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Throw the Ultimate Solo: A Star Wars Story Movie Night

Tessa Smith
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2
Throw the Ultimate Solo: A Star Wars Story Movie Night

While the items in this box were gifted to me, my opinions are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Solo Star Wars Ultimate Movie Night!

So I am a horrible geek. Just starting out with that. I did not get a chance to see Solo: A Star Wars Story in theaters. I could make up all the excuses, about babysitters and children, but the bottom line is we just didn’t get to see it. My husband and I have really been looking forward to it’s home release date and last night it showed up on our doorstep, along with the Ultimate Solo Movie and Game Night kit! My girls got in on the fun, and were so excited to see lots of Chewie items. They love Chewie, but really, how could they not.

Solo Movie Night Lorie Chewie

My Thoughts on the Film

If you are a Star Wars fan, hardcore or casual, I really recommend seeing this movie. Is it the best Star Wars movie? Not even close. Is it a fun way to get to know some of your favorite characters better? Sure is! I adored Lando (Donald Glover) in this movie. I think he was pretty spot on. I also enjoyed Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) but not as much as I had hoped to. L3-37 kind of stole the show for me – I just loved her humor!

There were lots of nods to the future of Star Wars of course – like the dice (which I loved seeing featured a few times though-out the movie). And watching Han just full on destroy the Millennium Falcon was pretty awesome. I will say that it is kind of hard watching a prequel movie like this because you know Han and Chewie are going to live. You know the history between Han and Lando. And you know Han and Kira don’t stay together. There were a few appearances that made me gasp, and overall, this was a fun movie. Don’t completely nit pick it and you should enjoy it.

Solo Movie Night

Plan the Ultimate Solo Movie Night

I don’t know about you but I love having themed movie nights. My family has one every Sunday night, and I try to dedicate the whole day to the film we are seeing. Between games, snacks, and other activities. Yea, we go all out.  Even our decor usually fits the theme of the movie. For our Solo movie night, I was thankful the box included all sorts of fun things for the whole family to enjoy!

SOLO BloggerButton Foldables

Must haves for a Solo: A Star Wars Story themed night include Chewbacca masks of course! These are so much fun and you can’t help but laugh while you are wearing one (or watching your 5 year old daughter wear one!). My oldest daughter is more of a Han girl so she opted to carry around a NERF blaster all night. Me? I just cuddled up in my Chewie blanket and channeled my inner Wookie!

Solo Movie Night games blaster

Han Solo Game Night Additions

We are a gaming family so we always play a few board games a day. Especially during a themed movie day. So as far as games go, there are several Solo themed ones you can choose from. Our favorite is, of course, Monopoly. But we were all really excited to try out the Han Solo card game too because it was featured in the movie a few times.

Bonus Features

I always love to pick up the Blu-Ray of my favorite movies because the bonus features tend to be amazing. There is no difference with Solo. Deleted scenes are always the best to watch. I feel like they almost always add to the movie and make it mean more. The eight included on this home release are totally worth the watch! The cast roundtable was probably my second favorite thing to watch, and something I think every Star Wars fan should see.

  • Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable:
  • Team Chewie
  • Kasdan on Kasdan
  • Remaking the Millennium Falcon
  • Escape from Corellia
  • The Train Heist
  • Becoming a Droid: L3-37
  • Scoundrels, Droids, Creatures and Cards
  • Into the Maelstrom: The Kessel Run
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Proxima’s Den
    • Corellian Foot Chase
    • Han Solo: Imperial Cadet
    • The Battle of Mimban: Extended
    • Han Versus Chewie: Extended
    • Snowball Fight!
    • Meet Dryden: Extended
    • Coaxium Double-Cross
  • The Millenium Falcon: From Page to Park

Solo Star Wars Movie Poster

About Solo

Young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins a gang of galactic smugglers, including a 196-year-old Wookie named Chewbacca. Indebted to the gangster Dryden Vos, the crew devises a daring plan to travel to the mining planet Kessel to steal a batch of valuable coaxium. In need of a fast ship, Solo meets Lando Calrissian, the suave owner of the perfect vessel for the dangerous mission – the Millennium Falcon.

SOLO: A Star Wars Story blu-ray (The GeekLy Show)

Get your copy – in stores now!

Website: http://www.starwars.com/solo
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StarWarsMovies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWars
Instagram: http://instagram.com/StarWarsMovies
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/starwars

3 Lessons Every Kid Can Learn From Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors

Tessa Smith
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0
3 Lessons Every Kid Can Learn From Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors

This article is in no way sponsored. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

marvel rising secret warriors

I am a giant Marvel fan and I am totally raising my kids to be Marvel fans too. Recently I got a screener for Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors and just could not wait to share with with my girls. I have been reading the new Marvel Rising comic books which feature Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel, so I was really excited to see them in this movie. Plus, who doesn’t love America Chavez and Patriot?! Quake, actually voiced by Chloe Bennet, had me pretty darn excited too because I LOVE her in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I cuddled up with my daughters the night that this arrived in my inbox and we had a girls night. Which actually worked out pretty perfectly because this movie has a lot of girl power in it. Don’t get me wrong, there are some awesome male characters as well, but they are no where near as cool, let’s be honest. Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors taught my girls some really important lessons. And yea, it taught me some lessons too.

marvel rising

Work Together

Sometimes all you need is a good group of friends. It is so important, especially in my industry, to lift each other up rather than tear each other down. And the same goes for the superhero community. You are stronger together than on your own. Which is something that America Chavez and Ms. Marvel learn in this film. I have told my girls before about the importance of a few good friends – quality over quantity I tell them – and I think Marvel Rising helps drive that home.

Trust Yourself

I am totally guilty of this myself. I second guess myself all the time. I repeatedly ask others their opinions of my work – trying to get that extra boost of confidence. In Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel)’s mother gives her some great advice.  “Your heart knows the way, run in that direction.” I want my girls to grow up with all the confidence in the world. I want them to trust themselves. And I want them to love themselves. Who better to learn that from than Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel.

Don’t Be Ashamed of Who You Are

This goes along with trust yourself, but don’t be ashamed of who you are. That is a reoccurring theme in Marvel Rising. Quake doesn’t admit that she is an Inhuman at first, which is sad to see. Especially since she is very proud of that fact in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ms. Marvel doesn’t believe that she is a “real” superhero. As my girls and I were watching this movie, my oldest pointed out a few times that it was sad Ms. Marvel didn’t love herself. I am not sure it was that extreme, but it is awesome to know that by the end of this film, she truly is proud of who she is.

About Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors

Powered teens Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake, Patriot, America Chavez, and Inferno join forces as an unlikely, but formidable crew of aspiring heroes. When a threat no one could have expected bears down on the Marvel Universe, this ragtag, untrained band of teens have no choice but to rise together and prove to the world that sometimes the difference between a “hero” and “misfit” is just in the name.

Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors premieres on Disney Channel and Disney XD simultaneously on Sunday, September 30 at 10:00PM ET/PT.

Three New Disney Hyperion Books Every Family Needs (and Why!)

Tessa Smith
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0
Three New Disney Hyperion Books Every Family Needs (and Why!)

This post contains affiliate links.

disney hyperion books

I have been reading to my daughters since they were in my womb. It is something I started while pregnant and have continued to do every single day and night. Now, my daughters read to me a lot of the time, which is bittersweet. Recently, Disney Hyperion sent us three of their new books, and these have all become fast favorites in our home. I think they are all books that every family should own – and here is why!

Sleepy the goodnight buddy

Sleepy The Goodnight Buddy

Roderick hates going to bed, and the young boy has become quite resourceful in coming up with ways to delay the dreaded hour when the lights must go out. Roderick’s loving parents–fed up with the distractions and demands that have become his anti-bedtime ritual–decide to get him a stuffed animal to cuddle with and help him wind down. However, Sleepy quickly proves to be a bit high-maintenance. Just when we fear the night may never end, Sleepy’s antics become too exhausting for Roderick to bear.

This is a must have book for any family with a child who has a hard time going to sleep. Both of my daughters love this story. In fact, they really want their own sleepy buddies now. I wish there was a stuffed sleep buddy that looks just like the one featured in the book.

Henri's Hats

Henri’s Hats

On the train ride to visit his grandpa, or Papa, Henri is only interested in his game. But then George the dog steals Henri’s hat upon arrival, so Henri makes chase and finds himself in front of a trunk full of hats. Henri tries on each hat – and imagines himself a race car driver, a sea captain, a flying ace, and more! Papa finally catches up to Henri and George, and that’s when Henri hears Papa’s stories, real stories, about racing, sailing, flying, and more! As Henri heads home, he looks up at the stars and begins to dream – of being just like Papa.

This book became a fast favorite of my oldest daughter. She has always had a vivid imagination and loves to play pretend – even still at 7 years old. Henri’s Hats is the perfect book for any child that likes to use their imagination to become whatever they would like.

are you scared darth vader

Are You Scared Darth Vader?

It’s midnight and the moon is full, but Darth Vader isn’t scared.
OF COURSE I AM NOT SCARED.
Nothing can scare Lord Vader!
CORRECT.
Not monsters or witches or ghosts, and especially not the dark.
So what is Darth Vader scared of?
Read on in Adam Rex’s hilarious and spooky Star Wars tale to find out!
YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING.

We are huge Star Wars fans in this house, so you know this book is something we read all the time in our house. It is a great book for kids who might be a little scared sometimes, and don’t want to admit it.

Why Comic Book Fans Should Pick Up The Gifted Season One on DVD | #TheGifted

Tessa Smith
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0
Why Comic Book Fans Should Pick Up The Gifted Season One on DVD | #TheGifted

the gifted cast

It should come as no surprise to you that The Gifted is one of my favorite shows on TV. I am a big fan of, well, pretty much anything Marvel. And if you didn’t know, The Gifted features some of my favorite X-Men, and is totally worth a binge if you haven’t watched it yet (or even if you have). Season 2 will premiere on Tuesday, September 25th – the same day that Season 1 comes to DVD!

Favorite Characters

As I said before, this show features some of my favorite characters from Marvel comics. Polaris has always been at the top of my list because she has some pretty amazing powers – and is a badass female superhero. What more could you want? I was excited to see her as a major part of this show. Emma Dumont, the actress who portrays her, really shines if you ask me.

Thunderbird is someone we haven’t seen much in the comics so I was happy to see him stick around (he dies really quickly in the comic books). And the fact that Blink, one of the coolest mutants to ever exist, is part of this series should be reason enough to watch it. Seriously. Read any comics with her in them and tell me she doesn’t stand out. You can’t. Oh and the Cuckoos. Enough said.

Comic Book Nods

If you are a comic book reader like me, then you are sure to love this show. Keep an eye out for tons of nods to the comics. Between characters, name drops, and even mentions of certain story lines, you should be satisfied. Like anything that goes from book to TV or film, things won’t be exact. But they are still pretty damn amazing.

the gifted season 1 dvd

About The Gifted

The Gifted tells the emotional story of a suburban couple whose ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family seeks help from an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive. This show is set within the “X-Men” universe.

Tune in to The Gifted on Fox Tuesdays at 8pm!

Scribblenauts Mega Pack Includes Awesome New Additions

Tessa Smith
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41
Scribblenauts Mega Pack Includes Awesome New Additions

Scribblenauts Mega Pack is a new collection of two hit titles featuring upgraded versions of your favorite games!

Scribblenauts_Mega_PackI live in a house full of gamers, so we are turning on our gaming consoles nearly every single night. One of our favorite series has been the Scribblenauts games. My daughters love using their imaginations to create the silliest things – and I love seeing them use their imaginations. Earlier this week, the Scribblenauts Mega Pack was released. This is a new collection of two hit titles featuring upgraded versions of Scribblenauts Unlimited and Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure. Why should you pick up this version? Because there is new content included for both titles of course!

Scribblenauts Mega Pack lorie

My daughters were both super excited to check out this mega pack – and we spent at least 30 hours the first week we had it playing it. I am a completionist when it comes to video games so this is something I will be playing for a very long time. I need to get 100% on everything. Yup. Everything. I love trying to figure out the puzzles in a logical way, while my daughters solve them in the craziest ways you could ever imagine.

Scribblenauts_Mega_Pack_Screenshot

Scribblenauts Unlimited

Scribblenauts Unlimited features a huge, side-scrolling open world with high-definition, hand-drawn scenery and objects. Players help the game’s hero, Maxwell, solve robust puzzles and challenges by summoning objects as varied as “colossal hoverbus” and “microbial fire tornado.” Scribblenauts Unlimited has been updated with two new bonus levels and includes an updated two-player mode! It also supports online sharing of user-created objects and features the easy-to-use “sunflower” style text entry system.

Scribblenauts_Mega_Pack_Screenshot_DC

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure melds the boundless creativity of Scribblenauts with thousands of DC characters and objects – all drawn in the distinctive Scribblenauts art style. In Maxwell’s imaginative and comical quest with DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains, he must travel to iconic DC locations such as GOTHAM CITY™, METROPOLIS™, ATLANTIS™. This version also has two new bonus locations: TITANS TOWER – under attack by the formidable demon Trigon, and BELLE REVE – the base of operations for Task Force X. It has also been updated with hundreds of new DC characters, objects, and costumes, such as Sun Boy, Wonder Dog and El Dorado!

Scribblenauts Mega Pack is available now for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, and Xbox One!

 

Disney’s New Freaky Friday Musical Hits DVD on September 25th! | #FreakyFriday

Tessa Smith
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1
Disney’s New Freaky Friday Musical Hits DVD on September 25th! | #FreakyFriday

This post contains affiliate links.

freaky friday

I know the story of Freaky Friday well. I remember seeing several versions of the play when I was a young girl, so when I found out the latest Disney Original Movie was going to be a new take on it, I couldn’t wait to share it with my daughters. From the first moment they saw the previews, they were hooked! And we counted down the days until it aired on The Disney Channel in August. On September 25th, you can bring this super fun movie home to watch time and time again!

My girls both enjoyed this movie – and I really liked the new spin on it. Of course I couldn’t help but compare it to the older versions. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite versions though. All the music really made it something special and different. Something that I think old and new fans will both enjoy!

Freaky_Friday

About Freaky Friday

A contemporary musical update of the classic comedic story, “Freaky Friday” is based on Disney Theatrical Productions’ stage adaptation of the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers. Sixteen-year-old Ellie Blake and her uber-organized mom Katherine, are constantly at odds about Ellie’s messy room, sloppy clothes and seemingly careless attitude. Ellie really misses her dad who passed away a few years ago; she bickers with her younger brother and argues with Katherine who’s getting ready to marry her fiancé, Mike – tomorrow. As mother and daughter quarrel, they accidentally break the treasured hourglass given to Ellie by her father and then, suddenly, they magically switch bodies. Now, Ellie and Katherine must trade places at work and at school, and, during one crazy day, they’ll learn to understand and appreciate each other.

Pick up Freaky Friday on DVD September 25th!

New Comic Book Day Pull List for September 19, 2018

Tessa Smith
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0
New Comic Book Day Pull List for September 19, 2018

Welcome to my pull list for new comic book day September 19th, 2018 (9/19/18). You probably know that I am quite the comic book collector. This week has a ton of comics that I have been waiting for coming out! I am really excited about a lot of the titles that will be out today – which ones will you be picking up? Here are the ones that are catching my eye…

avengers 8 comic book

Marvel

  • Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1: So super excited for this one!! I am loving the latest ASM story line.
  • Avengers #8: I just finished up Avengers #6 and 7 this week (I know…) so I am really looking forward to this one. I love how the first story line has ended and this second story line is even better!
  • Black Panther #3
  • Captain America Annual #1
  • Doctor Strange #5
  • Infinity Wars Soldier Supreme #1 (of 2): If Captain America and Doctor Strange were one, they would be Soldier Supreme. Ridiculously excited to check this out!
  • Life of Captain Marvel #3: YES!! This series is amazing. Can’t wait to read the third installment.
  • Mr. and Mrs. X #3: I love Rogue and Gambit, and I love Deadpool. So this is a fave of mine!
  • Return of Wolverine #1: I have really been looking forward to this! I hope it lives up to the hype!
  • Thor #5
  • Venom #6
  • West Coast Avengers #2: I enjoyed the first issue a lot more than I expected to. Maybe because I love both Hawkeyes so damn much.
  • X-Men Gold #36

harley quinn comic

DC Comics

  • Batman #55
  • Batman Damned #1 (of 3)
  • Harley Quinn #50
  • Justice League #8
  • Teen Titans #22
  • Teen Titans Go #30

over the garden wall comic

Others

  • Hit-Girl #8
  • Kick-Ass #7
  • Over the Garden Wall Hollow Town #1 (of 5)
  • Steven Universe #20
  • Ducktales #12
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #86

Don’t miss my live New Comic Book Day chats over on YouTube to find out what books I am loving and not loving. This is something I do weekly, on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. EST and I look forward to having you join me!

Captain Marvel Trailer, Poster, & Reaction Video: Brie Larson is BADASS! | #CaptainMarvel

Tessa Smith
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2
Captain Marvel Trailer, Poster, & Reaction Video: Brie Larson is BADASS! | #CaptainMarvel

OMG, OMG, OMG…. we FINALLY got it! A FULL LENGTH trailer for Captain Marvel. AND a poster. I can’t. I love her. Carol Danvers has been one of my favorites for a super (no pun intended) long time. I’ve adored her as Ms. Marvel and was thrilled to see her pick up the Captain Marvel mantel. When I found out she was going to be the first solo female superhero lead for Marvel, I immediately thought about how much she deserved it. Now we have seen actual footage – and I might die.

My Reaction

I need to watch this over and over so that I can pick up every little detail. The Skrulls. We saw them only quickly but since they are some of my favorite characters in the comics, I am REALLY excited about them. When Carol punches that old lady (who is surely a Skrull) right in the face – damn. Coulson looks amazing (eek!!). Nick Fury, also amazing. And did we see the infamous pager from the end of Infinity War? I think we did. No sign of Chewie in the trailer, but I am still holding out hope that she will be in this film. She just HAS to be, right?

So we know Carol doesn’t really remember living on Earth. Perhaps when she fused with the Kree DNA, she lost her memories. I kind of love that story line (and have to go back to check the comics for it, because I don’t recall that happening). When she was upside down in that torture device thing, was that fusing her DNA? Removing memories? I am so intrigued to find out. Either way, she looks BADASS and I am begging for more Marvel. MORE!

As the Bunny Hops has all your Captain Marvel trailer GIFs!

chewie on captain marvel poster

The Poster

Let’s take a moment to really look at this poster. We see a nod to her time in the Air Force behind her. Her star, if you will, is displayed on the hangar doors. And she is standing there, all badass looking. AND the most exciting part – I see adorable Chewie in the corner of the door! YES!!! I knew she had to be in this movie! Hopefully this is more than just an Easter Egg in the poster and we see her in the movie.

captain marvel
Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL..Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson)..Photo: Chuck Zlotnick..©Marvel Studios 2019

About Captain Marvel

Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom. The film stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, with Annette Bening, with Clark Gregg, and Jude Law. Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL is produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patricia Whitcher and Stan Lee are the executive producers.

See Captain Marvel in theaters on March 8th, 2019!

Like CAPTAIN MARVEL on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaptainMarvelOfficial/
Follow CAPTAIN MARVEL on Twitter: https://twitter.com/captainmarvel
Follow Marvel Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvelstudios/
Visit the official CAPTAIN MARVEL site here: https://www.marvel.com/movies/captain-marvel

The Mary Poppins Returns Trailer Is Here & It Made Me Sob Like A Baby | #MaryPoppinsReturns

Tessa Smith
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0
The Mary Poppins Returns Trailer Is Here & It Made Me Sob Like A Baby | #MaryPoppinsReturns

Mary Poppins Returns Poster

When I opened up YouTube this morning and saw an alert for the Mary Poppins Returns trailer, my first thought was – is it real? I had to check and see that it was from Disney’s official channel because I just wasn’t expecting it. When I realized that the full trailer was indeed here, I was so excited. This trailer hit me right in the feels. Way more than I expected. And I sobbed like a little baby.

mary poppins returns
Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins in Dinsey’s original musica MARY. POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.

My Trailer Reaction Video

Full disclosure, I had a rough morning. My seven year old was not wanting to go to school and was very upset I was making her. She told me she doesn’t like me any more and refused to give me a hug or kiss goodbye. So I was an emotional mess before I even hit play which may have had something to do with all the tears. But still, I cannot wait for this movie. I cannot wait for my kids to get home so I can show them the trailer. And you KNOW my whole family will be at the theater opening weekend.

Clearly I am REALLY excited for this one. I did not know that Mary Poppins meant so much to me until I watched this trailer. She really shaped my childhood. The cast looks great and I am so excited for Dick Van Dyke to be back in it! Man, this is going to be a great one that you don’t want to miss.

Mary Poppins returns
Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins, Emily Mortimer is Jane Banks, Ben Whishaw is Michael Banks and Joel Dawson is Georgie Banks in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.

About Mary Poppins Returns

In Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light – and life – to the streets of London.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS arrives in theaters everywhere on December 19th!

Like MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marypoppinsreturns/
Follow Walt Disney Studios on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios
Follow MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marypoppinsreturns/

Spoiler Free The Predator Review

Tessa Smith
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1
Spoiler Free The Predator Review

This review is in NO WAY sponsored. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

the predator review - spoiler free

I must admit I never got in to the Predator films until I met my husband. He couldn’t believe I had never seen them and so we watched them all. We have watched them several times now, so much so that I was really excited to see The Predator. Not only was there what looked like an amazing cast, the trailers had a lot of funny parts. I was all in for this movie and am so glad we went opening night! I promise this is a SPOILER FREE The Predator review, so no worries reading on if you haven’t seen it yet.

teh predator review

The Cast

I mean, just take a look at this cast you know it will be a decent movie. We have half of Key and Peele, Miller (from Expanse), Victor (from Big Brother), Theon (from Game of Thrones), om-nom-nom on your shirt (Attack of the Show reference) – in all honesty though, the cast really surprised me. I knew they would deliver but their chemistry was amazing. The group of guys were hilarious and really played off each other well.

Some of the scenes with Olivia Munn were my favorite. She killed it. KILLED IT guys. Jacob Tremblay, who plays Rory McKenna, was really great. A little bit of over acting at points, but you see that often with kid actors. He really impressed me and I think he could go places.

The Humor

There were so many funny parts in this movie, I lost count. Joke after joke landed solidly for me. The part where we first meet the team of guys and they are all in the back of the bus – I laughed for a solid 10 minutes. I honestly don’t think there was one joke that missed the mark for me. Even all of the “your mom” jokes had me laughing out loud thanks to delivery. There is a little bit of language so if you plan to take your older kids, just know that.

the predator deaths
Photo Credit: Kimberley French.

The Deaths

One of my favorite things about movies like this are the death scenes. They are usually insanely graphic and pretty gnarly. The Predator did not disappoint. Sure you get an awesome death at the beginning, and then you have to wait a while for another one. But once they start coming at a rapid pace, I promise you, they are worth that wait!

The Plot

Here is where the movie lacks a little bit. Sure there are a few plot holes and some filming mistakes, but nothing major and nothing that really takes away from the movie. The fact of the matter is this film is entertaining. I enjoyed some of the plot points – like why the Predator is there (no spoilers I promise). And the ending. I was REALLY hoping for something else, that I knew was not going to happen. I won’t say what, but what we did get, was pretty badass, so I’ll take it!

The References

There were some really great references in this movie – from Disney World to the original films. Of course we have a “get to the chopper!” moment which I loved. There was a great reference to The Haunted Mansion that I am still laughing about. And I am pretty sure we saw a Dark Horse Comic Book nod. At one point, toward the beginning, a bunch of chess pieces are knocked off a board. We see a black knight still standing – which could totally be a Dark Horse moment. That made me smile since they are the ones that do the Predator comics.

the predator poster

Overall

The Predator was really good and totally delivered for me. The cast was phenomenal and worked really well together, the jokes totally landed, and the action was almost non-stop. Sure there were some slow parts and it was totally predictable. But I went to see this movie to be entertained, and I was. It won’t win any awards and it isn’t the best movie of the year. But it is worth a watch or two. Fans of the franchise should go opening weekend! I give it an 8 out of 10.

See The Predator in theaters now!

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