Average Movie Moe - Movies, TV, & Entertainment
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Spider-Noir - Amazon Prime
Nicolas Cage as the superhero Spiderman? Unrealistic? But does Superman Lives starring Cage ring a bell? No? That is because although he was cast in the Warner Brothers film in 1996, the movie never came to fruition. But he did grace the screen in a cameo as the character in the 2023 film, Flash. Somebody somewhere must believe in his vision as a superhero. And in Spider-Noir, Cage plays not a freelance photographer for The Daily Bugle, but a greymuzzle gumshoe in the surprising Prime Video hit. This breakout series is not only masterfully crafted, but Cage’s performance is a perfect fit.
It is a different take on the graphic novel. So, take heed. Cage plays Ben Reilly, a private investigator, who, after a personal tragedy, sets the Spidey suit aside. Cantankerous drinker only cares for himself; he is forced back into the suit because he cannot continue to rest while the innocent in New York suffers. And his infatuation with a lounge singer, Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), under a Megalomaniac’s thumb, melts even the hardest of hearts. Slivermane (Brandon Gleeson) and his band of supermen with powers like The Spider to take over the city in a quest for total dominance.
The origin of Cage’s character changes the arc of Spider-Man or “The Spider.” Unfamiliarity with this version of the web-slinging superhero makes him more intriguing and unpredictable. He is not in a red-and-blue suit, but rather dressed in black with a trench coat and hat. Yes, but remember, it is the 1930s, and The Spider is “fly.”
Great acting by Cage, Morris, and Karen Rodriguez, who plays his secretary, Janet Ruiz. The setting is dark, reminiscent of Sin City. It is a throwback to the “dirty thirties.” It is an older Spider-Man whose skills have deteriorated, and now his web-slinging resembles William Katt's in The Greatest American Hero. (If you do not have any idea of who or what this is, then this version of Spider-Man may not be for you.)
Spider-Noir has the feel of a vintage 1930s Dick Tracy serial. An array of characters that the audience can immerse themselves in. Phenomenal acting with a fresh new take on a character we have loved for over 60 years. It is not another exploitation of a parallel universe. Spider-Noir is binge-worthy.
I Will FInd You - Netflix
Who doesn’t love snuggling with a favorite blanket and significant other, or alone with a beloved pet? Lights dimmed, you grab the remote and get ready to watch a favorite show’s new season or an anticipated new show. Binge-watching became popular in 2013, primarily due to Netflix's success in creating series that kept audiences engaged. To the point that they would watch an eight- or ten-part series in a day. With average run time of eight hours, shows like Stranger Things, Wednesday, Adolescence, and Bridgerton have made Netflix a must-watch streaming service. A true dive into the abyss of binging, not coming up for air (just to eat, drink, use the bathroom, and shower, which is optional) until viewing is finished. Their largest digital series of 2026 (to date), I Will Find You, is on par with the above-mentioned.
I Will Find You has a star-studded lineup featuring Sam Worthington (Avatar), Britt Lower (Severance), Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us), and Logan Browning (Dear White People), just to name a few. Worthington plays a father who is convicted of murdering his son. But it seems that his son may be alive. Lower plays his sister-in-law, who comes to his defense. Pulling this thread of intrigue unravels the deception and lies, revealing the ties that affect everyone involved.
The series is reminiscent of network television, Fox’s Prison Break or 24. It has breaks between scenes that usually indicate a commercial break follows. It is not necessarily a bad thing; it is just different. The feeling is not that of a Netflix-produced series. It weaves in and out of storylines, building momentum after each episode, keeping the viewer guessing to the end. The problem solved in one episode leads to a different problem in the next. Scratching through answers formulated by hypothesis when the realization of being constantly wrong is evident.
The pace is steady, full of action and intrigue. Smartly done, it keeps the viewer hooked until the end — perhaps with too many hooks. In the end, as situations are resolved and answers are found, a straighter path would have been better, with fewer twists and turns. Some circumstances felt included for their own sake rather than to serve the main story.
The Boroughs - NETFLIX
What if you could go back in time and still be as adventurous as you were 40 years ago? A wide-eyed prepubescent, the adolescent feeling is just that—a feeling captured in your Generation X body. Its exploits may be fun, but they might kill you in the end. In the comedy/sci-fi Netflix series The Boroughs, a misfit band of five senior citizens proves that agism in both cinema and episodic television is prevalent, and it is certainly relevant in this funny, action-packed sci-fi series.
In The Boroughs, a group of retirees lives in a community that, on the surface, appears to be the perfect place: serene, beautiful homes, great food, and staff that seem to care. But it is in the middle of nowhere in the New Mexico desert, alien territory. It’s a place where the fountain of youth has been found through an extraterrestrial being whom they call mother. Using the resident’s brain fluid to stay forever young, a dedicated group of the elderly is The Borough's only hope.
The 8-part series stars Alfred Modina (Spider-Man 2), Alfre Woodard, and Gena Davis (The Long Kiss Good Night). The series is funny but intelligent enough to avoid becoming goofy or campy. It captures the feeling of Steven Spielberg’s classic, The Goonies, if they were grandparents instead of kids. Each adventurer has a distinct role in the expedition. Modina’s engineer is the smart one, and his grief over his recently deceased wife makes him a bit antisocial. Alfre Woodwood is the extrovert who will do anything to solve the problem, partly seeking revenge for the death of her lover. Then there is her enlightened cannabis chemist husband, Clarke (Art Daniels), who searches for meaning each morning, looking for adventure in the desert. Lastly, Renee (Davis) is the badass of the group. When courage is needed, she gives the group Popeye-like strength.
No, there is no hidden treasure at the end, but there are plenty of tunnels and caves, and things that will kill you, and a vast desert littered with other oddities to be concerned with. The Boroughs definitely induce binge-watching. All episodes are about 45–50 minutes long. Easy night of watching. Gather your treats, make sure you are hydrated, and enjoy. It is definitely a Netflix-and-take-it-easy night.
Earth Abides -MGM+
After watching the seasoning ending of the psychological suspense horror series From, I discovered another jewel from MGM+ that television series watchers may not have had a chance to check out. The sci-fi drama series is Earth Abides, a series that creates a paradoxical conundrum. I was pleasantly surprised and disappointed at the same time due to the finality of it all. But maybe this is the future of episodic television. A limited series with finality after the six, eight, or ten episodes; no cliffhanger for the following season because there is not one. Maybe it is for the best, then we can get on with our lives without wondering or anticipating when the series will come back the following year or two years from the last episode. Let’s explore.
Earth Abides star Alexander Ludwig (Cato from the Hunger Games), Jessica Frances Dukes (special agent Maya Miller from Ozark), and Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll. After Earth has succumbed to a mysterious virus, Ish (Ludwig) wakes up to a world of desolation and isolation. Trying to find any resemblance of humanity, he meets Emma (Dukes), a woman who has lost a great deal, but somehow, they form a relationship that gives humanity hope. Still, as the title implies, the Earth will tolerate and remain stable or fixed.
Although this series is filled with tension, it is not your typical Apocalyptic series with dead zombies trying to consume everyone they encounter. It strives to deal with the drama or reality of starting over, not knowing where to begin, who to trust, or the uncertainties of the future. Unfortunately, it is only six episodes and could have been a series of many seasons. Truthfully, each episode could have been made into a six-series season. Because of this, although intriguing, the storylines felt rushed, leaving out details that could have enhanced the series, getting viewers more involved in its characters and content.
But on the flip side, is there something refreshing and rewarding about knowing that the series is over at the end of the season? Viewers do not have to be disappointed by one season not living up to the next, characters being killed off, or actors leaving the series due to boredom of playing the same roles after several years. Or new writers that change the essence of the series. Do not get me wrong, I like several seasons, not just one, but somewhere in the back of my mind, deep into my streaming essences of subconsciousness, it was kind of fulfilling knowing that I did not have to worry about the next season. But what if the series was not enjoyable or had an insufficient or fragmentary finale? What then?