Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 23
November 6, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Final Fantasy XIV 11/6/16
Morning!Final Fantasy XIV
La Noscea
God's Grip
Desolate looking, isn't it?
A new mission!
My mismatched armor. lol
Look at that view!
It's like we've gone to West World. :P
Nice symbols! The town is inside a small cave system. Easy to get lost even though it's not that big! :P
Head honcho of this desolate place.
Small little garden inside the town.
Eerie looking. Has no bottom.
Meeting my evil boyfriend one last time. The mystery of why he is like he is is revealed! Poor sod.Have a beautiful Sunday!
La Noscea
God's Grip
Desolate looking, isn't it?
A new mission!
My mismatched armor. lol
Look at that view!
It's like we've gone to West World. :P
Nice symbols! The town is inside a small cave system. Easy to get lost even though it's not that big! :P
Head honcho of this desolate place.
Small little garden inside the town.
Eerie looking. Has no bottom.
Meeting my evil boyfriend one last time. The mystery of why he is like he is is revealed! Poor sod.Have a beautiful Sunday!
November 4, 2016
Movie Review - Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, and more.Directed by: Scott Derrickson Written by: Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, and C. Robert Cargill Based on the Comics by: Steve Ditko Cinematography by: Ben Davis Music by: Michael Giacchino Premise: A world famous surgeon loses the use of his hands after a terrible car accident. Determined to find a cure, he eventually ends up in Kathmandu, Nepal where he meets the Ancient One. Driven to succeed so he can go back to his old life, Strange finds himself embroiled in a conflict that could well decide the fate of the planet. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Benedict Cumberbatch did a great job as Doctor Stephen Strange. Cumberbatch took the character and made it his own. Though he's played many roles with ego filled men with hearts they deny, he still found a way to make Strange unique from all his other performances. Kudos! Tilda Swinton was quite convincing as a female version of the Ancient One. Mads Mikkelsen was wonderful as Kaecilius. His conversation with Strange in the NY Sanctum was wicked and fabulous on so many levels. Not to be outdone, Chiwetel Ejiofor holds his own as Mordo. (For those who know the comic series, they do push him in the right direction by the end, so go with it.) Benedict Wong (I swear they made an in-joke of the fact they had two Benedicts) was a perfect and fun foil for Strange. Rachel McAdams was fun as Christine Palmer. Her reactions at a couple of places were priceless! :)2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: If you can possibly see this film in IMAX 3D I would urge you to do so! I get motion sickness easily, but didn't have trouble with the film, so I think it should be safe for most people. All the warping of reality looked spectacular! The special effects team also handled a silent actor who just about stole the show - the Cloak of Levitation. Totally unexpected handling of the ancient artifact and it worked so well! Loved what they did with it! The mirror universe, Dormamu's universe, and all the weird manipulations of reality were fantastic. Dormamu himself, which you get a hint of during Stephen's first introduction to the unknown, looked fabulous! Wish we'd gotten a look at the Mindless ones, but I'm sure they're saving those for later. :P The spells themselves were super cool. The physicality added to them made them seem more real, which added more to the film than just straight visual effects would have. Awesome choice.The Eye of Agamotto doesn't much resemble the iconic image used in the comics, but was still very cool. And wait untill you see the astral fight through the hospital! Fab!And wait till you see what they do with the apple. Fantastic! And the backwards while still going forward combat was sublime!3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: This is an intro story and most of the important facts fit with the stated mythology from the comics. Doctor Strange is hubby's favorite all time comic book hero so he's been slobbering to see it. :P And he was quite happy with the treatment. Three major changes from the comics were in the film. The Ancient One is now female - though it was pulled off quite nicely. The second was the introduction of Kaecilius as Stephen's first nemesis. But that's only so they could build up what they'll be doing with Mordo later. Bwahahahaha! (Ahem...) The third was the addition of Christine Palmer into the origin story. But she made for a nice counterpoint with Strange. In essence, all the best parts of what make up Doctor Strange were definitely there.The film had a lot of interspersed humor. It was quite a surprise, but it added a nice layer of fun to the film. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Between the training, the fighting and the effect of magic on others - the stunt team was kept very busy. Fights weren't on just the usual planes of existence anymore. This made for some challenging hand to hand combat! Even escaping was a major stunt trial. lol. 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Both the real and the imagined locations were great! They had great flavor. They even used a couple of places where you saw one thing, but heard another, throwing the whole into a new context. What fun! Filming occurred in the real Kathmandu, Nepal. Also in Hong Kong, London, New York, Los Angeles and more. The addition of the Avenger's tower outside of Stephen's view was a nice touch.And wait till you see the New York Sanctum. Sweet! 6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Major kudos to the makeup department, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the special effects group with respect to Stephen's messed up hands. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that they weren't the same as they'd been when he wakes up in the hospital after the accident. And later you can see the scars from the repairs and additional surgeries he had performed in an attempt to get them fixed. A constant reminder of his loss.The group also did a fabulous job recreating Strange's unique look from the white in his hair to the blue gi like uniform. Great attention to detail!Conclusion: Doctor Strange is an awesome rendition of the famous comic series. Fans will be please with how technology has finally caught up enough to bring this fabulous character to the world in the right way. There are two (yes two!) extra scenes during the credits. So stay all the way to the end! Stan Lee also has a cameo! (I know - like DUH!) :PRating: 4 out of 5 Stars (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, and more.Directed by: Scott Derrickson Written by: Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, and C. Robert Cargill Based on the Comics by: Steve Ditko Cinematography by: Ben Davis Music by: Michael Giacchino Premise: A world famous surgeon loses the use of his hands after a terrible car accident. Determined to find a cure, he eventually ends up in Kathmandu, Nepal where he meets the Ancient One. Driven to succeed so he can go back to his old life, Strange finds himself embroiled in a conflict that could well decide the fate of the planet. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Benedict Cumberbatch did a great job as Doctor Stephen Strange. Cumberbatch took the character and made it his own. Though he's played many roles with ego filled men with hearts they deny, he still found a way to make Strange unique from all his other performances. Kudos! Tilda Swinton was quite convincing as a female version of the Ancient One. Mads Mikkelsen was wonderful as Kaecilius. His conversation with Strange in the NY Sanctum was wicked and fabulous on so many levels. Not to be outdone, Chiwetel Ejiofor holds his own as Mordo. (For those who know the comic series, they do push him in the right direction by the end, so go with it.) Benedict Wong (I swear they made an in-joke of the fact they had two Benedicts) was a perfect and fun foil for Strange. Rachel McAdams was fun as Christine Palmer. Her reactions at a couple of places were priceless! :)2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: If you can possibly see this film in IMAX 3D I would urge you to do so! I get motion sickness easily, but didn't have trouble with the film, so I think it should be safe for most people. All the warping of reality looked spectacular! The special effects team also handled a silent actor who just about stole the show - the Cloak of Levitation. Totally unexpected handling of the ancient artifact and it worked so well! Loved what they did with it! The mirror universe, Dormamu's universe, and all the weird manipulations of reality were fantastic. Dormamu himself, which you get a hint of during Stephen's first introduction to the unknown, looked fabulous! Wish we'd gotten a look at the Mindless ones, but I'm sure they're saving those for later. :P The spells themselves were super cool. The physicality added to them made them seem more real, which added more to the film than just straight visual effects would have. Awesome choice.The Eye of Agamotto doesn't much resemble the iconic image used in the comics, but was still very cool. And wait untill you see the astral fight through the hospital! Fab!And wait till you see what they do with the apple. Fantastic! And the backwards while still going forward combat was sublime!3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: This is an intro story and most of the important facts fit with the stated mythology from the comics. Doctor Strange is hubby's favorite all time comic book hero so he's been slobbering to see it. :P And he was quite happy with the treatment. Three major changes from the comics were in the film. The Ancient One is now female - though it was pulled off quite nicely. The second was the introduction of Kaecilius as Stephen's first nemesis. But that's only so they could build up what they'll be doing with Mordo later. Bwahahahaha! (Ahem...) The third was the addition of Christine Palmer into the origin story. But she made for a nice counterpoint with Strange. In essence, all the best parts of what make up Doctor Strange were definitely there.The film had a lot of interspersed humor. It was quite a surprise, but it added a nice layer of fun to the film. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Between the training, the fighting and the effect of magic on others - the stunt team was kept very busy. Fights weren't on just the usual planes of existence anymore. This made for some challenging hand to hand combat! Even escaping was a major stunt trial. lol. 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Both the real and the imagined locations were great! They had great flavor. They even used a couple of places where you saw one thing, but heard another, throwing the whole into a new context. What fun! Filming occurred in the real Kathmandu, Nepal. Also in Hong Kong, London, New York, Los Angeles and more. The addition of the Avenger's tower outside of Stephen's view was a nice touch.And wait till you see the New York Sanctum. Sweet! 6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Major kudos to the makeup department, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the special effects group with respect to Stephen's messed up hands. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that they weren't the same as they'd been when he wakes up in the hospital after the accident. And later you can see the scars from the repairs and additional surgeries he had performed in an attempt to get them fixed. A constant reminder of his loss.The group also did a fabulous job recreating Strange's unique look from the white in his hair to the blue gi like uniform. Great attention to detail!Conclusion: Doctor Strange is an awesome rendition of the famous comic series. Fans will be please with how technology has finally caught up enough to bring this fabulous character to the world in the right way. There are two (yes two!) extra scenes during the credits. So stay all the way to the end! Stan Lee also has a cameo! (I know - like DUH!) :PRating: 4 out of 5 Stars (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)
October 31, 2016
Mind Sieve 10/31/16
Happy Halloween!Sheep and Wolves Movie Trailer - this looks cute!
Miss Hokusai Official US Release Trailer - this looks super interesting!
Assassin's Creed Official Trailer 2 - can't wait!
Okay, gotta go!
October 30, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 10/30/16
I was going to be merciful and put pics of one of the other games. But since the pics have only now reached the true play area in Deus Ex, I decided to torture you with it again anyway. :PPragueGame play is not strictly linear anymore. There are main story line missions, side missions, and points of interest missions. So you can do these in any order you choose for the most part.
View from Jensen's apartment.
Jensen's living and dinning area. Loved the sunbeams!
Jensen's apartment building. Mostly Augs live here. Since the "incident" in the last game, anti aug sentiment has been extreme.
Some real nice detail added to most places.
Courtyard of the apartment building.
Young man I found in the sewer. He's been heavily mind controlled but escaped. Still hasn't quite been able to totally ditch the mind control and asks for help.
Out in the street. Place really has a lot of character!
Rather interesting wall sculptures, no?
Theater in one of the basements in town.
Poster for A.R.C - entity fighting for rights for the augmented. There are a ton of ads and movie posters and other lovely details everywhere. Have a fabulous Sunday!
View from Jensen's apartment.
Jensen's living and dinning area. Loved the sunbeams!
Jensen's apartment building. Mostly Augs live here. Since the "incident" in the last game, anti aug sentiment has been extreme.
Some real nice detail added to most places.
Courtyard of the apartment building.
Young man I found in the sewer. He's been heavily mind controlled but escaped. Still hasn't quite been able to totally ditch the mind control and asks for help.
Out in the street. Place really has a lot of character!
Rather interesting wall sculptures, no?
Theater in one of the basements in town.
Poster for A.R.C - entity fighting for rights for the augmented. There are a ton of ads and movie posters and other lovely details everywhere. Have a fabulous Sunday!
October 28, 2016
Movie Review - Inferno
Inferno
Starring: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Omar Sy, Irrfan Khan, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ben Foster, Ana Ularu, Ida Darvish, and more.Directed by: Ron Howard Screenplay by: David Koepp Based on the Novel by: Dan Brown Cinematography by: Salvatore Totino Music by: Hans ZimmerPremise: Robert Langdon wakes in a hospital in Florence, Italy. He has no memory of how he got there. A cryptic email from a friend and the fact someone tries to kill him make it clear that he's gotten himself into some kind of mess. The weird hallucinations of blood and hell don't help matters. Aided by the young doctor at the hospital, Professor Langdon tries to put the broken pieces back together. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Hanks reprises his role as Professor Robert Langdom for the third film of the series. He has great rapport with his rescuer Dr. Sienna Brooks. Felicity Jones does a great job as Brooks, showing multiple facets of her complex personality quite well. Irrfan Khan turns out to be a real treat in the film as the pragmatic Harry Sims. There's some real sizzle between Tom and Sidse Babett Knudsen once some of the secrets are revealed. Great job from all parties.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: There are special effects of all kinds in the film. Lots of surreal imagery with lots of detail. There's a painting in the Hall of the 500 in the Palazzo Vecchio which gets brought to life. Looked fantastic. Rivers of blood running down modern city streets. Physical renditions of Dante's Inferno as painted by Botticelli. Reality and myth all wound together in disturbing imagery. Tons of lovely work. There are a couple of falling deaths that were well done. Both looked incredibly painful. The work on the second body and the closeup on the face were gruesome and poignant. 3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: Doors are a main theme. Those we open, those we close, and those whose frame we stand in. The play with the concept is rather fun and viewed in many angles. Love and its many facets are also explored.I don't want to say too much and inadvertently spoil several of the surprises in store. Watch for the 'odd socks' as they are hints. A thing or two that seem like mere plot devices are actually something else. Overall, it all holds together pretty well. They do pound a couple of things more times than necessary, but didn't prove overtly irritating. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film isn't filled with them, but the few there are were well done. The knife fights were quick and well choreographed. A little shaky-cam was used during a water fight, but it didn't detract too much.5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: One of the best parts of the Professor Langdon movies are the locations! Salvatore Totino has been involved in the cinematography of all three films. As you view the lovely exotic locations you'll realize why. Several gorgeous panning shots of Florence and other locals will fill the screen. The aerial views from the drone in the park by the Palazzo Vecchio looked great. There's a shot of Istanbul with a huge setting sun that was fantastic. Lots and lots of lovely vistas. I very much enjoyed all the shots of the historical places, especially the areas where normal visitors are not allowed. :)Super loved the location for the climax. Looked so cool! Conclusion: Inferno is a nice addition to the Professor Langdon historical mysteries. Another cool puzzle buried in historical trivia and awesome locations. Even has food for thought!Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Omar Sy, Irrfan Khan, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ben Foster, Ana Ularu, Ida Darvish, and more.Directed by: Ron Howard Screenplay by: David Koepp Based on the Novel by: Dan Brown Cinematography by: Salvatore Totino Music by: Hans ZimmerPremise: Robert Langdon wakes in a hospital in Florence, Italy. He has no memory of how he got there. A cryptic email from a friend and the fact someone tries to kill him make it clear that he's gotten himself into some kind of mess. The weird hallucinations of blood and hell don't help matters. Aided by the young doctor at the hospital, Professor Langdon tries to put the broken pieces back together. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Hanks reprises his role as Professor Robert Langdom for the third film of the series. He has great rapport with his rescuer Dr. Sienna Brooks. Felicity Jones does a great job as Brooks, showing multiple facets of her complex personality quite well. Irrfan Khan turns out to be a real treat in the film as the pragmatic Harry Sims. There's some real sizzle between Tom and Sidse Babett Knudsen once some of the secrets are revealed. Great job from all parties.2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: There are special effects of all kinds in the film. Lots of surreal imagery with lots of detail. There's a painting in the Hall of the 500 in the Palazzo Vecchio which gets brought to life. Looked fantastic. Rivers of blood running down modern city streets. Physical renditions of Dante's Inferno as painted by Botticelli. Reality and myth all wound together in disturbing imagery. Tons of lovely work. There are a couple of falling deaths that were well done. Both looked incredibly painful. The work on the second body and the closeup on the face were gruesome and poignant. 3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: Doors are a main theme. Those we open, those we close, and those whose frame we stand in. The play with the concept is rather fun and viewed in many angles. Love and its many facets are also explored.I don't want to say too much and inadvertently spoil several of the surprises in store. Watch for the 'odd socks' as they are hints. A thing or two that seem like mere plot devices are actually something else. Overall, it all holds together pretty well. They do pound a couple of things more times than necessary, but didn't prove overtly irritating. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film isn't filled with them, but the few there are were well done. The knife fights were quick and well choreographed. A little shaky-cam was used during a water fight, but it didn't detract too much.5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: One of the best parts of the Professor Langdon movies are the locations! Salvatore Totino has been involved in the cinematography of all three films. As you view the lovely exotic locations you'll realize why. Several gorgeous panning shots of Florence and other locals will fill the screen. The aerial views from the drone in the park by the Palazzo Vecchio looked great. There's a shot of Istanbul with a huge setting sun that was fantastic. Lots and lots of lovely vistas. I very much enjoyed all the shots of the historical places, especially the areas where normal visitors are not allowed. :)Super loved the location for the climax. Looked so cool! Conclusion: Inferno is a nice addition to the Professor Langdon historical mysteries. Another cool puzzle buried in historical trivia and awesome locations. Even has food for thought!Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price)
October 24, 2016
Mind Sieve 10/24/16
Morning all!Another attempt to get back on track! :P
Logan Official Trailer #1 - woot! With Patrick Stewart as Xavier! Yay! But it's weird seeing Logan age. His abilities should not allow it... Huh.
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 Official Trailer #1 - YES! Wait till you see Groot in his little suit. So CUTE!
The Boss Baby Official Trailer - Teaser - This looks bizarre! lol. Alien? Or...?
John Wick Chapter 2 Official Teaser Trailer - he needs a haircut. lol. Looking a little worn. :P
Have a great week!
Logan Official Trailer #1 - woot! With Patrick Stewart as Xavier! Yay! But it's weird seeing Logan age. His abilities should not allow it... Huh.
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 Official Trailer #1 - YES! Wait till you see Groot in his little suit. So CUTE!
The Boss Baby Official Trailer - Teaser - This looks bizarre! lol. Alien? Or...?
John Wick Chapter 2 Official Teaser Trailer - he needs a haircut. lol. Looking a little worn. :P
Have a great week!
October 23, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 10/23/16
Morning!Deus Ex: Mankind DividedTeaser After 1st Mission - The Plot Thickens!
Neat 3D Globe used by "unknown parties" discussing what happened in Dubai.
Participants in this secret meeting.
Jensen has returned to Prague (his new home) and stops to help a woman.
She's actually a friend here to pass information about the Dubai fiasco.
Augmenteds get checked for papers with high frequency as if what happened 2 years ago would be stopped by this kind of thing. Lots of police everywhere.
Inside the train station. More cops and a ton of drones.
One of the police drones up close.
The place is bombed. Here's a poor woman who I tried to help. Have a great day!
Neat 3D Globe used by "unknown parties" discussing what happened in Dubai.
Participants in this secret meeting.
Jensen has returned to Prague (his new home) and stops to help a woman.
She's actually a friend here to pass information about the Dubai fiasco.
Augmenteds get checked for papers with high frequency as if what happened 2 years ago would be stopped by this kind of thing. Lots of police everywhere.
Inside the train station. More cops and a ton of drones.
One of the police drones up close.
The place is bombed. Here's a poor woman who I tried to help. Have a great day!
October 21, 2016
Movie Review - Jack Reacher: Never Look Back
Jack Reacher: Never Look Back
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh, Aldis Hodge, Patrick Heusinger, Holt McCallany, Madalyn Horcher, Robert Catrini, and more.Directed by: Edward Zwick Screenplay by: Richard Wenk, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz Based on the novel by: Lee Child Cinematography by: Oliver Wood Music by: Henry JackmanPremise: Jack starts having phone conversations with Major Turner after a successful sting. He invites her to dinner and makes his way to D.C. to meet her face to face. When he gets there, however, he finds out she's been removed from her post. She's been placed in jail while waiting to be tried for treason. Something about this doesn't seem right. Reacher becomes sure of it when he finds himself being tailed. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Cruise reprises his role as the loner, ex-military man, Jack Reacher. As always, he's a lot of fun to watch. Love all his little telltale expressions. Getting caught between Turner and Samantha made for a lot of amusing scenes. Cobie Smulders as Turner had some nice back and forth chemistry with Tom. Both characters are quite set in their ways and are a bit like mixing oil and water. Making the mix even more chaotic is Danika Yarosh who plays Samantha. Her character reflects facets of both of the two as they all go on the run. 2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: This is an action film, so bullets and explosions are pretty much a must. Great job by the special effects team on all of them. Especially memorable was the scene at the warf. A ton of lead flying everywhere! 3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: I've not read the Jack Reacher book the film is based on, so apologies for not being able to give any opinions between the two. I have read one of the other books and enjoyed it quite a bit! Just need to find time to read more. :)For once the previews did not reveal all! There's an added and unexpected element thrown into the plot they didn't give away. This added a different dynamic which for ends up prodding Reacher out of his comfort zone. While this particular complication is not new in the plot world, it made for a nice surprise. Especially since sneakily kept it out of the previews. Yay!Action films do tend to let a few things slide so things will work out how they want. So there are a couple of bits. Sticky details like stewardesses and airport security. But they blank them out in such a way you don't realize it for the most part.The pace is fast and slows down very little throughout. Samantha is super street savvy yet also conveniently clueless. But it's so much fun watching Jack having to deal with the unexpected situation that it's easy to ignore the convenient manipulation. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film has lots of lovely hand to hand fights and on foot chase scenes. Major kudos for the kitchen fight scene. The rooftop chase/fight was painful and awesome! 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of nice cinematography. Loved the wide overhead shots of Turner and Reacher running in several scenes. New Orleans was a great venue for the last section of the film. Especially with the Halloween parade and fireworks. The closeup shots, especially during the last scenes, made them even more poignant.Conclusion: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is a fun ride. Full of mayhem and chaos, we get a lot of action scenes and close combat. Watching Jack squirm emotionally though? Priceless. :)Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh, Aldis Hodge, Patrick Heusinger, Holt McCallany, Madalyn Horcher, Robert Catrini, and more.Directed by: Edward Zwick Screenplay by: Richard Wenk, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz Based on the novel by: Lee Child Cinematography by: Oliver Wood Music by: Henry JackmanPremise: Jack starts having phone conversations with Major Turner after a successful sting. He invites her to dinner and makes his way to D.C. to meet her face to face. When he gets there, however, he finds out she's been removed from her post. She's been placed in jail while waiting to be tried for treason. Something about this doesn't seem right. Reacher becomes sure of it when he finds himself being tailed. (Rated PG-13)Review:1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Cruise reprises his role as the loner, ex-military man, Jack Reacher. As always, he's a lot of fun to watch. Love all his little telltale expressions. Getting caught between Turner and Samantha made for a lot of amusing scenes. Cobie Smulders as Turner had some nice back and forth chemistry with Tom. Both characters are quite set in their ways and are a bit like mixing oil and water. Making the mix even more chaotic is Danika Yarosh who plays Samantha. Her character reflects facets of both of the two as they all go on the run. 2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: This is an action film, so bullets and explosions are pretty much a must. Great job by the special effects team on all of them. Especially memorable was the scene at the warf. A ton of lead flying everywhere! 3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: I've not read the Jack Reacher book the film is based on, so apologies for not being able to give any opinions between the two. I have read one of the other books and enjoyed it quite a bit! Just need to find time to read more. :)For once the previews did not reveal all! There's an added and unexpected element thrown into the plot they didn't give away. This added a different dynamic which for ends up prodding Reacher out of his comfort zone. While this particular complication is not new in the plot world, it made for a nice surprise. Especially since sneakily kept it out of the previews. Yay!Action films do tend to let a few things slide so things will work out how they want. So there are a couple of bits. Sticky details like stewardesses and airport security. But they blank them out in such a way you don't realize it for the most part.The pace is fast and slows down very little throughout. Samantha is super street savvy yet also conveniently clueless. But it's so much fun watching Jack having to deal with the unexpected situation that it's easy to ignore the convenient manipulation. 4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film has lots of lovely hand to hand fights and on foot chase scenes. Major kudos for the kitchen fight scene. The rooftop chase/fight was painful and awesome! 5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of nice cinematography. Loved the wide overhead shots of Turner and Reacher running in several scenes. New Orleans was a great venue for the last section of the film. Especially with the Halloween parade and fireworks. The closeup shots, especially during the last scenes, made them even more poignant.Conclusion: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is a fun ride. Full of mayhem and chaos, we get a lot of action scenes and close combat. Watching Jack squirm emotionally though? Priceless. :)Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again)
October 17, 2016
Mind Sieve 10/17/16
Yes! It's a miracle! I'm posting on a Monday!
Wooo! :P
Rogue One Official Star Wars Trailer #2 - Hannibal! Woot! Though the iconic first view makes me fear a repeat of the last film. We'll see....
Trash Can - Simon's Cat - so cute!
Marvel's Iron Fist Teaser Trailer - Sweet!
Doctor Strange Movie Trailer #3 - this one actually has several trailer cuts. Stay for at least the second one. Lots of new scenes! :)
Have a great week!
Wooo! :P
Rogue One Official Star Wars Trailer #2 - Hannibal! Woot! Though the iconic first view makes me fear a repeat of the last film. We'll see....
Trash Can - Simon's Cat - so cute!
Marvel's Iron Fist Teaser Trailer - Sweet!
Doctor Strange Movie Trailer #3 - this one actually has several trailer cuts. Stay for at least the second one. Lots of new scenes! :)
Have a great week!
October 9, 2016
Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 10/9/16
Morning!Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Mission 1
The detail with the new graphics card is awesome! Shot from the hotel and the impending sand storm coming our way. Eek!
Cool wall graphic inside the hotel. I so love the little details!
Hallway in the suites floor. This place would have been gorgeous!
View from one of the suite's windows. That storm is almost here!
About to start the final phase of the mission. Look at those colors!
Bad guys are coming in with their shipment of weapons.
Love my scope. Heh heh.
Never even saw this bit the first time around I had so many problems with the video. After shutting down the helicopter this happened! (That is one mean and powerful sandstorm!)Hope you have a fabulous Sunday!
Mission 1
The detail with the new graphics card is awesome! Shot from the hotel and the impending sand storm coming our way. Eek!
Cool wall graphic inside the hotel. I so love the little details!
Hallway in the suites floor. This place would have been gorgeous!
View from one of the suite's windows. That storm is almost here!
About to start the final phase of the mission. Look at those colors!
Bad guys are coming in with their shipment of weapons.
Love my scope. Heh heh.
Never even saw this bit the first time around I had so many problems with the video. After shutting down the helicopter this happened! (That is one mean and powerful sandstorm!)Hope you have a fabulous Sunday!
