Tag Archives: Benedict Cumberbatch

The Grinch (2018) Review

Posted on by 6 comments

A CHARMING, MODERN

RETELLING OF A HOLIDAY CLASSIC

 

The stories and books of Dr. Seuss have enchanted readers around the world, seeing multiple generations enjoying the imaginative worlds that Seuss created and of its playful rhyming tales and colorful characters. Of the plethora of books that have been published by him, none is more famously known that Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Since its initially publication release back in 1957, the children’s picture book has received critically praised from its readers, becoming one of the more beloved and recognizable books of Dr. Seuss’s catalogue. Additionally, the book (over the years) has received two adaptations in bringing to Seuss’s story of the Grinch and his wicked deed of stealing Christmas to a new media outlet. The first was the 1966 animated TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was directed by Chuck Jones, with narration by Boris Karloff and the first rendition of the now widely-recognizable “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” sung by Thurl Ravenscroft (with lyrics by Dr. Seuss himself). The second iteration of the Seuss’s book came in 2000 with the live-action adaptation titled How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was directed by Ron Howard and comedian actor Jim Carrey playing the role of the Grinch. The difference between the two iterations has been continuously debated with many favoring the 1966 TV special cartoon over the live-action theatrical motion picture, which did face mixed reviews from critics and moviegoers. Now, Illumination Entertainment (as well as Universal Pictures) and directors Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney present the third iteration of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas with the animated film The Grinch. Is it “third time’s a charm” for this well-known children’s story is it just simply a redundant holiday retread? Read more

Doctor Strange Review

Posted on by 12 comments

THE MCU GETS STRANGE

(IN A GOOD WAY)

 

Think you’re the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet” said Samuel L. Jackson’s character Nick Fury at the end of 2008’s Iron Man and sure enough he was right. Since then, the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) has indeed expanded its catalogue of superheroes for their big-screen endeavors, crafting feature films around several iconic comic book characters from fan-favorites Steve Rogers (Captain America), Bruce Banner (The Hulk), and Thor to lesser known ones like Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and The Guardians of the Galaxy. What may have ended up as a one and done deal, Marvel Studios has created a very profitable empire with the MCU, spanning so far with 13 movies within three film sagas (so far), with their recent blockbuster Captain America: Civil War grossing over 1.15 billion at the worldwide box office. Now, with Marvel continuing to be the powerhouse of superhero movies, the studio now unveils its newest cinematic movie (14th to be exact), entering the strange and mystical realm with the film Doctor Strange. Does this latest superhero installment bring the MCU’s signature thrills and excitement or is the multi-universe / mysticism of the good doctor too strange for the average moviegoer? Read more

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review

Posted on by 3 comments

DRAGONFIRE & RUIN.

THE STORY CONTINUES.

 

All good stories deserve a little embellishment” Gandalf the Grey said to a young hobbit named Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s first chapter of his Hobbit Trilogy titled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Truer words were never spoken. The film, which debuted in December of 2011, scored big at the box office, but was heavily criticized (by fans and critics alike) for its lengthy duration and slow-moving plot points as many began to doubt how a 310-page novel could be overly stretch into three bloated feature films and still live up to the same measure as its prodigal cinematic father: The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Now, a year later, Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin and the whole company return to theaters this holiday season with the second chapter titled The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Does this epic fantasy continuance of a tale rise above its predecessor or is it all Smaug and no fire? Read more

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Review

Posted on by One comment

THE END AND THE BEGINNING.

THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE.

When the dust had finally settled on director Peter Jackson’s Return of the King, the final installment in his cinematic adaptation of J.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, many began to speculate if and when Jackson and his creative team would return to the fictional world of Middle-Earth once again to adapt The Hobbit, the precursor novel to Tolkien’s illustrious fantasy trilogy. After years of financial studio woes and debated legal matters, Jackson finally agree to helm the project, returning to his world of hobbits, dwarves, elves, and wizards in exploring the tale of Bilbo Baggins with a whole new film trilogy (beginning with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and continue on with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug). Now the final chapter in Peter Jackson epic retelling of The Hobbit comes to a dramatic conclusion in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Does this last installment bring closure to this fantasy adventure or is it an unsatisfying bloated blockbuster? Read more

« Older Entries