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?!?!

Top 10 Films of 2016

Another year of film comes to a close this weekend with the 89th Annual Academy Awards, and what a year it's been. It was a make-or-break period for superhero films (Marvel did the making, DC did the breaking. Shots fired.). After a few years of backlash, filmmakers seemed to have responded to the "Oscars So White" rally cry, and we had a much more diverse library of films (Four of the nine Best Picture Nominees predominantly star actors and actresses of color.). Disney churned out not one but two incredible animated films, while Pixar gave us another sequel in Finding Dory, that wasn't spectacular but still worlds better than Cars 2. But most importantly, Ryan Gosling gave us even more reasons to be in awe of him…anyway…

Now with the Oscars upon us, and having just finished watching all nine of the Best Picture nominees at AMC's annual marathon, here's my Top 10 Films of 2016. And as I always say: Not your Top 10. Mine. Here we go.

10. Zootopia
Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Idris Elba

Like I said, Disney added two great animated films to their catalog this year, and while I loved Moana, Zootopia definitely was the better crafted and more impactful film. A cute and very comical film with a powerful message at its core, and a message very important in this day and age. Its two leads are a perfect match, the script is more than solid, and the animation is Disney at its best. Zootopia stands as one of Disney's and one of the year's best.
(Original Review)

9. Deadpool
Directed by Tim Miller
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarain and TJ Miller

I never thought I'd see the day a Ryan Reynolds film would appear on a Top 10 list for me, but 2016 started off with the gift of Deadpool. While it's very much a basic superhero origin story, it's all elevated by his performance as the Merc with a Mouth. The film was a longtime passion project of his, and it shows in the final product. While it's a raunchy R-Rated superhero film, it has plenty of heart to keep it balanced. Full of great one-liners and gags, Deadpool is one of the finest films out of last year.
(Original Review)

8. Hacksaw Ridge
Directed by Mel Gibson
Starring Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, and Hugo Weaving

Mel Gibson is who he is, but that doesn't mean he can't make a great film, and Hacksaw Ridge is a great film. While the first third is strong with Christian overtones and the blood and violence gets to be a little much (Classic Mel) it's a captivating story about beliefs and heroism. Andrew Garfield gives a not-Spider-Man career defining performance, backed up by the (surprising) talent of Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington. It's heartfelt, it's thrilling, Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of an almost real-life Captain America, so based on that sentiment you can see why it's in my Top 10.

7. Moonlight
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Starring Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Mahershala Ali

Moonlight is such a bold, unique film. There's nothing like it, which is sad because more stories of self-acceptance and identity like this one are needed in this time in history. The scenery and lighting is so eye-catching, and the three actors they got to play the main character through the three stages of his life mesh together so well  (for the most part). I guess what keeps the film lower on my list opposed to others' lists, is it hit a wall for me in the third act. The pacing slowed to a crawl and we seemed to rush to an abrupt but still logical conclusion. That aside, its a remarkable, passionate film and still one of the year's best.

6. Arrival
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forrest Whittaker

Arrival is such a different take on the usual alien-invasion film. Not to get into spoilers, but it reaches a Christopher Nolan-level of storytelling that resonates on an emotional and mind-rattling level. You'll approach the film with one mindset, and have it completely turned upside down by the time the credits role. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner both give some solid performances, but I'm not sure what Forrest Whittaker's accent is all about...might be Boston. It's eerie, it's captivating, it's a mind trip. Arrival will definitely stick with you as you leave the theater.

5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, and Ben Mendelson

Well we had a thought-provoking sci-fi film, now here's a fun popcorn sci-fi film! Rogue One is definitely one of the better Star Wars film, despite the fact that it's not perfectly made. It does a great job of taking a couple sentences from A New Hope's opening crawl and crafting a story you actually care about. The characters and performances are delightful, although you'll wish for more interaction with/development of them. It's got stunning visuals, and plenty of fan service. Gareth Edwards did the impossible...he made a Star Wars prequel you can love (Shots fired.).
(Original Review)

4. Manchester by The Sea
Directed by Kenneth Lonergan
Starring Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, and Michelle Williams

You're going to need a serious hug after seeing this film, but that doesn't mean Manchester By The Sea is a film you should avoid. It's an powerhouse drama about family, grief and sacrifice, and at its core is the relationship between an estranged uncle and nephew. Casey Affleck gives a subtle but heavyweight performance in the lead role of Lee Chandler, and newcomer Lucas Hedges plays his nephew Patrick. His performance is spot-on but nothing special (I mean a teenager playing a teenager, not hard to do.) I'm a resident Masshole, so I loved the humor specific to the area, but on top of that the look of Manchester and the New England area is captured perfectly. It's a beautifully shot film. Manchester By The Sea might be a tough watch, and it's not a feel good film, but it's an emotional character study that will jump rope with your heartstrings.

3. Hell or High Water
Directed by David Mackenzie
Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, and Ben Foster

I've got a secret passion for westerns, and Hell or High Water is exactly that. A modern-day western. It's like The Town in Texas. It's unique in that sense, though some would argue it's got a few storytelling cliches. But Chris Pine and Ben Foster are a perfect pair as are two leads, and Jeff Bridges is hilarious and a real scene-stealer as the Texas Ranger hunting them down. You're not quite sure how it's all going to go down, but it's awesome and it keeps your eyes glued to the screen until the last second. Lastly, the cinematography of the Texas landscape really helps overstate the scale of this small story. It's amazing a film like Hell or High Water got nominated for Best Picture this year. It definitely won't get an Oscar but it's still a winning film.

2. Captain America: Civil War
Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo
Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Sebastian Stan

You knew this was coming. Hell you know what's coming after this. I am who I am, and I loved Captain America: Civil War, and I know a lot of you did too! It's one of Marvel's best, and it's one of the genre's best. It works as a Captain America film, and an Avengers film, but our lead is still centerstage, brining his trilogy to a logical...conclusion? Tipping point? Talk to Feige...Members of the MCU ensemble give some of their best performances, the fight scenes are so impressive, and it raises plenty of questions on morality. Explosive, emotional, and to no surprise, Captain America: Civil War is my second favorite film of 2016.
(Original Review)

What's my favorite? Well before we get to the expected conclusion of this list and you can all roll your eyes at me, here's some other films I really loved from this year but not as much as these ten (In order of release):

The Jungle Book: Another unnecessary remake from Disney that ended up being incredibly well made, and dare I say, better written than the animated original.

The Nice Guys: Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe make a great pair in this funny and compelling neo-noir.

Moana: Beautifully animated and packed with plenty of catchy Lin-Manuel Miranda music, it's another great Disney film with a simple by-the-numbers story.

Doctor Strange: The MCU goes to bold, fantastical new places in one of its finer origin stories, pulled together by an amazing cast, visuals, and score.

Fences: August Wilson's play comes to life with amazing performances. Coming off much more a play being filmed than an actual film, it's got some truly wonderful work from its cast.


Alright here we go. You know it. My top film of 2016 is...


1. La La Land
Directed by Damien Chapelle
Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and that charming fiend named John Legend

Honestly how could a MUSICAL featuring BUCKETS OF SINGING AND DANCING be CHRIS FLAHERTY'S favorite film of the year?? Yes I'm in the majority, and I see many on the inter webs hating on La La Land, but I digress. It's a heartfelt story about dreams and dreamers, not just show business. Making dreams come true is never an easy task. Challenges and adversity left and right, and many people saying no or slamming doors in your face. La La Land doesn't shy away from the harshness of Hollywood, it's not all sugar-coated song and dance. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are as captivating as they've ever been, and you'll fall in love with their characters and their stories. There's some gorgeous sets and visuals in the film, the songs are unforgettable, and yes buckets of lovely, captivating, dancing.

As Emma Stone sings, "Here's to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem" and here's to La La Land. My favorite film of 2016.


Now I can focus on what's coming up this year, like that Beauty & The Beast remake that's either going to make or break-oh crap I forgot to watch Hail, Caesar...

....Happy Oscar Night!!!

Film Review- "Sing"

Sing
Directed by Garth Jennings
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson

Outside of the original Despicable Me, the films of Illumination Entertainment haven't had a lasting impact on me. The second Despicable film was good but never matched the original, and the Minions spinoff bored me. The Lorax got too preachy instead of celebrating its source material, I never saw Hop or The Secret Life of Pets, the former's trailers didn't wow and the latter appears just to be Toy Story with pets. Then Sing came along with its flashy trailers, selling a delightful animated musical like something right out of the nineties. Those trailers were enough to get me into the theaters this past weekend, and did Sing deliver? Well, for the most part.

Koala Buster Moone (McConaughey) has always loved musical theatre since his father took him to his first show as a child. Now the owner of his own theatre, Buster's facing financial woes, with the threat of the bank seizing control of his assets. After a long string of flops, Buster now thinks he's got the show to save his theatre: A singing competition open to the public.

Some of the selected contestants include Johnny (Taron Edgerton), a gorilla reluctant to be a part of his criminal father's gang, Rosita (Witherspoon) a pig who's an overworked stay-at-home mom, and Ash (Johansson) a porcupine reduced to background vocals by her singing partner/lousy boyfriend. They and the other contestants all have something standing in their way of the spotlight, while Buster scrambles to make sure the show is a guaranteed success and his theatre is saved.

First off, if a musical about a bunch of anthromorphic animals trying to make it in show business sounds familiar, it is. Sing shares a lot of similarities to the forgotten gem of 1991, Cats Don't Dance (and if you haven't seen that I recommend it). Hell both the second act of each film bizarrely ends the same way. But without going into spoilers, Sing's storyline is pretty predictable. It's nothing we haven't seen before in movies.

All the contestants' story lines have been done before. Johnny? The one reluctant to follow a dream because of the disapproval of a parent. Rosita? The one letting their domestic life prevent them from following a dream. Meena the elephant (Tori Kelly)? She has to gain some confidence and overcome stage fright for everyone to see her real talent. Honestly how many times in a musical has a significant other squandered the talent of a character like Ash? There's even a subplot for Buster with the old "liar revealed" cliche' where there's a misunderstanding about the amount of prize money, but it goes nowhere and adds nothing to the film's plot.

Devil's advocate here: Just because the script isn't original, doesn't mean it's not written well. All the characters are still likable and you want to see them succeed. Sing is also one of those musicals where all the songs are just covers of already existing songs, with the exception of one original song in the film sung by Johansson's Ash and another in the end credits. The covers are pretty good though, and the songs they choose match the characters pretty well.

Whoever casted this thing must have gone to the Dreamworks Animation/Blue Sky Studios School of Animated Film Casting, meaning even the smallest of parts are voiced by big celebrities. Seriously, you know all the major players from the trailers, but did you know the likes of Nick Offerman, Leslie Jones, and Jennifer Hudson were also in this?? Me neither until the end credits, but I think it's a testament to their performances. I mean it's nice to see Leslie Jones not screaming and doing her usual schtick, or Nick Offerman not delivering his Ron Swanson dry wit once in awhile. But still, if you're going to have these character actors in small incidental roles, why have them at all?

Tori Kelly as is the true powerhouse of pipes in this musical's ensemble as Meena, who's got an incredible voice. Seth MacFarlane as Mike the mouse (Wait a minute. Mike…Mikey…Mick-I swear to God Illumination…) is doing all of his usual, from his Rat Pack (That's not a pun) style of singing to his typical albeit censored humor. Taron Edgerton gives a lot of heart to Johnny, and who knew he could sing so well? Personally he sings my favorite song in the film. Reese Witherspoon fits Rosita well, and we already knew she could sing. Nick Kroll plays her partner Gunter, who isn't as funny as he should have been. McConaughey, ironically the star of the film, doesn't sing, and I really wanted to know what his singing is like. Anyway he gives plenty of emotion and charisma to Buster.

So Sing isn't an original or groundbreaking film, but it's entertaining enough thanks to its likable characters and good music. Sometimes a film doesn't have to be original or groundbreaking, sometimes we just need something to hold us over for two hours. But is Sing your best animated option for that? No probably not, but I don't regret seeing it, and I enjoyed it enough. If time allows it, I might give it an encore performance.