Tag: Movies

Geekly Casting: Overwatch

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Monday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and today, we have another Geekly Casting. Skye and I will be casting for a hypothetical Overwatch film. I found it difficult to pare the list of Overwatch characters to a manageable number. I forgot the original Overwatch launched with 21 characters. Twenty-One! We’ll cast a full twenty-one characters, so I researched Overwatch’s original cast–the one they used during demos before the game officially released–and found twelve. That’s a much easier number. I added a couple of characters (two) who will show up at the end of my segment. One makes sense for lore reasons, and the other sounded like fun to cast. So, we’ll have fourteen cast members. Yay!

Looks like Skye is sitting out this Geekly Casting. Hopefully, she’ll return soon. I’m flying solo with this Geekly Casting, so let’s get it started. Here is Geekly’s Casting of a hypothetical Overwatch movie.

Bastion: Ben Burtt

I almost didn’t cast anyone to voice Bastion. But someone does just that in the game: Chris Metzen. While Chris Metzen would make a great Bastion for an Overwatch film (because he is Bastion), I opted to go with Ben Burtt, who voiced Wall-E. Let’s be real. Bastion has Wall-E tones. If you’re not going to go with the original, you can’t go wrong with Ben Burtt.

Tracer: Emilia Jones

Tracer is young, British, and full of spunk. I had plenty of choices for this role, but I chose Emilia Jones (Locke & Key and CODA) because she’s already proven her acting chops. She’s received multiple awards and was nominated for a BAFTA. Jones just needs a big break. Tracer could be that big break. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s a dead ringer for Tracer.

Reaper: Tyler Dean Flores

While I could’ve gone with an older, stoic Latino actor like Danny Trejo or Javier Bardem, I wanted to go younger with Reaper. Tyler Dean Flores got his start on The Dark Knight Rises and has steadily built a varied and impressive acting career: When They See Us, I Saw the TV Glow, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Flores has range and is another actor who could use a big break. Flores could give Reaper depth.

Widowmaker: Megan Northam

Widowmaker is a French ballerina turned sniper. Who better to portray her than jack-of-all-trades Megan Northam? Northam trained for a decade on the cello at the Nantes Conservatory. She’s even a dancer. Great! And Northam is French. Perfect! Northam’s breakout role came in 2021 in the French comedy Robust. She later starred in Netflix’s Notre-Dame and the Amazon Prime series, Greek Salad. I could easily see Northam pull off a convincing Widowmaker.

Pharah: Jamila Awad

Jamila Awad has had a varied career. She’s acted in comedies and dramas alike but hasn’t been in a major project in half a decade. Awad took part in a UNICEF campaign alongside numerous Egyptian and international artists, including Mona Zaki. The objective of this campaign was to enhance awareness of children’s rights on a global scale and within the Arab region. And last year (2025) Awad was the face of Armani Beauty. I could see Awad make a triumphant acting return as Pharah.

Reinhardt: Michael Fassbender

German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender needs little introduction. He’s freaking Magneto. While he may need to be aged up a little bit for the role of Reinhardt, Fassbender can pull off the accent. He has the gravitas that will pull in combatants and viewers as Reinhardt. The only thing that surprises me with this pick is that I haven’t cast Michael Fassbender in anything yet. A good Overwatch film could erase the less-than-stellar Assassin’s Creed movie. Yikes!

Mercy: Isabel Lucas

“Heroes Never Die.” The same can be said of Samantha Cage, Isabel Lucas’s character in MacGyver. Lucas certainly has the look to play Mercy. It also helps that Lucas can speak Swiss-German, so Mercy’s accent should be no problem. Recently, Lucas has returned to Australian film, but I’m sure the role of Mercy could convince her to return to Hollywood.

Torbjörn: Bill Skarsgård

Bill Skarsgård is another actor who needs no introduction. The Pennywise actor may seem like an odd choice for Torbjörn, but Skarsgård is no stranger to mountains of prosthetics. He loses himself in most of his roles. And can’t you see Skarsgård in full Torbjörn makeup and beard extensions? It’d be glorious.

Hanzo: Brian Tee

Chicago Med star Brian Tee is no stranger to action films. He’s been featured in Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Wolverine, Jurassic World, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, where he portrayed none other than Shredder himself. Yeah. Tee has the credentials to pull off a menacing Hanzo.

Winston: Crispin Freeman

I’m keeping it simple with Winston. His voice actor Crispin Freeman retains the role. Why not? Winston will most likely be predominantly CGI. It makes sense to keep Winston’s video game voice actor. Nuff said.

Zenyatta: Feodor Chin

I’m sensing a trend here. I’m going with Zenyatta’s original voice actor Feodor Chin. The role will most likely be achieved through CGI, so why not have the classically trained Chin reprise his role? Chin has forgotten more about acting than most of us will ever know. He’s starred in live action, animation, and video games. Chin has countless acting credits, but here’s a list of his highlights: Big Little Lies, Lethal Weapon, Jane the Virgin, New Girl, Hit-Monkey, What If?, and Regular Show. And that’s on top of all Chin’s video game voice acting.

Symmetra: Anjali Bhimani

Okay. I’m three for three with these last three roles. I’m sticking with Symmetra’s voice actor Anjali Bhimani. Clearly, Symmetra won’t be CGI, but seeing Bhimani in live-action roles makes me smile. She was one of the reasons I watched Ms. Marvel. And if you’ve ever seen Bhimani on YouTube Dungeons & Dragons videos, you know she has charisma to spare. Being a D&D fan gives Bhimani extra geek cred. It also doesn’t hurt that Bhimani also voices one of my Apex Legends’ mains, Rampart. She’s gotta be the live-action Symmetra.

Genji: Mamoru Miyano

Mamoru Miyano may be primarily known as a J-Pop star and voice actor, but Light Yagami from Death Note is one of Miyano’s voice acting credits. Ah. I like the idea of an android Light wreaking havoc. Miyano has the presence to pull off Genji’s voice. And if you noticed, Genji is one of my final two entries. He wasn’t one of the original 12 characters in Overwatch’s demo, but I couldn’t include Hanzo without including his brother, Genji.

D.Va: Bae Suzy

D.Va may be an E-Sports star, but she gives off crazy K-Pop Idol vibes. I’m leaning into the K-Pop angle with Bae Suzy, who just so happens to have built a solid acting career. I can see Bae Suzy saying “Nerf This” before ejecting from a mech. It also doesn’t hurt that Bae Suzy has martial arts training. She can pull off an action role like D.Va.

Those are my picks for a hypothetical Overwatch live-action film. Thank you for reading. You’re awesome. We all know, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Whatcha Watching Geekly May 2026

Whatcha Watching, Geekly? May 2026

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and today, our writers share what they’ve been watching over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been watching in the comments, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with what I’ve been watching over the past month.

Kyra’s Movies

When I mentioned to Skye that I saw Send Help this past month, she asked if I had gone to the movies. Nope. Send Help made its way to HBO Max two weeks ago, and I took advantage of the new release. I’m surprised by how quickly movies like Send Help (a 2026 release) make it on streaming services. From what I’ve seen, it did well at the box office, received good reviews, and was fairly popular. Also, don’t be surprised if Skye lists Send Help in a Whatcha Watching in the near future.

I’ll echo what reviewers have said: Send Help is a return to form for director Sam Raimi. It has a rom-com set-up, and just when you think it might venture toward a rom-com, it goes a different direction. Send Help is a horror comedy through and through. The twist surprised me, but it made sense with context. That was good. The over-the-top gore in places felt earned and played up for laughs–oddly enough. I liked it. At an hour and a half (minus credits), Send Help doesn’t overstay its welcome, and that’s an excellent move for a horror flick. If you have HBO Max, Send Help is a good popcorn movie.

I’m unsure where to place The Punisher: One Last Kill. It’s the latest Marvel Special Presentations, available on Disney+. Does it count as a movie or TV show? It doesn’t matter. I won’t go into detail about the show here because I discussed it at length in my review/reaction. In short, The Punisher: One Last Kill is Jon Bernthal’s best performance as the character. I also like Disney/Marvel’s recent trend of letting the actors portraying their characters contribute as much as they want to the project. Bernthal co-wrote The Punisher: One Last Kill’s screenplay, while Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio had creative control with Daredevil: Born Again. Hope this trend continues.

Kyra’s Shows

I don’t know if I mentioned Hollywood Demons in one of my Watcha Watching posts last year, but I did watch the show as its first season aired. That first season featured a lot of Hollywood actors doing terrible things. The less said about the actor who played the dad from 7th Heaven, the better. Yuck! Hollywood Demons’s second season goes in a different direction, and I prefer this season to the first. The second season asks what makes Hollywood stars behave the way they do. What are the underlying issues? The last episode I watched, “Doctor Feelgoods,” shows how registered doctors hook their clients on illicit drugs. Heck, a legal doctor gave Matthew Perry his first dose of ketamine, the drug that would eventually kill him.

Needless to say, Hollywood Demons won’t be for everyone, but I like the behind-the-scenes look. And the show doesn’t get as repetitive as others of its ilk. Doctor Drew keeps his commentary relatively fresh.

Daredevil: Born Again completed its second season this past month. Like the Punisher Special, I won’t go into too much detail because I’ve already posted reviews/reactions for each episode. You can find them here. Daredevil: Born Again, season two, was way better than its first season. The show found its footing. I loved Daniel Blake’s storyline and a few others. I’m glad Daredevil: Born Again took its title character where it did. If you know, you know. I can’t wait to see how Matt Murdock gets out of this jam.

I’m keeping it short this month. Season and Skye have some movies and shows they’d like to share. Let’s check in with them.

Season’s Movie

Hi, Geekly Gang! Per usual, I haven’t watched much, but I do have a movie I watched while I had a bad allergy flare-up. I tend to watch movies when I feel unwell. Turning Red follows thirteen-year-old Meilin Lee, an eighth grader entering her rebellious phase with a helicopter mom. What could possibly go wrong?

Meilin has a nightmare one night and transforms into a giant red panda. She screams when she sees herself in the bathroom mirror. Her mom asks her what’s wrong through the bathroom door and asks, “Did the red peony bloom?” I’m using it the next time I’m on my period. Meilin’s mom grabs painkillers and more types of pads than I knew existed while Meilin hides in the shower. From here on, there’s a lot of embarrassment for Meilin at school, and her parents explain to her that she transforms into a red panda because of her ancestor, Sun Yee. Sun Yee asked the gods for a way to protect her people while the men were at war. Since then, the women in the family transform into red pandas whenever they have an emotional spike.

Turning Red is a cute coming-of-age movie. It did a good job of showing the fear a parent has of growing distant from their child as that child grows up. I had many emotions swirling as I watched it. If you’re looking for something that may make you cry while ending on a high note, I recommend Turning Red.

What are you watching, Skye?

Skye’s Movies

I eased myself into watching more movies in theaters with the latest Pixar film, Hoppers. I was more disappointed than anything else. Hoppers felt too one-noted, mundane, and shallow. Simply put, Hoppers bore little resemblance to the Pixar films I love. However, Hoppers was an improvement to Pixar’s last cinematic outing, Elio. That doesn’t mean much. Despite having elements of good ideas (like most one-shot Pixar films lately), Hoppers never fully delivers on them. It sticks to standard stories you’d see in most other kids’ films. There were two highlights: the insect queen getting squished, and when Jerry used the HOPPER technology. If the film had gone through one or two more drafts, I feel like it could have been something.

What did you expect? It’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I could stop my summary right there, but y’all probably want to hear more. While Super Mario Galaxy isn’t anything great, you can’t say it’s kidding itself about what it is: a bright, colorful waste of time. Illumination Studios prides itself on having no substance in its films, but they still make boatloads of cash. Super Mario Galaxy is no exception.

Of course, having Nintendo attached to this film increased their box office returns exponentially. While I want to be mad at this (as both a movie fan and a Nintendo fan), I’ll also say this is the closest we’ll get to an authentic Super Mario film series. The games never had much plot or depth to them; you just played them. That also seems to be the mentality here: no real plot or depth, just watch. Also, I can’t deny that countless references to the games are fun.

I didn’t know what to expect with Project Hail Mary. It’s safe to say I enjoyed it. The way the story develops is a combination of charming, mysterious, and tragic. While the characters aren’t the most complex, you identify with them and their goal of preventing the sun from dying. Every moment you’re on this ship with these characters, the urgency of the situation feels more real. This is one of those moments when a longer running time helps a film rather than hurts it. All this considered, I still have the sense that there was something about Project Hail Mary I missed after my first viewing. This is a film I’d be glad to examine in more detail.

I watched Fuze by accident. My local theater has a weekly “Mystery Movie” that allows unsuspecting moviegoers to buy a ticket to a show they don’t know anything about. Sure enough, I bought a ticket for this “Mystery Movie,” and it happened to be Fuze. I wouldn’t see Fuze in theaters otherwise. I’m still unsure what it was supposed to be. The whole thing centers around a WWII-era bomb discovered in a city that’s still active and needs to be defused. You’d think that’d be it, but there’s also a bank robbery going on at the same time. Okay? Not only that, but there’s also a random immigrant family being focused on for some reason. Huh? Then, in the end, it turns out it was all a big plot by terrorists. What? After that, we see how our terrorist protagonists met. Why? [Roll credits.] Can someone tell me what this was about?

LOL Sounds like Skye had an interesting month at the movies. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are all the shows and movies our writers watched over the past month. Let us know what you’ve been watching. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Whatcha Watching Geekly April 2026

Whatcha Watching, Geekly? April 2026

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Today, our writers share what they’ve been watching over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been watching, too, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with what I’ve been watching over the past month.

Kyra’s Movies

I haven’t watched too many movies over the past month, and I’m unsure if Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom counts as a film. But I’m counting it. I’ve watched less and less of sports and sports-related content in the past dozen years. Netflix’s Untold series has a tendency to mischaracterize events (at best) or outright lie about details, so I watched The Death and Life of Lamar Odom with some level of skepticism. Typically, the Netflix Untold series paints its subjects in a glowing–or at least positive–light. The Death and Life of Lamar Odom bears many of Lamar’s secrets.

Let me count the ways. Lamar admits he didn’t invite his family to his and Khloe’s wedding. He confessed that he married Khloe, in part, because he wanted the Kardashian lifestyle. The reality show, Khloe & Lamar, was his idea; Khloe didn’t want cameras capturing the couple’s private life. Lamar initiated his and Khloe’s divorce; Khloe put together an intervention, stating they should separate if he didn’t get clean, and he chose drugs. And we watch candid videos of Khloe nursing Lamar back to health. The two may have even reconciled if Lamar hadn’t relapsed shortly after physical therapy.

Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom holds back few of Lamar’s flaws. I actually felt sorry for Khloe Kardashian. Provided that Lamar Odom endorsed this short documentary, I believe it to be an earnest attempt by Lamar to make amends. The Death and Life of Lamar Odom may not be a hopeful story through most of its runtime, but the ending offers levity. This is one of the better Untold documentaries.

I may have mentioned Woman of the Hour in a previous Whatcha, so I’ll keep this brief. While Anna Kendrick’s debut directorial debut may have received modest reviews, I saw real potential. Kendrick showcases a keen cinematic eye in Woman of the Hour. Ironically, Kendrick doesn’t quite deliver as the title character, Sheryl, but most of the cast nail their portrayals. Zovatto’s Alcala strikes the appropriate balance of fear and unease. Tony Hale’s Dating Game host Ed and Pete Holmes, the creeper acting coach, effectively portray toxic masculinity circa 1970s. Max Lloyd-Jones’ Ken even illustrates how women can be silenced and why they may not come forward after an assault.

There’s so much to love about the characters in Woman of the Hour. The story’s a little clunky. But again, the cinematography is fantastic. The opening and closing sequences will leave one gasping. Is it weird that I put on true crime shows and movies as a comfort? Don’t answer that.

Kyra’s Shows

I may have watched Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun this past month. It was a blur. Or I could’ve been so high, I was on the show. I love watching Aunty Donna sketches on YouTube, so I decided to give their Netflix show a try. Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun plays out like a raunchier and updated Monty Python with an Australian twist. In short, it’s bizarre.

At one point, Broden Kelly dressed as Ellen DeGeneres talks Zachary Ruane through an intergalactic voyage in his “brand new car.” This one scene made me question what was happening. It went on for a good ten minutes. Zach picks up more than one new car on his voyage, and he turns blue. Everyone who passes through a black hole turns blue. You didn’t know that? Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun had plenty of laughs, but there were plenty of head-scratching moments, too. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Each episode’s theme allows the Aunty Donna gang to tie in some callbacks to previous moments. If you’re cleaning up for the Queen visiting your flat, of course, you’re going to sweep up the little man who lives in the corner of the kitchen. We need to hear his story of owning shoes made of buttons and his bubble gum pillow. That’s a taste of what you can expect in Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun. Expect the unexpected.

And I’ve been watching the latest season of Daredevil: Born Again. I review most episodes each Saturday and hope to continue throughout the show’s second season. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen of Daredevil: Born Again Season Two. The show does suffer from an abundance of characters, so the episodes that focus on Daredevil: Born Again‘s central cast are typically its strongest. As I write this entry, I have yet to watch this week’s episode, but I’m certain that will soon change.

That’s all I have for what I’ve been watching this past month. Let’s check in with Season.

Season’s Movie

I haven’t watched much recently, but I did rewatch The Devil Wears Prada in preparation for the upcoming sequel. I watched it for the first time when I landed in Japan for foreign exchange and rewatched it several times in my dorm room. At first, I watched The Devil Wears Prada for its story. The subsequent views were for the clothes. The Devil Wears Prada may have come out in 2006, but a lot of those clothes still look fashionable today. With a runtime of 109 minutes, The Devil Wears Prada doesn’t take long, and it’s an easy watch.

The trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 features Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma in Bridgerton) as one of Miranda Priestly’s (Meryl Streep) new assistants. I’m unsure about the story, but I’m liking the new (and old) cast.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle again. Our movie geek Skye has a hectic work schedule. Hopefully, she’ll be back for next week’s post. But what have you been watching over the past month. Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Skyes Favorite Rob Reiner Films

Skye’s Five Favorite Rob Reiner Films

Published on by SkyeLeave a comment

Hello, Geekly Gang. Skye here. For months, I’ve wanted to pay my proper respects to Rob Reiner. Since March is Reiner’s birth month (March 6th to be exact), I felt this month was the best time. Most movie-goers don’t notice how prolific a filmmaker Rob Reiner was. Heck. When I discuss movies with people, they tend to forget that Reiner directed some of their favorite flicks. When I saw the list of his greatest movies, I realized how big a creative powerhouse we lost last year. I’ll do my best to honor a masterful portfolio of cinematic brilliance. With that said, let’s dive in with my favorite Rob Reiner films.

5: This is Spinal Tap (1984)

I first watched This is Spinal Tap a few months ago. It earned a place on this list for one primary reason: its impact on the “mockumentary” genre. While not the first film to invent a farcical scenario and frame it as factual (I like “F” words right now), This is Spinal Tap popularized the subgenre. If This is Spinal Tap weren’t created, we likely wouldn’t have movies and shows like Borat or What We Do in the Shadows, let alone the series of mockumentaries Christopher Guest (who stars in This is Spinal Tap) would later direct. Even though I didn’t find This is Spinal Tap to be laugh-out-loud funny, it certainly defined the “mockumentary” subgenre. It also kept me entertained by consistently throwing odd, ridiculous scenarios at me, which made me giggle.

4: When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Before I saw When Harry Met Sally, I had heard many positive things about it. As far as I heard, When Harry Met Sally was a quintessential romance. I saw what everyone meant. When Harry Met Sally combines several interesting elements in equal measure. It can be charming, awkward, funny, uncomfortable, and ultimately, satisfying. The two leads’ relationship plays out like a rollercoaster of emotion that feels incredibly personal and realistic. My favorite aspect of When Harry Met Sally is how both leads are equally likable and unlikable at the same time, but despite their flaws, I wanted to see them end up together. When Harry Met Sally is worth watching, and its high praise. It’s unforgettable.

3: Misery (1990)

As soon as I saw Misery, I had a feeling it would be one of my favorites. Adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name, the Misery motion picture focuses on similar themes regarding the difficulties of creators to balance pleasing audiences and exploring new ideas. Released in response to the lackluster readers’ reaction to Stephen King’s first fantasy novel, Misery’s story is coated in creative frustration, and Rob Reiner understands that feeling. Every scene drips with creative frustration. Misery manages to create a hostile and unpredictable atmosphere for its protagonist, Paul Sheldon, at the hands of one of fiction’s most horrifying villains, Annie Wilkes, and it’ll make you rethink what it means to be someone’s number one fan.

2: Stand By Me (1986)

Stand By Me was the first R-rated film I have ever seen. At first, I was skeptical. Soon, I realized Stand By Me‘s weight. Chronicling the experiences of four young friends going on a quest to see a dead body, it’s not always easy to watch. Based on a Stephen King short story titled “The Body,” Stand By Me does a good job of detailing the rough side of childhood and how our relationships can help us through the quagmire of growing up. There’s a reason Stand By Me is on a lot of critics’ short lists of greatest coming-of-age movies. Stand By Me connects the audience with its material through great performances, relatable scenarios, and realistic problems. Stand By Me easily takes the number two spot on this list.

1: The Princess Bride (1987)

Call me shallow, but there was no way Princess Bride wasn’t going to be my number one Rob Reiner movie. I grew up with The Princess Bride. It served as my gateway into romance, action/adventure, and comedy in a medieval setting. Reiner includes something for every viewer. Don’t like action? The movie is built around the romance between the two leads and has several comedic beats. Don’t like that mushy crap? No problem. We have André the Giant! Because of that, most viewers can find something to like in The Princess Bride. That’s why it claims the top spot.

Thank you for reading my picks for my “Top 5 Favorite Rob Reiner Movies.” I hope you enjoyed it, because I certainly enjoyed paying tribute to a truly talented filmmaker. Rest in peace. With all that said, I’m curious what your favorite Rob Reiner movies are. As always, feel free to let us know in the comments, and I hope y’all are having a wonderful day.