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Posts Tagged ‘Summer Blockbuster Movies’

Nope (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Warning: Mild Spoilers Below

Nope, written and directed by Jordan Peele and starring Daniel Kaluuya (OJ Haywood), Keke Palmer (Emerald Haywood), and Steven Yeun (Ricky Park) follows a family and small California Ranch community as they experience and attempt to document a series of strange phenomena linked to an extraterrestrial probe that is connected to the sudden death of siblings OJ and Emerald’s father.

This Sci-Fi Horror is the summer blockbuster of the year. It was so exciting to experience this film in IMAX. For fans that believe in the Ancient Alien Astronaut Theory, this is the film we have been waiting years to see. The story was very well written and uniquely presented.  Filled with subject matter that Sci-Fi moviegoers are familiar with, however, the level at which this was brought to life was moving, and eye-catching. Daniel’s character performance showed a humbled strength that transformed and elevated every scene. Keke’s performance created a balance among the onscreen family dynamic and Steven Yeun’s character portrayal (Ricky Park) gave filmgoers the invitation to think and ask deep questions about the character’s traumatic past while connecting the elements of his story with the story of OJ and Emerald. The elements of horror were prevalent in certain parts of the film. There are some scary moments that will make you almost jump out of your seat.

The setting was structured well, and the plot had a special backstory intertwined within that gave fans an acknowledgment of great respect. The film’s visual effects and score were magical. All the components were blended to create a cinematic masterpiece. Nope is a movie that will open the door to a world of possibilities.  It is a great film that will give you the means to live in the moment while escaping into a world where the existence of aliens is no longer a secret conversation, and their presence is no longer part of the dark shadows of conspiracy theories. Nope…

I gave this movie 5 stars! It is worth seeing again..

L.L.

Please check out the trailer below:

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Thor Love and Thunder (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Thor Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi and starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, takes place some years after the events of Endgame. The story follows Thor as he tries to rebuild his life and the world of the Asgardian people. In the process, we find Thor battling against a dark entity known as Goor, the god Butcher (portrayed by Christian Bale), whose sole purpose is to kill all the other gods in the universe.

This film had a lot of subplots going on. It was enjoyable; however, too many comical elements within the film took away from the storytelling process. Some adult references were not appropriate for children. This movie felt a bit out of sorts with the cohesive story we are familiar with in a Thor movie. Parts of the story did fit, but I think it was how the story was presented that made me question the film. Christian Bale’s character was fascinating. This role added to his repertoire of diverse acting, but I think too much time was spent on how Thor would handle Goor. His idea to build a large team to help fight the villain failed fast, so it ended up being Jane, Valkyrie, and Korg as Thor’s backup. The costumes throughout the movie were very cool, and the score added an old-school youthful tone to the film. The visual effects were nothing out of the ordinary; however, I did have an issue with the look of some of the intergalactic creatures. The fight scenes were exciting to see. Jane’s storyline was a disappointing shocker, but I did enjoy (Portman’s) transformation into the “Mighty Thor.”  She did do an excellent job of portraying a superhero. It was also great seeing (Tessa Thompson) reprise her role as Valkyrie. As the “King” of Asgard, I thought I would see her take on a more leadership role in the film, which never really happened. She has the potential to be an extraordinary force in the Marvel universe with more character development and solo screen performances that truly showcase that potential.

Overall, I think that this film was fun. So please don’t expect it to be as complex as most Marvel movies in the past. I gave this film three stars. However, I think this film is better suited for streaming on Disney+.  

Please check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Jurassic World: Dominion (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 13, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Warning Spoilers Below!

Jurassic World: Dominion starring Chris Pratt, and Bryce Dallas Howard and directed by Colin Trevorrow picks up a few years after the events of Fallen Kingdom. We now see Clair and Owen immersed in a relationship while human society and the world of dinosaurs have been completely merged. Meanwhile, we see Allan (Sam Neill), Ian (Jeff Goldblum), and Ellie, (Laura Dern) reprise their roles as prominent paleontologists as they set out to expose a major revelation in the area of genetics. Clair and Owen quickly find themselves caught in a rescue mission while the doctors find themselves at the center of a dark conspiracy theory that continues to raise eyebrows in the scientific world.

Jurassic World: Dominion was a thrill ride that I hoped it would be. This film was packed with a lot of great action sequences. The casting was spot on and blending the classic franchise characters with the new generation characters worked extremely well. Adding new characters, DaWanda Wise (Kayla), and Mamoudou Athie (Ramsay), gave the storytelling process and overall character chemistry a light that brightened the story. The elements of humor and action added to the film while the mood created an atmosphere of adventure that left moviegoers on the edge of their seats. The special effects didn’t feel like effects. The components of cinematography brought you into the world as if it were real. This movie is worth seeing again for the overall thrill of adventure.

I gave this movie 5 stars. It is the blockbuster we have been waiting for!

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It “Review”

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson and directed by Michael Chaves is the third film in the Conjuring Franchise. The film follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate a murder that is potentially linked to a demonic possession. Documented as true events, we see two characters and a story that explores how strong Ed and Lorraine’s love for each other is. Ed and Lorraine are in a different stage in their lives and careers as they continue to battle the dark forces to save and protect the families they connect with.

Overall, this film was strong in its storytelling components. Wilson and Farmiga make a great pair, as their on-screen presence continues to charm movie goers. The supporting cast did not do much for me. I was hoping to see some storytelling blending between the court case and the haunting/exorcism, somewhat like the Exorcism of Emily Rose. There were some noticeable horror references throughout the film that were fun to point out, but I did feel like the first two films were much better than this latest installment. I was also looking for a deeper connection to the Nun in this film, but that also fell a bit flat. Since the Nun has appeared throughout the franchise, including a prequel, I was still hungry to see if there was more to that story despite the ending in The Conjuring 2. The special effects were average according to my expectations. This film did not give me that “jump out of my seat” feeling, but it was still worth watching and it was a lot of fun.

This was my very first in-theater post pandemic movie. I gave this movie 3 ½ stars. I highly recommend watching all the Conjuring Universe Films.

L.L

Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Q4zZS2v1k

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SpiderMan Far From Home Movie Review

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

Marvel’s Spiderman Far From Home, starring Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal tells the story of how a young Peter Parker and the world learns how to pick up the pieces of life without Ironman aka Tony Stark. Eager to go on a class trip to Europe, Peter plans to start living a normal life and finally decides to tell Mary Jane how he feels in hopes of inviting her to a romantic evening at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. His plans are quickly interrupted when he learns an evil villain has manifested halfway across the world to get Spiderman’s attention. Despite Peter’s efforts to ignore his calling from the legendary Nick Fury, Peter believes there is no chance to resurrect the once and thriving Avengers. A message sent by Tony put’s Peter’s life back in perspective, only for him to once again realize that it is still in his destiny to carry on Tony’s Heroic Legacy.

Spiderman Far From Home is an adventure thrill ride that brings forth the dawn of a new age of the Marvel comic films, while respectively giving fans closure for the loss of Ironman. It honors his heroism while still giving Spiderman the recognition he deserves to step in to be one of the sincerest heroes ever brought to life. The cast was great, and this movie returned the cinematic form of Spiderman into the beloved character we have loved in the comics for decades. Tom is a great Spiderman; this role was meant for him. Spiderman Far From Home is a great Midsummer Blockbuster film that fans will love. The humor, action, and the introduction of Mysterio was a breath of fresh air to the franchise.

I give this movie 5 stars, a rating that is deserving of a 21st century Marvel film.

L.L.

Check out the Trailer Below:

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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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Wonder Woman 2017 Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Wonderwoman poster

Wonder Woman directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine tells the origin story of how Wonder Woman came to be. The fast paced superhero film opened with Diana (Wonder Woman) living as a child within the magical world of the Amazon. Living within a community of strong Amazonian warrior women, Diana is first sheltered by her mother and the others. Her will to fight and be strong resonates within her as her aunt tries to bring out that inner strength. Under the direction of her aunt, she trains to prepare to fight the ultimate enemy until she is ready.

Diana’s world is turned upside down when she meets a mysterious stranger that nearly drowns in the Amazonian waters. Her journey of strength, self-discovery and love follows her as she travels to early 1900’s England.

I really enjoyed watching Wonder Woman, I absolutely loved Gal Gadot in the starring role. I was very impressed with her when I first saw her in the Batman vs Superman film. The time sequences of the Amazonian warriors was very good. I actually wished that the entire film took place in that world. Once she crossed over to the early 1900s, I really didn’t care for that time period, so it was hard for me to get past the setting, but I knew that the director was trying to take us back to a place where we and Bruce Wayne first saw her. The film does a nice job in explaining her origins. Now I am interested in seeing what the future holds for Wonder Woman.

The special effects were infused nicely and didn’t get lost in the film. The character chemistry worked well, but the score wasn’t memorable. The costumes were great and I loved the way Gal looked in the updated version of her costume. I know it will be a hit at New York Comic Con!!!

This is a good movie and you will enjoy the action and excitement that it will bring!!

I gave this movie 4 stars!!

L.L.

Check out the trailer below!!

 

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