Q Wave’s Watchlist: September 2022
"There's nothing to watch" is not a phrase that should exist in a world drowning in content. Join us every month to get curated content - from the latest and greatest to revisiting oldies - we'll help you avoid the dreaded “Netflix Block” and find something to watch!
The Sandman (Netflix)
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman has been a staple in comic book shops for so long that it’s hard to imagine a world without a screen adaptation when we’ve long had the MCU and DCEU. Starring Tom Sturridge as Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, The Sandman tells of his quest to retrieve his instruments and restore order after being imprisoned by an occultist (Charles Dance, aka Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones) hoping to catch Death.
This Netflix series has been hailed as being one of the top comic book adaptations (one site called it “flawless”) and topped Netflix’s most streamed lists. Although some of the CGI looks a bit fake at times, this is more than made up by Tom’s near-perfect portrayal of Dream. The cast also includes some big names, including Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven, David Thewlis as John Dee, and Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar.
A second season has not yet been announced, but it would not surprise us if that did eventually come. You can watch all episodes of The Sandman on Netflix.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: The Matrix, American Gods, Watchmen, Lucifer
Runtime: 11 episodes, 50 minutes each
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon Prime)
It’s been eight years since viewers last visited the lands of Middle Earth on Bilbo’s journey with the dwarves. Now, with great anticipation, we are finally getting the chance to return to a familiar world with wizards, halflings, dwarves, elves, and all the creatures of Mordor.
We enter during what is known as the Second Age of Middle Earth (the events of the original LOTR movies are set in the Third Age), thousands of years before Frodo destroyed the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Little is known about what we’ll see in the show, but some familiar names will help ground the narrative. Trailers have repeatedly shown a blond warrior elf, the Lady Galadriel, this time played by Morfydd Clark, previously by Cate Blanchett. Elrond (Robert Aramayo, previously Hugo Weaving) will also appear as the lord of Rivendell. We do know this series will focus on the Rings of Power, all bound by the One Ring of Sauron. To this end, Isildur will also appear in the series (fans will remember that Isildur famously cut the One Ring off Sauron’s hand before losing it to Gollum).
The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power will air starting on September 1, 2022, on Prime Video.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: Game of Thrones, The Witcher
Runtime: 8 episodes, 50 mins
Genre: Fantasy
Belfast (Crave)
The Oscars have long since come and gone, but one of the most beloved Best Picture nominees has just landed on Crave, with Kenneth Branagh’s (Death on the Nile) semi-autobiographical coming of age film, Belfast.
Based on true events from Branagh’s own life and filmed in black and white, Belfast tells the story of 9-year-old Buddy and his working-class family living in Belfast, Ireland in the late 1960’s. As Belfast starts to turn into a dangerous place, with Protestants storming the streets and terrorizing the homes belonging to Catholics, Buddy’s family must make the difficult decision of whether to stay amidst the danger or leave for a new life elsewhere.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, with Judi Dench (Spectre) making history as the second-oldest Best Supporting Actress nominee ever at 87 years old. Although the film was shut out at the Oscars, Branagh did pick up a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay.
The film is expertly crafted across the board, including its score which was provided by none other than Belfast-native, Van Morrison. In addition to the score, Morrison wrote a new song for the film titled “Down to Joy”.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: CODA, Lion
Runtime: 97 minutes
Genre: Drama
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Disney Plus)
As the Marvel machine chugs along, we are getting deeper and deeper into its catalogue of characters, which if you’re a fan of the MCU as a whole (like us), you’re undoubtedly excited about. The newest character to get their own spotlight is the fan-favourite, She-Hulk.
Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) plays Jennifer Walters, a single 30-something lawyer. After a freak accident involving her superhero cousin, Bruce Banner AKA The Hulk, she now has to juggle her career with the fact that she is able to transform into a 6-foot-7 superhuman Hulk as well.
The series uses a different tone than previous Marvel shows, very much in the mode of a traditional 30-minute sitcom that bounces from one funny story to the next. Much like she does in the comics, the character of She-Hulk frequently breaks the fourth wall and talks straight to the audience. The device is a tricky one to pull off and while it’s used in Deadpool to great effect, the show's writers looked to the series Fleabag for inspiration on how to handle the technique with a little more subtlety.
The show is carried by a uniquely charming performance from Regina, Saskatchewan native Tatiana Maslany and features longtime Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo in a supporting role as well.>/p>
New episodes debut Thursdays on Disney+.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: Any MCU movie or show
Runtime: 9 episodes, 30-38 minutes
Genre: Superhero
The Greatest Beer Run Ever (Apple TV+)
An added benefit to studios shifting their focus to streaming services is that movies that may be otherwise hard to see in a cinema now are readily available for a wider audience. Such is the case with ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever, which will have its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 13th, only to be available in the comfort of your own home on Apple TV+ two weeks later on September 30th.
The film is based on a book that tells the true story of John ‘Chickie’ Donohue, played by Zac Efron (Firestarter). In 1968, Chickie decides to embark on an audacious adventure; travelling to Vietnam to bring soldiers a can of their favourite American beer. But what starts off as a well-meaning journey turns into a wild adventure, that sees Chickie confront the reality of a very controversial war.
The movie boasts a strong cast, with veteran actors Russell Crowe (Unhinged) and Bill Murray (The French Dispatch) in supporting roles. The film has been in the works for a few years now, originally planned with Dylan O’Brien (Not Okay) and Viggo Mortensen (Thirteen Lives) to star. Back in 2015, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer released a documentary short titled ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ on their YouTube page on Veterans Day November 11th telling Chickie’s story.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: Three Kings, Stripes
Runtime: 126 minutes
Genre: Action, comedy