L.A. Film Reviews

08/03/2025

THE NAKED GUN — Rapid-fire joke machine-gun movie ensures at least some gags land on target.

‘The Naked Gun’ is an action comedy film directed by writer-director Akiva Schaffer of The Lonely Island comedy music trio, who co-wrote the script with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.

It’s the legacy sequel to Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) and the fourth film in The Naked Gun franchise.

The pic stars Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston.

The story follows the son of Leslie Nielsen's Frank Drebin from the original The Naked Gun films, Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Neeson), who must succeed in his father's footsteps to prevent the closure of Police Squad.

Pamela Anderson plays his love interest, Beth.

Standing in their way is Danny Huston’s villainous Richard Cane, and his “PLOT” device (tee-hee), that, when deployed, will unleash a wave of violence pitting all people against each other, so that only Cane and his fat-cat buddies will survive in their hidden bunker, to emerge and rule in a New World Order.

This sequel had been in various stages of development since 2009 with different creatives and stars proposed.

In 2021, it was announced that Seth MacFarlane had been hired by Paramount Pictures to further develop the project, after MacFarlane had expressed interest in casting Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. The two had worked together previously on MacFarlane’s animated series Family Guy, with Neeson making hilarious guest appearances as himself.

The Naked Gun hit theaters Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 generating some $17 million and a solid third-place opening, behind holdover Fantastic Four at No. 1 with an estimated $40 million second weekend, and newcomer Universal/DreamWorks animated family pic The Bad Guys 2 at No. 2. with a $22.8 million launch.

But the great news for The Naked Gun is the praise it’s getting from audiences and especially by critics.

What makes the film work is Liam Neeson's poise and confidence. He owns the part and sells it, with his gravelly deadpan a perfect fit for the role.

He is also anchored by Anderson, who not only has great comedic timing, but she has developed as master in the craft of acting, which can be seen in her acclaimed stage work and even silly outings like this, with her delivering a s**t singing bit that was just bonkers. She is a way better performer now than her early days when her looks sold the product.

And, as we recently learned that she and Neeson became a real-life item offscreen, it seemed natural that their affection would translate to chemistry onscreen, and it does.

They are also aided by the able performances around them, especially Paul Walter Hauser as Capt. Ed Hocken Jr., son of George Kennedy’s Captain Ed Hocken from the original films, along with a hilarious Huston as Richard Cane. Also, the imposing Kevin Durand was a nice comedic surprise as Cane’s henchman, Sig Gustafsonq.

Now, make no mistake, this is a very dumb movie. You must know that going in. Many of the sight gags and other jokes don’t land, but they blast off so many quips in rapid-fire succession that by the time you want to groan, they hit you with a joke that lands.

For me, the funniest things about spoof comedies are not the sight gags and slapstick antics, but the clever banter delivered straight, like “You can’t fight City Hall.” “I know, it’s a building.” [CUE DRUM RIMSHOT]. Or “UCLA?” Yes, I live here — I see it every day.” (yuk-yuk).

Also, I think the collective audience is hungry for spoof comedy, as we have not seen these kinds of movies in a while, but this film is not on the level of the classic Mel Brooks films, or any of the Leslie Neilson led film comedies like the Airplane movies or the previous Naked Gun films, or even the majority of the Scary Movie films by The Wayans Bros. and others.

And while some may have found the brisk 85 minute runtime a mercy, I thought we were a bit shortchanged, as perhaps the film was cut a bit too thin.

Still, I think this film is a great effort at relaunching the genre as well as the series, and Neeson, like Nielsen before him, may have just made the perfect career move to carry him through his silver years on the silver screen. He is as steely as ever as an action star, and very funny to boot.

Be sure to hang around through the credits, as the bits keep coming, including Neeson singing a silly love ballad that actually doesn’t sound half bad.

Throughout the song he interrupts himself by talking commentary and striking a drum in studio (it’s all unseen off-camera). And he also plays a rock guitar solo, (obviously not him), that he says is “surprisingly easy.”

And liking Mr. Neeson in full-on comedy mode is also surprisingly easy.

SOURCES:
AMC Theatres
Wikipedia
BBFC
Rotten Tomatoes
The New York Times
The Hollywood Reporter
You Magazines

08/02/2025

At times,Sesame Street went hard.
So we could learn.

08/02/2025

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU? Episode IV was simply called ‘Star Wars.’

Han Solo shot Greedo first. Luke was not related to Leia Organa. And Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker were two different people. Or were they?

If they were one and the same, Anakin certainly didn’t build Threepio. Or did he?

Although Vader didn’t react to C-3PO's detached head when it was presented to him by the Imperial officers on Cloud City, he could have been hiding his feelings.

And later, he did stop Boba Fett from blasting Chewie and Threepio. But, no. No.

He probably just did that to maintain control, and keep them alive to lure Luke to Bespin. Ok, so I guess Luke really was his son.

But then that means… Luke and Leia… I mean, they were digging on each other. Right?

Or maybe that was just misunderstood feelings at a deep spiritual recognition of thier connection as twin siblings.

But it’s doubtful that the Jedi Council really authorized Anakin to take Ahsoka Tano as his Padawan. I mean, come on. Anakin was way too volatile and Asoka too vulnerable.

But then maybe that helped Anakin gain maturity, and gave Asoka someone she could relate to.

One thing’s for sure. We know that Luke Skywalker did, in fact, very much enjoy blue milk, so it stands to reason he would like green milk too.

So maybe George Lucas is a genius.

But midi-chlorians were never a thing.

08/01/2025

I WANT MY MTV — Today marks the 44th anniversary of the network’s launch!

On August 1, 1981, Music Television or MTV, based out of New York City, launched in the United States, marking a significant shift in the music industry and television. The first music video that aired on the network was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.

The cable channel aired music videos hosted by video jockeys, or “VJs,” who became popular TV personalities in their own right. They would do intros and outro segments and news breaks. MTV was also available in other countries and played a big role in cable programming’s rise to prominence in the 1980s and 90s.

In the early days, the network’s “I want my MTV” campaign included notable music stars such as: Pat Benatar, Adam Ant, David Bowie, the Police, Kiss, Culture Club, Billy Idol, Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Ric Ocasek, John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, and Mick Jagger, all encouraging viewers to call their television providers and request that MTV be added to the local channel lineup by saying “I want my MTV.”

The saying became ubiquitous and was famously sang in falsetto by Sting in Dire Straits’ hit single “Money for Nothing (1985).

For those of us who lived it, MTV was our life back then. As a teen, I remember watching MTV every day after school, and with my friends when we were hanging out. The network initially featured new wave, rock, and heavy metal music. MTV would draw criticism for focusing mainly on an album-oriented rock format.

The artists who changed the game in bringing rap to MTV was Run DMC. Their smash hit “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith (1986) paved the way for hip hop, rhythm and blues, and other genres. This would culminate later in the Yo! MTV Raps video program.

Early pop innovators on MTV were Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Prince, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, and Herbie Hancock.

Some of the iconic music videos I remember from the golden era of MTV were “Jump” by Van Halen (1984), “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen (1984), “Take on Me” by A-ha (1985), and later, the controversial “Like a Prayer” by Madonna (1989).

When music videos first released, it was a big deal to us back then. One of the biggest debuts was “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (1983). We were all talking about it the next day at school.

Thriller was directed by filmmaker John Landis, and written by Landis and Jackson. It incorporated horror movie themes and was as much a short film as it was a music video, with an extended runtime and large production budget. The video would go on to be played regularly on the network.

Another iconic debut was the charity song “We Are the World” by U.S.A for Africa (1985), an American supergroup made up of top pop stars of the day. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones.

In addition to Jackson and Richie, the song featured contributions on vocals by Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles, among many others.

Another memorable debut was “Why Can’t This Be Love?” by Van Halen (1986), the band’s first release with Sammy Hagar on lead vocals after replacing former frontman and founding member David Lee Roth.

MTV also played songs from movies with footage of the film incorporated as promotions for the picture. The first example of this was the movie Flashdance (1983). Another great example was the film Purple Rain (1984).

While many of us fondly remember the days of MTV when it was radio on television, much like the radio, when a song came on that a person didn’t like, they might change the channel. So, MTV began incorporating longer-form programming such as reality shows and other entertainment programs targeting youth and young adults.

Some of the iconic MTV programs were the Video Music Awards, or VMAs, annual Spring Break coverage, and reality shows like The Real World and animated shows like Beavis and Butt-Head.

Over the years, MTV continued to evolve, and it continues to shape the landscape of pop culture today.

What’s your favorite MTV memory?

08/01/2025

SHE REALLY DOES HAVE GREAT JEANS — And that’s okay.

Megastar Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle Outfitters are catching flak online for an ad campaign that some are calling racist and say it touts eugenics.

In one video, Sweeney, 27, walks toward an American Eagle (AE) billboard of her and the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” She crosses out “genes” and replaces it with “jeans.”

But the most controversy centers on a teaser video where Sydney is seen buttoning up some American Eagle jeans and breathily saying, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color ... my jeans are blue."

The video appeared on American Eagle’s page and other social media channels but is not part of the main campaign.

Still, the promo is catching the ire of some people on social media — slamming Sydney and AE for what they say is an ad filled with implicit racism.

The company responded that these reactions from some corners of the internet are not reflective of the public at large.

"The bottom line is that this was about creating a great pair of jeans and supporting a very worthy cause through some of the proceeds going to domestic violence prevention. Anything beyond that is noise that is not registering with the average person,” they said.

While some, like rapper and singer Doja Cat was notably critical of Sweeney on TikTok, recent polling indicated most people found the ad appealing.

My take is this campaign is playful, and perhaps meant to push buttons a little, but not meant to offend.

The point is Sydney is beautiful, not that her “whiteness” per se is the ideal. And they are called blue jeans.

For at least the last 20-30 years, the standard of beauty has embraced diversity, with beauties like Tyra Banks, Salma Hayek, Beyoncé, Sofía Vergara, Zhang Ziyi, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Liu Wen, and Kim Kardashian rightly catching the spotlight, garnering product endorsement as well as modeling gigs, and opportunities in films and on TV.

If you look online, so many young women wear clothing and makeup to mirror idols like Kim Kardashian, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But if Salma or Sophia or Tyra had been in an add saying they have good genes, we would all agree, 20 years ago and certainly today.

Those women are in thier fifties now, and Salma is pushing 60, all still looking incredibly beautiful. They obviously have good genes.

In 2023, Brooke Shields returned to denim modeling, wearing tight jeans and posing topless in the Jordache catalogue at age 56, some 40 years removed from her controversial Calvin Klein shoot. She has good genes.

So does Sydney. They’re all beautiful.

Star Trek’s Mr. Spock embraced the idea that the glory of creation is in its infinite diversity, saying the ways our differences combine create meaning and beauty.

He also said “Extreme feminine beauty is always disturbing.” So it is with any of these beauties. It’s disturbing, it’s distracting.

Sydney distracts, she disturbs. And any irritation from other women is likely due more to jealousy than any other supposed altruistic reason.

And Sydney is no innocent victim of the attention paid to her looks, she actively cultivates it. Some have suspected she is manipulated by the patriarchy, when she is the one playfully grabbing the public eye and owning it.

One of the AE ads shows Sweeney speaking about her “jeans” as the camera slowly pans down to her cleavage, before she reprimands it with a smiling “Hey, eyes up here!”

The tight gowns and plunging necklines in her red carpet appearances attest to her cultivating that bombshell image.

When Sydney hosted Saturday Night Live on March 2, 2024, in a bouncy white gown with bosoms heaving, the ratings surged. On SNL she playfully quipped that her career plan-B was her b***s. Sydney knows exactly what she is doing.

She has also openly embraced performing n**e in films where artistically relevant to the story and where she has trust with her director, particularly with Euphoria writer-director Sam Levinson.

In 2022 she told The Hollywood Reporter “I have no problems with those scenes, and I won’t stop doing them…”

"I fully trust in the filmmakers that I work with, and I’m always so excited for whatever Sam writes,” she said. She also told The Independent that Levinson let her cut out n**e scenes that she deemed unnecessary.

“I would tell Sam, ‘I don’t really think that’s necessary here.’ He was like, ‘OK, we don’t need it’. I’ve never felt like Sam has pushed it on me or was trying to get a n**e scene into an HBO show. When I didn’t want to do it, he didn’t make me.”

Sydney Sweeney is a serious dramatic actor of considerable talent. While she doesn’t need to, by embracing her va-voom appeal, she is taking control of her public image and doing it on her terms.

In that sense, she’s doing what predecessors like Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and Jane Russell, made a career from. We are just not used to seeing it as much in recent years.

And, as in the controversy surrounding Brooke Shields’ infamous Calvin Klein jeans ads from 1980, this campaign will likely only add to increase the brand recognition for both American Eagle and Ms. Sweeney.

For her part, Sydney has not felt the need to respond to her critics about the controversy.

SOURCES:
CNN
Business Insider
TMZ
IMDb
Variety
UNILAD
Vanity Fair
The Hollywood Reporter
The Independent
SNL
AP News
ABC News
Mirror
Women’s Health

07/31/2025

PAMLIAM IS HERE! We can’t help but ‘baywatch’ as two of our favorite stars are ‘taken’ on the wings of a budding romance.

When fans saw thier interactions together while promoting their new film ‘The Naked Gun,’ a flirtation was clearly on display, and we couldn’t help but speculate about a romance between the two.

Well it is confirmed: Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson are apparently enjoying a "budding romance in the early stages," a source told People.

We always suspected that Neeson had a particular set of skills in the ways of amour. He will find you, he will woo you.

"It's a budding romance in the early stages. It's sincere, and it's clear they're smitten with each other,” the source said.

Neeson, 73, and Anderson, 58, are currently "enjoying each other's company," adds the source, as the costars promote their new comedy, in theaters this Friday, Aug. 1.

At the New York premiere of The Naked Gun on Monday, July 28, both stars brought their two sons to the red carpet for a group photo. (Anderson has Brandon, 29, and Dylan, 27, with ex-husband Tommy Lee, and Neeson has Micheál, 30, and Daniel, 28, with late wife Natasha Richardson).

The next morning, on Tuesday, July 29, Anderson and Neeson pretended to get caught making out on live TV for a funny moment while visiting the Today show together.

Pamela also planted a warm kiss on Neeson's cheek on the red carpet at the London premiere held July 22.

Back in October Neeson had high praise for his co-Star, which hinted at the affection.

“With Pamela, first off, I'm madly in love with her. She's just terrific to work with,” he said at the time. “I can't compliment her enough, I'll be honest with you. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She's funny and so easy to work with."

Anderson added that Neeson is “the perfect gentleman" and he "brings out the best in you … with respect, kindness and depth of experience. It was an absolute honor to work with him."

In an Entertainment Weekly cover story published earlier in July, Anderson said, "I think I have a friend forever in Liam." She added, "We definitely have a connection that is very sincere, very loving. He's a good guy."

In May, she told the outlet that she and Neeson bonded over a shared "love of literature and a good laugh."

In The Naked Gun, Neeson plays Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen's Frank Drebin from the original The Naked Gun films. Anderson plays his love interest, Beth.

The Naked Gun hits theaters Friday, August 1.

SOURCES:
People
KTLA 5, Los Angeles
Today Show
Entertainment Weekly
Parade Magazine
BuzzFeed
The Late Show
Us Weekly

07/31/2025

MEG 2 (2023) – This movie bites hard.

There once was a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon – a menacing predator some three times bigger than a great white. In 2018 we got to experience the terror of this shark in the popular B-movie ‘The Meg.’ And of course, we wanted more.

‘Meg 2: The Trench’ is a sci-fi action flick directed by Ben Wheatley. It’s the sequel to The Meg, based on the 1999 novel The Trench by Steve Alten.

Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, and Dean Georgaris all return as writers from the previous film, with Jason Statham, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, and Cliff Curtis reprising their roles. They are joined by Wu Jing, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, and Skyler Samuels.

Meg 2 features a group of scientists who must outrun and outswim the giant megalodons, when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission.

If you’re not into seeing Jason Statham karate-kick a giant shark or see that selfsame Carcharodon eating a T-rex, then this might not be the movie for you.

The story follows Statham and international action star Jing, who lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when the rival mining operation stirs up the megs and forces the team into a high-stakes battle for survival.

Pitted against colossal Megs, they must outrun, outsmart, and outswim these merciless predators in a race against time and teeth.

Although the first Meg film got mixed reviews, it grossed over $530 million worldwide, and a sequel was greenlit.

Principal photography took place from February through May 2022, in various locations in Asia along with Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, in Watford, Hertfordshire, England.

Meg 2: The Trench had its premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 9, 2023, and was released in the United States on August 4, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received negative reviews but was a box office success, grossing $397.8 million worldwide.

This is schlock-and-awe, just a big, dumb movie. So if you know that going in, you might just like the mindless escapism and get swept away by a sea of camp.

This film received many accolades for being very bad.

At the 44th Golden Raspberry Awards, the film was nominated for Worst Picture, Worst Actor for Statham and Worst Director for Wheatley.

But the box office success implies this fish story hasn’t sunk just yet.

While a third Meg movie hasn't been officially confirmed by Warner Bros., there has been internal discussions and continued speculation about a potential third installment, and Wheatley has said that he hopes to continue the story as outlined in the novels by Steve Alten.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
AZ Animals
Rotten Tomatoes
AMC Theatres
Vanity Fair
Deadline Hollywood
Box Office Mojo
The Numbers
Variety
Total Film
The Economic Times

07/30/2025

THE HOME — Stick around for the final act.

Pete Davidson is a talented comedian and thoughtful commentator, wirh a history of introspection and TMI transparency. But can he act well enough to lead a horror film? After watching ‘The Home,’ I say maybe.

The Staten Island native is no stranger to acting. with minor guest roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Friends of the People, Guy Code, and Wild 'n Out before being hired as cast member on the NBC’s Saturday Night Live for eight seasons from 2014 to 2022.

He went on to executive produce the comedy film Big Time Adolescence (2019), and co-wrote and starred in the semi-autobiographical comedy-drama film The King of Staten Island (2020), and the Peacock series Bupkis (2023).

He continued acting in films such as The Su***de Squad (2021), Bodies Bodies Bodies, and Meet Cute (both 2022).

But in all that we never really saw him branch out as a lead actor, except maybe King of Staten Island, but there he was basically playing himself.

He had an outstanding turn in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, but there as the member of a talented ensemble.

So now we have Pete leading a horror film in The Home. How would he do?

The Home is a 2025 American psychological horror film directed by Purge franchise creator James DeMonaco.

The pic is written by DeMonaco and Adam Cantor, and stars Davidson, along with John Glover, and Bruce Altman.

Ethan Phillips, Marilee Talkington, and Matthew Miniero co-star.

Max (Davidson) a troubled man, starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets. As he investigates the building and its forbidden fourth floor, he starts to uncover connections to his own past and upbringing as a foster child.

Produced by Miramax, principal photography took place in Denville, Elizabeth and Nutley, New Jersey, from late January to early April 2022.

The closed senior living facility in Denville, Saint Francis Residential Community, served as the retirement home location.

The film was released on July 25, 2025 in the United States and is set to open the FrightFest film festival on August 21, 2025.

The picture received mostly negative reviews but I liked it.

First off, there is a heavy, unsettled mood that increases over time as the plot unfolds, along with the natural discomfort that comes with postering mortality and seeing old people doing things you don’t want to see old people doing.

Davison’s Max is a great contrast to that, and seeing his reactions to what is going on around him brings you right into the story.

Pete is surrounded by a gifted set of players, who bring out the best in him, and there is an ominous sense of ghastly gaslighting not unlike what the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel did to Jack Nicholson’s Jack Torrance, although these are real people. And Ethan Phillips, formerly Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager, really blew me away. But what of Pete Davidson?

At first, I had my doubts. His reactions seemed wooden, and almost like he was trying to hold character without laughing, as if he was on an SNL skit. But over time, Davidson’s performance won me over.

He seemed genuinely unsettled as the plot unfolds, and surprisingly tender as certain family secrets were revealed. Whether or not Davidson drew on his own troubled past I don’t know, but it worked.

Then Pete delivers with an absolutely bloody and bonkers final act, a cathartic payoff that made it worth the entire trip.

If you like horror movies I think you will like this, especially the ending.

SOURCES:
AMC Theatres
BBFC
Wikipedia
Biography
Bloody Disgusting
Deadline Hollywood
FrightFest
Rotten Tomatoes
Metacritic
Vulture
The Hollywood Reporter
Collider
Deadline Hollywood
North Jersey Media Group

07/30/2025

MAKING THE CASE — While she may not be actively campagning to be the new Wonder Woman, Rachel Pizzolato is looking the part.

There is a famous story about how George Washington never asked to lead the Continental Army, but he appeared to the Second Continental Congress in full uniform and got the gig. Rachel Pizzolato may be doing the same thing.

Pizzolato, 21, hails from Metairie, Louisiana, near New Orleans. She is an actor, fashion model, influencer, athlete, science advocate, and sci-fi enthusiast.

She grew up in athletics and winning beauty pageants and science competitions in the New Orleans area.

She gained recognition as a co-host on the Discovery Science Channel's MythBusters Jr. as a teen, where she helped make science exciting and accessible to young audiences.

In 2016, she was awarded, from MIT, a minor planet named after her called (Pizzolato 33187).

Her inventions have garnered success at the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair where she won the Grand Award in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

She won Akron's Global Polymer Academy's National Award in Science and Engineering. Also, her writing has garnered awards from NASA. In 2018, she won the AIAA National NASA essay competition for her article entitled, "Astronauts - The Right Stuff Indeed!"

Pizzolato has competed in many National and International Competitions such as Broadcom MASTERS (2016, 2017, and 2018) Coolest Projects (2019 & 2020) and ISEF (2019 & 2020).

She enjoys talking with kids and encouraging them to dream big. She also enjoys working with the SPCA to promote humane treatment of animals.

Rachel has walked the runway for fashion designers like Stevie Boi and Brick Allen and appeared in magazines like Sophisticated Woman and Exalte Magazine, the Smith and Gale Magazine, and REBEL Magazine.

She also has a passion for science fiction and enjoys performing at comic cons, portraying characters like Catwoman, Electra, and Rosie the Riveter, along with Wonder Woman.

Rachel may not actively be pursuing the role of Wonder Woman, but she has certainly channeled her likeness, appearing in a Lynda Carter throwback costume, most recently at Comic-Con in San Diego, that took place July 24 through July 27, 2025

At 6’ 0’’ (some sources say 6’ 1”) with striking beauty, charm, and athleticism, she evokes the likeness and physicality of the famed Amazonian, Princess Diana of Themyscira.

She also met and took a photo with DC Studios co-head James Gunn at a recent festival in full Wonder Woman regalia. Mr. Gunn, all smiles, surely must have noticed she makes an impressive Wonder Woman.

Pizzolato mentioned in an Instagram post that she'd prefer an unknown actor for the role, and that the new Wonder Woman film is several years away.

While she isn't currently in the running for the part, she obviously admires the character and it seems clear she would be open to playing the role if the opportunity arose.

SOURCES:
Beacons
IMDb
Favikon
Wikipedia
Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMou7nqRXhp/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

07/30/2025

TSUNAMI WATCH — 8.7 earthquake off Russia. Tsunami warning for West Coast including Los Angeles and San Diego. STAY OFF THE BEACH. A tsunami with a height of 3-4 metres (10-13 feet) was recorded in parts of Kamchatka, Sergei Lebedev, Russia - we could be hit around 1:00 a.m. tonight.

SOURCES:
CNN
KTLA
Reuters
Los Angeles Times

07/29/2025

OH, DAMP —

DAAAMP! That's musty! Check out the new campaign for DampRid from Laughlin and Constable.

07/29/2025

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU? Both Superman and Fantastic Four are just mid.

When I tell you these films have merit but point out their weaknesses, I am trying to free your mind.

You can take the blue pill that both Marvel and DC studios are offering you, and remain in the comfortable illusion that these are great movies. But they are not. They are just ok.

Superman is hopeful in tone, but is also inconsistent and corny. It tries to deliver deep thematic issues while descending into camp, and having the characters constantly joking and making cheesy remarks.

The overall story is good, but the script is badly written. If you really care about the source material, treat it seriously. That doesn’t mean it has to be dark and moody like the Snyderverse, but pick a tone and stick to it.

Just look at what the MCU achieved with the Avengers films: they dealt with serious issues, and blended in humor, yet maintained a consistent tone. With this new Superman, you know it’s a cartoon.

And when they do try to send a message, it’s often heavy-handed and not well executed.

The new Fantastic Four: First Steps does a little better in terms of consistency, but it’s not very fun to watch. In that regard Superman is better.

Fantastic Four did nail the family dynamic central to these characters, though. Also, it is a visual spectacle to look at, in terms of style.

But the characters are not well-developed. The filmmakers take it for granted that you know them. (Ben Grimm seemed the most well-developed. I think a street level solo film featuring Ben would be interesting).

And the plot was not very convincing either: Galactus won’t eat the earth if we give him Reed and Sue’s magic baby Franklin — as if that will somehow end his world-devouring hunger.

And since there was so little effort in developing these characters, it was hard to care much when Sue was giving birth in space, which also came across as hokey.

And while the initial encounter with Galactus was impressive, his fisticuff battle with the FF on earth was about on par with the ridiculous Kaiju battle in the Superman movie.

The much maligned Fantastic Four of 2005 had a fresher and more energetic vibe. It was far from perfect, but a more entertaining movie than this latest entry, which, although it looks cool, doesn’t really add anything new.

I get it. You want to love these movies. I do too. But the studios shouldn’t think we will just accept every major superhero tentpole they throw at us.

They need to try a little harder to truly do these beloved characters justice.