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Posts Tagged ‘20th Century Studios’

Predator Badlands (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By LaTaeya Lane

Predator Badlands, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, 10 Cloverfield Lane;  starring Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown, and Dimitrius Schuster-Kolomatangi. Far North is a SyFy action-adventure that follows a young exiled Yautja as he attempts to hunt down the ultimate trophy in search of status and acceptance within his Clan.

After a tragic altercation with his father and brother, Dek (Schuster-Kolomatangi) finds himself alone on a strange and distant planet, where artificial intelligence is dominant and where hybrid monsters roam.

Dek befriends an android named Thia, portrayed by Fanning, and a mysterious creature that helps him along the way, teaching him a lifelong lesson.

This action-packed film has been what Predator fans have been waiting for. The depiction of the Yautja Characters, their culture, including language, weapons, and traditions, gave fans a deeper understanding of how and why the 1987 Predator ended up in the Amazon Jungle.

The fight scenes flowed with excitement while the world-building and design of the creatures created a space where fantasy remains supreme.

The special effects were good, though some android scenes could be improved.  The two leads performed well, but some humor fell flat and disrupted the film’s balance.  

This movie was a solid 3 stars. Fans will definitely enjoy this film.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Warning Mild Spoilers Below:

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, starring Kevin Durand as Proximus Caeser (Abigal), Owen Teague as (Noa) (It Chapter 2),  Freya Allan as (Mae) (The Witcher) and directed by Wes Ball (The Maze Runner 2014), takes place generations after the death of  Caesar, the Leader of the original ape rebellion.

In a future world where Apes are supreme while humanity dwells as a minority within the shadows of the earth, the adventure begins with a young Ape named Noa. Noa strives to be part of the group as he embarks upon a journey to take part in a cultural ritual to obtain an eagle egg to raise it within his clan. His journey to be among his clan eventually propels him to be marked as a leader. As the world moves into the future, we see a variety of ape clans and civilizations strive to fight for survival, rule, freedom, and peace.

Noa and his eagle clan family are on the verge of captivity by fellow apes; meanwhile, he and his companion (Raka) stumble upon a human (Mae) who has an agenda of her own to bring the world of human dominion back from the grave.

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was a cinematic adventure that brought all the elements of past franchise films into full swing. The world of the Apes was truly a sight to behold. The cinematic environment powerfully depicted how the earth has evolved from human expansion. The creativity behind the climate was a magical experience as I had a deeper appreciation and understanding of how fragile our earthly environment is. For this movie to only be carried by one or two “humans,” I must say that the storytelling process delivered as it drew me into the world and the characters within. The special effects were believable and done with grace and accuracy, the score added to the film, and the movie’s overall tone moved the franchise into a new realm of story while still staying true to the overall legacy of Caesar’s reign.

This movie was enjoyable. I gave this film four stars for the thrill, special effects, and adventure.

Check out the trailer below.

L.L.

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Avatar: The Way Of Water Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis, and Stephen Lange, takes place years after we see Jake Sully permanently assimilated into the world of Pandora. Now mated for life with partner Neytiri, portrayed by Zoe Saldana, we find that Jake is also the father of four children. However, the Sully family’s happiness quickly fades as Jake’s old enemy Quaritch, portrayed by Stephen Lange, takes the form of an Avatar to finish the war he started against Jake.

Jake and his family are no longer safe within the trees of their forest home, so he makes the tough decision to move his family out of the forest and into the water world to seek refuge among a new community of warriors. The Sully family begins a new life as they learn the ways of the Metkayina Tribe.

Avatar: The Way of Water is a cinematic masterpiece with a little bit of everything packed into the three hours plus film. This film made magic real for me as I took this magical thrill ride of adventure into another realm of imagination and wonder. The addition of new characters quickly became favorites while we were enthralled to explore how Jake and Neytiri’s world has evolved since we last saw them.

This movie was a visual spectacle on levels that are difficult to express. Experiencing it in 3D created a layer of dimension that only a movie theater could bring. The characters and the actors that brought them to life created an element of cohesiveness and chemistry that worked to maintain a balance that made the movie flow effortlessly. The storyline-maintained interest, while the score made me want something more to add to the theatrical experience. James Cameron has done it again with his directorial skills and deserves an Oscar nomination and win for best film and director.

Overall, I gave this film five stars. It is worth watching again. It is absolutely amazing!!

Check out the trailer below:

L.L

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