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Companion Review

With the current state of movie going and quick turnaround times, we have access to the movie faster than ever. That makes the selection net a much wider choice. Yet some movies just demand that attention as soon as they arrive on a streaming platform. Such was the case with Companion, which at first glance appears to be just another movie about AI. That is the furthest thing from the truth.

First off, this movie is absolutely everything M3gan tried to be on a more mature scale. While M3gan was aimed to be a friend for children, this is about Companion robots for adults. It immediately sets the tone as though these robots are anatomically accurate and can do anything you want them to do.

One thing about the robots is they have a built-in feature that can not lie. That paves the way for Iris in this situation. The loving Companion to one Josh Beeman who by every metric is a fairly regular guy. Iris is nervous about a weekend getaway with his friends. We later learn these robots generally are given real memories and are unaware of their true form. That creates a massive sense of awkwardness among the interactions between Josh and his friends.

This structure allows for dark humor to be introduced within the structure of this plot in an effortless way. It also allows a nuanced performance from Sophie Thatcher as Iris. She absolutely steals the show without a doubt here. As things begin to unravel after a brutal murder Josh is forced to tell Iris the truth. Which allows Thatcher to then reach another level and blend the boundaries of what we should allow from AI technology as we develop it. There is plenty of social commentary sprinkled throughout this, and most of it hits the mark. It is subtle and well times and not in your face the way other films of this nature have delivered it.

Companion is everything you could want in a film about AI. It turns out what should be a situation about creating a perfect loved one for ourselves on its head. It challenges that when it comes to AI, we are the problem as we push the boundaries of factory settings with unsanctioned and unfounded modifications to the tech we possess. We go beyond the controlled limits and see the nefarious ways the AI can help us. While this movie is obviously a satirical approach to just how bad things can get it, it is also a reminder that some things just can't be replaced with a robot.

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The Last of Us- Through the Valley

Many people wondered when the time came what the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us would do with a massive storyline involving Joel. Well, the time has come for those questions and more to finally be answered.

There was a lot happening in this episode. Joel and Ellie are both out on separate patrols when a snow storm forces them to shelter. Joel comes across Abby, who is on the run from infected. As Joel and Dina are reluctant to trust them, Abby promises that her friends aren't far, and they will help Jackson Hole fend off the infected.

Parts of this episode were really good, and others not so much. Joel deserved a much more retrospective send-off. In this episode, all of the major plot threads they are introduced are dismissed through one liners and quips. It sort of took away from this being Joel's last hoorah. The action mainly focused on the city, and he was an afterthought among all of that.

Dina was quietly put to sleep so she didn't have to witness Joel's death, and Ellie stumbled upon the cabin with absolutely no chance to save Joel. It felt like outside of Kaitlin Dever, they took the stakes away from the actors. Obviously, Bella Ramsey did showcase the necessary emotions, but they could have built up a more frantic approach to these final sequences for Joel.

Hopefully, there is fallout to come, but with the choice to put the attack and this all in the same episode, it seems like the plot will move onward. While the choice to fulfill this narrative needed to occur, I wish it would have been portrayed with more conviction. Maybe it was because it became predictable even within this episode this is the route they were taking. Part of it was because we didn't get those emotional last conversations between Joel and Ellie.

It was this shows big moment and perhaps others enjoyed it. Overall, the episode did what it had to do, but it definitely could have been portrayed in a much more emotional capacity. Now that the show can move forward into the heart of the games actual story, let's hope we move at a quicker pace. This episode just wasn't it from beginning to end.

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Absolute Flash continues to start strong!

When a new comic series, first debuts fans can expect a lot of setup. Absolute Flash has done a great job of setting up so much over the course of the first two issues. It has felt very cohesive and well planned out. As if there could even be multiple directions the story takes.

Here we pick up right after where issue one ends, and we see Wally still trying to figure out what has happened. He feels alone, and the frantic pace of the story really helps capture that feeling. It moves quickly through him, piecing together what happened. Being isolated at 15 plays a huge role as well in the story structure. This is a side of Wally we have never witnessed before. Wally has always had endless allies and people he could turn to for help.

The art lends to that frantic nature as well, creating a truly unique Flash vision through two issues. What we have here is truly a fresh take on the character that can completely reinvent the lore and the villains that surround him. We are introduced to one such villain here in Grodd. This is a complete redesign and reinvention. At first, I will admit I dismissed this, but upon seeing it, there may be room for this storyline to be completely unique and introspective for both Grodd and Wally. Grodd is commonly known as one of the Flash's most intelligent foes who constantly provides him with a challenge. There is room for Grodd and Wally here to both feel like complete outsiders and grow together both intellectually and emotionally.

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Born Again Finale

Daredevil Born Again has finally finished. Sadly, that comes with a sigh of relief as the show has been limping towards this finish for weeks now. What we got here was fallout from the decisions that were made last week. There is plenty to unpack over the course of the final hour of season one.

Most of what happened here was the most predictable version of what could have occurred. We finally, after so much time, learned the truth about Foggy Nelson and everything that occurred there. It is exactly what was eluded to in the penultimate episode.

Insert Fisk realizing Matt is still a massive thorn in his side and a very terrible attempt to have him executed. After that, a hobbled Matt makes his way home to find out Frank is waiting for him in his apartment. This begins one of only a couple of scenes I felt attached to. Frank has no qualms about calling Matt out and nor should be.

Bernthal is an absolute scene stealer and adds a layer to his performances most actors will never reach. He once again stands head and shoulders above everyone here. From his subtle acting like he doesn't care about Karen or telling Powell, the NYPD officers have no idea the level of pain he felt.

This two part finale hook to set up season two would have served better an extended 2 hour finale. Breaking it down took the momentum away from the shocking choice made by Matt. It's bad when your lead character is one of the worst written characters of the season. Karen, in her limited screen time, has more emotional depth and growth than Matt had throughout this season. While we did catch glimpses here of what damage all of these actions have had on him, it still felt like he was dismissing so much of it. When point blank asked why Matt took the bullet for Fisk his answer is "That is a good question," and then the show immediately jumps into the next action.

The show could have positioned this for newcomers as a way for Matt and Frank to fundamentally disagree on how to approach the next phase of action. The bad thing about this show is it is purely designed for those who have watched every minute of the Netflix series. If you jumped on here, you would have no idea why Matt and Frank take the approaches they do. This could have been aided by the necessary dialogue but the show waited too late to do anything meaningful with the characters and plot.

Season 2 does have some promise as those honest citizens prepare to mount a fight against Mayor Fisk and his Red Hook project. Let's hope the dialogue and action are more akin to the Netflix series through out. The post credit scene involving Frank and his obvious return has me excited. I want to see Matt return to being Matt. Facing his real life and the emotional stuff right in front of him and all of the heroes we know and love taking their city back.

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The Last of Us has finally returned

It is good to finally see Joel and Ellie back on the screen. Season 2 of the Last of Us has been a hot topic ever since it was released. While fans have offered up their opinions on how the game handles the story, it does not mean the show has to 100 percent follow that path.

Already, we get introductions to the new key players in Abby and Dina. Abby has a very brief appearance, while Dina gets a tremendous amount of screen time. Isabela Merced is the stand out in terms of acting here, giving us a glimpse into who Dina is. She is funny, outspoken, and willing to do what is necessary.

While the episode itself was a little slow to start, it definitely feels like this season is poised to do big things. We get that set up near the end of the episode. We needed the filler stuff year as the show makes a big leap forward by 5 years.

We also caught a glimpse of how the infected are evolving, heading into this new season. This episode set the tone but it could have been better. Joel was used sparingly and they are creating a fractured relationship between him and Ellie. He even speaks on this on at point. He doesn't have the means to continue to support her. She is an adult now and no longer in need of the constant supervision. It's well established through a brooding Pedro Pascal and a less outward Ellie. Her bond is stronger with everyone but Joel at this point.

It's a good start, but this show really needs to pick it up. There is a lot to cover. While I am all for adding the necessary background information, this is a show I want to see big time things from. The story has to always be moving forward. This episode does thanks to Isabela Merced, but the rest of the season won't have the new introductions to fall back on consistently.

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Changing our perception of medical inspired TV. A review of The Pitt

Every now and then, a show comes along that changes the game for the genre it is a part of. The latest series to shake things up is The Pitt. It has garnered the attention of audiences worldwide for the thrilling and tension filled format.

We arrive at work at 7 am with Dr. Michael Robinavitch, who is the ER attending Physician at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. It is established right from moment one that this is no ordinary medical drama. We are spending the day with Dr. Robby (how he addresses himself with staff and patients) hour by hour.

As the show progresses, we get real-world incidents that will test the boundaries of the doctors who are working alongside Robby. Both professionally and ethically, these doctors are faced with complex choices that are true to life and very emotional.

Noah Wyle takes on the lead role here and he nails it. Right from the opening scene he establishes Robby as a flawed but caring individual. He takes time to remind the doctors that when a patient is lost, they should take a moment of silence. In the early going, Wyle presents Robby as unwavering, but over time, we get to see the cracks in his own foundation, and his past is brought into the mix.

We see the toll a life of this nature has the private and professional lives of each of these doctors. We learn their most intimate of secrets down to the final moments of the season. That's why The Pitt is so hard hitting. It never quite settles on one emotional moment to hit home. It is a quick and unrelenting barrage of emotional cases and interpersonal reflection. We see these doctors thinking, processing, and applying first-hand medical knowledge in the closest thing we could get to real time. We watch as the pressure mounts for them throughout the day.

As the season drew to a close were shown a mass casualty event which had some of the most emotional scenes a medical drama has ever showcased. It was the breaking point for Robby, and it completely changed the scope of how a story like this can lay out mental health for audiences. We get to see that even the people society leans on for guidance and help also have their breaking points.

Every show that has ever come in and changed the landscape of television did so by generating conversation. They did so by creating hard-hitting stories that made you laugh and cry. Stories that made you mad for the characters made you understand more about the characters. What all of these shows like The Pitt have in common is a new bar is set once they arrive. Without a doubt, The Pitt stands among the greatest medical dramas we have ever had. The most amazing part is that most shows have to earn that distinction over a lengthy run. The Pitt did it after just one season.

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Presidential Drama on overdrive! G20 is now streaming

Action movies are a dime a dozen these days. You can find so many action heavy films with a variety of servicable plots that are designed purely to showcase this. Amazon Prime offers up the latest in this genre in the form of G20.

It is a political action thriller set up against a terrorist attack during one of the worlds largest events. Stop me if we have heard that before. This plot has been used a million times over and yet still somehow gets people seated and watching.

Here, we have President Danielle Sutton, who is announcing a new currency initiative to help rural farmers have easier access to the money they need. In come the terrorists who are looking to flip the script and create an economic crash so Bitcoin can flourish and the markets change.

Viola Davis has the task of leading this film from a heroic standpoint, and her presidential war veteran character is a bit on the asburd side. She is a hardass parent and a stoic leader and then insanely skilled at everything the plot conveniently needs her to be good at.

You can literally feel the absurdity oozing off the poster. It doesn't shy away from any of it. In fact, the more campy the situation becomes, the more campy the way it plays out becomes. I think the only gripe that comes to mind is it is hard to separate when a movie wants to be taken seriously or not. These films that play no holds barred style with the sequences sometimes try and then have tender moments. Those moments don't usually play how they are supposed to after crazy over the top action.

A lot of this film relied heavily on a secondary subplot of the President trying to come to terms with her rebellious daughter. The subplot was not bad but played out in a generic way. From hacking RFID devices to evade the Secret Service to inevitably using those skills on a global scale, there was no natural progression. She was given those skills to add a layer to the plot to isolate the G20 summit from rescue. They could have crafted a better storyline about why she has those skills.

These movies are never praised for the depth. That's not an excuse to not have any. It's not a formula that generally has a lot of high praise. More popcorn fun than anything else. It's one of those movies that genuinely feels like it remove their own stakes. It's well acted, and some of the sequences are not horrible. However, what happens in between offers very little character growth. That is a huge thing in terms of story. Everyone in this movie came in with the set of skills and opportunities to use them that they left with.

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Born Again Episode 8

It has been said about television that some shows take a while to get going. However, when your first real glimmer of greatness is in your penultimate episode, it seems like a few things were missed. That is the case with Daredevil Born Again.

While episode 8 was one of the better ones of the season, it came too little too late. This was the story everyone wanted right from episode one. It once again felt predictable solely because it was the only card they had left to play. While it was a necessary route they boxed themselves into a corner this late in the season and made it the only route.

One of the better things this episode did was it finally took the time to address how all of this is taking a toll on Matt. He is having a hard time keeping his professional life and his vigilante life a secret. It's about time this occurred. Quite frankly, it makes the people around him look worse than it took this long.

It is good to see the show finally becoming what it should have always been, but that does not make up for what it has been. It is good that the show has finally done away with some season long subplots that should have ended weeks ago. This is the meat and potatoes of what diehard fans have been expecting.

There is somewhat renewed hope this show can limp into season 2 on a high note. This show has been awkwardly stumbling until this point, so limping into some fresh air seems a befitting end. This show has clearly struggled to find an identity in a post Netflix world. It just seems to me like they wasted so much time when there are so many classic Daredevil stories to choose from. Winding up here is not the issue. It's how we got here. It's the time squandered on what could have been something special.

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The White Lotus continues to provide top notch drama

Another round of guests have come and gone from the White Lotus. Some went home relatively the same while others didn't make it home at all. There is so much to unpack in this third season that took on some wild themes. Season 3 is good for what it did do and even better for what it explored but didn't end up doing.

Let me elaborate on that point. The White Lotus is classified as a drama. A slow burning character study at that. One that fundamentally takes a look at what decisions people make. Generally, for the sake of the story, it centers around morally bankrupt rick and elite folks. Characters who can afford a luxury stay at a resort on the other side of the world. With those characters comes immense baggage. With that baggage comes theories and red herrings that Mike White can create just to bait and switch.

The bait and switch approach is the best one a series like the White Lotus can take. It doesn't have the same ability to pull of a crazy twist but it can set up drama that doesn't go down how we would expect.

While the first two seasons offered to serve up a ludicrous ending, which involved a shocking death, season 3 opted not to do that. While there was still violence and death in this finale, it was not as shocking as prior seasons. That may turn people away, but for me, it breathes fresh air into the series. Had Mike White used the same antics as prior seasons, we could have said all he does is rely on a trope. This proves there are so many stories to tell about humanity, and sometimes anger just gets the better of us. Sometimes, people make poor decisions in the name of doing what they feel is right in the moment.

Already having been renewed for Season 4, The White Lotus, which has spent all 3 seasons at nice beach resorts, should take another leap. We should either see a snowy location or a more urban location for the 4th season. One thing Mike White does a tremendous job of doing is blending in the culture. In season 1, we got Hawaii, Season 2 Italy, and for season 3, Thailand. The choices for the next season are endless at this point.

A show of this nature, which relies heavily on a rotation of cast members, needs to reinvent itself between seasons. Where it relies heavily on a dialogue, stunning local visuals, and drama, we need to see just how zany and whacky humanity has become. This show thrives on the presentation of characters with varying opinions on all things. Those things include religion, sexuality, fame and politics. The White Lotus is a show where anyone person with any opinion on a hot button subject can find themselves the center of the drama.

Season 3 provides a lot of that while reminding us that humanity makes odd choices daily. It is very well written from that perspective. It's hard to discuss a season of The White Lotus without diving into the spoiler territory. However, this show is better served to watch it blind and to form your own ideology and opinions of the characters. Some people feel specific ways about individuals, and others feel the exact opposite. That is what makes The White Lotus so much different from anything else. The drama is not so cut and dry.

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A Minecraft Movie is an Absolute Blast!

Minecraft is a massive game worldwide. If you are to see an image from the world, almost everyone can recognize it instantly. A movie based on this game had my intrigue because there was no real clear story direction.

Now said movie has released and there has not been this much commotion at my local cinema since Endgame released. A Minecraft Movie has all the makings to work for everyone. For those who have spent 100s of hours playing the game or those who have seen very little.

Jack Black is a key reason why this movie works. He has the charisma to do absolutely everything and this proves it. From Bowser to Minecraft Steve, Black is carving out a really weird collection set. The Jack Black Iconic Video Game Characters collection sounds great.

In terms of the story, much like most video game based movies, the plot is very thin but always finds a way to work. Here we have Jason Momoa as Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison who is a washed up game store owner who once crushed it playing games himself. New kids in town Natalie and Henry along with their real estate agent find themselves transported to the Overworld.

It is visually fun giving the movie a live action take was an interesting choice when animation could have opened up so much more. That's my only gripe, to be fair. The live action aspect didn't enhance the movie but nor did it deter in the end. All of the classic Minecraft monsters are present and were the highlight of the movie.

There was a subplot here that, to me, was absolutely hilarious involving Jennifer Coolidge. She continues to be a delight in almost every project she is a part of. It gave the adults more to laugh at while the main plot line was entirely directed at those who have played the game and the younger audiences in attendance.

It's not a shock that A Minecraft Movie is the first real big hit of this year. It is already poised to become a massive hit domestically and will easily become the highest grossing domestic release so far this year. This is the first time in a while that I have been at a nearly sold-out movie. It was an immersive experience, to say the least. It seemed the general consensus within the packed cinema was that everyone was having. There were cheers, claps and general admiration for what was on display.

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Born Again Episode 7

Some series that should gather momentum sometimes just don't. That seems to be the case with Daredevil Born Again. Just when the series seems poised to do something great, it never quite reaches that status.

Again, in this episode, we have mostly filler with one key action sequence. In most cases, that would not be bad, but this was seriously predictable right from the jump. We finally get to see Muse's face and learn more about the motivations but it felt a little too late. There should have been more sequences about Heather meeting with various patients to establish Bastian as one who stood out.

Heather has had very little to do outside of Fisk and Vanessa, so this all felt rushed for the sake of it. Which has been a problem this show has faced. In the Netflix series the choices seemed more deliberate while here they always feel rushed and forced. We can see absolutely everything coming from a mile away in this.

They reached a critical point that it seems impossible to really have a lot occur now. They still have two episodes and no real story weaving through it anymore now that they concluded Muse.

The only part of this episode that worked was Fisk being his true self again. However, we also knew that was inevitable, so nothing this episode did was shocking or out of the ordinary. They promised so much amazing new stuff, and so far, this show has been a massive disappointment in terms of living up to the Netflix legacy.

Hope simply remains in the next two weeks for this show to turn it around because it is Marvel and Daredevil. Everything points to this show ending on a mediocre note, at least for me. There has been only a handful of scenes and sequences that I feel have great. The rest have been a combination or terrible to mediocre and that is a shame.

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Death of a Unicorn Review

In order to have fun at the movies, sometimes we need to let the plot just take us on a wild ride. Such was the case when the trailer for Death of a Unicorn came across my screen. It looked like a crazy idea brought to life, and it sure was.

Somethings worked really well. Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega are likable as the father/daughter duo who experience this weird and whacky experience. Jenna Ortega is such a bright star right now on the acting front that she completely elevates a project. Her appearing is enough to draw intrigue. Then you add in Paul Rudd and vengeful Unicorns and you have my money.

Perhaps the films only downfall is the abrupt way it hammers home the message of purity vs. evil intent. Ortega's Ridley is the only one who senses the danger in what has transpired, and the Leopold family are presented as caricatures right from their arrival. The humor these situations present though help take the film from one moment to the next. That certainly keeps the pace moving rather well and definitely helps keep you engaged.

It is not aiming to be an independent darling but more so an oddity that commands you do a double take. It's a wild premise, but once you realize they are fully committing to the insanity it will bring, it does provide a unique viewing experience. Sometimes we really don't need to overthink situations when it comes to story telling.

Being a big fan of Ortega and Rudd helps bridge the gap as well. It gives you a reason to watch, and you can stay for all the wild Unicorn lore they are about to showcase. It's wild, absurd, and everything in between, and sometimes that provides a really fun time.

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Born Again Episodes 5 and 6

This series is over half way through now. We have 3 episodes left and this show has done nothing. It's safe for me to say that is the truth at this point. While there is some building expected within any series, there has been absolutely no plot structure built up for these final three episodes whatsoever.

While Episode 5 was entertaining it was absolutely what can be described as the most filler of filler episodes. That's not what this show really needed coming off their best scene yet with Frank. It needed to push that envelope forward a little more and not slow down. There are major pacing issues. You can pluck this episode out of the 5th spot in the season and put it anywhere 1-5 and it would have had the same dramtic effect.

The sole bright spot was Mr. Khan and the relationship between him and Matt. The action was badass as well, but that is really it. While it can be classified as fun, and it would have been better served to have this episode come before an explosive scene like Franks. For me, it seemed like going back after that to this just killed the momentum.

When I saw that episode 6 was finally going to be about Muse I was excited. What a disaster that turned out to be. Fisk essentially treating Muse a masked vigilante was idiotic and establishing the Task Force just to have a vigilante do what the cops couldn't shut me down. Also, having this episode come after a small Frank Castle appearance and then having not been around for a serial killer, taking the down trodden off the streets, felt off to me.

The writing seems to just jump from point A to Point B with no reason in between for me to care. Muse was there, the sanitation department figured out the truth, and Matt was back in the suit, and it was over before it started. There was no tension, no build-up. There is no real connection to the overall story. It would have been better served for Angela to have directed to someone like Frank to help her and build up that tension a little more. Angela was there to go to Matt and have him realize the cops would be too late so he had to save her himself. There was nothing in between to help make this feel more powerful.

It would have been more powerful if Matt was forced back into the costume because Frank, while wanting to help Angela, was shown dealing with another threat. The last news Matt knew was he directed her in the line of Frank, and then he gets the phone call she is missing. Somehow, he gets word Frank is tied up elsewhere, and then he has zero choice but to throw on the suit.

If this was anything but Daredevil, this show would not be getting the praise it gets at all. It would be thrown away and left out in the cold with every other mediocre streaming product. Marvel really needs to step up their game. This just isn't it. I truly expected more at this point in the game.

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Lightning Quick Start for Absolute Flash

When the Absolute Universe was announced as the latest DC project, it had me intrigued. This is the first thing in years that DC has done to really switch up origins and create a brand new series of events to launch the universe.

Of course, the book that got my attention was The Flash. As a massive fan of the character, it was intriguing to see a younger Wally on display with none of the support around him to guide him through the issues.

Artwork is a big thing in comics, and this one had stunning visuals that helped progress the story just as much as the dialogue did. The panels and story are lightning quick with time slipping occurring throughout. It is used to not only provide a roadblock for Wally having to learn his new powers but to also set up what will become the first story arc.

Lemire has already stated that he has 12-24 issues plotted out which sets the series up for a year or two. That is great given the way we get a flash forward at the end of the issue. We can already see major differences and we get some massive character introductions here as well.

This is exactly what you want from a Flash issue. Big-time character introductions and real threats to Wally West. Wally is the perfect Flash for this story because he has had so many stories focus on his youth but never quite like this. Atleast not from this kind of plot device.

Without spoiling too much, there is one sequence that may upset some people, but ultimately, it is defendable. There is no way to set up Wally feeling alone unless they pull this off, and it had to be done. There is always the idea with the time travel powerset that it can be undone at some point. It shouldn't be because it was the issues most powerful moment. However, either way, it set the bar for now and knowing what I know about The Flash there is a big chance it will be revisited down the line.

Absolutely Flash has absolutely the best start they could have had. So many cool panels. Beautiful artwork and lettering to help guide the timeline and help the reader follow along. Let's see what Issue 2 has in store for Wally West.

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Born Again Episode 4

Coming into Daredevil Born Again, there were a series of expectations. Especially since it was promised to be as well produced as the Netflix series was.

Each episode so far has made strides in the right direction, but they have not made that leap yet into anything great. This episode did feature the best moment of the series thus far, and that will be discussed later on. However, the rest of this episode felt misguided.

The early stuff with Angela (Hector's neice) was well done, but then quickly handled and dropped. There was a chance there for a more poignant message about loss and the anger people feel afterwards, but it seemed like the series just pushed forward.

It moved forward to a more questionable legal case about a man stealing Caramel Corn because the system failed him. However, he was guilty, and by the way the show explained it, he had been guilty prior as well. While the system is failing people, it was hard for the show to create a sympathetic situation here. We already know there is more heinous crime taking place so the series did not need to establish this once again. It didn't need to showcase this series and essentially make a joke about it for Matt to play off with a member of the DA's office.

There are a lot of moving parts to this series, and very few of them are moving in a positive direction, and the parts that move are do so very slowly. There is obvious corruption among the NYPD, and they have chosen not to really advance the storyline other than the fake Punisher logo drop. Fisk is using the political landscape to his advantage, and we have seen very little movement on that front until the final 45 seconds of this episode.

Speaking of the aforementioned Punisher, we finally saw Frank Castle, and it was hands down the best scene so far in the series. Jon Bernthal brings a fiery internsity to everything he does. This scene was the first time this series brought the same energy as the Netflix series. It was the first time this series made me feel raw emotions as Frank dared Matt to actually engage with his feelings and do something about it.

So far, this is not the series I have been hoping for. While this was a step in the right direction, this show has to begin speeding this up. We are essentially halfway through this season right now, and a snail is currently moving faster than most of these storylines. That's not to say they can't be great. Muse is coming. Daredevil is going to emerge, and so will Punisher. It's just time we got to the scenes that set up those returns and stop with the filler.

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The Electric State is neither bad nor great

Robots vs. Humans is not a new concept. We have been watching this conflict unfold on the big screen for decades now. Netflix has released the latest film to tackle this subject matter with The Electric State. Does it hold up in comparison to other films and television shows of this nature?

Overall, there are better films that portray a similar story. This story only feels that way because it is predictable in a lot of ways. Once we are let on as to what the big secret is, there is not much left to really wow us as it plays out. Now, that doesn't make it a bad movie by definition, but it also does not redefine the genre in any way.

That is what we need at this point to keep the genre elevated. We can't just keep seeing battle sequences and robots realizing humans are not all evil and vice versa. This film tried to showcase this between Keats and Herm. The playful banter was supposed to be like two old friends riffing on each other. While most of the humor for me missed the mark that was the one element that worked.

The other aspect of this film that was good was the relationship between Michelle and Christopher. Especially the human connection between the two. Woody Norman stole the show as Christopher in the more emotional scenes this movie had to offer. Being able to steal scenes in a movie that features Chris Pratt, Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, and Millie Bobby Brown is no easy thing to accomplish, but he did. Kudos to that kid for doing that.

Ultimately, what hurts the movie is that the Middle Act drags a little bit. We know where this movie begins and ultimately where it has to go. The in-between stuff is to be poignant and effective. The beginning and the end were, but the middle was all just filler with no emotional weight. The final action sequence was great, as were the emotional beats that transpired within that. There just was not enough substance within the overall message of this film to bridge the gap between what was okay and what was good. Nothing really stands out as great. It's a matter of what else is out there with similar subject matter and how this one pulls it off in comparison.

Overall, this movie likely finds the number one spot on Netflix as it is an easy breezy watch. That's not a bad thing if you want to just unwind and watch something that features a plethora of talent. It is okay to realize that what you are watching is purely for entertainment and offers very little in the way of meaningful conversation. This one definitely won't have people up for hours debating the maturity of the content, but I have also spent 2hrs and 8mins doing way worse.

[reelvibes91]

Invincible Season 3 Review

Invincible continues to be the best show on currently. There are zero doubts about it. Season 3 has upped the stakes even more in a show that has had some very striking visuals up until this point.

The third season works so well because they bring everything together that has been introduced so far. They also keep so much on an open ending to keep the show progressing into the future seasons.

One aspect of the show that works really well are the emotional beats. The real-world emotions we get to see. The fear and anxiety of parents with superpowered children and the way the weight of it all crushed them. The show stops to address how innocent civilians have their lives altered by these destructive battle sequences. We even had a villain dedicated to making Invincible pay for this and it was one of the best episodes of this season.

Mark and Eve's relationship has become the core of the show and Marks reason for doing the right thing and being willing to cross certain lines now. Mark knows now that his child like approach of trying to see the good in people is not going to keep his loved ones safe. That in itself led to some powerful moments from Steven Yeun as an actor. Especially in the back half of the season during the Invincible War arc. This show does not drag things out either as people seem to think these arcs should go longer. They are more powerful because they are heavy, hitting, and fast-paced.

Everything about this show shows a level of maturity that many shows don't have, and it is based on a comic as well. The animation helps escalate the violent scenes, and this proves you can make a solid adult series and not compromise the core of the story. We have seen the toll it takes on the heroes and the sacrifices they have to make to keep the world safe. There is still so much more to come, and we are right in the thick of the story now.

The incredible cast is a big part of why this show works so well. Just this season alone, we, of course, had Sterling K. Brown back as Angstrom Levy, we had Aaron Paul as Powerplex and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Conquest. Of course, we even at one point had Steven Yeun voicing 18 different versions of Invincible and giving them all a unique identity. Sandra Oh also does an incredible job as Debbie, who to me is the heart of the show. While the show is called Invincible and is centered around Mark, the show would not succeed without all the people he loved surrounding him.

One of the shows best moments came courtesy of a more mature Rex Splode than what we saw in the beginning. He was evolving and maturing. If the show can take a role player like Rex and give that much depth, it has to at least be in the conversation as the best of the best currently being aired. Of course, there are more popular shows that will always steal the spotlight, but as we know, popularity does not make something the best. That's why Invincible will stand head and shoulders above the rest.