Showing posts with label Movie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Star Wars!!!

In case any of you are not aware yet, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has a new trailer out.
And with its release on Monday night during the Monday night football games, tickets are now on sale everywhere!


This newest trailer has raised my hopes and given me more excitement to see the new movie than before. So how many of you will be going to the midnight showing?! I want to, but sadly, thats during the blackout dates at my new job. 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Pixels Movie Review

I was fortunate enough to watch the premiere for the movie Pixels.
When I first heard about it, I wasn't thrilled. Adam Sandler isn't as funny to me as he is to everyone else. I usually choose not to watch his movies in general. But this one was about gaming. So how could I not? Besides, it was a free movie. 
So, Adam Sandler plays a classic gaming nerd. As a teenager in 1982, he became a champion at the original video games in the newly opened arcade. His high scoring success was based on his unique ability to recognize, memorize and beat the patterns embedded in the codes of the game. Pac-Man, Duck Hunt, Q*bert, Galaga, Space Invaders and the formidable Donkey Kong were his time consuming passions. Every chance he got, he was playing at the arcade, beating everyone else's high scores. When the world championship came around, he met other gamers and put his abilities to the test until he best everyone except the Fire Blaster.
Fire Blaster was a dwarf with fast fingers and a big ego that slipped insults to anyone and everyone without caring who he hurt. Donkey Kong was the champion-crowning game. Sadly, Fire Blaster (Eddie) won. Sandlers character (Brenner) is heartbroken. His passion is lost. 
Fast forward to modern day. Brenner is a professional nerd who installs others' entertainment devices. His best friend is the unpopular president of the United States. His other gaming days buddy is an awkward conspiracy theorist that only shows up after a random attack on a U.S. Military base in Guam occurs. 
In 1982, a video was taken of the gaming championship. It was added to other video clips and put in a NASA capsule that was shot into space in the hopes of contacting extraterrestrial beings. Apparently they (extraterrestrial beings) did get the message. And interpreted it as a threat against them. Challenge accepted! They mimic the games characters as the attack. So here comes Galaga and Pac-Man to destroy us.
The Pac-Man fight scene was my favorite part. The ghosts were modified mini coopers that had me wishing I was short enough to own one. 
They sent a message that in order to save the planet, there will be games. Whoever wins the games, is champion. The Nerds are suddenly given power to train the best of the military in gaming techniques. Then it's out to the field. Sadly, the military couldn't keep the game training as well as they could military tactics. So the nerds are sent in with blasters to take care of it. Eddie the Fire Blaster was even taken from prison to join the fight.
But he has a secret. And his secret puts the planet at risk. Can they work together and save human kind from the impending invasion? 
Overall I enjoyed the movie. There was humor and nerd talk to keep me happily entertained. I'm not thrilled with the ending and how Q*bert turned out. But no movie is truly perfect. This is for mature audiences. Plenty of language and references that kids aren't going to get. I hope you can enjoy it as I did though. 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

American Sniper movie review

I went to see American Sniper last night. I've heard from so many people about how great it was. Even my mother has been urging me to go as well. She was right. Every American needs to see this one.
For starters, it's directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. He's a great american actor and director who has my utmost respect.
This movie brings a very important subject to the spot light; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Our military men and women come back changed mentally and/or physically. Numbers are showing that there are 22 veterans committing suicide on a daily basis. That's a staggering amount of individuals within a similar group. PTSD can be triggered by sights and sounds that are reminiscent of what they experienced while deployed. Friends and family need to know how to recognize the signs and reach out to those coming home on a regular basis.
This story is about Chris Kyle. At 25 years old, he joins the Navy and becomes a SEAL who later struggles with war and home life. He marries before his first deployment after the September 11 attacks. Leaving behind a pregnant new bride, he is thrown into war and pitted against a sniper of incredible skills on the enemy's side. This story takes you into what it's like for these soldiers. They have a bond stronger than blood. When one of them gets hurt, the rest seek vengeance. They look to finish off the enemy that threatens the American way of life.
I was floored by this movie. They make jokes throughout. But it's far from a comedy. It's action packed with everything Americans might not see or know. The struggle for him to adjust to home life after being on a battlefield. Four tours left him distant and always on edge. It took a lot of patience from him wife to pull him back in to reality. He began helping others who were recovering as well. It gave him something to use to find balance. Sadly, he was killed in the US by another vet on a gun range.
There's a lot of hype going on about this movie. A lot of political nonsense. But this movie is about one mans life and experience. About fighting for what he believed in, being scarred by what he saw and did, and overcoming it all. Our Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army - all of them deserve our respect. All of them fight while we sit here and enjoy the privileges to do whatever we want in the country founded on being free. They fight overseas to try to keep the war away from home. No matter what you think of war or of those leading the troops, you need to support the troops themselves. They volunteered their lives and minds.

 Some interesting trivia that I found...
Chris Kyle met "Lone Survivor", Marcus Luttrell, during their BUD's(SEAL Training) and became close friends with him although they graduated with different classes. They kept in contact often and remained friends for the remainder of Kyle's life.

 The real Chris Kyle was murdered on February 2, 2013 at a shooting range while trying to help a veteran that had severe PTSD.

 Chris Kyle's first long range kill was a woman who was about to throw a grenade. It was not, as depicted in the movie, a child and then his mother. When asked about it, Kyle responded "The woman was already dead. I was just making sure she didn't take any Marines with her".
 
So I have a challenge for each of you reading this.... Go see the movie. Then reach out to a veteran. Even if all you do is say thank you. Remember what they have done for YOU.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Into the Woods movie review

Into the Woods is a slightly chaotic musical that retells several classic fairy tales with a whimsical twist. Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, the Baker and his Wife, Jack and the Beanstalk and I want to say that even the witch, played by Meryl Streep, is from a special story.
Though I can't quite put my finger on it. Johnny Depp plays the devilishly clever Big Bad Wolf.
I have to admit, when I decided to see this pre screening, I was mainly interested in seeing the great Johnny Depp. He is my heart throb of course (can you blame me?). But sadly, his character doesn't last very long. And to think, he wasn't even vanquished by a hunter as the classic story would have you believe. Little Red Riding Hood is a bit of an annoying girl who cons bread and sweets from the Baker and his Wife. 
The Baker and his Wife live a simple life and long to have a child. For reasons unknown, they can't. Then one day, out of the blue, the witch next door pays them a visit and explains that they are cursed to never have children because the Bakers parents stole from her garden. She sets them out to fulfill a quest and retrieve special items for her. In return, she will regain her youth and beauty and thus recant the curse.  
Another story unfolds as we meet the lowly Cinderella who is slaving away for the cruel stepmother and her hideous daughters.
She has the gift of talking to birds and requesting their assistance. Let's face it, every Disney Princess has to have such a talent right? Even if it seems a little creepy... 
Rapunzel is the Bakers sister that has spent her life locked away in a tower, growing her hair out to be ridiculously long.
How did she get up there if there are no doors? Just saying... But a prince falls in love with her and will not rest until she is his bride.
He is the brother of Prince Charming who is in love with Cinderella because she keeps running away from him. But is she really what he wants? And does she really want to be a prized trophy princess? 
Then there's Jack. Poor boy is a simpleton with a single mother that can't provide.
He traded his cow for beans, climbed the beanstalk that grew from the beans, and stole from the Giants up in the clouds with the hopes of buying back his beloved cow. But what if he met the cunning Little Red Riding Hood? What if the beans came from the Baker and Wife? What happens when the witch needs the cow but it died? So many twists. Then the giant is killed, but he had a wife who now wants revenge. Who should pay the price of vengeance? 
The end brings a tie to each story. Every character gets to follow a path of their choosing. It was cleverly devised by the writers. There were definitely parts that could've been better. Again, I wasn't into it as much being that it was a musical. I was sad that the Wolf (Johnny Depp) still died and by the hands of a squeamish baker, no less. It was family friendly. It taught values of working together, especially when you're a married couple. Don't cheat on your spouse, you'll end up falling from a cliff right after while he rides off to find his happiness. Don't steal from bakers and listen to wolves, you'll end up waiting for that baker to cut you from a swollen belly. Better hope he's merciful. 
It's fun, with its comical moments. 

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Big Hero 6 movie review

This was an amazing movie! Great graphics, comedic moments, and family-friendly. I took my 4 1/2 year old with me to see the prescreening.

Hiro Hamada lives with his older brother and Aunt. Their parents passed away when Hiro was very young. Now that he's a teenager, he's prone to getting into trouble. Particularly when it comes to Bot Fighting (robot fights). His older brother comes to his rescue and their Aunt bails them out when things go too far.
Both Hamada boys are science geeks. Tadashi is in school, putting his brains to good use building medical robots for the future. He designs and builds Baymax, a personal medical robot. Baymax responds to "Ow" and makes you better with his huggable, tech-filled self and won't stop his care until you are "satisfied with your care".
Hiro Hamada, however, has a penchant for getting in trouble and skipping school. His older brother sees potential though, and he intends to show Hiro where he could go if he applied himself better. Hiro is a natural born, robotics prodigy. His mind is sharp, his inventions are innovating.
Tadashi shows Hiro where he goes to school at a big university with a large laboratory for developing technology. Imagine a place where the future is born. That would be this University! And the things that Hiro witnesses, has him changing his tune. Tadashi introduces Hiro to his fellow classmates. Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Fred and Go Go Tomago. Each one has their special gifts. They show him a world of possibilities that has him wanting to pass on Bot Fighting. He enters the contest for showing off his abilities and reasons why he should be chosen and given a scholarship to the University. He creates a project that has eyes popping. All using mini bots. Millions of them. And all controlled by his neuro system. But just as he given the future in the form of a white envelope and things seem to be going along gloriously, there is a tragic accident at the show. Flames claim the life of someone Hiro holds dear in the attempt at saving a professor. Tadashi's world is plunged into sadness. He doesn't know how to go on or how to proceed with his future. His aunt tries to push him into still enrolling in the University. His brothers friends are continuously reaching out to Hiro. Then Baymax comes back into the picture. Hiro didn't realize that his older brothers invention had so much potential until a single "ow" wakes him up.
A series of events uncovers a sinister and dangerous plot that plunges Hiro into crime-fighting and maybe even revenge mode. He recruits the four friends from the University and transforms them all into the Big Hero 6 group that will save the world, starting with San Fransokyo.
This movie was fantastic. Its family-friendly, funny, and touches the heart. Hiro learns what true friendship is. He learns to deal with heartache and move on in a positive way. I definitely recommend this one!

Check it out for yourself and enjoy! http://www.disney.com/BigHero6


 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Dracula Untold movie review and information

I had forgotten to share my review on the movie Dracula Untold.
It's actually pretty good. It's not another run-of-the-mill, you know what's going to happen, love story of a vampire movie. It follows a little more closely to the real history of Vlad the Impaler. He's the one the Dracula stories were originally based on. 
The movie gives you a sympathetic villain. While Vlad is supposed to be an evil monster, he's the one you want on your team fighting against the Turks.
His only desire is to save his family, especially his son from the tyrannical rule of the Turkish King. He doesn't want his son to face the same fate of being turned into a mindless killer who will obey any order without hesitation. To save his wife from the heartache of having her son taken from her. And to save his kingdom from having to give up their sons as well. His heart was in the right place. His method for achieving the power necessary to accomplish his goals, however, may be questionable. He strikes a deal with what should be the first Dracula. The original vampire. In return, he has 3 days to destroy the Turks. Battle after battle, you follow his dire and dark conquests. You root for him to win! 
Now I don't want to spoil the movie for those planning to see it. It had some good CGI effects, wonderfully done scenes, and if it wasn't so "scary", I'm sure even kids would enjoy the action. I don't reccomend it for children though.
There were some things that I wasn't impressed with. Especially with a scene at the end that was dragged out when it should have been cut short with fantastic action. But every movie has its flaws, right? They don't explain why silver is dangerous to the vampires. So unless you are familiar with the other versions of Dracula, you probably wouldn't know the connection that has been made to Judas Iscariot.

The story of the real Dracula or Vlad the Impaler, is quite an interesting one. He didn't use fangs to bite the necks of his victims to drain their blood. He instead impaled them, collected the blood and dipped his bread into it. Talk about psychopath of the olden times.... He avenged his fathers betrayal and death by slaughtering hundreds of the noblemen.
"Dracula" means "Son of the Dragon". Vlad III chose to be called that. His father had been a member of a secret society called the Order of the Dragon. His father, being proud of this, changed his name to Dracul which was Romanian for Dragon. Vlad III was involved with this Order as a child and changed his name to Dracula, or the Son of the Dragon. Now, however, the translation is closer to the Son of the Devil. This is where the belief that vampires were devils or minions of Satan came into play.

Vlad had a cruel and dark sense of humor. There are accounts of how he enjoyed impaling and boiling people alive. He liked watching them twitch "like frogs". These two punishments were his only forms of punishment throughout his rule.
He wanted to "clean" up his capitol, Tirgoviste. So he invited the sick, vagrants, and beggars for a feast. Then he had the court where they dined boarded up and set fire to the place. This was how he dealt with the unwanted people around his kingdom.
His rule was so undisputed and feared, that he left an elaborate golden cup in plain view in the town square. Anyone could drink from it, however, it could not leave the square. Though poverty plagued the people, no one dared to even touch it. Fear was truly deep within the hearts of his people.
He couldn't handle any form of defeat. So when the Turks pushed his armies back into retreat, he burned villages, killed the townspeople, and poisoned the wells. Better that he do it himself than let the Turkish army have the satisfaction, right? In total, historians believe that Dracula killed somewhere from 40,000 up to 100,000 people. By the time the Turks got to the capitol of Tirgoviste, there was a Forest of the Impaled. 20,000 bodies of Turks were on display. Men, women, children, old and young alike were not spared.

Bram Stoker invented quite a character when he chose to write Dracula. He used the stories of Vlad Tepes (aka Vlad III, Vlad the Impaler) as well as the other vampire stories that were written before he even set pen to paper. Carmilla was the more original vampire. A lesbian who preyed on lonely young women and bathed in their blood. Varney the Vampire was another penny dreadful series that Stoker could draw inspiration from.

Hope you enjoy the movie! And take the time to do your own research when you watch things based on historical events!

Some facts used in this informative posting: http://listverse.com/2013/01/26/10-fascinating-facts-about-the-real-dracula/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_the_Impaler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Dracula

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Alexander and the horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day movie review

It happens. We all have days where it seems everything is going wrong as soon as you step out of bed. Even in my home where the OCD keeps everything tidy... Chaos strikes on occasion.

 For Alexander, those days seem to happen daily. He's the one that others might label as being walking bad luck. And for an eleven year old boy... It truly sucks. His family on the other hand seem to have everything going for them. Dad lost his job 7 months ago, but has been taking over the household errands and child care like a pro. Mom is moving up the corporate ladder every day at a publishing company. While she enjoys that fatter paycheck, she has begun to realize that she doesn't have much of a hand in the care of her family anymore. She spends so much time at work and if promoted, would spend even more time there. Still, she wants to keep the dough rolling and make it all work. The big brother is in high school. He's dating the prettiest and most popular girl, planning to get his drivers license, and prom is coming! For him, life is perfect. The older sister has just caught the lead of a school production and feels she has the wind beneath her wings. This up and coming diva plans to be on Broadway before too long. Then there's the baby, Trevor. He has no complaints. As long as he has his bumblebee pacifier, he's rocking and rolling.
This is their life. And Alexander can't seem to find his happiness while watching them in all their perfection. But that's all about to change...
This movie is set over a two-day period. Everything I just described is happening the day before Alexander's birthday. They are making plans and living the great life. The following day, a little after midnight, Alexander is in the kitchen alone with a class guinea pig. He's wishing himself a happy birthday with a late night treat. While doing so, he wishes that his family could have one day just like his typically are. He wants them to see how bad it is and appreciate the good just a little more when they understand what it's like for him. And sure enough... he gets his wish!
The whole day starts off terribly with everyone sleeping in. Mom's car battery is dead, she's late for work, brother gets a zit on prom day, dad has to take Trevor to his job interview, and the sister has a cold on her debut as a star. But the fun doesn't end there. I mean, let's face it... if that's the worse they had to deal with, that's cake. But no. The trouble just keeps avalanching. Its one disaster after another that seems to follow the "When it rains, it pours" concept. The question is, can they continue to roll with the punches or will they all fall down and give in the hopeless feeling that lingers on the edge.
Alexander may be in the middle and not have many years on him, but he brings the family together and shows them what its like to keep going when things look bleak.
Some of my favorite moments involve the crocodile, kangaroo, a tipsy Peter Pan, and the flaming pirate dad! I haven't always been a fan of Steve Carrell, however, this movie made me like him just a bit more. Jennifer Garner is beautiful and brought some humor to the mom roll. I felt a little disappointed by her characters reaction to the job offer news at the end. As a working mother, I often feel guilty for how much time I spend away from my own children. While I love making more money so my family can live a little more comfortably, I don't want to "live at work". I thought she would've taken a different route after the experiences her family went through. 

As far as family friendliness, this one is definitely A-Ok on that. No sex, drugs, drinking, crude humor, or language to keep you from sharing the laughter with your kids. I brought my 5 year old son with me and even he was laughing often. This is one movie I'll plan to own so that we can share a laugh later with the rest of the family who didn't go. I hope you enjoy it as well! 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy review

This was a super cool movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was full of laughter-inducing humor and special effects that, while 3D can be fun, didn't need to be seen in 3D to be amazing. At 2 hours long, it can make for quite a sitting but its worth it.
Each of the heroic characters had something to offer that made them fun and invited you to like them as your favorite. 
Rocket is a sarcastic little raccoon that was genetically mutated in a series of laboratory tests.
He is constantly cracking jokes and pointing out the doom the group is in. He is also heavily into all things destructive with as much fire power as he can muster.
His faithful companion, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) is a lovable humanoid tree.
He's always lending a helpful branch and is willing to sacrifice all for his friends.
His only vocabulary is I, Am, Groot. And only in that order. But Rocket understands what Groot is trying to say to the rest of the group. And just wait until you see the moves Groot can rock! 
Peter Quill was abducted by a group of ravager space guys right after his mother dies of what appears to be cancer. 
She tells him that his father was made of light like an angel but doesn't explain further. He grows up with the group of ravagers in space and becomes the self-proclaimed "Star Lord" while attempting to be the futuristic version of Indiana Jones.His love for popular music from the 80's is evident by his constant use of a cassette tape that his mother gave him.
Watching him break into dances at the craziest moments will surely bring a smile to your face if not full-on laughter. He may not be a saint, but he has a good heart and will be ready to take up the challenge of kicking bad guy butt as needed. 
Gomora is a surgically modified, killing machine.


She's been trained to be a warrior that is hired out by her adopted father Thanos.
Thanos loans her and her sister, Nebula to the Kree radical, Ronan the Accuser, who wishes to rain destruction on a single civilization that had made a peace treaty with his people - the Xandarians. 
Drax brings up the rear in this list of heroes.
He wants to kill Gamora for being associated with Ronan, but is convinced to go after Ronan instead. He seeks revenge for the death of his family by Ronan. He does not understand metaphors and takes everything to be of serious value. While he may be fierce, he is also very loyal to those he considers to be his friends.
At first, Quill and his rag tag bunch are only looking to cash in on an orb that Quill took from a deserted planet. Once they realize the dangers that could come from it, however, they decide to work together to save the world. Plans are haphazardly thrown together and alliances are somewhat made. The group is tested, arrested, and bonds are created. It's the craziness of it with the uniqueness of the group that made it worth seeing. I highly recommend it. Even the kids can watch so long as you're okay with fight scenes and a little language, thus the PG-13 rating. Its one of the best super hero movies I've watched so far! And don't forget!!!
While I didn't see what was to come at the prescreening, I was told there was extra footage shown after the credits. All I can tell you is that the friend who saw it says it has something to do with the Collector.
And for fun, I'm sharing the Lego version of the preview!