The Incredibles 2 Review
The story was a bit slow in the first half. By the second half, it really picked up and went all out. Jack-Jack has some of the funniest scenes.
Animation is amazing of course, especially in 3D.
It was a fun film but not as good as the first one. You’ll guess the twist and ending really early in the film. Plus the trope of leaving dad at home alone to bumble his way through with the kids is a tired one.
Lucious (Frozone) gets a bigger role and they introduce a lot of other Supers. Since they are all forced into hiding though, it does have an X-Men feel about it.
The voice talent all returns – Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson. Plus Winston the wealthy man is voiced by Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul).
It’s a fun way to kill two hours although not the most memorable. Most of the fresh reviews on Rotten Tomatoes echo that thought. Recommended.
Movie News
At long last Entertainment Weekly has given us our first look at the deep sea pirate and mercenary David Kane, a.k.a. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II)
The movie is getting a lot of buzz and great response from early viewers, so I’m really stoked. Aquaman is my favorite super hero and it’s good to know they are doing it right.
This article on JoBlo amused me - Top 10 Types of Movie Fans That Need To Chill The F*ck Out (Sorry, their words, not mine.)
Movie fans can be some of the most accepting and interesting people you will ever meet. A true movie fan can talk intelligently for hours about any type of movie. But, there is a darker side to fandom. There are fans out there who are so full of vitriol and hate that they ruin it for everyone else.
The groups included DC Fans Who Hate Marvel and Marvel Fans Who Hate DC, Franchise Haters (Who Have Never Seen The Films They Hate), and Extreme Conservatives AND Liberals. (Nice to see some fair play on that last one.)
Good! Not cool to leave this series unfinished. It deserves the same royal treatment as Lord of the Rings.
Movie Remakes in the Works
Yes, more movie remakes! Your favorite film from the past is about to become history. Here are some you might not know were coming soon.
Big Trouble in Little China – starring Dwayne Johnson, no release date set.
The Blob – Coming January 2019 and directed by Simon West (Con Air, Expendables II), it will star Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry.
Dune – Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicario, and Blade Runner 2049), this will likely become two films instead of one.
Hellboy – Releasing January 2019 with Neil Marshall (The Descent) directing. David Harbour (Stranger Things) is Hellboy and he’s joined by Ian McShane and Milla Jovovich.
The Lion King – Release date July 2019 and directed by Jon Favreau. This live action piece will star Donald Glover, Seth Rogan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa.
Teaser trailer here.
Pet Cemetery – Releasing April 2019, directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmeyer. It will star Amy Seimetz, Jason Clarke, and John Lithgow.
Shaft – Written by Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow, the release date is June 2019. Directed by Tim Story (The Fantastic Four), it stars Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft.
Movie Remakes That Work
Most remakes result in a crappy, cash-grab film. They are easy money since the script is already written and already needs minor adjustments. Or maybe a studio just wants a reboot. (Spiderman, anyone?) Or they just want to swap things around. The results are mediocre at best.
Sometimes though, we get a gem. A film equal to or even better than the original. I’m going to list a few I think of as good or even better than the original.
The Fly – The original featured Vincent Price and came out in 1958. As with most films of that time, it became dated quickly. The remake starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis was brilliantly directed by David Cronenberg. Not only are the special effects better, but the film takes on a far deeper meaning.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers – Original came out in 1956 and had a lot of political overtones. The first remake in 1978 starred Donald Sutherland and really drove home the fear of an invasion we couldn’t fight. It also featured a bleaker ending. (Another version, Body Snatchers, came out in 1994. While not memorable, it reimagined the setting and placed it on a military base.)
The Thing – The original came out in 1951 and deviated from the source material, a book by John W. Campbell, Who Goes There? The remake in 1982 by John Carpenter followed the story closer and is a masterpiece of horror and suspense. Not to mention the amazing creature effects, done before the days of CGI..
Movie Trivia Answers
Movies featuring artificial intelligence answers:
1 – 1982, Jeff Bridges – Tron
2 – 2014, Alicia Vikander – Ex Machina
3 – 1982, Harrison Ford – Blade Runner
4 – 2002, Milla Jovovich – Resident Evil
5 – 1927, Brigitte Helm – Metropolis
6 – 1986, Ally Sheedy – Short Circuit
7 – 2016, Felicity Jones – Rogue One
8 – 1983, Matthew Broderick – War Games
9 – 1996, Patrick Stewart – Star Trek: First Contact
10 – 1986, Sigourney Weaver – Aliens
Ninjabread!
When looking for something in the pantry, we discovered a kit for making Christmas Ninjabread Cookies that we’d forgotten. So we went ahead and made them. Merry Christmas in June!
Here they come to snuff the rooster... (Name that tune!)
Did you catch The Incredibles 2? Ready for Aquaman, Godzilla, and Narnia? Any of those remakes make you cringe or are there some in need of a remake? What remakes can you think of that were equal to or better than the original? Want a Ninjabread cookie? And how many trivia answers did you get right?
