Tag: film
An Animated Movie Weekend – “Princess and the Frog” and “Family Guy” Both Fun
by Bill Ivory Larson on Dec.14, 2009, under Bill's Movie Reviews
An Animated Movie Weekend – “Princess and the Frog” and “Family Guy” Both Fun
Three-and-a-half buckets of popcorn out of four for both
There are times when even this action movie lover needs to take a break from the blow-em-up ease of bombastic blockbusters and take in the subtle beauty of animated films. Some of my favorite movies of all time are animated features – “Lili & Stitch,” the “Toy Story” movies and one of my top five films of all time – “The Lion King.” All of these are examples of how we can be reminded that being a kid is fun, exciting and wonderous even if we just turned 39.
So this weekend I decided to brave the theaters (at both the holidays and opening weekend) and see Disney’s newest animated feature, “The Princess and the Frog.” I cannot stress enough how wonderful this film is. Not only is it refreshing to see good old-fashioned hand-drawn 2D animation (as opposed to all the computer-generated 3D you get these days) but it’s great to see Disney move into the 21st Century with its first African-American princess (Tiana) in a story that is every bit as enchanting as “Cinderella.”
Without giving too much away any good film, whether animated or not, can make you not only forget you are watching a movie but make you FEEL for characters only on-screen for a handful of minutes. Case-in-point, the opening few minutes of 2009’s “Star Trek.” Watch that and I dare you not to feel something. In the “Princess and the Frog” we are introduced to many characters in New Orleans but none as beautiful as the firefly, whose love is so pure for his beloved Evangeline (see the movie and you’ll know about who and what I’m speaking) that I dare you not to be moved by the film’s end. I triple dog dare you.
“The Princess and the Frog,” the first princess movie really since the “Aladdin” and “Little Mermaid” days, has wonderful messages for little would-be princesses. Hard work, not just wishing upon a star or asking rich parents, brings you what is most special in life. I really liked this message because so many of today’s youth seem to self-entitled to, well, EVERYTHING. But I do find it a bit off that they introduce the concept in a film featuring it’s first African-American princess instead of rolling it out in say it’s vast library of DVD animated princess adventures.
I wrestled with that for a bit, though. Is it a noticeable coincidence? Yes. But when I saw girls of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds seeing this film (and liking it judging by their exit comments) I was put more at ease and I let that element go. This is a wonderful film. It is the type of Disney magic that makes you wish upon that star at night.
And also makes you see fireflies in a whole new light.
OK, so after the warm and fuzzy that was “The Princess and the Frog” I hunkered down for a treat. The newest “Star Wars” spoof from the creators of “Family Guy” entitled “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side.”
I will say it now and take note of this – THIS IS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, FOR CHILDREN.
Two of my favorite entertainments in this world are “Star Wars” and Fox’s “Family Guy.” And it’s always a blast to see Seth McFarlane’s crew weave incredible pop-culture references into a show that features a talking, elitist dog who everyone can hear and a talking baby that everyone else can hear except his own family. But you can tell that McFarlane and crew LOOOOOOOVE “Star Wars.” Not just from their constant mention of it in the years since the show’s been on but because of 2007’s homage “Blue Harvest” (“Star Wars’ production title) and this film which riffs on the best “Star Wars” movie out there – “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Have I said enough that this movie is NOT for the kids?
There’s an absolute reason this film was released straight to DVD. It allows the “Family Guy” crew the chance to push the animated envelope by using language and situations that you could never (I REPEAT NEVER) employ on broadcast TV. And this film is all the better for it. “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side” is awesome, hilarious, irreverent, wrong (but right) and so worth repeated viewings that it’s going to be fun to watch this again and again just as I do its source material.
The animation which I thought was spectacular in “Blue Harvest” is ten-times better in “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side.” It’s absolutely unbelievable. I thought, at moments, I was actually watching “The Empire Strikes Back.” I will not spoil anything but the scene in the carbon freezing chamber is worth the price of the DVD. Totally. Not to mention that everything from the coming attraction trailers to poster art for “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side” are so lovingly done that I can’t help but get all geeked-up over it. They LOVE “Star Wars” and it shows.
Again, there is ADULT LANGUAGE in “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side,” so much so it should be “R” Rated. But as a bookend to my animated weekend this movie is a treasure…
…and I cannot wait for their inevitable “Return of the Jedi” spoof whatever that will be called.
“Twilight Saga: New Moon” Has Some Bite To It
by Bill Ivory Larson on Nov.30, 2009, under Bill's Movie Reviews
Folks. Gather ‘round the computer screen. Don’t be afraid. I won’t bite (wink). What I’m about to say I don’t want to say too loudly. I’ll wait for you. Grab a drink, some healthy munchies. Ok, are you ready? I’m going to whisper. Here it comes.
I kind of liked “Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
I am in no way, shape or form a “Twilighter” or moonie or whatever the hell the fans of the books and/or movies call themselves. But I was finding myself actually liking more of “New Moon” than I thought I would.
Better to review them with, my dear.
After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost claimed her life in the first book/movie, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family. However, a minor accident during the festivities results in Bella’s blood being shed, a sight that proves too intense for the Cullens, who decide to leave the town of Forks, Washington for Bella and Edward’s sake. Initially heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living, as well as an even-closer friendship with Jacob Black.
I haven’t read the books (oh darn) so I am keeping myself “pure” by just seeing the films. I will go on record as saying that the first “Twilight” movie was silly dreck. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes in “Twilight” because the looks given by characters, bad acting and dialogue and cheesiness overcame the story and after a while I just didn’t care. In “New Moon” there is still some of each, particularly from the wooden Robert Pattinson as Edward. But what you can sink your teeth into (OK, I couldn’t resist) is the love triangle that happens when heroin-chic Edward flies the coop and leave his beautiful Swan in the paws of burgeoning werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner). Take away the vampire/werewolf plot and you actually have a decent love/unrequited love story reasonably well-acted that you can care about.
As Jacob, Lautner is good and I felt for his character hopelessly drawn to Bella, allowing himself to be used by her as a way to “get over” Edward. You just want him to stand up and say “Are you nuts? Stop using me and let me go!” And for me to want him to say that means I was sucked into (pun intended) the story.
Of course, Edward comes back…blah, blah and we see him trying (operative word TRYING) to be all swoony/lovey but his slow-motion walks and brooding, drugged-out looks end up being more comical than romantic. And as Bella, Kristen Stweart is decent at playing the girl who the boys fawn over although I see no reason why they do. She’s an indecisive user who at 18 thinks she knows what she wants not just for the rest of her life but all eternity.
But don’t all self-entitled teenagers these days.
Let’s just say this. With a soundtrack that’s pretty cool and a half-way decent love triangle “New Moon,” while nothing to really howl for isn’t a half-bad way to spend a rainy day at the movies.
Christina Jastrzembska … Gran / Bella
Robert Pattinson … Edward Cullen
Jackson Rathbone … Jasper Hale
Rated PG-13 for some violence and action.
Runtime: 130 min
Blood-filled “Ninja Assassin” a Wild Fun Time at the Movies
by Bill Ivory Larson on Nov.30, 2009, under Bill's Movie Reviews
From time to time you need to cleanse the movie-going palate. Any steady diet of romantic comedies or dramas needs to have that balanced with something else or life in a movie theater can get pretty boring pretty quick.
“Ninja Assassin” is just that palate cleanser.
This is a movie that absolutely makes no apologies for the blatant rip-offs it employs or for the copious amount of gratuitous violence and blood it spills forth (OK, that was cheap, I know). But I totally respect a movie that simply is what it is – a fun, wild, ninja-action thrill ride that is both fun and entertaining.
I won’t spend too much time going into the plot. What’s the point? A young ninja turns his back on the “orphanage” (a.k.a. ninja training academy) that raised him, leading to a confrontation with fellow ninjas from the school while helping detectives figure out worldwide assassinations seemingly carried out by – you guessed it – ninjas.
Does this sound absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Are the plot situations themselves merely set-ups for action scene after action scene. Yes.
Is this movie fun? Hell yes.
I counted four movies, four, that “Ninja Assassin” blatantly rips off. The first (best, and what should be only) “Highlander,” “The Terminator,” “Kill Bill” and “The Matrix.” In fact, some shots are so close they should be shown in film school to prove there really aren’t any original ideas running around Hollywood anymore. But I dig each of those movies and when they’re mashed-up like they are here it was totally worth the dough I shelled out to see it.
I liked this movie so much I hope there’s a sequel. I’m not giving anything away by saying that especially in a cinematic world where you can kill off the lead bad guy (i.e. “Saw’s” Jigsaw) in part three and still be using him in part six.
The acting in some scenes is, frankly, mediocre. The subplot about the political assassinations is almost unnecessary. What holds this film together is its central revenge story and the lead character played by international action star Rain. His performance is so subtle but yet so explosive that I want to see his character more either in sequels or have him pop up in other flicks. You see what makes him fight and understand why he chooses not to unless provoked.
But please don’t provoke this guy. His nice guy doesn’t EVER finish last
Oh, by the way. I TOTALLY want to introduce his character to “Kill Bill’s” The Bride. Those two with their blade-swinging choreography, charm and body counts would make for a great action movie duo. The Astaire-Rodgers of the new-world matinee.
PS: For God’s sake, please do not take children to see it. I know kids these days seem a lot more desensitized to violence and “it’s OK.” But this film really is for adults. Let the kids see “Twilight: New Moon” or something else instead. It’ll be worth the wait until they’re 18.
Sung Kang…Hollywood
Randall Duk Kim…Tattoo Master
Jonathan Chan-Pensley…Yakuza Henchman
Yuki Iwamoto…Yakuza Couch
Ill-Young Kim …Yakuza Mohawk
Ben Miles…Maslow
Naomie Harris …Mika
Rain…Raizo
Stephen Marcus…Kingpin
Linh Dan Pham…Pretty Ninja
Yu Fang… Laundromat Manager
Adriana Altaras…Landlady
Shô Kosugi…Ozunu
Kylie Goldstein…Young Kiriko (as Kylie Liya Goldstein)
Yoon Sungwoong … Young Raizo
Total Running Time: 99 min
Rated R for strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and language.
