folklore (2020) offers an enchanting escape from the dumpster fire that is 2020

When it comes to Taylor Swift, her most devoted Swifties always expect something to pop up around the corner. Known as the queen of meticulously dropping hints of what’s to come, she always manages to keep fans on the edge of their seat. With her seventh album Lover dropping less than a year ago, and a massive pandemic sweeping the world, very few could’ve expected to hear new music after a cancelled summer tour. The next era of her music felt like an eternity away, but only Swift could drop her eighth studio record out of nowhere and blast more of our expectations out of the water. 

Summerland (2020) Infuses the Wartime Genre with Magic and Love

Hollywood too often tells a familiar history of World War II. War stories are mostly reserved for heroic tales of the men behind some of the world’s greatest combat missions to defeat Adolf Hitler and establish support for the Allies. Rarely exploring the expansive experiences of women and minorities at the time, a few films are turning the tide of how cinema recollects history. In the similar vein of Lone Scherfig’s Their Finest or Mike Newell’s The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Summerland makes for a refreshing escape of self-discovery and fantasy during one of the world’s darkest periods.

Set in the English coastal countryside of Kent, academic researcher Alice Lamb (Gemma Arterton) becomes the guardian of a refuge child Frank (Lucas Bond) whose parents are fighting in the war. Despite the nearby town treating her as the “beast on the beach” for her unladylike behavior, Lamb and Frank develop an unlikely connection that helps unveil a lost romance with a former lover (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). As research about a fantastical island in the sky brings her closer to Frank, their time together draws more parallels between them than they ever could’ve imagined.

Relic (2020) Adds A New Twist to 'Haunted House' Classics

Age creeps up on us steadily. One second we're young and free, and the next we're burdened with too many responsibilities or we don't want to be a burden to our loved ones. What becomes of us when we age and those around us is at the heart of Relic - a horror film that makes us come face-to-face with the shock, confusion, and (hopefully) understanding aging inevitably causes.

After their grandmother Edna (Robyn Nevin) is reported missing, her daughter and granddaughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and Sam (Bella Heathcote) journeys to her house to find out what happened and discover signs of disarray that makes them realize how severely she's been struggling on her own. When Edna mysteriously re-appears as if nothing happened, her erratic behavior forces them to realize there might be more to her dementia than meets the eye.

Hamilton (2020) Rises To The Hype

Hamilton has been more than just a moment since it took the theatre world by storm in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical premiered off and on Broadway, mainly stationed in New York City and then a subsequent tour abroad. For almost five years, fans have clamored to get premiere tickets to the groundbreaking show that won 11 of its 16 Tony Award nominations. Looking to the future, the musical-powers-that-be director Thomas Kail and Lin-Manuel Miranda decided to capture the magic of the initial Broadway cast. Their film, originally slated for theatrical release in October 2020, premiered on Disney+ early to entertain fans and subscribers at home during the pandemic. The result is a continued example of Hamilton as an inspiring and unforgettable movement.

Quick Reviews: Shows I Watched In Lockdown (Part 1)

Since the Coronavirus lockdown started earlier this year, there's been more time to watch new television shows and revisit some of my older faves. I didn't think there would be so much time to watch as many series as I have so far and probably more to come with how Florida has been doing such a good job handling this whole crisis.

Below are my quick reviews of shows that have entertained me (or at least tried to) along during the lockdown and social distancing - Space Force, Hunters, Once Upon A Time, Survivor: Winners At War, True Detective, Jericho, and E.R. There are no specific plot spoilers below. (Part 2 of more quick reviews will be coming along soon.)

Defending Jacob (2020) Is A Dizzying Search for the Truth

Does it ever become a conflict of interest for a parent to protect their child? It seems like a dubious question at best and an easy answer on the surface. Familial ties and love are meant to be unconditional, but if an innocent kid commits an unspeakable crime, the line between devotion and justice can become blurred. Based on the novel by William Landy, Defending Jacob explores the pain of facing the truth of what someone you loved is capable of.

There are no major spoilers based on the plot or big reveals - however, please read ahead at your own risk.

At The Movies Blog Challenge - 10 Movie Theater Experiences

Cinemas have taken a huge hit during the Coronavirus lockdown. Theaters have been closed for almost two months, leaving many who love going to the movies to watch films at home, and those working in theaters furloughed. I was inspired to create this blog challenge that celebrated memorable cinema experiences as something to look forward to when the pandemic ends - experiences or events that wouldn't be the same watching at home. 

From dramas to action movies and musicals, here are ten of my favorite movie theater experiences. This post is a part of my blog challenge to celebrate memories at the movies. You can find my post and others who have participated here.

At the Movies Blog Challenge

Since social distancing began earlier this year, the state of cinemas as we know it was turned upside down. Not only have theaters closed temporarily and permanently, but employees have been furloughed, critics have questioned what the future of movie-going experiences will be like, and flicks slated for release this year have been rescheduled or shelved. It's a bleak moment in time to love movies, to say the least.

While staying home and taking advantage of streaming, *Carrie Bradshaw voice* I couldn't help but wonder about my experiences at the cinema - all of the happy and exciting memories I've made escaping for a few hours in front of a screen. Watching a film with a sold-out crowd or entirely on my own, attending blockbusters, celebrating re-releases, has made up too much of my life to adequately put into words. So with the pandemic still ongoing, and the film industry put on hold until further notice, I thought it'd be fun to do a blog challenge - At the Movies.

Lambs of God (2020) Unfolds a Fantastical Tale of Belief and Passion

The stories we watch are just as influential as the stories – personal, religious, or otherwise, we tell ourselves. Here the lives of three women cast aside fantastically crossover to the blurred path of their personal histories and what the world would like them to believe.

Based on the novel by Marele Day, Father Ignatius (Sam Reid) seeks to examine the grounds of a secluded island and confronts three nuns living in a dilapidated monastery. As Ignatius discovers that hospitality comes at a price, the fears, faith, and secrets of Sister Iphigenia (Essie Davis), Sister Margarita (Ann Dowd), and Sister Carla (Ann Dowd) forces them to defend their way of life.

Driveways (2019) Influence Lies In Its Slice of Life Simplicity

Summer has become the season in cinema for the industry’s biggest and loudest movies – blockbusters, comic book movies, and long-awaited adaptations. Simmering down with a slice-of-life drama, independent movies remain a reliable source for humanity connection. While some movies inevitably hit us like a freight train, others are so subtle that their unassuming nature leads an indelible impact over time. Director Andrew Ahn's Driveways refreshingly follows in to the latter.

A single mother Kathy (Hong Chau) and her shy son Cody (Lucas Jaye) make a roadtrip to visit her late sister's house, unaware that she was a reclusive hoarder. Their plans to sort and sell gradually expand over the course of a summer, allowing Cody to develop a friendship with a Korean war veteran Del (Brian Dennehy) next door.

Ranking The Star Wars Franchise (So Far)

For forty years, Star Wars reigned as one of the best phenomenons in the world. It's captivated generations of fans to the force, stand up against the Empire, and trail the Skywalker legacy. With director and creator George Lucas's initial saga having finally completed in 2019, and the rest of the universe on-hold for both theatrical releases and Disney+, I thought it's about time to rank the film franchise and spin-offs so far. How would you rank the series? Feel free to let me know in the comments.

In Defense of Avengers: Age of Ultron

Five years ago, Avengers: Age of Ultron was the unexpected and divisive sequel to The Avengers. Upon its initial release, the sequel was  a weird position of not connecting with fans unless the previous films were watched and had yet to be the inciting incident for more films to follow. It's not the most popular, and often the least favorite film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (as far as Avengers movies goes), but I wanted to take a moment of why I've come to appreciate it over the past year or two.