Elsbeth- Season 1

7/10

In this spin-off of The Good Wife and The Good Fight, quirky lawyer Elsbeth Tascioni (played by Claws/True Blood's Carrie Preston) is assigned by the DOJ to monitor the NYPD after some of its practices fell under scrutiny. She immediately proves to be really good at solving murders.

This is a Columbo-style howcatchem like the recent Poker Face. You know from the beginning who committed the murder, and the whole story is about how Elsbeth will prove they did it as well focusing on the character of the perpetrator and Elsbeth's cat-and-mouse interactions with them. 

Poker Face is a good show, but it is also definitely trying to be a bit more offbeat than your traditional howcatchem. If you wanted something more along the lines of a traditional Columbo show, this may be up your alley. The show is straight-forward in looking at a new criminal and situation. Admittedly, some people may be disappointed that Elsbeth is not more ambitious. (Not to say that the show doesn't have any clever ideas. There are two episodes in particular that are a bit different.)  Also, like Columbo, you're constantly having the suspects talk to the investigator in situations where they don't have to, and you always wonder why none of them get violent or try to take the investigator out.

Since every story is an hour long with commercials, you don't get to know the perpetrators as much as you would in a longer format like Columbo. The storytelling feels a little more simplistic than GW and GF, since the episode are more self-contained and there isn't much room for ongoing drama. There is an on-going storyline in this, but it isn't particularly good or bad.

The best part of this is the casting. Preston's Elsbeth is why you watch the show. She is such a friendly and quirky person, and it's interesting to see how she can just generally get along with a suspect and get them to talk and when they don't mean to. In the pilot episode, she admittedly comes on too strong, but she's immediately toned down to acceptable levels by episode two, so I recommend you make no judgments till then.

You get a fine selection of guest murderers, often played by known or semi-known actors, including several actors known for comedy giving real departures from what they usually do. (Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson's performance in particular is a real 180 from playing Mitchell Pritchett.) 

Supporting cast ain't half bad either. Carra Patterson is Officer Kaya Blanke, the cop assigned to Elsbeth. Admittedly, she's mostly there to react to Elsbeth and doesn't have a lot of agency herself, but Patterson has a great chemistry with Preston. The always reliable Wendell Pierce (from The Wire) does a fine job as Captain Wagner, an entertainingly no-nonsense fellow and the only person who's really able to curtail Elsbeth's excess energy.

An interesting aspect about this show is that the various cases have a rotating crew of detectives (like the assistants on Bones). It's a little frustrating at the beginning of the season having every single one of them be initially dismissive of Elsbeth but that problem disappears by the second half. Got a few good performances in the bunch, especially one by Micaela Desmond.

Recommended. I'm not saying this is the best written howcatchem or that it's perfect for everyone, but Elsbeth is a delight, and I think a lot of people who like light crime shows will like this.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

9/10

In this prequel/spin-off to Mad Max: Fury Road, we look at the origins of the apocalyptic warrior/transporter Furiosa (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), who became more popular in the last film than it's lead, as she is taken from her village and struggles to survive the dangerous factions ruling the wasteland that used to be Australia.

This movie differs from the last one in that it focuses more on the fighting than prolonged vehicle pursuits, though don't worry, you do get a couple good chase scenes. What this film does definitely retain is both the over-the-top action and larger-than-life characters with their weird post-apocalyptic Australian lingo.

Like the last film, this looks great with solid effects and design work. Whereas Fury Road is famous for being mostly practical effects in the day of digital, here they have upped the digital effects, but if you're not a fan of that, I wouldn't worry too much. It seems to be more background work than vehicle and set work. 

I was worried about this being a prequel, since we're being exposed to info. and characters we've already known, but this does a surprisingly good job of keeping things interesting across two-and-a-half hours. Whereas Fury Road was a road movie, this is more like a crime war movie as we see fighting and intrigue between the factions of the waste lands. The best part of this is the various larger-than-life villainous personalities. Even though we've seen the villainous warlord Immortan Joe (Offspring's Lachy Hulme, replacing the late Hugh Keays-Byrne) before, we get to see more of his strategic leader side, which makes for an interesting time. 

When I saw this movie's main villain Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) in the trailer, I wasn't immediately sold on the character as he came off as being a more stereotypical looking post-apocalyptic villain than a lot of the other colorful baddies of MM. I'm really pleased to say that Dementus is THE best performance of Hemsworth's career. Whereas Immortan Joe is an authoritative type, he presents himself as a religious-type figure, Dementus is the opposite. He's sort of a free livin' sort of bike gang leader. He's got a childish energy to him and is someone who is clever but not as clever as they think they are.   

If you saw Fury Road, you might be confused to see a new member of Immortan Joe's inner most circle that wasn't there. If you're confused by that, this character appears in the MM video game that takes place between this film and FR. (I give director co-writer George Miller credit for corporate multimedia synergy, but I can see how this can be frustrating to people who don't keep up with everything.)

Viewers beware that there is one scene in this that features an uncomfortable, adult topic that you wouldn't necessarily walk in expecting.

Yeah, Fury Road might give you a little more bang for your buck, but this is still an enthralling and great looking action piece. 

The Exorcism

4.5/10

In The Exorcism, actor Anthony Miller (played by Russell Crowe) is cast as a priest in a new demonic possession movie, only to find himself possessed by an actual demon. (Yeah, it's weird that Crowe decided to do two exorcism movies so close together, but he does play a very different character here.)

This is one of those movies that is frustrating because there are hints of what could've been a good film. Miller's tragic backstory, and the reason he's vulnerable to possession, is well-crafted. There are some good pieces of dialogue and performances are good throughout.

However, the movie is inconsistent in quality. There are also several lines that don't work. Pacing is very slow. The lighting is just too dark. Also, there appears to be a logic to the demon's plan that isn't made as clear as it should be.

Now if it was just the flaws above, I would've been more charitable with the rating on behalf of the stuff that does work, but then comes the ending. The finale is truly disappointing. 

Going back to the performances, you really can't blame the cast. Crowe may not have the best material, but you definitely believe him as the character. It's too bad Frasier's David Hyde Pierce isn't in that many movies (I recommend you see him in the underexposed thriller The Perfect Host; he's quite good.) He's very congenial as a priest consultant on the film. The Equalizer TV show's Adam Goldberg is probably the best at making all the lines work as the movie's director.

Not recommended. The slow pace and bad ending do not make the ending worth watching.

Doctor Who (2023-)- Season 1

8/10

Here's the first season of the new Doctor Who (on Disney+ in America). Yeah, I think it's weird they decided to treat the show as a reboot considering that the last season was in 2021 (with some specials in between). But, I believe the show is trying to course correct and distance itself from the controversial last Doctor's run with this being a soft reboot and trying to build a new audience. In this new show, the fifteenth incarnation of the Doctor (Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa), the alien Time Lord who travels throughout time and space, going on more adventures, and tries to solve the mystery of the secrets of the past of his new traveling companion Ruby Sunday (Coronation Street's Millie Gibson) who was abandoned as a child.

In order to revive the show, they brought back the nuWho's creator Russell T. Davies, and that does appear to be working. The show is more fun to watch than it has been in a while. The last several seasons felt like they were trying a little too hard to be dark and/or serious. Thing is, this writing in several of the episodes this season feel darker/more mature than Davies' original run, yet the show feels more positive and the darker episodes more natural than they have in a long time. Davies knows how to do scary/serious stuff while also having fun and focusing on the positives of humanity. (The previous Christmas special and the first episode might make people feel the show may be getting too kiddish, but I assure you the tone changes quickly. As with the earlier seasons, Davies is trying to make this appeal to kids and adults.)

And really, I haven't seen such strongly written episodes of Doctor Who in a while. The couple lighter ones are fairly diverting, and most of the darker ones are pretty well written, I won't spoil which episode it was, but Davies does what is probably the cleverest writing of his in the entire show's history. Another episode probably has the best original individual villain (in contrast to group villains like the Weeping Angels) created for nuWho. Also, that penultimate episode really knows how to build tension.

Now, not to say there aren't a few weak points this season. Davies made the mistake of putting three of the heaviest episodes back-to-back. In the past, the show knew how to pace the lighter and darker episodes, but here we really needed breather episodes in-between. Also, the resolution of the final fight and the season-long mystery may end with you going, "Wait, that's it?" Also, I was not a fan of the episode 73 Yards. What has the promise of being perhaps one of the most interesting episodes increasingly loses momentum as it goes on and becomes the most frustrating episode in the end.

I thought Gatwa and Gibson had promise but hadn't completely sold me in the Xmas special. Beginning with the first episode, it's clear they're both quite good. Gatwa has now made my top 3 Doctors list, alongside David Tennant and Matt Smith. He feels like one of the most human Doctors and his boundless optimism and kindness is infectious. However, when it comes time for the Doctor to be afraid or upset, MAN does Gatwa sell emotions. It's the fact that this Doctor is so predominantly good-natured (even more-so than many a previous Doctor) that when his mood changes, you definitely know he's serious.

Giving the Doctor another younger assistant might feel a bit obvious, but Ruby did feel like she had her own distinct voice, and Gibson really sold her lines, plus she just has a very compelling voice. (Also, all the credit should be given to the actor who played that villain I previously mentioned. Wonderful performance.) 

Due to the BBC's arrangement with Disney+, the budget has never been bigger and the effects look a lot stronger. (Though I still wouldn't call it MCU/Star Wars TV show-level budget.)

Highly recommended. Yes, it's not perfect, which to be fair can be said about most seasons of Doctor Who, but the whole is stronger than the parts.

No Time to Spy: A Loud House Movie

7/10

In the second animated film based on the Nickelodeon cartoon show (whereas the first was on Netflix, this is on Paramount+), the Loud House family go to a tropical getaway for the wedding of their grandfather Pop-Pop/Albert (voiced by Piotr Michael, who performs a lot of sketch characters on Jimmy Kimmel Live!) to ex-secret agent Gran-Gran/Myrtle (voice actor Alex Cazares, replacing Jennifer Coolidge in the role). While they're there, Loud son Lincoln (Bentley Griffin) and Myrtle run into the forces of her old enemy Dr. Dufus (The Fantastic Beast movies' Dan Fogler).

This is definitely a stronger effort that the last LH movie, which felt rather basic and like the creators were struggling to come up with an idea to last an entire film, and feels slightly stronger than the film of the LH's spin-off The Casagrandes. The plot, while nothing stellar is a decently structured effort with the emotional message at the ending of the film being the one element that really stands out. The humor ain't too shabby with the jokes coming fast-and-loose; one joke that may not work for you is quickly being replaced by one that may. The funniest part is definitely the strangely good-natured henchman who always seem to have the best lines. Also, the comical action scenes aren't too shabby.

The biggest flaw is that Lincoln's constant need to go on a spy mission with Myrtle, despite everyone trying to focus on the wedding, does feel a little too selfish and poorly thought out for the character.

Also, like the last film, Lincoln is the main lead. The whole family is there, but none of them are given a specific spotlight. One'd think they'd go for a change of pace and give one of the many Loud sisters a bite of the main plot. Also if you're a fan of Lincoln's best friend Clyde (Jaeden White), he again is relegated to basically a cameo, which admittedly makes sense given the large cast and the change in settings in order for the movies to feel like something different.

The simplistic, but distinctive character design is interesting. The look of Fifi (Strangers with Candy's Amy Sedaris), a comic relief tourist, is especially eye-catching with her noodle-thin body, long pointed noise, and wavy hair. It's hard to compare her look to anything. As is the case with the show, the color palette is a little too muted for my taste.

Either a good or bad thing depending on your opinion, this isn't a musical like the last film.

If you're a parent who's very conservative about the violence you're children see, there is a a moment where a female character is struck surprisingly hard. I mean nothing PG-13 or anything, but you just usually see a children's show like this go so hard.

Recommended. The movie won't differentiate itself from the average made-for-TV/streaming children's film, but makes for an entertaining affair that I think will please the fans.

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

8/10

This film is a follow-up to the Haikyuu!! anime. It's actually the first of two movies intended to complete the manga story and conclude the show. In Dumpster Battle, the Karasuno High volleyball team are in the tournament quarter finals and going up against their rival school Nekoma High, which includes amongst it's roster main character Shoyo Hinatao's friendly rival Kenma Kozune, the master strategist.

Even though it's based on the existing manga storyline, I think this movie has the unfortunate circumstance of coming out after the Slam Dunk movie. They're both films that 1) take place over the entirety of one basketball game and 2) focus on a character other than the main one. However, SD had a more serious backstory and a more stellar animation style which results in some unfair comparisons between the two. Dumpster Battle's only sin is that it isn't SD, otherwise it's a fine made film.

The first third might a feel a little basic, but the movie picks up speed resulting in a very engaging piece. The movie kinda feels like a game of chess as the characters must strategize against their opponents, and you're left wondering how Karasuno can win. 

The movie makes the interesting choice of making the main character not the stars but their rival. Kenma's story arc becomes more and more interesting as the film goes on. He's the absolute opposite of a what a typical sports rival is (or at least from a western perspective). He's introverted and playing isn't his passion, The crux of the film is what makes Kenma tick and what makes him passionate, and it's an interesting character study.

This is one of those many anime movies where they don't have big budgets, but the animators are all really professional with fluid animation and detailed backgrounds.

Haven't seen the show, but this feels like it delivers the volleyball action, character and sports drama that the fans like. Newcomers like me should be able to follow the main story, but be warned that there are a lot of peripheral characters you won't know nothing about. (I initially got the coaches and fans in the bleachers mixed up with which team they support.)

Recommended. This is a solid movie that should delight fans and provide a distinct yarn for the uninitiated.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

NOTE: There a no spoilers for this film, but there are a couple significant spoilers from the last one that will be mentioned because it's difficult to sidestep them.

8/10

In the fourth film in the Bad Boys film series (yes, I'm amongst you that don't know why the third one was called Bad Boys for Life and not the fourth one because of obvious word play), detectives Mike Lowry (played by Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) try to clear the name of the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), who's been framed by corrupt law personnel. 

The Bad Boys movies continue to be one of the few series where there hasn't been a weak entry. This is a well balanced combination of action and comedy, plus it is also a solid continuation of the story from BBfL. 

The action-packed finale is a creative hoot and is a breath of energy in a world where there's been so many action movies it can be hard to be original. There is a also a surprising variation in the types of action in this. Returning directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah really have an eye for fight scenes.

Be warned that this is probably the darkest entry in the series. If you just want to enjoy a simple action popcorn flick where the good guys win without too much civilian collateral damage, then you may have issues with this.

The BB movies should be given credit for building up a cast of characters over time and making the world feel lived in. However, I do think RoD suffers from juggling too many characters. Like last time, the writers seem to have fun writing for Lowry and Burnett's backup Kelly (High School Musical/Princess Switch's Vanessa Hudgens) and Dorn (Vikings' Alexander Ludwig), but they're given little enough screen time that you're kinda annoyed that they're getting you to like characters without much follow-up. (In all honesty, I wouldn't mind a spin-off with these guys.) 

Given that they spent the length of the last film setting up the romance between Mike and Rita (Paola Nunez), one may be bothered that they dropped the relationship and married Mike to an entirely new person without any setup. Maybe it's because Rita's the police chief now, and it'd be awkward if her husband were her subordinate, or maybe the filmmakers thought the chemistry wasn't working.

Acting is fun across the board. Though he's dead, they manage to squeeze in a few appearances by Captain Howard through video recordings and visions, and Pantoliano makes the most of what looks like his final work on his franchise by giving his trademark enthused performance along with some surprisingly emotional parts. I honestly think it's a mistake they killed Howard off (and that Pantoliano isn't in more stuff in general.) He's just so fun.

Highly recommended. This makes for a good time.