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It Chapter Two Terrifies Audiences A Second Time

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By Calgary Maez

As if it wasn’t terrifying enough to watch a killer clown terrorize a group of kids in a small town, you can now watch them be terrorized as adults and deal with that trauma all over again. “IT Chapter Two” is the climactic film to Stephen King’s novel “IT” and pits the Loser’s club against Pennywise. 

The one challenge that presented itself was to find actors that could successfully portray the kids as adults. This is the films strongest piece because not only do the adults act exactly like their younger counterparts, but some even look like them! It’s impressive how well the actors perform in their roles, especially Bill Hader. The only one that felt slightly off was Jessica Chastain as Beverly Marsh. It’s not that she does a bad job — she is a phenomenal actress — but refer back to the first installment, Bev was a carefree, rebellious girl, which wasn’t translated to her adult character. This is especially true when you see the kids in certain flashback scenes. 

If you loved the first film, you’ll likely leave the theater satisfied once again. 

What makes “IT Chapter Two” unique as a horror film is the comedic relief that is sprinkled among the horror and scares. There are several hilarious moments throughout the film that were done very well. Even though it’s meant to be a horror film, the comedy lets you connect with the characters more and makes you root for them. 

It’s a breath of fresh air for the horror genre because the film doesn’t rely on the cliché horror tropes that are present in most blockbuster films. But when those horrific scenes play, they leave you on the edge of your seat. The film does a better job with its horror elements than the first film and makes you fear Pennywise even more. 

Without getting too much into spoiler territory, there are some decisions made by the filmmakers that didn’t work in the film. There were a couple of twists that didn’t pay off well, and even some that probably would have been best left out. While there are some minor gripes about the film, it makes you scratch your head a bit when really thinking about it and trying to make sense of it. Not only that, but the film feels too long with the run time coming in at 2 hours and 50 minutes. The first installment is one of those films where you can just pop it in and enjoy, but this one feels like you have to set some time aside and really be in the mood to watch. 

Overall, “It Chapter Two” is a solid sequel and good conclusion to the franchise. The film has amazing acting performances, hilarious comedic and horrific scenes, good visual effects and an overall decent conclusion. Some of the lackluster twists and the long run time holds the film back a bit, but if you were to watch both the first film and this one back to back, it would be a solid story to experience. 

Poster Courtesy of @ItChapterT_wo

Toy Story 4 a New Beginning for a New Generation

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By Calgary Maez

One of the most beloved Pixar franchises has returned this summer to bring a new adventure for the beloved band of toys. However, the ending of Toy Story 3 raises the question: Was a sequel really necessary?

In many ways, Toy Story 4 feels like a new beginning in the franchise. In the newest installment, Bonnie, the child from the third movie, has the toys she received from Andy, but ultimately she cares the most for the toy she made in school, named Forky. Woody sets out to protect the plastic cutlery so that he can continue to serve his purpose to make Bonnie happy. And that’s really what Toy Story 4 focuses: What is one’s purpose throughout life?

Characters, new and old, come together with empowering, positive messages for children, resonating with parents who grew up watching the original Toy Story.

Pixar is one of the best innovators when it comes to animation. The fabric on the toys have immaculate attention to detail, and there are scenes that look as if they were shot with real cameras and animation added in later. We’ve come a long way with technology and Toy Story 4 is a great achievement in the animated film genre.

However, the film doesn’t really stand out much as a Toy Story film. Yes, the original characters are there and Woody is the obvious star of the film, but they ultimately get left on the back burner with their screen time extremely limited. It was disappointing to see Buzz Lightyear getting that same treatment when him and Woody were such an iconic duo. In previous films, the original toys had a larger role to play by adding more to the story. 
The messages and overall plot of Toy Story 4 is great for all families to enjoy. The incredible animation is stunning to look at and the voice acting is spectacular. It would have been nice to see the original toys get more screen time, or even a scene like the first three films where they were getting played with like an over-the-top action movie. While it is a good Toy Story movie, it’s not particularly the most stand out film in the franchise as it feels a little more separated from the rest.

Poster Courtesy of movieweb.com


Spider-Man: Far From Home delivers a new twist to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

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By Calgary Maez

As the 23rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Far From Home is one of the best films Marvel Studios has put out. It’s also one of the best Spider-Man films ever made with amazing storytelling, great acting from Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. Jackson, and the rest of the cast.

Spider-Man: Far From Home picks up right where Avengers: Endgame left off. As Peter Parker has come home from helping to save the universe, a much-needed summer vacation with all of his friends is much needed. However, Nick Fury hijacks his vacation and has him team up with the mysterious Mysterio to help fight elemental beings.

Have you ever gone on vacation only to have the experience ruined by constant phone calls from work, pulling you away from your fun? Imagine being a high school teenager on summer vacation in Europe who happens to be The Amazing Spider-Man and has to save the world halfway across the globe.

What works so much in the film is the fantastic casting choice for the characters. Tom Holland is the perfect Spider-Man and gives the character so much heart that you can instantly relate to him. He tackles being a superhero while also wanting to be a normal teenager around his friends and trying to spend time with his high school crush, MJ. Spider-Man is one of those grounded superheroes who have this immense responsibility as a superhero but also want to lead a normal life. Tom Holland nails this perfectly and makes you really feel and sometimes relate with his character.

Jake Gyllenhaal also gives a phenomenal performance as Mysterio. This mysterious ally is one of the best newcomers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and plays a fantastic role throughout the film. The costume designs for him and Spidey stand out the most as they make them look so much more comic book accurate on-screen. The visual effects for both characters stand out as well, especially for scenes with Mysterio. Visually, it’s one of the best looking Marvel films to date.

With action scenes and dynamic casting, the film is a beauty to view. Spider-Man: Far From Home is one summer blockbuster filled with twists and turns that you don’t want to miss.

Poster courtesy of IMDb.

Antonio Marquez on Award-Winning film “Alivestock”

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By Calgary Maez

Albuquerque continues to grow in the entertainment industry, especially for young, talented filmmakers. With Netflix coming to the Duke City, more opportunities are beginning to unfold, especially for local Albuquerque resident Antonio Marquez. I had the honor and pleasure of sitting down with him and talking about his award-winning film, “Alivestock.”

“Alivestock” is Marquez’s first short film that wasn’t backed by the University of New Mexico. When asked about this, he said, “This is the first short that wasn’t a student film. We raised all of the funds ourselves, I wrote the whole thing, and we wanted to take a crack at it and be more independent.” He went on to explain how all of the equipment they used was their own as well as the crew they hired. Two actors in the film were local, professional actors and the others were friends that he knew that were just naturally talented.

This hard work paid off tremendously with its incredible success. Marquez went on to discuss the achievements the film made, “We won the award for best film at the Santa Fe Film Festival. We won the best Albuquerque production for ABQ Film Festival. We won the best drama for the New Mexico Film Offices film awards. We also won the Jury of Peers Award at the LA Crime and Horror Film Festival.” 

The success of the film is very much deserved due to its amazing storytelling, stellar cinematography, and incredible acting. When we discussed what inspired him to create this film, he said, “We actually wrote it based on a feature film of a feature-length script that we’re still trying to make. I actually started writing that at UNM. So I wanted to do a shorter version with the elements of it.” Not only that, but he went on to talk about some filmmakers that inspired him such as the Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, and John Milius. He used these inspirations to help with the transitions as well as the framing of the characters. The result was a beautifully shot film that gave so much more depth.

Marquez doesn’t want to stop there. The world of “Alivestock” is expanding and the local filmmaker has his own cinematic universe in the making. When discussing his future projects he said, “I have a feature-length script that involves some of the characters and kind of the scenarios. We’re making another one in September, a short film. We’re still working on getting a crew and some actors for. We’re looking for older, Hispanic actors and possibly some younger ones. It’s supposed to be a younger, coming of age teenager story.” His new story will see some actors reprising their roles from “Alivestock” and will be seen in previous locations used from the film as well as new locations. 

“Alivestock” was a film made with love, care and passion and it shows through its storytelling, cinematography, acting, and direction. The film deserves to be shown to the masses and is a great film to inspire young filmmakers with their ventures in film production. Since Marquez is gearing up to tell his next great story, he could use the amazing talent that Albuquerque has to offer. Whether it be acting, sound production, or cinematography, Antonio Marquez welcomes Albuquerque to partner with him. 
Antonio Marquez can be contacted via email at a.marq.productions@gmail.com

John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum takes the Series to the Next Level

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By Calgary Maez

As the third film in the action-packed, gun slinging, over-the-top John Wick franchise, “John Wick 3: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” takes it up a notch and continues the story where “John Wick: Chapter 2” left off. The series is best known for its clever use of fighting, cinematography, and cast of characters that draw moviegoers in, begging for more. 


The premise of the first film was simple; one man takes his revenge on those who killed his dog and stole his car, killing anyone who got in his way. Now, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has to fight for his life after he was pronounced “excomunicado” for killing his target on Continental grounds, which is one rule you cannot break within the assassins guild. A $14 million hit on his head forces him to fight for his life and seek help from an old ally, Sofia (Halle Berry). John travels the world in an attempt to clear his name and make peace with the High Table, the leaders of the assassins guild, as they wage war on him and all of his allies. 

What sets the John Wick films apart from other action flicks is the cinematography. Every location is usually dark, which works with John’s character as he is most commonly known as the Baba Yaga: The Boogeyman. He fights from the shadows and when he emerges, all of the action is presented right in front of you. No “shaky cam” or unnecessary jump cuts are used. The camera always focuses on John during his fight scenes with multiple uses of angles and movements to really make the action cinematic. The locations used also stand out, especially New York with its use of neon colors and vibrant lighting. 

What makes John Wick terrifying to his foes is that he never pulls his punches and shows no mercy. He uses an array of weaponry and mixed martial arts against his enemies and always goes for the kill shot. This is what sets him apart from other action heroes because he mows down groups of assassins and mercenaries and can take any hits they dish out. The dogs in the film also take part in the action this time around and are specifically trained to take down the bad guys so John can put them down for good. 

“John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum” is the perfect popcorn flick to be enjoyed with friends.  Reeves gives an amazing performance between his acting and doing most of his own stunts. He also works amazingly well with  Berry and together they bring a great new dynamic to the franchise. The film raises the bar with its great storytelling, amazing visuals, and cinematography, and of course, its outstanding action set pieces.

Poster courtesy of IMDb.


Avengers: Endgame celebrates 11-years of Marvel

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By August Edwards

After 22 movies, the world’s most excruciating soap opera has come to an end with “Avengers: Endgame.” What has compelled us to watch and re-watch for over a decade, has left us with victories, individual and shared, to celebrate.

We all know the good guys are going to win at the end, which might be welcome encouragement with the knowledge that we’ll have to sit through three hours and one minute to receive a payoff. The mystery of Endgame — or, the potential for spoilers — for those who haven’t seen it yet, does not lie within the overall arc of action, but within the emotional resonance, each character brings to the screen.

Does it warrant the length? Of course, because of how it is. Everything about this film is significant. Substantial. Even the subtleties (whatever “subtlety” means within this franchise) are grandiose; characters that are bound to have minimal screen-time still beg us to savor every moment they deliver—and it is easy to do so. “Endgame” moves fast. The humor is nuanced, the jokes land. While transitional moments rely on laughs to keep the story moving, this does not obscure the dark moments that are paced long enough to solicit tears.

Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), namely, cannot find a way to live with the past; they are haunted to the point of torture. Unlike “Infinity War,” Thanos seems to be more of a plot device than a real obstacle. This could be for many reasons; we already know what his motives are, and, simply put, he’s already done what he’s done. In this fashion, Thanos becomes a metaphor for what the Avengers are fighting.

We are at an age where “spoiling” is a sin. I will not share anything about the film that might upset somebody, but I would like to share what “Avengers: Endgame” has taught me about spoilers in light of how our heroes battle demons from the past.

We’re afraid of losing the particular feeling of raw emotion that comes with experiencing something for the first time. We might even put pressure on ourselves to feel something to the degree at which we believe it should be explored. We recognize a smaller payoff in finding out the secrets before we’re meant to. Not only do we react with anger, but we are also filled with a sort of grim realization — that, in context, the feeling we’ve long awaited just won’t hit the same.

While we can’t go back in time and fix the past to how we would like it to be, we can choose what we do with our present. The Avengers in Endgame has provided a compelling argument for living each moment to the fullest, even if we think we know what the outcome will be.

“Avengers: Endgame” is enjoyable. Watching noble characters we love to fight for what they love is, without a doubt, inspiring. It is freeing to be able to cry and laugh next to someone who is also crying and laughing in the same darkness with the same glow emanating onto their faces. I think these feelings can be accomplished even if something has been spoiled. It might all depend on how present we are.

Poster courtesy of IMDb.

CLEESE AND IDLE AT THE KIVA

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Cleese and Idle (Monty Python) at the Kiva Auditorium Friday, November 25th 7:30 p.m.

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By Charlie Shipley

And now for something completely different.

Forget rattlesnakes. On Black Friday, while the Duke City is out bargain hunting, or sleeping off food comas, the stage at Albuquerque’s Kiva Auditorium will be taken over by a pair of Pythons.1455837760921

John Cleese and Eric Idle, two of the founding members of the seminal British comedy group Monty Python, and arguably two of the most influential comedic minds ever, will be here Friday Nov. 25th as they bring their two man “sit down comedy” show Together Again at Last…For the Very First Time to us on their latest stop in their west coast American tour.

Between them, along with the rest of the Monty Python group (the late Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) Cleese and Idle have been responsible for more than 40 years of beloved comedy; including most notably Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda, and the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical Spamalot, adapted from the classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.monty-python-grayscale-john-cleese-monochrome-terry-jones-eric-idle-michael-palin-graham-chapman-chain-mail-wallpaper-86c7dfac489a7cf489d89edd3d67c23e-large-467565

In typical irreverent fashion, promotional materials for Together Again bill the show as an evening of “scripted and improvised bits with storytelling, musical numbers, exclusive footage and aquatic juggling.”

together-again-at-last-for-the-very-first-time-eric-idle-john-cleese-2016

WHERE: Kiva Auditorium at the Albuquerque Convention Center
WHEN: Friday, November 25th 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $61-101 plus fees at www.ticketmaster.com.

Steven Michael Quezada

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smqweb

michael-quezada-mockupSteven Michael Quezada is best known for his role in Breaking Bad as DEA agent Steven Gomez or “Gomey;” but who is the man behind the popular television show? ABQ-Live sat down with Steven and got the inside scoop on his life here in the 505, what’s up next for his acting career, and how he’s an active member within our community.

For those of us native to NM, we’ll always see him as “Gomey” from Breaking Bad, but Quezada starts his interview with us by saying that he “doesn’t consider himself a celebrity or anything like that. I’m just a worker, an actor, and a comedian who’s been working really hard for many years to make a living for my family.” That’s something most New Mexicans can all understand and appreciate.

Quezada has played numerous roles in different movies throughout his career, but the most recent movie he just finished filming is titled “The Condemned 2,” starring himself, Wes Duty, and Randy Orton. “I get to play the bad guy in that one. I’m trying to break out of playing the ‘cop’ all the time. As an actor, I’ve really enjoyed being more involved in the fight scenes and stunts because I haven’t really done much of that to date.” He’s looking forward to seeing how the movie comes out and playing other ‘bad guy’ roles in movies coming up.

New Mexico doesn’t have much as far as a big film industry. “We have proven the film industry is lucrative, but, unfortunately, the ‘powers to be’ don’t really care. We’ve got to keep fighting for it though. In a poor state like this, where they say we’re 49th in education, it’s important to figure out how to grow.” Tourism, as well as local businesses such as “The Candy Lady”, have benefitted a lot since Breaking Bad, but what is next for New Mexico? “We need to look at other ways to not only employ people, but bring money into the state.” With Arizona developing its own tax break for film, we have even more competition to inspire locals to work and stay competitive in the film industry.” “$1.3 billion was huge last year; I don’t see how people don’t see that as a huge industry and a huge profit for the state of New Mexico. We have the best crews, I’m telling you. I think that’s what will help us over Arizona at this point. The people behind the cameras are amazing and I know they don’t get a lot of love but they are the reason we are truly successful here in NM, on top of whatever limited tax breaks or incentives that we have.” He also stressed the importance of growing the programs at UNM and CNM and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.

Education is an issue that’s consistently argued over in any state in the US, but especially here in New Mexico. As Secretary of the Board for Albuquerque Public Schools, Quezada has implemented several strategies to address the quality of education children receive as well as helping push youth to be the best that they can be through various platforms. “I’ve tried different ways of starting my own programs with YDI and taking project-based learning to really give children an opportunity to learn and thrive. That is one of the reasons I joined the school board—to push that same agenda—to give more choices to our children. Through that I’ve learned a lot of different things that we’re doing wrong and that we’re putting money into the wrong areas to really help our children become successful.” Quezada will continue to fight for these sorts of things throughout his four years on the school board including raising money for as many programs as possible. He encourages the community to get involved by simply getting involved in PTA or the Neighborhood Associations. “If we could get everyone involved, we could really make some huge improvements in New Mexico,” he adds. “I’m very blessed that the community supported me when I was a starving comedian and for me, the best way to repay all my fans is to really make a commitment to the children of New Mexico.”

steven-michael-quezadaIn his spare time, Quezada is an avid golfer that enjoys all types of courses and the challenges that come with them. “The cool thing about New Mexico is it’s affordable to go out and play a bunch of different courses. There is a bunch of great ones here ranging from public to more high-dollar courses. I try to take my clubs with me wherever I go because I love the game so much.” He also comments on the culture, colors and places that make New Mexico a unique place to live. “There’s a lot of history here. Places like Barelas, Duranes, and Duran Pharmacies restaurants are great places to eat. New Mexico is special all over the place. From Chaco Canyon to Carlsbad Caverns to White Sands—I could go down a huge list of places that really make New Mexico what it is. I’m proud to have found a way into the industry without really ever leaving New Mexico. I’m proud to be a New Mexican.” He also adds that if there are any secretly great places out there that he should know about, we should tell him!

Steven Michael Quezada will be heading up a big comedy show May 2nd at the Hispanic Cultural Center titled The Three Cochinos featuring himself, Chris Otero, and Anthony Garcia with a special appearance by Niki Mangin. This event is a fundraiser to benefit the Christopher T. Keller Foundation and help raise awareness for Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension.

For more information about tickets for this event check out their website: nationalhispaniccenter.org

Written by Heather Hutzell

Contact us: info@abq-live.com

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