Here is your chance to get a little insight on which film or TV Show you may be keen on seeing or which film or TV Show you may want to miss altogether.
These are Reel Ree:views here, keeping it concrete and reel...and somewhat, unbiased...well as much as possible, that is!
While the world has been in turmoil, Disney's Pixar decided to release this movie on Disney Plus, free of charge. Unlike Mulan, where they were testing the waters and people had to pay extra on top of their Disney Plus package, Soul is completely free with the monthly subscription. As for Soul though, when I first heard about it, I thought it was a nice idea. A black animated cartoon for the kids as we don't get much of those and Pixar are pretty decent when it comes to storytelling and the inside adult jokes. Needless to say, I do have fun with their movies. Soul...Well, let me let you know how I felt about Soul...
So, Joe is an aspiring Jazz Musician. He is currently working in a school as a teacher but he is only a substitute. Having made it into his midlife, Joe has not found a career or a job with great benefits as he has spent his life chasing his dream. Joe enjoys live gigs and the feeling it brings him, however, one day Joe takes on a gig which could change his life forever, but after the rehearsals, Joe falls into a man-hole and dies. Once dead, Joe is accompanied by an un-lived spirit named 22 who hasn't lived, where the both of them are ultimately tasked with soul searching and what it really means to be alive.
I could have gone into more detail, but you'd either want to watch it or it would just seem uninteresting. With that said, I really enjoyed this movie. Free with my monthly subscription which is cool, but the film for itself was really good. I absolutely loved the life beyond concept and the other bit. Nobody knows what the life beyond is like to report back to us and let us humans know, but I loved the explanations given. When we think of concepts and what our brain can understand and find a rationale, I loved the fact that these visuals were simply lines. There was something soo great about that. I also liked the accountant Terry and the way he acted and was handled, which was soo true to real life, as I bellowed out laughing on occasion. There were some really great lines in this movie, such as "You can't crush a soul here, that's what life on Earth is for" and a few visual gags like the famous Instagram pose, you'll know it when you see it.
A few things I didn't get nor understand, as there was a scene where Joe is talking to his mother, but then he is talking to his mother and it isn't him talking. So in my head I was wondering how did that work unless they decided to just skip the back and forth - You'll know what scene I'm referring to when you see it. Another thing I didn't understand was the Cat. Why the Cat? I guess we needed the cat to help tell the story to get a better understanding of life and living, but I just felt although it made sense, maybe we could have had something else.
The animation is amazing though. I wasn't sure about the character design at first but it grew on me. The details in the animation were great at moments but I'm sure I've seen sharper details in a Toy Story for example, but it was still great. The Voice Acing was totally on point. I am not aware of Questlove having done voice acting before but everyone sounded spot on. The Barbershop scene was great and provided some comical moments and some deep conversations held. The experiences were all there and I loved how true to life it was. I also really enjoyed the story behind the movie too, in which I won't go into, but sometimes life changes us or our dreams doesn't let us experience life in it's rawest form. Sometimes we have ideas and dreams that we will never be able to obtain because of life throwing a curveball. A little like Inside Out and A Christmas Carol and definitely re-watchable. It would have been nice to know or get to know who Lisa was, though, just to add a bit more to Joe and provide more context. A must watch if you have Disney Plus.
When I first heard about this movie, I thought to myself "really? after all these years?" and then I shrugged it off. When word started to pick up more and more about it and that it was definitely on, I instantly wondered how would they create a sequel to such a classic and unforgettable film. I head about the Beverley Hills Cop 4 and some others, but Coming To America is a Classic! A film that has great quotes back to back to back to back. A film that was serious but funny. A love story with heritage and family roots. From gags with the Soul Glow product. Scene's with Randy Watson aka Sexual Chocolate. The Barbershop and even the club scene with the weird women.
Upon seeing this trailer though, I will definitely let you know off the bat, I smiled and I laughed. The film actually looks soo soo good that I'm happy to watch it as soon as it comes out, BUT my only reservation is, I felt they gave us way too much of the same schtick as the previous movie and I feel that maybe, just maybe, they may rely too heavily on the nostalgia. This movie needs to stand on it's own, but as a sequel to a classic. What I will also say though, sometimes nostalgia is great if used right and seeing some of those (if not all) characters in the film from the first film, the banter in the barbershop....I just hope it is just as good as the first. Dolemite was great, so hopefully this is too. And if it is, a definite, Well Done, Eddie as he has definitely not lost his touch.
Directed by Craig Brewer and starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Wesley Snipes & James Earl Jones
As I've stated in previous posts, I started reviewing series and streaming shows in October 2019. Disney Plus launched in November 2019 WITH Star Wars: The Mandalorian their catalog of movies over decades. I had to sit, stew and wait until March 2020 because I was born in the UK and that was when Europe was getting access to Disney Plus. Although there are times I do sneakily watch shows that aren't shown on UK screens, I do not review them because it wouldn't be fair to the reader if they do not have access to the content. It would be different if they are in another country and it isn't available, but to be within the same country, as an example, would be upsetting. With that said, this is the first time I will be reviewing The Manadalorian both Season 1 and Season 2 trying my very best not to spoil anything.
The Mandalorian Season 1 brings us a man in a Mandalorian suit of armour similar to Boba Fett from the Original Trilogy, son of Jango Fett from the Prequel Trilogy. This Mandalorian is also a bounty hunter like Boba Fett, with his own ship, own rules he abides by and as the season goes on, you find out more about him. Essentially, like most bounty hunters, he is a loner. He is assigned a mission where he is to collect a package and deliver the package to someone (Kind of like the film The Transporter), I guess, still a bounty. Upon retrieving this package and bringing the package to, what seems like, the remnants of The Empire, to whom were thought to have been destroyed in the 'Return of the Jedi' (OT) by The Rebel Alliance and Luke Skywalker, The Manadalorian decides to keep the package, try to find out more about the package and take the package elsewhere where he feels the package will be in "safer" hands.
This doesn't prove to be an easy task for The Mandalorian as not only does he meet up with various people, friends, allies who he may need to assist to progress forward in his findings, he also comes across various villains along the way, like an Assassin Droid and the remnants of The Empire. Things also prove to become more difficult for him due to the choices he continues to make due to the package he is carrying and the stakes involved. Will The Mandalorian go against his beliefs, his creed, his way of life, because of this package and continue to risk his life time and time again?
By the end of the first season, there is a stand off between The Mandalorian and the big bad and although The Mandalorian escapes defeating the big bad, the quest continues into season 2 trying to bring the package to where it belongs. Season one introduces us to the package as well as this Bounty Hunter. We learn more about his background, why he does what he does and his support group if needed. The Mandalorian has a past and he does owe his life to a group of people. This is Star Wars at it's finest. From the music to the action, everything is great. Seeing the X-Wings were great. Seeing the Tie-Fighters were great. The fighting and hand to hand combat, is great. This show pretty much did nothing wrong for the first season. It was a return to form or better yet, bringing us Star Wars fans what we were missing.
The Mandalorian Season 2 brings us back with our two favourite things, The Mandalorian and the package. If you are reading and you know what the package is, I know at this point I should say, but to those who are completely in the dark or may not realise the connection, is why I'm still being cagey about details in case of spoilers. Anyway, Some time has past and The Mandalorian is looking for other Mandalorians that might be able to assist him on his journey. But due to the value of The Mandalorian's Armour, all types of scum and villainy are seeking either his armour or the package making him hot property in the galaxy and with a bounty on his head. But as the episodes go on, The Mandalorian must either help or receive help to get to his destination and deliver his package safely, albeit, with plenty of complications along the way.
I read somewhere online during the viewing of the second season, that Jon Favreau had been rushed into hospital with damage to his spin and back.......from carrying the entire Star Wars franchise on his back. Whilst I thought this was very funny, a special shout out goes to Dave Filoni, the man behind The Clone Wars animation, Rebels and this show and this show is just amazing. Not only does Dave Direct two episodes, one in the first season and one in the second season, the latter being the better of the two, Dave also does some brief acting as a Rebel pilot (minor spoiler) and although not much to say, handled himself well.
While some episodes might be deemed a filler episode, we are definitely not short of action or character building. Some, including myself saw The Mandalorian as episodes of 'fetch-quests' like a computer game, but i really had no problem with that at all. We are shown a lone gunman who seems untouchable, but he struggles from time to time and that is good. I cannot stress enough that each season seems to get better and better and both season finalés will have you falling off your chair, it is THAT good.
This is a TV show and not a movie. Set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, there is soo much time where nothing has been documented with the Galaxy, far far away and The Mandalorian fits like a glove in this time slot. I've tried not to spoil anything for those interested. The Music, the Acting, the special effects and stunt work, everything is just how Star Wars should be. Not too over the top and not boring. Not to say that the Sequel Trilogy aka the Disney Trilogy was bad, but it could have been soo much better and it seems Dave Filoni is here again to pick up the pieces. If you are into Star Wars, you will definitely enjoy, especially how they manage to weave, the OT, PT and ST into 8 episodes for a single season. I mean, with all the many many eater eggs and such, this show will have you thinking about the Star Wars universe and who is alive, who is dead, who may come back and in some cases, we do see some returning characters from EVERYTHING (including the cartoons), of what came before it in the timeline.
On last thing. This journey for The Mandalorian and the episode titles, all have multiple meanings and as the story unravels, so does the character. Filoni and Favreau are painting a picture, something much bigger than just one bounty hunter, something that covers decades of infighting between a set of people, something that can explain or give context to the future. Earlier I mentioned the ST (DT) and although many have their views on The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, I think going into season 3 will help give more context to these movies and why some characters are the way they are. A little like how the Clone Wars animated series helped show us Anakin Skywalkers turn to the Darkside. If you are a fan, you WILL like this. *my attempt to Jedi mid trick*
Around October of last year (2019), before the impending doom that was the Corona Virus hit the world, I decided to review new or current running streaming/TV shows as they come out. Ones I'd obviously watch and enjoy or at least take an interest in. Some shows came to a finalé and others were in their second/third season. While this had to be some great foresight I never knew I had because ALL I'D BE WATCHING IN THE NEW YEAR IS STREAMING MOVIES AND SHOWS...lol. So I guess it worked out to my benefit. Something to give an opinion on as Cinemas are closed. But to review a short film, a film that is barely even 10 minutes is a bit of a stretch but I guess, why not. The short film had something to say and so do I!
Canvas centres around an elderly man who is a still-life painter. It would seem he has painted his whole life or at least, it is something that he loves doing, enough that his granddaughter comes to visit and also displays talents in drawing. However, this elderly man has lost the passion for art for reasons I won't go into, but as this short story plays out, in just less than 10 minutes, we discover the the reasons why and if he is able to enjoy painting again.
This is a beautiful short film. Silent with sound effects and no actual words. The artistry of the drawings and how the animation is animated, the detail, amazing. I'm thinking if Toy Story 4 was more detailed than this, but I am unsure. This short film might be boring to some as there really isn't much to it, but the themes do hit and there is something to be said about the story or message behind this little short film. Bound to evoke some kind of emotion. Granted I don't think I could deal with a longer version of this, maybe more characters etc, but I do believe this short film did what it was aiming for.
Imagine, I tried not to spoil a just under 10 minute short film and I may have actually succeeded....maybe. Enjoy!
When I saw Bob's face on the thumbnail of this trailer, I thought to myself "oh, that's the guy from 'Better Call Saul' and 'Breaking Bad!'" (two great shows by the way) and then my immediate thought was, "oh, is he in a film?". You see, it's one thing having someone acting in TV series, but to see them in film, you do often think if the film would be any good because acting in film and acting in a TV series are two completely different things. For the most part, most or quire a few TV shows are character driven so you need a great director who will be able to pull out an actors talents and what they are known for or what they excel at in TV, so I instantly thought that maybe this trailer could be interesting. Ultimately, it could be rubbish.
Upon watching this trailer, like most films of this ilk, it starts off a little slow giving you a little of the character's current life situation. Then we are hit with the switch and what changes the character. Then a little history on what the character used to be in his past before he settled down and became a family man while at the same time, wrecking havoc and messing up fools. If you liken this to John Wick, well...David Leitch is the producer who is responsible for Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, so yeah that guy is behind this. And although this can be seen as a tired trope and "Yeah, I've seen this all before", it really is about the acting and execution and Ilya Naishuller brought us music video and Hardcore Henry?
This looks great. Bob is fairly comical as he has a comedic background so I can see some witty and clever lines woven into this script, along with situations, but I can assure you (well at least i think), if you like John Wick, you are likely to like this with a very slight comedic element to it but with all the seriousness of a Wick film or better yet, an action thriller. I don't think it will fall flat or at least I hope it doesn't. Nice to see Christopher Lloyd in this too.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller and starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Aleksei Serebryakov & Christopher Lloyd
Outside the wire sounds like a bit of a quote made in the film. "You know, he will never be detected, because he is Outside the Wire!", whatever that means, but the movie, it looks decent.
Mr Anthony "One Take" Mackie is moving away from his Marvel character The Falcon for other sci-fi projects. Altered Carbon Season 2 and this. I don't recognise this new face, but I recognise Euron Greyjoy from recently watching "Overlord" on Netflix which was amazing and that was a "sleeper". Although this practically looks like it's straight to DVD, it would be interesting if this turned out to be a decent movie, enjoyable and entertaining, almost like Code 8.
Directed by Mikael Håfström and starring Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Emily Beechum, Michael Kelly, Pilou Asbæk
I'll put it to you plainly. This looks boring. I mean a show with JUST Loki and no interaction with Thor? I'm not sure if I buy it. It's their dynamic that works, but with that said, Loki may just work around other great supporting cast as long as this guy is causing mayhem or at least trying to bring world domination.
From the trailer, I got a 'New Mutants' vibe with Loki trying to escape the TVA, but as I know nothing about them, I'm hoping a proper trailer gives us that bit more to be invested. I like the explosions and fights scenes, but I'm just hoping this series wasn't just done as some any odd show to slide into the MCU, do nothing and then collect dust. It's lacking that umph.
Directed by Kate Herron and starring Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson
This trailer is a lot more detailed and better than the last one and that isn't to say the ones that came before were garbage, but you get a bit more of a story beat with this trailer and ultimately, what is happening and the craziness of it all.
I've heard that this show will go through the ages of Black and White TV and the many different styles these shows had over the years, but the closer we get to modern day, the hijinks ensues whilst all the while getting more weird and weird messing with Wanda's psyche. I love this and I hope the tone changes too. Such a clever concept. It looks great.
Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, Randall Park & Kathryn Hahn.
It has been a long time coming. Initially this was meant to drop in August 2020, right? Or was it pushed back to then because of the coronavirus? Whichever it ended up being, shooting was stopped and resumed several months later and now we have this first look trailer.
I know what we got before, but this looks sooo much better. That bit at the very end felt forced but this looks soo soo soo good. Continuing where Captain America left off and the complications of what that may bring for both Bucky and Falcon. What is this? Buddy Cop espionage thriller? As long as it gives me those Captain America: The Winter Soldier vibes... it's a win from me!
Directed by Kari Skogland and starring ,Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell
I initially saw a post or something with Benedict's face on it as the thumbnail to this trailer and I was meant to watch it and review it. It is highly likely I got distracted and boom, a few days later I see it again and here I am.
The very small yet, somewhat flimsy point I'm making here is that, people are busy with life and things going on in it especially when the year 2020 is concerned. At the same time, people can be distracted or lead astray. People can also be manipulated and given incorrect information presented as facts. When we are busy or distracted, sometimes we take ourselves down the wrong path by aimlessly following others or not knowing the real information to make our own decisions. With cover-ups and misinformation and facts and fiction, we live in a world where nothing seems to be even real any more (or was it ever even real?) and a lot of what we actually see in film, although most of the time fictional, can present the realest of factual content. It would also, (where this film claims to be based on a true story), help to have us question, how much of this movie would be real and accurate or how much of it will they actually show?
This film looks intense, it looks shady, it looks like buried truths, it looks like corruption. Benedict, Jodie and with something that looks like it's going to be a really powerful and intriguing film that will force you to question the government and their morals, are we doing the right thing, do we know the full story. For the most part, some people/bodies act without consequence. And in many many cases, people often act out of ignorance or misinformation or not enough information, hate and other. I'll watch this with an open mind. I loved the line where Tahar Rahim (from Un Prophet) as Mohamedou Ould Salahi says "Never would I believe that the United States of America would use fear and terror to control me." It just made me think of the year 2020 if I'm honest and the world at large.
Directed by Kevin Macdonald and starring Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch & Zachary Levi
