Entertainment

Now Playing: ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ is an underwhelming finale

Not how you want to cap a trilogy

Published

November 4, 2024

You don’t need to have absorbed an overwhelming amount of Marvel or Venom-related material, nor have been a franchise or comics die-hard to say that Venom: The Last Dance is an underwhelming finale.

Sure, there’s a specific lens in literary criticism that allows you to utilize being one. But even if you’re just a casual moviegoer, having knowledge about the first two films in the trilogy and doing your basic research about Knull, Eddie Brock, and the titular anti-hero symbiote should be enough for you to notice how lackadaisical in nature this film turned out.

It’s not even a conversation about how much you know about the nature of symbiotes in the franchise’s fictional world and whatnot. It’s about how poorly this film was stitched given all that information.

When you talk about the final installment in a trilogy, like the last fight in an Ali-Frazier or a Pacquiao-Morales rivalry, you’d naturally expect tons of fireworks. Sadly, this movie did not give us that much. It’s safe to say that viewers expected a whole lot from this installment given the involvement of Knull and everything else.

Speaking of, Knull is straightforwardly an Avengers-level threat. And he was underutilized. That’s in spite of how potent the first act already was. Perhaps it’s the lack of direction of the Sony Spider-Man Universe itself. Maybe it’s still a puzzle how to incorporate Knull in succeeding movies. But there are just so many darn aspects of this finale that could have been done better.

⚠️ Warning: Some spoilers ahead! ⚠️

Not the ‘Last Dance’ we wanted

Granted, the film did not absolutely sucked per se. As mentioned, they built a decent first act that had potential. From teasing viewers with Knull, to introducing where more symbiotes were kept and what to do with them, to Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Rex Strickland’s authoritativeness, Venom: The Last Dance was already there. It made the audience think.

Viewers were introduced to Knull’s Xenophages, which were sent to hunt the duo for the coveted Codex. The initial chase did have some punch in it. Brock and Venom attached themselves to an airplane bound for New York, only to land on a deserted area after being attacked by a Xenophage.

Strickland had his own agenda with the duo, and also went after them. That’s before the three parties crossed paths, with Strickland ultimately losing some of his men.

No follow-up

They just couldn’t follow-up that first act. It was already established how massive a threat Knull was. The Xenophages, we later learned in the movie, also didn’t seem to have a weakness.

The following half hour or so was spent with Brock and Venom finding themselves in Las Vegas, Nevada and stumbling upon an alien enthusiast family led by Martin Moon. I know it’s partly because the Imperium is located just underneath Area 51 and geographically speaking, it’s near Nevada.

But it feels forced. The additional characters were totally optional and, if anything, a waste of screen time. There was no follow-up to the thrill of hunter-versus-the-hunted angle. This could have been the primary focus of the second act to set-up an even bigger finale. This is where they could have snuck in more action. More blood. More brutality, even.

Underwhelming finale

Finally, the movie takes viewers for a battle between Venom and the other symbiotes that have found their way to bodies of Imperium workers, and a horde of Xenophages all determined to retrieve the Codex for Knull.

It was chaotic and explosive for a bit. As mentioned, it didn’t seem that these Xenophages had a weakness. The military, in particular, fired all ammunition possible towards the opponents’ way.

Ultimately, Venom sacrificed himself by fusing onto the Xenophages and undergoing an acid bath to explode and subsequently save everyone involved — and even the world as well. I kind of already figured someone will die anyway, since the third and final movie’s slogan reads “Til Death Do They Part.”

I just hoped for more action and a better-stitched story from start to finish. It could have been a better overall cinematic masterpiece that focused on feeding viewers the concept of “the end” and how to arrive there, since it’s the conclusion of the trilogy. It didn’t feel like that at all. After the final battle, I was like, “Wait, that was it?”

And considering how big the entities were involved, especially Knull, the filmmakers had the opportunity to execute the treatment differently. I’m not even asking of something to a level like Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, but just something a little bit more.

Maybe Knull is in the wrong cinematic universe. Someone of a godlike stature should be in a pedestal big enough to fuel a major narrative that spans multiple films. You know, like the MCU.

Anyway, towards the end, we even got a montage of Brock and Venom’s best moments throughout the three films, like a cheaper version of the Furious 7 end scene.

Final thoughts

This is just one of those movies you wait to come out on the franchise’s partner streaming platform. It really doesn’t take one to be a geek to differentiate something good like the conclusion of the Infinity Saga from something eyebrow-raising like the next few MCU films that followed.

And yet, some individuals have the gall to even blame it on viewers’ lack of Marvel knowledge. They even go to as far as saying they’re the only ones who will hate Venom: The Last Dance. C’mon. Seriously. This supposed finale sucked.

Look, it’s not that we didn’t appreciate Venom: The Last Dance. But at the same time, if you could just open your eyes, you can see that it’s a waste.

Entertainment

Prime Video releases 1st-look image of Sophie Turner as Lara Croft

Production now officially underway

Published

January 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Prime Video has announced that production for the new Tomb Raider series is now officially underway.

In addition, it also teased audiences by releasing the first-look image of Sophie Turner as Lara Croft.

In the photo, the 29-year-old English actress dons the iconic Lara Croft outfit, with a dark teal top, tight fit shorts, and belt with twin gun holsters.

Turner is known for her appearance in the Game of Thrones series, as well as her portrayal of Jean Grey in two X-Men movies.

Based on the legendary video game franchise, the series follows the globe-trotting adventures of the world-famous archaeologist and reimagines the beloved character for a new generation.

Aside from Turner, the upcoming series stars the following actors:

Sigourney Weaver
Jason Isaacs
Martin Bobb-Semple
Jack Bannon
John Heffernan
Bill Paterson
Paterson Joseph
Sasha Luss
Juliette Motamed
Celia Imrie
August Wittgenstein

Phoebe Waller-Bridge leads the series production, serving as creator, writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner.

She is joined by Chad Hodge as co-showrunner and executive producer. Meanwhile, Jonathan Van Tulleken will serve as director and producer.

Entertainment

Now Playing: Rental Family

This will get your tears flowing.

Published

January 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In Eat Pray Love, recent divorcee Liz Gilbert goes on a journey of self-discovery by travelling to Italy, India, and Bali. Someone should tell Gilbert that Japan is everyone’s preferred Eat Pray Love destination these days. Today, tourists from all over the world like going to Japan because of its different, almost perfect serene, culture.

However, the truth of Japan is less romantic than what’s shown in travelogues: absurd working hours, not enough time for personal life, and societal pressures to do only what’s expected. It’s this Japan that Rental Family wants you to see.

Truths

In Rental Family, Brendan Fraser plays Phillip Vanderploeg, a struggling American actor living in Japan. After failing to land a gig outside of the odd commercial here and there, an unconventional opportunity suddenly lands on his lap: to work for a rental family agency, which provides stand-ins for social situations. In one case, Philip pretends to be a young woman’s groom, so her family doesn’t ask questions when she moves and starts a life of her own in Canada.

It’s no surprise that Philip exclaims a loud “the f*ck?” when he first realizes what the firm does. Aiko (Mari Yamamoto), one of his colleagues, explains that this is how Japan works. Instead of paying for therapy, the Japanese people would rather pay for someone to pretend for them. For an outsider looking in, the practice seems strange, but it’s real. Rental family agencies have been around for a while.

Despite Aiko’s insistence that this is a Japanese phenomenon, Philip eventually understands that these agencies provide something more than just a country-exclusive need: the desire to be seen and to be heard.

Rental Family is a film that speaks to everyone. Often, we need someone to fill those gaps in our lives: a missing father, a missing lover, a missing friend. It’s a truth that should feel self-evident, but the film remains a poignant reminder of whatever, whoever is missing in our lives. We see ourselves in Kikuo Hasegawa (Akira Emoto), a retired actor who just wants a friend before his memory withers away. We see ourselves in Mia Kawasaki (Shannon Mahina Gorman), a young girl whose father left her.

And lies

Philip plays a multitude of roles: a father, a journalist, a cheerleader, a groom, a friend. It’s his job to play a role so credible that his client believes in the illusion. Essentially, he’s a professional liar.

However, Philip finds himself also believing in the same lies he’s crafted. He gets attached to a few of his clients, especially Mia whom he quickly becomes close to, as if as her real father. Even when his boss Shinji (Takehiro Hira) tells him not to get too personal with his clients, he cares for them beyond his initial assignment.

It’s the lie that makes the movie so believable. Who among us has never felt inadequate to play a certain role? Too incompetent to be a father, a lover, and a friend?

Ironically, the one who plays the part most authentically is the one person willing to build the lie, Philip. He becomes a better companion to their clients than the people closest to them. As the saying goes, “fake it ‘till you make it.”

Sometimes, the mask slips. Sometimes, Philip’s boss warns him that he’s too close, or a client ends the relationship themselves. When this happens, Philip has to confront the lie, which can mean that he tells his client that he was lying.

And yet, he doesn’t leave as if it’s just the conclusion of a deal. He opens up and makes himself vulnerable. He confronts what he did and promises to do better. Lying is easier, and we lie all the time. We tell ourselves that we’re the best at what we do. If we do it enough, we start to believe.

But Rental Family is about the truth behind the lie. An untruth can be the foundation, but a relationship only truly prospers with being vulnerable. It’s about realizing that, just as the other person needs us, we also need them. We’re all rental families in our own way.

Entertainment

One Piece: Into the Grand Line ‘Rise of the Baroques’ teaser revealed

Lera Abova excels as Miss All-Sunday, additional villains previewed

Published

January 14, 2026

GadgetMatch

Courtesy: Netflix

Netflix has officially revealed the “Rise Of The Baroques” teaser trailer of One Piece: Into the Grand Line.

The action-packed trailer puts focus on the dangerous and formidable secret society, the Baroque Works.

There was a lot of screen time for Lera Abova, excelling as Miss All-Sunday. This includes a conversation with Monkey D. Luffy wherein she warns the Straw Hats leader of possible dangers.

The clip then shifts to most of the explosive action that is about to unfold in the season, including the perilous quests the Straw Hats are about to take on as they sail into the Grand Line.

Courtesy: Netflix

In the process, the teaser trailer has revealed the additional cast playing the other Baroque Works members:

Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday
Lera Abova as Nico Robin/Miss All-Sunday
David Dastmalchian asMr. 3
Camrus Johnson asMr. 5
Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine
Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9
Sophia Anne Caruso as Miss Goldenweek

Season 2 of the Netflix live-action adaptation of One Piece officially sets sail on March 10.

In this season, a the Straw Hat pirates search for the world’s greatest treasure, they will encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.

The series stars Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Taz Skylar, Emily Rudd, and Jacob Romero. Watch the “Rise Of The Baroques” trailer below: