Christmas Spirit dismantled...

Christmas Spirit dismantled...

Christ, the Savior is born.
Heaven and earth rejoiced.
Righteousness now available to all.
Independence from sin at the threshold.
Studied a prophet, testified as a man.
Taught the masses of love, hope, and mercy.
Made fishermen, fishers of men.
Advent of grace draws nigh.
Sacrificed in the greatest act of selflessness and salvation.

Sealed in a tomb upon his death.
Pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.
In the morning, the stone rolled away.
Resurrected, defying death and the grave,
Inviting all to find eternity in Him.
The living God giving us His greatest gift.

Merry Christmas to all!

#JustaQuickiePlease: Leap Review

A tale of two Erics and neither of them are good.  Directors Eric Summer and Eric Warin bring us the story of a young French orphan desperate to fulfill her dream to become a world-class dancer.  Filled with contradictory morals, poor GCI sequencing (the animation can be so hackneyed that many times the vocals outpace the graphics' ability to portray them), flawed humor, and stale, stereotypical performances, this predictable yarn follows all the fable staples as unentertainingly as possible.  As both a musical and comedy, it falls short, even missing the mark when it awkwardly attempts to manufacture suspense.   0 out of 5 Kernels: ninety minutes of sheer boredom.

#JustaQuickiePlease: Valerian Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Review

What if you took all of the wondrous imagery of a Luc Besson film; his inspired costuming, stunning characterizations, avant-garde effects, bordering on sheer artistry, and unorthodox humor and performances, and quickly and efficiently placed them into a more than two-hour snorefest that is nearly intolerable to sit through.   With mind-numbingly boring portrayals by a supposed A-List cast and story that drolls on and on when it could have been told rather expeditiously, with far more effect, this film falls epically short of the hype presented ad nauseam prior to its release.  I can only hope the French comic series this was based on contains a far better story than what was delivered to the silver screen.  Unlike Besson's Fifth Element, which bombed at the box office and then quickly became a cult classic and modern fantasy masterpiece, and deservedly so, this outing is best left forgotten among the Walmart and Best Buy discount bins.  0 out of 5 Kernels; the equivalent of painting a turd gold and pretending that it alters the fact, that it is in fact, anything more than, a pile of sh#$. 

#JustaQuickiePlease: The Hitman's Bodyguard Review

Deadpool and Nick Fury kill a bunch of people while setting a new record for the sheer number of times the word MotherF@$ker is used.  Oh, and Wade is dating Elektra, can't fail to mention that.  Now you have an exact idea of what this movie is.  Fun, funny, action-packed, without offering an iota of an excuse for its gratuitous violence, profanity, and shenanigans (oh, how I love using that word), this has all the style and substance of a wild rollercoaster ride, without attempting to be anything more or less.   Reynolds is unashamedly, well Reynolds; Jackson is Jackson, Oldman becomes every villain he has ever portrayed, and Hayek plays her role, so, over the top, it defies gravity.  With all that said, it works; predictably, shallowly, and shamelessly designed to entertain and thrill and not a thing more.  It is, quite simply, simple; designed to challenge the limits of every stuntman involved and blow up as much crap as possible, with the only standard being, that they capture, precisely, each and every the slow-motion walk away.   Translation, it is a testosterone filled joy ride in a rocket car.   Bonus, look for an absolutely subtle yet obvious nod to Ryan's man-crush, Jackman towards the end.  3 out of 5 Kernels; I truly believe Reynolds is the Merc with the Mouth and just makes these movies to pay the bills in between spandex wearing gigs.

#JustaQuickiePlease: Justice League

Well, it's official, not even the almighty Whedon can save the DC cinematic universe.  Congrats, Snyder and Warner Brothers, you have single-handedly and so thoroughly ruined this genres' two most potent icons, you just gave Clooney a definitive pass and made Batman and Robin nearly watchable...nearly.  This is an absolute mess of a film possessing; an irritating predictably, nullifying any real tension or suspense, ill-timed and forced humor, water downed characters, so much so they nearly drown in their own ineffectuality, chaotic action scenes, that confuse rather than impress, and excessively, almost laughably so, bad CGI.   With more plot holes than spoiled swiss cheese and a complete disrespect for the source material, this film fails from scene one and doesn't stop, with a feral relentlessness, until the two ridiculous end credit scenes roll.   Yes, we finally get a heroic Superman, but by this point, who cares.  In addition,  Batman is reduced to an unwatchable fool, rivaling West's parodical incarnation without intention.  Let's not forget about the gratuitous focal points on Gadot's posterior, the annoying surfer boy persona of Aquaman, and a Flash who is more Urkel than Barry.   I was truly and fully waiting for his catchphrase to be, "Did I do that?"   There is no doubt the final manifestation of this flick was haphazardly pieced together in a failed attempt to somehow please both the fans and studio executives who obviously possess a marked disdain for the genre and product as a whole.  0 out of 5 Kernels; it's so bad, not even crying out Martha will save you.

#JustaQuickiePlease: War for the Planet of the Apes Review

Reeves continues to amaze with the impeccable way he effortlessly and wonderfully bestows his talent and vision to the masses via his cinematic ventures.   This time with his take on the third outing of the Ape's legacy.  Keeping the mythos intact, Matt weaves an intricate and stunning tale embracing his own originality while protecting and embellishing upon the chronology of the tale.   Caesar's story comes to its end, however, we quickly realize the build-up to an inevitable reboot of the franchise's origins looms with four decades worth of anticipation.  This is truly Serki's finest role, taking the renowned character actor beyond his CGI incarnation to something deeply sincere and authentic, connecting with the audience in an almost supernatural way.  Harrelson's villain convincingly epitomizes the evil that this series has worked so diligently to expose, a distinctly human carelessness and entitlement that the original author always believed would eventually lead to its own extinction.  In other words, we are the weapon of our own destruction.  With a well-crafted script, stellar performances, and stunning visuals, that immerse the viewer in both this prophetically tragic dystopian future and allegorical manifestation of the horrors of war and its resulting desperation, this third outing is both hard to watch and impossible to turn away from.  4 out of 5 Kernels; the primates, again, reign supreme on the silver screen.

#JustaQuickiePlease: Thor: Ragnarok Review

Three time's a charm; and never has that expression had more weight and significance than in describing this latest outing for the God of Thunder.   The first in the series was fun and engaging.  The sequel was disappointing at best, with only slight moments of entertainment emanating from the, far too few scenes, that Hemsworth and Hiddleston shared.  The third, however, not only redeems the Nordic franchise but surpasses all expectations, becoming one of Marvel's best cinematic ventures to date.   With a perfect mix of potent levity, thrills, and storytelling, Ragnorak proves once again why Marvel lords over the genre with a sovereign predominance.   The simple truth, they know how to tell a good tale; successfully fleshing out their canon, time and time again.   Chris and Tim are pure magic again, Ruffalo's Banner/Hulk is awe-inspired, and Blanchett's Hela competes with Hiddleston's Loki as one of the best villains the comic book empire has incarnated to date.   However, it is director Waititi's Korg that absolutely steals the show, inserting his dry and sharp humor with a surgeon's precision and timing.  Unlike, the continuing DC disasters, Marvel is able to reboot and combine classic canon with a near perfection, this time seamlessly combining the apocalyptic Asgardian saga with the much anticipated envisioning of Planet Hulk.  Although we, as Fanboys and gals, always want more, the introduction to this beloved behemoth's greatest story arch was well crafted and executed.  Following on the heels of the epic silver screen win with Guardians 2, this triquel doesn't just enhance that victory, it one-ups it, with the ferocity of the unjolly green giant himself.  Look for some truly cool Easter Eggs, tying off of a few annoying loose ends, the first time Goldblum and Neil have been in the same film together since Jurassic Park, and, finally, the cameo of all cameos.  5 out of Kernels; A truly mighty effort that wields powerfully funny and exciting results. 

Marvel vs. DC Dance Off

#Marvel vs. #DC Dance Off at #HeroesHopeandSmiles for #HurricaneRelief...

Special thanks to Neil Lee Griffin and his wife Jessie of Antler Hill...

www.antlerhillarts.com

To our tireless and talented photographer, Omar Luna of OMAR LUNA Photography...

And, our amazing and selfless cosplayers...

Anastasia Lawrence...#GothamsSelina
Lacy Homola...#BlackCanary
Luke Wharton...#GreenArrow
Rick Lawrence...#DarkArcher/#MalcolmMerlin
Dennis Walls...#Penguin
Charles Debruhl...#KidFlash
Donnie Goble...#CaptainAmerica
Brittany Goble...#WonderWoman
Cece Lynn...#Supergirl
Bridget Quinn...#BlackWidow
Ellise Sherman...#Domino
Kole Worley...#Deadpool
Kyle Peckham...#Beastboy
Ashley Pump...#MsMarvel
Jessica Rossmann...#Batgirl
Jason Thomas...#Thor

www.facebook.com/HeroesHopesandSmiles/
www.facebook.com/beyourownherocosplay
www.beyourownherocosplay.com

#beyourownhero #DarkKnight #Batman  #SamaritansPurse #IlusionsandConfusions #AMC #AMCHickory15andBigD #BigD

#Beyourownherocosplay @ #JacksonvilleComicCon

One week away!!!

#beyourownherocosplay will be hosting and judging the Cosplay Contest on Saturday, November 4th from 10am until 5:30pm!

#TheLakeWylieBatman #DarkKnight #Batman #JacksonvilleComicCon #Cosplay #CosplayContest

www.facebook,com/beyourownherocosplay
www.beyourownherocosplay.com
www.jacksonvillecon.com

#JustaQuickiePlease: The Mummy (2017) Review

After watching some films, one sits back, as the credits roll, and simply asks the question why?  Why would someone think that was a good idea and actually spend millions of dollars in a seemingly absurd attempt to bring it to cinematic life?  This is a prime example of just that.  In addition, how many times has Cruise sold his soul to remain relevant, as any iota of talent seems to be determinedly void, ridiculously miscast in every single role of late?  This is, by far, hands down, one of the most pathetic and disastrous remakes of our time.  In one fell swoop, Kurtzman, manages to wholly destroy any credible as a director he had or has hopes to earn with a universal flop, pardon the pun, that turns an already tough to convince horror concept, especially among this current generation, into a literal caricature of itself, while at the same time, making the Fraser outing appear to be a cinematic masterpiece in comparison.  Boutella's undead diva is as ridiculous as they come, overselling every scene like a used car salesman trying to make up a deficit the last weekend of a slow month.  In addition, Wallis fulfills her role as the stereotypical female sidekick trying way too hard to not be the stereotypical female sidekick in a nearly glorious silliness.  I won't even begin to wonder how much this studio paid Crowe to play a Jekyll/Hyde incarnation that unintentionally and immediately parodies itself.  Okay, some of the effects are cool, as they would be in any recent Playstation or Xbox game, so nothing notable there.  With a goofy twist at the end that feels absolutely fitting, this is yet further proof as to why box offices numbers continue to drop and how truly disconnected Hollyweird executives are from reality.  0 out of 5 Kernels; some things should just most certainly stay dead and buried, Tom's career for starters. 

#JustaQuickiePlease: Stephen King's IT (2017) Review

With the exception of a rare few, Stand By Me being the most notable example, most of King's novels, for some odd reason, have not translated well to either the small or silver screens.  In addition, as many know, unless one has lived under a fairly large rock for the last decade or so, this is not the first outing for one of the horror master's most iconic stories.  The initial was a TV mini-series, boasting a fairly all-star cast for its time, including the legendary Tim Curry in the notoriously gruesome role of Pennywise the clown.  Despite, its 90's limitations on effects, the performances and storytelling were surprisingly powerful, and, although Curry now strangely despises the portrayal, his villain was quite terrifying.   So one would think, seeing how King's film legacy has been so spotty at best, that taking the huge risk of rebooting a win would be somewhat nonsensical.  However, this cinematic retelling does what few "re-envisionings" have come even close to accomplishing.  Not only is it a true testament to its literary source, but it is also a truly masterful film, combining utterly engaging and authentic performances, with a remarkable script, stunning cinematography, and quite frightening effects that wholly disturb without becoming cumbersome or lessening an otherwise incredible production.  The young cast is stellar, flawless in their genuineness, harkening back to what Reiner captured with the aforementioned Stand by Me, and, dare I say, improving upon it.   Although Bill Skarsgård's incarnation of the demonic clown is inspired and should be sincerely lauded, it is, however, Lillis and Wolfhard (Stranger Things) who determinedly occupy center stage with their remarkable portrayals.  All of this well earned praise is only further astounded by the fact that this is the work of a relatively unknown director, Andy Muschietti, who has, in one outing, wholly proved his credibility as an artist and visionary.  Overall, the best King film on the market and one of the best horror flicks to arrive within the last two decades.  5 out 5 Kernels; let's hope this is the beginning of great things to come for this author's future theatrical prospects and that the upcoming sequel will be as formidable as its predecessor. 

#JustaQuickiePlease: Colossal

I think this film lasted all of two weeks in the theater and what a sin that was.  Mix an Indie feel with a love for the Godzillaesque monster movies of our youth, a well-crafted script that is filled with heart and subtle surprises, and stellar performances from its cast and you have one quite remarkable little flick.   In addition, this director is able to shift from light hearted, to heartfelt and hopeful to outright dark, with a fluidity rarely seen in cinema today.   It's hard to label, as it would diminish the totality of the production, so think something between a dark comedy and conscientious drama with a smattering of surprisingly sophisticated effects that enhance not overpower this thoroughly engaging and satisfying take on an utterly unique science fiction concept.  Hathaway is brilliant,  Sudeikis is genuine and unnerving, and the remaining ensemble compliments each other with a definitive sincerity.   In a quagmire of the wrote and repetitive, it's refreshing to find a clarity of creativity and true talent.  4 out of 5 Kernels; this was truly a colossal success.

#JustaQuickiePlease: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Director Guy Ritchie decided to take Conan the Barbarian,  The Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Assassins Creed, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and combine all of those plotlines and concepts into one film and then add in the most CGI PlayStation 4 graphics he could find.   So, you can only imagine how that worked out, and I would seriously recommend the imagining part over wasting one minute on this effects heavy, performance light, medieval disaster.   The cast oversells every line of dialogue as if they are paid by commission only and, like CW's Arrow with its incessant flashbacks, Ritchie spends more than half the film either rehashing or piece mealing dream sequences together in a futile attempt to make up for the absolute stale and predictable plot.  The real star of this flick is the sword, yes, the sword, which is too, a hodgepodge of borrowed ideas, lying somewhere between Final Fantasy, Star Wars, and Frozen, if you can believe it.    There are better adaptations of this twice told tale, as long as you multiply the twice by about ten.   1 out of 5 Kernels: got to give them credit for the best use of stylized contact lenses, that has to be some kind of record.

The #DuskSeries #RedddollCosplay and #BeYourOwnHero Cosplay will be at #FlorenceComicCon, Sunday, September 10th from 10am until 6pm!

Pre-order your copy of the #SeasonOne DVD...
Buy signed prints of your favorite cast members...
Meet #MedievalBatman and Megan Rogers of www.facebook.com/redddollcosplay...

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#BestFansEver
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#JustaQuickiePlease: Marvel: The Defenders (TV Series 2017) Review

The producers of the first outing of Marvel's Daredevil brings us the cumulation of 5 seasons worth of gradually worsening story telling, mostly solid character development, and some of the most breathtaking fight scenes ever captured on screen (not counting Iron Fist).  The Defenders are, in essence, a Nolanesque take on The Avengers,  removing all the cool powers, tech, humor, and flair of the Whedonverse and replacing it with a dark, gritty, mostly realistic tone and feel.   What was once an inspired launch to a more hard core approach to some of Marvel's E-List heroes, has now become the typical cash cow, trading substance, and sophistication for a hurried product rampant with flawed progressive ideology, ad nauseam exposition, bland villains, and either overt predictability or outright unbelievability.   Daredevil uno and dos gave us two of the best comic features to ever grace the small, or silver screen, as well as, The Kingpin, Elektra, and Punisher fandom deserved.  Jessica Jones redefined what a comic book film or series is and gave us the most frightening bad guy in the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Cosmos.  The first half of Luke Cage provided a long awaited, well earned, dignity to one of my favorite printed heroes.  Then, without warning, the shark jumped itself, as the latter episodes of Cage became outright propaganda and delivered one of the most disappointing climaxes in geek history.   Kung Fu Justin Timberlake followed, um...I mean Iron Fist, which was mostly one dragon sized train wreck, rampant with horrific choreographer, frustrating redundancy, and the birthing of the infamous excess exposition.  The Defenders should have been the saving grace, instead, it provided a fitting bow to a crap package.  Luke Cage can't get hurt until the plot requires him to.  Jessica Jones can lift an elevator, but has a problem with the equivalent of the Hand's Yoga instructor.   Daredevil can best a stairwell full of thugs but struggles when it comes to one on one.  Then there is the Karate Kid, who is an annoying mix of Eddie Haskel, Ricky Shroeder, and that one Cobra Kai kid who got kicked out because he just couldn't cut it.  Add in the most vanilla villain they could conjure, and the fact that club dread's only real weapon is unending exposition, and you have an absolute profanity when it comes to concluding a story arch.   The only highlight is Elektra who can kill entire rooms of highly trained ancient ninjas but has a bit of trouble taking out her former beau...which wasn't predictable at all, total shocker.   In the end, the script was inferior, the action cool, and humor hit or miss, mostly the latter.   Let's hope The Punisher will bring us back to the glory days when Mike Murdoch first graced the Netflix stage.  Not to mention the set up for a possible Born Again plotline.  2 out of 5 Kernels: Still trying to figure out what exactly they were defending, and, especially, how a skyscraper haphazardly imploded without affecting a single building around it.

#JustaQuickiePlease: Ghost in the Shell (2017) Review

This film has come to represent so much.  For me, it is undoubtedly, the Blade Runner of a new generation.  For the world, it was an example of the power of censorship by the easily offended, ridiculously hypocritical, ignorant and entitled social justice warriors who inundate and contaminate every avenue of the web in all of its incarnations.   Visually enchanting, majestically filmed and scored, this live action remake not only honors the original anime but takes it to new and stunning levels.   Johansson is perfectly cast, as the strangely stoic and mechanical, yet deeply disturbing and mesmerizing Major.  Her supporting cast is equally remarkable, as they easily, organically bring their individual characters to illustrious life. The story isn't new, not just because it is a retelling of its animated predecessor, but the idea itself has become an overdone action fare staple.  However, it is masterfully told, unbelievably making it feel fresh and unique.  The action is breathtaking, as are the effects, which blend seamlessly into each scene, enhancing instead of overwhelming the plot.   Sanders may have failed with his Snow White sequel, but there is no doubt, this will quickly become his swan song.   4 out of 5 Kernels: This is what filmmaking should look and sound like, creating a total experience that inspires the imagination and occupies all attention.

#JustaQuickiePlease: Kong: Skull Island Review

So, we tried to have a cinematic genius like Peter Jackson, make a good King Kong film, and failed. What do we do now?  I know! Let's have an indie comedy director, with two whole films to his name, try his hand at it.  What could possibly go wrong?   Umm...how about two hours of disappointment.  However, if Ray Harryhausen ever dabbled in CGI, this would be the film he would make, as the effects are the only star of this feature that actually delivers.   What, in essence, is the cast as Marvel's Avengers 2.5, this stellar cast should have brought us epic performances as enormous as a skyscraper-sized ape.  Instead, the acting is stale and disingenuous, riddled with poorly executed Bathos style humor meant to defuse tension but instead quickly becomes counterproductive in setting the right tone of tension needed.   Even when these behemoths battle, we don't really care who or what gets caught under foot, or tail for that matter, because the character development is so superficial, every portrayal feels undeniably stereotypical and predictable.  I will give some points to the writers for their attempt at a modern take on Moby Dick, making the King of Monsters Sam Jackson's white whale. Instead, his performance is so over the top, it borders on silly,  diluting any symbolism or merit.  There is a very cool end credits scene leading into a bigger universe, which now seems to be a moral imperative for any and all productions these days.  However, Godzilla was just slightly worse than this monster foray, so a clash of these titans, maybe more hype than horror.  2 out of 5 Kernels; Please let this be the last reboot of Mighty Joe's bigger cousin, or are we going to have a freshman film school student direct the next one and really kill the franchise.

It's Here!!!

It's Here!!!

The first, of two, #SeasonTwo #Trailers...

https://www.facebook.com/duskseries/videos/1460345167389107/

Debuted today @ #CharlotteComicon #BestOneDayCon
www.charlottecomicon.com

Special thanks to Superhero Tyler Suggs and our amazing cast and crew for their remarkable work....
4 locations, 2 states, in 14 hours....

The next trailer will be posted in October.

Original music score composed and performed by Neil Lee Griffin of Antler Hill.
www.antlerhillarts.com

#DuskSeries #SeasonOne #TrailerDebut #BestFansEver
#Dusk #Darknesswillfall #vampire #werewolf #witch #magic #supernatural #paranormal #series #webseries #livestream #FacebookLive #DieforMal #FentoninAction #HailtotheChief #FallenAngel #Evelyn #Alchemist #Majestic #TheHat

#DuskSeries...A major milestone!!!

A major milestone!!!

Thank you fans!

You have made our series a bigger success than we ever could have imagined!

Wait until you see what we have in store for you in #SeasonTwo!!!!

#1000

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#Dusk #Darknesswillfall #vampire #werewolf #witch #magic #supernatural #paranormal #series #webseries #livestream #FacebookLive #FentonInAction #DieforMal #FallenAngel #Wolf #Evelyn #Alchemist #Majestic #TheHat #Nathaniel

#CharlotteComiCon and #DuskSeries #DVDRelease update!

As we broadcasted at #CapeFearCon today, we have pushed back out our official DVD Release until October 31st, 2017.

We did this to ensure the highest quality production for our loyal fans and followers, and to guarantee, we are able to fill the DVD chock full of special features.

The DVD will NOW include:
Interactive menus
The full collection of LIVE episodes
The Majestic Cut (full length, polished, feature version of the series with soundtrack by Neil Lee Griffin and special effects)
Theme song by Neil Lee Griffin
Mal's Theme (featured in Season Two) by Amos Holt
Majestic Cut with Ron Rossmann and Tyler Suggs Commentary
Majestic Cut with Dennis Walls, James Hurley, and Megan Rogers Commentary
Gag Reel (s)
James Hurley Interview
Dennis Walls Interview
Original IndieGoGo Video with cast interviews
Unused footage and pics from Season One
Season Two Trailer and Title Sequence

However, fans can still PRE-PURCHASE the DVD at Charlotte Comicon Summer Show August 20th 2017....

We will have 150 pre-sales available!

Pre-Purchased  CHARLOTTECOMICON orders will receive the following:
A signed print of their choice
Exclusive access to online footage, not on the DVD
A chance to win our full-size con banner signed by the entire cast (email address required)
The first sneak peek at Episode 15 (Season Two) in February

The www.facebook.com/duskseries site will go live with its Pre-Orders on Oct.1!

ALL pre-purchased DVDs will be shipped out Oct. 31st!

*Please allow 5 - 7 days for shipping*

We apologize for the delay, but know our fans will truly appreciate the final product and the time we are taking to ensure they have something incredibly special!

And, remember, we are still looking for the following parts for undisclosed characters...

Tall, blonde female with athletic build, mid-20s
African American female, athletic build, mid-20s
Stocky male who can relay an authentic Irish accent
Unique male, varying build, comedic timing a must
Assorted Male and Female Extras...
All roles are unpaid, must be willing to sign a waiver and NDA...
Message our Dusk Series page for details!

Auditions will be from 4pm until the end of the con.

Our panel will be at 10:45am...so don't miss it!

We will be debuting the #SeasonTwo Trailer, introducing the cast from Season Two, hosting a Q&A with the entire cast, and a live performance by Amos Holt of his original composition, Mal's Theme!

Cast members will be selling and signing prints from 12pm until 3pm!

#BestOneDayCon
#Dusk #Darknesswillfall #vampire #werewolf #witch #magic #supernatural #paranormal #series #webseries #livestream #FacebookLive #DieforMal #FentoninAction #HailtotheChief #FallenAngel #Evelyn #Alchemist #Majestic #TheHat