The first movie review I ever wrote, the film that inspired me to begin writing reviews almost three years ago, was the directorial debut from Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman. Although I go back and read that film review now and cringe (please don’t go read it because it’s not good), it …
Scavengers Reign, now streaming in full on MAX, helps solidify that we’re living in the best timeline for grown-up animation. It’s beautiful and bizarre, alien and fantastical, and oh-so-human at the same time. The show follows survivors from the Demeter, a spaceship shipwrecked in space, as they navigate the treacherous …
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, …
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 …
Lana Del Rey’s song “Love” speaks about growing up, getting dressed up and going out on dates, falling head over heels, and “when you’re young and in love.” It’s a relatable sentiment, but sadly, the inexperience of being that age and handling those feelings for the first time often leads to …
Five Nights at Freddy’s, the long-awaited film adaptation of the popular video game, finally hit theaters and Peacock this past weekend, nearly a decade after the game’s debut. With a big box office win, the film has exceeded expectations, but does it live up to the hype for fans of …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Peter Pan & Wendy is a must-watch for fans of the beloved classic. It’s a heartwarming and whimsical adventure grounded in friendship and fueled by happy thoughts and pixie dust. For families with kids, it’s the perfect movie night pick. The movie is a sincere take on the classic Barrie story and is …
It’s clear that the intention behind Ghosted, the new movie starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, isn’t to deliver the studio prestigious awards. The value in this movie is different – by watching it, you can’t help but want to talk about it. And that’s what I did. And from casually watching Twitter and …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
If you’re a parent of young children, you’ve probably heard of the Paw Patrol Movie. Along with Disney+s Bluey, the animated show about superhero pups is one of those rare kids’ shows that have broken through to the world of grown-up entertainment. The Nickelodeon show follows a group of dogs as they …
The Mysterious Benedict Society is live on Disney+, and the series is peculiar in all the best ways. The show, based on the best-selling book series of the same name by author Trenton Lee Stewart is the latest venture into original programming by the streaming behemoth. The show’s synopsis gives a sense …
Netflix’s This is Pop docu-series is a fascinating look at the history of pop music and how it has evolved over the years. The episode, The Boyz II Men Effect, is a must-watch for any Philadelphian or recovering Philadelphian. Music as a snapshot of the times The episode has some work to do …
Hallmark Channel movies are known for their heartwarming stories, happy endings, and beautiful scenery. It’s a formula that delivers comfort movie after movie and is part of why audiences are so loyal to the brand. But what happens when a Hallmark movie doesn’t quite meet expectations? That’s what we have …
The pilot episode of Burn Notice is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that introduces us to Michael Westen, a spy who is “burned” by his own government. It’s 90 minutes that fly by. Matt Nix wrote the pilot while Jace Alexander directed it, and it has so much rewatchability. The premise of Burn Notice After a deal …