Good morning everyone, and welcome to another session of movie reviewing! Today, we are going to be reviewing an animated film from back in the early to mid-2000s. And not just any animated film, but one of the rare to few animated films that I had at least seen once in theaters, but haven’t seen again all the way through since then (except for watching bits, and pieces of it on TV). Oh, and another thing I should mention is that today’s film was released when 20th Century Fox, and Blue Sky was a newer company, and had released their first animated film, Ice Age back in 2002. So now, released three years after Ice Age, in 2005, let’s discuss 20th Century Fox/Blue Sky’s Robots.

Plot: When a young robot named Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) hears about an inventor named Bigweld (Mel Brooks), leader of a city called Robot City (also called Bigweld Industries), he dreams of growing up to be just like him. So when Rodney makes an invention of his own, and has his chance to do so as a young adult, and even travels to Bigweld Industries, will Rodney become a great, caring, and compassionate inventor just like Bigweld?

Now, I remember first seeing the trailer for Robots on, I believe it was Shark Tale when that film was released just a few months before Robots. After hearing that 20th Century Fox/Blue Sky Studios was releasing their second animated film since Ice Age three years before, I was very excited to see this film. Once I saw it when it got released in March 2005, I definitely remember enjoying it quite a bit. So why I didn’t get it once it came out on video, you got me? Did I find myself liking films such as DreamWorks Madagascar, or Star Wars Episode 3, or films like those more so than Robots? You got me!

So now, it is time for me to analyze this film after finally rewatching it seventeen years later. I will say that watching it again, while I am mostly surprised with the outcome of this film in more good ways than not, I will say that Robots does have a few issues. First of all, some of the humor may be a little too adult for kids, most notably when it comes to this scene where the fart jokes are prevalent. Apparently, seeing as films like this, and Shrek, and some of those films were big into those back then, it should probably come as no surprise that even a film Robots had them. Robots also has some pacing issues at times as well. Like many animated films released around this time frame, and before, Robots had a running time of around 90 minutes. Yes, that did help make this film well-paced in quite a few aspects. Still, the 90-minute running time also seemed to make this film feel a little too rushed at times, particularly when it came to not developing some of the characters as well as they could have. As a result, this makes a couple characters in particular a little bland, and not giving some of the relationships in this film room to blossom as well as they could have been. Now, does that mean that they’re bad characters, the that those underdeveloped relationships are bad? Absolutely not! Still, with one, or two more rewrites on this film, even those aspects could have been a little better. Finally, there’s the designs on some of the characters. Okay, just hear me out for a moment. The quality of animation on the robot characters is for sure decent. Still, the designs of the characters might feel a little bit like something from a kid’s TV show like Roly Poly, or some film like that. Okay, the animation on the characters is far better than in a show like that. It’s just, again, the animation designs on the characters could have improved. Well, hey, at least Fox/Blue Sky Studios seemed to improve even on those aspects with films that would be released in later years like 2008’s Horton Hears A Who, and 2011’s Rio, for instance.

But do those flaws make this film bad? Again, no! There is still plenty to enjoy. First off, even if the story has a few pacing issues here and there, there is still heart to this story. Though some characters may feel underdeveloped, there are many others, like the main characters, that are done really well. Even the villains of this film are great. Yeah, these types of villains may be a little too similar to the ones from say DreamWorks Shrek 2 (which was released the year before), but at least that doesn’t keep us from enjoying these types of villains whenever they’re onscreen. There are also some fairly good character arcs especially near the end. Oh, and that’s another example of how character development could have maybe been tweaked a little more is that some of the character arcs, though good, could have maybe felt a little more satisfying. They were still good, but could have been done a little better. Anyway, how could you go wrong with voice casting with say Ewan McGregor, Mel Brooks, Halle Berry, Amanda Bynes, and of course Robin Williams to name a few? As for the humor, besides some of the crude humor, there were some really brilliant, and funny moments that were not so crude as well, most notably when it comes to a scene that occurs during the climax of this film. The world building was also fantastic. In fact, it some of it could potentially remind one of say a place like Montressor Spaceport in the 2002 Disney film Treasure Planet, but with everything being on Earth, or whatever kind of planet, or universe this film takes place in. Overall, the way that everything is set up in this world is just creative, and fantastic to look at. The score by John Powell is fantastic as well. As for the soundtrack, though it could feel a little outdated at times, it is still very fun to listen to. Finally, the movie does great with teaching lessons about not giving up, when easy to do so, and to have love, and compassion for others no matter what.

And that’s my review for the 2005 Fox/Blue Sky Studios film, Robots. Well, even if this film may have felt somewhat ahead of it’s time, we should understand that Fox/Blue Sky Studios was newer to the animation industry at the time, and maybe they were trying to get their feet wet so to speak. Well, with Robots only being the studio’s second film, that is probably understandable. And hey, at least the studio came a long way before shutting their doors last year. Well, at least we had films like this, the Ice Age films, Rio, Epic, and films like those. I would say that if you want to see an animated film with plenty of heart, story, and creativity put into it, definitely see Robots. It’s not perfect, and does have a few things that might feel a little outdated. Still, this film is worth checking out for the many fun things that this film does have. Well, again, definitely see it, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B+

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to another session of movie reviewing! Today, we are going back into the animation world known as Disney/Pixar. But we won’t just be reviewing any Disney/Pixar film, no! This time, we will be reviewing the newest one from the library that happens to be based off of the very film that started this particular animation library in the first place. Yes, of course, we’re talking about Toy Story. But we won’t be reviewing Toy Story, we will be talking about the spinoff film, Lightyear, which was just released last month. Now, I must confess that I hadn’t originally planned on seeing this film that I will mention after this introduction, and briefly talking about the plot of this film. Regardless, let’s talk about Lightyear.

Plot: When Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans), and his commanding office, and good friend, Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) land on fictional planet T’Kani Prime, and try to explore it, they attempt to retreat after discovering dangerous life forms. But circumstances force Buzz, Alisha, and the rest of the Space Ranger team to be stuck on the planet. Now, with the invention of a new technology called the hyperspace fuel, can Buzz find a way to get his team off planet T’Kani Prime, and back to the planet Earth once and for all?

So, I will get this out of the way right off the bat. I was not originally planning to see this new Disney/Pixar film. The reason being, well, as some of you may know, this new Lightyear film was said to have a lesbian scene, and lesbian kiss scene. Yeah, but the best idea to put that in a film that is supposed to be geared to kids, teens, and adults, you know? Anyway, after having conversations about this issue with one, or two other Christians, and one, or two other Christians surprisingly going through with seeing Lightyear, I went ahead, and saw it just a couple days ago. First of all, I will say this. Thankfully, there is no lesbian kids scene, only the lesbian relationship. And thankfully, the couple has a kid, who grows up marrying someone of the OPPOSITE sex. Yes, that may be a mini spoiler alert, but I figured it might still be worth mentioning anyway. So, I guess that makes the situation a double-edged sword? Here’s another thing to be grateful for. The lesbian situation is only there for a few seconds, and then we focus on the rest of the story, just like was the case with the similar situations in films like the Beauty & The Beast remake, or the 2020 Disney/Pixar film, Onward. And hey, at least Lightyear hasn’t been all too successful. So maybe if movies like this don’t do as well as previous Disney films, maybe Disney will finally get the message to not include stuff like any gay material in future Disney films? One can hope! Putting that whole deal aside, the other flaw that this film had was that the climax of this film could have probably been handled a little differently than it was in the end. The climax is still good, but it might have felt a little rushed at the same time.

Now, is this film one of Disney/Pixar’s better entries? As a matter of fact, it actually is. Though not quite as good as Disney/Pixar films like the Toy Story films (at least 1-3, but better than 4), or say Finding Nemo, for instance, Lightyear is most definitely better than more recent original stories from Disney/Pixar films like Onward, and Soul (both of which were released at different points in 2020). First off, in regards to the whole deal of Buzz Lightyear being voiced by Chris Evans, and not Tim Allen, if one were not to make that comparison, you may yet find that Evans does a good job as this character, despite Allen mastering the role a little better. There are also some additional really fun, and likable characters. Alongside Buzz Lightyear there’s also Buzz’s friend Alisha Hawthorne, her granddaughter, Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison, Commander Burnside, and quite a few others. However, there is a side character that you can say basically steals the show. That character being a robotic cat named Sox, voiced by Peter Sohn. Before we briefly talk about this character, let me ask, some of you saw the 2014 Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Big Hero 6, did you not? Well, for those of you who have, you remember the nurse robot, Baymax, do you not? Well, basically, Sox is the Baymax of Lightyear. He’s funny, has a great sense of humor, and is someone that you’ll more than likely want to jump into the screen, and maybe even hug. He can also be good at giving good advice from time to time as well. As for the rest of the cast, they’re also really good too. Each, and every single one of then is fleshed out, and have very unique, and quirky personalities. The movie also does really well with developing the relationships between Buzz, and each, and every one of these characters. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of the characters, how could I not mention the villain himself, Zurg? While, we’re on the subject of Zurg, I’d like for us to briefly discuss the whole villain plot twist that people have said that they’re tired of. So, that said, the villain plot twist may have been overdone a little much in recent years. However, the plot twist is done surprisingly well in this case. I won’t go into detail as to why. Here’s what I will say, however. The plot twist is done in a way that is unique, and clever. Just watch the movie, and let’s just say that you’ll be surprised by what happens with this particular villain plot twist. The origin story of Buzz is also really cool overall. It’s exciting, gritty, and even dark at times. The story of Lightyear can feel grittier than even any of the Toy Story seemed to be. Basically, what we have is a mixture of Star Wars, some Avatar, maybe even some Mission Impossible, and any science fiction story that one can think of mixed into this film. In all honesty, Lightyear could potentially feel at times like it might be a little more for teens, and adults than kids because of that. Oh, and did I forget to mention the score that’s composed by Michael Giacchino? Let me tell you, his score helps make this film superb even more. That is especially when it comes to the more intense moments, and especially the climax of this film, despite the climax not being quite as perfect as it could have been. The animation is also fantastic. I mean specifically when you have say Buzz flying in hyperspace, or having the characters be surrounded by the beautiful nighttime sky, and things like that. It wouldn’t be surprising if some of these visuals looked even better while watching this film in 3D. Finally, Lightyear delivers some timeless messages about never giving up, being willing to accept help from others, and not going solo in life for any situation, and especially being willing to make sacrifices whenever necessary.

And that’s my review for Lightyear. At this point, there’s a part of me that wants to encourage others to see this film. At the same time, since there’s a brief LGTBQ deal with this film, I also understand if a lot of you decide not to see this film because of that. Aside from that, there’s a great plenty to enjoy about this film, from the beautiful animation, an exciting, and gritty story, really fun characters, and of course really great messages. I would say give Lightyear a chance if you want, but, again, I understand if some if you out there decide not to see Lightyear. if LGTBQ becomes a bigger problem in family films in the future, I won’t be surprised if a Disney fan like myself decides to stand my ground, and not see some of the newer Disney releases at least for a while. We shall see. Well, again, see Lightyear, if you want, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-

Alright, wow, it looks like we are now fifteen movie reviews away from reaching the 550th movie review. Wow, did not expect this to happen quite as quickly. Man, does time fly! Anyway, today, we are going to be reviewing one of quite a few live-action Disney films that were released over the course of the 1990s. Now, obviously, Disney has released quite a few of these over the decades, specifically from the 1950s, and onwards. However, correct me if I’m wrong, but it seemed as if live-action Disney films seemed more common in the 1990s, and maybe even 2000s, especially when it came to more ORIGINAL stories. In the 1990s, at the same time that Disney had their Renaissance period going on with their animated division, they also released a great many live-action films especially in the 1990s, like Iron Will (1994), Heavyweights (1995), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), The Kid (2000), and a great many more. Well, in addition to these films mentioned, and others, Disney also released a live-action film in theaters just a month after the company also released it’s 32nd animated feature, The Lion King. And that’s the film we shall be talking about today. So, without further ado, behold my review of 1994’s Angels In The Outfield!

Plot: When a coach of the California Angels named George Knox (Danny Glover) has had a long streak of losing seasons with his team, all hope seems lost, however, upon discovering to foster boys named Roger Bomman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and his friend JP (Milton Davis Jr.), things may start to look up after Roger, one night, prays for a miracle for the team, and the possibility of him, and JP getting adopted. Will his prayers be answered? Will the Angels start a record of winning streaks? And will Roger, and JP finally get out of their foster home, and be adopted either by Coach Knox, or someone else?

Well, I will start things off bet saying that it‘s good to be shown how much better can be than one might have thought as a kid. I mean I remember watching this film a few times as a kid. However, I don’t think that I recall seeing, and/or realizing how much depth, and meaning there was to a film like Angels In The Outfield. First of all, seeing as there were points where the main character JP was so optimistic to the point where he said that anything could happen in any situation, wow, what a great kid. It just comes to show that kids seem to be more optimistic about life than adults have ever seemed to be, you know? Well, hey, isn’t it any wonder that Jesus compared the faith of any person to that of a little child. Not to mention that Jesus also talked about how we need to have the faith like a child. What’s more is how even main character Roger Bomman, who of course is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, begins to have faith about things like how angels exist, and things like that, you know? The setting was also great, and how could one not love the concept of this story overall? It’s also interesting how we have a movie about baseball, as well as have main characters be kids that live in a foster home. I mean how often have we heard of a movie, particularly a more family-oriented one, having kids be in a foster home, and waiting for adoption? Let’s even keep in mind that Angels In The Outfield was released over a decade before Disney released one of it’s earlier computer-animated films from Walt Disney Studios, Meet The Robinsons, which also had main character kids be in a foster home, but with a different storyline. Yeah, because of that, the film does a great job of putting in a fun sport like baseball, while also inserting in the whole concept of foster homes, adoption, and things along those lines. While a lot of people love movies about baseball, how often would one want to see a movie about foster holes if it wasn’t executed in a more fun manner? That being said, Angels is amazingly clever about the whole foster home situation, with elements like baseball, well, and meaningful characters, and other creative elements along those lines. You also have a fun score from composer Randy Edelman, whose works also included scoring for films like Beethoven (1992), and Dragonheart (1996), among some other films. Yes, his score can be a little repetitive at times even in this film. Still, his score does help keep the film engaging like any good musical score is supposed to do. The characters are also really phenomenal. I mean Coach Knox, the kids Roger, and JP, Maggie Nelson, the foster mom to the two boys, they are all really great characters with excellent character arcs, growth, and any element that helps make for a likable character in the first place. In addition to those characters mentioned, the movie ends up having a really good jerky type of character. Oh, and how could you not love the Angel characters that appear throughout the course of this film? That is especially for Christopher Lloyd as the main Angel character, Al. Lloyd, just like any character that he’s played, most definitely knows how to bring life, spunk, and personality into this character. There’s also the climax of this film. I won’t give away what exactly happens. However, let’s just say that you’d be surprised how creatively well-handled it ends up being. The only potential flaw, is that there are some points in where the story might feel executed in a possibly cheesy way. Still, Angels In The Outfield is great at getting a good message across about believing for miracles, hoping for the impossible, and being willing to be positive about life even when it might seem hard to.

And that is now my review for Angels In The Outfield. It has fun characters, a very well-executed storyline, and some amazing messages that we could use more in both family films, and more adult films alike. And wow, can you believe that this was released during the same summer that the original Lion King film was released? Not to mention that both films had amazing storylines, deep, and powerful messages, and well-thought our characters. If you haven’t seen Angels In The Outfield, definitely make sure that you do dinner rather than later. You will most definitely love this film with all the great elements, and more, that I mentioned before.

Final Grade: A

Hello again everyone! Hope you all are doing well out there! Anyway, today, we are going to be reviewing a film that was associated with Disney shortly after the 1986 Disney animated film, The Great Mouse Detective, was released. Basically, after that film was successful, Disney apparently had plenty of money that the company decided to buy companies like Touchstone Pictures (or so the story goes). As a result, Disney, Touchstone, and movie directors Steven Spielberg, and Robert Zemeckis decided to make a live-action, and animation hybrid film that would include cameos of characters like Goofy, Bugs Bunny, both Mickey, and Minnie Mouse, and more. That being said, let’s discuss Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Plot: Set in 1947, a cartoon character named Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer) is framed for the murder of Marvin Acme, head of Toontown, and Acme Corporation. Now, he must team up with detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), and see if they can find the real culprit behind Acme’s murder.

Now, even though Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of those older movies, I surprisingly never saw this film until maybe 2013, when the film reached it’s 25th anniversary. And yeah, I remember enjoying it quite a bit. Now that I’ve gotten a little older, it’s definitely time for me to say whether or not it still holds up. Well, let me tell you, for the most part, it is a really fun film. First of all, how could you not love Alan Sylvestri’s score? I mean he uses his score to really help capture what life was like in the 1940s, even with the type of music that played back then. Also, the setting of what life was like over all back then is fantastic. Of course we know that cartoon characters don’t really exist in real life. Still, that doesn’t change how fun, and creative it was to have a fictional premise like this one, where real people, and animated characters coincided with each other. Actually, it’s really fun. Oh, and if you can, probably see a film like this before watching another animated/live-action hybrid film like Space Jam 1, or 2. Chances are that if you do, you’ll be less likely to believe that either Looney Tunes, or other cartoon characters exist underground, you know? Now, how about the characters? Well, most of them are really likable. Yes, some people could potentially feel rather ambivalent about someone like Jessica Rabbit, but more on that in a bit. The rest of the characters are great from leads like Eddie Valiant, and Roger Rabbit, who work off of each other really well, to Eddie’s love interest Dolores, to even Judge Doom, who’s played by Christopher Lloyd, and his weasel gang. Speaking of the main villain, and his gang, they are even fun to watch onscreen as well. Honestly, the weasel sidekicks are examples of villain sidekicks, or even sidekicks done right. They’re developed well, and they bring out some good laughs just like other villain sidekicks like Iago (from Aladdin), and Pain and Panic (from Hercules) for instance. Oh, and how could you not like the song that Eddie Valiant performs near the end during the climax. I won’t say what all happens, but he does a great job. Oh, and another thing! How could one not like seeing Bugs Bunny, and Mickey Mouse together onscreen at the same time, or even the same thing with Daffy Duck, and Donald Duck? As for the animation, some of it may feel a little outdated by today’s standards. Still, there are times when the animation does seem to hold up as well. Finally, the acting is great. I mean Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and the rest of the gang each do a really great job with all of their performances.

With all that said, are there any downsides to this film? Well, sadly, yes, there are. First of all, the character of Jessica Rabbit can sometimes have this bad habit of throwing in your face how good looking, pretty, and sexual she is. Seeing as kids may have been likely to watch this film, and this film seemed to be geared as a “family film,” I’m not sure that having Jessica Rabbit behave that way was the best idea, you know? Also, there was an additional character that seemed to act rather annoying, and creepy at the same time. Thankfully that character is only onscreen for a few minutes, but still. Also, was having a female cartoon character like Jessica Rabbit, and a rabbit like Roger Rabbit being a couple the best idea? I mean I get that they’re both animated characters. Still, I don’t think that family films should make a habit of having such couples, you know?

And that’s my review for Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Even though it could be a little too adult for kids, the movie is still really fun, and creative overall. The animation is mostly good, the premise is fun, and most of the characters are likable. If you haven’t seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit yet, definitely see it, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-

Hi everyone! Hope you are all doing well. Today, we are reviewing a Disney+ exclusive film that is based on a cartoon Disney Channel show that aired apparently from 1989 through 1990. It of course also features two very popular chipmunks. Yes, you guessed it, a movie based on the show, Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers. So now, let’s talk about a film with that same title, shall we?

Plot: Set thirty years after the days of the rescue rangers ended, and each of the members go their separate ways, Chip and Dale (John Mulaney, and Andy Samberg respectively) must reunite once again when their friend Monterey Jack (Eric Bana) is reported to have gone missing. With help from a cop named Ellie Steckler (Kiki Layne), and other cops, as well as reuniting with former members that included a housefly named Zipper (Dennis Haysbert), and a female mouse named Gadget Hackwrench (Tress MacNeille), will our friends be able to find Monterey Jack, or will something horrible happen to him?

Regardless of whether or not this film was based on a somewhat popular Disney cartoon show, is this Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers movie good? Not by a whole lot! Okay, Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers wasn’t exactly horrible, but it wasn’t great either. First of all, the pacing wasn’t quite the best. Additionally, besides the main Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers crew, the characters don’t seem to be all that well developed. What’s more is that the execution of the plot didn’t seem to be all that memorable. Also, for the main villain of this film, why, just why did we have to have that villain of all characters? Seriously, what was wrong with maybe having one of the sidekicks be the main villain instead? Some of the twists weren’t exactly the best either. There were also some relationships that were in the movie that could potentially make one wonder whether or not it was for the best that they were written into this film to begin with.

But again, this movie has it’s redeeming qualities as well. First off, it was good to at least see one, or two additional characters that were NOT part of the original Rescue Rangers crew be fairly well developed. It was also good to have the theme song for the original show be brought back in at some points for this film. Also, how could one not appreciate the very few creative moments that were included in this film (which, definitely see the film for yourself to see any of those creative moments)? And of course there were some very hilarious moments here and there. Oh, and some of the action scenes were very good too. And another thing! It was good that there were both animated, and live-action animals for this film (unlike the newer Tom & Jerry film that was just released last year). Finally, it was good to see Chip and Dale’s relation develop really well for this film.

And that’s my review for the movie version of Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers. It is a film that is not a bad watch if you’re going through picks on Disney+, and want to watch something that’s fairly entertaining. Even so, you might find yourself having a little more fun maybe rewatching the Chip & Dale show, or even another film like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or some film like that. If you want to see this film, there’s no harm in doing so. Just know that maybe it was probably for the best that this film went straight to Disney+, as opposed to say going to theaters first, or something like that.

Final Grade: C+

Alright, so today, in preparation for Minions: Rise Of Gru, the sequel to the 2015 Universal and Illumination film, Minions, we shall of course review the 2015 film, Minions. Sorry for not reviewing the Despicable Me trilogy that spawned both of these Minions films. I may get to that some other time. Well, for now, let’s talk about Minions.

Plot: The yellow creatures, known as the Minions, try to find a master that will lead them into doing dastardly deeds, without much success. But just as they nearly give up hope, three minions named Kevin, Stuart, and Bob (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) decide not to give up hope, and travel to New York City in the year 1968. Now that they may have found a new master in Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock), will their dream of finding a villainous mastermind come to fruition?

Now, for those of you who saw at least the Despicable Me films, but not this one, you could probably figure out where this plot is going, yes? Well, no worries either way. Is this as good as the Despicable Me films? Not really, especially not the first, and second movies. In fact, setting those films aside, Minions isn’t all that great. First of all, the story seems to feel a little too short, and rather lukewarm. What’s more is that none of the characters seem to be all that memorable. Yeah, Scarlett Overkill, the main villain of this movie, seems to be one of the main highlights, along with Gru, as a younger character. And yes, the minions have some memorable funny moments here and there. Other than those aspects, this film has nothing too special to offer. Also, there are some jokes that are most likely too adult, and inappropriate for kids to watch, most notably a scene where I found myself thinking, “Really, did this need to be brought into the film?”. There were also a few plot holes in this film as well. As I mentioned before, the story is probably way too fast-paced, and isn’t all that memorable. Not to mention that the film may feel a little too predictable at times. Not that that’s always a bad thing, but it might have been nice to have a few more twists to keep this film going stronger, you know?

The only things to enjoy about this film are that some of the animation is nice, and of course the villain that’s played by Sandra Bullock. And of course there is some of the cleaner humor in this film. Finally, it was nice to hear some older music from time to time in this film.

And that’s my review for Minions. The only reason for me to recommend this film would be if one, you love the Minion character, and two, if you’ve watched all the Despicable Me movies. Other than that, probably skip this film. I was honestly wondering if it would be worth it to see the second film. However, seeing as the second film looks much more promising, you’ll probably be more open to seeing that one. Well, like I said, see Minions, if you’ve seen the Despicable Me films, and/or you want to see the second Minions movie.

Final Grade: D+

P. S. Happy Fourth Of July everyone!

Alright, everyone, today, we are going to review another biopic that is based on true events of musical artists. In today’s case, we will be discussing a film that revolves around some of the life of Elvis Presley. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the movie, Elvis.

Plot: The movie sets around the life of musical artist, Elvis Presley (portrayed by Austin Butler in this movie), who apparently left a great impact on the music industry. From his meeting, and partnership with Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), to his rise to fame, the movie covers a great deal about the star that many of us have come to know and love even today.

So now that this biopic film of another musical artist has arrived, was it as good, or even better than previous ones like Bohemian Rhapsody, or Rocketman? Well, definitely way better than the former, and maybe slightly has a little more edge than the latter, but not by much. First of all, it was great that we only got to have a snippet of Presley’s childhood, while the good majority of the movie focused on his adult years. The acting was also really great. Austin Butler especially pulled off his role as Elvis Presley. And Tom Hanks, how could you go wrong with him? For years, he’s done well in anything he’s played in, from Forrest Gump, to voicing Woody in the Toy Story movies, playing Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks, and many more films. And how could we not mention Olivia DeJonge as Elvis Presley’s wife, Priscilla? She was also phenomenal. It was also to know some interesting from what little we did get to see about his childhood. In addition to all of this, how could we not love hearing some of the songs that Elvis Presley wrote throughout the course of this film, be it “Burning Love,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” and quite a few more? The movie also did a great job with elaborating on the characters that revolves around Elvis’ life, especially the main ones like his wife, Priscilla, his manager, Colonel Parker, and the rest of that gang. It’s also interesting how there are some characters will be ones that we love to hate. How sad that ended up being the case for those people that were abusive, and cruel even in real life. It was also great to learn some very interesting history of Presley, and Colonel Parker, especially. Finally, let’s take time to mention how this movie can teach some valuable lessons in regards to the whole thing about being happy. I remember listening to K-Love a while back, and one of the hosts said that Elvis Presley was asked shortly before he died if he was happy, which he responded that he wasn’t. If that was in fact the case, this movie can definitely teach us how attempting to find pleasure in things like drugs, and alcohol is never the best course of action. Just comes to show that Jesus Christ is in fact the answer.

And that’s my review for Elvis. It is a very well done film that is very well-written, and does well with elaborating on Elvis Presley. Did the film need to be around two and a half hours long? Probably not! They most likely could have maybe cut some scenes out if possible. Still, for what Elvis is, it’s worth checking out. Not only is it a well done film with many of Elvis’ good songs, but some really great lessons can be taken away from this movie. Definitely go see it if you haven’t. You’re guaranteed to love it.

Final Grade: A+

Well everyone, we have finally arrived at what is said to be the conclusion of the Jurassic Park/World franchise. Is this truly a satisfying ending, or do we need a little more? Well, let’s find out by talking about Jurassic World: Dominion.

Plot: When a head doctor (Campbell Scott) of the scientific company, Biosyn, orders the kidnapping of Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) in order to use her for “scientific breakthrough,” Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) set out to find, and rescue her before it’s too late, and chaos supposedly unleashed among the dinosaur community. With the help of some newer friends that they meet along the way, can they get the job done?

At this point, I’m sure you’re all wondering again, was Jurassic World: Dominion an improvement from other films like Jurassic Park 3, or the previous Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, or films like those? Well, yes, but not by a whole lot. First of all, there are quite a few times, particularly in the first half, when Jurassic World: Dominion goes from being ultra slow in it’s pacing to really fast in that regard. What’s even more disappointing is that the last half of the movie seems to feel rather rushed. You would think that wouldn’t be the case for a film that’s around two and a half hours long, right? Well, all to say that either this film should have gone through one, or two more rounds of film editing, or it should have been divided into two parts, like say The Hobbit was divided into three movies, or next year’s Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning will be divided at least into two parts, you know? Will fans be feel satisfied by how things turn out near the end? Well, let’s just say that if they are, they most likely won’t be by a whole lot. What’s more is that there were some action scenes that probably lasted a little too long, maybe longer than they should have in the end. Oh, and another thing, there were some elements that carried over from previous Jurassic Park/World films, like Jurassic Park 3, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, that probably shouldn’t have to begin with. Finally, once again, there were some remakes from characters like Dr. Ian Malcolm, that weren’t the best, just like in the first, and fifth films of this franchise.

But is there some good stuff in this supposed final chapter? Well, yes! In fact, the storyline, despite having some problems, was still an improvement from especially the third, and fifth films. As for the action, while it lasted a little too long at times, was still very good in others moments of this film. It was also really great to not only main characters from Jurassic World on in this film, but also to have brought back even some older characters that were in some of the beginning films of the Jurassic Park franchise. Not to mention that we have even antagonists that are much more intimidating, and possibly even more memorable than the ones we got in previous films, especially after the first Jurassic Park movie. Oh, and it was also cool to have this mix of James Bond, and Jurassic Park mixed together. Definitely an unexpected twist! There’s also Giacchino’s score. Oh, and on that note, it was great to have him stay to compose the score the remaining three Jurassic Park/World films. Why the same was not the case for John Williams with the first three films, I’m not sure. Well, maybe the filmmakers learned from how lacking some of the score was in at least the second, and third installments, and they decided to try to keep Giacchino on board if they could? Beats me! Well, it was a great thing that they did one way, or another. The world building was also really great, especially with the forests, the locusts, the vehicles in this sequel. and all of that really great stuff.

And that’s my review for Jurassic World: Dominion. Though not exactly the best conclusion for this franchise, Jurassic World: Dominion does have everything wrap up together in a somewhat satisfying matter. Not the best satisfaction, but still. The characters, both the good, and bad ones are also very memorable this time around too. And yes, overall, while the story could have been better, and some scenes dragged way too much, this is a sequel that is most definitely worth seeing. Still go see Jurassic World: Dominion, if you haven’t, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B

And now, sometime before I see Jurassic World: Dominion, and I review that one, we shall now talk about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Plot: Three years following the events of Jurassic World, a volcanic eruption is about to occur on Isla Nublar, jeopardizing the lives of the dinosaurs that live there. Because the U.S. rules that the dinosaurs should perish after Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) says that it’s an act of God to punish dinosaurs getting cloned in the first place, Dr. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) gets a team together, including Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to go, and rescue the dinosaurs themselves from the volcanic eruption that is about to occur very soon. But what they don’t realize is that the team they hired is a group of army mercenaries that plan to sell the dinosaurs at an action in California, instead of taking them to a dinosaur sanctuary, as originally planned. So now, can the heroes find a way to save the dinosaurs from this new captivity that they now find themselves in?

Now, for those of you who are friends with me on Facebook, and saw me review this film just there back in 2018, you may recall that I gave the film a B+, if I recall correctly. So, do I still stand by that grade even four years later? Well, let me put it to you all this way. First of all, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom seems to feel a little too fast-paced. Thankfully not quite as much as The Lost World: Jurassic Park. No, Fallen Kingdom seemed to do a somewhat better job of telling a more compelling story. Anyway, some of the problems in this film include there being some rather tragic scenes that probably weren’t necessary. Okay, I understand that some movies need to have some tragic moments to either add drama, or show that life sucks sometimes, or things like that. Still, the sad moments that were included in this film might have made this film more sad than it maybe needed to be in the end. There were also some aspects of the ending that didn’t seem to feel quite as satisfying as one would have liked. Oh, and the movie felt a little much like a horror film. Okay, I understand that there needed to be tense moments. Still, did we really need some of those moments to look like potential horror moments when the Jurassic Park franchise is not supposed to go a horror route? Just a thought!

Still, like in Jurassic World, it was definitely nice to see some newer, and more advanced species of dinosaurs in this film. Not to mention how cool it was to see not only predatory dinosaurs like T-Rexes, and velociraptors, but also carnotaurs this time around as well. Yeah, seeing as we haven’t seen that type of carnivorous dinosaur since the 2000 Disney film, Dinosaur (at least that we can recall), that was definitely a breath of fresh air too. And once again, Michael Giacchino’s score, enough said in that aspect of the film! Additionally, how could we not like some of the newer characters that were introduced this time around? And the villains, they were well executed. The rest of the characters were also really likable as a whole. As for the story itself, it was very well compelling, despite not being executed entirely well. As for the CGI, that was also very good. Finally, how could we not how creative some of the scenes in this Jurassic World film were?

And that’s my review for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Though not quite one of the best in the series, it was still fairly good. Still, with the next installment, Jurassic World: Dominion, supposedly being their last film, here’s hoping that one will prove to be an improvement from this previous film. We shall see! Regardless, still see Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B

Good afternoon everyone! Today, I have a surprise for you all. This time, we will be reviewing a film that I only reviewed back on Facebook just four years ago, shortly before it’s sequel got released back in 2018. Not sure if this is cheating or not, but you what, I know of one, or two other movie reviewers on YouTube who also reviewed it once on YouTube, and then reviewed it again once or twice, if not more. Also, seeing as I only reviewed Jurassic World, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom we’re just reviewed on Facebook back then, I figured why not review them again for this blog after all, you know? I may do this for at least some other movies that I only reviewed on Facebook before this blog came about a while back. We shall see. Well, let’s now talk about Jurassic World.

Plot: Shortly after two kids (Nick Robinson, and Ty Simpson) visit their aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) at a dinosaur theme park called Jurassic World on Isla Nublar, trouble ensues when a genetically enhanced T-Rex breaks out of it’s cage, and begins to cause trouble for other humans, and dinosaur creatures on the island. Now, with the help of Navy veteran Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), will Claire, and kids Zach, and Gray Mitchell be able to track this predator down, and either imprison it, or put the beast to an end before things get way out of hand?

Okay, so, as I’m sure we know, this had been the first time in fourteen years since we had a Jurassic Park/World be released. Now, as time passed, did the movie makers come up with a better story than what the second, and third films at least had to offer? Well, while not quite a perfect film, Jurassic World still ended up being a great example of what makes a good sequel, or film period. Not to mention that that Jurassic World was one of the better films since, well, 1993’s Jurassic Park itself. To begin, though the film can feel slightly fast-paced at times, it does a better job of telling a much more compelling story, which is more than one can say about at least the second, and third films of this franchise. Additionally, the world building especially of Jurassic World is really good. I mean we get to know the world of the dinosaurs there, for the most part, and let’s just say that, if one could feel safe touring the place, one might want to go back there again, and again. The movie also has some fantastic CGI, both with the effects, and with the newer dinosaur creatures that we’re introduced to. I mean you look at the CGI dinosaurs from the first three films, and then look at the CGI in this movie, it comes to show how far advanced technology has come with movies. A film like Jurassic World is no exception. Oh, and the score by Michael Giacchino, wow, first off, this guy is a genius at making musical scores, be it films like these newer Jurassic Park/World movies, or even family films like Inside Out (2015), Zootopia (2016), and Coco (2017) for instance. True, Giacchino may not have been the one composing the score in the other previous three films. Still, he does somehow seem to understand that music was part of what made the Jurassic Park movies to one extent, or another. Not only that, but he basically uses his musical score to keep the audience immersed in the story as much as possible. And of course there’s the acting for this film. Holy cow, the cast does great, particularly Bryce Dallas Howard, and Chris Pratt as Claire Dearing, and Owen Pratt respectively. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe part of why Pratt was cast as the character that he was probably because of how well he did in films like Guardians Of The Galaxy the year before, you know? As for the characters themselves, despite a bit of character development lacking for at least one, or two minor characters. Oh, and could we take a moment to also appreciate how there were some carnivorous dinosaurs that were handled a little different than usual in these films? I won’t give anything away, but definitely watch how some of them are handled, and you’ll probably find yourself loving the somewhat newer direction that this film seems to go from the previous Jurassic Park movies all the more. Finally, with the action, ooh, the filmmakers really did up their game when it came to the action, most notably when it came to the climax of Jurassic World.

The only flaws for this film would be that, one, of course there does seem to be a little bit of character development lacking. But hey, thankfully it was much better than for sure in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Jurassic Park 3. The other problem would be that there’s this one scene where one character is quietly crying, and another is telling him to stop doing that. Okay, maybe the setting where that occurred might not have been the best. Still, it’s just sad that scenes like that seem to show all the more that guys seem to believe that crying is not “manly.” Really? Okay, let me just take a moment to ask, before I conclude this review, is it just me, or does it seem like the reason that a lot of guys especially in America are jerks as of nowadays is because they seem to have pain deep inside that they feel like they can’t uncover around themselves, or others? Honestly, that’s a problem that I hope will be changed, and even males WILL realize that crying IS okay. Just saying!

And that concludes my review for 2015’s Jurassic World. After fourteen years from the previous installment from this film, at least this one proved once and for all that Jurassic Park films are still capable of telling good stories, even if it might have taken around twenty-two years since the release of the first film, in 1993, to do so. Jurassic World has a great deal to offer this time around, has a fun story, mostly great characters, a phenomenal musical score, and really impressive CGI. Now, even if I recommended even the not as memorable second, and third films of this franchise, let me just say really see Jurassic World if you still have yet to. You’ll have plenty of fun with it, I’m sure.

Final Grade: A-