SkyWire Digital Magazine

by Daniel Andrade Courtesy of Paramount Pictures When I was growing up, I didn’t have my own video game console. I used to have to go over to friends’ or cousins’ houses and play games with them. I’ll never forget the first time I played on a Sega Genesis. There were two games that I was obsessed with: Echo the Dolphin and Sonic the Hedgehog. To this day I still haven’t beaten the original Sonic game (those water levels and that terrifying alarm sound of Sonic losing air and eventually drowning still haunt me to this day), but regardless, Sonic has remained one of my all-time favorite video games and video game characters. So when I heard that they were going to make a Sonic movie and that one of my favorite actors was going to star in it as the notorious Dr. Robotnik ( Jim Carrey ), I was absolutely thrilled and couldn’t wait to see how they would capture the charming attitude of Sonic and his blazing speed on the big screen. And then the first teaser poster came out… Thoug...

by Daniel Andrade Courtesy of Blumhouse Productions Fantasy Island was a show that originally debuted in the late ‘70s and ran for 7 seasons (and was briefly revived for one season in 1998), and it was one of the pivotal examples of the saying “Be careful what you wish for.” In all iterations of the show, guests to the mystical island were granted one of their fantasies, but it often came at a price, and always had to be seen through to its conclusion. This basic premise remains intact for the latest version of this story, a feature-length film from the horror/thriller juggernauts at Blumhouse. I am a huge fan of horror films in general and have a great respect for Blumhouse, which has given us some of my favorite contemporary horror films such as Happy Death Day , Get Out , Insidious , Unfriended , and Paranormal Activity . So suffice to say, I walked into the theater with decent expectations. Overall, the film didn’t quite live up to them, but it also definitely wasn’t as ho...

by Daniel Andrade Courtesy of DC Films Four years ago, DC wanted to try something different for their Extended Universe and show viewers a funnier, more light-hearted side of their vast catalog, the villain-centric Suicide Squad . The trailers showed a colorful, bombastic, insane look into the lives of some of Gotham’s notably odd nemeses. While the movie didn’t perform as well as anticipated, one of the better things to come out of it was Margot Robbie’s ( Bombshell , The Wolf of Wall Street ) interpretation of fan-favorite character Harley Quinn. Halloween parties and Comic-Cons around the nation became flooded by Harley impersonators, breathing new life into the iconic character and pretty much guaranteeing that we would see Robbie take on the role again in the near future. So when a Harley Quinn-led Birds of Prey was announced as a spiritual sequel to Suicide Squad , many were excited to see if the popular character could carry the film on her own. After my viewing of the ...

Courtesy of Universal Pictures by Daniel Andrade There have been numerous movies that have documented the horrors of war and have shown how it not only changes countries and policies but, most significantly, the lives of the brave soldiers risking their lives as well. While many of these movies display war as a series of explosions and gunfire, few movies take the time to display the quieter, anxiety-inducing moments in-between the violence. It’s often in these moments where we are reminded that many of the soldiers out there on the front lines, and even at times their superiors, are young, inexperienced, and terrified. 1917 is not only an incredible war movie, but a phenomenal film in general that is gripping, moving, and impactful, one that you will be thinking about long after the final scene. One of the biggest features of this film that many were talking about was the way in which it was filmed, a method which made it seem like the movie was one uninterrupted, cont...

Courtesy of Lionsgate by Daniel Andrade There are some films that will shake you to your core, that will make you feel both angry and sad, frustrated and anxious. Oftentimes, the movies that affect you in this way do so because they are relatable or relevant to the real world, and make you reflect on situations that you, your friends, and/or your family have gone through. Bombshell is one of those films. It’s a powerful, heartbreaking, infuriating look into one of the tragically many instances of men exploiting, assaulting, and harassing women, and the fear and uncertainty that follows in deciding whether or not to report such incidents. It’s absolutely a must-see, though it is certainly not the feel-good movie of the year. The acting in this movie was simply phenomenal. One major reason for that was the make-up and prosthetics used in this film, which was unbelievable, particularly in regards to Charlize Theron and John Lithgow . They truly were able to meld into their ...

by Daniel Andrade and Jen Sanchez Since the last time we spoke to Monroe Hayden, many milestones have occurred. From the ending of SkySoft's flagship series Fox , to the acquisition of Thunderstorm Pictures and the plethora of new shows announced for the future, Hayden has taken SkySoft to new heights and shows no signs of slowing down. With a new decade looming on the horizon, SkyWire wanted to chat with her about what this past year has meant for her, lessons she's learned along the way, the impact SkySoft has had on its viewers, and what she is most excited about for the future. SkySoft has essentially been around for five years now. How has SkySoft changed and grown since 2014?  Actually, SkySoft was birthed in 2015. Before it was Hayden/Teague. It was a production company that I created with Brandon Teague and we had a much different plan for the company then. When he passed, everything changed and a lot of what SkySoft is today was created in 2015. So I supp...