MediaMikes https://mediamikes.com/ Movies, TV, Music and More... All Things Media Sun, 24 Mar 2024 05:10:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 23315181 Digital Review: “American Fiction” https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/digital-review-american-fiction/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/digital-review-american-fiction/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 05:10:31 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142757 Though the film throws a whole bunch of heady topics and themes into the melting pot, Wright's Monk helps you not to get lost in some kind of messy sociopolitical quagmire and instead remain firmly focused on this one man, and his identity, and his ideals.

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American Fiction was a great time indeed. Without revealing too much, it was often hilarious whilst taking on some serious issues. It’s a different kind of film.

The kind of film which will hook you from its cracking opening dialogue – pre-credits – American Fiction has arguably been done a disservice by trailers and, indeed, reviews, which reveal far too much about a story that unfolds organically and expertly, and really needed no telegraphing, let alone descriptions that explain events that don’t happen until towards the start of the second act.

 

The story follows the character of Thelonious Ellison (everybody just calls him Monk) a struggling writer who has just been given a temporary leave for his blunt approach to racial “issues” in his classes, returning home to his ageing mum only to find her ailing health and requirements for medical care demanding the kind of money that zero book sales simply won’t cover. Taking a different approach to his work, Monk suddenly finds himself in an increasing series of cascading, complicated manoeuvres which offer him potential monetary rewards but only appear to fuel the bitterness in him.

 

Jeffrey Wright’s had some excellent roles, but is also an actor clearly capable of elevating even the less obvious ones – he’s a great Jim Gordon in The Batman; a great Felix Leiter in Bond, and he managed to impressively fill the gaping void left by Anthony Hopkins in later seasons of Westworld. Seldom gifted a leading opportunity, however, American Fiction is the perfect vehicle to showcase his weathered, cynical, but eminently intellectual charms.

 

It’s pure Wright, and whilst he gets a decent roster of chewy supporting cast members (This is Us’ Sterling K. Brown has a ball, Black-ish’s Tracee Ellis Ross steals her scenes, The Lovebirds’ Issa Rae challenges expectations, and a few nice cameos from the likes of Keith David and even Adam Brody sweeten the pot), the film is defined by Wright’s Monk and his fabulous use – and misuse – of language. Though the film throws a whole bunch of heady topics and themes into the melting pot, Wright’s Monk helps you not to get lost in some kind of messy sociopolitical quagmire and instead remain firmly focused on this one man, and his identity, and his ideals.

 

The directorial debut of writer Cord Jefferson (Master of None, The Good Place, Succession, HBO’s Watchmen, Station Eleven), it’s immediately impressive how smoothly Jefferson manages to navigate a potentially more aggressively racially bent landscape without hitting any landmines, all the while working in masterful subversion into a narrative that’s so staunchly satirical that you don’t even stop to question the motivations of its author – because he’s the lead character. Launching headfirst into quick-witted put-downs, but unspooling that almost immediately courtesy of some sibling honesty, American Fiction constantly bats back and forth between the unreal and the real, never so sublimely as a drunken shot at a manuscript that cleverly sees the characters brought to life before Monk’s eyes.

 

There’s a lot under the bonnet of this debut work, subtly dissecting its lead character(s) whilst lightly commenting – again through the veil of that very dissection – on the literary landscape and genre expectations (not just of books, but movies too), it has a lot of fun with the story-within-a-story approach, but mostly holds your attention through its commitment to real characters, given depth and lived-in lives. You’ll be sold (or not, as the case may be) from the opening lines, but you’ll hopefully stay for the underlying resonance, and pleasantly organic food for thought. And for the long overdue standout lead performance of Jeffrey Wright. Absolutely superb film.

Movie ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐  out of five stars

There are no extras as this is a digital copy

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In Year 25, Planet Comicon Kansas City Continues to Evolve! https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/in-year-25-planet-comicon-kansas-city-continues-to-evolve/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/in-year-25-planet-comicon-kansas-city-continues-to-evolve/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 05:03:04 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142754 Twenty-five years later, the show continues to constantly grow, evolve and amaze!

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In 1999 I was the promotions director of the largest independent theatre chain in Kansas City.  It was in this position that I first met Chris Jackson.  Jackson had an idea for a local event and I was more then happy to lend a hand.  Later that year, at the Overland Park International Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas, Planet Comicon Kansas City was born.  Twenty-five years later, the show continues to constantly grow, evolve and amaze!

Fun for Wookies of all ages! (photo credit: Dan Lybarger)

What makes PCKC so unique is that every year there is something new added to the event to make it special.  This year it was a large game area where fans could line up to play an assortment of classic and newer video games. 

Jon Bernthal (photo credit Dan Lybarger)

Another staple of the show is that they keep their celebrity guest list fresh, mixing in newer talents, including The Punisher himself, Jon Bernthal and the MCU’s Paul Bettany, with well-loved celebrities from the past, including this year the amazing Henry Winkler.  I first met Mr. Winkler fourteen years ago and he was actually the very first celebrity interview posted on this site.  He was kind and gracious then and, by all accounts of the fans I spoke to this year, he hasn’t changed a bit!

Paul Bettany (photo credit: Dan Lybarger)

I can’t recall how many fans attended the show in 1999, but I can tell you the turnout was nothing compared to the nearly 50,000 that have attended the show, now held at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, in recent years. 

COSPLAY is a staple at PCKC. “Death Becomes Her” (photo credit: Dan Lybarger_

For those of you marking your calendars, next year’s PCKC is scheduled for March 21-23, 2025.  If the past quarter century is any indication, the next twenty-five years are going to be incredible!

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Dan Allen talks about Bambi: The Reckoning, Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey II and the Poohiverse https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/dan-allen-talks-about-bambi-the-reckoning-winnie-the-pooh-blood-and-honey-ii-and-the-poohiverse/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/dan-allen-talks-about-bambi-the-reckoning-winnie-the-pooh-blood-and-honey-ii-and-the-poohiverse/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:51:13 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142746 Dan Allen is the director of the upcoming Bambi: The Reckoning, the editor of Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey II. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dan about his new films and the upcoming Poohiverse franchise.

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Dan Allen is the director of the upcoming Bambi: The Reckoning, the editor of Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey II. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dan about his new films and the upcoming Poohiverse franchise.

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Film Review: “Spaceman” https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-spaceman/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-spaceman/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:04:52 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142744 Overall, “Spaceman” has some pretty visual effects and a couple of extraordinarily good emotional moments that will pull at the heart strings. Yet, it’s still not enough to make the film more than something average. 

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  • SPACEMAN
  • Starring: Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan
  • Directed by: Johan Renck
  • Rating: R
  • Running Time: 1 hr 47 mins
  • Netflix

 

It has been a long time since his days starring in such notable comedies as “The Waterboy,” “Billy Madison,” and “Happy Gillmore.” However, what has always been the real strength of Adam Sandler’s talents is his ability to do drama. Whether it was in “Punch-Drunk Love” or “Reign Over Me” or “Uncut Gems,” Sandler has demonstrated a terrific ability to delve into all the nooks and crannies of a character without having to be silly. His dramatic brilliance is able to shine once more in the new, slow-paced and somewhat dull sci-fi film “Spaceman.”

 

A mysterious pink cloud, named Chopra, has entered our solar system just beyond Jupiter. Visible in the day and nighttime sky from Earth, a solo space mission has been organized by the Czech government to gather particles from Chopra and return them back to Earth for study. One step ahead of a South Korean ship sent to do the same thing, Czech astronaut Jakub Prochazka (Sandler) is six months into his mission and his sense of loneliness threatens to overwhelm him. What makes matters worse is that his pregnant wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan) has decided to divorce him just as he is on the precipice of the greatest achievement in human space exploration. Concerned that her deep space “Dear John” letter to Jakub will shatter what’s left of his mental stability, flight commander, Commissioner Tuma (Isabella Rossellini) decides to withhold the message in the hopes she can convince Lenka to change her mind.

 

Meanwhile, Jakub struggles to keep his sanity as he gets closer to Chopra without any word from his wife. It is at his most vulnerable that he encounters a spider-like, telepathic alien onboard his ship that he eventually calls Hanus (voiced by Paul Dano, “The Dark Knight”). Intrigued by this lonely human, Hanus begins to poke and prod at Jakub’s memories to figure him out. This ranges from examining the consequences of Jakub’s father being murdered because he had been an informant for the Communist government of Czechoslovakia to why Jakub pushed away Lenka.

 

To say that “Spaceman” is slow would be an understatement and it may serve to drive away some viewers’ interest after just a few minutes into the film. The actual science the film appears a little iffy, especially considering why in the world would such a long mission be attempted with just one astronaut. And unfortunately, the supposed climax of reaching Chopra is more like a whimper than a bang.

 

Another detriment to the film is the monotone voice work by Dano as Hanus. It’s like listening to HAL 9000, but not as sinister. There is a sense of mystery about Hanus that provides a little intrigue because it is seemingly impossible for the creature to have gotten on the spaceship. As for Sandler, he exhibits sheer brilliance as he pulls us into his character’s self-imposed loathing and despair. However, while he does not share a lot of scenes with Mulligan, their shared chemistry is a little flat.

 

Overall, “Spaceman” has some pretty visual effects and a couple of extraordinarily good emotional moments that will pull at the heart strings. Yet, it’s still not enough to make the film more than something average.

 

“Damsel” receives ★1/2  out of five.

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Film Review: “Damsel” https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-damsel/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-damsel/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 03:59:28 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142742 Overall, “Damsel” may be one of the most boring films you could see all year. 

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  • DAMSEL
  • Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Robin Wright
  • Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
  • Rating: PG-13
  • Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins
  • Netflix

 

So many fairy tales contain damsels in distress who end up having to be rescued by some handsome prince or noble knight. The new Netflix fantasy tale “Damsel” attempts to put that tradition on its head by having the endangered female lead save herself rather than someone else doing the job. However, the movie falls rather flat with old video game visual effects, almost non-existent character development, and little to no suspense. It is more like the viewer is the one in distress and therefore needs to be rescued.

 

After a brief introduction to allegedly the last dragon in existence, the story travels centuries into the future where we go to a kingdom that is nothing more than a barren, cold wasteland. It is there that Elodie (Millie Bobbie Brown, “Stranger Things”) demonstrates that she is much more rough and tough than your normal princess. While she is not keen on the idea, she goes along with her parents (Ray Winstone and Angela Bassett) plans to marry her off to a faraway prince, which will mean a replenishment of gold in the unnamed kingdom.

 

After a long voyage, Elodie and her family arrive at a lush and prosperous kingdom ruled by the rather callous and forceful Queen Isabelle (Robin Wright) and her husband, who is given almost nothing to say. Elodie gets to meet her future husband, but everything feels awkward and not quite right. The reason for this is that during a weird, “Eyes Wide Shut” type of mountain ceremony, Elodie is tossed into a deep hole as a sacrifice to the dragon (Shohreh Aghdashloo). The reason for this is straight out of a below average Dungeons & Dragons role playing campaign.

 

Brown burst onto the scene with her role as the heroine, Eleven on “Stranger Things” and while she certainly has a bright future in cinema, “Damsel” is a waste of her talents. Her director falters with pacing and he asks Brown to do too much whimpering and screaming after initially presenting as tough and determined. The supporting cast are forgettable, and Wright’s performance is just an amalgamation of every evil queen stereotype from Disney. Worse, the dragon is a bad rip-off of “Lord of the Rings.”

 

Overall, “Damsel” may be one of the most boring films you could see all year. 

 

“Damsel” receives out of five.

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Film Review: “Dune: Part Two” https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-dune-part-two/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-dune-part-two/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 03:53:29 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142735 Overall, “Dune: Part Two” is one of the greatest achievements in film this century and surely there will be plenty of anticipation for “Dune Messiah.”

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  • DUNE: PART TWO
  • Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya
  • Directed by: Denis Villenueve
  • Rating: PG-13
  • Running Time: 3 hrs 26 mins
  • Legendary Pictures

 

Rare is the film that achieves cinematic perfection. It takes a uniquely superb combination of writing, acting, directing, and cinematography, among other things, to pull it off. Having exceeded all expectations with 2021’s “Dune,” which received 10 Academy Award nominations and won six including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, director Denis Villenueve’s follow-up, “Dune: Part Two” exceeds its much-praised predecessor, a rare feat in the world of cinema.

 

Based upon the 1965 novel by the late American author Frank Herbert (1920-86), for which he was a co-winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel, “Dune: Two” is the second half of the original book, the first installment of what became the “Dune Chronicles.” The story picks up on the desert planet of Arrakis where Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), who had the help of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), has solidified his rule after wiping out House Atriedes. Or at least that’s what he thinks.

 

The Fremen, the native blue-eyed population of Arrakis, suspect Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) and his Bene Gesserit mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) as spies despite the endorsement of Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Paul goes on to endure many trials to prove that he is worthy to fight alongside the Fremen, which earns the respect and love of Chani (Zendaya). Some, like Stilgar, believe Paul is the Chosen One while others are skeptical, like Chani. Meanwhile, Jessica, who is pregnant, must drink the Water of Life, which is poisonous for males and the untrained, to become the Fremen’s new Reverand Mother, or religious leader. After this process, Jessica and her unborn daughter begin to make maneuvers to ensure Paul is indeed accepted as the Chosen One by all Fremen and therefore lead them into an open revolt against the Harkonnen rather than just hit-and-run guerrilla warfare.

 

That is a bare bones description of the script for it can be complicated, but in a fantastic, sophisticated type of way. Intelligent. Brilliant. Imaginative. Those are all words that can be used to describe Villeneuve’s adaptation. Brimming with much more suspense than the first part, “Dune Two” is a Harvard-educated roller coaster which stimulates both the mind and the senses. Chalamet burns up the screen with his ferocity while Zendaya infuses her character with a tangible sense of independence. The other supporting cast members are delightful, especially Austin Butler (“Elvis”) as the Baron’s new favorite nephew. Visually, the film is nothing short of stunning as it blows the doors off anything to have hit the silver screen since the first “Dune.”

 

Overall, “Dune: Part Two” is one of the greatest achievements in film this century and surely there will be plenty of anticipation for “Dune Messiah.”

 

“Dune: Part Two” receives ★★★★ out of five.

 

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Z2 Celebrates Motörhead’s 50th Anniversary with NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/z2-celebrates-motorheads-50th-anniversary-with-no-remorse-the-illustrated-true-stories-of-lemmy-kilmister-and-motorhead/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/z2-celebrates-motorheads-50th-anniversary-with-no-remorse-the-illustrated-true-stories-of-lemmy-kilmister-and-motorhead/#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 22:29:13 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142730 For Motörhead’s 50th anniversary, Z2 gathers over 50 Rockstar contributors including Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Triple H, Chrissie Hynde and Lars Ulrich to participate in the oral history of the man and the legend, Lemmy Kilmister.

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NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES
OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD

For Motörhead’s 50th anniversary, Z2 gathers over 50 Rockstar contributors including
Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Triple H, Chrissie Hynde and Lars Ulrich to participate
in the oral history of the man and the legend, Lemmy Kilmister

PREORDER AVAILABLE FOR THE BOOK AND EXCLUSIVE VINYL 2 LP SET NOW ON Z2

In celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the legendary Motörhead, Z2 has gathered a staggering line-up of icons to narrate their personal encounters with the man that came to define the sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll lifestyle, Lemmy Kilmister. NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD kicks off this 176-page tribute with a deeply personal foreword by his dear friend Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and a truly touching afterword by his longtime friend and collaborator Ozzy Osbourne.

The book pairs 25 rockstar contributors with 25 acclaimed illustrators to tell the stories of their true and unbelievable personal encounters with the heralded founding father of Motörhead. Recounting their history with Lemmy over the span of his life and career are the greatest living musicians – Ozzy Osbourne, Lars Ulrich, Slash, Chrissie Hynde, Dee Snider, Dave Navarro plus world-class writers Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, pro-wrestling giants Triple H, Corey Graves, TV & Film luminaries including Matt Pinfield, Penelope Spheeris, Riki Rachtman, as well as his bandmates Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee, and Slim Jim Phantom.

With a gorgeous variety of visual approaches the artists of NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead; including Dave Chisholm, Bob Fingerman, Jay Jay Jackson, and Jim Mahfood capture the many facets of these incredible TRUE TALES of Lemmy Kilmister. The cover art is illustrated and designed by comic book legend Tim Bradstreet (Punisher, Hellblazer) and features the gleam of a holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs!

“Anyone who ever crossed paths with Lemmy Kilmister left with a very unique experience and stories to share for a lifetime,” says Josh Bernstein, Z2 President and the book’s co-editor/designer. “The outpouring of those stories from his friends and family, paired with some of underground art’s greatest illustrators, brings Lemmy and Motörhead roaring back to life on every page.”

Like all Z2 collaborations, this book comes in a variety of highly-collectible editions, including the 1:5 “All-Access” Edition which features a framed AAA Artist Pass from Lemmy’s 70th birthday party at the Whisky A Go-Go; and the 1:25 “Backstage” Edition that comes with a framed original 2012-2013 Motorhead tour laminate. All of these artifacts are from the personal collection of Lemmy Kilmister. The “No Remorse” editions of the book will come with an exclusive white vinyl variant of the legendary Motörhead double LP, No Remorse, a poster triptych set by renowned designer Hydro74, and a three-card collectors set presented in a custom frame featuring the art of the iconic thrash-metal painter Ed Repka (Megadeth, Super7).

All collector editions will include the oversized deluxe volume of the NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead book contained in a metallic foil embossed slipcase, with die cuts that reveal the holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs on the cover of the book. All editions available for PREORDER now!

From his early years, Lemmy gravitated to the live-fast attitude of rock & roll, starting out as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, joining the seminal space-rock outfit Hawkwind and famously getting fired from the band for “doing the wrong drugs.” Forming Motörhead in 1975 after his dismissal, he set out to kick things up and create an aural assault, the likes of which had not been heard. Lemmy Kilmister became the unequaled standard for the Rock & Roll lifestyle.

Of their first meeting, Dave Grohl recounts, “until then I’d never met what I’d call a real rock ‘n’ roll hero before. Fuck Elvis and Keith Richards, Lemmy’s the king of rock ‘n’ roll. A living, breathing, drinking, snorting, fucking legend. No one else comes close.” It’s the life of a Rock & Roll legend, and NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead captures it all.

STORY CONTRIBUTORS: Sir Neil Warnock, Wayne Kramer, Michael Moorcock, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Campbell, Chrissie Hynde, Kim McAuliffe, Slim Jim Phantom, Lars Ulrich, Neil Gaiman, Dee Snider, Slash, Steffan Chirazi, Lita Ford, Riki Rachtman, Penelope Spheeris, Dave Navarro, Mikkey Dee, Mikael Maglieri Jr., Todd Singerman, Lar Frederiksen, Dave Grohl, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, Matt Pinfield, Josh Bernstein, Steve Luna, Corey Graves

ARTIST CONTRIBUTORS: Piotr Kowalski, Pat Moriarity, John Bergin, Joe Simko, John Bivens, Chris Visions, Fred Harper, Bob Fingerman, Steve Chanks, Dave Chisholm, JayJay Jackson, Felipe Sobreiro, Gideon Kendall, Ron Joseph, Steve Kurth, Shane Patrick White, Jim Mahfood, Luke McGarry, Ryan Dunlavey, Koren Shadmi, Jeff McClelland, Jeff McComskey, Wes Hargis, Brent Engstrom, Erik Rodriguez, Sean Pryor, Josh Bernstein, Frank Powers, Tony Parker, Tim Bradstreet, Ed Repka, Hydro 74

NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead will be available in hardcover via Z2 (Simon & Schuster) for a list price of $35.00 (ISBN: 9798886561340) and at retailers everywhere this summer.

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A Chat with Brit Floyd’s Harry Waters & Eva Avila discussing Pink Floyd at the Hershey Theatre in PA https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/a-chat-with-brit-floyds-harry-waters-eva-avila-discussing-pink-floyd-at-the-hershey-theatre-in-pa/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/a-chat-with-brit-floyds-harry-waters-eva-avila-discussing-pink-floyd-at-the-hershey-theatre-in-pa/#respond Sun, 17 Mar 2024 01:48:34 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142723 Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Harry Waters, son of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and vocalist Eva Avila during their 2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour at the Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA discussing all things Pink Floyd. In a monumental celebration of musical history, Brit Floyd will embark on the “2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour,” commemorating …

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Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Harry Waters, son of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and vocalist Eva Avila during their 2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour at the Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA discussing all things Pink Floyd.

In a monumental celebration of musical history, Brit Floyd will embark on the “2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour,” commemorating the 30th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, “The Division Bell.” Known for their unwavering dedication to recreating the magic of Pink Floyd’s music, Brit Floyd is the perfect ensemble to honor “The Division Bell.” Audiences can expect a breathtaking audiovisual experience that pays homage to the original band’s unique blend of music and visual effects.

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Film Review: “Arthur the King” https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-arthur-the-king/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-arthur-the-king/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:48:32 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142717 With the Easter holidays approaching, “Arthur the King” is truly a film for the whole family.

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  • ARTHUR THE KING
  • Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel and Simu Liu
  • Directed by:  Simon Cillan Jones
  • Rated: PG 13
  • Running time: 1 hour 30 mins
  • Lionsgate

 

 

Did you know that there is an annual race in the Dominican Republic called the Adventure Racing World Championship?  Neither did I.  And I can tell you, as someone who used to enjoy running 5K races…I want to part of it.  Five days.  Over 400 miles on land and water.  Yikes.

 

Mikael (Wahlberg) used to enjoy Adventure Racing.  At least until his last race ended with he and his team stuck in a dry river bed because Michael led them in the wrong direction.  Now Mikael lives with his wife and daughter in Colorado and, while he no longer competes, he trains hard because the desire is still inside him.  He decides to put a team together for one last adventure.  An adventure that continues to influence his life today.

 

A story of faith, both in yourself and others, “Arthur the Kind” is an inspirational story of endurance, both physical and mental, and what it takes to succeed at both.  Mikael’s team is a mashup of personalities:  a former teammate with a bad knee, the up and coming daughter of a famous rock climber and a racer who spends more time on social media then he does in the gym.  At one of the rest areas they are approached by a stray dog.  Mikael gives it a meatball and the team heads back out, traversing dense jungles at night.  Miraculously, after trekking another hundred miles they are surprised to learn the dog has followed them.  Mikael gives the dog the name Arthur, as in King Arthur.  Now a quintet, the team forges on towards the finish line.

I have never been more exhausted at the end of a movie.  Director Jones puts his camera smack dab in the middle of the action and you feel the aches and pain caused by every step…every stretch….every stroke of an oar.  Like the race itself, the film keeps a fast pace and never slows down.

 

If there is a message here, it is don’t judge a book by its cover, whether the book is a man or a stray dog.  The script, by Michael Brandt and Mikael Lindnord, is based on a true event.  Lindnord – on whose story the film is based –  is honest, and strays away from the usual inspirational tropes similar films have.  Whatever their goals are, Mikael and Arthur will only achieve them on their terms.

 

With the Easter holidays approaching, “Arthur the King” is truly a film for the whole family.

On a scale of zero to five I give “Arthur the King” ★★★★

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Film Review #2: “Killers of the Flower Moon” https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-2-killers-of-the-flower-moon/ https://mediamikes.com/2024/03/film-review-2-killers-of-the-flower-moon/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:09:44 +0000 https://mediamikes.com/?p=142720 “Killers of the Flower Moon” is one of the most audacious, sprawling epics director Martin Scorsese has ever created.

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  • KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
  • Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone
  • Directed by: Martin Scorsese
  • Rating: R
  • Running Time: 3 hrs 26 mins
  • Paramount Pictures

 

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is one of the most audacious, sprawling epics director Martin Scorsese has ever created. With 10 Oscar nominations under its belt, including Best Picture, Director, and Actress, “Flower Moon” is a film every American should see to get a better understanding of the atrocities that have committed upon Native peoples. (Ideally, Americans would also go out and do research on their own to learn more.) Compelling and revolting at the same time, Scorsese’s work is filled with unforgettable performances, terrific dialogue, and wonderful homages to the Osage people of Oklahoma.

 

The story’s details are mostly common knowledge at this point so, in brief, it is based upon the praised, groundbreaking 2017 historical work “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by American journalist David Grann. The book detailed the multiple murders of Osage people in Osage County, Oklahoma during the 1920s as part of a scheme orchestrated by cattleman William King Hale (Robert De Niro) to gain access to their oil headrights. A key part of this was Hale’s nephew, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) marrying Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone in a performance for the ages) so that Hale could eventually get access to her family’s wealth, which was done by methodically killing off her relatives one by one. The scheme begins to unravel after an agent (Jesse Plemons) with the Bureau of Investigation, the forerunner of the F.B.I., arrives in the area to investigate the murders.

 

A common criticism of “Flower Moon” is its length and its supposed slow pacing. Perhaps it’s the age-old beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder thing, but to chop anything out of this story would have been a disservice to the Osage people, with whom Scorsese reportedly worked extensively with to get his film as accurate as possible. It’s impressive that he got in as much detail as he did, although it does, like even the best historical films do, take bits of dramatic license here and there. Now, could it have been told more from an Osage point of view rather than focusing more on Hale and Ernest, probably, but this dark story does a wonderfully nuanced job of delving into the complexities of Ernest and Mollie’s relationship.

 

It may sound ageist, but Scorsese unfortunately adhered more towards loyalty to his usual stable of actors rather than getting his story even more accurate. DiCaprio, who was 46 during production, is not believable as someone who just returned from World War I, especially since the real Ernest was 27 at the time. While Gladstone, who should be a lock to win an Oscar for Best Actress, is similar in age to Mollie, 78-year-old DeNiro was portraying someone who was 45 in 1919. Still, the two veteran actors’ performances are strong enough to overlook this disparity.

 

Overall, while you may have to put it on pause to go to the bathroom at some point, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is too important of a story about a dark chapter in America’s history to be missed or overlooked.

 

“Killers of the Flower Moon” receives four-and-a-half stars out of five.

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