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Spider-Man: Far From Home – Add It To Your Home Collection!

Lolli — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 01:22:47 +0000

Many thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for sending me a review copy of Spider-Man: Far From Home to add to our own home entertainment collection. All thoughts about the movie and bonus features are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used to link to the product should you be interested in getting a copy to add to your collection, too.

It’s not very often that I see a movie in the theater more than one time. But I enjoyed Spider-Man: Far From Home so much that I saw it not once, not twice, but FOUR times in the theater. And amazingly, I was still just as excited to see it again when it came out on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD this week.

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, I suggest that you head out to the store or click on over to Amazon to buy it ASAP.

If you haven’t see the movie yet, here’s a little blurb about what to expect from the latest installment.

About Spider-Man: Far From Home

Tom Holland returns as everyone’s favorite web-slinger in SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, the next chapter after Spider-Man: Homecoming. Our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plans to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks! Spider-Man and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) join forces to fight the havoc unleashed across the continent but all is not as it seems.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME stars Tom Holland (Spider–Man: Homecoming) as Peter Parker, Samuel L. Jackson (Spider–Man: Homecoming) as Nick Fury, Jon Favreau (The Lion King) as Happy Hogan, Zendaya (“Euphoria”) as MJ, and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) as Mysterio.

Jake Gyllenhaal is Mysterio in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.

And now…my absolute favorite thing about adding movies to my home collection: all the bonus features! Yesterday, I sat down in front of the TV and watched all of the bonus materials. So. Much. Fun.

My favorite bonus feature is always the gag reel and bloopers. I love seeing how the cast interacts with each other and all of the fun they have together when making the film. My kids loved hearing Tom Holland revert to his normal British accent when he came out of character to laugh or tease a fellow actor.

I also enjoyed seeing the clip highlighting the stunts found in Spider-Man: Far From Home. My admiration for Tom Holland grew by leaps and bounds (pun intended). I couldn’t believe the athleticism and skill that he displayed by doing most of his stunts on his own. Wow.

What are your favorite bonus features to watch?

Bonus Materials Include:

Suit Up: The suit doesn’t make the hero – but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter’s different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.
Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film’s illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they’re also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.
It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.
Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!
The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.
Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei’s reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.
The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.
The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.

MJ (Zendaya) catches a ride from Spider-Man in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME.

Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.
Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!
Select Scene Pre–Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the film
Gag Reel & Outakes
Never-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended Scenes

Angourie Rice, Jacob Batalon and Zendaya in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME.

Grab your copy of Spider-Man: Far From Home today!

Connect with Spidey:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spidermanmovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spidermanmovie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiderManMovie/
Hashtag: #SpiderManFarFromHome

Toy Story 4 Movie Review #ToyStory4

Lolli — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:25:00 +0000

I know you’ve been counting down the days. I’m sure you’re just as excited as I am to say that Toy Story 4 is finally here!! The family and I were thrilled to be able to catch a screening of the newest Toy Story movie a few days before it was released in theaters. Although our tickets were comped, all thoughts about the movie are our own.

ABOUT “TOY STORY 4”:

Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So, when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), declares himself as “trash” and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip excursion, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts).

LOST AND FOUND – In Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Woody is reunited with his long-lost friend Bo Peep, who’s been on the road for years. She’s become an adventure-seeking free spirit whose strength and sarcasm belie her delicate porcelain exterior. Featuring the voice of Annie Potts as Bo Peep, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

After years of being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their worries. Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”), and produced by Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”) and Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”), Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” ventures to U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.

How Our Family Reacted to Toy Story 4

I remember when we saw the original Toy Story in theaters. My husband and I were shocked that the story line was so captivating. We were expecting a fun family movie, but what we got was a deeply touching, thoughtful, and totally hilarious film that everyone in the family could appreciate.

AND BEYOND – Buzz Lightyear is back on the big screen in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” joining Woody and the whole gang on an eye-opening road trip that takes them to unexpected places, including a carnival. Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

It’s rare for a second or a third movie in a franchise to come anywhere close to the first when it’s as good as Toy Story was. Second and third time around, I went to the movie theater expecting to be let down…at least a little. And yet, Woody and Buzz and all of their friends never let me down.

This movie was the same for me. Dare I say even better? Toy Story 4 exceeded my expectations (and at this point my expectations are pretty high when it comes to Toy Story). I laughed, I cried, and I felt like I was back with old friends.

HANGIN’ AROUND – In Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Buzz Lightyear finds himself among a host of carnival prizes—including Ducky and Bunny, who’ve been waiting a long time to be won. They aren’t exactly welcoming to the Space Ranger—the odds are already stacked against them, and who needs that kind of competition? Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, Keegan-Michael Key as the voice of Ducky and Jordan Peele as the voice of Bunny, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

My husband’s reaction was the biggest shock for me. While I tend to enjoy a movie for its entertainment value (and don’t get too critical unless it bores, offends or creeps me out), my husband is a “critical” movie critic. He likes to tear movies apart for their flaws.

He found none. He laughed throughout the movie and could not stop singing its praises as we walked out of the theater.

I think all families that have seen the previous Toy Story movies should see Toy Story 4 in theaters. Yes, I do recommend watching the first three movies if you haven’t already. I loved that there was a quick “refresher” sequence at the beginning of Toy Story 4 so everybody knew where the movie was starting.

One word of warning: some young children might be scared by the ventriloquist dummies (they are creepy!) but otherwise there is nothing in the movie that stood out to me as something to keep young kids away from.

GABBY GABBY – In Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Woody finds himself in Second Chance Antiques, home to an adorable, talking pull-string doll from the 1950s and her crew of voiceless ventriloquist dummies. Unfortunately for Gabby Gabby, a manufacturing defect in her pull-string voice box has left her sounding anything but adorable. Christina Hendricks lends her voice to Gabby Gabby. “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.
©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Did you know?

“Toy Story,” originally released on Nov. 22, 1995, was the first fully computer animated feature film and the highest grossing movie of the year. It was nominated for three Oscars® and two Golden Globes®.

“Toy Story 2” is the first film ever to be entirely created, mastered and exhibited digitally. It was also the first animated sequel to gross more than its original, breaking opening weekend box office records in the U.S., UK and Japan, becoming the highest grossing animated release of 1999. It won the Golden Globe for best motion picture – comedy or musical. It won a Grammy® for best song written for a motion picture, television or other visual media (Randy Newman, “When She Loved Me”).

THREE-IN-ONE – He’s not a fork. He’s not a spoon. And most of all, Forky is not a toy! At least that’s what he thinks. Bonnie created him from an assortment of supplies Woody’s retrieved from the kindergarten trash can. So, it’s no wonder Forky feels strongly that he’s trash and not a toy. Featuring Tony Hale as the voice of Forky, Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Released in 2010, “Toy Story 3” won Oscars® for best animated feature film and best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original song (Randy Newman/“We Belong Together”). The film also won a Golden Globe® and BAFTA for best animated film. It was the second Pixar film to be nominated for the best picture Oscar. It’s also Pixar’s second highest-grossing film of all time behind “Incredibles 2.”

Toy Story 4 FUN!

Enjoy these fun activity sheets. Print as many as you’d like for personal use. Simply click on a photo you’d like (don’t right click) to download the full sized PDF file to your computer, then print away!

Connect with Toy Story 4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarToyStory/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toystory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ToyStory/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyPixar

Hashtag: #ToyStory4

The Secret Life of Pets 2 {Spoiler-free Review} #TheSecretLifeOfPets2

Lolli — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 21:07:19 +0000

Did you love The Secret Life of Pets as much as my kids and I did? The Secret Life of Pets 2 just arrived in theaters this weekend and I’ve been itching to tell you about it! PS – amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

My kids and I were invited to a screening earlier this week, and although our tickets were complimentary, all thoughts are my own.

Note: this is a spoiler-free review! Read on without worrying!

About The Secret Life of Pets 2

Illumination’s tenth feature, The Secret Life of Pets 2, is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 comedic blockbuster that had the biggest opening weekend ever for an original film, animated or otherwise.

Packed with Illumination’s signature irreverence and subversive humor, this new chapter explores the emotional lives of our pets, the deep bond between them and the families that love them, and answers the question that has long intrigued every pet owner: What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?

Terrier Max (Patton Oswalt) is coping with some major life changes. His owner (Ellie Kemper) is now married and has a toddler, Liam. Max is so worried about protecting the boy that he develops a nervous tic. On a family trip to a farm, Max and mutt Duke (Eric Stonestreet) encounter canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes and a terrifying turkey, all of which only elevates Max’s anxiety. Luckily, Max gets some guidance from veteran farm dog Rooster (Harrison Ford, making his animated-film debut), who pushes Max to ditch his neuroses, find his inner alpha, and give Liam a little more freedom.

Meanwhile, while her owner is away, plucky Pomeranian Gidget (Jenny Slate) tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment with a little help from her feline friend, Chloe (Lake Bell), who has discovered the joys of catnip.

(from left) Chloe (Lake Bell) and her owner in Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets 2, directed by Chris Renaud.

And crazy-but-cute bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart) gets delusions of grandeur that he’s an actual superhero after his owner Molly starts dressing him in superhero pajamas. But when Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a fearless Shih Tzu, shows up to ask for Snowball’s help on a dangerous mission, he’ll have to summon the courage to become the hero he’s only been pretending to be.

Can Max, Snowball, Gidget and the rest of the gang find the inner courage to face their biggest fears?

The Secret Life of Pets 2 is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy, the visionary team behind Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and the Despicable Me and Minions franchise, and is written by returning Pets screenwriter Brian Lynch. The film is directed by returning filmmaker Chris Renaud, who also directed Illumination’s Despicable Me series and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.

My family’s thoughts on Secret Life of Pets 2

I’m not sure if it was the fact that we now have a dog AND a cat at home or if the movie was JUST THAT GOOD, but either way, we all thought that The Secret Life of Pets 2 was better than the first, and that’s saying a lot. I have to say that so many of the dog and cat stereotypes that they play on in the movie are SPOT ON. We were laughing the entire movie!

Our theater was completely full of kids of all ages, parents, and adults without kids (we couldn’t even sit together because the theater was that packed!). I loved hearing laughter from ALL of them, which told me that it’s a fantastic movie for all ages. Even though my kids are older now (14 and up) I still love finding family-friendly movies that everyone – from toddlers to teenagers to old folks like myself – can enjoy together.

And although my family’s experience was certainly enhanced by the last 2 years of having pets share our living space, this is still a funny movie regardless of your pet status. I absolutely adored the interaction of the pets with their new family member (toddler/preschooler Liam) and I like to imagine that our pets feel the same way about our kids.

I give this an “everyone should see it” stamp of approval, although it’s definitely one that would be fine to wait to see on DVD if you can’t make it out to the theater. But if you’re like me and LOVE to find indoor activities for the kids now that the weather is heating up, then schedule to see a matinee and don’t forget the popcorn.

Get Tickets Now

Tickets are available MEOW. Don’t miss #TheSecretLifeOfPets2 in theaters Friday: fandango.com/pets2

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 – In Theaters NOW

Avengers: Endgame Spoiler-Free Movie Review

Lolli — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 23:36:32 +0000

Although I was invited to an early screening of Avengers: Endgame, I was unable to attend earlier this week because of schedule. So I ended up taking my daughter and myself to an early morning showing today, thinking that I’d have more than enough time to come home and write a quick review. I didn’t factor in a migraine. So while this movie review is coming to you fairly late, I figure that most people who saw the movie within the first 24 hours weren’t waiting around for a movie review, anyway.

Just to be clear, this is not a sponsored post. I paid for my tickets. This discussion is 100% spoiler-free and safe to read before seeing the film.

“We lost, all of us. We lost friends. We lost family. We lost part of ourselves. This is the fight of our lives.” —Steve Rogers/Captain America

About Avengers: Endgame (Official)

From Marvel Studios comes the most highly anticipated film ever in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—“Avengers: Endgame,” the 22nd Marvel Studios film to date and the climactic
conclusion to the cataclysmic events that unfolded in the top-grossing film of 2018, “Avengers: Infinity War.”

The Avengers franchise has had an unprecedented cinematic journey, spanning several galaxies over the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 11 years. Now the newest entry, “Avengers: Endgame,” brings to the big screen the highest stakes and deadliest showdown ever between the Avengers and the universe’s most powerful and deadliest villain, Thanos.

“Avengers: Endgame” picks up with the Avengers having been soundly defeated by Thanos, who, after collecting the six Infinity Stones, imposed his twisted will on all of humanity and randomly wiped out half of the world’s population, including many of the Avengers. In the aftermath of the destruction, the remaining Avengers are faced with their biggest challenge yet—finding the resolve within themselves to get off the mat and find a way to defeat Thanos once and for all.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..L to R: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), War Machine/James Rhodey (Don Cheadle), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” is the most anticipated superhero film of all time and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Don Cheadle as War Machine, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Danai Gurira as Okoye and Bradley Cooper as Rocket.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

Gwyneth Paltrow also returns as Pepper Potts, along with Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Benedict Wong as Wong and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. Josh Brolin also returns as the film’s infamous villain, Thanos.

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” is directed by Emmy Award®–winning directors Anthony and Joe Russo from an original screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Kevin Feige is producing the film, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau, James Gunn and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo’s creative team also includes director of photography Trent Opaloch (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War”); production designer Charles
Wood (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Matrix”); editors Jeffrey Ford, ACE (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War”), and Matthew Schmidt (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”); three-time Oscar®–nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War”); Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Dan DeLeeuw (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War”); six-time Oscar nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudick (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Black Panther”); and stunt coordinator Monique Ganderton (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Atomic Blonde”).

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..Thor (Chris Hemsworth)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

Based on the Marvel comic franchise first published in 1963, “Avengers: Endgame” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ant-Man,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Black Panther,” “Ant-Man and The Wasp,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain Marvel” and the upcoming release “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” on July 5, 2019.

My Avengers Experience

Way back when the first Avengers movie came out in 2012, I was invited to attend the press event in Los Angeles. The press event happened to land on the weekend of some kind of performance for one of my kids, and I was already in the dog house for missing something in the past month. I declined the invitation (and have regretted it ever since). I wasn’t a die hard Avengers fan yet.

When Avengers: The Age of Ultron came to theaters, I got another invitation to attend the press event and this time I didn’t hesitate to say yes. By that point, I was a fan and my teenage kids were obsessed (for the record, the kid who I declined that first invitation for has regretted it too). Meeting the Avengers in person was a highlight of my life, alongside giving birth to my children.

What I thought about Avengers: Endgame

Endgame had a different feel from the other Avengers movies, but that’s to be expected after the way Infinity War ended. There is a very somber feel to the entire movie and much less of the Avengers humor that I’ve become used to with this series (don’t worry, there is a little bit of comic relief coming from Thor, of all characters….just wait).

I don’t know if it was my migraine (probably so) or the fact that the theater was uncomfortably hot or a combination of fatigue, hunger, headache, and everything put together that made the 3+ hours seem REALLY long. I was not bored. I enjoyed every minute. But I was uncomfortable. My daughter said the same thing. I recommend getting a drink and popcorn to break things up a bit, but take a good potty break before the movie starts because you’re not going to want to leave the theater during this movie.

Be aware: there is no end credit scene, so don’t bother staying until the last credit rolls. I had heard that this movie didn’t have the typical end credit scene, but I decided to stay until the end to make sure it wasn’t a rumor. It was not a rumor.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..L to R: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Nebula (Karen Gillan)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

I’m assuming that if you’re interested in seeing Endgame, you’ve already seen the previous Avengers movies and all of the Marvel franchise movies (including Captain Marvel). If you haven’t caught up with the previously released movies, do yourself a favor and have a binge weekend and get up to speed. Knowing who the characters are and why they’re important in the story line is going to make a huge difference. This is not a movie you can appreciate if you see it out of order.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..L to R: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), War Machine/James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

If you’re caught up and ready to see Endgame, I’m guessing that you have questions. And since this is a spoiler-free post, I can’t answer many of them except to say that your questions will be answered and situations will be resolved. After the movie, my daughter and I chatted for a bit….this really did feel like an ending. Unlike all of the other movies where there was always an opening for the next part of the story, this movie felt final.

My recommendation: see the movie in theaters (after you’re caught up on all of the Avengers movies, Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant Man, Spiderman and Captain Marvel). See it soon before everyone is talking about what happens like everyone else already knows.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

One more word about the movie: I feel like I could write a college paper on the way people react to grief based on the different character’s reactions to the grief that they all experienced in Infinity War. It was very interesting to see the varied reactions – from anger to sadness to staying busy to moving on and making the most of the new situation.

You’re going to enjoy it, but be prepared for an EMOTIONAL ride.

Like Marvel Studios on Facebook: facebook.com/marvelstudios

Follow on Twitter: @marvelstudios

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Hashtag: #AvengersEndgame

Mary Poppins Returns – Movie Review and Activity Sheets

Lolli — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:50:45 +0000

Mary Poppins has returned to theaters after all these years! Mary Poppins Returns is officially out in theaters everywhere, and it’s a must-see family movie this holiday season! My family and I were able to attend a screening on Monday night, and although our seats were free, no other compensation has been received for this post. All thoughts are my own.

In 1964, Mary Poppins stole our hearts and has continued to be a family favorite since then. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting with Disney’s latest release, Mary Poppins Returns, but I certainly didn’t think it would so perfectly capture the essence of the original movie like it did.

I’m sure you’ve caught the trailer already, but just in case, here’s a sneak peek into the new film:

About Mary Poppins Returns

In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” an all new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt (“A Quiet Place,” “The Girl on the Train”) stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and LinManuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.

Carrying on in her mother’s tradition, Jane Banks campaigns for workers’ rights and provides a helping hand to Michael’s family. When the family suffers a personal loss, Mary Poppins magically re-enters their lives and with Jack’s help, brings joy and wonder back into their home.

Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes, Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

PL Travers first introduced the world to the no-nonsense nanny in her 1934 children’s book “Mary Poppins.” However, the subsequent adventures of Mary Poppins remained only on the pages of the seven other PL Travers’ books…until now. “Mary Poppins Returns” is drawn from the wealth of material in these additional books. The film takes place in 1930s Depression-era London 24 years after the first film was set. Michael Banks works for the same financial institution that employed his father and still lives at 17 Cherry Tree Lane with his three children, Annabel, John and Georgie and their housekeeper Ellen.

“Mary Poppins Returns” is directed by Rob Marshall (“Into the Woods,” “Chicago”). The screenplay is by David Magee (“Life of Pi”) and the screen story is by Magee & Rob Marshall & John DeLuca (“Into the Woods”) based upon the Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. The producers are John DeLuca, p.g.a., Rob Marshall, p.g.a., and Marc Platt, p.g.a. (“La La Land”) with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer. The music score is by Marc Shaiman (“Hairspray”) and the film features all new original songs with music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman (“Smash”) and Shaiman.

Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda is Jack in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.

The film also stars Ben Whishaw (“Spectre”) as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer (“Hugo”) as Jane Banks; Julie Walters (“Harry Potter” films) as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children, with Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”) as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy.

What I Thought About Mary Poppins Returns

I adored Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Mary Poppins and Jack (who was mentored by Bert and met Mary when he was a young boy). I was surprised by how well Emily captured the essence of Julie Andrews’ Mary Poppins character. Her personality was spot on! Jack was a fun new character with a lot of heart.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I was not expecting Mary Poppins Returns to “feel” so similar to the original Mary Poppins. The all-new music and the new story line captured the magic and joy and silliness of Mary Poppins and really felt like an older movie from a much different generation versus a different version of the family movies we see produced today.

Mary Poppins Returns is goofy and bright and toe-tapping for the whole family – from little ones who will be dazzled by the songs and colorful scenes and costumes to the parents and grandparents who will enjoy the nostalgia of seeing Mary Poppins and a grown up Jane and Michael Banks again. If you’re expecting a run-of-the-mill cute family film, you might be disappointed. Mary Poppins Returns is not like most other movies these days. If you expect something different and surprising and delightful, then you’ll enjoy every minute of this new flick.

I’ve had a few of the catchy songs stuck in my head since I saw it in theaters 2 days ago…

Mary Poppins Returns is already stacking up the award nominations, and I’m not surprised at all. I expect this movie to go down as a modern classic.

Mary Poppins Returns Activity Sheets and Coloring Pages

To download any of these coloring pages or activity sheets, please click on the preview image to open up the full sized PDF, and then either save to your computer or print from the PDF view. Do not right click to save or you’ll get a very small image.

Download everything in one shot below or pick and choose the individual pages to download and print. Enjoy!

Like MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marypoppinsreturns/

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MARY POPPINS RETURNS is now playing in theatres everywhere!

My 5 Favorite Things About Ralph Breaks The Internet

Lolli — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 20:59:29 +0000

Ralph Breaks the Internet is finally in theaters! We’ve been waiting for 6 years to see what happened to Ralph and Vanellope and all of their fellow arcade friends. My family and I were invited to see a screening this week just before the movie was released in theaters. Although our tickets were free, all thoughts are our own.

Note: This is a spoiler-free review. Read on without risk of ruining the movie!

About Ralph Breaks the Internet

In RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET, video-game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) leave the comforts of Litwak’s arcade in an attempt to save her game, Sugar Rush. Their quest takes them to the vast, uncharted world of the internet where they rely on the citizens of the internet—the Netizens—to help navigate their way.

INTO THE INTERNET – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz and Wreck-It Ralph leave the arcade world behind to explore the uncharted and thrilling world of the internet. In this image, Vanellope and Ralph have a breathtaking view of the world wide web, a seemingly never-ending metropolis filled with websites, apps and social media networks. On a quest to save Vanellope’s game, how will these two misfits ever succeed in this vast new world? ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Lending a virtual hand are Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site “BuzzzTube,” and Shank (voice of Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces—so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he’s ever had.

BEST FRIENDS – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” video game bad guy Ralph and his best buddy Vanellope journey to the internet in search of a replacement part for her game. Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces this new world, while Ralph can’t wait to go home to their comfortable lives. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” writer, “Cedar Rapids”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt,” “Lilo & Stitch”), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is now in theaters.

My 5 Favorite Things About Ralph Breaks the Internet

Friendship isn’t always rosy. Ralph and Vanellope ended Wreck It Ralph as kindred spirits and good friends. It’s heart-warming to see how their friendship has grown since we’ve seen them last. One of my favorite aspects of Ralph Breaks the Internet is that we get to see Ralph and Vanellope struggling through some not-so-uncommon friendship challenges. It’s important for kids (and adults!) to be reminded that we can work through our disagreements and trials. Friends are friends through the good times and the bad times.

PAYING THEIR DUES – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz venture into the expansive and thrilling world of the internet. In an effort to find a replacement part for Vanellope’s arcade game, Sugar Rush, Ralph and Vanellope successfully bid at eBay, only to learn they’ll actually have to pay for their purchase. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Exploring the Internet (for the first time!): The clever portrayal of the internet is fun and exciting, and leaves movie-goers of all ages with a lot to think about. From the know-it-all, predict-it-all KnowsMore, the search bar guy, to the way that real people are portrayed as avatars when they’re online, to the annoying pop up ads that bombard Ralph and Vanellope at every turn….I was laughing the entire time (mostly because it was all too accurate!).

ASK ME ANYTHING – When video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz find themselves in the expansive world of the internet, they turn to a search engine named KnowsMore – literally a know-it-all – for answers in hopes of tracking down a replacement part for Vanellope’s game Sugar Rush. He frequently gets ahead of himself, finishing people’s sentences in an attempt to guess what they’re going to say. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s hear it for the princesses! I loved how Disney brought all of the princesses into one space and allowed us to see them interacting together. The princess sequence was my favorite part of the movie! I loved reading these quotes from the voices of the Disney princesses and what they enjoyed about coming together for their scene with Vanellope.

ROYAL REUNION – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz—along with her best friend Ralph—ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film, features several of the original princess voices, including Auli‘i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”).
©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

“The inside jokes and the affectionate nods to the princesses’ original stories make me laugh every time.”
~Linda Larkin, voice of Princess Jasmine, “Aladdin”

“When have all of the Disney princesses been together in one room? I don’t know if it gets better than that.”
~ Idina Menzel, voice of Elsa, “Frozen”

“Over the years, I have had the pleasure of meeting and making friendships with many of the legendary princesses! It has been a blessing to be a part of such a beautiful sisterhood of such strong, intelligent women.”
~ Irene Bedard, voice of Pocahontas, “Pocahontas”

SELFIE! – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Vanellope von Schweetz hits the internet where she encounters and then befriends the Disney princesses. Filmmakers invited the original voice talent to return to the studio to help bring their characters to life, including Sarah Silverman (Vanellope in “Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Auli‘i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”), and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

“My favorite part is the fun, tongue-in-cheek insider humor. It’s really funny but in a respectful, loving way. I think it walks a perfect line.”
~ Paige O’Hara, voice of Belle, “Beauty and the Beast”

“I love seeing the princesses ‘off-duty,’ relaxed and cozy in way we’ve never pictured them before. It gives us a deeper glimpse into their lives and a peek behind the curtain.”
~ Mandy Moore, voice of Rapunzel, “Tangled”

Oh, the Easter Eggs! To say that there are clever Easter eggs throughout the movie is an understatement. You will find plenty of fun references – especially for Disney fans! I think I’ll need to watch the movie a few more times to catch them all. I see some fun “Ralph Breaks the Internet” Easter egg hunt check lists in the future!

NUMBERS GAME – In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Ralph and Vanellope find themselves in need of making some serious cash in order to purchase a replacement steering wheel for her game, Sugar Rush. Fortunately, a Netizen named Yesss—the head algorithm of a trend-making website called BuzzzTube—has a plan. Yesss, who has her finger on the internet’s fast-paced pulse, helps make Ralph the next viral video sensation. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Everything is so relatable. It’s hard for my kids to imagine a world without the internet. It’s such a huge part of their daily lives – from waking up each morning with Alexa to doing all of their school work on Chromebooks to being able to look up an answer to any question that pops in their heads. But I grew up in a world without the internet. I loved watching Ralph and Vanellope experience the internet for the first time (and poke fun of so many things that have become normal to us now!).

BUSTED – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Ralph and Vanellope find themselves in need of making some serious cash in order to purchase a replacement part for her game, Sugar Rush. Following a tip from a local Netizen, the two venture into the gritty online racing game Slaughter Race to swipe the prized car of Shank, the game’s tough-as-nails boss – but she’s not about to let them get away that easily. ©2018 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

A word about the scariness factor: Little ones who are easily scared may get intimidated by the Ralph virus-monster. Nothing violent or particularly scary happens, but the character could be seen as intimidating.

Final verdict: My kids and I all agreed – Ralph Breaks the Internet is a must-see movie. I highly recommend it for families this holiday season.

My 13-year-old said, after leaving the theater, “That was a LOT better than I thought it would be. Sometimes sequels, especially after a long wait, are not the same quality as the first movies, but this one was really good. It had a different feel, but it was really good in its own way.”

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RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET is now playing in theatres everywhere!

Keep reading on the next page for Ralph Breaks the Internet Printables, coloring pages, games and more!

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald {Review and Cast Q&A}

Lolli — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:41:08 +0000

My son and I were invited to a very special screening and Q&A with the cast of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The movie opens in theaters this weekend, November 16, 2018 and is rated PG-13.

This review and the following Q&A are spoiler-free, so read on without fear of ruining the movie! Many thanks to Warner Bros. Entertainment for the opportunity to see the movie ahead of time! Amazon affiliate links are used below. All thoughts are my own. #WandsReady

If you haven’t seen the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, let’s start there. But really…if you haven’t seen this yet, where have you been hiding the last few months?

About Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp. The cast also includes, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, and Poppy Corby-Tuech.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.

My Reaction

If you are a fan of Harry Potter (or any part of J.K Rowling’s Wizarding World) then this movie is a must-see. Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them (yes, we totally had to order it on Amazon last month so we’d be ready for Crimes of Grindelwald) was a fun, well-made movie, but the second installment tied Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter together so well. It was the ultimate backstory, giving as a peek into where our beloved Harry Potter characters were before we met them.

I love how this trailer focuses on the connections between Fantastic Beasts and the Harry Potter stories:

This movie is much darker than the first, as we get to know Gellert Grindelwald and his plans. However, in my opinion, if your kids have seen any of the Harry Potter movies, they should be just fine seeing Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

My 13-year-old Son’s Experience

My youngest is a huge Harry Potter fan. He creates hand-made replica wands in his free time. So when I received the invitation to go to the screening, AJ told me “If you can bring someone, it HAS to be me.” He spent the morning before the screening re-watching Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts videos from two of his favorite YouTubers, Super Carlin Brothers. On our way to the theater, he actually wondered out loud if they would be sitting in a theater somewhere at the same time seeing a screening that day, too.

Imagine his shock when he saw them in OUR theater.

I challenged him to go up to the brothers and talk to them before the movie. They were kind enough to suggest taking a picture together, and AJ supplied them each with a wand for the shot.

AJ loved the movie, especially the addition of the new characters, and he’s already excited to see it again. He’s also eager for his friends to see it so he can finally talk about the movie with someone other than me.

Q&A with the Cast

I have to start off by saying that the Fantastic Beasts Q&A was broadcast live in our theater and dozens of other theaters throughout the US. The actors were at Universal Studios Hollywood and I was sitting in a theater in Virginia. And, while I did take notes throughout the Q&A session, I don’t have a recording or a transcript of the interview, so quotes are not necessarily word-for-word accurate. It’s still fun to hear the actors’ reactions to the movie.

Eddie Redmayne spoke about what it was like to return to the magical world in his second Fantastic Beasts movie. He said, “I had so much fun on the first film, and then they got some fresh blood and they raised the game.” Newt Scamander is (and always has been) an outsider, but you see him opening up in this film. “Love is what bring him to Paris. Love opened him up.”

Zoë Kravitz, who played Leta Lestrange, was one of those newcomers to the Fantastic Beasts franchise. She commented that she was “nervous, like the first day of school. The best moment is when they give you your wand. The worst day is when they take it away.”

Speaking of wands, the “newbies” let us know that the actors were each given the chance to choose their own wands (except for Gellert – his was already chosen for him!). Before even getting to the set, Jude Law spent time on a family vacation “practicing” wand work with a twig. After all of his practice, he only got to use one spell in the entire movie!

Callum Turner (Theseus Scamander) apparently could have used some extra wand practice. He broke his wand the very first time he used it.

Jude Law addressed the pressure and responsibility of portraying a younger Professor Albus Dumbledore. He said he felt the great responsibility of playing Dumbledore, but appreciated that he was given the freedom to interpret his character himself. He spent a lot of time with author J.K. Rowling before filming the movie, which I’m sure helped

Eddie chimed in, referring to the first time he saw Jude on the set, “Jude encaptured in one look everything Dumbledore is.” He said that Jude had the Dumbledore “twinkle” in his eye.

I agree: Jude was a perfectly magical Dumbledore!

Are you excited to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald?

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SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Movie Review #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:55:11 +0000

I was invited by Disney to attend the red carpet premiere of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY in Los Angeles this past week. Although expenses were paid, all opinions are my own. The following is a spoiler-free review.

I admit that I was very skeptical when I saw the SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY trailer for the first time. How could Alden Ehrenreich, a new-comer, live up to the legacy of the Han Solo we’ve known and loved for a lifetime? I entered the Dolby Theater a little hesitant, not wanting to hope for too much and be let down.

Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo, Donal Glover is Lando Calrissian and Phoebe Waller-Bridge is L3-37 in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

I am thrilled to report that this movie exceeded my expectations.

Here’s my experience:

Young Han Solo is not the grown-up, experienced, rough-around-the-edges Han we met in Star Wars: A New Hope. He’s a softer, more naive Han, but Han none-the-less. I actually appreciated that Alden Ehrenreich didn’t try to “copy” Harrison Ford’s version of Han Solo from the get-go. What I found was that throughout the movie Han BECAME Han Solo, the character that we know from the original Star Wars trilogy. By the end scenes, I was floored. He did it. Alden was successfully able to show how Han became the Han we love.

Thandie Newton is Val, Woody Harrelson is Beckett and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

What I loved about Solo: A Star Wars Story

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY had more of a classic western movie feel to it than a sci-fi action movie in space. While there was a lot of action in the movie, the majority of it took place on the ground instead of in space. I loved the different feel of this movie, while still maintaining the “feel” of a Star Wars movie.

Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian

Donald Glover was born to be Lando Calrissian. He was perfectly cast! And hasn’t everyone been waiting to see how Han won the Millennium Falcon off Lando? Speaking of the Millennium Falcon, we’ve never seen this beloved ship looking so spiffy and clean. Just wait til Han takes it on a few more adventures…
One of my favorite aspects of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY was watching the friendship and trust develop between Han Solo and Chewbacca. Their story was an unexpected bonus for me.

Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Self-made droid L3-37 (played by the fabulous Phoebe Waller-Bridge) ended up being one of my favorite characters. She was sassy, had a mind of her own, and was full of hilarious lines. She kept me on my toes!
Emilia Clarke was ideal as Han’s young friend from home and love interest. Is it any wonder that a woman shaped Han so much in his younger years?

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is L3-37 in Solo: A Star Wars Story

I loved seeing a younger Empire and an even younger Rebellion and seeing how Han Solo’s story was woven around both groups while he maintained his independence.
Good guy or bad guy? I was asking myself this question throughout the movie, which was full of unexpected twists and turns. I was left with a lot to think about, and the majority of the characters (except maybe Paul Bettany’s character Dryden Vos!) had a little bit of good AND bad in them. Isn’t that reality, though?

Paul Bettany described his character, Dryden Vos, as an “entrepreneur.”

I loved seeing Director Ron Howard’s expert touch in this film. While we won’t know what the movie would have been if he hadn’t gotten involved, I am personally grateful that he did. I hope to see him work on future Star Wars stories.
While this movie is rated PG-13, I appreciated that it was a very mild PG-13. Not much language, no nudity or overly sexual sequences (there is kissing, but that’s about it), and not a lot of scariness or gore. If your kids have seen any of the other Star Wars movies, they’ll be totally fine with this one.

Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Be sure to check out SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY when it comes to theaters on May 25! You’re not going to want to miss this movie!

ABOUT SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Paul Bettany.

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

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Avengers: Infinity War Movie Review

Lolli — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 16:39:29 +0000

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is now playing in theatres everywhere. My husband and I saw it in theaters last night – no payment or free tickets have been received for this post. NO SPOILERS!

“It’s all been leading to this.” Tony Stark

About Avengers: Infinity War – An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

“The story of “Avengers: Infinity War” is the result of everything we’ve ever done to this point,” says producer Kevin Feige. “It is the unprecedented culmination of a series of storylines interlinked together over 10 years and 18 films.”

There is so much I want to say about Avengers: Infinity War….but so much of it I can’t. Until you’ve seen the movie.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Wong (Benedict Wong)..Photo: Chuck Zlotnick..©Marvel Studios 2018

I bought our tickets early on Thursday because I knew that the 7:00 showing would be packed. I was right. We arrived at the theater 30 minutes before show time and had plenty of time to get popcorn and chat about our predictions for the movie. My husband was trying to keep his expectations low. He didn’t think that Marvel could pull off combining SO many characters and so many story lines into one movie.

He laughed throughout the 2 1/2 hour showtime, and apologized for his pessimism on the way out. He gave it a solid A. I was easily convinced that this was THE BEST Avengers movie to date. Scratch that. This was the best Marvel movie to date.

One of the things that we both thought was so brilliant about Avengers: Infinity War was the way that so many beloved characters were so perfectly woven into the story together. The chemistry between characters we’ve never seen together before was insane. My two favorite combinations were Iron Man/Doctor Strange and Thor/Guardians of the Galaxy. Be prepared for a lot of laughter, despite the deep and foreboding story line.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana), b/g Drax (Dave Bautista)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2018

Screenwriter Christopher Markus explained it this way: “This film is not one long scene with thirty-five people in it. The characters are woven in the story in a particular way so it allows us to take smaller bites at telling the story in the film. You make someone fightable and beatable by making them human with complexities and emotional life. This allows you to poke and dissect them in ways that aren’t just, ‘I can punch you in the face really hard.’”

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Wong (Benedict Wong), Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)..Photo: Chuck Zlotnick..©Marvel Studios 2018

Producer Kevin Feige said, “What’s always the most fun about an ‘Avengers’ film is seeing characters that have never before interacted with each other interacting for the first time. So now in ‘Infinity War,’ we will have for the very first time some of the Avengers meeting Spider-Man, the Avengers encountering Doctor Strange, a character that wasn’t on their radar, and they also meet the Guardians of the Galaxy for the very first time.”

Director Anthony Russo said, “What happens when you take different sets of heroes who all have a sense of primacy and leadership within their own groups, and you put them together? Who’s the leader? And who’s going to listen to whom? We felt like the real job of the film was to exploit the personalities, put them into scenes of high crisis together and see how they would respond. And with Thanos, you can’t ask for higher crisis.”

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Okoye (Danai Gurira), Black Panther/T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson) and Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)..Photo: Chuck Zlotnick..©Marvel Studios 2018

I was surprised by the character of Thanos. He was much more complex than I was expecting. He’s not “just a villian,” and I found myself really feeling conflicted about him by the end.

Kevin Feige said, “In our story, Thanos had to deliver a threat far beyond anything the Avengers had ever seen before. That’s not just making him strong and powerful. It’s about having a villain who’s charismatic and who you surprisingly begin to feel for. More so than any of our other movies, this is very much a story about Thanos and his drive, goals and past. This is the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that a film is really told from the villain’s point of view.”

“In time, you will know what it’s like to lose. To feel so desperately that you’re right, yet to fail all the same. Dread it. Run from it. Destiny still arrives.” Thanos

Who should see Avengers: Infinity War

If you’ve seen and loved any of the previous Marvel movies, you should see Infinity War as soon as you can. I highly recommend this movie!

If your kids have seen any of the other Marvel movies, this is right in line with what you’d expect. Yes, there is intense fighting. Yes, there is some language (PG-13…not terrible). Yes, there is some kissing, but not overly sexual or awkward for kids. I’ll be taking my family, for sure!

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2018

Special note: I do think that you will get more out of the movie if you have seen the individual Marvel franchise movies: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider Man, Black Panther, and the previous Avengers movies. Will you still enjoy Infinity War if you haven’t seen all of the movies? Of course. But knowing the personalities and back stories of all of the characters brings a wonderful depth to the dialog and the story.

And now for something fun…

THE INFINITY STONES PRIMER

SPACE STONE (Tesseract)
Color: Blue
Power: Used to control space and create advanced weaponry
Currently in possession: Asgard

REALITY STONE (Aether)
Color: Red
Power: Ability to warp reality at will, immense strength, durability, powers, and subjective influence over the universe
Currently in Possession: The Collector

POWER STONE (Orb)
Color: Purple
Power: Increases physical abilities, allows manipulation of energy. Can obliterate an entire planet when unleashed.
Currently in Possession: Nova Corps

MIND STONE (from Loki’s scepter)
Color: Yellow
Power: Subjugate the minds of others, bending them to the will of the user. Increased intelligence.
Currently in Possession: Vision

TIME STONE (Eye of Agamotto)
Color: Green
Power: Able to control the flow of time.
Currently in Possession: Doctor Strange

SOUL STONE
Color: Orange
Power: Unknown
Currently in Possession: Unknown

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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is now playing in theatres everywhere!

Paddington 2 Movie Review

Lolli — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:50:11 +0000

My family and I were invited to a very early screening of Paddington 2, over a month ago. I’ve been itching to tell everyone about this amazing family film, and the time is finally here! Paddington 2 arrives in theaters officially this weekend, January 12! Although we did see the movie for free, no other compensation was received, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

Paddington Bear was an icon of childhood for so many of us. I loved his books – his sweet personality and his silly adventures in London – when I was a kid. When the first Paddington movie came out in 2015, I almost wrote it off as a movie JSUT for kids (you know the type). I never imagined that Paddington would be equally as loveable and enjoyable for adults as well as kids.

But despite how much we liked the first Paddington movie, I was surprised by my almost 17-year-old son’s reaction when we were on our way to see Paddington 2 in the theater last month. He asked, “So, what are we seeing, anyway?” (typical question from the child of a blogger who gets dragged around to activities for my blog!). When I said, “Paddington 2,” his face lit up and he said, “Oh, yay! I love Paddington.” Like I said, NOT the response I was expecting from my teenage boy.

So…how did we like Paddington 2? Did it live up to Paddington 1? In fact, we all thought it was EVEN BETTER than the first. Better story, more laughs. We laughed throughout the movie. We fell in love with the characters (talk about an all-star cast!). We couldn’t stop talking about favorite scenes and favorite characters on the way home. And now, a month later, we are all eager to go back to the theater to see Paddington 2 again. This time, we’ll bring the 18-year-old who was busy when the rest of us saw it.

I highly recommend Paddington 2. In fact, I can’t say enough about how much we loved it. This is a movie for everyone (and yes, it’s totally acceptable for date night without the kids – I promise you will smile the entire time and walk away feeling happy. You may even shed a tear or two at the ending!).

About Paddington 2

In theaters: January 12, 2018

Rated: PG

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Grant

Director: Paul King

Following the worldwide hit “Paddington,” one of the most successful family films of all time, this much-anticipated sequel finds Paddington (Ben Whishaw) happily settled with the Brown family in London, where he has become a popular member of the local community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes.

While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington sees a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.

I won’t divulge too much of the story, but Paddington’s adventures take him to an unlikely place – prison! – where he meets some rather rough characters who add a fun (and very funny) dimension to the film.

Head out the the theaters this weekend and catch Paddington 2. You won’t regret it!