Mystery & Mayhem: Lynn Cahoon, ‘Teacups and Carnage’

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Denise

cahoon teacups and carnage

Nutshell: Looking for a cozy mystery that’s heavy on characters but light on grue?  You’ve found it here.  While I would have liked a more tied-in death to make the story feel relevant to the main characters, Cahoon has a lovely way with storytelling that will hook you immediately.  Grade: A-

In South Cove, California, Jill Gardner – owner of Coffee, Books, and More – is getting her store, her coffee truck, and the rest of the South Cove businesses ready for a beach festival.  And there’s a new business getting ready to open; Tea Hee, a specialty shop run by former beauty queen Kathi Corbin.  As the fellas in the business association get all twitterpated, Kathi’s sister Ivy comes to town, and the discomfort between the two sisters is palpable.  When a dead body is discovered at the local no-tell motel, things start looking grim for Kathi.  Can Jill and her honey, Detective Greg King, figure it all out before Kathi’s in hot water? Continue reading →

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TrailerWatch: latest “Finding Dory” trailer is cute and (environmentally) conscious

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Denise

finding dory onesheetDory!  Who doesn’t love that addled Blue Tang that helped Nemo?  Of course, everybody now knows that Dory is getting her own movie – Finding Dory, duuuuuh – but now you can know more with this new trailer!

What I love about this film?  More Dory!  More of the Tank Gang!  Scenes that show what trashing up our oceans can do to the creatures living in it! And, of course, more of that gorgeous Pixar animation.  What I didn’t particularly love?  I know this is a kids film first and foremost, I kinda wish there were more bits of realism with the fish and invertebrates.  Someone picking up a Tang will most likely get a nasty cut thanks to their caudal spine.  An octopus shouldn’t be put in a touch tank; they’d clamber right out. (They’re crazy smart – the scene with Hank the octopus wandering around the aquarium building isn’t too far off the mark.  I’ve heard that they’re able and ready to get moving if anyone leaves their enclosure open even a crack…)

Enough of my marine bio nerdom.  Synopsis!

Six months after the events of the first film, Dory suddenly recalls her childhood memories. Remembering something about “the jewel of Morro Bay, California”, accompanied by Nemo and Marlin, she sets out to find her family. She arrives at the Monterey Marine Life Institute, where she meets Bailey, a white beluga whale; Destiny, a whale shark; and Hank, an octopus, who becomes her guide.

Finding Dory hits theaters June 17th.

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TrailerWatch: Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” teaser brings the misty

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Denise

beauty and the beast teaser posterTale as old as time… And here I go, misting up again.  Because Beauty and the Beast is a classic, from the original tale to the animated Disney musical.  And now Disney is upping its game, bringing Beauty and the Beast into live-action, as they’ve recently done with Maleficent, Jungle Book, and Cinderella.  With the first teaser-trailer hitting the interwebs, it’s time to look at what they’ve got in store.  And I have to admit, I got the misties once the music hit my earparts.

While there’s not too much given away here – you barely see Emma Watson as Belle until the very last shot – I got the tingles when I saw the dusty castle, and heard the low growl of Beast.  And as Luke Evans said singing is his “first passion”, I can’t wait to check out his pipes as Gaston.  And to be honest, I can’t wait to hear Watson and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens duet as Belle and Beast. (Meanwhile, as Velvet Goldmine is one of my favorite not-so-guilty pleasures, I know Ewan McGregor will kill it as Lumiere…)

Check out this sneak-peek; Beauty and the Beast hits theaters March 17, 2017.

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Columbia Screening Pass-palooza: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows!

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Denise

Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Out-of-the-Shadows-posterRadical, dude!  Gnarly!  No, I haven’t been hit on the head and taken back to the 80s.  I’ve been spending time with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!  And I’ve got passes for their latest film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.  Synopsis!

After supervillain Shredder escapes custody, he joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (WWE Superstar Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly), to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater evil with similar intentions: the notorious Krang.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Tyler Perry does playing eeeeevil.  Hoping he’ll dial it up to 11…

Passes! Here!  No sewer scrambling required!

Continue reading →

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The Nice Guys: damn nice buddy comedy

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Denise

The-Nice-Guys-poster-2

Nutshell: Crowe.  Gosling.  Buddy perfection? Damn straight.  Writer/Director Shane Black shows he’s got a helluva lot more where Lethal Weapon and The Long Kiss Goodnight came from. Maybe a bit too crazy sometimes, but overall a fun ride. Grade: A-

“You can’t even say Baryshnikov!”

When a movie decides to go all-in with the retro vibe, I’m all over it like Qiana on Steve Martin’s wild and crazy guy.  Hey, even if the film sucks, the retro can’t be all bad, right?  Well, with The Nice Guys, both the retro and the action are as fine as a pair of horse-pocket Jordache jeans.  Ladies, Gosling is more than the “Hey Girl” meme.  He’s got wicked sharp comedic chops.  And with Crowe playing the straight man to Gosling’s crazy, it’s a match made in bromance heaven.

Continue reading →

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“Baywatch” movie teaser pic says have a nice summer, catch you next year

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Denise

Baywatch!  Who didn’t love that TV show?  All the reruns, all the slo-mo running on the beach.  So much red swimsuit.  Here’s the movie adaptation, with a bunch of cool actors.  Who?  Um, Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Priyanka Chopra (seriously; use this summer to catch up on Quantico), Jon Bass, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera, Hannibal Buress… Synopsis!  (Like you even care with all that pretty…)

BAYWATCH follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

Baywatch breaststrokes into theaters May 19th 2017.  But until then, we all have this picture.  Enjoy.

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Michael Ian Black’s newest album, “Noted Expert”, hits Google Play, iTunes, Friday!

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Denise

MIB-NotedExpert_titleV04_042116Gotta love Michael Ian Black.  From MTV’s “I Love The…” series to Wet Hot American Summer, he’s a hoot.  [#Protip: read America You Sexy Bitch, a book about politics, America, road-trips, and everything in between that he wrote with conservative/foil Meghan McCain.  It’s a great read, and perfect for this election season.]

MIB has a new album that’s hitting tomorrow.  It’s called Michael Ian Black: Noted Expert, and I can’t wait to get my paws on it.

Comedy Dynamics has really been going above and beyond with the funny lately.  Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Craig Ferguson…I love me some quality stand-up.

Read on for the full press 411!
Continue reading →

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TrailerWatch: the new “Ghostbusters” trailer possesses Hemsworth

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Denise

Ghostbusters-Poster-600x889No secret I’m up for the new Ghostbusters reboot/re-imagining/whatever-I’ma-watch-it.  Now with this new trailer, there’s lots of spooky going on, and it’s glorious.  Looks like this film has let the quartet of SNL alums off their network leash, and it’s a hoot.  Plus, the CGI is downright creepy.

Cool bits?  Slimer!  Crowd surfing!  Big-ass dragon!  And Chris Hemsworth, who gets rad as hell on a motorcycle.  Of course, it looks as though his character was possessed, but who cares?  Pop that wheelie, Chris.  DO YOU.

Ghostbusters slimes into theaters July 15th.

 

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TrailerWatch: “Sausage Party” goes there, gives zero what squares think

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Denise

SAPTY_DOM_DIGITAL_12.inddAre you 5 years old?  Do the words “boobies”, “heinie” or “weiner” make you giggle?  ME TOO.

So, Sausage Party.  An animated movie about…food, you pervert.  (But that’s okay; sit next to me, you probably have good stories.)  I’m not sure if this is going to be absolutely freakin’ genius, or a sad attempt at being cool.  But the first trailer showed some pretty good jokes, so I held judgement.

Now with the second trailer, I’m worried.  Why?  Because IT’S THE SAME TRAILER, but with a few extra seconds grafted on here and there.  Is that all the jokes they’ve got?  Apparently so.  And the poster ain’t holding nothin’ back, which makes me wonder if they’re just hoping all the naughty-bits humor will make up for a dud of a script.  A one-idea film?  I’m hoping not.  But sure looks that way, when they’re already recycling trailers and passing ’em off as new.  I do enjoy the new peanut butter and jelly moment though.

Check out the new seconds in this trailer from JoBlo (I’m too unimpressed to waste bandwith uploading it myself.)  Sausage Party limps into hits theaters August 12th, 2016.

 

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TrailerWatch – The Purge: Election Year drops another trailer

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Denise

Purge Election Year onesheet 1 Purge Election Year onesheet 2

 

I loved The Purge: Anarchy.  It was raw, frightening, and just a little bit too true.  Now comes Election Year, and things are getting even real-er.  Real-er-er? Sure.  The parallels to Trump  – “Keep America Great” – are loud and proud.  I’m betting His Orangeness ain’t happy.  Too bad.  Synopsis!

Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.

Glad that the 21st Century’s Charles Bronson, Frank Grillo, is back as badass Leo Barnes. And I’m loving that genre fave Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost, V, Revolution, Once Upon A Time…) is jumping on board as Presidential hopeful Senator Charlie Roan, who wants to eliminate the Purge. Eliminate the Purge?  Oh, I’m sure that’ll go over well.  And I’m betting Purge Night will be completely uneventful for her, and for Barnes.  SIKE.

Digging the new posters?  Me too.  Read on for the full press details straight from the studio, and peep the trailer below.  The Purge: Election Year takes over your primaries on July 1st, 2016.  Just in time for 4th of July.  AMURICA!

 

Continue reading →

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