A Man Called Otto (February)

Based on Fredrik Backman’s 2014 New York Times bestselling novel, this life affirming new dramedy centers on a curmudgeonly old man – the titular Otto – who has all but given up on life until a young family moves in next door to him. He may be playing against type, but the movie still looks like it has all the hallmarks that make for a great Tom Hanks movie. It looks genial, earnest, and well meaning. The real question, however, is whether it can live up to the Swedish original, A Man Called Ove, which scored two Oscar nominations back in 2017.

Missing (February)

Aneesh Chaganty’s Searching was unexpectedly great. It one of those rare movies that transcended it’s gimmick, delivering a truly frightening experience that made you stop and question whether or not you really knew what your kids were doing online. It was one of the tensest cinematic experiences we had in 2018. Now, the minds behind that movie are back with Missing, which looks like yet another roller-coaster of a mystery that’s told from the point of view of the devices and services that have come to dominate our day-to-day lives. We’re definitely intrigued.

65 (March)

It’s sci-fi Adam Driver versus dinosaurs! MASSIVE FREAKIN’ DINOSAURS! What more could you possibly want dammit?

The Pope’s Exorcist (April)

Listen. We’re suckers for stories like this one. We love The Exorcist, and Evil, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. There’s just something about the idea of a lone priest facing down the devil himself that is heroic, and selfless, and deeply terrifying. What makes The Pope’s Exorcist even more exciting is that it’s based on a true story. Russell Crowe plays Father Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist of the Vatican, who performed more than 100,000 exorcisms in his lifetime. He wrote two memoirs – An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories – where he detailed his experiences battling Satan and the demons that had clutched people in their evil grasp. What’s more, this one is directed by Julius Avery, whose alt-history-Nazi-zombie-war-flick, Overlord, we absolutely loved.

Love Again (May)

The best rom-coms are always based on the simplest of premises. What if a widowed President fell in love with a lobbyist? What if two people swapped homes for the Christmas holidays? What if you tried to sabotage your best friend’s wedding? Can a man and a woman ever just be friends? Love Again, which stars heartthrobs Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan, is also rooted in a somewhat simple question: What if a random text message led you to the love of your life? It’s a meet-cute which could lead to all sorts of rom-com hijinks involving fate, and serendipity, and wacky romantic misadventures. In recent years, the mid budget rom-com has found a new home on streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. It’s one of our favorite film genres and we’re always thrilled when one of them makes it out onto the big screen.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June)

The first Spider-Verse movie was an absolute revelation. It was bright and beautiful. It was full of heart. It had a real momentum to it as well as an animation style that was nothing short of revolutionary. It truly leaned into the medium and did things that just weren’t possible in live action. (Also: Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” is now forever associated with Miles Morales!) This first of two planned sequels is long overdue and promises to blow up the Spider-Verse in all kinds of new and exciting ways. Not just with more “Spider-People” than we can shake a stick at, but also with an aesthetic that is pushing at the limits of what animation can achieve. This is comic book fare at its very best.

Insidious: Fear the Dark (July)

“Set ten years after the end of previous first two films, Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) heads east to drop his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) off at an idyllic, ivy-covered university. However, Dalton’s college dream becomes a nightmare when the repressed demons of his past suddenly return to haunt them both.” While that cookie cutter synopsis doesn’t really tell us much about this fifth installment in the Insidious franchise, it feels like James Wan, Jason Blum, and Leigh Whannell have sufficient horror credibility to get us worked up about anything and everything they put out.

Gran Turismo (August)

It’s a video game adaptation that’s not quite a video game adaptation. Gran Turismo is based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a teenage gamer whose skills won a series of Nissan competitions, leading him to become an actual professional racecar driver. It’s every gamer’s secret hope. It’s the ultimate wish fulfillment story. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, then surely David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Geri Halliwell Horner (the Spice Girl and wife of Christian Horner, team principal of the Red Bull Racing F1 team), and Djimon Hounsou can!

Untitled Ghostbusters Sequel (December)

We were huge fans of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. As a requel it hit all the right notes, leaning into nostalgia, providing just the right amount of fan service, while carving out its own path forward at the same time. Unlike, say, The Force Awakens, it didn’t concern itself with mirroring the same beats of the original movie, but rather reintroducing the iconography of the series through the actions of a young girl, finding her way in the world by excavating her family’s history and legacy. We know that it’s scheduled for release in December. We know that the cast is back. (Yay. Podcast!) And we know that Gil Kenan is directing from a script he co-wrote alongside Jason Blumenfeld and original director Jason Reitman. We’re all in on this one.

Tell us what movies you’re most looking forward to in 2023. You can email us on podcast@goggler.my, or reach out via Instagram. You can also chat with us live on our Discord server.

The post The Movies We’re Most Looking Forward to in 2023: Sony Pictures appeared first on Goggler.

1. As we begin our adventure, we are greeted to Meghan comparing herself to a foreign organism that could possibly make the royal family better. Because some viruses can be positive, right? Right?

2.  And it’s time for their royal wedding! Look kids, it’s the Clooneys! There’s Idris Elba! And let’s not forget the Beckhams!

3. I’ll give it to them, on the face of it, their love is quite sweet-lah. At least they have each other. Even when everything else seems to have been been taken away.

4. Cutting a wedding cake with a Sword? Okay, the pretension is back.

5. “And we had Elton John singing.” As you know, Elton always plays at weddings. That’s just normal. Oh and did we mention Idris was our DJ as well?

6. Did they honestly think the royal family needed them this badly? Yes, she was indeed something different for the royals, but they’re not going to immediately become saints with you in it…

7. Did we mention that Oprah came round to see our cottage and how unlike Royals we live, even though we are literally living like Royals?

8. I really want to know what those private conversations between Meghan and the Queen. Did she really love you THAT much Meghan?

9. Please don’t make the Grenfell tragedy about you Meghan… oh wait, too late.

10. At least she did give back to the women of the community by showcasing their abilities as well as compiling a cookbook of recipes from them. It was a bit much for you to sign each and every one of them to sell though. She still managed to make a book about others, about her.

11. She’s pregnant! Rejoice!

12. And here comes the “wave of jealousy” from the royal family for all the “good press” that Meghan is having.

13. There’s the familiar sound of blaming the media. I was getting a bit worried there for a second. But it’s all good. The media bashing is in full force now!

14. Annnnddddd… we’re back to racism again.

15. “People actually believe these stories.” Yes Meghan, this is how the media manipulates, works, and sells. Where have you been living all this time?

16. I find it hilarious that while you have spent all this time bashing the tabloids, you are nevertheless featuring tons of articles from tabloids when they happen to serve your story. So do you hate them or not?

17. I get that tabloids and press were horrible to you, but surely the both of you knew this from the start. How are we supposed to believe that you didn’t expect any of this? Once again, it’s not like history wasn’t an indicator. Diana. Kate. Even with King Edward and Mrs. Simpson who have been conveniently omitted out of this documentary.

18. Dark thoughts and suicidal voices are nothing to be joked about, but to say you couldn’t have guessed how bad it would be, is honestly a little delusional. I’ll give Meghan the benefit of the doubt (if only because she probably didn’t face such pressures as a D-list Hollywood celebrity), but Harry has absolutely no excuse whatsoever.

19. “If others had to deal with it, why should she get an exemption. Should she have sucked it up like other members of the royal family?” YES HARRY! OF COURSE SHE SHOULD! SHE’S A FLIPPIN’ ROYAL NOW! WHAT MAKES HER SO DIFFERENT? NOTHING!

20. The press is dirty? Oh no, say it isn’t true.

21. And so begins the separation from the institution.

22. Good Lord, stop complaining! Of course your life would be controlled. YOU ARE A ROYAL NOW! How many times do I need to repeat this. Did you expect that you’d put on a crown, go off into the forest, and start singing to birds?

23. Carrying on the tradition from the first part, we are still very much on a Meghan love fest. Even at Archie’s baby shower, her friends literally say, “We were here to celebrate her.” Sure, there’s a baby on the way, but aren’t I, Meghan Markle, amazing?

24. Oh wait, it’s not just the press that’s ruining their lives, it’s social media as well.

25. But let’s not dwell on that. We need to get back to how amazing and strong Meghan is as a mother. Look how she’s handling the stress of leaving the royals and being a mother at the same time. Harry who? She did all of this on her own. Her fragile, tiny, little self. With no help whatsoever, except for a rather comical Nanny.

26. #weloveyoumeghan

27. STOP COMPARING HER TO DIANA!

28. Everyone shut up, Baby Archie is here!

29. “We were going to be able to create for him that thing I have always wanted.” What YOU wanted Meghan? How is this always about you?

30. Wake me up when we’re done with the pity party.

31. Did you honestly think that a letter you sent wouldn’t make it into the hands of the media? Surely there was a better way to do that than by post.

32. Did the royal family sway the press in their favour? Obviously. It’s kinda what they do Harry.

33. Watching this has me really interested in the inner workings of the Royal Rota.

34. So after four episodes of constant leaks, and private conversations exposed to the press, you are now surprised by how the media got your Canadian address? The number of self-contradictions in this documentary is staggering. It’s as if the filmmakers wanted to make them look like idiots.

35. Did Harry just say how surprised he was that the media chose to protect William over him? Protect the next one in line to the throne and not his frat boy brother? Say it isn’t so!

36. OF COURSE MEGHAN HAD TO PROVE HERSELF! She was a mixed race, divorced, American commoner.

37. Now you’re trying to convince us that the press spent time and resources setting up fake social media accounts so that they could spread hate about you? I’m pretty sure the general public could have easily done that on their own.

38. it’s the media’s influence and not people coming to their own conclusions. Because God knows it would be impossible for us to dislike Meghan organically.

39. So far, it feels like all the bad things are just happening to Meghan while Harry just stands back and says words. Seems fairly accurate actually.

40. The world is cruel. All of it looks pretty damn different outside of your sheltered existence doesn’t it Harry?

41. “The pilot then knelt down, took off his hat and said, we appreciate everything you did for our country.” That pilot was British. I doubt this actually happened. Why is she being painted as the savior for Britain? What has she actually done?

42. Are you honestly telling me that you’ve never experienced your house being surrounded by strangers and press? Once again… Meghan… former D-list celebrity… I get it. But Harry? Really? A few episodes ago, you were complaining about how the press hounded your mom and your family wherever you went, and now you’re saying this? The inconsistencies are astounding.

43. Tyler Perry is a part of this now?

44. To say they were abused is a bit of a stretch don’t you think? Doesn’t such language undermine the trauma of real victims of abuse?

45. Madea Saves the Exiled Royals. Only in cinemas. Fall 2023.

46. Now they are acting like fugitives. What are they getting at?

47. Of course the media is to blame for Meghan’s miscarriage. That, and only that, was the cause of it.

48. What has Harry been doing this whole time? Because this documentary is certainly painting Meghan as the bearer of all the stress and heartache.

49. Just how long have Harry and Meghan been living with Tyler?

50. I understand that people have insecurities, but is Meghan so insecure that she needs to be reminded at every moment how much this world needs her?

51. What was the point of recreating the moment that Beyonce texted Meghan saying how much she admired her? (It was clearly a reenactment! Harry’s reaction looked so fake.) WE GET IT, YOU ARE AMAZING!

52. I chuckled a little when William said, “We are certainly not that kind of family,” as his answer to whether his family is racist.

53. What? You flew American Airlines over British Airways, Harry? Oh, you have betrayed your motherland.

54. Hang on just a damn second. Where did all the press go? How are they out and about and living normal lives? Weren’t they just complaining about being constantly watched and hounded by strangers and press? Or was it all just an exaggeration?

55. So let me get this straight. Life in England was horrible because of the royals and the media. But life in America is great because we’re celebrities with freedom. We’re happy and integrated with normal, everyday people. The media are gone. Life is good. No more complaining from now on right?

Thank god that’s over. Let me say that this is the first time I’ve had to take legitimate breaks in between episodes of a show in order to maintain my sanity. This thing was filled with inconsistencies and confusing storytelling. Harry & Meghan tries to showcase the former royals in a more casual setting, but just ends up being one massive pity party that no one asked for. For a couple who are constantly fighting for human rights, and supposedly trying to make the world a better place, you would think they would follow in the Obamas footsteps and produce documentaries and shows focusing on such efforts. Nope. Instead, they went the opposite direction in order to make it all about them. Here’s a newsflash for you Harry and Meghan. No one cares.

Check out Nick’s unhinged thoughts about Part 1 of Netflix’s Harry & Meghan docuseries here!

The post 55 More Thoughts I Had While Watching Harry & Meghan: Part Two appeared first on Goggler.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

As many online “experts” have already pointed out, The Rings of Power may not pass an academic reading of the original material, but as an extension of the movies, this eight episode series was more than just enjoyable. It was written in a way that captured the essence of Tolkien. It was shot in a way that made it so completely immersive. It made us want to reach out for the books again. It made us want to be back in that world again.

The Bear

The most stressful show you’ll see this year is also one of the best things on television. An expertly paced, beautifully observed, and brilliantly written character drama that’s set in a struggling Chicago diner that is, all at once, a rebuke of single-minded ambition, a meditation on grief, a compelling look at masculinity, and the most astute metaphor for our times. This is perfect TV.

Severance

Severance is so fucking smart it will hurt your brain. Sparse in its writing, stylish in its production, and utterly terrifying in the questions that it poses. What makes a self? Does free will exist? Or do we just have the illusion of choice? It is deeply philosophical stuff that is brilliantly undercut by a razor sharp wit. You would be in a fetal position and weeping if you weren’t laughing so hard.

Pachinko

Everything about Pachinko just sings. From how cinematic it looks, to how the series pulls off its multilingual format, to Lee Min-Ho. This is a love-letter to the Korean experience, to all those who endured under the fist of Japanese colonialism, and the stateless Koreans forced to carve out new lives in Japan. Pachinko perfectly manifests the push and pull between the struggle to endure and the desire to break away from confines that hold them. It is profound, devastating, and beautiful all at once. It is a Korean story like no other, and it is excellent.

Andor

Despite a meandering (and a little pointless) first three episodes, the series truly comes into its own from episode four onwards. Andor feels like the kind of Star Wars content that a lot of jaded fans were waiting for. This is a complex and nuanced mediation on family, politics, and the nature of rebellion. It’s all character, and tension, with just the right amount of cool. This is Star Wars at its most mature.

Peacemaker

An entire series about a DC character that no one really knew or cared about didn’t seem like a winning recipe, but in James Gunn’s capable hands (and John Cena’s tight pants), Peacemaker turned out to be a crude, irreverent, sometimes sad, beautifully chaotic, and profoundly thoughtful meditation on what it means to be a third tier superhero.

Slow Horses

Slow Horses is the best kind of spy thriller. One that’s full of palpable tension, high espionage thrills, pratfall comedy, and politics that hit a little too close to home. But what makes it truly shine are the relationships between this found family of lost and broken characters who have no one else but each other.

The Sandman

Could this be the definitive adaptation of what was widely regarded as an impossible graphic novel to adapt? We think so. Neil Gaiman was able to not only convert The Sandman from one form to another, but also make changes to it that still feel honest and true to the original work. The 10 episode series (plus 2 specials) were able to keep the tone, emotion, and heart of the original work, without ever being slavish to the fans, nor alienating to the newcomer.

The Afterparty

The Afterparty was a comedy series like no other. With each episode being told from a different point of view, and in a different genre, you never quite know what to expect week to week. From slasher, to musical, to animation, this was a series that was smart, funny, imaginative, and wildly inventive.

Bad Sisters

Bad Sisters is best described in two words: dark comedy. Never has the plot to murder a man been so delicious, so worthwhile, so aggravating, and so earned. The everyday villainy of the murder victim made it all feel so justified. Just like murdering Hitler in his prime, this feels like one crime that is well and truly worth the sin.

Notable Mentions

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The Peripheral. Welcome to Wrexham. WeCrashed. The Dropout. Ms. Marvel. House of the Dragon. She-Hulk. Pam & Tommy. jeen-yuhs.

The post The Best Television of 2022 appeared first on Goggler.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

This is Charlie Kaufman meets Rick and Morty, with the unhinged aesthetic of Terry Gilliam, and the mise en scène of Michel Gondry. It is the kind of meta, multiversal mayhem that is so fucking original that it will either leave you utterly inspired or find you rocking back and forth on the floor mumbling to yourself that nothing else matters.

Top Gun: Maverick

The embodiment of everything that blockbuster cinema is, Top Gun: Maverick is Hollywood escapism at its finest. But don’t let all of the flash and pop distract you from the fact that it’s an exceptionally well written, tightly plotted, and perfectly executed piece of moviemaking.

The Menu

With its incisive observations and cutting social commentary, The Menu spoke to every one of our current preoccupations and eccentricities, forcing us to confront our own privilege and reassess our own toxicity like no other movie this year.

Cha Cha Real Smooth

Great movies should make you feel things. Cha Cha Real Smooth is one of those minor coming-of-age stories about love lost, and found, and lost again. Wide-eyed, funny, and heartfelt, this one is chock full of relatable characters that you will immediately fall in love with.

Decision to Leave

Park Chan-Wook’s story of love and heartbreak, wrapped in a cold procedural murder investigation, complete with cold mountains and tragic beaches, doesn’t just homage Hitchcock, but reinvents him with a uniquely Korean sensibility.

RRR

RRR is a wild, crazy, balls to the wall, roller coaster of a movie. It has all the touchstones of South Asian cinema as well as the wild abandon of 1990s Hollywood. It is visually inventive, creatively violent, and epic in scope and scale, without ever losing sight of its emotional core.

Nope

There are maybe a handful of directors who can seamlessly bridge arthouse intellectualism with blockbuster popcorn fare. Every frame of this movie is perfectly composed, with every element – performance, dialogue, colour, composition, music – contributing to the narrative.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion is as close to perfect a sequel as it gets. It’s full of clever little details, uproarious humour, and a flashier, twistier mystery. The characters are richer. The script is funner. All with some cutting social commentary thrown in for good measure. This one is bigger, brasher, and possibly even better than Knives Out.

The Batman

This is the superhero movie as hardboiled crime fiction. It is as much Raymond Chandler as it is Bob Kane. This is a superhero movie about fathers and sons, about the price of vengeance, about the promise of renewal and the power of hope. This is the Batman that you’ve always wanted.

Turning Red

Clarissa Explains It All meets Teen Wolf, with a soundtrack by NSYNC, and some Miyazaki whimsy thrown in for good measure, Turning Red is joyous and hopeful, bright and beautiful, culturally specific, and yet completely universal.

Notable Mentions

Tiga Janda Melawan Dunia. Elvis. The Black Phone. Prey. The French Dispatch. Confess, Fletch. Rosaline. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Fresh. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Avatar: The Way of Water.

*Notes: 1) This year at Goggler we watched 175 movies and 133 television shows (as of December 25). 2) Because we do not download movies illegally, there are some notable releases (namely, The Fabelmans, Tár, and Triangle of Sadness) that we haven’t yet seen because they either weren’t or haven’t yet been released in Malaysian cinemas.

The post The Best Movies of 2022 appeared first on Goggler.

Now don’t get me wrong. Back in the day, I too got caught up in their royal romance. I was excited at the notion of their forbidden fairy tale. Harry, the darling of the masses, was getting married to an American “commoner?” And a Black actress at that? And the monarchy was okay with it? Was this progress? Was the monarchy entering the 21st century? Were Harry and Meghan England’s newest golden couple? Nah. Not a chance.

Because then they made that decision to “leave” (but not really leave) the royal family and move to America because they felt like they were being “oppressed.” That’s when things went downhill for me.

But before I get into my incredibly lengthy thoughts about this docuseries, let me preface things by saying this. I’m not hating on Harry and Meghan because of who they are. My annoyance stems from the fact that after they left, they went on a pity party to gain public sympathy because they were apparently “broke,” constantly hounded by the press, and that the royals were apparently racist and oppressive towards non-royals. WE KNEW ALL THESE THINGS, YOU MUPPETS. Even we knew what to expect, so it’s just absurd that the both of you didn’t. This is your bed, now lie in it. Welcome to the real world.

And with that, let’s begin.

1. Right from the get go, we’re listening to personal phone recordings that are meant to demonstrate how difficult it is for them and all of their first world problems. We’re off to a great fucking start.

2. This is clearly a docuseries that has been constructed as a way to humanise the both of them and gain public support.

3. Do they honestly expect us to believe that they had no idea what to expect when all of this began? I get if Meghan doesn’t. Simply because, as an American, she is somewhat disconnected from the monarchy. But Harry? Really Harry? You had no idea how unforgiving the press and your family would be towards this? Fuck off.

4. This is truly a story of how rich people suffer.

5. Harry’s friend thought it would be a good idea to document their transition from being royals, to essentially, rich, upper class commoners. I think his friend just played the best practical joke of all time.

6. OH LOOK! THEY USE SNAPCHAT TOO! THEY’RE JUST LIKE US! (Or at least like snotty teenagers looking to hide their sexting.)

7. We’re online dating. Isn’t that so unique and adorable?

8. Oh no! The press is making them feel incredibly uncomfortable. Constantly hounding them and digging into their personal lives. DUH! Were you not paying attention to what your mother or Kate experienced Harry? What were you expecting?

9. Oh no, I’m a royal. Anyone who dates me eventually leaves because they cannot take the pressure. Oh woe is me, I’m such a poor little prince.

10. They keep calling themselves “M” and “H.” Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. I don’t care.

11. OH LOOK! THEY TEXT AND FACETIME TOO! THEY’RE JUST LIKE US!

12. Why are they trying to make this seem like it’s the greatest love story of all time? Why does it come off as feeling so forced?

13. Meghan is just like Diana??? Excuse me??? EXCUSE ME HARRY??

14. Is there no other personal family photo they could use of Diana? Honestly, an official portrait of her hung up on the wall of their house? Wow!

15. Poor Harry. During his mother’s funeral, he felt incredibly pressured to maintain that “royal” duty while also grieving. That’s understandable. Wait. What? You felt pressured because “the public were being so supportive and taking you both in as their children?” Oh yeah, that’s a lot of pressure. Being cared for and supported. Big pressure.

16. Yes, the British press are assholes and extremely ruthless in their ways. But this isn’t news Harry. You’ve lived this your whole life. Stop pretending to be surprised. Also, what did you expect? For them to not point a camera at you? YOU ARE A ROYAL! IT’S WHAT HAPPENS!

17. Oh Christ. We’re back to Meghan and the love story. Yippee.

18. Yes Meghan, it’s such a big deal to be with your partner for 24/7, for a whole week, ON A HOLIDAY TO BOTSWANA, TO WHICH YOU WERE FLOWN THERE ON A PRIVATE JET. But it’s okay. Because they liked each other. Thank God.

19. Oh, I must tell my friend about this. But as I’m saying it, can I make it very clear that I had to do it at Begdorf Goodman? That is very important. Make sure you show the store as well.

20. “Meghan, we have to hide from the public. Let’s go to my castle.”

21. The monarchy are essentially trapped in cages with no freedom, being observed at all times from the public and the press. OH BOO FUCKING HOO HARRY! BOO FUCKING HOO!

22. The tabloids are about to make our relationship public tomorrow. Instead of trying to do some damage control or figure out what the next move is after that, let’s go to a Halloween party, because no one will recognize us, even though our faces are in plain view everywhere. Oh no, we’re not “the” Harry and Meghan. We’re just some normal people with costumes see? PARTY TIME!

23. What? The press are being incredibly critical about our relationship? Surely there were some signs that this would happen? Surely we could have prepared for this with the army of consultants and public relations experts at our disposal? No? Okay.

24. “I didn’t know what I was walking into with the press.” Really Harry? REALLY?

25. Right, Episode 2. Oh, we’re still complaining about the press and how they are chasing you. Cool.

26. “People think we have a problem with the paparazzi.” YEAH! AND YOU’VE PROVED YOUR POINT BY COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM FOR THE WHOLE LAST HALF OF THE PREVIOUS EPISODE.

27. Oh no! The happy love times are coming to an end!

28. We didn’t see any of this coming? Is this what happens when a royal marries a mixed-race, divorced, Hollywood actress. How could this be?

29. Meghan has just said, “All eyes are on me now. I don’t know how to deal with it.” Yeah, because the eyes were certainly not on you in Hollywood.

30. If there’s anything I’m learning from this, is how full of herself Meghan is. “LOOK HOW AMAZING I AM!”

31. “I grew up looking more white. I didn’t know how racism felt.” After which she proceeds to explain how her African American mother was marginalized and treated as a third class citizen. But she didn’t know how racism felt. Let that sink in for a moment.

32. “The press are predominately white and sensationalized.” Harry and Meghan are just so confused why the press would treat her this way. Like how? And why?

33. At least their goal and mission to make the world a better place, especially for third world countries, is kind of admirable.

34. Is there any part of Meghan’s personal life that is bad? Oh wait, I get it now. She’s explaining how amazing her life was before the royal family. Because marrying into it made her life absolutely terrible. Got it.

35. And we’re back to complaining about the paparazzi.

36. “What? This is all happening because of Harry? I have to live like this?” Uhm. Well yes. You’re going into a relationship with a royal, Meghan. This isn’t pseudo-Hollywood nouveau fame. THIS IS A ROYALTY.

37. This isn’t an act Meghan. It’s not like after they perform their royal duties for the public, they go back to the palace, strip down to their underwear, and talk like country bumpkins. God, how is she so oblivious?

38. Wait. Did she just compare going to Balmoral to meet the Queen, like going to fucking “Medieval Times?” Harry looks pissed.

39. She just openly admitted that she had no idea what to do when she met the Queen and was only informed about how to act in the car on the way there. Yes, I understand that you may not know all of the protocol, and it’s Harry’s fault for not briefing you, BUT YOU’RE MEETING THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND!

40. Aaaaannnnddd we’re back to how amazing Meghan is.

41. Did her friend just say that her role in Suits was the first time any biracial actor has been represented on screen? Oh wait, yes that’s right. Halle Berry, Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones, none of them count. I completely forget that Meghan invented television and then paved the way for biracial actors by way of her minor supporting role on Suits. Damn. That’s amazing.

42. WE GET IT MEGHAN! LOOK AT YOUR AMAZING LIFE BEFORE THE ROYAL FAMILY! Good lord…

43. Oh, hi Boris! Oh, hi Farage! Fancy seeing your faces pop up here.

44. Brexit is happening. So therefore our relationship will be in even more turmoil. Yes, forget the fact that a major life changing event is happening to the public. Your relationship is of the utmost priority.

45. The announcements were rehearsed? What? Say it isn’t true Meghan!

46. Okay, so now we’re delving into colonialism and slavery. What exactly is this documentary about? I’m so lost….

47. How is she still so ignorant about royal protocols. Even after meeting William, Kate, the Queen and Prince Philip, she still has the audacity to say, “I really don’t know what the royal protocols are.”

48. “What’s a walkabout? What do I do?” Perhaps, in line with the life you’re about to marry into, MAYBE DO SOME RESEARCH ABOUT IT! Honestly, how has Harry not briefed her on anything?

49. Harry is now saying that, “the press essentially controls how the Monarchy is portrayed in the public. You have to play their game.” So, all that talk earlier about not knowing what you were walking into, and how surprised you were at the press towards all of this… was bullshit?

50. Honestly, this series should have been called “Royals vs. Press.”

51. What exactly is the point of introducing the niece? Oh wait, I know. It’s to show how amazing Meghan is!

52. And now we’re back to slavery.

53. Oh wow. “Working and living with normal people has such an effect.” I think that is the most royal sentence I’ve ever heard in my life.

54. Yes, Harry. Life is difficult as a commoner. Big surprise.

55. Good God, how much about the royal family does Meghan even know? Is all of this meant for us to gain sympathy for her? Please, even a 10-year-old knows more about monarchy than you do.

56. “Learning the protocols are so difficult,” says Meghan. I’m just gonna leave this here.

57. Why did she need to “Google” “Royal Protocols.” Oh yes, that’s right. Her boyfriend and his family have no idea about that. Makes sense. “Google” instead of asking. Yes. Correct.

58. SO THAT’S WHY THE NIECE WAS INTRODUCED! To show us how her mother forced her not to see Meghan. And the point to the story was?

59. Oh look, it’s Lee Hsien Loong!

60. Honestly, how full of herself is she. “Meghan was the future of the Monarchy?” Wow…

61. Did Harry’s friend just say, “I’m so proud Harry learned to be anti-racist.” Yes. Yes he did.

And I’m done. Harry & Meghan has no clear vision, no clear outline, and I have no idea what it wants from me. If this was to showcase their life? Sure, it did that. If it was to showcase their struggle and gain public sympathy for leaving the monarchy? Bollocks to that. Sorry Harry and Meghan, this is your life now, which is still a million times more privileged than others. So yeah, sit down, do your work, maybe use that privilege well, and let us get on with ours. Thanks.

Harry & Meghan is now streaming on Netflix.

The post 61 Thoughts I Had While Watching Harry & Meghan appeared first on Goggler.

So with that being said, here are six reasons why I think you need to be watching Mythic Quest on Apple TV Plus.

1. Family Dysfunction With a Heart

First off, the obvious. This is a comedy. But it’s a comedy with a heart. Unlike the manic insanity of It’s Always Sunny, Mythic Quest takes a more heartfelt route, delving into character backstories, emotions, and relationships. You might be left questioning, “How on earth does anyone work here?”, or “Does anyone ever get any work done?”, but you will also be left shedding a tear or two every now and then.

This is the dysfunctional office family that we can all relate to. The stressed-out father, the odd and slightly racist grandfather, the quarreling siblings, the strange cousins, it’s all there, and that’s what makes it work so well. With every episode, you will find yourself increasingly drawn to everyone, and laughing out loud, keeping you engaged, and eager to find out what the next crisis and adventure will be. It doesn’t matter if you have no knowledge of the video game industry, or whether or not you’re a gamer, as long as you’ve had to deal with family drama, or even workplace drama, you will find yourself looking at this, laughing, and going, “It’s so painful, but it’s so true!”

2. One Off Backstory Beauty

With every season, creators Charlie Day, Megan Ganz, and Rob McElhenney take a chance and deliver one episode, set completely apart from the rest of the series, which dives deep into the backstory of certain characters, or even of the office itself. What sets these episodes apart is the incredibly moving and earnest stories they deliver.

When I saw the first installment of one of these side stories, I was left feeling confused, as it felt like a completely different show. But then, when you eventually realize where it’s leading, everything suddenly starts making sense. That’s the genius of it. It allows us to step out of the Mythic Quest office for a moment and go on a brief but inspiring journey.

That first story, that delves into the history of their office space, deserved to win an Emmy. Jake Johnson and Cristin Milioti’s story of love and heartbreak, feels like an homage to 500 Days Of Summer. Everything from the intricate story telling, to the way it was shot, made the episode an absolutely stunning watch.

3. It’s All in the Details

The amount of attention that the writers have put into these scripts is truly something to be marveled at. Big or small, almost everything here is intricately connected. Be it the introduction in Season 2 of characters who were casually mentioned in Season 1, right down to a mug on a table, nothing happens without reason. Nothing is unconscious.

One great example this would be the video game company and the characters that were created from the Johnson/Milioti story that I talked about previously. What you assumed to be throwaway elements from a filler episode, were suddenly all around you, in every corner of every episode. It might be the company’s logo on a mug, or a poster of the video game hanging in the background, or even someone watching an ad for the popular game series. The way the writers have carefully placed these little easter eggs just make you want to rewatch it over and over in order to rediscover everything you might have missed the first time.

I’ve only seen this successfully pulled off one other time, and that was in the landmark series Community. So having the opportunity to see this level of penmanship again is such a delight.

4. The Inspiration That Is Poppy Li

The gaming industry is massive and all around us, and yet, its coders and creators are largely neglected. Which is why having a full-blown series that’s dedicated to these incredible talents is something to be admired. And not only that, lead engineer and co-creative director of Mythic Quest, Poppy Li, is also an inspiration for girls and women everywhere. For every naysayer who may have told them otherwise, Poppy is pure proof that with dedication, hard work, and that little drop of manic behavior, you can achieve anything you set your mind too, even in the most testosterone filled environments. (And then there is also the anger and chaos of Jo, who is inspirational in a completely different way.)

5. Ensemble Work at It’s Finest

The entire cast of characters are just a delight to watch. This is very much an ensemble comedy, with even the minutest of characters getting their own time in the spotlight. They are treated with so much respect by the writers that you never feel that anyone is left out. So much so that you often find yourself wondering where that character you’ve only met for five minutes had disappeared to. (I’m looking at you Tall Paul).

Everyone works so unbelievably well together and that’s what makes this family dynamic work. When actors genuinely treat each other with respect and love, it naturally translates across onto the screen as well. Surely their petty fights, glaring disagreements, and frustrating lack of communication is what family is all about. They may not agree with each other all the time, but nothing comes in the way of how much they love and care for one another, and that is what makes this series stand out over other comedies. (I’m sure fans of The Office would disagree. Fight me on this. Do it.)

6. It’s Just Very Smart and a Lot of Fun

Mythic Quest is just pure fun through and through. A series that you can put on at the end of the day and wash all your stresses away. The writing on this show is top class, and it does more than just keep you laughing, it also engages you intellectually. Witty, smart, and heartfelt, Mythic Quest ticks all the checkboxes that make for a great sitcom. This is one that I hope keeps going. (Seven seasons and a movie?)

At the end of the day, Mythic Quest may give you some insight to the gaming industry, but where it truly shines is as a reminder of the power of family, both at home and at work. That’s what I love about it. All the drama, all the love, all the pain and laughter. This is the family I would gladly keep in my life, no matter how dysfunctional they may be.

Mythic Quest is now streaming on Apple TV Plus.

The post 6 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching Mythic Quest appeared first on Goggler.

It isn’t often that a movie appeals to such a diverse range of interests, but Luca Guadagnino is a thoughtful filmmaker who pulls from a variety of reference points and inspirations, allowing Bones and All to transcend any one label. Bones and All is a lot of things, which is why we thought the best way to convince you to watch this movie isn’t by giving you a brief synopsis and telling you what it’s about, or revealing its Rotten Tomatoes score (which currently sits at an incredibly “Fresh” 88%, in case you were wondering), but by connecting it to things that you may already love.

So in true algorithmic fashion, here now is a list of reasons you should watch Bones and All especially if you like…

If You Like… Dark Fables

In an interview with The A.V. Club, Luca Guadagnino described Bones and All as a “dark fable.” He says: I think it’s a romantic film – it’s a romance. It’s a dark fable – it’s a fable about overcoming your limits and your nature, and finding love.” This got us thinking about how some of the best horrors and thrillers – from Suspiria (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves), to The Red Shoes (Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes), to Big Bad Wolves (Little Red Riding Hood) – have been based on fairy tales with dark and twisted endings. Here, Luca Guadagnino uses the tropes of the genre to give Bones and All a dreamlike quality. And just like in so many fables, this too is the story of two broken outsiders who eventually find completion in one another.

If You Like… Gothic Romances

Bones and All is more than just a cannibal love story. It is, at its core, a deeply visceral take on love, loneliness, and our need for human connection. This movie may not have all the obvious hallmarks of a gothic film (there’s no big ornate house or actual ghosts), but the themes of repression, attraction to the unknown, the all consuming nature of young love, and having to grapple with the darkest sides of who you are make this as compulsively enjoyable as the best of those romances. Bones and All is a movie that trips along that fine line between life and death, love and loss, salvation and damnation.

If You Like… A-List Actors Getting Weird

The cast in Bones and All is absolutely stacked. Besides the swoonworthy Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell, both of whom give career defining performances, the movie also feature a lineup of stellar Hollywood talent – including Mark Rylance, Chloe Sevigny, and Michael Stuhlbarg – who aren’t afraid to push the envelope and get totally strange.

If You Like… Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have been responsible for some of the greatest soundtracks of this generation. Their catalog, which ranges from dour and depressing to grand and awe-inspiring, stands shoulder to shoulder with the greatest of Hollywood composers. See: Mank, Watchmen, The Social Network, Soul, Gone Girl, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. In Bones and All, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ melancholic guitar score is all consuming, providing the perfect backdrop for Maren and Lee’s journey across the dusty American Midwest.

Which brings us to…

If You Like… Americana

Luca Guadagnino sets his movie in the 1980s and across the landscape of the American Midwest. So if you enjoy roadtripping like Bonnie and Clyde did through the Badlands, or wandering through America’s grim expanse of checkered diners and boarded-up shanties, before escaping into freedom of rolling hills and rippling lakes, then you are going to love the look and feel of Bones and All. (P.S. Cinematographer Arseni Khachaturan is a bona fide genius!)

Bonus! If You Like… Watching These Kinds of Movies on the Big Screen

The fact that we’re actually getting to watch Bones and All on the big screen… here… in Malaysia… is in itself reason enough to go out and watch it. It’s a rare occurrence that should be both celebrated and encouraged. Because only then will they keep bringing these sorts of indie, talky, non-superhero, non-horror movies to our shores.

Bones and All opens in Malaysian cinemas on Thursday, November 24.

The post If You Love These 5 Things, Then Bones and All Is the Movie for You appeared first on Goggler.

PREACHER (4 SEASONS)

Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s wildly underrated (and probably under-read) graphic novel about a preacher with the voice of (the literal) God, is given the live action treatment by producers Sam Catlin, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen. Running just 4 seasons and 43 episodes, Preacher put on screen some of the wildest and craziest images and storylines. This was The Boys before The Boys.

SUPERNATURAL (15 SEASONS)

Speaking of The Boys, showrunner Eric Kripke’s first foray into TV was the 15 season supernatural juggernaut Supernatural, which tells the story of the demon/ghost/supernatural hunting Winchester brothers. Lasting 327 episodes, the relationship between the brothers as played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles remains as one of the most enduring partnerships on TV.

SMALLVILLE (10 SEASONS)

The ultimate prequel series, Smallville’s “no tights, no flights” rule focused the series on Clark Kent before he becomes Superman. Ostensibly a high school drama, the series allowed for a real development of the Clark Kent character and shores up the foundations of the Man of Steel.

AMERICAN GODS (3 SEASONS)

Based on Neil Gaiman’s truly exceptional and excellent book, American Gods tells the story of the coming war between new Gods and old, and what it means to be aligned with one over the other. Despite a mixed second season, the high water mark of Season 1 should be enough to get you to power through to a much stronger Season 3. The series was unfortunately cancelled, but it’s viewing that should keep you occupied until the next season of The Sandman shows up. It will also make you want to pick up Gaiman’s original novel (which we highly recommend!). Gaiman’s spin-off Anansi Boys, will also be coming to a Prime Video soon.

FLEABAG (2 SEASONS)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag is genius-level TV. It is hilarious, emotional, funny, and heartfelt. Waller-Bridge’s title character is a modern woman, living in modern London, trying to deal with modern problems, all while trying to fill a big gaping hole in her life, whatever that may be. Every good thing you’ve ever heard about the series is true. Every bad thing you’ve ever heard about the series is written by a moron. 

SHERLOCK (4 SEASONS)

120 years after the character’s first appearance, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ 2010 Sherlock series feels like the definitive portrayal of the English gentleman investigator. Updating the series to modern times, Benedict Cumberbatch strips away all the props that have saddled the previous reincarnations and focuses his Sherlock Holmes on not just his genius, but also the price that comes with it. The four seasons may only be 13 episodes long, but at a runtime of almost 90 minutes per episode, each season really does feel like a long (good!) movie instead.

HOUSE (8 SEASONS)

Hugh Laurie’s unconventional, misanthropic medical genius is the perfect embodiment of the unlikeable hero. Dr. Gregory House’s terrible bedside manner is doubly infuriating as he displays a real arrogance and an always right attitude. Mostly because he is almost always right. Over the course of 177 episodes, House is not the show for you if you are a hypochondriac. (Also. It’s almost never Lupus!)

THE GOOD FIGHT (6 SEASONS)

Another spin-off of a wildly successful show, The Good Fight picks up one year after the events of the final episode of The Good Wife and follows Christine Baranski as she sets up at a new law firm, and deals with new problems, all while the spectre of a Donald J. Trump presidency looms overhead. Also, don’t worry too much about this being a “spin-off”. It’s more like Frasier being a spin-off of Cheers. Good to know the original, not all that important if you don’t.

FEAR THE WALKING DEAD (7 SEASONS)

If 11 seasons and 174 episodes of The Walking Dead hasn’t satiated your hunger for zombies, Fear The Walking Dead’s 101 episodes should be the next thing on your list. Starting off just before the zombie outbreak of TWD, the first three seasons of the series serve as a prequel to the main series, showing the days following the zombie outbreak and society’s breakdown. The fourth season then moves on to a story that was running concurrent to The Walking Dead. If that still isn’t enough, the second TWD spin-off, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, is also on Prime Video.

Looking for some feature films to watch on Prime Video instead? We’ve got a list for that too!!!

Tell us what you’re watching on Amazon Prime Video. Reach out to us via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also WhatsApp us on The Goggler Hotline, on +60125245208.

The post Amazon Prime Video: TV Shows To Watch appeared first on Goggler.

• First of all, Tom Sturridge is a bit of a technophobe and doesn’t believe in smartphones. Instead, he has whatever it is that is.

• Tom Sturridge, Vivienne Acheampong, and Vanesu Samunyai only started reading The Sandman comics because they got called in to audition for the series.
• Tom Sturridge’s first audition had him reading the scene where Dream first returns to the Gates of Hall and Ivory and sees the destroyed palace for the first time.
• Vanesu Samunyai’s first audition tape was shot while she was with her family in Zimbabwe!

• Vivienne Acheampong’s last name is pronounced achem-pong and is Ghanaian in origin.
• Kirby Howell-Baptiste has not listened to the Audible audiobook version of The Sandman.
• Mason Alexander Park has, but the shoot for the Netflix series was so much later that they “had plenty of time to forget about it” and not have it affect their performance for the series.

• According to Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Neil Gaiman was very heavily involved in the production. “There were so little assumptions and speculations as to what Neil would want or think because Neil was there if we had any questions.”
• Here is what Tom Sturridge had to say about finding the voice of Dream.

• Tom Sturridge also considers The Sandman as “one of the most important pieces of art over the last 30 years.”
• Vanesu Samunyai lurks on Twitter and Reddit subforums to get an idea of how audiences and fans are responding to the show. So watch what you say, you could be speaking to the actual Rose online!

• Vanesu Samunyai is also a big fan of manga and webtoons!
• According to Hisko Hulsing, the director of A Dream of a Thousand Cats, no real cats were used in the process.

• Real (naked!) actors, however, were used to shoot the prehistoric giant cat sequences from the episode.

To watch all our conversations with the cast and the crew of The Sandman, Season 1, click here. We also have two reviews of The Sandman, one from a fan of the comics, and another from a newcomer to the series.

The post What We Learned From Speaking to the Cast of Netflix’s The Sandman appeared first on Goggler.

Sister’s Apart

Language: German
Genre: Drama

Daphne Charizani’s film tells the story of Rojda, a Kurd soldier in the German military who volunteers to train female Kurdish soldiers in Iraq to fight ISIS. Rojda however has an ulterior motive and a secret that must not be discovered.

Gods of Molenbeek

Language: French
Genre: Documentary

While Molenbeek may seem to be the jihadi capital of Europe to some, but to Aatos and Amine, it’s just home. The two boys spend their time discussing the big things in life, like Aatos’ search for a God to compete with Amine’s Allah, listening to spiders, and finding black holes. This is a documentary about the innocence of children and how we can all learn to look at things without the distracting colours of life.

Madly In Life

Language: French
Genre: Drama, Comedy

What do you do when life answers your prayers, but only just kind of. Alex and Noémie are ready for a child, however when Alex’s mother contracts a neurodegenerative disease and goes from Suzanne the mother to Suzanne the unmanageable child, the couple have to learn how to turn the lemon into lemonade. A beautiful artistic look at the way relationships can shift, change, and evolve.

Goodwill Dumping

Language: Dutch
Genre: Documentary

A stylised and surrealist look at the afterlife of all our clothes. As fast fashion becomes more and more synonymous with our lives, what happens to all that discarded waste? Is donating your used t-shirts and trousers really best for the environment and everyone involved? Is that really the solution? Or are we just moving the problem from over here, to over there?

Doctor on Call

Language: Italian
Genre: Comedy

What do you get when a doctor with terrible bedside manners and a food delivery rider get into an accident that puts both their jobs at risk? Well you get tele-medicine at it’s purest form! Pierfrancesco can’t drive, and Mario’s bicycle is broken so they combine forces to use the former’s medical training and the latter’s able body to make house calls and attend to medical emergencies. Hilarity ensues!

The European Film Festival 2022 will be held at three GSC locations in the Klang Valley from the November 3 to 13, and from November 10 to 16 in Penang. Head over to GSC’s website to learn more about the festival, the other films being screened, as well as specific screening dates for each film.

The post The European Film Festival 2022 Is Here and These Are Our Top 5 Picks appeared first on Goggler.