#TV |
- Movie Review: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
- Movie Review: Everest
- Fall TV Preview: TV Icons John Stamos, Rob Lowe Shine in New Fox Shows ‘The Grinder’ and ‘Grandfathered’
- Movie Review: Hotel Transylvania 2
Movie Review: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Posted: 28 Sep 2015 07:23 PM PDT 
SYNOPSIS: Having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. REVIEW: I loved the first “Maze Runner” movie and have been looking forward to this one. It doesn’t disappoint. This movie is high-action and fast-paced, and brings in a “Walking Dead” element that really ramps up the storyline. The story picks up shortly after the end of the 2014 movie, with Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), Theresa (Kaya Scodelario), Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Minho (Ki Hong Lee), and the other surviving Gladers under the protection of Jansen (Aidan Gillen), who assures them they’re safe from WCKD — the nefarious organization that held them captive in the Maze. The kids connect with teens from other Mazes, including Arris (Jacob Lofland), who reveals that things aren’t what they seem. So the kids escape Janson’s control and team up with rogue community leader Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito) and brave teen Brenda (Rosa Salazar) to find the mysterious “Right Arm,” a clandestine resistance group fighting against WCKD. “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” is gripping. The action is not only riveting, but is filmed in such a way that you feel like you’re right in the middle of it, complete with a sand-swept apocalyptic landscape that’s a blend of “Life After People” and “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.” O’Brien continues his reign as the determined and charming (oh, those eyes!) Thomas. (Be sure and also check out “Teen Wolf,” the MTV series in which he plays Stiles.) Since the kids are mostly on the run, much of the story centers on the action (super perilous at times, with great special effects) and them fighting off zombie-like creatures called Cranks. Look for a few jump-worthy moments there. As such, there isn’t much time for character development beyond what we learned in the first movie, although there are several scenes of conversation between Thomas and his old friends, as well as his new friend, the independent Brenda. This movie avoids the stereotypical teen dystopian trend by creating action sequences that are both dazzling and nail-biting. Seriously, I thought I was watching the AMC TV series “The Walking Dead” at times (but this isn’t QUITE as gory as that show). Director Wes Ball’s adaptation is faithful to the book by James Dashner, and this movie sets things up nicely for the third movie in the series, “The Maze Runner: The Death Cure,” hitting theaters in 2017 (so far away!). THE DETAILS (May Contain Spoilers): Sex/Nudity: A female character changes clothes; nothing is shown, but a character turns another character’s head away from watching. Teens and young adults dance at a club, and two teens kiss (under the influence of a drug). Violence/Gore: Guns, tasers and other weapons are used to subdue the Gladers. The body count is high, as people are injured and die from gunfire (including one person brutally murdered execution-style), explosions, falls, torture and one heart-breakingly self-inflicted wound (off-camera). A deadly virus infects characters. A character is beaten to the point where his eye is swollen shut. Zombie-like creatures chase and bite people. Profanity: Includes “bastard,” “damn,” “s–t,” “son of a bitch,” “what the hell,” and “Jesus” and “oh my God” as exclamations. A character gestures with the middle finger. Drugs/Alcohol: Teens are forced to drink liquor at a club where everyone is drinking, and the drink makes them woozy and uninhibited. Characters are injected with a “vitamin cocktail” a few times. Which Kids Will Like It? Kids aged 14 who liked the first movie or the James Dashner novels. Will Grownups Like It? This movie is really well done and full of action and thrills. I suggest reading the “Maze Runner” books before seeing the movies. JANE'S REEL RATING SYSTEM: Images in this review used courtesy of the studio and distributor. The post Movie Review: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials appeared first on Reel Life With Jane. |
Posted: 28 Sep 2015 04:18 PM PDT 
SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story, this action thriller chronicles a 1996 climbing expedition on Mt. Everest that’s devastated by a severe snow storm. REVIEW: I’ve never been one of those adventurous risk-takers. Like, for instance, you would never in a million years find me braving brutal winds, frigid temps and scary avalanches to get to the top of Mt. Everest. Just getting from one day to the next is enough of a challenge to me, so risking brain edema, dwindling eyesight and frostbite like the people in “Everest”? So not for me. But I love watching other people achieve these impossible dreams in the movies, despite the fact that this one is based on a true story and resulted in eight deaths one fateful day in 1996. “Everest” recounts the tragic events surrounding the May 10, 1996 disaster on Earth’s highest peak. The film centers on two climbing teams, one helmed by New Zealand guide Rob Hall (Jason Clarke), whose company, Adventure Consultants, hoped to get several people to the summit that day, including Outside magazine journalist Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly), mail carrier Doug Hansen (John Hawkes), and Texas doctor Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin). The other team, led by American guide Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal), included socialite Sandy Pittman (Vanessa Kirby), another high-profile reporter and other clients. But as both teams started up the mountain, a series of setbacks and one cataclysmic blizzard resulted in people losing their lives on the deadliest day in Everest history. As mentioned, I love these adventure movies. They show the mighty power of Mother Nature, including the fact that she has little regard for human lives (and people should understand that when they embark on a risky journey). This movie is nail-bitingly thrilling, with a snowy landscape that’s brutal and stark. In short, every step could kill you. Director Baltasar Kormákur makes good use of special effects (this is one movie worth seeing in 3D), and although there’s not a lot of backstory with the characters, the cast is terrific. It doesn’t get much better than Brolin, Gyllenhaal, Clarke and the rest of the cast. “Everest” delivers on all fronts, and makes me want to check out all the memoirs from this trek, including Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” and David Breashears’ IMAX documentary. Be sure to stay through the end credits for photos of the real-life people portrayed in the movie. Love that. THE DETAILS (May Contain Spoilers): Sex/Nudity: None. Violence/Gore: Climbers face peril throughout the film, including hallucinations, oxygen deprivation, and falls, sometimes tragic. A few scenes include characters covered in snow and have blackened skin due to frostbite. Some dead bodies are seen on the mountain. Profanity:“Hell,” “damn,” “stupid,” and exclamations of “Jesus” and “God.” Drugs/Alcohol: Adults drink alcoholic beverages at dinner and base camp. Which Kids Will Like It? Kids aged 13 and older who like action adventure movies based on true stories. Will Grownups Like It?“Everest” is thrilling and sometimes heartbreaking from start to finish. Go see it. JANE'S REEL RATING SYSTEM: Images in this review used courtesy of the studio and distributor. The post Movie Review: Everest appeared first on Reel Life With Jane. |
Posted: 28 Sep 2015 09:38 AM PDT 
The new Fall TV season is upon us! As always, there are tons of new shows to check out, and I’ve got the skinny on two you won’t want to miss. I watched the premiere episodes for two new Fox shows – “GRANDFATHERED” and “THE GRINDER”– and both are not only a hoot, but bring back some classic TV veterans. And I am SO happy to see them onscreen again. Remember the moment you first saw John Stamos and Rob Lowe on TV? It might have been “Full House,” “General Hospital” or “ER” for Stamos, or “The West Wing” for Rob Lowe (a show I just started watching!). Now these two TV icons are back on the tube and starring in their own hilarious and heartwarming shows. In “GRANDFATHERED,” Stamos plays a successful restaurateur and man-about-town named Jimmy Martino. He’s used to being the most suave, handsome and single person in the room. But all that changes when Jimmy's adult son, Gerald (Josh Peck, “The Mindy Project”), and his baby daughter Edie show up. Keep in mind that Jimmy didn’t even know he had a son or granddaughter, and now he has to unlearn a lifetime of blissful selfishness and also grapple with the idea of going straight from “single” to “grandfather” in six seconds flat. Keeping tabs on Jimmy is Gerald’s mother and Jimmy’s former girlfriend, rocker chick-turned-mother Sara (Paget Brewster, "Criminal Minds,""Community"). Equally concerned about how Jimmy will manage these new developments is Jimmy's restaurant family, especially assistant manager Annelise (Kelly Jenrette, "Audrey") and chef Ravi (Ravi Patel, "Super Fun Night"). The big questions: Can Jimmy teach Gerald to be a little more like him in order to win the affection of Edie’s hot mess of a mom, Vanessa (Christina Milian, “Family Guy,” "Baggage Claim")? Will Jimmy and Sara fall for each other all over again, even though she's the one thing he never dates – a woman his own age? And who's higher maintenance, Jimmy or the baby? [See image gallery at www.reellifewithjane.com] GRANDFATHERED” is a lot of fun. I’ve always loved John Stamos, and it’s fantastic to see him in a brand new show that really showcases his comedic talents. The writing is funny, heartfelt and poignant, and puts a fresh twist on the “coming of age” genre. The show is definitely worth checking out, if like me, you’ve enjoyed watching Stamos’ career over the years. He’s one of those actors that appeals to people of all ages, from moms like me to my teenage daughter and her friends. This show has a real chance of going the distance, and it’ll be fun seeing if his character will be able to put the brakes on his cruise-controlled bachelor lifestyle. And seriously, John Stamos as a grandfather? Hilarity ensues. Likewise, “THE GRINDER” continues the handsome-actor nostalgia, showcasing Rob Lowe’s good looks and comedic timing with a new twist on the family comedy genre. He and Fred Savage (another TV veteran who started as just a youngster in “The Wonder Years”) star in this show about two brothers: one a spotlight-grabbing actor who plays TV's most popular lawyer, and the other, a real-life, small-town attorney who has yet to find his spotlight. Dean Sanderson, Jr. (Lowe) has spent eight seasons playing the title role on the hit legal drama "THE GRINDER." When his series ends, he decides to move back to his hometown of Boise, Idaho, where his brother, Stewart (Savage), is poised to take over the family law firm. 
Despite having no law degree, no license to practice, and no experience in an actual courtroom, Dean's charisma and flair for the dramatic make him absolutely certain he has something to contribute to the firm. It doesn't take long for him to start inserting himself into every aspect of Stewart's life, both in the courtroom and at home, all to the amusement of Stewart's wife, Debbie (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"); their two kids, 15-year-old Lizzie (Hana Hayes, "Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures") and 13-year-old Ethan (Connor Kalopsis, "Days Of Our Lives"); Dean and Stewart's father, the law firm's head, Dean Sr. (William Devane, "24: Live Another Day") and the office's tough-to-impress counselor, Claire (Natalie Morales, "Parks and Recreation"), who remains unfazed by Dean's celebrity. With a funny storyline and the veteran TV talents of Lowe, Savage and Devane, be sure and put “THE GRINDER” high on your list of new shows to check out. Visit the official website and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+ with hashtag #grandfathered. And “THE GRINDER” premieres right after it, on Tuesday at 8:30/7:30c on FOX. Visit the show’s official website and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+ with hashtag #thegrinder. Yes! All this TV nostalgia in one hour of what I like to call Escape TV! Check out the trailers for both shows and sound off in the comments below. Are you excited to see these TV icons back on TV starring in their own shows?
The post Fall TV Preview: TV Icons John Stamos, Rob Lowe Shine in New Fox Shows ‘The Grinder’ and ‘Grandfathered’ appeared first on Reel Life With Jane. |
Movie Review: Hotel Transylvania 2 Posted: 27 Sep 2015 11:35 AM PDT 
SYNOPSIS: Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from moving her family to California. REVIEW: Over the past decade or so, family movies have trended towards having too much questionable content for kids, even movies rated PG. You know, the kind of content where you go, “Wait, did I just see a reference to [drugs/sex/violence/other iffy stuff] in this movie that’s supposed to be appropriate for kids? But “Hotel Transylvania 2” is thankfully free of that type of content. There are a couple of scary scenes, but nothing worse than the Wile E. Coyote having a boulder fall on him and then getting up and staggering away. In short, this sequel to 2012’s “Hotel Transylvania” is fast-paced, colorful and fun for kids. The story finds vampire Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez) and human Jonathan (Andy Samberg) getting married and having a cute little red-haired son named Dennis. Still living at Hotel Transylvania, the new family doesn’t know whether baby Dennis is a vampire or not because of his blended heritage. If he’s indeed going to follow in his mom and grandpa’s bat-wings, he’ll have to grow fangs by the time he turns five. Fast-forward to his fifth birthday – still no fangs. Mavis has decided that moving to California and raising Dennis among Jonathan’s family would be better than growing up with the monsters at Hotel T. Jonathan isn’t so sure, and plots with grandpa Drac (Adam Sandler) to hurry along those fangs on the youngster! This movie has some positive messages about family, friendship and diversity, as well as some good laughs, like when Drac and his pals attempt to show Dennis the monster world. The supporting characters voiced by Kevin James (Frankenstein), Steve Buscemi (Wayne), David Spade (Griffin), Keegan-Michael Key (Murray) and others are comical. And Mel Brooks, who’s still going strong at 89, voices Vlad, Drac’s vampire dad who doesn’t take kindly to the idea of humans. I love how the movie works in modern gadgets like a monster-sounding GPS voice and smartphones (and the fact that the older generation doesn’t always know how to use such devices). Sandler, who co-wrote the script, also includes an ongoing bit about modern-day parents’ helicopter parenting style. Much of that takes place when Drac and pals take Dennis to his old vampire camp, where the counselors coddle the young vampires. While “Hotel Transylvania 2” might not jump to the head of the class when it comes to memorable family movies, it’s a good choice for kids aged 7 and older, especially as the clock ticks down to Halloween. It also features a great soundtrack, including Fifth Harmony’s catchy “I’m in Love With a Monster.” THE DETAILS (May Contain Spoilers): Sex/Nudity: Mavis and Jonathan kiss at their wedding. Jonathan later complains that he doesn’t get any “alone” time with his wife. A monster falls for a human and kisses him repeatedly on the face. Violence/Gore: A battle between demon bats and monsters might be scary for little ones. A kids’ camp is accidentally set on fire. A car explodes. A boy falls from a tower, but his grandfather saves him. Profanity: Insults like “shut up,” “imbecile” and “idiot.” Drugs/Alcohol: None. Which Kids Will Like It? Kids aged 7 and older who like fast-paced animated movies. Will Grownups Like It?“Hotel Transylvania 2” is a good distraction for kids, but grownups might doze off somewhere in the middle. JANE'S REEL RATING SYSTEM: Images in this review used courtesy of the studio and distributor. The post Movie Review: Hotel Transylvania 2 appeared first on Reel Life With Jane. |
Reel Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Reels
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