Doctor Who (2023)- Season 2

Grade: A

In the newest season of Doctor Who, available in the US on Disney+, the Doctor (played by Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa) meets nurse Belindra Chandra (Andor's Varada Sethu), who becomes his companion by accident as after their first adventure, getting her back home turns out to be more trouble than expected as a mysterious occurrence forces them to take the long way back.

This season is stronger than the last one. Whereas that one made the mistake of putting the heavy episodes all in the middle without any lighter fare between them and had one very polarizing episode and a finale that couldn't stand up to its setup, I'm pleased to say that this season is far more consistent. Standout episodes include The Well, a trademark DW scary episode, and The Story & the Engine, which is a more unique DW story. 

Like the last season, the show makes the wiser choice to focus on newer or lesser known DW villains, avoiding over saturated antagonists like the Daleks or the Cybermen. 

If there are any nitpicks, the villains' plan in the episode Lucky Day has some holes in it, and the finale, while entertaining does try to do a lot at once (which admittedly is a common critique of showrunner Russell T. Davis' writing.)

I felt that last season's companion Ruby Sunday (Coronation Street's Millie Gibson) was stronger  in terms of personality (she does get some guest appearances this season), but Sethu ain't too shabby an actress and she works well off of Gatwa.

Gatwa remains the driving force of the show. I think he may be my favorite Doctor. He plays one of the most open, emotional and life loving Doctors. Man can the guy hit the emotional beats, mastering happy, sad, afraid, and angry.

 Highly recommended. This is a fun and imaginative season.

Lilo & Stitch (2025)

Grade: A-

In this live-action remake of the popular Disney Channel movie, alien experiment Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, the character’s original voice and the director of the original film), is deemed a threat to the galaxy. He escapes his captors before punishment and crash lands his spaceship into Hawaii. There he is mistaken for a dog and adopted by young, quirky Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha).

A lot of people complain that Disney remakes are uncalled for, not as good as the originals, and do not have a lot to offer. At first I was worried that this movie was going to be too much of a by-the-numbers replication of the original. At the beginning of the movie, there are a lot of lines taken directly from the first movie. (Say what you will about the other remakes, but the scripts will at least paraphrase dialogue.) However, after the first ten minutes, I was pleased to see that the entirety of the movie wasn't just repetition like the Gus Van Sant Psycho remake was. Though this does still follow the basic brush strokes of the original story, this remake actually tries some new stuff. 

A lot more emphasis is put on the relationship between Lilo and her older sister/guardian Nani (Sydney Agudong) as well as Nani's struggles as a guardian and other aspects of her. This is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp who directed the heartfelt film Marcel the Shell with Shoes on (critically well liked, but didn't get a lot of advertising). The guy was really trying for bringing the character/human aspect to this movie, which I felt paid off. Some may not love the fact that the original film's antagonist Gantu was cut in this to give the other characters more time and space. In fairness, his basic purpose was to create a last act physical threat and wasn't heavily involved in the rest of the story. The guy's a good character, but I don't think he's in anyone's top five list of Disney villains. Some may also not love the final obstacle put in Gantu's stead, but I applaud Camp for trying something new. Again, one wants a remake to do things at least a little different, otherwise it's the exact same movie. Besides, I think the final problem works well story-wise.

Though many jokes are recycled, the new humor works pretty well.

Sanders' still got it when it comes to voicing Stitch, managing to make the guy sound both funny, but also sympathetic when the movie calls for it. Kealoha makes for an energetic and talented young actress. Billy Magnusson, who has proven he's been gifted at comedy before in films like Game Night, makes for a game and goofy Pleakley, an alien official pursuing Stitch, and Zach Galifianakis as Stitch's creator Jumba is fairly funny too and works well as a straight man to Pleakley. Some may not love that Galifianakis' voice sounds nothing like the original cartoon character, who had a Russian accent, but again I appreciate that this movie is attempting something new, and I think Galifianakis works for this take on the character.

Not loving the fact that though the original movie was colorful and that the story takes place in bright, sunny Hawaii, this remake has a shaded look to it and isn't as bright as it could be. In fairness, this might be to make sure the computer animated characters' detail doesn't feel as artificial when compared to natural color. 

It is also a little disappointing that the alien and spaceship design adhere so closely to the original movie without trying anything new. Jumba and Pleakley's looks in particular feel like they worked better in 2D, and don't adapt quite well to 3D. Stitch is still cute, though.

Recommended. I'm not saying the original isn't better, but this makes for what will be an enjoyable time for the family and is one of my top 3 remakes, below Pete's Dragon and the Glenn Close 101 Dalmations.

Fountain of Youth

Grade: C+

In this new movie on Apple+ directed by Guy Ritichie, morally flexible treasure hunter Luke Purdue (The Office/Jack Ryan's John Krasinski) cajoles his straight-laced sister art curator sister Charlotte (Natalie Portman) into helping him search for the Fountain of Youth.

This is definitely a thing that is a treasure hunting movie. It is basic and feels like mostly everything in this has been done before. It's not like the movie is running on fumes, but a quarter tank. This is a competently made flick, and there's a few good lines. Luke's back-and-forth with Esme (Eiza Gonzalez), who's part of a group sworn to protect the fountain, is kinda fun, and I do like that there are several interest parties also after our leads, but there is just nothing about this does enough to set it apart from the likes of National Treasure and such. Also, Charlotte's soon-to-be ex-husband Harold (Daniel de Bourg), is completely unnecessary and ruins any scene he's in. 

Guy Ritchie's work can really fluctuate between great and so-so, and yeah, this one is so-so. He replaced the originally scheduled director, and this really feels like a pay-the-bills entry for him. The movie doesn't feel like this has the special Ritchie touch that he has had with projects he felt invested in.

It's a fine cast between Portman, Krasinski, and Domhnall Gleeson as Owen Carver, Luke's financial backer (I do hope that guy's star is rising; he's always good in whatever he's in.) However, they are only able to do so much with the script (Krasinski in particular is definitely trying his best, poor guy).

I feel that for an adventurous, globe-traversing movie, the whole thing looks drab as Ritchie goes for a greyish, overcast tone. The set design for the various locations they visit ain't too shabby, I'll give you that.

This is not must-see. However, it is not unwatchable (I'd be fine seeing this again). It could serve well as a time-waster that you don't have to put a lot of emotional/intellectual investment into it.

Elsbeth- Season 2

Grade: A-

In season 2, consent decree monitor Elsbeth Tascione (Carrie Preston) continues to help the New York police catch criminals.

The strength of the show is still Elsbeth. Even in weaker episodes she shines with her sheer enthusiasm, funny lines, and quirky personality. 

The supporting cast also helps make this work. The rotating cast of detectives Elsbeth works with remain a fun and colorful bunch. The Arrangement's Carra Patterson as Elsbeth's friend Officer Kaya Blanke continues to have great chemistry with Preston. One of my biggest complaints about the last season is that Kaya was basically there just for someone for Elsbeth to talk to. Here, she gets some subplots and more screentime. Although there isn't as much of Captain Wagner (The Wire's Wendell Pierce) being the commanding one and the only one able to control Elsbeth's enthusiasm, but Pierce is so watchable and has some great understated comedy chops. We get a new Lieutenant: Steve Connor (Billions' Daniel K. Isaac), a very logic-based fellow. I feel his introduction storyline didn't really go anywhere, but he works pretty well as an oddball character, and the guy you need police to give police rule jargon from time to time.

Again we get a fine selection of guest actors as the killers, some of which will make you say "Oh, they got him/her." The show mostly has a Columbo "howcathem" formula where you know who did it. However, there are a handful of episodes that are more experimental than the last season, including a few actual mysteries.

If you feel that the show is a little optimistic, especially when compared to its parent shows The Good Wife and The Good Fight, what with Justice always prevailing in a neat little bow. Here Elsbeth has a couple storylines where she has to deal with the more unfair aspects of the world. We even get to know what caused Elsbeth to become disillusioned with being a practicing defense attorney.

Recommended. This remains one of the more entertaining crime shows out there.

Thunderbolts*

Grade: A+

In this new movie based on the Marvel comic series, five operatives doing dirty work for the government are sent into a trap. Now, this group of damaged soldiers must ban together in order to survive.

It really feels like the creators of this took into consideration the complaints that the MCU has fallen into a rut, and gotten a little predictable. Thunderbolts* is refreshing. Everything feels a lot more character and story driven. This is a superhero movie, so you get special effects moments in this, but it doesn't have the big spectacle fight scenes, involving a sky beam or something like that, for the sake of it. (Not to say the action and effects disappoint. There is one great fight scene and a visual that will stick with you.) The number of locations is also surprisingly conservative, not a lot of jumping from place to place. The antagonist is refreshingly a little different from your usual MCU baddie.

This is arguably the darkest MCU movie. However, it still works with the general audience as Thunderbolts manages to balance the dark with lighter, more humorous moments. (If you've seen Moon Knight, the tone is like that.)

Really solid characterization. Though the MCU's policy of setting things up years in advance has not been as steady or effective as it used to, this movie shows that it still works. All the anti-heroes here have already been set up, so the writers walked into this with a firm grasp of the characters. These are mostly people who have done horrible or at least questionable things in the name of their government or their army, but none of them are complete monsters. The whole movie is a surprisingly well-thought look at trauma and guilt. Also, the characters all work really well off of each other. (They're messed up in a different ways, but they're also kinda on the same wave length.)

Though this is a team movie, White Widow/Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is definitely the lead. She already stole the show in both Black Widow and Hawkeye and does not disappoint. She remains extremely personable and relatable, but it is her dramatic moments that really make the movie. She's had a sad life and this story milks all the drama and tragedy from the character it can.  You really feel Yelena's struggle with her past and sense of aimlessness. It's too bad movies like this don't often get Oscar nominations, because Pugh is doing the work, and this might be remembered as her best role.  

Stranger Things' David Harbor seems to be having the time of his life as Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov. Admittedly, they might have given him too many jokes. But, as the one of the few members of the team really wanting to be a hero, he serves as a nice counter to the others.

Honestly, all the team members are good. Former Captain America U.S. Agent/John Walker (Wyatt Russell), is arrogant, but also entertaining in his boastfulness and honest takes. Ghost/Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) is also solid, but it feels like she's the straight man of the group and got the lowest amount of characterization. Her personality feels downgraded after Ant-Man and the Wasp. The mysterious and gentle-natured Bob (Lewis Pullman), is a fun new addition, and him and White Widow have excellent chemistry. 

The one weak character for me is amoral CIA head Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. She's basically DC's Amanda Waller if she was snarkier and less wise. Wasn't found of her. All her lines felt like they were trying too hard, and she didn't feel competent enough for someone to conflict with the heroes. 

Highly recommended. One of the best post-Endgame MCU movies.

Final Destination: Bloodlines

Grade: A

After a 14 year dormancy, the Final Destination franchise returns. In this installment, someone was able to cheat death for a long, long time and now Death is finally coming after the person's descendants who weren't supposed to be born in the first place.

This does a surprising job of sticking with what made these movies work (creative kills and the anticipation of how people will die) while also feeling refreshing in its own way. There are some truly inspired deaths in this, maybe some of the best. (For those who can take movie violence up to a certain point, be forewarned that there are two really gory deaths in this.) The opening traditional disaster that the lead avoids due to a psychic vision, is hands down the best in the series. Taking place at one of those skytop restaurants, this is a truly visually impressive and crazy act of destruction.

The whole descendants aspect is also a nice change of pace. For the first time, the entire list of possible victims are all family members. Bloodlines does a good job of getting to know them all, and they make for a watchable bunch, especially Erik (The 100's Richard Harmon), the wisecracking one. Although, considering this is about a whole extended family being wiped out, this is also probably the biggest bummer of the FD movies.

The plot is clever with a surprise or two. Given how quickly Death has acted in the previous films, one may wonder why he waited so long here. The movie gives a very satisfactory for at least partially why this is. Although Bloodlines tries some new things, the creators have definitely seen all the previous movies and they are making sure to stick to the established rules. However, there is one part of this where it really feels that Death and the writers were cheating.

The late Tony Todd (Candyman) returns as the mysterious coroner who has appeared throughout the movies. Both Todd and Bloddlines' creators knew that he was dying and that this was his last role. (The poor guy was so skinny in this.) They do more than expected with the coroner and give him an interesting sendoff. However, those who liked his air of mystery and arcane demeanor may be disappointed that these traits won't be found this time around. 

Highly recommended. This is how to bring a franchise back. I consider Bloodline one of the best ones, and I think it'll please most fans.

Clown in a Cornfield

Grade: B+

In this movie adaptation of the YA book by Adam Cesare, Quinn Maybrook (played by Ginny & Georgia's Katie Douglas) and her father Glenn (Blindspot/Children Ruin Everything's Aaron Abrams) move to the rural, had-better-days, town of Kettle Springs. There, she finds herself and her new friend group attacked by a killer dressed up as the town's former corn syrup factory's mascot Frendo.

This is a refreshing film. There is more going on with the story and what the movie is trying to say than simply a traditional slasher flick. The movie's also funnier than the trailers would have you believe (it's from the guy who directed Tucker & Dale vs. Evil), including what may be one of my favorite lines of the year.

Clown in a Cornfield does suffer a bit from the whole adults-not-understanding-the-teens part being a little too simplistic and hamfisted for its own good. But, like I said, this is based on a YA novel, sot it's not trying to be too complex.

Really solid casting. Everyone feels like they're elevating the dialogue. I'm rather pleased that this gave some of the adult roles to actors who are good but don't get as much work as you'd like. Will Sasso, who's always solid when doing comedy, is the town's sheriff. Between this and him being in the show George and Mandy's First Marriage, it's nice to see his career picking up. Back in the day he felt like he'd be the MadTV cast member most likely to go onto bigger things, but besides being in that 3 Stooges Movie, his career stalled. Kevin Durand, who's stock has also been rising lately what with being in Abigail and the latest Planet of the Apes movie hams it up as the town's pretty southern, old power mayor.

There are several creative and violent kills in this, but there are moments where the film is hindered by its lower budget. Some kill shots aren't as effective as they could be, and the I've never seen movie blood look more obviously like corn syrup than this. 

Frendo's look gets the job done; he's appropriately scary clown enough. However, I wouldn't call him the most distinctive-looking character; Art the Clown he is not.

Recommended. There are parts that feel like they could be tightened, but overall this movie brings more to the table than expected.

The Righteous Gemstones- Season 4 (Final)

Grade: A

In the final season of this Max show about the exploits of the rich televangelist family the Gemstones, the main siblings have to deal with their father moving on romantically after their mother's death.

I'm really sad to see this very funny and very creative show come to an end, but you have to give showrunner Danny McBride credit for ending it before they run out of steam. I'm seeing a lot of people online saying this is the weakest season, but I disagree. I think it's the second strongest after the second one. What I love about this show is the combination of no cares given outrageous humor and creative, grand storytelling involving the various members of the Gemstone family and their history. Like season 2, this one is more mystery-based, leading to an explosive and dynamic change of events. Given that McBride has always tried to write a family epic, the first episode is an interesting experiment. (It's a good story, but some could be bugged by the fact that there are not a lot of jokes in it.) The finale is definitely one you'll remember.

The humor remains as funny as ever, especially the lines of fairly demented Gemstone sibling Judy (Edi Patterson, who is a living treasure in this with her delivery). However, one episode has a subject that is pretty uncomfortable.

I will really miss the cast. Paterson again has gold to work with, while the writers also giver her some emotional stuff to do. Second behind Patterson is Walton Goggins as the siblings' paternal uncle Baby Billy, who again is so fascinatingly ridiculous as an out-spoken, fame-hungry elderly southern man. Though again with Judy, the character is given some character moments as well. Goggins is able to make the man hiding behind the bravado so real. McBride again delivers as short-tempered eldest sibling Jesse. Again, John Goodman as patriarch Eli is more of the straight man in this, but he really knows how to do the more emotional moments for the guy. 

One of the show's brand new "oh, I didn't think that person would pop up in this" actors is Sean William Scott as the siblings' long-time friend Corey Milsap. Now if you're a fan of funny Scott, you're not getting it here as his character is played straight. However, as he's shown in the likes of Final Destination or Wrath of Becky, you know he can do straight man really well.

Unfortunately, some long-running main/recurring characters get surprisingly little time in the show's grand bow. Jesse's son Gideon (Santa Clarita Diet/The Quarry's Skyler Gisondo) and Eli's right hand Martin (Gregory Allan Williams) have very little screen time. Though she appears throughout and again entertains as a saner member for the family who's great at silently reacting to stuff, Smallville/Longmire's Cassidy Freeman as Jesse's wife Amber gets little to do.

Highly recommended. Again, McBride's insane take on the family saga will surprise you and make you laugh.