The Boys Presents: Diabolical is a Fun, Creative (and Inconsistent) Exercise in Telling Short Stories Set in the Violent Superhero Universe
As far as spinoffs go, you could certainly do worse than The Boys Presents: Diabolical. A collection of eight animated shorts featuring A-grade voice actors and writers, it takes good advantage of the universe’s twisted, violent tone and tells a…
Reacher is a Solid Adaptation that Makes a Standard Murder Mystery (and Conspiracy) Bearable Thanks to Strong Character Dynamics
Reacher is the latest adaptation of author Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, which star a hulking ex-army loner who lives off the grid and habitually finds himself in dangerous situations that require both his fists and brain. Although Tom Cruise…
The Wheel of Time is an Ambitious Fantasy Epic that Struggles to Balance its Characters and Plot Threads in its First Season
The Wheel of Time is a preeminent series of books written by the late Robert Jordan and, later, Brandon Sanderson. It stretches over fourteen books, most of them the size of doorstoppers. The sheer volume of source material suggests that…
The Tomorrow War is a Competently Made Action Blockbuster that Benefits from the Dearth of Competition
The Tomorrow War is an interesting piece of filmmaking. Some of its aspects are competently made, while others leave much to be desired. If you have read the overwhelming critical response, you’ll find that most of the things they panned…
Family Man is as Gripping as Ever, Shifting Focus to a Different Enemy for Second Season
When Family Man arrived on Amazon Prime two years ago, it impressed viewers with its taut story and engrossing lead performance by Manoj Bajpayee. While the first season focused on a rogue Pakistani ISI cell, the second season gives a…
Invincible Manages to Stand Out as a Superhero Story, Despite its Intentionally Standard Premise
Superhero fatigue has been talked about for years, but this is the first time I am experiencing it myself. Sure, there are some excellent adaptations out there such as The Boys, Doom Patrol and Umbrella Academy to a degree, but…
Sound of Metal is a Searing, Unnerving Look at a Man Learning to Live After Losing Everything
Sound of Metal could have easily been a saccharine, tugging-at-your-heartstrings affair. It follows Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a recovered addict and metal drummer who discovers that he is losing his hearing. Instead of wallowing in misery, director Darius Marder and co-writer…
Truth Seekers is a Warm, Quirky Take on Horror Comedy with a Strong Ensemble Cast
With Truth Seekers, you might expect to see some of the tried and tested British humor that you have found in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s earlier collaborations, such as Spaced or the Cornetto trilogy. Taking a comedic approach to…
Mirzapur is Still Entertaining in its Second Season, Despite its Slower Pacing
Mirzapur returns with a second season almost two years after it first aired. In case you have forgotten what happened in the first season since then, the show opens with a detailed recap before diving straight into what looks like…
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is a Delightful Farce that Updates the Classic Trickster for a New America
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was announced only a few weeks before its release. Taking place 14 years after the original, the sequel takes aim at Trump supporters, QAnon truthers and Covid protesters. While the movie is not as shocking as its…
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