When it comes to musicals, it's always important to dig beyond the flashy song&dance numbers to really see what kind of story is being told.
So digging through "The Greatest Showman," the audience is shown how a polarizing figure from America's history was young, scrappy, and hungry who also did not throw away his shot to change the landscape with the million things he hasn't done.
And it was so easy to get tickets; I don't know what people were talking about with sold out shows til 2020 or something.
The story of PT Barnum, founder of the great American circus, as told through song, dance, and an amazing performance by Hugh Jackman is the story of how a penniless peasant rose above his lot in life through his innovation and manipulative charm and finding a group of people who were feared and hated by society. However, Desire being the fickle master it is, drives him to want to be accepted by not just the general populace, but also by the high society that shunned him as a child. Will he ever be satisfied or will he find that he CAN say no to this?
Excellent acting, catchy songs, fantastic choreography, characters, and a suspicious similarity to the most famous Broadway musical in the past couple of years make this a show to be watched indeed. And of course, it's a movie about the circus; HOW can it not be a spectacle and over the top in the Big Top?
First came Hamilton, then came Barnum, when are they going to make a musical of one of the biggest dreamers?
Mary and the Witch's Flower
So when the boss doesn't do movies any more, but you still want to make movies, you start your own animation studio. PONOC, pronounced "Ponotch" and meaning midnight, are the prestigious progeny of Studio Ghibli and it certainly shows with their first outing "Mary and the Witch's Flower," with Ghibli's trademark bright and colorful animation, gorgeous, almost photo-realistic backgrounds, and whimsical score.
Mary Smith finds a magical macguffin in the forest near her home and half guided by a black cat and by a lively (nonspeaking) broomstick, she finds herself at a school of magic. Before she could even enroll though, she finds that there are dark dealings going on and she has to rescue a neighborhood boy from a horrible fate. But can she do that when her own newly discovered magical powers have a time limit?
While you can argue that there are elements of a whole bunch of Ghibli movies, namely Kiki's, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, Howl's, and kinda Ponyo, there IS a source material called "the Little Broomstick," and while I can't say how accurate they were to the book as I've never read the book, but I feel like they did it a semblance of justice.
In an interview I saw after the credits, the producer said that they intentionally created the villains as not inherently evil; the headmistress and Dr. Robotnik look-alike truly believed in whatever heinous thing they were doing as the right thing to do. The filmmakers wanted to present kids with flawed humanity that wasn't pure evil; showing audiences that somebody can believe they're still doing the right thing, even if they're misguided.
If you enjoy Ghibli's brand of strong female protagonists, magical, artsy locations, and being one of the last bastions of respected 2D animated features, you'll enjoy Lily Evans and her Nimbus 2000 take on bizarro Hogwarts in the sky.
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| More representation for broomkind! |
"12 Strong” was not that great a war movie, partially because it’s still a battle raging on to this day, and the actors chosen aren’t that convincing as soldiers, but I’d say the movie’s true shining point is how the American group manages to befriend and work with the local militia.
Mazinger Z Infinity
“Mazinger Z Infinity” is a closure to the giant robot anime from the 70s, setting the characters 10 years later but being still true to their characters. While the 1st half was a bit political with the whole if-humanity-can’t-live-in-harmony-they-will-be-judged-by-robot-the-size-of-a-small-mountain, the true joy is in the 2nd half which features ridiculously overpowered super mechas fighting mindless automatons, and the final fight being essentially CLAP YOUR HANDS IF YOU BELIEVE powered while being channeled by a magical girl. Because let’s face it, you, I, and chicks dig giant robots. (Nice!)
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| The very definition of Lethal Joke Character...but boy does this guy manage to do his part in saving the heroes' butts. |
In the wise words of an animated mandrill shaman, "Da king, has returned."
"Black Panther" was an amazing ride and overall ambitious undertaking for a comic book movie. It's everything "Inhumans" tried and failed to be with their power grabs, betrayals, & reverence for a monarch; it very loosely, if at all, tries to tie into the greater Marvel cinematic universe, but it's not hindered at all by that; and best of all, it brings a completely natural feel to world building to something that's quite foreign, and yet harkens to the familiar.
A prince barely gets a feel for his crown when challenges arise from old foes to the country and new threats to their entire way of life. Aided by his loyal bald general, a spy who loved him, his tech-minded, sassy little sister, and a Hobbit, he tackles these machinations head on and lands on his feet like a graceful king of the jungle.
A+ acting from all involved, ranging from the grace and poise from all the royal family members, (special mention goes to the heartfelt if misguided villain played by former Human Torch (in name only) Michael B. Jordan), to the completely bonkers cackling hyena played by Andy Serkis. The attitudes, lingo, gear, aesthetic, and beliefs of the Wakanda people feel authentic, as if there really could be a hidden nation of advanced humanity unsullied by the rest of history. While the political agenda and the very real talk of the crimes against humanity are typically turnoffs for me when injected into my movie about paragon heroes, good vs evil and all that jazz, it also felt natural given the characters, the world, and the struggles betwixt them all.
Go watch it and pray that the live-action Lion King will be able to live up to SOME of the precedent set here.
For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend that lists three pros and three cons, please go here.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
For a review (SPOILER-FILLED) with a multitude of goofy voices, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| Brothers shouldn't fight! |
Space Pirate Captain Harlock
"Space Pirate Captain Harlock" tells of how one man and his crew of pirates and magical black spaceship fight against the corrupt government preventing anyone from returning to Earth.
...
And that's it. Prepare for a lot of spaceship battles pretending they're still seafaring vessels with the occasional big freakin' laser beam. The CG is somehow at the same level of detail and mo-cap beauty of say, Jim Carey's Christmas Carol, but without falling hard into the uncanny valley. Of course there are twists and turns, but it was pretty difficult to get invested in any of the characters and their motivations for being massive jerks.
Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)
Thanks Netflix for bringing over the wonder of the live-action "Fullmetal Alchemist" movie...now put that thing back where it came from or so help me!
Honestly, this is somebody's cosplay fan-movie with a big Hollywood budget and CGi wizards at their disposal. As there's no possible way to adapt such a rich and involved story, they crammed as many "iconic" moments into this garbled mess up to the point of Mustang having to sear his own flesh to fight the unkillable (totally killable) enemy. (sorry people who only watched the early 2000s anime; this is still more for the Brohood watchers)
But lawdy, the effects and the look of this beast is truly where it shines...Alphonse the armor looks like Alphonse, the unholy abomination of a girl and her dog is on point, and best cosplay award goes to Hughes because they found the right guy to rock them glasses. The guy in charge of the transmutation effects might've been from Wakanda because it could be summed up as a lot of swirling particles to form the stuff...along with random lightning and goop for the organic stuff just because.
I can only recommend this thing to watch if you've about 2 hours to kill and want to see some soulless fanservice in the same vein as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" or select parts of "Dawn of Justice."
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| Sadly, this glorious ham does not show up in this movie...further points deducted. |
So after the massive disaster that was "Friendship Games," a little bit of return to form was needed for the 4th installment in the movie series about colorful equines of another universe...NOW WITH SUPERPOWERS AT SUMMER CAMP!
Almost exactly like last time (in the GOOD movie at least), the main cast find themselves displaying extraordinary powers when their individual traits and personalities are fully expressed, a la X-men. This time, they have to figure out the mystery of the (possible?) beast that haunts their campsite.
The interesting addition of the only holdover from "Friendship Games" that of the nerdy, friendship-inept Twilight suffering from the same "I was a bad guy last time" syndrome that afflicted Sunset Shimmer two movies ago gives the ketchup-&-mustard-haired lass a chance to be a mentor to this pale reflection of how she used to be. Adding the not-so-subtle power of telepathy, Sunset really shaped up to be the Professor Xavier stand-in needed for the other horse gals which have manifested their magical mutant powers.
Their henshin items and supersuits sure seemed to spark a similar situation...
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic The Movie
NO MORE HORSING AROUND!
...
Well, there are horses this time instead of multi-colored teenage girls and a talking dog.
THE PONIES FINALLY HAVE THEIR OWN MOVIE!
"My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic the Movie" brings the fans of the show their long awaited big screen arrival...roughly five years after the height of the Brony phenomenon. Surprisingly, the tale is a globe-trotting (hohoho) adventure in pursuit of a powerful queen to save Ponykind from an evil yeti called The Storm King. As per the usual, friendship is indeed magic and the main cast find themselves meeting quirky individual and group in quick succession and soon amass an army of rogues, pirates, and merpeople to their cause of defending their homeland.
Arguably, the same quality as an anime noncanon filler movie, but that is not to say that their are some attempts at actual character development. Most growth of all seems to have gone to Pinkie Pie , especially in calling out Twilight's BS, since that OCD purple horse-critter manages to forget her weekly lessons about how being a control freak is wrong and how to be so shortsighted on the mission, that she forgets to be a decent person. Most baffling is the amount of famous people they've added to the cast with the likes of Emily Blunt, Michael Pena, Zoe Saldana, Taye Diggs, Kristen Chenowith, and hilariously, Liev Schriber. The things movie stars will do so that they can entertain their own children eh?
Overall, a fun little diversion excursion that adds more to the world-building and hilarious shenanigans with the characters you've grown to love if you indeed liked this show at all.
Oh they thought they were clever tossing in a quick reference to another Hasbro property...they thought we wouldn't notice...but we did.
Logan Lucky
So it turns out the secret formula for entertaining movies big on fun and short on sense is Channing Tatum with a Southern drawl + John Denver's "Country Road" being featured in some way + prosthetic arms = fun flick.
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The first time it was "Kingsman: the Golden Circle" the 2nd time, it's "Logan Lucky."
The perpetually unlucky Logan siblings find themselves at the bottom of the barrel in their little West Virginian home. For a little bit of revenge and a whole lotta cash, they elaborately plan to rob a NASCAR stadium. They recruit a Daniel Craig with a passable Southern accent and a penchant for making explosions, and it's literally off to the races!
Just a fun heist film that is even lampshaded in the movie itself to be "Ocean's 7-11" with all the convoluted scheming and precision required to pull a fast one, but with a collection of blue-collar folks who the Law wouldn't look twice at.
Go watch if you feel like watching a buncha notable actors having the time of their lives and seeing the country hijinks ensue.
Nothing against the little girl's rendition, but Mark Strong's version with bagpipes is far superior
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
"Murder on the Orient Express" or as I like to call it "Famous People on a Train."
This star-studded cast is the newest interpretation of the classic Agatha Christi novel which was the forerunner of all the modern detective shows, matched only in groundbreaking crime procedurals by a certain Mr. Holmes. But the updated version of this story of whodunnit comes with many layers of story that all pile on top of each other and the classic adage of "trust no one." As mentioned before, each key player of the story is portrayed by a Hollywood A&B lister and the effort to do this tale justice is clearly shown in their performances.
Watch if you want to see if you can spot the twist coming yourself or if you want to be taken for a train ride of intrigue.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
Roughly my thought process every time I saw Kenneth Branagh's bushy-as-heck moustache...
Tomb Raider (2018)
In the late 90s, there was one video game heroine that dominated the playstations (and minds) of many a young gamer...she was cocky, ambitious, and always was in control. And when the movie adaptation came out, this character, played by Angelina Jolie, managed to convey those traits flawlessly.
And apparently in 20 years, that's not who she is anymore.
"Tomb Raider" brings to the screen a Lara Croft who is portrayed much more like an everyman, and suddenly is thrust into situations that are way over her head. But she can make it through with substantial amounts of grit and determination, which still (obnoxiously) screams "I AM A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR LITTLE GIRLS!"
Despite this, the movie itself is (apparently) very faithful to the rebooted game, catching the iconic scenes and the character's personalities just fine. And while I try to be impartial about this, lest my actual movie reviewer cred be revoked, this just isn't my Lara Croft. So in the same way as "Man of Steel" where I felt like the main character's interpretation completely ruined the movie for me, most of this movie felt wrong because this adventure gal running around on the screen just was not what I was expecting.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| Imagine going to Tomb Raider and not realizing it's a video game movie... |
Legendary pictures said, "And now for my next trick I shall seamlessly merge a redemption story, a cadet training story, and a sequel to our Giant Robots fighting Giant Monsters story."
...
They succeeded, but in the same way that WALL-E mushed that trash together for EVE.
"Pacific Rim," 2013's film about everyone digging giant robots and fighting monsters from another universe (along with Guillermo Del Toro's signature aesthetic when it comes to those monsters), was a huge hit (hahaha yes I get it), and so that begat "Pacific Rim Uprising." Idris Elba's kid lives like a punk because he can, runs across a genius mech-otaku who built her own Bioncle-lookin-rolly-poly bot, and they're both recruited into the Jaeger training program. Now if it were just about that, there's a lot that can be worked with and that's fine, but they actually try to follow up on the escalation of warfare by having unmanned fighting robot drones replace the ones that need two dudes to mentally link up and fight as one. Them monstrosities from the other world ain't done with Earth either and they come back with a vengeance.
So while a very weak story and the characters don't feel as fleshed out as they could be, IT'S STILL FRIGGIN' FUN! It really doesn't get more popcorn flick spectacular than big ol metal behemoths punching beastly behemoths in the face.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| You better believe the merchandising people didn't blow their chance to appeal to a specific niche group of nerds this time around. |
Sherlock Gnomes
SPOILERS! Gnomeo and Juliet survived their movie back in 2011. Because they're prominently the secondary heroes in "Sherlock Gnomes."
As the first film was a simple satire of rom-coms and the Bard's famous tale of star-crossed lovers with the teensiest bit of Pixar twist into it, the story continues with the unified garden decor families moving to London right in the middle of a garden gnome kidnapping spree. Because of a lover's quarrel, Gnomeo and Juliet are away whilst the swiping of tacky ornaments went down so they involve themselves in the investigation of Johnny Depp's take on the classic detective and his long-suffering sidekick Watson.
If anybody remembers the old Jackie Chan Adventures cartoon, there was a magical talisman that made any statue or toy or tchotchke that resembles a living thing to actually gain life. That seems to be the case for nearly all of the miscellaneous small facsimiles of London since it's not just garden gnomes, but waving cat statues, stone gargoyles, and Barbie-knockoffs that are all given the gift of spontaneous, Pixar-quality, secret life, and they all play their part in the mystery of mundanely epic proportions. About the only thing for adults would be all the shout-outs to classic Holmes lore, but if you felt like the first movie did not garner enough entertainment value to merit a sequel, you're probably right. As such, it was fun, but definitely kiddy-fare.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of this movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| Strangely enough, their own version of the Reichenbach Falls happened. |
Sometimes, you're not the best person for the job, but goshdarnit, you are going to do your absolute best despite everyone who said you can't.
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Not speaking from personal experience; this is about "Darkest Hour."
Winston Churchill, played masterfully by Gary Oldman, was thrust into the position of Prime Minister right at the zenith of the Nazi's conquering of most of Europe. Thrill as he does his best to fastidiously hold onto his ideals of his country fighting back against the oppressors, and then watch him get into shouting matches with people who want to talk peace with that...that...HOUSE PAINTER! But that gumption don't quit as we see him continue to "never give up, never surrender."
Watch if you want to see the unintended B-side to "Dunkirk."
Ready Player One
126 sundry references, easter eggs, and unsubtle shout outs later (that I could count at least), and "Ready Player One" delivers the moral of the tale:
GET OFF YOUR TECHNOLOGY AND LIVE A LITTLE!
Basically, just like if you strip away the R rating of "Deadpool," you're left with a very basic superhero movie, like possibly even early Spiderman, early X-men levels of cheese, Steven Spielberg's latest cinematic outing, when stripped of its nostlagia-pandering/geek-culture-baiting, is a very basic fight-da-big-bad-corporation story. I keep hearing that the book it's based off is much better and a few more even nerdier references are in it, so I might just hit that up, and recommend y'all save this movie for a game night where you try and beat each other's records of finding stuff.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| Instead of the Iron Giant, there was supposed to be a cameo from Spider-Man's mecha from the 70s tokusatsu. |
The Disaster Artist
It goes without saying that most conversation is dependent on how well you can understand someone; really good conversation gives you a window into the other person's very being. So the worst kind of conversation is when someone couldn't be read, couldn't be comprehended, and most certainly couldn't be figured out.
That's Tommy Wiseau in a nutshell...and James Franco played him perfectly in "The Disaster Artist."
This behind-the-scenes look at the making of the best worst movie ever is an unintentional bromance film between that movie's two leads, and a glimpse into how such a bizarre mind manages to craft a movie without any rhyme or rhythm.
Watch only with people who have seen "the Room" and be prepared to laugh at the captured essence of a strange strange man and how the world reacts to him.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the both The Room and this movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
The Post
Spielberg's big Oscar-bait movie this year was "The Post."
What distinguished it from the competition?
The truth will out. The past mirroring the present. Desire of the underdog to prove themselves. Re-affirming rights guaranteed in the Constitution. And the idea that a little girl can sell lemonade exclusively to her dad's work colleagues and lawyers stuck in their house and make a killing off that (Good ol American capitalism?).
Deadpool 2
Yes. They do make reference to the fact Josh Brolin is somebody else in another Marvel movie in "Deadpool 2" but it's a passing reference so y'all better pay attention.
Hope you enjoyed the wacky humor and gratuitous violence (but not the blatant sexy) of the first one because there's more of the same in this one. BUT! For everyone who complained about the lack of connection to the rest of the X-men movies, they gotchu covered fam. I dare not spoil who you'll see, just know there are familiar faces from the other movies.
Overall, a fun time to be had with the loosest theme of family and the best tongue-in-cheek mid-credits scenes ever.
For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend that lists three pros and three cons, please, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| Surprise villain out of nowhere. You'll know if you are familiar with antique memes. |
Making a movie in this day & age is always a miraculous process...so when you come up with a grand idea for sci-fi heist film, you could try to pitch it as your own unique thing...or you could try to loosely tie it into the Star Wars mythos.
Hence, "Solo: A Star Wars Story."
Fanfiction writers, both professional and amateur, have tried to come up with the backstory to one of this franchise's most beloved of characters. So now that there is an official version, most fans are understandably not happy about it because it negates their own speculations.
Young Han goes from street rat, to soldier, to thief, to smuggler throughout the course of this movie, and in all that time though, you rarely see any glimpse of the scruffy nerf-herder that Harrison Ford played. While I stand by my assertion that it's a perfectly fine heist movie, full of fun and quirky characters (most loyal interpretations being Chewbacca and Lando), decent action, and a dash of that classic Star Wars flavor, there's not enough there to justify in my mind calling it a Star Wars movie.TL;DR "Solo" is a fine movie, but just doesn't feel like a Star Wars movie. Go in expecting a good sci-fi heist film and you'll find yourself much more entertained.
For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend that lists three pros and three cons, please go here.
For a review (SPOILER-FILLED) with a multitude of goofy voices, go here.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here.
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| I had the strangest sense of deja vu EVERY TIME he said he was a pilot. |
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
And now I know where that Disney DVD trailer music comes from. Thanks Michael Kamen for lending your victorious fanfare to "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."
Swashbuckling movie extraordinaire with acting as hammy as a pig sanctuary but still very enjoyable, action that defies our modern sensibilities of Get-it-Done-Quick, and the cherry picking of facts & legend give this tale of the most famous of outlaws weight and longevity...and something for Mel Brooks to mercilessly spoof in "Men in Tights."
Overall, enjoy this adventure about revenge, honor, justice, and sticking it to corruption.
By far one of Alan Rickman's best moments of scenery chewing.
How many alien invasion movies have been made? While there are plenty, how many do the others win? Total victory with humanity was completely helpless to stop em...you could say, annihilated even?
"Annihilation" follows the soldier scientist Natalie Portman as she ventures into an zone where things get a little weird and a little wild with mutations of all living things within its Weirdmageddon bubble. As the mystery of the alien lifeforms become apparent, that it wants to create new bizarre life, the squad of women sent in to investigate the thing struggle to hold onto their own humanity as well. Can they survive this strangeness?
Overall, an aesthetic and sometimes gruesome wonderland through a disjointed storytelling lens. It's like the more serious, artiste version of the old movie "Evolution" where the aliens are not vanquished by dandruff shampoo.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a way similar to how how Michael Peña told stories in "Ant-Man," go here. PLUS a longer follow-up expounding on the same points, here.
The Maze Runner
So we meet again my old nemesis: the post-apocalyptic, divided-into-groups, YA-novel-adaptation movie! This time, you have taken the form of "The Maze Runner."
The protagonist is inexplicably thrust into a society bound very much by their castes, with mysterious forces at work to destroy their way of life? Check.
The dude bucks the system by doing things differently and is welcomed as a hero because something new has happened and the established regime hates it and him? Check.
But what's this? Girl is introduced and there's no immediate love triangle despite this Lost-Boys-Society would be the most logical for this to happen? Knock me for a loop there.
But back to the routine of nothing being explained (to the frustration of the audience throughout most of the movie) except at the end, as they are whisked away to new struggles and dangers? Check & mate.
While not terrible (DEFINITELY better than the Divergent series), it does set off every pitfall trope of this genre, and yet, still enjoyable in how well it does stick to the formula. We'll see what kinda rumble goes down with its offspring later, but for now, a fair start.
Before I saw this movie, the only experience I had with this franchise...
"Tag" is a movie about camaraderie, deception, making the mundane seem ridiculously cool, and crossing some lines you really shouldn't &yet still being friends. The best part is just how remarkably cool they made Hawkeye in this movie, making him an untouchable, parkour-jumpin', martial arts deflecting, trap-setting, mind-manipulating cool guy.
Also, I swear that boring Verizon spokesman from the commercials is in this movie but can't tell because the personas are too different...
Wonder
Sometimes the true mark of a hero is not only in how they've overcome their obstacles, but how they inspire others to do their best as well.
And in the case of "Wonder," that was the main protagonist's unintentional effect on those around him.
A young boy with physical defects out the wazoo (27 surgeries worth since birth) is about to enter the public school world at the ripe time of 10 years old. What could go wrong? After a couple of rocky starts, he finds true friends, proves his worth, and positively affects not just his peers, but older folks as well.
If you've seen enough movies, you know that narratives usually thrives on bad things or misunderstandings happening ALL. THE. TIME. Hopefully, this won't spoil this particular movie's experience for you, but none of that happens! If a conflict arises, it is usually resolved in the most common sense/logical way possible, AND IT WORKS OUT! A misunderstanding gets cleared away with both parties realizing they were fools AND IT WORKS OUT! The formerly antagonistic character gets something revealed about them and they turn around on their own accord.
Overall, an absurdly wholesome movie that'll leave you with a good feeling once the credits roll. There's only one lasting sadness, but it was foreshadowed pretty early on and leaves really not that much impact.
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| Like so many things it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts. |
After the fiery pepper-laden nachos of epicness that was Infinity War, along comes Marvel to offer you a cool refreshing glass of "Antman and the Wasp" in these trying times!
Since Infinity War established that not EVERY Marvel character could take part in the biggest crossover even of the (first half of the) year, Scott Lang finds himself bored out of his gourd whilst under house arrest. Due to inexplicable reasons, he has visions of the Pym family matriarch and wouldn't you know it, that size-changing, bug-calling science family are trying to find a way to bring her back. Thanks to opposing factors, the Pyms and Lang must don their supersuits once again to fight them off and to bring back Michelle Pfeiffer from the smaller-than-small dimension. The most hilarious parts of course are the Ferris Bueller-esque scrambles back home since Paul Rudd can't be let out of the house. Strange little detour despite the larger stakes happening in the other part of their world and the climax is a bit too deus-ex-machina, but I can overlook that because of the fun to be had with these characters.
For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend that lists three pros and three cons, please go here.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
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| Also a welcome surprise is the sympathetic villain who also underwent a science-y mishap and now might be torn apart atom by atom if they she doesn't get to Catwoman first. |
Oh "Teen Titans Go"...how much the Internet hates you. You hog up ALL the timeslots of the once proud Cartoon Network, your animation is a far cry from the previous animated incarnation, and your characterization of beloved DC comics characters is nothing short of insulting.
THAT SAID, "TEEN TITANS GO TO THE MOVIES" IS AN UNDERRATED GEM!
The meta-humor is off the charts, the ACTUAL humor ranges from incredibly juvenile to surprisingly brilliant, the plot is actually serviceable, and the many switches in animation style can shut up the people who say this is lazy, cost-saving drivel. Not only that, but there are so many Easter Eggs! So! MANY! EASTER EGGS! Not just with DC comics, but stuff to do with Marvel, Animaniacs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Lion King, Back to the Future, Pac-Man, and a host of other things. If you want to be pleasantly surprised by a ridiculously fun movie aimed at 5 - 10 year olds, watch this!
For a review further commenting on what makes the Teen Titans Go cartoon horrid, yet the movie is good, go here.
For a (lonnnnnng) analysis on why Teen Titans Go does not work as opposed to the Teen Titans Murakami toon, go here.
If you still don't want to watch it because of your principles or something, here's the Stan Lee cameo so you could check that off your completionist bucket list.
Isle of Dogs
Let's talk quirky storytellers, people who go about showing you the intriguing tale they have lodged into their mind's eye in a most unorthodox way. There are those who dare to show you scenes out of sequence. There are those who have odd choices of color palette. There are those who write lines that make sense but no human being you know would say it like that. There's a weirdo by the name of Wes Anderson who encapsulates all of that. His latest story is one set in the not-too-distant future, in a fictional Japan, and where dogs have been exiled to a trash island.
"Isle of Dogs" is one quirky movie.
Caninekind is forced to be removed from a Japanese city because of a pandemic spread amongst them that is on the cusp of infecting humans as well. They are placed in the relatively far away island where they had been dumping their garbage previously. There, a pack of dogs with authoritative names come across a pre-teen runaway looking for his own pet. They help him and there's a lot of hijinks from both man and man's best friend. All of this is rendered in not-too-creepy, stop-motion animation.
What makes this a gem of film-making is not the phenomenal voice-acting cast, not the dedication of the animators as they painstakingly make the Plasticine puppets move as fluidly as possible, nor much-debated "cultural appropriation" (really, it's not.), but it's the heart of the story that resonates with anyone who has had a pet who is more like a buddy, and the friends you make along the way to finding your beloved creature.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
For a review of the movie that also praises the Wes Anderson style along and a defense of the so-called "cultural appropriation," go here.
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| Really, the only reason Scarlett-Johanson-dog is there is so that we can get Bryan-Cranston-dog to have visible fantasies about her showdog days. |
The old timey librarians have finally come to take their vengeance on those who would dare answer their cell phones in public!
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Nah, just aliens who absolutely destroy anything that makes too loud a sound in "A Quite Place."
The world's been overrun by a superior, bestial alien species that hunt and kill anyone that makes too loud a sound. So John Krasinski and real-life wife hide with their children in relatively soundless bliss. However, a whole lotta unfortunate circumstances, including the wife's impending pregnancy, brings the vile critters to their doorstep and the longest night begins.
Truly a spectacle with 90% of the movie being a reversion back to the the era of silent movies, with miming and subtitles (for the sign language) being the foundation of the interactions between the characters; so despite the wordless nature of their chemistry, it's all there and brilliant. The stakes and peril make you suddenly very conscious about your own noises and subconsciously, you're right there with this family as they struggle to keep every little thing from giving away their position. Definitely recommend watching it even if you are not a fan of horror/suspense.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
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| The reaction to ANY loud noise during and after the movie. |
A suave, debonair thief played by George Clooney pulls off a heist with a host of colorful characters. Is this any of the "Ocean's #" movies? Nope. "Fantastic Mr. Fox."
A stop motion marvel by Wes Anderson, one of the quirkiest filmmakers to ever quirk, it loosely adapts the Roald Dahl classic tale with a couple of twists and turns. A fox finds himself in a bit of a mid-life crisis and to relive his glory days, opts for one last big grand theft. "One last job" of course, is NEVER just "one last job," and the repeated thievery puts the owners of the stolen goods on their own personal vendettas against not just the fox, but ALL the woodland creatures. Fox being a clever guy though, finds one way after another to embarrass these angry humans, and this keeps happening for the rest of the movie. All the humor is very dry humor and the strangely folksy feel of the film makes you think it could be happening down the road from your own house. A+ voice-acting all around, and this story goes to extremes sometimes as far as visually and through its extravagant story.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The old movie "Planet of the Apes" has one of the biggest known twists in cinematic history: that it was Earth all along and that it's really REALLY far into the future.
So how did mankind lose their dominance on the planet and how did the NOT!monkeys take over?
You'll only get one of those answers in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
James Franco is in charge of solving degenerative disease but along the way, he became a foster dad to a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee...because trained scientists can't tell when one of their test subjects is pregnant and baby acquired all the smartness juice they were pumping her full of.
Thus the poor little primate must learn his place in the world, what with humanity and apekind shunning him for him not belonging to either side. And from this unique position, the chimp mo-capped by Andy Serkis realizes all he can do to rise up to live on his own without the interference of humanity...well, him and a couple of his newfound prison buddies.
With a couple of Easter eggs for the people familiar with the classic film series, this movie is a pretty good what-if about one of the biggest classics of the genre.
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| I still prefer this kinda primate uprising story, but there IS stigma with video game movies so better one not be made. |
After the rise, comes the dawn. Dawn is nothing if not a hazy time when there's a bit of light but overall darkness and obscurity remain.
That is how it is with "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," with the newly established ape society having to be forced into the spotlight when the nearby humans are struggling to survive as well. The apes from last time have thrived in the forests of California and unbeknownst to them, a sliver of humanity still take refuge not too far from them in the remnants of San Fran. When a small group of humans has to encroach on ape territory, some see it as a call to war and others see it as a way to help their neighbor. Despite the obvious antagonism between the two parties, Caesar Serkis still tries to be a just ruler who don't bend to the thumb of THE MAN. Is all out war avoidable?
Well considering the next movie is called "War of the Planet of the Apes" what do you think?
A much slower movie than the first installment, but a welcome change of pace from the 10 minutes into the future aspect the first one gave. With humanity dwindled to near nada, it's tense to figure out how they might all get out of this encounter alive. Amazing motion capture as usual and the set up of ridiculously humanized apes really makes you question if they didn't have some trained apes in the studio.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
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| But with simians! Waaaaitaminute... |
The Death of Superman
Well I guess the title spoils the ending, but how else do you get butts in seats/DVDs in players?
"The Death of Superman" is the (superior) animated re-telling of how the Man of Steel died fighting a menace from beyond the stars that wasn't his OTHER greatest enemy cloned and brought back via bad Frankenstein-ing. Not only is it that tale, but how Clark is opening up to the idea that maybe, just maybe, he can let someone into his own Fortress of Solitude. Yes, Lois Lane is finally the love interest instead of the odd direction that the New 52 went with in making the Man of Steel fall in love with the Amazing Amazon. But all of that comes to a screeching halt once an inexplicable, mindless alien threat comes crashing to the planet...and the whole Justice League is decimated by the unstoppable hulking figure...and there are still civilians to save.
All in all, a great story of a simple man who has the greatest power and thus has the greatest responsibility to save the helpless.
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| Let's just be glad there wasn't MORE cannon fodder for the big ugly to tear through. |
And now, if you'll permit me to be an anime nerd for a quick minute, "My Hero Academia movie: Two Heroes" is actually a pretty good film...for the fans.
The superhero and his protege go to a super science island and meet with his old equipment guy and his daughter. Contrived coincidences have most of green Naruto's classmates join him on the island and lo & behold, evil plot is underfoot and it's up to them to stop these dastardly deeds.
Pretty good story, albeit with dubious placement in the plot timeline. The Shield family feel like real fleshed out characters that belong in the lore of All Might. With the exception of a couple scenes of cheap/lazy animation and odd&out-of-place telepathic conversations with some characters, this was a rather good extended episode of the series with all of the featured characters getting their moment to shine...dare I say, it's PLUS ULTRA?!
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| Pointless cameo? Yes, but appreciated all the same. |
Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final
I guess it's just the year for ambitious crossovers with heroes...even in Japan.
Heisei Generations Final not only brings the annual crossover with last year's hero with this year's hero, but also seeks to unite the past 8-9 years of those bug-eyed superheroes in a grand movie with lots of parallel dimension hopping, motorcycle stunts, mode changes, and super kicks. Not only is the action on point, but the characterization of almost all the featured Riders are done exceptionally well, with notable standout being Kamen Rider OOO as a sorta final epilogue even past their own movie. And with next year's movie being THE most ambitious crossover, with the great idea that they realize they're fictional characters fighting to entertain Japanese children (and teens & college students of other countries), I'm sure this is only the beginning of some quality crossover movies.
Heisei Generations Final not only brings the annual crossover with last year's hero with this year's hero, but also seeks to unite the past 8-9 years of those bug-eyed superheroes in a grand movie with lots of parallel dimension hopping, motorcycle stunts, mode changes, and super kicks. Not only is the action on point, but the characterization of almost all the featured Riders are done exceptionally well, with notable standout being Kamen Rider OOO as a sorta final epilogue even past their own movie. And with next year's movie being THE most ambitious crossover, with the great idea that they realize they're fictional characters fighting to entertain Japanese children (and teens & college students of other countries), I'm sure this is only the beginning of some quality crossover movies.
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| It's not everyday you see a kid who's died at least 4 times, a delinquent-turned-high-school-teacher, a genius physicist with the power of a tank and a rabbit, a pediatrician who is a great gamer, a god in charge of a fruit dimension planet, and a hobo riding a vending machine all charging into battle together... |
Ocean's 8
So what did we really like about the Ocean's movies? A fun, likable cast of scoundrels, an elaborate heist, great chemistry between characters, and a satisfying payoff?
Yes, now if we change the primary players to women, does that change anything? "Ocean's 8" proved no, it didn't matter.
Sandra Bullock plays the younger sister of George Clooney's Danny Ocean and just like her brother, she assembles a ragtag bunch of specialists to execute an outlandish heist. Can this lovable quirky septet (with a couple of twist members) pull off this big ol exercise in elaborate thievery?
Entertaining and has a lot of the Ocean's movie charm. Definitely a better execution in female-only sequel/reboots than Gal!Ghostbusters...
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
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| Awkwafina's role in the gang. |
"Hotel Transylvania 2" = garbage...much much garbage. Barely laughed, questioned the good taste of every decision those writers made, and introduced more tertiary characters that really don't add anything to plot or humor.
"Hotel Transylvania 3" on the other hand, is much MUCH better. Good grief the animation was superb! It was like watching classic Looney Toons (specifically, some Coyote&Roadrunner slapstick) again! The stretch and squish! The over-exaggerated multitude of expressions! The comedic timing! The character foibles that lends itself to greater expectations getting usurped by comedic situations! And there was an actual plot! Something to beat besides force-fed prejudice and thinly veiled allegory of "The Other." Just like the first movie, it also surprisingly has tender moments and actual character development. Do yourself a favor and watch this one if you want to laugh and marvel at some glorious animation by Genndy Tartakovsky at the top of his game.
For a creative overview of #3 from a fellow movie-reviewing friend, go here.
A bit of a long vid, but perfectly encompasses why classic animation matters and how these movies have managed to translate these principles into the 3D animated realm.
Mission Impossible: Fallout
Jeremy Renner didn't bother to show up in Infinity War, and he didn't bother to show up in "Mission Impossible: Fallout"...playing tag must've REALLY EATEN UP HIS YEAR!
So the infamous Mission Impossible 6, which hospitalized Tom Cruise and left many Superman fans wondering why they had to digitize his snout in "Justice League," is basically another convoluted Mission Impossible movie, but this time, with CONTINUITY! You really have to watch "Rogue Nation" to know the turtle-like bad guy now sports a dirty hobo beard, why Rebecca Fergusson finds her alliances "never enough," and why Alec Baldwin even matters in this franchise.
Tom Cruise is on another globe-spanning, arms-dealing-messing-up, physically demanding, Scooby-villain-masking mission but now, he has the thorn in his side of Henry Cavil (with another American accent) playing a CIA agent who's essentially the CIA babysitter. Also, conspiracies are afoot, but what else is new?
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Almost every man or woman of culture has heard of the classical ballet to go to every Christmas, The Nutcracker...and there have been countless reimaginings and retellings of this story to go along with the pretty dancing and lively music. And clearly Disney thought they could do the same thing they did for the Alice stories (Tim Burton's and the Through the Looking Glass) for this story of a girl who finds herself in a fairy tale full of sweets, toys, the Christmas spirit and rats.
"The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" looks pretty but story and characters are really wonky. The idea that the main character's mother was some kind of uber-inventor who not only found herself in a magical realm but created LIFE ITSELF OUT OF TOYS is just the sort of high-times fantasy that makes Disney's recent live-action movie failures all the more apparent. But at least Misty Copeland dances a nice ballet during the movie proper and during the endcredits.
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| BETCHA WEREN'T EXPECTING A STEAMPUNK GIANT MECHA/CIRCUS TENT IN YOUR NUTCRACKER MOVIE WERE YOU?! |
The vibes I get from "Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindelwald" are saying that even though they had this tetralogy planned from the beginning, they hedged their bets with the first one and made it a perfectly fine standalone film, and would only proceed with the sequel once the actual profits came in; because it's Harry Potter related, OF COURSE there would be profits, but now the sequel-makers had to scramble to put together a coherent story.
From what I can gather from this rather disjointed mess is that Grindlewald needs the power of the Flash, I mean Ezra Miller's abused witch-hating churchboy who turned into a malicious black cloud in the last one and who evidently did not die. After tracking him to Paris, the race is on for both the magical governments of the Western world, the fanatics of Gindelwald, and Dumbledore's own secret agent, New Scamander, to find him. But then what overshadows the plot the most is the possibility that this angry little raincloud might belong to a family familiar only to the big Potterfans and all the different peoples trying to get to the bottom of that. Also, Queenie Goldstein and the only good Muggle we've had in this whole series break up and that's arguably the biggest tragedy of all.
Definitely a set up for the next movie with very little to endear anyone to this installment. Quite possibly the inclusion of Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore is reason enough, but he's in this movie just about as much as Wonder Woman was in "Dawn of Justice." The stars of course are all the magical creatures featured in this flick, and good ol' Eddie Redmayne being the one to wrangle them all while still being totally inept around actual humans. And the literal last minute reveal will just have you yelling at the screen for MORE ANSWERS!
For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
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| Lest we forget that cats are cats no matter how weird or large they may be. |
Won't you be my Neighbor
A mainstay of the PBS children's programming block is Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Long a subject of ridicule because American audiences just can't understand or comprehend how someone can be so chill and such a decent human being, "Won't you be my Neighbor" is the documentary to set the record straight. Yes he is a wholesome being. Yes, he respected children too much to let the morons slapping each other with pies be their only source of entertainment. And no, he was never gay. He was truly one of the best people to grace television and he never shied away from telling it as it is to the children watching his program. Watch this movie to feel good.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
Hotel Artemis
In the future, when things in general have hit rock bottom, there is a place for any criminal or lawbreaker to turn to when they need patching up. That last refuge is the "Hotel Artemis."
Jodie Foster plays a pill-popping, hard-drinking nurse with PTSD who runs a secret hospital based out of a decrepit hotel where each room has a different paradise locale as its theme. Her current roster of patients just got bigger when Sterling K. Brown comes in from a heist gone bad. But wouldn't you know it? It's also the night when an injured cop with ties to her past and the big crime boss running future LA need to check in as well. For a hospital staffed by just two, this is going to be a rough night. Excellent atmosphere, the characters are all unique and not just caricatures (not to mention fueled by star power like Sofia Boutella, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, Jeff Goldblum, and Dave Bautista), and the story really gets tense as the night progresses and plots & schemes come to light. Quite an enjoyable flick.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
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| "You see that badge? That means I am a healthcare professional!" |
I think the biggest fantasy we subscribe to is that the star-crossed lovers will work out, that love can truly trump all obstacles.
Hence, "Crazy Rich Asians."
When a middle-class New Yorker finds herself the object of affection to essentially the heir of one of the wealthiest families in Singapore, it's all she can do to deal with the whirlwind lifestyles of the rich and the famous. Along the way, she meets a host of colorful characters and discovers her own inner strength to do...
One of the big factors of this movie's runaway success amongst the non-Asians seems to be a throwback to romcoms of the late 90's and early 2000's. There was a female fish-out-of-water lead, an awkward meeting of the In-Laws scenario with a hostile parent, a breakup we know isn't going to take, and a scene at an airport where one of the main characters chases the other to saves their relationship.
Watch this if you wanna see if the power of love can break down the walls of prejudice once again!
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
The Predator
First, he fought the Governator in the jungle.
2nd, he fought cops in the urban jungle.
3rd, he fought against them black bugs that look like phallic imagery personified.
4th, he took Earth's deadliest kinds of people into a death game.
And now, in 2018...he's fighting in suburbia with/against a ragtag group of damaged military types and an autistic savant child.
...
Man, "The Predator" was a strange movie!
A weird mix of the Schwarzenegger film and the monster-in-the-suburbs trope, this movie takes our favorite dreadlock alien on the run from the government which tagged him, and a meaner bigger version of his own species all in the hopes of giving humanity a chance to defend themselves. As nonsensical as that plot is, the true shine of this movie comes from the eclectic band of nutsos that the military shuttered away, some kind of suicide squad without the suicide missions. The camaraderie and chemistry these men share, along with Olivia Munn pretending to be a scientist and the family of the black ops sniper that found the crashed predator ship is top notch. Other than that, the only other reason this film has any merit is that it pokes at two of the most famous lines from the first movie, as well as point out how strange it is that humans have nicknamed this species "predators" when really, they're more like sport hunters.
Which vehicle do you go to when the command is given to "GET TO THE CHOPPA?"
Christopher Robin
Stop me if you've heard this one: a world-weary dude stuck in his business job has an encounter with a whimsical creature/person from another realm and by the end, he learns to let loose and have fun.
Were you thinking "Enchanted?" Possibly "Alvin and the Chipmunks?" Heaven forbid, did "Smurfs" cross your mind?
Well, thankfully I am talking about "Christopher Robin."
Our favorite human amongst a cast of woodland animals and plushies is all grown up and thanks to his pressing job, he has a long weekend ahead of him, which means he can't play with his little girl or spend time with his wife either! That all gets derailed when a certain blast from the past finds himself suddenly thrust into the now adult Christopher Robin's life. As this older, grumpier, and quite frankly unhappier Ewan McGregor goes back to his childhood realm of fantasy to help out his silly ol' bear, he finally finds the respite and happiness in simple things that he has long forgotten.
And that's only the first half of the movie.
The 2nd half is a madcap chase through London with his daughter and some of the 100 Acre Wood crew in trying to get an important briefcase to Christopher Robin at his workplace.
Overall, a very welcome and relaxing movie where the only stakes is a man's weary soul finally finding some rejuvenation.
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| Having recently vacationed to London, and finding this display of Pooh toys still up at Harrod's, I took my opportunity. |
Do you ever think Jane Austen in her wildest fever dreams would ever consider her characters dispatching the undead with kung-fu?
No? Well then you obviously don't have the imagination to stomach "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."
Thanks to Britain's attempts to take over the world back when they still wore redcoats, they somehow or another brought back the zombie virus to their homeland. What followed was an unstoppable plague and the locals had to adapt in destroying them in more civilized ways, as upper crust Britsh elite do. The rich sent their children to study in Japan with samurai, while the poorer, but still pretty wealthy sent their young to learn from the various schools of martial arts in China.
That is where we find our Elizabeth and Darcy of this tale. She and her sisters learned how to wire-fu whilst the gravelly-throated Darcy studied the ways of glorious Nippon steel blades. And if you're familiar with the story of how at odds they were in the original version, now imagine how this discussion of martial arts superiority also becomes a point of contention in this age-old tale of being too proud for a man (or a woman) to be their better.
A strange retelling of something you probably read in high school English class, but all the same, an enjoyable flick that flip flops between the melodrama we're well acquainted with when it comes to Austen's works, and fighting the sudden blooming conspiracy of using zombies to take over the world. They can't really pick a tone, but other than that, a jolly good time.
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| Once the zombies themselves learn martial arts, there's only one recourse left for survival... |
Is there some kind of graph and chart out there that the studio executives all pray to that says general audiences will gobble up any subversion of the spy genre now? Done in a refreshing way with the "Kingsman" series, done for major laughs in "Spy," and done with great comedic effect in "Central Intelligence." In 2018, we got "The Spy Who Dumped Me," another story about an everyman suddenly thrust into the international espionage game, but now with women, more humor, and more brutality.
Great comedic timing, surprising amounts of gore and brutality, and the spy games will have you guessing til the end on who is on whose side. Watch for a fun time with funny actresses and their hi-jinks across Europe trying to stop bad guys.
Blade Runner
The ground-breaking sci-fi film that started a lot of the genre-specific tropes that starred Harrison Ford? Surely we're talking about "Star Wars?"
Nope. It's "Blade Runner" time.
A fantastic vision of what happens when you mishmash classic Noir gumshoe stories with the grim and gritty "cyberpunk" vibe and setting that the burgeoning technological-minded authors of yesteryear thought was a definite possibility. Follows a washed out detective as he tries to apprehend some fugitive androids that might as well be human since they are nigh-identical to a person made of flesh and bone. Not only does he uncover the whereabouts of the robots on the run, but he uncovers a little more than meets the eye about people he knows, he just met, and possibly about himself.
Truly astounding how this film set the tone for a lot of futuristic thrillers not just in film, but in animation as well, as you can see a lot of influence in both Japanese and Western studios that ape that aesthetic. The rumor mill as of 2018 is saying how there will be a Blade Runner anime made, and my usual glib response is that they already have one: Ghost in the Shell for anime purists and Batman Beyond for those who want a more cartoony feel.
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| INCREDIBLY loosely based on the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep." |
Look at "Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom" and laugh. Laugh at their cartoonish villains that seem to have escaped from the 90s movies that depicted all businessmen and poachers as pure hammy evil. Laugh at the inexplicable volcano death of 99% of the dinosaurs and then have it announced that the world already has that technology at their disposal so no big deal. And laugh at how Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard still have absolutely no chemistry, and now have to bring along pretentious millenial stand-ins to their party. The only things the movie seems to do right are the proof that the cloning technology/science has been done on something other than extinct lizards and that baby raptors can be goshdarned adorable.
For funny yet SPOILERY synopsis disguised as a trailer, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a fastpaced way, go here.
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| They finally gave her some sensible shoes for this adventure! |
The Girl who Leapt Through Time" is a perfect example of how mucking about the past fixing mistakes or undesirable outcomes can unleash a whole slew of dominoes and opened worm cans. Done by the same guy who did "Summer Wars," Mamoru Hosoda, this movie is about a plucky high school girl that acquires the ability to do the time warp again and sets about fixing a horrible day (including dying by train). As she keeps using this power to indulge in frivolous things or offset unwanted events, she gradually discovers just how much her meddling affects the people around her, especially her two closest guy friends. Was definitely not expecting a standard high school drama with a simple supernatural quirk to have such a good blend of comedy and emotion, and even more surprising bittersweet moments.
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| For some reason, she CAN'T exit a time jump without rolling along the ground like a famous hedgehog... |
Children who Chase Lost Voices
Seriously Japan...can I watch a standalone anime movie with a happy ending for once? Sorry to spoil "Children who Chase Lost Voices" for y'all, but it's films like this that make you wonder "what was the point of it all?"
Makoto Shinkai's 2011 outing feels like it wants to be a Studio Ghibli film (young girl, mysterious and mystical environments, goop, fantastic beasts, and subtle commentary on society) but seems to be missing some of the HEART that encompasses the stuff put out by those boys from the Totoro studio. Not to mention there's the melancholy nature of the whole quest, very Orpheus going to the Underworld vibe. Pass this one by unless you want to see little girls get stalked by demons who lurk in the shadows and creepily-designed "gods" who eat cats.
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| Gee, a literal underground society that uses special crystals to stay alive? Sounds MIIIIIIIGHTY FAMILIAR! |
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