The Legend of Tarzan (Movie Review)

The purpose of a good trailer is to sell the movie it depicts, and I was partly sold months ago by The Legend of Tarzan's, with its over-the-top action and overall ballsiness. But the main draw for me was the movie's director, David Yates, who is best known for helming the final four Harry Potter films, as well as its upcoming prequel/spinoff, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

Here, his directorial skills are used on yet another work of literary fiction, namely Tarzan of the Apes, a book that has been adapted and expanded upon more times than I care to count. And it is clear from the very beginning that he has set out to make his adaptation as far from the 1999 Disney animated film version as possible.

In fact, the movie plays like more of a sequel than an origin story, choosing to fill in the blanks with flashbacks that more often than not break the flow of the story being told. That story is of a Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) who has already adjusted to living in the civilized world. He is married to love interest, Jane (Margot Robbie), and has inherited the family estate, as well as taken on the name, John Clayton III.

It isn't long before he is drawn to his home in the African jungle though, after he is convinced by the American emissary, George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson), of a growing slave market in the region. There, he is lured into the trap of villainous Captain Léon Rom (Christoph Waltz), who seeks to deliver Tarzan to the vengeful chief of a local tribe (Djimon Hounsou) in exchange for a truckload of diamonds.

The Legend of Tarzan was plagued by pacing issues, and a script that left more to be desired in terms of character development and backstory. Also, the film's special effects pale in comparison to the impossibly high standard set by the likes of The Jungle Book and the recent Planet of the Apes movies. The result is a film that is far from essential viewing, but is still worth the price of admission.

Finding Dory (Movie Review)

A few years back, I had reviewed the 2003 Pixar animated film, Finding Nemo, as part of the 2012 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. In that review, I had remarked on how Dory had "more than stolen the show," so you can imagine my elation after I'd found out that a sequel was not only in the works, but was going to center upon everyone's favorite amnesiac blue fish. Finding Dory is that long-overdue sequel.

The movie also serves as an origin story of sorts, and as such it opens with a young (and totally adorable) Dory being schooled by her parents. It isn't long before tragedy strikes, and she is soon separated from her family and left to wonder the ocean on her own. We see her transform into the Dory we know in the course of this opening sequence, and this segues beautifully into the opening from Finding Nemo, when Marlin was about to begin his search for Nemo.

Flash forward one year, and Dory is living with the reunited clownfish family. Although still struggling with her short-term memory loss, she starts having flashbacks from her childhood. This sparks an unquenchable desire to find her long-lost parents, and soon the trio are on an adventure across the Pacific to the Jewel of Morro Bay in California.

Getting there, Dory is inadvertently captured by volunteers from a rehabilitation center for marine animals, and in an all-too-familiar twist ripped straight out of the first movie, it is left to Marlin and Nemo to try rescuing her. But it is also here that things take a turn for the unexpected, as we are introduced to a colorful cast of new characters that include a pair of territorial sea lions, a nearsighted whale shark named Destiny, and the cynical seven-legged (tentacled?) Octopus, Hank.

Finding Dory is everything an animated sequel should be; it is bigger, bolder, and beautiful to behold, plus that climax is guaranteed to have you gasping for breath.

Captain America: Civil War (Movie Review)

Phase Three of the  Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is off to a start folks, and what an amazing start too. The Russo brothers have proven that the highly-acclaimed Captain America: The Winter Soldier was no mere fluke, and this they've done by not only delivering a worthy sequel, but arguably what is the best MCU experience I've had till date.

Notice I said experience, because as far as storytelling goes, The Winter Soldier is still the better of the two movies. Besides, nothing quite trumps the sheer exhilaration of watching the Avenger's assemble for the first time, not even last year's somewhat-bloated sequel. But as a fan of comic book movies in general, I have to say that Civil War ticks all the right boxes, in a way that the recent Batman v Superman never could.

Much like BvS, Civil Wars deals with the debate of whether or not superheroes should be held accountable for the collateral damage that invariably follows in their wake. Here, that debate gives rise to the Sokovia Accords, a UN legislation that would effectively govern when and how the Avengers can use their powers for the greater good.

Naturally, there are those that see the Accords for what it truly is (Team Captain America), and the dangers that lie ahead should they give up their full autonomy, as well as those that are overburdened by the many deaths they'd caused or were unable to prevent (Team Iron Man), and that see the Accords as some form of atonement.

Despite the presence of so many heroes, this is still a Captain America movie true and true, and at the core of the movie is his trust of his former best friend, Bucky Barnes (aka The Winter Soldier), who has been accused of being behind a deadly bombing that serves as a catalyst for the movie's central conflict. But where the movie truly excels is in the deft manner it juggles its many characters and the various subplots that they bring to the table, with newcomers Spider-Man and Black Panther being the obvious standouts.

There are so many other things I loved about Civil War, but my biggest takeaway was the opening sequence which was set in Lagos, Nigeria (or a close Hollywood approximation of it). While it would have been nice if the actual sequence had been filmed over here, it was still surprising to see that much attention to detail in a movie of this kind.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Movie Review)

As far as epic showdowns go, there hasn't been one more anticipated these last couple of years than the one between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. So you can imagine my disappointment when the reviews started coming in and the movie was getting torn apart by critics. I’ve never been one to hop on such bandwagons, so I would try to keep this review as balanced (and of course spoiler-free) as I can.

Right off the bat (no pun intended), the movie opens with a young Bruce Wayne grieving the recent deaths of his billionaire parents. Thereafter it shifts to a scene we are already familiar with, and we get to watch the destruction of Metropolis during the fight between Superman and General Zod, but as seen from the perspective of Bruce Wayne, lending a human angle to the battle between gods.

This sets the stage for the confrontation that has been promised in all those trailers you’ve undoubtedly seen, while also addressing one of the biggest criticisms leveled against Man of Steel, namely the collateral damage and death toll resulting from its climatic battle. Personally, I couldn’t care less about such details in a movie of this kind, but it was nice to see Zack Synder and the screenwriters taking something many considered a shortcoming, and using it to advance the story they were trying to tell.

Speaking of shortcomings, the latest entry in the DC Extended Universe isn’t without its fair share. At two and a half hours, the movie felt overlong. But what puzzled me the most was how little character development we got to see during that time. Superman felt just as wooden and one dimensional as he did in Man of Steel, and while Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman was more than adequate, the character showed nowhere near as much growth as what we saw in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.

But let’s face it, you wouldn’t be watching this movie purely for the monologues and moments of character introspection. To the contrary, you want to see two of DC’s finest duke it out till there is only one left standing. And on those grounds, Batman v Superman delivers… to a degree. My main problem here is the fairly predictable outcome of their fight, which is doubly so for anyone who has read the 1986 graphic novel, The Dark Knight Returns, or seen its more recent animated movie adaption.

The movie isn’t just about the two superheroes, though, as you’ve no doubt noticed from its subtitle, Dawn of Justice. So how does it fare as an introduction to the Justice League? Well, not so good, at least for those not already familiar with its members. Wonder Woman was underutilized for the most part, while Aquaman, Cyborg, and Flash felt like they were literally being checked off a check list.

All in all, the movie felt like buildup for a better movie to come somewhere down the line. But the question is would people be patient enough to allow the filmmakers connect the dots? Only time (and the box office numbers) would tell.

My Thoughts on the 58th Grammy Awards

The 58th Grammy Awards were held on Monday. This broke the tradition from previous years where the ceremony was always held on a Sunday. Once again, I was not able to watch the live telecast, due to timezone differences, but I have scanned through a recording of it to get a feel for what went down.

Kendrick Lamar had the most nominations going into the show, with 11 nominations including Album of the Year for his critically-acclaimed album, To Pimp A Butterfly. He was followed by Taylor Swift and The Weekend with 7 nominations apiece. All three artists were vying for Album of the Year, but it was Taylor Swift that eventually took home the award for her hit album, 1989.

Other notable wins include Skrillex and Diplo for their collaborative effort, Jack Ü. The duo won Best Electronic Album as well as Best Dance/Electronic Recording for my favorite song from 2015, Where Are Ü Now. The Weeknd won Best R&B Performance for his song, Earned It (50 Shades of Grey), as well as Best Urban Contemporary Album for his album, Beauty Behind the Madness.

Kendrick Lamar cleaned out in the Rap categories, eventually winning 5 Grammys, the most by any artist for the evening. He also gave a powerful performance of his songs, The Blacker the Berry and Alright. This was in sharp contrast to Pitbull, who closed the ceremony with one of the weakest closing performances in recent memory.

IWSG: Goals and Resolutions for 2016

It's the first Wednesday of the month, and time for members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group to share their writerly insecurities. The group was started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and those interested in joining in can visit www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com for more information.

Today, I would like to share with the group my goals and resolutions (read: plans) for the year. The fact that this post is coming in a full month into the year serves as an indication of how strapped for time I have been. The combination of a full-time job and studying for a masters degree at the same time is a lot more demanding than I had imagined.

As such, it is high time I find a way to get things under control. So going with that train of thought, my goals for the year are as follows:

Goal #1: Get Organized

I need to start organizing my activities in such a way that I'll be able to allocate enough time for work, school and writing. I've never been one to come up with a strict day-to-day schedule of tasks, not to talk of actually following one, but it seems that is the only way to keep your head above water in this life. So this year, or what's left of it anyways, I am going to start prioritizing my activities. The starting point is ensuring that my work stays in the office. Once that is achieved, I can allocate what I have left of my time to school and writing-related activities.

Goal #2: Leverage Exposure

As most of you already know, my short story would be appearing in the upcoming IWSG Anthology. This would mark the first time that I am working with a small press. We recently completed first round edits, and my fellow authors and I are currently talking promotional tactics. Promotion has never been one of my strong suits, but I am hoping to learn from those in the group with more experience. I also plan on using the opportunity to gain more eyeballs on my existing work, and to possibly have new work by the time the Anthology is released.


Goal # 3: Be Happy (No Matter What)

Last but not least is the all-important need to find unconditional happiness. My year is already off to a great start, with my short story winning a place in the IWSG Anthology, so it is just a matter of keeping the ball rolling. But even if things went south all of a sudden, I need to stay grounded by reminding myself why I enjoy doing the things I do.

And speaking of the things I enjoy doing, I won't be doing the A-Z Challenge this year it seems, mainly because I'll be having exams that month, and I wouldn't be able to allocate enough time for writing posts and visiting other blogs. But I should still be participating in a lesser capacity if I can help it. I'll fill you in with more details as soon as I have them.

IWSG: Anthology Contest Winners

It's the first Wednesday of the month, and time for members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group to share their writerly insecurities. The group was started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and those interested in joining in can visit www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com for more information.

Right. It's a brand new year, and with that comes new possibilities. This is usually when I share my goals and resolutions for the year, but I would have to relegate that to a future post, because right now, I would like to share some good news that I've been waiting to share. As some of you may know, I'd participated in the IWSG Anthology Contest a few months back. Well, the winners have been officially announced, and guess who's short story has been shortlisted to appear in the anthology? Hint, his name starts with an M.

I was pretty stoked when I'd first learnt that my little story had been chosen to appear in the anthology, which would be published sometime this year. I mean, I'd submitted an entry for the contest almost on a whim and didn't give it much thought after that. I would like to take this moment to thank Alex and all the other IWSG admins, for providing this wonderful opportunity to we insecure writers. I would also like to congratulate my fellow winners. I can't wait to see what stories you'd come up with.

2015 in Review: Looking Back

This is the final post in my 2015 in Review series. The series began on Monday, with a rundown of my favorite TV shows that aired during the calendar year. This was followed by a rundown of my favorite songs on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I revealed my favorite albums for the year, while yesterday I gave a rundown of my favorite movies. Today, I'll be wrapping up with a look back at the year as a whole.

Earlier this year, the internet seemed preoccupied with llamas running rampage as well as that one dress whose color no one could agree upon. But over here in Nigeria, all eyes were focused on the forthcoming general elections. Originally slated for Valentine's Day, the election was eventually moved to the 28th of March due to threats of terrorism in the north. On that fateful day, the Nigerian populace spoke volumes as they voted former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari its next president.

Not long after the elections, Nigeria suffered one of the worst fuel scarcities in its history, one that very nearly shutdown the entire nation. Keren Amaechi, a fellow Nigerian blogger, did a great job of capturing some of the madness that ensued; her post is worth checking out if you fancy a good laugh. Considering that we are one of the leading oil producers in the world, it is quite baffling that we should be suffering from fuel scarcities in the first place. But that's another discussion for another day.

About halfway into the year, I made the all-important decision to further my education with a masters degree. This was something I'd always had in the pipeline, but the final decision was inspired by my love for the TV show, How to Get Away with Murder. The idea was that the presence of a masters degree on my resume would boost my overall employability. It hasn't been easy balancing school with work and my writing, but I know it would pay off in the long run, so soldier on I must.

Speaking of my writing, I had set some writing-oriented goals for myself at the start of the year. One of them was that I would strive to have my current project published (read: finished) by the end of the year. Well, while I am yet to finish said project, I can at least rejoice in the knowledge that it is much closer to publication than it was then. This is due to some good news that I recently received, but that I'll be unable to elaborate upon for now, at least until an official announcement is made. So watch this space.

All in all, it's been yet another eventful year for me. I went back to school, learned new things, and most recently changed jobs. But most importantly, I had fun sharing my experiences with you guys right here on my blog. Here's hoping that next year brings even more opportunities and fun. Merry Christmas guys, and Happy New Year in advance.

2015 in Review: Favorite Movies

Kingsman: The Secret Service

There was no shortage of spy movies in 2015, with movies like Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Spectre, Man from U.N.C.L.E, and the aptly-named Spy all finding various levels of critical and commercial success. Added to that list is Kingsman: The Secret Service, a comic-book adaptation that boasts some of the best action seen all year.

It Follows

It Follows is a love letter to the horror films of old, with its slow-paced narrative and attention to detail. The story itself is quite simple, almost deviously so as we follow a young woman who is followed (read: haunted) by a shape-shifting entity. What sets the movie apart from others of its kind is its production values, and its haunting soundtrack by video game composer, Disasterpeace.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Serving as both a sequel and a soft reboot to the franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road was one of 2015's standout action films. It stars Tom Hardy, who replaces Mel Gibson in the titular role, and he is supported by a talented cast that includes Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz and Charlize Therone, who pretty much stole the show as Imperator Furiosa.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Avengers once again assemble in this sequel to the 2012 summer blockbuster, which was itself a culmination of the various movies that made up Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This time around the heroes must fend off an artificial intelligence bent on bringing about the extinction of the human race.

Jurassic World

Chris Pratt proves his star power once again in Jurassic World, after breaking out last year with the success of The LEGO Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy, both of which were featured on my 2014 favorite movies list. The movie broke all manner of records upon release, besting the Furious 7 to become the highest grossing film of the year, a record it might soon have to relinquish to a certain movie further down my list of favorites.

Inside Out

Disney and Pixar have hit another home run with Inside Out, an animated film that explores the complexities of human emotions and the human mind through the eyes of a little girl. The movie features exceptional animation as well as a talented voice cast that includes Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Bill Hader.

Goodnight Mommy

Ever the fan of psychological horror films, I had rushed at the opportunity to watch Goodnight Mommy after I'd heard it was being compared to the likes of It Follows and The Babadook. But nothing could've prepared me for the pure mindf**kery of this Austrian movie that follows the misadventures of a pair of twins, as they suspect their mother of having been replaced by a complete stranger during facial surgery.

Dope

Dope is one of those few oddball movies that does not fall into the confines of any particular genre. It is a comedy, drama, and an art film rolled into one. The movie tells the story of an unlikely trio of close knit friends in high school, who through a series of unfortunate circumstances find themselves in possession of a sizable amount of drugs for which they must assume distribution duties.

The Martian

The Martian was one of the few surprise hits this past year, although truth be told, many had already anticipated some level of success for the movie, given its source material. The movie works because it is not afraid to be different from others of its kind, just like I'd detailed in this review.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

J.J. Abrams delivers once again with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the latest installment of the science fiction franchise that has now spanned five decades and seven movies. This newest episode is arguably the best one of the bunch, even though many have chosen to find fault in the similarities it shares with prior episodes. Still, there is no denying that the franchise is back with full force. I mean, the box office numbers speak for themselves now, don't they?

And the winner is...

Mad Max: Fury Road

It was a close race this year. My choice for favorite movie could've easily gone to Star Wars, especially since it had the advantage of a recent release, as opposed to Mad Max that came out months ago. But therein lies the very reason I have chosen to give this year to Mad Max, the fact that I have seen it several times and the movie remains just as mind blowing as it had been on my first viewing. I'll be going to see Star Wars again soon though, preferably in 3D, so who knows, I might just feel inclined to revisit this post then.

2015 in Review: Favorite Albums

Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho

American Beauty/American Psycho was the first album to strike a chord with me this year. Released all the way back in January, the album is probably one of Fall Out Boy's strongest cuts till date. It is one of those rare albums that hits the ground running, and doesn't lose steam by the end. Highlights include Centuries, Fourth of July, Favorite Record, and Immortals.

Madeon - Adventure

Adventure is the debut album of French DJ, Hugo Pierre Leclercq, who is better known by his stage name, Madeon. The most remarkable thing about Hugo is his relatively tender age of 21. Don't let his age fool you though, because this kid has got some mad skills, and the evidence just happens to be one of my favorite albums of the year. Highlights include You're On, La Lune, Pay No Mind and Technicolor.

Zedd - True Colors

Three years ago, I had included Zedd's debut album, Clarity, in my rundown of favorite albums for 2012. And earlier this year, I had dedicated one of my rare music reviews to his second album, True Colors. So needless to say, I am a fan of his music, and including that music in my list of favorite albums once again was a bit of a no-brainer. Highlights include Papercut, Daisy and Illusion.

The Weeknd - Beauty Behind the Madness

2015 is generally considered a great year for Canadian musicians, with the likes of Drake, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd all scoring hit singles and albums. But the year is perhaps most significant for The Weeknd, because it was this year that he finally found the mainstream success he truly deserves. His second album, Beauty Behind the Madness, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts, and it has thus far produced four hit singles. Highlights include Often, Shameless, In the Night and Prisoner.

Years & Years - Communion

Years & Years released their debut album, Communion, in July of this year, following the success of their hit single, King, which as you can remember was also featured in my list of favorite songs yesterday. The album itself was well-received by fans and critics alike, debuting at #1 in the UK, where it became the fastest selling debut record ever. Highlights include Shine, Take Shelter, and Worship.

Fetty Wap - Fetty Wap

While Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly might be considered the best hip-hop record released in the past year, there is no denying the pleasures to be found while listening to Fetty Wap's eponymous debut album. The album elevates the New Jersey rapper past the level of one-hit wonder, even though most of the songs adhere to the same formula that made Trap Queen such a hit in the first place. The most remarkable thing about the album is a lack of big name collaborators, with the guest spots being reserved for his crew mates. Highlights include Trap Queen, My Way, No Days Off and Rewind.

Disclosure - Caracal

For their highly-anticipated followup to their 2013 album, Settle, the UK duo of brothers known as Disclosure chose to swap out the previous album's heavy reliance on deep house and garage, drawing influence from R&B. The result is a more downtempo album, with each track tailored to fit the various guest vocalists that were featured. Highlights include Omen, Holding On, Good Intentions, Echoes and Molecules.

Justin Bieber - Purpose

As far as comebacks go, there wasn't any more impressive in 2015 than the one made by Justin Bieber. Here was an artist who many had written off following a string of bad press and a prolonged hiatus. But following the success of Where Are U Now, my favorite song for 2015, he had not only scored his first ever #1 single on the Billboard 100 with What Do You Mean, but also put out one of the finest albums of the year. Other highlights include Sorry, Been You and Get Used to Me.

Adele - 25

It is no secret that Adele's 25 had been the most anticipated album this past year. This was especially true following the breakaway success of her previous album, 21. So when the album became the fastest selling in the history of music, pretty much everyone and their grandmothers saw it coming. But the album itself is every bit deserving of all the success and praise, being a more than worthy successor to her previous work. Highlights include Hello, I Miss You and Water Under The Bridge.

Troye Sivan - Blue Neighborhood

Troye Sivan is an Australian actor and musician that is perhaps best known for hosting a successful YouTube channel. His incredible voice first came to my attention earlier this year in the ZEDD song, Papercut. His debut album, Blue Neighborhood, just released earlier this month, and it is packed full of potential hits. Highlights include WILD, THE QUIET, TALK ME DOWN and COOL.

And the winner is...

The Weeknd - Beauty Behind the Madness

I've been a fan of The Weeknd long before he became a mainstream success. His beautiful falsetto and mature lyrics were two things that made his music catch my attention. In Beauty Behind the Madness, both those things are on showcase throughout, but packaged in such a way that embraces his just attained mass appeal. Put simply, this is what Michael Jackson would've sounded like if he'd started making music today, and I can't think of an artist more worthy of that comparison.