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āļøš MY SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF @starwars THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU IS LIVE! šāļø
After 7 years, Star Wars is finally back on the big screen⦠and honestly?
I had WAY more fun than I expected.
I got the chance to see an advanced screening of The Mandalorian & Grogu, and in my latest review, I break down everything that worked for me ā from Pedro Pascalās performance as Din Djarin/The Mandalorian, Grogu somehow stealing the show again, the incredible action, practical effects, cinematography, Ludwig Gƶranssonās score, and why seeing Star Wars in theaters still somehow feels like coming home.
Was it perfect? No.
Did it remind me why I love this galaxy far, far away?
Absolutely.
āļø My Score: 8.5/10 āļø
š„ FULL REVIEW HERE: https://t.co/yGVC74l7YR
š Have you seen The Mandalorian & Grogu yet? š
Did it live up to the hype for you? Where does it rank in modern Star Wars? Letās talk about it!
This is the way. āļø
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu #TheMandalorian #StarWars #Grogu #PedroPascal #StarWarsReview #MovieReview #FilmTwitter #MovieTwitter #StarWarsFans #Disney #Lucasfilm #JonFavreau #JeremyAllenWhite #SigourneyWeaver #MartinScorsese #LudwigGoransson #Cinema #Movies #SpoilerFreeReview #ThisIsTheWay #GeekCulture
30 years ago, Cinemassacre had its humble beginnings with "A Night of Total Terror", shot on Memorial weekend of 1996. I posted a video about it, a while back. Here it is again. https://t.co/eccf0RAds2
ā ( @starwars ) THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU REVIEW ā
After 7 Years, Star Wars Finally Felt Like Home Again
(Spoiler-Free | Advanced Screening Review)
Thereās just something about seeing a Star Wars movie in a theater that never gets old for me.
I donāt know if itās nostalgia, the music, the giant scope of it all, or just the fact that Star Wars somehow makes going to the movies feel bigger than life, but after seven years without a theatrical Star Wars film, finally sitting down for an advanced screening of The Mandalorian & Grogu felt kind of special.
Now, Iāll be honest with you right out of the gate.
I was excited to see it⦠but maybe not as excited as I normally wouldāve been years ago.
And I think that just comes with time.
Thereās been so much Star Wars content over the years. Some of it fantastic, some of it good, some of it maybe not quite hitting the same way for me personally. If you had asked me 11 years ago when the Sequel trilogy started - if Star Wars could do wrong, I probably wouldāve said no without hesitation. These days, I think even diehard fans like myself can admit some projects work better than others.
But hereās the thing:
Even when Star Wars misses for me a little bit, I almost always still find it entertaining.
That matters.
And I gotta tell youā¦
The Mandalorian & Grogu was just really, really fun.
Like genuinely fun.
And honestly? Itās been a while since I walked out of a theater just smiling because I had such a good time.
Before I go any further, if you know me, you know I try to keep reviews as spoiler-free as humanly possible.
Iāve been that way since I was a kid. I never wanna ruin someoneās first experience with a movie. Half the fun is discovery, especially with something like Star Wars. So Iām gonna keep this pretty broad and just talk about what worked for me.
THE STORY
First off, letās get this out of the way:
The story is pretty basic.
And I donāt mean that as an insult.
If youāre expecting some galaxy-shifting event or some massive mythology-heavy story that completely changes the future of Star Wars, this probably isnāt that movie.
There are definitely things underneath the surface if youāre paying attention ā little hints and moments that help place where things are in the broader Star Wars timeline ā but overall, this feels more like a complete adventure than some giant franchise-defining moment.
And honestly?
I kind of liked that.
The best way I can describe this movie is that it feels like getting a really good season of The Mandalorian in one sitting.
And when I say a good season, I mean closer to Seasons 1 and 2.
Look, Season 3 wasnāt bad by any means, but for me personally, it didnāt quite hit the same highs as those first two seasons. This movie feels like it captures that earlier magic again.
Itās exciting.
Funny.
Heartfelt.
Sometimes tense.
And just⦠entertaining.
It honestly reminded me of going on one of those rides at an amusement park where you donāt really know what to expect, and by the time itās over, you kinda sit there going:
āOkay⦠that was actually insane.ā
Thatās what this felt like.
PEDRO PASCAL & GROGU
A huge reason it works is because of the relationship between Din Djarin | The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu.
I swear, I donāt know how they keep making this relationship work as well as they do, but somehow they just keep finding new ways to make you care.
And can we just talk about Pedro Pascal for a second?
Seriously.
And I donāt think enough people give him credit for how hard this role actually is.
Because think about it:
The Mandalorian spends the entire movie with his face covered.
No facial expressions.
No emotional shortcuts.
Just body language, voice work, subtle reactions, timing, and emotion through restraint.
That is hard.
Yet somehow Pedro Pascal makes you care deeply about Din Djarin and, maybe more importantly, makes you understand how deeply Din cares about Grogu.
That emotional connection lands.
You feel it.
And I think thatās a huge reason why this movie works.
Then thereās Grogu.
Manā¦
What do you even say at this point?
The puppeteering and practical work theyāre doing with Grogu is honestly some of the best puppet work Iāve seen in years.
It just feels natural.
It feels real.
It feels right.
You stop looking at him like an effect and just start accepting him as this living little character in the world.
And heās hilarious.
Way funnier than I expected.
There were multiple moments where I found myself laughing way more than I thought I would.
But itās not just comedy.
Heās heartwarming too.
And somehow they still know exactly how to pull emotion out of this little green guy.
I actually had a weird realization watching Grogu that reminded me of when I watched Project Hail Mary and how surprised I was that I cared so much emotionally about Rocky (For those who've seen it you know what I mean). You donāt expect yourself to feel such real human emotion toward a character that technically isnāt human.
Yet somehow they pull the right emotional strings at the right moments.
You laugh.
You worry.
You smile.
Sometimes youāre even on the edge of your seat.
And honestly?
Itās beautiful to watch.
VISUALS, ACTION & MUSIC
Visually, this movie looks fantastic.
Cinematography-wise, The Mandalorian has always had that spaghetti western bounty hunter vibe to it, and thatās definitely still here. You can feel that western influence all over the movie.
But this feels bigger.
Director Jon Favreau clearly understood that if youāre bringing The Mandalorian to theaters, it has to feel like more than just another episode blown up onto a big screen.
And thankfully, it does.
There are things in this movie ā without spoiling anything ā that just look absolutely spot-on perfect in the Star Wars universe.
The practical effects are unreal.
The worlds feel massive and lived in.
The creatures look incredible.
Everything feels tactile in that way that Star Wars is supposed to feel.
You can tell a lot of care went into this.
And the action?
Honestly, some of the best action weāve seen in a Star Wars movie.
And I donāt say that lightly.
There are some sequences in this movie that genuinely surprised me.
Things that tense you up.
Things that make you lean forward in your seat.
Because itās Star Wars, and sometimes you really donāt know whatās coming next.
The score here is also fantastic.
Composer Ludwig Gƶransson continues to absolutely understand what makes The Mandalorian feel unique musically.
Yes, you get the iconic Mandalorian theme, which still hits every single time.
But there are all these layers underneath it.
Suspense.
Emotion.
Big action moments.
And even some synth-heavy moments that I absolutely loved.
The music really helps drive the movie forward and elevate some sequences in a really cool way.
SUPPORTING CAST
I was also really happy to see Sigourney Weaver show up as Colonel Ward.
Iāll be honest ā I actually wished she had a bigger role.
But Sigourney Weaver is one of those actresses where just having her there adds something.
She brings strength to the role.
Confidence.
Depth.
She just feels right in this world.
And I genuinely hope we get to see more of her moving forward.
Then thereās Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White).
Without giving anything away:
What a fun character.
Seriously.
Sometimes the things you least expect become some of the most entertaining parts of a movie, and thatās all Iāll say.
There are moments involving this character where youāre just sitting there thinking:
āI never thought Iād see this in Star Wars.ā
And honestly?
Good.
I love when this universe surprises me.
I also gotta mention how cool it was hearing Martin Scorsese voice a character.
That was just fun.
And honestly, good on Jon Favreau for bringing him aboard.
If one of the greatest filmmakers in movie history wants to come hang out in the Star Wars universe for a little bit, why not?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Now look ā could things have been better?
Sure.
Part of me still wanted a little bit more lore.
A little bit more mythology.
Maybe a few more breadcrumbs about where this larger story is eventually heading.
Thatās kind of part of the fun of seeing a Star Wars movie in theaters.
But weirdly enough, there was something comforting about not really needing those expectations this time.
This movie works really well as what Iād almost call a Star Wars side quest.
And I mean that as a compliment.
Not every Star Wars movie has to redefine the franchise.
Not every story has to carry the entire weight of the galaxy on its shoulders.
Sometimes itās enough to just go on a really fun adventure with characters you love.
And after seven years away from theaters, there was something genuinely emotional about realizing that watching a Star Wars movie on the big screen still feels like home.
Maybe that sounds cheesy.
I donāt care.
Thereās just something about it.
So no ā I donāt think The Mandalorian & Grogu is one of the greatest Star Wars movies ever made.
But did I have a blast?
Absolutely.
Did I laugh more than I expected?
A lot more. š¤£
Did it remind me why I love this universe?
Without question.
ā Rating: 8.5/10
This... is the way.
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu #themandalorian #grogru #starwars #starwarsfans #pedropascal #JonFavreau #SigourneyWeaver #jeremyallenwhite #MartinScorsese #LudwigGoransson #moviereview #filmreview #SpoilerFreeReview #starwarsmovie #lucasfilm #disney #thisistheway #movielover #cinema #advancedscreening
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šØšæ THE SCARY MOVIE POPCORN BUCKET BONG JUST GOT ANNOUNCED⦠and honestly?! This might be one of the wildest, coolest movie merch drops Iāve seen in a minute šš„
Whoever came up with this absolutely understood the assignment. The nostalgia, the chaos, the absurdity⦠it feels SO perfectly Scary Movie. I already know these things are gonna sell out FAST. šš
Are yāall grabbing one or just admiring the madness from a distance? ššæ
#ForYouPage #FYP #FreeYourPage #ScaryMovie #ScaryMovieMovie #PopcornBucket #MovieMerch #MovieCollectibles #HorrorComedy #HorrorTok #MovieTok #CinemaTok #MovieNews #PopcornBucketTok #Scream #ParodyMovies #Nostalgia #HorrorFans #TikTokMovies #ComingSoon #MustHave #Collector
Dark, emotionally heavy, unsettling, and deeply human ā @obsessionmovie is one of those horror films that lingers after the credits roll. Not an easy watch for everyone, but absolutely one worth talking about.
Huge credit to Curry Barker for creating something that feels sharp, intentional, and emotionally effective. And major props to the performances by Inde navarette and Micheal Jonston ā both brought something special to this movie.
Just dropped my spoiler-free review. Would love to know what other horror fans think if youāve seen it.
ā 9.5/10
Just rememberā¦
Be careful what you wish for.
#Obsession #ObsessionMovie #Horror #HorrorMovies #MovieReview #FilmReview #PsychologicalHorror #HorrorCommunity #MovieTwitter #FilmTwitter #Cinema #CurryBarker #IndeNavarrette #MichaelJohnston #HorrorFans #ScaryMovies #IndieHorror
In your video from a couple years ago, you mentioned pre-scaling/profiles (and links to them). Iām a bit lost on the MiSTer side of setup. Also, when switching profiles, how did you handle the MiSTer menu becoming hard to read at certain Prescale rez? Thanks so much for any help!
Hey @Tryumph4ks ! Just got a RetroTINK 4K + SuperStation One and had a couple questions. I want a clean/dry 1080p signal to my capture card for streaming, while sending a separate MiSTer/SuperStation signal to the TINK for CRT filters/effects just for my display.
@FBXGargoyle@RetroRGB Haha, thanks for noticing. One of the all time greats. āCome Play With Usā š Also, thanks for all the contributions in making my games look as good as they do. Youāre a Legend. š«”
Hey @RetroRGB ā quick setup question. Iāve got a SuperStation One + RetroTINK 4K Pro. I want DV from MiSTer to the TINK for best experience, but also a clean 1080p feed to a capture card. Whatās the best way to split this so both look amazing? Appreciate any advice!
@_elsabroso@RetroRGB The issue is when you use Direct Video out of the mister it puts out a 240p signal which allows the Tink to do the scale and effects.. that means splitting it would send a 240p to a capture card.. not ideal for recording or streaming.
@RetroRGB mainly to avoid extra compression artifacts on the stream. Whatās the best way to send a clean, high-quality signal to capture while keeping the TINK āwetā signal only on my monitor?
@RetroRGB Really appreciate you taking the time to help me outāseriously means a lot, especially knowing how much youāve got going on!
One thing I didnāt explain well: I want the RetroTINK 4K doing all the processing (scanlines/CRT effects) just for my display, not the capture cardā