Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

MY RATING: 9

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Release Info: 20 Dec 2019

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director:J.J. Abrams
Writer: J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio
Running Time: 2 Hours and 21 Minutes

Staring: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Keri Russell and many many more

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? NO and YES (Section clearly marked)

STORYLINE

In the final part of the Star Wars Saga, the surviving resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of Skywalker. 

MY REVIEW

So much to say for this review, so let me just say, YES, I gave this movie a 9 out of 10. I sat there for the whole 2 and a half hours on the edge of tears or full-on wiping my eyes with my sleeve. I was able to remain spoiler-free and I feel good about that. I got to take the ride and feel all of the feels in the moment. The first section is SPOILER FREE and the second is not. Ye have been warned!

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• John Williams once again provided some of the best adapted pieces from the original score in this final piece.
• It was a non-stop slap-you-in-the-face joy ride through the Star Wars Universe. Yes, there were a lot of loose ends to tie up, such as Rey's lineage and the whole ambiguous"Rise of Skywalker" reference. But I think they did a good job of taking the bits from "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi" and wrapping them up for me with a neat little bow.
• There is so much to unpack here as a movie. I wanted to have closure for so many of my favorites but I also didn't want it to be Disney-fied or a love story. There is a fine line that I didn't want to see crossed. It was a delicate line that they tip-toed across, never stepping too far over the edge for me.

What I DIDN'T EXPLICITLY NOT LIKE about this movie: 

• There was definitely a lot of fan-service in this movie. I'm not saying that I didn't like it because I did. I AM THAT FAN who enjoys it, but I can see where it might have been a little much.
• There were some plot holes. I won't go into them, but as a Star Wars fan. You'll know.
• The CGI with Luke and Leia wasn't the worst, but it definitely was not the best.

What ELSE do I need say? (THIS IS THE TIME TO TURN BACK. SPOILERS AHEAD)

• Cameos Galore!! Oh so many awesome people that I saw and SOME that I didn't.. Here's the list so far... John Williams, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Freddie Prinze Jr., Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Warwick Davis donned the Wicket costume again.
• The moment that had me in full on tears was seeing the struggle of Kylo Ren wanting to go back to being Ben Solo. Adam Driver did it for me right them. He looked over at Han (as a Force-Ghost) and said nothing. Han said "I know." TEARS!!!!
• In the final scene, we see Rey wandering around the Lars Moisture farm on Tatooine.. She is asked her name by a passer-by. Rey she says. But what's her family name.. She looks over to see Leia and Luke's force-ghosts.. Rey Replies.. Skywalker. My heart.

On a more personal note..... 

We saw this in a IMAX theater with reclining seats. Great choice.

Joker

MY RATING: 9 of 10

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 4 October 2019

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Todd Phillips
Writer: Todd Phillips and Scott Silver
Running Time:  2 Hours and 2 Min.

Staring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz and well, quite a few more...

Rating? R

SPOILERS? NO

STORYLINE

In Gotham City, mentally-troubled comedian Arthur Fleck is disregarded and mistreated by society. He then embarks on a downward spiral of revolution and bloody crime. This path brings him face-to-face with his alter ego.. Joker. 

MY REVIEW

This is NOT a lighthearted DC Comic movie just to set that straight out of the gate. This is a dark and twisted tale of a downhill spiral that takes a mentally impaired man through seven levels of literal hell. It's feral. It's violent. It's glorious. Think Taxi Driver meets Fight Club.

The Joker has been played by Jared Leto most recently, Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson going all the way back to Cesar Romero. None of them really stood out to me as the definitive "Joker". (We all have a "Batman" who will always be "the One!" My Batman will always be Adam West!) That being said, Joaquin Phoenix IS the Joker. Continue below...

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Joaquin Phoenix breathes, bleeds and cries as the Joker. He is perfection. His portrayal of the melancholy mentally unstable Fleck is hauntingly enigmatic.
• Writers Todd Phillips and Scott Silver created a solid tale that is mesmerizing to the soul. It's gritty and tragic but with moments of comedic perfection that lead to a genuinely great movie. This is good because it's just over 2 hours long and it keeps you in your seat. Well done gentlemen. 
• I don't want to give too much away, but the first two acts are written and filmed in a way that will help the viewer almost understand Joker's motivation for the final act. That's not to say that you can empathize with his actions or even remotely find them justified, but the viewer can understand what went wrong.  There are definitely hints to a societal breakdown where a mentally ill person who needs help and is receiving only the bare essentials can fall through the cracks and end up where he did. Let's leave it there and I'll be happy to discuss after any of you see the film. (I have a LOT of opinions about this aspect of the movie.)
• The Score. I'm a bit of an audiophile and when I heard some classic Charlie Chaplin from the classic 1936 Modern Times, I could not help but to smile. There are some great pieces in this movie.. a little Sinatra.. a little Cream.. and last but not least.. Send in the Clowns.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• All of the action of this movie was in the final act and really in the last 20 minutes. It's not boring by any means, but it did feel like it took us a LONG time to get to the end.
• Plot holes here and there, but 
• The trailers gave away too much 
• Social commentary seemed a little over the top. It's hard to NOT say exactly what I want to with ought giving too much away. Let's just call it that it's very obvious what the writers were attempting. Although I do love the story, the idea that situation that was created almost intentionally by inaction of the people around him and the inept care of social service department led to the creation of basically a serial killer.

On a more personal note..... 

I had a night out with some friends..We got a roomba.. I tried to make the cats feel like he was part of the pack so I gave him ears and whiskers. His name is Karl.

Us

RATINGS

IMDB: 7.4 of 10

MY RATING: 9

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 22 March 2019

Genre: Horror, Thriller
Director/ Writer: Jordan Peele
Running Time: 1 Hour and 56 Minutes

Staring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss

Rating? R

SPOILERS? NO

STORYLINE

In order to get away from their busy lives, the Wilson family takes a vacation to Santa Cruz, CA with the plan of spending time with their friends, the Tylers. On a day at the beach, their young son Jason wanders off, causing mother Adelaide to become protective over her family. That night, four mysterious people arrive at the Wilson's, which just so happens to be Adelaide's childhood home. The family is shocked to find out that the intruders look like them, only with grotesque appearances.

MY REVIEW

What a movie. I am a HUGE fan of the horror genre and I must admit that Jordan Peele is a horror visionary. There was more to this movie that your average slasher horror flick. The story is original, which is a huge plus when the plot of most movies these days is heavily recycled or even a retelling.

Jordan Peele got high marks from me for his 2017 hit Get Out, link to my review. This one makes you think and that to me, is the true epic thing for a movie to do. I want to leave and question my own reality and boy did I have a lot to ponder. I sat quietly for a while after to let it all sink in and THERE was a lot to think about. There is a low level undertone on social commentary and the real deeper meaning that IS the monster in all of us. Good and bad are tenuous. We are what we are and the idea that someone is all good or all bad is laughable at best.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• I can't say enough about Lupita Nyong'o. She IS the star of this film. Her performance is more than terrifying. Any actor who can not only take on a dual role but make the viewer believe that they are watching a second person is amazing.
• Soundtrack was a masterpiece!  I Got 5 On It.. was singing along in the theater. Brings back old times. Love this song and yes, it's about drugs! Ha ha!o
• Whoever decided on the red jumpsuit, tan driving gloves and the oversized shears, you sir, are a genius!
• The little injections of comedy were sublime!

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• The voices. It was scary and unnerving, but it kinda threw me off.
• What was with the rabbits?

What Other stuff can I say that's not really a review?

• The movie also stars Cali and Noelle Sheldon, the twins who played Emma Gellar-Green, the daughter of Ross and Rachel on Friends. 
• The film has a scheme set in 1987. Several key scenes are shot at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, the same as the film The Lost Boys. There is a reference in the movie where young Adelaide's mother says "You know, they're shooting a movie over there by the carousel."

On a more personal note..... 

Had some time at the salon this week. I had the best of intentions to get a cut and color and failed on both fronts.I got a trim and no change of color. BUT, why mess with perfection!! Then there's my little guy Dexter Morgan. He's pretty handsome! He gets confused with string and wants to play with it, but doesn't know what to do!! Then, my 4 gentlemen decided to lay on the couch with me! 

Sixteen Candles

RATINGS

IMDB: 7.1

MY RATING: 9

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 4 May 1984
   Netflix: 21 Nov 2018

Genre: Comedy and Romance
Writer and Director: John Hughes
Running Time:  1 Hour and 33 Min

Staring: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Justin Henry, and MANY MANY MORE

Rating? PG

SPOILERS? YES

STORYLINE

Samantha's life is going downhill fast. The sixteen-year old has a crush on the most popular boy in school, and the geekiest boy in school has a crush on her. Her sister is getting married and with all of the excitement her family forgets her birthday. Add all this to the pair of horrendously embarrassing grandparents and an foreign exchange student named Long Duk Dong and we have the makings of a hilarious journey into young womanhood.

MY REVIEW

Again, I'm doing away with the "Did and Didn't Like" as usual and going with a general review. Oh, John Hughes. How did you do this? What little piece of your brain allowed you to get this so well? This is the movie that that gave all of us young girls the concept of our own personal Jake Ryan. I mean seriously, there was no boy in junior high that could hold a literal candle to the idea that was Jake Ryan.

From the opening scenes with the Baker family getting ready for their days is so perfectly 80's. Samantha's (Molly Ringwald) room is so essentially PINK and the whole idea that her mom and dad are so preoccupied with her sisters wedding that they have forgotten her birthday sets up a montage of hilarity. This movie is filled with the best lines and the most amazing scenes. It's like watching a time capsule: Floppy Discs, headgear, the music, the clothing!

On a more personal note..... 

Holiday baking well underway with the help of these two little rascals: Dexter Morgan and Rocket help by playing with their toys. I made mini pies (custard and chocolate) and finally, me cooking watching Sixteen Candles.

The Breakfast Club

RATINGS

IMDB: 7.9

MY RATING: 9

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info:  15 Feb 1985
   Netflix 20 Nov 2018

Genre: Comedy, Drama
Writer and Director: John Hughes
Running Time: 1 Hour and 37 minutes

Staring: Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy and John Kapelos.

Rating? R

SPOILERS? YES

STORYLINE

Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.

MY REVIEW

This movie never gets old. John Hughes had one of the single greatest grasps of the human condition and this in particular, the teenager. His films will resonate with anyone no matter where you grew up and to which clique you belonged.  I won't even use the system of "Like" and "Didn't Like" because there's not really much that I don't love.

John Hughes as the writer and director is brilliant. I love how he used the five teens as a cross section of youth of the time. The Jock, the Princess, the Nerd, the Criminal and the Basket Case. You see yourself in one or more and this film reminds you that it's okay to color outside of the lines. The other fact, more subtle though, is that you are in your groups and these groups are all too often inescapable.

The lesson that we learn in the span of the movie is that each was sent to detention for a reason that they eventually share and even though they are so different, they are the same. They struggle with their own demons and eventually find ties that bind them together. I cannot watch this movie without the story in my head is Claire (Molly Ringwald) and Bender (Judd Nelson) getting married.

I like the music but the Simple Minds song at the ned, Don't You (Forget About Me) stays with you!! LOVE!!!

And then there is the EPIC last scene with Bender (Judd Nelson) walking away with his fist raised while we are listening to the essay that Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) has written for the group.

On a more personal note..... 

Came home today to a pretty sweet surprise from my husband, a Star Wars themed necklace! Super adorable. Also, speaking of adorable, This is Jinx andLord Oliver Cromwell napping on the couch!

Evil Genius

RATINGS

IMDB: 7.6 of 10

MY RATING: 9

GENERAL INFORMATION

First Episode Air Date: 10 May 2018

Seasons? 4 Episode Series
Watched Where and When: Oct-Nov 2018 on Netflix
Genre: Documentary, Crime

Rating? TV-MA

SPOILERS? YES

STORYLINE

The extraordinary tale of the "pizza bomber heist" and the FBI's investigation into a bizarre collection of suspects.

MY REVIEW

I remember seeing this in the news in 2003 but wow, just wow. This documentary was intense. Netflix has done a really great job with this one. What I feel is the most powerful fact is that the researcher spent 15 years of his life getting to know the main suspect, Marjorie Deihl Armstrong. Definitely worth the 2.5 hours you will need to get through this documentary. Great job!

Part 1: The Heist
So let's set the scene. A bank robbery in Erie, Pennsylvania ends
in the death via collar-bomb device on a pizza delivery man, Brian Wells, who may or may not have been a hostage forced to commit the crime. The police are confused/bumbling in this portrayal where they just watch as he yells from his spot in the road that he was set up. The device blew and he was declared dead but NOT dead enough apparently to put their guns down. We find out later that this was definitely a set up for this guy by a prostitute that he often went to. She sold him out for some quick cash.

Part 2: The Frozen Body
Now we find out more-- SO there's a frozen body (James Roden) in the freezer at the house of this woman, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, who by all reports is crazy intelligent but is riddled with personality disorders and mental issues.. AND get this, she was turned in by her friend/boyfriend/lover (William "Bill" Rothstein) whoever since it just kinda all merges. What we do find out is that one of them killed James Rosen, even through Rothstein claimed in was Deihl-Armstrong. Roden was her boyfriend and was killed so he wouldn't tell about the heist is the assumption.

Part 3: The Suspects
Two years after the heist, one of its architects (Rothstein) has died of cancer, a witness comes out of the woodwork and then Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong reveals much too much to her cellmates in prison.

Part 4: The The Confessions
So here we are, years after the death of Bill Rothstein, conspirators start to come forward, deals are made and a jury renders its verdict BUT THEN, another twist, more witnesses to the so-called solved crime step forward.

Thoroughbreds

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info:  9 March 2018
    Watched 30 Oct 2018

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Writer and Director: Cory Finley
Running Time: 92 Minutes

Staring: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy and Anton Yelchin

Rating? R

SPOILERS? Yes but there is a warning when they start

REVIEWS

IMDB: 6.8 of 10

MY RATING: 9 of 10

STORYLINE

Two upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems, no matter what the cost.

MY REVIEW

First, let me say that this was Anton Yelchin's final movie before his passing in 2016. He's always been on my list of highly underrated actors and in many of my reviews over the years. Odd Thomas, Fright Night, Burying the Ex, Star Trek Beyond and Green Room. You will be remembered.

What a movie! For Cory Finley's directorial debut, this was a solid win. Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke were dark and deadly. The combination of dry humor mixed with the perfect slow pace and morose tones was MADE for these two. Cory Finley dropped, what felt to me, like a deliberate filming style that sent a little wink and a nod to Kubrik.

Don't let the genre of comedy fool you, this is NOT a typical comedy. I saw the tagline of "Heathers meets American Psycho" and smiled. Those are two of my favorite irreverent and darkly sadistic movies. This did not fail me. There's something compelling about these emotionally stunted girls who live a bored privileged life, just bored enough to do anything.

What Olivia Cooke brings as Amanda is pure gold. While there were some obvious flaws with her "by the book" sociopath persona, it was a great performance. (She was also great in Ready Player One click the link to read my review!) She feels nothing, every emotion is a muscle memorization. We all have that little piece that makes us ambivalent, but she lives there permanently. Lily on the other hand played by Anya Taylor-Joy is overwrought with emotions. (She was also great in The Witch and Split, click the links to read my reviews!) She is the empirical opposite of Amanda in every way and their friendship seems doomed from the start.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Writing and Direction. Cory Finley will be on my watch list for future movies.
• Cinematography- Well done  Lyle Vincent. After reviewing his credentials, I am not a bit surprised that I enjoyed his style.
• Soundtrack- Hauntingly beautiful

DO NOT READ PAST THIS POINT IF SPOILERS ARE A CONCERN

From the first minute when you realize that not only were Amanda and Lily friends who hadn't spoken in many years the reasons are forefront in your mind. As the clues are revealed throughout the film, it becomes clear that their paths were very different. Seems that Amanda had "put down" a thoroughbred horse after its leg was broken and was convicted of animal cruelty for the way that she did it.

There are subtle notes of foreshadowing as the girls go down their plan to rid Lily of her disturbingly overbearing step father. It's obvious that Lily would be the major beneficiary of the deed, but someone was going to have to take the fall. At first they had selected local drug dealer Tim (Anton Yelchin) was was a massive failure. Next was a do-it-yourself style that also fell apart. Finally, the true "bad guy" rears her head when Lily spikes Amanda's drink and kills her step-father and places the blood and knife in Amanda's hands on the couch. We zoom forward a little to learn that Amanda is now in mental hospital and Lily is interviewing for college. Feels like she may have set it up! Best last line of the movie is when she see Tim who asks about Amanda and Lily said she received a letter. She begins reading the letter to the audience...

Amanda: [Amanda's voice reading her letter to the audience] I had a dream.. I rise out of my body, and I'm staring down at our whole suburb, and time is speeding up. And I see generations of people coming, and going, and building bigger houses. And then eventually... the people start spending more and more of their time staring at their smartphones. And soon enough, they're forgetting to clean their houses, or mow their lawns, or eat. And eventually all the houses rot and collapse, and the people disappear, vanishing completely into the Internet. And then... and this is the really beautiful part, the horses take over. And the whole suburb is just beautiful thoroughbred stallions with no owners and no memory of owners and no way of knowing how expensive they are, just mating and galloping through the ruins. 

Tim: What did it say? 

Lily: I don't know. I just threw it away.

On a more personal note..... 

Had a lot of fun finishing my Halloween costume. Almost there!! 

Samson and Delilah

GENERAL INFORMATION

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STORYLINE

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Atomic Blonde

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 28 July 2017
     Sneak Preview 19 July 2017

Director: David Leitch
Writer: Kurt Johnstad, Antony Johnston
Running Time: 1 Hour and 55 Minutes

Staring:  Charlize Theron, James McAvoy and John Goodman

Rating? R

SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS

IMDB: ?? of 10

MY RATING: 9

STORYLINE

An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and revoker a missing list of double agents.

MY REVIEW

This was a pretty amazing movie. Due to it not being released yet and I got to see a pre-release preview, I don't want to go into too many details. 

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Setting- I love the setting. Berlin wall is a month from being torn down.. US, British, French and Russian spies a plenty! Excellent use of music and costuming! This was a visual masterpiece.
• Violence was necessary and perfect.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• Not much. I think the only thing that was a little iffy was the twist, or the twist on the twist, or the twist on the twist of the twist... It's almost like they filmed 3 endings and decided to use them all!

On a more personal note..... Finished my 3-D printed Wonder Woman Tiara. Wore it to work today! Finished a new trooper helmet. Isabella and Dexter were pretty cute!

Wonder Woman

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 2 June 2017

Director: Patty Jenkins
Writer: Allan Heinberg and Zack Snyder
Running Time: 2 Hours and 21 Minutes

Staring:  SO many great actors that to name JUST a few seems trite, but here goes...Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright and Danny Huston.

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? X

REVIEWS

IMDB: 8.4 of 10

RT:  Critics: 94%; Audience: 93%
MY RATING: 9, Strong 9

STORYLINE

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when a pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny.

MY REVIEW

I'd like to begin my review with a love letter to director Patty Jenkins.
Dear Patty, if I may call you Patty. What a wonderful filmography you have under your belt. The Killing, Arrested Development, Monster and  now you've added Wonder Woman. What a wonderful, empowering and beautifully done movie. Thank you for this! We need more directors, women directors to prove that we do NOT need a man behind the helm of an action packed blockbuster to crate a sensation! THANK you for not making her Catwoman or even Ekektra. THANK you for making her the Wonder Woman that we deserve! Big hearts, Patty. 
Now that's out of the way. THIS is a pretty damn good movie. Yeah, there were some flaws, it's not a 10, well, I really only give 10's to movies that have lightsaber battles!

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• True Storytelling- This movie makes you WAIT for the plot to develop. It does  not ask, it demands. 
• Chris Pine- I was not expecting this to be the performance that builds him an Oscar nomination, but this was a good, solid performance. He brought some levity and fun to the screen and let the STAR, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) take her place in the limelight. Does not hurt that he is a big chunk of eye-candy!
• Supporting Cast- You know, this movie would not have been so solid without the performances given by the throng of amazing people such as Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright and Danny Huston to call out a few. Even Chris Pine played his part so well in her immense shadow. There was so much heart and soul in this movie!
• Cinematography- From the first scene to the last, there was much amazing work that allows the watcher to fall away from reality and immerse into the world on the screen. My favorite scenes were those in her flashback to being a child. (Trying not to give anything away.)

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• Villains- This main bad guy just left me a little flat. Wanting more. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely was less than perfect. It just felt a little obvious to use the WWI era Germans as the bad guys. I know we were all expecting it, but it did feel a bit overplayed.
• CG- Definitely not the best at all times. At least there was only one scene that made me do my "What in the wold were they thinking doing THAT with CGI?" cringe!

On a more personal note..... Rocked some serious POLKA DOTS today!

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Logan

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 3 March 2017
    Watched in the Theater on 4 March 2017 at  
    Strawbridge Marketplace 12. There are recliners here
    and you pick/reserve your seat so you know you
    always have a good one!!

Director: James Mangold
Writer: James Mangold and Scott Frank
Running Time: 107 Minutes

Staring:  Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Stephen Merchant and Elizabeth Rodriguez

Rating? R, a very well deserved R

SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS

IMDB: 8.7 of 10

RT: Critics: 92%, Audience: 94%
MY RATING: 9

STORYLINE

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexico border. However, Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up=ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

MY REVIEW

No spoilers is going to be difficult, but I promise, I will tread carefully in order to not ruin this for you as you SHOULD go see this film.  First admission, I have not seen any of the X-Men movies since the Last Stand in 2006. I may have watched 15 or 20 minutes of some of the other's ones after, but I was never a huge fan of the series.  Second admission, I was not too hyped about this movie. Not my pick. I assumed I'd have a crap-tastic time and spend the two hours working on my new book in my head while this was playing. Boy, was I wrong!

This was a pretty fantastic stand-alone movie. There was just enough explanation in the plot lines and flashbacks to set the scene and just enough action to keep the story moving.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• It's Violent. Not just violent, but damn near equivalent to a old-fashioned slasher flick. This was not just violence for the sake of violence, it was relevant to the story and necessary to propel the characters into the next scene as well as setting the landscape for the dramatic finale.
• Anti-Hero Superhero- My favorite type of hero is the reluctant one who just has to do whats right, sometimes even at their own expense. Logan is an art form in that regard. He is no hero, hell, he's not even a good guy, but he is a hero. I can attribute his performance to excellent writing and direction.
• Emotional- There must have been some dust in the theater- Not saying too much, but I was literally in tears at certain points. I am by no means a crier, but this one tugs at some emotional strings that I didn't think could be pulled.
• The Story- This was quite nearly a Shakespearean sonnet in it's intricacy and artful telling. I can't explain it, but when you watch, you might be able to see what I'm talking about.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• The main baddies are not really as bad as they could have been. Richard Grant and Boyd Holbrook played their parts well, but I just don't think they were well defined in the first place. They were just a little more than forgettable to me.

On a more personal note..... Before the movie, I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate fudge frosting.. Everyone needs a little chocolate in their lives!! Snapchat selfie with cat ears and finally.. here's what we did Friday night. Friends came over to watch Star Wars so we got beer and cookies and ordered a pizza! Pretty good weekend I say!

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Der Freischütz

GENERAL INFORMATION

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MY RATING: X

STORYLINE

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MY REVIEW

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The Arrival

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 11 November 2016
   Saw it at Lynnhaven Mall AMC (Written 19 Nov)

Director: Dennis Villenueve
Writer: Eric Heisserer and Ted Chiang
Running Time: 1 Hour and 56 Minutes

Staring:  Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? Not Enough to make a difference

REVIEWS

IMDB: 8.5 of 10

MY RATING: 9

STORYLINE

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team - led by expert linguist Louise Banks - is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers - and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

MY REVIEW

You know that feeling you get when you leave a movie that just makes you feel like it spoke to you on a level that cannot be explained? That IS how I felt leaving The Arrival. I was not surprised since the director Denis Villeneuve also directed another stellar movie, Sicario, as well as having experience in writing, acting, editing and cinematography. I think that helps him create a complete experience. I think the question, "Are we alone here?" is the foremost query for anyone who is interested in space exploration and the universe. This movie demands your attention unlike any other Sci-Fi in this specific genre since Contact.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• This movie was filled with complex and nuanced emotional pieces that when tied together and reviewed at the completion are amazing works of creativity! There are so many streams of conscious thought going on at the same time in this movie and they are intertwined beautifully.
• Amy Adams earns some serious street cred from me for this role where she plays mother, teacher, educator, scientist and explorer. Her range going from one to the next brought a genuine humanity to the character of Dr. Louise Banks.
• If you enjoyed Inception and it's story in a story in a story theme, this will work for you. I appreciated the complex planes of existence told in back story flashbacks. I don't want to give anything away, but this was done beautifully!
• The Score! It was understated but bold. There should be Oscars here!!
• I think the set design and costuming was stunning. It was understated and likely drab in most places, but I think it was necessary.  

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• I wanted more from the story that was promised. Aliens arriving on earth and I only got to see them briefly. I wanted to better understand the whole piece and I know it's unlikely in a movie like this. (By a movie like this, I mean that it was less about aliens and more about the human experience.) 
• It was super slow to get started but once it picked up, it was good. Just took WAY too long to get going.

On a more personal note..... First, there's a song that's been on repeat for the last few weeks in my head and in my iPhone. Blue October's Home. This band has been a big part of my life since their first album, Consent to Treatment, came out in 1998. They're songs have such amazing lyrics and Justin Furstenfeld puts his life into the these songs and they have such amazing soul. So, here is the music video and I have a feeling that if you give it a listen, you'll like it!!

On to the normal stuff! It's been a fun few days!! I finally got a new job this month!! I am super excited! So excited that I went out and bought some new SHOES!! I love heels and these little black velvet wedges were JUST the thing that I needed to make my afternoon! Absolutely does not hurt that they look super adorable with skinny jeans!! Halloween was last week. I was a fancy cat, again! I think I need to throw away these ears so I can make better choices!!