Tag: SandraBullock

Practical Magic 2

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Practical Magic was released in 1998, but it wasn’t until many years later that it became a true cult classic. This is a film that I revisit every single year on Halloween. It is one of my all time favorites and when I heard that they were adapting Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic, I was hesitant. While we had the source material already and it wasn’t just some random legacy sequel, I did not know what to expect going into it. So I just tried to buckle myself up for the ride.

After the death of her second husband, Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) makes her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman) promise that they will never tell Sally’s daughters the truth about who they really are. Fast forward a few years and now Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams) are living normal lives and doing their normal jobs. But when Kylie tells her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Marideuna) that she loves him, it prompts the curse that has engulfed their family for centuries to threaten his life. Willing to do whatever it takes to save him, Kylie travels to England in search of the truth of her family and to find out how to finally end the curse once and for all.

Stepping back into this world was effortless. Seeing the house and Maria’s Island once more on the big screen was just such a treat. The original was intimate yet impactful and luckily the sequel managed to build upon those same sentiments. We got to learn more about the lore and be witness to another side of witchcraft which was delightfully creepy and depicted in such a cool way.

Having Bullock and Kidman reprise their iconic roles as the Owens sisters was a gift I didn’t know I needed. They effortlessly fell back into these characters, tapping into all those things that made them so lovable in the first place. Their chemistry, always at the forefront of the film, is as strong as ever. I could literally watch them onscreen together a million times over. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest also returned as the aunts Franny and Jet and it was equally as lovely to see them again too. Taking over as Kylie and Antonia are King and Williams. I thought they were perfectly cast and King really helped carry the emotional weight of the film. Unfortunately Williams was severely underutilized to the point where I almost forgot she was there. They really couldn’t have found a way to include her into Kylie’s whole arc? I can’t forget to mention Lee Pace who was also along for the ride as a warlock named Ian Wright. Obviously introduced as a new love interest for Sally, I did enjoy getting to know his character and thought that he fit in well.

The film isn’t perfect. The script is clunky and often times quite cringy with its dialogue. But it was also very funny and it captured that same essence that I feel every time I watch the first one. The first film was also a bit off in tone, campy if you will, and I do think that this one just elevated that. The bond of sisterhood and the message of girl power is still very prominent and that is why it works.

Overall, I may have been unsure of Practical Magic 2, but it exceeded my expectations. I think fans of the original will enjoy it for all the nostalgic throwbacks (and there are plenty) as well as the dynamic duo that is Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. This truly has made me even more excited for the fall and for spooky season to begin.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Bullet Train

Published on by Daniela3 Comments

Ladybug (Brad Pitt) is an assassin who has been unlucky in his latest missions. Now he finds himself on a train going from Tokyo to Kyoto where all he wants to do is his job. What he doesn’t bargain for is the many other assassins that are traveling along with him, all for their own purposes. What started off as something seemingly easy turns out to be the complete opposite.

One of the summer’s hottest blockbusters, Bullet Train is an action adventure romp that doesn’t let up for one moment. It starts off with a bang and keeps going until the credits roll. The fight sequences, in particular, were entertaining and exciting. Sometimes it was as if they came from a comic book and while the gore was pretty graphic, it was executed in a way that made it funny.

Brad Pitt is one of the best actors of our generation and he knocked it out of the park as Ladybug. He carried the movie on his back and had great interactions with his fellow costars. Other standouts for me include Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). They captured every scene they were in and made me laugh constantly. I wish we’d had more of them because they were just that good. And while we didn’t see much of her, I loved Sandra Bullock’s role as Maria, Ladybug’s handler.

The movie may have boasted even more well known names such as Joey King, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, Logan Lerman and Zazie Beetz but they weren’t featured nearly as much as I would have liked. I guess that is one of the downsides of having such a large cast of characters. There were a couple here that we didn’t learn anything about which was a pity.

With bright neon lights and a killer soundtrack complete with Japanese covers of Stayin’ Alive and Holding Out For A Hero, Bullet Train sucked me into a thrilling adventure. There were a couple of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat and while it was totally bonkers at times, I was able to let go and get lost in it.

Rating: ♥♥♥

The Lost City

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock), a novelist who is well known for her romance novels, is beginning to question her future in the industry. While on tour for her latest book with her cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), Loretta is kidnapped by billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) who is convinced that she can lead him to the treasure from her story. Alan, willing to do whatever it takes to prove that he is more than a pretty face to Loretta, sets off on a journey to save her.

What makes The Lost City such a fun romp is its cast. With Sandra Bullock’s triumphant return to romcoms, this is one that is not to be missed. Her chemistry with Channing Tatum was surprisingly sweet and enjoyable to watch on screen. However, Daniel Radcliffe was the scene stealer here. His bratty portrayal of Fairfax was a total hoot; please cast him in more mainstream roles in the future! Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Loretta’s publisher Beth provided some extra comic relief and how can I leave out Brad Pitt’s cameo? He should have had a larger role in the film for sure.

The movie started off with some great jokes and one liners, though that did seem to dwindle as the plot progressed. I understand that the adventure element was just as important, but it would have been nice to have more of a balance. I did appreciate how the quest came together and to see all the beautiful landscapes was just breathtaking.

The Lost City was one of my most anticipated titles of the year and it definitely delivered. It’s perfect for date night too. Part action adventure and part romance, it has something for everyone to appreciate.

Rating: ♥♥♥