The movie ‘GRAN TURISMO: BASED ON A TRUE STORY’ is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer, a failed former racecar driver, and an idealistic motorsport executive. Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world. ‘GRAN TURISMO: BASED ON A TRUE STORY’ is an inspiring, thrilling, and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you’re fueled from within.

Inspired by Monaco watches in the early 1970s, this TAG Heuer Monaco is the original square-shaped icon. A chronograph full of charisma, made to be unique. This powerful design has left a long legacy, and is now offered on a distinctive steel bracelet: a rallying sign for the rebellious. The watch costs RM31,400 (official website here).

In the meantime, check out our review of the movie here.

Legacy

In the movie, Xolo Mariduena gives a great portrayal of Jaime Reyes AKA Blue Beetle himself. I knew he had potential (from watching him as Miguel in the Netflix Cobra Kai series) and this role proves that he has the charismatic chops to be a lead actor in a movie. His performance is complemented by the rest of the supporting characters who are his family members in the movie. The Latinx culture and their unique family dynamics are well-represented in this movie, and that distinguishes it from other generic family-oriented superhero movies. That being said, it’s also the Reyes family members who fall into the ‘convenient plot devices’ issue of the movie, which is where the movie sort of gets a light-hearted Spy Kids-like vibe that might be divisive.

The biggest highlight of the movie is Blue Beetle himself in action. The CGI for the suit and effects look amazing, especially for a movie that was slated to be a streaming exclusive at one point in the past. Comics fans will love how comic-accurate this depiction of Blue Beetle is in terms of how he moves and uses his powers. I also won’t lie, it looks awesome. If there’s one thing that the DCEU has consistently done better than the MCU, that’s the live-action design of superhero costumes. The best thing about this particular version of Blue Beetle in the comics has always been how versatile his alien armour is, similar to how Marvel’s symbiotes work, and we see a lot of that in the movie. It’s more than just an Iron Man-like suit that flies and shoots lasers, so I’m happy to see that.

The biggest problem with Blue Beetle is that it feels a bit too formulaic, following a lot of the same beats and tropes of superhero movies from the early 2000s. It also features many convenient plot devices that don’t make too much sense. As a comic book fan, I also dislike how the movie glosses over the Blue Beetle legacy (and disrespects it by adding unnecessary characters like Victoria Kord and Jenny Kord) and how it uses the name of a prominent DC Comics character (a Jack Kirby creation) as a placeholder for one of its main antagonists (sadly, I can’t spoil who it is).

One of the weakest aspects of the movie is its villains, who are not only forgettable but also follow the same old ‘powers must mirror the hero’ trope (like General Zod and Superman, Iron Man and Iron Monger, Ant-Man and Yellowjacket, etc.). Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord is bland and so is Raoul Max Trujillo as Conrad Carapax. I’m also sorry to disappoint Blue Beetle fans who are looking forward to a movie with more alien elements, but the movie doesn’t really explore all that. DC is probably saving all that for potential sequels but the movie doesn’t even mention the Reach once (comic fans will know what I mean).

A New DC Hero

Blue Beetle is a surprisingly enjoyable movie that a lot of families and younger viewers will be able to enjoy. It has its problems that comics fans and others will probably nitpick on but at the end of the day, Blue Beetle is a decent origin movie and introduction to a DC legacy character whose proper live-action debut has been long overdue (no, that horrible Smallville appearance doesn’t count).

P.S.: There are two post-credits scenes for Blue Beetle.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100

We attended an early screening of Blue Beetle courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Malaysia. Blue Beetle is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 17 August 2023.

The cast from the 2010 movie Scott Pilgrim Vs The World will return to voice the characters for the anime. These include Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona.

Other actors from the movie who will be lending their voices for the Netflix series are Satya Bhabha as Matthew Patel, Kieran Culkin as Wallace Wells, Chris Evans as Lucas Lee, Anna Kendrick as Stacey Pilgrim, Brie Larson as Envy Adams, Alison Pill as Kim Pine, Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers, Brandon Routh as Todd Ingram, Jason Schwartzman as Gideon Graves, Johnny Simmons as Young Neil, Mark Webber Stephen Still, Mae Whitman as Roxie and Ellen Wong as Knives Chau.

Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, the author and artist of the graphic novels published from 2004 to 2010, will serve as executive producers, writers and showrunners. Edgar Wright, the director, co-writer and producer of the 2010 film, will serve as executive producer on the new project while Science SARU will serve as the animation studio with executive producer Eunyoung Choi and director Abel Gongora.

Science SARU is a Japanese animation studio best known for Devilman Crybaby (2018) and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020).

Check out the Scott Pilgrim anime teaser trailer below:

That being said, Gran Turismo is just the latest of many racing or car-focused movies throughout the history of pop culture. Cars have been the subject of many movies, even ones that don’t necessarily focus on racing themes or elements. For this feature in particular, we will bring up

Need For Speed (Game To Movie)

Based on the hit EA series back in the 2000s onward, this game is about fast cars, getting chased by cops for breaking the speed limit and tweaking out your cars so you can vroom vroom as fast as you can. It’s quite a fun series if you stick to the ones involving police chases and fast cars; the simulation-wannabe spin-offs we can do without (*coughSHIFTcough)

The Need For Speed movie stars Aaron Paul and is trying to be a Fast and Furious movie, but really flops on its face for being a dull and predictable factory-churned-action film. Everyone here was just doing it for a paycheck and there’s not much of this movie that wows and stand out for many viewers. At the very least, the director put the Ford Shelby Mustang and Koenigsegg Agera R cars (alongside other fast fancy vehicles) to good use.

Meanwhile, the games are doing OK; the last entry back in 2022, Need For Speed Unbound, mixed Instagram/Tik Tok aesthetics with street racing. It ain’t half-bad; we just wished EA gave it the marketing push it deserved.

Speed Racer (Anime To Live-Action Movie)

Based on the hit 70s anime series, this show features a guy named Speed Racer who fights crime while racing in crazy series in made-up locations all over the world. It clearly hasn’t held up over time, but it’s still a riot to watch because of how rooted it is in its timeline.

The Wachowski-directed film in 2008 is full of anime energy and is as faithful an adaptation as you can get. Naturally, it failed at the box office because the movie-going crowd at the time wasn’t really into any form of anime, much less live adaptations of it. Thankfully the film had a cult following and is beloved by movie fans and anime aficionados because of its direction, its breakneck speed, its quirky cast, and over-the-top nature. Long before Alita: Battle Angel proved that Hollywood adaptations of anime shows can be great, Speed Racer was ahead of its time.

Mad Max: Fury Road (Movie To Game)

We’re going in reverse here. The George Miller-directed film is a long-ass car chase scene that enthrals and excites due to its direction, its visuals, and its simple-but-captivating plot with our titular hero Mad Max in the middle. Mad Max: Fury Road is essentially a giant-ass chase sequence, but one told with style, panache, and depth.

The game based on the film is a pretty fun open-world action-adventure title with a ton of driving and destruction; it sadly wasn’t in the critic’s darling eye as it was in a year dominated by bigger titles like The Witcher 3. Still, the Mad Max game eventually found its fan and is still played a lot to this day; at least the PC version. It’s going for RM38 right now and it’s a steal for what you’re getting. 

Initial D (Manga/Anime To Arcade Game)

Here’s one more entry in reverse gear: the manga/anime series Initial D gets a plethora of video game adaptations, thanks to renowned arcade machine makers Sega.

When you think early 2000s, anime, and racing, you think Initial D and nothing else. The Japanese manga about street racing from Suichi Shigeno has an anime adaptation, or a boatload of them, which introduces people to the wonderful world of eurobeat long before Eurovision. The show and movie adaptations are generally a love letter to the Toyota AE86 (Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX from the late 80s).

The games themselves are no slouches in the racing department: they’re pure arcade racing fun if you’re into driving on narrow cliffside roads and having eurobeats blasting into your ear for the duration of the course. It’s hard to believe that it got its start in 1998 for Game Boy, before Sega stepped in and gave it the arcade racing magic treatment it deserves.

Twisted Metal (Game To TV Show)

The most recent entry in the “car game to film/TV” adaptation list has to be Sony’s own car combat racing title, Twisted Metal.

The PS1 Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal 2 were breakthrough multiplayer action games where you pick your vehicle of choice, go nuts and kill everyone on screen, and even play through a story mode involving a shady guy who can make your dreams come true. But most of us during the late 90s just played it for the multiplayer hardcore version of Mario Kart battle mode on split-screen; it was the coolest thing to do at the time.

The TV show that came out this year on NBC Peacock doesn’t really delve into that, though it touches on cars, vehicle destruction, and a maniacal clown named Sweet Tooth who drives a souped-up ice cream truck. And even that spiel doesn’t last beyond the first few episodes based on our review. 

Got any more adaptations to bring up? Are there any that are stuck in your mind? Let us know on our social media and YouTube page. Meanwhile, you should go check out our ode to racing games on our recent Main Game episode.

What’s notable about the trailer is that it features the voice of Hayden Christensen speaking new lines of dialogue as Anakin Skywalker. We also hear him say the name, Ahsoka, for the first time ever, since Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars The Clone Wars series was voiced by Matt Lanter.

This is interesting because Disney and Lucasfilm have yet to officially confirm if Hayden Christensen will have a role in the Ahsoka series, which is different from 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi where they heavily promoted his return.

Perhaps the reason for that is that Hayden Christensen will only have a brief cameo in Ahsoka? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, check out my interview with Hayden Christensen himself from last year below:

Set after the fall of the Empire, “Star Wars: Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.

In addition to Rosario Dawson in the title role, “Ahsoka” stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Eman Esfandi appearing as Ezra Bridger.

The series is written by Dave Filoni, who executive produces alongside Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck. Karen Gilchrist is the co-executive producer.

The first two episodes of Ahsoka will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on 23 August 2023.

Check it out below:

According to the Facebook post, Anime fans rejoice! Comix Wave Films will host panel sessions with their talent and there will also be a screening of The Garden Of Words movie, as well as official merchandise from them available at the event.

The Animangaki 2023 convention will take place from 25 to 27 August 2023 at The Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) in Selangor, Malaysia. From Friday until Sunday, the convention will run from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more details and information on what else to expect from the convention this year, head on over here.

APC Assemble

Paskal (2018) and The Assistant (2022) director Adrian Teh has returned in 2023 with Malbatt Misi Bakara, which is arguably his most ambitious movie to date with an ensemble cast consisting of popular Malaysian actors and a foreign setting (set in Somalia but actually filmed in Turkey and Malaysia). While Malbatt Misi Bakara promises to offer the story of the real Malaysian soldiers who helped rescue the US soldiers in the Battle Of Mogadishu, does it deliver that? Just like Paskal before it (or movies like Top Gun or even Black Hawk Down), Malbatt Misi Bakara is a patriotic (read: propaganda) war movie, so you should know what you’re getting into before watching the movie.

Even though it’s one of the most expensive Malaysian movies ever made (with a production budget of RM20 million), Malbatt Misi Bakara doesn’t really look like it sometimes. The movie doesn’t look too ugly, but the CGI and special effects can look janky, especially when it comes to the smoke and explosions. Some scenes, especially near the end, can break your immersion as the actors clearly look like they’re standing in front of a green screen. Sure, a RM20 million budget still can’t compare to the massive budget of Hollywood feature films but perhaps more of the money could have been more efficiently funneled to make the movie better in terms of visuals. That being said, the sound effects (shooting, bombs, etc.) are actually decent.

Most importantly of all though, Malbatt Misi Bakara can be surprisingly intense and emotional at times. I say surprisingly because almost 50 per cent of the movie (I’m not exaggerating, by the way) features scenes where the actors are in an APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) vehicle. That’s because, for a majority of the movie’s runtime, the Malaysian soldiers spend their time inside the APC to stay safe while entering Mogadishu. We see them using a lot of technical terms while communicating with each other back and forth, as well as simultaneously getting shot at by enemy insurgents in the city. While I personally like these scenes since they remind me of the tense submarine scenes of other war movies (or similar ones in starship battles in the Star Trek franchise), they can drag the pacing of the movie, which can feel a lot longer if you don’t like the APC parts (since the movie is 2 hours and 10 minutes long).

Most of the ensemble cast generally gives good performances, and some of them contribute to how emotional and intense the movie can be at times. Unfortunately, Malbatt Misi Bakara still falls prey to a lot of the same pitfalls that other local Malaysian movies fall to; an inconsistent narrative/plot and cringe-worthy dialogue or moments of comedy. There’s nothing majorly wrong with the plot but some might argue that the movie doesn’t really clearly portray or focus much on the actual rescue of the American soldiers that the title of the movie is about. There’s not much of a coherent third act, as the second act of the movie stretches on almost to the climax of the movie before it all just ends. A more well-defined climax showcasing the successful rescue would have made the movie more satisfying.

The best thing about Malbatt Misi Bakara is how the movie explores certain themes such as despite the Malaysian soldiers feeling like they’re being looked down on and disrespected by the Americans although they’re the ones trying to help them, they still perform their duties and responsibilities to the best of their abilities. I also appreciated how the movie cast Somalian actor Musa Aden as Abdalle, a UN interpreter who helps the Malaysian soldiers. We get to see the conflict from his perspective as well, which is something not even Black Hawk Down had (Ridley Scott portrayed almost all the Somalians as the “bad guys”). During a press conference following the screening of Malbatt Misi Bakara, Abdalle actor Musa Aden revealed that he was born and raised in Bakara, Mogadishu, and that he was there when the conflict happened, which adds even more.

Fire In The Hole

Ultimately, Malbatt Misi Bakara still can’t realistically compete with the likes of iconic war movies like Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan or All’s Quiet On The Western Front. However, when measured by the standards of other local movies, the movie is actually a good effort by director Adrian Teh and the cast/crew to make a movie. It’s not perfect and has a bunch of flaws, but for a Malaysian movie, at least I can say that it wasn’t bad. Last but not least, it would be remiss of me not to mention that Malbatt Misi Bakara is the first Malaysian movie to be shown in IMAX.

FINAL SCORE: 60/100

We attended an early screening of Malbatt Misi Bakara courtesy of GSC Cinemas. Malbatt Misi Bakara is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 24 August 2023 (available on IMAX screens earlier from 18 August 2023).

Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to access special bonus content, including Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton performing the song “Impossible Child” with music by multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,’ “In the Heights”); “Passing the Dinglehopper,” and “Under the Sea – Song Breakdown.”

“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden from interacting with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.

The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Eric; Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.

The Little Mermaid is directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,’ “In the Heights”). The film is produced by two-time Emmy winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer.

Check out my review of The Little Mermaid by heading over here.

Check them out below:

Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson)

Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)

Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo)

Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson)

Shin Hati (Ivanno Sakhno)

Morgan Elseth (Diana Lee Inosanto)

Set after the fall of the Empire, “Star Wars: Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.

In addition to Rosario Dawson in the title role, “Ahsoka” stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Eman Esfandi appearing as Ezra Bridger.

The series is written by Dave Filoni, who executive produces alongside Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck. Karen Gilchrist is the co-executive producer.

The first two episodes of Ahsoka will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on 23 August 2023.

Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for Prime Video Malaysia’s August 2023 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:

The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart (4 August 2023)

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart tells the emotionally compelling story of Alice Hart. When Alice, aged 9, tragically loses her parents in a mysterious fire, she is taken to live with her grandmother June at Thornfield flower farm, where she learns that there are secrets within secrets about her and her family’s past.

Set against Australia’s breathtaking, natural landscape, and with native wildflowers and plants providing a way to express the inexpressible, this enthralling family drama spans decades. Alice’s journey as she grows from her complicated past builds to an emotional climax when she finds herself fighting for her life against a man she loves.

The Killing Vote (10 August 2023)

The Killing Vote is based on a popular webtoon which explores the meaning of justice and features a nationwide death penalty vote against vicious criminals. The story highlights a mysterious figure who carries out the death penalty according to the results of the vote, and the police who are pursuing them.

Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba Orchestra Concert Mugen Train Arc (15 August 2023)

Featuring the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Demon Slayer concert is the second in the series following a similar event held previously. Fans will be able to enjoy music from the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie along with animated clips at the showings.

Tebus (17 August 2023)

Live now, tomorrow might never come! A bodyguard kidnaps a jewelry heiress out of depression to purchase a heart in the black market for his ailing brother The kidnapping exposes Ana’s stepfather’s plan to have Ana killed, so together they fight back to take what is rightfully hers.

Harlan Coben’s Shelter (18 August 2023)

Harlan Coben’s Shelter follows the story of Mickey Bolitar after the sudden death of his father leads him to start a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey. Mickey quickly finds himself tangled in the mysterious disappearance of a new student at his school, Ashley Kent, which leads to uncovering unimaginable secrets within their quiet suburban community.

With the help of his friends, the inventive Spoon, and secretive Ema, Mickey pulls back the sleepy facade of Kasselton to reveal a dark underground that may hold the answers to decades of disappearances, deaths, and legends—-and perhaps even Mickey’s own complex family history.

Already On Prime

Here are some additional movies that are already available on Prime Video Malaysia:

Leftenan Adnan

Prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking tale of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering patriotism in the epic masterpiece, “Leftenan Adnan”! This cinematic gem gloriously commemorates the true story of a Malaysian hero whose bravery reverberates through the ages!

From the opening scenes, “Leftenan Adnan” grips your heart with a powerful patriotic embrace, celebrating the essence of Malaysia and its indomitable spirit. The film takes you on a poignant journey back to the tumultuous era of World War II, where Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi, portrayed magnificently by an outstanding cast, rises as a beacon of hope for the nation.

Kabhi Khushi Khabie Gham

“Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” is an absolute holiday delight! With heartwarming family reunions and extravagant celebrations, this movie captures the true essence of the festive season. The vibrant Diwali scenes, adorned with sparkling lights and colorful rangoli, immerse you in the spirit of joy and togetherness.

The snow-covered holiday sequences in picturesque locations add a touch of magic to the story. Amitabh Bachchan’s emotional speech during the holiday gathering tugs at your heartstrings, leaving you teary-eyed yet filled with warmth. This timeless classic is a perfect watch for the holidays, reminding us of the value of family, love, and happiness!

‘James Bond’ Movie Series

The James Bond movie series is an exhilarating rollercoaster of action, intrigue, and suave sophistication! From the heart-pounding opening scene in “Skyfall” atop Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, to the jaw-dropping ski chase in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” each film is a mesmerizing adventure! Bond’s charm, gadgetry, and daring escapades keep us on the edge of our seats! 007 is a true cinematic masterpiece!

Bawaal

A beautiful Hindi romantic comedy across Europe starring the beautiful and talented Jahnvi Kapoor.

For RM25 per month, after a seven-day promotional trial, customers in Malaysia can sign-up for Prime Video and enjoy a great selection of entertainment, from local Originals and local licensed titles to global Amazon Original movies and TV series. To get started, you can visit https://www.primevideo.com/, or download the Prime Video app on your mobile device.