Fantasy

(No Snow White &) The Huntsman: Winter’s War

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Huntsman: Winter’s War
  • wiki: link

The Huntsman: Winter's WarI wasn’t too impressed with 2012’s retelling of the fairy tale of Snow White. While visually elegant, I felt the story lacked heart and a willingness to truly embrace the fairy tale. Dumping one of its two title characters for the sequel, The Huntsman: Winter’s War brings back the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), the evil Ravenna (Charlize Theron), and two of the seven dwarves (Nick Frost and Rob Brydon) in a movie that is both prequel and sequel to the original.

The movie’s plot-heavy first forty minutes or so is problematic as the sequel explains the origins of Ravenna’s sister Freya (Emily Blunt) who will serve as the main villain this time around. These sequences also explain Freya’s madness brought on by tragedy and her army of Huntsman. This offers an extended backstory on Hemsworth’s character as well, including his relationship to both Freya and another Huntsman (Jessica Chastain) who kicks her share of ass and turns out be a far more interesting character than Kristen Stewart‘s Snow White. While still flawed, the sequel proves to be more fun than the original and something closer to the questionable success of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and Jack the Giant Slayer.

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(No Snow White &) The Huntsman: Winter’s War Read More »

Lucifer – #TeamLucifer

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Lucifer – #TeamLucifer
  • wiki: link

Lucifer - #TeamLucifer

Lucifer (Tom Ellis) is having far less fun than usual in the penultimate episode of the show’s First Season. Still unclear as to how Chloe (Lauren German) is affecting his immortality, the devil attempts to put some distance between himself and his favorite police officer. His plan is fouled up by a group of devil worshipers who perform a live sacrifice. Increasingly angered at every aspect of the case, including humanity’s view of him as a wicked goat-creature, Lucifer’s temper gets the better of him more than once, eventually getting him sent home where he has to deal with his angry brother who has a few words for Lucifer about Maze‘s (Lesley-Ann Brandt) attempts to seduce and kill him.

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Once Upon a Time – Ruby Slippers

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Once Upon a Time – Ruby Slippers
  • wiki: link

Once Upon a Time - Ruby Slippers

Ruby‘s (Meghan Ory) sudden arrival in the Underworld marks the return of one of my favorite Once Upon a Time characters, if only for a single episode. Featured in both the flashbacks and current storyline, Ruby’s reasons for hunting down Zelena (Rebecca Mader) are explored following what the Wicked Witch did to Dorothy (Teri Reeves). Taking a queue from Regina (Lana Parrilla) it appears the only thing that can save Dorothy is true love’s kiss.

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Kong: King of the Apes – The Adventure Begins

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Kong: King of the Apes – The Adventure Begins
  • wiki: link

Kong: King of the Apes - The Adventure Begins

A longtime fan of King Kong, I was curious to see what Netflix had in store for the giant ape in their new animated series Kong: King of the Apes. Opening with a plodding movie to set the stage for the shorter individual episodes, “The Adventure Begins” gives us the backstory of baby Kong being found and rescued from poachers in the near future where most wildlife is extinct. Rescued by a scientist and his twin sons Lucas and Richard, Kong eventually outgrows the family’s ability to keep him secret eventually leading him to be the main attraction at a wildlife preserve or Alcatraz island stocked with other endangered animals and bio-mechanical robots in the form of dinosaurs and other creatures.

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Lucifer – St. Lucifer

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Lucifer – St. Lucifer
  • wiki: link

Lucifer - St. Lucifer

Revelations are in store for the former ruler of Hell in “St. Lucifer.” Recieving unexpected pleasure in not taking advantage of Chloe (Lauren German), and spurred on by the murder investigation into a former bad-boy basketball player turned community activist, Lucifer (Tom Ellis) attempts to recreate the joy of doing good for his own selfish purposes. While going about it all wrong, and for all the wrong reasons, the devil will still get around to solving the murder of the week. However, it’s how he solves it that proves the most interesting facet of the episode and picks up a thread I’ve been waiting to the series to tug on for most of its First Season.

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