The word serenity means the state or quality of being serene, calm, or tranquil; sereneness. It conjures up peace of mind that, in many cases, one can only dream of as we live our daily lives. We strive for it but might only catch moments here and there. Can you imagine a serene world where everyone in the world lives on a beautiful, perfect island? An island where everyone is happy and no one grows old? Believe it or not, it exists. In the film âSerenityâ it does anyway. Baker Dill (Academy AwardÂź-winner Matthew McConaughey) lives on this tropical heaven. This paradise is called Plymouth island and it’s where Dill has everything he needs when he needs it. He barely gets by but he’s completely content with fishing for just one certain tuna that always escapes him. He has never questioned his existence until now.
What brings him to start is the re-emergence of his ex-wife, Karen Zariakas (Academy AwardÂź-winner Anne Hathaway), who finds him on Plymouth. Karen, knowing he needs the money, offers him a golden opportunity. She uses Dillâs son Patrick (Sayegh) as bait to lure him in. She tells him that her husband, Frank Zariakas (Clarke) is extremely abusive to her and Patrick and asks if he’ll consider helping her escape his clutches. She wants Dill to take Frank out on a late tuna run and, essentially, toss him overboard to fend for himself⊠preferably in shark-infested waters. The offer, the mention of Partick and seeing her face again bring about feelings that Dill has suppressed. He now questions his life, whereabouts, and reality itself. Beautifully shot, you can see how if someone lived a life such as Dillsâ, heâd accept anything not to penetrate it. Why would he want to open up a doorway into the past that might bring him out of this utopia? This may sound like an intriguing film but, unfortunately, how itâs cut might have stopped it from being as good as it could have been.
The film has intense moments and the cinematography is gorgeous. Had it been put together differently; the story might have had a chance. Halfway through watching it, I thought to myself that it made a lot of sense that it, originally slated to come out in October of last year, was changed to January where itâll be forgotten if ever seen. This might be better for all involved. Hathaway is stunning but not in a good way. Her damsel in distress character is vapid and mousy and McConaugheyâs performance is straight up uncomfortable to watch⊠especially as he sweats all over the camera lens. Itâs perplexing why theyâd accept the roles, unless, as I suggested, the film was cut in such a way that it ruined the original intent. The world writer/director Steven Knight (Locke) was trying to convey simply doesnât come through with the dialogue coming out of his actorsâ mouths, the way they behaved and the structure of the film itself. That said, itâs just a bad movie. The more story revealed, the less sense it makes… and then there’s the music. The serious music trying to sell you on a sincerely divine plan of some sort makes the film more laughable as it goes on. If its stars interest you, wait for cable to see âSerenity.â I canât suggest you see this at the theatre.
âPenguinsâ Opens in Theaters and Select IMAXÂź Theatres on Wednesday, April 17, 2019â
First-Ever Disneynature Film to be Released in IMAXÂź
As Disneynature celebrates 10 years since its first feature-film debut, its newest conservation intitiativeâthis one tied to the upcoming big-screen adventure âPenguinsââwas revealed today. For every ticket sold opening week (April 17-23, 2019), Disneynature will make a donation to the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) to help protect penguins across the southern hemisphere.
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Founded in 2002, WCN invests in a select network of on-the-ground conservationists, including top experts in the field of penguins like the Global Penguin Society (GPS). The worldwide leader in science-based penguin conservation, GPS champions specific programs that align with Disneynatureâs conservation mission. âFor example, one of our aims is to track different species of penguinsâ movements across four continents in the southern seas,â said GPS founder and president Dr. Pablo Borboroglu. âPenguins swim thousands of kilometers to migrate and look for food. What they encounter during their journeys determines their survival, affects the viability of their species and informs science and conservation action. We are also dedicated to cleaning plastics from the beaches, breeding areas and seas impacting penguin populations. Campaigns to clean up beaches around penguin colonies along selected coastal sectors will help secure a healthy and safe habitat for penguins.â
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âDisneynature has an amazing platform,â said Charles Knowles, president and co-founder of WCN. âTheyâre able to reach a global audience in a way that we can hardly fathom. They are uniquely positioned to tell the real story of penguins and the challenges they face. By teaming up with Disneynatureâwhich is so strongly aligned with our own missionâwe are able to uniquely communicate about the species we care so much about.â
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âAntarctica is one of the few areas in the world that most people will never have an opportunity to see firsthand,â said Roy Conli, one of the producers of âPenguins.â âItâs one of the most remote and harshest environments on Earthâbut its stark beauty is breathtaking. Cultivating an understanding and appreciation of the area, the surrounding oceans and the animals who live there is essential to the future of our planet. Thatâs one of the reasons I love sharing the story of Steveâa penguin whoâs working so hard to thrive in this world, and doing his part for the next generation.â
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To capture the stunning footage for âPenguins,â a team of the best polar experts in the world traveled to four different locations over the course of three years for a total of nearly 900 camera days. Temperatures dropped below -40 degrees on several occasions and winds twice topped 150 mph while filmmakers were on location. Their efforts resulted in the extraordinary story of Steve who promises to charm audiences worldwide. âItâs so fun to watch Steve compete with all the other penguins to set up his nest and win his mate,â said Conli. âItâs hard not to relate to this guy.â
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âPenguinsâ will be the first-ever Disneynature film released in IMAXÂź. The film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of the IMAX EXPERIENCEŸ with proprietary IMAX DMRŸ (Digital Re-Mastering) technology.
The Wildlife Conservation Networkâs (WCN) mission is to protect endangered wildlife by supporting conservationists who ensure wildlife and people co-exist and thrive. WCN invests in a select network of on-the-ground conservationists, offering the financial resources, tools and services they need to effectively protect wildlife. WCN also creates large-scale Crisis and Recovery Funds, investing in projects that can protect a threatened species across its entire habitat. As no one organization or person can save wildlife alone, WCN emphasizes collaboration, connecting conservationists and supporters and creating a community united in a passion for wildlife. Learn more about WCN’s unique approach to saving wildlife and the work of our conservation partners at wildnet.org.
ABOUT GLOBAL PENGUIN SOCIETY
The Global Penguin Society (GPS) is dedicated to the survival and protection of the worldŽs penguin species, fostering integrated ocean conservation through science, management (policy making) and education. GPS is an internationally recognized leader in the conservation of penguins, and the coasts and oceans they inhabit. The Global Penguin Society endeavors to:
Develop sound science to use in the conservation of penguins and marine environments at local, regional, and global scales;
Educate communities and decision makers about the importance of penguins and their habitats, aiming at achieving lasting behavioral changes;
Identify priority areas for the conservation of penguins and their ecosystems, propose and implement guidelines for their protection; and
Influence the establishment, implementation, and efficacy of public and private conservation policies.
GPS is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Learn about penguins and how GPS helps them globally at globalpenguinsociety.org.
ABOUT DISNEYNATURE
Celebrating 10 years since its first U.S. theatrical feature, âEarth,â Disneynature brings the worldâs top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife stories on the big screen in order to engage, inspire and educate theatrical audiences everywhere. Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1948 and 1960, which earned eight Academy AwardsÂź. All seven of Disneynatureâs theatrical film releasesââEarth,â âOceans,â âAfrican Cats,â âChimpanzee,â âBears,â âMonkey Kingdomâ and âBorn in Chinaâârank among the top 10 highest overall grossing feature-length nature films to date, with âChimpanzeeâ garnering a record-breaking opening weekend for the genre. âPenguins,â opening April 17, 2019, is the labelâs 8th theatrical release. Disneynatureâs commitment to conservation is a key pillar of the label and the films empower the audience to help make a difference. Through donations tied to opening-week attendance of its films, Disneynature has contributed to a host of conservation initiatives. For more information about Disneynature, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/Disneynature and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature.
Based on: The Impossible: The Miraculous Story of a Mother’s Faith and Her Child’s Resurrection by Joyce Smith
Cast: Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Marcel Ruiz, Sam Trammell and Dennis Haysbert
SYNOPSIS
BREAKTHROUGH is based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction. From producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven) and adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) from Joyce Smith’s own book, BREAKTHROUGH is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle.
M. Night Shyamalan brings his two hit films âUnbreakableâ and âSplitâ together after nineteen years to celebrate an almost perfect sci-fi, thriller marriage in âGlass.â Within the story of âGlass,â the main characters from the two previous pictures are unwillingly united for reasons theyâre unaware of, however, once they see each other again, itâs agreed upon that fate has brought them together again to continue where they left off. Samuel L. Jackson is, once again, Elijah Price or âMr. Glassâ as he prefers to be called. Heâs a comic book enthusiast whoâs convinced that Superheroes truly exist and proves so by using his incredibly gifted brain to be a Supervillain. At the moment heâs in a mental hospital being helped by his doting mother. Mrs. Glass is played by, Charlayne Woodard, who returns after âUnbreakable.â Bruce Willis returns as David Dunn, the security guard now business owner, who helps catch criminals by touching people and receiving telepathically a crime that has been committed. The business David owns is in something he knows well and that is security. His son, Joseph, who’s played by Spencer Treat Clark who played the part originally all those years ago, helps him capture a criminal post vision.
Then thereâs James McAvoy. Let’s talk about James McAvoy. He joins them as Kevin Wendell Crumb and, of course, ‘The Horde’ which means weâll also see Patricia, Dennis, The Beast, Barry, Heinrich, Jade, Ian, Mary Reynolds, Norma, Jalin, Kat, B.T., Mr. Pritchard, Hedwig etc., the personalities who live within Kevinâs brain and take over his body when they have the light that Kevin so desperately avoids. To them, holding the light is being the personality able to control the body completely and make their presence known to the outside world. Whichever one has or keeps the light has all the power. The Beast wants this power but can be controlled⊠for now. Casey Cooke, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, was the only person to survive The Beast and decides maybe she can help control him again. Look for her to step in at some point and give it a try.
Sarah Paulson makes her entrance as Dr. Ellie Staple. Sheâs convinced that these humans are delusional. She captures them and tells them they have three days to accept that reality, using their weaknesses to control the narrative. She keeps Glass heavily sedated, uses hypnotic strobe lights to control ‘The Horde’ and keeps David in a room that will fill with water and drown him if he tries anything stupid. These safeguards make it impossible for them to escape. Or do they? Kevinâs personalities, one by one, try to break the barrier. Here’s my small soapbox moment. I must say that it was wrong to see James McAvoyâs performance ignored after âSplit.â This time, with the way he goes in and out of characters continually, it would be a travesty if he were to be overlooked. To this film, he was an absolute godsend. Little by little, more is divulged and you grow more curious as to what the big reveal will be. You know it’s coming.
I believe that âGlassâ was the perfect way to advance the story. Without revealing too much, I want to make it known that I think you should avoid listening to any negative press the film might be getting and say to you, âJust go and see for yourself.â Sure there will be things to question, some quite obvious, but theyâre harmless issues and donât take anything from your belief in whatâs going on before you. The fascinating twists that Shyamalan once again delivers to you in this plot keeps you riveted and will leave you fulfilled. The cinematography, score, and intensity of the script are reason enough to see this but the acting by McAvoy is extraordinary. That said if you canât enjoy a sci-fi without using it as an opportunity to search for and find every mistake that renders it incapable of being real, maybe this isnât for you. However, if you want to see an excellent sci-fi film that thrills the hell out of you and captures what you so loved about M. Night Shyamalan in the first place, you will not be disappointed.
If youâre looking for reasons to see âCold Warâ Iâll give you a few. One is that itâs said to have received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. After seeing it, I can believe this. Another is that Rotten Tomatoes has certified it as 93% Fresh. On to my reasons as to why you should make a trek to the theatre to watch this movie. Yes. I said it. Thereâs no waiting for home viewing with a movie this alluring. Its beauty is sophisticated, profound and slight. It doesnât scream directly in your face but rather hits you when you revive the entity the film was to you from your memory. The black and white cinematography will look clean and quiet while whispers of genius glide across the screen and entices you to watch this lovely heartbreaking story of love. I promise you that youâll not be able to look away. Itâs a real treasure to observe. Part of why was the 4:3 aspect ratio used that allows the viewer to examine the picture as a piece of photographic art. By shrinking its scale, itâs also possible for the audience to see themselves in the characters or better relate to what theyâre going through.
In the story, we have two main characters named Zula and Wiktor. She is a student and heâs her teacher at a school that advocates for Polish folk music and dance. âCold Warâ recounts the tale of Zula (Kulig), whoâs a gifted singer, and Wiktor (Kot), her teacher and interestingly enough, a songwriter. When they meet, they fall instantly in love. Set in Poland in 1949, the lovers, who dream of being together once and for all, have not only their station in life but communism to worry about. Sadly, for the next fifteen years, this perfect pairing must perform a dance of hiding their relationship from everyone, while at the same time trying not to have the torch they carry for one another extinguished by their circumstances. They secretly meet one another whenever and wherever they can until they can stand it no longer and finally decide to leave and be together once and for all. Best laid plans, right? He leaves for the border where he waits for her to join him. However, afraid of what could happen to them, she doesnât meet him. Realizing sheâs not coming, he decides not to go back and goes on with her. Several years go by and during this time, she struggles deeply. Oh, if only she could find him aga⊠wait! Look! Here comes Wiktor who can always put a smile on her face. Well, not really. Though they do find one another, it isnât long before theyâre separated again. This storyline is repeated over and over. Theyâre doomed to a life of searching which is good for their art but terrible for their hearts.
Sheâs married when they meet once again in Paris. These scenes are the most rewarding. The music, and her performance, in particular, is outstanding. During this period, sheâs drunk all the time and theyâre both miserable but with so much working against them, how could anyone truly be happy? Whatâs most provocative about this ‘love story,’ is that when they find themselves together, it never works out. Itâs as if they have longed for it so deeply, thatâs all they know how to do. Wanting is one thing⊠having what you reach for is quite another. Who are Wiktor and Zula if not the two seeking one another? The ending, that Iâm not revealing to you here, is superb. It couldn’t have been improved upon. All of that said, describing this film does nothing for what it essentially is. Itâs magnificent. See it before Oscar season. It’ll most likely be everywhere. Â
FREE SOLO CLIMBS TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH SPECIAL ONE-WEEK IMAXÂź RELEASE NATIONWIDE AND IN CANADA, STARTING JAN. 11
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PLAYING AT DESERT RIDGE 18, ARIZONA MILLS 25
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âSeeing Honnold at the peak of his skill on the biggest screen possible is an experience for everybody to savor.â â Kenny Turan, The Los Angeles Times
âOne of the most arresting documentaries of the year. See the film on as big a screen as possible.â â Richard Larson, Vanity Fair
(NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES â DEC. 20, 2018) â After setting the highest per screen average for a documentary in its opening weekend and grossing $11 million at the box office to date, FREE SOLO continues its momentous theatrical run with a special one-week-only engagement in select IMAXÂź theaters across the U.S. and in Canada, beginning Jan. 11, 2019. The news follows this weekâs Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announcement including FREE SOLO in the list of 15 documentaries that will advance in awards consideration.
From award-winning filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned filmmaker, cinematographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin (MERU), FREE SOLO is a breathtaking portrait of the free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares for an unprecedented feat: climbing the face of the worldâs most famous rock … the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park ⊠without a rope.
Hailed by The New York Times as âan extraordinary gift to everyone who believes that the limit of human achievement is far from being reached,â the film has been honored with three Criticsâ Choice awards, including Most Innovative Documentary of the Year and Best Cinematography, and has also received nominations for PGA, IDA and Cinema Eye Honors.
The IMAX release of FREE SOLOwill be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX ExperienceÂź with proprietary IMAX DMRÂź (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theater geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
FREE SOLO is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and a sublime portrait of an athlete who exceeds our understanding of human physical ability and mental potential. The result is a triumph of human spirit.
âIMAXâs differentiated, immersive theatres make audiences feel as though they are there with Alex in Yosemite National Park, climbing El Capitan, and weâre really pleased to be able to bring this incredible, historic story to fans so they can now experience it in IMAX,â said Craig Dehmel, Head of Distribution at IMAX Entertainment.
âThe grandeur of El Capitan and the filmâs breathtaking cinematography will be spectacular in IMAX,â said Courteney Monroe, President, National Geographic Global Networks and Documentary Films. âAudiences have been filling theaters for months, uniting together to cheer for Alexâs staggering achievement. We are so grateful to IMAX for providing audiences the opportunity to experience the scale and ambition of this film in IMAX theaters.â Â
âWhen we were making this film, we could not have imagined the response we have received,â added directors Vasarhelyi and Chin. âTo be able to share Alexâs story of courage in the immersive IMAX experience is something weâve been working towards for over a year. Itâs the ultimate reward forus, and offers filmgoers and a chance to now see his historic and remarkable journey on the big IMAX screen.â Â
FREE SOLO premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September and has since won Audience Awards at the Toronto International Film Festival and Mill Valley Film Festival.
FREE SOLO is currently playing in select theaters and will be released in select IMAX theaters beginning Jan. 11, 2019. Visit freesolofilm.com for showtimes, and find an IMAX theater near you at imax.com/theaters.
The upside of âThe Upsideâ is that it promises a buddy comedy and delivers that and more. Itâs entertaining and humorous but goes deeper as a friendship between the two main characters grows. Itâs based off the French film âThe Intouchablesâ which is a story about a rich, white paraplegic who hires a black assistant. Everything about that in todayâs society seems untouchable but if you donât look at race, the filmâs quite charming. See it as two people helping each other and both learning from one another and youâll see the original vision or intent of Olivier Nakache and Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, the writers of âThe Intouchables,â message. That message is that friendship sees no color.
 âThe Upsideâ is about Phillip Lacasse (Cranston) a disabled billionaire confined to a wheelchair, on the search for a new employee. Heâs paralyzed from his neck down and, with the help of his secretary, Yvonne Pendleton (Kidman), heâs looking for a live-in caregiver. Easy enough premise. Phillip sees Dell Scott (Hart) move his way through to the front of the applicants and is intrigued. After introductions, he decides to make Dell an offer. Finding that the job isnât for him, Dell originally turns it down but recent events in his life have left him homeless. Once he finds out the offer comes with housing, he takes the position. This tests him because he rarely takes care of himself, let alone be needed to care for another manâs entire well-being. Dell has a son he isnât exactly father-of-the-year to so watching his character grow is possibly the biggest delight of the movie. There always seems to be some tension between the two men, be it testosterone or jealousy on both sides, but thatâs another part of the magic. Dell has to face that heâs never done anything for anyone but himself. And then there’s Phillip. He’s hiding in his misery and contempt for what he no longer has and needs to see what he does have. Dell learns to appreciate the finer things as he is forced to take Phil to the Opera and is introduced to new things such as fine art. On the other hand, Phil must finally confront the fact that the wife he lost to cancer isnât coming back. Heâs broken but alive and should value what he does have. Dell’s tactics help him concede that he needs to work on being happy.
 These characters are portrayed perfectly by pairing Cranston and Hart. It was a joy watching them get to know one another, learn from one another and also get irritated and annoyed with one another. These actors had impeccable chemistry. They never once tried to outperform the other or better each other, instead, worked in perfect tandem to bring their audience a story they could believe and possibly connect with. Iâve seen a lot of negative words being slung its way but ignore those. See this movie. âThe Upsideâ comes out this weekend. Go to the theatre. The story is restorative and satisfying, just what some might need today. I see it as a necessary reminder that weâre all in this together. Itâs loving, and youâll relish the fresh take on the buddy movie. It’s unique and itâs, quite simply, sweet.
Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studiosâ âCaptain Marvelâ is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universeâs most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.Â
The film stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, with Annette Bening, with Clark Gregg, and Jude Law.
Marvel Studiosâ âCaptain Marvelâ is produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Louis DâEsposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patricia Whitcher and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The story is by Nicole Perlman and Joe Shrapnel & Anna Waterhouse, and the screenplay is by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck and Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Jac Schaeffer.
WHAT:      THE LEGOŸ MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART Mini-Room Multi-City Tour
WHEN:           Saturday, January 26th Â
             Open to the Public: 10:00 am      Â
*event access on a first-come, first-served basis
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WHERE:Â Â Â Â Â Â Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
                   7014 East Camelback Road
             Scottsdale, AZ 85251
*located in the food court area, event is free
WHO:               Emmet and you! THE LEGOŸ MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART Mini-Room is a unique, limited-time only, traveling experience visiting 11 markets across the country leading up to the filmâs release in theaters on February 8, 2019. Fans will experience Bricksburg as never before, with a sneak peek into the world of LEGO hero Emmet, by visiting a hyper-detailed micro recreation version of his living room. Guests will be able to sit on the couch with Emmet and his pal Planty for a unique photo moment. This special photo can then be captured and delivered to the user in real-time via MMS or email.
*About the film:  The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, âThe LEGOŸ Movie 2: The Second Partâ reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. Itâs been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLOŸ invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt. The battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.
