Movie Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
(Theaters): Sep 3, 2021
(Streaming): Nov 12, 2021

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Writer: David Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham
Cast: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong
Rating: PG-13 (Sequences of Violence & Action|Language)
Genre: Adventure, Sports & Fitness, Action, Fantasy
Runtime: 2h 13m
Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi's friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng'er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.

Fantastical! I watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with no cannon knowledge of the character. Like all Marvel movies, it was a visual buffet of action. But Shang-Chi beats out other Marvel films when it comes to the beauty of the fight scenes. Martial arts are poetry in motion, and they highlighted that with incredible CGI. The ten rings are possibly the coolest and prettiest weapon!

Loved Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, and I've always been a fan of Awkwafina who played his best friend Katy. I liked the fact that Katy and Shang-Chi are best friends...that's it! No cliche romance. They might get together later on in the comic, but it would be nice to let them have a relationship like Hawkeye and Black Widow.

I have to mention Morris. He is one of the mythical creatures from the legendary village of Ta Lo. But what is he? He is The Hundun, or Dijiang, a faceless being of Chinese myth. You can read more about the Hundan HERE. And in Disney style, you can buy this adorable guy!

Like all Marvel movies, there is a lot of humor. While there are some weak spots in the storytelling, Ten Rings is entertaining from start to finish! We aren't going to theaters yet, so I had to wait for it to come on Disney+, but boy, this would be fun to see in IMAX.

4.5 "I speak ABC!" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Dune (2021)

Dune
Oct 22, 2021
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writer: Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Jason Momoa
Rating: PG-13 (Some Disturbing Images|Sequences of Strong Violence|Suggestive Material)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Runtime: 2h 35m
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.

Dune was the first sci-fi series I read...we are talking early 80s (I was 13-ish). I had never been so emersed in a fictional world up to that point. I dreamed about Dune. Then around book 5, I lost interest. I was excited when the movie came out in 1984 (I was a high school junior). But it was disappointing. It didn't capture the magic I experienced in the books.

I was a little hesitant when I heard it was being remade. Once I saw the trailer, I was on board and ready to give it another chance. And I was not disappointed this time!

Dune 2021 is an experience. They don't tell the story. They show the world--you experience it. The movie has a suspenseful foreboding mood you feel deep down. The cinematography is beautiful...yes, it does go over the top sometimes but that's Hollywood. The dramatic music was a bit cliche at some moments.

There was no story info-dumping. Which was nice. But if you haven't read the book I can see how some of it might be confusing.

My husband and I loved it (he never read the book). We plan on watching it again.

4.5 "spice" Sheep

Sharon

Fall Into Fantasy: 2021 Edition: Mixed Fantasy Anthology + giveaway

Fall Into Fantasy: 2021 Edition
Genre: Mixed Fantasy Anthology

September 21, 2021

with stories by

Shane Porteous, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Alex Minns, Andrew P. McGregor, Joanne Blondin,

James Pyles, Anstice Brown, J.C. Pillard, Linda M. Crate, Matthew McKiernan,

Jabe Stafford, Clarissa Gosling, R.A. Clarke, R.A. Meenan, Marsheila Rockwell

Fall Into Fantasy returns with 15 tales spanning the breadth of fantasy. From captive dragons to a magical war, Demons and circus performers, fairies and ghosts, dwarves and genies, even a typical day in the life of an earthworm. Don’t miss a single entertaining, exciting tale.

Presenting:
Shane Porteous “Gathering Genocide”
Barend Nieuwstraten III “Hearthshare”
Alex Minns “The Concealed Witness”
Andrew P. McGregor “Demon Dave: Dinner Time”
Joanne Blondin “Astounding Performances”
James Pyles “Theo Klaggorn, Private Detective”
Anstice Brown “Beneath The Roots”
J. C. Pillard “Three Drops In The Snow”
Linda M. Crate “Flight Of The Fae”
Matthew McKiernan “The Each-Uisge”
Jabe Stafford “Dead Next Door”
Clarissa Gosling “The Genie Of The Ring”
R. A. Clarke “The Brightening”
R. A. Meenan “Some Things Remain”
Marsheila Rockwell “Play It Again, Sem”

Goodreads-Amazon

Can't get enough Fantasy? Check out the other Fall Into Fantasy sets!

Fall Into Fantasy: 2020 Edition

Goodreads-Amazon

Fall Into Fantasy: 2019 Edition

Goodreads-Amazon

Fall Into Fantasy: 2018 Edition

Goodreads-Amazon

Fall Into Fantasy: 2017 Edition

Goodreads-Amazon

Giveaway

$10 Amazon card – 1 winner!

ebook copy of Fall Into Fantasy: 2021 Edition – 2 winners!

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Movie Review: The Devil Below (2021) Netflix

The Devil Below
(Streaming): Mar 5, 2021
Director: Bradley Parker
Producer: Alejandro De Leon, Diego Hallivis, Julio Hallivis, Andres Rosende
Writer: Stefan Jaworski, Eric Scherbarth

Cast: Adan Canto, Will Patton, Alicia Sanz, Jonathan Sadowski, Chinaza Uche, Zach Avery

Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller

Runtime: 1 h 28 min

There is an abandoned place nestled deep in Appalachian country where underground coal mines have been ablaze for decades. When a team of researchers try to find out how the fires started, they soon discover something more startling than the mystery that sent them there: they're not alone.

Okay, Rotten Tomatoes didn't even give this a rating...and the audience score is 13%. And if you are comparing it blockbuster movies then that would be fair. But this isn't that kind of movie. I don't know if it was supposed to be like a low-budget movie or if it actually was one, but it should be judged on a different scale.

Whether by choice or not, it has a 70/80s creature feature vibe. Instead of CGI, they went old school with two guys in monster suits (the credits showed two people as monsters 1 and 2). And using fuzzy camera shots, night vision, suspense music/sound effects, and some cheap video tricks, they still managed to build a lot of suspense. The acting wasn't terrible.

My biggest complaint was the conveniently stupid decision on where to cut the rope...

Here is the situation. 

Where do you cut the rope? You cut it between last guy and the monster, right? No! He cuts it between him and the last girl to sacrifice himself to save her because that makes her backstory revalent.

If you enjoy B-movie horror/monster movies with little special effects, then give this one a look. Make sure to watch it with someone so you can riff on it.

3 "creepy" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Jungle Cruise (2021)

Jungle Cruise (2021)

Jul 30, 2021
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Writer: Michael Green, Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons
Runtime: 2h 7m
Walt Disney Pictures

Rating: PG-13 (Adventure Violence)

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure, Action

Join fan favorites Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney's JUNGLE CRUISE, a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank's questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila--his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities--possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate--and mankind's--hangs in the balance.

I watched Jungle Cruise on Disney+ with my husband and 20-year-old daughter. We all enjoyed it.

 

We've all ridden the Disney World Jungle Cruise so it was fun to see all the references to the actual Disney attraction. So many silly puns. The movie is a cross between The Mummy, Indiana Jones, and Pirates of the Caribbean. The opening scenes are more chaotic than anything, but the action evens out and is more enjoyable.

The humor is geared toward a younger crowd, but there was a cool twist that I didn't see coming!

I wouldn't pay the extra $30 to view on Disney+. Wait for it to be free there or wait till it is at a regular price On Demand. If you are going to the theaters, this is definitely a big screen type of movie.

3.5 "punny" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Army of the Dead (2021)

Army of the Dead (2021)

May 21, 2021

Director: Zack Snyder

Writers: Zack Snyder, Shay Hatten, Joby Harold

Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera

Runtime: 2h 28m
Netflix

Production Co: The Stone Quarry
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Gore|Language Throughout|Graphic Nudity|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Horror, Action, Adventure, Crime

Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.

Well... Army of the Dead has all the predictable bank heist/zombie movie troupes they could shove in and delivers action/horror movie goodness with a dose of snark. It has one hell of an opening credit scene--a music montage of the fall of Las Vegas to a zombie horde.

You can watch it here:

I just don't know how I feel about Zack Snyder's vision...I've seen Justice League and Army of the Dead and I see his brilliance but also his weaknesses...so I'm pulled in two different directions. Which makes it hard to review Army of the Dead.

I'm really on the fence about what I think. My husband and I agree, it has some great scenes but I can't tell you what we had issues with because it will spoil the ending. If you want to know you can highlight: all but one person dies...it seemed like such a waste. I know most horror movies end that way but this time it bothered me.  But there is also some clever storytelling going on...there is going to be a prequel and possible other spin-offs.

It is 2 1/2 hours long, but there is enough action to keep your interest. If you love zombie movies and willing to jump over some plot holes (some might be intentional), you'll want to catch this one.

The zombie-killing action is at least 4 1/2 "zombie baby" sheep!

The story gets 3 1/2 "Easy peasy" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Space Sweepers (2021) Netflix

Space Sweepers (2021)
Release Date Feb 5, 2021

Director: Jo Sung-Hee
Cast: Song Joong-ki, Tae Ri Kim, Jin Seon-Kyu

Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: Korean
Runtime: 2h 16m
Production Co: Netflix

After snatching a crashed space shuttle in the latest debris chase, Spaceship Victory's crew members find a 7-year-old girl inside. They realize that she's the humanlike robot wanted by UTS Space Guards and decide to demand ransom in exchange.

I watched this with my husband and we both enjoyed it! It is a Korean film with a few subtitles for languages other than English but the Korean is dubbed with English. 

I like how the Korean movies/TV Shows mix drama and comedy with an edge of well-timed silliness. Space Sweepers starts a little slow but it launches into a lot of action and a solid storyline with lots of surprise twists. 

Who doesn't love a space team of misfits trying to do what is right while flying in a POS spaceship? Got to admit, my favorite character was Bubs, the repurposed military robot.

If you love SciFi, then you want to check this one out.

I think Netflix is partnering with the Tapas online comic platform. Because this is the second Korean production that now has an online comic version. They upload a new chapter each week!

Space Sweepers can be read for free on Tapas: 

https://tapas.io/series/space-sweepers

The TV show, The Uncanny Counter, is also a Tapas comic now.

https://tapas.io/episode/2045926

You can read my review of that 16 episode Netflix show here.

4 "space sweeping" Sheep

SharonS

Happy New Year and Critters Annual Readers Poll nomination.

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