The weekend is here, so it's time to relax and catch up on our what-to-watch list. From a 2021 rap battle to a 1969 music festival, Cheddar's digital team might have a few suggestions to get you through.
NOTE: Spoilers possible. Proceed with caution.
Summer of Soul - Hulu + The Suicide Squad - HBO Max
Picked by Copy Editor Mike Nam
The Roots frontman Questlove made his directorial debut in this documentary love letter to the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. While Woodstock received the lion's share of attention that year, the 'Summer of Soul' featured the gamut of Black music with luminaries like B.B. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Stevie Wonder taking the stage in Mt. Morris Park, Harlem. Much of the footage had been lost in storage until Questlove took on the challenge of bringing it to light spliced with interviews of performers and audience members.
Meanwhile, DC is giving its group of antisocial antiheroes another go, but this time with James Gunn directing. Another theatrical/HBO Max simultaneous release, The Suicide Squad will be available Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET — a surprisingly early drop. The film brings back Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and adds Idris Elba as Bloodsport alongside an eclectic ensemble cast playing supervillains forced by Viola Davis' Amanda Waller to take on — what else — a suicide mission.
#VERZUZ: The LOX v. Dipset - Triller/Fite TV/Youtube
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
What was once an event for hip hop and rap fans to pass time during the height of quarantine amid the pandemic, #Verzuz has grown to become the moment of culture. While the LOX and Dipset battle already happened earlier this week, the captivating performances by two of New York City’s supergroups were just that good and worth a rewatch. For a masterclass on lyricism, bravado, and overall stage presence, Yonkers’ very own Jadakiss has you covered. The battle encompasses everything you might imagine hip hop was in its infancy and is the perfect trip down memory lane for fans looking for a restorative feeling, and is even an introduction to the true essence of hip hop for new fans.
Die Hard 2 + Aliens - Amazon Prime Video
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
So, two sequels to well-known franchises dropped on Amazon Prime Video this week. One added a '2' to the original title, the other an 's.' One is regarded as nearly equal to its classic predecessor. The other is seen mostly as a fun but a minor follow-up to its legendarily quotable first entry. I happen to love them both. Aliens is indeed a classic, and maybe the pinnacle of analog filmmaking, with more constructed sets and rubber suits and explosions than should be able to fit into a single runtime. But Die Hard 2 is still a blast. The snowy airport setting is used to the fullest, and Bruce Willis as John McClane still brings real grit and charisma to the role. If you haven't seen these flicks since you popped them into your VHS player, it's time for a rewatch.
Looking for more to watch? Check out our recommendations from last week and the week before.
