Mission Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning Part 1

On July 14, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Tom Cruise loves cinema so much he turned down several offers from movie streamers like Netflix and Amazon, and he purposely developed his latest instalment of Mission Impossible specifically for the big screen. It’s his mission to keep movie theaters alive, thus the reason he rushed Top Gun Maverick into production during the Covid epidemic.

Just browse the limited selection of movies these days at your local theater and it’s easy to see their days are numbered. Blame covid, movie ticket or popcorn prices or virtually free streaming from the comfort of your own living room…even all the superhero movies aimed younger audiences don’t seem to be filling theater seats.

But there are certain movies that should be seen on the big screen and M.I. 7 is one of them. Unlike the last instalment of Indiana Jones, which was mostly CGI, Dead Reckoning is a movie made for adrenaline junkies. Action in the form of foot and car chases is second to none, with awesome and realistic stunts, some of which are performed by Cruise himself.

There is one aerial chase scene that the action star trained a whole year for. It’s no secret that Cruise strives to impress audiences by pushing the envelope when it comes to the type of fast-paced and almost non-stop action that the Impossible Mission Force delivers each time they accept a new assignment.

There is plenty of death and destruction in M.I. 7, as in most action movies these days, but there are also elements of humor, humility and compassion. The plot has to do with Artificial Intelligence, something that is a hot topic around the world today. This film gives us a glimpse at how scary a super A.I. can be in the wrong hands.

Apparently, Dead Reckoning is a long story to tell, with part one running two and three-quarter hours and part two already in production. Hopefully our local cinemas will still be in business when the second installment comes out. Cathryn and I both enjoyed the movie, both of us easily giving it a 10 out of 10.

News of the World – the Movie

On January 17, 2021 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

For movie buffs like Cathryn and I, the year 2020 was painful. And because of of the worldwide pandemic with Covid 19, 2021 isn’t shaping up to be much better. Old movies in our DVD collection and streaming companies like Netflix and Crave have been our only saving grace. Even the producers of television shows had to take a hiatus in the name of safety.

After exhausting the list of decent movies to stream, and for a change from binge-watching our favorite TV shows, we’ve taken to searching for decent movies that have to be rented. Major motion picture studios seem to have caught on to our dilemma, and since they can’t release their new movies in theaters, they are making them available to rent.

Last night we rented the latest movie by Tom Hanks, News of the World. We were shocked that we had to pay $25 to watch the new release, but took into consideration that it would have cost us more to see it in a theater. And since we’re not allowed out of our house, what choice did we have. We were able to rent and download the movie through Apple TV.

News of the World is a western with a completely different story line that’s never been done before. It takes place after the American Civil war, when the country is trying to heal, and the south has suffered the most. Tom Hanks’ character travels from town to town, reading from the latest newspaper articles, apprising folk of what’s happening in their part of the world.

I found the movie a bit slow at times, typical of some westerns, but there was enough action and a great story line that kept me interested. We both loved the movie, with Cathryn giving it a big 10. I can’t say there was anything wrong with the flick but I’m giving it a conservative 8, just because I can.

The Beatles – Love – Cirque du Soleil

On June 23, 2019October 14, 2019 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

love I’d seen the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show called Love many years ago and knew that Cathryn would love to see it while we were in Vegas on our detour from Route 66. We’re both Cirque fans and everyone knows the Beatles music, so you can easily sing along. We got married in Vegas six years ago and were too busy to catch a show. This time we had no excuse.

The show is still at the Mirage and it promised to be bigger, better, and bolder, having been redone since my last viewing. I wasn’t convinced when we first sat down, the seats were smaller than I remembered and there had been speakers built into the headrest for surround sound. None of that mattered once the show started.

Typical Cirque characters got the production started, then came the music, color, acrobatics and the awesome music of the Beatles. There was confetti that fell from the rafters, bubbles from that lingered in the air, and a giant sheet of silk that covered the whole stage and stretched out into the audience.

Of course there were a couple VW Beetle Bugs and a van. The acts performed were top notch and blended with the theme of the music. The costume and set colors jumped right into your lap. The stage itself was a giant machine, with sections that opened up and parts that moved actors up and down and in and out of sight.

Love wasn’t as heavily weighted with acrobatics or circus-style acts as other shows, it had just the right amount of song and dance and action to keep your eyes wandering around the stage to see what was going on in all corners. It definitely lived up to its promise of being bigger, bolder and better. We both loved the show and easily rated it a 10 out of 10.