New Entertainment

018: Untangling the Kingdom Hearts Saga Part 3

Posted By SoraRabbit77 1509 days ago on Entertainment

https://www.sorarabbit.com - Welcome back to my massive overview of the Kingdom Hearts series. In Part 1 I went over the characters and concepts. In Part 2 I went over the first three games, two of which were numbered installments. This will be the rest of the games to this point. Just bear in mind that I will be very sparse in my details on Dream Drop Distance and Part III because those will be later posts.






























This is wildly unsafe. (Credit: Square Enix, Disney)













After Kingdom Hearts II we had several side games while we waited for the next numbered installment. Although these were side games, they were incredibly important and vital to the plot. (They were also fun games in their own right.)

















019: The Crazy Phenomenon of Gwenpool

Posted By SoraRabbit77 1509 days ago on Entertainment

https://www.sorarabbit.com - Gwenpool is a real oddity in comicdom. She's a gender-swapped homage to a composite character... a parody of a parody... meta being meta about meta. Gwenpool is hard to explain unless she's been experienced, but I'm going to attempt to explain her in this post.

Galactic News: Kathleen Kennedy Explains Colin Trevorrow's Star Wars Departure

Posted By themoviesleuth 1587 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Over the last few years, Star Wars has seen its share of problems. From a fan base that's continually at war with itself to several directors either being removed or leaving their assigned projects, the massive franchise has not been safe from turmoil.When The Rise of Skywalker was initially in development, Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow was slated to helm the feature. As it got closer to development, he was taken off the project. While there are numerous stories that have been all over the internet, Kathleen Kennedy has now made a statement regarding why he didn't direct the final movie in the Skywalker saga:"Colin was at a huge disadvantage not having been a part of Force Awakens and in part of those early conversations because we had a general sense of where the story was goin

New Releases: Reality Queen! (2019) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1588 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Nothing defines early 2000’s television more than the uprising of the reality television star:  there have been celebutantes, dating show contestants, and “survivors” of various types infesting the media for the past few decades with no signs of stopping anytime soon.  Proving Andy Warhol’s concept of everyone’s “15 minutes of fame,” we’ve seen an embarrassing assortment of personalities come and go, while others have lingered around us like a stubborn venereal disease over the years.  It is a subject matter that has been oft-parodied, and here we have yet another example of this that nobody asked for.Steven Jay Bernheim’s satirical Reality Queen! explores the highs and lows of the reality star as we follow an heiress’s antics in front of the public eye.  London Logo (

More Knives Out: Rian Johnson Reportedly Developing Sequel Script

Posted By themoviesleuth 1589 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Rian Johnson's latest film has turned into quite the success for the studio and the director. After his Star Wars film, Johnson decided to make a swift turn into a different genre. And it proved to be a financial positive for all those involved. Now, Lionsgate has commissioned Johnson to develop a script for a potential sequel to the hit film. Apparently, the new project would no focus on the same family from Knives Out but would have Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigating a new crime. With huge word of mouth, excellent box office, and critical momentum, Knives Out proved to be a worthwhile venture for all involved. A sequel that sees the Craig character returning to solve another murder mystery would most likely be a welcomed addition. From the time Knives Out was

The Force is Strong: The Rise of Skywalker Will Claim Third Weekend Victory

Posted By themoviesleuth 1590 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Even as the final film in the Skywalker saga continues to separate fans and critics, the movie seems to be cranking out some decent numbers at the domestic box office. While it's still trailing Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, the newest Star Wars movie will claim a third weekend as the champ in the U.S.. With it's numbers faltering a bit, the movie will see another $36 million in ticket sales over the post holiday run. Bringing in another $11 million on Friday alone, Disney and Lucasfilm surely won't be disappointed after once again beating down its competition. However, with the only other big budget contender being Jumanji: The Next Level, it didn't really have too much to contend with. Still, The Rise of Skywalker is not really up to snuff with other entries in the saga. Currently,

Cult Corner: Taking a Ride with the Devil: The Hitcher (1986)

Posted By themoviesleuth 1591 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com -  How do you like "Shitsville"?Although The Hitcher (1986) was panned by most critics on its release, it stands out from the myriad of other '80s slashers because it feels more like an allegory than a straightforward tale of a killer and his victims. The story starts out unassuming as it follows a young man named Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) who is on the road delivering a car from Chicago to San Diego. The skyline on the highway is filled with dark and foreboding storm clouds, a sign of things to come. A torrential rain starts to fall and he sees a lone figure staggering up the road. Impulsively he stops and offers the man a ride. As he opens the door to the sopping wet figure he quips "My mother told me to never do this." His mother was right.The hitcher's name

Cult Cinema: Christiane F. (1981) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1592 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Years before Larry Clark’s Kids dove headfirst into the drug (and sexual) abuses committed by juvenile delinquents, Last Exit to Brooklyn director Uli Edel made one Hell of a debut with his searing and unforgettable chronicle of the 1970s Berlin music/drug scene Christiane F.  A profoundly disturbing swan dive into filth and vermin, the cult classic continues to be referenced in movies and pop culture including The Green Infernoand most recently Climax.  And yet the film itself, one of a kind which could be never made with today’s child labor laws, remains a timeless time capsule of sorts by being about an ongoing epidemic afflicting youths to this day despite taking place in a bygone era.Based upon a series of tape-recorded interviews with the title figure which were published

The Movie Sleuth's Top 5 of 2019

Posted By themoviesleuth 1593 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - The TMS Top 5 of 2019Many of The Movie Sleuth writers have considered 2019 a great year for cinema. From blockbusters, to indie titles, and foreign films, our top 5 shows the same diversity we saw in the theater this year. Although there were dozens of great features to pick from, this is what we came up with by using a group voting system. Hopefully you enjoy our picks. #5 MidsommarIn a follow-up to critically-acclaimed Hereditary, Midsommar delivers as another idiosyncratic horror film. Midsommar also functions as an inverted allegory: wherein the “bigger”, more diegetic story is that of a cultish group who celebrates the Summer Solstice through sacrifice; the “smaller” story, but perhaps the more salient one, is that of a young woman who is trying to figure out her way through a r

Cinematic Releases: A Hidden Life (2019) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1594 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Terrence Malick is and always will be an important contributor to the cinematic medium to learn from and respect.  He has also arguably hit a bit of an artistic rut in recent times following the heights defined by his still divisive Palme d’Or winner The Tree of Life.  With his sprawling and abstract last three films Knight of Cups, Voyage of Time and Song to Song, we saw the once patiently planned and precise filmmaker rapidly churning out films whose signature style bordered on self-parody at best and indulgent at worst.  While not overtly bad (I enjoyed all three), for a filmmaker of Malick’s caliber the films presented for fans as well as detractors what appeared to be a moment of artistic crisis for the director.  Even publications such as Cineastecouldn’t help bu

Film Books: Conversations with Darius Khondji (2018) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1595 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Ever since his work on David Fincher’s 1995 modern neo-noir classic Se7en, the Iranian-French director of photography Darius Khondji became instantly recognized as one of the film industry’s finest cinematographers the movie world had ever seen.  Born in Tehran, Iran to an Iranian father and French mother, the soon-to-be cinema giant moved to France during his youth where he was introduced to the world of moviegoing.  Quickly inspired to start making his own films, Khondji generated a handful of Super-8 short films before making the leap to the United States to study at UCLA, NYU and the International Center of Photography.  It was during this time two of his film professors (one of whom taught Martin Scorsese) persuaded Khondji to follow his true vocation as a film cinemat

Galactic News: The Mandalorian Season 2 Coming Fall 2020

Posted By themoviesleuth 1596 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Disney+ has made millions of Star Wars fans happy. Offering us the first ever live action television series for the brand was one of the best things to happen in a long time. And the show, The Mandalorian proved to be a massive hit for them. Now, with the first season wrapping up this week, it looks like we're finally getting an minor tease for the second batch of episodes. Jon Favreau took to Twitter today to post about the next season which looks to be coming in Fall of 2020. With that said, the future of televised Star Wars looks good. We'll soon be getting the Obi-Wan limited run series, the Cassian Andor show, and potentially another secret project they're working on. Season 2 of #TheMandalorian coming Fall 2020 pic.twitter.com/8VQYLDMQ0V— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) Decembe

TV: The Mandalorian - S01 E08 - Redemption - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1597 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - The first season of the Disney+ Star Wars show The Mandalorian has concluded. And damn, it hit like a ton of bricks. As some have complained that some episodes haven't moved quick enough, this one is pure fire. From front to back, we're given action that lets us know that there are actual stakes with this extension of the universe. Not everyone is going to survive. And that's okay. At long last, Star Wars feels like its getting a makeover that gives weight to the violence on screen. As the first ever live action show set in the galaxy far, far away, the pairing of Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau's work has proven to be nearly impeccable. In only eight short episodes, they've revitalized Star Wars fandom with something we can rally behind as The Rise of Skywalker continues to cause a

Cinematic Releases: Little Women (2019) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1598 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - “I want to do something splendid...something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.”  Steeling her resolve with a sharp breath and a self-assured nod of the head, Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) gathers her nerves and confidently struts headlong into a den of vipers, that parlor of patriarchy known as the publishing house. Her ink-stained hands give the lie to her claim that she's shopping around stories "for a friend," and she squirms uncomfortably while the myopic editor (Tracy Letts) slashes her story to ribbons, only to offer her $20 for his final cut. Knowing better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, she takes the offer, as that's the best a young woman of her station is

One With The Force: The Rise of Skywalker Pushes Past $500 Million

Posted By themoviesleuth 1599 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - With only 8 days behind it, the latest Star Wars movie is hurdling through space towards a great worldwide box office haul. Even though fans are still quite divided over the last entry in the Skywalker franchise, Disney is looking at an excellent tally that will definitely solidify Episode IX as another successful December movie. While it's still trailing the numbers from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, the JJ Abrams directed sci-fi fantasy flick has already crossed the $500 million mark in only 8 days of worldwide release. As of today, it's already at $518 million and still counting. The film raked in $32 million in  U.S. ticket sales on Christmas day alone, bringing its current domestic gross to $258 million already. Looking at social media trends and commentary, it seems

Cinematic Releases: Spies in Disguise (2019) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1600 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - CG animated films are a dime-a-dozen these days – littered in between the big Pixar or DreamWorks releases are generally far less ambitious films from smaller studios, generally short on story and with the barest hint of character development and seemingly extant only for marketing potential (which usually ends up relatively nonexistent anyway). So, it’s difficult to get excited when yet another animated family film hits theatres, particularly around the holidays. 20th Century Fox’s Blue Sky Studios, the creators of the Ice Age and Rio franchises, is banking on its newest release, Spies in Disguise, to work up some hype this holiday season.There have been plans to flesh out Lucas Martell’s 2009 animated short, Pigeon: Impossible for several years, but the resulting feature has very little

They're All Going To Laugh At You: FX Developing Limited Carrie Event Series

Posted By themoviesleuth 1601 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Today, it's being reported that FX is in the early developmental stages of adapting the classic Stephen King novel Carrie to a short run event series. With King properties once again a hot commodity in the film and television world, it appears that the story of Carrie White will once again find itself being remade with an extended look at the teenager's life. This time it will be a limited show that will be hosted on the cable outlet. There is no word yet on the time frame in which the show will make its way to the station but Variety has word that it's in the very beginning process. Carrie has seen multiple film versions including the 1976 classic, the 2002 made for TV movie, and a 2013 remake that starred Chloe Grace Moretz in the classic role. This new version of Carrie joins a sl

Hedging Your Bets for Fun and Profit: Embracing Chaos Theory with Uncut Gems (2019)

Posted By themoviesleuth 1602 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Uncut Gems (2019) opens with an ethereal trip through the cosmos via the facets of a gem that transitions to a colonoscopy and this visual reinforces the film's main theme: in the grand scheme of the universe one’s life means nothing--it's all shit.Adam Sandler (in one of the greatest roles of his career) plays Howard Ratner, a Jewish jeweler who owns a store in New York, and who is also addicted to gambling. He owes a huge amount of money to some loan sharks and the narrative of the film follows him around as he places more and more bets trying to win a huge payoff that will enable him to finally pay everyone what they are owed. The Safdie brothers seemed to be obsessed with exploring chaos theory, more specifically "the butterfly effect" which is the idea that a

Box Office Jedi: The Rise of Skywalker Scores $175 Million Domestic Opening

Posted By themoviesleuth 1603 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - This weekend saw the finale for the Skywalker saga hit cinemas with a massive opening that still fell short of the last two previous entries. Falling behind The Force Awaken's domestic opening of $247.9 million and The Last Jedi's $220 million, the newest film directed by JJ Abrams is coming in short but still seeing a huge opening tally. As of right now, it's being reported that The Rise of Skywalker will take in an estimated $175 million. While many will definitely blame Rian Johnson's choices during The Last Jedi, it is normal for a third entry to see dwindling opening weekend receipts. With a resounding positive reaction from the fandom (the total opposite of Jedi), the trilogy bookend will most likely continue gaining traction with return viewings. If fans really like the movie,

Short Films: The Final Act of Joey Jumbler (2019) - Reviewed

Posted By themoviesleuth 1604 days ago on Entertainment

http://www.spoilerfreemoviesleuth.com - Most teenagers would have a tough time portraying the complexities of the human experience through media, having not lived through enough highs and lows to depict it earnestly.  The same cannot be said for 18-year-old Canadian filmmaker Harley Chamandy, who’s made quite a name for himself during the few years he’s been creating films.  His short film The Final Act of Joey Jumbler is able to pack a gamut of raw emotion and social commentary within its short 11-minute running time, and is a prolific piece for someone his age.Inspired by the real-life story of the lead actor Alain Boucher’s young daughter with leukemia, the film follows a day in the life of Joey Jumbler, a party clown that is forced to smile in his profession when his heart wants to do anything but that.  We f