Entertainment

Now Playing: MI7, Hijack, Rurouni Kenshin

Some recommendations for your consideration

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Hijack | Mission Impossible 7 | Rurouni Kenshin 2023
Hijack | Mission Impossible 7 | Rurouni Kenshin 2023

It’s been a while since I wrote one of these. Partly busy, partly I didn’t really feel like talking about the content I’ve been consuming of late. So, why now? Just scratching a writing itch really. Without further ado, here are some movies, shows, and even music you can check out right now. 

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 (Cinemas)

I was pleasantly surprised to get a premiere invite for this one. Can’t call myself a Mission Impossible diehard fan. It’s just one of those franchises that you inevitably check out when it’s showing. 

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 will have you at the edge of your seat during its entire run time. The action is high octane and the tension is palpable. It further cements the franchise as THE blueprint for modern action flicks. It’s definitely one of those movies that you HAVE TO see on the big screen.

Some quick thoughts: 

  • It’s almost like an “Age of Ultron” story in a non-superhero setting. 
  • There’s a sequence that screams Uncharted 2. 
  • I might be in love with Hayley Atwell now.

Hijack (Apple TV+)

I subscribed to Apple One/Apple TV+ this year mainly for Ted Lasso Season 3. Sadly, I fell off that show after three episodes. This past week, I wanted to pick up Lasso again but instead, I played Hijack starring Idris Elba and it’s been a ride. 

Hijack is a mini-series(?) of only six episodes. It’s about a plane flying from Dubai to London getting, well, hijacked. Much of the story is told through the point of view of Elba who is onboard the plane. As of writing, we’re four episodes in and I am honestly surprised how they’ve been able to hold my attention for this long on a premise that usually can be wrapped up in the run time of a 1990’s movie. 

It’s a thrilling watch and one that I highly recommend. 

Rurouni Kenshin 2023 (Prime Video)

It’s wild that I’m writing about this after only having watched a single episode. But Rurouni Kenshin (or Samurai X as I knew it growing up) is a beloved title. 

My brother, who is an avid fan of the franchise, quickly messaged me about it and commented on how he preferred the soundtrack from the 90s anime. Can’t help but agree but that might just be the nostalgia talking. 

Animation and art style-wise, it’s too early to judge. I personally hold the late 90s animation and art style at a pedestal, and the almost plasticky look on this 2023 version isn’t resonating with me as much. But I’ll keep watching, of course. 

Animé to check out 

I have fully reverted to weeb mode in 2023. Most of the shows I’ve watched are animé. They’re easy to digest and are just my comfort zone in what has felt like a busier year than usual. That said, here’s a quick list of animé I’ve seen and/or I’m seeing this year that you should check out. 

  • Trigun Stampede
  • Oshi No Ko
  • Mashle
  • Hell’s Paradise 
  • Jujutsu Kaisen S2
  • Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War S2 
  • Kimetsu No Yaiba S4 
  • Tengoku-Daimakyo

Some of these I’ve dropped,  others I’m in the middle of watching. All them, I feel, are worth checking out. 

Last song syndrome 

While we’re at it, might as well share with you the songs that have been on loop for me lately. These are new additions to my odd mix of K-Pop, R&B, Pop Punk, J-Pop, J-Rock, OPM, and Alternative Rock rotation.

  • “Do Not Touch” by MISAMO 
  • “Marshmallow” by MISAMO
  • “Strawberry Soju” by Jesse Barrera 
  • “Deja Vu” by Jesse Barrera
  • “You” by Rangga Jones and Tengy 
  • “Thirsty” by aespa
  • “Express Moon” by Jo Yuri
  • “love you twice” by Huh Yunjin
  • “Sugarcoat” by Natty
  • “Flower” by Johnny Stimson 
  • “Just Friends” by Estelle Fly
  • “Idol” by YOASOBI
  • “friend zone” by Morgan Jay
  • “Tsuki wo Miteita” by Kenshi Yonezu (Final Fantasy XVI theme)

Fast Forward

Naturally, there’s plenty of entertainment on the horizon that’s worth checking out. Listing here the ones that: I’m interested in, seems to be popular mainstream, and stuff we’ve received press releases for. 

  • Oppenheimer (Cinemas, July 21)
  • Barbie (Cinemas, July 21)
  • Blue Beetle (Cinemas, August 16) 
  • Wonka (Cinemas January 8, 2024)
  • Psycho-Pass: Providence (Cinemas PH, July 26)
  • The Witcher Season 3 (Netflix, July 27)
  • The Uncanny Counter S2 (Netflix, July 29)
  • Ahsoka (Disney+,  August 23) 
  • “Killin Me Good” – TWICE Jihyo Solo Debut (August)

Entertainment

ITZY’s YUNA is Infinix’s first ever global brand ambassador

Infinix is in with YUNA in the scene

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Infinix is entering a new era — and the brand is bringing one of K-Pop’s most sought-after stars along the ride.

A first for Infinix

In line with the launch of the latest NOTE 60 series, Infinix has also named YUNA of ITZY as its very first Global Brand Ambassador. The company calls this a bold step forward for both innovation and style.

For the record, this is the first time Infinix has tapped a global ambassador — and the choice makes sense. YUNA is known for her confidence, vibrant energy, and unapologetic self-expression. These qualities align closely with Infinix’s “Joy Tech, Beyond Limits” philosophy.

In a statement, YUNA shared her excitement about the partnership. She said she’s looking forward to connecting with fans in a new way and creating meaningful stories together with the brand.

For Infinix, this collaboration is more than just a celebrity endorsement. It signals a shift in how the company wants to position itself globally — not just as a smartphone maker, but as a lifestyle tech brand for expressive, tech-savvy youth.

The more, the merrier

The partnership goes along the debut of the NOTE 60 Series, further fueling Infinix’s move toward a more premium smartphone experience.

Like YUNA, the NOTE 60 line also brings notable names in the table:

  • Powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm
  • Design collaboration with Pininfarina
  • Audio tuned with JBL

It’s a clear attempt that Infinix wanted to elevate both performance and design by blending in flagship-level specs, more refined aesthetics, and immersive sound altogether.

Infinix says this launch also marks its expansion into more premium international markets.

With YUNA as the face of the brand, the company hopes to strengthen its appeal among younger users who want both powerful hardware and a device that matches their personality.

Rather than focusing purely on specs, Infinix is leaning into storytelling — highlighting how technology can spark creativity, joy, and individuality.

With the NOTE 60 Series and YUNA front and center, Infinix appears ready to redefine its brand identity on a global scale.

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Now Playing: Iron Lung

The premise will leave you wanting for more.

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I’m starting to think that cosmic horror is near-impossible to adapt to the big screen. Often, the point of this subgenre of horror is to showcase the unfathomable, a horror so unknowable that it’s impossible to describe. Now, for a medium that thrives on “show, don’t tell,” a full-length movie doesn’t seem like the best format for this type of horror. I’ve seen so many cosmic horror films, and a majority of them fail to land the satisfaction of a more traditional horror film.

Iron Lung, directed by and starring Markiplier, takes a stab at this elusively complex genre.

After the sudden disappearance of stars and planets in the universe, a lone space station explores a nearby moon to search for a way to save humanity. The catch is that the entire moon is covered in an ocean of blood. A convict, played by Markiplier, is tasked with exploring the moon in a one-man submersible, in exchange for his freedom.

Naturally, an ocean of blood isn’t the best place to be. The moon’s ocean hides mysteries and monsters beneath all the gore.

On the impossibility of cosmic horror

Though a movie is all about showing and not telling, Iron Lung navigates through these intricacies by not showing anything.

Because everything is just blood outside, the submarine needs a special camera that takes only grainy photos directly in front of the submersible. There’s always a sense of claustrophobic dread. What’s outside the submarine? What were those sounds? Did the camera really take a photo of something alive?

The film’s premise alone is a perfect source of horror. This is where cosmic horror thrives: on the questions, on the tiny sneak peeks of a monster lurking around the corner.

But, then again, this is also where the subgenre can paint itself into a corner. Eventually, audiences ask for more. They need to see and know the beast for real. Think Cloverfield, when the massive alien finally shows its face, or The Nun with… well, The Nun.

It’s an unwritten rule in horror films that the monster must make an appearance. It becomes a paradox for cosmic horror because the beast must also be unknowable.

When the beast finally shows up in Iron Lung, the audience never learns an understandable reason why it’s stalking the submarine. It’s not hungry, it doesn’t want revenge, and it doesn’t want to take over the world. It just is.

Is that a satisfying enough conclusion? If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, then it’s par for the course. However, if you’re more used to the more traditional horror film, it might leave you wanting more.

On madness

A mysterious monster isn’t the only thing that cosmic horror is known for. It’s also about madness and how the protagonist goes insane after seeing the unknown.

It’s apropos, then, that the convict starts hallucinating right after seeing a glimpse of the ocean’s beast. He starts to lose track of what’s real and what’s not.

In other movies, madness is an effective tool in subverting expectations and amplifying the horror. For example, in The Lighthouse, Winslow, the protagonist, also loses his sanity and questions reality. The film is all about this descent into madness and the questionable actions as a result from it. In Shutter Island, madness is a punchline, a plot twist that invites the audience to revisit the entire film and question their own perception.

Iron Lung, however, is neither a complete descent nor a plot twist. Rather, it’s a clear third act stemming from the convict’s encounter with the monster.

Since it’s clearly delineated in the third act, it’s hard to empathize with the convict’s plight. There’s a sense of vertigo moving from a creature feature into, in the convict’s own words, “alien shit” where you’re not sure of what’s real. Likewise, it’s not a plot twist either. You don’t reevaluate whether the entire movie was a hallucination.

Madness is understandably a major plot point of the original game that the movie is based on. However, its translation into film isn’t the smoothest. It’s both too short and too long.

But is it a good film?

Despite its struggle with the format, Iron Lung is still a spirited attempt at a one-room horror film. Markiplier melds into his role and doesn’t just showcase his on-screen YouTube personality.

The premise is, at once, frightening. It’s eerie and creepy. There is always a pervasive need to figure out what comes next. That’s pretty much what you want from a movie anyway. Yes, the ending might be polarizing, especially to those more used to the usual horror film, but the journey is still worth the price of admission.

And, at the very least, the film got me interested in watching Mark’s original playthroughs.

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Netflix does the unthinkable: Mayweather-Pacquiao II set for September

Streaming globally on the app

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Netflix has done the seemingly impossible: a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mega fight rematch is set for September 19. It will stream globally on Netflix with no additional cost for standard subscribers.

The historic bout will be the first-ever boxing match to be held at The Sphere, the 20,000-seater modern indoor venue in Las Vegas known for its immersive, 16K wraparound LED display.

Arguably two of the greatest icons in boxing history, Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs), will square off in an official, professional rematch.

The development comes on the heels of Mayweather announcing coming out of retirement an almost decade-long hiatus.

Meanwhile, it will be Pacquiao’s first professional fight since July 2025 when he and Mario Barrios fought to a majority draw. At the time, he also came out of a four-year retirement.

During the span, both fighters have been active in exhibition boxing matches. Notably, Mayweather fought against Tenshin Nasukawa and Logan Paul, whose brother Jake popularized novelty exhibition boxing matches. Pacquiao, for his part, fought against DK Yoo and Rukiya Anpo.

Interestingly, both Mayweather and Pacquiao

The upcoming rematch follows the two protagonists’ 2015 “Fight of the Century” wherein Mayweather outpointed Pacquiao via a unanimous decision.

A rematch had been sought for so long, especially with both fighters having encounters with each other numerous times.

Full details regarding undercard and ticket availability will be announced in the coming weeks.

Netflix taking over sports broadcasts

The Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch comes just a few days after Netflix announced a Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano MMA super fight.

This match is a collaboration between the streaming giant and MVP promotions, which is co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.

On the other hand, the upcoming boxing slate in September is primarily more of a broadcast for Netflix.

The platform has actively been getting into broadcasting premier sporting events, including the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight last year.

Unlike pay-per-views (PPV), Netflix does not require extra payment for viewers to be able to watch such sporting events. A standard subscription to their platform is already enough.

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