Category Archives: Lifestyle

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

The Much-Anticipated ‘Frozen II’ is a Predicted Hit Sure to Bring Disney Animation Out of its Cold Shadows

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https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/frozen-2/frozen-2-trailer-3_h1080p.mov
New Official Trailer for “Frozen II”

The Current Successes of Disney’s Imperially Strategic IP Expansion Overshadows its Origins as ‘Walt Disney Animation Studios’

With Disney+, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar movies dominating Disney’s current agenda, it can sometimes be hard to remember that Walt Disney Animation Studios still exists and produces its own titles. Not only that, but for several decades Walt Disney Animation was essentially what fueled the company. Since the days of Walt himself, Disney’s animation department is what made the company stand out, producing revolutionary cartoons from the groundbreaking Alice Comedies, to Mickey Mouse’s initial appearance in “Steamboat Willie,” to the first animated feature, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.”

Over the years Disney Animation has had its peaks and valleys. From the 1930s through the 1960s, the department created countless classics, with titles such as “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and more. Following Walt’s death in 1966, the company faced some difficulties with corporate competition and creative transformations. 1989, however, kicked off what is known as the Disney Renaissance with “The Little Mermaid,” and across the 1990s, Disney Animation rose back to the top with stunning new cartoon movies from “Aladdin,” to “The Lion King,” to “Mulan,” to “Beauty and the Beast,” and so on. 

After the Notorious Pixar Acquisition, Disney’s Original Animation Studio has Struggled to Compete with its Own Company

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/frozen-2/frozen-2-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
2ND OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “FROZEN II”

In the 2000s, Disney’s acquisition of Pixar pushed Walt Disney Animation Studios down to being a secondary cartoon juggernaut in its own company. 2D animated features fizzled out with the 1990s Renaissance, as Pixar’s 3D animation became mainstream with one successful project after another. 

Disney Animation struggled to make its own transition to 3D animation throughout the decade. Early titles such as “Chicken Little,” “Meet The Robinsons,” and “Bolt” were fun, but far from the Disney standard, and they paled in comparison to Pixar’s releases. It wasn’t until 2010 that Disney Animation had its first glimmer of 3D style reformation with “Tangled.” 

Disney’s live-action remakes of its 1990s classics may overshadow its Animation Studio’s place across the 2010s. Nevertheless, Walt Disney Animation Studios has quietly been making a comeback in our current decade, with creative, original stories that have done well on both critical and commercial fronts—and if “Frozen II” meets the success it anticipates, then it could solidify the fact that we are living in a second Disney Animated Renaissance.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/frozen-2/frozen-2-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
ORIGINAL OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “FROZEN II”

Second Installment will Strive to Match the much loved Original

Although “Tangled” was a fair initial entry for Disney Animation in the 2010s, and they followed it up well with “Wreck-It-Ralph” in 2012, it was not until 2013 that the department struck gold with the empowering, fantastical, and sensational “Frozen.”

Revitalizing the Disney Princess genre with a few modern twists, “Frozen” was a bona fide hit. It was one of the most successful movies of the year and did wonderfully in ancillary markets, with characters that made for popular toys and musical numbers that made their way into everyone’s hearts. It’s song “Let It Go” won Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards, not to mention that the movie as a whole won Best Animated Feature.  

Both children and adults appreciated “Frozen” and its bubbly aesthetic was reminiscent of Disney’s traditional animation style, only updated for the modern 3D appeal. The company carried this look into 2014’s “Big Hero 6.” Based on Marvel comics, but not being a part of Disney’s live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Big Hero 6” may not have had the cultural impact that “Frozen” did, but fans and critics loved it. It earned Walt Disney Animation another Best Animated Feature Oscar, making the company back-to-back champions in the category and proving that “Frozen” was not a fluke.  

The studio won again in 2016 with “Zootopia,” and received a nomination for “Moana” that same year. Like “Frozen,” “Moana” was a princess movie with an infectious soundtrack and received lots of attention for its celebration of Polynesian culture. 

Last year, the company released its first sequel in this contemporary animation cycle: “Ralph Breaks The Internet.” This movie earned Disney Animation another Oscar nomination, showing that they could pull off sequels and giving us reason to believe that “Frozen II” can live up to its predecessor.

Will ‘Frozen II’ Launch Another Disney Animation Renaissance?

And thus, we come full circle. Under our very noses, Disney Animation has pieced together a library of contemporary classics and placed themselves back in the game of major animation studios. “Frozen II” comes out November 22. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee return from the original as directors along with voice actors Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad. Like the first film, “Frozen II” will focus on sisterhood and wintery magic, but will add more universe building and fantastical elements to the storyline.

So, are we in a second Disney Animation Renaissance? It seems too early to tell, really. Unlike the first Disney Renaissance, Disney Animation is not yet the number one studio in town; it is still behind Pixar and Illumination at the moment. Likewise, despite its recent successes, Disney Animation does not currently define Disney like it did in the past. At the moment, Disney is largely defined by its vast intellectual properties and acquisitions; its animation department is but a tertiary element. Still, Walt Disney Animation Studios is currently pointed in the right direction and has subtly been making progress over the decade. They also just recently signed directors for four additional upcoming film projects. 2019 has already been one of the most financially successful years for Disney, and “Frozen II” is likely to skyrocket them to astronomical heights. If the sequel is as commercially successful and culturally impactful as the first “Frozen,” then it could very well put Disney Animation back in the running for a self-revitalization.

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Lifestyle, Music, Tech

How will 5G Technology and Ultra High Resolution Audio Quality affect Music Production?

Photo / Adobe Stock

Back to the Future: Digital Resolution to Rival best Analog of the Past?

With the oncoming advent of 5G technology and the increasing availability of 24-bit audio quality, consumers will soon be able to listen to music that sounds better and do so with greater ease. 5G will make streaming more efficient and the advantage 24-bit resolution over the MP3-standard 16-bit will make all kinds of music more sharp and whole sounding. For the first time in the digital age, there will be a significant evolution in how we hear music.

How these new technological innovations will change the music industry on the consumer end is more-or-less predictable. About a month ago, Amazon was the first major company to baseline high-resolution quality across its music streaming services. Amazon’s success, as well as that of other companies who employed this superior quality, proved that listeners notice the difference are willing to pay for better audio. Therefore, once 5G makes high-res music more accessible, it will raise expectations.

What people are currently overlooking regarding this innovation, however, is the question of how high-res and 5G will change music on the production end. When CDs were first introduced in the 1980s and everything had to be converted, many albums and tracks were remastered for the new medium. The same thing happened with the arrival of the iPod in 2001. Music became digitized. No longer were songs ingrained in the vinyl of a record, but rather stored in pixels on computers.

24-bit audio may not warrant equally radical changes, but it very well could affect how musicians and producers chose to make and mix new content. Consumers’ ears will soon grow accustom to this new quality, so when future tracks are released, they will have to be fit for this new standard.

Photo / Adobe Stock

As we inch ever closer to Biological Parity with our Senses, Pleasure can’t be Far Behind

On the simplest level, this introduction of higher-quality audio might just make our music sound a little bit more full. On the other end of the spectrum, however, these changes in tech could herald in entire new genres. Over the past two decades, as computers, phones, and MP3 players became the most popular platforms to listen to music on, there has been a noticeable correlated change in mainstream music. Hip-hop and rap have had renaissances in the twenty-first century, and EDM and dubstep are all but products of the digital age.

These latest 5G and 24-bit improvements in how we hear and appreciate music could bring about similar stylistic transformations. As quality increases, musical tastes can change, and innovation can come about as a result. Who will create this new kind of music and what it will sound like is impossible to foresee. Such is where artistic ingenuity comes into play. At its core, music remains one of the original essential art forms. No amount of technology can change that, but the artist can understandably embrace the technology to advance the craft and discover new horizons. 

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Fighter Tubman’s Harrowing Journey to Escape Slavery is chronicled in ‘Harriet’

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https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/focus_features/harriet/harriet-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
official trailer for “harriet”

Kasi Lemmons Aims High With Ambitious Historical Drama Based Off Harriet Tubman’s Extraordinary Life

Actress and director Kasi Lemmons has been a champion of black American cinema for a while now. Ever since she won the Best First Feature Independent Spirit Award in 1997 for “Eve’s Bayou,” she has been making stellar films starring predominantly black casts focusing largely on black experiences. 

Diverse, Seasoned Crew Behind the Camera Adds to the Film’s High Expectations

On November 1st, her latest and most ambitious project in that same vein will hit theaters. “Harriet” is Lemmons’ fifth movie and it tells the story of Harriet Tubman. Part bio-pic, part heritage film, and all parts historical drama, “Harriet” focuses on the slave-turned-abolitionist’s radical acts of unparalleled bravery in the pre-antebellum era that solidified her as a hero in one of America’s darkest hours.

Making a movie about Harriet Tubman is a bold undertaking. When the project was first proposed in 2015, Viola Davis was supposed to direct and star in it. Once that fell through, though, it was handed off to Lemmons. Given her filmography and her academic background—she briefly studied history at UCLA—Lemmons seemed like the perfect fit for the job. Gregory Allen Howard also wrote the story for “Harriet.” A black screenwriter from Virginia, Howard has written other race-themed films such as “Remember The Titans” and “Ali.”

Controversy over Heritage and yet Critics point out lack of Innovation and Pace

Nevertheless, when a movie centers on such a complicated period and such an iconic figure, even the biggest feet can struggle to fill the shoes. “Harriet” had its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and although Focus Films picked it up for distribution, the movie received nothing more than adequate reviews, getting criticism for being slow and offering nothing new to the biopic genre.  

Likewise, even before the movie even came out, Black American activists groups backlashed and protested the film for Cynthia Erivo playing the title character. Erivo is Nigerian-American, and while she is certainly black, she does not have any lineage of enslavement in the United States. Many black activists expressed distaste for this casting decision, deeming it inappropriate for a woman with no slavery in her ancestry to play one of the most important black abolitionists of all time.

The Film’s Release Date could allow for ‘Harriet’ to find a Niche

On the other hand, to the film’s benefit, it will be coming out on a somewhat sleepy weekend at the box office. On November 1st, its competition will be “Terminator: Dark Fate,” “Arctic Dogs” and “Motherless Brooklyn.” None of these films are really similar, and therefore “Harriet” will be able to stand on its own. 

Shortly afterwards, though, “Doctor Sleep” will come out on the 8th and then Disney+ will launch on the 12th, both of which may dwarf “Harriet” in terms of audience size.

Being an indie-film from a longtime indie director, it is unlikely that “Harriet” was made with the intention of breaking the box office. Still, it would be shame for a movie that chronicles such an important story to go unnoticed.

It goes without saying that Harriet Tubman deserves a movie made about her, one that is truthful to her remarkable life and celebrates all of the courageous acts she committed for America’s enslaved people. Evidently, however, even with the right director and writer, creating such a movie is incredibly difficult.

For a mix of reasons, some of them within and some of them outside of her control, Kasi Lemmons may have bitten off more she could chew with this project, and the final product may unfortunately reflect something below her talents and beneath our ungraspable expectations.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Another Reboot on the Badass, All-Female Trio, ‘Charlie’s Angels’ are back Again

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https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/charlies-angels/charlies-angels-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
new official trailer for “charlie’s angels”

Sony Scraping The Bottom Of The Barrel Of Intellectual Property With “Charlie’s Angels” Reboot

It was over forty years ago on ABC when three dissatisfied police-academy graduates became private detectives for the Charles Townsend Agency, thus becoming Charlie’s Angels and kicking off one of the most popular female-led television series of the 1970s. From TV writer-producer team of Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, the original “Charlie’s Angels” ran for 110 episodes, garnering a strong cult following in its time. 

Since the original program left TV in 1981 due to diminishing popularity, there have been a couple attempts at reviving the franchise. In the early 2000s, Sony’s Columbia Pictures produced two filmic reboots, the 2000 McG directed “Charlie’s Angels” and its 2003 sequel “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.” With an updated plot and cast, these playful adaptations faired alright at the box-office, but were critically underwhelming, being nothing more than lighthearted rehashes of the bygone original series. In 2011, ABC again tried to refresh the series on television, but immediate low ratings got it canceled after only seven episodes. 

Perhaps you’d expect Sony to take the hint and realize that people are not as nostalgic or invested in “Charlie’s Angels” as they were in 1976. However, in the current state of Hollywood, every major production company is looking for whatever intellectual properties they have in their libraries to capitalize on. Thus, here in 2019, yet another rendition of “Charlie’s Angels” is coming to theaters.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/charlies-angels/charlies-angels-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
original official trailer for “charlie’s angels”

With Diverse Females Both Behind and In Front of the Camera, Angels Promise to Bring Feminism to the Franchise in Ways the Others Did Not

Kristin Stewart, Ella Balinska, and Naomi Scott play the three title characters in the 2019 “Charlie’s Angles.” Happily, this is a much more diverse version of the angels than we’ve ever seen before on screen—conventionally the angels have all been white excluding Lucy Lui’s character in the 2000 and 2003 movies. 

Furthermore, Elizabeth Banks directs the film and is playing a version of the character Bosley. With a woman behind the camera for the first time, it is likely that the new “Charlie’s Angels” will also shed some of the misogyny and sexualization that defined previous installments in the franchise. If the trailer is any indication, the new movie will keep the original series’ tongue-and-cheek humor, but it will also be a bit self-referential, mocking the past incarnations’ flaws and turning them on their heads to empower the female protagonists. 

Thus, “Charlie’s Angels” one salvation may be the fact that it will be a progressive film, an action-comedy that will defy a whitewashed Hollywood and radiate with crucial feminine energy in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Despite Creative Innovation, the Franchise has Minimal Chance for Popular Revival

This is all worth celebrating, but from an industry perspective, we have to question whether or not audiences will actually take the time to go see the new “Charlie’s Angels.” Make a reference to the original series, drop the name Bosely or the Charles Townsend Agency to young people at Comic-Con and you will probably receive blank stares. Perhaps older audiences are interested in the “Charlie’s Angels” universe, but they are not the main demographic going to the movies—especially not big-budget action movies like this one.

Elizabeth Banks, who also wrote the screenplay for the new movie, is setting the flick in the same diegesis of the original series, with direct ties to that universe. She is essentially trying to do with “Charlie’s Angels” what JJ Abrams did with “Star Trek.” The difference is that “Star Trek” has one of the most committed fan bases on earth and when Abrams revived it in 2009, there were still millions of people curious to see more of that same universe. “Charlie’s Angels” does not have that same longevity to it. The title is remembered as nothing more than an outdated show from the seventies, and a so-so couple of films from the turn of the millennium. 

In the best of circumstances, “Charlie’s Angels” will take the route of Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man” and be an unexpected hit based off of a B-rate property. More likely however, it will fall into the ether of glossy Hollywood magic paired with quality talent, but not having enough of an audience for it to gain much momentum.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Matt Damon and Christian Bale recreate Le Mans circa 1966 in ‘Ford v Ferrari’

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/fox/ford-v-ferrari/ford-v-ferrari-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Ford v Ferrari”

Money, Cars, Engineering, Sexy Racing scenes, what could go wrong?

From “Logan” and “Walk The Line” director James Mangold, “Ford v Ferrari” follows the true story of American engineer Carroll Shelby who is solicited by Henry Ford II to build a car that can beat Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans World Championship in France. Shelby, determined to complete Ford’s ambitious task, insists on putting the wild and loose British driver Ken Miles behind the wheel. What ensues is the fast-playing tale of a couple eccentric and erratic people infiltrating a world filled with professional industrialists to take on the impossible.

Matt Damon will play Shelby in the film and Christian Bale will play Miles. Rather than one being the lead and the other being a supporting role, both actors are co-leading the film, making them both eligible for Best Actor in a Leading Role nominations at the Oscars come February. 

With Two Top Tier Hollywood Veterans Co-Leading, Will this mean “Damon v Bale” at the Oscars?

Neither Damon nor Bale is a stranger to the Academy Awards. They each have a trophy and several nominations under their belts. Bale won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in 2010’s “The Fighter.” He was nominated in that same category for his 2015 performance in “The Big Short,” and has two Best Leading Actor nominations for 2013’s “American Hustle” and 2018’s “Vice.”

Damon on the other hand has never won an Oscar for acting. His only win was for 1997’s “Good Will Hunting” in the Best Original Screenplay category. That same year, however, he was nominated for Best Actor in “Good Will Hunting” and received the same nomination eight years later for his role in “The Martian.” He also earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in 2009’s “Invictus” and a best picture nomination for producing “Manchester By The Sea” in 2016.

Both actors are evidently prestigious and immensely talented. At the same time, though, it is safe to assume that they are also both hungry for that Best Leading Actor award. If they both deliver in “Ford v Ferrari,” then it could become Damon v Bale at the Oscars.

June Release pushed back and now will fight Streaming Wars for Audience Attention

“Ford v Ferrari” debuted at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this year and played again at the Toronto Film Festival. The film received favorable reviews following both festivals. In particular, critics praised the movie for its race-like rhythm and the performances from its two stars. Additionally, while Mangold’s previous work has been generally dark in tone, “Ford v Ferrari” has an upbeat energy and a good sense of humor.

Under the banner of 20th Century Fox, the movie was originally scheduled to come out on June 28th. However, after the merger between Fox and Disney, the release date was pushed back to put it closer to Hollywood’s awards season. It’s new November 15th release date does not give it much rivalry for opening weekend at the box office. However, it is sandwiched between the release of “Doctor Sleep” the week before and “Frozen 2” the week after. Likewise, Disney+ comes out on the 12th, which could very well keep people away from the theaters for a few days. Thus, when it comes to “Ford v Ferrari,” the key word may be competition. It is a movie about the clash between two automobile tycoons, focusing on the strained relationship between a radical engineer and a hostile driver. Furthermore, upon release, “Ford v Ferrari” will have to prove itself against other forms of entertainment coming out in November, and come award season, we may see Damon and Bale taking the stage against each other for their two performances in the same film.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Tom Hanks employs Radical Kindness to become Mr. Rogers in ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony/a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood/a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
official trailer for “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood”

Nostalgia Gives Birth to a Biopic that Demands a Celestial Talent to Honor his Halo-like Memory

After last year’s Oscar nominated documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” stirred up nostalgia for the retro children’s show “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” and its wholesome host Fred Rogers, it was only a matter of time before we saw the loveable man portrayed in a feature.

In January 2018, Sony’s Tristar Pictures bought the rights to a screenplay titled “Are You My Friend.” Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster wrote the script over six years ago and it earned a place on the 2013 blacklist. Centered on Fred Rogers, the story focuses on his relationship with a skeptical Esquire reporter who finds a transformed outlook on life when he sits down to interview the endearing kids show host. 

The project was retitled “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood” and from the earliest stages of development, one question was on everyone’s mind: who could portray the renowned Mr. Rogers on the screen? Being a legendary figure for an entire generation’s childhood and holding an unparalleled demeanor of authenticity, gentility, and kindness, not just anyone could fit Mr. Rogers’ white-laced, sky-blue sneakers. 

Therefore, one of TriStar’s first decisions in pre-production was to cast somebody who could accurately and effectively capture Mr. Rogers’ quasi-celestial star power. The studio also also needed to find somebody who could portray Rogers in his middle ages, as the film takes place in the mid-nineties, towards the end of his career. 

Rather than go for an unknown to play the lead, Sony aimed high and casted the incomparable Tom Hanks, turning the project into an image of an icon playing an icon. 

Make no mistake, Tom Hanks has more than enough talent to play Mr. Rogers. With two Oscar wins and three additional nominations under his belt, the sixty-three year old actor seems up to snuff for any role thrown his way. Over the years he’s been in everything from comedies to dramas to action flicks to musicals. He’s played diverse fictional characters from the dim-witted Forrest Gump to a literal man-child in “Big,” and has portrayed several real figures such as Captain Richard Phillips, Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Ben Bradlee, Walt Disney and more—not to mention his unmistakable voice-acting as Woody in the “Toy Story” franchise.

Icon portrays Icon—The Dilemma of Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers 

Indeed, nothing seems beyond Tom Hank’s abilities, and his talent is appreciated widely enough that his mere presence on screen is likely to draw an audience. That being said, it is possible that when it comes to playing Fred Rogers, Hanks’ strength may actually be his weakness, and his recognizability may paradoxically end up detrimental to the performance.

As aforementioned, Mr. Rogers is an icon. There can only be one of him. No matter who plays him, audiences will naturally notice inconsistencies between the actor’s portrayal of the man and the man himself. If an unknown actor played Rogers, however, then at least there would be a blank canvas on which the film could project their depiction of him.

With Tom Hanks being an icon as well, audiences will inevitably see him within the character. No matter how well he portrays Rogers, Tom Hanks will always be Tom Hanks to the audience. Thus, viewers may struggle to overlook the actor when aiming to appreciate the character. 

This is already somewhat evidenced in the film’s trailer. While Hanks seems to be doing a good job playing the lead character, there is one noticeably uncanny element—his voice. Both Hanks and Rogers have recognizable voices, but they are very different in tone. When Hanks tries to impersonate Rogers’ light, gentle voice, we cannot help but hear traces of the actor’s signature deep drawl underneath. This is just one manifestation of the dilemma that comes with Hanks as Rogers.

None of this is to say that Tom Hanks will not be able to pull the role off. Stranger casting choices have surprised us in the past, and “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood” already received positive acclaim following its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. We are just noting that despite the star power that Hanks brings to the project, there is a cost to that star power in a role like this. The actor will have to deliver something truly above and beyond to convince us that he is the real Fred Rogers and not just Tom Hanks sporting a red-sweater, white shirt, tie, and khakis, singing along in the Land of Make-Believe.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Playing With Fire’: Heartwarming Hilarity from John Cena in Latest Nickelodeon Kids Movie

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/paramount/playing-with-fire/playing-with-fire-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Playing with Fire”

Another Lovely Addition to the ‘Hyper-Masculine Buff Guy’ goes Paternal Trope

Watching the trailer for John Cena’s new Nickelodeon movie “Playing With Fire,” one might think that it looks familiar. A movie about a macho guy played by a buff actor being left in charge of a bunch of kids is certainly something we’ve seen before. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Kindergarten Cop” to Vin Diesel’s “The Pacifier” to Dave Bautista’s “My Spy,” this is a trope that has been done time and time again.

Each film and each actor brings something new to this micro-genre, however, so the ultimate question is really what John Cena and the people at Nickelodeon and Walden Media will do differently with it. 

Experienced Children-Oriented Cast & Crew brings Much to Look Forward to

Andy Fickman is directing “Playing With Fire.” Fickman has directed a number of live-action kids movies from “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” to “She’s The Man” to “Race To Witch Mountain.” This is not even Fickman’s first film where a hyper-masculine leading man falls into a father position, as he directed “The Game Plan” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson back in 2007. The film is also based off of a screenplay by novice writer and comedy actor Dan Ewen, and Matt Lieberman of “The Addams Family.” 

What will really be stealing the show in “Playing With Fire” however will be John Cena, who plays firefighter Jake Carson. After Carson and his fellow unit members rescue a family of three children from a burning building, they must care for the kids until they reunite them with their family. Given the fact that the children are roughly three, nine, and sixteen years old, a whole lot of hilarity takes place when they are put in the hands of these inexperienced paternal figures.

John Cena has worked with children before. After becoming famous as a WWE wrestler, Cena moved into film acting in 2006 in the action-war movie “The Marine.” He swiftly moved over to starring in more wholesome comedic content, though, hosting Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards and the revival of “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” Known as a gentle giant both on and off screen, the massive Cena, standing six feet tall at 250 pounds, has an enormous heart beneath his muscly exterior, making him the obvious choice for the lead role in “Playing With Fire.”

Alongside Cena, Keegan-Michael Key and John Leguizamo play fellow firefighters in the movie. These two comedians are bound to provide some great banter, playing the two goofy sidekicks next to the hardened Cena. Likewise, the children in the film will be played by Finley Rose Slater, Christian Convery, and Brianna Hildebrand.

All the Kids Love John Cena, He’s basically a Giant Goofy TV Dad Already

Being hardly more than a toddler, Slater has never been in a movie before. At ten years old, Convery has appeared in a couple projects, including “Venom” and “Beautiful Boy.” Hildebrand, however, you may recognize as the comically apathetic Negasonic Teenage Warhead in “Deadpool” and “Deadpool 2.” Overall, there is a lot of talent in the film backing Cena up, both old and young, familiar and new.

This is the second time that Nickelodeon Movies joined forced with Walden Media this year. In August, the two production companies teamed up for “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” which received positive reviews and delivered as a fun comedy for the whole family. Joining the party for “Playing With Fire” is also Broken Road Productions, which has produced classic family films such as “Daddy Daycare,” “Are We There Yet?” and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop.”

In total, “Playing With Fire” may be a story that has been rehashed multiple times, yet it still seems promising in its own right. There is enough talent to keep the adults entertained and enough slapstick, kids humor to keep the children laughing. The movie comes out on November 8th and currently has no other major children’s movies to go up against. Thus, if everything goes right, “Playing With Fire” could spark an audience and ignite itself as a hit.

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Business, Climate Solutions, Cutting Edge, Lifestyle, News, Stock Market, Tech

Tesla Announcements: Elon Musk shares 3rd Quarter Profits, Gigafactory, and Solar Tiles V3

Video

Tesla Shares Make a Surprise Comeback and Soar 21%

Tesla’s third-quarter profit results released on Wednesday, October 23rd surprised investors after a long-time series of doubts about the company’s ability to compete with larger and better capitalized rivals in other parts of the world.

The company announced a $143 million profit third quarter profit in 2019, and that, by the end of September, Tesla had $5.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents along with $371 million in operating cash.

Additionally, after Chief Executive Elon Musk announced his promise of a 2020 rollout with a more affordable SUV and more self-driving technology, Tesla’s shares rose almost 21% to $307.12 within hours of the unexpected news.

This is obviously good news for both Tesla and its investors, but there are going be a few more battles needed to prove consistent profitability and to remain ahead of the market it was the first to establish.

“Given the breakneck speed of expansion, Tesla will face significant demands on its cash pile.”

Nicholas Hyett, Financial Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown

So far, Tesla has shown significant increases in production efficiency while setting another record for deliveries led by Model 3. This, along with their new, cost-cutting Shanghai Gigafactory 3, holds promise that they’ll be able to meet these profitability demands.

Tesla Giga Factory 3 in Shanghai, China

Shanghai Gigafactory Increases Tesla Production Efficiency

After returning to profitability, Tesla revealed that its Shanghai Gigafatory is now ready to start producing EVs for China, the world’s most populated country. In fact, it’s already assembling full vehicles on a trial basis to work out a few regulatory kinks before official production begins.

Tesla released their Q3 2019 update and said “China is by far the largest market for mid-sized premium sedans. With Model 3 priced on par with gasoline powered mid-sized sedans (even before gas savings and other benefits), we believe China could become the biggest market for Model 3.”

As Tesla breaks significant ground in China, their sustainable influence reaches beyond North America, aiming for a greater presence on the global stage.

Solar Roof Tile V3: Affordable Sustainability = Accessible Sustainability

Elon Musk’s proposed third iteration of his solar roof tile products is now ready for sales.

During his company’s annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk promised that these solar tiles would have a significant improvement in performance and affordability. If you factor-in future utility savings and how much a new roof installation generally costs, the product would be on par with the cost of cheap, non-solar roofing tiles.

This is a significant development towards affordable, sustainable energy measures since Tesla first unveiled the product in 2016 and opened pre-orders in 2017.

However, consumers have been generally slow to purchase the solar tiles because of their reservations regarding timeline expectations for prospective installation.

Tesla App showing “My Home” – Photo / Tesla

Hopefully, once more information about this is made available, the sales will take off, thereby increasing the accessibility for many more homes to go solar.

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Business, Lifestyle, News, Politics, Tech

Zuckerberg Skillfully Cornered on Facebook Policies by AOC at D.C. Hearings

Video
Photo Graphic Collage / Lynxotic

Zuckerberg stumbled and evaded while attempting to respond to AOC on Facebook Behaviors and Policies, especially its Political “Lie Exemption” Policy

While Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial Libra cryptocurrency project is what initially got him into the House for another hearing on October 23rd, the House Financial Services Committee Members took this as an opportunity to express their concerns about Facebook’s paramount involvement in a variety of controversial issues.

Each committee member was given five minutes to address their Facebook policy concerns with Zuckerberg, and they did not waste their time, especially Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as she interrogates him regarding Facebook’s influential role in endangering the nation’s democracy and general safety.

Here’s a brief rundown of the topics she addresses that continue to put Zuckerberg and his insidiously dangerous Facebook ‘megaphone‘ under hot water to this very day:

Libra Cryptocurrency: Another Scam to hide behind an Outsourced Entity in order to Evade Accountability? This time, he’s going for the Poor and “Unbanked”

On June 14, 2019, Zuckerberg released his plans to launch a cryptocurrency project called Libra on Facebook, and since then, it’s been facing a lot of criticism from the government and anti-trust regulators.

The Libra cryptocurrency is a part of Facebook’s future mobile payment system, proposed at Facebook’s annual developer conference in April. The crypto currency project aims to allow Facebook’s 2.4 billion worldwide users to exchange payments with minimal fees and without the need for a third-party software.

“It’s not that Facebook is evil, which it may or may not be. Facebook hasn’t shown an ability to think through unintended consequences or prevent bad actors from weaponizing its platform.”

ScotT Galloway, Marketing Professor at NYU, Author of “The Four”, well-known for his unsparing critiques of influential tech companies

But, while the idea appears to have good intentions behind it, much like many of Zuckerberg’s other ideas, the problems and potential dangers are in the details.

So, the real issue is in how the Libra cryptocurrency project can potentially influence Facebook’s extremely wide global user base in a number of negative ways.

“If 50 percent of Facebook users all of a sudden use this coin, then you potentially have a new reserve currency globally. If you would weaponize a global currency and start monkeying with it, you could have what capitalists fear more than war: a recession–or some sort of a global economic meltdown.”

SCOTT GALLOWAY

California Representative Congressman Brad Sherman interrogated Zuckerberg extensively on this topic during the Financial Services Committee Hearing, which illustrated these repercussions specifically.

Brad Shermon eloquently points out a pattern that Zuckerberg struggles to answer. He appears to be attempting to hide behind platitudes of egalitarian ideals in order to avoid accountability for content controlled by his platform.

“…but for the richest man in the world to come here and hide behind the poorest people in the world and say that’s who you are trying to help, you are trying to help those to whom the dollar is not a good currency—drug dealers, terrorists and tax evaders..”

Rep. Brad Sherman to Zuckerberg at the House FInancial Services COMmittee Hearing

Cambridge Analytica: AOC cites Facebook’s Biggest Scandal that brought ‘Catastrophic Impact’ to American Democracy in the 2016 Election

But the House Financial Services Committee wasn’t having it, and AOC Exposes Facebook’s Flaws for All to See:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez begins her five-minute interrogation by citing Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal from 2018. Her reasoning is that, before even considering the Libra cryptocurrency issue, it’s important to analyze how Facebook handled Cambridge Analytica because the Libra cryptocurrency project has potential for far worse.

Essentially, AOC gave Zuckerberg a chance to make a case for himself. He had an opportunity to show that he and Facebook are equipped to adequately deal with the repercussions of establishing Libra, and to answer this fundamental question: has Facebook learned from its past mistakes regarding the Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal so that they could take the necessary actions to ensure that data scandals won’t happen again?

Next she asks, what year and month did Zuckerberg first become aware of Cambridge Analytica? He doesn’t remember, but it was probably around March 2018, when the scandal became public.

When did Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg become aware of Cambridge Analytica? Again, Zuckerberg says he doesn’t know, so AOC asks a follow-up question. Did anyone on his leadership team know about Cambridge Analytica prior to when the initial report came from The Guardian on December 11, 2015? Now, for this one, Zuckerberg believes that this was the case and that members of his leadership team were tracking it internally. Additionally, he takes this opportunity and appears to try to avoid responsibility by saying that he was aware of Cambridge Analytica as an entity, but he also wasn’t aware of how they were using Facebook specifically.

When was the issue discussed with his board member Peter Teal? Once again, Zuckerberg proclaims his ignorance, to which AOC iterates that his answers are unacceptable. It is unacceptable that he did not properly discuss the “largest data scandal” with respect to his company that had “catastrophic impacts on the 2016 election.”

While Zuckerberg flaggingly scrambles to defend himself by explaining that they did discuss the issue when it happened, he fails to answer whether Facebook is capable of being accountable for their actions by addressing their mistakes with handling data privacy so that they wouldn’t be repeated. If Facebook truly cared about handling data privacy, then they would have taken extensive measures to address the issue. Maybe then, Zuckerberg would’ve actually remembered enough about the issue to answer AOC’s questions.

Read more: Zuckerberg claims Facebook is the ‘5th Estate’ while in Reality he runs Algorithmic Dictatorship

Facebook Policy allows Politicians to Pay to Spread Misinformation

Zuckerberg’s seemingly flagrant irresponsibility with regards to handling Facebook leads AOC to confront him on the current hot topic: “Facebook’s official policy to allow politicians to pay to spread disinformation in 2020 elections and in the future.” She demands to know how far this policy could be pushed before Facebook decides to fact-check and take down these posts, because, again, they have the potential to influence the next election directly.

Could politicians enact voter suppression by advertising wrong election date to zip codes with primarily black communities? Zuckerberg vaguely explains that content will be taken down if it were to cause an obvious immediate harm. Okay, but what if it’s not obvious? Will his answer suffice then? The answer is likely no, because infinite ways can be found to dodge this issue, then, once again, and we’re back to square one.

Further she presses him, Could she (AOC) run ads targeting Republicans in primaries saying that they voted for the Green New Deal? Zuckerberg is unsure, but answers that she probably could. Elizabeth Warren recently did something similar in her “Zuckerberg Supports Trump” ad.

Does Zuckerberg see the potential problem here with a complete lack of fact-checking on political advertisements? To that, he appeals to common morals: lying is bad. His logic is that he doesn’t want to prevent constituents from seeing that politicians had lied, which clarifies that Zuckerberg won’t take these ads down.

The problem with this logic is that the general public is assumed to have the ability to differentiate between lies and the truth. But, as this current presidency has proven, many, if not most, people clearly do not.

Thoughts on Zuckerberg’s On-Going Dinner Parties with Far-Right Figures? Debatable, or so he tries to imply.

Further, Zuckerberg’s on-going dinner parties in which he cultivates relationships with known politically far-right figures is also suspicious. After all, there have been numerous times that alt-right entities abused social media platforms in the service of discrimination and hate crimes.

Did Zuckerberg discuss the alleged social media bias against conservatives, and does he believe that this bias exists? Zuckerberg indicated that he couldn’t remember the question or answer it, appearing to want to avoid confirming or denying these associations under oath, so AOC moved on.

Next she asked Zuckerberg to explain why he named the Daily Caller, a publication well-documented to have ties to white supremacists, an official fact-checker for Facebook? Once again, Zuckerberg tries to escape responsibility by saying that they don’t actually appoint independent fact-checkers and that they come from an independent organization called the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) that has rigorous standards for who they allow to serve as a fact-checking entity.

White-supremacist-tied publications meet a rigorous standard for fact-checking? Zuckerberg had no answer, which is again, an indicator that she had pushed him into areas he would prefer to avoid. After research, it turns out that he lied, or at minimum mis-led in his answer on multiple points, First, the (IFCN) have generally “certified” a total of 62 organizations globally, but it is, indeed, Facebook and presumably Zuckerberg personally, that chose the 6 in particular that are Facebook partners.

There’s a Pattern Here: Facebook and other Social Media Platforms Need to be held Accountable

Clearly, Zuckerberg still thinks that he could get by with excuses in an effort to absolve himself from the endless blame that Facebook receives from The Media for meddling with numerous socially-influential affairs.

It’s hard not to notice that while Mr. Zuckerberg has been given many chances to make amends for Facebook’s failures, the opportunity has been for naught, apparently, because his private for-profit company is only interested in maintaining user engagement, which he now claims is in the name of free speech and equality. However, clearly, these cannot actually be achieved without specifically executing processes that address the discriminatory practices.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Seven New Trailers Just Released: Star Wars, Bloodshot, Arctic Dogs, Autonomy and more

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/lucasfilm/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-trailer-3_h1080p.mov
New Official Trailer for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

A bunch of new trailers just came out – here’s a preview of what’s coming in for the rest of 2019 and beyond:

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/lucasfilm/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Number 1: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. No one’s ever really gone… Rey’s journey continues and the Skywalker saga concludes in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” coming December 2019.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/cold-brook/cold-brook-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “COld Brook”

Second: Cold Brook. This is the story of two ordinary guys in a small town who embark on an extraordinary adventure. It’s a story about coming home, which is something that everyone, everywhere has an innate desire to do.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-rise-of-jordan-peterson/the-rise-of-jordan-peterson-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Rise of Jordan Peterson”

Third: Rise of Jordan Peterson. A rare, intimate glimpse into the life and mind of Jordan Peterson, the academic and best-selling author who captured the world’s attention with his criticisms of political correctness and his life-changing philosophy on discovering personal meaning. “The Rise of Jordan Peterson” intimately traces the transformative period of Peterson’s life while visiting rare moments with his family, friends and foes who share their own versions of the Jordan Peterson story.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/girl-on-the-third-floor/girl-on-the-third-floor-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Girl on the Third Floor”

Fourth: Girl on the Third Floor. In this slow-burn haunted house movie, Don Koch is an inadequate husband who tries to renovate a rundown mansion with a sordid history for his growing family, only to learn that the house has other plans of its own, especially when a mysterious and seductive woman appears and refuses to leave.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/autonomy/autonomy-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official trailer for “Autonomy”

Fifth: Autonomy. In this brief history of the development of self-driving cars, we see an even-handed look at the pros and cons of giving up human control for something that has been a significant part of people’s lives for more than 100 years. “Autonomy” suggests that we are at a significant cultural and economic turning point.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/arctic-dogs/arctic-dogs-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Arctic Dogs”

Sixth: Arctic Dogs. Hawkeye’s Jeremy Renner gets animated as Swifty, an Arctic Fox who works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service. But, he has much bigger dreams: he yearns to become a Top Dog, the Arctic’s star husky.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/bloodshot/bloodshot-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Bloodshot”

Seventh: Bloodshot. Vin Diesel plays Ray Garrison, a slain mobster, who is re-animated with superpowers.

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Business, Economics, Finance, Lifestyle, News

Income Absurdity: Majority Live Paycheck to Paycheck, while an Elite Few Hoard Astronomical Amounts

Comparing the Wealth of Jeff Bezos to those with less than $10,000 is like comparing Jupiter to a Golf Ball… Graphic by Lynxotic / Adobe

Income Divides So Vast We Cannot See The Forest For The Money Trees…

Income inequality has been talked about a lot over the past couple decades. The vast inequities between those who make the most and those who make the least amount of money have caused a noticeable change in the American populace. Class divides have become a significant topic of debate; socioeconomic status can dictate one’s entire wellbeing; and Socialism, once considered a quasi-dirty word in America, is now an ideology championed by several politicians and an enormous number of young voters.

Just how bad is income inequality, though?

As it turns out, our anxieties over the concept are well grounded, and class divides may even be worse than our minds are able to comprehend.

The Incomprehensible Disparity and Absurdity of Income Inequality:

According to data from the 2018 Sussie Global Wealth Report and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the number of people worldwide who have less than $10,000 total 3.2 billion. The bulk of those people fall in the $1,000-$10,000 range. Staggeringly, though, 1.5 billion of them have under $1,000. This is an enormous base, showing that the massive majority of people in the world are living on strained finances.

Bottom Net Worth of each bracketHow Many AdultsWho
$1001,500,000,000Subsistence Farmer
$1,0001,700,000,000Median U.S. Renter
$10,0001,300.000,000Median U.S. Family with no College
$100,000436,000,000A.O.C. after a few years in Congress
$1 million40,000,000UK’s current P.M.
$100 million49,000Exxon CEO
$1 billion2,700Berlusconi
$10 billion150Musk, etc.
$100 billion2Bezos and Gates

**Data: Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report 2018, Bloomberg, Federal Reserve

The difference between the billions of people at the bottom of this income pyramid, and the handful of people at the top is almost too much to truly conceptualize. To visualize it is to compare golf balls to planets. The number of people holding the majority of wealth is infinitesimal, hardly perceptible compared to those who live in fiscal straits.

Of course, there are certain variables that this global data may not take into account. For example, countries that do not have monetary economies or egalitarian societies that place less emphasis on individual earnings may fall into lower brackets, but they may measure their wealth in different ways.

Systemic Problems Rooted in Politicians’ Undeniable Marriage to Capitalism Portends a Bleak Future

However, from the Western perspective of a developed nation, this data is quite shocking. In the United States alone, income equality is alarming, almost too much to really wrap one’s head around. As aforementioned, the numbers are impossible to visualize in their entirety. While we can see people living in poverty and signs of inequity, the true extent of the issue is borderline unfathomable. We cannot imagine billions of people compared to figures in the single digits. The problem is evidently systemic at this point, the result of nearly 250 years of capitalism and hundreds of choices made by politicians, businessmen, and everyday citizens along the way.

Furthermore, while there has been increased awareness and conversation about this issue in recent years, the immediate future does not look promising of any reformation. In 2018, the first time ever in America, billionaires paid lower tax rates than the working class. This is in no small part due to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a cornerstone of President Trump’s trickledown economics plan.

Thus, the lower class citizens of our country are not just earning less than our billionaires, but they are also forking over a larger slice of their paycheck to the government. It all adds significant insult to the injury that is our persistent income inequality issue. 

Although we cannot visualize or even really even begin to understand income inequality all together, what we can see is that there is a form of unfairness at hand, that resources are distributed unevenly, and that many people are getting the short end of the stick that falls from the almighty money tree.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

7 Halloween Movies in Theaters Now: Check out Official Trailers for each Film

Video

These recently released movies are perfect for getting you in the mood for the spooky season

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/joker/joker-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
2ND OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “JOKER” BY WARNER BROS.

In “Joker”, Batman’s Gotham City is a cesspool of dirt and depravity where Arthur appears doomed to live and die encircled with nothing but depression and humiliation. Mentally Ill and mercilessly tortured by the “sane” members of society all around him, he finds some respite in his chosen career of clown-for-hire and hopeful comedian wannabe by night.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/zombieland-double-tap/zombieland-double-tap-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP”

“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a follow-up to the 2009 zombie-horror-comedy “Zombieland.” It has been ten years since the first movie hit theaters and surprised audiences with its humor and fresh take on the genre. Fortunately, despite how long it has taken to produce a sequel, the aforementioned original cast and director are back in their rightful places for the new film.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/it-chapter-two/it-chapter-2-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
2ND OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “IT CHAPTER TWO”

“IT: Chapter 2” is the sequel to Warner Brother’s 2017 blockbuster hit, “IT”, and it was the most anticipated horror movie of the year. Splitting the extensive story into two chronological films will likely be a more enthralling and digestible way to appreciate It, even if it does deviate from King’s literary form. Therefore, what makes this film an anomaly in the world of direct sequels, is that it takes place twenty-seven years after the events of the first film.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-lighthouse/the-lighthouse-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “THE LIGHTHOUSE”

Set in the 1890s, this upcoming black-and-white horror movie follows the story of two lighthouse keepers as they battle cabin fever, intoxication, madness, mystery, and mayhem on a secluded New England island.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/mgm/the-addams-family/the-addams-family-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR ‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’

“The Addams Family” is based off of Charles Addams’ famous 1960s live-action TV series of the same name.  Just like the series, it focuses on the title family, which is made up of ghoulish versions of American nuclear family archetypes.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

“Sleeping Beauty” is certainly a timeless tale, and thus Maleficent is an everlasting villain. However, there is one recent performance of the antagonist that stands above the rest. And that is Angelina Jolie’s.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/mary/mary-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MARY”

“Mary” is not the pleasant melodrama that we might have been expecting or even hoping for. Instead it is yet another horror movie, and while the ship setting looks somewhat original, the possessed little girl trope and the cursed old relic convention cannot help but render the film a little clichéd.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

5 Films Out Now: Check out official trailers from Disney, Sony and More

Video

This weekend has a number of new movie releases to look out for so we decided to choose five to showcase and feature in this post.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL” / Disney

“Sleeping Beauty” is certainly a timeless tale, and thus Maleficent is an everlasting villain. However, there is one recent performance of the antagonist that stands above the rest. And that is Angelina Jolie’s.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-lighthouse/the-lighthouse-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “THE LIGHTHOUSE”

Set in the 1890s, this upcoming black-and-white horror movie follows the story of two lighthouse keepers as they battle cabin fever, intoxication, madness, mystery, and mayhem on a secluded New England island.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/fox_searchlight/jojo-rabbit/jojo-rabbit-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
official trailer for “jojo rabbit”

“Jojo Rabbit” is about a young boy in the Hitler Youth. Like many German kids of the time, he aspires to be a Nazi soldier when he grows up. He buys into the party’s ideologies and believes their propaganda. That is until he comes face to face with a Jewish girl and learns, despite what the Nazis have taught him, that she is harmless, pleasant, and appealing.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/zombieland-double-tap/zombieland-double-tap-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP” / SOny Pictures

“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a follow-up to the 2009 zombie-horror-comedy “Zombieland.” It has been ten years since the first movie hit theaters and surprised audiences with its humor and fresh take on the genre. Fortunately, despite how long it has taken to produce a sequel, the aforementioned original cast and director are back in their rightful places for the new film.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/samuel_goldwyn/paradise-hills/paradise-hills-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “PARADISE HILLS”

In this feminist dystopia, critics recognized that the women in “Paradise Hills” went beyond simple archetypes, and offered an array of original voices.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies, Music

9 Scary Songs that Stand the Test of Time and Epitomize the Essence of Halloween

Video
Photo / Disney

Listen and watch our curated songs below that we have compiled for you. It’s a great way to groove into the Halloween season this October!

1. Time for the “Monster Mash”

The monster mash – bobby “boris” pickett

This novelty song first came out in the early 60’s, and yet it has been remade by the likes of The Beach Boys and punk band The MisFits. The song is narrated by a scientist whose monster rises from the dead to preform a new dance…. “the monster mash”.

2. Who you Gonna Call? “Ghostbusters!”

walk the moon

The Ghostbuster theme song and opening song to the 1984 movie about a team of scientists who, upon accidentally opening a gateway to another dimension and releasing evil spirits to the city, become “ghostbusters”.

3. Stumble into the Rocky Horror “Time Warp”

time warp

Time Warp stems from the horror, rock, comedy, musical, cult favorite movie about a couple that come across an eerie mansion after their car has a flat tire. The night is filled with wild and bizarre characters, including the likes of the one and only Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

4. ‘Cause this is “Thriller!” Thriller Night!

thriller – michael jackson.

In a nearly 14 minute long song, translated into a horror musical, Michael Jackson, while walking home after a movie, is confronted by zombies, gets turned into one, and dances with the horde of the undead.

5. And Let’s Not Forget . . . “The Addams Family”

the addams family – vic mizzy

The theme song for “The Addams Family” was composed for the 1960’s TV sitcom and has been reused throughout its various iterations across time. The family is comprised of Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley, Lurch, Grandma, Uncle Fester and Cousin Itt.

6. Ever Feel Like “Somebody’s Watching Me”?

somebody’s watching me – rockwell

The song shows a paranoid man, perfect for the Halloween season, with a haunted house theme filled with a floating head, gravestones, ravens and a freaky shower scene reminiscent of the movie Psycho.

7. The Strange One-Eyed “Purple People Eater” Just Wants to Rock ‘N’ Roll in the Band Just like the Rest of Us

purple people eater – sheb wooley

How more bizarre and quintessential for this coming holiday than a one-eye, one-horned, flying, purple people-eater, a strange creature that comes down to earth to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band.

8. “This Is Halloween!” “This Is Halloween!”

this is halloween – danny elfman

The anthem sang by Halloween Town residents in the 1993 animated movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

9. Does a Special Someone Haunt Your Mind? “I Put A Spell on You”

i put a spell on you – screamin’ jay hawkins

This music video is very freaky, channeling a voodoo like mood, casting a spell on a “special” someone and sporting his skull in tow.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Western Stars’: Springsteen’s Early Roots and Haunting Echos of Woody G.

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/western-stars/western-stars-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Western Stars”

Springsteen’s Introspective Brilliance Rocks onto the Big Screen in Lieu of a Concert Tour

Rock-n-roll legend Bruce Springsteen has appeared in films before. From dancing with Courtney Cox in his own music video, to chiming in on different rockumentaries, to making a hilarious cameo in “High Fidelity,” the Boss is no stranger to the screen. This is not even to mention the nearly three hundred movie soundtracks that he has appeared on—winning an Oscar for his original song “Streets of Philadelphia” in 1993 and more recently having a film made directly about his music in 2019’s “Blinded By The Light.”

On October 25th, Springsteen invites his audience to enjoy a new kind of filmic experience to compliment his music. Springsteen’s latest album, “Western Stars,” came out in May, and like all of the rocker’s work, it is ruggedly poetic and grippingly suggestive of something that feels fundamentally American. Instead of going on a tour to promote this album, though, Springsteen is releasing a film to accompany it.

A Documentary-Music Video that Expands Upon Bruce Springsteen’s Latest Album

“Western Stars” (the film) is a cinematic endeavor that combines many different kinds of footage and stories, all set to the music from Springsteen’s latest record. It is partially an elongated music video that goes on for the album’s entire twelve tracks. At the same time, it is also a documentary, using found-footage and voice over narration to create a commentary about Springsteen’s life and career. Then again, it is also a concert video, as it incorporates live performances from several Bruce shows.

A conglomeration of mediums and modes, “Western Stars” is a unique project. Given its motley style, the film is very hard to pin as a particular art form. It is just as musical as it is cinematic—a visual album with Springsteen as the glue holding everything together.

A Nostalgic Directorial Collaboration Rooted in Springsteen’s Earliest Years

Springsteen himself directed the movie alongside longtime collaborator Thom Zimny. In addition to Springsteen’s brilliant lyric-writing abilities, the singer also published a memoir in 2016 and curated his own Broadway performance in 2017. Both of these projects were highly esteemed, demonstrating that he knows how to communicate a story or message in more than just a musical medium.

Zimny, on the other hand, is a filmmaker first and foremost. He has been with Bruce since 2001, when he directed the concert video, “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live In New York City.” Since then they have worked together on numerous documentaries and music videos. “Western Stars” however, is a first for both of them—an unprecedented blend of all the cinematic forms they’ve worked in so far.

“Western Stars” debuted at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year, and it received positive reviews. It is praised for the way it captures and expands upon everything Springsteen says on the album. Although the musician hails from New Jersey, the film has an appropriately Western energy, with desert-country imagery that compliments the songs’ themes regarding growing up, growing old, and navigating your inner-American frontier through solemn ballads and explosive hard rock.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘The Lighthouse’: Period Drama in pristine black & white Reeks of Sinister Authenticity

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-lighthouse/the-lighthouse-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
official trailer for “the lighthouse”

Robert Eggers Returns to Design another Horror-Period Piece in “The Lighthouse”

In 2015, production designer Robert Eggers pulled off something quite difficult—he successfully blended the horror and period piece genres to write and direct “The Witch,” a critically acclaimed film that deals with supernatural and terrifying phenomena during the early seventeenth century. Mixing these estranged genres together is a challenging feat, but Eggers managed to do it well, earning a name for himself in the movie business.

Egger’s next film, “The Lighthouse”—which he wrote with his brother Max Eggers—will also take place in a bygone era. Set in the 1890s, this upcoming black-and-white horror movie follows the story of two lighthouse keepers as they battle cabin fever, intoxication, madness, mystery, and mayhem on a secluded New England island.

Shines an Eerie Light on stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson

The two lighthouse keepers are played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. These two stars are the only principle members of the cast. There is only one other credited role, and it goes to an unknown actress named Valeriia Karaman who plays a mermaid. Clearly, the movie will deliver on its eerie feeling of isolation.

Still, these two actors could be enough star power to carry the film along. Willem Defoe is a veteran actor at this point. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, most recently getting back-to-back nominations for “The Florida Project” and “At Eternity’s Gate” in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Meanwhile, many may still think of Robert Patinson as a pretty face from the “Twilight” series, and some are suspicious of his upcoming leading role in “The Batman.” However, those who are up-to-date on Hollywood’s indie scene will know that Patinson is a more than gifted actor, as he delivered wonderful performances in both 2017’s “Good Time” and 2014’s “The Rover.”

Both actors have already received praise for their roles in “The Lighthouse,” as the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and critics raved about its beauty, brilliance, and above all, its masterful use of a sinister tone.

Photo / © A24 Films

Prestigious Blend of Psychological Thrills and Supernaturalism that will Mess with Your Head

The movie is foremost a psychological thriller, as the loneliness of living together on a forsaken island leads the two lighthouse keepers into states of hypnosis and madness, so much so, that they become enemies. This makes the bulk of the movie fit into a certain subgenre of horror. One that bends the audience’s mind with surrealism in the same vein as Darren Arronofsky’s “Black Swan” or Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.”

At the same time, given the character’s hallucinatory states, “The Lighthouse” also becomes a supernatural horror movie. We know from the casting that there will be a mermaid in the film, and the trailer shows us brief, partial images of a tentacled creature—quite possibly a sea monster.

Will these supernatural things really be there in the movie’s diegesis? That is likely up to the viewer to decide. Like many psychological thrillers, it is not always clear weather paranormal events are really going on, or if the characters are just losing their minds.

Black & White Aesthetic brings Artistic Brilliance Reminiscent of Classic Horror Films

Regardless, the black-and-white cinematography gives “The Lighthouse” a very cool look, especially when combined with these mysterious creatures. Of course, the lack of color primarily adds to the movie’s gloomy mood and ominous feeling, but on top of that, it also makes the film look reminiscent of classic Universal horror films, most potently “The Creature From The Black Lagoon.”

Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke also employs contrasting lighting and what seem to be primitive lenses in order to invoke a retro, almost German Expressionist feel. It gives the movie a very raw feeling that gives the audience a sense for the way things were at the turn of the twentieth century.

Robert Eggers impressed us with “The Witch,” and quite frankly, “The Lighthouse” looks like far less of a risk. The movie may send us back in time, but not so far back as the Salem With Trials. Likewise, it is backed by A24, which is essentially the go-to studio for indie projects nowadays. This creates an element of prestige in “The Lighthouse” that we did not quite have in Egger’s earlier films. 

This is not a bad attribute. In fact, it is a very good one for both Eggers and the audience. Essentially, we are saying that “The Lighthouse” has a larger appeal, a more promising cast, and a story that will be easier to latch on to. Also, now that Eggers has a bit of a reputation under his belt, he may be more willing to bend some rules within his craft. Of course, there will be twists and turns along the way, but we are confident that “The Lighthouse” will rattle our bones throughout and keep us questioning the truth up until its very end. 

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Climate Solutions, Earth and Ecology, News

Leonardo DiCaprio headlines Global Citizens Festival, in Climate Crisis awareness fight

Celebrities Took the Stage at Global Citizens Festival in Central Park…

Leonardo DiCaprio has consistently made strong statements in efforts to raise awareness of the Climate Crisis over the years. The actor spearheaded the issue in his 2016 documentary “Before The Flood” and even used the stage during his long-awaited Oscar acceptance speech to talk about importance of preserving our natural world. Clearly, the man is a passionate environmentalist.

On September 28th, 2019, DiCaprio spoke out about this issue yet again at the Global Citizens Festival in New York’s Central Park. In his address to the festival’s ~60,000 patrons, he reflected on the recent climate strike, paid tribute to its leaders such as Greta Thunberg, and condemned climate deniers. 

The actor stated: “Last Friday, young people led the world in strike. Millions of individuals did more than simply walk out of their schools and places of employment. They took a stand. They set an example of true leadership that our planet so desperately needs. These young people have said clearly, definitively and without fear, that the time for inaction is over. Yet, surprisingly, some have reacted to this movement with insulting tweets and negative talking points: individuals that seem to care more about profit and their own self-interests than about your own future. But we know that the climate youth movement is more important and crucial than at any time in human history.”

Contemptuously, he denounced politicians and people in power who refuse to act on the climate crisis, and ended his speech reminding the audience that there is scientific consensus surrounding the issue and that its reality is no longer debatable.

Worldwide Concern is Expanding as Big Names Help to Draw Attention

In addition to DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, Forest Whitaker, Laverne Cox, Kal Penn, Alicia Keys, and Dakota Johnson all spoke at the Festival, each addressing a different cause and delivering a humanitarian message. Meanwhile, musical acts included Queen + Adam Lambert, French Montana, OneRepublic, Ben Platt, Carole King, H.E.R. and more. 

The Global Citizens Festival plans on organizing additional events—one on each of the six developed continents. The next one will take place in Lagos, Nigeria and celebrities Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Metallica and Billie Eilish have all expressed interest in appearing at it.

The New York Festival concluded with Coldplay front man and Festival curator, Chris Martin telling the crowd about the 2020 Global Citizen campaign. The campaign aims to raise money to help the UN reach the $350 billion it needs for its Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

All of this is very ambitious, but change will not come without initiative. The Festival garnered an overall feeling of hope—hope that change can come from the bottom up, and hope for a brighter future lead by passionate people who believe in the possibilities of the human spirit.

https://twitter.com/leo94dicaprio/status/1178199732121985025

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Zombieland: Double Tap’, Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, Emma Stone star in Sequel

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/zombieland-double-tap/zombieland-double-tap-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Zombieland: Double Tap”

A Decade in the Making, showing how Predecessor was a Premonition Foretold

The trailer for “Venom” director Ruben Fleischer’s new movie starts out with a feeling of prestige. Over intense music, we see shots of an impressive cast as text introduces Academy Award nominees Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin, and Academy Award winner Emma Stone. Just when you start to think you are watching an ad for the latest star-studded, Oscar-bait drama, you realize that the lineup feels somewhat familiar.

Suddenly the dramatic music comes to a halt as the shot of Emma Stone widens to reveal her loading, aiming, and firing a grenade launcher at a walking corpse. Music starts up again, but this time it is Ice Cube’s Click Clack-Get Back as the characters wade through a field of zombies towards a deteriorating Whitehouse. 

Suddenly, we know where we are… We are back in Zombieland!

“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a follow-up to the 2009 zombie-horror-comedy “Zombieland.” It has been ten years since the first movie hit theaters and surprised audiences with its humor and fresh take on the genre. Fortunately, despite how long it has taken to produce a sequel, the aforementioned original cast and director are back in their rightful places for the new film.

In addition to Fleischer returning to the director’s chair and Harrelson, Eisenberg, Breslin, and Stone reprising their roles, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are also coming back for “Double Tap.” Since the first film came out, Reese and Wernick have become contemporary comedy legends, having written both of the “Deadpool” movies.

Joining the writing staff for “Double Tap” is also “The Expendables” and “Godzilla” screenwriter Dave Callaham. “Double Tap” will be the first of many upcoming blockbuster projects for Callaham. Over the next few years, he is lined up to write for “Wonder-Woman: 1984,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2,” and Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”

Photo / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Stellar Cast and Creative Team should produce Entertaining Bulls-eye

If the creative minds behind “Zombieland: Double Tap” are any signifier, the movie will not lack in humor or action. Like the first “Zombieland,” the sequel’s story takes place in a post-apocalyptic America, centering on a quartet of survivors who have come to depend on each other as a motley, makeshift family. 

This time around, the characters are seeking refuge in middle-America, combating new kinds of zombies and encountering other survivors in the process. Joining the cast to play these other survivors are Zoey Deutch, Avan Jogia, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, and Thomas Middleditch. The movie will also have a couple cameos from the likes of Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. 

Of course, comedy has noticeably changed since 2009. Ten years ago, the most talked about comedies were “Step Brothers,” “The Hangover,” and “Pineapple Express.” Will Farrell’s absurdist humor was still at its peak and Seth Rogen’s stoner bromance style felt fresh. These icons led the genre in a very goofy direction at the turn of the decade.

Today, however, audiences have shown that they want something a bit more socially telling. Viewers desire either genre parodies such as “Deadpool” or “Shazam!” or they want political satires that cross over into dramas such as “Vice” or “The Big Short.” 

This raises the question of whether something as silly as rednecks and nerds killing zombies in over-the-top violent fashions will still be suitable for contemporary audiences? 

Photo / Sony Pictures Entertainment

More Apropos in 2019 than 2009?

In response to that valid query, perhaps we can look at the first “Zombieland” not as a product of 2009, but rather as a film that was ahead of its time. After all, the movie is a parody of a specific horror sub-genre and it blends comedy with action quite well, leaving viewers feeling as if they laughed, but also enjoyed a solid zombie movie in its own right.

Lastly, “Zombieland” is not without its own pinch of satire, as it characterizes certain America stereotypes and pokes fun at low-mimetic people by placing them in high-stakes situations. As previously described, the trailer begins with the characters fighting zombies on the Whitehouse lawn. In the next scene, Woody Harrelson’s hickish character is sitting in the oval office, explaining how he would make a good president. While such jokes could be excused as mere gags ten years ago, they now have a touch of real-world relevance.

In total, “Zombieland: Double Tap” promises to be the thrilling, yet gut-busting action comedy that we are expecting. Like its 2009 predecessor, it will cross boundaries and use humor to deliver a message while winking at the audience in the process. In 2019, though, that message may be more divisive or potent, ultimately making the wink a whole lot less subtle.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’: Angelina Jolie is Back in Anti-Hero Sequel

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
new Official trailer for “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”

Will Sleeping Beauty Spin-off Franchise continue Disney Magic?

Joker is not the only iconic villain getting a feature film this fall. On October 18th, Academy Award winning actress Angelina Jolie will be returning to the role of “Sleeping Beauty” antagonist Maleficent in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”

While the story of “Sleeping Beauty” dates back to the twelfth century, it was Walt Disney who gave Maleficent her name and famous look in the popular 1959 animated film adaptation. In that movie, Maleficent is the main villain, an evil fairy who curses Princess Aurora to die before her sixteenth birthday—that is unless she is saved by true love’s kiss, which being a Disney princess, she of course is.

Since Disney’s rendition of the classic fairy tale, Maleficent has been a pop-culture icon. For the past sixty years, her greenish face, dark cloak, horned crown, and crow-like aura have made her the embodiment of wickedness. She stands alongside Ursula, Scar, Jafar, and Captain Hook as the greatest Disney villains of all time.

In the 1959 movie, Eleanor Audley provided the voice of Maleficent—the same actress who voiced Cinderella’s evil stepmother nine years earlier. Over the years a few different actresses have taken on the role. Lois Nettleton voiced Maleificent in the 2001 “Mickey’s House of Villains”; Kristin Chenoweth played her in the 2015 Disney Channel TV movie “Descendants”; and several women have portrayed her in different theatrical productions.

“Sleeping Beauty” is certainly a timeless tale, and thus Maleficent is an everlasting villain. However, there is one recent performance of the antagonist that stands above the rest. And that is Angelina Jolie’s.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
ORIGINAL OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Evil Rendition is Part of the Appeal

Jolie first played Maleficent in the 2014 “Maleficent.” This live-action Disney film was an alternate telling of the Sleeping Beauty story with an obvious focus on the villain. Nevertheless, Jolie did not reimagine Maleficent as empathetic. Despite being the main character, Jolie’s Maleficent is as despicable as ever. Fortunately, her haughty, bad-tempered sternness is exactly what makes her so entertaining. While it is incredibly difficult to pull of a live-action performance that does justice to an iconic cartoon character, Jolie has the right amount of attitude and moxie to pull it off.

 “Maleficent” was somewhat ahead of its time too, as it came out one year before Disney’s 2015 “Cinderella,” which kicked off the studio’s current cycle of live-action remakes. Today, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” feels a little more expected, as this year has already given live-action reimaginings of “Dumbo,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King” and will get one of “Lady and the Tramp” with the release of Disney+ in November.

While some fans criticize Disney for these constant rehashes, shaming the company for lacking creativity and constantly chasing the easy dollar, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” promises to offer a bit more novelty. Although the story is based off of characters and concepts from “Sleeping Beauty,” its screenplay is original. The narrative appropriately picks up a few years after the 2014 film left off. Princess Aurora is grown up and wants to marry her beloved Prince Phillip. Unenthused about this prospect, Maleficent is determined to put a stop to the wedding, and will employ all the dark magic she has to do so.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-creating-anicon_h1080p.mov
Featurette – “Creating an Icon”: FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Although not Prime Marketing Focus, Maleficent will be in great company

The story will dig deeper into the Aurora’s royal family, their political ties, and the secret supernaturalism that lurks within the film’s fantastical world. As it is foremost a story about the villain, it will obviously be dark and moody in tone. However, it is still a PG rated Disney movie, so there is bound to be a high degree of playfulness, adventure, and family fun as well.

Returning for the sequel along with Jolie, the young Elle Fanning is reprising her role as Princess Aurora. Juno Temple, Imelda Staunton, and Sam Riley will also be returning from the 2014 film. Joining the cast will be the talented Michelle Pfeiffer, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Harris Dickinson, and Ed Skerein amongst others. Behind the camera, we will also see Joachim Rønning replace Robert Stromberg as director and Ellen Mirojnick replace Anna B. Sheppard as costume designer—the only category that the 2014 movie received an Oscar nomination for.

With all of the live action remakes, record breaking Marvel movies, “Toy Story 4,” and Disney+ preorders, 2019 has been one of Disney’s most profitable years to date… and we are still yet to see what kind of damage “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and “Frozen 2” do at the box-office. Because of the inner-studio competition, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” will likely not be the company’s most lucrative film of the year. It will also have to go up against “Zombieland: Double Tap” on opening weekend. Nevertheless, with strong marketing, star power, and a considerable fan base, it will likely fare well enough financially, and might just get some positive critical reception as well, all in all being a satisfying project for audiences and Disney alike.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Paradise Hills’: Costumes Kill in Feminist Dystopia

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/samuel_goldwyn/paradise-hills/paradise-hills-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Paradise Hills”

“Paradise Hills” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. After the festival, Samuel Goldwyn Films acquired it for distribution. 

Samuel Goldwyn Films Brings Feminist Thriller From Sundance To Theaters on October 25th

The movie touts a novice creative team but an impressive cast of young actresses. Behind the camera is director Alice Waddington and behind the story are screenwriters Brian DeLeeuw and Nacho Vigalondo, none of whom have many noticeable credits to their names. The cast, however, has a few more familiar faces. It features Emma Roberts as the main character alongside Awkwafina, Danielle Macdonald, Milla Jovoich, and Eiza González.

The storyline focuses on a dystopian-like boarding school on an island. Young women wake up on this island and find themselves part of a social experiment, one that emotionally reforms them into becoming conformant members of their surroundings. Beneath the school’s idyllic surface, however, there is something threatening at hand, putting the girls in grave danger.

Mediocre Script, but Set & Costume Designs Save the Day

It sounds fascinating enough—almost like a modern YA-thriller rendition of the old British TV show, “The Prisoner.” Unfortunately, the script received heavy criticism at Sundance for having uncanny dialogue and numerous plot holes. What saved the film in most critics’ eyes were the set and costume designs. 

Laia Colet and Sol Saban respectfully did the film’s set design and decoration, and Alberto Valcárcel created the costumes. Together, they built a colorful world for the characters to live in. Aesthetically, it is somewhat Hunger Games-like with flamboyant outfits, unique hairstyles, and a constant futuristic feeling of lavishness. It is more than enough to grip the audience from a visual perspective.

A Win for Feminism, But Will its Delivery Suffice?

Another area where the film received some praise was for its feminism. While the script may have been a bit hollow, the female characters have an impressive degree of complexity. Critics recognized that the women in “Paradise Hills” went beyond simple archetypes, and offered an array of original voices. Given the film industry’s current climate with #MeToo and its systemic underrepresentation of female characters on screen, it is important to see this kind of depth given to a primarily female cast, especially under the influence of a female director and in a genre that is far from a chick-flick.

However, despite whatever political angles one takes or how progressive a movie is behind the scenes, films must speak for themselves as pieces of art and entertainment. If “Paradise Hills” fails on those fronts, then its more powerful layers may go unnoticed, and sadly, it may end up forgotten despite its best qualities.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’: Kevin Smith Strikes again with Self-referential Comeback Clone

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/jay-and-silent-bob-reboot/jay-and-silent-bob-reboot-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official trailer for “Jay and SIlent Bob Reboot”

Kevin Smith’s Sequel follows a Decade of Offscreen Exploits

It’s been ten years since filmmaker Kevin Smith introduced us to Jay and Silent Bob in his 1994 indie cult-classic “Clerks.” Known for lazing outside of stores, smoking marijuana, and pondering the world, over the past twenty-five years, the pot-head duo has become a staple of Smith’s View Askewniverse, the fictional universe in which all of his films take place. Since “Clerks,” Jay and Silent Bob—respectfully played by Jason Mewes and Smith himself—have appeared in “Clerks 2,” “Mallrats,” and “Chasing Amy.” They even received their own movie, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” in 2001.

Today, Kevin Smith is perhaps better known for his stand up comedy, pop-culture podcasts, and transmedia producing than he is for his movies. While he has some recent TV credits for directing episodes of the DCEU’s “Supergirl” and “The Flash,” it has been over three years since he last directed a feature film. That film was titled “Yoga Hosers,” and it received abhorrent reviews.

Still, perhaps more so than any other filmmaker, Kevin Smith is well aware of his artistic pitfalls and takes immense pleasure in mocking himself through his work. Nowhere does he do this better than in Jay and Silent Bob segments, which are filled with self-referential moments and humorous commentaries on pop-culture. With today’s audiences showing an appreciation for conglomerate media and throwback characters, Jay and Silent Bob would certainly have a lot of material to work with, and their return to the screen would likely be accepted with open arms.

For those reasons exactly, Jay and Silent Bob are finally coming back to the big screen together. Coming out Tuesday, Mewes and Smith are reprising their iconic roles in the new Kevin Smith directed “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.”

If you exclude the 2013 animated movie, “Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie!” it has been over a decade since the two characters appeared in a film together. “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” came out over eighteen years ago. In that film, Jay and Bob went to Hollywood to sabotage a movie being made about their comic book counterparts, Bluntman and Chronic. After a wacky adventure filled with countless celebrity encounters, the two characters get their deserved royalties and return to their New Jersey roots.

Low-brow 90s Comedy, Loud and Proud with Star Powered Cameos

As the title of “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” may suggest, this follow-up project will follow an almost identical plot. Again, a Los Angeles studio is trying to rip off the leading characters, and again, they travel to the West Coast to take back what they deserve. We cannot really criticize the movie for being unoriginal, though, for it is purposefully redundant, openly parodying the lack of new content and the constant remakes that contemporary Hollywood churns out.

Director Kevin Smith has been very forward about this in interviews. In his usual self-deprecating way, he does not promote the new film by championing it as a work of art. Instead, he candidly sells it as a raunchy stoner comedy that nobody asked for and was made with no prestigious intent. At the end of the movie’s trailer, a character played by Jason Biggs even states on a Comic-Con Panel that the reboot “sucks” and laughingly asks, “who’s directing this [explicit] anyway? Kevin [explicit]ing Smith?”

Thus, there is really no excuse for taking “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” too seriously. Nevertheless, with cameos from the likes of Matt Damon, Chris Hemsworth, Ben Affleck, and Val Kilmer, the movie cannot help but get us a little bit excited. Furthermore, as Smith is a comic book aficionado, we look forward to seeing what kinds of jokes and scenarios he will make up regarding the superhero genre’s current domination in Hollywood.

Roadshow to Drum up Support will follow Initial Release

Also joining the cast for “Reboot” is Kevin Smith’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, who comically plays Jay’s daughter in the film. Her inclusion in the duo’s journey across America will pave the way for additional humor—both metahumor about family and parenting humor, as the slacker weed-inhaling Jay will now be a father.

“Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” will have its world premiere in Los Angeles, at which time Smith and Mewes will also receive Stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and get their hands ceremoniously engraved in cement before the TCL Chinese Theater. The movie will then have a limited theatrical release over the weekend before Kevin Smith does a roadshow tour of the film, screening it in different cities around the United States. Smith will attend all of these screenings and stick around for Q&A sessions afterwards. The tour starts on October 19th in Smith’s home state of New Jersey, and ends on February 26th in New Orleans. It will also have a few events overseas.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Gemini Man’: Does Two x Will Smith Equal more than One or Less?

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/paramount/gemini-man/gemini-man-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
2nd official trailer for “gemini man”

Ang Lee’s Newest Direction is an Attempt to Elevate a Clichéd Genre…

No two movies from visionary director Ang Lee are quite the same. One moment he is making a modern martial arts classic, the next, an introspective superhero movie, and after that, a heart wrenching romance about two gay cowboys. If there is one commonality across his entire filmography it is that every movie is ambitious. Thus, we knew from the get-go that his new film “Gemini Man” was unlikely to be a standard shoot-em-up action movie. The sight of a twenty-three year old looking Will Smith acting in the trailer confirmed this. 

Skydance Media, the company behind the latest Mission Impossible and Terminator movies is producing Gemini Man. The film falls in with their impressive line of action movies that tout A-List stars in the leading roles, except this time, there are two leading men, but still only one A-List star.

In “Gemini Man,” Will Smith plays two versions of the same character. One of them is a middle-aged man who fits the actor’s natural current look. The other one, however, is a young adult that looks like Will Smith out of his “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” days… well, that plus a touch of CGI makeup.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/paramount/gemini-man/gemini-man-trailer-1-_h1080p.mov
official original trailer for “Gemini man”

Can VFX Extend the Reach of Will Smith via Digital Clone?

CGI has definitely come a long way since the turn of the millennium, but the human eye has also learned to recognize when things are off. Thus, generating a human face, especially one as recognizable as Will Smith’s, with computer technology is one of the trickiest tasks for a visual effects artist.

With the help of over seven-hundred people on the VFX team, “Gemini Man’s” young Will Smith was created through motion capture animation. Smith would perform all of the young character’s scenes wearing sensors on his face, and then the VFX team would animate over his face to essentially de-age the actor while preserving the performance. It is a technique made popular by Andy Serkis’ performance as Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and has more more recently been boldly used to recreate Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

Attempts to create human beings out of CGI and motion capture are not without their critics. Especially when the CGI human being is based off someone whose look the audience knows, it becomes easy to tell when the slightest detail is off. Digitized images have a certain over-polished, almost plastic look to them. So when the image is trying to resemble something as organic as a human face, it is very difficult to fool the viewer. 

We cannot deny that there is a something just a little prosthetic looking about the young Will Smith in “Gemini Man.” Then again, maybe that is just due to the fact that we know what Will Smith actually looked like at twenty-three and our knowledge of the on-screen face being artificial forces us to seek out the blemishes.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/paramount/gemini-man/gemini-man-featurette-becoming-junior_h1080p.mov
Bonus Featurette – Becoming Junior

will Will Save You from Yourself? Hubris Implies only a Hero’s Clone can Beat the Hero

Narratively in the movie, the young Will Smith is a clone of the older Will Smith, whose blood was used for an experiment against his knowing twenty-five years ago. In the present, the two Will Smiths are both hit-men pinned against one another. When they learn that they are the same person, though, the situation becomes far more complicated.

The movie’s first trailer made it look like a flat out Will Smith versus Will Smith story, a sci-fi action flick about one version of the self against another in the vein of Rian Jonson’s 2011 “Looper.” However, the second trailer reveals more about the man behind the cloning, the young Will Smith’s mentor and the older Will Smith’s former boss. While there will still be plenty of Smith on Smith action, this crime-boss character, played by Clive Owen, will likely be the archvillain, and perhaps we will witness the two Smiths teaming up to take him down in the end.

Even if there is something a little uncanny about seeing a CGI Will Smith, with Ang Lee behind the camera, an enormous VFX department, and an impressive cast of writers including David Benioff, Billy Ray, and Darren Lemke, “Gemini Man” is bound to be an interesting ride, so much so, that we may be able to look past the digital imperfections to appreciate what it is in all of its originality.

Find books on Big Tech, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

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