Film Review: “Jungle Cruise”

  • JUNGLE CRUISE
  • Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt and Paul Giamatti
  • Directed by:  Jaume Collet-Serra
  • Rated:  PG 13
  • Running time:  2 hrs 7 mins
  • Disney

The tale is told of the Conquistadors that sailed down the vast and dangerous river in search of the petals of a certain plant.  The petals, called “The Tears of the Moon” were said to cure any ailment and reverse any curse.  But of course, it’s just an old tale.  Right?

Full of fun, with another winning performance by Dwayne Johnson – I think if he met me he and I would be best pals immediately – “Jungle Cruise” is the latest Disney attraction to become a feature film and, I must say, it’s pretty darn entertaining.

We are introduced to the Houghton siblings – brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) is every bit the prim and proper Brit he seems to be while his sister, Lily (Blunt) is the adventurer in the family, having spent a good portion of her adult life searching for the mystical petals.  While looking for a boat to take them down river they meet Frank (Johnson) who is currently doing his best to avoid Nilo (Giamatti), the local bad guy.  If you’ve seen “Roadhouse” think of him as the jungle version of Brad Wesley.  A deal is made and the threesome head into the great unknown.

On the plus side, “Jungle Cruise” makes great use of CGI, creating a jungle, and all of its inhabitants, with amazing realism.  Tigers. Spiders. Monkeys.  You name it, they’re there and they look amazingly real.  The cast is in great form, with Johnson happily spouting puns (we call them “dad jokes” today) whenever he gets the chance.  Also well cast is Jesse Plemons, whose character, a former German army officer, is as obsessed with the petals as Lily is.  He’s a little over the top, but in a good way. 

My only major problem with the film is that it seemed about 30 minutes too long.  You can only battle zombie pirates so long before it gets boring.  If I wanted a three hour tour I’d wait for “Gilligan’s Island – the Movie,” which I’m sure will be in theatres soon!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: cruise, film, jungle, review

Tom Cruise says “Ciao” from Rome

It’s been so long since we’ve reported on upcoming films that I couldn’t resist the chance to remind our readers that the currently untitled seventh film in the “Mission: Impossible” series is currently filming in Rome.

Long time friend Fabio Mazzarella is a professional photographer in Italy and has graciously allowed us to share this image he took of Tom Cruise during a break in filming. According to Fabio “He (Cruise) saw me taking pictures and came close and waved “hi.” I didn’t expect it. He was cheerful with the fans a paparazzi and stopped to take selfies.”

Fingers crossed, “Mission: Impossible 7” will be in theatres November 19, 2021.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: ciao, cruise, rome, tom

Witness Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker and More on the 2016 Axes & Anchors Cruise

Learn from Your Favorite Musicians on the High Seas!

Featuring More than 40 Blazing Performances

Tons of FREE Guitar Workshops with Guitar Heroes

Personal Meet & Greets

Gear Demos and Tutorials

On-Board Parties and Exotic Beach Stops

+ More Bands Confirming Soon!

Book Your Cabins Now at www.AxesAndAnchors.com

In an age where heavy metal music cruises with high-profile line-ups are becoming a dime a dozen, it’s about time that true guitar pros, gearheads, theorists and hobbyists have a voyage of their own. Imagine a cruise exclusively planned for guitarists and instrumentalists, featuring performances and personal lessons from some of the greatest guitar gods on the planet.

Wake up – you are not dreaming! Prepare to learn from the masters on what fans have dubbed the “shredders cruise”: the 5-day/4-night AXES & ANCHORS cruise aboard the Carnival Victory, departing from Miami, FL on February 20, stopping in Key West, FL and Nassau, Bahamas, and docking back in Miami on February 24.

Witness blazing performances and take lessons directly from world-class rock and metal guitarists including ZAKK WYLDE (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER (Scorpions, UFO, MSG), ALEX SKOLNICK (Testament, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), TRACII GUNS (Guns N’ Roses, LA Guns), DARIO LORINA (Black Label Society, Lizzy Borden), and more, all while sailing the high seas and visiting exotic locales.

Passengers can look forward to more than 40 performances, about a dozen free guitar workshops, as well as games and mingling with guitar gods, and more. In addition, the cruise plans on featuring gear demos and displays from some of today’s premier guitar and gear manufacturers.

World-renowned guitarist and AXES & ANCHORS performer ALEX SKOLNICK states, “For generations now, the guitar has remained a source of creativity and symbol of coolness, defying strange musical trends, poor economic forecasts and more, all the while providing a sonic backdrop to good times and bad. I consider it a great honor to be joining Yngwie, Zakk and many other great players as part of AXES & ANCHORS, the very first cruise built around the guitar.” 

Tickets for the cruise start at the competitive rate of just $899 per person (based on double occupancy), and include all accommodations, meals, concerts, open workshops, games, photo ops and more. Since the ship holds a limited number of passengers, early booking is highly encouraged.  Sail less-expensively and get more heavy metal bang for your buck on the AXES & ANCHORS cruise! Tickets are on sale now at www.AxesAndAnchors.com, and monthly payment plans are available

“This cruise will surely appeal to guitar players who want to take their skills to the next level in this really fun, unique, and immersive setting,” said Ann Squire, co-owner of AXES & ANCHORS.  “Passengers will get to meet their idols and learn from them in between stops at exotic beaches and on-board parties. All of the performers are bringing full bands, and we will be adding some iconic bands to our lineup as well, but as our name implies, the focus now is on guitar-dominated rock.

Squire is also thrilled to have fans experience the unique “pool stage” featured on the AXES & ANCHORS cruise. “The pool stage is unique because it was designed as a pool “theatre”.  Most stages built on a pool deck are the typical raised stage and then a large flat area in front for standing or sitting that goes back but on the same level.  This stage is raised with a flat area in front but has tiered levels as it goes back. The different tiers allow for much better viewing for those not as close to the front of the stage.  You don’t have to be concerned about the guy in front who is 7 feet tall when you’re only 5’3”.”

Stay tuned for more artist announcements, various upcoming contests in addition to more workshops and activities (both music and non-music related), and more!

Follow AXES & ANCHORS at:

Website: www.axesandanchors.com

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AxesCruise

Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/AxesCruise/

Twitter: @axescruise

 

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Filed Under: Music Headlines Tagged With: 2016, anchors, axes, cruise, malmsteen, michael, ...

Sara Lindsey talks about working with Tom Cruise in “Jack Reacher”

Sara Lindsey is an up and coming Hollywood starlet who will be appearing in the new Tom Cruise action film “Jack Reacher” which is scheduled for release on December 21st. Media Mikes had the chance to talk recently with Lindsey about the film and what it was that got her in to acting.

Adam Lawton: How did you first get involved with acting?
Sara Lindsey: I have always been a performer. The first time I tried it was in a 1st grade play my teacher arranged. That was the bug that bit me. I have been performing since I was very young and I have always been very artistic and musical. As I got older I began to get more serious about things and when I started looking at colleges I decided acting was what I was most passionate about. I felt very connected to acting and that’s what I pursued in college.

AL: How did you get attached to the film “Jack Reacher”?
SL: I had gone to an audition for the film and after that I learned about the book franchise and all the other things associated with “Jack Reacher”. I think the film is going to be really cool as it is a fun film. The story is very easy to follow which is not always the case with some films with similar themes. Tom Cruise is just awesome as the Jack Reacher character. I am definitely looking forward to the film coming out.

AL: What was it like working on such a large production?
SL: It was crazy! I am super new to the business and have only done two or three movies up to this point. The audition process for this was pretty long and I had a few call backs. One call back was done over Skype between the directors, me and the person who was going to be playing my boyfriend. Christopher McQuarrie is such a brilliant writer and director. It was a pleasure to get to work with him. I had a great time during the process.

AL: Were you allowed to experiment with your character at all?
SL: We really did get some freedom within the structure of the film. My big scene is at the very end of the movie. Chris gave us the frame work and allowed us to do whatever we wanted within the boundaries of the scene. We talked over a few different ideas and went from there.  We sort of did things in the moment. To be allowed to do that on this caliber of a movie was very unique.

AL: Can you tell us about the film “Promise Land”?
SL: That was a dream project for me. I got to meet and work with an amazing group of people. I learned so much. The film is about identity and what makes us who we are. The story is set against a back ground that has to do with hydro fracking. There is that issue going on while some great characters with compelling stories are interwoven throughout the film. I think it’s going to be really great.

AL: What are the release plans for the film?
SL: I think they are doing a limited release in several cities starting on or around December 28th. The wide release is scheduled for January 4th.

AL: Can you tell us about some of your other projects you have coming out?
SL:  I am working on a screen play project right now that is not yet titled. We have been working on it for about a year now. It has been a lot of fun to work on something from the ground up. The things you can cultivate with peers and colleges are really great. We are hoping to start shooting that in the very near future.

 

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: cruise, jack, lindsey, reacher, role, sara, ...

First Ever TCM Classic Cruise Announced

Hitchcock Blondes, Shipboard Affairs, Tropical Drama
And Conversations with Film Legends Top Itinerary for First TCM Classic Cruise

Ernest Borgnine, Tippi Hedren, Norman Jewison and Eva Marie Saint
On Board for Unique Event Taking Place Dec. 8-12


A pair of Hitchcock blondes, a classic shipboard love affair, tropical drama in the Florida Keys and intimate conversations with legendary Hollywood figures are just a few of the once-in-a-lifetime treats awaiting passengers on the first-ever TCM Classic Cruise, a new, one-of-a-kind experience taking place Dec. 8-12, 2011. TCM has unveiled the first slate of events for the high-demand voyage, which will feature film legends Ernest Borgnine, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint and Norman Jewison, along with Turner Classic Movies primetime host Robert Osborne, TCM weekend-daytime host Ben Mankiewicz and the Alloy Orchestra. They will join scores of classic-movie fans for the four-day voyage aboard Celebrity Millennium, sailing from Miami to Key West and Cozumel.

The following is the first roster of events lined up for the TCM Classic Cruise. Additional events and programming will be announced soon.


Hitchcock Blondes: Eva Marie Saint and Tippi Hedren
Oscar® winner Eva Marie Saint and Golden Globe® winner Tippi Hedren will sit down to share their memories of working with the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. Fans will also be treated to two of their greatest films with the director, North by Northwest (1959), starring Saint as a seemingly innocent bystander drawn into a case of mistaken identity with Cary Grant, The Birds (1963), with Hedren as a spoiled heiress who finds herself in an avian nightmare with Rod Taylor.

A Conversation with Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine will sit down with TCM host Robert Osborne for an in-depth conversation about the 94-year-old Oscar winner’s storied life and career.

Key Largo in the Keys
There may be no better way to enjoy Bogie and Bacall in John Huston’s 1948 classic Key Largo than by watching the movie while sailing to the Florida Keys. TCM will present a special screening of the dramatic thriller starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, Lionel Barrymore and Oscar-winning supporting actress Claire Trevor.

A Poolside Affair
TCM invites passengers to a special poolside screening of one of the most romantic shipboard romances of all time – An Affair to Remember (1957). Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star in the tale of a couple who falls in love on a cruise, then makes arrangements to meet later on the roof of the Empire State Building.

A Night at the Opera on the Ocean
TCM will screen the frantic Marx Brothers comedy A Night at the Opera (1935), featuring a memorably hilarious scene in which 15 people are crammed into a stateroom on board a ship.

Speedy and the Alloy Orchestra
The Alloy Orchestra, an innovative three-man musical ensemble that has written and performed live accompaniment to classic silent films for more than two decades, will perform their original score for Harold Lloyd’s delightful comedy Speedy (1928) during a special screening.

Guests will also enjoy a variety of movie-themed events, including live music, dancing and classic movie trivia contests for great prizes.

Cabins for the TCM Classic Cruise were in high-demand and quickly filled to capacity. Although the cruise is currently sold out, fans hoping to get on board can add their names to the waiting list by going to http://www.tcmcruise.com or calling (877) 223-7030.

The TCM Classic Cruise is a partnership between Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sixthman, the industry leader in theme cruises. Sixthman specializes in bringing like-minded people together on vacation and recently completed its 35th full-ship charter.

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 85 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

About Sixthman
Sixthman, headquartered in Atlanta, creates theme cruises with an emphasis on celebrating music and fan communities. These one-of-a-kind vacation experiences bring like-minded people together in exclusive, interactive and intimate environments. Sixthman’s mission is to break down the walls between artists, heroes, partners and their passionate fan bases. Sixthman has partnered with entertainers such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mayer, Kid Rock, Barenaked Ladies, Jillian Michaels, Sister Hazel, Lyle Lovett, Sarah MacLachlan, Patty Griffin, Zac Brown Band, and 311, and brands such as VH1 and Graceland. Sixthman has hosted more than 35 full-ship charters since 2001, and maintains a more than sixty percent return rate amongst guests.

About Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of the world’s top-rated premium cruise line, with spacious, stylish interiors; dining experiences elevated to an art form; personalized service, with a guest-to-staff ratio of nearly 2:1; unexpected, trendsetting onboard activities, all designed to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruise tour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity’s fleet currently consists of nine ships, with two additional Solstice Class ships scheduled to join the fleet: Celebrity Silhouette in July 2011 and Celebrity Reflection in Fall 2012. For more information, dial 800/437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com or call your travel agent.

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Filed Under: TV Headlines Tagged With: announced, classic, cruise, tcm

Want a Chance to Win a Private Jungle Cruise Tour Skippered by John Lasseter!?

Win a trip for 4 to the opening of Cars Land and a private Jungle Cruise tour skippered by John Lasseter!

From late 1977 through spring 1978, John Lasseter, before becoming chief creative officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and principal creative advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering, worked at Disneyland, and was a skipper on the Jungle Cruise attraction. Recently, a search for a photo of John skippering the Jungle Cruise came up empty. Surely there must be a photo of Skipper John somewhere? To find one, we have created a contest: the first person to submit a verifiable photo of John as the skipper of the Jungle Cruise from 1977 will win a trip for 4 to the grand opening of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in summer 2012, and a ride on the Jungle Cruise skippered by none other than John himself! What better way to turn a Disney memory of old into a Disney memory of today?

For details on how to submit, visit Johnofthejungle.com or the official Disney•Pixar Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/disneypixar

John of the Jungle: The Search for John Lasseter:

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: chance, cruise, john, jungle, lasseter, private, ...
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