Barbie has literally taken the world by storm. The PINK marketing campaign was the most insane saturation I have EVER seen. While the soundtrack has brought back the original soundtrack charting experience. Even Aussies Tame Impala and the Kid Laroi feature on the lengthy OST.
So is the fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach any good?
Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, this is the first live-action Barbie (however something tells me, not the last) film.
Starring Australia's own Barbie (Margot Robbie) and USA heartthrob Ken (Ryan Gosling) on a journey of self-discovery following an existential crisis. Also starring in the big budget smash hit, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Simu Lu, Dua Lipa, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, & Will Ferrell.
Wo when I saw this film I was into my 30th hour of being awake after landing in LAX. I was tired, a bit delirious, had driven on the wrong side of the road (again - but first time in ages) and needed a nap ASAP.
That said, this was an enjoyable (close to) 2 hour pink romp. The storyline was decent, the music was fun, the sets incredible. Margot Robbie really is EXCELLENT. Even after Babylon and Amsterdam being box office bombs, Barbie has grossed over $516 million worldwide, becoming the ninth-highest grossing film of 2023. Not to mention the simultaneous release with Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon on social media.
Which has encouraged audiences to see both films as a double feature, while returning to the cinema in droves. At the cinema on a Saturday night (last night) the foyer was a buzz. Buttered popcorn was flying off the shelves. The place was a buzz. Back to pre-Covid with multiple big films screening.
Barbie might not change the world (however with friends (grown ass friends) telling me of Barbie hens nights, pink clothes selling like hot cakes and that marketing campaign) but, the film will make you smile. Even sing along to Dua Lipa or Lizzo. This has been marketing 101, get people out, get people spending. Mixed with Taylor Swift's current tour, surely the world is getting a little more economically stable?
Secret Invasion is a bit of a mess. Let's get into why and what it's all about below. Firstly the six part Phase Five of the MCU commenced late June, concluding this week.
Nick Fury works with Talos (Aussie Ben Mendelsohn), a shapeshifting alien Skrull, to uncover a conspiracy by a group of renegade Skrulls led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) who plan to gain control of Earth by posing as different humans around the world.
Streaming now on Disney+, Secret Invasion is based on the 2008 Marvel Comics storyline of the same name.
This makes the ninth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Following Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos as they uncover a conspiracy by a group of shapeshifting Skrulls to conquer Earth. Bradstreet serves as the head writer with Ali Selim directing.
Also starring an all-star cast with Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Dermot Mulroney, Richard Dormer, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman (yes the one from The Crown, Queen Lizzy), Don Cheadle, Charlayne Woodard, Christopher McDonald, and Katie Finneran.
Like there is Aussie Mendelsohn, the king Samuel L. Jackson, even the GOT dragon lady plus the Queen, well from The Crown. But it all just feels messy. With the ending so abrupt, so short, so random. However....
After seeing Barbie yesterday and the trailer for The Marvels, this is where Jackson reprises his role as Fury, also serves as a continuation of Secret Invasion, in addition to narrative threads established in Avengers: Endgame and the Disney+ series WandaVision (2021) and Ms. Marvel (2022).
So like Marvel has previously done.
So now if you want to see a Marvel film, you would have basically needed to be a Disney+ subscriber and invest in three miniseries. Lame.
Don't get me wrong Disney+ is seriously the shit. I am so happy with my subscription. That said if you can't see a standalone movie without investing hours (plus subscriber dollars) then your box office will suffer. E.G. recent Ant-Man box office!
Yep, the day has come. I'm officially on O'lidays!
Before that I saw the incredible Tove Lo at the UNSW Roundhouse. The first gig I have seen there in decades. Last time I was there I believe was the Queens of the Stone Age gig in the early 2000's.
Anyway all posts from my other blog Flashing off the Record will live here again for a bit. Feature albums, music videos etc.
I'm also off to Katy Perry so I may post her highlight tracks from her Play Las Vegas residency.
I'm on holidays from tomorrow, so posts may slow. However for now there is one more TV review for an Apple TV+ comedy series, Platonic.
Apple TV+ is really leading the way with 30-ish minute comedy series. Loot, Shrinking, Bad Sisters (to a degree, plus longer form), apparently Ted Lasso is also awesome!
Sp with that list, Apple TV+ is slaying in the comedy department! This series with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogan as leads, commenced late May. Concluding earlier this month, I just wait till all ten episodes concluded (along with my parents have a first viewing) to smash all episodes in around a week!
In the finale, When Will Met Sylvia, Sylvia and Charlie, having reconciled, purchase a new home. They throw a housewarming party, which Will attends.
He and Sylvia think they see a UFO, but Will causes a scene and he and Sylvia argue. Andy and Katie ask Sylvia to plan their wedding. She is contacted by someone investigating accusations against Johnny Rev for inappropriate behaviour.
Sylvia informs Will that Johnny Rev has been ousted and his VP Jenna, who had taken a liking to Will, is now CEO of the company. She convinces him to go to San Diego and talk about a potential job. Will is offered the job and reluctantly realizes he will have to move to San Diego.
A year later, Sylvia is a successful event planner and has planned a beautiful wedding for Katie and Andy. Will arrives with Jenna, and he reveals that they are now engaged. He and Sylvia reminisce about the importance of their friendship and how it helped them through a difficult time.
This was a nice, refreshing series about ageing, maintaining friendships with the opposite sex along with friendships in your 40's in general. It's hard!
Byrne and Rogen are joined by Luke Macfarlane, Tre Hale, Carla Gallo, and Andrew Lopez.
Alongside Alisha Wainwright, Guy Branum, Janet Varney, Emily Kimball, and Vinny Thomas. It's a great little cast, a great series which I hope returns for a second season. With Byrne's Physical ending soon, Apple TV+ needs more Byrne.
The Walking Dead: Dead City is based on The Walking Dead characters Maggie and Negan.
It may be the first sequel to The Walking Dead, however it is the fifth series in The Walking Dead franchise.
Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reprise their roles as Maggie and Negan from TWD, while Gaius Charles, Željko Ivanek, and Mahina Napoleon also star.
The first season (even though I thought it was a miniseries) commenced mid last month. Concluding in Australian on Stan today. At roughly 4pm. The spin-off, sequel has also been renewed for a second run.
This time around with the zombies overrunning the world, Maggie and Negan traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan cut off from the mainland in search of Maggie's kidnapped son, Hershel.
The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror. Spoilers below BEWARE!
This was a much better watch the FTWD and recent TWD seasons/episodes! In the finale, after reuniting with Ginny, Negan reveals that he was the one who had murdered her father in a harsh effort to get her to leave.
Perlie transports Ginny to the Bricks before returning to New Babylon where he lies that he had killed Negan and the New Babylon leader shows interest in the methane that the Burazi are able to produce which is a better fuel source than ethanol.
Maggie and Negan track the Croat to the Staten Island Ferry terminal where Negan deduces that Maggie is luring him into a trap and overpowers her. Acknowledging that Maggie should never forgive him for his actions, although disappointed as together they could've rescued Hershel for real, Negan allows Maggie to trade him to the Croat for her son who berates Maggie for caring more about her obsession with Negan than him for his whole life. After returning to the Bricks, Maggie realizes that Hershel is right, and she decides to find a way to end her feud with Negan for good so that she can finally find peace.
The Croat delivers Negan to the Dama who explains that she wants Negan to unite the various communities in Manhattan to stand against the New Babylon Federation and others who would come for their natural resources. Having learned the story of Glenn's murder from Hershel, the Dama reveals that she has cut off Hershel's toe and she threatens to go after him again if Negan doesn't comply, using Negan's care for the boy as leverage against him.
At the same time, Maggie discovers Hershel's drawings of the Dama, and she realizes the continuing threat to her son.
So where will season two take us in New York City? Time will tell! How long will we need to wait for season two? Time will also tell. Hopefully I'll have another TV post ahead of the US trip! Where maybe I can get a photo at the said strike!
It's almost time for my trip to the USA, so before that one more Winter Watchlist Warmers for a recent UK miniseries.
The Ex-Wife is another little discover on Paramount+. Based on Jess Ryder's book of the same name the series aired last October. So in my prime time of catching up on missed series. Let's get into The Ex-Wife.
Starring Céline Buckens, Tom Mison, Janet Montgomery, Jordan Stephens, Clare Foster, Adam Drew and Sam Hoare.
The miniseries is an easy, breezy watch of only four episodes. Fun fact, the book was adapted to TV by Downton Abbey's Catherine Steadman.
The Ex-Wife follows a young woman, Tasha (Buckens) who is married to middle-aged Jack (Mison). Their marriage appears happy, but Tasha is haunted by Jack's ex-wife, Jen (Montgomery).
However, as the plot unfolds, the true villain appears not to be Jen. Also the drama/action really gets dialled up to eleven as the series gets to a close.
There is also that moment before the end credits, you just knew was coming!
Usually I am not that great at keeping up on my UK dramas, however all these recent Channel Ten co-pro's Riptide and North Shore, my interest has peeked.
So as we approach the end of 2023 (or at least the new financial year) with all my US network series M.I.A (for now) I feel I may have a little more time to catch up on some recent/upcoming UK series.
For now it's almost time to say goodbye to Riverdale, Nancy Drew, Secret Invasion and The Righteous Gemstones. So stay tuned for those soon. I have a feeling my RATED list for the Winter Watchlist Warmers may be off the chart, this season!
