All posts by Kenna

mortal kombat

“Mortal Kombat” Immediately Competitive and Revolutionary

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Mortal Kombat

Directed by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat follows an MMA fighter, Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, who is familiar with taking a beating for money. He is not aware of his heritage or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung, played by Chin Han, has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, played by Joe Taslim, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down.

Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade, played by Jessica McNamee, at the command of Jax, played by Mehcad Brooks, a Special Forces Major. He bears the same strange dragon marking Cole’s had since birth. Soon, Cole finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, played by Tadanobu Asano, an Elder God and Earthrealm protector, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark.

Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors. They are Liu Kang, played by Ludi Lin, Kung Lao, played by Max Huang and rogue mercenary Kano, played by Josh Lawson. He prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe. But will the situation push Cole hard enough to unlock his arcana-the immense power from within his soul-in time to save the universe?

“Cruella” Promising Imagination

based on a book, children movies, classic, family movies, fantasy, kid movies, sequels, ,

Directed by Craig Gillespie, an Australian best known for I, Tonya brings us a Cruella based on 101 Dalmatians.

In this live-action prequel feature, the story follows young Cruella de Vil, played by Emma Stone. We learn how Cruella became a fur lover and dog hater.

Dana Fox and Tony McNamara contributed to the screenplay. McNamara wrote The Favourite, which starred Emma Stone.

The film also stars Emma Thompson and Mark Strong.

Love Story

“Love Story” 50th Anniversary Restored 4K Film

based on a book, classic, legend, re-release, romance,

Some call it a classic LOVE STORY as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with a brand-new Blu-ray, newly restored from a 4K film transfer.

Based on Erich Segal’s best-selling novel, LOVE STORY received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and became a cultural phenomenon, earning over $100 million at the domestic box office. In 2002, the AFI named it #9 among the 100 greatest love stories ever.

The Blu-ray includes the newly restored film, a new Filmmaker Focus with film historian Leonard Maltin, plus previously released content, including a commentary by director Arthur Hiller, an introduction by film critic Ben Mankiewicz, Love Story: A Classic Remembered, and the theatrical trailer, plus access to a Digital copy of the film. The disc is a collectible packaging with a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.  

Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw both received Oscar nominations for their starring roles as Harvard students Oliver, played by O’Neal, and Jenny, played by MacGraw, from opposite backgrounds. Still, they share a chemistry they cannot deny—and a love they can’t ignore. Despite Oliver’s wealthy father threatening to disown him, the young couple marries and builds their new life together. But fate has other plans, and soon Oliver and Jenny face a crisis only the strongest of loves can endure. And we hear the most poignant and misunderstood phrase — “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Old

Thriller “Old” Timely Focus Unconditional Lifetime

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Produced, directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan from the graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters, Old follows a family on a tropical vacation.

They come across a secluded beach to spend a few hours relaxing. Chilling, mysterious phenomena occur where somehow they age rapidly — reducing their entire lives into a single day.

The international cast includes Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff, Embeth Davidtz, Eliza Scanlen, Emun Elliott, Kathleen Chalfant, and Thomasin McKenzie.

“In the Heights” Spotlight on Imagination

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Into the Heights

Directed by Jon M. Chu and formerly a Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), In the Heights centers on an eclectic group of characters living in the neighborhood of Washington Heights, on the northern tip of Manhattan.

It’s based on Broadway, in which a bodega owner has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune.

The main character of the story is Usnavi, played by Anthony Ramos, as the bodega owner who looks after the aging Cuban lady next door, pines for the gorgeous girl working in the neighboring beauty salon, and dreams of winning the lottery and escaping to the shores of his native Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, Nina, a childhood friend of Usnavi’s, returns from her first year at college with surprising news for her parents, who have spent their life savings building a better life for their daughter. Ultimately, Usnavi and the residents of the close-knit neighborhood get a dose of what it means to be home.

Thank you, IMDB and Broadway.com, for the information.

The Courier

“The Courier” Confidential Challenge Easily Competitive

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Written by Tom O’Connor and directed by Dominic Cooke, The Courier is a true-life spy thriller. The story of an unassuming British businessman, Greville Wynne, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history.

At the behest of the UK’s MI-6 and a CIA operative, played by Rachel Brosnahan, he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky, played by Merab Ninidze, to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The movie also stars Jessie Buckley.

silk road

“Silk Road” Unparalleled High Tech Fortune Ends in a Zinger

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Silk Road

Written and directed Tiller Russell for the Rolling Stone article by David Kushner based on a true story, Silk Road is a crime thriller. The story follows the rise and fall of Silk Road, the infamous darknet site that sent a seismic shock through the World Wide Web.

Young, idealistic, and driven to succeed, Ross Ulbricht, played by Nick Robinson, creates the Internet’s first unregulated marketplace — Silk Road.

But when it becomes a multimillion-dollar pipeline for illicit drugs, Ross places himself on a collision course with Rick Bowden, played by Jason Clarke, a disreputable and dangerously unpredictable DEA agent, who will use any means necessary to take him down.

The rest of the cast includes Katie Aselton, Jimmi Simpson, Daniel David Stewart, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Lexi Rabe, Will Ropp, Paul Walter Hauser, and Alexandra Shipp.

Nobody

“Nobody” Unlock Absolutely Lowest Unconditional Hatred

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Directed by Ilya Naishuller, Nobody follows Hutch Mansell, played by Bob Odenkirk. He’s an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband who takes life’s indignities on the chin and never pushes back — a nobody.

When two thieves break into his suburban home one night, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son, Blake, played by Gage Munroe, becomes disappointed in him and his wife, Becca, played by Connie Nielsen, and seems to pull only further away.

The incident’s aftermath strikes a match to Hutch’s long-simmering rage, triggering dormant instincts and propelling him on a dangerous path that will surface dark secrets and lethal skills. Hutch must save his family from a dangerous adversary, played by Aleksey Serebryakov, — and ensure that no one will ever underestimate him as a nobody again. Sometimes, the man you don’t notice is the most dangerous.

From a script by Derek Kolstad, also co-stars Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father and RZA as Hutch’s brother, whose own hidden talents aid Hutch in his quest for vengeance.

The Mauritanian

“The Mauritanian” Trailers, Featurettes and Clips

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Directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on the N.Y. Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, The Mauritanian inspired the true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.

Alone and afraid, Slahi, played by Tahar Rahim, finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander, played by Jodie Foster, and her associate Teri Duncan, played by Shailene Woodley, who battles the U.S. government in a fight for justice.

The movie is now on Amazon, or you can get the Blu-ray for your library. The cast is strong, and the story is heart-wrenchingly true.

It’s the test of their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy and evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, uncover shocking truths and ultimately prove that no one can lock up the human spirit.

The rest of the cast includes Zachary Levi and Saamer Usmani.

Godzilla vs. King Kong

Gigantic “Godzilla vs. Kong” Powerful Bargain for the Spotlight

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Godzilla vs. King Kong

Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla vs. Kong is the next epic cinematic chapter in the battle of the two most significant icons in motion picture history. All as CGI, the fearsome Godzilla, and the mighty Kong fight it out with humanity caught in the balance.

Yes, the legends collide as Godzilla and Kong, some of the most potent forces of nature, clash on the big screen in a spectacular battle for the ages.

Bus Shelter Poster

A squadron embarks on a dangerous mission into fantastic uncharted terrain, unearthing clues to the Titans’ very origins and humankind’s survival. A conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures from the face of the earth forever, whether they are good or evil.

Watching the trailer, I am impressed. The line, “It’s Godzilla.” is nostalgia.

Showdown

Written for the screen by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein from the story by Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty, and Zach Shields, the film has an impressive cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, and Rebecca Hall.