Maskerpiece Theatre: November 2016

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Flash Review: Season 3 Episode 6 "Shade"

The Flash Season 3 Episode 6

“Shade”

Starring:

Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Keiynan Lonsdale, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin, Tom Felton, Mike McLeod

Synopsis:

Wally starts to have visions of him being Kid Flash so Barry tells him the truth about his powers in Flashpoint. Meanwhile, the rest of the group find out about Caitlin’s Killer Frost powers.

Final Thoughts:

We finally got the Wally West centric episode, with dreams of the Flashpoint alter-ego, Wally is more than determined to become Kid Flash. This is another character much like James Olsen which doesn’t feel like a natural fit to the show. There seems more forcing the character on the audience this year, which involves more complaining about not being a hero. I’ve been worried about the direction of The Flash with adding new speedsters to the show, I’m not sure if this will have any effect on Barry going forward or if its just a way to build upon the CW DC Universe, but adding Jesse Quick seemed to happen naturally while this story with Wally hasn’t and much like James with Supergirl. And just like James there is way more negative commentary from fans of the show about the character.

With that being said, the rest of the episode was great. Especially with the torn emotions of Caitlin worrying about turning into Killer Frost and what the rest of the team will think. I am loving this character arc, but on a personal note worried because I absolutely love the character of Caitlin and wonder if they will ultimately turn her evil or try and keep her on the hero side.

Finally, we learn that Alchemy isn’t the actual villain of the season which seemed a little weird since he has been a vocal point all season. But with the ending of Episode 6 we were introduced to Savitar who has taken the mantel of God amount all speedsters.

What are your thoughts of the episode? Leave your comments below.

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Supergirl Review: Season 2 Episode 6 "Changing"

Supergirl Season 2 Episode 6

“Changing”

Starring:

Melissa Benoist, Mehcad Brooks, Chyler Leigh, Jeremy Jordan, Floriana Lima, Chris Wood, David Harewood, Brenda Strong, Sharon Leal, William Mapother, Nikohl Boosheri

Synopsis:

The Guardian arrives to lend a hand when an Alien parasite drains Supergirl of her Power. Mon-El contemplates his motives when he considers a new Career. Alex faces a new reality.

Final Thoughts:

The episode see an Alien parasite take over a human body and start to attack civilians. Both J’onn J’onzz and supergirl go to the stop the alien when both of their powers are taken from them. While Supergirl was able to recover before the end of the episode Martian Manhunter was not so lucky and needed the help of M’gann M’orzz.

A lot of this episode centered on the growth of Mon-El and Alex Danvers character. While one was searching for his place on this new planet and whether he wants to be a hero or not. The other, Alex, was learning more about her self and who she is becoming.

This was an interesting episode, I am loving what they are doing with both Alex and Mon-El, however I am still not sure about James Olsen, which we saw become the Guardian. While growth development was great for most of the characters, it is becoming more and more apparent that the shows creators have no clue as to how to save James Olsen. I guess that is what the rest of the season is for, but if we don’t get any more invested in this character it might be time to send him back to Metropolis and the Daily Planet.

Let us know your thoughts of the episode and leave your comments below.

Legends of Tomorrow Review: Season 2 Episode 5 "Compromised"

Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 Episode 5

“Compromised”

Starring:

Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Franz Drameh, Matt Letscher, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Nick Zano, Dominic Purcell, Neal McDonough, Graeme McComb, Emily Tennant, Lance Henriksen, Amy Pemberton

Synopsis:

When the Legends trace a timequake to President Reagan’s White House, they are shocked to discover their old enemy Damien Darhk is now a Senior Adviser to Reagan. AS the team works to uncover what Darhk has up his devious sleeve, Sara struggles with the choice of getting revenge or helping with the team;s larger mission. Thinking that the JSA members could be of help, Amaya and Nate break into the JSA and are surprised at what they find. Meanwhile, Stein tries to prevent his younger self from creating an even bigger time Abberation.

Final Thoughts:

Even though this was an 80’s inspired episode, it was the first episode of the season where the timeline had been affected by Damien Darhk. It was nice to see writers focusing on Darhk and not just having him in an episode as a coincidence of timing. Legends of Tomorrow has been a fun show to watch but until episode 5, it wasn’t a must see show yet this season. Even with this episode focusing on the main villain, I am not sure how this will ultimately change the perception of the show.

There still seems to be a focus on Sara trying to kill Darhk, but so far it seems to just be more of a issue with causing drama between the team. Drama within the team seems to be a major plot this year for many of the DC Shows on the CW, I would like to see a change in this and we really need to see this happen for Legend of Tomorrow more so than Flash or Arrow, especially since each episode of Legends is weaker than the others.

I don’t want to come across as complaining about Legends, this is a solid show which is fun to watch. It may not be must see TV, however you will need to get caught up prior to the major crossover still to come.

Let us know what your thoughts of the 5th episode are and leave your comments below.

Arrow Review: Season 5 Episode 6 "So It Begins"

Arrow Season 5 Episode 6

“So It Begins”

Starring:

Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Echo Kellum, Josh Segarra, Paul Blackthorne, Rick Gonzalez, Joe Dinicol, Madison McLaughlin, Tyler Ritter, Carly Pope, David Meunier

Synopsis:

When Prometheus ups his killing spree, Oliver searches for connections between the Victims. Felicity and Curtis discover the victims have a mysterious Link to Oliver’s past and this new secret could upend his new team. Meanwhile, Thea has a Heart-To-Heart with Lance, and Felicity considers telling Malone the truth about her work.

Final Thoughts:

With the 6th episode of the season, Prometheus has now taken center stage. With a need to get the attention of Green Arrow and his team, Prometheus begins to attack random individuals that give clues to Oliver about his past exploits as the Hood. This new information begins to drive a wedge between the new recruits and the old team. Everything about this story has been great, I really love how they are slowly brining along Prometheus. We don’t need the big reveal right now and the writers seem to know that, playing the guessing game and even having the end of the episode point toward Lance just make this story that much greater. The only criticism I really have is the continuing issues with the new recruits, I am and I have seen many fans complain about this, the recruits just need to stop complaining already and start working as a team.

Speaking about Quentin Lance, the under used character finally had a little intrigue attached to him this episode with the tie to prometheus. It’s really the only downside to the entire season thus far, the under use of Paul Blackthorne who still doesn’t have much of a story other than the drinking and this growing father-daughter type bond with Thea. Hopefully the second half of the season see his character begin to be used more to his potential.

Finally lets talk about Felicity, the darling of the CW DC Universe just 2 years ago, the same character which took a major fall in the eyes of most fans seems to be back on track. With that being said, I am starting to get tired of all the Negative comments relating to her character. I was just as frustrated with her through most of the last two season, but the character has really gone back to her origins. And I for one am really enjoying it. As for her relationship with Malone, I am not sure how this will play into the remainder of the season. It seems like there is a continuing tease that she will go back to Oliver, I am more interested in how Malone fits in going forward.

Let us know what your thoughts of the 6th season were, and leave your comments below.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Box Office Review

A spin off film from a book that is less a book and more a journal of magical beasts and the levels of danger they present and where to locate them, if you can see them at all. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this movie but I got a wizard’s wand for showing up to an early screening. So let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” in this box office review…

Director David Yates returned to the Harry Potter franchise and that is a good thing. He gave this film a tonally different feel than the previous Potter films. This film was not made for children but young adults and older. It deals with a sort of demonic possession over children, mystical underworld that falls within the vein of speak easy’s during prohibition America and outright murder. To contrast all the dark themes we are presented a socially awkward, endearing, determined caretaker of animals who sees humanity as the violent oppressors, not the creatures. And who better to portray that type of personality than Eddie Redmayne. Despite the fact he couldn’t look people in the eye for long but was able to stop terrible magic and beasts I enjoyed his character and his performance.

The overall story is equally enjoyable. It balances humor and drama quite well. The addition of Dan Fogler was perfect. His blue collar, New York veteran attitude was such a compliment to Eddie’s more reserved and thought filled persona. I enjoyed their on screen chemistry and it made the overall feel of this movie much more worthwhile.

This review wouldn’t be complete without, of course, mentioning the fantastic beasts. The creativity in this story for bringing these visually stunning creatures to life was superb. The first time we see the “farm” that they are kept on is just as magical as the beasts themselves. Some of the beasts even have unique personalities and some well developed behaviors we’ve seen in real animals. They are humorous, adorable, terrifying, tiny, gigantic, invisible, adaptable and some unpredictable. I found myself just loving the levels JK Rowling went to in creating these wonderful animals.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is in theaters nows! I have seen this movie twice already. It’s wonderfully done and carries some adult themes about life, death and the role we all can play in making sure that the animals we share the planet with are cared for properly. I very much enjoyed this movie, the characters and of course, the beasts. I definitely recommend you see this film on the big screen. The special effects will look much better on the big screen and it’s worth your time and money. You don’t have to know anything about the Harry Potter franchise either to enjoy this film. The references in this movie are almost meaningless to those of us who love the franchise because they are simply that, references. They do nothing to move the plot or build upon the world created in this film. Go see this movie!

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Bleed for This - Box Office Review

Based on a true story, champion boxer Vinnie Pazienza was in a car crash that almost completely breaks his neck. He is given two choices from his doctor and he decides to go with the more dangerous option that provides him a slight chance at boxing again. So let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts on “Bleed for This” in this box office review…

The fact that this was based on a true story and focuses on the triumph of the human spirit should surprise few people being how it was released during the holiday months. This is the time of year for movies like this because now is the time for catching the attention of the Oscars. I can’t say this film will win many awards, if any, but it certainly felt like they were trying to win or at least be nominated. As I watched the film I enjoyed Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart’s on screen chemistry. They both are talented actors and they appeared to dig into the characters they were portraying. From their first meeting, to private training sessions/physical therapy and back into the ring, these two were believable.

Ben Younger wrote and directed this biopic. I didn’t recognize the name and when I looked at his IMDB page (see previous hyperlink) it made sense. He hasn’t really directed many films. This movie had some serious pacing issues and it felt like it lasted forever. This movie moves at a slower pace than I anticipated which made my enjoyment lessen. Perhaps after a few more films Younger might work out some of the pacing issues I felt in this film. He clearly understands character development and relationships after watching this movie because the characters were all great. I just felt like time had stopped when the boxing stopped and then slowly started picking up again as the physical therapy started. Maybe that was intentional. I don’t know.

“Bleed for This” is in theaters now. You really have to like boxing movies or biopics to see this on the big screen. Like I mentioned, it’s a very slow film that feels like it’s 3 to 4 hours long but the characters are worth watching. If you have a Sunday afternoon and find it on Redbox or VOD I’d recommend that. It’s a good film that just crawls to the finish line.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Hacksaw Ridge - Box Office Ridge

Mel Gibson knows how to direct films. Say what you want about the man’s personal life or celebrity freak out sessions, he makes good movies. So let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts on “Hacksaw Ridge” in this box office review…

I was not prepared for what I got from this film. I walked into the theater thinking I was about to see a war movie. I wasn’t completely wrong but I was enough to the point the film surprised me. The character study piece of this film was superb. I couldn’t believe how in depth we look at a few characters while the supporting cast brilliantly plays off and emphasizes the challenges and struggles being presented to the main character, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield). Hugo Weaving was powerful on screen as Desmond’s father. The anger, suffering and love he portrayed were all top notch. Teresa Palmer playing Dorothy Schutte, Dawson’s love interest and future wife, was a pure delight. Their onscreen chemistry was believable and charming. The budding love story they gave us was touching and dare I saw, endearing. It’s a treat to see two actors on screen who can create that chemistry. Vince Vaughn, always a personal favorite, played a more hardened version of himself and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Sure, it’s Vince Vaugh, but I felt he was stretching his talent this film to be more and to give more and I appreciated that.

Mel Gibson is officially known for violent films. Are they great films? Absolutely. However, his films are brutal in depiction. This film starts off with mild violence that two young brothers, close in age, will share as they fight each other. From there we see medium levels of violence as Dawson is beat in military basic training by his squad because they presume him a coward. Third act of the film is the war and the chaos of trying to conquer Hacksaw Ridge from the Japanese. The devastation present in this film is powerful but not as powerful as the struggle for Dawson to maintain his personal conviction and still be a contributor who eventually saves more soldiers than was initially expected. This in turn made him a celebrated hero who earned the Medal of Honor after he returned home from the war.

“Hacksaw Ridge” is in theaters now! If you like movies based on true stories or period pieces based in World War 2, this is definitely a movie for you. If you enjoy character study films this is also for you. If you want to see a film that will make you feel good about staying true to your principles in the face of adversity, go see this movie. It’s a great film on the big screen but if you prefer to wait for it to arrive on VOD or Redbox that’s ok too. I strongly believe this will be a contender for best picture this year at the Oscars. I thought it was that good.

Act 187: Comic Movies Of 2016

Masked Blogster, Mandy, Handsome J, Jessie, Frank, Kevin and GloryHoundd get into some recent TV and movies before ranking the comic book movies of 2016.

To listen, click here. To download, right click and "Save As..."

Follow Maskerpiece Theatre:
Website: abnormalentertainment.com/maskerpiecetheatre
Facebook: /MaskerpieceTheatre and Fan Page
Twitter: @MPTheatre2015 -Masked Blogster @MaskedBlogster -Mandy @moviefreakgirl -Handsome J @jbrunansky -Matt @MpTheatreMatt
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Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show on our Support Us page.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Arrival - Box Office Review

I walked into the theater knowing absolutely nothing about this film. I had read a few tweets celebrating the story and the originality but beyond that I was clueless what I was about to get into with my ticket purchase. So let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts of “Arrival” in this box office review…

I was pleased with the casting of this film. When your four leading talents are Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlbarg and Forest Whitaker you can safely assume the acting will be enjoyable. It was. Each character played a completely unique voice as all four work together to try and figure out the sudden arrival of alien ships on the planet Earth, each with separate purpose and motivation. As per usual, Renner had the comic relief bits to provide some levity to an otherwise thought provoking examination of how communication matters and why proper communication is essential. This film explores what it means to share thoughts and concepts, the value in sharing and why what is perceived could be misleading with misinformation.

The story, overall, was not all that challenging. It’s plot is fairly simple. Aliens land, we need to figure out what they’re saying, some humans act crazy, communication and understanding saves the day. Not all that interesting when broken down in that manner. However, the language the aliens use was brand new. In fact, the movie goes as far as to calculate the language in mathematical terms to try and decrypt the symbols to better understand their meaning. The details of this story are what shape the concept into something special and worthwhile. This would be the second science fiction film this year I’ve seen and reviewed that was not overly special effects heavy, the first being “Midnight Special.” The attention to detail in character development, tone, story and look make this film a must see for science fiction fans and for those of us who also love thought provoking drama’s.

“Arrival” is in theaters now! I recommend this film to most everyone. It’s well told and it keeps you thinking. I won’t go as far as to say you must see this on the big screen but I will encourage you to. This is an original story that isn’t a reboot, a sequel or filled with comic book characters. I’m not knocking those types of movies because I’ve been enjoying most of them. I just talk to movie goers and they seem to voice their frustrations with how many theaters are filled with those types of movies. So, if you’re one of those folks then you need to see this in theaters and support originality, whenever done well. “Arrival” was done well. If you wait for Redbox or VOD, it’s still worth your time.

Act 186: Who Wants Some ZWAAG?

Bryan Vanderzwaag, the founder of the Zwaag Bag joins Masked Blogster, Mandy and GloryHoundd in this episode that talks about a subject near and dear to Blogster's heart: Subscription Boxes.
"Zwaag Bag's Comic Book Swag Bag comes every month with a T-shirt, at least one comic book, and $40-$50 of total swag guaranteed! We choose a theme, and curate a package based on that theme, working with the hottest new artists and toy companies to bring you something new every month."
This is a great service and Bryan has a special giveaway for those that listen to this podcast(while supplies last, so get on it!). Promo Code: TEEME

To listen, click here. To download, right click and "Save As..."

Follow Maskerpiece Theatre:
Website: abnormalentertainment.com/maskerpiecetheatre
Facebook: /MaskerpieceTheatre and Fan Page
Twitter: @MPTheatre2015 -Masked Blogster @MaskedBlogster -Mandy @moviefreakgirl -Handsome J @jbrunansky -Matt @MpTheatreMatt
Instagram: maskerpiece_theatre
Pinterest: /abnormalpodcast/maskerpiece-theatre/

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show on our Support Us page.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Trolls - Box Office Review

Dreamwork’s took a shot at making a musical animated film in a time where we don’t see many musicals on the big screen. There’s plenty of song and dance shows on television but we don’t see many musicals on the big screen right now. So let’s dive in a take a look at my thoughts on “Trolls” in this box office review…

This film was made for kids, plain and simple. The bright colors, the hurried pace of the film, the basic plot and the overly exaggerated characters on screen are all visual candy for kids if all my years of watching movies and having been a kid once myself are any indicators. The songs explore relationships, adventure, celebrations and sorrow very broadly expanding the universality of this film. You don’t have to be a troll with magic hair powers to relate to the songs these characters sing because they’re relatable to any age beyond 5 years old and that plays to the strength of this film.

The voice talent in this film isn’t necessarily voice actor talent as much as popular names that are recognizable. I don’t recall the majority of the actors being actual “voice actors” but just actors or singers, which is fine. After all, this is geared for children so they really only need to take a vintage toy line with popular current names and make it seem both fun for the kids and identifiable for the adults taking their kids which I feel they accomplished. This was just a fun film that didn’t ask a lot from me as an audience member. The deeper message that happiness can be achieved in new or different ways was predictable but still entertaining. Also, for as random and almost completely useless the cloud was in this film, I loved his small part and the time he was on screen.

“Trolls” is in theaters now. If you have kids or just like kid movies, this is definitely the film for you and your family. Also, why not take some time for family and enjoy some light hearted fun at the movies. This film might not win any oscars or make you think much but it has some humorous moments and the songs aren’t cringeworthy. If you feel the desire to spend some time together out of the house as a family, I’d recommend seeing this on the big screen, if money is an issue you can also wait for Redbox and make a family afternoon at home out of this film. It’s versatile like that.

Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest 2016: Cosplay Photo's

Maskerpiece Theatre was present for the 2016 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest We were able to get lots of great Photo's of all the wonderful Cosplay. Please Enjoy and let us know what was your favorite.