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Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Movie Review)

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Title: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

Director: David Leitch

Story By: Chris Morgan

Screenplay Writer: Chris Morgan and Drew Pearce

Based on Characters Created By: Gary Scott Thompson

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Idris Elba

Genre(s): Action | Adventure

Runtime: 2 hrs. 17 minutes

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW ★★★+ (3.66 Stars)
Writing/Story: ★★★     Cinematography:  ★★★★   Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★

IMDB STORY LINE:

Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.

MY 2 CENTS:

Now, I am all about a good action film and I will admit, I have seen all of the Fast & Furious movies.

  • The Fast and The Furious (2001)
  • 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
  • The Fast and The Furious Tokyo Drift (2006)
  • Fast and Furious (2009)
  • Fast Five (2011)
  • Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
  • Furious 7 (2015)
  • The Fate of the Furious (2017)
GET ALL 8 MOVIES BY CLICKING HERE!

This movie gives you exactly what you expect from the Fast & Furious franchise… fast paced action!

Writing/Story: ★★★

Honestly… the story isn’t all that great. In fact, there really isn’t a story. But, are you really expecting to see well thought out plots, twists, and drama? No. You’re going for the action, the car chases, and the gun fights and this movie gives you that in spades, with some minor “character” conversations sprinkled in for good measure.

If you’ve watched the previous Fast & Furious films, then you know what you’re getting into. The movie doesn’t make all that much sense, there really isn’t a point, but yet like the other films in this franchise, it managed to be entertaining which is why we continue to watch them. Plus, who doesn’t like watching Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in an action film? It is what they do best.

I was surprised to find how much comedy was actually in this film. How much I actually laughed. There is one scene, probably my favorite out of the entire movie, where Hobbs and Shaw are in these two parallel hallways with just a window between them. They each have to deal with their own sets of challenged or obstacles to get to the end of the hall at which time they need to open a door using an optical reader. The whole time Shaw is fighting off bad guys and Hobbs is doing what he is doing and still they are participating in their personal competition of who is better… tougher… stronger… whatever and having a very clear non-verbal conversation. It was awesome.

Cinematography ★★★★

I commend the camera man in this one. With all the fight scenes, car chases, helicopter scenes, and just the over all craziness… his job had to be difficult. With so much action going on at one time it would be really easy to mess up the shots and make it feel to boxed in or way to spacious, but it was beautifully filmed allowing the audience to feel like they were right there in the action but yet far enough out to see the full picture.

Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★

I’ll admit the acting isn’t that great but the fight scenes are pretty awesome and both The Rock and Jason Statham are 100% invested in their characters and you truly believe them in these roles. Maybe they are just like this in real life or maybe it comes from years and years playing roles very similar to these.

The best thing about this film, for me, is how well Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham work together. Their on-screen chemistry is fantastic. The entire film is basically them exchanging insults and trying to one up each other. It’s a long pissing contest and it works to keep the audience entertained in between and even during the incredibly unrealistic yet enjoyable fight sequences.

Idris Elba plays a great supervillain.

This movie contains a number of really great cameos… meant to complement the film. I wont give them all away, but you just might spot Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart, and Helen Mirren just to name a few. This film doesn’t take itself seriously and it doesn’t expect the views to either. It just wants to provide entertainment, keep you on the edge of your seat, and make you cheer. It does that!

FUN FACT:

During the London car chase, as Brixton’s motorcycle changes shape to slide under the oncoming truck, we can clearly hear the iconic sound effect that is used during the transformations from the Transformers cartoons and films. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, listen for it… you’ll recognize it. (You can see the clip in my video review below.)

TO SUM IT UP:

This movie was way longer than it needed to be, which made it drag for me, but I still left entertained and wondering what type of movie they would come up with next.

Have you seen Hobbs & Shaw yet? If you have, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) ~ Movie Review

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Watch the movie on NETFLIX! Buy the book HERE!

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW ★★★★ (3.75)
Writing/Story: ★★★★ | Cinematography:  ★★★★ | Sound: ★★ | Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★

IMDB STORY LINE:

Lara Jean Covey writes letters to all of her past loves, the letters are meant for her eyes only. Until one day when all the love letters are sent out to her previous loves. Her life is soon thrown into chaos when her foregoing loves confront her one by one.

MY 2 CENTS:

Now, I need to read the book! I’ve read a number of online reviews that say the movie stayed true to the book and if that’s the case, then like I said… I need to read the book.

Writing/Story: ★★★★

This movie was light hearted and fun. It’s not a “think piece” by any means. It isn’t meant to strike up political debate… or any debate for that matter. It’s just a cute, high school centered, feel-good movie… Well, feel-good in the ‘I’d never want this situation to happen to me, but watching it on screen is a lot of fun’ sort of way.

Since watching the film, I’ve read a lot of reviews… some good and some not so good. Honestly, I don’t get it. This movie is meant to entertain, and it does that. It’s a cute romcom and it seems like the actors are having a great time in their roles.

Cinematography ★★★★

There really wasn’t anything spectacular about the cinematography in this film, but there wasn’t anything bad about it either… so it gets 4 stars!

Sound ★★

Ok, I don’t usually put ‘Sound’ on my list, but this one stood out and not in a good way. There were a couple of times when the sound just went a little wonky, but the one that stands out the most was when Lara Jean confronts her bully in the girl’s bathroom. It sounded like a movie video that was recorded on a very old VHS tape recorder. Not good.

Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★

I think what I liked most about this film was the characters. They felt real and they were relatable. Now, most of that has to do with the writing, I know that. The author of the novel as well as the screenwriter, who adapted the novel, did a great job with character development. By the end of the film, you feel like you know these characters and you can probably relate to at least one of them.

With that said, some of the credit also has to go to the actors. I thought this cast did a great job brining these characters to life.

Lana Condor, as Lara Jean, was cute, spunky, awkward, and the perfect girl next-door.

Noah Centineo, who I have to admit is hit or miss with his acting, did a much better job in this film than in Swiped (2018) a disaster of a film.

Janel Parrish, who played Lara Jean’s older sister Margot, commanded the screen even though her roles was rather small.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

“My life was a mess… but I could clean my room.”

TO SUM IT UP:

If you like relaxing with a feel-good movie, then you should watch this one. Grab your popcorn and get cozy. Its 99 minutes of pure enjoyment, where you don’t have to think about all the other pressures in life!  

Have you seen ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’? Let me know your thoughts, in the comments below. As always, I do recommend seeing this film for yourself and forming your own opinion.

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) Trailer:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (the novel)

Lara Jean’s love life gets complicated in this New York Times bestselling “lovely, lighthearted romance” (School Library Journal) from the bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

CLICK HERE TO BUY BOOK 1
CLICK HERE TO BUY BOOK 2
CLICK HERE TO BUY BOOK 3
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOXSET!

Isn’t It Romantic (2019) ~ Movie Review

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SHOW RATING OVERVIEW ★★★★ (4.33)

Writing/Story: ★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★ Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★

IMDB STORY LINE:

A young woman disenchanted with love mysteriously finds herself trapped inside a romantic comedy.

MY 2 CENTS:

I won’t lie, I love romantic comedies… they are my guilty pleasure! Plus, I am a huge fan of Rebel Wilson, her comedic timing is amazing. So, after watching the preview, I was all in!

Writing/Story: ★★★★

This movie was clever! Think of every romcom cliché you can… now, imagine them all in one movie… what you get is ‘Isn’t It Romantic’. The thing is, in this film, it works. It’s a parody on romantic comedies… The movie is making fun of all romantic comedies well being one of the funniest, wittiest, and most beguiling romantic comedies I’ve seen in a while.

This story could have gone south… and tanked, but writers Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox, and Katie Silberman obviously have a clear understanding of what works in a romantic comedy and what we all make fun of. They gave us a perfect balance of comedy and emotion.

Cinematography ★★★★

I have nothing bad to say about the cinematography in this film… nothing amazing either.

Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★

Rebel Wilson was amazing, as she always is. Her comedic timing alone could have carried the film, if that had been necessary. However, with the cast line up this movie had, there was no question it would be fun to watch.

Having Adam Devine and Rebel Wilson playing off each other, yet again, seemed like one of the most natural things in the world. Their chemistry on film may have started in Pitch Perfect, but I have a feeling it will continue for years to come.

Liam Hemsworth, as Blake, did a great job playing the arrogant, good looking, rich guy… and a bit clueless too.

Betty Gilpin, as Whitney, was fantastic. The part is a bit underrated but Gilpin made the role something to remember. If you don’t know Gilpen, then you need to watch GLOW… she is brilliant!

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

“My life’s become a mother-BEEPing romantic comedy and it’s PG-13.”

TO SUM IT UP:

If you like Romcoms… laughing… and just an all around feel good movie, then you should watch this one. Grab a cozy blanket, a bucket of popcorn, a couple glasses of wine (or your favorite beverage), your significant other, and settle in for a great date night in!

Have you seen ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ yet? Let me know your thoughts, in the comments below. Tell me what you thought of the movie. As always, I do recommend seeing this film for yourself and forming your own opinion.

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

Isn’t It Romantic (2019) Trailer:

IT Chapter Two (2019) ~ Movie Review

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SHOW RATING OVERVIEW ★★★.★★★ (3.75)
Writing/Story: ★★★★★ | Cinematography:  ★★★ | CGI: ★★ Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★

IMDB STORY LINE:

Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.

MY 2 CENTS:

I have to say, seeing as Stephen King is my favorite author, this film is probably my most anticipated films of the year. I loved the book, thought the mini-series back in 1990 did an amazing job bringing the book to life, and really enjoyed the 2017 version of IT Chapter One. With the whole cast from the 2017 version coming back for Chapter Two plus the addition of Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, and so many other awesome actors I can’t deny I was very excited going into the theatre.

There is a lot to love about this film… there are also a few things I didn’t really care for. Now, I’ve heard complaints about the movie’s length, at 2 hours and 49 minutes it is a very long movie, but you have to consider the length of the book… Like most Stephen King novels, it’s not short!

Writing/Story: ★★★★★

As I said before, this movie is based on the novel IT by Stephen King. When IT was originally adapted to live action, it was a mini-series on television. I remember eating it up. I had just finished reading the book and couldn’t wait to see it. With it being a mini-series, they were able to really get a lot of the details from the book into the show… something you can’t really do when it’s a movie on the big screen, you just don’t have the time to fit it all in.

Splitting the movie into two parts, Chapter One and Chapter Two, did allow for more detail, but I felt as an audience member that chopping it up so much really made certain aspects of the films uneven. Plus, when you really look at what the movie is about, an evil clown comes to town every 27 years and kills kids… it’s a little surprising how long the movie is. Both movies pretty much have the same plot – Pennywise is back, killing kids, and the members of the Loser Club have to fight and kill him.

I think one of the reasons I really liked the original mini-series and even why I liked the 2017 movie a little more than this one is because you really get to feel what they are going through from a kids perspective. Think about it, evil creepy clown running around town in the sews killing kids… as a kid, that is some seriously scary stuff. However, with these characters, they approach Pennywise in much the same way they did as children, they have all the same fears they did 27 years before. However, that isn’t really realistic, as we get older, we change, people evolve, what we are afraid of changes and we approach our fears in a different way.

Cinematography ★★★

I think there are some really great shots in in this movie. However, I also think that the way it was filmed gave away a little too much too quickly. Sure, as the audience, we already know who Pennywise is and what he looks like, but I just think with a scary movie there is something to say for keeping the monster hidden that amps up the suspense. It seemed that Pennywise got a lot of screen time in this film, which took the scare level down significantly for me.

Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI):  ★★

Fun fact about the young actors who played the Losers Club members in IT Chapter One: They grew tremendously in the 2 years following filming that they actually had to be digitally ‘de-aged’ in some scenes because they looked significantly older than before. For me, every time I noticed it – which was often throughout the film – it pulled me out of the moment. I get that there really wasn’t another way to do it, since the flashback scenes with the kids had to look like they were from the same time period as the 2017 film, but for me the technique just wasn’t executed that well.

Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★

Let’s talk about Character(s) and acting… First off, there isn’t a whole lot of character building in this movie. I understand that we, as the audience, already know the characters from when they were children in the first movie, however this is 27 years later… people tend to change, a lot, in 27 years. The movie gives us only one scene for each of the main characters to show us what they are like now. It just feels really rushed as the movie pushes the characters together, trying to get them back to Derry. Then, once they are there the pace slows down considerably and it almost feels to slow with not enough action.

In terms of acting… WOW! Everyone is really strong. Both the adults playing the Loser Club as well as their child actor counterparts.

I think one of my favorite scenes is when they all first come together, at the restaurant. They haven’t seen each other is 27 years and yet there is an instant connection. You can see and feel the comradery as if they have remained close friends all their lives. They do a really good job of making it seem like these adults are the grown versions of the kids we saw jut two years ago in the 2017 movie. Mannerisms and speech patterns are all very similar and it helps to be able to connect each of the children actors to their adult counterparts.

Best actor award has to go to Bill Skarsgard who plays Pennywise. Pennywise is just a wonderful role for an actor. Tim Curry was amazing as Pennywise in the 1990 mini-series and Bill Skarsgard has done a wonderful job in both the 2017 and 2019 files. He is creepy – Defiantly the thing that nightmares are made of.  

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

“See, the thing about being a loser, you don’t have anything to lose. So, be true. Be brave. Stand. Believe. And don’t ever forget, we’re losers, and we always will be.” ~ Losers Club (IT Chapter Two)

“Here’s Johnny” ~ Henry Bowers

  • The reason I like this one so much is because it’s a throwback to another Stephen King book, The Shining when Jack Torrance has gone crazy and is chopping down the bathroom door with an axe to kill his wife.

TO SUM IT UP:

Although I enjoyed this film, maybe not as much as the 2017 movie, I have to say it just doesn’t fully live up to the 1990’s mini-series. However, I do tend to lean toward originals more so then remakes and books rather than movies.

Have you seen IT Chapter Two yet? Did you see IT Chapter One, or better yet did you see the Original IT Mini Series? And, even more importantly, have you read the book? Let me know your answers, in the comments below. Tell me what you thought of the book, the mini-series, or the movies! I’d love to know. As always, I do recommend seeing this film for yourself and forming your own opinion.

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

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IT Chapter Two (2019) Trailer:

IT Chapter One (2017) Trailer:

IT mini-series (1990) Trailer:

Captain Marvel (2019) Movie Review

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  • TITLE: Captain Marvel (2019)
  • DIRECTORS: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
  • SCREENPLAY WRITERS: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet
  • STARS: Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), and Ben Mendelsohn (Talos/Keller)
  • GENRE(S): Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
  • RUNTIME: 123 minutes
Get the movie PLUS Bonus Content HERE!

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW ★★★ (3.5)
Writing/Story: ★★★ | Cinematography:  ★★★ Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI): ★★★★★ Character(s)/Acting: ★★★

IMDB BLURB:

Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.

IMDB STORY LINE:

After crashing an experimental aircraft, Air Force pilot Carol Danvers is discovered by the Kree and trained as a member of the elite Starforce Military under the command of her mentor Yon-Rogg. Six years later, after escaping to Earth while under attack by the Skrulls, Danvers begins to discover there’s more to her past. With help from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, they set out to unravel the truth.

MY 2 CENTS:

Writing/Story: ★★★ The Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally introduced to Carol Danvers, played by Brie Larson. She learns about her past, she discovers who she is, and she finds herself caught in the middle of a war between two alien races and realizes she is more powerful than she ever knew or thought possible.

Carol Danvers is the everyday woman turned female hero. In my opinion, we don’t have enough female heroes on screen so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I understand that when the lead character doesn’t know anything about their past, it can be difficult to tell the story and portray that disassociation to the audience. With Carol Danvers, we learn about her past at the same time she does, through audio recordings and short flashes of things that happened in her past. It’s similar to when you’re reading a book and the author just word vomits all over you, telling you what happened instead of showing you. I wanted to see Carol physically discovering her powers, reacting to things instinctively, which would then lead to sparks of memories. Instead, more often than not these memories were brought on by the audio recordings, the short flashes of memory, and her visits with the Supreme Intelligence (played by Annette Bening) which is somehow supposed to tell her or show her what she most desires… I won’t even get into that because it was just a really strange plot line to me.  

Honestly, for me, this was more of a Nick Fury movie… It was my first experience really getting to know the Character of Nick Fury and I thought Samuel L. Jackson did a great job with the role. I loved seeing the younger version of Nick Fury since my only other experience with him was in Spiderman: Far from Home earlier this year. Captain Marvel was more of a buddy cop movie staring Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson. Or an amnesia self-discover movie… or maybe it’s a fish out of water movie since she comes to earth and has no idea how earth operates.

Cinematography ★★★ Visually, there just wasn’t much to talk about with this film. There isn’t a whole lot of style with this one. This film felt like a series of storyboard moments. The actors are intentionally framed, and their performing but there is no really remarkable style to speak of. That isn’t to say there aren’t good moments. There are. There are a couple really fun fight sequences and a cool slow-motion walk to the space craft, but other than that there just isn’t a lot of visual style to it.

Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI):  ★★★★★ I have to say one of the most noteworthy aspects of this film was the CGI done to de-age Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson). Truly amazing CGI. If for no other reason than to see the stunning CGI work, this one is worth the TV rental fee. After the first scene or two, I stopped noticing and they seemed completely natural, which to me is the sign of a truly gifted CGI team. If you stop noticing the CGI and it starts blending into the rest of the film then you know they’ve done a great job.

Character(s)/Acting: ★★★ I felt like Brie Larson, although maybe not my choice for Carol Danvers, she did have some good moments. The chemistry between her and Samuel L. Jackson was fun to watch. They played nicely off of each other and the banter back and forth was very clever and entertaining.

Like I said, Brie Larson wouldn’t really be my choice for Carol Danvers. It isn’t because I don’t think she is a good actress, I do. I loved her in Room, and honestly think she is fantastic in the right role. However, in this film she just wasn’t the right choice. She doesn’t seem to fit the strong superhero persona. Her acting style felt forced and she seemed stiff and uncomfortable in the costume, and her movements were choppy, rather than fluid, during the fight sequences.

Although I felt like Lashana Lynch did a decent job at Maria, Carol’s best friend, there just didn’t seem to be much chemistry between the two actresses. Sure, Carol doesn’t have any memory of their friendship, but Maria does… There should have been some sign of that internal struggle she would have been feeling having lost her best friend, thinking she was dead for years, and then having her show up on her doorstep. I just wish there had been more of an emotional connection between the two of them. Without that, I just didn’t really care for the characters.

MY FAVORITE QUOTE:

“I’m not gonna fight your war. I’m gonna end it.” ~ Carol Danvers

 Honestly, this is a pretty good superhero quote and to me, probably the most superhero thing Carol Danvers says in this film.

TO SUM IT UP:

I was more disappointed than I was entertained. The movie isn’t terrible… but it’s not great… it just seemed to fall flat.

Have you seen Captain Marvel yet? If you have let me know, in the comments below, what you thought of it! As always, I do recommend seeing this film and finding out for yourself what you think of it. My opinions might not line up with yours and you might just love the film.

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

View the Official Trailers Below!

My 2 Cents… Room (2015)

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RoomTitle: Room (2015) 
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Writers: Emma Donoghue (novel and screenplay) 
Stars: Brie Larson (Ma), Jacob Tremblay (Jack), and Sean Bridgers (Old Nick)
Genre(s): Drama/Thriller

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

Buy it HERE!

BLURB:
Held captive for 7 years in an enclosed space, a woman and her young son finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to experience the outside world for the first time.

STORYLINE:
ROOM tells the extraordinary story of Jack, a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother. Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical–they are trapped–confined to a 10-by-10-foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack’s curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma’s resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world. Written by A24 (IMBD)

MY 2 CENTS:
WOW! Back when this movie first came out, I remember seeing the previews and thinking it looked pretty good. I just never got around to actually watching it. Then, when the academy award nominations were announced and Room was up for Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay I was even more intrigued.

I still didn’t find time to watch it.

Now, four years after the theatre premier, I’ve finally watching it… Thank you Netflix.

Actress Brie Larson won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Room. I can tell you this… it was well deserved.

As a mother, I can’t imagine losing my child to an obduction. Nor, could I imagine being abducted and raising a baby in a confined space like the one depicted in this film. This film, pulled at my heartstrings in so many ways. I hated Old Nick, played by Sean Bridgers. That’s the sign of a great performance. You’re not supposed to like his character.

With the first half of this film taking place in a single 10’x10’ space, you wouldn’t think that the cinematography would be much to talk about. However, the way the camera makes the view feel claustrophobic and the actors (Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay) make you feel hopeful forces the viewer to really take in everything that is happening. The acting and the cinematography, together, pull the whole story together.

This movie will make you think… question reality… question the world in ways that might make you uncomfortable… and even question your own beliefs.

There’s a saying, “No matter how much you think you do, you can never really know someone.” This movie made me realize how true that is. Your next-door neighbor, the postman, the person running the cash register at your local grocery store… You can’t really know them. Isn’t there a change – no matter how small – that they could be hiding an abducted woman or child in their home? You can’t know, and that is my point.

This film brings out the paranoid in all of us. It certainly brought out the paranoid mother in me. I would do anything to protect my kids… this movie shows us that sometimes, no matter what we do, we can’t protect them from the evils of the world.

Have you seen Room? If so, what did you think. If you haven’t, what is stopping you?

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“There’s so much of ‘place’ in the world. There’s less time because the time has to be spread extra thin over all the places, like butter. So, all the persons say ‘Hurry up! Let’s get going! Pick up the pace! Finish up now!’.” ~ Jack

“When I was small, I only knew small things. But now I’m five, I know everything!” ~ Jack

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

You can watch the official trailer here:

My 2 Cents… Aquaman (2018)

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AquamanTitle: Aquaman (2018) 
Director: James Wan 
Writers: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall 
Stars: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, and Nicole Kidman
Genre(s): Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★
Cinematography: ★★
Story: ★★★
Acting: ★★
Overall: ★★★ (2.5)

Buy it HERE!

STORYLINE:
Arthur Curry, half human/half from Atlantis, goes on a trip of a lifetime. Not only does this adventure compel him to come to terms with his real identity, but it also forces him to discover whether he is entirely worthy of fulfilling his own destiny: becoming a king. Written by Domingo Alvarez (IMDB)

MY 2 CENTS:
I like superhero films… I do. I enjoy both the DC comic world as well as the Marvel comic world. I’m not picky when it comes to my action-packed superhero adventures. I tend not to judge them to harshly. However, with computer graphics having gotten as amazing as they have these days, there is no excuse for the poor-quality computer graphics in this film.

Don’t get me wrong, my eleven-year-old son loved the film. So, maybe the target audience was lower than I had expected. I however couldn’t see past the cheesy dialogue, terrible special effects, one-dimensional characters – with no growth or development, and the predictability of it all.

No, I don’t recommend this film. If you’ve seen it, please share your thoughts below. If you enjoyed it and think I’m missing something, please tell me what that was. I really did want to like this film. I just couldn’t find any truly redeemable qualities.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“She jumped! She didn’t have a parachute!” ~ Cargo Pilot
“Redheads! You gotta love ‘em.” ~ Arthur Curry

“I’m no leader. I came because I have no choice. I came to save my home, and the people that I love.” ~ Arthur Curry

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You can watch the official trailer here:

My 2 Cents… The Jane Austen Book Club

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JaneTitle: The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) 
Director: Robin Swicord 
Writers: Robin Swicord (screenplay) and Karen Joy Fowler (book) 
Stars: Maria Bello (Jocelyn), Emily Blunt (Prudie), Kathy Baker (Bernadette), Amy Brenneman (Sylvia), Maggie Grace (Allegra), and Hugh Dancy (Grigg)
Genre(s): Comedy/Drama/Romance

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Acting: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4)

Buy it HERE! 

BLURB:
Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships – both old and new – begin to resemble 21st century version of her novels.

STORYLINE:
The Jane Austen Book Club explores Austen’s adage that general incivility is at love’s essence. Sylvia’s husband dumps her for another woman, so Bernadette and Jocelyn organize a book club to distract her. They recruit Sylvia’s daughter Allegra; Prudie, a young teacher whose marriage may be on the rocks; and Grigg, a sci-fi fan who joins solely out of his attraction to Jocelyn. The six book club members read and discuss one Austen novel per month. While Jocelyn attempts to peak Grigg’s interest in Sylvia, she fails to see her own interest in him rising. Allegra falls in love with a woman she meets skydiving. Then, after unexpected heartache she is able to mend her heart through a new relationship. Prudie contemplates an affair with one of her students and may take things a little to far. Sylvia’s ex-husband keeps popping back into her life and eventually tells her he still loves her. By the end of the movie, the truth about each of our characters is revealed.

MY 2 CENTS:
I’m not going to lie, this is a chick-flick. I love a good romantic comedy chick-flick every now and then, but they are not my typical go-to movie. With that said, as an author and an avid reader, I LOVED THIS FILM!

The cast is amazing… In fact, I really can’t image a better cast. With Emily Blunt, Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman, and Kathy Baker taking the lead, this movie was destined to be a success. And a story line that manages to infuse the characters’ lives with pieces of Jane Austen’s fictional world is just plain fun.

Like most chick-flicks, this film isn’t about wowing the viewers with amazing cinematography and extraordinary special effects. This film relies solely on the dialogue and the actors’ abilities to communicate their emotions to the audience. The character development within each relationship as well as individually gives the viewer so much to watch, explore, and relate to. Of course, not everyone will be able to relate to every character… but that is the beauty, there is a character for everyone.

I believe that if Austin were alive today, she would be proud of the way this film utilized her themes and wove them into the lives of the characters beautifully.

Watching the film, you get a sense that Karen Joy Fowler, author of the book ‘The Jane Austin Book Club, truly has a passion for and understands Austin’s books. Although I have not yet read ‘The Jane Austin Book Club’ I do intent to add it to my ‘To Read’ list. I think that anyone who admires Austin’s books will enjoy this film.

If you have watched this movie (or read the book) please comment below and let me know what you thought of it. If you haven’t seen the movie, but are intrigued enough to watch it, then I challenge you to watching and then come back and let me know what you thought.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Let us never underestimate the power of a well-written letter.” ~ Bernadette

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You can watch the official trailer here:

My 2 Cents… The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

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SisterhoodTitle: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) 
Director: Ken Kwapis  
Writers: Ann Brashares (novel),  Delia Ephron (screenplay), and Elizabeth Chandler (screenplay) 
Stars: Amber Tamblyn (Tibby), Alexis Bledel (Lena), America Ferrera (Carmen), Blake Lively (Bridget), and Jenna Boyd (Bailey)

Genre(s): Comedy/Drama/Romance

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Acting: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4)

STORYLINE:
The movie is based on the young adult book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Anne Brashares. As four best friends spend their first summer apart from one another, they share a magical pair of jeans. Despite being of various shapes and sizes, each one of them fits perfectly into the pants. To keep in touch, they pass these pants to each other as well as the adventures they are going through while apart. Written by Stephanie

MY 2 CENTS:
I didn’t really expect much from this film; a little entertainment, some laughs, but not much else. I mean, come on, the premise is a magical pair of pants that bonds four girls together and keeps them close even when they go their separate ways for summer vacation.

I was pleasantly surprised.

The cast; Amber, Alexis, America, and Blake played four uniquely different characters, who in any given high school would probably not have remained friends for as long as they did. However, this movie made it work. Either through good directing or good acting, their relationship as close friends since birth was believable.

Again, the story of a magical pair of pants was a bit over the top. However, the things these girls had to deal with during their summer vacation; travel, falling in love, pain, illness, loss, the loss of virginity, family struggles, and so much more are all very real topics in the lives of many youth these days. The mystical element of magical pants allowed the film to connect all of these issues seamlessly; allowing us to travel across the world with each girl as they follow their own path AND maintain a connection to their small-town friendships in the process.

I think the secret weapon in this film was Jenna Boyd, the young actress who played Bailey. Bailey enters Tibby’s life as this young, annoying kid who keeps tagging along trying to help with Tibby’s documentary film. At first Tibby doesn’t see the importance of Bailey’s presence. It isn’t until she discovers Tibby is dying that she really starts to notice their friendship and how important it is to recognize the beauty in those around us and in life itself.

I’m not going to lie, I cried during this film. Only once, but they were the kinds of tears you don’t feel coming until their rolling down your cheek. The kind that take you by surprise because the emotion sneaks up on you.

No, I don’t think this film will ever be added to my top twenty list of best films ever, but I do think it’s worth the watch.

If you’ve seen The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, please comment below and let me know what you thought. If you enjoyed it, tell me why. If you didn’t care for it, tell me what was missing. If you haven’t seen it, but are willing to give it a shot now, tell me that too.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“You know what I like most about the stars? You look at them, at all of them up there…and you just know there’s gotta be something more…” ~ Bailey

“Maybe the truth is there’s a little bit of loser in all of us, ya know? Being happy isn’t having everything in your life be perfect. Maybe it’s about stringing together all the little things like wearing these pants or getting to a new level of Dragon’s Lair – making those count for more than the bad stuff. Maybe we just get through it…and that’s all we can ask for.” ~ Bailey

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

https://youtu.be/eIGAxZ3rd-U

You can watch the official trailer here:

https://youtu.be/eV1IkLvTe1I

 

My 2 Cents… Five Feet Apart

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Title: Five Feet Apart (2019)
Director: Justin Baldoni
Writers: Mikki Daughtey and Tobias Iaconis
Stars: Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse, Moises Arias, and Kimberly Hebert Gregory

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

PLOT SUMMARY:

A pair of teenagers with life-threatening illnesses meet in a hospital and fall in love.

SYNOPSIS:

Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is a cystic fibrosis (CF) patient who actively uses social media to cope with her illness and try to live a normal life. Her sister, Abby, was the adventurous type and died a few years ago while she was cliff diving.

Stella’s best friend, Poe (Moises Arias), also has CF and is openly gay. He tells Stella that he broke up with his new boyfriend; Stella later realizes Poe pushes him away because of his CF. 

Stella meets another CF patient, Will Newman (Cole Sprouse), and they quickly develop feelings for each other. Will finds Stella’s Vlog on YouTube, in which Stella discusses living with CF. Will is intrigued and watches every single video she posted.

CF patients are strictly kept at least six feet apart at all times in an effort to reduce the risk of cross-infection, as contracting bacterial infections from other CF patients can be life-threatening. Stella’s nurse, Barbara (Kimberly Hebert Gregory), previously had a pair of romantically involved CF patients who died from cross-infection, and Barbara does not want to see this happen again.

Watch the movie to find out what happens next!

MY 2 CENTS:

To understand this film, you first have to understand what CF is. CF or Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.

This film broke my heart!

I believe on IMDB, this film has a 7 out of 10 star rating, I’ve rated it 5 out of 5. 

When I go to a movie and can hear crying throughout the theatre, and am crying myself, I know they’ve done something right. 

Five Feet Apart is full of laughs, loves, heart-felt moments, and devastating loss. I’m not going to tell you who dies, who leaves, or who is heart-broken. What I will tell you, is that I cried… I wept… I mourned. I was on the edge of my seat with my heart racing in my chest for the characters to just be ok. If I could have hugged them, I would have. I was utterly and completely lost in the film and invested in the storyline. 

I forgot they were actors and fully believed their reality. That, to me, says a lot about the acting, the writing, and the directing.

Five Feet Apart is a fatalistic love story that must be told, seen, and remembered. If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you do. If you have seen it, comment below and tell me what you thought. Misery loves company, so if you were as devastated as I was let me know that too!

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

“Human touch, we need that touch from the one we love almost as much as we need air to breathe.” ~ Stella

“This whole time I’ve been living for my treatment, instead of doing my treatment so that I can live, and I want to live.” ~ Stella

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

https://youtu.be/LPs5-58YwFM

Check out the official movie trailer here:

https://youtu.be/Ts1t_lgdyUY