You wanted a First Class sequel? Sike! The follow up to 2011's X-Men reboot saw the return of original movie director Brian Singer who decided instead of continuing Matthew Vaughn's prequel film in a satisfying way, that we were going to instead get the third Brian Singer original trilogy movie featuring some of the cast of the last movie. To save …

After the cast to the original trilogy got too old and expensive, Fox decided that they were going to do X-Men origin movies... Unfortunately they picked a ridiculously atrocious Wolverine movie to launch this series. After its poor reception Matthew Vaughn's 2011 superhero film then became a prequel/soft reboot to the original franchise by telling…

The final chapter of the original X Trilogy is controversial in many ways: New director, the departure of some beloved characters, and the first film adaptation of the Dark Phoenix storyline from the comic books. This may not be a well loved film in the franchise, but one that your hosts could not wait to discuss.…

The sequel to the 2000 hit movie re-unites the Wolverine and the X-Men after a mutant attack on the White House with a much bigger budget and facing a new grave human threat: William Stryker (Played by the always excellent Brian Cox)By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

It is the start of the new millennium, but we are stuck in the weird space in Comic Book films between the Tim Burton Batman aesthetic and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man which will usher in the next era of superhero movies. Set in this time period is the first live action adaptation of the legendary Marvel Comic about a team of superheroes trying to save a…

We want to play a game.... Listeners requested we watch the latest entry in the Saw franchise, but it made your hosts think of the fact that they hadn't seen the original is a VERY long time. From the minds of now well known horror creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell, this film mostly centers on two strangers locked in a grimy, disgusting bathroo…

A group of Gen-Zers decide to have a Hurricane party and play a murder mystery party game that becomes very real very quickly in this 2022 horror(?) comedy.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

We discuss the final movie in James Gunn's Marvel trilogy. Taking place after Avengers: Endgame this time Rocket takes center stage while the rest of our heroes are also adjusting to life after the Blip.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

James Gunn, Peter Quill and his band of Marvel space misfits return to tell a story about fathers and sons.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

We go back in time to 2014 and review James Gunns' surprise cosmic Marvel hit about a team of space misfits who come together to save the planet Xandar from destruction at the hands of Ronan, a disciple of Thanos.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

This week we re-watched A Chicano/Hood film classic per a listener request. This film follow the story of Miklo, and his cousins Cruz and Paco who are both brothers. These three men are reunited when Miklo moves back to East Los Angeles and we get to see how their paths both cross and split over a period of twelve years. This three hour crime epic …

This week we review a film that comes at the tail end of the Disney Animated Renaissance of the 90s which can not be forgotten. It has great music, a villain so horny he wants to burn down all of Paris, and we talk briefly about the Festival of Foolss... But more importantly we talk about Feast of the Ass and that alone is reason enough for you to …

The grandaddy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Back when The Incredible Hulk and Doctor Strange only existed in dark dingy television, Marvel took its first step into feature films with this 1986 adaptation of the comic series which was produced by George Lucas. Trapped in a world he never made a made, this film follows Howard, a duck from a dista…

Why are we reviewing this... Because our listeners secretly hate us because watching this movie was not self love. This week we cover this disastrous adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber's beloved musical with CGI Cats thats should only exist in nightmares.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

In the 25th and sadly last episode of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks to journalists Nathalia Urban about solidarity from Brazil and Latin America towards Palestine following Israel's ongoing attacks since 7 October 2023. He also speaks to journalist Anthony Loewenstein about how Israel exports its technology to Latin America. Nathália Urban…

This legasequel follows K, a replicant (played by Ryan Gosling) who is a Nexus-9 replicant working for the Los Angele Police Department responsible for retiring (killing) older replicants who have disappeared and gone into hiding.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

Birthday Meatballs, What I made for dinner tonight and my wife's battle with Stage 4 Colon cancer

Ridley Scott's sci-fi neo-noir film stars Harrison Ford as an replicant (robot) hunter who is tasked with terminating four replicants who are on earth to find their creator in a futuristic Los Angeles.By Angel Figueroa & Javier Lopez

Original Godzilla studio Toho returns ditching the giant monster battles for a post-WWII period piece grief movie! It's interesting that in a year where may of us were watching a film about the father of the Atomic Bomb, it was a kaiju movie that probably best tackled the fallout of this man made super weapon.…

Samuel L. Jackson stars in this 2005 sports drama inspired (As always this term is used LOOSELY) by the true story of Ken Carter, a Richmond, California High School basketball coach who institutes a lockout for his undefeated team so that they could raise their grades to the necessary level to get into college.…

The first new episode of 2024 is us finally covering this 2023 standout film starring Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, a Pro Wreslter who is part of one of wrestling royal families. His three man tag team The Von Erichs were the stars of Texas promotion World Class Championship wrestling (WCW) run by their father, first generation pro wrestler Fritz V…

We've made it to the end of our Twilight review series! The closing chapter of this saga wraps up the story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen with them as parents! I mean obviously theres a big battle at the end with the Voltari, vampire family reunions, vampire/werewolf politics, and Renesmee (Bella and Edward's daughter) is basically the daywalker …

In episode 24 of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks to academic Francisco Dominguez about Argentina's new far-right president Javier Milei. An expert on Latin American politics, Dr Francsico Domiguez is a former senior lecturer at Middlesex University in the UK and co-editor of ‘Right-Wing Politics in the New Latin America: Reaction and Revolt’…

The fourth film in the Twilight Saga brings us the Edward/Bella wedding and how that affects the Vampires, Werewolves Something we were expecting was love triangle melodrama from our two leads and Jacob, the wolf man-boy. Something we were not expecting: Abortion discussions, and a movie that at least makes us think of old horror movies like Rosema…

We are reviewing the third chapter of the Twilight Saga with Eclipse. There is a group of vicious vampires called "Newborns" killing people in Seattle who may also be heading to Forks looking for revenge on Edward and the Cullens. We also get to continue the Love triangle (?) between Edward, Bella, and Jacob. But everyone else move out of the way b…

Hey we're back in Forks! We have decided to wrap 2023 up by coming back to one of the most popular reviews of the year which was Twilight. In this second part to this saga we rejoin Bella and Edward as they try to navigate the challenges of a human/vampire relationship? Oh and we also get to know the Quileute werewolves too. Let's cliff dive into T…

In episode eight of our podcast The Americas Uncovered, host Dr Peter Watt of Sheffield University in the UK, speaks to John McEvoy about 'Britain and the Other 9/11', the forthcoming he is co-directing, and his investigative journalism on the UK's role in Latin America more broadly. This podcast was recorded an in-person event - more info here. Jo…

The power of Christ (And David Gordon Green) has brought us back to the franchise based on the William Peter Blatty's groundbreaking novel and William Freidkin's horror masterpiece. 50 years after the original Exorcist, we follow the families of Angel and Kartherine, who experience both the disappearance and reappearance of their daughters after go…

Our second movie in our Spooky SZN festival goes into the Alien Abduction horror subgenre. We follow Brynn, a young shut-in living in her childhood home where she has been shunned by everyone in the small town she lives in. In addition to dealing with the grief of losing her childhood friend and mother, she is forced into survival mode when an Alie…

In episode 23 of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks to Tanya Harmer about her latest book ‘Beatriz Allende: A Revolutionary Life in Cold War Latin America'. Dr Tanya Harmer is a specialist on the Cold War in Latin America with a particular interest in the international, transnational and global dynamics of the struggle. She has written widely o…

We're finally back! After a lengthy hiatus we've returned just in time for spooky season to cover this 2012 found footage horror anthology movie. We follow a Droog-like group of scumbags who are paid to break into to a stranger's home to collect a VHS tape. What they find is a collection of bizarre and horrifying experiences.…

In episode 22 of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks Margaret Power about her latest book book ‘Solidarity Across the Americas: The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and Anti-Imperialism.’ Margaret Power is professor emerita of history at the Illinois Institute of Technology in the USA. https://alborada.net/https-alborada-net-indestructible-episode…

In episode seven of our podcast The Americas Uncovered, host Dr Peter Watt of Sheffield University in the UK, speaks to Maria Vásquez Aguilar and Pablo Navarrete following an in-person screening of the documentary, The Chicago Boys. Event info here. Next UK screening: 11 September 2023 (Garden Cinema/London). Maria is a PhD candidate at the Univers…

In episode sixof our podcast The Americas Uncovered, host Dr Peter Watt of Sheffield University in the UK, speaks to Jorge E. Cuellar about his research on Central American Studies, Cultural Studies, Race, Migration, and Critical Social Theory. Jorge E. Cuellar is Assistant Professor, Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College,…

In episode 21 of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks to author, lawyer and human rights activist Dan Kovalik about Nicaraguan politics, past and present. **Indestructible: Latin America with Rodrigo Acuña is an Alborada podcast bringing you monthly discussions with some of the most interesting voices working on and from Latin America.** Presente…

The third movie in our Oakland Film Festival is this 2018 film directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada. We follow Colin who witnesses a black man being killed by a police officer on the last week of his probation. This incident leaves him shaken up and causes him to evaluate his life post incarceration and his relationship with his white childhood best fr…

In episode five of our podcast The Americas Uncovered, host Dr Peter Watt of Sheffield University in the UK, speaks to Linda Farthing and Thomas Becker about their book, Coup: A Story of Violence and Resistance in Bolivia. The book dissects the events around the 2019 coup against the government of Evo Morales following his victory in the presidenti…

In episode 20 of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks to academic Étienne von Bertrab about the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) in Mexico. **Indestructible: Latin America with Rodrigo Acuña is an Alborada podcast bringing you monthly discussions with some of the most interesting voices working on and from Latin America.** Present…

In London recently for the Latin America Adelante Conference, Alborada organised the panel 'Latin America, Mainstream Media Misrepresentation & the Independent Media Fightback'. The panel was organised in association with the Independent Media Association. For more information on the panel including the list of speakers, click here. Panel recorded …

The second movie in our Oakland on Film festival is this 2018 surrealist comedy from activist/musician turned Director Boots Riley. It revolves around Cassius Green, an Oakland telemarketer who discovers a major key to success in his job, and later has to choose between his own financial gain or joining his friends who are try to form a union.…

Despite brutal US sanctions that have had a major impact on everyday life for its citizens, Cuba's commitment to internationalism and anti-imperialism continues to burn brightly. Cuba expert Helen Yaffe discussed the situation in Cuba today, and what the recent wave of progressive governments in Latin America means for the island, with Alborada co-…

We spent two weeks praising Ryan Coogler for his Black Panther films and it has led us to finally go back to where it all began. This 2013 debut film from Coogler chronicles the final day of Oscar Grant III, a 22 year old man who was shot and killed on New Years Eve by a BART Police officer in Oakland. Our proximity to the the real life event and t…

With corporate media increasingly concentrated in elite hands, independent media has an important role to play in providing accurate reporting on Brazil and elsewhere. Brazilian journalist Nathália Urban discussed the topic with Peter Watt at London's Latin America Adelante Conference in late January. Peter Watt teaches on Latin America at Sheffiel…

In London recently for the Latin America Adelante Conference, academic and author Francisco Domínguez spoke to Peter Watt about what the government of Lula Da Slva can expect from the Brazilian far-right and strategies for confronting it. Dr Francisco Dominguez is a Chilean academic and author based at Middlesex University in the UK. Peter Watt tea…

Ghostface takes Manhattan? After rebooting the popular 1990s meta slasher last year, the good folks of Radio Silence bring us another chapter in this long running horror franchise. We pick up one year after the evens of 2022's Scream where our new "Core Four" has now moved New York City, but unfortunately, a familiar white masked killer has now fol…

Do We Like Scary Movies? In 1996, the slasher craze of the 80s was long gone and movies series like Halloween, Hellraiser, and Child's Play were considering the move to home video. Oddly enough it took the director of Nightmare on Elm Street, and the guy who created Dawson's Creek to bring us the great 90s comeback of horror movies. This film is th…

“My ancestors would often say only the most broken people can be great leaders” - Namor The death of star Chadwick Boseman left a huge hole in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that may never be filled. Ryan Coogler decided that instead of recasting his hero, that his follow up to the 2018 Best Picture nominated film would be a film that dealt directly…

For Wakanda? Without question. We return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first of two Black Panther films starting with Ryan Coogler's 2018 superhero epic. The late Chadwick Boseman stars as the titular hero and king of the fictional African nation who must ascend to the throne after the death of his father in Captain America: Civil War (2…

You can now listen to episode four of our podcast, The Americas Uncovered, hosted by Dr Peter Watt of Sheffield University in the UK. In this episode, Peter speaks to Christy Thornton, Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA, about her book Revolution in Development: Mexico and the Governance of…

In episode 19 of Indestructible Podcast, Rodrigo speaks to investigate journalist John McEvoy about his work uncovering the UK government's anti-democratic machinations in Latin America. **Indestructible: Latin America with Rodrigo Acuña is an Alborada podcast bringing you monthly discussions with some of the most interesting voices working on and …