GROWN FOLKS PARTY: Adult dramas are getting better

The quality of binge-worthy, original programing for adults is getting better. With the recent releases of a few exceptional series and movies now offered on streaming services & networks, now is a great time to catch up on really good stuff for grown-ups.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION; A few offerings you may have missed. Some have required a second viewing, others, a Blu-Ray purchase.

 (BINGE RATING suggests a second viewing or REPEAT VIEWING for DVR recording)

TITLE: "Godfather Of Harlem"

NETWORK: EPIX

RATING: 5 STARS (out of 5)

AUDIENCE: Crime Drama/Vintage New York Culture Enthusiasts

BINGE RATING: Repeat Viewing (S.1)

BUY: Yes (S.1)

In the early 1960s, infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson returns from 10 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles; with the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Bumpy must take on the Genovese crime family to regain control.

Godfather of Harlem is an American crime drama television series, (a prequel to 2007's American Gangster) which premiered on September 29, 2019 on Epix. The series was written by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, and stars Forest Whitaker as 1960s New York City gangster Bumpy Johnson. (Also features awesome performances by Vincent D'Onofrio, Paul Sorvino and Chazz Palminteri.)

TITLE: "Legion"

NETWORK: FX

RATING: 4 STARS (out of 5)

AUDIENCE: Fringe /Artsy/ Pharm Culture Enthusiasts

BINGE RATING: Second Viewing (S.1 & 2)

BUY: Yes (S.1)

David Haller is a troubled young man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child. Shuffled from one psychiatric institution to the next, in his early 30s, David met and fell in love with a beautiful and troubled fellow patient named Syd. After a startling encounter with her, he was forced to confront the shocking possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees may actually be real. Syd led David to Melanie Bird, a demanding but nurturing therapist who heads a team of specialists -- Ptonomy, Kerry, and Cary -- each of whom possesses a unique and extraordinary gift. Together, they helped David to recognize and harness his hidden abilities and unlock a deeply suppressed truth -- he had been haunted his entire life by a malicious parasite of unimaginable power.

Legion is an American cable television series created for FX by Noah Hawley, based on the Marvel Comics character David Haller / Legion. It is the first television series connected to the X-Men film series, and is produced by FX Productions in association with Marvel Television.

TITLE: "Pennyworth"

NETWORK: EPIX

RATING: 5 STARS (out of 5)

AUDIENCE: British/Spy/Espionage Enthusiasts

BINGE RATING: Repeat Viewing (S.1)

BUY: Yes (S.1)

In 1960s London, Bruce Wayne's legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce's billionaire father.

Pennyworth is an American crime drama television series, based on characters published by DC Comics and created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, that premiered on July 28, 2019, on EPIX.

TITLE: "The Boys"

NETWORK: AMAZON PRIME

RATING: 5 STARS (out of 5)

AUDIENCE: Superhero/Horror/Comedy/Adult Entertainment

BINGE RATING: Repeat Viewing (S.1)

BUY: Yes (S.1)

Superheroes are often as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians, and sometimes even as revered as gods. But that's when they're using their powers for good. What happens when the heroes go rogue and start abusing their powers? When it's the powerless against the super powerful, the Boys head out on a heroic quest to expose the truth about the Seven and Vought, the multibillion-dollar conglomerate that manages the superheroes and covers up their dirty secrets. 

The Boys is an American superhero web television series based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.

TITLE: "Happy"

NETWORK: SyFy

RATING: 4 STARS (out of 5)

AUDIENCE: Fantasy/Horror/Comedy/Adult Entertainment

BINGE RATING: Second Viewing (S.1 & 2)

BUY: Yes (S.1)

Nick Sax is a corrupt, intoxicated, ex-cop turned hit man who is adrift in a twilight world of casual murder, soulless sex, and betrayal. After a hit goes wrong, Nick finds a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail, and a monstrous killer on the loose. But his world is about to be changed forever by a tiny, imaginary, blue-winged horse with a relentlessly positive attitude named Happy. On their journey, they must contend with a laundry list of enemies including angry mobsters, ex-mistresses, ex-wives, and one very bad Santa.

HAPPY! is based on New York Times best-selling author Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson's graphic novel of the same name.

TITLE: "9-1-1"

NETWORK: FOX

RATING: 5 STARS (out of 5)

AUDIENCE: Procedural drama/Thriller/Family Entertainment

BINGE RATING: Repeat Viewing (S.1 and 2)

BUY: Yes (S.1)



The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders -- including police officers, firefighters and dispatchers -- who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. 

These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives. 

The show draws from real-life, high-pressure experiences of first responders who regularly face heart-stopping situations that are often unpredictable, intense and uplifting at the same time.

The series also features outstanding performances by Angela Bassett as Athena Grant Nash (née Carter), LAPD patrol sergeant. Peter Krause as Robert "Bobby" Nash, LAFD Station 118 captain (and Athena's second husband). Oliver Stark as Evan "Buck" Buckley, firefighter, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Madeline "Maddie" Buckley Kendall (911 operator and Buck's sister) and Aisha Hinds as Henrietta "Hen" Wilson, firefighter/paramedic.

Marvel's AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR trailer

Marvel's INHUMANS lives up to it's Rotten Tomato rating

by James Avatar

8/9/17 - New York City
Let's get something straight...when someone tells me about a film's rating from the movie review website ROTTEN TOMATOES, I am suddenly overwhelmed by an urge not to care.

I try to convince myself that I shouldn't let someone else's opinion color my own. But after viewing Episode 1 and 2 of Disney's new Fall TV show called "MARVEL'S INHUMANS",  I must admit that a RT rating of ZERO hits the nail on the head.

It was filmed with IMAX cameras and was shown in IMAX theaters all over the country. So what? A gorilla in a pretty dress is still a friggin' gorilla. All that gorgeous cinematography wasted on bad editing, bad costuming and CGI effects that look like something you would see on SYFY.

This was, by far, the worst Marvel Production ever produced. Yes, worst than "Daredevil" (2003). Yes, worst than "Electra" (2005). Yes , even...worst than "Howard The Duck" (1986) which was nominated for 7 "Razzie" awards.

The story centers around a Royal Family who reigns over a secret kingdom on the moon. This is where you giggle under your breath....actually..go ahead and LOL. I did. Thank goodness  was the only one in the IMAX theater.

The king, Black Bolt (Anson Mount), is a mute (not one word throughout, just eyebrows working overtime) and the queen is Medusa, (Serinda Swan) not the evil snake-headed sorceress we've come to hiss at,  but instead...a tall, busty woman in a very daring dress with a really awful head of animated red hair.

The people of the kingdom subject their children to a coming-of-age initiation involving inhaling gas in glass chambers, produced by blue minerals (terragen crystals explained on MARVEL'S AGENT OF SHEILD, a desperate attempt to annex the series). Children who emerge with super powers gets promoted to high society, the unaffected end up as slaves in the mines (what they are mining is one of the details that are never explained clearly.) Wait. I'm supposed to root for the royals & this F'd-up kingdom? Whut'choo'talkin'bout'Willis?

Of course, the king's "unaffected" brother (Iwan Rheon, in full "Game-Of-thrones-bad-boy" mode) lusts after the queen and plots to overthrow the kingdom, after delivering a badly written speech.

The royal family escape by way of the trusty royal pet, a giant bulldog named LOCKJAW, who
teleports them to earth. Apparently, there is only one pet in the kingdom and he has superpowers. This is where you LOL again. #ISpitMyPopcornLaughing

I wish i were at the pitch meeting between Marvel, Disney and IMAX for this film. I could have told them that this was one of the stupidest ideas ever and they would have to incorporate a lot more of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in order to make up for the lack of quality production that Marvel fans are used to.

Hopefully, the upcoming THOR:RAGNAROK, BLACK PANTHER and INFINITY WAR pt.1 films will put a band-aid on the boo-boo left by this film.

Ticket Worth: $.50
Stream?: Only if it's free
Buy?: NO - trade it for a copy of Howard The Duck

Be Afraid Of This Remake: "GHOSTBUSTERS" disappoints

The 1984 comedy classic GHOSTBUSTERS, starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Sigorney Weaver, (directed by Ivan Reitman) is one of Hollywood's greatest movies. It flawlessly blended two genres (horror and comedy), showcased the bawdy humor of then-not-ready-for-prime-time SNL Alum Murray, managed to be family-friendly and had a fun, catchy theme song (back when movies had them).

But, alas, the hollywood disease of remaking, re-branding and re-marketing a timeless classic into a humorless, bland vehicle for fart jokes and product placement infects the 2016 installment of this once-revered franchise.

Director Paul Feig of 2011's "Bridesmaids" (and half it's cast) seem to improv their way through this script-less CGI-fest, wasting the talents of  Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon.

Don't worry, there are no spoilers here. There's really nothing to speak of. The story (horribly re-worked for 4 women) takes too long to start. The jokes are few, leaving the stars to rely on their instincts to try to milk laughs out a dry screenplay.

Fans of an "R"-rated "Bridesmaids" will probably cringe at the PG-13 restraints on the edgy, comedic genius of Wiig and McCarthy. Wouldn't be surprised if an "R"-rated version is soon to follow. (See "Batman vs Superman; Dawn Of Justice")

"WTF?" cameos from members of the original cast are embarrassing, unnecessary and uncomfortable to watch for fans of the original film.

Not as good as anything released this summer. This will be playing on your kid's iPad in 3 months in the back seat of your S.U.V. after they get bored of Pokemon Go!.

TICKET WORTH :$1.50

STREAM IT? : Free, yes / Pay-per-view, NO!

BUY DVD? : If you have kids, you will probably have to.

"CHI-RAQ", the new SPIKE LEE JOINT, zooms in on Chicago violence.

"CHI-RAQ", the new film by Spike Lee centers on male gang violence within the neighborhoods of Chicago. 40 Acres, Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate are teaming up with Amazon to release the film in a limited release on Dec. 4, followed by a release on Amazon Instant Video.

The (soon-to-be) controversial film stars SAMUEL L. JACKSON, TEYONAH PARIS, WESLEY SNIPES, NICK CANNON, JOHN CUSACK, JENNIFER HUDSON and a bunch a cameos.

The film is based on a Greek comedy "Lysistrata" by Aristophanes. The story involves the women of Chicago who defiantly deny intimate relations until neighborhood gang violence ceases. Watch the trailer below.

CHI-RAQ Trailer from 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks on Vimeo.

1st Official STAR WARS; FORCE AWAKENS poster relased today

Finally! A super hero for grown ups! Enter: DEADPOOL

On the heels of the successful and ultra-violent Marvel series"Daredevil" (on Netflix) comes "DEADPOOL", one of the more mature stories in the MCU.

Former DC Comic Superhero and M.I.L.F. heartthrob RYAN REYNOLDS is a good choice to play the smarmy, potty-mouthed assassin with super healing abilities.

The RED BAND TRAILER below seems to be an indication that the creators will stay dedicated to the raucous debauchery and mayhem which ensues throughout the story. (release date 2/12/16).

Deadpool | Red Band Trailer : Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand