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DAISY JONES AND THE SIX Starring: Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Camila Morrone, Suki Waterhouse, Will Harrison, Josh Whitehouse, Sebastian Chacon, Nabiyah Be, Tom Wright, and Timothy Olyphant Creator: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber QUENTIN With full-on vibes of Almost Famous , Rock Star , and VH1’s Behind the Music (all personal favorites), Daisy Jones & the Six has enough “life behind the band” aspects to hold most music lovers’ interest. The love/hate chemistry between Riley Keough and Sam Claflin is palpable, and even if the story could have gone a little darker (and been told in fewer episodes), it satisfies overall. My only real complaint is that the titular rock band’s music just isn’t that good, catchy, or rockin’. They sound like a milquetoast 90s band trying to mimic the 70s, but that’s a small complaint in the grand scheme of things. PAIGE Daisy Jones & the Six hits all the right notes for me. As someone who has worked in the music industry, this miniseries feels so raw and real with the ups and downs that can occur within the industry. From its original music to the performances, I truly fell in love with this fictional band. The cast embodied their characters, and their chemistry is electric, especially between the two leads, Sam Claflin and Riley Keough. As a rock ‘n’ roll fan, I just love how this show weaves the drama through the music to capture the essence of the book. JACOB While the production value of and performances in Daisy Jones & the Six are as good as they can be, the show never quite gets where it so desperately wants to go. It gets close to launching into its own stratosphere a few times, but something holds it back from achieving the heights of immediate counterparts like A Star Is Born and Almost Famous . The writing feels as if it’s enough to get the job done, and the finale is absolutely stellar; however, the pacing is flawed in a number of places, and the music, while catchy, never quite astounds.

THE ARTFUL DODGER Starring: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell, and Damon Herriman Creators: James McNamara, David Maher, and David Taylor QUENTIN The Artful Dodger isn’t necessarily a bad show, but it’s a little too silly for me to fully give myself over to it despite David Thewlis bringing some playful gravitas to the proceedings. This unnecessary Charles Dickens spinoff carries the same anachronistic vibes as A Knight’s Tale , especially in the music department, but it fails to convey the same level of grounded grit as that movie, resulting in a series that feels more geared for young adults than grown ups who read Oliver Twist . It’s fast-paced, light on emotion and depth, and just kind of frivolous. Again, not bad, just not something I need.

BREEDERS: SEASON THREE Starring: Martin Freeman, Daisy Haggard, Alex Eastwood, Eve Prenelle, Alun Armstrong, and Joanna Bacon Creators: Martin Freeman, Chris Addison, and Simon Blackwell QUENTIN In its three seasons, Breeders has successfully pulled off the ol’ switcheroo. What started as a fairly superficial dark comedy about parenting has morphed into a far deeper examination of relationships as a whole – parent to child, partner to partner, friend to friend. The series gets relatively heavy this season, but the fewer laughs aren’t to the show’s detriment. The characters and their interactions are so richly and realistically drawn that I feel connected to them as if I know them personally. At this point, I’m fully invested in this family’s successes and failures. Meanwhile, Breeders has quietly become one of FX’s best offerings. JACOB Season Three of Breeders cements, as ever, that this is one of the most underrated shows on television. The writing is clever, sensible, and, above all, consistently funny without resorting to having any single character act or speak unnaturally. The whole ensemble aces every moment, but it’s Alun Armstrong and Joanna Bacon who walk away as the MVPs this time around (while Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard remain magnetic). The series formula of first-half highs and second-half lows is starting to become a bit stale, though; I would thank next season to end on a note of optimism for a change.

Previous Next April 18, 2024 WRITTEN BY: NICK Not too long ago, we published a Bitesize Top Five on Best Original Songs, and although I understand the choices we ultimately ended up with, I was quite surprised by the lack of Disney inclusion – not even in the Honourable Mentions! Having grown up in Disney’s Renaissance Era, the studio’s extremely musical animated offerings in the 90s have always held a special place with me. So, since they were ignored in our Original Song Top Five, I figured I’d give them their own list. Before I get into my personal selections, however, a couple of notes...A lot of the early Disney Classics feature only one hit song. You have “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio , “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book , and so on. Although those soundtracks, as a whole, may not be super strong, they usually have at least one iconic tune that has stood the test of time. The Renaissance Era changed that a bit as music became a key component of Disney movies in the 90s, and my personal favourite from this sub-category of stand-alone hits happens to be from 1997’s Hercules : “Go the Distance.” Truth be told, I’m not a huge Hercules fan, nor am I particularly a Michael Bolton fan (“Jack Sparrow,” notwithstanding), but the marriage of the two is pure magic. It’s an underrated track in the Disney pantheon that deserves more recognition. I also wanted to focus this list on the Disney Renaissance Era (1989-1999), specifically, so films like Mary Poppins , Encanto , Frozen , and Moana will not be included. Let’s dive in! 5. ALADDIN (1992) When I mentioned Disney stand-alone hits above, I initially thought of “A Whole New World” until I took another look at the Aladdin soundtrack. Although that song remains supreme, it’s a deceptively catchy tracklist, especially with comedy master Robin Williams at work on songs like “Prince Ali” and “Friend Like Me.” The man can do no wrong. But if that’s not your flavour, you’ve got the dark “Arabian Nights” or the fun romp that is “One Jump Ahead.” Aladdin also is the rare occasion when one of the new tracks from the live-action adaptation is able to stand with the original, as Naomi Scott’s Jasmine finally gets her solo with “Speechless.” She does a great job, and her performance is worth checking out. The movie? Less so. 4. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) As I’ve implied above, I believe the 90s to be the strongest Disney era, musically speaking, and one of the first Disney soundtracks to overflow with catchy and memorable music was Beauty and the Beast . I mean, it’s a tale as old as time, amirite? There are character-focused songs like “Belle” and “Gaston,” which perfectly suit their onscreen counterparts. Or how about the visual wonder displayed during the “Be Our Guest” sequence? However, the pièce de résistance is screen legend Angela Lansbury's take on the title track, “Beauty and the Beast.” Fun movie fact: Lansbury took the role as a gift for her three grandchildren, and her character, Mrs. Potts, tells the beautiful tale of unexpected love through magnificent song. It’s easily the lasting musical moment of the film. 3. THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989) A lot of Disney films have themes of belonging, family, love, loss, and dreams. The Little Mermaid may be the greatest embodiment of these ideals wrapped into one package. Who would have thought a film where the lead character loses her voice would present such great musical numbers? “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl” are among the most fun songs you’ll find in a Disney film, as their island vibe makes it near impossible to sit still while listening. You also have the lesser mentioned “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” a track that is not only solid on its base merits, but also serves a greater purpose as it solidifies Ursula as the villain of the film. Then you have “Part of Your World,” a song that is wonderfully performed by Jodi Benson, yet topped by Halle Bailey in the 2023 live-action adaptation. Seriously, if you’re like many who gave up on the live-action Disney remakes, I suggest you give this one a shot. It’s a pleasant surprise. 2. THE LION KING (1994) Unlike The Little Mermaid , I will not be taking up space to recommend checking out the live-action adaptation of The Lion King . I will, however, talk about the 1994 original. I mean, of course this was going to be on the list. After all, it even spawned a full stage musical. The cool thing about The Lion King soundtrack is that most songs have two versions. There are the ones performed in the film, and the ones performed by Elton John on the commercial soundtrack release; both have merits. Jason Weaver (yes, Marcus from Smart Guy did the singing for young Simba, not Jonathan Taylor Thomas) brings a youthful exuberance to “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” which works better than the rockin’ honky-tonk version John supplies. Likewise, “Hakuna Matata” is carried by the child-friendly, onscreen comedy act of Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella. However, it’s the two main songs performed by John that are among the best pieces of music to come from any Disney film to date: “The Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” These two songs not only elevate the film to be the greatest animated movie Disney has ever made, but the latter track is still being played on radio to this day. 1. TARZAN (1999) Ok, so we’ve done Beauty and the Beast , The Little Mermaid , and The Lion King … what’s left? Pocahontas ? The Hunchback of Notre Dame ? No, no... this is a list of the best Disney soundtracks, and you can’t make one of those without talking about Phil Collins. I’ll gladly match Tarzan ’s tracklist against any of those mentioned above. “Two Worlds,” “Son of Man,” “Strangers Like Me,” “You’ll Be In My Heart,” — just banger after banger. The messaging permeating the film is one of acceptance, and it’s present in the music too. I mean, “two worlds, one family?” That’s just a beautiful concept for children to learn. Nearly 25 years later, and “Strangers Like Me” is still a semi-frequent earworm, while “You’ll Be In My Heart” tugs at my heartstrings like few Disney tracks can. It is, to this day, my favourite Phil Collins song. There’s even a collaboration between *NSYNC and Collins doing some scatting on “Trashin’ the Camp.” There’s something for everyone! Jokes aside, though, this soundtrack is an all-timer, and easily the best Disney has had to offer. Photo Credits: Walt Disney Studios

Previous Next April 9, 2025 WRITTEN BY: AMARÚ In case you missed it, we recently posted a group article on the one-note actors we love watching even though they play the same type of character almost every single time (check it out HERE ). While waxing poetic over my personal pick, Ron Perlman, it got me thinking about the other side of that coin. Those performers who are the epitome of “they understood the assignment.” I like to call these actors “chameleons.” Every time you see them, they disappear into whatever role they were hired for. Some of them are now (hopefully) household names, but for much of their careers, they have done their job without much name recognition. At best, they’d get Leo-pointing-meme recognition, but that came with the knowledge that, no matter the role they were given, they were going to kill it in a completely different way than they killed the last role you saw them in. Many actors fit this category, but here are six of my favorites who transform into a new person with every single role. JEFFREY WRIGHT Yeah, I know he did that role : Felix Leiter, Daniel Craig’s James Bond series Wait, you’re telling me he did THAT role too! : Peoples Hernandez, Shaft (2000) Following his Oscar nomination for 2023’s American Fiction , Jeffrey Wright is (again, hopefully) much more of a known-by-name quantity. In that singular role, you see his ability to switch between two completely different people on a dime. Transforming back and forth between the intelligent but more-than-slightly haughty Thelonious and his unabashedly hood persona Stag R. Lee, it was fitting that he was nominated for arguably his greatest skill. It’s a skill so potent that, in the year of our Lord 2000, the man played a full-on Dominican drug lord named Peoples in Shaft, and I didn’t know that it was him until six years later when he starred as CIA operative Felix Leiter in Casino Royale . Wright can take over iconic sidekicks, play world-renown artists ( Basquiat ), unknown androids ( Westworld ), and real-life politicians ( W ) without a question about his ability to pull it off. There is a reason some people wonder if he’s a “better” actor than Denzel Washington. I mean, the answer is no, but at least now you know why the discussion exists. TILDA SWINTON Yeah, I know she did that role : The Ancient One, The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wait, you’re telling me she did THAT role too! : Minister Mason, Snowpiercer (2013) It isn’t just her physical appearance that helps Tilda Swinton melt into so many different roles, but it for damn sure helps enhance her incredible ability to do so. If you need an actor to play an androgynous character without feeling like a cop out, Swinton has proven she is more than qualified with her portrayals of the archangel Gabriel in Constantine and Minister Mason in Snowpiercer . That’s because she is so damn mysteriously interesting, captivating, and capable of anything and everything you need of her. She played polar opposite twins in Hail, Caesar! (and did so again in Okja ) because her chameleonic ability is something acclaimed directors know not to waste. Whether being two different people inside one movie, or changing who she is from role to role, Swinton is a master at disguising the real-life woman she is on a day-to-day basis. STANLEY TUCCI Yeah, I know he did that role : Joshua Joyce, Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) Wait, you’re telling me he did THAT role too! : Merlin, Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) Tucci Gang, stand up!!!! If you are not a member of the Pete Davidson and Sam Rockwell-led fan club, then maybe some of you don’t know his name, but that’s that guy from The Hunger Games (shout out to a perfect SNL skit). You know, the guy with the crazy hair and the ridiculously white smile. Stanley Tucci was perfectly posh, polished, and utterly enthusiastic as Caesar Flickerman, and you would never know (unless you know) that he’s also the creepy, sleazy, disheveled antagonist, George Harvey, in The Lovely Bones (or maybe you never watched that movie because we don’t really speak on it). Instead, maybe you recognize him as the blunt, loyal, and fabulous Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada . If so, you had to have asked yourself how that same guy plays the humble German scientist Abraham Erskine in Captain America . If you weren’t a member of the Tucci Gang before, you should join the club soon because there’s a reward for you no matter your proclivities. Comedy, drama, outlandish, reserved, friendly, or antagonistic, Tucci is the man for the job. Every. Single. Time. REGINA KING Yeah, I know she did that role : Sharon Rivers, If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) Wait, you’re telling me she did THOSE voices too! : Riley & Huey, The Boondocks (2005-2014) In the 90s, I knew Regina King as one of a handful of actresses that always played the girlfriend or sister in many a hood classic — Craig’s (Ice Cube) sister in Friday , Justice’s (Janet Jackson) best friend in Poetic Justice ), Rod’s (Cuba Gooding Jr.) wife in Jerry Maguire (yes, the Black community loves us some Jerry). She was the quintessential supporting female character with sass and substance. In the 2000s, she evolved into the loving, intelligent, and dependable partner in movies such as Ray, Miss Congeniality 2, Down to Earth , and Daddy Day Care . You may be asking how this proves she’s a chameleon, but I’ll come back to this decade in a second. It was really the 2010s that showed the ultimate range we know of her today, from the Oscar winning role as devoted mother Sharon in If Beale Street Could Talk to the badass vigilante Angela/Sister Night in the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Watchmen . It took almost 30 years for King to get the opportunity to show more than attitude and comedic antagonization towards main characters, but she has more than proven that she knows how to handle comedy, drama, and even westerns (she is EPIC in 2021’s The Harder They Fall ). Just to bring the point home, guess what she was also doing in the 2000s while evolving her supportive partner performances: voicing BOTH Riley and Huey in one of the greatest animated series ever put on screen, The Boondocks . Point Made. GIANCARLO ESPOSITO Yeah, I know he did that role : Gus Fring, Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul (2009-2022) Wait, you’re telling me he did THAT role too! : Buggin’ Out, Do the Right Thing (1989) An interview that Giancarlo Esposito did while doing promotional work for Do the Right Thing is currently making the rounds on social media. In the interview, he talks about how his heritage informed his upbringing and how he approached the film. If you didn’t know, he is a Black Italian man who never fit in with either community because he was never [fill in proper ethnicity] enough. As a mixed-race man, and even more so as a Black man, I know the necessity of code-switching to create the “appropriate” persona for different situations. Esposito is a master at that. Just in the films he did with director Spike Lee, he morphed into the politically outspoken Buggin’ Out only one year after portraying the bougie, college-educated “Big Brother Almighty” Julian in School Daze . You would never think that the actor behind either of those characters would grow into the unassuming, never-would-have-known-he-wasn’t-just-a-chicken-shack-owner drug-dealing mastermind Gus Fring ( Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) or the ruthless Imperial Officer Moff Gideon in a galaxy far, far away. Frankly, Esposito is a person who gets me to watch movies and shows sight unseen, based on his name only, because I know he can and will play any role as good or better than anyone else could possibly play that particular role. This was recently confirmed when he took over the role of A.B. Wynter in Netflix’s The Residence following the untimely passing of one-of-one actor Andre Braugher. Only Esposito could fill those unique shoes. ROSAMUND PIKE Yeah, I know she did that role : Amy Dunne, Gone Girl (2014) Wait, you’re telling me she did THAT role too! : Samantha Grimm, Doom (2005) I have almost never hated a character more in a movie than I hated Rosamund Pike’s Amy Dunne in Gone Girl . I have almost never been more interested in a love interest than I was interested in getting to know Rosamund Pike’s Sam Chamberlain in The World’s End. Moving forward after Gone Girl or looking back before The World’s End , Pike may have portrayed less extreme versions of cold-hearted ( I Care A Lot ) and heartwarming ( Barney’s Version ), but she continues to be one of the most versatile actors over any and all genres over the past 25 years. She has the regality to play 18th Century English gentry ( Pride & Prejudice) , ancient Greek royalty ( Clash of The Titans) , and fantasy-magic user ( The Wheel of Time ). She has the strength and power to play a British secret agent ( Die Another Day ), a futuristic scientist ( Doom ), and a war time journalist ( A Private War ). She has the comedic timing to play an ignorant, high-society one-percenter ( Saltburn ), as well as opposite an ignorant, bumbling, lucky-as-hell spy ( Johnny English Reborn ). Whenever I walk into a Pike movie, I don’t know how I am going to feel about her, but I know it's going to be the most I’ve felt that feeling about any character ever. Or at least it always seems that way.

Previous Next As we approach 2025 and the end of the 21st century’s first quarter, we wanted to look back to see which actors, actresses, directors, and movies have stood the test of time. With that in mind, for the rest of the year, the Bitesize Top Five will be giving a consensus view on what we think are the Bests of everything since 2000. We are only looking at work released since January 1, 2000, so don’t get mad because your favourites of the 90s didn’t make it. As always, each writer ranks his or her top 15 in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. TOM CRUISE From a supporting role in Endless Love at the age of 19 to the Oscar-nominated Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning at 60, Tom Cruise’s renowned career and famous love of stunt work has cemented him as one of the best actors of the century, and my personal first choice for the title. His iconic filmography from just the last 25 years includes Collateral, Minority Report, War of the Worlds, Tropic Thunder, Edge of Tomorrow, The Last Samurai, and so many more. Not only is he an incredible actor, but he may well have revived the industry from the impacts of the pandemic with Top Gun: Maverick , which earned just shy of $1.5 billion worldwide. I believe Tom Cruise is one of our last true Hollywood stars, and his films have and will continue to thrill audiences everywhere. - Katie 4. CHRISTIAN BALE The word that comes to mind for me when I think of Christian Bale's career is versatility. He started off the century with a bang as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho , then proceeded to star in every genre possible, be it sci-fi, thriller, western, romance, war, or comedy. He even mixed in a few established franchises (Batman , The Terminator , Thor ). However, it's his work portraying real-life people where he truly shines brightest. As a matter of fact, on three different occasions these have led to Oscar nominations, with his work in The Fighter taking the trophy. At just 50 years old, we can expect many more memorable showings, and likely some more hardware to come. - Nick 3. RYAN GOSLING Remember the Titans . The Notebook . Half Nelson . Blue Valentine . Drive . Crazy, Stupid, Love . The Place Beyond the Pines . The Big Short . The Nice Guys . La La Land . Blade Runner 2049 . The Gray Man . Barbie . Ryan Thomas Gosling has dominated the totality of the 21st century (not to mention, even before, as a child actor). With a childhood that loosely resembled my own, being around the same age, and whose restaurant is a testament to a similar passion for food, it is easy to feel a personal connection to the acting star. The similarities end there, though, as his unending talent as a dancer, singer, and actor with spot-on comedic timing is enough to hate him; if his charm, wit, and character weren’t enough to absolutely adore him. - Preston 2. BRAD PITT It’s no surprise that Mr. Brad Pitt is #2 on this list. The man can truly do it all: lead a film, be a trusty sidekick, and even shine in a cameo role. From Snatch , Burn After Reading , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , Inglourious Basterds , and the Ocean's trilogy to his most recent features, Bullet Train and Babylon , he has starred in some of the most iconic movies of the past two decades. Over the past 24 years, he has been nominated for an Oscar three times for acting, finally winning Best Supporting Actor in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . He has consistently demonstrated that he has the charisma, swagger, and acting chops necessary to be considered one of the few true movie stars left in Hollywood. - Paige 1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO Leo might not be my favorite actor in the world, and he might not even be the best actor in the world (that’s an amazing debate topic, though). What’s not debatable, though, is that there really wasn’t another answer here for best actor this century. The man has been in his bag even before Y2K was a thing, but when that new millennium hit, there was no looking back. How it took 15 years and a bear fight for him to finally get an Oscar makes no sense when Jordan Belfort, Frank Abagnale Jr., Cobb, and dozens of other iconic roles demonstrated the absolute monster that is Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio. If his name is on it, you’re gonna go see it. You know I ain’t lying. - Amarú HONORABLE MENTIONS DENZEL WASHINGTON JOAQUIN PHOENIX PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN WILLEM DAFOE JAKE GYLLENHAAL Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Paramount Pictures; Photo 2, 4, 5 - Warner Bros.; Photo 3 - Scandia Entertainment

Previous Next August 2, 2025 Insert your favourite dad pun here as the boys of the Bitesize crew talk The Naked Gun with special guest Harrison Martin. Were the jokes landing for the crew, or did they fall flat? Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our latest video content including our Early Reactions, and be sure to give us a thumbs up and comment your thoughts!

MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR: SEASON TWO Starring: Diamond White, Fred Tatasciore, Alfre Woodard, Libe Barer, Jermaine Fowler, Gary Anthony Williams, Sasheer Zamata, and Laurence Fishburne Creators: Jeffrey M. Howard, Kate Kondell, and Steve Loter AMARÚ I cannot express enough the excellence that is Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur . This show epitomizes why Guillermo del Toro champions animation while also proving that children’s programming can truly be age-proof. It’s vibrant, hilarious, and heartfelt, covering themes ranging from peer pressure to PTSD, and is bolstered by a brilliant voice-cast and a cavalcade of A-list guest stars deserving of such rich visual and musical storytelling. Dipping into action, comedy, coming-of-age, and even horror elements, Moon Girl’s second season is more than just a children’s cartoon. It’s the show you wish you had growing up, yet it still teaches life lessons today. No notes.

BLACK KNIGHT: SEASON ONE Starring: Kim Woo-bin, Song Seung-heon, Kang You-Seok, and Esom Creator: Ui Seok Cho QUENTIN Despite a decent amount of world-building, some slick set design, and being sold as “Snowpiercer meets Fury Road ,” Netflix’s latest Korean import, Black Knight , is way too bland to be enjoyable. This is mostly due to the story, which moves too slowly to maintain interest over six episodes, especially when the characters aren’t all that compelling or charismatic to begin with. The tone also is inconsistent, randomly jumping from post-apocalyptic seriousness to light comedy, and these shifts become even more apparent when they are emphasized by a change in the score. In the end, while it has some nice aspects, it just misses the mark.

Previous May 23, 2025 Next A BITESIZE CHAT WITH THE SURRENDER TEAM Director Julia Max and cast members Colby Minifie (The Boys , Fear the Walking Dead ) and Kate Burton (Grey's Anatomy , Scandal ) are here to chat with Katie about Julia's debut horror feature The Surrender , her personal connection to it, and the importance of telling female-led stories. Make sure to check out The Surrender now on Shudder. Interview conducted on May 8th, 2025 by Katie Bone.

Previous Next May 6, 2024 WRITTEN BY: THE BITESIZE CREW If you’ve ever read our About Us section, you might remember that our mission statement is to write for “the everyday film fans who spend their hard-earned money at the theater.” That means we want to discuss movies across the entire spectrum — not just the trendy awards darlings and possibly inaccessible critical successes like The Zone of Interest , The Power of the Dog , and Perfect Days , but also the overlooked, discarded, and generally insulted bombs that, for whatever reason, we enjoy anyway. To be clear, we’re not talking about so-bad-it’s-good territory like The Room , and we’re not talking about movies like Billy Madison that were panned because most critics are too far up their own ass to laugh at Adam Sandler pelting grade-school kids with a dodgeball. We’re talking about “yeah, maybe this movie sucks to most people, but I genuinely and unironically love it anyway.” Surely, you have a few of those... With that in mind, each writer has reviewed two such Guilty Pleasures, highlighting the enjoyable positives in otherwise maligned films. For our purposes here, we had two loose benchmarks: the movies couldn’t have a Rotten Tomatoes score higher than 40 and it had to pass a certain “feel” test. For example, one writer initially picked Denzel Washington’s John Q , which much to everyone’s surprise, only has a 26% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, that’s not a movie that seems to be disproportionately hated, as evidenced by a 78% Audience Score. So, it didn’t pass the “feel” test. Alternatively, one of the films below actually has a 43% Rotten Tomatoes score, but it aced the “feel” test with flying colors as it’s often used as a punchline, so we allowed it. It’s an imperfect methodology, but we still came up with a great list. Is it a list of trash? Maybe…but you know the old saying: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So, are our picks trash or treasure to you? Let us know what would be on your Guilty Pleasure list! HOWARD THE DUCK (1986) In 1986, long before the MCU, Howard the Duck , a wild fever dream of a movie that meshes a bizarre sense of humor with truly scary sci-fi and horror elements, was released as the first feature film based on a Marvel property. As long as you don’t think too hard about it (for example, don’t explore why Beverly (Lea Thompson) seemingly wants to bump uglies with an alien duck), the movie succeeds on the strength of a terrific soundtrack (the main theme is still an earworm), Jeffrey Jones’ terrifying performance as the possessed Dr. Jenning, Lucasfilm’s puppetry of Howard, and the pure 80s-ness of it all. - Quentin CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE (1988) Sure, Critters may have garnered a reputation for being a bad Gremlins rip-off, but Critters 2 is a great Gremlins rip-off. It’s a solid 90 minutes of wacky fun, complete with crazy practical effects and a bunch of Easter-themed mayhem. If you want a taste of just how weird this movie gets, consider the “critter-ball.” There is a scene where the critters (or crites) combine, Power Rangers -style, into a giant multi-faced meatball that rolls over the townsfolk, leaving nothing but skeletons in its wake. I seriously feel sorry for any of the critics that managed to watch that transpire without a smile on their face. - Caleb MAC AND ME (1988) I’ll be the first to admit that Mac and Me is like terrible candy: something I inexplicably enjoy while fully recognizing that it’s rotting my brain and providing absolutely zero nutritional value. I mean, it’s the Wish.com version of E.T. the Extra Terrestrial , and is essentially one long commercial for Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, including a terrible(-ly awesome) flash mob dance sequence featuring Ronald McDonald. BUT! despite that…or maybe even because of it…I absolutely love this movie because it takes me back to a simpler time, it’s ridiculously cheesy, and I smile just looking at Mac’s dumb face — it’s hilarious. Ask Paul Rudd, he’ll tell you. - Quentin HUDSON HAWK (1991) How in the world, after watching Bruce Willis and Danny Aiello sing “Swinging on a Star,” listening to Willis and Andie MacDowell quip back and forth, and soaking in James Coburn completely chewing up the scenery, do you not have the biggest smile on your face by Hudson Hawk ’s end credits. The movie completely immerses you in its hilarious antics, and it has one-liners for days (no, I still have never been to Hoboken). Willis has never been more charming, his chemistry with Aiello and MacDowell is off the charts, and the whole cast’s total commitment to the outlandishness makes this film immeasurably rewatchable. - Amarú TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE (1991) The Secret of the Ooze is the best TMNT movie that has ever been made. Is that a hot take? I don’t care if it is because what the second live-action movie does so well is recreate the chemistry and personality of the 90s cartoon turtles that came to define my childhood, be a catalyst for my love of martial arts, and had my brother and I scene-recreation-fighting until someone was pissed and told mom. Throw in a little “Ninja Rap” from Vanilla Ice, and you have a classic that will live on forever. BTW, Donatello is the best of the four turtles mic drop . - Preston HOLLOW MAN (2000) Although some may view Hollow Man as a…ahem…hollow excuse for a movie, I think this version of The Invisible Man is incredibly gripping and thrilling. At its core, this film is about ethics and morality, and it stays faithful to the story of the invisible scientist gone mad. This thriller provides out-of-sight enjoyment by combining classic chills with killer special effects that still hold up to today's standards. Plus, Kevin Bacon gives a deliciously villainous performance. I find it incomprehensible that this gem is not a cult classic because it feels like a true modern horror adaptation of the beloved tale. - Paige BEVERLY HILLS NINJA (2001) God bless the late, great Chris Farley. Even in a film like Beverly Hills Ninja , which admittedly features some obvious humour, his delivery and commitment to the bit still makes me laugh. Whenever I see people talk about how critics can't have fun, and that a movie they enjoyed was panned even though it wasn't supposed to be deep, I typically roll my eyes. But then I see Beverly Hills Ninja , a very stupid movie with a simple one-joke set-up that makes me laugh and smile for 90 minutes, and I begin to realize what they mean. - Adriano MONKEYBONE (2001) Watching director Henry Selick's transition from insane stop-motion animation to insane live-action feels almost seamless. I won’t pretend there aren’t obvious flaws in Monkeybone . Yes, a lot of it is utter nonsense, but that's what I find fun about it. I don't think that was the intention, but Selick's world-building is colourful and wild, complemented by a fun and likeable performance by the great Brendan Fraser. For me, that's the bare minimum. Monkeybone is successful because its innocent nature and depraved chaos are just delightful enough for me to forgive the shortcomings. Also, anyone who knows me knows Brendan Fraser is a cheat code. - Adriano SCOOBY-DOO (2002) Before directing Guardians of the Galaxy , director James Gunn penned the screenplay for Scooby-Doo , a quintessential piece of early 2000’s pop culture. Despite some dated fart jokes and a bit of wonky CGI, this adaptation has largely stood the test of time. It’s regarded as a classic by Gen Z, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s campy as hell, it’s got a fair amount of subtle stoner comedy, and it features a stellar cast of cult superstars like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, and Linda Cardellini. Sure, Scooby-Doo isn’t high art or anything, but it’s pretty solid as far as cartoon adaptations go. - Caleb DAREDEVIL (2003) Does anyone else think that Daredevil gets more hate than it deserves? Daredevil is my favorite superhero, so I may be biased, but I genuinely think this superhero movie is one of the most underappreciated ones out there. I enjoy my comic book movies dark and gritty, and this one has a tone that is suitably grim. While I recommend the director's cut more than the theatrical version, the story is pretty faithful to the comics, which is rare these days. Additionally, it’s got an ensemble packed with great actors. Call me crazy, but Ben Affleck is better as The Man Without Fear than Batman. - Paige THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN (2003) When I was growing up, we didn’t have The Avengers …well, we did, but it was something completely different. It did star Sean Connery, though, who's also in this. Anyways, I’ve always enjoyed The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen . It’s a mashup of various literary icons teaming up Avengers-style, and although it can be a little on the messy side, it's a good time. It also marks the final film of Sean Connery's decorated career, and it ends with a great cliffhanger that sadly and frustratingly goes unrealized. It’s certainly a film of the era, but I think even now, you can still have fun with it. - Nick BE COOL (2005) Although his career has devolved into something borderline unrecognizable, John Travolta used to be cool… like, really cool. Get Shorty ’s Ernesto “Chili” Palmer is a great example of that. Be Cool takes that character and puts him in the music industry, surrounded by a cast of eclectic characters. Sure, it’s goofy, but it’s fun to watch a bunch of actors playing off type, especially Andre 3000 and the “scorching” Dwayne Johnson. I’m not surprised at its poor reviews, especially with it being a comedy, but I thought audiences would have been more into this. - Nick HIDE AND SEEK (2005) Hide and Seek terrified me as a kid, and it still affects me now. It’s an edge-of-your-seat thriller with an exciting twist that would leave M. Night Shyamalan giddy. The first half follows a father and daughter after the tragic loss of the mother, with an incredibly tense atmosphere and all the tropes and creepy imagery you’d expect from young kids in horror films. The second half is all-out mayhem and an exceptionally fun time. All of this is elevated by flawless performances, from Dakota Fanning, who is such an engaging performer at a young age, and Robert De Niro, who is straight-up terrifying. - Katie SAHARA (2005) I admit that, objectively, Sahara could be seen as nothing more than a run-of-the-mill, unrealistic adventure film. However, there’s something that always clicks when you put Steve Zahn next to incredibly capable and charming lead actors. Yes, I’m crediting my love for this movie to Steve Zahn. He just brings the fun out of Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz while the three of them go off on an absolutely preposterous adventure, and who cares about believability when the kinetic action that director Breck Eisner brings to screen, alongside an ensemble of charming veteran actors and an energetically brisk pace, makes Sahara an absolute joy to watch. - Amarú ST. TRINIAN'S (2007) St. Trinian’s is a formative film from my childhood and British noughties classic. It has the fiery sense of Girl Power typical of teenage films from the 2000s and tonnes of anarchic attitude. To this day, it never fails to make me smile, with its oddly impressive cast, hilariously witty lines, slapstick humour, cheesy fun, and pop culture references. The highlights include Rupert Everett in full drag as the bawdy headmistress having a love affair with the Education Minister (Colin Firth), and a successful art heist at the National Gallery celebrated by a Girls Aloud performance, not to mention my favourite ever make-over montage. - Katie BURNT (2015) You knew a chef movie was coming since you’ve already read “Bon Appétit: Films for Foodies.” Seriously, though…why is it that when Bradley Cooper stars in a film, it loses some credibility, even though he is usually fantastic?! Yes, Burnt is a little cliché, but so are the vast majority of movies today — but this one is cliché for a reason. It accurately tells the story of what it’s truly like in the high-stakes, high-pressure kitchens of the very best restaurants. This is the type of movie you watch when you want to throw something on while you eat good food and relax on the couch. - Preston Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Universal Pictures; Photo 2, 5 - New Line Cinema; Photo 3 - Orion Pictures; Photo 4 - Tri-Star Pictures; Photo 6, 7 - Sony Pictures Releasing; Photo 8, 10, 11, 13 - 20th Century Studios; Photo 9 - Warner Bros. Pictures; Photo 12 - MGM Studios; Photo 14 - Paramount Pictures; Photo 15 - Entertainment Film Distributors; Photo 16 - Lantern Entertainment

MADE FOR LOVE: SEASON TWO Starring: Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Ray Romano, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Caleb Foote, and Sarunas J. Jackson Creators: Alissa Nutting, Dean Bakopoulos, Patrick Somerville, and Christina Lee QUENTIN Much like Upload , Made for Love is a tech-centric relationship dramedy that has fizzled out as it is forced to rely on actual story instead of clever world-building. While it’s still occasionally humorous and mildly interesting, this season is simply not as sharp, quirky, or well-drawn as the first season. Plus, the later episodes fall down a rabbit hole that ultimately favors concept over story and character, which, honestly, really sapped my interest. Cristin Milioti and Ray Romano still give good, borderline great, performances, but to what end? At this point, I can’t say I really care about Season Three.