Underworld Blood Wars staring Kate Beckinsale and directed by Anna Foerster is a fast paced vampire fantasy that wraps up the long reigning war between the vampire clan and the Lycans. Selene finds herself alone and now a hunted outcast within her own community, as she tries to defend herself and protect her hybrid daughter from her enemies. A new Lycan enemy has risen from the shadows, Marius and is in desperate need to find Eve (Selene’s daughter) and use her blood to transform himself into the ultimate powerful Lycan hybrid. Selene’s ignorance of her whereabouts is deemed helpful but that does not give her a pass to live freely. Instead Marius continues to hunt her down and destroy everything in his path to get what he wants. Selene and her friend David make an attempt to seek refuge in one of last surviving vampire Covens. One that eventually appears to be linked to David and the Coven that Craven led in the first Underworld. Answers to questions of the past are finally revealed and Selene discovers that some members of this Coven are not on her side. Once again betrayed by her own kind, Selene and David head to the Artic to seek help from another ancient tribe of vampires that appear to peaceful seekers and defenders of Selene’s cause. It is there that she learns that Marius’ part in this play a more sinister role in destroying the life she once had. The final battle begins and Selene finds herself on the brink of the true death.
Underworld Blood Wars was an exciting film to see. The story telling process did the franchise justice. The action sequences were classic Underworld with a few surprises that horror fans will love. The effects were technologically developed in a way that allowed the movie goer to fully appreciate the ideas being presented. The vampire world was very enticing and I must say that the overall look of the characters in full costume was beautiful. The black leather designs were unique to every character and added to the world being presented. It allowed the environment to become a character in itself. My only issue, the movie was over too fast.
I gave this movie 5 stars for a fun whimsical vampire fantasy!!!
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.
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.
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.
Marvel’s Captin America: Civil War wasn’t as good as I thought it could be. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo and starring Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr, the movie felt like an Avengers reject project with the exception of Ironman’s storyline. I’m not going to give too much away, but the battle between Ironman and Captain America was highly overrated and uneventful. The storytelling process was way off for me and it took production two in a half hours just to reveal the truth behind Tony Stark’s past. I don’t understand why they couldn’t tell the important part of Stark’s story within his own movie and just let CA’S story be enough. I realize that stories will overlap within the Marvel Universe, but it just wasn’t enough for me to be satisfied this time. Some of the characters I really liked but I felt that there were just way too many at one time. The amount of characters just tried to overshadow the lack of storytelling. I don’t like the idea of good guys battling each other, but now that seems to be the norm within the superhero comic world.
Everything else was fine, the special effects were good and the action was ok. I just can’t remember what the initial mission was for the Avengers. If they make another CA movie, I will wait for it to come out on Dvd.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Lucas Films has become a global phenomenon in this new age within our society. Fans new and old went to see the film, and as of now this movie has grossed over $1 Billion dollars at the box office since the opening a little over two weeks ago.
Starring the Beloved Harrison Ford as Han Solo, the struggle between good and evil continues thirty years after the destruction of the Galactic Empire, which led to the death of the cosmic villain Darth Vader. A new threat arises within the universe, and with the help of The First Order, it has the potential to end life and destroy worlds, but a new band of heroes along with the Resistance does everything in their power to stop the evil from taking control over the galaxy.
I must admit that I am a new fan to the franchise but that did not take away from me fulling experiencing what the film had to offer. The movie is filled with nonstop action and beautiful imagery. The story line was intriguing, it wasn’t too complicated, it had the basic “good vs evil”, and the “strong will survive” theme.
It was the presentation, delivery, and the appearance of old characters, including the introduction of new characters that made the movie so exciting to see. The film was in 3D which added to the experience. Without giving too much away, I will say that there were some unexpected plot twists and moments of “OMG why did they do that?” So let’s just say that the George R. R. Martian and Robert Kirkman kill craze has rubbed off on the Stars Wars franchise.
Overall, I thought the movie was great and it was nice to feel such good and exciting energy from fellow fans and moviegoers. There was clapping, cheering, everything you could imagine that would enhance your experience. I am so excited to see the other two films and wonder if they are filming all three simultaneously like Peter Jackson did with TLOTR. I gave Stars Wars: The Force awakens five stars . See it again if you can.
The new humanoid robots named “Otonaroid” (R) and “Kodomoroid (R) are pictured during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology in Tokyo on June 24, 2014. Japanese scientists unveiled what they said was the world’s first news-reading android, eerily lifelike and possessing a sense of humour to match her perfect language skills.
This is the first article that will be included in a three part series that will follow the development of human looking robots in our society. This article will introduce some wild concepts on the subject while investigating the pros and cons of those factors that question’s how far is too far?
The New AMC show Humans has opened me up to a new world of technology that I didn’t realize existed in the world of reality. Human looking robots: groundbreaking technology or the end of humanity as we know it? The question remains, could society be headed to having humanoid robots in our homes like cell phones and laptops?
The show is very interesting. It had me so intrigued on such a level that it made me interested in the realistic development of robots in the year 2015. First I want to discuss the show and what it’s about. The show Humans takes place in modern London, but in a time where society depends on the help of a domesticated robot to assist with the day to day components of living. The show follows a family—the Hawkins family that struggles with the normal aspects of life. The husband Joe takes on the responsibility of raising the children while the wife Laura spends a lot of extra time at work. The husband feels that with his wife’s constant absence, he needs help with the house. He purchases a synthetic called a synth without the approval of his wife. The children are on board with it, but Laura—the wife immediately feels that she is being replaced and has her doubts about the synth. She voices her feelings about it, but soon decides to keep her feelings to herself. Laura realizes that something is off with Anita and her older daughter Mattie who is a computer genus soon starts to do some research about the synth. Her research leads her to a couple of synths Leo and Max who have been social outlaws for some time.
As the story continues, we learn that there are other synths that are connected to Leo and Max, which are walking around with the ability to think and feel like humans. They are on the run so that they can live their lives freely, but not without finding the others first.
Niska—a synth that works as a prostitute, Fred- a synth that is being experimented on in a lab, and Anita—the synth that lives with the Hawkins family has no idea who she really is. Niska leaves her job at a brothel after committing a murder, and sets off to find her own way. As a wanted fugitive she tries to blend in with humans as she makes an attempt to reconnect with Leo. On her travels she is led to the doorstep of a doctor named George Millican, a scientist that used to work at the company that first started to create the synths. During her encounter with the ailing doctor she learns more about herself which makes her embrace being human even more.
While everyone is adjusting to Anita, she displays some strange behavior that makes the family question her origins. As Laura and Joe continue to struggle within their marriage, Joe crosses the line and sleeps with Anita. He orders her to delete the experience from her hard drive, but the secret of his infidelity comes to light very quickly. Laura takes Anita back to the facility to find out where she came from and learns that Anita is not newly manufactured, but 14 years old.
Mattie quickly realizes that Anita’s connection with Leo and other synths is deeper than she thought. After several attempts to alter Anita’s new programming functions, the inscription codes are eventually broken and Anita aka Mia finally comes out as herself.
While Mattie learns more about Mia, she also learns that there is so much more to Leo. She finds out that he is half human and half robot. He was the son of the original creator and died in a car accident. His father kept his body on life support and created a digital program for his brain to function, complete with memories and the ability to feel and think like a human. Mattie discovers that once all the synths are together that they have the ability to give consciousness to other synths.
After a long and trying journey Niska is reunited with Leo, Max and Mia. While Fred manages to escape the lab to join the others. Meanwhile Hobbs, the lead scientist is determined to get his hands on all the synths so that he can control them and have them as robot/human slaves. The synths just want to be free and have the opportunity to live among the humans as individuals.
The synths endure a lot on their adventures to stay out of the lab and the seek refuge at the Hawkins family home, but their stay is not without challenges as they try to fix a now injured Max who risked his life to save Leo. They are soon betrayed by one of their own, Voss—a synth connected to their circle who works as a journalist who has been living her life as a human. She believes that their existence was a mistake and does everything in her power to destroy them.
There are so many things going on with this show that made me question where the art of creating robots has developed in our society. I discovered that there is a scientist in Japan named Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro that created a group of human looking robots. He even created one that looks exactly like him. They have the ability to interact with humans on a semi social level. There is even a robot exhibit that demonstrates the inception, evolution and production of modern robots at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Japan. Hiroshi Ishiguro stated at a press conference when he revealed two human looking androids to the world, that it is his intention to introduce the world to robots in a way where one day they will be as common to human everyday life, like cell phones. In the show Humans, the robots are “created to make our lives better—easier. They can cook, clean, drive our kids to school, help with homework and even help take care of the sick and elderly.
There are new developments in the robotics community every day. NASA has developed a space robot that can go on extended space missions and perform duties that would otherwise put a human at risk. It was announced early August 2015 that the mega company Google has developed a functioning robot. I won’t be surprised to hear that Microsoft, Apple, and Sony are in the stages of developing their own versions of robots. It’s just a matter of time when they reveal it to the public.
The society we live in today has entered the digital age. We live in a world where everyone has a cell phone and depends on it to go through everyday life. We get our mail and research through the internet, we do our banking online, we can even shop online without leaving our house for food and other things we need. When you really look closely at this, it can be very scary to see that our world is made up of technology. The things we have seen in the movies like Transformers, Terminator, IRobot, AI and others are not as far-fetched as we may believe. We all have laptops, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, IPADs, and now the new thing is the apple watch. We can all stay connected to each other through social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If the internet crashes today, our society would crash and people would not know how to handle it. Just think, when your phone breaks, or you don’t have enough bars to get a signal, you freak out and are “so annoyed.” Just imagine what would happen if we lost all of that in an instant. Our society would literary crumble. The stock market depends on computers to survive, most medical institutions are dependent on computers for day to day operations. Our lives revolve around the functioning operations of computers and other forms of technology.
The point of me writing this article, is just to voice my feelings on how far does our society have to go to just be satisfied with everyday life? Do we really need robots doing everything for us? In my opinion no, because it makes us too dependent on it and stops us from being able to learn how to take care of ourselves. It stops us from being human. The idea of having robots integrated into our society disconnects us as a group because we are meant to be connected on many levels. For example, the social media outlets in conjunction with cell phones can be viewed as a positive thing that connects us, but it also contradicts what connection really means. Being connected doesn’t mean having a conversation solely via text message or looking at them through a camera lens. Being connected means having a real human interaction that is deeper than any form of technology. It means looking into the other person’s eyes, the touch of a hand, a kiss on the cheek, or even the simplest thing of just physically being in the other person’s company. I’m not saying that having technology is bad, it can be a good thing, but I just think that we as a society need to reevaluate what it means to have technology in our lives and to remember that everything comes at a cost no matter how productive it may appear to be.
Dark Betrayal:Chronicles of the Celestial book two will have a promo tour that will run starting August 31, 2015 and end September 18, 2015. The tour will feature a variety of stops at genre appropriate blogs and websites. The promo will consist of reviews and excerpts. One randomly drawn winner will win an $40.00 Amazon gift card, and one randomly drawn tour host will win a $20.00 Amazon gift card.
It Follows directed by David Robert Mitchell and starring Maika Monroe tells the story of a young college girl who is haunted by a supernatural entity after a sexual encounter with a guy goes terribly wrong.
The movie had a good story line but it just didn’t fully deliver as I expected. The guy that Jay sleeps with passes on to her some kind of entity that wants to kill her. The entity follows her everywhere and comes in the form of people that she some times knows. She and her friends spend all their time running away from the entity. On a couple of occasions they try to fight back but they quickly realize that they can’t defeat it. Jay takes into consideration and makes an attempt to pass it on, but her attempt fails.
The movie had some good scenes but overall it is a very slow-paced film. The tone of the film has a classic late 70’s early 80’s feel to it and I got the idea that the writers were going that, but that just was not enough to make it successful.
There were so many things that the writers and director could have done to make this horror magic, like coming up with a detailed plot that fully explains the origin of the entity and how to pass it on or defeat it. The most important thing they could have done was make the haunting even more haunting, not just have people following the main character. I mean at times the appearance of the entity was more startling instead of scary. The entity should have been more of a creature that hides in the shadows and comes for her at more of a time that is least expected. The opening scene where the girl has her legs broken forward was better than the whole film. They could have taken a more supernatural approach to this film and incorporated that type of gore and horror that the introduction promised.
I hate to say it, but i feel that modern horror is starting to die. Every movie that I give a chance lately has ended in nothing but disappointment. It seems like the film industry is becoming nothing but remakes, or shotty ideas that are not fully developed or portrayed in ways that horror movie fans can appreciate like in the decades of film and writing creativity. Thank goodness for Netflix and my classic horror collection.
The music was well done, the effects were almost not existent and the acting was mediocre. I’m happy that I didn’t spend money at the theater for this.
I give this movie two stars, if you can get through it.
Terminator Genisys directed by Alan Taylor and starring Arnold Schwarznegger and Emilia Clarke tells the story of Kyle Reese as he is sent back in time to the year 1984 to save John Conner’s mother Sarah Conner from the ultimate Terminator.
This movie answers a lot of questions about the series and gives movie goers a lot of insight on how the world really is in the future of John Connor’s life. We are taken on an adventure that really opens our eyes to the consequences of “we” as humans having too much technology and being able to only depend upon that technology to survive everyday life. The story runs deeper than the I-robot story, and more than touches the surface of those deep unanswered questions that the new AMC show “Humans” has to introduce.
This movie has a lot going on and I’m not going to get into too many details here, but I must say that I thought it was very well done, and that the storyline was well written. To my surprise the theater wasn’t sold out and this film did not do as well as it deserved to. I think that it’s been too many years since the series started and I felt that only people in my generation really had the chance to appreciate it. If this was done maybe ten years earlier then I believe that it would had done better at the box office.
Arnold Schwarznegger did a great job with his performance, he gave only what classic Arnold could give. The movie paid homage to the original film but also honored and embraced the Arnold of today. It was great to see Emilia Clarke in a strong female lead, something different from the fragile dragon princess in Game of Thrones. The idea of the hero ending up becoming the ultimate villain was unexpected and thrilling.
The special effects, makeup and sound all presented a fluidity of consistency that created a tone that was appropriate for a 2015 Sci-Fi action film.
I gave Terminator Genisys four stars out of five and recommend it to any Sci-Fi fan. See the others first, because once you do, the entire story will flow better.
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The World According to LaTaeya 