Favorite "WANDAVISION" (2021) Episodes

 

Below is a list of my favorite episodes from "WANDAVISION", the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)/Disney Plus limited series. Created by Jac Schaeffer, the series starred Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany as Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch and Vision:

FAVORITE "WANDAVISION" (2021) EPISODES

1. (1.06) "All-New Halloween Spooktacular!" - Disturbances on Halloween separate Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch from her synthezoid lover/"husband" Vision, who looks into the anomalous activity in Westview during the late 1990s/early 2000s.

2. (1.04) "We Interrupt This Program" - Following her resurrection during the Blip, S.W.O.R.D. Agent Monica Rambeau is tasked with a special assignment in Westview regarding sentient weapons and goes missing.

3. (1.08) "Previously On" - Another witch in Westview named Agatha Harkness forces Wanda to embark upon a troubling journey, revisiting her past for insight into her present and future.

4. (1.03) "Now in Color" - Wanda's pregnancy affects her powers as she and Vision prepare for an accelerated delivery in the 1970s.

5. (1.09) "The Series Finale" - While Wanda battles Agatha, Vision fights his counterpart, White Vision, who was created by S.W.O.R.D. Meanwhile, the agency's director, Tyler Hayward, launches an attack on Westview.

"WANDAVISION" (2021) Photo Gallery

 

Below are images from "WANDAVISION", the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)/Disney Plus limited series. Created by Jac Schaeffer, the series starred Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany as Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch and Vision: 

"WANDAVISION" (2021) Photo Gallery

"HANCOCK" (2008) Review

 

"HANCOCK" (2008) Review

When I had first learned about the premise for ”HANCOCK” - a superhero leading the life of a drunken bum – it struck me as rather original. Sixteen years later, I still feel that it is one of the original movie premises I have ever come across.

”John Hancock” is a powerful amnesiac who uses his super abilities to occasionally help the citizens of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, not only does his help tend to come off as heavy-handed and reluctant, but also damaging to public property. In short, his actions and drunken, yet sardonic attitude also pisses off a lot of people. This all changes when Hancock ends up saving the life of a Public Relations spokesperson named Ray Embrey. The grateful PR man offers to help Hancock clean up his public image. Although Ray ends up achieving his goal, trouble arises when Hancock finds himself growing attracted to Ray’s wife, Mary. And she finds herself forced to reveal a big secret surrounding both Hancock . . . and herself.

I must admit that I found the first half of ”HANCOCK” rather interesting. It seemed like a rare treat to witness the metamorphosis of a drunken, yet powerful asshole into a competent and less reluctant Good Samaritan/superhero. Unfortunately, once Mary revealed the truth about herself and Hancock, the movie veered into entirely new direction. What started out as the development of a genuine superhero who might be interested in a friend’s wife, ended up as a semi-tragic tale of two immortals forced to remain apart in order to maintain their powers. Frankly, I found this whole, new scenario a load of nonsense. And a contrived reason to keep the two immortal lovers, permanently apart.

In a way, I can understand why screenwriters Vince Gilligan and Vincent Ngo prevented Hancock and Mary to end the movie with a lovers’ embrace. Such a conclusion would have broken Ray Embrey’s heart. And I must say that Jason Bateman’s portrayal of the idealistic PR spokesperson struck me as very enduring. It would seem slightly depressing if the movie had ended with his character as a loser. In fact, I would go further and say that the main strength ”HANCOCK” centered around its cast. British actor Eddie Marsan made a captivating bank robber with a penchant for bombs and revenge against Hancock. Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron did a wonderful job in portraying the enigmatic Mary Embrey, who is not only torn between two men, but by a secret she has been harboring for years. But it was really Will Smith in the title role, who really impressed me. Portraying a character as complex as John Hancock must have been a challenge. But Smith lived up to the challenge by capturing every nuance of the character without resorting to over-the-top acting, as he was inclined to in the past decade. Without him, Bateman and Theron, the movie could have fallen apart.

I wish I could say that ”HANCOCK” had been one of the better movies of 2008. Despite stellar performances by the cast and Peter Berg’s competent direction, the movie was nearly undone by a script that deviated midway into the story. However, the movie was not a total loss. It could have been a lot worse. A lot worse.

Top Five Favorite Episodes of "CHARMED" - Season Four (2001-2002)

 

Below is a list of my top five (5) favorite episodes from Season Four (2001-2002) of "CHARMED". Developed for television by Constance Burge and produced by Brad Kern, the series starred Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs:

TOP FIVE FAVORITE EPISODES OF "CHARMED" - SEASON FOUR (2001-2002)



1. (4.15) "The Fifth Halliwell" - In this slightly perverse episode, new half-sister Paige Matthews feels like a fifth wheel among her happily married sisters and their husbands, but becomes firmly convinced that one brother-in-law, the demonically possessed Cole Turner, is still evil and a demon. Meanwhile new (temporary) Source and The Seer secretly plot to impregnate Phoebe using Cole's possessed body.

2. (4.03) "Hell Hath No Fury" - Piper, who remains angry over the death of oldest sister Prue and Paige's recent actions, becomes a member of a supernatural band of vigilantes known as the Furies. Meanwhile, Paige takes the Book of Shadows into her work to cast spells, which help her co-workers.

3. (4.10) "A Paige From the Past" - With whitelighter brother-in-law Leo Wyatt as her guide, Paige goes back in time to her teen years, in an attempt to resolve her feelings about the accident that killed her adoptive parents. Meanwhile, ghosts have taken possession of Phoebe and Cole's bodies and Piper must prevent them from fulfilling a mission.

4. (4.07) "Brain Drain" - The Source sends Piper into a deep coma, where she perceives an alternate reality. Phoebe, Paige, Leo and Cole must find a way to return her to reality and save her from giving up her powers, while she is delusional.

5. (4.13) "Charmed and Dangerous" - The Source breaks an age-old agreement between good and evil by stealing an ancient grimoire called The Hollow, which he uses to absorb Piper and Paige's powers. Meanwhile, Phoebe must allow Cole to help them, despite her having a premonition that involves Cole sacrificing his life to save her from evil.

"HANCOCK" (2008) Photo Gallery

 

Below are images from the 2008 movie, "HANCOCK". Directed by Peter Berg, the movie starred Will Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron:

"HANCOCK" (2008) Photo Gallery