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Film reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review

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What came to mind before I experienced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was the famous term …COWABUNGA! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is full throttle family fun. The humor is perfect, the action is perfect, and it is colorfully creative with the nostalgia that adults and children love.

As a childhood lover of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (dating way back to the days of VHS), I feel like this is the perfect remake. It actually beats the ones produced by Michael Bay. The turtles have the moves and the sarcasm for awesomeness. In fact, the awesomeness does not stop with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

This is the plot of the film. The setting is New York City. Turtles Leonardo (voiced by Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (voiced by Micah Abbey), Raphael (voiced by Brady Noon) and Michelangelo (voiced by Shamon Brown Jr.) are being shunned by human society. Their guardian, Master Splinter (voiced by Jackie Chan) prohibits them from being around humans. Deep down though, they want to be heroes of their city and they believe they can protect the public by putting their ninja skills to work.

One human who has faith in the turtles is April (voiced by Ayo Edebiri). She’s a journalist and she sees the positive cause of the turtles. And despite Master Splinter’s strictness, the turtles have a job to do. They must protect the city from the enemy, Superfly (voiced by Ice Cube). They also face a variety of other creepy creatures ranging from Rocksteady (voiced by John Cena), Leatherhead (voiced by Rose Byrne), and more. The turtles believe their skills are up to the task and they want to serve and protect.

What I loved about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was how it mixes 80s classics with what’s popular in present society. There are references to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off from 1986 and there are also references to artists who are popular today. So this animated masterpiece keeps its tune with what is current today while staying fictional and enthralling. It is one invigorating ride and is tons of joy.

The film is also brilliant because it keeps its audience of all ages connected. There is a joyful tune for everyone, whether they be adults or children. The turtles are sarcastic at times, but it’s not over the top and doesn’t detract from the positive vibe of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. It was also fun to remember how much the turtles love pizza.

Ultimately, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is just one fun ride of positive action. It will bring its audiences back into the Ninja Turtle groove, and it will have viewers craving pizza. But above all, it will bring its audience many memories of turtle mayhem. The film can be slightly cheesy at times, but I found it memorable and a great time. Three out of four stars for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Film reviews

Earth Mama Review

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This title of this film speaks with a meaningful message. Earth Mama is an invigorating story that displays the challenges of tough love and shows how choices have consequences. Motherhood is the subject of the struggle in Earth Mama which is filled with heavy emotions. Hardship for the mother continues throughout the film but there is no giving up hope. I found this experience to be eerie, yet vividly stunning due to its exploration of human nature. Earth Mama made me curious about what it’s like to be restricted based on choices.

The film takes place in the Bay area of California. Gia is a mother played by Tia Nomore. She has two kids and a third on the way. Her children are in the hands of the court system because Gia has made choices that are unsafe for her children. Therefore, she is restricted from being with her kids as much as she would like to. She must live on welfare and be on probation.With a rough background and a questionable paper trail of errors, Gia keeps hitting plateaus as she tries to get her head on straight so she can convince her parole officer that she is capable of taking care of her kids. Her parole officer is Jasmine played by Tina D’Elia.

As the film progresses, Gia begins to understand that she may have made mistakes. However, deep down she has a big heart for her children. Nevertheless, she decides to investigate adoption for her third child, but fears this commitment may cause even more problems. Gia has lost a lot in her life due to repeated errors, lies, and struggles with addiction. The title Earth Mama relates to Gia’s problems which all involve wanting to feel a sense of escape. Unfortunately, her brief periods of relief also have serious consequences.

The film thrives on Gia’s errors, which I found somewhat disappointing. Earth Mama has a strange vibe that boils through the audience as Gia goes through many waves of conflict. While it feels real, it is not a comfortable feeling. There is good in the love that Gia has for her children, but there is nothing good in the choices she continues to make. Earth Mama creates a world of tragedy and melancholy as the cinematography grasps the sadness of Gia’s challenging life. Can Gia get through her parole? Can Gia regain custody of her children? Will Gia make the right choice for her newborn? There is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions in Earth Mama. It is a film that battles with and tackles life challenges in an extremely realistic way.

Earth Mama hit me to the core because of its exploration of a-life-like situation, including the harsh consequences that come with poor decisions. The threat of relapse and continued errors only escalates the hardship for Gia and her children. Finally, Gia regaining faith in herself may be the biggest struggle in Earth Mama. Two and a half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Haunted Mansion Review

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This remake of Haunted Mansion takes the haunts and scares of the film down a different track. The Eddie Murphy version from 2003 was geared more toward the danger and suspense of hidden ghosts. This new Haunted Mansion has a storyline consisting of moving parts. The mansion is of course haunted, and there is evidence to possibly explain the ghosts and spirits. Clues and obstacles can be found around many corners, giving Haunted Mansion almost an interactive film feel.

The film tells the story of Gabbie, a devoted mother portrayed by the talented Rosario Dawson. She moves into a haunted house with her son Travis, brilliantly played by Chase Dillon. Gabbie’s top priority is of course her son’s safety, which is why she seeks the assistance of experts who can help her manage the supernatural presence in their home.

Among the people Gabbie seeks out for help is the knowledgeable and resourceful tour guide Ben Matthias, played by the versatile LaKeith Stanfield. The pious priest named Ken, portrayed by the Owen Wilson, brings his unique skills to the team, using prayers and mindfulness to control the actions of the spirits. The awe-inspiring historian Bruce Davis, played by the incomparable Danny DeVito, offers his extensive knowledge of ghosts to the group. The informative glass ball named Madame Leota, played by the legendary Jamie Lee Curtis offers insights into evil spirits. The film’s primary antagonist is The Hat-Box Ghost, played by the talented Jared Leto. The movie captures a similar vibe to the classic Ghostbusters but with a fresh and distinct perspective on how to deal with malevolent spirits and vanquish them from the mansion.

The combination of Stanfield, Wilson, DeVito, Curtis, and Leto gives the film an element of joy and mystery. Their humor often serves as a relief for the terror experienced by the characters. And each character in Haunted Mansion has an important role to play in unraveling the mystery and finding a solution to make Gabbie’s home safe. There are reasons why the ghosts refuse to leave Gabbie’s home and why her son Travis is affected by them. Along the way, there are moments of terror and laughter, with jump scares and humorous surprises. There are times where the audience will feel they should be thinking seriously, and other times when it feels like being on an amusement park. It is a spooky and humorous adventure.

I viewed Haunted Mansion as being almost like a Tetris maze, an entertaining and imaginative Disney puzzle that will captivate its audience. The film may even have viewers questioning whether they missed any clues from the original Disney ride that inspired this film.

But although Haunted Mansion is a decent source of entertainment, it falls short of being exceptional. It will certainly cater to those with a fascination for ghosts, and it offers a two-hour exploration of Disney’s creative prowess in filmmaking. But it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Three out of four stars for Haunted Mansion.