‘Fantastic Beasts’ Review: Welcome Back

It’s been five years since our last big screen adventure in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, and when you look back, the Harry Potter movie series as a whole was a great cinematic achievement. Over the course of eight movies, audiences from around the world got invested into the exciting universe that Rowling created in her popular books that helped shape the pop culture zeitgeist of this generation. And for a while, it seemed as if the book was closed on more magical adventures in this world.

Thankfully, audiences will triumphantly return to the Wizarding World once Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in theaters this week. Set 70 years before Harry was born, we follow Hogwarts alum Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a self-proclaimed magizoologist who visits New York with a magical briefcase that happens to contain many magical creatures. Newt only intended to stay for a few hours, but when his briefcase lets these titular beasts free, it’s up to Newt and his new companions Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) to play Wizarding Pokemon throughout New York.

This film is a much different experience for Harry Potter fans, because with the original films, we were already familiar with these characters thanks to the books, so we had a pretty good idea of what we were going to see on the big screen. This time around, we are meeting these newly established characters truly for the first time. Fantastic Beasts is Rowling’s first screenplay, and for a first-time screenwriter, she manages to make all of these new characters charming and memorable in their own way.

Newt Scamander is a much different protagonist compared to the boy who lived. Newt wasn’t the most sociable type, and had quite a connection to magical creatures that he could never find with his fellow humans. Redmayne slides into Rowling’s world perfectly, and he adds such an unconventional charm to Newt that we don’t see often in films of this scale. It helps that he is accompanied by a terrific ensemble that help elevate this adventure. Newt’s new friends are all fun to be around, especially Jacob, a No-Maj (American term for Muggle) who provides much of the endearing comic relief.

Beyond our main heroes, we also meet new characters such  Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), a high-ranking Auror, Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton), a No-Maj activist against witches and wizards that reaches near-Dolores Umbridge levels of disgust, and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), Mary Lou’s adopted son that may have a few secrets of his own.

Much of the pure entertainment value of Fantastic Beasts is found when the main quartet goes on the run to find these creatures before it’s too late. While some creature designs stand out more than others, the creativity and imagination truly shines. In particular, Newt’s runaway Niffler and trustworthy Bowtruckle have some of the more memorable moments from the film.

Fantastic Beasts has its faults, which can be attributed to the development of some of the supporting characters. The film could’ve used more development on the Barebone family, because whenever they appeared onscreen (especially Miller’s Credence), I wanted to learn more about their history. Also, with four more films on deck for this spin-off series, one can’t help but feel some of the set-up that this film creates for the upcoming adventures.

Thankfully, while the film does open the door for the upcoming sequels, it still satisfies on entertainment value and as a standalone story. Director David Yates and Rowling accomplished their goal in introducing a new era and set of characters within the Wizarding World. Once the film ended, I felt excited for what new adventures are in store with these newly established characters.

Rating: 8.5/10

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’Gotham’: ‘The Executioner’ Review

Gotham has slowly, but safely been taking Captain Nathaniel Barnes down an incredibly dark path that in this week’s episode came to a head as the infection within Barnes has completely taken over.

After discovering that Barnes was up to no good in last week’s episode, Gordon takes it upon himself to investigate and keep an eye on Barnes. But things go really south when Barnes is one step ahead of Gordon and puts him in a hot situation as the two GCPD officers end up in a stand-off.

While Gordon is dealing with Barnes, the grown-up Ivy reveals herself to Selina at last that she has transformed as Selina tries to process the new development. However, Ivy has already gotten herself in new troubles and it’s up to Selina and Bruce to help her out.

After the tragic death of Isabella, a grieving Nygma tries to get to the bottom of how she died. Penguin however is trying to cover up that he had something to do with Isabella’s death as he fears that his love will abandon if, should Nygma learn the truth.

As usual, a lot happened in this week’s episode of Gotham that we want to break-down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through the top 5 highlights and important moments of the Gotham Season 3 episode: “The Executioner”

#5: Nygma Deals With Isabella’s Death

#4: Ivy & Selina Reunited Once Again

#3: Bruce & Selina Gets Ivy Out Of Trouble

#2: Gordon Vs Captain Barnes

#1: Fall Of Captain Barnes

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‘Moana’ Review: Disney Sets Sail For Fun

Disney’s latest film Moana is one that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. It’s Disney’s first animated musical since their smash hit  Frozen back in 2013. The film explores Polynesian culture and creates a brand new hero in the young, Moana. With a year filled with several Disney films that have each proven to be worthy in their own right how does Moana stand among that list? The answer is very high!

The plot of the film revolves around Moana ( Auli’i Cravalho). The young daughter and future chief of the people that live on the island of Motunui must find the powerful shapeshifter and demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Tehiti to save the world. This quest is filled with obstacles including convincing the incredibly stubborn Maui. They must work together regardless of their differences to make right what was wrong and bring order back to the world.

The plot of this story reflects the hero’s journey, but instead of focusing on Maui as the hero it puts Moana squarely in that position which is a great change. The story is very simplistic, but that works really well for this film. It follows a fairly straightforward narrative, while making enough unique twists and changes that it is able to balance a classic Disney tone while still maintaining a fresh feeling.  In this way it manages to make it feel like a very distinctly Disney film while straying away enough from the norms that it becomes instantly memorable and unique. The implementation of the Polynesian themes is done extremely well. It’s a celebration of the culture and shows the great spirit of the people.

The cast also give outstanding performances voicing the characters. Dwayne Johnson steals the show portraying the stubborn and self-absorbed, Maui. He brings a sense of charm that keeps the character likable consistently throughout the film. He is the perfect choice for the role as well as Auli’i Cravalho, who brings Moana to life. Her portrayal of Moana is one of sincerity, heart, and strength. This was her first role and her talent shines through in spades. In addition to these two Jemaine Clement makes an appearance and he is also noteworthy as Tamatoa.

Seeing as this is a musical it is safe to say that there is always a question as to whether or not the music would be good and to no surprise the music is not only good. It’s great. The music was produced by the team of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa’i. They worked together to create a blend of Disney quality musical as well as Polynesian sounding music. This combination is reminiscent of what was done on The Lion King, which Mark Mancina also worked on.  The lyrics written by Lin-Manuel are all excellent and reflect the musical/hip-hop quality that he brought to the stage in the hit musicals In the Heights and most recently Hamilton. The songs are catchy and are a lot of fun. I’m certain that after hearing the music the soundtrack is going to sell extremely well.

Final Thoughts

The film is a classic example of Disney done right. It took several years to produce and it really does show. It carries the Polynesian culture respectively without being heavy handed with their approach. The characters are memorable, the story is simple but fun, and the music is excellent. There isn’t much I could say that I found to be wrong with the film other than one or two instances of implementation of modern jokes that don’t quite land. Regardless the film is beautifully animated and it’s definitely up there as not only one of the best Disney films of the year, but also one of the best films of the year period. I highly recommend it if you are a fan of Disney.

Final Score

8.9/10

So what do you think of my review? Let us know in the comments!

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‘Westworld’ 1.07 “Trompe L’Oeil” Review: Let’s Discuss That Big Reveal!

We knew a show about the nature of reality would make us question and theorize about a few things. Westworld played a big card from that hand this week. Now would be as good a time as any to say if you haven’t watched the latest episode “Trompe L’Oeil,” full spoilers ahead!

Click Next to scroll through the gallery or click which part of the review you’d like to start with below.

1. Bernard is who we thought he was
2. Charlotte and the Board test Ford
3. William embraces his new reality
4. Maeve is 50 percent more intense, 100 percent more awesome

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Ray Fisher Shares ‘Justice League’ And ‘Stranger Things’ Tease

It’s impossible to deny that the recent Netflix hit, ‘Stranger Things‘ took the world by storm. It captured the nostalgia of classic 80’s adventure, horror and coming of age films. One of the show’s breakout stars, Millie Bobby Brown completely stole the show with her mind-bending superpowers. But would she fit in with a team of other powered individuals… say, the ‘Justice League‘? A recent photo posted by Ray Fisher (A.K.A. Cyborg) over on his Instagram page showed the two sharing a ride at Rhode Island Comic-Con this weekend. Obviously, this isn’t a hint of a crossover event or anything similar. But this might be the start of Millie Bobby Brown’s relationship with DC Comics.

A photo posted by Ray Fisher (@rehsifyar) on Nov 13, 2016 at 12:00pm PST

“On our way to crash @gal_gadot ‘s Q&A Panel with @milliebobby_brown! Justice League/Stranger Things crossover??? Parademons and Demogorgons don’t stand a chance! #BORGLIFE #StrangerThings #JusticeLeague #RICC”

We’ve only seen a small glimpse of what the young actress can do, and it’s only a matter of time before she gets snapped up by a Studio for a comic book movie.

‘Justice League‘ comes to theaters on November 16, 2017, whilst ‘Stranger Things‘ Season 2 will appear in 2017.

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‘Arrival’ Review: A Mesmerizing Film That Will Stick With You Beyond The Theater

A lot of films either try to impress you with being smart or clever, or they try to reel you in by appealing to emotional connections and attachments audiences develop with characters or concepts. Good films tend to do both, and the really great ones can devastate or elate you (sometimes both at the same time) while simultaneously confronting you with questions that actually make you stop a second and consider their implications. Maybe questions about relationships, about the human condition as it currently stands or has stood, about scientific progressions and what they could mean. Questions about the things we do and why we do them. Arrival is a great film because it manages to pull off what few films can: it invokes an equal amount of thought and emotion from it’s audience in an earnest way and with a certain magnitude.

Arrival tells the story of linguist Louise Banks, who gets called upon by the U.S. government for assistance when twelve unidentified flying objects suddenly appear in random locations throughout the world. It is clear these are alien spacecrafts, and Banks spearheads efforts to start an understandable dialogue with these visitors, along with pragmatic scientist Ian Donnelly. Things escalate in interesting ways, invoking themes similar to films like Contact and Interstellar, but it’s originality ultimately sees the film make it’s own significant mark in the genre rather than hovering in the shadows of it’s celebrated predecessors.

Screenwriter Eric Heisserer opts for protagonists who try to solve a problem through communication and logical acumen rather than heading in with overly defensive and aggressive attitudes, which brings a sort of reassuring assessment of ourselves to the story, in terms of that being what we would, hopefully, actually do in such a situation. To say the film has some unique and surprising plot developments in it’s story isn’t spoiling anything, but to say much else would be to rob you of the experience, so I won’t.

The film comes by way of current rockstar director Denis Villeneuve, who has been solidifying his reputation as one of cinema’s most exciting filmmakers in recent years. He made one of the best films of 2015 in the institutionally introspective crime-drama Sicario, and has Blade Runner 2049 coming up next. Amy Adams is the focal point in the movie as linguistics expert Dr. Louise Banks, and Jeremy Renner takes on the supporting role of theoretical scientist Ian Donnelly.

The film lives and breaths through Adams’ performance, and she really is stunning in what is one of, if not the, best performance of her career. Jeremy Renner delivers yet another typically impressive presence, never trying to overstep his role but accentuating Adams perfectly. Also, the quality brought to smaller roles like those of Forest Whitaker’s Colonel Weber and Michael Stuhlbarg’s Agent Halpern should also be praised for rounding out an outstanding ensemble act.

Led by rising star in the industry Bradford Young, whose work you might have seen in 2014’s A Most Violent Year, the cinematography is a sight to behold. Whether it’s the impending atmospheric dread of slow-moving cloud clusters over the stillness of vast landscapes occupied by a 15,000 foot hovering aircraft, or blurry tree branches swaying in the wind during memories of lost loved ones, his work here is special. It is easy to see why he was Villeneuve’s first choice after Roger Deakins was unable to jump on board due to scheduling conflicts. Jóhann Jóhannsson’s score is also an integral component to the success of this film, adding weight, emotion, and depth throughout scenes, and even dazzlingly utilizing absolute silence in key moments to help convey the particular auras that Villeneuve is trying to communicate.

Both technically and in it’s soul Arrival comes together masterfully, and it starts with Heisserer’s script. As mentioned before, the film succeeds on so many levels because it balances bright storytelling with it’s appeal to our collective cores as human beings. Much will be said about the cerebral qualities of the film, about how it’s a movie for the thinking man and how its refreshingly mature for a Hollywood studio film with actual movie stars. All of this is true, and is certainly impressive and appreciated, yet what makes it truly exceptional is the emotional grip the film keeps you in throughout it’s running time. You care about these characters because they have real decisions to make and real questions to answer that go beyond serving as connective tissue to tie up plot points. And I’m not just talking about the human characters, either.

Are tragedy and suffering to be avoided at all costs, or are they inseparably tied to the moments of beauty and happiness we experience? Is it worth avoiding one if it robs us of the other? Is it accurate to judge the quality of a life by the sum of its parts? Will it ever be possible to come together as a species and put our collective efforts together for the greater good, or is it just in our nature to do otherwise? These are only a few of the perhaps heady themes Arrival introduces, and like most good works of art, you are mostly left to decide for yourself. Not that these are particularly new ideas or questions, but when they can be addressed in such a tasteful and impactful manner, well, it’s a treat. This is a beautiful film in every sense of the word. It is a tremendous testament to what movies can be when they hit on all cylinders and transcend entertainment to become cornerstones of thought, ideas and conversation. It’s one of the best films of the year. I’m still wrestling over whether it’s Arrival or The Lobster for my number one spot thus far, but who cares. The bottom line: go watch Arrival. You will be wowed. You will be excited. You might be a little sad at times, but you will also feel ultimately optimistic in our ability to improve ourselves, to preserve and learn. And, especially in times like these, it feels like these sentiments are needed.

 

 

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‘Legends Of Tomorrow’: ‘Compromised’ Review

Legends of Tomorrow continue their mission to protect time and space as the legends travel to 1987 as they discover that Damian Darhk is working with the President, which means that Darhk is up to no good. However, it gets complicated as Sara tries to kill him again for murdering her big sister, Laurel Lance, in 2016.

Nate and Amaya begin to bond throughout the mission as Nate wants to learn more about the Justice Society of America, but Amaya isn’t sharing much. When they try to go and find the JSA in 1987, Amaya is stunned when she discovers that the academy is no more and an older version of Obsidian emerges to tell her what happened.

Since Ray lost his Atom suit a few weeks ago, Mick has been trying to help Ray find new purpose within him, by trying to make Ray his new Captain Cold since Snart’s death in Season 1. However, the duo comes to realize that Ray may not have what it takes to go dark as Snart, when in fact the answer has been in front of Ray this whole time.

Eobard Thawne pushes Darhk to finally partner up with him as he has big plans in motion for our heroes. With everything that happened in tonight’s episode, we have a lot to discuss. So hit the next button below and let’s breakdown the top moments and highlights from the Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 episode: “Compromised”

#5: Ray Tries To Find “His Dark Side”

#4: Nate & Vixen Begin To Bond

#3: Justice Society Returns, With A Twist

#2: Sara Messes With Damien’s Head

#1: The Legion Of Doom Rises

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