"Wonder Woman"

[For a live panel with director Patty Jenkins, check out the 2017 WonderCon recap here]

In "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," Wonder Woman makes a striking entrance on the battleground.  Gal Gadot looks fantastic as a warrior princess and more than holds her own, fighting alongside Superman and Batman.  She was, in fact, the highlight of that movie.

"Wonder Woman" is arguably the most anticipated movie of the year, or dare I say, generations.  Even as superhero movies have reigned supreme, there hasn't been a credible one with a female lead.  Now that "Wonder Woman" has arrived at the theaters, how does her origin story fare?  In a word, wondrous.

Formed from clay and brought to life by Zeus, Diana was raised in Themyscira, a hidden island inhabited by all-female Amazonian warriors.  The island is a breathtaking sight, with soaring stone walls, clifftop meadows and craggy sea cliffs towering over azure waters.  Life is paradise.

The leaders, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) and General Antiope (Robin Wright), have divergent point of views about how to raise Diana.  As her mother, Hippolyta wants to protect Diana from the world, whereas Antiope believes that the best way to truly protect her is to train her to be a strong warrior so that she can defend herself should the situation ever calls for it.  Young Diana, who has the aptitude for fighting skills, is eventually trained and trained harder than any other and grows up to be the fiercest fighter.

When a plane crash lands into the island, carrying a British pilot and spy, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine, "The Finest Hours," "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," "Unstoppable"), Diana plunges into sea and saves his life.  Steve is not alone, however.  Hot on his trail is the German army, hunting him down for a notebook that belongs to General Ludendorff (Danny Huston).  The notebooks contains the work of a malicious chemist, Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya).  They are building a chemical weapon, poison gas that would annihilate everyone on its path.  A shoreside fight between the Amazonians and the armed soldiers ensues. Even with a dazzling display of balletic combat and archery dexterity by the warriors, there are casualties on the Amazonians' side.

Diana, raised with a belief that Ares, the God of War vanquished by Zeus, may still be alive and return to corrupt and harm mankind, grabs a special sword, shield and lasso and sails off with Steve, following him back to London.  She naively believes that Ludendorff is Ares and that if she defeats him, his death would end all wars.  In reality, things are not that simple, of course.

Back in the modern world, Steve is not able to convince the government about his plan to take down Ludendorff.  He goes rogue and recruits a few good men to embark on his own mission.  Diana, tagging along for the journey, is shaken by the horrors of the war, encountering the wounded and the dead.  Revealing herself as Wonder Woman, she is even more determined to save the world, first by crossing through No Man's Land, fighting and dodging bullets, allowing a safer passage for the men.  There is a high spot when she leaps from a makeshift shield and crashes into a tower.

The movie balances the dramatic (even very moving) scenes with comedic ones.  Gadot and Pine share a natural chemistry.  Any preconceived concerns about Gadot being cast as Wonder Woman will be gone.  She is athletic and graceful, exudes the right amount of charisma, innocence and conviction.  There is a sense of exuberance lighting her spirit.  A capable and credible fighter with a heroic heart, she chooses to venture into the world truly out of a sense of moral duty.  Pine's Steve is world-weary, courageous, charming and humorous.  He is not merely a comical sidekick or damsel in distress here.  As a matter of fact, based on his selfless, valiant actions to stop the genocide, he is a hero in his own right.

The fish-out-water scenes, where Diana encounters a man for the first time and not quite knowing how to act in the men's world, bring the needed levity that prevent the movie (essentially a war movie along the lines of "Captain America: The First Avenger") from being dark and grim.

The action scenes and visual effects are triumphant.  The glorious soundtrack is particularly memorable.  But more importantly, as promised by director Patty Jenkins, the story has heart, humor, heroism and humanity.  It's a  superhero fantasy adventure, war drama, action and romance with a heroine that embodies truth, peace, love, courage and compassion.  Even with all the darkness in the world, we can always choose light.

"Wonder Woman," simply put, is a wonder.

https://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-wonder-woman/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/wonderwomangadot

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

[Costume display at Comic-Con 2016]

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Upcoming Movies: November 2017

[Originally posted on 10/27/17]

November 3
"Thor: Ragnarok" (https://marvel.com/thor) - Imprisoned, Thor finds himself in a gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, a former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent Hela from destroying the Asgardian civilization.

"Lady Bird" (https://a24films.com/films/lady-bird) - The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year.

November 10
"Murder on the Orient Express" (https://www.cluesareeverywhere.com/) - A lavish train ride unfolds into a stylish & suspenseful mystery. From the novel by Agatha Christie, strangers race to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.

"Thelma" -  A woman begins to fall in love, only to discover that she has fantastic powers.

November 17
"Justice League" (http://www.justiceleaguethemovie.com/) - Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

"Wonder" - Based on the New York Times bestseller, a boy with facial differences enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

November 24
"Coco" (http://movies.disney.com/coco) - An aspiring musician teams up with a charming trickster on an extraordinary journey through the Land of the Dead.

"Call Me by Your Name" (http://sonyclassics.com/callmebyyourname/) - The son of an American professor is enamored by the graduate student who comes to study and live with his family in their northern Italian home.  They share an unforgettable summer full of music, food, and romance that will change them.

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"Ghost in the Shell"

The opening of the live action adaption of the Japanese anime, "Ghost in the Shell," is nothing short of eye-catching.  A human brain is encased in metal and fused into a full synthetic shell.  The mechanized skeleton is then immersed in a blood red and milky white liquid.  It emerges in a perfect humanoid form.

A shell-shocked woman (Scarlett Johansson; "The Avengers" series, "Her") saved from a near-death incident wakes up in a lab, finding that her brain is intact, but the rest of her is manufactured, courtesy of a corporation named Hanka Robotics.  The lead scientist that greets her, Dr. Ouellet (Juliette Binoche), seems caring, but something ominous is going on.  The CEO of the corporation, Cutter, (Peter Ferdinando), solely treats the woman as an asset, a weapon that must be controlled.

A year later, that woman becomes Major, commander of Section 9, a terrorist-fighting unit led by a Japanese chief, Aramaki (Takeshi Kitano).  Major, accompanied by right-hand man Batoe (Pilou Asbaek), leads a team of cyber-enhanced people to fight crimes. One of those crimes is a major hacking and murders of Hanka scientists done by a mysterious being named Kuze (Michael Pitt). Those scientists worked Project 2571, a secret project that birthed Major.

When Major tracks down Kuze and finally connects with him, she finds that her existence may not be what it seems.  And that the medication supplied from Hanka is intended to suppress her memory about her past.

Visually, the movie encapsulates a depressing vision of the world where cyborgs are all the rage and cyber crimes are even more threatening.  Director Rupert Sanders ("Snow White and the Huntsman") uses a moody palette, illuminating the futuristic megapolis with looming holograms and neon lights, and using slow motion in capturing Major's movements in all her sleek beauty and translucency.  Diving down from a skyscraper, rising above a shallow pool, shattering tower glass and sliding into attack mode.  Although as arresting as the aesthetics are, they get a bit monotone after a while.

The premise has potentials, exploring life as a human with a robotic body and what it means for humanity if someone like Major is mass-produced.

The whitewashing, while controversial, is a non-issue in the context of this story, as it has an explanation.  What's more notable is the story only goes surface-deep, halting at the stage where Major discovers her identity.  It could  have spent more time on the backstory and character development, and less on fancy fights.  It's hard to care when you hardly know the characters.  A much better film three years ago, "Ex-Machina," delivers both on the futuristic visual and philosophical level.

"Ghost in the Shell" is a shiny shell.  It's pretty to look at, but lacking in soul.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-ghost-in-the-shell/

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"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

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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.

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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]

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"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

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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.

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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.

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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:

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Academy Awards 2017

The 89th Academy Awards show opened with a rousing entrance from Justin Timberlake, walking through the aisles, dancing and singing “Can’t Stop This Feeling.”

By the time Jimmy Kimmel showed up on the black-and-gold stage as host, he had got a captive audience, on their feet and having a good time, in which he humorously took credit for.  Despite hosting the Oscars for the first time, Kimmel looked like he was right at home, as if the comedian was there for his late night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Diving right into politics, Kimmel commented that the Oscars would be watched by 225 countries who hate us.  He pointed out that we could almost guarantee we would see some of the speeches from tonight appear on the 5 a.m. tweets by President Trump.  He also asked if there was anyone in the room working for CNN, L.A. Times, New York Times or any publication ending with the word ‘Times’ (such as Medieval Times) to leave the building, as we would not tolerate “fake news.”

Kimmel went on to invite Meryl Streep, whose political-laden speech at the recent Golden Globe Awards was both praised and lambasted by different parties, to stand up and for everyone to give her an “undeserved applause.”  Mimicking Trump, he called her “overrated.”  He even went further by taunting Trump with a tweet, #Merylsayhi.

Referring to last year’s controversies #OscarSoWhite, Kimmel noted that things had changed this year.  “Black people saved NASA, white people saved jazz” (in reference to “Hidden Figures” and “La La Land”).  On a serious note, it was great to see Katherine Johnson (age 98), one of the pioneers from the NASA Space Program in 1960s brought onto the stage on a wheelchair as the guest of honor.  Her historic accomplishments can be seen in “Hidden Figures,” one of the best films of the year.

With Kimmel as host, the sarcastic jab about long-time frenemy Matt Damon was to be expected and quite funny.  Among the jabs, he remarked that Damon, who was typically selfish, did an unselfish thing with “Manchester by the Sea.”  He remained as producer and let the brother of his childhood friend, Casey Affleck, did the acting.

The first award of the night, Best Supporting Actor, went to Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”).  “Moonlight” also scored Best Original Screenplay.  Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress (“Fences.”).  Davis gave a tearful speech and a nod to the profession as one that celebrates what it means to have a life.  Casey Affleck’s heartbreaking performance in “Manchester by the Sea” earned him BestActor award.  Emma Stone, who tapped and twirled through “La La Land” and was fittingly dressed in gold here, brought home the gold statue as Best Actress.

The Academy spread the love across the board, awarding awards in various categories to multiple films; Best Original Screenplay to “Manchester by the Sea,” Best Makeup and Hairstyling to “Suicide Squad,” Best Costume Design to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Best Sound Editing to “Arrival,” and Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing to “Hackshaw Ridge.”  The winners looked incredibly surprised, as most expected Hollywood favorite “La La Land” to sweep the awards.  Best Visual Effects was given to “The Jungle Book,” besting sci-fi and superhero movies vying for the award.

“La La Land” did win a number of awards; Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score and Best Original Song, including the prestigious Best Directing award for its director, Damien Chazelle.  Chazelle, at age 32, became the youngest director winning the award in Oscars history.

The brilliant “Zootopia” deservingly won Best Animated Feature.  The acceptance speech mentioned it being a story of tolerance, which is more powerful than fear of the other.  The other animation, “Moana,” had its song, “How Far I’ll Go,” beautifully sung by Auli’I Cravlho, the voice behind the brave teenage girl in the movie.

Stunts on the show involved candies, cookies and donuts, as well as tourists.  Candies, cookies and donuts wrapped inside tiny parachute packages were dropped gently from the ceilings.  Lucky, thrilled tourists from a tour bus, thinking they were walking into an exhibit, were ushered into the front of the room, coming face to face with the stars. The show also had a bunch of stars hilariously read a series of “mean tweets” sent to them.

A dreamlike segment on the show was performed by John Legend, playing the piano and singing, “City of Stars,” against the backdrop of starry skies and surrounded by graceful dancers.

The show ended with a shocker, never-before-happened in the history of the Oscars. “La La Land” was mistakenly announced as winner of Best Picture, by presenters Warren Betty and Faye Dunaway. The whole cast of the romantic musical already gathered onstage when the error had to be corrected. Not fake news or alternative fact, folks, “Moonlight” was the real winner.

Kimmel lightheartedly concluded the show by blurting out that he knew he would screw up the show and that he promised never to come back. What a night!

For a full list of the winners, check out the Academy Awards website here.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/academy-awards-2017/

And the Oscar goes to...

Best Film - Moonlight

Best Animated Film - Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer (Zootopia)

Best Director - Damien Chazelle (La La Land)

Best Actor - Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea)

Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

Best Actress - Emma Stone (La La Land)

Best Supporting Actress - Viola Davis (Fences)

Best Original Screenplay - Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea)

Best Adapted Screenplay - Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight)

Best Original Score - Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)

Best Original Song - Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land)

Best Sound Editing - Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival)

Best Sound Mixing - Kevin O'Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace (Hacksaw Ridge)

Best Cinematography - Linus Sandgren (La La Land)

Best Film Editing - John Gilbert (Hacksaw Ridge)

Best Production Design - David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds Wasco (La La Land)

Best Visual Effects - Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon (The Jungle Book)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson (Suicide Squad)

Best Costume Design - Colleen Atwood (Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them)

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Upcoming Movies: September 2017

[Originally posted on 8/28/17]

September 8
"It" (http://itthemovie.com/) - A group of bullied kids band together when a monster, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children.

"Home Again" (http://homeagain-movie.com/) - Life for a single mom in Los Angeles takes an unexpected turn when she allows three young guys to move in with her.

September 15
"Mother" - A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.

"American Assassin" - A story centered on a counterterrorism agent.

September 22
"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/kingsman-the-golden-circle) - When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, the Kingsman's journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the U.S. These two elite secret organizations must band together to defeat a common enemy.

"The Lego Ninjago Movie" (http://www.legoninjagomovie.com/) - Six young ninjas are tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they're gifted warriors, using their skills and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy, high school.

September 29
"American Made" (http://www.americanmademovie.net/) - A pilot lands work for the CIA and as a drug runner in the south during the 1980s.

"Flatliners" - Five medical students, obsessed by what lies beyond the confines of life, embark on a daring experiment: by stopping their hearts for short periods, each triggers a near-death experience - giving them a firsthand account of the afterlife.

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2017 Awards Season: Feature Film Highlights

Get ready for the Oscars! (February 26, 2017)  Check your local theaters to see if they run a viewing package for films that are nominated for best picture. 

Here are some of the films nominated in various categories: (best picture, leading actor, leading actress, supporting actor, supporting actress,  directing, writing, cinematography, costume design, film editing, production design, sound design/editing/mixing, music and visual effects)

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/2017-awards-season-feature-film-highlights/

Below are some of the highlights:

"Allied"

Old-fashioned espionage, romance and Casablanca.  In 1942, Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") locks eyes and lips with a  French resistance fighter, Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard; "The Dark Knight Rises," "Inception").  Their mission is to attain an invitation to an event where a Nazi ambassador will be attending.  A ticking clock counts down to a diversion, the duo executes the assassination with precision and make their exit.  Max and Marianne move to London, get married and have a baby daughter.   It's domestic bliss until Max is notified by his superiors that Marianne might be a German spy.  Max refuses to believe that Marianne is not who she says she is and goes to great length outside of the official channel to prove her innocence.  It's a conflict between duty to his country and love for his family.  "Allied" plays like a beautiful montage with sumptuous sets, luxe lighting, impeccable costumes and glamorous stars.  It's a glossy spies-in-love war drama, old-Hollywood style.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Arrival"

A dozen alien spaceships have descended on various locations around the world.  Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams, "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," "American Hustle," "Leap Year") is an expert linguist recruited to help decode the language of aliens.  Language is the basis of civilization.  It's how we understand and communicate with the world around us.  And therefore, our brain is wired to comprehend certain elements of life in definite ways, such as the notion of time.  However, since we may not be alone in this universe, our understanding may not necessarily be-all and end-all.  It would behoove us to keep an open mind, observe, listen, learn to seek meaning and understanding, including a principle or practice that may differ from our normal perception, and do our best to communicate with one another.  The ingenuity of the film lies in the overarching premise, pieces that come in the form of the past, present and future that connect a life story to the overall theme.  An enlightening tale about the human mind, communication and perception, "Arrival" is thoughtful and thought-provoking.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Doctor Strange"

Superhero meets sorcery.  Dr.  Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game") is a brilliant neurosurgeon, who is also self-centered and an all-around jerk.  His glorious career ends when he suffers nerve damage from a car wreck.  He discovers the existence of the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton, "Hail, Caesar!"), the guru of mystical and martial arts.  Dr. Strange magically transforms into a master sorcerer; from forming a glowing weapon with his disfigured hands to floating from one dimension portal to another, casting spells and manipulating energy, space and time.  He violates the natural law of time in order to gain the upper hand and preserve humanity.  Everything is not in the clear, however. There's an inherent order of things, including life and death, and they balance humanity.  It's a visually impressive spectacle.  Skyscrapers, walls and floors are twisting, turning, shifting, shaping, folding and collapsing.  Ruins rebuilt.  The parallel realms are a kaleidoscope of colors, fire, light and darkness.  Blending fantasy and magic with superhero action and humor, "Doctor Strange" is a fresh, entrancing entrance into the ever-expanding Marvel Universe.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Hidden Figures"

“Hidden Figures” is a remarkable story about three African-American women who worked at NASA in the age of space race as the 'human computers.'  While it tells a weighty story, it is filmed with a lighthearted tone and has a breezy pace.  Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) work at a segregated research center.  Racism and sexism permeate every fabric of the severely prejudiced society.  Not only relegated to the back of the bus, there are 'colored' sections for everything - work area, restroom, cafetaria.  Memorable scenes pack emotional and inspirational punch, powered by great acting.   These women march on every day with dedication, diligence, persistence, resilience and determination.  It's a fine balance between knowing their place, stepping back and showing deference to their peers and supervisors, and at the same time, being resourceful, assertive and confident in themselves in seizing opportunities, moving towards achieving their dreams, and being a part of history.  And if history has taught us anything, there's always a first in everything.  "Hidden Figures" is phenomenally uplifting and life-affirming.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"La La Land"

An aspiring actress (Emma Stone, "The Amazing Spider-Man") and an idealist jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling; "The Big Short," "The Ides of March," "Drive") fall in love and work through their ambitions to make it in the city of dreamers and movie stars.  The charming leads sing, tap and twirl through their meet-cutes and rocky relationship.  The road to achieve one's dreams is not without crushed hopes and personal sacrifice.  Los Angeles is aesthetically filmed, awash with a pastel palette and accentuated with pops of bright colors.  Dreamlike cityscapes and streets in daylight, twilight and illuminated night.  Flared dresses in blood red, royal blue, emerald green and canary yellow.  Melodious song-and-dance numbers include memorable sequences such as a real freeway traffic jam, whimsical tap-dancing on the hill in the dusk, magical floating among the stars in the planetarium, among others.  There's also a melancholic duet on the original song for the movie, "City of Stars."  A romantic musical that blends Old Hollywood fantasy with modern reality, it's a lovely movie to end or start the year.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Manchester by the Sea"

A mournful loner, handyman named Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck; "The Finest Hours," "Gone Baby Gone") rushes to his hometown upon hearing the news about his brother's condition in the hospital.  After his brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler; "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Argo"), dies, he is appointed guardian of Joe's teenage son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges).  Returning home is one of the hardest things for Lee, who faces reminders of his painful past, including his ex-wife, Randi (Michelle Williams; "My Week with Marilyn," "Shutter Island"), and the working class community that whispers behind his back.  Lee was a happy-go-lucky guy with a loving family and friends.  An unfathomable tragedy broke him and drove him out of town.  "Manchester by the Sea" is exquisitely shot, with the winter seaside town as an integral part of the film.  Snowy streets, gray skies, cold seas and fishing trips.  It pulls you in gently and it's soberly absorbing.  It feels like real life, with messiness and setbacks.  Not everything broken can be made whole again.  A simple slice of life story, yet a complicated one.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Passangers"

Jim Preston (Chris Pratt, "Jurassic World," "Guardians of the Galaxy"), is aboard a spaceship transporting over 5,000 passengers to a new planet.  All passengers are in cyrosleep during the planned 120-year interstellar trip.  Jim's pod has malfunctioned, awakening him 90 years too soon.  A second passenger, Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence; "The Hunger Games" series, "X-Men" series, "American Hustle"), is also awakened later.  Eventually Jim and Aurora realize they are onboard of a sinking spaceship.  The movie's got very cool visual effects.  A super sleek spacecraft with expansive exterior and interior design that looks futuristically real.  A viewing deck for a luminous cosmic show.  An infinity pool at the edge of deep space.  While it's easy to judge Jim's morally questionable actions, none of us will likely never know what it truly feels like being the last person alive.  The movie touches on an existential and morality issues.  It may be easy to dismiss "Passengers" as a Titanic in space with a Hollywood ending, but it's more than that.  "Passengers" offers a sci-fi romance with a thought-provoking twist.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Sully"

On January 15, 2009, a flight took off 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").  Shortly after, 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.  Sully is heralded as a hero by the press and public, yet facing intense investigations from NTSB.  Clint Eastwood successfully stages realistic-looking crash and rescue scenes. 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.  Flying may be 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 friendly.  "Sully" is an unassumingly riveting docudrama with a heart and a touch of miracle.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Zootopia"

It's not another animation.  "Zootopia" zestily deals with complex issues, such as racism, sexism, discrimination, segregation, bullying, stereotyping, nature vs. nurture.  It cleverly camouflages them behind cute animation mirrors, making them are surprisingly engaging and entertaining. Not to mention shrewdly humorous.  An ambitious little bunny grows up a in farm, becomes a cop, and moves to Zootopia.  In this vibrantly rendered, diverse utopia, preys and predators exist harmoniously.  But reality is complicated.  Through a series of unfortunate incidents, the bunny reluctantly teams up with a sly fox with a traumatic past.  They work on an intricate investigation, uncovering the whereabouts of missing mammals. City hall politics are involved, fear campaigns and peace rallies.  Blame game and misdirection abound.   In the end, there is no perfect world.  We all make mistakes.  We don't always get along.  But we also can try to do our best to make a difference, and in the process, we can make the world a better place.  Imaginatively fresh and very grown-up, "Zootopia" is quite possibly the most brilliant, best animation of all time!  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

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