As a huge TMNT fan, I was thrilled to see a bunch of Turtles movies land on Netflix this Friday! They already had a good selection, but the latest additions, especially *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem*, are fantastic. Honestly, that 2023 film really revitalized the franchise, and a lot of people – myself included – think it’s the best Turtles movie ever made.
As a critic, I’ve seen plenty of sequels try to recapture magic, and it rarely works when key players change. It’s tough when you don’t have the original director’s vision, or even worse, when they replace a beloved actor. I’ve put together a list of seven sequels where recasting a crucial character just…didn’t land, and honestly, damaged the whole film. It’s a painful watch sometimes, seeing a favorite character totally misrepresented.
Horror fans can grab the complete *FEAR* collection on Steam for only $5.49 until October 23rd! This special price celebrates the 20th anniversary of the original *FEAR*, which was released on October 17th, 2005. The bundle includes all 6 games in the series at a massive 90% discount – normally priced at $54.99! With a ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, *FEAR* remains a classic for horror game enthusiasts.
Starring Kiera Knightley, Hannah Waddingham, and Guy Pearce, the movie *The Woman in Cabin 10* follows a travel writer who discovers a disturbing secret while on a luxury cruise. It’s gained 21.2 million views this week. Most viewers find it to be a pleasant, visually appealing film for a cozy night in, though it’s not particularly suspenseful or brilliantly written. Currently, it has a 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Released in 2018 on Netflix, *The Haunting of Hill House* quickly became a hit and helped establish director Mike Flanagan’s reputation. The ten-episode series follows five siblings as they deal with a difficult life change by moving into Hill House. Through flashbacks and present-day scenes, we learn that the house was haunted when they were children, and those spirits continue to affect them as adults. The story centers on the siblings confronting the traumatic events of their past and realizing the ghosts of Hill House are still very much active.
Starting November 1st, you’ll be able to watch both *Ride Along* and *Ride Along 2* on Hulu. These buddy cop comedies, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, are moving from another streaming service to Hulu. Ice Cube became known for comedy after starring in films like *Friday* and *Boyz n the Hood*, building on his successful career as a rapper and songwriter.
Week 4 saw George and Alexis dance a Tango to the British band’s classic song, Viva La Vida.
Both *Game of Thrones* and the *A Song of Ice and Fire* books by George R.R. Martin clearly build upon the foundation laid by J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings*. Martin admired Tolkien’s work but also aimed to avoid the clichés that had become common in fantasy after Tolkien. Similarly, *Game of Thrones* achieved the same cultural impact on television as *The Lord of the Rings* did in literature, and its success likely paved the way for shows like *The Rings of Power* to be made.
Even in the DC Universe, Thanos would still be a major threat. While the heroes would oppose him, many of DC’s villains wouldn’t welcome his arrival and would fight him as well. Though a few DC villains could actually beat Thanos, these seven wouldn’t be able to withstand his incredible power.
These shows sometimes followed big successes, sometimes featured a popular actor, and occasionally relied on a unique twist. Some had a mix of these things. But no matter what, they didn’t live up to expectations – and you likely felt the same way.