I Watched The Invitation (2022)

One of the movies I’ve wanted to watch for a while now was The Invitation, a horror thriller written by Blair Butler and directed by Jessica M. Thompson. Released in 2022, it stars Thomas Doherty and Nathalie Emmanuel. Honestly, I was sold on the film by the trailer, because around the time it was released, I was reading more gothic inspired fiction than I am now. Even so, it took me a while to come back to The Invitation. But I’m glad I did, because this movie was fun and campy, which on occasion is exactly what I’m looking for.

The Invitation starts off relatively benign with Nathalie Emmanuel’s character, Evelyn (Evie) Jackson, working a catering gig where she received a DNA test, as a party favor, from a goodie bag. Which, you know, was kind of random, but it jumpstarted the story with the entry of long-lost family and an impromptu trip to England, for a wedding. The Invitation had a number of gothic fiction hallmarks—secrets, a strange mansion, a heroine who starts out naïve—particularly with a focus on the paranormal kind. So while the setup seemed ordinary, as Evelyn arrived at the manor with wedding guests and a strangely unwelcoming household, it didn’t take long for odd things to start happening. And with a situation like that there was only one way to go from there, and it was downhill for her.

For a large part of its runtime, Evelyn’s experience was almost contemporaneous to its modern time period, except for the hints pointing toward the uncanny and supernatural nature of the traditions that actually dictated the area’s social structure, down to the way of life for the locals. It was insular and the other characters—even those who only appeared in passing—had loyalties, which often clashed with Evelyn’s drive to survive the situation.

Some of the most thrilling parts of The Invitation happened close to the end of the film, when the reveals started happening, and it turned into to a game of cat and mouse. The villains were menacing and effective at creating a daunting challenge for Evelyn to navigate.

Overall, while The Invitation wasn’t a profound film, it didn’t have to be to be good at what it had to offer. And, ultimately, I had a great time watching it.

I'm Back + Most Anticipated Releases of 2024

It’s been a minute, but I’m returning from my annual break from the blog. Once again, Happy New Year!

So, what have I been up to?

I always tell myself I’m going to read a lot more during my breaks than I ever do, but during the holidays, I inevitably end up preoccupied by other things. Whether that’s with a TV series, movies, some form of arts and crafts, or video games. This time, I got into making miniatures. They were supposed to be for small unfinished snow globes, but I got overly ambitious and overestimated what I could do with the size constraints. I had maybe too much fun with that, since the project is ongoing and has followed me right into the New Year.

As for video games, I’m working my way through the last dungeon in Fae Farm as well as the remainder of its central story. This is a game I’ve really taken my time with, and I don’t have any plans to change the pace with how I engage with it. I’m also still playing Tears of the Kingdom. There’s just so much to explore, but I’m genuinely enjoying it.

So, what are my 2024 blog goals?

I don’t have any other goals this year, except to finish a couple of book series (especially the two that I already have the books for).

What upcoming books am I looking forward to?

I always try to keep my anticipated books list kind of short, because I know I’ll come across plenty of novels as the year progresses. What I am looking forward to is: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo, Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall, and Holly Horror: The Longest Night by Michelle Jabes Corpora.

What upcoming albums am I anticipating?

Like books, I know I’ll come across my albums later in the year. For now my list includes: Lana by SZA (sometime in 2024; deluxe version of SZA's 2022 album, SOS) Savior by Green Day (January 19), Girl with No Face by Allie X (February 23), Funk Generation by Anitta (Unscheduled), Into the Unknown by Nero (Unscheduled), and ORQUIDEAS by Kali Uchis (Already released; January 12, 2024).

What upcoming video games am I looking forward to?

Last, and certainly not least, I want to go over the video games coming out in 2024 that I’m most excited for. I primarily play on my Nintendo Switch Lite, so the games I’m going to mention consists of releases that will be available on that console.

Luigi’s Mansion HD (Luigi’s 2: This Dark Moon Nintendo Switch Port) is at the top of my list for 2024 video game releases. Even though I always wanted to play the original, I never did. So I’m very excited that it’s coming to the Switch. Another one is Princess Peach: Showtime! How many years has it been since Peach had her own game? And from the look of the trailer, it seems like it’s going to be an exciting game. As for indies, the two I’m watching for potential Switch releases is Moonlights Peaks, a vampire life-sim, and Camper Van: Make It Home, a decorating game.

So yeah, I’m looking forward to the year ahead. Happy reading!

So, I Watched Matilda the Musical

One of the first movies I watched this year was the Matilda the Musical on Netflix. The trailer was enough of a hook, but, my co-blogger, Adri, watched it before I could and recommended it. For context, the 1996 film is one of my favorites. It was charming, but it also had frank commentary mixed in with plenty of literature themes, and creative (and justified) uses for telekinesis alongside a handful of comedic moments. There’s also the narrator, who interjected at just the right moment. So, I was interested in Netflix’s version, since, as I read, it’s an adaptation of the stage musical—which is a version of Matilda I haven’t seen before.

There were notable differences, but I didn’t go in expecting the musical to be a perfect match for the 1996 film. Either way, I was hooked.

The intro is almost whimsical and colorful, but it’s also entirely ironic, given the substance of the majority of the rest of the film. However, it introduced Matilda’s parents as well as her circumstances in a succinct way. To quote Adri, “It’s an intro I didn’t skip.” It also served as an early offering of the kind of musical numbers to expect going forward. And that aspect was really well-done!

Like the earlier movie, the musical didn’t shy away from the tougher subjects present in the titular character’s story. Agatha Trunchbull is still terrible—personality wise, but also by her actions and behavior towards others. But, I liked the way it was handled, especially how some of the song portions accentuated the narrative.

Overall, Matilda the Musical was bittersweet but hopeful, and the ending was expected, especially if you’ve seen the 1996 film. But, after everything, it was entirely satisfying to finally get there.

What I've Been Watching

I wanted to do one more What I’ve Been Watching post before the year was over, because October and November were busy months in terms of TV and movie releases. Here’s everything I’ve watched.

Cooking Competitions

• Every year, I really enjoy the holiday specific baking competitions that are aired on Food Network. The Halloween ones are a particular favorite of mine, but I also enjoy the Christmas ones too.

Wendell & Wild (Netflix, 2022)

• I love stop-motion animation, and when I heard about this project (plus Henry Selick and Jordan Peele’s involvement with it), suffice it to say, I was hyped. Wendell & Wild was fantastic. The animation was stylish and fit the tone of the movie. It was spooky and fun, combined with serious and somber topics. It was also a coming of age tale, following Kat Elliott's turmoil and guilt after the death of her parents. Her issues were real and hard-hitting, while the supernatural aspects added the eerie imagery and a slight comedic element that broke up some of the tension—especially with the titular duo, Wendell and Wild. The voice performances were great as well, and I really enjoyed the music. All-in-all, I had a great time watching this movie. I know it’s easily going to be another Halloween favorite that I revisit every year, just like Coraline.

Heroes & Icons

• There is a channel I’ve gotten into lately (thanks Adri!) called H&I. I’ve been watching shows like the original Hawaii Five-O, MacGyver, and Star Trek as well as Vega$ among others.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (Netflix, 2022)

• The Curse of Bridge Hollow arrived right on time for Halloween. I liked this one. The comedic moments arrived at the perfect times, and it made me laugh. The story—while simple with Halloween decorations brought to life by accident—was enjoyable, particularly because it had a great cast. I also liked the overall messaging.

Mr. Midnight: Beware the Monsters (Netflix, 2022)

• I love stuff that incorporates folklore and magic as well as mystery, adventure, and comedy. And, Mr. Midnight checked all the boxes. It was so good! The supernatural occurrences were episodic with an overarching plot that continued till the end. The folklore and magic elements were pretty awesome. I loved the effects and the design of the spirits, other creatures, and the overall look and setting of the series. The characters were just as interesting too, and the connection developed between the main and reoccurring cast was one of the highlights. Everyone had a fully developed personality with their own goals, fears, and secrets—something that was embellished by the great performances of the actors. So even when the characters clashed, it made for interesting situations with a number of emotional and heartfelt moments. The dynamics between the core group—Tyar, Ling, Nat, and Zoe—who were collectively Mr. Midnight, was fun. There was plenty of camaraderie (and friendship) between them, which was also tied-up with the supernatural occurrences they ultimately got involved with. All-in-all, I really enjoyed this series, and I ended up binge watching all thirteen episodes.

Business Proposal

• In November, I decided to check out a Korean romantic comedy called Business Proposal, which was in my Netflix recommendations. I haven't read the webtoon it's based on, but that didn't stop me from watching it. It's an office romance, and I loved this series! I laughed so much at the antics of the characters, the situations they found themselves in, and the bright and colorful comical effects that sometimes appeared in the background. It was ridiculous, heartwarming, and romantic. (Even the side characters had a lot going on.) I had a lot of fun watching this series!

So that’s some of what I’ve been watching. There’s even more stuff that came out, which I haven’t gotten around to yet. But, since my break from blogging is coming up, I expect to do another one of these posts early in 2023. What have you been watching?

I Watched Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story (2020)

It has been a while since I’ve been this excited to talk about a holiday movie, but Jingle Jangle deserves all the praise. This is probably one of my favorite movies released by Netflix to date, and it goes alongside others I’ve recently enjoyed—i.e. The Babysitters Guide to Monster Hunting and Vampires VS the Bronx. Jingle Jangle was fantastic, and it ticked all the boxes for everything I look for in a musical. It’s the kind of family-friendly movie that feels like it’s going to be a holiday classic, and in my opinion it more than has the potential to cross that threshold.

For a movie about a toymaker, the holidays, family, and stolen inventions, the story was just good. It was a magical adventure with steampunk notes. It seemed equal parts heartwarming, sad, but still all around fun and humorous. And even when there were some of the more emotional moments, the movie never quite lost its hopeful tone.

Jingle Jangle is very stylish movie. The casting decisions Netflix made were top-notch with picks such as Keegan-Michael Key from Key & Peele, Forest Whitaker, and Anika Noni Rose who voiced Tiana. Every actor was phenomenal in their roles, and as a result the characters came off as charming and joyous. The costuming as well as the set design was colorful, wintery and eye-catching—and it really set the mood for the movie.

Since Jingle Jangle is a musical, I was paying close attention to the aspects related to it. Well, the dance numbers were excellent, the music is just “chefs kiss,” and even after the credits were rolling, I was already thinking about listening to the songs again. The scene transitions were notable as well, especially between the talking parts and the singing/dance segments. It was so smooth that the overall impression left by Jingle Jangle is that the movie found its rhythm and kept it.

Jingle Jangle was fantastic. I can’t recommend it enough, and if you’re looking for a holiday movie to watch, then consider giving this one a try.

Also, check out the trailer….

I Watched Labyrinth (1986)

After finally watching The Dark Crystal—which I talked about HERE—I was more excited than ever to check out the other movie that I’ve heard a lot about. As the title of this post suggests, I watched Labyrinth in December 2019, and oh man, I totally get why this movie is mentioned so often. I certainly understand why it’s considered a fantasy classic. Narratively it was entertaining to watch, and combined with a great cast—David Bowie as Jereth the Goblin King, and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah Williams—excellent set and puppet design, there was a lot to like about Labyrinth. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Labyrinth is the kind of story that’s part coming-of-age tale and also one about being careful what you wish for. That’s the lesson Sarah learns after she wishes her baby brother away, and oops…because someone was listening and had the power to grant it. I like these types of magical adventure films. There’s something campy and whimsical about them that draws me to them. Being a musical, Labyrinth had the leg-up on some of my other favorite films since David Bowie sings most of the songs. With Jim Henson company productions, I’m always in it for the puppets. One of my favorite aspects about the movie was in fact the puppets. There were so many, but each one was as detailed and unique as the last. The puppeteer work was just as great as it was in The Dark Crystal, and some of my personal favorite characters—such as Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus—were done so well.

There were so many areas to the labyrinth itself. From the castle looming in the distance, to the entrance—which was more like a standard maze and was a little empty and desolate, but definitely not lacking in the glitter department. The labyrinth was an interesting and ever changing setting, and the overall design of the film was one that I liked. It was dark where it was needed and lighter (or should I say whimsical?) where it needed to be with humor mixed in to break up some of the more serious aspects about the story.

All-in-all, I’m glad that I finally gave this movie a try.

Do you have any favorite classic fantasy movies? If so, leave your recommendations in the comments down below.

I Watched Klaus...

When I first heard about Klaus, I knew it was going to be something I wanted to watch, and it was as great a film as I thought it would be. The story was heartwarming and a little bittersweet at times. Overall it was fun and enjoyable to watch, and as a holiday film it worked.

Klaus follows the story of a (very reluctant and arrogant) postman named Jesper who, after disappointing his father, is stationed in a remote artic town called Smeerensburg. This film was kind of like an origin story, with themes of friendship and generational feuds balanced with the beginning of holiday traditions—particularly centered on the characters of Klaus and Jesper. From the start, it was a great premise to build on, and that’s exactly what Klaus does. From start to finish I was thoroughly engrossed in the movie. The voice acting was fantastic, and I can only describe it as expressive and fitting of the characters being portrayed. The attention to detail was something else. The animation was crisp and refined, and there were many scenes that were visually stunning. The style and lighting gave the film an almost hand-drawn feel. For instance, some of the texture found commonly in the background reminded me of pencil. Much of the film was colorful and vibrant, and it excelled at creating atmospheric environments that accurately portrayed the tone of any given scene—and the effect was simply an immersive experience. The character designs were unique and fit the overall style of the movie. The characters themselves were memorable, and at times some of the situations that occurred were on the more humorous side.

Klaus hit all the right notes in terms of animation and story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’re looking for something to watch this holiday season, then consider giving Klaus a try.

Have you watched Klaus? If so, what did you like about it?

Movie Review: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

I haven’t done a movie review in a long time. However, I wanted to share what I thought about a movie I recently saw. So, today, that's what I intend to do. From the title of the post, I'm sure you can guess which one. But first, a little more about it...

Title: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
Directed by Zack Snyder
Produced by Charles Roven & Deborah Snyder
Written by Chris Terrio & David S. Goyer
Release Date: March 25, 2016
CLICK HERE for the Official Website

So, I went to see Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. It wasn’t bad, and actually, I liked the film a whole lot more than I thought I would.

The story is basically about Batman (Bruce Wane, portrayed by Ben Affleck) and Superman (Clark Kent, portrayed by Henry Cavill) getting into a dispute. To me, it seemed like a warring of different opinions on how to handle injustice, as well as portraying themes of revenge and obsession. The tone was definitely darker without much humor to compensate for the bleak outlook of most scenes found throughout the movie.

Batman V Superman did have a lot of dialogue added between the scenes of tension and action. However, all the dialogue did set up a chain of events, which played out over the course of the film. The characters were both shown in their separate lives, and eventually how their situations collided. These things played a part in affecting Batman and Superman’s attitude towards one another.

There were parts that moved a little slower and were packed with information, but I didn’t mind them much. And when compared to what I liked about the film, it wasn’t that big of a fault. However, I do feel like the trailer provided some spoilers about what happened later in the film, which I was a little disappointed by. But, the visuals were nice; the cinematic score was dramatic and catchy, and a definite highlight was Wonder Woman, who I want to see more of (I have my fingers crossed in the hopes that Wonder Woman's independent movie will be good).

And then there was Alexander (Lex) Luthor (played by Jesse Eisenberg). I was not expecting his character to be done so well. At first appearance he seemed like, I don’t know, an ordinary person. But then, his troubling behavior evolved into something more sinister, which showed his true colors. In short, Lex Luthor was a convincing villain.

I tried to keep an open mind with the movie. So, I went in with the mindset of forming my own opinion. And overall, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice wasn’t really that bad.

So, have you seen the movie yet? What did you think of it? Did you like it, hate it, or just feel sort of meh about it?

Musing Mondays (24)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB(Jenn) at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Usually when I think about book to movie adaptations the first ones that come to mind are the more recent ones like The Maze Runner, Harry Potter, and so on. Here’s a very short list of some of my favorite ones…

**I have not read all of the books that go along with the movies**

• Matilda
• Howl’s Moving Castle
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, & The Return of the King
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, & The Battle of the Five Armies
• How to Train Your Dragon

What are some of your other favorite book to movie adaptations?

Falling into Fall {#3}

     This one is going to be sort of short.  Anyway, welcome to the third post for Falling into Fall.  This time I'm going to briefly discuss movies.  Part of what I do during fall is watch certain reruns of movies/TV shows that I will always love.  One of them would be Hocus Pocus, it's one of my all time favorite witch movies, and I watch it at least once a year.  Another one is The Nightmare before Christmas.  I always like the whimsical style of Tim Burton's animated films.  So it shouldn't be hard to guess that another one of my favorite movies is The Corpse Bride. I really like the story of that one, and the animation. (I'm I sucker for animated things.) Here's a classic one...or two: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I will always like the Charlie Brown specials, because...well just because.  And Casper (1995), I love this movie, end of discussion.

     As you can see, I tend to like festive movies and TV shows, especially the ones that come on every year. Well that's basically it, but check back Thursday November 13 for the next Falling into Fall post. Question: What are some of your favorite fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving movies/TV shows?

*All post links can be found on the Features Page

 
   

Early Movie Review: Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro

Title: Pacific Rim
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Producer: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Guillermo del Toro, Mary Parent
Screenplay: Travis Beacham, Guillermo del Toro
Story by: Travis Beacham
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: July 12, 2013
For more info on the movie visit the official site HERE

My thoughts:

        So, last night I saw an advanced screening of Pacific Rim, yeah, awesome giant robots called Jaegers that battle monsters—that also happen to be you know, GIANT—rising out of the sea. Uh-huh, what’s not to like about that? That’s the point, Pacific Rim was my kind of movie. It blended near-apocalyptic elements perfectly with technology only found in science fiction!

          Raleigh Becket, oh gosh, the guy started out as a Jaeger pilot that came off as a little too arrogant for his own good. But certain events changed him, and in the end he had to live with those decisions. Then there was Mako Mori, once I knew her history, I understood where she was coming from. There were other characters, but I won’t go into that. I don’t think I could say much about certain ones without spoiling the entire movie. Although, I will say that one of my favorite characters from the movie was Dr. Newton Geizler, the guy was spontaneous and reckless when it came to his research.

      Oh, the plot of Pacific Rim, it was fast paced despite the length of the movie, and the dialogue was kept in check. Almost from the very beginning the action started as mankind tried to take a stand against the invaders, Kaiju. The technology behind the Jaegers was pretty impressive, and the concept in itself was enough to grab my attention. It wasn’t all just mindless fighting.  There was a story to it that I liked seeing. At times, the movie left me questioning the decisions of a few characters, and the ending…no, on second thought I don’t think I’ll say anything about that.   Because I want to be as vague as possible about this, I’ll just end this review here since I could go on all day. But if you want to know how it ends, well, you’ll have to see Pacific Rim for yourself to find out, because I’m not telling you. {Actual rating 4.5}

I won tickets to an advanced screening.

 

Check out the trailer below

 

Early Movie Review: Now You See Me

Title: Now You See Me

Director: Louis Letterrier

Producer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bobby Cohen

Written by: Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 31, 2013

For more information about the movie visit the official site here

My Thoughts:

     My first thoughts about Now You See Me were:  What?  How?  Where the heck did that come from?  Oh, ok, I did not see that coming.  After the end of Now You See Me, I was left reeling from it, and feeling like the movie was one giant illusion meant to trick the audience into believing they’re seeing something they’re not—well, at the very least, that’s how I felt.  It really made me think about the plot as it progressed as new details emerged.  Now You See Me is the kind of movie I’d eventually buy when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray, just to see if there were any small details I missed the first time I’d seen it.

      The plot follows “The Four Horsemen,” a team of talented illusionist, who go up against an elite team of FBI agents, in a series of thrilling heists.  Jack Wilder, Henley Reeves, Merritt McKinney, and J. Daniel Atlas start off as separate performers, unable to work with one another.  Through a course of mysterious events, the four end up working as a team.  The Horsemen were really the world’s greatest illusionist in this movie, as time after time, they always managed to stay one step ahead of the agents who were closing in on them. 

     Now You See Me was truly different from the other movies coming out this year.  I mean, come on.  How many times are you going to get a movie about illusionist pulling off heists?  I was so sure it was someone else, but it wasn’t.  I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot, but the secrets, oh the secrets will leave you questioning what you saw throughout the movie.  The greatest trick of Now You See Me was the movie itself, and the hidden details within it.  The only issue I really had with the movie was that there was some inappropriate suggestive content at seemingly random parts of the movie, and instances of crude humor that could have just been left out.  Otherwise, it was a pretty good movie.

 

Thank you to Summit Entertainment for the advanced screening tickets!  Another thank you to Z90.3 for the awesome Now You See Me hat!

 

Check out the trailer below:

Early Movie Review: Fast and Furious 6

Title: Fast and Furious 6

Director: Justin Lin

Producer: Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Clayton Townsend

Written by: Chris Morgan

Release Date: May 24, 2013

For more information about the movie, visit the official site here.

My Thoughts:

 
    Wow, oh holy action-packed, tank stealing, crap!  Fast and the Furious fans rejoice!  We’ve got another fast-paced installment into the series.  Out of all of the movies in the Fast and the Furious series I have to admit that I liked this one the most.  It had me gasping in shock the entire time, as secrets were uncovered, lies were undone, and the truth finally came to light.  The characters were as awesome as always, and I felt like the plot was more apparent than in the other films.  I was not disappointed by the way it turned out.  If you think that’s all, then you’ve got another thing coming.  Fast and Furious 6 was as funny as it was action-packed, with hilarious moments sneaking up out of nowhere.  In fact, Fast and Furious 6 is one movie that I’d like to go see again. 

     The old Crew from the previous movies—Dominic Toretto, Brian O’Conner, Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, Han Seoul-Oh, and Gisele Yashar—are back at it again.  Having seemingly moved on with their lives, and given up their old lifestyles for a quieter existence, I was looking forward to seeing what jumpstarted the conflict.  After being contacted by a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent, they once again lapse back into their old ways.    This time, the task presented from the beginning of the movie, is one that hits-home pretty hard.  Letty Ortiz, a former member of their Crew, who was thought to be dead, is seemingly working with the antagonists of the film. 

     When I first saw the trailer, I was like how the heck is she still alive?  Let me tell you, the truth behind the whole thing will leave you breathless.  Tough decisions were made, as the Crew goes up against one of their toughest adversaries ever.  Owen Shaw was just nuts, the guy was too smart for his own good, but it made seeing the movie all that much better.  As always there were the cars—although I miss the Nissan Skyline—the street races, the cool stunts, and the heartfelt mission at the core of the movie.  I really felt like Fast and Furious 6 bridged the gap between the other movies in the series, as well as answering many questions that I had after then end of Tokyo Drift.  It shouldn’t be hard to guess that I cannot wait till number 7 comes out.  Although, I don’t recommend sitting in the nose-bleed section of the movie theater.  You need a higher-up seat to fully enjoy the movie.

"I second this review!"—Andrea M.



Thank you to Universal Pictures for the Advanced Screening Passes!

Check out the trailer for Fast and Furious 6 below:

Early Movie Review: Epic

Title: Epic

Director: Chris Wedge

Producer: Lori Forte, Jerry Davis

Writers: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember
Release Date: May 24, 2013

For more information about the movie, visit the official site here.

My Thoughts:

     Epic was a cute, family friendly movie, with a few good points to it. Going into it, I knew that it wasn’t really my kind of movie, but I do have to admit that I liked it better than I thought I would. Epic, to be honest was more of a middle-grade level movie, with hints of action, and a dash of romance. Although the pacing was a little slow, and I found myself wishing that some of the void had been filled with something else besides talking. As for the plot itself, it was interesting enough. Epic presented the idea of there being a world alongside ours, hidden in plain sight, but so tiny that it wasn’t very noticeable, as well as the prospect of this world moving faster than ours. Basically, this other world was one that protected the forest from destruction. While not the most original scenario ever, there was the twist with the Leafmen, who are the warriors who fight to protect the forest. It was more of a movie about the balance between good and evil, as one side strives to destroy the other and seize complete control. The fights were interesting enough, but I would have liked a little more background information. The characters were ok, especially Mary Katherine, or as she likes to be called, M.K.. She is a teenage struggling to live with her father after the untimely death of her mother. It leads to her being swept up amidst the struggle between good and evil. Professor Bomba, M.K.’s father, was silly at best, but I liked how much he grew during the movie. There were a few light and humorous moments thrown into the mix, and the ending was satisfying enough. If you're looking for a lighthearted, animated film, then Epic would be the movie for you.

I was invited as a guest to an Advanced Screening of Epic.

Check out the trailer below:

Review: Star Trek Into Darkness Directed by J.J. Abrams

Title:  Star Trek Into Darkness

Director:  J.J. Abrams

Written by: Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, and Damon Lindelof
Based on Star Trek created by Gene Rodenberry
Rated PG-13

Release Date:  May 17, 2013
For More Information visit the Official Site

I received advance screening tickets for Star Trek Into Darkness from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Thank You. Let me start by saying that I’m not attempting to summarize the movie, because there would be simply too many spoilers. These are merely my thoughts about Star Trek Into Darkness directed by JJ Abrams.

A heart-wrenching sacrifice was used in an attack against the Federation. The catastrophic event was arranged by none other than Harrison AKA Kahn. There was corruption within the organization. Consequently, the USS Enterprise was tasked with stopping Khan and averting a full-fledged war.

My first thoughts were that the cast of characters presented didn’t measure up to the original cast that I grew to love. Yeah, the same characters were there but something was just different. It was a modern day twist to a classic movie, which is sure to demand the attention of a new generation of movie goers/Trekkie fans. The action at the beginning of the movie was attention grabbing as Spock's life was in jeopardy and Captain James Kirk makes a rash decision regarding whether he should adhere to protocol or take actions based on the needs/safety of just one man. I just couldn’t picture anyone but the original actor, Leonard Nemoy, playing Spock. Then it happened--the plot started rolling, Spock was in danger, the USS Enterprise was revealed to the indigenous people,  corruption was among them, friendships were strengthened, and Kirk begins to adapt to his role as Captain. That’s when I realized that the movie had the perfect ingredients for success. Chris Pine (Captain Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) were exceptional in their roles. Bones and Scotty added a nice touch of humor to the plot. And I must say that Dr. Leonard McCoy AKA “Bones” was my absolute favorite character, because he was the crews dedicated doctor that would go to the extreme to complete a crew member’s examination.

Overall, Star Trek was more than the story of the USS Enterprise’s mission to protect the Federation and search for new civilizations. It portrays the crew as they learn to work together under the command of Captain Kirk. The growth of the crew was evident, as we are provided with details pertaining to their strengths and weaknesses. We learn why Spock appears to be emotionless and witness Captain Kirk’s development into a true leader.  In short, albeit, the modern day Star Trek had a different feel than the original version, it’s a new era for Star Trek fans, and it’s a movie that’s sure to be loved for generations to come.

 

Movie Review: Advanced Screening of Oblivion

Picture from OblivionMovie.com

 

Title: Oblivion by Joseph Kosinski
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Producer's: Joseph Kosinski, Peter Chernin, Ryan Kavanaugh, Dylan Clark, Barry Levine
Screenplay: Joseph Kosinski, William Monahan, Karl Gajdusek, Michael Arndt
Music: M83
Release Date: April 19, 2013
Age Range: PG-13
Content: Sci-Fi action, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity
For more information about the movie, visit the official site Here

Our Thoughts:

     Let me start out by saying that Oblivion was awesome!  Last night we went to an early screening of Oblivion, and I have to say that I really like this movie.  Before it actually started, fun facts about the movie rolled across the screen.  Like how Tom Cruise did all of his stunts, and that he has a motorcycle and pilot license.  As well as the fact that they filmed part of the movie at the Empire State Building.  How cool that must have been for the people visiting at the time of filming.  Also before the movie we found out that it was filmed with a brand new camera that was basically right off the production line, “the Sony CineAlta f65 Camera.”  How cool is that?  Oblivion is also the first time that Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman have worked together in a movie, and I have to say neither of their performance’s disappointed. 

     The world building was evident throughout the movie, and the shots were visually stunning to watch.  The plot follows Jack Harper, a Drone mechanic, as he lives his life flying around a desolated earth fixing broken Drones.  Soon, trouble arises, as his world begins to fall apart piece-by-piece.  Honestly, I was a little confused at first, but as the movie got further and further in, I began to understand the intricately woven mystery surrounding what really happened to earth.  It wasn’t until Jack realized it that I fully understood what was happening.  Oblivion is an action-packed post-apocalyptic joy ride, perfectly formatted for the IMAX screen.    

     And of course after the movie we got to see a live Q&A broadcasted from the New York premier of Oblivion.  The Q&A was priceless.  Some of Tom Cruise’s answers were hilarious, but I do have to agree with him.  The Bubble Ships were awesome, and it was interesting to know that some of the best car designers worked on the design for it.  The Q&A also revealed that very little of the movie was actually green screened.  The beautiful shots of the clouds were actual takes collected by positioning a camera above a volcano in Hawaii.  M83 did a wonderful job on the score for Oblivion, and it added the perfect touch to the film. 

      To say that this was only the second film directed by Kosinski, his creativity and world building were amazing.  I was so pleased with Oblivion, and I can only hope that Joseph Kosinski has a prequel or sequel in the works.  I am curious to see how the world got to the state that it was in.  I can only hope that the visuals of Kosinski’s future movies are just as captivating. This one is a must see.

Thank you to Universal Pictures for the Advanced Screening Passes!
Review written by Andrea & Breana M.

I absolutely loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone.

 

Other fun acts from the screen & off the screen:

Joseph Kosinski’s directorial movie debut was Tron: Legacy
Oblivion is the 37^th film Tom Cruise has acted in.
Oblivion is based off an unreleased Graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski & Arvid Nelson

Check out the trailer below:

MOVIE, BOOK, OR BOTH: Review of The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

Title: The Host (Movie, 2013)

Director:  Andrew Niccol

Writers: Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Attended an Open Roads Films Advance Screening of the Host
Rating/Review Originally Posted March 24, 2013 at The Host | gofobo

My Thoughts Regarding the Movie

I saw an advance screening of The Host. It was a good sci-fi/love story that focused on the power of love; although, it was slow paced. As a result of the inner conflict between Melanie and Wanderer, it was often humorous. There were some exciting and intense moments, but it didn’t have as much action as I expected. And I was a little disappointed in the portrayal of the resistance. I was also left with questions regarding how a “soul” took over the first host’s body and am now reading the book in hopes that it will clarify some of my unanswered questions.

For more information about the movie please click on the following link: The Host (2013) Official Website

Title: The Host: A Novel (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown and Company, May 6, 2008
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library, Hardback 

My Thoughts Regarding the Differences Between the Movie and Book

Okay, I finally read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Now that I've read the book, I really like the story. I only wish that the movie was longer and provided the details found in the book. There were slight differences between the book and the movie. The book reveals how the first soul was implanted and I wish that the movie would have included this information. Also, I now get that the “souls” and the people were suffering from ignorance in the beginning. They did not understand each others’ worlds. The people of the resistance considered the aliens parasitic evil entities, and the aliens thought that the human race was evil.  As a remedy to the problems  on earth the aliens inhabited people’s bodies and attempted to create a sort of utopia.  But once the utopia was being created, I failed to understand what they, the aliens, had done differently. The aliens had biased viewpoints and chased people to their death to take over their bodies, because people weren’t deserving of the world they inhabited. But the real question I had was: Were their ways superior?

Most of the movie was similar to the book. However, the initial reservations I had about The Host (Movie) were a result of some of the adaptations. For instance, in the movie there was a scene in which members of the resistance were being pursued and they just seemed to give up without a fight. Yeah, at times the members of the resistance in the book appeared weak, but they didn’t act as hastily as they did in the movie. Meyer’s provided details regarding how Jared, one of Melanie’s/Wanderer’s love interests, knew that Melanie lived on in Wanderer’s head; whereas, the movies depiction of the same scene evoked laughter. Also the dialogue between Wanderer and Melanie seemed humorous in the movie; whereas some of their conflicts were serious in the book. And it was through these inner conflicts that Wanderer learned of Melanie’s love for her people and reconsidered her stance on the souls invasion of earth.

Now that I have read the book, I can say that I really liked The Host by Stephanie Meyer. If you're considering seeing the movie, I recommend reading the book at some point. Although there weren’t many changes in the movie adaptation, there were enough to influence my opinion of the overall storyline. Initially, the trailer had me expecting a lot of action, which left me slightly disappointed with the movie. However, after reading the book, I realized that this was the story of two worlds coming together against all odds. And it was Melanie’s and Wanderer’s love of their native lands that tested the fallacies held by the people and aliens of their worlds. It just makes one think….What would you do for the things and the people that you love?

I really like it.  I would recommend it.

 

Movie Review: The Host

Title: The Host (2013) (A movie based on a novel written by Stephenie Meyer, for more information about the movie click the title)
Director/ Screenplay by: Andrew Niccol
Music: Antonio Pinto
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: March 29, 2013
For more information about the book, visit the Goodreads page: The Host (Click title for Synopsis)

My Thoughts:

I attended an Open Road's advanced screening of The Host.
    
     I was pretty excited to see The Host movie early, and after I watched the trailer I had high hopes for the movie.  It’s not that it fell flat, but it was more of a satirical take on a love story.  Right away, the relationships between the characters seemed to take the forefront in the movie.  The plot follows Melanie, who after being caught, is taken over by Wanderer, an alien.  Immediately there is trouble, which leads to Wanderer leaving the comfort and safety of the city after a split-second decision.  This decision takes the two on a journey.  I liked that it dealt with things such as self-discovery in a seemingly idealist, but totalitarian society.  As well as what matters most like life, love, friendship, and family.  Melanie and Wanderer also dealt with inner-conflicts that were often times at odds with each other as the movie progressed.  Still, this was a Sci-Fi movie, as is evident by the aliens who were trying to take over mankind.  Another thing that made this movie different from the others was the premise of how the “souls” assimilated into society.  There were bits and pieces of action placed throughout the movie, but I felt like the pace could have been a little faster.  There were also light and humorous moments that filled some of the void. Overall, I liked the movie and if there’s ever a sequel I might see it.  I also look forward to reading the book to see if some of the plot holes from the movie are explained.   
      
     What do you think?  Do you plan on seeing the movie?  If so, what are you looking forward to?