There’s No Need to Run to See Flash in Theatres. Wait for Streaming.

It’s hard not to want to compare which presentation of DC Comic’s Flash is best after watching this cinematic take.

The Flash Theatrical Release PosterSpoiler Alert

Even without the publicity surrounding Ezra Miller before the release of The Flash, I wasn’t keen on the story. Turning back time and more multiverse stories is not a good idea to regurgitate. This character is well known because of his involvement in Flashpoint, any version, and he’s just as important to help end the Crisis on Infinite Earths. In the latter, he saves the omniverse from full implosion, and what’s teased for the movie says enough. 

It’s also unlikely writers John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Joby Harold planned a full wipe prior to the hire of James Gunn. The only parts of the film I liked was a look at what was talked about but never executed: From giving Nick Cage the cape to show Chris Reeve and Helen Slater together, the homage generally worked. 

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Daring to Defy the Odds; Dumbo, a Movie Review

Had the story diverted to finding Dumbo’s herd and capturing more, I would be hooked. Technically, this era was one of exploration and such practices were not unheard of.

Dumbo Movie PosterDisney’s film entertainment division really need not turn all their past animated hits to live-action spectacles. That said, Dumbo is the latest and while it looks terrific in a post-World War I America setting, none of the backstories matters. Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) comes home to his two kids, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) who have been living at the circus. Prior to being sent off to fight for his country, the father was part of a circus act–a headliner.

Before anyone can yell, “It’s showtime!” enter the elephant’s mother and the birth of a big-eared baby pachyderm. The CGI is decent, but the emotional performance is hit and miss. Unlike Gollum, and other animated critters, who have graced cinema in the past, to convey fear and grief is only as good as understanding the creature itself.

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The Founder does not Flounder the History of McDonald’s

The world can either love McDonald’s or hate this fast food franchise chain even more after watching The Founder.

cezgbkauyaa20xxBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

The world can either love McDonald’s or hate this fast food franchise chain even more after watching The Founder.

Myself, I find myself in the position of thinking this company had a huge share of problems when Ray Kroc was in charge during this company’s heydays. The fictional version is wonderfully and perfectly played by Michael Keaton. He oozes sleaze and I kept on being reminded of Donald Trump. When Kroc saw the potential of what Dick (Nick Offerman) and Mac (John Carroll Lynch) McDonald — the true innovators — tiny operation could do: to provide fast food in a timely and tasty manner. Their expertise set the standards other operations now imitate and nobody can patent the assembly line process (If they could, I’m sure they’d be raking in the dough). Instead of having an expansive menu, they provided the basics and the people of San Bernardino, California loved it.

Kroc was a struggling travelling salesman working for a manufacturer of kitchen aids, Prince Castle. As the story introduces him trying to sell milkshake makers that can churn out eight of them at a time, nobody was interested. His shtick was to show them how progress has to be handled through efficiency. But his snide tactics had many a restaurateur closing the door on him. When a large order came from the McDonald’s operation, he drove all the way from Illinois (using route 66) to see what’s up. When he got there, he saw the potential of how the brother’s operation can become nation-wide.

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