Entertainment

Blue Beetle is too familiar but still enjoyable

Offers nothing new but is a fun time nonetheless

Published

August 21, 2023

It’s an interesting time for DC fans. That’s especially true with the takeover of James Gunn and Peter Safran for movie and TV projects under the unified DC Studios.

It doesn’t take a lot to look at what’s going on. Some are still reeling from the abrupt end to the unfinished Synderverse. Meanwhile, some are steadily buying into the Gunn and Safran era.

That makes the timing for Blue Beetle quite impeccable. Although this film has been under development since 2018, the movie which stars Cobra Kai protagonist Xolo Maridueña, couldn’t have been released at a better time.

While everyone else sorts things out, here’s an enjoyable buffer with lots to unpack. Besides, what else can be done and enjoyed at this time, right?

Premise and parallels

Here’s the thing: Blue Beetle has quite the generic superhero movie premise. A random person is either given a superpower or discovers it accidentally, turning themselves into the story’s superhero.

We’ve seen this a lot of times before in at least the last decade alone. It’s important to approach this movie by setting that expectation aside. You will surely see a lot of scenes in the movie that will make you think about either Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Shazam, and even Iron Man.

Entertaining at its core

The movie is set in the fictional city of Palmera, which loosely represents El Paso, Texas in the comics. Jaime Reyes, who later on assumes the titular superhero role, is part of a Latino family struggling with finances. He has just graduated from college and is seeking a job to become the family’s breadwinner.

It’s hard not to laugh at the multiple family culture references dispersed throughout the film. Notably, Filipinos should easily relate to them. There’s Jaime’s funny uncle that everyone has; there’s the telenovelas and superstitions, as well as the tight-knit bond expected of families of our heritage.

For an even more local touch, the voice of Philippine Airlines herself, Inka Magnaye, took on the role of Khaji-Da. She had two lines in Filipino, giving us a little something to be proud of.

Back to its premise

The story, of course, takes a turn for the unusual when Reyes crosses paths with Jenny Kord. She is the daughter of the deceased Ted Kord the former Blue Beetle. Since Ted’s passing, Kord Industries has been run by his sister, Victoria, has become obsessed with the Scarab to develop advanced armor suits capable of defending the world.

Sounds familiar? Yup, that’s exactly the Darren Cross, Pym Technologies, the Yellowjacket, and the first Ant-Man film narrative all over again.

Victoria would harness the power of the Scarab, but her niece Jenny is reluctant and conscientious enough towards it, like Hope Van Dyne was towards Cross. Jenny would have other plans. In a once-in-a-lifetime coincidence, Jenny sneaks the Scarab out of the Kord Industries facility using Jaime’s help.

That’s when Jaime gets chosen by the apparently sentient Scarab to be its host. Its powers are activated in the process and turns the protagonist into the superhero he never planned on being. That said…

Wow, that superhero is powerful

As generic as some of the parts of the film is, obviously, Blue Beetle is a superhero origin and introduction story. Casual moviegoers definitely do not know much about this protagonist in-depth. So yes, this was a banger way to introduce him into the DCEU.

Unlike Spider-Man or Iron Man whose suits are powered by advanced tech and a talking AI, the Scarab basically merged with Reyes’ body as they became symbiotic. The Khaji Da has sworn to protect its host ‘til death, but towards the latter parts of the film, Reyes realizes he is one with the Scarab so he can control his powers.

The final battle

This proved to be vital in his last battle against the Cyborg OMAC (One Man Army Corps). This is Victoria’s half man, half machine guinea pig who bore the weight of Victoria’s experiments. The OMAC was supposed to replicate the Scarab and its host merging, and boy was he overwhelming at first.

Victoria’s greed leads to her destroying the Reyes family home and the subsequent death of Jaime’s father. Jaime gets caught in the process so Victoria could harness the Scarab’s power inside him. In spite of the devastating loss, Jaime’s entire family, with the help of Jenny, rally around him.

Jenny reveals his deceased father’s secret base underneath their abandoned home, and they team up to raid the Victoria-ran Kord Industries’ location to free Jaime, quash Victoria’s evil plans, and wipe away all of their prototypes.

That puts Jaime in the final battle against OMAC whom he is able to defeat, thanks to his synergy with Khaji Da. In the end, his human side shows, deciding not to kill OMAC whose backstory was also revealed with the help of Khaji Da being sentient. Instead, OMAC decides to take Victoria with him as his suit was already too powerful to stop exploding.

Again, given the generic premise, I thought it was a pretty decent story development for both the good-versus-evil angle and everything else outside of it.

Execution matters in a movie like this, and they were all able to balance the human aspect, the action-packed scenes, and the superhero premise in the end.

Exciting times for DCEU?

In the mid-credits scene, it was revealed that Ted Kord was still alive. He is trying to make a distress call to his secret headquarters in their supposedly abandoned home. This teases the possibility of another Blue Beetle film. In the comics, Kord is the second Blue Beetle, while Reyes is the third.

As the planned comics series for Blue Beetle also features him and Superman together, it’s safe to say that he will likely be incorporated in the DCEU and perhaps even play a major role in the next Justice League or appear in future movies for continuity.

It wouldn’t be surprising given the superhero’s capabilities. Like what Khaji Da said: “Whatever you can imagine, I can create.” Blue Beetle is a superhero most of us didn’t even know about growing up and yet here we are, given one that’s full of power and potential. It’s all a matter of execution once more for the next chapters of the DCEU.

Hopefully, that’s something we can look forward to enjoying.

Watch the final trailer.

Entertainment

X-Men ’97 returns to Disney+ for second season

Emmy-nominated series to continue mutant team’s story

Published

May 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

Marvel Animation’s Emmy-nominated X-Men ’97 is returning to Disney+ for a second season, starting July 1.

Along with this announcement, a trailer and poster have been made available. The first season of the animated series was one of the most-watched Disney+ originals, and a hit with fans and critics alike.

Season 2 continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home.

Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the protagonists’ absence.

The second season will be comprised of nine episodes. The voice cast includes:

Ross Marquand as Professor X
Matthew Waterson as Magneto
Ray Chase as Cyclops
Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey
Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm
Cal Dodd as Wolverine
Lenore Zann as Rogue
George Buza as Beast

The series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, Larry Houston, and Beau DeMayo.

Jake Castorena serves as the supervising producer. Episodes were written by JB Ballard, Beau DeMayo, Bailey Moore, Antony Sellitti, Brian Ford Sullivan, and Mariah Wilson.

The episodic directors are Emmett Yonemura and Chase Conley.

Entertainment

Now Playing: The Mandalorian and Grogu

This is the way

Published

May 19, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles and Dawn Pangilinan

Image from StarWars.com

It’s been a while since a Star Wars movie made me walk out of a cinema feeling genuinely pumped. Not necessarily emotional nor mind-blown. And not even scrambling to re-evaluate the entire franchise. Just… pumped.

The Mandalorian and Grogu feels like a proper Star Wars blockbuster again. The kind built for crowded cinemas, loud reactions, and collective gasps during action sequences. More importantly, it feels approachable in a way the franchise hasn’t always managed to be lately.

As someone whose interest in Star Wars slowly waned after The Rise of Skywalker, this movie felt oddly refreshing.

I watched the film alongside occasional GadgetMatch contributor Dawn, whose relationship with Star Wars sits somewhere adjacent to mine. Familiar with the Skywalker Saga and select spin-offs, but not necessarily deep into every corner of the lore either. Not because it reinvented the wheel. Quite the opposite, actually. It understood exactly what kind of movie it wanted to be.

I came into the film fairly blind. No rewatches, just a little prep work, and no “required viewing” marathons beforehand. And somehow, none of that really mattered.

Even without context from multiple seasons of Disney+ shows, Din Djarin and Grogu’s bond clicks almost immediately. You don’t need a detailed explanation for why these two care deeply about each other. The movie trusts viewers enough to simply accept their connection and move forward.

Grogu also remains ABSOLUTELY THE CUTEST. No further notes.

Well, maybe one more note.

That little guy carries an absurd amount of emotional weight throughout the movie. Whether he’s unintentionally causing chaos, silently reacting to situations, or simply existing onscreen, he consistently draws laughs and reactions from the audience.

There’s one sequence in particular where Grogu takes care of Din that managed to get a few giggles. It’s a small moment, but one that perfectly captures why this duo works. They don’t feel manufactured. They just feel natural.

Safe storytelling done right

One thing we kept coming back to after the screening was how easy the movie was to watch. Not “easy” in a dismissive way. More accessible and comfortable.

It’s the kind of blockbuster that lets you settle into the experience without requiring homework beforehand.

One observation that stood out during our post-movie discussion was describing the film as a “palate cleanser spin-off.” Despite growing up with the Skywalker Saga and several Star Wars spin-offs herself, she appreciated how welcoming the film felt.

“It’s interesting enough to lure you back into the lore and fall back into love with the franchise,” she said.

That really captures the movie’s biggest strength.

The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t spend its runtime obsessing over lore density or trying to prove how important it is within the larger Star Wars timeline. Instead, it focuses on delivering a straightforward adventure with familiar emotional beats.

Sometimes, that traditional recipe is enough.

There are definitely moments where the story feels predictable. We found ourselves correctly guessing certain developments well before they happened. But surprisingly, that never hurt the experience.

If anything, the predictability made the movie feel oddly comforting.

The film knows when to slow down for tender scenes, when to ramp things up with explosive action, and when to simply let viewers breathe inside its world. There’s also very little visual fatigue throughout the runtime. The pacing stays clean and the movie rarely overstays its welcome.

One of my favorite sequences involved Rotta the Hutt in a gladiator-like setting that weirdly reminded me of Thor: Ragnarok. It was chaotic, funny, and surprisingly entertaining.

Also, I need it on record that I identified with Rotta look-wise.

That comparison was apparently questionable according to my companion for the screening.

A low-friction way back into Star Wars

More than anything else, The Mandalorian and Grogu reminded me why people fell in love with Star Wars in the first place.

Not through endless callbacks or franchise homework. But through companionship, adventure, and a healthy helping of heart.

Underneath all the sci-fi spectacle and action sequences is a story about choosing to care for people even when it might not be the smartest thing to do in the moment. Din and Grogu’s relationship may often get described online as father-and-son, but honestly, they felt more like disproportionately-sized bros constantly looking out for each other.

And somehow, that dynamic works incredibly well.

By the end of the movie, we arrived at almost the same conclusion. We wanted more.

Not necessarily because this was the greatest Star Wars story ever told. It isn’t trying to be. But it successfully reignited interest in a franchise that can sometimes feel daunting from the outside looking in.

One immediate effect of the movie was successfully convincing my co-viewer to finally start The Mandalorian Season 1 once schedules calm down a bit. In the meantime, Grogu doomscrolling on Instagram will apparently suffice.

Meanwhile, I’m suddenly considering diving back into Star Wars shows I skipped over the years. I might check out The Acolyte. Maybe Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe even tap into gaming with the adventures of Cal Kestis if time and workload permit.

That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give this movie. It made me want to care again.

For longtime fans, The Mandalorian and Grogu delivers good, clean Star Wars fun with heart and hype.

For newcomers, it offers a surprisingly low-friction entry point into a universe that can otherwise feel overwhelming.

That might be exactly what Star Wars needed right now.

Entertainment

This Is the Way to the Theater: What to Know Before ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’

Din Djarin and Grogu Primer

Published

May 12, 2026

Pio Garcia

The Mandalorian and Grogu Final Trailer Screenshot

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!