Your weekend time is valuable and at the end of a long week, the discretionary time must be spent to its maximum value. To help narrow down your choices on the film, television, and gaming fronts, every Friday, the Weekend Preview gives you the rundown of your options and an educated guess as to which ones make the most sense.
Nick Nunziata and I predicted the box office returns for these films last Sunday.
At the Movies
Inferno
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irrfan Khan
Current RT Meter: 24% Fresh
My box office prediction last Sunday: $33,000,000
Nick’s box office prediction: $29,000,000
Though it’s the only major release of the weekend, Inferno doesn’t look like it’s going to be a must-see attraction. Investment in the Robert Langdon series has dropped drastically, and reviews for this third entry have been sharply negative. Plus, this has already released in foreign markets, and that means that the distributors aren’t too optimistic with its domestic take. It looks like this might be a sad ending to this trilogy.
The Verdict: For fans only.
On the Tube
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
It’s a shame there aren’t more horror offerings releasing this Halloween weekend. Fortunately, Netflix has something for those of you needing a good scare. I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House looks like it’s taking a lot of cues from Shirley Jackson. That’s a good thing, especially for fans of flicks like The Haunting. Ruth Wilson (Luther) is always a joy to watch. This looks like a nice bit of skin-crawling fun for the holiday.
The Verdict: Why not? Everyone’s entitled to one good scare.
Into the Inferno
A Werner Herzog documentary is always fascinating. His forays into nature have been hypnotic and surprisingly philosophical. Into the Inferno looks like more of the same. The subject matter is certainly worth exploring and how can you deny Herzog’s amazing narration?
The Verdict: Cinema fans have got to check this out.
Comedy Bang! Bang!
The groundbreaking show closes out the last half of its final season. Weird Al continues his stint as co-host and blesses the world with his continued presence. Comedy Bang! Bang! is going to go down as an important part of comedy history. It deserves your eyeballs, even if it’s just for the final episode.
The Verdict: This is the end of an era. Give it a little of your time.
The Fall
The third season of this powerful crime drama might very well be its last. Lead actors Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan have amassed tons of praise for their performances in this show. Things seem to be coming to a close and now is a great time to get caught up. If this sticks the landing, it could go down as one of modern TV’s most underrated shows.
The Verdict: Definitely worth giving a chance.
Tracy Ullman’s Show
Tracy Ullman broke new ground in the world of sketch comedy. Her original show also brought the world The Simpsons. Ullman is back with a new comedy series that has already been picked up for a second season in the UK. Sketch comedy is always a welcome bit of fun and Ullman knows how to make people laugh.
The Verdict: Fans of sketch comedy definitely owe this one a look.
For the Gamers
Batman: The Telltale Series – Episode 3: New World Order
Another entry in this episodic game. To be fair, this most recent installment seems to provide some good twists and turns. These episodic games are always tough to judge until you can take a look at the whole picture. If you’re okay with getting the story fed to you piece by piece, this is the premiere product out on the market.
The Verdict: You’ve probably already bought your season pass at this point, but if you haven’t, you can try to win one here.
Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel
Dark Souls III is one of the most punishing games released in recent years. Want more punishment? Then this DLC is for you! The new environments look beautiful, and the combat is as brutal as ever. This is a fairly basic expansion, but that’s not a bad thing. More of the same is fine as long as it’s good.
The Verdict: Don’t lie. The masochist in you wants this.
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2
The sequel to the most ambitious Dragon Ball game ever promises plenty but does it deliver? Reviews have been on the positive side, and it’s obviously a huge love letter to fans. I’m a Tenkaichi Budokai 3 man myself, but this will be loads of fun for those still needing their Dragon Ball itch scratched.
The Verdict: For fans only, but it’ll make them quite happy.
World of Final Fantasy
The most recognizable JRPG series of all time gets the Kingdom Hearts cutesy treatment. Add in some Pokémon-type elements and plenty of nostalgic callbacks, and this is a fan’s greatest dream come true. Reviews have been kind but not glowing, but this could still be a great way to introduce kids to Final Fantasy.
The Verdict: This looks like innocent and easy fun.
Titanfall 2
Titanfall had great potential but didn’t seem to really stick around. Will the sequel fare better? If the reviews are any indication, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” The single-player campaign has been getting lots of praise. If the series can stay fresh, it’s possible that Titanfall 2 could be the real kickoff to a new franchise that cements itself as a crucial part of modern gaming.
The Verdict: This could be the next big thing. Don’t miss out.
