In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans of raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings, Albus Dumbledore enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, though he's unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

These movies really are something! Cinematic magic. True fantasy - albeit taking place in all the more darker and dystopian times - even with the refreshing change of scenery. The last one was in the US, and this time it's Paris: city of love.

Things don't always go as you expect them too, though. The last one might've ended with happy relations, but here they darken again, and all the people of the past are back once more - to victor or to perish - or lose someone they love, with one big twist for Dumbledore.

It feels like saying more about anything here might be a spoiler, but it was definitely one more fierce segment of the franchise! Great watch, and I'm looking forward to the next one already. I'm intrigued about that alchemist in particular. Hope we might learn his story next.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

Now this is how you do special effects! Take note, Marvel.

It's another part of the Harry Potter franchise, and a new beginning, this time detailing how things went down before the great wars, both the World War and that Magic War they detail later on... or wait, was it just after?

Whichever the time it was the old times, the place was New York City, and the main character was Newt (played by Eddie Redmayne) - caretaker and savior of magical beasts... which the world of magic is still somewhat adverse to the need for preservation of.

It's an inspiring tale, with a little comedy and a little love and a little darkness and good and evil, just like the Harry Potter movies, but not with as youthful a focus.

If possible it felt even more magic this time around, and their choice of a main character certainly was a wise one! He's an oddball with charisma, this Newt dude.

I'm looking forward to where this new pentalogy will lead. Though some of it's familiar I'm impressed with the bits that aren't, both the acting and the effects, and the only one I was expecting more from was Colin Farrell.

Looking forward to wherever Newt's new adventures take us next.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

I really wasn't prepared for this one.

The son of a contract killer: a contract killer, has a change of heart. He goes to see a shrink, and meets a young woman in the waiting room whom he falls for, but he already has a wife and kid. He wants to stop killing, but his dad gives him a new job (IOW a person to kill)... and it's his shrink.

It might be a premise set for action, but it turns out to be mostly talk. A lot of existential stuff. Not so heavy; more slice of life stuff. The movie feels melancholy more than dark, and heartfelt in authenticity. It ends so simply, but it's not an all bad, and not all a good ending either...

But it was unexpectedly direct! And complicated... in a simple and easily understandable way. Props William H. Macy and Neve Campbell on really doing something special here. Well done. Donald Sutherland too.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

Honor among Samurai? Yes. Bring me back to those days. Bring me back to when the world was vile and cruel... but honorable. When there was something to live for even when we had less. When people pledged their lives for loyalty. When life was beautiful and true... at least in the movies!

It's refreshingly pure, the female version of Zatoichi, and though there are bits where the blindness seems to come off, and the choreography isn't quite as polished, it did leave me feeling a lot more than with the former.

I miss the dance scenes and music but... this wasn't bad. The violence is just as classy, the script similar, and the main character looks better too.

Think I just might get into another Asian movie phase after this.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

When Ghost Shark returns to terrorize Auckland, Mayor Broody calls in an expert ghost shark hunter to protect the citizens and finally defeat the creature.

Yes indeed, it's another lousy Ghost Shark movie. Well the first one wasn't, but with a main actor you just can't take seriously, wholesomely bad filming, and what appears to just be a total lack of budget to boost the scenes - this one certainly is.

The darkness and parody... it just doesn't mix either. It has its moments, like the eye-darkening effect when people choke on a shark, and not bad actors, but generally just very low-budget filming that doesn't bring out anyone's true potential. Too few extras, a lack of authenticity and a crisis that just doesn't feel like it. That's what the sequel had to offer.

It entertained a little but... not worth the time.

 rated 1/5: shit shit shit

Here's the story of a hitwoman who grows a conscience and decides to take care of the kid to a father she killed, but accidentally kills a key person in a rival gang while trying to sort things out to get the kid free, starting a clan war between her and their family - her family members unaware.

No, it's not a comedy. It turns out she's in pretty much the same situation as the kid, and their journey - and bonding experience, is an emotional rollercoaster that leads up to one pretty intense firefight before it's all over.

The introductory sequence (in the same style as the cover image above) had me thinking it'd be a Blaxploitation movie more like Coffy, but that was just that. The intro. The rest of the movie's straight up modern-day drama, all without those classy Blaxploitation zooms or soundtrack jazz (good soundtrack though), with some impressive action sequences, solid actors, but an unfortunately downplayed ending where the villains (there's no black or white though) are not all they're cracked up to be after all.

It's a solid movie a la Taken or similar, with a grittier hood-like vibe, but unfortunately it doesn't manage to rise above the mold, much due to the ending. But it leaves you satisfied. Mary's a bad-ass girl, and this was a bad-ass movie. Props Taraji P. Henson and Jahi Di'Allo Winston on lead roles done well, and it's good to see Danny Glover isn't too old to land one either. Also never wrong with a little Neal McDonough. Good watch.

 rated 3/5: not bad