Jumanji (2017)

⭐⭐

Directed by:  Jake  Kasdan
Written by: Scott Rosenberg , Jeff Pinkner, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers 
Gross Revenue: $168.60 mil

re·boot
restart or revive (a process or sequence, especially a series of films or television programs); give fresh impetus to:

        I understand this is a reboot given what the definition above implies, it was trying to revive Jumanji and bring something new to the table. I'm not going to sit here analyze every piece of this film  and say "well in the original jumanji.."  because that's not what this is.  This is not a verbatim retelling of the original, its a sorta kinda sequel I guess. Although there are a few things that do permit comparison, I'll discuss that in a bit. Everyone seems to get so flustered and paranoid with reboots thinking its just a hard reset to an already good movie or franchise. That's not always the case, and thank goodness that wasn't the case here. The original is good as is and I am happy they kept it that way. 

       Now, what can be said about this kind of sequel? Well, it was fun and entertaining, that's just about the end of it. I always enjoy The Rock, Kevin hart and the always hilarious Jack black in anything they're starring in. So it's no surprise that I'd want to see it based on star power. It goes without saying that I was pretty anxious to see this, as a child I always wanted to know just where Allen Parish went. Sure Jumanji came to him, but I wanted to see the real world, I wanted to see more.  When I heard  another Jumanji was coming and that's  where they were going, I was stoked as hell. You can imagine my disappointment over Christmas weekend, I was sure I was going to just fall head over heels in love with it. Alas, I did not. I like it, do not get me wrong it has total watchability but there are a few errors that set it staggering down to a 2 star review.

   The casting did an amazing job with the leading and supporting roles, I don't have any issues with that but Van Pelt??? Horrible, horrible choice, of all the people to choose from they choose Bobby Cannavale?? Seriously, the original Van Pelt? Johnathan Hyde, yeah he's still alive they could have just called him up. They included Allen Parrish for a sec, eluding to the fact that it is a sequel so, why change Van Pelt?? That wasn't the only element I found to be absent, where was the other worldly feel that the first Jumanji held? I mean this was the world Allen Parish came from, so why didn't it feel like it? Where was the sense of danger? The sense of  "omg what's coming next?" There was really nothing that made it seem even similar to the world Allen claimed it was in the first. There were no man eating flowers, vines that would bury you alive, no dog sized spiders or mischievous monkeys. Honestly, they could have been in any jungle around the world, nothing out of the ordinary and that's what bothered me most.

        As a standalone it's amusing and the cast does a good enough job in the comedic department  so that kept me semi engaged. I enjoy role swapping films and light hearted survivalist flicks so it wasn't a total loss. I say if your okay with a jumanji movie not really being a jumanji movie then by all means give it a go. Especially if you like Jack Black, I found him to be just a tad bit funnier than Kevin Hart who was good, but gave his usual "Kevin" performance. Not quite sure if this will make my worst of 2017 list or the best but I am glad they gave it a shot. In the type or world we live in now, I'm  sure we will see another Jumanji in the near future.

Bright

⭐⭐⭐
Directed by: David Ayer
Written by: Max Landis


This was by far the most anticipated movie on Netflix for me since, well.....ever. At no other time have I said "hay, oh man I wanna see that Netflix movie, I cant wait." that is until now. I wont sit here and flat out lie and say Will Smith isn't what initially sold me on it because at first it was. However, as I started mulling over the plot I began to get more and more excited. After the first initial watch Iiked it, then after the second, I loved it!! The whole idea of Orcs, Elves and magic is such a soft spot for me, there is no way I could not fall in love with it. Then for extra magnificent measure they set it in modern day which I love way more than a period piece set in the dark ages. It adds to it's realism and edge, it seems like something not qute so unbelievable and I think it worked beautifully.

       The only, and I mean only weak link which isn't even consistent is the dialogue. It was a little pestering but as I said that wasn't even consistent, at times the dialogue was pretty good. Max Landis did alright, however I don't know where he got the idea this script would be his "Star Wars".I have no quarrels with the story it self and I'm very anxious to see how it all unfolds, seeming as Bright  is being pinned a Netflix franchise. People have been chatting about the whole wand thing, "well why could the cop hold it and the other guy blew up?" Well, if most were actually paying attention which I hope they were, when Montehugh was being interrogated he explained when someone touches the wand with their BARE hand they explode. He said nothing about if it's gloved or covered by fabric of some sort. I have no issues with the story, why on earth would they give everything away in the first film? Why would they provide all the answers? They need a vehicle for the upcoming films and I'm okay with that.

    David Ayer is THE man, I loved Suicide Squad and I love his style!! How can you not feel his movies with the amount of realism and grit he adds to them? How can you hate on the man who wrote and directed Training Day??  I will watch this over and over again, that's how much I liked it.  You cannot go wrong with orcs, guns and magic!!

Thor: Ragnarok

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


Directed by: Taika Waititi
Written by: Christopher Yotes, Craig Kyle, Eric Pearson
Gross Revenue: $835 mil



Jaw dropped and wig snatched folks!! Taika Waititi just resuscitated this lifeless, dead to the world frannchise and brought it back to life. Words are escaping me at the moment, Ragnarok was so good it's stolen my passion for expression...I'm all choked up on pure joy. I typically wait for the dust to settle to view a big Budget CBM. Don't ask me why, it's just how I tick. Now, as I was saying ....or trying to say, THIS IS WHAT A CBM SHOULD FEEL AND LOOK LIKE.  This is how you set the bar, this is why Marvel is far superior to the "other guys". From beginning to end it served up all the goods, from Directing, witty fun dialouge, flawless and I mean flawless visuals that make me wanna kiss everyone on the CGI team! It was all so beautiful, I'm talking a rose dipped in 24 kt gold and sprinkled with diamonds beautiful.

If you like the melancholic, dark, abrasive, slow cinematic experience then please, stay far way from Ragnarok, because you'd be getting none of that. Tears literally were welling in my eyes, I was so very pleased with this Thor and yet so very saddened. I feel, man handled, short changed, frickin robbed!!! This is the Thor we should have been gifted with long ago! Nope, what'd we get?A boring, bloated, lengthy origin film, and crawling half dead dumpster fire called Dark World. Why, oh why, give me the best Thor I've ever witnessed in the last solo installment?? Cold wold, cold, cold world.

There were so many good elements in this movie. Mmm Thor, Hulk holding a legitimate conversation, Jeff Goldblum as himself, the witty banter, Thor with no hammer, Thor with no hair and korg....I severely wanted more of him!! Oh, and let's not forget that sexy little fight bit in the last act! I think thaaaatsss about it......oh right LOKI, he's flipped flopped more than a pair of nike slides worn by Usain Bolt. However, I'm willing to get over it as long as I get to keep seeing his beautiful face!

I just am so very pleased with this movie, there isn't a word big enough that describes my feelings at the moment.  I'm not someone who lives and breathes for the next superheo movie, but marvel sure knows how to make a girl sweat. I'm so anxious to see infinity war now, my bones are vibrating!! If this is the kind of delivery they've committed to I'm so in for the next 20 movies they've got in the slow cooker.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Official Trailer)

I love this franchise, but when I heard another was being pushed out I was wondering, what else could be done? Seems universal has surprised me again! Next year is going to be amazing for cinema!!!

 I've never been so emotionally connected to fictionalized beings before. This trailer brought on such an amount of "awwwww" it was alarming. The Dino's I once loathed, I now feel unbelievably bad for. I have a feeling I may cry when I see it! However, here it is the much anticipated Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (teaser trailer)

Behold!! The ninth wonder of the world!! Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom teaser now available!!! I love the fact that the last has not changed!!

Avengers: infinity War (official trailer)

   


      This is what the good life looks like!! From the start I was drawn in, this made me so anxious to see the movie.  Truth be told I'm not a snob, I am not particular about CGI. True, I'd like it to look better then something  "made for TV" but other than that I'm no stickler in that regard. I see nothing wrong with how it looks, it gave me chills, the whole bit. I literally got misty eyed. Only a few films have me so emotionally invested. Guardias though??? at the end was so beautiful!!! May 4th cannot come fast enough!!!

The Anticipated Return of 007

       So there is some great little bit of news in the Bond Universe, that I am a little happy to hear. MGM is close to making a domestic deal with Annapurna for Bond 25 this week, and I am here for it! For those who don't know, Annapurna is a little known production company who's made some ripples in the movie world. The makings behind movies such as, Zero dark 30 and American Hustle. They've most recently dipped their toe into distribution waters with Detroit, which did reasonably well. This deal in my opinion could turn this companies world upside down, in such an amazing way.

 

       The ball is moving smoothly and I'm hoping it stays that way. Daniel Craig is fully on board with the final draft of his contract to be signed by the end of the week. November 8th 2019 is the release date and as we al know that could be pushed forward or back, no date is set in stone. Although no director has been selected the three contenders are Yann Demange (’71), Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049), and David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water). I'm hoping it will be David Mackenzie I love Hell or High Water, it was a amazing and his style just cant be beat. 2 years is quite a while to start my Bond posts but I really need this to start moving. We need to erase Spectre from our memory, or maybe just I do. That was no way to close Bond and I felt we all needed another go at it. So I am very thrilled this is headed in that direction.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

 

⭐⭐⭐


Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Written by: Matthew Vaughn & Jane Goldman
Gross Revenue: $310 mil






     I'm so upset that I have to write this review, because I am a huge Kingsman fan and I still watch the first one at least twice a month. Sad, is the only word I can to describe how I'm feeling at this moment. Seriously, when I say I was excited for this movie I mean it. I had the Kingsman as my wallpaper for a good 2 months. I am not going to sugar coat it, I went in with extremely high expectations and that was my mistake. I wanted to fall in love with this as much as I did the first but oh man, that so didn't happen. Who knows w what happened with Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman, they wrote such an amazing story the first time it was close to perfect. The dialogue was great and the story? Even better, the golden circle seems like it was written by someone else, it didn't have the same energetic feel the first had.

     For one, the promotion made it seem like the new cast was going to be incredible and that wasn't the case. Channing Tatum could have been a non mention cameo, hell Jeff Bridges  was seen all of maybe three times and Halle Barry? Well she sat the entire film. Not to mention, in my opinion eggsy got diluted, he wasn't as bad ass as he was in the first and harry? We all know how disappointing that was. The villain was horribly weak, and I love Julianne Moore, but that was not a good choice for an antagonist role. Elton John had more of a part than any of the newly promoted cast members!!! The one saving grace this movie had was the unbelievably  amazing fight scenes that you come to expect with a Kingsman movie.


     The last and final pet peeve I have with the movie is the ending, that was a hot dumpster fire and I absolutely loathed it....... A wedding??? Really Matthew Vaughn? And Merlin, was that necessary???!!! I know it seems I hated it judging by my complaints but I didn't hate it, I was.......amused by it. I really, really hope the next (if it happens) is better than this huge misstep.

(Official Trailer) Pacific Rim 2 Uprising

I loved the first Pacific Rim I've seen it about 7 times and it never gets old. This sequel is something I wasn't all too happy about seeming as there was no Guillermo at the helm or Charlie Hunnam on screen but now seeing the trailer I can honestly say I am thrilled. Lets not take away the fact that John Boyega who I am coming to enjoy more and more is headlining this new Jaeger crew. Along side him is Scott Eastwood, who is proving hes more than just a pretty face. The cast isn't too shabby especially since they kept charlie Day, who is always a treat to watch...for me at least.  

I am such a sucker for these kinds of movies I mean transformers and CBM'S are the stuff dreams are made of. I know its not art and it's no "best picture" nomination, but it is escapism in its rawest form and that's what brought me to film in the first place. A little reminder, there is no Guillermo in on this so it wont have his finesse or style. Its directed by Steven S. DeKnight,  if it doesn't ring any bells that's because he's virtually unknown. He's directed episodes for Smallville, Angel and Buffy the vampire slayer,  I know most of those are making some of you cringe with fear. However,  I watched each and every one of those shows from the pilot to the series finale and they are not that bad. He also did some work on Starz's Spartecus which I've never seen.  

I'm a little nervous on the execution, seeming as they have a FIVE MAN WRITTING TEAM...yes you heard that right. Five, and you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen. Anyway, without further interruption with my constant blabbering, here is the very awesome and well scored Pacific Rim Uprising trailer...ENJOY!

The Fate of The Furious

⭐⭐⭐

Directed by: F. Grey Grey
Written by: Chris Morgan & Gary Scott
Gross Revenue: $1.24 Bil



        Now I know most rather forget this franchise and wish it would just go away.  For a film that has grossed over a BILLION dollars it cant be all bad. As for me? I love love love these movies although I was apprehensive to see this one. That is due to the fact that Paul Walker is no longer in it and I felt his absence would negatively impact the film. Though him not being there was felt in my opinion it really didn't endanger the film it is what it always has been fast and fun. So to get right down to it, there is something that I can always look forward to in 'Furious" n=movies and that's off the wall stunts and cheesy one liners. I love the fact that this franchise has stuck to the same formula, cars cars and more cars. They haven't lost the idea of why it was originally made, indeed no one really cares about street racing anymore but we all love pretty cars. 

        As usual I love the cast there is nothing I can say on that I mean Kurt tussle, Jason Statham, The Rock and Tyrese where my favorites. Even though The Rock did get the cheesy one liners they were funny and well executed.  The writing was a little messy but thats a furious movie for you. Although come on you can not say the phantom cars weren't bad ass! I think it was very well played as a furious movie it felt like one, which for me hadn't happened since 5. The closing scene? Talk about feels omg I was a puddle of tears. I'm a very emotionally connected viewer so I was a goner after he named his son.