A new year and we are here to talk about the releases from 2021 of which I am sorely lacking due to Covid, lockdowns, no HBO, Disney, etc.. so I saw 2 and hope to see more which I will discuss here. Wandering through the Shelves has picked more themes for this year and she always stuns me with her ability to pick themes for each week. So, here are my 3...
1. BLACK WIDOW
I saw this by renting it and enjoying the fun without thinking too much. This belongs to the unending chain of Marvel superheroes of which some are excellent, some good, some meh. This is fun but not too memorable taking place before the last “the earth will die” Avengers film. We get to learn about her childhood and how she was separated from her “parents ” and created to be the woman she is today. She soon finds out the diabolical scheme that her sister is involved in and reunites with her and her parents to save the world. It’s fun and I like the sister especially when she makes fun of how the Black Widow lands on her feet. I actually like the dad who plays his role for laughs. It’s fun, forgettable and one to see on a rainy day when you don’t want to think too much.
2. NO TIME TO DIE
This is the final outing for Daniel Craig as James Bond and it is excellent. It starts out that he is with his lady love but it quickly turns dire and sour. He ends up back at work but his 007 moniker is already taken. You find out that Freddie Mercury..um..Rami Malek, is the evil genius who has created this harmful drug that he wants to send out to the world and guess who has to save it. This Bond outing is a good one with a fitting end to Craig as the angry Bond. I was dumbfounded in disbelief by the film but I don’t want to give out more. I just pray...pray that they do not pick a female Bond because that goes against what this secret agent is supposed to be. Please, create a new series with a female gal who is equal to Bond like Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde, who could easily clean Bond’s clock, but leave Bond a virile man who meets Holly Goodnight, Plenty O’Toole or Pussy Galore and fights the bad guys. I could easily see Henry Cavill or Idris Elba in the role but not Tom Hardy...he is too....weird for the role.
3. WEST SIDE STORY
I know this film tanked big time st the box office but that means nadda to me since the furious flicks nake tons of money and they are shlock. I heard Spielberg did some updates from the original film and that's OK. To be honest, I always giggle and shake my head at the opening number in the original film when the thugs pirouette through the mean streets of NYC. The people can all sing in this newer film unlike the original where Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer were dubbed by the great Marni Nixon and Jimmy Bryant. Now we are in lockdown again so I vet I will see it on TV. Let's hope they don't dance in a rugged way...ooh, scary.
Which films have you seen from last year?
Happy 3 King's Day/Day of Epiphany/ Little Christmas/ Ukrainian Christmas!
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI am sitting here next to you in the balcony "At The Movies," dear friend. Please forgive me for spilling my supersize Mountain Dew in your lap. I'll run to the lobby for napkins. Yessum, another year, another list of themes for this weekly hop from Wandering Through the Shelves. If she is taking requests, I'd like us to do "high body count slasher films" a.s.a.p.
I used the above jokes to pad my comment, because I haven't seen any of these movies. However I have been a fan of Scarlett Johansson ever since Ghost World, and also like David Harbour from his main cast role as Hopper in Stranger Things, and William Hurt from Altered States (the inspiration behind "AIDA's Altered State" on my blog) and his recurring role in another favorite TV series - Goliath.
No Time To Die would be my pick of these three featured films. I am a Sean Connery 007 purist, but this Craig fella's serious approach to the Bond role looks refreshingly different, and I know I'd enjoy watching him in action. WHAT??? Are there rumblings about turning James Bond into a female? I agree with you that it would be foolish when they could simply launch a new series with a female Bond counterpart. I think Stephanie Powers needs the work. Heavens to Betsy - Steph turns 80 this year!!!
West Side Story will be a hard pass for me, for reasons well known to you, but thanks for reviewing it.
I'm going to the well and plugging for a second time the 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic Respect. I was surprised to read so many negative reviews of it on IMDB. I liked the film just fine, although I did notice that they avoided mentioning the Queen of Soul's fear of flying. I also agree that they could have done a better job of casting Martin Luther King.
Yessum, down here in my neck of the woods in Tarpon Springs, Florida, the Greek Orthodox hold their annual Epiphany celebration and traditional dive for the cross today. A group of boys will plunge into the cold water of the bayou to retrieve a cross. The boy who manages to come to the surface with it receives a blessing and will supposedly have good luck in the coming year.
Have a happy Thursday and a wonderful weekend, dear friend BB!
I will never plunge into any water that is frozen..nuts. I love Sean Connery who is the best. To me, each Bond represents a different part of his personality if you think about it. Scarlet was great in Ghost World and I would love to see it again. I hope you are having. Wonderful weekend.
DeleteWhere do you life that you are locked down?
ReplyDeleteWe finally saw No Time To Die. It was really good, still way too long though.
My top picks of 2021 would be The Suicide Squad, Shang-Chi, and Spider-Man. Oh and Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong.
I live in Ontario, Canada and the lockdown is to last until the 17th or maybe longer...ya never know. You saw some great movies that I want to see especially Godzilla va Kong.
DeleteI haven't been in a movie theatre since I saw Selma. Your first two picks sound interesting. I watched 'Don't Look Up' the other night and enjoyed it. My friend went to see 'West Side Story' and asked if I knew Tony was Polish. Uh, no. Apparently they point that out in this version. I did have Godzilla vs. Kong on the TV for Charlie, but I did not sit here and watch it.
ReplyDeleteI have to check out Don’t Look Up. I did know Tony was Polish and thought they mentioned it in the first film.
DeleteI've been trying to see West Side Story in theaters for weeks and I just can't fit it into my schedule. Soon, hopefully.
ReplyDeleteWe are in lockdown so we can’t see anything right now. I hope this will lift sooner than later but I will not go to any theatre soon even when it opens.
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. Daniel Craig is a super actor but I don't like him as James Bond. I blame the writers more than anything because they wanted him to be angry, I think. They just don't have the natural knack of writing a good script as those in back in the day when Sean Connery and Roger Moore was 007. And, I am so with you on NO female Bond. I like James Bond's manly man qualities. His flirt with danger and women. :) Thanks for sharing, my dear. I hope the new year is being kind to you and yours thus far. Have a terrific day! ;)
Yes, I know what you mean and I feel every Bond represents a different part of Bon’d personality with Connery being the best! You are right that Craig is the angry Bond. I so hope they pick the right Bond meaning he must be male. Thank you for you kind words and I wish you the same.
DeleteThis is a category that I really can't contribute much to since I no longer rush to see new releases and have limited access on DirectTV. Have no pressing desire to see anything new either. Can't say that I've seen any major releases though I know that I've seen a few 2021 films that were probably only released on TV.
ReplyDeleteThe only one that immediately comes to mind is William Shatner in Senior Moment which was a fun little diversion, but nothing of great film history. Other than that, for now I've got nothing.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Yeah, I have not seen much and get confused as to which films to see as it seems tons have been sent out through other means.
DeleteThe only one of these three I'm really anxious to see is No Time to Die, I'm just not ready to go back and sit in a movie theatre yet.
ReplyDeleteI'd watch Black Widow if the situation presented itself but since one superhero movie is much like another I'm in no big hurry.
I think the remake of WSS is completely pointless. Ya in this one everyone can really sing, blah, blah, blah but where's the star power? I liked that they worked Rita Moreno into the film but that's not enough to get me there. Why tamper with near perfection? There are plenty of other musicals that either have never been filmed or that turned out disappointingly that Spielberg could have turned his eye towards.
I've decided to be strictly a commenter this year rather than participate so I'll still be dropping in each week just without picks.
Oh no!!! I know why but...I wish you could tell me your choices somehow. I know what you mean about WSS but I am willing to see it. I had some giggles with the original mainly the opening when they are dancing in the streets. I don’t know why but I do. Actually, I don’t mind Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer and think they did a good job. The rest of the cast did as well. I would order the movie off your TV to see No Time and wait for BW to come on TV to see it. I know you are on burnout and I am close to it.
DeleteHi Birgit, I hope you and yours are well and enjoyed the Festive celebrations.
ReplyDeleteNow I've not seen any of these films, even the new James Bond. We just don't feel it's safe to go out to the cinema at the moment, so probably wait until it comes on TV, take care, Kate x
Yes, it’s crazy times and you are smart not to go out. We are in lockdown again so there ya go.
DeleteI usually appreciate a genderflipped character, so I wouldn't mind a female Bond. But I can see your viewpoint. (I just went with it when they genderflipped Doctor Who. I guess that makes me weird?)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I saw anything new last year. I'm too chicken to try a movie theater right now, and even though I got HBO just for the new streaming movies, I did not actually see any of them. Kind of a waste, really.
Well, they can make a female franchise but not. Female Bond since it’s based n an actual man during WW2 that Ian Fleming knew. That’s why I don’t get these special channels because I might just sit on the couch all day or not see any of the films.
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteThe very last time I saw a first-run movie in a theatre it was 'SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE' in 2008. So that tells you everything you need to know about my contributions to this theme. ("Less than zero" comes to my mind, and frankly, I'm kinda proud of that fact.)
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
I had a feeling you have not seen any of the recent films.
DeleteIn the Heights blew me away.
ReplyDeleteI have to check this out.
DeleteYou can catch Hardy as a surprisingly wholesome Bond figure in This Means War with Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon.
ReplyDeleteOh...well, I have to check this film out.
DeleteSorry I'm late visiting. I've had no internet or phone since Monday, but stopped by to say how much I enjoyed your review of these three films. WSS sounds good, actually, since I never saw the first one. But I have never really been a fan of Craig as Bond, although he is better than some in the past. Sean Connery is definitely the best of the best Bond ever in my opinion. Sorry to read you are in Lockdown. Personally, I think we should be in the states, too.
ReplyDeleteEven though my hubby loves Craig the best I also go to Sean Connery. I think he is the full personality of Bond where the others are aspects of his personality. Craig is the Angry Bond; George Lazenby is the ass Bond; Roger Moore is the fun loving Bond; Timothy Dalton is the deep-hearted Bond and Pierce Brosnan is the charming Bond.
ReplyDeleteThe only one of your picks I have seen so far is Black Widow. I managed to catch at the theatre and despite some criticism, I did overall really enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun flick for sure
DeleteThanks for posting West Side Story, Birgit. I was naive at first and mocked the remake. But then I learned that the voices were dubbed, and Spielberg had noble reason to remake it. It looks pretty good. Too bad it tanked in the box office.
ReplyDeleteCurious, you said you rented Black Widow...like on DVD or on iTunes?
ReplyDelete