Category: Uncategorized

CODA Snags 4 Major Oscar Awards – Will The Awards Yield the ROI for Apple

Posted on by Marjorie Lopez

CODA won the 94th Oscar Academy Award’s coveted major recognitions for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Siân Heder) and Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur). Although Apple beat Netflix in making history as the first streaming network to have won awards for a franchised movie, Apple’s involvement in CODA cannot be likened to how Netflix manages its original movies.

As it is, Apple made a move to buy the rights to CODA after the movie won four awards in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Apple reportedly paid $25 million to acquire the streaming rights to the movie after CODA got the Grand Jury Prize, the audience award, the directing award and the special jury award for the cast ensemble. Subsequently, CODA also made record as the first major Sundance winner to win an Oscar for best movie.

What Makes CODA’s Oscar Win Important for Apple?

CODA’s Oscar Best Picture win has already brought favorable results for Apple, as reports have it that since the Oscar wins, the movie immediately drew in a 25% increase in viewership at Apple TV Plus. The increase pushed by as much as 300%, the number of audience who viewed the movie via Apple’s streaming services.

Critics though question the greatness of the numbers as the figures depended on the numbers posted by Apple TV Plus prior to CODA’s Oscar win.

The greater question that Apple critics are asking is if the results are worth the $25 million investment after the movie gained considerable entertainment value as a multi-awarded entry in the Sundance Film Festival. As opposed to Netflix’s deeper involvement from point of selection, to the development and adaptation of the movie as a Netflix feature, up to their promotion as a Netflix offering.

About CODA The Movie and Why it Deserves to Win the Oscar Bet Picture

CODA in the complex and intricate world of people with hearing disabilities is the term used to refer to children with unimpaired hearing, albeit born to deaf parents. The movie tells the story of Ruby, played by Emilia Jones. Ruby is a shy 17-year old who is the Coda to the family of hardworking deaf couples Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur.

Ruby’s struggle is not just the pressures of being the family’s bridge and spokesperson for her family in the hearing world. The movie also shows her inner struggles of wishing to fulfill her childhood ambition of becoming a singer, which her family might find hard to understand and accept.

Is Disney’s “Mulan” Jinxed for Theater Showing?

Posted on by Marjorie Lopez

While Disney’s Mulan suffered from lack of traditional theaters, many who have seen the livestreamed remake are glad their disappointment did not cost them much. Although Disney was able to get theater bookings in other countries like China and South Korea, it seems there is some kind of jinx attached to the movies as far as theater release is concerned.

 

Mulan Theater Release in China and South Korea Suffers from Calls for Boycott

 

In China, where Mulan was shown in theaters, the release only heightened the negative reviews about the Disney movie. Not only was the live action remake criticized for not delivering quality actions scenes, amusing dialogues and funny antics that fans have grown to love about Disney films.

Where Mulan’s Chinese audience outside of China cited general lack of authenticity on how China’s history was depicted, the cause of uproar against Disney in China went beyond technicalities.

Many of China’s pro-democracy activists were indignant over Disney’s expression of special appreciation to Xinjiang state’s government organizations. Mainly because they made it possible for Disney to partly shoot some scenes in the region.

However, Chinese moviegoers are indignant over Disney’s disregard for the human rights issues hurled against the Xinjiang provincial government. As China has imposed a ban on other forms of religion, the Xinjiang government prosecuted millions of Uighur Muslims; notwithstanding that the Ulghurs are natives of the Xinjiang region.

 

Actually, the calls for Mulan’s boycott in China is on top of an earlier call by South Korean citizens to spurn the movie, just a month ahead of the theater screening. Mulan actress, Liu Yifei, created social media controversy when she made it known through her comment that she supports the Hong Kong police. To any reader, her post means she agrees with the violent manner by which HK police cracked down on HK protesters.

Game of Thrones Final Characters Got What They Wished For, Except Daenerys

Posted on by Marjorie Lopez

Game of Thrones (GoT) finally came to a conclusion, leaving fans with mixed reactions on whether they should be entertained or not with the outcome. Every remaining lead and supporting character ended up lucky, getting their heart’s desire in the aftermath of the King;s Landing siege. Except for Daenerys, whose character was bound to end as a Mad Queen.

Clarke’s Daenerys Character Got the Bad End of the Deal

Unfortunately for fans of Daenerys, their beloved Silver Queen experienced the worst kind of betrayal; at the hands of Jon, for whom she sacrificed 2 of her dragons, thousands of her Dothraki warriors and her ever faithful companion and protector, Ser Joras.

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Most of all, Emilia Clarke’s character suffered betrayal at the hands of GoT writers.

Although the original storyline had her transforming from a fair and just ruler, into becoming a vengeful Mad Queen, not enough scenes transpired during the last few episodes to suggest just that. It’s as if writers presumed every GoT viewer knew that Daenerys was to become a Mad Queen, excusing them from the task of having to build up that aspect before sending her Mad Queen character out on a killing rampage.In fact at the very end, she appeared sane.

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Dany. as Jon lovingly called his queen, carried on with grace; thanking the Unsullied and the Dothraki warriors for their bravery and loyalty. She even tried to convince Jon to see things her way. As it was, it appeared that she was manipulated into helping other characters get what they wanted.

How Characters Fared After Cersei’s Fall

Brandon Stark a.k.a. Bram the Broken

The Game of Thrones and all that happened was apparently orchestrated by Bram the Broken, or the 3-Eyed Raven persona who took over Bram’s being. When asked by Tyrion if he was willing to wear the crown by becoming the ruler of the Six Kingdoms, Bram replied, “Why do you think I came all this way?” Since the 3-Eyed Raven knew everything, past, present and future, it appeared he planned everything all along.

Later, Bram even told Jon that Jon, was “exactly where he was supposed to be.”

Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion also landed a good deal, as Bram appointed him to be the King’s Right Hand. It has always been Tyrion’s frustration that his words and wisdom were ignored by the Lannister family, but not under Daenarys rule. Since Tyrion made it possible for Bram to become the King, Bram in return, made Tyrion the Right Hand of the King.

Jon Snow

Jon did not become king; but still got most of what he wanted. He was banished and sent to the Night Watch, yet this gave him a chance to live freely with the free folk. In a way, Jon had always wanted to live a life that was not complicated by the whims of rulers, while interacting with people willing to listen to reason.

Other Characters

Sansa, got her lifelong wish and became Queen of the North. Arya got to travel to wherever she wanted aboard her own ship. Bronn of the Blackwater became a wealthy man and was designated as Master of Coin. Sam Turley became Grandmaester despite his previous troubles with the Citadel. Sir Davos landed an important job as Master of Ships, which is the same with Ser Brienne who assumed post as Master of Guards.

Entertainment – Official Trailer

Posted on by Kamden Doyle

An aging comedian tours the California desert, lost in a cycle of third-rate venues, novelty tourist attractions, and vain attempts to reach his estranged daughter. By day, he slogs through the barren landscape, inadvertently alienating every acquaintance. At night, he seeks solace in the animation of his onstage persona. Fueled by the promise of a lucrative Hollywood engagement and the possibility of rekindling a relationship with his daughter, he trudges through a series of increasingly surreal and volatile encounters.