On June 12, a very unique feature film will premiere on Netflix. Its name is Soy Frankelda and it is a Mexican animated film that has captivated everyone who has seen it. And there are multiple reasons for this. To begin with, it is the first stop motion animated feature film made in Mexico, but also because it is backed by a great name in cinema not only Mexican but international: Guillermo del Toro. A very interesting animation With more than a hundred hand-built puppets, this film produced by the Mexican studio Cinema Fantasma, founded by the brothers […]
On June 12, a most unique feature film will premiere on Netflix. Its name is I Am Frankelda and it is a Mexican animated film that has captivated everyone who has seen it. And there are multiple reasons for this.
To begin with, it is the first stop motion animated feature film made in Mexico, but also because it is backed by a great name in cinema not only in Mexico but internationally: Guillermo del Toro.
A very interesting animation
With more than a hundred handcrafted puppets, this film produced by the Mexican studio Cinema Fantasma, founded by brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz, will introduce us to Francisca Imelda, a 19th-century horror story writer who has been overlooked.
At least until, after adopting the pseudonym Frankelda, she meets a prince with a supernatural appearance named Herneval, who takes her on a fantastic journey where reality and fiction will intertwine.
Since Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was a tremendously successful film both among critics, the public, and the awards circuit, it seems logical that Netflix has decided to invest in this film. And it also might end up being one of the surprises of the year. Moreover, we won’t have to wait to find out how it performs, with an imminent release and to discover what this Soy Frankelda and this fascinating blossoming of Mexican animation cinema has in store for us.
Stories of rise and fall are very popular. Probably because they tell the kind of story that is known to end badly: someone flies too close to the sun and ends up getting burned. It is interesting to see what precipitates that failure. And few rise and fall stories on television are like those of Euphoria. The biggest television series in recent years whose third season is an absolute failure. But it was easy to foresee that this was going to happen. Because all the signs were there since its second season. A series that knew better times Not always has it been […]
Rise and fall stories are very popular. Probably because they tell the kind of story that is known to end badly: someone flies too close to the sun and ends up getting burned. It is interesting to see what precipitates that failure. And few rise and fall stories on television are like those of Euphoria. The biggest television series in recent years whose third season is an absolute failure. But it was easy to foresee that this was going to happen. Because all the signs were there since its second season.
A series that knew better times
It hasn’t always been this way. If there is one thing to recognize, it is that there was a time when Euphoria was everything. It dominated conversations on social media, constant edits were made, and even the critics seemed delighted with the series. Even if its representation of adolescence has always been exaggerated, it was appealing and interesting due to some great performances and a visual care that kept both the audience and critics engaged. The characters mattered. It was easy to empathize with them. And it was visually appealing. It was easy to get hooked.
What happened for it to stop working? The most obvious thing is that the series began to lose some of its appeal over time. This was noted by critics when comparing the first and second seasons. In the first season, the performances, visual aspect, and stories were highlighted, while in the second season, only the first two aspects were emphasized. And in the third season, it has only gotten worse.
The plots of the third season are absurd and seem to go nowhere. Often, they don’t even seem to have any purpose beyond offending or seeking some kind of impact on the viewers. Something they have occasionally achieved. But always at the cost of something important: their characters.
The biggest complaint about this third season, criticized by both critics and the public alike, is that it is not the same. And that is normal. The stories, vaguely coherent, do not allow actors to develop their characters in interesting and emotionally impactful ways as before, making them much less impactful. And due to the loss of interest in the visual, the series no longer generates the same interest.
The problem of not knowing when to let go
But there is another problem worth noting that is very important for a series like Euphoria: a lot of time has passed between seasons. Almost three years passed between the first and second seasons. More than four years have passed between the second and third. That makes more than seven years for three seasons in what is definitely a series with a clear target audience: people between 18 and 25 years old. In the time that has passed in the production of three seasons, someone who was at the lower end of its target audience has already stopped being so.
This is a problem. And it is because people grow, mature, their tastes change. Perhaps this third season, as it is, would have worked just as well four years ago. But not now. Not especially when it is accompanied by huge controversies with some members of its cast and with others who have an image completely detached from what they do in the series, due to how their careers have evolved. Because making a season a year is not a whim: it is a necessity to not lose the target audience or for your own actors to stop being attractive to it.
Productions that are stretched out over time like those of Euphoria make no sense. Even less so in a series whose target audience is young, and so young that three seasons in seven years means, literally, a third of their life. And that is the problem with the series: they have not known how to capitalize on its success or let it go.
Euphoria could have worked with five seasons in five years or accepting that a third season after seven years made no sense. But either they haven’t known how to let it go or they haven’t known how to speed up the production of the series, causing it to become a failure. Because the audience no longer exists. Because they no longer know how to make a good season of Euphoria. Can they save the series in a hypothetical fourth season? Not if it takes another four years to release it. And given their track record, it’s doubtful that will happen.
If you have read Harry Potter, you already know that Ginny Weasley’s role in the first book is little more than an anecdote. Of course, its writer, she who must not be named, was not very clear on what the overall plot of the saga would be, because by the end of the story both wizards ended up married and with a child. Perhaps knowing the ending, they have given her a bit more depth in the HBO Max series, although, for their sake, I hope not, because it has backfired on them. Ginny, the disappeared […]
If you have read Harry Potter, you already know that Ginny Weasley’s role in the first book is little more than an anecdote. Of course, her writer, the one who must not be named, was not very clear on what the overall plot of the saga would be, because by the end of the story, both wizards ended up married with a child.
Perhaps knowing the ending, they have given her a bit more substance in the HBO Max series, although, for their sake, I hope not, because it has backfired on them.
Ginny, the missing
And it turns out that the actress who will portray her in the first season, Gracie Cochrane, has decided to leave the series before the filming of the next one, for reasons that have not been disclosed. Her family has issued a statement saying that “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Gracie has made the decision to leave her role as Ginny Weasley. Her time as part of the world of Harry Potter has been truly fantastic”.
Whatever happened, HBO doesn’t seem to be upset. In fact, a representative responded by stating “We support Gracie Cochrane and her family’s decision not to return for the next season and we are grateful for her work in season one. We wish them the best.” In any case, what this means is that they need to hurry to find a new actress: after all, in The Chamber of Secrets, Ginny has a pretty important role.
Well, there are always face-changing spells, right? In any case, we will see Cochrane for the first (and presumably last) time this Christmas, in the premiere of Harry Potter on HBO Max, which promises to capture all the audience’s attention… at least, for one weekend. We already know how this Internet thing works.
If you have read Harry Potter, you already know that Ginny Weasley’s role in the first book is little more than an anecdote. Of course, its writer, the one who must not be named, was not very clear on what the overall plot of the saga would be, because by the end of the story both wizards ended up married and with a child. Perhaps knowing the ending, they have given her a bit more substance in the HBO Max series, although, for their sake, I hope not, because it has backfired on them. Ginny, the disappeared […]
If you have read Harry Potter, you already know that Ginny Weasley’s role in the first book is little more than an anecdote. Of course, her writer, the one who must not be named, was not very clear about what the overall plot of the saga would be, because by the end of the story, both wizards ended up married with a child. Perhaps knowing the ending, they have given her a bit more substance in the HBO Max series, although, for their sake, I hope not, because it has backfired on them.
Ginny, the missing
And it turns out that the actress who will play her in the first season, Gracie Cochrane, has decided to leave the series before the filming of the next one, for reasons that have not been disclosed. Her family has issued a statement saying that “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Gracie has made the decision to leave her role as Ginny Weasley. Her time as part of the world of Harry Potter has been truly fantastic”.
Whatever happened, HBO doesn’t seem to be upset. In fact, a representative responded by stating “We support Gracie Cochrane and her family’s decision not to return for the next season and we are grateful for her work in season one. We wish them the best.” In any case, what this means is that they need to hurry to find a new actress: after all, in The Chamber of Secrets, Ginny has a pretty important role.
Well, there are always face-changing spells, right? In any case, we will see Cochrane for the first (and presumably last) time this Christmas, in the premiere of Harry Potter on HBO Max, which promises to capture all the public’s attention… at least for a weekend. We already know how this Internet thing works.
Euphoria always causes controversy, but usually for different reasons than those of this third season. Something that has only intensified due to a controversy brewing on social media: several OnlyFans models believe that their work has been misrepresented in the series. They have even gone so far as to consider the plot related to the platform offensive. A series in free fall and full of criticism In the third season of Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie, needs to raise $500,000 for her wedding. As she has little time to do so, she decides to […]
Euphoria always causes controversy, but usually for reasons different from those of this third season. Something that has only intensified due to a controversy brewing on social media: several OnlyFans models believe that their work has been misrepresented in the series. Going so far as to consider the storyline related to the platform offensive.
A series in free fall and full of criticism
In the third season of Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie, needs to raise $500,000 for her wedding. Since she has little time to do so, she decides to create an OnlyFans to make a lot of money in a short period. From here, a series of comic sketches begin where she first dresses up in a dog costume and then as a baby, all while striking suggestive poses, to get the money she needs and proceed with her wedding.
In addition to the ridiculousness of the plot, OnlyFans models have wanted to point out that what Cassie’s character does is prohibited on the platform “credit card companies have very strict rules that must be followed, and they are becoming stricter” said Sydney Leathers, a content creator who has been on the platform since 2017. Why? Because according to OnlyFans’ Terms of Use, any content related to minors, whether real or simulated, is strictly prohibited. This is something that companies like VISA and Mastercard impose on individuals engaging in sex work if they want to use their services.
Another important content creator on the platform, Maitland War, has gone further. Claiming that “it perpetuates the stereotype that sex workers lack moral principles and would do anything for money”, she has attacked not only the representation of OnlyFans but also her profession.
If we add to this the lukewarm reception of the season, it seems that Euphoria is no longer the darling it was in its first two seasons. Its multiple reviews, controversies involving cast members, and now problematic narrative lines make its future seem shaky. Something that seemed impossible just a few months ago, but is becoming clearer: Euphoria was once a phenomenon, but it seems it no longer has what it takes to maintain its popularity.
Mortal Kombat 2 premieres next Friday, May 8, and there is great anticipation. The forecasts are phenomenal, as the previous film was a huge box office and audience success, even if critics were not enthusiastic about it. This seems to be shared with its sequel, at least in part. It has completely divided the press: there are as many fans of it as there are true haters. A divisive film According to IGN, which gave it an 8 out of 10, the film “completely understands that its appeal lies in the thrill of seeing characters tear each other apart […]
Mortal Kombat 2 premieres next Friday, May 8, and there is great anticipation. The expectations are monumental, as the previous film was a huge box office and audience success, even if the critics were not thrilled. This seems to be shared with its sequel, at least in part. It has completely divided the press: there are as many fans as there are true haters.
A Divisive Movie
According to IGN, which gave it an 8 out of 10, the movie “completely understands that its appeal lies in the thrill of watching characters tear each other apart, not so much the motivations behind it.” Slashfilm, which agrees with its rating, has described it as “if the mix of chocolate and peanut butter were a movie,” stating that “easily one of the biggest surprises of the year”. And in Cinemanía, with three and a half stars out of five, has defined it as “highly enjoyable for both nostalgic fans and those who have never picked up a joystick in their lives.”
That doesn’t mean everything is enthusiasm. For Polygon, which did not give it a rating, “calling it a movie is, in fact, tremendously generous.” According to AV Club, Mortal Kombat 2 “combines direct-to-video trinkets with the boredom typical of a blockbuster” and for Mashable it is simply “another ugly and senseless disaster.”
The movie, divisive as it has been, seems to be less so due to flaws than because of a clear difference in the sensitivity of the critics approaching it. This could well play in its favor. Those who liked the first movie seem to find in this second one an even more intense and enjoyable journey. Those who hated it seem to find nothing here for them. What seems certain is that it will not leave anyone indifferent and that Mortal Kombat 2 will be one of the movies of the season, for better or for worse.
The successful series The Pitt continues to establish itself as one of the most prominent television phenomena today. Throughout its second season, it has attracted an exceptional audience, averaging 15.4 million viewers per episode. This number represents a 50% increase compared to its first season, highlighting the growth and popularity of the show within HBO Max’s catalog. A series that is taking the world by storm The final episode of this season, aired last Friday, managed to capture the attention of 9.7 million viewers in the three days following its premiere, becoming the […]
The successful series The Pitt continues to establish itself as one of the most prominent television phenomena today. Throughout its second season, it has attracted an exceptional audience, averaging 15.4 million viewers per episode. This number represents a 50% increase compared to its first season, highlighting the growth and popularity of the show within HBO Max’s catalog.
A series that is taking the world by storm
The final episode of this season, aired last Friday, managed to capture the attention of 9.7 million viewers in the three days following its premiere, becoming the most-watched episode of the series to date. This figure is remarkable, especially when considering that the recent premiere of the third season of Euphoria gathered just over a million fewer viewers, which puts into perspective the magnitude of The Pitt’s success.
In addition, The Pitt has established itself as the sixth most-watched series on the Warner Bros. platform, ranking behind other major titles such as House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us. This recognition speaks not only to the narrative quality of the series but also to its ability to resonate with contemporary audiences.
The second season closed with an episode full of emotion and transformation for the characters Robby (Noah Wyle) and Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), leaving fans eager for the continuation of the plot. With a promising renewal scheduled for next year, The Pitt has secured its place in the television landscape, and fans are already counting the days for the return of their favorite characters.
Contact sports have fascinating stories waiting to be told. It’s no surprise that literature and cinema have many stories where boxing is the protagonist, and it shouldn’t surprise us that, in the near future, there will be great stories about MMA. Because the moment a contact sport becomes popular, stories that resonate with the public always emerge. Or that’s what Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, must have thought. Because while their new movie may not have made the impact they expected, it has just arrived […]
Contact sports have fascinating stories waiting to be told. It is not surprising that literature and cinema have many stories where boxing is the protagonist and we should not be surprised that, in the near future, there will be great stories about MMA. Because the moment a contact sport becomes popular, stories that resonate with the audience always emerge.
Or that’s what Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, must have thought. Because although their new movie may not have made the splash they expected, it just arrived this week on streaming and you shouldn’t miss it, because it is, without a doubt, one of the big surprises of 2025.
A pioneer of MMA
The movie is a biopic of the fighter Mark Kerr, who was a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, world champion of the Vale Tudo tournament, and competitor in PRIDE FC. Although his greatest achievements were in the mid-90s, the film begins in 1999, fighting in Japan, and in a more than questionable state due to drug use. From this point on, the film will focus on that. How a fighter who was at the top of the world tries to rehabilitate from his drug addiction caused by the intensity of the sport in a new setting, with much tougher competitors, while trying to do something even harder: maintain his relationship with his girlfriend.
Putting a great emphasis on the drama of the story, we never see Kerr at the moment of the greatest victories of his career, but we do see some of the most defining elements of it. Although we never see him fight in the UFC in the movie, his time in PRIDE would ultimately shape what MMA is today, making him a legend and a milestone in the sport. All of this is thanks to two things: the excellent work of its actors and its director.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the movie is Johnson’s outstanding performance as Kerr. He is not only believable as an MMA fighter, but he also manages to convey emotion and vulnerability, knowing how to appear fragile when necessary, in a way that is both interesting and inspiring. This is aided by having Emily Blunt opposite him as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s real-life partner, who carries the dramatic weight of many scenes and emphasizes the more personal side of the film.
That is perhaps the most surprising thing. How incredibly human it is and feels for a movie about MMA built around a figure like The Rock. But that is also, in part, thanks to the work of its director, Benny Safdie.
A likely future cult movie
There have been many controversies and conflicts following the separation of the Safdie brothers, and in 2025 both released films separately. Josh, Marty Supreme; Benny, The Smashing Machine. And both demonstrate very different approaches. Because while there is a certain family resemblance between the two, if anything The Smashing Machine shows us, and in a way also Marty Supreme, is that the emotional factor of the Safdie films has always relied more on Benny, much more and better exploited in his film than in his brother’s.
That does not mean it has been a great success. On the contrary. Being a box office failure, making just over 20 million dollars while costing 50, and with a lukewarm critical response at best, even if it has not done poorly in international awards, with Benny Safdie nominated for the Golden Lion and winning the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the film has gone unnoticed by both critics and audiences.
Available on HBO Max since April 9, this is the perfect movie to reclaim. One of those movies that, with the right mindset, is not only enjoyable but also allows you to appreciate the genius behind it. Vibrant, intelligent, and full of heart, it has everything to become a cult film. Especially due to the poor treatment it has received from critics and the public.
HBO Max has unveiled its version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in series format, which will be available next Christmas. The production marks an ambitious return to the magical world created by J.K. Rowling, and is written and produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod as director and executive producer. However, the controversy surrounding Rowling could influence the reception of the series, as the fervor of some fans has diminished due to her controversial statements. A series that starts off on the wrong foot Regarding the cast, Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter, […]
HBO Max has unveiled its version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in series format, which will be available next Christmas. The production marks an ambitious return to the magical world created by J.K. Rowling, and is written and produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod as director and executive producer. However, the controversy surrounding Rowling could influence the reception of the series, as the fervor of some fans has diminished due to her controversial statements.
A series that starts off on the wrong foot
As for the cast, Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter, while Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout portray Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively. One of the big surprises is the casting of John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, alongside other iconic characters such as Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. Although it has been confirmed that the story will remain true to Rowling’s original material, some critics have already expressed their skepticism.
The first impressions of the series have been mixed. One critic mentioned that, although the production has good design and respects the narrative of the book, it seems to lack the magic that characterized the films, partly due to the notable absence of John Williams’ iconic music. “At first, there will be a lot of overlap, simply from the point of view of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” reads one of the comments from the franchise’s followers.
The series aims to reintroduce Harry Potter into the collective imagination, but many wonder if this new adaptation will manage to capture the essence of the original films, which are still fondly remembered by fans. The HBO Max production faces the challenging task of satisfying both new viewers and those who grew up with the stories of Hogwarts.
Ryan Coogler and his team have reached a milestone in the 98th edition of the Oscars, with an impressive total of 18 nominations for their film Sinners. This critically acclaimed southern horror and vampire drama, however, faces a considerable challenge; many experts and film enthusiasts believe it could end up being the big loser of the gala. Despite the achievement of the nominations, the chances of turning them into golden statuettes seem slim. Not as defeated as Spielberg This situation recalls other historical moments in the awards ceremony. The filmmaker […]
Ryan Coogler and his team have reached a milestone at the 98th edition of the Oscars, with an impressive total of 18 nominations for their film Sinners.
This critically acclaimed southern drama of horror and vampires, however, faces a considerable challenge; many experts and film enthusiasts believe it could end up being the big loser of the gala. Despite the achievement of the nominations, the chances of turning them into golden statuettes seem slim.
Not as defeated as Spielberg
This situation recalls other historical moments in award ceremonies. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, despite having an impressive record of 34 Oscars, experienced a memorable defeat in 1986 when The Color Purple received 11 nominations without winning any awards.
Their disappointment was added to that of the film “Decisive Step,” which also left empty-handed in 1977 after receiving the same number of nominations.
The story of failure at the Oscars doesn’t end there; director Martin Scorsese has been the victim of multiple nominations without a win. Three of his films, Gangs of New York, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon, each have 10 nominations, yet none have been rewarded. This shows that the number of nominations does not always guarantee success at the ceremony.
On the other hand, Titanic is a clear example that, with 14 nominations, it can achieve 11 victories. Now the question arises whether Sinners can emulate those achievements or, on the contrary, will join the club of the great disappointments of the Oscars. The movie is already available on HBO Max and, regardless of its success at the gala, it is worth watching.
