Warner Bros. DC Comic Book action/adventure movie Blue Beetle has all the prerequisite elements for a great superhero flick to take its place alongside the long litany of similar movie fare that dominates the theaters today.

Blue Beetle revolves around a very likable, attractive young hero, an ultra-evil villain who threatens to take over the world, an apocalyptic storyline replete with pyrotechnic fireworks, explosions, gun fights, and hand-to-hand combat. There’s a romantic interest, a sequel teaser coda, and a wonderful, pulsating, rhythmic Latino music soundtrack. But the not-so-secret key ingredient that makes Blue Beetle a tasty, palatable, delicious, cinematic feast is the cast.

A Super Latino Cast of Characters

Xolo Maridueña plays Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate, the first in his Mexican-American family. Through a series of improbable events that require much suspension of disbelief, a beetle scarab possessing enormous powers becomes a parasite on his back, endowing him with powers he has no desire to have. Maridueña, who is best known for his continuing role as Miguel Diaz on Cobra Kai, is funny and disarming as the accidental, reluctant hero with superpowers he has no control over.

It is Maridueña’s affable, humorous self-effacing performance that sets the tone for Blue Beetle.

George Lopez, whose career has evolved from stand-up comic, late-night talk show host to TV sitcom star to becoming an accomplished character actor in such films as, The Spy Next Door and El Chicano, puts all that experience to good use as Jaime’s zany, eccentric Uncle Rudy who doesn’t miss a chance to chew up the scenery in his many hilarious scenes.

The talented, versatile Mexican actress Adriana Barraza who has distinguished herself in such diverse films as Babel and Thor, is Jaime’s grandmother, Nana Reyes. At first glance, Nana appears to be your typical, lovable Mexican abuela. But this granny harbors a secret past, or at least she hints at one. Nana suggests she once was a gun-toting revolutionary in some Latin American conflict.

In the exciting climatic battle, Nana shows her old revolutionary stuff by expertly firing a machine gun, much like Barraza did in Gigi Saul Guererro’s film Bingo Hell, all the while laughing out loud with obvious glee.

Jamie’s mother, Rocio Reyes, is played by legendary (and this writer’s favorite) Mexican actress Elpidia Carrillo. She has appeared in numerous big-time films like Salvador, The Border, and Predator and held her own alongside costars like James Woods, Jack Nicholson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Carrillo has appeared in several Mexican independent films as well as starring in International and American films and TV. She has won a plethora of awards for her work on the big and small screen. She also hosts an annual film festival in her home state of Michoacan, Mexico.

Despite her impressive cinema and TV pedigree, Carillo regrettably only has a small part in Blue Beetle. But it is a pivotal part, and true to her commitment as an artist, she does a lot with what she is given.

The Family is the Real Power

Director Angel Manuel Soto (The Farm, La Carta, 22 Weeks) and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, (Contrapelo, Miss Bala, El Muerto) have combined their considerable talents to create a story that illuminates and brings into sharp focus the warmth, love, and humor of the Mexican American experience found in the Blue Beetle DC Comic Book stories.

There is a strong subtext to Blue Beetle that posits the idea that Jaime Reyes’ superpowers owe as much to his strong familial connections as it does to an arbitrary beetle scarab talisman. And who better to represent the strength of the family on the big screen to a wide audience than a Mexican-American one?

There are some funny Latino cultural references used in writer Dunnet-Alcoceaideser’s script, and director Soto leavens the furious action set pieces with glib, self-effacing ad-lib asides by Jaime as he valiantly tries to rein in his out-of-control, oversized beetle bug superpowers.

A Disappointment at the Box Office

Blue Beetle is a fun roller coaster ride replete with action, laughs, and quirky, likeable Mexican-American characters struggling, battling and loving within a rich Latino cultural motif that received generally positive critical reviews and enthusiastic audience feedback.

So, why didn’t Blue Beetle do better at the box office? It earned $25 million during its first theatrical week of release. As of this writing, its global box office receipts are under $100 million.

Several reasons contributed to its weak performance at the box office.

• Dump Month Factor. Warner Bros. released Blue Beetle to theaters in mid-August 2023. August, by many movie industry insiders, is considered a “dump month” for movies the studio doesn’t have much confidence in, as opposed to those released during the holidays.
• Lack of Marketing. Due to the WGA/SAG strike, Blue Beetle cast members did not appear on late night TV shows to chat up the film. TV commercials promoting the film were rare compared to the avalanche of ads for Barbie.
• Blame it on Hillary. No, not that Hillary, the other Hillary, Tropical Storm Hillary. Hillary descended on Southern California just in time for the theatrical release of Blue Beetle. It was reported that the heavy rains put a damper on theater attendance.
• The DC Cinema Universe Losing Streak. Whereas the Marvel Universe churns one highly successful adventure superhero film after another, the DC Cinema Universe has turned out one box office turkey after another. The last most recent one, in a string of many box office failures was Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Hope “Streams” Eternal

In 1946, Hollywood iconic director, Frank Capra, saw his film, It’s A Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore, open to a universal chorus of boo bird movie critics who ravaged his film for its style and content. It suffered miserably at the box office as well.

But with the advent of television, It’s A Wonderful Life over time became an annual Christmas viewing tradition and achieved a cult status which it still enjoys today.

When Blue Beetle is picked up by some streaming platform, a similar fate could befall this movie, too. On a streaming platform, it could gain the traction it didn’t get in the theaters and become a minor cult classic. With some newfound success, Blue Beetle could result in a sequel, maybe a franchise, and who knows, eventually a Broadway musical based on the DC Comic Mexican-American superhero.

A strong streaming performance could also convince the studio executives at Sony Pictures to rethink their decision to shelve Bad Bunny’s El Muerto and bring it back to life (bad pun intended).

So, let’s not throw out the big bug with the bath water just yet. Blue Beetle has a lot going for it; a great cast, storyline, and cultural diversity, which is so badly lacking in the world of superhero films today.

The post The ‘Blue Beetle’ Showcases a Super Latino Cast first appeared on .

The lead role of Jaime Reyes (AKA “Blue Beetle”) is portrayed by the talented Xolo Maridueña known to audiences from his role in the TV show Cobra Kai.  Blue Beetle also boasts a remarkable cast that includes George Lopez (Lopez vs. Lopez), Elpidia Carillo (Predator), Academy Award-nominated actress Adriana Barraza (Babel, Rambo: Last Blood), Harvey Guillen, newcomer Belissa Escobedo (American Horror Story, The Baker and the Beauty), Raoul Max Trujillo (Mayans M.C.), and Hollywood star Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham, Thelma & Louise). Additionally, the renowned singer Becky G lends her voice to the film as “Khaja-Da.”

The community screening, totally funded by the presenting entities, comes at a crucial time for the film industry, with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG/Aftra) currently on strike, the talent of the film are not able to promote the opening of the film.  That is when the organizations saw the need to rally support for Blue Beetle, a groundbreaking movie that holds significant importance for the future of Latino representation in Hollywood. This film showcases Latinos in a positive light, breaking barriers and paving the way for more inclusive storytelling in the entertainment industry. A special effort was made to include groups of student to attend because they will see themselves represented on the big screen.

In a city where Latinos make up 50% of the population, three screenings alone are not enough to spread the word. Latin Heat Media and HCSB are committed to ensuring that more individuals and in particular the students, have the opportunity to enjoy the film at the screening and be empowered by seeing a superhero who looks like them. The response has been overwhelming.  An hour after posting the free tickets on social media, all tickets were gone.

Bel Hernandez, President/CEO of Latin Heat Media and Chair of HCSB’s Arts and Entertainment Committee, emphasizes the importance of engaging the Latino audience in supporting films that authentically represent their community. “The power of the Latino audience has not always been fully tapped, especially when it comes to movies as important as Blue Beetle. The studios must involve and market to our community. Warner Bros., the studio releasing this film, hasn’t always had a stellar track record with Latino-focused film marketing. It’s time to see a commitment to our community and an  adequate marketing investment if they wish to access our significant consumer buying power.”

According to the Motion Picture Association (MPA), Latinos who comprise 19% of the population, accounted for 29% of movie tickets sold in 2020, and this trend continues to grow. Latin Heat Media and HCSB’s Arts and Entertainment Committee are dedicated to promoting awareness of projects with Latino participation, aiming to increase the visibility of the Latino representation in the entertainment industry.

The community screening of Blue Beetle promises to be an unforgettable event, celebrating diversity and unity, and inclusivity, and hopefully, a catalyst for more audience to go see it on their own.

The post FREE Community Screening in Support of ‘Blue Beetle’ Starring Xolo Mariduña first appeared on .

Winner of the Best Film award at the NY Latino Film Festival and Barcelona Film Festival last year, Amaraica premieres on HBO/HBO/MAX on September 3.  Filmed in El Paso, TX, the film is directed by Tim Sparks.  Actress Elpidia Carillo (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, Mayans MC) and Director/Writer Tom Musa (Stand and Deliver) produce.

It is an immigrant story that revolves around Roberto, an undocumented roofer on the verge of marrying a U.S. citizen, which would allow him legal status.  Plans change when his ex-girlfriend Juana comes back into his life, claiming he is her child’s father.  Reluctantly, he takes responsibility, becomes a father, and then loses his child.

Roberto is deported while Juana remains in US custody seeking asylum and the whereabouts of her infant daughter. The film climax examines the reality of a family who has been separated from their child and their difficult if not impossible struggle to be reunited.

Amaraica is Sparks’ directorial debut. The subject matter of this film came from his own extended family, where he gained first-hand experience dealing with the complexities of undocumented immigration. In addition to his personal experience, the film is also further fueled by the inhumane practice of child separation at the US/Mexico border.

“I’ve been drafted into the community of undocumented individuals who are tragically affected every day by inhumane practice and policy at the US border,” Sparks recounted. “This film is for them,” he continued. “I invite you to walk a mile in their shoes as you watch, Amaraica, a human story about a family, perhaps not unlike your own, caught in a broken system, struggling to make a better future for their children in the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Lending their experience and talents as producers are Musca, who first captured attention as the producer and co-writer of Oscar-nominated films Stand and Deliver and Carrillo.  Carillo, who became known for her performance in The Border and Predator, has amassed an impressive career in Hollywood.  She is now adding producer to her skillset.  

It’s been said that without Elpidia’s passionate resolve to bring Amaraica’s story to light, the film might not have been made. She is solely responsible for procuring the talent that stars in the movie.

When director Sparks approached Carillo with his script, it triggered the deep hurt she had carried since starring in her first film in Hollywood.

“I came to this country as a teenager, my first film The Border reflected a Hollywood view of the migrant situation. This view was racist and horrible,” Carrillo said passionately.  “We are not all prostitutes and drug dealers. We are hardworking, honest people doing their best to survive and feed their families.  I knew early on that I had to raise my voice to find and write stories that told the truth about Latinos.”

Carillo was heavily involved with the casting of Aldo Verastegui as the lead said, “I wanted to make sure our story was told from the right perspective and that the narrative remains true to real life.  When Aldo told me about his family experiences with immigration, I knew he was the right actor to bring this story to life”. 

“As a Latino/American actor, I am so proud of what we did. We didn’t make a movie just to make a movie. We wanted to tell a universal story that is not only about Mexicans but for every race of people around the world experiencing those same immigration problems,” Verastegui said.

Producer/writer Kori Sparks has worked on major films, including Inception, Angles & Daemons, and The Dark Knight Rises. Her hands-on leadership helped shape the vision and authenticity of Amaraica. 

Amaraica, a Sparkstar Production, was released last year and is now premiering on the pay cable channel HBO Latino/HBO MAX, September 3, 2021, and will be available for streaming.  Amaraica was produced in partnership with www.raisestexas.org, a non-profit advocacy group representing separated children and their families pro-bono.

The post Award-winning Indie ‘Amaraica’ Premieres on HBO MAX Sept. 3 first appeared on .