“Penguins” Review
“Dumbo” Remake Review
“Time” Steals Two
Disney’s A Wrinkle In Time based on the book by Madeline L’Engle, is faring well at the box office considering what it is up against as Black Panther nears the 1 billion mark world-wide. That being said, its opening weekend saw roughly 33 million as fans of the novel rushed to the theaters to see their favorite characters bought to life.
A Wrinkle In Time, stars Storm Reid as an altruistic teen who struggles with herself after her father (Chris Pine) disappears into the mysterious beyond four years ago. Convinced that he is still out there, she seeks the guidance of the Mrs’ who send her, her friend (Levi Miller) and her brother, a child prodigy ( Deric McCabe) on an adventure somewhere in space and time in order to rescue their father from a mysterious evil.
The film also stars Opera Winfrey as Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit and Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who as the mysterious guardians who lead the children on the search for her father.
At 1 hour 49 minute run time, the adventure fantasy will have audiences of all ages marveling over the extreme colors used to portray a place that people only see in their dreams.
A Wrinkle in time came out in theaters, March 9, and is currently playing in one near you.
“Coco” Tops Box Office For 3rd Week
The latest original Disney Pixar film is topping the box office for the third week as people are still flocking to the theaters to see to the movie in despite all the controversy around the Frozen short that caused Disney to pull it from theaters. It has currently brought in over 135 million domestically since opening Thanksgiving weekend.
Coco starsAnthony Gonzalez as Miguel, a little boy living in Mexico with his family who dreams of being a musician after his all time favorite idol, Ernesto De La Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Miguel has one problem though, his family hates music due in large part to his Great Great Grandfather, Hector (Gael García Bernal) leaving his family to pursue his music. It’s so extreme that his family got rid of every photo of him to forget he even existed, but one person still remembers her Papa, Mama Coco, though dementia makes her forget.
On the day of the dead, the most solemn event in Mexico history when family is supposed to be able to come visit from the other world, Miguel decides to finally pursue his dream and perform in the talent show in the center of the plaza, but his family destroys his guitar and so he runs away finds himself at the tomb of his idol. He breaks in and steals his guitar, but that’s when the fun starts because he is now in the land of the dead.
What happens now? Now Miguel must find his way back before sunrise by getting his family’s blessing, but will he be able to and help put his family back together once he discovers a looming truth about his long lost Great Great Grandfather.
At one hour forty nine minutes, Coco is a story about the meaning of remembering ones family for all times. It shows how stories keep them alive and once the last person remembers, it is hard to remain after. The director did an exceptional job researching and displaying a story that anyone even that don’t follow the Day of the Dead will be engulfed in the story and find it hard not to tear up in the end.
Coco is still playing in theaters near you.
“Pirates” Knock “Baywatch” to Third
On a busy movie weekend, there’s two blockbusters battling it out at the theaters, for memorial day, but only one has the power to take top prize as the latest Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales brings in over 62 million at the box office.
The fifth installment reunites the original cast with a surprise twist, to find the Triton of Poseidon in order to free Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) from the curse of the Flying Dutchman, as audiences finally meet Will and Elizabeth’s son, Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), who is determined to succeed in order to bring his father home. In an effort to do this, Henry joins forces with a mysterious woman named Carina (Kaya Scodelario), who has a dark past of her own as she too journeys to find her father as well as of course Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), who is always in trouble with someone as this time the legendary Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) wants Sparrow’s life and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) just wants the Pearl.
At two-hour nine minute run time, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is an adventure on the open sea that will have you laughing and sitting on the edge of your seat as you won’t know what will happen next. It’s full of the same old sword play and romance but with one difference, the goal of a child to find their father. The ultimate question is will Henry and Carina be able to find their fathers and rescue them from the sea?
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales came out May 26 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“Beast” Come To Life
The latest live action Disney Classic is taking the big screen and is set to be the biggest opening of 2017 thus far.
Emma Watson plays the iconic Belle and captures the same charm as she did after years of playing Hermione in the Harry Potter Franchise and even goes as far as to throw in a line from the first film in the opening village scene. Overall, the set and costume design of the movie fully captures the time period of the original and one feels a part of the movie from the first moment on.
The beast, played by Dan Stevens, fully embraces every ounce of the original character from the savage, self-absorbed man that transforms into a caring, somewhat sensitive person that Belle can not resist.
Bill Cordon, who directed this live adaptation wanted to create unique moments, including new never been heard songs written by original composer Alan Menken and new lyrics by Tim Rice which also added to the addition of a new character, Cadenza (voiced by Stanley Tucci). Overall, the music, seamlessly meshed together to create a “Tale as old as Time” for a new generation.
Other actors include, Luke Evans as the dastardly sleek Gaston, his sidekick Lefou played by Josh Gad in Disney’s first ever “Gay” character which brought controversy on all sides. Kevin Kline played Belle’s father Maurice and Ewan McGregor voiced Cogworth while Ian McKeller voiced Lumiere and Mrs Potts was voiced by Emma Thompson.
Overall, the new live adaptation of the ’91 classic, fares well to its predecessor, but keeping the same story while giving it a somewhat modern twist for a new audience, while adding more of a back story to our beloved Belle and her beast. Audiences for the first time got the answers to two of the most puzzling questions, “what happened to Belle’s mother?” and “what happened to the beast to make him so cold?”.
For the answers, make sure to see the movie while it is in theaters. Beauty and the Beast opened in theaters March 16 to packed and sold out audiences and is expected to take number one at the box office this weekend after averaging over 63 million as of its Friday total.
New “Princess” Tops Box Office
Coming out on top for the extended Thanksgiving weekend at the box office is a Disney’s Newest Princess, Moana which topped the charts with the second highest total for a five day release weekend bringing in over 81 million domestically and sending WB’s Fantastic Beasts to the number two spot.
Disney’s Moana is the story of a young girl, the daughter of a chief, who is drawn to the by the love of the ocean from early on. Her father however fears anything beyond the reef and discourages Moana from venturing past, but when the island begins to die, it is up to Moana to discover her true calling and voyage far past the island in order to find the demigod, Maui and return the heart, that was stolen, to its rightful place.
Moana stars Dwayne Johnson as the wise cracking, yet lovable Maui, Rachel House as Gramma Tali and introduces Auli’i Cravalho as Moana in her first ever feature film role. Set in ancient Polynesia, the movie follows after one of the ancient legends and brings it to life on the big screen with notable songs that will have you singing along even if you don’t know the words, as well as stunning 3D animation that will have you truly engrossed and intrigued in every moment of the movie.
Coming out Thanksgiving day weekend, it’s a movie for the who family to see in theaters everywhere.
“Strange” Takes Number One
There’s a new superhero in town as Disney’s Marvel Doctor Strange brings in an estimated 84 million its debut weekend taking the top spot at the box office.
The Superhero movie stars actor Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams and follows the journey of Dr. Stephen Strange as he transforms from a life saving neurosurgeon to a crime fighting superhero in the most nontraditional way. After a major car accident which nearly paralysis his hands, Dr. Strange is left trying to figure out how to regain use, by undergoing neurosurgery.
Unsuccessful, he ventures off in search of a cure and stumbles on a powerful sorcerer which helps him overcome his weakness through the power of his mind, but now he is faced with the decision to go back to his normal life with his partner/ girlfriend, Christine played by McAdams or to join other sorcerers in order to save the world from Kaecilius.
At nearly two hours, Doctor Strange is a movie for the ultimate Comic book lover, from the creativity of Stan Lee. The movie will have you full engulfed in the crime fighting and mind controlling talents of the most powerful sorcerer in the Marvel Universe.
Doctor Strange came out November 4 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
Disney’s New Queen
Buena Vista has a new queen that is battling to take the top box office though it was no match for the other movies that came out over the last two weeks.
Disney’s Queen of Katwe stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo and introducing Madina Nalwanga as Phiona, a young girl growing up in poverty stricken Uganda who struggles with being the one to protect and feed her family and feeling as if this is the only thing she is meant to do until she stumbles upon an outreach program where she discovers her passion for the game of chess. Despite her educational dilemma, Phiona quickly realizes, with the guidance of her teacher, Robert (Oyelowo) that she has the natural talent to become a master chess player.
Queen of Katwe is an inspiration tale of how one little girl’s dream to be more than what she was born into is greater than the bounds of poverty and if one finds the right person to help, one can do anything they set their mind on.
The Disney movie fell a little at the box office with its domestic total at just around 3.4 million. It opened worldwide Sept. 30 and is playing in select theaters near you.
See it this weekend if you want to be inspired. You won’t regret it.