"Beauty and the Beast"

Two years ago, the lushly gorgeous and opulently vibrant "Cinderella" was so earnest and charming it swept me away with its dreamy fairy tale romance and magic of happily ever after.  The bars are set high for Disney's next live adaptation, Bill Condon-directed "Beauty and the Beast."  Not only a fairy tale classic, but also a musical.

Emma Watson ("Harry Potter" series)  is Belle.  Not your average pretty girl, she is  bright and bookish with an independent mind and adventurous spirit.  The vibrant opening number, where Belle sings her way into the hustle and bustle of the town square says it all.  A young woman ahead of her time, Belle always feels there has to be more than this simple provincial life.

One day, her artist and inventor father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), gets lost on the way home after a long trip.  All of a sudden, a summer night turns snowy and he stumbles upon a gothic castle.  He runs out after initially seeking shelter and food, spooked by the eeriness inside.  Prior to leaving, he cuts a single rose from the garden as a gift for Belle.  He is caught by Beast (Dan Stevens) and imprisoned in the dungeon.

When Maurice's horse returns home without him, a worried Belle rides into the woods and traces her father's path, leading her to  the castle.  While scared by Beast, she willingly trades herself for her father's freedom and becomes Beast's prisoner.

To Belle's amazement, she comes across animated household appliances; Lumiere candleabra (Ewan McGregor; "The Impossible," "Perfect Sense," "Haywire"), Cogsworth clock (Ian McKellen, "X-Men" series), Mrs. Potts teapot (Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"), Chip teacup (Nathan Mack), Plumette feather duster (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, "Miss Sloane"), Madame Garderobe wardrobe cabinet (Audra McDonald), Maestro Cadenza harpsichord (Stanley Tucci, "The Hunger Games" series).

The uproarious movements and interactions among the anthropomorphic characters make the movie very entertaining.  The magical dining show with flying flatware they put up for Belle dazzles.  And don't underestimate their feisty fighting style when the situation calls for it later in the story.

Belle was determined to escape at first.  But she is let out of the dungeon, given her own room, and allowed to roam pretty freely.  Except into the one forbidden section of the castle.  It is where Beast's bewitched rose is kept, encased in a glass dome.

As in the original, Beast is a cursed prince. A partying prince with no regard for the common folks, he refuses to help a bedraggled woman, who turns out to be an enchantress.  Here the prince is given a brief backstory why he became the way he was.  The enchantress cursed the prince into a ghastly beast and transformed his loyal servants into those animated household wares.  She also went to cast a spell over the land, enabling people to forget about the prince and the castle dwellers.

If the last petal of the rose falls and Beast hasn't earned to love and be loved by another, he would remain forever in his transmogrified form.  His servants, would turn into inanimate objects, which makes the stake higher.

Returning into town, Maurice tells the residents about the existence of Beast and beseeches them to save his beloved Belle.  Gaston (Luke Evans; "The Girl on the Train," "Immortals"), a vainglorious war veteran vying for Belle's heart, firstly puts a show of lending a hand, before leaving Maurice in the dust.  He then kicks up a storm, corralling the villagers to attack the castle and kill Beast.  No amount of fun tavern dancing scenes could mask Gaston's true, gruesome color.  His jovial sidekick, Le Fou (Josh Gad; "Jobs," "Love & Other Drugs"), really deserves better.

An incident with the wolves and wounded Beast is a turning point in Belle's and Beast's relationship.  Belle begins to see a protector and tender side of Beast, underneath his monstrous exterior and brusque manner. They connect through books and humor.  They take peaceful walks and play snowball fights.  The iconic candlelit dance is luminous.  Belle's golden gown, appearing feather-light, glows in the ballroom.  Eventually Beast does the ultimate sacrifice, which breaks the curse.

The special effects are mixed, varying from very realistic to limited.  A couple of things could look more alive or offer more moving range.  But the movie is a sumptuous visual feast with a seamless musical.

You can't help but be all smiles when eternal winter turns into spring and the palace is filled with people and celebration of life.  The tale as old as time is enchanting as ever. "Beauty and the Beast" has magic, music and joy.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-beauty-and-the-beast/

DVD (animation): https://tinyurl.com/beautyandthebeastoriginal
Video: http://tinyurl.com/beautybeastvideo
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/beautybeastdvd
Book: http://tinyurl.com/beautybeastbook

Upcoming Movies: October 2017

[Originally posted on 9/28/17]

October 6
"Blade Runner" (http://bladerunnermovie.com/) - A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.

"The Mountain Between Us" - Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain.

October 13
"The Snowman" (http://www.thesnowmanmovie.com/) - A detective investigates the disappearance of a woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman.

October 20
"Wonderstruck" - The story of a young boy in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl in New York from 50 years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection.

"Geostorm" (http://www.geostorm.movie/) - When the network of satellites designed to control the global climate start to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide storm wipes out everything.

October 27 
"Jigsaw" - Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one man: John Kramer.  The man known as Jigsaw has been dead for over a decade.

WonderCon 2017

[Originally posted on 4/02/17]

[For a blast from the past, check out these recaps from years past! http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/p/comiccon-wondercon.html]

After taking a detour to Los Angeles in 2016, WonderCon returned to Anaheim.  Having a root in San Francisco, WonderCon moved to Anaheim in 2012 and has had its annual convention there since.

I was there only on Saturday starting mid-day (didn't even have the time to go to any press events) and still enjoyed the day, even with the lack of movie and TV panels.  Below are some of the highlights:

"Scoring The Future: Writing Music for Sci-Fi"
In attendance: composers Greg Edmonson ("Firefly"), Andrew Lockington ("The Space Between Us"), Heather McIntosh ("Z for Zachariah"), Tree Adams ("The 100"), Michael Kramer ("LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures")

How do you score for something that doesn't yet exist?  That is the dilemma of composers of sci-fi movies and TV shows.  Composers utilize different types of methods; be it orchestra, traditional melody, acoustic, ethnic instruments, or mishmash of ordinary objects to create a new sound or the right pitch.  Read the script, look at the graphic artist's sketches, notice objects used in the show.  You can get a vibe from all of these.  Space offers inspiration too, the vastness of it makes you think of who you are and how you fit in the universe.  You want to push boundaries, and at the same time, connect with people.  The music doesn't have to be authentic to the region, but just have enough exoticness that would evoke a sense of wonderment.

***

"Inside the Writers Room"
In attendance: Gabrielle Stanton ("Time After Time," "The Flash"), Michael Narducci ("The Originals," "Medium"), Sarah Watson ("The Bold Type," "Parenthood"), Javier Grillo-Marxuach ("The Middleman," "Lost"), Ashley E. Miller ("Black Sails," "Fringe"), Steve Melching ("Star Wars Rebels," "Star Wars: The Clone Wars"), Jose Molina ("Agent Carter," "The Tick"), and Mark A. Altman ("The Librarians," "Agent X")

The panel discussed about what it takes to be a good screen writer and how they select aspiring writers from the pack. Good writers read, so pick up something that interests you and read.  You would have to be a team player and be able to collaborate, able to manage people even though you may be an introvert.  Great samples could get you in to the interview, but you would also need to work on your pitching skills as well and be confident.  One revealing question a panel member likes to ask interviewees is to ask them to speak about what they are passionate about.  Addressing a question from the audience about how to balance twists with the narrative is to write characters that people care about.  By doing so, the audience would have empathy for them.  Another tip is to write something that you're scared about.

***

Animated Shorts
l7 animated shorts from film festivals around the world.  Varied, creative, bold, adorable, wacky and weird.  The segment includes the Oscar-winning short "Piper" from Pixar (baby bird learning to conquer its fear of water) and Google's 360 degree virtual reality "Pearl" (father-daughter cross-country trip to chase their dreams).  You can view them both on YouTube.

***

"Annabelle: Creation" (August 11, 2017)
In attendance: director David Sandberg

Director David Sandberg brought a terrifying footage and first trailer of the origin story of Annabelle.  After their daughter's grisly death, a couple opens up their home to orphaned girls.  The girls are told they are not allowed into go into one room in the house, which looks to be their deceased daughter's room, still furnished as if she were alive.  Inevitably, one of the girls goes in.  She finds a mysterious key in a doll house inside the room and uses the key to unlock a hidden door on the wall.  Inside is the possessed doll, which will haunt the house occupants.  Don't think covering her up with a sheet and locking her up would make her stay in her place!  Then there's the trailer, which is now released and available online.

Sandberg enjoyed the audience's reaction, a mix of horror and laughter.  He's a fan of James Wan, whom he described as a "modern master of horror."  "Annabelle: Creation" gave him a chance to direct an old school horror movie, which shows in the camerawork and temp score.  One of his challenges in making the movie was the creation of the doll itself and some things didn't work out.  Down the line, Sandberg would like to have a bigger budget for horror movies, as it's often viewed as a lesser genre.

***

"Wonder Woman" (June 2, 2017)
In attendance: executive producer Geoff Johns, director Patty Jenkins

Not much is new as far as trailers go.  The fighting prowess of Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) in the battlefield is displayed through a trailer that has been previously released.  But there was a brief, new clip, expanding the alley scene in the trailer where the plain-clothed Diana and Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) are cornered and attacked.  The scene has a fun undertone; Diana shows off her nimble reflexes to throw off the attackers and their bullets to protect Steve.  The golden lasso and sword make an appearance.

Executive producer Geoff Johns and director Patty Jenkins went  in-depth to discuss the essence of Wonder Woman.  Heart, human and heroic. Telling a story about the origin of a superhero   connects a child, a person with these kinds of characters who end up getting the opportunity to make a difference in the world.  It also explores a person's hopes and dreams, to be a better person, to be more powerful in the world, and make a great choice when given the chance.

The story will portray conflict among Amazonians.  One side wants to protect her from the world and the other believes you can never protect someone from the truth.  Diana wants to be a hero. She believes in truth, justice, kindness, love and compassion.  She has a strong moral compass, her belief of what mankind can be, and she is willing to use force if necessary to keep humans safe.  That is her mission.  And this desire comes from a place within; she's not chosen or put in a situation that requires her to do so.

This is really Diana's journey.  The movie spends time to show her training to become a fighter because of the values that come with it; honor, respect and restraint.  The action scenes are described as natural, organic to the story.  Wonder Woman is one of the most powerful superheroes not only because she has superpowers, but also because she's a trained fighter.

The origin story is also a grand love story between Diana and Steve, which has a "Casablanca" feel.  Steve is modeled after Indiana Jones.  Super tough, world-weary, but self-deprecating with a sense humor.  He serves as a comic relief, yet conveys the depth of a man.  Jenkins praised Pine as skilled and his portrayal of the character nuanced.  The panel also praised the dynamic between Diana and Steve, the stunning performances Gadot and Pine delivered, both dramatic and comedic.

***

The size of the exhibit halls must have at least doubled.  While lacking in movie or TV props, it's jammed with comics and related merchandises, such as arts and illustrations, toys, games and costumes.  Celebrating Wonder Woman coming into the big screen, DC managed to spring a space to showcase the costume and had the movie director sign autographs.  Freebies distributed to lucky fans include posters, buttons, T-shirts, lip glosses and lip balms.

A standout goes to Comic-Con HQ, where it offered geeks an interactive experience, 'Discover Your Superhero Secret Identity.'  After picking a cartoon superhero from the available selections, you would stand in front of a green screen and move a piece of green cardboard in front of your body up and down.  An animated image would be generated.  Parts of your body covered with a cardboard would appear as the cartoon version of the superhero you selected.  Participants received their picture souvenir in an e-mail.

What's great about Anaheim's convention center is it has plenty of space for the crowd to gather  in front of the entrances.  The main entranceway was packed with fans and cosplayers, and street lined up with food trucks.

It's wonderful WonderCon returns to Anaheim, especially for San Diegans who are shut out of Comic-Con every year or those who want a more leisurely pop culture experience.  Speaking of Comic-Con, April 8 is your rare chance to gain that elusive access.  Badges will be on sale for the public at 9:00 a.m.  

While WonderCon is growing in popularity, it's still easy for anyone to get in.  Simply purchase a ticket online normally like you would any other show.  No lottery system, no waiting room, no counting down to the minutes.  I will be back next year!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/entertainment-events/wondercon-2017-highlights/

[click to enlarge pictures]

"Logan"

17 years.  That's how long Hugh Jackman has been playing Wolverine/Logan.  Not bad for an actor who was initially picked as a replacement for Dougray Scott, who wasn't able to take on the role in the original X-Men movie in 2000 due to a scheduling conflict.  Yet, it would be virtually impossible now to imagine anyone as the claw-wielding mutant than Jackman.

It feels like yesterday when I watched Jackman take center stage at Comic-Con in 2015.  He gave fans a heartfelt farewell and it was then when we knew his next solo movie would be his swan song. That time has finally come.

"Logan" takes place in 2029.  A bleak world where mutants are nearly extinct.  Wolverine is no longer in prime physical form.  His healing powers have deteriorated.  Wounds heal more slowly and leave scars.  He's older, bitter and battered.  Often seen drowning in liquor, coughing and carrying bloodshot eyes.

Logan makes a living as a limo driver, barely earning enough to care for  dementia-stricken Professor X/Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart).  Now a nonagenarian, the telepathic professor has to be fed pills periodically in order to prevent seizures.  Not just any regular seizure, but the kind that could paralyze the universe and kill people, a byproduct of possessing the most powerful mind ever known.

A limo robbery and murder put Logan back on the radar.  He is tracked down by a mysterious woman, Gabriela (Elizabeth Rodriguez), with a young girl named Laura (Dafne Keen) in tow.  Gabriela begs him to take them to cross the country's northern border to a safe haven for Laura's safety.  Gabriela turns out to be a nurse from a research facility in Mexico.  She has some horrifying story to share about experiments that go on inside the facility, directed by Dr. Rice (Richard E. Grant).

The desperate nurse is not the only one tracking him down.  The institution has dispatched soldiers, led by Pierce (Boyd Holbrook), a man with a cyborg hand, to capture Laura, or known to them as X-23.  Cut from the same primal cloth, X-23 has Adamantium retractable claws.  The difference is she has two instead of three on each hand and a claw on each foot.

Keen is fearless, ragingly capable.  The army of grown men learn the hard way not to mistake the child with pint-sized power.  And to Wolverine's bewilderment, X-23 wordlessly leaps and lunges, hacks and beheads, stabs and slices her opponents with feral intensity.  There may not have been any new mutant born in the real world in more than a couple of decades, but there might have been other means of creation.

Logan, Charles and Laura are on the run, embarking on a road trip to the border, even to Logan's reluctance, as he fears that the sanctuary does not actually exist.  A detour leads to a farm house and family moment, with poignant normalcy.  Then tragedy strikes close and culminates in a face-off in the forest.  Wolverine, who initially couldn't care less and has nearly lost his will to fight, roars back and gives everything he has.

Among X-Men, Wolverine has always been special and it's nice to see Jackman and Stewart (assuming this is his last appearance as well) share the final scenes of their X-Men chapter together. In a somber superhero story where desolate existence, aging and ailments take toll, the surrogate father-son bond and their moments are the highlight of the movie.  Those moments include surprisingly humorous instances, even among all the grimness and gore ("Logan" is R-rated).

Having followed the journeys of X-Men through eight movies, I would have liked to see flashbacks of how this version of the world has come to be.  There's a part of me that would like to believe that the other, optimistic version, imagined by the young, idealistic Professor X (James McAvoy) exist in an alternate timeline.

Returning director James Mangold closes the ending scene with a single, meaningful sign for Jackman's Wolverine.  A fitting farewell in this world,"Logan" is brutal and bittersweet.

Video: http://tinyurl.com/videologan

Upcoming Movies: July 2017

[Originally posted on 6/25/17]

July 7
"Spider-Man: Homecoming" (http://www.spidermanhomecoming.com/) - Following the events of "Captain America: Civil War", Peter Parker attempts to balance his life in high school with his superhero career as the web-slinging Spider-Man.

July 14
"War of the Planet of the Apes" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes) - After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.

July 21
"Dunkirk" (http://www.dunkirkmovie.com/) - Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada, and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.

"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" (http://valerianmovie.com/) - A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Two special operatives must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

July 28
"The Emoji Movie" - Gene, a multi-expressional emoji, sets out on a journey to become a normal emoji.

"Atomic Blonde" (http://www.atomicblonde.com/) - An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.

Upcoming Movies: August 2017

[Originally posted on 7/27/17]

August 4

"The Dark Tower" (http://www.thedarktower-movie.com/site/) - The Gunslinger roams an Old West-like landscape in pursuit of the man in black. Also searching for the fabled Dark Tower, in the hopes that reaching it will preserve his dying world.

"Midnight Sun" - Based on the Japanese film, Midnight Sun centers on a 17-year-old sheltered since childhood and confined to her house during the day by a rare disease that makes even the smallest amount of sunlight deadly. Fate intervenes when she meets someone and they embark on a summer romance.

August 11

"Anabelle: Creation" (http://annabellemovie.com/) - Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle.

"The Only Boy Living in New York" - Adrift in New York City, a recent college graduate's life is upended by his father's mistress.

August 18

"The Hitman's Bodyguard" (http://www.thehitmansbodyguard.movie/) - The world's top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.

August 25

"Tulip Fever" - An artist falls for a young married woman while he's commissioned to paint her portrait during the Tulip mania of 17th century Amsterdam.

2017 Movies Preview Mashup

[Originally posted on 3/12/17]

The year is still young... Check out this cool mashup, hundreds of 2017 movies in 5:18 minutes: