The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Released: 2018

Director: Eli Roth

Cast: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Kyle MacLauchlin

Who doesn’t love magic? The House with a Clock in Its Walls is based on the 1973 novel of the same name by John Bellairs. The film follows Lewis, a young boy who receives a letter from his maternal uncle after his parents die. He goes off to live with his uncle in a mysterious house with, you guessed it, many many clocks. Why? Well, you find out during the film why there are so many clocks all set at different times.

Let me just start by saying that Eric Kripke wrote the screenplay and anyone who is a Supernatural fan, knows what this means. Easter eggs. From flannel plaid to a patch on Lewis’ backpack with an S and D on it, there are a few that will satisfy the diehard fan. As for the film, it was awesome.

Jack Black plays Jonathan Branavelt, a warlock who is hiding a secret. Trying to stop a clock in the walls of his house left behind by someone he once considered a friend. That friend once thought to be dead is now back and as powerful as ever with the plan to make everyone disappear. With the help of his nephew Lewis and a witch named Florence Zimmerman, Jonathan must stop evil warlock Issac Izard before it’s too late.

Will they be successful? Will Issac take over the world and make humanity disappear? Some may see this film as corny and one of Eli Roth’s more childish of films, probably the only one. With a cast of Jack Black, it was sure to be a hit.

8.5/10 stars!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Released: 2018

Director: J. A. Bayona

Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniella Pineda.

DINOSAURS! Life finds a way! I grew up loving Jurassic Park, from the film to the novel. Though, having been directed by Steven Speilberg it was completely different than the novel as his other adaptations are. As though the man can’t come up with his own material. But that’s not what this post is about, no. It’s about DINOSAURS.

Claire and Owen are back in this one to save the animals from Isla Nublar which is being engulfed by the erupted volcano. It’s been a few years since we were last on the land of yet another failed park, Jurassic World. And we even hear from the mouth of Ian Malcolm that nature should take its course.

Well, I say fuck you, Ian. Henry Wu, our villain from the last film has returned to sell whatever animals were saved to the highest bidders. And we see yet another hybrid creation more distrustful and dangerous than the Indominous Rex. And yes, the dinosaurs haven’t been updated with feathers like scientists have discovered but this isn’t a factual film. I’m sure if Michael Crichton was alive, he’d make an updated novel with the information out there.

Nor can one create such hybrids as these. Though mashing it enough times could have a plausible outcome. It’s a world of fiction. Science Fiction to science fact.

All I can say is TOBY JONES AND JAMES CROMWELL!

And blue!

As a lover of biology and genetics and a huge fan of dinosaurs even at 25, this was a great sequel to the 2015 film and I cannot wait for the last installment to the Jurassic World series.

8.5/10

Table 19

Released: 2017

Director: Jeffrey Blitz

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Craig Robinson, Lisa Kudrow, Wyatt Russell

Weddings. Who doesn’t love weddings? Unless you’re the leftovers that get put at table 19. The film follows a group of strangers, a nanny, a long time friend, a rocky couple, a virgin, and a criminal. A dysfunctional group is placed at a table that shouldn’t have RSVP’d.

Eloise (Kendrick) gets invited to her long-time friend’s Francie’s wedding. One where she was originally to be the maid of honor of. The only catch is her best friend’s brother Teddy (Russell) is her ex-boyfriend.

Jerry (Robinson) and Bina (Kudrow) Kepp are owners of a diner who seem to have a bit of a rocky relationship when they arrive at the reception hall.

Jo was the former nanny of Teddy and Francie who did her best to take care of the children while thinking Teddy was rotten.

Walter is a convicted felon.

Renzo is a young man whose mom is trying to help get him laid/find him a girlfriend.

After wondering why they were placed at table 19 together out of the way, Eloise explains the rundown of the seating charts that she created before being dumped by her boyfriend and dropping out as maid of honor for Francie’s wedding. The gang starts thinking they shouldn’t even be there until they realize the importance of the table doesn’t matter as much as helping Eloise try to get back or get even with Teddy.

I enjoyed this film quite a lot. It’s one of the better drama’s that I actually thought was better than pure comedy. The relationship between Jerry and Bina was so raw and real and the pain that Eloise and Teddy exhibited was both heartbreaking and yet heartwarming. I wanted to jump through the screen and hug every single one of the tablemates.

And come on, the cast was is just golden.

Life of the Party

Released: 2018

Director: Ben Falcone

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Gillian Jacobs, Luke Benward

Before I go into this film, I have to say this. I absolutely love Melissa McCarthy. I grew up with her as Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls and Ben Falcone is a creative man with a great sense of humor. He’s up there with Judd Apatow for me. And the fact that he makes films that his wife stars in is the goal right there.

After dropping her daughter off for her final year at college, Deanna’s (McCarthy) life is turned upside down when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. She had put her life on hold when she had her daughter and had to drop out of finishing her last year at college. But now Deanna is determined to get her life back on track and take matters into her own hand.

Her daughter, however, is not so keen on sharing the campus with her mother. Everything goes slightly smooth as Deanna works through her divorce until the usual school ignorant mean girl decides to judge mother and daughter. After making some friends, she starts to realize how she needs to let go and learn to have fun again.

I think this is one of my more favorite roles for Melissa because it’s not just pure comedy. There’s quite a bit of real drama in it. And Christina Aguilera. Also, it’s really important to do what you can to get an education. No matter what age you are, you can always go back and learn more. I myself am 25 and about to start college for the first time.

8/10

Lady Bird

Released: 2017

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laure Metcalf, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein.

I love my fair share of teen dramas and this was eccentric. So many forbiddens happening in Catholic school. I don’t miss those days. And the things people do to fit in.

People are calling this a coming-of-age story like no other. I, however, beg to differ. I’ve seen films that held the same ground of coming of age as this does. There is one difference and that is that this is set in 2002 and not our modern day where many things are finally accepted. It’s hard to think that 16 years ago these things were still partially taboo. This like being gay, premarital sex, etc.

Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson lives on the wrong side of the tracks where her parents struggle with money and she lives an eccentric life at a Catholic school, wishing like hell to get out of Sacramento. Her relationship with her mom is very rocky. She learns a lot about her life before she graduates high school. Both good and bad things but all life lessons nonetheless. It’s a good movie about fitting in and what happens when you try to be someone you’re not.

Okay so honestly, I wanted to like this movie because I heard it was amazing. I wanted to love this movie. But. I couldn’t. I found it to be just…okay. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it but if there was nothing else on, sure. I applaud the cast and Greta Gerwig for this but it wasn’t for me and it wasn’t unique.

3/10

I Feel Pretty

Released 2018

Director: Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein

Cast: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski.

This film is for anyone and everyone. Okay so maybe not children but you get the idea. The acting was superb but it’s the main point of the film that really hits home to myself and probably many men and women.

It’s these beauty stores, the fitness centers, the magazines, even clothing ads that beat it into our society that you need to look a certain way to be beautiful. Like not eating that extra cookie or that carbs are the devil. IT’S NOT TRUE. You want to rock that crop top and skirt but you’re plus size? Go for it. The point is it’s okay to be yourself and love your flaws.

Yes everyone has flaws. We’re not perfect. Science deems it so! But what we can do is stop judging others for doing something different. It’s the point of having confidence. The more confidence you have in yourself, the more you’ll be noticed whether in a good way or bad. Either way, it’s better to support each other.

I lost count how many times I’ve looked at my thin friends when they say they’re fat and need to lose weight. When they’re a good 50lbs lighter than I am. The ‘rules’ that these industries have set into children is ridiculous. There are people who can’t lose weight no matter what they do and others who can’t gain it. Whether your size is your control or not, have confidence because at the end of the day you are worth it.

This film is amazing. Amy Schumer’s character Renee wants the perfect job, a secretary position at a cosmetics company. She also wants to be noticed. It’s sort of a Big moment only instead of actually changing her appearance, what changes are the way she views herself. She no longer sees her flaws. Instead what she sees is a beautiful woman and she walks with that confidence. Until one day the confidence starts to go to her head and she starts to recreate the people she loves.

I absolutely loved this movie.

9/10