Review: ‘Poor Things’ with Emma Stone is wildly funny and stunning to behold

Poor Things, the latest film by Yorgos Lanthimos is a wildly funny and stunning to behold, yet completely bonkers and unpredictable dark and twisted take on the Frankenstein monster movie genre, with much more sex than a normal monster film. Emma Stone, as Bella Baxter, is a delight with both …

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Review: ‘Beacon 23’ has an interstellar premise with a lot of promise

A new sci-fi beacon has ignited amongst the stars in the vast expanse of the streaming cosmos. Beacon 23, based on five novels by Hugh Howey, premiered this past weekend with two episodes on MGM+. Set amidst deep space where dark matter is a serious threat, the original series revolves around the enigmatic …

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Freevee’s EXmas is the perfect blend of holiday cheer, humor, and a dash of charm

Looking for a Christmas rom-com that’s as heartwarming as a mug of hot cocoa on a chilly winter’s night? Look no further than EXmas, a delightful blend of holiday cheer, cheeky banter, and a dash of charm. Just as love and laughter intertwine like tinsel on a Christmas tree, Leighton Meester and Robbie Amell sparkle …

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Review: The Marvels is a bright blast of action-packed big-screen fun

Marvel’s latest flick, The Marvels, is a bright blast of action-packed big-screen fun. Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris have a fun and infectious chemistry that makes The Marvels impossible to look away from. Nia DaCosta’s Marvel debut is a visual victory packed with punch and spectacle. The story races along at a lightning pace, …

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Review: The Greatness of ‘The Holdovers’ comes down to simplicity

Most movies have “a thing.” There is an essential element or characteristic that makes a particular film greater than others. Scarcely, films excel because of their specific lack of “a thing.” Such is the case with Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers. Payne’s usual brand of worldly cynicism is on full display, but instead …

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M3GAN Review: Akela Cooper and James Wan bring a fresh take on murder robots

Spoiler alert: yes, the dog dies in M3GAN. That’s not the only casualty in this 2023 horror-comedy, but you can experience the rest for yourself this Halloween on Prime Video. When Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House) loses her parents in a freak accident, her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams, Get Out) becomes …

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Review: Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is a Swimmin’ Good Time for the Whole Family

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is a predictable yet colorful, charming coming-of-age story with a positive message for both kids and parents. The story is beautifully animated with a visually enchanting world. Its fast pace makes up for its waltz through well-trodden story tropes.  [Editor’s note: This review has some mild spoilers …

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Review: ‘A Man Called Otto’ is a brilliant film about loss and life

A Man Called Otto is a “dramedy” directed by Marc Forster and written by David Magee, based on a novel of the same name by Fredrik Bachman. Tom Hanks stars as Otto Anderson, a grumpy and precise widower who (against his will) befriends a young family across the street from him. Otto is a complex character, and Tom Hanks gives …

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Review: Nintendo power-ups your nostalgia with the new Super Mario Bros Movie

On April 5th, The Super Mario Bros movie came to theaters everywhere. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, it’s the story of, well, the Super Mario Brothers. Michael Fogel, known for Minions: The Rise of Gru, wrote the screenplay. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt (Mario), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach.   Adapting a video game, especially a series …

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Apple TV Dickinson

Dickinson’s pilot episode

I last updated my pilot-a-day project long ago, and today I wanted to revisit that New Year’s Resolution.  I recently watched the first two seasons (and the pilot) of Dickinson and wanted to take a moment to explore the show. Why Dickinson?  Marvel’s TV show Hawkeye is coming out, and I thought …

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Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Unaired Pilot is perfect for spooky season

It’s October 1st, and in my mind, that’s the official start of the spooky season. If you’ve read this website before, you know Buffy: The Vampire Slayer occupies a significant amount of my headspace. So what better pairing than to talk about a rough and, some would say, downright “spooky” unaired Buffy pilot? Most …

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The Lost Symbol Pilot

Review: The Lost Symbol’s premiere episode

September has unofficially turned into Dan Brown month here at AylaRuby.com. I’ve written before about how excited I was to watch Peacock’s The Lost Symbol. Now that I’ve seen it, the show has great potential and was worth the wait. It’s not perfect, but it has promise.  The redemption of Robert Langdon Inferno, the …

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