'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' brings an amazing perspective on the Galactic War far, far away

I remember the first time that I was introduced to Star Wars. My mother took me to the 1997 remastered edition was released into theaters. Since then, fans new and old have been introduced to galaxy's beginnings in the underperforming prequel trilogy and treated with a resurgence, starting with last year's record-setting The Force Awakens. Taking advantage of the possible untold stories, spin-offs were made to shine a light on the corners of George Lucas' universe.

The first spin-off is about a band of rebels that we only heard about during A New Hope. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the story fans needed to see about the gritty underbelly of one of the most successful film series of all time. 

This story tells the tale of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), the daughter of a research scientist, Galen (Mads Mikkelsen), who has been hidden since the Galactic Empire has taken her father. Rescued by the Rebel Alliance, Jyn joins up with a Rebel Intelligence officer Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and together, they recruit a ragtag group just as the Empire builds their ultimate weapon: a planet killer named the Death Star with the construction being overseen by Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn). With this threat to the galaxy, this band of warriors journey into enemy territory to steal the plans for the weapon and provide hope in the shadow of the Empire.

This spinoff firmly settles itself in the timeline between Episodes III and IV so it does nothing to disrupt the continuity of the series. At this point in time, the Galactic Empire has a firm presence in the galaxy, their troops and ships around the different systems to display their control. The image of a Star Destroyer hovering over the city in one scene is the perfect way to describe the Empire's presence throughout this film. The movie also gives us more of a backstory to the Death Star plans and how that flaw was placed into the weapon. This film introduces new worlds but also does a fantastic job for introducing the war aspect of this galactic struggle. While we have seen skirmishes in previous films and lightsaber duels, we have never gotten a full-scale luck at the early battles of the Empire versus the Alliance. It reminds you that this is actually a war, despite all that we have seen from previous films.

Each character had a shining moment, but there are characters that you instantly started to care about more than others. Everyone loved the sarcastic droid K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk. From his introduction in rescuing Jyn to his final scene, he provided the comedic levity that was needed in this science fiction war film. Another standout character was Donnie Yen's Chirrut Imwe, a blind warrior who believes in the Force. At this point in the timeline, the Jedi are all but extinct (except for that one in solitude in the Outer Rim Territories) and belief in the Force has faded away into the darkness. Despite not being a Jedi himself, Imwe believes in what the Force stands for and has faith that it will protect him. He was the best thing we had to a Jedi in this film, reminding audiences that this is still a Star Wars film. Speaking of the Force, we cannot forget the Sith Lord that makes a decent cameo appearance: Darth Vader himself. Voiced by James Earl Jones, we see the menacing, full-on evil side of the Sith Lord, especially in the final scene. The viciousness and cruelty that he enacts is something that we haven't seen in any of the previous films.

Rogue One earned critical acclaim and stellar reviews based on the action scenes, acting, darker tone, and visual effects. Director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) did a great job with all of these elements. I think the Star Wars universe needed to explore that darker tone in the farthest corners of the universe that George Lucas created so long ago. This film delves deep into the Star Wars mythology. It is filled with fan service, but fan service done correctly. It provides the spirit and emotional, lived-in feeling that made everyone fall in love with the original trilogy. I watched this film twice and it was phenomenal each time. It's definitely a thrilling movie with all the the pieces needed to please all fans.

'Spider-Man: Homecoming', 'Fate of the Furious' and others headline the early Summer Movie slate

Happy Holidays, everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas with your families. While I've tried to fight for Die Hard as a Christmas movie, I finally have enough down time to put up a brand-new post for you all!

Normally, I would have individual trailer previews but I've decided to do something a little different. A lot of previews have hit the internet over the last few weeks, especially those that have found their place in the summer. So, this post will include all of the trailers that have been released specifically for the summer.

We all know Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 leads the pack by officially opening the summer movie season, but that's just the start. Christopher Nolan returns with a war epic, Dwayne Johnson launches a raunchy 90's reboot, Vin Diesel revs up another Furious installment, and Marvel welcomes the web-slinger home. Does that all sound good to you? It sure does to me!

So let's get started.

The Fate of the Furious - April 14, 2017

The first Fast and Furious film after Paul Walker's tragic death continues the new direction of the franchise. Looking at this trailer, it seems that the team is continuing its globetrotting ways now that they have been exonerated after the events of Furious 7, but this time is different. A mysterious new woman (Charlize Theron) seduces Dom (Vin Diesel) into betraying his team and going to the dark side. In order save Dom, the team will have to join forces with unlikely allies to stop the man that turned them into a family. Featuring returning series stars Michelle Rodriguez, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Dwayne Johnson, and Tyrese Gibson, we also see the return of Kurt Russell's Mr. Nobody and Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw along with welcoming Charlize Theron. Helen Mirren's role was not shown, but you can imagine that will be saved for another preview. Just when you think this franchise had run out of gas, it shows that it still has a few surprises left.

The Circle - April 28, 2017

A woman (Emma Watson) lands a job at a powerful tech company called The Circle, where she becomes involved with a mysterious man. That is the basic synopsis of this film and the trailer should be enough to interest people. Featuring a stellar cast led by Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, and John Boyega, this film targets a general problem that surrounds our world now with connection and how available information is to everyone. Based on the novel by Dave Eggers, this film will be one that many could relate to and could surprise people.

Alien: Covenant - May 19, 2017

It's safe to say that 2012's Prometheus was a successful reboot for the Alien film series so we can only hope it can just get better with the second installment in the prequel series. It's not revealed when this film is taking after the events of Prometheus, but we see Michael Fassbender return as David, the android from the previous film. Following the expected but successful plot of space travel to a remote world, the crew of the colony ship, Covenant, believes they have found a hidden paradise. What they discover is a dark and dangerous world. The film also stars Fantastic Beasts breakout star Katherine Waterston along with Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, and returning Prometheus stars Noomi Rapace and Guy Pearce. Welcome back to Ridley Scott's Alien universe!

Baywatch - May 26, 2017

Hollywood Viagra himself, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, is truly on a roll as he helps reboot a 90's classic television series for the silver screen. Johnson plays Mitch Buchannon, the role made famous by David Hasselhoff in the original series. The veteran Baywatch leader works to restore the name of the lifesaving business by the beach. He takes on a young man, Matt Brody (Zac Efron), as his partner and it looks like we are in for some raunchy comedy as the unlikely duo works to save Baywatch. Featuring Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, and Quantico's Priyanka Chopra, this comedy could be a summer surprise and continue to solidify Johnson's place as Hollywood's most bankable actor right now.

The Mummy - June 9, 2017

Universal Studios has had talks about rebooting all of their classic film monsters and it looks like The Mummy will be the start. This reboot is set in modern day with new characters. From this trailer, Tom Cruise stars as Nick Morton, the adventurer who discovers the sarcophagus of an ancient mummy. This mummy, Princess Ahmanet (Star Trek Beyond's Sofia Boutella)  seems to have the plagues following them as well and becomes fully unleashed when awoken. Russell Crowe also stars in this film. Talks have also surrounded the classic monsters being in a shared universe, but let's see how this reboot goes first.

Transformers: The Last Knight - June 23, 2017

 
How much longer can this go on? I mean, really? I think Michael Bay is asking the same question since this is to be his last Transformers film. I will admire his dedication to this franchise and the history of these pop culture icons and putting IMAX on the map. With Bay's sacrifice of story and plot for cool action scenes and destructive special effects, it makes these near three-hour movies tough to sit through. Moving on, this installment looks to go into more of the medieval times and their possible relation to the Robots in Disguise. Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) also seems to go off the deep end when he attacks Bumblebee. Returning stars including Age of Extincition's Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci, franchise veterans Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro, and new comers Anthony Hopkins along with young Isabela Moner. How much destruction are we going to cause this time around in Bay's final go-around?

War for the Planet of the Apes - July 14, 2017

The third installment of the Planet of the Apes reboot series looks to be as emotionally charged and filled will enough action to keep fans of this series happy. Following the events of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar (Andy Serkis) looks to give into his darker instincts to avenge the losses as his ape colony deal with their heavy losses. This sets him against the humans' leader, the Colonel (Woody Harrelson) , to determine the fate of their species and the Earth's future. I've been a fan of the reboot series and I think this film will contain more of the same things that has led to others embracing the reboot.

Spider-Man: Homecoming - July 7, 2017

If you haven't seen Captain America: Civil War, you can catch it on Netflix right now. The reason I bring this up is because this will give audiences the proper introduction into Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. I am so excited that Sony has agreed to share the web-slinger with Marvel and now we have him in the same world as the Marvel Cinematic Universe with our other heroes. This time around, we find Peter (Tom Holland) in high school, trying to find a balance in his life as a high school student and fighting crime as Spider-Man with the help of his mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr). While trying to find this balance, a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges. I'm so excited for this film and to see how Spider-Man interacts with this universe. I love Tony Stark, but I don't want him to take over this film so a healthy amount of Iron Man will definitely help the film while Spider-Man establishes himself along with his other heroes. We also get the web-winged suit!

Dunkirk - July 21, 2017

I had heard that Christopher Nolan was filming a new film, but it was kept under tight wraps that no one knew much about it; not the premise or the cast. And then, during the IMAX 3D premiere of Rogue One, audiences were introduced to Nolan's return to the director's chair. The official premise of this war film covers Operation Dynamo as Allied soldiers from Britain, Belgium and France are surrounded by the German army on the beaches on Dunkirk and evacuated in the operation during the early days of World War II. As far as the cast, it's stellar with Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Jack Lowden, Mark Rylance, and Harry Styles. I think this will be the one non-superhero movie that could possibly top the box office this summer.

Well, there you have it! What do you all think about the movies that we have coming up during April to July for the summer? Which ones are you looking forward to the most?

I'll be back with a few movie previews and reviews of movies that I've seen, along with a top 10 of 2016. Happy Holidays!

Update

Hey, movie lovers!

I know, I know. I've been away for a little while, battling the forces of evil that are grad school finals, holiday parties, and just life overall.

I have not forgotten any of you and wanted to let you know that I'll be making new review posts within the next few days. We've had some amazing new trailers released in the last few weeks, new movies that have entered theaters, and more (including my top 10 for 2016)!

Until then, stay warm, grab some popcorn, and go see a movie!

Happy Holidays!

It's Showtime in the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2' trailer

Two years ago, Marvel Studios introduced us to a group of intergalactic outlaws that most fans did not even know about. Like the first Iron Man movie, it was a huge risk to introduce a new team away from their well-known characters like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor. With excellent directing, an entertaining and diverse cast of characters, and an amazing soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy became an instant classic and tops many lists as the best Marvel movie ever.

This summer, we continue the adventures of the galaxy's favorite band of misfits.

Set two months after the events of the first film, the Guardians of the Galaxy travel throughout the cosmos and struggle to keep their newfound family together, while helping Peter Quill learn more about his true parentage.

From the footage of this film in the teaser, we see the Guardians taking on a huge tentacle monster along with an army of spaceships. It definitely shows that a space battle will be happening in this sequel. We also see that the team is getting along a little more often but still as dysfunctional. Their banter made the movie work in the first film so I expect more of the same. No word yet on the songs for the soundtrack but the song for the teaser trailer, "Fox on the Run", has already topped the iTunes Rock Charts so it's possible that we got a taste of the awesomeness to come. Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana lead the returning cast that includes Dave Batista, the voice work of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, along with Michael Rooker. New cast members include Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone.

And we cannot forget...Baby Groot!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 comes out on May 5, 2017.

'Fantastic Beasts' provides a enjoyable magical experience for fans, old and new

Hello everyone! I know that I'm a little behind right now but now that I have time, let's get to some new reviews!

In one way or another, we all remember the first time that we watched a Harry Potter movie for the first time. From there, you are hooked into this magical escape from our world into a wizarding world of wonder. The Harry Potter film series dominated the box-office for nearly a decade with eight movies. While it was sad to see the series end, there is always another avenue to look at a world and that's from a new perspective. That's where the prequel comes in and the Harry Potter film services found new life with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

This prequel takes place in the 1920's and, instead of being across the pond, this film takes place in New York in America. British wizard, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), comes to New York along with a case full of magical creatures under his protection. When one of the creatures gets loose in a bank, Scamander crosses paths with aspiring baker and No-Maj (the american equivalent to Muggle), Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). From there, we are entered into the Wizarding world of America when demoted Auror Tina Goldstein arrests Newt for the unintentional release of several creatures. Along with Tina's sister, Queenie, the heroes work to recover the lost monsters in the big city but also contend with a dark threat that seeks to expose the world to the existence of wizards.

Overall, the film is not as strong as the previous Harry Potter films but just as enjoyable and very different. It starts with the setting being in America and there is an obvious difference between the two when it comes to those that possess magic. While those in England walk freely around, in America, those with magical powers live in hiding, governed by laws that are designed to "protect them". But their presence does not go unnoticed. A non-magical woman by the name of Mary Lou Barebone preaches to many people that wizards and witches walk among the non-magical and a danger to them. American wizards are also forbidden to marry or even interact with No-Majs, an situation audiences confront throughout the film but is more of a problem with two of our main characters.

Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne did a great portrayal of Newt, the eccentric magizoologist. Newt has a strong bond with the creatures in his case, getting along with them better than with other people. This even includes his fellow wizards, being highly introverted. I would definitely be interested to learning more about the future author of one of Harry Potter's textbooks. Queenie, played by Alison Sudol, was a surprising favorite character for me. The beautiful Legilimens (a wizard who is able to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind) had a contagious energy about her and you couldn't find a reason to not like her. Queenie was free-spirited and big hearted, just an all around lovable character. Colin Farrell's character, Auror Percival Graves was a welcomed addition to the Harry Potter film family, commanding his character with power and the experience of his years as an actor, looking comfortable as the protector of the wizards of New York. Ezra Miller's character, while important, did annoy me with his meekness but his relationship with Graves did add to his mystery.

David Yates, veteran director of the Harry Potter films, returned to helm this new film and his experience definitely assisted in bringing this different aspect of the Wizarding world but this was more about J.K. Rowling, As one of the many fans who bought the original screenplay for this film, Rowling did a wonderful job, integrating humor into this story but she did more than that. Over the years, Rowling has faced her share of critics and those who believe the reading of wizards and magic, even fictional ones, are corrupting today's youth and leading to the practice of witchcraft. In this film, she directly answered back to those critics of her successful work and characters. I don't think I have to tell Harry Potter fans to see this movie but this would also be a good film for those new to the series to start.

Disney invites you to Be Their Guest in official 'Beauty and the Beast' trailer

As you have heard me harp and gush over my love of Disney, you know that I've been a fan of the recent run of live-action remakes based on their animated classics. This year's addition in the series, The Jungle Book, was one of the year's best all around movies. The magic about Disney is that it doesn't just target children, there is something there for everyone of all ages. Larger than life characters, brilliant songs, and fairy tales come to life... It's the Disney magic that makes the company so successful.

Next year, Disney invites you to revisit a classic fairy tale that audiences have loved for more than twenty years and continues to stand the test of time.

This adaptation of the classic fairy-tale tells the story of a young woman named Belle (Emma Watson) who becomes prisoner by a Beast (Dan Stevens) in order to free her father. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff (Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Ian Mckellen, and Emma Thompson) and learns to look beyond the Beast's exterior to recognize the man and the true heart inside of the animal. But the village's hunter named Gaston (Luke Evans) is on the loose to take Belle for himself and hunt down the Beast at any cost.

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite movies of all time, not just in the realm of Disney. I will definitely be attending this party along with millions of others.

Beauty and the Beast enter theaters in March 17, 2017.

'Doctor Strange' bargains and wins with a magical origin story

When Marvel announced Doctor Strange as a part of their Phase Three initiative of their universe, fans of the mystical superhero were instantly excited. This film had been in development since the mid-1980s, but I feel like this film needed to wait for the right time and the right actor. The right time was certainly this year because of the effects and the right actor to play the arrogant former doctor was Benedict Cumberbatch.

Doctor Strange tells the tale of Doctor Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch), an acclaimed but arrogant neurosurgeon living in New York City. A devastating car accident changes his life forever; while he survived, he loses the use of his hands. After experimental procedures prove ineffective and learning of a mysterious recovery, Strange travels to Nepal and encounters a sorcerer known as the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). From there, Strange learns that the world is a lot larger than he ever thought.

With the mystical effects for this type of product, it's easy to lose the story when a blockbuster was already expected because of the constraints of the MCU. Director Scott Derrickson did a wonderful job balancing the two, delivering an entertaining superhero origin story. While we have been more used to the science and physical nature of the MCU for the first two phases, dabbling in the magic of the universe from time to time, Doctor Strange opens the door and gave audiences an eye-popping spectacle that we have never seen before. This film made an effective use of the special effects when you have imagination behind it. The world folding does remind fans of Inception but this film goes behind it, VFX-wise.

Benedict Cumberbatch did a wonderful job playing Stephen Strange, carrying himself as God's gift to medicine who looked to be in need of humbling. I barely paid attention to Cumberbatch's New York accent, displaying how much experience the actor has with covering his accent. Strange's dry humor, intelligence and bravado was carried very well by the experienced actor. I'm still a fan of Rachel McAdams and her casting as Christine Palmer, Strange's former lover. Personally, I wish we could have had more about their relationship, before the accident and after Strange returns from his mystic arts training. I would have liked to see more about the expansion of their relationship, especially with Palmer being one of the last ties to Earth. Chiwetel Ejiofor was definitely a strong character in the film as Karl Mordo, a mentor to Strange but also very head strong and complex character, grounded in his ways and beliefs about how the mystic arts should be used. This cast has definitely under fire before the premiere because of the characters and the roles that could be tailor made for Asian actors went to a white actress like Swinton. While I understand the outrage, Swinton did a wonderful job and shows how forward thinking Marvel is because beyond that, other minorities in this film have a strong presence like Ejiofor and Benedict Wong.

If you are a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you'll definitely get your money's worth out of seeing this movie in 3D and especially in IMAX 3D. Marvel did an excellent job with this lesser known property from its archives of heroes to defend the world. The ending might have been a little lackluster but predictable to set up their next film, but an overall enjoyable event for veteran fans and newcomers to this franchise.

My Top 10 Fall/Winter Movies

With the U.S. release of Marvel's next film, Doctor Strange, coming into theaters this Friday, we officially enter the fall movie season. This season will also go into the Winter; also known as the "Oscar bait" season to me. I have seen some of the previous movies in the earlier part of the fall (which I'll put up reviews soon). On this list, I do have a few suggestions that will be in major Oscar conversation but I think they will all be solid movies for everyone to see. 

From the mystical Marvel movie, a prequel for the Harry Potter universe, and a new Star Wars story to an ensemble drama starring Will Smith and a throwback to the musicals of a generation ago, this season will have something for everyone. 

10) The Edge of Seventeen - November 18

This coming-of-age comedy has received critical acclaim from the film festivals this film has been seen at. Hailee Steinfield stars as Nadine, an awkward high school junior, who feels more alone when her popular brother starts to date her best friend. But an unexpected friendship with an awkward boy (Hayden Szeto) gives her hope. The film co-stars Woody Harrelson as Nadine's history teacher, who acts as her mentor. 

9) Fences - December 25

One of the many movies coming out on Christmas day could prove to be a dark horse in the Oscars race. Directed and starring Denzel Washington and co-starring Viola Davis, this adaptation of the play is set in 1950s Pittsburgh, a former Negro Baseball player (Washington), now working as a waste collector, struggles to provide for his family and comes to terms with the events of his life. 

8) Fantastic Beasts - November 18

Director David Yates and author J.K. Rowling have reunited to provide a new era of the Wizarding World before Harry Potter. Set in 1926 New York, magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives to research and rescue magical creatures. However, a No-Maj (American English for Muggles) named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) has inadvertently opened Scamander's case and letting the beasts loose on a wizarding community already on edge. Co-starring Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, and Katherine Waterson, prepare to return to the magical world in this extension of the Harry Potter franchise.

7) Moana - November 23

Disney looks to bring another animated classic to audiences with this film. On a mystical island of Polynesia, the young princess of the tribe, Moana (newcomer Auli'i Cravalho) from Motunui Island, is a born navigator who sets sail in search of a fabled island of mysterious secrets. Along the way, she teams up with her hero and legendary demigod, Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson). With the musical assistance of Lin-Manuel Miranda, this film will definitely make a beautiful splash in the box office. 

6) Loving - November 4

This historical drama is coming out at a great time in my opinion, given the current racial climate. This film follows the courtship and marriage of Mildred Jeter (Ruth Negga), a black woman, and Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton), a white man.They are arrested and sent to prison in Virginia in 1958, because their interracial marriage is in violation of the state's anti-miscegenation laws. Exciled to Washington, D.C., the couple sues the state of Virginia which leads to the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Loving v. Virginia. This movie will show that love truly conquers all. 

5) Doctor Strange - November 4

You know that I couldn't leave out Marvel's next film in Phase 3 of their expanding universe. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dr. Stephen Strange, an acclaimed neurosurgeon until he loses the use of his hands due to a car accident. He goes off in search of unconventional ways to repair his hands. The journey leads him to the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who teaches Strange the mystic arts, just in time to defeat dark sorcerer Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelson). 

4) Rogue One - December 16

We return to the galaxy far, far away during the time of the early dominance of the Galactic Empire's rule. The Rebel Alliance recruits Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) to work with Rebel pilot Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to lead a motley crew to steal the plans to the Death Star. Disney has followed the same strategy they set with The Force Awakens trailers and that is to reveal as little as possible. They set up the basic them of the story and don't reveal anything else for the audience. But from the previews, we are guaranteed one person: The Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader!

3) Passengers - December 21

This romantic science fiction tale has been kept under wraps for quite some time, floating around Hollywood for years since 2007. Now, it has been greenlit and ready to be consumed by audiences. The story tells the tale of Jim (Chris Pratt) and Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence), two people who are traveling on the starship Avalon, being awoken early during the 120-year journey while everyone else sleeps in suspended animation. When the ship begins to malfunction, it is up to the duo to solve the problems, while also falling in love in the process. To me, it looks like Titanic in space but that's my early assumption. From the initial trailer, this film looks as though it'll be quite the journey. And having two of the hottest stars in Hollywood today isn't too bad either. 

2) Collateral Beauty - December 16

Another one of Hollywood's mystery projects that audiences did not know much about, this film just screams potential. When a successful New York ad exec (Will Smith) suffers a great tragedy in his life, he retreats from it. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Death, Love, and Time. But it's not until his notes are unexpectedly answered through personal responses that he begins to understand that these constants interlock into a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty. This film also stars Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Edward Norton, Naomie Harris, and Kate Winslet, it's guaranteed to touch everyone in the audience in one way or another. 

1) La La Land - December 9

This movie, I can guarantee that you will hear about when the Oscar nominations are announced. In the heart of Los Angeles, aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions. Jazz musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) plays in dingy bars just to get by. The two meet and fall in love, but, as success mounts, the dreams they worked so hard to maintain threaten to tear them apart. From the trailer, this film looks to be a throwback to the romantic musicals of the '50s, '60s, and sometimes, '70s. I love watching old classic films so I think if you love a good story, musical, or you are just a movie fan, I would recommend this movie. 

So what are the movies that you are looking forward to? I hope you take some of these movies under advisement to watch as the weather gets colder!

Until next time, movie fans!

An older, battle-weary Wolverine is revealed in 'Logan' teaser

In 2000, an unknown actor by the name of Hugh Jackman was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-men. Given the aggressive, silent warrior type with three claws coming out of his hands, the Marvel character was tough for Jackman to play; possibly a tougher sell for fans of this iconic comic book hero.

Seventeen years later, Hugh Jackman has made this role his own and is synonymous with that character. Throughout the original trilogy and the prequels, Wolverine has been the constant thread in Fox's X-men Universe. He's also starred in two solo spin-offs: X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Wolverine. Now, Jackman dons the claws one last time in the third and final film in the spin-off trilogy, simply titled Logan.

The official premise of the film takes place years in the future, Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) must cope in a world with the mutant population dwindling near extinction. They must protect a young girl named Laura (Dafne Keen), who is very much like Logan, against sinister forces.

From the preview, brilliantly having Johnny Cash's "Hurt" playing, we can tell that Logan has gotten older and his healing factor seems to be failing now. His hands are bloody from where the claws come out and his body is scarred. Charles Xavier has also aged, looking physically weaker than we've ever seen him. We also get a look at the young actress who plays Laura, who has already been confirmed to play X-23. If you don't know who X-23 is, she is the young female clone of Wolverine. It looks like she will carry on the Wolverine mantle for the future X-Men movies but we'll see.

Overall, this movie looks like everything we, as fans of this franchise, wanted from The Wolverine: A deep cut character movie of Logan. We look past the Wolverine persona to the man behind the grizzled savage beast of the X-Men. If you are expecting the complete Old Man Logan story from the comic, stop right there. Fox doesn't have the rights to pull off that entire story but I think this film will be the proper sendoff for the Logan character and for Hugh Jackman in his last time as the character. That's by giving all the fans the Wolverine we want and deserve.

Logan comes into theaters on March 3, 2017.

'The Girl on the Train' runs on dark and twisted tracks

I'm so sorry that I've been away everyone, but you know how life can get in the way of things we love to do...you know, things not work or school related. And there comes in my passion for movies.

When it comes to book to movie adaptations, fans of the book will either love or hate it. There's no getting around that. There is also no getting around the fact that the entire book cannot be adapted. There will always be parts that will won't make the final cut of the film; sometimes, those can be something inconsequential and some are ones that we love. I've always stuck with the standard that as long as the adaptation stays true to the source material, I won't be too harsh of a judge. With that said, let's look into The Girl on the Train.

The Girl on the Train tells the story of Rachel (Emily Blunt), an unemployed, vodka-drenched, emotionally wrecked woman. Rachel maintains a routine by commuting to the city from her New York suburb. Rachel's favorite hobby is playing audience to her old life - particularly her ex-husband, Tom (Justin Theroux) living in her ex-home with the ex-mistress-turned-wife, Anna (Rebecca Ferguson), who is also now the mother of his child. Rachel also looks to the neighbors two doors down: a "perfect couple" (Haley Bennett and Luke Evans) where she imagines how their life is. But when the "perfect wife" disappears, Rachel becomes entangled in the missing persons case as the possible main suspect. 

Rachel's obsession with her neighbors comes from the careless glow of love that they have. The couple seems to live in their own bubble, not bothered by anything else in the outside world. They provide relief for Rachel and seemingly fills the bleakness in her life. When she sees the wife, Megan, betray her husband by kissing another man, this betrayal seems to mirror the one she went through personally and enrages her. From this event, we not only get Rachel's perspective but we also get Bennett's beautiful fragile, Megan, and Anna. While not sticking to the physical appearance of her literary counterpart, Emily Blunt definitely captured the despair of the main character. Blunt played the depressed ex-wife to perfection. Blunt's Rachel looked haunted and hollowed out by how her life has turned out. Instead of working, any semblance of a job gone, she fills her time with hobbies such as sketching in her notebook, finding solace at the bottom of a bottle, and of course, riding the train.

 

The breakout star was definitely Haley Bennett. She might be breakout star of the fall with this film and The Magnificent Seven (which a review will be coming!). Bennett plays the stunningly beautiful Megan with depth, showing her character to be three-dimensional and on the edge of her own oblivion with the secrets she hides.

Director Tate Taylor (The Help) doesn't bring the type of style and dazzle that you would expect with a thriller like this, which drew earlier comparisons to David Fincher's Gone Girl and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. But he did a great job translating the bleak menace of the film and balancing three intertwined plotlines and having them all pay off in the third act of the film. What really sells the film is the chilling realism of these two performances, especially Blunt's, carry this film. Personally, I liked the novel better than the film but overall, it is a solid movie. It is definitely geared towards women but a fan of the book, no matter the gender, will enjoy this film. 

If you all see this film, leave a comment about what you think. I'm catching up on this blog so there will be more reviews, previews, and news to come! 

Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence find romance in 'Passengers'

After much speculation and recent released shots of two of Hollywood's most likable stars, we were finally given our first real look at Passengers, the highly anticipated sci-fi adventure/love story co-starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence.

A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers, Aurora Lane (Lawrence) and James Preston (Pratt) are awakened 90 years earlier. The two soon discover that their early awakening is not the only problem affecting the huge spaceship.

I heard rumors about this movie and when I head that it was being filmed, I was instantly excited because some of the first movies I watched were about space travel. Then finding out two of the hottest stars in cinema today are in the lead roles and you have me sold! When I first saw this trailer, I honestly thought it looked like Titanic...in space. But I could be wrong and this movie could blow my mind.

Seeing Martin Sheen as a bartending robot was hilarious and I'm sure we're in for another solid performance from him. A few more shots of the trailer show other co-stars such as Andy Garcia and Laurence Fishburne. The shot we have of the spaceship named Avalon looks fantastic. For a teaser trailer, I think Passengers already has a solid following to watch this intergalactic love story play out and live up to its tagline: Every Moment Counts.

Passengers flies into theaters this Christmas.

Will Smith leads all-star cast in 'Collateral Beauty'

Hello, readers! I'm so sorry for the unexpected break in posts. Work, turning 27, and grad school can take up a lot of time but...I'm back. So I'm going to try and catch up with as much movie news as I can and post some new previews for you all!

With the summer season officially over and we're entering the lukewarm days of the fall, the box office should be quiet from after the big-budget hits and some misses of the hot season. Oscar season is slowly approaching and some studios got a head start at film festivals such as Toronto and their screening of potential Oscar contender, 'La La Land.' But I'm here to talk about another possible contender in Will Smith's next drama film, 'Collateral Beauty'.

Will Smith plays a New York advertising executive who suffers a tragedy that sends him on a downward spiral. During these events, he encounters three mysterious people (Keira Knightley, Jacob Latimore, Helen Mirren) who encourage him to forget about the past while his friends try to reach him and help get his life back on track.

This movie has been kept under a tight lock and key with little being known about the project. Usually, that creates a sense of concern from audiences, but I think this time the mystery and wait must be worth it. From this recently released preview, the film looks like it will be an emotional roller-coaster. I picked up a lot of traces of the holiday classic, A Christmas Story. Overall, I think this movie could tell a phenomenal story that anyone could relate to.

I'm not sure if this could be Will Smith's shot at a Best Actor Oscar or even a Golden Globe during award season but I think he has a fair shot.

Collateral Beauty comes to theaters December 16th.

Rest in Peace, Gene Wilder

Coming online to Facebook today, I came across some sad news as Hollywood lost one of its true iconic comic actors. Gene Wilder, who established himself with his amusing neurotic performances in three classic films directed by Mel Brooks and his star transforming role in "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory", passed away early Monday morning at his home in Stanford, Conn. He was 83 years old.

Like many people in my generation, I was introduced to Gene Wilder with his eccentric role as the famous chocolate maker in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." His brilliant performance as the wizardly chocolate maker made me believe in the magic of pure imagination, even when teaching those naughty kids a lesson. Looking back at the film now, I admired his brilliance, comedic quickness, and how the film remains the first one you name when you think about Mr. Wilder. 

It wasn't until later that I watched his Mel Brooks-directed films, most recently this summer where I watched "Blazing Saddles" for the very first time. Mr Wilder has the relatively quiet role of the Waco kid, a boozy ex-gunslinger who helps the improbably black sheriff (Cleavon Little) save a town from railroad barrons and venal politicians. The raunchy, no-holds-barred spoof of Hollywood westerns might have lost its edge over the films but his next one has never grown old. 

"Young Frankenstein" showed Wilder as an American man of science and the grandson of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein. He tries to turn his back on his heritage but finds himself irresistibly drawn to Transylvania. Wilder envisioned a black-and-white film faithful to the 1931 monster classic directed by Boris Karloff. His winning chemistry with fellow comedian, Richard Pryor, in "Stir Crazy" made them a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood comedy. 

From Willy Wonka to the Waco Kid to young Frankenstein, you have entertained us for years, Mr. Wilder. Thank you for the gift of pure imagination that you presented.

You will be missed. Rest in peace, Gene.

Amazing animation boosts 'Kubo' into a summer surprise

The small-shop, stop-animation studio Laika has only released three full-length movies - Coraline, The Boxtrolls, and ParaNorman. Despite the small portfolio of films, each film has earned a Best Animated Feature Oscar nod. The studio has also built a reputation of providing a refreshingly odd alternative to the glossy squareness of most mainstream children's movies that come into theaters. I've never seen any of their three previous films so I decided to take a chance and see their fourth film...and I couldn't be more impressed. 

Kubo and the Two Strings is the epic tale of young Kubo, a young boy with only one eye, as he plays his two stringed instrument in the nearby town during the day to earn money and returning to care for his mother at night, constantly looking over his shoulder but he doesn't know why. When it turns out that the rest of his mother's family is coming after him, Kubo sets out on a hero's journey, protected by a drill sergeant monkey (Charlize Theron) and a forgetful beetle-like hybrid (Matthew McConaughey) to collect the pieces of a powerful armor to defeat his evil relatives. 

The ancient-Japan set animated film has its dark parts: a callback to the bad old days of gothic fairy tales where boogeymen lurk, parents die, and children must find the courage to be brave, strong, and resourceful to survive. Kubo is all of those things: a clever, self-sufficient boy; he goes into the town square every day and earns spare change by twanging his shamisen - a stripped down, three-stringed guitar - and telling stories with his ingeniously fashioned origami figures, channeling the magic that comes from him and playing the guitar. At the evening, he returns to a dank cave to tend to his mother. Her memory comes and goes, but the jagged scar running down her cheek - and the patch that permanently covers Kubo's left eye - reminds her that neither one of them are safe. If Kubo fails to follow her rules and stays out after dark, her estranged sisters will come to collect her son's remaining eye, and join it with the one that her father stole from him when he was born. 

As you would guess, Kubo does exactly that and, as the sun sets one day and turns into night before he can return home, his aunts (both voiced by a hauntingly-sounding Rooney Mara) arrive - witchy, terrifying twins with kabuki-white faces, black swirling shrouds as they appear in black smoke. And with that, the young Kubo is sent on a quest in the dangerous world to recover a magical suit of armor that will protect him. Along the way, many revelations, including the truth behind his mother's trauma and his Samurai father's fate, the supernatural origin of his extended family, and the mystery of the movie's title. 

First-time director Travis Knight, who served as lead animator on Laika's previous three films, gave Kubo a colorfully, solid look full of lavish depth and detail. The bickering interplay between McConaughey's Beetle and Theron's monkey protector shines bright throughout the narrative, helping balance the stakes of the tale. The animation really shines through each scene.This come not just from the animation but in the plot, themes, and film overall. The themes of family, bravery, magic, and love help transcend this hero's journey story into something that everyone of all ages can enjoy. Kubo is a marvel - a visually stunning, richly imagined paradise in a sea of Disney candy-colored safety, and one of the truly original films of this year. You can count on seeing this film in the Oscar race this year. 

Small skirmishes and an old adversary highlight the new 'Rogue One' trailer

After the first trailer of the Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we got an idea on the tone and the film's primary characters, all while getting everyone excited about a new tale in the Star Wars Galaxy. But we all knew that there would be another preview would be coming. And that preview came on Thursday during the Olympics. In case you didn't watch the preview between the gymnastics and the swimming events, here is the trailer for the Star Wars war film.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story takes place prior to the events of the original Star Wars, chronicling the Rebel effort to steal the plans that will allow them to eventually destroy the moon-sized battle station of the Galactic Empire.

This time around, we get a more in-depth look at the Rebel team tasked with the suicide mission of going against the Empire, led by Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso. Characters that every fan wanted to see included Donnie Yen's spiritual, Force-faithful warrior, Chirrut Imwe, Diego Luna's Rebel Alliance Intelligence Officer Cassian Andor, and Alan Tudyk's reprogrammed Imperial droid, K-2SO.

We also see how big the shadow of the Galactic Empire has cast over the galaxy. From the shot of a large Star Destroyer over a desert settlement or one creeping from the shadows while the Death Star is built in the background, you get a sense of dread and evil by seeing the Empire establish its claim in the galaxy.

As the familiar sound of past Star Wars plays, we're treated to small scenes of action. Familiar devices of war such as the AT-AT, X-Wing, and Imperial TIE fighters make appearances. We also catch a shot of the beach battle that everyone wants to see from this movie. But there is one shot at the end that die-hard Star Wars fans breathing heavy, including me. Speaking of, there was a familiar sound at the end that still gives fans chills.

James Earl Jones is returning as the voice of Vader, who will loom large as the Emperor's Right Hand - a position that other figures in the Empire would love to take, among them Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), the head of the Death Star project. From previous articles, this will be a primary conflict to show the Empire is not a big family. No word yet on how big of a role the Sith lord will play but you know that it'll have an effect either way.

I hope everyone goes out to see this. I know I will be there on opening night. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story comes out of hyperspace and into theaters on December 16.

Negative critics reviews didn't stop fans from viewing the lukewarm 'Suicide Squad' film

Here we go, everyone!

We're into the final stretch of the summer, going into the somewhat quiet time of the early fall. There will be some gems there but they are few and far between. But, let's focus on what could be the final summer blockbuster, DC's Suicide Squad. 

If anyone has been paying attention, the embargo on the early reviews of the supervillain ensemble film was lifted a few days before the August 5th release date...and the flood gates were opened. Film review sites, mainly Rotten Tomatoes, bombarded the film with rotten and lackluster reviews. Just like it did with DC's earlier comic book outing, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC Comics purists and fans came to the defense of the comic book anti-hero films. A petition was even started to try and have Rotten Tomatoes shut down! Despite these early terrible reviews, these did not stop fans from going to see the film and form their own opinion. That's exactly what I did. 

Suicide Squad is an antihero ensemble film that covers an assortment of imprisoned supervillains being released to work for a secret government agency, led by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), to execute dangerous black ops missions and save the world from a powerful threat, in exchange for leaner sentences. 

For timeline purposes, this film takes place after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; Superman was dead and a possible threat has led Amanda Waller to create a black ops team of "metahumans" to combat any possible threats. At Belle Reve Penitentiary, Waller has her pick for her team - the deranged Harley Quin (Margot Robbie), elite hit man Deadshot (Will Smith), pyrokinetic ex-gangster El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), opportunistic thief Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), monsterous metahuman Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), and specialized mercenary Slipknot (Adam Beach). They are placed under command of the patriotic but glorified babysitter in Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman). The wild card in it all and their threat comes from the witch-goddess known as Enchantress, who possesses Flag's girlfriend, June Moone (Cara Delevingne). 

Now if you have read my previous reviews, you know I don't go too much into spoilers. Don't expect a change here because I want my readers to make their own choice on seeing this or not. So the good things about this movie: the characters and the actor's performances. I love character driven stories, even if they don't feel three-dimensional. At least make me care about the characters. Mainly, the characters you really feel for is Smith's Deadshot and Robbie's Harley Quinn. Going into their origin backstories, the groundwork is laid down to care about these characters more than anyone else on the team. They dominate the majority of the film with Smith's quick humor and Robbie channeling the unbalance of the femme fatale to make them entertaining. Hernandez's Diablo was a surprising fleshed-out character, making the audience care about him and his family backstory. Other characters like Rick Flag, Killer Croc, and Captain Boomerang did not do much. I barely remembered that they were there until the action started. Overall, the characters of Deadshot and Harley Quinn and their connection carries the film rather than the possible teamwork of these comical maniacs. 

Then there is what did not work for me: the overall story and the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker (Jared Leto). The plot was weak and bogged down the good work the characters were doing. The plot of the world destruction by Enchantress is too cookie-cutter, something that you have seen in many other superhero movies. Warner Bros and DC had a prime opportunity to make this a team building sort of film with the threat surrounding them. The plot did feel rushed, choppy as far as the scenes; this probably comes from the rush work that director David Ayer did with the six week deadline that he was given. 

Then there was green haired grinning gangster. 

Jared Leto, Jared Leto. As important of a part that the Joker is to the DC Superhero world, Leto could have been given more. I wasn't given enough to actually like or hate his vision of the Joker. With Joker and Harley Quinn being on the same film, this relationship could have dominated or been a bigger part of the story. We are given a large glimpse into their backstory (Ben Affleck's Batman does appear here and with Deadshot) but maybe I would have liked to be given more to decide on the Joker. We've all heard that most of his scenes have been cut along with some of Robbie's. Who knows if these scenes could have helped make this decision? Just like the Ultimate cut of Dawn of Justice, there are some scenes that could have helped the film out; even if it makes the film longer, it'll be worth it. 

There have been parts where you can tell the studio interfered with the film, possibly due to the subpar success that came from Dawn of Justice. That fear of failure and not really knowing about these characters is crippling the DCEU. They do have a slate of films ready for the next few years and I believe that Suicide Squad's timed levity and humor along with the dark and gritty is a good balance; maybe this film is showing that the DC films can go light like their comic book counterparts. With the optimism of the upcoming Wonder Woman and Justice League films, a little lighter might be the way to go. Speaking of the League, stay seated for the mid-credits scene. While I feel like this movie was forcing us and hitting us over the head with the DCEU's next ensemble film, this scene did a better job of a set up than what Dawn of Justice did.

My opinion is that Warner Bros is the biggest enemy to DC Films, not the critics. Warner Bros should put some trust into this film division and see how they do without interference. This movie was not bad but it wasn't good either due to the muddled plot and choppy directing.  

But whether you are in the DC camp, Marvel camp, or just a superhero/comic fan, you should give this film a chance and make your own opinion. 

Matt Damon still packs a punch; 'Jason Bourne' gives you what you expect.

After The Bourne Ultimatum, we weren't sure if we would see Matt Damon again as trained assassin Jason Bourne. He's been the perfect embodiment of the lethal, parkour-leaping action hero; someone who would make the creator and author Robert Ludlum proud. After a trilogy is complete, it's difficult to convince the star to sign onto a fourth film. That's because there might be any more stories to tell. After the mixed response to the Jeremy Renner-led The Bourne Legacy, the right script came along and brought Damon and director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) out of the shadows. 

Nine years after the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, Bourne (Damon) remains on the run from the CIA as he tries to uncover hidden truths about his past. When former CIA operative Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) hacks into the agency's databases to uncover evidence about its illegal assassination programs and of Bourne's recruitment, she tracks down Bourne to help him uncover who he really is. After the breach, CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) orders CIA cyber wizard Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) to find the former operatives. 

From the start of the film, you can see how much the world has changed and Bourne has stayed off the radar, keeping himself busy with bare-knuckles fights in the desert and underground clubs. While the world has gotten more dangerous, Jason has hid. Once Parsons arrives, the action picks up as Bourne immediately gets back into action. From then on, he brawls in abandon warehouses and takes on a deadly asset, played by Vincent Cassel, who has a personal grudge with Bourne for his past with Blackbriar. Tommy Lee Jones' steely, squinty-eyed CIA director pulls the strings in the shadows to take out Bourne but overall, proves to be less crafty than his predecessors. The only interesting character is played by recent Academy-Award winner Alicia Vikander, leading the debate on what her true motives are. 

Overall, the plot has very few twists to keep audiences guessing. Director Paul Greengrass could have played up the world we currently live in more rather than the exotic locales, bang-up fistfights, and adrenalized chase scenes (because it wouldn't be a Jason Bourne movie without a destructive car chase). If the current political climate was brought up more and how it affected how the CIA conducted business or how it might have changed Bourne, it would have helped the story. But all we did was get more of the same from the previous films.

The one thing that helped carry this movie through was Matt Damon himself. Ever since The Bourne Identity, Jason Bourne has always been a man apart, haunted not only by his own hidden origin story but by the consequences of his body count along the way of finding out the truth. The mystery and the lengths that he is willing to go is enough to create a compelling enough character to sustain four films with the title character over the last 15 years. Despite the tremendous physical shape that Bourne is in, Damon did a fantastic job in conveying how the years have hardened the assassin, showing the weathered face with small strands of grey in his hair. 

Jason Bourne already gives audiences a character who is more than two-dimensional but it would have been better if we knew what he was fighting for, personally, and how it could affect the world.

'Star Trek Beyond' continues the post-reboot streak with action and honoring the series' roots

The reboot of Gene Roddenbury's sci-fi series has been financially successful but has not gone over well with some hardcore fans. I'm a fan of the reboot series but I think it seriously went off-track with the millennial version of Wrath of Khan called Star Trek Into Darkness. It focused more on the action and visual effects, turning away to what made Star Trek such a staple in pop culture. For my more in-depth opinion, you can read my review. But this film, under the helm of Fast and Furious director Justin Lin, feels like that missing ingredient has been found along with balancing the action of the reboots.

Star Trek Beyond finds Captain James Kirk (Chris Pine) and the crew of the Enterprise deep in their five-year mission to explore the worlds they encounter an unknown enemy after crossing a nebula. A swarm of small vessel attacks, causing the crew to abandon ship on a distant planet after the destruction of their starship. While on the planet, they must go against a formidable adversary (Idris Elba) with the help of a female warrior (Sofia Boutella).

This installment is solid on the space travel, showing how the mission has worn down the crew. Uhura and Spock's relationship has been affected and Kirk has questions about why he is in Starfleet, his father's legacy becoming a hard thing to live up to. Overall, the aimlessness of the mission has left the crew in a funk, resulting in crewmates pairing off into relationships, engaging in spats, and a general loss of purpose. What they need is an assignment with a goal and stakes.

When the crew arrives at the starbase Yorktown (basically a twisty snowglobe in space), they are given just that while the crew is on shore leave. A female alien, who sent an urgent distress call (isn't that how most of their missions start?) reporting that her ship had been attacked and her crew had been taken hostage by a belligerent warrior known as Krall. Kirk gathers the rest of the familiar faces (Saldana's Uhura, Cho's Sulu, Zachary Quinto's Spock, Karl Urban's Bones, Pegg's Scotty, and the late Anton Yelchin's Chekov) and the Enterprise departs, navigating through an awe-less nebula and squares off against Krall. To avoid going into spoiler territory, Krall's intentions become clear as the movie continues on and the crew work to be reunited on the planet.

While it would have been great to know Krall's plan possibly midway through the film as the different pockets of the crew went on their mini-adventures to be reunited with one another, it does pay off later on in the third act of the film. Unfortunately, that's way too late. While the audience is left to ponder the villain's plan (there isn't a lot of speeches or monologues by Krall), we have mini-arcs of character development: the on-again/off-again romance between Spock and Uhura; the love-hate bond between Spock and Bones; Kirk's personal arc as a leader. These are the best parts of Beyond. After so many missions with the main crew of the Enterprise, we never got a deeper look into their lives beyond the bridge. It was interesting as a fan to get that inside look. Some new characters were also proven to be well-crafted, three-dimensional beings; Elba's menacing Krall and Sofia Boutella's kabuki-skinned alien she-warrior Jaylah, are exciting additions.

Ultimately, Beyond is a movie about characters and character. But that is only half of the battle. The other half is...battle. Straight-up action. The camera angles of those scenes can give you a headache but spectacular nonetheless. While this isn't Justin Lin's best work, he does an excellent job in his first go-around in the director's chair. The music of Public Enemy and Beastie Boys were welcome additions to the fun of the big-budget action scenes. We've also seen Kirk on an antique 20th century motorcycle from the trailer and that scene was impressive but also hearkens back to the 2009 reboot from when a young Kirk drives around in a Detroit muscle car.

Without being nitpicky, I can say that Beyond is a fine movie but not a very good Star Trek movie. A definite improvement from its predecessor but it felt like another tentpole summer film. But when is the last time we saw an actual good Star Trek movie?

San Diego Comic Con - Doctor Strange Trailer 2

When Marvel comes to Comic Con, they know how to make an appearance. While they announced some news that I'll cover in another post either later tonight or tomorrow, there is always some new footage or preview. This year, they didn't disappoint. Along with news about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, Black Panther, and a major phase three announcement.

For now, let's get to the next film in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the new trailer for Doctor Strange.

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the surgeon-turned-sorcerer Stephen Strange, who is injured in a car accident that ruins his career. Going on a journey of healing, Strange encounters the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who becomes his mentor in the mystic arts. The film also stars Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, and Mads Mikkelsen.

This trailer gives a deeper look at Mikkelsen's villain, and issues an ominous warning: "I am death, and pain - you'll die protecting this world. We get our first look at Wong as...Wong, who warns "Be careful which path you travel down, Strange. Stronger men than you have lost their way."

Obviously, this movie is a hard left turn away from what the MCU was built on, going into the full fantasy and magical side of Marvel's history. This goes away from the sci-fi tech that has been a staple in the universe for the last thirteen films.

From this trailer, Marvel can guarantee one thing: we're going to see some crazy stuff.

Oh, and here is the new poster!

Doctor Strange opens in theaters on November 4.

Comic-Con Trailers

Whether or not we are nerds, movie lovers, or television fans, everyone has heard about the event known as San Diego Comic-Con. I have a goal to make it out to the west coast for that spectacle one year, attend all the events I can in each hall and see the stars of my favorite films and shows. I want to partake in the excitement of seeing the footage of coming attractions, but until that day comes, I just have to watch them as they are released online. 

First, we have an origin story of an classic cinema character that continues to overcome the test of time in Kong: Skull Island

Next, a literary character's story is retold as Charlie Hunnam trades in his Sons of Anarchy leather for a tunic in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

The woods of a 1999 horror classic spurs a sequel in Blair Witch, coming to theaters in September.

The Wizarding World made an appearance at Comic-Con as a new full-trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, coming out this November. 

Saving some of the best for last, we FINALLY get a preview for one of next summer's biggest movies. An Amazon princess leaves her island home to explore the world, and becomes the greatest of its heroes. Gal Gadot returns in Wonder Woman.

Finally, we get a small tease of the DC's Expanded Universe next big-budget film; an ensemble film that has been years in the making. Coming off the heels of the events in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's (Henry Cavill) selfless act, enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), to unite a team of outcasts to face an even greater enemy. 

We get live action shots of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) as the Flash, Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) as Cyborg, and a mute but aggressive Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa). After Dawn of Justice, I'm still hesitant on this film but I'm optimistic for now. 

 

That's all of the film that have had trailer releases in San Diego. Which ones catch you eye? Which one do you need to see more to get on board? I hope you all enjoy these videos. 

A diverse band of outlaws assemble in newest 'The Magnificent Seven' trailer

Westerns used to be all the rage a generation ago. From John Wayne's plethora of Western films to Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy that starred Clint Eastwood, they were well-received and happened almost as regular as today's Superhero films. Now, they come rarely and appear mediocre in comparison to those of the past. Some parodies have come along like Adam Sandler's Netflix original, The Ridiculous Six and one or two prove to be good like Tarantino's snowy western, The Hateful Eight. Soon, viewers will be staring down the barrel of Antoine Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven, a remake of John Sturgis' iconic 1960 Western (itself, a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai).

Denzel Washington stars as Chisolm, a bounty hunter recruited by a vengeful Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) to settle the score against oppressive industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard). Understanding he'll need help, Chisolm recruits a strikeforce of desperadoes. The seven are vastly outnumbered by Bogue army of cronie but seem up to the challenge.

From the trailer, this team seems to get along fairly well for a band of misfits that includes: gambler Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), trapper Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio), assassin Billy Rocks (Lee Byung-Hun), outlaw Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Comanche warrior Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). They seem to think on their feet and love to blow stuff up. I think it'll be a fair fight to watch.

The Magnificent Seven rides in on September 23.

Emily Blunt is terrifying in new 'The Girl on the Train' trailer

The second trailer for The Girl on the Train came barreling into the online station today, giving viewers a closer look at Emily Blunt's depressed, alcoholic heroine, Rachel Watson.

But it seems like she is anything but helpful in this preview.

Based on Paula Hawkins' surprising best-seller 2015 thriller, The Girl on the Train follows Rachel (Blunt), a depressed, unemployed woman who invents a fantasy life for a couple that she spies from the train on her morning commute - then she grows dangerously involved in the police investigation when the wife (Haley Bennett) turns up missing, an event that she witnessed from the window of her train.

In this trailer, we get a deeper look at the details surrounding the case: the fantasy couple, Megan (Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans), live a couple of houses down from Rachel's ex-husband, Tom (Justin Theroux) and his new wife. Naturally, suspicions eventually turn to Rachel herself. She was stated to be seen in the area the night of the disappearance and, as the trailer reaches its conclusion, Rachel seems to become more unstable as she searches for answers.

But Rachel has another thing to fear: herself.

I love this trailer and its chilling tone, effectively setting up the mystery in the film's story. Emily Blunt seems to own her flawed and, apparently, fragile heroine. It still echoes Gone Girl to me and it could also be a sleeper hit of the fall season, especially considering the popularity of the film. It's definitely a film I will spend money going to see.

The Girl on the Train comes into theaters on October 7.

'Ghostbusters' and its female cast spooks up an impressive reboot

Hey, everyone! As usual, life gets in the way but I'm back with another review!

When the Ghostbusters reboot was announced, the all-female leading cast revealed, and the first trailer released, let's just say that the reviews were less than positive. The first trailer was probably one of the most polarizing of this year. Personally, the jokes were mildly funny and didn't impress, not even being bothered by the cast. However, the cast seemed to be the main reason why the film wasn't hitting it off with critics. Personally, I think it was more of the nostalgia from the fans that caused problems more than the cast. 

There is only one way that you can tell if a film is good or bad: See it for yourself. 

Ghostbusters introduces Dr. Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig), a teacher at Columbia University and the co-author of a book which poses the existence of paranormal phenomenon such as ghosts. Because of the book's unpopularity, she distances herself from the work. Learning the book has resurfaced, Gilbert visits the other co-author and former friend, Dr. Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy). Yates has continued the study of the paranormal at a technical college with eccentric  engineer Dr. Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon). With Gilbert grudgingly tagging along, the trio is recruited to assist on a paranormal investigation. When this proves Gilbert and Yates' theory on the paranormal, they decide to open a department to study the paranormal. Drawing the attention of MTA Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones), who had her own experience with ghosts of New York City, and she joins the team to save the city from a paranormal event.

I'll admit that I wasn't completely high on this movie but, after viewing it, this reboot is a lot better than I thought it would be. The four main cast members had great chemistry and the focus on the characters and how they worked as a team, making them more three-dimensional (always director Paul Feig's strength) helped strengthen the film. As far as the characters overall, Kate McKinnon's Holtzmann was hilariously creative and owning her character, showing that her work on Saturday Night Live gave her the needed foundation in her first big film. Chris Hemsworth, more known as Marvel's resident God of Thunder, Thor, certainly showed off his comedic chops by playing the handsome but dim-witted secretary Kevin Beckman. Out of the main cast, those two roles stood out to me. Melissa McCarthy was her usual comedian self along with Kristen Wiig. Leslie Jones was marginally funny to me, only providing a few gut-busting laughs. 

The CGI really works in 3-D but it does drag the film down a little, especially when they were testing out their weapons. There were cameos by the members of the original cast with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver but this film does a good job of standing on its own, setting itself up for a future sequel. Even through it is difficult to not compare it to the original, which it pales in comparison, the film and its marvelous cast does a great job in honoring the past. 

Now, we can only hope that the sequel doesn't follow the same course as Ghostbusters 2. 

Blake Lively delivers a sleeper of a good movie with 'The Shallows'

At the halfway point of the summer, I think it's safe to say that it has been a bit of a letdown after the start of the movie season in May. The box office has been buzzing wonderfully so far, but there are very few movies that people are actually talking about at work, around water coolers, etc. After the release of the superhero blockbusters like Captain America: Civil War and X-Men: Apocalypse to sequels like Finding Dory, there were very few original films that you could talk about later after the summer is over. When I heard about Blake Lively's shark movie The Shallows, I didn't think anything of it. I didn't expect Jaws - or even the occasionally "good" open water film that involves the ocean's greatest predator. But after watching the trailers, you already have the sense that it could be a guilty pleasure film that you take a chance on. Which it exactly turns out to be. Lively's not here to break new ground. And it's disappointingly light on great white-caused slaughter. But if you are looking for a 90-minute, check-your-brain-at-the-ticket-window distraction from the world, this is your surprise hit.

The Shallows stars Lively (The Age of Adaline, The Town) as Nancy Adams - a resourceful med school who travels to a secluded beach in Mexico that her late mother spoke about with beautiful admiration. After her traveling companion flakes on her due to a hangover, the solo Nancy decides to go alone. The beach is just as she was told by her mother and shown in pictures. After meeting up with some local surfers, she surfs until they leave her in the water. After a 20-foot predator takes a chunk of her and her surfboard, Adams makes it to a tiny rock that gets smaller and more precarious as the tide comes in. From there, we see Adams using her resources and an unintentional assist from the surfers in the form of a Go Pro camera to survive. 

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, this movie had the same pulpy absurdness that was seen in Liam Nesson's Unknown and Non-Stop. The Shallows tries to be the actress' 127 Hours but it just comes off as an easy-on-the-eyes, bikini-clad woman in peril. The movie doesn't try to overthink or make itself out more than what it actually is. You're not rooting for the shark but you are not rooting against it either. It is a game of cat and mouse between human and animal; Nancy using her wits and MacGyvers her way through this movie while the shark circles for his next opportunity to capture his prey. While the film knows its audience and the attention span of the people they were trying to attract, Collet-Serra and writer Anthony Jaswinski could have added in some more comedic lines for Lively and maybe amped up the action with the shark. There is a small nod to Cast Away with a cranky bird Nancy names Steven Seagull keeping her company. Overall, it was a surprise hit for me and for Rotten Tomatoes, who has certified the movie 'Fresh'. I would recommend this shark film for anyone looking for a quick but enjoyable film.