We all love a good thriller with unexpected twists and turns, especially when paired with a favorite snack. But some of the most compelling miniseries delve into darker, more emotionally resonant stories that feel grounded in reality, moving beyond common tropes like secret twins or towns full of hidden secrets.
HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series is a huge undertaking, and one of the most ambitious fantasy TV projects ever. It plans to turn each book in J.K. Rowling’s series into a complete season of television. Developed by Francesca Gardiner and directed by Mark Mylod, the show aims to be a more accurate and in-depth adaptation of the books than the earlier movies.
While season 7 had some issues, the final season of Game of Thrones was widely disliked and significantly damaged the show’s reputation. Fortunately, the popularity of several spin-offs and the exceptionally high quality of the first four seasons have helped the HBO series maintain its iconic status.
The “will they/won’t they” dynamic, commonly seen in TV shows like The Office, Psych, and The O.C., is also a popular trope in movies. It appears in all kinds of romantic films, both historical and modern. This approach lets the audience enjoy a slow-burn romance that feels genuine and unforced. These movies are incredibly charming, and we’ve put together a list of some of the best examples.
Honestly, a lot of us were wondering what happened to the Janitor, Neil Flynn’s character! But thinking about it, with so many new faces being introduced, it makes sense he’s not around as much. It seems like the new doctors will really take up a lot of screen time this season – nine episodes is a lot to fill! And it’s not just the doctors either; they’re also refreshing another group of characters that feels pretty similar, which is cool to see.
The recent passing of Cort comes at a poignant time – just before Valentine’s Day and during the 55th anniversary year of the film Harold and Maude. This unique romance tells the story of a young man fascinated with death who finds love with a vibrant 79-year-old woman, brilliantly portrayed by Ruth Gordon. With the loss of Ashby, Gordon, and now Cort, their contributions live on through this film. If you’re looking for something to watch this Valentine’s Day, Harold and Maude is a perfect choice.
I’ve been watching these short films from Studio Ghibli, and they’re really special. They range from just a few minutes to about half an hour long, but they manage to tell surprisingly big stories. The animation is gorgeous, the music is gentle, and they often explore really meaningful themes. Hayao Miyazaki himself directed a lot of them, and you can definitely feel his signature style – it’s full of wonder and emotion. It’s a shame they aren’t widely available outside of Japan, because they really demonstrate Ghibli’s ability to create something truly touching, even in a short amount of time. They prove that you don’t need a long movie or series to have a big impact.
Following the celebration of its 50th season, Saturday Night Live has seen several cast members depart. Before season 51 begins, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow will be leaving the show. Bowen Yang also departed during the recent season. To refresh the cast, season 51 will welcome new members Tommy Brennan, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall.
Disney has made so many popular films over the years, spanning all kinds of genres, that some truly excellent movies – both animated and live-action – have faded from memory. These films might not have been big hits when they first came out, or they might have been a bit different than people expected from Disney, or simply released at an unfavorable time. Despite this, they’re still wonderful movies that deserve to be rediscovered.
Roger Ebert, who reviewed many classic films including Out of the Past, Night of the Hunter, Cape Fear, The Longest Day, The Friends of Eddy Coyle, and The Yakuza, was particularly impressed by Robert Mitchum’s unique ability to portray both the good and bad sides of human nature in every role. Ebert felt this quality was rare in modern actors. Having interviewed Mitchum three times, Ebert believed Mitchum affected him more deeply than any other actor he encountered during his decades-long career.