Spoiler-Free Review of “The Baker” in Theaters: Perlman Packs a Punch!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Who the f*ck is this guy?”

The Baker is an action thriller film that released on July 28th 2023 in select theaters. The film stars Ron Perlman, Elias Koteas, Joel David Moore, and Harvey Keitel. It runs for an hour and forty-five minutes.

After learning that his son has mistakenly gotten himself mixed up with a drug cartel, a war veteran suffering from PTSD goes to find out what happened to him while trying to protect his eight-year-old granddaughter.

Here is the trailer:

The Baker features the perfect blend of bad-ass fight scenes and heartwarming moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

Bloody fantastic fight scenes.

If you’re planning on watching this film to see Ron Perlman kick some ass, then this is the movie for you. I loved the fight scenes and some of them were really inventive! I almost wish there were a few more of them.

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

Genuine heartwarming moments.

In a way, the dynamic here reminded me a little bit of Logan. I couldn’t help but smile during certain key moments. The relationship between Perlman’s character and his son’s daughter was the best part of the movie. It had so many different dimensions and it had me tearing up a few times as well. These two were terrific together on screen, which really helped me connect to the movie that much more.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

Drags things out a little bit…

I think this movie could have probably been about twenty minutes shorter. There were some pacing issues earlier on and some of the flashbacks could have been fleshed out a little bit sooner so that we could move on to the action we all knew was coming.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

I’m in!!!

The Baker is this year’s Nobody!

There’s plenty of action, intense moments, and a heartwarming plot at its core, making this an entertaining vigilante thriller.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts on The Baker in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Haunted Mansion” (2023) in Theaters: A Haunting Good Time!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“There’s no such thing as ghosts…”

Haunted Mansion (2023) released in theaters on July 28th 2023. Based on the Disney ride, the remake fantasy comedy film stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto. It runs for approximately two hours.

After a woman and her son encounter some ghosts in their new home, they enlist the help of some spiritual experts to get rid of them.

Here is the trailer:

Haunted Mansion brings plenty of nostalgia for fans of the theme park ride while creating a delightful new story filled with spooky fun and heartwarming moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

An entertaining story with welcomed nods at the Disney ride.

I almost forgot about the 2003 version of this film starring Eddie Murphy. The new remake has nothing to do with that story (although you will see some of the same familiar ghosts floating around). 

The new mystery is captivating enough and has a charm of its own. The haunted mansion ride at Disney World was always one of my favorite rides and it was really cute seeing some of those familiar characters pop up again, making this a fun tribute to that while branching off into its own mystery.

 
Images courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Fun characters!

We got a fantastic cast in this one and they really delivered with their characters. At first I wasn’t sure about how I felt about this group, but I quickly fell in love with them and I think they elevated this film in a lot of ways.

It was easy to root for them all and the dynamic between them was wonderful.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Takes a while to find its groove…

The first half of this film felt a little unsure of itself. A lot of the humor didn’t land for me and the ghosts didn’t really do too much damage so I was quickly losing interest. Luckily that changed and the second half of the film really found its magic.

I wouldn’t say that this is a perfect film by any means, but it was still an enjoyable ride and I think that was the point.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

I’m in!!!

A charming kids-friendly horror entry!

If you’re a fan of the Disney ride or in need of a quick film to watch with the kids, there are plenty of enjoyable moments in this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Haunted Mansion in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Review of the “Charmed” Season 3 Finale on The CW: The Curse of Being the Eldest Sister

*Please note that MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the Charmed reboot series.*

“This was a life of sacrifice…”

The Charmed reboot just finished its third season and while the original series remains as one of my favorite series of all time, the reboot has been finding its way and its own voice over the seasons separate from the original series. I almost feel like the reboot should have been called something different so that one doesn’t make comparisons, but after watching the season 3 finale, I immediately began to make connections and parallels. The season 3 finale aired on July 23rd 2021. The show stars Madeleine Mantock, Sarah Jeffery, Melonie Diaz, and Rupert Evans.

Before watching the season finale, I read the news that Madeleine Mantock (Eldest sister, Macy) would not be returning to the show for season 4, which pretty much gave away the ending of the season 3 finale for me.

While I respect her decision to leave the show, I can’t help remembering how Shannen Doherty’s character, Prue also only lasted three seasons on the original series, which was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the show for me, but luckily Rose McGowan seamlessly stepped into the role as long-lost sister, Paige to keep fans invested.

Shannen Doherty’s departure was very sudden and there was a lot that I wish had been done differently if things had gone another way, but with Macy’s departure, we got to witness a beautiful episode that may be the strongest of the reboot series to date.

But does the season finale do enough to keep us coming back for more magic in the future now that we know that one of our key characters is not coming back? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of The CW

Clever use of what-if dream sequences.

It’s difficult to say goodbye to characters we have come to know and love. For me, the sudden ones stay with me the most. However, the Charmed reboot took a different approach with Macy’s goodbye after she defeated the Whispering Evil by basically sacrificing herself. We got to witness several dream sequences from a spell of her being able to do everything she wanted to do. We witnessed fun moments like on a carousel and sky diving, leading up to a beautiful Hacy wedding that actually had me in tears.

I thought this was a smart decision because it prevented the episode from feeling too heavy. I actually thoroughly enjoyed these moments. They were heartwarming and truly touching.

Images courtesy of The CW

Harry’s love is inspiring.

Love on Charmed has always been a roller coaster ride of emotions. When I think of what Piper and Leo went through over the seasons along with Phoebe and Cole, it seems hard to come close to these ships, but Hacy fans have a lot to celebrate and mourn in this episode. I think that one of the best parts of the reboot has been the relationship between Harry and Macy and while we got to see a beautiful moment with their what-if wedding, what does Macy’s death mean for Harry?

We got that cliffhanger ending at the end and learn that Jordan might actually be the new whitelighter so does that mean Harry will be leaving as well or is he destined to find a new path? While I’m deeply saddened that these two did not get to truly live out their happily ever after, you have to admire and respect Harry’s loyalty and love for Macy. It’s something truly extraordinary and I think the season finale captured this well, although I would have liked to see a little more screen time for these two together.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of The CW

The timing of the announcement.

I heard about the news of Macy’s departure from the show a few days before the season finale aired, which kind of ruined things for me. I went into the show knowing what to expect and I think that I would have loved this episode even more if I had gone into it not knowing what was going to happen to Macy. The episode was done well, but I would have liked to have been surprised.

While the episode was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, the impact felt different than when Prue died, which was such a shock. Piper’s reaction to Prue’s death was one of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever witnessed and while I think the sisters stood by Macy in her last moments, I needed to feel a little bit more from them to truly understand and sympathize with the pain I had felt when we lost another Charmed sister years ago.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of The CW

I’m in for now!

In addition to the cliffhanger with Jordan, we also learned that there is another one out there to be a part of the power of three. So, do these sisters have a Paige waiting in the wings? We’ll have to wait and see, but it is enough to spark my curiosity so I will continue to watch for now, but I have to say that I am disappointed about Macy’s departure. For me, she was the strongest sister on the show and I’m not sure what this means for Harry now.

I also am going to miss Abby on the show, who played the villain you loved to hate with flair so I’m not sure if the power of two can keep things going.

Stay tuned for season 4!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Charmed in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!