Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 21
January 6, 2017
Movie Review for Underworld: Blood Wars
Underworld
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Charles Dance, James Faulkner, Peter Anderson, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James, and more.Directed by: Anna Foerster Screenplay by: Cory Goodman Story by: Kyle Ward and Cory Goodman Based on Characters Created by: Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman, and Danny McBride Cinematography by: Karl Walter Lindenlaub Music by: Michael WandmacherPremise: Having lost her lover, daughter, and family, Selene feels she has no reason for living. Hunted by both werewolves and vampires as they seek her daughter for her blood, they won't believe her when she tells them she doesn't know where she is. Meanwhile, a new leader has risen amongst the werewolves. One whose been able to unite all the tribes and successfully destroyed a number of vampire covens. This could be the ultimate battle for both species. And Selene is once more stuck in the middle of it, whether she wants to be or not. (Rated R)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Kate Beckinsale reprises her role as the vampire Selene. Her dark, poignant looks are as sharp as ever. Theo James also returns as David. A young vampire Selene saved in the last film, he stands by her side whether she wants his help or not. Lara Pulver is pure gold as the manipulative Semira. Charles Dance and James Faulkner bring their strong presences into the cast giving it some weight. 2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: A lot of effects fill the film. Most are quite nice. Several considerably gory. The outside area of the northern stronghold, especially the frozen waterfall, was fabulous. The obfuscate skills from the north flowed quite well. And the vampire cocoons were a neat concept.I couldn't remember from the previous films, but it seems that the werewolves in this franchise get less and less hairy with each movie. Hairless werewolves look less like werewolves and more like muscle heavy people with long muzzles. The vampires too seemed less than they should. They either had elongated teeth all the time or not at all. 3) Plot/Story - Neutral: At a mere 91 minutes, there's not much time for any real story development. Complications and backgrounds are served at breakneck speeds with no time to savor or absorb them. Character development is minimal. Lots of new enemies that just seem like more of the same because they're not given any real time to prove they're in any way different from the rest. To increase the blood and carnage, both the werewolves and the vampires seem to lose a lot of their powers. Their sense of enhanced smell, strength, and more. A lot of wounds that should repair themselves in moments don't heal at all. (Not every blade would have poison on it.) The touch of the sun and the UV bullets now kill instantaneously. Selene and Varga's cage match showed potential for cool combat skills the vampires never once use on their werewolf enemies. A lot of the motivations seem concocted and convenient. Without building the characters some of the things they do make no sense. Thomas knows Semira and her techniques, yet ignores what he knows and makes some of what follows hollow. Varga's explanations for his actions late in the film are completely belied by his previous actions, but no one seems to notice. (And when do you put someone in a room as a prisoner without removing all the weapons? As if this huge place wouldn't have a set of cells!) It's also never good when you repeatedly tell the audience how impossible something is, and yet it's taken care of easily. Worse, once the vampires realize what has been done, they do nothing to correct the issue and get the benefit of added security instead of being massacred. Oh well. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of hand-to-hand combat. Sword fights, gun fights, and combinations of those and more. The choreography from the battles was overall well done.5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The gorgeous vistas, especially when they go north, almost make up for the plot issues. The shots from the train over the mountains were fantastic! The frozen lake with the northern lights behind them was a beautiful sight. I loved the shots of the frozen waterfall.6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Selene wears her signature corset, leathers, and long coat. Later things get shaken up a little with some contrast changes. All the southern vampires are emo to the max. It made for a huge contrast when we're introduced to the northern coven. A strange ying and yang effect. I loved the touch of Viking and Valkyrie influence on the northern group, especially for Lena.Conclusion: If you love watching Selene kick buns, and some gorgeous cinematography, you'll enjoy the film. Just don't expect much else. Rating: 3.25 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Better For Matinee)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Charles Dance, James Faulkner, Peter Anderson, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James, and more.Directed by: Anna Foerster Screenplay by: Cory Goodman Story by: Kyle Ward and Cory Goodman Based on Characters Created by: Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman, and Danny McBride Cinematography by: Karl Walter Lindenlaub Music by: Michael WandmacherPremise: Having lost her lover, daughter, and family, Selene feels she has no reason for living. Hunted by both werewolves and vampires as they seek her daughter for her blood, they won't believe her when she tells them she doesn't know where she is. Meanwhile, a new leader has risen amongst the werewolves. One whose been able to unite all the tribes and successfully destroyed a number of vampire covens. This could be the ultimate battle for both species. And Selene is once more stuck in the middle of it, whether she wants to be or not. (Rated R)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Kate Beckinsale reprises her role as the vampire Selene. Her dark, poignant looks are as sharp as ever. Theo James also returns as David. A young vampire Selene saved in the last film, he stands by her side whether she wants his help or not. Lara Pulver is pure gold as the manipulative Semira. Charles Dance and James Faulkner bring their strong presences into the cast giving it some weight. 2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: A lot of effects fill the film. Most are quite nice. Several considerably gory. The outside area of the northern stronghold, especially the frozen waterfall, was fabulous. The obfuscate skills from the north flowed quite well. And the vampire cocoons were a neat concept.I couldn't remember from the previous films, but it seems that the werewolves in this franchise get less and less hairy with each movie. Hairless werewolves look less like werewolves and more like muscle heavy people with long muzzles. The vampires too seemed less than they should. They either had elongated teeth all the time or not at all. 3) Plot/Story - Neutral: At a mere 91 minutes, there's not much time for any real story development. Complications and backgrounds are served at breakneck speeds with no time to savor or absorb them. Character development is minimal. Lots of new enemies that just seem like more of the same because they're not given any real time to prove they're in any way different from the rest. To increase the blood and carnage, both the werewolves and the vampires seem to lose a lot of their powers. Their sense of enhanced smell, strength, and more. A lot of wounds that should repair themselves in moments don't heal at all. (Not every blade would have poison on it.) The touch of the sun and the UV bullets now kill instantaneously. Selene and Varga's cage match showed potential for cool combat skills the vampires never once use on their werewolf enemies. A lot of the motivations seem concocted and convenient. Without building the characters some of the things they do make no sense. Thomas knows Semira and her techniques, yet ignores what he knows and makes some of what follows hollow. Varga's explanations for his actions late in the film are completely belied by his previous actions, but no one seems to notice. (And when do you put someone in a room as a prisoner without removing all the weapons? As if this huge place wouldn't have a set of cells!) It's also never good when you repeatedly tell the audience how impossible something is, and yet it's taken care of easily. Worse, once the vampires realize what has been done, they do nothing to correct the issue and get the benefit of added security instead of being massacred. Oh well. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of hand-to-hand combat. Sword fights, gun fights, and combinations of those and more. The choreography from the battles was overall well done.5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The gorgeous vistas, especially when they go north, almost make up for the plot issues. The shots from the train over the mountains were fantastic! The frozen lake with the northern lights behind them was a beautiful sight. I loved the shots of the frozen waterfall.6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Selene wears her signature corset, leathers, and long coat. Later things get shaken up a little with some contrast changes. All the southern vampires are emo to the max. It made for a huge contrast when we're introduced to the northern coven. A strange ying and yang effect. I loved the touch of Viking and Valkyrie influence on the northern group, especially for Lena.Conclusion: If you love watching Selene kick buns, and some gorgeous cinematography, you'll enjoy the film. Just don't expect much else. Rating: 3.25 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Better For Matinee)
January 2, 2017
Mind Sieve 1/2/17
Morning, all!The weather has been flip-flopping here for weeks. Head colds and sinus issues have been prevalent. Ugh.
Despicable Me 3 Trailer #1 - YES! And an 80's themed bad guy. ROFL!
Rogue One Moments Only True Fans Understood - I caught a lot of these but not all. So fun!
Taboo Trailer BBC One - could be interesting!
Starcraft Movie Trailer - oh my!
Stay healthy out there!
Despicable Me 3 Trailer #1 - YES! And an 80's themed bad guy. ROFL!
Rogue One Moments Only True Fans Understood - I caught a lot of these but not all. So fun!
Taboo Trailer BBC One - could be interesting!
Starcraft Movie Trailer - oh my!
Stay healthy out there!
January 1, 2017
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex Mankind Divided 1/1/17
Happy New Year, ya'll!
Deus Ex Mankind Divided
Fountain area near one of the smaller train stations in Prague. Old and new mixed together.
Check out those tattoos!
Throughout the game, you will find electronic newspapers. Gives you a peek at how some stories are getting spun and what's going on around the world. :P
The Time Machine is an antique book store. It's sad to see what the hoodlums did to it. :(
Hidden lab and hiding place for the guy who can fix my augmentations. Black market service.
The master himself. A little weird, but knows his stuff. :)
Augmentation screen. All the blurred ones are augs Jensen did not know where in there. Someone has been messing with his body without consent... Again! (Poor guy)
Cool 3D image, no?
Garden in the sewers of an underground cult. These poor people are brainwashed by continuous bombardment into their heads. :(
Another section of the place.
Hope 2017 brings you lots of joy!
Deus Ex Mankind Divided
Fountain area near one of the smaller train stations in Prague. Old and new mixed together.
Check out those tattoos!
Throughout the game, you will find electronic newspapers. Gives you a peek at how some stories are getting spun and what's going on around the world. :P
The Time Machine is an antique book store. It's sad to see what the hoodlums did to it. :(
Hidden lab and hiding place for the guy who can fix my augmentations. Black market service.
The master himself. A little weird, but knows his stuff. :)
Augmentation screen. All the blurred ones are augs Jensen did not know where in there. Someone has been messing with his body without consent... Again! (Poor guy)
Cool 3D image, no?
Garden in the sewers of an underground cult. These poor people are brainwashed by continuous bombardment into their heads. :(
Another section of the place.Hope 2017 brings you lots of joy!
December 30, 2016
Movie Review - Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Kenneth Williams, Denis Ménochet, Ariane Labed, and more.Directed by: Justin Kurzel Screenplay by: Michael Lesslie, Adam Cooper, and Bill Collage Based on the Video Game Series Created by: Patrick Désilets, Corey May, and Jade Raymond Music by: Jed Kurzel Cinematography by: Adam ArkapawPremise: Cal Lynch was sentenced to death for killing a pimp. Except instead of dying, he finds himself in Spain rather than Texas. Due to his DNA, he's been picked up for a research program. One that taps into his genetic memory. The Institute is using this research not only to study violent behavior but also to find clues as to the whereabouts of the Apple of Eden. A prize that has been pursued by the Templars and the Assassin's Creed for centuries. The stakes are higher than Cal would ever guess. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Michael Fasbender does a great job with the double role of Cal and his 14th-century ancestor Aguilar. The two characters are polarized in different directions. It's fun to see the two figuratively and literally face off against each other and what drives them. Marion Cotillard as Sofia was also an interesting character. She's a brilliant scientist, yet is mostly blind as to what her research is being used for and her father's real goals. Jeremy Irons is masterful as ever. A charismatic man with giant agendas who doesn't care who and what he uses to achieve his goals.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of lovely and subtle touches from the special effect's team. In the game, the eagle is a symbol of the Assassin's Creed (since it is a bird of prey) and is used in several sequences. For the film, they expanded on this and used the eagle in both the present and the past. I thought it made for a beautiful tie between the two men and a nice sprinkle of mysticism besides. The recreations of the ancient cities were wonderful. They even made sure to add in the towers and a lot of the look and feel of the original game. The concept of the Animus, a virtual reality machine used to project the genetic memory of the subject, was altered somewhat to make it more cinematic. Still, I thought it was great! The 3D visual representations as seen by the doctor and techs gave everything a ghostly, haunting quality, while for Cal being in the past was solid reality. 3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: You get a little backstory on Cal, which serves to help the audience understand him. It's also used to set up some reveals further on. In general, I felt the plot was pretty straight forward with few surprises. That might also be because I know a little about the franchise. (Got to play the original game years ago - though I didn't get far. The baud rate on the main character's white room at the institute was low. So it would make me very dizzy, even though no one was moving!) Some neat explorations of free will, violence, even faith. There's even some fun mysticism thrown in for flavor. Magic, technology, God, the audience is left to draw their own conclusions.4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film has a lot of cool CGI and regular stunt work. Watching the assassins run through the old streets and roofs of Madrid was a lot of fun. Lots of hand-to-hand combat. 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The film was shot in the UK, Malta, and Spain. The flavors of the locations come through in both the past and present. The cinematography throughout was excellent, taking total advantage of the sites. Several scenes are from just behind a flying eagle, and they were gorgeous. One neat section went from a painting depicting a scene in 1492 to later diving into the location back in time. Lovely! Conclusion: "Assassin's Creed" is a fun action film with some history and mysticism thrown in for flavor. While not exactly like the game, it keeps the most important points and makes for a satisfying ride.Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Kenneth Williams, Denis Ménochet, Ariane Labed, and more.Directed by: Justin Kurzel Screenplay by: Michael Lesslie, Adam Cooper, and Bill Collage Based on the Video Game Series Created by: Patrick Désilets, Corey May, and Jade Raymond Music by: Jed Kurzel Cinematography by: Adam ArkapawPremise: Cal Lynch was sentenced to death for killing a pimp. Except instead of dying, he finds himself in Spain rather than Texas. Due to his DNA, he's been picked up for a research program. One that taps into his genetic memory. The Institute is using this research not only to study violent behavior but also to find clues as to the whereabouts of the Apple of Eden. A prize that has been pursued by the Templars and the Assassin's Creed for centuries. The stakes are higher than Cal would ever guess. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Michael Fasbender does a great job with the double role of Cal and his 14th-century ancestor Aguilar. The two characters are polarized in different directions. It's fun to see the two figuratively and literally face off against each other and what drives them. Marion Cotillard as Sofia was also an interesting character. She's a brilliant scientist, yet is mostly blind as to what her research is being used for and her father's real goals. Jeremy Irons is masterful as ever. A charismatic man with giant agendas who doesn't care who and what he uses to achieve his goals.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of lovely and subtle touches from the special effect's team. In the game, the eagle is a symbol of the Assassin's Creed (since it is a bird of prey) and is used in several sequences. For the film, they expanded on this and used the eagle in both the present and the past. I thought it made for a beautiful tie between the two men and a nice sprinkle of mysticism besides. The recreations of the ancient cities were wonderful. They even made sure to add in the towers and a lot of the look and feel of the original game. The concept of the Animus, a virtual reality machine used to project the genetic memory of the subject, was altered somewhat to make it more cinematic. Still, I thought it was great! The 3D visual representations as seen by the doctor and techs gave everything a ghostly, haunting quality, while for Cal being in the past was solid reality. 3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: You get a little backstory on Cal, which serves to help the audience understand him. It's also used to set up some reveals further on. In general, I felt the plot was pretty straight forward with few surprises. That might also be because I know a little about the franchise. (Got to play the original game years ago - though I didn't get far. The baud rate on the main character's white room at the institute was low. So it would make me very dizzy, even though no one was moving!) Some neat explorations of free will, violence, even faith. There's even some fun mysticism thrown in for flavor. Magic, technology, God, the audience is left to draw their own conclusions.4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film has a lot of cool CGI and regular stunt work. Watching the assassins run through the old streets and roofs of Madrid was a lot of fun. Lots of hand-to-hand combat. 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The film was shot in the UK, Malta, and Spain. The flavors of the locations come through in both the past and present. The cinematography throughout was excellent, taking total advantage of the sites. Several scenes are from just behind a flying eagle, and they were gorgeous. One neat section went from a painting depicting a scene in 1492 to later diving into the location back in time. Lovely! Conclusion: "Assassin's Creed" is a fun action film with some history and mysticism thrown in for flavor. While not exactly like the game, it keeps the most important points and makes for a satisfying ride.Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
December 25, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Dishonored 2 12/25/16
Morning, all!Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!Dishonored 2
Meagan Foster, captain of the Wale (Not a misspelling but a hidden meaning I think) - a friend of Doctor Sokolov and my way out of Dunwall.
My last look at home before heading off to Karnaca - the birthplace of my father and where I need to go to rescue Solokov.
Wake up on the ship only to realize I am about to meet the Other.
So eerie, no?
And there he is. He offers Emily the same thing he offered Corvo in game 1 - otherworldly powers with which to fight my enemies.
Whales, the universe is made up of whales. Still super creepy!
Corvo's current state.
What is likely to happen to everyone with Delilah in charge.
Emily's dead mother, the Empress Jasmine. She will help guide me much as she did Corvo after she was assassinated.
Jasmine's heart - the last pieces of her soul trapped within. Before us, those who have plotted to destroy all with Delilah at the center.
Hope you have a fabulous day with you and yours!
Meagan Foster, captain of the Wale (Not a misspelling but a hidden meaning I think) - a friend of Doctor Sokolov and my way out of Dunwall.
My last look at home before heading off to Karnaca - the birthplace of my father and where I need to go to rescue Solokov.
Wake up on the ship only to realize I am about to meet the Other.
So eerie, no?
And there he is. He offers Emily the same thing he offered Corvo in game 1 - otherworldly powers with which to fight my enemies.
Whales, the universe is made up of whales. Still super creepy!
Corvo's current state.
What is likely to happen to everyone with Delilah in charge.
Emily's dead mother, the Empress Jasmine. She will help guide me much as she did Corvo after she was assassinated.
Jasmine's heart - the last pieces of her soul trapped within. Before us, those who have plotted to destroy all with Delilah at the center.Hope you have a fabulous day with you and yours!
December 23, 2016
Movie Review - Passengers
Passengers
Starring: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Julee Cerda, Aurora Perrineau, Andy Garcia, Vince Foster, Kara Flowers, Conor Brophy, and more.Directed by: Morten Tyldum Written by: Jon Spaihts Cinematography by: Rodrigo Prieto Music by: Thomas NewmanPremise: The colony ship Avalon is on route to Homestead II. It's carrying 5,000 passengers and 258 crew all in suspended animation for the 120-year trip. 30 years in, the ship encounters an asteroid field. One of the asteroids is massive enough that it breaks into pieces when hitting the ship's shields rather than be vaporized. The ship sustains some seemingly minor damage it is able to repair. However, a chip on one of the hibernation pods shorts out, and the passenger is awakened. Something which has never occurred in the history of the company. And something the ship was never programmed to handle. So Jim Preston finds himself alone, with 90 years of the journey still to go. His only companion in a ship of over 5,000 people, a semi-intelligent bartender android. And the ship wasn't actually able to repair all the damage... And it can only hold out so long. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence did outstanding work in film. They also have great chemistry together. Something that's crucial since for 95% of the movie they are the only ones carrying it forward. Chris gave real emotional weight to Jim's problems when he first wakes up alone and later when he battles himself over a major decision. Jennifer Lawrence also runs the gambit once she's brought awake, and again later when she learns a horrifying truth. Michael Sheen is fabulous. His portrayal of Arthur as the semi-intelligent android and the passenger's only available outlet was top notch. You could almost see his programming struggling to do more and to understand more than his software could handle. Laurence Fishburne also added a lot as Gus Mancuso. The whole cast was fantastic.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Lots to love with regards to the special effects. The Avalon is a gorgeous ship! Self-repairing, auto maintaining, and so beautiful. A lot of care is taken on scope and view angles. When Jim goes on his first spacewalk, his position feels stationary as everything around him is spinning. In reality, though, the two are swapped. (Don't watch the surrounding stars for too long as it will make you dizzy!) Tons of lovely attention to detail!The Dance Dance Revolution type game was hilarious. And all the 3D holograms and interactive systems looked great. The pool area was fab. And what they do with it when gravity fails at one point was awesome.The gorgeous views of the universe, and especially the gas giant, will make you feel it's those who are asleep that are missing everything and not those who are awake. A lot of fantastic visuals. Totally worth the 3D price.3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: True science fiction is more than just about spaceships, aliens, and weapons. It's a medium for exploring human behavior, the human condition. "Passengers" definitely explores several levels of both. They also have fun playing with the hubris of corporations and how nature and Murphy's Law care nothing about it. lol. The science is, for the most part, solid as well. So that's a bonus. Though the film does take a few things to unbelievable extremes. The spacesuits in the Avalon are beyond miraculous - heat shield or no heat shield. The autodoc is too, once you get past the pesky restrictions. lol.The film is a combination of "Silent Running," "Robinson Crusoe," "Cast Away," and more. It's also a great date movie. These are things to keep in mind as it will probably not resonate with some viewer's expectations. Hubby and I, however, were quite pleased.One bit that gets done wrong or is misleading in way too many movies is the act of writing. Aurora is a journalist and a writer. And they show her just speaking out her thoughts and the computer typing them for her on a screen. While that's all well and good, the part they do not cover is EDITING! You can just jumble stuff down on paper, but NEVER is that the final product. NEVER! You have to go over it, prune it, add to it, change it, make sure it flows, that it makes sense, that it's legible. Even this movie review is not just typed and posted. Editing happens to it too! Gasp, wheeze, breathe. *Ahem*The fabulous acting, gorgeous vistas, and well thought out scenarios will help audiences overlook the overstretched items. And some little things did show a lot of thought. At one point we see Jim drawing on the deck for something he's working on. And he thought it through thoroughly. Many will probably miss it, but what he does is a real achievement, especially since he's trying to avoid damaging any systems. You'll know it when you see it. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: From about the middle to the end of the film there are several scenes with stunts. And most look to have been done by the actors! They meshed quite nicely with the CGI of what was going on around them. Great job!5) Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: I believe that between "Prometheus," "Avatar," and "Guardians of the Galaxy" that other films' visual effects and cinematography have a high bar to compete against. "Passengers" works hard to get near the three. The spanning space shots. The views of different parts of the ship. The gas giant, the asteroid field, and more are presented in fabulous ways. There are even some beautiful gas clouds during the end credits that take full advantage of the 3D. Nice!Make sure to take a good look at the end of the film when the crew awakens and goes into the main concourse! It's super fast but super cool. And there are so many details it's hard to take them all in before it goes away!Conclusion: Whether you go see "Passengers" for date night or for social SF or just the cool visuals, the film is definitely worth it. Add in a little suspension of disbelief at a couple of places, and you're in for a treat.Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Julee Cerda, Aurora Perrineau, Andy Garcia, Vince Foster, Kara Flowers, Conor Brophy, and more.Directed by: Morten Tyldum Written by: Jon Spaihts Cinematography by: Rodrigo Prieto Music by: Thomas NewmanPremise: The colony ship Avalon is on route to Homestead II. It's carrying 5,000 passengers and 258 crew all in suspended animation for the 120-year trip. 30 years in, the ship encounters an asteroid field. One of the asteroids is massive enough that it breaks into pieces when hitting the ship's shields rather than be vaporized. The ship sustains some seemingly minor damage it is able to repair. However, a chip on one of the hibernation pods shorts out, and the passenger is awakened. Something which has never occurred in the history of the company. And something the ship was never programmed to handle. So Jim Preston finds himself alone, with 90 years of the journey still to go. His only companion in a ship of over 5,000 people, a semi-intelligent bartender android. And the ship wasn't actually able to repair all the damage... And it can only hold out so long. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence did outstanding work in film. They also have great chemistry together. Something that's crucial since for 95% of the movie they are the only ones carrying it forward. Chris gave real emotional weight to Jim's problems when he first wakes up alone and later when he battles himself over a major decision. Jennifer Lawrence also runs the gambit once she's brought awake, and again later when she learns a horrifying truth. Michael Sheen is fabulous. His portrayal of Arthur as the semi-intelligent android and the passenger's only available outlet was top notch. You could almost see his programming struggling to do more and to understand more than his software could handle. Laurence Fishburne also added a lot as Gus Mancuso. The whole cast was fantastic.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Lots to love with regards to the special effects. The Avalon is a gorgeous ship! Self-repairing, auto maintaining, and so beautiful. A lot of care is taken on scope and view angles. When Jim goes on his first spacewalk, his position feels stationary as everything around him is spinning. In reality, though, the two are swapped. (Don't watch the surrounding stars for too long as it will make you dizzy!) Tons of lovely attention to detail!The Dance Dance Revolution type game was hilarious. And all the 3D holograms and interactive systems looked great. The pool area was fab. And what they do with it when gravity fails at one point was awesome.The gorgeous views of the universe, and especially the gas giant, will make you feel it's those who are asleep that are missing everything and not those who are awake. A lot of fantastic visuals. Totally worth the 3D price.3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: True science fiction is more than just about spaceships, aliens, and weapons. It's a medium for exploring human behavior, the human condition. "Passengers" definitely explores several levels of both. They also have fun playing with the hubris of corporations and how nature and Murphy's Law care nothing about it. lol. The science is, for the most part, solid as well. So that's a bonus. Though the film does take a few things to unbelievable extremes. The spacesuits in the Avalon are beyond miraculous - heat shield or no heat shield. The autodoc is too, once you get past the pesky restrictions. lol.The film is a combination of "Silent Running," "Robinson Crusoe," "Cast Away," and more. It's also a great date movie. These are things to keep in mind as it will probably not resonate with some viewer's expectations. Hubby and I, however, were quite pleased.One bit that gets done wrong or is misleading in way too many movies is the act of writing. Aurora is a journalist and a writer. And they show her just speaking out her thoughts and the computer typing them for her on a screen. While that's all well and good, the part they do not cover is EDITING! You can just jumble stuff down on paper, but NEVER is that the final product. NEVER! You have to go over it, prune it, add to it, change it, make sure it flows, that it makes sense, that it's legible. Even this movie review is not just typed and posted. Editing happens to it too! Gasp, wheeze, breathe. *Ahem*The fabulous acting, gorgeous vistas, and well thought out scenarios will help audiences overlook the overstretched items. And some little things did show a lot of thought. At one point we see Jim drawing on the deck for something he's working on. And he thought it through thoroughly. Many will probably miss it, but what he does is a real achievement, especially since he's trying to avoid damaging any systems. You'll know it when you see it. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: From about the middle to the end of the film there are several scenes with stunts. And most look to have been done by the actors! They meshed quite nicely with the CGI of what was going on around them. Great job!5) Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: I believe that between "Prometheus," "Avatar," and "Guardians of the Galaxy" that other films' visual effects and cinematography have a high bar to compete against. "Passengers" works hard to get near the three. The spanning space shots. The views of different parts of the ship. The gas giant, the asteroid field, and more are presented in fabulous ways. There are even some beautiful gas clouds during the end credits that take full advantage of the 3D. Nice!Make sure to take a good look at the end of the film when the crew awakens and goes into the main concourse! It's super fast but super cool. And there are so many details it's hard to take them all in before it goes away!Conclusion: Whether you go see "Passengers" for date night or for social SF or just the cool visuals, the film is definitely worth it. Add in a little suspension of disbelief at a couple of places, and you're in for a treat.Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again)
December 18, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 12/18/16
Morning! Hope you're keeping warm!Deus Ex: Mankind DividedPrague
One of the neat things about the Deus Ex universe is the cool posters. All sorts are out there. Propaganda, movies, and more. :P
All sorts of secrets and passageways can be found in the sewer.
The local police. Some are more honest and less rude than others. There's a major crackdown on augs for their papers.
Some lovely cobbled streets. And get a look at the snazzy cars! :)
Local convenience store.
This is an add incorporated into an awning. Freaked me out the first time I saw it. lol.
Inside of another local business. Love their window!
The rock to the left is dangling by wires. Modern art concept? And yes, this part of town has graffiti everywhere.
A better view of the dangling rock.
This poor place has taken a major hit. Right now it is crawling with angry mobsters. It's an antique bookstore. Also, it houses a buddy specializing in augmentations and might be able to help me get mine back online. :PHave a good day!
One of the neat things about the Deus Ex universe is the cool posters. All sorts are out there. Propaganda, movies, and more. :P
All sorts of secrets and passageways can be found in the sewer.
The local police. Some are more honest and less rude than others. There's a major crackdown on augs for their papers.
Some lovely cobbled streets. And get a look at the snazzy cars! :)
Local convenience store.
This is an add incorporated into an awning. Freaked me out the first time I saw it. lol.
Inside of another local business. Love their window!
The rock to the left is dangling by wires. Modern art concept? And yes, this part of town has graffiti everywhere.
A better view of the dangling rock.
This poor place has taken a major hit. Right now it is crawling with angry mobsters. It's an antique bookstore. Also, it houses a buddy specializing in augmentations and might be able to help me get mine back online. :PHave a good day!
December 16, 2016
Movie Review - Rogue One
Rogue One
Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Jimmy Smits, Ben Daniels, Guy Henry, Ingvild Deila, and more.Directed by: Gareth Edwards Story by: John Knoll and Gary Whitta Screenplay by: Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy Based on Characters Created by: George Lucas Cinematography by: Greig Fraser Music by: Michael GiacchinoPremise: A cargo pilot defects from the Empire, claiming to have information about a weapon which can destroy worlds. The pilot falls into the hands of an ostracized militant faction of the Rebels. To try to get the information, the main group of Rebels track down the daughter of the man the information came from. She also happens to who knows the head of the faction holding the pilot. So the main group is hoping to use her for an introduction with the splinter faction and mend fences. Jyn has been hiding her true identity for most of her life, her father torn from her and her mentor leaving her behind years before. But when she does this one favor for the Rebellion, she starts seeing there is much out there she had no idea about. And that what the Empire is planning is bigger and more horrifying than she ever imagined.Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: The cast is a fun and quirky set of characters. At first, it seems they won't fit together, but they end up meshing very well. Felicity Jones was fun to watch as Jyn Erso. The character has built a thick, protective shell around herself. Felicity does a wonderful job of showing it slowly cracking and eventually falling away. Diego Luna as Cassian Andor also did a great job. Having done unspeakable things in the name of freedom, he too finds his shell cracking as he's made to deal with Jyn. Alan Tudyk was awesome as K-2SO. Not only for nice bits of levity but also for some truly poignant moments. Riz Ahmed brought a lot on as Bohdi Rook. The poor pilot goes through so much just to try to do the right thing. Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang as Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus were a fun duo that added some extra fun layers to the team.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The special effects team did a superb job. The devastation from just a small blast from the Death Star was jaw dropping. The multiple views of it from the ground and from space were amazing. They brought back all the old favorite ships and machines as well as several new ones. Loved seeing the main dish being placed on the Death Star - made for a nice backdrop to the conversation between Tarkin and Krennic.But what was truly impressive work from the department, a lot of people won't even realize is happening. And that is the work they did with Guy Henry and Ingvild Deila to recreate the characters of Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia. It was both eerie and amazing on how well the CGI and the new actors meshed together to bring back these characters of almost forty years ago from when the original Star Wars Episode IV first came out. (Peter Cushing passed in 1994 and Carrie Fisher is much older now than she was back then. :P)A lot of the locations were recreated and made to look as we'd seen them before. Others were brand new. We even finally get an awesome tropical beach location! (Best outpost to be assigned as a trooper ever!) Darth Vader's Sith temple was also quite cool looking. The only planet location in the film they did not disclose. lol. Tons of shooting, explosions, pistols, rifles, bombs, and more! But for the first time ever - no lightsabers! *gasp*3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The Good - A lot better thought out than The Force Awakens! So, yay for that! Lots of good bits and homage/in-jokes in the film from other Star Wars films. They went to a lot of trouble to replicate places and things as we'd seen them in the original set of movies. Bringing in Tarkin and making him part of the whole thing was awesome. Adding K-2SO was genius. Mouthy robots are in lately. lol. Layered characters with thought out motivations. They pulled at the heart strings in several places. I thought it hilarious that after going through all the trouble to make it so Han Solo didn't shoot first, they turned around and gave us Cassian Andor. The first scene with him definitely left no doubts as to who did what.Like Titanic, we pretty much know how this will end, but it was worth watching it happen. And the way they tie the end of the film to the beginning of Episode IV was great. (Aside from the nitpicks below.)The Bad - There wasn't much. And for most people, it won't make a difference. But I must do my duty. :P (We watched Episode IV right after so I did a double check!) Mon Mothma did not make an appearance until Episode VI, but she was the main focus person at Yavin 4 in this prequel. They also had a character that sounded and looked like Admiral Ackbar, which didn't make sense particularly in the large battle. (*Warning - Spoilers!*) Worse, the transmission was not a beamed transmission to one location, but one sent wide to all ships in the area. So how is it that some of the rebel ships escaped but we still only had one copy of the data? What...? If I somehow missed something explaining this, let me know! One last nitpick. This is a big galaxy. There are bound to be wide variations in clothing styles and home architecture. But you'll note a lot of the costumes are familiar, pilfered from different areas of the first three films. While some are expected, especially since they are recreating some of the locations, it didn't make sense everywhere. Where it worked the least, in my opinion, was the humid planet where Jyn's father has hiding. Subterranean houses in this environment would be terribly risky. And do they not believe in rain gear in that world? One bit I thought cute and not cute was an obtuse bit of homage. In the original Star Wars, Lucas based the characters of R2D2 and 3CPO on two side characters in the Japanese film "The Hidden Fortress" by Akira Kurosawa with actor Toshiro Mifune. In turn, this new film has a scene with the character Baze Malbus that was very reminiscent of another Akira Kurosawa film. Heck, in the scene, you'd swear the actor Wen Jiang looked just like Toshiro Mifune! (Or I have too wild of an imagination? :P) But doing it didn't feel quite right?Overall, though, it was a good film! Yay!4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Tons of explosions also means loads of stunt work. Rebels and Storm troopers are blown about all over the place. Throw in some excellent staff combat by Chirrut Imwe and the stunt people were kept quite busy. :P 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: I was very pleased to note they didn't use the same cheat they did with "The Force Awakens" concerning locations. They actually went out of their way to find a new look for several of the new worlds. For the planets already known, they did a great job bringing back the same look and feel as they'd had previously. So yay for trying to prove all worlds in the vast galaxy aren't all the same!6) Music - Total Thumbs Up: I've read that this is the first Star Wars film without a John William's score. Michael Giacchino took the reins of this one. And while creating several new tracks, they also kept some of the old ones. A nice way to mesh the two sets. Giacchino also kept the spirit of the style created for this franchise, so it was in good hands.Conclusion: Rogue One has some minor flaws, but overall it beat the pants out of The Force Awakens. :P Great addition to the franchise!Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again)
Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Jimmy Smits, Ben Daniels, Guy Henry, Ingvild Deila, and more.Directed by: Gareth Edwards Story by: John Knoll and Gary Whitta Screenplay by: Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy Based on Characters Created by: George Lucas Cinematography by: Greig Fraser Music by: Michael GiacchinoPremise: A cargo pilot defects from the Empire, claiming to have information about a weapon which can destroy worlds. The pilot falls into the hands of an ostracized militant faction of the Rebels. To try to get the information, the main group of Rebels track down the daughter of the man the information came from. She also happens to who knows the head of the faction holding the pilot. So the main group is hoping to use her for an introduction with the splinter faction and mend fences. Jyn has been hiding her true identity for most of her life, her father torn from her and her mentor leaving her behind years before. But when she does this one favor for the Rebellion, she starts seeing there is much out there she had no idea about. And that what the Empire is planning is bigger and more horrifying than she ever imagined.Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: The cast is a fun and quirky set of characters. At first, it seems they won't fit together, but they end up meshing very well. Felicity Jones was fun to watch as Jyn Erso. The character has built a thick, protective shell around herself. Felicity does a wonderful job of showing it slowly cracking and eventually falling away. Diego Luna as Cassian Andor also did a great job. Having done unspeakable things in the name of freedom, he too finds his shell cracking as he's made to deal with Jyn. Alan Tudyk was awesome as K-2SO. Not only for nice bits of levity but also for some truly poignant moments. Riz Ahmed brought a lot on as Bohdi Rook. The poor pilot goes through so much just to try to do the right thing. Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang as Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus were a fun duo that added some extra fun layers to the team.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: The special effects team did a superb job. The devastation from just a small blast from the Death Star was jaw dropping. The multiple views of it from the ground and from space were amazing. They brought back all the old favorite ships and machines as well as several new ones. Loved seeing the main dish being placed on the Death Star - made for a nice backdrop to the conversation between Tarkin and Krennic.But what was truly impressive work from the department, a lot of people won't even realize is happening. And that is the work they did with Guy Henry and Ingvild Deila to recreate the characters of Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia. It was both eerie and amazing on how well the CGI and the new actors meshed together to bring back these characters of almost forty years ago from when the original Star Wars Episode IV first came out. (Peter Cushing passed in 1994 and Carrie Fisher is much older now than she was back then. :P)A lot of the locations were recreated and made to look as we'd seen them before. Others were brand new. We even finally get an awesome tropical beach location! (Best outpost to be assigned as a trooper ever!) Darth Vader's Sith temple was also quite cool looking. The only planet location in the film they did not disclose. lol. Tons of shooting, explosions, pistols, rifles, bombs, and more! But for the first time ever - no lightsabers! *gasp*3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The Good - A lot better thought out than The Force Awakens! So, yay for that! Lots of good bits and homage/in-jokes in the film from other Star Wars films. They went to a lot of trouble to replicate places and things as we'd seen them in the original set of movies. Bringing in Tarkin and making him part of the whole thing was awesome. Adding K-2SO was genius. Mouthy robots are in lately. lol. Layered characters with thought out motivations. They pulled at the heart strings in several places. I thought it hilarious that after going through all the trouble to make it so Han Solo didn't shoot first, they turned around and gave us Cassian Andor. The first scene with him definitely left no doubts as to who did what.Like Titanic, we pretty much know how this will end, but it was worth watching it happen. And the way they tie the end of the film to the beginning of Episode IV was great. (Aside from the nitpicks below.)The Bad - There wasn't much. And for most people, it won't make a difference. But I must do my duty. :P (We watched Episode IV right after so I did a double check!) Mon Mothma did not make an appearance until Episode VI, but she was the main focus person at Yavin 4 in this prequel. They also had a character that sounded and looked like Admiral Ackbar, which didn't make sense particularly in the large battle. (*Warning - Spoilers!*) Worse, the transmission was not a beamed transmission to one location, but one sent wide to all ships in the area. So how is it that some of the rebel ships escaped but we still only had one copy of the data? What...? If I somehow missed something explaining this, let me know! One last nitpick. This is a big galaxy. There are bound to be wide variations in clothing styles and home architecture. But you'll note a lot of the costumes are familiar, pilfered from different areas of the first three films. While some are expected, especially since they are recreating some of the locations, it didn't make sense everywhere. Where it worked the least, in my opinion, was the humid planet where Jyn's father has hiding. Subterranean houses in this environment would be terribly risky. And do they not believe in rain gear in that world? One bit I thought cute and not cute was an obtuse bit of homage. In the original Star Wars, Lucas based the characters of R2D2 and 3CPO on two side characters in the Japanese film "The Hidden Fortress" by Akira Kurosawa with actor Toshiro Mifune. In turn, this new film has a scene with the character Baze Malbus that was very reminiscent of another Akira Kurosawa film. Heck, in the scene, you'd swear the actor Wen Jiang looked just like Toshiro Mifune! (Or I have too wild of an imagination? :P) But doing it didn't feel quite right?Overall, though, it was a good film! Yay!4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Tons of explosions also means loads of stunt work. Rebels and Storm troopers are blown about all over the place. Throw in some excellent staff combat by Chirrut Imwe and the stunt people were kept quite busy. :P 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: I was very pleased to note they didn't use the same cheat they did with "The Force Awakens" concerning locations. They actually went out of their way to find a new look for several of the new worlds. For the planets already known, they did a great job bringing back the same look and feel as they'd had previously. So yay for trying to prove all worlds in the vast galaxy aren't all the same!6) Music - Total Thumbs Up: I've read that this is the first Star Wars film without a John William's score. Michael Giacchino took the reins of this one. And while creating several new tracks, they also kept some of the old ones. A nice way to mesh the two sets. Giacchino also kept the spirit of the style created for this franchise, so it was in good hands.Conclusion: Rogue One has some minor flaws, but overall it beat the pants out of The Force Awakens. :P Great addition to the franchise!Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again)
December 14, 2016
Picture Kaleidoscope 12/14/16
It's been so long since I've done a Picture Kaleidoscope post!
Disney Cruise 2016 Civitavecchia (Rome) The majority of my pics for Rome got accidentally deleted. Only have those I took with my phone. *cry*
After going to the Vatican, our tour guide brought us here for lunch.
Lovely restaurant with tall windows. Even has an upstairs eating area.
After lunch, we went to a section of Rome's catacombs. No pictures allowed in the tunnels but there were some artifacts we could see before going below.
This is the lovely ceiling in the chapel in the catacombs area. Isn't the layering and detail amazing?
Gorgeous, no?
Such awesome work!Have a great day!
Disney Cruise 2016 Civitavecchia (Rome) The majority of my pics for Rome got accidentally deleted. Only have those I took with my phone. *cry*
After going to the Vatican, our tour guide brought us here for lunch.
Lovely restaurant with tall windows. Even has an upstairs eating area.
After lunch, we went to a section of Rome's catacombs. No pictures allowed in the tunnels but there were some artifacts we could see before going below.
This is the lovely ceiling in the chapel in the catacombs area. Isn't the layering and detail amazing?
Gorgeous, no?
Such awesome work!Have a great day!
December 12, 2016
Mind Sieve 12/12/16
Morning, all!
Fan Fun
War for the Planet of the Apes Official Trailer - ooooh!
Spider-Man: Homecoming Official Trailer #1 - this is going to be messy! lol.
Ghost in the Shell Official Trailer 1 - sweet! Hope they try to keep it close to the manga. Woot!
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Official Trailer - Teaser - sweet!
Social Media/Author PlatformHow This Author Got 10,000+ Preorders As A First Time Self-Published Author by Book Marketing Tools.com. They make it sound so easy. *cry*
Writing/Writing LifeThe Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers — 2016 Edition by Jami Gold (Some cool stuff in here! :P)5 Ways to Discover & Develop Our Voice by Jami Gold.Have a great week!
Fan Fun
War for the Planet of the Apes Official Trailer - ooooh!
Spider-Man: Homecoming Official Trailer #1 - this is going to be messy! lol.
Ghost in the Shell Official Trailer 1 - sweet! Hope they try to keep it close to the manga. Woot!
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Official Trailer - Teaser - sweet!
Social Media/Author PlatformHow This Author Got 10,000+ Preorders As A First Time Self-Published Author by Book Marketing Tools.com. They make it sound so easy. *cry*
Writing/Writing LifeThe Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers — 2016 Edition by Jami Gold (Some cool stuff in here! :P)5 Ways to Discover & Develop Our Voice by Jami Gold.Have a great week!
