Mortal Kombat II (2026): Built for the fans

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Mortal Kombat is one of the most famous video games in history. Its impact has transcended consoles, maintaining a constant presence in popular culture since Midway Games released the first version in 1992. Its graphic violence and the famous fatalities were among the reasons why, years later, the age-rating system for video games in North America was created. The legacy of Mortal Kombat has expanded into a universe that includes films, series, cartoons, and promotional merchandise. In 1995, we saw the first cinematic adaptation, followed by a franchise reboot in 2021. Now we have Mortal Kombat II, which is a direct sequel to the 2021 version.

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The Drama (2026): Love is a Nightmare

Rating: 3 out of 5.

There are many ways to break the traditional narrative structure of the romantic comedy, and The Drama, by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, uses all of them. In a way, I should have been prepared for an unusual story since I was already familiar with Borgli’s previous work, Dream Scenario, where he puts Nicolas Cage through absolute chaos. Now it is Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s turn to experience another nightmare built around a fractured love story.

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Michael (2026): The Impossible Portrait of MJ

Rating: 2 out of 5.

You can easily argue that Michael Jackson was, is, and always will be the biggest star in the world of music. You would have more than enough reasons to defend that position. His legend is so monumental that not even the most disturbing scandals away from the stage could bring it down. Approaching a figure of this magnitude in a fictional biographical film is no easy task. Michael (2026), directed by Antoine Fuqua, ventures into those waters. It attempts to put the genie back in the bottle, to humanize a demigod, to touch the myth and make it come alive once again on screen.

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Bringing Up Baby (1938): A Classic That Shaped Cinema

Rating: 5 out of 5.

There are films so far ahead of their time that only history can grant them the recognition they truly deserve. Bringing Up Baby by Howard Hawks is the perfect example. A box office failure, dismissed by critics and ignored by the Academy, its impact was immediate and severe. Hawks even lost his job at RKO. This was meant to be the first of a six-film deal with the studio, but the financial disaster led to the contract being canceled. For Katharine Hepburn, the situation also became difficult, forcing her to buy out her own contract to leave RKO.

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Scarlet Girls (2026): The Power of Uncomfortable Truths

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The pen is mightier than the sword, as the immortal phrase by Cardinal Richelieu in Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s play suggests. The same applies to cinema; the power of ideas within cinematic storytelling has a more lasting impact than most mass media. Scarlet Girls (2026) by Paula Cury Melo knows how to wield this weapon to take a firm stance on a polarizing issue. One may agree or disagree with the film’s perspective, but its construction of discourse is powerful and addresses a sensitive topic with rigor and depth.

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