Monday, December 16, 2024

Top 10 2023 Film Moments

1. Rustin outed as gay and his reaction to it in Rustin.
2. The story of John le Carré betraying a friend of his who turned out to be a spy in The Pigeon Tunnel.
3. The possibility of the bomb igniting the entire atmosphere of Earth in Oppenheimer.
4. Wonka opening the chocolate his mother made and sharing it with his friends at the end of Wonka.
5. Kevin breaking down in front of his sons over the deaths of his brothers at the end of The Iron Claw.
6. Bella's intelligence and independence developing throughout Poor Things.
7. Leonard doing everything he can to help Felicia as she suffers from cancer in Maestro.
8. Rocket's origin story throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
9. Rebecca revealing that she has Anne tied up in her own basement in Eileen.
10. Hal's desperate search for the secret camera Rebecca told him she had in Sanctuary.
Honorable Mentions:
Monk's alternative endings to his screenplay at the end of American Fiction.
The Adonis and Damian match in Creed III.
Godzilla's attack on Ginza in Godzilla Minus One.
The standoff between G.H., Clay, and Danny in Leave the World Behind.
Snow betraying Sejanus in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Daniel's testimony helping Sandra be deemed innocent at the end of Anatomy of a Fall.
The reprise of This Wish leading to Magnifico's defeat at the end of Wish.
Aatami strapping Helldorf to a bomb and dropping both in Sisu.
Nora saying goodbye to Hae at the end of Past Lives.
Paul taking the blame for Angus visiting his father at the end of The Holdovers.
The people of Manhattan accepting the Turtles, Splinter, and the other mutants and helping them defeat Superfly in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
Beau imagining himself as the main character of a play he's watching in Beau Is Afraid.
Fontaine meeting the original Fontaine and why the clones were created in They Cloned Tyrone.
Carol, Monica, and Kamala training with their powers and how their teleportation works in The Marvels.
Bob shooting Paul and Hildegard at the end of Brooklyn 45.
PJ, Josie, and the other club members fighting the Huntington High players at the end of Bottoms.
Ephraim taking over Daniella's body at the end of Suitable Flesh.
The motivation behind the killers in Sick.
Keith presenting himself to the House Committee at the end of Dumb Money.
Ziggy's attempts to impress Lila through her politics in When You Finish Saving the World.
Paul being mistreated, shunned, and abused when the dreams of him become violent and graphic in Dream Scenario.
Mollie leaving Ernest after learning he poisoned her at the end of Killers of the Flower Moon.
The reveal of Oliver's manipulations at the end of Saltburn.
The Russian car chase in Tetris.
DeSalvo killed in prison before telling his story in Boston Strangler.
Jaime's initial transformation by the Scarab in Blue Beetle.
Brynn being content with the aliens taking over everyone else at the end of No One Will Save You.
Sonny's pitch to the Jordans foreshadowing Michael's future in Air.
Miles being told of canon events in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Gloria's speech about society's conflicting expectations of women in Barbie.
The Expert's last supper of whiskey in The Killer.
The end credits revealing what happened to the main characters at the end of Theater Camp.
Taylor's renditions and the stage changes during her Folklore act during Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.
The Entity managing to copy and use Benji's voice to trick Ethan in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.
A UFO and alien appearing in front of the crater attendees in Asteroid City.
Napoleon and his forces finding Moscow abandoned and burned in Napoleon.
Joe questioning his relationship with Gracie at the end of May December.
Stacy and Lydia making up at the end of You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.
Leo and Angela attending their son's poetry reading at the end of Somewhere in Queens.
Nimona sacrificing herself to prevent the Director's weapon from killing countless civilians in Nimona.
The reason why Ember's family moved to Element City in Elemental.
The party resurrecting and questioning soldiers in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
John killing the Marquis at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4.
Barry meeting his mother and choosing to let her die at the end of The Flash.
Roger's case to the Manhattan city council about lifting the ban on pinballs at the end of Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game.
Time traveling to Ancient Greece and meeting Archimedes in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Richard and his friends and family selling Flamin' Hot Cheetos on the streets to market it better in Flamin' Hot.
Caleb waking up to having undergone the 75-year journey to Omega without having said goodbye to his friends at the end of Crater.
Brian and Playa's final confrontation at the end of Silent Night.
The reveal of the nuking of Los Angeles wasn't caused by AI but by human error in The Creator.
Black defeating Clayton at the end of Outlaw Johnny Black.
Jamie learning about the many changes that occurred from her time traveling at the end of Totally Killer.
Anne and Jenny taking part in the charades section of the quiz show in Quiz Lady.
Clifton being behind the murders and his motivation in The Blackening.
Ally realizing that Sean is not right for her in Somebody I Used to Know.
The events leading to Delroy's freedom in Migration.
The students rescuing Leo in the Everglades in Leo.
Steven writing an opera based on his experience with Katrina in She Came to Me.
Afton's defeat at the end of Five Nights at Freddy's.
Clemens realizing Dracula is alive and vowing to hunt him down at the end of The Last Voyage of the Demeter.
Mrs. Tweedy revealed to be running Fun-Land Farms in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
Aquaman revealing Atlantis to the surface world at the end of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Damian accidentally causing chaos in Gotham leading to the villains getting out of retirement in Merry Little Batman.
Danny portraying Simmonds and recreating past events for a new movie at the end of Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.
The performance of "Part of Your World" in The Little Mermaid 2023.
Jason Momoa's performance throughout Fast X.
Mario and Luigi using the Super Star to defeat Bowser at the end of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Dracula's defeat at the end of Renfield.
The bear's reaction to eating cocaine at the gazebo in Cocaine Bear.    
Finding the Ghostface shrine in Scream VI.
Janet learning the truth about Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Cady defeating M3GAN using Bruce at the end of M3GAN.
Eric's death causing the worldwide disasters to end at the end of Knock at the Cabin.
Crump using Ben's grief over the loss of his wife to get his soul in Haunted Mansion.
Carl restarting his life over after the town thinks he died in a fire at the end of Paint.
Maurillo pretending to be a notorious drug lord in Vacation Friends 2.
Ruby and her family defeating Nerissa at the end of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
Henry's death freeing the townspeople in It's a Wonderful Knife.
Kalypso planting the Golden Apple and unleashing the Tree of Life in the mortal world in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Optimus destroying the portal at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Timmy's defeat at the end of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.
Kora's backstory in Rebel Moon.

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Top Movies and Shows of 2023

Movies:
1. Nimona
2. Oppenheimer
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
4. Sisu
5. Poor Things
6. American Fiction
7. Wonka
8. Godzilla Minus One
9. Maestro
10. The Holdovers
11. Past Lives
12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
13. Asteroid City
14. Rustin
15. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
16. Brooklyn 45
17. No One Will Save You
18. Silent Night
19. The Pigeon Tunnel
20. The Killer 2023
21. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
22. Blue Beetle
23. They Cloned Tyrone
24. Barbie
25. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
26. Elemental
27. Air
28. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
29. Creed III
30. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
31. John Wick: Chapter 4
32. Somewhere in Queens
33. Bottoms
34. Scream VI
35. The Iron Claw
36. Quiz Lady
37. Theater Camp
38. Beau Is Afraid
39. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
40. Sanctuary
41. Totally Killer
42. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
43. Killers of the Flower Moon
44. M3GAN
45. Sick
46. Suitable Flesh
47. Dumb Money
48. Tetris
49. Eileen
50. Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
51. Saltburn
52. The Marvels
53. The Last Voyage of the Demeter
54. Flamin' Hot
55. Anatomy of a Fall
56. Dream Scenario
57. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
58. Paint
59. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
60. Cocaine Bear
61. Knock at the Cabin
62. The Flash
63. Migration
64. When You Finish Saving the World
65. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
66. Leave the World Behind
67. May December
68. The Creator
69. Crater
70. Napoleon
71. Somebody I Used to Know
72. The Blackening
73. Wish
74. Renfield
75. Five Nights at Freddy's
76. Fast X
77. Merry Little Batman
78. She Came to Me
79. Boston Strangler
80. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
81. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
82. Outlaw Johnny Black
83. Leo
84. The Little Mermaid 2023
85. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
86. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
87. Vacation Friends 2
88. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
89. It's a Wonderful Knife
90. Haunted Mansion
91. Rebel Moon
92. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines

Shows:
1. Archie
2. Hunters
3. The Fall of the House of Usher
4. Barry
5. Superman & Lois
6. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
7. The Last of Us
8. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
9. Doctor Who
10. American Masters
11. White House Plumbers
12. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
13. Nolly
14. Reservation Dogs
15. The Problem with Jon Stewart
16. Only Murders in the Building
17. The Crown
18. One Piece 2023
19. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
20. Poker Face
21. Blue-Eye Samurai
22. Daisy Jones & the Six
23. Yellowjackets
24. Agent Elvis
25. The Ghost and Molly McGee
Honorable Mentions:
Gen V
Jury Duty
Lessons in Chemistry
Your Honor
Mrs. Davis
Beef
Fargo
The Consultant
Funny Woman
The Muppets Mayhem
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Sweet Tooth
Wilderness
Schmigadoon!
Foundation
Slow Horses
Solar Opposites
What We Do in the Shadows
The Diplomat
Creepshow
The Mandalorian
Tales of the TARDIS
Unstable
Ted Lasso
Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
The Righteous Gemstones
Swarm
Dark Winds
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Manifest
Power Rangers
Based on a True Story
Shrinking
Marvel Studios: Assembled
Loki
Lucky Hank
Rick and Morty
My Adventures with Superman
Our Flag Means Death
Silo
Goosebumps 2023
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
The Artful Dodger
Miracle Workers
The Flash 2014
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
Star Wars: Visions
Class of '07
Alaska Daily
What If…?
A Murder at the End of the World
American Born Chinese
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Legend of Vox Machina
Good Omens
Chucky
The Simpsons
The Power
Saturday Night Live
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
The Great
9-1-1: Lone Star
Upload
History of the World, Part II
Hello Tomorrow!
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake
Fired on Mars
Secrets of Sulphur Springs
Waco: The Aftermath
American Experience
The Continental
Invincible
The Daily Show
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Riverdale
Twisted Metal
Disenchantment
9-1-1
American Horror Stories
The Rookie
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre
Dead Ringers
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian
Ahsoka
NCIS
Walker: Independence
Love & Death
The Gilded Age
The Big Door Prize
Obliterated
Hailey's On It!
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Bupkis
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Animaniacs 2020
Young Sheldon
Digman!
Cruel Summer
Futurama
I Am Groot
Mulligan
Human Resources
Fright Krewe
Perry Mason 2020
The Afterparty
Ghosts 2021
Fear the Walking Dead
Late Night with Seth Meyers
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
The Witcher
100 Years of Warner Bros.
The Crowded Room
The Rookie: Feds
Gotham Knights
Shining Vale
Night Court 2023
Big Mouth
American Horror Story: Delicate
Superpowered: The DC Story
Gamera Rebirth
The Wonder Years 2021
School Spirits
Tulsa King
Good Trouble
The Good Doctor
Lockwood & Co.
Quantum Leap 2022
The Winchesters
The Idol
Tiny Toons Looniversity
Krapopolis
Young Rock
Full Circle
Dr. Death
CSI: Vegas
Florida Man
Killing It
Law & Order: SVU
Secret Invasion
American Dad!
FUBAR
NCIS: Hawai'i
Beacon 23
Animal Control
Fantasy Island 2021
NCIS: Sidney
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens
iCarly
Jack Ryan
Looney Tunes Cartoons
Physical
Frasier 2023
That '90s Show
The Curse
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Castlevania: Nocturne
Bel-Air
Bookie
The Rig
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Welcome to Flatch
Hamster & Gretel
Blue Bloods
Mayfair Witches
NCIS: Los Angeles
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Freeridge
Family Guy
The Neighborhood
Chicago Fire
Pretty Hard Cases

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Fall Guy

Loosely based on a 1980s show of the same name, The Fall Guy pays tribute to the stuntmen behind the scenes of movies and shows. Ryan Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, a veteran stuntman who gets called back to provide stunt work after a serious accident for a new big budget movie directed by his ex, played by Emily Blunt. With the film shooting in Australia, Colt must mend his relationship while also taking part in figuring what happened to the lead of the movie. Having David Leitch as director gives this tribute to stunt work that much of a stronger of a tribute thanks to not only the films he made before this but also his work as a stuntman and coordinator prior to directing. Combine Leitch's direction and Drew Pearce's writing you get a movie with great action but also have a well told story whose focus isn't just the big action scenes but has equal parts drama and comedy, almost bordering on romantic comedy at times with how Colt and Jody, his ex, interact. But even when there's a scene with no huge or inventive stunts, Leitch still manages to find creative ways to make each scene memorable through inventive camera work like a split screen between Colt and Jody when they're calling each other and discussing the very same thing. A lot of these stunts and creative decisions wouldn't work as well if not for Jonathan Sela's cinematography and Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir's editing. Gosling and Blunt give really strong and hilarious performances that make their characters feel so relatable, especially with how strong their chemistry was. Other memorable members of the cast that elevate the movie include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, and Winston Duke. Even though it bombed, that doesn't take away how great The Fall Guy is both as a movie in its own right and a tribute to the stunt community. Over all: 100%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. The Fall Guy
3. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
4. Abigail
5. Monkey Man
6. Late Night with the Devil
7. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
8. The Book of Clarence
9. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
10. Drive-Away Dolls
11. Kung Fu Panda 4
12. Lisa Frankenstein
13. Argylle
14. Mean Girls 2024

Friday, November 1, 2024

Abigail

Vampires are nothing new in film, but it's not everyday that we get a little girl vampire who's also a ballerina in Abigail. The titular character, initially acting like an innocent child, gets kidnapped by a group of criminals who are unaware of what she is and only know that Abigail is the daughter of a powerful figure. Things start to go wrong when the house they're in locks them in, Abigail reveals herself as a vampire, and the bodies start dropping. This film is a complete riot thanks to the combination of strong writing, directing, acting, effects, production values, and cinematography. Stephen Shields and Guy Busick craft a fun and terrifying script that manages to take an overused premise and give it great spins, while also having very three dimensional characters with very witty and informative dialogue. Coming off of the last two Scream movies, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett continue to prove why their unique touch and style are perfect for the horror genre. As Abigail, Alisha Weir is fantastic and terrifying, proving to be such a formidable and fun actress despite being in her early teens. Alongside her you also get strong and believable performances from Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, and Kevin Durand. All of them manage to take the already great writing of their characters and install charm and likability to them. The minimal and small locations helps to give the effects, production values, and cinematography a sense of great detail despite its limited setting. A movie as fun, good, and absolutely bonkers and terrifying is not always easy to make, but Abigail manages to do that in spades. Over all: 100%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
3. Abigail
4. Monkey Man
5. Late Night with the Devil
6. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
7. The Book of Clarence
8. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
9. Drive-Away Dolls
10. Kung Fu Panda 4
11. Lisa Frankenstein
12. Argylle
13. Mean Girls 2024

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Top 10 TV Movies and Specials of 2023

TV Movies:
1. David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
2. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
3. Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
4. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
5. Being Mary Tyler Moore
6. Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford
7. Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie
8. Prom Pact
9. Stan Lee
10. Zoey 102
Honorable Mentions:
Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
The Heist Before Christmas
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
The Slumber Party

Specials:
1. 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
2. Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
3. Disney 100: Remember That
4. Manifest finale
5. Doctor Who: The Giggle
6. Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limited Future
7. 20/20 Disney 100: A Century of Dreams
8. Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best
9. Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
10. Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian-The Making of Season 3
Honorable Mentions:
Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas
Invincible: Atom Eve
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 20th Anniversary Special
A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
My Dad the Bounty Hunter finale
A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys
My Adventures with Superman premiere
Entertainment Tonight-A Salute to NCIS: Los Angeles
80th Golden Globe Awards
The Last Last Late Show Carpool Karaoke Special
Good Chemistry: The Story of Elemental
The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday
Breaking Ooze - An Inside Look at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXXIV
22nd AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
The Year: 2023
65th Annual Grammy Awards
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
Making The Witcher: Season 3
29th Screen Actors Guild Awards
76th BAFTAs
28th Critics' Choice Awards
2023 MTV Video Music Awards

Friday, October 11, 2024

Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #48

Comics in the 1960s during the Silver Age of the medium didn't come much bigger than with Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #48. The comic sees the first family of Marvel dealing with the aftermath from a confrontation with the Inhumans only to be greeted and warned by the Watcher who warns them about the Silver Surfer and the coming of Galactus. Being the first part of the Galactus Trilogy, this issue does an absolutely fantastic job at setting up the stakes and the grave threat that the cosmic giant serves in the Marvel universe. Thanks to the combination of Stan Lee's writing with the art and coloring from Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott, you get a highly memorable comic with good pacing and detailed, brisk art. It does, as typical for its time, tend to over-rely on large expository dialogue and characters often posing in very dramatic ways. But, that's part of the charm of 60s Silver Age comics, and the silly things like Galactus appearing green and red or the Watcher with a square head don't keep this classic issue from being so influential. Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #48 is a fun issue not just because it introduces iconic aspects to the Marvel mythos, but because of the people who worked on it giving it their best. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980
2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170
3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1
4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1
5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1
6. Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #48
7. Deadman: Love After Death #1
8. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1
9. Blue Beetle Vol. 5 #1
10. Showcase Vol. 1 #75
11. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441
12. Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18
13. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))
14. Hulk Vol. 5 #1
15. Avnegers: War Across Time #1
16. The Yellow Kid
17. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8
18. Archie and Me #132
19. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1
20. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Top 2023 Series and Season Finales

Series Finales:
1. Hunters
2. Your Honor
3. The Fall of the House of Usher
4. Manifest
5. Daisy Jones & the Six
6. Reservation Dogs
7. Beef
8. Totally Completely Fine
9. Power Rangers
10. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Honorable Mentions:
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
The Flash 2014
Archie
The Crown
Barry
Lessons in Chemistry
Ted Lasso
Swarm
Schmigadoon!
Wilderness
Fear the Walking Dead
Mrs. Davis
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
The Continental
White House Plumbers
Welcome to Chippendales
The Consultant
Miracle Workers
Dead Ringers
Our Flag Means Death
Disenchantment
Nolly
American Born Chinese
The Great
Jury Duty
History of the World, Part II
Young Rock
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Star Wars: Visions
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Waco: The Aftermath
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
Shining Vale
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
Secrets of Sulphur Springs
Animaniacs 2020
Riverdale
I Am Groot
NCIS: Los Angeles
Hello Tomorrow!
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982
Obliterated
Jack Ryan
Perry Mason 2020
Agent Elvis
The Muppets Mayhem
The Crowded Room
Class of '07
The Winchesters
Alaska Daily
iCarly 2021
Bupkis
Killing It
Human Resources
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
A Murder at the End of the World
Love & Death
Welcome to Flatch
The Power
Lockwood & Co.
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre
100 Years of Warner Bros.
Culprits
Secret Invasion
Fired on Mars
Florida Man
The Problem with Jon Stewart
The Wonder Years 2021
Cruel Summer
Nancy Drew
Lucky Hank
Physical
Gotham Knights
The Afterparty

Season Finales:
1. Loki second season finale-Glorious Purpose
2. The Last of Us first season finale-Look for the Light
3. One Piece 2023 first season finale-Worst in the East
4. Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake first season finale-Cheers
5. Superman & Lois third season finale-What Kills You Only Makes You Stronger
6. Only Murders in the Building third season finale-Opening Night
7. The Righteous Gemstones third season finale-Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted
8. Blue-Eye Samurai first season finale-The Great Fire of 1657
9. The Mandalorian third season finale-Chapter 24: The Return
10. What If…? second season finale-What If… Strange Supreme Intervened?
Honorable Mentions:
Gen V first season finale-Guardians of Godolkin
The Legend of Vox Machina second season finale-The Hope Devourer
Creepshow fourth season finale-George Romero in 3-D!/Baby Teeth
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur first season finale-OMG Issue #2
The Walking Dead: Dead City first season finale-Doma Smo
Rick and Morty seventh season finale-Fear No Mort
Upload third season finale-Flesh and Blood
The Rookie fifth season finale-Under Siege
Foundation second season finale-Creation Myths
Twisted Metal first season finale-SHNGRLA
Based on a True Story first season finale-The Universe
Unstable first season finale-A Dragon's Fire
Good Omens second season finale-Every Day
My Dad the Bounty Hunter first season finale-The Bounty Hunters
Ahsoka first season finale-Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord
The Diplomat first season finale-The James Bond Clause
Poker Face first season finale-The Hook
Shrinking first season finale-Closure
Goosebumps 2023 first season finale-Welcome to Horrorland
The Simpsons 34th season finale-Homer's Adventure Through the Windshield Glass
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder second season finale-Juneteenth
Quantum Leap 2022 first season finale-Judgment Day
What We Do in the Shadows fifth season finale-Exit Interview
My Adventures with Superman first season finale-Hearts of the Fathers
School Spirits first season finale-Madison's Body
Silo first season finale-Outside
Sweet Tooth second season finale-The Ballad of the Last Men
The Artful Dodger first season finale-Untapped Potential
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai first season finale-Never Ever Expose Them to Bright Light
Slow Horses:Real Tigers finale-Footprints
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon first season finale-Coming Home
Tulsa King first season finale-Happy Trails
American Horror Stories third season finale-Organ
Young Sheldon sixth season finale-A Tornado, a 10-Hour Flight and a Darn Fine Ring
CSI: Vegas second season finale-Dying Words
9-1-1 sixth season finale-Pay It Forward
Dark Winds second season finale-Hózhó náhásdlįį
Fright Krewe first season finale-The War
Star Wars: The Bad Batch second season finale-Plan 99
NCIS twentieth season finale-Black Sky
Funny Woman first series finale-Episode 6
NCIS: Hawaii second season finale-Dies Irae
Blue Bloods thirteenth season finale-Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Gamera Rebirth first season finale-Childhood's end
Digman! first season finale-The Grail
Yellowjackets second season finale-Storytelling
Big Mouth seventh season finale-A Finger in Time
Tiny Toons Looniversity first season finale-The Show Must Hop On
Skull Island first season finale-You'll Never Catch a Monkey That Way
9-1-1: Lone Star fourth season finale-In Sickness and In Health
NCIS: Sidney first season finale-Blonde Ambition
Hamster & Gretel first season finale-Exclamation Strikes Back
Solar Opposites fourth season finale-The Unwanted Personification of Terry
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens third season finale-Nora is Awkwafina from Queens
We Baby Bears first season finale-Little Fallen Star
Dr. Death second season finale-Surgeons, Bachelors, and Butchers
Ghosts 2021 third season finale-The Heir
Frasier 2023 first season finale-Reindeer Games
Castlevania: Nocturne first season finale-Devourer of Light
FUBAR first season finale-That's It and That's All
That '90s Show first season finale-Kids in America
The Gilded Age second season finale-In Terms of Winning and Losing
Family Guy 21st season finale-Adult Education
The Rig first season finale-Episode 6
The Big Door Prize first season finale-Deerfest: Part Two
Beacon 23 first season finale-Adamantine
The Witcher third season finale-The Cost of Chaos
Bookie first season finale-A Square Job in a Round Hole
The Good Doctor sixth season finale-Love's Labor
The Neighborhood fifth season finale-Welcome to the Opening Night

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a Guy Ritchie film starring Henry Cavill in which the latter portrays a real life British soldier in this slightly fictionalized account of him and his team performing covert operations against the Nazis. Essentially it's in the same vain as Inglourious Basterds of an absolute ride in seeing Nazis getting killed, but this time this actually happened, somewhat. That alone makes The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare an instant classic and here's hoping Ritchie and Cavill collaborate again. Over all: 100%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
3. Monkey Man
4. Late Night with the Devil
5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
6. The Book of Clarence
7. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
8. Drive-Away Dolls
9. Kung Fu Panda 4
10. Lisa Frankenstein
11. Argylle
12. Mean Girls 2024

Monday, September 9, 2024

Monkey Man

Dev Patel marks his directorial debut with Monkey Man, which he also stars in and cowrites with Paul Angunawela and John Collee. In it, Patel portrays Kid, who wages a one man war against corrupt Indian government officials responsible for his mother's death. Kid's actions in turn inspire a community of transgender people, themselves targeted by the same officials, to aid him in his quest. The writing from the three is absolutely phenomenal, but it's Patel's work behind the camera that truly stands out. His style, especially this being his first, is incredible with how brutal and well choreographed the action scenes are. It helps that the camera remains steady while moving smoothly through the martial arts sequences, Sharone Meir's cinematography is equal parts grungy and vibrant, and the editing from Dávid Jancsó, Tim Murrell, and Joe Galdo keep the action and pace perfectly balanced. With just a budget of ten million dollars, Monkey Man makes so many hundred million dollar budgets seem pale in comparison. Over all: 100%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. Monkey Man
3. Late Night with the Devil
4. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
5. The Book of Clarence
6. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
7. Drive-Away Dolls
8. Kung Fu Panda 4
9. Lisa Frankenstein
10. Argylle
11. Mean Girls 2024

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Top 10 New Shows and Season Premieres of 2023

New Shows:
1. Lessons in Chemistry
2. The Last of Us
3. Totally Completely Fine
4. Blue-Eye Samurai
5. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
6. The Fall of the House of Usher
7. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
8. Wilderness
9. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
10. Ahsoka
Honorable Mentions:
Shrinking
Beef
Daisy Jones & the Six
Archie
One Piece 2023
The Continental
The Muppets Mayhem
Nolly
American Born Chinese
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
Mrs. Davis
The Diplomat
Gen V
Lucky Hank
History of the World, Part II
Swarm
Tales of the TARDIS
Jury Duty
White House Plumbers
Based on a True Story
My Adventures with Superman
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Unstable
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Silo
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake
Twisted Metal
The Power
A Murder at the End of the World
Funny Woman
Agent Elvis
Poker Face
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Bupkis
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
Class of '07
Hailey's On It!
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre
The Crowded Room
School Spirits
Goosebumps 2023
Skull Island
The Big Door Prize
Mulligan
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
The Consultant
The Artful Dodger
Dead Ringers
Culprits
Animal Control
100 Years of Warner Bros.
The Rig
Fired on Mars
Obliterated
Love & Death
Digman!
Hello Tomorrow!
Lockwood & Co.
Full Circle
That '90s Show
Fright Krewe
Frasier 2023
Secret Invasion
Night Court 2023
Bookie
The Curse
Waco: The Aftermath
NCIS: Sidney
Tiny Toons Looniversity
FUBAR
Gamera Rebirth
Castlevania: Nocturne
Krapopolis

Season Premieres:
1. Your Honor second season premiere-Part Eleven
2. Loki second season premiere-Ouroboros
3. Reservation Dogs third season premiere-BUSSIN'
4. The Crown sixth season premiere-Persona Non Grata
5. Only Murders in the Building third season premiere-The Show Must...
6. Schmigadoon! second season premiere-Welcome to Schmicago
7. Rick and Morty seventh season premiere-How Poopy Got His Poop Back
8. Creepshow fourth season premiere-Twenty Minutes with Cassandra/Smile
9. American Experience 35th season premiere-The Lie Detector
10. 9-1-1: Lone Star fourth season premiere-The New Hotness
Honorable Mentions:
Invincible second season premiere-A Lesson for Your Next Life
Fargo fifth season premiere-The Tragedy of the Commons
The Mandalorian third season premiere-Chapter 17: The Apostate
The Legend of Vox Machina second season premiere-Rise of the Chroma Conclave
Good Omens second season premiere-The Arrival
Superman & Lois third season premiere-Closer
Ted Lasso third season premiere-Smells Like Mean Spirit
Yellowjackets second season premiere-Friends, Romans, Countrymen
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder second season premiere-Old Towne Road (Part 2)
Foundation second season premiere-In Seldon's Shadow
Hunters second season premiere-Van Glooten's Day 1972 Butter Sculptor of the Year
Star Wars: Visions Volume Two premiere-Sith
Chucky third season premiere-Murder at 1600
What We Do in the Shadows fifth season premiere-The Mall
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel fifth season premiere-Go Forward
The Ghost and Molly McGee second season premiere-The New (Para)Normal
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury premiere-Lightning Strikes
Miracle Workers: End Times premiere-Welcome to Boomtown
Dr. Death second season premiere-Like Magic
Fear the Walking Dead eighth season premiere-Remember What They Took from You
Barry fourth season premiere-yikes
The Righteous Gemstones third season premiere-For I Know the Plans I Have for You
Quantum Leap 2022 second season premiere-This Took Too Long!
Big Mouth seventh season premiere-Big Mouth's Going to High School (But Not for Nine More Episodes)
Perry Mason 2020 second season premiere-Chapter Nine
Animaniacs 2020 third season premiere-27
The Great third season premiere-The Bullet or the Bear
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty second season premiere-One Ring Don't Make a Dynasty
American Horror Story: Delicate premiere-Multiply Thy Pain
Futurama eighth season premiere-The Impossible Stream
Riverdale seventh season premiere-Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen: Don't Worry, Darling
Saturday Night Live 49th season premiere-Pete Davidson/Ice Spice
Killing It second season premiere-What You Saw
Our Flag Means Death second season premiere-Impossible Birds
Secrets of Sulphur Springs third season premiere-Time Won't Let Me
The Flash 2014 ninth season premiere-Wednesday Ever After
Upload third season premiere-Ticking Clock
The Simpsons 35th season premiere-Homer's Crossing
Dark Winds second season premiere-Na'niłkaadii
Human Resources second season premiere-The Jizz Mitzvah
Bel-Air second season premiere-A Fresh Start
Sweet Tooth second season premiere-In Captivity
Cruel Summer second season premiere-Welcome to Chatham
What If…? second season premiere-What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?
Shining Vale second season premiere-Chapter 9 - Homecoming
My Dad the Bounty Hunter second season premiere-Abduction
Solar Opposites fourth season premiere-The Ping Pong Table
Disenchantment third season premiere-Heads or Tails
iCarly 2021 third season premiere-iBuckled
Family Guy 22nd season premiere-Fertilized Megg
Nancy Drew fourth season premiere-The Dilemma of the Lover's Curse
The Witcher third season premiere-Shaerrawedd

Blue Beetle Vol. 5 #1

In Blue Beetle Vol. 5 #1, Ted Kord, the second character to take on the mantle after Dan Garett's death, starts his first self-titled series from Charlton Comics by taking on a group of thieves who plan their heists near large bodies of water to escape in their own submarine. The comic has a smaller second story at the end that introduces The Question as he investigates and prevents a mob hit. Both stories are pretty fun and have very engaging stories, not surprising as both were written by the legendary Steve Ditko, though the first was cowritten with D.C. Glanzman. Ditko also provided the entirety of the artwork for the entire issue and no one can ever deny just how great the comic looks. The biggest credit to Ditko is how different and unique he handles the writing and art for the two stories, with the Blue Beetle being very fun and colorful much like the standard of superhero stories at the time, while Question's is darker and more serious to fit its noir detective style. Thanks to Steve Ditko, Blue Beetle Vol. 5 #1 isn't just another start to a new volume or introduction to a new character, but also a pretty fun and engaging comic. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980
2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170
3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1
4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1
5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1
6. Deadman: Love After Death #1
7. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1
8. Blue Beetle Vol. 5 #1
9. Showcase Vol. 1 #75
10. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441
11. Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18
12. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))
13. Hulk Vol. 5 #1
14. Avnegers: War Across Time #1
15. The Yellow Kid
16. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8
17. Archie and Me #132
18. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1
19. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Late Night with the Devil

While I do condemn the use of artificial intelligence art, Late Night with the Devil is absolutely more than just that. This supernatural horror is told through found footage and documentary storytelling about a fictional talk show, specifically an episode on Halloween of 1977 and how its host invited a supposedly possessed girl to boost ratings. David Dastmalchian leads as Jack Delroy and absolute delivers, managing to capture the comedy of a late night host and the drama, tension, and fear of a man dealing with forces more powerful than him. With the direction, writing, and editing by Colin and Cameron Cairnes, this duo did an impressive job with their superb style, great use of tension, magnificent change in tone that starts out lighthearted and slowly but surely gets darker, and great editing evoking talk shows and the behind the scenes drama of the era. The Cairnes have certainly crafted a unique and incredible horror movie that knows when to build tension and when to deliver the scares. While Matthew Temple's cinematography also does a great job at capturing the style that talk shows had in the 70s. The rest of the cast, whether they play members of the show or guests, especially Ingrid Torelli, all give memorable, and at times terrifying, performances. As for the use of AI art, it is rather minimal and brief, being used just for animated commercial insertions. It never should have been done, but thankfully it doesn't take away from the production values, visual design, and aesthetics that do capture the area well. I'm willing to give Late Night with the Devil a pass for its brief AI art use, whether or not I enjoyed it or not, and hope that this serves as the line that no one will cross ever again. Over all: 99%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. Late Night with the Devil
3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
4. The Book of Clarence
5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
6. Drive-Away Dolls
7. Kung Fu Panda 4
8. Lisa Frankenstein
9. Argylle
10. Mean Girls 2024

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

King Kong and Godzilla reunite, or rather initially try to kill each other before fighting alongside against a bigger threat, in the Monsterverse's latest installment, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. When Kong explores more of Hollow Earth he discovers a tribe of his own species ruled by Skar King, a tyrannical ape who plans to use his army and an ice breathing monster he tortures to take over the surface of Earth. Initially beaten by Skar, Kong must reluctantly get help from a newly upgraded Godzilla in order to defeat him. All the while, Monarch has discovered survivors from the ancient tribe that lived in Skull Island and with their mystical abilities and a new enhanced glove for Kong, they aid in the Titans' fight. This film is over the top, silly, and really loves to pay homage to the sillier aspects of the 1960s and '70s Godzilla entries. The writing from Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater is not afraid to dabble into the absolute craziness that giant monster movies can be. Although a lot of the human based story is not as memorable as the monster stuff, their writing does manage to connect them to the Titans better than some other entries in the franchise. Plus it introduces Trapper, a veterinarian for Titans perfectly and delightfully portrayed by Dan Stevens giving off a bit of Ace Ventura. Director Adam Wingard returns from Kong and Godzilla's previous team up and outdoes himself when it comes to the monster battles. Whereas he previously gave the franchise a dark and serious tone with very standard fights, with this entry Wingard gives it the big budget equivalent of what the late Shōwa era would have been like. Giving Godzilla an upgrade that makes him pink, a robotic gauntlet that enhances Kong's strength, Mothra being summoned to aid the title characters, and at one point having the Hollow Earth fight happen in zero gravity is just the perfect amount of nonsense. Alongside Stevens you also get good performances from Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and a standout from Kaylee Hottle. Sometimes it's okay for a movie to just be a fun silly spectacle, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is that at its best. Over all: 94%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
3. The Book of Clarence
4. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
5. Drive-Away Dolls
6. Kung Fu Panda 4
7. Lisa Frankenstein
8. Argylle
9. Mean Girls 2024

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

The paranormal investigators who research the strange and bust ghosts are back with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Three years after the events of the previous entry, the Spenglers and Gary Grooberson have moved to Manhattan to become the new Ghostbusters, with some aid from the original crew. Both the new and old teams have to contend with a new threat in the form of a ghostly god with the power to cause another Ice Age. Gil Kenan takes over directing duties from Jason Reitman, though both return as writers after already writing Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Their biggest flaw with the writing is that they introduce too many new characters whose developments are often rushed by the end, such as Kumail Nanjiani's Nadeem and Melody, a ghost girl that Phoebe befriends. There's also Trevor's use of him throughout the movie wherein he's just trying to capture Slimer and not much else. But other than that, Kenan and Reitman continue to bring some great new and unique ideas to the franchise. They do bring back old characters and have some references to the original films, but mostly do it in a quick way without harping on it for too long. Story's got a good combination of dark twists and hilarious jokes add to that Ernie Hudson's Winston becomes a real standout compared to the other original characters. The cast all give strong performances who capture the mix of comedy, drama, and terror incredibly well, especially the chemistry between McKenna Grace and Emily Alyn Lind. Another person to return is cinematographer Eric Steelberg whose work continues to give this franchise a look that continues to improve. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is another fun entry in the franchise, and while it may not be as strong as Afterlife, it still carries the heart. Over all: 90%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. The Book of Clarence
3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
4. Drive-Away Dolls
5. Kung Fu Panda 4
6. Lisa Frankenstein
7. Argylle
8. Mean Girls 2024

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Kung Fu Panda 4

With this being the fourth film in the franchise since 2008, Kung Fu Panda 4 sees Po taking on a shape shifting chameleon who wants to obtain the martial arts skills from the spirits of Po's defeated enemies to rule over China. All that as Po learns that he has to become a spiritual leader and thus pass on the Dragon Warrior mantle to someone else, and he believes that a young Fox thief is a good successor despite Master Shifu's reluctance. Even after four films, this franchise knows how to give audiences perfectly choreographed, animated, edited, and creative fight scenes. Jack Black as Po and Awkwafina as Zhen, the Fox thief, have such a strong and memorable chemistry that they are the heart of the movie. You also get Viola Davis as a very memorable villain and Ian McShane returns as Tai Lung managing to keep his threatening presence but also show how his time as a spirit have changed him. The writing is pretty good, but often focuses too much on comedic hijinks compared to the first three movies. Especially when the focus shifts towards Po's biological and adopted fathers wanting to help him as their antics does drag at times. There are also decisions made by the studio that do affect the overall film, such as demanding at most a 90 minute limit which makes the pacing a little off at times. Another decision was to not have the Furious Five appear until the end, though voiceless to keep the budget low. On one hand, they're Po's allies who's differing fighting styles makes for great fight scenes, but on the other it did allow for Po and Zhen to better develop and introduced some new interesting characters that would go and help him. It may not reach the heights of its predecessors, but Kung Fu Panda 4 is still a pretty fun movie on its own right. Over all: 89%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. The Book of Clarence
3. Drive-Away Dolls
4. Kung Fu Panda 4
5. Lisa Frankenstein
6. Argylle
7. Mean Girls 2024

Monday, July 15, 2024

Showcase Vol. 1 #75

Showcase Vol. 1 #75 introduced the DC Comics pair of Hawk and Dove, siblings with different world views on how to handle serious situations. During a protest against the Vietnam War, brothers Hank and Don Hall hold different views over the war and the protestors, with Hank supporting aggression and taking action while Don believes in a peaceful and non violent alternative. When their father, a well regarded judge, becomes the target of an assassination attempt, the siblings involve themselves in figuring out who wants their father dead. Upon finding the hangout of the conspirators and realizing that they don't have a plan, Hank and Don are given powers and costumes from a mysterious force. As Hawk and Dove, they both try to stop the criminals and save their father while still keeping to their own beliefs with the former using aggression and the latter trying to be reasonable. For both an introduction and an origin story, this is a pretty good issue that manages to give us a lot of information about the new characters to keep us interested while giving us just enough of their development to make readers invested for their own series. Most of Steve Skeates's writing does a good job at showing the differences between the Hall siblings, though they're both a bit over the top in how extreme their beliefs are. The sudden moment of them getting their powers does feel very out of nowhere without any hints or foreshadowing towards it. But overall, the writing of the story is pretty good, the siblings are fun, and does make good points for both sides and ideals. For the art, it was all done by Marvel legend Steve Ditko, also a co-creator, and right from the first page you get such an incredible look. Characters are well detailed, colors are vibrant, backgrounds are great, and the sequential action is done really well. Hawk and Dove's debut in Showcase Vol. 1 #75 is not only a fun read but a pretty good time capsule of 1968. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980
2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170
3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1
4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1
5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1
6. Deadman: Love After Death #1
7. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1
8. Showcase Vol. 1 #75
9. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441
10. Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18
11. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))
12. Hulk Vol. 5 #1
13. Avnegers: War Across Time #1
14. The Yellow Kid
15. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8
16. Archie and Me #132
17. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1
18. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674