Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

I will admit that while I'm a fan of Star Wars, I thought Disney was going a little too overboard in their Star Wars film announcements. Surely even hardcore Star Wars fans would eventually get tired of ALL the Star Wars films headed their way.

Of course Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the beginning of proving me wrong. The film is directed by Gareth Edwards and one of the main things that made me incredibly happy was the diversity.

Anyway, this particular story takes place between Episode 3 and Episode 4. The Empire has completed a new weapon capable of destroying entire planets. Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) has had some disagreements with the rebel alliance and is now fighting the Imperial Army with some others in a more extreme manner.

Fifteen years before, Gerrera rescued Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) after her father is captured by the Imperial Army. Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) used to work for the Army, and is needed once again to help make the Death Star. That's not a spoiler and you know it! Jyn receives a hologram message from her father telling her of a deadly flaw in the Death Star and encourages her to steal the plans so that it may be destroyed. If you've seen Episode 4, you know how the Death Star is destroyed.

The story revolves around Jyn and her fight to prove that she and her father's message can be trusted. While she is not able to convince everyone, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the reprogrammed enforcer droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), a blind warrior-monk Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen), his companion Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), and a former Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) join her in infiltrating the Imperial base and obtaining the plans.

Let me once again celebrate all the names I just listed and the fact that they are all people of color! Anyway, while the characters are cool it is a little hard to keep track of all the new characters we are introduced to since obviously we have never met them before. Jones and Luna are great as the leads and it's nice to see their relationship develop albeit a bit quickly. Tudyk, as always, steals the scenes whenever his droid is there and Yen is kick butt and funny.

We do get some glimpses into some members of the Imperial Army as well. Some we have seen in the previous films and some new ones as well and while essential to the story, I honestly can't tell them apart from one another. Watching the film I knew who was who, but visually only.

While there are some good action sequences, I felt the film jumped from moment to moment probably to keep the film within an acceptable run time. This in turn, causes some moments to be cut short while giving the film a frenetic feeling.

Overall though Rogue One is a good film. The action sequences are awesome. It is also weirdly fun getting to see in detail how the planets are destroyed. In Episode 4, a planet blows up as soon as it is hit, but here we see that it is a slower, more painful process.

I have heard said that this is the greatest of all the Star Wars films and while I would not go that far, it was enjoyable. It can't be compared to the other films easily as it is it's own stand alone story. We don't know these characters, but we root for them all the same. These are neither Sith nor Jedi, just members of the galaxy who want to make sure the Imperial Army is destroyed.

This is an action film through and through. There is no unexpected plot twist, although the ending is quite surprising. It is an extension of the Star Wars story and fans will appreciate the nods to the previous films.

It is cool as well to see that the Rebel alliance is not perfect. Jyn doesn't want to join the alliance at first. Some are extremists, others are willing to give up as soon as things get difficult. They disagree on many things. They have done horrible things in the name of the Alliance. Still this is an accurate representation of war.

Rogue One is a good Star Wars film. It isn't great, but it is cool to get a glimpse into what the Rebels had to do in order to destroy the Death Star. Some want more lightsaber battles, others are happy with the result. I say watch it and decide for yourself.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart (center) in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life

I have heard about It's A Wonderful Life for years, but had never seen it. I finally gave it a chance a couple of nights ago. The film is directed by Frank Capra and stars James Stewart.

The film is based on a novel The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern and it shows the audience that while life may not go as planned, we all have wonderful lives.

In addition to directing the film, Capra produced it and wrote it with two other people. It was a flop when it initially premiered, but over the years has gained a following.

Cover for It's' a Wonderful Life

The film is long and filled with quite a bit of innuendos. This caught me off guard simply because of the time when it was written. Of course the main drive of this film is to leave the audiences in better spirits and it does.

This was my first time watching James Stewart and he does a good job. He carries the film as he is in it pretty much from beginning to end and his character goes through some rough moments. He starts off as a man dreaming of leaving his small town. to not getting to leave, to everything going to heck and in his most vulnerable moments he begins to think the unthinkable.

James Stewart and Donna Reed have great chemistry together as the main characters in the film. Lionel Barrymore plays Henry Potter, the richest man in town. He is the villain who only cares about getting all the money he can get his hands on, and Barrymore is as cold as they come.

Donna Reed is wonderful as Mary Hatch, the woman who has always loved George Bailey. The rest of the cast does a great job as well.

Scene from It's A Wonderful Life

Yes the film is long, but it gives us nothing but important information. All is revealed at the end.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Growing up in the nineties, I only thought one version of this film existed. Of course I am referring to the remake starring Mara Wilson.

Well, it turns out I was wrong as I found out many years later. The original film actually premiered in the summer of 1947. Miracle on 34th Street is one of the greatest Christmas films to ever be made. It is sweet but not overly so. It is funny, charming and engaging. It is a work of art. It captures the Christmas spirit and makes you wish the world was truly like the one portrayed here.

I never saw the remake, but my favorite online critic Nostalgia Critic emphasized the importance of sticking to the original. Of course I am still curious about the remake mainly due to my childhood dream of seeing it, but I can not imagine it being this good. While this film focuses on Santa Claus, I did not bother me as much as other films that do so.

Santa Claus is real and that is all that needs to be said about him. If any of you doubt his existence, watch this film and see for yourself. Portrayed by Edmund Gwenn there has never been a finer Kris Kringle on film.

The real miracle occurs when Santa Claus proves to a little girl who has been taught to think logically all her life that he is the real deal.

The best thing about this film is that it proves how awful Christmas commercialism is and when we put our thoughts and efforts into battling this, we might be able to actually achieve it.

The film opens on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The hired Santa is drunk and Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) quickly replaces him with the man offering advice who goes by the name Kris Kringle.

Mr. Kringle turns Doris's life upside down and consequently that of her daughter Susie (Natalie Wood) and their neighbor Fred Gailey (John Payne). The movie is worth the watch so that is all I will reveal. Hopefully I have convinced you to give it a watch.

George Seaton directs the film based on a novel and not only is it directed well, the performances are phenomenal. 

Edmund Gwenn is adorable and John Payne and Maureen O'Hara balance each other out perfectly. Natalie Wood is great at portraying a child wise beyond her years, but is still able to capture the childlike innocence all children have regardless of what they are taught to believe.

The Little Prince (2015)

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote a novella that captured the imagination of many readers. It is about a prince who lives on his own asteroid when a rose begins growing and demanding more attention than he can give. He decides to leave and he comes across other asteroids each inhabited by an adult who has forgotten what it is like to be a child. He eventually makes his way to Earth where he befriends a fox and an aviator in the Sahara. The Little Prince cannot live on Earth for long and makes a deathly bargain with a snake so he may return to his asteroid. The aviator touched by what he learned from the Prince decides to turn their encounter into a book.

Now you can watch the book come to life. The film is currently streaming on Netflix and it is not quite what I expected. The film is a combination of animation and stop motion and is absolutely gorgeous. The voice acting is also strong. However, I was curious as to how you can adapt such a short, philosophical novella into a full length feature. The answer: by making it a story within a story. The aviator is still telling his story, but you get to see him and his interactions with the world after his experiences as opposed to just reading about them. It works well actually.

The film opens in a world much different than that if the little prince's. The Little Girl (Mackenzie Foy) is preparing to become as an efficient adult as her Mother (Rachel McAdams). The world in which the Little Girl and the Mother live in is extremely bland and predictable. The Mother has planned out every minute if every day so her daughter can grow up o be a great adult. The Little Girl lives this life not knowing any other way to be.

She meets her neighbor the Aviator (Jeff Bridges) and he shares with her the story he has written about his life with the Little Prince. It is when we enter the world of the story that the animation turns to stop motion. It is in these moments that the novel truly comes to life.

These are also the most beautiful moments from the film  visually. We see the Little Prince tame the Fox who I was surprised to find out is voiced by James Franco.

This film is a good one. To see the two worlds parallel one another with the aviator tying them together is satisfying. The characters are fleshed out and you are dragged through a visual wonderland. The aviator becomes a friend to both, first because the Little Prince asks for a sheep, second because he sees the Little Girl needs one. I was not a fan of the novella when I first read it and when I read it again I appreciated it more, but seeing it I truly love the message it is trying to state. The Little Girl is able to relate to the Aviator more than she has been able to with anyone else. The Little Prince teaches her to see more than what she is being taught.

While I did like the film in its entirety, I will say the last third of the film is not as strong. When she is close to losing the Aviator, the Little Girl hops on his plane in search of the Little Prince. The Aviator is dying and she wants to reassure him that the Little Prince made it back without incident to his asteroid. She ends up on an asteroid that did not exist before. Here there are no children, the adults work all day and the stars are locked up. Shocked to find the Prince is an adult and working as a janitor, the Little Girl knows she has to help the prince remember everything. She is able to restore everything to the way it should be.

It is a happy ending. Still, this part of the film is not as strong as its former parts. Its fun to see how the characters the Little Prince encountered are getting on in this world, but these are not people we care about.

Dr. Strange (2016)

It is no secret that I am not a huge fan of superhero movies. Sure, a lot of them are fun, but for the most part I find them to be highly overrated and would rather invest my time in something else. Unless of course there is a standout performance in the film like that of Tom Hiddleston's Loki. I can entertain myself whenever he is onscreen, but otherwise I find myself counting down the minutes until he's the main focus again.

Dr. Strange was filled with cool graphics and introduces us to another rich, overly sarcastic character who will hopefully take Robert Downey Jr.'s place. (There is nothing wrong with Downey Jr., his performances have gotten formulaic and I am getting sick of him playing the same character film after film).

Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is one of the best (if not the best) neurosurgeon in the world. After getting into an automobile accident, his hands become damaged and there is no way to repair them. This leads him to the Himalayas where he begins training under the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). He begins to learn ways to transport himself between dimensions; yield weapons; and control time.

The villain in Dr. Strange is named Kaecilius, (Mads Mikkelsen) a former student of the Ancient One who wants to harness the power of the dark dimension. He is cool, but there is nothing particularly memorable about him.

Dr. Strange has a dynamic cast: Chiwetel Eljiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Benedict Wong. Of course, all the actors mentioned thus far give great performances, but there is nothing particularly interesting about any of them. McAdams is Dr. Strange's ex-girlfriend who can not seem to let him go despite the fact that he does not treat her well. Wong is the token Asian guy. Eljiofor has the most to do after Cumberbatch, but his arc was sloppy.

Cumberbatch was delightful as the titular character. He was sarcastic, but was able to bring in the subtle nuances of the character as well. Cumberbatch also has great chemistry with Swinton and the scenes they have together are some of the more interesting to watch.

Marvel has gotten a reputation of being the fun, dynamic movie studio and this film, like the others, does have its light hearted moments. Although, I will say that some of the comedic moments in this film felt forced. It also seemed to take itself more seriously than other Marvel films, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

The problem with that is the film seems to be struggling with the direction it wants to go in. Wong is the one who handles the comedic moments the best. He got the most laughs. Everyone else tries to deliver the funnier lines, but they struggle with the moodiness of their characters.

Dr. Strange is a cool character and I am looking forward to seeing him in future Marvel films. The special effects in the film are awesome. One of the coolest scenes is when Strange fights Kaecillius in the mirror dimension and you see time space being bent in strange and fantastical ways during the battle.

This was a good film, but not a great, memorable one. Cumberbatch is great though and I am sure he will bring an awesome dynamic to any of the other Marvel characters he meets.

A Monster in Paris (2011)

3.5/5 Stars

I was hesitant to get into the film at first, but once I did I ended up enjoying it. A Monster in Paris is set in the early 1900s and draws a lot of its inspiration from silent and classic films of the era. The film focuses on the friendship between Lucille (Vanessa Paradis) and a giant flea who sings beautifully (Julian Lennon).

The film is visually gorgeous and the characters are charming. It is also a musical, and the numbers are engaging and fun. The final chase scene is forced however. It is a children's film though, and there are definitely worse things out there.

Moana (2016)

Moana is the daughter of an ancient Polynesian chief which makes her a princess. What a princess she is.

Like Pocahontas before her, Moana is technically a princess though some may deny it. Whatever you choose to view her as, she is a strong character. The strong princess character audiences have been hoping for.

It only gets better. She has a strong, toned body and looks more like a human than a doll. There is also no love interest anywhere to be found.

While Anna didn't necessarily need him in her life, she still had Kristoff. This makes Moana try;y unique. Of course, it is also delightful to look at.

Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) dreams of venturing further than her island but her father (Temeura Morrison) will not allow anyone to travel past the reef of their island Motunui. However, Motunui is starting to experience the curse unleashed by the demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson) 1000 years before when he stole the heart of the goddess Te Fiti. The ocean chooses Moana as the person who must venture out, find Maui and get him to return Te Fiti's heart to its rightful place.

It's a relatively simple plot, but the things Moana sees and the creatures are anything but. She encounters the Kakamora (little pirates); a treasure-hoarding crab (Jemaine Clement); and Te Ka, the lava demon who also eyes Te Fiti's heart.

Moana's journey should be simple as she is traveling with a demi-god, but Maui complicates things more than he helps. He is vain and selfish and only going on this journey for the glory that awaits him when he makes things right. He has lost his magical fish hook and when he regains it, he can't get it to work the way it used to.

Yes there are similarities to Moana and past princesses in terms of their journey. It only makes sense as Ron Clements and Jon Musker directed various films during Disney's renaissance period, but they have improved upon their formula. Dwayne Johnson is also great as Maui. He is charming, witty and funny.

Disney struggled a little bit after their renaissance period ended, but they are gaining traction once again. Frozen, Wreck-It-Ralph, Big Hero 6 and Zootopia were not only box office gold, they were stories audiences were craving.

I enjoyed Moana more than Frozen, the only one in the aforementioned films it can really be compared to. Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina and Lin Manuel Miranda have created a catchy and memorable soundtrack. The visuals are stunning and every color, every movement is beautifully rendered.

Moana is another Disney princess film. One that parents can approve of and children can look up to. Everyone should check it out.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

4/5 Stars
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Colin Farrell
Classification: PG

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is wonderful. This whole story is based off of one of Harry Potter's textbooks. J.K. Rowling has said that as she was writing the textbook, Newt Scamander began forming an identity in her mind. This is fascinating to me. Of course, I'm also happy I get to revisit the wizarding community once again.

I was not sure how this story would play out, but of course I was willing to give it a chance. The twist at the end did catch me off guard and I am looking forward to the sequels. The monsters we are introduced to are beautiful and there is such a humanity to them. More so than the actual humans in the story.

This new story is set for a total of five films. J.K. Rowling wrote the script for this one and hopefully she will write the others as only she can truly explain those parts of the wizarding world we haven't seen. I loved that we got to see the American wizarding community. It is fantastically different from the modern, English world we are used to seeing. David Yates, who also directed the last four films in the Harry Potter franchise, brings 1920s New York to life.

The story opens with Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arriving on Ellis Island with a suitcase full of magical creatures which is illegal in the United States magical world. New York and MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) are quickly turned upside down as some of Newt's creatures escape.

He is arrested but not before becoming friends with ex-Auror Tina (Katherine Waterston) her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) and a no-maj Jacob (Dan Fogler). There are also an array of other characters we are introduced to.

The beasts in this film are truly fantastic. We get glimpses of nifflers, bowtruckles and demi guises amongst others.

As Newt goes after his creatures he and his friends become involved in other plots including one involving an obscurus and Gellert Grindelwald, the famed evil wizard.

The film is magical. After Newt befriends Jacob, they both head down into Newt's suitcase. It is filled with magical creatures and they all have room to roam about. It feels good to be back in the magical world and as long as it continues existing, I will continue to be amazed by it.

Tarzan of the Apes (Tarzan, #1) by Edgar Rice Burroughs

“I do not understand exactly what you mean by fear," said Tarzan. "Like lions, fear is a different thing in different men, but to me the only pleasure in the hunt is the knowledge that the hunted thing has power to harm me as much as I have to harm him. If I went out with a couple of rifles and a gun bearer, and twenty or thirty beaters, to hunt a lion, I should not feel that the lion had much chance, and so the pleasure of the hunt would be lessened in proportion to the increased safety which I felt."

One of the advantages of reading is that I can distract myself from the things that are worrying me. Right now, I'm worried about the upcoming election. As I await the results of the election, I feel a deep pit in my stomach. I hate that there is one candidate who makes me feel this way. I pray that that candidate does NOT win. I digress. This is my first time reading Tarzan of the Apes. Of course, I had heard of the popular character my entire life. It was a story I had never wanted to read. I decided to finally check it out mainly because the film came out this year.

Tarzan of the Apes; courtesy of wikimedia

As I read the introduction, I knew to be prepared with less that accurate descriptions of native Africans. It is obvious this was written in the early 1900s. Published in 1912, there are many racist tones in the novel. While it is incredibly offensive, I can overlook this due to the time it was written although I do not approve. Tarzan is a product of his time. The native Africans are depicted as savage cannibals. This is definitely a time when there was a superior race as I will discuss further.

Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan; courtesy of Amazon

Tarzan is born to upper class parents from England. After his parents die, a female ape mourning the death of her infant finds Tarzan and starts caring for him as her own. Despite the other apes' disdain of the human child, he thrives and becomes one of the strongest members. As he grows older, Tarzan discovers the cabin where he was born and becomes intrigued by it. He explores the cabin and finds his children's books. Miraculously he learns how to read just by studying the letters and pictures in the books. Being a straight, white man he has the ability to do this apparently. 

Tarzan of the Apes; Courtesy of Open Monthly Letters

Jane is a damsel in distress always accompanied by her equally offensive mammy. Some minor characters are killed off in different ways and Tarzan is always there to save them. He swings through the forest with Jane in his arm as though she weighed no more than a feather. After he rescues Jane she is smitten. He has no way of communicating with her though as he can read and write  English, but can not speak it. Of course, Jane is willing to overlook this.

The Edition I read; Courtesy of Literary Fictions

This could be the end of the story as most film adaptations end here, but it doesn't. Instead Jane returns to America (She's American. Who knew?) where she is engaged to marry an awful suitor. When Tarzan finds out she is gone he decides he must return to her. He learns to speak French from D'Arnot a man he saved and is helping him get to America. From there, he begins to learn English. Tarzan can speak elephant and ape, who could resist such a man?

Tarzan; Courtesy of Library Thing

Despite the racist humor and stereotyping, I found myself enjoying this novel. This is the most popular literary character raised by animals. Tarzan has a hard time believing he is completely human. Yes, the racial portrayals are awful but you have to give Burroughs' credit. He could easily have made only the black characters awful especially given the time. There are some white characters who are greedy and terrible people. The animals are also given the same treatment. Kala is one of the best literary mothers written. The gorillas she lives with are vindictive and only spare Tarzan due to the respect they have for his mother. The overall message of Tarzan is that man is inherently good and are only corrupted when exposed to civilization. Edgar Rice Burroughs' characters are fleshed out for the most part. 

All Story Magazine Cover; Courtesy of ERBzine

The first story in the Tarzan series ends on a cliffhanger. None of the major problems in the story are resolved. As such the story continues for twenty-five more novels.

Tarzan is one of those characters that you grow up knowing about. He's been in everything from films to television shows to video games. My mom grew up watching a television show about Tarzan. My generation had the animated Disney film. This generation has the latest Tarzan film starring Alexander Skarsgard. 

Tarzan of the Apes; Courtesy of Mana Pop

I'm not sure when the next time we'll see Tarzan again will be. I'm also not sure I'll continue the series. It was good and I enjoyed reading this adventure, but there are other books to be read and other series to be discovered.

The only film adaptation I have seen is the animated Disney film. That adaptation is nothing like the book. To begin with, Sabor is a lioness and not a leopard. Small detail, but still interesting. Disney did portray Tarzan as intelligent. Whatever the case, it is interesting to see how this man raised by apes turned out to be. There are themes that relate to the modern world. Edgar Rice Burroughs may have misrepresented some people, but he does have some messages he is trying to send out about humans in general. It may not be interesting to some people, but I say check Tarzan out. 

It was a good story and it kept me distracted. I must return to the real world now.

The Addams Family (1991)

Genre: Horror, comedy; Starring: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Dan Hedaya, Carol Struychen; Director: Barry Sonnenfeld; Rating: PG-13

I don't know much about The Addams Family. My boyfriend loves this film and when our local AMC showed it he jumped at the chance to show it to me. 

I don't know if the actors portrayed the characters as originally intended, but I enjoyed the cast and had fun watching them Morticia (Anjelica Huston) is sultry. Raul Julia plays Gomez and he appears to be having the time of his life in the role. Christopher Lloyd who plays Fester is silly. Christina Ricci as Wednesday is the best, though. She delivers her lines perfectly.

The story itself is kind of complicated. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the film follows the Addams family lawyer as he seeks money to pay back some debts he has. Knowing the Addams family is rich, he comes up with a scheme to convince the family that they are being reunited with long lost family member Fester. While it is funny to see the macabre family interact with the rest of the world, it does get predictable.

My first romp with the Addams family was fun. However, I do wish the characters had been fleshed out more. The characters play off of each other wonderfully, but they were missing some more interactions with members outside of their home.  3/5 stars

Colonia (2016)

3.5/5 stars

This film is inspired by Colonia Dignidad started by Nazi pedophile Paul Schafer. Schafer fled to Chile and began the religious cult. It's a place I had never heard about, but one I want to research now. It's shocking getting a glimpse into what life was like in this place. Emma Watson is fantastic. 

Lena (Emma Watson) a stewardess reunites with her German boyfriend Daniel (Daniel Bruhl) in Chile. Daniel is an activist fighting against Communism until General Pinochet assumes power. He is captured, tortured and brought to Colonia Dignidad. Here the men and women lead separate with Schafer (Michael Nyqvist) saying it is to keep everyone from feeling and experiencing impure thoughts. Despite the dangers, Lena joins the cult in order to rescue Daniel.

It was a thrilling watch and it is obvious why Watson chose this role. Lena is a strong woman and Watson brings her talent and intelligence to the role.

The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Universal Pictures 
Rated: PG (Action and some rude humor)
Running time: 91 minutes
3.5/5 Stars

I know I'm late in reviewing this flick, but the only way I can review as frequently as I do is by visiting the dollar theaters. Of course the films shown there are no longer new releases. Anyway, a few days ago I saw The Secret Life of Pets.

Usually when I go to the movies with my mom we do go to the regular theaters. Sometimes though, a movie we've both wanting to see eludes us until it hits the lower priced theaters. This has been on my "to watch" list since I first saw the previews several months ago. Ever since I adopted my dog Voldemort, my love and interest in animals has been reawakened. (Of course it never died, but having a pet makes you see things differently. I digress.)

My mom has been equally interested in seeing this film. Illumination, the company behind Despicable Me, created this film and I was happy to see them produce something with no minions to be found. This wasn't exactly the film I was expecting, but the voice cast makes up for it and the characters are too cute it's easy to forgive them.

The basic premise is not necessarily an original one. A dog's world is turned upside down when his owner adopts a new dog. He does not want to share his owner and decides this new dog must go. While we do get a glimpse into what these pets do when their owners are not home, it is a small one. Apparently pets have more secretive lives than we thought. Or rather, the animals that stop being pets are the real secret ones.

It is a simple story. There is nothing particularly special about it, but it is charming. It is directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney and they have managed to make New York more colorful that it usually is. It's fun to watch, but don't expect the next Oscar contending animated film. Of course that does not make it a bad film. It's colorful. The action never slows down.

As I keep mentioning, the plot isn't what I was expecting. Max (Louis C.K.) is a dog who is loyal and happy with his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper). They live in a small apartment in Manhattan and when Katie leaves for work, Max wants nothing more than to wait by the door anticipating her return. While he does have other animal friends including Gidget (Jenny Slate), Mel (Bobby Moynihan) and Chloe (Lake Bell) he tends to ignore them for the door Katie left through.

One day, Katie brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet) and he makes himself right at home. After a dog walker loses sight of them, they become lost in the big city and must work together to find their way home. During their journey they come across former pets who have been abandoned led by the bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart).

We are led through all different parts of New York City as the animals try to either make their way home or take revenge on humans for having abandoned them. That's the story. Snowball wants Max and Duke to join his revenge idea, but they don't want to. Max's friends from his apartment all come looking for him.

The stand out character is Tiberius (Albert Brooks). I didn't even recognize Brooks in that role. He's a hilarious character with a lot of heart. He starts off as a killer, but turns out he has a heart of gold.

Of course it's always great when there are strong female characters and this one has several.

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Emily Blunt in The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train takes mostly takes place in a village near New York City. The characters involved in the central plot live right next to New York's Metro-North railway line. They are within walking distance of the Ardsley-on-Hudson station.

The story focuses on three women. Megan (Haley Bennett) is a married woman. Her husband insists on them having a child and this frustrates her to no end as she is not ready to have one.

Anna (Rebecca Ferguson) is the new wife to Rachel's ex-husband. Things started off as an affair between the two and it's possible that the cycle is repeating itself.

Rachel (Emily Blunt) is an alcoholic. She had the "perfect" life until alcoholism ruined her marriage and now she must see her husband's' new happy family every time she commutes into the city.

Rachel's life is now miserable. She is struggling with her alcoholism, living in her friend's spare room, and commuting into the city in order to seem like she has a job she lost a year ago due to her drinking. Megan lives two doors down from Rachel's old home and during her commute she gets glimpses into Megan's life. She can compare the life she thinks Megan and her husband have while constantly being reminded of the life she used to have with ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux).

Movie poster for The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train is based off of Paula Hawkins' novel of the same name and is directed by Tate Taylor (The Help). It's hard not to compare this film to Gone Girl as they are similar. They both feature a missing woman (Megan) and an unreliable narrator (Rachel).

Rachel is the main character and having no recollection of the night Megan disappears, she struggles with the idea that she may somehow be involved in her disappearance. The flow of the narrative takes some getting used to, but once the story gets rolling it does become more interesting. We discover that Megan's husband is emotionally abusive and there is also the possibility she was sleeping with her therapist (Edgar Ramirez). While the film is thrilling for the most part, it's easy to figure out the culprit and it's not as suspenseful as it can be.

The film seems to focus more on the women and the roles they are expected to perform in their lives and how they deal with those failures. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it would be more interesting to focus on either those feelings or the disappearance.

Emily Blunt in The Girl on the Train

Justin Theroux does an okay job at being the object of Anna and Rachel's desires. He's sweet, but you never quite trust him. His performance wasn't subtle enough for me.

In the end though the main villains end up being the women. Megan doesn't fit in with the other women of the community. Anna started off as Tom's mistress and has no problem becoming his new wife in the home he Rachel had together. Anna also turns on Megan once she quits as Anna's nanny. Rachel hates herself and her life.

Blunt is fantastic, as always, in this role. She is a mess and she captures Rachel's essence perfectly. She drinks to forget her problems, hates herself for doing so, then drinks some more to forget that she hates herself. She captures Rachel's ache for the life she once had and the life the thinks Megan has. She is hands down the best part of the film.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Unfortunately Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one of the few young adult novels I have not read. Okay, I have not read a lot of young adult novels, but in turns of those being adapted into films I am pretty solid. Anyway, this review will be based on the film itself with no comparisons to the novel thrown in.

Tim Burton directs the adaptation. It is right up his alley as the story follows a group of "peculiars" living in a time loop. The film is 124 minutes long and of course, is visually stunning. There is a lot to explain and it does seem like the film is desperate to put as much exposition as it can which oddly enough makes it feel rushed. Still you care about the characters and their journey. Although whenever  you are dealing with time, there can never be enough explanation to tie things up cleanly.

The film follows Jake Portman (Asa Butterfield who is surprisingly not interesting in this role) an ordinary boy living an ordinary life. He grew up listening to wild tales told by his grandfather Abe (Terence Stamp), but is convinced they are nothing more than that. His grandfather is hurt by this but does not push his stories any further. When his grandfather is attacked it seems as though the stories actually hold truth in them.

As I said, there is a lot of details that are probably in the novel and in trying to fit everything in, it feels rushed. Jake makes it to Wales to search for the home and after a day of searching is able to find it. Miss Peregrine, played by Eva Green, runs the home and is strict, but loving. The peculiar children all have powers: superhuman strength, invisibility, the ability to control air, the ability to project dreams through your eyes, the ability to have live bees inside you, and others. They are remarkable children and Jake adjusts to the new environment easily.

Miss Peregrine is visually stunning and is filled with Tim Burton's aesthetic. There are monsters with wide mouths and no eyes. The twins that live within the home have burlap, clown sacks covering their heads. A former living member of the household who is missing his eyes. You remain on the edge of your seat the more you learn about the children and the dangers they face. The final battle takes place in modern times in a snow covered theme park and there is no other way to describe it than awesome.

The film also has a star studded cast. Allison Janney and Judi Dench make cameo but memorable appearances. Samuel L. Jackson plays the villain and he is as campy as ever. It is a little jarring as the rest of the film has more of a serious tone. However, it's Samuel L. Jackson doing what he does best and there is nothing wrong with that. 

Miss Peregrine is a fun ride that can be a bit hard to understand the overall concept, but that is always an issue when dealing with time. I will never tire of Burton's visions and while not all his films are great, they will always be gorgeous to look at. The children all have cool powers, but there is not enough time to get to know them all. Bronwyn, Victor, Emma, Millard, and Enoch all have a moment to show their peculiarities, but that is what you get attached to not the actual characters. Miss Peregrine is there to keep them safe and it is obvious she does her job well. If only there were more time to get to know all the characters while not feeling brushed over or rushed, then the film would be even better.

Moonwalkers (2015)

3/5 stars
Rated R
1 hour, 47 minutes

Many people think the moon landing never actually occurred and was a hoax to build up morale in a nation in the midst of a cold war. This film explores the idea of the US government having a back up plan in case the astronauts never actually made it to the moon. Ron Perlman's CIA agent is sent to England to deliver a case full of cash to Stanley Kubrick so that he may make a fake moon landing as a plan B. Instead the money ends up in the hands of struggling band manager Rupert Grint and shenanigans ensue. It's a fun film. It's also jumpy, hectic and vulgar and it detracts from the overall fun. This could have been a hilarious film, but it ends up being funny and only okay. The performances make it all worth it.

Nine Lives (2016)

Rated PG -87 minutes

A businessman (Kevin Spacey) is a workaholic is too busy to spend time with his wife and daughter ends up being stuck inside the body of his daughter's cat. No one understands how Spacey ended up tied to this project especially as this is a story that has been done to death and boils down to pee and neutering jokes. Barry Sonnenfeld directs and also stars Jennifer Garner, Christopher Walken, and Robbie Amell - all do the best they can with the material.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Site: www.ninelivesmovie.com
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer: Lisa Elizey, Jonathan Vanger, Claude Leger, Mark Gao and Gregory Ouanhon
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Robbie Amell, Cheryl Hines, Malina Weissman, Christopher Walken and Mark Consuelos

No Manches Frida (2016)

Voy a decir que me cae bien Omar Chaparro y si me hace reir.

Pero en esta película fue una historia diferente.

Es la misma formula que siempre: la mujer es tensa y una nerd, y el hombre es rudo pero resulta tener corazón de oro.

Los dos actores principales hacen bien su papel, pero es una historia contada una y otra vez.

Conocemos primero a Zeki Alcantara (Omar Chaparro) quien acaba de salir de prision y quiere recuperar un dinero que dejo con su novia. Se da cuenta que su dinero fue enterrado en el patio de una escuela y se ha construido un gimnasio arriba de ese local, entonces forma plan de hacerse maestro sustituto para tener acceso a la escuela. Ahi conoce a la profesora Lucy (Martha Higareda) quien le empieza complicar la vida especialmente cuando lo pone encargo de los estudiantes peores de la escuela. Claro, esto resulta en un entendimiento mutual entre estudiantes y maestro.

Es similar a otras películas de recientes años en donde el maestro rudo es el único que puede hacer diferencia en las vidas de los niños problemáticos.

Como pueden ver no me gusto tanto la película y los chistes carecían de tacto. Muchas de las escenas eran básicamente lo mismo que otras películas similares. No se que es la razón. A la mejor pensaban que nadie se daría cuenta.

Aparte de Chaparro y Higareda también tenemos actuaciones por Fernanda Castillo como una maestra que le importa mas su imagen que la educación de sus estudiantes, Monica Dione como la directora, Adal Ramones como el maestro de actuación, y Raquel Garza como una maestra que se trata de matar. Pero estas partes son mas como camafeos que la historia principal se enfoca en Zeki y Lucy.

No Manches Frida es tonta y ofensiva y a mi en lo personal no me hizo reir. Es una película echa para tratar de hacer reir a la gente. No la recomiendo.

-Lluvia Almanza
Twitter: @lluvia_almanza
Pagina de internet: lluviaalmanza.com

Gleason (2016)

4.5/5 stars
Rated: R for language

Former New Orleans Saints defensive back Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 34. Six weeks after his diagnosis, he and his wife Michel learn they are expecting their first child. As ALS patients are usually given two to five years of life after their diagnosis, Gleason begins making video journals for his son. His goal: to pass on as much of himself to his son in case the worst is to come.

Gleason became known for blocking a punt from the Atlanta Falcons shortly into the first quarter of the Saints' return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. After his diagnosis, he used his celebrity to bring attention to ALS. He started "Team Gleason", an organization that raised money for the benefit of those with ALS. When those affected by ALS were being denied voice boxes, he paid for them until President Obama passed the Steve Gleason act which ensured Medicare covered their voice boxes expenses.

He dedicates a lot of time to Team Gleason at the expense of his health and time spent with his family. Ultimately he decides to remain a part of the organization, but he and Michel are not as involved in order to spend more time with each other and their son, Rivers. Gleason is not afraid to share any part of his deterioration. It is difficult to watch, but you come out being more educated about ALS. He shares intimate details about his relationships especially the one with his father. Growing up they had a rocky relationship and after his diagnosis he decides to make things right between the two of them.

Michel is fearless and you have to admire her strength. Things are difficult for the Gleasons, but they continue to fight together.

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Suicide Squad (2016)

Everyone has seen the low ratings this film has gotten from critics. No, this film did not deserve to be bashed as much as it has been. A lower rating than "Man of Steel"? Yeah... definitely not!

This is one of the better DC films I have seen, and I believe it has the rating it has because it is a DC film. Critics love to hate DC and love Marvel.

Written and directed by David Ayer, the story follows several DC villains as they are recruited to fight an evil plaguing Midway City. The characters are fun, though it is apparent who the favorites are as they get more screen time and backstory. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when the most interesting thing about these characters is what made them who they are, it's disappointing to not get as intimate a glimpse as some of the others. There was also a lot of emphasis on the fact that these are villains. Yet, they act like super heroes as opposed to people who are up to no good. Yes, they are a team, but as villains I would think they would have their own interests in mind as opposed to that of the greater good. 

The suicide squad is made up of Deadshot (Will Smith) the best hitman in the world; Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) the Arkham Asylum psychiatrist turned Joker's (Jared Leto) girlfriend; the boomerang wielding Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney); Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) a man who looks like a dangerous reptile and is treated as such and El Diablo (Jay Hernandez) a gang member who has the ability to produce fire.

Also in the film are Katana (Karen Fukuhara) who is not a criminal but is there to help the leader of the group Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman) keep control of the squad. They must battle Enchantress who has taken control of Rick's girlfriend June Moone (Cara Delevingne). There are a lot of characters and I'm not even done mentioning them all.

All the other characters are quick cameos or killed off for no other purpose than to prove a point. The only other notable character is Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). Davis is one of the standout performances. She is devious, powerful and fearless. You never know if you should trust her or not. Waller has gained control over Enchantress, but when Enchantress escapes her clutches she sends the Suicide Squad to defeat Enchantress. Enchantress was once worshipped as a goddess, but after being forgotten for thousands of years she decides she must destroy the human race. 

There are a lot of characters and most of them could have been written out of the story easily. Deadshot and Harley have quickly become fan favorites. Deadshot is a cool character, but it was essentially Will Smith doing Will Smith. Margot Robbie is awesome as Harley Quinn and I think that's why she's so popular. Harley is an intriguing character in her own right, but I feel as though she was underused in this film in term of her abilities. Characters keep mentioning she's crazy and she's known to use weapons such as oversized wooden mallets or boxing glove guns. Cartoony, but they are the character. Instead she is stuck with a bat and a gun (which is fine since she is known for her firearms skills) and though she does fight, there's nothing particularly intimidating about her especially since there was so much build up and even shots of what she does to some of the guards that get too close to her. She is a fun character, but mostly Margot Robbie was used for eye candy which is a shame since she proved she could do much more. 

Oddly enough I didn't find the action sequences very interesting. I found the backstories compelling and wanted to see more of what these characters were thinking and feeling. Once they were sent into battle I lost interest, gained it when they were having drinks in the bar, and lost it when they went into battle again. The final battle was okay at most. I did enjoy seeing the full extent of Diablo's powers, but overall the villains' plan was tiring and recycled. This is how many times now we've seen villains build a magnetic field that is meant to destroy the earth?

I don't feel like counting, but it's a lot and it kept the film from being as fun and compelling as it could have been. 

The BFG (2016)

Ruby Barnhill and the BFG in a scene from the film.

Steven Spielberg  directs The BFG based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) is an eight-year-old orphan from London who is taken from her bed in the middle of the night by the bfg (voiced by Mark Rylance). Sophie spots the bfg through the window and fearing she'll reveal his existence he takes her to his cave in giant country.

The giant, of course, is a big, friendly giant. She is scared at first and wants to go home, but after being with him for a while she is more than happy to stay with him. The other giants who live in giant country love to eat human "beans". The other giants suspect Sophie's presence so she is constantly having to hide in a moments notice.

The bfg spends his time collecting dreams so that he may blow them into the homes of children. He also collects nightmares to keep them from children, but this gives Sophie the idea to give the Queen of England (Penelope Wilton) a terrifying nightmare that will make her believe giants are real this causing her to do something about them.

Spielberg is a mastermind. He has proven he has a sense of wonder in his past films. Even now, his films aimed at children prove to be nothing short of magical.

The source material of The BFG is a little bit darker yet more childish in a way. This adaptation is more family-friendly, yet the bfg and Sophie seem more well-developed. While this film flopped in the States (apparently Americans are not fans of acronyms) over seas the film did well and will probably have more of an overall impact on those children. Changes were made to the source material, and while I disagreed with some of them, overall the film was more interesting. It's fun to see the bfg interact with Sophie. He is more child like than she is, but is wise. Sophie is a brave girl and is not afraid to do what is right.

Spielberg knows what he is doing. Although the comical moments aren't truly funny until the bfg and Sophie find themselves present in Buckingham palace. The other moments meant to make you laugh seem forced. Barnhill is a newcomer and does a fine job. She is strict, but open to feeling those tender moments. However, at times she does seem a little to strict for an eight-year-old.

Rylance is superb as the giant. He is scared of the world he lives in. He sees the world as mainly tough with children providing him his happiness. He represents the cynic in all of us.

The film is fun, and the adaptation provides more room for suspense. Sophie finds herself in danger more often than not while she was always safe in the novel. This makes the tender moments more wonderful. We have two characters who are fighting for what is right. There is more to the characters than meets the eye.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
Rated PG for action/peril, some scary moments and rude humor

The Immigrant (1917)

4/5 stars

Charlie Chaplin is on a boat.

Divided into two parts, the first half takes place on a boat where immigrants are making their way to the United States. This makes for funny visual gags.

The film itself is incredibly political. The immigrants catch sight of the Statue of Liberty, but are immediately roped off and pushed for actual documentation before they can get on land. This is not a happy story as they next half is titled: "Hungry and Broke".

Chaplin's character meets a female immigrant (Edna Purviance) on the ship and meets her again while grabbing dinner at a restaurant. He finds a coin which is how he planned on paying for dinner, but he discovers that he lost the coin due to a hole in his pocket and more shenanigans ensue as he tries to stall the waiter as long as possible.

Chaplin is a wonderful master of comedy. He is able to handle comedy in subtle ways. There's a moment in which the female immigrant's mother loses her money and he generously gives them his. When I say generously I mean he gives them the money, takes it back to keep some, then gives it back again. It's hilarious.

It did end awkwardly. Chaplin's character forces the female immigrant into marriage. It's meant to be funny, but nowadays it's off putting.

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

Having seen 2010's Alice in Wonderland and seeing all the creative liberties it took, I knew this one would do the same. However, this film has absolutely nothing to do with its source material except that Alice steps inside a mirror. Anyway, that's beside the point. It needed to be stated. In case anyone was expecting a loyal adaptation of the novel, though I highly doubt it.

Alice Kingsleigh is back after six years in Alice Through the Looking Glass. It's predecessor got hype as it was a Tim Burton film, but it left a sour taste in many people's mouths. This film does lose some of the whimsy and some of the actors look like they'd rather be doing something else. I was surprised to see Alice get a sequel. While the first film made money, it got horrible critical and audience reviews. While I didn't like the first one, I didn't hate the sequel.

Mia Wasikowska reprises her role as Alice as she returns to Underland to help save the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). He is dying since no one will believe his family is still alive. Alice decides to go back in time to prevent their deaths and in order to do so she must borrow Time's (Sacha Baron Cohen) chronosphere. Cohen's portrayal of Time is a little bit different from his usual shenanigans, but it seemed like he was desperately trying to fit them in somehow. The whole film is about time travel. The original cast is back including Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter. Out of all them, I felt Anne Hathaway truly wished she was not a part of this film.

The film is different from usual time traveling stories as the past truly cannot be changed in this one. However, it is not as visually appealing as Tim Burton's film. The sequel is directed by James Bobin and while I didn't mind the direction of the film, it did seem like he tried to capture the essence of Burton, but was unable to succeed. The sets are Burtonesque, but the whimsy isn't there. The original actors (sans Hathaway) know how to capture the spirit of their characters since they had played them before, but Baron Cohen seems at a loss for what to do.

Overall, I found the sequel enjoyable and I know I'm in the minority. Johnny Depp is a talented actor. There's no doubt about that, but people have criticized his performance in this film saying it's not his best. I don't disagree, but I don't necessarily agree either. His performances have started to blend in with one another. It's hard to tell the difference between his Mad Hatter from his Jack Sparrow from his Tonto. He likes to have fun, but it seems like he is tired of these characters. He is an actor waiting on his next paycheck. Alice Through the Looking Glass is better than other sequels. It is another film waiting to be watched by people who want to see other things on the silver screen. When you are presented with the same thing over and over again, there's nothing you can do, but fork over your money.

Rating: 3/5

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

Oh my goodness! This will be short and sweet and to the point so that I may keep the secrets. This was, of course, a wonderful addition to the story. However, I am finding it difficult to consider this an official part of the series. I must see the play in person now!

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Poster for "X-Men: Apocalypse"

The third installment of Bryan Singer's X-Men prequels is here. James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender return to reprise their roles. New characters are introduced to the series making fans of the X-Men excited for the possibilities.

While there are some good elements to the film, it fell flat in other areas. The hype was high for this film, but once it premiered, nothing was said about it. "X-Men: Apocalypse" was not a bad film. The group of people I went to watch it with, all enjoyed it and they are fans of the characters and comics albeit they are not hardcore fan boys. I know nothing about the comics and while I do enjoy superhero films, if you've read my previous reviews, you know I'm not enthusiastic about them either.

This film was not memorable. Oscar Isaac as Apocalypse was okay, but most of his screen time was spent talking about how great and powerful he was. Isaac has proved to be capable of much more. The prequel trilogy had a good start, a powerful middle and an ending that didn't seem sure of what to do with itself. Overall, I found the film to be okay.

I promise I'm not bashing on the film as it did keep me entertained. However, the film was easily forgotten as it had none of the controversy (since that can be a good thing) of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice", although this film is the superior of the two. "Captain America: Civil War" was an outstanding film and there's no way this film held a candle to its Marvel rival. This film's biggest crime was premiering when it had to compete with a hyped up DC film and an awesome (but different) Marvel film. It was easy for it to fade into the shadows.

Once again, Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto (Michael Fassbender), switches from good to evil to back again just as he has done in the previous two films. Erik is living in Poland ten years after his failed attempt to take over the world. This film does introduce a lot in a short period of time and it does feel rushed. Anyway, it's while he is living in Poland that Erik experiences something that makes him go from good to bad. There are cool elements to the film, but small details like this make Bryan Singer's trilogy tiring.

The main thing the film does is introduce new characters and re-introduce the audience to old ones. It's cool to see new characters interact with fan favorites and think about the possibilities of future collaborations. In this film we are introduced to Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and we get more acquainted with fan favorite Quicksilver (Evan Peters). With so many characters to meet it's easy to see why Singer skips over their backstories and even quickens Erik's transformation.

Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) is back in this film, although I had forgotten she was ever in the series at all. Singer makes sure to show flashback to "X-Men: First Class", but those didn't help. Angel (Ben Hardy) and Psylocke (Olivia Munn) are in this film as well and they were disappointing additions to the film. This brings us to the main problem of the film: the villains. The only reason Magneto isn't as lame as Apocalypse and the other "horsemen" is because he's been in the series since the beginning with Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and Charles Xavier (James McAvoy).

At the beginning we see Egyptians succeeding in destroying the pyramid where Apocalypse is transferring himself into a new body. When he reawakens, he seems terrifying as the first act of evil we see him do is decapitate people with sand and bury them into walls of buildings. After that though, Oscar Isaac is only left to talk about how powerful he is. Isaac is talented and does it well, but it makes for an uninteresting villain. There was a lot of buildup for this guy as he had been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians and nothing exciting happened.

The Wolverine cameo was cool. The film was too, but it suffered from rushed character development and boring villains.

Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

It's been 12 years since the last Barbershop film, but the latest installment manages to bring back the majority of the actors from its predecessors. The titular barbershop is located in Chicago's Southside, and as a father Calvin (Ice Cube) must deal with the escalating violence and the possibility that his son may join one of the city's gangs. Director Malcolm D. Lee handles the subject with grace while also promoting the idea that many strides can be made for social progress by the average individual wanting to see change. Of course, the main heart of the story comes from the barbers and their clients as they discuss race and sex in poignant but funny ways.

Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Producer: Robert Teitel, George Tillman Jr., Ice Cube, Malcolm D. Lee, Becki Trujillo, Ronald Muhammad, and Jeff Kwatinetz
Cast: Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Anthony Anderson, Jazmin Lewis-Kelley, JB Smoove, Common, Nicki Minaj, Lamorne Morris, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Margot Bingham, Deon Cole, Troy Garity, Michael Rainey Jr., Diallo Thompson, Tyga, Jamal Woolard, and Renell Gibbs

Miracles From Heaven (2016)

Genre: Drama, faith
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, Martin Henderson, John Carroll Lynch, Brighton Sharbino
Director: Patricia Riggen
Release Date: March 16, 2016
Runtime: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG

Miracles From Heaven is the latest faith-based film starring Jennifer Garner as Christy Beam whose daughter gets cured from an incurable disease by a God given miracle. Based on true events, Beam's daughter fall 30 feet down a tree and the trauma heals her intestinal disease.

Initially Beam is told her daughter is lactose intolerant or having a bad case of acid reflux, but Beam isn't convinced and pushes for additional testing. When the real problem is revealed, she and her daughter Anna, travel to Boston to meet with the best pediatric gastroenterologist in the country. Dr. Nurko treats Anna until she is miraculously cured. The circumstances in the film may be hard to believe, but that is the main message.

Overall the film is one that makes the audience feel good. Jennifer Garner delivers a strong performance as a mother desperate for answers as she sees her daughter suffering.

This film is certainly meant for a specific audience. It is a feel good film meant to tell a true story. Whether it is believable not is up to the audience to decide.

4/5 stars

The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)

Charlize Theron reprises her role as Ravenna, the evil queen from the film Snow White and the Huntsman. Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as Eric the Huntsman. Joining them in the film are Jessica Chastain as Sara, Eric's wife and fellow Huntsman, and Emily Blunt as Queen Freya, an Elsa wannabe. With a cast this good, there were high expectations for this film.

Plans for a Snow White and the Huntsman sequel had been announced, but the whole lead actress/director cheating scandal were revealed and Rupert Sanders was immediately fired from directing its sequel. While nothing was ever said of Kristen Stewart being fired from the project, her Snow White is only mentioned and seen briefly in this prequel/sequel. Whether the scandal changed the nature of the sequel may never be known, the film focuses solely on the Huntsman. In fact, the Huntsman is the only character from the original film to get majority of the screen time. Ravenna is reduced to the beginning and ending the film with the new characters getting more of the focus.

The Huntsman: Winter's War is a prequel and a sequel as it tells the story of the huntsman getting his training years before helping Snow White defeat the evil queen. He and the other huntsmen were child soldiers enlisted by Ravenna's sister, Queen Freya. While Freya is cool, her powers are overshadowed by Disney's Elsa. Elsa is still on audience's radar and any ice queen to come after Elsa will be given unfair comparisons. It's a shame as Emily Blunt does a fine job as the ice queen, but her powers seem like a gimmick to draw fans of the Disney queen into this film.

Eric and Sara (Chastain) fall in love and after years of fighting for the queen decide to leave her kingdom together. Freya hates love and decides to kill Sara and exile Eric. After the exile, we fast forward seven years. Ravenna has been defeated and Snow White rules the South. Freya decides to steal her sister's mirror in order to be all powerful and able to conquer Snow White's kingdom. The film should have stuck to being either a prequel or a sequel, not both as this added unnecessary plot elements.

The film constantly has to explain loose threads in the story to keep it cohesive. It's an interesting story, but one that does try hard at times to be cool.

The Huntsman: Winter's War is directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan. While he makes the film visually interesting, there are other things that needed to be fixed. Charlize Theron is a wonderful actress, but she seemed stuck in playing evil and nothing else. Other great talents, namely the dwarves, were reduced to nothing more than comedic relief when it's obvious they could have added more overall fun to the film.

It is possible this is not the sequel the filmmakers planned to make when they wrapped Snow White and the Huntsman. The story could have worked better had the cast had more material to work with and had the storytellers decided to focus on one thing or another. As it is, the film tries too hard to keep the story tied to the original instead of focusing on the Huntsman's story no matter where it led.