Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure ever: high school. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots, Diego, a mysterious jungle inhabitant, and a ragtag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost Inca civilization. Written by Nick Moreau
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
My kids are still young. Young enough that I remember them watching Dora the Explorer over and over when they were really little. Admittedly, because they watched it… so did I. I didn’t love the cartoon, but I didn’t hate it either. The ‘Map’ song got stuck in my head more days than it didn’t, but those were good times and good memories.
When I heard they were making a live action Dora movie, I was not surprised. My kids weren’t all that interested in seeing it in the theatre, nor was I, but free on TV… sure why not. Especially since I was asked by a reader to review it.
The screenplay was written very true to the original cartoon. It definitely felt like they brought the cartoon characters to life. I appreciated their loyalty to the original animation and found that it was surprisingly really fun to watch. I agree with Libby when she says it was refreshingly funny.
Cinematography ★★★★
It was live action… as life action as a kid’s movie can get. The cinematography helped to bring the audience into the action sequences making viewers feel like they’re in the action and running through the jungle right alongside Dora and her friends.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★
The kids in this film did a great job. They took on their roles 100% and looked like they were having so much fun during filming.
FUN FACTS:
* Isabela Merced, who plays Dora, had earlier starred as Dora’s friend Kate in Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014)
* Weeks before the film’s release, a pair of red boots were digitally applied to Boots after it was found he wasn’t wearing any.
* The film was released in 2019 which is one year shy from the 20th Anniversary of the original Dora the Explorer (2000) series.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“This is a golden poison tree frog! Can YOU say ‘extreme neurotoxicity’?” ~ Dora
“Oh look, Dora brought a knife on the field trip everybody!” ~ Sammy
TO SUM IT UP:
Not my favorite movie of the year and I probably wouldn’t watch it again, but I enjoyed it and I’m glad I saw it.
Have you seen Dora and the Lost City of Gold yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I highly recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.
Back in high school, Jack Cunningham had everything going for him. A basketball phenom, he could have punched his ticket to college or even the pros, but, instead, he chose to walk away from the game, forfeiting his future. Jack’s glory days are long gone…but, as it turns out, not forgotten. Years later, he gets the chance to take back his life when he is asked to coach the struggling basketball team at his alma mater. Jack reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself, and as the boys start to come together as a team and win, he may get his last shot at redemption. Written by Warner Bros
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
This was such a powerful script. If you are looking at this film as a sports film, it holds up. The story surrounding the basketball scenes are really good. It’s an underdog story where the worst team in the league ends up winning it all. I loved that.
If you are looking at this film for the human, emotional aspect… WOW! The dramatic aspects of this script along with the truly heartfelt acting take the movie beyond just good and make it a great film.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★
The Way Back stars Ben Affleck and if I’m being 100% honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of his. I liked him in Good Will Hunting and he was ok in Gone Girl and a few other movies. Although, for the most part, he is just ok. He tends to play the same character in everything he is in. I guess that is why I was so surprised when I watched this movie. Ben Affleck gives us an AMAZING performance. It is the best acting I’ve ever seen him do. The emotion he puts into the role is so beautifully devastating and real. Knowing that he has suffered from addiction in his real life, I can only imagine that some of these scenes had to be extremely hard for him to do.
Cinematography ★★★★★
I have nothing bad or good to say about the cinematography. I think that because the script was so good and the acting was even better, I didn’t notice the cinematography, but that means it was also good enough not to be noticed in any negative ways. So, it gets five stars too.
FUN FACTS:
* The movie's original title was 'The Has-Been'.
* Like Jack, Ben Affleck has also struggled with alcoholism.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“You want to know why they’re leaving you open? It’s because they don’t think you can hit the ocean from the beach.” ~ Jack Cunningham
TO SUM IT UP:
Four little words say it all, “I LOVED THIS FILM!”
Have you seen The Way Back yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I highly recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.
On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless-mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and tween Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death. Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.” Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul… Written by Stephen King
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
Ok, for the most part, I really enjoyed this movie. FOR THE MOST PART. Now, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that Stephen King is my favorite author. However, I have not yet read Doctor Sleep, so I can’t say how well the movie follows the book.
With that said, I will just speak to the movie on its own.
The scene where ‘baseball boy’ is killed… NO, JUST NO!!! There was no need for the director to show that scene in such detail. It was horrific. It was grotesque. It was over the top and made me sick to my stomach. To be honest, I almost turned the movie off I was so disgusted by the fact that the director would show the scene in that way when he clearly had other options.
Cinematography ★★★★
The cinematography was good. There were a number of really cool shots, interesting angles, and zoom features that made caught my eyes. Very artistic in ways that I didn’t expect.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★
I felt like Ewan McGregor did a great job as Danny. I’ve always enjoyed him as an actor and thought he was perfectly cast for this role.
Rebecca Ferguson was creepy and ethereal all at the same time. Right from her first scene you feel drawn to her character, but yet there is a tugging feeling that screams DANGER – DANGER – DANGER in your mind.
A huge shout out to Jacob Tremblay who played Bradley Trevor (baseball boy). Although it was my least favorite scene in the whole movie (not because of the acting but because of the act), Jacob gave a fantastic performance. No child should ever experience what his character went through and personally, I believe, not child actor should ever have to experience it either. It was violent in a way that should never have been scene, but he did a wonderful job and get a truly spectacular performance.
FUN FACTS:
* Danny Lloyd, who played the character Danny Torrance in The Shining, makes a cameo in this movie at the baseball game and is listed in the credits as “Spectator.”
* Most elements from The Shining (1980) were recreated with duplicate sets and lookalike actors, though three shots were reused: the aerial shot of the water and the island and the two shots after it of the car driving on the mountain road. The shots were degrained, recolored as day-for-night, and had snow digitally added.
* Mike Flanagan painstakingly recreated the sets of the Overlook hotel from blueprints acquired from Stanley Kubrick's estate.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Our beliefs don’t make us better people. Our actions make us better people.” ~ Danny Torrance
“We’re all dying. The world’s just one big hospice with fresh air.” ~ Danny Torrance
TO SUM IT UP:
Would I watch it again? Probably not. Will I read the book? Absolutely.
Have you seen Doctor Sleep yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I highly recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.
A twisted tale told by Harley Quinn herself, when Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
I’m not a comic reader, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of the character’s story/timeline, but I did like this story. I thought the character of Harley Quinn, which I had not been introduced to before was very interesting. I thought that the script really was successful at giving her a complete backstory with clear intent as to why she does the things she does and why she will continue to be the criminal she is.
Cinematography ★★★★
There were some great camera shots, especially in the beginning of the film when Harley is running from everyone who now wants her dead. I think the cinematography during that scene as well as the fight scene in the fun house was particularly well done.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★
FUN! FUN! FUN! The lead actresses in this film seemed like they were having the time of their lives. They dove into their roles, head first, and didn’t look back. I thought they all did a great job brining live to these over the top, comic book characters.
FUN FACTS:
* Jurnee Smollett-Bell does all of her own singing in the film.
* When Harley Quinn is leaving the police precinct she points to a wanted poster and says, "Hey, I know that guy!". The wanted poster is that of Captain Boomerang with whom she worked with in Suicide Squad (2016).
* The egg sandwich that is made for Harley Quinn is not made with chicken eggs, but instead with duck eggs because Margot Robbie is allergic to chicken egg white (she gets migraines from them).
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“You know what they say: behind every successful man is a badass broad.” ~ Harley Quinn
TO SUM IT UP:
I definatly think Birds of Prey is worth seeing. Especially now, when we are all pretty much locked in our houses trying to avoid COVID-19. So, renting it online, pop some popcorn, and enjoy a night in!
Have you seen Birds of Prey yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, like I always say, I highly recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion.
A retiring assassin, Henry Brogan, finds himself pursued by a mysterious killer that can predict his every move. Discovering that he’s being hunted by a younger clone of himself, Henry needs to find out why he’s being targeted and who the creator is. ~ Written by Bixy Gello
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
I loved this story. The whole concept of the assassin, created as a clone, sent to kill the man he was created after. WOW! The script was fantastic, fun, and just packed with action. There were just enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I loved it!
Cinematography ★★★★★
With all the action shots, this one could have tanked, but it was great. There were some beautiful shots, but that isn’t really what you watch a movie like this for. For me, it was all about the action and the fight sequences and the camera work in these scenes was magically. As a viewer, you really feel like you’re right there in the thick of it.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★
This film features an amazing cast. With Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, and Benedict Wong… WOW! They were all fantastic. I loved every second and was sucked in from the very beginning. Usually, when I watch super stars like Will Smith, my mind wanders and I think about other roles they’ve played. Not with this film. Will Smith instantly became Henry Brogan and there was no looking back.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead was perfect as Danny. She was completely natural as the touch girl but also had a very appealing innocence to her. I thought she did a great job and the subtle chemistry between her character and Will Smith’s character was charming.
Computer Graphics (CG): ★★★★
Sure, you can tell the Will Smith clone is CG… of course he is, Will Smith can’t be two different ages at the same time. However, I think they did a fantastic job of making him look as real as possible. As with all CG characters, I find the mouths never are quite natural, but it didn’t distract from the film at all.
FUN FACTS:
* The original script was written for Clint Eastwood.
* Johnny Depp turned down the film in 2012.
* From 2003 to 2010 Nicolas Cage was attached to this project, but he convinced Jerry Bruckheimer to work on The Sorcerer's Apprentice instead.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“You can tell me now or you can tell me in five minutes without all your teeth.” ~ Danny Zakarweski
TO SUM IT UP:
WATCH THIS FILM!!! Seriously, if you haven’t seen Gemini Man, I highly recommend it, but don’t take my word for it, see it for yourself and form you own opinion.
Have you seen Gemini Man yet? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Based on Anna Todd’s novel, AFTER follows Tessa (played by Josephine Langford), a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart, Noah (played by Dylan Arnold, as she enters her first semester in college. Armed with grand ambitions for her future, her guarded world opens up when she meets the dark and mysterious Hardin Scott (played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin), a magnetic, brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself and what she wants out of life. ~ Written by Aviron Pictures
Background:
Ok, lets start by pointing out that this film is based on the book AFTER by Anna Todd, who posted the first chapters of the novel on Wattpad, a free online storytelling community. The original story is said to have been based on Harry Styles and Zayn Malik from One Direction, but they were portrayed as students at Washington State University.
When her readership quickly grew passed 500 million readers on Wattpad, Anna landed herself a publishing deal and the novel was published in 2014. Paramount Pictures then acquired the rights, later returning them to Anna Todd because she wanted more freedom when it came to adapting the film. Eventually the rights were sold to Aviron and the movie was released in April of 2019.
As an author myself, I would love to have one of my books take off like this. It’s a writer’s dream come true. We’ve seen it with other fan fiction novels like the Twilight Series, the 50 Shades of Grey Series (which was actually Twilight Fan Fiction), and now AFTER just to name a few.
There is a lot of negative talk about Wattpad, and I personally have never used it because I prefer my old-school Microsoft Word, so I can’t speak to my personal experience. However, aside from AFTER, there have been a number of novels and movies that got their start on Wattpad. Most recently; The Kissing Booth (a Netflix movie) and Light as a Feather (a Hulu Series based on the Wattpad story, Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board). So, mock it all you want, but authors are being read and making things happen.
Now let’s talk about the movie… That’s why we are here, right?
I haven’t read the book but, if for no other reason than to see how true to the book the movie was, I feel like I need to read it. I didn’t think the writing was bad, it was a typical college coming of age movie. It was extremely predictable and, in that sense, written in a way that most people could find at least one character to relate to. Having gone to college right out of high school, I had at least one friend that fit into each of the character molds that Anna Todd created. There were no real plot twists or surprises. The one potential twist was set up with two in-your-face foreshadowing moments. (Spoiler Alert “It was all a lie.”)
Cinematography ★★★
There are some pretty shots in this film, but the cinematography is nothing to write home about.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★
I’ll admit the acting isn’t that great. I’m not sure if it was the director’s choice or the actors’ choices, but the long “dramatic” pauses between almost every sentence made the movie drag. I did enjoy the relationship building between Tessa and Hardin as well as between Tessa and Landon. However, I hope that there was more buildup between Tessa and Landon in the book. Landon seems like such a minor character in the movie that as a viewer, we don’t really care about him. I would imagine that in the book there is a stronger friendship between Tessa and Landon, giving us a reason to root for him. It feels like the potential for Team Noah vs. Team Hardin vs. Team Landon was there, but the movie just never made us care enough about any of the male characters (aside from Hardin) to get there. I’m hoping the book does a better job.
FUN FACT:
The copy of Wuthering Heights that we see in Hardin’s bedroom is actually the copy that author Anna Todd has had since she was a teenager.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“My life before him was so simple and decided, now after him…It’s just…After.”
I think most people can relate to this quote in one way or another. We all have a moment in our life that seems to change everything. We plan… we dream… we decide our future. Then, one day, something changes. Someone comes along or something happens that completely turns our world upside down and our plans fall through, our dreams fade away, and our future which was once so clear becomes uncertain.
TO SUM IT UP:
Despite the fact that I’ve seen and read a number of reviews that completely trashed this film, I have definitely seen worse. I didn’t hate it. I enjoyed it for what it was, mindless entertainment… a chance to watch the good girl fall for the bad boy in hopes of changing him. I know, when I was young and stupid, I tried to change a few bad boys too. Trust me, in real life, it never works.
I will say this though, the demographic this film is geared toward – young teenage girls – seem highly inappropriate. There isn’t a lot of overly sexual content in this film, but I have seen previews for the sequel and it definitely steps up the sexual content a few notches. So, all the 13 and 14-year-old girls who feel in love with Hardin Scott in the first film are going to really be exposed to more-than-necessary sexual content when they hide away in their bedrooms watching movie number two. On top of that, this movie also makes light of underage drinking, smoking, and use of e-cigarettes, etc.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT!!!
Have you seen AFTER? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If not, I recommend seeing it for yourself and forming your own opinion. Have you read the book? If so, let me know if I should read it!
Click on the individual book covers below to read more about these titles by Anna Todd!
THE AFTER SERIES
THE LANDON SERIES
ANNA TODD (Author/Writer/Producer) is the New York Times bestselling author of the After series of books, The Spring Girls, and the recent The Brightest Stars.
Always an avid reader, Todd began writing stories on her phone on Wattpad, the reading and writing multiplatform for original stories, with After becoming its most-read series with over 1.5 billion reads.
The print edition of After was published in 2014 by Simon & Schuster and has since been released in over 30 languages with more than 11 million copies sold worldwide. After has been a #1 bestseller across the globe including Italy, Germany, France and Spain. She has since written eight additional novels and serves as a producer and screenwriter on the upcoming film adaptation of After We Collided, the sequel to After.
Todd has been hailed by Cosmopolitan as “the biggest literary phenomenon of her generation.” A native of Ohio Anna, her husband and son currently live in Los Angeles.
Find her at AnnaTodd.com, on Twitter at @AnnaTodd, on Instagram at @AnnaTodd, and on Wattpad as Imaginator1D.
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.
In Lowestoft UK, Jack Malik is a frustrated musician whose musical career is going nowhere despite the faith that his friend/manager Ellie Appleton has in him. However, on the night Jack decides to give up, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive blackout that lasts just 12 seconds. During this strange event, Jack is hit by a bus. Upon regaining consciousness, Jack learns to his astonishment that he is apparently now the only one who knows the music of the Beatles. Realizing this improbable opportunity, Jack begins playing the music of the greatest rock band, claiming it as his own. It pays off quickly and Jack becomes a worldwide musical sensation. However, Jack finds himself drifting away from Ellie, only realizing his love for her when she has become intimidated by his success, which is dependent on a blatant plagiarization that no one could find out. Now, Jack must make a fundamental moral decision about his music to satisfy his conscience as he decides what he truly needs.
MY 2 CENTS:
This movie went under the radar for me. I never heard about it until I was scrolling through my movie apps one day. I had seen Bohemian Rhapsody (which I loved) and Rocketman (which I thought was just ok), but had never even heard of Yesterday. When I found out it was all about The Beatles… and that it takes place in modern day, I was intrigued.
Basically, it asks the question; What would you do if you were a musician and one day you woke up and The Beatles never existed? You’re the only one who knows who The Beatles are—or were—and you know all their songs. Would you play their music and claim it as your own?
That is exactly what Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel, did in this film.
Writing/Story: ★★★★★
This film was fun and fast paced. The way the writer incorporated the music of The Beatles so smoothly really leads to the question, if The Beatles has started today… would their music have done as well? The music was obviously fantastic for anyone, like myself, who loves The Beatles. If you don’t like the music of The Beatles, don’t watch this film.
To be honest, I don’t typically enjoy musicals. I can watch them. I can appreciate the talent it takes to create them. However, I have a hard time suspending my disbelief. I didn’t have that problem with this film. Yesterday is different than other music centered films such as Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody. This one isn’t about The Beatles. It’s not about the band. At its core, Yesterday is a musical rom-com. It’s a romantic comedy, centered around a musician who just so happens to be the only guy in the world who knows the music of The Beatles and the girl who loves him.
Cinematography ★★★★★
I really enjoyed the cinematography throughout this film. The global blackout, the moment Jack gets hit by the bus, the concert scenes… and so many other scenes are visually stunning.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★
OK, first let me just say that the chemistry between Himesh Patel and Lily James is amazing! For that reason alone, this is a great film to go see.
Himesh Patel is a wonderfully talented actor and musician. He actually did all his own signing and playing in the movie. He is completely natural on screen and just seems to slide right into this role.
It was fun to see that Ed Sheeran has a memorable role, playing himself in the film, and honestly did a great job. He stated in an interview that The Beatles are his main inspiration for his songs.
In my opinion, the weakest role was that of Kate McKinnon. She plays the Hollywood producer that takes Jack on and jumpstarts his career. She was fine, but she played the same over the top role she plays in most films.
FUN FACTS:
Screenwriter Richard Curtis asked for Paul McCartney‘s approval of the title of the film. Sir Paul gave his blessing, but also suggested they call it “Scrambled Eggs” instead. This was a lighthearted reference to the fact that before coming up with the lyrics for Yesterday, Paul McCartney had the temporary lyrics of Scrambled Eggs as a placeholder for the song.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“You want a good life? It’s not complicated. Tell the girl you love that you love her. And tell the truth to everyone whenever you can.” ~ John Lennon (Yesterday)
TO SUM IT UP:
This film is definitely worth the time!
Have you seen Yesterday? 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.
Would you prefer to watch the video review, instead of reading it? Click on the video below!
I love receiving review requests. So, when a request to review The Shining came in, I jumped on it. Did I really need a reason to re-watch The Shining? No, but I’ll take it. 🙂
Jack
Torrance, a writer and former teacher, signs a contract to spend the winter,
with his family taking care of an old hotel with a violent past. Secluded in
the Colorado mountains for 5 months, Jack, who is recently sober, slowly gets
more violent and angry. His son, Danny, tries to use a special talent, the
“Shining”, to inform the people outside about what is going on in the
hotel.
MY 2 CENTS:
The
Shining has always been one of my favorite horror films. It is perfect in just
about every way. When The Shinning was first released, in 1980, it received
mixed reviews. People didn’t really know what to make of it.
The
fact that it was nominated for a Razzie award – honoring the worst of cinematic
under-achievements – just blows me away. In my opinion, it is pretty
perfect! Much like Citizen Kane or Schindler’s List, I can’t think of anything
wrong with this film.
Sure,
it’s metaphorical and it leaves the audience wondering what they just watched.
What is wrong with that?
Writing/Story: ★★★★★
I
loved the novel. It was one of the first books I ever read that truly scared
me. And the film, although very different than the novel, had the same effect.
I have read that Stephen King hated the movie and recently read the following
quote:
“The
book is hot, and the movie is cold; the book ends in fire, and the movie in
ice. In the book, there’s an actual arc where you see this guy, Jack Torrance,
trying to be good, and little by little he moves over to this place where he’s
crazy. And as far as I was concerned, when I saw the movie, Jack was crazy from
the first scene. I had to keep my mouth shut at the time. It was a screening,
and Nicholson was there. But I’m thinking to myself the minute he’s on the
screen, ‘Oh, I know this guy. I’ve seen him in five motorcycle movies, where
Jack Nicholson played the same part.’ And it’s so misogynistic. I mean, Wendy
Torrance is just presented as this sort of screaming dishrag. But that’s just
me, that’s the way I am.” ~ Stephen King, on The Shining
In my opinion, yes, the book and the film are very
different. However, just because I love the book doesn’t mean I can’t
appreciate the movie for what it is. The Shining is a classic horror film that
will, until I die, send chills up and down my spine and nightmares into my sleeping
mind.
Cinematography ★★★★★
This film has some of the best cinematography I’ve
ever seen and to say that about a horror film is pretty amazing. Most horror
films, especially these days, are all about the jump out at you scares, the blood
and gore, and less about the visual aspects of the film.
The opening scene, where he is driving up the mountain,
is stunning.
Fun fact… Although the inspiration for the fictional
hotel came from Colorado’s Stanley Hotel, Kubrick ended up using Oregon’s
Timberline Lodge for the exterior shots of The Shining’s Overlook Hotel and all
of the interior scenes were filmed in England.
The entire film, from the opening until the closing
credits, visually draws you in and leaves you on the edge of your seat in anticipation
and fear.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★
Jack
Nicholson is absolutely fantastic in this film. When you first watch him, he is
oddly and uncomfortably comical. His is so light hearted in some of the scenes,
especially the terrifying ones. However, as you watch his insanity settle in,
you realize it is a great performance. One of the scariest scenes is when Jack
is stalking his wife up the stairs. He is telling her, with a crazy smile on his
face, “Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life. I’m not gonna hurt ya. You didn’t let
me finish my sentence. I said, I’m not gonna hurt ya. I’m just going to bash
your brains in. …”
Shelley
Duvall appears to be on edge and devastated throughout this entire film. I’ve
heard that Stanley Kubrick treated
Shelley very poorly throughout filming. Some people say he did it in order to
get this devastated performance, and although I don’t agree with his methods, I
have to admit it worked. Watching her, you truly do believe she is afraid… devastated…
and just completely lost.
Danny Lloyd is amazing and, in my opinion, gives us one of the all-time best child actor performances. He is natural and completely believable. I find it hard to believe that his film credits pretty much start and end with this film. However, he does make an appearance in the film Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining. But, I was disappointed to find out he is playing just a spectator and not reprising his role as Danny.
FUN FACT:
There
is a photograph at the ends of the film, that shows Jack Torrancce, Jack
Nicholson’s character, smiling at the 1921 July 4th Ball at the
Overlook Hotel. It leaves the audience on edge, because it leaves you questioning
reality. Has he been there the whole time? Was he there before? The worst part
is that the questions are never answered.
When asked what the photograph
means, Stanley Kubrick said, “The ballroom photograph at the very end suggests
the reincarnation of Jack.” That would mean that Jack Torrance is the
reincarnation of a guest or someone on staff at the Overlook in 1921.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Some places are like people: some shine and some don’t.”
“I like you, Lloyd. I always liked you. You were always the best of them. Best goddamned bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine. Or Portland, Oregon, for that matter.”
This
quote makes me wonder… ‘I always like you.’ Is he referring to the fact that he
knew him before, from time spent at the hotel? Plus, the mention of Portland,
Oregon… is that a nod to the fact that the exterior hotel shots were filmed in
Oregon? Just food for thought.
TO SUM IT UP:
This
film is a terrifying glimpse into the declining mental state of a man on the
edge. It’s a horror film where the lead character – a drunk on the wagon – is an
abusive husband and father. Sure, it is an extreme situation but the fact that
this type of thing can, and has, happened makes it all the more disturbing.
This
movie came out in 1980, so you’ve probably already seen it, but if not, I
highly recommend it. Especially if you
plan to see Doctor Sleep while its still in the theatres… watch The Shining
first, even if just to reacquaint yourself.
Have
you seen The Shining? 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.
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.
Nina Soden 