Strap your Beskar tight and warm up the N-1 Starfighter. The galaxy’s favorite father-son duo is finally hitting the big screen! “The Mandalorian and Grogu” will officially trade the small screen for the cinema this coming May 22. The hype is stronger than a Jedi’s grip on a lightsaber. There’s plenty of ground to cover before the opening crawl starts, whether you’re a hardcore dweller of the Outer Rim or just someone who thinks Grogu is the cutest thing since Ewoks.

This isn’t just another mission; it’s a full-on cinematic event directed by Jon Favreau himself. We’ve rounded up five essential things you need to know before you head to the theater to make sure you aren’t more confused than a Stormtrooper in a hallway. From political shifts in the New Republic to some very surprising new faces, here is your ultimate primer for the next chapter of the Star Wars saga.

1. Brush Up on the “Mando-Verse” (Seasons 1–3)

Now is the time to binge if you haven’t seen the Disney+ series. The film is a direct continuation of Din Djarin’s journey from bounty hunter to adoptive father. You’ll want to remember that Season 3 ended with Din officially adopting Grogu and settling into a quiet life on Nevarro—at least until the New Republic came knocking. Think of this movie as “Season 4,” but with a massive theatrical budget and even shinier Beskar.

2. Don’t Skip “The Book of Boba Fett”

It’s the “homework” no one expected, but Episodes 5 and 6 of The Book of Boba Fett are essentially The Mandalorian Season 2.5. This is where Grogu makes the massive choice to leave Luke Skywalker’s training and return to his “Dad-alorian.” You’ll be very confused about why the little green guy is back in the cockpit instead of lifting rocks at a Jedi temple if you skip these episodes. Unfortunately, this is not a Jedi mind trick.

3. Meet the New Boss: Sigourney Weaver

Sci-fi royalty is officially entering the Star Wars universe! Sigourney Weaver joins the cast as Colonel Ward, a leader of the New Republic’s Adelphi Rangers. Since Din Djarin is now working as a “freelance” operative for the New Republic, she’s basically his high-stakes boss. Seeing the woman who faced down Xenomorphs take on the Imperial Remnant is the crossover we didn’t know we needed.

4. There’s a New Hutt in Town

Move over, Jabba! The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is voicing Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s son (yes, the “Punky Muffin” from The Clone Wars movie). But don’t expect a cute baby slug; Rotta is now a gladiatorial threat who fights in the pits. If the rumors of him twirling twin hand-axes are true, Din and Grogu are going to have their hands full with this “Hutt-onis Creed.”

5. The Return of Fan Favorites

Keep your eyes peeled for Zeb Orrelios! The Lasat hero from Star Wars Rebels (voiced by Steve Blum) is making his big-screen debut after that brief live-action cameo in the series. With Dave Filoni co-writing, the film is packed with deep-cut references for “Filoni-verse” fans. Plus, rumors of a Martin Scorsese cameo as an Ardennian cook might just make this the most legendary Star Wars cast to date.

The Way is clear: catch up on your streaming, grab your popcorn (and maybe some blue milk), and get ready for a cinematic jump to lightspeed. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is about to prove that while the galaxy is big, family is the greatest adventure of all. May the Force be with you!

From a three-day takeover at SM Megamall to an exclusive Super Brand Day on Lazada, the brand is bringing its best deals and newest launches together in one compelling window.
If you’ve been quietly adding Dyson products to your wishlist and waiting for the right moment, May is making a rather strong case for itself.

The brand has two major events lined up in quick succession — a one-day sale on Lazada on May 11, followed by a three-day immersive experience at SM Megamall from May 15 to 17 — and together, they cover just about every reason you’d want to upgrade your home or beauty routine.

First stop: Lazada’s Super Brand Day, May 11

Kicking things off is Dyson’s Super Brand Day on Lazada, a one-day event that brings the brand’s most recognisable products together with vouchers worth up to ₱5,000 off, free shipping, and installment options of up to six months.

The floor care lineup leads with some of the sharpest discounts of the sale. The Dyson V8 Slim Fluffy moves from PhP28,900 to PhP19,230 after discounts, while the Dyson WashG1 sees the biggest drop of the day — from PhP45,900 down to PhP31,130, unlocking PhP14,770 in savings on the wet floor cleaner that makes a compelling case against the mop-and-bucket. For those who want both, the wet-and-dry pairing suddenly becomes a very reasonable investment.
Environmental control gets a moment too. The Dyson Cool AM07 tower fan drops from PhP29,500 toPhP20,240 — a saving of up to PhP9,260, and a timely one given the country’s reliably unrelenting heat.

With Mother’s Day arriving on May 11 itself, the hair care lineup feels particularly well-timed. The Dyson Supersonic HD15 in Nickel Copper lands at PhP19,930 from PhP29,900, while the Dyson Airwrap i.d. in Ceramic Patina drops to PhP27,782 from PhP36,900 — the kind of gift that feels equal parts indulgent and practical. The Dyson Airstrait in Ceramic Pink and the Dyson Corrale round out the lineup at PhP26,120 and PhP25,320 respectively.

The full sale is available via the official Dyson LazMall flagship, where vouchers can be accessed ahead of checkout at Dyson’s online storeDyson’s online store.

Then: the Trade to Upgrade experience at SM Megamall, May 15 to 17

For those who prefer to experience the technology in person — or have an old machine they’ve been meaning to do something about — Dyson is transforming the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall into a three-day hub of live demonstrations, expert sessions, and exclusive deals.

The centrepiece is the Trade to Upgrade program, which lets guests bring in their old machines — any brand, working or not — and trade them in for exclusive discounts on Dyson products. It’s a rare opportunity to finally make that long-overdue switch without the full sticker shock.

Each day of the event has its own focus. Day 1 opens with the launch of the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai, an intelligent floor care innovation with real-time stain detection and precision cleaning capabilities. Dyson Experts will be on hand for live demos throughout the day.

Day 2 shifts to beauty, with the Dyson Supersonic Travel taking centre stage — a smaller, lighter version of the iconic hair dryer that delivers the same performance in a more portable form. Celebrity hairstylists will be running live styling sessions for those curious about what the machine can do.

Day 3 brings a limited-edition drop: the Ceramic Apricot colorway across Dyson’s styling range, alongside masterclasses and guest appearances from top local stylists. Those ready to invest in a full beauty upgrade will also find the Dyson Airwrap i.d. in Ceramic Patina available at up to 30% off through the Trade to Upgrade program — making it one of the more compelling deals of the entire event.

Catch the full experience at the Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, from May 15 to 17, 2026.

I was hyped and pleasantly surprised walking out of the cinema.

Mortal Kombat II is proof that something great can emerge even from a shoddy foundation.

Where Mortal Kombat I felt like a high budget Hollywood B movie. The sequel levels everything up. It felt a lot more confident from the start—like it knew exactly what it wanted to be.

It didn’t take long to feel the difference either. Somewhere within the first hour, it was already clear this was operating on a completely different level.

Night and day from MK1

It’s funny because I didn’t even see Mortal Kombat I until a day before Mortal Kombat II’s screening.

There was a moment when the main characters were journeying through the desert. I paused, watched something else, then came back just to power through. That wasn’t the case with MK II.

MK1 had a really strong start showcasing the history between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, but it quickly went downhill. The main character was easily its weakest part. MK II fixes that by finally telling the story from the lens of actual characters that exist in Mortal Kombat lore.

If anything, the biggest difference is tone. MK1 felt like it took itself a little too seriously. MK II is self-aware of how absurd everything is. It’s campy without being too cheeky.

And more importantly—it actually feels like a proper action blockbuster. Not stitched together. Not dragging. Just locked in from start to finish.

Cage & Kitana

Johnny Cage and Kitana brought their own brand of charisma, humor, and energy. They were the perfect anchors for the kind of story MK II wanted to tell.

Cage, especially, changes the tone of every scene he’s in. He feels like what Cole Young should have been—a self-aware, not too serious lens for the audience to grasp the world of Mortal Kombat.

Where Cage is the funny, grounded audience stand-in, Kitana is the heart and soul of the film.

It’s her story that kicks things off. While MK1 arguably had the stronger intro, MK II delivers a more consistent vibe and energy throughout. Kitana’s emotional journey becomes the core, and her growth alongside Cage’s is what ties everything together.

The returning cast, meanwhile, feels like proper foundations. Like veterans welcoming new, highly billed members and giving them space to shine.

And then there’s Kano. Absolutely loved Kano here. He was already an asshole in the first one—and somehow even more so in the sequel. But this time, his motivations and decisions actually make even more sense. His banter with Cage was also hilarious.

It’s a fighting game movie. Relax.

A lot of the charm comes from how the movie embraces its absurdity.

Johnny Cage, in particular, calls out everything that sounds ridiculous about the Mortal Kombat tournament. He practically calls it unbelievably stupid without actually saying it—but does it in a way that’s inviting and incredibly funny.

It feels self-aware that it’s a campy fighting game movie—and it fully commits to that. That balance is what lets it be corny, campy, absurd, and bizarre… but in an endearing way.

There’s also some heart here. Like I said, Cage brings the humor, but Kitana brings the emotional weight. She grounds the film without clashing with its tone. Her journey gives the story something to hold onto beyond just fights.

And yes, even if it’s tighter than the first film, there will still be moments where you go, “huh?” That’s fine.

This is a fighting game movie. These stories are rarely known for being deep. What matters is that MK II makes the most of what it has—and finds a solid balance of humor, heart, and chaos.

Finish him.

The fights are just better. Plain and simple.

They’re edited better. Yes, there are still quick cuts—very Hollywood—but the sequences feel more sustained. Each hit also felt weightier than the first film. You actually feel the impact.

And when the fatalities come, they hit harder. They’re at the right level of gore—not too much, not too little. Each one gets a reaction. They’re cool without being self-indulgent.

What also helps is how distinct each fight feels. They lean into each character’s style, so nothing feels repetitive. It genuinely feels like the fighting game come to life.

The pacing is spot on too. People wanted a tournament—and that’s exactly what we got. Fights come one after the other in the best way possible, and each one tells its own story without taking away from the main plot.

It really does feel like a proper tournament arc. And a damn good one at that.

Flawless Victory? Not quite.

There are still moments that will make casual viewers go, “huh?” Some lines of dialogue. Some head-scratching beats. But given the film’s tone, they land anyway.

The story is tighter, but still shallow. It’s a fighting game movie—don’t expect it to say anything profound. Its job is to tie everything together and build around the fights, and that’s exactly what it does.

There are still small messy moments here and there. But you’ll likely walk away on a high. Maybe even wanting to watch it again. Because everything it does right—it does really well.

If this were a fighting game match, MK1 felt like barely scraping by but still getting the win in Round 1. Then, Mortal Kombat II is the second round which feels more like a definitive victory.

And yeah—Kitana? She’ll make you glad you have eyes. Will make you want to shout “Get over here” every time she’s on screen.