2016 Movie Review

This is the first year (2016, I mean) that I have seen a good chunk of the movies released. As a rule, I used to not want to spend the money on a movie ticket, but with new Star Wars movies, live action Disney remakes, and actual content within movies, I have decided that this was a silly rule.

Now, I set aside money for 1 movie per week, as long as there are decent movie to see. I still don't like movies with stupid concepts and certain actors are not favourites, but with that being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the movies that I did see.

This will be an impartial list, as I didn't see everything, but I did stretch my theatrical muscles on this and watched two horror movies. Oddly enough, they were more about plot and character than scaring. So, Dear Readers, without ado, my list of Cindy's 2016's movie picks....

First the Honourable Mentions:
     1. The Shallows: So, shark movies. Yeah. Shark movies! Nothing can compare to Roy Scheider in Jaws, but, honestly, Blake Lively was so convincing that I really felt for her. The story was present and well told. There is little gore, mostly from the nasty nip Lively receives from her shark buddy. For a strictly one person (with a few side characters) movie, it holds up really well, as entertaining and quality storytelling.

     2. Ouija: Origin of Evil. Okay, so I didn't know that there was a previously made Ouija movie (2014) and that this movie was a prequel. I enjoyed the movie, even with the jump scares, because the story focus more on the characters, which is something important. Also, the depiction of the 1960's were really spot on, costumes, cars, set location. The house used was gorgeous! I am only slightly curious about seeing the 2014 Ouija, simply because there is a connection to characters, but because Origin of Evil was so well done I am not sure I want it ruined. It nothing else it was a good spooky movie with wonderful characters.

3. Office Xmas Party: This is a stupid movie, but it is a AMAZING stupid movie. In the vein of Bad Moms, but with MUCH MORE SWEARING! So, I once said I disliked stupid humour movies. I lied (like the Doctor does). I actually like movies with that brand of silly and/or stupid humor, where you may be left scratching your head, but also laughing really hard. Jennifer Aniston is hands down the best part of this movie. She can totally play cold-hearted bitch and own it!! Kate McKinnon is just adorbs as the crazy HR lady.

The List:
      1. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call - This was a feel good movie. I enjoyed the SNL actors, the cameos, and the spirit with which the movie was made. Ha! I'm keeping that pun in, Dear Readers.

      2. Finding Dory - There is something special about movies that cater to the adults just a little more. Dory is a great movie for all ages, but the subtext woven into the story just make me happy.

      3. The Danish Girl - I knew so little of Eddie Redmayne prior to this movie. Okay, except for that Les Miserables musical, but that is for another time and rant. In a world where the LGBTQ community is active and present now more than ever, its nice to see how some early transgender folks dealt with life and coping with the world. Yeah and Eddie looks damn fine in a dress too!

      4. Rouge One - A solid reminder that Star Wars is NOT a terrible franchise. It's a fill and vibrant world, and there are those who still care about its place in the universe. A darker and more cynical view of the empire, it has it right, as it is before the shot went down in A New Hope. For that I applaud you.  Oh, and Alan Tudyk, you are my new favourite!!

      5. Fantastic Beasts... - I like the Harry Potter universe. I have read all the books (okay not Cursed Child, yet). I was just glad that it appealed to everyone, whether a fans of the Potter-Verse or not. That and Eddie. ;-)

      6. Moana - Okay...gonna say it! Lin Manuel Miranda. There! The story is strong, the animation stellar, and the music gorgeous. Also, I wrote a full review about it, Moana Review.

      7. Zootopia - A really strong movie with an amazing message. Kudos to Disney for promoting something so strong as unity within the real world issues that we face today.

      8. Time Chasers (Rifftrax) - I love Rifftrax. If you don't know what they are, go now to their website: rifftrax.com. You won't regret it. From the minds of the members of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (MSK3K), Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy bring you riff of your favourite main stream movies and old school educational short films. An mp3 track to play along with the movie of your choice and BOOM joke, comedy, and commentary on the strangest of topics.

      9. Bad Moms - Real life problems mixed with the absurdness of mom's running wild.  Strong performances from Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell.

      10. The Jungle Book - Disney, live animals (well, CGI animals), and a mostly non-musical version of the classic. It is darker and gritty, but there is more plot and character that make it holds it  own.

Other movies I saw:
        *Pete's Dragon - Another remake, well, not a remake. It is more like a re-imagining of the original idea. I was SOOOOO hesitant on watching this. I grew up on the original. I knew it and the songs like nobody, well outside of a few close friends who need it a little better.
        *Secret Life of Pets - just freakin' cute.
        *Passengers - space adventure story with J-Law.

2016 kick off

It's 2016, Dear Readers! Can you believe it?

Somewhere the time keeps on ticking and then a whole year passes. I am not really surprised by this as I prefer to be busy. When  one is busy, one tends to not see the time passing and I like my days full. This doesn't mean that I miss out on life because I am in the middle of something else.  I am more aware of the world around me because of this. I live with open eyes and am actually happy.

I'm sitting here think that I hadn't blogged about anything since Round 4 of A Round of Words in 80 Days, which is a blog challenge that  allows you to set goals and report of those same goals. It gives you a level of accountability that wasn't there before. And I did this for two years? Three? I don't even know now. (Well, I could look back at my post to see when I started, if I wanted to). I learned to set measurable goals and to how myself accountable for those goals. I met a lot of fun writer folk and learned a number of things. It's 2016 and I haven't post to the new Round 1. Not sure if I want to. It's not that I am above the purpose of ROW80, hells bells I need that accountability, but I feel that I need to do ROW80 for the right reasons. What reasons are you asking, Dear Readers?

I have a different set of goals for this year. a different plan for what I want and maybe I need to not be held to posting twice a week on my progress. Maybe! I know I need goals. That's a given.

Coffee in hand and bagel in my stomach I am thinking that I should blog about something. Goals are an obvious blog post. What are my goals for 2016? So far, I have these...

        *Pull completed stories and work of revisions. When ready, send them to my Betas. Continue to
revise and edit until the stories are ready.
        *Submit completed, revised stories for publication. This also means looking into places I can submit to such as online journals, contests, and even self-publishing.
        *Submit poetry for publication.
        *Learn to use Adobe Photoshop. I want to make poetry books of my collections of poetry: sonnets, pantoums, OctPoWriMo poems, and NaPoWriMo poems.
        *Work on my children's stories, edits and getting test art. Look into where to submit the complete work with and without art. Get Little Lost Sheep published by 2017. I already have about 8 artists making test panel for Little Lost Sheep.
         *Finish major edits of The Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo 2014).
         *Complete my first Channillo series (6 month series).
         *Write!

Yeah, that seems like a lot and maybe it is, but this year I am a bit more focused on specific projects and getting them launched. I will try to come up with a more detailed plan for these goals and report on my progress in the coming months.

Auditions for McBeth are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Bath, NU. I love doing Shakespeare and having a group that does it every other year and does it so well gives me shivers of excitement. I want a serious role this time. After having played Bottom and Trinculo, I want to stretch my muscles. So I am going for Lady McBeth. Will be happy with whatever I get though, because Shakespeare.

This year is going to be filled with awesome and a number of changes. Something that I am ready for, okay, maybe not completely ready, but feeling like I will be when the time comes. This year is starting out good so far, and I can't really complain about 2015 as 2015 was really good to me too. But a new year is always exciting, isn't it?

I am ready, are you, Dear Readers for 2016?

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge, come and visit the Blog Hop and see what everyone else is up to. I also decided to participate, but I am not going to stress about goals and just report on the basics. I also miss the community of writers. so, gang, I'm back! Stress-light version of me.

On a side note, the first movie I saw in 2016 was The Good Dinosaur. 'Twas cute. Pixar and Disney really are a good team. More of this is a later post.

What are you doing for goals in the New Year? Seen any good movie, Dear Readers?