Movies

Last week was full of drama: Lucy and Pippa had a confrontation with Chris, Stephen introduced a new girlfriend, Pippa and Diana were unfaithful to Wrigley, Stephen harassed Diana, Evan mistreated women, and Lucy and Alex seemed to thrive on Lucy’s insecurities. This week, they’re repeating all the same behaviors, but with a goth Valentine’s Day theme – everyone’s wearing black eyeliner and drawing teardrops on their faces. It’s so unsettling that I immediately wondered if someone had been murdered, and Pippa voiced the same thought – wondering if the actions meant someone was killed in prison! It was a strangely synchronized thought.

Detective thrillers are a popular genre, but because audiences have seen so many, they’re familiar with common plot devices like mysterious women, misleading clues, and objects everyone is searching for. This often means viewers can guess the ending or feel like they know what’s coming. From classics like The Maltese Falcon to darker films like Seven, many stories follow a predictable path. However, some films successfully avoid these clichés, offering genuinely surprising and original narratives. These films might play with the story’s format, create unexpected motivations for characters, or even blend in humor. Ultimately, these unique detective stories still deliver exciting thrills, but in a fresh and unconventional way.

You can now watch Robin Hood on HBO Max. The film, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, was added to the streaming service on February 1st. While Robin Hood and Gladiator both feature Russell Crowe as a heroic warrior fighting against a corrupt leader, they are surprisingly different stories – especially considering one takes place in England!

It felt like we were finally seeing the real Rishi, a side of him that had been hidden for a long time. It was fascinating to play a scene where all the usual distractions faded away, revealing a more vulnerable and instinctive character. He wasn’t focused on winning, but simply on getting through it – just trying to survive.

The upcoming animated series Maul: Shadow Lord will feature two Inquisitor characters, and one of them is receiving a new title. The Inquisitor previously known as the Eleventh Brother will now be referred to by a different name, according to a recent announcement from Funko Pop!

Josh Gad, who voices Olaf in the Frozen movies, shared a post on Instagram hinting at Frozen 3. He’s pictured holding an Olaf toy and showing three fingers, alongside Frozen director Jenn Lee and producers Trent Correy and Christina Chen. They’re standing in front of sketches of Olaf. Gad’s caption said, “3rd time is always the charm,” with a snowman emoji and the hashtag “#frozen3,” suggesting work has begun on a third Frozen film.

The yacht is setting sail from Canouan, a private Caribbean island reachable only by private plane. Jason starts the season by having a drink with his department heads to prepare for the charter guests. While I’m sad to see Tzarina, the quirky but kind crew member, go, I was excited to see Chef Ben return—he’s a Below Deck veteran! He took six years off to focus on his personal life, including a costly wedding that ultimately didn’t happen. Now, he’s eager to rediscover his confidence in the yacht’s kitchen. This is complicated for returning sous-chef Alesia. Ben’s experience is a plus, but while Tzarina was a people-pleaser, Ben doesn’t care much about what others think. He’s direct and a bit harsh, and he manages to make Alesia cry during her first shift.

Disney+’s newest Marvel series is Wonder Man, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams and Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery. Simon has superpowers, but he has to hide them while trying to land the lead role in a superhero movie. Trevor, a fellow actor who previously appeared in Iron Man 3, All Hail the King, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, helps him out. Unlike some other Marvel shows, Wonder Man won’t feature Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel or many other familiar characters from the MCU.

I absolutely love Band of Brothers, but I’ve always known it takes liberties with history, and that’s okay with me. It’s based on a true story and features real people, but it prioritizes emotional impact over strict accuracy. Take Lieutenant Norman Dike, for example. The show paints him as someone who couldn’t handle the pressure, but the real man was a hero – wounded in action, decorated with two Bronze Stars, and credited with saving multiple lives! And the discovery of the concentration camp in the episode ‘Why We Fight’ feels almost accidental in the show, with the soldiers not realizing how widespread the horrors were. In reality, it was the 12th Armored Division who actually found that camp, and Soviet troops had liberated others nearly a year before. But honestly, I think the show understands that ‘accuracy’ and ‘authenticity’ aren’t the same thing. That episode, more than any other, isn’t about what happened, but about how the war changed the men of Easy Company, even as it was ending. It’s a powerful look at the toll war takes on the human spirit.

Joe Johnston’s The Rocketeer (1991) is a beloved example of steampunk cinema, despite not being a huge box office success – it was released just before Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which overshadowed it. While steampunk isn’t always widely recognized, there are actually many excellent films in the genre. The following six movies offer something unique that The Rocketeer doesn’t.