“Bohemian Rhapsody” will definitely rock you

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Denise

Nutshell: let’s let Freddie do it, shall we? “I feel alive/And the world—I’ll turn it inside out/Yeah/I’m floating around/In ecstasy”.  Yep, that sums it up. The bar has been raised for the musical biopic. Good luck to future films in this genre, this film is damn near perfect. It’ll be tough to top Rhapsody‘s blend of storytelling and pulls-you-in performances. Grade: A

“There’s no musical ghetto that can contain us.”

Story: Rock band Queen starts as a group of lads trying to make it big, ends up performing at Live Aid in 1985. Mercurial (ahem) lead singer Freddie Mercury serves as their frontman, and as the band’s popularity increases, an intensely private Freddie tries to shield his life from the world.

Genre I’d Put It In: Top-Shelf Biopics Continue reading →

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#31in31 2018: “Anthony Bourdain’s Hungry Ghosts”

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Denise

This collection of Vertigo comics by chef, traveler and late great foodie delves into ghosts, monsters and other sorts of creepies, all tied in with a food theme. A man who loves (to eat) horses, a chef who picked up a hell of a parasite, and more, there’s plenty of strange and unusual tales to paw through on this lovely Halloween.

Some stories end abruptly, and left me wanting a fuller, more fleshed-out story that let things linger a bit longer. “Deep” could have been teased out to a more substantial issue length, but drops the twist with unsatisfying suddenness. “Cow Head”, “The Pirates” and “Salty Horse” also felt wrapped up too soon. Give me more creepy! But seeing so many incredible comic artists – including one of my personal favorites, Francesco Francavilla – gave me plenty to drool (and shudder) over. And the stories, even the ones that are all too quickly wrapped, are definitely shudder-worthy. Continue reading →

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“Maria by Callas” – a beautiful tribute

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Denise

“I would like to be Maria, but there is the Callas I that have to live up to.”

Called” La Callas” and “The Tigress”, opera singer Maria Callas was known for her powerful, beautiful voice. Complied from historical footage, filmed and recorded performances, interviews, as well as personal photos and letters, this documentary is a loving tribute to the lady and the star.

There’s an equal hand with highs and lows in Callas’ life, and letting her own words tell her story. Director Tom Volf shows his inner Callas fanboy (judicious editing could have made this film a bit more fluidly), but doesn’t shy from moments where Callas sound petulant and diva-esque. But her words (in voice-over spoken by Joyce DiDonat) paint a more forgiving picture. For example, her well publicized walkout in 1958 during her performance of “Norma” was vilified in the press, but she was dealing with bronchitis and with her voice “hanging by a thread”, she finished the first act, but didn’t want to “insult” the opera by continuing to perform after her voice gave out. Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “The Outlaw King”!

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Denise

Good morning everybody! I’ve got passes for The Outlaw King, a groovy new history-based movie coming to Netflix…but why not see it on the big screen? Bigger is better, especially when it comes to awesome historical battles! Synopsis!

The untold, true story of Robert the Bruce who transforms from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during the oppressive occupation of medieval Scotland by Edward I of England. Despite grave consequences, Robert seizes the Scottish crown and rallies an impassioned group of men to fight back against the mighty army of the tyrannical King and his volatile son, the Prince of Wales. Filmed in Scotland, OUTLAW KING reunites director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) with star Chris Pine alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh and Billy Howle.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →

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#31in31 2018: “The Stuff”

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Denise

“No one is as dumb as I appear to be.”

Story: An old guy finds some bubbling white goo on the ground. Naturally he eats some, and decides to market it. Soon, everyone wants The Stuff. No calories, tasty as hell…is it moving by itself? DON’T PUT UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES INTO YOUR MOUTH. Free advice, kiddies.

Scares: Mostly satirical humor, but a few gross out moments.

Splat factor: People become husks after too much Stuff. But most Splat is white goo. Continue reading →

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#31in31 2018: “Cutting Class”

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Denise

“Boy’s locker room? Smells like something died in here!”

Story: Brian spent five years in a mental hospital after being accused of killing his father. When he starts high school with the kids he used to know, everything goes smoothly and absolutely nobody gets killed. Sike! But what’s really happening, and why?

Scares: Not many, but some decent suspense as you try to figure out who’s doing what.

Splat factor: Mild. Halloween-esque at most. Continue reading →

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#31in31: Lacta 5Star Chocolate ads

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Denise

Chocolate. Deadly, apocalyptic chocolate. And caramel with cookies too. I don’t know who did these ads, but those folks are heroes. Delightfully sick…and yet it all looks so delicious. Check out my favorite one below, and get ready for Trick or Treat by looking at all the tricks Lacta has up its sleeve in this series!

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#31in31 2018: “Copycat”

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Denise

“Here kitty kitty kitty.”

Story: A psychiatrist becomes agoraphobic after an attack. But when murders plague San Francisco, a police investigator asks for her help.

Scares: Mostly thrills, but some serial killer chills.

Splat factor: Mostly photos of kills, some blood and after-effects of attacks.

Closing scene “shocker”?: Yeah, and that’s a helluva  bummer because everything wraps up nicely til then. This  “twist” is just silly sequel bait. Continue reading →

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Columbia Screening Pass-palooza: “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Denise

Ready for some holiday cheer? No, not our current holiday, I’m talking Christmas-y. Be on the cutting edge of the December festivities with a screening of Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms!  Synopsis!

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →

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#31in31 2018: “Girl vs. Monster”

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Denise

“Don’t be a hater.”

Story: Skylar Lewis is a soon-to-be sixteen year old whose parents have locked in her in the house for Halloween while they’re away. So why not cut the power and slip out to that party? Well, her parents have a DL job that requires them to store stuff in the basement. Unnatural stuff. Under electric lock down. Oopsie.

Scares: Disney Channel. Absolutely zero, unless you count the sequel bait at the end.

Nightmare Factory?: Very wee ones may be scared of the monsters, but otherwise it’s absolutely tame. Continue reading →

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