Tag Archives: Kurt Russell

THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES 2 (2020): The Things I Liked…

The Christmas Chronicles (2020), Kurt Russell, Netflix

Thoughts that entered my mind while watching The Christmas Chronicles 2:

Yeah! Kurt Russell delivers another fun musical performance, a key highlight.’


My, my; that Santa coat is still as beautiful as the first time I laid eyes on it.’


I’m so glad this movie is better than the first one. Thanks to the story and a good performance by young Darby Camp.’

I’d love that star as my own personal light. Also looks like a perfect ornament.’

Considering the year that 2020 has been, The Christmas Chronicles 2, along with a few other good seasonal movies this year are precisely what my festive season mise en scène-obsessed self have been needing.

It’s a fun adventure for Christmas fans of all ages. Especially, thanks to how positive it is and the way it fully embraces the Christmas spirit. From the engaging adventure story about saving Christmas to the stunning decorations and fun special effects.

Watch The Christmas Chronicles 2. Particularly if, like me, you’re into how beautiful the festive season makes everything look, and all else I’ve mentioned.

The only things I liked a little less than would have been ideal are the performances by the big brother character and the naughty elf. Both were okay. However, just not as fully believable at times as young Camp and the others.

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES 2 (2020): New Trailer From Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Julian Dennison, Tyrese Gibson…

The Christmas Chronicles (2020), Goldie Hawn, Darby Camp, Netflix
The Christmas Chronicles (2020), Goldie Hawn, Darby Camp, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020).


Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are back for The Christmas Chronicles 2.

Directed/co-written by  Chris Columbus and also starring Julian Dennison, plus Tyrese Gibson; this time Kate Pierce is now a cynical teenager. One who finds herself unexpectedly reunited with Santa Claus when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas forever.

Russell’s beautiful beard and gorgeous Santa coat are two things that stood out in a good way in the first The Christmas Chronicles movie.

I also recall a big brother character who seemed too old to be as ‘into Santa’ as he was. He doesn’t appear to be n this movie, and it’s great to see that Santa’s beard and coat haven’t changed one bit.

As for how much fun I’m likely to have with this sequel, let’s just say that based on this trailer, I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Judah Lewis, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Patrick Gallagher, Darby Camp, Michel Issa Rubio, Teya Wild, Amanda Cleghorn, Christy St. John, Jahzir Bruno, Megan Serena Trainer and Romy Sanchez also star.

The Christmas Chronicles 2 Release Dates: November 25th, 2020 (US), Netflix…

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES (2018): The Things I Liked…

The Christmas Chronicles (2018), Kurt Russell
The Christmas Chronicles (2018), Kurt Russell

In The Christmas Chronicles, siblings who try to catch Santa Claus on camera on Christmas Eve find themselves on an unforgettable adventure with him instead.

The first highlight of The Christmas Chronicles is the ‘performance’ while in jail. The second is ‘the world in Santa’s bag,’ the third is the very adorable way the words ‘Papa Noel’ are uttered towards the end. And last but not least is that very glorious red leather coat on Santa’s back. Santa’s beard is quite something too, but that coat!

When I wasn’t busy admiring the aforementioned, I was thinking that overall The Christmas Chronicles isn’t a terrible Christmas movie’. I mean, yes, there was a moment or a few when one of the young actors didn’t deliver their lines in a particularly believable way.

There was also a part of me that felt as though the older sibling was probably too old for some aspects of the story. Still, all these ‘inconveniences’ didn’t stop me from watching till the end. I guess I was just very much in the mood for Christmas.

Watch it if you’re so curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G

DEEPWATER HORIZON (2016): New Trailer Starring Mark Wahlberg, Dylan O’Brien, Kate Hudson…

Deepwater Horizon (2016), Mark Wahlberg
Deepwater Horizon (2016), Mark Wahlberg

Deepwater Horizon is the latest from Mark Wahlberg, the story about the explosion of the drilling rig that caused the worst oil spill in US history.

Teaser trailer

I like what they’ve done concept-wise with this teaser trailer. Yet, I don’t currently find myself particularly excited about the movie, at least not yet. Perhaps the release of the non-teaser will change that – and it has.

No doubt the ending will be heroic. I’m really hoping that Gina Rodriguez’s character doesn’t die.

John Malkovich, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell and Dylan O’Brien also star.

Deepwater Horizon Release Dates: September 30th, 2016 (US & UK); September 29th, 2016 (GER); October 12th, 2016 (FR)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015): For Tarantino’s Mastery Of Storytelling, Suspense…

The Hateful 8 (2015), Samuel L. Jackson
The Hateful 8 (2015), Samuel L. Jackson

I think that my initial lacklustre enthusiasm after seeing the first teaser trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film, The Hateful Eight likely had more to do with the film’s genre than anything else.

Admittedly, the Western will probably never be my first choice in film genre. Nevertheless, I have absolutely zero regrets after watching The Hateful Eight and Tarantino’s previous movie, Django Unchained (2012), also a Western.

Good servings of expert story-telling, entertaining dialogue, great music and camerawork are all very present in The Hateful Eight – A film I consider a well-sculpted two-plus hours of suspenseful entertainment with an ending you will love.

The cinematography in the movie also manages to stand out even though everything in the film happens at precisely 3 locations.

I liked the pace and the way things really started to build up, especially around the moment that the audience started to hear ‘Silent Night’ on the piano. The tension and suspense at this point are really something to experience, and part of the reason Tarantino is considered a master filmmaker.

The Hateful 8 (2015), Walton Goggins
The Hateful 8 (2015), Walton Goggins

If you haven’t already guessed, I think that The Hateful Eight is a movie worth seeing. Certainly, one I’ll be watching again very soon. I don’t know if it’s quite Tarantino’s best, but perhaps that would depend on one’s preferred movie genre.

Walton Goggins’s portrayal of Sheriff Chris Mannix, Tim Roth’s Oswaldo Mobray and  Samuel L. Jackson’s Major Marquis Warren are my favourite of The Hateful Eight characters. The first two are because of the humour, and the latter, thanks to the dialogue, style and undeniable cool.

Watch The Hateful Eight for the storytelling and filmmaking mastery. Lastly, if you can make out the first lines of dialogue that come out of the mouth of Jody, played by Channing Tatum, please let me know in the comments below because I really tried yet failed to make sense of any of it.

Happy Film Loving,

G