The Blade Runner 2049 teaser is truly a tease. Capping at a minute and a half, we see that Harrison Ford is continuing his role of Rick Deckard and Ryan Gosling as Detective K who needs Deckard's help to unearth a long-buried secret. I'm glad that one of the original writers, Hampton Fancher, is returning to write this sequel. So lower your volumes a bit and watch me scream my head off every five seconds. This is going to be a good one!

Like most people, I was skeptical about Blade Runner getting a reboot, sequel, or whatever Hollywood is always concocting up to ruin all our favorite original films. But once I heard Denis Villeneuve's name attached to the project, my disdain quickly turned into elation because that is one man that can do no wrong! Villeneuve has consistently released some of the most groundbreaking and thought-provoking films in the last decade to shows that he can play with the big dogs in Hollywood on his own terms. And that's not something to fuck with. 

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October was by far my favorite month as it was Beyond Fest (see reviews) and Halloween all in one month so you know it was absolutely bonkers! Beyond Fest is LA's biggest and baddest genre film festival in LA and even though it's my 4th year attending the festival, as always it reigned chaos! In addition to watching as many horror films as my brain can handle (ie: 10 Horror Masterpieces), I saw breathtaking and humanistic films like Denis Villeneuve's Arrival, The Eagle Huntress, Moonlight, and We Are X! Many of these films possessed a universal message about the inspiring power of the human spirit and a powerful look at just what it means to be human. As you can see, October did not disappoint! 

September Film Favorites // August Film Favorites

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Year: 2016

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Writer: Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken, Damian Chazelle

Cinematographer: Jeff Cutter

Cast: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr.

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: PG-13
Time: 103 mins.

Just when we didn't think we needed another sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane proves that another rendition of the same material can work with a razor-sharp script and powerhouse performances. I had not watch the first Cloverfield film but as I've heard, 10 Cloverfield Lane is more like a cousin film rather than a sequel. Set in the same realm, Michelle (Winstead) wakes up after surviving a horrible accident, to find herself trapped in a cellar by a doomsday prepper (Goodman) who insists that he saved her life from the apocalyptic catastrophe that is occurring outside. It's a true nightmare when you have to decide which version of the a nightmare is more bearable, the human or extraterrestrial form?

10 Cloverfield Lane is one hell of a directorial debut feature by Dan Trachtenberg who utilizes his knit-tight and well-paced script to its full potential. It's clever, grounded, and one exhilarating ride that keeps you guessing till the very end! It's been a while since I've left a theater thinking "What a fantastic and well-done movie!". You have never seen John Goodman this good and he will seriously scare the pants off of you! And of course, the lovely Mary Elizabeth Winstead is incredible to watch as she commands every scene to escape this very dangerous situation by any means possible! (She's my hero!) This is one of the better films to have come out in 2016 and I can't wait to see what Trachtenberg does next!

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Badass Femmes is a bi-weekly column that I write on Crome Yellow about all the Badass Females in pop culture that has shaped my life.

2014 was a great year for women in film, from female directed films like The Babadook and The Midnight Swim, to female-centric stories such as Mommy, Two Days, One Night and more. You could say that this was the year of the badass femme; but nobody stood out more than the unearthly woman in Jonathan Glazer’s haunting Under the Skin. Named only as The Female, Scarlett Johansson went above and beyond as an out-of-this-world alien whose dead-pan stare and endearing smile was able to lure men to their impending doom. Although the true gender (if that even applies) of the alien is arguable, the character resonates as the year’s best dissection of what it is to be a woman first and foremost, and a human being on an even deeper level.

(continue reading on Crome Yellow...)

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George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road has got to be one of the most anticipated films of 2015! After the release of the teaser a couple months ago (see reaction link below), people were already excited! But now with the full trailer out only confirms what we already knew: MAD MAX IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST FILMS OF 2015! There's no doubt about it with its sweeping cinematography of the harsh and warm terrain, equally manic performances and make-up, and of course, the heart-pumping action sequences! This film also have a very edgy cast consisting of Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult, Charlize Theron, Zoe Kravitz, and so much more (models)! I'm sure the whole world can agree with me when I say that this has got to be the most exhilarating trailers of this year! Mad Max: Fury Road comes out in theaters May 15, 2015!

- Teaser Reaction & Stills -

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It's here! It's here! It's finally here! I can literally feel the palpable force of the thousands of fangirls and boys just having a mental breakdown because of the teaser release. The teaser for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is a continuation of the saga created by George Lucas and is set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. You can bet your ass that I am not the only one that thinks the teaser looks downright amazing! I also recommend you to make your own trailer reaction video and tag me, I want to see it!

The teaser looks absolutely gorgeous and gave us a short but enough action to get us all amped up for the full-length trailer. There are so many more things to be said about the teaser that I didn't even mention in my trailer reactions like the new bots, the female lead manically driving away, the intense spaceship battle, the army of Stormtroopers, and of course, that lightsaber! There were only glimpses but considering that the filming wrapped at the beginning of the month, the film still has a long way to go before it is even completed. So you already know, once they finish making the final tweaks and tucks here and there, the film is going to be everything we wanted and more. With the sinister voiceover, there is an ominous danger permeating through the Star Wars-sphere.  And it is undeniably terrifying especially with John William scoring the film once again to elevate the film even further.

We don't know what the full story is yet but it's so exciting to actually have the original cast back from Mark Hamill to Carrie Fisher to Harrison Ford! There are also a bunch of today's generation's best actors and actresses starting with Oscar Issac, John Boyega, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong'o, Adam Driver, and of course,  Andy Serkis (This man deserves an Oscar). It's going to be a good one! Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes out December 18th, 2015! It seems like a far, far, away, but it'll be here before you know it so prepare to get your tickets now.

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*SPOILER ALERT!*

I must be one of the last people on this planet who has not watched Christopher Nolan's very grandiose, breathtaking, and complex, Interstellar! Well folks, I recently saw it and my science novice mind was thoroughly boggled with all the head-scratching, scientific babble regarding time, gravity, black holes, and dimensions. And of course with layered and scientific matters incorporated into a film, there is bound to be a ton of explanation, graphs, and artwork that is circulating in the internetsphere. Here are two timelines that are both outlining the sequence of the labyrinth-like film in their own distinct and creative style. Just looking at them, makes my head quiver with perplexity. Owww...

(via. Sivakumar)

(via. Dogan Can Gundogdu)

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Y'all know how much I love photography so you can imagine my excitement when I saw Thomas Dagg's photo series of Star Wars characters in real life! He took real-life photos and injected our most beloved characters in each one of them and the results are stunning. It shows what earth would look like if Darth Vader, R2-D2, and all the iconic space ship s would look like if they were living amongst humans and like humans. There is such a nostalgic and serene beauty within these photos that just make me want to grin from ear to ear. There are more photos in this series so make sure to head over to Dagg's official website after! 

Check out more on Dagg's official website.

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Sorry for the lack of quality in this review but I just had to quickly review this film and get it out to share! This is definitely a love it or hate it kind of film. Adapted from a novel of the same name by Michel Faber, Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin is one of the most provocative, experimental, and thought-provoking films to come out this year. There was a lot I left out in the verbal review like how much of this was very much guerrilla filmmaking  as they really approached men on the streets and had hidden camera throughout the streets of Scotland. While at times there was a disconnect for me, Under the Skin is thoroughly an examination of what it means to truly be human and the tragic reality of humanity. Beautiful, unnerving, and powerful. 

I have always adored Scarlett Johansson since her monotoned and angsty self in Ghost World. But she finally surpassed my expectations when I saw her as the ultimate guidette in Joseph Gordon Levitt's Don Jon. She is not only in the biggest blockbusters this year with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Lucy but in indie films like Jon Favreau's Chef and this film! She has had quite a year and now, she can rest with the news of her first baby on the way. Horray! But back to Under the Skin, this is one film you won't soon forget!

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I recently visited Netflix after not being on it for while and almost fainted when I realized that one of my top films of 2013, Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha was on Netflix Instant! Not even just on Netflix but it is streaming! Amazing. Then naturally, I saw a plethora of other amazing films I've been DYYYYING to see and am elated that Netflix is making my life that much easier. So here's a list of films that were newly released (see list) and some that caught my eye that I think are worth watching.

1. Frances Ha (2013, Noah Baumbach) Streaming & DVD

Surprisingly, this film vlog of mine is the most viewed on my channel and it's no wonder why because this is one of his most accomplished films to date. It resonants on so many levels. A

2. Only God Forgives (2013, Nicholas Winding Refn) Streaming & DVD

I actually enjoyed this one (peep this review) despite that after my first viewing of Drive, I was one of the few that didn't like it as much. Only God Forgives on the other hand, really was like a perfect acid dream. B+ 

3. Europa Report (2013, Sebastian Cordero) Streaming & DVD

Europa Report showed at LAFF '13 and I should have done a review of this but obviously got too lazy (not a good enough reason!). But no doubt, this was one of the best low budget science fiction stories I've seen in a while. It plays on the reality of being in space and all the responsibilities and risks that come with the challenges of venturing in space. I loved it for the sheer fact that it didn't go for cheap tricks but just told the story like it is through found footage. A

4. Pacific Rim (2013, Guillermo del Toro) DVD

Pacific Rim was one of the big blockbusters this past summer that I truly loved (oogle at this review) Despite what other film critics say, this is one film in which the CGI overrides the story content and makes the movie that much better. Definitely worth watching but please watch it on the big screen with a deafening sound system. B+

5. The Heat (2013, Paul Feig) DVD

This estrogen-charged buddy cop film couldn't have been done better than Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Even though, they followed a lot of buddy cop genre conventions, it was hilarious and refreshing to see these two unlikely pairs in action. (Gander at this review) B-

6. Blackfish (2013, Gabriela Cowperthwaite) DVD

Blackfish is one of the most important documentaries to come out in 2013. Excruciatingly devastating and potent, it shatters the happy facade of SeaWorld as it unveils the horrid condition and treatment of their killer whales. I did had a little beef with the construction of this film but overall, very effective. (Sob with this review) B+

7. Prince Avalanche (2013, David Gordon Green) DVD

It is humorous and touching but this film didn't fulfill me as a viewer as much as I wanted it to. Great soundtrack from Explosions from the Sky. (Gawk at my review) B-

Other films I've been wanting to see (streaming):

What Maisie Knew (2012, Scott McGehee)

Computer Chess (!!!) (2013, Andrew Bujalski)

Kon-tiki (2012, Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg)

V/H/S 2 (2013, Various Filmmakers) 

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013, Alex Gibney)

A Band Called Death (2012, Mark Christopher Covino & Jeff Howlett)

Haute Cuisine (2012, Christian Vincent)

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There is not one word that can wholly describe the EXPERIENCE that is Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity. He has masterly succeeded in creating a film that is technically astute as it is emotionally resonating to tell a gripping story of the power of human resilience. Gravity is thrilling enough to satisfy blockbuster lovers as well as impress cinephiles with the pristinely grandiose spectacle of space unseen in any science fiction film in recent years. Sandra Bullock becomes the modern day representation of female heroism as she presents a deeply embedded emotional complexity to her character as Ryan Stone, a fragile astronaut who recently lost a daughter. Not only does she fights the most arduous emotional battle but is also faced with the reality of undertaking one of the most horrifying physical and mental journey to survive space when death seems like an easier answer. Gravity does powerfully tell the story about the perseverance of the human spirit but it is more about the transcendental experience of the film that’ll be remembered for years to come. A 

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No doubt is Edgar Wright's final installment of the Cornetto Trilogy, The World's End is one of the best films of this summer, if not, THE best! I had just finished watching Hot Fuzz merely seconds before I started doing The World's End review and can say that these two films are at a close tie. They encompass out of this world energy in their shots and character that make this story about a reunion of friends bigger and better. And with its little added spice of robot action, it makes this The World's End one of the best films to see this year!

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I'm late with this review but like I say, "Better Late, than Never!" I definitely expected more from Neill Blomkamp considering his directorial debut, District 9 was an outstanding first film that even got the attention of the Academy. I mean what a feat! But like with all good things, big budget doesn't necessary translate to good content (ahem) Elysium. It is a decent summer sci-fi film but put into context of this "auteur's" talent, I did expect more from him. Oh well, next time Neill! 

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Enjoy!

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Oblivion

(2013, Joseph Kosinski)

Grade: B+

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Year: 2012

Director: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer

Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw

Country of Origin: U.S.

Rating: R

Time: 172 mins. 

It has been said that David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas is an impossible book to adapt to film considering it's six story-lines ranging from all genres that tell a tale of suppression and freedom between the years of 1849 and 2346. After their success with the Matrix trilogy and mediocre hit Speed Racer (2008), The Wachowski siblings teamed up with the mastermind behind Run Lola Run (1998),Tom Tykwer, to tackle the Mt. Everst of books, Cloud Atlas. Cloud Atlas is truly the most ambitious film I've ever laid eyes on with its six stories interwoven with one another that retells the same story in various ways about their path to freedom in less than three hours. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Ben Whishaw, and James D'arcy, star in multiple roles that span ethnicities, gender, and age, channeling the reincarnations of each other's characters in different time periods that reiterates the idea that everything is connected.

The film is not hard to follow but contemplating the stories relations to one another may cause a few mind-numbing headaches. Individually, the stories could've been their own films considering they are told in various genres from mystery to comedy to adventure. But in mushing them together to create a cohesive message, not only creates a mezmerizing outlook to the connection of everyone and events from generation to generation but also, handicaps the film by minimizing the emotional connection with the audience. I heard the soundtrack before I saw the film and thought I would be emotionally moved to tears. But ironically, the enormity of the film caused me to feel disconnected from the powerful and endearing message of the movie. Maybe the boundaries to my  suspense of disbelief was fractured when certain actors transformed and transcended races, ages, and gender to an astounding outcome that simply didn't resonant with me. But that is probably the best and worst thing about the film as it gives typecast actors a chance to play around and prove their worth. Like underrated actor, Hugh Grant made multifarious appearances and the most memorable one of him is as the Kona Chief living in the far future in a post-apocalyptic Hawaii, who terrorizes Tom Hank's village people. And then there is the most shocking transformational role for Tom Hanks as Dermot Hoggins, the writer of "Knuckle Sandwich" as a DGAF gangster who will shut you down if he has to. It sounds inconceivable trying to imagine Hanks as anything but a castaway yelling "Wilson" or talking about Jenny. But he picks the wild cards and pulls it off effortlessly.

Although, it gave many actors the freedom to play unconventional characters, for others it failed to convince and consume us into their role. Like Jim Sturgess' role in Neo-Seoul, who was morphed into a mutant of some sort with overly slanted eyes and ghoulish skin as if he's been barfing all day. But it turns out that he is suppose to look Korean considering his name is Hae-Joo Chang. Is yellow-facing so bad when the whole film consists of white-facing, brown-facing, and ______ facing? Oh but of course, no black facing. They can't handle that kind of criticism, not today anyways. I've had a crush on Doona Bae since her Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) years and was quite surprised with amount of power she possessed in this film as Somni-451. Maybe because I've been conditioned by the media to think that most Asians would have the least amount of screen time, but I was moved by her prominent role as a slave labor who searches for freedom and eventually starts a revolution.

Whether you've heard good or bad things about Cloud Atlas, it is something that you must decide and experience for yourself. This is the first wholly unique Blockbuster that has come out in god knows how long. The echoes of reincarnation and spirituality that reverberate throughout the film might not be your cup of tea but if it is a spectacle you want to see, it is a spectacle you will get! Even though the film met up to my non-existent expectations, any film that requires me to solve the film's puzzle in my head well after the film is done and over with, is always good in my book. If you think you were thinking hard  about the ins and outs of Inception (2010), wait till you see Cloud Atlas! B+

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Whoa, Halle. Barely recognized you there.

Cloud Atlas

(2012, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski)

Grade: B+

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Year: 1968

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Cast: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter
Country of Origin: U.S.

Rating: G

Time: 112 mins.

Planet of the Apes is a brilliant piece of science fiction that analyzes the evolution of man  with intricacy that it's no wonder it's been remade and rebooted so many times. Based on the 1963 French novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle--it is a timeless story of a space explorer George Taylor, (Heston) who crash lands on a foreign planet only to discover that apes can talk, think, and reason. This barren planet comes to life when he encounters humans that are seemingly disguised as inarticulate primates who are treated like animals. During the Ape's manhunt, Taylor and his men get jumbled into their pursuit and eventually Taylor gets shot in the throat and captured. Without the power of his voice, the apes treat him like a savage strapping his neck and hands in chains like an uncontrollable beast. But when the ape leader Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) discovers that Taylor, nicknamed Bright Eyes, can speak, he reacts in horror and deems that he is a freak of nature who must be executed. Sympathetic ape scientists Cornelius (McDowell) and animal psychologist, Dr. Zira (Hunter) risk their lives to save Taylor and uncover the truth of his existence. 

The film is an astounding and mesmerizing look of what occurs if the roles of the revolution of man was reversed and if apes obtained the power of speech while man's growth regressed into a primate state. I already watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) that gave insight to the beginning and reason to ecelerate development of the apes' but without the prequel, Planet of the Apes doesn't give an explanation to why our distant ancestors have now become the superior evolutionary being. The film forces the audience to examine the definition of man and our environment as a whole. Without speech and reasoning, humans are nothing but savages who express their shortcoming only through anger. Taylor is boiling with frustration as he tries to communicate with Dr. Zira through the means of writing in sand or sounding out words. Although the apes have evolved into talking, thinking, and reasoning beings, their inability to see beyond their ignorance is their downfall. Except Dr. Zaius, who uses his ignorance to shield Taylor and his fellow apes in discovering the meaning of their true existence. While Cornelius and Dr. Zira are trying to progress the evolution of man, Dr. Zaius' lack of action and acknowledgement retracts their advancement as superior animal and beings, ironically to a form less than man.

Hands down, this film is one of the first and best twist in film history. The film stick to your bones, rattling your brain, searching for any clue to the apes' uprising. When the story doesn't throw you a bone, it substitutes it with a twist so grand, if I didn't already know the ending, I would have thrown my hands up in the air too and screamed "Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!" Heston continues his streak of playing the archetypal heroin with conviction and poise even in his barbaric state that helps him effortlessly carry the film on his shoulder. For a film that got rebooted, franchised, and remade too many times to count, the film has come a long way from it's golden days of on location shooting and natural lighting. With Tim Burton's failed attempt (which I need to re-watch!) and 2011's The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, I hope this humanistic story never dies. But no matter how many times the story gets mashed and molded anew, Planet of the Apes is a timeless adventure tale that is nicely paced, unrelentingly entertaining, and most importantly, philosophical about what it truly means to be a man. B+

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Year: 2012

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt

Country of Origin: U.S.

Rating: R

Time: 118 mins

Looper is an ultra sleek, sophisticated tale of time-traveling that unravels with such complexity and wit that it undoubtedly gives the sci-fi genre a run for it's money. It is riddled with mind-bending time-travel story-lines that will make you replay the events over and over again in your head with the complements of eye-squinting and head rubbing. Director and writer Rian Johnson has proved once again that he is one of the the most innovative filmmaker of today and here to stay. He debuted his first film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 2005's Sundance favorite, Brick, showcasing his talent and ability as a promising filmmaker. And once again reunited for Looper, Johnson solidifies his talent as a true visionary that can entertain as well as intellectually feed the creatively famished beings that we are. 

The year is 2044 and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is employed as a looper, a profession that requires killing people from the future. Time travel will be invented thirty years later in 2074 and immediately banned, only to be used in secret by big-time organized criminals who send their targets back in time and have loopers wipe them out without a trace. In the lopping profession, it is mandated that one day, they would have to "close their loop" which means that the loopers will be unknowingly assigned to kill the future version of themselves hence the name, loopers. They are paid handsomely and let go to live the last thirty years of their lives however they please. 

In stylistic fashion, Looper is shot with striking visual presence that is carefully mapped out with surgeon like precision that it seems effortless. The world Johnson creates is like the hipster version of dystopia, that is only if you are wealthy in means of prostituting or looping, other than that, you are included in the 99% of homeless people. Joe lives in a fragmented world with his fellow looper Seth (Paul Dano, played to perfection) and night club dancer aka a prostitute, Susie (Piper Perabo, Coyote Ugly girl) with the continuous accommodation of a new drug via eye drops. His lavish lifestyle is not fated to last especially when one by one his comrade loopers are assigned to close their loop and he knows he could be next. Cautiously he waits at his destination to kill and instantly sees the older version of himself (Bruce Willis) and hesitates. Older Joe flees which causes irrevocable damage to Joe's reputation and relationship with looper head boss, Abe (Jeff Daniels)  by "letting your loop run."  As the younger and older version of Joe are now on the run from each other and other loopers, the tension in my neck pressed on as I stressed of the impending and dooming climax. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt disappears into his role as the younger version of Bruce Willis, that I rarely see a trace of Gordon-Levitt at all. His conviction to hunt down Willis and make amends with Abe is undeniable, claiming that Willis already lived his life so he should be able to too. I will watch almost anything Willis makes these days ( I mean I even watched Cop Out, eek!) and by far, his role in Looper brought a whole level of depth to his acting ability. There was a piercing conviction in his eyes when he tried to rationalize with younger Joe to help him carry out his mission. Although there was a hint of eeriness as the version of the two sat in front of each other trying to make the sense of the situation. Old Joe slips young Joe an address in which to meet at where then he comes across Sara, (Emily Blunt) the badass owner of the farm. The story is more complicated than I had expected and it was uncertain how they will end such a grand spectacle like this especially considering the film is not reminiscent of any other film and is truly original in every form. But it is his precise thought and vision that allows Johnson to make a full circle while making our head spin twice over and wraps everything up in a neat bow. A

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It seems like Dredd 3D came out of nowhere. Maybe it's because I stream all my tv shows instead of watching them on tv, but I haven't seen a single trailer of Dredd till i youtubed it myself. Although I haven't seen the first forgettable Dredd (Judge Dredd) movie starring Stallone, I was quite excited about this revision of the film starring Karl Urban ( i was like who? ) and none other than Olivia Thirlby (why did they make her blond?!). It's an instant cult classic that is very Robocop (1987) meets The Raid: Redemption (2011). I kind of regret not seeing it in 3D because there were some intense visceral action going on in the film esp during the drug intake sequences (talk about being high). It was boiling with gore and action, the kind of action that I've been CRAVING for these days. Even though, they fought with mostly guns, it was a notch up from this year's Safe (2012) (see my review here). Urban did not have much choice considering most of his acting comprised of his jaw and his batman-like voice which surprisingly works here. Olivia Thrilby was immensely enjoyable as the psychic rookie on her first day out in "training". If it was a few bucks less, I would see it again in 3D! B-

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