• Smogon Premier League is here and the team collection is now available. Support your team!

TV & Films Recommendations

TV & Films Recommendations for the week of August 25th to August 31st

Movies​
#Saburo
Film: Wings of Desire (1987)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
IMDb Synopsis: An angel tires of his purely ethereal life of merely overseeing the human activity of Berlin's residents, and longs for the tangible joys of physical existence when he falls in love with a mortal.

%sluv
Film: The Town (2010)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold the manager hostage. Things begin to get complicated when one of the crew members falls in love with her.



Television​
#Soft Flex
Show: Suits
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Description: Mike Ross, an underachieving genius, talks his way into a job at a renowned law firm under the tutelage of one of NYC's top lawyers. The two form a dynamic attorney duo but carry the cloud of the secret of Mike's lack of qualifications around with them as they tear through the legal scene.

Unbeknownst to me when I started just a couple years ago, Suits remains one of the most frequently rewatched programs across all streaming platforms, and I can see why now. It's easy-to-process drama where everyone has a silver tongue and there's almost as much backstabbing as there is legal procedings. I will say the show almost lost me around the end of S3, but I stuck with it and saw it match its early quality and momentum, and I've just begun season 6 as of last night!

@ The Benz Mafia
Show: Harley Quinn (2019)
Genre: Comedy, Animation, etc.
IMDb Synopsis: The series focuses on a single Harley Quinn, who sets off to make it on her own in Gotham City.

%Apple
Show: The Vicar of Dibley
Genre: Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentrically conservative village's church.

%ParkerMayCry
Show: Mr and Mrs Smith (2024)
Genre: Action, Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: Two strangers land jobs with a spy agency that offers them a life of espionage, wealth, and travel. The catch: new identities in an arranged marriage
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of September 1st to September 7th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: K-PAX (2001)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
IMDb Synopsis: PROT is a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be from a faraway planet named K-PAX. His psychiatrist tries to help him, only to begin to doubt his own explanations.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.

%Apple
Film: The BFG (1989)
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Drama
Synopsis: A young orphan girl, Sophie, gets taken away to a faraway land populated by Giants and Dreams.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: The Godfather (1972)
Genre: Drama/Thriller/Crime
Synopsis: Don Vito Corleone, head of a mafia family, decides to hand over his empire to his youngest son, Michael. However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.

%sluv
Film: The Parallax View (1974)
Genre: Drama/Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: An ambitious reporter gets in way-over-his-head trouble while investigating a senator's assassination which leads to a vast conspiracy involving a multinational corporation behind every event in the world's headlines.



Television​

#Soft Flex
Show: Final Space
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy
Description: Astronaut/prisoner Gary embarks on a series of intergalactic quests to save worlds and universes, befriending a group of other oddball adventurers along the way. The show is packed to the brim with quirky characters, fun dialogue, great tunes and a lot of heart!

Sadly, the bastards at Warner Bros. nearly purged the show from existence to line their pockets, so it won't be found on traditional streaming services. As such, and since this is one of my favourite shows ever, you have my full permission to explore nontraditional avenues to experience Olan's great works! As a bit of other news to add to this: Olan was given permission to conclude the story in the form of a graphic novel which he's been working on for over a year now, though he wasn't granted a full staff and plethora of resources to go along with it, so he's on this journey solo (much like Gary at the start of the series). We could be years away from seeing his intended ending, but I think the wait will be worth it!
 
s-l1200.jpg


Film: Matilda (1996)
Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
IMDb Synopsis: A girl gifted with a keen intellect and psychic powers uses both to get even with her callous family and free her kindly schoolteacher from the tyrannical grip of a sadistic headmistress.
Queen of Narnia's Notes: Watched it the other day only because it's currently Streaming for Free in Australia (on 7plus). Definitely worth a Free Rewatch!

Great Classic!​
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of September 8th to September 14th

Movies​

#Soft Flex
Film: The Raid: Redemption
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Description: Maybe the best hard action flick of all time. Trust me, bros.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Under the Volcano (1984)
Genre: Drama
IMDb Synopsis: Against a background of war breaking out in Europe and the The Day of the Dead, we are taken through one day in the life of a British consul living in alcoholic disrepair and obscurity in a small southern Mexican town. The Consul's self-destructive behaviour, perhaps a metaphor for a menaced civilization, is a source of perplexity and sadness to his nomadic, idealistic half-brother, and his ex-wife, who has returned with hopes of healing him and their broken marriage.

%Apple
Film: James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Fantasy
IMDb Synopsis: An orphan who lives with his two cruel aunts befriends anthropomorphic bugs who live inside a giant peach, and they embark on a journey to New York City.

%sluv
Film: Ghostlight (2024)
Genre: Drama/Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a local theater's production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life.

+marillvibes
Film: Elemental (2023)
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy/Romance
IMDb Synopsis: The film journeys alongside an unlikely pair, Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.



Television​

%ParkerMayCry
Show: Primal (2019-?)
Genre: Animation/Action/Adventure
IMDb Synopsis: A caveman and a dinosaur bond over shared tragedy and work together to survive in a perilous prehistoric world.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of September 15th to September 21st

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: The Negotiator (1998)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: In a desperate attempt to prove his innocence, a skilled police negotiator accused of corruption and murder takes hostages in a government office to gain the time he needs to find the truth.

#Soft Flex
Film: Bone Tomahawk
Genre: Drama, Horror, Western
Description: Citizens of a small town in the Old West are abducted by members of a cannibalistic tribe, and the Sheriff sets off with a small group to track them and rescue their fellow townsfolk. A much different take on the western genre than you normally see, but it still manages to seem familiar and unique at the same time. A lot of care seems to have gone into small details of the characters and set pieces, which greatly contributes to the immersion. On top of that, the cast is excellent and everyone pulls their weight on screen.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: The Chalk Garden (1964)
Genre: Drama, Mystery
IMDb Synopsis: An elderly woman hires a governess with a mysterious past to look after her disturbed, spoiled teenage granddaughter, who eventually understands the meaning of self-sacrifice as an example of love and grows into a better person.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: Demolition
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A successful investment banker struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. With the help of a customer service rep and her young son, he starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew.



Television​

%Apple
Show: Primeval
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
IMDb Synopsis: When strange anomalies start to appear all over England, Professor Cutter and his team must track down and capture all sorts of dangerous prehistoric creatures from Earth's distant past and near future.
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of September 22nd to September 28th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: This is England (2006)
Genre: Crime, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A young boy becomes friends with a gang of skinheads. Friends soon become like family, and relationships will be pushed to the very limit.

#Soft Flex
Film: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Description: Follows a party's quest to retrieve an artifact that can bring their leader's late wife back to life, set in the high fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons. Right off the top, let me say this is some of the most fun I've had watching a movie in a long while, and I've never even played the tabletop game! The world makes for some very fun interactions and chemistry between unlikely characters.

Even as a non-player, it's fun to identify moments that are representative of "spur-of-the-moment" decisions made by a party trying to solve an unusual obstacle presented by their DM. I can only imagine how many references went over my head that were great for veteran players to pick out. Just a fun experience overall and I highly recommend!



Television​

%Apple
Show: Outnumbered
Genre: Sitcom, Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A part-improvised comedy about a couple bringing up their three young children.

%ParkerMayCry
Show: Doom Patrol
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Superhero
IMDb Synopsis: The adventures of an idealistic mad scientist and his field team of super powered outcasts.
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of September 29th to October 5th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Noises Off... (1992)
Genre: Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A travelling theater group find so much action going on behind-the-scenes, they almost ruin the performances.

%Apple
Film: The Miracle Club (2023)
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Period
IMDb Synopsis: There's just one dream for the women of Ballygar to taste freedom: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes.

Note: RIP Dame Maggie Smith - one of the most thought provoking films I had watched in 2023.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: Hellraiser
Genre: Horror/Crime/Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.

Parker's Note: Clive Barker's twisted take on angels to some and demons to others remains a testament to the genre itself.

%sluv
Film: Blue Ruin (2013)
Genre: Crime/Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A mysterious outsider's quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.



Television​

#Soft Flex
Show: Tires
Genre: Comedy
Description: A short, sweet and simple comedy about the small and dysfunctional workforce at an auto repair shop. This is the result of a long-awaited follow-up to a Gilly and Keeves sketch from a few years ago with Shane Gillis co-writing and co-starring once again. With just 6 short episodes, you can binge the entire first season in around 2 hours and join me in the wait for a (hopefully) season 2!

%ParkerMayCry
Show: Channel Zero
Genre: Horror/Drama
IMDb Synopsis: An anthology series based on popular Internet Creepypastas Candle Cove, The No-End House, Butcher's Block, and The Dream Door.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of October 6th to October 12th

Movies​

#Soft Flex
Film: Transformers One
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation
Description: You could be excused for not knowing a new animated Transformers movie is out in theatres as we speak thanks to the piss poor marketing efforts of Paramount, but I implore you to see if the film is still playing near you because it is the best Transformers movie in a long while! The experience completely clears everything Bay had a direct hand in creating on the big screen, and is even better than Bumblebee (although that film is still very good).

The story is incredibly fun and the plot is very dynamic - there really aren't any true lulls from beginning to end. It's also ENTIRELY a Transformers story - no humans to muck with the plot or action. There's plenty of comedy, great voice acting and LOTS of Easter eggs for long-time fans to [DiCaprio meme] to, and I'm definitely ready for a sequel because this installment deserves one more than any TF project has for quite some time.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the incredible efforts of a single individual on Twitter (not X) in promoting the film - shoutouts to @ TFHypeGuy, doing the Lord's work when the movie's own studio refused to.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: Sleepaway Camp
Genre: Horror
IMDb Synopsis: Bunks and showers are a mad stabbers beat at a summer camp strictly for teens.



Television​

%Zipzapadam
Show: Only Murders in the Building
Genre: Comedy, Mystery
IMDb Synopsis: Three strangers - who live in the same New York City apartment building and share an obsession with true crime - suddenly find themselves embroiled in a murder.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of October 13th to October 19th

Movies​

%ParkerMayCry
Film: Monster Squad
Genre: Horror/Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A group of 12 year olds form a universal monsters fan club called Monster Squad and have to attempt to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters when they show up for real!

Parker's Note: Wolfman's got Nards!



Television​

#Soft Flex
Show: The Gentlemen
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Description: A spin-off of the Guy Ritchie film by the same name, this series follows Eddie Horniman as he inherits his father's title and family's estate and discovers it is the site of a large marijuana empire run by Susie, who manages in place of her father while he serves a comfortable prison sentence. Despite learning the impressive scope of his newfound source of passive income, Eddie attempts to remove himself and his family from the operation altogether, though he runs into many associates and other obstacles that complicate that decision for all involved.

A very enjoyable series, especially if you enjoyed the film as much as I did and are left wanting more from the same universe. Guy Ritchie does not seem to have as much of a direct hand in the script writing of the series, and the difference can be felt almost immediately, but the overall tone is very similar, and a potential 2nd season could perhaps tie it to events from the movie and introduce some cool new dynamics between our characters.

%Apple
Show: Explained
Genre: Science and Technology, Documentary
IMDb Synopsis: A documentary series that looks to explore the big questions of today.
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of October 20th to October 26th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: You're Next (2011)
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Slasher Horror, Thriller, Whodunnit
IMDb Synopsis: When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.

#Soft Flex
Film: Freaks (2018)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Description: A seven-year-old girl named Chloe lives with her father in a house that's been boarded up, and from which she has been forbidden to leave, for fear of what people outside would do to her, according to her father.

I would like to elaborate on the plot more, but this is one of those films that's best to go into blindly. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the plot progresses and stays on course without being derailed by risks some writers take just to shock audiences. Check it out for yourself and don't read up on it ahead of time!

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: My Life as a Courgette/Zucchini (2016)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: After losing his mother, a young boy is sent to an orphanage with other orphans his age where he begins to learn the meaning of trust and true love.



Television​

%Apple
Show: Misfits
Genre: Fantasy, Teen Drama, Supernatural, Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A group of young offenders doing community service gets struck by lightning during a storm and start to develop superpowers.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Genre: Horror
IMDb Synopsis: Kids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran.

Parker's Point: Although many know that Halloween continued with more Michael Myers stories, a glimpse into the anthology-like sequels that were intended make a wonderful treat for the spooky season. Don't forget to wear your mask during the Big Giveaway!
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of October 27th to November 3rd

Happy Halloween for all who celebrate!

Movies​

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Oscar (1991)
Genre: Comedy, Crime
IMDb Synopsis: A gangster attempts to keep the promise he made to his dying father: that he would give up his life of crime and "go straight".

%Apple
Film: Hocus Pocus (1993)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Teen Horror
IMDb Synopsis: A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.

Apple Note: Happy Halloween!

%ParkerMayCry
Film: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Genre: Horror/Slasher
IMDb Synposis: Teenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in real life.

Parker's Point: if Nancy doesn't wake up screaming, she won't wake up at all.


Television​


%Zipzapadam
TV Show: Over the Garden Wall
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
IMDb Synopsis: Two brothers find themselves lost in a mysterious land and try to find their way home.

@ Madeline
TV Show: Gravity Falls
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
IMDb Synopsis: Twin siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines spend the summer at their great-uncle's tourist trap in the enigmatic Gravity Falls, Oregon.

#Soft Flex
TV Show: The Penguin
Genre: Crime, Drama
Description: Set in the universe of, and immediately following, The Batman 2022), the series follows Oz as he uses the aftermath and disarray of the movie's events to make a play for power seizure in Gotham. Fear not, comic haters! The series may take place in the same timeline, but it's a mob drama through and through - unburdened by the endless cinematic universe shoehorning by big studios in Hollywood (so far - fingers crossed it stays that way).

Flex Note: The series has released 6 episodes at the time of this humble review, and they have been excellent up 'til now. Colin Farrell is a strong lead, but Cristin Milioti is the real scene-stealer throughout the show, right from her first scene. She's just magnetic on screen, no other way to put it.
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of November 3rd to November 9th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: River's Edge (1986)
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Crime, Drama, Teen Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A high school slacker commits a shocking act and proceeds to let his friends in on the secret. However, the friends' reaction is almost as ambiguous and perplexing as the crime itself.

#Soft Flex
Film: It's What's Inside
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Description: When a group of friends gather for a pre-wedding get-together and one of their eccentric buddies offers a suggestion for an unusual entertainment experiment, the dynamic among them changes suddenly and drastically.

I would describe in further detail, but the less you know about the film before diving in, the better. Have fun keeping up!

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Music Box (1989)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A lawyer defends her father accused of war crimes, but there is more to the case than she suspects.



Television​

%Apple
Show: The Mind, Explained
Genre: Documentary
IMDb Synopsis: Ever wonder what's happening inside your head? From dreaming to anxiety disorders, discover how your brain works with this illuminating series.

%ParkerMayCry
Show: The Last Man on Earth
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: Almost 2 years after a virus wiped out (almost) all of the human race; Phil Miller wishes for some company but soon gets more than he bargained for when that company shows up in the form of other survivors.

Parker's Point: This show scarily predicted a world ending event that takes place in 2020. Funny when it wants to be and also very real, this show has a lot more heart than at first glance.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of November 10th to November 16th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Rumble Fish (1983)
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Crime, Drama, Romance
IMDb Synopsis: Absent-minded street thug Rusty James struggles to live up to his legendary older brother's reputation, and longs for the days of gang warfare.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Dressed to Kill (1980)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A mysterious blonde woman kills one of a psychiatrist's patients, and then goes after the high-class call girl who witnessed the murder.

%Marillvibes
Film: The Brave Little Toaster
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
IMDb Synopsis: A group of dated appliances embark on a journey to the city to find their master after being abandoned in a cabin in the woods.
Marillnotes: An adorable family film with some cute appliances. A must watch for newer animation fans

%Zipzapadam
Film: Whisper of the Heart
Genre: Animated, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Romance
IMDb Synopsis: A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.

+Yackback
Film: Anora (2024)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Description: Sean Baker won the Palme d'Or this year for this love story about a Brooklyn stripper and the son of a Russian oligarch.


Television​

%Apple
TV Show: Are You Being Served? (1972-1985)
Genre: Comedy, Satire, Sitcom
IMDb Synopsis: The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of November 17th to November 23rd

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Dark City (1998)
Genre: Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife he cannot remember and a nightmarish world no one else ever seems to wake up from.

#Soft Flex
Film: How It Ends
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Description: Soft Flex here with another helpful PSA: Do NOT watch this movie! Garbage writer thought they could get away with not writing the last 1/3rd of the film and play it off as an artsy "imagine your own ending" while it gets lost of the sea of 1000's of other Netflix originals, but guess what? I was one of the 8 people who saw it and now I'm using what I learned in 1 hour and 53 minutes to save YOU from wasting your life. Use that time to take a nap, go outside or watch something better.

%marillvibes
Film: WALL-E
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
IMDb Synopsis: A robot who is responsible for cleaning a waste-covered Earth meets another robot and falls in love with her. Together, they set out on a journey that will alter the fate of mankind.

Note: I fucking love cute animated robots. Enough said. (Also fun fact: This was the first Pixar film to be nominated for 6 Academy Awards!!)

%Zipzapadam
Film: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Musical
IMDb Synopsis: Young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.

+Queen of Narnia
Film: M3GAN
Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: When robotics engineer Gemma becomes the guardian of her orphaned niece, Cady, she thinks her new invention, a robotic AI, will be a good companion. However, M3GAN begins to behave in unexpected and shocking ways.



Television​

%ParkerMayCry
Show: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Genre: Comedy, Dark Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: Five friends with big egos and small brains are the proprietors of an Irish Pub in Philadelphia.

Parker's Point: I AM A 5 STAR MAN
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of November 24th to November 30th

Movies​
#Saburo
Film: The Last Picture Show (1971)
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Drama, Romance, Teen Drama
IMDb Synopsis: In 1951, a group of high schoolers come of age in a bleak, isolated, atrophied North Texas town that is slowly dying, both culturally and economically.

#Soft Flex
Film: Faster
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Description: An inmate, fresh out of prison, goes on a revenge rampage targeting the ones who killed his brother and put him away, all while being pursued by a dangerous hitman and an old cop.

Just a fun action flick with a good cast. Break out the popcorn!

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Waitress (2007)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
IMDb Synopsis: Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. She meets a newcomer to her town and falls into an unlikely relationship as a last attempt at happiness.



Television​
%marillvibes
Show: Steven Universe Future
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
IMDb Synopsis: The series focuses on the aftermath of the events of Steven Universe, where humans and Gems coexist in harmony after the end of the war between the Crystal Gems and Homeworld.

Aqua Mouse Memo: One of my favorite animated series (that's not anime) of all time. The music, the characters, and the story I can come back to always. I also love the original, but so much happens in Future too that makes it one of the best imo.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of December 1st to December 7th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Falling Down (1993)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Psychological Drama, Thriller, Tragedy
IMDb Synopsis: An ordinary man frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.

#Soft Flex
Film: A Serious Man
Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama
Description: The Coens are back at it again with a seldom-talked about banger from 2009. Larry Gopnik's life is a seemingly endless domino string of bad luck in both his personal and professional life and finding the solution(s) to even the simplest of his troubles proves to be an insurmountable task.

This is another of those films that's hard to describe without going into great detail and must simply be seen to be appreciated. I promise it's worth the watch if you're a dark comedy fan, though!

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: The Grifters (1990)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

%marillvibes
Film: Meet Joe Black
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
IMDb Synopsis: Death, who takes the form of a young man killed in an accident, asks a media mogul to act as his guide to teach him about life on Earth and, in the process, he falls in love with the mogul's daughter.

Aqua Mouse Memo: Hearing Brad Pitt speak patois was really interesting and I really enjoyed it.

+yackback
Film: Hundreds of Beavers (2022)
Genre: Comedy
Description: Looney Tunes ass movie. 20 mins too long but it's funnier than anything in the last couple years, sooo.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of December 8th to December 14th

Movies​

#Soft Flex
Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Description: Sometimes you just gotta go back and rewatch classics for the love of the cinema game. I'm gonna assume you've already seen it, so I don't need to sell you on it - just grab an afternoon's worth of snacks, sit back and enjoy!

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Description: Will Smith plays a con artist who doesn't steal anything but offers people a role as an extra in a film adaptation of "Cats" with people while pretending to be Sidney Poitier's son. He also analyzes Catcher in the Rye elaborately and is a little loony.

@ Zipzapadam
Film: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Genre: Animated, Comedy, Farce
IMDb Synopsis: Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: God Bless America (2011)
Genre: Drama/Dark Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: On a mission to rid society of its most repellent citizens, terminally ill Frank makes an unlikely accomplice in 16-year-old Roxy.



Television​

%marillvibes
Show: Next Level Chef
Genre: Reality TV, Cooking
IMDB Synopsis: Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais compete together on what is the next evolution in cooking competitions.

Aqua Mouse Memo: I love the way the challenges in this show affect the competition. Very fun to watch imo.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of December 15th and December 21st

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Car Action, Comedy, Road Trip
IMDb Synopsis: The Bandit is hired on to run a tractor-trailer full of beer over state lines, in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: The Night of the Iguana (1964)
Genre: Drama
IMDb Synopsis: An ostracized Episcopal clergyman leads a busload of middle-aged Baptist women on a tour of the Mexican coast and comes to terms with the failure haunting his life.



Television​

#Soft Flex
Show: Culinary Class Wars
Genre: Game Show, Reality TV
Description: Another big budget Netflix production from Korea arrived this year in the form of a cooking competition pitting 100 veteran and hot, up-and-coming chefs against each other in a variety of cooking competitions. As someone impatiently awaiting a potential Season 3 of Physical: 100, I am very excited to discover that not only is this series likely filmed in the same enormous studio warehouse, it utilizes the same dramatic editing to build suspense. Though I'm only on episode 4 or 5, I'm already hooked and I've just learned that a Season 2 has already been greenlit!
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of December 22nd to December 28th

Movies​

#Soft Flex
Film: The Shining
Genre: Drama, Psychological Horror
Description: I don't have a particularly unique take here, I just want people to know that I've recently finally crossed this classic film off my watchlist and it was worth the wait. A lot of really great camerawork is on display here, as well as excellent acting, even from minor characters.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Cash on Demand (1961)
Genre: Heist, Holiday
IMDb Synopsis: A charming but ruthless criminal holds the family of a bank manager hostage as part of a cold-blooded plan to steal 97,000 pounds.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: The Big Short (2015)
Genre: Comedy/Docudrama
IMDb Synopsis: In 2006-07 a group of investors bet against the United States housing market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt it is.

Parker's Point: This is Kendall Roy's origin before Succession and nobody can convince me otherwise. Pitt/Bale/Carrell/Gosling give powerhouse performances.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of December 29th to January 4th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Genre: Comedy, Dark Fantasy, Dark Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance
IMDb Synopsis: A depressed musician reunites with his lover. However, their romance, which has already endured several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister.

#Soft Flex
Film: Old Dads
Genre: Comedy
Description: A simple comedy about a group of older fathers/friends who are forced to adapt to changing times, technology and social norms. It stars my favourite stand-up comedian, Bill Burr, so perhaps I have the rose-coloured glasses on while rating it, but I thought it was a solid comedy with a great cast of other comedians and comedic actors.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Spun (2002)
Genre: Comedy, Crime
IMDb Synopsis: A drug dealer introduces one of his customers to the man who runs the meth lab. A crazy three-day adventure ensues.

+yackback
Film: The Brutalist
Genre: Historical, Epic, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: When a visionary architect and his wife flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern United States, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client.



Television
​
@ Zipzapadam
Show: Gavin & Stacey
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sitcom
IMDb Synopsis: Essex and Wales collide when Gavin and Stacey fall in love, bringing their friends, family and baggage with them.

%apple
Show: Call the Midwife
Genre: History, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: Chronicles the lives of a group of midwives living in East London in the late 1950s to late 1960s.

Apple Note: This was actually my pick last New Years, too! I have to say... This year's double part special was gripping and this show is both dark yet beautiful. It really is an escape to a time once gone yet so fresh and new every time I watch it. Beautifully crafted drama.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of January 5th to January 11th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: First Reformed (2017)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological Drama, Psychological Thriller, Suspense Mystery, Thriller, Tragedy
IMDb Synopsis: A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns, and a tormented past.

%marillvibes
Film: Rebel Ridge (2024)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A former Marine grapples his way through a web of small-town corruption when an attempt to post bail for his cousin escalates into a violent standoff with the local police chief.

%sluv
Film: We Live in Time (2024)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.



Television​

#Soft Flex
Show: Reacher
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Description: Our favourite very large detective/soldier/vigilante(?) is back with his 3rd season next month, so here's your reminder to make sure you're caught up before Prime Video drops it on Feb. 20!

%apple
Show: Cunk on Life
Genre: Comedy, Mockumentary
IMDb Synopsis: Philomena Cunk delves into life's profound questions, examining subjects from the big bang to AI, meeting academics and creatives, all with her trademark misguided observations.
 
Show: After Life
Genre: Dark comedy, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: After Tony's wife dies, his nice-guy persona is altered into an impulsive, devil-may-care attitude that takes his old world by storm.

Ricky Gervais puts forth an excellent performance in this. The show contains several subtle but emotionally charged scenes which ultimately convey a message of hope to the viewer, especially to those who might be going through personal struggles.
 
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of January 12th to January 18th

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Spy, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6.

#Soft Flex
Film: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Description: After a long, dark age of trash live-action Transformers content (Bumblebee notwithstanding), one director dares to defy convention by focusing on - get this - the TRANSFORMERS, over the human characters, and produces a very solid action/adventure that also introduces some new characters we've only seen in animation or comics up 'til now. Sadly, Michael Bay has soured much of the fanbase on theatrical TF releases, but I promise this one is worth the runtime. I believe in the TF franchise comeback, despite what the box office implies on paper. This, Bumblebee and Transformers One are all breathing fresh life into this series we've loved for decades!

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Carry on Camping (1969)
Genre: Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: Sid and Bernie plan a camping trip with girlfriends Joan and Anthea, hoping to visit a nudist camp. They stumble upon a bizarre group of campers, including sex-starved schoolgirls and hippie bands, leading to hilarious misadventures.

@ Zipzapadam
Film: Hundreds of Beavers
Genre: Comedy, Slapstick
IMDb Synopsis: In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America's greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.

Zip Note: Free to watch on YouTube (with ads) (in the USA at least - not sure about other countries).

+yackback
Film: Nickel Boys
Genre: Historical, Drama
Description: Based on a Pulitzer Prize winning book. Two Black boys strike up a friendship while trying to survive a reform school in 1960s Florida.



Television​

%apple
Show: Stella (2012-2017)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Synopsis: A series set in the fictional village of Pontyberry in the South Wales Valleys centered on the lives of a single mother in her forties, who earns a living doing the locals' ironing, and her family and friends.

%marillvibes
Show: Steven Universe
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A team of intergalactic warriors fights to protect the Earth, but the combination of three highly trained beings and one quirky young boy leaves the team struggling to overcome the dangerous scenarios that are put in front of them.

Aqua Mouse Memo: This show is probably my favorite western style animated show of all time. Beautiful and well written.

+DianaNicole
Show: Chernobyl
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: In April 1986, the city of Chernobyl in the Soviet Union suffers one of the worst nuclear disasters in the history of mankind. Consequently, many heroes put their lives on the line in the following days, weeks and months.
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of January 19th to January 25th

Movies
​
#Saburo
Film: Calvary (2014)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
IMDb Synopsis: After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.

@ The Benz Mafia
Film: Nurse Betty (2000)
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Rotten Tomatoes Synopsis: Traumatized by a savage event, Betty enters into a fugue state that allows -- even encourages -- her to keep functioning... in a kind of alternate reality.

@ Zipzapadam
Film: A Real Pain
Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama
Description: Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.



Television​

#Soft Flex
Show: Banshee
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Description: A thief recently released from prison assumes the identity of a small town's new sheriff before he's sworn in as a means to reconnect with his former partner there. Antony Starr (of The Boys fame) takes the lead role here and shows off some great acting chops, as does the rest of the cast, many of which you may be surprised to realize you've seen in other shows before since I don't recall this series getting a lot of press during its early run. A great action/drama, often over-the-top, but if you're here because you like The Boys, you're no stranger to that!

%marillvibes
Show: Forged in Fire
Genre: Game-Show, Reality
IMDb Synopsis: Four custom knife makers compete to make the best usable knife through a series of challenges.

Aqua Mouse Memo: I like sharp object making.

%ParkerMayCry
Show: Ghosts U.K.
Genre: Comedy
IMDb Synopsis: A group of spirits restlessly squabble in an abandoned country house. To their despair, a young couple inherits the house with hopeful plans to renovate it into a luxury hotel.

Parker's Point: Honestly no words, peak.
 
Last edited:
TV & Films Recommendations for the week of January 26th to February 1st

Movies​

#Saburo
Film: These Final Hours (2013)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: A self-obsessed young man makes his way to the party-to-end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship ultimately leads him on the path to redemption.

%ParkerMayCry
Film: The Wolfman (2010)
Genre: Horror/Thriller
IMDb Synopsis: Upon his return to his ancestral homeland, an American man is bitten and subsequently cursed by a werewolf.

Parker's Point: If you needed a palate cleanser from Blumhouse's version, this one has twice the action and an actual werewolf!

+yackback
Film: Flow
Genre: Animation
Description: It's got a 97% Critic Score, 99% Audience Score, and is about a cat. It was also made in Blender and has a good shot at winning the animated feature Oscar.



Television​

#Soft Flex
Film: Gen V
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Description: Follows a collection of college superheroes set in the same universe as The Boys, who are aware of the origins of their powers but not how their professors and peers may be connected to darker schemes behind the scenes.

Expect a lot of the same action and shocking sequences that The Boys has come to be synonymous with, but fear not, as this show manages to carve its own identity that doesn't feel like a carbon copy with new faces.

@ Zipzapadam
Show: Severance
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
IMDb Synopsis: Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.

%apple
Show: Silent Witness (1996-present)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
IMDb Synopsis: A team of exceptional forensic pathologists and scientists investigate heinous crimes and use their skills to catch the people responsible.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top