“Your desecration of reality will not go unpunished.”
DEEEEAM y’all. This looks crazy in the best way. Madness seems to be tying together threads from earlier stories into one wild ride. And I’m here for it.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters May 6th, 2022.
“Maybe this isn’t the story we think it is.”
Story: You remember Neo, right? The One? Well, it’s been twenty years since Neo sacrificed himself for the good of humanity. And he’s a game developer whose weekly appointments with this therapist make him just regular folks. But wait – didn’t he die? And what is this, if not the Matrix itself? And who are these new rebels? WHOA.
Genre I’d put it in: Mind Boggling Sequels
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: The fourth film of the Matrix series. Also takes in bits of the Animatrix series and the Matrix video games.
“There is no mom, there is only Zuul.” (Yep. They go there.)
Story: Callie and her kids Trevor and Phoebe are barely making ends meet in a run-down apartment. Scratch that; they’ve just been evicted. So why not head out to the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma, and check on the inheritance her father left her? Surprise – no money! Seems her dad was penniless too. Except for two things; a ramshackle old farmhouse, and a bunch of weird equipment. Did I mention her dad’s name was Egon Spangler? And did I also mention that a nearby town dug too deep when mining, and before anyone could say Reign of Fire, “earthquakes” started? I’m sure these two plot tidbits won’t intersect in any way.
Genre I’d put it in: Sequels That Successfully Introduce A Next Generation
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Third film in the Ghostbusters series. A part of the Ghostbusters franchise.
Release Date: 2021
Gotta say: Afterlife is that rare beast of a film; both a “sequel” that harks back to the originals without an over-reliance on them, and a modern-day retelling whose characters are interesting enough to deserve leading a story of their own.
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“Let’s go spread a little New Moon Theatre magic!”
Story: Buster Moon and his company of excellent singers are doing well at their theater. But they have visions of bigger and better things. So why not head to Las Vegas Redshore City and audition for the a show on the strip? Who cares if Buster has to promise that the incredibly popular/reclusive singer Clay Calloway will make an appearance? What’s the entertainment bigwig who runs the show gonna do, kill him? Um…
Genre I’d put it in: Candy Colored Hyperactive Sequels That Somehow Work
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Second film in the Sing series.
Gotta say: A blinding pace with the storytelling, all the flashing colors (every single color), and silly sight gags? Hello children’s film! 2 is of the More = More Better genre of sequels, and yet damn if I didn’t get pulled into it. From the Willy Wonka-esque glory of the theater numbers to the way it made me tear up at the climax of the film (YOU’RE CRYING), 2 might be leaning into the Fast & Furious method of batshit crazy sequels, but it does what it says it’s gonna do, and in terms of getting kiddie butts in seats? It definitely understood the assignment.
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Go sports! Let’s grab the ball and to all the things! And more importantly, let’s dig into a feel good story! Synopsis!
American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is. American Underdog is an uplifting story that demonstrates that anything is possible when you have faith, family and determination.
Ready? Let’s go!
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“Think of it as Cassie-palooza, the afterlife edition!”
Genre: Human Makes Right After Death Comedies
Release Date: 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix
Synopsis: Cassie is THE party animal. Not only is she a party planner, she’s up for anything and everything. Except maybe staying in with her BFF/roommie for a low-key 25th birthday hang. But you only turns 25 once, amirite? And after Cassie slips and conks her head on the toiler but hard? It’s Cassie’s last birthday. And it seems she’s in spiritual limbo, with three folks back on earth she needs to “fix” before her next birthday in five days (hey, time works differently upstairs.) Her Dad, her estranged mom, and that BFF she blew up at right before that whole toilet thing. Easy-peasy, right? Sure.
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“You need to calm down. It’s only Crimbo.”
Genre: Family Holiday Drama Made For Laughs
New Holiday Spirit or Ghost of Christmas Past?: released 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix
Synopsis: The four Christmas sisters – yep, that’s the family names – are coming together for Christmas. Before their claws get truly sharpened on each other, their father arrives. The father who left twenty-seven years earlier on Christmas day. No reason, just bolted…and radio silence ’til this reappearance. So naturally, the family is a-OK. Best Christmas ever!
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I’ve been hearing really good things about this one. And I’m not surprised, as it’s the latest Guillermo joint. Synopsis!
When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.
Ready? Let’s go!
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“Es ist Mitternacht”
Genre: Foreign Holiday Horrors
Year Released: 2021
Where I Watched: Shudder
Synopsis: Eva, a young woman who became a paraplegic after a horrible car accident three years ago, was celebrating her birthday alone. Well, until her friend Sophie who’s been in Germany surprises Eva with cake, bubbly, and a present; a gorgeous Advent calendar from Munich. Every day has a candy…and a few rules. Eat the candy, or “I’ll kill you”. Follow the rules, or “I’ll kill you”. Don’t try to get rid of the calendar or…well, you get the idea. Gee thanks Sophie. You’re the greatest.
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“You want a castle? It’s yours.”
Genre: Turning Over A New Leaf of Mistletoe Romance
New Holiday Spirit or Ghost of Christmas Past?: original story based on lots of the usual romance and holiday film clichés – released 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix
Synopsis: Sophie Brown is a world-renowned romance author with one little problem; she’s killed off the leading man in her bestselling series. So she packs up and heads to Scotland, to visit the castle her late father grew up near when he was a boy. She hits it off with all the townspeople, but butts heads with the owner of the castle, the curmudgeonly – but oh so handsome – Duke Myles. He loves the idea of Sophie’s cash to help the castle and town out of financial difficulties, but figures she’ll bolt before Christmas Day’s escrow, after he makes the place a nightmare in her eyes. It must be love!
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Got a dollar to spare? A quarter?
Atomic Fangirl 