Alright, everyone, today, we are reviewing the latest Marvel superhero film, or as they likely call it, the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise. It is a film in which Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, returns, and team up with a couple other superheroes. Also, it was just released earlier this month. So now, let’s discuss the one, and only, The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, Teyonnah Parris, Iman Vellani, and more.
Plot: After discovering that a planet called Hala is ruled by a tyrannical ruler named Dar-Benn ((Zane Ashton), and that the place has been under darkness for a long while, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and superheroes Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) must team up to help bring the planet’s sun back to shine, and save the rest of the universe from destruction. Will they succeed, or will Dar-Benn’s tyranny prevail?
Well, I’ll begin this review by saying this, at least there were no gay elements that seemed somewhat thrown in your face line with say 2021’s The Eternals, or 2022’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. Yes, it may have felt somewhat woke for other reasons, but it definitely could have been much worse, especially in comparison to those two in particular. Anyway, there was also some very good action in this film. Additionally, the storyline, though at least decent, still had some heart to it. There were also some very creative characters in this film, most notably some cats that, let’s just say could do some really creative things. Oh, and speaking of characters, having Samuel Jackson in this film as Nick Fury, how could one not like his character as usual? I mean like in so many other Marvel films, he knows how to come out with with some of the funniest lines that one could think of. The alien race, known as the Kree, was also really cool. Oh, and the female villain, Dar-Benn, man was she a great villain. She knew how to have power, and control, and do everything in her power to keep others from getting in the way of her mission. In addition to these elements, the climax was also well thought out. One might be surprised by how things turn out once the climax is finished up. As for the comedy, though it may have been somewhat lacking in that department, it still had some very good comedic moments. And hey, at least none of the comedy was forced in this film.
And now, what are negatives for The Marvels? Well, this film seems to feel very woke in terms of how there ends up mainly being female superheroes, but no male ones. Sure, we had Nick Fury, but he’s more an executive, and not a superhero, you know? Also, this film suffers from lack of good storytelling. Sure, there was some heart. Even then, the film could have been better, and the film could have either been less woke, or, better yet, not woke at all. The villain, though fairly well developed, probably could have had fairly better development, and depth to her as well. There were also some character arcs that occurred around the middle to end of the film, and could have had better buildup. Finally, there were certain aspects of the world in this film that could have likely been explain a little better, as well as the world building having potential to better than it was in the end.
And that’s my review for the latest MCU film, The Marvels. While not exactly horrible, it could have definitely been better in plenty of ways. Honestly, if anything, Disney, and MCU, need to focus less on politics, woke agendas, and those things, and more on good storytelling. Movies like The Marvels most definitely serve as proof that we need better writers at Disney, other movie companies, and in Hollywood overall. Will movies like Journey To Bethlehem, which was released on the same weekend as this film, be any better? Let’s hope so! That all being said, probably see The Marvels, but only if you can either see it for free, or at a fairly cheap movie price!
Hi, everyone! Sorry it’s been a long while since my last movie review! Still, better late than never, is it not? Well, anyway, today, we dive back into the world of Studio Ghibli for the first time in a long while. In this case, it is a film that was first released in Japan in 1989, and then made worldwide releases in places like the US sometime later. Presenting to you all my review of Kiki’s Delivery Service!
Plot: When a thirteen-year-old witch in training named Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) leaves her hometown with her black cat, Jiji, for the port city of Koriko, not only does she train for flying on her broom, but also accepts a job that a female of that town offers her to deliver food by broom to other places in the area. As she continues her training, and becomes more familiar with the area around her, the question remains, will she feel more comfortable in her own skin, and the new people, and town around her, or will she regret leaving the family, and friends that she had before?
Well, first of all, the animation in this Studio Ghibli film is beautiful. From the green grass, the wind blowing in the trees, and more, this film most definitely did a phenomenal job when it came to the great animation, and the details that were involved in the animation. The storyline was also very good. I mean yes, it can sometimes feel very simple. On the other hand, the storyline also has a way of being complex, and imaginative at other points as well. I mean to have Kiki deliver food, or just gifts, to other people’s places by flying on her broom was very clever on the writer’s parts. Also, you know how many Studio Ghibli films had very complex, and really, really imaginative stories to tell? Well, Kiki’s Delivery Service is no exception. What’s more was for the movie to have Kiki learn some valuable lessons on her journey as well. Now, yes, as a Christian I know that witchcraft is wrong. Still, since this is a movie that’s based in the fictional world, why let that be bothersome in this case with the whole deal with a female being a witch, flying around on a broom, and things like that? I mean that would be like saying that even if Fantasia was fantasy, it would be wrong to like this film, or same with Lord Of The Rings having a wizard like Gandalf, or something along those lines, you know? Besides, again, you’d be surprised by some of the lessons that Kiki had to learn along the way, and some of the plot twists that end up occurring over the course of this film. The characters are also great, and likable. I mean even Kiki’s cat, Jiji, was great, and even had some funny lines for this movie. The rest of the characters, again, were really likable as well. The music was also beautiful, and soothing as well. The movie is also overall really strong, funny, and, sometimes even very dramatic at times.
So, are there any elements that big the film down? Well, there were some aspects of the ending that might have felt slightly unresolved. Thankfully, not by much, but still. Don’t get me wrong, the ending is still very good. It just probably could have improved by a little bit.
And that’s my review for Kiki’s Delivery Service. It has a fun, and creative, premise, likable characters, good lessons to be taken from this movie, and more. If you haven’t seen this Studio Ghibli film, definitely do so. It may not be quite as memorable as some of Studio Ghibli’s other works. Still, it is most definitely a must see. So, see Kiki’s Delivery Service whenever you can, and see what you think!
Well, everyone, today, we review what may yet be considered a classic animated film that has reached it’s 50th anniversary as of this year. It was produced by former animation company Hanna-Barbera, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Not to mention that it developed a cult following over the decades after it’s release, especially when released on video in 1994, apparently. So, starring voice actors, and actresses Henry Gibson, Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynx’s, and more, the movie is Charlotte’s Web, based on the best selling novel by E.B. White!
Plot: Wilbur the pig (Henry Gibson) lives on a farm with her owner, Fern (Pamelyn Ferdin), and her family. But as Wilbur grows, Fern’s parents decide to take him to the farm home of her uncle Homer Zuckerman (Bob Holt), where farm animals of different species reside, and a spider named Charlotte (Debbie Reynolds). Because pigs are known to be taken to the chop house for food, Charlotte, a rat named Templeton (Paul Lynde), and other farm animals try to hatch a plan to keep Wilbur alive. Will they succeed, or will Wilbur eventually still get chopped up as food?
Now, I definitely remember watching this film a few times as a kid. My mother sometimes even retells the story of how I evidently had all of Charlotte’s Web memorized as a kid, including the song that the rat, Templeton, sang by the name of “A Veritable Smorgasbord.” Yeah, especially considering that I was most likely a little too young, at the time, to know, and realize, what a smorgasbord even was, you can say that this was most likely a very interesting time period for me. Watching this film again with adult eyes, is it as good as I remembered it to be? Well, for the most part, the film is better than I remembered it. First of all, the film does very well with acting very realistic. I mean this film could have probably been made into live-action, and you could hardly tell the difference, minus the backgrounds surrounding the characters. Well, isn’t it interesting that there was a live-action version that would be released over thirty years later following this film’s release, eh? Anyway, the film covers some very mature topics, like learning about the difficulties of farm life, having to sometimes to let go of those you love, and more. Oh, children will still love this film for the animation, the talking animals, and more. Even so, adults will also love this film for the maturity tone that this version of Charlotte’s Web seems to carry. The characters are also really likable, and memorable, especially the humans, and animals, that surround Wilbur. This is especially true for humans like Fern Arable, and creatures like Templeton the Rat, and Charlotte the spider. Yes, Templeton may do things for others for selfish reasons. Still, he may also likely be somewhat, if not fully, caring at heart. Additionally, besides characters like Wilbur, and Fern, Charlotte the spider also ends up being one of the most caring characters in this movie. I mean the fact that Charlotte was willing to have Wilbur’s back, and prevent potentially bad things from happening to him, wow, if that’s not something to love about Charlotte, then I’m not sure what is. Oh, and Fern, though she may have sometimes been childish in her way of thinking in this film, she definitely did also have some strong points in that regard as well. As for characters like Fern’s family, the goose, the goose’s son, Jeffrey, the ram, and more, need I say more? One other character to mention is if course the main one himself, Wilbur the pig. He is probably the most relatable one of all the characters in this film. I mean any of us human beings could easily relate to him in one capacity, or another. I mean, how many of us, as we have grown older, have had to deal with changes in relationships, deal with the loss of a loved one, and more? Well, Wilbur may have had happy parts of his life. Still, since he had to deal with difficulties for these reasons, and more, I’m sure many of us can agree that he’s one of the more relatable characters in this movie, you know? Now, is this movie overall more sad than happy? Well, not exactly! I’ll tell you what I mean in a moment. For those of you who saw the 1999 Disney animated film, Tarzan, you may recall that it had quite a few tragic moments throughout that film, yes? Yet, it also had it’s fair share of lighthearted, and funny moments too. Well, this Paramount Pictures/Hanna-Barbera animated film basically seems to go a similar route as well. As for the animation, that was also very good. Honestly, it’s a shame that Hanna-Barbera is no longer in business as an animation company because they did well with crafting a unique animation style of their own. That went not only for this film, but films like Hey There! It’s Yogi Bear!, Heidi’s Song, and shows like the Yogi Bear show, The Flintstones, and the lesser known Bible series, The Greatest Adventure: Stories From The Bible. As for the lessons to take away from this film, I think that kids will end up learning quite a few lessons, especially from the experiences that Wilbur had to go through over the course of this film, while those lessons will also serve as reminders to adults. Now, for the final part of this review, the songs. First of all, how could we not appreciate the fact that the Sherman Brothers wrote the songs for this movie? Seeing as they made memorable music for films like 1964’s Mary Poppins, and 1967’s The Jungle Book, and more, did they succeed in making memorable songs that stand out in Charlotte’s Web as well? Well, let’s just say that the majority of them are memorable, especially “We’ve Lots In Common,” “A Veritable Smorgasbord,” “Zuckerman’s Famous Pig,” and songs like those that will most likely stay stuck in your head for a quite a while. Could we also take a moment to appreciate the awesome choreography in some of those numbers as well? Just a thought! However, there are a couple other numbers that aren’t as memorable, and kind of drag the story to a degree. Not to mention that there was some New Age mumbo jumbo stuff in one of those not as memorable songs as well. Oh well!
And that’s my review for the 1973 animated version of Charlotte’s Web. Though a couple of the songs could have either been rearranged, or cut from the film entirely, the good majority of them are very memorable overall. Charlotte’s Web is also memorable as well. The characters are fantastic, and stand out to the best of their abilities, the animation is very good, and the story is probably one of the more mature ones that could come out in animation history. Putting aside my personal history with this film, Charlotte’s Web is definitely an animated film that is worth seeing. Yes, E.B. White’s novel may be better, as is the case with many books that have gotten adapted into film. Still, Charlotte’s Web does a surprisingly great job of crafting a more realistic story that could have probably been made into live-action, despite animals talking in this film. I would say that if you haven’t seen Charlotte’s Web yet, I would highly recommend it. It is most definitely a film that you’ll be glad that you saw because of how good it is. After rewatching Charlotte’s Web again, wow, what a great film. I also look forward to seeing the 2006 live-action version hopefully fairly soon now. So, see 1973’s Charlotte’s Web, and see what you think!
Final Grade: A
P.S. Again, happy 50th anniversary to Charlotte’s Web!
Well, everyone, today, we are going to dive into the world of science fiction. For this film, it is one that is was released back around late September. So now, let’s discuss The Creator!
Plot: In the year 2055, an artificial intelligence (AI) creature detonated a nuclear bomb over Los Angeles, California. Ten years later, Joshua Taylor (John David Washington), a robotic human named Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), and a team of military personnel embark on a mission to destroy a spacecraft called the USS North American Orbital Mobile Aerospace Defense (aka NOMAD), which is capable to using nuclear weapons to bring about great massive destruction. Will they succeed, or will it be the e end of all humanity, and the beginning of all AI?
Though this science fiction film was certainly decent, The Creator was definitely not one of the best. First of all, the characters aren’t really that memorable. The movie, even after being slightly over two hours long, still feels too fast paced, and you don’t have too much of a chance to get to know all of the characters as you would like. Because of this, the story, despite having some excitement in it, seems to feel sloppy as well. Putting elements like those aside, the movie seems to act really weird with the AI child, Alphie, having these psychic powers that can do damage, or good things, or even both, very weird plot hole, wouldn’t you say? Oh, and there was also the convoluted false message about how one can get to Heaven simply by being a “good person,” or doing “good deeds.” Now, I realize that not everyone is a Christian, and that there are very few Christians that work in the movie industry, especially in Hollywood. Still, is it worth pushing false beliefs on others, especially teenagers that see this film, and may not have fully matured at least emotionally? Just a thought!
But are there any good things in The Creator? Well, at least a few! For starters, there is some good action throughout the course of this film. Also, there are some very good visuals on this film as well! Finally, The ending is most likely also unexpected, and positive as well.
And that’s my review for the science fiction film, The Creator. It’s an alright science fiction film. Still, there are other older ones of the genre that people will probably enjoy more so at the end of the day! My best recommendation for this film is either see it for free if you have the AMC stubs deal, or can watch it for a cheaper price On Demand. Still, if you’re also an adults with kids, or teenage kids, probably don’t plan to show this film to them until they’re older, have a strong faith in Jesus, and things like that. So, there you have it!
Everyone, today, we will be reviewing a film that is based on a true story. This biographical film will be telling about unique events that happened with certain people located in different parts of the world. So now, let’s discuss a film that starts Archie Madekwe, Orlando Bloom, David Harbour, Djimon Hounsou, and others. Presenting to you all my review of the biographical sports film, Gran Turismo!
Plot: The movie tells about how a video game game player from Cardiff, Wales, named Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe), particularly of the virtual reality driving game, Gran Turismo, went from just playing that game to becoming one of the biggest actual Gran Turismo racing drivers in history.
Alright, as we know, Sony, Columbia Pictures, and even Play Station all worked together to make this film? Did they do well? Well, for the most part, yes! First of all, could many of us agree that it was cool to see a video game company like Play Station pitch in on a movie that was based on real life events? Hopefully so! I mean it was one thing for say Nintendo to partner with Universal, and Illumination to make a fictional story like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, or even Play Station with Columbia, and Sony to make Uncharted last year, or films like those. But now, for a video game company to team up with a popular movie company to make a film that’s based on a true story, now that’s a whole new ball game, wouldn’t you say? That being said, did the video game makers, and filmmakers do well with the material that they had? Definitely! First of all, the characters are all great, especially main character Jann Mardenborough, and Danny Moore, who was played by Orlando Bloom in this film, and was the marketing director for Nissan. I mean for Danny Moore to do what he did by inviting people that were qualified to race in the Gran Turismo race simply because of noticing how great some people were on the Gran Turismo game, that was cool. I mean yes, a lesson to take from this film, especially from a Christian standpoint is the fact that God doesn’t call the qualified, He calls the unqualified, as we all are, to share in His Mission. Anyway, I’ll try not to spoil much, but for Bloom’s character to organize that whole deal for the reasons that he did, that was a very kind, and also an intriguing move on his part. For the reasons that he made this move, it is surprising to know why he did that in the first place. Jann is also a really great character. I’m not sure how much was accurate for the events in this film to his life, and/or what elements were added. Either way, you have to appreciate his willingness to pursue his dreams, and/or overcome any obstacles that came his way in the process. David Harbour as Jack Salter, who was Jann’s trainer for the GT Academy, was also really great. He also had some really great lines throughout this film as well. Yes, people like Jann, Jann’s father, Steve, Danny Moore, and other characters had some really great lines too. Still, it was it was the lines from Harbour’s character, Jack Slater, that seemed to stand out the most. The rest of the acting, be it from people like Djimon Hounsou, and more, was phenomenal. It was also cool to realize that Gran Turismo was, and is, supposed to be more than just a virtual reality game, which is more than one can probably say about other games of that type. The movie also provides some really great lessons as well, especially near the end, that Christians, and maybe even non-Christians that are considering becoming Christians, could take away once this film is over. It almost makes you wonder, are there more Christian aspects of this story that weren’t included in this film, or are there just some things to see, and understand from a Christian viewpoint? You got me! One other thing to mention is that Lorne Balfe made a really fun score that seemed to have a nostalgic feel of an 80s, or maybe even 90s game, or music period. If there were any potential downsides to Gran Turismo, it would likely be that the film could have showed whether or not there were certain issues near the end of the film that were fully resolved. We have to imply that they most likely were, I suppose. Still, it would have been nice for the film to go a little more in depth in that regard, you know?
And that’s my review for Gran Turismo! It is a fun film that should have performed better at the box office than it has seemed to in the end. The acting is superb, the story is engaging from start to finish, and there are some really great lessons to take away from this film. I would highly recommend that you go see this movie. If Gran Turismo is still playing at a local theater near you, then definitely try to take some time to see it on the big screen. It’s one of those movies that truly deserves to be seen in theaters rather than just at home, and On Demand. So, go see Gran Turismo, and see what you think!
And now, ladies, and gentlemen, for the other animated film from 1995 that I rewatched this past weekend! Today, we are going to review an animated film that was released by the former Disney subsidiary company, DisneyToon Studios, as well as one of a few films from that studio to have a theatrical debut. It is the one, and only film from April 1995, A Goofy Movie.
Plot: Max (Jason Marsden), the son of single father, Goofy (Bill Farmer) is tired of being picked on all the time, and tries to step up his game by impressing his high school crush, Roxanne (Kellie Martin). Though, with the help of his friends, Bobby (Pauly Shore), and PJ (Rob Paulsen), Max succeeds in winning Roxanne over by impersonating the lead singer of the fictional band, PowerLine, his actions cause him to be suspended, and for Goofy to take him on a fishing trip to try to set Max straight. As Goofy, and Max go on this road trip, can Goofy, and Max learn to see things from each other’s point of view, and will Max be able to keep his new relationship with Roxanne in the end?
Again, much like with The Pebble & The Penguin, I also wanted to rewatch A Goofy Movie sometime this year because of this film’s release date, April 7th, being on a Friday just like it was back in 1995. Also, a rewatch for this one was probably long overdue anyway. So, watching this film again, was it as good as I remember it? Well, not quite. Okay, it was definitely miles better than The Pebble & The Penguin, no denying that. Still, there’s no denying that there are a couple things that could have most likely made this film a little better. First of all, there was a slightly crude scene that occurs around the beginning of the film. I’m thinking, seriously, did we really need that? Second, some of the characters, though likable, did some things that probably weren’t the best. Okay, I’m not saying that characters in a lot of movies don’t ever make mistakes. Of course, most of them do. However, in this case, some of them, especially the main ones, seemed to make ones that seemed to make them come off as a little mean, and maybe even cruel. This especially seems to be true with, for example, how Principal Mazur spread rumors to Max’s dad, Goofy, that weren’t even true. There was that, along with things like the way Max acted around others when venting his anger, and frustration for his dad taking him on a trip that he was unhappy about going on to begin with. I mean there were a couple moments where Max came off as kind of a jerk as a result. Okay, I get that the writers were likely trying to convey that people in real life, when they are super pissed about a situation that they’ll impulsively take their anger out on others. Still, the way it was handled with characters like Max, he seemed to go a little overboard, especially with some other characters when expressing his frustration about certain situations, you know?
But now, what are the pros for A Goofy Movie? Well, first off, there’s the animation. A lot of films from DisneyToon Studios didn’t seem to have the best animation like those of Walt Disney Animation Studios itself. However, while the animation may not quite the best, it is still really good, especially for this being a feature film that went to theaters. Next, there are the songs. Okay, they may not “A Whole New World,” “Bare Necessities”, or songs like those. Still, they are still very fun, especially songs like “Stand Out”, “Nobody Else But You”, and the film’s finale number “I 2 I”. There is also some very good choreography at times, again, especially with “I 2 I”. But one of the better aspects of this film was probably the relationships. I mean whether it was the relationship between Max, and Roxanne, and especially Max, and Goofy’s relationship, they are handled really well. In the end, it’s really Max, and Goofy’s relationship that seems to evolve positively over the course of this film. A Goofy Movie also has an incredible amount of heart to it. Sure, certain aspects of the film’s storyline could have been handled better. Even so, for what it was, it was done very well. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Kevin Lima, who directed 1999’s Tarzan, also directed A Goofy Movie. Even with Tarzan being good, Lima really did well even with A Goofy Movie. I can’t help but wonder if he took notes for what he did with A Goofy Movie, and took it a step further with films like Tarzan, and, later, Enchanted in the 2000s. You got me! Oh, and surely, I can’t forget to mention the voice acting that ranged from Bill Farmer as Goofy, Jason Marsden as Max, Kellie Martin as Roxanne, Jim Cummings as Pete, or even Wallace Shawn as Principal Mazur. I was surprised to find that Wallace Shawn did two voice roles in 1995 with both this, and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story, when he voiced Rex. How about that? Oh, and did I forget to mention that A Goofy Movie has one of the most hilarious jokes that a movie could have. What’s even more funny is that an animated film that newer company at the time, by the name of DreamWorks, would have a similar joke in it’s film five years later, in the year 2000, around the springtime when A Goofy Movie would reach it’s 5-year anniversary. So, how about that as well!?! Finally, the message about learning to see things from each other’s point of view, it may have been done quite a few times before, and after this film. But still, that message was done in a very good, and creative matter in this case.
And that’s my review for A Goofy Movie. Though the storyline could have probably been executed a little better, A Goofy Movie has plenty of heart to it, has likable characters, has comedy, and a great many things that make it a really fun film. If you want to see a film in which Goofy, and friends made a well done debut, a film that briefly portrays high school in a family friendly manner, has fun songs, and more, then all the more reason to see this film. It’s creative, has a fun, and engaging story, and is overall a film that you won’t want to miss. That is, especially if you want to see Goofy, and the gang on the big screen, or a film that did go to the big screen years ago. So yeah, definitely see A Goofy Movie, and see what you think!
Well, everyone, for today’s session of movie reviewing, we go back to the mid-1990s, 1995, a matter of fact. Not only that, but we shall discuss a NON-DISNEY animated film that was made by former Disney animator, Don Bluth, whom I’m sure some of us may remember for directing films like The Secret Of NIMH (1982), Anastasia (1997), a few others, and his last full length being the 2000 animated film, Titan A.E. Well, following his debut with 1989’s All Dogs Go To Heaven, Don Bluth released four animated films from 1992 through 1995 that were all flops, and, well, not that well received by the general public. This animated film of his, from 1995, was one of those films that was a flop at the theatrical box office. So, was the general public in the right, or were people rather harsh on this animated film? Let’s find out by going on the adventures of Hubie in this animated film that was produced by MGM Studios, and released back in 1995, the one, and only, The Pebble & The Penguin.
Plot: In Antarctica, there is a ritual in which Adelie penguins do their best to present a special stone to a female penguin that they want to attempt to mate with for life. It is on this occasion that a shy, and lovable Penguin named Hubie (Martin Short) tries yo do just this for a female Penguin named Marina (Annie Golden). But an evil Penguin named Drake (Tim Curry) also seeks her hand, and casts Hubie out to to try to get Hubie out of the way, and have her hand. Through a series of misadventures, Hubie teams up with a feisty rockhopper Penguin named Rocko (Jim Belushi) to try to get back to Antarctica. Now, can Rocko successfully teach Hubie how to fight Drake, and with his shiny green pebble to try to present to her, successfully attain Marina’s hand before the Penguin mating ceremony (or Full Moon Mating Ceremony, as they call it in the film) occurs?
Alright, so part of what made me want to rewatch both this film, and A Goofy Movie (which I will be reviewing after this one) this past weekend was that one, they both were released back in 1995, and that this year, their respective release dates of April 7th, 1995, and April 12th, 1995, landed on Friday, and Wednesday respectively just like they did back in 1995. Well, that leads to my other reason. That being the fact that the two films were released very close to each other, and faced some potential competition at the box office as a result. Rumor has it that A Goofy Movie was much more successful, while The Pebble & The Penguin was a flop.
So, again, you may be wondering, did The Pebble & The Penguin deserve to be a flop, or was that undeserved? Well, first of all, let me put it to you all this way. Rumor has it that Don Bluth, before going to a former animation studio by the name of Fox Animation Studios in Phoenix, Arizona to work on Anastasia (which was released two years after this film), made it abundantly clear that he DID NOT want to be credited as being the director of this film because of feeling unsatisfied with the final product of this film. So, as we will see in the credits of this film, Don Bluth was given credit in a different way. After rewatching this film years after being absent from this film, can I say that I blame him? Well, probably not! Oh, don’t get me wrong, there are quite a few good things in it. In fact, if I were to choose between watching, and rewatching 1994’s A Troll In Central Park (which, of course, was also directed by Don Bluth), I would definitely choose The Pebble & The Penguin. Yes, it does have quite a few flaws, but more on that momentarily. Still, of the four films that were released from 1992 through 1995, and consisted of Rock-A-Doodle, Thumbelina, A Troll In Central Park, and The Penguin, at least Penguin had more redeeming qualities to it then A Troll In Central, and maybe even the other two films that O just mentioned (though I need to rewatch those as well to know for sure).
That all being said, what made The Pebble & The Penguin not be one of Don Bluth’s best works during his time in the animation industry? Well, first of all, there’s the whole deal with this film trying a little too hard to be a Disney knock-off, especially in the 1990s. Allow me to explain! As we know, many of the Disney animated films that got released from 1989 through 1999 were musicals. Well, meanwhile other studios tried to make animated films that they tried to make on par with those. As a result, The Pebble & The Penguin was one of those many animated films that tried to act like a musical, and a good one at that. Here was the problem with that in this case! Animated movies like The Pebble & The Penguin didn’t seem to fully realize what made the majority of the songs in those films so catchy, and memorable. That is not until good non-Disney animated films like Anastasia, or The Prince Of Egypt, for instance, came into play near the end of that decade. Yes, there were a few decent songs like “Now And Forever,” “Looks Like I’ve Got Me A Friend,” or even the villain song, “Don’t Make Me Laugh.” Decent being the keyword, though. Still, there were others like “Sometimes I Wonder,” or “The Good Ship Misery,” where I found myself thinking, “Can we just get on with the rest of the film? I almost wanted to skip through songs like those because of them not being memorable. What’s more is that in the song, “Good Ship Misery,” the some of the characters that sang that song sometimes acted over the top annoying, and overly dramatic about their situation on the ship. Meanwhile, I’m thinking, “Guys, I get it. Now, please, shut up. I get that you don’t like being imprisoned on the ship. Yet, with the obvious exception of Hubie, and the streetwise Rockhopper penguin, Rocko, they don’t like being on the Misery ship, but are okay being at a zoo? What sense does that make? In addition to that plot hole, there were some other plot holes as well, like how Hubie’s green pebble somehow had this ability to show a vision of something Hubie needed to know about at some point, and weird things like that. In addition to that, a lot of the writing was lacking, including incidents such as Drake having these two different sets of sidekicks. First, he has this trio of penguins who are like his henchmen, but serve very little to no purpose except to act like comic relief. I mean the only thing they do is just go along with everything Drake says, and does, and just laugh whenever he decides to maniacally laugh about something? Really!?! Honestly, I would say that the one scene where Drake is having a meal with a pair of birds that were most likely skuas, that scene was mostly likely more interesting than any scene that involved Drake’s three penguin henchmen. I would say that the two skuas should have been the henchmen for the whole film, and not those three penguin characters. Like, come on, pick which henchmen the villain should have, and stick with that. In addition to that whole deal, the rest of the characters generally seemed to lack in memorabilia as well. As a result, and other factors, the story, as a whole, felt rather between mediocre, and above average. As far as the animation goes, while most of it was good, be it the backgrounds, or character movements, there were also some moments where the animation on the characters felt a little inconsistent at points. Finally, there were some moments especially around the middle to end of the film that made the movie feel a little strange as well.
That all being said, what pros did The Pebble & The Penguin have? Well, there’s the majority of the animation. Yes, again, it did feel a little inconsistent at times. Still, when that was not the case, it is amazing, much like other animated films that were directed by Don Bluth. Three of the songs were decent, with “Now And Forever,” “Don’t Make Me Laugh,” and “Looks Like I’ve Got Me A Friend.” Oh, and did I forget about some of this film, instead of having a storybook, decide to go a unique route by having a song book instead? That was rather creative. Not to mention that you have some of the characters, especially during the beginning song, dancing on the pages of the song at times. How cool is that, you know!?! What’s more is that even during the songs that weren’t all that good, there is some surprisingly good choreography to go along with some of the numbers as well. Oh, and to have your cast include Jim Belushi as Rocko, Annie Golden as Marina, Martin Short as Hubie, and especially Tim Curry as the villain, Drake, was all really cool. Still, even if Drake is the villain, it sure seems like he seems to steal the show in any scene that he’s in. Even so, it was also great to see Hubie being willing to do whatever it took to be humble, and get outside of his comfort zone whenever necessary. Oh, and to have this film have more realism in it like with not having a leopard seal, or even a killer whale be friends with the main penguin characters, or things like that, was a very good approach this time around as well. Mark Watters also provided a very good musical score as well. Finally, some messages like how people, or creatures, in this case, are more important than any gift, or object that they might give you.
And that’s my review for The Pebble & The Penguin. Even if it was not the best, it’s still a fun film with good animation, an excellent voice cast, and more. Yes, another penguin film by the name of Happy Feet (which came out over ten years later, in 2006) was a total upgrade from this movie. Still, The Pebble & The Penguin does still succeed in maintaining things like charm, and heart to it. It could have been better, yes, most definitely! Still, for what it is, it’s definitely something to check it out if you can watch it for free on sites like Tubi, watch it for free on Amazon Prime, or even if you have a hard DVD, or even VHS copy of this film. If you want to see it, feel free to!
Well, everyone, we arrive at the third installment of what is now considered the trilogy of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. That’s right! We have not one, not only two, but three adventures with Toula, her husband, Ian, and the rest of the Greek family. Let’s see how things went down for the family this time around with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, shall we?
Plot: After the death of Toula’s father, Gus, Toula, Ian, their daughter Paris, Toula’s mother, Maria, and the rest if the Greek family decide to head to Greece to find any remaining family members related to Gus. Will the trip prove successful, or will their trip be for nothing?
And now, for the million dollar question! Did My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 either make up for the mistakes of the second film? Was the third film as good as the first film? Sadly, no to both questions. I mean sure, the second film could have been a little better. Still, at least it ended up being hysterical, and having a lot of the same charm as the first film. Sure, there are some funny moments here and there in this third film. Still, it likely could have been more fun, and funnier somehow, and some way. Putting aside the lack of comedy, the storyline felt rather mediocre, and the movie, overall, felt like like a sequel that was cashing in on the success of the first, or even the second movies. The characters, especially the old ones, didn’t seem to be themselves as much this time around. I mean even characters like Ian, or especially Toula, weren’t as likable as they had been in the previous installments of this movie franchise. What’s more is that none of them seemed to mature as characters either from the second film, or even the first one. Also, with the possible exception of Gus’ relatives, none of the newer characters seemed to be all that interesting, or memorable. In fact, in most cases, it felt rather pointless to add them in. There were also some scenes, especially near the end, that seemed to be poorly executed. Even some of the lines in the script felt a little cringeworthy at times. Finally, My Big Fat Greek Wedding seemed to drag a little too much at times.
But are there any redeeming qualities for this film/sequel? Well, there are at least a couple. First of all, it was nice to see some of the layout of Greece, as well as see the family go to the country of their ancestors. It was also nice for us to get to know some of the family’s long lost relatives as well. Finally, it was nice that there was at least some comedy in this film, even if we could have had more of that.
And that’s my review for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Yeah, sequels like this serve as proof that just because a certain movie is really good, and/or successful at the box office, doesn’t mean that filmmakers should be milking the heck out of those movies. People need to know when a film needs to be left alone. Yes, this movie did have a few good elements in it. Still, I would say that if you really want to see this sequel, either see it if you either have the AMC deal where you can see up to three movies a week for free, or you can watch this movie On Demand for free. Otherwise, because this sequel wasn’t that good, it would be best if you just stick with the first film, or the first, and second one. You’ll most likely be glad that you did. Well, I will just end this review by saying this, “Let’s hope that Disney, and Hollywood in general, will try to make a better effort to make more creative, and original stories in future months, and years.” They’ll likely be sorry otherwise. We shall see, though.
Well, everyone, today, we now continue with the franchise known as My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Who would have guessed there would be a sequel fourteen years after the release of the classic first film, eh? Well, now, let’s discuss the first sequel to the 2002 classic hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The one, and only My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2!
Plot: Set sometime after the events of the first film, Ian, and Toula Miller (played John Corbett, and Nia Vardalos, respectively once again) have a daughter named Paris (Elena Kampouris), who is in her senior year in high school, and desiring to go to college out of state. This upsets her parents, and her big fat Greek family, as they want to be close to her. Meanwhile, a subplot occurs, in which a certain big family secret is revealed. So now, the question remains, will Paris be able to have her wish, or will the rest of her family succeed in keeping her in Chicago, Illinois? Also, with the family secret revealed, will that deal be solved as well?
So, does this sequel hold a candle to it’s 2002 predecessor? Well, this is one of the many times where the sequel does not? First of all, the film had some unnecessary sexual innuendo moments. Okay, I’m glad that this film got a PG-13 rating simply because of moments like those. Still, did we really need scenes like those, especially since the first film didn’t have those? Like, come on! As for Ian, and Toula’s daughter, Paris, she’s a nice enough character. Still, she seemed to feel a little pessimistic more often than not, and seemed to act like a drama queen a little too much. Okay, I realize that’s typical for a female in high school, but still. It was also a little strange to put in some things that weren’t part of the first film, and make it part of the story as maybe filler to a degree, you know? And another thing! The storyline seemed to feel a little bit like an imitation of the one for the first film, especially since Toula was acting like her father Gus in the first film at points, and things line that. Does that always happen? Maybe! Still, it did also feel rather weird as well. One other thing to mention! Did we really need to have one of the characters from the first film be gay? I mean sure that seemed to be more implied. Still, I’m not sure if any of the characters from this film would have been made that way either 21 years ago, or 14 years before this sequel was released, you know?
With that all said, are there good things in this film? Absolutely! To begin, My Big Far Greek Wedding 2 does succeed in bringing over a great plenty of the comedy, and charm that My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 had. It’s still funny, which helps make the film very enjoyable. There is also a good amount of character development with both the old, and newer characters. In fact, it was nice to see some of those from the first film get to shine a little more this time around. There were also some very cute moments in this film as well. Additionally, even if the storyline felt very much like a repeat of the first film, there was still heart added to it. One other thing to mention is that it was nice to have messages about how we need to learn to let others go, and spread their wings. Overall, it was also nice to see our favorite characters from the mostly Greek family back on the big screen again.
And that’s my review for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. In the end, did we need this sequel? Probably not! Still, it was nice to see the characters from the first film again on the big screen. The film is still very touching, funny, charming, and still has a few things to like about it, even if it likely could have been better. I would say that if you want to see these characters again, and haven’t yet, definitely give it a go! You’ll definitely enjoy it for the good stuff that this film does have.
Alright, so many of you remember saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding when it was released back in 2002, did you not? If you did then many of you also enjoyed it as well, yes? Either way, because the third film was just released earlier this month, we shall go back, and review the first two films, followed by the third one that just came out recently. Had there not been the third film recently, I’m not sure when I would have rewatched, and reviewed this film. So now, in honor of the third My Big Fat Greek Wedding film being released recently, let’s go back in time to 2002, and review the one that started it all, the 2002 classic film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding!
Plot: Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos), thirty years, part of a Greek family, and not married. But one day, she meets, and begins to date Ian Miller (John Corbett), who is not Greek. Even if the family wanted her to originally marry a Greek man, the question remains, will they accept Toula, and Ian’s relationship, or will the relationship, and a potential marriage between the couple have to be called off in the end?
Well, I must say, it was definitely exciting that even if the filmmakers didn’t expect this film to be as big of a hit as it was in the end, it was definitely a miracle that it was. First of all, since this movie revolves around a Greek family, My Big Fat Greek Wedding respects that by incorporating Greek music into this film, giving us a taste of Greek culture with the food, what Greek families act like, viewpoints on topics such as marriage, and things like that. The movie is also really, really funny, especially with Nick, one of Toula’s brothers, Toula’s family in general, and, sometimes, even Toula herself, bringing some great humor to this film. Additionally, the characters are all really memorable, and likable. Whether it be Ian, and Toula, most, if not all, of Toula’s relatives, or any other character that one can think of, they each bring a special ingredient to the table that helps make this film a surprisingly classic film. It was also great to see that a popular film like this one could succeed in incorporating Christian elements into this film. This is most notably true with elements such as the main character being named Toula, her name meaning “light of God”, a scene when a character gets baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church at one point in this film, and reasons like those. Honestly, even back then, one could probably say that it was most definitely a miracle that this film was as popular as it was because of that. Another really great element about this film is how the movie does well with portraying two cultures. I mean here we have Toula, and a huge family works together for the most part, does nearly everything together, and more. Yet, we also have Ian, and his parents. Sure, Ian had other relatives as well, I’m sure, but didn’t get to meet them in this film. Well, not to mention the film does well with showing how getting immersed into another culture can be shocking more often than not. Finally, the movie is overall memorable, has plenty of heart in it, has plenty of lessons to take away from it, and will help others understand what’s like to become part of another culture, be it the Greek culture, Italian culture, or other ones. As a result, My Big Fat Greek Wedding served as proof that even recent decades like the 2000s, and onwards, were capable of having films that would be come timeless classics. Too bad these decades didn’t seem to have quite as many nostalgic films like that, especially when compared to say earlier decades like the 1950s, 1960s, or even 1970s, or decades like those.
So, what flaws are there with this film, if any? Well, there’s the fact that some of the humor may be a little too crude, and inappropriate at times, especially for a PG-rated film. I’m not sure how many parents took younger kids to see this film at the time that it was released. Either way, the film probably should have been given a PG-13 rating instead. Thankfully, the filmmakers seemed to have learned that lesson for the second, and third films. Thankfully, the scenes beside those couple moments were much cleaner, and justified all the more the film being given a PG-rating. So, maybe that’s why this film was rated PG in the end? You got me!
And that’s my review for My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It is fun, really memorable, has plenty of nostalgia even 20+ years later, has heart, likable, and memorable characters, and nearly every ingredient that help make a good classic film. If you’re one of the rare to few people who who hasn’t seen this film for one reason, or another, then make an effort to do so whenever possible. And if you choose not to see the two sequels that follow this film, then at least see this first film once, if not more, and stick with just this one. After rewatching My Big Fat Greek Wedding, I’m not that surprised that many people talked about it a great deal. In the end, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a movie that you’ll want to watch once, if not multiple times. So, definitely make a point to watch My Fat Greek Wedding, and see what you think!
Matthew’s Animated & Live-Action Movie Reviews 