Masters of the Universe (2026)

 'Here we are ...with the Princes, ups, with the Masters of the Universe...'

Unexpected or more so after abysymal BO performace and Reviews. Definetly not a film for 2026. A combo of Flash Gordon and Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 1), overlong (2h20 !!!; really?), some good humor and  sexual innueundos in a PG fare, a dumbo Skeletor (unrecognizable Jared Lato with weird accent and Dr. Evil laughter does his bet job in many years here). 

Camila Mendes as Teela is hot, Idris Elba supports bravely, Roboto is voiced by Kristen Wiig, James Purefoy is the King Randor, Morena Maccarin (the) sorceress in white and the lead Adam/He-Man- Nicholas Galitzine is funny and charismatic, also Alison Brie is fun as witchy Evil-Lyn.

Coming from a line of legendary toys (that I was never fammilar with), cartoons and comics which I never saw my only reference was the 1987 very B and B budget cult film of the same name and franchise (it was a Golan-Globus Cannon production).  More so than then, this film doesn't take itself seriosusly for an even odd moment, it knows it's silly and plays it straight on. 

Added value: the score is Fabulous, Power Rock pounding heroic symphonica metallic, another great one from Daniel Pemberton, one chord to rule'm all, Queen style, even features a Highlander song and puns, plus a clone Queen song by The Darkness and surely the sound was familliar because yes, the guitarist it's Brian May !!! That in itself raises the bar (and the volume) one notch (and a star of my review here). A Dolph Lundgren cameo (hero of the 1987 version) makes it even more tongue in cheeck. For the grown-up children ;)

3 stars out of 5, 6 out of 10 !!!

Disclosure Day (2026)

Disclosure Day on the film's premiere's day.

What can I say? I expected more. But it's ok. Just that it's old news, the disclosure has been made my Spielberg in 1977 and in 1982 (E.T. phoning home ;). 

This is really a Close Encounters of the Third Kind 'cos it's beeen done now the third time.

I woun't count the War of the Worlds which I hateted masivelly when it came out, called it War of the Tripods.

My most problematic aspect is the casting. Absolute no charisma between the leads, boyfriend-girlfriend, could be way better with another actors, Josh O'Connor and Emily Blunt didn't convince me one bit. What about the old Richard Dryfuss type, even the claasical Tom Hanks Spielbergian James Stewart type? The supporting bit was clockwork, Colin Firth and Colman Domingo all serious handling the disbelief. 

Then, the duration. 2h25 could've been way shorter. Scenes repeat, chases repeat, peril repeat, mind scanning repeat, rinse, spit, repeat. like it's a TV series. 

Also the deja-vu from the telekinesis/paranormal age of late 70's, 80's, from Fury, to Scanners, via Firestarter. Just add aliens, but it's the same chase, same plot gimmicks.

But John Williams did a serios job scoring it, coming out of retirement again for his buddy Spielberg, At 94 he still rocks !!! 

 The camera work, I have a problem with the design, moving in every shot, some cool tracking shots, 180 degrees to 360. Colors too,bleak, winterish. 

3 out of 5, 6 out 10 !!!

Blüesferatü: The Animation

Premieres very soon. 

World Premiere aka our Disclosure Day ;) !

Spellbinding animation by artist Costin Chioreanu.

Premieres Jun 12, 2026 #Bluesferatu #Nosferatu #CostinChioreanu


The world of Blüesferatü – Eine Symphonie des Blues expands into animation through a special collaboration with acclaimed visual artists Costin Chioreanu & Olivia Chioreanu. ‪@twilight13media‬ This short animated piece explores the imagery and atmosphere of Blüesferatü — a unique live cine-concert project that reimagines F.W. Murnau's silent-film masterpiece Nosferatu (1922) through an original soundtrack of psychedelic blues performed live by musicians from Brașov, Romania. A glimpse into the dark, psychedelic universe of a project that continues to transform from one edition to the next.

As we prepare for our return to Bran Castle on June 27, 2026, this animation marks the beginning of a new visual chapter in the ever-expanding universe of Blüesferatü. 

Coming Soon: June 27, 2026 Blüesferatü - Live at Bran Castle Tickets: iabilet.ro

A cult film. A live blues soundtrack. A brand new animation. 

Produced by: Alin Ludu Dumbravă & Vlad Popescu for Transilvania Arts & Events Association 

Follow Blüesferatü: https://www.facebook.com/bluesferatu

B. There & Let There B. Blüesferatü! 

A Little Romance (1979)

I saw this when it came out in Romania, in 1980, obviously opened here in cinemas with a certain delay. It was called Mica romanta, a fair translation of the original A Little Romance. Why they bought it beacuse it criticises the Capitalistic American family )sort of),same as Kramer Vs. Kramer or Champ, hits in the cinema of that era. Or  and the American tourists in Europe? who knows. It was a treat, and one of the best films to run in cinemas then.

I was Ten so a lot of the film meaninngs eluded me. I loved and identified with the kid, Daniel, doing l'École buissonnière like me, watching films al the time, instead of going to school. Didn't fell in love yet but I loved the character of the old man, played with French aplombe a la Charles Boyer or Maurice Cheavlier by the great Laurence Olivier, whose reputation I knew already, so I respected him tremendously. 

None would have a clue then who Diane Lane would become, though Sir Larry told people she will be the next Grace Kelly !!! It was her 1st film and George Roy Hill discovered her and the other kids, Thelonious Bertrand. Him unfortunately acted in only another film, today he is a hapilly married dentist living in a small French town. 

cut to: 

Saw it again in the 90's and absolutely loved it. Was in my late twenties, enjoyed the meta references of George Roy Hill showing his own films, mangled in dubbing in French (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) and Italian (La Stangata aka The Sting). It has plenty of film refernces for a film buff, which was not a la mode back then. 

Bonus films: The Three Days of the Condor (Redford pun again), The Big Sleep, True Grit, Hustle (why?) and the invented copiously titled Spasmes Frenetiques !!! 

Arthur Hill is excellent as the foster dad, and Sally Kellerman tries to be as annoying as it gets as the distracted mom. Plus, a cool cameo by Broderick Crawford and a schlock director named George de Marco (De Palma, De Toth ?), played with sleeze approach by David Dukes- that looks a bit like Bogdanovich meets Friedkin , and the author of the crap movie, Lips / Levres !

Now, as a banale recommendation for a child's friend, a girl of eleven, felt the terrible urge of rewatching this. And of course it was an absolute pleasure, a marvelous gateau, from a moment lost in time, elegant, romantic, funny, smart and cinephilic. 

Composer Georges Delerue received his only Oscar for this film. Great music, a tipically Delerue sound. 

A Little Romance was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay by Allan Burns. His script was based on the novel E=MC2, mon amour by Patrick Cauvin.

A timelss gem. and a predecesor of  Richard Linklater's "Sunrise/Sunset" films.  Brilliance by a very underrated master-director, George Roy Hill. Another time, another space, lost innocence and beauty...

4 1/2 out of 5, 9 out of 10 !!!