Film Review - "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Directed by Rian Johnson
Starring Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and Carrie Fisher.

Hype can be both a good and a bad thing for a film. On one hand, it gets the people going to theater and in the seats as quickly as they can get their tickets, and really the interest of the audience is what keeps franchises like Star Wars going. On the other, hype can build our expectations up so high, to a place where after we've seen the actual film, we become almost disappointed with what we've got. That appears to be what's going on with the public's reaction to The Last Jedi.

As this sentence is being typed, Rotten Tomatoes has the film with a 93% Critics' Score, and a 57% Audience Score. That is quite the margin. Having just seen the film Thursday night, I find myself at the middle ground. The Last Jedi didn't quite meet my expectations, but overall I enjoyed the latest chapter
in the Star Wars saga.

The film picks up not long after the events of The Force Awakens. Rey (Ridley) has found Luke Skywalker (Hamill), with the hope of having him train her in the ways of the Force and join the Resistance. Bitter and haunted by his past, Skywalker wants no part of it. Meanwhile the dwindling forces of the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa (Fisher), face a desperately uphill battle against The First Order…hope that's not too spoilery for you.

The Force Awakens fell under scrutiny because it felt too similar to A New Hope.  Comparisons can be drawn between The Last Jedi and The Empire Strikes Back, but in the grand scheme of things the former is very different than any Star Wars film that's come before. The best way I can describe it to you without going into spoilers is by quoting Luke, "This is not going to go the way you think."
Conventions of the franchise are broken down, and new paths are forged. So you can see where the public divide is coming from. Some people are going to like the change, and some aren't.

Like Empire, Last Jedi does separate our heroes' journeys. Rey is training with Luke, Leia and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaacs) are holding down the fort, Finn (John Boyega) and new character Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) go off on an unsanctioned mission to locate Benicio Del Toro's character, and Kylo Ren (Driver) continues his work in The First Order under the supervision of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Unfortunately, not all of those plot lines are equally interesting, with Finn and Rose's mission being the least interesting. Their quest takes them to a casino-themed planet and they spend way too much time on it. Of course the best parts of the film involve Luke, Rey, and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo/whatever you want to call him.

So there are clearly a lot of cast members to discuss. Well everyone gets back into their roles easily, taking them to bold new places in the story. Mark Hamill is superb as Luke Skywalker, and Daisy Ridley is so wonderful as Rey. Her performance is both inspiring and captivating. John Boyega does more good work as Finn, but his performance in The Force Awakens might have been better. Oscar Isaacs gets a lot more to do with Poe Dameron this time, and it's great to see more depth with an already fan-favorite character. Adam Driver is amazing as Kylo Ren. Again another character given a ton more development, and an emotionally charged performance to bring it to life.

Carrie Fisher gives a loving, sharp, and sadly final performance as Leia. Andy Serkis is at his very best as Snoke. This time around, Domhall Gleeson's performance as General Hux seems much more hammy and over-the-top. How about the new additions though? Kelly Marie Tran is fine and likable enough as Rose Tico. Same can be said for Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo. It's a strong performance but not a particularly memorable one. Benicio Del Toro's DJ is just…well he's mainly a part of Finn and Rose's arc and I've already stated my thoughts on that part of the film.

Composer John Williams adds even more wonderful music to the Star Wars catalog. It doesn't dominate the film but it's there and you know it. The cinematography of the film is beautiful, from every planet and set piece there's some serious eye candy. The action in the film is at edge-of-your-seat level. The fight scenes in The Last Jedi are probably some of the best of the franchise. One last positive I can give is that no matter your concerns, there are plenty of satisfying moments for all ages.

With The Force Awakens, people seemed to be upset it was too familiar. Now they seem to be upset with The Last Jedi for being too different. So I'm guessing the third bowl of porridge (Episode IX) will be just right for these Goldilocks fans? A good friend of mine described The Last Jedi like this, and I think it sums it up damn well:

"It's sort of like having your eye on the most delicious piece of cake in the display, and you wait to get it and you start to eating it and you realize the filling isn't at all what you imagined. It's super tasty but there's some weird fruit mixed in, and while it's delicious and well made it's just not what you thought you ordered. But you walk away full."

Rian Johnson takes the franchise in a new, different direction, and obviously that's going to be met with some mixed reviews. This is still a damn fine Star Wars film. One could argue that eight episodes in, Johnson needed to stir the pot to keep this 40-year-old franchise fresh and moving forward. As of right now, I still like The Force Awakens more, but there is nothing outright bad about The Last Jedi. It's a wonderful film filled with the same brand of beloved characters, epic visuals, and great storytelling fans have come to expect. I'm very intrigued to see where we go in Episode IX and beyond. The Force will be with us, always.

And…I like Porgs.

Film Review - "Coco"

Coco
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Starring Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Benral, and Benjamin Bratt

We've come to a time where a Pixar film being universally acclaimed is much more rare than it used to be. Not that we haven't a had a good Pixar film in awhile, but they've been scattered in-between the likes of The Good Dinosaur, Monsters University, and Cars 3. The consistent quality of the studio's output has decreased, which means when a wonderful film like Coco comes out, we can truly appreciate it and the master storytellers behind it. I love this film.

Coco tells the story of Miguel (Gonzalez), a young boy in a Mexican village with aspirations of being a great musician like his idol, Ernesto De La Cruz (Bratt). The one problem is that music is forbidden in his family, a policy enforced by his Abuelita (Renee Victor). Long ago, Miguel's great-great grandfather left his family to pursue a career of music, and the resentment towards that has trickled down the family tree.

So Miguel practices his music in secret, and one night deduces that the late Ernesto De La Cruz was in fact his great-great grandfather. After a falling out with his family on Dias De Los Muertos ("Day of The Dead"), Miguel runs away and finds himself stranded in the Land of The Dead. To return the Land of The Living, Miguel must receive a blessing from one of his ancestors…who also refuse to let Miguel follow his musical aspirations. Miguel runs off to find De La Cruz, hopefully receive his blessing and return home. Helping him along the way is Miguel (Garcia Benral), a down-on-his-luck resident who is in danger of "fading" away from the Land of The Dead, because no one living honors his memory.

This is a beautiful film inside and out. It tells a wonderful story of family, sacrifice, and memory. It gives a wonderful, positive representation on Dias De Los Muertos and all Mexican culture, from the music to the art designs. The animation is gorgeous. Some shots are almost jaw-dropping. Pixar definitely upped their game here. Oh and hey Pixar fans. You're going to cry. Again. Fair warning.
Coco is amazingly well written. You might think you see it all laid out here but trust me you don't. It is quite possibly one of Pixar's best scripts since Wall-E or Up. 

Other than Benjamin Bratt, there are almost no big celebrity names among the voice cast. Young Anthony Gonalez is the heart and soul of the film as young Miguel, and his performance is charming, quirky, and moving. It's always a gamble to have a child lead, with issues of kid actors and such, but Gonzalez nails it. Hector is possibly one of my favorite new Pixar characters, and Gael Garcia Bernal plays him with a fine balance of passion and levity. Benjamin Bratt plays the famous singer Ernesto De La Cruz perfectly. Other stand-outs among this colorful cast are Renee Victor as Miguel's Abuelita, and Alanna Ubach as Mama Imelda, his late great-great grandmother.

I touched on the music already a little bit, but I wanted to say you're going to have these wonderful songs stuck in your head for awhile. The film's main song "Remember Me" is lovely, every rendition of it (You'll see) and stands to be a strong contender for the Best Original Song Oscar. The music perfectly captures the essence of the culture, and gives Coco that extra boost of seamlessly transporting its audience into the story.

Coco is another Pixar triumph, and easily the best animated film of the year (Not saying much considering we had a pretty rough year…The Emoji Movie…). But it's a strong, moving film regardless, that proves Pixar is still capable of captivating audiences and making them fall in love with their stories over and over again. I suspect we'll be singing Coco's praises for a long, long time.

Oh and I didn't mind Olaf's Frozen Adventure so I really don't get all the hate.

Film Review - "Thor: Ragnarok"

Thor: Ragnarok
Directed by Taika Waititi
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddelston, Mark Ruffalo, and Cate Blanchett

Of all the franchises that build up the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I think the Thor films have been the ones that have been the most scrutinized. The original Thor seems to be underrated by the general public, and I am in that minor paternity of fans that actually enjoys Thor: The Dark World despite its shortcomings. That being said, I think everyone can agree that Thor: Ragnarok is the best Thor film yet, and one of the best chapters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As much as I personally loved the film I do have some minor issues with it but more on that later.

The film opens some time after Thor (Hemsworth) left on his quest for Infinity Stone-related truth at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Multiple premonitions of Ragnarok, the end of Asgard, bring the God of Thunder back home where Loki (Hiddelston) has been ruling in disguise as Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins) since the last film. Once Thor reveals his brother's charade, they both learn Loki's actions have paved the way for Hela the Goddess of Death (Blanchett) to make her return.

Set on taking Asgard for her own, she tosses Thor and Loki off to the dumpster planet of Sakarr, where Thor is taken prisoner to fight in the Grandmaster's (Jeff Goldblum) arena battles. In order to get free of Sakarr, return to Asgard, and stop Hela, Thor must defeat The Grandmaster's Champion. And oh boy, that champion turns out to be The Incredible Hulk (Ruffalo)!

So if Ragnarok sounds like a Thor film infused with the Planet Hulk comic storyline, you wouldn't be wrong. But it works. It definitely works. When originally announced for a film with the word "Ragnarok" in the title, Taikia Waititi seemed like an odd choice, but he definitely proved the skeptics wrong. The film definitely still has the director's unique brand of comical filmmaking, but there room is left for serious and dramatic moments. It shares some DNA with previous Thor films but still has its very unique identity. Many have compared it to the Guardians of The Galaxy films but I don't think that's really fair, as Thor goes to grander, arguably grimmer places, and the humor of Chris Pratt is not that of Chris Hemsworth.

The film is hilarious, and the action and set pieces are awe-inspiring. The score for the film is unreal, and more importantly it serves the overall arc of the Thor character perfectly, and brings him to the logical, third-act conclusion of his trilogy…until he has to fight Thanos next summer. So what are my issues? Well first the film is surprisingly packed with story. So much so that some breathing room would have been appreciated for some of these moments to sink in, and let the characters respond and react. After a second viewing I don't think this is a big a problem as I originally thought it was but still. It's hard no to really talk about these parts of the film without getting into spoilers.

As I said this is a hilarious film, and probably Marvel's first full-blown comedy. While I was laughing at pretty much every joke in the film, a small voice in the back of my head at times would whisper "Did we really need a joke there? Couldn't we have just let that play out as a serious moment?" I feel like a hypocrite saying this because I still laughed at these jokes, but I do still wonder could we have gone a smudge more serious? Not that the film doesn't have moments of darkness, mind you.

So the cast. Chris Hemsworth is again the best as Thor, and gets to flex his comedy chops a lot more to delight of everyone. Mark Ruffalo takes the Hulk to great new places. Only his third film as the character, and the first outside of The Avengers line, it was nice to see his performance develop in such a way that this might be the best Hulk we've had on screen yet. Tom Hiddelston is again great as Loki. Fans who have loved Thor & Loki's relationship in the past two films might be disappointed it's not a major part of the script, but it's still there and really how much more development is needed?

Tessa Thompson plays a fun and dynamic Valkyrie and is a welcome new-additon to the cast. Cate Blanchett continues the streak of great MCU villains with Hela. She's deliciously evil and clearly having a ton of fun in the role. Every time we cut back to Sakarr I was like "Let's get back to Asgard I wanna see what she's up to!!" Karl Urban plays a very fun Skurge The Executioner. Jeff Goldblum…is Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster. Enough said. It's nice to see Benedict Cumberbatch again as Doctor Strange. Finally, Director Taika Waititi steals his own film in the role of Korg. What a wonderful character.

Thor: Ragnarok is definitely the best of the three Thor films, and arguably the best MCU film out of three we received this year (The other two being Homecoming and Guardians Vol. 2). It's such a departure from the previous two Thor films, so much so it almost completely destroys some conventions of what comes before, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Ragnarok is an epic, hilarious, and exhilarating film that's worthy of wielding the mightiest of hammers….

I suppose I should also let you know my thoughts on Justice League…oh look Coco and The Last Jedi!!

CHRIS FLAHERTY WILL RETURN...

Mini-Review Round-Up: Everything Else From 2017

I can't write a review for every film I see. Sometimes you just got to leave the devices behind and see the outside world…or just be lazy. Hell, how many people are actually reading these anyway? Well here's a quick paragraph or two of all the other films I've seen this year. So far.

Get Out
Directed by Jordan Peele
Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, and Bradley Whitford

I don't often go for horror films but this one was too thought-provoking to ignore, and god damn is it a good one, and hell of a directorial debut for Jordan Peele. As creepy as it is, it's also pretty funny, as one could expect from the likes of Peele. It also provides a hell of a commentary on race and diversity in today's society. As far as the cast, Kaluuya is a strong lead, Williams is absolutely chilling, and Lil Rel Howrey is probably the funniest part of the film in the role of Rod. Get Out is arguably one of the best films of the year, and hopefully no one's forgotten it when Awards season comes around.

The Fate of The Furious
Directed by F. Gary Grey
Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Jason Statham

I would never make the Fast & Furious franchise out to be more than what it is, other than mindless, flashy fun with some heart thrown in. They're a guilty pleasure, and hell of a lot better than say, Transformers. Despite the loss of Paul Walker, the series still has plenty of gas, and I would almost put this eighth entry on the same level as the seventh. The action and set pieces are still just as absurd, the cast is still a lot of fun and it shows that they're having a lot of fun. Fate of The Furious is a highly entertaining two and a half-hour escape.

Gifted
Directed by Marc Webb
Starring Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, and Lindsay Duncan

More often than not I'm attracted to films featuring some of my favorite actors from other projects, and here we have a film starring Captain America himself Chris Evans!!! Gifted is a good film, but from a cynical point-of-view, just a glorified Lifetime film…like Gone Girl but less dark and less gutting. It's a very sweet, emotional story of parenthood. Some viewers like me, might still question who is right and who is wrong in the film's central conflict, which is how to raise a child prodigy, by the time the credits roll.

Chris Evans gives a truly heartfelt performance as the film's lead, and his eleven-year-old costar McKenna Grace shines right along side him, and is arguably one of the greatest young actors of our time. The two of them are backed by equally loving performances from the likes of Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer. If you're looking for a harmless, feel-good film from this year, I recommend Gifted.

Spider-Man: Homecoming
Directed by Jon Watts
Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Robert Downey Jr.

It feels wrong to condense the review of an MCU film, but I only got to see it once in theaters, I don't own the Blu-Ray yet, and it's been months. Regardless it's true, Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a truly wonderful thing. This is the Spider-Man fans have wanted for a long time, and Tom Holland gives the definitive performance of the character. This is truly a unique perspective on the character we've never seen in the films. Not just a young superhero who wants to play with The Avengers, but a young man who has the potential to do great things in a world of enhanced and remarkable individuals, and often having others say he can't or he's not ready, and for most of the time with good reason.

Alongside Holland is a truly fantastic supporting cast that I wish we got to see more of, like Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, and Donald Glover. Robert Downey Jr. continues to evolve in the role of Tony Stark, but doesn't overshadow the film's titular hero. Michael Keaton is a great new Marvel villain, and the film is probably one of the funniest in the MCU (The gym teacher calling a Cap a war criminal. Lolz.).

While I'll still wonder what could have been salvaged from The Amazing Spider-Man series, Homecoming is arguably the strongest version of the webslinger put to screen. I don't normally go for teen films outside a few John Hughes works, but when you throw superheroes in I'm game…plus Spidey can hang out with The Avengers now.

War for The Planet of The Apes
Directed by Matt Reeves
Starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, and Steve Zahn

The rebooted Apes trilogy comes to a grim but poetic and perfect conclusion with War. It does gets darker than the previous two entires, but it's no less enjoyable. It's an excellent third chapter on the story of Caesar (Again how does Andy Serkis not have any sort of Oscar?). Once again Reeves relies heavily on his mostly silent ape cast with little to no dialogue (but the apes do talk more) and it pays off well.

Woody Harrelson is also a very fun villain, and Steve Zahn gives probably the best performance of his career (I'm sorry Steve Zahn fans but he annoys me.). The pacing might be a bit off but it can be forgiven. A thought-provoking look at violence, family, and identity, War For the Planet of The Apes is a strong conclusion to an already strong series (Are they making a fourth?…They are…Damn…)

Despicable Me 3
Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda
Starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Trey Parker

It's sad that the strong and wonderful first Despicable Me film has been diluted by the studio incessant's need to force more Minions out into the world, with their own spinoff, a direct Despicable sequel, and now this threequel. Despicable Me 3 has the same problem as Despicable Me 2, a messy script with too many plot lines that don't work. Too many jokes fall flat, at least from what I can remember, the Minions weren't as dominant in this film. The idea of Gru being pulled back into villainy out of necessity to support his family, is an idea I wish they explored more in the first sequel…and they do…a little bit so…point in the Pro Column?

I don't have much more to say on this, other than I'm glad I didn't pay to see it…

Logan Lucky
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, and Daniel Craig

I did not expect to enjoy this film as much as I did but god damn did I enjoy it. A hillbilly heist film centered around NASCAR? Who knew, right? Definitely one of the most unique films I have seen out of this year, probably ever. You'd think all the southern droll and humor would get "cringey" after awhile but it doesn't. It's hilarious, and it's cast is superb, particularly it's three leads. Poor Adam Driver, I'll never take you seriously as Kylo Ren again. The only weak link is Seth MacFarlane's dumb character. Oh Steven Soderebergh, thanks for coming out of retirement and giving us this gem.

Dunkirk
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy

Christopher Nolan is back with another grand cinematic outing. Seriously, see this one in theaters to get the full effect of the film's amazing visuals. Nolan is able to creature real drama and suspense for these characters with little to no dialogue, but with intense battle sequences and set pieces that truly display the horrors of war these soldiers experience. It's hard not to get invested in these characters and root for them to succeed. We're at a time, at least we are in my opinion, where filmmakers need to do more with war films for audiences to still care about them. Nolan does just that with a heavy and unique look at this harrowing chapter of World War II.

Wind River
Directed by Taylor Sheridan
Starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen

Once again I was attracted to a film because it stars some Marvel alum (Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch together again) but Renner and Olsen have as much chemistry here as they do in Avenger films. I was also attracted to this film because Taylor Sheridan wrote Hell or High Water, one of my favorite films from last year. Sheridan nails it again with a dark, suspenseful murder mystery that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. The imagery at times might be a little uncomfortable, but it's effective for what the film is trying to do. The cinematography also really takes advantage of its setting in the actual Wind River Indian Reservation. Wind River might just end up being one of my favorite films of the year.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring Taaron Edgerton, Colin Firth, and Julianne Moore

So I really love the first Kingsman, and I was really crossing my fingers that this Matthew Vaughn sequel wouldn't end up like Kick-Ass 2, and it doesn't…for the most part. The Golden Circle is a worthy, entertaining sequel, but (avoiding spoilers) the stylistic choices Vaughn makes here just aren't as effective or as enjoyable as the choices made in the first film.

Some story choices don't aren't really earned in the script. Moore's Poppy isn't a great a villain as Samuel L. Jackson's Valentine, The Statesman characters don't dominate the film but I wish we spent more time with them, and Colin Firth doesn't seem to be having as much fun this time around. That said, nothing about The Golden Circle is bad by any means. The music, action, and comedy are still great, it's predecessor just does everything better, and really that's sort of the average expectation of a sequel. I'm not disappointed but I'm not blown away either.

Stronger
Directed by David Gordon Green
Starring Jake Gyllenhal, Tatiana Malsany, and Miranda Richardson

Finally we have this film which I saw last night. Jake Gyllenhal gives one of his best performances as Jeff Bauman, bringing to life every step of his emotional, traumatic struggle after the Boston Marathon. His relationship with his girlfriend (Malsay) is at the core of the film, and the two actors play off one another so well. But man..how many times can we negatively portray Bostonians on film? Like I'm sick of people from Massachusettes being made out to be lowbrow, funny-talking roughians. Kidding but not kidding.

Alright. I'm all caught up now. I'll probably have to do this again because there's like thirty more films coming out this year I want to see, and only like two of the films I've seen will probably end up getting award season attention so that means even more catch up for the ones I still didn't get to…Que sera.

Any films I missed you think I should see?

Film Review - "Baby Driver"

Baby Driver
Directed by Edgar Wright
Starring Ansel Engort, Kevin Spacey, and Lily James

It's nice to know in summers filled with sequels, reboots, and remakes we can still get films that are original and well-made. As of right now, Edgar Wright's Baby Driver is not just a highlight for this summer season of films, it's a highlight among this year's films.

Baby (Engort) is a getaway driver, in the debt of a criminal kingpin named Doc (Spacey). What makes Baby so special is he suffers from tinnitus in his ears, so he listens to music while he drives, sharpening his focus and making him the absolute best.

After Baby fulfills his debt to Doc, he seeks to live a life free of crime and strikes up a relationship with a waitress named Debora (James). Unfortunately Doc pulls him back in for one more job, which will give him enough money to start a new life with Debora. Doc assembles his crew with Baby and other criminals-for-hire (Jon Hamm, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jamie Foxx) and the job goes underway. It doesn't take long for Baby to realize that getting out will be a lot easier said then done.

Baby Driver is pretty much Drive meets Guardians of the Galaxy (I said it first Steve. You can check Twitter...). What's a pretty simple, dare I say cliche, story is elevated to new heights with buckets of humor and heart. Edgar Wright once again proves he's master at what he does, with stellar camera work and a unique brand of humor. The look of the film is great too, with some stellar, vibrant set pieces and some great light-work. The soundtrack is awesome, and it meshes with the film and story to a tee. Makes you wonder if Edgar Wright would do if he directed a Guardians of The Galaxy-oh right yeah. Damn...too soon?

One thing that brings the film down though is the relationship between Baby and Debora. It's not to say that Engort and James don't have any chemistry, they do, but the fact that they fall in love so fast and she's willing to run across the country with the guy she just met, it's a little too old school Disney for these modern times...not that I would ever, EVER bash old school Disney!!

As far as performances, this is the film that made me recognize Ansel Engort as a legit actor. Good job kid. Now cast aside a life of Divergent and The Fault In Our Stars and have a real career. In all seriousness he plays the calm, cool Baby perfectly and anchors the film. Lily James gives a sweet and charming performance as Debora. Kevin Spacey does his usual good work as Doc. Jaimie Foxx is okay as Bats but he's just doing a darker version of his Horrible Bosses character. Eiza Gonzalez is a fun addition to the cast as Darling, and Jon Hamm delivers a dark and charming performance as Buddy.

If you're feeling a touch overwhelmed with sequels and reboots right now, do yourself a favor and go see Baby Driver. It's a superbly crafted and fun film with a great cast and soundtrack. It's another classic from Edgar Wright that's sure to end up on many "Best Films of 2017" lists.

…maybe Edgar Wright can direct a DC film? Oh man imagine his version of The Flash...

Film Review - "Cars 3"

Cars 3

Directed by Brian Fee

Starring Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, and Chris Cooper

As I've said Cars 2 marked a major turning point for the studio. So far it's the only film from the studio to get a rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and ever since the quality of their films, and the public's reception to them has varied. Unfortunately the next film in the Cars franchise isn't a return to former Pixar glory, but it's still an enjoyable film.

The game of racing is changing, and Lightning McQueen (Wilson) is no longer the young hot-shot he once was (Even though the first film came out only nine years ago...maybe cars age differently...) A new generation of racers is taking over, including a sleek newcomer named Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer). In a desperate attempt to beat Storm, McQueen suffers a devastating crash. The film picks up four months later, and with a new season approaching, McQueen is desperate to get back on top. His sponsor assigns him to an enthusiastic trainer, Cruz Ramirez (Alonzo) who has racing aspirations of her own.

Let me just start by saying the film makes a great move in focusing back on McQueen and his career, and completely leaving the events of Cars 2 out of the narrative. There's a nice parallel drawn between McQueen and Doc Hudson's (The late Paul Newman) relationship, and the relationship he forms with Cruz. It is slightly strange though hearing new (unused) voice-over from Newman years after his death.

The film is trying to be the Cars equivalent of Toy Story 3, taking advantage of the passage of time and the aging of its main character. Sadly it's not very effective. For one we had like a decade between Toy Story sequels and only six years between Cars sequels, and they're just not sure what to do with the story. There's almost competing story-lines. One where McQueen has suffered a setback and is trying to get back on track, and another where he's at the end of his career and must look towards a future, training the next generation. Sadly both story-lines don't really get the development they deserve. Disney might have been afraid to retire McQueen, fearing a dip in merchandise sales, and a loss for potential sequels.

That and the pacing of the script is kind of all over the place. We go through a whole season of racing in like the first fifteen minutes or so, and it seemed to me like there was a lot of story potential lost there. The rest of the film is devoted to McQueen getting his groove back, but most of its pretty dull, and I found myself checking my watch a few times. Particularly during the sequence where he and Cruz go undercover at some sort of monster truck derby (By the way I'm not going to debate the existence of a school bus character in this universe...like so do smaller car children ride in her...).

I will say the sequence where McQueen goes to Doc Hudson's old training grounds and meets his old coach Smokey (Cooper) features some of the film's stronger points, and when it really focused in on the themes of legacy and the passing of torches, that's when Cars 3 really shines. Sadly though the film is bogged down by an underdeveloped script and moments that are geared strictly towards younger audiences. I can't really fault it for that though. Out of all Pixar's properties, Cars is the one more for kids than adults, but even adults can enjoy the original.

In terms of animation, this world again looks spectacular. If nothing else Pixar can always get the look and feel of their films down, and they really take advantage of the country's multitude of varying landscapes. The voice acting is top-notch. Owen Wilson gets back into the lead role naturally . Larry The Cable Guy still plays a fine Mater, although he's not in the film much (THANK CHRIST...). Chris Cooper nails the voice of Smokey, Doc Hudson's old trainer. Cristela Alonzo brings a lot of heart and humor to the role of Cruz. Armie Hammer plays Jackson Storm with a grade-A brand of cockiness and contempt. Nathan Fillion is his Nathan Fillion-ist as McQueen's new sponsor Sterling. As for returning cast members/characters, they all do fine but don't expect to see too much of them here.

Whether we like it or not, Pixar is full-in the sequel game now. While in 2015 they gave us two original properties (Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur), last year they gave us Finding Dory, and two of their next three films are sequels. We have Coco in the fall, the highly anticipated The Incredibles 2 next summer, and the highly questionable Toy Story 4 in 2019. It's only a matter of time before we find out if there's a Cars 4 in the future, but for now, Cars 3 is probably the best kind of Cars sequel we can get. Definitely not the most "for all ages" Pixar film out there but that's what we've come to expect from the Cars films, and it's still a worthwhile watch.

And I'm glad I can finally say this.....Still better than Cars 2. 

Film Review - "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales"

Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg
Starring Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem and Kaya Scodelario

I've never been one to love or hate the Pirates of The Caribbean films. They were always just okay in my eyes. I recently rewatched the original trilogy. The Curse of The Black Pearl is a really good film. Dead Man's Chest had a promising start, but its horribly paced and far too convoluted in building its own mythology. At World's End improves on the flaws of its predecessor, but it gets really bizarre and is still too convoluted. I misplaced my DVD copy of On Stranger Tides but going off memory I enjoyed the straight-forward adventure of it.

Now we're at film number five with Dead Men Tell No Tales and…it's not a bad film. It's really not. But it's got problems and evidence of this franchise's lack of life is really showing.

The film opens up many years after the post credit scene of At World's End. Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), the son of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan (Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, who make brief returns to the franchise) is seeking to find the Trident of Poseidon, which is said to break any curse at sea, including his father's bond to The Flying Dutchman. Turner seeks the help of his parents former ally Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp). Jack's fallen on hard times himself, with his ship still shrunken-in-a-bottle, and his crew all but abandoned him.

Desperate for a drink, he trades away his magical compass, and that somehow frees the undead Captain Salazar (Bardem) from his prison in the Devil's Triangle. Salazar then begins a quest for vengeance on Sparrow. Meanwhile, Henry rescues Jack and a young astrologist Carina Smyth (Scodelario) from execution and they reluctantly team up and soon its a race to find the trident. Huzzah. Oh and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is back, as a captain of the Navy…somehow.

The story is another self-contained adventure like On Stranger Tides, but frankly we've seen it all before. There's some MacGuffin everyone is chasing. The antagonist(s) are a bunch of undead/zombie pirates out for revenge on one Jack Sparrow. There's layers on layers of deals, betrayals, and double crosses (okay definitely not as much as in the second and third films but there are some). If Disney wants this franchise to continue they have to bring something new to the table. Also I have some continuity questions because by the looks of the last time we saw him, Will was doing just fine aboard The Dutchman so…what happened? And shouldn't any of these characters have, I don't know, aged??

One problem that I find across the whole Pirates franchise is, why do these films drag on for so long? Pacing is a foreign concept here, and it takes a little too long to get our heroes on their quest. There are some of the set pieces and action sequences just get way over the top and far too cartoony. Seriously guys a bunch of horses pull a safe through a wall…and then they pull an entire building throughout town…what the what.

Let's talk about the cast. Johnny Depp, it's like he's forgotten how to play this character. Jack is more more mean, more bitter, and less enjoyable. Depp's schtick has gotten stale, and he's just going through the motions. Geoffrey Rush remains a franchise highlight as Barbossa. Javier Bardem gives a corny, over-the-top performance as Salazar. Brenton Thwaites is average but pleasant as our newest male lead, and Kaya Scodelario is lovely and charming as Carina.

Well I've badmouthed the film so much you're probably wondering how I can still say it's not a bad film. Well it's not poorly made for one thing. It's just more of the same. Most of the performances are still pretty entertaining, and while some parts do get a little ridiculous they are still fun, and there are some laughs throughout. The story isn't terrible it's just the same story with the same characters told again in a new film. I can appreciate the film steering away from mythology building an just telling a simple adventure.

If you haven't heard by now Dead Men Tell No Tales, like other Pirates of the Caribbean films has a post-credit scene. I won't speak to it but if this does lead to a sixth film, then the pot's got to be stirred. With Dead Men Tell No Tales having the lowest opening weekend of the franchise, we might be seeing  Jack Sparrow sail off into the sunset.

Film Review Throwback - "Cars 2"

Long ago there was a time when Pixar had a perfect track record and the only sequels they made were of Toy Story. Then someone decided a sequel to Cars might be a good idea...

So apparently the Film Gods heard our prayers and Cars 3 is actually pretty decent. I haven't seen it yet so let's look back at the first sequel to Cars. The first and so far only one of their films to have a Rotten Score on Rotten Tomatoes...

Cars 2
Directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis
Starring Owen Wilson, Larry The Cable Guy, and Michael Caine

First off, look at this poster:

You see how Lightning McQueen (Wilson), the main character from the first film is front and center, and his friend and supporting player Mater (..The Cable Guy? What even is his last name..) is in the background. What you're seeing here are lies. Filthy marketing lies. McQueen is not the star of this film. Mater is, and that was their first and biggest mistake.

Mater isn't Dory. He can't carry his own film. Mater is more annoying than lovable. That's just the truth and you know it. Anyway, McQueen is offered a chance to race in the World Grand Prix: Three races across Tokyo, Italy, and London. McQueen brings his Radiator Springs crew along, including Mater, now his crew chief, replacing Doc Hudson (Voiced by the late Paul Newman and written out of the film in respect).

Mater in all his Larry The Cable Guy-ness, embarrasses himself and McQueen in front of the competition. He goes off on his own and is mistaken for a secret agent by Miles Axelrod (Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimier)...it gets pretty off the rails there but Mater and his spy friends soon uncover a dangerous plot at the heart of the World Grand Prix, it's eventually up to Mater to save the day and his friend McQueen, proving himself more than just a country bumpkin and who cares...

Someone clearly watched too many of those "Mater's Tall Tales" shorts and thought that could work as a feature film. The whole "numb skull character, mistaken identity, chaos ensues" plot has been done many times before, and this version doesn't do enough to justify its existence. Frankly Caine and Mortimer's characters are pretty dumb themselves, to believe Mater is a spy for like, two-thirds of the film.

Furthermore why is the sequel not about McQueen and his racing career? The whole heart of the film is lost when the spotlight is turned on Mater. Also why is this a spy film? If Pixar wanted to make a spy film why did it have to double as a sequel to Cars (Probably the same reason a college film doubled as a Monsters Inc. prequel)? Maybe that's okay though because McQueen kind of has some regression as a character here, and is just a dick to Mater in the film, probably as a way of plot to get him to go off a be a spy…

Also there's some environmental message sneaking through the cracks of this film and I-just, why? Why, when Wall-E already did it? Forget it I'm wrapping this up quick. The voice work is still good despite the lackluster writing. I haven't watched it in a while but if I'm remembering correctly the late George Carlin's replacement as Filmore wasn't too distracting (Why did Doc Hudson get written out but not Filmore?). Michael Caine…I don't know man. Frankly I don't think this is his proudest of paychecks, and it almost sounds it in his voice work. The animation is still Pixar at its finest, but it's wasted here.

So Cars 3 sounds pretty good, but not "Grade-A Pixar" more like "Grade-B Pixar", which is always what the Cars franchise has symbolized. The plot makes it sound like we don't even need to watch Cars 2 to get anything. We can just hop over it from the first film. Hell maybe Cars 2 was just in Mater's head like all those shorts.

Anyway Cars 2 is definitely the weak link in both the franchise and the Pixar catalog. For years to come, no matter what the anticipation or outcome of future Pixar films will be, people will still say "Can't be as bad as Cars 2." Stay tuned for my review of Cars 3 and….I hope to God there's minimal Mater…


Huh. Turns out Larry The Cable Guy's real name is Daniel Whitney...

Film Review - "Wonder Woman"

Wonder Woman

Directed by Patty Jenkins

Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Connie Nielsen

Upon the release of Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice, many…pretty much everyone agreed that Wonder Woman was a major highlight in an otherwise average film. As time went on (and Suicide Squad came out), it became abundantly clear that Wonder Woman was just the best part of the DC Extended Universe.

Now her own film has hit theaters and that's still true. Wonder Woman, both character and film, are the very best part of this superhero franchise. Now looking at the three films that came before it I know that's not saying much, but Wonder Woman is still by all accounts…wonderful!

The film chronicles the origins of the titular heroine (played again by Gadot), from her early days of training on the Amazonian island Themyscira, to her journey into the outside world, specfically during World War I. 

When Ally spy Steve Trevor (Pine) crash lands on the shores of the island, he tells Diana and her and people of "The war to end all wars" tearing the world apart at its seams. Diana believes this to be the work and second coming of Ares, The God of War. Against her mother (Nielsen)'s wishes, she leaves the island with Trevor, who agrees to take her to the front lines. Once she arrives at the battle, Diana plans to find and kill Ares, and therefore end the fighting. 

First up, the story itself is fairly basic, and you might be able to predict how Diana's mission will go (or *will* you?!?!?!). But the film has a beautiful message about belief, hope, and love. Good and evil aren't always black and white, it comes down to nature and choice. The film would fail if it didn't have a main character that audiences could connect and root for, and my God do we get one. 

Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman, and gives an iconic, career-defining performance. She plays every part of Diana's character so well, from her "fish out of water" moments, to her simply being a compassionate human being, who sees injustice (see what I did there?) in the world and wants to make it right how ever she can. I think that's why so many people fell in love with her and this film. She's not someone avenging the death of a loved one like Batman, or taking responsibility for her gifts like Spider-Man, she's someone who has the ability to make a difference, and will seek out to do just that.

Not for any reason other than it's right thing to do. It reminds me of…of…of CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!

Alright, alright I'll calm down, but you can see the similarities, in both character and origin films (The First Avenger takes place in WWII, Wonder Woman takes place in WWI…) Anyway, the scene where she fearlessly marches onto No Man's Land. Chills. Pure chills and feels.

Chris Pine gives a charming and humorous performance as Steve Trevor, and the chemistry he has with Gadot is remarkable. Nielsen and Robin Wright as Diana's mother and aunt give small but powerful performances nonetheless. Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremmer, and Eugene Brave Rock play the three men who accompany Diana and Steve on their mission, Sameer, Charlie, and The Chief. They all have nice moments throughout the film but when I saw the film a second time I barely remembered them from the first viewing.

The biggest flaw of the film in my opinion is the villains. Danny Huston and Elena Anaya play General Ludendorf and Dr. Posion, and I'm not saying their performances are bad (Well, Huston's German accent is pretty cringe…honestly I still see Stryker from X-Men Origins), but they're mostly just pawns and plot devices. All this talk of Ares I don't think it's a spoiler to say he is in the film. It's hard to talk about him without going into spoilers, so I'll just say his part in the film is, underwhelming.

Two more notes. The music from Rupert Gregson Williams is phenomenal, and yes he does use and build on the theme from Batman VS Superman, and the film looks great. From the shores of Themyscira to the battlefield. My God I didn't know so much color was allowed in a DC film!

So to wrap up, Wonder Woman is a really good, really enjoyable film, that gives us more of a character we already were in awe of after only being with her for fifteen minutes of screen time. Is it perfect? No. Is it a game changer? Not in every case. But it doesn't need to be. Sometimes we just need a superhero film with an incredible main character and a heartfelt message, and that's what we got. It's not just a big step forward for the DC Extended Universe, it's a huge step forward. I'm glad we were finally able to get a Wonder Woman film, a female led-superhero film, directed by a woman that's having enormous success. I think this film is something the world really needed right now.

…..and I'm not just saying that because I met Gal Gadot last year and she touched my arm and I am forever cast under her spell….*sigh*…

Did you know that Danny Huston's General Ludendorf was a real General in WWI?? Seriously look it up. I mean he didn't have those crazy pills but still….that's nuts….

Film Review - "Captain Underpants"

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
Directed by David Soren
Starring Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, and Thomas Middleditch

If you didn't read the Captain Underpants books when you were a kid, man you missed out. They're just so engaging, creative, and ridiculous. They're also still in publication so if you or your kids need a new read or something to laugh at I recommend you head on down to the library or bookstore.

Anyway there comes a time in every book or book series' run, where it becomes so popular, Hollywood comes to see it as an opportunity for a film or film series. Captain Underpants's time came and The First Epic Movie hits theaters this weekend via Dreamworks Animation. As someone who grew up with the books, I found it to be a pretty faithful adaptation and a fun film.

Like the first novel, the film centers around two young boy George Beard and Harold Hutchins (voiced by two very adult actors, Hart and Middleditch). George and Harold are best friends and the school pranksters. Their shenanigans make them a constant target of their grumpy school principal Mr. Krupp (Helms).

Finally Mr. Krupp catches the boys red-handed, and threatens to put them in separate classes, and to an extent destroy their friendship. In a last-ditch attempt to save themselves, the boys try to hypnotize Mr. Krupp with a "3D Hypno-Ring", a cheap plastic prize out of a cereal box. Surprisingly the ring works, and it's not soon after that George and Harold command Mr. Krupp to become Captain Underpants, the fictional superhero they spend their afternoons writing comics about.

This little gag backfires quickly when Captain Underpants rushes off to fight crime, and George and Harold have to keep him safe and under control. To make matters worse, a new science teacher named Professor Poopypants (Nick Kroll, and yes that's his name) arrives with some sinister motives.

So for the uninitiated, with names like Captain Underpants and Professor Poopypants, I think you can tell this a strange world of stories. There's no explanation for any of it though, and that's fine because that's a large part of the franchise's charm and this is a property targeted towards kids after all. The script follows the plot of the first book for the first half of the film, and then forges its own path, taking elements from the second and fourth, "Attack of The Talking Toilets" and "The Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants"..you can't make this stuff up.

Anyway think of it as similar to what the A Series of Unfortunate Events film did, but here it's more effective...you could argue that's in part due to the weight of the books being adapted but it works. There's plenty of jokes and nods to the books that fans will get, while others might just chuckle and continue on. To build off that, many gags are geared towards the younger audiences, which is fine because again, that's what the books are too. Parents or older audiences might not like the film as much but it's still really entertaining. The spirit of the books is on perfect display here.

What's really great is at the heart of the film is a story of friendship and how it can evolve as we grow. It's really very sweet and a valuable lesson for kids. One thing about the film that kind of bugged me though was George and Harold spend a lot of time breaking the fourth wall, delivering exposition to the audience. It's fine at first but it starts to slow down the film, and for the record was not something that was done a lot in the books if I remember correctly.

Onto the voice cast. Again, Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch play George and Harold and they do a great job, but it's very noticeable that two adults are voicing our young protagonists. Were there no child voice actors leftover from The Peanuts Movie looking for work? Ed Helms gives a hilarious and spot-on performance as Mr. Krupp/Captain Underpants. When he belches out the hero's famous "TRA LA LAAA" you know he's right for the role. Nick Kroll is clearly having fun as Professor Poopypants, but I swear I've heard him do this German scientist voice before. To contrast Hart and Middleditch, Jordan Peele is unrecognizable as the class dork Melvin.

Can't review an animated film without talking about the animation. The animators did a spectacular job of bringing the illustrations of the books to life. Everything is so polished and vibrant, and I never noticed until they were brought into CGI but these characters kind of look life the Peanuts (Crossover?!?!?!). Building off that comparison the look of the film almost does look like hand-drawn animation with a 3D boost. Lastly, the theme song written and performed by Weird Al will get stuck in your head. No question.

To conclude Captain Underpants is a wonderful film that won't appeal to all ages like a Pixar or Disney film but can still be a pretty entertaining viewing. In terms of being an adaptation it's very, ahem, by the books *dodges tomatoes*. Seriously though this film is Captain Underpants brought to life, and personally I would love to see some sequels because the other book get even crazier.
Trust me when I tell you this is the highest, and most appealing form...of toilet humor....I'll see myself out.

Side note: This is probably Dreamworks Animation's best film in years, not counting any Kung Fu Pandas or How To Train Your Dragons....Side-side note: Where the heck is How To Train Your Dragon 3?

Film Review - "Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.2"

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2
Directed by James Gunn
Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Kurt Russell, etc.

I don't think anyone expected the first Guardians of The Galaxy to be the smash hit it turned out to be, but here we are, and personally it's one of my favorite films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From the way James Gunn and Kevin Feige have been talking, it sounds like the series will play a major role in shaping the future of the MCU post-Phase Three. I think the majority of Marvel fans are perfectly fine with that. Early last month, Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 hit theaters and proved that the first film was no fluke. The sequel is another strong entry into the franchise and stands toe-to-toe with "Vol. 1"

After Rocket (Voiced again by Bradley Cooper) lands the team in hot water with the alien race known as The Sovereign, the Guardians crash-land on a remote planet, where they are located by Peter (Pratt)'s long-lost father Ego (Russell) and his assistant Mantis (Pom Klementieff).

Ego invites the group to his personal home planet, to reconnect with his son and teach him of his heritage, but Peter naturally remains skeptical of his estranged dad, as does Gamora (Saldana). Meanwhile Yondu (Michael Rooker) finds himself on the outs with his crew and other Ravager factions as a result of his past mistakes, and Nebula (Karen Gillan) continues her hunt to kill Thanos (Josh Brolin but not here) and settle her beef with her sister Gamora.

It's a simple story, elevated to the greatest of heights with tons of heart and emotion. James Gunn once again takes this weird batch of characters and makes it so easy for audiences to connect, feel, and fall in love with them all over again. We should be super thankful he returned for Vol. 2, and will come back again for Vol.3. 

The underlying theme of family gives each character a chance to grow and shine throughout the film. The cast nails it once again. Chris Pratt is as lovable as ever as Peter Quill/Star-Lord. Kurt Russell is perfect as Ego. Dave Bautista once again brings buckets of laughs as Drax, and is also given more emotional bits to work with. Bradley Cooper I felt wasn't as funny in the role of Rocket this film, but like Bautista he got to flex his acting chops with more dramatic material, given the little trash panda's arc in the film.

Zoe Saldana again embodies the character of Gamora, and because the film expands on her relationship with Nebula, she gets to do more than just kick ass and not get Quill's references. Speaking of Nebula, Karen Gillian is given so much more to do and owns the role. The same can definitely be said for Michael Rooker as Yondu, who arguably steals the spotlight.
I say arguably because yes, there's Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), and yes he's adorable, and yes all eyes are on him when he's onscreen.

Before I end up praising every actor on the cast list, I'll just say that Sylvester Stallone in his role was actually really great. He's not in the film a lot, but you can tell he's giving it his all, and not just working to make a quick paycheck. Finally, Elizabeth Debicki is good as Ayesha, the High Priestess of the Sovereign but is really just an incidental character. Hopefully we'll see more of her in future films.

I'll go back and forth for awhile on whether Vol. 1 or Vol. 2 is the better film but I will say that the latter does a much better job of integrating the music. There's an incredible variety of wonderful tracks in Awesome Mix Vol. 2 that work to progress the story and elevate the tone of the film. Also I found the look and production design of Vol. 2 to be on a higher level. Every planet or ship looks so distinct and it's all just so colorful and well crafted, they really created a whole universe and it's a beautiful film to look at.

Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is an amazing film packed with laughs and heart. It's an easy recommendation for anyone, and if you didn't see the first one watch it right now and then go see this one ASAP. This series continues to prove it's one of the most unique out there, inside and out of the MCU. Who would have thought a film featuring a talking tree and raccoon could carry so much weight?

Yeah About That...Disney's Live-Action Self-Remakes

They say originality is dead in Hollywood. The box office is filled with nothing but sequels, reboots, and remakes. Personally I'm on the fence of this argument, but one thing is for sure is that originality is on life support at the Walt Disney Studios.

A few years ago, the Mouse House started a trend of taking films from their animated classics line, and turning them into live-action films. Some not straight-forward remakes, so much as crude, god-awful reimaginings with no sense of the source material they're adapting...anyway. Quickly the number of these "live-action self-remakes" in development began to outweigh the number of them being released to theaters. At this point you can pretty much name a Disney animated film, and the chances are it's getting remade.

With the Beauty & The Beast remake now one of the high grossing films of all time, let's take a look at the rest of the remakes in the pipeline, while I offer my two-cents on each project. Shockingly, I'm not completely opposed to...most of them.

Mulan
Directed by Niki Caro
Written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
Starring: TBA
Coming To Theaters: November 2nd, 2018

Milan could actually really benefit in live-action, if done right. The fight scenes and the battle in the mountains could look amazing if choreographed properly and not completely dosed in CGI. The current word is it might not be a musical like original, and personally I'm fine with that. Let the film take on a more serious tone, but keep the comic relief so it's not completely dark and dull. Hell I suppose you could do like The Jungle Book remake and cherry pick one or two of the best songs so it's not a full-blown musical. Anyway this one I think can pass.


Mary Poppins Returns
Directed by Rob Marshall
Written by David Magee
Starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Coming To Theaters: December 25th, 2018

Okay this one's not a remake it's just a sequel, but it's a sequel to a classic Disney film that had an animated sequence. So yeah. The sequel's set to take place in London during the 1930s, where Jane, Micheal and Michael's three children, receive a visit from Ms. Poppins after a family tragedy. I love Emily Blunt and I have no doubt she'll nail the lead role. Rob Marshall can be a fairly decent director. Into The Woods was good, and the fourth Pirates of The Caribbean was entertaining enough in my opinion. Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing music for the movie so have fun with that (Clearly he's found a comfortable home at Disney post-Moana). There's also a really strong supporting cast, featuring Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, and the return of Dick Van Dyke. Based on Blunt's casting alone I'm cautiously optimistic for this film...despite the fact that P.L. Travers hated the first Mary Poppins, and forbid any more movies based on her books be made, so it just makes you wonder what kind of dark forces are we tempting here...but hey, you guys should watch Saving Mr. Banks.


The Lion King
Directed by Jon Favreau
Written by TBA
Starring: Donald Glover, James Earl Jones, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen
Coming To Theaters: July 19th, 2019

This one's apparently on the fast track. After the success Favreau had remaking The Jungle Book, this holds promise. But unless they actually use real animals, can this be considered a live-action remake, or just a remake with more realistic looking animation? One thing The Jungle Book has that The Lion King doesn't, is the human connection with Mowgli. Time will tell if this hurts the film. Donald Glover as Simba is an exciting casting choice, and bringing James Earl Jones back to reprise his iconic performance as Mufasa is a classy move. Eichner & Rogen as Timon & Pumbaa...I don't know. With the casting of James Earl Jones there's two ways of looking at this. Why can't we bring back other original cast members, and if we can, then really how much can this film distinguish itself from the 1994 epic?


Aladdin
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Written by John August
Starring ...maybe Will Smith? As The Genie?!?!
Coming To Theaters: TBA

I look at Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films, and I look at the style he's applied to his King Arthur (and the reviews...), and I wonder, is that going to work for a musical comedic-adventure like Aladdin? I have concerns. Let's be honest, this film is going to sink or swim solely based on the casting of The Genie. No one could ever hope to match the late Robin Williams's iconic performance. I don't envy the actor who has to fill those shoes. Apparently it might be Will Smith and honestly...that has a small chance of working, and a big chance of failing horribly. My fan-casting would be James Monroe Igelhart, who originated the role on Broadway. He was able to capture the spirit of Williams's performance while making it his own, and winning a Tony for it. Also it would help them to get Alan Menken back to do the music. He did it for the Beauty & The Beast remake.


Christopher Robin
Directed by Marc Forster
Written by Alex Ross Perry and Tom McCarthy
Starring Ewan McGregor?
Coming To Theaters: TBA

This one is basically Ted meets Toy Story 3. Christopher Robin is now an adult and forgotten his childhood imagination and adventures with Winnie The Pooh and company in the Hundred Acre Wood. His mundane adult life is thrown a curveball when Pooh shows up on his doorstep. Actually it sounds like Hook but with Winnie The Pooh not Peter Pan. There's real potential here, if the film amps up the nostalgia factor and goes right for the feels. Ewan McGregor could be adding another Disney remake to his resume, taking the lead role here which will be great. Marc Forster directed Finding Neverland and Quantum of Solace so stylistically it could be interesting. Tom McCarthy co-wrote Up and Spotlight, and rewrote Ross Perry's original script, so it's hard to say this early in the game what kind of film will get. Also for the love of God if you don't CGI Winnie The Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, etc. in the right way we could all be creeped the *bleep* and running out of the theaters in fear...


Oliver Twist
Directed by Tommy Kail
Written by TBA
Starring Ice Cube and TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

I guess you can consider this a remake of Oliver & Company...starring Ice Cube as Fagin...and it's being directed by the guy who directed "Hamilton" so it's going to be like hip-hop of the Charles Dickens story...okay? Yeah I'm not loving it.


James and The Giant Peach
Directed by Sam Mendes
Written by Nick Hornby
Starring TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

Not everything getting remade is from the animated classics line. NO FILM IS SAFE.
I didn't see the original stop-motion film until I was older, and I didn't really care for it so I couldn't care less about this project, and I don't think it's anyone's favorite Disney film so this remake isn't all that offensive as others. Sam Mendes is a talented director so maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.


Cruella
Directed by TBA
Written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel
Starring Emma Stone
Coming To Theaters: TBA

Much like a certain other Disney film...this will focus on the origins of the villain of the animated original, i.e. Cruella DeVil. Emma Stone is set to play the iconic Disney villain, which sounds amazing but here's the kicker. Brosh McKenna, who wrote The Devil Wears Prada (Heh..The DeVil Wears Prada...) but Marcel came in and rewrote it. She wrote Fifty Shades of Grey...
I love Emma Stone but I think it best she really think this through before she signed on the dotted line...or should I say the spotted line...okay I'll stop.


Tink
Directed by TBA
Written by Victoria Strouse
Starring Reese Witherspoom
Coming To Theaters: TBA

Why is this necessary when you've done like eight direct-to-video films on Tinker Bell and her fairy friends that have racked in a fair amount of money-oh wait...do we really need to know the untold origins of Disney's favorite fairy? Again? Who really wasn't that layered of a character to begin with?


Peter Pan
Directed by David Lowrey
Written by David Lowrey and Toby Halbrooks
Starring TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

Did you see Pan? It might be time to lay off Peter Pan films for now...and are you trying to set up a Peter Pan cinematic universe with this and Tink? If so that's...stupid.


The Sword In The Stone
Directed by TBA
Written by Bryan Cogman
Starring TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

The original is kind of a clunky film to begin with, so this one could probably benefit from a remake, granted that if they do the scenes where they turn into fish, squirrels, and birds and the CGI isn't horrifying. Also there's a guy from Game of Thrones writing it, but don't expect a ton of nudity and graphic violence.


Dumbo
Directed by Tim Burton
Written by Ehren Kruger
Starring Eva Green, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

No! Hell no! No wants to see the cute, heart-warming story of Dumbo, get the creepy, dirty Tim Burton treatment. Look what he did to Alice In Wonderland! Also Tim Burton stop remaking stuff and gives us something original. Seriously get out of this funk and make a good film. And I keep bringing CGI up and I'm going to keep bringing it up, but I don't want to see a horrifying CGI Dumbo.


Pinocchio
Directed by TBA
Written by Peter Hedges
Starring TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

Again, like Peter Pan I think this is a story that needs to stop being remade because no film has really worked since Disney's animated original. I think the last one was Roberto Benigni's version...*shudders* I would much rather see the potential versions done by Guillermo del Toro or Robert Downey Jr, just because of their involvement.


The Little Mermaid
Directed by TBA
Written by TBA
Starring TBA
Coming To Theaters: TBA

I am curious to see how the underwater scenes are done, and I will laugh out loud if this film gets to theaters before and does underwater better than one of James Cameron's Avatar sequels (One's supposed to feature an underwater world). Alan Menken will be back to do music so that's good, along with Lin-Manuel Miranda who's going to produce (He's clearly getting comfortable at Disney). But I imagine a CGI Flounder and Sebastian looking gross...


The Second Jungle Book
Directed by Jon Favreau
Written by John Favreau & Justin Marks
Starring TBA
Coming To Theaters: 2019-ish?

So a sequel of a remake that's neat...unless they're remaking the direct-to-video sequel...no they wouldn't. There's plenty more from Kipling's books to adapt. Favrueau and Marks returning is a good thing, but with this supposedly shooting back-to-back with The Lion King, I wonder if Favreau is stretching himself too thin, and if both films will suffer. Hopefully some of the original cast can return, and they can get this going before Mowgli (Neel Sethi) gets too old.


Maleficent 2
Directed by TBA
Written by TBA
Starring Angelina Jolie
Coming To Theaters: TBA

......No........


That's all of them I think. Having gone down the calendar one by one, it's clear that some of these remakes have a far better chance at success than others. So far Disney's remakes have had pretty solid track record. I never saw Cinderella but it had favorable reviews, and The Jungle Book I thought was probably better than the original, in terms of script and pacing. Pete's Dragon, I never saw the original and I really have no desire to see the remake. Beauty & The Beast for the most part is a very entertaining and loving tribute to the original, but not without its flaws.

In order for these remakes to succeed, they need to distinguish themselves enough from the original like The Jungle Book did to justify their existence. In an interview a few years ago, Beauty remake director Bill Condon raised the question on why remake a film that, in his words is "so perfect"? He went on to say "Technology has caught up to the ideas that were introduced in that movie." That's not a good reason to remake a film, and frankly an insult to the animated original, and to a greater extent the legacy of the company that allowed the creation of both Beauty & The Beast films.

If you're going to remake these films in live-action just so we can have a non-animated versions of them, that seems like a waste of production and resources. Why can't Disney devote all this energy to making original live-action fairy-tale musicals in the same spirit of their animated classics, that can stand beside them in the studio's catalog? I don't know, if the films are as good as The Jungle Book and Beauty & The Beast, I suppose it's a harmless practice, but what if they're not?

Walt himself was always looking to push the boundaries of filmmaking and technology. Hell even in his later years he was becoming less interested in animation and more with live-action filmmaking and his theme parks, so you have to wonder what he'd make of all this. When once asked about making a sequel to The Three Little Pigs short, he said "You can't top pigs with pigs"...but then he did go and make more shorts starring the pigs...

I'll go back and forth on this issue more and more as these films continue to develop and make their way to theaters. One thing is clear though from this list. Not every Disney film needs to be remade.

Film Review - "Beauty & The Beast" (2017)

Beauty & The Beast 
Directed by Bill Condon
Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, etc.

It's not much of a secret as it used to be,but let me just put in print: The original animated Beauty & The Beast is my favorite Disney film, and just my favorite film in general. Dare I say, it's one of the few films I could arguably label as "perfect".

So when Disney got on it's "live-action self-remake" kick, and this film was on the docket, I was more than skeptical. But as the casting announcements, production updates and trailers started to come out I started to feel more confident. It looked like Disney was treating one of its greatest properties with thought and care. After having seen the film twice now, I can say that while the original will always be superior, this one is a wonderful but not perfect tribute to it.

You know the story. A young girl named Belle (Watson) lives a provincial life in a French village. While on his journey home from the market, her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, as the prisoner of of a cruel prince-turned-Beast (Stevens) in an enchanted castle. Belle finds her father, offers herself in his place, and the Beast accepts. Belle and the Beast grow closer, as does the hope that she might be the one to set him and his subjects free from their curse, while the wicked Gaston (Evans) schemes to make Belle his wife.

I'll be honest, this is a tough review to write. It feels like a betrayal to praise this film, because I love the original and when it comes right down to it, this is still an unnecessary remake. Hell, I think all these Disney remakes are but more on that later. Let's look at the remake of The Jungle Book for a second. That film managed to rework the story in a way that actually improved upon the original's script. Beauty & The Beast, there's not much to improve upon in the original, so really the changes here are minimal, and the result is mostly a shot-for-shot remake.

The film does suffer because of it. I'd say that until we got to the "Gaston" musical number I wasn't truly enjoying myself. As it progresses, the film does allow itself to become its own thing, but there's still a hesitance to stray too far from the source material. But to play devil's advocate, the film is a beautiful, touching homage to the animated classic. Nostalgia is one of the film's greatest strengths. Those who look fondly on Disney's original film will find it hard to not have their heartstrings pulled at. I found myself getting emotional as some iconic scenes were brought to life anew, particularly "Be Our Guest" and the dance in the ballroom to the title song.

I should mention that while the film does play its cards close to the chest, Bill Condon and his team do make some changes to the story, and they attempt to fill some plot-holes that have bugged fans for years. Some changes work well, and some not as well as others. I felt some key story moments were glossed over or not given enough attention. For example the scene where Belle saves her father and first meets the Beast feels rushed, like a drive-by plot point. The pacing of some songs and scenes, like "Something There" are reworked to let the audience see Belle and Beast's relationship grow overtime. The personas and development of some characters, like the Beast, Maurice, and LeFou are changed in ways that I thought worked really well.

Another one of the film's greatest strengths is that they got Alan Menken back to do the music, and it pays off gloriously. The songs feel almost grander, and more cinematic, not to say that all renditions outshine their predecessors. Some personal favorites are "Gaston" and "The Mob Song". The new songs work well too. "Days In The Sun" is a lovely, warm-hearted replacement for "Human Again" (but I did miss that song). "Evermore" is so powerful and heartbreaking. "How Does A Moment Last Forever" is fine, but its too fleeting to leave a lasting impression like the other two. Maybe its from decades of listening to the soundtrack of the original over and over, but the score for the remake is almost forgettable.

The cast is fantastic. Emma Watson plays a pitch-perfect Belle, but unfortunately the same can't be said about her singing. She does a fine job, but there is evidence of auto-tuning. Dan Stevens is an amazing Beast. The real scene-stealers are Kevin Kline, Luke Evans, and Josh Gad as Maurice, Gaston, and LeFou. Kevin Kline is at his best as Maurice. Luke Evans is delightfully wicked as Gaston, and is a highlight among the ensemble. Josh Gad gives a great performance as LeFou, who is an actual character here and not a one-note sidekick. Ewan McGregor is a fine Lumiere, and his performance in "Be Our Guest" is pretty fantastic, but his "French" accent is meh. Ian McKellen is a spot on Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson plays Mrs. Potts with just the right amount of warmth and maternal sass.

So in conclusion, I really enjoyed this film and will always admire it for what it does, which is give a loving and well-crafted tribute to the animated classic. I encourage all fans of the original to give this film a shot. I will revisit this film in future, but it will not replace or overshadow the original Beauty & The Beast. As good as this remake is, it doesn't do enough to stand on its own or justify its own existence. There's the age old debate of what makes a film "necessary" to make, and while I find this film falls in the "unnecessary" category, it's not a bad thing that it was made. It's not exactly a bad thing to revisit a tale as old as time.

PS: If you'd like to see me interview audience members on their hopes and reactions to the film on opening night, click here.

Film Review - "Logan"

Logan
Directed by James Mangold
Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Dafne Keen

Have I mentioned I'm not a big X-Men fan? I have? Okay, well despite that I have always loved Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. It's just a shame this great character and performance has had to survive in a film series that I describe as mediocre to lame, with a few high points. But Jackman and Wolverine get a hell of a send off in Logan, which I find to be one of the best X-Men films ever made.
I'm hesitant to call it one of the best superhero films ever made too, because it hardly feels like a superhero film.

Set in the year of 2029, mutants are almost extinct and an aging, broken Logan (Jackman) works as a chaeuffer on the edge of Texas. He cares for Charles Xavier (Stewart), who's mind is deteriorating and in turn losing control of his powers, with the help of mutant tracker Caliban (Stephen Merchant). Their peaceful but downright miserable existence is interrupted when a mysterious girl named Laura (Keen) is left in Logan's care.

They soon learn that there's more to Laura than meets the eye, and a powerful organization is on the hunt for her. Logan and Charles soon uncover a greater, sinister plot and take it upon themselves to take Laura to a safe haven. As they travel cross-country, Logan slowly starts to rediscover his humanity and get back in touch with his inner Wolverine.

The film pretty much abandons any tropes and cliches a superhero film could have, and acts much more as a drama or western, that just happens to star X-Men. It's emotional, it's depressing, but it's glorious. The Logan/Wolverine character reaches a poignant, profound conclusion that just makes sense. Hugh Jackman gives it his all in a performance that is both badass and heartbreaking. Logan thinks himself a monster, and he has to live in pain and isolation, for all that he's done. He's never been much of a team player. This film's all about him being confronted by those ideals.

The filmmakers take advantage of the R-rating, and the action is so gloriously brutal it might even make Deadpool look tame. It works though, because this is a dark film, and it allows the brutality of the Wolverine character to really come out. They do get a bit eager with the f-bombs early on in the film, but they start to show restraint as the film progresses.

As I said, Hugh Jackman is giving it his all for his final time as Logan. He's magnificent, making you believe every bit of pain, rage and heartbreak Logan feels. This is a completely different Professor Xavier than what we've seen before, but Patrick Stewart is still the best, providing both levity and emotion to this heavy picture. Young newcomer as Dafne Keen does stellar work in her breakout role, holding herself incredibly well against these two powerhouses.

One issue I have with the film is the pacing is a bit off. We go at a steady pace for the majority of the runtime, then almost rush to climax. It's not necessarily a bad thing though because the pace is slowed down for more important character moments, and the cast is allowed more time to shine.

Logan has quickly made itself known as one of the best X-Men films ever made, and in completely abandoning the typical characteristics of one, ironically becomes one of the best superhero films ever made. It reaches the emotional and sophisticated heights of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, something I thought an X-Men film could never do. Sometimes all it takes is for all the right pieces to fall into place I suppose. It's a beautiful send-off to Wolverine and Hugh Jackman. Thanks for over seventeen years of adamantium claw-fueled rage and smart ass-ery. We'll miss you, bub.

Film Review - "The LEGO Batman Movie"

The Lego Batman Movie
Directed by Chris McKay
Starring Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Zach Galifanakis

I'm just gonna say it, Batman was a pretty expendable character in the first The Lego Movie. I've grown to love the film since I shared my initial thoughts on it, but from an extremely critical perspective, if you were to take the Bat-suit, name, and cowl away it would pretty much be the same character. It's kind of cynical for me to say that the filmmakers probably just went, "Well we have the rights to Batman, and he has a Lego, so let's make him a character in The Lego Movie." but I'm paying devil's advocate to get to a point.

That point being that while Batman being a character in the first Lego film wasn't necessary but it paid off immensely, the same could be said for this spinoff film, which wasn't needed but I think most can say they're glad to have because by God, it might be one of the best Batman films ever.

I mean we could get philosophical for a bit and debate what makes a film "necessary" or "needed" or what stories are worth telling or not telling…but we're here to talk about the next installment in the…Lego Cinematic Universe? I guess that's a thing now. Anyway.

The Lego Batman Movie follows the adventures of the titular character (Again played by Arnett) back in his home of Gotham City, which mostly include taking down all of his rogues gallery and just hanging out by himself in his big, empty mansion.

Batman (and Bruce Wayne's) life are about to get hit with a series of major changes, when he must comes to terms with a new police commissioner (Dawson) who wants to change how he and the force and work together, his newly adopted son Dick Grayson (Cera) that he must take responsibility for, and The Joker (Galifanakis) going to the extremest of lengths to get Batman to admit he is his greatest foe.

The film manages to juggle these three plot threads well by making the driving force of the film what makes Batman who he is, and I mean the legendary character Batman, not just this film's iteration. Bruce Wayne/Batman is a loner. He keeps to himself, he chooses a life as a caped crusader over a simple life with a family, because of his painful past. This is not new to Batman. We've seen it explored in previous films and comics before. The Lego Batman Movie manages to successfully honor these character traits while putting a spin on them that both children and adults in the audience can understand, which is kind of brilliant.

Is this the same serious Batman that Ben Affleck or Christian Bale portray? No but this film is meant to both honor and poke fun at Batman, and somehow both there's and every other version of the character get a nod or a jab. I have to talk about how the relationship between Batman and The Joker is portrayed. It is cheesy and sometimes cringeworthy, but The Joker always has sort of operated with some need to have Batman oppose him and acknowledge him as a threat. Soooo it's actually pretty clever in how its spins this age-old conflict in a comical new light.

Will Arnett is again pitch-perfect as this Batman, getting much more to do with the role this time around. Michael Cera is adorable and hilarious as Robin (God I can't believe I just said that about Michael Cera). Rosario Dawson fits the Barbara Gordon role so well, and Zach Galifanakis is absolutely delightful as The Joker. Ralph Finnes also gets some great material as Alfred, and there are plenty of hilarious little cameos throughout the film.

If I had to say anything bad about the film, is that I wish that the writers had taken more advantage of the Lego universe and setting, and the climatic "battle"sort of pales in comparison to big fight in the second act, but this is all nitpicking.

The Lego Batman Movie is not a movie the world necessarily needed to see, but I think most who see it will very glad they did. It manages to do something fun and new with the character while paying homage to The Dark Knight. Honestly, I'm very excited to see what other famous characters will…could, get a Lego film.

My God could we get The Lego Batman VS Superman Movie?!?!