Friday, December 31, 2021

RIP, BETTY WHITE (1922-2021)...

Rest In Peace, Betty White.

This isn't really film-related as she primarily made her indelible mark on television, but much condolences to the family members and friends of Betty White...who passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 99 today.

Best known for her roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rose Nylund in the sitcom The Golden Girls, White was one of the most prolific entertainers to work in Hollywood. Also highlights in her long-spanning career were a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live (SNL) back in 2010, having a regular role on the recent sitcom Hot in Cleveland, and being the recipient of five Primetime Emmy awards and one competitive Daytime Emmy...as well as a Los Angeles regional Emmy in 1952 and a lifetime achievement Daytime Emmy in 2015 (one of the Emmys that White won was for her SNL hosting gig).

White's television career lasted 70 years, and a 2014 edition of Guinness World Records certified this remarkable achievement as the longest-ever for a female entertainer.

It is absolutely a shame that Betty White didn't get to celebrate her 100th birthday next month.

In regards to White's birthday, the folks who were planning a huge movie event for the past few weeks to mark her milestone—which would've been on January 17—clearly didn't know what the word "jinx" meant. That movie event will still take place.

With or without a movie event that will honor her, Betty White will nevertheless live on in the annals of Hollywood history as a legend...and that's all that matters.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

THE BROKEN TABLE Film Festival and Awards Update!

The main poster for THE BROKEN TABLE.

As of today, The Broken Table has been selected by seven film festivals...the most recent being the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival! Click on this link to see its inclusion on BCIFF's cool Wall of Fame page.

I would also like to announce that my short film is currently the recipient of three awards: one for Best Seven Minute Film by the EdiPlay International Film Festival, another for Best Short Thriller by the Cult Movies International Film Festival and the last one being for Best Cinematography—which honors The Broken Table's talented director of photography, Brandon Cabral. This certificate was also awarded by Cult Movies Fest.

There are over two dozen additional festivals that I submitted to who I'm also waiting to hear from! It won't be till late summer or early fall of next year where all of them will have decided whether or not my short psychological thriller is included on their program schedules.

But as of right now, I'm already grateful that seven festivals have shown my film recognition and given accolades to it! A huge thank you to them... Happy Tuesday.

THE BROKEN TABLE's award for Best Short Thriller...courtesy of the Cult Movies International Film Festival.

THE BROKEN TABLE's award for Best Cinematography...also courtesy of the Cult Movies International Film Festival.

EDIT: While I was typing this blog entry, I just received word via e-mail that the Krimson Horyzon International Film Festival is the eighth event to select The Broken Table! Wonderful news! I will be using a different poster to apply this fantastic festival's laurel to it soon.

Friday, December 24, 2021

Movie Review: THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS...

The theatrical poster for THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS.

Earlier today, I went to Regal Cinemas to watch The Matrix Resurrections...and needless to say, it wasn't as dreary as the first two sequels that were released in 2003!

If you're a fan of the original Matrix trilogy, then you'll dig Resurrections. If you're only a fan of the action sequences in the original trilogy, then you'll enjoy Resurrections. And if you disliked The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, then you should like Resurrections because it definitely didn't take itself too seriously and wasn't full of a bunch of psychoanalytical mumbo-jumbo!

I appreciated Resurrections for its self-deprecating humor; with the new Morpheus, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, poking fun at the mannerisms of the old Morpheus that was portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the original trilogy.

Also, with Neo (Keanu Reeves) working as a video game designer during the 60 years that passed between Revolutions and Resurrections, there was an opportunity to take a light-hearted dig at the first trilogy (and reboots in general)—as the video game that Neo, a.k.a. Thomas Anderson, worked on was based on The Matrix.

Carrie-Anne Moss is back as Trinity, Jada Pinkett Smith returned as Niobe and Lambert Wilson reprised his role as The Merovingian. A new incarnation of Agent Smith is played by Jonathan Groff, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrayed the adult version of Sati from Revolutions.

Stealing the show as new characters are Bugs (Jessica Henwick) and The Analyst (Neil Patrick Harris).

Don Davis, who conducted the memorable music in the original trilogy, wasn't back to do the film score for The Matrix Resurrections, but the music composed by Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer worked just as nicely.

And of course, the action sequences and visual effects in this Lana Wachowski-directed installment were just as dazzling as those of Resurrections' three predecessors!

I would say more, but I don't want to spoil the movie for those of you Matrix fans who haven't watched it yet. All I'm gonna say is...Neo isn't the only one who can fly by the end of this film!

Have a safe and Merry Christmas, everyone.

Neo (Keanu Reeves) once again stops bullets in mid-air as Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) looks on in THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Movie Review - SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME...

The theatrical poster for SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

So as of today, I've watched Spider-Man: No Way Home three times at the multiplex! How can I not...considering the fact that this film, along with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, are clearly the best Marvel movies of 2021. And ever!

No Way Home is an action-packed, very-nostalgic and extremely-emotional climax to Tom Holland's first Spidey trilogy (yes, there will be a second trio of movies with Holland returning as the Webslinger).

It was a blast to see Alfred Molina return as Doc Ock, Jamie Foxx as Electro, Thomas Haden Church as Sandman, Rhys Ifans as the Lizard, and of course, Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin.

But even more of a blast was seeing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield causing the audience at each screening I attended to cheer loudly when the two Webslingers appeared on screen for the first time! And that moment in the film's climax where they and Holland's Spider-Man swing together on the Statue of Liberty as they prepare to battle Electro, Sandman and the Lizard? Wow!

There are so many other things that I want to praise about No Way Home, but they would turn this into a very long review.

Benedict Cumberbatch once again exuded coolness and wittiness as Dr. Strange, J.K. Simmons was just as awesome as J. Jonah Jameson in this film as he was in Sam Raimi's Spidey trilogy, Marisa Tomei's Aunt May was at the center of No Way Home's most gut-wrenching moment (in a good way) and composer Michael Giacchino did an excellent job combining his rousing score with motifs from Danny Elfman's music for the Raimi films, and a James Horner theme from Marc Webb's first Amazing Spider-Man movie.

And not to be left out of this gushing review are the three main stars themselves: Holland as Peter Parker and his high-flying alter ego, Zendaya as Michelle Jones "MJ" Watson and Jacob Batalon as Parker's best friend Ned Leeds (who does turn villainous in the comic books; he became the apprentice to Dr. Strange's arch-nemesis Baron Mordo...played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in Dr. Strange and its upcoming sequel, Multiverse of Madness).

If ever there was a movie that would follow in Black Panther's footsteps and become the next comic book flick to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, No Way Home is it!

We'll see if Disney and Marvel Studios successfully get Tom Holland to follow in the footsteps of the late, great Chadwick Boseman in regards to Academy Award acclaim. Happy Holidays!

MJ Watson (Zendaya) and Peter Parker (Tom Holland) stand atop a bridge in New York City after the world discovers Spider-Man's true identity in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Peter Parker watches as Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) prepares to cast a spell that will cause the entire world to forget Spider-Man's true idenity in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) is at the center of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME's most gut-wrenching moment.

Peter Parker, MJ Watson and Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) gather at Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) witnesses first-hand the destruction caused when Peter Parker tries to help Electro, Sandman and other villainous visitors who came to his universe via Dr. Strange's spell in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Alfred Molina is back as Doc Ock in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Willem Dafoe is back as the Green Goblin in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Jamie Foxx is back as Electro in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Electro, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and the Lizard (Rhys Ifans) combine forces to take on Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Monday, December 20, 2021

THE BROKEN TABLE Has Been Selected by Two More Film Festivals!

The main poster for THE BROKEN TABLE.

And the accolades just keep on coming! I am thrilled to announce that The Broken Table is now an Official Selection by the Red Moon Film Festival and the Cult Movies International Film Festival.

The Red Moon festival was the first event to notify me about my film's selection earlier today (even though the online screening won't take place till December 29 and 30), while the great news about the Cult Movies festival arrived in my inbox a few hours later. This online event will occur on December 24.

There are so many other festivals that I still need to hear from, but I'm stoked that The Broken Table currently has four selections under its belt!

For more info about the Red Moon and Cult Movies festivals, click on the links below. Happy Monday!

FilmFreeway.com/RedMoonFilmFestival
FilmFreeway.com/CultMoviesInternationalFilmFestival

The Red Moon Film Festival is the third event to have chosen THE BROKEN TABLE as an Official Selection.

The Cult Movies International Film Festival is the fourth event to have chosen THE BROKEN TABLE as an Official Selection.

Sunday, December 19, 2021

On This Day in 2001: The Nazgûl Make Their Debut on the Big Screen...

The Hobbits take cover as a Nazgûl searches for the One Ring in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING.

It was 20 years ago today that The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters nationwide.

One of my high school friends who I saw the film with didn't know that this was the first installment in Peter Jackson's acclaimed trilogy, and neither did I! Sorry, J. R. R. Tolkien... I never read the books.

Anyways, I don't think y'all should be surprised that the most memorable characters in The Fellowship of the Ring (plus The Two Towers and The Return of the King) to me were the Ringwraiths, a.k.a. the Nazgûl. I dig mysterious villains who are completely dressed in black cloaks—which is why I'm such a huge Star Wars fan.

And FYI, Sith Lords are cooler. Carry on!

The Nazgûl confront the Hobbits on Weathertop in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING.

Saturday, December 18, 2021

THE BROKEN TABLE Has Been Selected by Film Festival #2!

The main poster for THE BROKEN TABLE.

Just thought I'd share the amazing news that The Broken Table is an Official Selection at the World Indie Film Awards (WIFA)!

This announcement comes less than 10 days after my project was selected—and awarded as Best Seven Minute Film—at the EdiPlay International Film Festival.

For more information about WIFA, which will host its online event on December 20, click on the link below!

FilmFreeway.com/WorldIndieFilmAwards

A list of some of the films, including THE BROKEN TABLE, that were chosen as Official Selections by the World Indie Film Awards.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

A Beautiful Award for THE BROKEN TABLE!

A certificate honoring THE BROKEN TABLE...courtesy of the EdiPlay International Film Festival.

Thank you to the EdiPlay International Film Festival for this amazing certificate...one of many that I received via e-mail from the festival earlier today!

All of the amazing folks who worked hard to bring The Broken Table to life are honored by this awesome award!

The main poster for THE BROKEN TABLE.

Thursday, December 9, 2021

THE BROKEN TABLE Is Festival-Bound!

The main poster for THE BROKEN TABLE.

Happy Thursday, everyone! Just thought I'd announce that my short film The Broken Table has been selected for inclusion by the EdiPlay International Film Festival! This wonderful, Paris-based event will be held from December 15 to 19...with the chosen films available to screen online.

For more information about this festival, visit EdiPlay's website here. If you watch The Broken Table (plus the other amazing cinematic projects that will be shown) during this event, I hope you enjoy it!

The e-mail letting me know that THE BROKEN TABLE was selected for screening at the EdiPlay International Film Festival!

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

T-Minus ONE WEEK Till One of My Favorite Anime Flicks of All Time Hits the Big Screen Here in the U.S.!

Fathom Event's theatrical poster for MACROSS PLUS.

Just thought I'd point out that I'm officially watching Macross Plus—one of my favorite Japanese-animated movies ever made—at AMC theater a week from today! Macross Plus is one of many spin-offs of the Macross series that formed the core of the Robotech cartoon that aired on U.S. television back in the 1980s.

I originally watched Macross Plus in 1995 (when I was a sophomore in high school)...first as a 4-part American-dub miniseries that premiered in 1994 (even though I didn't see the fourth and final episode, whose dialogue wasn't voiced by U.S. actors yet, till late 1999), and then the feature film—which will be shown on the big screen next week courtesy of Fathom Events.

I can't wait to relive the awesome aerial battle between the YF-19 (piloted by Isamu Dyson, who was voiced by none other than Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston in the miniseries) and YF-21 (flown by Guld Goa Bowman) on planet Eden and above Earth's Macross City—as well as awesome beats by the computer-generated diva Sharon Apple; one of these beats being the song Information High...featured in the video below.

I can go on and on about my geekiness over Macross Plus, especially about how it inspired me to draw storyboards in 10th grade depicting what I envisioned the yet-to-be-released Episode 4 would be like (and subsequently fueling my desire to study filmmaking in college), but I'll end it here.

It would be awesome to have a live-action version of Macross Plus, but we've yet to see a live-action version of Robotech itself (which was supposed to have been produced by Spider-Man's Tobey Maguire over a decade ago) make it to cinemas! Oh well.

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Movie Review - GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE...

With Ecto-1 driven by her brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) sits in the gunner seat as they chase after a spirit named Muncher (off-screen) in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

Earlier today, I went to the local AMC theater to watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife...the fourth Ghostbusters flick to hit the big screen (if you count the 2016 reboot directed by Paul Feig) and third installment to continue the exploits of Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) and company.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife started off a bit slow, but began to really pick up steam once Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) entered the picture, and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) stumbled upon the hidden office where her late grandfather Egon Spengler (portrayed by Harold Ramis...who's given the Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia CGI treatment from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) continued his work as a Ghostbuster.

Afterlife finishes what the original 1984 Ghostbusters movie started—with Gozer (this time played by both Olivia Wilde and Emma Portner) and his/her Gatekeeper and Keymaster making a comeback. Whereas Gozer was forced back into his/her dimension before it was sealed off by the Ghostbusters in the 1984 film, his/her fate is more definitive in Afterlife. I obviously won't divulge how Phoebe and her gang defeat the Sumerian demigod.

Professional film critics attacked Afterlife for its excessive fan service...but I dug the appearance of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Men, the return of Gozer, and of course, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) making their grand entrance in the movie's climax.

Of course, let's not forget that Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) and Dana Barrett Venkman (Sigourney Weaver) make a fun return in the second Ghostbusters sequel as well! But sadly, Louis Tully (played by Rick Moranis) is nowhere to be found.

Also missing from Afterlife is the lovable and ravenous spirit Slimer, who was aptly replaced by Muncher—a ghost (voiced by Josh Gad) that chews on metal before rapidly spitting fragments of it out like an ectoplasmic AR-15. No, this colorful desciption isn't in the movie itself.

Also missing from the new film is a cool hit song like On Our Own by Bobby Brown, which was featured in 1989's Ghostbusters II.

The second of two end credits scene in Afterlife seems to suggest that we'll be seeing a sequel to the Jason Reitman-directed supernatural comedy. I'm all for it!

It was cool to watch the return of Peter, Ray, Winston, Janine and Dana on the big screen, but I want to see how Grooberson, Phoebe, her brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), their mother Callie (Carrie Coon), Lucky (Celeste O'Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim) expand their mark on the Ghostbusters mythology! That is all.

Trevor, Phoebe and Podcast (Logan Kim) with Ecto-1 behind them, in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) stares at a ghost trap in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

Callie (Carrie Coon), Phoebe and Trevor take cover underneath a table during a mysterious earthquake that strikes the small town of Summerville in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

Stay Puft Marshmallow Men make an appearance in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

Muncher loiters near a fire hydrant in GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

The Final SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Trailer Is Here!

Willem Dafoe is back as the Green Goblin in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Welcome back, Green Goblin and Doc Ock! The two villains made famous by Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina in Sam Raimi's 2002 and '04 Spider-Man films, respectively, will return to the big screen in next month's Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Joining these evildoers will be Sandman (from 2007's Spider-Man 3), the Lizard (from 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man) and Electro (once again portrayed by Jamie Foxx from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2).

Also returning in Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios' third co-produced Spidey flick will be none other than Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their own versions of Peter Parker...though their highly-anticipated appearances have understandably been excluded from the new preview (or were they?).

I can't wait till No Way Home gets unleashed nationwide in theaters on December 17! Hopefully, this Marvel Studios flick will be as enjoyable as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings—and not close to being dull like Eternals.

I was so underwhelmed by Eternals that I didn't even care to post its own "quick review" like I did with Dune and The Last Duel. Carry on.

Alfred Molina is back as Doc Ock in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Jamie Foxx is back as Electro in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.

Electro, Sandman and the Lizard combine forces to take on Tom Holland's Peter Parker in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.


Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Image of the Day: Gettin' Ready for GUNDAM on Netflix...

Concept artwork of a Gundam mobile suit from Netflix's upcoming live-action GUNDAM movie.

A few hours ago, Legendary Entertainment tweeted this cool concept artwork (courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic's art department) from the Gundam live-action movie that is currently under development for Netflix.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who directed 2017's Kong: Skull Island, will be helming the upcoming film. Brian K. Vaughan, who wrote episodes for the hit TV show Lost, will be penning the script.

No release date has been set for the Gundam movie, but I'll be sure to subscribe to Netflix (again) for when the giant mechas are unleashed on the popular streaming service! That is all.

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Quick Review: LAST NIGHT IN SOHO...

Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), an aspiring fashion designer who can see dead people, has visions of a 1960s-era singer named Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy)...who ominously gets involved with a mysterious man named Jack (Matt Smith) in LAST NIGHT IN SOHO.

Earlier today, I watched Edgar Wright's supernatural thriller Last Night in Soho at the local AMC theater, and needless to say, it was another well-made film by the director of the exciting 2017 flick, Baby Driver!

Thomasin McKenzie did a great job playing Eloise...an aspiring fashion designer who also had the ability to see dead people. Ironically, McKenzie was born in 2000—one year after Haley Joel Osment saw dead people on the big screen as well in M. Night Shyamalan's 1999 hit film, The Sixth Sense.

Speaking of M. Night Shyamalan, one of the cast members in his movies, Anya Taylor-Joy (who appeared in Shyamalan's two thrillers Split and Glass, respectively) was amazing in Last Night as Sandie...a young singer who would sadly get involved with the wrong crowd (starting with a man named Jack, aptly played by former Dr. Who alum Matt Smith) in her quest to further her career.

Not to be overlooked in this exciting horror drama were talented thespians like Diana Rigg, Aimee Cassettari, Synnøve Karlsen, Michael Ajao and the venerable Terence Stamp—whose character was involved in one of Last Night in Soho's best plot twists.

Last Night in Soho had two great twists at the end; I was able to figure out one of them beforehand!

Can't wait to see what Edgar Wright has in store for the cinema next... Baby Driver 2 would be awesome. Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone!

Friday, October 29, 2021

Quick Review: THE LAST DUEL...

Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer), Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) and Sir Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) are caught up in a medieval love triangle that would lead to the final government-sanctioned duel in France in THE LAST DUEL.

A few hours ago, I watched the Ridley Scott-directed film The Last Duel...which was about the final government-sanctioned duel in France.

I enjoyed this flick for the most part...as it was fairly accurate to what I read about the actual event on Wikipedia beforehand.

I liked how this movie was divided into three chapters to tell the story of how this duel came to be from the perspective of the three individuals caught up in this medieval love triangle: Sir Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer, who was awesome in this summer's hit comedy flick Free Guy) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver).

As mentioned above, the duel was fairly accurate to historical accounts—though I read in the actual story that Carrouges and Le Gris had their helmets on till the very bloody end. Oh well.

And in case you were expecting the medieval battles that were peppered throughout this movie to be as exciting as those in Scott's Oscar-winning epic Gladiator, think again.

Just re-watch Gladiator for the amazing combat scenes, as well as Hans Zimmer's steering music in that film.

See The Last Duel to find out what happened in 14th-century France when you were accused of adultery and wanted to defend (to the death) what little honor you had. Carry on.

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Quick Review: DUNE (Part One)...

Chani (Zendaya) and Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) on the desert world of Arrakis in DUNE: Part One.

Earlier today, I went to my local AMC theater to watch director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune.

Just like his previous movies such as Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, Sicario and Prisoners, Dune was a well-made and great-looking film...with an amazing cast to boot.

Like The Lord of the Rings trilogy for New Line Cinema, Dune was obviously meant to be Warner Bros' own version of the Star Wars saga (even though there's only going to be one more Dune film in this series). This is clearly the case as the original 1965 novel Dune, written by American author Frank Herbert, was one of George Lucas' major inspirations for the Original Trilogy.

Like in Star Wars, Dune's main character (Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet) possesses special powers like the ability to control other people's minds, and has a huge destiny that awaits him, like Luke Skywalker. And of course, you have the Imperial Army that invades the desert world of Tatooine—err, Arrakis...with an Emperor manipulating scenes from behind the curtain.

Oh, and Jason Mamoa's Duncan Idaho was supposed to be that movie's equivalent of Han Solo...however briefly.

I look forward to Dune: Part Two, which arrives in theaters nationwide two years from now. Will Paul Atreides build his own lightsaber and find out that Chani (portrayed by Zendaya) is his long-lost sister? We'll see.

Just kidding about that last part.

A giant sandworm confronts Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica Atreides (Rebecca Ferguson) on Arrakis, in DUNE: Part One.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Filming Has Wrapped on TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS!

Optimus Prime is ready for battle on the planet Cybertron in 2018's BUMBLEBEE. He'll fight for Earth (again) in next year's TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS.

Yesterday, it was revealed on social media that principal photography has wrapped on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts...which is a direct sequel to the 2018 Transformers spin-off flick Bumblebee.

In this movie, there is no direct war between the Autobots and Decepticons, but a conflict that arises between the Maximals, Predacons and Terrorcons after they come to Earth.

Optimus Prime, once again voiced by the venerable Peter Cullen, learns to become a leader of the Autobot resistance as he finds himself caught in the middle of this robotic alien war.

Hailee Steinfeld, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and John Cena will not reprise their roles from Bumblebee in this new movie. Instead, Rise of the Beasts features a new cast that includes Ron Perlman (who voices Optimus Primal), Luna Lauren Velez, Dominique Fishback and Anthony Ramos.

Lorne Balfe, who created the music for 2017's The Lego Batman Movie as well as this year's Marvel film Black Widow, will compose the score for Rise of the Beasts.

Directed by Steven Caple Jr. (who helmed 2018's Creed II and 2016's The Land), Transformers: Rise of the Beasts arrives in theaters nationwide on June 24, 2022.

A screenshot of an Instagram post where director Steven Caple Jr. revealed that filming has wrapped on TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS...on October 19, 2021.

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Video of the Day: The Newest Trailer for THE BATMAN...

Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) is battle-worn as the Dark Knight Detective in 2022's THE BATMAN.

"It’s not just a call... It’s a warning."

So says Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) of the Bat-Signal that beckons him to be the hero that Gotham deserves in next year's The Batman.

Check out the newest preview for the Matt Reeves-directed film—which is about the Dark Knight Detective's quest to uncover a nefarious plot being hatched by Edward Nygma (Paul Dano) in Gotham City.

The Batman also brings in other classic foes such as Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) and Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), as well as allies like Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and trusty sidekick Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis).

Just like with every other Batman film (well, except 1997's Batman & Robin), I'm absolutely stoked for The Batman! Not just because of the amazing cast and the gritty look of this movie, but also because of the cool music score that Michael Giacchino composed for the upcoming Bat flick!

I definitely plan to get The Batman's music score on compact disc next year...and yes, I still buy CDs.

The Batman arrives in theaters nationwide on March 4, 2022.

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Movie Review: HALLOWEEN KILLS...

Michael Myers is about to lay a brutal smackdown on a couple of firefighters (off-screen) in HALLOWEEN KILLS.

Earlier today, I went to the local AMC theater to watch Halloween Kills...the sequel to 2018's Halloween.

Clearly, this installment was supposed to be The Empire Strikes Back of this trilogy—with Michael Myers prevailing at the end of this flick and Jamie Lee Curtis being the Jedi who returns in next year's Halloween Ends, which I didn't know was already in production before I started working on this review!

As far as Halloween Kills is concerned, this movie was not scary but definitely gory. I felt bad for those firefighters who were the first ones to confront Myers as he remained trapped in that burning house [which is where Laurie Strode (Curtis), her daughter Karen Nelson (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left him to die at the end of the 2018 film].

Well, I felt bad for all the characters who became Myers' hapless victims in this sequel. Myers came up with the most thorough and violent ways to dispatch each of the poor souls who dared confront him... One example being Allyson's ex-boyfriend Cameron (Dylan Arnold), whose noggin received a brutal thrashing against those stair banisters in Myers' childhood home before finally getting his neck snapped!

I look forward to Halloween Ends. Halloween Kills made it appear that Michael Myers got his supernatural strength and immortality through his mask (like Jim Carrey's character Stanley Ipkiss did in 1994's The Mask, shown below)—which I think will be his undoing.

I reckon that Myers' fate will hitch on Laurie Strode or Deputy Frank Hawkins (Will Patton) removing his mask in Halloween End's climax before finally ending his reign of terror...or simply beheading Myers with the mask still on.

We'll find out on October 14, 2022: Halloween End's nationwide release date!

HALLOWEEN KILLS made it look like Michael Myers got his supernatural strength and immortality through his mask, like Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) did in 1994's THE MASK.

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Movie Review: NO TIME TO DIE...

Daniel Craig leaps into action as James Bond for the fifth and final time in NO TIME TO DIE.

Earlier today, I watched the newest James Bond flick, No Time to Die, at my local AMC theater. And needless to say, it was a very action-packed and emotional end to the Daniel Craig era as agent 007!

No Time to Die is the fifth and final installment where Craig played "Commander Bond" and worked with his buddy Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) as well as fellow MI6 cohorts Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), M (Ralph Fiennes), Tanner (Rory Kinnear) and Q (Ben Whishaw). And this is the first and final time that Bond worked with Nomi (Lashana Lynch)...who became the new 007 while Bond was off the grid for 5 years.

And why was Bond off the grid for 5 years? He was laying low after feeling betrayed by the love of his life, Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux)—whose past would literally come back to haunt and threaten her, plus Bond and the rest of the world, after hiding in the shadows since Madeleine was a child. More on this later.

Along with Moneypenny, Nomi and Madeleine Swann, another butt-kicking Bond girl appeared in No Time to Die through Paloma (Ana de Armas)...who will hopefully return in future Bond films! Though I reckon she won't continue to beat the crud out of the bad buys while wearing a lovely black cocktail dress.

Going back to Madeleine's past, No Time to Die's main villain was a man named Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek). The opening scene of the film did a very suspenseful and scary job introducting this antagonist—who, surprisingly, wasn't initially after James Bond but Swann, her father Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) and his Spectre organization.

[No Time to Die also continued the unofficial tradition of having a newly-minted Academy Award winner as the Bond villain. Christoph Waltz won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Django Unchained in 2013 before appearing in 2015's Spectre, while Rami Malek won the Best Actor Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody in 2019 before landing the role of Safin in No Time to Die.]

In regards to the music, No Time to Die's film score felt more epic than those in previous Bond flicks...and that's because none other than the great Hans Zimmer composed the music for the new installment! David Arnold, who conducted the music for 1996's Independence Day (one of my all-time favorite scores), worked on previous Bond flicks beginning with 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies and ending with 2008's Quantum of Solace, respectively.

Arnold's music in the Bond movies was commendable, but you can never go wrong with Zimmer! I'm thinking about buying No Time to Die's music score on compact disc soon.

In regards to the movie's opening song, I like Billie Eilish's No Time to Die...but Adele's Skyfall from the 2012 film of the same name will always be my favorite Bond song! I put Skyfall on loop through my Winamp MP3 player while I typed this review.

All-in-all, No Time To Die is a terrific film. It obviously remains to be seen who will replace Craig as James Bond. But once MGM Studios makes the announcment, here's hoping that the replacement will bring the same kind of grittiness and sauve to the role that Craig did since he first appeared in 2006's Casino Royale.

And as I said earlier, I hope Ana de Armas' Paloma will join Moneypenny, Nomi, M and Q in the next Bond sequel! Have a great weekend.

Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek) seeks revenge in NO TIME TO DIE.

James Bond and Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) share an intimate moment in NO TIME TO DIE.

Nomi (Lashana Lynch) is the new agent 007 in NO TIME TO DIE.

M (Ralph Fiennes), Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Tanner (Rory Kinnear) in NO TIME TO DIE.

James Bond, Moneypenny and Q (Ben Whishaw) try to uncover a secret weapon that was used to eliminate Spectre agents in NO TIME TO DIE.

James Bond is offered a new mission by his old friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) in NO TIME TO DIE.

James Bond and undercover agent Paloma (Ana de Armas) have a drink in NO TIME TO DIE.

Paloma shows her combat skills in NO TIME TO DIE.

Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) confronts his old foe James Bond for the final time in NO TIME TO DIE.

Lyutsifer Safin confronts his new foe James Bond for the first and final time in NO TIME TO DIE.

Who will replace Daniel Craig as agent 007 in the next James Bond movie? We'll see.