NOT another streaming Movie - Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is part of the Star Wars franchise and serves as a continuation of the Disney+ television series The Mandalorian.

It sounds like the series that streamed between 2019–2023. So is this the last we see of Baby Yoda? AKA Grogu.

Pedro Pascal stars as Din Djarin / The Mandalorian (who was also portrayed on set by Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder). Joining the film, The Bear's Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Martin Scorsese, & Sigourney Weaver. 

Following the third season of the Disney+ hit series, the two hour film follows the fall of the Galactic Empire, Djarin and his apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic to rescue Rotta the Hutt (White) in exchange for information on a target.

Favreau and Filoni wrote a fourth season of The Mandalorian by February 2023, but production was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. 

During this time, Lucasfilm re-evaluated their plans for the franchise and decided to prioritise a Mandalorian film over the fourth season. 

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu premiered last month, so I am a little late to the party. Following a huge few weeks of films, the US blockbuster cinema summer is here.

So far the film has grossed $316.2 million worldwide, making it the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2026. 

I asked Gaston (a co-worker) in the lift today about this film. Like Masters of the Universe, he liked it. Star Wars fan probably like it. It's a little long, but thus far baby Yoda has received mixed reviews, with critics praising the score, while criticising the plot, visuals, and action sequences.

Star Wars has been milked within an inch of its life for stories reaching far and wide across the old galaxy. From TV series (where The Mandalorian begun) to that Solo film. The first Star Wars box office bomb.

Maybe they need to rest the galaxy for a little. Whilst I enjoyed this, this could have just been a fourth and final season on Disney+.

Hopefully I'll get off to the cinema again this weekend.

Until then, go the Socceroo's VS Gilead tomorrow!

3 Stars.

Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' - Widow's Bay - Season One

Widow’s Bay is a quaint island town 40-miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. 

Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no wifi, spotty cellular reception, and he must contend with superstitious old locals who believe their island is cursed. 

He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. 

Miraculously, Loftis succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again. Widow’s Bay blends genuine horror with an undercurrent of character-driven comedy. 

The American's Rhys stars alongside, Kate O'Flynn, Stephen Root, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Kevin Carroll & Dale Dickey.

Apple has really done it again! They are on a roll right now. Cape Fear, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, whilst, Sugar, Silo + Ted Lasso are all incoming.

Hiro Murai serves as director and executive producer on the series. Which has received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its performances, writing, direction, production values, originality, and tonal balance of horror and comedy. 

Earlier this month, Widow's Bay was renewed for a second season. Bring it on I say! Apple's roster is looking damn fine right about now! Watch out for spoilers below.

Int he finale which streamed yesterday, Tom finds an oblivious Ruth going about her day at home. The two discuss their lives and the hardships of growing up on the island; Tom secretly poisons Ruth's tea with a deadly combination of her prescription medications. 

At the shelter, mayor's office employee Dale uncovers evidence that the town has secretly maintained Warren’s covenant for generations by sacrificing people whenever the church bell rings. 

Bechir learns that Chelle is going into labor. 

As Ruth succumbs to an apparent overdose, she reveals that she is the biological mother of Tom’s late wife Lauren, making Evan—not Ruth—the last surviving descendant of Richard Warren. 

Realising the curse cannot end with Ruth’s death, Tom rushes to save her, but Bechir arrives and shoots her after learning of the plan from Patricia. 

Meanwhile, Evan and his friends discover tunnels beneath the shelter leading to the sacrificial chamber. Ken, the custodian at the mayor's office, finds them, but Evan's friends lock him inside, and he gets dragged through the cellar doors and sacrificed to the entity beneath the island, fulfilling the covenant and causing the storm to subside. 

The following day, the church bell rings eight times, signalling that eight new sacrifices are required.

I originally thought this could have been a miniseries, however this has legs for a second season. Maybe even a third or fourth. I am loving my Apple subscription sick right now. It works in Indonesia. They stream multiple shows per week, all year round. Whilst the quality is always high! Loving it!

Album of the Week - Offical Music Videos

Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' - Citadel - Season Two

What if you lost your memory? What if a spy didn’t know they were a spy? Years ago, the top agents of Citadel, Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), had their minds wiped. 

But, they’re called back to action as sinister forces emerge from the past. With the help of spymaster Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), these former lovers must remember the past to save the future.

Citadel returns to Amazon Prime Video, with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers. 

The first season had production budget of US$300 million, the six-episode first season ranks as one of the most expensive television series ever made. 

The second season, returned with all seven episodes premiering last month. Around three years after the first season. Which aired week-to-week. Season two arrived with little fanfare, not much marketing and blown out of the water by young adult drama, Off Campus. The show stole all the attention and the chatter. Not to mention it was also another Amazon title.

Citadel was meant to spin-off to multiple non-English language series. Initially these were to be set in, the Italian Alps, India, Spain, and Mexico. The Italian series, Citadel: Diana, premiered on October 2024, while the Indian series, Citadel: Honey Bunny, premiered on November of the same year.

Both of these have now been cancelled, while the Mexico series is off the cards. For now. Season three of Citadel, may also be off the books, with an apparent drop in viewers from seasons one, to two.

Following a dramatic second last episode to the second season, Highlands, the finale sees the Citadel agents race to prevent Joana from assassinating President Aronov at the G8 Summit, where she plans to take control of Russian satellites.

No spoilers here, however I do see a third season a bit tricky. There was a small potential cliffhanger, however I think the world has moved on from Citadel.

This was easy, breezy holiday viewing, but nothing to write home about.

Album of the Week - SOUTH SUMMIT - {Run It Back}

NOT another streaming Movie - Power Ballad

Power Ballad is the third film I saw over the last long weekend until October.

Man its long haul until the next long weekend. Anyway the musical/comedy/drama film stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Havana Rose Liu, plus Jack Reynor. 

Power Ballad follows wedding singer Rick who bonds with boy-band member Danny; when Danny uses Rick's song to reignite his own solo career, Rick sets out for the recognition he believes he deserves.

When Rick (Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about. 

Despite having US leads, the film is set largely in Ireland. At a beautiful property for the wedding meeting between Rudd and Jonas, moving to LA for the later scenes.

Power Ballad is a fun, crazy tale about the story of a songs creation. Also, at ageing. Ageing outta boy bands, ageing out of your dreams and playing cover songs to drunk randoms at weddings.

This is a small idea film. But damn. It is cute.

I really like Paul Rudd. I also really like Nick Jonas. His track Jealous is damn good. The Jonas Brothers not so much.

I saw three very different films over the long weekend. But this was one of my favourites. I think it's over now, however if it is screening somewhere, go check it out!

3 stars. Fun!

Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' - Two Years Later - Season One

Two Years Later is the latest Australian romantic drama series. Landing on Paramount+ last week, this was a damn easy watch.

Following Emily and Ryan in a post pandemic world after the world came to a halt, they reconnect after two years in a series of brief encounters and see if they truly love each other.

When their work commute is interrupted by COVID-19, Emily and Ryan reunite two years later after a series of brief flirtatious interactions. Ryan proposes an idea: to go on a series of eight dates to decide if they are truly right for each other.

Phoebe Tonkin is Emily, whilst Brenton Thwaites is Ryan.

It's a small cast show, with Jada Alberts as Nat, Joey Vieira as Antonio, Ron Smyck as Mike, the divine Heather Mitchell as Lorna & Roy Billing as Morgan, Lorna's husband.

The show is intimate, warts and all real romance. I really enjoyed this eight episode first season. It is left open for a second season. However with the current TV climate, who knows if (or when) a second season would get made.

I really enjoyed all eight (short) episodes. The dates across each episode were cute.

I think this could easily be my favourite Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' Aussie series of the last quarter. This was storytelling at its best, with real heart.

Heather Mitchell & Roy Billing's support story was a truly beautiful one.

I can't recommend this Brisbane based series highly enough. Please, beg, borrow or steal a Paramount+ log in and give this a watch. I want a second season!