Category: movie reviews

Posted in book vs Movie, film, movie reviews

Review: Persuasion (2022 Film)

Posted on by sokorra

Release Date: July 15, 2022 (Netflix
Starring:  Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Henry Golding,  Mia Mckenna-Bruce, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Lydia Rose Bewley, Richard E. Grant, Yolanda Kettle amongst others.
Directed by Carrie Cracknell
Written by Ron Bass & Alice Victoria Winslow (and of course Jane Austen)
Rating:C. Just….no. The cinematography is delightful but the script…

I will start with the positive.  This film has amazing cinematography.  The locations look amazing, I enjoy the costumes, though I’m not always sure its not anachronistic at times.  The actors all appear to be talented, although not always fit for the part they play. I love the fact that this film is not a bunch of white people.

Now for the not so positive.  This film was not Persuasion.  Dakota Johnson did a great job with Anne – just not Anne Elliot.  Anne Elliot is one of the more reserved of Austen’s heroines, not unlike Elinor Dashwood.  She keeps to herself, has a sense of decorum, and a loving nature. This Anne is judgmental of her family, blurts things out that original Anne would be mortified by,  and overall is a lot less put together.

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Posted in American History, book reviews, bookit, general, history, movie reviews, Original Writing, Rewatch, tv reviews, writing

State of the Blog 2022

Posted on by sokorra

Happy New Years Everyone!

I figured I would map out what I have planned for this blog in the coming year today.  Many of you have stopped to read for many different reasons.

If you like my rewatch series, that will continue (I’m far from finished!).  The Rewatch project started as a project to keep me focused during a lockdown where I was actually sent home from work for a whole month back in 2020.  There was no clue when they would reopen but they did after 3 or 4 weeks (depending on your status).  So, it ended up taking a lot longer than anticipated.  Its still called Rewatch 2020 even though its 2022 and I’m only 4 series in (For context there is…10 I think).   However, I am in the process of moving and redoing my budget as I am contributing to two sets of bills so it may be slower as my access to the show is behind a paywall.  I plan on trying to get ahead and post 2-3 rewatches a week but there may be delays.  I hope to be on Enterprise by the end of the Year and then I can start watching the *new* Star Trek content.

For those you who came for the book and/or movie reviews, they will be making a comeback.  I plan on trying to restart my bookit goals (50 books in a year) and getting some new movies in.  Honestly part of the reason I do my reviews is to keep writing when my fiction writing brain takes a vacation, but I find them fun to write.  You can expect a movie review in the next coming days.  These won’t all be new to everyone movies, but something new to me.  So, expect classic film movies as well as theatrical releases.

History posts will also continue, although I am currently moving them to their own blog, so they are easy to access and sort for those who want specific information.  When I get it, all set up, I’ll make an update post here to direct those of you here for that to the new blog.  I feel they got mogged down by the Reviews and rewatches, which are considerably easier to write then an essay I need to research.

Thank you all for sticking with me these last couple of years.  I hope you enjoy the content of this blog, both previous and new entries.

I hope everyone’s 2022 is uplifting, inspiring and happy.

EDIT: Just editing to add that apparently this is the 600th post on this blog.

Posted in history, movie reviews, Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows

The Rewatch 183: The Undiscovered Country

Posted on by sokorra

Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country
Rating: PG
Released: December 6, 1991

My Grade: B/3.9
Redshirt count: 2.

Notable Guest Stars:

Kim Catrall (Valaris)- Kim Catrall is probably best known as Samantha from Sex in the City.
David Warner
Christopher Plummer (Clang) – Christopher Plummer has quite a few credits to his name, both on stage and in front of a camera.  Film wise, he was Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand) – I’m happy to see Whitney returning as Rand, especially as Rand has been given a life outside being eternally crushing on Kirk.
Mark Lenard (Sarak) – While he doesn’t have much to say in this film, he does round out the cast and is our view of things in the President’s office.
Brock Peters (Admiral Cartwright) – Peters will return in a much more pleasant role as Sisko’s father on DS9.  Honestly a better role for him I think.
Rosana Desoto(Azetbur) – Desoto might more recently be known from her time doing As the World Turns.
Kurtwood Smith (President) – Kurtwood Smith is a repeat guest star in StarTrek.  He will appear more times on Voyager and DS9.  However he might be more well-known his time on That 70s Show as Red Foreman.
Michael Dorn (Colonel Worf) – Michael Dorn appears here as his usual character’s (Worf) grandfather, who serves as Kirk’s defense attorney.
Christian Slater (Crewmen) – Christian Slater is well known today for many roles, but in the case of this film, he was a Trekie who happened to have a mother who was on the casting team.  It worked out for everyone in the end I think.
Rene Auberjonis (Colonel West) – Rene Aurberjonis is more well known as Odo, the security officer on DS9.  He also might be known to us 90s kids as the Little Mermaid’s chef who is determined to make Sebastian a meal.

Review:

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Posted in movie reviews, Rewatch, Star Trek

The Rewatch 121: The Final Frontier

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek TOS era Films
Episode: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier(6-9-89)
Rating:  3/5
Redshirt Status:

Notable Guest Stars:
Laurence Luckinbill – Sybok. He is mainly known for his role in this film, but he also appeared in several TV movies as minor characters, and narrated the 1985 mini series Space.
David Warner – John Talbot,.  He most recently appeared on Screen as Admiral Boom in Mary Poppins Returns. He would also appear in the next film as Chancellor Gorkon.
Charles Cooper – Korrd.  He appeared as Judge Robert Boucher in the 90s TV series The Practice. He appeared in Star Trek TNG as K’mpec.
Spice Williams-Crosby –Vixis  She went on to have a stunt career, being the stunt double of Denise Crosby and Jeri Ryan on Star Trek.  She married into the family of Bing Crosby and both her husband and son are actors as well.
George Murdock – “God”. He has appeared in Torchwood: Miracle Day as Preacher, and had a reoccurring role on Judging Amy. He would later appear in TNG as Admiral J.P. Hansen.
Harve  Bennet – Starfleet Chief of Staff.  He was a long time writer and producer of Star Trek films.
Melanie Shatner – Yeoman.  She is the daughter of William Shatner.  This is her third appearance on Star trek, her first being the TOS episode Miri.  She appeared as a jogger in The Voyage Home as well.

Review:

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Posted in movie reviews, Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows

The Rewatch 78: The Voyage Home

Posted on by sokorra

Star Trek: The Search for Spock (1984)
Rating: PG
My Grade: B

Notable Guest Stars:

Catherine Hicks – Gillian Taylor.  She is known for her role on the TV series 7th Heaven
Mark Leonard – reprising his role as Sarek
Majel Barrett – Appearing as Commander Christine Chapel, MD. Her appearance is very brief, but apparently there is deleted footage of much more significant scenes.
Jane Wyatt – Amanda Grayson.  She has only a brief scene but points out to Spock that he needs to accept his human parts as much as his Vulcan parts, which is an ongoing storyline for Spock.
Robin Curtis – Lt. Saavik.  She is there briefly to say goodbye.  More comments on this later in the review.
Madge Sinclair – Captain of the Saratoga and the first Female Captain shown in Star Trek.
Grace Lee Whitney – Janice Rand.  I wish she would get bigger bits, but we have to wait till Voyager comes around.
Brock Peters – Fleet Admiral Cartwright. Known for To Kill a Mockingbird.  He would also appear later as Joseph Sisko, Captain Sisko’s father on DS9.
Michael Berryman – Starfleet Officer.  He would appear on Star Trek many times over the years.

Review:

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Posted in movie reviews, Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows

The Rewatch 77: The Search for Spock

Posted on by sokorra

Star Trek: The Search for Spock (1984)
Rating: PG
My Grade: B

Notable Guest Stars:

Christopher Lloyd – Lord Kruge.  Its Doc Brown.  If you don’t know who Doc Brown is, get yourself to the streaming sites and rent Back to the Future.  Or Angels in the Outfield.  Also a good movie.  One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest is also considered pretty good by critics (but I don’t care for it).
Merritt Butrick – David Marcus  – His second appearance in Trek, his last as David Marcus.
Dame Judith Anderson – T’Lar.  She took the role for her nephew who urged her to.
Robin Curtis – Lt. Saavik.
Mark Lenard – Sarek.  This is his third appearance in the role.  He would continue to play this character into the TNG series.
Miguel Ferrer – First Officer of the Excelsior.  I know him from Crossing Jordan and didn’t even catch that he was in the movie till I read the cast list.  He’s also known for his role in NCIS: LA.
John Larroquette – Maltz.  He was known for his role on Night Court, and he also appeared as a charismatic spy on Chuck.
Grace Lee Whitney – She’s credited as ‘Woman in Cafeteria, but lets face it:  She’s Janice Rand.

Review:

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Posted in book reviews, bookit, general, movie reviews, Women of history

October Arrives!

Posted on by sokorra

October is a pretty busy month for me, but I’m hoping to get back on the schedule I had for myself for this blog with three weekly posts on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.  Since I wasn’t sure what to write about first to kick off the month, I decided to doa  general post about what is coming up.

This month is going to have a couple Halloween/Dia de Muertos themed posts, as well as the normal book reviews, movie reviews, and hopefully at least 2 new Women of History posts. It is also Nano Prep Month, so it might be shorter posts as I focus on doing the prep work for Nano (for those who aren’t familar, visit the Nano Website).  That will be the focus next month, so I’m also going to try and get ahead on posts so that I have them pre-scheduled rather then writing them as I go since I’ll be working (for once) on an original novel next month.

As for the Bookit-reviews, I’ve made the decision to reduce my goal to 30 books.  I think the original goal of 52 is not achievable at this point.  Hopefully I can achieve the new goal.  I’m also starting to write down a list of books I’ve bought and haven’t read yet to start 2019 off (and finish off this year a bit too).  If you have any recommendations for books I should read, please let me know.

Hope you are all having a lovely Fall so far.

Posted in film, movie reviews

Movie Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Posted on by sokorra

Title: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Second in Jurassic World Trilogy; fifth in Jurassic series all together)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action/Adventure, Superhero, Comedy
Release Date: June 22, 2018  (Seen July 4th)
Director: J.A. Bayona
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall,  Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, Isabella Sermon, James Cromwell, BD Wong, and Jeff Goldblum.

My friends and I went to see Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on July 4th in a desperate need for air conditioning, but we all were fans of the Jurassic Park Movies.   I loved Jurassic World and its two main characters.  Unlike the original trilogy, these films are more interconnected.  In this sequel ot the 2015 film, we find Claire and Owen on opposite paths.  he’s building a cabin in the wilderness, quite happy never to see a dinosaur again while Claire is actively working to save the animals.  Isla Nublar has a secret volcano that is about to erupt, and Benjamin Lockwood, a former associate of John Hammond has decided to use one of his islands as a sanctuary for the dinosaurs if Claire can get them transported.  Eli Mills, his personal assistant asks her to bring in Owen, who she hasn’t seen in an unknown amount of time.

Henry Wu makes another appearance, apparently having cracked since what happened on Jurassic Park (the first film) and is now just creating because he can create.  He’s made another hybrid, and Mills is willing to sell it to make millions.

On one hand the movie does deal with some well done tropes within the series, but it also has an interesting take on them.  For example, we get a greater look at what it would be like to be a vet for dinosaurs.

Jeff Goldblum returns as Dr. Ian Malcolm, warning Congress about the dangers they are going to face. I have to admit I was surprised about how little time he is actually in the movie, but thematically it worked very well.  It also makes me hope the third film (due sometime in 3ish years) will incorporate more of the characters from the original trilogy.

I also like the development of Owen and Claire as characters.  While they aren’t together in this film, their characters aren’t reset.  Their relationship is different, with three years behind them.   I enjoy their development as individuals and as a couple.  I also enjoy the introduction of Franklin and Zia.  I will be happy to see them again in the next film.

The only real issue I had with the movie is that there is a lot of foreshadowing (or appearance of foreshadowing) for something that didn’t seem realised.  Its hard to really explain that without giving a good amount of the plot away.  Since this is a new release and is in fact still in theaters I’m trying not to do that.

As an added bonus the film finally brings about what is implied from the end of Jurassic Park III.

My final grade is A-.

Posted in book vs Movie, film, movie reviews, mythology

Movie Review: Thor Ragnorak

Posted on by sokorra

Title: Thor Ragnorak/ Thor 3
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Superhero
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Goldblum,

Once again I’m here reviewing a Marvel film.   Thor Ragnorak was available through Netflix so I happily choose to watch it.  I love the Thor series of films.  For those of you who follow my twitter account or know me outside of WordPress, you’ll know that Loki is one of my favorite Marvel characters.  Jeff Goldblum is also a draw for this movie because he’s from my hometown and is awesome in his own right. Continue reading “Movie Review: Thor Ragnorak” →