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Showing posts from 2020

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.08 - Chapter 16 - Review

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The season finale of The Mandalorian changed everything. In fact, it is unclear what shape the third season is even going to take (is it The Book of Boba Fett or its own separate thing)? But it tugged at the heartstrings of everyone, and did what Star Wars does best - which is rely on the past in lieu of anything new.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.07 - Chapter 15 - Review

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The penultimate episode of The Mandalorian felt like yet another detour, however, packed within that detour was a bunch of moments that should come into play later. You can't put the toothpaste back in tube, and the show, plus the characters in it, will never be the same because of it.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.06 - Chapter 14 - Review

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The stakes were raised on The Mandalorian after last week's episode subtitled "The Jedi". With no inkling of what would come next, it was hard to grasp what the trajectory was or if it would indeed keep up with the promised potential. Not only did this week's episode, called "The Tragedy", live up to the episode before it, in many ways, it surpassed it.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.05 - Chapter 13 - Review

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Every series has a turning point or shift in the narrative that elevates it to the next level. Some shows have a lot of these throughout the course of its life. It is unclear how many The Mandalorian will have, but one thing is for sure: This episode, Chapter 13, "The Jedi", was one of them. It is difficult to talk about this episode without spoiling the contents of it, so please do not read unless you've seen the episode.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.04 - Chapter 12 - Review

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Even though the show tickled its fans with the notion of meeting Ahsoka Tano last week , the Razor Crest just couldn't make it to her. This episode, directed by Carl Weathers, was a detour that the show is known best for, but at least it connected to the larger story of Moff Gideon and his hunt for the Child.

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special - Review

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If you say "Holiday Special" to a Star Wars fan, they will most likely cringe, laugh embarrassingly, or just slowly shake their head. It was something that George Lucas himself hated. It's a badge of honor of Star Wars fans to have actually sat through it. It is also something that Lucasfilm definitely wanted to distance themselves from...unless you put "Lego" in front of it. The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is not a remake of the original Holiday Special but still takes a bit of inspiration from it.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.03 - Chapter 11 - Review

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While last week's episode was fun, it didn't offer much in terms of the overall journey of the Mandalorian's quest to find The Child's kind. This week was different. It took a gigantic step in that direction. There are character spoilers throughout this review.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.02 - Chapter 10 - Review

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This week saw Ant-Man and The Wasp 's Peyton Reed take the helm for one of the most tense (and hilarious) episodes of The Mandalorian to date. The show is still treading water, but it is doing so in the most entertaining way possible.

The Mandalorian - Episode 2.01 - Chapter 9 - Review

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  Star Wars can get bogged down with itself, relying on the overly familiar in lieu of a better story. That is why the first season of The Mandalorian was so refreshing. It brought something new to the universe, and wasn't overly reliant on the franchise's history. The second season just premiered, and it took a course more like its film counterparts - it was one big nostalgia bomb strapped to a bantha.

Enola Holmes - Review

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Every now and then a movie comes around that surprises you. That came in the form of Enola Holmes, Netflix's newest venture that tells a tale about Sherlock Holmes' younger sister. In short: Millie Bobby Brown delivers a wonderful performance that anchors a strong and poignant story.

An American Pickle - Review

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An American Pickle  is the newest Seth Rogen comedy. The HBO Max original is a bit more subdued and less outrageous than some of Rogen's previous comedy. Yet the movie is still funny, and brings a ton of heart and emotion to it.

Psych The Movie 2: Lassie Come Home - Review

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This review was originally posted on The GWW . During Psych‘s initial run on USA Network, it gained a massive cult following, developed its own slang and catchphrases, and became one of the network’s biggest show’s ever. With the show’s finale in 2014, the show did right by its fans, giving everyone a satisfying conclusion. But showrunner Steve Franks, and franchise star James Roday still had more to say, and in 2017, gives us Psych The Movie. It was a fun follow up, and even tied up a few loose ends teased in the finale 3 years prior. With the launch of NBC Universal’s new streaming service Peacock, comes another chapter in the Psych universe with Psych The Movie 2: Lassie Come Home. Franks and Roday rarely disappoint, and this is no exception. The movie is a strong entry into the franchise that deals with fatherhood, maturity, and living up to expectations. But it is also a big, heartfelt tribute to Timothy Omundson. Omundson played Carlton Lassiter in the series, and days befor

Movie Midterm - My Favorite Movies of the First Half of 2020

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This has been a regular feature on my site since I launched it in 2017. The format has stayed pretty much the same. This year, things will be a bit different though. They kind of have to be.

Nobody Knows I'm Here - Review

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Nobody Knows I'm Here was a Tribecca Film Festival winner (Best New Narrative Director) that just released on Netflix today. If this year had a full slate of movies, it might have been overlooked by the general public, but it will have its chance to shine in a less crowded space now.

Da 5 Bloods - Review

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Hot off the trails of 2018's BlacKkKlansman , Spike Lee is back with another absolute gem. In a year devoid of quality entertainment, his newest Netflix offering Da 5 Bloods  stands above all the rest.

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 28

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This week had the final set up episode of Stargirl, which should anchor the series for years to come. It also had the finale of Legends of Tomorrow , which showed the exit of a beloved series regular. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 27

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This week we had a hero coming to terms with the world around here, and a team finding a new version of themselves. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 26

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This week, we saw 2 impromptu but powerful finales, dire straits, and a new hero spawn. It was a strong slate of episodes show, and the universe wont' be back to full strength until next year. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 25

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This week we had an impromptu finale, a forced story, a lost soul seeking forgiveness, and burgeoning love triangle. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 24

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This week there were betrayals, secrets revealed, plans uncovered, foes becoming friends, and family bonding. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 23

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This week in the Arrowverse, we returned to Gotham City, finally got some results in Central City, and the team got one step closer to their goal on the Waverider. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 22

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Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 21

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This week the World's Finest women held it down for the Arrowverse. There were betrayals, what-ifs, and a lot of stakes raised. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 20

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This week had the exit of a veteran Arrowverse  member, an old foe re-emerging, priorities being realigned, and heavy issues being handled. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 19

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This week, a war was won, familiar foes returned, secrets were discovered, and new paths were forged. Every show was on and each one brought their A-game which is always a treat. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Onward - Review

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A Pixar movie is an event. Some of the greatest animated movies ever made were from this company. The Toy Story movies , The Incredibles movies , Inside Out , and Coco just to name a few . The latest is a movie that deals with wizards, magic, and family dynamics. Onward is the latest iteration of Pixar's tried and true formula.

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 18

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Black Lightning  is holding it down this week in the Arrowverse. There was a lot that happened, it being the penultimate episode of the season. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Doctor Who - Episode 12.10 - The Timeless Children - Review

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Just like that, another season of Doctor Who  is over. But unlike last season, this season changed the entire mythology of the show. It is a foundation laid that future showrunners will use for the rest of the show's history. The episode even hearkened back to the Russell T. Davies era with a great cliffhanger to make audiences wait for the special.

Doctor Who - Episode 12.09 - Ascension Of The Cybermen - Review

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The penultimate episode of a season of Doctor Who can be vary greatly. Usually it is part of a two or 3 part finale. It can either support the finale, or supersede it which is an issue. Take "Heaven Sent" for example. That is one of the best episodes to ever exist. Its follow up, "Hell Bent", does not live up to what "Heaven Sent" set up. So there are two prisms to look at when it comes to an episode like this. The first is how it is on its own, and the second is how it stacks up compared to the finale.

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 17

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Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 16

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This week there was a couple heartbreaking deaths, a big resignation, a start of a relationship, and an old French party. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Doctor Who - Episode 12.08 - The Haunting Of Villa Diodati - Review

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While Doctor Who  can be anything that it wants to be on any given week, the best episodes are the ones that check certain boxes for good reasons. While this season has a been a bit uneven, "The Haunting Of Villa Diodati" is the best episode of the season, and is classic, quintessential  Doctor Who !

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 15

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This week we had a showdown in Markovia, a high school slasher story in 3 different decades, and a Valentine's love story. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Doctor Who - Episode 12.07 - Can You Hear Me? - Review

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Concept and execution are both needed to make a strong episode. The latest episode of Doctor Who  had a really strong concept. But it was the execution that was lacking this week. There were some amazing moments, and a strong villain, it just didn't all get brought together very well.

Birds Of Prey - Review

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The first comic book movie of the year is the DC team up flick Birds of Prey . While Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn has been seen in Suicide Squad , this was a much better showcase of her talents.

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 14

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This week we had the first post- Arrow  appearance of an Arrow  cast member, a penultimate preparation and an old friend returning in a new way. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Doctor Who - Episode 12.06 - Praxeus - Review

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After the incredible high of " Fugitive of the Judoon " it was going to be interesting to see how the next episode "Praxeus" would hold up. "Praxeus" was written by Pete McTighe (and showrunner Chris Chibnall), who also did " Kerblam " last season. It was a perfectly fine episode that might be more kindly regarded on future viewings.

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 13

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This week marks the end of Arrow . Everything else that happened in the Arrowverse seems insignificant, even though so pretty good stuff happened. There were storylines coming together, doppelgangers and decoys, and things that will have ramifications in the future. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Doctor Who - Episode 12.05 - Fugitive Of The Judoon - Review

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There are only a handful of Doctor Who  episodes that are true game changers. Most of them are usually finales or specials. But the halfway point of season 12 is likely one of those episodes, depending on how everything shakes up. It was cool enough to see a returning alien menace in the Judoon. But for a fan favorite character to come back, and to have a reveal that shakes the fandom to its core, is spectacular. There are spoilers for the episode ahead.

2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 12

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This week is the first look at each show in a post Crisis  world. Things will never be the same, and the shows wasted no time in proving that. Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate! You can read this season's previous breakdowns here .

Doctor Who - Episode 12.04 - Nikola Tesla's Night Of Terror - Review

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It is always fun when the Doctor meets a real life person from history. Whether it is Charles Dickens, the Queen of England, or Rosa Parks , there is always something inherently interesting about it. This time, the Doctor got to meet two revolutionary inventors: Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.

Crisis On Infinite Earths Parts 4 & 5 (2019-2020 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 11)

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Crisis On Infinite Earths is now in the past, and the entirety of The Arrowverse has changed forever. What they were able to do with this is truly remarkable. The wait between chapters sucked, but they definitely stuck the landing. This will not be formatted as usual, but instead it will be one big rundown.

Bad Boys For Life - Review

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Will Smith is no stranger to sequels, but he is rather a stranger to good sequels. Most of his sequels are forgettable rehashes. Bad Boys For Life is a refreshing change from that. 17 years after Bad Boys 2 hit theaters, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles in a strong sequel that gives you everything you love about the franchise, and fixed what you didn't.

Doctor Who - Episode 12.03 - Orphan 55 - Review

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After the strong two part story to start things off ,  Doctor Who  got into the meat and potatoes of the season with "Orphan 55", written by Ed Hime, whose first episode was pretty good . It felt more like an episode that would fit into last season, instead of what Spyfall was. The good, the bad, and the ugly, all felt like a change in pace from the premiere.

Doctor Who - Episode 12.02 - Spyfall Part 2 - Review

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A common trend in Doctor Who  since its return in 2005 are two part episodes with a cliffhanger at the end of episode 1. What is also a common trend is for the cliffhanger to be much better than the resolution presented in the second part. Take season 9 for example. "Heaven Sent" is one of the best Doctor Who  episodes ever made. Its follow up, "Hell Bent", is not at all on the same level. Fast forward to s12. Chris Chibnall drops the premiere on New Year's Day with the excellent  " Spyfall Part 1 " . It had stakes, big reveals, and strong character moments. So how did the follow up go?

Doctor Who - Episode 12.01 - Spyfall Part 1 - Review

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The sophomore season of a Doctor's run can be tricky. But in the case of Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor, and Chris Chibnall as showrunner, this is not the case yet. The premiere went off with a bang, and showed that Doctor Who  has returned to form.

Movie Final - My Favorite Movies of 2019

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2019 marked the end of the decade that gave us plenty of wonderful cinematic treats. It ended a lot of long form stories, such as things in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the Star Wars universe. It also gave us new films from Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, which are always worth noting. There were old friends back, and new friends introduced. 2019 will definitely be a year to remember in terms of cinematic achievement.