I’m still very iffy on this film, and wish that whitewashing wasn’t a thing. Even though it does look lovely, and I adore Scarlett Johansen. (See Under the Skin – it’s brilliant.)
So here’s the Ghost in the Shell Superbowl spot. FWIW. Go sports!
I have to admit Batman was one of the best parts of The LEGO Movie. So I’m stoked to see him take over his very own joint, and I even have passes to give away. Let ‘er riiiiip!
In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO® Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman (Will Arnett) – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s (Zach Galifianakis) hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.
I’m already loving Michael Cera’s Robin, and can’t wait to see what else this movie’s got in store. Let’s go! Continue reading
It’s that time of year again! Time to check out the nominees for this year’s Ghastly Awards, that honors excellence in horror comics. And while I may be biased* it’s a really amazing crop.
The only problem with this year’s crop of hopefuls? Too much good stuff! But that’s not a bad thing; just means there’s a whole lot of scary out at your local comic book store.
Want to lend your voice to who takes the trophies? Well, starting Monday, February 6th, hit up www.ghastlyawards.com and cast your vote. You’ve got through Sunday, February 19th to help make the call. The winners will be announced March 1st, 2017.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the nominees!
I’ve seen this trailer, and it looks very creepy (in a good way.) That, and it’s been getting all sorts of good buzz at film fests…so let’s Get Out, shall we? Synopsis!
A young black man visits his white girlfriend’s diverse family estate only to learn that many of its black residents have gone missing, and the horrible truth when another frantic African-American warns him to “get out.” It becomes clear that this is easier said than done.
Ready to see what’s really going on on that estate? Well, right this way… Continue reading
Got the flu? Yeah, that’s a bad one right now. Chicken soup and Netflix, stat! But maybe you’re fit as a fiddle and ready for some spooky? Well then, I’ve got just the cure for you. Passes for A Cure For Wellness, in fact. (No, it’s a great segue. What?) Synopsis!
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure. From Gore Verbinski, the visionary director of THE RING, comes the new psychological thriller, A CURE FOR WELLNESS.
It looks creepy in a good way. With me? C’mon!
Nutshell: sweet, sentimental, and capable of manipulating all the feels with Machiavellian aplomb, this film warms the heart yet seems to stay just out of reach of truly touching it. Still, cute doggies! And who doesn’t love a shameless kleenex movie from time to time? Grade: B-
“Um, where am I?”
Story: The soul of a dog goes through a lot. Including several lifetimes, a gender-swap, and of course, lots of love. Everybody say awwwww.
Genre I’d put it in: Animal-centric Tearjerker That Knows Full Well What It’s Doing
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Orignal: Based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron, with echoes of “animal films” like The Incredible Journey, Benji, and Marley and Me. Continue reading
“You like to make fun of us. But we’re more powerful than you think.”
Nutshell: A surprisingly effective horror thriller that recalls classic psychological scares of the 70s. Though a bit wobbly in the middle, there’s more than enough solid filmmaking – and acting, thanks to a tour-de-force performance by James McAvoy – to keep things from spilling into mediocrity. Grade: B+
Before: Hmm. M. Night’s got a new film out? I loved The Village (no, you shut up) really dug Devil, and even understood what he was trying to do with Lady In The Water. But After Earth was…odd in a bad way. And the less said about The Last Airbender, the better. But McAvoy has won my allegiance with his work on the X-Men series, and I did want to see more of Anna Taylor-Joy after Morgan. So alright; let’s do this. Continue reading
Ooh – ever feel like you’re an outsider, trying to figure it all out? Just me? Didn’t think so. Well, The Space Between Us sounds like just the thing we’re looking for…but this kid’s literally out of this world. Synopsis!
In this interplanetary adventure, a space shuttle embarks on the first mission to colonize Mars, only to discover after takeoff that one of the astronauts is pregnant. Shortly after landing, she dies from complications while giving birth to the first human born on the red planet – never revealing who the father is. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Gardner Elliot – an inquisitive, highly intelligent boy who reaches the age of 16 having only met 14 people in his very unconventional upbringing. While searching for clues about his father, and the home planet he’s never known, Gardner begins an online friendship with a street smart girl in Colorado named Tulsa. When he finally gets a chance to go to Earth, he’s eager to experience all of the wonders he could only read about on Mars – from the most simple to the extraordinary. But once his explorations begin, scientists discover that Gardner’s organs can’t withstand Earth’s atmosphere. Eager to find his father, Gardner escapes the team of scientists and joins with Tulsa on a race against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.
I have a feeling I’ll need all the kleenex. But I’m in. Are you?
UPDATE – WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. THAN YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
This sequel to 50 Shades of Grey looks more like a thriller than an S&M Lite story. And I think it might actually be pretty good. I know; I’m just as surprised as you that I said that. Synopsis!
When a wounded Christian Grey tries to entice a cautious Ana Steele back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian’s past start to circle the couple, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together.
Ready to head into the Room of Requirement Red Room? C’mon along! Continue reading
Tries to be Cronenberg or The Hunger. Fails. This film aims for “weird” and “shocking” to draw viewers attention away from the fact that the director has nothing to say.
There’s no denying it’s a gorgeous, often fascinating piece of cinema. But the message – the moment you walk a runway you become a narcissistic jerk – is as lightweight as this film’s character development. A movie about society’s obsession with beauty, is itself obsessed with its own beauty; there’s a sort of beautiful irony about that. Pity that’s the most interesting thing about this film.
Got a dollar to spare? A quarter?
Atomic Fangirl 
