Ghost in the Shell 2017

I found myself appreciating the live action Ghost in the Shell movie, but did find it lacking in some emotion. Given this is a story about AIs, cybernetically enhanced people and robots, maybe that is to be expected.

I cannot compare this to the original animated movie from the 90s. It has just been so long since I saw it that it would not be fair. Plus, I expect plenty of differences when something is adapted from one medium to another.

I enjoyed this take on defining a sense of Self and Identity. We see characters lose and find themselves. One sequence with a Father wanting to see his daughter felt poignant. A mother discussing her deceased daughter also hits you.

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Michael Pitt, Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara, Tawanda Manyimo, Peter Ferdinando, Anamaria Marinca

Vía Letterboxd – AngryTownsman

Power Rangers

I was never that into Power Rangers when I was younger. It was not the low budget special effects of the Zords and fight scenes, it was more the American scenes. I loved the concept, it felt like a live-action Voltron.

But this movie…this movie right here spoke to the adult me. You have 5 very different people come together and slowly build a rapport. The diversity does not feel forced. You just have 5 kids from different walks of life. When they get their powers, they are not immediate masters of them.

If you are a fan of the original series, you probably have already seen this. If you were not a fan, give it a shot. I saw a lot of parents bringing their kids to see this movie and the kids loved it. They had scenes they cheered for and scenes that had them worried for the heroes.

This was not a perfect movie by any stretch. But I found it just as fun and interesting (in a different way) than Life.

And yes, they do break out the classic theme song at one point in the movie. :)

Starring:Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin, Becky G., Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, Bill Hader

Vía Letterboxd – AngryTownsman

The Belko Experiment

The trailer for the Belko Experiment pretty much lays out the plot. Office workers get locked in their building and have to jump through murdery hoops to “win”. A lot like Battle Royale except it does not start out as a free-for-all. The man behind the intercom wants them to start out slow and kill a couple of people.

We are briefly introduced to a lot of the 80 office workers. You can kind of guess who are important to the story based on the time spent each character’s introduction. It is one poor woman’s first day of work, too.

I enjoyed this violent romp through cubicles.

Starring: John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, John C. McGinley, Melonie Diaz, Owain Yeoman, Sean Gunn, Brent Sexton, Josh Brener, David Dastmalchian, David Del Rio, Gregg Henry, Michael Rooker, Rusty Schwimmer, Gail Bean, James Earl, Abraham Benrubi

Vía Letterboxd – AngryTownsman

Life

Life is an entertaining scifi thriller set in the very near future. We have an international crew aboard the ISS awaiting an unmanned capsule with samples from Mars. The movie sets its feet firmly in reality with interviews to the crew from reporters on earth to a naming ceremony for the lifeform discovered. We get to see the early days of the examination of the lifeform before the inevitable incident that lets it loose.

Life feels very much like the original Alien in places. Minus the murdery android.

I did kind of see the ending coming. But it was still an interesting ride with a small cast in a central location.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Olga Dihovichnaya, Ariyon Bakare

Vía Letterboxd – AngryTownsman

Pets of the Week March 27, 2017

Petite Norma is a soft-hearted, 7-month-old kitty who was born to a stray mother and hasn’t enjoyed human attention. So at her young age, she’s now just learning about people. She’s realizing that a little bit of love and attention is pretty nice. Her innocence is endearing, while the beauty of her butterscotch and smoky black coat is captivating. A delicate princess, Norma looks forward to a quiet home with people who will show her kindness, offer her gorgeous window views of the outdoors, and spoil her with kitty treats.

Google the word “handsome” and you’ll see a picture of Bruce. His steel gray coat gleams in the sunlight like a shiny new car, and his stocky, strong legs are built to race around the world with enthusiasm. A true sports-dog, he’s always game for a cross-country trip with his best human pals or a game of toss the toy. With his boyish grin, exceptional disposition and an abundance of affection for all, Bruce is the boy that fits perfectly into any family.

Adoption fees waived for the pets of the week through Saturday!

The Greenwood Humane Society is a not-for-profit organization committed to the compassionate care and protection of animals.

Their purpose is to give sanctuary to abandoned, abused, and neglected animals, provide education to the public on responsible and humane pet ownership, encourage the public to spay and neuter their pets by providing low cost surgery, and encourage adoptions of those animals placed in their care.

Their adoption center is open Monday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm est.

Visit their website at gwdhumanesociety.org to see these and other available pets.

Email: humane@gwdhumanesociety.org
864-942-8775 (Shelter Adoption Area)
864-223-2498 (Spay/Neuter Clinic)