Justin and I saw Kingsman on February 15, 2015!! I think this was the first great movie of the year. I was into the movie from beginning to end. This was a great mix of spy movies, a little bit of Kick-Ass & X-Men: First Class, and a whole lot of awesome!! Kingsman is kind of a modern day Knights of the Round Table to help save the world. I think the overall plot was really good & I found the cast to be extremely effective in their roles.
The action sequences were brilliant-amazing action & choreography mixed with incredible cinematography. Taron Egerton's Gary "Eggsy" Unwin constantly changes throughout the movie. He may be less refined from what Kingsman usually recruits, but he has the ability to think on his feet & people that see this movie will instantly like this character. Colin Firth was excellent as Harry Hart-very refined like the James Bond of old, but at the same time very gritty when it comes to his work. Samuel L. Jackson was hilarious & at the same time very menacing as Valentine-the film's main villain. His plan is really diabolical considering it consists of worldwide genocide. The films secondary villain is quite possibly the most awesome character in recent memory-Gazelle. The characters look & fighting style was incredible to watch. Watch out for her legs & feet!! I think Sofia Boutella makes a great addition as a female action star. She fit in perfectly with the over the top nature of this movie. Mark Strong was excellent as Merlin, Kingsman's guiding light in many ways. I also need to point out Sophie Cookson's role as Roxy. She was a strong female character that ends up being such a vital piece in saving the world. Cookson was intelligent, gorgeous, & showed true poise of a Kingsman. Roxy is the most likeable Lancelot ever.
There are many memorable scenes throughout this movie. I think the training exercises are really well done & thrilling. The twists during these exercises are compelling. The church scene, Pomp & Circumstance (as I'm calling the scene), and the big battle scenes are all well done. The dialogue is witty & sharp laced with some dark humor. If you want to see a really well done modern day spy genre movie with a great cast & incredible action sequences, then I highly recommend Kingsman which easily gets a 5/5 from me. I enjoyed everything about this. They brilliantly mixed intense emotion, comedy, and a plot that keeps building on itself throughout the movie. WATCH THIS!!!
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Still Alice Review
I saw Still Alice on February 4, 2015!! This was an incredible movie based around a serious illness in Alzheimer's disease. There were some amazing performances throughout this movie. I think the ensemble cast in its own right was good all around, but two stood out for me.
Julianne Moore portrays Alice Howland who is diagnosed with familial Alzheimer's disease, which is rare, but it can be passed genetically. Her father initially had the illness, which is why she has contracted it. It's amazing watching her from the start to the finish of the movie. She really did a great job incorporating different stages of the illness. From the opening scene at her 50th birthday to the last scene, she displays how intense Alzheimer's can be. She begins as an intelligent linguistics professor at Columbia. She has confidence, but as the disease grows, her confidence wanes & her frustration grows. Her mind deteriorates at a very accelerated rate. I can understand why Alice would be feeling such frustration not being able to remember words, where she is, or who her youngest daughter is. What Moore does best with this role is portray how she becomes a shadow of her former self. Her mental anguish & emotional pain has the audience connect with her. That needs to be said. She's showing the effect of living with the disease and how serious of an issue this is. That's the message of this. This is a very scary disease. Imagine living with this not knowing where you are, who you're talking to. It's very important to have a great support system. Overall, Alice has that with her husband John (played by Alec Baldwin), her oldest daughter Anna (played by Kate Bosworth), her son Thomas (played by Hunter Parrish who some may know as Silas Botwin from Weeds), and her youngest daughter Lydia (played by a favorite actress of mine in Kristen Stewart). The family drama aspect really adds some great layers to the overall movie. Julianne Moore deserves her Best Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the effects of Alzheimer's as well as the effect of losing who you are. It's a really powerful performance all around. It was very well rounded. There were more dimensions to the Alice character at every stage of the movie.
While I thought Julianne Moore was excellent in this, I think that it would be a shame not to discuss Kristen Stewart's performance as Lydia Howland. As I noted, I've always been a fan of her. This past year in 2014 saw her turn out some really good performances. I think her work in this movie deserved a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Her role as the youngest daughter showed how far she has matured as an actress. I think her scenes with Moore, particularly the poem about love at the end showed how good she really is. It's great watching somebody give her the platform to display that she can act. In a way, her character is struggling to succeed in terms of career. There's some sort of bond between mother & daughter there. It's not the exact same type of struggle, but there is vulnerability on each end. What I like about Lydia is she doesn't get frustrated with Alice's outbursts. She knows that it's Alzheimer's causing her to outburst. Her patience is amazing, and her dedication to her mother is very uplifting. She's the most supportive out of all the family. You really need to see this to watch Stewart's performance. It bothers me that she was snubbed at the Oscars.
This movie gets a 4/5 for a powerful movie featuring two excellent performances by Julianne Moore & Kristen Stewart, family drama surrounding the horrific nature of Alzheimer's disease, and the ability of Moore, Stewart, and the rest of the cast to add dimensions to the characters, thereby, increasing the emotional impact of the movie. This is truly one of the better movies for the Oscars this year.
Julianne Moore portrays Alice Howland who is diagnosed with familial Alzheimer's disease, which is rare, but it can be passed genetically. Her father initially had the illness, which is why she has contracted it. It's amazing watching her from the start to the finish of the movie. She really did a great job incorporating different stages of the illness. From the opening scene at her 50th birthday to the last scene, she displays how intense Alzheimer's can be. She begins as an intelligent linguistics professor at Columbia. She has confidence, but as the disease grows, her confidence wanes & her frustration grows. Her mind deteriorates at a very accelerated rate. I can understand why Alice would be feeling such frustration not being able to remember words, where she is, or who her youngest daughter is. What Moore does best with this role is portray how she becomes a shadow of her former self. Her mental anguish & emotional pain has the audience connect with her. That needs to be said. She's showing the effect of living with the disease and how serious of an issue this is. That's the message of this. This is a very scary disease. Imagine living with this not knowing where you are, who you're talking to. It's very important to have a great support system. Overall, Alice has that with her husband John (played by Alec Baldwin), her oldest daughter Anna (played by Kate Bosworth), her son Thomas (played by Hunter Parrish who some may know as Silas Botwin from Weeds), and her youngest daughter Lydia (played by a favorite actress of mine in Kristen Stewart). The family drama aspect really adds some great layers to the overall movie. Julianne Moore deserves her Best Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the effects of Alzheimer's as well as the effect of losing who you are. It's a really powerful performance all around. It was very well rounded. There were more dimensions to the Alice character at every stage of the movie.
While I thought Julianne Moore was excellent in this, I think that it would be a shame not to discuss Kristen Stewart's performance as Lydia Howland. As I noted, I've always been a fan of her. This past year in 2014 saw her turn out some really good performances. I think her work in this movie deserved a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Her role as the youngest daughter showed how far she has matured as an actress. I think her scenes with Moore, particularly the poem about love at the end showed how good she really is. It's great watching somebody give her the platform to display that she can act. In a way, her character is struggling to succeed in terms of career. There's some sort of bond between mother & daughter there. It's not the exact same type of struggle, but there is vulnerability on each end. What I like about Lydia is she doesn't get frustrated with Alice's outbursts. She knows that it's Alzheimer's causing her to outburst. Her patience is amazing, and her dedication to her mother is very uplifting. She's the most supportive out of all the family. You really need to see this to watch Stewart's performance. It bothers me that she was snubbed at the Oscars.
This movie gets a 4/5 for a powerful movie featuring two excellent performances by Julianne Moore & Kristen Stewart, family drama surrounding the horrific nature of Alzheimer's disease, and the ability of Moore, Stewart, and the rest of the cast to add dimensions to the characters, thereby, increasing the emotional impact of the movie. This is truly one of the better movies for the Oscars this year.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Into the Woods (Jacqui)
WARNING: This review contains spoilers. If you have not seen
the movie or read any of the changes described in the media, please don’t blame
me for ruining this awesome musical for you.
To know me is to know, I have a slight obsession with
musicals (slight, read addicted). ALW and Sondheim to be exact. In the past few
years, I have been greatly disappointed by the many musical adaptations that
Hollywood has attempted. I was greatly worried when I heard “Into The Woods”
was going to be made into a movie. I was also really concerned by the casting
choices that Disney appeared to push on the movie. However, I am here to say I
was far from disappointed by this adaptation; I was greatly impressed and, as a
fan, feel this movie could not have been any better.
Into The Woods can be synopsized in many ways. To be brief,
it’s a musical retelling of the Grimm’s fairytales with more of a bend toward
the adult translation. The show itself is centered around the tales of
Cinderella, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk; all tied
together with and original story of a childless Baker, his wife and the Witch which has
cursed their house because of the sin of the father of the aforementioned
Baker.
Act I centers on backstory and wishes being granted.
Cinderella/Rapunzel get their princes, Jack climbing the beanstalk to get his
cow back, Red Riding Hood and grandma get rescued. All the while, the Baker and his wife
retrieve the items needed to break the curse for the Witch. The act ends with everyone getting their wish and
beginning their happily ever after.
Act II presents the cost of their wishes. Jack going up the
beanstalk and killing the giant causes the giant’s wife to go on a rampage. The
Lady Giant’s rampage brings all the characters back together in the woods. In
the woods relationships are tested and people are lost/found. In the show version, the Baker’s wife has a
one-night stand with Cinderella’s prince followed by death by giant. Rapunzel
goes crazy and her prince leaves her. This version sees Rapunzel
run off with her prince and the Baker’s wife death is very understated. The
movie ends with the “Children will listen” and everyone gathered around the
Baker as he tells the story of his friends to his motherless son. There is no
happy ever after here, just a fade to black.
In the run up to this movie, there were rumors: Songs that
were removed (including my favorite “No More”) and story changes that Disney
demanded (No sex, Baker’s wife doesn’t die, Rapunzel doesn’t die, the goriness
of the mutilation of the evil step sisters was lessened etc). As a HUGE fan of
the musical, I was concerned about these changes would effect the end product.
Again, the slight changes really did not affect the movie.
Rob Marshall proves again why no one else should be allowed
to direct movie musicals. His combined use of live recording and studio was
magnificent. He knew how to balance the
two to provide the audience with the realism that this musical requires. The
way he managed to harmonize the entire cast when its obvious they weren’t in the
same place was also really impressive. “No One is Alone” was a prime example of
this. I also give him credit for keeping some of the original storyline that
was rumored “changed” by Disney. I was never happier to see someone die as I
was to see they kept the Baker’s wife passing.
Lastly, the cast. Almost everyone in the cast minus Chris
Pine and Emily Blunt come from a strong singing/musical theatre background. I
had a moment of the “What the FUCK are these two doing in a Sondheim?” Again,
maybe it was the work of the auto-tune but they were fantastic. Pine’s “Agony”
with Billy Magussen was the highlight of the movie. The homoerotic imagery
employed in that scene was hilarious (they sang it in a waterfall, seriously
that was for the theatre-queens out there).
Meryl and Johnny Depp both were amazing in their parts. Depp
plays the child-molester –like Wolf with perfection (see his Willy Wonka). Meryl’s rendition of “Stay with me” rivals
only Bernadette Peters. As the character
is written, she played it with all her/its show stopping ability. Do I see an
Oscar or a globe for her? She’s Meryl.
The kids of this movie were also amazing-ball. Lila
Crawford, fresh off of Broadway’s Annie was just wow in her songs. Daniel
Huddlestone, who may be familiar as Gavroche from the movie adaptation of Les Miserables, also shows
his great ability with Giants in the Sky. Youngish adults traditionally played
both roles so it was great to see kids bring their freshness and more
believable naivety.
Without going too
much into the various variations the show took during development, this movie adaptation
was about as good as it could get. Kudos
to Sondheim for not letting anyone besides Rob Marshall take his masterpiece. With
the movie death of “Last Five Years” I see this movie taking home most of the
globes its nominated for. 4/5 Stars.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Birdman Review
Justin, Dad, and I saw Birdman on November 15, 2014!! This was easily one of my favorite movies of 2014!! The movie follows an actor named Riggan Thomas trying to recreate his image by distancing himself from a persona known as Birdman he made famous about 20 years ago. He constantly has the voice of his character in his head telling him to hang on to the past. Riggan wants to move on from the past, but at the same time it's really what he'll be remembered for. The backstage pass into the theater setting combined with some magnetic personalities really made this an intriguing film. It's a great look at the world of a celebrity not being able to capture the same amount of success they were previously known for.
Michael Keaton delivered his best performance in this movie. He did so well in the role of Riggan struggling to exist in the real world, while also trying to rectify his stage presence. He is such a charismatic individual. He created a character trying to overcome ego, but you realize how difficult this is for him to do. On top of this, he has so many issues with his family, namely his daughter Sam. When he goes into tirades, it's such an amazing thing to watch. He created so many memorable scenes in this whether he was on the stage, yelling at theater critics in a bar, or tussling with his cast mate Mike. Everybody is challenged both personally or professionally in this movie. It's tough for Riggan to exist in either the real world or when he's pretending to be somebody else. Keaton's performance deserves to be nominated for both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actor. He really was that good. Keaton has always been somebody I've liked. He's responsible for two of my favorite movies from childhood: Batman & Beetlejuice.
Two other performances that should be noted are Edward Norton's Mike character. He was great presenting this over the top, tough to deal with actor. Everything is method with Mike. He bothers everybody around him. The second he walks on stage chaos ensues. The thing about Mike is that he can only function when he's being a fraud (portraying somebody else), but when he steps out of the theater doors he just can't function. Norton did so well. He commanded the screen whenever he was on. There was a tremendous scene where he and Keaton have an argument leading to a backstage brawl. The whole theater was into it that I saw. It reminded me of that scene from Batman where Keaton goes: "YOU WANNA GET NUTS? COME ON!!!" Norton's Mike kept taunting Keaton's Riggan throughout the movie. Norton is one of the best actors ever in my opinion, and this was just another case of him showing it. He created an over the top dramatic character that fit so well into this crazy look at celebrity. Norton deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work.
I was also very impressed with Emma Stone as Sam. Stone has become a pretty good actress over the last few years. I think this was easily her best role since The Help. There's a scene when Sam tells Riggan that he doesn't matter that just captivated me. She was just so great here. I also thought she had tremendous chemistry with Norton. Stone really is becoming one of the premiere actresses in entertainment. Her work in this movie deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination because she put her all into every scene she was in. She's such an important part of the movie, because she is the rock for both Riggan and Mike.
I thought the scenes on the stage, in the street, backstage, and at the bar were all unique in their own ways. I felt each setting represented a different side of the characters. You really see how personalities change wherever that person is. When the personalities from two different settings merge, it creates a chaotic environment. The scene where Keaton trashes the movie critic was my favorite scene. He was so on fire in this scene and showed just how great of an actor he is. That critic bothered me so much. She deserved that tirade. The cinematography was really great as well. I liked the extended takes and I think it gave a more realistic atmosphere to the movie. The actors get into the roles even more, and for a movie exploring the inner psyches of an actor, that really makes this movie work on a whole new level.
Phenomenal acting, incredible cinematography, the basic plot, and memorable scenes make this movie a definite 5/5 for me. It was a really good artistic movie filled with so many magnetic charisma and intriguing performances.
Michael Keaton delivered his best performance in this movie. He did so well in the role of Riggan struggling to exist in the real world, while also trying to rectify his stage presence. He is such a charismatic individual. He created a character trying to overcome ego, but you realize how difficult this is for him to do. On top of this, he has so many issues with his family, namely his daughter Sam. When he goes into tirades, it's such an amazing thing to watch. He created so many memorable scenes in this whether he was on the stage, yelling at theater critics in a bar, or tussling with his cast mate Mike. Everybody is challenged both personally or professionally in this movie. It's tough for Riggan to exist in either the real world or when he's pretending to be somebody else. Keaton's performance deserves to be nominated for both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actor. He really was that good. Keaton has always been somebody I've liked. He's responsible for two of my favorite movies from childhood: Batman & Beetlejuice.
Two other performances that should be noted are Edward Norton's Mike character. He was great presenting this over the top, tough to deal with actor. Everything is method with Mike. He bothers everybody around him. The second he walks on stage chaos ensues. The thing about Mike is that he can only function when he's being a fraud (portraying somebody else), but when he steps out of the theater doors he just can't function. Norton did so well. He commanded the screen whenever he was on. There was a tremendous scene where he and Keaton have an argument leading to a backstage brawl. The whole theater was into it that I saw. It reminded me of that scene from Batman where Keaton goes: "YOU WANNA GET NUTS? COME ON!!!" Norton's Mike kept taunting Keaton's Riggan throughout the movie. Norton is one of the best actors ever in my opinion, and this was just another case of him showing it. He created an over the top dramatic character that fit so well into this crazy look at celebrity. Norton deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work.
I was also very impressed with Emma Stone as Sam. Stone has become a pretty good actress over the last few years. I think this was easily her best role since The Help. There's a scene when Sam tells Riggan that he doesn't matter that just captivated me. She was just so great here. I also thought she had tremendous chemistry with Norton. Stone really is becoming one of the premiere actresses in entertainment. Her work in this movie deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination because she put her all into every scene she was in. She's such an important part of the movie, because she is the rock for both Riggan and Mike.
I thought the scenes on the stage, in the street, backstage, and at the bar were all unique in their own ways. I felt each setting represented a different side of the characters. You really see how personalities change wherever that person is. When the personalities from two different settings merge, it creates a chaotic environment. The scene where Keaton trashes the movie critic was my favorite scene. He was so on fire in this scene and showed just how great of an actor he is. That critic bothered me so much. She deserved that tirade. The cinematography was really great as well. I liked the extended takes and I think it gave a more realistic atmosphere to the movie. The actors get into the roles even more, and for a movie exploring the inner psyches of an actor, that really makes this movie work on a whole new level.
Phenomenal acting, incredible cinematography, the basic plot, and memorable scenes make this movie a definite 5/5 for me. It was a really good artistic movie filled with so many magnetic charisma and intriguing performances.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Interstellar Review
Justin, Mike, and I saw Interstellar on November 9, 2014!! I can honestly say this is in my Top 5 movies of 2014. The others are: Guardians of the Galaxy, Divergent, X-Men; Days of Future Past, and Gone Girl. Christopher Nolan has created some of my favorite movies of all time. Inception is actually my second favorite movie ever, and I consider this to be one a true masterpiece of cinema. This was a highly complex movie that really made me enjoy it even more. It tackles the mysteries of space & time as well as giving audiences a deep study into the core of humanity-emotions, what makes us who we are, why we do what we do, etc. The plot revolves around Earth becoming a planet that will not be able to sustain future generations within the next 25 years or so. The mission is to find a sustainable planet for future generations to survive. What evolves from this is one of the most intricate, intriguing, and impressive movies you'll ever find. It's truly a modern epic. We are explorers by nature. This movie shows us how we do that physically and emotionally. The cast is physically exploring the vastness of space, while at the same time the characters are exploring the unpredictable and intricate nature of their humanity. It's really a great parallel throughout.
This is one of the best ensemble casts a movie has assembled since Inception in my opinion. Matthew McConaughey was the perfect casting for the man that has to make the sacrifices not only for himself, but for the good of his family. He showed the deep flaws of man, as well as displaying what I've always said: Matthew McConaughey CAN act. I've been impressed with his work the last few years showing how good he is. I think this was his best work to date, even eclipsing Dallas Buyers Club. He really filled the role of what Cooper was all about. He deserves a nomination at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. He really had a great understanding of what this movie was about, and he showed it with his performance. It was also great seeing Anne Hathaway involved with such a huge project. Hathaway is by far one of my all time favorite actresses: She's gorgeous (with long or short hair), intelligent, and she knows how to act. I've been a fan since she was the Princess of Genovia. She did well in her role as somebody devoted to her father & the vast mission that they're embarking on. I think the cameo appearance by Matt Damon was excellent. He did really well displaying the effects of space dementia, as well as how much his humanity was affected as a result of being in space for an elongated period of time. It's great seeing that both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are involved with huge projects this year. These to me were the standouts of the principal cast.
I do want to devote a paragraph to the most important character in the movie: Murph. While Jessica Chastain was obviously excellent, I think Mackenzie Foy stole the show in her scenes. I like when younger actresses show potential, and she really did well laying the groundwork that would build into the epic journey we embark on as an audience. Her facial expressions and selling of the momentary decisions was perfect. Her bond with McConaughey was established early on and we'd see that evolve. Nobody quite knows the limitations of space travel, just like we don't know our own limitations. As I said, there are constant parallels and Nolan never keeps the two entities separate. You could see how both themes were intertwined at each stage of the movie.
The huge twist that tied so many things together had me going from enjoying this movie to absolutely loving it. I literally was sitting on the edge of my seat during the whole twist. I really liked the complexity of it and how both humanity, space, and time seemed to converge into one point. It was brilliant. The score is incredible. Sitting back just listening to this as I type makes me appreciate just how perfectly this accompanied the feature. The music crescendos at the perfect time, and every note is meaningful. Not only are you witnessing amazing acting performances, but you're witnessing an incredible story just exploding in front of you as this wave of sound hits you. While I knew there had to be a connection to certain events in the movie, the journey and initial moment were just so well done. I cannot wait to get this movie on DVD, and I intend to see this again in IMAX. I think it's worth it.
I'd highly recommend this for the brilliant performances, highly interesting & complex story involving space, time, and humanity, the beautiful score, and an all around great movie. As if you couldn't guess, this movie gets a 5/5. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did when I saw it. I love when a movie surprises me. It's so epic!!
This is one of the best ensemble casts a movie has assembled since Inception in my opinion. Matthew McConaughey was the perfect casting for the man that has to make the sacrifices not only for himself, but for the good of his family. He showed the deep flaws of man, as well as displaying what I've always said: Matthew McConaughey CAN act. I've been impressed with his work the last few years showing how good he is. I think this was his best work to date, even eclipsing Dallas Buyers Club. He really filled the role of what Cooper was all about. He deserves a nomination at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. He really had a great understanding of what this movie was about, and he showed it with his performance. It was also great seeing Anne Hathaway involved with such a huge project. Hathaway is by far one of my all time favorite actresses: She's gorgeous (with long or short hair), intelligent, and she knows how to act. I've been a fan since she was the Princess of Genovia. She did well in her role as somebody devoted to her father & the vast mission that they're embarking on. I think the cameo appearance by Matt Damon was excellent. He did really well displaying the effects of space dementia, as well as how much his humanity was affected as a result of being in space for an elongated period of time. It's great seeing that both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are involved with huge projects this year. These to me were the standouts of the principal cast.
I do want to devote a paragraph to the most important character in the movie: Murph. While Jessica Chastain was obviously excellent, I think Mackenzie Foy stole the show in her scenes. I like when younger actresses show potential, and she really did well laying the groundwork that would build into the epic journey we embark on as an audience. Her facial expressions and selling of the momentary decisions was perfect. Her bond with McConaughey was established early on and we'd see that evolve. Nobody quite knows the limitations of space travel, just like we don't know our own limitations. As I said, there are constant parallels and Nolan never keeps the two entities separate. You could see how both themes were intertwined at each stage of the movie.
The huge twist that tied so many things together had me going from enjoying this movie to absolutely loving it. I literally was sitting on the edge of my seat during the whole twist. I really liked the complexity of it and how both humanity, space, and time seemed to converge into one point. It was brilliant. The score is incredible. Sitting back just listening to this as I type makes me appreciate just how perfectly this accompanied the feature. The music crescendos at the perfect time, and every note is meaningful. Not only are you witnessing amazing acting performances, but you're witnessing an incredible story just exploding in front of you as this wave of sound hits you. While I knew there had to be a connection to certain events in the movie, the journey and initial moment were just so well done. I cannot wait to get this movie on DVD, and I intend to see this again in IMAX. I think it's worth it.
I'd highly recommend this for the brilliant performances, highly interesting & complex story involving space, time, and humanity, the beautiful score, and an all around great movie. As if you couldn't guess, this movie gets a 5/5. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did when I saw it. I love when a movie surprises me. It's so epic!!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Big Hero 6 Review
Justin and I saw Big Hero 6 on November 7, 2014!! This is easily in my Top 5 favorite computer animated movies with the other four being Wreck-It Ralph, Mega-Mind, Frozen, and Toy Story. I would say this movie has something for everyone. It's definitely a more emotional animated movie, and I honestly really enjoy that aspect of these movies. It makes the movie seem more realistic. Everybody can feel a connection to a character in that way.
Big Hero 6 focuses primarily on innovation and never giving up. The big theme centers around the importance of family (especially seen in the amazing bond between young Hero & his older brother Tadashi Hamada). They've had an interesting life being raised by their aunt, but they both are successful in many ways. They're both extremely intelligent. The movie also exemplifies the importance of friends. You always need a good group of people in your corner, especially when things get tough. This movie exhibits how tough things can get, but there's always somebody there to cheer you up, or help you out. Another great look at friendship is seen through Tadashi's creation: Baymax. Baymax is one of the most entertaining characters ever created. It's innocence is so amazing. Even though Baymax is technically a robot, it exhibits core human emotions, so watching him bond with Hero is a really special experience. The creators did really well displaying the different interactions between Hero, Tadashi, Tadashi's friends, and Baymax.
This movie also exhibits great action & drama. The drama that we see in the first part of the movie really crescendos into the amazing action sequences we see towards the middle & end of the movie. The huge event that takes place at the beginning opens up Hero's creativity & motivates him to keep on pushing. Through the bonds he forms with those around him, Hero is able to create an exciting group of superheroes. Watching the different character designs and super powers was very intriguing. This movie just had a constant flow to it. Everything is a building block in this movie to show Hero's true potential, as well as sending a message it's okay to need help sometimes.
This movie truly deserves a 5/5 for it's amazing animation, well created characters, incredibly emotional story, and intricate action sequences. It's a winding staircase leading to a fun adventure for both children and adults. All ages will appreciate this movie. What I like about this and recent animated movies is creators appealing to wider audiences. They're not just speaking to one demographic anymore, and it's created much more intricate and exciting animated movies. This movie is extremely good and certainly deserves to be on the nominees list for Best Animated Movie at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It most likely will be on the list considering Disney usually garners nominations (and rightfully so).
Big Hero 6 focuses primarily on innovation and never giving up. The big theme centers around the importance of family (especially seen in the amazing bond between young Hero & his older brother Tadashi Hamada). They've had an interesting life being raised by their aunt, but they both are successful in many ways. They're both extremely intelligent. The movie also exemplifies the importance of friends. You always need a good group of people in your corner, especially when things get tough. This movie exhibits how tough things can get, but there's always somebody there to cheer you up, or help you out. Another great look at friendship is seen through Tadashi's creation: Baymax. Baymax is one of the most entertaining characters ever created. It's innocence is so amazing. Even though Baymax is technically a robot, it exhibits core human emotions, so watching him bond with Hero is a really special experience. The creators did really well displaying the different interactions between Hero, Tadashi, Tadashi's friends, and Baymax.
This movie also exhibits great action & drama. The drama that we see in the first part of the movie really crescendos into the amazing action sequences we see towards the middle & end of the movie. The huge event that takes place at the beginning opens up Hero's creativity & motivates him to keep on pushing. Through the bonds he forms with those around him, Hero is able to create an exciting group of superheroes. Watching the different character designs and super powers was very intriguing. This movie just had a constant flow to it. Everything is a building block in this movie to show Hero's true potential, as well as sending a message it's okay to need help sometimes.
This movie truly deserves a 5/5 for it's amazing animation, well created characters, incredibly emotional story, and intricate action sequences. It's a winding staircase leading to a fun adventure for both children and adults. All ages will appreciate this movie. What I like about this and recent animated movies is creators appealing to wider audiences. They're not just speaking to one demographic anymore, and it's created much more intricate and exciting animated movies. This movie is extremely good and certainly deserves to be on the nominees list for Best Animated Movie at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It most likely will be on the list considering Disney usually garners nominations (and rightfully so).
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Nightcrawler Review
Justin and I saw Nightcrawler on November 1, 2014!! I had been interested in this movie since I saw the first trailer. I found this movie to be quite interesting. It gives us a unique look into the world of the media, particularly news stories, specifically Los Angeles crime journalism. I liked looking at the inner workings of a news station, and the way the production team tells the announcers how to spin a piece, frame their sentences, and basically what to really focus on primarily for that particular broadcast.
In this movie, we watch a man named Louis Bloom, who is the embodiment of attaining goals through any means necessary. From the outset you get the idea, that this guy is eccentric & plays by his own rules. He's a man desperate for work. He finds a way into the world of crime journalism by weasling his way into crime scenes, while also showing how intelligent he is. It's actually quite scary how meticulous his planning is at every stage of the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely incredible in this movie. It honestly was my favorite performance of his since Donnie Darko, and I've seen pretty much all of his movies. He perfectly created this character that has a unique view of humanity and spins it for his own maniacal pleasure. He plays everybody he meets. He doesn't stop negotiating until he gets what he wants. Gyllenhaal was perfect in this role. His charisma throughout this movie mixed with the creepiness of the character's tone worked so well. He's always one step ahead of everybody, and I personally loved watching that. Obstacles keep getting placed in front of him, but he navigates his way though them. While Bloom plays an observer, his methods are designed to make him the star.
While there are great performances by other actors, namely Rene Russo who did a great job as the news manager Nina, and a great cameo by Bill Paxton as a fellow Nightcrawler named Joe Loder (I thought Paxton was the best casting for the veteran Nightcrawler), Gyllenhaal is clearly the star of this movie. Some of the scenes kept you on the edge of your seat. The best part of watching these scenes is that you're watching Bloom shape the story in his own way. I think the main story at the end that shows crime filtering into affluent Los Angeles was handled in such an interesting manner. You see Bloom's thinking through every stage of this. His dialogue scenes with Nina, his employee Rick, and police detectives are so mesmerizing. Instances of scenes where I thought the dialogue was great: a Mexican restaurant with Nina, a discussion about a raise with Rick, and basic interrogation questions with the detectives.
I give this movie a 4/5 for a memorable awards worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, memorable scenes, and a great look into the inner workings of a television news network. I encourage people to see this movie simply to watch how cerebral & hauntingly charismatic Gyllenhaal's Louis Bloom character is.
In this movie, we watch a man named Louis Bloom, who is the embodiment of attaining goals through any means necessary. From the outset you get the idea, that this guy is eccentric & plays by his own rules. He's a man desperate for work. He finds a way into the world of crime journalism by weasling his way into crime scenes, while also showing how intelligent he is. It's actually quite scary how meticulous his planning is at every stage of the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely incredible in this movie. It honestly was my favorite performance of his since Donnie Darko, and I've seen pretty much all of his movies. He perfectly created this character that has a unique view of humanity and spins it for his own maniacal pleasure. He plays everybody he meets. He doesn't stop negotiating until he gets what he wants. Gyllenhaal was perfect in this role. His charisma throughout this movie mixed with the creepiness of the character's tone worked so well. He's always one step ahead of everybody, and I personally loved watching that. Obstacles keep getting placed in front of him, but he navigates his way though them. While Bloom plays an observer, his methods are designed to make him the star.
While there are great performances by other actors, namely Rene Russo who did a great job as the news manager Nina, and a great cameo by Bill Paxton as a fellow Nightcrawler named Joe Loder (I thought Paxton was the best casting for the veteran Nightcrawler), Gyllenhaal is clearly the star of this movie. Some of the scenes kept you on the edge of your seat. The best part of watching these scenes is that you're watching Bloom shape the story in his own way. I think the main story at the end that shows crime filtering into affluent Los Angeles was handled in such an interesting manner. You see Bloom's thinking through every stage of this. His dialogue scenes with Nina, his employee Rick, and police detectives are so mesmerizing. Instances of scenes where I thought the dialogue was great: a Mexican restaurant with Nina, a discussion about a raise with Rick, and basic interrogation questions with the detectives.
I give this movie a 4/5 for a memorable awards worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, memorable scenes, and a great look into the inner workings of a television news network. I encourage people to see this movie simply to watch how cerebral & hauntingly charismatic Gyllenhaal's Louis Bloom character is.
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