Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy Enthrall in 'Legend'

Legend is a film adaptation of The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins by John Pearson.  Based on real life events, the movie is about the rise and fall of the Kray Twins – who, at the peak of their notorious careers, had controled a large part of London’s criminal underworld.  Tom Hardy plays the roles of both Ronald "Ronnie" Kray and Reginald "Reggie" Kray.

I had been meaning to watch this movie for one reason alone: Tom Hardy’s double performance.  And just as I hoped, he knocked it out of the park.  He was almost as fantastic as Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany in distinctively and strongly portraying his respective characters, and in flawlessly conducting the interactions between them.  This aspect is easily the most thrilling part of this movie.

However, as a crime thriller, it’s not so thrilling at all.  Though it does have the ingredients to become a genuinely great one – most important of all is Hardy’s participation – the narrative isn’t able to use them in making something remarkable.

Legend just doesn’t live up to its name.  It’s an okay movie at best, but out of Hardy’s enthralling performance – performances – it has nothing notable to offer.

'Spotlight' Is My Bet For "Best Picture" in the 88th Academy Awards

Spotlight tells the true story of the “Spotlight” team – The Boston Globe’s prolific and renowned investigative reporting team – which won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the work they had on exposing the wide-spread child abuse practices by pedophile Roman Catholic priests and the decades-long cover up done by the high levels of the Roman Catholic Church.  I’ve seen a few “based on a true story” movies lately, and Spotlight is by far the most realistic and relevant.

Spotlight is an absorbing, thought-provoking, fact-driven story that favorably displays investigative journalism without romanticizing it.  It’s also unflinching in delivering the lurid details of the scandal it is covering.  Others might deem this movie as an “attack” on faith, but it’s not.  It condemns the rotten system that allows such shockingly disgusting practice to thrive and go unpunished, but it doesn’t gratuitously disrespect any matters of faith.  The narrative unfolded in a consistently riveting and objective manner, as if it’s merely “reporting” what had happened.

Directed impeccably by Tom McCarthy, and with all-around stellar performances from its ensemble cast (Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Brian d'Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, and John Slattery), Spotlight is, hands down, the most fascinating drama that I’ve seen in 2015.  In fact, it’s my bet for next year’s Academy Awards.  I hope it wins “Best Picture”, at least.

Will Smith Carries 'Concussion' With His Magnetic Performance (and Nigerian Accent)

Based on a true story, Concussion stars Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic pathologist who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after performing the autopsy of former NFL player Mike Webster.  The movie tells Omalu’s crusade in bringing awareness to CTE, the persecution he received from the National Football League – which tried to suppress his findings and discredit him – and his eventual vindication.  It’s an informative film that will have an impact on our perception of the sport of American Football.

Will Smith returns to form as a dramatic actor.  He proves in this movie that he still has the charm, screen presence, and acting chops that had made him an Academy Award nominee years ago.  His performance is definitely the best thing about this movie.

Concussion has a strong, intriguing message.  But at some point during the movie, it felt like that preaching this message has overtaken its desire to present a good story.  In my opinion, the message would have been more emphatic if the storytelling had been done more impressively.

There were a few times it started becoming tedious and almost lost me.  Thankfully, again, Will Smith is in this movie.  His magnetic portrayal of Dr. Omalu – complete with an endearing, believable Nigerian accent – is what primarily kept me glued on till the end.

It's Preferable to Watch the Anime Series First Before Watching 'Beyond the Boundary the Movie: I'll Be Here'

Beyond the Boundary the Movie: I’ll Be Here is a sequel to the anime series, Beyond the Boundary (Kyōkai no Kanata in Japanese).  The film is a two-part production.  The first part, Kako-hen (“The Past” in English), summarizes the events of the 12-episode series; and the second part, Mirai-hen (“The Future”), is an original, follow-up story to the series.

I haven’t watched the Beyond the Boundary anime series, so I wasn’t familiar what it’s all about.  But Kako-hen is supposed to help me with that.  Unfortunately, it’s not a movie retelling of the story of the anime series.  It was simply scenes from episodes spliced together.  Beyond the Boundary is a pretty complicated anime, and a badly edited abridgment won’t do an effective job in presenting the anime’s layers and appeal fully.  Thus, I had a hard time understanding and getting invested on its plot and characters.  Nonetheless, it gave me some idea of its premise.  But I didn’t really enjoy it.

The second part, Mirai-hen, is set a year after the end of the anime series.  As what I got from Kako-hen, the series had a happy ending.  But it’s later revealed in Mirai-hen that the “happy ending” wasn’t really quite that happy.

I liked Mirai-hen significantly better than Kako-hen, primarily because the narrative is more coherent since it’s a legitimate film and not a faux film consisting of a mosaic of the series’ episodes.  Thus, without being distracted and confused by bad editing, I was able to notice and appreciate Beyond the Boundary’s merits.

First of all, it’s visually appealing.   The way magic and action scenes are animated is strikingly beautiful.  The lighting and transition of colors are artistically executed.  If anything else, Beyond the Boundary is delicious to watch.

Second, the worldbuilding is charmingly complicated.  Beyond the Boundary’s world is that of secret dimensions, magic, demon creatures, and demon hunters.  And most satisfyingly, the narrative doesn’t spoon feed its audience too much to explain everything, but respects them enough to let them figure them out on their own by watching.

Third, the romance between the two main characters is interestingly complicated as well.  Yes, it gets too melodramatic for my tastes at times, but it develops quite satisfactorily in general.

And fourth, the movie has a thoughtful theme.  It begs the question, “Is it truly right to keep someone from knowing the truth in order to protect her from pain?”  The movie involves amnesia, and it’s a plot device that has been done to death.  However, I thought it was used wonderfully in this case.

I find Beyond the Boundary somewhat of original.  It has some elements that will delightfully surprise even avid anime fans who are already familiar with every anime trope out there.  That said, I can’t truly say that I get to love this anime.  Again, I haven’t watched the anime series, and I believe to truly savor Beyond the Boundary, watching the two-part movie alone – like I did – will never be enough.  By only watching Beyond the Boundary the Movie: I’ll Be Here, I’ve probably only scratched the surface of the anime’s true worth.

DiCaprio Captivates in 'The Revenant', a Gritty Tale About Revenge and Survival

This film adaptation of Michael Punke’s novel of the same name depicts Leonardo DiCaprio as the historical frontiersman Hugh Glass.  It’s a fictional account of a notable episode from Glass’ life, wherein he was abandoned to die by his expedition companions after being brutally mauled by a bear, of which he recovered from due to his tenacity and survival skills.  In the movie, he is primarily driven by vengeance, as his half-Native American son is murdered by John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) before leaving him for dead in a shallow grave.

The Revenant is an adventure film, a revenge film, and a historical film all at the same time.  It’s a gripping drama that illustrates human nature’s visceral will for survival and moral depravity when exposed in a harsh, savage environment.  It has a long run-time and yet it’s so enthralling even at the slow parts that it never has a boring moment in it.

Moreover, it is a visually stunning movie.  The bear mauling scene alone is so amazingly realistic that it’s terrifyingly cringe-worthy.  The camera shots are beautiful, as it wonderfully captures the grandeur and grittiness of its backwoods setting.  Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu did a heluva job in giving a fitting cinematic look to the movie’s immersive and gritty script.

As usual, Leonardo DiCaprio is phenomenal in this movie.   He was thoroughly invested in his role, and he totally engages the audience to be invested on his character as well.  Unfortunately, he probably still won’t win an Oscar with this though.

In summary, The Revenant is another well-crafted movie from the competent hands of Iñárritu, and features another captivating performance from DiCaprio.  Indeed, it’s definitely worth checking out. 

'The Hateful Eight' Is Another Tarantino Masterwork

The Hateful Eight is intentionally introduced as “the 8^th film by Quentin Tarantino.”  But if you check his filmography, the movies he’s credited of being both director and writer of – meaning the project is fully his – are nine.  Now, which of those doesn’t count?  Are Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 counted as “one” movie?  Does the Death Proof segment in Grindhouse not count?  It’s confusing.

Set in Wyoming a few years after the Civil War, The Hateful Eight tells the story of eight strangers – nicknamed “The Bounty Hunter”, “The Hangman”, “The Prisoner”, “The Sheriff”, “The Mexican”, “The Little Man”, “The Cow Puncher”, and “The Confederate” – who find themselves stuck with each other in a stagecoach stopover due to a blizzard.

The movie is as well-written and well-directed as one would expect from a Quentin Tarantino film.  However, it isn’t quite there with his best films.  Personally, I believe Django Unchain was a far more better Western.  If I’m going to rank Tarantino’s films, The Hateful Eight will probably be second to the last (or third to the last, if Death Proof is included).  But that’s not really a bad thing, for all of Tarantino’s films are pretty good.  The Hateful Eight might not be as good as most of them, but it’s still a great movie on its own – definitely one of the best movies I’ve seen this year.

The first half of the movie consists of talk-heavy scenes.  But it’s never boring at all.  Tarantino is known to be one of the greatest writers of dialogue there are.  Thus, even when a scene only involves characters talking for a lengthy time, it’s still very captivating and entertaining.  The dialogue-driven scenes in the first half of The Hateful Eight thoroughly flesh out the characters – revealing their personalities and motivations – and brilliantly build the whodunit set-up for the rest of the movie.

Yep, The Hateful Eight is a Western, but it’s more of a whodunit mystery in a Western setting.  Yes, guns are fired in this movie, but not the kind of action-packed gunfights that Django Unchained has.  When this movie was first announced, based on its title, I was expecting it to be a Magnificent Seven with Tarantino’s touch; I presumed that it’s going to be about a ragtag band of misfits who loathed each other but are forced by a circumstance to band together.  It didn’t turn out like that – and I have a slight disappointment about it – but it’s still happens to be a very interesting tale nonetheless, plenty of twists and cool moments.  And it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get violent and bloody – it does, of course.  This is a Tarantino film after all.

In summary, as an overall product – with the script, production, and incorporation of old-fashioned cinema techniques and elements – The Hateful Eight is a further testament that not only is Quentin Tarantino a master filmmaker, but a passionate scholar of the craft as well.

Miscellaneous musings – with SPOILERS:

• Early in the movie, Tim Roth’s character, “The Little Man”, reminded me of Christoph Waltz’s character in Django Unchained, Dr. King Schultz. For a while there, I even thought Roth was Waltz.
• Actually, this movie would have been more appropriately titled as “The Hateful Nine.”  Yes, the ninth man being O.B. Jackson, the Stagecoach Driver.  He was more than a supplementary character in the story.  In fact, he even outlasted one of the “Eight” for a couple of minutes – “The Confederate” died before O.B.  did.  O.B.’s exclusion kind of bugged me.
• I knew that Channing Tatum was cast in this movie, so I was a bit confused at first why he wasn’t part of the “Hateful Eight.”  But I realized that this movie doesn’t necessarily need to just have eight characters.  And I was right, Channing’s character turned up in the second half of the movie.  And the sudden appearance of his character was a nice twist.
• I was hoping that there would be an intense Mexican stand-off scene involving three or more parties.  But that didn’t happen.  When they point guns at each other, it’s either between two groups or just two individuals.
• I would love to see Leonardo DiCaprio back in a Tarantino film.  Maybe as the hero this time. 

Spielberg Crafts a Cerebral and Touching Cold War Drama in 'Bridge of Spies'

Bridge of Spies is a historical spy thriller based on the real-life Cold War incident wherein lawyer John B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) negotiated the exchange of Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) – an American spy plane pilot who got shot down and captured within Soviet territory – for Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) – a KGB agent caught, tried, convicted, and imprisoned by the US government.  The movie covers the events of Abel’s arrest; his trial, in which Donovan was assigned as his defense lawyer; how Donovan convinced the involved governments to agree on an exchange; and the carrying out of the exchange on Glienicke Bridge.

Steven Spielberg helmed Bridge of Spies, and that’s enough reason to watch it.  As usual, at the hands of Spielberg’s masterful direction, the movie flows with comfortable pacing and engaging narrative execution.  And he thoroughly brought out the best out of its competently written script – as to be expected from the Coen Brothers, who co-wrote this movie with Matt Charman.

I love the performances of Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance, and the characters they portray.  I don’t know how spot-on is the movie’s depiction of these men in comparison with their real-life counterparts, but I find Bridge of Spies’ versions of John B. Donovan and Rudolf Abel extremely likable.  I can’t help but admire Donovan’s resolve, integrity, confidence, and negotiation skills – he reminded me of Captain Picard.  Meanwhile, Abel is endearing for his dedication, calm tenacity, and amazing emotional control – reminding us the fact that if a particular negative emotion (e.g. worry, alarm, fear) can’t help in bettering a bad situation anyway, then there’s no use feeling it.

I really liked this movie.  However, I have to admit that I didn’t love it as much as the fun, romanticized spy movies – Kingsman and Mission Impossible – of 2015.  But though such is my personal preference, I nonetheless heartily welcome down-to-earth, cerebral spy movies like Bridge of Spies, and I wish Hollywood would make more of them.

In the end, Bridge of Spies succeeds in being sophisticated and touching as a drama, and stimulating and suspenseful as a thriller.  And Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have surely another classic under their belts with this movie.  Every award nomination it will receive is well-earned. 

'In the Heart of the Sea' Bored Me as Much as 'Moby-Dick'

I love classic literature.  There was even a period of my life in which I mostly read and collect classic literature.  But there is one of these novels that I admit I can’t seem to like at all: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville.  It’s an iconic story and is considered a Great American Novel, but I really find the book itself to be boring.  I didn’t even finish it.  Either I’m not sophisticated enough to enjoy it, or it’s really a pretentious novel, as I believe it is.  I’d rather struggle through Shakespeare than read Moby-Dick (at least, with Shakespearean literature, it’s pretty rewarding once you finally grasp it).

In the Heart of the Sea is an adaptation of the non-fiction book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick, which is about the real-life incident that inspired Melville to write Moby-Dick.  The movie tells the story of the crew of the whaling ship Essex as they undergo a horrific voyage for survival after their ship is sunk by a colossal, vengeful white sperm whale and are left adrift in the ocean.

I personally find In the Heart of the Sea as pretentious as Moby-Dick.  It aspires to be profound and epic, and it does have the potential to be so, but the execution felt really messy.  The characters are so dull and infuriating that I wished the whale killed them all.  And though there were moments and aspects that I liked – especially when the whales are around – these were quite few and weren’t stressed enough.  I was yawning all throughout this movie.

In the Heart of the Sea is a forgettable, insipid movie that fails in achieving the heights it was obviously aiming for. 

Second-Part of ‘Attack on Titan’ Live-Action Movie Is Garbage, Too

Part 1 was garbage.  Now, I was not expecting Part 2, Attack on Titan: End of the World, to be something tremendously better, but I was hoping it’s going to be a tad more tolerable since, being the second one, I knew already what I would be getting.

So how did I find it?

That sums it up.  Going more in-depth on how atrocious and godawful it is is just not worth it.    

(It isn’t as terrible as Fan4stic, though, I’ll give it that.)

‘One-Punch Man’ Packs a Wallop

I had read some early chapters of the One-Punch Man manga, but I was mostly reserving it to watch as an anime.  The manga’s pretty great, but I felt that it’s something that would be more fully realized as an anime.  That’s why I don’t regularly check on the manga’s chapter updates.  At last, this 2015, the first season of the anime has run – and it’s tremendously enjoyable as expected.

One-Punch Man follows the adventures of Saitama, a superhero who is so immensely powerful that he can effortlessly defeat the villains and monsters he encounters with just one punch (hence, the title).   He achieved such power after training everyday for three years, but at the cost of becoming permanently bald.  He meets a cyborg named Genos, who convinces him to become his disciple, and together, they join the Hero Association.

Despite being more powerful than the superheroes ranked above him and successfully accomplishing several high-level missions, Saitama doesn’t receive the recognition and respect that he deserves.  Others even discount him as a counterfeit who only takes for himself the credit for other heroes’ achievements.  Only a handful of individuals – especially Genos, who adores him greatly – really know his capability and accomplishments.  However, he isn’t much bothered by this, for he simply does superheroing as a hobby, and is more concerned in searching for stronger opponents that he may find challenging.

Characterizations of overpowered characters tend to be one-dimensional and uninteresting.  That’s why many are bored with Superman or, at least, prefer Batman more.  But there’s nothing boring about Saitama.  He’s a very likable and appealing character.  His overpoweredness is presented in a way in which it’s as much as a disadvantage as it is an advantage, thus, making the audience sympathize for the character.  And there’s always something exhilarating and funny in how he dispatches enemies with one blow.

If the attempt is to be a satirized Japanese take on the superhero genre, the premise of One-Punch Man excellently nailed it.  Its monster-filled world, quirky characters, and over-the-top action make it constantly hilarious, entertaining, enthralling, and full of energy.  One-Punch Man is like Dragon Ball Z, Hunter X Hunter, Powerpuff Girls, and The Tick rolled into one.

One-Punch Man is probably the most popular new anime of 2015.   And rightfully so.  For it’s something original and clever – a breath of fresh air from the familiar crop of anime and superhero properties that are out there right now.

Top 20 Animated TV Series

It’s extremely difficult making a list of my most favorite animated series, even when Japanese anime is excluded, which I did for this list (I already made a list for anime some years back, though I’ll probably be revising it in the future).   Through the years, I’ve watched and become fond of plenty of cartoons.  Thus, I had a hard time reflecting which of these I like the most.

In fact, this list is actually three years in the making.  The pool started out with more than 60 titles (again, anime is not even included in that 60!), which I gradually cut down to 30.  And then I rewatched these 30 animated series (will mention them in the honorable mentions) – not all their episodes, of course, but ample enough (again, took me three years) to help me carefully evaluate which of them belong to my all-time twenty.   It’s worth mentioning that I didn’t only focus on how they still hold up after rewatching them as an adult, but I still put into consideration their impact on me when I was watching them as a kid.

Honorable Mentions (nos. 21 to 30, in random order): Hey Arnold!, Futurama, BraveStarr, Wacky Races, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Adventure Time, Darkwing Duck, Ducktales, Captain Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars, Popeye

20.) BEAST WARS: TRANSFORMERS (1996-1999)

Beast Wars tells the story of the conflict between the Maximals (the Autobots’ descendants) and the Predacons (the Decepticons’ descendants).  The two factions crashed on prehistoric Earth, which proved to be rich in raw Energon.   Much power can be derived if Energon crystals are processed, but extended exposure to it is very harmful to both Maximals and Predacons in their robot form, thus, they were forced to take on alternative animal forms.  The Maximals’ beast modes are usually mammals, while the Predacons’ are usually dinosaurs, arachnids, and insects (however, a Predacon named Dinobot – who takes the form of a raptor – switched to the Maximal side early in the story).

As a kid, I also enjoyed the original 80’s Transformers series (as well as the Japanese versions), but I believe the Beast Wars series is superior for it has the kind of storytelling depth, intense action, and great character arcs that the original series never had.

The 3D animation looks extremely dated and inferior now, but back then its visuals were groundbreaking.

19.) ALADDIN – THE ANIMATED SERIES (1994-1995)

This is generally considered as the best animated series that spun-off from a Disney animated feature.  It features Aladdin and his eclectic gang going on fantastic, swashbuckling adventures.  The series has thoroughly fleshed out the characters and their relationships – especially the romance of Aladdin and Jasmine (see the episode “Eye of the Beholder”) – and they have become one of my most favorite ensembles in fiction.

Also, it’s worth acknowledging Dan Castellaneta for filling up for Robin Williams as Genie.  Genie is Williams’ most iconic character, and it’s a tough act to follow.  But Castellaneta did a fine job as a substitute.

18.) G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO (1983-1986)

In retrospect, I admit that this is one of the dumbest, most ridiculous cartoons I’ve ever watched.  Nonetheless, I get to tremendously like this animated series (and G.I. Joe as a fictional organization) as much as the property’s classic Marvel comic book series.  And until now, I still understand why this had appealed to me a lot as a kid: it has all these themed, one-dimensional but kickass characters engaging in an action-packed but naïve, over-the-top, and diluted war – just like something from a child’s energetic, imagination-full playtime.

17.) RECESS (1997-2001)

Recess is a clever caricaturized depiction of American schoolchildren, wherein they have their own functioning society – complete with cultural, economic, political, and class systems– within their school premises, which is often practiced during recess time.  The series focuses on a gang of fourth graders led by T.J. Detweiler as they go on their daily lives in the aforementioned set-up.

16.) SAMURAI JACK (2001-2004)

When Cartoon Network started making its own original cartoon series, it was clear in my mind that Samurai Jack was the best among the lot.  It follows the adventures of a time-displaced samurai prince named Jack as he searches the means to travel back to his time period and defeat the demon Aku.

A revival series is scheduled for release in 2016!

15.) AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER (2005-2008) & THE LEGEND OF KORRA (2012-2014)

I have to count these two animated series as one since The Legend of Korra serves as the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender (and this is my list anyway, and I can do what I want).  These two series are America’s best and most successful attempt to adopt Japan’s anime-style in both storytelling and animation.  They have riveting character arcs, amazing fight scenes, engrossing storylines, and fantastic world-building.

14.) SCOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOU! (1969-1978)

This list needs at least one Scooby Doo cartoon, and I went with Scooby Doo, Where Are You!, the first series and, in my opinion, the best.  As a kid, I was a big fan of the concept of mystery-solving teen detectives like Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and the Three Investigators.  So I really liked Scooby Doo, Where Are You! because it’s basically like that – four teens solving mysteries – but with a twist: their cases seemingly involve supernatural phenomena at first, but eventually turn out having rational, criminal causes.  Plus, they have with them a mumbling, cowardly semi-anthropomorphic Great Dane named Scooby Doo, who happens to be a terrific comic relief.

13.) SWAT KATS: THE RADICAL SQUADRON (1993-1995)

Set in an anthropomorphic feline world, SWAT Kats features two of my favorite cats in fiction, T-Bone and Razor.  The series follows the vigilante duo, who are equipped with high-tech gadgetries and vehicles (notably the “Turbokat” jet), defending Megakat City from a diversity of menaces ranging from mobsters to mutants to monsters to robots, while also being in constant conflict with the city’s unsupportive military-police.  It’s a genuinely badass show, and with my affinity with cats, I find it extremely appealing.  Moreover, it has one of the coolest, most rousing themes in cartoons.

12.) ARCHIE’S WEIRD MYSTERIES (1999-2000)

I’ve always loved reading Archie Comics.  One of the unique things about Archie and his friends is its storytelling malleability.  They can be depicted in any story or genre as desired.  They can be in one-shot, comical sketches, as they are traditionally interpreted.  They can cross over with The Punisher or Predator.  They can be in a soap opera drama.  They can be in a zombie apocalypse (read the excellent Afterlife with Archie).   But my most favorite is that of the animated series Archie’s Weird Mysteries.

In a way, this cartoon reminded me a lot of Scooby Doo cartoons – teens dabbling in supernatural mystery cases.  But with Archie’s Weird Mysteries, the supernatural stuff is really happening.  For me back then, each episode is like a Goosebumps book, though less sophisticated but just as enjoyable.

11.) GARGOYLES (1994-1997)

This animated series centers on a clan of gargoyles that have been reawakened in modern-day Manhattan after staying as statues for thousands of years due to a magician’s curse.  Displaced from their period, the gargoyles make the best of it by assuming the roles of New York City’s night guardians.  They aid their human ally, police detective Detective Elisa Maza, in fighting crime as well as various supernatural threats that arise, while also constantly clashing with the Lex Luthor-ian CEO of Xanatos Enterprise, David Xanatos (who eventually became a powerful ally).

I love its rich mythology that includes references to Shakespearean literature, mature (but not too mature) and smart storytelling, and deeply well-realized characters.

10.) THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (2008-2009)

I love almost all of the Spider-Man animated series ever produced (another one is in this list) but what makes The Spectacular Spider-Man stand out is its endearing mix of charming animation style, high school drama, Spidey-perfect humor, exciting action sequences, and well-written storylines.  It totally knocked the ball out of the park in depicting the Spider-Man mythology through an animated medium that appeals to grown-ups but still remain 100% kid-friendly.

It’s just so sad that it’s cut short after only two seasons.  It ended with still a lot of promise of awesome stuff to offer as well as unresolved issues.  It’s one of the two premature cancellations of great animated series that still tick me to this day (will be mentioning the other one later this list).

9.) SPIDER-MAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1994-1998)

The 90’s Spider-Man animated series very closely edges out The Spectacular Spider-Man in this list.  Though Spider-Man is not as good as the 90’s Batman series, it did to Spider-Man what the latter did to Batman: served the purpose of supplementing my comic book reading in essentially defining the character and mythology for me.  Though it’s hindered by censorship issues, the action is still essentially exciting (especially to a kid).  It has fantastic story arcs that adapted and reinvented comicbook storylines, not only those from Spider-Man comics but other Marvel comics as well (e.g. “Secret Wars”).  The series unfortunately had to end abruptly after five seasons, but it’s not due to poor ratings but behind-the-scenes production conflicts.  Thus, it concludes with a cliff-hanger, but the twist of its last episode makes it one of the most memorable series endings I’ve ever encountered.

8.) AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES (2010-2013)

This is another show that has been cut too short, but I think the series wrapped itself nicely that I wasn’t as disappointed as I was with The Spectacular Spider-Man.  Still, I wish more seasons would have been made (considering that its replacement, Avengers Assemble, isn’t really good).  It’s a splendid show that not only featured elements from the Avengers comics, but from much of the Marvel Universe as well.  Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes was definitely Marvel’s answer to DC’s excellent Justice League animated series.  And it could have reached that level, too, if it wasn’t cancelled so early.

7.) X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992-1997

X-Men: The Animated Series is definitely Marvel’s best animated series production to date.  This show is as relevant and definitive as its comic book source material and Fox’s successful film franchise.  During its peak, it was immersive, thrilling, and fascinating.  There are some silly and forgettable episodes, but all in all, it successfully adapted almost all of the comic book’s storylines, resulting to plenty of compelling TV watching moments.  It also has one of the most kickass themes of all time.

6.) LOONEY TUNES (1930-1969)

The Looney Tunes shorts (and its sister series, Merrie Melodies) – just like Walt Disney shorts and other cartoon shorts of its time – initially had theatrical releases.  But for many of us, it was through syndicated TV programs that re-ran these shorts that we were introduced to these lovable, wacky cartoons.  Watching Looney Tunes cartoons nowadays, I’m still greatly amused and chuckle every now and then.  But I can still remember how I find them hysterical as a kid, and they had me laughing so hard that I got tears on my eyes and left gasping for breath.

5.) THE SIMPSONS (1989-Present)

The Simpsons is not only the longest running animated TV series of all time, but the longest TV series of all time.  And it’s still ongoing with no signs of being cancelled soon.  Being born in 1989, I’m as old as The Simpsons.

At one time, The Simpson was my most favorite animated series.  But I felt these later seasons weren’t quite as good as when I was regularly watching it.  I tremendously enjoyed its clever and hilarious parodies of pop culture and the human condition.  The edgier jokes are unapologetic but subtle enough not to offend and often go over the heads of its younger audience.  Hence, kids can appropriately watch this show and find it funny, but only the grown-ups (and kids with mature minds) will thoroughly appreciate its comedy.

No other animated series has ever matched the cultural impact, popularity, and staying power of The Simpsons, and I don’t think anything can anytime soon.

4.) YOUNG JUSTICE (2010-2013)

Running for only two seasons, next to Firefly, this is the TV show that I’m most annoyed about for being prematurely cancelled.  It has tons of unresolved plot points and untapped potential that a season 3 is something I believe should be imperatively made – even if through the comic book medium.

Young Justice is a brilliant, unique superhero cartoon.  As I’ve written before:

Young Justice had everything: an exceptionally fresh and rich depiction of the DC universe; intense drama and action; interesting storylines; exciting plot twists; sharp and smart dialogue; wonderful animation; engaging characterizations; a great diversity of heroes and villains; and humor.   Its premise of a team of superhero sidekicks/teen superheroes that operates as a “junior” squad engaging in covert missions or serving as an auxiliary arm of the Justice League when required is perfectly executed, which resulted in an overwhelmingly awesome product.   I can’t find any other property that revolved itself around superhero sidekicks or teen superheroes – whether in comic books or TV or any other medium – that have been more delightful and enjoyable as Young Justice.

3.) THE VENTURE BROS. (2003-Present)

It was only last year that I started watching The Venture Bros., and it was only while making this list that I’ve realized that it’s among my top most favorite animated series of all time.  It’s an action-adventure comedy series that follows the escapades and misadventures of the Venture family, consisting of inept teenage brothers Hank and Dean; their pseudo-super-scientist father, Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture; and the family’s violent and uber-macho bodyguard, Brock Sampson, and his subsequent replacement (when he decided to the life of a secret agent), the reformed super-villain Sergeant Hatred.

It started off as a parody of Jonny Quest.  But it eventually referenced and spoofed plenty of properties from all niches and corners of nerd culture as well.  It has an extensive cast of well-realized characters that are often excellent parodies of existing popular fictional characters (e.g. Prof. Impossible, a parody of Mr. Fantastic).  It has been clever and rich in nerdy references that I think it’s the ultimate nerd cartoon, as full enjoyment of many of the gags are hinged on one’s knowledge of the references.

The only downside to The Venture Bros. is probably the fact that it’s something exclusively for adults, as it has plenty of elements inappropriate for children.  Nonetheless, it’s a brilliantly written cartoon that is constantly evolving and getting better, that there’s a good chance that it will eventually become my number one when it finally wraps up.

2.) JUSTICE LEAGUE (2001-2004) & JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (2004-2006)

These two series can basically be counted as one animated series since Justice League Unlimited is an immediate direct sequel after two seasons of Justice League.

Characters and elements that were first introduced from previous Bruce Timm projects (Superman: The Animated Series, Batman: The Animated Series, etc.) converge in this series, making it the culmination of Bruce Timm’s DC animated universe (or “Timmverse”).  And from this came the ultimate animated adaptation of DC’s premier superhero team.  In fact, I consider the Timmverse Justice League as the greatest depiction of the team in any medium, comics included.  Seriously.

This show translated a lot of the DC universe into animation, brilliantly characterizing many of DC’s ensemble of superheroes and villains, and then brilliantly featuring them in epic story arcs and/or memorable standalone episodes.

1.) BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992-1995)

Though Justice League depicted a wide variety of DC superheroes during its run, it still couldn’t match the impact of the very first Bruce Timm animated series: Batman: The Animated Series.  The show boldly adopted the dark and gritty tone that Batman was starting to get known for at that time, and set the standard for what a quality superhero animated series should be.  Up until now, no other superhero animated series has been able to live up to this classic.  In fact, in my book, no other animated series has been this great – that’s why it’s number one in this list.

The show offered complex stories, enthralling characters, provocative themes, and two of the greatest voice acting performances of all time in Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Mark Hamill (The Joker), which would define what the Batman mythology is all about as much as what the comics had done.  In fact, it can be argued that the reach and influence of this show has transcended those of the comics at that point.  Personally, this show is a huge factor why Batman is not only one of my most favorite comic book characters ever, but one of my most favorite fictional characters of all time (he’s only behind Spider-Man and Sherlock Holmes).

Batman: The Animated Series was a groundbreaking TV show that perfectly epitomized Batman, one of the most iconic fictional characters ever, and effectively used his mythology to tell plenty of gripping and terrific stories on TV – or in any media, for that matter.  Thus, two decades have already passed after it ended its original run, but it’s still the best animated series I’ve ever watched.

‘Creed’ Sees Stallone Pass the Torch to Jordan

Set a couple of years after the events of 2006’s Rocky Balboa, the seventh Rocky movie, Creed serves as both a spin-off and a sequel (a sort of “Rocky VII”).  It follows Adonis “Donnie” Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of legendary boxer Apollo Creed, as he seeks to make a name for himself in professional boxing without riding on the reputation of his father.  To achieve his dreams, he moves to Philadelphia and solicits the tutelage of his father’s chief rival and close friend, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).  After receiving the opportunity to have a world championship bout, Donnie must learn to embrace, not only his father’s name, but the fact that he is indeed his father’s son.

This spin-off isn’t merely some opportunistic cash-grab project of banking on the nostalgic appeal and reputation of a famous movie property.  Purpose and thought are behind making this movie.  It has a legitimate story, and there’s serious effort put in its production.

If you love the Rocky movies, you will surely love Creed.  It’s always nice to see Rocky Balboa, one of the most iconic movie characters ever, on the big screen again, even if he’s relegated to a supporting role.  But as itself, Creed is a genuinely terrific film – one of the year’s best.  In fact, among all other Rocky films, it probably has the most depth since the first movie.  It’s a compelling drama fueled by the amazing performances of Stallone and Jordan.  This is definitely Stallone’s best in ages, and, by starring in this, Jordan can be forgiven of taking part in the tremendously godawful Fant4stic movie.

Creed is worthy to become as much of a classic as Rocky.  And I hope a few sequels will get made.  The movie is a perfect “passing of the torch” between Stallone and Jordan, and I would certainly love to see more of Adonis Creed carrying the legacy of Rocky Balboa on the big screen.

‘The Peanuts Movie’ Had Me Constantly Smiling in Delight

I love Peanuts.  It’s one of my most favorite comic strips ever.  I have been collecting its compilation paperbacks since I was a kid, and enjoy reading them till this day.  Thus, The Peanuts Movie had been significantly on my radar among 2015 movies.  It was something I was anxious about, since I would hate it to be bad.  Thankfully, this movie is extremely delightful.

The Peanuts Movie follows Charlie Brown’s pursuit to win the admiration of the new kid, the Little Red-Haired Girl, whom he develops a crush on.  Meanwhile, after stumbling on a discarded typewriter, Snoopy begins writing a novel, imagining himself as a World War I pilot named “The Flying Ace”, who is locked on a feud with his mortal nemesis, the Red Baron, while also attempting to win the heart of Fifi, a pretty poodle pilot.

The Peanuts Movie is a very well-made animated movie.  The animation style is beautiful and commendably appropriate.  The gags are clever and hilarious.  And the warm and charming script really hits the spot.

Most importantly, the movie totally nailed the essence and characteristics of Peanuts.  It richly references the themes, tropes, and sketches of the comic strips and classic cartoons.  The characters are perfectly depicted.  And it is indeed as thoughtful, tender, funny, and amiable as what Peanuts has been known and beloved for.

Now, I don’t mean to imply that The Peanuts Movie is all nostalgic appeal.  What I mean in the last paragraph is that Peanuts is timeless, and the movie has successfully captured its timelessness.

In many ways, The Peanuts Movie effectively encompasses what Peanuts is all about.  I won’t say that it’s the best Peanuts film – that would probably forever be A Charlie Brown Christmas – but it’s probably the best medium in comprehensively summing Peanuts up.

I had a wonderful time with The Peanuts Movie, and it had me constantly smiling all throughout.  Next to Inside Out, this is my most favorite animated feature this year.    

'Sicario' Tells a Fascinating Tale About the War on Drugs

Sicario is an action thriller about by-the-book FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) who is recruited by the mysterious government agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to join a covert task force, spearheaded by the grim and shady Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), that conducts questionable clandestine operations in the US-Mexico border for the sake of the escalating war on the drugs.  As Macer struggles with the ethics of the team’s methods, Alejandro and Graver are set on bringing down the brutal leader of a notorious Mexican drug cartel no matter what it takes.

Powered by the excellent performances of its cast – notably Blunt, del Toro, and Brolin – Sicario tells an immensely gripping and thought-provoking story. And the movie’s outstanding technical aspects – splendid cinematography, superb editing, and compelling direction – further enhance the draw of this movie.  It has no dull moments.  I was completely transfixed on it right from the opening till closing.

Sicario is an all-around fascinating movie.  It’s weighty and bracing in substance, and competent and engaging in form.  Now, I won’t be going more in depth than what I’ve written already, but let me assure you that Sicario is easily one of the best films of 2015.

'Yong-Pal' Has Great Character Arcs and an Intriguingly Intricate Plot

Yong-Pal would be the last Koreanovela I’ve watched this year.  2015 is near its end, and there just isn’t enough time to watch one more, and there’s no Koreanovela that I feel is worth squeezing in to binge-watch.  The next Koreanovela that I’ll be watching is something that’ll be running next year.

Yong-pal tells the story of Dr. Kim Tae-hyun (Joo Won), a very talented surgeon on his third year of residency.  He is desperately in need of money to pay for his ailing sister’s medical bills, thus, he is compelled to secretly work as a mercenary doctor for the criminal underworld, adopting the code name “Yong-pal."  As his sister’s condition worsen, Dr. Kim finds himself seeking larger sources of income, which leads him to be coerced by the corrupt doctors of the hospital to partake in a shocking conspiracy: locked in a well-guarded private room in the hospital’s exclusive 12^th floor and forcibly put in a medically induced coma is Han Yeo-jin (Kim Tae-hee), chaebol heiress to the powerful conglomerate that owns the hospital.

What ensues next is an absorbing romantic story complicated by the intricate corporate power play that it finds itself in the middle of.

I find this drama series unique.  It avoids many of the clichés that I’ve constantly noticed in Koreanovelas, and employs a couple of elements that I’ve only seen for the first time in a Koreanovela.  The premise seemingly starts off as a medical thriller but then evolves into something wonderfully complex that, though not thoroughly intelligent and sometimes too convoluted for its own good, it’s intellectually satisfying.

Also, its romantic aspect is probably the most I’ve enjoyed since I Hear Your Voice (my ultimate Koreanovela standard).  Tae-hyun and Yeo-jin are both interestingly flawed characters struggling to make it work between them.  There’s something melodramatic about it sometimes, but generally, the development is organic and well-executed.  Thus, these two are my most favorite Koreanovela couple next to IHYV’s Soo-ha and Hye-sung.  And just like the IHYV couple, they aren’t just a charming couple with great chemistry, but they’re also well-written characters individually.

But that’s just the thing about Yong-pal: its characters are so well-written!  My most favorite thing about this series is its intriguing, multi-layered character arcs – not only for Tae-hyun and Yeo-jin, but for most of the characters.   These characters are coated with personality, fleshed out in depth, and developed fascinatingly well that I was compelled to get invested on them.  It’s also a big plus that the acting is so, so good (most notably, the actor that played Min Joon-gook in IHYV, Jung Woong-in, also has a role here; his performance convinced me that he’s absolutely one of Korea’s best character actors).

So, Yong-pal makes for incredible watching – for the first 17 episodes.  I was on the way of declaring that I “love” this drama series, but the final episode kind of derailed the series for me.  I really find it to be underwhelming and unsatisfying.  I guess the first 17 episodes had put me on so much high that I was expecting for a massively phenomenal finale that would make me emotionally euphoric.    And, thus, so tall was the pedestal that I had prepared, that when the finale failed to meet it, the fall was great.

That said, all in all, Yong-pal is very entertaining and fresh.  I’m really disappointed with the ending, but it’s actually not that bad – just insufficient to the standards it has set.  Still, I enjoyed it much that it’s tied with Kill Me, Heal Me as my most favorite Koreanovela of 2015.    

'Barely Lethal' Is Enjoyable... Just Barely

After watching its trailer, I immediately knew that Barely Lethal isn’t going to be extraordinary.  It’s an insignificant movie destined to be forgotten.  And yet there was something about it that made me strangely want to see it.  And I did.

Barely Lethal tells the story of Agent 83 (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenage girl raised and trained to be an elite secret agent who goes AWOL so that she can live her dream of being a regular high schooler.  She adopts the identity of Megan Walsh and takes on the role of an exchange student from Canada.  With her understanding of teen culture limited to what she got from reading magazines like Teen World, and watching movies like Mean Girls and TV shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, Megan will discover that wading through the waters of a typical American high school setting is much more treacherous than the world of espionage.

The movie is exactly what was expected – unremarkable, predictable, and dumb.  But recognizing and accepting what it is, and not asking for more, I got to have enjoyment from it.  The script makes fun of teen movie clichés but succumbs to them at the same time.  I find that both a win and a fail – but amusing either way.

Barely Lethal is pretty vapid.  But it has enough to be an entertaining “popcorn flick.”  There are jokes that are genuinely funny, the characters are one-dimensional but likeable, the plot is mediocre but has streaks of wittiness, and the action is satisfactory.

It’s far from being an overlooked movie that needs to be checked out, but it’s definitely one of the better second-rate indie movies of 2015. 

As Expected, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Is the Best Movie of 2015

Finally, after a long time of waiting, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is finally upon us!

Ever since Disney acquired Lucasfilms and an Episode 7 was announced, I had been greatly looking forward to this movie.  In fact, understandably, this is the movie that I’ve been hyped the most of watching this 2015.  It is, like, the “Holy Grail” of movies.  And I’m quite sure I’m not the only one who feels this way.

As I expected, this movie indeed gets my nod for best movie of the year.  It’s the greatest movie theater experience I’ve had since 2012’s Avengers.  It’s truly pretty epic!

But to be honest, I’m “high” on this movie right now.  There’s always the chance that any objectivity for evaluation is being intensely compromised by my passionate geek fondness for Star Wars, that if I let my emotions settle down, I might find this movie not as great as I thought it is after watching it for the first time.  Many years ago, I was quite fond of Episode I and Episode II for a while, and thought of them as great movies, as if I was being obliged by my fandom for Star Wars to like them and consider them “great movies.”  But after some time, I finally fully realized that they weren’t as good as I had believed they were (btw, I actually consider Episode III a flawed but good movie).  So there’s probably a need for me to rewatch this movie a couple of times before I can be completely definite in what I think of it.  Nevertheless, that said, I’m utterly certain that I won’t be retracting my initial evaluation of recognizing it as “great movie.”  Even if I eventually find it lesser than my initial thought of it, it’s unlikely that the decline would be radically significant.

Thus, no matter what, I can confidently pick Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the best movie of 2015.  There’s no other movie this 2015 that I had more enjoyment with, and with the year almost ever, it’s extremely unlikely for me to encounter another movie that I might deem superior.

This movie deserves to be watched without knowing anything about it (but, of course, it’s preferable to have some familiarity with at least the original trilogy) so I won’t give too much detail about the plot in this review (however, I have some assorted spoiler-y thoughts in the miscellaneous musings below).  Here are some mild details which I think is safe to provide without really spoiling anything:

• The movie is set 30 years after Episode 6.
• The Rebel Alliance has become the Resistance, while the remnants of the Empire have become the First Order.  The two are at war.      
• The old characters are around, but the new trio of heroes are Ray, Finn, and Poe Dameron.
• Kylo Ren is the main villain. 
• BB-8 is adorable.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is immensely thrilling, fun, and spectacular.  As a film production, it’s very praiseworthy – kudos to J.J. Abrams for masterfully helming this movie.  There are a lot of beautiful shots; the cinematography is immaculate.  The visual effects are amazing, and so are the sound effects.  The score is stirring as expected.  The action scenes are exciting, while the dramatic scenes are powerful.  The pacing does not drag, but flows in a smooth and riveting manner.  The characters are terrific, and the performances by their respective actors are terrific as well.  Also, it has a healthy amount of humor, objectively making it the funniest Star Wars movie ever.

But though Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an overall awesome film, it isn’t perfect either.  There are some noticeable flaws, and I wasn’t as awestruck and mindblown as I wanted to be.  Furthermore, I feel that there are too many parallels with the original Star Wars movie (i.e. A New Hope).  But the negative points that I find in this film are very minimal.  They didn’t derail the movie for me.  This movie is so awesome that they didn’t matter.

All in all, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a glorious success in reviving the franchise for more big screen triumphs.  It’s an emotionally gratifying movie experience.  And with this strong start, the likelihood of another beloved epic Star Wars trilogy happening is very, very promising.

Episode 8 can’t come soon enough!

Miscellaneous musings (with SPOILERS!!!): 

• I WANT A BB-8 FOR CHRISTMAS!
• Why are there only X-Wing Starfighters?  Where are the Y-, A-, and B-Wings?
• One of the great things about this movie was its trailers.  They were very well-made.  It avoided the problem with movie trailers nowadays: the tendency to give a comprehensive narrative summary – basically spoiling the entire movie’s plot.  Many times, movies have been made predictable due to its trailers.  Thankfully, the trailers for The Force Awakens didn’t do that.  They didn’t show too much.   They offered just enough to get us pumped, but the movie was still wrapped in mystery – there were plenty of room left for surprises.  Indeed, less is more.  
• The best aspect of the “less is more” marketing is the absence of Luke Skywalker in the posters, promotional art, and trailers.  It adds much intrigue to the movie.  Now, Luke Skywalker is indeed in The Force Awakens.  But the way the character is used is probably my biggest disappointment in the movie.  He only appeared in the last minute!  This means it’s only right that he wasn’t in any of the marketing materials since he basically didn’t have any significant presence in the movie.  I was hoping that the reason he wasn’t included in the trailers and promo art is because he’s going to have a very shocking function in the movie.  But it turns out that the reason of his omission was a pragmatic one (since he didn’t participate in the movie’s main narrative anyway) instead of a set up for a delightful surprise.  We have to wait for Episode 8 before we can really see Luke in action once again.
• Maybe the purpose of Luke’s absence is to put the focus on Han Solo.  He has a big part in this movie – a sort of “guide” for the new characters.  And Harrison Ford was terrific.      
• You can see the death of Han Solo coming a mile away.
• I’m sad that Luke and Han never got to reunite with each other.
• The actors that played Rama and Mad Dog in The Raid have small roles here.  Disappointingly, they aren’t involved in some kickass hand-to-hand combat sequence. 
• I find some fascination for Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux.  I like the “fascist” tone of the character.  I hope he’ll turn out being a thoroughly fascinating villain in the future.    
• Captain Phasma is an overhyped character.  She really didn’t have anything to do in The Force Awakens.  Maybe she’ll have a bigger role in Episode 8?
• Kylo Ren is fantastic.  He isn’t a poor man’s Darth Vader at all.  He has layers that are distinctive.  He has an intimidating presence, but he is also vulnerable.  He’s not only a great villain, but a multi-faceted character as well. 
• I found Kylo Ren’s radio-ey voice a bit distracting at first.  But it grew on me.  I eventually found it appealing.   
• It was heavily hinted that Kylo Ren is going to have a heel-face turn in the future.  I feel that such happening’s eventual.  But I don’t mind if ever I’m wrong.  If something unexpected happens to this character, then that’s great.  But if he indeed returns to the side of good, I hope the execution of such development will be done creatively and rivetingly.   I love well-told heel-face or face-heel turns.
• Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron is the “cool guy” character.  He’s supposed to be the best pilot of the Resistance.  And, thus, he has this confidence in him, but not in an a-holey kind of manner.  He’s oozing with likability.  He deserves to have a bigger role in Episode 8; I know there’s more that can be done with this character.
• As a defecting Stormtrooper, John Boyega’s Finn is a unique character.  His origin and struggle give him a distinctive depth.  He’s the type of character that you’ll go all out rooting for.  In addition, Boyega’s great comedic timing makes Finn a charmingly funny character.      
• I love Daisy Ridley’s Rey.  She’s on her way of becoming one of my most favorite fictional female characters.  I love that a female character is serving as the “Luke Skywalker” of this new trilogy.  And I will even argue that her character arc in Force Awakens is better than Luke’s in A New Hope.  Can’t wait to see her have her Return of the Jedi moment – where she’ll finally be a complete Jedi Master.   
• Another nice touch in the trailers and movie posters was the fact that Finn was portrayed holding a lightsaber while Rey wasn’t.  The effect is that the attention of the question “Who could be the new Jedi in The Force Awakens?” is put on Finn.  Now, it doesn’t truly neutralize the “guessability” of Rey’s real identity, but it’s still a clever “red herring” that should have given the eventual revelation a sense of surprise.  Unfortunately, though there’s no image of Rey with a lightsaber in the posters and trailers, there was however a promo art released (leaked?) of one.  It was obscure, but it was out there.  When The Force Awakens was still months away, that promo art was what gave me the idea that Rey is the “Luke Skywalker” of this new trilogy.  A minor bummer since it would have been tremendously better if they never released (leaked?) such promo art.     
• Daisy Ridley and John Boyega have landed their dream roles and savored every second of it.  This is very apparent in their respective performances.  The Force Awakens gave them the opportunity to show what they are capable of, and they delivered.  The future is bright for these young actors. 
• Grand Admiral Thrawn – who first appeared in Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy of novels – is arguably the best character from the Star Wars Expanded Universe (which had been officially declared as non-canon after Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilms).  I’m still hoping that he’ll make a big screen appearance in Episode 8 (or 9).