We’re heading into the final months of 2023 and it’s a different world to be sure due to the actors and writers’ strikes as there won’t be a broadcast season for the most part, unless you’re interested in game and variety shows. The streaming side offers us a bit more material that was in the hopper already so we’re definitely good other.
With the holidays coming up we’re moving into our romance drama craziness as I’ve got far too much of an affection for such things. But we’ve also wrapped up shows like Doom Patrol and Loki among others. There are a few shows we’re watching weekly as well that we aren’t doing full articles for to talk about.
First up is the debut of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. While the 2014 film isn’t one that won me over in a big way I’ve enjoyed the films that have come since and this series is right up my alley. A chance to explore things in-between the films and expand it all while also giving us essentially a semi-secret organization that can be delved into. I’m sure some folks will hate the family drama aspect of it but these are the connective pieces that draw in wider audiences. The two episodes jump through a lot of time periods going from 1952 to 2015 and it introduces an interesting range of interconnected characters. I love the older pieces just to touch on areas we’re somewhat familiar with in a new way while in the present just seeing things like Godzilla drills and evacuation routes are definitely intriguing. It’s a well put together series so far with a lot of great locations and feels both grounded and big as we get some time with the titans as well.
Getting a bit further into the fourth season of For All Mankind works well to expand what’s going on and showing the strain of various agencies and what they’re dealing with. The time in Happy Valley is definitely ripe for problems as we see how a lot of those that work the lower levels – now taking on even worse work because of the accident – are feeling very second class at best compared to those at the top. There’s a great conversation to be had here about those that view all of this as the “for country” side that Ed grew up on and dealt with in the initial run of the space race to those that are now coming on that view it as simply a job – and one that’s now screwing them over. The time on Earth has some interesting challenges as well with Aleida still dealing with some real PTSB while Kelly is finding her own path being cut off. There’s also everything going on in Russia as it looks like a coup is taking place and that’s going to introduce its own kind of instability.
Sticking from last week, Kevin has a look at the new feature film The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. ““The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” was directed by Tomohisa Taguchi. He previously directed a couple of Persona movies (based on the popular video game series) and has also managed to direct a Digimon movie at the same time (why, these two movies might be playing in the same multiplex, making a double feature doable). Though it was harder to judge him as a director when he was working with franchises, in this case, he is adapting a light novel and doing so in a way that is his vision. He appears to have a gift for making big ideas digestible, and the direction is confident and not overstuffed. “The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” is a wonderful film that hints a new superstar director may be in the making, and hopefully he’ll waste no time showing up what more he can do in the future.
Check out the full review.
Movie reviews:
- The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Review
- The Canterville Ghost
- Animation Is Film 2023: The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story
- Animation Is Film 2023: Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower
- Animation Is Film 2023: The Concierge Review
- Animation Is Film 2023: The Boy and the Heron
- The Inventor
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review
- Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Film Review
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods Review
- Justice League: Warworld Blu-ray Review
- The Little Mermaid
- The Boxtrolls Review
- Kubo and the Two-Strings Review
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Review
- Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends Anime Movie Review
- Sword Art Online The Movie – Progressive- Scherzo of Deep Night Movie Review
- Mobile Suit Gundam Cucuruz Doan’s Island
- Missing Review
- The Whale Review
- Point of No Return Review
- Blonde Review
- Wendell & Wild
- Clerks III Review
- Luck Review
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko
- Hustle Review
- Top Gun: Maverick Review
- The Bob’s Burgers Movie Review
- Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers Review
- Stu’s Show Review
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture – The Director’s Edition Review
- Bubble Anime Review
- Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis Anime Review
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review
- Turning Red Review
- The Batman Review
- Belle Review
- Drive My Car Review
- The Power of the Dog Review
- Robin Robin Review
- BoxBallet Review
- Bestia Review
- Eternals Review
- Encanto Review
- 8-Bit Christmas Review
- Music Box: Jagged Review
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review
- Tick, Tick…BOOM! Review
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Review
- Free Guy Review
- My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission Review
- Dune (2021) Review
- Black Widow
- Jungle Cruise Review
- As the Village Sleeps Review
- Space Jam: A New Legacy Review
- A Quiet Place Part II Review
- Knots: A Forced Marriage Story Review
- School-Live! The Movie Blu-ray Review
- In the Heights Review
- Over the Moon Review
- Feeling Through Review
- Two Distant Strangers review
- Yes-People Review
- A Love Song for Latasha Review
- If Anything Happens I Love You Review
- Burrow Review
- Godzilla vs Kong
- Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story Review
- Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years Preview
- Raya and the Last Dragon Review
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run Review
- The Little Things Review
- In Other Words Review
- Earwig and the Witch Review
What did you watch this past week?
