Fantasy

Maleficent

  • Title: Maleficent
  • IMDB: link

MaleficentOffering a new live-action take on Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the original tale’s villain, Maleficent proves to be a passable flick that works better than either of the recent disappointments, Mirror Mirror or Snow White and the Huntsman, both of which failed while attempting a similar approach to the retelling of Snow White.

Not without its own issues, most of which can be traced back to film’s lethargic opening act explaining Maleficent’s (Angelina Jolie) past and the series of events which led to her inevitable heel turn, Maleficent works largely due to the performances of Jolie and Elle Fanning (as the girl who would become known as Sleeping Beauty) and the film’s impressive style and design. Jolie is perfect for the role, relishing every moment on-screen, although the movie doesn’t really start moving until after Stefan’s (Sharlto Copley) betrayal which leaves the most powerful member of the fairies hell-bent on revenge on the man who stole far more than her heart and ultimately choose power over love.

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Godzilla

  • Title: Godzilla (2014)
  • IMDB: link

GodzillaGodzilla returns to the big screen in an American film for the first time since 1998. Although better than Roland Emmerich‘s much despised film, while outdoing the director known for CGI disaster porn, the new version of Godzilla isn’t without its own issues. As a summer popcorn flick the new Godzilla may satisfy in the short term but it’s unlikely to entice me to return to its story anytime soon (if ever).

Opening in 1999 in the Philippines where an ancient monster is awoken before it makes its way to Japan unseen (this happens more than you’d expect in the film) and destroys a nuclear reactor to feed on the radioactivity for the next 15 years, the film jumps forward to present day where the scientist in charge of the facility (Bryan Cranston) still struggles with what really happened. Although much of the extended opening centers around Cranston (which could be trimmed considerably), the movie’s main character is the scientist’s son Lieutenant Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a bomb disposal expert whose skills will come in quite handy before the end of the film.

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Once Upon a Time – There’s No Place Like Home

  • Title: Once Upon a Time – There’s No Place Like Home
  • wiki: link

“It was the honorable thing to do.”

Once Upon a Time - There's No Place Like Home

The season finale offers a variation of events already presented as Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin), and Prince Charming‘s (Josh Dallas) early-days banter has begun, but this time around the pair is enlisted by Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) to help free Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) from Regina‘s (Lana Parrilla) dungeons and retrieve the missing ring. With the help of Red Riding Hood (Meghan Ory, who we might see more of next season with news that Intelligence has been cancelled), the group breaks into the dungeon in time to find Emma breaking out with a woman (Christie Laing) she decides to free laying the groundwork for new trouble next season.

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Once Upon a Time – Snow Drifts

  • Title: Once Upon a Time – Snow Drifts
  • wiki: link

“It’s a miracle the timeline hasn’t imploded already.”

Once Upon a Time - Snow Drifts

In the calm before the storm of the first-half of Once Upon a Time‘s Third Season finale Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) struggles with telling Henry (Jared Gilmore) she has decided to take him back to New York, Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Robin Hood‘s (Sean Maguire) romance progresses, Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and Belle (Emilie de Ravin) begin making wedding plans, and Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) prepare a naming ceremony for their new baby boy. However, all that is put on hold when the town discovers that Zelena (Rebecca Mader) is dead and her time vortex has been opened (fulfilling her dying wish with the remainder of magic stored in the witch’s locket).

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Once Upon a Time – Kansas

  • Title: Once Upon a Time – Kansas
  • wiki: link

Once Upon a Time - Kansas

While Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) goes into labor, Zelena (Rebecca Mader) prepares to cast her spell and sets a trap for Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) who is forced to choose between sacrificing her magic or watching Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) die. Not only does her choice leave her far less of a threat against Zelana, but it also leaves the fate of her newborn baby brother in those who are no match for the combined might of Zelena and Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle). Or are they?

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