Author: Michael Thomas

Ranking the xXx Films

xXx has taken an unlikely path towards franchisedom. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that the franchise ended up in a radically different location than planned.

The series started in a downswing period for the James Bond franchise, and it seemed like someone wondered, “What if we made an American James Bond and combined him with the X-Games?” and then boom: new franchise.

They even found the perfect lead: Vin Diesel, fresh off the first Fast and Furious film. The only problem was, much like the sequel to Fast and Furious, Diesel refused to make it over script issues that they would not change on his behalf. Again like the Fast franchise, the studio eventually came back to Diesel when they knew it was better off with him and gave him much power over what happens on screen.

As a result, we have an endlessly uneven but sincerely fascinating in-progress franchise centered around one of the handful of new Hollywood stars from the 21st century.

Continue reading Ranking the xXx Films

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.

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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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