Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Walt Disney Studios’

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Warning Mild Spoilers Below:

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, starring Kevin Durand as Proximus Caeser (Abigal), Owen Teague as (Noa) (It Chapter 2),  Freya Allan as (Mae) (The Witcher) and directed by Wes Ball (The Maze Runner 2014), takes place generations after the death of  Caesar, the Leader of the original ape rebellion.

In a future world where Apes are supreme while humanity dwells as a minority within the shadows of the earth, the adventure begins with a young Ape named Noa. Noa strives to be part of the group as he embarks upon a journey to take part in a cultural ritual to obtain an eagle egg to raise it within his clan. His journey to be among his clan eventually propels him to be marked as a leader. As the world moves into the future, we see a variety of ape clans and civilizations strive to fight for survival, rule, freedom, and peace.

Noa and his eagle clan family are on the verge of captivity by fellow apes; meanwhile, he and his companion (Raka) stumble upon a human (Mae) who has an agenda of her own to bring the world of human dominion back from the grave.

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was a cinematic adventure that brought all the elements of past franchise films into full swing. The world of the Apes was truly a sight to behold. The cinematic environment powerfully depicted how the earth has evolved from human expansion. The creativity behind the climate was a magical experience as I had a deeper appreciation and understanding of how fragile our earthly environment is. For this movie to only be carried by one or two “humans,” I must say that the storytelling process delivered as it drew me into the world and the characters within. The special effects were believable and done with grace and accuracy, the score added to the film, and the movie’s overall tone moved the franchise into a new realm of story while still staying true to the overall legacy of Caesar’s reign.

This movie was enjoyable. I gave this film four stars for the thrill, special effects, and adventure.

Check out the trailer below.

L.L.

Read Full Post »

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 3, 2023| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny directed by James Mangold, executive produced by George Lucas, and Stephen Spielberg, and starring Harrison Ford is the final adventure thrill ride in the treasure-hunting franchise.

This film takes place several years after the events of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Indy is on the verge of retirement, and we now see a changed Indiana Jones as the result of a recent loss. Indiana’s journey begins as a fast-paced expedition that creates the perfect amount of thrill and balance throughout the movie.  Indiana’s past catches up with him as he attempts to obtain a legendary artifact that has the power to alter the course of history. He manages to fight his way out of the trenches of his lifelong enemy while remaining true to his code of ethics.  

They pulled out all the stops for this film. Fans of the film and franchise truly understand what it means by the phrase “age isn’t nothing but a number.”  Harrison Ford’s portrayal of the beloved character was fabulous.  The action, thrill, and adventure of the story were bigger and better than ever. The partnership between Indy and his goddaughter Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked well. The chemistry between the two was a nice progression and reflected the true nature of their on-screen relationship.

 The presence of old friends was a nice addition, and the entire film created a mood of non-stop action that made moviegoers feel and believe that we were part of the action too! The special effects were indeed special. From the youthful look of Indiana to all the action and fight sequences. It was amazing.  There is nothing like seeing Indiana Jones galloping on a horse through a subway and all you need is that classic theme song and you are in it. At least I was… I apologize for the spoiler, but that scene was by far one of the best, most thrilling, action-packed scenes that have ever graced the silver screen.

Indiana Jones took us to places we never dreamed existed.  He showed us things that made us think, question and believe. He made us open our hearts to the definition of what it means to go on an adventure. He made us fall in love with the idea of the “hunt.” He allowed us to see beyond what a great imagination can do. Indiana Jones never played by the rules and defined the laws of gravity, space, and time, all while giving us the adventure of a lifetime.

This movie is the perfect summer blockbuster and will go down in cinematic history as a spectacular end to the franchise. This is a five-star must-see.

Please check out the trailer below:

Read Full Post »

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

The third installment of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise was an incredible adventure that dug into the past while providing a hopeful future for the characters we know and love.

Directed by James Gunn, this film takes place sometime after the tragic events of End Game. We see the devastating impact that Gomora’s (Zoe Saldana) death has had on Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the rest of the Guardians.  

In their attempt to move forward, the Guardians must find a way to heal from their loss as a new threat surfaces to destroy the universe.

With an unshakable cast, a strong and tight storyline, and consistent and larger-than-life special effects, Guardians of the Galaxy volume 3 is a must-film that will move you. Character connections evolve throughout the story and impact how the audience receives the realistic components within the theme. Additionally, the delivery of humor was intertwined gracefully, while the majestic nature of these superheroes is genuinely touching in multiple ways.

The cast brought this film to life; the director’s perspective created a movie that fans would love and appreciate.

I gave Guardians of the Galaxy 5 stars. It’s a must-see and hopefully will set the tone for (a fantastic summer blockbuster season.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below:

Read Full Post »

Avatar: The Way Of Water Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis, and Stephen Lange, takes place years after we see Jake Sully permanently assimilated into the world of Pandora. Now mated for life with partner Neytiri, portrayed by Zoe Saldana, we find that Jake is also the father of four children. However, the Sully family’s happiness quickly fades as Jake’s old enemy Quaritch, portrayed by Stephen Lange, takes the form of an Avatar to finish the war he started against Jake.

Jake and his family are no longer safe within the trees of their forest home, so he makes the tough decision to move his family out of the forest and into the water world to seek refuge among a new community of warriors. The Sully family begins a new life as they learn the ways of the Metkayina Tribe.

Avatar: The Way of Water is a cinematic masterpiece with a little bit of everything packed into the three hours plus film. This film made magic real for me as I took this magical thrill ride of adventure into another realm of imagination and wonder. The addition of new characters quickly became favorites while we were enthralled to explore how Jake and Neytiri’s world has evolved since we last saw them.

This movie was a visual spectacle on levels that are difficult to express. Experiencing it in 3D created a layer of dimension that only a movie theater could bring. The characters and the actors that brought them to life created an element of cohesiveness and chemistry that worked to maintain a balance that made the movie flow effortlessly. The storyline-maintained interest, while the score made me want something more to add to the theatrical experience. James Cameron has done it again with his directorial skills and deserves an Oscar nomination and win for best film and director.

Overall, I gave this film five stars. It is worth watching again. It is absolutely amazing!!

Check out the trailer below:

L.L

Read Full Post »