THOR: Love and Thunder Hammers Home

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Digital and coming to 4K, Bluray and DVD from writer/director Taika Waititi, Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the next chapter in the life of THOR: Love and Thunder.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has been hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy for some time and putting in his hammer when needed. That is until a distress signal from Thor’s friend Sif warning him of Gorr (Christian Bale). Gorr has the Necrosword and wants to destroy all the gods for the death of a child. His next target is New Asgard!

Arriving at New Asgard, he is happy to see Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and explains about Gorr and needs help. What he does not expect is to see Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), or in her new incarnation as the Lady Thor. They do not have much time to talk about it when Gorr arrives in New Asgard and captures the town’s children.

Now they must come together to discover what it is that Gorr wants with the children and how to stop him. Thor, Dr. Foster, and Valkyrie set out with Korg (Taika Waititi) to bring together an army with the help of the gods. They reach out to Zeus (Russell Crowe) to get the one weapon that may be able to take on the Necrosword.

But Gorr is not about to back down and when a fight breaks out, it is Valkyrie and Jane that pays. Now Thor has to take on Gorr alone if he is to save the children of New Asgard and stop the evil from having its way with the entire world.

Hemworth returns as Thor, and he’s finally exercised out his previous chunky dad-bod. Back to form he is still with the Guardians trying to figure himself out. When he sees a message from a friend asking for help, he learns about Gorr and his plans. Thinking he has found his purpose and arriving in New Asgard, he does not expect to see Jane transformed. Hemsworth is funny, tries to be charming and in fight mode.

Portman as Dr. Jane, she is ill and finds herself drawn to New Asgard and Thor’s broken hammer Mjolnir. Seeing Thor once again in her new incarnation, she is enjoying her new role as a heroine for the town of New Asgard. When Thor makes it clear he is going after Gorr, Jane also makes it clear that she is perfectly capable of handling both a hammer and a bad guy.

Thompson as Valkyrie lets it be known that being a ‘king’ has not turned out exactly how she thought. But then again being a king on Asgard and being a king in New Asgard is totally different. She is responsible for a town and that means financially and for their well-being. So, when Gorr takes the children, well, she is ready for a good fight.

Bale as Gorr gets a chance to play a villain in the MCU and it is as a butcher of gods. As he gets bolder and bolder with his Necrosword, he fades being a human being. His one ‘wish’ is to get to a place no one else has seen to recover his daughter.

Waititi as Korg is so dang cute it’s ridiculous. He cares so much for Thor that he will stand with him in any battle. There is an innocence to Korg as well that is so sweet because it is honest and heartfelt. When he does go off on a subject, he makes me laugh so much. Crowe as Zeus has issues and we are still trying to figure out how a Greek god has an Italian accent, oh well.

Other cast include Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Carly Rees as Miek, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill.

There are so many cameos to mention but I think it would be much more fun in the surprise!!

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 more of what they have to offer please visit www.disney.com.

Marvel Studios has released sixteen films since 2008 in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is built on a library of over eight thousand characters featured in a variety of media content for over seventy years. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.marvel.com.

Bonus Features Include Gag Reel, Audio Commentary with Director/Writer Taika Waititi, Hammer-Worthy: Thor and The Mighty Thor, Shaping a Villain, Another classic Taika Adventure, Looking for Zeus, Wasting Time, A Safe Vacation and Fighting For You.

THOR: Love and Thunder is just a good time at the movies. It is the typical Thor vs. a bad guy in order to save those around him but this time he finally has a chance to come face to face with Jane. Let’s face it, he has talked about his broken heart long enough and now is the time to mend it.

A visit from the Guardians gives Quill a chance to tell Thor it is time for him to find out who he is and Gorr helps along that storyline. Returning to New Asgard, it does not take long for the battles to begin in both inner and outer space.

This is a fun time at the theatre for families so pack them up and prepare to laugh, see epic battles and see how New Asgard has grown and come together to protect one another and the universe!

In the end – not every god has a plan!

THOR: Love and Thunder Explodes in Theatres

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from writer/director Taika Waititi, Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios is the next chapter in the life of THOR: Love and Thunder.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has been hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy for some time and putting in his hammer when needed. That is until a distress signal from Thor’s friend Sif warning him of Gorr (Christian Bale). Gorr has the Necrosword and wants to destroy all the gods for the death of a child. His next target is New Asgard!

Arriving at New Asgard, he is happy to see Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and explains about Gorr and needs help. What he does not expect is to see Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), or in her new incarnation as the Lady Thor. They do not have much time to talk about it when Gorr arrives in New Asgard and captures the town’s children.

Now they must come together to discover what it is that Gorr wants with the children and how to stop him. Thor, Dr. Foster and Valkyrie set out with Korg (Taika Waititi) to bring together an army with the help of the gods. They reach out to Zeus (Russell Crowe) to get the one weapon that may be able to take on the Necrosword.

But Gorr is not about to back down and when a fight breaks out, it is Valkyrie and Jane that pays. Now Thor has to take on Gorr alone if he is to save the children of New Asgard and stop the evil from having its way with the entire world.

Hemworth returns as Thor and he’s finally exercised out his previous chunky dad-bod. Back to form he is still with the Guardians trying to figure himself out. When he sees a message from a friend asking for help, he learns about Gorr and his plans. Thinking he has found his purpose and arriving in New Asgard, he does not expect to see Jane transformed. Hemsworth is funny, tries to be charming and in fight mode.

Portman as Dr. Jane, she is ill and finds herself drawn to New Asgard and Thor’s broken hammer Mjolnir. Seeing Thor once again in her new incarnation, she is enjoying her new role as a heroine for the town of New Asgard. When Thor makes it clear he is going after Gorr, Jane also makes it clear that she is perfectly capable of handling both a hammer and a bad guy.

Thompson as Valkyrie lets it be known that being a ‘king’ has not turned out exactly how she thought. But then again being a king on Asgard and being a king in New Asgard is totally different. She is responsible for a town and that means financially and for their well-being. So when Gorr takes the children, well, she is ready for a good fight.

Bale as Gorr gets a chance to play a villain in the MCU and it is as a butcher of gods. As he get bolder and bolder with his Necrosword, he fades being a human being. His one ‘wish’ is to get to a place no one else has seen to recover his daughter.

Waititi as Korg is so dang cute its ridiculous. He cares so much for Thor that he will stand with him in any battle. There is an innocence to Korg as well that is so sweet because it is honest and heartfelt. When he does go off on a subject, he makes me laugh so much. Crowe as Zeus has issues and we are still trying to figure out how a Greek god has an Italian accent, oh well.

Other cast include Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Carly Rees as Miek, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill.

There are so many cameos to mention but I think it would be much more fun in the surprise!!

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 more of what they have to offer please visit www.disney.com.

Marvel Studios has released sixteen films since 2008 in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is built on a library of over eight thousand characters featured in a variety of media content for over seventy years. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.marvel.com.

THOR: Love and Thunder is just a good time at the movies. It is the typical Thor vs. a bad guy in order to save those around him but this time he finally has a chance to come face to face with Jane. Let’s face it, he has talked about his broken heart long enough and now is the time to mend it.

A visit from the Guardians gives Quill a chance to tell Thor it is time for him to find out who he is and Gorr helps along that storyline. Returning to New Asgard, it does not take long for the battles to begin in both inner and outer space.

This is a fun time at the theatre for families so pack them up and prepare to laugh, see epic battles and see how New Asgard has grown and come together to protect one another and the universe!

In the end – not every god has a plan!

LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL Comes to Steelbook

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to a Limited Edition Steelbook from writer/director Luc Besson and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the 1995 film LEON: The Professional.

Leon (Jean Reno) is a hitman living the quiet life in a New York City apartment building and occasionally called upon by a man named Old Tony (Danny Aiello). Down the hall is the Lando family who are about to have the DEA knocking down their door lead by Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Coming back from the store is Mathilda (Natalie Portman), a 12-year-old girl who realizes what is happening in her family in the apartment and walks past.

Knocking on Leon’s door, she wants to be let in which he does. Mathilda is realizing what Leon does and begs him to teach her how to be a hitman. Her goal is to take revenge for the death of her family. A deal is struck that Leon teaches her the ‘hitman’ ropes and she takes care of the apartment. It seems the perfect solution and quickly the two form a strange bond.

That is until Leon is sent on an assignment by Old Tony and Mathilda takes it upon herself to grab a few weapons and look for Stansfield. It is not long before Stansfield is in her sites, but Leon has other plans for his men. Now He wants Leon and the only person that can give him that information is Tony.

Leon knows that he must do more to protect Mathilda, especially when he realizes that Stansfield isn’t about to let what happen go without repercussions. Telling the young girl to go to Tony as the explosions and gunfire break out in the apartment building, Leon has one more surprise in store for Stansfield.

Mathilda now must try and start a new life which includes heading back to school giving up her dream of being a hitman!

Reno as Leon could not have been any more perfect for this role if he tried. Giving the air of a man who wants to be left to himself, Reno gives us that and a lot more. There is a sense of danger to him of course and his facial expressions are frozen but in those eyes are something completely different. The first time I saw Reno was in the 1990 film LE FEMME NIKITA as the cleaner Victor, so I suppose that was a practice run for Leon.

Portland as the young Mathilda is a girl who has seen much in her young life. An abusive father starts her down the road of rage and a trip to the store keeps her from experiencing the same fate as her family. Destroyed but it, she sees a chance for revenge, especially when you have a hitman living practically right next door. She is smart and sassy and yet, like Leon, her eyes betray what is really going on inside her. A difficult performance for a young girl but Portland made is look easy.

Oldman as Stansfield has the opportunity to be as bad as he wants his character to be. That’s the thing about Oldman, one role he can be the sleaziest bad guy out there and the next he can be the best of a good guy. His career is filled with such a vast array of characters (okay, DRACULA is my favorite followed by THE FIFTH ELEMENT as I love seeing unusual roles) and I never would have imagined him as Commissioner Gordon in the BATMAN films but there he was on the screen, doing it to perfection. As Stansfield he is the worst of the bad guys and I loved every moment of it.

Aiello as Tony has a history with Leon since he was practically a boy and there definetly was schooling of a different kind for him. Aiello is another actor that has left an indelible impression on my movie going heart and seeing him once again as Tony reminded me of why that it.

Other cast include Peter Appel, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene, Joseph Malerba, Maiwenn, George Martin, Jean-Hugues Anglade and Keith A. Glascoe as Benny.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

The Bluray Special Features include Cast and Crew Look Back, Jean Reno: The Road to Leon, Natalie Portman: Starting Young, Fact Track (Extended Version) and Theatrical Trailer. Both the 4K Ultra H and Bluray include both theatrical and extended version of the film.

Having the Steelbook of LEON: The Profession is cooler than anything with fantastic artwork on the outside, especially the back with a very vulnerable looking young Portman. Inside are the two discs that are tucked nicely into the book making sure nothing happens to one of the most fantastic films made by writer/director Besson.

Tis the season so ask Santa to stuff your stocking with a Steelbook to remember.

In the end – if you want the job done right hire a professional!

 

 

It's a Crash Landing for LUCY IN THE SKY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Noah Hawley and Fox Searchlight Pictures is the story of space and life when your feet are back on the ground for LUCY IN THE SKY.

Lucy (Natalie Portman) has just returned from an incredible experience in space. Getting back to life at home with husband Drew (Dan Stevens) and niece Blue (Pearl Dickson), Lucy also focuses on when she will have the opportunity to go up again. Working hard and training every chance she gets, Lucy realizes that just because she has been in space once doesn't mean there aren't others waiting in line.

She meets Mark Goodwin (Jon Hamm) who is also training to go into space. Mark tries to get Lucy to lighten up a little and join in the fun with other astronauts. Being very focused on the next mission, Lucy lets herself go for a moment and Drew is supportive.

Lucy finds herself in an awkward place when feelings rise up for Mark and a relationship begins. She also discovers who she is up against for the next seat into space, a very young Erin Eccles (Zazie Beetz). Encouraging her to remember what she wants is Nana Holbrook (Ellen Burstyn) who is the touchstone that Lucy keeps close.

As things become more serious, Lucy finds herself in a place she has never been before and her ability to handle it becomes jaded. What she wants and what she needs becomes blurred and Lucy becomes unable to express her anxiety. She pulls on the life thread and when things unravel, a side of her is set lose and there is no turning back.

Portman as Lucy is, unfortunately, flat and not fun to watch. There is this weird accent she is trying (I'm assuming she's trying) and it just doesn't work. What it does manage to do is annoy the living daylights out of me and bring me back to 2010 and another unhinged character in BLACK SWAN. There isn't anything in this character that I mentally want to hold on to but in fact would have no problem cutting the cord to send it into another universe. Obviously I'm not thrilled to have spent two hours sitting in a theatre watching a hot mess when I could have been home watching Below Deck on Bravo.

Hamm as Mark is just a skuzzy user of women and there is nothing redeeming about him either. It doesn't do anything for NASA's image to have him re-play Garrett Breedlove from the 1983 film TERMS OF ENDEARMENT as another astronaut womanizer. The only difference between Lucy and Aurora Greenway I could watch on screen forever.

Beetz as Erin is side candy which is unfortunate. Playing the 'women have to stick together' card it actually turned into 'women have to stick each other' and it gets all messy and boring. Stevens as Drew gets the shaft in this story and I actually felt bad for the actor AND the character. Dickson as Blue just wants something more in her life instead of a crappy dad, an opinionated grandmother and an Aunt who can't keep it together.

Burstyn as Nana Holbrook was under used in this film. Why do they continue to put these amazing actresses in roles that have bite and then take their teeth? Burstyn is an actress in every sense of the word and here she is stuck in a bed once again reliving her 2014 deathbed scene as the older Murph in INTERSTELLAR.

Other cast include Colman Domingo as Frank Paxton, Jeremiah Birkett as Hank Lumch, Jeffrey Donovan as Jim Hunt, Tig Notaro as Kate Mounier, Stella Edwards as Chelsea, Arlo Mertz as Emily, Tobias Schonleitner as Miles Henckle, and Diana DeLaCruz as Dr. Addison.

Okay, so a few weeks ago I sat through AD ASTRA and I wasn't thrilled much by that film either. It had its moments and the cinematography was pretty cool. LUCY IN THE SKY just put AD ASTRA higher up on the scale of films I might sit through again. What is it with these space films that there has to be this epiphany about life. Oh how small we are compared to the universe. I mean did you have to really go to space to find that out? I'm on the ground and I know that…saved a ton on rocket fuel and space junk floating out into space.

Seriously, doesn't NASA do some kind of testing on these people to see how they will handle space before and after because these movies don't seem to show that. Instead its always something going wrong (GRAVITY for example) and THEN they get the meaning of life? Hey NASA, don't use this as a recruitment film. This movie doesn't even have cool space scenes!

Instead, the film decides to make a woman look crazy because she saw the earth from space. I truly wasn't invested in the storyline and didn't care whether she went back to space and the rest was just surface noise, 124 minutes of surface noise. The cheery noise on the cake was the sappy version of the most cool of Beatles songs - way to make sure the knife goes all the way in eh? To just put it all out there, I feel like I've been space punk'd once again! Give me Tom Hanks in APOLLO 13 any day and you can keep the rest.

In the end - in space no one can hear me scream!

Coming to Bluray is the Brilliant and Stunning JACKIE

Jeri Jacquin

On Digital HD today and Bluray/DVD March 7th from director Pablo Larrain and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is an intimate look at a woman the world knows as JACKIE.

Jacqueline Bovier Kennedy (Natalie Portman) is the First Lady of the United States along with being a mother and the wife of President John F. Kennedy (Caspar Phillipson). After the tragic assassination of the President in Dallas, Texas, Jackie brings a journalist (Billy Crudup) to talk about her role entering the White House, the days before and after the death of the President.

From taking on the role of redecorating the White House and her many television appearances, Jackie brought glamour and glass to Washington. With the help of her assistant Nancy Tuckerman (Greta Gerwig), the First Lady is keeping the pace of what is expected of her.

In an instant that all changed and now Jackie must shift from being First Lady to a widow with two children. Leaning on brother-in-law Bobby Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard) it is a confusing time as Lyndon Johnson (John Carrol Lynch) must now keep the government running.

Packing her children to leave the residence, Jackie must also decide how she wishes to proceed with a presidential funeral. In the midst of her pain and grief, it is in a single moment that the plans for a nation’s grieving fall into place.

These are her words and her actions that help us all remember Camelot!

Portman as Jackie is impeccable from start to finish with her Best Actress nomination for the Oscars. Costume designer Madeline Fontaine were also nominated for an Academy Award and rightly so for the beautiful gowns and dresses that are completely Jackie. From the pink pill box hat and suit to the dress worn in the telecast from the White House, the viewers will be transported with Portman’s portrayal of demeanor, grace and style. She brings an elegance all her own with a riveting performance from start to impeccable finish.

Sarsgaard as Bobby Kennedy is devastated by the death of his brother and knows he must be there for Jackie and the children. Caught in the middle between trying to save the legacy of his brother’s work as President and the incoming Leadership, Sarsgaard gives an emotional performance that I truly enjoyed.

Crudup as the Journalist knocks on the door of Jackie Kennedy believing her to be a woman devastated by death but instead finds a person of amazing strength, a bit of a bite and totally in control.

Other cast include John Hurt as The Priest, Richard E. Grant as Bill Walton, Beth Grant as Lady Bird Johnson, and Max Casella as Jack Valenti.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

JACKIE film is an absolutely stunning on so many layers and levels. It is a unique telling of a time in history that has been covered hundreds of ways but never from the perspective of Jackie Kennedy herself.

Portman brings an impeccably dressed, soft spoken First Lady to the screen that does have cutting moments when tested. Watching the film it felt like a voyeuristic look at her pain and emotions at a time most private in her life.

The cinematographer is absolutely stunning and the score (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for Mica Levi) didn’t drag out emotions from the viewer but instead enhance them. The costuming for every character in the film brought amazing believability to the time frame the film portrays.

In truth I am mesmerized by the film because I didn’t know what to expect. What struck home for me was when Jackie plays the song Camelot and Richard Burton’s voice rings out telling the story of another fallen believer.

JACKIE is a gorgeous film that should receive every high praise available and was on my list as a Top Ten film of 2016! Now on Bluray/DVD and Digital HD it is a must-see.

The Bluray/DVD and Digital HD Special Features include From Jackie to Camelot Featurette, Audio Commentary by Pablo Larrain and Natalie Portman and a Gallery. The box cover is equally as stunning bringing JACKIE an honored place in everyone’s home entertainment library

In the end – she will make them remember the legacy known as Camelot.