Inside Out (2015) Review

When Walt Disney set out to create the first feature-length animated films he was not merely trying to make colorful films that kids would enjoy and which parents could gleam some slight humor from, rather, he wanted to use animation as a tool that could tell stories live-action couldn't. This spirit of experimentation is visible in the earliest Disney films but as profitability concerns began to play a factor the experimentation was done away with. In its place came quality stories which are fun to watch but which lack the adventurous spark of the earlier efforts. This spirit wouldn't be regained until the 1990s. The studio that would bring it back was not the studio Walt started but rather PIXAR. Regular Disney movies were getting better in the early 90s but Pixar with its CG animation really stepped things up. They made movies from the perspective of toys, a family of superheroes, a rat that could cook, and an elderly man. It felt like Pixar had taken up Walt's legacy and wasn't letting go. Then, a string of mediocre films made us doubt whether animation would ever reach that original glory ever again. I am very pleased to report that with their latest, Inside Out, Pixar had ended their losing streak and achieved one of their most decisive victories.

Inside Out tells the story of the emotions inside an 11 year old girl's head. These emotions are each embodied by a character and run her brain from a control room. When the girl, Riley, moves from her hometown to San Francisco the action begins. I don't want to spoil what happens for anybody that hasn't seen the film, but needless to say the plot will involve new challenges for all of the emotions as they deal with the move.

The plot of this film is outwardly simple and inwardly intricate. It's a riveting piece of storytelling that allows for the audience to get an all access tour of Riley's head. The film excels in detailed symbolism which is so good that I almost chuckled at how clever some of it was. There are explanations given for how dreams are made and why songs get stuck in our heads as well as an exploration of abstract thought. All of this scenery propels the story forward, but it also adds depth. Sure, kids will find it colorful and exciting but the deeper significance of the locations in Reilly's brain will only be gained by older kids and adults. There's so much here that it could be worth a second viewing.

Aside from the setting, the plot is an emotional roller-coaster. It's full of highs and lows and twists and turns. some of these moments are so profound they may have you in tears. Most importantly, the finale is fulfilling in a way that few endings in mainstream film are. What's even more impressive than this film's profundity is its humor. There are plenty of great jokes in this film that are more than just cheap pop culture references.

The voice cast is uniformly excellent but Amy Poehler's joy is of particular note. This is animation telling a story only animation can tell and thus it is not only vintage Pixar but vintage Disney. Inside Out is also the best film I've seen so far this year, I'm sure that somewhere Mr. Disney is smiling 5/5!

The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies (2014) Review

Before I begin this review I will start with a short disclaimer. I have not seen the two previous Hobbit films, I have seen the original Lord of the Rings trilogy and read the book the Hobbit a long time ago, so long ago that I have pretty much forgotten the plot. With these things in mind, I understand that I come at this with a different perspective in that I am rating this film on its own merits and not in connection with the two that came before. I understand that some may view this perspective unfavorably or believe that I am at a disadvantage, so I just want to make sure it is known before we get into the meat of the review. I went into this film hoping for 2.5 hours of quality escapist entertainment with Martin Freeman's Bilbo as my guide and the world of Peter Jackson as my destination. Unfortunately, I found the experience disappointing.

I understand that I, who have not seen the previous two films, came at this with a disadvantage but it was not my lack of knowledge of the story thus far that disappointed me. It was rather the mechanics of the film itself. No matter how involved the stories that came before were, the story confined to this film felt drawn out and clichéd. The whole thing centered around a big battle much like Jackson's previous trilogy closer but here the battle felt long and uninteresting. The character development that occurred in this film also felt clichéd. I could predict where the story would go, what little actual story there was, and thus began to feel bored. This feeling was only accentuated by the drawn-out nature of several of the action scenes. The length of some of the fights harkened back to the long fights in a Zack Snyder film and I found myself wishing they would get to the point. I am willing to give the film the benefit of the doubt on some of the more emotional scenes because I am assuming the proper character development has been put in place for them to work. Even with that in mind the pacing just felt off to me.

The acting in the film was alright and I think Freeman was a good choice for Bilbo. It's always fun to see Christopher Lee on screen and I think the performances from the rest of the cast seemed on point but the scripting and directing seem to have lost the magic that the original trilogy had. The way Jackson filmed this installment seemed to suck the magic out of what made the Lord of the Rings so incredible. That magic lay in its sense of grittiness and its sense of realism. The world in those films felt realized and inhabitable. Here, Jackson films the proceedings so that one feels as if one is watching a video game. If you enjoyed the previous films don't let me dissuade you from going to see the conclusion, but from my perspective, on its own merits, it is a disappointment. 2/5

Night at The Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) Review

The most moving moment in film this year came from the most unlikely of movies. That moment was Robin Williams' last scene in his last film, the third in the Night at the Museum series. The movie itself was okay in its own right but that final scene is something that transcends it. Oddly enough this third, and presumably final, Museum film also included Mickey Rooney's last scene on film, making it a kind of "in memory of" piece. For most audience members the film won't be more than just that, but it is neither a bad way to end the series or a bad swan song for Robin Williams.

I can honestly say that whoever outlined the plot of this last installment did a good job. Unlike the atrocious second film in this series, this film seems like an interesting and natural sequel to the first film. It allows us to meet up new characters but also for those characters to face new challenges. I don't really need to go into detail because if you wanted a synopsis you would just use IMDb. what I will say is that this film involves our heroes going to the British Museum in order to protect the magic which allows them, as museum exhibits, to come alive at night. The reason I think the plot is better outlined then the second film is that here the universe of the film is actually explored further and we get new perspectives of the characters we thought we knew. The second film was just a bad retreading of the first film.

I said the plot was "outlined" well because unfortunately the execution is very hit-and miss. Some of the jokes are alright, but some just go a bit too far, and some are just plain awkward. It's really a shame that the dialogue does not live up to the premise because this could have been a very good comedy, but, as it is, its just passably enjoyable. In terms of direction and acting there is not much to say. Ben Stiller carries the film pretty well and the supporting cast bring back their characters nicely. Robin Williams is by far the best of the lot and there is something powerful about seeing his last screen outing. Overall I recommend seeing this for that reason alone, that it is Robin Williams last film and that his final scene may be one of the most powerful things you see all year, 3/5

X-Men Days of Future Past (2014) Review

X Men Days of future Past is really a statement by its director, Bryan Singer. A statement that not only can he direct a great comic book movie but that X Men is HIS franchise. Singer began the franchise back in 2000 when comic book movies were not the box office giants they are today. It can be argued that he directed the first "modern" comic book movie. It was a film which utilized the relatively new tool of  CGI to help bring its powerful heroes to light. After that first installment he followed it up with a sequel which many critics believe is even stronger than the original. The franchise was off to a great start and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Patrick Stewarts Professor X, and Ian McKellen's Magneto were now instantly recognizable. Unfortunately for us movie-goers the third installment was helmed by another director and it suffered for it. After this, two wolverine movies were made, and then in 2011 the franchise was "rebooted" by Mathew Vaughn with X-Men First Class. First Class gave us the backstories of Charles and Erik before they became enemies. It was set in the sixties and had a great Bond-like vibe. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. As you may be able to tell from this complicated history the franchise was really all over the place and the task was given to Bryan Singer to right it all. It is a seemingly impossible task but miraculously he has pulled it off and made my favorite X-Men film to date.

The film opens in the future where Mutant killing Sentinels have wiped out much of civilization. Professor X sends Wolverine back in time to stop these  Machines from ever being used. This plot allows for a bridging of the universe of the first three films and the universe of the "reboot". Of course complications ensue and many great twists occur along the way which you should enjoy for yourselves. One of the best things about this film is just how great the cast is. everyone is back and plays their characters with a virtuosity the blurs the line between actor and character. Stewart IS Professor X and Jackman IS Wolverine just as Fassbender IS the younger Erik and Jennifer Lawrence IS Mystique. The story fleshes out both time periods even if the majority of the film is set in the past. The film is not afraid to have fun either. It was probably tempting to make everything in a film this epic deadly serious but it is a credit to the script and to singer that the film ahs plenty of moments of fun.

Singer shows off in several sequences that remind the audience just how good the early X-Men films were at bringing the comic books from the page to the screen. The action sequences work and they are done with an energy which keeps the film exciting. There enough surprises along the way that the movie never becomes stale. To be a comic book movie made in 2014 and still feel fresh is a great feat.

If there is one nit-pick it would be that the characters who are specific to the future don't get much time to be fleshed out. Some of them are just kinda there. For comic book fans this is probably fine because they are already familiar with the characters but for the average film goer some of the characters seem like extras. I'm not suggesting they should've been fleshed out because that would have weighed down the film but it is something which I noticed. The film packs so much into its run time it's really incredible how well paced it is. The fact that Singer was able to bring together this convoluted franchise is as great a feat as what Whedon did with the avengers. The fact that he made me really excited about future X-Men movies is maybe something he deserves even more praise for 4.5/5!   

The Lego Movie (2014)

As the first movie that I saw of 2014 the Lego Movie holds a special place. It was a fantastic start to this year of movies and I can honestly say that watching the Lego Movie was one of the most pleasantly surprising cinematic experiences I have ever had.

I am going to refrain from giving a plot synopsis of this film because I honestly feel that viewers should go into this as in the dark as possible. All I will say is that it is truly a Lego Movie. The cast here is fantastic. It includes Chis Pratt, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Will Arnett, and Morgan Freeman. If that sounds like a fun cast to you than you would be right. You just get the feeling that all of these actors were just having a blast making this movie and it shows. The humor in this film is razor sharp and will go far over the heads of many kids who see this film. In fact I would say that adults may actually find more to enjoy in the Lego Movie than their children will. That's not to say that there isn't plenty for the younger ones to enjoy, there is, but this film is really almost geared towards an older audience.

The best thing about the Lego Movie is its storytelling and its originality. There are so many films these days trying to be like Pixar that it was refreshing to see a movie not trying to follow that mold. The Lego Movie feels unique and exciting in a way that animated movies quite frankly haven't for a couple of years. The cast and the humor in this film work on many levels and the whole experience will leave you smiling as the credits roll. I would recommend wholeheartedly seeing it for yourself because quite frankly the Lego Movie is awesome, period. 5/5!

Holiday Films: The Bishop's Wife (1947)

It's that time again, the Christmas film season. There are so many beloved holiday films tat it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Many people have there own set of perennial favorites and I've always felt that people take their favorite Christmas movies more personally than any other type of film. The films that I will review with this header will be my personal favorites. That does not mean these are the definitive holiday films but are instead the movies that to me best express the Christmas spirit.

The Bishop's Wife is probably the ultimate feel-good Christmas movie. As a film it's not a masterpiece but as a warm bit of holiday cheer it's hard to beat. I mean who wouldn't want Cary Grant as their guardian angel? The film centers around a bishop and his attempt to build a cathedral. In the process of doing this he becomes less aware of the parts of life that truly matter and Cary Grant is sent as his angel to give him a little more perspective. The situation is really a very relatable one, especially around the holiday season when many people are so worried about things that don't really matter. It is this that the Bishop's Wife captures best of all. Cary Grant brings youth and joy to the household and demonstrates why we really love Christmas. This film also is more directly tied to the religious aspects of Christmas than most which I actually find refreshing. The film has great lessons and it's a lot of fun along the way.

The only complaint I might have is that it is a little bit too long but there are so many fun characters and sequences (especially one involving ice skating) that I really can't dock it that much. If you're looking for some holiday cheer then you can't do much better than this classic with it's superb cast. Along with Grant, David Niven plays the bishop and Loretta Young plays his wife. The film is also filled with the great character actors you could only find in classic Hollywood. I you haven't seen this gem my recommendation would be to pick it up, It's a fantastic film that works like a warm cup of cocoa on a snowy day, 4.5/5

Classic Horror Video Review 1: Cat People and Curse of the Cat People

It's October and that means Classic horror. This video is the first in a series of reviews that will explore the Horror genre from its beginnings, Enjoy!

Cat People (1982)

Directed by Paul Schrader

The Curse of Cat People (1944)

Directed by Robert Wise and Gunther von Fritsch

Man of Steel Video Review!

Man of Steel (2013)
Directed by Zach Snyder
Starring Henry Cavill and Amy Adams with Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SusrlPO4wDo

Star Trek Into Darkness Review!

Here's My Video Review of Star Trek Into Darkness!! Don't forget to subscribe!

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Directed by J. J. Abrams
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pine, and Zachary Quinto with Simon Pegg and Zoe Saldala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkUw39ZKRr8

Countdown to Into Darkness: Star Trek 2: the Wrath of Khan Review

Often considered the best of the original Star Trek Movies, Wrath of Khan pretty much wrote the textbook about how to write a film that is pretty much a retrospective. Other examples of this type of film would include Live Free or Die Hard and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For most fans and critics Star Trek 1 was no good. It was too high budget and destroyed much of what fans had loved about the tv show. When one watches Star Trek 2 there is no sign that there was ever a first one. The film picks up like a continuation of the tv show except fifteen years later. What makes Trek 2 work is the fact that in many ways it feels more like an episode of star trek. It brings back the major characters and even a major villain. This really works in its favor. It also knows that it’s a movie and it makes sure to let the bigger canvas work to its benefit instead of hurting its story. The story of dealing with old age was virtually ripped off in Indiana Jones 4. No joke there are way too many similarities for this to be a coincidence. But don’t worry Trek 2 is better than indy 4 mainly because it has much stronger scripting anda way better villain. Khan is menacing and although he doesn’t get too much screen time he makes the most of it. The acting here is pretty good all around and the philosophical quality of the script makes it smarter than your normal space opera. Unfortunately one thing really hurts Star Trek 2, it hasn’t aged well. When watching this film you know you’re watching an ‘80’s scifi flick from the hair to the costumes and the sets. The technology looks old and the effects are definitely showing their age. The script too is sometimes way over the top but in the end this is a fun ride that really continues the original show well and with good taste 3.5/5

Most Anticipated Movie of the Year!: Man of Steel

                I remember when I first saw Superman the Movie, the one made in 1978 directed by Richard Donner. I remember the sense of wonderment I felt when watching that film. I had been a moderate fan of the comics for a little while, especially the older ones. When I saw that film the comic world I had been reading seemed to come to life and I remember not wanting the film to end. Unfortunately despite my best efforts I did not feel that way about Superman Returns.

                Ever since that very expensive film that for all intensive purposes flopped it has seemed as if that first Superman film might be the best film. I’m hoping that all that will change this summer. Most critics would not tell you that their most anticipated movie of the year was a superhero film but I’m not most critics and I also happen to really like good comic book films. This film seems to have the makings of one.

The cast looks excellent with the likes of Russell Crowe and Kevin Cosner. This in many ways reminds me of that first film which had Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman. Henry Cavil looks like he can play the part and like Christopher Reeve before him he’s not a huge name. The crew behind the film is almost more impressive. Although I’m not the biggest Zack Snyder fan he does have his own sense of style and Christopher Nolan and David Goyer working on the story. They were the ones who made the greatest comic book films of all time, The Dark Knight Trilogy. Christopher Nolan is also producing which gives me a lot of confidence in the project. Hans Zimmer is doing the music which he says will be “very different” from the original iconic theme by John Williams.

                Not only is the crew exciting but everything that I’ve been hearing about this film seems good. Certainly much of this is probably paid hype but I get the sense that the people working on this film genuinely believe in the direction its going. I also feel that if anyone can make Superman relevant today it will be this cast and crew. Early screenings for Executives were said to have received rave reviews. Some even saying it might be the “best movie of the year”  take that with a major grain of salt but it is still good to see all of the positive buzz.

                I think David Goyer put it best when he stated in an interview that “the world needs a Superman movie now more how more than ever” I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. It is a difficult task to bring the classic superhero into relevance today but if anybody could do it, it would be this crew. If they meet the challenge and overcome it Man of Steel might be “movie of the year” material. I sincerely am just hoping that it can rekindle that magic I felt when watching the original. Because of this Man of Steel is my most anticipated movie of 2013.