Welcome to Boston.com weekly streaming guide. Every week, we recommend five must-see movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms including: Netflix, Hulu, amazon prime, disney plus, HBO MaxPeacock, Paramount+, and more.
While many of our recommendations are for new shows, others are for lesser-known releases you may have missed or classics that are set to drop from the streaming service at the end of the month.
Think we should know about your new favorite movie or show? Let us know in the comments or email us at kevin.slane@boston.com.Looking for even better streaming options? Check out previous versions Click here for the must-see list.
movie
“Chase Red October”
David Bordwell, one of the world’s most influential film scholars, reportedly passed away this week at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer. With his wife, Christine Thompson, Bordwell wrote the most commonly used textbook in film studies, and “The Art of Cinematography” became a must-have for incoming students, especially at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where the couple worked. It has become. Bordwell was a champion of demystifying the filmmaking process in a way that everyone could understand, and his tastes ranged from arthouse to blockbusters.
As a case in point, one of Bordwell’s favorite films is John McTiernan’s submarine thriller The Hunt for Red October, in which the breezy Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) takes on the role of a villain. The story is about a man who must contact a Soviet submarine captain (Sean Connery) to prevent a nuclear war. ). From 1987 to his 1990, McTiernan directed his three cold classics: 1987’s “Predator,” 1988’s “Die His Hard,” and 1990’s “Red October.” Each set the standard for their respective genres, and few have matched it since. Whether you can appreciate McTiernan’s use of the “focus cuts” favored by Soviet filmmakers of the 1920s to get attention like Bordwell, or you just love a good submarine movie, this weekend You can watch this movie on Max.
How to watch: “The Hunt for Red October” is now streaming on Max.
“Napoleon”
Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) won the Best Director Oscar despite having made some of the most influential films in his 47-year career. Never.Scott missed this year as well. “Napoleon’ is a historical drama that reunites Scott with his ‘Gladiator’ co-star Joaquin Phoenix (‘Joker’) as the legendary French Emperor. “Napoleon” explores Bonaparte’s rise through the ranks, his power and his undying love for his wife Josephine (Mission: Impossible’s Vanessa Kirby), as epic in scope as Napoleon’s ambitions. I am recording. Scott claims the film has an “amazing” four-and-a-half hour director’s cut, but audiences will have to be content with the 158-minute version for now.
How to watch: “Napoleon” is now available on Apple TV+.
tv set
“Avatar: The Last Airbender”
Fans of Nickelodeon’s animated epic drama “Avatar: The Last Airbender” have been in awe over the live-action version. Director M. Night Shyamalan’s attempt to bring this elemental adventure to the big screen failed miserably in 2009. Netflix’s new eight-episode series lets you get away with most of it, so it’s best to take your time to get the details right.
For those who haven’t seen the original version: Avatar Aang must master the four elements (earth, water, fire, and air) to save the planet as she and her newfound water tribe flee from enemies large and small. It’s inside. His friends Katara and Sokka. Aang has been asleep for 100 years, during which time the world has been tormented by the Fire Nation’s unstoppable conquest. The visuals of the Netflix show are incredible and true to the intent of the comics. The only thing missing is the cheeky humor of the Nickelodeon show, but that’s to be expected in this adult adaptation.
How to watch: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is now available on Netflix.
“General”
FX’s 10-episode series, based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, transports viewers to Japan in the 1600s. Japan is on the brink of civil war due to the power vacuum created by the death of a powerful leader. The conflict involves Japanese and foreign fighters, including Protestant British sailor John Blackthorne, who fights Jesuit priests and entrenched Portuguese merchants. Produced by husband-and-wife collaborators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, “Shogun” is the kind of historical blockbuster that has been missing from television, especially typical cable TV, in recent years, and a welcome addition to the weekend lineup. It is.
How to watch: “Shogun” is streaming on Hulu, and new episodes air Tuesdays on FX.
“tourist”
HBO Max’s loss is Netflix’s gain. After David Zaslav’s streamer dropped the twisty BBC thriller, Netflix announced that Jamie Dornan (from Fifty Shades of Grey”) eagerly scooped up the rights to the vehicle. In true British style, the series is short but captivating, with each season consisting of just six episodes. You may be able to finish it all over the weekend, but be careful as you will still have a desire for more.
How to watch: “The Tourist” is currently available on Netflix.
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