Alvin's Adventures in Pop Culture

Is it still Fall TV 2021?

The fall TV season has finally died. I don’t mean there’s nothing new or good to watch, but just that the traditional period when TV networks would bring out new and returning shows has lost the last of its significance. This year, I barely noticed when the networks kicked-off new shows (a few weeks/months ago?)…

Dune – Movie Review

Many times have I tried (and failed) to get into Dune, the seminal, Hugo and Nebula award-winning, science fiction classic. After watching the 1984 David Lynch film, the 2000 TV mini-series, and the listening to the 1993 audiobook, I still wasn’t there, but Denis Villeneuve’s stunning, absorbing film has finally won me. I had read…

No Time To Die – Movie Review

No Time To Die is special in a few ways: not only is it the last time Daniel Craig plays James Bond, but also this time Bond is married (I know!) and retired (which seems to happen a lot) and working for (or maybe “with”) the CIA. Those clues may seem to suggest that this…

Luca – Movie Review

What could be better on a warm summer afternoon than Pixar’s latest gelato scoop of a movie about two boys (who also happen to be sea monsters) having a little fun in the eternal Italian summer? While it’s not groundbreakingly original (compared to some past Pixar masterpieces), this enjoyable film really captures the warm, languid…

Raya and the Last Dragon – Movie Review

In this strange year of movie-watching at home, it’s unfortunate that Raya and the Last Dragon didn’t get the big screen exposure that it deserved. (With cheapskates like myself, who sadly didn’t even want to shell out the $30 premium money to watch it several months ago, we’ve treated a beautiful, fun, exciting, enjoyable potential…

TV Review – The One After Watching the Friends Reunion Episode

I definitely had not been waiting for this Friends reunion episode (seems kind of unnecessary, 17 years after the series ended) but I knew that I also didn’t want to miss it. Considering how much I am a fan of the show — I’ve watched every episode at least three times, and watched my favourites…

Oscar Schmoscar 2021

Much has been said (and will be said) about how extraordinary this year’s Oscar nominees are (in terms of diversity, and because “smaller” films got to break through due to studio films being delayed by the pandemic). For me that has also meant unprecedented access to the nominees through streaming services (mainly Netflix) for my…

New Superhero TV

Many of us have tested positive for superhero overdose in recent years, but it has been almost two years since the release of Avengers: Endgame, and arguably long enough time to be ready for some more from the MCU and other sources of spandex-based entertainment. Of course, in the intervening time we have been treated…

Midwinter TV 2021

This time of year used to be when we got some midseason replacements for shows that didn’t survive the fall. However, in a year when there’s a dry breeze and tumbleweed rolling across the barren viewing schedule, we still get plenty of shows from our streaming channels to keep us busy (while we endure lockdowns)….