Movie Review – Spider-Man: No Way Home
Long before Marvel released its first ever superhero movie (“Iron Man“) that helped launch the most successful superheroes franchise of all time (“The Avengers”), Tobey Maguire (“Pawn Sacrifice”) swung into theaters as Spider-Man. Believe it or not, that was 20 years ago. Maguire’s trilogy was beloved. Then the reboot came only five years after with Andrea Garfield (“The Amazing Spider-Man,” “The Social Network,” “99 Homes”). Despite of criticisms and incomplete iteration of this version, I enjoyed the movies. Maguire embodies Peter Parker more, but Garfield’s a great Spider-Man. In “Captain America: Civil War,” I couldn’t have imagined how Marvel could weave a brand new Peter and Spider-Man into its universe successfully, but they did with Tom Holland (“The Impossible“), seamlessly incorporating him as Tony Stark’s protégé and the youngest Avenger. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” was fresh and “Spider-Man: Far from Home” knocked it out of the cobweb. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t help but flash back to the speedy ride of the uproariously action-packed ‘Far from Home’ during the slow start of ‘No Way Home.’ It does get going though once the multiverse portal opens up and past villains start showing up.It’s no spoiler to say that Doctor Otto Octavius/Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), Norman Osborn/ Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Maxwell Dillon/Electro (Jamie Foxx, “Soul”) appear in the movie, as they’re shown in the trailers. While fans may be able to put two and two together, this is one of those movies that’s not easy to review without spoiling, as some characters are integrally embedded into the story. The storyline though is very straightforward. The movie picks up exactly where ‘Far from Home’ ended, antagonist Mysterio (Jack Gyllenhaal, “Source Code,” Nightcrawler,” “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time”) revealing to the world not only the identity of Spider-Man, but also framing the web slinger of murdering him and launching the drone attack over London. As a result, Peter’s life is turned upside down. His aunt May (Marisa Tomei), girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) are also now targeted due to being associated with Peter. Even as Peter become very famous though, at the end of the day, he’s still a broke high school senior kid, now trying to get into the college of his dreams. Peter goes to see Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, “Doctor Strange,” “The Imitation Game”) and ask him to cast a spell so that people would forget his identity as Spider- Man. With Peter trying to self-select who should remember him, the spell-casting process goes wrong, creating a tear in reality and a gateway for dead villains from other universes appear in this universe. The first action set piece on the freeway and bridge involving a hanging car is huge and hilarious.Wouldn’t the solution be simply returning these villains into their respective universe? Well, yes, but the thing is they died there, in their fights against Maguire’s Spider-Man or Garfield’s. While they may be the bad guys, they’re also people and it’s not in Spider-Man’s nature to turn his back on humanity. I wish this part would have been explored more for a richer story instead of oversimplifying with a quick fix, but at nearly 2.5 hours already, it wouldn’t be possible. “With great power comes great responsibility” truly hits home here, even as tragedy befalls and emotions flow.The scenes that follow are high in nostalgia, leading to cheers and claps. The end battle is filled with special effects, but it’s nothing you could have imagined in other superhero movies. The warmth, wisdom, humor, charm, camaraderie, poignancy and throwback are wrapped in iconic images and interactions. Marvel has pulled off something incredibly special here. Human experiences and memories are priceless. Heroes make choices all the time, even life or death, but this is different. Peter realizes what it means to be a really good person and there’s no way home from here. Holland’s trilogy concludes on a clean slate and his Spider-Man is either ending or moving forward on a path that is wide open. The mid-credit depicts a curious scene that makes you wonder whether the multiverse portal is completely closed and the end credit reveals that you don’t mess with magic without consequences.Nostalgic and iconic, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is a special tribute to fans… You’ll never see another superhero movie like this one, truly one-of-a-kind. Copyright (c) 2021. Nathalia AryaniThe post Movie Review – Spider-Man: No Way Home first appeared on SD Entertainer Magazine.
Giving Tuesday Means More Than Ever This Year
Giving Tuesday is today, November 30th and, as part of our commitment to San Diego, we wanted to feature a charity that we at the Entertainer & Lifestyles Magazine feel, from personal experience, is very worthwhile. The charity we are highlighting today is Interfaith Community Services.Interfaith Community Services’ mission statement says it, “empowers people in need to stabilize and improve their lives through comprehensive programs in partnership with diverse faith communities and people of compassion.” Yes, that’s a mouthful, but we have seen them do just that.First, some brief background on giving: The best way we have found to check out a charity, in general, is both to look it up on the State of California Registry of Charities to make sure they are listed and are legitimate. Of course, with Interfaith Community Services, that is not an issue. The other is to go to Charity Navigator. This site offers ratings on non-profits that rate them in a number of areas; such as compliance, the actual percentage of funds that end up actually addressing their mission statement, (we’ve all heard of charities where only a very tiny percentage goes to the actual need). Again, Interfaith Community Services passes these tests with flying colors.We chatted recently with Interfaith’s CEO, Greg Anglea, whose passion for those in need is immediately evident. Anglea, who became CEO in 2014, shared some of the non-profit’s many challenges. “The amount of barriers that low income families face just to keep food on the table, much less facing the disparities in education and so many other elements that many of us take for granted is truly heartbreaking,” he shared. He also has seen firsthand that the inequities caused by Covid are even more pronounced. “Covid has made all the problems that existed prior to it even more pronounced. Many families have been pushed beyond their means,” he recalled. “Plus for those struggling with addiction, their struggles have increased significantly. For example, overdose deaths have tripled during this time.”So clearly there is a need and that is what Giving Tuesday is all about. You can check out Interfaith Community Services at www.interfaithservices.org. A tax-deductible gift could make a big difference not just in someone’s holiday, but in their future, as well.The post Giving Tuesday Means More Than Ever This Year first appeared on SD Entertainer Magazine.
3 Tips to Revamp Your Holiday Beauty Routine
It’s time to get out your favorite holiday party dress, best ugly sweater, get your hair done, and elevate your beauty routine for the coming celebrations. The holidays are here again, and this year, get ready to put together a one-of-a-kind look that will leave a lasting impression. In order to get yourself ready for the holidays, it is a good idea to revamp your beauty routine. This special time of year can call for some added steps to your routine that you may not include in your regimen other times of the year. Read on to check out three fabulous ways to perfect your beauty routine for the holidays.Audit Your Beauty BagDo you have a beauty bag that is cluttered and full of many half-used tubes of mascara, and a plethora of leftover eyeliner pencil nubs? Throughout the year you have probably found yourself using a product for a period of time and then moving on to the next new trend. Before you know it, your beauty stash is overflowing with things you have not touched in months.It’s time to purge your unused and unwanted products, so you can cut through the clutter and have some staples on hand to put together your holiday look.Not only does decluttering your beauty bag help you get organized, but it has great health benefits as well. Bacteria can grow on products when they are exposed to air or make contact with your skin. The last thing you want is to get an infection right before a holiday date night, or a family gathering. Therefore, keep yourself healthy by using a great makeup bag that keeps it all organized, get rid of old products, and use brand new ones you truly like.Set Aside Time For Self-CareThe holidays are arguably one of the busiest times of the year. There is probably a lot on your mind and you have so many things to do in very little time. You may find it hard to take a moment for yourself or be tempted to skip steps in your regular beauty routine to save time some days.However, beauty regimens and self-care go hand in hand. Often your beauty routine is a way to prioritize your health and wellness. The holidays can be stressful and you don’t want to neglect self-care during this time of year. Even with everything you are trying to take care of, make sure that you set aside a dedicated time for your beauty routine.This can be in the morning first thing when you wake up or every night before bed to decompress. It does not mean that you have to spend a lot of time, but give yourself at least 15-30 minutes to focus on your routine and nothing else.For instance, try relaxing by focusing on your skin-care. With the stress of the holidays, applying an acne medication cream can help you to target any pimples, prevent future breakouts, and promote healthy skin. You can also try unwinding at the end of each day with some face yoga, a massage, using some essential oils, or adding epsom salts to your bath which can help exfoliate your skin. Try Something NewYou probably have a set beauty routine you have fallen into for a while or a go-to look you like to wear. However, the holidays are a great time to try something new and explore a fun look—with all the glitz and the glam!It’s time to try something bold or outside the box. Something great for the holidays could be to try out an icy eye shadow. You can create some dramatic looks with some beautiful hues like deep blues or frosty whites. To take this a step further you could try a deep blue mascara instead of your standard black.If you want to go for the glam, you can go for a blinged-out look by adding some rhinestones into the mix. Either way, there are plenty of options to try for a show-stopping holiday makeup look for your next party. Your friends and family are sure to compliment you and it could make an amazing impression on those you haven’t seen in a while.It can be refreshing to switch things up and not always fall back on the same old look. Who knows, you may find a whole new style you will want to carry over into the new year or your new favorite product!Revamping your beauty routine for the holidays not only gives you the opportunity to create a killer look but the chance to try something new, prioritize self-care and build healthy habits. Taking time to evaluate and update your beauty routine this holiday season is well worth it, and the results are sure to speak for themselves.The post 3 Tips to Revamp Your Holiday Beauty Routine first appeared on SD Entertainer Magazine.
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