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Archives for : Joey King

Movie Review: “The Kissing Booth 2”

This week I review Netflix’s ne teen, romantic comedy, “The Kissing Booth 2”! In this sequel to the 2018 film, “The Kissing Booth”, high school senior Elle (Joey King) juggles a long distance relationship, college applications, and a new crush.

“The Kissing Booth 2” is currently available on Netflix.

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Quick Reviews: “Boyhood” & “Wish I Was Here”

“Wish I Was Here”

Rated R

Starring: Zach Braff, Kate Huson, Joey King, and Josh Gad

Directed by: Zach Braff

Written by: Zach Braff and Adam J. Braff

Rating: 3/5

Aidan Bloom (Braff) is a 35-year-old man who finds himself at major crossroads, which forces him to examine his life, his career, and his family.

10 years after his critically acclaimed, Garden State, Zach Braff returns with a similar heartfelt, thought provoking film.  One that is heightened by it’s unique soundtrack.  Though the premise has been done, I never mind a film that encourages audiences to find their true happiness in life. Added Bonus-mini Scrubs reunion!

 

“Boyhood”

Rated R

Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Lorelei Linklater

Directed/Written by: Richard Linklater

Rating: 5/5

Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. 

Linklater has made cinematic history with this true coming-of-age story.  Set to an amazing soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s Yellow to Arcade Fire’s Deep Blue. As of now, easily the best direction in a film this year.  As you watch Mason (Coltrane) and his family through the years, you can’t help but think about your own life journey.

“Wish I was Here” and “Boyhood” open in select theaters on July 18.

Movie Review: “Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs” Might be the Most Disturbing Lifetime Film Yet

Parents I seriously advise you to make sure the kiddos are in bed before watching this one.

Get ready to see Tony Goldwyn (Scandal) like you’ve never seen him before.  Goldwyn stars as Warren Jeffs, the infamous Polygamist cult leader who spent more than a year on the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted List” for his unlawful flight on charges related to his arrangement of illegal marriages involving underage girls.

After his father (Martin Landau) passes away leaving behind 56 wives, Warren (Goldwyn) takes on his leadership role as the prophet for Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Basically, the community follows “God’s Law” and believes that women must be obedient wives.  The prophet is the only one who can speak to God and relays the message to the citizens.   A man can have numerous wives and the women have no say in the matter, because apparently God chooses who they are given away to.  If this doesn’t sound gross enough, Jeffs was arranging marriages to girls as young as 12 years-old!

The film itself is grotesque and continuously uncomfortable. Lifetime allows the audience to see some in-depth sex scenes that I wish I hadn’t.  The words spoken to these young girls by Jeffs while having intercourse will haunt me for years to come.  However, the story of Warren Jeffs was conveyed so well that it is worth the watch.

Besides a few small characters, all the leads did a fantastic job in the film.  Goldwyn morphs into his sickening character and Joey King (Fargo) continues her streak as a star on the rise.  This girl is incredible in any role she plays.

I can handle most Lifetime dramas, but Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs was tough to sit through.

Rating: 3/5

Premiering Saturday, June 28, at 8pm ET/PT.  Immediately following the movie’s world premiere, Lifetime will air the hour-long documentary Beyond the Headlines: Warren Jeffs, at 10pm ET/PT.

CONJURING a Record Breaking Open!

NEW LINE CINEMA’S “THE CONJURING” HAS RECORD-BREAKING OPENING 

The Warner Bros. Pictures release conjures up $41.9 million weekend

 

BURBANK, CA – July 22, 2013 – New Line Cinema’s “The Conjuring,” from director James Wan, rode a wave of strong critical and audience acclaim to an extraordinary $41.9 million opening weekend at the domestic box office.

The film broke records for:

·         The largest opening for an original horror film

·         Warner Bros.’ largest 3-day opening for a horror film

·         The largest opening for director James Wan, who created the “Saw” franchise.

In addition, “The Conjuring” earned an A- CinemaScore, one of only three horror movies in the last 10 years to earn such a high mark from moviegoers (with no horror movie ever receiving a higher grade).

Based on the true life story, “The Conjuring” tells the tale of how world renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called upon to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse.  Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most horrifying case of their lives.

From New Line Cinema comes a feature film drawn from the case files of married demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.  “The Conjuring” stars Academy Award® nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” TV’s “Bates Motel”) and Patrick Wilson (“Insidious”) as the Warrens, and Ron Livingston (“The Odd Life of Timothy Green”) and Lili Taylor (TV’s “Hemlock Grove”) as Roger and Carolyn Perron, residents of the house.

Joey King, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Mackenzie Foy and newcomer Kyla Deaver play the Perrons’ five daughters, and Sterling Jerins is the Warrens’ little girl, Judy.  Rounding out the cast are Marion Guyot, Steve Coulter, Shannon Kook, and John Brotherton.

James Wan (“Saw,” “Insidious”) directed the film from a screenplay by Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes (“The Reaping”).  The film is produced by Tony DeRosa-Grund, Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Walter Hamada and Dave Neustadter serving as executive producers.

New Line Cinema presents a Safran Company / Evergreen Media Group Production of a James Wan Film, “The Conjuring.”  The film is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

This film has been rated R for sequences of disturbing violence and terror.

www.theconjuring-movie.com

Movie Review: White House Down

The White House is under attack!  And it’s nice to see the president himself actually fight back.

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering if this film is just some cheesy action flick that gives Channing Tatum another reason to be shirtless.  That’s what I thought.  Surprisingly enough Channing Tatum doesn’t take his shirt off once!  Sorry ladies…But I’ll tell you what he does do, he kicks ass!  And unlike most films that are about taking down the president, so does the Commander-in-Chief.  This is what makes White House Down a heart-pounding thrill to watch!

John Cale (Tatum) brings his political obsessed daughter, Emily (Joey King), along with him to a job interview at the White House.  After blowing his interview and lying to his daughter about it, they decide to tag along one of the tours. While on the tour, a bomb goes off.  Like the film says “it’s a sh** show!”  At this point in the film, I’m hooked.  I don’t know how it happened, but even throughout the predictable plot lines, I was taking deep breaths as each scene went by.

There are still some surprises and twists in this film.  But the biggest surprise is how much fun it is watching Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum partner up to fight the bad guys.  The best part of this movie was the fact that the president didn’t act like some damsel in distress.   Usually when a movie has a fictional president, they are hardly a character and have minimal dialogue.  I should have known with Jamie Foxx as president that would not be the case, thank goodness!  As if I was worried Jamie Foxx could do wrong in this film.  I was a little unsure of Channing Tatum, but it was nice to see the new dad in a father figure role.

But if we’re talking scene-stealers, that title belongs to the back talking, brave young Emily.  She is played by Joey King.  Who would have known that while watching her 2010 comedy, Ramona and Beezus, she would become such an evolved actress.  She recently appeared in films like, Oz the Great and Powerful and The Dark Knight Rises.  This girl has some real acting chops, and I would keep an eye out on her from now on.

Never thought White House Down would be on my summer must see list.  But, I haven’t felt that kind of excitement in a movie since the airport scene in Argo.

White House Down hits theaters everywhere today. It’s worth it, go watch!

White House Down – Official Trailer #3 (HD)