I owe Solo an apology!

Hi, I’m Lisa, and I’m a fangirl.  I’ve never been ashamed to admit that I am a fangirl.  In fact, I wear like it a badge of honor. I love many fandoms, but one of my favorites is Star Wars. When I was little, the Stormtroopers freaked me out so I was hesitant to watch Star Wars: A New Hope. In the end, my mom convinced me I would like it, and all these years later, here I am, a proud nerd.  I love everything about Star Wars (ok not the prequels…Jar Jar…blue screen…so much whining…let’s save that for a different blog). I love the new movies, yes, even The Last Jedi, sorry to those fanboys and girls that still feel betrayed over it, but I liked it and I’m excited to see where the last one takes us.  Rouge One: A Star Wars Story was fantastic in my opinion.  I loved the story and the characters, and it reawakened a feeling in me that I hadn’t really had since I discovered Star Wars so many moons ago.  Then came the announcement of Solo.

To be fair, I wasn’t thrilled they were making it in the first place.  I don’t know if everything needs to be explained in a one-off movie, and I thought there were other stories to explore besides Han’s story.  I was happy knowing what I knew about Han from the movies. I didn’t think I needed a movie to show it to me.  I also couldn’t imagine anyone playing Han Solo like Harrison Ford! I mean…it’s Harrison Ford!  So, when they announced Alden Ehrenreich as young Han, I wasn’t sold at all.  I might have yelled NOOOOOO! (picture Darth Vader, you get the idea).  Then the first two directors were fired and Ron Howard was brought in to finish the movie.  This was the one beacon of hope I had left for the film.  I admit it, I was that fangirl that shit all over Solo without seeing it, I thought the casting was wrong and then to hear there were production problems, a directing change. I was out!  I’m not usually like that, I’m usually overlypositive about all movies to the point that my friends and fellow nerds discard my opinion because I love everything.  

Regardless of my initial feelings, I was going to see Solo anyway even if only to confirm my pre-movie feelings that it wouldn’t be good.  I sat there in the dark theater, arms crossed, waiting…then it happened.  The movie kicks off with such a fun action sequence, that despite myself, I was already hooked and then it was just a damn fun ride for the rest of the movie.  I don’t want to give any spoilers in this blog, but there are so many great moments throughout the movie and a surprise at the end that will have Star War fans going crazy like they did in my theater.  Also, thank you Ron Howard for the little wink to Willow! 

I loved the cast! I never thought I would say it, but I really loved Alden Ehrenreich portrayal of young Han.  I think he did a great job of showing us how Han evolved into who we love today.  Donald Glover was great as Lando and Woody Harrelson is just fantastic in pretty much everything he’s in.  L3 was fun to watch and had some great moments and of course Emilia Clarke as Qi’ra leaves me wanting to know everything about her character!  

I was so wrong about this movie! Solo, I’m so sorry for shitting on you for months without seeing the movie first.  Lesson learned, I will never doubt the power of the force again! Do not let your feelings about The Last Jedi or anything that makes you have a grudge against Star Wars/Disney cloud your judgment from seeing this film.  It is worth your time and money. I recommend seeing it in IMAX (just my 2 cents).

Bottom line, watching Solo made me feel like a kid discovering Star Wars for the first time.  It made me laugh, cry and fall in love with Han, Chewy and the Millennium Falcon all over again! What more can you ask for in a movie?

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, a Fangirl Review

Happy 2014, everyone! I know we’re more than three weeks in, but this is my first blog of the New Year, so I hope I find you all well and sticking to your resolutions!

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to see more movies in the theater.  I know January is the month where movies go to die, but their trailers make me want to see them. Maybe the Academy should start giving out Oscars for best movie trailer.

My first movie of the year was “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.”  Originally, this was slated for release in December, but for some reason it was pushed back to January.  I’m not sure why the studio didn’t stick with the original release date, but once I read about the push back, my hopes sank a little for the film.  Thank goodness it didn’t persuade me to not check it out.

I’ve enjoyed the previous installments of Jack Ryan including “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger” and “The Sum of All Fears.”   Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck were all good in the lead role, but when I heard that Chris Pine was slated to take over, I was excited to see what he would do with it, given his reincarnation of Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movie series. 

“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” is essentially a reboot of the series.  In this installment, we meet Jack before he became a CIA agent.  After 9/11, Jack leaves the path to Wall Street and a lucrative job to join the Marines and serve his country.  A helicopter accident leaves him with a broken back and an unclear future.   With the help of his Doctor and future love, played by Kiera Knightly, he begins to heal both physically and mentally, which attracts a top level CIA agent, played by Kevin Costner, to recruit Jack to become a financial spy in the world of Wall Street in order to uncover hidden international bank accounts that may be used to fund the next terrorist attack.

 

“Shadow Recruit” is a straight-up drama/action movie with a solid plot and no gimmicky twists.  Kenneth Branagh does a great job directing, giving the movie a terrific balance between character development and action.  With most spy/terrorist movies focusing on North Korea or Arab countries, it’s refreshing to be back in Russia, and there is definitely a post-cold-war feel to it throughout the feature.

It’s a shame more people didn’t see this opening weekend.  Maybe the studio should have marketed it better and kept the original date.  Hopefully, it will find an audience over the next few weeks in the theater and/or when it’s released on Blu-ray and DVD.  This movie is definitely worth your time and money.  If you like a good spy thriller with plenty of action, then Jack Ryan delivers.

We’d love to hear from you! Here’s all the information you need to find us!

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Be sure to listen to our latest podcast where we talk more Jack Ryan, Downton Abbey, Sherlock and some of the latest Veronica Mars and DC news.  You can click any of the links below.

http://strangeadventurespodcast.libsyn.com

iTunes:

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Thanks for reading and listening,

Lisa

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, A Hit or A Miss, a Fangirls opinion.

We are well into the Fall TV season and there are some clear hits and some misses, but where would you put Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D?  It’s not really a huge hit like ABC thought or hoped it would be, but its ratings don’t necessarily make it a miss either.  So why isn’t it the end-all, be-all of shows that every nerd thought it would be?

Personally, I enjoy the show, but it’s not exactly what I was expecting either.  To me, it just doesn’t feel like a Joss Whedon show, at all! The plot lines are fine, but there is no, let me say it again, no character development.  This is the core issue with the show.  Coulson is my favorite character and even he’s not the same.  I know there’s more to him than we know, but I wonder sometimes, if Loki didn’t kill him in the Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D would have been a different show.  I miss the old Coulson and I hope when we finally discover what is different with him, that he can be more of his old self.

The other characters are enjoyable sometimes, at best, but I haven’t connected with any one of them.  There’s just nothing there to care about.  We’re getting drips and drabs of backstory for each of them, but I just don’t find myself caring like I want to.  It feels a bit forced and that’s never happened to me with anything that has Joss Whedon attached to it.  Honestly, I loved all the characters from Buffy and Serenity instantly.  The cast for both just worked and I believed in them.  Dollhouse took a few episodes, but I fell for them too. Why can’t I connect with this group?

Maybe it’s the actors?  I just haven’t found one that I look forward to seeing every week except for Clark Gregg!  Maybe it’s the scripts? I mean Joss doesn’t write them, his brother does and perhaps his voice just doesn’t resonate with me the way Joss’s does.   Maybe it’s the lack of superheroes?  Hmmm…

Bottom line: I’m sticking with the show.  This past week’s episode was one of the better ones and not because it tied into “Thor: the Dark World,” although I did appreciate the Fangirl gushing over the God of Thunder and the nice tie-in of Thor being on Earth but off the grid.  Jane Foster is a very lucky woman!

I hope with the midseason break coming that Joss gets in there and reevaluates this show.  It has so much potential—and I wish I could put a finger on what I truly want from it—I just know that the way it currently is is just not enough. 

What do you think?  Are you still watching or have you thrown in the towel?  Let me know what you think below.

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Thor: The Dark World a Fangirl Review

Thor: The Dark World a Fangirl Review

Yes that's me and the God of Thunder himself, Chris Hemsworth!

Hello friends!  It’s been awhile since my last blog, but there seemed like no better way to return than with a Thor: The Dark World review!  Just so you know there may be some spoilers in this review so you owe it to yourself to go see the movie before you read my review.  If you were never going to see it then read on and I hope I can change your mind.

Let me briefly recap my views on the first Thor movie.  Although I really enjoyed it, I must admit that I found some of it a bit boring.  The Asgard scenes were generic to me and I just didn’t invest in them the way I wanted to, but over all I still loved it, it’s just my least favorite of the phase 1 movies.  So believe me when I say that Thor: The Dark World is a 1000% better than the original. 

Thor: The Dark World takes place about 2 years after the battle of New York.  Last time we saw Thor, he was escorting Loki back to Asgard for his actions against Earth.  With Loki imprisoned and the 9 realms finally at peace, Thor is left to deal with his heartache for Jane Foster and the looming duties of becoming the next King of Asgard.  

 

Thor is a changed man.  He still has the hint of cockiness to him in battle, but he’s grown up, he knows his responsibilities and what his place is among the 9 realms.  You can tell he has the weight of them on his shoulders.  Loki on the other hand is dealing with his own demons and daddy issues.  Stuck in a cell for the rest of his days and let’s face it that could be a long time, is not the big, bright future he was hoping for.  Lucky for him, evil does not stay dormant long and Loki just may get freedom and a chance at redemption.  The Dark Elves have come back to finish what they started long ago when Odin’s father ruled Asgard and this time they aim to win the war and unleash the evil.

I loved everything about this movie.  The cast is great and they know their characters so well.  Some of the stand-outs to me were Chris Hemsworth, who else could play Thor?  To me, he is the God of Thunder.  Stellan Skarsgard who is funnier than ever! I mean who didn't laugh out loud at the Stonehenge scene!  And of course Tom Hiddleston.  He gives such life to Loki, he needs his own movie in phase 3 for sure!  Come on Marvel, Let’s make this happen.

Asgard this time around is not just a 1 dimensional place it has life in it and it is its own character.   There was actually one scene, where the Dark Elves are attacking with airships and I actually felt like I was watching a Star Wars movie, but don’t take that as a bad thing! I loved every minute of it.  I also loved that Thor brings Jane to Asgard to try to save her.  She fits in better there, than Thor did on his first trip to earth. 

Hands down my favorite scenes are with Thor and Loki.  I want so badly for Loki to be a redeemable character.  Hiddleston makes his character one that even though you know you should hate him you just can’t.  The brotherly fighting and picking on one another is great.  The best scene is when Loki disguises himself as a certain member of the Avengers! I literally stood up and clapped, I was that excited. 

What I love about Marvel is the completeness of their world.  When I go into a Marvel movie, I know that there will always be more to the story.  There will always be little tie-ins to past and present movies.  I love the passion that they put into each project and the confidence they show.  I’m sure there will be one movie that may not work for them in the future, but for now they are on a roll and I’m enjoying the hell out of the ride. 

I can’t say it enough, go see this movie.  The movie flies by because it’s paced so well and be sure to stay for both post credit scenes! The one after the main credits is great, but the one right at the end was the best! Ladies trust me, it’s worth waiting for.

As many of you know, I do a podcast with some friends of mine called Strange Adventures podcast and episode 12 is all about Thor: The Dark World. Listen to Nick, Holly and I discuss our thoughts on Thor and the Marvel Universe in general.  You can listen to it at any of the below links.  If you like the show, be sure to leave us a rating or review on iTunes!  It would help us out so much and we would love to hear from you.

http://strangeadventurespodcast.libsyn.com/strange-adventures-podcast-12-thor-the-dark-world

iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/strange-adventures-podcast/id669303705

Stitcher:

http://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/38550/episodes

Here’s where to find me with Fangirl Adventures.

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FangirlAdventures

Twitter:  @Fangrladventure

Email: fangirladventures@gmail.com

For Strange Adventures Podcast:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Strangeadvcast

Twitter:  @Strangeadvcast

Email: strangeadventurespodcast@gmail.com

 

As always, thanks for reading and listening!

Till next time,

Lisa