Cyrano

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Cyrano
  • IMDb: link

While it may not be my favorite adaptation of Edmond Rostand‘s 19th Century play, Cyrano proves to be a perfect vehicle for Peter Dinklage who shines as the title character. Our brave and witty protagonist yearns for the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett) only to see her attentions fall on the gaze of a strapping young soldier (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) instead, who Cyrano agrees to help woo the woman they both love while hiding the depth of his true feelings from them both.

All the basic trappings from the story are here including Ben Mendelsohn as yet another, more villainous, rival for Roxanne’s affections and the humorous balcony sequence in yet another stylish period piece from director Joe Wright. Added to the mix are a number of musical numbers which vacillate between additions or distractions from the main plot at various points in the tale.

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The Book of Grogu – From the Desert Comes a Stranger

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger
  • wiki: link

For the second episode in a row, an episode of The Book of Boba Fett is largely hijacked for a story setting up a Second Season of The Mandalorian. This time, rather than follow Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) on a job we get the Mandalorian’s arrival at the Jedi Temple in search of Grogu and the young apprentice training with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Where the last episode belonged to the Mandalorian, this one belongs to Grogu who must decide if he will stay and complete his training as a Jedi or return to his life with the Mandalorian. I have seen the argument made that this second appearance cheapens Luke’s appearance in The Mandalorian, and there is certainly a case to be made. However, the larger complaint is that it doesn’t really fit on The Book of Boba Fett.

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Red Sonja: Black, White, Red #7

/ / Comics

Red Sonja: Black, White, Red follows up one of the strongest issues of the black-and-white anthology with one of its weakest. The most interesting story of the three, “Sonja’s Gambit” involves a drugged Sonja tricked into a game by Queen Thamyris where Sonja finds herself as a figure on a chessboard with other living players forced into a game of life and death. Although it’s not clear if Sonja did obey the rules of the game, exactly, she still manages to win with the help of another pawn.

In a story that has ties to Sonja’s childhood, Sonja fights off werewolves in the forest to return the body of a nun she knew in her youth to be burned in a temple in “Unbowed.” And wounded Sonja makes a stand against a group of barbarians on a snowy mountainside in “Blood on Snow.” 

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Wolf Like Me – Episode 2

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Wolf Like Me – Episode 2
  • IMDb: link

For the second episode in a row, Mary (Isla Fisher) crashes into Gary (Josh Gad). This time it’s with a coffee rather than a car. And, after sharing another moment together she runs again, leaving Gary to chase her and learn her unbelievable secret. Other than brining the pair together again, the episode also explores Gary’s past shame and his fears about his daughter (Ariel Donoghue) who has an attempted suicide early in the episode. Gad continues to give a strong performance here as a man at the end of his rope, who has found some comfort in a complete stranger carrying around no small amount of pain as well.

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The Mystery of the Silver Spider

/ / Books & Magazines
  • Title: The Mystery of the Silver Spider
  • wiki: link

Throwback Thursday takes us back to a mystery involving the Three Investigators whose mantra of “We Investigate Everything” leads them to the European state of Varania to help out a young prince and prevent the theft of his throne prior to his coronation. In that it takes place almost entirely not only outside of Rocky Beach but overseas in another country, The Mystery of the Silver Spider is an unusual story for the Three Investigators who sneak around castles and sewers to solve a mystery.

A chance encounter with Prince Djaro leads  Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews to be invited to his coronation. The United States Government also thinks this a good idea, covertly reaching out to the three and suggesting they attend and look after the prince among rumblings of trouble brewing in the country.

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