Movies

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    Movies, movies, movies …

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    Is it just me, or are there a lot of good-looking movies coming out this year? I don’t go to the theater all that much, maybe two or three times a year, and usually just to see the Marvel superhero movies or the latest James Bond movie. It’s just easier to stream a movie or get the DVD.

    But this year, there are several movies that I want to see in the theater. Here are some of them, and I’ve linked to some of the trailers as well:

    the-lego-batman-movieThe LEGO Batman Movie — Feb. 10 — This looks really fun. If it is half as entertaining as the trailers have been, it will be one of the best Batman movies ever.

    Beauty and the Beast — March 17 — The original animated Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorite movies. I hope this one is just as good.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 — May 5 — The first movie was so much fun, and this looks like more of the same. I’m also hoping that the soundtrack is as good as it was for the first movie. Plus, is there anything more adorable than Baby Groot?

    Wonder Woman — June 2 — We are finally getting a Wonder Woman movie. Enough said.

    Spider-Man: Homecoming — July 7 — I’m not a huge Spider-Man fan, but I enjoyed his appearance in Captain America: Civil War. And I like the fact that this is not another origin-story movie but rather Spider-Man already being Spider-Man.

    Dunkirk — July 21 — Wheezley really likes World War II movies, and he wants to go see this. Me too. It’s based on a true story, and it looks really intense.

    Thor: Ragnarok — Nov. 3 — Thor isn’t my favorite Marvel character, and the other Thor movies are just so-so. But Tom Hiddleston is always great in these, which is one of the main reasons why I watch them.

    Justice League — Nov. 17 — I did not like Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and I’m hoping that this one is much better. At the very least, it looks like it has a much lighter and a much more fun tone.

    What about you guys? What movies are you looking forward to this year?

  • August movies, here I come …

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    Note: I blogged about this last week over at Magical Musings but wanted to share it on my own blog as well.

    Going to the movies is a summer pastime for many folks. Comedies, action-adventure flicks, snacks. They’re all good. And I don’t know about you guys, but I certainly enjoy the dark and the air conditioning at the movies after all the bright, hot, humid days. It’s definitely a bonus.

    Captain America The Winter SoldierIs it just me, but are all the good movies coming out in August this year? I just haven’t been all that excited about most of the movies that have come out so far this year.

    I’ve seen tons of trailers, but very few movies have interested me enough to go see them in the theater. Except for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which was awesome.

    But August? It’s loaded with movies that I want to see — Guardians of the Galaxy (playing now); The Expendables 3 (releases Aug. 15); and, yes, even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (playing now).

    So what appeals to me about these three movies in particular? They just look like fun. Guardians of the Galaxy looks like a zany superhero movie set in space. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles looks like a zany superhero movie with teenage mutant ninja turtles. And The Expendables 3 stars every action hero who hasn’t already been in the first two Expendables movies.

    The ExpendablesPlus, action movies are my favorite, and all three of these should have plenty of action, especially The Expendables 3. If you’ve seen the first Expendables movie, you know that the franchise features car chases, fights, and explosions galore.

    Plus, it’s still summer, and I want to be entertained before we all buckle back down for fall.

    What about you guys? What movies are you looking forward to? What’s the best movie you’ve seen so far this year?

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    Holiday books are here …

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    Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed something becoming more and more common at my local bookstores — holiday books.

    Yep, those snow- and Christmas-themed covers are here, along with the holiday stories that fill the pages.

    Sleigh Bells in the SnowOne holiday book that I’ve been looking forward to is Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan. I enjoy contemporary romance, and I usually read at least one or two holiday stories this time of year.

    But it’s not just new holiday books that are on the shelves now. You can also find many different editions of classic holiday stories like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore.

    For Christmas several years ago, Wheezley bought me a copy of A Christmas Carol, and it was interesting to read the story versus seeing all the interpretations in other books and holiday movies.

    Now, I enjoy a good holiday book, but I am totally addicted to all the holiday romance movies on TV stations like ABC Family, Lifetime, and the Hallmark Channel. I love a good holiday rom-com, and I’m looking forward to seeing what new movies come out this year.

    What about you guys? Do you read holiday books or watch holiday movies? Do you have a favorite holiday book or movie that you read or watch every year?

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    Rings and shields and hammers, oh my …

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    So the Green Lantern movie is out today, Captain America will hit theaters in another month, and Thor has been out since early May.

    All these movies have got me thinking about the heroes and their various gadgets/powers. Green Lantern has his ring, Captain America has his shield, and Thor has his hammer. If you had to pick just one, which gadget/power would you go with?

    I’d pick Green Lantern’s ring because you can create anything you can dream up with it. Although Thor’s hammer would be fun to use in a Hulk smash! kind of way.

    What about you guys? Which superhero gadget would you pick? And what movies are you looking forward to this summer?

  • Robin Hood …

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    In between getting everything ready for my blog tour for Web of Lies, I managed to sneak off with Wheezley and watch Robin Hood this weekend.

    The movie stars Russell Crowe as Robin Longstride, a common soldier in King Richard’s army. When the king is killed sacking a castle in France, Robin and a few of his friends slip away from the army, determined to get back to England. On the way there, they come across Robert of Locksley, one of the king’s trusted men. Robert has been ambushed taking the king’s crown back to England. Before he dies, he asks Robin to take his sword back to his father.

    What follows from there is an interesting tale as Robin journeys to Nottingham and eventually assumes the identity of Robert of Locksley. There’s lots of fight scenes, lots of political maneuvering, and lots of longing glances between Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, who plays Marion of Locksley, Robert’s wife. Basically, the story boils down to Robin/Robert saving England from a French invasion.

    I’m a sucker for Robin Hood stories, and overall, this was a pretty decent interpretation. Having Robin become Robert was a nice twist on the old legend, and there were several clever lines in the movie, with Cate Blanchett and the guy playing Prince John getting most of those.

    The fight scenes were as big and bombastic as you’d expect, since this is a Ridley Scott film. It’s not as good as Gladiator, though, and there are a couple of subplots that fall flat, like one about Robin/Robert’s father and the lost boys of Sherwood Forest.

    I still like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves better, if only for the absolute awesomeness that is Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. But if you’re looking for an action flick to see, Robin Hood is an entertaining enough way to spend an afternoon.

    My grade: C+.

    What about you guys? Anyone seen any good movies yet this summer? Share in the comments.