Category Archives: Fantasy

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

MONSTER HUNTER (2020): New Trailer Starring Milla Jovovich, T.I. and Meagan Good, Tony Jaa…

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Monster Hunter (2020), Milla Jovovich, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Monster Hunter (2020), Milla Jovovich, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Directed and co-written by Paul W.S. Anderson; Monster Hunter is the latest action adventure starring Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, T.I. and Meagan Good.

Based on the video game by Capcom, the story follows Lt. Artemis (Jovovich) and her loyal soldiers as they fight for survival in a new world. One where they engage in a desperate battle against enormous enemies with incredible powers.

I’m not expecting anything particularly unique and new with this one. However, something tells me that I’ll enjoy the CGI monsters and seeing very believable action woman Jovovich do her thing.

Diego Boneta, Josh Helman, Jin Au-Yeung, Ron Perlman, Jannik Schümann, Hirona Yamazaki, Nic Rasenti, Nanda Costa, Aaron Beelner, Schelaine Bennett and Adrián Muñoz also star.

Monster Hunter Release Dates: December 4th, 2020 (UK); December 30th, 2020 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Fantasy

NINE DAYS (2020): New Trailer Starring Winston Duke, Bill Skarsgård, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong…

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Nine Days (2020), Bill Skarsgård, Sony Pictures Classics
Nine Days (2020), Bill Skarsgård, Sony Pictures Classics

Nine Days is a new drama/fantasy film about a reclusive man as he conducts a series of interviews with human souls, to determine which one can be born on earth.

From writer/director Edson Oda; Nine Days stars Bill Skarsgård, Zazie Beetz, Winston Duke and Benedict Wong.

I’m so curious to see how the topic of ‘pre-life’ will be covered because I have so many questions. For example, what is pre-life really like and why is life on earth so very appealing? To what extent can a soul know the type of life experience they’re likely to have once on earth? How much joy versus suffering? What kind of human being are they likely to become? And so on.

In part because of the premise, this trailer and the one for Sound of Metal are in my top five of 2020’s best indie trailers.

Tony Hale, Geraldine Hughes, David Rysdahl, Arianna Ortiz, John Forker, Perry Smith, Dave Bresnahan, Logan Smith, Rachelle Hardy, Lisa Starrett and Sammie Edgington also star.

Nine Days Release Dates…

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G

Drama, Fantasy, Horror

THE CRAFT (2020): New Trailer From Cailee Spaeny, David Duchovny, Lovie Simone, Michelle Monaghan…

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The Craft (2020), Lovie Simone, Gideon Adlon, Cailee Spaeny, Zoey Luna
The Craft (2020), Lovie Simone, Gideon Adlon, Cailee Spaeny, Zoey Luna

A remake of the 1996 film of the same name, new fantasy/horror movie The Craft follows Hannah (Cailee Spaeny) a newcomer to a Catholic prep high school who falls in with a trio of outcast teenage girls who practice witchcraft.

Also starring David Duchovny, Michelle Monaghan, Lovie Simone and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones; the girls soon conjure up various spells and curses against those who anger them.

Teenage me would be very excited about this. As for my non-teen self, I’m intrigued because this trailer isn’t bad (even though the wire work at 1:14 into the above edit seems questionable). I also I can’t remember much about the 1996 movie besides the fact that Neve Campbell is in it.

Just to be clear, I’m not a witch. OK, maybe that one time, for Halloween. I really just want to know more about the nature of their powers.

Zoey Luna, Gideon Adlon, Nicholas Galitzine, Charles Vandervaart, Donald MacLean Jr., Hannah Gordon, Julian Grey and Mike Dara also star.

The Craft Release Dates: October 28th, 2020 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020): New Trailer Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Pedro Kristen Wiig…

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Wonder Woman 1084 (2020), Gal Gadot, Warner Bros. Pictures
Wonder Woman 1084 (2020), Gal Gadot, Warner Bros. Pictures

The new trailer for director Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman 1984 is here.

This time we get to meet the two new villains Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman has to face; Pedro Pascal’s Max Lord and Kristen Wigg as The Cheetah.

I’m very excited to see Gadot in action one more time. She really does shine during the combat action sequences.

As for Wiig’s The Cheetah character, so far I’ve tried and failed at not thinking of Cats (2019) when I saw her in full The Cheetah costume. There’s a chance I’ll completely forget about Cats when I get into the the movie of corse. Let’s hope.

Kristen Wiig, Connie Nielsen, Spencer Trinwith, Jamal Alkhaldi, Chris Silcox, Rick Kelvin Branch, Justin Sisk and Thomas Clay Strickland also star.

Wonder Woman 1984 Release Dates: December 25th, 2020 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE SECRET GARDEN (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Secret Garden (2020), Julie Walters, Studio Canal

I had hoped that watching The Secret Garden would take me back to the pre-teen phase of my life. A period when I loved to read.

Having now seen this remake of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel about an orphaned girl who discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle’s estate, director Marc Munden’s movie did take me back. It also reminded me that The Secret Garden was a book I recall having to read for school. However, even though it featured a magical garden, which I imagine young me would have loved. I don’t remember particularly loving the book – and this is why I shouldn’t be surprised to realise that I don’t love Munden’s movie.

The actors including Colin Firth, Julia Walters’s and Dixie Egerrickx performed well enough. I just found this version of the story to be quite simplistic and lacking in depth. In fairness, it is based on a Children’s story. Yet I had hoped to find it more than watchable at best.

My favourite thing about The Secret Garden is the actual garden itself. I mean, who wouldn’t want their own lush, colourful secret garden with magical properties?

Besides my issues with the story, my only other complaint is about the moments the musical score seemed to be unnecessarily loud and overbearing.

Watch The Secret Garden if you’re especially curious. Or, you could watch the 1993 film adaptation of The Secret Garden instead. I hear it’s much better.

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Fantasy, Music, No Spoiler Reviews

BLACK IS KING (2020): The Things I liked…

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Black Is King (2020), Beyoncé Knowles, Disney+
Black Is King (2020), Beyoncé Knowles, Disney+

Beyoncé Knowles, an artist who many years before said that she makes music to empower girls and women has delighted her fans once again, with the release of her new visual album Black is King.

Even though Black is King is dedicated to her young son, Sir – and it features a fair amount of lifting messages for black boys and men, in no way has the queen forgotten about all the girls and women who have looked forward to the new words, moves, messaging, beats and visuals of The Lion King (2019) movie-inspired Black is King.

As expected, there are plenty of great songs on Black is King; including Water featuring Pharrell Williams and Salatiel; Already and Black Parade.

As for a brand new female empowerment anthem, all I needed to hear was the first few seconds of My Power and I knew I’d found my favourite song.

The visuals in Black is King are often so arresting that you may find it hard to look away; even if you may not be loving a song that’s playing in the moment.

Beyoncé fans don’t need telling to watch Black is King. As for film, fashion, poetry and photography fans, watch Black is King for a memorable audio-visual feast. It’s certainly more than a series of music videos playing one after the other.

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Fantasy

PINOCCHIO (2019): New Trailer From Roberto Benigni, Rocco Papaleo, Federico Ielapi…

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Pinocchio (2019), Vertigo Releasing
Pinocchio (2019), Vertigo Releasing

The story of Pinocchio, a wooden puppet that comes to life is making a comeback in a new live-action adaptation.

Directed by Matteo Garrone; key cast includes Roberto Benigni, Rocco Papaleo and Federico Ielapi.

I’m looking forward to being reminded of the details of Pinocchio’s story. I’m also intrigued since I don’t think I’ve seen Benigni in a movie since his Oscar winning work for Life is Beautiful (1997)

Massimo Ceccherini, Marine Vacth, Gigi Proietti, aolo Graziosi and Massimiliano Gallo also star.

Pinocchio Release Dates: August 14th, 2020 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews

PALM SPRINGS (2020): The Thing I Liked…

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Palm Springs (2020), Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Hulu
Palm Springs (2020), Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Hulu

Palm Springs is a comedy and a romance film with the added twist of an infinite time loop to complicate things. I’m sure the purpose of this particular storytelling trope was to make things more interesting. Sadly, for me, I couldn’t be more tired of the infinite time loop concept. 

Yes, Palm Springs does bring a certain twist to the concept, but the whole experience just proved tedious rather than refreshing.

Groundhog Day (1993), the first infinite time loop movie I recall watching did a good job of it. And every movie that it has since inspired, that I’ve seen has turned out to be a disappointment. Especially since I understand the concept almost too well, which then means I feel robbed; both of the element of surprise and the movie I’d hoped to be watching.

There’s no denying that Palm Springs is well-acted. Plus, I did laugh a few times. Though just not enough to make me forget how tedious I find infinite time loop movies. 

My last three complaints about director Max Barbakow’s film include the fact that I didn’t fully buy into the romance. I also found the frantic nature of things exhausting, and finally, that cheesy – dare I say cringe ‘sister speech’ at the wedding towards the end may have caused me to say ‘Ugh! CHEESE! I have a dairy issue!’ 

Infinite time loop movie fans should give Palm Springs a chance, along with others who are simply curious. Who knows, you like many others may not find it as disappointing as I did.

Happy Film Loving

G