Fall is here!

The largely brainless summer blockbuster season is at least a month behind us. So that means it's finally time for slightly more cerebral movie fare.

We've got a couple of big openings today, including the new sci-fi flick "The Creator", and the 400th installment of the usually gruesome "Saw" ("Saw X" - supposedly just the 10th edition).

Speaking of gruesome, October is pretty much here, and that means Halloween. And there will be a bountiful harvest of spooky and gory stuff, including "The Exorcist: Believer".

You'll also see a parade of big names. Many of those names are attached to just one film: Legendary Director Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" features a cast almost as large as the number of members in the actors' union SAG-ASTRA, and stars a plethora of Oscar winners, including Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro, and Brendan Du Fraser (sorry, Brendan Fraser - couldn't help myself).

Then there's November, which will see a number of sequels and prequels, with "The Marvels" representing one of the former, and "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" representing the latter.

Plus, there's Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as "Napoleon"

And while things will (hopefully) cool down outside come December, things will be heating up on the big screen, with yet another reincarnation of "Wonka" (how many times will this story be told?), this time with Timothee Chalamet in the title role. And Jason Mamoa will be back in the water with "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom".

And even though it'll officially be winter by Christmas Day, the buzz behind "The Color Purple" and "Ferrari" is already shaking some leaves off the trees.

So, there's a lot to look forward to. But while we wait for the season to kick in fully, there were a couple of films released quietly on streaming services over the past few months that might be worth checking out.

"A Thousand and One"

(US Rated R)

Cast: Teyana Taylor, Josiah Cross, William Catlett, Aven Courtney

Genre: Drama

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Dwight's Rating: *** out of 4

Unpredictable!

It's not often one can say that about a family drama, or any type of film these days. It seems we've pretty much seen it all.

Or so we thought.

"A Thousand and One" throws constant curveballs at the viewer. The foreboding sense of doom will keep you uncomfortably on the edge of your seat. You just can't tell what is going to happen, but you know it isn't good.

The other curveball - and one that's good - is the cast, and particularly star Teyana Taylor, who surprises with a star-making performance. The singer/choreographer proves she has the goods to carry a film.

Taylor stars as unapologetic and free-spirited Inez, who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. They set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity and stability in a rapidly changing New York City in the 1990s and 2000s.

With compelling performances from the rest of the cast, especially the three actors who play Terry at different stages in his life, perhaps the only significant criticism is the similarity in the age depiction concept to the Oscar-winning "Moonlight".

But "A Thousand and One" is a unique story in its own right, and a slowly unraveling mystery. Even the meaning behind the title remains a bit of a puzzle and open to interpretation.

Written and directed by A.V. Rockwell - in her directorial debut - "A Thousand and One" made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was released in March. You can watch in on Amazon Prime.

"The Beanie Bubble"
(US Rated R)

Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook, Geraldine Viswanathan

Genre: Comedy-Drama

Where to watch: Apple TV+

Dwight's Rating: ** out of 4

Even more mind-boggling than the obsession some folks had for Beanie Babies, is the behind-the-scenes developments that led up to their popularity and eventual fall from grace.

"The Beanie Bubble" is the unbelievable tale of one of America's most fascinating phenomena: Beanie Babies. Flashing back to the '90s and early 2000s, we get an in-depth look at how the era-defining zeitgeist came to be.

Zach Galifianakis ("The Hangover") stars as Ty Warner, CEO and Founder of Ty Inc., maker of the toys like stuffed animals, including Beanie Babies.

Elizabeth Banks ("The Hunger Games", "Pitch Perfect"), and two Australian actresses making names for themselves on this side of the pond, Sarah Snook (HBO's "Succession"), and Geraldine Viswanathan (TBS' "Miracle Workers") play Robbie, Sheila and Maya, respectively - three characters based on three real people, but the names have been changed.

The true identities are not a secret though. The film proclaims that this is mostly a true story, but suggests that some liberties were taken elsewhere.

The principal cast does a fine job, particularly Galifianakis and Viswanathan. A disjointed timeline in the progression of the story will require a bit of attention, but overall, "The Beanie Bubble" (released in July on Apple TV+) is a mostly fun and funny flick, and a nice soft and cuddly palate cleanser before the heavy stuff arrives in the final quarter of the year.

• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of "Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.

This summer, it’s Ken’s turn to take hosting for a spin. That’s right – Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse is back by popular demand on Airbnb – with a twist.

While everyone’s favorite doll makes her live-action film debut in BARBIE, Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) is handing over the keys and hosting an overnight stay in the newly renovated and iconic Malibu DreamHouse.

Barbie is everything, and he’s always been “Just Ken” - until now! Ken has revamped part of Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse with everything he loves (rollerblading, anyone?). And though guests can clearly see his, ahem, Kenergy, Barbie’s signature pink remains ever-present throughout the life-size, toy-inspired home, as she’s done her own redecorating since the last time the Malibu DreamHouse was available for guests.

“We all have dreams, and Barbie is lucky enough to have a house full of them,” said Ken. “But now, it’s my turn, and I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind – dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? – digs.”

Ken is adding hosting to one of his passions in celebration of the release of the highly anticipated BARBIE film, directed by Greta Gerwig, written by Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, and starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrara, Kate McKinnnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.

About the stay

Located in sunny Malibu, the oceanfront mansion features panoramic views and serves as the perfect backdrop for Ken’s picture-plastic paradise. Fans will be able to request to book Ken’s bedroom in the Malibu DreamHouse for two individual one-night stays** for up to two guests each on July 21 and July 22, 2023. All stays will be free of charge – because Ken couldn’t figure out how to put a price on Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse – after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math!

While in the DreamHouse, guests will have the opportunity to live in technicolor by:

● Taking a spin through Ken’s awesome wardrobe to find their best beach fit. Look out Barbie, Ken’s got quite the closet too!

● Channeling their inner cowboy and learning a line dance or two on Ken’s outdoor disco dance floor or performing a sunset serenade on Ken’s guitar

● Challenging their fellow guests to a “beach off” with plenty of sunbathing and chillaxing by the infinity pool

● Taking home a piece of the Kendom with their very own set of yellow-and-pink Impala rollerblades and surfboards

How to book

Everyone in Barbie Land can request to book Ken’s room in Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse beginning July 17 at 10 a.m. PT at airbnb.com/kendreamhouse. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Malibu.

Interested in becoming an Airbnb Room Host like Ken? To learn more about how you can earn on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/host.

In celebration of BARBIE hitting theaters on July 21, and to honor girls’ empowerment, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Save the Children. Save the Children provides learning resources and support to children, families, and communities in 100+ countries to build girls’ confidence and help them excel in school – ensuring everyone has equal opportunity to achieve success.

*Plus taxes and fees

**These two, one-night stays for up to two guests are not a contest. The home is independently owned and operated. The right holders for Barbie and the Ken character have been compensated for their participation.

This summer, it’s Ken’s turn to take hosting for a spin. That’s right – Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse is back by popular demand on Airbnb – with a twist. While everyone’s favorite doll makes her live-action film debut in BARBIE, Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) is handing over the keys and hosting an overnight stay in the newly renovated and iconic Malibu DreamHouse. Barbie is everything, and he’s always been “Just Ken” - until now! Ken has revamped part of Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse with everything he loves (rollerblading, anyone?). And though guests can clearly see his, ahem, Kenergy, Barbie’s signature pink remains ever-present throughout the life-size, toy-inspired home, as she’s done her own redecorating since the last time the Malibu DreamHouse was available for guests. “We all have dreams, and Barbie is lucky enough to have a house full of them,” said Ken. “But now, it’s my turn, and I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind – dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? – digs.” Ken is adding hosting to one of his passions in celebration of the release of the highly anticipated BARBIE film, directed by Greta Gerwig, written by Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, and starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrara, Kate McKinnnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell. About the stay Located in sunny Malibu, the oceanfront mansion features panoramic views and serves as the perfect backdrop for Ken’s picture-plastic paradise. Fans will be able to request to book Ken’s bedroom in the Malibu DreamHouse for two individual one-night stays** for up to two guests each on July 21 and July 22, 2023. All stays will be free of charge – because Ken couldn’t figure out how to put a price on Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse – after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math! While in the DreamHouse, guests will have the opportunity to live in technicolor by: ● Taking a spin through Ken’s awesome wardrobe to find their best beach fit. Look out Barbie, Ken’s got quite the closet too! ● Channeling their inner cowboy and learning a line dance or two on Ken’s outdoor disco dance floor or performing a sunset serenade on Ken’s guitar ● Challenging their fellow guests to a “beach off” with plenty of sunbathing and chillaxing by the infinity pool ● Taking home a piece of the Kendom with their very own set of yellow-and-pink Impala rollerblades and surfboards How to book Everyone in Barbie Land can request to book Ken’s room in Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse beginning July 17 at 10 a.m. PT at airbnb.com/kendreamhouse. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Malibu. Interested in becoming an Airbnb Room Host like Ken? To learn more about how you can earn on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/host. In celebration of BARBIE hitting theaters on July 21, and to honor girls’ empowerment, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Save the Children. Save the Children provides learning resources and support to children, families, and communities in 100+ countries to build girls’ confidence and help them excel in school – ensuring everyone has equal opportunity to achieve success. *Plus taxes and fees **These two, one-night stays for up to two guests are not a contest. The home is independently owned and operated. The right holders for Barbie and the Ken character have been compensated for their participation.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (Rated T)

Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Dave Battista, Chukwudi Iwuji

Genre: Adventure/ Sci-fi

Where to watch: In Theaters

Dwight's Rating:

Fast food companies seem to fall into mainly two camps when it comes to preparing food. They are either 1) consistently the same every single time you order your favorite go-to dish on the menu, or 2) widely disparate in terms of quality and consistency, any and every time you visit.

While the former usually allows for very few unpleasant surprises, it can mean few pleasing gastronomic treats, especially if the company is primarily known for basic culinary fare.

On the other hand, with the latter, even amongst the unevenness and disappointing lows, there are occasionally spectacularly good days when everything is piping hot and fresh.

Comic book-based superhero movies have evolved into a weird creature that straddles these two formulas - cranking out the same old product with a few shuffles in the ingredients, and yet still hit-or-miss in terms of the quality.

If this were the restaurant business, one would suspect they'd not be long for this world.

One film series in this genre that hitherto seemed immune to this scourge affecting many Marvel and DC properties now appears to have become contaminated.

The first two "Guardians of the Galaxy" flicks both received a "Reel to Real" 3.5-star (out of 4) rating. It's incredibly rare for a sequel to be considered as good as an original. As such, expectations had been riding high for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3", which we've been told would be the final chapter in this franchise.

Alas, instead of handcrafted with love by a master chef, "Vol. 3" must have been mass produced on some sort of food conveyor belt or assembly line, despite having the same director (James Gunn), and largely the same cast as the previous two editions.

Even the standard synopsis for the picture is uninspiring:

Still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Yes, it features great action sequences and effects and CGI, but don't they all? This is largely lackluster and familiar, eerily like other recent superhero movies. The parallels to Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" are surprising - and that definitely is not a good thing.

While "Vol. 3" is not terrible, unlike February's "Quantumania" - a long, tiresome, soulless, unseasoned mess of a movie - the similar villain and the reliance on exploring backstory make me feel like I just ordered the same sandwich from two different franchises of the same restaurant brand across town from each other (one of those inconsistent chains). The folks at the ''Vol. 3" store (blessedly) like to put extra sauce on the stuff they crank out.

Thankfully, the backstory storyline involving the Rocket Raccoon character (Bradley Cooper) is the most interesting part of the whole film; touching, sweet and refreshing (but oh-so-close to being over-the-top). And the villain here (Nigerian-British actor Chukwudi Iwuji as High Evolutionary) is slightly less clownish than what we were served in "Quantumania".

But again, the problem with "Vol. 3" is that it begs comparison with other recent releases. There used to be few things to which we could compare to "Guardians of the Galaxy".

As such, this is just a bunch of the same old-same old. It's not as humorous, not as witty, not as creative! It's not horrible! But it just can't meet the lofty heights set by its forebears.

If you've never watched the two previous films in this franchise, it's quite possible you'll think "Vol. 3" is quite entertaining. And if you've never seen any comic-book based superhero movie, you might even think this is brilliant. If that's the case, well good for you, and welcome to Earth.

For the rest of you, and the "Guardians of the Galaxy" fans, you'll enjoy "Vol. 3" about as much as you do the thing you always get from your favorite fast-food joint. It gets the job done, and once you've had one, you likely won't be craving another one for at least a little while.

• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of "Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.

"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" (Rated T)

Cast: Paul Rudd, Jonathan Majors, Evangeline Lilly, Michele Pfeiffer

Genre: Action, Adventure

Where to watch: In theaters

Dwight's Rating:

It's time to apply the brakes.

It's one thing for there to be mediocre romantic comedies, or lackluster coming-of-age family stories, or even one-note animated films.

But my goodness, what are we doing when we can accept the steady cranking out of generic superhero movies?

Is this really the world in which we want to live? Why have star-studded casts and expensive visual effects if the result is going to be something as regular as any old procedural TV crime drama?

And this has become the rule rather than the exception. It seems for every "Wakanda Forever" or "The Batman", we are cursed with one or two like "Black Adam" and now "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania".

When these movies are no longer special, and are just like the one you saw that time (probably just a few short months ago), and the time right before that, then they become unnecessary and downright annoying.

And with "Ant-Man" already feeling like a franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe that is ... um ... disposable, one has to wonder, what is the point of all of this?

For this now third installment, Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.

"Quantumania" gets off to a quite unremarkable start, but there are eventually glimmers of hope, especially whenever the wonderful Michelle Pfeiffer is featured, and as we explore her character Janet's backstory.

But then, we are thrust into a space opera - with bizarre and ridiculous alien lifeforms - that can best be described as a flea market "Star Wars".

And if you've watched any of the "Star Wars" in the trilogy, you know that at least four of those films (probably five) would struggle to sell at the Swap Shop. But yet, "Quantumania" is not even as good as those.

The humor that always seemed a little uncomfortably out of place in the original "Ant-Man" (2015), and was sadly greatly reduced in the 2018 follow-up "Ant-Man and the Wasp", is sporadic at best here.

Last year's sometimes depressing "Wakanda Forever" is more amusing than "Quantumania". How is that possible?

You know things aren't good when the usual mid-credit extra scene is actually the most interesting thing in the entire movie. (Is there one at very end of the credits? You let me know, 'cause I couldn't bear to find out!)

Despite being blessed with a great cast like Rudd, Pfieffer, Lilly and now the omnipresent man-of-the-hour Jonathan Majors, "Quantumania" feels like a burden - to us and to the actors.

Other greats are simply wasted; the great Bill Murray provides one far-too-brief scene of comedy. And Oscar-winner Michael Douglas is here, but he could have done the nonsense required of him on Zoom.

With "Quantumania", it's time to let Ant-Man - and any other hero insects - permanently slip off into another universe.

"The Fabelmans" (US Rated PG-13)

Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Judd Hirsch

Genre: Drama

Where to watch: Video-on-demand

Dwight's Rating:

I'll admit it. I thought this was going to be another self-indulgent Hollywood-type production.

You know, the ones like "La La Land" that only industry insiders gush about.

But this is Steven Spielberg (he directed and co-wrote with Tony Kushner - the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning playwright "Angels in America", and Spielberg rarely disappoints. Probably never!)

And so, this is a very special semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story, and it's worthy of all and any hype you might have heard.

Loosely based on Spielberg's life, with some names changed, we follow the early life of young Sammy Fabelman, who falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth". Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

Amazing from start to finish, and relatable to anyone who's ever been a child and had a family, "The Fabelmans" is a true delight.

This amazing cast shines. For her work here, Michelle Williams earned her fifth Oscar nomination, with a performance that you'll not soon forget. Multiple Emmy and Tony winner, veteran actor Judd Hirsch (TV's "Taxi") is on screen for what seems like five minutes (it's apparently just under 10 minutes), and that was enough to earn him his second nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Unfortunately, the star of the film, Gabriel LaBelle, the emotional heart of the picture as Sammy, has largely been left off the lists this awards season. And the young actor really deserves to be recognized for his fine work. It's a travesty.

But "The Fabelmans" is so enjoyable, you won't be able to dwell on that oversight too long. Fun, funny, touching, loving, lovely! This is one of the very best movies from 2022.

"The Fabelmans" are the true super hero family you need to be watching!

• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of "Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.