2025-02-24

📺 S2E7 and E8 of A.P. Bio had me snort laughing. This show is pure gold.

2025-02-18

🍿 Just watched: The Gorge

Movie poster for “The Gorge” features two people facing each other with a scenic sunset. Text details include: 2025, Scott Derrickson. Review: Is this movie something special? No, not really. But don’t let that prevent you from watching it! I was engaged from start to finish, and it excelled in both the first and second acts. I found myself surprisingly invested in both main characters. Plenty of action too. (Don’t miss the clever callouts to Whiplash and The Queen’s Gambit!) Rating: One thumb up.

2025-02-17

📺 Helly was wearing a watch in S2E5, the same episode in which severed workers were described as not wearing watches — instead telling time only by the clock on the wall. There’s definitely something strange about time passage happening for Innies… I just can’t figure out how it affects Outies!

2025-02-13

🍿 Watched: The Wild Robot

A round-eyed robot rests among tree branches, indicating wilderness. Review reads: The Wild Robot 2024 Chris Sanders. A cute movie that I enjoyed watching, though it’s not as dazzling as other reviews had led me to expect. A fun watch, and one that doesn’t sugarcoat the predator/prey dynamic of wild animals. Certainly a few my heart grew three sizes that day moments that were effective, if predictable. Rating: one thumb up.

2025-02-13

🍿 Watched: Here

A couple stands together facing a large, white bay window with a suburban view outside. Text reviews the film “Here” by Robert Zemeckis, 2024. Review: Fascinating project. Telling many stories across time from one point in space made it more of a concept movie than a typical film, but it was artfully done. The de-aging wasn’t super convincing, but I was drawn into the stories nonetheless. Worthwhile! Rating: one thumb up,

2025-01-29

📺 Finished watching: A.P. Bio (Season 1) on Netflix

A man playfully biting an apple is featured, with a classroom scene in the background. Review: Good god, this show makes me laugh! Glenn Howerton is at the top of his game here, but the students really bring it home. (Team Heather 🤣) Rating: Two thumbs up.

2025-01-27

📺 Finished watching: Silo (Season 2) on Apple TV+

Silhouette of a woman’s profile blending with a dramatic scene of people below, set against a blue and orange backdrop. Review: Loving this show. Folks were saying the second season was too slow, but I liked the room the let the story breathe and think S2 far outclasses S1. Compelling performances, incredible production and design, lots of twists and turns – I can’t wait to see what happens next. Rating: two thumbs up.

2025-01-27

🍿 Watched: Fly Me to the Moon on Apple TV+

Movie poster features two main characters in front of a large moon backdrop. Text reads: Fly Me to the Moon, 2024, Greg Berlanti. Fun, but forgettable. That’s about all I have to say about that. 🚀 Rating: One thumb up.

2025-01-20

📺 How come none of you told me that A.P. Bio is effing hilarious?!

2025-01-12

📺 I just finished my rewatch of Severance and, my god, did they ever nail that finale. Every scene a cliffhanger, with the ultimate one at the very end.

Though so much was left a mystery, I’d still have been happy if the series ended right there. But I’m overjoyed that season 2 picks up in a few days!

2025-01-09

📺 If you got hooked on Severance during Apple’s free TV+ streaming weekend, you should definitely get on finishing season one for free on the Roku Channel before its second season debuts on January 17. I’ve been rewatching and am completely captivated once again. The official podcast is great, too.

2025-01-03

🍿 Watched (back in May 2022): The Matrix (1999)

Movie poster for The Matrix (1999, directed by Lana Wachowski) featuring four characters in dark clothing, standing confidently. Review: Maybe it’s just because this movie is hyped so highly, but I didn’t think it quite lived up. I enjoyed the concept and it’s very imaginative, but I could have done without the romance aspect and the second half dragged a bit for me. But I can see why people like it, why it’s back in the zeitgeist, and why it spawned such a fervor. Rating: One thumb up.

2025-01-03

🍿 Watched (back in May 2022): Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Poster featuring characters from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) directed by David Yates, surrounded by magical elements. Review: An improvement from the sequel, but not as delightful as the original. This movie ties up a few loose ends, but leaves many yet to be tidied. Jude Law plays a great Dumbledore, and the rest of the cast likewise reprised their roles well. All said, I’m not sure I actually like this series. I almost wish the first movie was a one-off and didn’t try so hard with the Grindelwald/Dumbledore storyline. Rating: One thumb up.

2025-01-03

🍿 Watched (back in May 2022): Explorer: The Last Tepui (2022)

Climber grips a steep rock face, wearing a green helmet and orange jacket, suspended high in a mountainous landscape. Film: Explorer: The Last Tepui 2022 - Renan Öztürk & Taylor Rees. Review: A cool and important project, and incredible landscape. Impressive climbing and work by the team to make it possible to collect research data. But they took themselves a little too seriously in my opinion, which leaked into the documentary. Rating: One thumb up.

2025-01-03

📺 Finished watching: Slow Horses (Season 2)

Poster of “Slow Horses” features Gary Oldman leading a group in a narrow, urban street. Review: I’m a big fan of the six-episode seasons. Long enough to enjoy the story, but not so long that it feels drawn out, leading you to too many dead ends and red herrings. The first season was perhaps a tad stronger, but I flew through this one, too. If each season continues to have its own classic spy theme (S1 = terrorists, S2 = Cold War debts to settle), I’ll be happy guy. But I like that some things are building from season to season. And finally, I appreciate their gutsy moves with characters. No spoilers, but I did NOT expect REDACTED to die so quickly! Rating: Two thumbs up.

2025-01-03

🍿 Just watched: Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Poster with three serious faces and text “Killers of the Flower Moon, 2023, Martin Scorsese. Review: I struggle with this one because on one hand, I loved the actors and think they all did a marvelous job with their roles. It’s also an important story that I’m glad was given a prominent spotlight. And there’s no denying that it was beautifully shot, with no expense spared. On the other hand, it was so damn long. And yet, with all that time, I still didn’t always follow what was going on. I’m giving it a thumbs up, but I don’t think I’m going to watch it again. Rating: one thumb up.

2024-12-31

🍿 Just watched: Carry-On (2024)

A serious man in a blue uniform looks over his shoulder in an airport setting. Review: Carry-On, 2024 - Jaume Collet-Serra. Jason Bateman was a great villain. He nailed the dead eyes and flat-yet-menacing tone. I absolutely did not recognize Taron Egerton, even though I loved him in Rocketman and Tetris. He made another good performance here. The story… well… While the premise was good and hooked me in the beginning, it kind of fell apart fairly quickly. How on earth would no one intercept this TSA guy constantly leaving his post and acting super strange on Christmas Eve? Also, just don’t put in (or break, you choose) the earpiece! Once I accepted that the film was full of plot holes and just wanted to be an exciting thrill ride, I enjoyed it for what it was. Rated one thumb up.

2024-12-26

📺 Restarted Severance tonight, too, in anticipation of its second season. S1E1 is such good television! Mystery after mystery. So compelling.

2024-12-26

📺 Just finished: Shrinking (Season 2)

Two men stand together; one holds the other’s face into a smile. Review of Shrinking (Season 2) on Apple TV+: Goodness, they’ve really made something special here. I liked the first season a lot. I loved the second season. The characters are dynamic and singular. Their chemistry is unmatched. (Well done breakout Dereks!) The writing is quick, witty, and cuts to the core when it needs to. The story is heart-wrenching and heart-warming. I laugh every few minutes in every episode. I tear up in most of them too. It’d be worth getting Apple TV+ just for this show. Rating: Two thumbs up.

2024-12-13

🍿 Watched: Wicked: Part I (2024)

Poster depicts two characters, a flying witch and a princess with a wand, against a fantasy landscape. Text includes: “Wicked: Part I, 2024 - Jon M. Chu.” Review: Impressive performances. It’s fun to watch these characters played on the big screen by such capable actors. Really solid musical numbers. Yet, I continue to be somewhat perplexed by the story. I was nervous on behalf of Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, for her to sing “Defying Gravity”. It’s such a demanding and well-known song. I needn’t have worried; she absolutely nails it. Rating: 👍

2024-12-13

📺 Finished watching: What We Do in the Shadows (Season 6)

Poster of a vampire comedy show with glowing characters above a spooky house, surrounded by lightning. Review: A fun show that kinda went off the rails a couple of seasons ago, but was funny enough to keep watching. The series finale felt a bit rushed but landed all right. It’s a show that knew what it wanted to be from the beginning and didn’t try to be much else. Definitely watch seasons 1-4! My wife made an interesting observation that in most shows you want to see the characters develop over time. But in a vampire show, six seasons is a blink of an eye as they’re immortal. Rating: 👍

2024-11-04

📺 Agatha All Along was really good (if not great) and I’m excited to see where they go with the story next.

Poster featuring several characters with a woman in the center gesturing dramatically, surrounded by a mystical forest. Text reads: “Agatha All Along, 2024 - Jac Schaeffer. While I wouldn’t set it on the same pedestal as WandaVision and Loki, as others have, this was a really good show! Each character was dynamic and entertaining. And though the story meandered—almost getting lost—I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists. Great music choices, fantastic sets, some new ground explored for Marvel—it’s worth watching.” Rating: 👍

2024-11-03

🍿 Just Watched: The Truman Show

Mosaic poster of a smiling man’s face composed of smaller images. Text: “The Truman Show, 1998 - Peter Weir.” Review: “A fun one that’s also a thinker. I’ve always enjoyed Jim Carrey and this role as Truman played to his strengths. The idea that someone could have their whole life livestreamed to the entire world may have seemed outlandish in 1998, but it’s not that far off from reality for today’s influencers. And yet, it’s wild to think that only one person in the film could see the inhumanity of The Truman Show and decide to act upon it.” Rating: 👍.

2024-11-02

🍿 Just watched: BlackBerry

Two men stand with a smartphone drawing in front, symbolizing power, against a dark backdrop. Review of BlackBery, a 2023 film directed by Matt Johnson. Review text: “I didn’t know much about the history of RIM or BlackBerry, and I’m still not sure I know much of the truth. But it was an exciting way to look back at the launch of the smartphone era, and how even a single personality can infect a team’s atmosphere. Glenn Howerton played the hell out of his role!"

2024-11-02

🍿 Watched: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Poster of two people in colorful costumes standing closely, with text describing “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”, a 2020 film directed by David Dobkin. Review text: “Sometimes a silly movie is just what the doctor ordered. I could predict all the plot points with ease, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the comedy antics. Pretty good singing, too!” Rates 👍.