7 Pieces Of: “Battle of the Sexes”

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Denise

Nutshell: Seriou, funny, riveting and real, Battle of the Sexes digs into the lives of two tennis superstars and paints a picture of the era…and problems in our world we still seem to be grappling with. Grade: A-

“Time to join the dance.”

Story: A has-been sports hero with a gambling problem.  A successful young woman who’s trying to balance her life with her love of what she does.  No, it’s not a romance…unless you count tennis “Love”.  1973’s “Batttle of the Sexes” pitted Billie Jean King against Bobby Riggs, in a match that would shake up the way women’s tennis was thought of.  And the way women were thought of too.  Well, at least a bit.
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“Happy Death Day” – new images!

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Denise

I love horror movies.  It is known.  So of course I’m stoked for Happy Death Day, which is set to open on Friday the 13th (of October), because of course it is.  Huzzah!

Synopsis? Of course!

Blumhouse (Split, Get Out, Whiplash) produces an original and inventive rewinding thriller in Happy Death Day, in which a college student (Jessica Rothe, La La Land) relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.

Enjoy these new images from Blumhouse – and click the pics for the full high-res images!

Blumhouse (“Split,” “Get Out,” “Whiplash”) produces an original and inventive rewinding thriller in “Happy Death Day,” in which a college student (JESSICA ROTHE, “La La Land”) relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.
Blumhouse (“Split,” “Get Out,” “Whiplash”) produces an original and inventive rewinding thriller in “Happy Death Day,” in which a college student (JESSICA ROTHE, “La La Land”) relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.
Blumhouse (“Split,” “Get Out,” “Whiplash”) produces an original and inventive rewinding thriller in “Happy Death Day,” in which a college student (JESSICA ROTHE, “La La Land”) relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.
JESSICA ROTHE as Tree and ISRAEL BROUSSARD as Carter in “Happy Death Day.” Blumhouse (“Split,” “Get Out,” “Whiplash”) produces this original and inventive rewinding thriller in which a college student (Rothe, “La La Land”) relives the day of her murder—with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end—until she discovers her killer’s identity.
Blumhouse (“Split,” “Get Out,” “Whiplash”) produces an original and inventive rewinding thriller in “Happy Death Day,” in which a college student (JESSICA ROTHE, “La La Land”) relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.
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Con News: Baltimore Comic-Con 2017 Contest Winners!

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Denise

Gotta love cosplay!  And at Baltimore Comic-Con there’s always a great group of folks giving it their all.  (See: my posts on this year’s ‘con)

So Baltimore Comic-Con has announced the winners of this year’s costume contest, and they’re awesome!

Read on for the full details, including pics of the amazing winners!

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Elsewhere Review: Sirius Konsum’s Chocolate & Lakkris

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Denise
Read the original review RIGHT HERE at Green Man Review!

I absolutely adore black licorice.  Wasn’t always so.  I used to turn my nose up at it when I was Trick-or-Treating age, and my father gleefully took the offensive items out of my bag and sighed with happiness at each chew. Then one day I decided to give a box of Good ‘N Plenty’s a try…and my world was forever changed.

As the years rolled on, I went from my tried and true G’NPs to the bedrock of black licorice; European brands.  Why?  Real licorice.  That’s right boys and girls, here in the States, the vast majority of licorice is made with anise, not actual licorice root.  I do enjoy anise – I’ve even been known to tipple a wee glass of the Green Fairy now and again – but dangit, if I’m calling myself a licorice fan, I should know what real licorice tastes light, right?  Absolutely.  So I went from market to market, scouring shelves for my beloved, and found lots to enjoy in Italian, German and Danish types. Continue reading →

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TrailerWatch – Maze Runner: The Death Cure!

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Denise

“Three years we spent behind walls, trying to break out. And now we wanna break back in. Oh…I get shotgun.”

I’m so happy that this film is coming out.  No, not because it’s a great series (though I do enjoy it).  Because it’s fantastic to see Dylan O’Brian healed and healthy after his devastating accident on set.  And okay, it’s always good to see Giancarlo Esposito, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Ki Hong Lee onscreen.  Synopsis!

In the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.

Looking slam-bang; I wouldn’t be surprised if the director took notes during Mad Max: Fury Road. The break-in begins January 26, 2018.

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Awards Season: Ringo Award winners announced at Baltimore Comic-Con! 

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Denise

They can say it better than I can…  So take it away, Ringo Awards!
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Baltimore Comic-Con: Saturday wrap-up!

Posted on September 23, 2017 by Denise

Oh! What a glorious day! Baltimore Comic-Con was incredible, with tons of great stuff to see, lots of panel to check out, and of course those amazing cosplayers!

As I’m at the O’s game tonight, I’ll just pop this up real quick-like, and will flesh it out soon. But trust me when I say that the “Gotham” stars and “Batman/Harley Day” panels were fantastic. So was all the time, effort and skill that the cosplayers put in.

Til then – the winners of the AFan Saturday Cosplay Favorites. (And a few panel shots.) LET’S GO O’S! #sportsball

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Baltimore Comic-Con: Friday wrap-up!

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Denise

It was a lovely, laid-back day at Baltimore Comic-con.  Sure, there were lines to get in to some panels (hello my fellow Frank Miller fans) but generally the day went as first days typically go; not as crowded as high-time Saturdays, with many people coming in either later in the afternoon/early evening, or just getting in and gearing up for tomorrow’s onslaught.  But there was plenty to see and do!

First things first; if you’re hitting BCC on a Friday, then congratulations; you’re officially part of the smart crowd (or the smart and lucky crowd, depending on your work schedule.)  Because Friday’s the day to head down to score all the merch you want without having to seriously wonder if there’s enough oxygen for everyone crowding around to spend all the monies.  Yes, the line to chat with/get autographs from some of the big name folks were still long, but it’s so much easier to get your spend on before the weekend “officially” commences.   Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “Victoria and Abdul”!

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Denise

With The Crown, Downton Abbey, Poldark and so many other period pieces available on streaming, I can’t be the only one who’s got a jones for seeing something on the big screen.  Well, how about Queen Victoria?  I’m in, are you?  Because I’ve got passes for Victoria and Abdul, a film based on the real-life friendship between Queen Victoria and a clerk from India.  Synopsis!

The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.

Personally, I’d watch Judi Dench read the phone book, but this looks like a very interesting story.  Plus, Queen Victoria was such an incredibly interesting person, it’s always a treat to see more about her.  Let’s go!

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “Battle of the Sexes”!

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Denise

Tennis.  I love watching it, but I can’t play it to save my life.  But there sure are folks who can…and the real push for tennis came with the “Battle of the Sexes”, a match between tennis professionals Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King.  So, of course, there’s a film about the event.  And I can’t wait.  Synopsis!

In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.

Gotta admit it’s downright spooky how Stone and Carell look so similar to their real-life counterparts in this film!  Ready?  Let’s go… Continue reading →

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