Thursday, April 28, 2022

NEW TRAILER FOR ORIGINAL MOVIE “CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS” PREMIERING MAY 20

 


Disney+ released a new trailer and key art for the original movie “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.” A reboot comeback 30 years in the making, the hybrid live-action/CG animated action-comedy catches up with the former Disney Afternoon television stars in modern-day Los Angeles. “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” premieres May 20, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.

 

“Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” stars John Mulaney (“Saturday Night Live”) as Chip, Andy Samberg (“Palm Springs”) as Dale, and KiKi Layne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”). Also joining the cast are Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”), Eric Bana (“Dirty John”), Flula Borg (“Pitch Perfect 2”), Dennis Haysbert (“24”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Schmigadoon!”), Tress MacNeille (“The Simpsons”), Tim Robinson (“I Think You Should Leave”), Seth Rogen (“Pam and Tommy”), J.K. Simmons (“Being the Ricardos”), Chris Parnell (“Saturday Night Live”). The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer (“Saturday Night Live”), written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”), and is produced by Todd Lieberman (“Wonder”) and David Hoberman (“Beauty and the Beast”), with Alexander Young (“Extinction”) and Tom Peitzman serving as executive producers.

 

In “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” Chip and Dale are living amongst cartoons and humans in modern-day Los Angeles, but their lives are quite different now. It has been decades since their successful television series was canceled, and Chip (voice of Mulaney) has succumbed to a life of suburban domesticity as an insurance salesman. Dale (voice of Sandberg), meanwhile, has had CGI surgery and works the nostalgia convention circuit, desperate to relive his glory days. When a former castmate mysteriously disappears, Chip and Dale must repair their broken friendship and take on their Rescue Rangers detective personas once again to save their friend’s life. 

 

The Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers Original Soundtrack with score by composer Brian Tyler will be released by Walt Disney Records on May 20.

Thursday, April 21, 2022

New Trailer and Poster for Pixar's "Lightyear"

 


Check out a new trailer for Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear,” revealing new details about the upcoming sci-fi action adventure. The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda. A new poster and images are also available. 

 

The film features the voices of Chris Evans as accomplished Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison and Darby Steel, respectively, and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”), produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”) and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“The Batman,” “Up”), “Lightyear” opens only in theaters on June 17, 2022.


Monday, April 18, 2022

Teaser Trailer and Poster for Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder”

 


A new trailer and poster are now available for Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder,” offering long-awaited clues to what’s in store for the God of Thunder. The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late. Directed by Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Jojo Rabbit”) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, “Thor: Love and Thunder” opens in theaters July 8, 2022.

 

Monday, April 4, 2022

4K Digital Review: Death On The Nile


Based on Agatha Christie's novel of the same name, Death on the Nile, is the sequel to 2017's Murder on the Orient Express. Detective Hercule Poirot vacation in Egypt becomes a search for a murderer after a picture-perfect couples honeymoon is cut tragically short. This tale of passion and jealousy is filled with twists and turns until the shocking finale. The cast here is solid with fantastic performances by Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, and Russell Brand. In fact this may be Gadot's finest role and goes toe to toe as the best actor in the film with Branagh. 


Video:

The streaming 4K is superb as the movie is native 4K and shot in 70mm. The film is bright and vibrant with great details and sharpness. My only complaint on the clarity is that some of the green screen is so obvious that it took me out of the film for a moment. The scope of the film is big and watching it, the rooms and all of Egypt, feels wide and spacious. Colors are bright and bold. Details such  as fabrics are very clear. Skin tones and facial features look like you are seeing the actors through a window. 

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track here is solid. Vocals are crisp and clear as you would expect. The score soars and helps build the tension of the movie. Ambient sounds surround you while the sounds of gunshots or a falling boulder or two are loud and create the desired impact. 

Bonus Features*

Featurettes

  • Death on the Nile: Novel to Film – Explore the new vision for Agatha Christie’s classic novel DEATH ON THE NILE, and how Kenneth Branagh and screenwriter Michael Green collaborated with Christie’s estate to bring a new twist to this story of love and murder.
  • Agatha Christie: Travel Can Be Murder – The story behind the book connects with Christie’s own love of travel, and especially Egypt and its secrets. Her legacy continues through her family and new generations of filmmakers and actors, all at once contributing to the immortality of her novels.
  • Design on the Nile – The setting, the costumes, the photography, all contribute to the Agatha Christie touch. We take a fun tour of this “ship of suspects” and learn details about the overall look and design of everything from the characters to the environment.
  • Branagh/Poirot – Kenneth Branagh is a one-of-a-kind artist who can switch hats with exceptional skill, playing Poirot one moment and directing the next. This piece pays tribute to Branagh’s ability to stay connected to his cast and creative team through it all.


Deleted Scenes

  • The Market
  • Poirot's Cabin
  • Rosalie and Bouc Outside Temple
  • Windlesham Jogging
  • Poirot Discusses Case
  • Poirot and Bouc Approach Jackie
  • Confronting Bouc and the Otterbournes
  • Poirot Orders Books

Conclusion:

Death on the Nile is a wonderful film that will make for a great murder-mystery movie night. The cast is exceptional, the film transfer is vibrant with a solid Dolby Atmos track. The bonus features add some nice perspective as well some depth to the film. 

Death on the Nile is now available for digital download and available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on April 5, 2022. 

*The digital download was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of review. The opinions expressed are solely mine.*