Category Archives: Fantasy

Fantasy, Horror, Mystery

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS (2018): New Trailer From Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Braxton Bjerken…

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The House With A Clock In Its Walls (2018), Cate Blanchett
The House With A Clock In Its Walls (2018), Cate Blanchett

The House With A Clock In Its Walls, features a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world – and young orphan Lewis Barnavelt must aid his magical uncle in locating it.

Directed by Eli Roth, Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Braxton Bjerken are among the stars…

Knowing that Jack Black would be in this movie meant that the trailer had my attention. But, a trailer having my attention is not much compared to how exited I am when said trailer surprises me with the fact that ‘acting queen’ Cate Blanchett is a key cast member. The last time this happened, I was watching the trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella (2015)  – the reason why Cinderella is officially my favourite Disney movie.

Besides Blanchett and Black, I’m in for the mystery and magic.

Kyle MacLachlan, Lorenza Izzo, Colleen Camp, Perla Middleton and Braxton Bjerken also star.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls Release Dates: September 21st, 2018 (US); September 28th, 2018 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Fantasy, Horror

WILDLING (2018): New Trailer From Liv Tyler, Bel Powley, Brad Dourif…

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Wildling (2018), Bel Powley
Wildling (2018), Bel Powley

In Wildling, a blossoming teenager uncovers the dark secret behind her traumatic childhood.

Liv Tyler, Bel Powley and Brad Dourif style while Fritz Böhm  directs…

Congratulations to the casting director for finding a great match to play a younger version of Powley’s character. Those eyes!

I’m curious to see how good this turns out to be.  I’d also like to know if Powley’s character killed her father… With that said, it’s now officially time to stop myself from thinking about the story too much. Otherwise I may just figure the whole thing out.

Wildling Release Dates: April 13th, 2018 (US); April 20th, 2018 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Adventure, Family, Fantasy

FANTASTIC BEASTS 2 – THE CRIMES OF GRINDENWALD (2018): New Trailer Starring Katherine Waterston, Jude Law Johnny Depp, Eddie Redmayne…

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Fantastic Beasts 2 - The Crimes Of Grindenwald (2018), Eddie Redmayne
Fantastic Beasts 2 – The Crimes Of Grindenwald (2018), Eddie Redmayne

From David Yates (director of several Harry Potter films and the last Fantastic Beasts movie – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Eddie Redmayne is back for Fantastic Beasts 2 – The Crimes of Grindenwald.

Redmayne is joined by Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Johnny Depp, Katherine Waterston, Colin Farell and others for more ‘wandtastic’ adventures as Newt Scamander…

The stunning visuals – including costume design, that’s why I’m in. I also can’t wait to see what Johny Depp’s character gets up to.

I have a feeling that this movie is going to be a constant reminder for of the reason why movies are my absolute favourite. They are, when done wonderfully, a true perfect amalgamation of all the arts.

Fantastic Beasts 2 – The Crimes Of Grindenwald Release Dates: November 16th, 2018 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018): New Trailer From Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Armie Hammer…

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Sorry to Bother You (2018), Lakeith Stanfield
Sorry to Bother You (2018), Lakeith Stanfield

Tessa Thompson, Armie Hammer and Lakeith Stanfield are the stars of Sorry To Bother You, a comedy / fantasy film based in an alternate present-day version of Oakland, USA.

Written and directed by Boots Riley, Stanfield plays a telemarketer who discovers a magical key to professional success; a key that propels him into…

I’ve been waiting for something crazy and fun; I think this is it! Having seen Get Out (2017), I do rather hope that Stanfield’s character gets out ‘alive’ this time.

This movie really looks as though it was plenty of fun to be part of; I’m smiling just thinking about the onset giggles.

Patton Oswalt, Terry Crews, David Cross, Omari Hardwick and Danny Glover also star.

Sorry To Bother You Release Dates: July 6th, 2018 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

THE SHAPE OF WATER (2017): The Things I Liked…

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The Shape Of Water (2017), Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer
The Shape Of Water (2017), Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer

Set in Cold War era America, circa 1963, director Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape Of Water is an other-worldly fairy tale and fantasy / romance about a lonely mute called Elisa. Played beautifully by Sally Hawkins, Elisa falls in love with ‘amphibian man’, a sea creature captured for a secret classified experiment due to take place at Elisa’s work building where she cleans.

Featuring good performances by all, including Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins and Michael Shannon, I found Hawkins to be particularly captivating as Elisa. Her great performance along with the beautiful visuals, filming style – the way the camera barely stood still combined with the editing and pacing managed to keep me engaged.

The Shape Of Water is generally a well executed movie. Nevertheless, I’m not as enthused post viewing as I thought I might be. I understand the film’s message about love and how there are near to zero limitations in terms of where one can find it. Still, perhaps it’s just the kind of film, though good, it doesn’t inspire a certain level of excitement within me. It could have something to do with not really seeing myself ever falling in love with ‘amphibian man’. It could also be that the ‘love can be found anywhere’ message is one I’d already fully digested. Lastly, maybe I loved the first half more than I did the second half, where things got really serious. Yes, that may be it. I think I had more fun when Elisa was happy and tap-dancing in her corridor!

Richard Strickland’s (Shannon) voice and suit before the true nature of his character is revealed, the capabilities of ‘amphibian man’ and Hawkins’ performance are my favourite things about The Shape Of Water. 

Watch it if you’re curious. Maybe you’ll be more wowed and enthused than I. It is the Best Picture Academy Award winner after all.

Happy Film Loving

G

Family, Fantasy, Musical

MARY POPPINS RETURNS (2018): New Trailer From Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Lin-Manuel Miranda…

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Marry Poppins Returns (2018), Emily Blunt
Marry Poppins Returns (2018), Emily Blunt

Director Rob Marshall’s Mary Poppins Returns is set in 1930s depression-era London. In the follow-up to the 1964 family movie, both Jane and Michael Banks are grown up and Michael has three children. After the family suffer a terrible loss, Mary Poppins turns up to show them the joy and wonder that’s been missing from their lives.

Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Emily Mortimer star…

For a moment I thought this teaser trailer wasn’t going to show Blunt as Poppins at all. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does with the role. Her accent sounds a little unlike what I expected but it’s early days yet.

So far, I’m absolutely loving the coats in this trailer, especially that green beauty at 1:04!

Mary Poppins Returns Release Dates: December 21st, 2018 (UK); December 25th, 2018 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

SOLO – A STAR WARS STORY (2018): New Trailer From Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson…

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Solo - A Star Wars Story (2018), Alden Ehrenreich
Solo – A Star Wars Story (2018), Alden Ehrenreich

Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson are the stars of Solo – A Star Wars Story, another instalment of the many more star wars movies to follow.

Directed by Ron Howard, the story is set years before the Rebellion when, in the midst of an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian…

I’m intrigued by Solo’s implied rebel ways but that’s about it really. I’m still no closer to watching my first Star Wars movie. One day it’s possible that someone, somewhere will convince me. It just hasn’t happened yet.

Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany and Warwick Davis also star. 

Solo – A Star Wars Story Release Dates: May 25th, 2018 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

H

 

Crime, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

BRIGHT (2017): The Things I Liked…

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Bright (2017), Edgar Ramirez
Bright (2017), Edgar Ramirez

Directed by David Ayer (End Of Watch (2012) and starring Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace and Edgar Ramirez, Bright is a buddy / cop movie set in a world where humans live alongside fantasy creatures. It’s also a film that isn’t quite all I wished it to be.

The issues I have with Bright start with the story. Perhaps the fact of fantasy and sci-fi not being my go-to genres has something to do with it but I just didn’t fully buy into the world the story occupies. I’m not even sure that the truth of how Orcs, elves, fairies and humans came to co-exist in LA let alone planet Earth was properly explained. Then there’s the fact that due to pacing and one or two other unfortunate factors, the movie did’t really get particularly interesting for me until ‘the cop shooting’ that happens approximately forty minutes in. Even then, I still found myself thinking about how much more I enjoyed End Of Watch, especially the story and co-star chemistry.

I’m certainly not saying that I think Bright is all bad – because if it were, I’d have stopped watching long before the end, the way I recently did with A Bad Mom’s Christmas (2017). The things I did enjoy about Ayer’s movie start with the vibrant graffiti in the opening sequence, followed by the impressive Orc prosthetics. Then there’s Noomi Rapace’s villain character, particularly the way she fought and dressed. Last but in no way least, I rather liked how well Edgar Ramirez wore his elf / vampire look. It was very much a greater highlight than expected.

A thought that entered my mind soon after I hit ‘play’ on Bright was, ‘I bet Will Smith is super happy about not having to wear any Orc prosthetics or makeup. I know I would be. Who said that acting isn’t hard work?’

Give Bright a chance if you’re curious enough. Or you can always watch / re-watch End Of Watch, if not some other good buddy / cop movie.

Happy Film Loving

G