In the latest episode of Kieran’s Movie Space, Kieran discusses and reviews the latest dinosaur-filled extravaganza, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Does the latest Jurassic Park movie capture the magic of the original? Will you crap your pants and cheer while doing it? Find out by listening to my review below!
Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is directed by J.A. Bayona and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Ted Levine, Toby Jones, James Cromwell, BD Wong, Daniella Pineda and Isabella Sermon.
Check out the synopsis of the movie below:
Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that’s about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinos while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet.
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Brett Haley’s Hearts Beat Loud offers a heartfelt narrative and fully developed characters who are unassuming which makes for a joyous experience for the audience.
In this era of mega-sequels and long drawn out franchises, releases like these often get lost in the shuffle. However, it’s usually these films which resonate with a broader audience that happen to be cast aside, rather than ones where Chris Pratt is attempting to outrun a Velociraptor. All of these movies serve a purpose and deserve the same level of attention (especially when they are done well). In today’s world, which is dominated by hate and divisiveness, Hearts Beat Loud‘s message of love and being accepted is just the ray of sunshine we need.
Our narrative centers on Frank (Nick Offerman) who runs a record store that’s on its last legs in the trendy section of Brooklyn’s Red Hook Neighborhood. His landlord (played by Toni Collette) breaks the news of an impending rent hike which results in his store having to close. Even with the prospects of economic hardships on the horizon, his mind seems to be on the impending departure of his daughter, Sam (Kiersey Clemons) who is moving to California to study medicine at UCLA. Her father has been raising Sam for almost eleven years following the untimely passing of her mother. Mix in Frank’s mother (Blythe Danner) becoming increasingly out of touch with reality and it seems as if life beginning to spiral away from him.
Haley and Marc Basch’s narrative is a slice of Americana. They present an intriguing look at many of the problems affecting our world ranging from sexuality, elder care, and of course paying the bills. Nothing feels contrived, and there are no easy answers either. Frank’s grappling with the harsh reality of being alone and still after all these years not truly connecting with his daughter. The one thread which appears to connect these two is music. Sam’s father is ready to form a band with his daughter, but she’s slowly preparing to leave Brooklyn behind for sunny California. The struggle these two endure results in some very touching moments which will bring audiences to tears.
The supporting cast gave a strong performance which was crucial because Hearts Beat Loud could have quickly come across as a sappy, melodramatic film with some cool music. Leslie (Collette) is representative of the realities which Frank is facing but chooses to ignore. Dave (Ted Danson) is Frank’s (Offerman’s) closest confidant and is instrumental in helping him keep things in perspective. However, it was the performances of Offerman and Clemons which stood out. Clemons is terrific as the grounded and immensely talented daughter of Frank Fisher. Sam (Clemons) is a practical person, and the idea of forming a band with her dad seems so farfetched. She has such pain pent up from the loss of her mother that it affects her gaze. It’s evident that there is more to going so far away for college than studying medicine. Offerman’s portrayal of Frank shows a depth to his understanding of grief. Some people choose to tackle the loss of a loved one in the least healthy possible, avoidance. Frank likes keeping things consistent because it doesn’t require him to adjust. The departure of his daughter threatens this. Seeing Offerman’s character scramble to persuade his daughter to form a band is equal parts touching and soul-crushing. He honestly feels they can connect over Music and it’s that very thing Frank has wanted for the longest time. Offerman’s portrayal is rich with emotion and represents dads everywhere who struggle with relating to their children.
Keegan Dewitt’s music is filled with such exuberance and mirrors the themes touched on during the film. Overall, Hearts Beat Loud is the type of experience which sits with you and never lets go. Haley gained a ton of buzz after his work on The Hero, but Hearts Beat Loud strikes such a nerve that word of mouth will only help the film grow. My hope is this ultimately leads to a broader audience for a movie which needs to be seen if for no other reason than the message it sends.
Doctor Strange comics have been on an impressive run through a handful of creators. Starting with Jason Aaron’s inventive tenure, to Donny Cates’ recent short and monumentally sweet run, and a little bit from Dennis Hopeless in between, Doctor Strange has been a crucial book for Marvel. The torch is now passed on to Mark Waid.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
As was teased in the previews, Strange takes to the stars to further his search for a way to return magic to Earth. Stephen Strange has been dealing with a dwindling supply of tools for sorcery and now the well is completely dry. He seeks advice from Tony Stark, which leads him un-powered and alone through the cosmos. It’s definitely uncharted territory for Doctor Strange comics.
Mark Waid decides that Strange is down in the dumps without the means to be Sorcerer Supreme. He’s alone and emotional (where the hell is Bats?!), which is an interesting route to start off a story, but not necessarily the most riveting read. This mood shift was inevitable ever since Jason Aaron started us on this path of depleted magic. The problem is that in doing so we lose a lot of what we like about Doctor Strange comics.
Waid doesn’t really play up the same sarcastic tone that Donny Cates did, which makes Doctor Depressed even less appealing. There’s also no supporting cast (outside of a scene with Stark) in this first issue, which also limits the enjoyment readers will find here.
The concept of sending our favorite sorcerer into space is certainly a fun one, but this first issue doesn’t reach the level of energy or excitement that Doctor Strange has recently. Strange’s mystical adventures work best the deeper we dive into the weirdness that our protagonist’s job consists of. All of that fun is stripped and we’re left with one sad, desperate man.
Doctor Strange #1’s biggest highlight is the opening flashback to better times (and a better costume). That’s also where the art shines the brightest. Jesus Saiz isn’t really given much to work with, he keeps the panels pretty stripped down and focused. None of these pages are too busy, which makes for a quick read.
Saiz doesn’t do a bad job, it matches the safe and boring tone of the script. The art is technically sound, although there are moments where it looks like a comic from the early-2000’s when artists first started dabbling with digital. He does a great job with the Stark/Strange scene in making sure we’re never confused at who is who between these very similarly looking characters.
This is by no means a bad comic book, it just doesn’t come close to matching the energy that the previous creators had been injecting into the character. There are plenty of places to go in space so there’s plenty of hope that it’s all uphill from here. We’ve been spoiled with Doctor Strange wackiness lately. Perhaps we’re now coming down from that high, crashing like a Stark-made rocket ship on an uncharted planet.
Ocean’s 8 hits theaters this week. Gary Ross’ film has potential with an all-star cast, but Sandra Bullock and company can do only so much with a bland narrative.
Is Ocean’s 8 worth your time and money? Yes. Are there flaws? Yes. Did I fall in love with Cate Blanchett’s character, Lou? Absolutely!
What worked exceptionally well — and prompted the above questions — is the film’s casting. The fourth film in the Ocean’s franchise stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. Each character is so perfectly flawed with their own problems that you can’t help but get attached to them in the film.
The Ocean’s films have long had a ’60s glamour, and Bullock carries the torch proudly. She dominates her screen time and demands your attention. As an actor who’s often played the damsel in distress or the awkward one, Bullock goes for it as Debbie Ocean, the sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean.
The actor that took me off guard and inspired a newfound appreciation is Blanchett. I know she’s won two Oscars, but she’s never been on my radar. Her character, Lou, is a silent badass that gets the job done. Blanchett crushed it in Thor: Ragnarok and now in Ocean’s 8. The selfish person in me wishes she traded in a few of the Oscar-nominated performances for brainless action films. Blanchett is a great actor and dominates whatever genre she is put in. Ocean’s 8 needs to do well at the box office simply so Lou’s story continues.
Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter all put in great performances too. Awkwafina’s performance will earn her mainstream attention, and rightfully so.
The faults in the film sit in the hands of Ross and co-screenwriter Olivia Milch. The script is generic and builds no tension. One of the essential parts of any heist film is the thrilling caper. At no point in this movie are you on the edge of your seat because someone is going to get caught. Furthermore, every curveball that was thrown at Bullock’s crew to make the heist harder was easily fixed with a gadget and/or a few lines of dialogue. As the director, Ross needed to be hammering away at the tension, and he did not.
Overall, Ocean’s 8 is a stylish character-driven film that is worth the price of admission but sadly won’t build lasting memories.
On June 8, just over a year since its cancellation and then the sudden revival, the Sense8 special finale is coming to Netflix. After two jaw-dropping seasons of unraveling mystery, will a two-hour special be enough to wrap up the loose ends and bring closure to all eight sensates?
It’s hard to say. The ambitious Wachowski project was canceled early into its run, and it was amazing that it got the special at all. Also, there are (unsubstantiated) rumors going around that there is still hope for a third season.
All that being said, here are some predictions for what the two-hour Sense8 special on June 8th will hold.
More Cluster v. Cluster Combat
Sense8 Season 2 gave us an incredible cluster versus cluster battle with the great introduction of Lila and her cluster of sensates. It’d be a shame if the Sense8 special finale didn’t follow up on some more of that. It’s nice to see the sensates evenly matched against somebody and having to draw on all of their skills.
With the number of clusters apparently working for the evil corporation BPO, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be at least one showdown. Bring it on!
Who is the Chairman?
The trailer features a reference to The Chairman, who appears in voice only saying the distinctly spooky line, “For millennia, my kind have subjugated yours.” The line is distorted beyond recognition, and the Chairman himself doesn’t appear in the trailer or in any casting information.
So, who has been cast as the Chairman for the Sense8 special? Some fans think it’s Hugo Weaving, the long-time Wachowski actor. Others are betting on Christopher Walken.
However, there’s another potential reason to keep the Chairman’s secret: they’ve already appeared in the show. Jonas has already made some incredibly shady decisions. Has he been pulling the strings all along? Or, even worse, is Angelica dead at all?
We’ll find out when the special airs!
Nomi Will Birth The Next Cluster
It would be appropriate for the Sense8 special to end as the show began; with the birth of a new cluster. Nomi and Amanita celebrated their engagement last season (aww), and it would be a fantastic shout-out to inclusiveness to have Nomi, somebody assailed on all sides by accusations of not being a ‘real’ woman, have the opportunity to give birth to children of her own.
There’s more to it than that. Nomi’s tech skills connect everybody around the world, much like their sensate powers do. And while all of the sensates have a connection to their mother Angelica, Nomi and Riley have the closest relationship to her. Riley has followed up on this connection with both the Season 1 finale and her subplot as Will’s caretaker – now it’s Nomi’s turn.
What do you think will happen in Sense8‘s last outing – or whether it will be the last outing at all? Comment below!
The “Shattered Grid” event from BOOM! Studios continues and the inexperienced team of Go Go Power Rangers are not prepared for the evil from another dimension. Will they be able to defeat this new threat or be destroyed in the process?
As the team works to keep their normal lives together, they find themselves overwhelmed by the awesome destructive power of The Gravezord.
Writing
With two Power Rangers series being published at the same time, it is essential that each focuses on different elements of what makes the franchise so entertaining. With Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the focus is more on dimensional crossing action and the vast mythology such a long-running story has amassed. Issue 10 of Go Go Power Rangers helps to showcase what its mission continues to be: a look at the human drama which comes being forced into a war between good and evil.
Writer Ryan Parrot offers a lot of great character moments to highlight the inner turmoil the Rangers have to face while at the same time fighting against monsters. Jason asking for Zordon’s help with his dad’s medical condition, Matt telling Kimberly about how he’s investigating the Power Rangers, and Zack having to apologize to his date for ditching her during the dance all bring light to the personal struggles these characters face. This is without even mentioning the intense action which comes from the Dinozords fighting against the Gravezord, a combination of several different zords from another dimension. Needless to say, the balance of action and drama comes out elegantly.
Artwork
The artwork helps the fight scenes to stand out and deliver some impressive blows. The inks and pencils by Dan Mora help to express how outclassed the Dinozords are, as they face against the Gravezord. A lot of great robot on robot destruction occurs thanks to the attention to detail.
The colors by Raul Angulo accentuates the emotion which is taking place in different scenes. This is especially true as Zordon suffers an attack and the color work convey the pain the ancient sage experiences.
The lettering work by Ed Dukeshire is integral to controlling the flow of the narrative. The line deliveries happen in an organic and natural way which aids the art in syncing everything together.
Conclusion
The series keeps pushing the team to their limits and offers an intriguing story the entire time. Though Mighty Morphin Power Rangers has the more epic side of this event, Go Go Power Rangers is supplying great character moments and drama. This is one crossover event which is properly making sure of every issue to tell an incredible story.
In Batman #48 by Tom King, Mikel Janin, and June Chung, the Joker makes his first bold move toward crashing the Batman/Catwoman wedding by taking a very unexpected hostage.
Batman #48 The Best Man Part 1 Written by: Tom King Art by: Mikel Janin Colors by: June Chung Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Batman and Catwoman decide it might be better to elope rather than go through some big, stodgy wedding ceremony, but no sooner do they put their marriage on the fast track than The Joker appears! And when The Joker kidnaps the Caped Crusader, will he give his old foe a piece of his mind or bash in his brains?
Page from Batman #48
Writing
The first thing you will notice when you finish this book is that it is essentially one long monologue delivered by the Joker. The book starts with the Joker having taken a church by force; we open with a frightened church goer praying and quoting scripture. What King has done in this issue is make Joker the main character. He’s in almost every panel and certainly on every page. And as much as King’s portrayal of Joker in War Of Jokes and Riddles was fantastic, what he does here is even better. Joker is unhinged, violent, and funny; exactly as he should be. The body count is high in this issue as is the fright factor. It’s seriously one of the best Batman/Joker standoffs in years. Oh, and the ending sets up a puuurfect encounter as well!
Page from Batman #48
Art
Mikel Janin and colorist June Chung have created some of the best Batman pages ever. Their Joker has echoes of Brian Bolland’s medium-defining version in The Killing Joke but still has subtleties that make it completely unique. Just take a look at Joker’s wide-eyed expressions and body language. They also fill the background with gorgeous, detailed backgrounds and atmospheric settings. These are images to be poured over slowly and several times.
Notice has to be given to letterer Clayton Cowles as well, as this is an issue with a heavy amount of word balloons, sound effects, and narration boxes. All of it works beautifully with the art and is an integral part of why it all works.
Conclusion
As much as this issue is very firmly placed in the build-up toward the wedding, Batman #48 really works as an excellent stand-alone standoff issue between two of the greatest enemies in comic book history. Pick it up today.
In a year packed with comic book movies, one that is being forgotten is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film will bring the debut of fan-favorite Miles Morales, who will enter a universe that is much bigger than he once thought.
The movie’s first trailer grabbed fans with its stunning visuals and unique style. With the second trailer debuting today, did it stand up to the first? You be the judge! Check out the new trailer for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versebelow:
The trailer confirms the rumor that New Girl star Jake Johnson will be taking on the role of Peter Parker in the film. He will join a cast that includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Liev Schreiber, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez and Lily Tomlin.
Here is the synopsis for the film:
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.
Did this trailer get you excited for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Let us know in the comments!
DC’s Rebirth era has been more hit than miss, but with a major Achilles Heel. The publisher’s flagship title, Justice League, had been an inconsistent snooze-fest. Enter one of DC’s top talents, hot off of Dark Knights: Metal and Justice League: No Justice, Scott Snyder.
Justice League #1 comes out of the gate strong, hellbent on breathing new life into the universe’s super powered population. In the era of superhero movie domination, both Marvel and DC have focused more on their big-name characters, shrinking the number of active peripheral characters. This has made the universe feel small and eventually stale.
The tide seems to be turning lately, the flood gates opening more and more. Scott Snyder has been at the forefront of DC’s recent efforts to widen their focus and repopulate a once flourishing world. Snyder’s Justice League looks to be the series leading the charge.
Returning character favorites, lineup shuffles, Earth-shattering threats, and the good ol’ Legion Of Doom. Snyder’s introductory issue promises the classic flagship title we’ve all been hungry for without playing it safe.
Snyder sets the stage in spectacular fashion. Martian Manhunter, the new JL Chairman, is the heart of the issue (and rightfully so). The weight that his return carries is not lost on the writer; patient fans will be satisfied with his comforting presence. As he’s done in the past on his brilliant Batman run, Snyder takes us into Martian Manhunter’s head and shows us the character’s complicated dilemma.
Justice League #1 has a cruising tempo, not too fast or slow of a pace. Tension starts to rise towards the issue’s cliffhanger through a strong script and well-orchestrated dialogue. There’s a sense of pride that shines through in this issue, for both fans and the creative team.
Artist Jim Cheung more than pulls his weight in making this feel like a classic DC staple as well. There’s not a ton of action in the issue, but the spectacle of this story is palpable. Our cast in concerned with the impending doom headed their way, but even they seem to take a second to look around at their familiar settings and get a warm feeling.
When our true antagonists show their teeth, Cheung is the one to sell it. It’s a superbly satisfying display of villainy that’ll surely be a page every reader remembers. Tomeu Morey’s coloring and Mark Morales’ inks make these beautifully crafted panels sing. They give Cheung’s pencils a bold and striking edge.
What plagued the preceding Justice League title was a limited cast with alternating creative teams that never really hit the nail on the head, despite a few solid stories. There was no connective tissue that really stuck and no compelling dynamic within the “vanilla” core of heroes. Snyder doesn’t go to work without an extensive blueprint, which is exactly what this comic needs.
Justice League #1 is exactly what it needed to be. Scott Snyder and his creative team do not disappoint on the big stage when DC needs a JL resurrection. The Hall Of Justice’s doors are open again, to everyone, and the DC Universe is much better for it.
There is plenty of action in the second chapter of The Man of Steel, but the mystery has little progress.
The first issue of The Man of Steel laid the groundwork for the introduction arc into Bendis’ Superman run. A long time ago, a warrior named Rogol Zaar believed Krypton would advance and take over the Galaxy. He proposes the idea to eradicate the planet to a galactic circle of elders, who shoot down the idea. In the present, we see Superman investigate a slew of fires believed to be arson while reporting it as Clark Kent. All the while, he thinks of his wife and child who has gone missing from the public. What could have happened to Clark’s family that has him so focused on his job as The Man of Steel?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
Continuing the two stories of the past and present, we see both turn towards each other. In the past, the galactic circle is thrown into array due to Krypton’s destruction. One member, Lord Gandelo, blames Appa Ali Apsa for the destruction, as he was the last to see Rogol. The Guardian of the Universe then points out that if Rogol did destroy Krypton, that means an unstoppable soldier has gone rogue. In the present, Superman continues to do his jobs, both as the Man of Steel and Clark Kent. However, in both identities, he has been avoiding the topic of what happened to his family. As a result, the Justice League and the Daily Planet have begun to investigate.
There is some fun in this issue, thanks to some fantastic action scenes sprinkled throughout. The fight with Toyman reminded me how interesting of a character he is and how the battles in Superman should be larger than life. I had a big grin on my face as the Man of Steel faced off against a giant toy gorilla. It made me feel like a child reading his first comic.
There is some progression in the mystery of what happened to The Kents, but not by much. The flashback of what happened to Lois and Jon continues with the family seeing a weird alien device appear before them. As intriguing as the Rogol Zaar story is, we need answers to the mystery that has been laid out for months. This reviewer fears that the longer this mystery is dragged out, the harder it will fall.
Art:
We have a trio of artists working on this issue, and it feels a bit off. While the flashback artist does a good job, the other two have to match each other. Doc Shaner illustrates the first half, which gives off a colorful classic Superman feel, but it transitions to Steve Rude in the back half, which has gone a bit overboard regarding inks. If it were one artist or the other, it would be great, but being just different enough, it throws off the book.
Conclusion:
While the scenes of Superman action are great, this issue was a bit of a letdown. We have been waiting for answers since DC Nation #0, but that’s a story that is being pushed further into the background. Hopefully, the mystery won’t be dragged out for much longer, or at the least be related to the other two. The Rogol Zaar and present-day Superman story are aimed towards each other; now it’s time to figure out the missing link.
