2024 TV Highlights Thus Far, Pt. 1 | Bite-Sized Reviews

(L-R, 1st row, then 2nd row) SHOGUN (FX / Hulu), RIPLEY (Netflix), FALLOUT (Prime Video), MR. AND MRS. SMITH (Prime Video), and Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+).

You don’t really understand it when you’re a kid, but, boy, it really feels like time flies by as you get older. When you’re stressed or overworked or even just have more important things on your mind, it can be difficult to find the time to do what you want to do before it feels like you’re too late. This is, in part, why I started doing these review compilation posts sometimes containing bite-sized reviews about shows or films that I feel like I still need to talk about, even though I missed out on the moment right after the release. If you read my website frequently, then you know that I’ve recently posted two backlog/catch-up compilations for last year’s TV series. With that out of the way, I now want to focus on some of the shows of the past seven or eight months that I really want to give you my thoughts on. Today, I’ll focus on some of the shows that I think are the very best of the year thus far, including, but not limited to, a video game TV-adaptation and an incredibly stylish reimagining of an iconic Patricia Highsmith story.

Continue reading “2024 TV Highlights Thus Far, Pt. 1 | Bite-Sized Reviews”

Additional Bite-Sized Reviews, Dec. 2021: ‘In the Heights,’ ‘Fast and Furious 9,’ and More

Anthony Ramos as ‘Usnavi’ and Melissa Barrera as ‘Vanessa’ in Jon M. Chu’s IN THE HEIGHTS. — PHOTO: Warner Bros. Pictures.

In this edition of my monthly movie and television catch-up article series titled ‘Additional Bite-Sized Reviews,’ I mostly run you through my thoughts on several different films that I’ve missed throughout the year. That means that I have finally seen films like Jon M. Chu’s In the Heights, Rebecca Hall’s Passing, the latest entry in the Fast and Furious franchise (F9), and much, much more including a Best Picture winner that I missed during the previous Oscar season.

Continue reading “Additional Bite-Sized Reviews, Dec. 2021: ‘In the Heights,’ ‘Fast and Furious 9,’ and More”

REVIEW: Ad Astra (2019)

Theatrical IMAX-Release Poster – 20th Century Fox

The following is a review of Ad Astra — Directed by James Gray.

As we are getting closer and closer to the end of a decade, we naturally get the urge to take a look backward and reflect on the films that have shaped a decade in film history. One genre that has thrived in the 2010s is science-fiction. It almost feels like every year of this decade has had at least one science-fiction or space-set film that appealed to an adult audience and included challenging themes or stories. Just like 2013 and 2014 had Gravity and Interstellar respectively, 2019 has James Gray’s Ad Astra — an intimate, meditative, and introspective science-fiction film about a son following in the footsteps of his father to complete a mission. Just like both of the two aforementioned films, Ad Astra is ambitious and exceptional. Continue reading “REVIEW: Ad Astra (2019)”

Reaction to the Nominees for the 89th Academy Awards

'Manchester by the Sea,' Amazon Studios
‘Manchester by the Sea,’ Amazon Studios

And here we are! I had a lot of fun with trying to predict the nominations this awards season, it went a little bit better than last year’s predictions. I believe I got 77% of my predictions correct this year. But that’s not important. Now, let’s discuss the biggest shocks and surprises from this year’s nominations. Continue reading “Reaction to the Nominees for the 89th Academy Awards”

REVIEW: Preacher – Season One (2016)

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a quick review of the first season of Preacher. There are spoilers here.

Preacher takes place in a small town in Texas, where Jesse Custer has returned to be the preacher of his father’s church. Out of the blue, one day, a powerful entity shoots itself into Jesse Custer and gives him the power to force the listener to do exactly what he says. Custer quickly chooses to use his newfound power for his job, but people are coming to stop him from using the power. What is ‘Genesis’? Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – Season One (2016)”

REVIEW: Preacher – “Call and Response”

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a spoiler review of the tenth episode of ‘Preacher’, available on AMC in the United States and on Viaplay in Denmark.

In the season finale of the first season of Preacher (“Call and Response”), Jesse (played by Dominic Cooper) calls God, Tulip (played by Ruth Negga) presents Carlos to Jesse, Cassidy (played by Joseph Gilgun) gets tortured, and the inhabitants of Annville finally get some answers. Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – “Call and Response””

REVIEW: Preacher – “Finish the Song”

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a quick recap/review of the ninth episode of ‘Preacher’, available on AMC in the United States and on Viaplay in Denmark. Expect spoilers for the episode.

In the penultimate episode of the first season of Preacher (“Finish the Song”), DeBlanc and Fiore (played by Anatol Yusef and Tom Brooke, respectively) have to figure out their next move. The ‘Cowboy’ (played by Graham McTavish) returns, and Jesse (played by Dominic Cooper) tries to fix his relationship with Cassidy (played by Joseph Gilgun). Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – “Finish the Song””

REVIEW: Preacher – “El Valero”

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a quick recap/review of the eighth episode of ‘Preacher’, available on AMC in the United States and on Viaplay in Denmark. Expect spoilers for the episode.

In the eighth episode of the first season of Preacher (“El Valero”), a beloved character ‘returns’. Tulip (played by Ruth Negga) gets a dog, Jesse (played by Dominic Cooper) starts seeing ‘things’, and Quincannon (played by Jackie Earle Haley) goes to Church.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – “El Valero””

REVIEW: Preacher – “He Gone”

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a quick recap/review of the seventh episode of ‘Preacher’, available on AMC in the United States and on Viaplay in Denmark. Expect spoilers for the episode.

In the seventh episode of the first season of Preacher (“He Gone”), Cassidy and Tulip (played by Joseph Gilgun and Ruth Negga, respectively) both confront Jesse (played by Dominic Cooper). Odin Quincannon (played by Jackie Earle Haley) returns to tell our preacher of his intentions. And, in flashback, it is finally revealed why Jesse feels that he needs to be the preacher of Annville. Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – “He Gone””

REVIEW: Preacher – “Sundowner”

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a review of the sixth episode of ‘Preacher’, available on AMC in the United States and on Viaplay in Denmark. Expect spoilers for the episode.

In the sixth episode of the first season of Preacher (“Sundowner”), Tulip (played by Ruth Negga) has a conversation with Emily (played by Lucy Griffiths), Eugene (played by Ian Colleti) makes some friends, and our good preacher, Jesse (played by Dominic Cooper), is accused of ‘cheating’.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – “Sundowner””