Katy Perry – Not the End of the World
Here’s Katy Perry with the official video for “Not the End of the World.”
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The Stand – The End
- Title: The Stand – The End
- wiki: link
The first episode of CBS’ new adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand focuses primarily on introducing Harold Lauder (Owen Teague) and the object of his obsession Frannie Goldsmith (Odessa Young) who are the only two survivors of Ogunquit, Maine and Stu Redman (James Marsden) who becomes a prisoner of the United States Government after he is the first person to show an immunity to the virus wiping out 99% of the world’s population. 42 years after the book’s publication and 26 years since the first television adaptation of the novel, the first episode jumps around a bit on the timeline before offering us a glimpse of the viral outbreak Charles Champion (Curtiss Cook Jr.) lets loose on the world.
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Wonder Woman 1984
- Title: Wonder Woman 1984
- IMDb: link
2017’s Wonder Woman proved to be the pleasant surprise to shine some light in DC’s otherwise gloomy extended universe. Director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot reunite for a sequel set in the 1980s (apparently primarily for the purpose of making fun of the decade’s fashion sense). Gadot seems more confident in the role, hits the right emotional beats, and the sequel taps into primary motivations of the character while introducing one of the Amazon’s most famous possessions in the Invisible Plane. So why isn’t Wonder Woman 1984 more successful?
The choice to bring back Wonder Woman‘s lost love Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) is a controversial one, but the wishing stone that also turns Kristen Wiig into Cheetah and provides Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) with near unlimited power does work as a catalyst to get things rolling. Trevor’s return forces Diana to confront her own feelings as does the dread that defeating Max may mean saying goodbye to Steve again. It’s a clever way to bring the character back for one more film but other than the personal turmoil it causes Diana, I don’t think the script is helped by Trevor’s inclusion.
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The Croods: A New Age
- Title: The Croods: A New Age
- IMDb: link
The sequel to 2013’s The Croods returns the cast of the original for a new adventure. The prehistoric family meet the more evolved Hope (Leslie Mann) an Phil Betterman (Peter Dinklage), friends of Guy’s (Ryan Reynolds) parents, who have created a safe zone that all the Croods except for Grug (Nicolas Cage) immediately fall in love with (although their hosts aren’t all that keen on their guests staying longterm).
The sequels offers much the same humor of the original with its conflict coming from the deepening relationship between Guy and Eep (Emma Stone) which threatens Grug’s pack and the Bettermans’ plan to steal Guy away from Eep for their daughter Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran). Eventually, danger will come to safe oasis and the two families will learn to work together.
There’s some fun here, I did appreciate the choice to make Eep and Dawn friends instead of rivals, but for all its wackiness there’s not much substance. The Croods: A New Age is a so-so sequel to a so-so film. Fans of the original will likely enjoy themselves, but the sequel doesn’t do much to evolve past the limited appeal of the original.
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Soul
- Title: Soul
- IMDb: link
Pixar tackles the meaning of life in Soul. Jamie Foxx stars as Joe, a lifelong struggling musician who dies on the very day he earns his big break. Refusing to walk into the Great Beyond, Joe finds himself trapped in the Great Before where young souls are prepared prior to their journey to Earth. Joe’s fate will depend on helping a troubled soul (Tina Fey) find her one true thing.
Soul marks both Pixar’s first African American lead character and its director in Pete Docter (who also worked on much of the film’s development and screenplay). It’s a fun film, which will remind you of a number of body-switching comedies once Joe and 22 (Fey) make it back to Earth (many of those developed by Disney). The film also confirms that beaurcracy doesn’t end at death and Joe finds an entire new world to explore (and escape) if he wants to get home and claim his big break (while also teaching 22 about life).
Despite dealing with life and death, Soul lacks the emotional weight of previous Pixar films such as Up or Toy Story 3 due to how goofy much of the film becomes after Joe’s death.
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