MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Genre:

Horror/Thriller/Mystery/Suspense

Supernatural

Release Date:

June 26, 2019

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

October 8, 2019

Run Time:

1 hr 46 mins

Rating:

R

Directed by:

Gary Dauberman

Screenplay by:

James Wan, Gary Dauberman

Producers:

James Wan, Richard Brener, Michael Clear, Victoria Palmeri, Peter Safran, Dave Neustadter, Michelle Morrissey, Judson Scott 

Production Co.:

Atomic Monster, New Line Cinema, The Safran Company

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros.

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, Michael Cimino

See Full Cast List on IMDB

Plot Summary:

Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target—the Warrens’ ten year- old daughter, Judy, and her friends.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

The third installment of the Annabelle series is here and available for streaming through your television company, but it is only worth the watch for the sake of continuing the Annabelle series. Annabelle Comes Home starts with the famous Demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bringing home the demonic porcelain doll. The Warrens lock the doll up in their evil artifacts room, behind a container made from cathedral glass. Ed and Lorraine leave for another case, leaving Judy in the care of Mary Ellen, but an intrusion from Mary’s curious friend Daniela accidentally releases the evil power of Annabelle. The main story of Annabelle Comes Home follows an evening of survival with Judy Warren, the child of Lorraine and Ed Warren, Mary Ellen, and Daniela.

The plot of the movie itself has ongoing storylines, not only focusing on the power of Annabelle but also the childhood experience of Judy and the trauma of Daniela. Judy’s introduction into the story line is a humanizing experience because the movie series no longer relies on spooks from a possessed doll but Judy’s experiences and her babysitters. The darkness of the night and the bombardment of different possessed artifacts attacking the three is no impressive feat. As a horror movie, the three girls’ being frightened throughout the night is slightly entertaining but relies heavily on jump scares. While they do come close to facing death, for example Judy being attacked by a werewolf ghost creature and Daniela being possessed by the demon in the wedding dress, and Mary Ellen being slashed up by said wedding dress demon, their frantic cries for help were left unheard. With their combined efforts, the girls escape the night unscathed and are capable of trapping Annabelle back into her glass case.

Annabelle Comes Homes is not all just an empty scare. Due to Daniela being a supernatural enthusiast after the death of her father, she ended up being the catalyst for the night. While she did help release Annabelle from her prison, Daniela also added a small subplot that helped Judy realize she does have friends. And by the end of the movie, Daniela learns to stop blaming herself for her father’s death. The movie overall ends with this happy note.

Annabelle Comes Home is not the best movie to take your date to if you want them to get scared, but it is entertaining for the short hour and forty-six minutes.

My Rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on FullMetal Alchemist (2017)

 

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Drama

Rating:

TV-14

Run Time:

2 hr 14 mins

Release Date:

December 1, 2017 (Japan)

February 19, 2018 (U.S.)

Based on the Manga series by:

Hiromu Arakawa

Directed by:

 Fumihiko Sori

Producers:

Oxybot,Square Enix Company,Warner Bros.

Distribution:

Warner Bros. (Japan)

Netflix (U.S.)

Funimation (U.S.)

Cast:

Ryôsuke Yamada, Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, Misako Renbutsu, Kanata Hongô, Shinji Uchiyama, Jun Kunimura, Yô Ôizumi, Ryûta Satô, Fumiyo Kohinata, Yasuko Matsuyuki

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

While alchemist Edward Elric searches for a way to restore his brother Al's body, the military goverment and mysertious monsters are watching closely.

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*My Thoughts*

For what it’s worth, as a standalone movie, FullMetal Alchemist (2017) lacks much story, emotional connection, and gives a weak plot but as an anime live-action, FullMetal Alchemist (2017) is a satisfactory adaptation the anime community can rejoice about. FullMetal Alchemist (2017), although it deviates a little from the original series, has everything it needs to be a part of the popular anime and manga series, action, lighthearted moments, dramatization, and mystery. It is also a good, quick introduction to those unfamiliar with the FullMetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa. The movie makes a quick overview of all the characters and assumes the viewers are familiar with each person in the main cast i.e. Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Winry Rockbell, Maes Hughes, and Roy Mustang. The introduction of the homunculi Lust, Envy, and Gluttony make them a mysterious trio with influence in the military but hardly expands on their motives. The movies’ main antagonists shift from Shou Tucker to General Hakuro and then homunculi so swiftly that there is no time to hate any of them. Except for Tucker. To say the least, he’s still a selfish and depraved scumbag like in the anime and manga. The movie flows so quickly it’s difficult to properly make an emotional connection with the characters. So, it doesn’t bring the anime and manga’s original intensity and seriousness. Because of it is a quick introduction and overall mystery, FullMetal Alchemist (2017) leaves the live adaptations open to more productions.

The characters may have been swiftly introduced but I can’t deny that I liked the acting. Ryosuke Yamada makes a strong impression as Edward Elric. He had Edwards’ pipsqueak, teenage voice down to a T, Edwards’ rage when he fought Al, but I would like to say Yamada’s reactions to being called short could use more comedic rage to them. Ryuta Sato as Maes Hughes is energetic, friendly, and a loving father-figure that the Elric brothers didn’t have growing up. Overall, I believe my favorite actor is Yasuko Matsuyuki who plays the homunculus Lust. During the each of her appearances in the movie, I was fixated on how she carried Lust’s persona. Matsuyuki’s Lust gave me the impression of both 2003 and 2009 Lust, which is an interesting combination because 2003 Lust is more human while 2009 Lust is an arrogant and faithful homunculus. She was elegant and dignified with Lust’s malice in her voice but dies with an inkling of humanity in her final thoughts. Many of the others fulfilled their roles and I hope they reprise their role into the next possible live-action FullMetal Alchemist (2017), mostly for continuity. I can’t un-see the actors that have taken their role as their respective FullMetal Alchemist characters. It also has the chance to continue building the story, characters, and add more characters from the original series such as Greed, Scar, or Bradley.

Instead of looking at FullMetal Alchemist (2017) as a FullMetal Alchemist the manga and anime-based movie and more like a standalone film, the story is rushed, characters get very little to no backstory, and the antagonists are easily killed. Now going back to it as a faithful adaptation, it loosely follows the manga most notably when Lust briefly mentions the homunculi’s creator and frequently calls Edward “a good sacrifice.” The movies’ Shou Tucker plays a slightly larger role in comparison to his anime and manga counterpart by kidnapping Al and Winry. But overall, the movie seems to hint at the homunculus having power in the military and therefore sets them up as the possible major antagonist in later productions. If I had to make complaints about FullMetal Alchemist (2017) as a live-action adaptation, I wish Envy’s character in the movie had more of the sass and arrogance of the manga’s Envy. The movies’ Envy was more disgusted with humans but wholly said nothing against humanity. The movie introduces the lesser homunculi too early as the movies’ antagonist, General Hakuro, uses them in a failed plot to take over the world. I won’t say FullMetal Alchemist (2017) is a spectacular, God-sent live-action, but it certainly is refreshing.

My rating:

Japanese movie poster