Anna (安娜) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Sasha Luss. The supporting cast include Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy, Helen Mirren, and Alexander Petrov.
Anna is trained as an assiasin in mother Russia. As a spy, Anna is sent to France to work undercover as a model. In Paris, she settles in but the assignments start to come and she grows tired. Enter the CIA and they trap her. Working as a double agent now, which side will she choose?
This movie was entertaining for its action. Very much like Atomic Blonde but B level. Throw in a super complicated story and this movie is sort of a mess. But you have three highly reputable stars in supporting roles too. But all of it couldn't save a weak story. The twist and turns are expected in a spy flick, but these were not convincing.
Watch it for the action and eye candy. But skip it if you want a good story.
Jumanji: The Next Level (野蠻遊戲:全面晉級) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Danny Glover, and Danny DeVito. The supporting case reprise real world roles, played by Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, and Colin Hanks. This game is a sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (野蠻遊戲:瘋狂叢林).
Set 2 years later, all four main characters are in their first year of college and head back home for Christmas break. Fridge, Martha, and Britany seem to be living their best lives. Cut to Spencer and we see a unconfident and seemly miserable at his CVS type job. When they all head back to Brantford to meet at Nora's, Spencer's a no show. They go looking for him and find out that he's been sucked back into Jumanji. After some debate, they decide to go help find Spencer so they can win the game. However, grandpa Eddie and Milo get sucked in as well. Later on, they find Spencer and set out to solve the game.
Even though this movie follows a similar formula as the first, the introduction of the grandpas and Awkwafina did refresh the movie. Add to it a new story and obstacles, I was thoroughly entertained throughout. You also see that they did increase the budget as the locales were vastly different. From the jungle, they entered into the dessert and snow capped mountains.
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (Star Wars:天行者的崛起) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver. The supporting cast include Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Domhnall Gleeson, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, and Kelly Marie Tran. There are many more cameos and JJ Abrams regulars sprinkled throughout the film. This is the ninth film of the Skywalker film series and reportedly the final one as well. Lucasfilm has made reports of the film series going in a different direction after the Skywalker series.
Rey is receiving Jedi training from Leia. Chewbacca, Poe, and Finn are working on lead to recover a spy message. They are ambushed and are forced to fight their way out. Rey than receives feelings and ends her training to go find the force message. Chewbacca, Poe, and Finn join Rey on their way to Pasaana. They look for a lead that will lead them to destroying the Frist Order. However, the old Emperor shows up and wants to take over the galaxy. A bunch of cat and mouse chases start. Can Rey and the group save the Resistance?
As the last in the sag, this movie was pretty good. Lots of action tempered with some character development here and there. Add to it the way the force is used, you have a whole new era of Star Wars fans in the making. You should go back and watch episodes IV through VIII to catch up a little. There are quite a few references to the older movies. Even I-III have some reference, but small ones.
I am glad and sad the series will end here. The Skywalker series is the one that led us all to love the franchise so much. But its also time to expand the universe or galaxy beyond this group. And you've seen it happen in other areas. As I do not read books, this will be interesting how they bring the other Disney+ and film series to screen.
JJ does a good job of ending starting and ending this trilogy. I can see the critics nit picking on things, but it was a good end to the series. But this movie kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the film. All the old Star Wars mythos were in full effect. This movie was made for Star Wars fans.
Fighting With My Family (我和我的摔角家庭) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Florence Pugh. The supporting cast include Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn, and Dwayne Johnson. The story is based on the life of real professional wrestler Paige.
Paige grows up in a family of local professional wrestlers in Norwich England. Her parents through local events and they all participate, including her older brother Zac. When the WWE come to Norwich to recruit, they hold try outs. Zak and Paige both join. Zak's been dreaming of reaching the WWE since he was a wee lad. After try outs, Zak is not chosen and asks the promoter why. The response was that he doesn't have "it". On the flip side, Paige, who was only tagging along, was the long contestant chosen to enter the WWE training program. Zak grows distant and Paige heads off to the WWE development center in Florida. Paige leaves home for the first time and has to compete daily with other chosen contestant to make it to the big shows. Along the way, challenges arise and we see if Paige can overcome them.
This was a great film about have talent and not throwing it away. You knew she would make it, because Paige is a bonafide star in the WWE. Throw Vince as the hard nose drill sergeant, you have a great film. The cameo from The Rock Dwayne Johnson was also a nice touch. All in all, you should watch the movie even if you don't have a good understanding of the professional wrestling world. The film does a good job of giving you enough to feel like you don't need to learn it.
