Wu Assassins (serial)

A young chef (Kai) in San Francisco was raised by his foster dad (Uncle Six), who happens to be part of the Chinese triad. As a young man, Kai is working to separate himself from the crime life of his father. But then he is recruited by a mysterious martial arts master to be the next Wu Assassin. His job, to save the world by killing the 5 Wu Lords who are in possession of the Wu (supernatural powers focused on Wood, Earth, Fire, Water, & Metal), and reuniting the Wu. I liked this series, the fact that Kai is a reluctant hero, and the occasional backstory flashbacks that are appropriately times and spaced to fill in context when needed. Nothing here felt forced, and the action was quality martial arts choreography. Nice series.
4 stars (out of 5)

Red Sea Diving Resort

Set in 1979 when Ethiopian Jews were the targets of mass killings, Mossad set up a rescue pipeline through Sudan to evacuate as many as possible. The front for this operation is an abandoned tourist destination on the Red Sea. In order to give credibility to the operation, the agents actually start booking guests in the hotel. Ultimately the risks they take to keep the pipeline open for more people get to be too much and the local warlords get increasingly violent in response. According to this telling, the singular personality of Ari Levinson (Chris Evans' character) more than the institutional will of Mossad or the Israeli government, is what resulted in the rescue of 1000's of people from persecution and death. On par with Argo in terms of type, but either not quite as good or not quite as familiar (not sure which).
3 stars (out of 5)

The Boys (serial)

Season 1

What happens when superheroes aren't super? In this universe, superheroes are recognized for their ability to fight crime, and regular people are already ceding their activism to the superheroes. In true capitalist form, a corporation is organized to manage crime and the appearances that top level superheroes make. And in true form, the corporation is not really interested in anything except profit. Throw into the mix a group of people with a grudge against the superheroes (personally affected by negligent homicide) and therefore a vendetta to shut down the superhero worship, and a "truly good" superhero on the corporate side. While this is ostensibly a superhero novela, it is more a commentary on power, ego, capitalism and democracy. I like it.
4 stars (out of 5)

The Kitchen

Set in 1970's Hell's Kitchen, Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elizabeth Moss see their gangster husbands locked up. When the new bosses don't quite take care of the women up to expectations, the three basically take over the business. They provide protection to the local businesses and take over collections of money. They learn how to be gangsters. Seems like this is an adequate film on its own, with the hope that women leads makes it novel and new. For me, it remained in adequate territory, with Moss' character the most interesting as she dug into what it means to be on both the receiving end on distribution end of violence. Definitely felt like a 1970's gangster movie, so there is that.
3 stars (out of 5)

Beauty Shop

Queen Latifah is a stylist fed up with her idiot boss and sets out to start her own shop in Atlanta. I am not sure whether this is supposed to be a commentary, or have a higher point, or ??? But as entertainment, I totally enjoy the glimpses into culture and practice that I have no experience with. Recognizing that this is now 15 years old, I see the stereotypes and messages that seem too obvious (in 2019) that maybe needed to be explicit (in 2005). And how can you not love Queen Latifah...
3 stars (out of 5)