Monthly Archives: June 2017

“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” Trailers and Vignette

action, adventure, children movies, comedy, family movies, thriller, , , , ,

Directed by Jake Kasdan, son of Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat), who also directed Bad Teacher, Zero Effect, and Sex Tape, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle follows a breakfast club theme where four teenagers end up as avatars in the Jumanji game.

The teenagers discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of, they are immediately thrust into the game’s jungle setting, into the bodies of their avatars, played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan.  Nick Jonas plays one on the teenagers. The trailer is fun to watch since the avatars are against type.

What teenagers discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji –Jumanji plays you. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in the game forever. If you haven’t seen the first Jumanji, then you wouldn’t know how to play the game.

I have to mention the first move because it is awesome and still available with Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst starring. 

The newest poster is funnier. It really shows the characters. This could be a fun movie because giving it a Christmas release date shows the studios are banking on it being successful at the box office.  But, box office success doesn’t always mean a fun movie.

“A Bad Moms Christmas” Trailers, Clips, Interviews, Blu-ray/DVD

comedy, holiday movies, ,

Co-directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, we are in for more bad mom movies. The movie follows best friends Amy, played by Mila Kunis, Kiki, played by Kristen Bell, and Carla, played by Kathryn Hahn, unburden more stress during the holidays when their respective mothers come to visit.

The Blu-ray/DVD is on the streets even though it is nowhere near Christmas. Somehow, I think you will agree with me. Let’s wait and watch the movie until Christmas. But, if you are an early Christmas shopper, you can get the package now.

With that, here are the two trailers for A Bad Moms Christmas. One of these trailers is a Red Band trailer.  The Red Band trailer is funny. I am laughing!

These clips are so funny that I just have to post each one. Have a good laugh!

 

“The Greatest Showman” Poster, Trailers & Blu-ray/DVD

adventure, family movies, kid movies, legend, music, , , , ,

Directed by Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman stars the talented cast, including Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. The original songs by the Oscar Winning lyricists for the movie La La Land are Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The trailer is so upbeat and promising. I know there will be no letdown at the box office or a disappointment in the movie theaters.

The story follows Jackman’s character Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum. The trailer shows off an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business while telling a magical story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

The Blu-ray and DVD have hit the streets and is available if you want to see the movie again or you haven’t seen it yet. Now it is your chance. My daughter saw the film for the first time while flying from Atlanta to Sacramento. She said the music was phenomenal, and Zac Efron was outstanding.

I just saw it last night and wish the second act was stronger but loved the music. I have to admit. I became interested in P.T. Barnum’s life. I did a little research and discovered his life is worth telling, and it is a story to be said – fantastic character.

This trailer shows a more modern twist in the music. Interesting way, it might grab the attention of younger audiences like teenagers.

“The Foreigner” Poster and Trailer

action, thriller,

From the director of Casino Royale, The Foreigner stars Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. The action thriller follows a humble London businessman Quan, played by Jackie Chan. Whose long-buried past explodes into revenge fueled by terrorists when the only person left for him to love — his teenage daughter — taken from him in a senseless act of politically-motivated terrorism.

In his uncompromising search for the identity of the terrorists, Quan forced into a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official, played by Pierce Brosnan. His past holds clues to the names of the hard to pin down killers.

I have a hard time watching a movie where someone’s teenage daughter gets killed. With that, I am sure Chan is doing his own stunts. This role for Brosnan is refreshing to see.

“Pitch Perfect 3” Trailers and Blu-Ray/DVD

comedy, music, sequels, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Directed by  Trish Sie, the cast just keeps getting larger and larger with an impressive list of talent.

Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office.

After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth.  But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

The Blu-ray/DVD hit the streets, so if you missed the movie in theaters, and now you can buy the movie for real. The package includes new songs.

Comparing the Blu-ray cover with the movie poster,  the yellow background makes the movie seem lighter not as dark or foreboding.

Perhaps, shoppers are likely to pick up a lighter colored package than a darker one.

“Stronger” Trailer and Clips

drama, romance, true stories, , , ,

Directed by David Gordon Green, Stronger is a true story following Jeff Bauman, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Jeff is a 27-year-old working-class Boston man who was at the marathon to try and win back his ex-girlfriend Erin, played by Tatiana Maslany.

Waiting for her at the finish line when the blast occurs, he loses both his legs in the attack. After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff can help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his battle has just begun.

Watching the trailer, the story unfolds. We see Jeff tackling physical and emotional rehabilitation with Erin and his family. The trailer is filled with raw emotion. Stronger also stars Miranda Richardson and Clancy Brown.

David Gordon Green’s signature movie is Pineapple Express. Quite different from this true story based on the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy.

“Thank You For Your Service” Trailer, Featurette, Interviews

based on a book, drama, true stories, , , , , , , , , ,

Directed by Jason Hall, Thank You for Your Service follows a group of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq. They struggle to fit in with a “normal” life, such as being with family and living in general civilian life. It is the memories of a war that threatens to destroy them long after they’ve left the battlefield.

The story is told with a strong ensemble cast led by Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Amy Schumer, Joe Cole, Beulah Koale, Scott Haze, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Brad Beyer, Omar J. Dorsey, and Jayson Warner Smith. The story is based on the bestselling book by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author David Finkel.

This is Jason Hall’s directorial debut. He received recognition for his screenplay American Sniper. He also wrote the script for this heart-wrenching drama.

The trailer and featurette with an in-depth interview with Jason Hall are awesome and touches on the battle our service men experience when they return home. Let’s help them by thanking them for their service and using green mental health treatments, not psychotropic drugs, because they are not the answer.

“The Only Boy Living in New York” Trailer and Clips

drama, , , , ,

Directed by Marc Webb, whose eclectic work includes 500 Days of Summer, The Amazing Spider-man, and Gifted brings a nice little tale that’s been played before. Yet, this one has a similar scene from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  You gotta love New York City, rain, taxi cab, and good-byes.

The movie has a pretty decent cast with familiar faces including Callum Turner, Jeff Bridges, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, Kiersey Clemons, and Cynthia Nixon.

The story follows a recent college graduate who is adrift in New York City and seeks the guidance of an eccentric neighbor as his life is upended by his father’s mistress.

I watched the movie on Amazon and totally enjoy the story.  The actors are great and the scene with Brosnan and Turner is incredible.

“Flatliners” Trailer

drama, remakes, , , ,

Directed by Niels Arden Opley, who directed Girl with the Dragon Tattoos, Flatliners follows five medical students, hoping to gain insight into the mystery of what lies beyond the confines of life, embark on a daring and dangerous experiment.

A remake of the 1990 movie with the same title starring Julia Roberts and Keith Sutherland, by stopping each student’s heart for short periods of time, every time it triggers a near-death experience.

As the investigation becomes more and more perilous, they are forced to confront the sins of their pasts, as well as contend with the paranormal consequences of trespassing to the other side.

Peter Filardi, who wrote the original 1990 screenplay receives “Story By” credit along with the movie’s screenwriter Ben Ripley.

I am curious how the movie will pan out because Joel Schumacher directed the original movie and has stellar credits including The Phantom of the Opera, Batman Forever, and Phone Booth.

Watching the trailer, I’d say this movie is even darker with a strong cast.

It looks like the remake is following the original by discovering their wicked past.

Great interview with three of the actors in the movie.

“Happy Death Day” Trailer, TV Spots, and Clips

horror, , , , ,

Directed by Christopher Landon, Happy Death Day is an evil twist on the comedy Groundhog Day. The movie follows a college student, played by Jessica Rothe (La La Land), who relives the day of her murder with both its typical details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.

The producers, known for producing Whiplash and Get Out, are calling the movie an original and inventive rewinding thriller, but I wonder if they have seen Groundhog Day and Before I Fall.

With that, horror fans will flock to this movie because, if you watch the trailer and TV spots, it looks like a great horror movie.