"Age of Adaline" (2015) Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker

Director:     Lee Toland Krieger

Writers:      J. Mills Goodloe, Salvador Paskowitz,
Actors:       Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker

STORYLINE:  A bizarre phenomenon of nature infuses a woman with a form of immortality, wherein she doesn’t age beyond 29 years old.

COMMENTS:   This is a gentle romantic story laced with the many different types of love which permeate human consciousness.  Adaline has denied herself from falling in love, knowing her lover will age while she remains 29, and she is unwilling to risk the complicated repercussions of that choice.  And yet, the time comes when she can’t help it.  She falls in love and decides to risk herself.  The twists and turns of this choice pay homage to the concepts of how fate conspires with destiny to manifest its own inevitability.

Blake Lively embodies the quintessential quality of elegance and grace, very reminiscent of legendary actress Grace Kelly.  There is a tender fatality to her character and whenever she responds “okay” to whatever course of action her lover suggests, we feel her lingering regret and fear… because she knows where this “okay” will end.  Actor Michiel Huisman, whose television credits are strong, is totally credible as the lover whose passion can sweep aside all the reluctance Adaline feels towards love.  Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn and Kathy Baker are wonderful in their respective roles, and the whole movie becomes a bittersweet testament to the miracles which love can generate.

IMDB page:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655441/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Tags:  Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker, romance, fantasy, J. Mills Goodloe, Salvador Paskowitz,  Lee Toland Krieger

"Kingsman" (2014) - Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine

Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Written by Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn

Colin Firth is a la James Bond in this one and surprisingly believable.  I had always viewed him as more intellectual than physical... but he pulls it off wonderfully.  There's a scene where he decimates a roomful of people, and it's brilliantly edited.  I totally believed he done really did it.  The first James Bond movies relied greatly on Sean Connery's unending charm, wit and manliness, as well as the superbabes he dallied with.  Then they became techno focused.  Then other actors took over the role and more recent ones became more suspense thrillers than techno wizardry.  What I loved about "Kingsman" is that it filters its "spy" adventure through a very humane view.  It becomes about the moral and emotional challenges a teacher experiences while training a new recruit, and the values the new recruit must discover and incorporate in order to become a "Kingsman."  Because it requires intellectual and moral journeys as well as physical, Colin Firth portrays his role superbly.  Michael Caine and Sam Jackson are dependably excellent in their roles, and I'd definitely watch Taron Egerton as a Kingsman any day.  This movie is as much emotionally satisfying as adrenalin-inciting.  AND... it has humane comedy as opposed to the caustic comedy which James Bond was famous for.  James Bond movies are wonderful and entertaining.  So is "Kingsman."  Recommend.

IMDB Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802144/?ref_=nv_sr_1
TAGS:  Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Action, Adventure, Comedy 

"Insurgent" (2015) - Kate Winslett, Naomi Watts, Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort

Directed  by Robert Schwentke 
Written by Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman 

What a brilliant concept.  It creates a visual world of down-to-earth reality with video-game CGI effects.  It's like a sim world within a sim world.  It forces you to ponder the nature of reality as God's chess game and humankind becomes the chess pieces.  Not necessarily a new concept, but what makes it brilliant is the techno flavor... is life just a video game and "God" is the geek player?Hmmmmm.   Nevertheless, the acting is well done.  Winslett is an excellent villain, and Woodley the reluctant but inevitable heroine.  I love how young women are the heroes of the New Age... Katniss in Hunger Games and Tris in the Divergent series.  It lends credence to the New Age pundits who say that the New Millennium has launched us into a new Matriarchal paradigm.  The world is no longer a cut-and-dried duality...black and white, good and bad.  We are leaving behind the Patriarchal view of one system dominating over all where countries and people must battle for supremacy, and the issue is settled with war and destruction.  In the Matriarchal paradigm, the process becomes more womblike: The sperm of new ideas merges with the egg of tradition, and the result is a combination of both to create something uniquely different, yet familiar.  This film exemplifies that idea brilliantly.  Change can be slow and evolutionary a la Darwin's principle.  Or... it can be quick and violent. While this film isn't perfect, it does depict perfectly the quick and violent way of effecting change.  It's an engrossing movie, filled with adventure, romance and heroism. If that's what you like in a movie, this is a must-watch.

IMDB page:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2908446/?ref_=nv_sr_1

TAGS:  Sci-Fi, Thriller, Adventure, Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslett, Naomi Watts, Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Akiva Goldsman, Robert Schwentke, Brian Duffield 

TV SERIES: "The Moon Embracing the Sun" (2012)

Available on Netflix.  Basic Setup:  Two brothers are in love with the same woman, and she reciprocates the love of one brother and becomes friends with the other. But, of course, there are complications. One brother is the King of the Korean Joseon Dynasty, and his older brother cannot become Crown Prince because he's illegitimate, but nevertheless, unless there's an heir, the prince is still next in line to inherit the throne. The teenaged Crown Prince's beloved is chosen to become the Crown Princess, but royal political intrigues cause her "death," which is actually faked by the Chief Shaman to protect the destiny of the Joseon Dynasty. In short, it's a Korean version of "GAME OF THRONES". There are no dragons, but there are demonic possessions, murders and politics. The struggles and pains the royal brothers experience generate passions beyond endurance, and I found myself sobbing along with them. I couldn't help loving them both as, eight years after the "demise" of the crown princess, beset by amnesia, she returns to the royal court as a shaman, and is caught up once more in the court political intrigues. The Crown Prince is now King, and while he has a Queen, he cannot bear to consummate the marriage, and so there's still no heir. Absorbing, emotionally involving, filled with high jinx and conflicting moralistic choices which the royally-restricted King must make, this is a "must-see" for those who enjoy good old-fashioned drama. The acting is top-notch, and I admired how men could sob openly and still retain a strength of character and "manhood" that absolutely captured my heart. I truly loved the #1 advisor to the King, who, contrary to most Top Advisors, is filled with comedic charm, warmth, and human frailties... all exceeded only by his passionate loyalty to the king. Yes, It's melodramatic, but, ah, so well-done.

imdb site:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3143378/?ref_=nv_sr_2
TAGS:  Fantasy, Romance, History, South Korea, Soo Hyan Kim, Ga-in Han, Il Woo Jung

"Jupiter Ascending" (2014) Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean

Directed and Written by Andy and Lana Wachowski

Incredible CGI scenes. A really hot Channing Tatum as a Lycan (human whose DNA has been spliced with wolf DNA). The costumes are gorgeous and truly worthy of Sci-Fi fantasy. Sean Bean makes a great hero mentor for young Channing Tatum.  Mila Kunis is humble and beautiful as a beleaguered princess catapaulted to royalty who must save the people of Earth.  Eddie Redmayne is a villain in this one and brings vulnerability to his role. This feels like a potential franchise film. A little too much exposition which distracts from the flow of action, but ultimately it's an entertaining and fun Sci-Fi movie.

IMDB Page:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1617661/?ref_=nv_sr_1
TAGS:  Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean, The Wachowskis, Sci-Fi movie,  Fantasy

“Imitation Game” (2014) Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode

Directed  by Morten Tyldum
Written by Andrew Hodges and Graham Moore

This is an educational movie, with a powerful performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, who portrays mathematician Alan Turing during his World War II code-breaking years.  To witness how a team of geniuses break down the structure of the enigma code is fascinating.  We share the frustration of the team, and Turing’s obsessional passion to solve the impossible puzzle of the code.  It’s mind-blowing to realize that chances are one in millions to break a code which changes every 24 hours.  We watch as Turing’s brilliant mind creates a mechanical mind to process possibilities.  In fact, this machine shows us the beginnings of computer technology.  What makes it all work is that it’s an emotional journey, told through the framework of human frailties and challenges.  We sympathize powerfully with Cumberbatch’s character, and admire Keira Knightly’s glowing kindness and loyalty to him.  A wonderful story of geek heroes, beautifully told.  A definite recommend.

IMDB page:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1

TAGS:  Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, Matthew Goode, Morten Tyldum, Enigma, World War II, Code-Breaking 

"Into the Woods" (2014) - Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine; directed by Rob Marshall

 I can see why Meryl Streep was nominated as Best Actress in this one.  There are always two or three moments when Meryl does something that WOWS us.  In this one, despite being a witchy villainess, when she sings and begs her daughter not to leave her, it's heartbreakingly real and you feel her desperate pain.  This is a movie with visual and musical delight!  Emily Blunt can SING!  It would have been a stronger movie if the fairy tale wonder had remained whimsical and fun!  Unfortunately, towards the end, we suddenly realize that the title, "INTO THE WOODS," is an allegory about REAL life... about entering that dark, shadowed place where life isn't happily ever after and daily events lead to the eventual loss of the "wonder" in fairy tales.  I admire why the director chooses to do this, but, ultimately, it weakens the impact of the film.


IMDB SITE:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2180411/?ref_=nv_sr_1
TAGS:  Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick, Christine Baranski, Rob Marshall, Fairy Tale, Jack in the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood