Author: Michael Thomas

Ranking the Party Down Seasons

It has been told to death, but it is genuinely wild that a television show from the late 2000s which had only tens of thousands watch its series finale was resurrected over a decade later to do a very belated third season. But I suppose that is kind of fitting for such an offbeat and lowkey sitcom that somehow managed to always have an insanely talented cast that always made it a pure joy to watch.

Make sure you check out our previous Party Down coverage:
Jerome and Kevin Present – Cancelled Too Soon: Party Down

Continue reading Ranking the Party Down Seasons

Ranking The Larry Sanders Show Seasons

To a certain extent, I did not know what exactly to expect from this show. I realize now that despite vaguely feeling like it is a very respected and beloved show, I guess I only ever occasionally hear it talked about as a top sitcom of all time. And the first season seemed to make clear why you do not hear it in the conversation Seinfeld, etc. It was simply a very good situational comedy. If anything it is a far more interesting show than an outrageously funny show. Still though, it is very clearly worth going back and watch. You see stuff here that was not done before and then clearly influenced so much of what was to come from the future of sitcoms.

Continue reading Ranking The Larry Sanders Show Seasons

Ranking the Creed Films

I am one of those weird people who has never been greatly invested in the Rocky series. That has led to my current situation which is that it has actually been the Creed movies have made me more emotionally invested and interested in the original Rocky characters.

More than that though, the Creed series is an oddly reassuring series of films. They prove that when care and skill are emphasized, the Hollywood machine is actually capable of producing quality art that has mass appeal. It was not in our imagination. It once was happening far more often.

While you’re here, check out the following articles/podcasts:
Jerome’s 100 Favorite Movies Ever: Creed
There Will Be Movies – Episode 37: Creed
Jerome’s 100 Favorite Movies Ever: Rocky
Pantheon Plus – Underrated Sequels: Rocky Balboa Continue reading Ranking the Creed Films

Ranking the Small Axe Films

Small Axe is available for purchase at The Criterion Collection on Blu-Ray. The description of this anthology series from the Criterion website: “…Steve McQueen offers a richly evocative panorama of West Indian life in London from the 1960s through the ’80s—a time defined for the community by the terror of police violence, the empowering awakening of political consciousness, and the ecstatic escape of a vibrant reggae scene.”

I am sure there is better and more valuable analysis of this anthology as a whole. I am instead breaking it down by its individual pieces. While in many respects, the anthology is truly meant to be experienced as a whole, its individual pieces all truly can stand on their own two feet.

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Ranking the Andrei Tarkovsky Films

 

From the outside, Andrei Tarkovsky was an intimidating filmmaker to start to explore. That hesitation proved to be completely unfounded as his films are pretty staightforward explorations of faith, art, and confronting death. You just need a little patience. Continue reading Ranking the Andrei Tarkovsky Films

Ranking the Resident Evil Films

Updated: 1/5/2023

The Resident Evil franchise is something I have had my eye on for a long time. I missed them all in the theater, and I am absolutely a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to the greatness of the films and Paul W.S. Anderson. Better late than never (I hope).

But yea, so these films are so much fun and do the #1 most important thing for me when it comes to franchises: each film feels different and unique.

Even with my beloved Fast/Furious and Mission: Impossible franchises, a lot of franchises “figure out” how to make a successful version of what they are doing and then just do it over and over again. (The PWS Anderson) Resident Evil series mostly avoided that entirely.

Without wasting any more of your time, here is how I have the Resident Evil movies ranked.

7. Welcome to Raccoon City [2021]

Continue reading Ranking the Resident Evil Films