Since the first trailer for READY PLAYER ONE, I knew it was a movie I had to see. Besides being about real life versus playing video games i...

Since the first trailer for READY PLAYER ONE, I knew it was a movie I had to see. Besides being about real life versus playing video games in a virtual world, the fact that it was directed by Steven Spielberg, might have been a strong pull. Ha!

Note: I was invited as media to the movie screening by Warner Bros. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

But beyond that the movie has some other points going for it, that makes it an enjoyable watch.

3 Reason to See Ready Player One

Visual Virtual Worlds

The visual effects for READY PLAYER ONE were amazing! From the different gaming worlds to the scene where there was "live" interaction between a human and virtual character, you were pulled into the moment. One of the things I enjoyed was the colors and textures of the different world.

The character designs were also stunning but you kinda expected that. The background and surrounding visuals for the character being just as good was a major bonus.

Pop Cultural Call-backs

A lot of movie have pop culture references, which are sometimes cute. But the reference in READY PLAYER ONE are beyond cute. They are emotional. In a good way.

There's a great mix of gaming and movie related references. To be honest I was surprised how well the references fit into the overall story-line. There was a whole gaming part that was themed after The Shining movie and it was awesome. Yes a little scary but also a little touching.

Then there was The Iron Giant, who started out as a side project but became an important part of the adventure. Any fan of the Iron Giant film will cheer at that moment. I don't want to give it away but these are two great examples of how pop culture references tied in on an emotional level.

Balanced Story-line

Overall the READY PLAYER ONE story-line is about losing your self in the virtual world because real life sucks. It's something we can relate to. So many of us spend tons of time connected online. There's so many reasons for this. But there's also many consequences because of this. Being disconnected from real life offline interaction is an issue.

I was pleased to see that READY PLAYER ONE didn't gloss over this issue. While there was lots of action and adventure in the story-line, it was balanced with the reminder of the importance for real life human connections. All that we have and can be is based on being human, who's present in the moment.

That might be a little deep but it's a good message that READY PLAYER ONE leaves viewers with.

You can see READY PLAYER ONE in theaters nationwide.

SYNOPSIS



In the year 2045, the real world is a harsh place. The only time Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) truly feels alive is when he escapes to the OASIS, an immersive virtual universe where most of humanity spend their days. In the OASIS, you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone—the only limits are your own imagination.

The OASIS was created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who left his immense fortune and total control of the OASIS to the winner of a three-part contest he designed to find a worthy heir. When Wade conquers the first challenge of the reality-bending treasure hunt, he and his friends—known as the High Five—are hurled into a fantastical universe of discovery and danger to save the OASIS and their world.

“Ready Player One” stars Tye Sheridan (“X-Men: Apocalypse,” “Mud”), Olivia Cooke (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Bates Motel”), Ben Mendelsohn (“Rogue One – A Star Wars Story,” “Bloodline”), Lena Waithe (“Master of None”), T.J. Miller (“Deadpool”), Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), with Simon Pegg (the “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible” movies) and Oscar winner Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies,” “Dunkirk”).

Three-time Oscar winner Spielberg directed the film from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline. It is based on the novel by Cline,

Produced by Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Spielberg and Dan Farah.
Executive producers Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris deFaria and Bruce Berman.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.”

To learn more, visit - www.readyplayeronemovie.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/readyplayerone
Twitter - www.twitter.com/readyplayerone
Instagram - www.instagram.com/readyplayerone

A few months back I interviewed the director and cast of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN about the story-line, music and more behind the film. We also ...

A few months back I interviewed the director and cast of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN about the story-line, music and more behind the film. We also discussed racism, discrimination and the interracial love story.

Now that The Greatest Showman has been released on Blu-ray and DVD, I wanted to share more about these issues since it makes a powerful point in the film.

Note: I was invited as media to the movie screening and press junket by 20th Century Fox. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

You can read those interview here

• The Greatest Showman Cast Interview: Hugh Jackman, Zendaya & Zac Efron 
• Keala Settle, Rebecca Ferguson & Michael Gracey Interview for The Greatest Showman 
• Behind the Songs for The Greatest Showman with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

When I interviewed director Michael Gracey, I asked him about bringing in the racism tie-in into the storytelling on the life of P.T. Barnum. I was really curious why and how he actually wrote that in, because, I mean, it fit but it didn't fit.

Michael Gracey: Well, I did a lot of reading, when we started working on this project, and so did Hugh. And we read a lot of books about the life of P.T. Barnum, and he rewrote his own history multiple times. And he was a very flawed character, you know?

But something that I found really fascinating was his support of civil rights, and he was a huge advocate. And I really wanted to reflect that in the film. At the time, seven years ago, I thought it was still relevant to this day. And sadly, it became increasingly relevant over the seven years of developing it.

Michael Gracey: And then, I cast Zendaya, who--I just find her incredible, but she had a lot to say about her own experience with mixed race parents. And so, I think it was a combination. It was a combination of writing the character, of casting Zendaya, writing more with her in mind. So, that's kind of how the evolution of that love story came about.

Speaking of Zendaya, her character Anne love story with Phillip (Zac Efron) brought so much to the THE GREATEST SHOWMAN so it was great to have them share more about it.

Zac Efron plays Phillip Carlyle, the sophisticated man of the theatre who quits his upper-crust life to join the circus – and becomes Barnum’s ringmaster protégé; and Zendaya plays Anne Wheeler, the daring, taboo-breaking, pink-haired aerialist for whom Carlyle falls headlong.

Appeal of their characters

Efron was instantly attracted to The Greatest Showman as “a merging of worlds.” He explains: “I love that even though the story is set in the 1870s, there’s a real modern sensibility and it’s about issues that mean a lot to us today. I thought the script was incredibly creative and done in a way I’ve never seen before.”

Zendaya knew right away the role was for her – especially because Anne is a natural leader of the so-called Oddities.” “To me, Anne is very confident, very poised and very comfortable in her own skin, at least when it comes to being in the circus. I think that’s what the circus does for all the Oddities. It allows them a place where they can believe in themselves, where they can experience respect and love and have a safe space to be who they are.”

The forbidden interracial love story

Zendaya was drawn to the love story, because it was honest about the obstacles inter-racial lovers faced for so long in America.

“It’s tragic that Anne and Phillip’s can’t love each other in the way they long to literally due to the color of their skin,” Zendaya says.

“At the time, it would have been dangerous, so most of what they can do is just exchange looks. For Anne, it’s especially hard because she’s dealt with racism all her life and now she’s slowly falling in love with the exact kind of person she always thought hated her. But love is not something you control. Love just happens to you.”

For Efron, Carlyle’s first experience in Barnum’s circus is one of a man having the haze lifted from his eyes. In Wheeler, Carlyle sees someone brave and thrilling, but the fact that she is African-American puts their love in a prohibited zone at the very start.

Says Efron: “Although Phillip’s feelings for Anne are completely real and justified, they’re also forbidden by society at that time and it’s really sad. That was a very different time -- though even today, social boundaries and differences go on preventing love and preventing people from uniting with one another.

The big breakthrough for Phillip, I think, is that moment he realizes that you don’t have to live within the constraints that everyone else has drawn. You don’t have to follow rules that are wrong. You don’t have to color inside the lines. You can be your own person.”

Falling in love

The character gave Efron the chance to get caught up in the kind of cinematic moment that most inspires him. “Falling in love in a musical number on camera is one of my absolute favorite things to do in the world,” he confesses. “I’m not ashamed to say it. I know it’s pretend but when you get to live in that kind of moment for a scene or two, it feels amazing. It brings you back to Gene Kelly and Singin’ In The Rain. Are there any better ways to express true love than in song?”

One of the more romantic songs is “Rewrite The Stars,” a duet between Efron and Zendaya. “That moment is about Phillip’s decision to leave behind the rules of upper-class society and pursue Anne. He’s saying to her the rules don’t exist anymore for me anymore and can’t you dream this with me?

But Anne is more practical because she’s dealt with more hardship than he’s ever known,” Pasek elucidates. “This is the moment they decide to jettison the notion that their love is impossible and dream of a better future. Of course, that’s also what Barnum is always pushing, especially the way Hugh portrays him.”

Dancing together

Though Efron has some movie musical chops, he notes that the dancing he and Zendaya do on The Greatest Showman was on another level. “This was some of the most technical choreography I’ve ever attempted in my entire life,” he confesses.

Sharing that his favorite number is the star-crossed duet, “Rewrite the Stars.”, Efron explained: “It’s not your typical choreography and we do some pretty crazy acrobatics. Zendaya was remarkably skilled at trapeze by this point and we were doing aerial stunts, swinging around the room, not even using harnesses. Luckily, nothing went wrong – and it turned out to be really beautiful and unique. I think of it as being Cirque du Soleil meets Shakespeare in a way.”

Zendaya for her part dove into training, spending months working with professional aerialists, gaining upper body and core strength and taming fear. “My body has been through a lot, and I’ve had lots of bruises and soreness to show for it,” she laughs, “but it’s been so worth it, especially seeing Michael’s vision come to life. I never in my entire life thought that I would be flying around in the air but I’m very proud of myself, because I tried my best and came way out of my comfort zone. Now, I’m no longer afraid of heights!



20th Century Fox’s musical THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is available on 4k Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital formats.

SYNOPSIS

"The Greatest Showman” is a bold and original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Starring Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman. Jackman, Zac Efron, Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya.

Special Features

• The Family Behind The Greatest Showman
• The Songs
• The Spectacle
• Music Machine with Sing-Along
• Director’s Audio Commentary
• and more

The Greatest Showman | On Blu-ray, DVD & Digital | 20th Century FOX


Directed By: Michael Gracey
Screenplay By: Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon
Story By: Jenny Bicks
Produced By: Laurence Mark, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping


To learn more, visit - www.thegreatestshowmantickets.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/GreatestShowman
Twitter - www.twitter.com/GreatestShowman
Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatestshowman

The Lay’s Smiles Experience pop-up store opened in NYC for just 3 days, so we had to stop by and check it out before it leaves. Note: ...

The Lay’s Smiles Experience pop-up store opened in NYC for just 3 days, so we had to stop by and check it out before it leaves.

Note: I was invited as media to this event. However, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.


While there, we checked out the different stations including a ball pit, giant Mr. Potato Head and swing room!


Each station offered fun photos opps designed to make you smile. Which ties in nicely with the Lay’s specially designed bags available nationwide starting February 12 – April 7.

Not only do these bags have a fun "smile" design to them, they can also make a difference in someone's life through Operation Smile.


For every purchase of these Lay’s specially designed bags, a donation will be made to Operation Smile up to $1 million.

Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity dedicated to improving the health and lives of children and young adults worldwide who suffer from cleft conditions by providing access to safe surgical care.

So make sure to visit the Lay’s Smiles Experience pop-up located at 4 Times Square between W 42nd St. and W. 43rd St. It's open to the the public from Thursday, February 8 – Saturday February 10 from 11:00 AM EST – 6:30 PM EST.

For more information on “Smile with Lay’s” , visit www.Lays.com