Charlie's Angels - 霹靂嬌娃

Charlie's Angels (霹靂嬌娃) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska. The supporting cast include Elizabeth Banks, Djimon Hounsou, Chris Pang, and Jonathan Tucker. Cameo appearances from Hailee Steinfeld, Lili Reinhart, Aly Raisman, Chloe Kim, Ronda Rousey, Danica Patrick, Laverne Cox, Michael Strahan, and Jaclyn Smith. This movie combines the television and previous films into a combined universe for the first time. A sequel would be difficult given that it bombed at the box office.



Kristen Stewart plays Sabina Wilson who is trying to get information from Jonny Smith, played by Chris Pang. Jane Kano, played by Ella Balinska, burst in as the information is obtained and they get away. Months later, Elena Houghlin played by Naomi Scott is a scientist that develops a energy conservation device called Calisto. However, the safetly of the device is in question and she tries to get that information out, eventually getting connected with the Angels. Let the fun begin with her employers want kill her. Recruited for an Angel spot, can these three angels save the day and stop Calisto from getting to the public?



This was a pretty entertaining film. I thought the main plot point of Calisto was a good one. A wanna be whistle blower that becomes an Angel. And the expansion of the universe gives it legs. I would even Sony going with a television series instead of a movie franchise. In essence, go back to its roots. But Sony doesn't have a Disney+ type platform to do this.

Kristen Stewart was the star of the movie. Her turn as Sabina was pretty awesome. Stewart is so far from her Eclipse days that I could see her in her element. I'd watch a Stewart film in a Bond type setting any day after this film.

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part - 樂高玩電影2

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (樂高玩電影2) is an 2019 animated film. The movie is voiced by Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Will Ferrell, Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, and Maya Rudolph. The movie is a sequel to the The Lego Movie.

Emmet and Lucy are now in a post-apocalyptic world. Emmet is still his go lucky self and Lucy is looking to brood. They are visited by Systar people that take Lucy. Emmet than sets out to find her. Along the way, he befriends Rex Dangervest. Rex helps get Emmet to Lucy. As Lucy was captured, the leader of the Systar, Queen Watevra, starts to convince Lucy of her ways. Why Emmet be able to rescue Lucy?

This was a fun sequel to the first movie. But with a similar formula, some of the fun was not hidden by a reveal. However, the movie makers did try to mix in some new things. It will be hard to top the first fil and unfortunately, this film does not.

Pitch Perfect 3 - 歌喉讚3

Pitch Perfect 3 (歌喉讚3) is an 2017 film. The movie stars Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Chrissie Fit, Alexis Knapp, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Elizabeth Banks, and John Michael Higgins. This is the third and final installment of the Pitch Perfect movie series.

Three years after their last performance, they have a reunion only to find out that they are not singing, but watching the current Bellas perform. Aubrey suggest that they join the USO tour for their last hurrah. They find that when they get the USO tour that there are 3 other groups there competing for a spot on DJ Khaled's tour. Immediately the competition starts. Will the Bellas pull it together and win the competition?

This was a good last hurrah film. Three films in, the comedy was starting to get a bit long in the tooth. You've invested in the main girls of this group for at least two movies, you already know their personalities. The film shifts focus on the different girls to make you continue to stay connected with them.

If you liked or even loved the first two Pitch Perfect films, this will be right up your alley.

People Like Us

People Like Us is an 2012 film. The movie stars Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks. The supporting cast include Olivia Wilde, Jon Favreau, and Michelle Pfeiffer. I caught this movie on HBO a year or so back.

The movie start with Chris Pine's character Sam Harper returning home to Los Angeles for the funeral of his father. When he arrives back home, his mother is not all that happy to see him as he has not been back much since college. While going through his father's belongings, he finds money that he needs very much. But he finds a note that says the money goes to Josh Davis. Sam eventually finds Josh and his mother, Frankie Davis, played by Elizabeth Banks. Frankie is Sam's half sister and Josh is his nephew. Sam decides to stick around while trying to figure out if he should keep the money. Along the way, Sam forces his way into Frankie and Josh's life. Will Sam find redemption?

The movie was slow and took awhile to develop. I was washing dishes so I let it run. I don't think I missed much. But the movie was entertaining enough. Pine is a charismatic leading man and Banks also keeps your attention. What got me hooked was what he would do with the money. Keep it for himself or give it to Josh Davis? The home life Sam had with his mother was also of interest. In the end, I enjoyed the movie.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 飢餓遊戲:星火燎原

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (飢餓遊戲:星火燎原) is an 2013 film. The movie is the sequel to The Hunger Games from 2012. The primary cast members return, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. The supporting cast includes Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Lenny Kravitz. For this installment, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman joined the cast along with Sam Claflin and Jena Malone. At the moment, it is the top grossing film in the US for 2013 released movies.



The catch up with Katniss and Gale in the woods hunting game. The head back to the projects before splitting up. Katniss has a victory tour to make. During this tour, the different districts start to act up. This prompts President Snow to put in motions a plan to eliminate the species of The Hunger Games victors. Snow takes the Quarter Quell event as a way to make a special games made up of former victors. Thus, eliminating a huge chunk of their species. Katniss is the only female victor of her district and would be chosen for sure. Peeta and Haymitch make the other half, but Peeta volunteers when Haymitch is chosen. The training period starts and Katniss makes friends with the others and tries to survive. But she has every intention of helping Peeta survive to be the victor. This however take a turn. A twist if you will for continuation for the Mocking Jay book.

This movie is well made. Pace is good and it gets us on the side of the victors. Even though they won the lottery, they are trapped. We as "free" people want to see them free and able to decide their fate. As such, we wait and see if their fate will be positive. But we know this is the middle book of a trilogy and will have to wait for the ending. We also know that the book leads to a rebellion and revolution, ala USSR. Jennifer Lawrence doesn't have to do much, she just has to look conflicted. The character development is there, but in essence, anyone could be in those roles and make us feel for them. Looking forward to the next two. Sad it beat my Iron Man 3 for first place in 2013.

Pitch Perfect - 歌喉讚

Pitch Perfect (歌喉讚) is an 2012 film. The movie stars Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, and Brittany Snow. The supporting cast include Rebel Wilson, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Jinhee Joung, and Elizabeth Banks. The movie had a short life in the theaters before blowing up on VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray. It's a cult classic already. Can it happen that fast?

Anna Kendrick plays Beca, a freshmen in college who loves to do mushup mixes in her spare time. Beca's father does not support her music aspirations and forces her to get a degree instead of heading out to LA to try to break into the industry. Beca moves in with the very strange Korean American, Kimmy Jin, played by Jinhee Joung. Kimmy is not kind to Beca and keeps her at arms length. During rush week, Beca is recruited into the campus traditional ladies a cappella group, Bellas. The Bellas are run by the very uptight and traditional leaders played by Anna Camp and Brittany Snow. Beca also has two love interest. The mysterious "hot dood" that DJs at the on campus radio station. And there's the other guy that not so secretly tries to woo Beca, but he's on the arch nemesis campus boys a cappella group, the Treblemakers. Can love leap barriers of groups. Oh, and there's the whole trying to win nationals in New York of all places.

This movie is total cheeze. Its the Sing-Off, Twilight, and Glee thrown into a pot, stirred, and put in college. Nice! We don't have to deal with the popularity crap of high school, but the challenges of dealing with responsibilities that college presents is very real. With a light hearted touch, this movie does in two hours what Glee can never do. People will suck, find the ones that like you, and move on with them. However, life isn't ever that simple. But this is a movie, not a 4 year degree of multiple classes or a PHD dissertation.

Props to the nice voice dubbed a cappella songs. They sound really good. Throw in the trendy mush ups and its a little cherry on top. I also like that this movie had weirdos, not just the Asians. However, the Koreans were the only called out ethnic group. Watch it ppl! Laugh at them and than at yourself.

The Hunger Games - 飢餓遊戲

The Hunger Games (飢餓遊戲) is an 2012 film. The movie stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. The supporting cast includes Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Lenny Kravitz. The film is based on the popular US YA book of the same name. The filmmakers expect to make this a long franchise.

The story is based in an alternative universe where Asians do not seem to exist. Maybe one district. The world is divided up into districts and they must offer up tribute to an authoritative regime. Imagine if North Korea were to take over Estonia or Finland. Strike that, imagine if the USSR were still around in the age of social media, etc. The district we're focused on is that of our two main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, played by Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. When they're selected as annual tribute for their district, they must be trained into well oil killing machines, because the tributes have to kill each other. And the last one standing is given freedom and riches! It is a dual to the death for these teenagers! The country stays peaceful and the rich get richer!

This movie was really difficult to watch. I think its because I watched a similar movie out of Japan only a dozen years ago called Battle Royale (BR). BR was revolutionary for its time because of the teenagers involved. The stars of those films went on to acclaim and a certain gal even appeared in a Kill Bill story arc. With that back drop, the Hunger Games people claim no knowledge of BR and that it was inspired writing. Yupe, the lack of whites in BR was repaid with the lack of Asians in The Hunger Games.

That aside, was the movie any good? Yes, the movie was well produced and told a really compelling story. Can our society ever get to a point of this? Unlikely, but it comments on the what can you deem acceptable for your society? Will tributes ever be acceptable for the US?