Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021): Movie Review

                                                                                              

Jim's Review

Hannah (Angelina Jolie) is still not recovered from a accident in which 3 lives were lost, she sits in watchtower high above the Montana wilderness until a young boy crosses here path and the dram and action begins!

Connor (Finn Little) has some important information and he trust Hannah with it. Two killers are on there trail Jack (Aiden Gillen) well known from Game of Thrones series and Patrick (Nicholas Hault) and they are truly will eliminate there targets any way necessary.

Allison (Melissa Senghore) and Ethan (Jon Bernhal) who is local sheriff is trying to live a quiet life with his pregnant life in a nice shack outside of town. 

The drama begins when Hannah, Connor cross there paths and the Patrick and Jack meet there match in more ways than they can imagine!

The action is short but very intense which makes for a cool plot and the climate end will have you at the edge of your seat to see who will survive!

8 out of 10 stars

About film

Still reeling from the loss of three lives, Hannah is a smoke jumper who's perched in a watchtower high above the Montana wilderness. 

She soon encounters Connor, a skittish boy who's bloodied, traumatized and on the run in the remote forest. As Hannah tries to bring him to safety, she's unaware of the real dangers to follow: two relentless killers hunting Connor, and a fiery blaze consuming everything in its path.

Avatar - The Way of the Water (2022): Movie Review

                                                                                            

Jim's Review

Avatar The Way of Water has finally made to theatres after the original Avatar (2009) was a smashing success worldwide, making $1.46 billion worldwide

In this next chapter Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Ney'tiri (Zoe Zaldana) have a large family and are enjoying life for the most part. This is until there adolescent kid begin not to listen to them and get in trouble trying to be heroes!

This until Jake and his leave Pandora to go elsewhere because Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and his gang of mercenaries on hot on his trail.

I won't reveal any more of the plot because it is a great movie to watch in whatever format you like, I watched it in 2D many people including Director James Cameron suggest in 3D

What I will say is this following.. it is 3hrs long!  

It doesn't seem like it is while you are watching because the pace is very steady and interesting as the plot begins to reveal itself in very cool layered format.

Even though I gave it a high mark (well deserved!) I my movie opinion it could have been 30 minutes shorter they were many scenes that were very repetitive as if Mr. Cameron need to drive home the point.

9 out of 10

* By the time I watched this film it had surpassed $2.0 Billions dollars worldwide and still counting

* I have added the additional Avatar movies coming all the way until 2028

About film

Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

More Avatar films coming...

The Towering World of Jimmy Cho: Book Review

                                                                                     

Jim's Review

Building a successful brands has its highs and lows and Jimmy Choo brand with through all that and much more!

Lots of drama and power struggles to keep the business grow and successful in large markets. 

There were to many powerbrokers involved which made it challenging for the brand to grow

Ultimately it steading and still exists today better for now and for the future.

8 out of 10 stars

About book

The Towering World of Jimmy Choo is Sex and the City meets Barbarians at the Gate: the story of a London society girl named Tamara Mellon who launched one of the most talked about luxury brands in the world. 

More than simply a well-told tale of glamorous, troubled people, The Towering World of Jimmy Choo taps into America's seemingly insatiable appetite for luxury goods and examines an industry that has experienced explosive growth in just the past decade. Compelling to followers of both fashion and business, The Towering World of Jimmy Choo takes readers into a complex, rarified world as only seasoned financial journalist, Lauren Goldstein Crowe, and leading luxury goods equity analyst, Sagra Maceria de Rosen, can tell it.

 Millions of people now work in fashion, read the magazines and follow the key players--even if they can't afford the clothes. The story of how the Jimmy Choo brand got to where it is today is one of love, hate, sex, drugs, celebrity, power, money, intrigue and ambition. And every word of it is true learn more and buy book

It Doesn't have to Be Crazy at Work: Book Review

                                                                              

Jim's Review

It was powerful read with lots of strategies, tip and expert advice on how to run a  company successfully!

10 out of 10 stars

About book

In this timely manifesto, the authors of the New York Times bestseller Rework broadly reject the prevailing notion that long hours, aggressive hustle, and "whatever it takes" are required to run a successful business today.

In Rework, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson introduced a new path to working effectively. Now, they build on their message with a bold, iconoclastic strategy for creating the ideal company culture—what they call "the calm company." Their approach directly attack the chaos, anxiety, and stress that plagues millions of workplaces and hampers billions of workers every day.

Long hours, an excessive workload, and a lack of sleep have become a badge of honor for modern professionals. But it should be a mark of stupidity, the authors argue. Sadly, this isn’t just a problem for large organizations—individuals, contractors, and solopreneurs are burning themselves out the same way. The answer to better productivity isn’t more hours—it’s less waste and fewer things that induce distraction and persistent stress.

It’s time to stop celebrating Crazy, and start celebrating Calm, Fried and Hansson assert.

Fried and Hansson have the proof to back up their argument. "Calm" has been the cornerstone of their company’s culture since Basecamp began twenty years ago. Destined to become the management guide for the next generation, It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work is a practical and inspiring distillation of their insights and experiences. It isn’t a book telling you what to do. It’s a book showing you what they’ve done—and how any manager or executive no matter the industry or size of the company, can do it too. learn more and buy book

The Pro on the Go Season 2 Episode 1 Jim Pagiamtzis interviews Manny Bains

                                                                   

  The Pro on the Go Season 2 Episode 1

Author, Speaker Manny Bains is back to share more insights and information on his new book Master Your Universe  11 Universal Rules for Success  Learn more and buy book

                                           

                                              

the Plus One: Book Review

                                                                                          

Jim's Review

It was enjoyable read with lots of funny and dramatic moments

8 out of 10 stars

About book

A hilarious and heartwarming debut novel about a brilliant but socially inept robotics engineer who builds her own wedding date to her sister's wedding, and learns more about love than she ever expected.

Meet Kelly. Twenty-nine, valedictorian, and a brilliant robotics engineer to boot. While her professional life is on the rise, her personal life is struggling to get off the ground.

With her sister's wedding looming and her attempts to find a date becoming increasingly cringe-worthy, Kelly does the only logical thing: she builds her own boyfriend, if only to get her mom off her back about being perpetually single. Kelly planned to pass off her robotic masterpiece, Ethan, as her other half just until the wedding. But then she can't resist keeping him around even after the "I do's."

Ethan is just too perfect--gorgeous, attentive, smart (he does have Google for a brain), all topped off by a mechanical heart endlessly devoted to her. When Kelly is with him, she becomes a more confident, spontaneous version of herself. Plus, for the first time, her mother is actually proud of her.

But as the struggle to keep Ethan's true identity a secret threatens to detonate the career Kelly has worked so hard for, she knows she has to kiss her toy boy goodbye.

There's just one problem: she's falling for him.learn more and buy book

Don't Look Deeper (2020): Movie Review

                                                                                                   

Jim's Review

Aisha (Helena Howard) thinks she is a normal teen until some weird things start happening and she begins to dig deeper (sorry couldn't resist) and  quickly uncovers who she really is!

She begins to unravel clues and this created other people to take notice and begin to make her life miserable.

The climatic end is a cat and mouse game to save her life and try to outwit the people who are chasing her.

7 out of 10 stars

About film:

In near-future California, high-school senior Aisha learns a dark secret about herself and goes from dreams of graduation to running for her life.

JUNG_E (2023):Movie Review

                                                                                     

Jim's Review

Yoon Seo-Hyun (Kang Soo-Yeon) has created a new AI in the image of her mother Jung_E (Kim Hyun-Joo) and is put through her paces to pass a test.

She continues to fail the test at a certain point the the company is getting fed up with the results!

The climatic end will result in full action and drama as the questions are answered. 

Will the mother and daughter bond be strong enough to save both of them

7 out of 10 stars

Additional note sadly Kang Soo-Yeon passed away May 7,2022 Learn more

About film:

In a post-apocalyptic near-future, a researcher at an AI lab leads the effort to end a civil war by cloning the brain of a heroic soldier -- her mother.

I am Mother (2019): Movie Review

                                                                                           

Jim's Review

This is all about a mothers love brought by an andriod and her daughter.

Daughter (Clara Rugaard) is growing up wit android mother (voiced by Rose Byrne). 

Until daughter begins to show interest in the outside world and finds another woman (Hilary Swank) and this causes more questions than answers on her life and people around her.

The climatic end will have consequences for everyone involved and beg the question is a mother's love enough?

7 out of 10 stars

About film:

Humanity is on the brink of extinction, but a robot raises a girl on a remote base to give humans a second chance. However, the arrival of another human leads to doubt for the girl and everything she believes in.

Pam and Tommy (2022): Movie Review

                                                                                   

Jim's review

Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) who made a *sex tape while on vacation which was stolen by Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogen) who then teams up Uncle Miltie (Neil Offerman) to sell the sex tape.

Pamela and Tommy continue to live there lives until one day Tommy realizes his entire safe is missing!

The cat and mouse games begins that showcases everyone challenges and the ramifications that are made for everyone involved.

7 out of 10

* well um I did see sex tape and it worth the watch 10 out of 10 stars!!!

About film:

Billed as the "outrageous untold story of the world's first viral video", the drama depicts the whirlwind marriage between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee (who wed on a Cancun beach in 1995 after only knowing each other for 96 hours) and the subsequent leak of their private honeymoon footage.

Set in the Wild West early days of the Internet, “Pam & Tommy” is based on the incredible true story of the Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) sex tape.

A Man Called Otto(2023): Movie Review

                                                                                          

Jim's Review

Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) wants to live a normal life his own world and has an important task to complete yet every time he makes attempt to complete it he gets interrupted!

Hi new neighbor Marisol (Mariana Treviño Ortiz)   seems to be always needing Otto assistance with very requests from driving to daycare!

It is a slow paced and dry movie yet it delivers on many levels of family and emotional issues faced by Otto and the people he lives near.

His story slowly come to light and the reason he is who he is and the fact everybody seems not to listen or respect his privacy.

The climate end will reveal all the and will tie everything together from family to legacy of A man called Otto.

A Man Called Otto is based on the 2012 novel A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, which has already been adapted into a Swedish film of the same name.

8 out of 10 stars

 About film

When a lively young family moves in next door, grumpy widower Otto Anderson meets his match in a quick-witted, pregnant woman named Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down.

Mortal Kombat (2021):Movie Review

                                                                                     

Jim's Review

I was a huge fan of the original  Mortal Kombat (1995) so when this version came across my Netflix I couldn't resist to watch.

This version is little different with a few trademark names and characters being used.

Overall the action was great and the storyline to a while to show itself

7 out of 10 stars

About film

Hunted by the fearsome warrior Sub-Zero, MMA fighter Cole Young finds sanctuary at the temple of Lord Raiden. Training with experienced fighters Liu Kang, Kung Lao and the rogue mercenary Kano, Cole prepares to stand with Earth's greatest champions to take on the enemies from Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.

                                                                       

The Gamblification of Canada with CBC: Feature article

                                                                                        

                                                                           Jim's Review

         This is a must watch!  The Fifth Estate investigation on The Gamblification of Canada is truly an eye opening experience that will go down the rabbit hole to speak with the individuals who have seen the impact of sports gambling in the U.K in the last 10 years

In the 2008 the supreme court overturned a decision which opened the flood gates for sports gambling to legalize single game betting in June 2021.

         Watch on CBC GEM          

                    

                                                                                 10 out of 10 stars

Description of the segment The Gamblification of Canada

Ontario is awash in ads promoting betting on sports.The Fifth Estate explores the sudden spike in gambling options and why some in the United Kingdom, where gambling advertising is now being scaled back, say Canada is making a bad bet.

Journey at the Collision Conference 2022: Conference Review

                                                            

     Collision Conference was back in Toronto in June 2022 for 4 amazing days and Hisham Qaddoumi and I were excited to share on the ground coverage of  big tech event 

                                                 

Jim Pagiamtzis with HQMedia walked around Collission Conference in June 2022 to capture of the sights and sounds of this amazing tech conference.

                                                                   

The Workshop Book: Book Review

                                                                                                           

Jim's Review

Fascinating book on how to do workshops efficiently and correctly.

10 out of 10 stars

About book

Tried and tested practical wisdom for successful workshopping!

Increasingly, people working in teams face complex issues that need resolving in an efficient, participatory manner that honors the group’s diverse perspectives and individual creativity. The Workshop Book outlines the best practices of the workshop method, based on the Institute for Cultural Affair’s Technology of Participation,™ and its use in consensus formation, planning, problem solving, and research. It also discusses workshop preparation and design, leadership styles, dealing with difficult behaviors, and special applications such as its use in large groups and for planning purposes.

R. Brian Stanfield is the Director of Publications at the Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs and author of the companion volume, The Art of Focused Conversation, and The Courage to Lead (New Society Publishers).  learn more and buy book

How I Invest My Money: Book Review

                                                                                    

Jim's Review

Insights and perspectives on how the professionals invest their money

8 out of 10 stars

About book

The world of investing normally sees experts telling us the 'right' way to manage our money. How often do these experts pull back the curtain and tell us how they invest their own money? Never.

How I Invest My Money changes that.

In this unprecedented collection, 25 financial experts share how they navigate markets with their own capital. In this honest rendering of how they invest, save, spend, give, and borrow, this group of portfolio managers, financial advisors, venture capitalists and other experts detail the 'how' and the 'why' of their investments. They share stories about their childhood, their families, the struggles they face and the aspirations they hold. Sometimes raw, always revealing, these stories detail the indelible relationship between our money and our values.

Taken as a whole, these essays powerfully demonstrate that there is no single 'right' way to save, spend, and invest. We see a kaleidoscope of perspectives on stocks, bonds, real assets, funds, charity, and other means of achieving the life one desires. With engaging illustrations throughout by Carl Richards, How I Invest My Money inspires readers to think creatively about their financial decisions and how money figures in the broader quest for a contented life.

With contributions from:

Morgan Housel, Christine Benz, Brian Portnoy, Joshua Brown, Bob Seawright, Carolyn McClanahan, Tyrone Ross, Dasarte Yarnway, Nina O'Neal, Debbie Freeman, Shirl Penney, Ted Seides, Ashby Daniels, Blair duQuesnay, Leighann Miko, Perth Tolle, Josh Rogers, Jenny Harrington, Mike Underhill, Dan Egan, Howard Lindzon, Ryan Krueger, Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Rita Cheng, Alex Chalekian  learn more and buy book

The Pale Blue Eye (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                              

Jim's Review

Augustus Landor (Christian Bale) is brought in to investigate a murder of a young cadet  and the investigation takes many turns with everyone under suspicion!

The climatic end is very jarring and may have you a little confused.

6 out of 10 stars

About film

Veteran detective Augustus Landor investigates a series of grisly murders with the help of a young cadet who will eventually go on to become the world-famous author Edgar Allan Poe.

Treason (2022): Movie Review

                                                                                       

Jim's Review

Adam Lawrence (Charlie Cox) has a complicated life and it is truly getting hard to trust people.

The drama and political chess game is at high octane pace as Adam Lawrence past is catching up with him and will have dire costs for everyone around him.

8 out of 10 stars

About film

An MI6 deputy's bright future takes a sharp turn after a reunion with a Russian spy forces him to question his entire life and which side he truly wants to side with in a looming conflict.

Kaleidoscope (2023): Movie Review

                                                                              

Jim's Review

A stellar cast with epic bank heist. The cool feature of this film is you can watch it any order you like and still enjoy it!

8 out of 10 stars

About film

A master thief and his crew attempt an epic heist worth $7 billion, but betrayal, greed and other threats undermine their plans.

Mako (2021) Movie Review

                                                                                      

Jim's Review

The title is a little deceptive yet the story is powerful!

7 out of 10 stars

About film

Eight Business Men decide to go to location of Elsalam Ship Which was sinked years ago to make a documentary where they face alot of dangers there.

Brain on Fire (2016): Movie Review

                                                                                      

Jim's Review

Susannah Cahalan (Chloë Grace Moretz) is a journalist that is having issues with her mind which gets worse leading to seizures.

She gets tested and everything comes back normal and she is still having problems. Inspired by true events it bring to light mental health and how doctors and the world is treating the pandemic of epic proportions.

7 out of 10 stars

About movie

Susannah Cahalan, an up-and-coming journalist at the New York Post becomes plagued by voices in her head and seizures. As weeks progress and Susannah quickly moves deeper into insanity, her behaviors shift from violence to catatonia. After a series of tantrums, misdiagnoses, and a lengthy hospital stay, a doctor's last-minute intervention enables him to give her a diagnosis and a chance to rebuild her life.

M3GAN (2023): Movie Review

                                                                               

Jim's Review

Allison Williams (Gemma) builds M3GAN for here niece Cady (Violet McGraw) at first it seems things are going well that is until Cady goes to an outdoor event and is threatened by a fellow schoolmate and M3GAN steps into the situation!

The horror and dram begins as M3GAN begins to evolve and choose her enemies at will.

The climatic end is truly epic and slightly predictable if you watch the movie and pay attending in the beginning.

8 out of 10 stars

About film

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that's programmed to be a child's greatest companion and a parent's greatest ally. Designed by Gemma, a brilliant roboticist, M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate and protector. When Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year-old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences

Wednesday (2022): Movie Review

                                                                         

Jim's Review

Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) is attending Nevermore Academy is making every effort to part of the school academia. 

She quickly gets involved in solved a murder, making friends and trying to figure out who she can trust!

Director Tim Burton has done a spectacular job to bring the Addams family to life in the 21st century.

 Well deserved Season 2 is coming

10 out of 10 stars

About film

While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a killing spree and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago.