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.

 

Film Review- "Mr. Holmes"

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

I don't think I need to remind the general reader that the character of Sherlock Holmes has been around for a long time. Though there has been a bit of resurgence of the super sleuth in recent years. We've had the gritty, semi-direct adaptation in the Guy Ritchie films starring Robert Downey Jr. Then there's the BBC miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which sets the Holmes stories in modern day. So now one must ask, what's there left to do with the character?

"Set it in the future! The year 3015, where-" *slap*

Show Holmes in retirement! As an old man! Where his greatest adversity is…his deteriorating mind….

No but really, that is the premise of the film Mr. Holmes. Now stay with me, because as dull as that may sound compared to a Cumberbatch-packed hour of suspense or a Downey-charged blockbuster, this film is really good.

Like I said, Mr. Holmes focuses on the famous detective (McKellen) in his retirement, at age 93 to be percise. Now living with Mrs. Munro (Linney), his put-upon housekeeper, and her son Roger (Parker), Holmes has taken it upon himself to right an accurate account of his final case, as the one his late part Watson wrote was fictionalized. The only problem is Holmes's memory is failing, and he can't remember much at all of the case. Meanwhile, he begins to bond with Roger, and Mrs. Munro grows more and more tired with their current living situation.

A simple story enough, but there's plenty of drama and emotion that makes this as thrilling as any other Sherlock Holmes story we've heard before. This is probably the most unique Holmes story we've ever had, because it shows the character to a point in his life we've never seen him before. It's truly compelling to see one of literature's greatest heroes deal with his own mortality, while at the same time grow beyond the iconic character we've come to love. It really is almost perfect. Throughout the film I kept saying, "This. This is what Sherlock would be like as an old man."

A lot of that is credit to his portrayer, Sir Ian McKellen who gives a brilliant performance, that's as memorable as his Magento or his Gandalf. Young Milo Parker begins to make his mark on Hollywood, giving a breakthrough performance as Roger, and Laura Linney does her usual good work as Mrs. Munro.

I saw this film (and started writing this review) back in July. Back then I said this is going to be that one film that isn't released at the end of the year, that manages to defy the stereotype and gnab some awards/nominations. The Golden Globe nominations have now been announced, and Mr. Holmes has been completely snubbed, which is a shame because it's a wonderful film. Blame it on the fact that the critics/voters of Hollywood have the same short-term memory as Dory from Finding Nemo I suppose.

If you're a strict lover of the action-packed suspense of other Sherlock Holmes adaptations, this may not be your cup of tea. If you're not, then I'd give this film a watch. It may not become anyone's favorite film given it's a relatively slow paced drama, but it definitely leaves an impression, and showcases a top-notch performance from its lead actor.

PS: McKellen is set to re-team with Director Bill Condon in 2017, when he takes on the role of Cogsworth in Disney's live action remake of their animated classic Beauty & The Beast. My thoughts on the very existence of the project, and the trend of animated-to-live-action remakes it's now apart of aside, Mr. Holmes does give me slightly higher expectations for the project...


                                        

Film Review- "Ant-Man"

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

Not just two months after Avengers: Age of Ultron took the Marvel-loving world by storm, here comes Ant-Man. The actual end to Phase Two, though it almost feels like the beginning of Phase Three in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's in an odd spot in the franchise, but it's an odd film…an odd film that proves to be another strong entry into the Marvel canon.

The film opens on Scott Lang (Rudd), a recently released con-man, trying to do right by his daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson). Unable to find steady work, he agrees to pull off another heist with his old partners. Stealing what he believes to be an old motorcycle suit, Scott discovers it's the technical wonder, that we the educated know as the Ant-Man suit.

It is then revealed the heist was all a test, orchestrated by Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas). Pym tells Scott he needs him to pull off a heist unlike any he's pulled before. Pym's former protege, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) has successfully recreated his formula for the Ant-Man suit, and is planning to sell his own version of the suit, the Yellowjacket, to the highest bidder. Armed with the Ant-Man suit, Scott is tasked with breaking into Cross's lab and stealing the Yellowjacket technology, before he can sell it to the wrong people, and unleash utter chaos. With the help of his con buddies, and Pym's daughter Hope (Lily), Scott sets out to save the world, and become the Ant-Man.

Ant-Man is probably one of Marvel's most unique outings, from the zany visuals, to the outrageous humor. It definitely pushes some envelopes that haven't been pushed before by Marvel, from a climatic battle atop a toy Thomas The Tank Engine, to a slightly disturbing scene with a sheep that I'm sure PETA will have something to say about. The film probably also has the most swear words dropped in an MCU film, just a fair warning for people bringing younglings with them.

It also has a bit of "anti-MCU" tone to it, poking fun at other Avengers (One in particular, in probably the best scene of the film) and events in other films. Again, an odd film, but Ant-Man is an odd hero with odd powers, so it all blends together. Somehow Peyton Reed manages to blend his vision for the film, Marvel's vision, and Edgar Wright's vision (This is the one and only time I'll be bringing Edgar Wright up here, got it?) into a balanced, entertaining film.

Paul Rudd is almost playing to type as Scott Lang, but still gives a very engaging performance. Michael Douglas is a great addition to the Marvel universe. I would like to have seen Evangeline Lily's Hope Van Dyne get a bit more depth as a character but she still works the role. Corey Stoll is deliciously smug as Darren Cross, but like some other Marvel villains, doesn't get much development. Michael Pena steals every scene he's in as Scott's partner Luis, and Bobby Canavale gets a few good scenes as Scott's ex-wife's new fiancé Paxton.

If I had to pick one bad thing about the film, I guess I found the first act to be a bit slow. I almost found myself getting bored, and arguing with my subconscious "Is this it? Is this Marvel's first dud?" Thankfully I was proven wrong, because once Scott gets the Ant-Man suit and things start getting weird, that's when the fun begins. I guess you could say Ant-Man falls victim to the tropes of any origin story, but hey if you're gonna tell an origin story…

With the release of both Age of Ultron and Ant-Man this summer, Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come to a close. Consider this, if Age of Ultron is like a thick, juicy steak with all the trimmings, than Ant-Man is the light but delicious dessert that follows it. Strange, funny, and a feast for the eyes, it's one of the most endearing and unique entries into the franchise.

Now, how many months until Captain America: Civil War? Nine? Shit…

Film Review- "Ted 2"

Ted 2
Directed by Seth MacFarlane
Starring Mark Whalberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Seth MacFarlane

We meet again, MacFarlane.

After the disappointing A Million Ways To Die In A West, I wasn't quite sure what to expect here. I know the "Family Guy" mastermind can do as much bad as he does good, but the first Ted is one of my favorite films. The reviews started to come in, and they weren't good. Then I saw it for myself…and I was pleasantly surprised to find I disagreed with the critics.

Ted 2 opens on the marriage of Ted (MacFarlane) and Tammy Lynn (Jessica Barth), while John's (Whalberg) marriage to Lori (The absent Mila Kunis) has fallen apart. I don't love the way they wrote Mila Kunis out of the sequel but let's move on. Ted and Tammy Lynn decide they want to have a baby. For obvious reasons they can't conceive, so they try through other means, such as sperm donors and adoption. This unearths the startling revelation that in the eyes of the government, Ted is not a person with civil rights, but property.

Unable to adopt a child, his civil rights non existent, and his marriage to Tammy Lynn annulled , Ted sets out to for justice. He hires a young, inexperienced lawer (Seyfried), named "cleverly" Samantha L. Jackson, whom John starts to get smitten with. Ted begins an uphill battle to get his life back, against the likes of a cutthroat lawyer played by John Slattery, and the vengeful return of that creep Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) from the first film.

I don't think anyone expected this to be the story of this sequel, but that's a good thing. It's creative, and it's not a rehash of the story of the original. I mean if you're going to do a sequel, make sure it's a story worth telling, right? Like the original, this film has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, although a few gags are either A. Recycled from Ted or B. Recycled from "Family Guy". MacFarlane is at his best here, managing to leave moments for heart and sincerity here, which is what made the first Ted such a success. It's not constant crude humor like A Million Ways To Die In The West, thought there are some jokes that made me cringe (It's Seth MacFarlane remember). To be honest I think MacFarlane knew what made Ted work so well, so he made sure to stay reserved for Ted 2.

Whalberg and MacFarlane resume their roles in true form, and once again have great chemistry. Seyfried is a welcome new addition, and does a fine job filling in the lead female role for Kunis. I'd actually argue this one of her better performances. Jessica Barth is given more to do as Tammy Lynn, and actually becomes a real character. There are plenty of hilarious cameos in this film that I'd dare not spoil for you.

Ignore the critics, folks. If you loved the first film, you'll love Ted 2. It's another mark in the good column for Seth MacFarlane. Grab your thunder buddy and head to the theatre.

Film Review- "Inside Out"

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

I can't believe it's been two years since I reviewed Monsters University. It feels like an eternity since we've had a Pixar film. Some would go further, and say it feels like an eternity since we've had a good Pixar film. I am not one of those people. I enjoyed both Brave and Monsters University (not Cars 2), but not everyone else did, but that's besides the point. Now with Inside Out, I think everyone can agree Pixar has triumphed once again.

The film opens on the birth of a little girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), and the creation of her first emotion, Joy (Poehler). As time goes on and Riley grows, Joy is joined by other emotions, like Sadness (Smith), Disgust (Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black). The self-proclaimed leader of Riley's emotions, Joy struggles to keep Riley happy through all of life's challenges.

Joy finds her job even more difficult when Riley and her parents pack up their beautiful life in the Midwest for a new one in San Francisco. Things go haywire on Riley's first day of school. During a conflict over Riley's core memories, Joy and Sadness get sucked out of headquarters (Get it?), and lost in the other regions of Riley's mind. The two have to make their way back, while the other emotions try to navigate Riley through this tough period of her young life.

Such a bizarre concept, that works so beautifully. The way the writers formed the inner workings of the mind is so creative, and it brings a bunch of fun and laughs to the script. It's been a few weeks since I saw the film, and I still believe there are little emotions running around in my head. You would think characters that are just singular emotions would be so one dimensional but they're not. The highlight of this film of course is Joy. Through all her hardships, her deep connection to Riley keeps her strong and positive. Amy Poehler, giving an almost Leslie Knope-like performance, is perfect casting. This role was made for her.

I think one of the film's greatest achievements is while we spend more time with Riley's emotions than Riley herself, you still feel for Riley and her struggles. Even though this whole movie is taking place literally inside her head, you know and feel the stakes being raised. Her story is one anyone can relate to, and once again, Pixar provokes tears.

In addition to Poehler, all the other emotions are perfectly cast. Smith, Hader, Black, Kaling…I can't even begin to express how well these actors fit their roles. One character that's been left out of the trailers and commercials is Riley's imaginary friend, Bing Bong, played by Richard Kind. He ends up being a big scene stealer, and one of the film's highlights, in ways I can't go into. When he joins up with Joy and Sadness on their journey that's when the sparks really fly.

Pete Docter has already won two Oscars for the two films he's done with Pixar (Monsters Inc and Up), and it's a safe bet he's going to get his third from Inside Out. Creative, thought-provoking, fun, and emotionally uplifting, it's everything you would hope for in a Pixar film.

Film Review- "Entourage"

Entourage
Directed by Doug Ellin
Starring Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, and Jeremy Piven

All those stereotypes that you've heard about the tv series, that it's "Sex & The City" for men, that it's for the "less intelligent", are more true than you think. I know this because I watched "Entourage", and I'm a little embarassed to admit that. I mean I know, and I don't think I have to tell you, that it's not the smartest series ever crafted. The show definitely had its moments, though.

The characters were likable, but all had periods where they were downright annoying. When the humor was on point, it could be straight laugh-out-loud. When it wasn't busy being a bro's fantasy of the life of the rich and famous, it's satirical look at Hollywood life was pretty entertaining.

So, my opinions on the film? They're pretty much the same I have for the show (For the purposes of this review, some small spoilers follow for the show and film).

The film Entourage, begins nine days after the show's series finale, by completely undoing all the final season did. That's not necessarily a bad thing, considering the final season was a bit "meh". Then, we jump forward eight months. Vince (Grenier) is starring and, for the first time directing, a film called 'Hyde'. The film is also Ari's (Piven) first production as studio head at Warner Bros. Vince has gone over-budget, and he and E (Connolly), need more money from Ari. Ari is obviously stressed, especially considering Vince won't show him the rough cut of the film. To add to that, in order for Ari to secure more money for production, they must woo a stern studio financier (Billy Bob Thorton) and is unbearable son (Haley Joel Osment).

Meanwhile, E is preparing for the birth of his and Sloan's (Emmanuelle Chiriqui) baby (They're broken up again by the way. Shocking.), Drama (Kevin Dillon) is stressing over his "small but pivotal" supporting role in Vince's film, and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is trying to romance Rhonda Rousey. Oh, and Lloyd (Rex Lee) is getting married and wants Ari to give him away, while Ari and his wife (Perrey Reeves) are back in couples therapy.

There's a lot going on in this film. Almost a season's worth of story…like they literally tried to cram a season worth of material into a two and a half-hour film. As you can imagine, the scripts suffers because of this. It's drive-by storytelling. Five minutes were seeing what's up with Vince, then were cutting to see what Drama's up to for a few minutes, and then it's time for some Ari, you get the picture. There's not a lot of time for the audience to sit back and digest what's going on.

That and, there's no real stakes in this film. It almost plays out like every season of the show. The boys are in production on a film, they get into some trouble, and by the credits roll Ari's solved it all for them. Not that exciting. But I guess the fans aren't here for Drama (Pun intended. I had to.)

I'm not going to go into the cast's performances or the humor, because it is exactly like the show, if not raunchier. If you liked the film, you'll enjoy yourself. Though I have to say, much like the show, the best part of the film is Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold. "Entourage" was always known for its parade for celebrity cameos, and there's plenty here. Some are great, and some fall flat.

If you liked "Entourage" the show, chances are you'll like Entourage the film, and find it an almost satisfying conclusion to the story. Well a supposed conclusion. I mean they made a Sex & The City 2, and if Entourage is the male equivalent, do the math. Again, I though the show had its moments, and so did the film. I don't regret seeing it, but I don't think I'll be rewatching for a long time. If you have a problem with that, we can hug it out, bitch.

Film Review- "Tomorrowland"

Tomorrowland
Directed by Brad Bird
Starring George Clooney, Britt Robertson, and Raffey Cassidy

Disney's made films around attractions in their theme parks before. Some of them turned out fine (Pirates of the Caribbean), and others not so much (The Haunted Mansion). A film based off Tomorrowland though? The futuristic section of Disney Land/World that's home to Space Mountain and...crap what else is there? I know The Avengers have meet & greet's in Tommorowland, Disney Land now. Man I got to check that out. Anyway, if anyone could pull off a film like this, it'd be Brad Bird, acclaimed director of The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Does he? Umm, kinda...

The film opens with a choppy opening prologue where a young Frank Welker (Clooney in the present, Thomas Robinson here) makes his way to the New York World's Fair to show off his self-built-but-not-really-working jet-pack. Brushed off by fair judge David Nix (Hugh Laurie), he then meets a young girl named Athena (Cassidy). She takes a shine to Frank and his enthusiasm, and gives him access to something extraordinary (I'll let you guess what that is.).

Jump forward to the present, where a young girl named Casey (Robertson) is constantly sneaking out at night to sabotage the construction equipment set to tare down a launchpad at Cape Canaveral, where her father (Tim McGraw) is an engineer. One night when Casey is caught by the cops, who but Athena, who somehow hasn't aged a day since 1964, gives her the same gift she gave Frank (Again, I'll let you guess).

This attracts the attention of some bad...cyborg cops? I don't know. Casey is soon on the run with Athena. Together they set out to find the now older, bitter, Clooney'd up Frank for help, which starts their adventure that will lead them all back to Tomorrowland.

Here's the main problem with Tomorrowland, and it's a pretty big one. That little summary I just wrote for you? Reads like act one or the first half-hour right? Well that's the first half of the film. When it comes to narrative and pacing, the film is a bit of a mess. A lot of questions are raised and aren't answered fast enough. As soon as one question is answered, three more or poised. Chunks of expository dialogue sprinkled throughout don't make it any less confusing. I haven't been exposed too much to the works of Damon Lindelof, but from what I've heard a lot of this reads like his work on Lost.

The film looks pretty enough in terms of production design. Tomorrowland looks like Tomorrowland, but frankly we've seen these sets over and over since that section of Disney Parks opened up, from The Jetsons to Meet The Robinsons. Unfortunately, we don't get to learn too much about the inner workings of Tomorrowland, which is a bit of a letdown.

How about the cast? First off kudos to the studio for having George Clooney take a backseat to two young, female, relatively unknown actresses, who clearly have bright futures ahead of them. Clooney and Laurie, are Clooney and Laurie. Good as they've ever been, and do the best with the material given to them.

Now as messy as this film's script is, I think it's important to note that's its message is clear, and it's an important message. Laurie's character believes society has given up, and fallen in love with the idea of the apocalypse, of the end. Now look at some of the most popular film series out right now: The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, the list goes on. We really almost have given into the notion that things will get worse. It was in this moment I went, "Wow. This film might be onto something." Robertson, Clooney, and Cassidy's characters are the opposite of Laurie's. They're the optomists. They believe things can get better.

The message to hold onto optimism, that we can make things better, is an important one. Some critics argue that Tomorrowland shoves that message down the viewers' throats. I don't agree, but maybe that's the idea, dammnit. In a world, in a culture, where it's almost instinct to go straight for the negative, the idea of staying positive has to stay alive. If we want things to get better, we have to do something, we can't just complain. That's a great message for a film like Tomorrowland to have, but unfortunately, it's message is skewed to a sloppy narrative.

If you'd like to read more into the film, or you've seen it and are still pondering it like I was, I recommend you read Haleigh Foutch's article on the film over at Collider. Her write-up definitely gave me a better appreciation of the film.

As the old Disney song says, there's a great big beautiful tomorrow. Tomorrowland doesn't quite get us there, but it's a step in the right direction.

Film Review- "Avengers: Age Of Ultron"

Avengers: Age of Ultron
Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and James Spader

It's hard to believe that a sequel to The Avengers could live up to all the hype. It did what no superhero film had done before, teaming up multiple characters from multiple films. It became beloved by fans and critics alike, and is now the third highest grossing film of all time.

So after the months of epic trailers and juicy gossip, how does Age of Ultron stack up alongside Avengers, and other films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? After seeing the film for a third time in theaters (Judge me), I say it falls in the…upper-middle of the pack. Let's begin.

After going their separate ways for another round of solo films/adventures, Tony Stark/Iron Man, Steve Rogers/Captain America, Thor (and the rest!) have reassembled to take down Hydra (Who you'll remember reemerged in Captain America: The Winter Soldier). While raiding one of the last Hydra facilities in Sokovia, Tony (Downey) makes a startling discovery, and shown a very grim hallucination via Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). This leads him, along with Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to jumpstart an artificial intelligence, word-peace keeping program Ultron (Spader).

Unfortunately, Ultron becomes a little too smart for his own good. The menacing machine soon sets out to put an end to The Avengers, and all of mankind. The team sets out on an worldwide mission to stop Ultron, while also dealing with the super-powered siblings of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff (Aaron-Taylor Johnson) aka Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.

It may not seem like it based on that short summary, but there's a lot going on in this film. A lot of story, and a lot of characters. A heavy burden falls down on Age of Ultron. It has to act as a sequel to not just The Avengers but in some respects to Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Then it has to continue to set-up this ever expanding universe, as we prepare to go in to a huge Phase Three of the MCU, which will culminate in the third (and fourth) Avengers film, Infinity War.

Age of Ultron manages to balance a lot of its story elements...for most of the film. Some things at times are left unattended or under developed. There's so much going on you might find yourself scratching your head saying, "Wait when did that happen?" or "Wait how did we get here?" That being said, there's so much awesome, fan-pleasing moments here you might forget your concerns, because you're so enamored with what's on screen. The action scenes are some of the best in the franchise. Your eyes will be glued to the screen in awe.

Somehow, all the characters old and new, get their proper chance to shine. The one exception would have to be Thor, who halfway through the film is subjected to an underdeveloped subplot that factors into where this massive franchise is heading. Hawkeye truly get his due in this film, and is one of the best parts of it. What they've done to explain where he's been through all of Phase Two is beautiful. Hulk and Black Widow are given a romance this film. You wouldn't think it'd work, but it really grows on you, and it gives some great material to Ruffalo and Johansson. The new characters, The Vision (Paul Bettany) in particular, are great additions. I won't go into everyone's individual performances, because I think you all know by now how great this ensemble is.

Some people would say Ultron succombs to the cliche that Marvel can't make a good villain. I am not one of those people. Much like Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy, while his motivations are one-dimensional and his character development is rushed, the actor behind the performance accelerates the character to a higher level. James Spader is at his very best as Ultron.

It's already been revealed that Joss Whedon's original cut of the film was about three and-a-half hours long (That means we missed out on an hour of footage, for those trying to do the math.), and that an extended cut will be featured on the Blu-Ray release. Hopefully this extended cut film and Whedon's original cut are one and the same, because I really feel like adding some of that hour's worth of footage would really strengthen the film.

Let me be clear, I really do enjoy Age of Ultron. It's as funny, action-packed, and fan pleasing as Marvel gets, and is arguably one of the better films in the cinematic universe. I loved it the first two times I saw it, the third time I was starting to see the cracks in the foundation. Another draft of the script, another hour in the editing bay, something could have been done to flesh the story out a bit more.  That being said, do not let that dissuade you from seeing it. It's still a wonder to see all of your favorite characters together again, and the good outweighs the bad here. No doubt Age of Ultron will still become one of the best films of the year.

Yeah...About Spider-Man Joining The MCU

If I may quote John C. Reilly in Guardians of The Galaxy, "This may not be the best idea…"

There was a time when Spider-Man was one of the most popular superhero characters brought to film. Back then though, we had nowhere near as many superhero film franchises on the screen that we do now. Back then, we probably only had Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman with a few failed attempts at The Hulk and Fantastic Four scattered in between.

Let's focus on the mid-to-late 2000's. In 2005, Christopher Nolan began his Batman series with Batman Begins, but the world had yet to see how much this series would shake up the system. They would have to wait until 2008 for that, with the very successful sequel The Dark Knight.

In 2006, Superman made a mediocre to return to the screen with Superman Returns. The film failed to get the franchise going again, and fans would have to wait until 2013 for sadly another mediocre, successful reboot of the character in the form of Man of Steel. 

Then in 2007, came Spider-Man 3, making the web-slinger the first of the three to complete a…ahem, successful, trilogy of films at the time (By the way, we're ignoring the Christopher Reeve Superman films, and any pre-Nolan Batman right now).

Now we all know what became of Spider-Man 3, and frankly all of Sam Raimi's original trilogy hasn't aged too well. So while the world would wait for a Spider-Man 4 (and never get it), Superman would return to film-development purgatory, and Batman would continue to soar under the direction of Nolan.

The very same year The Dark Knight came out, Robert Downey Jr. walked up to a podium and said "I am Iron Man", and something truly special began. Of course I'm referring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A franchise of films produced by Marvel Studios themselves. These films soon gained a huge fan base, and gave heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor who weren't well known by the general public, a chance to shine.

After Phase One of the MCU came to a ground-breaking conclusion with The Avengers, the franchise continued to grow. Phase Two would give Iron Man, Capt, and Thor more to do, while taking a gamble with Guardians of The Galaxy. A gamble that turned into one of the most successful films of the year. Marvel was at a point where it seemed like they could do no wrong. The MCU is poised to raise the bar again this summer with Avengers: Age of Ultron, and end Phase Two with an introduction to another lesser known hero in Ant Man.

"Okay what about Spider-Man?" you ask? Well, in 2012 the franchise was rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man. I myself have often heard mixed reactions to the film, but personally I find it better than the entirety of Sam Raimi's trilogy. Last year, its sequel was released. You'll remember I gave my own review of it, but the general consensus was The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was no good.

Sony Pictures began trying to fix their mistakes. The Amazing Spider-Man 3 was thrown into limbo, and the Sinister Six spinoff was pushed up a year. There was talk of another spinoff featuring all of Spidey's lady friends (Black Cat, Spiderwoman..), and another spinoff about…Aunt May??

Meanwhile, Marvel Studios showed their hand, and revealed the entirety of Phase Three. All of it. A third film for Captain America and Thor. Introductions to more lesser knowns like Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and Black Panther. And a culmination of everything that has come before, with a two-part event, Avengers: Infinity War. The world went nuts, while a certain Spider-Man, a character that was once one of the most popular superheroes out there, was taking a backseat to the likes of Rocket Raccoon and Hawkeye, and becoming as big a joke as a George Clooney Batman.

It was clear, Kevin Feige and Marvel were very confident in this plan that had been laid out, and couldn't wait any longer to reveal it to their fans. One has to imagine a plan like this had been years in the making, and carefully thought out.

(Alright. History lesson over.)

Then, a few days ago, what was only a pipe-dream for many fans became a reality. Sony agreed to play nice with Marvel, and Spider-Man was announced to be joining the MCU. After the initial shock, and letting more information get released, I've decided to voice my thoughts on all of this.

First off, I don't have a problem with Spider-Man joining the MCU. I want to make that clear. He's one of Marvel's most popular characters and he deserves to be back home, and under their supervision. My problem is how they're bringing him in. A new Spider-Man solo film has been announced for July 2017. The hardcore-nerds will remember that is when Thor: Ragnarok was supposed to come out. As a circumstance of the new Spider-Man film, the back two-thirds of Phase Three have been shuffled around.

Here's Phase Three pre-Spidey:

• Captain America: Civil War
• Doctor Strange
• Guardians of The Galaxy 2
• Thor: Ragnarok
• Black Panther
• Avengers: Infinity War Part 1
• Captain Marvel
• Inhumans
• Avengers: Infinity War Part 2

and here's Phase Three with Spidey:

• Captain America: Civil War
• Doctor Strange
• Guardians of The Galaxy 2
• New Spider-Man Film
• Thor: Ragnarok
• Avengers: Infinity War Part 1
• Black Panther
• Captain Marvel
• Avengers: Infinity War Part 2
• Inhumans

I've spared the release dates, but as you can see, everything after Guardians 2, with the exception of Infinity War Part 1 and 2, has been pushed back a slot to make room for Spider-Man. This seems really confusing. Why was everything pushed back but Infinity War? The supposed grand crescendo of the MCU (Assuming whatever Phase Four is, if it even is). Black Panther, which was our last film before Infinity War began is now sandwiched between the two parts, and Inhumans has gone from being in-between the Infinity War's to now becoming the official(?) end to Phase Three, much like how Ant-Man  and Age of Ultron swapped spots in Phase Two.

So my question is, do Panther, Marvel, and Inhumans really have that little effect on Infinity War? I can't imagine so, except with maybe Inhumans. I see that one being like Guardians, off doing its own thing while The Avengers take care of everything on the other side of the universe. Safe money is on all of these characters getting in on the action in The Infinity Wars, just how and when has changed.

Now while I'm sure they already have a storyline/timeline planned for Phase Three, I think it's safe to say scripts for all of these films are still being written (or re-written if Spider-Man's really changing things up). Will what they had in mind for Captain Marvel or Black Panther back in October be completely different to what we'll see in a few years? Most likely. Was this plan for Phase Three not as concrete as originally perceived? Perhaps.

Ask for Spider-Man himself, well he will no longer be played by Andrew Garfield, which is sad. Garfield was a perfect Peter Parker, and unfortunately fell victim to a bad script and studio direction with The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It almost feels like unjust punishment to the poor guy, who was such a huge fan that he dressed up as Spider-Man at Comic Con many years ago, at The Amazing Spider-Man's panel. Reports say they're recasting someone younger, and looking to bring Spider-Man back into his high school days. One can deduce from that the continuity of The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2 is being thrown out the window. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 wasn't flat-out terrible. It had its moments, and part of me wishes Sony would finish what they started, but que sera.

So where's the beef? Well, look at it like this. Imagine every year at Thanksgiving dinner, your cousin, let's call him Marvin, got the best seat and say grace. Then he went to go work in some other country, and so gradually you took his seat at the table, and you got the honor of saying grace. Then wham. One Thanksgiving, Marvin finally comes home, and you know what? He took back his seat, and is saying grace. The seat and privilege you earned after he just went and left it, and he just took it back. You're a punk Marvin…anyway…

That's kind of what bringing Spider-Man into the MCU is feeling like. A lot of fuss is being made over the return of this one character, and everything is being changed for him. Captain America, Thor, even Groot, characters that by all accounts weren't expected to have become this mainstream, and dare I say earn their popularity, seem to be getting the shaft because cool kid Spider-Man's back in town.

Then you have Panther and Captain Marvel, who fans have been demanding to see on film for years, poised to finally get their chance to shine, are now getting put on a back burner for Spider-Man. Black Panther is set to appear in Captain America: Civil War, and supposedly so is Spider-Man, set to make his debut appearance in the MCU. I can't bring up too much issue with this. Spider-Man is a key player in the Civil War storyline in the comics, and Black Panther really wasn't, so we'll be getting a more faithful adaptation. Panther's appearing in Civil War before his solo film, and I'm betting we'll get a glimpse of him in Age of Ultron, so it's not like this character is disappearing into Spider-Man's shadow. Let's just hope he doesn't fall to what I'm going to call now "The Thanos Effect", meaning we'll only see one or two glimpses of him for years until his own film comes out.

But back to the likes of Captain Marvel, which brings me to my final point. If you asked me if I wanted to see another Spider-Man film or a Captain Marvel film…I'd pick Captain Marvel. I honestly think we've seen enough Spider-Man for awhile. If it were up to me, I'd save him for Infinity War, ushering him in as a key player in Phase Four or whatever the MCU becomes once Phase Three ends. I like that Marvel keeps giving us new characters to fall in love with, new heroes to root for. Spider-Man…I think we need a break from him. It's like Batman. Not a few weeks after Nolan's trilogy had ended, rumors of another reboot of The Dark Knight was coming. Now it's pretty much here with Superman Vs Batman: Dawn of Justice next year (A new solo Batman film has yet to be announced). Then there's the show Gotham, but another topic for another day.

I am not a studio executive or Hollywood insider. To self-depreciate for a moment, this is nothing more than the ramblings of a cranky nerd. I'm well aware that everything is still in a stage of "what if". Scripts are probably still being written, actors are probably still being cast, and this deal was probably months in the making. Feige and Marvel probably had this as a Phase Three-Plan B if the deal with Sony ever went through. Call it the result of the North Korean/hacking of Sony awhile back, or the failure of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but this is now happening. Perhaps Spider-Man joining the MCU will have a barely noticeable change to Phase Three. I mean as of right now, the shifting of Ant-Man appears to have had no effect on Phase Two, so who knows. Only the people at Marvel and Sony know. For now, I remain cautiously optimistic.

One thing that can be certain, is we can expect to see a fresh and superior take on everyone's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in a few years. Welcome Home, Spidey.

Film Review- "The Interview"

The Interview
Directed by Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen
Starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Randall Park

Unless you've been living under a rock, you already know the story of this film's release. I don't want to spend too much time on the controversy itself, though I feel that film is an art form, art is form of freedom of speech, and the threats against this film was unjust. I mostly want to talk about the film itself though.

At last free of North Korean threats, and having to drive twenty-something miles to the nearest theater showing it, The Interview arrived on Netflix this weekend. After having see this film for myself, I can honestly say this film was not worth all the hullaballoo. If it was a better film, maybe it would have been. Let's begin.

The film focuses on Dave Skylark (Franco), a television talk-show host, who's biggest stories are getting Eminem (playing himself) to come out of the closet, and talking with a goat Matthew McConaughey supposedly had relations with. His producer/best friend Aaron (Rogen), wishes they could do more serious journalism. They get there chance when North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un (Park) reveals he's a big fan of Skylark and grants him an interview. This is when the CIA steps in a recruits the two men to assassinate Kim Jong Un.

The story isn't that bad. It's the usual formula we get out of these Rogen & Goldberg/Apatow & Friends films. Friend A is loving life, Friend B wants a change. Friend A & B have a falling out, then make up in time to save the day. What makes this formula fail here, is that unlike Pineapple Express or This Is The End, the film just isn't that funny.

There were very little times where I actually laughed out loud. Some jokes got a smile or soft chuckle, but most of the time the jokes fall flat. Franco and Rogen are again probably as good as they ever been. Lizzy Caplan as the CIA agent tasked with supervising their mission is delightful. Randall Park gives a pretty good performance as Kim Jong Un.

The characterization of Kim is for the most part, harmless. It's clear this film was never meant to be a piece of propaganda against the North Korean Leader. There are little moments that comment on the actual man and how he leads his country, but for the most part, the film is concerned with saying he's a guy with daddy issues, who loves Katy Perry's music and partying. Because of this, the tone of the shift is slightly unbalanced, teetering between satire and lowbrow comedy.

The hype and controversy around The Interview will definitely overshadow the film itself in the years to come. If this had been a better film, things might have turned out different, and maybe the people who lashed out against it may have had a stronger argument. On the other hand, if they had seen the film before jumping to conclusions, they would have realized that they were really making a fuss over nothing. This is just a ridiculous, lowbrow comedy, that has next to no real laughs, and nothing more.

Top 10 Films of 2014

That I've seen….so far….let's just get this over with.

10. Big Eyes
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, and Danny Huston

Finally, another great Tim Burton film, and it looks and feels nothing like a Tim Burton film. While the story didn't sound too compelling at first, it's the cast that brings it to new heights. Christoph Waltz is absolutely despicable, in one of his best performances. Amy Adams is as perfect as ever. It pains me that neither of them have received Oscar nominations this year. Nevertheless, Big Eyes is a wonderful little film led by two wonderful actors.

9. Dawn of The Planet of The Apes
Directed by Matt Reeves
Starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, and Toby Kebbell

A sequel that both surpasses its predecessor, and at that same time, stands well enough on its own. The rare summer blockbuster that's also thought-provoking. For a film with little to no dialogue, its heavy on drama and emotion. The action in the film is fantastic. Of course, Andy Serkis's motion-capture performance as Caesar is again the tour de force. He, alongside Toby Kebbell as Koba give unforgettable performances. One slight fallback, is the human characters and side of the story fall short. Nevertheless, Dawn remains one of the strongest films out of 2014's summer box office.

8. X-Men: Days of Future Past
Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender

I love the Marvel films, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. The Spider-Man films, don't get me started. The X-Men films, I've never been a huge fan of. Then First Class came along, and they had my attention. Then The Wolverine, and I found it pretty entertaining. Now we have Days of Future Past. This was the first X-Men film to geninuenly blow me away. It takes the strongest elements from both the old and new films, including a remarkably strong cast. Funny, action-packed, and emotionally gripping, I'll go so far as to say Days of Future Past is one of the best superhero films ever made. The X-Men films have won me over.

7. Foxcatcher
Directed by Bennett Miller
Starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo

This is a unique film. Throughout the entire thing, I felt very awkward and uncomfortable. The whole tone of it is very unsettling, like waiting for a two and a half-hour time bomb to go off. Yet I could not look away. Foxcatcher is a gripping thriller, and all the credit goes to the three men leading this film. Carell is unreal. It's a complete transformation for him. Tatum is incredible, and Ruffalo is the rock the other two characters both lean on and clash against. It does stink that only Carell and Ruffalo got nominated (Not happy about this year's Oscar nomination by the way), but no doubt this film is a high point in the career of all three actors. Foxcatcher is an intense, gripping film.


6. Into The Woods
Directed by Rob Marshall
Starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and James Corden

In a world where updating/twisting/remaking fairy tales has become a regular trend in film and television, Into The Woods is one of the strongest efforts in the category. Probably because the Stephen Sondheim musical it's based off of was around before the whole trend became a quickly tiring effort. The songs are memorable, wonderful, and will stick in your head for days. The ensemble cast is incredible, personal favorites being Emily Blunt as The Baker's Wife, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, and Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince. While the film does start out slow as we jump through each character's story, once they all start to intertwine and interact, that's when things start getting good. Into The Woods is a very entertaining film that the whole family can enjoy.


5. The Lego Movie
Directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller
Starring Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, and Will Ferrell

Lord and Miller have done it again. After Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and Jump Street, they've taken an idea that probably shouldn't have worked, and made it work. Incredibly I might add. Originally I wasn't thrilled, but in repeat viewings I fell in love. Of all the animated films I've seen, this is one of the best voice casts ever assembled. Chris Pratt as Emmett, Alison Brie as UniKitty, Will Arnett as Batman, I could go on and on. The animation is incredible, you would have no idea it was CGI and not stop-motion. Then at the end of it all, is a touching message that can resonate with any viewer. "Everything is Awesome" with The Lego Movie…including that song.
Also again, Oscars, what the heck? No Best Animated Feature nomination??

Original Review: http://flahertysfilmfindings.blogspot.com/2014/02/film-review-lego-movie.html

4. Gone Girl
Directed by David Fincher
Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, and Neil Patrick Harris

My God this film. Kudos to the people who edited the trailers and ran the marketing campaign. I can't even go into too much detail about this film without spoiling. All I can really say is there's a huge game changer halfway into the film, and when it happened, simultaneously, my friend and I turned to each other, jaws dropped. This film is edge-of-your-seat, mind-rattling incredible. Rosamund Pike gives one of the best performances of the year, Ben Affleck is once again a strong leading man, and Neil Patrick Harris all but destroys his How I Met Your Mother persona with a positively creepy character.
And for the FOURTH time in this post, I damn this year's Oscars because why did this film not get more nominations?!?

3. Birdman
Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton

This film is a ride. A really, really fun ride. As someone who loves the entertainment industry, show business, I couldn't help but enjoy this film. The story of Riggan Thomson is one surely anyone in the business can relate to, and Michael Keaton is absolutely perfect casting. Emma Stone gives a compelling performance as Riggan's daughter, and Edward Norton has some great moments as an actor cast alongside Riggan in his play. The way this film is shot is remarkable. I could barely tell when the camera cut between shots. It's appropriately filmed like a play, and that feeling resonates with the whole film. Birdman is a wonderfully crafted film, led by a career-defining performance by Keaton.

2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo
Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert Redford

I originally said this one of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I still stand by it. It ups the ante from Captain America: The First Avenger, from The Avengers, and for the entire franchise. It's  like a gift to Marvel fans. Heavy on drama, action, and plenty of Easter eggs for the fans to hunt for. The film displays some of the best performances from Marvel's usual players. This film is a complete game-changer for the MCU. Sophisticated and packed with non-stop thrills, Winter Soldier is one of the best films of the year.

Original Review: http://flahertysfilmfindings.blogspot.com/2014/04/film-review-captain-america-winter.html

1. Guardians of The Galaxy
Directed by James Gunn
Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper

Back in 2012 when I heard this film was being made, I thought Marvel was heading for a disaster. A talking raccoon and a talking tree? A film heavily set in space? I mean we all saw Green Lantern. How wrong were my suspicions. This has quickly become another one of the best MCU films, my favorite film of the year, and one of my all-time favorite films. This cast is so diverse in terms of where all these actors come from, but they work together so well. Each is given the proper amount of time to shine. This has been quite the year for Pratt, between this and The Lego Movie. You can't help but love all these characters. The action in this film is as good here as it is in any other Marvel film. The soundtrack is fantastic. The jokes, gags, and one-liners are hilarious. Most importantly, the film has a huge heart. Who would have expected that from a film with a talking raccoon and tree? I understand that the "group of ragtag losers joining together to save the world" storyline isn't the most original, but it's all these other elements that bring Guardians to spectacular heights. This is my top film of 2014.

We Are Groot.

PS: 2015 New Years Resolution: Write More.