tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437772417042771012024-03-05T05:16:12.745-08:00Tacitus Publishing's - Movie ReviewsHere you will find Tacitus Publishing's weekly movie review postings.Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.comBlogger372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-5905683279175929102019-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:002019-05-23T08:00:13.300-07:00The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM<br />
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The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: <o:p></o:p></div>
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on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 -
PARABELLUM </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(2019, 130 minutes, R)</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtG_zD3xBME-jIIpD6-wooB_D-2h3AMVll5Gimq65c7x4OSMYQF6T516Q5GCKVXJyVZpva0aBL-W6MqkZBcvoUsHHE0IhZW7ZjYywM7Z3twC46ZnMK5Meh6XAMbDPPHQ1HO1YdxWOOhvM/s1600/Richard-JohnWick-1558384615-compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtG_zD3xBME-jIIpD6-wooB_D-2h3AMVll5Gimq65c7x4OSMYQF6T516Q5GCKVXJyVZpva0aBL-W6MqkZBcvoUsHHE0IhZW7ZjYywM7Z3twC46ZnMK5Meh6XAMbDPPHQ1HO1YdxWOOhvM/s320/Richard-JohnWick-1558384615-compressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Quick of It -</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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It amazes me how Keanu Reeves gets these projects that get
so much traction when critics bashed his earlier work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continually proves them wrong at the box office,
even when he still plays that niche role he has created for himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To put this into a sports analogy, imagine a team that has a
player that excels in a particular skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If a quarterback is an outstanding passer, you keep him safe and
slinging the ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a point
guard who can pass and move the basketball against any team, you let them direct
traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The core idea is to put people
in situations so they can succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Reeves
has a tenacious spirit, putting his heart into a role. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you only see it on the screen in the
most subtlest of ways, it is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
cannot imagine the tremendous number of hours he accrued off-screen for this
role to make it feel seamless and real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, there may have been a few early-bird blocks, but we can forgive
him when half the film is intense action sequences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Keanu Reeves may have a stoic presence, not exhibiting
Hollywood flair or have weeping eyes that deem one Oscar worthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, he has enough acting chops to grab your attention
and let you never stray from his journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this stage of his career, the John Wick series is far above the
action heroes of old, forging a new path into violence and creativity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been other films that have progressed
the filming-style of action movies, like the Bourne series, that is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For John Wick, this collection of films has
contributed to a fading sub-genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Superhero films have overshadowed the yearly lineup for action, pushing
the secondary titles deeper into a low-level money grab for the scraps.<o:p></o:p></div>
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CHAPTER 3 continues where 2 left us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wick is on the clock as his excommunication
by the High Table from the assassin’s guild becomes official.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must use all his chits to get help,
calling in all favors, to survive long enough to find a way out of the $14
million-dollar price tag on his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
comes next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh… we know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is the beauty of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88tIC3uYdGThRUR0K_EMqivky0BTfnDMeML6n-0i9p-vU7uNakQZo4im1ADDaryxEY5_CfOxcZloYkwfO-V4BPGzfEjvwyU1x27jtN_vygxgrBWh9qtCfdKeEzWwSL0XrNDa_oxUrEMo/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88tIC3uYdGThRUR0K_EMqivky0BTfnDMeML6n-0i9p-vU7uNakQZo4im1ADDaryxEY5_CfOxcZloYkwfO-V4BPGzfEjvwyU1x27jtN_vygxgrBWh9qtCfdKeEzWwSL0XrNDa_oxUrEMo/s1600/index.jpg" /></a></div>
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Again, at the helm is director Chad Stahelski.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes him so special with his limited catalog
of movies as a director?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His catalog of
movies he worked on, being on the stunt and fight-choreography side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His command and attention to detail while
taking the time to prime the moments before visually inundating you with ferocity,
pulling you down to a calming place, and then suffering through each impact of
bullet and fist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They incorporate a new team-up, Halle Berry as bad-ass Sofia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gives something to the story but did
leave me a little jolted by the insertion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Yeah, had to incorporate that word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Extra points.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like many of the
introductions, I guess each is an immediate introduction without much
transition, but I felt a little cheated with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her story was deeper than most, probably too
deep for what time she was given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs46Ri7y3LDjBPThGjRTRbY08qcgiJVpz_i20pSDRDIqqMf3oI5vfuQt7UQc0PIqt2B1Awg2tFJbvPzVfwbjLzo-hqAnEHtOm81bHq2Vhi8VFk5bVxpTpg9lsocKNryTJsDUtCwfQjhOw/s1600/Mark-Dacascos-in-John-Wick-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="970" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs46Ri7y3LDjBPThGjRTRbY08qcgiJVpz_i20pSDRDIqqMf3oI5vfuQt7UQc0PIqt2B1Awg2tFJbvPzVfwbjLzo-hqAnEHtOm81bHq2Vhi8VFk5bVxpTpg9lsocKNryTJsDUtCwfQjhOw/s320/Mark-Dacascos-in-John-Wick-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the returning cast is top-notch star power, we have
the opportunity to see the hidden world of international assassins expand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add an Adjudicator for the High Table, Asia
Kate Dillon (of ‘Billions’ and “Orange is the New Black), who you think doesn’t
blink the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stares down
everyone, regardless of their killing natures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, the sushi chef/ninja Zero, played by Mark Dacascos, from my
favorite French film BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF, acts so flippantly, you want to
see what he does next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The end result is not just an action film but a clinic on
mood and setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Light and the use of
cool colors is phenomenal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staging
of sequences and incorporating animals into the melees is beyond anything you
will expect or wish for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make the time
to see this on the large screen, worth every penny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are more Wicks to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Grade: A<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-17202972758970685632019-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:002019-05-22T08:00:02.076-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - COLD PURSUIT <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">COLD PURSUIT (2019, R, 119 minutes,
STUDIOCANAL/LIONSGATE)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBx71YzEkrJNjHu14kF_i6_ivtetxA4VZy45NgLzLojw14O_xwnfB4VV33gItDx2m93r2g19yMD0q0t694KMZB5hxIzN_AqYxqC_phO45RK_Z3xuArrzJDFQnRMY1eI1nHhXmcARBPjYQ/s1600/https+_blogs-images.forbes.com_scottmendelson_files_2019_01_MV5BMTY0MDc2NzI2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDM0MjgxNzM%2540._V1_SY1000_CR0013331000_AL_-1200x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBx71YzEkrJNjHu14kF_i6_ivtetxA4VZy45NgLzLojw14O_xwnfB4VV33gItDx2m93r2g19yMD0q0t694KMZB5hxIzN_AqYxqC_phO45RK_Z3xuArrzJDFQnRMY1eI1nHhXmcARBPjYQ/s320/https+_blogs-images.forbes.com_scottmendelson_files_2019_01_MV5BMTY0MDc2NzI2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDM0MjgxNzM%2540._V1_SY1000_CR0013331000_AL_-1200x675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
few years ago, writer and director Hans Petter Moland offered up a wonderful
gem of a film called IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
it, a father, played the amazing Stellan Skarsgard (the nutty professor of THOR
and various Marvel films) played a grieving Norwegian father and snowplow
driver who sets off on a path of murderous revenge, determined to destroy all
those responsible for his son’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Casting Mr. Skarsgard in the role of Nils Dickman was sheer genius; his
thoughtful, hilarious performance of a man that has no idea what he is doing
when it comes to dealing out death turned a simple revenge story into one of
caustic redemption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a deep,
underlying morality play working just behind his sorrowful eyes, one which made
this working-class man a relatable and sympathetic hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsmUTxpEN7HWvQ5FNDMra6pChApXIrr3TBzbD2Ny6k6hNYFzdb13B6jMqAfk96zpe8hyphenhyphen7xdGomE_CGDTZRB2jAM6zvJv-bqFpYoYLVSCixb8km4LqKSq1CCzHqQWK7XJkoRXVOq1NTZU/s1600/Inorderofstill.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsmUTxpEN7HWvQ5FNDMra6pChApXIrr3TBzbD2Ny6k6hNYFzdb13B6jMqAfk96zpe8hyphenhyphen7xdGomE_CGDTZRB2jAM6zvJv-bqFpYoYLVSCixb8km4LqKSq1CCzHqQWK7XJkoRXVOq1NTZU/s320/Inorderofstill.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
the supporting cast was just as reliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bruno Ganz as a Serbian mob boss, who also loses a son to at the hands
of a drug kingpin known as “The Count” is a ruthless and calculated man—the
polar opposite of Nils, and a telling contrast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has the resources to extract his revenge, and isn’t afraid to use
them—unlike the improbable Nils, who has to learn as he goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ultimately,
the film works on several distinct levels, partly due to the brilliant script
by Kim Fupz Aakeson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives each and
every character a reason to be present, and he cares for them—even the
reprehensible ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of these are
people, individuals living their lives unapologetically for the most part, and
dealing with the consequences of their actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Did
I mention the comedy aspect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It serves
as a third character, this dark humor which pervades throughout the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of it comes from Nils learning how to
kill, or dispose of bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for as
much of it that comes at the aging plow driver’s expense, there is a hefty
amount aimed at the preposterousness of the situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heavy sarcasm guides the proceedings like
an all-knowing dungeon master who giggles fiercely at every dark turn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
this point, you’re probably thinking, “Hey, Shawn—where’s the review for the
Liam Neeson flick, you monkeyhole?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, if you want a review of an entirely needless and passionless
Hollywood remake BY THE SAME DUDE THAT DIRECTED THE ORIGINAL, FOR THE LOVE OF
THE SWEET BABY HEY-ZEUS, I’ll give you one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
original was a helluva lot better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Film
Grade: D+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Special
Features: (No clue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m too busy
watching the original now to regale meself with any more Hollywood BS.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blu-ray
Necessary: The original, sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HELL NAW.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">-T.S.Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-64777434214594257192019-05-15T08:00:00.000-07:002019-05-15T08:00:09.541-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - ESCAPE ROOM<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ESCAPE ROOM (2019, PG-13, 99 minutes,
COLUMBIA PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
miss the horror films of the eighties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>THE THING, HOUSE (the one with William Katt), FRIGHT NIGHT (the one
without Colin Farrell), AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON—you know, movies that
utilized practical effects over CGI, quite possibly because CGI sucked shark
turds back then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not
to say that there have not been vast improvements in the technology since
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wouldn’t have films like THE
AVENGERS or BLADE RUNNER 2049 without the abilities of current day
computers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet we are talking about
horror films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first to really
utilize the technology was AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN PARIS, a terribly written
sequel to the John Landis classic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
horrible writing wasn’t the death knell of that poorly received attempt to
mentally junk-punch the audience, however: it was the cartoon werewolves that landed
the greatest insult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank
the Sweet Baby Hey-Zeus that the technological advances have gotten us to the
point we are now: no more bad paintings for backgrounds, no more blobby
wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most films rely on CGI nowadays
to streamline the onscreen action, and it is typically used quite effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enter ESCAPE ROOM, a film that harkens back
to the practical effects of that bygone era when people actually built sets
instead of having the actors stand on and before giant green screens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
set pieces are the star of this film; all of the acting is fine, much of the
script is fine, but it is the rooms that six strangers must escape from or die in
that are the true treat here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first,
the viewer is invited into their immersive world; I found myself looking for
clues on the screen just as frantically as the characters were, even though I
wasn’t in a life-or-death situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
actors are effective enough: Deborah Ann Woll of “True Blood” and “Daredevil” fame
is on hand to lend some credibility to the younger actors, as is Tyler
Labine—“Dale” from TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
one of the major issues with what transpires onscreen is that the audience is
effectively removed from the action in the final few set pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the final five minutes of the film is an
entirely unnecessary arc which is so bad it is nearly an insult to our
intelligence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
basically, skip the first seven minutes and the last five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That beginning, too, is a bit clunky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another part of the problem is that director
Adam Robitel seems to suffer from moments of genuine flair, which is offset by
bouts of screaming inadequacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like
watching a duck chugging an energy drink, and then taking a downer immediately
afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of excited flapping and
then a sudden nap, pretty much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the same guy that thought the script for INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY would make a
good movie to direct, and I’d rather have one of my testicles removed through
my nose hole than suffer through that crap again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
there may not be a lot of gunfire or explosions, this is kinda necessary in the
high-end format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The set pieces are
lovingly detailed, especially the upside-down barroom, which is a great lesson
in physics, and makes for a tense scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The score by Brian Tyler (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) lends a heavy, dramatic air
to the proceedings, and benefits from surround sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
isn’t that this movie is terrible—it isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it could be so much better, so much more effective, if it stayed
away from the typical tropes which plague much of horror cinema today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the unnecessary setup for a sequel,
which takes five minutes of the end time and plays out as more of an
anti-climax than it does an effective epilogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, yeah—stay for the practical effects, leave for the bookends of
banality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Film
Grade: B-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Special
Features: C (not enough there, and what is there isn’t all that enlightening)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blu-ray
Necessary: Recommended<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--T.S.
Kummelman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-78850581890455444982019-05-01T08:00:00.000-07:002019-05-01T08:00:19.737-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - GLASS<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">GLASS (2019, PG-13,
129 minutes, BLUMHOUSE/BLINDING EDGE PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabRfU9uho4oVvfVWwq0ppPZVNbqs4V7Hn8nW-0rbGWPqHXiTHHVCmva-rBDsy0bCEPPfZs6_MrNyjSeRQXXkL00W-kUdW3-fPAMUxpiYhkdveym2dpWJzWXExhTZ7FoBnb-wF1ZvdCjI/s1600/https+_blogs-images.forbes.com_scottmendelson_files_2018_11_GLASS-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabRfU9uho4oVvfVWwq0ppPZVNbqs4V7Hn8nW-0rbGWPqHXiTHHVCmva-rBDsy0bCEPPfZs6_MrNyjSeRQXXkL00W-kUdW3-fPAMUxpiYhkdveym2dpWJzWXExhTZ7FoBnb-wF1ZvdCjI/s320/https+_blogs-images.forbes.com_scottmendelson_files_2018_11_GLASS-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I think there comes a certain responsibility as a filmmaker who chooses to
write and direct his own series of films to his audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Continuity, detail, and respect for their own material and characters seems
of paramount importance—to me, at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Honestly, what the hell do I know, though?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am basically just a trumped-up fan of
cinema, a geek with a voice, a dork waffle with an outlet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But whatever M. Night Shamalamadingdong is smoking should be banned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I am a big fan of UNBREAKABLE and SPLIT, the two films Mr. Shyamalan wrote
and directed that are the predecessors to this third entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the films, like their titles, focus
on one of three characters, insomuch that, if you had to boil each character
down to their most basic of descriptions, fits each perfectly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UNBREAKABLE was the story of David Dunn (Bruce
Willis), the sole survivor of a train wreck that discovers he is indeed
unbreakable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SPLIT introduced audiences
to a man (the amazing James McAvoy) with multiple—or split—personalities, just
as much a villain as Dunn was a hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With GLASS, Mr. Shyamalan reintroduces us to “Mr. Glass”, Dunn’s archenemy
from the first film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is called Mr.
Glass (Samuel L. Jackson) because he suffers from a rare disorder that makes
his bones extremely brittle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therein
lies his only weakness, although his mind makes up for that big-ass lack of
calcium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brain is supposedly so much
better than everyone else’s, making him a mental force to be reckoned with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brand of evil is particular, even though
he follows the comic book rules he touts as a lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s smarter than everyone else, yet he
adheres to the predictable coda set forth in the same comics that he collects
and sells, or at least did prior to his incarceration in UNBREAKABLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems kinda dumb, if you ask me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">GLASS does not lack for action; the viewer is treated to a showdown early
on between The Beast and Dunn, yet reality intercedes, and they are both
apprehended and placed in the same institution as Mr. Glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ensuing game of cat and mouse is entertaining,
and one of the film’s most effective scenes is when all three are in the same
room together, being treated by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sara Paulson of “American
Horror Story” fame).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staple is an
emotionless overseer, a scientist who claims to have the cure for those that
think they are super-human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If comic
books and films have taught us anything, it is that if something can go
spectacularly wrong, it most certainly will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92b4BT3ASo4dNIKwRN3YUCDKu4ayVePvIR_kl3bcksL__S6u6tgguXvuPQkeOKZIRHEclhEL2uZ7QoB1MABOyIsnou6QfyAWCnH3i0NVifyH-67WZnFDWsqHF04OsBeoQ1o3dM3Uux_o/s1600/james-mcavoy-bruce-willis-glass-1547042569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92b4BT3ASo4dNIKwRN3YUCDKu4ayVePvIR_kl3bcksL__S6u6tgguXvuPQkeOKZIRHEclhEL2uZ7QoB1MABOyIsnou6QfyAWCnH3i0NVifyH-67WZnFDWsqHF04OsBeoQ1o3dM3Uux_o/s320/james-mcavoy-bruce-willis-glass-1547042569.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mr. Shyamalan creates visuals that are memorable and, on occasion,
downright haunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He keeps much of The
Beast’s violence off-screen, a trick he has used to great effect throughout his
films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet it is a nuance which we have
come to expect from him, and here, seems to be the only technique he learned
from master storyteller Alfred Hitchcock, the man that perfected that
move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. McAvoy’s performance is just
as good as it was in SPLIT, and at times his range shines through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet this is not his film, and, with the title
seemingly saying that the focus will be on Mr. Glass, much time is spent on Ms.
Paulson’s character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes the
narrative choppy, and doesn’t give quite the payoff fans of the previous two
films might be expecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As usual, no spoilers, but the big showdown at the end is more of a big
letdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Shyamalan doesn’t respect
certain characters enough to give them a decent enough endgame (yeah, I know),
and one particular act feels offensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is almost as if he is introducing one tiny aspect of reality at the
end, one which we should accept as a stroke of genius, but feels more like a
kick in the naughty bits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bad way to end a great trilogy, dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Never take your audience out of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grade: C-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Only if you must, but you wouldn’t be missing out on
much with the regular format<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-8016554326918148812019-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:002019-04-24T08:00:02.542-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - BUMBLEBEE<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BUMBLEBEE (2018,
PG-13, 114 minutes, ALLSPARK PICTURES/PARAMOUNT PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUGOLJJlOpU_DKe-5GuXaEZzkjB5NE4tUQJvbREBWRdywz0WKqaavBnBdVwlNkk7rGPQl4tMf9Ofdj_B_5PgswMnfH9CwVmdsVSomL3UpkJmCWSRZ42TvgBOyE_8SIC43seAGasBXjQY/s1600/Bumblebee-Transformers-Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1500" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUGOLJJlOpU_DKe-5GuXaEZzkjB5NE4tUQJvbREBWRdywz0WKqaavBnBdVwlNkk7rGPQl4tMf9Ofdj_B_5PgswMnfH9CwVmdsVSomL3UpkJmCWSRZ42TvgBOyE_8SIC43seAGasBXjQY/s320/Bumblebee-Transformers-Movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I have enjoyed reviewing the TRANSFORMER movies over the years, mostly due
to the fact that they have allowed me to come up with new descriptive terms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Save for the first one (which I enjoyed), they allowed me to first use the
phrases “bucket of monkey vomit”, “as useful as shark nipples”, and “Michael
Bay”. The reasons for my dislike of every one of those films (besides the
first) was, essentially, that they became too Michael Bay-ish. Yes, he can put
together an effective and wonderful action-packed spectacle; ARMAGGEDON and THE
ROCK are personal favorites, as is BAD BOYS. Yet at some point, his films
became a tad too spectacular, so much so that you have a hard time following
the action. Every TRANSFORMERS film seemed determined to out-battle the last, and
the crashing metal and exploding machines became redundant and downright
careless in execution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp-QMnpOIcy60JQIXd4-xQCLKko1OaAUyn-w0p_KH0PQIG8QNiFa_uLMkmvrMT7ifCicEOGYcmvU4f6ztL3GsgbdYMkW0uOMT145RZFvc0ACOJRLFDJYJXTHAH9XRT132uTzDxuPhNyU/s1600/transformers-bumblebee-1544442796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="480" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp-QMnpOIcy60JQIXd4-xQCLKko1OaAUyn-w0p_KH0PQIG8QNiFa_uLMkmvrMT7ifCicEOGYcmvU4f6ztL3GsgbdYMkW0uOMT145RZFvc0ACOJRLFDJYJXTHAH9XRT132uTzDxuPhNyU/s320/transformers-bumblebee-1544442796.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Why on earth would anyone think that an additional entry in the franchise
would be necessary? Hasn’t the audience had quite enough? With BUMBLEBEE comes
a sudden realization that, holy horse grenades, yes, we did need another
TRANSMORMERS film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director Travis Knight (KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS), working from a script
written by Christina Hodson (of the upcoming genre films BIRDS OF PREY and
BATGIRL), makes it so the character of Bumblebee, who launched the first film
in the franchise, is possibly the most important of the metallic beasts. Set in
1987, and incorporating music and trends from that era, restarts the series on
a simpler note. Gone are the myriad of transforming robots, gone are the battle
scenes that were mostly close-up views of shredded aluminum cans being crunched
together. Here, you only have to worry about the title character, who has
escaped his home planet of Cybertron in an effort to scout out a new home base
for his fellow machines, and the two baddies hot on his tail—er, trunk, I
suppose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigF_o1NySZf66WbVUPEsGLB5hzgbPL0Of_Cle72DyTXviFOef2Hm9QHWZ4qXKrZxwomgpffhf1pYdw4m3mQgORjpzqdt048gPJUz8Cs2q3jSBIdfG24sh0pktRJtH6uLREpIVrTHSz1VU/s1600/bumblebee-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigF_o1NySZf66WbVUPEsGLB5hzgbPL0Of_Cle72DyTXviFOef2Hm9QHWZ4qXKrZxwomgpffhf1pYdw4m3mQgORjpzqdt048gPJUz8Cs2q3jSBIdfG24sh0pktRJtH6uLREpIVrTHSz1VU/s320/bumblebee-movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Young Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld, who was the heart and soul of the Cohen
Brother’s remake of TRUE GRIT in 2010) finds Bumblebee in a junk yard; he is a beat
up, barely drivable VW bug, but the deception does not last long. The
relationship which quickly develops between the two is totally attributable to
Ms. Steinfeld’s acting ability; she creates chemistry with a robot that she had
to imagine during filming, and her work here is spotless. Equally impressive is
the dorky Memo (Jorge Lendeborg Jr), a boy in love with his neighbor.
Lendeborg’s delivery is perfect, and his awkward performance is nearly as
impressive as hers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And then there is John Cena; Mr. Cena, of WWE fame, plays “Agent Burns”, a
military man hell-bent on Bumblebee’s destruction. What occasionally comes
across as a one-note role is given new life by his layered performance. The
Outtakes in the Special Features is more like a John Cena comedy fest; who knew
the man was actually tat stinkin’ funny? The twinkle you see in his eyes while
in the role of Burns belies the seriousness displayed by his character, and it
almost becomes distracting. Here’s the thing, though: he knows he is in a
TRANSFORMERS movie, and he is determined to have fun in this particular
one—just as soon as he’s done playing the hard-laced guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nrv2xnw1lfnApr17pzvoWqoeA0A12yq2qHMs8IuYz0x02v3AjpYQHe8i_5i-mhNFRzPxVYn897lH3SiaxKNcTuyynfNedLEhpKC2wWPjLQJp3YMVrUPzDUxFmTIIjKXPEKc5CQW4Bhw/s1600/bumblebee-john-cena-agent-burns-1114170-1280x0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1280" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nrv2xnw1lfnApr17pzvoWqoeA0A12yq2qHMs8IuYz0x02v3AjpYQHe8i_5i-mhNFRzPxVYn897lH3SiaxKNcTuyynfNedLEhpKC2wWPjLQJp3YMVrUPzDUxFmTIIjKXPEKc5CQW4Bhw/s320/bumblebee-john-cena-agent-burns-1114170-1280x0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The only drawback to the film is all that heavy CGI. It looks well enough,
and the effects are quite seamless. And it isn’t nearly as much animation as
you are used to from the other films. But there are one or two instances which
harken back to those confusing battles; the entire opening sequence is entirely
comprised of CGI, and what looks like a marvelously rendered alien planet quickly
becomes overwrought in an action sequence which tries to be fluid but can come
across as clunky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This entry in the franchise is a must have on Blu-ray. While it still
carries a bit of the Michael Bay-ish mayhem, it also has a strong, beating
heart at its center, one which relies more upon its human characters than it
does the CGI ones. And that is what marks this as wholly different from the
others. That, and the fully realized character of Bumblebee himself, who has
more personality than all the other films combined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: B+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Absolutely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-19797593980989323422019-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:002019-04-18T08:00:06.028-07:00The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: HELLBOY<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The 'Not-So-Critical'
Critic: <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on HELLBOY</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(2019, 120
minutes, R)</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelkMbBDQ0NP-8f2IiLzSk12kLOdGI5NJmbknYMqfIxMnayl838eWsPhIGsyKu5ZznHUf9tcafcTln3MiL-60HDuDyA9CLtlAM7nna1s3n9yNvv2tI3wPK9dvPiAB3HqGUrxQPr_isWbM/s1600/hellboy-2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelkMbBDQ0NP-8f2IiLzSk12kLOdGI5NJmbknYMqfIxMnayl838eWsPhIGsyKu5ZznHUf9tcafcTln3MiL-60HDuDyA9CLtlAM7nna1s3n9yNvv2tI3wPK9dvPiAB3HqGUrxQPr_isWbM/s320/hellboy-2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<i>The Quick of It -</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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The hate that filled critics’ blogs towards the new
installment of HELLBOY left enough doubt for anyone to feel the need to spend
the money on a failed attempt to reboot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I, typically, dismiss these guys as most don’t give two ‘donkeys’ about
the actual film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hunt for clicks
and turmoil, not offering a fair shake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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With hope in my heart, I took a seat and prepared for the
unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This relaunch had a new crew and cast to make this
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Director Neil Marshal (of DOG SOLDIERS
and THE DESCENT) took Andrew Cosby’s (of ‘Eureka’ and ‘Haunted’) script and ran
with the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The initial hype was
real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone wanted this to pull
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With David Harbour (of ‘Stranger
Things’) as Hellboy and Ian McShane (of ‘Deadwood’) as Professor Broom leading
the cast in name-power for the primary characters, we have a promising start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we have Milla Jovovich as the lovely
baddie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the surface, we all saw
nothing wrong so far.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBex66VjmaboFFSTvP3L56MUMBcrBpgAaQeCHGe5063d5B5Qqrmu8DpgiWYAQ6MnaDNOhUPO2iTntETLUURassN12unDicg5sGnsWn4-_op-cEcxvw0ssJGpbNe-dxoL7aMPUrpi4dIU/s1600/hellboy-2019-review-3-1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBex66VjmaboFFSTvP3L56MUMBcrBpgAaQeCHGe5063d5B5Qqrmu8DpgiWYAQ6MnaDNOhUPO2iTntETLUURassN12unDicg5sGnsWn4-_op-cEcxvw0ssJGpbNe-dxoL7aMPUrpi4dIU/s320/hellboy-2019-review-3-1280x720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Then you had the trailer and costuming of Hellboy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trailer was a bit mixed in its message,
seemed a flat action story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a
lot of moving parts while being simple in what was to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, Hellboy appeared more scraggly, similar
to the art of Duncan Fegredo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a bad
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t the Ron Perlman style
we had gotten used to, but it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFihabA1u7doZP1B5171_MmJ4zdGSNtFO1GfcLAXaroNvAGawmRX-zgfqFqpqprn7ZqGIwT5HLtK8kQ8BP0AcrJOAckmWShTRvYJBCyAQxDwLKXjCwTcTzloY8spYsABufZO8PvtT73Zo/s1600/Hellboy-2019-Milla-Jovovich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFihabA1u7doZP1B5171_MmJ4zdGSNtFO1GfcLAXaroNvAGawmRX-zgfqFqpqprn7ZqGIwT5HLtK8kQ8BP0AcrJOAckmWShTRvYJBCyAQxDwLKXjCwTcTzloY8spYsABufZO8PvtT73Zo/s320/Hellboy-2019-Milla-Jovovich.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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In the end, after sitting through this two-hour movie, I cannot
defend what I saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was bored, was
creeping up on the ‘I want to get the heck out of here’ moment, and fighting
those yawns near the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there is
some grounds for enjoyment for some people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The creatures and creature-concepts were awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no half-stepping here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one redeeming quality that I could find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also had humor and violence in droves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was not enough to save the tragedy
that I experienced.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The script was based on multiple stories - ‘Darkness Calls’,
‘The Wild Hunt’, ‘The Storm and the Fury’, and ‘Hellboy in Mexico’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be the first problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story was choppy and disconnected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much to the point, I think the script was
fed through a woodchipper to come up with this pile of ‘donkey’ shavings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to this, there was no flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The placement of humor missed on certain
points, feeling out of place, having no connection to the scene or just bad 80’s
liners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were so many characters
introduced and forced into the plot, you start to lose why they are there… and
later discover they were not even necessary.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_gSPUP3fDyW9lOMhlD6d0YtpBxP_mayfHNxYGsngJ4lBGDheTtLol5l0TQj3cV_D8IbUaQtqwlVQoJ7LI1-hBWKM44ua_J_txHig2nUkDkyEB6ttRFCeLYkKk3-4ufXX20YeQi8dDYo/s1600/hellboy-slider-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_gSPUP3fDyW9lOMhlD6d0YtpBxP_mayfHNxYGsngJ4lBGDheTtLol5l0TQj3cV_D8IbUaQtqwlVQoJ7LI1-hBWKM44ua_J_txHig2nUkDkyEB6ttRFCeLYkKk3-4ufXX20YeQi8dDYo/s320/hellboy-slider-image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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It pains me to say the critics were right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might find some redeeming qualities in HELLBOY,
but the woodchipper did a number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good
luck.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Grade: C-<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-56030665042186611362019-04-17T08:00:00.000-07:002019-04-17T08:00:01.130-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - THE MULE <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">THE MULE (2018, R,
116 minutes, IMPERATIVE ENTERTAINMENT/WARNER BROS.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWie-eUCztkhKhRb4MHFjAor__Fuztis2l4nIDd1aRX2Go_s2q1FYuZOz25fm6eA0TE6HevglNMvyz639rgu2M7OKTY-wdFROxe7hRrrRB6W2kFH0ItfzzlhGlhP206UOP2_qC2OWGEM/s1600/The-Mule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="768" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWie-eUCztkhKhRb4MHFjAor__Fuztis2l4nIDd1aRX2Go_s2q1FYuZOz25fm6eA0TE6HevglNMvyz639rgu2M7OKTY-wdFROxe7hRrrRB6W2kFH0ItfzzlhGlhP206UOP2_qC2OWGEM/s320/The-Mule.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I grew up with Clint Eastwood. Not, like, he was my pal or anything—I’m not
that old, despite what my thirteen faithful readers may think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But watching any of his films now is almost a transcendent experience for
me. I grew up watching FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, WHERE EAGLES DARE, and my
all-time favorite of his, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (and not just because
I identified with all three, thank you very much). Mr. Eastwood was The Man
With No Name, he was a troubled hero, and he was a stalwart soldier. His
characters were imperfect, yet glorious in their victories over the bad guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And then he got old. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still glorious when he needs
to be. Yet as of late, it has been of a much more subtle variety. While he had
some films in his history that didn’t seem to follow the majority of his film
path, the vast history of his portrayals seemed to go something like this:
cowboys, cops, old men. Yes, I understand that he isn’t as young as he once
was, and the selection of characters available to him has dwindled
dramatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCjsnMOVmS5WEdZ8nm-x7O7hYNRkaa4lHjJzI3WsA6VmxFbBEIb5Wub-FQ-qFlg8cDlRlS8P_vSJvLXrV3T5gVvxitjn0PGHA_ubkad6FmsCV1LuvHhbkPye8lmgVGZ9zGEZrOpudl2U/s1600/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-12.12.34-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="780" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCjsnMOVmS5WEdZ8nm-x7O7hYNRkaa4lHjJzI3WsA6VmxFbBEIb5Wub-FQ-qFlg8cDlRlS8P_vSJvLXrV3T5gVvxitjn0PGHA_ubkad6FmsCV1LuvHhbkPye8lmgVGZ9zGEZrOpudl2U/s320/Screen-Shot-2018-10-04-at-12.12.34-PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I watch him now, and wish he could still ride a horse or shoot bad guys,
but I understand that that isn’t necessarily what Hollywood needs at the
moment. So, meet Earl Stone. Earl is an abrasive old man (much like his character
in GRAN TORINO) that grows award-winning flowers, a far cry from anything you’d
call action. He’s sweet on the ladies and tough on the competition, and he puts
family absolutely last in his list of priorities. Through a turn of events
which barely explains his motivation, Earl winds up being a mule for a drug
cartel. All he does is drive drugs to a hotel, and soon his money problems are
a thing of the past. And that past starts to catch up with him in the form of
that misbegotten family he shunned for much of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One thing we never get with this film is a moral dilemma; Earl seems to
know what he is signing up for, yet doesn’t even stop to consider the
ramifications until a dead body is staring him in the face. Mr. Eastwood’s
performance is fine; he makes Earl someone we care about even though we
probably shouldn’t, but Nick Schnek’s script doesn’t do the character’s
motivations any favors. Yes, most of these films about someone swept up in the
drug trade all work on the basic premise of money problems motivating the
protagonist. But there is always that moral issue, and Earl has his much too
late for it to be effective enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d1O8mITLnz5Wtkmv2mdlEcFh12hzidv9VegKGi7CqvPuv4wG3xEgKtqY9PlyYv36KbHEAwwfMJGRvad9HV5R3G06hQ5jW0QNT0bNgZ9akRNV1lG5DjlLUL5xqsA_l2q0nRPnETzEej4/s1600/_5b5a5102-10b5-11e9-b03e-d829a175bb22.PNG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="960" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d1O8mITLnz5Wtkmv2mdlEcFh12hzidv9VegKGi7CqvPuv4wG3xEgKtqY9PlyYv36KbHEAwwfMJGRvad9HV5R3G06hQ5jW0QNT0bNgZ9akRNV1lG5DjlLUL5xqsA_l2q0nRPnETzEej4/s320/_5b5a5102-10b5-11e9-b03e-d829a175bb22.PNG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bradley Cooper and Michael Pena play DEA agents trying to bust up the
cartel’s drug trade in Chicago, and both have a chemistry which belies their
new partnership. Their roles are richly written, and it nearly makes Mr. Cooper
the Clint Eastwood of this film, albeit the version that could still chase down
the bad guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are only two special features included with this release: a ten-minute
making-of doc and a Toby Keith music video. And while the doc does give some
insight into what it took to film Earl on all of those drug runs (and they use
a whole lot of that footage—seriously, they could have shortened the film by
ten minutes if it wasn’t doubling as a travelogue for the Midwest), there isn’t
nearly enough here to make it stand apart from others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I sincerely hope that this production does not mark his last performance in
front of or behind the camera. Mr. Eastwood is still a masterful storyteller,
and he still puts on a helluva performance. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t
want to see him on a horse again. Surely there’s a script out there about an
abrasive old cowboy…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Recommended<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-6366848048737810642019-04-10T08:00:00.000-07:002019-04-10T08:00:04.587-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - AQUAMAN<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">AQUAMAN (2018, 143 minutes,
DC ENTERTAINMENT/WARNER BROTHERS)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Holy fish nipples—it sure did take a while for the DC Universe to awaken to
the juggernaut which is Marvel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They seemed dead-set on concentrating on a small number of properties,
mainly Batman and Superman—so much so that much of their comic’s content went
ignored. When Marvel opened the door for them, it was with little known
characters, or ones that at least had never gotten the big screen treatment
before. With GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and ANT-MAN, the studio proved that you
could get away from the mainstream heroes like IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA and
still provide the audience with originality and humor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not to rain on DC’s successes: Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman with his
DARK KNIGHT trilogy was quite successful, but so was Tim Burton’s BATMAN vision
back in the day. The hiring of the ultra-serious Zack Snyder to bring SUPERMAN
back from hiatus was also profitable, even if it was met with mixed reviews.
There was also the “Wonder Woman” TV show back in the 70’s, but that seemed
more a weekly show about a damsel-in-distress than it did about a near-goddess.
Yes, DC has stumbled a bit along the way—but it has also soared, and not
necessarily upon the cape of the Man of Steel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The WONDER WOMAN movie may have helped rejuvenate a flagging DC Universe, but
AQUAMAN has cemented it, made it a relevant reality. The casting of Jason Momoa
(“Game of Thrones”) was a brilliant move. He brings an everyman quality to the
character of “Arthur”, the reluctant half-breed son of the former Queen of
Atlantis (played by the always incredible Nicole Kidman—seriously, I don’t care
how old she is, she can still pack a punch, and I am still willing to bear her
children). He is called upon to save Atlantis, the place he renounced when his
mother was sacrificed to The Trench. But his half-brother Orm has taken the
throne, and wants to wage war on the surface world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One of the several beating hearts of this film are the strong female
characters, which you have the aforementioned WONDER WOMAN to thank for. Amber
Heard plays Mera with a tough yet amusingly cynical approach; she doesn’t
necessarily think that Arthur is cut out to be the king of Atlantis, but she’s willing
to kick a whole lotta butt to protect him. And Nicole Kidman as Arthur’s mother
proves that even mommies can open up a can of whoop-ass when needed. DC is
totally capitalizing on Marvel’s idea to hire first-rate actors to play their
heroes, and it pays off wonderfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuE4b6t1UdtszdMpefLvVYflMj9NdGHAHueMndOLxS40ZhBLiBiktklQi3R0GjDTbxfkeSng7IQsNfnOzEjvezEY6LZW11omV6fO7R_hyvl2-mg3Sp6trMK8WwYzQR1J_4rDzzDVDcz4/s1600/jackson-caspersz-aquaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuE4b6t1UdtszdMpefLvVYflMj9NdGHAHueMndOLxS40ZhBLiBiktklQi3R0GjDTbxfkeSng7IQsNfnOzEjvezEY6LZW11omV6fO7R_hyvl2-mg3Sp6trMK8WwYzQR1J_4rDzzDVDcz4/s320/jackson-caspersz-aquaman.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What DC does with AQUAMAN is they took a character that was seen by many in
the comic world as being not-so-cool and turned him into an utter badass. But
they’ve also begun to steer away from the seriousness of Zack Snyder’s take on
the universe and injected a much-needed dose of humor. There are times in this
film that lift it above your typical Marvel fare, and much of that is at
Arthur/Aquaman’s expense. By being able to poke fun at its lead character, it
allows the audience to relax—if not relate more—with its super human character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are several special features docs included with this release, and all
are interesting enough to check out. The best is the final one, which takes you
behind the production and shows you just how many sets they created for this
film. Yes, there is a lot of CGI, but not as much as you would expect. And the
fact that Mr. Momoa looks to be as much fun on set as he appears to be onscreen
is an unexpected bonus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is a game changer for DC. And while I do enjoy Mr. Snyder’s work (the
Director’s Cut of BATMAN V SUPERMAN is near brilliant, and I’ll always stand by
his Director’s Cut of WATCHMEN as one of the best comic book movies ever made),
I do hope that the studio sticks by this current trend. No, I don’t have to
laugh at the hero, but it helps to be able to laugh because of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: A-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Absolutely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-48304512263588260732019-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:002019-04-04T08:00:06.840-07:00The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: SHAZAM!<br />
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The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: <o:p></o:p></div>
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on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SHAZAM! </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(2019, 132 minutes, PG-13)</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Quick of It -</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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To be a kid again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What a joy it… would… be…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, maybe a bit different now than I remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A different ‘age’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, seeing that same sense of fun and
adventure in SHAZAM! does make me kinda want to get on my bike and ride off to
meet with my friends at the park or the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Adulting is not so fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, this
is the magic that is embraced in SHAZAM!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can honestly say that the combination found in these superhero
movies of action and comedy was not quite the same here as Marvel has been
releasing in redundancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Director David
F. Sandberg, of LIGHTS OUT and ANNABELLE: CREATION, switches from horror to
superheroes, maybe one way to enact a slight change in perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sandberg puts to film the tale Henry Gayde
wrote, a joyous escapade you would find similar to BIG and THE GOONIES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both seems new to the big-budget film world
but have here a defining contribution to the DCU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is plenty of humor but a resounding
sense of childhood wonder and the love a family can provide makes this work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Zachery Levi, of ‘Chuck’, TANGLED, and THOR: THE DARK WORLD,
does a fine job, embracing his Chuck-side again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say after having watched ‘Chuck’ long
ago, I had a hard time seeing him in that inflated suit with glowsticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been spoiled with DC TV shows having
more grounded super-suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kid crew,
led by Jack Dylan Grazer as his moral and superhero compass Freddy Freeman,
holds up well as a central character, demanding a lot to make the theme authentic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kid actors can really complicate a story with
just subtle things, but we do not see much of it here throughout the story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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SHAZAM! is an origin story having the Billy Batson, a boy
put into foster care after losing his mother in a crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He faces of against Dr. Thaddeus Sivana,
played by the busy and remarkable character actor Mark Strong, who was previously
rejected as the inheritor of the Shazam power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The stories pacing shows what DC does best, building a well-rounded villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You quickly become sympathetic and understand
why he goes down this dark path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Billy
must work through his struggle, trying to find his mother while learning to
survive as a near-homeless, angry boy who is gifted with powers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The lighthearted feel makes this a bridge between the
childhoods of yesteryear and today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think that is the greatest gift this film offers, to see the same, simple
desires we had as children reach the newer generation that is submerged in
technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magic still exists.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Grade: A-<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-84287828263641875822019-04-03T08:00:00.000-07:002019-04-03T08:00:09.896-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET & SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RALPH BREAKS THE
INTERNET (2018, PG, 111 minutes, WALT DISNEY PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE
SPIDER-VERSE (2018, PG-13, 117 minutes, SONY PICTURES/MARVEL)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcSP3-QRgmm6CnTsv4nlOqvwReJAr-Ircq_PYaqiCYUwlvAWhlC4BQ4JlJND1ZArrYbdgseocyA0dNrcTnrJUC59zDCdeWG66V8brkiWyHdMCYaZd8NgMxmjF_jKyVTrMDwcJ7w_eiNI/s1600/91I%252Bd8yYOmL._RI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcSP3-QRgmm6CnTsv4nlOqvwReJAr-Ircq_PYaqiCYUwlvAWhlC4BQ4JlJND1ZArrYbdgseocyA0dNrcTnrJUC59zDCdeWG66V8brkiWyHdMCYaZd8NgMxmjF_jKyVTrMDwcJ7w_eiNI/s320/91I%252Bd8yYOmL._RI_.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the last year, I have complained about many, many things. I’m old, so
I’m allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the one constant gripe I have is when it comes to the length of
animated films. (Okay, that, and the fact that women look at me like I have a
fourth nipple growing on my forehead.) But back in my day, animated films
clocked in at less than an hour-and-a-half. Especially Disney films; the
average length of most of their classics is right around the 1:28 mark. That
was always plenty of time to tell a story and, most importantly, keep a kid
entertained.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyhWYK6H6xPr5rOBhItS8eCszSUmZuheayLaQpnlK5HpfzqNHyAdh7yssB6aMmO0wm_qKwtnfqQYWIWOvR-E31Hkn5uiCdriiGAe1aKvciP0YLil0k1W7QmG8Hzp58TTaFCQAlb5wqdY/s1600/dims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1600" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyhWYK6H6xPr5rOBhItS8eCszSUmZuheayLaQpnlK5HpfzqNHyAdh7yssB6aMmO0wm_qKwtnfqQYWIWOvR-E31Hkn5uiCdriiGAe1aKvciP0YLil0k1W7QmG8Hzp58TTaFCQAlb5wqdY/s320/dims.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yet, you cannot help but wonder if the age of home video hasn’t turned
modern technology into this century’s version of a babysitter. The movies have
gotten much longer, and I cannot attest to whether the films can keep a child’s
attention for a full two hours. All I have to go on is my own brain, which,
while still held captive by puberty, has aged a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I can tell you that the nearly two hour-long RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET is
entertaining at times, but that is its inherent problem: it only works in fits
and starts. There are some thrilling moments, and a few funny ones, but it
doesn’t justify the run time. John C. Reilly returns as Wreck-It Ralph, the
“bad guy” of an arcade game. This time around, he and bestie Vanellope (Sarah
Silverman) must venture into the internet to retrieve the steering wheel to
Vanellope’s console video game, or she may become homeless. There are several
nods to that vast digital world in the form of many familiar sites. This is
like the internet version of READY PLAYER ONE, so far as the name dropping
goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But ultimately the heavy-handed message sinks this film. Disney used to be
much more elegant and sly about their messages to kids, but this one—about how
friendships can change—seems overlong and stretched way thin. I get that Ralph
pretty much blunders through everything, but didn’t we already cover this
territory in one of the TOY STORY films? Much of this seems (and feels)
redundant, as if Ralph and Vanellope’s predictable and by-the-numbers story
will make the message easier to grasp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KRHAjjOpeK-8hAFy3WKYHlrrHYczzG9iWA7embvnJHv77LHlPQadMJ_yYH1KxodWJVe6WUkv-RajiIZUQoCHQEapDoJJwkluTZztCs6q9camamytVCukc1lU7RAXpZ3mlQCtQjt3dBU/s1600/spiderman-into-the-spider-verse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KRHAjjOpeK-8hAFy3WKYHlrrHYczzG9iWA7embvnJHv77LHlPQadMJ_yYH1KxodWJVe6WUkv-RajiIZUQoCHQEapDoJJwkluTZztCs6q9camamytVCukc1lU7RAXpZ3mlQCtQjt3dBU/s320/spiderman-into-the-spider-verse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then there is the latest SPIDER-MAN movie. At a runtime even longer than
Ralph’s, it does something the other can’t quite do: it entertains on a
consistent basis while encouraging the viewer to believe in themselves. There
is a reason—several of them, really—this won the Academy Award for Best
Animated Feature, and not the heavy-handed (pun TOTALLY intended) RALPH. In
this iteration of the Spider-man universe, Peter Parker dies. Not really a
spoiler, so don’t think I gave anything away. His death leaves a void, and
stepping tentatively into his webbed shoes is young Miles Morales (Shameik
Moore of DOPE fame). Miles has no clue what he is doing; thankfully, when the
original Spider-man was killed trying to stop Kingpin’s Super Collider from
ripping a hole in the space-time continuum, the machine brought Spider-people
from other dimensions into his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, Miles gets help from a black and white Noir Spider-man, a Spider-Gwen,
a robot, a pig, and a different, down-on-his-luck Peter Parker. Part of the
brilliance on display is the blend of animation styles, and the constant love
the filmmakers throw to the comic books which birthed these characters.
Spider-Ham looks and acts like a Looney Tunes character, the robot-like anime,
etc. But it goes far beyond that; the textures in Mile’s face herald back to
the comics themselves, and is a wonderful detail that continuously impresses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Next up for Disney’s Animation Studio is another TOY STORY sequel; after
the third one, I’m not sure why this one is necessary, but I’ll watch it
anyways. Yet therein lies a problem: each TOY film has been longer than the
last, and the first clocked in at eighty-one minutes. At some point, parents
may want to teach their kids how to use the “pause” button on the remote. Let
them go outside and use their own imagination for a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RALPH: C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SPIDER-MAN: A-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: (there were sooo manyyyy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray necessary: RALPH no, SPIDER absolutely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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-- T.S. Kummelman <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-47500584666287547562019-03-28T08:00:00.000-07:002019-03-28T08:00:04.276-07:00The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: CAPTAIN MARVEL<br />
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The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: <o:p></o:p></div>
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on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">CAPTAIN MARVEL </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(2019, 123 minutes, PG-13)</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Quick of It -</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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The first round of Marvel films is nearing its end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have experienced our ups and downs… no
need to mention which ones… (cough…Thor), but we now have the final films
hitting theaters, adding one more name to the ENDGAME bucket.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a ton of history with the Captain’s legacy, and you
must know DC had the name first to realize how much history is involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Legal battles and fighting to keep the
intellectual property rights… a drama of its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this film, we are presented with a later
version of the CAP, a Marvel version, probably to focus on Marvel’s continued implementation
of staying relative with mainstream topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CAP MARVEL’s central theme and call to action is the empowerment of
women. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth though is that the theme
is subtle this go-a-round, which I appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If nothing else, that is the whole purpose of superheroes anyways, to
see as role-model material, not as a tool for social justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9oubsARV_6fgdMIbcDR-jm17_-YCUKuQDsT6tbbpQDIxky4juaTWmLr480_rOa4ptsQAwaT1wpyWwtCZUaFOcA4hoGy2kHCBn74Vl2bFNV1V8a8A6-Z-4xhiY33dx0HaWaZo8xwGDkM/s1600/12trailers1-articleLarge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9oubsARV_6fgdMIbcDR-jm17_-YCUKuQDsT6tbbpQDIxky4juaTWmLr480_rOa4ptsQAwaT1wpyWwtCZUaFOcA4hoGy2kHCBn74Vl2bFNV1V8a8A6-Z-4xhiY33dx0HaWaZo8xwGDkM/s320/12trailers1-articleLarge.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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This is an origin story that delivers that typical Marvel
formula we have come to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brie
Larson (ROOM and THE SPECTACULAR NOW) dons the suit to fight… well, no spoilers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is joined by Samuel L. Jackson, Ben
Mendelsohn, and Jude Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The script is
simple enough, so easily dialed-in by the cast, having decent performances from
everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the words struggled, we
just shook it off and kept going, knowing we are talking about aliens and weird…
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to keep a sense of tension with
this type of storytelling.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZGYEZ3UgVHI7NP_m4rvSPeGb2A4rF1QaR2cmZpWbvQ9CS2fQDMM9PyhmSXJlpM1BJK8GPHkqC_qiPEEZq0MpxqRACMT1vMZ88M69ieUrf7h87U_aRp3IGurjstraRKOZxbJgx_qSCZU/s1600/captain_marvel_still_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZGYEZ3UgVHI7NP_m4rvSPeGb2A4rF1QaR2cmZpWbvQ9CS2fQDMM9PyhmSXJlpM1BJK8GPHkqC_qiPEEZq0MpxqRACMT1vMZ88M69ieUrf7h87U_aRp3IGurjstraRKOZxbJgx_qSCZU/s320/captain_marvel_still_9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a whole, this is an enjoyable film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This project is led by the directing/writing team
of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, a pairing that started long before this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say this outing will keep them
working for a few more years in Hollywood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The CAP has plenty of action and comedy to keep you entertained, and not
bad for tackling an origin film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside
a few snafus in keeping to the standard rules of continuity, everything
works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Although, those snafus still
bother me.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wfnnGwfA-9SklqKb83sSOGJKM53NaooxU39RDb7FBRPoPgu6QtvxKlh0EyGLlcFL3Eoa7aleeBR_7IazRTyM7L4ni8ocQJWNNd2_pUBBppwx0rUqGIgp3e5_kJsnF3iEIHrsa66LQ1Y/s1600/captain-marvel-cat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wfnnGwfA-9SklqKb83sSOGJKM53NaooxU39RDb7FBRPoPgu6QtvxKlh0EyGLlcFL3Eoa7aleeBR_7IazRTyM7L4ni8ocQJWNNd2_pUBBppwx0rUqGIgp3e5_kJsnF3iEIHrsa66LQ1Y/s320/captain-marvel-cat.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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But I am going to say the end product is still lacking… and
probably a part of the negative buzz you hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will point out from how I feel, there is nothing special that makes
this film ‘remarkable’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that, I mean
that if you are creating a story at such a high level, you want it to stand out,
not fit in with the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The CAP does
not do this for me, not making me walk out of the theater thinking I watched
something new and mind-blowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many
trope plot points implemented to tell the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have seen this ‘story’ told a number
of times, just with different people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Proof of this deficiency – the cat steals the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That should not happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Grade: B+<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-9878887183368760142019-03-27T08:00:00.000-07:002019-03-27T08:00:14.246-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE
CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (2018, PG-13/NR, 134/142 minutes, HEYDAY FILMS/WARNER
BROTHERS)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DSlmc3m06S8InrB7K8W90r43D3DsEWToDHR-96orkFuQsQe0PGepVjZZgMdkfMy1-Lnr5xVNo-NkINSVHGvmUZjRZSTmDJlaQF9TeQDiyu6fB3I9-QLxipCv6N3ArdHfCOPXrPLtIXo/s1600/bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1584" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DSlmc3m06S8InrB7K8W90r43D3DsEWToDHR-96orkFuQsQe0PGepVjZZgMdkfMy1-Lnr5xVNo-NkINSVHGvmUZjRZSTmDJlaQF9TeQDiyu6fB3I9-QLxipCv6N3ArdHfCOPXrPLtIXo/s320/bg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s funny, what a few extra minutes can do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In some cases, it makes an okay film great (WATCHMEN, BATMAN V SUPERMAN);
those extra minutes, whether they are in the single digits or total dozens, can
flesh out a story, make the characters richer and the story more meaningful
than in its original release, even if you didn’t even realize the film could
benefit so heavily from their inclusion (see: every HOBBIT/RING movie).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That being said, I wasn’t terribly pleased with the theatrical release of
THE CRIMES OF GRINDLEWALD. The editing felt jumpy, the story clunky, the
characters too one-sided. Watching it, I got the feeling that there was quite a
bit missing from this messy, and at times overwrought, sequel. And I had high
expectations for it; coming off the brilliant FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO
FIND THEM, I was wholly invested in writer J.K. Rowling’s efforts as a
screenwriter. So my disappointment with the second of a planned five-film story
left me at odds. Could the series withstand this entry? Would it wind up
costing the studio too much with future installments, seeing as how the gamble
did not pay off with this one? (After all, the film cost an estimated two
hundred million to make, and grossed less than that domestically. To be fair,
it did cross the six-hundred million mark worldwide, but that is still cutting
it close when it comes to the movie business.) And most importantly, would I be
attacked by rabid Potterheads who see my reviews as nothing more than hobo
vomit spewed from a fast-moving train hauling cow poo and cabbage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHpQD-YpB70Mk7OzlX8Pt_FIo3FnpsoKb76cwQnjFRrRi_sfvsxgy-03Rzbs-79NjPtGmtWmhIBb8OgxxwgCngNMZ4q2tctxmWJyiNRGXJlY7R1T3RtnJXpUPG23HtM6G2WkC5DkFBK4/s1600/_74d474e6-cdfd-11e8-9909-7a4552f8c093.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHpQD-YpB70Mk7OzlX8Pt_FIo3FnpsoKb76cwQnjFRrRi_sfvsxgy-03Rzbs-79NjPtGmtWmhIBb8OgxxwgCngNMZ4q2tctxmWJyiNRGXJlY7R1T3RtnJXpUPG23HtM6G2WkC5DkFBK4/s320/_74d474e6-cdfd-11e8-9909-7a4552f8c093.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the video release of the film, I was pleased to see an extended cut of
the film—and if it were not for the irritating inclusion of the words “Deleted
Scene” every time one came up, this iteration of the film far surpasses the
theatrical release. I can understand having to cut a film’s original runtime
because of an audience’s possible fatigue, but at the cost of the story and the
flow of the film…well, as a movie fan, it sucks donkey nipples. Back in the
day, there used to be such a thing as an “intermission” (Google it, I don’t
have time to fully explain…). Yet in this day and age of assembly line customer
processing, theaters aren’t given enough time to provide viewers with breaks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XWQOu4pHVPG9911MDkPRc-51Lqnf-qLBBW6LXhyELxxvEAuvLz7Ygrk7MSz06Sw7s5RAai09f-76_Vg2TIWibhyphenhyphenxew9CRpl2ELsi9UIBFsXm7vCF8detHU9VIkmfc0ZzE8F_lDvBz5g/s1600/rev_1_FB2_00589r_High_Res_JPEG.0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XWQOu4pHVPG9911MDkPRc-51Lqnf-qLBBW6LXhyELxxvEAuvLz7Ygrk7MSz06Sw7s5RAai09f-76_Vg2TIWibhyphenhyphenxew9CRpl2ELsi9UIBFsXm7vCF8detHU9VIkmfc0ZzE8F_lDvBz5g/s320/rev_1_FB2_00589r_High_Res_JPEG.0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thankfully, home video allows us the opportunity to see how the filmmakers
originally intended a film to be seen. In the case of CRIMES, it helps
tremendously. The story flows rather seamlessly now, and you are allowed more
time to identify with and feel compassion for the plight of Credence (the
marvelous Ezra Miller) and the doomed Nagini (the quite flexible Claudia Kim).
The choice of Johnny Depp for sympathetic baddie Grindelwald makes more sense
here, and Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander has more time to shine with Jude
Law’s Dumbledore. Essentially, when you put the disc in, head straight to the
special features and watch the Director’s Cut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking of the special features, skip the second one. It’s basically Ezra
Miller and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood of the HARRY POTTER films) geeking out
together, and adds absolutely nothing to the viewing experience. The others are
your usual documentaries—nothing too special, but nothing else as bad as that
second one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZyAagaQXENwE0Ahc-DCYgeydMt_u6rs06kx-4Fl7XklOmCY1ZZtzAkMogrT27fFaXZ_1qrPdppH_9wi1nd1EXAi5Sg4aErZv0PYuncF4gRGArP_tRIKm0WGZuMC_8YRHoTCKuA1dWd8/s1600/uploads%25252Fcard%25252Fimage%25252F815301%25252F32ec3fe0-3a43-4e32-acb4-d69ce72ee067.jpg%25252F950x534__filters%25253Aquality%25252890%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="950" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZyAagaQXENwE0Ahc-DCYgeydMt_u6rs06kx-4Fl7XklOmCY1ZZtzAkMogrT27fFaXZ_1qrPdppH_9wi1nd1EXAi5Sg4aErZv0PYuncF4gRGArP_tRIKm0WGZuMC_8YRHoTCKuA1dWd8/s320/uploads%25252Fcard%25252Fimage%25252F815301%25252F32ec3fe0-3a43-4e32-acb4-d69ce72ee067.jpg%25252F950x534__filters%25253Aquality%25252890%252529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The third chapter in the series is due out next year—in November, if the
release date holds true to the others. With as much story as was packed into
CRIMES, I hope that Ms. Rowling switches gears a bit next time. While I
appreciate a Director’s Cut, it shouldn’t always be necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: B+ (the theatrical cut gets a B-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: You bet your niffler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-43940091952080030392019-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:002019-03-20T08:00:01.418-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - MORTAL ENGINES<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MORTAL ENGINES (2018,
PG-13, 128 minutes, SCHOLASTIC ENTERTAINMENT/UNIVERSAL PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If for some ludicrous reason you find yourself in the store holding a copy
of this film, you need to ask yourself a few questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Do it now, before you wander up to the checkout line and spend your hard-earned
cash on it. Just take a minute and consider what you are about to do. How long
did you have to work to be able to afford the $20 price tag? An hour and a
half? Two hours? Two months, if you work in a Nike factory? You cannot get that
time back, just like you won’t be able to get your money back if you don’t like
the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You owe it to yourself to ask the following questions, and you need to pay
close attention to the answers. First, are you considering this purchase
because Peter Jackson’s name is on the cover? Because, while the man did bring
hobbits and orcs and dwarves to glorious life in the HOBBIT and LORD OF THE
RINGS films, not to mention that wonderful version of KING KONG, you should not
allow his name alone to quantify your decision. He helped write the screenplay,
and he is listed as a producer, but he did not direct this movie. First-timer
Christian Rivers did. If it is the Peter Jackson brand you are looking for, go
purchase DEAD ALIVE or HEAVENLY CREATURES. Thank me later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Secondly, are you holding this film in your hand and replaying scenes from
the book in your mind? Thinking how cool it would look to see giant cities
rumbling across the broken earth, devouring each other as a means for fuel to
keep these behemoths running? Looking for that young adult/steampunk vibe that
is an as yet unexploited theme in Hollywood? Get yourself some anime. I’d
recommend FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, STEAMBOY, or even HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE as better
alternatives. HOWL’S is barely recognizable as steampunk, but it will at least
distract you from the memories of that one time you almost bought a really
crappy film…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now ask yourself: do I deserve this? You might also ask yourself if you
deserve a swift kick in the naughty bits. Or a punch right on your left
eyeball. If these are things that you indeed believe that the universe owes
you, then by all means PUNCH YOUR OWN FACE. Just put this movie back on the shelf
before you begin. You deserve better—hell, the worldwide viewing audience
deserves better—than questionable acting, bad dialogue, and predictable story.
The only reliable actor on hand is Hugo Weaving, but you aren’t supposed to be
rooting for him here. Although if he turned into Agent Smith from THE MATRIX
partway through, it might have actually saved this steaming bucket of shark
vomit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You see, there are some things in life that you cannot avoid. Taxes, death,
blackheads, gray pubes—all inevitable results of reality. Those bastards follow
you everywhere. But this movie? Totally avoidable. Put the movie down and go
wash your hands—you may know where that movie isn’t going, but you have no clue
where it has been. Or what sort of diseases it may be carrying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now, you see that discount bin over there? The giant wire corral with
thousands of Blu-rays piled in it? Guaranteed you can find four better movies
in there. Start digging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grade: F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: F (The only special feature worth watching would be one
in which the entire cast and crew do nothing but apologize for half an hour.
And that one ain’t on here.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Hell to the N<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-5453189615663224072019-03-13T08:00:00.000-07:002019-03-13T08:00:06.068-07:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - A STAR IS BORN<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A STAR IS BORN (2018,
R, 136 minutes, MGM/WARNER BROS.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bradley Cooper can just have my damn money. Seriously; if I could figure
out how to have my paycheck directly deposited to his account, I would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It isn’t that A STAR IS BORN is a perfect movie—it is not supposed to be,
and it is not. The characters are flawed, there is a slight issue with pacing,
and, call me nostalgic, but this iteration of the classic tale is occasionally
too smart for its own good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But…DAMN. For his directorial debut, Mr. Cooper certainly did tackle a
timeless cinematic tale, and he did so with a sure and confident hand. They say
that actors make great directors, and that is certainly the case here. Not only
is his own performance outstanding, but what he gets from pop artist Lady Gaga
is astounding. I knew she had a great voice, but to see how much she’s grown as
an actress since her questionable turn in “American Horror Story” is one of
several high points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKk7korxI2lzq98PQHBsHN9FkH432KXzBJBNxL_23OvdWP4MjFnfBqiVv_YwXRAbWSurhiwXYsGLQtfcP7uteNJ6wyFC_gbra-kUZTasIFdQSeRVXQyvjxGO11sqSu1nnPSepFGXgyP8/s1600/star-is-born-gaga-and-cooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="768" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKk7korxI2lzq98PQHBsHN9FkH432KXzBJBNxL_23OvdWP4MjFnfBqiVv_YwXRAbWSurhiwXYsGLQtfcP7uteNJ6wyFC_gbra-kUZTasIFdQSeRVXQyvjxGO11sqSu1nnPSepFGXgyP8/s320/star-is-born-gaga-and-cooper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another is Mr. Cooper’s own ability to sing. At one point in the film I
wondered, briefly, if there isn’t anything the man can’t do. I admired his
performance in LIMITLESS, and fell in love with his artistry in SILVER LININGS
PLAYBOOK. But his layered performance here is predictably heartbreaking. We
know from the start that Mr. Cooper’s Jackson Maine is a troubled man; he is a
self-destructive alcoholic, one with a troubled family past that nearly ended
with his own death. It seems that his voice is really all that he has
left—that, and a brother that is getting tired of his crap (Sam Elliot, the
film’s hesitant conscience). But Jackson is a star, and everyone just seems to
want to make him happy, and not necessarily do what is best for him. Enter Lady
Gaga’s Ally, a waitress who performs once a week at a drag bar. Her mastery of
a French song gets Jackson’s attention, and it is there that their love affair
begins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That is one of the tricks of the story by Eric Roth (MUNICH, THE CURIOUS
CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) and Mr. Cooper; this isn’t just a simple story of two
people that fall in love. It is also about the love they feel for what they do.
As Ally comes into her own, exploring her own voice and where in the
competitive world of music her voice belongs, we witness the love between her and
Jackson change. Such layered performances make these distinctive characters
resonate, makes their particular journeys that much more meaningful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaBH7iDvCGc8-G55gNH3Zi110SVBvSe9yMOvzrcqx4wBzuVhEZ0bjDQ3blukgsLO0Mox6jBmObg3OUCphux4ZKipL7l2-8TDb4L-nXgBZiaXWyBCzGyGPJt0kWIE30WACOdyLUrCg5lw/s1600/x41675203_555790674862142_4634829750349594624_n-640x213.jpg%252Cqv%253D1539020778.pagespeed.ic.iiJWd7YU4Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="640" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaBH7iDvCGc8-G55gNH3Zi110SVBvSe9yMOvzrcqx4wBzuVhEZ0bjDQ3blukgsLO0Mox6jBmObg3OUCphux4ZKipL7l2-8TDb4L-nXgBZiaXWyBCzGyGPJt0kWIE30WACOdyLUrCg5lw/s320/x41675203_555790674862142_4634829750349594624_n-640x213.jpg%252Cqv%253D1539020778.pagespeed.ic.iiJWd7YU4Q.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of course I’m going to tell you to purchase this on Blu-ray—it is necessary
for the soundtrack alone. But there is also a certain raw beauty to
cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s (VENOM, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON) eye; he
follows the goings on as a voyeur, giving us up close and personal views of the
dramatic realities playing out through the characters. There are several
special features included in the release, including a 30-minute long
behind-the-scenes which includes interviews with just about everyone. But there
are also additional performances that were cut from the initial release, all of
which are must-see’s if you enjoyed the concert performances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Next up for Mr. Cooper is a biopic concerning Leonard Bernstein. Once
again, he’ll star and direct. Can someone please get me his address? I’ve
already got a money order for him…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: B+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Most Definitely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-63561372807307882612019-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:002019-02-27T08:00:15.090-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - ROBIN HOOD<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ROBIN HOOD (2018,
PG-13, 116 minutes, SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT/LIONSGATE)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnScg3F6zv7SqYfWqCjcV8zt8mP-cpLI8VXRJyYUx80MbSkt7HCAr5Ba_7l4LlavmOXI4Q8csSXcZ1JWWcW8ndfFV-S42dKlBXIFnwAUpn0hEOQ3eKTxzHgb264sI1YbaFKz_ZhLNW9nQ/s1600/_d8fccb88-eecf-11e8-8d4e-8c144d313201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnScg3F6zv7SqYfWqCjcV8zt8mP-cpLI8VXRJyYUx80MbSkt7HCAr5Ba_7l4LlavmOXI4Q8csSXcZ1JWWcW8ndfFV-S42dKlBXIFnwAUpn0hEOQ3eKTxzHgb264sI1YbaFKz_ZhLNW9nQ/s320/_d8fccb88-eecf-11e8-8d4e-8c144d313201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You’ll have to forgive me this week; I’m struggling to find something good
to say about this movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hold on…wait…there’s a…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">…nope. It sucks. Plain and simple: I cannot find anything remotely
redeemable about this…this thing. I cannot refer to it as a “movie” or a
“film”, as that would insult those that actually work hard to obtain that
status. I also cannot refer to it as a “train wreck”; lots of good people have
sacrificed their lives to lend a serious tone to that phrase, and they
certainly would not want to be associated with this endeavor. I would use
“bucket of monkey turds”, but I’m afraid I would be offending those hard-working
monkeys, and I do not need the Primate Union beating on my door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Allow me to get to the point: remember all of those other films about Robin
Hood, the hero that stole from the rich and gave to the poor? GO WATCH THEM
INSTEAD. I’ll even throw in that Kevin Costner travesty in the mix—even that is
better than this. First-time screenwriters Ben Chandler and David James Kelly (apparently,
he needs three names to emphasize his suckiness) have taken the classic tale
you know so well and giving it a giant overhaul with crayons made out of
goldfish poop and sadness. It’s really that poorly written. And having Otto
Bathurst (who could have just stuck with one of those names to emphasize his
suckiness) direct it doesn’t help. Honestly, it’s like a bunch of coked-up
kindergartners hacked into screenwriting software and threw up all over the
screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjzqZWOiOx8paeEaJy04IcLQ8Z5tf28T8Ri-HLM7Vf-eDVTx424_WNYLqwMpKNfkPMzyubkwi_zPZDa7V5NpdT6LOaTEbG7Ch1FzG9MwOBY3I18ZqsD8LVvUx36L4uO8srMkaieO4VQs/s1600/f90208d6-2c02-414e-bfe3-58d2fd883402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="900" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjzqZWOiOx8paeEaJy04IcLQ8Z5tf28T8Ri-HLM7Vf-eDVTx424_WNYLqwMpKNfkPMzyubkwi_zPZDa7V5NpdT6LOaTEbG7Ch1FzG9MwOBY3I18ZqsD8LVvUx36L4uO8srMkaieO4VQs/s320/f90208d6-2c02-414e-bfe3-58d2fd883402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For starters, don’t expect the costumes to follow any historical themes.
Even the peasants wear shiny black leather, and the women attending balls wear
high heel stilettos (not invented until the 1950’s, thankyouverymuch). Next,
don’t expect the classic characters to follow their original parts and/or
paths. This is referred to as “reimagining” of the stories, which basically
means the writers were allowed to bastardize EVERYTHING. Also, physics
apparently did not exist in the time period in which this “reimagining” takes
place. Neither did gravity, wind, and/or dependable combustibles (at one point,
a wall of fire is supposed to spring up behind a row of bad guys, and it only
lights halfway…there is a brief pause…aaaannd then the rest is magically lit).
Oh, and carts pulled by horses could drift. And accents come and go—Jamie Foxx
tries for Arabic, then just gives in and goes full British—until he gets angry,
then he’s All American, baby!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMceVsLUQO7d61VR9YyYDinPVZjpEMRP0vqORM8m9N4X8i5AeQKI1QqgblktiBteYj-s7rjlOOA7Z8nCTBjw9ogh7-JE-Cc17_uHq8wh2zfxTkDSByhItRZLQ0fJVB3mZLu_hC8daXdvc/s1600/Robin-Hood-Movie-Trailer-2018-Taron-Egerton-Jamie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="798" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMceVsLUQO7d61VR9YyYDinPVZjpEMRP0vqORM8m9N4X8i5AeQKI1QqgblktiBteYj-s7rjlOOA7Z8nCTBjw9ogh7-JE-Cc17_uHq8wh2zfxTkDSByhItRZLQ0fJVB3mZLu_hC8daXdvc/s320/Robin-Hood-Movie-Trailer-2018-Taron-Egerton-Jamie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The CGI here is reminiscent of my pre-school drawings, meaning that an
epileptic sea monkey could have drawn this crap better. There are a lot of
fight scenes, but it is mostly with bows and a marvelously endless supply of
arrows. If you want to see great choreographed fight scenes, I recommend 1938’s
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, with Errol Flynn as Robin; this was actually the
second film I ever purchased on laser disc, and is arguably the best iteration
of the legendary hero. If I ever happen so see this particular version of the
story on laser disc, I’m sacrificing my player to the Old Gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, really, DON’T WATCH THIS. Watch anything but this. Two other great
films were recently released on Blu-ray: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, and A STAR IS BORN.
Go watch those; they are actual films, and will actually illicit an emotion out
of you other than boredom. Or anger for having wasted your money. Yes, go watch
BOHEMIAN—it shows Queen playing at Live Aid, whereas ROBIN HOOD is more of a
sleep aid. You’re welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: The outtakes are boring, the deleted scenes should be a
lot longer (by, like, 116 minutes), and there is a really short making-of doc
that justifies your using this as a death Frisbee come the zombie apocalypse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Oh hell no!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-45818526152022639902019-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:002019-02-21T08:00:07.907-08:00The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL<br />
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The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: <o:p></o:p></div>
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on <i>ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (2019, 122 minutes, PG-13)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkTzI6m-RIY6cYmpz-I5sThS9y-3ryU0IQav9L_kd7b9Z1HZ0imfWKH98Zr3OlF_IXxWCtClHVCD_OKGqhTO-_Yqz6qo0Y-bWgv54wePxo57ODbqjwi7Ktf36W202Axnl6qjcZh9wO0s/s1600/alita_battle_angel_ending_explained.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="825" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkTzI6m-RIY6cYmpz-I5sThS9y-3ryU0IQav9L_kd7b9Z1HZ0imfWKH98Zr3OlF_IXxWCtClHVCD_OKGqhTO-_Yqz6qo0Y-bWgv54wePxo57ODbqjwi7Ktf36W202Axnl6qjcZh9wO0s/s320/alita_battle_angel_ending_explained.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<i>The Quick of It -</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Director Robert Rodriguez gives us a glimpse into a future
that will probably never come to be… but it seems a dystopian blast!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, maybe not in the best way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With James Cameron, you know the AVATAR and TITANIC guy, is
behind the screenplay, the project is going to have a strong worldbuilding
aspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And again, bringing up
Rodriguez, of the DUSK TILL DAWN and the “Matador” ethos, action is promised at
a high level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, a lot of
name-dropping to help paint this unfortunate tragedy befalling this picture to
understand the struggle…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_92J3OjBkIaGJWR_LsruB1NXR-0pHtJQ2j77goOZVdw7bV6oA1XbgO9_JEIJStAwIAx803reZQl7YeUCq45wZ5KxdILZfm1G0v-TerO2oxCd6iYG5ipYNH7iFBrgF9mbTU-BdAn7Zot4/s1600/MV5BZjU5M2M2NzItNGYzZC00NGNlLTlkZWItOGU2OTY1MGU0ZTgxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_92J3OjBkIaGJWR_LsruB1NXR-0pHtJQ2j77goOZVdw7bV6oA1XbgO9_JEIJStAwIAx803reZQl7YeUCq45wZ5KxdILZfm1G0v-TerO2oxCd6iYG5ipYNH7iFBrgF9mbTU-BdAn7Zot4/s320/MV5BZjU5M2M2NzItNGYzZC00NGNlLTlkZWItOGU2OTY1MGU0ZTgxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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ALITA is set into the far future, where the use of tech has
come to dominate the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
last industrial complex of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only the ruthless survive… until Alita comes along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Falling as scrap from the floating city, Dr.
Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) finds her and uses his renowned skills in
cybernetics to bring her ‘back’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alita
(Rosa Salazar, a MAZERUNNER alum) begins to piece together her lost memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the story unfolds, which in some ways the
weakest facet of the movie, we discover many things… but are still left
wondering on others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Jackie Earle Haley, and
Ed Skrein round out the cast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can
see, all the pieces are there for a great movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characterizations are just as vibrant as
they are dark and menacing, fitting the setting at the extremist levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tone is there but the continuous action
keeps you from really empathizing with the truly dismal life that exists below
the floating city, a place held in high reverence as no one ever goes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The imagery is on par with other super-CGI settings, all
details included to give the scenes grit and glamour, even if not enough
attention is given to making the setting a central piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are rushed about, as with the character
storylines, with the action sequences being the frontrunner of the pacing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a bad thing as the action is
amazing in choreography, but you feel like you missed out on so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57tNqblEQ1q7NSHxosU2zJA4qC8eaZEL1m51XkXU3RKLEYTwnJMvp-Zi54aW6vyntUmamw4xtuIZ-mDkrEUxwMQ5tU-uhnv9batYcRW10TBLMvfQPRiKP1yY__qrejca8gNCRFNIOxnY/s1600/alita-battle-angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57tNqblEQ1q7NSHxosU2zJA4qC8eaZEL1m51XkXU3RKLEYTwnJMvp-Zi54aW6vyntUmamw4xtuIZ-mDkrEUxwMQ5tU-uhnv9batYcRW10TBLMvfQPRiKP1yY__qrejca8gNCRFNIOxnY/s320/alita-battle-angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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So, the problem is that this movie brings nothing to the
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, blasphemy from all the hype
surrounding the actors and people behind the lens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a crap-ton of superhero movies, so
plenty of action to go around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have ample
futuristic settings filled with death and ruin, like the disastrous MORTAL
ENGINES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have award worthy interpersonal
movies that dive deep into the human psyche, to include objects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ALITA has just enough of each but doesn’t
embrace a true theme to call their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being based on a manga, they have had pages to do all the story-building
they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A movie… not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In the end, the $200 million budget will sink any idea that
this film was a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest you sit
back with some popcorn in a comfy chair and just enjoy the battlebot show. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Grade: B-<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-83208243542402372462019-02-20T08:00:00.000-08:002019-02-20T08:00:14.157-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - THE GRINCH <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE
GRINCH (2018, PG, 88 minutes, ILLUMINATION/UNIVERSAL PICTURES) <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTMAfraUCCVtanADW66VwVqubVPdT1Gs-gAGyuMbvmc0S8dUqBIm1Ux8nj831sdpL-nXN2qJPlZmWuvZuWBEOwxLOTSmc8ySV31XsgXhz0mF8zGK-fElCeTNhPcZccCoVpmCVGCvsAC0/s1600/-the-grinch---a-fun-filled-fantasy-adventure-story-2018-11-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTMAfraUCCVtanADW66VwVqubVPdT1Gs-gAGyuMbvmc0S8dUqBIm1Ux8nj831sdpL-nXN2qJPlZmWuvZuWBEOwxLOTSmc8ySV31XsgXhz0mF8zGK-fElCeTNhPcZccCoVpmCVGCvsAC0/s320/-the-grinch---a-fun-filled-fantasy-adventure-story-2018-11-08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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It felt kind of weird, watching
this film in February. I live in Maine, so yes, there is still snow on the
ground, which lends to my surroundings a wintry air. But it is no longer
Christmas—the snow that falls now isn’t the same you wish for in order to have
a more befitting holiday. It’s the kind that you dread a little, as in “still
have another month of shoveling”, or “this outta make for a fun walk to work
today”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In other words, the Christmas
spirit is understandably lacking. It would probably help to watch DR SEUSS’S
THE GRINCH in December, when that most treasured of holidays—especially from
the retail point of view—is within reach. But the lack of a brightly lit and
passably decorated tree in my living room doesn’t mean this is a film you
should ignore. Remember what Ron Howard attempt in 2000? The one with a poorly
cast Jim Carrey as The Grinch? With all the creepy looking Who’s in Whoville? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Well, Universal Studios decided to
give us something to replace that odd, dismal film. Instead of allowing a
classic twenty-six-minute television cartoon to be turned into a movie four
times that long, they have offered the world a tale told like the classics
which precede it. You’ve listened to me whine about the unnecessary length of
some of the recent animated features before, but Universal keeps this one under
an hour and a half, and it is the tight, imaginative storytelling which saves
this film. That, and the incredible animation. The wunderkinds at Illumination
have crafted a story that is touching, relevant, and extremely funny, and have
wrapped it in sharp animation that pays homage to its predecessor and creates a
sense of wonder which overshadows that prior attempt. There is something
glorious about seeing all those lights in Whoville, and the attention to detail
in the animation is precise and breathtaking. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Directors Yarrow Cheney and Scott
Mosier, working from a script by Tommy Swerdlow and Michael LeSieur, keep the
pacing consistent throughout. There are no lulls in the storytelling or the
laughs, and the cast does a wonderful job in making you care about the goings-on
of a tale you probably already know. The standouts are Pharrell Williams as the
narrator, whose lyrical delivery makes you want to reread the book (out loud,
and with his voice), and young Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who. Ms. Seely does a
fantastic job capturing the nuances and attitudes of a child (probably because
she is one, but her comedic timing nears brilliance in certain moments).
Benedict Cumberbatch is an interesting choice for The Grinch; he is confident
and spontaneously erratic (when needed), and at times seems to channel only the
better moments of Jim Carrey’s attempt at the role. Yet he makes it his own
when it comes to his delivery and his commitment to the material; whereas
Carrey never seemed to stop being Carrey, you feel the change in Cumberbatch’s
Grinch. Occasionally, though, you wish Cumberbatch would just let loose a
little more; his delivery is, again, confident, but there are points it falls
flat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CiEk_ben-_zv-BK_hmY5zbluAzlh6yz8yqA5sjyMKkc9c54rmiOI9QInySX5BM9xXhys0u2DKxK0WQ-zlkJ5jyuGF9JMxQA82tqvV55SdATLdGayEwb0XuEdYJOCYuTtpeKK8OLhyhY/s1600/grin01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CiEk_ben-_zv-BK_hmY5zbluAzlh6yz8yqA5sjyMKkc9c54rmiOI9QInySX5BM9xXhys0u2DKxK0WQ-zlkJ5jyuGF9JMxQA82tqvV55SdATLdGayEwb0XuEdYJOCYuTtpeKK8OLhyhY/s320/grin01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The special features are a bit
lacking, however. There are three new animated shorts from Illumination: two
featuring the Minions, and one with Max, the Grinch’s loyal dog. None of them
are entirely necessary, and only one of them provides consistent laughs.
Meaning they all feel sort of out of place here. The other special
features—making of docs—are short, and light on information. They mostly feel
more like commercials than they do behind-the-scenes featurettes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So yes, do purchase this on
Blu-ray. The detailed animation and the great soundtrack necessitate the higher
quality format. But please, do watch this when the snow outside is of the more
festive variety. Your holiday spirit can thank me later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Film Grade: B+ <o:p></o:p></div>
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Special Features: C <o:p></o:p></div>
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Blu-ray Necessary: Absolutely<o:p></o:p></div>
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- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-10967712358740029062019-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:002019-02-13T08:00:04.430-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BAD TIMES AT THE EL
ROYALE (2018, R, 141 minutes, TSG ENTERTAINMENT/20TH CENTURY FOX)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL66Gi8-MjSylrNeT3QUYRhuNmhRFGia_koH_-_Yxi4yvnR6BZFzpYDWNSPPIG2OsngiZatLlj2Axd-i4Z6w8xrX31OhYVPxhzKNIzfP4njJNHWwj05MDUecoQrTJLcf857q5gKegB8IU/s1600/MV5BNTExN2Y4NmItMjE0ZC00NjgxLWI0OTEtMjdlZmE1ZDBkMzIxXkEyXkFqcGdeQWtlbGFyc2Vu._V1_UX477_CR0%252C0%252C477%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="477" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL66Gi8-MjSylrNeT3QUYRhuNmhRFGia_koH_-_Yxi4yvnR6BZFzpYDWNSPPIG2OsngiZatLlj2Axd-i4Z6w8xrX31OhYVPxhzKNIzfP4njJNHWwj05MDUecoQrTJLcf857q5gKegB8IU/s320/MV5BNTExN2Y4NmItMjE0ZC00NjgxLWI0OTEtMjdlZmE1ZDBkMzIxXkEyXkFqcGdeQWtlbGFyc2Vu._V1_UX477_CR0%252C0%252C477%252C268_AL_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There have been several good films that got their start as stage
productions; some classics would include A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, DRIVING MISS
DAISY, and GLENGARRY, GLEN ROSS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sometimes the transition from stage to screen isn’t all that impressive,
and much is lost in translation. BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BILOXI BLUES,
despite being written by esteemed and legendary playwright Neil Simon, were
horrible films. Hollywood may want to take over the world, but there are times
when it fails miserably.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So to watch a film and think that it would probably work better as a play
is something different for me. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE was written and
directed by Drew Goddard, the same man who wrote several episodes of “Lost”,
the wonderful CABIN IN THE WOODS, and WORLD WAR Z. He has written for
television and the big screen, but this time around, you wonder if he hasn’t
become a playwright as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The El Royale is a hotel/motel built along the California/Colorado line.
The film takes place sometime in the late sixties; there are references to an
unnamed senator having an affair there, all of the vehicles and music are
dated, and there is even a Charles Manson-like character looming in the
distance. Several characters show up on the same day at the otherwise vacant
hotel, and of course their paths must intersect in murder, mayhem, and madness.
Literally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The cast includes Jeff Bridges as an aging ex-con, whose brain is slowly
withering under the pressure of Alzheimer’s; Jon Hamm as a salesman who isn’t
selling anything; Chris Hemsworth as a psychotic cult leader; and the versatile
Cynthia Erivo, whose wondrous singing voice lifts this film up when it
shouldn’t. There are others here as well, but there isn’t enough variety of
craft to consider this an ensemble piece. Sure, everyone is game (especially
Hemsworth, who seems overjoyed to finally be playing a bad guy), but there
isn’t enough going on during the two hours and twenty minute runtime to keep
you interested enough to care. The cinematography by Seamus McGarvey (GODZILLA,
THE AVENGERS) is a character unto itself, insomuch as that is one of the main
reasons I think this would work perfectly on stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are some sweeping shots, flawlessly executed, showing what is going
on within the rooms of the El Royale. These fluid moments are actually quite
lovely; they give a certain grace to the proceedings, lend it a sophistication
(much like Ms. Erivo’s voice) it really doesn’t deserve. And this isn’t a
horrible film—it’s an okay movie. But it would probably make a great play, and
that isn’t what we’re here for, is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are enough gunfights, violence, and musical moments to deem this a
necessary Blu-ray purchase—but only if you must own it. Everyone involved here
has been in (and directed) better films. This one struggles far too much to try
and be noir. The packaging is cool, and some of the lines are funny and/or
memorable, but methinks it would be a better time on Broadway. Seriously, there
would also be an intermission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Film Grade: C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Only if you must<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-67247446583634382822019-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:002019-02-06T08:00:02.348-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - FIRST MAN <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FIRST MAN (2018,
PG-13, 141 minutes, DREAMWORKS/UNIVERSAL PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnawTfTw00FV_U1UvMGjq7BnWNmHDVtHVrG4FDrqUKdwXd6Xj1Csj0ejFV2cKQXnA5llvYoewnye8ln-EFcx_6Cs269xPb373za0-aWwLNF7jAwyIaEtfX9LsTiUssmdTXEXvkzlq1IYc/s1600/cbaa3a44f65f6ca8f58e27ebf819a023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnawTfTw00FV_U1UvMGjq7BnWNmHDVtHVrG4FDrqUKdwXd6Xj1Csj0ejFV2cKQXnA5llvYoewnye8ln-EFcx_6Cs269xPb373za0-aWwLNF7jAwyIaEtfX9LsTiUssmdTXEXvkzlq1IYc/s320/cbaa3a44f65f6ca8f58e27ebf819a023.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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If you haven’t been paying attention to director Damien
Chazelle, you might want to start now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His 2014 debut, WHIPLASH, was a tour de force, a film that
used sound as a weapon and J.K. Simmons as its delivery system. The film
perfectly blended the violence of making coherent sound with an Oscar winning,
abusive performance by Simmons. He followed that up with 2016’s Oscar winning
LA LA LAND—this time using sound to propel the story and to develop the budding
relationship between two L.A. devotees.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now he takes us to space with FIRST MAN, once again allowing
Ryan Gosling to lead us there. Gosling plays Neil Armstrong, the first man to
have ever stepped foot on the moon. And the surprising thing is that
Armstrong’s lack of sound—not a great communicator, Neil—tells just as much
story, if not more, than blaring alarms in a space capsule ever could.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHVwfEorVx6GHmMJUBfpKL5XnnMhC-C_885_cFHmd9Bu6S4GUWx7fLYou_wmJkJfMOa2QcacyvhGAkSuOS71Klr5V9iSiDFqakB4FQMSB513a5qEkM4KZ92_yEFyRAhm30CyGMR5pW1w/s1600/first-man1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHVwfEorVx6GHmMJUBfpKL5XnnMhC-C_885_cFHmd9Bu6S4GUWx7fLYou_wmJkJfMOa2QcacyvhGAkSuOS71Klr5V9iSiDFqakB4FQMSB513a5qEkM4KZ92_yEFyRAhm30CyGMR5pW1w/s320/first-man1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gosling, who also starred in LA LA, gives a thoughtful and thought-provoking
performance as the astronaut that carried the hopes and dreams of Americans,
let alone every human being on the planet, to the moon and back. Without giving
any spoilers, tragedy visits Neil’s family early. This lends credence to his
shyness/reserve, and Mr. Gosling does an amazing job of carrying the silence;
it is a palpable burden, one which affects those around him dramatically.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are several good performances here: Jason Clarke as
best friend and fellow astronaut Ed White, and Corey Stoll as an outspoken Buzz
Aldrin, are most notable as they come across as the most relatable. But when
Mr. Gosling isn’t stealing your attention, the amazing Claire Foy as
Armstrong’s wife Janet is more than happy to ground things. Her performance
feels the most honest; left at home to care for their two sons, she is the
force which tries desperately to keep Armstrong’s dreams cemented here, on
Earth, with his family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbd5jGEoySG_C8nHoaS8pkbIyNLUnXvk6FfFzO2dPzW99FzW2DkGPrRgiprzmma504x8brbKco08Qdu5ysrmU2jZlgQW4DDY1S4xSmP5Qwi3x85fja790AsuXGiRK0L8PMwZ7LwS7nnU/s1600/42f3cc6617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbd5jGEoySG_C8nHoaS8pkbIyNLUnXvk6FfFzO2dPzW99FzW2DkGPrRgiprzmma504x8brbKco08Qdu5ysrmU2jZlgQW4DDY1S4xSmP5Qwi3x85fja790AsuXGiRK0L8PMwZ7LwS7nnU/s320/42f3cc6617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yet after all this, it is Mr. Chazelle’s directorial efforts
and production designer Nathan Crowley who combine to make the definitive
unseen character which drives this film. For films based on real life, stories
whose endings you already know (ARGO, DARKEST HOUR, etc.), it can be difficult
to convey a tale which keeps you invested in that inevitable outcome. But the
best (like those aforementioned Oscar winners) keep you glued to your seats,
and Misters Chazelle and Crowley pull that off masterfully. From the cockpit of
a plane to the inside of the lunar module, you experience everything alongside
the astronauts. The dynamic cinematography by Linus Sandgren—who makes a
seamless transition from LA LA LAND—creates close quarter tension one moment,
and eases you back in your seat with the grand spectacle of the wide open lunar
landscape the next. All this amounts to a journey that feels as turbulent and
exhilarating as what the astronauts must have went through, only you don’t have
to leave the planet (or your living room) to experience it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The special features are entirely necessary; from the use of
LED wall-effects to more backstory on Armstrong, you get a little bit of
everything. My only complaint is that most of the docs are far too short, and
some lack what you really want to hear about. It isn’t enough for me to tell
you to skip any of them, but I felt that there were certain elements lacking,
as if the studio didn’t have enough time to put together a proper fifteen-minute-long
“making of” doc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While none of the people I mentioned in this review are
nominated for the upcoming Academy Awards (which is a shame in several cases),
you know what was? The sound editing and mixing by Ai-Ling Lee and Co. Which
just goes to show you how effectively Mr. Chazelle uses sound in each of his films.
It isn’t just his eyes that map the course of our cinematic journey, but also
his ears—and that, kids, is the mark of a truly effective storyteller.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Film Grade: A<o:p></o:p></div>
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Special Features: B-<o:p></o:p></div>
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Blu-ray Necessary: Absolutely<o:p></o:p></div>
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- T.S.Kummelman<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-67679977861342730192019-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-31T08:00:15.168-08:00‘Fists and Fun: What You’re Missing on NETFLIX… and then some.’<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Fists and Fun: What You’re Missing on
NETFLIX… and then some.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">NEW
ARRIVALS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE
PUNISHER, Season 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(2019,
TV-MA, 13 episodes, MARVEL STUDIOS/NETFLIX)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjptjWloQ0uy7poy9JdGMLXo25wa38FQBtoU-kGKgpvpOIGLZz8_TZspQ1HBHGN2j5_OoGMZlD9uP_aVi4Bt4w7r7BHwF_Bd3i1-3NmseRrR9q9rRB4uQblhr-ZTd5VnHxba5x6EV84M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-05-31+at+12.53.45+PM+%255Bwww.imagesplitter.net%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="726" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjptjWloQ0uy7poy9JdGMLXo25wa38FQBtoU-kGKgpvpOIGLZz8_TZspQ1HBHGN2j5_OoGMZlD9uP_aVi4Bt4w7r7BHwF_Bd3i1-3NmseRrR9q9rRB4uQblhr-ZTd5VnHxba5x6EV84M/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-05-31+at+12.53.45+PM+%255Bwww.imagesplitter.net%255D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Netflix
put the MCU on the map for the small screen with their Hell’s Kitchen crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be a shame that they are relinquishing
the helm but THE PUNISHER (if also moving away) leaves Netflix with a
bang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jon Bernthal returns with Amber
Rose Revah and Ben Barnes to continue where they left off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may seem a tired story, vigilante
hunting down the baddies, but you would miss out on so much fists and fun if
you think to skip this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These brutal
episodes are gripping, bloody, and filled with so much inner turmoil that you
cannot look away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that there is a
tight story filled with plenty of moments for each character to shine in their
own light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They leave nothing behind.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">POLAR
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(2019,
TV-MA, 118 minutes, CONSTANTIN FILM/DARK HORSE ENTERTAINMENT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_sh7uFxHGgfatc45YKDx4F0u9DuU3JR-eHf4g77fxdLxw2YBLLbzTzpldeFeY-CCT0tunKIKjJ3cTuwMCmeuJvBoG6D4DYNwU21LwtQGl8CPBtZdmcXBWn2877qiqTz-Y6xBg3Pif8E/s1600/Polar-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="970" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_sh7uFxHGgfatc45YKDx4F0u9DuU3JR-eHf4g77fxdLxw2YBLLbzTzpldeFeY-CCT0tunKIKjJ3cTuwMCmeuJvBoG6D4DYNwU21LwtQGl8CPBtZdmcXBWn2877qiqTz-Y6xBg3Pif8E/s320/Polar-review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This
is a ‘must see’ joyride. In the line of
CRANK and SMOKIN’ACES, but done way better on certain levels, you get Mads
Mikkelsen (CASINO ROYALE and “Hannibal”) as Duncan Vizla. Vizla is a highly skilled assassin who is
looking to retire from the organization he works for. Of course, there are big payouts he is due
and the head, Mr. Blunt, has no intentions of paying. Blunt sends an assorted cast of oddball
assassins after him to make sure Vizla does not collect his retirement. Director</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jonas Åkerlund has had a quiet career behind
the camera that should now be launched into the mainstream after this. At least, it better. His ability to show
versatility in creating a number of varied settings, action sequences that keep
your eyes glued to the screen, and a cast of wild characters to parade around a
very docile Vizla makes for a great evening of ‘Netflix and chill’.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">GODZILLA:
THE PLANET EATER<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(2018,
UR, 91 minutes, POLYGON PICTURES/TOHO ANIMATION)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYYPz1jx9wEcqHchyphenhyphen6HUhyphenhyphenSHgrI0uC8ZH9HFXfIXTaNJZrqd4urO8YCCYKK2aXeyUyCIpJLgdMqavrl2yrtl_syCz2MtFEAW3en3ytyC1403WCDlwkP4lfihC4ly3iLv_41PA58rhSkg/s1600/godzilla-planet-eater-visual-1133885.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYYPz1jx9wEcqHchyphenhyphen6HUhyphenhyphenSHgrI0uC8ZH9HFXfIXTaNJZrqd4urO8YCCYKK2aXeyUyCIpJLgdMqavrl2yrtl_syCz2MtFEAW3en3ytyC1403WCDlwkP4lfihC4ly3iLv_41PA58rhSkg/s320/godzilla-planet-eater-visual-1133885.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is the continuing of anime Godzilla as you have never seen before… unless you’ve
seen their previous films – GODZILLA: PLANT OF THE MONSTERS (2017) and
GODZILLA: CITY ON THE EDGE OF BATTLE (2018).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This story is placed in a futuristic timeline, where the Godzilla has pushed
the human race into space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humans have
returned to Earth and are hoping to find a way to kill Godzilla and reclaim the
planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you couldn’t guess for this
film, they were not successful in their first two attempts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, a new threat from a new religion
inspired by the ‘stars’ wishes to summon a ‘planet destroyer’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where the genius of the writing comes
in – a new take on King Ghidorah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
nothing else, this movie will help fuel your need for the new live action
sequel coming this year, with… King Ghidorah and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEX
EDUCATION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(2019,
TV-MA, 8 episodes, ELEVEN/NETFLIX)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevYGtgwhVn2qVTEr8zUIe98l9T02HKBrY62R48bXI46HQ_VcTsNicW0zyY6oFGHRbsJhkIFZvFhzpDYfd-iTjPHNWQJ2LlavVfv9VKHB7b7GJrMjys1xQohAbwAKOMgSyuypJlYazO54/s1600/Sex-Education-Cast-and-Character-Guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevYGtgwhVn2qVTEr8zUIe98l9T02HKBrY62R48bXI46HQ_VcTsNicW0zyY6oFGHRbsJhkIFZvFhzpDYfd-iTjPHNWQJ2LlavVfv9VKHB7b7GJrMjys1xQohAbwAKOMgSyuypJlYazO54/s320/Sex-Education-Cast-and-Character-Guide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">So,
we have a new way to introduce or children to ‘sex’.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">No, not really.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I kid.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is way beyond that early childhood talk.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maybe even past a teenager’s
understanding.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">But still a very
enlightening way to break so many boundaries we have maintained in this
puritanically based society.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Starring
Asa Butterfield (ENDER’S GAME), Gillian Anderson (“X-Files”), and newer to the
scene supporting stars Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Otis (Asa) is the son of a very active and
dutiful sex therapist, Jean (Gillian).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thus, we get a teenager’s nightmare of awkward situations at ever
turn.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of struggling with his
familial predicament, and having found that he has become a savant at helping
other teenagers with those ‘special issues’, he begins giving advise to other
kids at school.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The solid writing and clever
ways of weaving in other viewpoints allows for enlightenment for those that
struggle with the close-minded world they have come to know and surround themselves
with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And,
to add to the mix, one to find on AMAZON PRIME<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">LEAVE
NO TRACE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(2018,
PG, 109 minutes, BRON STUDIOS/CREATIVE WEALTH MEDIA FINANCE/HARRISON
PRODUCTIONS)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF79jM1fulfmSJ27KntfvDjOPmIoZ2IORhhqRDMlJLyWuiMD_i4b99XeJpJNQEXXfw-4y_5lJBjX447v2zzHf6dYvKKZ89WpSQdjerWMII2Bx_FSA3elHPhX2HNYH-RogV3ONQzqcv-as/s1600/Leave-No-Trace-Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="743" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF79jM1fulfmSJ27KntfvDjOPmIoZ2IORhhqRDMlJLyWuiMD_i4b99XeJpJNQEXXfw-4y_5lJBjX447v2zzHf6dYvKKZ89WpSQdjerWMII2Bx_FSA3elHPhX2HNYH-RogV3ONQzqcv-as/s320/Leave-No-Trace-Movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Starring
Thomasin McKenzie (THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES) and Ben Foster (HELL
OR HIGH WATER and 3:10 TO YUMA), the story follows Will (Foster) and his
daughter Tom/Thomasin (McKenzie).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will is
a veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has
withdrawn from society as a way to cope with his issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have made a home in a national park in
Oregon, and not in the traditional sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While growing up and living in an isolated camp, Will teaches her about
survival as well as providing a full education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Things turn for the worse, they are discovered by the authorities, and
are forced back into the civilian world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Will’s psyche cannot handle it and spirals while trying to be
understanding of his daughter’s needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Director
Debra Granik (of WINTER’S BONE) does a fabulous job visually telling this
tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is another pairing with Anne
Rosellini on the screenplay and they do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They make a great team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never once do you question Will’s love for
his daughter, but you can see he is unable to get past his inner demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This journey is powerful, and its eloquence is
not burdened by the need of forced Hollywood drama into the story arc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what makes this work on more than one
level, by keeping to a sense of realism and put a spotlight on a horrible
condition, barring a better word to describe PTSD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--- James
S. Austin <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-18471234241159064942019-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-30T08:00:07.519-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - PEPPERMINT<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">PEPPERMINT (2018, R, 101 minutes, HUAYI
BROTHERS/STX ENTERTAINMENT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8hXfA608tGO5OaxV6B5jF9_9RKM3XTODcBADULJZXl6ef5WoBmvPecNzYuFTxo8uXkwDvmtIwgliYW3nBT2xro9aM-Rcbx7E-glII8TBo_1Zp6FZ7cMt6rrcZqmkoq6WSejoGidtsUg/s1600/0423ad04da59c9530e5f3b5117bac54b8d8c315b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1114" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8hXfA608tGO5OaxV6B5jF9_9RKM3XTODcBADULJZXl6ef5WoBmvPecNzYuFTxo8uXkwDvmtIwgliYW3nBT2xro9aM-Rcbx7E-glII8TBo_1Zp6FZ7cMt6rrcZqmkoq6WSejoGidtsUg/s320/0423ad04da59c9530e5f3b5117bac54b8d8c315b.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
sometimes wish that I had a metaphysical stick that I could slap people with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
hard enough to let them know when their “brilliant” ideas are stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s it—I wish I had a Metaphysical Stupid
Stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I did, I would have knocked
the idea for PEPPERMINT right out of screenwriter Chad St. John’s noggin, and
right over the left field fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the same guy that came up with LONDON HAS FALLEN, a tired, bland retread of its
mildly entertaining predecessor OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
it should come as no surprise that PEPPERMINT (stupid title for this film as
well) is basically a female DEATH WISH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So far, St. John has done nothing to better the genre, unless you
consider the recycling of ideas, stereotypes, and storylines from other films
bettering the genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then by all means,
praise him for his lack of originality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqVQT5Igk4RIi5W2kqQz22mRRAgEoFvOgmaHtIS2i4ja3DMjjR5xS8A-JjZisXoCWizES9aA_6UhxLTOHhc3eQ6TpbfiQ4MdLJYAPMaIEagzGjSt3bBmMdhJ1WDlykSTyyxsCvLvUFdE/s1600/591770591_750x422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqVQT5Igk4RIi5W2kqQz22mRRAgEoFvOgmaHtIS2i4ja3DMjjR5xS8A-JjZisXoCWizES9aA_6UhxLTOHhc3eQ6TpbfiQ4MdLJYAPMaIEagzGjSt3bBmMdhJ1WDlykSTyyxsCvLvUFdE/s320/591770591_750x422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
he isn’t the only one to blame here, even if he’s the one that regurgitated
this crap with his “brain”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Director
Pierre Morel, he who blessed us with 2007’s TAKEN, should have known
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And perhaps there was something
about the script to lure Jennifer Garner in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The opportunity to work out and learn some new fight moves, maybe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">PEPPERMINT,
in case you missed the trailers, concerns wife and mother of one Riley North,
whose family is gunned down in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When a corrupt system fails to provide the proper justice, she decides
to take matters into her own hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
yeah: a female-led DEATH WISH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it
isn’t that a woman version of DEATH WISH is a bad idea—it isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this one just plain sucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would actually be easier to tell you what
the film gets right than to pick it apart, but that would also make for a
rather short review, and I like to hear meself talk way too much to allow that
to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
differences between this and the better aforementioned film (which I highly
recommend, by the way—Eli Roth’s remake, led by Bruce Willis, is a gleefully
bloody ballet of revenge that plays out more realistically than most of the
other entries in this genre) are numerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most glaringly so is the plot: dead family means the survivor gets to
kill every single person associated with the people that caused the tragedy in
the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people will
either be in the mob or working for a drug cartel, and every Hispanic person
depicted in the film will be a gangbanger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the hero has to fix their own wounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest detraction from the other/BETTER
film is that the vigilante is not grounded in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a distinct, singular, and well
executed method to this mother’s vengeance, and it sets her apart by lifting
her up, making her something more than she should be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47td9ardhgck0pHjv4FWyCh6KBx9DAnpOyAZyStzTRwyt4gyBcHvNqqqxgkkkVjJwJsIHI__dd9vcNakmrm6QGhT3XuTm97gzpZsHp21M_Y2l-Rs5beEBSszYraDsF9_jt-px7imVv-A/s1600/peppermint-movie-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="913" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47td9ardhgck0pHjv4FWyCh6KBx9DAnpOyAZyStzTRwyt4gyBcHvNqqqxgkkkVjJwJsIHI__dd9vcNakmrm6QGhT3XuTm97gzpZsHp21M_Y2l-Rs5beEBSszYraDsF9_jt-px7imVv-A/s320/peppermint-movie-review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hints
of mental illness do nothing to propel the storyline or the character; if
anything, glossing over Riley’s mental issues is nearly insulting in that, once
again, you get stereotypical traits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
sees her dead daughter (but not her dead husband) sometimes, and of course you
know she will have a life-saving sighting of her at just the right moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides the occasional flashback, which is
represented by a fluttering of images, and easily dismissed with a shake of Riley’s
head, there isn’t a whole lot to set this vigilante “hero” apart from the
actual criminals she is gunning down by the dozens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are special
features, but seriously, by the time I got to the end I felt like my brain
needed a thorough washing, and my vision was blurry from the poop fumes emitting
from the television screen.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So I didn’t
watch them.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The last thing I want to see
is how this mess got made, how awesome everyone thinks everybody who worked on
the “movie” is, and bloopers.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The entire
freaking thing is just one long blooper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever
excuse anyone involved had for getting suckered into this one, one can hope
that the rest of their careers won’t be judged by this turd alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for St. John, that is—he shouldn’t be
allowed to write anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or if he does,
we should be allowed to watch over him as he does, our Metaphysical Stupid
Sticks clenched firmly in our hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
personally going to call mine “Spearmint”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Film
Grade: F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Special
Features: Who cares?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blu-ray
Necessary: Only if you want to start beating yourself with your own stupid
sti…okay, that sounds kinda dirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just:
NO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">- T.S.
Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-49947739444808363442019-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-24T08:00:05.118-08:00The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: GLASS<br />
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The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">GLASS </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(2019, 129 minutes, R)</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk141cvBvuRdFTqjPmvjs16hpdFkwJQWk7E7IyhQfZM6f7u8FMxC4mohv843EBCl4wqBbTgQcoN1ZgDhusRGmCkHXNNX3EN6B3lI4XhT2Rads-kouD29IRBPtLCj0T2uAb3sPxOyT8n4/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="767" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk141cvBvuRdFTqjPmvjs16hpdFkwJQWk7E7IyhQfZM6f7u8FMxC4mohv843EBCl4wqBbTgQcoN1ZgDhusRGmCkHXNNX3EN6B3lI4XhT2Rads-kouD29IRBPtLCj0T2uAb3sPxOyT8n4/s320/glass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<i>The Quick of It -</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Yeah, so… a trilogy has been completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just maybe not so ‘complete’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We have UNBREAKABLE, SPLIT, and now GLASS coming from the
mind of director M. Night Shyamalan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a visualization of a timeline where superheroes are a part of today’s world…
a plausible spin of what could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This trio
of films has a great buildup to ultimately fail me in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mamma always said to finish what you
started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe finishing just a strong
is also just as important.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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SPOILERS are ahead, to some degree - cannot be helped.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Director M. Night Shyamalan created a buzz with his past outing,
SPLIT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not until the final scene do we
learn that it is a standalone sequel to UNBREAKABLE, thus launching the trilogy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this is totally in line with his
need to add twists to his films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
note, James McAvoy’s performance in the film deserved an Oscar, a Globe, and
whatever piece of twisted metal you want to throw at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As hard as it is to believe, the second film
was just as good, if not better than the first, unlike so many other trilogies
out there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jfVYIinLkyeffaF3KUJQq4XcXib0QOpOm8MiW53rFaB8rkTTPq4fSNEkh3PrneDyyF0liWgylhPrUdW83ODe8nqbJMDTdJuMur_FCwzA2fmV-QKnahmLMMFw4C7wyBMz_1RDeE53NwE/s1600/merlin_148957173_e0220f89-f86a-4a98-a1f9-b234dfeb82ee-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jfVYIinLkyeffaF3KUJQq4XcXib0QOpOm8MiW53rFaB8rkTTPq4fSNEkh3PrneDyyF0liWgylhPrUdW83ODe8nqbJMDTdJuMur_FCwzA2fmV-QKnahmLMMFw4C7wyBMz_1RDeE53NwE/s320/merlin_148957173_e0220f89-f86a-4a98-a1f9-b234dfeb82ee-articleLarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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GLASS is the final piece and filled the fans with hope and
wonder on what is next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will first
say, GLASS is supposed to star James McAvoy (the Horde), Bruce Willis (The
Overseer) and Samuel L Jackson (Mr. Glass), but after thirty minutes, you
realize that Sarah Paulson seems the center of attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And not in a good way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through circumstances, the three gifted
people end up in a mental institution under Dr. Ellie Staple’s (Paulson) care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my main gripe, but the others are not
lesser in impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her screen time diminishes
the other’s roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three core
characters are only given passing glances to build their character progression,
mixed with their supporting cast members to bolster… something that gets lost
in the minimal time to weave the tale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamnJFQ6pSdKRnsTyy7pGN1QYNR8wh_Im7tZkqOFEL0YgvOPHmnaSqbWasEZrmAZtvPQnOKU-Yz2Ir_cty-Il6bD898xSkKMIHkE-I0w4fX-7eBzAGJlfaiiK4aor59HdAN2-thK4iD1s/s1600/998c3e015bbf9342214d9c98e5c17554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1074" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamnJFQ6pSdKRnsTyy7pGN1QYNR8wh_Im7tZkqOFEL0YgvOPHmnaSqbWasEZrmAZtvPQnOKU-Yz2Ir_cty-Il6bD898xSkKMIHkE-I0w4fX-7eBzAGJlfaiiK4aor59HdAN2-thK4iD1s/s320/998c3e015bbf9342214d9c98e5c17554.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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And this is only exacerbated by Shyamalan’s need to tell the
story with piacular camera shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His style
and choices in storytelling has been questionable to most critics and for the
larger audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not found his
work so bad, even enjoyed his weaker films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>THE VILLAGE and LADY IN THE WATER were great in my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, whether to purposely create shots that
give a comic book framing feel, or just his way of leaving his mark, it was
more distracting than helpful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be
done, as proven in FENCES by Denzel Washington, who created a collection of
shots that gave the sense of a live stage performance on celluloid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3JYGbS2xzoSuf5w7HlonjdPBC4kiUjqUNn3GxeOOzn7WGDVZWFqCLG3KZ6vzJLmk8UKtsV9YIdapDWiSB7TGrEo0h0PAfB1QMwmXv5CDCZFiC48sdOTIUTSvIT5fH3jBP0X3UMr769s/s1600/static1hbdhah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3JYGbS2xzoSuf5w7HlonjdPBC4kiUjqUNn3GxeOOzn7WGDVZWFqCLG3KZ6vzJLmk8UKtsV9YIdapDWiSB7TGrEo0h0PAfB1QMwmXv5CDCZFiC48sdOTIUTSvIT5fH3jBP0X3UMr769s/s320/static1hbdhah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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And then we have problems with the writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was so much exposition blocked in trying
to explain in comic book terms on how the story is progressing that you choke
on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mamma Shyamalan was there
spoon-feeding us to be sure we understood what he was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Mr. Glass’s mother was explaining why things
are happening in comic book terms at one point!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the kicker is when Paulson blasts off on
a tirade of why Glass did such-and-such, to explain everything, almost directly
to the camera… you gag on the lack of creative writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were paying attention, which was also
shown on film just minutes before, you know why Glass did what he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the end, I really wanted to love the film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even struggled with how I wanted to write this review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I had to vomit this out, so I didn’t get
any sicker holding in these feeling of contempt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always listen to Mamma Shyamalan, cause he
vomited all over this one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a fan, I
say to you, “Good luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope your
experience is better.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Grade: C-<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-92113220190090739942019-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-23T08:00:10.157-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - VENOM<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Blu-ray
or Bust’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">VENOM (2018, PG-13, 112
minutes, MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT/SONY/COLUMBIA PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifISZhPPCyxxUOSW0a3dopK8Fdtff08BSPc-3jchdFmOHVUPy3SWgI1_wA_sq4D0S9eoabAAKbGHXifmO_oqlk5OtecVajLCOIQ1L4rKIq3GxXWGatrbp9GrortD2VZ7VKTwvlupjkkLc/s1600/venom-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1467" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifISZhPPCyxxUOSW0a3dopK8Fdtff08BSPc-3jchdFmOHVUPy3SWgI1_wA_sq4D0S9eoabAAKbGHXifmO_oqlk5OtecVajLCOIQ1L4rKIq3GxXWGatrbp9GrortD2VZ7VKTwvlupjkkLc/s320/venom-movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just when you thought that you’d had enough of superhero movies, Sony
decides to remind everyone that they still own the rights to several key
characters in the Marvel Universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Interestingly enough, they can also produce a kickass film, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VENOM is the first in a planned series of films
featuring several Spider-man villains, a curious move for a studio hell-bent on
throwing its super-powered hat into the ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bad guys aren’t supposed to win, so how to treat this rogue’s
gallery of evil?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting with an
antihero is a smooth move, and one that works surprisingly well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tom Hardy (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD) stars as Eddie Brock, a down-on-his-luck
investigative journalist who crossed the wrong billionaire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we first see Eddie, he is successful in
life; he’s got the beautiful girl (Michelle Williams), steady employment, and a
positive outlook on life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in an
attempt to ferret the truth out of a company magnate, he loses it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zmMqYxY2lnsGxai94IkQX7SryqdgrTMsAcgRs6rMCQg8UGrpf_8SUITeJeYLqF1BO6iVkMFRd24g7GexMcLUbjfqersprESEaFY1ShQoMeKoKmKoD35rzdRlyePu0-NYz9tlNqpG7Gg/s1600/venom-converses-with-eddie-brock-in-the-venom-movie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1300" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zmMqYxY2lnsGxai94IkQX7SryqdgrTMsAcgRs6rMCQg8UGrpf_8SUITeJeYLqF1BO6iVkMFRd24g7GexMcLUbjfqersprESEaFY1ShQoMeKoKmKoD35rzdRlyePu0-NYz9tlNqpG7Gg/s320/venom-converses-with-eddie-brock-in-the-venom-movie.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And in a last ditch effort to get his life back, he inadvertently gets
infected with an alien lifeform called “Venom”, a dark, evil presence that
would like nothing better than to live on a diet of human heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All sounds a bit glum and borderline
horrific, does it not?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But writers Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg interject enough humor to keep
the film from an R rating—which upset many fans of the character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could you possibly tell the story of a brain
eating villain without blood and guts—er, blood and brains?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently by focusing on the “fish out of
water” storyline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Venom’s first
trip to Earth, so it is a learning experience for him, just as much as it is
for Eddie, who is trying to deal with a symbiote living in his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By keeping the film to a short (by genre standards) hour and forty-odd
minutes—don’t let that runtime fool you, as the credits are nearly fifteen
minutes long as they include a promotional spot for the animated INTO THE
SPIDERVERSE—the story moves at an effectively quick pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an origin story, and the writers and
director all know that you’ve seen enough origin stories to not need a whole
lot of exposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there was
supposedly forty minutes of the film left on the cutting room floor to allow
for that PG-13 rating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so that Sony
could sneak in that promo at the very end of the credits…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The special features are handled well, but don’t expect to see any of those
deleted scenes that would FLESH OUT more of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wouldn’t be included on a PG13 release,
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, we’ll see either an
R-rated cut, or an uncut version of the film at a later date, just as Sony did
for THE WOLVERINE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But this version, on its own, stands up perfectly well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, you might wish to see a bit more (ahem)
CARNAGE, but for a studio’s attempt at marking their place in the Marvel
Universe, they do just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever
they intend to do with these villains, I’m on board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So long as the studio continues to take the
subject matter and the world they have created with VENOM seriously, the future
looks brighter for edgier, harder, superhero films.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Grade: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Special Features: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blu-ray Necessary: Absolutely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-- T.S. Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-71176668517475189302019-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-16T08:00:00.633-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - THE EQUALIZER 2<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE EQUALIZER 2 (2018, R, 121 minutes,
FUQUA FILMS/COLUMBIA PICTURES)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid9Z3cdw2fNGl9hfCFcc4Caw44uVRxvmyj-B2m84e8pblrHPqBqCqH4L-7DXoGzr9ZotAJCgUJAQFs5PrPB-79RX0cJtXhbnl_EwT2yeclq0a4RFYuFQq4YxxiygwapCPwJC5MRQfF8A/s1600/7bfeed1af687e9f5951b6359c3b52266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid9Z3cdw2fNGl9hfCFcc4Caw44uVRxvmyj-B2m84e8pblrHPqBqCqH4L-7DXoGzr9ZotAJCgUJAQFs5PrPB-79RX0cJtXhbnl_EwT2yeclq0a4RFYuFQq4YxxiygwapCPwJC5MRQfF8A/s320/7bfeed1af687e9f5951b6359c3b52266.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
love me some Denzel Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The sixty-four-year-old
Oscar winner does not shy away from many roles; we’ve seen him as a proud
infantryman in GLORY, a defiant leader in MALCOLM X, and a paralyzed
ex-detective in THE BONE COLLECTOR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
face is iconic, and many of his roles are, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, his second turn as ex-military man turned anonymous
vigilante Robert McCall isn’t one of those characters that resonates quite as
much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
isn’t to say his performance is bad—they never are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But director Anton Fuqua takes this sequel
into territory the first film never ventured into: TV land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few subplots in this one that
feel ripped straight from an episodic drama on the little screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is enough of it to muddle the goings on
with the main plot, which involves a rogue military unit looking to cover up
some illegal shenanigans (please, stop me if you haven’t heard THAT particular
plot before…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so that at times,
I was hoping for a commercial break involving the Lifecall Button or a preview
for the next episode of “Murder, She Wrote”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdGf8whN-gjXfiDyd_3vT4b8WjK048QnoFe2VTltk0R_SR7wk0jitkhYr7AAlewLwu96PGupee-q5SC3ozbTCLSyiZ56rWkNr5sPXhLxDCTx38-x-aGagcB9kIkJgLDnZ4nBfwvY52bY/s1600/Denzel-Washington-Equalizer-2-711x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="711" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdGf8whN-gjXfiDyd_3vT4b8WjK048QnoFe2VTltk0R_SR7wk0jitkhYr7AAlewLwu96PGupee-q5SC3ozbTCLSyiZ56rWkNr5sPXhLxDCTx38-x-aGagcB9kIkJgLDnZ4nBfwvY52bY/s320/Denzel-Washington-Equalizer-2-711x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
wouldn’t be a horrible device if it was something that had been explored the
first time around—or, at least, not so heavily here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is much to this film that feels too
familiar, too rehashed, for any of it to feel fresh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire thing could have all been set in
the seventies, and the difference in time periods would not have made a single
difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMdLVhhceQkhsI81Z2S_xDOdze1bhIY4CMXaEH4MG5bXNLj948MjyeEUvpy_Qep34tBW1Z2ku7nNcCZ1AePTr4MVWhkVAwlQWcmLv7Agm5oQ4EUmXlYVJOUsIaoa6_FebitF_HxHeTIA/s1600/equalizer_2_denzel-washington_ashton_sanders_credit_glen_wil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="745" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMdLVhhceQkhsI81Z2S_xDOdze1bhIY4CMXaEH4MG5bXNLj948MjyeEUvpy_Qep34tBW1Z2ku7nNcCZ1AePTr4MVWhkVAwlQWcmLv7Agm5oQ4EUmXlYVJOUsIaoa6_FebitF_HxHeTIA/s320/equalizer_2_denzel-washington_ashton_sanders_credit_glen_wil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">However…
Mr. Fuqua and company pull this all off so confidently that none of it comes
across as mistakes, rather as an homage to the original television show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They create that sense of familiarity and
never let up on; partly to make you feel comfortable with Mr. McCall’s choices
and his peculiarities, and also to that fans of the decades-old television show
would not feel that their character had gone to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Washington does a fine job as always,
bringing a rough compassion to a man that has little time for niceties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His McCall is a broken man being held
together by old, fraying tape, one that sees mostly badness in the world even
while he tries to make it a better place to live and grow up in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cinematographer
Oliver Wood (STEP BROTHERS, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY) brings the city streets to
life as a gritty backdrop to the onscreen action, and it complements the
character well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even handles the
action during a hurricane finale with a careful eye, and it brings tension to
the action that might have been missing in less confident hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The score by Harry Gregson-Williams (SHREK,
THE MARTIAN) also lends to the feel of the film, grounding it when necessary,
tugging on the heart strings at other times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5EqMFWJIA8T9oswwbqwJhK8FqjHep0Xc0VTPLFMVnmSvabHvI__RbQXrSs-65fEQ9-PDfq91HpNaeYEso0YkKhTmPglh3ZEuoVh0XWpBuAYV39nDax3qvC3kSDMVT0muhSjH0ElbhNY/s1600/61934619.cms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1000" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5EqMFWJIA8T9oswwbqwJhK8FqjHep0Xc0VTPLFMVnmSvabHvI__RbQXrSs-65fEQ9-PDfq91HpNaeYEso0YkKhTmPglh3ZEuoVh0XWpBuAYV39nDax3qvC3kSDMVT0muhSjH0ElbhNY/s320/61934619.cms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Blu-ray release is chockful of special features—almost an hour’s worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best ones are the breakdowns of some of
the action sequences, and the interview with Mr. Washington as he shares his
love of the character he is portraying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRlx0l3vvYsbFFa2vkLdetZVSr7CivtnGBwd0HU2icKsXMJQDh-NAUHGIulbib_W-7xFVl9oJ1TpTBEw9vwWK6yKIPy9FxXnidv41q-PoHw8OTsHw0rTlyt1YhOpjtlnAYrOe-oAHWAE/s1600/Suunto-Sports-Watch-Worn-by-Denzel-Washington-in-The-Equalizer-2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRlx0l3vvYsbFFa2vkLdetZVSr7CivtnGBwd0HU2icKsXMJQDh-NAUHGIulbib_W-7xFVl9oJ1TpTBEw9vwWK6yKIPy9FxXnidv41q-PoHw8OTsHw0rTlyt1YhOpjtlnAYrOe-oAHWAE/s320/Suunto-Sports-Watch-Worn-by-Denzel-Washington-in-The-Equalizer-2-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
could be the last entry in this particular series, however; Mr. Fuqua recently
wrapped production on two documentaries, and is producing a biography called
THE MAN WHO MADE IT SNOW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Mr.
Washington?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can do whatever he wants;
talent of his caliber never really sleeps, and he can afford to be picky about
his projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just hope the next
director he works with is pickier with the script.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Film
Grade: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Special
Features: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blu-ray
Necessary: Recommended<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">-- T.S.
Kummelman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643777241704277101.post-69397582387358381892019-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-09T08:00:04.347-08:00‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - THE PREDATOR<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk534735044"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Blu-ray or Bust’<o:p></o:p></span></i></a></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk534735044;"></span>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE PREDATOR (2018, R, 107 minutes, DARK
CASTLE ENTERTAINMENT/20<sup>TH</sup> CENTURY FOX)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-92-qEmotb4CnhVslEzTOSH-19F2PqKm_G0VLvqr9PSdgjEJ2dJK9FRfSJDH0yIjCFfvn5ZxI_LtERNdSfZFsYc11ZSNKK8QMe9yzpLEimGnyxmw08wH8e_7fY7SX5A46GMyZbP1qaPs/s1600/MV5BMjM5MDk2NDIxMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjU5NDk3NTM%2540._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-92-qEmotb4CnhVslEzTOSH-19F2PqKm_G0VLvqr9PSdgjEJ2dJK9FRfSJDH0yIjCFfvn5ZxI_LtERNdSfZFsYc11ZSNKK8QMe9yzpLEimGnyxmw08wH8e_7fY7SX5A46GMyZbP1qaPs/s320/MV5BMjM5MDk2NDIxMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjU5NDk3NTM%2540._V1_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
always been a fan of Shane Black’s film career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the man that wrote LETHAN WEAPON, KISS KISS BANG BANG, IRON MAN
3, and THE freaking MONSTER SQUAD, for crying out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
who better to jump start a series that went woefully off course when Fox
decided to put Predators and Aliens in the same movies?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who better to write (er, yeah—I meant
“right”) the wrongs of some poorly executed sequels than the man that revived
Iron Man and presented director Renny Harlin with one of his only chances at
making a good movie (THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FiXnBKQQclflD7OHJrJQrRvUp6gL7dXFNfgaHafAFzXW7NYef9U9AexYGDwRGxMHNjEros6EblSC6N1gokmkvNBOoOa5yPmDPzL_NA0FI9VwwnjFrAu1YmD-PkFOo9GSL9JkJhe1m14/s1600/MV5BMjIyYzc3OTctNWY5ZS00NDBlLWE3ZTItZWI0NWRjNDkxYTkwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_SX1777_CR0%252C0%252C1777%252C730_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1600" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FiXnBKQQclflD7OHJrJQrRvUp6gL7dXFNfgaHafAFzXW7NYef9U9AexYGDwRGxMHNjEros6EblSC6N1gokmkvNBOoOa5yPmDPzL_NA0FI9VwwnjFrAu1YmD-PkFOo9GSL9JkJhe1m14/s320/MV5BMjIyYzc3OTctNWY5ZS00NDBlLWE3ZTItZWI0NWRjNDkxYTkwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_SX1777_CR0%252C0%252C1777%252C730_AL_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
Shane Black attempts to do here is renew interest in a movie villain that had,
in the last decade, become cannon fodder for a studio that didn’t know what to
do with the character anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s
face it: the last good PREDATOR film had Danny Glover and the late Bill Paxton
in the cast, and that was waaayy back in 1990.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
he nearly pulls it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With co-writer
Fred Dekker, whom he last collaborated with on 1987’s MONSTER SQUAD, he has
crafted quite possibly the funniest movie of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are more intentionally funny moments in this film than there were
in the last three Kevin Hart films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
script is fresh, the characters more than well-developed by each individual
actor, and the action sequences are highly executed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time around, a rogue Predator comes to
earth in an effort to actually help mankind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only problem, he’s a rogue—none of the other Predators like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they send a bully after him, and that is
where a ragtag bunch of military vets, all bound for a “psychiatric facility”,
come in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe6v66mzC0clcA41tYKboK2qU39IXLKAt03_DhJVjGwR6PhpnMEBJq9XvlGfs8SQCd_0-1nL1DeBzUoAHjINDTjxP1rnHXXd-M0SsRnVi5apx15tLCJy3glSK5bitav5FXMWxNeYfh5Y/s1600/static1.squarespace.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe6v66mzC0clcA41tYKboK2qU39IXLKAt03_DhJVjGwR6PhpnMEBJq9XvlGfs8SQCd_0-1nL1DeBzUoAHjINDTjxP1rnHXXd-M0SsRnVi5apx15tLCJy3glSK5bitav5FXMWxNeYfh5Y/s320/static1.squarespace.com.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
cast of characters that Misters Black and Dekker create are quite unique to the
series; each is crazy in their own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These men are no longer active duty for good reasons, and each is more
than qualified to fend for themselves so long as they have artillery in their
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there is a message
about teamwork here somewhere, but Mr. Black handles any moral issues so
flippantly that you cannot help but laugh right along with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get the feeling the entire time that he
and the entire crew are including you in on the joke, and most of them are
original and damn funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
then you get to the last half hour—thirty minutes of script in which no one
really could figure out how to end this movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are several retreaded ideas in the final stretch of the film that
may leave you scratching your head, or at least trying to count the number of
movies you’ve seen this all done in before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That, unfortunately, brings down a film that was strong and
promising—promising, hell, it was damn well delivering!—for the first
two-thirds, and then got mired in its own insensibilities by the final
act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the biggest disappointment
here, really: that neither of the two writers could figure an original way out
of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get a bunch of fine
actors—including Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, and Thomas Jane—delivering
excellent performances, and then…just…meh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWVs9_ltY-0taBrmG-rlMHK8uVWWRaLR6p0S3LJ_2jpOF8Kbb7qzOZhVJcP07jGTu7kKqbRVlazqFeI5DLKh8ly2KKDwmkszAtZNEWX7W3AWilY5eSxHPXqrBUOUhkoK7mwBRutQaEr4/s1600/the_predator__2018__movie_stills_123461.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWVs9_ltY-0taBrmG-rlMHK8uVWWRaLR6p0S3LJ_2jpOF8Kbb7qzOZhVJcP07jGTu7kKqbRVlazqFeI5DLKh8ly2KKDwmkszAtZNEWX7W3AWilY5eSxHPXqrBUOUhkoK7mwBRutQaEr4/s320/the_predator__2018__movie_stills_123461.0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
special features include several docs about the cast and, most notably, Mr.
Black’s involvement with the franchise (he acted in the first film).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also deleted scenes, but one of the
most entertaining is the inclusion of The Predator Holiday Special, which takes
stop motion animation to an entirely new level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE
PREDATOR did not bank quite enough at the box office to warrant a sequel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with Disney close to finalizing their
deal to purchase Fox, I doubt this entry would be considered a franchise
killer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while it may be the best
Predator film since PREDATOR 2, and although it doesn’t hit on quite the same
level as the first two, it is at least a helluva lot better than any of the AVP
entries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those ones made you laugh
without meaning to, which sets this one apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Film
Grade: B-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Special
Features: B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blu-ray
Necessary: Of Course—explosions and gunshots and Predators, oh my…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk534735004"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">--
T.S. Kummelman</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tacitus Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02956673786467097792noreply@blogger.com0