“It” floats just as well as the original

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Denise

Nutshell: This reboot/remake of the 1990 TV miniseries has a different feel to it, but dammit if it doesn’t pack a punch.  A young cast full of poised-to-break-out stars, a director who knows how to handle the spooky, and a killer score adds up to a film horror hounds will be welcoming with open arms.  We all float here, and the water’s fine. Grade: A-

“Welcome to the Losers Club!”

Story: Derry, Maine is your typical sleepy little American town.  Except for the fact that kids go missing every 27 years.  A LOT of kids go missing every 27 years.  Nobody in town seems to really notice, or pay it much mind though. That seems legit.  But when a group of tween outcasts realize they’re all seeing similar spooky things?  They band together to take down Pennywise the Dancing Clown.  Yeah clown.  Yep, creeps me the hell out too. Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “American Assassin”!

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Denise

Just in time for cooler temperatures outside, a spy caper is coming to town to give you chills.  The good kind!  I’ve got passes for American Assassin, if you’re feeling spy-y.  And who isn’t?  Synopsis!

AMERICAN ASSASSIN follows the rise of Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien), a CIA black ops recruit under the instruction of Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). The pair is then enlisted by CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy (Sanaa Lathan) to investigate a wave of apparently random attacks on both military and civilian targets. Together the three discover a pattern in the violence leading them to a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent (Shiva Negar) to stop a mysterious operative (Taylor Kitsch) intent on starting a World War.

I’ve enjoyed watching O’Brien since Teen Wolf, so it’ll be cool seeing him as a Secret Agent Man.  And c’mon, a double-up with Keaton will be good times, methinks. Think so too?  Well then, let’s go!

Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “Home Again”!

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Denise

Can’t go home again?  Well, yes and no.  Big yes if Home Again stars Reese Witherspoon and Michael Sheen!  Synopsis!

HOME AGAIN stars Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies,” Wild, Walk The Line, Sweet Home Alabama) as Alice Kinney in a modern romantic comedy. Recently separated from her husband, (Michael Sheen), Alice decides to start over by moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her two young daughters. During a night out on her 40th birthday, Alice meets three aspiring filmmakers who happen to be in need of a place to live. Alice agrees to let the guys stay in her guest house temporarily, but the arrangement ends up unfolding in unexpected ways. Alice’s unlikely new family and new romance comes to a crashing halt when her ex-husband shows up, suitcase in hand. HOME AGAIN is a story of love, friendship, and the families we create.  And one very big life lesson: Starting over is not for beginners.

I’ve got screening passes, and I know you want ’em.  So let’s go!

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Fest News: Small Press Expo sponsors Peirce, Telnaes and Lester at National Book Fest

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Denise

 

 

 

 

Can’t wait for the DC area’s Small Press Expo, so you can get your comic creator fix?  Well you don’t have to – SPX is sponsoring three creators at this Saturday’s National Book Festival!

I could blah-blah about this, but why should I when the wonderful folks at SPX have done all the work for me?  Spoiler: Peirce (Big Nate), Telnaes (editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post) and Lester (syndicated editorial cartoonist) are bound to be incredibly interesting speakers at this Saturday’s Fest!

Read on for all the details!

Continue reading →

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Con News: “The Defenders” Finn Jones and Jessica Henwick come to Baltimore Comic-Con!

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Denise

I love the Netflix Marvel Universe…okay, I wasn’t that impressed with the Iron Fist series.  Not because of the acting; that was great.  But because the screenwriting was absolutely abysmal.  I got whiplash from all the character motivational switcheroos, but that was balanced out by all the yawn-inducing RandCorp blah blah.  Luckily, Iron Fist himself (played by Finn Jones) was treated much better in The Defenders, leaving me actually stoked to see the second season of Fist.  Who’da thunk?  Definitely not me after bingeing IF season 1.

You feel the same?  Or maybe you love all things Fist-y? Well, you can tell it to the man himself, because Finn Jones is coming to this year’s Baltimore Comic-Con! And he’s bringing Jessica Henwick, who plays Colleen Wing, one of the best things about the first season of Iron Fist. (The second would be Claire Temple, of course.)

G’head and pump them for Game of Thrones behind-the-scenes deets as well, as they’ve been on that show too.  Finn was Loras Tyrell (R.I.P.) and Henwick was “Sand Snake” Nymeria Sand (R.I.P.)  Find out what it’s like to be on two super-fannish shows when they’re here!

Read on for the full deets!

Continue reading →

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Goodreads review: “Tempted by the Wolf (True Mates #6) by Alicia Montgomery

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Denise
Yeah, sometimes I’ll just rip a review straight off of what I wrote over at Goodreads. It happens.

Ah, the closing chapter of the True Mates series.  I’m torn; I want more, dammit!  And I absolutely loved how things wrapped up.  Yes, they wrapped up.  No loose ends, no strings dangling for any of the characters we’ve come to know and love… Okay fine.  There’s a series based on Meredith’s three brothers that’s coming out, Lone Wolf Defenders.  But for all the True Mates folks, it’s smooth sailing.

That’s not to say that things don’t get pretty stirred up in Tempted.  With witches, warlocks, Lycans and even a dragon – YES – things are definitely in high gear.  With everything ramped up to eleven, how do Meredith and warlock Daric manage to get together?  Well just fine, thank you. Continue reading →

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Goodreads review: “Witches Mate (True Mates #4)” by Alicia Montgomery

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Denise
Yeah, sometimes I’ll just rip a review straight off of what I wrote over at Goodreads. It happens.

The San Francisco Alpha and the New York City witch get their story! And while I loved not only the change in scenery (a lot of the story takes place in San Fran) but the new characters (Liam’s family is amazing, and I’d like to get to know more about his mom), there was one thing that struck an off note for me. Beware going further in this review: Here Be Spoilers. Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “It”!

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Denise

I hate clowns.  They’re creepy, they seem like they’ve got Ulterior Motives, and they’re just too damn spunky; what’s going on in that mind of theirs?  Well, if we’re talking Pennywise, I really don’t want to know.  Do you?  Well, if you do then come on out to the screening of It!  Synopsis!

New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “IT,” directed by Andy Muschietti is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

I loved the book by Stephen King, and the miniseries.  Even though I have a very hard time thinking anyone will ever reach the heights of Tim Curry’s amazing performance as Pennywise, I’m game to watch Bill Skarsgård get his clown on… Ready to get your scare on?  C’mon!

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Con News: Small Press Expo announces it’s 2017 programming schedule!

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Denise

Schedule’s up y’all!  Small Press Expo has just released the programming it’s getting ready for you, and it looks great.  The political cartoonist panel sounds amazing, as does Tillie Walden talking about her years of competitive skating (and her new book, Spinning).  Actually, I could really use a Time Turner for this year’s SPX.  If you’ve got one, let a gal borrow it for a weekend?

Read on for all the details! Continue reading →

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Ringo Awards announces David Petersen as keynote speaker!

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Denise

David Petersen makes some incredible comics.  Mouse Guard is absolutely awesome and you need to read it Right Now if you haven’t already gotten hooked.

Now he’ll be the keynote speaker at the first ever Ringo Awards during Baltimore Comic-Con!  Read on for the full details, including how to score a ticket!

Continue reading →

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