Passengers

This has been on my list for a long time and never came available on any of my services. A colony ship is in transit to a remote planet. This planet is far away (100 years travel, ship already traveling at 50% speed of light {don't get me started}). All the passengers and crew are in bio-hibernation for the duration of the trip, with the ship itself auto-piloting, auto-repairing, etc. Traveling through an asteroid field at some point overloads the shields, causes a failure and wakes up one passenger, Chris Pratt. After over a year of living alone and nearly ending his life, he wakes up another passenger Jennifer Lawrence, having fell in love with her bio. They live happily ever after... actually, the psychological impact of effectively being sentences to a living death by the only other person in your universe is sort of address. But then bigger problems come around and the entire ship needs to be saved. I don't think this film knew what it wanted to be. A dark psychological trauma/relationship film, or a space action film. It tries to do both, so does neither excellently. But to be fair, does both adequately.

3 stars (out of 5)

The InHumans (serial)

A human-like, yet genetically unique species lives in their city on the moon. It is protected by a shield that keeps atmosphere in and the humans from discovering the city. These InHumans also get special powers as part of a genetic modification program that they undergo at a coming of age ceremony. With this background, the royal family is ejected to the earth as part of a coup and they must fight the usurper while discovering all that is good about humans while on earth. A moderately good comic story that probably did everything it needed to in its one season.

3 stars (out of 5)

The Mandalorian (serial)

Season 3

Din Djarin and Grogu spend this season helping the diaspora Mandalorians retake Mandalor. This season is a better full season single story. Every episode had purpose. Djarin is no longer trying to get rid of the kid, but training him. Didn't really care for the Jack Black/Lizzo episode (gave me Jar Jar vibes). Otherwise, great episodic space opera.

5 stars (out of 5)

Doogie Kamealoha MD (serial)

Season 1 & Season 2

Disney TV at its best. A reboot of Doogie Houser with a 16 year old doctor Lahela Kamealoha in Hawaii. She is growing up teenager, finding love, being a genius and living the island life with a doctor mom and a shave ice truck owning dad. Low stakes, low expectations, low key. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Fire of Love

A documentary following the relationship and work of volcanologist couple Katia and Maurice Krafft. This film has astounding footage of both red volcanoes (with lava) and grey volcanoes (explosive ash) and teaches us along the way both about volcanoes and about life work, love and how to live with passion instead of fear. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Lady Driver

A 16-year old with her newly earned drivers license is fed up with her "sad teenage life" and runs off to live with her uncle. She learns about her dad (who was killed and she never knew) and learns to love dirt track car racing. She is instantly good, wins over everyone and becomes a massive success. Not even any drama or story arc here. 

2 stars (out of 5)

Into the Beat

Apparently I am now the target audience for transformational dance movies. Into the Beat is the german version of Battle. Here Katya is a ballerina (from a family of ballet dancers) who is coming up on an audition for the NY Ballet Academy. But Katya is not feeling the passion for ballet and is pressed into it by her family legacy. Instead, she discovers hip hop at a local club, finds a boyfriend to teach her, and enters a hip hop competition where she can demonstrate her passion for dance. I will say that the actual hip hop dance here is less angry or aggressive (it felt more like modern interpretive) and therefore less fun. But still pretty good.

3 stars (out of 5)