Saturday, March 23, 2019

Quick Review: US...

Red (Lupita Nyong'o) confronts Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o) in Jordan Peele's US.

So I saw Academy Award winner Jordan Peele's newest horror flick today. What Us lacks in scares, it makes up for in humor, likeable characters and a high concept (like the Happy Death Day movies). Us is similar to Stephen King's IT in that it deals with mysterious, homicidal beings (though in IT, it's an inter-dimensional monster that haunts the small town of Derry) who reside inside underground tunnels and sewers. But it isn't just children that these doppelgängers (dubbed Shadows) threaten—which is indicated in the TV spots and movie trailer. By the film's climax, we see that the California city of Santa Cruz (where the story takes place) won't be the only town to be affected by the Shadows. Will we see the nationwide aftermath of the invasion in an Us 2? Speaking more about the movie's climax, we'll overlook the fact that you can see the big twist from a mile away!

The gist of this review: Jordan Peele comes up with the most intriguing ideas for horror flicks... I look forward to seeing what he conjures up next for the big screen (not necessarily Us 2)! I like how Us integrates the instrumentals of Luniz's 1995 hip-hop song I Got 5 on It in its music score by Michael Abels, and I seriously think that Lupita Nyong'o should get an Oscar nomination for her dual performance as Adelaide Wilson and Red. Carry on.

Friday, March 8, 2019

Quick Review: CAPTAIN MARVEL...

Brie Larson as Carol Danvers in CAPTAIN MARVEL.

So a few hours ago, I watched Captain Marvel, Marvel Studios' first film release of 2019, and the theatrical precursor to next month's Avengers: Endgame—and here are my notes:

- I like how the opening Marvel logo honors the late and great Stan Lee. I was wondering how the first Marvel Studios release since Lee's passing last year would honor the legendary Marvel creator...

- I like the twists in the film (especially in regards to Mar-Vell's true identity) and how Carol Danvers getting her powers is obviously different from what the trailers showed us...

- I like how Captain Marvel fully explains why Nick Fury created The Avengers Initiative (and of course, why he wears that eye patch)—though this contradicts the 2011 Captain America flick being titled Captain America: The First Avenger...when he apparently wasn't (at least in regards to who motivated Fury to come up with the name for this SHIELD program in the first place; Steve Rogers was still buried in Arctic ice at the time)!

- The Avengers: Endgame-related end credits scene is reason enough to see this movie again! Along with Brie Larson, Lashana Lynch and company being such badasses in this film. Happy International Women's Day!

Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) prepare to board their fighter jets at a U.S. air force base in CAPTAIN MARVEL.

Carol Danvers dons her Kree battle helmet in CAPTAIN MARVEL.

Carol Danvers powers up in CAPTAIN MARVEL.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Quick Review: APOLLO 11...

The theatrical movie poster for APOLLO 11.

Earlier today, I saw the Todd Douglas Miller-directed documentary Apollo 11 in IMAX at an AMC Theatre in Orange County, CA. All I can say is, moon landing hoaxers and conspiracy theorists in general need to watch this film ASAP. Lots of never-before-seen footage and photos taken during the 8-day mission almost 50 years ago provide compelling evidence that "one giant leap for mankind" was indeed made on July 20, 1969...and three astronauts, along with 400,000 folks at various NASA centers around America, made this amazing feat happen.

The last day to watch Apollo 11 in IMAX at mainstream movie theaters is tomorrow (to clear the way for Captain Marvel's arrival the next day), but the film opens in wide release this Friday, March 8. Watch this movie when it does!

Digitally-restored NASA footage of the Saturn V rocket that sent three astronauts to the Moon on July 16, 1969...as seen in APOLLO 11.
NASA

Neil Armstrong poses for a photo by fellow Apollo 11 crew member Buzz Aldrin inside the Eagle Lunar Module, on July 20, 1969.
NASA / Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.

Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, his shadow visible in the foreground, photographs the Eagle Lunar Module at Tranquility Base, on July 20, 1969.
NASA / Neil A. Armstrong