Author: Joe Deckelmeier

Inner ChinatownBased on Charles Yu’s 2020 novel of the same name, it premiered on Hulu this month. The groundbreaking comedy series follows Willis Wu (played by Jimmy O. Yang from Silicon Valley fame), a disaffected young man who is tired of living a life waiting tables and playing clichéd Asian-Americans on crime shows. However, everything changes when he witnesses a real-life crime, which draws him into a police case of his own – and leads him to uncover family secrets linked to the mystery of his older brother. Surprisingly meta in nature, Inner Chinatown reflects on how people are framed…

Read More

Ridley Scott’s epic exploration of the Roman Empire continues with Gladiator II. The long-awaited sequel hits theaters 24 years later Gladiator dominated the 2000 box office with the story of a general forced to fight in the Colosseum as a gladiator. The sequel stars Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus, the adult version of the child played by Spencer Treat Clark in the first film. The impressive Gladiator II Cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington in key roles. Washington last worked with director Scott in 2007 on American gangsterand resources in Gladiator II as Macrinus,…

Read More

Dune: Prophecywill finally arrive this weekend, offering fans a deeper dive into the complicated politics of the Empire. HBO’s next seriesfocuses on the Harkonnen familythe Corrino family’s struggle to remain in power and the rise of the Bene Gesserit.ProphecycharacteristicsChernobylEmily Watson andThe CrownOlivia Williams as Valya and Tula Harkonnen, alongside stars such asKnight’s FallSarah-Sofie Boussnina,Riverdaleis Chris Mason, andLoud disgustIt’s Josh Heuston. Boussnina and Heuston play siblings Princess Ynez and Constantine of the Corrino family, while Mason plays Keiran, part of House Atreides. However, as the series is set 10,000 years before the events of Villeneuve’s films, the two factions are not…

Read More

Director Ridley Scott returns to the arena with Gladiator IIthe long-awaited sequel to its record-breaking historical drama Gladiator. Mirroring real life, the story of Gladiator II is set 20 years after the events of the first film and follows Lucius Verus, who was just a child in the original. Nominated for an Oscar (After-sun) Paul Mescal plays Lúcio in Gladiator IIand is supported by a cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Fred Hechinger. Few actors since the first Gladiator returned for the next film, but the Gladiator II the cast probably includes the one who matters most. Connie…

Read More

Ryan Eggold and Eloise Mumford are being sought after by one of the most iconic detectives in literature for different reasons in Cross. Having first played one of the lead roles on The CW’s 90210 sequel program, Eggold later found success starring on NBC The black list and co-leading its short-lived spinoff, Redemptionat the same time that he landed a major role in Spike Lee’s film Black Klansman around the same time. Most recently, Eggold won acclaim leading the cast of the medical drama New Amsterdamwhile also directing three episodes before wrapping in 2023. Like Eggold, Mumford found early success…

Read More

Finally debuting this weekend, Dune: Prophecy will offer a deeper look into the world created by Frank Herbert hundreds of years before the events of Villeneuve’s films. The new HBO show focuses on the Harkonnen family, their rise to power and the formation of the Bene Gesserit. The show stars Mark Strong from Kingsman series and The wizardJodhi May as Emperor Javicco Corrino and his wife Empress Natalya alongside ChernobylEmily Watson, The crownby Olivia Williams, and Vikings’Travis Fimmel. Although Villeneuve’s films are largely focused on the rise of Paul Atreides, Prophecy it has much more to do with the political…

Read More

James Patterson’s most iconic detective is getting new life with Ben Watkins at the helm at Prime Video Cross. The Washington DC-based detective and forensic psychologist was the protagonist of 32 novels by the best-selling author and first hit the screen in 1997. Kiss the girlsstarring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross, which he reprized in the 2001 sequel Along came a spiderwhich was actually the first book in the series. He would later be brought back with the 2012 franchise reboot Alex Cruzwhich starred Tyler Perry in the titular role. Watkins first found on-screen success with his work on the…

Read More

Dune: Prophecy is finally set to debut later this month, bringing with it new insights into the world of Arrakis and its politics. HBO’s upcoming series is set 10,000 years before the events of Villeneuve’s films, focusing primarily on the Harkonnen family and the origins of their rivalry with House Atreides. The show boasts an impressive cast, with stars like ChernobylEmily Watson, The crownby Olivia Williams, The wizardJodhi May and Vikings’Travis Fimmel. Watson and Williams play Valya and Tula Harkonnen in Prophecybrothers who are instrumental in the group’s rise to power that fans saw in the films, and in the…

Read More

Ultraman: Ascension continue the beloved Ultraman universe that began in the 1960s, with the new Netflix original breaking new ground in terms of visuals and storytelling. The film stood out as an original kaiju film that focuses more on protecting the giant creatures rather than fighting them, after new protagonist Ken Sato discovers an egg from a baby Gigantron who imprints him as his father. The film is directed by duo Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima, who previously collaborated on the 2016 release. Kubo and the Two Strings. Ascending marks the introduction of Sato, who has recently taken up the…

Read More

Released earlier this summer, Ultraman: Ascension is the latest in a long line of approaches to the Ultraman franchise. First starting with the series UltraQ in 1966, the IP has seen a plethora of shows, films, comics, and other adaptations since then. Netflix’s newest film introduced a new hero to the Ultraman universe, Ken Sato, who takes over the position of his father’s Ultraman hero. Ultraman: Ascension incorporated many unique ideas into the new entry, from the family-oriented plot – which involves Ken raising a baby kaiju named Emi – to its eclectic soundtrack. The film’s music, which comes from…

Read More