MurderBot (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

MurderBot (TV 2025): A security robot on a scientific mission to another planet hacks its own "governor module" and gains free will. He doesn't have anything interesting to say. Everything he knows about being human comes from downloading a soap opera, "Sanctuary Moon." C+

AppleTV+

Heads of State (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Heads of State (2025): The US President (John Cena) and UK Prime Minister (Idris Elba) turn action heroes in order to thward a plot to destroy the NATO alliance. Cena and Elba lack chemistry. The plot lacks plausibility. The humor mostly fails to land. The action scenes lack originality. Meh. C+

Prime

Adolescence (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Adolescence (TV 2025): 13 year-old boy is charged with murdering a female classmate. He denies doing it, but there's video evidence. Each episode is shot in a long single take, increasing the story's own inherent tension. It's technically brilliant and the acting is superb. A+

Netflix

North of North (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

North of North (TV 2025): Warm-hearted, character-driven dramedy set in the Canadian arctic. Borrows in a good way from "Northern Exposure", "Parks and Recreation" and maybe "Schitt's Creek." It grows on you as you become familiar with the characters and relationships. A-

Netflix

Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Captain America: Brave New World (2025): Mostly a tired international thriller only loosely tied to the Avengers. Marvel has lost its magic. Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford have plenty of scenes together, but their charisma doesn't mesh. Are they allies or enemies? C-

Disney+

September 5 (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

September 5 (2024): Dramatization of ABC Sports' coverage of the terror attack in Munich at the 1972 Olympics. Not the story of the murdered Israeli athletes or the Black September terrorists, but the ABC broadcast team who never expected to be in this role. That's probably the 3rd most interesting story. B-

On airplane

The Residence (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Residence (TV 2025): A fun whodunnit in the White House during a State dinner with a large cast of suspects. The eccentric Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) is the standout character in this overstuffed murder mystery. A-

Netflix

The Eternaut (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Eternaut (TV 2025): Argentina. A toxic, apocalyptic snowfall kills millions. A group of friends sheltering at home survive and set out to get answers, but as they do, even more mysteries pile up like snowdrifts. Based on a 1950s graphic novel. The look and feel is gritty. The plot isn't resolved. C+

Netflix

Your Friends & Neighbors (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Your Friends & Neighbors (TV 2025): John Hamm is a lovable rogue, a hedge fund manager who is fired and burglarizes neighborhood homes to maintain his lifestyle. Easy pickings, right? But things spiral out of control. Not quite satire or comedy, call it drama but never serious. B+

AppleTV+

The Studio (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Studio (TV 2025): Seth Rogen's satire of the head of a Hollywood movie studio. He skewers producers, directors, actors, marketers, distributors, but none too cruelly, which takes the bite out of it. Rogen himself is the sad sack butt of most jokes. C+

AppleTV+

The Four Seasons (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Four Seasons (TV 2025): Remake of 1981 original movie. Follows the same formula: Three couples go on vacations together throughout the year, gradually exposing personal flaws and rifts in friendship. Light, fun entertainment in eight, easy-to-swallow bites. B-

Netflix

The Four Seasons (1981)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Four Seasons (1981): Original movie by Alan Alda with an ensemble cast. Story of three couples who take vacations together. Spring starts with fun and games, but as the year wears on, things get less fun as everyone gets on each other's nerves. More like a light TV movie than a serious drama. B-

Netfli

#VeryTardyReview

Mickey 17 (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Mickey 17 (2025): Satire by Bong Joon Ho. A man volunteers for dangerous missions on a long space voyage. He's expendable because his body can be 3D printed anew each time he dies. As much broad comedy as satire, the movie works on multiple levels. Maybe the satire targets a bit too much, making it a bit too long. B+

Max

Nosferatu (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Nosferatu (2024): Remake of the 1929 Gothic horror classic. Faithful to the original, meaning it won't be scary enough for modern audiences. A dark, soulless story that marches relentlessly to its inevitable conclusion. Beautiful noir cinematography. C+

Peacock

Fountain of Youth (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Fountain of Youth (2025): Big budget, treasure hunt, adventure movie in the tradition of Indiana Jones, but with only a fraction of the wit and charm. Ignore the plot details stretched beyond plausibility and just go along for the ride and it can be fun. B-

AppleTV+

Saturday Night (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Saturday Night (2024): Dramatization of the chaos before air time of the first episode of SNL. Somehow, the show made it to air. Some actors nail their original cast roles. Lorne Michaels is portrayed as having no control. Probably best for big fans. So-so or worse for the rest. C+

Netflix

Wilding (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Wilding (2023): Dramatization of a real story of an English couple who decide to rewild their failing 3,500 acre estate. It's always a work in progress, but they seem to be making progress, although the movie fails to address the economics of the plan. Inspiring if not compelling moviemaking. B-

#VeryTardyReview

Korean Airlines

The Sandlot (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Sandlot (1993): Family-friendly nostalgia from the '90s about growing up playing baseball in a neighborhood sandlot — in 1962, just like I did. A Christmas Story did the nostalgia better. So did TV's The Wonder Years. But this movie comes in a close third. I don't know why it's not better known. B-

Disney+

h/t to Leo for this #VeryTardyReview

Aftersun (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Aftersun (2022): Divorced dad and 11 yr-old daughter vacation at a beach resort in Turkey. Mostly seen from the girl's point of view as she's coming of age and trying to figure out what's going in her father's life. Requires patience and empathy from audience, as there is little action. B-

Max

#VeryTardyReview

Industry - S01 (TV 2020)

Rotten Tomatoes

Industry - S01 (TV 2020): A steaming, uh, streaming soap opera. New grads hired at an investment bank get six months to prove their worth to the firm. Instead, they spend their time on sex, drugs, and in abusive working relationships. I won't be watching seasons 2 and 3. C-

Max

#VeryTardyReview