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The Jungle Book (2016)
The Jungle Book (2016)
2016 | Action, Family
Disney’s animated take on Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book is a timeless classic. My mother is even fond of telling me about the Jungle Book theme I had in my room as an infant. So it was with great interest that we covered the new live-action film version which continues a successful tradition for Disney of adapting their animated classics into live-action features. For those not familiar with the story it involves a young boy named Mowgli (Neel Sethi), who was found alone in the jungle by a panther named Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), Mowgli is put in the care of a Wolfpack under the custody of Raksha (Lupita Nyong”o), who raised him as one of her own in the ways of the pack.

Mowgli grew and thrived under this arrangement and was loved and accepted by those in his group. Unfortunately Mowgli eventually draws the attention of a tiger named Shere Khan (Idris Elba), who has a deep disliking and fear of humans and what they’re capable of and thus demands that Mowgli be turned over to him so he removed the human threat from the jungle. Unwilling to let Mowgli be killed, Bagheeera agrees to take the boy to the Human Village where he will have the protection and guidance of his people going forward.

As they embark on a journey filled with sights, sounds, splendor, and danger, they meet all sorts of new characters along the way. From the lovable Baloo (Bill Murray), to the dangerous Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), their adventure is anything but boring especially with Shere Khan constantly lurking and new dangers and surprises around every corner.

Director Jon Favreau keeps the film in line with the source material and offers a lavish and fun production that while heavy on CGI imagery never overshadows the focus being on the characters as they are what propel the story even though the jungle itself very much is a central character to the story. There is action and adventure and parent should be warned that there are a few parts that may be a bit too intense for younger viewers. That being said, the film is just an absolute delight from beginning to end and moves at a brisk enough pace that never drags. There are a couple of musical numbers included which thankfully do not undermine some of the more action intense sequences of the film which had been ramped up considerably from their animated version counterparts.

There’s been talk that a sequel is early in the planning stages and I for one would definitely love to see more adventures especially since it’s reported that the same team that brought this to the screen would be involved in the sequel. The cast is incredibly strong and supports one another very well and what makes this film so great is that like many of the Disney classics it has the broad generational appeal that will allow adults to really enjoy the film rather than feel that they’re simply along to keep the kids happy.
Disney has announced that they would plan to do several live-action adaptations of their animated classics and based on their recent track record of success, in doing so I can’t wait to see what they have next as “The Jungle Book” is an absolute delight that is not to be missed.

http://sknr.net/2016/04/14/the-jungle-book/
  
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
2023 | Action, Adventure, Animation
9
8.9 (9 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A Feast for the Eyes and the Heart
In 2018, Producer/Writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (THE LEGO MOVIE) presented the animated film SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDERVERSE to unsuspecting audiences and this film burst onto the scene - and into our senses - with a visual cornucopia of comic-book styles that ushered in a new way to present a comic-book movie. In this film, multiple Spider-Mans from different “SpiderVerses” came to the home universe of the lead Spiderman (in this Universe, Spiderman is NOT Peter Parker, but rather Miles Morales), and they kept the comic book styles of their own universes while in the home universe of Miles.

Get it? If not, hang onto your hats, for these two just took it to a whole new level.

In SPIDER-MAN ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, our hero, Miles Morales (voiced again by Shameik Moore) leaves his home universe and travels TO multiple other Spider-verses with multiple other animated styles - as well as meeting a plethora of other Spider-folk.

The result of this is a visual feast that should be seen on the big screen. The artistry at work here is “next level” as the differing styles blend seamlessly with each other without becoming head-ache inducing. It is a master class of “Going for it” but wisely knowing how to “not go too far” and the filmmakers of this animated gem thread that the needle expertly.

But…that isn’t the best part of this film.

There is an underlying storyline that sets Miles off on his adventure and this part of the film is built upon relationships, love, duty and devotion. This film delves deeper into Miles’ relationship with his parents (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry, off of his Oscar Nominated role in CAUSEWAY and Luna Lauren Velez best known as Lt. LaGuerta on DEXTER) and this gives the film some heart.

But…that isn’t the best part of the film.

The best part of this film is Miles’ relationship with another Spider-person, Spider Gwen (Stacy) - voiced by Hailee Steinfeld (THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN), this film wisely (there’s that word again) decide to have 1/2 of this film shown from her perspective and the depth of performance of love, loss and longing from Steinfeld is surprisingly deep and moving for an animated film and it is THIS relationship that really cements this film as something special.

Oh…and did I fail to mention the wonderful voice work by Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya and Oscar Isaac (amongst many, many others)? They all brought their “A” game to what is a tremendous movie going experience.

One does not need to see the first SPIDERVERSE film to enjoy this one - but it does help and one very much will need to see this film to enjoy the NEXT one (the 3rd film of the trilogy, SPIDER-MAN BEYOND THE SPIDERVERSE is set to be released next year), so if one is going to invest in these films, one should probably go “all-in”.

The filmmakers certainly did that - and the audience is the winner for their efforts.

Letter Grade: A

9 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
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Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Constantine - Season 1 in TV

Apr 15, 2020 (Updated Apr 15, 2020)  
Constantine  - Season 1
Constantine - Season 1
2014 | Drama
Casting,special effects, acting, story. (0 more)
Only one season (0 more)
It says master, does it? I should really change that to petty dabbler
Contains spoilers, click to show
My name is John Constantine. I am the one who steps on the shadows, all trench coat and arrogance. I'll drive your demons away, kick 'em in the bollocks, and spit on them when they're down, leaving only a nod, a wink and a wisecrack

Demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine decided to cease fighting evil since his soul now belonged to the netherworld.
when demons target the daughter of one of his closest friends, he reluctantly rejoins the battle.
discovering Liv (the friends daughter) has second sight, an ability to see other worlds and predict supernatural occurrences, a power that makes her a threat to the new evil, She and Constantine take their combined skills on the road, travelling the country finding demons and send them back to hell.

Matt Ryan stars as john Constantine "master of the dark art's" who after failing to save an old friends young daughter from a powerful demon that dragged her to Hell years prior, leaves that life behind...until now.
This show was short lived, it was eventually accompanied by a animated mini series & an animated movie.
The character was voiced by Matt Ryan of course allowing that version of the character to continue, also being a main character in the DCAU movie justice league dark.

The character also appeared in the CWs arrowverse & is currently a mainstay in CWs legends of tomorrow, Ryan is casting perfection and is a fan favourite.
  
Doctor who: The Macra Terror
Doctor who: The Macra Terror
1967 | Sci-Fi
8
7.1 (17 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Patrick troughton (1 more)
Macra
Watched last night it's not bad not one of the best doctor who's from the sixties due to the budget but we will get to that but first the story. For years this and many other who's had been missing from the BBC archive due to alot of episodes being junked destroyed especially the macra terror where it's been totally destroyed till now. Now a new audience can watch it for the first as an animated feature and it looks good the acting from Patrick troughton is getting into his stride finally after five adventures with support from his companions. Now to the macra they look so much more now scary than they did originally due to budget hope some day they will animate more lost who's we can dream