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Posts Tagged ‘New Movies’

Black Widow “Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 12, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Marvel’s Black Widow, directed by Cate Shortland, stars Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, and Rachel Weisz. The film goes deep into Natasha Romanoff’s past as it explores her origin story within the MCU. The events pick up between the events from Captain America Civil War and the start of Infinity War.

In this film, there are many questions about Romanoff that are answered. First, we are introduced to members of her family. We also were able to look at how her involvement as a spy/assassin has impacted the relationship she has with her family.  It is very evident to see the deep-rooted emotional scars that Romanoff carries throughout the franchise films, but now we understand why.  

What is nice about this film is that the director, writers, and Scarlett do an excellent job at creating and showing multiple layers of Romanoff that we have seen before while still allowing the audience to explore this character in a brand-new way without losing any depth to her.

Overall, the film was great but also very fresh. The chemistry between Romanoff and her family was tight. I loved the little comedy added into the script and enjoyed the detailed and elaborate action and fight sequences. The movie flowed well, and I had no issue with the length of it.  Florence, David, and Rachel did a great job bringing their characters to life. Their performances added more thrill to the film.  Scarlett did a fantastic job with her overall performance, and the storytelling process made us fully understand her character in a newfound way.

This movie is worth seeing multiple times. I gave this film five stars!

Please check out the trailer below.

L.L

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Bill and Ted Face the Music Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 1, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Warning Spoilers Below:

Bill and Ted Face the Music, directed by Dean Parisot and starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, picks up over twenty years after the events that took place during the Battle of Bands. Bill and Ted, married with adult children, still find themselves struggling to make their musical dreams come true while still hanging on to their unfilled destiny to save the world with a song that is intended to realign the Universe. As they try to fulfill their destiny and attempt to save their marriages, Bill and Ted are recruited by Rufus’ Daughter, played by Kristen Schaal, to come up with the Universe saving song in just a few hours.  Bill and Ted accept the mission and quickly head off in their iconic Phone Booth time machine to travel into the future to get the song they wrote. Meanwhile, Bill and Ted’s daughters set off on their own adventure to help gather important historical figures to create a brand-new band for their fathers.

Overall, Bill and Ted Face the Music is a great movie. The flow and tone of the film had a sweet familiarity that fans will appreciate and love. The reprisal of the original cast was refreshing to see; characters such as Missy, Deacon, Death, and Sargent Logan. The addition of Bill and Ted’s daughters added a refreshing take to the franchise while giving them their own special moments to share. (I got the feeling that Bill and Ted were passing the torch.)  Most of all, it was amazing to see the Holographic Image of Rufus played by the late and talented George Carlin. The emotions flowed when he came across the screen, and Bill and Ted acknowledged him tenderly.

The story was presented fluidly, while it answered some questions and tied some storyline loose ends. Some new characters were introduced, and the addition of Robot, played by Anthony Carrigan, brought the concept of “feel-good comedy” into the film. The scenes and visual effects brought the movie franchise into the 21st century, and Alex and Keanu’s performances were classic and magical. My only disappointment was the music within the film. I felt like there weren’t any staple musical performances within the soundtrack that added to the elegance that the first two Bill and Ted movies brought. I know that music plays a significant role in films, especially with Bill and Ted, but it is not a total loss. Just seeing Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter on screen together is worth it. Their on-screen chemistry displayed a connection as if the adventures of Bill and Ted never stopped. This movie will add to their legendary status.

I really liked this film and gave it four stars for good theatrical fun.

Check out the trailer below.

L.L

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Pet Sematary 2019 Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, New Movie reviews, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2019| Leave a Comment »

 

Pet Sematary, directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer and starring Jason Clarke tells the story about a family that moves into a house and discovers an Ancient burial ground on their property. After ER doctor Louis has a paranormal experience working in the Emergency Room, Louis and his wife Rachel are haunted by two different ghostly creatures. Believing in the afterlife is the main theme of this film. Compared to the original film there were elements of it throughout the remake. The overall cinematic structure of the film was a dark homage to 80’s classic horror. The mood of the film mirrored that old-school feeling that scary movies gave off years ago. The actors onscreen chemistry were fitting and the writing was true to its originality. The effects did not overshadow the tone of the film. Overall the film was very entertaining and storyline convincing. However, I did feel that the movie was a bit short; like there is more story to tell, but something is missing. I would go for a prequel to this film and tell the story of how and who created that burial ground in the first place.  There is definitely more that can be created as a franchise feature. I highly recommend this film.

I gave this movie 4 stars.

L.L

Check out the trailer below:

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Captain Marvel Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, New Movie reviews, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Captain Marvel directed by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck and starring Brie Larson tells the origin story of how a Kree Military agent becomes a superhero. Bound on an intergalactic mission to capture alien terrorists, Carol Danvers learns the truth about her past and understands how her past connects the future of the Universe. Brie plays a very stoic character that is determined to embrace the power she has to defeat the evils that surround her. Overall I thought that this movie was interesting but lacked the full development in the storytelling process. Carol’s storyline seemed to be all over the place and appeared pretty disjointed. As far as Brie holding her own as the leading lady in the film, she did a nice job with making the role her own. Visually the movie did not disappoint. The costume designs were fierce and for the most part, the supporting cast was well matched.  I thought Jude Law tried too hard to capture the essence of his character, but Ben Mendelsohn as Talos was one of my favorites. Carol and Fury had nice chemistry, and their relationship made me appreciate his character more. I did enjoy the movie very much, but I think the overall concept was rushed to be marketed to the apparent links that will surface in Avengers Endgame. I hope to see more and learn more about Carol’s story in a way that will put the pieces together more clearly.

I gave this movie 3 ½  stars.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below

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Aquaman Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »

 

DC’s Aquaman directed by the talented James Wan and Starring Jason Momoa tells the story of a half human hybrid that learns he is the heir to the underwater Kingdom of Atlantis. Born from the love of a human and the Queen of Atlantis— Atlanna portrayed by Nicole Kidman, Arthur Curry finds himself amidst a potential war between the Surface world and Atlantis- all initiated by his half-brother King Orm. Arthur makes several attempts to escape his destiny but is eventually swept away in a world that he can not turn his back on.  After much struggle and facing the battles of the sea, Arthur embraces his identity and takes his place as the rightful King of Atlantis.

Aquaman was a sheer delight to see. It took me into a world that was so unique and visually alluring that I did not want it to end. The origin story of Aquaman was well written and exciting. Jason’s portrayal of the main character was fitting. Even though we have seen Jason in this role before in the Justice League, Momoa still delivered in a way that was refreshing. It was nice to see him carry the whole movie, and not just have a few lines. I think he did a great job with the role. Nicole Kidman was stunning as Atlanna, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Patrick Wilson grace the screen as King Orm. It was nice to see him play a villain instead of the unassuming father or paranormal investigator, which I both love by the way.

This movie was a nice change for me when it came to James Wan’s directing. The special effects were amazing and well done. I’m looking forward to seeing this movie again. Visually it was so enjoyable to watch. The creativity behind the creature designs, as well as the underwater realm, can really be respected by moviegoers that appreciate the hard work that is put into a project like this.

Overall, I gave this movie five stars. It is a must-see for the holiday season.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below.

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Venom Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 11, 2018| Leave a Comment »

 Marvel’s Venom, starring Tom Hardy and directed by Ruben Fleischer tells the story about an investigative journalist named Eddie Brock who is on the verge of exposing some dangerous and incriminating information about a company lead by Carlton Drake. In the process, Brock is exposed to a powerful extraterrestrial substance, which transforms him into a powerful creature known as  Venom. Venom/Brock, who is also known as a symbiote wrecks havoc upon the city as he tries to protect himself from the very people that claim to want to help others. Brock’s life is turned upside down as he tries to make sense of what is happening to him.  In the process of him trying to protect himself and the one he loves he loses everything that he has worked so hard to gain.

Venom is a great movie. The storyline works well, but I think it does conflict with the past knowledge of the fact that Spiderman and Venom are enemies. This stand-alone film eventually portrays Venom as one of the good guys, so I am assuming that Marvel must have another Spiderman movie in works that will go back and fill in the gaps among these two characters. The special effects were great, and the character design was really vivid and creative. The character transition between Brock and Venom was multidimensional and done in a very unique way that showcased the individualism between the two. Hardy did a wonderful job portraying the double role and bringing both characters to life in such a self-defining manner. Everything with this movie fell into place, the score, supporting actors and the visual representation worked well. I’m looking forward to seeing Hardy reprise this role in the near future. I want to know more about Venom.

Overall this movie is a must-see, a new villain is introduced which will be portrayed by the great Woody Harrelson (Cletus Kasady). The complexity and depth that he puts into his acting will be much anticipated in the Venom sequel.

I gave this movie 5 stars!

Check out the trailer below.

L.L.

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Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom Review by LaTaeya Lane

Posted in Fantasy literature, New Movie reviews, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 26, 2018| 1 Comment »

Jurassic-World-Fallen-Kingdom-2018-movie-poster

Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom directed by J.A Bayona, produced by Legendary Entertainment and starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard is the sequel to the 2015 franchise rebirth film. This film takes place three years after the events of Isla Nublar. This time around the thriving dinosaurs are once again threatened toward extinction with the sudden eruption of a large volcano on the island.

Society has now tried to incorporate the fight of animals’ rights to include the once extinct dinosaurs. Claire, now an advocate for dinosaur rights is made an offer she can’t refuse as she is recruited to help rescue the dinosaurs from the deserted island. She then reaches out for her ex-love interest and raptor trainer, Owen to help with the rescue mission.

Before you know it, the two find themselves intertwined in a vicious plot that includes genetics specialists and other scientists that are out to weaponize the dinosaurs and potentially make billions of dollars in profit off the animals.

If you’re looking for a good action adventure to kick off the official summer season, then Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom is the film for you. This movie is a lot of fun to watch even though you are already going to expect certain elements when it comes to the franchise film.

I adore Chris Pratt in this role, but I also like Bryce Dallas Howard. I do feel like there was a little bit of disconnect between the two characters this time around but maybe that was intentional since the two did not end up together after the first film. There are some interesting new twists in this movie and some cool new dinosaurs.

When you really think about what science has become, it really is scary and not much entertaining. But I must say that the film was entertaining and exciting. The effects were better than ever, and you can definitely see how much CGI and digital film technology has improved the franchise and industry as a whole. I was very impressed by the visual representation throughout the movie.

Jeff Goldblum did make a cameo appearance, but like many moviegoers, I was disappointed in his lack of screen time. I wanted him to have a more prominent role in the film, but I understand the concept of infusing some of the past without losing the purpose of bringing the franchise into the future.

This movie should be on your summer watch list. I gave this film 4 stars.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below!

 

 

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Avengers: Infinity War Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 30, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Infinity war poster

Beware Spoilers Below!!

Avengers: Infinity War produced and distributed by Marvel Studios, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and starring Robert Downy Jr. was a cinematic spectacle. The movie also stars a host of Hollywood’s elite actors, such as  Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch,  Chadwick Boseman, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlette Johanson, Josh Brolin, Danai Gurira and so many more! The movie is basically a continuation of the events that occurred in Thor Ragnorok and begins to tie the events from the previous Avenger movies as well as the other movies within the Marvel Universe. The movie follows Thanos’ quest to  rule the Universe as he inquires all six of the Infinity Stones. At this point, everyone knows that he is successful in his rise to power. As the Avengers, Guardians and other Marvel Superheros band together to stop the carnage, there are many losses that are difficult to bare.  Don’t’ worry,  my Marvel research has revealed that all is not lost and that good will still triumph over evil. According to my sources, the Avengers and other beloved characters will be resurrected by new Superheros in the Marvel Universe.

I was so excited to see this movie that after I left the theater I couldn’t sleep. It was such a thrill ride. It was amazing. The script was great, all of the actors came together to create such a balance. They did a wonderful job in building and maintaining great chemistry. We had the chance to go into the lives of characters that we have only seen on the battlefield. The personal connections that each character had, was believable and what I loved about this, is that even though every character looked different, or came from a different culture or race; they all shared a common goal and came together to work as a team to help save the Universe. They embraced each other’s differences and unique abilities to help each other.   The special effects exuded the high standards of what Marvel represents in cinema. The mood of the film changed with the events and the experiences of the characters. This movie is worth seeing a second time, so if you can go see it again, do it. Even if you don’t follow the comics you are not alone and won’t feel overwhelmed. There is nothing bad that I can say about this movie, but I will say, that I don’t ever remember coming across a villain that is as dark as Thanos. Who could be worse? I do have Negan on my mind but what do you think?

I gave the Avenger’s Infinity War 5 stars for overall Greatness!

I can’t wait for Infinity War part 2!!

L.L

Check out the trailer below:

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Underworld Blood Wars “Movie Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »

 

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!!!

L.L.

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Terminator Genisys “Movie Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on July 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Term Gens

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.

L.L.

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