Film Review - "Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice"

Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Directed by Zach Snyder
Starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot 

The best place to start is by saying the waves of hate drowning this film on its opening weekend are not justified. I can't believe I'm in a position where I'm defending a film directed by Zach Snyder, one of the most frustrating filmmakers of our time in my opinion. That said, while I did enjoy Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, it is not a flawless film. There are problems that have to be addressed, so on we go.

Two year have passed since the events of Man of Steel and Superman's (Cavill) destructive battle with General Zod (Michael Shannon), which laid waste to most of Metropolis. Since then Bruce Wayne (Affleck) has held a deep grudge against him, fearing Superman could one day use his god-like powers to wipe out the entire planet. Getting back into the guise of Batman, Wayne makes it his mission to take him out before he even has the chance to.

Superman/Clark Kent continues with his struggle to find a place in the world, that right now doesn't know wether to fear or admire him. Meanwhile, Lois Lane (Amy Adams) investigates…something, that becomes relevant later on in the film. Billionaire Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) sets out to get his hands on some Kryptonite for his own devices, while Bruce also does some investigating against him. Then we have the mysterious Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gadot) with her own agenda, and sprinkled in between all that are some teases for Justice League….so yeah, a lot going on here.

If you remember The Amazing Spider-Man 2 at all, this is the same problem that film had. The first act is incredibly choppy, and there's a lot of of jumping from plot thread to plot thread. Unlike The Amazing Spider-Man 2 though, all the threads somehow come together in a moment I'm not sure I can share because it's a little spoilerish. That said, until the film gets to that point around the one-hour mark, it's very messy. The Justice League tie-ins while cool, felt very shoehorned in. Thankfully, it all concludes in an action-packed, absolutely awesome third act.

Let's talk about the performances. Henry Cavill, I really like as Superman, but he felt like a plot device in his own movie. Honestly, he barely had any dialogue. It just doesn't seem like Cavill is being given the proper chance to develop this character. My views on Man of Steel have changed since I first saw it (Seriously I was too kind in that review) but Cavill/Superman was almost treated a similar way in that film as well. Ben Affleck is awesome as Bruce Wayne/Batman, playing him with the perfect amount of charisma and gruff. Guys, Ben Affleck might be our best Batman yet. I am absolutely in love with Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and I cannot wait for her solo film next year.

Amy Adams is perfect again as Lois Lane. Jeremy Irons is so cool as Alfred. Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor….oh my god. So many times I wanted to scream "Shut up!" at the screen. His performance is just odd, cringeworthy, and downright annoying. I think there was only one or two good scenes where I actually enjoyed him as Lex. Hopefully going forward in the DC Extended Universe, be it Justice League or a straight Man of Steel sequel, we see very little of him.

Zach Snyder….oh, Zach Snyder. You can direct some really great action pieces but you just can't stop yourself from over-stylizing shit sometimes can you? His biggest offense in this category is a flashback to the deaths of Bruce Wayne's parents. Yeah you get to see that again. Then there's a scene where Superman performs a rescue at a Day of the Dead festival, and the end of it is just so….silly. It's been shown in most of the trailers. I'm talking about this:

Doesn't look any better on screen trust me. That said, most of the action scenes are incredible. The titular showdown between Batman and Superman isn't as grand as you'd expect it to be, but it's still epic. The showdown between Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman against Doomsday is pure awesome. Oh by the way, Doomsday looks like shit. Literally. Like a humanoid piece of cat poop. Last thing, the music for this film is amazing and has been on repeat in my house ever since I got home from the theater.

So to conclude, I find Batman V. Superman to be a solidly entertaining film, that manages to get where it needs to despite some pretty outstanding flaws. Who is to blame? I don't think Zach Snyder deserves all the discredit. The screenwriters? Perhaps. The studio heads who laid down the law? I mean more than likely. The blunt cynic in me wants to say that at base level this is just playing catch-up to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Boooooo!!!!" Oh shut up!!!!

Anyway, was there a better course to take for the DCEU? Yeah sure. A direct sequel to Man of Steel, push the Wonder Woman film up further, maybe-but-a-not totally necessary standalone Batman film, and then this film? Who knows? I don't have the power to offer a Plan B. I'll just look at the film we got, which isn't great, but is definitely not terrible. This a case where you have to stop listening to the critics, get to the theater, and make your own opinion. I guarantee you won't be totally disappointed with what you see.

Top 10 Films of 2015

Better late than never? I wanted to see a few more films before I finalized my list. Still haven't seen every film from 2015 I wanted to or probably should have seen. Oh well. Here are my top films of 2015. That I've seen. So far...and once again, my top films. Not yours. Mine....let's begin.

10.  Creed
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone

The Rocky films can always get you pumped up when you're watching them, but they also have a lot of heart to them, and Creed is no exception. But at the same time, it breathes new life into a tired franchise, with a story about legacy and identity. The director/actor combo of Coogler and Jordan is proving to be a force to be reckoned with, and some of the fight choreography is stunning. Stallone gives one of his best performances, taking the character of Rocky Balboa to new, emotional heights. I certainly didn't expect Creed to be a success, but I'm very glad I was wrong.

9. Ant-Man
Directed by Peyton Reed
Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, and Michael Douglas

This was a tough call. I knew there was no way I could put both this and Avengers: Age of Ultron on this list (I mean I certainly could have and you would all been like 'Oh what a surprise both MCU movies made it to Chris's Top 10 of 2015. Well surprise on YOU, mother lovers! Age of Ultron ain't on here!!). There were a lot of heavy hitters last year for me, and frankly when it comes down to it, Ant-Man is the better made film. The humor is off-the-wall, the script is more fluid, and it throws something new onto the Marvel Cinematic chessboard. Plus, Thomas The Tank Engine proved far more menacing than Ultron. Now, put your knives down and let's move on to number eight...

8. Kingsman: The Secret Service
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring Taron Edgerton, Colin Firth, and Samuel L. Jackson

Kingsman is one of the craziest, grooviest, action-packed films I've seen in most recent years. Fresh newcomer Taron Edgerton gives a career-jump-starting performance, which is something to say when he's working with such pedigree like Colin Firth and Michael Caine, who you would think be phoning in it a film like this, but they most definitely are not. The humor is outrageous. Honestly, how could a film that has Colin Firth, single-handedly fight his way out of a vicious shootout in a church full of radicals, all set to the guitar solo from "Free Bird" not end up on anyone's Top Films of 2015 list? Seriously if you're looking for a very well made, very fun film, see Kingsman.

 7. Mr. Holmes
Directed by Bill Condon
Starring Sir Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, and Milo Parker

As I said before, I really wish more people saw this film, because it's such a treat. It gives a very intriguing new look on the character of Sherlock Holmes, who is played here wonderfully by Ian McKellen. A little slow paced, but there's plenty of drama and intrigue to keep the audience captivated. Not many people probably remember this film now because it's been almost a year, which is a shame because it's such a unique film, with a creative story and terrific performances.

6. Room
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay

An emotionally gripping film if I've ever seen one. Your heartstrings are 110% attached to the journey of Joy Newsome and her son Jack. That is of course in credit to the actors who portray them. Brie Larson more than deserved her Oscar. You are in Joy's corner right from the very beginning. Jacob Tremblay gives an amazing performance as Jack. This kid's got a bright future ahead of him. One movie and the world's already in love with him. Room leaves a deep impact on the viewer, that will stick with you long after the end credits roll.

5. The Hateful Eight
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Walton Goggins

Tarantino does it again, with a brilliant script, beautiful score, and stunning visuals. Many of his regular cast members along with some new ones form one fantastic ensemble. Walton Goggins plays a deliciously despicable, almost dorky sheriff that ends up being one of the film's highlights, and Samuel L. Jackson adds another fantastic character into his filmography. The story seems simple, but as the film goes on it gets deeper, as it's revealed things are not what they appear, and you're left bubbling with intrigue. The Hateful Eight is another wonderful addition into Quentin Tarantino's art house.

4. Inside Out
Directed by Pete Docter
Starring Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Mindy Kaling

Inside Out is Pixar at its best. Pete Docter gives the studio another amazing entry into their canon, with a film that is unique, clever and emotionally uplifting. It features one of the best voice casts ever assembled, led by the amazing Amy Poehler, and a bunch of unforgettable characters (Bing Bong…). Inside Out should go down in history as one of the best animated films of all time, and definitely one of Pixar's best films. It's an emotionally poignant film that I think can touch the hearts of all ages…at least that's what the voices in my head say.

3. The Revenant
Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and Domhall Gleeson

Leo finally got an Oscar! For one of the best performances of his career no doubt. The Revenant is an intense journey, both for Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) and the viewer. Featuring some truly heart-pounding sequences and beautiful imagery, it's not a film for the faint of heart, but it's incredibly well made. Inarritu's work with the camera is as much a character in the film itself, much like it was in Birdman. Alongside Leo, Tom Hardy gives a great performance as the despicable John Fitzgerald. Seriously guys, The Revenant is so much more than terrifying bear attack scene. It's an edge-of-your-seat story of survival and revenge, and one of the must-see films from last year.


2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Starring Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega

You shouldn't be surprised this ended up on the list. It was the biggest film of last year. From what I've come to learn in the months since I've seen it, The Force Awakens is probably not what everyone wanted in a new Star Wars film. Though for me, who wasn't a big fan of the franchise from the start, I thought it was practically perfect. It knows when to use the nostalgia of the older films, it knows when to let the new characters shine vs. the old ones, and the bottom line is it's pure fun. I think wether you love Star Wars or just love good movies, you can get caught up in the thrill that is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It sets the franchise up for a beautiful future in a galaxy far, far away.

So what film did I love so much that it knocks Star Wars down to number two? What was my top film of 2015? Well I'll tell you. It's...

1. The Peanuts Movie

Directed by Steve Martino
Starring Noah Schnapp and Bill Melendez

In a time when big-screen adaptations of old cartoons often askew the source material with crude humor and pop culture references, The Peanuts Movie is arguably one of the most faithful film adaptations ever made. The animation is gorgeous, and spot-on. It's the old Peanuts comics strips brought to life. The voice cast, there's not a well recognized celebrity to be heard. It's all regular kids, who bring Charlie Brown (Schnapp) and his friends to life flawlessly. The humor is akin to classic Peanuts. The story of Charlie Brown's constant failed attempts to succeed, and win the admiration of his beloved Little Red-Haired Girl, is not something new. It's a story that has defined this character since his conception. But it's a perfect way to introduce this world to a new generation, and it can emotionally resonate with anyone.

There are times when we all feel like we just can't win. Failure has almost become our best friend. No matter what we do, our goals seem lightyears away. That's Charlie Brown's whole life, and no matter how many setbacks he faces, he just keeps trying. He doesn't give up. That is an incredibly important message to me that I think everyone needs to learn. Without spoiling too much, where Charlie Brown winds up at the end of the film, leaves a mark on the viewer with a mixture of hope, innocence, and self-worth.

I'm going to cut myself short because this is "Top Films of 2015" not "Peanuts Movie Review w/Top Films of 2015" but from the perspective of someone who partially grew up on Peanuts, The Peanuts Movie is a perfect adaptation. It's a brilliant, funny, heartwarming film, and it's my top film of 2015.


Runners Up In No Particular Order: Spotlight, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Sisters, Ted 2, The Martian...

….Now, to make sure this doesn't happen again next year. I'm going to start writing my "Top Films of 2016" right now.

Disney Sequel Showdown- "The Lion King 1 1/2"

Disney Sequel Showdown: Round #3

The Lion King 1 1/2
Directed By Bradley Raymond
Starring Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Julie Kavner and Jerry Stiller

So this just came back into my head. It's late, I can't sleep, so let's talk about another Disney sequel!

Well I've already knocked two Disney direct-to-video sequels, follows up to Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I did say there were some decent ones in the canon. The Lion King 1 1/2, despite that ridiculous title, is probably one of, if not the best of the Disney direct-to-video sequels.

Where The Lion King is an adaptation of Hamlet,  The Lion King 1 1/2 is sort of an adaptation of Rosencrantz & Guilderstein Are Dead. The film takes us through the original again, but from Timon and Pumbaa's point-of-view. But before the "Circle of Life" begins, we get to see what life was like for Timon (Lane) back in his meerkat colony, complete with his mother (Kavner) and Uncle Max (Stiller).

After botching up a stint on sentry duty involving some familiar hyenas, Timon leaves home to find his place in the world. Along the way, he meets his future best friend Pumbaa (Sabella), who joins him on his quest to find their own patch of paradise. From there, the events of the first film run its course, but again it's their side of the story. We see what they were doing during some of the original's key scenes, including some that we didn't even know they were around for.

Perhaps Lion King 1 1/2's greatest strength is that it doesn't take itself seriously, right down to it's Mystery Science Theater 3000 set up of Timon and Pumbaa watching the film in a theater. It's a sequel to one of the greatest animated films of all time, but it's not going try to match it. It's going to be it's own thing. That was a coming-of-age story of a young prince, this is a buddy comedy/satire, that actually has a lot of laughs at the expense of the former.

All that aside, there is still an emotional Disney core, and that comes from the relationship of our two leads. It's always nice to see filmmakers successfully take sidekicks, and make them three-dimensional characters. Of course, you know they didn't do that on their own. Timon and Pumbaa have been around for years, were already loved by the public, and had two other films and a tv show before this. While this is a Timon & Pumbaa film, Timon is the star. It's his hero journey, and while Pumbaa does go through his own emotional arc, it spawns from Timon's.

The animation here is rather good despite this being a direct-to-video release (This was around the time these films started getting higher in quality, and were no longer being recycled episodes from a cancelled tv show stapled together. Looking at you, Belle's Magical World and Cinderella II).
The music is fine, featuring some catchy original songs, reprises of ones from The Lion King, and some from outside sources that are used for jokes and pop culture references.

I'm not surprised that nearly every cast member from the original film returned for this, with the exception of Rowan Atkinson as Zazu (Seriously what the hell was he doing that he couldn't be bothered?). I mean this was a sequel to what was at the time, Disney's most successful animated film (This was all B.F….Before Frozen.) Anyway, they're all great. Disney always knew how to put together a good voice cast for a film. New additions Julie Kavner and Jerry Stiller as Ma & Uncle Max provide a good amount of laughs, even though you can clearly tell that Kavner is the voice of Marge Simpson, and that Jerry Stiller is…well Jerry Stiller.

So to recap, if one should ever find themselves in a situation where you had to watch a Disney sequel, this is without a doubt your best option. I myself do actually get the urge to rewatch it from time to time, because it's just a fun, harmless film. The Lion King 1 1/2 is not one of those sequels that's better than the originals. Lord no. For what it is though, it's a fine film, and that's really nothing to fuss about. Hakuna Matata.

Film Review- "Kung Fu Panda 3"

Kung Fu Panda 3
Directed by Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh
Starring Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, and JK Simmons

Dreamworks Animation has always been hit and miss with their films. For a while back there, frankly the only good films they were putting out were Shrek and stuff they were distributing for Aardman Animation. Then in 2008 came the first Kung Fu Panda, and it sort of ushered in a new era of quality for the studio.

Six years later, and the quality of their output is still all over the spectrum. Blame it on financial troubles of the studio, poor creative decisions or some combination of both. Along side the How To Train Your Dragon's , the Kung Fu Panda film series remains their best work. Five years after the stellar Kung Fu Panda 2, comes the next installment, Kung Fu Panda 3. While the film only enforces my previous statement, I still found it to be the weakest of the three Kung Fu Panda's.

The film opens in the Spirit Realm, which apparently is where Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) went in the middle of the first film. Oogway is confronted by his old friend-turned-nemesis Kai (Simmons), who has stolen the chi from all the kung fu masters in the Spirit Realm. After stealing Oogway's chi, Kai gains the power to return to the mortal realm, where he plans to steal...even more kung fu masters' chi! Of course before he leaves, Oogway foretells of another warrior destined to defeat Kai. (Guess who it is?!?)

Back in the mortal realm, Master Shifu (Hoffman) tells his students he is ready to retire, and has chosen Dragon Warrior Po (Black) as his replacement. Po proves to be a horrible teacher. Shifu tells him if he wants to be a good teacher, he has to come to understand what it means to be him, to be the Dragon Warrior. Po's plate only gets heavier when his biological father (Cranston) returns and offers to take him back to a secret panda village, and teach him what it really means to be a panda. Then on top of that, Po must prepare to face Kai.

So while I do think this is a good story, I do wish they had taken one or two more passes at the script. The theme of Po discovering who he is, it's a bit of a rehash of his character arc in the previous film. I can see both sides of it though. While Kung Fu Panda 2 was Po discovering who he is, Kung Fu Panda 3 is more about what it means to be him. The former deals with more with the Po side of things, while the latter deals with the Dragon Warrior side. That's all well and good, I just wish the script in 3 did more to set it apart from 2.

The animation in this series has always been spectacular, and this film does not disappoint. The animators really craft a beyond beautiful Spirit Realm, which are the visual highlights of the film, and the Ancient China setting looks as good as ever. The fight scenes in the Spirit Realm look awesome, but ones taking place in other parts of the film never manage to match the grand scale of those in the previous films. The music is once again epic, particularly the theme for our villain, Kai.

The returning voice cast are more than comfortable in their roles by now, and all do great work, so let's focus on the new additions. Bryan Cranston as Po's father Li Shan…I mean it's Bryan Cranston. Has the man ever turned in a bad performance? JK Simmons is hard to recognize as Kai, except for a few moments, but sadly he's the worst of the series' three villains. His motivation and backstory sadly do not reach the compelling, emotional heights of Tai Lung or Lord Shen. Then there's Kate Hudson, playing like, kind of a new love interest for Po? Which is fine but she's just kinda there.

So while probably not worth the five year wait, Kung Fu Panda 3 is still a well-crafted film, and manages to still be one of Dreamworks Animation's best films in recent years. Never reaching the epic-ness of the first or the emotional gravitas of the second, it still retains the fun (If I could borrow from the film's dialogue) awesomeness of its predecessors. It provides a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, if this does prove to be the last film in the series. Fans of Kung Fu Panda and animation alike will not be disappointed, and I think will agree that this will go down in history as one of the best animated film series of our time.

Film Review- "Deadpool"

Deadpool
Directed by Tim Miller
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarain, and Ed Skrein


Like most of the general film-going population, I know that X-Men Origins: Wolverine was not a good movie. Back in 2009 though, I was not as Marvel savvy as I am now, and that was my first taste of the character of Deadpool. As time went on, I learned that iteration of the character was not the Deadpool fans know, love, and wanted to see. The more I learned about the character, the more I saw the idea of film adaptation really working. My reservations towards Ryan Reynolds notwithstanding of course, and the fact that Fox was refusing to green light production.

Then in August 2014 someone leaked the test footage, and I went, "Yes. I like that. Give me more of that!" Fox gave into the fans and a year or so later, after some really stellar trailers and one of the best marketing campaigns for a film I've ever seen, Deadpool is now in theaters. Folks, I can confidently say this is probably the best Marvel movie that-wasn't-made-by-Marvel yet.

Just as mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds) prepares to take the next step with his girlfriend Vanessa (Baccarain), he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Shortly after that, he is offered a chance to be a part of a shady but experimental program that could cure him. Wilson agrees after some hesitation, only to find the program is not what it seems. He is injected with a serum and put through a series of excrutiating tests to trigger his mutant genes. He soon develops the ability to heal from everything ("They didn't just give me the cure to el cancer. They give me the cure to el everything!") but his body is also left horribly scarred.

After escaping a fierce confrontation at the program headquarters, Wilson dons his infamous red suit and sets out for revenge against the program director Francis/Ajax (Skerin), despite the interjection of  two X-Men, Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Stefan Kapicic and Brianna Hidlebrand).

What sounds like a fairly simple origin story is brought to a whole new level with heaping amounts of crude, laugh-out-loud humor and non-stop action. The filmmakers were really given the chance to make a proper adaptation of Deadpool, packed with pop-culture references and fourth-wall breaking. There is real heart to this film too. The relationship between Wade and Vanessa is at its core, and makes it more than just a raunchy superhero comedy.

I've said before that Ryan Reynolds can be a great actor but he wastes his time making the wrong films. I'm not saying that right now. He was born to play Deadpool, and naturally, is the highlight of the film. Everything he says, everything he does, is pure gold. Morena Baccarain brings a lot of spice to the role of Vanessa, a role that could very well have been just a bland love interest, if not for the combination of her and the screenwriter's talents. She's given plenty of jokes to crack as well, and has great chemistry with Reynolds. Skerin is perfectly despicable as Francis/Ajax. Kapicic and Hidelbrand are given some juicy material in their X-Men supporting roles, while never overshadowing our hero, and finally TJ Miller gets some laugh's as Wade's buddy Weasel.

If I did have to pick one flaw with the film, it would be that some of the origin story flashbacks tend to be a little slow, as is expected with most of these superhero films. Thankfully, this problem is minuscule  compared to the rest of this awesome film.

Deadpool has definitely met expectations after all the years of anticipation and hype. In a world where the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe stand tall and proud, this outside-the-house production leaves a real lasting mark on the superhero genre. A truly faithful adaptation, and a real work of passion by its creative team, I feel as though we already have one of the best films of the 2016. I know it's only February! How crazy is that??

Oh yeah, and I'm still going to do a Top Films of 2015. Still got some more to see….Oh and just so we're clear they're my top films of 2015….Mine. Not yours…

...chikka chikkahhh.

Film Review- "The Good Dinosaur"

The Good Dinosaur
Directed by Peter Sohn
Starring Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, and Sam Elliot

Two Pixar films in one year you say?? How awesome can that be?? Well, it's not double the amount of awesome Pixar you're probably hoping for. It's more like at the level of awesome and-a-half. That's not to say The Good Dinosaur is a bad film. It's just not going to break any ground like Wall-E, Up, or the studio's other, more superior offering of this year, Inside Out.

The Good Dinosaur takes place in a world where the asteroid never hit Earth, and the dinosaurs were never wiped out. Arlo (Ochoa) is the youngest of a family of apatosaurus. Both small and very skittish, Arlo struggles to "make his mark" on the family farm and the world. Arlo's assignment to take care of a pest on the farm, a thieving, feral cave boy (Bright), combined with a series of unfortunate events, leaves him lost and far away from home.

The young dinosaur must learn to survive in the wilderness and find his way back to his family. Along the way he gains the assistance and friendship of the cave boy, whom he nicknames Spot. Together, the two encounter a gang of savage pterdactyls, a family of T-Rex "ranchers" (Elliot plays Butch the father), among other surprises and perils of this prehistoric wilderness.

The film's story is nothing new or special. It's a "boy and his dog" story, which have never done too much for me (Probably because I've never had a pet that wasn't a fish). There's also the obvious comparison to The Land Before Time, and the keen eye can also spot (no pun intended) that the film borrows a little bit from The Lion King and Bambi. Baring all that in mind, words like "predictable" and "cliche" might be applied to The Good Dinosaur.

Don't get me wrong though, you still can get invested in the story, and the relationship of our two main characters. The two young boys voicing them deserve some credit for that. Ochoa gives an emotional performance as young Arlo, and Bright manages to bring Spot to life only through howls, growls, etc. Combine their performances with spectacular character animation, and you have another winning Pixar bromance on the screen.

To further expand on the animation of the film, it's gorgeous. At times I wasn't sure if I what I was looking at was animated or live-action. The design of the characters are more cartoony than the scenery, but they blend together in a strange, unexplainable way.

The rest of the voice cast does good work. Sam Elliot is playing to type (perfectly) as Butch. Jeffrey Wright and Frances McDormand give small but strong performances as Arlo's parents. Steve Zahn's performance as lead pterodactyl Thunderclap is probably one of his better and more tolerable characters. At this moment I can't seem to recall John Ratzenberger's cameo. I can remember the character by looking at the IMDB page, but not the voice. Part of me still wonders what the film would be like with its original voice cast (and story), that included Neil Patrick Harries, John Lithgow, and Bill Hader, but que sera.

Some stylistic decisions the filmmakers went with left me scratching my head. There are hints of a western motif, but it's never really established outside of some parts of the score, and the T-Rex characters. The filmmakers also designed it so when the T-Rexes run, they look like they're cowboys riding horses, which just looks…strange. Then, there were some very surprising jokes and sight gags that left me going, "Is this really in a Pixar film?" The best example would be at one point, Arlo and Spot eat some "bad berries"...yeah…

I feel like I've knocked the film as much as I've praised it. To summarize, there is nothing bad about The Good Dinosaur. There's just nothing new. It still has plenty of eye-watering emotions and stellar animation you'd expect from Pixar. While you definitely can get invested in the characters, particularly Arlo and his relationships with Spot and his father, the story is nothing unique. It's good but not great. I'd put it on the same level as some of the studio's lesser efforts like Brave or Monsters University, and like Brave, part of me feels like the right audience for this film is probably back in the nineties. But it's 2015, and The Good Dinosaur lives up to the "Good" part of its name.

If you're a diehard Pixar fan, you should still give this film a chance. If you only want to see one Pixar film this year, well I guess be glad you already saw Inside Out.

Film Review- "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Starring Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega

This summer, I jokingly told my friend Tom that my favorite character from Star Wars was Jar Jar Binks. He then proceeded to try and suffocate me…

Point being, a lot of people are very passionate about Star Wars, and are still very bitter about the last trilogy. The franchise has never been at the top of my list of obsessions, but I was as excited for this as most people. I'm hear to tell you to wash away the pain of the prequel trilogy, Star Wars is back in true form.

Now to avoid giving anything away, I'll give you the barest of a bare bone summary of the film. Okay here goes…taking place thirty years after Return of The Jedi, a new threat has emerged in the galaxy known as The First Order, with the menacing Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) as one of its key figures. Old heroes are joined by new faces, including scavenger Rey (Ridley), rogue storm trooper Finn (Boyega) and pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac), as the battle begins and a new chapter unfolds.

First off, the film uses the nostalgia of the original film heavily to its advantage, to the point where The Force Awakens is almost a retelling of A New Hope. Some would say the film plays it safe by doing this, but it's actually a winning formula that gives the film enough legs to stand on its own.

A lot of this is credit to the writers allowing the new characters to shine, and for the most part carry the film. Daisy Ridley is a charming and compelling lead as Rey. John Boyega plays the part of a reluctant hero perfectly with Finn. Oscar Isaac is sharp and charismatic as Poe Dameron, but isn't given as much to do as Ridley or Boyega. Driver is nearly perfect as our new villain Kylo Ren, and our new droid character, little BB-8, is a real scene stealer.

Then there are our old friends. Harrison Ford is our glue to the original trilogy, and is at his best once again as Han Solo. Carrie Fischer settles back into the role of Princess-now-General Leia Organa, playing her with just the right amount of attitude and wisdom. Old friends like R2-D2, C-3PO, and Chewbacca are as good as ever. What's that? Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker? Yeah I can't talk about that.

I don't often discuss sets or locations in my reviews, but the ones in The Force Awakens are beautiful. The filmmakers definitely took time and effort crafting the look of every scene on every world, so this would look and feel like a Star Wars film is supposed to. 

It's hard to review, let alone talk about the film when so much of its plot has been kept deep under wraps since day one. To tell you what happens in the first three minutes is practically a spoiler. Trust me when I say though, this is a really good, really fun film. Die-hard fan or not, you're going to enjoy it. I'll tell you when I was in my seat at the film's start, I felt as though I was transported back in time, and watching one of the original films back in the seventies. I had a huge smile on my face, and that's coming from a guy who never saw Episode II, only the important parts of Episode III, and had only just come to own his own copies of the original trilogy last month.

The force is strong with The Force Awakens. It's breaking all the box office records, it's probably going to be on hundreds of "Best Films of 2015" lists, and it just might walk away with a few awards by Oscar Season's End. This is a must see in my opinion, wether your a fan of Star Wars or just cinema in general. The force, it's calling to you dear viewers. Just let it in.