From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, directed by Len Wiseman and starring Ana de Armas as Eve, Keanu Reeves as John Wick, and Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine, follows a young girl brought into the world of the High Table as she hunts for the people responsible for her father’s death.
A riveting storyline, compelling action, and fight scenes; Ballerina takes place between the previous films John Wick 3 and 4. The director does a great job of simultaneously interweaving the stories of Eve and John Wick.
The writing offers a detailed examination of the John Wick universe from a completely different perspective. We get to see deeper into the world how the mark impacts their lives, as well as how living an everyday life is out of the question.
Overall, Ballerina was fire in every sense of the word. Armes presented an awe-inspiring presence on screen. The thoughtfulness and sheer nature of her personality were magical. Her fighting style created an energy of fluidity and precision, while the supporting cast held the story together.
The special effects were remarkably realistic, while the score delivered a tone befitting the John Wick universe.
It was terrific to see Keanu grace the silver screen in the role of Legendary John Wick. Norman Reedus presented an impactful role that delivered a great addition to the cast.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, starring Norman Reedus, is a sequel series to the Zombie flagship show, The Walking Dead.
We last see Daryl at the end of season 11 of The Walking Dead as he says Goodbye to his beloved friend Carol, then rides off, setting his sights on a journey to find Rick.
Daryl Dixon opens with him lying on a small, capsized boat, floating towards an unknown land. He ends up on the shores of France, where he tries to figure out how to navigate this new situation.
Secure behind the walls of a convent, Daryl contemplates the decisions he has made. Isabella, a nun who helped bring Daryl to safety, slowly reveals his purpose for being there. Skeptical and reluctant over the nun’s faith in him, an earlier incident with some people comes back to haunt Daryl and the nuns in the worst possible way. During his stay in the convent, Daryl also meets a unique child named Laurent, faced with a destiny that could possibly save the world. With Daryl’s help; he begins a new journey to return to America as soon as possible. I got some Last of Us vibes, but I believe Laurent’s story will be interesting.
Daryl Dixon is a show where boundaries are pushed, and adventure awaits around every corner. We were taken back to the days of old when Rick was left to find his family, and along that path, Rick was faced with seen and unseen dangers. We see Daryl as he embarks upon a new venture to save the people he loves while he is faced with new dangers, new friends, and new territory.
This show is a breath of fresh air. Just Norman alone is enough to carry this show; however, just by viewing the first episode, I can see how the cast of characters mesh well. The expansion of the Walking Dead universe works in France, and I see the possibility of multiple seasons from this. The show feels different compared to Dead City, which is not bad.
Norman is great. We see a fully developed character with many layers and complexities within him. We see a person we know well but still want to know more about.
This show excites me, and I am very proud of Norman and Daryl for giving us such a heartfelt character to love.
AMC’s The Walking Dead started with a Georgia Deputy Sheriff named Rick Grimes, portrayed by (Andrew Lincoln). Suffering from an on-the-job gunshot wound, Rick ended up in a coma only to wake up and learn that the world he once knew was gone and riddled with the dead as they plagued the Earth roaming, lurking, and walking, ready to devour any living being that crossed their path.
Rick set out on a journey to find his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs), and along the way, he met a man named Morgan Jones (Lenni James) that would save his life and set him on a path to great leadership. Rick found his family and a group that would be the genesis of a story that eventually changed how humanity would survive the apocalypse.
Rick’s sole purpose was to survive, and through that purpose, he strived to find a permanent place where his family and the community that he has grown to love could thrive and have a future; however, for Rick’s purpose to have true meaning he had to endure the psychotic nature of many different enemies. Unfortunately, those enemies included people from other groups.
Rick’s leadership started with a small camp just outside of Atlanta. From there, his survival adventure led him to a farm where he met The Green family, then he and his group lived on the road for a while. Next, he found a Prison where he thought he could build a life and fortify. After he crossed paths and fought and survived Woodbury’s Governor (David Morrissey), he and the group again tried to start over. On the road again in search of a new place, he and the group met a man named Aaron (Ross Marquand), bringing them to a gated community called Alexandra. It is there where Rick and the group find their place until they meet a group called The Saviors, led by the now famous Negan (Jeffery Dean Morgan). After many lives lost and another war, the Alexandra safe zone is where Rick brings other local communities together, such as Hilltop, The Kingdom, and Oceanside.
As the years went by, Rick developed many friendships, allies, and enemies. He lost his wife Lori and his son Carl, but he was able to start over and build a new life with his daughter Judith (Cailey Fleming) and his partner, the katana-wielding Michonne(Danai Gurira).
After years of fighting and shortlived moments of peaceful times, Rick’s survival is tested again as he attempts to save his community from Walkers breaching the borders of the Alexandra safe zone. We last see Rick being taken away in a helicopter as he seeks medical attention for his injuries as directed by his possible ally Jadis (Pollyanna Mcintosh), who he met while trying to form an alliance to fight against Negan and the Saviors.
The surviving members of Rick’s group have done their best to pick up the pieces of a life first orchestrated by Rick. Many years have gone by, and we now see the group has left Alexandra to seek a new home and more opportunities for growth and expansion in a place called the Commonwealth. However, things are not as they seem. The organization of this group quickly reveals a vast amount of unfair treatment, injustices, and corruption among its leaders. We see the legacy of Rick Grimes live through each and every character as they prepare to fight the injustices of the Commonwealth.
Rick’s brother Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) has been there from the beginning and has now taken on the leadership role in Rick’s absence. However, he has also taken on another important role: father figure to Rick’s daughter Judith and his youngest son RJ (Antony Azor), whom he shares with partner Michone. As the final season wraps up, we find Daryl and the group back at Alexandra as they try to fight their way through a herd of evolving Walkers, tapped by the Commonwealth’s troupers, searching for a safe place to regroup. At the same time, Judith suffers from a wound after she attempts to save Maggie’s (Lauren Cohan) life. Meanwhile, as Aaron and Jerry (Cooper Andrews) try to help Lydia (Cassady McClincy) cope with a newly amputated arm, they do their best to get back on track to be reunited with the rest of their group.
All the puzzle pieces move together simultaneously as the group fights through the darkness of what they thought would be a good life in the Commonwealth community. They fight for the true meaning of freedom and eventually are victorious, but not without the consequences and casualties of war.
The Walking Dead’s Series Finale tied some loose ends while keeping the door open to various storylines and spinoffs. Despite knowing that some stories will continue, such as Daryl’s, Maggie’s, Negan’s, and Rick and Michonne’s, it’s sad to see the end of an Era. The showrunners did an excellent job with the flow and finalization of the story as they showcased the continued strength and determination of the group to fight for what is right. The feature film length of the final episode brought tears to my eyes as I experienced the final zombie visualization push through the screen.
We have seen Rick’s story evolve through his eyes and through the eyes of some of the most beloved heroes and anti-heroes that the TWD universe has to offer. The reason why The Walking Dead is the greatest show of all time is because it is through its heroes that it displays the true nature of what it means to be human; the light, the dark, the strength, perseverance and determination, the hope of family faith and love, the spirit of friendship and loyalty all wrapped up into a shared experience that has transcended time and American Television. Rick’s story will live on because it is the story that has pushed the envelope and defined what it means to truly live as hope and light guide the way forward.
The Walking Dead season 11B Mid-season Recap and Review
Warning Spoilers Below!
In The Walking Dead’s season 11B mid-season Finale, we see Daryl, Aaron, and Gabriel on a mission with the Commonwealth’s troopers to clear out some buildings nearby. Unfortunately, things go left when Daryl realizes Hornsby is leading him and his crew into a trap. As they move with the troopers, Daryl works out a plan to take them down. A major shootout erupts in a salvage yard, and Daryl and company come out on top as they take down Hornsby’s men. However, Daryl is on his trail after learning that Leah is after Maggie.
Maggie is on a path to put an end to Hornsby’s shenanigans. Accompanied by Elijah, Marco, and Lydia, she converses with Negan and Annie as she plans for Negan to watch Hershel, so he is protected from the crossfire of war. In the process of Negan accepting Maggie’s offer, she tells Negan that she is starting to trust him, which is a defining moment between these two characters. Maggie leaves Hershel with Negan and Annie and sets off the end things with Hornsby.
Back inside the Commonwealth Community, Connie, Kelly, Eugene, Magna, and Ezekiel are working to expose the community to the truth behind all the missing people in the Commonwealth. Max is working Behind the scenes to provide the group with evidence so she can fully expose Pamela Milton and the underhanded agenda that the Commonwealth community poses.
Leah and Maggie eventually face off in a fight to the death. This very intense fight sequence ends with Leah’s demise as Daryl saves Maggie with one fatal shot. However, as he defends her, Daryl shoots Hornsby in the face, which only angers him to such a degree that Lance eventually takes over Hilltop, Alexandra, and Oceanside.
Maggie and Daryl reunite with Aaron and Gabriel, not realizing they don’t have a safe and stable place to call home anymore.
Overall, this was a good episode that closed the chapter on Leah and her one-woman Reaper army while starting a new chapter revealing Lance Hornsby’s true intentions with the Hilltop and its sister communities. The shootout scene with Daryl, Aaron, and Gabriel was well structured and had a great flow. In addition, the scene’s mood had a freshness that added to the TWD universe.
The Maggie and Leah fight scene was epic, creating solid layers of character dimension among the two women. This scene gave us a chance to see Maggie in a different light. The fierceness within Maggie displays a complex character that has evolved since we were introduced to her in season two. Another character that has undergone a tremendous transformation is Daryl. First and foremost, Daryl has learned to trust himself and understands that he has a lot to offer. He has grown to become a force that people love, respect, and follow throughout this journey.
The scene with Connie and Kelly created a new mood that graduates the TWD universe into a New Era of progression. It makes a statement that whispers notes of the past while simultaneously implying that a future of collaboration and peace will not be possible in this post-apocalyptic world.
The final eight episodes of The Walking Dead will air this Fall and will surely keep us on the edge of our seats.
This is the perfect time to binge the entire show before the Fall.
The Walking Dead Season 11-part B picked up where we last left Daryl as he was officially recruited to join the Reapers. Still reeling from Pope’s death and Daryl’s so-called “betrayal,” we find Leah completely changed as her true colors surface while taking on the leadership role of the Reapers. Maggie, Elijah, and Negan find themselves in an all-out war against Carver. Determined to capture her to settle the score with Maggie, Carver’s army of one is eventually subdued. Negan leaves after the fight with Carver. Daryl manages to make his way back to Maggie while using the Reaper Carver as bait to negotiate a peaceful truce between the two groups. Gabriel lurks in the shadows while he waits for the perfect moment to strike. He briefly battles an inner struggle of faith, reason, and survival while engaging in a defining character moment with the Reaper Preacher. This moment shows strength and a formidable force that Gabriel tries to remain contained within but unleashes when necessary. Elijah is injured from the fight with Carver and makes Maggie promise that the Reapers get what they deserve after they kill his sister Josephine. Maggie’s take no prisoners attitude quickly contributes to things ending with the deaths of the Reapers by her own hand. Daryl and Maggie find themselves on opposite sides as Maggie attempts to end things with Leah. She takes a shot at Leah but only grazes her shoulder. Leah manages to get away, and Daryl goes after her but allows her to leave, realizing that they might have had a life together if they had made different choices. Maggie and the group find the food they are looking for, and she keeps her promise to go back for Alden. Unfortunately, she learns that Alden is now a Walker.
Suffering from another loss, Maggie and the group push forward as they reunite with Gabriel and the members of their Alexandrian Community. Daryl discovers that Connie is alive and well. Aaron and Rosita save Judith and Gracie from the basement Walkers. The community experiences a moment of peace, and when they think, they may need to fight again, Eugene returns with the Commonwealth Community.
No Other Way was a great episode that closed one story chapter and opened another. We soon experience another time jump in the Walking Dead’s storytelling process. In the upcoming scenes, some Alexandria members are trying to fit into the Commonwealth lifestyle. As we see Daryl dressed in Commonwealth soldier attire, we are unsure what this means exactly. He approaches The Hilltop and comes to talk to Maggie or offer her something. Maggie seems uninterested, and the Hilltop looks like it is undergoing reconstruction. Those who have read the comics know that the presence of the Commonwealth may not mean that it is a good thing.
Overall, the production of The Walking Dead has gotten better with time. The Basement Walker scene with Aaron was amazing. At this point, Aaron has taken on the persona of a superhero as he keeps pushing his human limits; he has evolved on so many levels. Judith’s abilities have also improved, and she proves time and time again that she is Rick and Michonne’s daughter. Maggie’s ability to lead and her strength has transformed into a powerful force to reckon with. We see a complete pillar of determination with her and the other characters as well. The Walking Dead’s look has also transformed into a blockbuster theater experience. The sets are more extensive and have more depth, personality, and energy. The story expands with each episode, and the bricks are being laid to reveal Rick’s return. As the story develops, Daryl is more than the lone wolf. We see his ability to love, fight and survive among the harshest and trying of circumstances. Daryl’s love for holding on to his true family has ignited a light in him that cannot be easily extinguished. This episode is worth watching more than once.
I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season will bring with the hope of Rick and Michonne returning before the end of the season.
Season 10 of The Walking Dead directed by Greg Nicotero picks up several months after the people of Alexandria suffered major losses at the hand of the Whisperers. The story continues as Rick’s legacy lives on within Alexandria. The communities band together to prepare for another battle.
Daryl and Carol once again make a deep-rooted connection while attempting to make plans to see what’s beyond the realm of Alexandria, Hilltop, Kingdom and Oceanside. MICHONNE learns that Judith is a lot stronger than she seems and realizes that her maturity level is more than she anticipated. The group faces a major challenge as they attempt to stay within the boundaries of the agreement between the communities and the Whisperers.
Overall this was a very enlightening episode that showcased the strength of many of the newcomers. Some of our favorite characters like Daryl are opening up more and making more connections with the community. Alpha’s daughter is trying to create a home for herself in the community while Negan continues to step out embracing humanity.
The flow of the episode was good and provided fans with the expectations and excitement of what our vision of a season 10 premiere should be. The opening scene was epic and the show displayed a great deal of elevation and evolution among characters, plot, setting, and mood. The Walking Dead has now stepped into the future of survival and has demonstrated what true unity means within the spectrum of humanity.
The Walking Dead’s 100th episode was a nice start to season 8. Directed by Greg Nicotero, the season premiere focused on the beginning of Kirkman’s comic titled All Out War. Alexandria and the Hilltop are all ready for the battle against Negan and his Saviors. It seems like it was forever since I last saw the cast and crew grace the NYCC stage, and with the anticipation and after effects of that, I know the events of last night’s episode will set the tone for the entire season.
The story continues as Rick, Eziekial, and Maggie lead the fight for freedom. The episode was exciting but nothing out of this world. This season opener was a little low key compared to past season premieres. The best part was seeing a future Rick and the idea that age was creeping up on him. The scene came in the form of a vision (this was how Rick saw his future.) Rick saw his family, Michone, Carl and maybe 8-year-old Judith; she looked around 8.) living a happy life. He also visualized the expansion of Alexandria. I know the festival they were referring to was in the comic books, so it was nice to see that reference in the vision. I have a feeling that this season will take place over the course of hours and days when it comes to the war. I think that they already know where they want to take the show and how long it will last. I got a Better Call Saul feeling when I saw older Rick. I think the show will last until season 10. I hope it lasts longer, but I can’t imagine the actors playing these characters past 10 seasons. We will have to wait and see.
Now the end of the episode was very interesting because Gabriel left Rick to save Gregory and Gregory left Gabriel to die in the middle of the herd. Gregory is a piece of crap and should have died a long time ago. Gabriel was put in a bad situation and soon found himself in a trailer in the dark with Negan. This cliffhangs the episode, so we don’t know what is going happen, but I really hope that Gabriel opens fire on Negan and goes out the best way he can. In the scene Gabriel allows Negan to talk way too much, but at this point, it may be too late for him to react. I would be surprised if the two work together as a team to get out of there alive. What if Negan throws Gabriel out to get the Walkers attention and then makes a run for it? This could go so many ways, and I’m so excited to see what will happen next week.
Overall the episode was good, and it was great to see all the cast members interacting in one episode. I know it will be a great season!!
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…..
Norman Reedus, star of AMC’S hit zombie apocalypse show, The Walking Dead, graced fans this past weekend with a live Q and A session at the Montclair Film Festival. The event was hosted by Joel Stillerman, AMC’S president of Original Programming. Stillerman asked Norman a series of questions that allowed fans to get an in-depth and personal look at the Boondock Saints actor. Norman’s down to earth attitude was infections as the crowd listened to stories about Norman not being the “cool kid in school.” He talked about how his life has been impacted by fame, and how it hasn’t changed him as a person within. We all shared a sympathetic “awww” when he talked about having cameras in his face all the time and deciding to eat his lunch in the bathroom on a plane. Stillerman mentioned some of Norman ‘s earlier work and revealed that he loves photography. He showed two of Norman ‘s published photo books and openly discussed his passion for “capturing dark moments, but seeing a light within that darkness.” He discussed the close relationship he had with his mom and he talked about his new venture with his friends, expressing his love for motorcycles and the open road on his new show “Ride with Norman.” TWD was mentioned several times, along with his close and loving relationship with cast-mates Andy Lincoln and Steven Yeun, but he could not discuss the fate of his character Daryl Dixon. Norman made it known that he has not read the comics and when filming, he just asks some of the cast where the timeline rolls into the story. Toward the end, a few people got up and asked questions. Two became very emotional and Norman got up to give them some official TWD memorabilia.
Overall the event was very exciting and it was so nice to see Norman live, up close and personal. I hope that he and some of the other cast members make an appearance at a future Montclair Film Festival event.
The Walking Dead season 6 finale excited, shocked, and made us crave for more. The episode answered lots of questions, but also left us asking more questions. The Roller coaster ride continues to go up. Things haven’t been quiet for sometime now. Rick has fully assumed position as leader of Alexandria since Deanna’s death during the mid-season. He has fallen in love and started a romantic relationship with Michone, met Jesus from the Hilltop and has come face to face with arch nemesis Negan. Rick is stronger now than ever, but I fear that his strength will soon weaken once he witnesses the full wrath of Negan.
The people of Alexandria are on the verge of loosing everything they have built and tried to maintain within the walls. Daryl started the war against Negan and his group, which was initiated when he blew up the bikers with the rocket launcher.
While at the Hilltop Rick learns about Negan. He and the group take on the challenge to get rid of him and his group so that he and Alexandria can trade with the Hilltop. That decision leads the group to Negan’s compound where Glenn makes his first kill and Maggie and Carol are captured. The group does some damage but not enough. They come out victorious, but soon run into a new band of problems as they settle back home. Carol leaves, and Rick sends a group out to find her. Daryl sets out on his own to find Dwight, the sleaze that shot an arrow and killed Denise on a run. He is filled with loss and revenge, but then soon finds himself in hot water just as he stumbles on a captured Glenn and Michone.
Something goes terribly wrong with Maggie, as she experiences possible miscarriage pain. Rick and the group gather a few things and set off to take Maggie to the Hilltop where she can get medical attention. On the way, Rick encounters Negan’s group on the road. They are stopped several times and are eventually led into a major trap where a large number of Negan’s men have ambushed Rick and the group. Meanwhile Morgan finds Carol and she confesses that she is ready to die, but Morgan refuses to let her go. She slips away from him injured from her battle with the Saviors. On her travels alone one of the survivors catches up to her and shoots her twice. Morgan finds her again and finally kills the guy to save her. They are recruited by a two men dressed in armor, one of them is the man who lost his horse in episode 15. Those people are from another community called the Kingdom, as it is known in the comic books. Eventually the Hilltop, Alexandria, and The Kingdom join forces to battle Negan’s group.
After plan to dodge Negan goes wrong, Rick and the group are all brought to their knees, and are reunited with Michone, Daryl, Glenn, Rosita, and Eugene. Negan finally makes himself known along with his precious bat Lucille. The fear in everyone’s eyes is practically haunting as they all take in the air of death upon their necks. He proposes an offer for Rick-for them to give half of all they have to him in order to stay alive. Negan is dead set on punishing Rick for killing so many of his men. One by one he tries to choose which person to kill. He makes a choice and bashes the head in of someone who we will have wait until October to find out who lost This episode was directed by Greg Nicotero , who by which is an awesome director, but this episode had to be one of the most disappointing episodes I’ve seen in a while. I had a problem with the 90 minutes, and half of a season of building up to such an epic point just to be let down by the end. Jeffrey Dean Morgan had to be on camera for about a whole five minutes, then it ended and we have no clue who was killed. At this point I don’t even think the writers know who they want to kill off. Most of the episode was spent on the group going in circles, and Carol and Morgan’s to die or not die story-line.
The special effects were great and there is always something new to see visually. I will spend this time reading the books which will include the new book.
The World According to LaTaeya 