Tag Archives: movie

Hobbs & Shaw – Movie Review (Slight spoilers)

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Released: 1st August 2019

Director: David Leitch

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Helen Mirren, Eiza Gonzalez, Eddie Marsan and many more…

This is the long awaited and much anticipated first spin off film in the Fast & Furious franchise.

In this installment, a deadly virus that has the potential to infect and kill an entire city’s population in a matter of minutes has fallen into the wrong hands…

The opening 20 minutes of the film introduces us to Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), a cyber genetically enhanced criminal who is trying to secure the virus for the shadowy organisation he works for, Eteon. In the opening sequence, we learn that to protect the virus from the many that are trying to steal it, Hattie (the sister of one of the main characters – Deckard Shaw), purposely injects the capsule containing the toxin into her hand, rendering it useless unless it can be extracted from her body within 72 hours (or the capsule will disintegrate and the toxin will enter her bloodstream and slowly shut down all of her internal organs).

So it’s pretty safe to assume that Brixton is not at all pleased that his plan to steal the virus has been threatened, forcing him to hunt down Hattie Shaw, kill her, extract the virus capsule and deliver it back to the enigmatic Eteon director… If only it were that simple…

So Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw have to team up and work together to stop Brixton and protect Hattie at all costs. Only problem is, they don’t get on with each other at all, and both are reluctant to help the other out. This dynamic works really well in the film and provides some of the best comedic moments throughout.

The plot and pacing move along at a decent speed, and there are plenty of very good, choreographed fight scenes during the run time of the film.

I also think Vanessa Kirby who plays Hattie Shaw is fantastic, as is Idris Elba as Brixton Lore. Both put in a stellar performance and both are brilliant actors.

I do have some gripes though… while the pacing is good and pretty snappy, the run time is way too long (2 hours and 17 minutes). I don’t know if that’s because I usually go to a cinema equipped with recliner seats, making the experience much more comfortable and this time I went to a cinema with horrible seats that were hard and uncomfortable to sit on? I suppose if I were using the recliner seats I might have been able to sit through the long run time and get more out of the experience.

I also felt that there were too many ideas being squashed into one production for every plot point to work together and be coherent. I will just list some of them: the cyber genetically enhanced criminal, the whole Samoan scenes at the end of the film where they have to use traditional tribal weapons to fight rather than guns and knives, the intersections of conversations between Deckard Shaw and his mum between a sheet of prison glass and at least 3 more that I don’t feel all fit together in one package of a film. I think they tried a little too hard to make this something that people would flock to because of the Fast & Furious connection, whilst also trying to set it apart from that franchise too (it didn’t feel intertwined with it’s parent franchise at all).

I think the plot points I mentioned above do and can work, but not all in one film. If they cut at least 3 or 4 of the plots away, the film would have been more coherent and made a whole lot more sense.

As a huge fan of the Fast & Furious franchise myself, I still really enjoyed this film as a whole. I thought the pacing was good, the acting was superb and the fighting and driving scenes were some of the best I have ever seen in any movie. But also as a fan, I would see almost anything connected to this franchise… whether I would enjoy it or not is a different story.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars: Almost there but needs slight improvement

The Giver by Lois Lowry Book Review

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The Giver by Lois Lowry Book ReviewTHIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS……

Jonas is an eleven year old boy living in a safe and guarded community, shielded by ‘Sameness’. There is no crime, no lies, no pain, no hunger and everyone sees the world in one colour, grey. This is how they have chosen to live. They chose to forget about the past, and to live in perfect peace and harmony, without the painful and difficult memories of ‘Before’.

It is nearly December, and soon Jonas will attend his ‘Ceremony Of Twelve’, where he will be given the title of the job he will carry out for the rest of his life. But during the ceremony, Jonas realises that his number and name have been skipped and he begins to panic and fret.

The Chief Elder calls him to the stage last and informs him that he has been selected as the new ‘Reciever Of Memory’, a job that was appointed to a female ten years ago, but failed when she applied for ‘Release’, meaning she was sent away from the community to a place known as ‘Elsewhere’.

The job is very important, and very secretive. Jonas is not allowed to talk about the training he recieves at the annex with The Giver. He is shown memories of a time before the community, and before the ‘Sameness’ that envelopes all thier lives. The memories are of war and the burning heat of the sun, and occasionally nice things like snow and colours.

Jonas starts to realise that he has been seeing glimpses of a colour known as Red, and The Giver helps him to remember and be able to identify more colours and objects.

But one day during his training, Jonas is shown a ‘Releasing’, and sees his father injecting a baby who is deemed the heavier child of a twin, and therefore needs to be realeased in order to control the population of the community. The injection kills the child, and Jonas is devastated that any human could kill another so brutally, let alone his own father. Jonas is so distraught that he does not return home that night, but chooses to stay with The Giver at the annex for the night.

The Giver and Jonas talk all night into the early hours and concoct a plan for Jonas to escape and leave the community behind, knowing that the further from the community he is, the more memories he will leave behind for them to discover. It is a dangerous plan and one that could get Jonas killed.

The next morning, Jonas returns home in a better mood, only to be told that the baby left behind after the ‘Release’ the other day is also going to be released the following morning. Jonas leaves with the baby in the early hours and takes his dad’s bicycle to ride away from the community, looking for ‘Elsewhere’.

So, that is the main story. I can see why this book is labelled a classic dystopian, and I can see how it paved the way for the modern dystopian authors we read today

Monsters University: Because College Life is Totally Like That!

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Mikeandsully2Pixar’s favorite monsters are scaring on the silver screen again! This time, they’re at college learning about what it takes to make it in the scaring profession. It’s not an easy task as Mike and Sully’s relationship starts out on a sour, envious note. Though they fight one another to be the best, they end up forming a bond with each other and some other interesting monster misfits in efforts to thrive and survive perilous situations. They get in trouble with the school, compete in some insane Greek life competitions, face social humiliation, and even work together to get out of the human world. Their shenanigans and misadventures unfortunately get them expelled, but the same optimism and determination that got them through college life got them to their dream jobs!

Walt Disney had once said, “I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.” In the nature of any Disney Pixar movie, Monsters University is, of course, an entertaining, family-friendly feel-good movie. And I feel it fulfills Disney’s vision in being a great portrayal college life for being a product of fantasy and imagination. The story line of the movie puts the characters in situations that are very relatable to the college bound and even current college students.

Just starting college can be scary, even though no big, hairy monsters actually roam the campus. The fear may come from being overwhelmed by homesickness, fitting in, facing a new social environment, or high academic expectations. But despite all that, many new college students are like Mike. They may have anxiously awaited and prepared for their opportunity to participate in higher education, and will feel a number of emotions when that time finally comes. They are giddy, excited, in awe and wonder, optimistic and full of plans for their days ahead.

mike

You meet many unique people at college. Jocks, artists, emos, nerds, nontraditional students—college has them all, and they all have their own reasons for attending the same school as you. A big reason might be the programs offered, just as Monsters University offered a prestigious scaring program in which many monster students aspired to participate.  Some students, like Sully, may attend a particular school out of respect to a family legacy. Sully seems to come from a family of scarers well-known to people around the campus. Perhaps he is following in the footsteps of his parents in attending that school.

The important thing Monsters University emphasizes is the measure of success. Certain college programs or even college itself may not be for everyone. If you change majors in college, or if you are unsure of what to pursue, it’s alright. It’s a reality for many. Mike aspired all his life to be a scarer, and he eventually realizes he is not cut out to be one. It doesn’t have to be the end of your life though if that happens to you. Mike took his talents, traits, and his new friend Sully to the bottom rung of Monsters Incorporated and had nowhere to go but up from there. It wasn’t so much a college education and degree that made them the top scaring team of the original movie, but instead it was their determination, talent, and friendship that got them far. Like Mike and Sully, you may not have a college degree, but then again you may not need one. Success is how you achieve your dreams, and you probably already have what it takes to get there!

mikeandsully

Monsters University is great for everyone! Current college students or even former college students will enjoy its relation to the life of pursuing higher education. You just might see yourself in the unique characters or relate to their experiences if you’re one of those people. If you’re a high school grad or college-bound, I hope this movie and interesting insight inspires you! Don’t start the next semester until you see this movie! It’s definitely entertaining, and might even make you think on your life, your education, and your thoughts on success.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book Review

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The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen ChboskyThe Perks of Being a Wallflower was written by Stephen Chbosky. I mostly read it because of the upcoming movie. It is basically about a boy named Charlie who is going into his freshmen year of high school and is writing letters to his “friend” It takes place over the course of a year and you see his experiences and what really makes him a wallflower. To be truthful I really thought I was not going to be wowed in this book. I was waiting for something big to happen and it never really did. But thinking back on it in real life there isn’t always that big moment. After further thinking when I finished the book I decided to give it 5/5 stars. It really is a great story and I enjoyed how the author put a lot of real life temptations in the book including sex, drugs, and alcohol.

Being Bad, Looking Good: The Disney Villains Designer Collection

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The Villians Designer CollectionBrooding in a shopping center near you this fall, a new paraphernalia series from Disney: The Villains Designer Collection.  This new line is designed and carefully crafted to capture the essence of evil at its best dressed. Classic Disney villains will be featured as collectable dolls, and on apparel, home furnishings, and so much more! Premiering in September at select Disney stores of North America and Europe are keepsakes of some of the well-known villainesses of the franchise, including Curella de Vil, Maleficent, the Queen of Hearts, Ursula, the evil queen of Snow White, and even Tangled’s Mother Gothel. Each doll costs $79.50 USD($87.50 CAN/£50/€65) and comes with a certificate of authenticity. On August 20th, the company is running an online, one-day-only exclusive set that includes each and every one of them. Shipping for this ticket item will take place on or shortly after October 15th. For more details, updates, and information, follow the official Disney Store blog or like their board on Pinterest. While these witches and queens are always trying keep dreams from coming true and put a stop to happily ever after, the Villains Designer collection will have them making somebody’s day!

The Villians Designer Collection

Claudia Varosio Prints – Perfect For The Film Enthusiast

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Are you a movie buff or know someone who is? How about a film enthusiast? Claudia Varosio is your new best friend. She has a line of original, unofficial movie posters, pop culture prints, and more. Her style emulates comic art and maintains strong use of vibrant color in every piece. Her collection spans from the classics of the nineteen-twenties to some of today’s well-known titles.  Her work is very popular, having been featured in Newsweek and Esquire publications. To date, she has made over four thousand sales from her ETSY shop, and has received nothing but positive feedback! Even one of her pieces, the David Bowie Paper Doll print, is on the front page of ETSY.

Claudia Varosio was born in Italy, and is an artist by hobby. Much of her work is hand-drawn, and inspired after she watches a film or reads a book. As inspiration she cites Saul Bass, comics Tomine and Clowes, and poster art and artists from the sixties and later.

Take note of her shop policies before your purchase. Varosio is based in London, England, which means international shipping can take anywhere from one to four weeks and tracking is not included. However, she can be flexible if an order is needed sooner. PayPal is her preferred method of purchase.

Prints and posters from Claudia Varosio will make a nice addition to your living space, or a great gift for the film enthusiast you know!

The Lucky One: Movie vs. Book

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“The Lucky One” is the most recent motion picture spawn of Nicolas Sparks’ novels that hit theatres on April 20th. Besides being based on the popular book, the film’s other redeeming quality is that it features a grown-up Zac Efron playing the lead role of a Marine who goes in search of a woman whose picture supposedly saved his life while on tour in Iraq.

If you’ve read the book prior to seeing this film, you’re more likely to scrutinize any inconsistencies; a major one being that the movie stages the story in Louisiana in opposed to North Carolina. In the beginning, I felt the action was dry and direct, but sometimes with an occasional appeal to humor and cuteness. But the appeal gets stronger about the time the romance does. In hindsight, it makes some sense to be that way because the love story is what it’s all about. So give the movie a chance before knocking it.

There’s only so much a movie can show, but it’s not bad compared to its literature based counterpart. Yet it’s the book I prefer to the movie. The opening action (or most all of the action in general) makes better sense when reading. I suggest acquainting yourself with the book before seing the movie for  greater enjoyment and appreciation.

Titanic: The Movie and The Memory

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One hundred years ago today, the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic occurred. Fifteen years ago, director James Cameron released the most memorable film of the nineties surrounding the catastrophe. A little over a week ago, that movie returned to theatres remastered for three-dimensional quality.

One of the goals of a 3-D movie is to, in a sense, reach out to the moviegoers and bring them into the world of the film. I think that Titanic met this goal perfectly. I haven’t seen another dimensionally programed motion picture that made me feel like I was in the world in which it existed. I felt like I was actually in the water with the submarine crew as they explored the Titanic wreckage with the robot cameras. I felt like I was actually roaming the promenades as images of its former glory were recreated from the ruin. I felt like I was standing next to Jack, Rose, and the Titanic’s crew on the upper decks as they gazed in horror upon the iceberg as the ship grazed it, and began its untimely demise. Titanic in 3-D impressively meets the audience’s standards for a typical three-dimensional film!

Titanic is iconic in today’s entertainment industry, but the disaster holds much historical significance as well.

  • She was one of three vessels—and by far the largest–built by White Star Line.
  • She was a grand and luxurious vessel for her time. She was 882 feet (and nine inches) in length and 104 feet tall. One propeller would be about the size of a four story building.
  • She had about 7 decks available to the public, and one as cargo and maintenance space. She had two high-class restaurants on board, a gymnasium with the latest exercise equipment, a library, a swimming pool, a Turkish bath, a large barber shop, smoking rooms, and telephone systems.
  • To give an idea of the damage: the iceberg was 75 feet tall. It scraped about 300 feet across the right side of the ship’s hull, popping rivets, buckling steel plates, and exposing the ship to sea water in 6 places. The scrape spanned almost half of her length.
  • The distress signal SOS was first used by Titanic’s radio operators as they called for help from any nearby ships.
  • James Cameron wasn’t the first to put the event to film. Just two weeks after Titanic sank; a ten minute silent movie was made depicting the event. It starred actress Dorothy Gibson, a First Class passenger and survivor from the ship. Unfortunately, this film is now lost.
  • In an attempt to correct the operational and correctional failures that caused such disaster, Great Britain and the US established the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (or SOLAS) in 1914. This establishment is still operational today, regulating maritime safety.

    RMS Titanic in 1912

The movie is remarkable. The disaster was calamitous. The legacy is somber, yet wondrous. Since 1985, the aquatic resting place of Titanic has been explored. Historical and monumental attractions have been set up nearly all over the world to honor the heroes and victims, to recreate the experience or display artifacts and treasures from the wreckage, and ultimately share an extraordinary piece of history with the next generations. This day marks the one-hundredth milestone year the past’s most tragic tale.

Elvis Presley: Where is He Now?

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On August 15th, 1977, music lovers mourned the loss of Elvis Presley, the king of 1950’s rock and roll. Or so has been thought over the past thirty-five years…written and directed by documentarian Joel Gilbert, Elvis Found Alive is an exclusive and stunning documentary of where the beloved be-bop music icon had supposedly gone.

This project came about after Gilbert visited Graceland. He made a Freedom of Information Act Request to the US government asking for their files on Elvis. Amazingly, FBI records revealed the musician’s 1970’s alias, Jon Burrows and a residential address in Simi Valley, California. After a brief confrontation, Elvis agreed to chronicle his secret life and history.

The film is not affiliated with Elvis Presley Enterprises, but is a production of Highway 61 Entertainment. It is about two hours long, and sectioned into fourteen chapters. The subject topics span from his childhood in 1935 to his music and military careers in the fifties, to his dealings in recent years. There have been several reviews on this film. John Latchem of Home Media magazine says “This is the kind of tribute that Elvis fans should enjoy immensely…the idea that Elvis Presley is still alive is one of the more fascinating aspects of his legacy, and the elaborate conspiracy theories surrounding his death could fill volumes.” The Boston Event Guide claims, “it’s a pretty fascinating look at the career of one of the most iconic performers the world has ever known, narrated by what we are supposed to believe is the King himself as he is today…”

The least expensive purchase of Elvis Found Alive is on mvd.com, costing $11.21 USD before shipping. However, a companion cd is available when purchased from elvisfoundalive.com. On this site, both the dvd and cd are $14.95 USD, but bought together are $24.95 USD (pre-shipping). Purchases from the documentary website claim to ship in twenty-four hours.
So where has America’s most influential and respected figure in music been all these years? Elvis tells all in this mind-boggling documentary!

http://youtu.be/ckVcRvFBuZw

 

MVD Entertainment Group

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Some people have a hard time finding cinema that fits their taste. One company has been serving artist and audiences for quite some time by providing a different selection of films. The cool thing about MVD is they offer the brand new concert on DVD’s that you want, and a selection of independent content as well. It’s great to see such a selection in one place. The best part is they are a great and friendly place to buy from.

Audiences everywhere are beginning to fall in love with a new generation of concerts on dvd. Most recently Owl City and Adele have been added to the selection over at MVD. You can expect to find great artist like Taylor Swift and others in the selection as well. From CD’s to DVD’s they seem to have it all. If you have a more independent taste in music and concerts on DVD then there are some great things for you there too. They offer many unauthorized documentaries, which are basically independently filmed stories of the artist and their journeys, something you don’t find everywhere! If you are looking for your favorite artist, or perhaps something different, MVD is the place to go.