Artemis Fowl: More Foul Than Fair.

Watching Disney's Artemis Fowl reminded me of Percy Jackson and the Olympians:The Lightning Thief, another infamous adaptation based on the first installment of a well-known book series. Neither did a proper job of adapting its source material; heavily changing the main story and leaving out crucial elements from the book. 

Better Late Than Ever Vol. 7

Adam Driver dominates much of my watchlist as Netflix and Amazon Prime provide several flicks that are becoming the talk of the town and potential award contenders. In addition to several streaming movies is a sequel to a sequel from Sony still in cinemas.

Cinema Spotlight II – Taika Waititi (Part 6): ‘Jojo Rabbit’

Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) talking with Adolf (Taikia Waititi).

This isn't the first comedy to lampoon the Nazi Party. From Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator, The Producers from Mel Brooks, even cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Donald Duck had their respective shorts in Herr Meets Hare, Daffy the Commando and Der Fuehrer's Face. Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful being the most recent and the only I believe that takes place during the Holocaust. Taikia Waititi gives his take in this loose adaptation of Christine Leunens' bittersweet novel.  

Better Late Than Never Vol. 6

It's that time of the year when all the highly anticipated movies start to arrive and I try to watch a couple I missed during the summer.

Cinema Spotlight VII - Andrés Muschietti (Part 3): "It: Chapter Two"

The general consensus with the It mini-series is that Part Two isn't as good as Part One. The less said about that spider, the better. With the same team, lead by Andy Muschietti, can they bring the same quality from Chapter One and greatly improve in the second chapter of the Losers club?

Cinema Spotlight VII - Andrés Muschietti (Part 2): "It"

Two weeks before production on It began, the movie's original director, Emmy-award winner Cary Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation & True Detective) left the project due to creative differences and studio disagreements. When news reached Andy Muschietti, he immediately jumped in for the opportunity, having been a lifelong Stephen King fan and read It in his early teens. The studio gave him five days to come with a pitch, and in those five days he re-read the novel, utilized Fukunaga's script, presented his pitch, and the rest was history.

Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark Lives Up to its Name

Like with Goosebumps, Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark, were a series of horror books I was too chicken to read when I was a kid. The terrifying illustrations only added to keeping me away. Reading it years later, Alan Schwartz's anthology series, serves as a good introduction for young readers to horror; my favorite excepts include High Beams, The Haunted House, and The Girl Who Stood on the Grave. With Goosebumps getting the big-screen treatment, Scary Stories goes through a somewhat similar procedure of using the books as a plot device, rather than adapting a particular story.

Cinema Spotlight VI - Jon Favreau (Part 9): "The Jungle Book"

This isn't the first time Disney's tried to do a live-action re-interpretation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Back in 1994 Stephen Sommers did his take on the classic story of Mowgli in Disney's first live-action remake by making Mowgli a grown-man and the animals never talking. As a kid, it was a traumatic experience, re-watching years later its a film that would have fared better with a PG-13 rating instead of being advertised as fun for the whole family. If anything, it prepared Sommers to apply his action/adventure skills with The Mummy movies. As for Disney's animated version from 1967, its cute with a catchy soundtrack (who doesn't know The Bare Necessities), and plenty of memorable characters from Baloo, Bagherea, Kaa and Shere Khan.

Cinema Spotlight VI - Jon Favreau (Part 7): "Cowboys & Aliens"

I am Iron Man-I mean James Bond-I mean Zeke Jackson, no wait.....

Indiana Jones, James Bond, Quorra, Justin Hammer, the Last Airbender, and Mr. Krabs, fighting aliens in the wild, wild, west? With Jon Favreau directing and Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Steven Spielberg producing? Sign me in!

Cinema Spotlight VI - Jon Favreau (Part 4): "Zathura"

You can't discuss Zathura without discussing Chris Vans Allsburg. Writer and illustrator for many children books such as The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, Ben’s Dream and The Widow's Broom. His most popular work are Jumanji and The Polar Express, both having been adapted into feature films. In 2002, Allsburg published Zathura, serving as the long-awaited sequel to Jumanji, published back in 1981; this time, the game takes the players into outer space.  

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a Fitting End

Next to Kung Fu Panda, the How to Train Your Dragon franchise remains one of DreamWorks' best in recent years. I really enjoyed the first film, was underwhelmed with the sequel though it still had its bright spots; I have yet to see the television show it spawned (available on Netflix) nor read the books loosely based by Cressida Cowell. Now we reach the end as Hiccup and Toothless take one final flight in How To Train your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Slice But No Dice For Alita: Battle Angel

Rosa Salazar as Alita 

For years, James Cameron had wanted to make a movie based on Yukito Kishiro's manga series about a young female cyborg. Due to reasons ranging from not having the technology at the time and being busy with Avatar and its long-delayed sequels, Robert Rodriguez stepped in as director with Cameron serving as both producer and screenwriter as life is finally given to this long-awaited project.

Better Late Than Never Vol. 5

Better Late Than Never Vol. #4

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is Spectacular

I haven't read many superhero comics but one that I have is on Miles Morales. An afro-latino teen who becomes the new Spider-Man after the death of Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man. I always hoped he would get the cinematic treatment. Now he has and in glorious animation.

How Illumination Saved The Grinch (Sort of)

When it comes to Hollywood and the works of Seuss
only one comes to mind that isn't obtuse.
Blue Sky Animation who did Ferdy and Scrat,
kept Horton the elephant well and intact.
The Lorax got wrapped in its own thneed thread
and Myers as The Cat, lets not talk of that dread

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Gives Viewers the Cold Shoulder

Six Things I Enjoyed about The Nutcracker and the Four Realms:

1. Young actors Mackenzie Foy and newcomer Jayden Fowora-Knight have bright futures ahead of them. 

2. Helen Mirren

3. The look and design of the four realms and the denizens are colorfully creative. 

4. Helen Mirren

5. Less embarrassing than The Nutcracker in 3D and gave Richard E. Grant a better role. 

6. Did I mention Helen Mirren?

The Hate U Give Calls For Change

Amanda Stenberg as Starr Carter

I knew going into George Tillman Jr.'s adaptation of the Young Adult novel by Angie Thomas would be great but I didn't expect it to be phenomenal.

Triple Review Vol. 1

Which of the three do you wish to see? Perhaps a stroll on main street where an evil dummy brings Halloween to life. Check in at the El Royale hotel where nothing can go wrong or travel with first man on the moon. Whichever you choose, I guarantee you won't demand a refund.

Better Late Than Never Vol. 2

There were more than a couple of films that came earlier this year and wasn't able to write on. Many are already available to purchase or rent. Here's the quick rundown: