Lee and her brother out. Ann Lee and her brother received severe beatings, and they were seriously injured. Ann Lee kept on telling the Shakers not to fight back. They are to maintain peace even in the harshest situations.

After repeatedly accusing her of not being a real woman, the useless men there ripped off her clothes. When they saw she was actually a woman, they started calling her a witch.

In the events of hearing some gunshots, the men who attacked Ann Lee and the Quakers ran away.

They left Ann Lee and her brother in bad shape. Ann Lee and her brother received medical attention but William died next to Ann Lee.

A year after her brother, William died, Ann Lee died too. Before she died, she was happy because she could see her brother waiting for her. She felt comfort knowing her time on earth was over. She was going to meet the lord. She was just 48. The whole town mourned her.

The Shakers went on to survive for generations. Unfortunately, right now there are only two people in the world who identify as Shakers.

Ultimately, the film is a 9/10 to me. Amanda Seyfried’s performance as Ann Lee is generational.

It's probably her best performance ever.

The music in the movie was bold, thrilling and captivating.

You just have to love the musical scenes.

The story was great. Now I know about Ann Lee.

Although her doctrine about not having sex in marriage may be false, abstinence is what enabled her to confidently talk with God. Everyone worships God in his or her own way.

This movie reminds us of that. Her view is somewhat similar to the view of Paul in the Bible. He never married because he saw marriage as a distraction.

After Ann Lee lost all her kids, she just couldn't do it anymore. I guess I understand her and her extreme doctrine.

The fact that she couldn't give birth to a child who can survive combined with her beliefs made her what she is.

The movie is great, I highly recommend it.

The biggest complaint I have heard about this movie from people online is that it didn't properly adapt the book.

I won't lie to you, I haven't read the book. However, I enjoyed the movie. It is an intense romantic drama where the love, although very real, enduring, raw and passionate was cut short by death.

Till death do us apart is the most significant theme in the movie. Death is the only thing that actually separated them.

Heathcliff and Catherine have loved each other since they were kids. The moment she thought he was dead, she carried on with her fancy life but she still felt sad.

This was the first time death separated Heathcliff and Catherine. He might not actually have been dead by that time but just the thought of him being dead was enough for Catherine to reluctantly move on with her dull but bountiful ife.

Her life was bountiful and it was glittering like gold because of her rich husband that took her out of poverty. She still felt incomplete even with all the money.

To Catherine's wonderful surprise Heathcliff eventually came back after disappearing for years.

Catherine's married life couldn't keep her away from seeing Heathcliff. They still made love occasionally. In the coach, at the back of the house and in Heathcliff’s house amongst other places.

After Heathcliff later discovered that Catherine was pregnant for her husband, they still kept making love to each other.

Catherine finally came to her senses. She wanted to finally listen to her brain instead of her heart.

She swiftly responded to her brain and decided to finally cut it off after Heathcliff joked about killing her husband while they were making love.

Heathcliff decided to marry another woman just to spite Catherine. It was torture for Catherine.

It became an intense and terrifying love game between Catherine, Heathcliff and her husband. I’ll spare you the details of that game. Go and see the movie.

Anyway, at the end, both Heathcliff and Catherine's husband survived the game.

Heathcliff was hugging Catherine's cold and lukewarm body. With all her life force getting drained, he cried out to her of how much he loved her and how he couldn't possibly live a life without her.

This time, death finally got it's way and separated them. Till death do us apart finally happened.

Ultimately, I can say that the acting, cinematography, plot, setting and themes in the movie are good.

The best themes in the movie that are actually relatable are the themes of marriage, undying love, torture and cheating.

Yes, the cheating Is there. I didn't actually like the cheating aspect but I still refer to it as one of the best themes because it is relatable.

Hollywood has been romanticizing cheating nowadays. Catherine cheated on her husband. You can't really justify that. Since the romanticization of cheating is somewhat common nowadays, that makes the movie a little bit cliche. Overall it is a 7/10 for me. It was good. It’s an intense but partially satisfying romantic experience.

I might just read the book later.

Warning:spoilers ahead

War Machine is a sci-fi action movie starring Alan Ritchson. We all know Alan Ritchson from Reacher. He is like a buff John Wick. The kind of guy you don't want to get in a fight with.

War Machine was released on Netflix on March 6. On a scale of 1-10, the movie is a 5 at the very best.

Let's start with the positives. The cinematography, visual effects and Alan Ritchson himself are the good things about the movie. That's about it.The plot was quite predictable. It was obvious that the main character’s brother was going to die at the beginning. Everything was already being set up as a tragedy, and if you have watched enough war type movies, you can easily see through that. 

There was nothing stellar about the performances. They are all quite forgettable, apart from Alan Ritchson and fifteen. Fifteen was a bumbling and funny idiot. He was the clown in the squad. He was always cracking jokes to try and make sense of everything. He was also being intentionally goofy just to lighten the mood and make everyone laugh and have a good time. 

He is arguably the best character in the movie because of how he always thought of everyone. As a matter of fact, my favorite scene is where fifteen complained to Sergeant 81(Alan Ritchson). 

It was a very tense scene where 15 told Sergeant 81(Alan Ritchson )that the team needed to take a minute because of all the people they had lost. They needed to process all the killings at the hands of that merciless Alien robot from outer space.

Sergeant 81(Alan Ritchson) convinced them that there was no time to rest, they all had to keep going. In the spur of the moment, they all followed him In a futile attempt to survive. Nevertheless it was a good attempt. There were only two survivors from the main squad at the end of the movie. 

Overall, the movie might have been average, but it is still enjoyable. You can stream it. 

Everybody reading this probably watched Avatar: The Last Airbender as a child or is at least aware of its existence. Personally, I haven’t met anyone who doesn't like the cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender. A whole generation is quite familiar with it. The Gen Z. That being said, a sequel to our beloved animated series is set to be released on October 9, 2026.

The title is Avatar: Aang the Last Airbender. Originally, it was meant to be released in theatres but as it stands it is getting released on a streaming service instead. Paramount+ is the name of the streaming service.

The official synopsis of the movie is below.

In the years since the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai, Aang, the world's last Airbender, learns of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens to upend the peace they sacrificed everything to achieve.

I can bet that you are not familiar with the streaming service Paramount+

Even if you are, do you personally know anyone who uses it?

See, you don’t. Anyway, the fact that it is not going to be released in theatres at all is not a good thing. I understand that it may be a good thing for some people because they can just pirate it easily upon release.

However, the director herself said the following words ”This movie deserves to be seen on a big screen!!!”

This was after she confirmed that the movie has been fully produced a few days ago. They just wrapped it up.

Paramount’s decision to only release on their streaming service and not in cinemas undermines the franchise as a whole.

With their decision, they are giving the impression that the movie is not of enough quality to be released in theatres. It is common knowledge that movies released in theatres are of higher quality than streaming movies.

I will definitely pay to watch an Avatar Aang movie in theatres and I believe many would do the same. The impact it had on our childhoods is undeniable and the sequel deserves a theatrical release. I really hope Paramount reconsiders.

Iwaju is an animated series produced by Disney. It was released in 2024 but it is still quite relevant to Nigeria today, particularly Lagos because the series is set in a futuristic version of Lagos. 

The show reimagines Lagos as a neon Tokyo-type city with flying cars, flashy buildings, and holograms. It’s a Sci-fi Lagos. 

Some of the events that unfolded in the series depicted Lagos well to some extent. 

Broken languages like Nawa o, wahala, and wetin were spoken by the indigenous people of Nigeria in the show. It was good that they actually got the way broken language was spoken well, and seeing the cast, it wasn't a surprise because the cast are Nigerian-born.

The main villain of the show, Bode, is someone who specialises in Kidnapping. He kidnaps children and asks their parents for ransom. That is how he makes his money. As horrific as it sounds, kidnapping is a business that is carried out in Nigeria. It’s gone so bad that the words Kidnapping industry were used by a British journalist who was debating the spokesperson of Nigeria's President recently. 

Kidnapping is now a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise according to the SBM intelligence reports.

Bode depicts the kidnapping business perfectly. However, what the show gets wrong is that in terms of kidnapping, kidnapping occurrences in Lagos are relatively low when compared to the other states in Nigeria. They should have used another state instead but the issue of kidnapping is spot on.

The annoying traffic in Lagos was also addressed in the series. In the beginning, when Tola’s driver wanted to carry Tola to the airport to meet her dad, the holdup was so serious that he had to use the car to hover above the other cars to get to the airport fast. That would be very convenient if it were real because Lagos traffic is a serious problem in real life.

Alas, another significant issue was portrayed in the show. The problem of a bad power supply. The phrase, Nepa no fall my hand was used repeatedly in the show. The market scene where electricity fluctuated is an example. In the night, there was an interruption of power supply in a Lagos Market and the traders started shouting, Nepa no fall my hand. The scene is quite relatable. As a Nigerian, a constant supply of electricity is something we yearn for but we don't get. There are areas in Nigeria that don’t get electricity at all for months. Some communities even lack electricity and solar is now actually expensive for the average Nigerian so the problem persists.

Nepa no fall my hand is broken English for Nepa not to cut the power.

Begging culture is another theme that the Iwaju series shed a light on. In the scene where Bode got down from the plane at the airport, different people started coming to him to beg for money. It was a very realistic scene. Recently, IShow Speed visited Lagos and the whole world saw Lagosians eagerly begging him for money like they were entitled to it. Begging is actually a common phenomenon in Lagos.

Hawkers, while presented well in Iwaju  didn't get a completely accurate presentation. In the scene where hawkers were using drones to sell roadside snacks to Tola, a hawker tried selling a lizard to her. Hawkers don’t sell Lizards in Lagos. It’s a good thing the main character herself, Tola told the hawker that he is better off giving it out for free. It was a hilarious scene because of how the hawker stormed off with the drone after hearing that.

Fake life, the art of looking rich while not being rich was addressed in the scene where Bode’s backstory was explored. He stole money from his employer while he was a cleaner as a child. He did this just to buy a necklace and look flashy. His mother kept begging his employer on his behalf not to fire him but he didn't help his case at all. He boasted to his mom that it was just a little money that he stole and he was justified in the act. Bode wanted to look like what he couldn't afford and it drove him to steal. 

The concept of fake life is a societal Ill in Lagos, and Nigeria at large. Some people borrow and even steal just to look rich. Iwaju did justice on that subject matter.

The Yoruba greetings were on point in the Iwaju series. Bawo ni? Mo wà dáadáa.  The former means how are you? The latter means I am fine.

These greetings were exchanged between Bode and Kole when they first met. The common Zobo drinks in Lagos were given to Kole and his Mom when they met with Bode. These Yoruba greetings and the zobo drinks would make you feel like you were actually in Lagos. Iwaju did an excellent job in creating that Lagos feel.

Kole taught Tola how to negotiate prices for transport when they both went to mainland Lagos. In a scene, the keke napep man told Kole 300 and he raised his hand and signalled two with his fingers. The keke napep driver reluctantly agreed and both Kole and Tola got into the Keke Napep. Negotiating for lower prices when taking vehicles for transport is a common practice in Lagos.

Right now, prices for transport are actually high for the average Nigerian even though it is a necessity. The minimum wage barely covers transport fare for a whole month so negotiation for lower prices is necessary. 

Ultimately, there was a scene where Kole’s mom was in the car with Tola’s driver. She tried calling the police because Kole, Tola and Tola’s father were in trouble. The police said that their offices were closed by that time and they also said that if it is an emergency…..

The line went off. Kole’s mom turned it off. In a study, it was revealed that one out of 6 Nigerians said that the police actually helped. It shows how unreliable the police are in Nigeria and Iwaju showcased that with a scene as short as that. It was short but it portrays a terrifying reality. The police in Nigeria can not be relied on. There is no counterpart for 911 in Nigeria. The emergency line doesn't work.

Overall, very little fault can be found in Iwaju’s portrayal of Lagos. They actually portrayed it well and it is strongly culturally relevant to Lagos and Nigeria at large.

Iwaju is an animated series produced by Disney. It was released in 2024 but it is still quite relevant to Nigeria today, particularly Lagos because the series is set in a futuristic version of Lagos. 

The show reimagines Lagos as a neon Tokyo-type city with flying cars, flashy buildings, and holograms. It’s a Sci-fi Lagos. 

Some of the events that unfolded in the series depicted Lagos well to some extent. 

Broken languages like Nawa o, wahala, and wetin were spoken by the indigenous people of Nigeria in the show. It was good that they actually got the way broken language was spoken well, and seeing the cast, it wasn't a surprise because the cast are Nigerian-born.

The main villain of the show, Bode, is someone who specialises in Kidnapping. He kidnaps children and asks their parents for ransom. That is how he makes his money. As horrific as it sounds, kidnapping is a business that is carried out in Nigeria. It’s gone so bad that the words Kidnapping industry were used by a British journalist who was debating the spokesperson of Nigeria's President recently. 

Kidnapping is now a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise according to the SBM intelligence reports.

Bode depicts the kidnapping business perfectly. However, what the show gets wrong is that in terms of kidnapping, kidnapping occurrences in Lagos are relatively low when compared to the other states in Nigeria. They should have used another state instead but the issue of kidnapping is spot on.

The annoying traffic in Lagos was also addressed in the series. In the beginning, when Tola’s driver wanted to carry Tola to the airport to meet her dad, the holdup was so serious that he had to use the car to hover above the other cars to get to the airport fast. That would be very convenient if it were real because Lagos traffic is a serious problem in real life.

Alas, another significant issue was portrayed in the show. The problem of a bad power supply. The phrase, Nepa no fall my hand was used repeatedly in the show. The market scene where electricity fluctuated is an example. In the night, there was an interruption of power supply in a Lagos Market and the traders started shouting, Nepa no fall my hand. The scene is quite relatable. As a Nigerian, a constant supply of electricity is something we yearn for but we don't get. There are areas in Nigeria that don’t get electricity at all for months. Some communities even lack electricity and solar is now actually expensive for the average Nigerian so the problem persists.

Nepa no fall my hand is broken English for Nepa not to cut the power.

Begging culture is another theme that the Iwaju series shed a light on. In the scene where Bode got down from the plane at the airport, different people started coming to him to beg for money. It was a very realistic scene. Recently, IShow Speed visited Lagos and the whole world saw Lagosians eagerly begging him for money like they were entitled to it. Begging is actually a common phenomenon in Lagos.

Hawkers, while presented well in Iwaju  didn't get a completely accurate presentation. In the scene where hawkers were using drones to sell roadside snacks to Tola, a hawker tried selling a lizard to her. Hawkers don’t sell Lizards in Lagos. It’s a good thing the main character herself, Tola told the hawker that he is better off giving it out for free. It was a hilarious scene because of how the hawker stormed off with the drone after hearing that.

Fake life, the art of looking rich while not being rich was addressed in the scene where Bode’s backstory was explored. He stole money from his employer while he was a cleaner as a child. He did this just to buy a necklace and look flashy. His mother kept begging his employer on his behalf not to fire him but he didn't help his case at all. He boasted to his mom that it was just a little money that he stole and he was justified in the act. Bode wanted to look like what he couldn't afford and it drove him to steal. 

The concept of fake life is a societal Ill in Lagos, and Nigeria at large. Some people borrow and even steal just to look rich. Iwaju did justice on that subject matter.

The Yoruba greetings were on point in the Iwaju series. Bawo ni? Mo wà dáadáa.  The former means how are you? The latter means I am fine.

These greetings were exchanged between Bode and Kole when they first met. The common Zobo drinks in Lagos were given to Kole and his Mom when they met with Bode. These Yoruba greetings and the zobo drinks would make you feel like you were actually in Lagos. Iwaju did an excellent job in creating that Lagos feel.

Kole taught Tola how to negotiate prices for transport when they both went to mainland Lagos. In a scene, the keke napep man told Kole 300 and he raised his hand and signalled two with his fingers. The keke napep driver reluctantly agreed and both Kole and Tola got into the Keke Napep. Negotiating for lower prices when taking vehicles for transport is a common practice in Lagos.

Right now, prices for transport are actually high for the average Nigerian even though it is a necessity. The minimum wage barely covers transport fare for a whole month so negotiation for lower prices is necessary. 

Ultimately, there was a scene where Kole’s mom was in the car with Tola’s driver. She tried calling the police because Kole, Tola and Tola’s father were in trouble. The police said that their offices were closed by that time and they also said that if it is an emergency…..

The line went off. Kole’s mom turned it off. In a study, it was revealed that one out of 6 Nigerians said that the police actually helped. It shows how unreliable the police are in Nigeria and Iwaju showcased that with a scene as short as that. It was short but it portrays a terrifying reality. The police in Nigeria can not be relied on. There is no counterpart for 911 in Nigeria. The emergency line doesn't work.

Overall, very little fault can be found in Iwaju’s portrayal of Lagos. They actually portrayed it well and it is strongly culturally relevant to Lagos and Nigeria at large.

Iwaju is an animated series produced by Disney. It was released in 2024 but it is still quite relevant to Nigeria today, particularly Lagos because the series is set in a futuristic version of Lagos. 

The show reimagines Lagos as a neon Tokyo-type city with flying cars, flashy buildings, and holograms. It’s a Sci-fi Lagos. 

Some of the events that unfolded in the series depicted Lagos well to some extent. 

Broken languages like Nawa o, wahala, and wetin were spoken by the indigenous people of Nigeria in the show. It was good that they actually got the way broken language was spoken well, and seeing the cast, it wasn't a surprise because the cast are Nigerian-born.

The main villain of the show, Bode, is someone who specialises in Kidnapping. He kidnaps children and asks their parents for ransom. That is how he makes his money. As horrific as it sounds, kidnapping is a business that is carried out in Nigeria. It’s gone so bad that the words Kidnapping industry were used by a British journalist who was debating the spokesperson of Nigeria's President recently. 

Kidnapping is now a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise according to the SBM intelligence reports.

Bode depicts the kidnapping business perfectly. However, what the show gets wrong is that in terms of kidnapping, kidnapping occurrences in Lagos are relatively low when compared to the other states in Nigeria. They should have used another state instead but the issue of kidnapping is spot on.

The annoying traffic in Lagos was also addressed in the series. In the beginning, when Tola’s driver wanted to carry Tola to the airport to meet her dad, the holdup was so serious that he had to use the car to hover above the other cars to get to the airport fast. That would be very convenient if it were real because Lagos traffic is a serious problem in real life.

Alas, another significant issue was portrayed in the show. The problem of a bad power supply. The phrase, Nepa no fall my hand was used repeatedly in the show. The market scene where electricity fluctuated is an example. In the night, there was an interruption of power supply in a Lagos Market and the traders started shouting, Nepa no fall my hand. The scene is quite relatable. As a Nigerian, a constant supply of electricity is something we yearn for but we don't get. There are areas in Nigeria that don’t get electricity at all for months. Some communities even lack electricity and solar is now actually expensive for the average Nigerian so the problem persists.

Nepa no fall my hand is broken English for Nepa not to cut the power.

Begging culture is another theme that the Iwaju series shed a light on. In the scene where Bode got down from the plane at the airport, different people started coming to him to beg for money. It was a very realistic scene. Recently, IShow Speed visited Lagos and the whole world saw Lagosians eagerly begging him for money like they were entitled to it. Begging is actually a common phenomenon in Lagos.

Hawkers, while presented well in Iwaju  didn't get a completely accurate presentation. In the scene where hawkers were using drones to sell roadside snacks to Tola, a hawker tried selling a lizard to her. Hawkers don’t sell Lizards in Lagos. It’s a good thing the main character herself, Tola told the hawker that he is better off giving it out for free. It was a hilarious scene because of how the hawker stormed off with the drone after hearing that.

Fake life, the art of looking rich while not being rich was addressed in the scene where Bode’s backstory was explored. He stole money from his employer while he was a cleaner as a child. He did this just to buy a necklace and look flashy. His mother kept begging his employer on his behalf not to fire him but he didn't help his case at all. He boasted to his mom that it was just a little money that he stole and he was justified in the act. Bode wanted to look like what he couldn't afford and it drove him to steal. 

The concept of fake life is a societal Ill in Lagos, and Nigeria at large. Some people borrow and even steal just to look rich. Iwaju did justice on that subject matter.

The Yoruba greetings were on point in the Iwaju series. Bawo ni? Mo wà dáadáa.  The former means how are you? The latter means I am fine.

These greetings were exchanged between Bode and Kole when they first met. The common Zobo drinks in Lagos were given to Kole and his Mom when they met with Bode. These Yoruba greetings and the zobo drinks would make you feel like you were actually in Lagos. Iwaju did an excellent job in creating that Lagos feel.

Kole taught Tola how to negotiate prices for transport when they both went to mainland Lagos. In a scene, the keke napep man told Kole 300 and he raised his hand and signalled two with his fingers. The keke napep driver reluctantly agreed and both Kole and Tola got into the Keke Napep. Negotiating for lower prices when taking vehicles for transport is a common practice in Lagos.

Right now, prices for transport are actually high for the average Nigerian even though it is a necessity. The minimum wage barely covers transport fare for a whole month so negotiation for lower prices is necessary. 

Ultimately, there was a scene where Kole’s mom was in the car with Tola’s driver. She tried calling the police because Kole, Tola and Tola’s father were in trouble. The police said that their offices were closed by that time and they also said that if it is an emergency…..

The line went off. Kole’s mom turned it off. In a study, it was revealed that one out of 6 Nigerians said that the police actually helped. It shows how unreliable the police are in Nigeria and Iwaju showcased that with a scene as short as that. It was short but it portrays a terrifying reality. The police in Nigeria can not be relied on. There is no counterpart for 911 in Nigeria. The emergency line doesn't work.

Overall, very little fault can be found in Iwaju’s portrayal of Lagos. They actually portrayed it well and it is strongly culturally relevant to Lagos and Nigeria at large.

If you haven't watched Iwaju yet, stream it. It’s a good satire for Lagos. It reflects on some of the things Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole go through.

Anora Review

Anora is a surprise hit, captivating audiences with its intriguing and intense plot. The film masterfully weaves together themes of prostitution, assault, wealth, parenting, and marriage.

*Stellar Performances*

Mikey Madison shines as Ani/Anora, a high-priced stripper with a charming facade that conceals her deep-seated loneliness. Mark Eldelstein delivers a convincing portrayal of Ivan, the spoiled and entitled son of Russian billionaires.

*Thought-Provoking Themes*

The movie tackles complex themes, particularly marriage, assault, and wealth. Anora's sham marriage to Ivan serves as a commentary on the transactional nature of relationships and the corrupting influence of wealth.

*Memorable Scenes*

One of the most striking scenes is Anora's assault, which is both unsettling and darkly comedic. The film's climax, featuring Anora's complex and open-to-interpretation encounter with her assailant, is equally memorable.

*Pacing Issues*

The film's slow pacing is its primary shortcoming. The prolonged search for Ivan yields underwhelming results, revealing him to be a shallow and cowardly character.

*Conclusion*

Despite its flaws, Anora is a gripping drama that explores twisted romance and complex themes. With standout performances and memorable scenes, it's a solid 8/10 watch for fans of drama and romance.

Gladiator II Review

The original Gladiator film is undoubtedly a masterpiece. While its sequel, Gladiator II, may not live up to its predecessor's standards, it still delivers an engaging cinematic experience.

The movie opens with the Roman Empire's invasion of Nubia, where we meet our protagonist, Hanno. Played by Paul Mescal, Hanno is a compelling character driven by vengeance and a desire to protect his people. The film's action sequences are intense and well-choreographed, particularly the cannon fight between the Nubians and Romans.

Pedro Pascal shines as General Acacius, bringing depth and nuance to his character. His performance is matched by Denzel Washington, who delivers a captivating portrayal of the manipulative and ruthless Macrinus.

One of the standout aspects of Gladiator II is its exploration of themes such as identity, free will, and the power of symbolism. The ring passed down from Maximus to Acacius and finally to Lucius serves as a potent symbol of hope and legacy.

While the film has its strengths, it's not without its weaknesses. Historical inaccuracies and a somewhat convoluted plot may detract from the viewing experience. Additionally, the justification for the sequel's existence feels somewhat tenuous at times.

Overall, Gladiator II is a solid, if not spectacular, follow-up to the original. With outstanding performances, impressive action sequences, and thought-provoking themes, it's a worthwhile watch for fans of the franchise. Rating: 8/10.

Wicked, the highly anticipated prequel to the beloved classic "The Wizard of Oz," defies expectations to deliver a magical cinematic experience. Despite being in development hell since 2012 and sparking controversy prior to its release, the film proves to be an ingenious piece of fiction.

The outstanding performances of Ariana Grande as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo as the Green Witch are undeniable highlights. Grande perfectly captures Galinda's narcissistic and self-absorbed personality, while Erivo brings depth and nuance to the misunderstood Green Witch.

One of the most captivating scenes in the movie is when the Green Witch takes to the skies on her magical broomstick, symbolizing her liberation from societal expectations and the Wizard's manipulation. This moment marks a turning point in her journey, as she refuses to be controlled and instead forges her own path.

The film's themes of identity, societal pressure, and the nature of villainy are thought-provoking and timely. The contrast between Galinda's popularity and the Green Witch's ostracism serves as a commentary on the dangers of superficiality and the importance of empathy.

While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the story unfolds in an intense and spectacular way, making for an exciting watch. The pace of the story is well-balanced, with a satisfying conclusion.

In conclusion, Wicked is a must-see film that reminds us that villains are not born, but made. With its talented cast, impressive visuals, and thought-provoking themes, it's a solid 9/10.