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Media Review

We Were Liars (2025) - ★★★☆☆

Poster showing the four main characters from the show.
I've never cared so much for rich kids.

How dare you make me feel something! I thought that this was going to be some small show that I'd only have to watch because of TV Family Time, but it really kept me engaged throughout the run.

What was interesting to me was the fact that the author of the book it is based on, Emily Jenkins, used Scrivener to help with managing the flashback scenes. It’s the same tool that I used for writing my thesis to graduate college. I’ve also got a draft of novel that will never see the light of the internet.

But back to the show, it’s kind of sad in so many ways and really hits you at the end with a twist that some could guess at but I wasn’t prepared for.

Overview

One year after a mysterious accident left her with amnesia, 17-year-old Cadence returns to Beechwood, an island off Martha's Vineyard, seeking answers. As three generations of the distinguished Sinclair family gather at their private summer utopia, no one will talk about the accident – neither her childhood friends "The Liars" nor her first love Gat, forcing her to uncover the truth herself.

Thunderbolts* (2025) - ★★★★☆

Poster for Media
A bunch of losers get together to make a winning team.

I have grown tired of most superhero movies at this point. It's mostly because I don't want to see anymore gritty or realistic viewpoints about people gifted with powers beyond our imagination. It's been done. I feel that this movie is actually an answer to that. This group of people have seen what happens when that gift is squandered. They know that it's an ugly world and they rise to the occasion... eventually.

The characters in this film are well acted and I don’t remember there being a moment where I felt that something was dragged on too long. If anything, I feel it would have been welcoming to spend more time with the characters, but it’s probably for the better as we’ve had too many films and shows that try to explain everything and then lose the interest of the viewer (a.k.a. me).

The action sequences are pretty much what you would expect from this kind of film, but done well with a couple really nice cameos. This leads into the biggest flaw with the movie being that certain things just happen… because… plot?

I’m not going to say that this movie miraculously changed my feelings towards superhero movies, but it certainly has given me hope that we can see something with a little more hope in it.

Ultimately, I’m hoping for more.

Overview

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

Despicable Me 4 (2024) - ★☆☆☆☆

The Character of Gru with a baby on his back.
A very long 90 minutes

Do not waste your time. If you really want to know what happens watch the trailer and just make a guess. Odds are that you spent almost as much time/energy with that compared to what they put into the overall plot.

This thing was created by the business side of the movie business and it shows. They took a whole bunch of ideas and shoved it into an extended trailer that cost them $100 million and they got $971 million. So, I guess Illumination executives have no problem destroying future revenue as they cash out and move to the next IP.

The Residence - ★★★★★

Poster for Media
Cordelia Cupp has an eye for details.

This was a happy find! The whole family gathered around to watch this one as we really like whodunits. The show has a wonderful cast and lots of twists and turns that kept us entertained.

I think the best thing about the show is the interaction between the different characters. Every episode focuses on one character and what they were doing before, during, and after a murder has taken place. I feel that it’s more important than actually solving the murder as we are drawn into why the murder happen.

One thing I liked about the show is brave enough to have moments of silence. A lot of shows are focused on making sure that the viewer is constantly engaged. The Residence shows the power of just being quiet in western culture. A lot of us are not wired to have a quiet moment and do not know what to do when nothing is stimulating us.

Overview

A brilliant, eccentric detective must solve a murder in the White House residence — where the staff and guests at a state dinner are all suspects.

The Stepford Wives, 2004 - ★★★

I went back and saw this film after watching Companion to get a feel for the two different movies. The movie really feels a little bit out of time. It has jokes that are still funny and poke fun at some many things that should be made fun of.

There are messages and jokes and just a lot of little things that I really enjoyed.🎬

Companion, 2025 - ★★★

This movie concept has been done before. What it comes down to is the execution and I feel the cast does a wonderful job of really bringing it <q>to life</q>.

My favorite part of this movie is actually the side characters and not the relationship between the protagonist and her boyfriend.

🎬

The Gutter, 2024 - ★★½

It's a lot of little jokes that you've seen in other places and stitches together here for your entertainment. I chuckled at a couple of the jokes but I don't think I can recommend this movie to most unless you want to watch a movie with dirty jokes and bowling.

Don't think. Just watch.🎬

White Lotus Season 3 - ★★★★☆

Poster for Season 3 of The White Lotus
A good argument for a staycation

I do not know where they are going to go from here. I feel that all the actors really did a great job doing their individual roles. I found them to be believable on a lot of levels. But, I don't feel excited about visiting The White Lotus again in the future.

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