Screen Crusades: Weekly Streaming Guide 10.30

With Halloween generally in the rearview, November offers plenty of action as Disney + drops Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian (that’s the new name right?) while other instant classic action films hit HBO and Hulu; The Dark Knight (HBO Max), The Bourne Trilogy (Hulu) and a hefty plate of James Bond (Hulu). Plus Peacock makes its first appearance with Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece ‘Children of Men’.

OUT NOW:

‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian‘ – Season 2 (Disney+)

The most anticipated series of the year returns on Disney Plus.

Among the important talking points of the new season, include individual episodes directed by Robert Rodriguez, Rick Famuyiwa, Carl Weathers and series creator Jon Favreau.

There will also be some prominent additions to the ensemble cast including Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth, Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, and Temuera Morrison, formerly Jengo Fett, now playing playing Boba Fett.

According to Favreau, the season will include episodes of various lengths, with a much more expansive approach to the characters in the story. In fact, Favreau has cited Game of Thrones as a source of inspiration for the second season.

‘Truth Seekers‘ (Amazon Prime Video)

The stars of the beloved ‘Three Flavours Cornetto‘ trilogy –Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End – are back in a spectacular return via the Amazon Prime streaming platform.

“Truth Seekers” is a half-hour comedic horror series that follows a three-person paranormal exploration team. Though the focus is mostly from that of Frost’s character, the combination of the two have proven so successful previously, it’s hard to imagine that Pegg will be a bit player.

“Truth Seekers” is a horror comedy series about a team of part-time paranormal investigators who team up to uncover and film ghost sightings across the UK, sharing their adventures on an online channel for all to see. However, as they stake out haunted churches, underground bunkers and abandoned hospitals with their array of homemade ghost-detecting gizmos, their supernatural experiences grow more frequent, more terrifying and even deadly, as they begin to uncover a conspiracy that could bring about Armageddon for the entire human race.

‘Metallica Through the Never‘ (Netflix)

This concert film mash-up is visually electrifying matching an explosive storyline in tandem throwdown vs a masterfully epic Metallica live performance that spares no detail.

“As Metallica performs a roaring live set for fans in a sold-out arena, a young roadie named Trip (Dane DeHaan) is sent on a mission to meet a disabled truck and retrieve a particular item. However, the routine task turns into a surreal odyssey when Trip’s van is hit by another vehicle and he subsequently finds himself up against a death-dealing horseman. As Trip flees through desolate streets, he has only his wits to help him avoid the deadly horseman and deliver Metallica’s cargo. Directed by Nimród Antal”

‘His House‘ (Netflix)

A refugee couple find the home they ran to might be the one they need to run from as this geo-political thrilling horror unravels into sinister visuals eliciting strong Jordan Peele vibes in the process.

“After making a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, a young refugee couple struggle to adjust to their new life in a small English town that has an unspeakable evil lurking beneath the surface.”

‘IT: Chapter Two‘ (HBO Max)

The sequel to the absolute horror smash featuring legendary character Pennywise The Clown (made iconic for a new generation by Bill Skarsgård), picks up 27 years later as Pennywise returns for his traditional destruction of Derry, Maine. This time our grown survivors must face more than Pennywise, as scars created between the previously un-separable crew are reopened when they all team up again to try and end Pennywise for good.

Though the film burns a little slower with less intense scares than the previous outing, the cast – especially Skarsgård in what should have been an award-winning performance, carry the film long enough to make it a worth-while watch.

“Evil resurfaces in Derry as director Andy Muschietti reunites the Losers Club—young and adult—in a return to where it all began with “It Chapter Two.” Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, “It Chapter Two” brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film. Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Mama”) stars as Beverly, James McAvoy (“Split,” upcoming “Glass”) as Bill, Bill Hader (HBO’s “Barry,” “The Skeleton Twins”) as Richie, Isaiah Mustafa (TV’s “Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments”) as Mike, Jay Ryan (TV’s “Mary Kills People”) as Ben, James Ransone (HBO’s “The Wire”) as Eddie, and Andy Bean (“Allegiant,” Starz’ “Power”) as Stanley. “

COMING THIS WEEK:

The Dark Knight (HBO Max 11.01)

Maybe no film has had a bigger recent cultural impact than Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’ take on the Batman series.

The film not only showcased the heights to which superhero films could attain- showcasing a skill of elevated story-telling, cinematography, set pieces, action sequences, directing, depth of characters and more – but produced potentially the most iconic character portrayal of our generation when Heath Ledger took on the chaotically deranged Joker.

Legacy aside, The Dark Knight is a top to bottom complete film (the 6% of Rotten Tomatoes critics who called this rotten should be revoked from the site) and one that is still making waves twelve years later.

A Clockwork Orange (Netflix 11.01)

Coming up on 50 years, A Clockwork Orange still knows how to leave its mark.

The viciously violent attack on the senses is considered one of the greatest of all-time for solid reason.

Stanley Kubrick, as always, brings his iconic style of visual perfection and genius madness in his most unhinged film that shines a light on the psychiatrics.

Rick & Morty: Season 4 (Hulu 11.01)

The cult explosive animated hit Rick & Morty drops Season 4 on Hulu. After the long two year wait from Season 3, Rick and Morty missed not a single beat outlandishly blasting their way through galaxies, themselves and any other drunken extravaganza Rick laid out in front of them.

The Bourne Trilogy (Hulu 11.01)

The original Jason Bourne trilogy (The Bourne Identity, Supremacy, Ultimatum) starring Matt Damon hits Hulu. The trilogy re-shaped modern action films to far-faster, more brutal, handheld in your face action thanks to directors Doug Liman & Paul Greengrass (who revolutionized this handheld style).

The series would also act as a grounded blueprint for the future revamped James Bond series which had grown stale with over the top gadgets and action coming to fruition with Daniel Craig in ‘Casino Royale’.

Give these another watch, chances are you forgot how amazing they really are.

James Bond (Hulu 11.01)

Speaking of Bond, James Bond hits Hulu in a big way so if you’ve been looking to do a marathon, now might be the time. Though we missed new Bond in 2020 when ‘No Time to Die’ pushed to 2021 – Hulu is offering up quite the meal to satisfy that hunger till then.

Coming on Nov. 1st:

Sean Connery’s – From Russia with Love (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967),

George Lazenby’s – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969),

Connery again – Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Roger Moore – Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), The Living Daylights (1987), License to Kill (1989)

Pierce Brosnan – Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World is Not Enough (1999)

Will all join the Hulu documentary ‘Becoming Bond’ on George Lazenby’s one off of the iconic spy, plus Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, & Spectre which are already on the platform.

Still missing are some of the series’ main standouts including the OG kickoff Dr. No (1962) as well as Connery’s Goldfinger (1964), Moore’s The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Brosnan’s Goldeneye (1995) & Die Another Day (2002), and Craig’s Skyfall (2012).

Children Of Men (Peacock 11.01)

Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece hits new streaming service Peacock which launched with quite an impressive haul.

Cuarón, working as director and co-writer, emotionally levels the bleak dystopia future in which infertility has gone worldwide. Clive Owen is a stand-out as a man re-fulfilling his purpose in seeking refuge for the sole woman who finds herself pregnant.

In a constantly evolving and shocking storyline, the action is left to unfold organically bringing some of the best action sequences ever captured.

The single shots segments are an absolute work of pinnacle cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki (which would earn him one of his eight Oscar noms, winner of 3 in a row from 2013-2015 though this film still might be him at his highest skill).

Definitely an over-looked film that doesn’t get the credit its owed and probably the best movie you’ve never seen.

28 Days Later (Amazon Prime Video 11.01)

Now legendary director, Danny Boyle (his films have amassed 19 Oscar noms) re-ignited the zombie craze with his fast running attackers though an indie drama film-making lens while bringing Alex Garland’s actual character story telling to a genre that had started to become bare-bones.

Garland has since gone on to write and direct some of the best sci-fi of late in ‘Ex Machina’, ‘Annihilation’ and this year’s FX hit series ‘Devs’. The film would also help give rise to Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (Hulu 11.01)

Though it would have been nice to have for Halloween, Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd starring Johnny Depp in the title role still brings the thrills even post-holiday.

Depp may have never been more brooding than he was here as a dark menacing barber traveling back to his past home seeking vengeance on those who forced him away and stole his wife and daughter.

Depp slashes blood through Burton’s usual awe-inspiring settings in the thrillingly beautiful cannibal musical.

Blood Vessel (Shudder 11.05)

Nazi Vampires in a tightly enclosed military warship. Do you need more?

“Somewhere in the North Atlantic, late 1945. A lift raft adrift at sea, and in it, the survivors of a torpedoed hospital ship: With no food, water, or shelter, all seems lost – until an abandoned German minesweeper drifts ominously towards them, giving them one last chance at survival.”

Paranormal: Season 1 (Netflix 11.05)

“Refaat Ismail, a cynical hematology professor with a dark sense of humor, has his world turned upside down and his lifelong scientific convictions questioned after he begins to experience paranormal activities. Along with his university colleague Maggie, they enter the paranormal world and try to save their loved ones from the immense danger that surrounds them. The story is based on the best selling thriller novel series with the same name by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik.”

NOTABLE LEAVING:

Netflix 10.31: District 9, The Silence of the Lambs, Sleepy Hollow, Underworld, Underworld: Evolution & Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Hulu 10.31: Any Given Sunday, Hellraiser, Hostel, Hostel: Part II, Hot Rod, The Terminator 

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