MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Wonder Woman 1984 (WW84) 2020

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Rating:

PG-13

Release Date in theaters and HBO Max:

December 25 2020

Run Time:

2 hrs 31 mins

Directed by:

Patty Jenkins

Based on the Characters by:

DC Comics

Screenplay Writtten by:

Patty Jenkins, Geoff Johns, David Callaham

Story by:

Patty Jenkins & Geoff Johns

Executive Producers:

Rebecca Steel Roven Oakley, Richard Suckle, Marianne Jenkins, Geoff Johns, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Wesley Coller 

Producers:

Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot and Stephen Jones

Production Co.:

Atlas Entertainment

DC Comics

DC Entertainment

Stone Quarry Production

Warner Bros.

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros.

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielson, Robin Wright

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah.

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~~~~~

*My Thoughts*

“The 80’s never dies,” is what I would like to say.

 

Wonder Woman 1984 is an action, adventure movie based upon the poplar DC comics character, Diana Prince. This movie is phenomenal in which it contains multiple character inner conflicts that tie together. It didn’t feel like a traditional or linear story line. To start, a glimpse of Diana Prince’s childhood is played in the form of an athletic competition. Here Diana is taught a lesson about truth and sincerity. Skip ahead and Diana lives a normal life. She lives in solitude until she meets coworker Dr. Barbara Minerva, a rather awkward but warm and friendly woman. Through her, the movie begins to build suspense when Maxwell "Max Lord" Lorenzano decides to enter their workplace at the Smithsonian and become friendly with Dr. Minerva. He steals the Dreamstone which connects these three characters and acts as the catalyst of the movie. It is a gift from the gods that grants the holder any one wish, but like every tale in mythology and lore, all magic comes with a price.

 

Wonder Woman 1984 packs a lot of information into its one hundred and one-minute run time. Each of the three aforementioned characters wishes for something deeply rooted in their insecurities and pasts; three simple wishes turn into a worldwide catastrophe. Diana, who is still grieving the loss of Steve Trevor, wishes for more time with him. Dr. Minerva wishes to feel less inadequate and to be more amazing, to be special. Which brings us down to Max Lord who is a rather predictable con artist and antagonist. Throw in the dream of becoming important and respectable, these three wishes create a domino effect that involves the wish of every person on the planet. Even with these different stories playing together, they can be intertwined into one final showdown.

 

The fallacy of WW84 would have to be that the deuteragonists, also antagonists, seem shallow. They don’t hold a candle to their comic book counterparts. A younger Max Lord came from an abusive father, poverty, and he was often bullied for it; hence, his desire for riches and greatness. Barbara is intelligent and sweet but desires more strength and beauty. She is timid and cannot even garner the attention of her male coworkers but will get the attention of a drunkard in the middle of the night. In the end, they are defeated and their loss leaves much to be desired. Max and Dr. Minerva are skimmed over, like they won’t be seen again.

 

WW84 is also an interesting movie because of the subtle messages it places into the plot. Dr. Minerva and Max represents feelings of self-consciousness and loathing, the desire to take the easy way out of a difficult situation. Diana represents a knowledgeable, courageous, but not infallible woman that anyone can aspire to become. She is a creation of Zeus and raised to be a warrior, but she is still susceptible to grief and loneliness and it shows. Her wish costs her godly powers, diminishing her strength throughout the movie until she realizes that she needs to let go and the lesson her aunt Antiope had taught her years ago comes circling back. Truth and sincerity play a major role in the climax and final fight. The world’s people may wish for something that they desire, but everyone simply can’t get what they want without causing more pain and chaos. Diana brings this lesson from her past into the present and teaches it to the world. How she does it exactly should be left for the viewer to find out.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Supergirl Season 2

Photo from Supergirl

About the Show

Supergirl is an action-adventure drama based on the DC character Kara Zor-El, Superman's (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be.

Twelve-year-old Kara escaped the doomed planet Krypton with her parents' help at the same time as the infant Kal-El. Protected and raised on Earth by her foster family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin in order to keep her identity a secret.

Years later at 24, Kara lives in National City assisting media mogul and fierce taskmaster Cat Grant. She works alongside her friend and IT tehcnician Winn Schott and famous photographer James Olsen, who Grant just hired away from the Daily Planet to serve as her new art director. However Kara's days of keeping her talents a secret are over when Hank Henshaw, head of a super-secret agency where her sister also works, enlists her to help them protect the citizens of National City from sinister threats.

Though Kara will need to find a way to manage her newfound empowerment with her very human relationships, her heart soars as she takes to the skies as Supergirl to fight crime.

source

Television Network:

The CW

Stay connected:

    

Based on the comic book series by:

DC Comics

Genre:

Action/Adventure Drama

Rating:

TV-14, V

Cast:

Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl

Chris Wood as Mon-El

Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers

Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen

Jeremy Jordan as Winslow "Winn" Schott

David Harewood as Hank Henshaw

Floriana Lima as Maggie Sawyer

Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor

Brenda Strong as Lillian Luthor

Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman

See Full Cast & Crew on IMDB

~~~

*My Thoughts*

Ok... This second season was amazing! So much more has developed since Season 1! Season 1 set up the world and its characters and all the ups and downs that Kara dealt with as she figured out who Supergirl is while protecting National City, but now, this Season 2 they have gone beyond the stars! Yup! Melissa Benoist does an amazing job at bringing this comic book hero to life! I love how much all these characters have evolved after all that has happened since Season 1. Anyways, I really loved Superman's introduction into the series! It was great! It was about time that these cousins got together, even helped each other out.

So, in Season 1, Supergirl/Kara dealt mostly with villains of earth while dealing with her confusion of who she is and wants to be. Moreover, this Season 2 has expanded this world to beyond the stars. Familiar characters, heroes and villains, are revealed into the series...even those from beyond the stars. I loved the development of the romances with a few of these characters. A lot of these relationships incorporated many real life relationship issues people deal with all the time. Not only that, the show tackled very real and hard issues in the world... They just added the science fiction and fantasy elements to it. 

The series is just getting better and better. Plus, it is pretty cool to see some crossovers with other DC shows! The show has definitely progressed since Season 1.  All the plots and subplots flow and are intertwined with each other bringing the story together... Well, that's what I think. I'm no expert...haha!!! And, that finale was action-packed and emotional. Whoa! So, yeah, I am squee-ing like a fangirl... Well, I am! 😊 Other than that, the series has continued to entertain me and has brought a cool comic book superhero to life. And, of course, I love the casting! I am so looking forward to Season 3. So, for now, take a look at the Season 3 Comic-Con 2017 trailer!

Missed San Diego Comic Con 2017!?! We did... totally bummed about that, but it happens. Anyways, check out the Supergirl panel coverage by Flicks and the City!

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Wonder Woman (2017)

Genre:

Action/Adventure

Fantasy

Rating:

PG-13

Run Time:

2 hrs 21 minutes

Release Date:

June 2, 2017

Distributor:

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Production Company:

Constantin Film

Directed by:

Patty Jenkins

Screenplay by:

Allan Heinberg

Written by:

Allan Heinberg, Zach Snyder, & Jason Fuchs

Based on Characters from DC Comics

Social Media:

   

Synopsis:

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

source

Cast:

Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya, Saïd Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Lucy Davis, Eugene Brave Rock...

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMBD

~~~

*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Well, hmmm... How do I start? Where do I start? Thinking back, the film felt like a feel good movie, especially for women. I enjoyed Gal Gadot's portrayal of DC's superhero. This film blended various elements, such as: romance, humor, history, and action, together that worked well and brought an enjoyable "origins" story. However, I couldn't help but feel that the movie was a bit slow, except for all those action scenes...haha! Anyways, all together the story unraveled fluidly giving me a full rounded story. There was a brief introduction of Diana's childhood and growing years that gave me a bit of a background on who Diana is. Of course, being raised apart from the world, she did display a good amount of naiveté that Gal Gadot expressed well throughout the film.

The character development was beautiful. The cast portrayed their characters well. I did enjoy Chris Pine's portrayal of his character, and the humor that went along with the character. The world building.... Wow! There was a good amount of realism. Now that Gal Gadot has done an incredible job in bringing Wonder Woman to life, it is hard to picture anyone else playing that role. Of course, Linda Carter was also a favorite Wonder Woman. So, there's no way I am going to compare these amazing actors! Haha!! And, that twist in the storyline....Really!?! Now, that was somewhat a surprise. Who would have thought...that he was the one!?!

Anyways, the cast was definitely on point throughout the film... Well, I thought so. I loved that the romance between Diana and Steve Trevor was subtle, and it worked well on how it unraveled. I can watch this film over again...even maybe a few more times...haha!! Oh, and it is great that this film is female-led, too!

It's no wonder that the film is so successful! Wonder Woman is a fresh and entertaining film that all the elements that made it so interesting.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Lucifer Season 2

*About the Show*

L.A. is hotter than ever...

Based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for Vertigo, from DC Entertainment, Lucifer is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis) abandoned his throne and retired to Los Angeles, where he has teamed up with LAPD detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) to take down criminals.

Charming, charismatic and devilishly handsome, Lucifer has a way of manipulating people into confessing their deepest, darkest secrets, which helps Chloe deliver justice. But Lucifer quickly discovered that Chloe makes him vulnerable. When he's around her, the devil can bleed like anyone else. It's a truly scary realization that doesn't sit well with his best friend, Mazikeen aka Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt), a fierce demon in the form of a beautiful young woman. Maze wants nothing more than to leave Los Angeles and get back to her life in Hell, but Lucifer is having one helluva good time with the mortals, and she is not about to leave him behind.

At the end of Season One, Chloe watched Lucifer die, only to come back to life, causing more confusion over who he really is. Meanwhile, her estranged husband, Dan (Kevin Alejandro), who is also an LAPD detective, came clean about his involvement in a corrupt case - jeopardizing not only his job, but also their relationship.

In Season Two, Lucifer and his brother, Amenadiel (DB Woodside), who have been sparring over Lucifer's resistance to returning to the underworld, will now be brought back together for one common goal - to find their mother, Charlotte (Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica), who escaped Hell. After all, Lucifer doesn't take after his dad, so the parent he does resemble is sure to be quite terrifying. Lucifer's work with the LAPD also is upended when the police force hires Ella Lopez (Aimee Garcia, The George Lopez Show), a smart, tough forensic scientist whose mutual belief in both faith and science proves a point of interest to Lucifer.

With mom on the loose, Dr. Linda Martin (Rachael Harris), who has become not only a therapist, but also a confidante to Lucifer, will surely have a lot of advice to dole out. And, by the time she's done with them, she may need a therapist of her own.

source

Television Network:

FOX

Stay Connected:

    

Genre:

Supernatural/Paranormal Drama

Action/Adventure

Comedy

Based on the comic book series by:

Vertigo

Rating:

TV-14

Cast:

Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar

Lauren German as Chloe Decker

Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze

D.B. Woodside as Amenadiel

Rachael Harris as Dr. Kim Martin

Kevin Alejandro as Dan

Tricia Helfer as Charlotte

Aimee Garcia as Ella Lopez

Scarlett  Estevez as Trixie

See Full Cast on IMDB

Watch Full Episodes

~~~~~

*My Thoughts*

What a second season! Oh, the fun and adventure continues for Lucifer and Chloe! Now, their adventures include mother dearest...the goddess of creation! Lucifer definitely has a lot on his plate...haha! Doc Martin knows the truth...and she has a lot to "wrap" her head around everything that has been revealed to her. Character development continues...and it keeps getting interesting. The humor continues to balance out the drama. Tricia Helfer is a great addition to the cast. Love her character! Stuck in Los Angeles with humans, Mother God has to adjust to living life on Earth. All the while, we can see where Lucifer gets his funny wit and personality traits from. Amenadiel, on the other hand, is feeling the crushing truth of the consequences of his actions. He, too, must adjust to becoming mortal. Maze is struggling to figure out who and what she is in this life on Earth.

Lots of character development for all of these characters. Truths are revealed...and Lucifer and Chloe's relationship is moving along. However, there are a few obstacles that they have to overcome in order to figure out what this relationship is between the two. Completely how they interact with each other and how the cast fit their characters. Funny how Dan and Lucifer have to work together, despite how they feel about each other...haha! But, both their "love" for Chloe is what keeps them at a compromise.

All in all, this season was filled with Lucifer's humor and antics, as well as solving crime.  Every character has established their own identities as to who they are and what they want. We even got introduced to another angel! Yup! We definitely got a taste of some "divine intervention;" however, it doesn't mean it was all good. Anyways, a little bit of Heaven and Hell definitely adds to the whole theme of Lucifer being the first fallen angel and the Lord of Hell. Well, next season will be very interesting as we learn more about the "miracle" that Chloe was revealed to be. What is her "part" in God's plan. Will we meet Him in this coming next season!

Yup! That's right! Lucifer has been renewed for a third season! Yes!

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray/DVD 2016

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Drama

Rating:

PG-13

Run Time:

Theatrical Version: 151 minutes

Ultimate Edition: 182 minutes

Theatrical Release Date:

March 25, 2016

Distributed by:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Format:

Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Ultraviolet

Release Date:

July 19, 2016

Bonus Features:

Uniting The World's Finest: Glimpse the future of DC's bold new cinematic super heroes.

Gods and Men: A Meeting of Giants: Justice meets vengeance when two icons clash on-screen for the first time ever.

The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder: Explore the origin, evolution and impact of the Amazonian Wonder Woman.

Accelerating Design: The New Batmobile: Hit the road hard with Batman's newest high-performance ride.

And more!

Directed by:

Zack Snyder

Plot Summary:

 Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of here it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with each other, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it has ever known before.

Cast:

Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jesse Eisenberg, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

Social Media:

   

*My Thoughts*

Yet another super hero movie, but it’s not just another remake. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a cinematic splendor that pits two comic book titans into short lived combat. Not great but not horrible. It was highly anticipated but I didn’t see the appeal. With the extra 30 minutes from the Ultimate edition, it made certain plot points through the movie make more sense. But it overall felt rushed as a movie that is trying to introduce the entire Justice League, no matter how little it does that, but slow in trying to resolve the actual conflict in the movie.

Lex Luthor (as played by Jesse Eisenberg) uses deception to increase the strain and conflict. Mr. Luthor, who should be put into an asylum, proves his place as Superman’s nemesis, very much in a fashion that is Joker-like to Batman. A decently executed plan that could have been solved by communication, less prejudice, and preconceptions still ends in failure. And introducing the Justice League… What was this movie about again? Oh right, Batman v Superman. Are you sure you really wanted to give us the beginning of the Justice League here? You could have cleaned that up or added more of that plot into this movie.

Despite forcefully introducing the Justice League to the cinematic world and cramming Batman v Superman, it does make you think, “Can humanity protect itself from it’s Savior?” I enjoyed that message. In any other circumstance, I would’ve picked Batman’s side. But still, Superman is more a human than Kryptonian. I guess compassion is more important in this movie?

The general acting had it’s good and bad moments. Bad moments: scenes that required sad or hardened emotions of agony. Good moments: poker faced characters all trying to hide their secret plans and close ups during fight scenes. Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman was spot on from Batman’s rage, rhetoric, and trauma. Other than the main cast many of the character didn’t seem to have a proper place in the movie, even for plot purposes, Lois Lane (as played by Amy Adams) and Diana Prince (as played by Gal Gadot), could have one or two scenes cut… Oh wait, they were, hence the theater versus ultimate edition.

My Rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Supergirl Season 1 Episode 20 - "Better Angels"

About the Show

Supergirl is an action-adventure drama based on the DC Comics character Kara Zor-El, Superman's (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities, and be the hero she was always meant to be.

Twelve-year-old Kara escaped the doomed planet Krypton with her parents' help at the same time as the infant Kal-El. Protected and raised on Earth by her foster family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin in order to keep her identity a secret. 

Years later at 24, Kara lives in National City assisting media mogul and fierce taskmaster Cat Grant. She works alongside her friend and IT technician Winn Schott and famous photgrapher James Olsen, who Grant just hired away from the Daily Planet to serve as her new art director. However, Kara's days of keeping her talents a secret are over when Hank Henshaw, head of a super-secret ageny where her sister also works, enlists her to help them protect the citizens of National City from sinister threats. Though Kara will need to find a way to manage her newfound empowerment with her very human relationships, her heart soars as she takes to the skies as Supergirl to fight crime.

Television Network:

CBS

Stay connected:

    

Based on the comic book series by:

DC Comics

Genre:

Action/Adventure Drama

Rating:

TV-14, V

Cast:

Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl

Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant

Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers

Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen

Jeremy Jordan as Winslow "Winn" Schott

David Harewood as Hank Henshaw

See Full Cast & Crew on IMDB

Watch the full episode

Episode 20 - "Better Angels"

 Synopsis:

Supergirl is forced to do battle with an unexpected foe and must risk everything - including her life - to prevent Non and Indigo from destroying every person on the planet.

~~~

*My Thoughts*

Wow! What an emotional Season One finale this was! I was definitely tearing up.

Myriad is controlling every citizen in National City...and Superman!?! Wow! Crazy!?! And, I thought we were going to see a Super team up...haha! Anyways, very interesting that J'onn brings in Eliza to break through to Alex...and it works! Well, it is the human brain after all...haha! There are always "triggers" in everyone that their minds will respond to. Speaking of which, Supergirl and Cat's plan to get through to the populace of National City just may work...with Supergirl as the "trigger." And, it works! Fascinating, isn't it!?! The human brain. However, it does not deter Non and Indigo on their desire to destroy Supergirl's world and those that she loves. Well, Non definitely has a deep-rooted hatred for her...that's no secret.

When Myriad fails to control the people, Non and Indigo turns it up to full capacity in order to kill every person in National City....and the world. Knowing this, Supergirl continues to try to save everyone, despite the odds. She is willing to sacrifice her life in order to save everyone...including her own personal happiness. She promised her mother, and she is determined to keep that promise. While Kara contemplates what she must face, she starts to say her "good-byes" to those she loves. Really!?! They really know how to make this very emotional...that could bring viewers to tears! Well, I did, anyways.

Oh my goodness! James remembered the kiss...haha! Where will they go from there?!? It was such a cute moment...haha! I would love to see them explore more into this relationship. And...it looks like they will...we will have to see in the next season!

Like many television drama series, this Season One has left us with cliffhangers and potential subplots! The general gives Max a Kryptonian power source...hmmm. What are they up to!?! Knowing Max...it is never good, but his intentions to protect Earth is good!?! As for General Lane, it is apparent that his trust for the aliens only goes so far...he still has his suspicions, and he will continue to find ways to protect Earth. Alex finally tells Eliza about Jeremiah...and their determination to find him. J'onn J'onzz is back in charge at the DEO. The cool thing is that now he doesn't have to hide his true identity. He can now go out and protect National City, as well as the entire world, in his true form. But, the kicker is the end of the finale! An alien ship lands in National City! And...it's a Kryptonian ship...just like the one Kara arrived in! Whoa! Now, who is in the pod!?! Gah!!! We have to wait til Season Two...C'mon!!!! The wait is definitely going to be killer! Who else survived from the destruction of Krypton! However, one thing I was disappointed with is the Super team up with Superman! Awww...I so want to see these cousins teaming up and actually spending time with each other. The series does, after all, focus al lot on family...right!?! Plus, the symbol of the House of El stands for "stronger together"...right!?! Hopefully, it does happen sometime in this series!

This first season was definitely an awesome start for this series. There was a lot of character development and world building. We got back histories which tied the various subplots together. The cast is amazing. The casting pretty much spot on! Melissa Benoist totally made this character hers... I don't think I will be able to see anyone else as Supergirl, except her...haha!

Now, we must wait til the next season...that's going to be an excruciating wait...hahaha! I am SO totally a fan!