It is LIGHTYEAR in Space

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this week from director Angus MacLane, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Motion Pictures is the story of redemption for LIGHTYEAR.

Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) is on a mission with partner Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) and when their ship lands, it takes no time at all to realize that there are hostile creatures who do not want them there. Trying to escape, Lightyear tries to fly their odd shaped ship back into space and when they crash land, everyone aboard steps up to create a camp.

Their new mission is to find a way home with the creation of crystals for the hyper drive. The problem is that with each test, Lightyear returns the same age but everyone else gets older and older with every test. Hawthorne encourages Lightyear and even gives him the gift of a techno-cat named SOX (Peter Sohn). Lightyear also sees Hawthorne having a life and creating a family on the planet.

The final test run against orders brings Lightyear back 22 years later even though the flight is finally a success. Realizing everything seems to have changed, he meets Hawthorne’s granddaughter Izzy (Keke Palmer). She tells Buzz how much time has passed and that there are robots out to destroy the base. Referring to them as Zurg (because that’s all they say), the chase is on.

Izzy introduces Lightyear to her team with the nervous Mo (Taika Waititi), and criminally minded Darby (Dale Soules). Believing that the trio have absolutely no idea what they are doing or that they can help, that is going to have to change if they are to protect the base camp and hold on to the precious power source.

It is time for Operation Surprise and prepare for a lot of surprises along the way that even Lightyear’s new team could not have seen coming.

Evans as Lightyear gives a serious side to this character but that does not stop the comedy from coming through whether he likes it or not. Every emotion comes from Evans voice as Lightyear deals with guilt and, in a way, isolation from friendships other than Hawthorne. He grows as a person and everyone is thrilled by the end of the film for that.

Palmer as Izzy is a chip off the space family block, well sort of. Wanting to help save the base camp from Zurg, she is smart and creative even if Lightyear doesn’t see it right away. Palmer gives her character heart and soul.

Sohn as the voice of Sox has ruined me and my granddaughter because we want our cats to be as clever and cool as he is. We love Sox and agree that we both at least want a stuffed kitty in our Disney home collection.

Waititi as Mo is endearing, twitchy, clumsy yet this character fits in perfectly with Izzy and Darby. Speaking of which, Soules cracked me up totally voicing this character who has no problem breaking parole with her skills in three-object bomb making. Calm, cool and collected – I love Darby.

Aduba as Hawthorne knows Lightyear better than anyone which irritates Buzz to no end. Yet, he truly cares for his friend. The messages she leaves keeps her presence in the film that causes a few teary-eyed moments.

Other cast include Mary McDonald-Lewis as IVAN, Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Bill Hader as Featheringhamstan, Efren Ramirez as Diaz, Keira Hairston as young Izzy and James Brolin as Zurg.

Pixar has produced twenty-six feature films beginning with TOY STORY in 1995. Earning twenty-three Academy Awards, ten Golden Globe Awards and eleven Grammy Awards just to name a few. They are responsible for beloved family films such as FINDING NEMO, THE INCREDIBLES, RATATOUILLE, WALL-E, UP, BRAVE, INSIDE OUT and SOUL. For more about Pixar please visit www.pixar.com.

Walt Disney Studios continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

There is really a risk in taking a beloved character and try to bring him more ‘real’ to viewers. Most of us know Buzz Lightyear as a straight forward Space Ranger with a mission that is clear from the moment he is turned on. He is also the yin to Woody’s yang making it hard to see one without the other.

That being said, it did take me a bit to fall into the story LIGHTYEAR is trying to tell but it happened. What Disney and Pixar did was fill the screen with sounds, sayings and hints of the Buzz we came to know in 1995. I truly believe that is what brought the audience around. I heard the giggle, ‘ohhhh’s and laughter remembering and accepting – and all from the adults.

LIGHTYEAR is a fantastic family film that I truly believe is fun adventure and humor. Yes, it is a little intense sometimes but once the action roles and the story unfolds, everything comes together wonderfully. The animation is fantastic but then again, we are talking the stellar collaboration with Disney and Pixar.

In the end – to infinity and beyond!

TOP GUN MAVERICK

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Joseph Kosinski and Paramount Pictures is a return to the sky with TOP GUN MAVERICK.

Captain Peter “Maverick” Mitchell is still flying after all these years and this time testing a craft much to the dismay of his superiors. Surprise, right? Instead of trouble, he is surprised to learn that Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer) has requested that he return to where it all began – Top Gun.

But that is not the only surprise as Maverick looks at the list of pilots he will be training for a special mission and sees a name he knows. As part of the mission, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller) will be one of his trainees. This elite group needs to be trained to do one of the most dangerous jobs that requires the destruction of a uranium facility while being surrounded by missiles.

Returning to a place that holds painful memories, the local watering hold still remains, and he reunites with former love interest Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly) who now owns the business and is raising teen daughter Amelia (Lyliana Wray). Now its time to meet the trainees with “Rooster”, Lt. “Hangman” Seresin (Glen Powell), Lt. “Bob” Floyd (Lewis Pullman), Lt. “Phoenix” Trace (Monica Barbaro), Lt. “Payback” Fitch (Jay Ellis), Lt. “Fanboy” Garcia (Danny Ramirez), and Lt. “Coyote” Machado (Greg Davis).

There is instant tension between Maverick and Rooster as a past history could derail the training. Yet, Maverick takes to the air and lets his trainees know that they have met their cocky match! Their confidence is taken down several pegs when they realize that the legendary dogfighting Maverick lives up to his name.

Rooster is not the only one still living with past pain, Maverick turns to Penny when trying to find a way to reach the young pilot who reminds him so much of “Goose”. Trying the old ways, the teacher slowly reaches each one of the pilots discovering their strengths and weaknesses. Knowing that, the group turns into a well-oiled machine. Meeting with “Iceman”, Maverick receives the final boost he needs to make this mission work.

Now, there is no more time and no more excuses as the mission needs to happen quickly, accurately and with bravery. As they lock on to their target, Maverick and his pilots are met with enemy squadrons, and they have the Top Gun pilots in their sites. It is time to put away memories and issues because they are in enemy territory, and it is time to get the job done!

Cruise as Maverick returns a slightly aged and unrepentant pilot who has not changed in the way he handles things, ergo still being a Captain. After butting heads with his superiors, he returns to the place that has both good and bad memories – Top Gun. Cruise flies into his Maverick flight suit with precision and ease as if 1986 were only yesterday. He still carries swag and posturing on the outside with memories of mistakes and regret on the inside.

Teller as Rooster has is own swag and posturing but the added bonus of loathing for his new Captain. The story of his past unravels slowly but one thing is clear, the past can not stay there forever as Maverick and Rooster have to deal with their issues if the mission and their relationship is to work. Teller does his role justice and that had to be difficult following in the footsteps of another to closely tied to the 1986 storyline.

Connelly as Penny brings a new but not so new element to the story as the past interest of Pete Mitchell. Having this story play out in the iconic watering hole of the original film helps, and letting their story unravel plays into Maverick’s insecurities but Penny is not a heart broken woman pining for a long lost pilot – instead, she is a strong woman raising a teenager and owning a business. I liked that about Connelly’s role here giving off an air of ‘I can take it or leave it’ when it came to any relationship.

Powell as Hangman gets to be a bit icy (see what I did there?) and shows the Top Gun pilot cockiness that is not going to serve him well, especially considering who he is up against. It is fun to watch his character go through the ropes as all of them must grow up if they are to survive the mission.

Shout out to Ed Harris, who I adore, and Jon Hamm for their part to play in knowing that Maverick just does not follow the rules exactly but damn is he good at what he does!

Now, can we talk about Val Kilmer? What an amazing, touching and well-deserved moment on the screen between Maverick and Ice Man. It was needed and had there not been such a time between these two characters, I might have had something different to say about the film. Tissue moment? Absolutely.

Other cast includes Manny Jacinto as Fritz, Jack Schumacher as Omaha, Bashir Salahuddin as “Hondo” Coleman, Jake Picking Lt. “Harvard” Lennox, Jean Kelly as Sarah Kazansky, Raymond Lee as Lt. “Yale” Lee, Charles Parnell as Rear Admiral “Warlock” Bates, Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Simpson and Ed Harris as Rear Admiral “Hammer” Cain.

Paramount Pictures is the longest operating and remaining major studio in Hollywood that has been on the ground floor of every major development in film. From the advent of motion pictures to the emergence of television, through the digital revolution, Paramount Pictures has been there. During our 100-year history, we have served as the production site for thousands of notable movies and television shows. For more please visit www.paramountstudios.com.

TOP GUN MAVERICK was not a film I was terribly sure about and let me tell you why. I enjoyed the 80’s and TOP GUN was a part of that, then time has its way with us all. So, when the idea was floated out some time ago, my interest was not really peaked. At that time, I could take it or leave it. Then the pandemic arrived and the movie going experience went into the void.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing the film with no expectations. I sat back and as the film began, I was hit immediately with a recognizable song that made me smile and maybe even mouth the words a little bit. Then, right into Maverick doing what Maverick does – finding a way around the establishment to get a job done.

Returning to Top Gun is a return for everyone who was ever in the theatre in 1986 because of one fact that I still believe about TOP GUN MAVERICK – they did not try to reinvent the wheel. Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks and written into the screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, the film’s success is in the fact that these five people kept it simple, fast and nostalgic.

The issues are ready to be resolved on some level, the jets are fast and loud, the characters are as we remember, and an even hand was kept on the flashbacks. Cruise took a cinematic step having close-up cockpit takes during the flight sequences that almost made me a little nauseous, but damn is it very cool.

With the holiday weekend coming up, TOP GUN MAVERICK is going to fill seats because of the action and nostalgia. For those of us in San Diego, well, living in American’s Finest City, we get to brag that the real Fighter Town U.S.A. is right in our own back yard!

In the end  –  it is full throttle as our breath is again taken away!

MMA Legends Cast in World War II Film D-DAY

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and Video-On-Demand as well as across digital platforms is director Nick Lyon and Cinedigm is the story of a brave group of men among thousands of brave men during wartime and D-DAY.

Allied soldiers are storming the beaches of Normandy during World War II and Lt. General Omar Bradley (Chuck Liddell) is about to tell Lt. Col. James Rudder (Weston Cage Coppola), Sgt. Lommell (Jesse Kove) and Maj. Cleveland Lytle (Randy Couture) that they will be going behind enemy lines.

What is waiting for them is a continual firefight from one place to the next as they tried to locate the weapons hidden by German soldiers. Along with soldiers Sgt. Kuhn (David Tom), Carbone (Isaac Cruz), Hodges (Kellan Rhude) and Sgt. White (Geoff Meed), they take one position after another but - no guns.

Capturing German soldiers they discover that the weapons are on the move and the 2nd Battalion is right behind them. On their way each soldier gets to know the other and their stories of home. The Germans don't let them get to close as they continue to open fire to keep their weapons out of the hands of these brave American soldiers. Fighting on land and sea, the 2nd Battalion hold out until help can arrive.

Each step forward is one step closer to going home!

Liddell as Bradley is a man on a mission and he knows that lives will be lost. I have to say that he looks like a general with his hard chiseled features so it works to his advantage here. Coppola as Rudder takes over the Battalion when it becomes clear that Lytle doesn't see the war eye to eye with Bradley. Coppola is a man pushing forward with each position captured and does it the best way he knows how - keeping them men focused.

Kove as Lommell is one of the men who is trying to work through what he is seeing. It is difficult for all the men and its clear there is a weight they will take home with them, but Rudder once again makes it clear to stay hard and get the job done.  Meed not only stars in the film but he is the writer which gives him a little insight to his character and how to play the role.

Other cast include Martin Kove as Nikolai, Tyler Bryan as First Lt. Powers, Sam Gipson as Wiley, Matthew Lewis as Robbins, Mike C. Manning as Dennis, Philip Nathanael as Treadwell Recruit, Christian Oliver as Corporal Jurgen, Brandon Root as Pickens, Sherrod Taylor as Sgt. Francis and Ben van Diepen as Horst.

CINEDIGM has strategic relationships with over 60,000 physical retail storefronts and digital platforms with Wal-Mark, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon as well as national cable and satellite Video On Demand with an impressive distribution footprint that reaches ninety-three percent of all connected devices in the United States. The company's vast content library boasts over 52,000 feature films and television episodes. To learn more please visit www.cinedigm.com.

D-DAY is a corner in a full pages of a book that tell the story of bravery on D-Day. The story embraces this small band of men from their landing until finding the weapons they were sent out to locate. It is fight after fight with very little leading the way except the men knowing they had a job to do. There are major losses and yet these men kept going forward with strength and leadership.

That's not to say there aren't moments where the men feel as if they have just had about enough but that's to be expected when their fellow soldiers and friends fall. They must find that place that gets them past their anger and remember that there are those alive who still need them if they are to succeed.

In the end - it is the day that changed the world!