Immediate Response: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

 I had to see this in a Theater.
This is the Way!

The Good

* The Film looks great.  All of the visuals are top notch, from the shiny beskar to the Hutt Base that looks like a rotting pumpkin.

* The Plot gives you the action you'd expect, the settings you like and a nice turn or two in the middle.

* Grogu is a delight. 
His little friends are great too.

* Now that we got Sigourney Weaver in Star Wars, is Predator next?

* The Hutts have never looked weirder and more gross.  Is this actually a bad thing?
* We finally get to see Zeb again, if only for a bit.

The Bad

* A simple mention of Carl Weathers' Greef Karga would have been nice.
* Likewise, there seems to have been an attempt to make this not feature/mention other Characters- like Bo-Katan or other Mandalorian fighters.
* Just looking at the Hutt Planet makes me feel like a need a tetanus shot.

All in all, a Film that feels like a bigger scale/Budget Story from the Show.  
If you're expecting something different, then, well, it's not for you.

Fans of the Show and Star Wars in general should certainly check this out for the loud, big screen experience.

Tubi Thursday: Prospect (2018)

Pedro Pascal.  Star Wars.  Grogu.
Does this please you, oh Algorithm?

With that out of the way, what is this actual Film like?

Let's find out...

A young woman and her father are living out in Deep Space and make a living going to Planets to prospect rare minerals.

Things take a turn when their potential haul is interrupted by the world's meanest beekeeper (aka Pedro Pascal) and his henchman.

They want their haul and their ship.

Things end up poorly for the Dad and now the Daughter has to run back to the ship.

She tries to leave, but their pod fails.

Things take yet another turn when the survivor of that incident (Pascal) shows up at her pod.

He tries to make a deal for profit and escape from the Planet (which you must wear a suit to survive on).

Can they make an uneasy alliance to get off this dusty, verdant death trap of a Planet?

Is this accidentally another Pedro Pascal Mentors Young Person in a Sci-Fi Story?
Yes, kind of.

To see how it all ends up, stream it now.

It is good, but it definitely takes its time.

This one of those Films without grand narration, some sort of dialog about the Plot or even an Audio Log.
It just throws you into this bleak World(s) of Prospectors and slowly fills in the blanks.

If you want 'hand holding' or anything other than intuitive observations to fill in the gaps, this is not for you.

The Film is full of atmosphere- and not just the vague alien spores that kill you...I guess.  It's not clear what they are, but don't inhale.

It takes some good risks and does attempt to implicate a bigger World(s) out there to explore.
There is currently not a Sequel & Pascal is probably booked steadily until 2035, so maybe do it without him.

The Film is a nice 'proof of concept.'  I'm curious to see what else they have done/will do now.

Oh no, I just blue it!

A Film that is filled to the brim with potential.  It is great with worldbuilding, but will not exactly satisfy those looking for all of the answers.

Immediate Response: The Fantastic Four- First Steps (2025)

 Let's return to the 1960s (on Earth 828)!

Will this one be, well, Fantastic?

The Good

* The Film looks great!  It has a retro-futuristic look to it, bright visuals and lovely space footage.
* The Cast truly unites as a 'family' in this one, which is how this has to work.
Human Torch even gets to be smart to boot!

* This version of Silver Surfer looks great, shining and reflecting just the right way.

* Plotwise, this one works, presenting 'real' people in fantastic...al situations.

* Galactus on the big Screen.  Yes, please!

* Great Music yet again.  Thank you, Mr. Giacchino

* Bonus points for HERBIE.  We all owe you an apology.

The Bad

* If the look of the Film isn't your thing, there's pretty much no escape from it.
* I honestly wanted more of the beginning segment, which will hopefully be restored in a later Cut (although Marvel has been sparse with them lately.

#JusticeForRedGhost

* Another tease for Avengers: Doomsday.  Damn this delay!

No major complaints- honest!

This one is great and I can't wait to see more of this group.

Current or lapse Marvel Fan?  Go see it.  Fan of Superheroes in general? Go see it!

New Streaming: The Book of Boba Fett- Episodes 5-7

 With more Star Wars talk recently involving a Film Spin-Off Show on Disney Plus, this seems like a good (and long overdue) time to talk about this Show.

In the first half, we see Boba Fett try to become a strong, but peaceful Leader.  When that didn't end well, the plan, and Show, took a slight pivot.

Let's see how that worked out in...

After 4 Episodes of Boba's journey, told through Flashbacks and in the Present, we now focus entirely on...

The Mandalorian.

That's...hmm...alright then.

Episode 5 is 100% about him, setting him up from where he left Season 2 and beginning to set things in motion for Season 3.

See him try to master the Dark Saber.
See him talked down to by a Forgemaster.
See him...finally connect this tangential Story to The Book of Boba Fett.

The Pyke Syndicate seem to know that Boba is getting help, so they get their own in the form of Cad Bane.

As someone who's not familiar with the Cartoons- save for The Bad Batch- I'm happy.

What evil will he bring?

Oh wait- we still can't wrap up the Pyke stuff since we need to meet, well, Super Deep Fake Luke Skywalker.

He's training Grogu aka Baby Yoda, but the latter is conflicted.

He's going to make the (not really a) kid choose between being a Jedi and helping The Mandalorian.

Back on Tatooine, the big battle between the Pyke Syndicate and their small Army & our Heroes takes place.

It's big, boisterous and full of shiny CGI.

Oh and a few surprises.  To find out how it ends, stream the Show now.

A strong, but definitely convoluted journey to the end.  The whole idea is just kind of strange.  I'm not saying that it's bad necessarily, but it is strange.

Build up a Story for 4 full Episodes and end on a tease.
Spend all of Episode 5 on a different Character before paying off said tease.
Pause final build-up to Finale with long diversion.

I'm not one of those people that apparently disliked Boba Fett and his story.  Those people were all 'yea- Mando is back.'  I was happy to see him too, but the complete switch to his Story for a whole Episode still feels odd.  The other diversion- creepy Computerized Mark Hamill aside- is less bothersome as it more directly builds to the Finale.

So yeah, I enjoyed the whole Show, but that pivot sure was odd.  I'm still smiling at the end though.

A good Show that had some curious issues with Pacing overall.  It's still a good Story that is more than just nostalgia though.

New Streaming: The Mandalorian- 'The Believer'

 As the finale comes, let's look back a bit at how we got to this place.  SPOILER-free Recap time!

A desperate man must do desperate things.  As such, they must willingly hang out with Bill Burr.

All joking aside, they need him to access some Empire Terminals for information.
I really want to see the Devil-looking guy from Episode 6 back too.  

Am I alone?

They travel to a new Planet, but find that it won't be easy to get in and out with the information.

Just once, it should be- just to mess with us, the Audience.

The plan involves taking a dangerous transport and going in undercover.  

What could go wrong?

Will they find a way in or will the welcoming committee not be kind?

To find out, stream the Episode now.

A simple story that turns into something much more.  

Obviously, I'm not going into SPOILERS.  As such, I'll do my best to keep this vague.  What they do right here is showing you a new location that still feels like it fits into Star Wars.  You see new Aliens and Vehicles too- nice.  

We get to see old and new Characters interact too.  It is interesting to see more of the 'behind the Scenes' aspects of the Empire too, something that has mostly been lacking in the Series as a whole.  Other than that one guy in the last Trilogy, did we get any?  

The biggest thing is getting more backstory and motivation on Burr's Character, who was fun but pretty one-note back in Episode 6.  Seriously, I want Devil-looking guy back- is that so wrong?!?  

I'll leave it to the 1,042 other Sites that try to SPOIL the Show the next morning to cover the other big thing this Episode.  

All I will say is that we're nearly to the end and we got another breed of Alien Bad Guys- now with Hover Sleds.

Next time, the final Episode.  Am I ready to stop watching this Show already?  See you then...

New Streaming: The Mandalorian- 'The Tragedy'

 As we come into the next Episode, let's remember how we got here.  This Title doesn't bode well...

Our Hero and The Child make it to the place they were told to go to.

Why not make the last leg of the trip in style?

He puts The Child on the rock like he was told and prepares to leave him for a Jedi to find...

However, company arrives- alot of it!

I can't really say any more without SPOILERS...

So I won't.  I'll just leave you with one man who is happier than you'd probably hope.

To find out what happened, stream the Show.

An interesting, action-packed Episode.  

Seeing the Credits, I realized that it was Directed by Robert Rodriguez.  

That all makes sense then- you don't hire him to Direct an Episode where The Mandalorian plays Chess for 45 minutes.  

The Mandalorian's Gambit?  Copyright that shit!  

Where was I?  Oh right.  So I can't talk about too much more Plot-wise, since, again, SPOILERS.  I will say that if you paid attention throughout the last 13 Episodes, you get rewarded.  A big meeting finally happens.  We see someone who hasn't been seen in a while.  It is called 'The Tragedy,' so you know that bad stuff is going to happen.  

Time will tell how much this one matters in the long run.  Was it just a fun, action-packed Episode designed to make fanboys squeal?  

Will it be key to the final two Episodes?  Will I continue to ask questions that I can't answer right away?  

Whatever happens, kudos to a Show that can make a Shifter Knob carry emotional weight!

Next time, we cover the new Episode and whatever surprises it may bring.  After this one, who knows?!?  See you then...

New Streaming: The Mandalorian- 'The Jedi'

 Before I take in the new Episode like everyone online who watches it the second it appears online, let me refresh myself (and you) on what happened last time...

Now with a destination in mind and a working ship, our Hero goes to where he needs to go.

That Planet has some dangerous company though...

Not knowing anything about the woman (and not trusting Jedis), he meets with the bad people in charge of the Town.

They want him to kill her.  Will he?

Instead, he needs her help to understand The Child/Baby Yoda.  She can help him...to a point.

Of course, she wants something in return.

All-out battle ensues (of course!) and sides are clearly chosen.

Who will come out on top?  Will The Child find a new home?

To find out, stream the Episode now.

A good Episode sure to please lots of fanboys, fangirls and fan-people.  See- I'm inclusive.  As someone who didn't watch The Clone Wars, this isn't quite the same deal to me.  I get why it is, of course- I just don't have the same connection.  That said, seeing a bad-ass Jedi is still always good.  Fans were a bit wary of Rosario Dawson here when it was announced, but I like her here.  Again- I can't compare her to the Show.  On its own, this performance is really good and she really has that atmosphere.  It is helped by the great make-up work and special effects here.  One thing that I think really helped is having Dave Filoni on hand as the Director.  He's worked on much of the ancillary Star Wars stuff like Rebels, The Clone Wars and the like.  He's got a feel for everything, so it all works.  The Plot sets up a nice Samurai Film-style Duel which is one of the things that the Star Wars Series emulated early on.  Seeing it done so well, especially on a Show that blurs the lines between Genres a bit in each Episode, is really nice.  Lastly, how about a shout-out to Michael Biehn.  He's now been in a Terminator Film (the first), an Alien Film (the 2nd) and now in Star Wars.  Good on you, man!

Next time, a new destination and new dangers.  That Title sure is foreboding.  See you then...

New Streaming: The Mandalorian- 'The Siege'

 As you wait for the Holiday malaise to pass, remember what happened last week on...

Seeking repairs, The Mandalorian returns to a familiar Planet and some familiar places.

Here's a Game- Spot the Director!

Here's a hint- it's not the person who's hiding on Parler and posting Nazi Pics...

While they're away, The Child will just steal another Scene...

Can our Heroes find out what secrets are in the Base?
Can they escape even if they do?

As a bonus, here's some Stormtroopers on Speeder Bikes.

Neat.

To find out what happens, watch the Show.

Another good Episode that manages to work a Plot into a Pit Stop.  

Did we need this Plot?  Yes and no.  

Yes, they are stopping before they get to the main Plot.  They are doing so in a logical way- they did beat the crap out of that ship, after all.  

If you're in lots of trouble and things aren't going great, wouldn't you stop to see some friends?  If your car is held together with half a roll of duct tape, all the more reason.  

They acknowledge that this is a diversion in the Episode too, so points for lampshading.  Said Plot is a good one as it gives us some immediate action, sets events in motion for the rest of the Season and teases something big.  

Giancarlo Esposito shines yet again as the Season 2 Villain in a Prestige Show.  

Is there an Emmy for that?  If so, he's got it in the bag!

Next time, the Plot thickens and the action ramps up.  Will our Hero find the people he's looking for?  See you then...

New Streaming: The Mandalorian- 'The Heiress'

 As you can imagine, I didn't wait too long to watch this Episode.  After all, the Internet moves fast and so must I...

After all of the drama and action in the last Episode, The Mandalorian's Ship is not doing great, so he finds a safe port to recover.

Meanwhile, he is being watched by a mysterious woman.

After the Teaser for this, I sure hope it is as good as we're all building it up to be.

Our Hero finds some new allies in a dark time.  

Is there a catch to the help they offer though?

Can they deal with a small group of Imperial Soldiers between them and the information they need?

Oh hai Mr. Bosch!

Will they succeed on their mission?  Will that damn Baby Yoda get even cuter?

To find out, stream the Show.  I mean, it is Boss Time, after all.

A strong Episode- naturally.  

Right off the bat, I will mention again that I won't go too far into SPOILERS.  

I don't want to be that dick who ruins the Show for you.  I like to ruin other things- like your childhood and Movies that are actually kind of Racist- but not that.  So yeah, I'm going to be a bit vague here- as always.  

The first thing to note is that Bryce Dallas Howard does another good job here.  If you recall, she did Episode Four of the Series and was quite good.  That one made an AT-AT into a new, scary threat and got Gina Carano to emote (a little bit).  

In this one, she gives us a great Intro with the Ship's let's just say inelegant landing on the Planet.  We also get some nice Aliens, more Mandalorians (of a sort) and some classic Star Wars feel.  

The last Episode was a Horror Film and the one before that was a Western (meets Creature Feature).  This one is a closer to the classic Action-Humor Formula that has worked so well.  

Hey, if Films like Terminator 2, Waxwork 2 and Aliens can pivot, why not this Show?  While she doesn't do all that much, it was also nice to see Sasha Banks here.  Doing more is 'Starbuck' (see below) and she does a nice job here.  I guess redheads stick together.  My only critique is that the Show is edging closer to being something that is just there to sell you on other things.  

Case in point: I guess I have to watch Star Wars: Rebels now?  Okay...

Next time, more Space Western action.  Who's going to show up next time?  See you then...

New Streaming: The Mandalorian- 'The Passenger'

 In order to avoid SPOILERS online, I just might keep watching this when they come out.

As such, here's a SPOILER-FREE Review of Episode 2.

Things don't go well on the way back to his Ship.

If you haven't seen it, watch the Lone Wolf & Cub Series.  There's alot of fair comparisons to make, especially when you get intros like this.

Desperate to keep his ship running and low on funds, he agrees to transport a paying passenger.

Will he regret it?

They run afoul of some trouble- calling back to Episode 6- and end up on an Ice Planet.

Sure are plenty of those in Sci-Fi, eh?

Can they escape the Planet or will a new threat rise up to end their trip early?

To find out, stream the Show.

Wash away the stain and stink of that last Film with this good Show, people!

Another good, fun Episode.  Do I need to say more?  The Mandalorian is a good Show.  It was good then.  It is good now.  That's all I need to say, right?

Oh, fine.  The Show used Amy Sedaris again- great.  She's a nice, grounded addition to the Star Wars Series.  

Keep it up!  More of her- yes, please!  

Seeing Tatooine again is nice and it makes you happy.  One thing I really liked is that they set up how bilingual our Hero is, which totally makes sense when you consider how many Races he must meet.  

In the last Episode, he spoke Sand Person- how many people in Star Wars have you seen?  So now you see him with a new Alien and he doesn't speak a word- great.  

Oh and Sedaris does- double great!  

I won't go into any more about the Plot since it verges into SPOILER territory.  It's great.  Watch it.  

Since they hired the Director of Ant-Man, here's a Giant Ant, who joins the Giant Praying Mantis in Star Wars.

Next time, we get more adventures in Space and more adorable Aliens.  No, I didn't mean Dr. Mandible.  See you then...