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Hello! I’m trying something a little different this month. I always like to see what my fellow book lovers are watching. If I like your book recommendations, it stands to reason that I would like your screen recommendations too. I occasionally share what my husband and I are watching but I include it in a massively long “month in review” post. I thought I would try giving our television its own monthly spotlight instead. So welcome to the inaugural post of (re)Viewing Last Month: August 2025. Works appear in the the order in which we finished them.
Title: Stephen King’s The Shining
Seen before? No, not this version
Based on a Book or Story? Yes
Have I Read the Book? Yes. I rated it 3 stars but never wrote a review
Reason for Watching: We recently visited The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, where Stephen King was inspired to write the book
Source: DVD from the library
In case you don’t know, King was never happy with Stanley Kubrick’s iconic movie so he wrote a screenplay for his own mini-series, which aired on TV in 1997. Unlike Kubrick’s version, it was actually filmed on location at The Stanley Hotel.
This is fine. Steven Weber and Rebecca De Mornay’s performances are competent but the CGI is pretty cringe-y, even for the ’90s. It was too long, especially in the first part (of three), which was mostly setup and backstory. But it was still The Shining, a story that entertains us, and it added an extra layer of creepiness to see it play out in a hotel we had just visited. This isn’t a must-watch by any means but, again, it’s fine.
Title: Lupin: Part 3
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? Loosely based on Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Thief and the rest of the series by Maurice Leblanc
Have I Read the Book? No
Reason for Watching: We really liked the first two parts
Source: Streamed on Netflix
This intelligent heist series is a lot of fun to watch. Omar Sy is fantastic as Assane Diop, the titular Lupin. He’s surrounded by a great supporting cast as well. Each episode is over-the-top and presses the bounds of credulity but they’re easy enough to buy. This part wraps up well but there are some lingering questions that I hope will be answered in part 4 (filming now). The show is French and dubbed in English. In other dubbed shows, the mismatch between the character’s lips and the words I’m hearing can bug me but I don’t notice that in this show. I’m probably too busy wondering how on earth Assane is going to come out on top this time.
Title: Rogue One
Seen before? Yes
Based on a Book or Story? No
Reason for Watching: Finished Andor Season 2 and this was a natural progression
Source: Streamed on Disney Plus
This is one of my favorite Star Wars spin-offs, in all honesty. I had forgotten that Felicity Jones is the star of this movie, not Diego Luna. I really like Felicity Jones as an actress but after two seasons of Andor (which my husband liked but I had mixed feelings about), this whole plot felt so much like Cassian Andor’s story that it was a shock to find out that this movie isn’t really his. I liked the depth and pathos that the show Andor added to the movie though. We had a lot of “Ah-ha!” moments as some things clicked into place. Hats off to the writers for tying the prequel series in so seamlessly to the original work.
Title: We Bought a Zoo
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? Yes, We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
Have I Read the Book? No
Reason for Watching: Random pick from our Letterboxd watch list
Source: Streamed on Max
What a wholesome family film. Matt Damon’s character’s wife passed away before the events of the movie so there is some grieving and discussions of grief on screen. There’s also an animal death that is handled as delicately as such things can be. The family is relatable in their day-to-day dysfunction and the supporting characters are a fun, eclectic mix. One of us *ahem* may have shed some tears along the way but it’s ultimately a feel-good movie that left us with smiles on our faces.
Title: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Seen before? Yes
Based on a Book or Story? Yes, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
Have I Read the Book? No
Reason for Watching: Finally bought the DVD for my husband’s birthday (It’s been on his wish list 10+ years)
Source: Own DVD
I mean, it’s silly. The title gives that away. The plot is not the strongest. But dangit, it is just an entertaining movie to watch and the concept tickles my fancy. The visual effects are fun and the fight scenes are well-choreographed. It’s not great Cinema, but it’s not trying to be, and sometimes we just need something exciting that doesn’t require too much brain power. This fits the bill.
Title: Miss Scarlet & the Duke: Season 3
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? No
Reason for Watching: Continuing the series. I believe my grandmother initially recommended it to me.
Source: DVD from the library
I tend to like period pieces and this is no exception. Eliza Scarlet, played by Kate Phillips, is London’s first female detective and her perseverance in the face of discrimination and misogyny is inspiring. She appears to be all sunshine and smiles but she has a spine of steel. The supporting cast is mostly delightful, though I did get really exasperated with The Duke’s own misogynistic treatment of Eliza in season 2. He was better in this season but I was still happy to see more of the ever-enigmatic Moses and a larger crew of more supportive men, including the charming rogue Patrick Nash. These mysteries are clever, atmospheric, and well-acted, everything I could possibly ask for.
That’s it for us. What did you watch last month? Anything you would recommend? What do you think of our choices?
