Elsewhere Review: Folkmanis’ Winged Dragon Puppet

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Denise
Originally published over at The Green Man Review!

Yes, I’m still tetchy about the final season of Game of Thrones. But I still love dragons, especially poor Viserion, Dany’s green dragon she’d named after her brother. (Shoulda spotted that foreshadowing a mile away, but noooooo.) I’ve always had a soft spot for green dragons; blame it on the Harper Hall series from Anne McCaffrey. Yes, those are technically fire lizards, but when I saw the Folkmanis Winged Dragon Puppet, my thoughts immediately went to Pern. Continue reading →

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TraikerWatch: Terrence Malick’s “A HIDDEN LIFE”

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Denise

Malick! Biopic! Crazyness? Hey, Tree of Life was nuts, but The Thin Red Line was incredible. So? You be the judge… Synopsis!

Based on real events, from visionary writer-director Terrence Malick, A HIDDEN LIFE is the story of unsung hero, Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. When the Austrian peasant farmer is faced with the threat of execution for treason, it is his unwavering faith and his love for his wife Fani and children that keeps his spirit alive.

A Hidden Life hits theaters December 13th, 2019.

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Nutshell Review – “The Farewell”

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Denise

SHUT UP YOU’RE CRYING.

Oh God go see this movie. Right now. Awkwafina deserves an Oscar nod for her raw, emotional performance.

A love letter to family, honor, duty and all the lies we tell to keep our loved ones whole. Bravo to the cast, crew, and writer/director Lulu Wang for crafting a beautifully humorous tale from her own life.

Grade: A

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “Good Boys”!

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Denise

Ready for a Superbad good time? Because I’ve got passes for Good Boys, and this looks like a successor to that school-age comedy. Synopsis!

After being invited to his first kissing party, 12-year-old Max (Room’s Jacob Tremblay) is panicking because he doesn’t know how to kiss. Eager for some pointers, Max and his best friends Thor (Brady Noon, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) and Lucas (Keith L. Williams, Fox’s The Last Man On Earth) decide to use Max’s dad’s drone – which Max is forbidden to touch – to spy (they think) on a teenage couple making out next door.

But when things go ridiculously wrong, the drone is destroyed. Desperate to replace it before Max’s dad (Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth) gets home, the boys skip school and set off on an odyssey of epically bad decisions involving some accidentally stolen drugs, frat-house paintball, and running from both the cops and terrifying teenage girls (Life of the Party’s Molly Gordon and Ocean’s Eight’s Midori Francis).

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →

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TrailerWatch: “The Irishman” – Scorsese and De Niro come to Netflix!

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Denise

“I hear you paint houses.”

Oh. My. GOD THIS CAST. And helmed by Scorsese himself? Boom. Synopsis!

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in Martin Scorsese’s THE IRISHMAN, an epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century. Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics.

The Irishman hits Netflix this fall.

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Columbia Screening Pass-palooza: “Dora And The Lost City Of Gold”!

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Denise

Ready to go exploring? Synopsis!

Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora (Isabela Moner) for her most dangerous adventure ever – High School. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego (Jeffrey Wahlberg), a mysterious jungle inhabitant (Eugenio Derbez), and a rag tag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents (Eva Longoria, Michael Peña) and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost city of gold.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →

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Nutshell Review – “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Denise

Fairy tales do come true, even if only on celluloid. A love letter to late 60s Hollywood – every nook and cranny. Tarantino shows he’s still got killer chops and a well honed knowledge of film history. I loved it, film students will love it, historians will most likely shake their heads and smile.

Great wink-n-nod performances by Pitt and Dicaprio, with a special shout out to beautiful pit bull Sayuri as Brandy, the faithful companion of Pitt’s stuntman Cliff. Robie’s Sharon Tate is full of open hearted innocence. My heart absolutely ached with bittersweet joy.

Go. Have fun rocking out to Tarantino’s beautifully crafted wish fulfillment and its groovy, groovy soundtrack. Peace.

Grade: A

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BronyCon’s final transmission for it’s final year. *sniff* *tear*

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Denise

Ready for the final BronyCon? I’m not. I can’t handle it. I know; best to end things on a high note… But BronyCon is one of the most enjoyable, welcoming cons out there, and I’m gonna really miss it

Read on f the full 411 for next weekend’s pony goodness – and I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying.

Continue reading →

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TrailerWatch “ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP”

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Denise

“It’s time to nut up or shut up.”

Yeah baby! More Zombiland shenanigans! Synopsis!

Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family.

Evolved? Sweet! I’m here for it. Zombiland: Double Tap hits theaters October 18th.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza for FB fans – “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”!

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Denise

UPDATE – ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED! AFAN FB FANS ARE THE BEST!!!

Ready to see Johnson & Statham (& Elba…OH HELLO) get down to business? Me too! Synopsis!

Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.

Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading →

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