NOT another streaming Movie - Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Finally, back to the cinema after a wee break. That said, I am overseas with a little more time back in my schedule.

It's a Brand New Day for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.

The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been out for a few weeks now. It's broken a few records along the way. It appears like Tom Holland and Zendaya have almost single handedly saved the cinema.

Following a huge box office take with The Odyssey, the pair are not only back to save box office dollars, but the superhero genre.

This is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth film in the MCU Spider-Man film series following Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). 

The film was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, and stars Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh, Tramell Tillman, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Ruffalo. 

Like all superhero films now, it is not just the one solo star. It's like a mini Avengers every film now. Bernthal and Ruffalo were revealed to be reprising their MCU roles of Frank Castle / Punisher and Bruce Banner / Hulk. 

Frank Castle / Punisher was back recently with his standalone Disney+ episode, The Punisher: One Last Kill. 

This also helps settle up future films, The Avengers and takes the superhero genre off life support. Following a few flops, Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World and who could forget (well) The Marvels. Which actually I still need to watch. I downloaded on Disney+, I have never had time to watch the film. Which was described as a box-office bomb, grossing $206.1 million worldwide against a gross production budget of $374 million, making it the lowest-grossing film in the MCU and one of the few MCU films not to break even in its theatrical run.

OK, back to Spider-Man below the trailer.

So yeah there was a lot riding on, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And it well, over delivered. A good news story for the upcoming Avengers return to the cinema.

Back home, tickets have been sold out for nearly all Lux sessions at Broadway Hoyts. With only single or front row seats left for good sessions.

Hence my delay in seeing the long film. Yes like all superhero films, it's long. The post credit scene was not worth the wait, but we do know Tom Holland will return as Spider-Man. One day.

Released at the end of July, as part of Phase Six of the MCU. It received largely positive reviews from critics, with praise for Holland's performance, the action sequences, and the more mature, character-driven story compared to the previous MCU Spider-Man films. 

The film has grossed $2.304 billion worldwide and set multiple box office records. It became the highest-grossing Spider-Man film, the highest-grossing film of 2026, and the fourth-highest grossing film of all time.

Huge stats there. It continues to do well back home, forcing cinemas to show very few other films, other than films starring Holland and Zendaya. It's like redemption for Zendaya after that awful final season of Euphoria. She is working hard for cinemas to slay.

OK with all that said, yes there is plenty of action. There is a little bit too much pity party for Peter, while he misses his friends and girlfriend. But overall it does feel a move in the right direction. Also it is a bit of a love letter to New York, whilst featuring some damn fine tunes. Including giving Tame Impala's, Loser a bump up the charts. Following the success of Dracula, Tame Impala are now slaying again with another killer tune.

Well done Kevin Parker. Not Peter Parker.

3 Stars.

Winter be Bingeing 26' - Lucky - Miniseries

Lucky is one easy binge! Concluding last Wednesday, I only started the seven episode binge on Thursday before flying off to Bangkok via Singapore.

Such an easy watch. The crime thriller television miniseries created by Jonathan Tropper, streams on Apple TV. Streaming alongside their biggest series (EVER) Ted Lasso on Wednesday's the series commenced on my birthday last month. I have slept on this, however, I've seen only good things online.

Starring, Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

Superstar in front of the camera (and behind) Reese Witherspoon and Cassie Pappas among the producers. 

Lucky is based on Marissa Stapley's 2021 novel.

So what is Lucky all about? When a multimillion-dollar heist goes sideways, con artist Lucky (Taylor-Joy) is forced to go on the run. Pursued by both the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, Lucky must fight for her life — and a way out.

The series kicks off with Lucky and her husband Cary are celebrating in a Las Vegas suite after pulling off a successful heist. 

The next morning, Lucky awakens to discover that both Cary and their suitcase containing $10 million in cash are gone. FBI agent Billie Rand arrives at the casino, looking for Lucky and the missing money. 

Lucky tries to escape, but has to turn around when she spots Dutch, a mob enforcer also searching for her and the money. She escapes with a truck driver but is tracked to a truck stop. Just before an FBI agent can arrest her, he is struck by a car. Inside the car is Cary's mother, Priscilla, a mob boss newly released from prison, who interrogates Lucky about the money. 

When Lucky tells her Cary took it, she is thrown in the trunk and driven away. Lucky eventually escapes and causes the car to crash. One of Priscilla's henchmen is killed in the crash, and Lucky kills the other before fleeing into the desert.

It is great seeing Annette Bening slay as another ruthless boss, following her performance recently as Beulah Jackson in Dutton's Raunch.

This continues Apple TV's dominance in the streaming quality game. Ted Lasso is back on top. Silo is popular with the sci-fi nerds. Bad Monkey and Dark Matter are returning soon. Slow Horses returns next month. With Resse's own series The Morning Show returning for a final run in 2027.

Apple TV is slaying. It has a big line up now. With hugely popular series renewed and returning, or others awaiting another series.

Lucky is a fun crime watch. Get into it now!

Winter be Bingeing 26' - The Five-Star Weekend - Season One

The Five-Star Weekend concluded on Binge this afternoon, following its binge drop on Peacock last month.

Based on the 2023 novel by Elin Hilderbrand, the series stars Jennifer Garner, Gemma Chan, D’Arcy Carden, Regina Hall, & Chloë Sevigny. 

The eight episode first season received positive reviews from critics. Earlier this month, the series was renewed for a second season. I was surprised the season was renewed, given the series is based on a book, there is no cliffhanger to tidy up. Also this series was really much ado about nothing.

The Five-Star Weekend is centered on a food blogger, Hollis (Garner) tries to combat the loss of her husband, Matthew (Josh Hamilton) by recreating a five-star weekend getaway at her house on Nantucket with four friends from different stages in her life: her childhood friend, Tatum (Sevigny), her college friend, Dru-Ann (Hall), her motherhood friend, Brooke (Carden), as well as a woman, Gigi (Chan), whom she recently met online. 

As the five friends spend the weekend together, they mature in ways they could never imagine as boundaries are pushed and secrets are exposed.

Garner, unable to move forward, the death starts to expose the cracks in Hollis’s picture-perfect life—her strained marriage, her complicated relationship with her daughter, and her growing pursuit of validation from her fans. 

Set against a luxurious and coastal backdrop, the stars will mature in ways they could never imagine as boundaries are pushed and secrets are exposed.

It gives a poor mans Big Little Lies, just less murder.

This is not Peacock's best work, but it appears to have done well. In better Binge news, High Country returns for its second season on September 14. Bring it on! High Country: What Lies Beneath, is lead by Leah Purcell (The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, Wentworth) Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls), Sara Wiseman (Watching You, Territory), and Aaron Pedersen (Jack Irish, Mystery Road).

So if you need a reason to keep Binge a few more months, maybe High Country will impress me more. Although similar to The Five-Star Weekend, this series did conclude it's first season over two years ago.

For now, after waiting over a month from the US binge drop, all episodes of The Five-Star Weekend now stream.

I kinda expected better from Regina Hall, who I've always liked. As a side note.

Winter be Bingeing 26' - Curfew - Miniseries

Going back to 2024, I found this English miniseries up on Paramount+. It's an interesting concept, sort of opposite to The Handmaid's Tale.

In a world where men live under a strict curfew, a woman’s murder during the night challenges the system. Can Detective Pamela Green uncover the truth? Starring Sarah Parish, Mandip Gill and Alexandra Burke.

Curfew is an adaptation of the novel After Dark by Jayne Cowie. Wanna know more?

Set in a society where men are restricted by a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to prioritise women's safety, the murder of a woman outside the Women's Safety Centre shocks the community. Veteran police officer Pamela Green (Sarah Parish) suspects that a man is responsible for the crime, despite the curfew - which requires all men to be tagged and monitored during restricted hours. 

Partnering with her new colleague Eddie (Mitchell Robertson), Pamela faces scepticism from both the public and her superiors, who believe the curfew system makes it impossible for a man to be involved. As the investigation unfolds, Pamela must confront her own biases and navigate political pressure while seeking the truth behind the murder.

I don't remember exactly how I stumbled upon this six episode binge. However, I did, I cam I saw and I conquered.

It was an easy and interesting watch. It raised some interesting questions about toxic masculinity and security after dark.

The cast is led by Parish & Robertson, with  Mandip Gill, Alexandra Burke, Anita Dobson, Lucy Benjamin, Bobby Brazier and Larry Lamb.

It wasn't the best crime thriller I have watched. It also wasn't the worst.

Up next Bangkok. This time tomorrow morning I'll be boarding. Hell yeah! BYE!

Winter be Bingeing 26' - The Chi - Season Eight/Series Finale

In the South Side’s coldest winter ever, life-or-death choices must be made. The Chi's final eighth season, premiered back in May on Paramount+ in the USA. In Australia it landed on Disney+ earlier this month.

In the final season, the question is: who is willing to make them? As Tiff finds unexpected comfort, Victor, Shaad, Emmett, Kiesha, and Darnell all confront the cost of their pasts. Nuck and Reg balance loyalty against family, while Jake, Bakari, and Papa must cast new visions of their futures. 

A new generation rises, bringing new trouble, and no one emerges unchanged as legacy, conflict, joy, and pain collide. 

The show largely revolves around Emmett Washington (Jacob Latimore) and Kiesha Williams (Birgundi Baker). Their love story throughout season eight was beautiful.

There is a large supporting cast, with a number of cast leaving ahead of season eight. Yolonda Ross as Jada Washington, Emmett's mum sadly left last season. Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) meet her maker in the season seven finale, with multiple recurring roles also bouncing out before the final ten episodes. This season was shorter than the last two, but it was different and to the point.

No filler episodes in this final season, filled with the sweet jazz sounds to create the mood and city of Chicago.

This is really a love letter to the windy city.

Since 2018 The Chi has been a regular fixture on Showtime. Since midway through 2024 the series moved to Paramount+ with Showtime. This was the same time Showtime begun having less and less content.

Down to the latest Dexter reboot, Dexter: Resurrection , The Agency and the upcoming final season of Yellowjackets.

With The Chi now done and dusted, it leaves the other three titles above to the once great, Showtime.

This series has been exceptional. Family, love, relationships and music all covered across eight seasons, 88 episodes and a lot of drama.

I have always wanted to go to the windy city, Chicago. Maybe when the old, mad, orange man leaves the big White House.

The tributes to Yolonda Ross as Jada Washington in the final season are beautiful. Not to mention, that wedding.

I enjoyed this series a lot. I found this was a fitting end to an excellent series. Well done Showtime. You will be missed now, Showtime has almost fully merged into Paramount+.

Until next time. Bangkok incoming!

Winter be Bingeing 26' - Ride or Die - Season One

Ride or Die stars the incredible Octavia Spencer, Ted Lasso's MVP, Hannah Waddingham, along with Bill Nighy. 

All eight episodes landed on my birthday (last month) exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. So it's time to catch up on these two friends have to go on the run from a mysterious enemy. One of the friends is secretly a highly trained assassin.

So how'd this delicious girl pal, assassin Euro trip go down? Well it's not 100% a comedy, but it was a fun ride across Europe. Octavia Spencer was just delightful as the lead, Debbie. It is great getting Hannah Waddingham back in Ted Lasso, and this! She looked incredible throughout this season.

The outfits too. DAMN!

100% this one leaves you wanting more. Will it return for a second run? It is still sitting in the Amazon top 10 programs near a month after release. That said Reacher landed yesterday, so now there is competition for the top spots.

Now to what happened in the dramatic eighth episode, The Song of Deborah. Spoilers below. Be warned!

David and other MPs are prosecuted for the transport bill scandal. 

Queenie discovers notes from her mother, revealing that the Director is her missing father. 

Judith attempts to convince Debbie that their friendship was genuine, but Debbie scolds Judith for her betrayal. Judith searches an Agency training facility, where she discovers that all of the Agency’s assassins were orphans who were systematically adopted, returned and recruited as children. 

Ana incapacitates Judith, and forces the Director to choose between exposing the Agency or killing Judith, of which he chooses the latter. Ana drugs Judith and keeps her alive and isolated inside a furnace, but Judith slowly dies when she purposely breaks her oxygen supply. 

Debbie and Sam search Judith’s apartment and find the training facility. Debbie rescues Judith, and they kill Ana by dragging her off a cliff during a car chase. 

The Director forces Sam to stay at the Agency, with Queenie as his new operative, although she secretly works with Jacques and Colette to investigate the Agency. 

Debbie divorces David and pursues a public defendant career. Debbie and Judith travel together on a Eurostar towards their new destinations, followed by multiple foreign agents.

Will Debbie and Judith survive the multiple agents on the train? We leave on what could be, what couldn't be. Queenie's storyline is also left wide open.

So many opportunities. Please Amazon give this one another go. Wouldn't really cost Jeff that much. Right?

Winter be Bingeing 26' - House of the Dragon - Season Three

House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. 

A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the second television series in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise. Based on parts of Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood, the series begins about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. 

Featuring an ensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons".

House of the Dragon was renewed for a third season in June 2024, which premiered late June. Season three consisted of eight episodes. Each of approximately one hour. The season covers the events of the book Fire & Blood, a prequel novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. 

A fourth and final season is in development and expected to be released in 2028.

The season follows in the aftermath of the second season's final episodes, in which the war known as the "Dance of Dragons" between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen continues, causing House Targaryen to become further divided. 

Aegon is supported by the Green Council and his mother Alicent Hightower, while Rhaenyra is supported by the Black Council and her husband and uncle Daemon Targaryen, both sides seeking allies from the great houses of Westeros and fighting for the support of their armies to claim their rightful positions to the Iron Throne.

So how'd it all go down on Monday? Spoilers below. Up next on HBO, Lanterns. We return back to DC comic land.

After learning Aegon survived, Rhaenyra becomes more ruthless. She detains Baela, dismisses Mysaria, and has a despondent Helaena force-fed. She later has Alyn kill the High Septon after he refuses to anoint her. Rhaenyra tells the smallfolk of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, stating that she is prophesied to rule. 

Alys informs Aemond that she became cursed with immortality after failing to save her dying son with magic. Aegon asks a remorseful Aemond to help retake the Iron Throne once they find Vhagar. With the Tully army outside Tumbleton, Ormund lines the ramparts with children to dissuade Daemon from using Caraxes. Daeron has Gwayne free Corlys and negotiate with Daemon to divide the realm, but Daemon refuses. Both sides search for Ulf. 

Ormund finds him hungover and beats him. Roderick's Winter Wolves scale Tumbleton's walls while Caraxes destroys the main gate. Ulf mounts Silverwing and attacks the Tully forces. He then burns Tumbleton, killing Ormund and Roderick while they fight. Jon duels Daemon, but Ulf's attack interrupts them. 

Corlys convinces Daemon to retreat. Gwayne cannot find Daeron. Hugh finds Kat dead. Rhaenyra learns that Helaena jumped from a window to her death, leaving embroidery showing Rhaenyra bleeding on the Iron Throne.

With all the special effects, dragons breathing fire and killing multiple extras, season three is done and a bit dusted.

This is the second Game of Thrones series to air in 2026. The battle scenes were epic, the people are loving it. Bring on the fourth and final season in 2028.