Buckle up and prepare for a rapid-fire June in review! I apologize for the longer blog post, but I’ve been watching a lot of new things recently that I’ve really enjoyed and I want to talk about all of them!
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While Project Hail Mary still retains the title of “my favorite movie of the year,” I recently watched another movie that really impressed me. The historical drama Pressure provides a behind-the-scenes look at how a weather forecast shaped D-Day, one of the most important battles in the second World War. It was fascinating to learn about how a Scottish meteorologist named James Stagg (played in the film by Andrew Scott) used weather data and the technology available at the time to recommend that D-Day’s launch date be postponed due to the threat of a severe storm. D-Day, of course, went on to be a great success thanks to the delayed start, and was a key turning point in liberating Europe from the Nazi regime. I really like period dramas in general, and I appreciated how this film highlighted an important, but perhaps lesser known, side of an important historical moment. Highly recommend!
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I still can’t believe that Spider-Noir is a real TV series that actually exists, but I’m sure glad it does! Spider-Noir’s brief but memorable appearance in 2018’s animated Into the Spider-Verse was definitely a highlight of that film for me. Apparently lots of other people loved it too, and now that character has his own live action series starring Nicolas Cage, who also voiced the animated version. I was worried that this TV series would seem a little too much like a drawn-out meme, but it strikes the perfect pulp-y tone in vivid black and white. I love that they lean more into the detective noir vibe than overdoing the superhero moments. It’s stylish, quirky, and refreshingly unique.
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While I haven’t yet read the book it’s based on, I really enjoyed Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures. The story is told from the point of view of an octopus at an aquarium (yes, really!) who forms a bond with Tova, an elderly custodian at the facility (played by the always-wonderful Sally Field). When Tova injures her foot, a temporary worker named Cameron (Lewis Pullman) takes over her job. While initially there is some tension (Tova has very particular thoughts on how the aquarium should be cleaned), she and Cameron eventually develop a friendship. Although the movie’s final twist is perhaps a little contrived, the emotion is genuine. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried at the movie’s ending, especially since the theme of “found family” is one that hits close to home for me.
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Although I don’t have a lot of familiarity with the original cartoon, I was intrigued enough by the trailers and the positive reviews for Masters of the Universe that I decided to give it a try. I ended up really, really enjoying my time at the theater. This is by no means Oscar-winning material, but the film makers definitely understood the assignment. It’s silly and fun (and surprisingly funny!), reminding me in some ways of the recent Dungeons and Dragons movie. I also really liked the blend of science fiction and fantasy (swords and spaceships is a combo I’d like to see more of).
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Disclosure Day is one of my most anticipated movies of the year. Not only is it a new science fiction film, it’s a new Steven Spielberg science fiction film! Plus, it takes place in Kansas City, the home of my closest regional con and a place I know well. Having watched the film now, I can honestly say that I don’t really know how to feel about it? It’s a strange film (though that’s not necessarily a bad thing) and it wasn’t what I expected. I’m going to have to sit with this movie for a while. The performances are good, and I always love Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor. I feel like it’s too soon to give a review, and I maybe need to see it again to decide whether I ultimately like it or not. Regardless, I always appreciate when films try to swing for the fences and tell a challenging story. I really, really want to hear what other Spielberg and sci-fi fans think of it, as well.
#Pressure #WW2 #Spider-Noir #Nicolas Cage #Netflix #RemarkablyBrightCreatures #MastersoftheUniverse #SummerBlockbusters #DisclosureDay #StevenSpielberg #ESONetwork
