Jackie Chan, Shifu Han – Kung fu master, and Ralph Macchio, Sensei LaRusso – Karate master, create the yin and yang in the martial arts, which make Ben Wang’s role as Li Fong rise like a phoenix.

Karate Kid Legends is the sixth installment of the Karate Kid and follows the similar baseline story – a young teenager being uprooted from life’s challenges that is thrown off the path and finds balance through the discipline of martial arts. In this saga, Li and his mother Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen) relocate from Beijing, China to start a new life in the great big apple, New York City.

The story also expands to include a blend of boxing, kung fu and karate, which each had their exceptional fighting styles. The boxing moves were complimented by Joshua Jackson in the role of Victor Lipani. Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio were the perfect duo as training masters for Ben Wang’s character Li. Chan is animated and a legendary martial artist, while Macchio takes after the late Pat Morita’s beloved character Mr. Miyagi’s demeanor of being calm and collective.

Wang is incredible in the arts yet knows how to project being wholesome and charming. During the confrontation scenes and Battle of the 5 Boroughs, they used new captivating techniques and mesmerizing rooftop location. Overall, the message is clear, disciplined practitioners in martial arts demonstrate a strong sense of self-mastery, both physically and emotionally. Karate Kid Legends emphasizes the traditional respect for instructors, training partners, and the art itself, fostering a sense of humility and self-discipline.

What is a karate film without symbolism? Movie goers will be touched with the film’s definition of having two respective styles of martial arts, like branches of a tree, but they stem from the same root. Bonsai!

Catch Karate Kid Legends in theaters May 30, 2025. There is also a tenacious cameo surprise before the credits roll.

The “Mission: Impossible” franchise comes to full circle in the eighth and final installment with “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning“. Although it might not be the greatest in its series, the death defying stunts by Tom Cruise makes it worth the watch. With a hefty budget of over $300 million, “The Final Reckoning” has become one of the most expensive films ever made.

The “Mission: Impossible” theme stays on track with the inevitable sacrifice and precision timing. The IMF are rattled by a powerful artificial intelligence known as the Entity, which challenges humanity into nuclear destruction and it’s up to Ethan Hunt to accept this impossible mission to save the world.

In a compilation of flashbacks and simultaneous present day scenes, the clues are revealed which adequately ties everything together. The story surprisingly brings back CIA Analyst William Donloe (Rolf Saxon). It was also nostalgic to see the remembrances of characters/actors from the previous missions like Henry Cavil as August Walker and Jeremy Renner as William Brandt.

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, is has plenty of breathtaking action and subtle scenes that resemble scenarios to “Top Gun”, like Hannah Waddingham’s character Rear Admiral Neely having a striking appearance to Kelly McGillis’s character Charlie. Even towards the end of the film there was a similar scenario to “Pulp Fiction” – possible nod to Ving Rhames’s character Marsellus Wallace and his briefcase that radiated a golden hue when opened.

Since the film’s focal point is time, the underwater and biplane stunt sequences indeed took up much of it – no aspect was overlooked. During a Q&A after the screening, Storyboard Artist Mark Bristol explained the details that went into creating the vision for these high-octane moments. It was fascinating to learn about his experience working with Director Christopher McQuarrie, the writers and Tom Cruise to understand their vision to create the illustrations that serve as a visual guide for the production team.

Warwick Thornton evokes an emotional perspective with his masterful cinematography in The New Boy. This endearing independent film takes place in the 1940’s in an Australian monastery, starring Cate Blanchett as Sister Eileen and Aswan Reid as the enigmatic aborigine, New Boy.

For the Cate Blanchett enthusiasts, she is impeccable in every role capacity. Aswan Reid has natural talent to interpret emotions without having to utter a single word. Together, they are charismatic and enlightening.

Sister Eileen appears welcoming and comforting with a nurturing personality and warm smile. At first, the orphan boys seem to be well mannered and cooperative. They are polite towards the savage New Boy, who does not speak. However, their attitudes change when the older boy gets baptized and leaves the monastery to go work.

Then, there is the intriguing flickering spark that New Boy creates from his hands, fingertips. He appears to have invigorating healing abilities when he helped out an injured orphan boy. Sister Eileen is perplexed by this inexplicable event. She misunderstands New Boy’s phenomenon, which challenges her faith against the wonders of spiritual belief from the natives.

The story is slow paced, which allows the viewer to ponder on the scenes that highlight the peculiar circumstances surrounding the monastery. The priest has been dead for a year without any explanation. Subsequently, Sister Eileen takes over the monastery – taking in young aborigine boys, teaching them basic reading, writing skills and introducing them to Christianity, while they are trained for labor work.

There are a lot of questions left unanswered: What secrets does Sister Eileen hide behind her smile? Is New Boy a miracle healer? Is the glowing spark a symbolism to the light of life?

The New Boy might not appeal to the regular viewer. However, the mysterious topics in this film will fascinate to those with a curious, open mind.