Search

Search only in certain items:

Video

In My World - Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie [Official Audio]

  
40x40

Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) created a video about Men in Black International (2019) in Movies

Jun 19, 2019 (Updated Jun 19, 2019)  
Video

Chris Hemsworth At the MIB: International Premiere

Chris Hemsworth was on hand for the premiere of MIB: International.

  
40x40

Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) created a video about An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth in Books

Sep 7, 2017 (Updated Sep 7, 2017)  
Video

Is Somebody Singing (Chris Hadfield and Barenaked Ladies)

Chris Hadfield and Barenaked Ladies collaborate, from Earth and the ISS, on an original song.

  
40x40

Erika (17788 KP) rated The Magnificent Seven (2016) in Movies

Dec 29, 2017 (Updated Dec 29, 2017)  
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
2016 | Action, Drama, Western
8
7.4 (33 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Denzel Washington in the wild west? Sign me up. I liked this remake of the Magnificent Seven. I would have liked a little more backstory on some of the characters, but it would have probably would have slowed it down. The plot was simplistic and predictable (this was a remake, after all), but I still enjoyed it. The entire cast was strong, and I loved Chris Pratt's character, I'm all about the lovable d-bag characters.
  
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
2023 | Fantasy
7
7.5 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Feature-length movie set in the D&D universe, this is much better than the 2000 travesty, with Chris Pine this time taking the lead, alongside Michelle Ridriguez and Hugh Grant and is set in the 'Forgotten Realms' campaign setting, with Baldurs Gate and Neverwinter both getting name-dropped.

(I must admit that, as large parts of it were filmed in my home of Northern Ireland, I did spend quite a bit of time playing 'spot the location').

It also has a refreshing low-stakes feel about it (there's no real 'end of the world' disaster to be averted), and I did also feel that it had elements of Monty Python around it (particularly in the talking to the dead graveyard bit)
  
Parks and Recreation  - Season 1
Parks and Recreation - Season 1
2009 | Comedy
Chris Pratt's dorkiness (2 more)
Amy Poehler is hilarious
Aziz Ansari is a D-bag but plays it well
Storyline drags on for more than one season (0 more)
A brilliant, comedic ensemble
There are plenty of well known faces in Parks and Recreation including Hollywood A-Lister Chris Pratt, who plays a lazy slob, and looks surprisingly different from his current heartthrob self.

But Amy Poehler steals the show in this, playing the deputy director of Parks and Recreation for local government in this small town called Pawnee. She's rather sweet and hugely optimistic in the face of everyone saying no to her as she tries to fill in a giant pit and turn it into a park.

 It is a hilarious take on local government and all the pitfalls of being a representative.
  
40x40

Chris Sawin (602 KP) rated Friday the 13th Part III (1982) in Movies

Jun 20, 2019 (Updated Jun 21, 2019)  
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
1982 | Horror
Chris and her friends just want to have a good time this weekend, so they're taking a trip to her family's nice, relaxing family cabin in Higgins Haven. Unfortunately for them, Jason survived his encounter with Ginny from the last film. He winds up at a store where he kills a married couple and gets a change of clothes. Higgins Haven just happens to be close by. Chris has more than one reason for going on this trip though. She was attacked a few years ago by a hideously disfigured man and is facing her fears in hopes of moving past it. Could this mysterious man and Jason have something in common?

This is the film that introduced us to the hockey mask and was originally in 3-D. It's a shame that's all it really offers though. Watching the 3-D version now will just leave you with a horrible headache. I actually prefer the film in 2-D. The nudity in the film is also rather light and before you jump on me for saying that, that's one of the main things you look forward to in a Friday the 13th film; Jason Voorhees, inventive kills, T&A, and maybe a few laughs. That's what makes the Friday the 13th films fun. Especially compared to the first two films, sideboob and a brief glimpse in the shower doesn't really cut it. I guess what really ruined it for me was the homages to the first film. By the way, what the hell is up with the ending? And why does Mrs. Voorhees suddenly have her head again? It wasn't a bad idea to do a few throwbacks to the original, but it felt like too much by the end of the film.
  
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
2023 | Fantasy
8
7.5 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A Ton of Fun
The BankofMarquis is not into Dungeons & Dragons - the role playing/fantasy game that the film DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES is based on, so any Easter Eggs for fans of the game is lost here. What the BankofMarquis is into is a good, fun action/adventure film and DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES is all that…and more.

The 4th film to be based on the RPG game, this D&D is no relation to the previous three and should be viewed as a reboot of the franchise…and if HONOR AMONG THIEVES is an indication of where this film series will go, then the audience is in for a fun ride, indeed.

Written and Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, D&D follows a smooth talking, good-looking musician (the perfectly cast Chris Pine), his tough-as-nails best friend (the perfectly cast Michelle Rodriguez) and their merry band of thieves as they go on a quest to right wrongs and achieve a goal.

What that goal is doesn’t really matter as it is the journey - not the destination - that matters and the journey is quite fun thanks to an enjoyable cast and a script and direction that evokes memories of THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS and, yes, MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL along the way.

The cast (Pine, Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant) know exactly what type of film they are making and jump in with both feet to have some fun, fight some creatures and make a family-friendly medieval action/adventure comedy that works.

Credit, of course, goes to Daley & Goldstein and this appears to be their first film together as Directors. If that is the case, the BankofMarquis is eager to see where they go from here.

While, I’m sure, there are plenty of Easter Eggs in this film for the D&D fan, the BankofMarquis caught none of that and just sat back and had a really fun 2+ hours, chuckling out loud on more than one occassion.

This film is now streaming on Paramount Plus. If you run across, check it out, you’ll have a good time.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
40x40

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 30, 2020  
Today's special guest on my blog is Teddy Jones, author of the literary fiction novel SLANTED LIGHT! Read her fantastic guest post about her writing journey, and enter the giveaway to win these fantastic prizes:

Grand Prize: $25 Amazon gift card and signed copies of both books in the Jackson's Pond, Texas Series by Teddy Jones
Two Winners: Signed copy of Slanted Light by Teddy Jones

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-slanted.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Teddy Jones’s earlier novel, Jackson’s Pond, Texas, began the saga of the Jackson family. Now, Slanted Light continues their tale.

Claire Havlicek’s late night call brings her brother Chris Banks from his home in New Mexico back to the town that bears their family name, Jackson’s Pond. She’s collapsed under the weight of threats to her thirteen-year marriage that have undermined her confidence and her will. Her husband, J. D., responds to seduction by a woman in need; theft and the threat of a forced buyout jeopardize Claire’s two medical clinics; drought imperils their ranch and cattle business; a teenage daughter turns to bulimia.

When Claire admits her limits, her grandmother, Willa Jackson, and the other members of her family help her learn that being human, weaknesses and all, can be a source of strength and joy.
     
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The humour Chris Hemsworth as Thor Tom Hiddleston as Loki Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk Taika Waititi as Korg Cate Blanchett as Hela Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster is a God send (1 more)
Tessa Thompson as Valkiyrie The Action was awesome specifically Hulk vs Thor and the final bridge battle The synth score
Humour overshadows emotional beats Not enough Karl urban (0 more)
"Piss off Ghost"
Perhaps, the most entertaining and enjoyable movie in the MCU since Iron Man?

There’s so many reasons why I enjoy Thor: Ragnarok, but it has to start with the direction and vision of Taika Waititi. He’s a genre changer in the comic book man movie universe. From his Kiwi sense of humor, to the choice in mood music, to the simply fun action sequences; Thor: Ragnarok is a two hour smile that would make it appear I had Botox injections, since my facial expression stayed happy.

Thor is one of my favorite characters in the MCU and I like the way the fat has been chewed off in his movies. Less memorable characters are disposed of, and screen time is given to the characters you want to see. Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster is a gift from God. Loki is Loki and who doesn’t love Loki? Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie has a lot of depth. Cate Blanchett’s Hela might be in the top 5 in baddest of bad MCU villains, and puts the D in dysfunctional families. Plus, Idris Elba’s Heimdall deserved his own movie, and perhaps the number one scene stealer, and one of the reasons why this movie is truly special is Taika Waititi’s Korg. Who knew a CGI rock could be so hilarious? His voice is infectious, and I want to see more of Korg.

Hulk and Banner are both used just right. The synth-pop score makes me want to dance a boogie groove. Thor’s flaw is there’s too many interesting storylines, which causes the film to jump some from character to character. Watching Chris Hemsworth ham it up as Thor is what these types of movies should be all about. Putting the F back in fun and having a helluva time in the process doing so.