Film Review: ‘[Girls Trip]’!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
We’ve seen this storyline before. Four friends come together, experience a separation, reconnect and hijinks abound. In Girls Trip, Ryan (Regina Hall), Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith), Sasha (Queen Latifah), and Dina (Tiffany Haddish) met in college, became the Flossy Posse and were thick as thieves. Then life happened and disrupted their efforts to stay close. An opportune event, New Orleans’ Essence Festival, changes all of that…

The Gilmore Girls Reunion Series Has An Official Title!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
It’s almost time to get snuggled in for a movie night with those chatty, witty, hilarious and emotional Gilmore Girls. Of course I’m talking about the upcoming revival of the series that Netflix is engineering. While we know who is coming back to appear – everybody – and we know when it will debut – this year – we didn’t know what the official title would be…until now.
Milo Ventimiglia Returns For ‘Gilmore Girls: Seasons’!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
For those of us that are excitedly awaiting a trip back to Stars Hollow, Connecticut for the follow-up series to ‘Gilmore Girls‘, we know another one of the men in Rory’s life who will be returning – Jess!
Film Review: ‘[Night School]’!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
When life hands you lemons, make lemon drops.
Night School opens with young, Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart) struggling to study for his GSAT test. Right off a cool special effect, test questions pop off the page and fly about the room, makes Teddy’s challenge tangible for the audience. Teddy’s father, Gerald, portrayed by the venerable Keith David is convinced that he is dumber than a box of rocks. Coddled by his mother, Carole (Donna Biscoe), Teddy wakes to a gym filled with anxiety. As the questions yet again fly off the page, a tantrum sets in, Teddy storms out spouting claims that he will have money, a beautiful woman, and a fly ride the age-old question looms. Can a person be successful without college? Fast-forward 17 years; Teddy has Lisa, a Porsche Carrera, killer apartment, etc. However, a fiery misjudgment will change his life. With job gone, car gone, Teddy plummets into hysterical panic mode. In order to set his life to rights, he must obtain his GED. It will not come easy either. Read the rest of this entry »
Dan Moran’s Top 12 Movies of 2017 Plus Extras!
I saw 75 movies this year and I still have 3-4 left to finish up over the next few weeks. I haven’t seen The Post, Call Me By Your Name, or Phantom Thread yet. Phantom Thread is the only regret I have but it doesn’t come out until mid-January and I like to finish my list before first week of January ends. A few special awards before my top 12.
Dan Moran’s Favorite Movie Moments from 2017!
This isn’t a Top 10 List. I have a few more movies to check off before I can make that list but I wanted to share some of the moments that wowed me on screen this year.
BEWARE OF SPOILERS!
Janet White’s Top 10 Best Films & Top 3 Worst Films of 2017!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
Below are my Top 10 Best Films and Top 3 Worst Films of 2017 that I was either blessed or, in some cases, annoyed to screen, 24 in all. Feedback is encouraged whether you agree, disagree, think I’m nuts (I am a little crazy), or if you think of a film that I reviewed which should have been included. Here you go:
Film Review #2: ‘Thor: Ragnarok’!
Taika Waititi legitimately reinvigorated the marvel brand with Thor: Ragnarok. A lot of the criticism that Marvel movies get is that there are no stakes and we know that the heroes will always win. No kidding? That’s every superhero movie. No one thought Iron Man would die, no one thought Cap would die, no one thought Batman was dead in TDKR, no one thought (cared?) Superman died in BvS. Waititi proves that not taking a paint by numbers destroy the world story too seriously can be a damn blast.
Fantastic Fest 2019 – First Wave Announcements!
Fantastic Fest is one of the events that is pure bliss for any fan of genre cinema. If you love horror, sci-fi, foreign, action, and even adult-oriented movies from the 1970s, then Fantastic Fest is the place to let that freak flag fly high and be with like-minded individuals that truly appreciate the art of movies. All of the madness and fun will take place in Austin, TX starting on September 19 and run for 10 days at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar St. This year, which is the 15th annual festival of Fantastic-ness, captures the essence of the Mexican movie scene with a ton of cool films being showcased from Mexico, both new and old. This is something you won’t want to miss.
Midsommar: Film Review #2!
I saw Midsommar and have been racking my brain on how to even begin the review. I’m still not sure how to properly discuss the movie without spoiling the major plot points and trying to break them down. There are other reviewers on here who have a far better understanding of the horror genre and can break it down in that regard for you. I decided that I won’t spoil anything and will just give what resonated with me the most walking out. Midsommar is the most disturbing and uncomfortable break up movie I’ve ever seen.
Annabelle Comes Home – Film Review!
Set in the horrifying Conjuring universe where paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel around the world and investigate strange phenomenons, perform exorcisms, and help families out with evil spirits, have both seen some truly terrifying things. The catch is that it’s all real or at least based on real-life events. With all of these horror movies that started with The Conjuring, there have been a few spinoff movies. The most popular of them is the frightening possessed doll named Annabelle, which is now on its third movie titled Annabelle Comes Home. Directed by Gary Dauberman, who has been the lead writer on the past Annabelle films, this sequel is his first foray into the director’s chair with original filmmaker James Wan producing. The result is too much of a slow pace for its own good, in addition to taking itself too seriously in an already flooded cheap scare and tiresome plot that we have seen two dozen times before.
Fantastic Fest 2018 Second Wave of Motion Pictures Announced!
Fantastic Fest is one of the events that is pure bliss for any fan of genre cinema. If you love horror, sci-fi, foreign, action, and even adult-oriented movies from the 1970s, then Fantastic Fest is the place to let that freak flag fly high and be with like-minded individuals that truly appreciate the art of movies. All of the madness and fun will take place in Austin, TX starting on September 20th and run for 10 days at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar St. This year, which is the 14th annual festival of Fantastic-ness, captures the essence of the Korean movie scene with a ton of cool films being showcased from Korea, both new and old. This is something you won’t want to miss.
The second wave of movies (1st wave can be seen here) – has been announced, including the US Premiere of the upcoming sequel ‘HALLOWEEN‘ from director David Gordon Green, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, who reprises her iconic role as Laurie Strode. In addition to that, Jeremy Saulnier‘s new film ‘HOLD THE DARK‘, will have its US Premiere at the festival. Also, Gaspar Noe’s newest movie ‘CLIMAX‘, will be shown too. This is shaping up to be an amazing festival. Below is the complete list of the second wave.
Why you need Need ‘Texas Star Burlesque’ in your life!
I believe Axl Rose said it best back in 1987 – “Take me down to Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.” This is what I think of when a burlesque shows heads into town. However, you receive so much more, especially with the brand new show ‘Texas Star Burlesque‘ had their first extravaganza in the historic Deep Ellum neighborhood of Downtown Dallas on July Saturday the 14th at Trees. Not only are the people devastatingly beautiful, and while there wasn’t green grass inside of Trees, you can sense the paradise and glistening stage and lights that amplified these talented performers. When the music hit the sold-out crowd, the cheers were turned up to 11, and the lights were as bright as they could be, you could feel the sense of joy wonder and excitement between everyone in attendance. It was truly a Paradise City.
Film Review: ‘Ocean’s 8’!
Ocean’s 8 is an enjoyable heist movie, but it brought a fresh spin to the screen for the franchise, and for that reason it’s in the running for my favorite of the films. An all-female cast can come off pretty campy (hey Sex and the City), but when it’s done well (I see you Pitch Perfect), each character brings their own sass and charm to the screen. Oceans does just that, with each of the stars carrying their weight and adding a spark to the role they play as part of the heist team. No one out shined the other; they truly worked as a unit, which I think overall the Ocean films have tried to do. Clooney carried the day in the male led films, but here, all the women brought it.
Final Wave of Programming For Fantastic Fest Is Here!!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse is THE place to be for the avid film-lover. We’ve got the final wave of programming for Fantastic Fest which also includes world premieres of WHEELMAN and WORLD OF TOMORROW EPISODE TWO: THE BURDEN OF OTHER PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS, screenings of THOROUGHBRED, JUPITER’S MOON and PROFESSOR MARSTON & THE WONDER WOMEN, and the 10-year anniversary of the infamous Fantastic Debates… plus much more!
