A new instalment of the Adonis Creed story is coming in 2023, and this time it’s a face-off between childhood friends.
Starring Michael B. Jordan (also the director), Tessa Thompson, Florian Munteanu and Jonathan Majors; Majors plays Creed’s childhood friend/former boxing prodigy with a point to make.
I don’t recall much about what happened in the lastCreed movie, Well, except that a fight was very likely won by Jordan’s character. Still, I somehow wasn’t expecting a new instalment. How silly of me!
Since boxing doesn’t generally call to me, I’m drawn to watch this to experience what I believe to be Jordan’s directorial debut. I’m a fan of Thompson and Majors as well, so there’s also that.
Do you find yourself drawn to Creed III at all? If so, what are you most curious and or excited about?
Selenis Leyva, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Phylicia Rashad, Spence Moore II, Tony Bellew, Michelle Davidson, Jude Wells, Jessica McCaskill, Leah Haile and Candice Tracy Ross also star.
As some of you may remember, comedy/drama Ted Lasso – season one; the story of a US American Football coach, who arrives in the UK to manage a struggling English Premier League soccer team is, without a doubt, one of the best things that happened to me in 2020.
Fast forward to now, when season two has both started and finished; let’s put it this way, I’ll make time for season three in 2022; however, I’ll be sure to calm myself right down should I find myself getting too excited about the third instalment.
Yes, season two of Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham’s Emmy Award-winning series did at times move me to laughter and tears. The problem is that it also made me cringe because some of what I adored about season one, such as the positive attitude and heartwarming kindness, in parts of season two, it’s written in a way that often felt forced. The most irritating example of this, for me, is the Christmas episode.
Ted Lasso (2021), Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, Apple TV+
Another way that season two disappointed me is how it handled delving more into the lives of the less central characters. Rather than finding myself engrossed in some of these secondary stories, I was annoyed that I wasn’t learning more about Lasso himself. Additionally, during these departures from the main focus, when Lasso did feature, the writing leant into his eccentricities in a fashion that, for me, cheapened his character.
As creative and somewhat well-edited as the episode that focuses on coach Beard is, thematically, it just felt out of place with the rest of the season. Then there’s the fact that I did not believe the direction of Beard’s love story with the mysterious Jane.
Speaking of not believing, where Nate’s all-important character journey is concerned, I sadly neither liked nor did I buy it.
All in all, I’m sad to say that season two of Ted Lasso annoyed me more than it pleased me. Even though I was glad to learn more about Lasso’s history and struggles, the season is more reminiscent of the short-lived Sex and the City movie franchise than I’d hoped. Meaning, I loved the first movie, but my goodness was it abundantly clear that the second film was hugely rushed, resulting in a less than pleasing result.
There are actually no specific episodes that stand out as my favourite in season two. But almost all episodes of season one do. Luckily, I do have a favourite season two moment, and that is how Jamie Tartt’s all-important walk on to the pitch is captured and presented.
What do you think of Season two of Ted Lasso? Have I been too harsh? Let me know in the comments below.
Ted Lasso, my favourite show of 2020; the one about an American football couch who moves to England to coach British football, all while having zero prior knowledge of the game has a brand new teaser trailer.
I can only imagine the pressure to make season two as wonderful as the first one. 2021 may not look quite as bleak as 2020 did, but at least we know that kindness and the need to always believe never go out of style. And so, I’m hoping for another great bunch of episodes that result in many more lifted spirits, smiles and maybe even some happy tears. Full disclosure, I absolutely cried during season one, more than twice!
Anyone else expecting/hoping for Lasso to get a viable love interest this season?
The cast for season 2 includes Jason Sudeikis, Juno Temple, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Toheeb Jimoh, Nick Mohammed, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Billy Harris and more including some welcome new faces.
Ted Lasso – Season 2 Release Date: July 23rd, 2021, Apple TV+
From directors Matthew Hamachek and Matthew Heineman; Tiger is a documentary that looks at the life, success and scandals of professional golfing legend Tiger Woods.
Is this the best teaser trailer I’ve seen in 2020? very likely. I’m just loving the the music, editing, dialogue and emotion.
Even though I’ve never closely followed golf, I’m in for the extraordinary story, and I just know that by the end, I’ll be that little bit wiser about the human experience and what it is to be extraordinary.
Lennox – The Untold Story (2020), Lennox Lewis, Altitude Films
Chronicling an incredible life and sporting career. Lennox – The Untold Story is a new documentary that offers an unprecedented look at the British boxer’s journey from troubled youth in West Ham, to the world heavyweight champion title.
Narrated by rap music’s celebrated producer Dr. Dre; Lennox – The Untold Story will feature unseen archive footage; interviews with Lewis, his family, closest friends, colleagues and boxing adversaries including Mike Tyson, Kellie Maloney, Emanuel Steward, Jim Lampley, Evander Holyfield and George Foreman.
As I’ve mentioned many times before, I love stories of greatness so of course I’d like to know more about Lewis. Even more so since back in 2016 Lewis was one of the pall bearers at the funeral of ‘the greatest of all time,’ Muhammad Ali.
On a different but related note, I actually thought that hearing a few classic quotes from the young ‘Iron Mike,’ Mike Tyson in this trailer was going to be the second and last thing to get me even more interested in this film. But then…! Something very unexpected started happening at a minute and 24 seconds in the above video. I knew I recognised the music but I didn’t know from where, at first. The Greatest Showman (2017) is what came to mind initially but it didn’t feel right. A few seconds pass and then, finally…!
Did you recognise the beautiful music right away? If not, the following words are the clue and the link destination has the answer: ‘Have courage, and be kind.‘
Embattled (2020), Stephen Dorff, Darren Mann, IFC Films
Embattled is the story of a son who aspires to be a Mix Martial Artist (MMA), just like his famous father. And while on this journey, he must fight his way out of the abusive cycle his father has continued.
Starring Stephen Dorff, Darren Mann, Elizabeth Reaser and Donald Faison, Embattled is directed by Nick Sarkisov.
I like the idea of a son having to face off with his father. I just don’t know if a professional MMA fight is how I’d want to see it. Well, except if and when the story gets a lot of elements right.
The question then is, will Embattled deliver on the key points? Fingers crossed for a very pleasant surprise.
Saïd Taghmaoui, Karrueche Tran, Drew Starkey, John Flanagan, Donald Cerrone, Ava Capri, Michael Wayne Foster and Mimi Davila also star.
The Iron Hammer is a new documentary about Chinese icon Lang Ping, the first person in volleyball history to have won gold at the Olympics, both as a player and as a coach.
Directed by by Joan Chen; the film follows Ping’s journey in China, to a career coaching abroad, then returning back to China to transform a struggling national team into champions.
My story with volleyball starts and ends with mandatory physical education in high school. ‘Good at it’ I most certainly wasn’t. What I am is interested in Ping’s life story; how she came to be the best, likely against some notable odds.
Olympic Dreams (2020), Nick Kroll, Alexi Pappas, IFC Films
Olympic Dreams is the story of the bond that grows between a young cross-country skier (after her competition ends) and a volunteer doctor.
Directed by Jeremy Teicher; Olympic Dreams stars Nick Kroll, Alexi Pappas…
I’m mostly curious about Kroll’s performance and precisely why his character seemed so taken aback by ‘the lunge’.
There’s also the ‘comedy running’ at 0:42 seconds into this trailer that made me giggle. Especially since Kroll is acting and he chose that level of tired running. Maybe I’m just too familiar with his comic personality. Or, that’s how truly exhausted non-athlete runners look – and I just don’t know.
The Movie My Life 