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"The Curse," a 2023 TV show, stands as a perplexing addition to the year's television offerings, largely missing the mark on its intended comedic impact. It's a series that seems to struggle not only with its identity but also with its execution, resulting in a rather forgettable viewing experience.

The bright spot in this murky endeavor is Emma Stone, who brings a much-needed vitality to the show. Her performance is a testament to her versatility and skill as an actress, managing to shine even within the confines of an otherwise lackluster production. Stone's portrayal is nuanced and engaging, making her scenes the most watchable parts of the show.

In stark contrast, Nathan Fielder's performance unfortunately does little to elevate the series. His role in "The Curse" continues the trend of discomfort and blandness that has characterized much of his previous work. This consistency suggests that the issues with his performance may stem not just from the material or direction, but possibly from a limitation in his acting range. His character feels awkwardly placed within the narrative, failing to connect with the audience or add any meaningful depth to the story.

The major issue with "The Curse" lies in its failed attempt at humor. For a show that is categorized as a comedy, it is remarkably devoid of genuine laughs or clever wit. Instead, viewers are left with a series that feels tedious and uninspired. The humor, which should be a driving force, is neither sharp nor engaging, contributing to an overall sense of disappointment.

The narrative and thematic execution of the show further compound its problems. The plot is aimless and struggles to maintain viewer interest. The pacing is slow, making the series feel longer than it is. The lack of a coherent theme or message leaves the show feeling empty, devoid of the substance or entertainment value one would expect from a television series in this genre.

In summary, "The Curse" is a missed opportunity, a show that fails to live up to its potential, largely due to uneven performances and a lack of comedic or narrative direction. While Emma Stone's performance is a lone highlight, it's not enough to save the series from its overall mediocrity.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes embarks on a journey to explore the origins of the notorious Coriolanus Snow. This prequel, poised to enrich the Hunger Games saga, unfortunately, grapples with its identity, wavering between past glory and uncharted territory.

Tom Blyth impressively embodies young Snow, bringing a nuanced depth that hints at the ruthless leader he becomes. His performance stands as a beacon of potential, reminiscent of his commendable role in "Billy the Kid." In stark contrast, Rachel Zegler's Lucy Gray Baird struggles to leave a mark. Her fluctuating southern accent, veering towards the Irish at times, and her jarring singing renditions disrupt the film's rhythm. It's a portrayal that, unfortunately, detracts more than it adds.

Viola Davis, as Dr. Volumnia Gaul, is the film's saving grace. Her portrayal is nothing short of spectacular - chilling and magnetic, Davis encapsulates the terror and intrigue that the character demands. Her presence on screen is a masterclass in acting, leaving viewers eager for more.

However, the film's core issue lies in its direction and narrative structure. It feels bloated, meandering through scenes without a clear purpose. For a film intended to provide backstory to the enigmatic Snow, it falls short, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The movie borrows heavily from its predecessors, creating a sense of déjà vu rather than offering fresh insights into the Hunger Games universe.

The incorporation of singing, particularly by Lucy Gray, feels forced and repetitive. Each musical interlude, rather than adding depth, seemed to disengage, interrupting the flow of the narrative. The film also suffers from shallow character development, particularly for the supporting cast. Their deaths, meant to carry emotional weight, feel inconsequential due to the lack of investment in their stories.

In conclusion, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a mixed bag. While it boasts strong performances from Blyth and Davis, the film struggles under the weight of its disjointed narrative and unconvincing character portrayals. Fans of the Hunger Games series might find fragments of the world they love, but for others, this prequel might not hit the mark.

"65," directed and written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, fails to deliver on its captivating premise of a pilot (Adam Driver) stranded on Earth 65 million years ago. Hindered by a lackluster plot, one-dimensional characters, and subpar special effects, the film squanders its potential for a thrilling prehistoric adventure.

Driver's talent is wasted on the poorly written protagonist, Mills, who lacks depth and motivation. His relationship with fellow survivor Koa, played by Ariana Greenblatt, feels forced and clichéd. The film's glaring scientific inaccuracies, forgettable soundtrack, and inconsistent creature design further undermine the viewer's immersion in the story.

In short, "65" is a disappointing attempt at revitalizing the dinosaur genre, with its weak character development, cheap thrills, and laughable special effects overshadowing a promising concept. Fans of dinosaur films should look elsewhere for a more deserving and engaging experience.

Superman & Lois has been a fantastic series throughout its first two seasons, successfully blending action, family drama, and superhero adventures. However, the show takes a sharp turn in Season 3, leaving many viewers disappointed with its soap opera-like storyline.

The main focus of this season is on Lois' battle with cancer and Superman's powerlessness to help her, which adds a human element to the series that was previously unseen. While this aspect can be appreciated for its emotional depth, it should have been a smaller subplot rather than the main focus. Many fans are left feeling unsatisfied with the reduced superhero action and excessive attention to mundane story arcs like Kyle's new dating life.

The decision to spend significant screen time on Superman attending group therapy and Lois undergoing chemotherapy detracts from the show's core appeal, making it difficult for fans to stay engaged. If the series continues down this path, there is a risk of losing viewership and potentially not being renewed for another season.

On a positive note, the replacement of Jonathan Kent with Michael Bishop (instead of Jordan Elsass) has been a welcome change. The chemistry between the siblings feels more genuine, and their playful banter has been a highlight of the season.

In conclusion, Season 3 of Superman & Lois is a letdown compared to the previous seasons. The shift in focus to more personal and emotional issues might resonate with some viewers, but it detracts from the action-packed, superhero-oriented content that fans have come to expect from the series. The showrunners need to strike a better balance between these elements if they want to keep the audience engaged and ensure the show's future.

As an ardent follower of superhero television shows, I've come to expect a certain level of excitement and escapism from my favorite characters. The "Superman & Lois" series has usually managed to meet these expectations, with exhilarating action and captivating storylines. However, the latest episode took a disappointing turn, leaving viewers underwhelmed and questioning the direction of the series.

The episode's focus on Lois Lane's cancer diagnosis was an unwelcome deviation from the core superhero theme. Rather than offering a thrilling escape from reality, the show plunged into a somber and heavy storyline that felt more at home on a Hallmark Channel special than a superhero series. The decision to dive into such serious territory is confusing, given the target audience's love for action and high-stakes adventure.

One of the most glaring issues with this episode was the lack of "super" in Superman. The iconic hero barely took to the skies, with only a 20-second flight sequence to remind us that we were, in fact, watching a show about the Superman & Lois. This brief moment of superhero action was far from enough to satisfy fans who eagerly anticipate every episode for the thrilling, high-flying escapades of Superman.

Additionally, the side story involving the Kent children sneaking out to parties was both mundane and unoriginal. The series has the potential to explore unique and captivating storylines, yet chose to spend precious screen time on a clichéd teenage rebellion subplot. The underwhelming drama overshadowed the opportunity for character development and added nothing to the series' overarching narrative.

The episode's attempt to humanize the characters by dealing with real-life issues like cancer and family struggles came across as misguided. While adding depth to the characters is a commendable goal, it should not be at the expense.

Clippy here... It looks like you are trying to make a female-centric twilight zone. I can help you with that....

Good acting and ideas, but each episode fails at the end.

Not much more to say. I really like Letterkenny and I really like this. Good characters, really funny, quick insults. Keeso should get much more credit and many many more roles.

It's worth a viewing. It is far from perfect and it is far from trash. You will not feel like you have wasted your time, nor will you feel like you need to watch it again immediately. I probably re-watch this once every couple of years.

I couldn't make it though the pilot in 1 sitting. I had to take a day break from the horror that is Halo. I LOVE the games. I love the lore of them. This was obviously done by a studio that read a script, but never played the game. I was so hopeful for this and you let me down.

Do you like Lin-Manuel Miranda? Me too. Well I thought I did. He's starting to feel like a one trick pony. I think I've seen 3 movies now that have basically the identical music. I mean change the lyrics, but keep the tunes.

He's turning into the Randy Newman of today. Let's make songs about us making coffee... and a 1-2-3... Get out my favorite coffee cup. Ding. Refill the water in the Nes--press-Oh my god I forgot the Coffee... Ding doot a loota do.

NEXT!

Its a fun story and a nostalgia fest.

I am not too sure what it is, but Neil Patrick Harris must have this thing with being involved with misleading stories.

How I met your mother was not actually about how a mother was met. Ultimately being a little bit of a let down at the end.

Guess what?!? This isn't about how NPH's character got his NES. Another little let down.

I love everyone involved with this movie. But Kidman and Bardem should NOT have been cast as Lucy & Desi.

Kidman, for as an amazing actress as she is did not convince.

Bardem, also despite being an incredible actor, seemed like was only really cast because of his Cuban accent.

We were all blown away when Matrix 1 came out. It made our brains melt with this new idea. There was no chance that any sequel would ever reach that level. That being said: 1 is the best 2 was in second place 3 was a distant third

This one fits somewhere around #2. Mostly for tickling our nostalgia,

Everyone in this show ticks me off. Dr. Ike is a horrible person, Marty, just pisses you off with his decisions. Phyllis is overbearing... The list could go on and on. All that being said, they are all perfect. The casting is amazing, the acting is spot on. The emotions I am feeling while watching this train-wreck are excellently crafted and executed. Every episode leaves me feeling anxiety ridden and exhausted. A great watch, but I could not imagine binging this show.

Everyone in this show ticks me off. Dr. Ike is a horrible person, Marty, just pisses you off with his decisions. Phyllis is overbearing... The list could go on and on. All that being said, they are all perfect. The casting is amazing, the acting is spot on. The emotions I am feeling while watching this train-wreck are excellently crafted and executed. Every episode leaves me feeling anxiety ridden and exhausted. A great watch, but I could not imagine binging this show.

When they were hiding in the attic. It would have been much more effective if they all had shut up. It was so frustrating that they didn't that it took me out of the story.

This movie had all the ingredients of a hit. However, it was the initial introduction of several new characters to those who have not read the comics. Because of that I was not invested into any of them. This would have been an amazing 2nd movie, if we had had an origin story that drew us in a little more.

Depressing and slow. I love all of the people associated with this show. In general I enjoy the shows from Apple+. I watched the first 2 episodes and it left me with an "icky" feeling I couldn't shake. I may try it again when there are more episodes available, and the reviews i see reflect a change of direction.

With a stellar cast and top notch production and writing I want to like this show. But, its slow burn, shaky delivery, and Moore's somewhat confusing acting choices, I just can't. Its neither horror nor suspenseful. The only reason I find myself continuing to watch this is in the hopes that there is a twist that may may turn this thing around. Now 6 episodes in, I am losing hope. I can honestly say that if there weren't a pandemic keeping most of us home for months on end, having already binged just about everything out there already I don't think I would have made it past episode 2.

I watch a LOT of movies. Some are great, some are bad. This one is one of the worst movies I have seen in recent memory. I agree, the trailer does make you expect something different. Something like a romantic Matrix. Its certainly not that. It IS a movie about addiction and co-dependence. It doesn't do a good job with either of those elements at all. I usually really enjoy the acting of both Salma Hayek and Owen Wilson, but not in this case. Owen played a version of Hansel from Zoolander if his modeling carrier hadn't worked out and turned to made up drugs. Salma... I can't equate this to any other character she ever played. The closest character I can think of is Aughra (Dark Crystal) without any real depth. I wish I could give negative stars.

The first season was actually pretty good 6+ stars. The second season however was so bad that it absolutely ruined the entire show. -5 Stars.

Predicable, bad acting, bad plot, boring. Octavia Spencer did the best with the dumpster fire of a script she was given. Juliette Lewis phoned it in on this one. It's really unfortunate with all of this star power. The movie seems to be for a millennial who will probably spend more time on their phone than paying attention to the screen.

I watched Brightburn tonight. I am very interested in where this is going to go. It seems to be the beginning of something that could be really cool. That being said it was like the pilot episode for that something cool. Not fully fleshed out but really good nonetheless. I give it 7.75 / 10. This movie is absolutely in NO WAY good for kids.