“Waves of Change” – “Everything, Everything” Movie Review

With the vaguest of titles, Everything, Everything doesn’t offer a lot of promise by name alone. But is there ever going to be one that can explain the story of a teenager with an immune disorder, falling for the boy next door? Not really, but this very distant Little Prince reference will have to do. And with its mix of basic posters yet heavy load of trailers, this YA adaptation has quite the hill to climb – especially since its lead character can’t even go outside. But does all of that mean this film is a failure from the start? Well no, the case is quite the most lovely (though flawed) of opposites.

“The Prophecy” – “King Arthur” Movie Review

Guy Ritchie is a man with a particular set of filmmaking skills. With his smart dialogue, high energy action and distinct visuals, he’s one of those directors that stands out.  You know a Guy Ritchie movie when you see it. Sometimes this unique perspective works, while more recently it has resulted in some interesting flops. But do Ritchie’s sensibilities mix well with Camelot’s greatest hero? This is the question many a viewer will ponder while watching King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,  as it seems neither Guy Ritchie nor his fellow producers have such an answer.

“Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” Teaser Trailer Drops

Yes, fellow Jedi and Sith. The trailer we’ve been waiting two years for has finally arrived, and of course—like most Star Wars things—it is glorious. But for those of you who haven’t been stalking the internet, the teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode VIII : The Last Jedi debuted at the annual Star Wars Celebration convention. What did the trailer and the panel show? Does Rian Johnson have what it takes to direct a Star Wars movie? What will Luke’s first words be? Watch the trailer below to find out….

“They Stole It” – “Ghost in the Shell” (2017) Movie Review

As a kid of 90’s origin, I’ve grown up with Japanese animation for quite some time. From the typical Toonami programming my childish brain lived on, to the cultural evolution it took when going into Miyazaki’s more mature titles, anime shaped me into one heck of a person. Though other titles were more influential to my personal story than others, part of that growth involved a title called Ghost in the Shell.

“Tale as Old as Time” Rewind – 2017 Live Action Disney Version

So… I’ve seen the 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast more than once. In fact, I’ve seen it a lot and now I’ve given myself enough time to let my inner fangirl voice take a deep breath. And with the film having opened with $178 million domestically at the box office, I think it is about time I gave it a proper review. So yes, for the final Rewind, we’re going dive into the world of the new Disney Emma Watson/Dan Stevens version. Prepare your nostalgic tissues, folks!

“Tale as Old as Time” Rewind – 1991 Disney Animated Film

The time has come for me to discuss that movie – Disney’s 1991 adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. This is the reason this blog series is here after all, and I can’t do a review of filmed versions of this story without mentioning it. So grab your nostalgia goggles, some love for classic Disney animation, and a nice spot of tea – so we can enjoy the magic and charm of the first animated feature film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Like you’ve seen over the last few weeks, the best adaptations of fairy tales are the ones that take risks and are embraced by a whole new generation for those differences from the source material. And Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is among the best examples of this. The reason being for the huge changes were all due to the drama involved in the pre-production stage for the film.

You see, back in the 1930’s, Walt Disney himself attempted to make his own feature length animated film of the classic French tale. But ultimately he left it “in the vault” so to speak, considering the story almost impossible to crack by his standards. But the team at Disney Animation decided to blow the dust off of Walt’s work, and finally put the movie into production. But as with any great movie, this adventure wasn’t easy.

“Tale As Old As Time” Rewind: “La Belle et La Bete” 1946 Version

We’ve now arrived to a point in which I can talk about a crown jewel. Yes, many of you have wondered when I’d be bringing up this version—and now, it is time. This week on Tale As Old As Time Rewind, we’re going to examine the beloved classic version of Beauty and the Beast made in 1946. Directed by Jean Cocteau, this is considered, next to Disney’s, the most iconic rendition—and for good reason. Most other adaptations wouldn’t exist without Cocteau’s being created. And with that, we should give it some respect. So let’s take a look at what many consider to be the best version of Beauty and the Beast to ever be made.

“Tale as Old as Time” Rewind – “Panna a Netvor” The Czech Version

Since the last couple of Rewinds have featured more cheesy versions of this classic fairy tale, I thought this week we’d examine one that is a little more on the darker side of things—and is actually my favorite version of Beauty and the Beast of all time. It features a lot of differences from the original, but the kind that actually make it—dare I say—better in some aspects. And though it reflects a few staples that were going on in the international horror genre at the time, the movie still retains a timeless elegance and definitely sticks out among other BatB adaptations.

So without further ado, we’re going to travel to Europe, and look at one of the most unique takes on this story you’re probably ever going to hear about. This is Panna a Netvor, the 1978 Czech version!

“Tale as Old as Time” Rewind: The Hello Kitty Versions…. with Squirrels!?

I’m sure many of you are wondering what the heck the title of this article is alluding to – but trust me, this is gonna be a fun installment in this series. Why? BECAUSE IT IS HELLO KITTY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT! Yes, the iconic symbol of cute from Japan even took a few unique takes on the “Tale as Old as Time”. We’re going to focus on one in particular (aka the cooler version, by my standards) and see how Miss Kitty herself spins this classic story. And as promised, there are squirrels involved. Let’s jump right into this week’s Tale as Old as Time Rewind! 

“She Taught Me How To Love” – “Fifty Shades Darker” Movie Review

Happy Valentines Day from the DG Movie Department. Consider this terrible movie review a present from yours truly. 

Ah yes, Fifty Shades. The franchise that started in 2015 is back on the big screen, here to take your hard-earned dollars and get things steamy for you and your sweetheart during Valentines Day. And if you remember from last time, Anastasia and Christian’s relationship didn’t exactly leave me wanting more. But somehow it made buckets of cash – leaving millions of horny housewives gleaming with joy. And as a result, Fifty Shades Darker (the sequel) got green-lit. Can it capture the same magic and spark that so many people felt the first time? While you ponder that, I’m going to grab a box in which to store my sanity.