In He Never Died, we follow Jack (Henry Rollins), an immortal cursed to spend the rest of eternity on Earth. In an effort to resist his worst temptations, he's created a regimen (which includes playing Bingo at a senior center) which has served him well for a long time. When Jack learns he has a daughter (Andrea, played by Jordan Todosey), he may have to revert to old ways if he is to keep her safe from a ruthless loan shark named Alex (Steven Ogg).
He Never Died is a pretty damned cool film. We spend most every scene with Henry Rollins' Jack, and Rollins does a great job in the role. Jack looks and acts human, but isn't. He's a centuries old (if not older) immortal who feasts on human flesh and drinks their blood. His hunger/thirst is treated like alcoholism, and Jack has been on the wagon for a long time (But may not remain so for long). He hates Earth, and being stuck on it. Rollins plays Jack like a barely contained beast or monster. He snorts, growls, and twitches as he fights to control his bloody urges. He's not really a good guy, and is actually quite scary at points. Jack makes for a great, memorable and fascinating protagonist.
Jordan Todosey plays Andrea, Jack's 19 year old daughter who inserts herself into his life because she wants to meet him and get to know him. She is adorable, interesting, sympathetic, and very likable. Andrea is easily one of my favorite characters in the film, though she isn't in it a lot (A shame). There's also an interesting question to be raised about if she has any abilities or gifts, considering she was conceived by an immortal. Unfortunately, the film never addresses this question.
He Never Died feels like a Noir at times, but is really more of a horror film/character study. The first act is just following Jack around his every day life, but the 2nd act is where things pick up. We get a good deal of violence and blood, and things get darker. I was happy that the film chose to go this route, as it helped to accentuate it's more horrific elements.
He Never Died has a lot going for it: A cool and inspired story, two great performances, some action and violence to go with it's brooding introspectiveness. Unfortunately, the ending doesn't really resolve much and there's a reveal involving a character that raised some questions the film (once again) doesn't address or resolve. There's also constant, annoying audio of sword fighting, people screaming, and fire during certain quiet moments with Jack (To emphasize that he is haunted by the the events of his long life). All this isn't enough to ruin the film, but it does bring the whole thing down a little bit.
In the end, He Never Died was actually pretty great. It was dark, violent, smart, clever, and even fun. It managed to successfully mix two very different kinds of film together (Character study and horror film). Scary, dark, but also fascinating and cool, He Never Died is definitely worth a watch. It also fits nicely into the Halloween season.
3.5 STARS
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
FRIGHT FEST: I AM THE PRETTY THING THAT LIVES IN THE HOUSE
In I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House ( or Pretty Thing for short), stay-at-home nurse Lily (Ruth Wilson) takes on the job of caring for aging and senile mystery/horror author Iris Blum (Paula Prentis). In her dementia, Iris thinks that Lily is actually Polly (Lucy Boynton), a ghostly character from one of her novels. During her stay, Lily begins to suspect that Polly may actually have been based on a real person and maybe Iris' house is actually haunted.
I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House is a throwback to old-fashioned, classic, atmospheric ghost stories. That said, it's told from quite a different perspective: That of the ghost. I'm not going to say much else for fear of ruining anything, except to say that I loved this new, creative twist. It actually makes the whole affair somewhat unsettling to watch. This is Osgood Perkin's second directorial/writing effort (His first being the impressive and frightening Blackcoat's Daughter, which wasn't really for me), and I'd say he does a pretty great job at both. It's not really frightening, but it does succeed at putting you on edge and getting you creeped out throughout.
Pretty Thing is well-acted by it's main lead, Ruth Wilson. She manages to make her Lily a likable, attractive character (and yes, she is mighty pretty too). Paula Prentis and Lucy Boynton aren't given much to do. Prentis gets a great, creepy monologue and Lucy Boynton is relegated to wandering around and is turned into the film's weakest effect. Luckily, the atmosphere is pretty strong and the film itself is superbly written. Pretty Thing is a film that focuses a good deal on novels and books, so it's only appropriate that it is written like a novel itself. Expect long, sprawling, detail-filled bits of narration. I suppose some may find this annoying, I absolutely loved it.
As I said before, Pretty Thing isn't really all that scary of a film. The ending is also not the strongest, though it fits for what the film is going for. Luckily it makes up for its few flaws with a rich atmosphere, a strong script, a great leading lady. All things considered, Pretty Thing is a fairly effective film. If you love spooky, slow ghost stories then I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House is a new one that is sure to satisfy around the haunting season.
3.5 STARS
I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House is a throwback to old-fashioned, classic, atmospheric ghost stories. That said, it's told from quite a different perspective: That of the ghost. I'm not going to say much else for fear of ruining anything, except to say that I loved this new, creative twist. It actually makes the whole affair somewhat unsettling to watch. This is Osgood Perkin's second directorial/writing effort (His first being the impressive and frightening Blackcoat's Daughter, which wasn't really for me), and I'd say he does a pretty great job at both. It's not really frightening, but it does succeed at putting you on edge and getting you creeped out throughout.
Pretty Thing is well-acted by it's main lead, Ruth Wilson. She manages to make her Lily a likable, attractive character (and yes, she is mighty pretty too). Paula Prentis and Lucy Boynton aren't given much to do. Prentis gets a great, creepy monologue and Lucy Boynton is relegated to wandering around and is turned into the film's weakest effect. Luckily, the atmosphere is pretty strong and the film itself is superbly written. Pretty Thing is a film that focuses a good deal on novels and books, so it's only appropriate that it is written like a novel itself. Expect long, sprawling, detail-filled bits of narration. I suppose some may find this annoying, I absolutely loved it.
As I said before, Pretty Thing isn't really all that scary of a film. The ending is also not the strongest, though it fits for what the film is going for. Luckily it makes up for its few flaws with a rich atmosphere, a strong script, a great leading lady. All things considered, Pretty Thing is a fairly effective film. If you love spooky, slow ghost stories then I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House is a new one that is sure to satisfy around the haunting season.
3.5 STARS
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
FRIGHT FEST: IT COMES AT NIGHT
In It Comes At Night, we follow Paul (Joel Edgerton), Sarah (Carmen Ejogo), and their son Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). They live in a pretty nice house/cabin in the woods in a post-apocalyptic world. A deadly contagion has been spreading, and Paul has come up with several safeguards to keep his family safe from outside threats and infection. When a stranger (Will, played by Christopher Abbot), breaks into their house looking for food and water, Paul and his family decide to help Will and his (consisting of Kim played by Riley Keough and son Andrew played by Griffin Robert Faulkner). Now, holed up in the same cabin/house, a shaky trust/friendship is established between the two families which is about to be tested by an unlocked door at night. In the end, fear makes monsters of us all.
Paul ( is the patriarch of the main family in the film. His safeguards include keeping the two doors that lead to the outside locked at night, staying inside at night, if traveling outside doing so in groups of two, only trusting family, etc. He is a gruff but good man who (as stated above) has some issues with trust, and only cares about doing whatever he can to keep his family protected. Will is the patriarch of the second family, and he is a good deal more trusting and open than Paul. Like Paul, his main goal is keeping his family safe. Travis is the seventeen year old son of Paul and Sarah. He is one of the more rationale and clear-headed ones in the film, as he does feel fear throughout but doesn't necessarily let it affect his judgement. Riley Keough as Kim wasn't given much to do, but she sure was likable and pretty. Carmen Ejogo's Sarah ends up short-shifted as well. I found I really liked all the characters in the film, and I was dreading how it all would end for them.
It Comes At Night was marketed as a horror film. SPOILERS It's not, though there are some horror aspects to it (Mostly via some intense nightmares had by Travis). If anything, it's more of a mix of mystery/suspense/drama. It's never scary. Whatever the 'It' of the title is is also never specified. The film has a pretty top notch cast, and everyone does a great job acting-wise (with Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbot, and Kelvin Harris Jr. getting the most meat to chew on with their roles). The first hour of the film is just getting to know our main characters and their respective families, and watching as that shaky bond between the two form. The final thirty minutes consists of building suspense, tension and fear until the explosive and shocking climax.
I really liked how the audience is only given tiny bits of information about the surrounding circumstances of the apocalypse. We don't know what the contagion is, what it's effects are, or how it's spread. There are many vaugeries in It Comes At Night, and the film leaves to us to fill in the blanks on our own. It's always nice to see a film that trusts it's audience.
It Comes At Night was directed by Trey Edward Shults (who also wrote the screenplay and co-edited the film. I'll say the screenplay doesn't really stand out.), and the film acts as a nice calling card for the director. The cinematography (by Drew Daniels) is beautiful and the score (by Brian McOmber) is effective. Shults has a definite grasp on what he wants to achieve and convey in his film, and I'd say he does a pretty good job. Count me interested in whatever he chooses to do next.
It Comes At Night is ultimately a tale about family, trust, and the destructive power of fear. The first hour is admittedly pretty slow, but I was completely riveted during the final thirty minutes. It definitely has a horrific payoff, so you won't be wasting your time giving it a view. I found it to be an interesting, effective, well-made and surprisingly memorable film.
4 STARS
Paul ( is the patriarch of the main family in the film. His safeguards include keeping the two doors that lead to the outside locked at night, staying inside at night, if traveling outside doing so in groups of two, only trusting family, etc. He is a gruff but good man who (as stated above) has some issues with trust, and only cares about doing whatever he can to keep his family protected. Will is the patriarch of the second family, and he is a good deal more trusting and open than Paul. Like Paul, his main goal is keeping his family safe. Travis is the seventeen year old son of Paul and Sarah. He is one of the more rationale and clear-headed ones in the film, as he does feel fear throughout but doesn't necessarily let it affect his judgement. Riley Keough as Kim wasn't given much to do, but she sure was likable and pretty. Carmen Ejogo's Sarah ends up short-shifted as well. I found I really liked all the characters in the film, and I was dreading how it all would end for them.
It Comes At Night was marketed as a horror film. SPOILERS It's not, though there are some horror aspects to it (Mostly via some intense nightmares had by Travis). If anything, it's more of a mix of mystery/suspense/drama. It's never scary. Whatever the 'It' of the title is is also never specified. The film has a pretty top notch cast, and everyone does a great job acting-wise (with Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbot, and Kelvin Harris Jr. getting the most meat to chew on with their roles). The first hour of the film is just getting to know our main characters and their respective families, and watching as that shaky bond between the two form. The final thirty minutes consists of building suspense, tension and fear until the explosive and shocking climax.
I really liked how the audience is only given tiny bits of information about the surrounding circumstances of the apocalypse. We don't know what the contagion is, what it's effects are, or how it's spread. There are many vaugeries in It Comes At Night, and the film leaves to us to fill in the blanks on our own. It's always nice to see a film that trusts it's audience.
It Comes At Night was directed by Trey Edward Shults (who also wrote the screenplay and co-edited the film. I'll say the screenplay doesn't really stand out.), and the film acts as a nice calling card for the director. The cinematography (by Drew Daniels) is beautiful and the score (by Brian McOmber) is effective. Shults has a definite grasp on what he wants to achieve and convey in his film, and I'd say he does a pretty good job. Count me interested in whatever he chooses to do next.
It Comes At Night is ultimately a tale about family, trust, and the destructive power of fear. The first hour is admittedly pretty slow, but I was completely riveted during the final thirty minutes. It definitely has a horrific payoff, so you won't be wasting your time giving it a view. I found it to be an interesting, effective, well-made and surprisingly memorable film.
4 STARS
Thursday, September 7, 2017
SMALLS FRIGHT FEST FLOATS WITH PENNYWISE: IT REVIEWED
It's not October yet, but sometimes the darkness frees itself early. That's right kiddies, it's that time of year again! Grow out your cobwebs, dig up a freshly buried corpse, terrorize y'alls neighborhoods, It's time for Fright Fest!
I figured there is no better way to start my Fright Fest this year than with a brand spankin' new Stephen King film, based upon one of his most beloved novels (That also just happens to be one of his best novels, and one of his thickest too at over 1,000 pages). That's right, Fright Fest commences with a visit from 'It'. I have been looking forward to this film for quite some time, I even read the source material and watched the tv mini-series from the 90's to prepare (Some may see this newest iteration of the story as a re-make, but the fact remains that this is the very first time the 'It' story has been made for the big screen). Could 'It' hold up to or surpass my expectations?
In 'It', an ancient evil that prefers to take the form of a clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard) is killing children in Derry, Maine. When Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) loses his younger brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) to Pennywise, he gathers his group of friends together to hunt down and put an end to Pennywise's terror once and for all.
The group of friends in 'It' collectively refer to themselves as The Losers Club. The members are Bill Denbrough, Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis), Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Grazer), Mike Hanlon (Chosen Jacobs), and Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff). The young actors chosen for the leads are all great (With the standouts being Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, and Jaeden Lieberher). These are a group of kids that have met when each is just starting to go thru puberty (a big theme of the novel is the transition from child to adult, this is focused on a small bit here), and they find the strength they need in each other and eventually, themselves. They share a great deal of chemistry and work very well together. There are some moments of "child" acting, but each actor performs their roles pretty perfectly for the most part (Each of their characters and the way the actors perform them are very similar to the way their characters are in the novel). I was also relieved to see that Bill still had his stutter. It wasn't present in any of the ads, but it's an important part of Bill's character (to the point where one of his nicknames is Stuttering Bill). 'It' is most definitely a horror film, but it also has a coming-of-age tale woven into it's fabric.
Another character worth mention in 'It' is Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton), the bully who consistently taunts and threatens The Losers Club. Nicholas Hamilton nails his role pretty well, but we don't spend a lot of time with Bowers and his big finale is disappointing (Though somewhat accurate to the novel). Many have seen and fallen in love with the 3 hour tv miniseries version of 'It'. Unfortunately, while Tim Curry is endlessly delightful as Pennywise, the miniseries wasn't very faithful to its source material (For one, Richie isn't a coward in the novel). It got the bare-bones right, but not much else. Tim Curry's performance as Pennywise is definitely iconic....but I'd argue that Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise is much closer to the Pennywise found in the novel. There are still fun moments involving Pennywise here, but he is more feral, animalistic, and beastly than anything else. 'It' perfectly captures the powers and personality of Pennywise. Skarsgard is clearly relishing his role and manages to be very entertaining but still terrifying, freaky and creepy. I'd easily place his performance right next to Curry's.
I also have to commend the film for is it's set design, specifically that of the sewers and the house on Neibolt Street. The sewers are a dark, creepy place that twists and turns (and it's where our grand finale takes place). The House on Neibolt Street is old, decrepit, dark, creepy and has a serious haunted mansion type vibe. The house on Neibolt didn't have much of a presence in the miniseries, but luckily 'It" rights this wrong (as it does many others) and Neibolt is featured prominently in the film. The cinematography by Chung-hoon Chung is superb as well.
I've seen many Stephen King films, and not all of them stuck particularly close to his novels. I was relieved to find how close 'It' stuck to the source material. I'd say 'It' is about 80% - 90% faithful to the source material, and is definitely one of the closest I've seen a film come to staying true to King's novels (There are moments where it felt like I was reading the book again). Some things are changed (Some are changed to be more generic or conventional. There were a few changes I found to be genuinely frustrating.) and others are left out, but it's never anything big or drastic. Some of the Pennywise scenes have been altered or changed from the novel (I'd say his scenes always wind up being effective, though), some iconic scenes from the novel are intensified, there are many references to things that are in the novel but don't really appear here, etc. I'd say that, besides 'Maximum Overdrive' (which Stephen King directed), 'It' may be the closest a theatrical film has gotten to being a true Stephen King movie.
'It' is by no means a perfect film. I loved the hell out of 'It', but 'It' does slip up in a few places. 'It' can be a bit generic or conventional at times, some parts feel a bit rushed or condensed, and some of the scares can border on being silly. That said, Andres Muschietti (director), Gary Dauberman (co-scriptwriter), Cary Fukunaga (co-scriptwriter) and Chase Palmer (co-scriptwriter) are clearly crazy about Stephen King and worked their butts off to ensure 'It' would do his horror epic justice. 'It' is scary, 'It' is creepy, 'It' is mad entertaining, 'I't will stay with you, and if you are at all a fan of horror or Stephen King, then 'It' is a must-see. I foresee 'It' becoming very well regarded and beloved. This could be one we end up talking about for years to come, in other words: A modern horror classic. BRING ON CHAPTER 2!
4.5 STARS
I figured there is no better way to start my Fright Fest this year than with a brand spankin' new Stephen King film, based upon one of his most beloved novels (That also just happens to be one of his best novels, and one of his thickest too at over 1,000 pages). That's right, Fright Fest commences with a visit from 'It'. I have been looking forward to this film for quite some time, I even read the source material and watched the tv mini-series from the 90's to prepare (Some may see this newest iteration of the story as a re-make, but the fact remains that this is the very first time the 'It' story has been made for the big screen). Could 'It' hold up to or surpass my expectations?
In 'It', an ancient evil that prefers to take the form of a clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard) is killing children in Derry, Maine. When Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) loses his younger brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) to Pennywise, he gathers his group of friends together to hunt down and put an end to Pennywise's terror once and for all.
The group of friends in 'It' collectively refer to themselves as The Losers Club. The members are Bill Denbrough, Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis), Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Grazer), Mike Hanlon (Chosen Jacobs), and Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff). The young actors chosen for the leads are all great (With the standouts being Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, and Jaeden Lieberher). These are a group of kids that have met when each is just starting to go thru puberty (a big theme of the novel is the transition from child to adult, this is focused on a small bit here), and they find the strength they need in each other and eventually, themselves. They share a great deal of chemistry and work very well together. There are some moments of "child" acting, but each actor performs their roles pretty perfectly for the most part (Each of their characters and the way the actors perform them are very similar to the way their characters are in the novel). I was also relieved to see that Bill still had his stutter. It wasn't present in any of the ads, but it's an important part of Bill's character (to the point where one of his nicknames is Stuttering Bill). 'It' is most definitely a horror film, but it also has a coming-of-age tale woven into it's fabric.
Another character worth mention in 'It' is Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton), the bully who consistently taunts and threatens The Losers Club. Nicholas Hamilton nails his role pretty well, but we don't spend a lot of time with Bowers and his big finale is disappointing (Though somewhat accurate to the novel). Many have seen and fallen in love with the 3 hour tv miniseries version of 'It'. Unfortunately, while Tim Curry is endlessly delightful as Pennywise, the miniseries wasn't very faithful to its source material (For one, Richie isn't a coward in the novel). It got the bare-bones right, but not much else. Tim Curry's performance as Pennywise is definitely iconic....but I'd argue that Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise is much closer to the Pennywise found in the novel. There are still fun moments involving Pennywise here, but he is more feral, animalistic, and beastly than anything else. 'It' perfectly captures the powers and personality of Pennywise. Skarsgard is clearly relishing his role and manages to be very entertaining but still terrifying, freaky and creepy. I'd easily place his performance right next to Curry's.
I also have to commend the film for is it's set design, specifically that of the sewers and the house on Neibolt Street. The sewers are a dark, creepy place that twists and turns (and it's where our grand finale takes place). The House on Neibolt Street is old, decrepit, dark, creepy and has a serious haunted mansion type vibe. The house on Neibolt didn't have much of a presence in the miniseries, but luckily 'It" rights this wrong (as it does many others) and Neibolt is featured prominently in the film. The cinematography by Chung-hoon Chung is superb as well.
I've seen many Stephen King films, and not all of them stuck particularly close to his novels. I was relieved to find how close 'It' stuck to the source material. I'd say 'It' is about 80% - 90% faithful to the source material, and is definitely one of the closest I've seen a film come to staying true to King's novels (There are moments where it felt like I was reading the book again). Some things are changed (Some are changed to be more generic or conventional. There were a few changes I found to be genuinely frustrating.) and others are left out, but it's never anything big or drastic. Some of the Pennywise scenes have been altered or changed from the novel (I'd say his scenes always wind up being effective, though), some iconic scenes from the novel are intensified, there are many references to things that are in the novel but don't really appear here, etc. I'd say that, besides 'Maximum Overdrive' (which Stephen King directed), 'It' may be the closest a theatrical film has gotten to being a true Stephen King movie.
'It' is by no means a perfect film. I loved the hell out of 'It', but 'It' does slip up in a few places. 'It' can be a bit generic or conventional at times, some parts feel a bit rushed or condensed, and some of the scares can border on being silly. That said, Andres Muschietti (director), Gary Dauberman (co-scriptwriter), Cary Fukunaga (co-scriptwriter) and Chase Palmer (co-scriptwriter) are clearly crazy about Stephen King and worked their butts off to ensure 'It' would do his horror epic justice. 'It' is scary, 'It' is creepy, 'It' is mad entertaining, 'I't will stay with you, and if you are at all a fan of horror or Stephen King, then 'It' is a must-see. I foresee 'It' becoming very well regarded and beloved. This could be one we end up talking about for years to come, in other words: A modern horror classic. BRING ON CHAPTER 2!
4.5 STARS
Sunday, August 13, 2017
IN MEMORIUM- THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE
It is no secret that I have been an unashamed lover of film since I was just a kid. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that The Great Movie Ride has always been one of my favorite attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios. In the ride, you get to take a magical journey INTO some of the greatest films in history. The facade was the historic Mann's Chinese Theater, which you got to walk into and briefly explore the lobby before boarding a tram (complete with your own guide) to travel INTO the movies. My favorite scenes were the loading scene (complete with recorded cries of "Places everybody, this is a take! Quiet on the set! Lights! Camera! Aaaandd...Action!" followed by a memorable version of 'Horray For Hollywood'), Mary Poppins, Gangster Alley, and Alien. Today (Aug. 13, 2017) is the final day of operation for the classic attraction, and I sincerely regret not getting a chance to say a final farewell. It is set to be replaced by a hi-tech new Mickey Mouse ride (the first ride to ever be based off Mickey and crew at any of the Disney Parks). While it does feel right to finally get a ride centered around the mouse that started it all, it still hurts a ton to be losing such an unforgettable (if not dated) attraction. Like Universal Studios Orlando's Jaws before it, this will leave an ache that will fade, but never quite go away. R.I.P Great Movie Ride, and thanks for the edu-tainment, thrills, and fun. You really were a great ride ( and so much more).
Thursday, July 27, 2017
JUNE FORAY IS DEAD AT 99
Today is a sad day for fans of animation and talented voice actors: The prolific, legendary and iconic June Foray has passed away at the respectable, impressive age of 99. She was just weeks away from the big 100. You may not know her name, but I guarantee you're familiar with her voice. She gave life to the characters of Rocket J. Squirrel (from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show), Nell Fenwick (from the Dudley Do-Right cartoons), Granny (From Sylvester and Tweety/Looney Tunes), Lena Hyena (The crazed toon that chases Eddie Valient through Toontown in Who Framed Roger Rabbit), Witch Hazel (from Looney Tunes), Cindy Lou Who (from the original How The Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon), Lucifer (the cat from Cinderella), Natasha Fatale (from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show), Talky Tina (from The Twilight Zone), Wheezy (The main weasel in Who Framed Roger Rabbit), and many more. When I heard the news, I felt like a part of my heart had died.
I remember when I was a kid, I often found myself up in the early morning hours for whatever odd reason. During these times, I would turn on Cartoon Network and idly watch re-runs of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show to pass the time and keep myself occupied. Thus, in a weird way, I kind of grew up with that show (Naturally I also watched Looney Tunes quite a bit when I was younger as well). It's interesting that she voiced so many memorable, beloved characters but it's Rocket J. Squirrel that she is most fondly remembered for (Speaks volumes about the Rocky character and his wide-ranging, age-less appeal). June left a mark on the young and young-at heart, and was a huge part of many people's childhoods. I know I'll certainly miss her, as will millions the world over. RIP June, you brought joy and happiness to the world.
I remember when I was a kid, I often found myself up in the early morning hours for whatever odd reason. During these times, I would turn on Cartoon Network and idly watch re-runs of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show to pass the time and keep myself occupied. Thus, in a weird way, I kind of grew up with that show (Naturally I also watched Looney Tunes quite a bit when I was younger as well). It's interesting that she voiced so many memorable, beloved characters but it's Rocket J. Squirrel that she is most fondly remembered for (Speaks volumes about the Rocky character and his wide-ranging, age-less appeal). June left a mark on the young and young-at heart, and was a huge part of many people's childhoods. I know I'll certainly miss her, as will millions the world over. RIP June, you brought joy and happiness to the world.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING IS A RETURN TO FORM FOR THE WEB-HEAD
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, after the events of Civil War Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) idly passes his time in Queens thwarting robberies and various small time crimes as he waits for Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to give him a call welcoming him into the Avengers. While the call takes longer than Peter would like, he finds a new opportunity to prove himself when Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) turns to crime with the assistance of a cool flying vulture suit.
Tom Holland perfectly nails his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He plays Peter as an insecure, friendly, nerdy, sarcastic (at times) high schooler who is still learning about his powers and himself. This film is classic high school Spidey all the way (my favorite version). He is often caught making it up as he goes along, he makes mistakes, and it feels good to see a hero who will stop fighting a villain to protect or save civilians. A good deal of the film is just Spidey on normal, slow days when he deals with smaller crimes (His time in high school is really the focus here, and his school feels real and lived in, and is populated by a beautifully diverse cast). This was refreshing, different and felt new. Holland is super charismatic, and he easily makes for the best Peter Parker/Spider-Man we're likely to get on the big screen.
Robert Downey Jr. continues to be an icon as Tony Stark, who gifts Peter with a brand new Stark tech suit and acts as a mentor to him for the few scenes he appears in (I counted 4). RDJ continues to be one fine actor, and he makes every one of his scenes count. Jon Favreau returns as Happy Hogan, who is tasked with being Peter's contact. Favreau is a lot of fun here, as Happy isn't all that pleased with his new role. Jennifer Connelly also appears as the voice in Spidey's suit for a few scenes, named Karen. She is very funny, cool, has a cute personality and shares good chemistry with Holland.
Jacob Batalon is great as Ned Leeds, Peter's best friend. He is very likable, and even gets a cool cheer-worthy moment. It's definitely believable that these two have known each other for a while and are best buds. Tony Revolori is actually perfect as Flash Thompson, school bully and all around jerk. In Homecoming, Flash still retains some of his trademark jock attributes (He's shown to be good at gym, and he drives an expensive car) but is also a member of the Decathlon team. Revolori pulls off the whole punchable face thing surprisingly well Zendaya is entertaining, cute and very funny as Michelle, one of Peter's reluctant buddies (She's more o the sides, but is still quite memorable. She is quietly observant of the goings-ons around her, and is whip-smart and always handy with a quick comeback or funny remark. Laura Harrier is very pretty and cute as Liz Allen, whom Peter crushes on from afar (Peter's pining for her is not as large a part of the film as you think it would be). Marisa Tomei is also perfect as Aunt May, she seems to understand Peter and is great pals with him (Their relationship is almost more like a friendship).
Michael Keaton turns on the slime and the scares as Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture. He is very intense and threatening, but has an empathetic backstory and motivation. He also looks very cool whenever he is in his Vulture get-up (even when it's just that cool jacket sans the flying contraption). Bokeem Woodbine and Michael Chernus are great as well as Herman Schultz aka The Shocker and Phineas Mason aka The Tinkerer respectively, goons who work for Toomes. Schultz acts as some muscle as he has a nice gadget that deals a heavy blow and Mason creates the nifty gadgets for Toomes. Donald Glover only has two scenes as Aaron Davis, a well-meaning small time criminal. He has limited screen time but is easily memorable, here's hoping that maybe he gets to return in the next film.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first Spider-Man film to be made with the assistance of Marvel, and boy does it show. This is a high quality movie, and it's clear everyone involved worked their butts off to ensure they got it right this time. The usual Marvel logo is underscored by a beautiful new take on the classic Spider-Man theme (by Michael Giacchino, who also did the score for the film). Appropriate, seeing as Homecoming is itself a modern update that takes the material back to its classic roots. Jon Watts directs, and the film feels almost like a John Hughes version of a super-hero movie. It's all very small scale, and the stakes are personal. It's nice to see a super-hero film where the fate of the world or universe isn't held in the balance. The film itself has some great, memorable scenes including one of the most definitive Spidey moments in any of the Spidey flicks (It gave me serious chills and had me tearing up). The only real negative is that Homecoming does mess with/change some pieces of Spidey lore in a way that may confuse or bother some fans.
The Spider-Man Homecoming 3D experience isn't all that satisfying. There are some shots and scenes that look good in 3D, but not all that much jumps out of the screen, and the added depth is decent at best. In 3D, the film can be murky, dark, and some of the action can be hard to make out. Spider-Man: Homecoming is definitely worth your time and money, but to maximize your experience I'd recommend seeing it in 2D instead.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is a big-budget superhero movie that feels like a heartfelt independent feature. It's a lot of fun and very funny. Perhaps most impressive is that it stays true to the character of Spider-Man, and gives us the best and most faithful iteration of that character yet (a lot of classic Spidey moments can be found here, including that definitive moment I mentioned above). Spider-Man: Homecoming is Marvel's welcome home celebration for Spider-Man. It's easily the best Spider-Man film we've gotten thus far. Spider-Man fans rejoice!
5 STARS
Tom Holland perfectly nails his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He plays Peter as an insecure, friendly, nerdy, sarcastic (at times) high schooler who is still learning about his powers and himself. This film is classic high school Spidey all the way (my favorite version). He is often caught making it up as he goes along, he makes mistakes, and it feels good to see a hero who will stop fighting a villain to protect or save civilians. A good deal of the film is just Spidey on normal, slow days when he deals with smaller crimes (His time in high school is really the focus here, and his school feels real and lived in, and is populated by a beautifully diverse cast). This was refreshing, different and felt new. Holland is super charismatic, and he easily makes for the best Peter Parker/Spider-Man we're likely to get on the big screen.
Robert Downey Jr. continues to be an icon as Tony Stark, who gifts Peter with a brand new Stark tech suit and acts as a mentor to him for the few scenes he appears in (I counted 4). RDJ continues to be one fine actor, and he makes every one of his scenes count. Jon Favreau returns as Happy Hogan, who is tasked with being Peter's contact. Favreau is a lot of fun here, as Happy isn't all that pleased with his new role. Jennifer Connelly also appears as the voice in Spidey's suit for a few scenes, named Karen. She is very funny, cool, has a cute personality and shares good chemistry with Holland.
Jacob Batalon is great as Ned Leeds, Peter's best friend. He is very likable, and even gets a cool cheer-worthy moment. It's definitely believable that these two have known each other for a while and are best buds. Tony Revolori is actually perfect as Flash Thompson, school bully and all around jerk. In Homecoming, Flash still retains some of his trademark jock attributes (He's shown to be good at gym, and he drives an expensive car) but is also a member of the Decathlon team. Revolori pulls off the whole punchable face thing surprisingly well Zendaya is entertaining, cute and very funny as Michelle, one of Peter's reluctant buddies (She's more o the sides, but is still quite memorable. She is quietly observant of the goings-ons around her, and is whip-smart and always handy with a quick comeback or funny remark. Laura Harrier is very pretty and cute as Liz Allen, whom Peter crushes on from afar (Peter's pining for her is not as large a part of the film as you think it would be). Marisa Tomei is also perfect as Aunt May, she seems to understand Peter and is great pals with him (Their relationship is almost more like a friendship).
Michael Keaton turns on the slime and the scares as Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture. He is very intense and threatening, but has an empathetic backstory and motivation. He also looks very cool whenever he is in his Vulture get-up (even when it's just that cool jacket sans the flying contraption). Bokeem Woodbine and Michael Chernus are great as well as Herman Schultz aka The Shocker and Phineas Mason aka The Tinkerer respectively, goons who work for Toomes. Schultz acts as some muscle as he has a nice gadget that deals a heavy blow and Mason creates the nifty gadgets for Toomes. Donald Glover only has two scenes as Aaron Davis, a well-meaning small time criminal. He has limited screen time but is easily memorable, here's hoping that maybe he gets to return in the next film.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first Spider-Man film to be made with the assistance of Marvel, and boy does it show. This is a high quality movie, and it's clear everyone involved worked their butts off to ensure they got it right this time. The usual Marvel logo is underscored by a beautiful new take on the classic Spider-Man theme (by Michael Giacchino, who also did the score for the film). Appropriate, seeing as Homecoming is itself a modern update that takes the material back to its classic roots. Jon Watts directs, and the film feels almost like a John Hughes version of a super-hero movie. It's all very small scale, and the stakes are personal. It's nice to see a super-hero film where the fate of the world or universe isn't held in the balance. The film itself has some great, memorable scenes including one of the most definitive Spidey moments in any of the Spidey flicks (It gave me serious chills and had me tearing up). The only real negative is that Homecoming does mess with/change some pieces of Spidey lore in a way that may confuse or bother some fans.
The Spider-Man Homecoming 3D experience isn't all that satisfying. There are some shots and scenes that look good in 3D, but not all that much jumps out of the screen, and the added depth is decent at best. In 3D, the film can be murky, dark, and some of the action can be hard to make out. Spider-Man: Homecoming is definitely worth your time and money, but to maximize your experience I'd recommend seeing it in 2D instead.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is a big-budget superhero movie that feels like a heartfelt independent feature. It's a lot of fun and very funny. Perhaps most impressive is that it stays true to the character of Spider-Man, and gives us the best and most faithful iteration of that character yet (a lot of classic Spidey moments can be found here, including that definitive moment I mentioned above). Spider-Man: Homecoming is Marvel's welcome home celebration for Spider-Man. It's easily the best Spider-Man film we've gotten thus far. Spider-Man fans rejoice!
5 STARS
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