The Cinematic Review-verse

Photo Courtesy of William Edward Beavers, V Steven Spielberg's directed adaptation of Ernest Cline's Ready Player One was a compelling battle of old-school video games combined with futuristic technologies. Through the right cast members, remarkable use of virtual reality, and a rousing musical score by one of Spielberg's frequent collaborators, Alan Silvestri, Ready Player One was a robust film for adults and children to see for their viewing pleasure. Set in 2045, young outsider Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan, Scott Summers from  X-Men: Apocalypse ), escapes from the dismal real-world situation by using the virtual-reality software known as OASIS, created by video game tycoons James Halliday (Mark Rylance) and Ogden Morrow (Simon Pegg). Known as Parzival, Wade races against time to find a mystical Easter egg left behind by Halliday in the OASIS, before a diabolical corporate businessman (Ben Mendelsohn) gets the egg to take control of the OASIS. Through help from the c...

Ava DuVernay directed the right cast and crew for the adaptation of the 20th century novel by Madeline L'Engle. With stylized visual effects, well-designed costumes, uplifting original songs and scoring, and bringing the light to the dark moments, A Wrinkle in Time was an overall fantastic production to view. Meg Murray (Storm Reid) hasn't been the same since her astrophysicist father, Dr. Alex Murray (Chris Pine) disappeared years prior. But she gets an unexpected chance to reconcile with Murray when three astral travelers (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling) inform her that he is a prisoner on a distant planet. Joining forces with her younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) and classmate Calvin O'Keefe (Levi Miller), Meg must liberate from her isolated state and save her father before an evil entity known as the It (David Oyelowo) comes to destroy the universe. By the time the film ends, audiences may notice that Meg has become acknowledged as a hero...

Wakanda Forever Marvel Studios went with a predominantly African-American cast, invigorating visual effects, and moving musical score and soundtrack in their newest film, Black Panther. Ryan Coogler  ( Creed ) poured his heart out and delivered an exceptional direction in this superhero movie. The ensemble cast arranges from Chadwick Boseman who has a knack for playing historic and iconic figures of African American descent ( 42, Marshall ) to Andy Serkis, who is gifted in roles with motion-capture ( Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: The Last Jedi ). Taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, T'Challa is given the mantle as king of the African nation, Wakanda. But threats to overthrow the throne and control the nation's supply of vibranium force T'Challa to fight for his people, and eventually, the world, as Black Panther. The actors' performances should be commended, for in the story, many people had different boundaries to face and d...

Photo Courtesy of William Edward Beavers, V Over 5 years ago, there were a group of actresses who teamed up to put on the best female acapella performance film has ever seen. Well, the cast and crew of Pitch Perfect 3 poured their hearts out for the trilogy to finish its run in a grand way. After most of the group graduated from college, Beca (Anna Kendrick), Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), and the rest of the Barden Bellas decide to come together for one last performance, contending with other musical groups, at a USO (United States Organizations) tour. I think this is one for the records for Universal Studios. It was a bit dejecting to see that the franchise had to go soon. But, it was more uplifting when I witnessed the ladies finish what they started the best way how: together. With great new cast additions, whimsical moments of jokes and/or insults towards competition, and well-rehearsed covering of classic songs, Britney Spears' "Toxic", for example, it was an overa...

Photo Courtesy of imdb.com By employing an ensemble cast of reprisals and new additions, well-executed musical score by John Williams, sparkling visual effects, and breathtaking story elements, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was an admirable second course to the sequel trilogy of the Star Wars saga. The cast and crew have put in many long hours to make this one of the best films of the epic space franchise, and so they have. The primary plot of the film is Rey (Daisy Ridley) asking Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to train her to become a Jedi. Luke is reluctant, as he believes it is time for the Jedi to end. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is concerned with how mighty Rey is becoming with the Force, and seeks to bring her to the First Order and join him in the Dark Side. It will take Rey, Luke, and the Resistance-led by now-General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and assisted by Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), and various others- to try to restore balance to ...

Photo courtesy of William Edward Beavers, V In a major step away from his usual action film roles, Hugh Jackman managed to move me to tears of joy in his role as entertaining legend P.T. Barnum. With a fascinating cast and musical numbers, Twentieth Century Fox's The Greatest Showman was a dynamic production to see as the year 2017 draws to a close. The film basically chronicles Barnum's plan to create the greatest show on Earth. Through support of his wife (Michelle Williams) and children and playwright Philip Carlyle (Zac Efron), he is able to defy protesters and negativity of critics to put on a circus that will push audiences out of their comfort zone and become satisfied throughout the country.  Their undying love for entertainment and breaking down societal issues is what makes them interesting for all to see. The rest of the cast includes famous singer Zendaya Coleman (we know as simply "Zendaya") and Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson from Mission Impossible...

Director Jake Kasdan put in his best effort in rebooting 1995's  Jumanji  film into  Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.  By using an intensifying jungle setting, excessive comedic moments, useful props,  an astounding score by Henry Jackman, and an overall great tribute to the original film, this was a awe-inspiring film to see during the holiday season. Distributed by Columbia Pictures, this motion picture was very much similar to the Tristar movie from over twenty years ago, starring Robin Williams, may he rest in peace. The original Jumanji board game was recreated into a  video game cartridge. In 1996, young teenager Alex Vreeke is sucked into the video game accidentally. Twenty years later, five high school students serving detention play the game and get sworn in to the game world themselves, complete with feral wildlife, helicopters, and everything thrilling and destructive. After taking the forms of their avatars, it is up to these youths to pu...