Inside Out (NOW PLAYING) starring the voices of Amy Poehler, Lewis Black & Mindy Kaling

July 5, 2015 EmmaLeave a comment

Lava_Pixar_short

NOTE: This is a SPOILER-FREE review.

I saw “Inside Out” at a free pre-screening w/ my movie Meetup (all ladies) and a large group of press folks (who were pretty quiet during the film, which is common). Before the main attraction, we saw a short film (“Lava”) about a lonely volcano that wants to have someone to love. I’m NOT sure if this story was based on a Hawaiian folk tale. There was a song all through the short, which was cute and catchy.

I went in NOT knowing much about the film, BUT I liked it! Some critics say it’s the best thing since “Toy Story,” which was a big hit for Pixar. I suggest it for kids 10 and up, especially, as it deals w/ themes that MAY go over the heads of the younger crowd. There is also a LOT for grown-ups to enjoy.

Riley, an 11 y.o. girl, goes through a period of displacement and sadness after moving from her suburban home in Minnesota to an apartment in San Francisco. Aside from Riley, the main characters are the emotions inside her head: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Fear (Bill Hader). I wanted to see this mainly b/c I’m a fan of Black and Kaling.

In the beginning, everyone was bummed out by how Sadness (who is blue, wears a turtleneck) was acting, BUT we know that people can’t always be happy. Riley has to get used to her new room, new school and classmates, and missing her best friend. She finds it VERY difficult to be her usual positive self, even though she knows that’s what her parents (voiced by Diane Lane and Kyle McLachlan) want. Joy tries hard to get Sadness out of the way, BUT an accident pulls these two main emotions away from the control room.

Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 8 (“Hardhome”) – Memorable Lines

June 30, 2015 EmmaLeave a comment

Killing and politics are not always the same thing. -Tyrion explains to Dany

My concern is that The Faith does not adhere to the same standards of proof as The Crown. If you’ll excuse me for saying, belief is so often the death of reason. -Qyburn says when visiting Cersei in her jail cell

I rose him up. I made him. I will not kneel before some barefooted commoner and beg his foriveness! –Cersei says of The High Sparrow

They weren’t Bran and Rickon! It was two farm boys. –Reek reveals to Sansa

So here we sit- two terrible children of two terrible fathers. -Tyrion says to Dany

I’d given up on life until Varys convinced me that you might be worth living for. -Tyrion explains to Dany

Sometimes a man has to make hard choices. Choices that may look wrong to others, but you know are right in the long run. -Sam explains to Ollie

I’m not asking you to forget your dead! I’ll never forget mine! – Jon replies to the female elder

Black Mirror: Seasons 1 & 2 (Netflix)

June 26, 2015December 13, 2016 EmmaLeave a comment

NOTE: This is a SPOILER-FREE review.

Did you watch The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits? Do you think that technology is taking over your life? Are you open to a dark, intelligent show? Then check out this British sci-fi series. There are 2 seasons up on Netflix now; each has 3 eps. I can honestly say that I’ve NEVER seen anything like this before!

Downton Abbey fans will be delighted to see Jessica Brown Findlay in S1 (“A Million Little Pieces”); she played Lady Sybil Crawley on the hit PBS series. She’s a naturally gifted singer who tries out for a show VERY similar to American Idol. The setting of ALL the eps is a world VERY similar to ours, BUT perhaps a bit further in the future. No little green men here, thank goodness! It could appeal to that friend of yours who HATES typical sci-fi fare.

Each ep is a standalone piece, BUT you’ll see similar themes emerge. My favorite ep of S1 (“The Entire History of You”) centers on the age-old issue of romantic jealousy (the green-eyed monster). Speaking of eyes… well, you’ll see! This is the type of show where you don’t want to know TOO much!

There is also a Christmas Special ep starring Jon Hamm (Mad Men); you’ll also see Rafe Spall, Oona Chaplin and Natalie Tena (who both appear on Game of Thrones). It’s my second favorite ep; it has several twists and turns.

The must-see ep of S2 (“Be Right Back”) stars Hayley Atwell (star of Agent Carter) and up-and-coming actor, Domhnall Gleeson (son of character actor Brendan Gleeson). The young Gleeson is thin and boyish (unlike his burly father), but exudes a sort of intensity and maturity that makes him seem wiser beyond his years. Most recently, he co-starred in the critically-acclaimed sci-fi/thriller Ex Machina.