Movies

As a huge comic book movie fan, it’s amazing to see how Hollywood keeps turning to these stories – from the really old comics to the cool indie stuff today. They consistently make big money! But while everyone knows the huge hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Dark Knight, there are so many other great movies that just don’t get the attention they deserve. If you’re a fan of comic book films, you seriously need to seek out these overlooked and unfairly criticized adventures!

While captivating while you’re watching it, The Black Ball doesn’t necessarily linger in the memory afterwards – its reach sometimes exceeds its grasp. The film generated a lot of excitement at its premiere in Cannes. It’s the second feature from directing duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (known as Los Javis), and a bigger, more ambitious project than their first film, Holy Camp!, which was based on their stage musical about two teenage girls sent to a Catholic camp. However, like Holy Camp!, The Black Ball has a sincere and heartfelt quality that carries it through moments that might feel awkward or overly sentimental with a different director. The film takes its name from an unfinished play by Lorca about a young man ostracized for suspected homosexuality when trying to join his father’s casino. But the surviving fragments of Lorca’s work served more as inspiration for the filmmakers and screenwriter Alberto Conejero, who also wrote a play about Lorca and his lover, Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, which also influenced the story.

My wife is a big snacker, so I got this really cool charcuterie book to try and create some nice little boards for her. It’s full of pictures, which is helpful, and I enjoy putting everything together – different cheeses, little nibbles, that sort of thing. She’s not a huge meat eater, so I often swap that out with things like tuna, nuts, and especially berries – she loves berries! Honestly, the way she snacks is kind of adorable, though the little munching sounds can get a bit much sometimes, so I’ll admit I sometimes put on headphones when we’re in bed. But seeing her snack actually makes me want to join in, which is a fun little side effect!

Jamie Bell joins Sam Claflin as Duke Shelby, the half-brother of Charles Shelby – a character previously played by Barry Keoghan in the film. The movie hinted that Duke might leave behind his criminal life, but the new series suggests he hasn’t changed his ways. Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski also star in the untitled spin-off. There’s even a possibility Tom Hardy will appear, after being let go from the show Mobland. Hardy is known for playing Alfie Solomons, a mobster in Peaky Blinders who famously returned from the dead once before within the Blinders storyline. Currently titled Peaky Blinders: This Time It’s Post-WWII, the series is expected to air on BBC One and Netflix later this year.

The movie Superman felt like a vibrant, visually exciting comic book come to life – a classic superhero film. However, director James Gunn has emphasized that Superman isn’t a template for future DC Universe movies. He crafted that film in a specific way for that story, and doesn’t want other directors to simply copy his style.

Okay, so the movie is visually stunning – seriously, the production design is incredible and those wide shots are unlike anything I’ve seen, thanks to some custom lenses. But beyond all that, the themes are actually pretty easy to grasp. It basically says shoplifting isn’t that bad when huge corporations are constantly taking from us. It also points out how awful fast fashion is, with its terrible treatment of workers. And it tackles this idea that we’re all supposed to be unique individuals expressing ourselves through what we buy, when really, our strength comes from working together. Riley lays all this out pretty clearly – it’s the core of the whole film. But then, towards the end, things get weird. They introduce this concept called ‘The Skins,’ and honestly, it’s so out there it deserves a closer look. Let’s dive into that.

Demi Moore kicked off the festival by sharing her thoughts on AI during a press conference. When asked about protecting human creativity, she explained that opposing AI is likely futile. “AI is here to stay,” she said, “and instead of fighting it, we should explore how to collaborate with it.” Unfortunately, the discussion didn’t go well after that.

Ronan Bennett, the creator of the acclaimed spy thriller The Day of the Jackal starring Eddie Redmayne, brings us MobLand, a hard-hitting crime drama featuring a fantastic cast including Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Paddy Considine. Following a strong first season of 10 episodes, where Hardy played Harry Da Souza, the intimidating enforcer for the Harrigan crime family, the show has been renewed. However, recent behind-the-scenes changes have come to light, offering an early look at what’s in store before the scheduled 2026 return.

Now that Hardy is back for the second season of MobLand after the dramatic ending of season one, Harry Da Souza, a London crime fixer, faces even higher stakes. This season is particularly significant as the actor playing Hardy is expected to leave the show before season three. The series is also aiming to build on its impressive launch success on Paramount+ and attract even more viewers.

Fans seem to be reacting more positively to The Mandalorian and Grogu than critics. While the film has a 63% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes – considered ‘fresh’ but not ‘certified fresh’ – audiences give it a much higher score of 88%, indicating a generally favorable response.