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Spoiler Free

When we heard there was a remake of the classic, ‘Jumanji’ coming out, we were a little nervous. Most remakes fall short of even comparing to the original.

But, in this case, ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ put it’s own twist on the story giving a nod to the original. So much that it made it’s own film.

The film starts off in 1996 with a father finding infamous board game that wreaked such havoc on the four players in the 1995 film with Robin Williams. The father bring home the game and gives it to his teenage son who ignores it. Without paying any mind to it that night, the board game somehow converts into a video game cartridge. The teen awakens and inserts it into his video game console, something strange happens. You already know what it is… He gets sucked into the game!

The film then proceeds to present day and introduces four completely opposite and full of themselves teens. You’ve got the smart and awkward nerd, his former best friend who is now a high school football star, the selfie-obsessed popular girl, and the smart and angry anti-social girl. Of course, these four end up detention together and one thing leads to the other, they come in contact with the infamous video game. Little do they know they’re about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime risking their lives.

Now meeting these four teenager, you’re trying to figure out how Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black come into play in the film. Well, when they get sucked in to the game is where the fun and comedy starts because enter your favorite comedic duo, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Kevin Hart, along with Jack Black. The chemistry the work up on screen is hilariously good! There was not a dull moment in the film with these characters. Let’s not forget about Karen Gillan, who plays the sexy bombshell version of Scooby Doo’s Selma, she played a hilarious role of an angry teen trying to be the sexy chick in the video game.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Director Jake Kasdan
Writers Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner
Stars Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Rhys Darby
Rating PG-13
Running Time 1h 59m
Genres Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Shani is a writer and social media guru known for covering local topics. Catch her reviews on trending films and some of the biggest shows to invade Tampa Bay. She’s also into topics in hip-hop, fashion and the latest celebrity news. Follow @shanivalencia on Twitter

Spoiler Alert

As you may remember, we first met the Bellas when they were all embarking on the quirky fun college life. Then we continued to see them in their college live and graduating in the second film. But, this time around for the third and final film, we follow the Bellas into their supposed successful lives.

We come to find out that adult life isn’t what it seems for the Bellas, while they try to grasp tightly to their younger years. We see Beca played by Anna Kendrick, she starts the film off by quitting her dream yet demeaning record label job. Then there’s Chloe, played by Brittany Snow who is trying to get into veterinary school. We finally see Fat Amy played by Rebel Wilson, working on her her Fat Amy Winehouse impersonations throughout New York City. When life is going that bad, what better thing to do than reunite and join a U.S.O. tour, where they perform and compete for a spot to open up for DJ Khaled, played by no one better than DJ Khaled himself.

Casting someone as big as DJ Khaled can be a somewhat challenging thing when it comes to scripting the movie and even choosing the songs, they Bellas would sing. It almost just did fit, with songs and performances just falling flat. Not only did the acapella performances not engage our little ears and fulfill what we’ve been missing from the Bellas since they graduated but a twisted plot was added that the film just could’ve done without.

It almost felt like a cheaper version of Charlie’s Angels when Fat Amy was reunited with her father played by John Lithgow, a man she ran away from without a word. We come to find out Amy’s family was loaded and her father has come back into the picture because Amy has a bank account in the Cayman Islands that her mother left her with $180 million dollars. Amy doesn’t know about this account until she finds out her father is trying to con her into going to the Cayman Islands so he can retrieve the funds.

The only entertaining part of this reunion is when Amy is on a mission to rescue her friends, after her father has kidnapped them. She battles his security with the most random objects, such as using link sausages as nunchucks and using a sandwich in tinfoil as as an explosive.

Perhaps the best park and lesson the film portray is that no matter where you are in life, you can always count on that special group of friends that have been there through thick and thin.

Pitch Perfect 3
Director Trish Sie
Writers Kay Cannon, Mike White
Stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hailee Steinfeld
Rating PG-13
Running Time 1h 33m
Genres Comedy, Music

Shani is a writer and social media guru known for covering local topics. Catch her reviews on trending films and some of the biggest shows to invade Tampa Bay. She’s also into topics in hip-hop, fashion and the latest celebrity news. Follow @shanivalencia on Twitter

SPOILERS
“Thor: Ragnarok” turned out to be everything Marvel fans were expecting from the epic superhero. Whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, you will still enjoy this film as it combines everything to meet the entertaining movie requirements.

The story line and the comedy combined with the action sequences turned the film into exactly what fans want to see with the God of Thunder. Not to mention, Chris Hemsworth spends quite some time without a shirt on… So Ladies, you’re welcome!

If you recall, the last time we saw the hunky, Chris Hemsworth who plays the role of Thor, was in 2015 film, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. At the time he was trying to figure out the meaning behind the vision he saw of the destruction of his home, Asgard. Ragnarok picks up right after, 2 years later when he’s forced confront his long lost sister, Hela, played by the phenomenal Cate Blanchett.

The plot twist of finding out about his long lost sister takes you on a wild roller coaster ride with both Thor and Loki. At first they try to be welcoming with their long lost sister thinking there can be some type of peace. But little did they know she was coming back with a vengeance to take over the throne as the rightful heir after being banned by their father. The self-proclaimed Goddess of Death has such an immense power that even rivals that of Odin, her father.

During this confrontation, the beloved brothers are transported to a planet that is covered in waste and people on the other side of the galaxy. During this time, Thor and Loki become separated and Thor is captured and sold to the Grandmaster, played by the incomparable, Jeff Goldbum. Thor demands he be released and he agrees to it only if he ins in his ‘Contest of Champions’.

It’s pretty much clear who his champion is from the looks of the trailer. When the battle commences, it’s a pretty hilarious reunion. But, that’s wall we will say about that scene.

Trying to keep this one spoilers free because it is one of the most anticipated Marvel films this year. So if you’re trying to decide whether to watch this film or not, don’t think about it. You won’t be disappointed. It absolutely tops the previous Thor films with the witty humor and action sequences.

Thor: Ragnarok

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins. Directed by Taika Waititi.
Running time: 130 minutes
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive material.

Shani is a writer and social media guru known for covering local topics. Catch her reviews on trending films and some of the biggest shows to invade Tampa Bay. She’s also into topics in hip-hop, fashion and the latest celebrity news. Follow @shanivalencia on Twitter