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Archive for 2016

Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them (Movie Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 21, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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Fantastic Beasts directed by David Yates and starring Eddie Redmayne follows the story of a young wizard, Newt Scamander, as he explores the City of New York and the underground world of magic. Newt Scamander is the author of the book Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, the same book that Harry reads at Hogwarts seventy years after these events. Newt Scamander finds himself in a world of trouble as some of his creatures have escaped his magical suitcase.  As Newt tries to finds the creatures, he also tries the keep the City safe from magic being exposed to non-magical beings.

The action packed fantasy adventure was exciting, and everything you would expect from a Harry Potter franchise film. There was a lot going on with multiple story lines but I still felt as though there was a clear direction in where the story was going. There were surprises at every corner and every moment was filled with thrilling elements. Eddie Redmayne displayed a soft spirited persona and made me smile almost every time he was in a new scene. Eddie’s character added a freshness to the story and created new elements to the Wizarding World.

The creatures were interesting in appearance and the concept of Newt being able to go deep inside the suitcase, to a whole new world was spectacular. The special effects were impressive and the magical elements were enthralling. The time period was authentic in its presentation and the supporting cast all added to the storytelling process.

Overall the movie is a must see. You will be enchanted throughout the entire film.

L.L.

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Dr. Strange “Movie Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on November 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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Dr. Strange Movie Review

Marvel’s Dr. Strange starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton was directed by Scott Derrickson. This was a thrilling adventure that was absolutely sensational.  The story follows a very successful neurosurgeon Steven Strange as he suffers from a horrific car accident. His body is left broken and spirit shattered as he tries to pick up the pieces of a life that will never be the same again. Strange receives word from an occupational therapist that a man he knew was in a similar situation and found an alternative way to heal his body and spirt in the process.

Strange seeks answers across the world, with the hope that he will be able to heal and become the surgeon that he once was. He meets two people on his journey Mordo and the Ancient One. They expose Dr. Strange to a world of infinite possibilities by opening the doors to a wider consciousness and teaching Dr. Strange the rules of magic that dwell within the realms of multiple dimensions. Strange opens himself up and allows his belief in medicine fuel his drive to see this world and the worlds beyond differently. In the process he is faced with many challenges and an enemy that poses a threat that could end humanity. Strange takes on the threat and becomes an entity that’s strength is built on his knowledge and increasing magical abilities. Throughout the film Strange is constantly evolving and becoming better than his previous self. He ends up becoming the guardian of New York City.

Dr. Strange came out on top and was one of the best superhero movies I’ve seen since the Avengers. There were references to the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, so I am excited to see how this whole story is going to unfold. The special effects were amazing and had a strong Inception feel to it. I would love to see what the storyboards look like frame by frame for each scene. Hopefully the DVD will have bonus features like that in it.  The storyline was great and I actually felt like there were also many Swept into the Darkness references made throughout the film as well. The dark dimensions and the ability to manipulate time within the cosmos, are major elements in the book and movie. Swept into the Darkness is about the battle between Good and Evil among Heaven and Earth and Sydney London, the main character must travel within the dimensions and use her angelic powers to defeat the evil.  Swept into the Darkness is available on Amazon.com and written by yours truly.

Benedict Cumberbatch was a great casting choice and I felt that the whole cast was awesome in contributing to the story-telling process. I rarely see movies a second time in the theater but this movie is worth the money and a second trip. I saw it in 3D which added to the overall experience. If you have not seen this movie yet please go see it.

I give Dr. Strange 5 stars for being just outright awesome and giving meaning to what a cool movie can look like.

L.L.

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The Walking Dead Season Seven Premiere 

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »

 

As the intensity and anticipation grew over the last few months, The season Premiere of The Walking Dead unraveled like a roll of gift wrapping paper. Directed by the talented Greg Nicotero, the story continued as the wrath of Negan brought down his bat upon two of TWD’S most beloved characters. I’m still in shock over the whole thing and must say that theTWD PR team did a great job at creating such buzz for this season. The Internet was fuming with kill theories and videos about the potential victims but I must say that my own theories were inconsistent at times. I had a feeling that Glenn was going to die but I figured that the writers had other plans for Abraham.  I’m surprised that the show let go of two major characters at the same time.

I would like to begin with the flow of the story and the story telling process,which was done in classic Nicotero style. It was done in a way that brings the audience even deeper into the story with the realization that these events are happening to the characters.

The events are unfolding through the eyes of Rick as he watches the deaths of members of his family. Glenn has been there since the very beginning so it makes it an even harder pill to swallow. Rick is more vulnerable that he has ever been before. The kill scene spews an unimaginable sence of emotion that deeply impacts us, especially the charcters in the show.

Rick and the group are heartbroken over the loss of Abraham and Glenn and it seems as though the group is torn in a way that will never allow them to heal. 

The evil within Negan is gut wrenching but there is something about him that makes me like him. Maybe it’s the writers or Jeffrey Dean Morgan but I’m excited to see what kind of future he will have on the show. 

Overall the episode was hard to watch. I can’t stand to see Rick go through this turmoil. This season is already intense. What else can I say…..

L.L.

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Magnificent Seven 2016 Review 

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »


​The Magnificent Seven, directed by Antone Fuqua, and starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt, follows a bounty hunter (Chisolm) and six members of aquaintances as they help to protect a local western town from a rich industrial tycoon.

This movie was a lot of fun to see. It was well executed and the overall production was presented and delivered in a very authentic manner. The multicultural cast was just perfect and the on screen chemistry gave off a natural vibe as the movie goer watched the story unfold. The score was engaging and the mood of film was pure and reflected a feeling of old school adventure, something that most remakes lack. I thought that the movie was well done and exciting. It was a nice change from all the horror and drama that has been on the silver screen lately.  It was refreshing to see a cross of classic 90’s Hollywood actors like Denzel and Ethan, work with modern Hollywood actors like Chris Pratt. For those people who are not familiar with the 1960’s version, you will not feel like you missed out when watching this version. The movie had a great blend of modern film aesthetics while still staying true to the naturalness that the time period represents. The effects were not overwhelming but was done in a way that sharpened the story-telling process. Before the movie was over, I was hoping that a sequel could be possible, but I think this was a stand alone film.

This is a must see, if you are looking to have fun and be taken away to the past. I give this movie 5 stars. 

L.L 

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Don’t Breathe “Movie Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »

​Don’t Breathe directed by Fede Alvarez and produced by Horror Legend Sam Raimi, stars Stephen Lang and Jane Levy.  The story follows a young woman and her two friends as she tries to make a better life for her and her daughter. Living the life of a criminal, Rocky and her two friends have knowledge and experience in robbing houses. They soon come to learn that a local blind man is sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars of settlement money. The three decide to rob the man with the hopes of everything going smoothly. The plan is underway but things soon go sour despite the blind man’s disability.

This movie was just outstanding. It’s the perfect horror movie that fans have been anticipating for a long time. The intensity and suspense building is great. The overall concept was nice and fresh. The score kept the thrill going and Stephen Lang did an amazing job portraying “the blind man.”

I give this movie 5 stars, this is the type of film that people will be talking about for a long time. Go see it, if you haven’t already!

Happy Haunting

L.L 

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Don’t Breathe “Movie Review#

Posted in Fantasy literature on September 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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Don’t Breathe directed by Fede Alvarez and produced by Horror Legend Sam Raimi, stars Stephen Lang and Jane Levy.  The story follows a young woman and her two friends as she tries to make a better life for her and her daughter. Living the life of a criminal, Rocky and her two friends have knowledge and experience in robbing houses. They soon come to learn that a local blind man is sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars of settlement money. The three decide to rob the man with the hopes of everything going smoothly. The plan is underway but things soon go sour despite the blind man’s disability.

This movie was just outstanding. It’s the perfect horror movie that fans have been anticipating for a long time. The intensity and suspense building is great. The overall concept was nice and fresh. The score kept the thrill going and Stephen Lang did an amazing job portraying “the blind man.”

I give this movie 5 stars, this is the type of film that people will be talking about for a long time. Go see it, if you haven’t already!

Happy Haunting

L.L 

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Ghostbusters 2016 Movie Review 

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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The 2016 Sony reboot starring Melissa McCarthy,Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Kristin Wig and Chris Hemsworth was ouright fun and funny. The movie follows two paranormal authors Abby Yates and Erin Gilbert as they try to prove that the ghostly apparitions that they have seen and experienced are real. Friend and fellow engineer  Jillian Holtzman joins the team as she creates some impressive gadgets to help catch and contain the supernatural creatures. The three soon quickly become a foursome once MTA worker Patty Tolen brings her knowledge of New York City to the table. The women soon prove their research and beliefs are true, but city officials do there best to discredit the women. In the process of the Ghostbusters trying to defend the city, they learn that a bigger threat looms as they realize that their very research and publication is the source of how the threat became one in the first place.

Overall I felt that this movie was really good. The special effects were awesome. The visual perception of the ghosts were done in a creative and cool manner. The comical aspect was done well. I found myself laughing every other minute. The character chemistry was great and there were nice surprises throughout the film. This movie made happy to watch. I’ve read some of the reviews on this film and I just don’t understand why people are so against four women being Ghostbusters. What’s the big deal? As an 80’s baby, and a person that loves the original two movies, I thought it was a fun remake to the franchise while at the same time there were elements of the film that kept it fresh for a newer generation. If you want to laugh and have fun, then this is the movie for you. I gave this movie a strong 4 stars.

L.L. 

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Writing with Purpose Part Two

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 13, 2016| 2 Comments »

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Writing with a purpose

Life has had its many challenges, so it’s been difficult for me to get back into the habit of blogging again. But I’m back and it feels good to get my words out (on paper, LoL). There have been and will be a lot of changes for me in the near future, which will all be positive. I’m moving in the right direction and will be able to put my writing back on the top of my list. In this post I will discuss writing with purpose and meaning.

People write in our society for so many reasons. They write for communication, entertainment, and to help us learn new things. Writers use words to express themselves and share parts of themselves that they would not necessarily share by speaking.  Writing in our world is the way we connect with others and how we are brought together in so many ways. The written word teaches us how to acknowledge each other’s differences, and teaches us about other, times,places, worlds, realms and dimensions.

I like to read a variety of genres, and it is important as a writer to write with meaning and purpose. When a writer writes with purpose they make a deeper connection with their readers. It doesn’t matter what genre you are reading. It is a writer’s job as a deliverer of communication to write in a way that makes the reader feel respected and viewed as a unique individual. Writing with purpose and the meaning behind the writing is a special bond that the writer and reader have between the two. It is that special human connection that links us among time and space.

Writing with meaning also is a way that defines who a writer is, and gives the writer a chance to express themselves in a way that makes them identify with others. Writing brings them in a world where the writers and the readers can be and do what ever it is that they want to be. It is the place where they can escape, share in an adventure of relive an event from the past. It is the place where they can fly into the future or save a damsel in distress. It is a place where you can be you any way or how you want to be.

Writing with meaning opens doors for both the reader and the writer and the relationship they share is honest and unbiased when they both stay true to who they are within their own world.

Stay True to Yourself,

L.L.

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The Conjuring 2 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 12, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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The Conjuring 2, starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson was thrilling and intense. Directed by James Wan, the true story follows the paranormal case files of the famed demonologist Ed Warren and his Psychic Medium wife Loraine Warren. This time the couple travel to Enfield England to investigate potential paranormal activity that a local family claims that is terrorizing them.

The Catholic church hires the couple to do a formal investigation to prove to them that a potential exorcism is needed to help the family.

From the moment they enter the house strange things seem to be happening but there are signs that just don’t point to demonic activity. A local sceptic is determined to prove that the young girl is faking possession episodes in order to gain attention. She films the girl having an episode and states that her video is evidence of the girl’s false intentions.

Ed and Loraine make an attempt to head home when the two of them discover that not only is the girl telling the truth but also that there is something deeper that they may have to face in order to save the girl and her family.

 

This movie was the most anticipated horror film of 2016. It was well done and did not disappoint. Since it was based of the real case files of the Warrens, it really made you think about the real dark forces that do exist within the world. Farmiga and Wilson were great as usual and I really hope that there are multiple films that come from the franchise. New Line still has the magic of bringing horror to us in ways that give their films a distinct feel that demands an emotional response from its fans and movie goers alike.

I give this movie five stars, it’s a must see film of the summer.

L.L.

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X-men Apocalypse Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 31, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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X-Men Apocalypse was a marvelous continuation to the mutant saga. Directed by Bryan Singer and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender, the story follows the group of exceptional mutants as they defend the world against the most powerful mutant they have ever faced-Apocolypse.

The film opens in ancient Egypt, where a society worships mutants like gods. En Sabah Nur is in the process of transferring his spirit into another body when suddenly his transference is interrupted by a band of radicals that will stop at nothing to save their people from persecution. The temple is destroyed and the ceremony stopped, but not before En Sabah Nur is protected several hundred feet under ground. Centuries later En Sabah Nur’s ruin temple is rediscovered and some of his servers awaken him. The now super mutant Apocalypse goes on the hunt to search for the world’s most powerful mutants so he can execute his plan to destroy the world, rebuild it and rule as the god he intended to be.

In this film we see our favorites like Mystique, Quicksilver, and Magneto, but we also learn the origin story of how Storm came to be and we find out a little more about Professor X  and Magneto’s past, in addition to learning how Jean Gray and Wolverine first crossed paths. It was very surprising to see Hugh Jackman make an appearance and very fitting for Jean’s story. Now we know how she and Wolverine connect they way do.

This movie was just great on all levels. The casting was just perfect. The newcomers had great onscreen chemistry and blended into the story extremely well. The storytelling, character plots, action scenes and the special effects were awesome. This movie made up for what Civil War was lacking. I’m actually willing to see this movie a second time. If you are looking for a blockbuster to kick off your summer movie list, then XMEN Apocalypse is the movie for you. I gave this film 5 stars. If you haven’t seen it yet, please go!!!

L.L.

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