FANTASTIC BEASTS And Where To Find Them

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

It's been five years since we last saw the Boy Wizard Harry Potter. And just when you think we're done with all those magic and wizardry,  here comes Fantastic Beasts . . . . From the author of all Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling wrote her first screenplay and came up with an all new magical world.

It's 1926 New York and great Magizoologist Newt Scamander is on a quest to find and deliver these fantastic beasts. But aside from the beasts, there's more to it than the title suggests. New characters, new creatures, and new dangers are in this new world which is actually a prequel to the Harry Potter films.

With names like Niffler, Erumpent, Obscurus, etc.,  only the mind of a J.K. Rowling can conjure. This promises to be another exciting film franchise that whole generations of fans would love to follow.  David Yates, who helmed the last four Harry Potter films, proves that he's got more tricks up his sleeves as he presents the first of five new films in this brand new series. 

Expect excellent performances from the stellar cast led by Eddie Redmayne,  Catherine Waterston,  Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell,  Ezra Miller,  Samantha Morton, etc.

This is truly Fantastic !

TROLLS - Infectious !

TROLLS

This is about the popular toys of yesteryears. Trolls with their candy-coloured hair that seem to rise to the skies. Definitely not the trolls on the internet who know nothing but put negative remarks online. By the way, the trolls in the movie are way cuter than the original 60s toys.

The Trolls are creatures who love to sing, dance, and hug. They lived in a world where they are always happy. However, there came a day when one ugly giant Bergen found their happy place and abducts some of the trolls to bring to her hometown. The princess named Poppy (Anna Kendrick) took it upon herself to rescue her friends with the help of a reluctant, grumpy troll named Branch (Justin Timberlake).
What follows is their adventure filled with laughter, danger,  bravery, love, & music.

             

Yes the music,  which is geared towards the adults accompanying the kids, is filled with 70s and 80s retro, plus some originals performed by Ariana Grande and Mr. Timberlake.

Even though the story is not quite original, the trolls are cute & cuddly.  Kids & grownups will still enjoy the movie.
And you gotta love the soundtrack ! 

DR. STRANGE - Amazing visuals, perfect casting !

DR. STRANGE

I've always been fascinated with magic since I was a little boy. I've been reading books and watching videos about magic when I was much younger. So when Marvel announced that it's coming out with a Dr. Strange movie, I've eagerly anticipated how it would turn out to be.

It's the story of a top neurosurgeon named Stephen Strange who lost the dexterity of both his hands in a fatal car crash. Wanting to find a cure, he travels to Nepal to meet the Ancient One - a master of Eastern Mysticism, who later teaches him more than what he is looking for, eventually becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.

Watching DR. STRANGE on IMAX made the long wait worthwhile. With spectacular visuals and the perfect casting of Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character, Marvel has done it again ! It's unlike any other superhero film we've seen so far. Combined with great storytelling, fine acting, and some of the best fight sequences on film, Marvel scored another breakthrough ! Inception + Harry Potter + Sherlock Holmes = Dr. Strange

STORKS

STORKS

Where do babies come from ? Many kids were told that  babies were delivered by storks from the clouds. And this is how things used to be at Cornerstore.com. Nowadays, the storks are delivering more consumer-friendly products, like smartphones.

The movie is actually more about finding your family, or belonging to one. We see a boy who feels neglected by his workaholic parents, wishing for a baby boy, to spend more time with Mom & Dad.

Writer and Co-Director Nicholas Stoller presents an animated film which is both heart-warming and hilarious.
Lots of cute and funny moments. Watch out for the wolfpack !

SULLY - A tribute to everyday heroes.

SULLY

This is the story of an everyman pilot named Captain Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger who saved the lives of all those people aboard an Airbus A320 which crash-landed on the Hudson river on Jan. 2009; and the drama that comes after. 

Tom Hanks plays the titular character, while Aaron Eckhart is the co-pilot Jeff Skiles. Both Hanks and Eckhart give an understated, but warm portrayal of the two men responsible for the safety of US Airways Flight 1549.

Director Clint Eastwood presents the film in a simple, minimalistic way without lessening the courage and bravery of the pilots. Eastwood  and cinematographer Tom Stern make very good use of the IMAX technology by making us see the plane, the city, the river on this much bigger scale. They framed the crash landing of the airbus like it's happening before our eyes.

It's compelling, dramatic, with a little bit of comedy. This film is a fitting tribute to our everyday heroes.

PETE'S DRAGON - A classic updated and expanded.

PETE'S DRAGON

I have seen the original film way back 1977, but I can only recall a few
details since it's been so long. Now Disney has updated and expanded the story of a boy who's bestfriend happens to be a dragon.

This one starts with how the boy ended up in the woods, left alone in the dark surrounded by predators. And then fast forward six years later where a kindly forest ranger is doing her rounds.

Bryce Dallas Howard gives a solid performance as Grace, the mother figure; while Oakes Fegley is effective as the boy Pete.
Elliott the dragon is more like your favorite pet dog, only bigger and with wings.

This is a charming remake of an almost forgotten classic which will tug at your hearts and make you cry, in a good way.
Another gem in Disney's animation turn to live action.

Directed by David Lowery. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

SUICIDE SQUAD

SUICIDE SQUAD

Put a bunch of the deadliest, incarcerated bad guys into a suicidal mission for the government and you've got one big disparate group of maniacs saving the world. Yes it's a suicide mission, hence the name Suicide Squad.

Haven't read the comic book, I came in the theater with less expectation. For how could a gang of renowned villains be heroic in any way ? That's for me to ask and for you to find out.

Margot Robbie as Harlequin is easily the stand-out. She lights up the screen everytime she's on it. Also making a mark is Will Smith. He makes a good Deadshot. As for the rest, well good luck to them. (Laughs) Maybe they'll get better exposure in the sequel.

Jared Leto as the Joker failed to make a good impression. Probably due to lack of screen-time. Heard a lot of his scenes were left on the cutting-room floor. I'm still hoping though that he'll do justice to his role soon. Perhaps in Justice League ?

Yes there was a lot going on. And there was plenty of mess around. But what do you expect when there are so many characters most of whom are making their big-screen debut ?

I really enjoyed watching the Squad ! Finally there's a DC movie that's not so dark and serious. Again don't believe the critics ! They seem to hate everything that is DCEU. See it for yourselves. Watch and enjoy !

LIGHTS OUT - made me shout in the cinema !

LIGHTS OUT

Coming off from a super scary film, THE CONJURING 2, shown only last June 9, here comes another one from Warner Bros. and Director James Wann (this time as a Producer).

LIGHTS OUT is about a supernatural creature named Diana, who only lives in the dark. It sets out to terrorize a family when its existence is threaten.

Maria Bello plays the mom who is somewhat attached to Diana. Gabriel Bateman is the son who is haunted by the creature, while Teresa Palmer is the daughter who had been distressed by Diana many years before, and has since moved-out of their home. Alexander DiPersia plays the boyfriend of Teresa. Strong performances from the main  cast.

This is an excellent horror film which makes good use of our childhood fears. "Don't be afraid of the dark" - our parents used to say. I remember I used to be afraid of being left in a dark room when I was a kid. I love the way they made use of different sources of light.

LIGHTS OUT, together with THE CONJURING 2 are two of the best horror films this year. Guaranteed to make you jump out of your seats. Directed by David F. Sandberg based on a short film. Rated PG-13.

STAR TREK BEYOND - Most fun of all !

STAR TREK BEYOND

The USS Enterprise is sent on a rescue mission which turns out to be an ambush. The crew find themselves stranded and separated on a distant planet while their iconic spaceship is shred to pieces.

This third film in the rebooted series is the most fun of all. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the first two films helmed by JJ Abrams - I did ! But this one feels like an expanded version of the classic tv series shot on a Big, Big Budget.

Director James Lin (of The Fast and The Furious 3 to 6) delivered what many Trekkies and true fans were looking for in a Star Trek movie. Lots of fast-paced action, funny/witty scenes, and amazing visual effects.

Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, and Jaylah (Sophia Boutella of Kingsmen : The Secret Service) are standouts. The film is dedicated to Leonard Nimoy, who passed away last year, and Anton Yelchin, who died just last month in a tragic accident.

ICE AGE : COLLISION COURSE - Still Funny !

ICE AGE : COLLISION COURSE

It's the fifth chapter in the longest-running digital animation series. ICE AGE which started back in 2002 is still at it, amusing us with the now-familiar characters Mandy, Ellie, Diego, Sid, and of course Scrat.

This time Scrat is lost in outer space, still chasing the ever-elusive acorn. He accidentally creates the solar system, and in his wild, manic antics, he sets-off a chain reaction which catapults several purple rocks (asteroids) to our home planet.

Back on earth, unaware of the dangers that will befall them, Manny & Ellie are busy contemplating with their grown-up daughter's marriage to her boyfriend. When they finally realized that a giant asteroid is about to hit them, they have no choice but to move out of their home. Travelling to exotic new lands, where they meet a host of new colorful characters.

Featuring the voices of Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, Jennifer Lopez,John Leguizamo, Josh Peck, Seann William Scott, Jessie J., Simon Pegg, Wanda Sykes, Keke Palmer, Adam Devine, etc. Directed by Mike Thurmeier & Galen T. Chu (a Filipino !). Don't listen to the critics ! It's really funny, witty, and entertaining!

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN : Breath-taking !

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN

It's the next chapter of Tarzan's adventures. The writers have given the classic hero a modern touch by updating the man who was once known as Tarzan. After leaving the Congo for many years, he is now living the "normal" life as John Clayton/Lord Greystoke in London. But alas, he is asked to go back to the place he once called home.

Alexander Skarsgard brings a good Tarzan with his bulked-up muscles & all, while Margot Robbie as Jane is not your typical damsel-in-distress. She's feisty and brave. Samuel L. Jackson is the sidekick who delivers the comic relief. And Christoph Waltz is the superbad villain.

Director David Yates (who helmed the last 4 Harry Potter films) captures the action scenes in long unbroken shots, and presents the beauty and danger of the African jungle in breath-taking ways. You can feel the animals raw energy (beast mode) even though most of them are CGIs.

This Tarzan is more intelligent and sophisticated than what we know of the legendary hero. I certainly had a great time watching it !

INDEPENDENCE DAY : RESURGENCE - A Battle Royale !

INDEPENDENCE DAY : RESURGENCE

Can't believe it's been 20 years since Independence Day delighted us in theaters.  Had to check it on IMDb to make sure. Time flies fast indeed !

Yes the aliens waited for 20 years before they decided to invade the Earth once again. The people lived in peace and collaborated with different nations on an immense defense program using recovered alien technology.

Most of the cast from the 1st one are back. Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum,  William Fichtner, etc. mixed with a new batch of youngblood space pilots like Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Jesse Usher.

This sequel has all the elements that audiences loved about the first one. Several spaceships, lots of alien-butt kicking, massive destructions, but with a bigger Mothership and another kind of alien being.

I highly recommend that you go see in on IMAX. It's a Visual Spectacle !

The Golden Age of Comic Book Movies

The Golden Age of Comic Book Movies

20th Century Fox started the year right by showing us the most unlikely hero/anti-hero. Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the foul-mouth, immoral, and violent mercenary with a dark, twisted sense of humour. DEADPOOL broke some records and ended up as the highest-grossing R-rated film ever.

Next came the most anticipated battle of the two most iconic superheroes of our time, Warner Bros' BATMAN V SUPERMAN : DAWN OF JUSTICE. Although most critics slammed the first live-action film to feature Batman and Superman together, fans trooped to the cineplexes, crossing the $ 868 M mark. It also featured the first big-screen appearance of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, & Flash.

Walt Disney followed suit with CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR. The third installment of Captain America presented some of the members of Avengers in opposing teams, joined by new recruits Spiderman, Black Panther, and Ant-man.
This is said to be the best ensemble film of superheroes and has already earned $ 940 M worldwide.

Coming up in a few days is X-MEN : APOCALYPSE. With the awakening of the first and most powerful mutant, the young X-men must unite to fight their own extinction.

Still to come within the year are :
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
THE LEGEND OF TARZAN
SUICIDE SQUAD
DOCTOR STRANGE

Indeed, it's a great time to be living in the Golden Age of Comic Book Movies !