Columbia Screening Pass-palooza – “Old”!

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Denise

When Jaws hit, people stopped going into the water. Ready to get scared off the beach? Because I’ve got passes for the Columbia, MD screening of Old! Synopsis!

This summer, visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan unveils a chilling, mysterious new thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly … reducing their entire lives into a single day.

I read the comic book series this film is based on, and it’s creepy as hell. So, are you brave enough to hit the beach? Let’s go!

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Nutshell Review: “Black Widow”

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Denise

“Never let them take your heart.”

Widow backtracks the MCU to immediately after The Snap, with Natasha trying to avoid arrest after violating the Sokovia Accords. But when she learns that the training camp that molded her is still active, she decides to destroy it once and for all. There’s fantastic onscreen chemistry between her “family”, terrific cinematography, and so much crazy action the FF franchise seems believable. Damn it’s a fun film to watch, if not a bit Deus Ex What-The-Hell in its “getting the band back together” storyline.

Go to see Natasha’s swan song of violence, and the way Florence Pugh’s Yelena constantly takes Nat down a peg by lampshading the hell out of her. Stay for the sweet meditation on what it means to be family, and the way David Harbour obviously enjoyed every single second he was playing “big poppa” figure Alexi.

#Protip: 3D is entirely unnecessary, as all the action is plenty cool without it. Marvel movie time, so be sure to stay all the way through the end credits for a tidbit that brings things to the MCU “present day”, introduces a new character, and promises more for…a character or two.

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Nutshell Review – “Fear Street: 1994”

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Denise

Come for the cool premise; in 1666 a witch cursed the small town of Shadyside, so mass murder happens on the regular. Stay for the killer – heh – soundtrack and the ample slathering of blood. The Fear Street book series might be for teens, but the gore pulls no punches and earns a solid R rating.

A well done cliffhanger and the intriguing mythology should lure viewers to the next entry in the series, the summer camp-based Fear Street: 1978. But 1994 can stand on its own as a bit of bloody fun…but thanks to excellent performance and a great story, I really want to know how this film’s survivors end up. And I care about them enough to hope they make it through the entire series.

Grade: B

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“Summer of Soul” – essential viewing

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Denise

“It the ultimate black barbecue. And then you start to hear music…”

Story: 1969 was more than Woodstock and Altamont. In Harlem, there was a summer music series. It was filmed, but the footage was packed away. Musician Questlove took that footage and combined it with interviews with musicians, activists, and attendees, and a deep dive into the history of that summer in Harlem.

Genre I’d put it in: Historically Important Documentaries

Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on – and using footage from – the Harlem Music Festival of 1969.

Gotta say: Blown. Away. I am simply blown away by Soul. Questlove gathered up an incredible number of people and interviewed them about that summer. Where they were in their lives, what the festival meant to them, what it meant to black people. Soul shows Harlem’s vibrant, beautiful community, while pointing out the serious issues that was happening in the area and to black people in 1969. This big-picture look at the festival adds a layer of pure beauty to the music.

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The Boss Baby: Family Business

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Denise

“… if there’s one thing I’ve learned, you’re only a kid once.”

Story: The wheel of time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend…. Oh wait. Wrong series. But time has indeed passed for Boss Baby Ted and his older brother Tim. Tim’s a stay-at-home dad loving his life, his successful wife, and his children; Tabitha and baby Tina. Ted is, of course, the CEO of a huge mega-corporation with little time for anyone. But Ted and Tim don’t know that Tina has stepped into the three piece onesie Ted left behind at BabyCorp. They don’t remember anything about those adventures, as a matter of fact. Time to get the time-turner, baby formula edition!

Genre I’d put it in: Sweet Family Friendly Sequels

Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Second film in the Boss Baby franchise.

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The Forever Purge – too real to enjoy?

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Denise

“Does this translate, pendejo?”

Story: Well’p after the possibility of a happy ending in Election Year, the usual gang of haters and ignoramuses decide that Those People Crossing The Borders require the Founding Fathers of America – and their yearly Purge – to come back. However, once 7am hits and things go back to “normal”? Well, there’s no normal anymore, as groups of heavily armed nutters Make America Bloodsoaked Again.

Genre I’d put it in: Movies Scary Because They’re Too Close To Real Possibilities

Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: The fifth film of the Purge series. Chronologically, these events happen immediately after Purge Election Year.

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Elsewhere Review – Terrapin Beer Co. Dancing Gummy Beer Hemp Cherry Berliner Weisse

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Denise
Originally published at Green Man Review!

I remember falling in love with German Weißbier years ago when I first visited Germany. I tried to re-create that experience at home, but could only find its much inferior cousin, the Belgian Wheat. Cue that sad trombone. Perhaps it’s the raw malt in the Belgian stuff, or the way Weißbier is often blended with Sprite/ whatever lemon-lime soda on hand to make it extra refreshing. (Try Weißbier with a touch of grapefruit juice. TRUST ME.) Whatever it is, I was a sad panda for years, until my neck of the woods started getting the good Deutch stuff. Or, like Terrapin Beer Co., American breweries started making it themselves. Kanpai y’all!

This beer is A Lot, y’all. Hemp + cherries + Weißbier? Deeeeeam. Get ready, as that hemp comes straight at you as soon as you pop the top. I immediately wanted to turn on some Grateful Dead and change into my tie-dye. But at 4.02% ABV, you won’t be out of your head after one or two of these brews. Which makes it a perfect summer quaff. And that’s saying something, as I typically am not one for sour/sour-ish brews. But more on the sour thing in just a tic.

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Elsewhere Review – BrewDog Elvis AF Non-alcoholic Near Beer

Posted on June 26, 2021 by Denise
Originally published at Green Man Review!

Elvis is everywhere
Elvis is everything
Elvis is everybody
Elvis is still the king

Mojo Nixon had it right y’all. Elvis is everything. Even beer! This non-alcoholic beer is the crazy (or rather, the sober) twin of Brewdog’s full-tilt BrewDog Elvis Juice. As with BrewDog’s Punk AF, this 0.5% ABV pour tastes like a pint that’ll get you hammered. Yet all you’ll get is the taste. Not too shabby, especially during hot and humid (#SouthernLife) summer days. 

Elvishas a strong topnote of grapefruit the minute I popped the top on my can*. I love grapefruit. Seriously, it’s an obsession. So I got very excited. This beer has a quick-to-rise head that dissipates just as quickly, and a golden color with a touch of cloudiness you notice only if you’re staring at the stuff. (What?) And hello again, grapefruit – the nose here is pure Ruby Red sweetness. The taste is more pith than juice, with a bitterness that’s not off-putting, but wasn’t exactly what I’d expected from that initial sniff. 

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TrailerWatch – “Halloween Kills” drops its first full trailer…and it’s full of blood

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Denise
Images: Universal Pictures

Ready for the followup to 2018’s Halloween? Because it looks like it’s gonna be an epic throw down. Maybe bring your hip waders, because the body count is absolutely crazypants. Synopsis!

Minutes after Laurie Strode (Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie’s basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor. But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie’s trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael’s first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Evil dies tonight.

Halloween Kills hits theaters this October.

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Elsewhere Review – BrewDog Punk AF Non-alcoholic Near Beer

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Denise
Originally published on Green Man Review!

With the outpouring (GET IT) of low ABV and non-alcoholic brews from microbreweries, there’s a slew of interesting finds. And I have to say that Punk could fool a serious beer drinker if you put it in her glass and said nothing but “hey, here ya go.” This beer (beer-ish?) ain’t your momma’s O’Doul’s. No shade on OD’s; I dig their Amber. But I’m just saying there’s a whole lot for hop-lovers to enjoy here. At 0.5% alcohol and 37 calories – no that calorie count isn’t a typo – brew snobs? Get ready to be shocked and amazed.

There’s a blonde, straw-like color to this beer, with a slight cloudiness and light but constant fizziness. The head is quick to form upon pouring, but dissipates quickly, leaving a ring of small bubbles around the glass.  I got a punch of hops when I started pouring this brew, my nose nowhere close to the glass. Once I did get close? The nose is strong with pine, hops, and a sweet peachy note that made me smile. 

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