Movies

Here are a few impressions from this year’s block…

The Deadpool: Samurai comic concluded its six-year run with a final issue that included a tribute to the popular anime character, Naruto.

The original Becky, directed by Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion, came out in 2020 and quickly established Lulu Wilson as a surprisingly effective action star. The film follows Becky as she reconnects with her father on a camping trip, only to find themselves targeted by a group of fleeing Neo-Nazis. Led by Kevin James (known from Grown Ups), the gang has no idea just how dangerous this seemingly ordinary teenager truly is.

Anders Holm, who plays Bill Randa in the Apple TV+ sci-fi series, had a thought about where the show could go next. Instead of always focusing on how humans react to the creatures and the disasters they cause, he suggested it might be interesting to explore a completely different perspective.

But one show stands out by connecting to a larger cinematic universe. Cinematic universes have become increasingly popular since the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) began, and it’s now common for seemingly independent stories to secretly link to other projects.

The series Star Trek: Discovery featured characters like Tilly and Reno, both originating from the 23rd century, alongside Captain Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green) aboard the USS Discovery. Tilly began as a bright, new Starfleet Academy cadet and was promoted to Ensign by the end of the first season. Commander Reno, an engineer, became part of the Discovery crew at the start of season three.

This article consistently attracts more angry and critical comments than anything else I write. Even when I express controversial opinions – like saying the Carpenters are underrated or that the album Aja isn’t as good as The Royal Scam – the backlash isn’t usually as strong. (Although, the Aja opinion does stir up trouble with readers who are really into high-fidelity sound.)

ScreenRant reports that Scream 7 includes a scene shown during the credits, but it appears after the main credits begin. There isn’t a separate scene after all the credits have finished, so viewers need to watch the initial part of the credits roll to see it.

It’s rare for fan campaigns to actually work. While fans often start petitions and express their disappointment online when a show is canceled, these efforts are usually overlooked. However, occasionally a campaign gains so much attention and support that it can surprisingly bring a canceled show back to life.

Melissa Barrera, who was set to star in the latest Scream movie, was fired by the production company, Spyglass Media Group, in November 2023. The decision came after she posted about the Israel-Gaza conflict on social media. Spyglass considered her comments antisemitic and claimed they promoted hatred, specifically referencing her discussion of “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” The studio publicly stated they have no tolerance for Barrera’s behavior or for antisemitism.