Justin Kan

I’m not exactly a DC fan, but I have to say I like James Gunn’s take on Superman. This version of Superman is goofy, hopeful, and genuinely likeable. While Henry Cavill nailed the brooding, chiseled Superman, David Corenswet brings a refreshing, endearing charm. He feels like the ultimate do-gooder Boy Scout, and isn’t that what Superman is meant to be? The movie as a whole? Well… it’s okay. Not mind-blowing… but there were moments that really shine. I loved the scene where the Jarhanpurians put their faith in Superman, making him more than an American icon. He becomes a symbol of good for the entire world, transcending borders and politics. That’s what I think Superman should be… a beacon for humanity, not just a patriotic symbol. Another standout moment was Superman’s realization about his purpose. What I loved was how the film explored the contrast between what he was “sent here to do” and what he ultimately chose for himself. It’s not about fulfilling some grand plan dictated by his birth or others’ expectations, but about embracing the values instilled in him by the people who raised him and the goodness he carries within. That scene where his father reminds him of forging his own path was absolutely golden… a quiet yet powerful moment that defines who this Superman really is. That to me was his true superhero moment. And let’s talk about Lois Lane. Rachel Brosnahan is phenomenal. She perfectly embodies the inquisitive, no-nonsense reporter who refuses to take no for an answer. She’s a sharp contrast to Superman, yet their chemistry absolutely works. Their on-screen connection is electric, and I genuinely believed them as a couple who may differ in their approach but are unshakably committed to one another. If there’s one disappointment, it’s Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Sure, he’s brutal and outsmarts Superman, but his obsession with the hero feels underexplored. Hoult’s take came off one-dimensional and, honestly, a little annoying. For someone reportedly the highest-paid actor in the film, his performance was underwhelming and it dragged the movie down for me. On the other hand, the music soared. John Murphy and David Fleming’s score, weaving in John Williams’ iconic 1978 theme, was majestic and uplifting. Every time it played, I felt that spark, that sense of hope, that Superman was back to remind us that good can triumph over evil. Overall, Superman isn’t perfect, but I really liked it. Gunn has given us a hero who feels human yet larger than life, playful yet principled. If this is the direction DC is heading, I see bright days ahead, especially now that Marvel seems to be floundering post-Endgame. Superman is back, not just as a hero, but as a symbol of hope. And honestly, isn’t that exactly what we all need?

I just finished binge-watching Season 3, and the feeling I’m left with is how futile escaping the game really is. If you think about it, the real world parallels the game so closely. We’re all players in this endless competition, and no matter how hard you try, it feels impossible to break free. Squid Game lays bare how the system is designed by and for the powerful few. The Front Man and the VIPs aren’t just fictional villains. They’re a stand-in for the handful of corporations, billionaires, and decision-makers who quietly dictate how the rest of us live. They profit from our desperation, our debts, and our constant fear of losing everything. Even when you think you’re making choices freely, you’re often reacting to circumstances they’ve created. There are good-hearted people who try to lift others up, and there are the bad apples who will sabotage, betray, or exploit everyone around them just to get ahead. But in the end, everyone is trapped in the same rigged system. Player 456’s (Gi Hun), story struck me most because it shows how even integrity can be crushed under the weight of this structure. He made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the baby alive, hoping to prove that goodness matters more than winning. But look how quickly his message was lost in the noise. The machinery of the game and the world swallowed it up. And that’s what the show does so well. It reminds us that noble acts don’t always change a system built to erase them. Hwang Jun Ho risked everything to expose the game. He believed that revealing the truth would bring it crashing down. But the games didn’t end. They just went underground or moved somewhere else. It’s painfully real. In the world we live in, even when corruption or exploitation is exposed, the people in power rarely face consequences. The structures just reinvent themselves in another form. On a side note, they did his storyline dirty by having him being on the boat for the bulk of the show… only to have him back on the island just screaming at his nonchalant brother… to be honest, I was half expecting him to swoop in to save at least some of the survivors… but to be fair, he did manage to save one. The show also asks an unsettling question… why do these games persist? The answer is that as long as there are desperate people who need money to survive, there will always be someone willing to exploit that desperation. You see it in predatory lending, in gig workers racing for pennies, in reality TV that humiliates contestants for profit. All of it is the same game, just with different costumes. I also like how this season touched on the idea of the tyranny of the majority in the last game where the majority decided to play “fair” by voting who should die. Since we were young, we were always led to believe that democracy is fair because everyone votes and the majority decides. We often celebrate the idea of “the greater good,” but rarely do we pause to ask, good for whom? At what point does collective decision-making cross the line into coercion, forcing individuals to conform under the weight of social pressure or the fear of exclusion?

I really, really wanted to like season 2 of The Sandman on Netflix. The first season had such a captivating blend of dark fantasy and intricate storytelling, so I was fully on board for the continuation of Dream's story. But after watching the latest season, I’m left feeling deeply disappointed. Honestly, this one’s been an absolute snooze fest. Maybe it’s because the pacing felt so sluggish throughout the entire season, so much so that I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was dragging myself through episode after episode, waiting for something... anything... to spark my interest. The magic, the danger, the sense of mystery that made the first season so engaging? It felt like it was either missing or just diluted. One of my major issues lies with The Endless themselves. Now, I get that they’re tricky to portray in a live-action adaptation, but some of these characters felt completely off. Delirium, who’s always been one of my absolute favorites, eccentric, unpredictable, and endlessly intriguing, was turned into such a bore. The live-action version just didn’t capture her chaotic, unique energy. Instead, she seemed dull and one-dimensional. I don’t know if it was the casting, the writing, or a combination of both, but I felt like I was watching a pale imitation of the character from the comics. Such a missed opportunity. And don’t get me started on Despair. If you’re familiar with the comics, you know she’s supposed to exude an air of quiet misery, a raw, almost palpable sadness. But in this season, she comes off as more haughty than anything else. I was half-expecting her to be in the nude, sulking in her own despair as per her depiction in the comics. Instead, we got something far less impactful... just a character that felt flat and disconnected from her roots. I know that’s the end for live-action Sandman, since there will no longer be any more seasons. And, I suppose, thank god... because I’d rather go back to the comics. They still hold so much more depth, energy, and magic than this adaptation ever could muster. Season 2 just didn’t do the story or its character justice. The live-action version might have been a swing at bringing Neil Gaiman’s masterpiece to life, but it ultimately falls short.

Just watched Nezha 2… and I’m honestly blown away. I finally went to watch it after hearing so many people talk about how amazing it is… and now I completely get why it’s ranked as the #6 highest-grossing film globally. It truly deserves it. To be frank, I watched the first Nezha and thought it was just okay. I even found Nezha a bit irritating back then. But in this sequel? He completely won me over. Nezha is no longer just a hot-headed troublemaker… he’s someone with depth, heart, and conviction. His friendship with Ao Bing is way more developed and meaningful this time around, and the emotional beats hit hard. But what really struck me was the message of the film. Nezha is a demon. The world sees him as cursed, dangerous, unworthy. And yet, despite being born a demon, he chooses to do good. He refuses to be boxed in by what others expect of him. Refuses to be judged solely by where he came from. That, to me, is the heart of this film. You are not your label. You are not your past, your origins, or what society says you are. You are your choices. Even if you come from darkness, you still have the power to choose light. That’s what makes Nezha so compelling this time… he’s not trying to be a hero because he was born one. He’s trying despite the odds, despite the hate, despite the expectations stacked against him. That’s powerful. The story is epic. The animation is gorgeous. And the emotional rollercoaster? Next level. One minute I was laughing, the next I was tearing up. Please go watch it… in cinemas if you can. Support great Chinese animation. Support stories that dare to ask big questions and show us what true heroism really looks like. Highly, highly recommended.

So I have been a fan of the Dragon Age game series having played the previous installments... but sad to say, its latest iteration Dragon Age: The Veilguard is such a bore... I have been playing for the past 10 hours but I'm not at all connected to the plot so far... the fight mechanics are meh because I cannot srategise how my companions fight... and talking about companions... I have no interest to romance any of them!!!! I don't know if it's because Baldur's Gate 3 spoiled me rotten, but this is nothing close to the masterpiece that is BG3... not I'm wondering if I should even continue on playing... What happened to you Dragon Age? You used to be such an amazing game!!!!

So I finally finished binge-watching Netflix's "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and I really, really love it. As a fan of the OG cartoon series, I was just so in awe how they managed to bring everything to life... from the epic world-building, to the impeccable cast who really embodied these beloved characters... these 8 episodes were a marvel to behold. Because the live-action was limited to only 8 episodes, the way the story is told is a lot different. While the cartoon were half an hour episodes which lets you slowly soak in the adventures the Avatar was on, the live-action did not have that luxury, and as such, many of the storylines were compressed and mixed up. Despite that, the writers handled it very well as they maintained the important story beats, all the while still delivering a strong message in the story, all in a cohesive and unrushed way. Sure, it would have been alot better if they just did like 40 episodes of live-action Avatar... but the writers made good with the limitations and I enjoyed their story-telling. Moving on to the cast, the group of young actors were phenomenal. Gordan Cormier who plays Aang was really likeable... I also enjoyed Ian Ousley as Sokka. He managed to pull off Sokka's dry wit perfectly... he's still the comedian in the group, but I really like how he also portrays Sokka as the big brother of the group despite his many childish behaviors. But amongst the young cast, Dallas Liu really, really stands out as Prince Zuko. Not only does he capture that character perfectly in all his angst, he managed to also show the hurt and pain... and all these Dallas does so subtly that you really feel like he is Prince Zuko carrying a heavy burden. This actor is such a natural that even when he's not showing any emotions on his face, you can still feel that raw emotion spilling out from his eyes! My favourite scenes were everytime Zuko and Uncle Iroh were on screen together. Their on-screen chemistry as uncle and nephew were so good and it really felt like they adopted each other as father and son and it's just them against the world. My next favourite pair of characters were Aang and Gyatso. Played by veteran actor Lim Kay Siu, Gyatso was really the heart of Aang's emotional journey and seeing the two together was so bittersweet... I actually teared during their scenes... TWICE! Also, glad to see Singaporean representation on the international stage! Good job Kay Siu! Despite the few scenes you had, you were simply amazing and you really made an impact for sure. Overall, I thought this live-adaption series had been a fantastic run. Show-runner Albert Kim really knew what he was doing. He managed to capture the essence of the cartoon series and made it into its very own. I really do hope Netflix greenlights the rest of the remaining seasons soon! I really, really cannot wait for another season of Avatar.

Just finished watching Avatar: The Way of Water, and like a whale, it’s majestic and grand to behold, but unfortunately also slow and feels terribly bloated. The movie is one part alien planet documentary, two parts theme park ride, three parts PETA advertisement, and with borrowed cutscenes from that old movie “Free Willy”. The movie when watched in 3D is stunningly beautiful, and the characters literally pops out from the screen. But ultimately. the story was a total let-down as it gets bogged down by the many different story threads, many which were left hanging by the end of it. Perhaps James Cameron was trying to wet our appetites for the upcoming sequels, but all he has really done is to drown us in an ocean of story weariness… and I can’t help but parrot little Tuk when she impatiently asked her parents, “are we there yet”? In conclusion, this was a needless vanity project that feels like a long advertisement for an Avatar theme park. I see you, James Cameron. I see you…

Aladdin was my first Disney movie I caught in the cinema, and I still remembered the sense of awe and wonder as I followed Aladdin’s adventure through the mystical land of Agrabah. The live-action remake of this much loved Disney classic brought back so many good childhood memories... and I was bouncing to all the songs in the cinema like a kid so many years ago. I could be bias, but I personally thought that this live-action is probably the best out of all the previous live-actions which Disney has produced over the years. Naomi Scott was everything I had imagined Princess Jasmine to be, and perhaps a bit more... she looked beautiful (actually she kinda reminded me of Sarah Michelle Gellar), she sounded beautiful, and I really appreciated that they gave her a stronger character arc. Will Smith was pretty awesome as the genie and you really have to hand it to him for being able to make this iconic Disney character his own, especially after considering the huge shoes which Robin Williams had inadvertently left behind for him to fill. Now, Mena Massoud was decent as Aladdin. He is charming in certain ways, and he definitely sounds the part, but somehow, I just felt like there was a lack of emotional connection to his character, and to be honest, I really can’t put a finger as to why I feel like this... But for a titular character of a show named after his namesake, it didn’t exactly felt like I was following Aladdin’s adventure. It was more like a Princess Jasmine or a Genie adventure, and Aladdin was merely just there on that ride, on a magic carpet no less of course. But my absolute bugbear in this film would have to be Jafar. Every good Disney cartoon has a good Disney villain and Jafar was one badass villain. He was powerful, menacing, and deliciously evil. But in this live-action remake, they had single-handedly reduced Jafar into nothing more but a bland and weak villain. Hell, even Iago when transformed into a giant parrot looked more of the part as the actual main antagonist than Jafar himself. It also didn’t help that Marwan Kenzari didn't look the part and his acting was nowhere near the kind of egomaniacal intensity that Jafar showed in the cartoon version. Still, despite all these flaws, this live-action remake still soars like a magic carpet, all shining, shimmering and splendid with all its colours, songs and action. Or I could also just be bias, so I dare you to bite me, Rajah.

So recently I have been chasing this C-drama titled "Love Like The Galaxy", which stars my current favourite Chinese actress Zhao Lusi (totally loved her performance in "Who Rules The World", another amazing C-drama). The story revolves around this young girl Cheng Shao Shang who has to maneuver the ups and downs of growing up with a set of expectations, not only from her family, but from society at large. It plays out like a Chinese version of Pride and Prejudice, and while there are entertaining palace intrigue thrown in the mix, I really like how the show explores the themes of familial bonds and cultural expectations. This show is also a love story as Cheng Shao Shang discovers what love and marriage means through the love trials and tribulations that she faces with the different men who falls in love with her. This is a highly recommended show, unlike many other C-dramas out there.... definitely worth a watch... but you need to get past the first 2-3 episodes before you truly get immersed into the story...

I laughed so hard on this show. No one was spared in this show, not even Biden and Kamala... and I couldn’t even recognize Hugh Grant until the end credits came and his name popped up!!! It’s also kinda amazing we actually lived through 2020. Yeah, death to 2020 and good riddance! At least we can have a good laugh at it now...