"Snowden"

[For a live panel with director Oliver Stone and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley and Zachary Quinto, check out the Comic-Con 2016 recap here]

"Some people coast through life happily.  Why can't I?"

Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt; "The Walk," "Lincoln," "Premium Rush," "The Dark Knight Rises," "Inception") reflects on his inner dilemma with his life's choices and the trajectory he is on.

Trice-Oscar winner, director Oliver Stone ("Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps") zooms into Snowden's life and his infamous rise from obscurity by leaking the largest classified information concerning the U.S. government's mass-surveillance operations.

The film captures the furtive meetings in June 2013 in a hotel room in Hong Kong between Snowden and The Guardian journalists Glenn Greenwald (Zachary Quinto, "Hitman: Agent 47") and Ewen MacAskill (Tom Wilkinson, "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," "The Debt") and documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras (Melissa Leo, "Oblivion"). The interviews provides in-depth views into Snowden's earlier years prior to becoming what arguably the most admired and derided hacker and whistleblower in modern history.

Snowden trained in the army until a knee injury disrupted his aspiration.  His sense of patriotism pushed him to find other ways into serving his country.  And as a self-taught programmer, that means behind the screen.  The reserved high school dropout, computer prodigy was accepted by the CIA and NSA, impressing and forming a bond with his mentor, Corbin O'Brien (Rhys Ifans, "The Amazing Spider-Man"), from the very start.  His brain earns admirations and takes him to posh jobs in Geneva, Japan and Hawaii, connecting him with high-ranking officials in intelligence.

Before mass-surveillance made the headlines around the world, "Snowden" takes us into a staggering ride behind the scene on how Snowden anxiously learns bit by bit about how the war on terror goes on in the cyber world.  The pieces become a puzzle, and an alarming revelation and questions about the legality and ethicality of our government's conduct.

The U.S. government is not simply spying on targets, or even world leaders or corporation heads; it has backdoors into millions and millions of social media accounts, e-mails, calls and chats of average citizens, including front row seats into live webcams.  One may not have anything to hide, but there is an undeniably startling factor.  It may have started with the intention of thwarting terrorism threats, but it has turned into gaining political, economical and social advantage of other countries.  It's a covert global program that doesn't discriminate.

Snowden started with a clean slate, but knowing what he knows, including contributing into building subsequent programs himself, fosters fear into living day-to-day life with his photographer girlfriend, Lindsay Mills (Shailene Woodley, the "Divergent" series, "The Descendants").

Snowden and Lindsey first met online.  Their first date is disarming and they instantly connected, even with divergent political beliefs.  It is a real one, a relationship tested during tough times.  His secrets and stresses do put strains into their lives together.  The film doesn't visit the Snowden's relationship with his family, so it is a good thing that his relationship with Lindsey is front and center, because it is through this lens we get to know Snowden as a person.

Snowden has a good life; a well-paying career in Hawaii utilizing his talents, a steady love, family and future.  Yet, he decides to leave everything behind, fully knowing in advance the consequences of his actions.  Gordon-Levitt embodies this complex, decidedly private and controversial public figure seamlessly.

The crux of the issue, which has weighed heavily on Snowden's conscience, is that of consent.  That people have the right to know and decide for themselves.  It may be the Internet age where people leave digital footprints everywhere, however, these are instances where they choose to share their information.

Regardless of what one may think of Snowden, his actions have had far-reaching impact, raising worldwide debates about individual privacy and government transparency, how we could possibly strike a balance between freedom and security.

Fugitive.  Soldier.  Patriot.  Traitor.  Hero.  "Snowden" is a human, microscopic look of the man who may be one, some or all of the above and a relevant discussion of the story of our time.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-snowden/

Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/snowdenkindle

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"Sully"

"Everything is unprecedented until it happens for the first time."

On January 15, 2009, a US Airways flight took off from LaGuardia Airport to the clear winter skies under the command of Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger (Tom Hanks; "Bridge of Spies," "Saving Mr. Banks," "Captain Phillips," "Cloud Atlas") and first officer Jeffrey Skiles (Aaron Eckhart; "London Has Fallen," "Olympus Has Fallen," "The Dark Knight").

Shortly after  taking off, bird strikes damaged both engines and disabled the aircraft.  After a distressed exchange with the air traffic controller and rapidly evaluating his options, the veteran captain made a split-second decision to glide his plane onto the Hudson River.  That decision proved to be crucial in saving the lives of all 155 people onboard.

Adapted from Sully's best-selling book, "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," director Clint Eastwood ("American Sniper," "J. Edgar," "Hereafter") had a challenge in making a whole movie out of 'Miracle on the Hudson,' a flight that lasted for 3 minutes and 28 seconds and rescue 24 minutes.  Whilst the crash-and-splash event is certainly a focal point, the film focuses on Sully, heralded as a hero by the press and public, yet facing intense investigations from the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB).

There have been questions about whether Sully could have selected a different course of action that would not have unnecessarily endangered the safety of the passengers, such as turning back to LaGuardia Airport or even landing at a regional airport nearby, Teterboro.  There has even been a difference in how the event is perceived, a crash versus a forced water landing.  Multiple simulations, both digital and real, have shown that a runaway landing is not only possible, but probable.  But simulations are simulations; they do not take into account the human factor, life or death reactions to crisis in the skies in real time.

Amidst the searing scrutiny, Sully never loses his composure.  Exactly the sort of consummate professional you would want to fly a jetliner.  A highly skilled and dedicated aviator with a precise instinct and extensive experience going back to his youth and military days.

Yet, Sully is also human and has self-doubts and nightmares about the incident.  He wonders whether his sterling reputation and long career would end on a 208-second episode, even after 40 years of flying and delivering a million passengers safely.  Still, he is able to understand that, just like him and his crew and the first responders, the NTSB is doing its job as well.  Eastwood manages to stretch the story by replaying the event from multiple angles.

Eastwood successfully stages realistic-looking crash and rescue scenes.  Although the outcome is well-known, you'll feel the impact starting when you hear the ominous words, "Brace.  Head down.  Stay down."   And when the plane hits the water.  Chills fill the air when passengers  shiver out in the open, sliding down the rafts, lining up the wings or plunging into the frigid river.  The evacuation is surprisingly, relatively calm and remarkably orderly.

Hanks portrays Sully with subtlety and reserve, another fine, common-man persona.  If Sully is a quiet strength, Eckhart brings in a smattering of lightheartedness with Jeff's forward manner.

Flying may have been a routine experience these days.  Until it isn't.  You'll come out with a greater respect and appreciation for the fine men and women that help keep our skies (and waters) friendly.

"Sully" is an unassumingly riveting docudrama with a heart and a touch of miracle.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-sully/

Video: http://tinyurl.com/sullyvideo
Book: http://tinyurl.com/sullynovel

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"Jason Bourne"

"You know his name."

When the "Bourne" series premiered 14 years ago, we didn't know his name.  It's groundbreaking and made Matt Damon ("The Martian," "Elysium," "The Adjustment Bureau") a bona fide action star.  It's a gritty, grounded action film.  The actions were realistically audacious.  Instead of heavily stylized, longer range shots, the hand-to-hand combat seemed realistic and performed with bravado.  The 'parkouring' into compact spaces looked cool. And the chases and crashes were spectacular.   At the same time, we're also engrossed in a human story.  We had a real hero, Jason Bourne - not a superhero or James Bond - one that we cared about and rooted for.

In 2012, "Bourne" continued on without director and co-writer Paul Greengrass and its star, Damon. Jeremy Renner ("American Hustle," the "Avengers" and "Mission Impossible" series) took the lead as agent Aaron Cross.  The movie was solid and enjoyable, but it wasn't the same.

It's been seven years since the last "Bourne" with Greengrass and Damon, and now, they're back.  Damon (and Jason), while looking tired, is still in prime physical form, as proven particularly in the final  fight with Asset (Vincent Cassel, "Black Swan"), a CIA asset with a personal vendetta.  It's brutal, bloodied and to the death.

Julia Stiles (Nicky Parsons) returned as a former CIA analyst.  First appearing in Reykjavik, she hacks into the CIA database and downloaded its programs, including black operations.  She sees the black-ops tied to Jason's past, Operations Treadstone and Blackbriar, as well as the newest operation, Ironhand, a mass surveillance program.  She also comes across a classified file that has information on Jason's father, including his secret connection to Operations Treadstone.  This makes his sudden death suspicious.

The CIA is not sitting idle.  The new head of the cyber division, Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Ex-Machina"), traces Nicky's hacking, and with a direct order from her superior, CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln," "The Company Men," "Captain America: The First Avenger"), sets a systematic trap to ensnare both Nicky and Jason when they re-connect.

From that point on, it's high-speed and anarchy.  The meeting point is set in the middle of mass riots in Athens, filled with fights, shootouts and explosions.  A motorcycle chase ensues, with Jason and Nicky navigating the chaotic streets and staired alleys, trying to dodge angry demonstrators, police in riot gears and cars with blazing sirens, and sniper attack.

Off to Berlin and London, Jason meets with a former security officer who was working on surveilling him and his father nearly a couple decades ago.  The CIA continues to tail him, bringing in a team and Asset.  Heather tags along, although her motivation is more murky.  She's more interested in bringing Jason in than putting him down.  Astute, ambitious, cool and composed, she may be a friend or a foe.

The pursuit culminates in Las Vegas at a technology convention, where a famous techie, the CIA director and cyber head are expected to attend as a panel.  More gun fires, car chases and smashes, including one seemingly unstoppable SWAT vehicle.  I'm not a fan of shaky cam in general, but the high-octane scenes are superbly executed, giving a feeling that you're there, amidst the mangled metals and shattered glass.

Aside from one shocking, emotional moment, "Jason Bourne" works purely as an action movie, but it lacks the special ingredients that make up the "Bourne" series one the best spy thrillers.  A gripping storytelling with a human story, mystery and intrigue.

The ending is partly wrapped.  It's good to see that 'trust no one' remains Jason's motto and Damon may be back for another day.  Renner, in the meantime, is set to return for an offshoot sequel of his own.  Hope it's not too much to ask for Jason Bourne and Aaron Cross to cross paths and join forces in the future.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-jason-bourne/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/jasonbournedvd

Video: http://tinyurl.com/jasonbournevideo

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Comic-Con 2016: Feature Films, Talk Shows, Fan Experiences

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

Last year's superhero panels were the highlights for me, with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Kate Mara, Daniel Radcliff, Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and many more in attendance. 

This year I had a pretty mixed balance of movie and TV pilots and previews, press lines, art- and design-related programs, exhibit halls, interactive fan experiences and live talk shows. 

***

Here are some of the memorable highlights: (please note that TV pilots and panels will be on a separate article at a later time)

Movies

"Trolls" (November 4, 2016)

In attendance: director Mike Mitchell, co-director Walt Dohrn, producer Gina Shay, stars Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Christopher Mintz-Plasse

DreamWorks Animation presented an animated comedy-adventure.  A couple of incompatible trolls embark on a rescue mission, filled with misadventures, to save their kidnapped friends.  Music is an integral part of the story.  It includes original music produced by Justin Timberlake (he's a big hit with the moderator and fans) and classic songs.  The final clip showed a grayed  scene of trolls transforming into vibrant colors, with the tune of "True Colors."   The troll-haired fans livened the up the room, especially during selfie time.  The panel took a selfie with the audience before exiting the stage.  

Before leaving, the producer delivered a public service announcement on body image.  It's important that the movie reflects normal body image, especially for girls.  It breaks the "princess rule."  The smurf-like characters come in all types of body shapes.  

***

"The Boss Baby" (March 31, 2017)

In attendance:  director Tom McGrath, voice actor Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin made his first appearance at Comic-Con, bringing in a surprise footage.  He took in the scene of the packed hall and was wowed.  In the animation, the baby is not your average baby.  He wears a business suit, carries a briefcase, and speaks with authority and snark.  The scenes between the boss baby and his older brother, spliced together, didn't make much sense, except that they're strangely hilarious. 

***

"Snowden" (September 16, 2016)

In attendance: director Oliver Stone, stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley and Zachary Quinto

"Fugitive.  Soldier.  Patriot.  Traitor.  Hero."  These words flashed on the screen, leading up to an intense trailer. 

A trice Oscar winner, director Oliver Stone also made his first-time ever appearance  at Comic-Con.  He wanted to tell a larger-than-life story and reach out to the next generations.  Screenplay was initially a nightmare and needed to be simplified. Financing-wise, he was turned down by every major studio.  Stone mentioned that he spoke to Edward Snowden and his lawyers.  The infamous whistleblower, who was responsible for the biggest data leak in U.S. history, was described in many words.  Still a mystery, he's an optimist, cooperative yet covert, neat, polite and old-fashioned.  He doesn't have any friends and he isn't close to his family, but he has a long-term girlfriend, Lindsay Mills.  

It's an opinionated panel, and a very 'Snowden-friendly' one, with the presenters passionately articulating their individual viewpoints about the controversial subject, political and contemporary issues, such as privacy and government transparency. 

***

"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" (July 21, 2017)

In attendance: director Luc Besson, producer Virginie Besson-Silla, stars Care Delevigne and Dane DeHaan

While director Luc Besson had been to WonderCon, this marked his first time at Comic-Con.  He was greeted warmly and presented with this year's Comic-Con Inkpot award.  He put it aside for a dramatic effect, and picked it back up after an enthusiastic reception to the frenzied footage. 

Den of Geek perhaps describes it best; it looks like a mix of "Mad Max Fury," "Star Wars" and "The Fifth Element."  Standout scenes include a young female operative disarming two guards before running into a few small aliens, and a frenetic scene where two agents, in a school bus, are doggedly pursued by an alien-like creature across a desert before jumping into a spaceship. 

Prior to the sizzle reel, Besson-Silla introduced numerous colorful, richly rendered concept arts - the city,  planet, spacecrafts and aliens.  The movie has 2,000 special effect shots, compared to 200 in "The Fifth Element."

Based on a French graphic novel, The movie is set in the year 2700 and tells a story about two time-and-space traveling agents, Valerian and Laureline, who are called to an intergalactic city of Alpha,  inhabited by thousands of species (we may see 200 in the movie), to investigate threats to humanity. 

***

"Power Rangers" (March 24, 2017)

In attendance: Naomi Scott, Becky G., Ludi Lin and Dacre Montgomery

This was a small, intimate panel hosted by Screen Junkies in a bar, away from the convention center.  Comic-Con organizers should consider doing something like this for certain panels to make more room for people.  It's a decidedly different setting and carried a more relaxed vibe.  In this get-to-know session, the relatively unknown, young and diverse cast were genuinely excited to be selected to play the iconic characters.  They recalled the touching, disbelief, hilarious moments when they found out about the news. 

***

The biggest movie news streaming from Comic-Con this year include "Wonder Woman" trailer, "Justice League" teaser, "Captain Marvel" casting announcement (Brie Larson), introduction of Baby Groot ("Guardians of the Galaxy 2"), and updated logos of "Black Panther," "Thor Raganok," "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" and "Doctor Strange."  From the trailer, "Wonder Woman" looks very promising.  Also check out the official poster if you haven't already.  Simply resplendent.  Costumes used in the movie were featured inside the exhibit halls.  "Suicide Squad" also had their costumes displayed for photo ops.  

***

Press Lines

I stopped by the CBS press room strictly for its stars lineup.  Stars in the press lines include Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen ("NCIS: Los Angeles");  Wilmer Valderrama ("NCIS"); Katharine McPhee, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Jadyn Wong ("Scorpion"); Kirsten Vangsness ("Criminal Minds"); Lucas Till and George Eads (the new "MacGyver").  I could have stayed for the roundtable, but I already did something similar at WonderCon earlier this spring with "Scorpion" and attended the new "MacGyver" panel earlier in the day.  I don't watch either "NCIS: Los Angeles" or "Criminal Minds," so I wouldn't be able to formulate the best questions about the shows. 

***

Live Talk Shows

The live taping of the Conan O'Brien's show was arguably the hottest ticket in town.  Like last year, I scored a VIP seat, so it was a no-brainer decision to go.  The jokes and skits were pretty funny (superhero Conan, anyone?), but I was also there for the special guests that evening, the cast of "Suicide Squad" - Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Cara Delevingne, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Karen Fukuhara, Jay Hernandez and Adam Beach.  They were super chill, strolling onto the stage dancing and having fun.  Each member of the audience left with a Funko, the Joker doll and an IMAX ticket for the movie, which will premiere on August 5, 2016.

Another event that I attended was the Syfy channel talk show hosted by Will Arnett.  The guests were Tony Hale, Alan Tudyk, Zachary Levi, Rose McIver and Wilmer Valderrama.  Valderrama came in a parachute, as if he just landed onto the stage. 

This talk show was held outdoor, on a hotel rooftop deck.  I was more interested in observing the preparation of what would make a lively show on TV.  The show runner pumped up the audience big time, reminding us to up our energy.  The folks in interesting costumes were placed front and center.  Like other talk shows, the show was a hybrid of pre-scripted (host) and impromptu conversations (guests' responses).  Acts were pre-planned. 

***

Art & Design

Other programmings I attended include art direction and worldbuilders.  Security turns out to be a top concern for production designers.  If you are sketching a storyboard with a resurrected character, for example, a leak could kill an entire plot.  Marvel was said to have the highest level of security.  There was an interesting tidbit about a timed script-reading.  Once the time was up, even if you're not finished reading, the script would be taken away and shredded. 

As far as worldbuilding, the rule of thumb is to not contradict your own rules (i.e., the world where your characters live) down the line and understand the limitations of your characters. And if you have to break the rules, make sure that they make sense.  Be consistent.

*** 

Interactive Fan Experiences

Outside of the convention center, attractions were free and open to the public.  Those of you without a badge, make a trek to downtown next time and join in the celebration all around Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park and Seaport Village areas.  Motion poster is 'in' this year.  Custom memento is always memorable.

"Timeless," a new NBC TV series coming in the fall, take visitors back in time, though news clips of milestone events in our history and time-travel simulation via Graviton.  Gravitron is a centrifugal force ride that pins each rider against and up the wall, as the room is spinning around.  The g-force is strongly felt on the chest and up the chin and face.  It's certainly a unique experience.  The show will feature three strangers - a history professor, a soldier and a scientist - chasing criminal(s) through time to prevent the past from being altered (and thus impacting the present and the future).  "Timeless" left each visitor with a motion graphic photo that shows a scene as if you're in a time machine running through time. 

NBC  also had another booth to introduce another TV new series coming in the fall, "Emerald City."  Details were kept under wrap except that the show would be about the rise of a new 'Oz.' Visitors could stop by and create a motion poster with the backdrop of a character's superpower or magic. 

The Hard Rock Cafe was transformed into "Suicide Squad" headquarters.  Take a 360 degree photo inside of a Belle Reve jail cell.  Experience a virtual reality scene from Harley Quinn's viewpoint during an attack.  Do a personality test to determine which character most fits you, and have an animated picture taken with the character's head frame around your head.  Or create a tattoo in the Harley Quinn tattoo parlor.  Another giveaway was an exclusive T-shirt with a personalized skull imprint.

***

It helps to have a variety of interests.  Despite skipping the superhero panels this year, I had a super time and look forward to another year!

Stay tuned for the TV panels and pilots!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/entertainment-events/comic-con-2016-feature-films-talk-shows-fan-experiences/

[click to enlarge pictures]

 

 

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Comic-Con 2016: Fall TV Pilots

[Originally posted on 9/02/16]

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

[For the 2016 feature films, talk shows and fan experiences, check out: http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/2016/07/comic-con-2016-feature-films-talk-shows.html]

"MacGyver" (CBS; September 23, 2016)
In attendance: executive producers James Wan and Peter Lenkov, stars Lucas Till and George Eads

The producers discussed about wanting to be respectful to the source material, keeping the soul or spirit of the old show alive, and having the same humor, heart, action and 'Macgyverism' in this reboot.  The show started shooting in hot Atlanta, which was a challenge for  the star, clad in a leather jacket.

The show will focus on the young, cerebral hero and his adventures around the world.  It's not just going to be about MacGyver beating out bad guys, but also (dire) situations that he's thrown into.  They hoped to book Richard Dean Anderson (the original MacGyver from the 80's and 90's show) to appear on the show, as well as having familiar villains (even with new actors) in some capacity.  

It felt nostalgic when the soundtrack came on, proceeding a clip.  The clip showed an adrenaline-pumping take; MacGyver running after a plane on a tarmac as it's taking off.  He leaps into the door at the base of the plane, cutting wires while in the air with his trusted Swiss army knife, which forces the plane to get grounded.

Exciting stuff.  I'm a fan of the old show, so I have high hopes that the new "MacGyver" will be on my regular schedule.

***

"Blindspot" (NBC; premiered in fall 2015)
In attendance: Jaimie Alexander, Sullivan Stapleton, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ashley Johnson

Season 1 of "Blindspot" went out with a bang.  Major deaths, betrayal, more mystery.  With the events that unfolded in the last season, there will be a change of dynamics in the FBI team and each member of the team will react differently towards Jane Doe because of what she did.  Serious trust issues, anger, hurt, betrayed, open-mindedness, compassion.

When season 2 starts, viewers will find that Jane has been tortured in a CIA holding cell for three months for what she did.  The show will try to strike a balance between the tattoo case of the week and the overarching story of Jane's identity and purpose.  While there were no clips shown, and despite the show being a gritty one, it was a lighthearted panel filled with banters among the cast.

***

"Frequency" (CW; October 5, 2016)
In attendance: stars Peyton List, Riley Smith, Mekhi Phifer

Based on the 2000 film of the same name (starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid), the show is a cop drama with a sci-fi twist, exploring father-daughter's relationships in a parallel timeline, 20 years apart.

Abandoned by her NYPD detective father when she was a child, a young woman grows up and becomes a detective herself.  In 1996, her father, who was thought to have gone rogue and left her and her mom, was killed during an undercover sting.

On one stormy night at the present time, her deceased father's old radio mysteriously turns on and the two connect through a frequency.  Neither believes the identity of the other until they can no longer deny the connection, after private tidbits that only they know are revealed.  On his end, it's still 1996, while hers, 2016.

Having been given a second chance, the daughter looks into the suspicious circumstances surrounding her father's death and tries to prevent it this time. While the father stays alive now, not all is well.  It's the classic butterfly effect.

The father-daughter scenes through the radio are emotionally executed and believable, even though the two leads are not that far off in ages.  If the show can go beyond the crime-of-the-week and continue with the relationships theme, as a family and partners, and how their lives have been impacted, both joyfully and chillingly, it should be a show to watch.

***

"Time After Time" (ABC; 2017, premiere date TBD)
In attendance: stars Freddie Stroma, Genesis Rodriguez

London, 1893.  After having been seduced by gold coins, a prostitute is killed in a dark alley.  The murderer?  The infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper.  Here he's also a respected surgeon and a former college friend of the young Herbert George Wells, aka H.G. Wells.

At this point in time, H.G.  just built a time machine, untested and sitting in his basement.  When the Scotland Yard ends up knocking on his door and finds an evidence linking Jack to the murder (to H.G.'s surprise), Jack is nowhere to be found.  He escapes through the time machine.  And thus, the chase of the century begins.  Jack lands in Manhattan, 2016, with H.G. hot on his trail.

The fish out-of-water scenes, where H.G. is marveling at the wonders of the modern world, are entertaining.  An ever-optimist, he is disillusioned, however, to find that the future is not a utopia that he envisioned it to be.  There have been wars, famine, poverty, disasters, racial tensions, violence.

Luckily, H.G. is not alone.  His first encounter is with an assistant museum curator.  She works at the  museum that hosts an H.G. Wells exhibits, including the now-famous time machine.  An aversive  meet-cute, between an old-fashioned British gentleman and an outspoken, American woman.  They part ways, but come together again after some unfortunate incidents.  It doesn't take long until the young woman realizes who he really is.

Meanwhile, time is running out.  Jack is back to luring and killing women for pleasure, even in modern times.  And no one is safe.  H.G. is determined to bring Jack back to their timeline and have him face justice for what he's done.  

Time travel.  Intrigue.  Mystery.  Adventure.  Bring it on!

***

Another time travel show that I'm interested in is NBC's "Timeless" (October 3, 2016).  I took the Gravitron ride at Comic-Con, but didn't get to see the pilot since the time conflicted with another panel.  The show will feature three strangers - a history professor, a soldier and a scientist - chasing criminal(s) through time to prevent the past from being altered (and thus impacting the present and the future).

The network is also coming out with "Emerald City" (premiere date unknown).  Not much is known, except that it will be about the rise of the new 'Oz.'

Time travel, parallel world, magic, superheros and MacGyver... fall TV can't start soon enough!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/tv/comic-con-2016-fall-tv-pilots/

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Fall & Winter 2016 Movies Preview

                   
[Originally posted on 8/19/16]

The days of having a new tentpole film opening every other week will soon give way to a wide variety of original ideas and potential awards contenders.  Still, while we can expect heavy drama and thriller; action, western and sci-fi will also make their way into the theaters in the next several months.

Among a dozen notable films are, "Sully," "Snowden," The Magnificient Seven," "The Girl on the Train," "The Accountant," "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back," "Inferno," "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," "Allied," "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," "Passengers."  And Marvel has magic up its superhero sleeves with "Doctor Strange."

Check out synopsis and photos of 45 fall and winter movies of 2016 from Substream Magazine:

http://substreammagazine.com/2016/08/fall-movies-preview/

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Upcoming Movies: November 2016

[Originally posted on 10/29/16]

[Note: I was overseas and delayed coming home due to typhoon.  Will be catching up on "The Accountant" and "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back."  November looks like a solid month for movies!]

November 4
"Doctor Strange" (http://marvel.com/doctorstrange) - A former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

"Trolls" (http://www.dreamworks.com/trolls/) - A troll princess and her companion, the one unhappy troll try to rescue her friends from being eaten by their nemeses.

November 11
"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" - A young soldier is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks the film shows what really happened to his squad, contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions.

"Arrival" (http://www.arrivalmovie.com) - A linguist is recruited by the military to assist in translating alien communications.

November 18
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (http://www.fantasticbeasts.com) -
The adventures of a writer in a New York's secret community of witches and wizards 70 years pre- Harry Potter era.

"Manchester by the Sea" - An uncle is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.

November 25
"Moana" (http://movies.disney.com/moana) - A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, a legendary demi-god.

"Allied" (http://www.alliedmovie.com) - In 1942, an intelligence officer in North Africa encounters a French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war.

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"The Shallows"

"What was once in the deep is now in the shallows."  

Nancy Adams (Blake Lively, "The Age of Adaline," "Green Lantern," "The Town") bailed from medical school after her mom died of cancer.  She's now in the secluded beach in Mexico for some surf, sun and alone time.  Her late mom used to spend time there. 

Nancy is not alone, however.  A shark literally stalks and hunts her down day and night, while she's lying on a rock outcrop (which gets flooded during high tide), wounded from the shark's initial bite and stung by fire corals.  Her training comes in handy when she has to perform an emergency treatment on herself.  The shark continues to pursue Nancy as she swims for her life from a whale carcass to the rock and to a metal buoy.  The shore, merely 200 yards away, is out of reach. 

Like any other solo survival story, Lively has to carry the movie by herself.  The gorgeous aerial and underwater shots help, as well as the appropriate makeup for sunburn, cuts and bruises. But in this minimalist tale, you'll have to be convinced of her panic, pain, terror, desperation and grit while injured, bloodied, cold, hungry and dehydrated.  Lively does it swimmingly. 

Realizing that no one is going to rescue her, Nancy charts her course for survival to outwit the scary shark and the result is gloriously bonkers. 

Shark attack.  Girl power.  "The Shallows" is a thrilling survival ride. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-reviews-the-shallows-and-everest/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/theshallowsdvd

Blu-ray: http://tinyurl.com/theshallowsbluray

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"Now You See Me 2"

A heist mixed with tech and magic.  What's not to like?

“Now You See Me” was a spellbinding, sleeper hit in the summer of 2013.  The sequel attempts to replicate the magic.

It’s been a year since the Four Horsemen pulled off the miraculous, Robin Hood deed that catapulted them into celebrity status among the general public, and at the same time, made them criminals in the eyes of the law.  They come out of hiding to hijack a party and expose a shady tech wizard during a technology show.  The joke is on them, however, when they are trapped and blackmailed by another tech magnate, Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliff, “Harry Potter” series).

The Four Horsemen are card-reader Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg, “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” "The Social Network"), hypnotist Meritt McKenney (Woody Harrelson, "The Hunger Games" series) and lock-picker Jack Wilder (Dave Franco).  Escape artist Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) left the team, replaced by Lula May (Lizzy Caplan).  She raucously fits into the team of magician misfits.  Other returning characters are corporate magnate Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine, “The Dark Knight” series), magician debunker Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman, “RED,” "Bruce Almighty") and FBI detective Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo, “The Avengers” series).  Watch for a fifth Horseman, a familiar face, to emerge.

The Horsemen are forced to steal a chip, which can be seamlessly attached into a playing card.  The chip would allow Walter to manipulate the market and infiltrate people’s privacy.  The sleek sequence, where they skillfully manage to grab the gizmo from a secured facility, is captivating, involving delicate sleight of hands, extremely intricate card tricks, and elaborate collaboration among the four players.

The movie follows a formula of each Horseman individually sets the stage for the big reveal.  It’s satisfying to see the cold-blooded bad guys are richly tricked, realize they have been played for fools, and are exposed to the world.  The authorities, well, they're one step behind again.  The overarching story ties to an elite secret society and a personal connection.

Some of the flashy and tricky acts are probable, while straining suspension of disbelief.  They are explained with quick cuts of behind-the-scenes. Others, not so much; they are absolutely impossible feats that simply can’t be explicated.

If you could overlook the preposterous story, plot holes or unnecessary subplots, you’ll find “Now You See Me 2” a visually dazzling and entertaining razzle dazzle.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-now-you-see-me-2/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/nowyouseem2dvd

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Upcoming Movies: October 2016

[Originally posted on 9/30/16]

October 7
"The Birth of a Nation" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thebirthofanation/) - A literate slave and preacher in the antebellum South orchestrates an uprising.

"The Girl on The Train" (http://www.thegirlonthetrainmovie.com/) - A divorcee becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that promises to send shockwaves throughout her life.

October 14
"The Accountant" (http://www.accountantmovie.com/) - A forensic accountant un-cooks the books for illicit clients.

"Underworld: Blood Wars" - Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) fights to end the eternal war between the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

October 21
"Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (http://www.jackreachermovie.com/) - Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.

October 28
"Inferno" (http://www.infernothemovie.com) - When Robert Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks, and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot.

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