LA County Air Show in Lancaster
“Rangers” Come Back
Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers are making a come back to the big screen and sending loyal fans to the movies for its opening weekend début bringing in over 40 million domestically, which would’ve taken the top had it not been for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with its second sweep bringing its numbers well past the 315 million dollar mark.
Warner Brothers tried to recapture the magic of the Power Rangers, introducing, Jason (Dacre Montgomery), Billy (RJ Cyler), Kimberly (Naomi Scott), Trini (Becky G.), and Zack (Ludi LIn), a group of teens who meet in detention and in up finding the hidden crystals that give them magical powers through a freak car accident. Now it is up to the team of 5 to harness their powers in order to protect the hidden crystal from Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks), who wants to destroy the Earth. There’s just one problem, “How to morph?”
At 2 hours and 4 minutes, the action adventure will have you caught up in the story as the five teens must band together as a team and learn how to be one, if they ever want to save their planet. Rated PG-13, there’s nothing really bad that wouldn’t keep kids from enjoying the live action super heroes on-screen while adults especially from the 90’s will thoroughly enjoy the nostalgia of their youth.
Power Rangers is currently playing in a theater near you.
“Chips” Remake
The six-year run cop show comedy, Chips is making a comeback to the big screen this week and paying homage to the California Highway patrols we follow Frank “Ponch” Poncerello and John Baker new adventures and laughs along the way.
The 2017 remake stars an all new cast as Michael Pena attempts to portray the “new” Ponch along side Dax Shepard as John Baker. Ultimately, the remake has everything that the sitcom was known for including the wise cracking jokes of Ponch and Baker as they tackle the busy streets of Los Angeles and at a hundred minute runtime, Chips is reintroducing audiences to the CHP as never seen before with new cutting as special effects, realistic crime scenes and updated jokes for the modern generation.
The original series ran from 1977 to 1983 and fans will be pleasant pleased with a surprise cameo by the “original” Ponch, Erik Estrada who appears in a scene opposite Pena.
Filmed entirely in the Los Angeles area with notable landmarks including Shoreline Drive in Long Beach, Warner Brothers Chips is rated R, as it does have a few graphic scenes including explicit nudity and language that might not be appropriate for a younger audiences. The comedy opened in theaters everywhere, March 26, 2016 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
If you are a fan of the genre or like a little slapstick comedy this is the perfect film for you.
“Beast” Come To Life
The latest live action Disney Classic is taking the big screen and is set to be the biggest opening of 2017 thus far.
Emma Watson plays the iconic Belle and captures the same charm as she did after years of playing Hermione in the Harry Potter Franchise and even goes as far as to throw in a line from the first film in the opening village scene. Overall, the set and costume design of the movie fully captures the time period of the original and one feels a part of the movie from the first moment on.
The beast, played by Dan Stevens, fully embraces every ounce of the original character from the savage, self-absorbed man that transforms into a caring, somewhat sensitive person that Belle can not resist.
Bill Cordon, who directed this live adaptation wanted to create unique moments, including new never been heard songs written by original composer Alan Menken and new lyrics by Tim Rice which also added to the addition of a new character, Cadenza (voiced by Stanley Tucci). Overall, the music, seamlessly meshed together to create a “Tale as old as Time” for a new generation.
Other actors include, Luke Evans as the dastardly sleek Gaston, his sidekick Lefou played by Josh Gad in Disney’s first ever “Gay” character which brought controversy on all sides. Kevin Kline played Belle’s father Maurice and Ewan McGregor voiced Cogworth while Ian McKeller voiced Lumiere and Mrs Potts was voiced by Emma Thompson.
Overall, the new live adaptation of the ’91 classic, fares well to its predecessor, but keeping the same story while giving it a somewhat modern twist for a new audience, while adding more of a back story to our beloved Belle and her beast. Audiences for the first time got the answers to two of the most puzzling questions, “what happened to Belle’s mother?” and “what happened to the beast to make him so cold?”.
For the answers, make sure to see the movie while it is in theaters. Beauty and the Beast opened in theaters March 16 to packed and sold out audiences and is expected to take number one at the box office this weekend after averaging over 63 million as of its Friday total.
Kong Dominates
The latest adventure of the legendary King Kong is sending crowds to the movies as its opening weekend brought in over 61 million domestically, sending last week’s Logan to number 2.
Kong: Skull Island introduces a new generation to the story before King Kong as explorers team up with military personnel to explore the not so mythical Skull Island. What they find is even greater than the giant ape that everyone fears.
At just under 2-hour run time, Kong stars Tom Hiddleston, the explorer and Brie Larson, the photojournalist, who find beauty in the land and Kong, while Lieutenant Colonel Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) seek to destroy the large ape, while awakening something even more dangerous that only Kong can destroy. Ultimately, the movie will have you marveling at the beauty of the island while fully cheering for Kong all throughout and make sure to watch all the way to the end as there is a closing scene to set up what is to come next in this franchise.
Other appearances include, John Goodman and John C. Reilly in very minor roles that add to the intensity of the island.
Kong: Scull Island came out in theaters March 10, 2017 and is currently playing in one near you. See it, you won’t regret it. Great original story to kick-start a new epic adventure for all.
“Shack” Review
Based on the New York Times best seller by Wm. Paul Young, The Shack is the first truly inspiration story of the year as you see the struggle of Mack as he goes from having everything in life to losing the one thing that begins to unravel his family’s whole existence, as he grapples with the ultimate question, “How could God let that happen?” The story tugs at the heartstrings as it shows a God fearing man, and challenges everything that Mack Phillips believes. Now in the midst of his grief, Mack receives a letter from God, to which he makes the journey back to the shack that took his youngest daughter in order to find the ultimate forgiveness that everyone hopes to find.
The Shack stars Sam Worthington as Mack as he meets God, or Papa (Octavia Spencer), who he remembers from a young child as being the one who helps him see the light in the mist of his abusive father. The film also stars Tim McGraw as his friend, who helps him throughout his journey. At 2 hrs and 10 minutes, the Shack is sure to have you tearing up with the deepest emotion as the powerful acting of the entire cast brings even more depth to such a powerful story.
The Shack came out the first weekend in March and has already brought in over 20 million at the box office and is said to be the seventh highest grossing Christian film thus far. It’s currently playing in a theater near you.