The Finest Hours: Thrilling and Inspirational! | #TheFinestHours

The Finest Hours: Thrilling and Inspirational!

By Jen Miyagishima

The Finest Hours is a film based on historical events that took place in New England in 1952. In the beginning, we are introduced to Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard and Miriam (Holliday Grainger), a young woman who works as a telephone operator. What starts out as a double date, gradually grows into something more. Bernie is a man of few words, brooding and introspective. Miriam, on the other hand, is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t shy away from challenging someone (more on that later).

Chris Pine stars as Bernie Webber and Holliday Grainger as Miriam in the heroic action-thriller THE FINEST HOURS, based on the extraordinary true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard.

Meanwhile a storm is brewing. It’s not just any storm though – it is a massive storm that splits the SS Pendleton in two, trapping more than 30 sailors inside the tanker’s sinking stern! Panic ensues, fights break out among the men and the sailors squabble about whether to jump ship into the tanker’s lifeboats or remain on board. Lead engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) quietly steps up to the task of leading the sailors and coming up with a strategy that will keep their half of the boat afloat until they can hopefully be rescued.

Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) and Tchuda Southerland (Josh Stewart) struggle to keep their ship, the SS Pendleton, from sinking in Disney's THE FINEST HOURS, the heroic action-thriller presented in Digital 3D (TM) and IMAX (c) 3D based on the extrordinary tur story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard.

As word of the disaster reaches the Coast Guard in Chatham, Massachusetts, Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a daring rescue mission. There is much debate among the men in the Coast Guard office as to which direction they should approach the SS Pendleton. Do they go the long way around, which is essentially an easier route or do they take a more direct course that requires “crossing the bar” but is more dangerous? Bernie is very committed to his job, having a strong sense of honor and duty. So he doesn’t flinch when he is ordered by Cluff to take three men on a lifeboat to try and save the crew of the SS Pendleton.

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Meet the Cast of The Finest Hours |#TheFinestHours

Meet the Cast of The Finest Hours

By: Jen Miyagishima

The Finest Hours recounts the days leading up to the harrowing event that takes place on February 18, 1952. It’s a griping tale that is led by a solid cast of actors led by Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Casey Affleck and Holliday Grainger. Recently I had the opportunity to meet with them, as well as the director to get the inside scoop on The Finest Hours.

A heroic action thriller, “The Finest Hours” is the remarkable true story of the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history. On February 18,1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly sinking stern. As the senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) sets out to rescue the stranded men.

The Finest Hours weaves together three different storylines. There is the storyline between Bernie and Miriam, played by British actress Holliday Grainger. Then you have the compelling story on the boat and lastly, you see Coast Guard try to rescue the men. When I sat down to meet the actors who played these true-life characters, I had to ask “What drew you to the film?”

Chris: This was a great script and a really interesting character. I love stories that are not all that complicated but that are really well told.

Ben: I was so taken by this script because it wasn’t overwritten. It was a beautiful, concise and simple story. The dialogue felt very true and lived in.

Holliday: The story. I hadn’t heard it before and I found it fascinating. It’s such a huge adventure and it was great to be a part of telling it.

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Kung Fu Panda 3 Staring Jack Black as Po #KungFuPanda

Kung Fu Panda 3 Staring Jack Black as Po

By Mary Lansing

*We were invited as media to attend a sneak peek of Kung Fu Panda 3 and interview with Jack Black.*

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I have to admit, by the time a popular film is on its 3rd installment, my usual question is, Will it be any good? There are definitely the ones out there that just don’t have the touch by the time #3 rolls around.

So, you can imagine that when I was invited to check out Kung Fu Panda 3, a series that has yet to disappoint me, I hoped for the best that I would not be let down. But, guess what? Kung Fu Panda 3 is easily my FAVORITE of the franchise!

In part 3, we’re once again taken to the world and life of Po, a panda who has been raised by his over protective father, Mr. Ping. When a strange, new panda, Li Shan (voiced by Bryan Cranston), shows up in town, we quickly learn that he is Po’s biological Dad….and eager to take Po to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible — learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!
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Kung Fu Panda has many layers that we do not always see in a children’s film; there’s the questions brought up regarding adoption, as well as Po assuming that Li Shan can explain everything there is to know in life about being a Kung Fu Warrior, since he is expected to be just that and lead everyone to peace as Kai is out to get revenge. But, what if Po’s Dad cannot provide him with all that he thinks he can?

Po must face his fears and find all he needs within himself; not always what he hopes his fathers can give him.  

An element I loved to Kung Fu Panda 3 is that, we finally get to meet other panda’s! When Po returns with Li Shan to the village he is from, we quickly learn with Po that “he hasn’t been eating to his full potential” as he discovers with his relatives the art of eating more than ONE dumpling ball at a time!

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