“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Denise

“Shoot him! Not me!”

Story: It’s 1969, baybeeee! Time for miniskirts, astronauts, and Professor Indiana Jones’ retirement! Yep, the ol’ adventurer is hanging up his hat, to enjoy his golden years. Or something like that. But then Indy’s goddaughter Helena (aka Wombat) asks for his help with her PhD, which leads them to all sorts of shenanigans. One last ride, baybeeee!

Genre I’d put it in: Old School Action Romps
Release Date: 2023
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Part of the Indiana Jones franchise. The last film of this series…?

Gotta say: When Spielberg created Indiana Jones, he was paying homage to the adventure serials of the mid-20th Century. Cunning heroes, daring escapes, and tons of rock ’em, sock ’em action. While Lost Ark and Temple of Doom had undeniable appeal, Last Crusade started to sputter, with Crystal Skull feeling like a sad end to a once glorious series. “Why couldn’t they leave well enough alone?” I know; I said the same thing back in ’89 and ’08. But I’m here to tell you that Indy is back for one last run, and it’s actually worth your time.

Continue reading →
Posted in 7 Pieces Of | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken”

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Denise

“The sea will always need a Kraken. And a Kraken will always answer the call.”

Story: Ruby is your typical teenage girl, living in Oceanside, but actually “from Canada”. (WIIIIIIINK) But when junior prom comes around, her parents won’t let her go, because the dance will be held on a boat. In the ocean. And Ruby isn’t allowed to go into the ocean. Naturally, hijinks – and, obviously, a prom nobody will ever forget – ensue!

Genre I’d put it in: Watery Animated Puberty Metaphors
Release Date: 2023
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Echoes of Seeing Red, 80s teen comedies, and other Mythic Teens stories, but wholly original.

Gotta say: Ruby is jewel-colored Lisa Frank underwater teen fantasy, and I enjoyed the heck outta this film. From the star-studded voice cast – Jane Fonda! Toni Collette! Will Forte! Nicole Byer! And Lana “To All The Boys” Condor! – to the glorious Day-Glo underwater imagery, it’s definitely positioning itself as the antidote to the latest Disney and Pixar meh-fests. (Not that Mermaid 2023 or Elemental were terrible. Just underwhelming when it came to box office receipts.) I hope Ruby shakes things up, because this is a film that the whole crew (GET IT BECAUSE SEA PUN) can drink in. And with that, I’ll try to stop the water and sea puns. But no promises.

Continue reading →
Posted in 7 Pieces Of | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

TrailerWatch – “Five Nights At Freddy’s”

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Denise

“Have you met them yet?”

Gotta admit I really hope this one’s gonna be good. The game is super cool, and the cast has Josh Hutcherson, Marie-Louise Masterson and Matthew Lillard. SIGN ME UP. Synopsis!

Can you survive five nights?

The terrifying horror game phenomenon becomes a blood-chilling cinematic event, as Blumhouse— the producer of M3GAN, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man— brings Five Nights at Freddy’s to the big screen.

The film follows a troubled security guard as he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through.

5 Nights hits theaters October 27th, 2023.

Posted in Trailers | Tagged | Leave a comment

Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”!

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Denise

Ready watch Tom Cruise do what he loves – mainline adrenaline? Synopsis!

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →
Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Joyride”!

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Denise

Put the pedal down y’all! Synopsis!

From the producers of Neighbors and the co-screenwriter of Crazy Rich Asians, JOY RIDE stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Oscar® nominee Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu. The hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. When Audrey’s (Ashley Park) business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the aid of Lolo (Sherry Cola), her irreverent, childhood best friend who also happens to be a hot mess; Kat (Stephanie Hsu), her college friend turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s eccentric cousin. Their no-holds-barred, epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →
Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Columbia Screening Pass-palooza – “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”!

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Denise

Ready for Adventure with a capital Indy? Synopsis!

Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final installment of the iconic franchise– a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →
Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Father’s Day Movies – “10 GREAT Films to Watch With Your Dad” from The Kino Corner!

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Denise

And hey, several of these I haven’t seen! So if you’re trying to figure out what to watch with/in honor of your dad? Go be cooler than me, and check these out… Not that being cooler than me is tough. But that’s another conversation for another day. Enjoy!

Posted in Sharing Stuff, The YouTubes | Tagged | Leave a comment

Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken!

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Denise

Okay, so I I’m loving this movie based solely on this fan poster. You too? Sweet. Synopsis!

Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush (Jaboukie Young-White, Ralph Breaks the Internet), who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Oscar® nominee Toni Collette, Knives Out), has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water.

But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother (Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda), the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →
Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Folkmanis’ Puppets Dragon Wristlet, Pearl

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Denise
Originally at The Green Man Review!

The How to Train Your Dragon series of films has a place in my heart. Toothless is such an adorable cutie, I Cannot Even. But let’s not forget the adorable Light Fury that becomes Toothless’ mate. If you wish you could have one of your very own, the time is now; Folkmanis’ Pearl is an absolute delight.

This particular puppet is part of their Wristlet Puppets collection, along with the Phoenix, Sea Nymph, and Midnight Dragon. And while I adore their larger puppets? When I see this wee puppet wrapped around my wrist, there’s something that tugs at my cold, dead heart. Am I succumbing to the sweetness of this little face? It’s gloriously shiny silver wings? That suede-like patch on her torso? Or perhaps the silver hair that runs down the back of her pearlescent body? (Pearlescent. Pearl. I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE FOLKMANIS.)

Continue reading →
Posted in Elsewhere Reviews, Green Man Review, Toys & Collectibles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Elsewhere Review – Scharffen Berger 62% Semisweet Dark Chocolate Bar

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Denise
Originally at The Green Man Review!

Scharffen Berger is an American chocolatier that’s been crafting all sorts of chocolatey goodness since 1996. They’re very popular in the restaurant community, but I’ve rarely seen them in stores. What can I say, I don’t frequent the gourmet establishments.  For I am cheap. But getting a hold of this bar has me wanting to check out more from this company.

Why? Well, it’s simple. They’ve got a way with their chocolate. This bar has got a nice creaminess to it, while still keeping the “snap” of a seriously good dark chocolate. (Okay, so true dark chocolate is typically touted as relatively healthy at 70%, but stay with me for a sec.) Then there’s the quick & dirty list of ingredients. Five ingredients, to be specific. Chocolate, sugar, sunflower lecithin, and whole vanilla beans.Which makes it not only comforting to snack on – hey, I understand every word in that list – but makes it unintentionally vegan. Note to hardcore vegans; as this company makes lots of stuff with dairy items, it might not be 100% vegan. But at least the recipe is. Win? Win-ish? It’s also gluten-free, for folks who look for that bit of info.

Continue reading →
Posted in Elsewhere Reviews, Food n Drink, Green Man Review | Tagged , , | Leave a comment