Matt's Musings

 The second weekend in May brought a couple blockbusters to theaters and a great option to Netflix just in time for Mother’s Day. Below is my take on this week’s new films. You can keep up with everything I’m watching on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Mortal Kombat 2 (Theaters) Starring : Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, and Jessica McNamee Synopsis : This is the sequel to the 2021 re-boot that was, mostly, a streaming release. That film had solid action sequences and nods toward the game, but felt a bit thin on story and character. This second film, also from director Simon McQuoid, ups the ante in terms of action and also does a better job presenting an engaging story. That could be because the two primary additions to the cast—Kitana (Rudolph) and Johnny Cage (Urban)—feel more interesting that the leads of the first film. The budget looks to have been bigger, with more lavish CGI worlds and bigger fight sequences. But there is a sense of fun and humor that works much better here, too. ...

 We’re into May and the Network season is rapidly coming to a close. But before it goes, we’re still getting some new series and specials. What of these new shows is worth your time investment? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new series this Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Fridays: Amadeus, Streaming Fridays on Starz (Premiered May 8) About: Once upon a time Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri were contemporaries at the top of the composing scene. Their life, work, and feud was the subject of an Academy-Award-Winning film in the 1980s. Now, it’s the subject of a new, five-part limited series on Starz. In it, Salieri (Paul Bettany) is the master composer whose position is threatened by the young Amadeus (Will Sharpe). Amadeus is everything Salieri isn’t, and they approach music and life in a radically different way. That quickly leads to a dispute and, as the pilot makes clear, Salieri eventual...

This year Star Trek turns 60. For decades, it has enthralled and entertained audiences. Part of that legacy is 13 feature films. Over the next few weeks, I'll be looking back on each of the feature films in the franchise, including where I place them in my personal rankings! Spock : If I may be so bold, it was a mistake for you to accept promotion. Commanding a starship is your first, best destiny; anything else is a waste of material. Kirk : I would not presume to debate you. Spock : That is wise. Were I to invoke logic, however, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Kirk : Or the one. Spock : You are my superior officer. You are also my friend. I have been and always shall be yours. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Franchise Ranking : 1 Starring : William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Kirstie Alley, and Ricardo Monalban Director : N...

It's hard to believe, but 2006 was 20 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2006 that are turning 20 in 2026. Today, it's my favorite film of 2006. Theodore Faron : I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for? Children of Men Starring : Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Clare-Hope Ashitey Director: Alfonso Cuaron About: In 2006, The Departed was named Best Picture. It's a great movie and a classic. I didn't list it in this countdown because I talked about it last year when I was looking at Martin Scorsese films. It was a great movie year with a lot of memorable films. And yet, this was the film that stood out as my favorite. It was released near the end of the year with little fanfare at the time. But it's become a classic, not only thanks to the sto...

Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films. Alvy Singer : I feel that life is divided into the horrible and the miserable. That's the two categories. The horrible are like, I don't know, terminal cases, you know, and blind people, crippled. I don't know how they get through life. It's amazing to me. And the miserable is everyone else. So you should be thankful that you're miserable, because that's very lucky, to be miserable. Annie Hall (1977) Original List Position : 31 Starring : Woody Allen and Diane Keaton Director: Woody Allen About : There are certain films that define a director. For Allen, Annie Hall has to be his definitive work. It's probably the first that comes to mi...

Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films. Martin Howe : You risk your skin catching killers and the juries turn them loose so they can come back and shoot at you again. If you're honest you're poor your whole life and in the end you wind up dying all alone on some dirty street. For what? For nothing. For a tin star. High Noon (1952) Original List Position : 33 Starring : Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Lon Chaney, Jr., and Harry Morgan Director : Fred Zinnemann About : This is a classic western. Cooper is great in the lead role and I love the way the tension builds through the story here. This is a film that's well regarded as a classic and has been for years. It was No. 33 on the ori...