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Posts Tagged ‘new movie releases’

Weapons 2025 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Weapons directed by Zach Cregger; (Barbarian) and starring Julia Gardner; (Wolfman), Josh Brolin (Avengers Endgame), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange) and Cary Christopher (Days of Our Lives) follows a teacher Gardner as she deals with the mysterious disappearance of the students in her 3rd grade class.

The film starts with the point of view of Justine as her part of the story displays a very hurt and fractured character. Justine tries to make sense of what happened with the kids while trying to cope in ways that are not healthy.

Weapons takes on an interesting twist as the story changes with every key character involved. This film is more of a physiological horror with haunting imagery and creepy vibes throughout.

The score added to the frightening nature of this film, creating a sense of thrills and chills within the structure of the story.

The characters balance out, each building upon the other while blending depth and complexity.

Overall, this film was enjoyable. The storyline was well-structured, and the jump scares and plot twists were unexpected.  The special effects and elements of gore were visually impactful.

I gave this film 4 out of 5 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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The Accountant 2 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

The Accountant 2, directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, is the sequel that follows a genius Assassin as he and his brother team up to solve the murder of a Treasury Secretary.

The film opens with a sketchy situation unfolding as gunfire erupts at a local nightclub.

Affleck (Christian Wolf) and Bernthal (Braxton) make a fantastic team kicking ass as they fight their way to solve the murder and to free children that have been wrongfully held captive.

An Action-packed, witty thrill ride is all that makes this film a fabulous prequel to the Summer Blockbuster season. The chemistry between Affleck and Bernthal is magical.. The fight sequences were impressive, and the score helped to create a thrilling balance within the film.

This is a great, action-packed film.

I gave this movie 5 stars. I am hoping for another sequel.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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A Working Man (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

A Working Man, directed by David Ayer (End of Watch Producer) and starring Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, (Prime Target) Michael Pena, (Antman) David Harbour,(Stranger Things) and Arianna Rivas,(The Harvest) tells the story of an Royal Marine Officer, Levon Cade (Statham, The Beekeeper), turned Construction Worker, as he helps to find his boss’s daughter after she becomes the victim of a human trafficking ring.

Cade risks it all as he uses his Military skills to follow clues, which leads him into the trenches of an underground world that few people would dare to touch. It doesn’t take him long to get to the top as he takes down his enemies, carving out a path of destruction to save a girl who is like a family member.

A Working Man is an action-packed thrill ride that will not disappoint. This fast-paced flick will have you on the edge of your seat. The story itself is something we have seen before. However, the energy and fluidity of the characters involved were exciting. The storyline is strong and well-developed, while the main character is a complex yet vulnerable individual with heart and depth. The fight sequences were impressive, and the fashion represented by the group of antagonists was noteworthy.

This movie was a lot of fun and a must-see for action fans.

I gave this film 4 ½ stars

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Captain America: Brave New World (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Captain America: Brave New World, directed by Julius Onah and starring Anthony Mackie (Wilson), Harrison Ford (President Ross), and Danny Ramirez (Torres), is the first major standalone film with Sam Wilson at the helm as Captain America. With Steve Roger’s passing on the Shield, Sam finds himself entangled in a world close to the President as the American government attempts to repair the fractured fragments of a society recovering from the global catastrophe caused by Thanos. Despite the efforts of the Avengers, a new terrorist rises to wreak havoc as Captain America is marked as the primary target.

President Ross proposes reestablishing the Avengers with the hope of making America and the world safer. Sam is unsure how to process this request. However, he teams up with sick kick Torres (played by Ramirez) to neutralize multiple threats, including President Ross.

This Captain America film was a great introduction to Marvel‘s Phase 5. The storytelling was on point and provided a nice continuation of the events in The Hulk and its sequel, The Incredible Hulk. Harrison Ford as President Ross was legendary, and the supporting cast added to the action-packed adventure. The special effects were amazing, and the action scenes, along with the fight sequences, were spectacular. The blending of Captain America and Falcon was done with creative grace, while Anthony Mackie’s portrayal of the hero was thrilling to see on screen. The sheer athleticism that Mackie demonstrates is worthy of this level within the Marvel Universe, and it is clearly evident that the franchise is in no way ready to fizzle out. The fire is still blazing, and Marvel is still hailed as number 1, in my opinion.

This movie is a must-see. Marvel fans will have a blast!

I gave this movie 5 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, Winona Rider, Cathrine O’Hara, William Dafoe, and Jenny Ortega, follows the story of Spiritual Medium and Paranormal Investigator Lydia Deetz as she deals with her father’s death, which opens the door to a past of unfinished business with the haunting ghoul Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a lot of fun to experience, and it was especially refreshing to explore the Afterlife further through Tim Burton’s lens. With the theme of death at the forefront of the storytelling process, the theme of family and elements of forgiveness, acceptance, and living are interwoven into the tapestry of a great Horror Comedy that is bound to end in a promising trilogy.

The plot is layered with multiple storylines that make the film entertaining and engaging from the very start. The special effects, costume design, and creature design create a captivating allure that only Tim Burton could deliver. Michael Keaton’s performance as Beetlejuice was comedy gold that brought me back to that 80s kid.

Winona Rider’s complex character gave way to an even deeper persona that presented a softer and more elevated side to her character. The addition of Astrid, portrayed by Jenny Ortega, created a rich family extension. Cathrine O’Hara did a great job reprising her role as the family matriarch while maintaining the spotlight and evolving her part in the story. The supporting cast kept the plot going in a fun way, while all the other components, including the score, added to the film in a meaningful way.  

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the perfect film to kick off the Halloween movie season. It’s great fun for the family and has lots of laughs, thrills, and chills. I gave this film 5 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Morbius Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Warning: Beware of Spoilers!

Morbius starring Jared Leto and Matt Smith and directed by Daniel Espinosa, tells the origin story of the vampire hybrid that is known to be part of Spiderman’s Universe.

Morbius is a brilliant doctor that suffers from a degenerative blood disease. Determined to find a cure for himself and his best friend, he attempts to conduct an experiment that he hopes will change his quality of life. But instead, Morbius finds himself in a realm between good vs. evil.

I understand that the buzz going around has suggested that this was not up to Marvel’s standards, and fans have not been pleased; however, I thought that the film had a lot going for it. The most important concept was that this was not a traditional vampire story. This character was created in a laboratory: an extreme side effect due to the medication that Dr. Morbius injected himself with. The whole concept around this type of vampire was fascinating. The fluidity of the character was almost magical, and the transitions between vampire and human were blended creatively. When engaged in combat, the intensity behind the characters brought the anti-superhero concept into full force. I thought that the storyline had a good foundation, and the overall flow and mood of the film connected well. The movie gave us enough to gain interest and left us open enough for many questions to be asked.

I think that Morbius being added into the Spiderman Universe at this time could be interpreted as random since we haven’t even seen or heard of him since now. However, at least with Venom, he was slowly introduced, and then we got to see his character fully evolve with his stand-alone movies. Please note that the classic end credit scenes pose more questions, but we should anticipate a future Spiderman encounter with Morbius.

I am looking forward to a tighter storyline and more character development with Morbius, but I will continue to be optimistic about his involvement and evolution in the Marvel films.

Give this movie a chance; It’s not as bad as some reviews state.

I gave this film 3 stars.

L.L

Check out the trailer below:

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Avengers: EndGame Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Warning: Light Spoilers, nothing major…

Marvel’s, Avengers: Endgame directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and starring an all-star cast continues the saga of the tragic aftermath of how a once thriving Universe attempts to survive the events of Infinity War. This movie was more than an epic adventure. It was a riveting odyssey that had many defining moments that changed the way we look at life, face tribulations, and connect to each other through the meaning of love and sacrifice.

Endgame is probably the best movie I’ve ever seen. The blending of each character’s storyline and how they each connect was absolutely amazing. After Thanos destroyed more than half of the Universe, the remaining Avengers spend years trying to think of ideas that will help to undo his actions. Before seeing Infinity War, I predicted the method in which these Superheros would try to destroy Thanos, and I was right. Without giving too much away, I will say that time travel plays a major part in this villain’s demise.

Each one of the Avengers deals with the heartbreak, loss, grief, and guilt over the situation in their own way. They each find it difficult to pick up the pieces of life and move on. There really is no moving on in this situation.

The Avengers do their best to execute their plan, while Thanos continues to relish in his victory always staying one step ahead of the Superheroes.

This movie is beyond anything I could imagine for this realm of cinema. Every element worked. The writing is strong, and each character complemented each other. The onscreen chemistry and presence within the cast are immense. The connection they make with the audience transcends every heroic and love story ever told. The special effects were great. The emotional energy that this movie has will impact how you see the characters and comprehend the story; it will forever impact your life as a fan of the Marvel universe.

Avengers: Endgame is worth seeing multiple times. This an unforgettable Blockbuster movie that deserves 5 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Us Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Us directed and written by Jordan Peele and starring Lupita Nyong’o is a supernatural horror that tells the story of a family’s encounter of doppelgangers. A family vacation at the beach becomes horrifying as Adelaide Wilson’s past portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o come to resurface with deadly vengeance. This movie had me at every turn. The opening scene in conjunction with a strong and mysterious score set a very intriguing tone for this film. The process of storytelling was done extremely well and the fact that I have never seen or heard of a horror film concept such as this made this movie so fresh and new. Lupita did a wonderful job holding her own in displaying a vulnerable inner and outer character strength. The children played by Joseph and Alex were very believable and shared a great presence with Nyong’o. My only reservation was the character of Gabe Winston portrayed by Winston Duke, the character appears to be a little out balance for me, but, the overall family dynamic and chemistry was blended well. There were some elements of light comedy that added to the authenticity of the film.

The dark aura that the film carried was a sheer genius and it gave me more reasons to question how deep is our reality. It was a fun thrill ride with unbelievable twists. This movie is an example of bringing horror to a whole new level of thinking and realization. The effects were good, just the perfect balance of visual representation through a lens. This movie is worth seeing twice.

I gave this film 5 stars.

L.L

Check out the trailer below.

 

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Annabelle Creation “Movie Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 16, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Annabelle Creation Poster

Annabelle Creation directed by David F. Sandburg and starring Anthony LaPaglia and Maranda Otto follows the origin story of how the infamous Annabelle doll came to be. This movie blends the classic haunted house story with the classic idea of demonic possession. The parents of a little girl must cope with the loss of their beautiful daughter and in the process open themselves up to a realm of unimaginable darkness. Soon after a displaced orphanage of girls along with a nun and priest set up residency in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mullins. The girls quickly learn that there are secrets that the Mullins family have locked away within the house. The innocence of a child like presence becomes something evil in such a way that the residents in the house began to fight for their very souls.

I know that many people go into watching these horror movies with a closed mind, claiming that they have seen it all. That maybe true but if you are looking for a good old-fashioned scare filled with hand grabbing, door creeks, floor board sounds, and severed bodies, then this movie is for you.

The acting was average, and special effects were pretty good, but it was the manner in which the Annabelle story was written that drew me in. The writing was done in a way that answered many questions, but it also was related to the original movie, which also tied into the demon nun from the Conjuring, which we will learn more about when The Nun hits theaters in 2018. I’m very invested in this franchise and I hope that people are willing to give it a chance.

Overall this movie was very enjoyable with lots of scares around every corner. This is a great movie to kick off the horror movie season.

I gave this movie 4 stars.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below.

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Transformers: Age of Extinction “Movie Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 30, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Transformers Age poster

Transformers:The Age of Extinction directed by Michael Bay and starring Mark Wahlberg was an action packed film filled with heartstoping adventure. The movie takes place 5 years after Optimus Prime and the Autobots saved the human race from Megatron and the Decepticons.

Prime and the surviving Autobots are now in hiding from the government and have a large price on their heads. A struggling mechanic, Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) purchases a run down truck that just so happeneds to be the transformer Optimus Prime. As the the Autobots come out of the shadows, they rise up to face a new threat— the humans, and newly manufactured transformers. Feeling betrayed by the humans, the transformers put aside their trust issues to team up with Cade and his family. Cade and his daughter Tessa are now wanted for harboring a transformer fugitive— Prime. They band together with Optimus and the other Autobots to once again save the human race from being destroyed. This time they must locate and take an object called “the seed” and remove it from the possession of the humans. The humans working on the project unknowingly realize that the seed has the power to destroy the entire world. An inside man working for the government- Harold Attinger played by Kelsey Grammer betrays his people by being in league with one of Optimus’ worse enemies.

The battle is on as good faces evil. The Autobots strive to defend and protect the planet. Optimus recruits the Dinobots as they lay dormant, deep in the mountains of China. They fight with bravery and honor as they struggle to battle a power that has been engineered.

The age of extinction was a great movie. Every other scene was an action sequence, and the special effects were eye-catching and emotion driven. Mark Wahlberg, Kelsey Grammer and John Goodman portrayed memorable characters. The storyline was a bit predictable, but overall you really don’t miss the characters from the past three films. It stood out on its own and everyone contributed a little something new to the already established franchise. The score was the only thing that I had a problem with. It wasn’t nearly as good and engaging as the past three movies, but the cars that were featured were more luxurious. Nicole Peltz— Tessa aka Bates Motel’s Bradly, was a breath of fresh air which added a modern flair to the film. Spielberg executive produced and Micheal Bay’s vision once again reflected the overall tone of the film.

Put this movie on your summer to see list. I gave it 5 stars.
L.L.

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