The weekend is almost here, and for some of us, that means a little extra time to squeeze in some streaming content. This week, Cheddar recommends the latest MCU offering on Disney+, an overlooked Denis Villeneuve sci-fi epic, a hoops classic starring Samuel L. Jackson, a long-running animated sitcom, and a Disney's '90s foray into Greek mythology.
Moon Knight - Disney+
Picked by Digital Editor Mike Nam
Marvel is chugging along with its latest streaming installment. This time it feels pretty siloed off from the rest of the shared superhero world, and that's a good thing, as Moon Knight, a lesser-known character created in 1975, gets a chance to breathe without murals of Tony Stark or references to Celestials hanging over him in the first episode. At first glance, he's a nebbishy, relatable museum gift shop worker in London who's really into the ancient Egypt exhibits — and also sleeps shackled to his bed. Soon the audience realizes he has the oft-misunderstood condition known as dissociative identity disorder and hears the voice of the vengeful Egyptian god named Khonshu in his head, leading director Mohamed Diab, an Egypt-born filmmaker, and lead Oscar Isaac, have talked about bringing a respectful lens to both the setting and the characterization of mental illness. With a horror-tinged first episode and a very creepy Ethan Hawke with his army of cultists, you can tell this is going to be a bit different for the MCU.
Blade Runner 2049 - Netflix
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
Dune director Denis Villeneuve didn't start directing mega-sci-fi blockbusters overnight. He worked his way up to it gradually, first with Arrival (2016), a soulful, character-driven story of an alien encounter. He then followed that up with Blade Runner 2049 (2017), the long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott's classic tale of artificial intelligence in a future Los Angeles, which dropped on Netflix last week. If you haven't seen it yet, put aside three hours for the best science fiction, detective story since the original. If nothing else, Villeneuve and cinematographer Roger Deakins are great stylists, and Blade Runner 2049 contains some of the most striking images in recent cinema. And if you haven't seen the original yet (also on Netflix), pick a rainy Saturday to watch both. You may end up questioning if you're a robot, but I promise it's worth the existential anguish.
Coach Carter - Netflix
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
With March Madness heading into the Final Four this weekend and the regular NBA season winding down, it feels appropriate to suggest a basketball flick this week. Coach Carter is a classic watch that follows the trials and tribulations of a Richmond, California, high school basketball team. Coach Ken Carter, played by Samuel L. Jackson, returns to his alma mater to take over the vacant coaching position and works to instill life values in his team through lessons both on and off the court. It's a story about perseverance, sacrifice, and triumph that I think many of us could benefit from these days.
Family Guy - Hulu
Picked by Producer Jack Gallop
New isn’t always better. For those who might have forgotten it existed, Family Guy is still producing new episodes. When you watch a new episode of an old show, it’s a perfect blend of familiarity and unpredictability. I’ve been watching Family Guy since I was in middle school, and now on their 20th season, the Griffins still know how to get a belly laugh out of me. There’s not much I can say about Family Guy that you don’t already know; it’s hilarious, over-the-top, and fearless. One thing I’ve noticed with new Family Guy episodes is this: they pay homage to long-time viewers like me, referencing bits from episodes that are years — or even decades — old. In last week’s episode, die-hard fans were treated to Lois and Stewie swapping roles in a remake of Stewie’s famous, “Mom… mom… mommy… mom” bit where he repeats the word for an absurdly long time to get her attention. Family Guy knows it’s not the hot new thing on TV, so the writers reward spectators like myself for still tuning in after all these years. Tune into the Griffins the next time you need 22 minutes of immature humor; it’ll be a pleasant surprise.
Hercules - Disney+
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
Speaking of oldies but goodies, I flipped on Disney's 1997 animated film Hercules the other day and had a good time. I don't think I've ever seen it before, but the kids' flick is certainly catchy. The ancient tale of Herc vs. Hades, god of the Underworld, for the fate of the living world (no biggie) moves quickly, and the upbeat show tunes hold up. Hercules was released during the Disney animated heyday at the end of the 20th century, which also brought us hits like The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. It would be easy for Hercules to get in the mix, but if you haven't seen it in a while (or ever), it's worth a watch.
