Maskerpiece Theatre

Friday, September 16, 2016

Act 176: Excited for Football

Masked Blogster and Mandy chat about the upcoming NFL season, season 2 of Stranger Things, Phoenix Fan Fest and more.

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

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Thursday, September 15, 2016

Comic Book Review: Han Solo #3 - Marvel Comics (2016)

Part III

Written by Marjorie Liu
Pencils by Mark Brooks
Inks by Dexter Vines
Colors by Sonia Oback
Cover by Lee Bermejo

The Dragon Void race has been delayed by the Galactic Empire. With some persuasion, the Empire does allow the race to re-start and Han Solo is able to continue his secret mission.

One of the best parts of this comic book is the fact you have a bit more to read. Modern comic books seem to have a lot less words compared to the 70s-80s. The other part I like, writer Marjorie Liu seems to have a good handle on how Han Solo and other known characters talk in the films. This feels like it is a part of the film series.

The complaint I have is the notion of how time is tracked. I find it odd that the term "hours" would be used since that is something based on the revolutions of the Earth. Why would characters from all across a galaxy long ago and far, far away use our ways of measuring time? I feel like there should be a way of being more creative in this sense. All of the Star Wars books seem to have issues with this small quibble I have.

I do enjoy the Star Wars series' from Marvel. Han Solo takes place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. This is a fun way of putting together the stories in between the films.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

The Binge Watcher Review: The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016)

The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016)

Starring:

Ethan Peck, India Eisley, Natalie Hall, Bruce Davison, James Adam Lim, Zack Ward, Scott Alan Smith

Synopsis:

A man inherits an ancestral mansion and an ancient curse stemming back to the Crusades. As he battles to keep demons in the house at bay, he tries to awaken the beautiful Briar Rose to rescue her from a terrifying netherworld.

The Good:

When this film reaches those moments which all horror films have, it hits. The film itself is shot with a dark filter which is great while in the Haunted Mansion and creates makes the creepy mannequins especially when they come to life.

The Bad:

The entire film is shot with the dark filter giving a dull feeling which seems to add to the already drawn out scenes of explanation.

Final Thoughts:

While fairy tales have been told in many forms over the years and recently we have seen the return of the Disney Films in live action form with the likes of Cinderella and the upcoming Beauty and the Beast. The Curse of Sleeping Beauty returns to the original Grimm Darkness. Unfortunately even though this movie falls in the horror genre and embraces that horror darkness it just doesn’t make up for how dull the movie actually is. The movie it’s self takes an unusually long amount of time to explain why everything is happening to the main character. While its nice to know why someone would continue to return to a haunted house, I feel like taking three quarters of the movie to explain is just ridiculous.

And then there was the ending, the film is left with a cliffhanger. It’s not even a horror film cliffhanger where you know the villain will return, nope its left on the “its a second movie of a trilogy” Cliffhanger. Leaving the ending of the movie with many unanswered questions.

While I usually find the good in most movies, and the production at the mansion was brilliant for such a low budget film. This movie was just horrible and in all took me two days to actually finish due to falling asleep the first time I watched it. My suggestion don’t see this film there are many more horror films on Netflix which you can watch which don’t miss the boat entirely.

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Saturday, September 10, 2016

Act 175: Who Is Talking?

Masked Blogster hosts a huge crew for a conversation that goes anywhere and everywhere, eventually becoming a few conversations at once.

Find the video we discussed here.

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

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

Friday Night Game Pick: Flick’em Up

Throwing a party and looking for a way to entertain your guests? Tired of playing Cards Against Humanity and looking for another crowd-pleaser? Well look no further! I’ve compiled some amazing games that will cater to veteran gamers as well as those party goers just looking to have some fun, with my Friday Night Game Pick of Flick’em Up

Flick’em up is recognized as a “Dexterity” game. Which means you’ll be exercising your fingers while flicking bullets across the table at your foe’s. You’ll divide players into two teams, The Lawmen or The Cowboys and then you'll have a show down in the town square. You can run into buildings and shoot players from cover or toss out some dynamite and blow your enemies to smithereens. Bottom line Flick’em up’s simple mechanics and thematic game play entice any onlooker into joining the fun.

Making this game one of the best crowd pleasers I’ve ever seen as no party-goer gets left out. Rounds can accommodate up to ten players and they only take about 30 minutes to play. So if you have a particularly large party, players can always switch out each round. However this game tends to collect many spectators just rooting for their favorite team from the sidelines.

Number of Players: 2 -10, This game plays well with any size crowd.

Age: 7+, Flick’em Up is for any age but players need to be able to reach across the table and not put small pieces in their mouths.

Time to play: 30 Min, Each game gives you just the right amount of time to play, leaving you anxious for your next rematch. Also the game comes with a scenario booklet so you can follow along with the story and change the buildings around; keeping this game fun and interesting as you progress through story and get access to more weapons like the shot gun.

My Personal Fun Score: 5 out of 5 Meeples and is a must play for any party.

Interested in more of my gaming shenanigans? Make sure to follow me on Twitter @GloryHoundd or visit my site at Gloryhoundd.com and see where I'll be doing my next board game demonstration.

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Monday, September 5, 2016

Florence Foster Jenkins - Box Office Review

The summer blockbuster season has come to a close and what better way to usher in the dramatic, character driven films of “Oscar” season than a Meryl Streep movie? “Florence Foster Jenkins” is based on the true story of a New York Heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer despite her wretched voice. So let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts on this film in this box office review…

It’s refreshing to see Hugh Grant back in the role I enjoy him performing. The classic gentleman is a personality that I have always enjoyed from his performances, when called for. He always shines when his character is a bit reserved but driven, caring and thoughtful. While he does entertain moments of base desire his character overall is remarkable once realized. The lengths we see him go to for his love is enough to make you feel a sense of warmth and by the end of the film you might be touched emotionally by his characters story. I was surprised by the relationship he and Florence had not knowing anything about the true story this is based on and I couldn’t appreciate him more by the end.

There’s plenty to be said for Meryl Streep’s performance as Florence because we are treated to a woman who is suffering, should be dead but survives her life because of passion. She lives on because of her hearts drive for music and the arts. That is what keeps her going and it’s the journey Streep takes us on as this suffering character who is purely a passionate being that is incredible. The interactions between characters is telling if you pay attention to her reactions. She is passion and the moment she senses any false emotion her expression and demeanor changes signaling to us the audience she is aware and feeling stifled, if not lied too. It’s her passion which inspires characters throughout the film, not her talents, to find something within themselves they might not have discovered otherwise.

The overall story is a period piece set in New York City and the story does well to capture the time. I wasn’t distracted by minutia which can become overwhelming if done poorly in period piece films. I don’t want to be distracted by music that isn’t from that time or slang that represents modern day unless the piece is set in modern day. This film captured the 1940’s, including artists, slang and clothing style. I was completely taking in by this film.

“Florence Foster Jenkins” is in theaters now! If you enjoy character driven stories, or movies based on true events this will definitely wet your appetite for “Oscar” season. I did, at one point, wonder if people were cutting onions in the theater because I found myself getting a bit misty eyed towards the end. So, if you decide to enjoy this movie on the big screen you might ask the folks at the theater for the non-onion theater show times. It’s a touching film with a great cast and the story is about one woman’s passion for music and the arts and how that passion can inspire others, even strangers.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Hell of High Water - Box Office Review

I will continue to say that genre isn’t as important as story. It doesn’t matter if the story is Fantasy, Action, Science Fiction or in this particular case, a Western as long as the story is good. Movie goers want a story that will allow them to experience feelings and take their minds to a make believe world for an hour and twenty minutes or more. So let’s take a look at my thoughts of “Hell or High Water” in this box office review…

This film is a modern day western with an attempt at adding a Robin Hood theme to it. I say attempt because the bank robbers aren’t giving the money to the poor, they’re just trying to creatively help their family using stolen money and established investment practices. The methods and tactics are well thought out and we are led to believe that people would be ok with bank robbery if they benefited from it because after all, banks are robbing the average man anyway. So in this story, I suppose, turn about is fair play, to a point.

The cast in this film is dynamic. We have Jeff Bridges (who basically is playing the character he played in “True Grit”), Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The surprise performance for me was Chris Pine. I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy his performance but his character develops nicely throughout the film and by the end we are seeing a different man than when the film started which was exactly what needed to happen. Ben Foster I am a huge fan of. Most people don’t remember his name but they do remember his face. He’s an actor that everyone asks “Who?” then when they see his face usually respond with “Oh, I love that guy! He was in…(insert any number of films).” He has so far always elevated the enjoyment of the films he’s in that I’ve seen. He’s an incredible supporting actor that only makes those he’s sharing screen time with better. This film is no exception. He really helps bring out the best in Chris Pine and adds a new dimension to his character that we might not otherwise get to experience. Foster’s character knows exactly who he is and acts his part to excellence all the way to the end of the film.

“Hell or High Water” is in theaters now! If you don’t mind some social commentary on the banking industry this film is definitely worth seeing on the big screen. If you hate banks you’ll appreciate this film even more and should probably see it twice just because. If you enjoy Westerns this is also a very entertaining modern version. It’s got some short comings in dialogue and some slower moments in the 2nd act but overall this was an enjoyable film.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Sausage Party - Box Office Review

There’s something to be said for the freedom that animation provides with regards to storytelling. What is possible on screen using live action is not always best and it might be animation as the key for particular stories told well, or well enough. So let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts on the animated film “Sausage Party” in this box office review..

This film starts off letting the audience know exactly what to expect. It’s a song about life as grocery store items and humans being the gods they long to be with. It veers into satirical goodness almost immediately as the German Food items want to kill the “Juice” items and it only grows from there. This film starts with absurdity and ends with food porn so fantastical if you aren’t offended you’ll be crying from laughter. This movie pulls no punches and finds a way to make light of even the big question, “What happens after we die?” It also examines life through two perspectives, one the food and the other the humans with “bath salts” being the only way to bridge the gap between the two worlds. It’s pure insanity and hilarious.

The characters in this film are basic stereotypes that are exaggerated for the purpose of comedy. We are even treated to a douche, a literal woman’s female hygiene product, being the antagonist who acts like his namesake. If you’ve ever been to a nightclub or a pool party and met anyone who acts like “the douche” than you will find his character well written and humorous. We have a Jewish Bagel and Middle Eastern bread trying to cope with the fact they hate each other but must find a way to coexist in the small strip of shelf space that divides them. It’s fantastic.

“Sausage Party” is theaters now! If you love comedies that make fun of almost everything you will enjoy this film. If you laugh at inappropriate jokes, crude humor and sexual innuendo this is the summer comedy for you. If you hold your religion or personal beliefs to closely to find humor possible, do not see this film. The jokes pull no punches and we are treated to a comedic look at life through the eyes of grocery store products and how life might be if we discovered there is no after life, only this life.

Suicide Squad - Box Office Review

The last of the summer blockbuster films held the #1 box office spot for its first 3 weeks in theaters. It’s a testament to the quality of the film if you pay attention to these types of things. If you prefer to check Rotten Tomato scores you are probably surprised it was #1 for 3 weeks. So let’s jump in and take a look at my thoughts on “Suicide Squad” in this box office review…

When asked by people not familiar with the stories of “Suicide Squad” what to expect I would compare it the Dirty Dozen. It’s a band of criminals brought together to stop something terrible that would most likely result in their death. I will say that this was one aspect the film got right. The movie explained, mostly, who the villains are and why they’re in jail. I felt the story could’ve added more depth to what makes them so terrible instead of just bad guys. Also, I didn’t understand why we needed a double introduction for two characters, Harley Quinn and Deadshot, at the beginning of the film. The first time I saw the movie it didn’t bother me but the second time I realized what a waste of screen time that was and became annoyed at that one item.

The film itself left me feeling divided on how much I actually enjoyed it. The high points were high and the low points were low. The Deadshot scene where he is killing one monster after another was incredible. Most scenes with Captain Boomerang were boring. I don’t recall a moment that left me thinking simply, “that was enjoyable.” I was either loving it or hating it and after seeing it twice I’m leaning towards the negative by maybe 1%. I loved the character of Harley Quinn and Headshot. I even enjoyed the Rick Flag character. I don’t understand why Katana was in this film at all. The purpose of her sword is to steal souls and that wasn’t used at all to it’s potential. The end of the film could’ve been done with any sword, knife or sharp object. She served no purpose. I was hoping she’d serve as a character like “Snake Eyes” from the GI Joe film but she didn’t. She was pointless and her dialogue was terrible, including delivery.

Additionally, the CGI animation towards the end of the film was atrocious. I mentioned this on the podcast review I did with “Cinema Head Cheese” but it’s worth repeating here, the special effects towards the end looked like something from the Brendan Fraser “Mummy” movies. It was awful. For a big budget film the special effects should’ve been much better. Also, why do I care about Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang, and pretty much anyone else? The story revolves around 5 characters and they are, Harley, Headshot, Flag, Amanda Waller and Enchantress. Everyone else in this film felt like they were there because someone wrote them in and refused to remove them despite their uselessness to the overall story. The Harley story almost felt like a secondary plot to the film because there was this heavy subplot of her relationship with the Joker running throughout. It was almost two completely different movies.

“Suicide Squad” is in theaters now! If you wanna turn your brain off and see some pretty dope action sequences and Margot Robbie in tiny booty shorts, go see this film. If you’re looking for a great summer action flick, this isn’t it. It misses the mark one time too many but I will say that the DC live action movies do make me think more their competition. Unfortunately, those thoughts are usually my figuring our how it’s possible to mess up great existing stories in the way they only seem to be capable of anymore.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Act 174: Spaghetti Party

Masked Blogster, Mrs. Blogster, Mandy, Jersey Jenn, Handsome J, Kevin and Liger talk about Batman vs Superman, Jenn's recent unemployment, Kevin Smith, Broad City, cheese and a potentially weird website.

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

Follow Maskerpiece Theatre:
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Twitter: @MPTheatre2015 -Masked Blogster @MaskedBlogster -Mandy @moviefreakgirl -Handsome J @jbrunansky -Matt @MpTheatreMatt
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