DJariya

Starring: Xolo Mariduena (Cobra Kai)

Directed by: Angel Manuel Soto (this is his 1st major studio film)

Running Time: 127 minutes

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blue_beetle

RT score: 79% as of 8/17/23 (Certified Fresh)


I'm going to see it in Dolby Friday night. It opens tonight.

RocShemp

A co-worker of mine was given free tickets from Ángel Manuel Soto (they used to work together at my current job) so he's going with his kid to see it tonight. Soto also sent tickets to people in my co-worker's neighborhood since a large chunk of this movie was shot there.

I'm not so lucky so I'll be paying for my ticket for this weekend.

Boba Fett

Sharing my thoughts from the other thread.

I decided to go check out the last showing of the day and I’m glad I did. Absolutely wonderful movie. 100% a Latino film through and through put in the mold of your average superhero origin story. Xolo Mariduena has phenomenal charisma (way more than on Cobra Kai) and is the heart and soul in a movie about heart, soul and family.

The CGI is leagues beyond The Flash and there’s a lot the trailer doesn’t even begin to touch on. The soundtrack is a mix of Latino music and a crazy ethereal score.

What it loses points for are the tired superhero tropes that bog down half the final act. It’s obvious where it’s ending is headed and it never deviates.

What makes it a must see is it being a big budget blockbuster that offers audiences the condensed truths about the adversity Latino families face at the hands of a capitalist world. It’s astounding DC has bungled the portrayal of ethnic minorities so much before because this is a home run.

A B+ from me. If they had tried to be ambitious in the final act it had the potential to be a solid A.

Shannon Nutt

This is a solid, if unspectacular, film. A pretty simplistic plot and pretty standard action - what's appealing is the actors, particularly Xolo Mariduena and George Lopez, who are both quite good. It's fun and it doesn't feel overlong, which is refreshing for a film these days.

One note: there are two post-credits scenes. One mid-credits and one at the very end. You only need to stay for the first one...the second one is of no consequence at all. NEITHER scene features any physical actors in the frame. You'll understand when you see them.

dex14

My thoughts exactly.

It is a completely cliched in the plot, origin story, and villain. Having said that... it's well directed, looks nice (except for some shoddy CGI), has a cool synth score, the actors put in good work, and it has heart.

The Cow

The family was ridiculous, but I still enjoyed this a bit. Only 4 other people in the theater and it looked like most other showings today were only a couple people.

Draven

Sitting at the theater right now - pretty good crowd at the Alamo for this one.

Really liked it - solid origin story and the family stuff was great. Really emotional and a top tier entry for DC. Easily the most heartfelt DC movie.

Also on the way out, there was a crowd taking pictures in front of the Blue Beetle poster with someone. We had to cut through the picture-taking (right in the aisle out of the building) but I heard rumblings from people that the guy was in the movie. He looked pretty different in person but I’m fairly sure it was Raoul Max Trullio who played Carapax. No idea what he was doing at the Alamo - just kind of a random end to the night.

DJariya

I saw this tonight in Dolby. Surprisingly it was a nice turnout. Auditorium was probably about 60% capacity. Mostly Latino. The theater I frequent is in a mostly Latino area.

Anyway, I liked it. I think I actually liked this more than The Flash. It had some humor, fun and quirky characters and heart. Xolo IMO was far more charming and likeable here than he is on Cobra Kai. He did a really good job playing Jaime. And Susan Sarandon was a good villain.

I think the special effects in most scenes here were also better than the The Flash. George Lopez/Uncle Rudy was a little over the top, but he was an entertaining supporting character. I got a few laughs from him.

Alright, I woke up at 4am this morning for work and was fine most of the day and was fine through most of the movie, but all of the sudden I crashed for about 10-15 minutes. Can someone fill me in how Jaime's Dad died? I missed what happened when I conked out briefly. But, I was fine the rest of the way.

I only stayed for the 1st mid credits scene. I don't have much background on BB. So Ted Kord, Jenny's Dad, is the original BB? The movie does standalone if a sequel doesn't get made, but that seems to be a loose thread for hardcore BB fans.

Boba Fett

He had a heart attack while helping his daughter escape.

Ted Kord is the original DC Blue Beetle. Dan Garret, the precious host of the Scarab mentioned in the film is the original pre-DC Blue Beetle. The character was original a Charlton character much like The Question which DC acquired decades ago.

fujishig

Ted Kord is actually a Charlton character too (and used by DC as their modern BB), which is why Nite Owl is so similar to him (Watchmen was originally going to use the just-bought Charlton characters before DC decided they'd just integrate them into their universe, which is why the Watchmen are like alternate reality versions of Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Thunderbolt, the Question, Peacemaker and Nightshade).

JeremyM

I really enjoyed this--the family angle was well done and made this stand out. I like Xolo on Cobra Kai but wasn't sure he could pull this off, but he did well. I brought my hyperactive boys (ages 10 and 5) and they were kind of restless throughout, which is typical for them, and the 5-year old was a bit frustrated by all the Spanish since he can't read subtitles yet. But as per usual they claimed they liked it when it was over.

The early showing here had a decent crowd, for what that is worth.

RocShemp

Going in an hour with some friends.

RocShemp

Just got back from this. What a fun ride that was. Loved that it's a mixture of Latino movie (some fun cameos and nods in there, plus that second post credits scene) and a tokusatsu movie. I really wish this I'd get a sequel , regardless where it fits (DCEU or DCU). But, if this is the end of the road, part of me wishes they'd shelve the Aquaman sequel so that this might end the DCEU on an open-ended high note.

asianxcore

Saw this last night and I definitely agree with much of what has been mentioned here.

I really enjoyed the earlier scenes involving the Blue Beetle and not so much the later ones, which follow a pre-determined path.

The film is at its strongest when its focusing on Jaime Reyes & his family (who are all well cast), especially regarding themes of displacement, gentrification and generational trauma.

I also was surprised at how likeable George Lopez was in this film!

RocShemp

What's funny is that, if we were to get a sequel (not saying it's gonna happen) we most likely have been served with the twist that Jaime's vision of his dad and Carapax' vision of his mother were both manipulations by Khaji Da to manipulate Jaime into full symbiosis and to remove a potential threat to her host, since she's actually playing a world conquering long game. In fact, that's what made those scenes work on even deeper level for me. It's emotional and tragic on a surface level, but also sneakily the DC equivalent of .

SmackDaddy

Maybe it just connected more with me because I am Hispanic, but this was really entertaining. Shame it's not doing well as far as box office (even considering it was originally headed straight to streaming). So much of the cultural aspect was on the nose and hilarious to me. And a big FU to this movie for making me like and want more of Uncle Rudy (I am not a big Lopez fan at all).

A lot more heart to this than I expected, and the casting was spot on. While I know there may not be another movie made, I do hope Blue Beetle is actually part of the DCU and makes an appearance here and there.

Draven

While Wonder Woman had some fantastic female empowerment (the No Man's Land sequence almost made my wife cry), Blue Beetle is the only DC movie that has hit me in the feels. Family stuff always gets me and no other DC movie has that (except I will say that The Flash had a similar moment that did affect me too).

Obi-Wanma

It's funny how this movie has this big plot point throughout the movie that is repeated in the climax about how Jaime (and by extension, Beetle/Scarab, though it's relationship with Jaime) are not murderers, but in between those two points, in third act, his family shows up and just straight up starts murdering everyone.

SmackDaddy

That's what happens when family gets involved (especially a Latino family, lol), things get crazy! You can't tell me, though, that some of those guys in the tunnels didn't die from head trauma, lol. Maybe Blue Beetle is being set up as the "Spiderman" in the DCU. Young guy that didn't choose to be a superhero and and ends up playing with the big boys.

Orbi-Wan Techno

Just saw today. I loved it. Will be posting a review under. “Orbi-Wan Goes to the Movies” for the first time in two years! Later this week!

DJariya

I was at AMC today to see Equalizer 3 and I went to the concessions stand and they were still selling the Blue Beetle backpack popcorn vessel below.

However, it was discounted to $24.99. Guess this collectible was a dud sales wise. They probably have a lot of leftover inventory.

Twitter

Draven

Back when I went to our local Marcus I would buy their $20 popcorn bucket because they'd fill it up for cheap and we saw enough movies over the summer to make it worthwhile. I've never understood the appeal of something like that.

Orbi-Wan Techno

BLUE BEETLE (PG-13) - A promising start to what seems to be a (hopeful) new direction for the DCU under James Gunn’s regime as co-CEO of the studio, with this funny, heartfelt origin story that places a heavy emphasis on the resilience and strength of family.

Well, well, well, it’s been a while. First, the pandemic put a dent in movie-going, then Facebook abruptly shut down my original “Orbi-Wan Goes To The Movies” page with no explanation. For a time, I attempted to keep things going through a separate blog web page (I am still considering how that may be revived) but between post-pandemic job requirements, exhaustion and a lack of motivation, my writing has suffered.

However, something sparked in me and reignited my desire to start penning my thoughts online again. That spark was blue, and is the first DCU movie to really reach out and grab me in years. Sorry, Flash, Michael Keaton was cool, but that was about it.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed “Blue Beetle”, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, and starring Xolo Mariduiena (Cobra Kai) as Jaime Reyes, a recent Mexican-American pre-law college grad who is tempering his expectations of success as he comes from lower middle class family, and his father has just lost the family business and faces repossession of the family home.

Things take an unexpected turn when Jaime goes to what he thinks is a job interview and ends up in the custody of an alien scarab that chooses to imbue this unassuming young man with a nearly indestructible suit that gives him incredible powers, but also has a mind and voice of its own.

His family immediately rallies around Jaime (dad, mom, sister, ex-revolutionary grandmother and George Lopez as Jaime’s conspiracy theorist uncle who is also a secret genius.

After the scarab is evil corporation Kord Industry, run by Susan Sarandon, whose character is attempting to spin off the scarab’s powers into an unstoppable army. We learn later in the film the real extent of her evil intentions and the lengths she’s been willing to go to accomplish her goals. She is certainly a piece of work.

Of course, besides his family, Jaime has an ally in Sarandon’s stepdaughter, Jenny (Bruno Marquezine), who helps him navigate the intricacies of the suit and, well, there are plenty of fun surprises to come.

“Blue Beetle” hit me in the feels right out of the film gate, sucking me in with its charm, humor, and the central theme of the importance and support of family. And George Lopez literally stole every single scene he was in as Jaime’s crazy but genius uncle. Add to that Susan Sarandon’s frighteningly excellent big bad, amazing and I’ll just say it, I loved this movie. As Orbi-Wan starts going back to the movies, I’m glad this is the movie to kick off the return of my reviews. DC’s “Blue Beetle” gets a solid 4.5 out of 5 lightsabers from the Old Jedi! Please go see it!

NOTES FOR PARENTS (MINOR SPOILERS): "Blue Beetle” is rated PG-13 for comic book action and violence, implied nudity, a not-quite completed “F” bomb in English and apparently two in Spanish with no subtitles. There is a funny scene centering on the phrase “Bug Fart”. “Sh**” and variations are heard from time to time, and there is one entire funny scene of Jaime’s sister trying to sneak a visit to a luxury bathroom. “D**n” and “h**l” are heard, as well. There is also other cursing in Spanish. When Jaime’s body reabsorbs the Blue Beetle armor, he is obviously naked but nothing explicit is shown. An important family member dies in a traumatic scene. People die and are injured seriously during multiple fight seems, but it is not bloody.

MID- AND AFTER-CREDIT SCENES: MID-CREDIT: We discover that Ted, an earlier version of Blue Beetle, is actually alive. AFTER-CREDIT: We see an extended animated scene we glimpsed briefly in the movie that is actually a tribute to a Mexican superhero.

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OldBoy

This felt so amateurish and bland. Should have been direct to Max or something. The family was trying way too hard, especially the sister. Way too over the top. And, I didn’t like him as Miguel in Cobra Kai and he still doesn’t work in this. As someone else mentioned, very simplistic and cliched plot.

Deftones

It was going to be direct to Max, then they changed it to theatrical.