Directed by Kenneth Branagh and written by Ben Elton, All is True is a take on the life of Shakespeare during his golden years. We are honored with a chance to take a good look at the final days of William Shakespeare. The movie presupposes the renowned playwright’s last days as Shakespeare.
There is not much written, yet, about the movie but it appears to be a frolic and comedy of errors. I am sure innuendos and slight references to Shakespeare’s great work will be presented.
By watching the trailer, it appears the great scribbler dealt with some demons relating to his past transgressions. His wife is aware of them in her own right and speaks of their relationship as it has evolved. I am curious though about his relationship with his daughter. The movie hits at something, but I am not sure what to make of it yet. Also, I am not sure this is based on any real facts about Shakespeare’s final days. Hence, the title is sarcasm?
Branagh has directed Shakespeare movies before and even played some characters on stage and in the movies. Elton is also an actor and starred in Branagh’s Much to Ado About Nothing.
The cast is stellar including Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, and Kathryn Wilder
Directed by Jon Favreau, The Lion King is the same as the original Disney The Lion King. But this time, the production is taking the CGI and re-imagining the 1994 Disney classic. Both are from Disney, and Favreau directed The Jungle Book, which did great at the box office, and reviews were positive.
Some of you may be happy to know the voices are also being redone with James Earl Jones, Seth Rogen, Donald Glover, Keegan-Michael Key, Alfre Woodard, and Beyonce.
The movie hasn’t even been released yet. The movie’s soundtrack is nominated for a Grammy as well.
Look at the movie trailer and see that the story is no different from the original. The only difference is it’s not a cartoon. It looks totally real.
The second trailer shows what to expect from the movie—a real-life version of the animated The Lion King. The technology in filmmaking and animation arrives at a whole new level with Disney productions. I wish for original stories and new adventures in all this fantastical technology. There are classics untouched, like The Count of Monte Crisco or Treasure Island. Even Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea is a great story to animate. I hope Disney will broaden their scope of future movies.
Still, I am impressed with the CGI; the movie will delight children of all ages. The box office will prove fruitful.
The TV spot is incredible because it shows us that the movie is like the original, but the computer-generated characters are more realistic.
The following three publicity clips show us the CGI and characters we know. The “Circle of Life” looks real, with all the African animals celebrating the birth of the Lion King. That clip is blocked, and you can only see the image from the video.
The two featurettes show the cast and director working together to make a new, different movie but the same movie.
The franchised started off with the first installment directed by Catherine Hardwicke. Twilight is based on a series of novels by Stephenie Meyer. Bella Swan, Kristen Stewart, doesn’t expect much when she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington until she meets the mysterious and handsome Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson. Cullen is a boy hiding a dark secret. He’s a vampire. As their worlds and hearts collide, Edward must battle the bloodlust raging inside him as well as a small group of undead that would make Bella their prey.
All five of the Blu-ray Combo Packs feature new unique box art designs from renowned illustrator Justin Erikson, who brings to life the epic saga with his distinct illustrations. The entire collection includes hours of special features including deleted scenes, character featurettes, cast interviews, music videos and more. For additional value, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn – Part 1 also include both the Theatrical and the Extended versions of the film. Each of The Twilight Saga Blu-ray Combo Packs will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.99.
I admit I never read the books nor seen the movies but I know of the Twilight craze. Careers were launch from this franchise, and the fan-based is strong. With that, enjoy the tenth-anniversary trailer.
Directed by Guy Ritchie, Aladdin is the live-action retelling of the 1992 Disney classic movie. Will Smith plays the Genie this time and Billy Magnussen plays Prince Anders. The teaser trailer is just that a teaser not telling us anything we don’t already know. It’s a remake.
The Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming of the movie are coming our way. Now, you can watch the movie again or if you haven’t seen it, you get your chance to watch it as many times as you like at home.
The second trailer proves to be a whole new world for Aladdin. Following the animated version of yesteryear, we see something spectacular and full of wonder.
Written and directed by Etan Cohen, starring two funny guys – Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are reunited – this time playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective and his assistant biographer in what looks like a ridiculous version of Holmes & Watson.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk, is set in early-1970s Harlem as a timeless and moving love story of both a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year old Tish Rivers, played by KiKi Layne. Tish is a daughter and wife-to-be. She vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust connect her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny, played by Stephan James. Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.
The movie clip shows how sharp and poignant the movie comes across.
The second poster shows the love story and the bonding of the main characters.
Tish knows that Fonny is innocent, and is mindful that his good friend Daniel Carty, played by Brian Tyree Henry, was recently freed after an unjust incarceration. Fonny’s mother, played by Aunjanue Ellis, clings to her devotion to God and his father, played by Michael Beach, struggles with feelings of powerlessness. Tish’s earthly father Joseph, played by Colman Domingo, and fierce older sister Ernestine, played by Teyonah Parris, hold steadfast in their support. Even more anxious to clear Fonny’s name is Tish’s deeply compassionate mother Sharon, played by Regina King, readying to put herself on the line for her daughter and future son-in-law’s happiness.
The undercurrents fill the story including the couple’s unborn child, whose arrival will herald new joys and challenges. Facing the unexpected prospect of parenthood and holding down a job without her partner at her side. Tish must adjust her perspective on the realities of her existence. She visits Fonny regularly, trying to shore up his spirit even as prison takes its toll. As the weeks turn to months, Tish reaffirms their hopes and resilience, relying on familial and inner strength.
If Beale Street Could Talk is based on a book by James Baldwin, charting the vivid emotional currents navigated in an unforgiving and racially biased world as the Jenkins poetically crosses time frames to show how love and humanity endure.
The talented cast also includes Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Beach, Ed Skrein, Diego Luna, Dave Franco, and Pedro Pascal.
The song playing in the background might seem cheesy to some but I like it because it shows how poetic and deep their lives are intertwined. Just beautiful – true love.
Jenkins won an Oscar for directing Moonlight and Beale Street is his beautiful and poetic follow up. Watch the movie and be transformed.
The Blu-ray and DVD are hitting the streets with streaming available as well. The movie is poetry. If you haven’t seen it yet, now is your chance. It’s a beautiful love story about bigotry and family. Both disc sets have deleted scenes and featurettes about the making of the movie.
Screenplay by David Magee with the story co-written by David Magee, John DeLuca, and Rob Marshall, Mary Poppins Returns with direction by Rob Marshall. The sequel takes place during Depression-era London. Suppose you are familiar with the original Disney Mary Poppinswith Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. In that case, you will relate to the now-grown Jane, played by Emily Mortimer, and Michael Banks, played by Ben Whishaw. Together with Michael’s three children, they are, once again, following a personal loss visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins, played by Emily Blunt.
Through her unique magical skills and with the aid of her friend Jack, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.
The movie clip shows the brother and sister, now older, up in the attic, finding memories.
The latest featurette explains how the movie is not a remake but a sequel.
The studio now blocks one clip of the movie I posted. What I liked about the video was it showed the energy each actor contributes to the scene and, thus, the film.
My family and I saw the movie over the holidays and loved it. The film is upbeat and fun. The curtain call at the end will raise your spirits. Emily Blunt became Mary Poppins, which differs from Julie Andrews’ version but is more faithful to the books.
Here are more movie clips. The “Sing For Us” is now blocked, so I removed it, but Emily Blunt is still stunning in all the other clips.
The featurette is true to the Mary Poppins stories. Enjoy!
Other cast members include Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, and Angela Lansbury.
After my family saw the movie, we all agreed that the little dance scene was the best in the film. Next is the curtain call with balloons at the end, a great ending. I highly recommend the movie.
Emily Blunt marvels at how she takes “The Place Where the Lost Things Go” and sings it gently and beautifully to the Banks children. I hope Blunt sings an Oscar-nominated song at the Academy Awards presentation. I’d be ecstatic! The movie nabbed another Oscar nod for Original Score – Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Listen in on their discussion with Richard Sherman about developing the music for the film.
Mary Poppins Returns Blu-ray and DVD are on the streets, with streaming happening online. Now, you can see the movie again with the bonus features.
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms centers on Klara, played by Mackenzie Foy. All she desires is a golden key,not just any old key. A unique key like no other key to unlock a box that holds a priceless gift from her late mother.
Her godfather Drosselmeyer, played by Morgan Freeman, presents a golden thread to her at the annual holiday party. The thread leads her to the key she yearns. The thread quickly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world.
In the mysterious world, which seems a bit like Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” Klara happens upon some quirky characters such as a soldier named Phillip, played by Jayden Fowora-Knight, a gang of mice, and the regents. The regents preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers, and Land of Sweets.
Klara and Phillip journey together and brave the threatening Fourth Realm, which is home to the tyrant Mother Ginger, played by Helen Mirren.
For Klara to her key and with a bit of luck, return harmony to the unstable world, she must confront Mother Ginger.
The following three featurettes show how much creative work went into production. One of the featurettes is about the famous ballerina Misty Copeland.
The magical movie also stars Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Featuring an individual ballet performance by Misty Copeland, all ballerinas will want to see this movie. But keep in mind, E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale inspires the cinema. It is not the same story. The second trailer shows more of the story, and the music sounds familiar.
The Blu-ray/DVD and streaming is now available if you’re interested in watching it with your kids. It is a kids’ movie, but mom and, possibly, dad will like it, too.
I just watched this movie with my daughter about three weeks ago when Schindler’s List became available on Amazon Prime—my daughter’s first time seeing the movie. She loved it. I don’t blame her because I loved it just as much as I did the first time, or perhaps more.
Now, the stark, black-and-white movie is being remastered to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the movie directed by Steven Spielberg. I am sure Spielberg views this movie as one of the most significant endeavors in cinema history. The re-release of the movie with picture and sound digitally remastered includes 4K, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby Atmos. The commemorative continues with a limited theatrical engagement on December 7, 2018, in theaters across the United States and Canada. Universal Studios meticulously restored the movie from the original film negative in pristine high definition and supervised by Spielberg.
The only color in the movie is the little girl with a red coat. A symbol of Shindler’s connection and realization of his necessity to save the lives of Jews is his only desire to build pots and pans.
Winner of seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, this fantastic true story follows the enigmatic Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, who personally saved the lives of more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.
So many stories are told about the Holocaust. Stories about brave people like Schindler are the triumph. Schindler made a difference for those who survived one of the darkest chapters in human history.
Schindler’s List is an overwhelming story about a man who learned to change his flamboyant lifestyle and take the courage and faith to be strong enough to save the lives of Jews.
Some highlights of technical and artistic achievement are composer John Williams, screenwriter Steven Zaillian, and director of photography Janusz Kaminski, including art directors Allan Starski and Ewa Braun and editor Michael Kahn.
The cast alone is impressive, including Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagalle, and Embeth Davidtz.
Whether you sat in the dark theater and watched this movie, on your flat TV screen at home, or not at all, watch this trailer and see if you do not shed a tear for the visual and musical impact.
Directed by Tim Burton, live-action Dumbo looks like one of the best movies for the whole family this year. I am sure the box office will be pleased. The screenplay is by Ehren Kruger, who wrote all those Transformer movies. I find that ironic because Dumbo is nothing like a Transformer.
I am glad the original theme song is part of the live-action movie. The cartoon movie is a classic with an extraordinary message about overcoming your handicap and succeeding. During the movie trailer, I never saw the mouse. But Pink Elephants on Parade is in the movie. The tiny clip in the trailer looks like the show will be fun to watch.
The movie stars Eva Green, Colin Farrell, and Michael Keaton. I am not sure who the kid actors are, but I look forward to learning more about them.
I wonder if the blackbirds will be in the movie as well. I love that scene, even though it doesn’t fit in with the PC standards of today. They are so funny with lines like, “I’ve seen a housefly. I’ve seen a horsefly. But, I have never seen an elephant fly.”
The second trailer is even better. Burton created a movie for kids to watch. By watching the second trailer, it appears the story becomes somewhat altered. A dad and other adults were not in the original Disney version. But, the adults seem to have a purpose in the movie, which makes it okay. The theme song is the same.
With that, there is a trailer. My YouTube account has a note that says it’s blocked worldwide. It might not play for you. I am sorry, but I had to write about this movie because Dumbo is one of my favorite Disney movies.
Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming are available for those who want to watch the movie again or haven’t seen it yet. The film is excellent for kids who want to see it repeatedly.
The featurette “Soaring to New Heights” offers quite a bit of information about the remake of Dumbo. I thought I saw a mouse in this video, and I am curious if the mouse plays an essential role in this new version. I sense that Danny Devito’s character fills that part of the story where the mouse encourages Dumbo to fly or the kids do.
Watching Tim Burton talk about Dumbo is impressive. He is so animated and a complete genius. Burton almost says something about working with Disney and stops. I wonder what he wanted to say about Disney.
The following movie clips show Dumbo flying, sinister DeVito and Keaton, and the kids, Farrell and Green.
The interview with Farrell shows him upbeat and excited about the movie and working with Burton.
Green talks about how she overcame the fear of heights to play the flying traipse artist. She talks about what it is like working with Burton and Keaton.
Michael Keaton tells it like it is in this interview with spoilers.
The featurette is magical, and I can’t wait to see the movie.
Dumbo is a magical story about a unique elephant who loses his mother. He must overcome the obstacles in life to be with his mother and succeed as himself. The next featurette expresses the brilliance of Burton and his magical world.
The next featurette arrives several days before the movie’s release in the US with all the interviews and footage combined.
