"Insurgent"

The second installment in the "Divergent" series, directed by a new director, Robert Schwentke ("RED"), picks up after the conclusion of "Divergent."

Tris (Shailene Woodley, “The Descendants”) and Four (Theo James), as divergents, now hunted and on the run after the decimation of the Abgenation faction, concocted by the ruthless leader of Erudite, Jeanine (Kate Winslet).  They’re accompanied by Tris’ brother, Caleb (Ansel Elgort), and her frenemy, Peter (Miles Teller).  The latter brings some well-needed humor in the bleak story.

In a dystopian society that is divided into five factions based on virtues (Abgenation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite), Jeanine sees Erudite as the fittest to take over the government and keep the peace.  Words have gotten out, however, that the coup was led by divergents, which make Tris and company fugitives.  They’re able to seek a sanctuary temporarily in Amity, until the land is swarmed by the Dauntless turncoats, loyal to Jeanine.

Caleb and Peter choose sides, although not without twists.  Tris and Four outrun armored tanks and gun fires and make a daring escape, hopping on a fast-moving freight train.  They run into Factionless and are forced into fierce hand-to-hand combats.  They finally end up in the Factionless headquarters and met by its leader, Evelyn (Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"), who has a history with Four. Whereas divergents are those who fit into more than one faction, factionless people are those who do not fit into any faction.  Four wants nothing to do with Evelyn (although it doesn’t last long) and traipses over to Candor to reunite with the rest of the Dauntless currently sheltered there.

Being known fugitives, Candor isn’t easily accepting and wish to turn Tris and Four over to the Council.  But when the truth serum is administered, deepest fears and painful truths are exposed and come to light.  It’s agonizing to see Tris’ suffering from the all-consuming loss, grief and guilt from losing her parents and best friend in the attack, her anger to avenge, and her dread that those who get close to her would die.

At Erudite, Jeanine shows a mystery box thought to contain message from the factions’ founders about the future of humans’ existence.  Divergents are not fitting into society and therefore she believes that they pose a threat and must be eradicated.  The irony is that the box can only be opened by a 'true' divergent, one that can pass all five factions’ tests.  And Tris, not surprisingly, is the chosen one.  Jeanine would stop at nothing to get her, including killing innocents.  Winslet and Woodley play out their characters’ antagonistic relationship well.

Tris, at her own volition, chooses to take the tests to end the killing. Each test is a potentially fatal simulation, testing how a divergent would take control or get out of a deadly situation using the dominant attribute of each faction.  

The simulations are surrealistically well-done. Characters and graphics are integrated seamlessly that while you’re intellectually aware they’re not real, they feel frighteningly real. Burning house floating over a city in ruin, skyscrapers crumble, people disintegrate into fragments, with Tris leaping, falling, running, tossing, tumbling, crushing, sliding and escaping – deciding which one is simulated and which one is real, trying to survive or save the ones she cares about.  The ultimate test is one where she has to face herself, accept what is, and leave the past behind.

“Insurgent” doesn’t delve much into the lives of the other characters that are part of the story or their connection to the main characters.  It moves fast from one action scene to another and the film feels cold as a whole.  But when the box finally opens and the message is delivered, it is indeed about the survival of mankind, except the message is not what has been propagated to the masses.  The storyline actually makes sense and that’s what helps the movie surge forward with hope and anticipation.

Humanity unites and “Insurgent” ends on a promising note of what’s to come in the horizon. “Allegiant: Part I” will be released in 2016.

http://tinyurl.com/insurgentbook

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"Cinderella"

From 2/26/15 press screening:

It's every little girl's fantasy. Being a princess. And among all the princesses, Cinderella is arguably the fairest of them all.

Director Kenneth Branagh (“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” “Thor”) took reign of adapting this timeless tale, “Cinderella.” Unlike the reinvention of the last several adaptations, which edges on the darker side, such as “Snow White and The Huntsman” and “Into the Woods,” or leans towards modern feminism in “Frozen” and “Maleficent,” “Cinderella” is a straightforward retelling of the classic, although it's not without surprising gems.

The story begins with a little girl named Ella (Lily James), who lives in a stately estate in a sunlit forest. Deeply loved and cherished by her parents, she has a golden childhood.  Before her mother (Hayley Atwell, “Captain America:The First Avenger”) passes due to illness, she imparts upon her young daughter to “have courage and be kind.” Ella grows up and continues to have a loving relationship with her father (Ben Chaplin) , a worldly merchant. The mansion is elegantly and artfully decorated with paintings, statues, tapestries, brocades and other craft items from his travels abroad.

Things start to change when Ella's father brings home a new stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett, “Hanna”) with her two daughters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera). Blanchett looks like she's having a ball, vamping up the role with style and malice. Ella's life becomes unbearable after her father dies and her sinister stepmother and snobbish stepsisters took full control. She's relegated to being a servant, sleeping in a dusty attic, serving their every need on hand and foot, and poorly treated in general. She's nicknamed Cinderella (from Cinder-Ella), since her face is often plastered with ash. While sorrowful, Ella continues to show kindness and takes joy in simple things, like friendship with her animated mice companions.

One day Ella rides into the forest to escape from her misery, she has a run-in with a handsome young man (Richard Madden), who unbeknownst to her, is Prince Charming. The down-to-earth prince is instantly enraptured by her spirit, beauty and goodness. They part ways without knowing each other's identity. 

Majestic views of the coastal kingdom, nestled among verdant mountains, will take your breath away.  Back at the castle, the prince is pushed by his father (Derek Jacobi) and adviser (Stellan Skarsgard) to find a princess and marry for the sake of the kingdom. A kingdom needs stability, which means a suitable, political marriage and an heir. The prince seizes the opportunity to hold a royal ball and open the invitations to every maiden in the land, with the hope of finding the mystery girl who has captured his heart. At his deathbed, the king wises up and gives his blessing for his son to marry for love. It's a tender exchange mirroring Ella's final scene with her mother.

While in despair for not being able to attend the royal ball, fairy godmother, gleefully played by Helena Bonham Carter (“Les Miserables,” "The King's Speech") makes her presence known to Cinderella, after initially testing her for kindness. The fairy magic does wonders. It's magical to see Cinderella transform, twirl and glow in the shimmery ball gown and sparkling glass slippers. And the rest is a delightful treat because of the gradual transmutations where you can still see partial semblance to the original forms. From pumpkin turning carriage, mice into horses, goose into coachman, lizards into footmen, and back to their origins. 

At the entrance of the ballroom, Cinderella glides through the staircase and sparkles among a sea of colors as the belle of the ball. She enchants everyone's attention, especially the prince's, who asks her for a dance. They only have eyes for each other and gracefully dance. They step out and talk, and while Cinderella is now aware of the identity of the man she met in the forest, the prince is still in the dark. 

True to the original, Cinderella dashes before the clock strikes midnight and accidentally slips out of one of her glass slippers. The prince vows to find her and orders a kingdom-wide search. The right maiden who will fit into the slipper.  He's smart enough to know there may be forces against him and takes precaution to ensure that the searches would be thorough and fair. 

Lady Tremaine eventually finds out that Cinderella was the "mystery princess." She makes a wicked offer to take advantage of Cinderella's position, one that she could easily accept as a way out, but promptly refuses. She then makes a last-ditch effort to lock Cinderella in the attic and hide her from sight. Love, of course, finds a way, and Cinderella is reunited with her prince. For an old-fashioned story, it ends with an empowering message to speak your mind, stay true to yourself and have the courage to do the right thing. James is excellent throughout; she not only radiates Cinderella's humility, pure-heartedness and innocence, but she also carries her with poise and confidence.

Lushly gorgeous and opulently vibrant, “Cinderella” is so earnest and charming that you'll be swept away in the dreamy fairy-tale romance and magic of happily ever-after.

https://www.thecoastnews.com/film-review-cinderella-is-right-fit-for-happily-ever-after/

DVD (animation): https://tinyurl.com/cinderellaoriginaldvd
DVD (2015): https://tinyurl.com/cinderelladvd2015
Blu-ray (2015): https://tinyurl.com/cinderellabluray

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"Kingsman: The Secret Service"

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is one of the movies that could be really bad or really good. Luckily, it's the latter. I first caught a teaser last spring at WonderCon and then at a press conference with the stars last summer at Comic-Con. I was immediately intrigued. The movie looked unique and different. It's like the earlier James Bond movies, meet “Spy Kids,” but not quite. Especially with dramatic actor Colin Firth (“The King's Speech”) as the lead, playing against type, mixed with Marvel's go-to handler Samuel L. Jackson (“The Avengers,” "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "Thor"), and directed by the director who directed one of the best superhero movies of all-time, Matthew Vaughn (“X-Men: First Class”), it could be a bloody good movie. Indeed.

Firth is Harry Hart, a veteran kingsman, is a member of an elite spy organization that operates outside of the British government. Kingsman gets critical missions done effectively outside of bureaucracy or politics. He comes to the aid of Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a young man running in trouble with the law. Eggsy's father was a kingsman, who died in the line of duty, saving Harry and his fellow agents. Harry takes Eggsy under his wing, offering him a spot as a trainee in the top secret spy training program. He sees a smart young man full of potentials, who can do much more with his life. The movie lightly touches on class divisions and how one can change his life forward, even without having the privilege of being been born with a silver spoon. Being a gentleman is a learned skill; down to the tailored suit and Oxford shoes.

Valentine (Jackson), a megalomaniac mastermind, is hellbent on world domination. Through biological warfare, he intends to use mind-control technology to steer humans to destroy one another, in order to rid of overpopulation and start anew with the select few, such as the rich, celebrities, prominent business and academic figures, dignitaries and politicians under his control. The way he does this and how it all goes down is something that must be seen to be believed. Gloriously preposterous, ultra-violently fun.

The opening action scenes are impressively eye-popping. The first is the snowy mountaintop cabin massacre, introducing Valentine's henchwoman, Gazelle (Sofia Boutella), cleanly slices a man in half with her metal blade feet. The second is the bar scene, where Eggsy is getting an eyeful of his soon-to-be-mentor, a mild-mannered gentleman, Harry, showing his expert fighting skills disarming several bullies, partly using his umbrella, beer mug and darts. Later he demonstrates his prowess again in a crazed mass-fight in a church.  

From there, the movie continues to roll fast, ferocious and uproarious. Eggsy meets the head honcho of the spy training program, Arthur (Michael Caine, “The Dark Knight” trilogy), tech master, Merlin (Mark Strong, “The Imitation Game”), and his fellow recruits. The recruits are tested and pushed to the limit through a series of thrillingly twisted sessions; immersed in water, exhilarating skydive and air spinning, trapped on a train track, and finally firing a bullet during a high stake moment. What makes these more effective is because a scene can start or appear innocuous and then you'd realize it's part of the test. Those who do not pass are let go.

Eggsy and a fellow recruit prove themselves to be more than capable when they're called on to stop Valentine from fully realizing his evil plan and subsequently save the world. It's a massive, explosive (literally) showdown not to be missed.

Firth can add another notch to his seasoned acting belt, as he joins the league of late-bloomer action stars here. Egerton is a newcomer no more. He carries his own weight, with a witty, nonchalant confidence and believable fighting chops. Jackson looks like he's giving us self-aware winks with this role, a play that shouldn't be taken seriously.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” has substance, even as it's heavy with style. It has a plot and twists, pays homage to the spy genre and brings back the fun. It's dynamically directed, sensationally choreographed and exemplarily executed. As a disclaimer, some of the violent elements (and must be one of the highest body counts filmed) or crude language may be a bit much for the sensitive or squeamish. It should be noted though that the violence tends to be 'comic-book' style, so it's not close-to-reality gore, which makes it much easier on eyes.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is absurdly over-the-top, sleekly stylized, expansive and inventive, and most importantly, outrageously fun. And come to think of it, it's the most fun I've had at the movies in a long time.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-kingsman-the-secret-service/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/kingsmandvd

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2015 Awards Season: Feature Film Highlights

The Academy Awards show is taking place earlier this year (February 22), but there's still time to catch up on some of the nominated movies! (up for best picture, directing, writing, acting, visual effects, music).  As in previous years, I've picked a half dozen highlights.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/2015-awards-season-feature-film-highlights/

***

"American Sniper"

The opening scene strikes terror in your heart and the firing sound will make your heart feel like it stop beating for a minute. Throughout four tours, Chris Kyle is forced to make split-second decisions with supreme precision, every single time.  Each time he returns, he's not the same man that left.  Most of us would never experience the horrors of the battleground, let alone make the life-or-death choices that Chris did, where he's credited to be the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with 160 confirmed kills. The story is brought to the screen just right.  And realistic.  The film does not shy away from the brutal reality of war, but it also feels close to heart. You'll hold your breath and feel every trigger pulled, every shot fired or blood splattered. It demonstrates costly personal ramifications, without glorifying the decorated war hero. An accomplished filmmaking and one of the finest, real and personal, harrowing and absorbing. An “as is” story, that tells the life of Chris Kyle.  There's a collective applause and then reverent silence filled the theater as closing images concluded the film. “American Sniper” honors the memory of Chris Kyle, an exemplary life of service and sacrifice.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"The Imitation Game"

In 1939, Alan Turing applies for a cryptographer job at a secret government school and begins working on a stealth project, deciphering Enigma. If successfully decoded, the device would reveal military strategies and surprised attack plans deployed by the Nazis.  The device resets itself every midnight and there are 159 million combinations. Alan focuses all his efforts into creating a machine that could instantly decode those complicated codes.  A defining moment happens when the machine finally works and the team has to decide on the next step, which in essence, decides who lives and dies.  It painfully remains a secret they have decoded Enigma so that the Germans would never suspect and adjust their strategies.  This achievement has been credited to shortening World War II by more than a couple of years and saving millions of lives.  If one were to conjure up a heroic character, it would be hard pressed to imagine someone like Alan Turing.  Yet he is, and knowing how he lives towards the end of his life – after all he's contributed to humanity – makes it the more tragic.  Paced like a ticking clock and suspensefully unfolded, “The Imitation Game” purposefully hits the mark in shining the light on one the most heroic figures of the 20th century.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"The Theory of Everything"

The film tells a life story of the world-renowned astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking.  More of a love story than intellectual discoveries, it’s told from his first wife’s perspective, Jane.  Stephen is first introduced as a vibrant young man with a brilliant scientific mind and quirky humor, quickly charming an arts student, Jane.  Stephen receives a devastating diagnosis, degenerative motor neuron disease with an estimated life expectancy of two years.   As the deadly disease progresses, he gradually loses his abilities to do routine things.  It is painful to watch and serves as a powerful reminder of how much we take everyday living for granted.  His brilliant mind remains, however.  It’s the singular thing that he has control over and continues to put to great use.  Life eventually does take a toll on Jane as a primary caretaker as Stephen's life stretches for many years, but through it all, Jane and Stephen’s bond is lifelong.  They’re shown as very human and fully realized. Filled with much life, love and tears, and sprinkled with laughter, “The Theory of Everything” is a beautiful film. Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"Gone Girl"

Nick and Amy Dunne are a married couple with marital woes.  In the morning of their 5th wedding anniversary, Nick comes home to find the door to his house open, smashed coffee table, and no sight of Amy. Yet everything else appears suspiciously neat and immaculate. It becomes very apparent right away that things are not what they seem. Nick's nonchalance and unsettling clues left by Amy, along with Nick's own missteps make him a prime suspect. With Amy being sensationalized as America's sweetheart, Nick is guilty in the eyes of the public. While continuing to maintain his innocence, he finds himself running out of options and turns to a slick celebrity defense attorney.  They uncover each layer of mystery and finds out what really happens.  The film does feel long, but deft direction, sharp storytelling, purposeful pacing, brisk dialogue intermingled with surprising dark humor, accompanied by an eerie score maintain the suspense and keep us guessing. What begins as a whodunit puzzle unfolds as a complex, character-driven page-turner, ending with a brutally bizarre twist.  Meticulously constructed, “Gone Girl” is layered with intricacy and laced with dread and wit. A deliriously diabolical psychological thriller, it won't be gone from our collective mind anytime soon.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"Nightcrawler"

Lou Bloom is desperate for a job, scours and scrapes for anything. One night he runs into a freelance videographer filming a crash rescue, a footage that can be sold to the highest bidding news station. This speaks to him.  Riding a beat-up car and equipped with an amateur police scanner and cheap camcorder, Lou is in business and thrives. Lines are crossed, as Lou realizes that power and dollars come with getting the right shots at all costs.  It's not just creeping or crawling into any crash, fire, murder, stabbing or carjacking. There's such thing as the “right” neighborhood, the “right” victim or the “right” circumstance. So what's the harm in manipulating frames at crime scenes?  It gets the message across, scores and praises. But at what point a line is crossed to the point of no return?  Nightcrawler” is a great macabre satire about how news are made, packaged and pushed to the limit behind the scene, sensationalized and consumed by the public, and those who profit from tragedies and atrocities. A dark comedy and thriller rolled into one.  There's something to be said about the public's appetite for ghastly sensationalism. As long as people are watching and ratings are soaring, the media would continue to publish. And that, is where the horror lies.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"Interstellar"

Earth is on life support, on the edge of extinction. Cooper, a former astronaut, returns to his calling for a journey to the unknown.  A wormhole has been found, which may be the key to find another place in space for humanity.  Time is truly of the essence and there's a sense of scarcity. Every decision must be thought out thoroughly and calculated carefully.  In one planet, an hour translates to seven years on earth.  One mistake could cost decades and humans' extinction.  “Interstellar” is a duel of philosophies, one for being human and feeling connected to our loved ones and our generation, and the other obligations to reach higher and do something greater for the future survival of mankind. And at its heart, an emotional tale between father and daughter that transcends time and space. The visuals are vast and victorious. Majestically framed and filmed, they invoke a sense of awe.  The score impeccably underscores tense moments peaking with crescendo and cutting into silence. “Interstellar” is imperfectly perfect in its stellar storytelling, simplicity of the plot and complicated details. A celestial tapestry of space exploration, time bender and heartfelt human story, it earns its place among the stars.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

And a shout to fellow superhero fans... not only "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" ruled the box offices, they've earned critical acclaims as well and been nominated for visual effects.

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"San Andreas"

[Originally posted on 5/31/15]

Grounds crack and split, skyscrapers topple and fall, landmarks destroyed, tsumani wipeout, ships crash into land, bridges snap, the air thick with debris and ashes.

"San Andreas" depicts in great realism (as realistic as the most unlikely scenario could be) if (when) the overdue "The Big One" happens in earthquake central, California. As a precursor to the main event, a car perching cliffside after multiple flips and dam bursting in the beginning are effectively tension-filled.

The story focuses on a nuclear family where a fire and rescue personnel races to save his estranged ex-wife and daughter in time.  The skydiving and speedboat riding add a different touch to the shaking and falling stuff.   The women may still rescuing, but they're also resourceful and quick thinkers.

I found the global disaster "2012" more entertaining as a whole, but there's plenty of mayhem escapism to enjoy in "San Andreas."

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/sanandreasvideo
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/sanandreasdvd

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Upcoming Movies: June 2015

[Originally published on 5/30/15]

June 5
"Entourage" (http://entouragemovie.com/) - Movie star Vincent Chase, together with his boys Eric, Turtle, and Johnny, are back - and back in business with super agent-turned-studio head Ari Gold.

"Spy" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/spy) - A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.

June 12
"Jurassic World" (http://www.jurassicworld.com/) - Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.

June 19
"Inside Out" (http://movies.disney.com/inside-out/) - After a girl moves to a new home, her emotions are plunged into chaos as they compete for control of her mind.

"Inifinitely Polar Bear" - A manic-depressive mess of a father tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don't make the overwhelming task any easier.

June 26
"Ted 2" (http://www.legalizeted.com/) - Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law.

"Big Game" - A young teenager camping in the woods helps rescue the President of the United States when Air Force One is shot down near his campsite.

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Summer Blockbusters Montage 2015

[Originally posted on 4/21/15]

Get ready for an explosive summer!  Summer blockbusters montage in under 5 minutes:

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Upcoming Movies: May 2015

[Originally posted on 4/28/15]

May 1
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" (http://marvel.com/avengers) - When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

"Far from the Madding Crowd" - In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor.

May 8
"Hot Pursuit" - An inept police officer must protect the widow of a drug dealer from criminals and dirty policemen.

May 15
"Mad Max: Fury Road" (http://www.madmaxmovie.com/) - In a post-apocalyptic world, in which people fight to the death, Max teams up with a mysterious woman, Furiousa, to try and survive.

"Pitch Perfect 2" (http://www.pitchperfectmovie.com/) - After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has never won in order to regain their status and right to perform.

May 22
"Tomorrowland" (http://movies.disney.com/tomorrowland/) - Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

May 29 
"San Andreas" (http://sanandreasmovie.com/) - In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter.

"Aloha" - A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.

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Free Comic Book Day - May 2, 2015

[Originally posted on 4/30/15]

For those of you comic book fans, don't forget this Saturday is the Free Comic Book Day!  Grab your free copies at your nearest store: http://www.freecomicbookday.com

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The Marvel Experience

In recent years, the name 'Marvel' inspires trust and draws fans everywhere, for it being synonymous with high-quality blockbusters. It has raised the bar were high for superheroes, year after year, as proven again last year with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and even catapulted obscured characters in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” to worldwide recognition. And ask anyone who attends Comic-Con; it's consistently one of the most popular and packed panels.

The Marvel Experience took place in colossal domes. The first entry point was a memorable takeaway of the experience, where each visitor was asked to create a custom S.H.I.E.L.D “recruit” ID badge, complete with an individual photo. The badge was sent via e-mail as a souvenir. Anyone who felt uneasy and thought that this as a marketing ploy to get demographic information could simply put in random information (there's even a 'species' line where we're given options like human, superhuman, android, etc.). It's harmless. I was impressed with how authentic the badge looked! (I would have posted it here had I not used my personal information)  Enthusiastic staff, dressed in black S.H.I.E.L.D t-shirts, addressed every guest as “recruit” and handed individual Marvel bracelets as we went in. We were told that we would need it later.

Visitors were grouped in batches and let in as the first dome was filled to capacity. We watched some Marvel TV clips before moving on to the main domes. The next two domes had displays, such as weapons used by the Marvel superheroes (shield, sword, hammer, stingers, headband, and many more). Granted, they're more like toys than real movie props exhibited at Comic-Con, but still interesting to view. There were also origin stories and information about those characters, including familiar characters in the Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, Spider- Man) and other lesser known ones (She-Hulk, Iron Fist, Panther).

Interactive games were the bulk of the attractions, most notably, “training sessions” by our favorite superheroes. Iron Man's flight. Black Widow's laser maze course. Spider-Man's moving rock walls (mainly for kids). Thor's holoblaster (shooting). Hulk's drone blasting. And Avenger's holographic encounter. Other than Black Widow 's and Spider Man's, the majority involves interacting with video screens to mimic those characters' movements, targeting and obliterating their respective obstacles or enemies. Scores were tallied.

What I found most interesting was the Avengers one, where a distinct movement style would “summon” a certain Avenger and I'd see myself on the screen with said Avenger standing next to me or in a fighting mode. A salute gesture would bring forth Captain America, standing tall and ready to soar Iron Man, clasp arms Nick Fury, hulking out Hulk, fighting position Black Widow. The way the projection appeared truly looked like these superheroes were present among us. It's quite neat.

Leaving this dome (no return privilege) and entering a replica model of Quinjet, the Avengers' jet, took us to the “advanced” training session, a 360 degree, stereoscopic 3-D show in a simularium. We looked up and followed the superheroes breaking into Hydra headquarters and battling its army. There's no sitting, but I found it fortunate to be standing at the back corner of the room where I was able to view the projection almost all around and get the most benefit. Like anything in an amusement park, it lasted only minutes and was just too short, unfortunately.

The last session was a simulation ride, with chairs that tilted, lifted, rocked and rumbled. During certain scenes, there was air blowing as an added effect. Each guest was asked to use the Marvel bracelet, an interactive part of the scenes, where we're assisting the superheroes to defeat the enemy. The ride was very gentle that no seat belt was needed.

When I first heard of the Marvel Experience, the inner superhero kid in me was so excited and couldn't wait until it arrived in San Diego. However, there were a lot of doubt with unfavorable reviews from a couple other cities where it was previously held. I tempered my expectations and decided to go anyway. As a Marvel fan, there's no way that I would have missed it. In the end, it's nothing compared to Universal Studios or Disneyland, but it was never meant to compete with either in the first place. And the absence of costumed characters or images of the stars from the movies didn't dampen the experience.

Some activities may be what you'd consider cheesy, but they're all in good fun. I spent a solid three hours, and if not because of the lines, I probably would have tried every activity. The verdict? I really enjoyed it for what it was!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/the-marvel-experience/

[Click to enlarge pictures]

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Academy Awards 2015

[Originally posted on 2/22/15]

Hosted by multi-talented performer Neil Patrick Harris, the 87^th Academy Awards opened with the stage awash in glittery splendor of reds and golds. Harris started off with a biting opening line, “Tonight, we honor Hollywood's best and whitest – sorry, brightest.” He broke into songs with satirical lyrics and appeared to perform magic tricks against the backdrop of moving pictures, interrupted with cameos from Anna Kendrick looking for a lost Cinderella's slipper and Jack Black mocking superhero movies.

Harris made fun of rich stars receiving swag bags worth of $165K each, claiming that an armored car was part of the gifts, which would be needed should there be a revolution. There was a hilarious enactment of Michael Keaton's hallway-walking-in-underwear scene from “Birdman,” in which Harris stripped down and braved the stage dressed in his skivvies.

The first award of the night went to J.K. Simmons as Best Actor for “Whiplash.” The movie grabbed two more awards later in the show, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. “American Sniper,” where sound played a huge role in enhancing the tension-filled story, earned a win with Best Sound Editing.

Visuals, dominated by sci-fi and superheroes, awarded “Interstellar” with Best Visual Effects award, a film that sweeps the eyes with expansive and imaginative imageries.

The outlandishly delightful “The Grand Budapest Hotel” scored one win after another, with Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hair Styling, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score.

The Academy Award voters went with “Big Hero 6” for Best Animated Feature, in contrast with Golden Globes' "How to Train Your Dragon 2."  

Patricia Arquette, who dominated the awards circuit, won Best Supporting Actress. She used part of her speech to advocate for equal wages and rights for women, to the cheers of the star-studded audience. Julianne Moore, bestowed with Best Actress award, graciously mentioned that there was really no 'best actress,' as she was there with them every step of the way. She's glad that the movie brought more awareness to Alzheimer, which could be a very isolating disease. On a lighter note, she joked that she heard winning an Oscar would add one's life expectancy by five years, and if that was the case, she'd thank the Academy because her husband was younger than her.

Eddie Redmayne giddily brought home the gold as Best Actor. There was a spontaneous awe and joy in his acceptance. He dedicated the statue to those around the world with ALS and the Hawking family. He recognized his fortune and zealously said that he would take care and polish the statue. While it had been said that Best Actor race was a strong one, there was never a doubt in my mind as soon as I finished seeing “The Theory of Everything” that Redmayne would go all the way to the Oscars and take it. It's such a life-changing performance.

Best Adapted Screenplay prize went to “The Imitation Game," enthusiastically and humbly accepted by Graham Moore, who made a personal confession about a suicide attempt at age 16 and dedicated the honor to the kid(s) who might feel alone or didn't belong. Moore assured that they did and asked them to stay weird, stay different, and to pass along the message to the next person they reached this stage someday.

“Birdman” nabbed Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Director trophies. Director Alejandro Inarritu gave a grateful, all-encompassing speech, and apologized in case he forgot anyone. The film also took top honor as Best Picture. Inarittu later took the stage again and dedicated the triumph for fellow Mexicans, for those in Mexico with the hope of building a government they deserved, and those in this country, who helped build this immigrant nation, and to be treated with dignity and respect. Last year, another Mexican-born filmmaker, Alfonso Cuaron, won Best Director for “Gravity.” 

In a night with no clear frontrunner, it's good to see many first-timers won and those with deeply personal messages were able to speak from the heart and used the platform to reach out to the masses.

Meryl Streep presented the in memoriam piece, remembering those in the business who have passed in the last year, concluded by Jennifer Hudson's stirring tribute, “I Can't Let Go.”

For entertainment, Adam Levine performed a solo with a nominated song “Lost Stars,” Rita Ora with”Grateful,” and John Legend and Common with “Glory.” “Glory,” which earned a standing ovation and teary eyes from the audience, also took home Best Original Song award. Lady Gaga performed classics of “The Sound of Music” with a live orchestra, simply and classily (no outrageous costumes or antics). Julie Andrews made a surprise appearance, embracing Gaga after her lovely performance. “The Lego Movie” took part with a multitude of characters singing and dancing to its catchy tune, “Everything is Awesome.”

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/academy-awards-2015/

And the Oscar goes to...

Best Supporting Actor

JK Simmons - Whiplash

Best Costume Design

Milena Canonero - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Sound Mixing

Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, Thomas Curley - Whiplash

Best Sound Editing

Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman - American Sniper

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette - Boyhood

Best Visual Effects

Paul J Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott R Fisher - Interstellar

Best Animated Feature

Don Hall, Chris Williams - Big Hero 6 

Best Production Design

Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Cinematography

Emmanuel Lubezki - Birdman

Best Film Editing

Tom Cross - Whiplash

Best Original Song

Lonnie Lynn (Common), John Stephens (John Legend) - "Glory," Selma

Best Original Score

Alexandre Desplat – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Screenplay

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo – Birdman

Best Adapted Screenplay

Graham Moore – The Imitation Game

Best Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman

Best Actor

Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything

Best Actress

Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Best Picture

Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole - Birdman

For a full list of winners, visit the official website.

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Upcoming Movies: April 2015

[Originally posted on 3/31/15]

April 3
"Furious 7" (http://www.furious7.com) - Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for the death of his brother.

"Woman in Gold" - Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.

April 10
"Ex Machina" (http://exmachina-movie.com) - A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

"The Longest Ride" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-longest-ride) - The lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man as he reflects back on a lost love while he's trapped in an automobile crash.

April 17
"True Story" - The relationship between journalist Michael Finkel and Christian Longo, an FBI Most Wanted List murderer who for years lived outside the U.S. under Finkel's name.

"Child 44" (http://www.child44film.com) - A disgraced member of the military police investigates a series of nasty child murders during the Stalin-era Soviet Union.

April 24
"The Age of Adaline" - A young woman, born at the turn of 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After years of a solitary life, she meets a man who might be worth losing her immortality.

"The Water Diviner" - An Australian man travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons.

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"American Sniper"

“There's a war out there. And people are dying.”

Uttered by Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”), driving along the freeway in Texas with his pregnant wife, Taya (Sienna Miller, “ G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra”), sitting next to him. Back from his first tour of duty, Chris is restless and finds it an annoyance when he's asked how he's doing. He insists he's fine – the weather is sunny and clear, and he's driving to the mall. He wonders that people go about their lives, blissfully oblivious to the other side of his world, where every waking minute could be your last or the person whom you're chatting with may drop dead in an instant.

The opening scene, with Chris' rifle lens zooming into a child and is primed to shoot, is in the trailer, but it doesn't lessen the tension. It strikes terror in your heart and the firing sound will make your heart feel like it stop beating for a minute. Throughout Chris' four tours, there are moments like this, where he is forced to make split-second decisions with supreme precision, every single time. One missed, late or wrong move could mean the death of his comrades or loss of lives of innocent civilians. And the enemy comes in different forms, not just armed men, but women or children as well, or termed as “savages,” so one could carry on his duty, purposely taking human lives to save the lives of many others.

Known as the “legend” with his many kills, troops feel invisible by having Chris positioned on rooftops watching over them. But Chris has said that he can't always protect them because he can't shoot what he can't see. From time to time he joins the ground troops, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them, knocking on doors and hunting for targets.

The film glimpses back to Chris' childhood in Texas, growing up with a stern father who taught him hunting in the woods and standing up for himself. Chris grows up protective of his little brother, and at 30, he signs up with the SEALs. An aspiring cowboy, he feels that he's meant for something more. Flashbacks also show a spirited meet-cute with his future wife over shots in a bar, with chemistry apparent between Cooper and Miller. Even with Taya's hesitation over the life ahead, they end up married and have kids. Private moments stateside or by telephone are interspersed with combat scenes a world away.

Each time Chris returns from his tour, he's not the same man that left. He becomes acutely aware of his surroundings and ultra-sensitive to certain sounds and sights. He looks disconnected, discomfort, sometimes subtly, eyes distant and avoidant. He feels guilty, but not for the reason you may think. This man has such conviction and courage to act on his belief as a consummate professional doing his job, but not without conscience. Fragments of touching personal moments are shown in pieces, pleadings from his wife for him to be 'human' again and come back to her, an encounter and chat in an auto shop with a soldier he saved from the battlefield, close bonds with his brothers in the armed forces in the war zones and at the VA center.

Cooper packed 40 lbs. of muscles and appears physically imposing, but his embodiment of the legendary sniper is also much in spirit. You'll see him simply as Chris Kyle, whether fighting in action or his inner battle. Never missing a beat, it's a performance that throws him into the best actor awards spotlight, joining fellow actors such as Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything” and Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game.” Miller turns in a strong performance as well as a conflicted wife, torn between understanding her husband's need to serve the country and protect others, and her need for him to be home and be there for her and their kids.

Most of us would never experience first-hand the horrors of the battleground, let alone make the life-or-death choices that Chris Kyle did, where he's credited to be the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with 160 confirmed kills. Directed by Clint Eastwood (“Hereafter”), the story of “American Sniper” is brought to the screen just right. And realistic.

The film does not shy away from the brutal reality of war, but it also feels close to heart (edging “Zero Dark Thirty”). You'll hold your breath and feel every trigger pulled, every shot fired or blood splattered. It demonstrates costly personal ramifications, without glorifying the decorated war hero. An accomplished filmmaking and one of the finest, real and personal, harrowing and absorbing. An “as is” story, that tells the life of Chris Kyle.

There's a collective applause and then reverent silence filled the theater as closing images concluded the film. “American Sniper” honors the memory of Chris Kyle, an exemplary life of service and sacrifice.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-american-sniper/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/americansnipereastwood

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/americansnipercooper

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Upcoming Movies: March 2015

[Originally posted on 3/01/15]

March 6
"Chappie" (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/chappie/) - In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.

"Still Alice" (http://sonyclassics.com/stillalice/) - A happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, she and her family find their bonds tested.

March 13
"Cinderella" (http://movies.disney.com/cinderella/) - A live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale about a servant step-daughter who wins the heart of a prince.

"Run All Night" - An aging hitman is forced to take on his brutal former boss to protect his estranged son and his family.

March 20
"Insurgent" (http://www.thedivergentseries.com) - Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.

"The Gunman" - A former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name.

March 27
"Home" (http://www.meettheboov.com) - When a loveable misfit from another planet, he lands on Earth and finds himself on the run from his own people.  He forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl on a quest of her own. Through a series of comic adventures, he comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human. And while he changes her planet and she changes his world, they discover the true meaning of the word "home."

"Serena" (http://www.magpictures.com/serena/) - During the depression-era North Carolina, the future of one man's timber empire becomes complicated when he marries.

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"Big Eyes"

A strange true story, “Big Eyes” documents the story of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams, “American Hustle,” “Man of Steel”), a successful, closet painter in the golden era of the ‘50s and ‘60s. 

Leaving her husband with her daughter in tow, Margaret starts a new life in San Francisco and struggles to get by, displaying her paintings for sale and underpricing them at local fairs.  Margaret, as many women during that period, has never had her own life and feels backed into a corner with her ex-husband wants to get custody of their daughter.  A smarmy real estate salesman and Sunday painter, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), charms his way into her life fast and the two soon marry. 

Initially the Keanes tries to sell their paintings individually.  Hers, inspired by her daughter, are paintings of children with waif figures and big, hollow eyes.  His are street-and-building scenes based on his time in Paris – or so he says.  An encounter with a patron of a club where their paintings are displayed leads to a misunderstanding as to who paints those big-eyed children pictures.  And when an incident lands one of the paintings on the front page of a newspaper, Walter, an aggressive self-promoter and aspiring artist, proclaims that he is the painter, not his wife. 

Fame and fortune follow.  That one recognition opens the door to a ton of other opportunities.  The Keanes are now able to open their own gallery and lead a cushy lifestyle.  Walter is the driver behind all the promotion, from connecting to public figures and media, and eventually gets Margaret’s paintings mass-produced and sold all over the world – all the while taking full credit for his wife’s work. 

Margaret is reluctantly supportive of their charade, grows resentful and miserable, and becomes estranged from her daughter, who knows the truth.  Lies that enormous could only last for so long.  While Margaret knows she marries a huckster, she’s forced to leave everything behind when Walter reveals his violent tempers, following an altercation with a top art critic (Terrence Stamp,"The Adjustment Bureau").  Surprisingly chilling. 

Starting like a blank canvas in an another state, living away from Walter and getting close to her daughter again, subservient Margaret at last musters up the courage to tell the truth to the world and brings Walter to court.  The courtroom scene, feels preposterously staged, is admittedly amusing.

Waltz performs his con-artist role with over-exaggerated gestures, like a caricature in parts.  Adams is the real artist here, making her a contender to Rosamund Pike's performance in “Gone Girl” and Felicity Jones in “The Theory of Everything.” Margaret’s repressed, conflicted emotions are subtly shown through her delicate features and vocal tones, beginning with a single look when Margaret first realizes her husband’s deception.  To her, art is personal and touches lives, not simply a commodity that is sold at the right place and price. 

“Big Eyes” is a curiously conventional picture from director Tim Burton, known for his fantasy-based films.  The opening scenery appears almost like a painting and the rest sun-dappled and candy-colored polished.  A melodrama with a comic touch, “Big Eyes,” is not meant to be a masterpiece, rather, an entertaining piece of art.  

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-big-eyes/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bigeyeskeane

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/bigeyeskeanes

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The 25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015

The Wrap posted a list of the 25 most anticipated movies of 2015, covering a broad spectrum of genres... action, adventure, drama, romance, thriller, sci-fi, superheroes, comedy, musical.  You can expect guaranteed blockbusters, such as ("Jupiter Ascending" and "Insurgent" missing from the list) "Avengers: Age of Ultron" "Furious 7," "Jurassic World," "Ant-Man," "Spectre" (Bond), "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II," Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and also a number of smaller or indie films.

Check this out for titles, dates, images and trailers:
http://tinyurl.com/2015anticipatedmovies

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