Movie Reviews - Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw

Director: David Leitch
Genre: Action
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Vanessa Kirby, Idris Elba, Cliff Curtis, Eddie Marsan, Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart

Description: Lawman Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and outcast Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain (Idris Elba) threatens the future of humanity.

Review: The “Fast & Furious” franchise is an eye-catching phenomenon of modern-day Hollywood. What started out as a film about illegal street races with a few action scenes, is now a million dollar series of almost 10 films, which leans primarily on spectacle and has no credibility left.
“Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw”, like the title suggests, revolves around two of the most popular characters in the franchise: Dwayne Johnson’s flamboyant secret agent Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham’s former soldier slash hitman Deckard Shaw. Against their will, they are teamed up to protect the world from ‘half-robot’ Brixton, who wants to expose mankind to a dangerous virus.
The entry of this villain, played by Idris Elba, shows that the film makers embrace the absurdity that this franchise has become. And nothing separates them from any random Marvel movie, because it’s basically indestructible heroes fighting for world peace. That combined with a dose of humor and funny observations. It even has an after credit scene which hints to a sequel (which we really don’t need, but will get anyway…).
At least the cast is formed by three charismatic leads, even though they do nothing groundbreaking. Johnson and Statham are constantly exchanging cliché heavy one-liners and insult each other. And this gets old after fifteen minutes or so. That scene on the plane, took way too long (and adding Kevin Hart to the party, doesn’t make it better). But that doesn’t add up to what they did with Idris Elba. Elba is a fantastic actor who screams charisma. But his portrayal of bionic villain Brixton is very one-dimensional and absolutely forgettable.
Little note: Ryan Reynolds is really funny. His short appearances adds a half star to the rating.
The action is well choreographed and visualized, but what can you expect from a two-hundred-million dollar budget. The spectacle does look great, but it is sometimes so over-the-top laughable that even the most expensive visual effects look cheap and unbelievable. And the scenes are too long and too much, that it becomes hard to watch.
“Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw” is even more hysterical and over-the-top then its predecessor “Fast & Furious 8”. And although it looks stunning and is entertaining, it never becomes more than a standard action movie that could land on the B-list. At least we got some handsome men.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movies to Look Forward to - September 2019

Summer is almost over, so time for some new movies in September. Here's what you can look forward to.

September 6th – It: Chapter 2
Director: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Finn Wolfhard, Bill Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis, Jack Dylan Grazer, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Jaeden Martell, Isaiah Mustafa, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs
Description: Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.

September 12th – Anna
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Sasha Luss, Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy
Description: Beneath Anna Poliatova’s (Sasha Luss)striking beauty lies a secret that wull unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world’s most feared government assassins.

September 14th – Downtown Abbey
Director: Micheal Engler
Starring: Matthew Goode, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Allen Leech, Imelda Staunton, Robert James-Collier, John Bates, Penelope Wilton, Jim Carter
Description: The continuing story of the Crawley family, wealthy owners of a large estate in the English countryside in the early 20th century.

September 19th – Domino
Director: Brian DePalma
Starring: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Carice van Houten, Guy Pearce
Description: A Copenhagen police officer (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) seeks justice for his partner’s murder by a mysterious man.

Movies That Instantly Make Me Happy

With all the sadness in the world and everything you have to worry about on a daily basis, it’s nice to have those movies that can put a smile on your face and not having to worry about a single thing.  I put together a list for you, of movies that never failed to make me happy.

Love Actually (2003)
This beloved film may be a Christmas movie, but it can be watched year-round. At least I watch it any time I can. Its huge ensemble cast makes up eight different couples whose love lives are all intertwined. It all culminates in a story that will always warm your heart, no matter how many times you watch it.

The Princess Bride (1987)
This fantasy romance follows long-lost loves Westley and Buttercup, who in order to be reunited, must fight through various obstacles they face in the kingdom of Florin. When I’m in the worst of moods, “The Princess Bride” always gets me laughing.

Forrest Gump (1994)
Tom Hanks stars as Forrest Gump in this 1994 classic. His character is so endearing and it might sound cliché, but “Forrest Gump” never gets old. I have nothing but love for this film.

La La Land (2017)
A pianist and actress transport audiences back to the golden days of Hollywood, when musicals and the art of dance were used to encourage viewers to follow their dreams. The 2017 Oscar-winning film is a must-see for theater buffs, and anyone who loved bright colors and romance.

You’ve Got Mail (1998)
“You’ve Got Mail” is maybe a bit outdated, but this is such a fantastic romcom. It’s over 20 years old, but the dialogues still crack me up and each time Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks find each other in the park at the end, it makes my heart melt.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
This is my go-to movie whenever I’m feeling down. It’s a classic and never fails to put a smile on my face. Especially the moment where Gene Kelly sings the titular song in the rain, I can’t stop smiling.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Nothing makes me smile more than a quirky, out-of-the-ordinary family. If this movie doesn’t make you smile, you’re dead inside. It’s about dreams and illusions and the beauty of a dysfunctional family. Pure joy. And Abigail Breslin literally brings sun to the rainiest cold days.

Annie Hall (1977)
“Annie Hall” tells the story of a neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer who tries to work out why his relationship with Annie Hall ultimately ended and the nature of love. When I first saw this movie, I learned that Alvy Singer is my long lost sibling, because it’s like watching myself. Woody Allen’s hilarious nervous pessimism will have you gunning for happier vibes. The lobster scene alone should make you feel better.

Amélie (2001)
The magic of “Amélie” is in how it defines us not by what we buy or what we consume but by what we do. It’s a whimsical romance, but it’s more than just a girl-meets-boy love story. Amélie attempts to fix the broken people around her even as she ignores her own happiness in the process. Random acts of kindness is Amélie’s middle name.

Intouchables (2011)
It’s a life-affirming, witty, funny and charming movie. The proportions of drama and comedy are almost perfect. The story of two friends, as different as black and white, day and night, is truly amazing.

Big Fish (2003)
Tim Burton made a movie that’s almost like a fairytale. The story of Edward Bloom says that everyone has their own universe inside of them. This is such a positive film, filled with the ‘dream big’ message.

TV Show Review - Peaky Blinders (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2013
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Annabelle Wallis, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole, Michael Gray

Description: A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England; centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy)

Review: Birmingham, right after World War I. The Peaky Blinders gang rules the streets of England. The criminals can be recognized by their caps, where they sew razor blades into the peaks of their caps. Their leader is Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy. Belfast detective Chester Campbell is called to England to clean the streets and take care of the Peaky Blinders.
When you love the gangster and crime genre, the first season of “Peaky Blinders” will be true gold and easy to watch in one sitting. It has all the ingredients for a good, compelling TV series: an excellent cast, it looks amazing, interesting characters, strong story.
Not a lot of locations were used for this series, but the period it’s set in is pictured perfectly. In this time, it’s either calling the shots yourself or being suppressed. The Peaky Blinders, and especially their leader Tommy, choose the first. Because when you look closer you can see that Tommy never wants to feel powerlessness again. He wants to create his own destiny and this for he builds his own imperium.
Cillian Murphy is the perfect choice for Tommy Shelby. Charismatic yet dangerous, unpredictable yet timid. I’ve always loved Murphy as an actor and he really carries this series.
The first season is mostly a fight for power between Tommy and detective Campbell. Campbell wants to clean the streets of Birmingham free from criminals like the Peaky Blinders.
“Peaky Blinders” had been on my watchlist for a while and when a few of my friends told me I really had to start watching, I finally did. I watched the first season in 2 days and I’m hooked. It’s a fantastic first season and I can’t wait what will happen next.

Best "Game of Thrones" Episodes

Since the series end, “Game of Thrones fans have been very mad about the final season and especially the writing of the episodes. I understand and for the most part agree, because us fans deserved better. And so did the characters and the story. But even though a bad final season ruined a lot, it didn’t ruin all those amazing episodes we got on the other seasons. I decided to rank my 20 favorite episodes of “Game of Thrones”. If you haven’t seen the entire series yet, BEWARE OF SPOILERS!

20. The Bear and the Maiden (Season 3, Episode 7)
This episode didn’t feature any deaths. “The Bear and the Maiden” focuses on the final act of Jaime’s season 3 redemption arc. He jumps into a fighting pit at Harrenhal to save Brienne, who has to fight a bear. Theon is still being tortured by Ramsay Bolton, who takes away Theon’s most prized possession. His genitals are savagely removed.

19. Winter is Coming (Season 1, Episode 1)
This is where it all began for us viewers and were fandoms were born. “Winter is Coming” incites you into Westeros, back when the dire wolves were pups and the Starks were all together. Ned Stark agrees to help his old friend, King Robert, down in King’s Landing so that he can secretly look into the death of his mentor. And across the sea, a young Daenerys is sold off to Khal Drogo by her brother. And at the end of the episode, the tone is set for the rest of the series, when Jaime pushes Bran from the tower after he was caught making love to his sister Cersei.

18. Fire and Blood (Season 1, Episode 10)
Despite following one of “Game of Thrones” biggest and most shocking episodes, the season 1 finale “Fire and Blood” still managed to sear its way into everyone’s psyche. Who doesn’t remember the image of a naked Daenerys emerging from a massive fire, unharmed, with three little baby dragons, newly hatched. She was just forced to put her husband Khal Drogo out of his misery, but Daenerys officially transformed into the Mother of Dragons. And all the Starks, wherever they are, learn about Ned’s execution.

17. And Now His Watched is Ended (Season 3, Episode 4)
Jaime is forced to wear his severed hand around his neck, Margaery began her manipulation of Joffrey, Theon is tricked by Ramsay into thinking he was escaping and Lord Commander Mormont was killed at Craster’s Keep. Daenerys ended up with an army of 8000 Unsullied soldiers and she turned her dragons loose on the slave masters of Astapor. DRACARYS!

16. The Children (Season 4, Episode 10)
Stannis and his army arrive at the Wal to save Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch. Daenerys chains up her dragons. Tyrion is set free by his brother Jaime and during his escape, he kills his lover Shae and father Tywin. But it was Brienne’s battle with The Hound that helped make the season 4 finale excel. That and Arya’s cold, silent refusal to put The Hound out of his misery.

15. Kissed by Fire (Season 3, Epside 5)
Not only did Jon Snow and Ygritte consummate their budding relationship inside a cave, Jaime laid bare his soul in front of Brienne. He confesses to her the real reason he killed King Aerys, the man he’d sworn a sacred oath to protect. This is one of the best moment in the entire series. Also, the Hound faced off against the flaming sword of Beric Dondarrion. Beric dies, which caused Thoros to demonstrate a resurrection.

14. The Door (Season 6, Episode 5)
The episode is off course most known for Hodor’s sacrificial demise. One of the saddest character deaths. And not only does it stand as one of the show’s trademark great and gruesome deaths, but also opened the “door” to a whole new world of time-shifting, providing answers about Hodor’s confounding timespace-looped origin while also cluing us in on some of the real ramifications of Bran’s warging powers.

13. The Mountain and the Viper (Season 4, Episode 8)
In “The Mountain and the Viper”, Daenerys discovered Jorah’s betrayal and banished him while a newly confident Sansa donned a striking new black dress. But what everyone remembers the most is that fight between Oberyn Martell and Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. A fight that almost went the way many viewers hoped, until Oberyn became too cocky and paid the painful price. The Mountain killing Oberyn is probably the most brutal death on the show, which most people watched peeping though the hands that covered their eyes.

12. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Season 8, Episode 2)
This is probably the last episode before some fans started to seriously hate the show. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” focuses on the final hours before the battle against the Night King and his army of the undead. Each character has to come to terms that it might be their last moment alive. The best moments were when Brienne, Tormund, Podrick, Tyrion, Jaime and Davos are sitting around the fire and Jaime eventually knighting Brienne. It was a ‘calm before the storm’ episode with a lot of heart.

11.You Win or You Die (Season 1, Episode 7)
This episode is memorable for many reasons. We meet Tywin Lannister, Daenerys survives an assassination attempt and Jon Snow takes his Night’s Watch vows. But its most notable as Ned Stark’s ultimate unraveling. Being stubbornly noble and true, Ned offered Cersei the chance to come clean regarding the real father of her children. Unfortunately for Ned, King Robert dies from a hunting injury and Cersei used this moment to call out Ned as a traitor and plan Prince Joffrey’s kingly coronation. And we all remember Littlefinger’s knife to Ned’s neck: ”I did warn you not to trust me”.

10. The Lion and the Rose (Season 4, Episode 2)
After four seasons, “Game of Thrones” finally gave us a wedding reception we could rejoice over. King Joffrey chokes to death while engaging in one of his favorite things to do: tormenting Tyrion. The young brute died in agony, clutching his throat. And it was glorious. Never before have I cheered so loudly for a character’s death.

9. The Dance of Dragons (Season 5, Episode 9)
The penultimate episode of season 5 was on fire. Daenerys, Tyrion and their friends were attacked and surrounded by the Sons of the Harpy and eventually saved by Drogon. This is the first time we see Dany ride one of her dragons. Also an epic and very tragic moment was the cruel death of Shireen Baratheon, daughter of Stannis. Who was burned at the stake, as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. This is also one of the most shocking moments in the series.

8. The Winds of Winter (Season 6, Episode 10)
This episode has the most suspenseful and merciless explosive sequence. “The Winds of Winter” wonderfully paid off a two-season storyline that had started to drag. Cersei choosing violence like she loves to do, purged King’s Landing of just about every named character and ascended to the Iron Throne with Qyburn as her Hand. Daenerys finally sets sail to Westeros, with a larger force than ever. And on top of that, it was solidified that Arya’s arc over in Braavos was truly over via a throat slit, a gurgle, and some pies, as she returned to Westeros for killing Walder Frey and his sons.

7. Baelor (Season 1, Episode 9)
Season 1’s episode “Baelor” was the jumping off point for the show not playing by conventional story rules. This was the shocking moment that got the misery ball rolling and started the real ‘game of thrones’. Ned, who was the main protagonist, was executed by Joffrey and the whole world was in shock. Elsewhere, Robb made a vow to Walder Frey, Tyrion played a drinking game with Bronn and Shae and Daenerys unwittingly lost her unborn child.

6. Blackwater (Season 2, Episode 9)
In season 2, many scrambled to claim the Iron Throne. And we were looking for a new hero, since Ned was executed. Would it be Robb, out to defeat the Lannisters and seek justice for his father? No, it would be Tyrion who’d rise up. In the epic, impressive battle episode “Blackwater”, he’d not only put into action a dangerously clever plan involving wildfire so as to wipe out Stannis’ ships, but he’d be the one to rally the citizens to fight for their city after Joffrey cowardly left the battlefield.

5. The Spoils of War (Season 7, Episode 4)
Season 7 won’t exactly live on its history as the best season of the show, but boy, that fourth episode was an epic one. From Arya returning to Winterfell and sparring with Brienne to Jon verbally sparring with Daenerys to that final awesome battle sequence involving Daenerys riding her dragon into war against Jaime Lannister’s forces. This was a marvelous masterstroke of worlds colliding. It was so damn good and it’s the true gem of the seventh season.

4. Mother’s Mercy (Season 5, Episode 10)
The season 5 finale is a rather busy and brutal episode. Cersei is forced to endure abuse and humiliation at the hands of her own citizens, while doing her ‘walk of shame’. Meanwhile, Arya wiped one more name off her list, by killing Meryn Trant in the most brutal way. Despite those big moments however, most people were talking about the time the final credits rolled: THEY KILLED JON SNOW! The killed off one of the most important characters on the show.

3. Hardhome (Season 5, Episode 8)
I think no one expected “Hardhome” to deliver, since season 5 wasn’t going that well. The final 20 minutes deliver unto us as the Night King’s unleashes a literal avalanche of ferocious undead on the last remaining Wildlings and Jon Snow. It brought the White Walkers to the forefront of the series in terrifying fashion and further helped solidify Jon Snow as the show’s ultimate hero.

2. The Rains of Castamere (Season 3, Episode 9)
The Red Wedding stands as one of the most diabolical bloodlettings in TV history. It’s a big shock and pure misery, that still makes my neck hair stand up. We were all left hollowed out and that was probably the intention. I’ve never been shocked and scarred more than by this episode.

1. Battle of the Bastards (Season 6, Episode 9)
This is the episode with the most impressive and expansive battle sequence ever. “Battle of the Bastards” saw Jon Snow and his undersized army scrape and claw to retake Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton. It was a massive, emotional fight to the finish as Sansa saved the day, with Littlefinger’s army and feeding Ramsay to his hounds.

00s Movie Review - Superbad

Director: Greg Mottola
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Joe Lo Truglio, Dave Franco

Description: Two co-dependent high school seniors (Jonah Hill, Michael Cera) are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.

Review: “Superbad” is a harsh comedy, about teens trying to get laid before school ends. It sounds lame and unoriginal, but “Superbad” is much more original and honest than you would expect.
Jonah Hill plays the foulmouthed teenager Seth. All he wants is for the pretty Jules to be his girlfriend. His plan is to get her drunk at a party. He convinces his friend Evan that this is the way to get the girl he likes, Becca, to fall in love with him too.
The only problem is the booze. They are under 21 and can’t buy it. The solution: their nerdy friend Fogell, who just got a fake ID, that says he is a 25 year old organ donor called McLovin. Their quest to get alcohol begins.
The harsh dialogues and remarks are fired in speed tempo, by both Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. The timing of both actors is perfect and they both do a great job. But it’s Christoph Mintz-Plasse that steals the show, together with the two crazy cops, portrayed by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen.
“Superbad” is filled with original and hilarious moments. The film also has heart and turns cartoonish characters into real people. Not that the movie has any depth, but it’s a great study of the teenage psyche. “Superbad” has realism and honesty, something that a lot of teen comedies don’t have.
“Superbad” is super funny!

Rating: 5/ 5

TV Show Review - Big Little Lies (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 7
Year: 2019
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Adam Scott, Alexander Skarsgård, James Tupper

Description: After the death of Perry, the five women involved are all dealing with it in their own way. And new problems form for each of them.

Review: What can you say about an unnecessary second season to a good show, that got so many nominations and prizes. How can I explain to you that the second season of “Big Little Lies” didn’t need to happen, but was so good that it really doesn’t matter. The second season is really good and Meryl Streep steals the show.
Streep does everything well, as Celeste’s mother-in-law, with her snappy returns and sharp one-liners. Her Mary Louise Wright has a sad background and this reflects on her and the people around her. The mother of the deceased Perry moves in with Celeste, to help her with the twins. But she is actually there to find out what really happened to Perry. And when she finds out about Ziggy, who is also Perry’s son, Mary Louise doesn’t go easy on Jane either.
It’s off course not just Streep, the rest of the cast is sublime as well. The storylines are good, as are the scripts and the direction. Bonnie is going through an emotional rollercoaster, Renata has to deal with bankruptcy and Madeline and Ed are facing a rough patch. But what this season is mostly about is dealing with loss, the past, the present and pain.
The first season was good and it ended well. It was good the way it was, so it didn’t need a second season. But now I am very happy that there is a second season, because it’s such a joy to watch all those strong actresses perform at their very best.
The ending could suggest a third season, but that is very unlikely.

90s Movie Review - Reservoir Dogs

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 1992
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Quentin Tarantino, Edward Bunker, Randy Brooks, Kirk Baltz, Michael Sotile, Steve Wright, Rich Turner, David Steen , Tony Cosmo, Stevo Polyi

Description: After a simple jewelery heist goes terribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.

Review: When George Baker first saw “Reservoir Dogs”, he thought that he was dealing with another B-movie that used his song. After watching it a few times, the Dutch singer realized that “Little Green Bag” was used for a masterpiece.
The jury at the Sundance film festival also ignored the movie. The wrong choice off course, because “Reservoir Dogs” grew out to become a classic and Quentin Tarantino’s style has been copied many times ever since.
In “Reservoir Dogs” we’re not dealing with a very original story: a jewelry heist gone wrong. But the way it’s told is extraordinary. The movie opens with a scene where the criminals are having lunch and discuss trivial topics like Madonna songs and waitresses. It looks like a meaningless conversation that doesn’t have anything to do with the plot.
It’s scenes like this that make “Reservoir Dogs” special. They tell us two important things. First it’s clear that criminals who don’t know each other and are very different from each other, have a certain connection. Second and maybe the most important one, Tarantino shows us that crooks are also just regular people talking about everyday things.
The fact that “Reservoir Dogs” is told in a non-linear way also adds an extra dimension. Tarantino turns a fairly simple plot into a puzzle. Two years later he would do the same with “Pulp Fiction”.
Despite the flashbacks, the movie has a high tempo, but it’s not an action film. Tarantino is a director that mainly focusses on the characters, what they think, what music they like, what they talk about. And the actors execute it well. Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, all great in their roles.
With “Reservoir Dogs” Tarantino introduces us to a new genre, that later became known as ‘nouvelle violence’. Because of this success, many directors tried to do the same. But no one managed to top Quentin Tarantino. “Reservoir Dogs” is one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Vice

Director: Adam McKay
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Alison Pill, Eddie Marsan, Justin Kirk, Jesse Plemons, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, Tyler Perry, Naomi Watts, Alfred Molina

Description: The story of Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), an unassuming bureaucratic Washington insider, who quietly wielded immense power as Vice President to George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell), reshaping the country and the globe in ways that we still feel today.

Review: Director Adam McKay was once know for his absurd comedies with Will Ferrell, but has since made some less humorous films. In 2015 he brought us “The Big Short”, which focused on Wall Street. And with “Vice” he puts Dick Cheney in the spotlight. Is it a good career switch for McKay? I can say it is, because “Vice” is, even though very ambitious, a very strong political drama, a well-executed film with a comedic edge.
Because of the daily doses of idiotic Trump news, you would almost forget about the time that George W. Bush was president, which was also not the best political period for America. If it is completely Bush’s fault, that’s up for debate. It more luck than wisdom for Bush. And the political games he left for Dick Cheney. A man who became powerful by staying in the background. In “Vice” his political career is shown, and that career is much longer then we think. He started there when Nixon was president.
Cheney isn’t interested in politics at first. He chooses to be a Republican based on a speech Donald Rumsfeld gives. He becomes Cheney’s mentor. But student becomes teacher in this scenario.
When Cheney says his goodbyes to politics, he is tempted to work as Vice President for the unexperienced Bush. And when he becomes VP, he manages to draw all the power to himself.
Christian Bale looks nothing like Dick Cheney in real-life, but thanks to the fantastic make-up department Bale is unrecognizable and Cheney is born. He plays his role with perfection. But the satire doesn’t always work for Bale. Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell, who play Rumsfeld and Bush, are better suited for this style.
“Vice” has a few absurd scenes, that you wouldn’t expect in a political themed film. But here is where McKay separates himself from the rest. It doesn’t always work well, but it is original.
If politics don’t interest you, this movie is not for you. Even if it is brought with more wit and satire. If you do like it, it’s a nice change from all the raw and serious political dramas.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Director: Susan Johnson
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, John Corbett, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor, Tresso Mahoro, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, Kelcey Mawema, Julia Benson

Description: A teenage girl's secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.

Review: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a Netflix original film and it’s based on the young adult book written by Jenny Han. It’s a romantic high school drama and the perfect chick flick for an evening, when you’re in to something easy to watch. It’s a feel-good film like many others in the genre.
We meet Lara Jean. Every time she falls in love, it ends in nothing. Each time she wrote a letter to the boy to close that chapter in her life. She writes everything on her mind, addresses the envelope, closes it and keeps the letter in a box under her bed. But one day, that box is gone and so are the letters. Someone has send out the letters.
To Lara Jean, those boys receiving the letters is the worst thing. Josh is one of them, but he also happens to be her older sister’s ex-boyfriend. And then there is Peter Kavinsky, a guy that never really noticed Lara jean. He thinks, the letter can come in handy, because he wants to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Peter and Lara jean decided to have a fake relationship.
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ is a fun, no-brainer and it’s definitely a feel-good film. It was a fun watch, but it’s probably not a movie I would watch again.

Rating: 3 / 5

Movie Reviews - The Lion King

Director: Jon Favreau
Genre: Adventure/ Musical
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, John  Oliver, James Earl Jones, Donal Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Alfre Woodard, Seth Rogen, Keegan-Michael Key, Eric André, Billy Eichner

Description: After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.

Review: Oh how excited I was for the live-action version of one of my favorite Disney animations. I remember vividly when I saw “The Lion King” (1994) in theaters. I was so impressed and completely in aw that I couldn’t stop talking about it for weeks. And when I received it on VHS for my birthday, I watched it every day. I wasn’t afraid that director Jon Favreau was going to butcher the story, because he did a wonderful job for “The Jungle Book”. But was the film going to do the same to me as the animation did in 1994?
The film looks so realistic, like real-life animals. Yes, they talk and sing, but it’s like watching a BBC documentary.
When it comes to the story, nothing has changed. For most of the film, it’s a shot for shot remake of the animation. The film has been criticized for this, because they wanted Favreau to take more risk. I bet if he did and changed more, that would be the problem. We all love the original the way it is, so why not bring it to life like this. Because it’s a classic story, with wonderful songs we all love.
The one thing I didn’t really like, was them cutting the song “Be Prepared” short. It is my favorite song of the film and it was really rushed and it didn’t have the same impact that it had in the animation. It’s the main villain song and it’s so powerful. Here you don’t feel that.
The movie also lacks emotion according to many critics. Because they can’t see emotions or expressions on the animal’s faces. To make it look realistic as it is, you have to create the animals as they are. Giving them to much facial expression, would probably make them cartoonish and less realistic. And I’m not missing emotion at all, because I think I cried like 7 times in the first 5 minutes alone, haha.
As a huge fan of the animation, I am very happy with the live-action version of “The Lion King”. It didn’t leave me in aw like in 1994, but it’s such a beautifully made film with a lot of heart. People who think it lacked emotion, are probably dead inside.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Shazam!

Director: David F. Sandberg
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Djimon Hounsou, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews

Description: We all have a superhero inside us, it takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel_ case by shouting out one word – SHAZAM – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the grown-up superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi).

Review: “Shazam!” is not (yet) a part of a bigger film universe. Like Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) and Arthur Curry (Aquaman), teenager Billy Batson gets his own origin story. Off course there are lots of easter eggs and a lot of DC name dropping. But “Shazam!” mostly goes his own way. And it’s so different from the dark Snyder films.
They didn’t worry about making the magic lightning suite look realistic or create an ideal image of a superhero. “Shazam!” is a comedy, sometimes an even heartwarming family film. It had to be: a magic staff, magical words, a clumsy hero and a silly name. it wouldn’t have worked as a dark and gritty story. But with comedy and a splash of satire, it does work. Very well actually. The starting point is great: what to do when, as a teenager, all of a sudden you have the same powers as Superman? Exactly, you are going to try it all out. Jumping over buildings, by alcohol, smash things and trying to get rich. It becomes a delightful and recognizable child fantasy, where sidekick Freddy Freeman provides sassy comments. And Zachary Levi is the perfect choice to play the superhero.
Mark Strong plays Thaddeus Sivana, the villain. His name isn’t special, his look doesn’t look impressive and he has no epic backstory. But it does work surprisingly well, because he actually is a serious threat to Billy Batson.
“Shazam!” is very aware of itself and there are many references to other movies in the genre and even to “Big”, where a teenager also all of a sudden wakes up in an adult man’s body. And some things look really silly. But because of the friendly tone of the film, lead actor Zachary Levi and his dynamic with Jack Dylan Grazer, it’s a great superhero film.
“Shazam!” is lighter than “Wonder Woman”, more focused than “Aquaman” and very true to the comics. With that, it’s actually one of the better DC films.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - The Red Sea Diving Resort

Director: Gideon Raff
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Chris Evans, Alessandro Nivola, Haley Bennett, Ben Kingsley, Greg Kinnear, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michiel Huisman, Alex Hassell

Description: Israel’s Mossad agents attempt to rescue Ethiopian Jewish refugees in Sudan in 1977.

Review: The new Netflix original film “The Red Sea Diving Resort” premiered on July 31st. The film tells the true story of a group of heroes that rescued big groups of Ethiopian Jewish refuges by working from a hotel in Sudan.
The Ethiopian civil war caused a lot of people their lives. It’s 1977. At the time, Ethiopian Jews could use the so-called ‘Law of Return’: they had the right to settle in Israel and become an Israelian citizen. In “The Red Sea Diving Resort” we see how a group of Mossad agents, led by Ari Levinson, save groups of Ethiopian Jews at the start of the 80s. Their cover: a abandoned hotel near the Red Sea, in Sudan. And since actual tourist start visiting the hotel, it’s the best cover they could ask for.
Netflix managed to assemble a great, strong cast. Chris Evans carries the film, as Ari Levinson, but is well supported by Haley Bennett, Michiel Huisman, Alessandro Nivola, Ben Kingsley and Greg Kinnear. Also worth mentioning is Michael Kenneth Williams, who also did a fantastic job in another Netflix jewel, “When They See Us”.
The civil war in Ethiopia is one of those “silent wars”, that no one was talking about and didn’t get attention. Simply no one really cared, even though a lot of people died here. The story can be compared to films like “Argo” and “Munich”, where they used an every day thing as their big cover, to rescue people. I think Ari Levinson and his group are the real heroes, also people that we never talk about. And they actually made a difference. At least to the many refugees that manage to find a safe haven because of them.
The film has a heavy theme, but manages to have some light moments here and there. For example the moment where they have to actually work in the hotel, when a group of tourists unexpectedly arrives. And there is a great montage in the film that shows how they manage to run a hotel as well as saving the refugees.
I think stories like this should never stay untold. And the perfect way is through film, because you will reach a big audience. I really loved this film, it’s a very solid movie.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Dumbo

Director: Tim Burton
Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker

Description: A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus. But when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.

Review: Disney is trying go through their animations quickly, into creating live-action versions of them. In 2019 alone, we will get 4 of them. The first this year is “Dumbo”, about the little flying elephant. And it’s not a remake, because Tim Burton used his creative mind well.
What the original animation and this version have in common, is that they are both based off of the same children’s book. Director Burton is known for his visual stories with a dark edge and gave this story his signature touch. “Dumbo” has a darker and more cynical look at the circus world.
Circus director Max Medici is trying to keep his head above water in these crisis times, to keep his circus going. His main attraction was his horse act, but he had to sell the horses. When war veteran Holt returns, missing one arm, he is reunited with his children Milly and Joe. They find comfort now he’s back, because in the meantime their mother had died and their horse act has been removed from the program.
Max wants the elephants to be the major act now and he managed to buy a pregnant female. When the baby is born, Max thinks it’s an ugly creates. Baby Dumbo, what they call him later, is born with huge ears and many people mock him for it. But Milly and Joe see something special and find out that Dumbo can actually fly.
Visually this film is beautiful, as we are used to from burton. Dumbo looks adorable. His level of cuteness is very high! What also looked great was Dreamland, the giant circus by Max’ competition V.A. Vandevere. It looks like a typical steampunk fantasy world by Burton and I loved the look of it.
Not only the visuals are amazing. Burton managed to combine it with a heart warming story which had a sincere moral about confidence and the power of money. And there are many moments where you feel warm insight or need tissues for tears. Because even though it has a lot of happy moments, it is a pretty sad story as well.
Dumbo has to share his stage with some human characters and their side stories. They don’t all work, like the story of Eva Green’s character. It’s neglected a bit, which makes it flat.
I was surprised by the many negative reviews, because I think it was a beautiful film. It looks amazing and has a good story. Burton used his dreamy style to turn it into a live-action film and I think he did a wonderful job.

Rating: 4/ 5