Share: After a wait of about two years and four Disney+ shows later, Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian” has returned, once again reuniting viewers with their favorite space western featuring Pedro Pascal. Episode one titled, “The Apostate”, opens with what seems like a flashback but turns out to be bait as the show immediately welcomes the return of Din Djarin and his adorable companion Grogu following their reunion in 2022s “The Book of Boba Fett”. The show swiftly reminds viewers of the main plot of this season. …
‘Cocaine Bear’ blows away expectations, snorts up success on screen
Share: A massive American black bear accidentally takes an overdosing wash in a cocaine shower, eating kilos upon kilos of the powdery white substance, and goes on the best coke-fueled rampage you’ve ever seen. And the best part is, this actually happened. Elizabeth Banks’ ridiculous comedy “Cocaine Bear” is a comically retro film that follows the 1985 story of a group of people in Georgia trying to kill, and most of the time escape, a 500-pound American female black bear who unintentionally ate a significant …
‘You’ uncovers a murder mystery that lacks substance
Share: Following the success the Netflix series “You” has had since its first season debut in 2018, each season has made the show grow more popular. The recent release of its fourth season is entertaining, though falls flat in comparison to previous seasons. For those that are not familiar with this series, the story follows a literature fanatic named Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, who holds an unhealthy obsession with stalking women that could be potential lovers in his eyes. His obsession becomes lethal …
‘The Last of Us’ deviates from game and elevates into prestige TV
Share: With half of its episodes yet to be released, “The Last of Us” is one of the best shows TV has to offer. The new HBO series opened to universal praise solely from the first two episodes. The much-talked-about third episode, “Long, Long Time,” showed the series is adept at adapting the original story and creating new compelling plotlines in the best episode yet. Now at the halfway point, the show has already proven to be essential viewing. After Joel and Ellie nearly escaped …
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ expands MCU into new heights
Share: “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is the latest installment of the Marvel universe, being the first production to start phase five. Phase four of the MCU was filled to the brim with 18 projects, leaving fans feeling bloated and concerned with the large amounts of mediocre work. Quantumania however hits the mark in giving fans that refreshing boost to stay and see what lies ahead. From an ex-convict to an Avenger, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) resumes life in San Francisco but is now looked …
‘Knock at the Cabin’ almost knocks it out of the park
Share: “Knock at the Cabin” is a rare sight for filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, where the movie manages to impress and disappoint. At best, he reaches the early highs of his career marked by blockbusters such as “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs.” At worst, his failure to stick the landing harkens back to the disaster of “The Last Airbender.” “Knock at the Cabin” falls under this narrow margin, but not without striving for brilliance. Wen and her two dads, Eric and Andrew, drive to a …
‘M3GAN’ is killer, with minimal buffering
Share: You’re probably familiar with the old adage about shooting for the moon and landing amongst the stars. To begin this review by referencing that adage would be cheesy. Luckily “M3GAN” the latest theatrical release from the horror trailblazers at Blumhouse, pairs perfectly with a little cheese. M3GAN, short for Model 3 Generative Android, is an A.I. prototype willed and welded into existence by roboticist Gemma. Built to be the last toy any kid will ever need, M3GAN becomes just that and more when tragedy …
‘Angel City’ is as interesting as it is confusing
Share: Pasadena City College’s rendition of Sam Shepard’s “Angel City” explores the destructive and exploitative nature of the Hollywood machine that often drives people to corruption. The play follows Rabbit, a magical miracle man with a reputation for helping Hollywood with failing film projects. Rabbit is asked by film executives, Wheeler and Lanx, to create a cinematic catastrophe large enough to save their newest disaster film. Over time Rabbit comes to find that everyone there is waiting for their big moment that will never come, …
Mike White’s ‘White Lotus’ is fabulously disappointing
Share: The second installment in Mike White’s anthology series about wealthy residents vacationing at the eponymous White Lotus resort is as stunning and painful as the first. There is much to praise in season 2 of “The White Lotus”. The incredible soundtrack composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer springs readily to mind. Then, there is the show’s powerhouse cast who manage to make even the most infuriating characters lovable by merit of their humanity. The three-act structure of each episode that follows its players from …
‘Andor’ shines bright in a galaxy far, far away
Share: Despite being announced in 2018, “Andor” was finally released on Disney+ on Sep. 21, 2022. The show follows Diego Luna’s character Cassian Andor in the years leading up to the film that originally introduced him, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”. To put it simply, this show kicks ass and is the best offering on Disney+. It’s enthralling, complex, and most of all, exciting. It’s the space political thriller I didn’t know I needed or wanted for that matter. Between its 12 episodes, the …