October 2023’s Best Streaming Titles: “Bubba Ho-Tep,” “Loki,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hackers,” “Dune”
Elvis Presley vs. a mummy, the MCU’s god of mischief, zombie hilarity, hacking the Gibson, Arrakis, and more.
As Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, et al. add more content, it can be difficult to know what to look for amidst all of the new titles. I’ve compiled a list of particularly noteworthy and interesting movies and TV shows to add to your streaming queues in the coming month.
Amazon Prime Video
Frasier, Seasons 1 – 11 (Oct 1)
There was a period of time when my wife and I watched Frasier almost religiously, thanks to Kelsey Grammer’s performance as a therapist who returns to his hometown of Seattle, launches a radio talk show, and attempts to make sense of his life with the help of a motley crew of friends and family. Witty, erudite, and just plain laugh out loud hilarious at times — especially whenever his brother Niles was onscreen — Frasier won nearly forty Primetime Emmy Awards during its eleven-season run, and is lauded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.
Bubba Ho-Tep (Oct 1)
Everyone knows that Elvis Presley died in 1977. But Bubba Ho-Tep presupposes that he’s actually been living in a Texas nursing home all these years, along with a Black man who believes he’s John F. Kennedy. And it’s up to the two of them to stop an ancient Egyptian mummy from devouring the souls of their neighbors. Bruce Campbell gives a performance for the ages as the regret-filled King of Rock and Roll who gets one final shot at being a hero. Although its premise is ridiculous on paper, Bubba Ho-Tep is a pitch-perfect blend of dark humor, horror, and pathos.
GoldenEye (Oct 1)
A slew of James Bond films are arriving on Amazon Video in October, but I have a special fondness for 1995’s Goldeneye, which was Pierce Brosnan’s first outing as 007. Brosnan’s 007 is the perfect blend of charm, élan, menace, and edge, all of which are put to good use as Bond tries to stop a deadly Russian satellite from falling into the wrong hands. Goldeneye has everything you could want in a Bond film: gadgets, femme fatales, thrilling action sequences (like the tank chase through downtown St. Petersburg), and a couple of twists and betrayals. (The fact that Goldeneye also inspired one of the greatest video games of all time doesn’t hurt, either.)
Mars Attacks! (Oct 1)
It’s the greatest alien invasion movie based on a series of trading cards ever made, and it boasts a heckuva cast: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Martin Short, Natalie Portman, and Tom Jones, to name a few. True story: when I was in college, I missed school for about a week due to illness. During that time, all I could do was lie on the couch, and the only thing I remember watching was Mars Attacks!, so my memories of the movie might be a bit addled.
The Wedding Singer (Oct 1)
Adam Sandler stars in this 1998 romantic comedy about a wedding singer whose fiancée leaves him at the altar. Spiraling into depression, the only bright spot is his friendship with a young waitress (played by Drew Barrymore) who’s also soon to be married. Needless to say, sparks — and hilarity — soon start flying. Set in 1985, the film revels in ridiculous ’80s nostalgia, from Sandler’s hair to the musical references (Culture Club, Thompson Twins, Billy Idol).