Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo: A Star Wars Story

By Jonelle

I was worried. I heard the rumors. I watched the YouTube videos. Solo isn’t supposed to be a good movie. After watching this film, I learned that I shouldn’t listen to rumors. This movie is an all-out space western, starring an adorable cowboy, with a whole lot of heart.

I thought it was going to be difficult watching another actor fill Harrison Ford’s shoes. Let’s face facts, for a Star Wars geek like me, Han and Chewie are much beloved characters who we feel must be protected. Han Solo isn’t much older than this when we meet him in A New Hope. This story takes places roughly ten years before that film. Surprisingly, Alden Ehrenreich fills these massive shoes with ease. He’s the scoundrel we’ve all grown to love. In the end, he does the right thing, because he truly is one of the good guys. However, there may be many bumps along the way. 

The saga begins with Solo and his love Qi’ra, played by Emilia Clark, trying to escape their home planet Corellia. Don’t get me wrong, it’s strange to see Han Solo with anyone other than Princess Leia, but the chemistry between Ehrenreich and Clark is pretty amazing. Qi’ra is shrouded in mystery. Han escapes Corellian, but Qi’ra gets captured and sold to the dangerous and oh so creepy gangster, Dryden Voss. She, Qi’ra, and Han have been separated for years. We do not know what happened to Qi’ra all those years away from Han, but it must have been bad, she’s been branded.

They work with a smuggler named Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) to steal some pricey fuel for Voss. If not, it’s off with their heads, so-to-speak, but pretty literally. Who do you trust?   Beckett wisely tells Han, “Assume everyone will betray you, and you’ll never be disappointed.” Woody Harrelson is a cowboy on and off screen. Can he be trusted? 

What fans will love about this film, that was missing in The Last Jedi, is the nostalgia. We learn about some of the events mentioned in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I didn’t know that Han Solo was a pilot for the Empire. Of course, he doesn’t follow rules and gets thrown out.

Being introduced to a young Lando is a lot of fun. Billy Dee Williams played him with such charisma in the originals, Donald Glover does the same here. He’s sneaky and feisty. You can’t truly trust him. Let’s face facts, the real star of the movie the Millennium Falcon. The first time it was on screen, the audience cheered. You get to see more of the Millennium Falcon this time around. You finally get to see living quarters. I never realized just how livable the Millennium Falcon can be. I’d like a Millennium Falcon of my own please.

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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR 

By Erin 

From Marvel Studios comes the eagerly anticipated “Avengers: Infinity War,” which is the third installment in the “Avengers” franchise and the 19th Marvel Studios film to date. The release also marks the 10-year anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began with the release of “Iron Man” in 2008.“Avengers: Infinity War” picks up as the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, but a dangerous menace has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, Thanos will stop at nothing to collect all six Infinity Stones in his quest to wield unimaginable power and his twisted will on all of humanity.

This past Sunday the press junket for the Avengers: Infinity War took place in Beverly Hills. It was way different from any other junket any of us had ever been to before. The crowd was abuzz and filled with wonder as there were 20 celebrities on the list of appearing talent, but no set up for where everyone would be sitting. Just a big black curtain with the Avengers logo on it. Were they going to make a grand appearance by flying down from the ceiling or through the big black curtain? So many possibilities, Marvel always keeps you guessing!

If you’ve seen Thor: Ragnarok, then you know who the Grandmaster is, Jeff Goldblum. This was a pleasant surprise as this was not something we were told about.  In bingo type fashion, he began to randomly choose ping-pong balls with a guest’s name or category on it. As we had less than an hour, this was a great way to make sure everyone would have a chance to speak. There were lots of questions, but not many real answers to make a long story short. Here’s all who were in attendance.

Dave Bautista (“Drax”)

Paul Bettany (“Vision”)

Chadwick Boseman (“T’Challa / Black Panther”)

Josh Brolin (“Thanos”)

Don Cheadle (“James Rhodes / War Machine”)

Benedict Cumberbatch (“Dr Stephen Strange”)

Robert Downey Jr. (“Tony Stark / Iron Man”)

Winston Duke (“M’Baku”) 

Danai Gurira (“Okoye”)

Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”)

Tom Hiddleston “Loki”)

 Holland (“Peter Parker / Spider-Man”)

Scarlett Johansson (“Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow”)

Pom Klementieff (“Mantis”)

Anthony Mackie (“Sam Wilson / Falcon”)

Elizabeth Olsen (“Wanda Maximoff / Scarlett Witch”)

Chris Pratt (“Peter Quill / Star-Lord”)

Mark Ruffalo (“Bruce Banner / The Hulk”)

Zoe Saldana (“Gamora”)

Sebastian Stan (“Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier”)

Letitia Wright (“Shuri”)

Director Anthony Russo

Director Joe Russo

 Producer Kevin Feige

We learned that they like bass fishing and there were some interesting fashion questions, but there were no spoilers, comments or information given out about the movie at all. The cast all commented that they knew nothing about the script and that they have never seen it.

Here is some fun info about the film though (no spoilers though of course) from the notes from the film!

*”Avengers: Infinity War” has been 10 years in the making, and putting together the greatest ensemble of Super Hero characters was the job of directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who were tapped by Kevin Feige to helm the studios’ biggest film to date

*“The story of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ is the result of everything we’ve ever done to this point,” said Kevin Feige. “It is the unprecedented culmination of a series of storylines interlinked together, which had never been done before.”

*In the cosmos, the most powerful items one can possess are the Infinity Stones. Thanos learns of the stones and believes if he can secure all six, he can rule the universe. “The Infinity Stones represent the six different elements of the universe that create all life and power the universe,” explains Joe Russo. “The Infinity Stones in the movie represent the only way for Thanos to bring balance to the universe on the grand and cosmic scale he envisions in a permanent fashion.”

*With the Infinity Gauntlet securely on his left hand, Thanos begins his quest to fill the gauntlet with the stones, and thus begins the Avengers’ urgent mission to stop him by any means—and at any cost.

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A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

By Erin

 A Wrinkle in Time has now tessered into theaters! Get ready for an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light. This is a movie for kids and anyone who was a kid and is a kid at heart!

Reese Witherspoon is Mrs. Whatsit and Storm Reid is Meg Murry in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Meg Murry is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who just wants to fit in. The daughter of two world-renowned physicists, she is intelligent and uniquely gifted, as is Meg’s younger brother, Charles Wallace, but she has yet to realize it for herself. Complicating matters is the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Murry, which has left Meg devastated and her mother broken-hearted. Charles Wallace introduces Meg and her fellow classmate Calvin to three celestial beings (Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Who) who have journeyed to Earth to help search for their father, and together they embark on their formidable quest. Traveling via a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, they are transported to worlds beyond their imagination where they must confront a powerful evil force. To make it back home to Earth, Meg must face the darkness within herself in order to harness the strength necessary to defeat the darkness rapidly enveloping the Universe.

Storm Reid is Meg Murry and Levi Miller is Calvin O’Keefe in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME, an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timless classic directed by Ava DuVernay.

A Wrinkle in Time, at its core, is about family, love and emotion. One thing you will notice right away is the gorgeous scenery and breathtaking detail in the costumes and everything else that comes across the screen. The complex journey is captured through musical themes that bridge the gap between fantasy and drama. Ramin Djawadi’s score for the film was recorded in Los Angeles with a 71-piece orchestra, 29-person choir and 24-member children’s choir. The score has a variety of instrumentation from various cultures around the world such as the Indian tabla and hammered dulcimer.

Madeleine L’Engle’s novel, A Wrinkle in Time has been inspiring readers of all ages since 1962. Now, Ava DuVernay’s imaginative new adaptation is sure to create legions of new fans and something epic and meaningful to last for years to come. Meg Murry is an imperfect girl who takes us on a fantastic journey, not to become perfect, but to learn to embrace her flaws, which is a great lesson for us all. Through this journey we reflect on the big themes in life that we all share, regardless of where we’re from, what we look like and what we believe. We all know that love and hate, light and darkness, the themes of our very humanity, are something that we each struggle with. It is something we all share, the human struggle…and the human triumph.

Oprah Winfrey is Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon is Mrs. Whatsit and Mindy Kaling is Mrs. Who in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Oprah Winfrey stars as Mrs. Which, the oldest and most knowledgeable of the three Mrs.’s. Along with Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), they are self-proclaimed warriors who strive to protect all that is good and bright in the universe and have dedicated themselves to helping Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin in their search for Mr. Murry.

Oprah Winfrey is Mrs. Which in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

A Wrinkle in Time is a movie where bravery, love and believing in yourself can save the universe. Read more about the film and what the cast had to share about being a light and ray of hope in a world filled with darkness here. Then start tessering and head to the theater to see this beloved classic!

Like A WRINKLE IN TIME on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrinkleInTimeMovie/

Follow A WRINKLE IN TIME on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WrinkleinTime

Follow A WRINKLE IN TIME on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrinkleintime/

Visit the official A WRINKLE IN TIME website here: http://movies.disney.com/a-wrinkle-in-time

A WRINKLE IN TIME is tessering into theatres now! 😉