Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Swept Into The Darkness Author’

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

Read Full Post »

Halloween 2018 Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2018| Leave a Comment »

 Halloween 2018 directed by David Gordon Green, written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill and starring Jamie Lee Curtis continues the decades-old saga between Laurie Strode and her serial killer brother Micheal Myers. Two podcast journalists interested in getting into the mind of Michael Myers unknowingly provokes his killer instinct during a visit at the maximum security facility. Their presence unleashes a chain of events that reeks havoc once again on the small town of Haddonfield Illinois. Laurie spends her whole life preparing for Micheal’s return and in the process has neglected her daughter Karen and granddaughter. As she tries to prepare them and make an attempt to mend their broken relationship, Myers sets his sights on finding Laurie to finish what he started 40 years ago.

This movie was a great way to bring a fresh light upon the franchise. A classic in its own right, the evolution of Laurie Strode is just remarkable. Her resilience and strength are awe-inspiring and one of the greatest elements of the storyline is that fact that Laurie is a grandmother now. Jamie Lee Curtis’ portrayal is just plain epic. To see her in this role as a mature woman in Hollywood is magnificent. I’ve always been a fan, but this just makes me love her even more. Micheal’s personality has always been dark and creative when it came to his carnage, and this time it was even more intense. You would think that being locked up for so many years, that he would weaken a bit but absolutely not. There is a moment where his humanity does surface but only for a second, which is followed by the shadows of the monster that we know move within him.

There were surprises at every corner and more questions raised about the real family connection that Laurie and Micheal share. There were references from the past films and a great tribute to the legacy that Dr. Samuel Loomis left behind. The effects were realistic and the cinematography had some great elements to it.

I think that the casting choices were very wise and overall the movie was fun and exciting to watch. I may try to get back to the theater to see this movie again. There was nothing disappointing about this film. The mood was very classic and I found myself comparing scenes to the previous films.

I gave this movie 5 stars!

 

L.L

Check out the trailer below!

Read Full Post »

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.

Read Full Post »

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.

Read Full Post »

Transformers: The Last Knight Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 26, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Transformers Knight

Transformers: The Last Knight, directed by Michael Bay and starring Mark Wahlberg, takes you back in time to the story of King Arthur, Merlin and the knights of the round table. This element of the story was so exciting and had me thinking about the Arthurian Legend. The story delves deep into the history of how humans and the extraterrestrials began their alliance and revealed more history between the war among the Autobots and the Decepticons. The battle between Good and Evil is intense and continuous throughout the film. I’ve read and heard some of the reviews concerning this movie, which was negative, and it seems that this film grossed the least amount money out of the franchise. I’m not sure why this is because honestly, this was a great movie. The storytelling process was very interesting; the writing was well done. I felt as if I was brought into the story and experienced the journey along with the characters. Mark Wahlberg didn’t disappoint but some of the other new characters needed more developing like Isabella and Jimmy, but I think that they could have been better portrayed by other actors. I felt as though their acting styles were forced. Thet both tried too hard and during some scenes, I thought that their characters were not needed. Sir Edmund Burton played by Anthony Hopkins was a great addition to the cast and served as a guardian and historical counsel in the film. I really enjoyed the battle sequences and the enhanced technology brought the characters to life in such a way that made this whole idea so realistic. You could tell that the writers did some intense research in regards to history, fantasy, and folklore.

The visual effects were amazing, and the overall energy of the film brought a smile to my face as the story unfolded. This movie was so good that I would see it a second time. If you have the time to do a Transformer movie marathon then do it, there are past references throughout and a reference to a future possible battle(so don’t leave during the end credits). Seeing all four movies brings the story together. Despite some casting issues, this is a great film to see. I gave this movie five stars!!

L.L.

Check out the Trailer Below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 9, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Guardians of the Gal vo2

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by James Gunn, and starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana is a continuation of the saga of a group of superhero criminals who have vowed to protect the universe. On their quest to keep order within the cosmos, Star-Lord finds answers to his past and discovers some new found truths about the real person he has become.

Without spoiling it for those who haven’t seen this film yet, I must say that it was well done. The storytelling was done well. I just feel that this movie should have been the first film and the first film the second. It was nice to have questions answered about Star-Lord’s past, instead of waiting after four or five films to have questions answered.

The film had a great tone to it, which the aspects of comedy contributed to, but I did feel as if it was a bit too much comedy. It was one step away from being compared to a stand up comedian’s show.  The cast was great and I love the chemistry that each character displayed. This movie was a lot of fun to watch. There are a few surprises with supporting cast members and memorable marks that others made upon us.

I’m always a big fan of special effects and at this point in the game, the effects have to be spot on. The special effects for Guardians was just that! I really did not enjoy the score of the first film, but it was a lot better in this one. I’m assuming that as time goes on the score will continue to get better as the main character and film evolve together.

Overall this movie was every enjoyable and thrilling to watch. I’m looking forward to the third film.

I gave this movie 5 stars!

L.L.

Read Full Post »

Writing with Purpose Part Two

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 13, 2016| 2 Comments »

writing pic

 

Writing with a purpose

Life has had its many challenges, so it’s been difficult for me to get back into the habit of blogging again. But I’m back and it feels good to get my words out (on paper, LoL). There have been and will be a lot of changes for me in the near future, which will all be positive. I’m moving in the right direction and will be able to put my writing back on the top of my list. In this post I will discuss writing with purpose and meaning.

People write in our society for so many reasons. They write for communication, entertainment, and to help us learn new things. Writers use words to express themselves and share parts of themselves that they would not necessarily share by speaking.  Writing in our world is the way we connect with others and how we are brought together in so many ways. The written word teaches us how to acknowledge each other’s differences, and teaches us about other, times,places, worlds, realms and dimensions.

I like to read a variety of genres, and it is important as a writer to write with meaning and purpose. When a writer writes with purpose they make a deeper connection with their readers. It doesn’t matter what genre you are reading. It is a writer’s job as a deliverer of communication to write in a way that makes the reader feel respected and viewed as a unique individual. Writing with purpose and the meaning behind the writing is a special bond that the writer and reader have between the two. It is that special human connection that links us among time and space.

Writing with meaning also is a way that defines who a writer is, and gives the writer a chance to express themselves in a way that makes them identify with others. Writing brings them in a world where the writers and the readers can be and do what ever it is that they want to be. It is the place where they can escape, share in an adventure of relive an event from the past. It is the place where they can fly into the future or save a damsel in distress. It is a place where you can be you any way or how you want to be.

Writing with meaning opens doors for both the reader and the writer and the relationship they share is honest and unbiased when they both stay true to who they are within their own world.

Stay True to Yourself,

L.L.

Read Full Post »

Norman Reedus at The Montclair Film Festival

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 10, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Norman Reedus

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.

L.L

Read Full Post »

The Walking Dead Season 6 Finale

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »

TWD Season 6

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.

Happy Zombie Hunting, Just Survive Somehow

L.L.

Read Full Post »

Batman Vs Superman Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

batman vs superman

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice was not as bad as most of the reviews claim. Directed by Zack Snyder and starring Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck, the movie merges Metropolis and Gotham City in a way that helped to possibly introduce a future that fans of the DC  comic world has been anticipating for years.

Without giving too much away basically Bruce Wayne aka Batman believes that Superman is a major threat to the world and sets off on a personal vendetta to put an end to the extraterrestrial hero. Superman does everything he can to try to clear his name as a killer. His intentions were misunderstood, but no matter what he does to help,the people just can’t fully put their trust in him. In this movie Batman is more of a villain than a hero. Another villain soon surfaces, Lex Luther played by Jesse Eisenberg. Lex does all he can to try to destroy Superman once he gets his hands on Kryptonite.

Some interesting characters make an appearance like, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg, which I think will set the stage for future movies.

Overall the movie was very interesting. The action scenes were done in a manner that was exciting, but I just think that the some of the casting choices muddled the story-line and brought down the overall mood of the film. First and foremost I just can’t get over why Christian Bale declined the original offer. Aside from Michael Keaton,  Bale is by far the best Batman and that is why I just cannot accept Ben Affleck in this role. Batman appears to be aging, and the fact that he still hasn’t come to grips with the death of his parents just makes him even more distant as a character. It is clear that this is not the crime fighting Justice seeking individual that we have seen and grown to love in the past. We have struggled with Bruce and seen him in ways that made him more identifiable than any other hero we have seen. Affleck was unconnected and cold on so many levels. This role was not meant for him and it was clear that his on-screen delivery expressed that.  Another problem I had with the casting was with The Social Network star Jessie Eisenberg. He just did not channel a serious Lex Luther character. His comical air,seemed to be a better fit to play the Joker. It was as if his character was trapped in the body of another character. He was not a good fit.

batman

Henry Cavill was great as Superman. He gave the same passion and energy he did in the Man of Steel which was a great movie. Another Character that I really loved was the new Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot. The only problem I had with her was that I wanted to see more of her and know more of her backstory. I hope they get her to do her own movie before Dawn of Justice 2 comes out. I’m not talking about the 1980’s Wonderwoman version.

I won’t spoil the end, but the movie was very interesting and it seems as if some characters have to go through a deeper transition, which will shape who they will become in the future of this adventure.

I give this movie 3 in a half stars. It would have been 5 but for obvious reasons I just couldn’t do it.

If you are a fan please go see it. Check out the trailer below.

L.L.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »