Tom Hanks was always fascinated by the Apollo missions, and he made sure the series portrayed that excitement, much like his film Apollo 13. Back then, it was unusual for TV shows to tell historical stories with such detail and ambition. Considering it came before the current era of high-budget, critically acclaimed television, the roughly $68 million budget was remarkably large for the time and remains impressive today.
The horror genre, known for its dark and disturbing themes, actually helped lead to the creation of the Comics Code Authority. While voluntary, this code strongly discouraged creators from including potentially inappropriate or violent content in their comics. Certain issues and series were particularly influential in sparking these debates and ultimately shaping the code.
People have reacted to those emotional scenes in many ways. Some dismiss them as fake or a sign the movie was giving in to unnecessary emotion. Online, I’ve even seen theories suggesting Marty realizes the baby isn’t his – that it looks more like another actor! A friend of mine argued the tears showed Marty had fundamentally changed, becoming a selfless person who could finally be there for others. Personally, I believe Marty’s emotions were genuine, and that the ending works because he’s capable of both dramatic action and embracing a quieter, family-oriented life. But I get why everyone interprets the scene differently. The idea that becoming a father truly changes someone – not just their role, but who they are at their core – is a powerful and often debated topic.
Apple TV+ has become a great place to find compelling science fiction shows, including the thought-provoking Severance, the dimension-traveling Dark Matter, the epic Foundation, and the dystopian Silo, among others. The service clearly understands the genre. However, its most popular sci-fi series is now facing a significant challenge.
Disney is planning a live-action remake of its popular 2010 animated film, Tangled. Tegan Croft will play Rapunzel, Milo Manheim will star as Flynn Rider, and Kathryn Hahn will portray Gothel. Michael Gracey is directing, and the movie is currently expected to hit theaters in 2027. Fans can already get a glimpse of what the actors will look like in their roles.
Colleen Hoover is adapting her 2022 novel into a screenplay, collaborating with co-writer and co-producer Lauren Levine and director Vanessa Caswill. The story explores familiar themes from Hoover’s work: a woman from a humble background, a wealthy man who tries to introduce her to his world, a devastating event that separates them, and the possibility of forgiveness and starting over. This time, the story centers on Kenna (Maika Monroe), who fell in love with the privileged Scotty (Rudy Pankow) seven years ago. They were young and carefree, and after sharing a single cannabis edible, a car accident led to Scotty’s death. Kenna served six years in prison for driving under the influence and is now trying to rebuild her life in Laramie, Wyoming. These details are established early on and aren’t major plot twists.
The film Blue Moon tells the story of Lorenz Hart, a talented lyricist who wrote hit musicals like Pal Joey with his partner Richard Rodgers. However, the movie focuses on a single night after their greatest successes, when Rodgers has moved on to collaborate with Oscar Hammerstein II on a new musical, Oklahoma! This new partnership would become the most famous in musical theater history. The film depicts Hart, a gay, troubled alcoholic, grappling with being left behind as the world shifts toward more optimistic entertainment during wartime. He spends the opening night of Oklahoma! drowning his sorrows, complaining to a bartender, and longing for a young woman he can’t have. Despite being a sad story, Blue Moon is surprisingly funny and witty, thanks to a script packed with jokes. The writer aimed to capture Hart’s voice through his lyrics, which are known for being smart, playful, and subtly melancholic, even when they’re humorous.
Similar to the character Reacher, Alex Cross comes directly from the popular novels of James Patterson. Played by Aldis Hodge, Cross is a dedicated husband and father, as well as a highly skilled forensic psychologist who is determined to see justice served. He can be very serious and focused, but also isn’t afraid to show empathy.
The film’s message is weakened by delivering its main points in the very last moments. From the start, the plot is predictable, making much of the movie feel slow and drawn-out, and the eventual “twist” isn’t very surprising. It doesn’t quite succeed as either a sharp social commentary or a gripping political thriller. While Adam Scott and Danielle Deadwyler give engaging performances and make the film watchable, the overall message ultimately doesn’t make a strong impact.
It’s common for new installments in a franchise to try and move the story forward. While most sequels avoid changing established lore, Alien: Earth seemed determined to do just that. It introduced Xenomorphs to Earth much earlier than in the original Alien films – something that didn’t happen until Resurrection – and made other significant changes, but surprisingly, fans didn’t seem to object.