Ladies & gentlemen, today, we conclude with my last movie review of the week by reviewing a sequel to a family film from 2018. In that case, it would be a live-action/CGI of the children’s stories of Peter Rabbit. Just a few weeks ago, Columbia Pictures, and Sony gave us the sequel, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. So we’ll review the film momentarily.
Plot: After Peter’s guardians, Thomas (Domhnall Gleeson), and Bea McGregor (Rose Byrne) get married, and return from their honeymoon sometime later, Peter, and his rabbit family begin to help Bea write her Peter Rabbit children’s story series. But one day, things begin to get fishy with the family, and Peter runs away after feeling mistreated. As a result, he begins to befriend some questionable company. So, will Tom, Bea, the rabbits, and the rest of Peter’s animal family be able to track him down, and bring him back home once, and for all?
And now, you all may be wondering, does Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway surpass it’s 2018 predecessor? Well, not quite, actually. Here’s the thing! First of all, the villains of this film, are just okay. I mean they may be slightly interesting. Still, while watching this film, I found myself thinking of antagonists from other films, live-action, or animated, that ended up being even more gripping. In addition to this, some of the characters could potentially come off as one dimensional. Plus, this movie seemed to have potential at points to give some of the characters some back stories at certain points, especially when it came to having some of the villains have better motivations for their diabolical actions. What a shame such an opportunity seemed to be squandered for the most part. Thankfully, when it comes to some of the protagonists, you understand where they’re coming from, even if they are making wrong decisions at some points. What’s even more is that the story doesn’t seem to be quite as engaging, or as strong as the first film seemed to be when released three years ago. Oh yes, the story is still good at keeping the audience roped in. It’s just that it could have likely been better. Quite honestly, a running time of 93 minutes should have maybe been extended to an extra 10-15 minutes, if not more than that. In addition to this, the movie seems to overall feel a little too predictable. Okay, predictable is good sometimes, sure. Still, wasn’t there a way that maybe this film could have been a little less predictable? Just a thought!
Like I said, however, there is still some material that keeps Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway fairly entertaining. First of all, even there isn’t quite as much comedy as in the first film, there is still quite a bit of that in this sequel. Not only that, but the script is very witty at times. Granted, maybe not by a whole lot, but still very good. Not only that, but it’s surprising how beautiful some of the visuals are, particularly when it comes to the farmlands in the mornings, and the evenings. Also, just like in the first film, the animation designs on the animal characters are really good. I mean if you like the animation on the animal characters in films like 2006’s Happy Feet, or even 2010’s Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole, or films like those, you may not like the animation in here quite as much, but pretty close. The movie also does a good job at keeping the suspense up when necessary. Additionally, like I mentioned earlier, at least some of the good guys seem to be a little better developed than the villains.
And that’s my review for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. While not quite one of the strongest sequels to come out recently, it’s still a decent, and fairly entertaining film. It still has good heart, has some funny moments, and has some good elements that keep it from falling too short. Definitely still see it, but maybe if it’s playing at a theater near you that has cheap ticket prices. Not one of the best sequels, but still plausible.
Alright everyone, today, we are going to review the latest Disney/Marvel Studios entry. Based on comics, it centers around one of the Avenger superheroes. The one, and only Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow!
Plot: First set in 1995, in Ohio, young Natasha Romanoff (Ever Anderson), and her family are forced to flee from their home after unexpected events occur. 21 years later, in 2016, Natasha must find her long lost sister (Florence Pugh), while trying to flee the authorities for violating governmental laws. Can she find her sister? Also, will they be able to track down an organized Russian crime boss, whom they thought they killed long ago, and bring him to justice once and for all?
Okay, even though Black Widow, the latest superhero Marvel entry, is either available in theaters, or on Disney+ with Premiere Access, the film, like movies such as Raya & The Last Dragon, earlier this year, is one that deserves to be seen in theaters much more so. Seriously, I don’t know why some people insist on staying in the comfort of their home to see a film like this one. Well, hopefully more people will be seeing Black Widow in theaters than in their Disney+ subscription. Anyway, Black Widow has some very likable characters. Whether it be the heroes, or even the villains of this movie, you either love to really like them, or love to hate the villains. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true, as there are some of the villains that you may find yourself sympathizing with. What’s even more is how well the dynamic duo with the main family duo works, whether it be the parents, or the Natasha, and her sister, Yelona Belova. Not to mention that, even if the parents may come off as somewhat gruff at times, you still find yourself liking them. The acting is also very good. Not i oh do you have Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, but there’s also David Harbour, Florence Pugh, and Rachel Weisz. Man, people like Weisz have seemed to come a one ways since movies like 1999’s The Mummy, that’s for certain. Oh, and how could I forget about the score by Lorne Balfe? I’m not too familiar with this music composer. What I will say, however, is that he uses the score to truly lure people into the film overtime. Although his score shines during the action moments, he really seems to also do that with his music during the more silent moments too. Because of this, you may find yourself wanting the soundtrack for this film after seeing the film. Oh, and the backgrounds, and visuals are very good too. I mean whether it be the green grasses, snow in certain mountain portions in the world, or places like those, they’re beautiful to look at. What’s more is that there are times when the backgrounds are so great that you may want to be in the movie even if for just a few minutes to savor those moments. Oh, and it should be worth noting how cool some of the futuristic vehicles look.
However, there were some issues that Black Widow had as well. First of all, the film had some story complications. This especially seemed to be the case around the beginning of the film, followed by a couple plot holes that were scattered throughout this film. As for the comedic moments, this Marvel movie does seem to keep on the tradition of making their films funny whenever possible. Still, in this case, some of the jokes aren’t as funny as one would expect. Oh yes, some of them still hilarious without a doubt. However, the funny moments in Black Widow probably won’t be as timeless as say those of Marvel films like any of the Avengers movies, Captain America: Civil War, or movies like those. Oh, and there’s a post-credits scene that, let’s just say may make you leave feeling rather confused, and puzzled.
And that’s my review for Black Widow. The film is an enjoyable watch, make no mistake! Nevertheless, don’t go into this film expecting the same kind of masterpiece (or close to masterpiece) as some earlier superhero films. It may be a little better than say Captain Marvel, or films like that. If you’re willing to overlook the few flaws that this film has, then definitely see this film.
Alright, so at this point, we are finally five more reviews away from me reaching 450 movie reviews. I do at least have one, or two films in mind. So we’ll see which one of those I review when it gets to that point. For now, we are going to review a movie musical that, like many other recent films, was going to be released last year. Not to mention that it was one of my most anticipated films this year, along with Raya & The Last Dragon, as well as upcoming films, Space Jam 2: A New Legacy, and Encanto. However, we obviously know why today’s film couldn’t come out until this year. Well, again, better late than never! So, let’s talk about the one, and only movie musical, In The Heights.
Plot: Set in modern day New York, more specifically an area called Washington Heights, a Latino American named Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos) is the store owner of a bodega. However, he dreams of one day making, and saving enough money to go back to the Dominican Republic, where his father, and the rest of his ancestors. Will he be able to achieve his dream? Will his closest friends each also be able to achieve their individual dreams?
In The Heights, the latest movie musical, is most definitely a good film. However, I don’t think I would go so far as to say that it’s one of the best. Again, it’s a very good musical. Still, there are some areas where this film could have likely improved. First of all, despite being given a PG-13 rating, In The Heights seemed to be marketed as more of a family film. I mean think about it! Both in 2020, and some of early 2021, the trailers for this film were shown on more family-oriented movies like Call Of The Wild, Raya & The Last Dragon, or films like those. Well, Cruella was rated PG-13, and a trailer for In The Heights was shown in front of that film (at least where I saw that film at). Still, overall, I’m not sure marketing In The Heights as more of a family film as opposed to more of an adult film was the best idea. Okay, don’t get me wrong! Of course there have been more adult musicals like Chicago, Rent, or some of those films. Still, when a musical is supposed to be one kind of film, and is marketed as another, parents may likely take their kids to see this film without question. That would likely be a problem, as there are some scenes in this movie that may be a little too inappropriate, and sexual for young kids. Honestly, it’s more teens, and adults that should be watching this film. That’s fine, so long as this film were to be targeted to more mature audience crowds. Next, the film may seem to go a little over the top with the language even during the musical numbers. Thankfully, not by a whole lot, but still. In addition to all of these, the characters seem to act a little too selfish, and thinking about themselves, and their desires a little more than they should. Sure, some of them do go through good character growths. Still, that aspect could have maybe been handled a little better. Oh, and the ending could have probably lasted a little longer, and maybe even been expanded upon. I won’t say how the film ends. Still, let’s just say that you should know what I mean about the ending once you see this film. Oh, and some of the songs could have probably been a little more catchy, and unforgettable. Don’t get me wrong, some of them are good songs, make no mistake! Just don’t expect grand songs like The Greatest Showman, Sound Of Music, Mary Poppins Returns, or films like those.
But is this film bad? Most definitely not! There’s still plenty to like about In The Heights. First of all, as mentioned before, some of the songs are very good, like the title song, “96,000,” and songs like those. The rapping also works very well at times. That’s good, considering Lin-Manuel Miranda was attached to the music in this project. I would say that the songs may likely be a little more memorable for those who saw the original musical back in the early to mid-2000s. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the choreography in some of the numbers is very well-crafted? I’m surprised that some of the songs seem to get as creative as they do in that regard. In addition to all of these, the main characters, mainly four to five of them, seem to most definitely be the most fleshed out of the entire cast. Why am I not surprised? Oh, and the film really captures the culture of the Latino American community. That is from the way they act, to the kinds of foods they eat, what kinds of work they do, you name it. As for the relationship aspect of this film, the film does a really good job on that too. Basically, In The Heights is great at showing how, especially when it comes to romantic relationships, they can be very complicated, and very great at times, as opposed to black and white all the time. Yeah, I’m sure many of us can agree that we need movies that portray relationships in that regard, especially since that is life sometimes. Oh, and the structure of the story is set up really well too. Also, how could I forget to mention the good cinematography, specifically when it comes to shots of the water, New York City, and even shots of sunrises, or even sunsets? One other thing that I should mention is how this film does provide good lessons about learning to see things from the perspective of others, and other valuable lessons as well.
And that’s my review for In The Heights. Sure, this film may not quite be up there with old classics like Sound Of Music, Fiddler On The Roof, or even recent musicals like The Greatest Showman. Still, In The Heights, despite acting a little too inappropriate at points, seems to feel a little more uplifting, and does provide some good lessons. Who knows? In some ways, you may yet find yourself liking In The Heights a little more than say musicals like say 2016’s La La Land, or 2005’s Rent. If you plan to see this film, I would say that teens, and adults should be the ones to see In The Heights first. After that, parents with kids should wait until their kids are older, and have more critical thinking skills to show this film to their kids. Otherwise, In The Heights is a fun film with some good songs, good choreography, very good lessons at points, some well-written characters, and other good qualities as well! For those of you who can, go see if if you haven’t, and see what you think!
Alright, so today, we are going to be reviewing one final Disney film at least for a while. This time, we will be talking about a live-action Disney film that was released back in the 1960s, when Disney’s live-action section was starting to become more popular. Not to mention that there was a remake that was released decades later after this film’s release. Released in 1961, the movie is The Parent Trap.
Plot: When two identical females, who are discovered to be twins, meet at a girl’s summer camp, they form a plan to reunite their mother, and father (Maureen O’ Hara, and Brian Keith respectively), who divorced years before. Even though their father is planning to marry some other woman, will their plan still succeed?
Now, I remember at least seeing clips, and/or teasers at least for this older version when I was younger. I also remember listening to the song, “Let’s Get Together,” from this film as a kid on one of those Disney soundtracks. So, years later, I was excited to finally watch this film on Disney+. How is this film as a whole? Well, for the most part, it’s good, but there are one, or two areas on where it could have maybe improved. First of all, did the writers really have to have certain situations happen the way they did, especially in scenes earlier in the film, or even shortly after? Also, there were one, or two scenes that most likely may have been unrealistic. Please watch this film, and correct me if I’m wrong.
But besides those potential flaws in this film, there’s plenty more to enjoy about it! First of all, most of the characters are very well thought out. Maybe one, or two could have been well developed. Still, they’re all likable overall. Even characters like the priest in this film, for instance, had a really, really great sense of humor. Now, if that doesn’t say something, I’m not sure what will. Oh, and it’s good how the main twin characters do not act neither too bratty, nor too quiet. Rather, the writers had then act how a normal kid probably would have acted back then (and maybe they sometimes do even nowadays). In addition, the movie does well with portraying how simple, and much more enjoyable life was back then. Considering the many kinds of movies, and TV shows that have been much darker, more crude, and not quite nearly as fun nowadays, that should help us to remember better films like this, or even shows like Little House On The Prairie, or even Mork & Mindy, for instance. Oh, and need I of course mention the fun song, “Let’s Get Together?” Honestly, before seeing this film, I was expecting a musical type of live-action Disney film. That doesn’t end up being the case, however. That is okay, since the movie makes up for it with a very, very good storyline oh, and did I forget that the music of this film was written by the Sherman Brothers? Considering that they wrote songs for films like 1967’s The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, and other films, they know how to make good music. Sure, there’s only the one song, but still. How about the acting? Well, the acting was also really good. It’s almost like the actors, and actresses are really trying to get into the skin of their respective characters, and feel, and act the way that they would. In addition to all of this, the movie provides some really good lessons about how to find a good husband, or wife. Yeah, this movie is most definitely a great example of how, if people did that either in America, or in other countries, where people seem so eager to get married, regardless, maybe not nearly as many divorces would be happening in today’s world, you know? Oh, and this movie provides good lessons about not getting so prideful in one’s way of thinking, and not pushing people away when they might think that they may be looking out fir the best interest of other people. Yeah, most certainly another good lesson to learn, for sure. Oh, and one more thing! 1961’s The Parent Trap is very, very funny. Not only that, but the comedy, and the drama seem to be well balanced out with each other. Definitely part of what makes a good film, you know?
And that’s my review for 1961’s The Parent Trap. So this begs the question, is this version better, or the 1998 one with Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, and some of those actors, and actresses? Well, I still have yet to rewatch the 1998 version to say for sure. I will say this, though, I thought I may have remembered the newer one being a little funnier, and the story being expanded upon more. Yeah, we’ll have to see if I still believe that to be the case after rewatching the somewhat newer version. One way, or another, definitely see both 1961’s The Parent Trap, and the newer one, if you haven’t seen either yet. You’re bound to have fun with at least one, if not both of them.
Ladies & gentlemen, tonight, I have a rather interesting surprise for you all. The reason why is that we shall be reviewing yet another live-action Disney film. In this case, however, it’s a more special review. Why? Well, much like The Rocketeer (which I had never heard of until last year), I had never heard of this particular Disney film until coming across it on Disney+ recently. Basically, what happened was I was searching for live-action, or even animated Jungle Book on Disney+, and, as I was doing so, this specific film began to pop up in the search area, or whatever you want to call it. So, I tried to make it a point to see it. After seeing it, here is my review for 1985’s The Journey Of Natty Gaan.
Plot: Set in 1935, during the time of the Great Depression, the story follows a girl named Natty Gaan (Meredith Salenger), who sets out to find her father (Ray Wise) after discovering from one of his letters that he got transferred to Washington state to work as a lumberjack. Will Natty be able to find her father in the end?
So, after seeing The Journey Of Natty Gaan, was it good? Well, while not quite one of Disney’s best films, this movie was a very fun watch. First of all, The Journey Of Natty Gaan doesn’t shy away from the fact that so many people suffered during this particular period of history. Man, can you imagine what life would have been like for any of us if we lived during the Great Depression? Well, this movie certainly gives a good depiction of that. It’s almost like you can have a certain feel of the difficulties of life back then. Next, there’s the cinematography. Oh, how these days are most likely dearly missed by some, if not all who grew up watching films that came out during times like the 1980s, 1990s, or even before, or shortly after. Movies like The Journey Of Natty Gaan are proof that Disney films released back then really showed how to capture the beauty of nature, especially in the wilderness, the culture of whatever this film was set around, how animals behaved, and things like that. Honestly, Disney should make a balance of releasing the remakes, and original stories like this, or just releasing live-action films that are original ideas altogether, or just based on other stories beside the Disney animated films of the past, you know? Anyway, the score by James Horner is surprisingly really, really good. I mean with films that he scored especially after this film, it’s almost like he has the same type of beat, and music with his score. In The Journey Of Natty Gaan, however, it seems to be a different story. Basically, not only does Horner seem to use his usual style of music, but he also seems to incorporate a Western type of feel in his music as well. You may find yourself loving the type of instruments that are used throughout this film. Also, the acting is excellent. I was surprised to find that people that would later play in shows like 24, or popular films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, for instance, would end up being in this film beforehand as well. What’s even more is that the film seems to avoid sole cliches that have seemed to be common in the world of Disney, and maybe even in films outside of Disney. So bravo to the makers of this film for doing that! Finally, the film does well with incorporating very good lessons in this film, especially with lessons about not giving up on your dreams, and letting others go when necessary.
And that’s all the good things there. Now, you may be wondering if there are any flaws in this film, yes? Well, there are at least a couple. First of all, sole of the minor characters were at least okay. They’re not bad. Somehow, I may have to wrap my fiber around it, but some of them that were not the main characters seemed to be a little full, you know? What’s more is that you may find yourself puzzled when Natty makes some decisions that, let’s just say might be a little confusing to the viewers as a result, you know? Finally, this film may have ended it’s run a little too soon. Oh, you’ll find yourself satisfied. Still, you may also find yourself not satisfied as well, you know?
And that’s my review for The Journey Of Natty Gaan. If you still have yet to see the film, either watch it on Disney+, or even just On Demand if you have that too. Even if certain aspects of this film could have maybe been better, there’s still plenty to like about this film. Definitely watch it when you can, it is most definitely worth seeing!
Everyone, first of all, happy 4th of July! Second, tonight, we review review a live-action Disney musical film that could be somewhat fitting for this particular holiday. No, not because it takes place around the time of the War For Independence, but because of some of the themes of this film revolving around standing up for what’s right. Released in April 1992, the film is Newsies.
Plot: Set in the year 1899, a group of poor people in New York City, called the Newsies, whose leader is Jack Kelly (Christian Bale), have been delivering local newspapers to the people of Manhattan. But one day, the corrupt governor of New York, Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall), decides to raise the prices for the Newsies to buy, and then sell the newspapers. So the Newsies/Newsboys decide to go on strike as a result. Now, with the help of newcomers David Jacobs (David Moscow), David’s brother Les (Luke Edwards), and the rest of the Newsie gang, and a reporter named Bryan Denton (Bill Pullman), can they put an end to Pulitzer’s plans, and the other corrupt leaders who are involved in Pulitzer’s scheme?
Okay, first of all, how on Earth did only 39% of critics give this film positive reviews, according to Rotten Tomatoes? This film is just so well done, for the most part. But more on the flaws later. First of all, the music is really good. In fact, while you may not find yourself singing, or humming all of them the first time around, you may find yourself doing so with at least a few of them, especially songs like “The World Will Know,” “Seize The Day,” and “King Of New York.” Not only that, but the songs really help to bring out the personalities of the characters in this film. Yes, there are some characters who don’t sing to get better developed, but still. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the songs are written by Alan Menken, who composed music for most of Disney’s animated films in the 1990’s like The Little Mermaid (that at least was 1989, but still), Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, and Hercules? Yeah, I can only imagine how busy he was between writing music for Newsies, and Beauty & The Beast, and Aladdin especially. The relationships were also surprisingly handled really well. As the movie progressed, I was nervous about the possibility that some of them weren’t going to evolve much, if at all. Thankfully, they do in the end. The movie, as a whole, also does well with portraying how difficult life was especially in New York during 1899, and maybe after. In fact, it sounds like Newsies seems to have a lot of historical accuracies, and maybe even some inaccuracies as well. It’s also great that we have other historical figures included in this film, in addition to Joseph Pulitzer. The costume designs are also really great, whether it be for the wealthy people, or the poorer people. Oh, and not to mention that even poor people ended up dreaming big from time to time as well. There are also some really great lessons incorporated in this film as well, most notably the whole deal about how, first of all, people need to learn to stand up for what’s right, no matter how difficult that may be. Considering that there was some persecution going on back then, and likely still is persecution going on even today, it’s a good lesson to be reminded of. Not only that, but if the truth is not printed in the news, then people need to find a way to get the truth out there. Oh, and there’s this really great line about how it takes one voice, followed by a hundred, and then a thousand, etc. to stand up for justice, and integrity. Maybe not quite the exact words, but it’s not far from the truth in this case. There’s also the whole deal about how, even though we may have dreams of going to other places in the world, or moving on from one’s current position, you name it, maybe it’s good to wait until knowing for sure that you’ve accomplished what’s needed to be done. I’m not sure if it makes sense now, but I’m sure it will once you see this film. Oh, and another thing! The acting is superb, especially from Christian Bale, Robert Duvall, Bill Pullman, and quite a few others. And just think, Christian Bale was in movies like this one, and the 1995 Disney animated film, Pocahontas, before going on to debut in lives like the Dark Knight trilogy, and quite a few other films.
Honestly, the one thing that drags this film down at least by a little bit is that Jack Kelley, the main character that’s played by Christian Bale, seems to have this character arc around the middle to end, that seemed to feel rather rushed. Well, first of all, some of the decisions that he makes around then aren’t exactly the best. Second, the way that his arc occurs could have maybe been handled a little better than it seemed to be in the end. I don’t know, maybe the writers thought it would be. I wouldn’t call the arc bad, but it could have maybe been executed a little better.
And that’s my review for Newsies. After being absent from the film fir so many years, I am glad to have finally seen it again, especially since it will be turning thirty years old next year. So happy anniversary to the film, come 2022! If you haven’t seen this film, Newsies is most definitely a must-see. The songs are phenomenal, the messages are fantastic, the characters are fun, and the story is well-executed, other than Jack Kelly’s character arc that could have maybe been written a little better. It’s also great to know that Newsies has become popular over the years, so much so that the film got a Broadway adaptation twenty-five years after the film was first released in theaters. How about that? Anyway, again, see this film, and see what you think!
Ladies & gentlemen, today, we are going to review the newest entry in the Disney/Pixar library. It was originally supposed to go to theaters originally. However, much like last year’s Soul, Disney/Pixar decided to jump the gun a few months ago, and release straight to Disney+ just a couple weeks ago. Why they didn’t just release it in theaters, with Disney+ Premiere Access like they did with recent films like Raya & The Last Dragon, Cruella, and upcoming films like Black Widow, and Jungle Cruise, is baffling. Regardless, let’s talk about Disney/Pixar’s Luca.
Plot: A 13-year-old sea monster boy named Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) lives in the sea off the Italian coast of Portorosso. He herds goatfish, and is warned by his parents warn him numerous times to never visit the human surface world. But one day, Luca befriends a feisty teenager named Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer), who invites him to the surface world. In the process, they discover that sea monsters can turn human, once their skin is dry. Not to mention that they realize that the human world is full of possibilities. Seeing as this will anger Luca’s parents, he must decide, will he continue to live in the human world, or go back to his life in the sea?
For those of you who have seen the trailers for Luca, you may think that it looks like it’ll be too similar to the popular 1989 Disney film, The Little Mermaid, yes? Well, if you do, that’s understandable. After all, both films have the main character starting off as sea creatures living underwater, as well as parents that forbid their kids from going to the human world. Not to mention certain events that may happen later on. However, that’s where the similarities seem to stop. Disney/Pixar’s Luca basically goes in a whole new direction than The Little Mermaid. I mean for one, we don’t have the Broadway style type of music in this film. However, though that may be the case, the soundtrack is still amazing. So much so that, especially if you like Italian music, or even want to hear a beautiful score by a composer named Dan Romer, then all the more reason that you’re bound to enjoy the music. Not to mention that he ends up making a different style of music from other composers of the past like Randy, or Thomas Newman, Michael Giacchino, or some of the other composers that made music for previous Disney/Pixar films. Additionally, the characters are fun to watch onscreen as well. That is with the possible exception of characters like the cat is owned by one of the humans on land, and Ercole Visconti. Okay, the latter may be good at being the jerk character that he’s supposed to be at points. Still, I’m not sure that he’ll be talked about as much as say Scar, Ursula, Jafar, Dr. Facilier, or even Disney/Pixar films like Hopper, Al, Mr. Waternoose, or some of those guys. Ercole is an okay villain, but he may also come off as a little too one-noted at times. Anyhow, the premise is very creative with the sea monsters being able to turn into humans WITHOUT having to make a deal with a sea witch, or anything like that of the sort. Kudos to Disney/Pixar for that creative idea! Oh, and as I said before, the characters are great, for the most part. That is especially since you have kids who are thinking about life more so than about getting married, falling in love, and things like that. Okay, it’s good to want to get married, but just not think about that until you’re an adult, or even a teenager, you know? As for the story, yes, it may feel predictable at times. But you know what, so have most other animated films made by Disney, or any other animation company for that matter. If the story is still good, why not give a movie like this one a chance, you know? In addition to all of this, the animation is phenomenal. First off, the designs of the characters seemed to differentiate from your typical animated characters from Disney/Pixar. Not only that, but if this film was in theaters, things like the ocean, the rain, and the underwater world would have been really amazing to see in 3D. Oh well! Anyhow, there’s another thing that I should mention. You know how many of Disney/Pixar films have had catchphrases, like “Just keep swimming” (Finding Nemo), “The storm provides” (The Good Dinosaur), or ones like those? Well, Luca is not exception to this rule, in this case, with the “Silenzio Bruno” line. Honestly, it’s most definitely a good one, especially within the context that it’s used in this film. Basically, the catchphrase is a good reminder that people need to learn to silence the voices of lies, discouragement, and any other negative aspects that may silence our hopes, and dreams in our lives. Wow, what an excellent reminder to take from this film!
Now, you may be wondering, if the two Disney/Pixar films that were released just on Disney+ six months from each other, which was better, 2020’s Soul, or 2021’s Luca? Well guys, I’ll be honest, it’s Luca. One of the main reasons why is because Luca had a more interesting, and engaging premise, more likable characters, a story was better paced, as well as more well-crafted, and better soundtrack. If these films had both been released in 2021, and both were to have gotten nominated fir Best Animated Feature, Luca would have most definitely deserved to win more so. Yes, Soul was good, but Luca seemed to overall be more fun in the end.
And that’s my review for Disney/Pixar’s Luca! While it may come off as being similar to films like The Little Mermaid, Luca does well with crafting it’s own story. Even if there were one, or two characters that were just okay, the characters are overall likable, and maybe even memorable, fantastic animation, a fun soundtrack, and some other elements that make this film fun to watch. Why Disney/Pixar didn’t just release this film in theaters, and Disney+ with Premiere Access is a mystery to me. Hopefully the company will go back to at least releasing their future films in theaters, if not do what the company has been doing with movies like Raya & The Last Dragon, and Cruella recently, and go with that format for however long that they ought need to. Definitely see Luca if you haven’t yet. And if you don’t have access to Disney+ yet, definitely try to see it first thing when it’s out on video. You may be surprised by how much enjoyment is in store for this film.
Ladies & gentlemen, tonight, we review a film that was made by Touchstone Pictures, a subsidiary company of Disney, and that I watched on Disney+ recently. Watching it again recently, I remember seeing most, if not the whole movie. Oh, and I do have another story to mention. When I was in the Christian Formation class during my sophomore year of attending Jim Elliott Christian School, and I planned on doing my devotional on my struggle with jealousy, 10 Things I Hate About You was a film that my family, and I suggested that I show a clip, or two from relating to the subject. However, for those of you who have been friends with me on Facebook, and me mentioning it a couple times, you may recall me mentioning that I ended up showing a couple clips from the Disney version of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame instead. Well, thankfully, even though I’m still glad to have shown Hunchback instead, I can now see the areas where this film shows struggles of jealousy. Either way, here is my review for 10 Things I Hate About You!
Plot: Set in Seattle, Washington, at Padua High School, sophomore student Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) desires to date popular male student Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan). However, Bianca is forbidden to do so until her older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) dates first. Seeing as Kat is skeptical of the idea, will she warm up to the idea of dating new student Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), finally allowing Bianca to date?
Okay, like other genres of films, teen comedies have had their fair share of cliches as well. I mean what one teen making bets with others in regards to dating, main make, and female characters having big fights that could be game changers for each of them, and, well, you likely get the idea. However, even if some of those cliches might appear in a film like 10 Things I Hate About You, the film does still stand out surprisingly well, despite having some flaws. First of all, most of the characters aren’t really all that bland at all. In fact, even if not until later in the film, you still get to have an understanding of where some of them are coming from in regards to certain choices that they make, certain rules that parents enforce, and things like that. As a result, a good majority of the characters are surprisingly very likable, and memorable. Plus, main characters Kat, Bianca, Patrick, and Cameron especially grow as characters over the course of this film. Even though the theme of this movie may not necessarily be good Vs. evil, the movie could probably feel that way at points. Additionally, the movie does a good job of showing how either positive, or negative experiences could change how people view certain things in life. The movie also is great at portraying what life in high school is like, especially in public school. I mean with there being different cliques, the jockeys, the “hot rod” popular kids, you name it. Oh, and what’s more is that it is surprising how well the people can act in this film. Granted, maybe Joseph Gordon Levitt could have done a little better with his acting as the nicer kid Cameron James. But you know what? He seemed fairly new to the acting in lo Irs, despite being in Hollywood for maybe a few years, or more. Anyway, the film also shows how kids can get when they take things too far with how they’re feeling about situations. As I mentioned before, in the introductory paragraph, this movie does cover some heavy subjects like jealousy, smoking, and possibly even the whole deal about who to trust, or to not trust in life. Oh, and if male teenagers that are in middle, or even high school, are interested in learning how to win a girl over, or vice versa, this movie may provide some helpful tips in regards to that. Finally, 10 Things I Hate About You provides some very valuable lessons. One of these includes how doing what’s right may not be the popular thing, as a banner in the film put it, and doing the popular thing is not always right. Oh, and there’s the whole lesson about how NOT all experiences are good ones. Honestly, many times in our lives, we may find ourselves regretting that we didn’t get the most girlfriends, or boyfriends, or didn’t get to go to too many popular parties, or whatever else. Whatever it may be, I won’t say what brings this subject up, but let me just say that for those of us out there who didn’t get to participate in so many “fun” experiences, and got upset as a result, maybe we should be grateful that we didn’t end up hurting ourselves because, as one character in this film put it, “Not all experiences are good ones.”
If there were any negatives to say about this film, it would be a couple things. First of all, there were some character arcs that may have felt a little forced, and could have been handled a little better. Yes, they were good arcs too. It’s just that maybe there could have been a little more buildup in that area, you know? The other thing is that there were certain conflict resolutions that were a little cornet, and maybe could have been solved a little better. Again, I won’t go into detail on that, but just see this film, and you’ll probably know what I mean.
And that’s my review for 10 Things I Hate About You. While not quite an A+ film, there are plenty of elements that make this film very strong. It has likable characters, a good soundtrack, and some very good lessons. Even if you’re an adult, and out of high school, or even college, this film is definitely one worth seeing. It is most definitely one of those films that is likely to stand the test of time hears from now.
Good evening everyone! Today, we are going to be diving into the world of animation once again! This time, we will be reviewing an animated film that is much older. In fact, just a few months before The Last Unicorn (which of course I rewatched, and reviewed earlier this year) was released, the summer of 1982 also had some kid/family friendly films as well, such as E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, and today’s film that’s being reviewed, The Secret Of NIMH. Now, just a quick backstory, The Secret Of NIMH was directed by former Disney animator, Don Bluth, who decided to start his own animation company after apparently being dissatisfied with the direction that Disney was going with their animated films, and taking a few Disney animators with him (or so the story goes). Not to mention that actors like Dom Deluise seemed to kick off his voice acting career with films like this one. So, with that in mind, here is my review for what may be one of the more darker, and possibly more mature animated films, The Secret Of NIMH.
Plot: Springtime has come, which means plowing season is ready to begin. This means that a widowed mouse named Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman) must move her family, herself, and her four children, and their home to a new location. The only problem is that her youngest son, Timothy (Ina Fried), is sick with pneumonia, and can’t be outside because of that, due to the chill in the morning air. But when she hears about an intelligent group of rats, called the rats of NIMH, whom Mrs. Brisby’s late husband, Jonathan, worked for, and can help move the Brisby home, can they help her move the home before their home is destroyed by either the plow, or any other human object?
Okay, when I was a kid, I surprisingly never heard of this film at first. In fact, much like The Last Unicorn, I don’t recall even hearing about this film until I was maybe 7 in the year 1995. And yes, there is a bit of a story to that. Basically, when I was a kid, my family, and I bought a VHS copy of an MGM cartoon called The Pebble & The Penguin. Included in the trailers before the film, they showed mini clips of films from other MGM family films like The Black Stallion, The Wizard Of Oz, Getting Even With Dad, All Dogs Go To Heaven, and, surprisingly, The Secret Of NIMH, among a few other films. Well, even though I had seen some of those other films that I mentioned, I never recalled seeing the film. So one night, my family, and I rented The Secret Of NIMH from one of the local Blockbuster video rental stores near us. I have to say that I remember enjoying The Secret Of NIMH. Now, that I’m finally rewatching this movie all the way through for the first time years later, does it hold up? Miraculously, it does. In fact, I was surprised by how well done The Secret Of NIMH is. First of all, it’s great to have a story about a widowed mother as a main character, and her children. Yes, this kind of character was done in Disney’s The Aristocats back in 1970. However, the way that it’s handled here is much more well done. Not to mention that The Secret Of NIMH had a better plot, and a stronger story, amongst other things, than The Aristocats. Anyway, the characters stand out really well. I mean even Mrs. Brisby’s kids, who do not share as much screen time as Mrs. Brisby, or some of the other main characters, are very well fleshed out. What also makes a film like The Secret Of NIMH stand out from other animated films is that this film could have easily made all of these characters human. Okay, yes, that is with the exception of the comic relief character of this film, Jeremy the crow, who is voiced by the late Dom Deluise. He would likely not exist if the characters had been human. What I mean to say is that characters like Mrs. Brisby end up acting like a normal human mother, her children act like normal human kids, even though they’re mice, and of course there’s the rat wizard of this film, Nicodemus. Yeah, of course this has fantasy elements when it comes to the world of mice, rats, owls, and other animals. If these characters were human, chances are we might have had a full-on fantasy story like Lord Of The Rings, The Last Unicorn, or something like that. So, let me put it to you all this way! When this film is centered on the human characters, it’s almost like the film is set in the normal world. However, in the world of the animals, it’s almost like we have a Lord Of The Rings sort of feel. Oh, and one more thing to mention about the characters! Most, if not all of them are really, really memorable. They’re likable, have unique personalities to themselves, and overall have traits that make them stand out so well. And speaking of the fantasy elements, holy cow, that aspect of the film is handled really well. In fact, if this film had either been advertised more, or even not been released until say sometime in the 1990s, 2000s, or even this past decade, the 2010’s, I wouldn’t have been surprised if this film had made as much, if not more than animated films like The Lion King, Shrek, Zootopia, or some of those rather memorable, and popular animated films. The world building, especially when it comes to the world of the rats of NIMH, is so well done. The details are really good, and the animation is very well done for being released in the early 1980s. Sure, the animation would have maybe been more crisp if it had not come out until years later. Even so, there are moments where the animation comes close, if not quite being top notch, most notably when it comes to certain events that occur towards the end of the film. Same goes for the underground world, where the rats of NIMH reside. The lights are great, the courtroom, and all the other areas of the rats of NIMH’s lair is spectacular. I’m surprised by how much detail Don Bluth, and the animators put into animating that world, as well as the world above, with Brisby’s home, and things like that. The same goes with the detail of animation on the characters themselves. For crying out loud, there are characters like Nicodemus, and the Great Owl, that have glowing eyes, Mr. Ages acting like an elder rat, Mrs. Brisby of course being young, you name it. As for the story itself, for having a running time of only 82 minutes, it is surprising how well paced this film is. Sure, there were some times in the story, where some of the emotional moments, especially when it came to some of the tragic parts, might have felt a little rushed over. Not to mention that there were some moments that could have maybe had a little more closure to them. Besides that, however, there are some other scenes, like a scene when Mrs. Brisby, and the Great Owl encounter each other, that are short, but really good. It’s kind of like with the scene in 2016’s Zootopia, where Nick the fox, and Judy the rabbit have their scene with Flash the sloth. Again, short, but still well done. Yeah, how come we don’t seem to hear of scenes in many animated films that are short, but still well done besides animated films like The Secret Of NIMH, and Zootopia, and possibly a few others, you know? And another thing! It’s amazing how much effort, and heart was invested in the story, the animation, the characters, and other areas of this movie. Honestly, for being Don Bluth’s first animated film to direct, that’s quite an accomplishment, wouldn’t you say? Oh, and I can’t forget the score by Jerry Goldsmith. Okay, even though the score doesn’t seem to shine as much until around maybe the middle through the end of the film, it seems to be very phenomenal around then. I was surprised to hear that he also scored in Disney’s Mulan sixteen years later in 1998. Finally, The Secret Of NIMH provides good lessons about learning to show courage when one needs to, learning to do whatever it takes to help others in need, and things like that.
And that’s my review for 1982’s The Secret Of NIMH. I’m not sure if this film was ahead of it’s time, or something else. Regardless, this movie is so well done. It deserves just as much recognition as animated films like The Lion King, The Prince Of Egypt, Zootopia, and other classic, or underrated animated films. If you want to see a film that is well done, is likely a little darker than your typical animated film, and is much more unique than your typical animated film, most definitely see The Secret Of NIMH. You won’t be sorry for doing so. Yes, The Last Unicorn may have been a little better in terms of being slightly better paced, doing a little better in areas like the emotional moments, and things like that. Still, there’s no denying that The Secret Of NIMH is worth seeing, whether it be once, or multiple times.
Welcome back everyone! Today, we are going to be talking a more family-oriented film after having to cover all of the Fast & The Furious films for the most part. In this case, we are going to be talking about a film that is either a sequel, or just a spin-off film to the 2002 DreamWorks film, Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron. It is the one, and only, Spirit Untamed.
Plot: After ten years of being separated from her widowed father, Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced), and her aunt Cora (Julianne Moore) go from the East Coast to the Western United States to visit him. Along the way, Lucky befriends a mustang named Spirit, along with two horseback riders named Abigail Stone (McKenna Grace), and Prudence Granger (Marsai Martin). But one day, Spirit is taking from the town, where horses are ridden, and people reside by some greedy outlaws. With the help of Lucky’s new friends Abigail, and Prudence, can they have the courage to brave mountains, and other challenges to rescue Spirit, and any other horses that were taken with him?
Okay, when I first saw this trailer just a couple months ago, I have to admit that I was a little nervous about this movie. Even though it was supposed to likely carry on the legacy of Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron somehow, as well as the Spirit TV show that aired on Netflix a few years ago (which I never saw by the way), it didn’t look like it was going to be even remotely as good as the underrated 2002 gem. Still, a friend of mine, and I decided to go into this film with an open mind. So now, I can talk about it. Friends, it is a little better than expected. Still, if you’re looking for a sequel to be in the same league as 2002’s Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron, I hate to say that you’ll be disappointed. First of all, there are some moments, where the film could be a little corny at times. Additionally, some of the side characters, they’re not bad, they’re just okay. Some of them don’t stand out all that well, at least not until maybe around the middle to end of the film. Okay, maybe that’s a little bit of a bonus, but still. There’s also the score by Amie Doherty. Okay, again, I’m not saying that the music that she composes here is bad. However, I think that she, along with the other makers of this film seemed to forget what made Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron really great in the first place. I mean with 2002’s Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron, my guess that neither the songs, or even the score by Hans Zimmer were nominated for Best Original Song, or Best Original Score respectively. In that case, both should have at least been nominated, or not won either award at the Oscars back in 2003. Here, in Spirit Untamed, which has come out nearly twenty years after Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron, you don’t seem to have that same feeling about either the songs, or the score. It’s still good, it just maybe could have been better. Oh, and there’s at least the animation on the human characters. Well, the animation design on them is decent. I’m not sure if was budgeting problems, or something else, but for some reason, the animation of the human characters is just not as good say in previous DreamWorks animated films, be it 2D, or 3D ones.
At this point, you’re probably thinking that this isn’t a good film, right? Well, hopefully, you can be relieved to know that this film does make up in some areas. First of all, even though the animation design on the characters was okay, the animation on the horses, other animals, and the backgrounds were much better. I mean especially when there are shots of canyons, water, forests, or even mountains, those areas where the animators still seem to nearly sprite the beauty of 2002’s Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron. Yes, even then, the animation in Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron is superior to the animation in Spirit: Untamed, but still. Also, even if this film does lack the same amount of power, and emotion that was found Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron, there is still some of that here in this sequel, or spin-off film, whatever one is supposed to call it. There are also some times where this film could easily feel like it could have been a live-action film. There is also the villains of this film. Okay, again, yes, many of us will probably agree that the Colonel, and the Confederate Army from Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron were better, and possibly even more memorable than the bandits in this movie. Still, that doesn’t change that you will probably still love to hate the antagonists here as well. Also, Lucky Prescott, and Spirit, the horse, are a couple of the few characters that will most likely be memorable, and hold this movie up as much as possible. Finally, there’s a nice message about learning to work together no matter what, and being willing to be courageous, no matter what that takes.
And that’s my review for Spirit Untamed. Sure, this film may not be quite as good as say Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron, or even Prince Of Egypt, or some of DreamWorks more recent works like How To Train Your Dragon, or Kung Fu Panda, or some of those. Still, at least this film is more enjoyable than say DreamWorks mediocre works like Boss Baby. Also, seeing as Boss Baby 2 is getting released next month, Spirit Untamed May at least be a gem when compared to either Boss Baby 1, or 2. We shall see after Boss Baby 2. I would say that if you want to see Spirit Untamed, probably see it at a time of day when it’s not too expensive to see it, or something like that. You’ll definitely enjoy it without a doubt. Just don’t expect to go in expecting another masterpiece from DreamWorks.
Matthew’s Animated & Live-Action Movie Reviews 