Game of Thrones (Season 6)

Television shows are hard to write about without revealing tons of spoilers.  Let’s just state right now, if you haven’t watched or read any of this fantasy saga, don’t read anything below.  Just watch it already.   Okay, first off, this is one of the most satisfying seasons of this HBO series.  This is comforting considering this is the first time David Benioff & D. B. Weiss have gone off script or off book that is.  All of George R.R. Martin’s books have been adapted.  From here on (with George’s input I’m sure) they’re going to give us an end that’s not been written yet, so drawing a line in the sand for devoted fans—which end of this story will be better, the show’s or the as-yet-written (if ever completed) novels.   After six seasons, it’s clear the players are making their way back.  Jon Snow has returned to Winterfell (no one really believed he’d be dead for long) and reunited with a more mature Sansa.  Ayra has completed her training with the Faceless.  Cersei has found her revenge while at the same time losing the last of her children.  And Daenery’s on a ship for home to final take the Iron Throne.  I’m so excited I can’t really contain myself.  This is one of those shows that I’ve always loved but I’ve been nervous to get too attached to because of all the bad that has happened in the past.   A lot of bad can still happen but I have hope after this season that we’ll see more victories than defeats.   The two best episodes this season were “The Door” and “Battle of the Bastards”.   Hopefully the producers bring back the directors of these two fantastic episodes, Jack Bender and Miguel Sapochnik.   Really there was no bad episode, every episode seemed perfectly executed.   If they can continue to stay this consistent this series will go down in history as one of the great television shows of all-time.  Grade: A

Penny Dreadful (Season 2)

This sophomore edition to Showtime’s Victorian Horror series is even better than the first season.  Eva Green anchors this show with her talent and charisma and this time around they have a real villain in Helen McCrory, a witch set to seduce and destroy Sir Malcolm Murray.   There are many great episodes but my favorite is Vanessa Ives back story.  My only complaint is with the development of Lily played by Billie Piper, I just am not sure what they’re doing with her and it makes me nervous for season 3.   Grade: A-

X:Men Apocalypse (2016)

Superhero redundancy continues with the third addition to the latest X-Men incarnation.  While not as thrilling or as skillfully crafted as Days of Future Past, I was entertained seeing Professor Xavier, Magneto and Mystique join forces with the younger versions of Cyclops and Jane Grey to battle the most powerful mutant they have ever faced.  Sophie Turner is a wonderful choice for Jane and I’m hoping we get to see more of her and her younger counterparts later on.  (Maybe they’ll give us a proper Dark Phoenix film, here’s hoping.)  The entire film is just fun and I have to say it’s the most satisfying superhero entry this year (sorry Marvel, but it is.)   That’s not to say it doesn’t have its bad moments but it’s a solid summer blockbuster.   Grade: A-

Spoiler:

I don’t know if this is a spoiler but I decided I’d devote a bit of my rage on the costume designer (monster suit creator) for this film.  Apocalypse might be one of the dumbest looking villains I’ve seen in a big A-quality film.   There’s even a meme out there comparing him to Ivan Ooze from the Mutant Morphing Power Rangers film.  That’s bad.  What’s worse is Oscar Isaac is awesome as Apocalypse.  His voice and his eyes are so intense and foreboding it’s no wonder they cast him.  But the best they could do was to paint him purple and put him in a big suit.  I get it, he’s not a big actor, but there’s no reason Apocalypse had to be big.  It doesn’t ruin the movie but it is hard to take seriously sometimes. 

The Americans (Season 3)

I love this show.  Russian spies, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings continue to go deeper into the abyss of moral dissolution as they not just endanger themselves but also the ones they love.  It’s all a recipe for suspense that makes for great binge watching.  The writing is so good and this season has a lot of great surprises.   This is one of the top shows to watch without a doubt.  Grade: A

Big Driver by Stephen King

One of the novellas from Full Dark, No Stars, it tells the story of a mystery novelist named Tess who gets attacked and left for dead on her way home from a book reading.  Tess decides to take matters in her own hands to avoid the attention such media coverage would put on her life.  It’s a fun revenge story and King proves again that even with a simple and tired plot he can engage his readers.  He’s just so good at spinning a yarn, even one like this that’s pretty routine.  Grade: B+

I'll Give you the Sun by Jandy Nelson

This has got to be one the best YA novels I’ve read in a long time. It’s the story of a twin brother and a sister, Jude and Noah, and how the secrets they keep create misconceptions that ruin their relationship. The writing is excellent and I love the structure of the novel, how it goes back and forth between the two characters but at different points in time.   It’s a wonderful book.  Grade: A

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

I’m really annoyed. DC comes out with a flawed superhero film and it gets blasted by the critics and everyone says it sucks. Here Marvel puts out a flawed superhero film and it gets nothing but praise and everyone says it’s awesome.  This film is not awesome folks. This entry is going to come across as a bitter DC fan.  I get it.  First, I’m not a Marvel hater.  If I was, why would I keep going to see these films?  I love the Marvel movies and I just wish they were better.  Here for example is an exciting Avenger film (it’s not really a Captain America story, sadly) and it contains many fantastic action sequences.  The story is built around a strong premise: what if our heroes become divided over the principle of governmental control?  The promised battle between frenemies Steve Rogers and Tony Stark is the kind of clash that we- comic book fans- dream of seeing.  Yet behind all of this greatness is a glaring plot contrivance that makes Batman Vs. Superman’s issues seem null.  (More on that later.)   And for all the action, I must admit I became numb after while.  When does it get old seeing people fight each other over and over again?   I was exhausted by the time we got to the big battle at the end.  Still there is a lot to cheer in this film.  Spider-man’s introduction is comic gold and I’m so hyped to see him in his solo offering.  Ant-Man almost steals the show.  Black Panther also promises to be an excellent addition to the MCU.   The Russo Brothers are great at action and I’m glad we get to see what they can do with the Infinity War.  But hopefully the writers of the next big Marvel team combo will give us a villain worthy of existing.  Grade: B+

Spoiler:

The villain in this film is okay.  I like his story. I just hate his plan to destroy the Avengers. Why?  Because it’s the kind of plan that relies so heavily on coincidence that it’s impossible to take seriously.  If one thing had gone wrong, and many of them would have in the real world, Tony and Rogers would not have ended up together with Bucky to battle it out.  And couldn’t this Baddy have just released the video that shows Bucky killing Tony’s parents?  Why all the outlandish breakouts and Mac Guffins?   It’s ludicrous and completely taints this film credibility.  So much so, I don’t want to ever see it again.  In the end I think this film will be remembered for the Airport scene and that’s about it.  That’s the only really perfect moment.   It’s too bad.  After Captain America’s Winter Solider, I couldn’t wait to see what Marvel had planned for the Captain.  I guess it’s clear they’re ready to move on from that character, my favorite.