First of all, ‘Candyman’ is a cult classic film that sees a vengeful spirit perpetuating his own existence through fear and murder. The titular character is a face of fear for all who bear witness to him and we get to experience that in an all new way 30 years later. Rising filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) directs this contemporary incarnation of the cult classic. The housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand for as long as people can remember. This story follows visual artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; HBO’s Watchmen, Us) and his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris; If Beale Street Could Talk, The Photograph) after they move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition.
Anthony’s painting career is on the brink of stalling, until he hears the ghost story from an old-timer who has lived in the neighborhood for years. Armed with the knowledge that he is easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror, he starts to explore the details of the “Candyman” in his art studio. Exploring the grisly history that has been set out before him does a lot of harm, eventually causing him to question his own sanity. Not only that, but he may just end up meeting up with a destiny that he didn’t know he had waiting for him.
‘Candyman’ stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colman Domingo. The movie is presented by Universal Pictures, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld’s Monkeypaw Productions, in association with BRON Creative, Candyman. Candyman is directed by DaCosta, and is produced by Ian Cooper (Us), Rosenfeld and Peele. The screenplay is written by Peele & Rosenfeld and DaCosta and is based on the 1992 film Candyman, written by Bernard Rose, and also based upon the short story “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. ‘Candyman’ will release to theaters on June 12th, 2020.
Monster movies usually involve a variety of different plots, but usually it is a plot that involves a monster destroying something. This time isn’t necessarily different, but they aren’t destroying cities or intentionally trying to hurt people. In this movie, monsters are pretty much superstars who wrestle one another for large crowds of people. ‘Rumble’ sees one girl’s attempt to turn a monster underdog into a world champion.
‘Rumble,’ as already stated is a movie about a young girl who wants to follow in her father’s footsteps. She wants to take a monster who is out of shape and is an absolute underdog and turn him into a monster wrestling champion. She will have to work very hard in order to get him in shape, but she might just be able to find a champion within. With the whole world ready to watch them, will they be able to get him ready to become a superstar the likes of which the world has never seen.
‘Rumble’ stars a large cast including Will Arnett, Terry Crews, Geraldine Viswanathan, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Tony Danza, Becky Lynch, Susan Kelechi Watson, Stephen A. Smith, Jimmy Tatro, Ben Schwartz and Michael Buffer. The film is directed by Hamish Grieve who is known for his work on ‘Shrek 2,’ ‘Monsters vs. Aliens,’ and ‘Rise of the Guardians.’ With a screenplay by Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Men in Black 3), the movie is being produced by Paramount Pictures through their animation department. As of now, the movie is scheduled for release on January 29th, 2021.
By George Robbins
[usr 4.2]
So, I am willing to admit that ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ was definitely better than I thought it would be. I know that it was made for kids to watch, but who are we kidding, it was a movie that was made to draw in a massive variety of people. For instance, kids are the most obvious targets to get seats sold out in theaters, then we have people who played the original video games that want to see how the movie is adapted comparatively, and finally we have people that simply want to see a video game movie. Video game movies historically haven’t done well, but this one is actually pretty decent. Spoilers ahead by the way.
As I just said, historically video game movies haven’t been responded to very well. These movies include ‘Super Mario Bros.,’ ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,’ and the ‘Resident Evil‘ movies. However, that bad track record seems to have turned around a bit especially after last year’s ‘Detective Pikachu.’ ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ had a bit of a rocky start before the movie’s release due to the fact that the original Sonic design looked so terrible and nothing like the original character. Now, the character fits in much better with the entire aesthetic of the movie and surprisingly enough fits in well with the world around him.
To be honest the main characters, Sonic and Tom, played by Ben Schwartz and James Marsden, have a good dynamic, but is too much of a buddy cop style relationship. That is just in my opinion, but they did the characters well, especially Sonic’s sarcastic and relatively innocent attitude. Meanwhile, Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik portrayal was a unique take on the character that I feel like only Carrey can pull off. He pulls off the insanity angle of a mad scientist very well and creates a villain that we we expect given that this movie is based off of a game.
There are plenty of references to the game throughout the movie, whether big or small. For instance, the rings he collects are obvious and are meant to be a part of the plot, but things like the town they live in is called Green Hills, or a sign that says Hill Top. The name of Eggman being given to Robotnik is another reference. The music and sound effects are also very reminiscent of the original game.
Finally, I just want to cover some issues I had plus some final thoughts that I had on the movie. First of all, the creators of the movie did a few things to make sure that people knew who the bad guys were, such as literally labeling Robotnik’s lab as an “Evil Lab.” Yet again, I know it is a kid’s movie, but that seems a little excessive. I also feel like the plot of a good guy being hunted by the government for doing something good seems a bit overused. That aside, this adaptation was done very well, considering the premise of the games, they did it in a way that kind of makes sense by having the titular character be an alien from some far away place that uses ring technology to travel across the universe. I highly recommend that people go and see this movie for themselves to decide of it is a worthy adaptation. For more information on the movie, click here.
Sony Pictures is responsible for a multitude of different animations, including but not limited to, ‘Hotel Transylvania,’ ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,’ and ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Now, we are going to get another original animation from them i the form of ‘Connected.’ This movie has a plot that sounds a bit like ‘Terminator’ at the first look, but it definitely won’t be that gritty. From what we know thus far, the movie follows a dysfunctional family who are just trying to get along with one another. While this is happening, however, technology starts to rise up around the world.
The Mitchell family ends up going on a road trip after daughter, Katie, gets accepted into the film school of her dreams. However, her hopes to meet her “people” are dashed when her father decides they should all go together. With her father, mother, little brother, and family pug, they are supposed to be bonding, but this doesn’t go as planned. Technology all over the world starts rising up while they are on their trip.With the help of two friendly malfunctioning robots, the Mitchells will have to get past their problems and work together to save each other and the world.
‘Connected’ stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric Andre, and Olivia Colman. The movie is directed by Mike Rianda who is also the director responsible for the animated series ‘Gravity Falls.’ The producers for the film are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who are responsible for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Lego Movie. ‘Connected’ is set to be released on September 18th, 2020.
1. Sonic the Hedgehog– ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ is going strong in its second weekend in the box office, having made $26.5 million for a total of $106.5 million.
2. The Call of the Wild– ‘The Call of the Wild’ did relatively well in its first week by bringing in $24.8 million bringing its gross amount to the same.
3. Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn– ‘Birds of Prey’ has dropped down the list another spot after bringing in $6.8 million for a total of $72.3 million.
4. Bad Boys for Life– ‘Bad Boys for Life’ brought in another $5.8 million for a, now, grand total of $191.2 million.
5. Brahms: The Boy II– ‘Brahms: The Boy II’ didn’t do so well from the start, having only brought in $5.8 million.
6. Fantasy Island– ‘Fantasy Island’ didn’t fare so well in its second week with $4.3 million for a total of $20.3 million.
7. 1917– ‘1917’ follows closely behind with $4.2 million which brings its total to $151.8 million.
8. Parasite– ‘Parasite’ brought in $3.0 million this past weekend which brings its total to $48.8 million.
9. Jumanji: The Next Level– ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ continues to stay in the top 10 with $2.9 million, which brings its gross amount to $310.8 million.
10. The Photograph– ‘The Photograph’ is not doing well in its second week having brought in $2.8 million for a total of $17.6 million.
Outside of a parish in Fatima, Portugal during World War I there was a supposed encounter that changed the lives of an entire town. ‘Fatima’ tells the story of a 10-year-old girl and her two younger cousins. They claimed to have witnessed multiple visitations from the Virgin Mary. This causes a problem with the people in town when secularist government officials and church leaders want them to recant their story. Word of their sighting manages to spread, however, and people far and wide here about it.
The message that was brought by these supposed visitations was that the war would end only through prayer and suffering. As a result of word spreading through the country, religious pilgrims try their all in order to get to the town. This experience transforms their quiet lives and brings the attention of a world yearning for peace in a time where the world felt like it was on the brink of collapse. The movie is based off of supposed real life events that tested peoples’ faith.
‘Fatima’ stars Joaquim de Almeida (“Queen of the South”), Goran Višnjić (Beginners), Stephanie Gil (Terminator: Dark Fate) and Lúcia Moniz (Love, Actually), with Sônia Braga (Aquarius) and Harvey Keitel (The Piano, The Irishman). The film was directed by Marco Pontecorvo, Dick Lyles, and Stefano Buono. Produced by a team comprised of James T. Volk, Stefano Buono, Maribel Lopera Sierra, Marco Pontecorvo, Rose Ganguzza, and Natasha Howes through Picturehouse. ‘Fatima’ will premiere in theaters on April 24th, 2020.
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