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Review: Star Wars – The Force Awakens Teaser Trailer

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Now that we’ve had a few moments to digest the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and get ‘the feels’ out of the way, it’s time for a deeper look at what we see in our first glimpse of the Star Wars universe as brought to you by J.J. Abrams and team. If there’s one thing this trailer does, is it alleviates your fears. No, J.J. Abrams isn’t going to cram a million lens flares into every frame like he did with the Star Trek series. In fact, it is very much in keeping with the cinematography of the original trilogy.

In fact, this trailer appears designed to make you forget about the second trilogy (the prequels) entirely. I’d say it just about succeeds. It has the scope and adventure of the original trilogy, it evokes the dirty worn down tech we were used to, and it transports you to an otherworldly and exotic place. By the time we get to the new John Williams score, we’re ready to believe that this is going to be an awesome film.

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The narrator appears to be Andy Serkis. While we know he’s been cast, we don’t know quite what character he’s playing in the film, but it might be one of the force wielding bad guys. We see the new look Storm Troopers, very close to the classic look, but just different enough to be amazing and menacing.Read More »Review: Star Wars – The Force Awakens Teaser Trailer

Disney’s Big Hero 6 Review – A Uniquely Disney Take on Super Hero Kids

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The latest animated feature from Disney, “Big Hero 6,” is a fast-paced, visually rich 3-D computer animated feature that is a clever reflection of the world we live in today with lessons we can use to build a better tomorrow. Just like in “Frozen,” Walt Disney’s animators rise to the task and deliver a wonderful story, with complex characters, that is both unique and uniquely Disney at the same time.

At the center of Big Hero 6 is a boy named Hiro Hamada. Hiro and his older brother have both experienced a lot of loss in their life, and they’re each dealing with it in different ways. Tadashi, the older brother, is applying himself in school, while Hiro is using his robotic skills to win in the underground robot fights. A series of circumstances drives Hiro to finally apply himself and, with the help of friends, overcome great odds to deliver justice.

Based on a Marvel comic book, Big Hero 6 is Disney’s first super hero animated feature. But in this case the heroes are all scientists, nerds, and geeks. Which I think is a great model for kids today. In the movie STEM is front and center as being important focus of learning. That’s definitely new from Disney too.

The movie is set in the fictional town of San Fransokyo, but as the name suggests it looks as if San Francisco and Tokyo had a baby. The overall design also lends itself to a slight, kawaii-Japanese animation feel. The animators have packed so much detail into the cityscape that you can probably see the movie numerous times and not see it all.
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“Cristela” Review

The final new show of ABC’s fall season premiered last Friday, Cristela, which premiered to the second largest audience a new comedy has had this fall and a 1.3 rating, which increased from its lead-in by a tenth. Now, let me give you a quick… Read More »“Cristela” Review

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S2-E3 Review: Making Friends and Influencing People

This week’s episode was a reunion for a few of the characters. We, the audience, were reunited with Simmons who is, happily, not working for Hydra. Fitz and Ward are reunited, which almost ended in Ward’s demise. And, the team is reunited with Donnie Gill.… Read More »Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S2-E3 Review: Making Friends and Influencing People

“Selfie” & “Manhattan Love Story” Reviews

New shows are still premiering on ABC, and I am here to give you some quick reviews. This week, it’s a two-fer, with a new Tuesday comedy block debuting, with Selfie and Manhattan Love Story. Show: Selfie Starring: Karen Gillan, John Cho, Da’Vine Joy Randolph… Read More »“Selfie” & “Manhattan Love Story” Reviews

Columbia Harbor House Adds New Dinner Dishes

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The Columbia Harbor House is the place to go for seafood when you’re at the Magic Kingdom. They have the usual fare of fried fish and shrimp baskets and some wonderfully cooked grilled salmon. Also don’t forget the Tuna Sandwiches, one of my favorite lunch menu items in the park.

When we were at this year’s Mickey’s Not-So Scary Halloween Party we snuck in a quick meal at the Harbor House and were surprised to find a couple new items on the dinner menu.Read More »Columbia Harbor House Adds New Dinner Dishes

“How To Get Away With Murder” Review

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It’s premiere week, so I’m here to give you “speedy reviews” of all the new ABC shows premiering this week. Next up, How To Get Away With Murder.

Starring: Viola Davis, Katie Findlay, Mayy McGorry, Liza Weil

Plot: Viola plays an incredibly powerful law professor who takes her students under her wing, and takes them on one hell of a ride. While being taught the ways of her land, her students end up in their own mess…that involves a dead body…

My Thoughts: Can you say Shonda Rhimes + Viola Davis = ratings juggernaut. Truly, this show had one of the best drama pilots I’ve ever seen. It was a better pilot than Scandal, and y’all know how THAT turned out. It is incredibly fast paced, but easy to comprehend. The acting is so fantastic, especially Viola. The time covered in the show is also done in a really fun way that makes you grab on and never let go. Let’s just admit it now, Shonda Rhimes has taken over the world, and we are all as a society okay with it.

Overall: 5 Viola Davis side eyes out of 5

How To Get Away With Murder premieres tonight at 10 pm (after Scandal) on ABC.

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“Black-ish” Premieres tonight on ABC

It’s premiere week, so I’m here to give you “speedy reviews” of all the new ABC shows premiering this week. Next up, Black-ish. Starring: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne Plot: Andre (Anderson) thinks his middle class African-American family is ignoring their culture and… Read More »“Black-ish” Premieres tonight on ABC