My Movie World

I recently watched I, Tonya over quarantine and I was pleased to say the least. It is a movie that has depth and showcases the sometimes unfortunate things that can happen in life. Rate R for its language and violence, it details how it was in the eyes of Tonya.

Based on the unbelievable, but true events, I, TONYA is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Featuring an iconic turn by Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, a mustachioed Sebastian Stan as her impetuous ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, a tour-de-force performance from Allison. (Rotten Tomatoes)

This movie revealed a lot about the figure skating world and the life of Tonya Harding. I thought it was interesting because it took you through the emotions that she felt and you could really understand some of the circumstances.

The movie is not very action based due to the fact that it could be considered an documentary. It also takes time to progress making it kind of hard to sit through until about 30 minutes in.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. I think the creatives were spot on in production making it good quality. I watched through the Hulu streaming site where it is ranked in its “Movies to Watch”. I would agree that it is great movie to sit and watch in your free time.

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Cadillac Records. Classic Black Cinema that showcases the African American culture in its true way to be enjoyed. Inspired by the wife of Etta James, Cadillac Records is a great rated R movie suited for adults.

In 1947 Chicago, Polish emigrant and bar owner Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) hires a blues combo that includes guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short). Waters’ and Walter’s success leads to Chess’ management of stars Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and others. Inevitably, business and personal lines blur as the sometimes-turbulent lives of the musicians play out.

This synopsis doesn’t begin to describe all of the events that happen in the film. It has ups and downs, twist and turns and surprises that pursue throughout the almost 2 hour film.

I would definitely recommend this movie if you are into music, especially Motown Music, because that is the sole purpose of the movie. It does a great job a depicting the time and placing you in the time that they want you to think it is. I would definitely consider this a classic work of art.

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Dangerous lies is a drama filled movie that is probably best watched with mystery fanatics. Produced by Netflix, it is another newly released work that they are letting subscribers see. Netflix does a great job at offering a variety of content in movies and TV shows when it comes to Netflix originals and the popularity they tend to gain.

After losing her waitressing job, Katie Franklin (Camila Mendes) takes a job as a caretaker to a wealthy elderly man in his sprawling, empty Chicago estate. The two grow close, but when he unexpectedly passes away and names Katie as his sole heir, she and her husband Adam (Jessie T. Usher) are pulled into a complex web of lies, deception, and murder. If she’s going to survive, Katie will have to question everyone’s motives — even the people she loves.

This is a movie from Netflix that definitely disappointed me. I think that there were too many ends left untied just to help advance the plot. I didn’t see a purpose in some of the events that took place or whether they held significance to the plot or not. I wouldn’t watch this again, but this is just my opinion. I always encourage watching for your own judgement, but if you trust me, save your time for something else.

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If your up for a graphic thriller with an older audience, this is the movie you should try. Recently coming out as a Netflix original, it is catching the attention of a wide audience.

Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a fearless black market mercenary with nothing left to lose when his skills are solicited to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible, forever altering the lives of Rake and the boy. (Rotten Tomatoes)

It was definitely a watch i found interesting over quarantine. I would say that the amount of action in it is enough to get your adrenaline pumping. There were a couple things I didn’t like with the acting, but nothing that compromised the film. It was a great step for Netflix and their originals because it added to the diverse types of movies they have.

With this being said, the movie was a lot similar to the usual hostage situation type movies. It was predictable in the sense of you could foreshadow who was going to die, live, etc. It did have great acting and set that made it all believable.

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What a Girl Wants, rated PG, is a great movie that has made its way to being one of my favorites.

Rotten tomatoes describes What a Girl Wants as Daphne Reynolds has what every girl wants–or so it seems. This spirited young American girl has a unique style all her own, an unconventional but loving relationship with her bohemian mother Libby and a future full of possibilities–but despite her remarkable promise, Daphne feels incomplete. She dreams of one day meeting the father she’s never known, the man Libby shared a whirlwind romance with seventeen years ago, but ultimately left behind because his aristocratic family found her unsuitable. Determined to live out her fantasy of forging a storybook relationship with her long-absent dad, Daphne impulsively hops a flight to London, where she quickly discovers that her father is high profile politician Lord Henry Dashwood. When Henry opens his life and his social calendar to the daughter he never knew existed, Daphne’s appearance in high society creates an uproar that threatens to undermine his political career. Not wanting to jeopardize his campaign for an upcoming election, Daphne stifles her naturally vibrant personality, refashions herself as a proper debutante and plunges into a whirlwind of stuffy British social events. But even with Henry’s support, she’s not getting any help from his conniving fiancée or her jealous daughter, who are bent on ruining Daphne at every turn. With the aid of Ian, a charming and society-savvy local musician, Daphne attempts to prove that love–and proper etiquette–can conquer all. But Daphne soon realizes she doesn’t like the person she’s becoming in the process. As much as she wants to be her father’s daughter, it’s not worth it if she can’t be herself.

I love this movie and plot because it offered a new twist on the regular teen movies out fo girls. It is an excellent depiction on how life can be quirky, but that is what makes it special. I would recommend this for a movie to watch in your spare time if you want something light hearted and enjoyable to watch. While pretty predictable, the acting and actors make up for it with its perfect production.

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Strength, courage, and faith. That’s what got Diana Johnson through the tragic COVID-19 pandemic not being able to see her students. Johnson is a public high-school teacher in Saginaw, Michigan. The local school is currently closed due to COVID-19. Johnson is used to seeing her students every day and has had to adjust to not being able to interact with them. 

“It’s tough because it disrupts our everyday routine, but I make sure I reach out to them, so they know I am still here for them”, she says.

When this first began, Johnson was unsure of how long it would last. She spent her time wondering how things would transpire with government rules and regulations. A week or two into the initial outbreak of the virus was when Johnson found out school would not resume. Of course being out of school for months was never a thought that crossed her mind. She was devastated that she didn’t get to carry out all the fun lesson plans and bonding experiences that she would’ve in the normal school year.

Johnson has made it her mission over this tough time to stay in contact with her students. She customizes messages to send them, so they know that she thinks about them. In order to keep students engaged, she emails them important reminders about the topics they would have been covering and important reminders on how to stay safe during this time because that’s her main goal. 

She became a teacher to help educate and care for the youth in inner cities making their health and well-being her first priority. What worried her the most is that children aren’t receiving the meals that they would receive if they were in school. 

“Food scarcity in the inner cities are a bigger problem than most would think because they don’t have to deal with it”, she said.

In order to make her mark on her students and continue to do what she would do in class, she remains in communication with them at any time. Diana tells her students that if they are ever in an emergency or need something, she is there for them. She gives her number to students who need to reach her faster than by email.

Overall, COVID-19 has affected all of us in different ways and Johnson wants it to be an easy transition for her students. She hopes this missed period does not deter or hinder her students from heading into classrooms when they reopen and learning the way they deserve. She is optimistic about what the future will bring after COVID-19 for her students.

Ahh :)! Another classic movie for all ages. Freaky Friday is a great watch if you’re looking for a fun family sit-down. It offers laughs and a great plot that would keep you roped in.

Freaky Friday is a case of the classic switch that offers a sense of enlightenment for both people. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are the main focus as they try and navigate their new normal since Jamie’s character is getting married. Without revealing any spoilers, I’ll dive deeper into why I consider it a classic.

The cast of this movie did a great job at delivering and also creating a real world example of how family can have disagreements but work through them. It also has great lessons that children and teens can relate and learn from.

With quarantine, hopefully now is a great time to watch and catch up on movies and shows. Freaky Friday is one I would add to the my watch list.

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Its been a while since I’ve updated and it’s because a lot has been going on. Everyone is talking about the pandemic of the Coronavirus that is taking over the world. It is claiming the health of many people and I am encouraging everyone to engage in social distancing to stay healthy.

In other news, This gives me a lot more time to watch the movies I enjoy due to classes being converted to online format and not being able to work :(. It is tough trying to get used to the new normal of staying inside all day because of the Stay at home order put in place. Adjusting also is difficult because there is so much happening daily in the news that makes you constantly think about the state of emergency we are living through. Even though these factors weigh heavy, I’m going to continue to look on the bright side and provide the reviews I promised.

Be ready for new content as work through this pandemic.

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The Lion King! Do I need to say more? Just in case I do, I will explain the glorious movie that is The Lion King.

The Lion King made its orginal debut in 1994. The remake, in which I am referring to, is just as great as the orginal in every sense. In 2019 The Lion King made its way to theaters and generated a lot of popularity.

In my opinon, this remake is easily a classic. The cast was phenomanal starring Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogan and many other heavy hitters in the acting and enterainment world. The movie did not stray way from the orginal with minimum changes. Mostly, the graphics were updated along with the songs. This made it current to the current era of animation movies looking more realistic. I enjoyed this the most.

I would rate the Lion King above a lot of other remakes because it brought back a childhood nostolgia that was unforgettable. I would recommend watching this with people of all ages because it is geared towards a general auidence.

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When mentioning classics, Cheaper by the Dozen is one that comes up as my favorite. Cheaper by the Dozen was directed by Shawn Levy and stars Steve Martin.

This movie is so easily classified as great because it makes me happy in the idea of its plot and premise. It is based on the story of Tom and Kate Baker who have 12 children running around the home. The plot thickens when they are moved out of their small town to the big city because Kate gets a publishing deal and Tom becomes the University’s football coach. The family dilemma occurs causing twists and turns throughout the movie ultimately ending in the result of family love.

Cheaper by the Dozen is a great movie to watch for all ages. It is interesting and the plot is thick enough to entertain as you watch. It also gives off family vibes that warm my insides.

The production and quality of the film are up to par as well. They do a great job of replicating a family home that looks like 12 children of different ages live there. The director also did a great job at casting is that the acting was great as well. Stars like Hilary Duff and Alyson Soner are apart of the cast having familiar faces for child audiences.

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