Resident Alien (TV 2021)

Rotten Tomatoes

Resident Alien (TV 2021): Alan Tudyk stars as an extraterrestrial who crash lands in a Colorado town and has to disguise himself as a human until he can repair his spacecraft. All of the humor relies on his awkward interactions with people in town. Mork did it better. B-

Netflix

#VeryTardyReview

POTD: Chorsu Bazaar

From 2025 09 15 Tashkent

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, "it's a traditional bazaar located in the center of the old town. Under its blue-colored domed building, all daily necessities are sold. The modern building and the characteristic blue dome were designed in 1980, as a late example of Soviet Modernism style."

POTD: Uzbek Fashion

From 2025 09 15 Tashkent

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Hazrati Imam complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In one of the courtyards of a madrasa were a couple of racks of clothes, where a colorful, reversible jacket caught Ellen's eye.

Bonus photo after the jump.

Merrily We Roll Along (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

Merrily We Roll Along (2026): Sondheim musical filmed on stage. It flopped in 1981 but then won a Tony in 2024 for Best Revival. 30 year timeline that plays out backwards spoils the story. Music bridges the eras of classic 1950s musicals and modern tastes. B-

Netflix

"Some Concerns" about Drones

"The Richardson delivery system, which began at the end of last year, stirred some concerns about noise by attendees at a City Council meeting last month. At the event, Sam Bailey, senior manager at Amazon, said the company has been making adjustments to address concerns." — Brian Womack, Staff Writer, The Dallas Morning News.

That's what The Dallas Morning News said about the controversy over drones in Richardson as part of a new story about Amazon working to expand drone delivery in DFW.

Deadloch (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Deadloch (TV 2023): A serial killer terrorizes a small town in Tasmania. It's a whodunnit mystery mashed with film noir black comedy. At one point, the state police accuse every woman in town of being conspirators, leaving it up to the town's female senior sergeant to keep sleuthing. B+

Prime

#VeryTardyReview

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2024): Good movie, better novel. A man receives word that an old business acquaintance is dying, inspiring him to walk 500 miles to heal his friend, and he ends up healing himself. Quiet, earnest, warm-hearted tale. B+

Netflix

Project Hail Mary (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

Project Hail Mary (2026): A sci-fi, save-the-world adventure. Also, a heartwarming, buddy comedy. A Ryan Gosling star vehicle. Maybe about 20 minutes too long, but overall, it's a fun watch with thought-provoking ideas about science and the nature of heroism. B+

In theatres

POTD: Hazrati Imam Complex

From 2025 09 15 Tashkent

Come with us as we walk through the doorway. This photo-of-the-day is from the Hazrati Imam complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It consists of a mosque, a couple of madrasas, and a mausoleum. The complex dates back to the 16th century. It houses the Caliph Usman Quran. Written on deerskin, it's one of the oldest Qurans in the world, maybe the oldest.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Traveling the Silk Road

From 2025 09 15 Tashkent

This first photo-of-the-day from a new destination is of the tourist information desk in the Tashkent, Uzbekistan, airport. Flying into Uzbekistan might sound like the end of a long trip, but it was nothing compared to the travels of Marco Polo in the 13th Century. He traveled the Silk Road of central Asia on his epic journey lasting 24 years. And to think he did it without once coming across a tourist information desk.