I saw If I Stay on August 25, 20414!! I thought this was an incredible movie. I saw this in a packed theater with several females. It was an interesting experience. I actually don't understand why more guys see these types of movies. Action movies are so one-dimensional overall. I'm never really invested in any stories (if there even is one) in those types of movies. It's obviously a very emotional movie, but it had a great story. It is a great look at how powerful a bond with family, friends, and relationships can be. This movie really makes you appreciate your family & friends. You don't want to take anything for granted, because in an instant things can change. It made you appreciate how beautiful music can be. It also made you appreciate how beautiful music can be.
I haven't read the book that this movie is based on, but I've been told a big emphasis was placed on the music aspect in the book. It was definitely a major subplot. It was cool seeing how opposites attract just based on music. I actually am a big fan of both styles that they focused on: rock & classical music. The relationship between our two main characters Mia Hall & Adam grows based on love of music-whether it's simply listening to the notes/lyrics or creating it. Mia was actually born into music and you explore that through her memories.
Chloe Grace Moretz did an amazing job in the role of Mia. She's really one of the better young actresses today. I've been a huge supporter of hers since Kick-Ass. It's great seeing her in a more dramatic role.Throughout the movie, we are shown her memories of her dedication to the cello, her relationship with Adam, her fun relationship with her parents, and the close bond that she & her brother Teddy have. Being a cellist, she has ambitions to become a successful musician. She certainly has the talent. The exploration of how far she can go with her music while balancing her relationships with Adam & her parents is a big focal point of the memories.
I like how the movie jumps between her memories prior to the car accident & the events unfolding in the hospital. It told a beautiful story. It showed how close the family is. It showed how strong their bond is. I also think it's very interesting seeing things from Mia's point of view. It really added to the emotional aspect. She has to make a life or death decision. As you're watching these hospital scenes unfold, there's a good chance you'll shed some tears. I think Stacy Keach (who plays Mia's grandfather) gave a powerful speech to Mia after everything that happened in one day. Everybody in the theater just lost it here. If you don't, then I'm not sure you have a heart. The power of music also plays a huge role in the hospital scenes. Classical music is very calming is all I'll say. It's a big part of what Mia chooses in the end. I don't know how you can watch this movie & not feel anything. Moretz captured the severity of the emotional landscape so vividly.
If you want to see a well made movie celebrating the importance of family & friends, or you have a deep appreciation for music, then I'd highly recommend this. It's one of the best movies I've seen this year. I give it a 5/5 because it's a well made movie-shifting between Mia's memories & her present predicament, the acting performances are great, the music is beautiful, & emotions are at an all time high-you'll feel both joy & sadness watching this.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
The Giver Review
I saw The Giver on August 21, 2014!! I remember reading the book by Lois Lowry in Mrs. Christie's 6th grade Reading class. While there are definite changes from the book to the movie, I actually really enjoyed them. I felt it made the story more interesting. I felt it gave more substance overall. It really is a movie about what it truly means to be human. The movie's message really focuses on that. It delves into the faults of the perfect society created. It shows that one needs to experience the full gamut of emotions to be a whole person. While conforming to societal norms is less conventional, I felt this movie spoke to all ages to be accepting of others. The Giver shows us that different races, religions, & cultures are essential to life. Our memories & choices-good & bad make us whole.
I thought that the movie captured the general core of the book quite well. The overall premise of the unique community, advanced technology, as well as the black & white nature of it all-the important ceremonies, the job selection (nurturer for instance), the family dinner scenes, the transcendence to color, & the relationship between Jonas & The Giver were all very good. I thought Brenton Thwaites captured the personality of Jonas really well. Making the characters older in the movie works a lot better for the movie's overall message. I realize the community eliminates any notion of feeling physical or emotional, but a 12 year old would not be able to understand the importance of what the role of a receiver really means. A person should have to be at a higher level of maturity to undertake this task,
They definitely made the characters older so they could understand the emotion of love. While a romantic edge is touched upon between Jonas & Fiona, it's really a look at understanding emotion. It's looking at love as a whole, not just romantic love, but love of family, friends, & community. Both joy & sadness are well represented throughout the movie. I think the movie allowed the story to flow at a better rate than the book. I liked the three central young actors: Thwaites, Odeya Rush, & Cameron Monghan all did well in their roles. I liked Rush's deeper look into Fiona. She's definitely somebody I'd like to see more from. I think she has potential to become one of the better young actresses. We have plenty great ones now, but there's always room for more. The connection with her & Jonas is great to watch on screen. Cameron is known for playing the excellent Ian Gallagher character on Shameless, and did an excellent job as Asher switching from a rebel to a conformist.
For me, the two people that truly stole the movie were Jeff Bridges & Meryl Streep. I loved the characters because it represented two different ideologies. Watching his interaction with Thwaites shows how passionate he is about the project. His interaction with Jonas displayed that a true receiver will be able to balance the good & bad memories. With The Giver's guidance, Jonas realizes he can give the community it's memories back. On the other side, you have the chief antagonist in the Chief Elder played by Streep. She played the idea of conformity and adhering to rules really well. Her look was great since she was basically dressed in black & white. She actually reminded me a little bit of Angelica Huston the way she looked in this from her earlier work in the 90s.
It's really interesting to watch how Jonas's acquisition of memory can influence younger members of society to accept differences. We see this with Fiona. Even though Asher becomes more of conformist, we see his understanding of emotion as well. Jonas is definitely a great choice for receiver. He wants to give memories to the whole community. He wants to create a society of unique individuals. The Giver's ideology influences the younger generation. The Chief Elder's ideology influences the parents & older members of society. The adults conform to the rules of society. I think Katie Holmes did a great job with that. She was the justice representative & she even tries to keep Jonas on point with society. I've always been a fan of Katie since Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek. I've seen most of her movies over the years-always will be one of my favorites. Alexander Skarsgaard did a great job in his role as well. I think he captured the idea that he doesn't actually think about what he's doing. That's the idea of this "perfect" society. You don't make decisions for yourself. You just do whatever the chief elder tells you to. Jonas is trying to free people from this. The Giver is the one that gets the ball rolling on that.
One of my favorite scenes was one towards the end where both The Giver & The Chief Elder debate about their ideologies while Fiona is being prepared for the ceremony to elsewhere. I really felt you could understand where both characters were coming from. Both Bridges & Streep were phenomenal in this scene. Both made intelligent points. What side of the fence are you on? For me, I agree with both view points. I feel you need to find a balance between the familiar & the unfamiliar. You need to appreciate tradition, but you need to welcome change in a constantly changing world.
I give this movie a 4/5 for great performances, memorable scenes, cool transition from black & white to color, the tweaks from the book (Lois Lowry was very supportive of this adaptation), and an incredible overall message of what it means to be human.
I thought that the movie captured the general core of the book quite well. The overall premise of the unique community, advanced technology, as well as the black & white nature of it all-the important ceremonies, the job selection (nurturer for instance), the family dinner scenes, the transcendence to color, & the relationship between Jonas & The Giver were all very good. I thought Brenton Thwaites captured the personality of Jonas really well. Making the characters older in the movie works a lot better for the movie's overall message. I realize the community eliminates any notion of feeling physical or emotional, but a 12 year old would not be able to understand the importance of what the role of a receiver really means. A person should have to be at a higher level of maturity to undertake this task,
They definitely made the characters older so they could understand the emotion of love. While a romantic edge is touched upon between Jonas & Fiona, it's really a look at understanding emotion. It's looking at love as a whole, not just romantic love, but love of family, friends, & community. Both joy & sadness are well represented throughout the movie. I think the movie allowed the story to flow at a better rate than the book. I liked the three central young actors: Thwaites, Odeya Rush, & Cameron Monghan all did well in their roles. I liked Rush's deeper look into Fiona. She's definitely somebody I'd like to see more from. I think she has potential to become one of the better young actresses. We have plenty great ones now, but there's always room for more. The connection with her & Jonas is great to watch on screen. Cameron is known for playing the excellent Ian Gallagher character on Shameless, and did an excellent job as Asher switching from a rebel to a conformist.
For me, the two people that truly stole the movie were Jeff Bridges & Meryl Streep. I loved the characters because it represented two different ideologies. Watching his interaction with Thwaites shows how passionate he is about the project. His interaction with Jonas displayed that a true receiver will be able to balance the good & bad memories. With The Giver's guidance, Jonas realizes he can give the community it's memories back. On the other side, you have the chief antagonist in the Chief Elder played by Streep. She played the idea of conformity and adhering to rules really well. Her look was great since she was basically dressed in black & white. She actually reminded me a little bit of Angelica Huston the way she looked in this from her earlier work in the 90s.
It's really interesting to watch how Jonas's acquisition of memory can influence younger members of society to accept differences. We see this with Fiona. Even though Asher becomes more of conformist, we see his understanding of emotion as well. Jonas is definitely a great choice for receiver. He wants to give memories to the whole community. He wants to create a society of unique individuals. The Giver's ideology influences the younger generation. The Chief Elder's ideology influences the parents & older members of society. The adults conform to the rules of society. I think Katie Holmes did a great job with that. She was the justice representative & she even tries to keep Jonas on point with society. I've always been a fan of Katie since Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek. I've seen most of her movies over the years-always will be one of my favorites. Alexander Skarsgaard did a great job in his role as well. I think he captured the idea that he doesn't actually think about what he's doing. That's the idea of this "perfect" society. You don't make decisions for yourself. You just do whatever the chief elder tells you to. Jonas is trying to free people from this. The Giver is the one that gets the ball rolling on that.
One of my favorite scenes was one towards the end where both The Giver & The Chief Elder debate about their ideologies while Fiona is being prepared for the ceremony to elsewhere. I really felt you could understand where both characters were coming from. Both Bridges & Streep were phenomenal in this scene. Both made intelligent points. What side of the fence are you on? For me, I agree with both view points. I feel you need to find a balance between the familiar & the unfamiliar. You need to appreciate tradition, but you need to welcome change in a constantly changing world.
I give this movie a 4/5 for great performances, memorable scenes, cool transition from black & white to color, the tweaks from the book (Lois Lowry was very supportive of this adaptation), and an incredible overall message of what it means to be human.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Magic In The Moonlight Review
I saw Magic In The Moonlight on August 19, 2014!! Over the past couple of years, I've enjoyed Woody Allen's work. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Midnight In Paris, & Blue Jasmine are all movies that I consider to be really well made. I think he did a really good job with this one as well. His witty dialogue, beautiful scenery, & views on science, religion, and love were well presented. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the characters. I felt there was something really incredible in the message of the movie.
The overall concept of this movie to me was a cynical, intelligent man that makes a living based on fraud trying to find something real in a world of deception. Colin Firth was absolutely perfect. I really find him to be a tremendous actor. He played the Stanley character's abrasive personality so well. I also loved that Allen touched on a real life entity in the history of magic when he shaped the persona of Stanley's Wei Ling Soo. There was a real English magician that masqueraded himself as a Chinese man on stage. The reason was because audiences found the Orient to be exotic. He went everywhere in character. His identity was revealed during a magic trick that went horribly wrong as he was shot. He shouted: "Oh my God! I've been shot!" He hadn't spoken any English on stage prior to that moment. Stanley's experiences in life have led him to be wary of foolishness such as magic or religion. Since he's a magician by trade, I can understand why he doesn't believe in it. He knows all the tricks. His old friend Howard hires him to find out if a psychic named Sophie (who is an American girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan) is the real deal or is she like them & lying about it.
From that moment on, we get a view of Stanley trying to figure out how Sophie knows what she does. Sophie was played by Emma Stone. Emma Stone gave one of her best performances her. She fit really well into Allen's world in my opinion. I think her and Firth, despite their age difference, showed unbelievable chemistry. Stone is one of the better actresses in Hollywood. I think when she is involved in roles like this, The Help, or Crazy, Stupid, Love, she truly excels. Stone's quirkiness really meshed well with Firth's cynicism. You can definitely tell there's something growing between them. Even Stanley's aunt, played wonderfully by Eileen Atkins, knows there is something there. It was great watching Stanley trying to figure out how Sophie is tricking him, while also presenting his humanity. He's a vulnerable man deep down that wants to believe in something. He wants to believe in magic. He needs to believe in something. Being around Sophie shows us that he's not as much of a curmudgeon as you think. Perhaps Sophie is bringing out his true core? Perhaps it's Sophie bringing out the real from beneath the exterior of the fake? That was the deep core of the movie. The more time he spends with Sophie, the more he believes in something more.
There was a good twist reminding me a little bit of The Prestige that I found fascinating regarding who swindled who. It reminds us how something real can be painful. I feel this is a reason we become enamored with a movie or book. We have to escape reality sometimes, because it's not always beautiful. The revelation shows that on the other side of the coin perhaps fantasy can protect you. Don't let reality eat you up. I feel Sophie & Stanley were able to overcome the shock from a real revelation. False pretenses brought them together initially, but as they spend more time with each other, real feelings & beliefs draw them closer together. They ended the movie on a perfect note. I think it showed they both found that aspect of realism & a belief in something more in each other.
Emma Stone & Colin Firth were a tremendous pairing. I was very impressed with their on screen chemistry...or magic. Their performances were both excellent. I found myself really enjoying this. I give it a 5/5 for great lead performances, well written dialogue, beautiful scenery, & a nice jazz soundtrack.
The overall concept of this movie to me was a cynical, intelligent man that makes a living based on fraud trying to find something real in a world of deception. Colin Firth was absolutely perfect. I really find him to be a tremendous actor. He played the Stanley character's abrasive personality so well. I also loved that Allen touched on a real life entity in the history of magic when he shaped the persona of Stanley's Wei Ling Soo. There was a real English magician that masqueraded himself as a Chinese man on stage. The reason was because audiences found the Orient to be exotic. He went everywhere in character. His identity was revealed during a magic trick that went horribly wrong as he was shot. He shouted: "Oh my God! I've been shot!" He hadn't spoken any English on stage prior to that moment. Stanley's experiences in life have led him to be wary of foolishness such as magic or religion. Since he's a magician by trade, I can understand why he doesn't believe in it. He knows all the tricks. His old friend Howard hires him to find out if a psychic named Sophie (who is an American girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan) is the real deal or is she like them & lying about it.
From that moment on, we get a view of Stanley trying to figure out how Sophie knows what she does. Sophie was played by Emma Stone. Emma Stone gave one of her best performances her. She fit really well into Allen's world in my opinion. I think her and Firth, despite their age difference, showed unbelievable chemistry. Stone is one of the better actresses in Hollywood. I think when she is involved in roles like this, The Help, or Crazy, Stupid, Love, she truly excels. Stone's quirkiness really meshed well with Firth's cynicism. You can definitely tell there's something growing between them. Even Stanley's aunt, played wonderfully by Eileen Atkins, knows there is something there. It was great watching Stanley trying to figure out how Sophie is tricking him, while also presenting his humanity. He's a vulnerable man deep down that wants to believe in something. He wants to believe in magic. He needs to believe in something. Being around Sophie shows us that he's not as much of a curmudgeon as you think. Perhaps Sophie is bringing out his true core? Perhaps it's Sophie bringing out the real from beneath the exterior of the fake? That was the deep core of the movie. The more time he spends with Sophie, the more he believes in something more.
There was a good twist reminding me a little bit of The Prestige that I found fascinating regarding who swindled who. It reminds us how something real can be painful. I feel this is a reason we become enamored with a movie or book. We have to escape reality sometimes, because it's not always beautiful. The revelation shows that on the other side of the coin perhaps fantasy can protect you. Don't let reality eat you up. I feel Sophie & Stanley were able to overcome the shock from a real revelation. False pretenses brought them together initially, but as they spend more time with each other, real feelings & beliefs draw them closer together. They ended the movie on a perfect note. I think it showed they both found that aspect of realism & a belief in something more in each other.
Emma Stone & Colin Firth were a tremendous pairing. I was very impressed with their on screen chemistry...or magic. Their performances were both excellent. I found myself really enjoying this. I give it a 5/5 for great lead performances, well written dialogue, beautiful scenery, & a nice jazz soundtrack.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
The Hundred Foot Journey Review
I saw The Hundred Foot Journey on August 12, 2014!! This is a movie filled with food, family, & a fun story. It's why we like going to the movies. It had great emotion, legitimate comedic moments, very good dramatic performances, incredible scenery, truly beautiful music & food, as well as a pinch of romance. The focus of the movie is on the Kadam family & Madame Mallory. Everything branches off of this. We learn about the Kadam family & their ambitions to open an Indian restaurant following a tragic fire that touched the family more than you'd think. They end up in a hotbed of culture in France. Madame Mallory has established a truly popular restaurant that attracts the President of France to eat there. The audience is treated to some friendly competition between the two which provides both hilarious & dramatic moments.
I really feel Helen Mirren was the perfect choice for Madame Mallory. I've been a huge supporter of her work since Teaching Mrs. Tingle. She has a regal disposition about her that made the culture clash here work so well. The main character is Hassan, an ambitious young cook who wants to be a chef. The movie establishes how big of a deal this profession is. I like that-in the United States, I feel professions such as this don't get the attention they deserve. When you eat in a restaurant, how does the food get to the table? Hermione Granger isn't in the back creating delicious dishes using magic & spells. There's a chef creating these meals that you enjoy. Hassan is a very gifted cook at this point utilizing his vast array of spices to satisfy the palette. Manish Dayal did a really great job with the role. I like watching the character reach for the (Michelin) stars. His father (who is just referred to as Papa) is hilarious throughout the movie. Om Puri did really well & his chemistry with Helen Mirren was great.
Hassan is able to get to the next level with the help of a girl the family meets when they arrive in France-Marguerite. Charlotte Le Bon is gorgeous. There's just no other way to say it. She was just so stunning. Hassan definitely fell for her instantly, and I really don't know how you could blame the guy. I really would like to see her cast in some more Hollywood productions. She's primarily a French actress, and casting scouts need to get on the ball & realize that they can make a bigger star here. She's the one that is able to start him on his path to being a chef through cook-books, the different French sauces, etc. I liked that aspect of how both are aiming to be top chefs, but they do end up both helping each other along the way. She did a very good job. While they definitely put a sprinkle of romance, the focus for them was all about the food. You know there's something there, but you don't have to go in depth with it, because it's not the big focus of the movie.
When the competition gets out of hand due to racism (not Madame Mallory's doing), this is when differences are put aside. They become more social with each other. Utilizing Marguerite's information, Hassan is able to gain the favor of Madame Mallory. Madame Mallory & Papa definitely hit it off at the request of Mahira (Hassan's sister). Actually, the way they approached that towards the end was perfect just based on what Mahira says. While there are moments when characters are at odds, its because they all are working towards the same goal. However, the most important thing to note is everybody puts differences aside for the betterment of culture, food, & achieving that 3rd Michelin star.
It's really an ensemble effort to create a truly special movie. I really enjoyed the cast, performances, music, recipes, & natural chemistry of the characters. They cracked the eggs. They stirred the sauce. They created an amazing cinematic omelet that garners a 4/5 for me. I definitely would like to see this considered for some awards nominations, but it could be too early. I really enjoyed this movie. In a world where violence, vulgarity, & crude comedy are what lures people to theaters, it's nice to sit back and see people like Lasse Hallstrom create something innocent & artistic. Bon Appetit!
I really feel Helen Mirren was the perfect choice for Madame Mallory. I've been a huge supporter of her work since Teaching Mrs. Tingle. She has a regal disposition about her that made the culture clash here work so well. The main character is Hassan, an ambitious young cook who wants to be a chef. The movie establishes how big of a deal this profession is. I like that-in the United States, I feel professions such as this don't get the attention they deserve. When you eat in a restaurant, how does the food get to the table? Hermione Granger isn't in the back creating delicious dishes using magic & spells. There's a chef creating these meals that you enjoy. Hassan is a very gifted cook at this point utilizing his vast array of spices to satisfy the palette. Manish Dayal did a really great job with the role. I like watching the character reach for the (Michelin) stars. His father (who is just referred to as Papa) is hilarious throughout the movie. Om Puri did really well & his chemistry with Helen Mirren was great.
Hassan is able to get to the next level with the help of a girl the family meets when they arrive in France-Marguerite. Charlotte Le Bon is gorgeous. There's just no other way to say it. She was just so stunning. Hassan definitely fell for her instantly, and I really don't know how you could blame the guy. I really would like to see her cast in some more Hollywood productions. She's primarily a French actress, and casting scouts need to get on the ball & realize that they can make a bigger star here. She's the one that is able to start him on his path to being a chef through cook-books, the different French sauces, etc. I liked that aspect of how both are aiming to be top chefs, but they do end up both helping each other along the way. She did a very good job. While they definitely put a sprinkle of romance, the focus for them was all about the food. You know there's something there, but you don't have to go in depth with it, because it's not the big focus of the movie.
When the competition gets out of hand due to racism (not Madame Mallory's doing), this is when differences are put aside. They become more social with each other. Utilizing Marguerite's information, Hassan is able to gain the favor of Madame Mallory. Madame Mallory & Papa definitely hit it off at the request of Mahira (Hassan's sister). Actually, the way they approached that towards the end was perfect just based on what Mahira says. While there are moments when characters are at odds, its because they all are working towards the same goal. However, the most important thing to note is everybody puts differences aside for the betterment of culture, food, & achieving that 3rd Michelin star.
It's really an ensemble effort to create a truly special movie. I really enjoyed the cast, performances, music, recipes, & natural chemistry of the characters. They cracked the eggs. They stirred the sauce. They created an amazing cinematic omelet that garners a 4/5 for me. I definitely would like to see this considered for some awards nominations, but it could be too early. I really enjoyed this movie. In a world where violence, vulgarity, & crude comedy are what lures people to theaters, it's nice to sit back and see people like Lasse Hallstrom create something innocent & artistic. Bon Appetit!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Review
Justin, Mike, Dad, and I saw Guardians of the Galaxy on August 3, 2014!! This has been one of the worst years for summer movies. After suffering through awful duds like Transformers: Age of Extinction & Lucy, I didn't know if anything could redeem these last couple of months...until I saw Guardians of the Galaxy. I don't know too much about this comic book & from the trailers I initially wasn't very interested. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Guardians of the Galaxy is an excellent movie!! I felt it combined elements of Star Wars, X-Men, and Mortal Kombat-three things I'm a big fan of.
The premise of the movie revolves around an orb that changes the balance of the universe. We encounter five unique individuals: Peter Quill (Starlord), Gamora (my favorite character, a green assassin with a really incredible backstory), Drax (the Destroyer), Rocket (an enhanced raccoon), & Groot (an emotional tree). Quill initially steals the orb. Gamora is sent to retrieve it. The movie builds from that point. It is constantly flowing. There are no slow moments. Each character particularly Gamora's backstory was very intriguing. I loved the different personalities each character had. I think Guardians represents how important being a part of a team can be. Each member of the group has a strong point. They all have to put differences aside in order to be victorious in the end, and I liked that aspect the most.
You learn to love these characters, even if they're a thief, an assassin, or have rage problems. Zoe Saldana is one of my favorite actresses. I've always found her to work well in this type of environment. She's a true female action star, but she knows how to act as well. She did a great job as Gamora, and I absolutely love the look of the character. Chris Pratt was great as the official leader. He really grows into his role throughout the movie. He provides a lot of great comedic moments, but when he has to turn up the volume he does it well. Batista did a good job with what he had to do. He was a big brute hell bent on revenge. He did great throughout the movie. Many of the great moments revolved around Rocket. Bradley Cooper did a really great job shaping the character's personality. This was also written and directed by James Gunn, who once again did a tremendous job with the superhero genre. He also created Super which was a very dark take on the superhero. He perfectly blended the dark dramatic elements, comedic moments, and a heavily detailed story arc that kept everything flowing.
I felt Ronen was one of the best villains I've seen in a movie in a long. The look of the character combined with his aspirations about the galaxy really made him an intriguing antagonist. I like how he's aligned with Thanos as well-true galactic threat. There were incredible moments of drama as well as properly timed comedy. I was impressed with how great the visuals are-the CGI was fantastic. The emotion of each character is felt by the audience. I like that each piece of the puzzle connects to create a bigger picture. Details of the character's back story fuel that character towards the conclusion of the movie. The battle scenes whether they're physical fist fights or huge galactic laser battles are all tremendous. I am simply amazed at how well the scenes looked.
If you plan on seeing any movies this summer, then I'd highly recommend checking this out. This movie gets a definite 5/5 for incredible storytelling, larger than life characters, awesome visuals, and great acting. It's rare to find great acting in comic book movies, but I felt it was on display here. With James Gunn at the helm, he hit a homerun out of the park and saved the summer of 2014 with this hidden gem. It's one of the best movies of the year. It's easily one of the best comic book movies ever. It's just EPIC!!!
The premise of the movie revolves around an orb that changes the balance of the universe. We encounter five unique individuals: Peter Quill (Starlord), Gamora (my favorite character, a green assassin with a really incredible backstory), Drax (the Destroyer), Rocket (an enhanced raccoon), & Groot (an emotional tree). Quill initially steals the orb. Gamora is sent to retrieve it. The movie builds from that point. It is constantly flowing. There are no slow moments. Each character particularly Gamora's backstory was very intriguing. I loved the different personalities each character had. I think Guardians represents how important being a part of a team can be. Each member of the group has a strong point. They all have to put differences aside in order to be victorious in the end, and I liked that aspect the most.
You learn to love these characters, even if they're a thief, an assassin, or have rage problems. Zoe Saldana is one of my favorite actresses. I've always found her to work well in this type of environment. She's a true female action star, but she knows how to act as well. She did a great job as Gamora, and I absolutely love the look of the character. Chris Pratt was great as the official leader. He really grows into his role throughout the movie. He provides a lot of great comedic moments, but when he has to turn up the volume he does it well. Batista did a good job with what he had to do. He was a big brute hell bent on revenge. He did great throughout the movie. Many of the great moments revolved around Rocket. Bradley Cooper did a really great job shaping the character's personality. This was also written and directed by James Gunn, who once again did a tremendous job with the superhero genre. He also created Super which was a very dark take on the superhero. He perfectly blended the dark dramatic elements, comedic moments, and a heavily detailed story arc that kept everything flowing.
I felt Ronen was one of the best villains I've seen in a movie in a long. The look of the character combined with his aspirations about the galaxy really made him an intriguing antagonist. I like how he's aligned with Thanos as well-true galactic threat. There were incredible moments of drama as well as properly timed comedy. I was impressed with how great the visuals are-the CGI was fantastic. The emotion of each character is felt by the audience. I like that each piece of the puzzle connects to create a bigger picture. Details of the character's back story fuel that character towards the conclusion of the movie. The battle scenes whether they're physical fist fights or huge galactic laser battles are all tremendous. I am simply amazed at how well the scenes looked.
If you plan on seeing any movies this summer, then I'd highly recommend checking this out. This movie gets a definite 5/5 for incredible storytelling, larger than life characters, awesome visuals, and great acting. It's rare to find great acting in comic book movies, but I felt it was on display here. With James Gunn at the helm, he hit a homerun out of the park and saved the summer of 2014 with this hidden gem. It's one of the best movies of the year. It's easily one of the best comic book movies ever. It's just EPIC!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Teen Choice Awards 2014-Thoughts/Preview/Nominees
Okay most years I'm usually avoiding this, but in 2014 the Teen Choice Awards interest me. Looking at the nominees for some of the Teen Choice Awards, the nominees are pretty decent this year. I actually am a big fan of most of the nominees. In fact, I'll list what I want to see win at this show. I will focus on female performances. I tend to like female characters more. While there are some great male characters on television right now, I've been really into the stronger female roles over the last few years. I'll discuss the categories I'm interested in. The show airs August 10th-I might check it out.
There's a possibility that Ariana Grande or Iggy Azalea could be performing as well, and that would be cool to see as well. I've been a fan of Grande since her work on Victorious. She was hilarious as Cat Valentine, and she has an incredible voice. It's amazing listening to her hit those real high notes. There's a video of her performing Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid on Youtube that Justin showed me. It was really well done. She sounded like she was under the sea as well which added to the effect. As far as Iggy Azalea is concerned, she's one of my favorite people in music right now. I normally loathe rap, but I really like what she's done. I enjoy her music. I think she does a great job with her rapping ability. The music video for Fancy is really good. Some of the younger generation might not recognize the Clueless theme, but it worked really well for the Fancy video. I'd love to see her perform in person. The good news is both Grande & Azalea are nominated. Grande is my pick for Choice Female Artist, and Azalea is my pick for Choice R&B/Hip-Hop. Other artists listed that I like are Katy Perry & Lorde. I've always been a big fan of Katy Perry since I Kissed A Girl. As a huge fan of the Spice Girls, Perry reminds me of a newer generation of that. She creates different gimmicks for herself, while creating catchy and entertaining tracks. I feel like there's a message of Girl Power in her music as well. She's an entertaining girl, and has so many positive messages in her songs. I like her newer music a lot, especially Dark Horse. Eventually, I'm hoping she has a Vegas tour like my favorite person in music: Britney Spears. My brother Jake and I would have a blast at that, just like we did when we saw the Piece of Me tour in February. It's really cool that Jake & I see eye to eye on some things in music & entertainment-not everything, but there's a good amount. We couldn't be more opposite, but I feel like when we're together we're more alike than you think.
The only category I would change some things on is Choice TV Show (Comedy)-I'd include I Didn't Do It & Liv & Maddie. I am very entertained by those shows. With shows like this, you can just sit back and laugh for a little bit with these. Dove Cameron plays two characters on Liv & Maddie, so naturally she deserves to be on this. BAM! WHAT! I firmly believe the entire cast of I Didn't Do It is one of the funniest casts on television. They're all unique characters. From Libby to Logan to Jasmine to Delia to Garrett, each character's personality adds more to the show. Each of those cast members does really well. If you want to watch a truly entertaining episode of television, watch Lindylicious. I've seen it a couple of times, and the comedic timing of each of the principal cast just makes the episode that much better. The smoothie machine, the tuxedo effect, the high heel effect, Garrett going on a mission to find out if the popcorn at the movie is truly fresh, and of course Delia teaching Logan a lesson for trying to cheat in a clever manner are all successful elements in making a productive comedy show. They've really done well establishing a formula to ensure entertainment in each episode from the theme to the characters. Olivia Holt is one of the most entertaining young actresses today. She always looks like she's having fun, and that's what these shows are usually all about. Sarah Gilman is going to be a great comedic actress along the lines of Jeanine Garofolo in the next couple of years. She just has a great deadpan sense of humor. Piper Curda is the most believable of the characters-she's a young Blair Waldorf in the making. I like her fashionista persona. Curda really succeeds in capturing the essence of what that character is about.
Rather than list all the nominees in the category, I'll list the option I'd like to see take home the surfboard. I'll provide some commentary where it's appropriate.
Choice TV Show (Drama)
Pretty Little Liars
I honestly believe that PLL continues to produce quality episodes of television. I always like that they keep adding different twists to the plot to keep the audience interested. A big reason why I like this show so much is because its very female character oriented. Every character has actually evolved in some way from the pilot, so that's very impressive to see as well. I'm really enjoying Mona's Army storyline.
Choice TV Show (Animated)
Regular Show
This is one of the most intelligent animated shows I've ever seen. I've seen the entire cast in person at Comic-Con in San Diego. They deserve to be proud of the show they've created. The cool thing about Regular Show is that it's the complete opposite of what the title says. It's randomness really keeps you interested. The Pops character is so much fun. I actually have a stuffed one that they sold at Comic-Con because I think the uniqueness of the character is amazing. They have a gumball machine as a character-that's awesome. There's another show I do really like on the list called Adventure Time. That might be the most creative animated shows ever made. The Land of Ooo is so visually amazing, and there's so many different components. The show tells you that if you're friend is in trouble deal with the problem with a sword or a song. Characters like the Ice King and Princess Bubblegum are so fun visually that you're automatically invested in the story. The adventures of Finn & Jake are truly some of the most entertaining moments of television. Ultimately, I find Regular Show to be the better program, but I would like to see either win this award just because they're both unique in their own way, and the creators of the shows deserve the recognition for their hard work. The voice actors add the personality to the visual component, and if you get the voice right, then you really have a fun show. Each voice actor is able to do that for the audience. The voice definitely is what you envision when you first see the character.
Choice TV Show (Fantasy/Sci-Fi)
Once Upon A Time
There is no question about it!! Season 3 is one of my favorite seasons in television history. I mean the first half in Neverland with Peter Pan being portrayed as a calculating villain was excellent, and the second half in Oz with my favorite character of all time the Wicked Witch of the West just kept me interested every week. I think Lana Parilla should have received an Emmy nomination for her work as Regina in Season 3. She did such an amazing job displaying her inner white magic over the course of the season. Of course, Emma screwed it up by bringing Maid Marian back, and I'm not going to fault Regina for getting pissed. Just when you think she's going to find happiness, her heart gets broken. Lana Parilla is in my Top 3 actresses on Television with Tatiana Maslany & Sophia Bush being the other two. Once Upon A Time Season 4 will return on September 28th, and I'm already excited for Frozen to be a focal point. As a wrestling fan, there's a term called marking out when you get really excited for something. I think Once Upon A Time has made me mark out more than any show: first appearance of Ariel, the Wicked Witch of the West (you couldn't contain my excitement at Comic-Con), and of course when Elsa was revealed at the end of the Season 3 finale, I just looked at the screen with astonishment. I didn't expect that at all, and I loved it.
Choice Reality Show
Total Divas
It really is the only viable choice on the list. Also, as a huge proponent of women's wrestling it's mandatory to support this. It would be cool to see some representatives from the WWE at the show. They might have Brie & Nikki aka The Bellas show up for the event which would make sense. It will be cool to see if they win. I actually hope they do, because it would give some media exposure for the WWE Divas, and they deserve it. These women work hard to entertain fans. Remember, they're in the ring competing, and then shooting this show on top of traveling. It's a tough life, and these girls do it weekly. It's about respect. I'm impressed at how each girl is working to improve in the ring as well over the last few months.
Choice Breakout TV Show
Reign
In my opinion, there are five shows on television that have become mandatory watching for me: 1. Once Upon A Time, 2. Sons of Anarchy, 3. Game of Thrones, 4. Orphan Black (Season 3 will begin in April), AND 5. Reign-this show was something I had to see as soon as I could. I was so interested from the initial television spots. I loved it each week. I think the cast is amazing, and I love the time period it's centered around. It focuses on the Stuart line of royalty. Reign has produced one of the best 1st seasons you'll ever find. Season 2 begins this fall. By incorporating historical time periods with intense drama & romance, the cast worked to make something special, and they accomplished that. I couldn't believe some of the scenes I saw on the show. I kept wondering how CW approved certain scenes, but what's great is it really increased interest for the show. Ratings increased over the course of the season, and it was well deserved. Everybody put their all into making this work.
Choice TV Actress (Drama)
Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Between her and Troian Bellesario(who is also nominated), these two have produced pretty much all of the best moments on Pretty Little Liars. Aria Montgomery (played by Lucy) is my favorite character and she went through so much the last couple of episodes, dating back to last season. I still maintain that Troian Bellesario's descent into madness as Spencer Hastings in Season 3 was one of the best performances on the show. She won for that season last year-well deserved. Now, it's Lucy's turn to get the surfboard. The emotional rollercoaster that Aria's character has experienced is a major focal point right now, and Hale's acting makes her plight more believable.
Choice TV Actress (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries)
I would have put Tatiana Maslany on the list, but most teens don't know Orphan Black so I get why it might not be on there. Golden Globes-I'm looking at you to right the wrongs of the Emmys (BOYCOTT THEM) for their ridiculous snub two years in a row. In terms of Dobrev, I felt since she was transformed into a vampire, she really has changed her personality. I loved Season 4 watching her deal with the transformation. The episode where she shut off her humanity following Jeremy's death is amazing. She played three characters at one point in Season 5, and that's impressive. I'll always love Katherine Pierce the most, but she really has done an amazing job with the Elena Gilbert character, and it should be acknowledged. Katherine dealing with her mortality, while Elena dealt with her new immortality was a great parallel as well in Season 5. She basically switched up the characters, while still maintaining the known characteristics that fans are familiar with. I've been a fan of Nina's since she played Mia Jones on Degrassi. It's really cool to see her in such a star making role. She does an incredible job with everything she has to do on the Vampire Diaries. Vampire Diaries returns in October, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Season 6.
Choice TV Villain obviously
Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars)
Besides Aria, Mona Vanderwaal is my favorite character on PLL. I don't consider her a villain at all, but she deserves to be nominated. She's just leading a revolution to show Rosewood that Alison Delaurentis is the most vile human being ever. If anybody is a villain in the show, it's Alison. How can I be the only one that sees this? Anyway, Mona rules, and Janel is the reason why the character is so great. I think she's created a lot of great suspense in the show, and she really does an amazing job of utilizing her past to fuel the character in present day. Alison just causes problems for everybody, and Mona is the one taking a stand against it. GO MONA!!
Choice TV Breakout Star-Female
Adelaide Kane (Reign)
I've been so impressed with Adelaide Kane's role as Mary, Queen of Scots. She has a very regal demeanor about her in the show. Each episode of the show saw Mary's character grow stronger. I feel like she does a really great job standing up to those who question her power. She shows no fear of King Henry, Catherine de Medici, or even her mother. I think the episode where she gained the respect of the Scottish council was really cool. It showed that she has understood her responsibilities as a future ruler of Scotland. She understands the importance of alliances for political reason. While she loves Francis, she understands how the political game works. Adelaide Kane is one of the best actresses on television. She's believable as a young queen, and in reality her mother's side of the family has lineage to the Stuart family. One could say she was destined to play this role. I'm looking forward to seeing what Mary does in Season 2. One thing she shows is that once you get comfortable in a role, an actress is able to really shape the character into something amazing. Adelaide has done that. I think her delivery of dialogue, her look, and her strong, sophisticated personality has truly made an impact in television. She deserves this nomination. I believe the People's Choice Awards also took notice of this performance, so its good to see that people are recognizing how great she is. It's truly an incredible role for a young actress. The fact that she makes it work so perfectly is a testament to her talents as an actress. It's not an easy role-not everybody could do it. Adelaide Kane puts the work in throughout each episode to create a memorable performance for the audience. Television shows are only successful when the actor or actress in the role is believable, and Adelaide Kane is the epitome of that. While there are many incredible performances in that show, Adelaide is the one that leads the charge and she's succeeded in flying colors.
Choice Summer TV Star
Italia Ricci (Chasing Life)
Italia Ricci, much like Erica Dasher playing Jane Quinby in Jane By Design, quickly impressed me from the pilot episode of Chasing Life. I think the April Carver character is so strong willed. She really is the anchor of her family. April is smart, gorgeous (Italia is by far one of the most beautiful girls on television), and quick-witted. She's trying to rise at her job, I thought the way she was able to get an interview with a sports star in the opening moments of the pilot show how determined this character is to rise above obstacles. She won't let the fact that she has cancer stop her. That's extremely powerful to watch. It's an uplifting character. She has interesting relationships with everybody around her from the uncle who gave her the news to her troubled sister to her mother, each one shows just how talented Italia Ricci is. While she may be getting weaker physically, I think her determination to get to the bottom of things in her life is important. She uses the philosophy: Never Quit. You might have an obstacle in front of you, but don't let it stop you. The show can be upsetting at times for the content, but I always end up smiling at the resolve of April. Ricci is the one that shapes this character. She's made her a well-rounded character delving into family secrets, dealing with cancer, and holding her family together on top of that.
Choice Movie (Action)
The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones
While my favorite movie on that list is definitely Divergent, I felt City of Bones was the most action packed one listed. I will say that I think Divergent is going to win this, and I'd accept that without a doubt. I absolutely love the story in City of Bones as well. It is just non-stop excitement. The visuals mixed with the plot and the cast created something so special for audiences. I wish more people actually saw this movie. The story is very intriguing. As a fan of fantasy genre material, this really does an incredible job of utilizing that as well as angels & demons myths. I've seen this movie about 6 times, and I always have the same level of excitement each time. It's just a non-stop thrill ride using interesting source material. The movie did a pretty good job at following the book as well. I felt they really pushed the boundaries in many scenes as well, which is really good for this sort of movie. I think Lily Collins as Clary Fray was such a smart casting choice. She fits so well into the role. When I look at the cover for City of Ashes, Lily's appearance is exactly what I envision. Jamie Campbell Bower works really well in those mysterious roles like Grindelwald in Harry Potter or Antony in Sweeney Todd, but he has the look of an angel from books, so he really fits into the role. Him and Collins worked well together. Lastly, Jonathan Rhys-Myer as Valentine was perfect casting. He is known for playing Henry VIII in The Tudors, so he knows how to create a villainous edge. He did a great job with it. I feel Valentine is supposed to be similar to Satan, and Myer was able to create that manic edge to make it believable. The characters are larger than life. The story is interesting and keeps you invested throughout the movie. The battle sequences are incredible-visuals and intense action combine to create a really impressive adaptation of the book descriptions.
Choice Movie Actress (Action)
Shailene Woodley (Divergent)
While Lily Collins was absolutely amazing as Clary Fray, Shailene Woodley's role as Beatrice "Tris" Prior in Divergent was one of the most captivating performances in 2014. She captured the personality of Tris so perfectly throughout the movie. Her character is constantly evolving from when we're introduced to her in Abnegation to when she undergoes Dauntless training (basically has to forget everything about one faction and survive to adapt in another) to a courageous fighter helping to save the factions. In this movie, she really pulled the character out of the pages and made into a real life entity. Her acting was great-she sold emotion with her eyes extremely well. There was also one scene where she basically lost it following a certain event with her mother. When I saw it in the movies, everybody was so upset because of how well Woodley sold raw emotion. Watching her deal with physical obstacles showed how bad ass Tris is. While trying to find her place in society, she realizes she has to take some hits along the way. Shailene Woodley is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. She's been such an amazing presence in all of her movies since The Descendants.While I am impressed with the nominees on this list, I feel that Zoey Deutch for her portrayal as Rose Hathaway in Vampire Academy should be included on this list. She was a bad ass throughout this movie. She personified exactly what the Rose character represents in the books. Deutch did really well with it-her role in that movie should automatically have landed her a spot on the nominee list, however, I'm used to awards shows excluding people that I feel deserve it. On top of representing everything the character is with her sassy attitude and bad ass Dhampir fighting style, she's absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully, more books from the series are adapted, because its a really good series-darker than most YA series.
Choice Movie (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
X-Men: Days of Future Past
This was such an excellent movie bridging the past and the future. The cast is one of the best ever assembled for a movie. The movie's plot revolves around stopping a certain event in the past from happening in order to erase the dark, dreary, dismal future that lies ahead.
The action sequences were incredible. I was amazed by the cuts between the past & the future towards the end. While there was so much heartache in the future, there were incredible steps being taken in the past to prevent it. It really needs to be seen to appreciate how incredible it looked. Everybody had a chance to shine in some way, which was great to see. The incredible cast delving into their roles perfectly, a movie tackling one of the biggest story arcs in comics, the deep conversations between characters (loved these crucial dialogue scenes), the incredible action sequences blending visuals & emotion so well, intelligent usages of comedy, & a really awesome future at Xavier's School truly made this one of the best movies of the year. It's certainly one of the best comic book movies ever made. It was also really cool seeing Ellen Page's Kitty Pryde having such a huge role since it's her character that bridges the gaps between the past & present.
Choice Movie (Drama)
The Fault In Our Stars
This is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Shailene Woodley's role as Hazel Grace Lancaster was excellent! Woodley showed great range throughout the movie whether it was Hazel's courage in dealing with her disease, her emotional attachment/romance with Augustus Waters, her humor with her parents, or her frustrations with Peter Van Houten. Hazel Grace Lancaster is her breakthrough performance. I was just so impressed with how she took the audience into her world. The cinema disappeared, and we followed her along her journey. Through her highs & lows, we see how strong of a person she really is. I really loved her attitude-she believes in living in the face of death. Many scenes like the courage to continue climbing the stairs in the Anne Frank house, or standing up to Van Houten, I just smiled at how incredible this character is. While her disease may hinder it, she won't let it define her. The Anne Frank house, the eulogy scene (everybody in the theater just lost it), the conversation with her parents about staying strong when she passes, and reading Van Houten's/Gus's eulogy for her are some of the most emotional moments I've seen in a movie. These are memorable for symbolism, great dichotomy between happiness/sadness (each of these scenes has a silver lining), and for simply crafting a beautiful story.
Choice Movie Actress (Drama)
Emma Watson (Noah)
This is a really fun award for me, just because two of my five favorite actresses are on the list. Both of them deserve to be on it as well for their respective roles. My five favorite actresses are 1. Ellen Page, 2. Emma Watson, 3. Carey Mulligan, 4. Cate Blanchett, 5. Shailene Woodley. I really like this award, because Shailene Woodley's Hazel Grace Lancaster in Fault In Our Stars is on this list as well. I think she most likely will pick up the win, and she more than deserves it as I pointed out. It would just be awesome to see Watson win for her role as Ila in Noah. It was incredible seeing Emma Watson involved in such a huge project like this. I've been impressed with all of her roles, but with Noah she moved into another level showing great emotional range, particularly with how important her character arc is to the story. Her delivery of lines, mixed with emotional selling of the moment was blended so well that she brought me right into the scene. One scene in particular between her and Russell Crowe regarding choice was so powerful. Watson's arc was definitely the most powerful of everybody's and ultimately was the most important one in the story. I'm glad an actress that I have a ton of respect for was able to get this role. Watson's Ila is one of the better female roles I've seen in a while. I also find her to be such an incredible role model for girls.
That's just a look at some of the awards I'm interested in. Most of this article is about female performances, but I also discussed shows and movies, as well as some notes on the music categories. I had fun writing this, because as I said, I actually like most of the nominees for this show. I discussed reasons why I want the person, show, or movie to win.
There's a possibility that Ariana Grande or Iggy Azalea could be performing as well, and that would be cool to see as well. I've been a fan of Grande since her work on Victorious. She was hilarious as Cat Valentine, and she has an incredible voice. It's amazing listening to her hit those real high notes. There's a video of her performing Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid on Youtube that Justin showed me. It was really well done. She sounded like she was under the sea as well which added to the effect. As far as Iggy Azalea is concerned, she's one of my favorite people in music right now. I normally loathe rap, but I really like what she's done. I enjoy her music. I think she does a great job with her rapping ability. The music video for Fancy is really good. Some of the younger generation might not recognize the Clueless theme, but it worked really well for the Fancy video. I'd love to see her perform in person. The good news is both Grande & Azalea are nominated. Grande is my pick for Choice Female Artist, and Azalea is my pick for Choice R&B/Hip-Hop. Other artists listed that I like are Katy Perry & Lorde. I've always been a big fan of Katy Perry since I Kissed A Girl. As a huge fan of the Spice Girls, Perry reminds me of a newer generation of that. She creates different gimmicks for herself, while creating catchy and entertaining tracks. I feel like there's a message of Girl Power in her music as well. She's an entertaining girl, and has so many positive messages in her songs. I like her newer music a lot, especially Dark Horse. Eventually, I'm hoping she has a Vegas tour like my favorite person in music: Britney Spears. My brother Jake and I would have a blast at that, just like we did when we saw the Piece of Me tour in February. It's really cool that Jake & I see eye to eye on some things in music & entertainment-not everything, but there's a good amount. We couldn't be more opposite, but I feel like when we're together we're more alike than you think.
The only category I would change some things on is Choice TV Show (Comedy)-I'd include I Didn't Do It & Liv & Maddie. I am very entertained by those shows. With shows like this, you can just sit back and laugh for a little bit with these. Dove Cameron plays two characters on Liv & Maddie, so naturally she deserves to be on this. BAM! WHAT! I firmly believe the entire cast of I Didn't Do It is one of the funniest casts on television. They're all unique characters. From Libby to Logan to Jasmine to Delia to Garrett, each character's personality adds more to the show. Each of those cast members does really well. If you want to watch a truly entertaining episode of television, watch Lindylicious. I've seen it a couple of times, and the comedic timing of each of the principal cast just makes the episode that much better. The smoothie machine, the tuxedo effect, the high heel effect, Garrett going on a mission to find out if the popcorn at the movie is truly fresh, and of course Delia teaching Logan a lesson for trying to cheat in a clever manner are all successful elements in making a productive comedy show. They've really done well establishing a formula to ensure entertainment in each episode from the theme to the characters. Olivia Holt is one of the most entertaining young actresses today. She always looks like she's having fun, and that's what these shows are usually all about. Sarah Gilman is going to be a great comedic actress along the lines of Jeanine Garofolo in the next couple of years. She just has a great deadpan sense of humor. Piper Curda is the most believable of the characters-she's a young Blair Waldorf in the making. I like her fashionista persona. Curda really succeeds in capturing the essence of what that character is about.
Rather than list all the nominees in the category, I'll list the option I'd like to see take home the surfboard. I'll provide some commentary where it's appropriate.
Choice TV Show (Drama)
Pretty Little Liars
I honestly believe that PLL continues to produce quality episodes of television. I always like that they keep adding different twists to the plot to keep the audience interested. A big reason why I like this show so much is because its very female character oriented. Every character has actually evolved in some way from the pilot, so that's very impressive to see as well. I'm really enjoying Mona's Army storyline.
Choice TV Show (Animated)
Regular Show
This is one of the most intelligent animated shows I've ever seen. I've seen the entire cast in person at Comic-Con in San Diego. They deserve to be proud of the show they've created. The cool thing about Regular Show is that it's the complete opposite of what the title says. It's randomness really keeps you interested. The Pops character is so much fun. I actually have a stuffed one that they sold at Comic-Con because I think the uniqueness of the character is amazing. They have a gumball machine as a character-that's awesome. There's another show I do really like on the list called Adventure Time. That might be the most creative animated shows ever made. The Land of Ooo is so visually amazing, and there's so many different components. The show tells you that if you're friend is in trouble deal with the problem with a sword or a song. Characters like the Ice King and Princess Bubblegum are so fun visually that you're automatically invested in the story. The adventures of Finn & Jake are truly some of the most entertaining moments of television. Ultimately, I find Regular Show to be the better program, but I would like to see either win this award just because they're both unique in their own way, and the creators of the shows deserve the recognition for their hard work. The voice actors add the personality to the visual component, and if you get the voice right, then you really have a fun show. Each voice actor is able to do that for the audience. The voice definitely is what you envision when you first see the character.
Choice TV Show (Fantasy/Sci-Fi)
Once Upon A Time
There is no question about it!! Season 3 is one of my favorite seasons in television history. I mean the first half in Neverland with Peter Pan being portrayed as a calculating villain was excellent, and the second half in Oz with my favorite character of all time the Wicked Witch of the West just kept me interested every week. I think Lana Parilla should have received an Emmy nomination for her work as Regina in Season 3. She did such an amazing job displaying her inner white magic over the course of the season. Of course, Emma screwed it up by bringing Maid Marian back, and I'm not going to fault Regina for getting pissed. Just when you think she's going to find happiness, her heart gets broken. Lana Parilla is in my Top 3 actresses on Television with Tatiana Maslany & Sophia Bush being the other two. Once Upon A Time Season 4 will return on September 28th, and I'm already excited for Frozen to be a focal point. As a wrestling fan, there's a term called marking out when you get really excited for something. I think Once Upon A Time has made me mark out more than any show: first appearance of Ariel, the Wicked Witch of the West (you couldn't contain my excitement at Comic-Con), and of course when Elsa was revealed at the end of the Season 3 finale, I just looked at the screen with astonishment. I didn't expect that at all, and I loved it.
Choice Reality Show
Total Divas
It really is the only viable choice on the list. Also, as a huge proponent of women's wrestling it's mandatory to support this. It would be cool to see some representatives from the WWE at the show. They might have Brie & Nikki aka The Bellas show up for the event which would make sense. It will be cool to see if they win. I actually hope they do, because it would give some media exposure for the WWE Divas, and they deserve it. These women work hard to entertain fans. Remember, they're in the ring competing, and then shooting this show on top of traveling. It's a tough life, and these girls do it weekly. It's about respect. I'm impressed at how each girl is working to improve in the ring as well over the last few months.
Choice Breakout TV Show
Reign
In my opinion, there are five shows on television that have become mandatory watching for me: 1. Once Upon A Time, 2. Sons of Anarchy, 3. Game of Thrones, 4. Orphan Black (Season 3 will begin in April), AND 5. Reign-this show was something I had to see as soon as I could. I was so interested from the initial television spots. I loved it each week. I think the cast is amazing, and I love the time period it's centered around. It focuses on the Stuart line of royalty. Reign has produced one of the best 1st seasons you'll ever find. Season 2 begins this fall. By incorporating historical time periods with intense drama & romance, the cast worked to make something special, and they accomplished that. I couldn't believe some of the scenes I saw on the show. I kept wondering how CW approved certain scenes, but what's great is it really increased interest for the show. Ratings increased over the course of the season, and it was well deserved. Everybody put their all into making this work.
Choice TV Actress (Drama)
Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Between her and Troian Bellesario(who is also nominated), these two have produced pretty much all of the best moments on Pretty Little Liars. Aria Montgomery (played by Lucy) is my favorite character and she went through so much the last couple of episodes, dating back to last season. I still maintain that Troian Bellesario's descent into madness as Spencer Hastings in Season 3 was one of the best performances on the show. She won for that season last year-well deserved. Now, it's Lucy's turn to get the surfboard. The emotional rollercoaster that Aria's character has experienced is a major focal point right now, and Hale's acting makes her plight more believable.
Choice TV Actress (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries)
I would have put Tatiana Maslany on the list, but most teens don't know Orphan Black so I get why it might not be on there. Golden Globes-I'm looking at you to right the wrongs of the Emmys (BOYCOTT THEM) for their ridiculous snub two years in a row. In terms of Dobrev, I felt since she was transformed into a vampire, she really has changed her personality. I loved Season 4 watching her deal with the transformation. The episode where she shut off her humanity following Jeremy's death is amazing. She played three characters at one point in Season 5, and that's impressive. I'll always love Katherine Pierce the most, but she really has done an amazing job with the Elena Gilbert character, and it should be acknowledged. Katherine dealing with her mortality, while Elena dealt with her new immortality was a great parallel as well in Season 5. She basically switched up the characters, while still maintaining the known characteristics that fans are familiar with. I've been a fan of Nina's since she played Mia Jones on Degrassi. It's really cool to see her in such a star making role. She does an incredible job with everything she has to do on the Vampire Diaries. Vampire Diaries returns in October, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Season 6.
Choice TV Villain obviously
Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars)
Besides Aria, Mona Vanderwaal is my favorite character on PLL. I don't consider her a villain at all, but she deserves to be nominated. She's just leading a revolution to show Rosewood that Alison Delaurentis is the most vile human being ever. If anybody is a villain in the show, it's Alison. How can I be the only one that sees this? Anyway, Mona rules, and Janel is the reason why the character is so great. I think she's created a lot of great suspense in the show, and she really does an amazing job of utilizing her past to fuel the character in present day. Alison just causes problems for everybody, and Mona is the one taking a stand against it. GO MONA!!
Choice TV Breakout Star-Female
Adelaide Kane (Reign)
I've been so impressed with Adelaide Kane's role as Mary, Queen of Scots. She has a very regal demeanor about her in the show. Each episode of the show saw Mary's character grow stronger. I feel like she does a really great job standing up to those who question her power. She shows no fear of King Henry, Catherine de Medici, or even her mother. I think the episode where she gained the respect of the Scottish council was really cool. It showed that she has understood her responsibilities as a future ruler of Scotland. She understands the importance of alliances for political reason. While she loves Francis, she understands how the political game works. Adelaide Kane is one of the best actresses on television. She's believable as a young queen, and in reality her mother's side of the family has lineage to the Stuart family. One could say she was destined to play this role. I'm looking forward to seeing what Mary does in Season 2. One thing she shows is that once you get comfortable in a role, an actress is able to really shape the character into something amazing. Adelaide has done that. I think her delivery of dialogue, her look, and her strong, sophisticated personality has truly made an impact in television. She deserves this nomination. I believe the People's Choice Awards also took notice of this performance, so its good to see that people are recognizing how great she is. It's truly an incredible role for a young actress. The fact that she makes it work so perfectly is a testament to her talents as an actress. It's not an easy role-not everybody could do it. Adelaide Kane puts the work in throughout each episode to create a memorable performance for the audience. Television shows are only successful when the actor or actress in the role is believable, and Adelaide Kane is the epitome of that. While there are many incredible performances in that show, Adelaide is the one that leads the charge and she's succeeded in flying colors.
Choice Summer TV Star
Italia Ricci (Chasing Life)
Italia Ricci, much like Erica Dasher playing Jane Quinby in Jane By Design, quickly impressed me from the pilot episode of Chasing Life. I think the April Carver character is so strong willed. She really is the anchor of her family. April is smart, gorgeous (Italia is by far one of the most beautiful girls on television), and quick-witted. She's trying to rise at her job, I thought the way she was able to get an interview with a sports star in the opening moments of the pilot show how determined this character is to rise above obstacles. She won't let the fact that she has cancer stop her. That's extremely powerful to watch. It's an uplifting character. She has interesting relationships with everybody around her from the uncle who gave her the news to her troubled sister to her mother, each one shows just how talented Italia Ricci is. While she may be getting weaker physically, I think her determination to get to the bottom of things in her life is important. She uses the philosophy: Never Quit. You might have an obstacle in front of you, but don't let it stop you. The show can be upsetting at times for the content, but I always end up smiling at the resolve of April. Ricci is the one that shapes this character. She's made her a well-rounded character delving into family secrets, dealing with cancer, and holding her family together on top of that.
Choice Movie (Action)
The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones
While my favorite movie on that list is definitely Divergent, I felt City of Bones was the most action packed one listed. I will say that I think Divergent is going to win this, and I'd accept that without a doubt. I absolutely love the story in City of Bones as well. It is just non-stop excitement. The visuals mixed with the plot and the cast created something so special for audiences. I wish more people actually saw this movie. The story is very intriguing. As a fan of fantasy genre material, this really does an incredible job of utilizing that as well as angels & demons myths. I've seen this movie about 6 times, and I always have the same level of excitement each time. It's just a non-stop thrill ride using interesting source material. The movie did a pretty good job at following the book as well. I felt they really pushed the boundaries in many scenes as well, which is really good for this sort of movie. I think Lily Collins as Clary Fray was such a smart casting choice. She fits so well into the role. When I look at the cover for City of Ashes, Lily's appearance is exactly what I envision. Jamie Campbell Bower works really well in those mysterious roles like Grindelwald in Harry Potter or Antony in Sweeney Todd, but he has the look of an angel from books, so he really fits into the role. Him and Collins worked well together. Lastly, Jonathan Rhys-Myer as Valentine was perfect casting. He is known for playing Henry VIII in The Tudors, so he knows how to create a villainous edge. He did a great job with it. I feel Valentine is supposed to be similar to Satan, and Myer was able to create that manic edge to make it believable. The characters are larger than life. The story is interesting and keeps you invested throughout the movie. The battle sequences are incredible-visuals and intense action combine to create a really impressive adaptation of the book descriptions.
Choice Movie Actress (Action)
Shailene Woodley (Divergent)
While Lily Collins was absolutely amazing as Clary Fray, Shailene Woodley's role as Beatrice "Tris" Prior in Divergent was one of the most captivating performances in 2014. She captured the personality of Tris so perfectly throughout the movie. Her character is constantly evolving from when we're introduced to her in Abnegation to when she undergoes Dauntless training (basically has to forget everything about one faction and survive to adapt in another) to a courageous fighter helping to save the factions. In this movie, she really pulled the character out of the pages and made into a real life entity. Her acting was great-she sold emotion with her eyes extremely well. There was also one scene where she basically lost it following a certain event with her mother. When I saw it in the movies, everybody was so upset because of how well Woodley sold raw emotion. Watching her deal with physical obstacles showed how bad ass Tris is. While trying to find her place in society, she realizes she has to take some hits along the way. Shailene Woodley is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. She's been such an amazing presence in all of her movies since The Descendants.While I am impressed with the nominees on this list, I feel that Zoey Deutch for her portrayal as Rose Hathaway in Vampire Academy should be included on this list. She was a bad ass throughout this movie. She personified exactly what the Rose character represents in the books. Deutch did really well with it-her role in that movie should automatically have landed her a spot on the nominee list, however, I'm used to awards shows excluding people that I feel deserve it. On top of representing everything the character is with her sassy attitude and bad ass Dhampir fighting style, she's absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully, more books from the series are adapted, because its a really good series-darker than most YA series.
Choice Movie (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
X-Men: Days of Future Past
This was such an excellent movie bridging the past and the future. The cast is one of the best ever assembled for a movie. The movie's plot revolves around stopping a certain event in the past from happening in order to erase the dark, dreary, dismal future that lies ahead.
The action sequences were incredible. I was amazed by the cuts between the past & the future towards the end. While there was so much heartache in the future, there were incredible steps being taken in the past to prevent it. It really needs to be seen to appreciate how incredible it looked. Everybody had a chance to shine in some way, which was great to see. The incredible cast delving into their roles perfectly, a movie tackling one of the biggest story arcs in comics, the deep conversations between characters (loved these crucial dialogue scenes), the incredible action sequences blending visuals & emotion so well, intelligent usages of comedy, & a really awesome future at Xavier's School truly made this one of the best movies of the year. It's certainly one of the best comic book movies ever made. It was also really cool seeing Ellen Page's Kitty Pryde having such a huge role since it's her character that bridges the gaps between the past & present.
Choice Movie (Drama)
The Fault In Our Stars
This is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Shailene Woodley's role as Hazel Grace Lancaster was excellent! Woodley showed great range throughout the movie whether it was Hazel's courage in dealing with her disease, her emotional attachment/romance with Augustus Waters, her humor with her parents, or her frustrations with Peter Van Houten. Hazel Grace Lancaster is her breakthrough performance. I was just so impressed with how she took the audience into her world. The cinema disappeared, and we followed her along her journey. Through her highs & lows, we see how strong of a person she really is. I really loved her attitude-she believes in living in the face of death. Many scenes like the courage to continue climbing the stairs in the Anne Frank house, or standing up to Van Houten, I just smiled at how incredible this character is. While her disease may hinder it, she won't let it define her. The Anne Frank house, the eulogy scene (everybody in the theater just lost it), the conversation with her parents about staying strong when she passes, and reading Van Houten's/Gus's eulogy for her are some of the most emotional moments I've seen in a movie. These are memorable for symbolism, great dichotomy between happiness/sadness (each of these scenes has a silver lining), and for simply crafting a beautiful story.
Choice Movie Actress (Drama)
Emma Watson (Noah)
This is a really fun award for me, just because two of my five favorite actresses are on the list. Both of them deserve to be on it as well for their respective roles. My five favorite actresses are 1. Ellen Page, 2. Emma Watson, 3. Carey Mulligan, 4. Cate Blanchett, 5. Shailene Woodley. I really like this award, because Shailene Woodley's Hazel Grace Lancaster in Fault In Our Stars is on this list as well. I think she most likely will pick up the win, and she more than deserves it as I pointed out. It would just be awesome to see Watson win for her role as Ila in Noah. It was incredible seeing Emma Watson involved in such a huge project like this. I've been impressed with all of her roles, but with Noah she moved into another level showing great emotional range, particularly with how important her character arc is to the story. Her delivery of lines, mixed with emotional selling of the moment was blended so well that she brought me right into the scene. One scene in particular between her and Russell Crowe regarding choice was so powerful. Watson's arc was definitely the most powerful of everybody's and ultimately was the most important one in the story. I'm glad an actress that I have a ton of respect for was able to get this role. Watson's Ila is one of the better female roles I've seen in a while. I also find her to be such an incredible role model for girls.
That's just a look at some of the awards I'm interested in. Most of this article is about female performances, but I also discussed shows and movies, as well as some notes on the music categories. I had fun writing this, because as I said, I actually like most of the nominees for this show. I discussed reasons why I want the person, show, or movie to win.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
And the Emmy SHOULD go to...Tatiana Maslany
There comes a time when awards season begins that there's an obvious choice that should be on the nomination list. This year as we approach the 66th Emmy Awards, there is one actress that I feel deserves to be on the list more than any other: Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany. Orphan Black is one of the most compelling shows I've ever seen. The plot is intricate and the story has a great flow to it. The reason this show is so good revolves around Maslany. I will list some points and detail why I believe she deserves a nomination as well as a win for television's most prestigious award.
1. This is the most demanding performance on television!
Tatiana Maslany plays at least six different characters consecutively on Orphan Black. Most actors or actresses play one character. Her performance is automatically more difficult than that because of the complexity of each character. Obviously, I'm not saying actors or actresses who normally perform in one role aren't great, because there's a lot of excellent performances, but Maslany has such a difficult job, and pulls it off on a regular basis.
2. Each character is unique!
Tatiana Maslany isn't playing the same character six times. Each character she plays has its own unique look, accent, or story. There's never a time in this show where you're confused, because each of her characters are completely different from the other. Whether she's playing Sarah, Helena, Cosima, Alison, Rachel, etc. it's just amazing that it's the same actress playing all these roles. You ask yourself: Who plays Helena? Who plays Rachel? Then you realize that it's Tatiana and its even more impressive. Watching Tatiana morph from Sarah to Helena is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen, especially when the characters share the screen. These performances alone are the ultimate light & dark of the characters. It's the yin & yang of this show in many ways, and Maslany pulls off both so well. I would ultimately say I think she absolutely loves playing Helena, because she's the most eccentric, but just watching her shape each of these characters is what true talent is all about. Whether she speaks in a different accent, changes her look, or creates a completely different personality, Tatiana Maslany has successfully developed a kaleidoscope of colorful characters that are completely different from the other.
3. She has incredible chemistry with each character!
Chemistry between characters is such a huge part of Orphan Black. Watching her have to interact with herself is impressive in its own right, because she has to tap into all these characters for one scene. The interaction is so interesting. Not only is she able to convincingly create interaction with herself, but she works well with each character. Since Maslany plays most of the characters on the show, she has to interact with all the other characters. She has to tap into the different relationships she shares with the characters. Her connections with Felix, Kira, Siobhan or Mrs. S, Art, etc. are all compelling and completely different from the other. For instance, Sarah & Alison both have a completely different relationship with Felix, and she is able to capture that very well.
4. She plays the hero & the villain!
She portrays some characters in a heroic light. She portrays some characters in a villainous light. However, the most impressive thing about this is she's also able to create an incredible amount of complexity to the characters. She can turn the villain into an anti-hero. For instance, watching the Helena arc shows how much a character can progress over the course of a couple of episodes. Alot of her arc has to do with upbringing. The main character Sarah would be considered an anti-hero in many ways. Everything she does is to help Kira. I love Sarah Manning, but I also love Helena. I love Cosima, but I think Rachel is such a great antagonist. I think Alison's arc really shows how versatile of a performer Maslany is. She has gained more of an attitude over the two seasons, and its amazing to watch. The point is she knows how far to go to create a sympathetic character. The scene where Helena hugs Sarah after dealing with Daniel is great. Each of these characters makes you feel something: whether you want to root for them or go against them. Maslany's performance create a big picture where you're able to see where each character is coming from. That is extremely important. You see these shows where a villain isn't given enough backstory or the hero is too bland. With Maslany's performance, you don't get that. You get compelling characters, detailed backgrounds, and colorful performances highlighting each of these characters. Whether they bleed white or black, she is able to blur the lines and create some gray middle ground.
5. She is successfully able to portray comedy & drama!
In this show there are moments that will make you laugh, moments that will make you cry, and moments that will make you rewind to watch a scene again. The drama side is seen mostly with Sarah and Helena's story arcs. Sarah is looking to make a better life for Kira. Helena is trying to reconnect with her sister, while also trying to distance herself from her religious upbringing. Their arcs create such compelling television. The scenes they share together are some of the most dramatic moments I've seen on television. I always get excited when Helena comes on screen, because I know business is about to pick up. Sarah is a bad ass so it's always fun watching her on screen. Don't mess with her...or Mrs. S for that matter. She's always trying to piece things together and staying one step ahead of everybody. Sarah even portrays other characters at different points to gain an advantage which is really incredible. Think about that: Maslany as Sarah goes into a party, but has to portray Cosima, while also still being Sarah. Amazing!! All of this is designed to help her daughter Kira, while also being the leader of the club. Sarah Manning is awesome whether she's defending her sister, her daughter, or staying ahead of Art, Leeky, etc. On the comedy side of things, Alison's relationship with Felix, and her Desperate Housewives home life create laugh out loud moments that you can't stop smiling at. You get some great one liners between her and Felix. Based on how that friendship started, its amazing how far they actually come. Maslany is a versatile actress able to display so many sides of her personality with these roles. She'll have you feeling sad for certain characters, while laughing with another one the next. It's a complex group of characters who are constantly evolving from when we first them. It's difficult to find an actress to pull off the sweet (comedy) & the sour (serious) so perfectly on a show, but through numerous scenes she's able to convey this in a convincing matter.
TATIANA MASLANY DESERVES AN EMMY!! If you snub her, Helena will come for you!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)