2 Archives - MediaMikes

Exclusive Interview for TERRIFIER 2 with Damien Leone and David Howard Thornton aka Art the Clown!

MediaMikes had a chance to chat with writer/director Damien Leone and star David Howard Thornton of the new movie “Terrifier 2”, which will be in theaters on October 6, 2022 from Cinedigm in partnership with Iconic Events.

From Writer/Director Damien Leone (All Hallows’ Eve, Terrifier), the highly anticipated, ultra-gory slasher sequel Terrifier 2welcomes back David Howard Thornton as the demonic killer, Art the Clown, and introduces Lauren LaVera as Sienna, who is bound to become an instant fan favorite as the next Final Girl. Also returning is Samantha Scaffidi who reprises her role as Victoria Heyes, with horror icon Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp) and professional wrestler Chris Jericho also making appearances.

SYNOPSIS: After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.

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Film Review 2: “Top Gun: Maverick”

TOP GUN: MAVERICK
Starring: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller and Val Kilmer
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 11 mins
Paramount

In April of 1986 I was in the movie theatre business. I had begged the home office – and convinced them – to give me “Top Gun” as one of my summer pictures. I displayed the posters and ran the trailers, listening to the audience’s excitement when the preview ended. I was set. Then, during the first week of May, our company Vice President visited me in my office. To get the full picture in your head, I’ll preface his comments by letting you know that he sounded an awful bit like Fozzie Bear. “Michael,” he said, “I’ve just come from seeing what will be the biggest film of the summer.” “Top Gun,” I asked. “No, “Cobra.” You’ll play it for months!” “So I’m playing “Cobra” AND “Top Gun?” – my theatre was a twin – “Top Gun”?? That won’t play through June. Believe me, my friend, you want “Cobra.”” So I played “Cobra,” which fizzled out after 2 weeks. The other theatre in the area got “Top Gun.” It played through August!

As his jet rockets through the sky, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise)begins a difficult maneuver and, as he often does in these situations, quietly whispers “talk to me Goose.” It’s something he’s done for the past three-plus decades and it’s always seemed to work. Will it work this time?

Packed with wall -to-wall action, “Top Gun: Maverick” finds, well, Maverick, back as an instructor at the Fighter Pilot Training School, where he is asked to get 16 of the best pilots ready for a mission. He balks at first at the assignment, stating his preference to be a part of the mission itself, but is told in no uncertain terms by his commander (Jon Hamm) that he’s just there to train and evaluate. However, things get a little more difficult when he learns that one of the students, call sign Rooster (Teller), is the son of Maverick’s late friend Goose, a young man who blames Maverick for many things, including, of course, the death of his father. Can you say tension?

It has been 36-years since “Top Gun” hit theatres, and I’ll have to admit that I was a little wary when I heard they were making a sequel. Anticipation grew as COVID delayed the film’s release – originally scheduled for May 2019 – for almost two years. Let me just say, it was well worth the wait. Combining several familiar themes from the first film, with an amazing amount of aerial action, “Top Gun: Maverick” delivers the goods. Cruise is his usual cocky self, and that self-assurance is multiplied several times by the assortment of hot shot pilots he is given to mentor. Teller, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the young Goose, plays a young man who should be confident of his skills but isn’t, causing him to hesitate at times he shouldn’t. Jennifer Connelly is Maverick’s love interest this time around, playing – if my memory serves me – the daughter of a former Admiral – a daughter that Maverick may or may not have taken advantage of. Jon Hamm and Ed Harris are well cast as the authority figures that just don’t seem to understand Maverick’s ways and it’s a genuine treat to see Val Kilmer back on the big screen. Director Kosinski keeps the film moving at a rapid pace, while the aerial action is downright dizzying.

The film is lovingly dedicated to the late Tony Scott, who directed “Top Gun.” I’d like to think that he would give a thumbs up and a salute to “Top Gun: Maverick.”

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 2, film, gun, maverick, review, top, ...

Film Review: “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” – REVIEW 2

DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olson
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Ratied: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hrs 6 mins
Walt Disney Studios

Second only to the Oscar-nominated “Black Panther” of 2018, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is the best Marvel film to be released to date. Having made over $230 million domestically in its first seven days of release (Box Office Mojo), the Sam Raimi-helmed story about everyone’s favorite doctor of mystical arts is a visual spectacular with plenty of excitement, great acting, and a complicated story that demands your full attention. It is nothing short of marvelous and easily the finest since “Avengers: End Game.”

(For those who have yet to see the newest “Doctor Strange” don’t worry, you won’t find any spoilers here.) We are instantly thrust to a weird place in between universes where a pony-tailed version of Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and a teenager named America Chavez (Xochitil Gomez) are chased by a demon as they try to reach a powerful spell book. The incredible situation goes from bad to worse before America, who has the ability to travel across the multiverse, ends up in “our” universe where she is saved by Strange and Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong).

After realizing there were witchcraft runes on the demon that chased America, Stephen finds Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olson) to request her help. He soon discovers, though, that what transpired during the events of “WandaVision” have left Wanda psychologically imbalanced. In fact, she reveals her full embracement of her dark alter ego – The Scarlet Witch. She demands Stephen turn America over to her so she can be with her children in an alternate universe. This leads to an epic magical showdown at Kamar-Taj from which Stephen and America flee across the multiverse to another Earth that is governed by a powerful group named the Illuminati.

Stephen does not receive a warm welcome from the Illuminati council despite his grave warnings about the impending arrival of the Scarlet Witch. Ultimately, he must rely upon his ex-romantic partner Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), who on this version of Earth is an expert on the multi-verse, to help him and America defeat the increasingly unhinged Scarlet Witch.

Cumberbatch gets to explore many more facets of a character who when first introduced to us was an egotistical narcissist on the same level as Tony Stark. However, Stephen grows significantly in this newest story and becomes a hero that can be fully embraced and understood. (A stark contrast to Peter Parker who never seems to mature past be a mistake prone, bumbling stumbling man child.) Stephen Strange may still have elements of over-confidence, but with Cumberbatch’s undeniable skill and some solid writing, he becomes fully developed hero in this second film devoted to the Master of Mystic Arts.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” easily has some of the best eye candy of the entire Marvel collection with dazzling special effects and colorful imagery. It is also has some moments of brutal violence, hence the PG-13 rating, as it alternates between dark moments of despair and flashes of levity that we have come to expect in all of the Marvel flicks. The assembled cast is nothing less than fantastic with particularly stand-out supporting performances from Olson and McAdams.

In the end, “Doctor Strange and Multiverse of Madness” is the best entertainment you will find currently at any cinema.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 2, dr, film, madness, multiverse, review, ...

“Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection” Heads Home This Holiday Season!

If you are looking for that special gift for that special someone or maybe your favorite family member…then look no further. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing the ultimate gift set for any “Sex and the City” fans. See below for full details around this amazing new release. (And don’t get scared off by the MSRP price below, you can find it on Amazon for under $100, see here)

BURBANK, CA (September 2, 2021) — Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release all six seasons of the groundbreaking HBO comedy series Sex and the City plus both Sex and the City feature films on Blu-ray for the first time on November 2, 2021. Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection will feature 96 unforgettable episodes of the iconic series plus Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2 in one, elegant must-own box set. It’s the ultimate collection for any Sex and the City fan! Experience the friendships and the fashion in gorgeous high-definition and catch up on all the episodes and films before the highly anticipated next chapter, And Just Like That…, debuts on HBO Max later this year. Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection is priced to own at $179.99 SRP ($194.99 Canada). Sex and the City: The Complete Series, Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2 are also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers, and to stream on HBO Max.

Winner of seven Emmy® Awards, and the first cable show to win Outstanding Comedy Series, Sex and the City celebrates the bond of female friendship. It’s a salute to New York City, and a celebration of fashion and style. It’s a revolutionary series that broke boundaries, changed television and liberated women. Sex and the City set cultural and fashion trends, taught women to have honest conversations about relationships, and showed viewers how to express their individuality through fashion and style. Now fans can re-live every iconic scene of the trail blazing series and films in dazzling, eye-catching high-definition.

Sex and the City stars Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, a New York-based writer who explores and experiences the unique world of Manhattan’s dating scene, chronicling the mating habits of single New Yorkers. The series also stars cast regulars Kim Cattrall as PR executive Samantha Jones, who’s seen — and done — it all; Kristin Davis as Charlotte York, still trying to hold on to the idea of happily ever after; and Cynthia Nixon as corporate lawyer and mother Miranda Hobbes, a pragmatist trying to balance the idea of love with the realities of life.

Special Features*

Includes over 3 hours of previously released special features.

Inside Sex and the City
Meet the Cast of Sex and the City
The Writers of Sex and the City
The Fashion of Sex and the City
Sex and the City: Real New Yorkers
Episode Commentary by Executive Producer, Michael Patrick King
Behind-the-Scenes with Patricia Field
Farewell Tributes
Alternate Series Finale Endings
Deleted Scenes
Museum of TV & Radio Seminar Series
USCAF Writer’s Panel Discussion

*Special features may not be in High Definition.

Digital

Sex and The City: The Complete Series, Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2 are now available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox and others.

The Basics

Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection

Street Date:	November 2, 2021
SRP:	$179.00/ $194.99 (Canada)
Configuration	18 BD-50s
Aspect Ratio:	16×9 Widescreen
Audio:	English (5.1)
Subtitles:	ESDH

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 2, city, collection, complete, heads, holiday, ...

AARON LEWIS ANNOUNCES FALL TOUR WITH FULL BAND BEGINNING OCTOBER 2

NEW SINGLE “AM I THE ONLY ONE” DEBUTS #1

BILLBOARD HOT COUNTRY SONGS CHART

Platinum recording artist, Aaron Lewis has announced a Fall tour beginning October 2 through mid-December.

Unlike his other solo acoustic tours, Aaron will be performing with a full band.

Artist presale tickets will be available Wednesday July 21 @ 10:00am local time. General public Friday July 23 @ 10:00am local time. To purchase tickets visit www.AaronLewisMusic.com

Earlier this month Aaron dropped a new single, “Am I The Only One” from his forthcoming album, to be released later this year.The single debuted #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart, #2 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales and #14 on the Hot 100. The track also drew 4 million U.S. streams in the tracking week. Buy/stream “Am I The Only One” HERE

Throughout his more than two-decade career, whether topping the charts as front man of hard rock band Staind, or as No.1 artist on the Country charts as a solo artist, Aaron Lewis has always been painfully honest in his music.

“That’s all I’ve ever done,” says Aaron. “My songs have always been me wearing my heart, emotions, misfortunes and sins on my sleeve. I don’t feel like it would be genuine or worthy if it wasn’t.”

You can also see Aaron this summer with his multi-platinum hard rock band, Staind on tour with KoRn. Tour dates & ticket info HERE

Aaron Lewis Band 2021 Fall Tour Dates:

10/2 Inman, KS @ 365 Sports Complex

10/7 Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre

10/8 Lake Charles, LA @ Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino*

10/15 Salamanca, NY @ Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino*

10/17 Charleston, WV @ Municipal Auditorium*

10/21 Aurora, IL @ The Piazza

10/22 Kansas City, MO @ Ameristar Casino*

10/23 Prior Lake, MN @ Mystic Lake Casino

10/28 Sault Ste Marie, MI @ Kewadin Casino

10/29 New Buffalo, MI @ Four Winds Casino Resort

10/30 Florence, IN @ Belterra Casino Resort

11/3 Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Event Center

11/6 Atlantic City, NJ @ Ocean Resort & Casino*

11/20 Charles Town, WV @ Hollywood Casino

11/21 Charles Town, WV @ Hollywood Casino

12/3 Scottsdale, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort

12/5 Temecula, CA @ Pechanga Casino

12/11 Rochester, WA @ Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel **

12/12 Rochester, WA @ Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel **

*Tickets already on-sale

**Public on-sale date TBD

For tickets and further info go to: www.AaronLewisMusic.com

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: 2, aaron, announces, band, beginning, fall, ...

Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades Season 2 2010’s

“Decades Season 2- 2010s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, June 26^th, 2021

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bad Religion wrapped up Season 2 of their “Decades” streaming series on June 26^th from the Roxy Theater in West Hollywood. Broadcast exclusively via NoCapshows.com the final episode of season 2 followed the same format as the previous three shows which featured sets containing deep cuts and rarely performed songs from each decade of the bands career. Songs from the bands three 2010’s era releases (“The Dissent of Man”, “True North”, “Age of Unreason”) would be the focus of this evenings performance.

Veteran punk purveyors Bad Religion brought a close Season 2 of their “Decades” streaming series on June 26^th with an impressive and upbeat 14 song set of 2010’s era BR material. The evenings performance featured the live debut of six different songs along with a handful of other songs some of which have not appeared live since 2010. Kicking of the night was the fast paced, guitar fueled “Past is Dead” from the album “Truth North”. The song set the evenings pace and instantly while show casing the tight knit guitar tandem of Brian Baker and Mike Dimkich. The nights first live debut would follow as the band performed the title track off their most recent studio release “Age of Unreason”. With a song this powerful I cannot believe it never made its way on to the set during the bands last outing pre-covid. Other debuts from the night’s performance included “Hello Cruel World”, “Big Black Dog”, “In Their Heart Is Right”, “Downfall” and “What Tomorrow Brings”. Despite all of these songs being newer to the BR catalog the band really showed their music prowess as each number came off as very well-rehearsed almost as if these songs have been being played day in and day out for years. Closing out the night was the song “Cyanide” from the 2010’s “The Dissent of Man”. Despite the songs ominous title, the performance was very enjoyable as it offered an added level of instrumentation courtesy of Senses Fail’s Gavin Caswell who sat in on pedal steel guitar for this song giving the closing moments of “Decades Season 2” an almost Eagles like sound and feel.

Bad Religion once again delivers with a unique and safe concert experience that fans can enjoy from the safety of their homes. The 60-minute runtime felt like just the right amount time to give viewers a quick break from their normal day and return them feeling good and recharged. No matter if you tuned in just for this show or have caught all the previous performances you really get your money’s worth as the band delivered across every performance. If you missed any of the shows I believe they will be still available to stream through the end of June at Nocapshows.com If you are waiting to see the band live an in-person have no fear as on 6/24 the band announced their rescheduled 40^th Anniversary co-headlining tour with Alkaline Trio and special guests War on Women will kick off on October 15^th in Riverside California. Very Cool! For more information on the tour head over to badreligion.com

Set List:

1.) Past is Dead

2.) Age of Unreason

3.) Nothing to Dismay

4.) Hello Cruel World

5.) Big Black Dog

6.) In Their Hearts Is Right

7.) The Profane Rights of Man

8.) Won’t Somebody

9.) Downfall

10.) Meeting of the Minds

11.) The Devil in Stitches

12.) Dept. of False Hope

13.) What Tomorrow Brings

14.) Cyanide

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: 2, 2010s, bad, concert, decades, religion, ...

Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades Season 2 1980’s”

“Decades Season 2- 1980s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, June 5^th, 2021

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bad Religion kicked off Season 2 of their “Decades” series on June 5^th from the Roxy Theater in West Hollywood. Broadcast exclusively via NoCapshows.com its the first of four episodes which will feature deep cuts and rarely performed songs. Like season 1 each episode of season 2 will focus on a specific era of the bands 40+ year career. Up first was the 1980’s which pulled songs from four different releases (“How Could Hell Be Any Worse?”, “Into the Unknown”, “Suffer” and “No Control”) some of which have not been performed live in over 30 years.

Capitalizing on the success of the first four “Decades” live streams veteran punk purveyors Bad Religion are back with a brand-new set of shows which take fans deeper down the BR rabbit hole. Though the format and look of “Decades Season 2” is very similar to that of season 1 the setlists could not be any more different. Over the course of 60 minutes Vocalist Greg Graffin and company took viewers deep into the group’s massive song archives to revisit some of the bands lesser performed tracks from the groups first four studio releases. Prior to the show starting I was skeptical as to how the set was going to go as it was being touted as having completely different songs with no repeats from the subsequent performances. How were we going to watch a Bad Religion show and not hear songs like “Infected”, “Sorrow” and “21^st Century Digital Boy”? Could the rarities fill in for these long-time staples which have had fans coming out on droves since their release? Well, right off the bat any fears I had about the set not living up to the standard Bad Religion always puts forth were quickly put to bed as the band ripped through tracks like “Voice of God is Government”, “Doing Time” and, “Damned to Be Free” all of which have been absent from live performances since 2008. The band even dipped in to “Against the Grain” (yes, it was technically released in 1990) to perform the Brett Gurewitz penned track “Walk Away” for its first time ever! Pretty cool from a fan’s perspective for sure. Easily my favorite performances of the night were two songs pulled from the widely panned 1983 release “Into the Unknown”. The somber “…You Give Up” set the stage nicely for the keyboard fueled “It’s Only Over When..” which came complete with a key slide that would bring Rick Wakeman to his knees and one that had me cracking up for the next few seconds. This combined with some comedic interview Segway’s really made for a good watch.

Clocking in at around 60 minutes Bad Religion’s “Decades” gives you what you want as a fan and then lets you get back to your day. With lives shows slowly starting to happen across the country and around the world there is undoubtably still some skepticism around if things will be safe. The latest virtual offering from Bad Religion alleviates those worries and offers a fun, enjoyable concert performance which you can watch any time and, from wherever you are comfortable. With three more shows coming in season 2 and the option to be able to go back and re-watch season 1 Greg, Mike, Brian, Jamie and Jay have you covered until you are ready to get back out there and see them face to face.

Set List:

1.) Voice of God is Government

2.) Politics

3.) Yesterday

4.) Delirium of Disorder

5.) Billy

6.) Sometimes It Feels Like…

7.) …You Give Up

8.) It’s Only Over When

9.) What Can You Do?

10.) Part II (The Numbers Game)

11.) Part III

12.) Part IV (The Index Fossil)

13.) Land of Competition

14.) Doing Time

15.) Damned to Be Free

16.) I Want Something More

17.) Turn on the Light

18.) When?

19.) Walk Away

20.) Sanity

21.) Faith in God

22.) Pessimistic Lines

23.) Progress

To watch Season 1 and 2 of Bad Religion “Decades” visit Nocapshows.com here

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: 1980s, 2, bad, concert, decades, religion, ...

Red Dead Redemption 2: Beginner’s Guide

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an online game that creates a Wild West aura. The players here lead a life full of crime to climb their way up and in the process kill anyone that comes in their way. The online game gives the players a plethora of options to customize their appearance. They can also interact with people from the real world. The players can team up with their friends and go on a mission to collect weapons or money. The game is set in the fictional Southern United States and Midwestern. Read through these Red Dead Redemption 2 hacks to play the online game.

The cores

There are three core things to always keep in mind – your stamina, health, and the dead eye. The HUD represented by a circle with a white outline shows the amount of each core that you have left. See a drop in the health meter when you get shot. Your stamina falls when you hoof up on a mountain. See your dead eye depleting when you slow down for a long period. When the core is low the meter shows a red. So pay attention because your core affects the stat regeneration and an empty core slows down regeneration.

Using the dead eye

The dead eye is the mechanic to slow down the time and let you mark your enemies and kill them in succession. Use this core strategically. You may wish to tag various targets for shorts or aim and shoot your rivals manually. The dead eye also works when you are on horseback. Many missions have chasing scenes and riding and aiming both at the same time can be a task. This is where the dead eye can come to aid.

Caring and bonding with your horse

Your horse stands true to you through the game. Early on in the game, you go on a mission where you buy your new horse. Give it a cute name. In Red Dead Redemption 2, it matters how you treat your animal friend. Your horse also has a healthy and stamina core. If you let your horse take a lot of shots or damage then it can die. Revivers work here, which though pricey comes to your rescue.

Making money and XP

Money is important and to earn money all that you need to do is to use the D-pad to select the story mission on call. It opens up the menu Free roam. You get paired with a random player. The rewards are small in the beginning but grow when you level up.

The players need to complete the mission to work their way up. Doing the same mission over and over again does not earn anything so always try out something new to earn money. Your performance in the mission is vital. The better you perform the more you earn. The missions are random. Story mission help to earn the XP, unlock future mission and new weapons and also earn high rewards. The mission can also be played along with friends so it pays to get a friend group and work on the mission together.

Be prepared with your firefights

You cannot afford to take a lot of damage when you play this game. Stay behind the cover and be planned about where you should head next. Stay still when you pull the shots especially when you are shooting at a long range. Do not fire aimlessly as it will just make you miss and waste your ammunition. Shoot only with intent.

It takes time to loot but do not avoid it

You can kill a lawman, a bandit, or an innocent and can loot from them. People may not have a lot of cash but you definitely may be able to find some tonics or other things to boost stamina and health. Looting lets you save trips to the general store. Looting takes time and this is also when you are highly vulnerable. So stay cautious when you loot but do not forget to loot.

Learn the settings and controls

If you can personalize the settings, then half the task is done. You can get into the settings to turn off the aim assist and alter its sensitivity. Red Dead Redemption 2 also does not want you to sprint. You can also choose to play in the first person when you are on foot and in the third person when you are riding. This is possible too. The setting will automatically switch you into the third person mode when you jump on the horse. Work on the settings and change them to your liking before you are prepared to take over the mission.

Conclusion

With inspiring storylines and the state of the art graphics, Red Dead Redemption 2 does not fail to engross the players for long. You may be tempted to cut through the mission as soon as possible. However, take time, go slow and let everything sink in before you get aggressive. There is enough time and room for every player to grow and play the game.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 2, beginners, dead, guide, red, redemption, ...

Film Review: “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (2)

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman
Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Rating: Rated R
Running Time: 1 HR 34 MINS
Netflix

With the 93^rd annual Academy Awards just days away, it is a good time to take a look at “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” a film unforgivably snubbed in the Best Picture category. Garnering a total of five nominations, “Ma Rainey’s” is a fantastic drama with a brilliant cast punctuated by memorable performances from Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman.

Based upon the 1982 stage play by the late American playwright August Wilson (1945-2005) and wonderfully directed by George C. Wolfe (2005’s “Lackawanna Blues”), “Ma Rainey’s” is set on a hot and steamy July day in 1927 Chicago. Popular Georgia-born blues singer Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (Davis) is scheduled to record a song – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” – for a pair of white producers anxious to make a profit off her music.

Ahead of her much-anticipated arrival, Ma’s band arrives to prepare for the day’s recording session. Her musical quartet is made up of three seasoned veterans (Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman and Michael Potts) and an ambitious trumpet player named Levee Green (Boseman). Levee has a head full of dreams of becoming a star on his own, but his fellow players scoff at his ideas, at least until he tells them in a powerful scene about a disturbing racist experience he had while growing up.

When Ma (Davis) arrives late there is heavy tension in the air, especially when it comes to her interaction with one of the white producers, Mel (Jonny Coyne, “The Blacklist”). Neither likes the other as Ma does not take any guff from anyone and Mel does not like her because she is black. In the middle is the other producer, Irvin (Jeremy Shamos, “Better Call Saul”) who will do anything to appease her. After many hiccups, the recording session finally begins but it is afterwards when the story’s haunting climax occurs.

The real Ma Rainey lived from 1886-1939 and is often regarded as the “Mother of the Blues.” The Columbus, Georgia native was a force of nature in life and Davis drives this home with a tour de force performance that dominates the silver screen. It’s almost no wonder that Davis thrives so well on the script since she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2016’s “Fences,” another of Wilson’s works.

Equally spellbinding to watch is Boseman whose last performance before his untimely passing is one never to be forgotten. His progression from a bravado-filled, star-seeking musician to a broken man seething with rage, pain, and frustration is done with amazing skill. It is arguably the best acting of his brief career and makes his death that much more tragic.

Overall, “Ma Rainey’s” is an important, transformative work of cinema. How it was ignored in the Best Picture category is a travesty of the highest order.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 2, black, bottom, film, ma, raineys, ...

ACE FREHLEY RELEASES NEW ALBUM ORIGINS VOL. 2 VIA ENTERTAINMENT ONE

FEATURING JOHN 5, LITA FORD, BRUCE KULICK,
ROBIN ZANDER & MORE

Founding KISS guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member Ace Frehley released his highly-anticipated second collection of eleven rock ‘n’ roll covers, titled Origins Vol. 2, today via Entertainment One (eOne). The record acts as the sequel to Frehley’s 2016 album Origins Vol. 1 and continues his reflections on a lifetime in music and inspiration.

Frehley is joined by friends on guest appearances, such as Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, former KISS comrade Bruce Kulick, John 5, and Lita Ford. Frehley and company tackle high energy versions of deep cuts and classics by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and other musical touchstones of rock.

No stranger to cover versions throughout his musical history — having recorded, rebranded, and repossessed such notable nuggets as “New York Groove,” “Do Ya” and “I Wanna Go Back” throughout his eight previous studio efforts — this new collection presents a thoughtful and exciting selection of songs that inspired and helped shape the legendary guitarist.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2, ace, album, entertainment, frehley, origins, ...

ACE FREHLEY ANNOUNCES ORIGINS VOL. 2 DETAILS, EXTENDS ALBUM DEAL WITH ENTERTAINMENT ONE

“SPACE TRUCKIN’” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO AND TRACK OUT NOW

PRE ORDERS AVAILABLE TODAY

Founding KISS guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member Ace Frehley announces the release of Origins Vol. 2, his highly-anticipated second collection of eleven rock ‘n’ roll covers, due out on September 18, 2020. Today, he also releases the first single, a flawless cover of Deep Purple’s 1972 hit, “Space Truckin'” available now on all streaming platforms, and as an official music video.

Recorded at The Creation Lab in Turlock, CA, Frehley recorded guitar, bass, and vocals on “Space Truckin'” with long-time studio drummer Matt Star and keyboard player Rob Sabino (Peter Frampton, Simon & Garfunkel).

Ace offers,“‘Space Truckin’ was recorded years ago, and then I just re-recorded some parts and changed it a little. We never ended up putting it on a record, so it was just sitting around. It turned out very well. Rob Sabino is a very accomplished studio musician, and we actually grew up in the Bronx together, so we go way back.”

The official video for “Space Truckin’” was directed by eOne’s Ken Gullic (VP, Sales & Acquisitions, Music) and animated by Chris Fequiere, the same team behind the “Mission to Mars” music video from Frehley’s Spaceman album in 2018.

Frehley has also re-signed with eOne for more new releases, which extends his original deal signed in 2013. During his tenure, he has released three albums worth of new material, Origins Vol. 2 is the fourth. A new studio album is planned for 2021 with two additional releases to follow.

eOne’s Scott Givens, SVP, Rock & Metal, Music says, “I am thrilled to extend our partnership with Ace Frehley. He is a core artist for eOne and I look forward to more continued success with him.”

eOne’s Ken Gullic, VP, Sales & Acquisitions, Music, offers, “We were warned, before our first meeting with Ace in 2014, that he’d never deliver an album or get on the plane for that very meeting. He showed up with an early version of Steve Miller’s “The Joker” in hand and then cranked out eleven brand new songs at lightning speed for his first top 10 solo album ever, ‘Space Invader,’ just in time for his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as a KISS member in 2014. With nine albums into his vibrant solo career, one that clearly stands on its own, it’s time for Ace to be considered as a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted solo performer too.“

Frehley continues his reflections on a lifetime in music with this release of Origins Vol. 2. No stranger to cover versions throughout his musical history — having recorded, rebranded and repossessed such notable nuggets as “New York Groove,” “Do Ya” and “I Wanna Go Back” throughout his eight previous studio efforts — this new collection presents a thoughtful and exciting selection of songs that inspired and helped shape the legendary guitarist. That spirit of fun is carried through with exquisite execution, and guitar aficionados will enjoy Frehley’s fresh interpretations of these classic songs.

Origins Vol 2. features some extraordinary guests, including Robin Zander of Cheap Trick on Humble Pie’s “30 Days In The Hole,” and former KISS comrade Bruce Kulick on Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression.” Origins Vol.1 alumnus John5 also returns, playing on Cream’s “Politician,” and The Beatles’ “I’m Down.” Finally, the exquisite Lita Ford returns on vocals, this time on The Rolling Stones’ 1968 hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Full track listing below.

Track List:
1. Good Times Bad Times (Led Zeppelin)
2. Never In My Life (Mountain)
3. Space Truckin’ (Deep Purple)
4. I’m Down (The Beatles)
5. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)
6. Politician (Cream)
7. Lola (The Kinks)
8. 30 Days In The Hole (Humble Pie)
9. Manic Depression (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
10. Kicks (Paul Revere & the Raiders)
11. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (The Animals)
12. She (KISS) [Bonus Track]

Origins Vol. 2 will be the followup to 2016’s Origins Vol. 1, which hit #23 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and was his second highest-charting solo album and his 4th Top 40 album.

Pre-orders are available today at www.acefrehleyorigins.com — which includes an exclusive 180g Opaque Gold Double LP variant (limited to 1000 copies + download card).

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: 2, ace, album, announces, deal, details, ...

LILY CORNELL SILVER RELEASES EPISODE 2 OF HER IGTV SERIES “MIND WIDE OPEN”

Dr. Marc Brackett Author of Permission to Feel and Founder/Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Lily and Marc Discuss the Importance of Labeling and Understanding Emotions among other subjects

Lily Cornell Silver today airs episode 2 of her IGTV series Mind Wide Open beginning at 9am PT/12noon ET.

The episode features Dr. Marc Brackett, author of the bestselling book, Permission to Feel and the Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence as well as a Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University.

Continuing on her quest to helpde-stigmatize conversations around mental health and provide resources and access, Lily and Marc discuss trauma, anxiety, sexual abuse, and the power of being able to understand and label our emotions.

Lily says, “Marc brings so much compassion and empathy to the conversation along with his science based research on our emotional lives. His concept of being an emotion scientist rather than an emotion judge so resonated with me and I deeply appreciate his work toward implementing social emotional learning in schools. His bravery in talking about his own childhood sexual abuse and how he got help in moving forward was also incredibly inspiring.”

Marc says, “Lily is a 20 year old with an old soul, wise beyond her years and able to connect in a way that will keep these important conversations going. It was incredible to talk to a young person who has experienced trauma, but yet has an understanding of her own situation and is using it to help others. What inspired me the most though was how open Lily is about her own emotions and how much she related to the idea of giving yourself and others permission to feel.”

Coming episodes will bring guests such as TikTok/Instagram influencer Sir Carter and Guns N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver’s Duff McKagan among many others.

More guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
https://www.instagram.com/lilycornellsilver/

ABOUT Lily Cornell Silver: Lily Cornell Silver is the creator and host of the new IGTV interview series, Mind Wide Open. Her mission for the series is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Lily is a poised, intelligent, and talented young woman whose goal is to open and amplify the conversations around trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and other challenges. Lily is a junior in college studying Media Studies, Sociology, and Psychology. In addition to managing and promoting Seattle musicians, she is an activist and avid supporter of social justice initiatives including organizations such as Black Lives Matter, NAACP, Equal Justice Initiative, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Planned Parenthood among many others.

Lily Cornell Silver is the only daughter of music industry manager Susan Silver (Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Screaming Trees), and the first-born of the late Chris Cornell (Soundgarden/Audioslave). She is twenty years old and makes her home in Seattle, Washington.

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Filed Under: Misc, Podcast, Podcast, Uncategorized Tagged With: 2, cornell, episode, igtv, lily, mind, ...

Class is Now in Session as MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 Launches for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam

Go Beyond and Continue the Fight for Justice!

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (March 13, 2020) – Leading developer and publisher of anime video games, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE^® 2 is now available for purchase in the Americas for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, and PC via STEAM®. MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 is the second video game developed under the MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE title and is an anime-action fighting game based off the wildly popular Shonen Jump series.

In MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2, the original cast members from MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE will be joined by a slew of new heroes and villains, totaling up to 40 playable characters. New characters such as Yakuza captain Kai Chisaki, Mr. Compress and Twice from the League of Villains, U.A. High School third-year students Mirio Togata, Tamaki Amajiki, and Nejire Hado of “The Big 3”, and Class 1-A’s Mina Ashido and Minoru Mineta are just some of the new characters in MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2. Characters from the previous MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE will have upgraded abilities to mirror their growth in the anime.

New stages and stories from the anime series will also be included in MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 along with updated gameplay, giving players a more robust MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE experience. In addition to the new characters, stages, and storylines, MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 features multiple modes including Story Mode, Mission Mode, and Arcade Mode as well as new customization options for every character. For the first time ever, MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 introduces a brand-new dodge mechanic that enables players to evade attacks from opponents, adding a new layer of tactical gameplay to the fight.

“MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 brings together all of our favorite characters, along with some new heroes and villains that fans will surely love” said Stephen Akana, Senior Global Brand Manager at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 takes all the quirkiness and intense battles of MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE to the next grade level and delivers a video game that truly mirrors the anime’s over-the-top battles and drama that all fans can enjoy!”

For more information about MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 or other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., please visit; https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS

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Filed Under: Game Headlines Tagged With: 2, 4, class, hero, justice, launches, ...

The Returning Characters from My Hero One’s Justice Are Bigger, Badder, and Quirkier than Ever in My Hero One’s Justice 2!

Your favorite characters from the original MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE are back and ready for action in MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2! MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 features all the characters from the first MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE, with upgraded moves and abilities that mirror their growth in the anime, enabling players to rediscover their favorite characters.

MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 will be available in the Americas for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch on March 13^th, 2020. Those who pre-order either the standard edition or the Collector’s Edition of MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 will receive Nomu as a playable character and will also gain early access to Izuku Midoriya (Full Cowling 100%) and Kai Chisaki (Ver. 2). Those who have previous save data from MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE can unlock a special Izuku Midoriya customization item on the same console.

See some old friends in action within the newest character trailer for MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 at the following YouTube:

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Filed Under: Game Headlines Tagged With: 2, badder, bigger, characters, hero, justice, ...

The Villains Show off Their Destructive Moves in the Newest My Hero One’s Justice 2 Character Trailer!

The expanded character roster of MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 includes several new villains, enabling fans to try out new play styles and quirks of their favorite evil do-ers! The latest character trailer for MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 shows off some of the moves of the newest villains added to the roster, such as Kai Chisaki, Tomura Shigaraki (Another Ver.), and both Mr. Compress and Twice from the League of Villains!

MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch on March 13^th, 2020! Those who pre-order either the standard edition or the Collector’s Edition of MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 will receive Nomu as a playable character and will also gain early access to Izuku Midoriya (Full Cowling 100%) and Kai Chisaki (Ver. 2)! Those who have previous save data from MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE can unlock a special Izuku Midoriya customization item on the same console.

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Filed Under: Game Headlines Tagged With: 2, character, destructive, hero, justice, moves, ...

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