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‘Dune: Prophecy’ has a high caliber ensemble with fresh promising actors. – Review

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The new HBO Original Series Dune: Prophecy is a prequel from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune. However, the series is based on the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. which centers around the Sisterhood – the origins of the Bene Gesserit that is set 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides.

Episode 1: The Hidden Hand is a sci-fi fantasy drama with amazing special effects and fascinating scenery. The episode introduces Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson), and how she becomes the leader of the Sisterhood. Valya trains young women as truthsayers by putting them through rigorous physical and mental conditioning to develop supernatural abilities. They believe the tools to survive is strength – the power of humanity and lies – human’s greatest weapon. Valya also has a sister, Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), who is the Reverend Mother. A power struggle emerges between the sisters. Tula uses power to guide, but Valya uses it to rule.

Meanwhile, Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) is entrusted to govern peacefulness in the Imperium, but is faced with his own struggles to maintain power and control by reluctantly deciding to allow the young son (literally a kid) of Duke Ferdinand Richese (Brendan Cowell) to marry his daughter Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) to secure an alliance for when she becomes successor to the Golden Lion Throne. Matters intensify with Princess Ynez being influenced by her egocentric brother Constantine Corrino (Josh Heuston) and her lust for control over the Swordmaster Kieran Atreides. Throughout the turmoil, a mysterious solider Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) eases his way into the Imperium with the intention to gain Emperor Javicco Corrino’s trust.

It was truly exciting to watch the preview of the first episode Dune: Prophecy on the big screen. Showrunner Alison Schapker is known to emphasize the cinematic visual effects of the imaginative sci-fi world to the screen as evidenced in TV series Lost, The Flash, to critically acclaimed HBO’s series Westworld, and now Dune: Prophecy. Going with a high caliber ensemble accompanied by fresh promising actors will appeal to broader audiences due to the variety of characters and trajectory storyline. Viewers will definitely relate to the premise of the Sisterhood against “thinking machines” (AI technology) to preserve the power of humanity. Dune: Prophecy is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max on November 17, 2024.

Sabrina - Kiddo is the newest member of Countdown City Geeks and is a contributor of movie and television show reviews. Her passion for film derived from her college days where her rhetoric-writing professor focused on the aspects of screenwriting and music lyrics. She also has a knack for saying movie quotes.

Movie Reviews

Blake Lively brings extravagant fashion to this murder-mystery comedy movie in ‘Another Simple Favor’ – Review

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When it comes to making a grand entrance in a movie , Blake Lively definitely kills it in Another Simple Favor. She looked sophistically stunning in those posh outfits and lavish shoes! Lively really steals the spotlight portraying the charming and deceptive Emily Nelson / Hope McLanden who disrupts Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) during a book reading to ask for a simple favor. Kendrick is a master in emerging into roles of the sweet, impulsive and vulnerable characters.

This saga takes place in the beautiful Island of Capri, where the extravagant wedding of Emily (Lively) to the handsome Italian mobster Dante Versano (Michele Morrone). When Aunt Linda (Allison Janney) makes a surprise appearance with Emily’s deranged mother Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins), well you know sparks will be bursting. Stephanie (Kendrick) is determined to seek answers to the mysterious occurrences and disappearance of Emily. The plot thickens with mind-bending, jaw-dropping twists, which leads the possibility of a trilogy.

The entire cast was amusing. This movie has a lot of dark raunchy humor, which at times could be a bit “tmi”. From feuding scenes with Henry Golding as Sean Townsend (Emily’s ex-husband) to Blake’s bedroom scene where she playing a dual role – uncomfortable, awkwardness. However, it received plenty of laughter from the audience.

Another Simple Favor will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1, 2025. It will sure be a great suggestion for a girl’s night movie party.

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Join Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, and their two vintage bikes on an epic journey across Europe in ‘Long Way Home’

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“Long Way Home” follows Ewan and Charley as they ride refurbished vintage motorbikes from Ewan’s home in Scotland to Charley’s in England — but rather than take the shortest route, they go the long way! They head across the North Sea to Scandinavia, all the way up to the Arctic Circle and then down to the Baltics and through continental Europe, before eventually hopping back over the English Channel two months later. It’s an adventure that will take them to more than fifteen countries, through spectacular scenery and along some of the greatest driving roads in the world. Along the way they’ll immerse themselves in each country’s culture, meet the locals and try their hand at unique and eclectic activities.

The Emmy Award-nominated series is executive produced by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, alongside longtime collaborators David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, who also direct. The new “Long Way” season follows Ewan and Charley’s previous adventures in “Long Way Round,” “Long Way Down” and “Long Way Up,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

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See the first trailer for the Apple TV+ series ‘Murderbot’

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Today, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for “Murderbot,” the highly anticipated comedic thriller series starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Alexander Skarsgård and hailing from Academy Award nominees Chris and Paul Weitz. The ten-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, May 16, 2025, followed by new episodes every Friday through July 11.

Based on Martha Wells’ best-selling, Hugo and Nebula Award winning book series “The Murderbot Diaries,” “Murderbot” is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Played by Skarsgård, Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

The ensemble cast also includes Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones and Tamara Podemski. 

Murderbot” hails from Paramount Television Studios. The Weitz brothers wrote, directed and produced under their Depth of Field banner. Andrew Miano also executive produces alongside for Depth of Field. David S. Goyer executive produces alongside Keith Levine for Phantom Four. Wells serves as consulting producer.

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