Category Archives: based on a book

“The Call of the Wild” Poster, Clip, Trailer, Featurette

adventure, animation, based on a book, children movies, family movies, historical, kid movies, remakes, , , , ,
Harrison Ford is John Thornton.

Jack London’s literary classic takes a new turn in the adaptation of The Call of the Wild with live-action and animation animals.

The movie is streaming on Amazon, and here is a featurette about the star of the film, Buck. The man who plays him is with Cirque du Soleil. Watch this clip and see how well he acts like Buck.

Directed by Chris Sanders and starring Harrison Ford as John Thornton, the vivid story comes is well-known. We follow Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s.

As the newest rookie on a mail delivery sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his real place in the world and becoming his own master.

Sanders helms the movie as a live-action and animation hybrid, employing cutting edge visual effects and animation technology to render the animals in the film as fully photorealistic, emotionally, and authentic characters.

Sanders credits include Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. He holds quite a repertory of writing credits, including The Lion King, Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast. However, Michael Green wrote the script based on London’s novel and Egerton Ryerson Young’s source material.

The cast also includes Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, and Colin Woodell.

Ford is a natural in this movie clip, an amazing actor.

“The Song of Names” Trailer and Poster

based on a book, drama, , ,

Directed by Francois Girard, The Songs of Names is based on the book of the same name by Norman Lebrecht. Jeffrey Caine wrote the screenplay. Caine is an old school screenwriter who wrote one of the James Bond movies Goldeneye, and he received an Oscar nomination for his adaption of The Constant Gardner. 

The movie stars Tim Roth and Clive Owen in an emotional detective story spread over two continents and a half-century. Beneath the film’s stunning and pulsing musical revelations, burn the horror of war and the lost souls extinguished from history.

Also starring in the movie is Jonah Hauer-King and Catherine McCormack.

I am curious about the story and might read the book before seeing the movie. 

Innovative “Little Women” Trailer, Clips, Featurettes, Posters

based on a book, classic, drama, family movies, remakes, , , , , , , , , , ,

Based on the perennial novel by Louisa May Alcott and written for the screen and directed by Greta Gerwig, Little Women comes to the movie houses once again with Saoirse Ronan in the lead role as the Alcott’s distinctly other-self, Jo March.

Most of you are familiar with Gerwig’s Lady Bird, where Ronan played Lady Bird, a teenage girl trying to find the meaning of life through a coming of age and innocence. Gerwig also casts another alumnus from the movie, Timothée Chalamet, who plays the neighbor Laurie.

Jo reflects back and forth in her fictional life as Gerwig crafts the beloved story of the March sisters. They are four young women, each determined to live life on her terms, which is timeless and timely.

The sisters in the movie include Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March. New York Film Critics Circle (2019) awarded Laura Dern Best Supporting Actress for both Little Women and Marriage Story.

Gerwig tight directing brings new life to Little Women, as you can see in this clip. 

I like this movie clip because it’s clean and smooth, and the message is clear.

The movie shot beautifully, love Dern as the mother.

I love this clip with Letts. It’s so good.

The next set of featurettes tells the story of making the movie.

Surging High Tech “Bloodshot” Poster, Trailer, Images

action, based on a book, fantasy, science fiction, , , ,
Watch Bloodshot with Sam Heughan from Outlander

Directed by David S. F. Wilson, Bloodshot follows the story based on the bestselling comic book. Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation.  

With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he’s an unstoppable force –stronger than ever and able to heal instantly.  But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories, too. Now, Ray doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not – but he’s on a mission to find out.

Vin Diesel and Sam Heughan

Bloodshot is Wilson’s first feature film. He has an extensive career in visual effects from games to movies like Star Wars and The Avengers games.

Outlander‘s Sam Heughan

Eric Heisserer and Jeff Wadlow wrote the screenplay based on the comic book series by Yvel Guichet, Bob Layton, Don Perlin, and Kevin VanHook. Heisserer’s credits include Arrival and Bird Box. Waldow’s credits include writing and directing Truth or Dare and Kick-Ass 2.

The comic-book movie also stars Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, and Guy Pearce.

Watching the trailer, we see Heughan, who plays Jimmy Dalton as the robot man with mechanical tentacles.

The second trailer is not all that different from the first trailer, but clips show subtle humor and lightness, which lets the public know it’s not all violence and death.

“Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” Hilarious Trailers and Poster

adventure, animation, based on a book, children movies, family movies, kid movies, , , , ,

Co-written and directed by Will Gluck, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway greets Peter, played by James Corden. He and his friends return for more ventures.

The rabbits created a makeshift family, but despite his best efforts, Peter can’t seem to shake his mischievous reputation.

Adventuring out of the garden, Peter finds himself in a world where his mischief is appreciated, but when his family risks everything to come looking for him, Peter must figure out what kind of bunny he wants to be.

Patrick Burleigh is also an actor and a director, co-wrote the screenplay with Gluck based on the stories by Beatrice Potter. Gluck is also a producer and is known for Easy A, Friends with Benefits, Annie, Peter Rabbit, and several TV shows, including The Michael J. Fox Show.

The rest of the cast includes Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki, and Margot Robbie.

The second trailer is very different from the first trailer. The second trailer shows an adventurous story of Peter trying to save his friends while Mr. Gregor helps because he is a father to these crazy animals.

“The Rhythm Section” Lavishly Suspenseful Trailer and Poster

based on a book, thriller, ,
Blake Lively, with short hair, is a novelty.

Directed by Reed Morano, The Rhythm Section follows Stephanie Patrick, played by Blake Lively. She is an ordinary woman on a path of self-destruction after the tragedy of her family’s death in a plane crash. 

When Stephanie discovers that the crash was not an accident, she enters a dark, complex world to seek revenge on those responsible and find her redemption. Based on the novel by Mark Burnell, who created a series of books based on the character Stephanie Patrick. Burnell also wrote the screenplay for the movie. 

Morano is an Emmy-winning director for The Handmaid’s Tale and a talented cinematographer. The Rhythm Section also stars Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown.

The movie trailer looks legit, and it’s exciting to see Lively get a movie of this caliber. Lively also starred in A Simple Favor with Anne Kendrick. I highly recommend A Simple Favor. Lively’s part is smaller, but it’s a good movie.

The movie clip is an intense car chase that keeps you on the edge of your proverbial seat.

The next trailer, designed for social media platforms, I don’t see much of a difference.

The next two featurettes lack enough information to tell you about the story, which is crucial to making this movie entertaining, and not just another female action movie.

The two movie clips show how Lively’s character is withdrawn but emerging and calculating.

“En Brazos De Un Asesino” Poster and Trailer

based on a book, foreign movie, thriller
The movie is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Directed by Matias Moltrasio, En Brazos De Un Asesino follows Victor, played by William Levy. He is smooth-talking, seductive, eye candy for the ladies and a cold-blooded assassin who kills for money. 

When he arrives at the home of an unmerciful drug lord to collect payment for his recent assassination, he encounters the gorgeous Sarai, played by Alicia Sanz. She spent the last nine years forced to be with the drug lord.

Victor leaves the drug lord’s compound, and Sarai seizes her chance at freedom by hiding out in Victor’s car. But things don’t go as planned, and instead of being transported back to her home, she finds herself free from one dangerous man only to be caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run from the vengeful drug lord and his brutal henchmen, Victor’s conscience catches up with him as he risks all he stands for to protect his captive.

In the end, the power Sarai unknowingly holds over Victor, and their undeniable attraction, places her right in the arms of a killer.

The thriller, based on the book “Killing Sarai,” by J.A. Redmerski, also stars Adrian Lastra, Roberto Sosa, Ettore D’Alessandro and Jean Jean.

“Little Women” Trailer

based on a book, classic, drama, , , , , , , , , , ,

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Little Women comes to the movie screen once again with a stellar cast of women and a couple of men. Many renditions of the classic book have come to us over more than 100 years of moviemaking.

The first adaption of Little Women was a British silent film in 1917 starring Gaiety Girl Ruby Miller. In 1918, U.S. silent film starred Dorothy Bernard. The first talking movie starred Katherine Hepburn and directed by George Cukor in 1933. The second movie starred June Alyson and Elizabeth Taylor with Mervyn LeRoy directing in 1949. The third starring Wyona Ryder in 1998. Then, a modernized version in 2018 starring Melanie Stone.

Gerwig, who directed the sleeper hit Lady Bird, crafted Little Women in a way the draws both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott. The movie unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life.

In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her terms — is both timeless and timely.

Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbor Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.

Gerwig’s signature filmmaking shines through with stunning backdrops and charming costumes.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Trailer, Clips, Featurettes & Posters

based on a book, biography, drama, true stories, , ,
Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers is perfect casting.

Only Tom Hanks can play Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Watch the trailer, and tears will form. The kindness and generosity of Hanks are distinguished to portray one of the most well-known icons in children’s television.

Directed by Marielle Heller, who brings emotional rhythm to movies like Can You Ever Forgive Me? – nurturing Oscar-nominated performances from Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant.

The studio calls this movie “a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism,” based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod.

After a jaded magazine writer, Junod, played by Matthew Rhys, is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.

Inspired by the article “Can You Say. . . Hero?” by Tom Junod, Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster turned the story into a screenplay. Both writers worked together on the episodic show Transparency and the movie Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.

The rest of the exceptional cast includes Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper.

The featurette is a deserving message about a man who wanted people to be happy with themselves. It was okay to have feelings.

After viewing this featurette, all I want to do is see the movie.

I hope this movie changes people’s hearts, and they see the good in everyone.

Watching Tom Hanks in the next three clips is a treasure. He is such a fine actor and makes the movie believable.

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” Poster, Clips, Featurettes & Trailers

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

Directed by Joachim Rønning, story by Linda Woolverton, and the screenplay by Woolverton, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, and Noah Harpster, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil follows Maleficent. Played by Angelina Jolie and her goddaughter Aurora, played by Elle Fanny, begin to question the complex family ties that bind them. Being pulled in different directions, they face the impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play.

A fantasy story begins several years after Maleficent. The story continues to discover the different relationships between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen.  They develop more alliances while facing new enemies in their agony and hardship to protect the moors and the magical creatures that live within the forest.

The movie is available on Amazon. and I recommend you get it because it is a strong story and entertaining.

Screenwriters Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster worked together on the episodic show Transparency and A Beautiful Place in the Neighborhood with Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers.

The movie also stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Ed Skrein.

The featurette is short and sweet and to the point. Jolie is fantastic as Maleficent.

The next featurette tells us more about the movie and why there is a sequel. It looks like so much fun.

The next three clips show the choices each character has to make to handle the changes that are occurring in the story.