Written by John Edward BetancourtSometimes I am extremely late to the party when it comes to blockbuster movies. Usually it's because my schedule is simply packed to the brim and I forget to get my butt to the Alamo Drafthouse to watch said movies, but once in a great while I make a conscious choice to avoid a particular film until it arrives on home video or cable because I'm nervous that it may not live up to my expectations. One such movie that falls into that category is Jurassic World, simply because I am a huge fan of the original film and while the trailers made it look like it was going to be a fun ride, let's be honest, the sequels to Jurassic Park had their share of issues because a film as sublime as JP is a hard act to follow. But the time finally arrived to watch the fourth entry in the series on cable the other day, and after sitting through it, I have to say that while I enjoyed it...I did have one fundamental issue with the plot, specifically the film's "villain"; the Indominus Rex. I get that this genetic hybrid is made to drive the plot and give a reason for the park to fall to pieces and all, but in reality, this creature simply should not exist and here is why. First and foremost, InGen, the parent company behind Jurassic World, is already a safety nightmare in this universe, and has been involved in several big time safety accidents. Plenty of people died on their watch in the first film when things went haywire at Jurassic Park and they were also responsible for letting a fully grown T-Rex run amuck through the streets of San Diego. So it would make sense for the governments of Costa Rica and the United States to give the company incredible oversight safety wise when they reopened the park on Isla Nublar and that kind of observation would be on going. Again, they've seen what these majestic creatures have done in the past, and I doubt they would be good with this ever happening again. Which boils down to one thing, regular safety inspections at the park would have revealed the creation of Indominus Rex and that project would have no doubt been shut down quickly. But even if we ignore that, the film's main reason for the creation of this super-dino still doesn't add up, since InGen claims they need something new and exciting to continue to drive up profits in order to keep the park open. Now it's definitely plausible that it costs an incredible amount of money to operate Jurassic World, but there is little chance that InGen is running out of money. After all, this is the only company that has successfully managed to clone a species extinct for 65 million years; so imagine what that kind of breakthrough would do for science, and the company's bottom line. Any breakthrough that InGen's research and work helped bring to the medical or scientific field, and in turn would bring a profit to any particular company...InGen would receive a cut of that on a regular basis, allowing them to rake in the dough and funnel portions of those profits into operating costs at the park. In addition to that, think of how many countries, companies, or interested private parties would be wiling to pay the company scientific grants simply because of the fact that they have created a slice of living history for mankind to study and learn from. The price for such research would be handsome to say the least and it's one that the scientific field would be willing to pay. The bottom line when it comes to this? With that kind of cash flow pouring in, the Indominus Rex would be nothing more than a fleeting thought. If anything, the film should have focused on Hoskins and his attempts to weaponize the dinosaurs since that would have been in line with the core themes that made Jurassic Park so magical; the fact that we simply cannot control nature regardless of our best attempts. But alas, it is what it is, these plot holes exist and while they are still clearly bugging me, I don't want to detract from the fact that Jurassic World is still a fun ride and it does a wonderful job of recapturing the awe and wonder of the first film when we absolutely believed that dinosaurs could still roam the earth; I just wish that the same care that went into nostalgia, went into the plot as well.
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Written by ShaeWith all the villains going around its hard not to sit and weigh in on the villains of the ABC and Disney staple, Once Upon a Time. This show is in its sixth season and they've had tons of villains so far. How could I not do a blog about my absolute favorites? It's no wonder we fell in both love and hate with these characters, so today, let's talk about the ones who made a huge impact on my tiny little Shae Life. Yes, my fan girl moments are pretty strong. Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the most evil of them all? Regina, better known as the Evil Queen might just be that one. She's the reason the whole show even takes place, well probably. Without her, where would any of our characters be? Having a better, less crazy life in the Enchanted Forest? Still, it's Regina's unforgiving hate for a child that fuels years of hate, anger, and rage. She literally became the worst person in order to get revenge. And the sad part? Regina actually turns good. She eventually hangs up her evil ways for a chance to be happy, and with that comes a boyfriend and a world of possibilities. Sure things are a bit wonky, but nobody is perfect. Except for Hook and his gorgeous face. Killian Jones known as Captain Hook and a heart throb to many, starts as a man in indentured servitude. Killian drinks his way through life, of course still hates Peter Pan (who in fairness is a total dick) and actually managed to fall for the Savior. Yep, Hook hangs up being bad for being good...or is it being bad in a good way? He still hates Rumple, but who doesn't at this point? Turns out he's not such a bad guy, for a bad guy. Hook has good intentions, and well, it was his Brother who got them free. A turn of events has left us loving the pirate even more. But what's stronger than our love for a pirate? Our twisted love/hate for Rumple. Seems the sly little weasel breaks our hearts just about every single season. He goes from bad to good and good to bad so frequently, our spleens could rupture. For whatever reason, we root for him more than anyone to just turn good. Maybe it's because he holds the heart of our dear princess Belle. Or maybe it's because he's a self serving little shit who, for whatever reason, we like enough to trust when he says he'll be good. Either way, we are always holding out hope that Rumple will turn good for good and stop hurting our precious Belle... Which he won't do. But, we can still pretend he might! Written by ShaeWith the new revival Disney seems to be doing, our favorite childhood films are getting a face lift through live action versions. Many of the classics we know and love have gotten a new light and a new cast to go along with the remakes, often times with grittier stories. Did we ask for them? No, but we are sure enjoying them. Coming straight out of Disney is the promise of a Live Action Beauty & the Beast and a Little Mermaid. Sadly, we wont be getting the red headed Ariel we all know and love, but instead she'll be Blonde? I'm not sure how to feel about that one, honestly. Not that there's anything wrong with blondes, there just aren't enough redheads in Disney! At least with Beauty & the Beast we do have the promise of Emma Watson as our leading lady Belle. But all of that aside, let's take a look at some of the more recent live action remakes were weren't expecting to see from the House of the Mouse. Maleficent gave us a different story from the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. We got to see the other side of things. Are villains made or born? Looks like the evil queen we all feared, was made. Does this mean our other evil Queens were just misunderstood? Probably? It's hard to say since Cinderella proved that sometimes people are just awful. Sure she was hurt, but she had no reason to treat Cinderella the way she did. Yes, she overheard Cindy and her dad talking about their late mother/wife respectively. That would hurt, but not enough to turn into a monster. Alice in Wonderland is a bit different. The story was so different and yet the same that it is really hard to compare the live action film to the animated one. Both feel like some weird trip, but there's a distinct difference between them that I can't really pin down. The thing about the live action version is we get a sequel. Granted, both are technically based off of books, but the fact that we get a sequel to the live action film? Well, that just makes it all a bit better. The Jungle Book has been made, remade, and remade again as well as given a sequel. Somehow this latest version of the film might just be my favorite adaptation. Granted, no Disney version is like the book, even remotely. Still, the latest film brought not only the added great visual effects, but a cast of A list stars that would rival any film adaptation. Where else are we going to get Christopher Walken singing 'Like You'? What adaptations will we see next? A Live Action Mulan? Maybe Aladdin? Either way, I feel we can expect more from our favorite company of movies! Written by John Edward BetancourtTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...I'm not sure exactly what changed in the writer's room this season for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. but this new direction the show has suddenly taken over the last few weeks is simply phenomenal. Every single episode has become enthralling and fascinating, the characters have never been more vibrant and I am loving every single second of it, because I am dying to know how this whole mess with Hive is going to end. This week was another incredible entry in this stunning storyline and as it turns out "Failed Experiments" decided to add a couple of new wrinkles to the fold as well, since this particular tale not only delivered us Hive's backstory and the unveiling of his master plan for planet earth; but it also felt the need to challenge a couple of the characters on a whole new level, by posing the question to both of them...how far would you go to save a friend or a loved one? The answer to that question turned out to be pretty surprising, but before we get into that portion of the plot, let's talk about Hive and his plan. As it turns out, thousands of years ago, Hive was nothing more than a simple hunter who found himself trapped by the Kree for experimental purposes. They wanted to know what would happen when you combine human and Kree DNA with a little blast of Terragen for good measure and the end result was the nightmare we have come to know as Hive. Why is this so important? Because Hive wants to recreate this process on earth...in order to change every single human being on the planet into an Inhuman...thereby allowing him to control the planet, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the reveal of Hive's master plan. We've always had the feeling world domination was on his agenda from the minute he landed back on earth...but to do it in this fashion, to ensure zero resistance from mankind is actually pretty freaking genius on his part. Horrifying, but genius. That incredible plan however, paled in comparison to the story line that came from Mack and Lincoln this week. I made mention a moment ago that this episode explored exactly how far someone would go to save those they love and these two gentlemen helped answer that question and their solution was to go as far as you freaking can. Mack literally took a beating to within an inch of his life from Daisy to prove a point that there was still good in her. Did he get his point across? We'll come back to that. Lincoln on the other hand also risked life and limb by trying out an anti toxin designed to cure Inhumans of Hive's parasites that nearly killed him. These two little storylines were simply heartbreaking to watch. This season has been so focused on the disasters happening around S.H.I.E.L.D. I think we've all forgotten how much the characters matter to one another and the rest of us so this was the sound reminder that the show's relevance begins and ends with its characters. With that in mind, there is still one glaring concern in my mind from this episode...the fact that Daisy wasn't bothered in the slightest by Mack's attempt to reach her. He did everything right, and let's be honest, his gambit should have worked. Instead Daisy came within seconds of crushing Mack's internal organs and well...at this point; with the anti toxin turning out to be a failure, and the Kree screwing up their chance to take down Hive, I really have no clue how our intrepid agents are going to be able to defeat this creature, and save Daisy for that matter. She is truly intertwined with Hive and the fact that she is willing to let her own blood be used for the conversion of mankind shows her loyalty will never fade with Hive still functioning, and the question that remains now...is who will lose their life in the looming final showdown to kill Hive and save Daisy. Until next time. Written by ShaeTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...OUAT was so good last night I couldn't resist writing the blog right away. Guys, this show reduces me to tears faster than you can say Hook. I don't know how I feel about last night's episode. For real, what are we supposed to think. Having sat here and processed it, I still don't know! My eyes hurt from crying, that's for sure. Next week's episode looked to be the one to literally slice my heart in half. I can't handle all the things. So, Rumple strikes a deal with Hades. And by deal, I mean he kidnapped Zelena with Peter Pan and was all "rip the contract up or I kill your girl." This sends Hades to Emma for help. Which she does, because she's the Savior. Emma saves the day, Hades rips up the contract, Zelena gets saved, everyone's happy. They finally kiss and for just s second we believe everything is okay. The spell is broken, Hades gets a heartbeat, and finally they can all leave the underworld. Or can they!? Hook still can't leave, so Hades sends them to the Ambrosia tree in the lowest part of the underworld. Emma will have to weigh her heart for judgement, but then they can finally go and be free! Except it's a trap. The tree was cut down, the fruit dead. Emma has to finally say goodbye to Hook. Okay, for starters, no. I don't care why this has to happen, I am not okay with it. I don't want to say goodbye to Hook. I refuse to say goodbye to Hook. And yet, Emma does, she says goodbye to Hook. I can't even process this information right now. To make matters worse Rumple steals Robin's heart to give it to Peter Pan, so they can leave. Pan has Pandora's box that will ensure Belle gets out safe. Except, Rumple didn't really take Robin's heart. He made a fake heart and filled it with Water from the River of Lost Souls. With Pan now dead for good, Rumple takes the Box, takes Belle, and leaves. Maybe one day he can wield DarkMagic for the Light. I guess I refuse to believe in Rumple staying evil forever. Hades of course tricked everyone. They're locked in the Library, but they do escape last minute, because Emma and Regina have awesome magic. They get free and make it out just in time, sans Hook. So, what now? Hades can't be trusted, it seems he's the ultimate evil and someone dies next episode. Given the Funeral scene I'm willing to bet it's Snow. Let's face it, that makes the most sense. But here is my problem. This show has been so sad this season, they're just adding more and more. Where is the hope? Where is the Light? Darkness and sad things can't keep taking over. Because, eventually you'll chase your audience away. Not to mention without hope, the heaviness can only go on for so long before it ends. If these fairy tales have taught us anything, it's that hope and light will always win out. Right? Written by ShaeTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...This show is getting harder and harder to watch. I'm pretty sure watching it late at night isn't helping, but still. Every episode of this show this season has made me cry, and last week was no different. With all the plots going on it's hard to really pinpoint the next move. It seems this show is dead set on stabbing my heart whenever it can. So, I hated Cora a long time ago, and then she made me like her, and then she died. Her character has been quite an interesting one, but this episode made me hate her on a whole new level. With a flashback we saw Regina as a kid playing in Cora's office, and then we see her touch Cora's wand and get nearly killed. Young Zelena is the only hope. Of course Cora goes to get Zelena so she can help save Regina, which works. The girls hit it off instantly. Regina wants a sister, Zelena is her sister. You know, things like that. In a round about way, Zelena is discovered to be her sister and Cora makes them both forget the whole ordeal with magic water. In the Underworld Regina enlists Cora's help to get Zelena to not fall for Hades. Except Zelena isn't fooled. Cora does give a heartbreaking apology that had me in tears. Cora does get to move on, and her parting wish is for both her girls to hold onto each other. Regina finally concedes and tells Zelena to follow her heart. Which, aw, she needs to. But before she can an angry Rumple shows up with Peter Pan and they kinda kidnap her.... Meanwhile James kinda switches places with David, long enough to find Robin and the Baby with Emma...and Cruella shows up. She's so hell bent on getting out of Hell she thinks kidnapping the baby will make Hades free her. This all works until Davis shows back up with Hook and saves the day. Except James kinda gets pushed into the river of lost souls. He had it coming. Written by John Edward BetancourtTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...Over the past three years on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. we have seen our intrepid heroes save the day countless times. They have worked together as a team, resolved their differences on numerous occasions and while they have been surprised or blindsided from time to time by their enemies, they have always found a way to rebound or get ahead of evil doers everywhere to make the world a better place. Except for this week's episode that is, since "The Singularity" turned out to be a vastly different episode of the show than we are usually used to. This was the first time in the series short history that our heroes were scattered and lost, and quite frankly, behind Hive every single step of the way, and this change in storytelling and design actually worked on so many levels, regardless of the bleak and bittersweet feel that the episode manage to provide. But before we get too deep into that, I made mention of a bittersweet feel to this episode and that needs to be discussed first because it came from an unlikely and quick plot point that is actually a huge deal for the Marvel Cinematic Universe...the end of Hydra. Yes, this week we said goodbye to the age old Marvel villain in sudden and stunning fashion, since it turns out that Malick's intel was absolutely solid and Talbot was able to destroy all of Hydra's assets in one fell swoop, and well the move was indeed bittersweet. I knew that someday Hydra would have to exit the picture from the MCU before becoming stale, I just...somehow expected more for Hydra's finale. A grand showdown with Coulson and the gang as opposed to just...poof, gone like that. But, on the plus side they are finally defeated. Hive on the other hand, continues to become an intriguing villain as the weeks progress and last night he showed off his intelligence and prowess by staying one step ahead of S.H.I.E.L.D. for the entire hour. Every single plan that Coulson and the team put together was all for naught and it was extremely weird to see the team trying desperately to react and adjust on the fly. It was also heartbreaking to see Daisy the way she is now, cold and calculated and willing to hurt her surrogate family without giving it a second thought. However this ugly part of the episode was a necessary evil if you will, since the capture of the good doctor as part of Hive's plan for global domination sets the stage for what should be a grand and sweeping season finale and sadly we are inching closer to losing a member of the team for good it would seem. But this is a show that doesn't dwell on darker themes forever and our lighthearted moments came courtesy of Fitz and Simmons and their budding relationship and let's be honest, it was cute to watch these two bumble and stumble their way through courtship and romance and I like the fact that both characters had an opportunity to show their sensitive sides and also grow as well. After all this is the first time we've seen Fitz be so bold in getting his goals accomplished and it was an awesome sight to see Simmons stand up to Hive and his silly attempts to get into her head; and also fire a few rounds into his gut. Either way, the show continues to deliver as we barrel toward the season finale and I'm good with the fact that this episode wasn't cerebral at all, it was simply tons of fun and I'm ready to see exactly how S.H.I.E.L.D. will find a way to defeat Hive. Until next time. Written by John Edward BetancourtIt's only been a week since Supergirl put the proverbial exclamation point on a wonderful freshman season with its thoughtful and poignant season finale. Since that episode I've been patiently watching the web for some important news regarding the show from CBS...the announcement that the series is being renewed for a second season. Sadly that news has yet to arrive, in fact word is that the month of May is when CBS will finally decide the show's future and fate and I'm left wondering one question when I think about this interesting delay from the network to decide Supergirl's fate...what exactly are you waiting for? I understand television is a business, and a big one at that, and that CBS wants the proper return upon its investment, but do they fully realize the magic they have on their hands with this show and how it's already finding a home in the hearts of all of its fans? My hope is that they do know this and are thinking of ways to make the show better for its second season, but if by chance they haven't come to this realization yet...well there's several important reasons why this series deserves to continue its story. First and foremost, the sheer fact that it is so supremely unique in its storytelling. Every episode of the first season had something important to say about our world and our society...in a positive way. It consistently spread the message that there needs to be unity in our world, and that by coming together we can achieve absolute wonders in the process, and it rarely did it in heavy handed fashion. The show also did a fantastic job of appeasing comic book fans as well by taking classic Superman stories through the years and adapting them to work for Supergirl instead and the end result was simply magnificent. For proof, look no further than the episode "For the Girl Who Has Everything", this repurposed Superman story found Kara trapped in a fantasy reality where she was home on Krypton and it remains one of my favorites from this past season. That touching episode is a fine reminder that this show is also a positive, uplifting and fun superhero adventure as well. This is the era of the dark superhero; where their souls are tortured, their worlds are dirty and imperfect and everything they have to face is a powerful and ugly challenge. I'm not saying any of that is terrible because Heaven knows I'm always at my local Alamo Drafthouse when a new superhero flick hits the silver screen, but for a superhero series to consciously try and not be dark and brooding is quite the accomplishment and refreshing to say the least. There's always plenty of uplifting or lighthearted moments on this show and truth be told, "Worlds Finest" is an example of how much fun can be had on a series like this because having The Flash pop up in National City made for a wonderful episode that left me grinning with joy every time the two of them shared the screen. But most importantly, this is a show that is beginning to inspire a young fan base. We all have that first superhero who took our breath away and inspired us to believe in the impossible and that heroes can truly achieve anything, and that's largely in part because a particular actor brought the character to life perfectly and that's happening here. Melissa Benoist plays the character so well that a generation of young girls are taking to Supergirl and what she stands for and that's a huge deal. Supergirl is a strong woman who can truly achieve anything she puts her mind to and that's a message and a persona that needs to be on television. So CBS, I implore you, as a fan of the genre, this show and as someone who sees the impact this character is quickly having on all of us, give Supergirl a full second season order and let this incredible character and her incredible story continue. Written by ShaeTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...This episode attacked my feels and killed bits of my soul in ways I didn't know were still possible. This week we were hit with a lot. I always liked the Mulan/Aurora storyline, and I will admit I was crushed when they didn't work out. However, I did like the unrequited love/too late thing, because it was different than the other stories we'd had so far. So when this episode came along and was like "here's Ruby and Dorothy fluff!" I was legitimately nervous. Thankfully this episode didn't disappoint. First though, we had to deal with a big problem. Zelena is still a baddie, right? Or is she? She's attempting to be good, which I trust as much as Regina being good (in the earlier seasons), but she is kind of trying. Zelena wanted to flee so she wouldn't have to deal with what she'd done. Even so, Regina is pretty chill when she finds out about Dorothy being on a sleeping curse. The fact that Zelena cooperated still makes me wary. What's worse is that Zelena later helps Belle. Well, okay "help" is a bit of a stretch. Belle puts herself under a sleeping curse from Zelena because then Hades won't steal her baby. She claims that her father will be the only one to wake her, but we all know she truly loves Rumple. Come on Belle, just admit it to yourself and move on. Is Rumple capable of good? Yeah, but having him be bad is kinda fun. He's a lot like Crowley in that sense. I also like the tricks our good guys pulled. Okay, it was a total dick move on Hades part to kill Aunt Em, but he did do it for Zelena, or to show her he cares? I thought Rumple was messed up. But, it did force Ruby to admit her feelings. It also had the team choose a member to go home. Hook scratches Snow's name off her tomb stone and writes David's on there instead. Which means Snow is so there for Ruby when she kisses her true love. Did anyone else see Ruby and Dorothy ever ending up together? No? Me either, but I absolutely adore it! They're painfully cute and they've only had two kisses and one episode to share. Still, it's nice to have some more realistic relationships. And let's be honest, this show has shown all kinds of love. It's about time we had this moment. So what's in store this Sunday? Probably more pain since they stabbed the feels this time around. Written by John Edward BetancourtTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...Something that I have come to truly enjoy about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a whole is the fact that the show is more than willing to take some serious risks with its storytelling and its characters and shake things up in stunning fashion from time to time. We saw it on display in the first season with the whole Hydra twist and last year with the fascinating Inhuman storyline. But this season, well the show has decided to go for broke by delivering one surprise after another our way. We saw May's true love turn into a vengeful Inhuman. We learned about the Hydra God and saw it become one with Ward after Coulson took his revenge upon the former agent for murdering Rosalind Price, Phil's first love in a long time. We even saw Bobbi and Hunter say their goodbyes. It truly has been a season filled to the brim with twists and turns, but none of them have been quite as stunning as last night's revelation, when "The Team" gave us our first real look at the Secret Warriors plot line we have all been waiting for...and we were witness to the unthinkable as we watched one agent betray the entire team. But before we get into that shocking moment, let's talk about the wonder of the Secret Warriors because that actually was quite an awesome little treat. It was simply incredible to watch this group work together in seamless fashion, using their powers in unison to slap Hydra around and I have to say of all the powers on display last night, Lincoln's turned out to be the coolest since I had no freaking idea that he would be able to convert electricity into physical form and use it like a lasso on the bad guys, but I digress. Because despite all the fan-boying I did during this episode, things became incredibly interesting shortly after that blast of an opening when the team returned home with Malick and learned that Hive infected one of the Inhumans to do his evil bidding. That little fact made this episode truly intriguing as we worked to figure out who Hive turned to the Worm Side and I appreciate how the episode slowly built the tension up this go round. Minute by minute the distrust between Inhuman and human grew and I have to admit, it left me on the edge of my seat and left me guessing as to who it could be and well, I know Lincoln seemed like the obvious choice, but truth be told I thought it was Joey. Erratic behavior or not from having to cope with killing a man, disappearing the way that he did raised my suspicions, which meant I was left stunned when the show revealed that the traitor turned out to be Daisy after all. Sure I completely understand that she is doing this without her own free will, but man...seriously...Daisy? This truly changes everything for the show because while the group has faced some insurmountable odds before, they've never truly faced off against someone they all love and adore like this. Yes, Ward was part of the team but his love of Hydra and willingness to torture his teammates ended all goodwill toward him. This time around the gang knows she's not in the right state of mind and that will make the fight against her a difficult one, especially since they can't use any of the Secret Warriors to help rescue her without running the risk of further infection. Which makes me wonder if Lash will indeed be saving the day after all. Either way, what a fantastic episode of this show and one that fully redeems some of the inconsistency of the past few weeks because I am completely engaged right now and have to know...how the hell will they save Daisy from Hive? Until next time. |
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