Title: A Christmas Story
Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Director: Bob Clark
Released: 18 November 1983
Okay.
I have never seen this movie. I realize it's considered to be a "holiday classic," but I just never got around to watching it; however, it came on last night and I had the brains to record it to watch it today. So let's sit back and see why this film is popular.
So here we go . . .
I have to say, the narration is my favorite part. It cracks me up. It's so . . . unique and present. The emotions are cast through a sort-of dulled down, dead-pan tone of voice. It made the movie worth watching. I don't know if I would have enjoyed the film near as much as I did without it.
Poor Randy.
Is it sad that I've worn as much clothing to go across the street? Some leggings and jeans, three shirts, a snowsuit with matching jacket in hot pink, a scarf covering most of my face, a hat and my coat hood, and gloves. All you could see was my eyes. All that and I still got frostbit.
Not that I'm bitter.
. . . But seriously? It was HOT PINK. My brother got black. I was so jealous.
Oh my goodness. Tongues getting frozen to poles. That brings back memories. Don't worry, I wasn't the idiot who did it; our Girl Scout Leader In-Training. Our hut was nearly on fire due to a S'mores accident in the oven, so all of us were sent outside. To calm us down, this poor girl liked the pole and it stuck. All of the girls freaked out and started screaming/crying. A friend and I started laughing our heads off.
It was a mess in every possible way.
And it's still funny today.
The movie is winding down and I'm waiting for something like Mean Girls -- "And that's how Regina George died." Only, it would sound something like "that's how Ralphy shot his eye out."
BAHAHAHA!
He did -- kind of.
Awesome.
This was pretty funny. Much better than I expected it to be.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust: Curiosity Killed the Fairy (Almost)
Yes this movie is for little girls, but I don't care. I love Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. In fact, "Tink" is one of my nicknames.
So get over it.
Moving on . . .
Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue
All pixies know and respect the"no fraterizing with humans" rule. Tink, the newest fairy, however, doesn't seem to agree because she is mischievous and curious.
She must check out the car and "fairy house" because she is a tinker fairy burdened with intense curiosity to know what things are as well as how they work. Needless to say, then, Tink was captured because her personality deemed it essential to check out humans and their technology. It was arguably fate that Tink would be trapped, even without Vidia interfering.
Even when trapped, Tink must find something to fix. Luckily she does: the relationship between Lizzie and her father. She manages to do this and save the day. Go Tinkerbell!
The only thing that bothered me was the "do you remember ____ from _____ movie about me?" Tink has to give Lizzie a summative rehash of information given in the previous twp movie, but I guess that's okay. It's intended for little kids, so maybe they need the reminder. I don't really know, especially since there isn't the same sort of thing in the second movie (if I am remembering correctly anyway).
I liked it anyway though. The first one is better, of course, but it was still cute.
Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings
Once again, Tinkerbell has broken the rules. She can't seem to behave because she starts or gets into trouble every single movie. But whatever. I love her still.
And, once again, there is more summary rehashing as Tinkerbell tells her sister Periwinkle everything that she's done in the last three movies. I can see that part of the information is necessary because they are sisters meeting for the first time (I would say the same about Lizzie, but Lizzie can't really understand fairy talk). It still annoys me.
But as the movie continues, Tink's curiosity gets the best of her. She has to know WHY she can't be in the winter woods and she manages to break her wings in the process; something that she knew would happen. At the same time, however, Tink (but mostly Periwinkle) finds a way for everyone to work together and save the world with or without her wings.
Again, this was a cute movie. It was shorter than the other films, but still enjoyable when you consider it is meant for little girls.
So get over it.
Moving on . . .
Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue
All pixies know and respect the"no fraterizing with humans" rule. Tink, the newest fairy, however, doesn't seem to agree because she is mischievous and curious.
She must check out the car and "fairy house" because she is a tinker fairy burdened with intense curiosity to know what things are as well as how they work. Needless to say, then, Tink was captured because her personality deemed it essential to check out humans and their technology. It was arguably fate that Tink would be trapped, even without Vidia interfering.
Even when trapped, Tink must find something to fix. Luckily she does: the relationship between Lizzie and her father. She manages to do this and save the day. Go Tinkerbell!
The only thing that bothered me was the "do you remember ____ from _____ movie about me?" Tink has to give Lizzie a summative rehash of information given in the previous twp movie, but I guess that's okay. It's intended for little kids, so maybe they need the reminder. I don't really know, especially since there isn't the same sort of thing in the second movie (if I am remembering correctly anyway).
I liked it anyway though. The first one is better, of course, but it was still cute.
Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings
Once again, Tinkerbell has broken the rules. She can't seem to behave because she starts or gets into trouble every single movie. But whatever. I love her still.
And, once again, there is more summary rehashing as Tinkerbell tells her sister Periwinkle everything that she's done in the last three movies. I can see that part of the information is necessary because they are sisters meeting for the first time (I would say the same about Lizzie, but Lizzie can't really understand fairy talk). It still annoys me.
But as the movie continues, Tink's curiosity gets the best of her. She has to know WHY she can't be in the winter woods and she manages to break her wings in the process; something that she knew would happen. At the same time, however, Tink (but mostly Periwinkle) finds a way for everyone to work together and save the world with or without her wings.
Again, this was a cute movie. It was shorter than the other films, but still enjoyable when you consider it is meant for little girls.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Hey Jack's Mother!! Can Jack Come Out to Play?!
Title: Jack
Starring: Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin; Bill Cosby; Fran Drescher; Jennifer Lopez
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Released: 9 August 1996
Jack is the story of a boy named, you guessed it, Jack. Jack has a unique disease. Instead of growing up like a normal kid, Jack grows 4X faster than anyone else. Thus, when he's ten (which his is in the movie), he looks like he is 40. The rest of the movie is pretty basic -- how is Jack going to fit in with kids his age when he looks so much older than he really is.
Okay. This movie is kind of a blast from my past. I love it; I always have. It's one of my favorite movies of all time (if you can believe it). I'm not quite sure what it is about this movie, but it's just . . . I don't know how to explain it. I love it. End of story.
I think it has to do with Robin Williams. He's fantastic.
This movie and Jumanji made me love him and his comedy.
Of course there are other films of his that I enjoy immensely (Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society), but these two are the ones sticking out in my mind at the moment.
Acting like a child comes far too naturally to him, but that's what I love about it. He really is a"big" kid filled with wonder and whimsy (in most movies).
I love the random song thing they have playing while they play basketball with Jack for the first time. It makes me laugh.
For the record, this is definitely a boys movie. I mean, has anyone else seen the fart-in-the-can and eating nasty-food initiation scene? Girls would never do that . . . at least, not any girls I know . . .
Just saying . . .
More than anything, I can't get over all the preachy, motivational, you can be anything you want to be, cheesy monologs. They're lame, but I really did enjoy two of them.
1. To be fair, this isn't really a monolog. It's a single line -- when I grow up I want to be alive. It's kind of showing these kids that there are more important things than jobs; it's all about your life and living it to the fullest.
Overhanded, definitely.
I love it all the same. What can I say? I suffer from depression and the message radiates with me.
2.
Woodruff: You were a shooting star amongst ordinary stars. . . . It's wonderful. It passes quickly, but while it's here it just lights up the whole sky -- it's the most beautiful thing you'd ever want to see. So beautiful that the other stars stop and watch. . . . Because they're very rare. Quite rare. But I saw one. I did.
Jack: I just . . . want to be a regular star.
Woodruff: Jack, you'll never be regular. You're spectacular.
3. "I don't have much time these days so I'll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our lives, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, "What am I going to do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?" But I say to you, "Hey, look at me!" Please, don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you've ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety sky. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day . . . make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did. I made it, Mom. I'm a grown up." - Jack
4. "I want to be just like my best friend when I grow up. He's only ten, but he looks much older. He's like the perfect grown up because on the inside, he's still just a kid -- he's not afraid to learn things or try things, or to meet new people the way most grown ups are. It's like he's looking at everything for the first time -- because he is. And most grown ups aren't like that." - Louis
I know -- cheesy to the max, but I love it all the same so get over it.
Starring: Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin; Bill Cosby; Fran Drescher; Jennifer Lopez
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Released: 9 August 1996
Jack is the story of a boy named, you guessed it, Jack. Jack has a unique disease. Instead of growing up like a normal kid, Jack grows 4X faster than anyone else. Thus, when he's ten (which his is in the movie), he looks like he is 40. The rest of the movie is pretty basic -- how is Jack going to fit in with kids his age when he looks so much older than he really is.
Okay. This movie is kind of a blast from my past. I love it; I always have. It's one of my favorite movies of all time (if you can believe it). I'm not quite sure what it is about this movie, but it's just . . . I don't know how to explain it. I love it. End of story.
I think it has to do with Robin Williams. He's fantastic.
This movie and Jumanji made me love him and his comedy.
Of course there are other films of his that I enjoy immensely (Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society), but these two are the ones sticking out in my mind at the moment.
Acting like a child comes far too naturally to him, but that's what I love about it. He really is a"big" kid filled with wonder and whimsy (in most movies).
I love the random song thing they have playing while they play basketball with Jack for the first time. It makes me laugh.
For the record, this is definitely a boys movie. I mean, has anyone else seen the fart-in-the-can and eating nasty-food initiation scene? Girls would never do that . . . at least, not any girls I know . . .
Just saying . . .
More than anything, I can't get over all the preachy, motivational, you can be anything you want to be, cheesy monologs. They're lame, but I really did enjoy two of them.
1. To be fair, this isn't really a monolog. It's a single line -- when I grow up I want to be alive. It's kind of showing these kids that there are more important things than jobs; it's all about your life and living it to the fullest.
Overhanded, definitely.
I love it all the same. What can I say? I suffer from depression and the message radiates with me.
2.
Woodruff: You were a shooting star amongst ordinary stars. . . . It's wonderful. It passes quickly, but while it's here it just lights up the whole sky -- it's the most beautiful thing you'd ever want to see. So beautiful that the other stars stop and watch. . . . Because they're very rare. Quite rare. But I saw one. I did.
Jack: I just . . . want to be a regular star.
Woodruff: Jack, you'll never be regular. You're spectacular.
3. "I don't have much time these days so I'll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our lives, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, "What am I going to do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?" But I say to you, "Hey, look at me!" Please, don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you've ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety sky. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day . . . make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did. I made it, Mom. I'm a grown up." - Jack
4. "I want to be just like my best friend when I grow up. He's only ten, but he looks much older. He's like the perfect grown up because on the inside, he's still just a kid -- he's not afraid to learn things or try things, or to meet new people the way most grown ups are. It's like he's looking at everything for the first time -- because he is. And most grown ups aren't like that." - Louis
I know -- cheesy to the max, but I love it all the same so get over it.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
House Funny
Title: House Bunny
Starring: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Rumer Willis, Katharine McPhee, Kat Dennings, and Hugh Hefner
Director: Fred Wolf
Released : 22 August 2008
House Bunny is fairly easy to summarize. Shelley (Faris) loves being a Playboy Bunny. It's her happy ever after place. She is kicked out of the Playboy Mansion by a fellow Bunny who doesn't like her. Homeless, Shelley drives around until she finds some sorority houses, becomes the House Mother of Zeta, and tries to save the girls and their sorority.
For the record, Anna Faris sounds stupid. She obviously can't help sounding like this because her voice is the same in every film she does (minus My Super Ex Girlfriend to a certain degree). She even looks a bit dumb. Seriously. Karen from Mean Girls could have been inspired by Anna Faris.
She is that dumb.
But thanks anyway Mona (Dennings) for pointing that out. We never would have guessed she was stupid if you hadn't said it.
Who's stupid now?
Whatever. Back to the movie.
Shelley's goal is fairly simple. She wants to find her happily every after. At first, she thinks she found it at the Playboy Mansion because she considers that her home and the other Bunnies (and Hef) are her family. She may be stupid, but you can totally tell she is kind, caring, and thoughtful (though some of this may stem from her stupidity). She just wants to make sure everyone is okay and that sort of thing. She is the Playboy Mansion mom.
When she is kicked out, however, Shelley has to find a new happily ever after, complete with a home and some girls to look after and become a mother to. She ends up at the Zeta house, home to a sorority that is about to lose their charter due to a lack of pledges. She teaches the girls what she can about being sexy and getting boys to like them and they teach her how to be smart.
Zeta is essentially the Vortex from Sydney White.
Natalie (Stone) is so awkward that it is beyond hilarious. She cracks me up. She's clueless and trying to be cool/sexy, but it's not working out for her . . just so you know.
Actually, it's not going to work with any of the girls, no matter how hard Shelley tries.
Shelley actually does make them sexy, but they can't live her life. They give up their sexiness and merge it with their own personalities so they go from losers, to sex-kittens to themselves.
This is uber important though. If the girls didn't fall back onto their own identity, the message of the movie would change from "be who you are" to "life only works if you act like a Playboy Bunny).
Shelley, however, also changes like the girls she works with. She learns that there are more ways to get things done than by being sexy. Guys can like smart girls. These girls need her more than the Bunnies and Hef do, so she stays their mother -- a decision that I would have thought to be impossible.
"I'm allergic to erthromycin. I took it once with I had a cold. I was 16, and it gave me itching. I mean, everything itched. My legs, my arms, my earlobes. And other stuff too, but I can't say, because I'm live on the air right now, and you can't say "ass cheeks," right? . . . But besides the itching, the erthromycin also made my skin glow. It gave me, like, this glowing tan. And I suddenly felt like another person. Different. Better. Prettier, I guess. . . . Do you know that feeling that I'm talking about? Where you suddenly feel pretty and, next thing you know, you feel better about yourself? Well, that was what was happening to me. My allergic reaction made me feel pretty, and so I ignored all the bad side effects, because suddenly people were talking to me and they were noticing me. And even though I was itching like crazy, it was worth it to feel accepted. And so I couldn't wait to get a cold so I could take my erythromyoin. BUt underneath that beautiful, glowing skin, I still had that cold. Well, that's a meteor. . . . It flashes by and burns bright, but then it disappears. And that was what was happening to me. The real me just disappeared. . . . I am not an expert speech-giver. But I do know that one day, when your looks are gone, if everything you have is based on looks, well, then you've got nothing. You need your friends and your family by your side, to love you for who you are, not what you look like. At the Zeta house, our new motto is, "Be who you are." Because we're a family. We're a family that loves you on the inside. So we need you to stand forward and be a part of that family. We need 30 people right now to stand forward and pledge Zeta!"
This speech really shows how Shelley has grown as a person since being a Bunny.
Cheesey, typical speech, but worth it in the end because it shows that she has a brain somewhere under bleach-blonde locks. Impressive indeed.
And, for the record, "the eyes are like the nipples of the face" -- thanks for that image Faris. It may be funny, but it makes you sound more stupid than we originally thought.
Starring: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Rumer Willis, Katharine McPhee, Kat Dennings, and Hugh Hefner
Director: Fred Wolf
Released : 22 August 2008
House Bunny is fairly easy to summarize. Shelley (Faris) loves being a Playboy Bunny. It's her happy ever after place. She is kicked out of the Playboy Mansion by a fellow Bunny who doesn't like her. Homeless, Shelley drives around until she finds some sorority houses, becomes the House Mother of Zeta, and tries to save the girls and their sorority.
For the record, Anna Faris sounds stupid. She obviously can't help sounding like this because her voice is the same in every film she does (minus My Super Ex Girlfriend to a certain degree). She even looks a bit dumb. Seriously. Karen from Mean Girls could have been inspired by Anna Faris.
She is that dumb.
But thanks anyway Mona (Dennings) for pointing that out. We never would have guessed she was stupid if you hadn't said it.
Who's stupid now?
Whatever. Back to the movie.
Shelley's goal is fairly simple. She wants to find her happily every after. At first, she thinks she found it at the Playboy Mansion because she considers that her home and the other Bunnies (and Hef) are her family. She may be stupid, but you can totally tell she is kind, caring, and thoughtful (though some of this may stem from her stupidity). She just wants to make sure everyone is okay and that sort of thing. She is the Playboy Mansion mom.
When she is kicked out, however, Shelley has to find a new happily ever after, complete with a home and some girls to look after and become a mother to. She ends up at the Zeta house, home to a sorority that is about to lose their charter due to a lack of pledges. She teaches the girls what she can about being sexy and getting boys to like them and they teach her how to be smart.
Zeta is essentially the Vortex from Sydney White.
Natalie (Stone) is so awkward that it is beyond hilarious. She cracks me up. She's clueless and trying to be cool/sexy, but it's not working out for her . . just so you know.
Actually, it's not going to work with any of the girls, no matter how hard Shelley tries.
Shelley actually does make them sexy, but they can't live her life. They give up their sexiness and merge it with their own personalities so they go from losers, to sex-kittens to themselves.
This is uber important though. If the girls didn't fall back onto their own identity, the message of the movie would change from "be who you are" to "life only works if you act like a Playboy Bunny).
Shelley, however, also changes like the girls she works with. She learns that there are more ways to get things done than by being sexy. Guys can like smart girls. These girls need her more than the Bunnies and Hef do, so she stays their mother -- a decision that I would have thought to be impossible.
"I'm allergic to erthromycin. I took it once with I had a cold. I was 16, and it gave me itching. I mean, everything itched. My legs, my arms, my earlobes. And other stuff too, but I can't say, because I'm live on the air right now, and you can't say "ass cheeks," right? . . . But besides the itching, the erthromycin also made my skin glow. It gave me, like, this glowing tan. And I suddenly felt like another person. Different. Better. Prettier, I guess. . . . Do you know that feeling that I'm talking about? Where you suddenly feel pretty and, next thing you know, you feel better about yourself? Well, that was what was happening to me. My allergic reaction made me feel pretty, and so I ignored all the bad side effects, because suddenly people were talking to me and they were noticing me. And even though I was itching like crazy, it was worth it to feel accepted. And so I couldn't wait to get a cold so I could take my erythromyoin. BUt underneath that beautiful, glowing skin, I still had that cold. Well, that's a meteor. . . . It flashes by and burns bright, but then it disappears. And that was what was happening to me. The real me just disappeared. . . . I am not an expert speech-giver. But I do know that one day, when your looks are gone, if everything you have is based on looks, well, then you've got nothing. You need your friends and your family by your side, to love you for who you are, not what you look like. At the Zeta house, our new motto is, "Be who you are." Because we're a family. We're a family that loves you on the inside. So we need you to stand forward and be a part of that family. We need 30 people right now to stand forward and pledge Zeta!"
This speech really shows how Shelley has grown as a person since being a Bunny.
Cheesey, typical speech, but worth it in the end because it shows that she has a brain somewhere under bleach-blonde locks. Impressive indeed.
And, for the record, "the eyes are like the nipples of the face" -- thanks for that image Faris. It may be funny, but it makes you sound more stupid than we originally thought.
Someday My Geek Will Come
Title: Geek Charming
Starring: Sarah Hyland, Matt Prokop, Jordan Nichols, and Vanessa Morgan.
Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
Release Date: 11 November 2011
Geek Charming is a movie about high school, so of course it's going to follow the standard plot line of an unpopular boy/girl (usually boy) becoming friends with / falling in love with a popular boy/girl (usually girl). Josh Rosen (Prokop) needs to make a documentary movie for the upcoming film festival. He chooses to make the film an expose on what it means to be popular. Thus, Dylan Schoenfield (Hyland), the most popular girl in school becomes his subject.
It seems that Rosen chose his star well. Dylan has the typical popular girl attitude.
"People know I care" by correcting and saving fashion victims. This will help get her the title Blossom Queen
Popular people shouldn't have to "share the same air" as geeks. Popular people can only hang out with other popular people because cats don't hang with dogs (geeks).
She drops her purse into a shallow mall fountain and cries for help because she is incapable of getting it for herself. She acts like she's a damsel in distress in need of saving. But seriously . . . it's just a purse and its just a fountain -- you're not going to die.
Popularity isn't easy. It's like being a queen or first lady. You have to live up to extreme, unattainable standards of beauty. You have to be kind and compassionate (or at least fake it). You must help people -- again, only fashion victims for her. You have to be a good influence on others.
Popularity is contagious. Dylan's friend are only popular because she is. Her popularity saves them.
Popular kids must hang out with other populars and everyone should stay in their own cliques to prevent "misunderstandings"
Breakfast Club anyone??? . . . or almost any other John Hughes movie . . .
In other words, from the very beginning, Dylan is a D-I-V-A, diva. She may hate being called that, but if the tiara fits . . . wear it. For example, when asked what she wants to do after school, she says yoga and shopping (which is good for the economy). When asked about the future, all she can come up with is becoming Blossom Queen. (you find out that this desire is tied to her dead mother, but she needs a better goal all the same . . . but that's just me talking).
At first, the project goes just how Josh imagined it would -- Dylan is silly and superficial, and just the way he imagined she would be. As they hang out to finish the movie, they start hanging out with one another because they want to -- a MAJOR mistake in the world of high school because hanging out with the "wrong" clique gets you excommunicated from your former circle of friends so you have no one. The apparent truth is just that you cannot break through clique boundaries by getting a "fake-over" makeover.
Josh is no longer Film Club President.
Dylan no longer has a covered seat on the ramp -- the peak of popularity.
The closer Dylan and Josh get, however, the more Josh's "artistic vision" changes because his understanding of the truth about Dylan and popularity changes. After all, the documentary is about truth which is very challenging to find and the truth is that Dylan is a real person, not some plastic, popular, foreign entity to be stared and marveled at from a distance.
Dylan wins burping contests
Dylan wears contacts/glasses
Dylan is vulnerable and uncertain at times, especially when talking about her mom.
Dylan cares about her grades.
In other words, Dylan is just a regular person like anyone else. That in mind, Josh's new goal is to discover the "real story" about Dylan; not the "cover story" she pretends she is. The problem is that he never told Dylan about the change, so of course she is angry.
She didn't want anyone to know the "real" Dylan because her real self is "humiliating." After all, she spent both middle school and high school to get rid of herself and replace it with a new perfect version of herself.
After the film debuts, Dylan has no choice but to hide. Josh has exposed the real Dylan and she can't make that disappear. She is forced, then, to become a "real," more soft girl. And in doing so, Dylan's view of popularity changes. Popularity becomes
Not having everyone know who you are.
Not what you're wearing.
Not winning Blossom Queen
Having real friends who like you for you.
Not friends who will ditch you for a better offer or who will stop being your friends because you don't have a boyfriend / date to the big dance.
Real friends you can count on no matter what and who will share life with you.
Not about being popular or a geek; it'as about hanging out with the people who make you happy.
So yeah.
Typical high school movie (thank you Disney for your lack of originality in this film), but the audience knows that before watching the film. It shouldn't be any surprise then. If you want to watch a sappy, high school, forbidden love sort of thing, by all means watch it. If not, don't bother. It'll just annoy you.
Starring: Sarah Hyland, Matt Prokop, Jordan Nichols, and Vanessa Morgan.
Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
Release Date: 11 November 2011
Geek Charming is a movie about high school, so of course it's going to follow the standard plot line of an unpopular boy/girl (usually boy) becoming friends with / falling in love with a popular boy/girl (usually girl). Josh Rosen (Prokop) needs to make a documentary movie for the upcoming film festival. He chooses to make the film an expose on what it means to be popular. Thus, Dylan Schoenfield (Hyland), the most popular girl in school becomes his subject.
It seems that Rosen chose his star well. Dylan has the typical popular girl attitude.
"People know I care" by correcting and saving fashion victims. This will help get her the title Blossom Queen
Popular people shouldn't have to "share the same air" as geeks. Popular people can only hang out with other popular people because cats don't hang with dogs (geeks).
She drops her purse into a shallow mall fountain and cries for help because she is incapable of getting it for herself. She acts like she's a damsel in distress in need of saving. But seriously . . . it's just a purse and its just a fountain -- you're not going to die.
Popularity isn't easy. It's like being a queen or first lady. You have to live up to extreme, unattainable standards of beauty. You have to be kind and compassionate (or at least fake it). You must help people -- again, only fashion victims for her. You have to be a good influence on others.
Popularity is contagious. Dylan's friend are only popular because she is. Her popularity saves them.
Popular kids must hang out with other populars and everyone should stay in their own cliques to prevent "misunderstandings"
Breakfast Club anyone??? . . . or almost any other John Hughes movie . . .
In other words, from the very beginning, Dylan is a D-I-V-A, diva. She may hate being called that, but if the tiara fits . . . wear it. For example, when asked what she wants to do after school, she says yoga and shopping (which is good for the economy). When asked about the future, all she can come up with is becoming Blossom Queen. (you find out that this desire is tied to her dead mother, but she needs a better goal all the same . . . but that's just me talking).
At first, the project goes just how Josh imagined it would -- Dylan is silly and superficial, and just the way he imagined she would be. As they hang out to finish the movie, they start hanging out with one another because they want to -- a MAJOR mistake in the world of high school because hanging out with the "wrong" clique gets you excommunicated from your former circle of friends so you have no one. The apparent truth is just that you cannot break through clique boundaries by getting a "fake-over" makeover.
Josh is no longer Film Club President.
Dylan no longer has a covered seat on the ramp -- the peak of popularity.
The closer Dylan and Josh get, however, the more Josh's "artistic vision" changes because his understanding of the truth about Dylan and popularity changes. After all, the documentary is about truth which is very challenging to find and the truth is that Dylan is a real person, not some plastic, popular, foreign entity to be stared and marveled at from a distance.
Dylan wins burping contests
Dylan wears contacts/glasses
Dylan is vulnerable and uncertain at times, especially when talking about her mom.
Dylan cares about her grades.
In other words, Dylan is just a regular person like anyone else. That in mind, Josh's new goal is to discover the "real story" about Dylan; not the "cover story" she pretends she is. The problem is that he never told Dylan about the change, so of course she is angry.
She didn't want anyone to know the "real" Dylan because her real self is "humiliating." After all, she spent both middle school and high school to get rid of herself and replace it with a new perfect version of herself.
After the film debuts, Dylan has no choice but to hide. Josh has exposed the real Dylan and she can't make that disappear. She is forced, then, to become a "real," more soft girl. And in doing so, Dylan's view of popularity changes. Popularity becomes
Not having everyone know who you are.
Not what you're wearing.
Not winning Blossom Queen
Having real friends who like you for you.
Not friends who will ditch you for a better offer or who will stop being your friends because you don't have a boyfriend / date to the big dance.
Real friends you can count on no matter what and who will share life with you.
Not about being popular or a geek; it'as about hanging out with the people who make you happy.
So yeah.
Typical high school movie (thank you Disney for your lack of originality in this film), but the audience knows that before watching the film. It shouldn't be any surprise then. If you want to watch a sappy, high school, forbidden love sort of thing, by all means watch it. If not, don't bother. It'll just annoy you.
Rise of the Fictional Characters Who Desperately Need Someone to Believe in Them
*I'm giving up on adding pictures for the moment because it's not working out for me right now.*
Title: Rise of the Guardians
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Ilsa Fisher, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, and Jude Law
Directed by: Peter Ramsey
Released: 21 Novmber 2012
Rise of the Guardians is a tale about the guardians selected to keep the world happy and filled with hope, North/Santa (Baldwin), Easter Bunny (Jackman), Tooth Fairy (Fisher), Jack Frost (Pine) and Sandy the Sandman, fighting Pitch Black while still keeping the children of the world believing them. Underneath that plot, however, it is about discovering who you (Jack Frost) are on the inside.
Before jumping into discussing the identity crisis, I have a few things to address first.
First, why aren't we calling Santa "Santa"? Seriously. Perhaps this decision was based on the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. The truth is, however, that you can change his name to "North," but he is still obviously Santa, so why not identify him as such? No matter what you call him, though, Baldwin does some pretty excellent voice acting; I didn't even realize it was him until the credits. So props to you, sir. Well done.
Second, Sophie (I think that's her name) has terrible hair. It's awful. Are we supposed to assume that she gave herself her own hair cut, which many kids try to do at some point? Either way it's awful . . . well, slightly cute because she's a little girl, but still terrible.
Third, I love Sandy and the way he communicates. It's awesome and whimsical . . . plus the movie people get to save the cost of hiring another voice actor. Brilliant.
Fourth, Pitch Black looks like Hades in Disney's Hercules. Just saying.
Fifth, I love Jack Frost, but the whole icing everything you touch with your bare hands/feet (for the most part) was my idea like twelve years go for my own superhero-esque alter-ego, creation thing, but thanks for playing.
Sixth, I LOVE Hugh Jackman. He is amazing and I love him. I've loved him since X-Men have continued to follow his film career because I love him.
My first and only celebrity crush (not counting Patch from Days of Our Lives because apparently I loved him when I was a toddler or something)
Okay. On to more substantial things like themes instead of my unconnected ramblings.
We all must go on ventures to discover who we are on the inside ( who we are at our center), but this movie has an interesting twist on the identity crisis.
Jack Frost goes on this huge journey trying to not only understand who he is, but also find out who he was before he became Jack the guardian. It's pretty simple -- if I don't know who I was, how can I know who I am now? An important question that must be answered for anyone looking to discover who they are.
There is, however, more to it than that because Jack and his fellow guardians must guard their identity closely. Pitch Black is determined to make the children to stop believing in all the guardians. As he does so, these guardians' identities begin to crumble.
This is seen most clearly through the Easter Bunny going from his awesome self into an ordinary bunny.
Jack goes on a similar journey, but does not become weaker. Instead, he learns about who his was and is until he finally finds the strength to believe in himself. And, once he believes in himself, he is finally able to be seen by the children.
Jack must teach this lesson to the other guardians who are shrinking quickly because it is the only way to restore hope and belief. It does become a bit annoying though. In my head, all I hear is "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do." from the 2003 version of Peter Pan.
All in all, it's a cute kids movie about defining and discovering your identity. It has it's amusing points and is a bit heavy-handed with their message about identity, but that's okay. Kids sometimes need that sort of extreme guidance to learn the lesson presented. On the other hand, give the kids some credit. They aren't stupid.
Also, McDonalds is dumb. They have their dinky plastic toys that will never amount to anything really with characters from the movie. Everyone one is there except North who is missing entirely, but his elf is there. Honestly. I don't know what they're thinking.
Title: Rise of the Guardians
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Ilsa Fisher, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, and Jude Law
Directed by: Peter Ramsey
Released: 21 Novmber 2012
Rise of the Guardians is a tale about the guardians selected to keep the world happy and filled with hope, North/Santa (Baldwin), Easter Bunny (Jackman), Tooth Fairy (Fisher), Jack Frost (Pine) and Sandy the Sandman, fighting Pitch Black while still keeping the children of the world believing them. Underneath that plot, however, it is about discovering who you (Jack Frost) are on the inside.
Before jumping into discussing the identity crisis, I have a few things to address first.
First, why aren't we calling Santa "Santa"? Seriously. Perhaps this decision was based on the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. The truth is, however, that you can change his name to "North," but he is still obviously Santa, so why not identify him as such? No matter what you call him, though, Baldwin does some pretty excellent voice acting; I didn't even realize it was him until the credits. So props to you, sir. Well done.
Second, Sophie (I think that's her name) has terrible hair. It's awful. Are we supposed to assume that she gave herself her own hair cut, which many kids try to do at some point? Either way it's awful . . . well, slightly cute because she's a little girl, but still terrible.
Third, I love Sandy and the way he communicates. It's awesome and whimsical . . . plus the movie people get to save the cost of hiring another voice actor. Brilliant.
Fourth, Pitch Black looks like Hades in Disney's Hercules. Just saying.
Fifth, I love Jack Frost, but the whole icing everything you touch with your bare hands/feet (for the most part) was my idea like twelve years go for my own superhero-esque alter-ego, creation thing, but thanks for playing.
Sixth, I LOVE Hugh Jackman. He is amazing and I love him. I've loved him since X-Men have continued to follow his film career because I love him.
My first and only celebrity crush (not counting Patch from Days of Our Lives because apparently I loved him when I was a toddler or something)
Okay. On to more substantial things like themes instead of my unconnected ramblings.
We all must go on ventures to discover who we are on the inside ( who we are at our center), but this movie has an interesting twist on the identity crisis.
Jack Frost goes on this huge journey trying to not only understand who he is, but also find out who he was before he became Jack the guardian. It's pretty simple -- if I don't know who I was, how can I know who I am now? An important question that must be answered for anyone looking to discover who they are.
There is, however, more to it than that because Jack and his fellow guardians must guard their identity closely. Pitch Black is determined to make the children to stop believing in all the guardians. As he does so, these guardians' identities begin to crumble.
This is seen most clearly through the Easter Bunny going from his awesome self into an ordinary bunny.
Jack goes on a similar journey, but does not become weaker. Instead, he learns about who his was and is until he finally finds the strength to believe in himself. And, once he believes in himself, he is finally able to be seen by the children.
Jack must teach this lesson to the other guardians who are shrinking quickly because it is the only way to restore hope and belief. It does become a bit annoying though. In my head, all I hear is "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do." from the 2003 version of Peter Pan.
All in all, it's a cute kids movie about defining and discovering your identity. It has it's amusing points and is a bit heavy-handed with their message about identity, but that's okay. Kids sometimes need that sort of extreme guidance to learn the lesson presented. On the other hand, give the kids some credit. They aren't stupid.
Also, McDonalds is dumb. They have their dinky plastic toys that will never amount to anything really with characters from the movie. Everyone one is there except North who is missing entirely, but his elf is there. Honestly. I don't know what they're thinking.
Monday, November 12, 2012
May the Blogs be Ever in Your Favor
So here's the deal on this one. I just re-read Hunger Games and watched the film as well, so this review is going to be jumping between the book tree and the movie tree (just like Rue :) )
Anyhow, for those of you have been living in District 13, Hunger Games, like Harry Potter and Twilight, has become a world-wide phenomenon for tweens and teens . . . and even some adults. Young characters (between the ages of 12 and 18) are forced to participate in the Hunger Games -- a fight to the death match to prove that the Capitol is all powerful over the Districts 12 remaining districts. The book is centered around the 74th annual Games. This time however, things end in an unexpected manner that changes everything and leads into the last two books.
My like/dislike for this movie is complicated. In fact, I wasn't pleased with the film rendition of the story when I saw it opening night and the next two nights as well. But, seeing as I've watched it 20 times, it's grown on me so much that I hold it equally as good as the book. On the one hand, there are scenes in the book that I love. I also appreciate hearing Katniss think her way through the Games to eventual victory. On the other hand, there are some scenes and characters that look stronger visually than they appeared in the text. Each cover for what the other lacks, giving a fully-rounded, well-connected movie.
The problem is that the book is limited strictly by what Katniss sees/does. The movie tries to broaden the spectrum so the audience gets a clearer picture of what's going on without them -- Game Maker's room. President Snow and Seneca Crane (my personal favorite because Donald Sutherland makes me laugh), reactions to what's going on in 11 and 12. All of that exists only in the movie. But that's not the only reason I like the film.
I like that the movie began by starting in the Capital with the Game Maker almost justifying the Games by making it sound like a positive thing. This makes seeing the Games much more sickening and sends a powerful message about the things people watch/do for entertainment. The same thing happens through Caesar Flickerman's interviews and "sports" updates with Templesmith. It's horrible, but that's Collins' point, so I'll get over it.
The most prominent way the book differs from the film is through the characters; specifically, I'm thinking of Katniss, Prim, and Peeta.
In the movie, Katniss is true to her reaction in the book when Gale saying he wanted kids and wanted to leave to live in the forest -- Gale has hope, Katniss is too realistic/pessimistic to have that hope. As she says on the night before the Games -- "I can't afford to think that way." In both texts, Karniss has this "things are never going to change attitude"; highly ironic because she changes everything with the nightlock berries. Both Katnisses are very dismissive of and clearly angry with her mother throughout beginning, but it is a deeper intensity in the book, giving more details to why Katniss regards her mother the way she does. Also, book Katniss appears to hate hate getting help more because she believes that help means you're weak because you can't do it alone, and Katniss is all about pride, defensive, arrogant and strength. That is really missing from the movie because movie Katniss seems more willing to cry and be emotional than book Katniss who is cold, hostile, and apparently emotionless. The nice thing, however, is that Katniss seems to be pretty flat in the book (comparatively), but Lawrence gives Katniss more dimension and realism.
The book mentions Peeta crying and uncertain -- exactly how he appears between his name being called and the train until Haymitch shows up. This is important because it shows that both book and movie Peeta more rounded out character opposed to Katniss, who would never cry because she is all about strength and crying makes you look weak. Furthermore, book Peeta's attitude, voice, and essence is embedded into every piece of movie Peeta -- the best part being the interview prior to the games.
The biggest change was in Prim. In the book, you don't know anything about her being afraid or emotional at all until her name is called, but even then, there's not much there emotion-wise. The movie makes a more compelling choice by giving her fear and nervousness and other strong emotions. This really adds to Prim's character and breathes life into her because she's kind of dead on the page.
Even more important than the characters are the actors / actresses who play them. They deserve a lot of credit for their hard work. Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci -- all of them did such a good job and should be recognized accordingly.
And there are just so many wonderful scenes brought to life in the film. 1) We can actually see the training room; the scene after Katniss shoots the apple is so much funnier; the scenes between Katniss and Rue -- I wish we could have heard the conversations they had about the differences in their districts, but that's okay because the did her death right -- the most important scene; and the scenes in the cave were good, but in the book, the cave is much more intimate and wonderful in the book --you lose some of the intensity and deepness of their love blooming, but that's okay.
There are also scenes missing from or changed in the movie which I appreciate. The trackerjacker hallucination; the mutts; and Peeta losing his leg. Even more important is the initial sequence after the Games begin. I love the ringing / silence as they get to cornucopia and get supplies or die trying; hearing them die would have just made it worse.
Also, the costumes in Capital are brilliant, but I wish they could have done something different with Peeta and Katniss's parade clothes and Katniss' hair. Just saying. No. I love everything about the Capitol. It's futuristic, clean and everything it should have been. And I love how they make the Capitol game room look. It's awesome and just like it should be.
All in all, they did a good job editing the film to accompany the book. I've come to the conclusion that I do in fact like the movie as much as I like the book, and I can't wait for Catching Fire. It's going to be awesome.
Because it's funny
Anyhow, for those of you have been living in District 13, Hunger Games, like Harry Potter and Twilight, has become a world-wide phenomenon for tweens and teens . . . and even some adults. Young characters (between the ages of 12 and 18) are forced to participate in the Hunger Games -- a fight to the death match to prove that the Capitol is all powerful over the Districts 12 remaining districts. The book is centered around the 74th annual Games. This time however, things end in an unexpected manner that changes everything and leads into the last two books.
My like/dislike for this movie is complicated. In fact, I wasn't pleased with the film rendition of the story when I saw it opening night and the next two nights as well. But, seeing as I've watched it 20 times, it's grown on me so much that I hold it equally as good as the book. On the one hand, there are scenes in the book that I love. I also appreciate hearing Katniss think her way through the Games to eventual victory. On the other hand, there are some scenes and characters that look stronger visually than they appeared in the text. Each cover for what the other lacks, giving a fully-rounded, well-connected movie.
The problem is that the book is limited strictly by what Katniss sees/does. The movie tries to broaden the spectrum so the audience gets a clearer picture of what's going on without them -- Game Maker's room. President Snow and Seneca Crane (my personal favorite because Donald Sutherland makes me laugh), reactions to what's going on in 11 and 12. All of that exists only in the movie. But that's not the only reason I like the film.
I like that the movie began by starting in the Capital with the Game Maker almost justifying the Games by making it sound like a positive thing. This makes seeing the Games much more sickening and sends a powerful message about the things people watch/do for entertainment. The same thing happens through Caesar Flickerman's interviews and "sports" updates with Templesmith. It's horrible, but that's Collins' point, so I'll get over it.
The most prominent way the book differs from the film is through the characters; specifically, I'm thinking of Katniss, Prim, and Peeta.
In the movie, Katniss is true to her reaction in the book when Gale saying he wanted kids and wanted to leave to live in the forest -- Gale has hope, Katniss is too realistic/pessimistic to have that hope. As she says on the night before the Games -- "I can't afford to think that way." In both texts, Karniss has this "things are never going to change attitude"; highly ironic because she changes everything with the nightlock berries. Both Katnisses are very dismissive of and clearly angry with her mother throughout beginning, but it is a deeper intensity in the book, giving more details to why Katniss regards her mother the way she does. Also, book Katniss appears to hate hate getting help more because she believes that help means you're weak because you can't do it alone, and Katniss is all about pride, defensive, arrogant and strength. That is really missing from the movie because movie Katniss seems more willing to cry and be emotional than book Katniss who is cold, hostile, and apparently emotionless. The nice thing, however, is that Katniss seems to be pretty flat in the book (comparatively), but Lawrence gives Katniss more dimension and realism.
The book mentions Peeta crying and uncertain -- exactly how he appears between his name being called and the train until Haymitch shows up. This is important because it shows that both book and movie Peeta more rounded out character opposed to Katniss, who would never cry because she is all about strength and crying makes you look weak. Furthermore, book Peeta's attitude, voice, and essence is embedded into every piece of movie Peeta -- the best part being the interview prior to the games.
The biggest change was in Prim. In the book, you don't know anything about her being afraid or emotional at all until her name is called, but even then, there's not much there emotion-wise. The movie makes a more compelling choice by giving her fear and nervousness and other strong emotions. This really adds to Prim's character and breathes life into her because she's kind of dead on the page.
Even more important than the characters are the actors / actresses who play them. They deserve a lot of credit for their hard work. Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci -- all of them did such a good job and should be recognized accordingly.
And there are just so many wonderful scenes brought to life in the film. 1) We can actually see the training room; the scene after Katniss shoots the apple is so much funnier; the scenes between Katniss and Rue -- I wish we could have heard the conversations they had about the differences in their districts, but that's okay because the did her death right -- the most important scene; and the scenes in the cave were good, but in the book, the cave is much more intimate and wonderful in the book --you lose some of the intensity and deepness of their love blooming, but that's okay.
There are also scenes missing from or changed in the movie which I appreciate. The trackerjacker hallucination; the mutts; and Peeta losing his leg. Even more important is the initial sequence after the Games begin. I love the ringing / silence as they get to cornucopia and get supplies or die trying; hearing them die would have just made it worse.
Also, the costumes in Capital are brilliant, but I wish they could have done something different with Peeta and Katniss's parade clothes and Katniss' hair. Just saying. No. I love everything about the Capitol. It's futuristic, clean and everything it should have been. And I love how they make the Capitol game room look. It's awesome and just like it should be.
All in all, they did a good job editing the film to accompany the book. I've come to the conclusion that I do in fact like the movie as much as I like the book, and I can't wait for Catching Fire. It's going to be awesome.
Because it's funny
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Star Wars: The Force Is Strong In This One Part Three: Revenge of the Sith
This movie picks up pretty much right where things left off in Attack of the Clones. Anakin and Padme are secretly married, Anakin is no longer a Padawan, and Anakin is beginning to slip towards the Dark Side through his relationship with Chancellor Palpatine. That's about everything that's changed. This movie really just serves to show the transformation of Anakin into Darth Vader and set-up the war plaguing the universe in the followed three movies.
This was my second time seeing the movie and I still feel the same was I did the first time. There's nothing special or memorable about it. Or maybe I was too bored to notice the film on the TV. I guess it was okay. I loved the character development and transformation Anakin goes through to become Vader. What can I say? I'm a sucker for strong, deep, fully-rounded characters and that is really the only thing that saves Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith for me.
So . . . yeah. This review is pretty much a quick analysis of Anakin's descent into the Dark Side. Deal with it and keep reading or disappear and read something else. It's your choice.
Even in Phantom Menace, there are clues that Anakin will eventually be in trouble (and not just because I know he will become Darth Vader either) because of the fear Yoda found in him. More on that fear in a moment though.
Anakin can be defined by a lot of things, especially arrogance, pride, hate and anger that he can't let go of, easily swayed, manipluated and influenced by the Dark Side because he doesn't like all the rules of being a Jedi such as love thus he s a rule breaker, focuses on pain, suffering, and death, fear of loss, not approved to become a Jedi Master so he's angry, repeatedly said to be arrogant, inability to follow orders, impatience, most gifted (even more than Yoda), unpredictable, anger, loves being right, doesn't think politics work so prefers dictatorships, irrational due to extreme connection to feelings, good at fixing things, but cannot understand that he can't stop/fix death, "all-powerful," "strongest Jedi ever," can't handle failure, and has a reckless nature.
I know -- that's a lot of qualities, but all of them can be traced back to what Yoda originally sensed in Anakin: FEAR. He acts arrogant, hateful, prideful, angry because he's afraid of seeming weak and of letting others know that he is still afraid. He is easily influenced by Chancellor Palpatine because he is afraid of many things -- death, pain, suffering, loss -- and Palpatine offered to teach him how to become so powerful that he will never need to be afraid again. He prefers dictatorships because he's afraid of democracy and the people choosing what they want. He's afraid of failure of any kind.
Fear then is the true reason that instigated Anakin into become Darth Vader.
The only other things I can say are that a) General Greivous's character concept and design were brilliant. I loved it; 2) I hated seeing all the Jedi dying, especially the children or younglings. It's terrible. But it was supposed to be, so I suppose I can get over that; 3) They fixed Obi-Wan's hair (thank goodness because it was terrible)
Anyhow . . . Yeah. That's all I've got to say about this film. The following reviews regarding Star Wars will be much better. I promise.
This was my second time seeing the movie and I still feel the same was I did the first time. There's nothing special or memorable about it. Or maybe I was too bored to notice the film on the TV. I guess it was okay. I loved the character development and transformation Anakin goes through to become Vader. What can I say? I'm a sucker for strong, deep, fully-rounded characters and that is really the only thing that saves Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith for me.
So . . . yeah. This review is pretty much a quick analysis of Anakin's descent into the Dark Side. Deal with it and keep reading or disappear and read something else. It's your choice.
Even in Phantom Menace, there are clues that Anakin will eventually be in trouble (and not just because I know he will become Darth Vader either) because of the fear Yoda found in him. More on that fear in a moment though.
Anakin can be defined by a lot of things, especially arrogance, pride, hate and anger that he can't let go of, easily swayed, manipluated and influenced by the Dark Side because he doesn't like all the rules of being a Jedi such as love thus he s a rule breaker, focuses on pain, suffering, and death, fear of loss, not approved to become a Jedi Master so he's angry, repeatedly said to be arrogant, inability to follow orders, impatience, most gifted (even more than Yoda), unpredictable, anger, loves being right, doesn't think politics work so prefers dictatorships, irrational due to extreme connection to feelings, good at fixing things, but cannot understand that he can't stop/fix death, "all-powerful," "strongest Jedi ever," can't handle failure, and has a reckless nature.
I know -- that's a lot of qualities, but all of them can be traced back to what Yoda originally sensed in Anakin: FEAR. He acts arrogant, hateful, prideful, angry because he's afraid of seeming weak and of letting others know that he is still afraid. He is easily influenced by Chancellor Palpatine because he is afraid of many things -- death, pain, suffering, loss -- and Palpatine offered to teach him how to become so powerful that he will never need to be afraid again. He prefers dictatorships because he's afraid of democracy and the people choosing what they want. He's afraid of failure of any kind.
Fear then is the true reason that instigated Anakin into become Darth Vader.
The only other things I can say are that a) General Greivous's character concept and design were brilliant. I loved it; 2) I hated seeing all the Jedi dying, especially the children or younglings. It's terrible. But it was supposed to be, so I suppose I can get over that; 3) They fixed Obi-Wan's hair (thank goodness because it was terrible)
Anyhow . . . Yeah. That's all I've got to say about this film. The following reviews regarding Star Wars will be much better. I promise.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Star Wars: The Force is Strong with This Blog Part Two : Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones picks up 10 years after Phantom Menace -- allowing just enough time for Anakin and Padme to start having a serious, committed romantic relationship. Of course, Anakin loved Padme from the first time he saw her in Phantom Menace, but now that they are both "grown up," the romance is feasible and less . . . awkward seeing as Anakin was a 10 year old at the time. Sure there's action going on with the bounty hunters, the clones, the huge fight at the end, and almost dying several times, but this love is necessary for the women and girls in the audience -- they like romantic comedies.
This movie wasn't awful. I liked Phantom Menace, but this does not quite meet that standard. Some parts I enjoyed like the random "cow"/"picnic" scene and the shots of Anakin that start showing his shift towards the Dark Side. * There were other things I could have dealt without.
Like JarJar. Why is JarJar still here? Seriously. He's an idiot and incredibly annoying. Plus, he ruins practically everything by convincing everyone to give all political power to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine -- the soon to be Emperor. Idiot. His existence continues to confuse me. He's the reason the war starts because he is stupid. Can we just get rid of him? Please?
Also . . . what is going on with Ewan McGreggor's hair -- both on his head and his face? It's terrible. They did a much better job with the same look in Revenge of the Sith. There was just a tad too much hair to make the look work in Attack of the Clones. Man that was sucky.
On the other hand . . . I love the bounty hunters. They are all so vastly different, but they all look somewhat lethal and dangerous. It's awesome. But I only feel that way because I love Boba Fett. He's aweome and I love him. In fact, somewhere, I have a picture of me wearing a pod-racer shirt hugging with a guy in a Boba Fett shoot. If you know me at all, you know this is a big thing because I hate pictures.
I also love Boushh and Zam Wesell and Han Solo. They're all great.
HA. Obi-Wan telling Anakin that he will be the death of him. Unnecessary foreshadowing considering most Star Wars fans know what happens in A New Hope. Either way, however, it's still funny . . . at least I think it is.
Once again, I must give props (or clothes. Ha) to the costume designers for Padme. Her yellow dress that she wears during picnic and rolling down the hill is my favorite. It's beautiful and it took my breath away. But we don't get to see a lot of it. Sad day.
Also, for the record, Yoda is the best Jedi ever. We all knew he was powerful, but man. He's got skills even when he's as old as he is. (He's even better in LEGO Star Wars). It's awesome.
Finally, it makes me happy that Lucas followed the golden rule of comedy laid out by Shakespeare. If it is comedic in nature, it should end with a wedding of some sort. And, despite all the battle and intense action stuff, they manage to end the film with wedding of some sort between Anakin and Padme who add a dimension of romantic comedy to the battle-heavy plot..
* I'll address Anakin's transformation in the Revenge of the Sith movie review.
This movie wasn't awful. I liked Phantom Menace, but this does not quite meet that standard. Some parts I enjoyed like the random "cow"/"picnic" scene and the shots of Anakin that start showing his shift towards the Dark Side. * There were other things I could have dealt without.
Like JarJar. Why is JarJar still here? Seriously. He's an idiot and incredibly annoying. Plus, he ruins practically everything by convincing everyone to give all political power to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine -- the soon to be Emperor. Idiot. His existence continues to confuse me. He's the reason the war starts because he is stupid. Can we just get rid of him? Please?
Also . . . what is going on with Ewan McGreggor's hair -- both on his head and his face? It's terrible. They did a much better job with the same look in Revenge of the Sith. There was just a tad too much hair to make the look work in Attack of the Clones. Man that was sucky.
On the other hand . . . I love the bounty hunters. They are all so vastly different, but they all look somewhat lethal and dangerous. It's awesome. But I only feel that way because I love Boba Fett. He's aweome and I love him. In fact, somewhere, I have a picture of me wearing a pod-racer shirt hugging with a guy in a Boba Fett shoot. If you know me at all, you know this is a big thing because I hate pictures.
I also love Boushh and Zam Wesell and Han Solo. They're all great.
HA. Obi-Wan telling Anakin that he will be the death of him. Unnecessary foreshadowing considering most Star Wars fans know what happens in A New Hope. Either way, however, it's still funny . . . at least I think it is.
Once again, I must give props (or clothes. Ha) to the costume designers for Padme. Her yellow dress that she wears during picnic and rolling down the hill is my favorite. It's beautiful and it took my breath away. But we don't get to see a lot of it. Sad day.
Also, for the record, Yoda is the best Jedi ever. We all knew he was powerful, but man. He's got skills even when he's as old as he is. (He's even better in LEGO Star Wars). It's awesome.
Finally, it makes me happy that Lucas followed the golden rule of comedy laid out by Shakespeare. If it is comedic in nature, it should end with a wedding of some sort. And, despite all the battle and intense action stuff, they manage to end the film with wedding of some sort between Anakin and Padme who add a dimension of romantic comedy to the battle-heavy plot..
* I'll address Anakin's transformation in the Revenge of the Sith movie review.
Princess Protection Blogram
Princess Protection Program is an original Disney film made for TV featuring several well-known Disney stars (Selena Gomex, Demi Lovato, and Nicholas Braun) that will eventually be released as a DVD so all the girls can beg their family for yet another Disney Film. *
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Essentially Princess Rosalinda (Lovato) is in trouble and must be "extracted" from her kingdom, "transformed" so she no longer looks like a princess, and finally "relocated"to a place she will be safe -- in this case, Louisiana -- where she must learn to be a normal teenager under a different name, Rosie Gonzales, by living with Carter Mason (Gomez). Of course the girls hate each other, but learn to accept and love one another by the end of the film. It is the classic predicament of Prince and the Pauper-esque tale -- two girls from different sides of the track, so to speak, are forced to interact with each other. There is usually bitterness and jealousy at first, but then they learn to like each other and become best friends and everything is sunshine and rainbows once more. teach one another.
No surprises.
This is a Disney movie after all.
I will say, however, at least there is some action involved. Gotta save and protect the princess and her country. So yeah . . .
There really isn't much else to say. There are no tricks, turns, or surprises in this film, but there doesn't have to be because kids love the Disney Channel and will watch any show/movie the company chooses to produce. I think it's cute though. Super cute.
I love it all the same though (except for that "Two Different Worlds Collide" songs or whatever they call it-- It's awful).
For one thing, I love Demi Lovato, but for reasons I would rather not publicly disclose on the Internet.
For another, it's sappy and silly and stupid and for tweenagers, but it still makes me happy, so I'll watch it until I'm 80-ish or at least until I die and I don't care who laughs at me over it.
* Disney's all about how much money they can earn. What do you expect, honestly?
_share4movies.jpg)
Essentially Princess Rosalinda (Lovato) is in trouble and must be "extracted" from her kingdom, "transformed" so she no longer looks like a princess, and finally "relocated"to a place she will be safe -- in this case, Louisiana -- where she must learn to be a normal teenager under a different name, Rosie Gonzales, by living with Carter Mason (Gomez). Of course the girls hate each other, but learn to accept and love one another by the end of the film. It is the classic predicament of Prince and the Pauper-esque tale -- two girls from different sides of the track, so to speak, are forced to interact with each other. There is usually bitterness and jealousy at first, but then they learn to like each other and become best friends and everything is sunshine and rainbows once more. teach one another.
No surprises.
This is a Disney movie after all.
I will say, however, at least there is some action involved. Gotta save and protect the princess and her country. So yeah . . .
There really isn't much else to say. There are no tricks, turns, or surprises in this film, but there doesn't have to be because kids love the Disney Channel and will watch any show/movie the company chooses to produce. I think it's cute though. Super cute.
I love it all the same though (except for that "Two Different Worlds Collide" songs or whatever they call it-- It's awful).
For one thing, I love Demi Lovato, but for reasons I would rather not publicly disclose on the Internet.
For another, it's sappy and silly and stupid and for tweenagers, but it still makes me happy, so I'll watch it until I'm 80-ish or at least until I die and I don't care who laughs at me over it.
* Disney's all about how much money they can earn. What do you expect, honestly?
Monday, November 5, 2012
Pirates of the Carribloggian
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean is a tale following the now-legendary and most-recognized pirate in the world, Jack Sparrow, on his adventures seeking his ship and rum as well as getting into as much trouble as possible in a two and a half hour film . . . times 5 because there are four movies now and apparently there is a fifth one coming.
I'm not going to write a review for each movie; I'm covering the series as a whole because I'm just not that invested in the series at all.
Personally, I don't understand what all the hype is all about, but it's vastly popular. If I were to guess, a lot of the popularity is due to Jack Sparrow as a character as well as the fact that Johnny Depp plays this role.
I can't deny that Depp does well making Jack a realistic, lovable, amusing character, but I find Sparrow a bit obnoxious and annoying really. There is something magical about him though. I can't put my finger on what it is, but Depp has achieved something miraculous in becoming Sparrow.
Kiera Knightly (Elizabeth Swan) and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), however, exist only in the shadow of Captain Jack.
Turner seems to be your run-of-the-mill good-guy until he is coerced into being a pirate. Even then, however, he has retained most of his good-guy attitude wanting to save his dad and all, but he does have issues with Sparrow that lead him to do some under-handed things as revenge against Sparrow and to save Swan, making him once again, a good-guy. Bloom does this well, but I feel that this is because in his films, he is a good-guy; anything slightly "Evil" is removed from his character. I don't feel that Bloom could ever be anything less than a good-guy.
Swan on the other hand appears to be weak. Sure she tries to be a pirate, but fails miserably. It is not until the end of At World's End that she has any strength at all when she orders the pirates to fly their colors and fight back against the British. It is hard to tell if this is due to Knightly or the writers, but either way, it's not good. Given that Knightly is respected as a good actress, I am more inclined to blame the writers. Perhaps they were appealing to the idea that women were thought to be incapable of much of anything during the time the movie is set in and Knightly was only doing the best she could. Either way, I wish Elizabeth Swan was a stronger character throughout the entire series instead of just at the end.
I really wished they had stopped with At World's End. Everything was nice and tied up. There was no need to continue the franchise, but this is Disney we're talking about and they will continue making more movies until there is no longer any interest.
On Stranger Tides was okay. It was interesting and shorter than the others. I also think I enjoyed it more than the previous films. It could merely be that I actually cared about the characters -- specifically Philip and
Syrena. They were much more compelling than Will and Elizabeth Turner.
All in all, I don't see anything special about these films. They were okay (thanks mostly to Johnny Depp and his awesomeness), but that's it. I can only hope that the coming stories get better following the latest film installment. Chances are, however, that Disney will ruin it by running it into the ground until they don't have any audience. But one can help.
I'm not going to write a review for each movie; I'm covering the series as a whole because I'm just not that invested in the series at all.
Personally, I don't understand what all the hype is all about, but it's vastly popular. If I were to guess, a lot of the popularity is due to Jack Sparrow as a character as well as the fact that Johnny Depp plays this role.
I can't deny that Depp does well making Jack a realistic, lovable, amusing character, but I find Sparrow a bit obnoxious and annoying really. There is something magical about him though. I can't put my finger on what it is, but Depp has achieved something miraculous in becoming Sparrow.
Kiera Knightly (Elizabeth Swan) and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), however, exist only in the shadow of Captain Jack.
Turner seems to be your run-of-the-mill good-guy until he is coerced into being a pirate. Even then, however, he has retained most of his good-guy attitude wanting to save his dad and all, but he does have issues with Sparrow that lead him to do some under-handed things as revenge against Sparrow and to save Swan, making him once again, a good-guy. Bloom does this well, but I feel that this is because in his films, he is a good-guy; anything slightly "Evil" is removed from his character. I don't feel that Bloom could ever be anything less than a good-guy.
Swan on the other hand appears to be weak. Sure she tries to be a pirate, but fails miserably. It is not until the end of At World's End that she has any strength at all when she orders the pirates to fly their colors and fight back against the British. It is hard to tell if this is due to Knightly or the writers, but either way, it's not good. Given that Knightly is respected as a good actress, I am more inclined to blame the writers. Perhaps they were appealing to the idea that women were thought to be incapable of much of anything during the time the movie is set in and Knightly was only doing the best she could. Either way, I wish Elizabeth Swan was a stronger character throughout the entire series instead of just at the end.
I really wished they had stopped with At World's End. Everything was nice and tied up. There was no need to continue the franchise, but this is Disney we're talking about and they will continue making more movies until there is no longer any interest.
On Stranger Tides was okay. It was interesting and shorter than the others. I also think I enjoyed it more than the previous films. It could merely be that I actually cared about the characters -- specifically Philip and
Syrena. They were much more compelling than Will and Elizabeth Turner.
All in all, I don't see anything special about these films. They were okay (thanks mostly to Johnny Depp and his awesomeness), but that's it. I can only hope that the coming stories get better following the latest film installment. Chances are, however, that Disney will ruin it by running it into the ground until they don't have any audience. But one can help.
Star Wars: The Force Is Strong in This Blog Part Two and a Half: The Clone Wars
Honestly, all I know about Clone Wars is that it takes place between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and it started as 5 min segments on Cartoon Network. Now, it fills up a 30 minute slot. I know it started before hand and then the movie was made and now there are more episodes.
so I don't have a lot to say because I was a tad confused.
I will say is that it has an interesting style of animation. They are not trying to be like other recent CG animation to look real. This is and exaggerated, almost caricature or even toy (Movement)like, style. I like it. It's interesting to watch.
Also, I found the pairing of Hisoka and Anakin to be hilarious even though it doesn't look it will go over well. As the characters in the movie, they are "Quite a pair." The best part, however, is that Anakin was like this as a padawan, so it makes sense that Hisoka will be the same way. It's the parent's curse -- I hope your children are just like you so you can see what I went through. In other words, you brought this on yourself Anakin so deal with it.
That's all I have to offer. Maybe I would like this movie or have anything interesting to say if I had seen any part of the cartoon series. . . . I don't get this ending. Obviously it's supposed to lead into the cartoon, but the cartoon existed first. how can these me reconciled???
so I don't have a lot to say because I was a tad confused.
I will say is that it has an interesting style of animation. They are not trying to be like other recent CG animation to look real. This is and exaggerated, almost caricature or even toy (Movement)like, style. I like it. It's interesting to watch.
Also, I found the pairing of Hisoka and Anakin to be hilarious even though it doesn't look it will go over well. As the characters in the movie, they are "Quite a pair." The best part, however, is that Anakin was like this as a padawan, so it makes sense that Hisoka will be the same way. It's the parent's curse -- I hope your children are just like you so you can see what I went through. In other words, you brought this on yourself Anakin so deal with it.
That's all I have to offer. Maybe I would like this movie or have anything interesting to say if I had seen any part of the cartoon series. . . . I don't get this ending. Obviously it's supposed to lead into the cartoon, but the cartoon existed first. how can these me reconciled???
The Muppets -- Does This Generation Even Care?
Personally, I've never really enjoyed the Muppets, except for the Muppet Baby cartoon for some odd reason . . . I suspect it has something to do with the fact that I don't like puppets. . . There are, however, apparently enough people in the world to justify this attempt to bring the classic show back to life and induce new excitement into this generation.
The plot of the movie is simple. Can we reunite the Muppets before Muppet Studios is destroyed? They try to accomplish this by appealing to the people who used to love them so much for donations to save it. The same argument could be made for why this movie was made -- can we generate excitement for the Muppets again?
The answer seems to be yes. Yes, the Muppets can be and are still culturally relevant. I may not think so, but I'm not the only person in the world.
Despite my dislike, however, I did find the movie to be cute, and funny on the rare occasion. Specifically, I am referring to the Muppet or Man song. I loved it. It was funny and Jim Parsons was there, so it's even more fantastic. (Big Bang Theory ftw).
Jim Parsons, however, was not the only celebrity who appeared in this film. Selena Gomez, John Krasinski, Rashida Jones, and many others. I think this was a genius move because if the audience could see how many celebrities took part in this film, they might reconsider their like/dislike of the Muppets because famous people like and participated in it. And we all know that we should do what celebrities do -- at least that's how some people (especially in the younger generation) feel.
The song at the beginning wasn't bad either. It made me think of Easy A where Olive (Emma Stone) talks about wanting a sporadic song and dance where everyone knew the words and dance moves in her life. Honestly, I wouldn't mind that either -- just once you know? It would be pretty awesome.
Also, I love Amy Adams. She's the cutest thing ever. Just saying.
I know I haven't said much about the movie, but I don't know what else to say. I can't offer anything more than what I've said. It's an "okay" sort of movie, but one I wouldn't want to write again.
The plot of the movie is simple. Can we reunite the Muppets before Muppet Studios is destroyed? They try to accomplish this by appealing to the people who used to love them so much for donations to save it. The same argument could be made for why this movie was made -- can we generate excitement for the Muppets again?
The answer seems to be yes. Yes, the Muppets can be and are still culturally relevant. I may not think so, but I'm not the only person in the world.
Despite my dislike, however, I did find the movie to be cute, and funny on the rare occasion. Specifically, I am referring to the Muppet or Man song. I loved it. It was funny and Jim Parsons was there, so it's even more fantastic. (Big Bang Theory ftw).
Jim Parsons, however, was not the only celebrity who appeared in this film. Selena Gomez, John Krasinski, Rashida Jones, and many others. I think this was a genius move because if the audience could see how many celebrities took part in this film, they might reconsider their like/dislike of the Muppets because famous people like and participated in it. And we all know that we should do what celebrities do -- at least that's how some people (especially in the younger generation) feel.
The song at the beginning wasn't bad either. It made me think of Easy A where Olive (Emma Stone) talks about wanting a sporadic song and dance where everyone knew the words and dance moves in her life. Honestly, I wouldn't mind that either -- just once you know? It would be pretty awesome.
Also, I love Amy Adams. She's the cutest thing ever. Just saying.
I know I haven't said much about the movie, but I don't know what else to say. I can't offer anything more than what I've said. It's an "okay" sort of movie, but one I wouldn't want to write again.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Saved! . . . by a Jew and an Atheist?
Saved! is a movie bent on questioning people about their religion. Of course, that point is arguable because many audiences go to movies purely for entertainment value (there is quite a bit there), but don't like being hit over the head with a message. I do, however, feel that a lot may be gained from people (especially Christians) who are able to look past their religion, etc., observe the stereotypes being presented in this film, and are, hopefully, willing to make changes in their spiritual lives so that they don't turn into a Hillary Faye. I mean, really, even she doesn't want to be herself by the end of the movie.
If I had to guess, I would say that this movie is attempting to make a strong statement about perceived Christianity by stereotyping what many people believe is true about Christians -- enter Hillary Faye. Of course, by the end, everyone sees how flawed and fake Hillary Faye is and then people who hate the church and Christians have fuel to keep fighting against Christianity.
On the other hand, there is a message that encapsulated many, if not all, of the Christian values such as love, compassion, and the keen need to help other people are present in this film. The only issue is that these qualities were not exhibited by "Christians" (except for Patrick); instead, the characters who exemplify those qualities are the Jewish girl and the atheist, who ironically is Hillary Faye's brother.
THEY are the ones who don't ostracize Mary or make her feel like an outcast because she begins to struggle with her faith, causing her to be exiled by Hillary-Faye and her friends.
Shouldn't it be the other way around -- where Christians are the Christ-like people? This isn't to say that you have to be Christian to be Christ-like. It's more like I, along with the writers of this movie, am calling Christians out for a wake-up call of sorts because something really needs to happen to remind Christians of how they should me.
Does anyone else see the problem here?
If I had to guess, I would say that this movie is attempting to make a strong statement about perceived Christianity by stereotyping what many people believe is true about Christians -- enter Hillary Faye. Of course, by the end, everyone sees how flawed and fake Hillary Faye is and then people who hate the church and Christians have fuel to keep fighting against Christianity.
On the other hand, there is a message that encapsulated many, if not all, of the Christian values such as love, compassion, and the keen need to help other people are present in this film. The only issue is that these qualities were not exhibited by "Christians" (except for Patrick); instead, the characters who exemplify those qualities are the Jewish girl and the atheist, who ironically is Hillary Faye's brother.
THEY are the ones who don't ostracize Mary or make her feel like an outcast because she begins to struggle with her faith, causing her to be exiled by Hillary-Faye and her friends.
Shouldn't it be the other way around -- where Christians are the Christ-like people? This isn't to say that you have to be Christian to be Christ-like. It's more like I, along with the writers of this movie, am calling Christians out for a wake-up call of sorts because something really needs to happen to remind Christians of how they should me.
Does anyone else see the problem here?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Dark Shadoze
For the record, I do love Tim Burton. I think he's brilliant and unique in the way he tells stories, especially in his works Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweenie (I haven't seen this one yet, but the style is very reminiscent of Nightmare).
His latest movie to DVD (Dark Shadows) lacks luster and entertainment value.
This is not the actors' fault at all. Tim Burton's two favorites are there: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Both are talented and, having made so many movies together, have a good chemistry and play off each other exceedingly well.
I think most of my "dislike" of the film comes directly from the script. It had a slow beginning and things did not pick up until the last 15 minutes or so. I was nearly bored out of my mind . . . to the point, in fact, that I almost turned it off, but I kept watching, hoping something interesting would happen and respecting Burton's hard work.
I know it plays with various concepts, including Poe's "Annabel Lee," Frankenstein, shadows and, of course, vampires. I can appreciate that hodgepodge of these elements and the way they were combined together. Regardless, their combination aside, I still couldn't get any enjoyment out of this film.
. . . That's not true. There is one thing I liked -- the way Johnny Depp rephrased "kiss my ass" in a hilarious fashion. "You may strategically place your wonderful lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly!" Loved it, but still not enough to save the film in my eyes.
So . . . sorry Mr. Burton; this film isn't as great as your others.
His latest movie to DVD (Dark Shadows) lacks luster and entertainment value.
This is not the actors' fault at all. Tim Burton's two favorites are there: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Both are talented and, having made so many movies together, have a good chemistry and play off each other exceedingly well.
I think most of my "dislike" of the film comes directly from the script. It had a slow beginning and things did not pick up until the last 15 minutes or so. I was nearly bored out of my mind . . . to the point, in fact, that I almost turned it off, but I kept watching, hoping something interesting would happen and respecting Burton's hard work.
I know it plays with various concepts, including Poe's "Annabel Lee," Frankenstein, shadows and, of course, vampires. I can appreciate that hodgepodge of these elements and the way they were combined together. Regardless, their combination aside, I still couldn't get any enjoyment out of this film.
. . . That's not true. There is one thing I liked -- the way Johnny Depp rephrased "kiss my ass" in a hilarious fashion. "You may strategically place your wonderful lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly!" Loved it, but still not enough to save the film in my eyes.
So . . . sorry Mr. Burton; this film isn't as great as your others.
One Blog to Review Them All
One of the most well-known stories in the world is J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. It is a well known fantasy classic that is still as popular today as it was back then. Part of this popularity could be springing from Peter Jackson's meticulous 10-11 hour film incorporating all three books in the series as well as the currently in-production rendition of The Hobbit rumored to be split into three films.
Though I may not be doing the plot summary justice, I will try none the less. In the past, there was a ring forged in the fire in Mount Doom in Mordor called the Ring of Power. It grants the user extreme power, so much that everyone wants it. Frodo Baggins inherits the ring and goes on a quest to destroy the ring with three of his hobbit friends (Sam, Merry, Pippin), a powerful wizard (Gandalf), a ranger (Aragorn), an elf (Legolas), a dwarf (Gimli) and a man (Boromir). Inevitably, they split off and go on their own quests, however, the end goal for all of them is still the destruction of the ring and the salvation of Middle Earth. I hope that's accurate enough to move on from here.
To be honest, I have yet to finish the series, so I will not be able to make connections between the movies and the books. (I know. I'm a bad English major . . . get over it. But I do want to finish it eventually.) I will, however, do my best reviewing the films despite my unfamiliarity with the novels.
Frodo, of course, is the main Hobbit because he is the chosen one because he inherited the ring from Bilbo. And, as the chosen one, he is entitled to become burdened, sick, hopeless, and dependent on others to keep him sane. As much as he feels the need to complete this task alone so his friends will be safe, he recognized that he will need Sam, but he was unwilling to ask Sam to accompany him. Credit must be given to Elijah Wood for not only playing the most important role in the series, but for also doing so brilliantly. It takes a talented person to begin as a character full of hope and promise and deteriorate to a sickly-looking, obviously-dying person still trying to push through to the end of his quest, a feat he could not have done without Sam, the friend who couldn't bear being separate from Frodo so much that he follows Frodo despite the fact that Frodo stated that he wanted to destroy the ring alone so that no one, especially his friends, would need to fear Sauron again. In the end, however, Frodo is grateful Sam followed him. Frodo is "the one" chosen to bear the curse of the ring and must therefore stand alone, but he still needs Sam for support. Had Frodo gone on along, he never would have made it.
From the beginning, Samwise Gamgee is the simplest of all Hobbits; quite happy and comfortable where he is in the Shire. In fact, there are several times while he and Frodo are journeying together that Sam talks about being able to make it home alright. Sam is also practical -- why else would his pack be the heaviest and why else would Galadreil present Sam with rope while everyone else is given a sword or a bow or anything else? Sam is also loyal and determined to protect Frodo in any and every way he can because he promised Gandalf to not lose Frodo. Even without that promise, however, I feel that Sam would still have followed Frodo through to the end, even if that end is death because Sam is completely faithful and loyal to Frodo. While Sam is not the strongest of the hobbits, he is still necessary to keep Frodo from giving into the will of the ring. Sean Astim, then, has an important job -- to remain as hopeful and joyous as possible because he knows that's what Frodo needs right now -- a companion to be positive and lift him up when the world seems increasingly bleak.
Two Towers
-What are we holding onto, Sam?
-That there is some good in the world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.
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There is a lot of death discussed in this movie. Arwen states that there are more important things than death. Frodo and Sam don't believe they'll make it home, so they mentally prepare themselves for their destruction. At the same time, however, Sam remains fairly positive (when Gollum isn't around) -- that tells me that Sam has not yet hit rock bottom so to speak. This is mostly because he has managed to hang on to hope.
Though I may not be doing the plot summary justice, I will try none the less. In the past, there was a ring forged in the fire in Mount Doom in Mordor called the Ring of Power. It grants the user extreme power, so much that everyone wants it. Frodo Baggins inherits the ring and goes on a quest to destroy the ring with three of his hobbit friends (Sam, Merry, Pippin), a powerful wizard (Gandalf), a ranger (Aragorn), an elf (Legolas), a dwarf (Gimli) and a man (Boromir). Inevitably, they split off and go on their own quests, however, the end goal for all of them is still the destruction of the ring and the salvation of Middle Earth. I hope that's accurate enough to move on from here.
To be honest, I have yet to finish the series, so I will not be able to make connections between the movies and the books. (I know. I'm a bad English major . . . get over it. But I do want to finish it eventually.) I will, however, do my best reviewing the films despite my unfamiliarity with the novels.
Fellowship of the Ring
This is definitely my favorite out of the three films because it seems more about building strong characters so that the remainder of the trilogy can be dedicated to expanding these characters a little and adding a much more intense plot line involving several battles.
That in mind, most of this portion of the review will be dedicated to the characters and the actors / actresses that bring these characters to life. I'll try to keep it entertaining though.
First, I want to talk about the Hobbits. I love them . . . not so much Sam, but I do acknowledge that he is a critical character and that Frodo would never have been able to destroy the ring without him. They're just so simple and enduring, and, like Gandalf says, always full of surprising qualities when it really counts.
Frodo, of course, is the main Hobbit because he is the chosen one because he inherited the ring from Bilbo. And, as the chosen one, he is entitled to become burdened, sick, hopeless, and dependent on others to keep him sane. As much as he feels the need to complete this task alone so his friends will be safe, he recognized that he will need Sam, but he was unwilling to ask Sam to accompany him. Credit must be given to Elijah Wood for not only playing the most important role in the series, but for also doing so brilliantly. It takes a talented person to begin as a character full of hope and promise and deteriorate to a sickly-looking, obviously-dying person still trying to push through to the end of his quest, a feat he could not have done without Sam, the friend who couldn't bear being separate from Frodo so much that he follows Frodo despite the fact that Frodo stated that he wanted to destroy the ring alone so that no one, especially his friends, would need to fear Sauron again. In the end, however, Frodo is grateful Sam followed him. Frodo is "the one" chosen to bear the curse of the ring and must therefore stand alone, but he still needs Sam for support. Had Frodo gone on along, he never would have made it.
From the beginning, Samwise Gamgee is the simplest of all Hobbits; quite happy and comfortable where he is in the Shire. In fact, there are several times while he and Frodo are journeying together that Sam talks about being able to make it home alright. Sam is also practical -- why else would his pack be the heaviest and why else would Galadreil present Sam with rope while everyone else is given a sword or a bow or anything else? Sam is also loyal and determined to protect Frodo in any and every way he can because he promised Gandalf to not lose Frodo. Even without that promise, however, I feel that Sam would still have followed Frodo through to the end, even if that end is death because Sam is completely faithful and loyal to Frodo. While Sam is not the strongest of the hobbits, he is still necessary to keep Frodo from giving into the will of the ring. Sean Astim, then, has an important job -- to remain as hopeful and joyous as possible because he knows that's what Frodo needs right now -- a companion to be positive and lift him up when the world seems increasingly bleak.
And then there is Merry and Pippin. While they each are their own character, I find it difficult to separate them. They are a packaged deal; attached at the hip even. And, when they are forced to separate from one another, there is obviously a hole there because their missing a part of themselves. They are obviously meant to be comic relief . . . like Laurel and Hardy or the Three (Two in this case) Stooges, but as the trilogy continues, they become strong warriors in their own separate ways. Before that, however, they are the best of friends which means that their roles must be played by actors who can play well off each other as well as provide a distinct personality of their own. Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dominic Monaghan (Merry) certainly fill these roles grandly. The way they interact together is pure perfection. Moreover, they completely embody J.R.R. Tolkien's characters -- just they were written to be.
Merry/Pippin and Frodo/Sam, however, are not the only pairs within the fellowship. There is also the duo of Legolas and Gimli -- a surprise friendship in the making being as elves and dwarfs are considered to be enemies in this realm. All through Fellowship of the Ring, these two characters are constantly against each other, playing into the "race" prejudice they have been subjected to their whole lives. Both Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) add the necessary tension and snide, undercutting statements to one another throughout most of the film while ironically slowly becoming friends. But more on them later . . .
The last traditional pairing is between Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen, who plays a very convincing ambivalent Ranger running from his "responsibility" as king) and Boromir (Sean Bean presenting himself brilliantly as a strong, confident warrior believing that the ring can be used to save Gondor without being corrupted which does entice some mistrust from Frodo, but he redeems himself by protecting Merry and Pippin since he can't find Frodo to apologize to). Both are strong, brooding, "alpha"-esque males trying to work together as best they can despite the animosity between them. After all, Aragorn has abandoned the throne of Gondor for a long time and Boromir's family has been chosen to act as stewards until the king returns. Thus, Boromir has a strong sense of disgust for Aragorn, feeling he has neglected Gondor so long that Boromir claims that there is no need for a king in Gondor because Boromir's father was handling things just fine. By the end, however, Boromir proves himself to be both protective of the Hobbits, specifically Merry and Pippin, as well as to be capable of change, especially where Aragorn is concerned by treating him with respect and admitting that Aragorn is truly the rightful king of Gondor.
That leaves Gandalf, the final member of the Fellowship -- a role Ian McKellen played so intensely that he truly became the character. While Gandalf acts alone in the Fellowship, he has a unique pairing of his own with Saruman (played by Christopher Lee who has had plenty of time in his acting career, so playing Saruman was not a challenge for him by any means). They certainly aren't working together by any means; however, they do act as foils to each other. Gandalf and Saruman are pretty much the same wizards with the same abilities and strength (at least after Gandalf the Gray is resurrected as Gandalf the white; the only difference is that one is "good" and the other is "evil."
Anyhow . . .
Moving on from characters and casting . . .
The special effects and character design of the non-human beings was certainly magical. The Ringwraiths were designed impeccably. While they were the men given the nine rings, they deteriorated to becoming sort of grim-reapers*, messengers of death which makes sense seeing as the rings killed the men and gave them a life time service to Sauron and the other dark forces. Even in the scene where Frodo sees them as men when he puts on the ring, these men are skeletal and obviously deformed due to the power they were given to by the rings.
I also liked the set they created for each kingdom of elves. There was some sort of natural beauty untouched by men (essential seeing as humans do not reside there unless we count Aragorn as human rather than Dendreon). These sets are light, whimsical, ethereal and wonderful all at the same time, especially Lothlorien.
Finally, I love the visual representation of Frodo being invisible thanks to the ring. It was interesting and strange; I loved it. It's SO much better than what it looks like when Harry wears his cloak in Harry Potter.
Just saying.
And yes, I am completely aware I'm obsessed with Harry Potter.
And, even more impressive is the writing. I don't know which lines were provided by Tolkien or Fran Walsh (screenplay writer), but I love them all the same.
"Is it secret? Is it safe?' -- I like the line because of the delivery. It made me laugh.
"That's nice! Ash in my potatoes!" -- it just makes me laugh
"Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?" -- Wonderful life knowledge to ponder over.
*Any guesses on where Rowling's character design of the dementors came from? Anyone? Seriously . . . it's pretty obvious
Merry/Pippin and Frodo/Sam, however, are not the only pairs within the fellowship. There is also the duo of Legolas and Gimli -- a surprise friendship in the making being as elves and dwarfs are considered to be enemies in this realm. All through Fellowship of the Ring, these two characters are constantly against each other, playing into the "race" prejudice they have been subjected to their whole lives. Both Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) add the necessary tension and snide, undercutting statements to one another throughout most of the film while ironically slowly becoming friends. But more on them later . . .
The last traditional pairing is between Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen, who plays a very convincing ambivalent Ranger running from his "responsibility" as king) and Boromir (Sean Bean presenting himself brilliantly as a strong, confident warrior believing that the ring can be used to save Gondor without being corrupted which does entice some mistrust from Frodo, but he redeems himself by protecting Merry and Pippin since he can't find Frodo to apologize to). Both are strong, brooding, "alpha"-esque males trying to work together as best they can despite the animosity between them. After all, Aragorn has abandoned the throne of Gondor for a long time and Boromir's family has been chosen to act as stewards until the king returns. Thus, Boromir has a strong sense of disgust for Aragorn, feeling he has neglected Gondor so long that Boromir claims that there is no need for a king in Gondor because Boromir's father was handling things just fine. By the end, however, Boromir proves himself to be both protective of the Hobbits, specifically Merry and Pippin, as well as to be capable of change, especially where Aragorn is concerned by treating him with respect and admitting that Aragorn is truly the rightful king of Gondor.
That leaves Gandalf, the final member of the Fellowship -- a role Ian McKellen played so intensely that he truly became the character. While Gandalf acts alone in the Fellowship, he has a unique pairing of his own with Saruman (played by Christopher Lee who has had plenty of time in his acting career, so playing Saruman was not a challenge for him by any means). They certainly aren't working together by any means; however, they do act as foils to each other. Gandalf and Saruman are pretty much the same wizards with the same abilities and strength (at least after Gandalf the Gray is resurrected as Gandalf the white; the only difference is that one is "good" and the other is "evil."
Anyhow . . .
Moving on from characters and casting . . .
The special effects and character design of the non-human beings was certainly magical. The Ringwraiths were designed impeccably. While they were the men given the nine rings, they deteriorated to becoming sort of grim-reapers*, messengers of death which makes sense seeing as the rings killed the men and gave them a life time service to Sauron and the other dark forces. Even in the scene where Frodo sees them as men when he puts on the ring, these men are skeletal and obviously deformed due to the power they were given to by the rings.
I also liked the set they created for each kingdom of elves. There was some sort of natural beauty untouched by men (essential seeing as humans do not reside there unless we count Aragorn as human rather than Dendreon). These sets are light, whimsical, ethereal and wonderful all at the same time, especially Lothlorien.
Finally, I love the visual representation of Frodo being invisible thanks to the ring. It was interesting and strange; I loved it. It's SO much better than what it looks like when Harry wears his cloak in Harry Potter.
Just saying.
And yes, I am completely aware I'm obsessed with Harry Potter.
And, even more impressive is the writing. I don't know which lines were provided by Tolkien or Fran Walsh (screenplay writer), but I love them all the same.
"Is it secret? Is it safe?' -- I like the line because of the delivery. It made me laugh.
"That's nice! Ash in my potatoes!" -- it just makes me laugh
"Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?" -- Wonderful life knowledge to ponder over.
*Any guesses on where Rowling's character design of the dementors came from? Anyone? Seriously . . . it's pretty obvious
 |
| Riingwraith |
 |
| Dementor |
Two Towers
As the Fellowship splits to go their different directions, troubles emerge on all sides. Gandalf is lost; Borormir is dead; Merry and Pippin have been captured by Orcs; Frodo and Sam are headed to Mordor. All the hope they had leaving Rivendell is gone, but the characters' relationships are getting stronger because without hope, all they have is each other.
Take Frodo and Sam for example. Frodo intended to go to Mordor all on his own; however, Sam followed, unwilling to abandon him. Frodo tells him, "Nothing ever dampens your spirits, Sam," which is exactly what Frodo needs -- some one to pick him up and act as a positive influence in his life because not even Frodo can resist the ring completely. This becomes much more necessary once Gollum joins them on their journey. Gollum/Smeagol and Sam enter a battle all of their own, each trying to "help" Frodo in their own ways: Golll is only assisting Frodo to get the ring back; Sam, on the other hand, sees through Gollum's ruse and determinedly decides to keep Frodo positive and from falling too far into depression and Gollum's trap.
And, since we're talking about Gollum, let me just say that Andy Serkis was wonderful, especially when I associate him as the gay boss in 13 Going on 30. It makes Gollum that much funnier, but Serkis truly was brilliant, especially in the parts where he is arguing with himself in different voices. I loved it. He was brilliFant.
Another pair that grows closer is Legolas and Gimli. Spending so much time together has diminished their hatred, replacing it instead with a jovial rivalry over who can kill/defeat more Orcs etc. in the battles they fight together.
With Boromir gone, Aragorn needs a new person to be coupled with. In this movie, it's Arwen, but not because of their love of each other. Instead, it's because they still see hope in the world when it is clearly getting awfuller by the day. Elrond says there is no hope. The remainder of the Fellowship also lose hope because Frodo is no longer with them and they have to rely on faith alone that the ring will be destroyed.
The importance of hope, however, is something not to be neglected. It keeps the world from falling completely into the demanding arms of Sauron. . . . But more on that later because there is a lot I have to say there.
Outside of this, I don't have much to say. The plot is just . . . not my thing. I think it's the battle of Helmsdeep that kills it for me. I don't mind them journeying and trying to track Merry and Pippin as an attempt to bring some sort of unity with their Fellowship even though Sam and Frodo, the most important member of the Fellowship is missing. But I hate battle scenes. They really make me sick to my stomach. I know that's a lame excuse, but I don't do death -- even in movies where the people aren't real and some of the "people" are evil creatures.
I do, however, enjoy the movie overall; it's just the end that bothers me.
Also, what's with Gandalf the White? I've never understood how he "evolved" into a stronger being. Maybe I would get it if I read the books, but it just doesn't make any sense to me, you know?
The movie does, however, have my most favorite quotes of all time.
-I know. It's all wrong. By rights, we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the ending be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding onto something.
-What are we holding onto, Sam?
-That there is some good in the world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.
Return of the King
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After everything that has gone on since the end of Fellowship of the Ring, the characters deserve to have a bit of fun and celebration. Of course, Frodo and Sam are not included in this; however, everyone else, especially Merry and Pippen, finds a moment to celebrate finding food and pipe weed as well as most of the original Fellowship is able to unite once more.
This happiness and joyous occasion, however, does not last. Gandalf and Pippen travel to Gondor; Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli go on a quest of their own to collect a debt from some cursed ghost people; Merry, then, is alone. It's heat-breaking really. Merry and Pippin should have never been separated, but they are nonetheless.
There is a lot of death discussed in this movie. Arwen states that there are more important things than death. Frodo and Sam don't believe they'll make it home, so they mentally prepare themselves for their destruction. At the same time, however, Sam remains fairly positive (when Gollum isn't around) -- that tells me that Sam has not yet hit rock bottom so to speak. This is mostly because he has managed to hang on to hope.
. . . and, honestly, hope is what everyone in the story needs. For example, Arwen has hopes for her life as she chooses to stay in the human. Merry and Eowen need hope to be able to fight. Merry and Pippin need hope of seeing each other again. Everyone is hoping that Frodo and Sam will be able to destroy the ring and save Middle Earth. Aragorn gives the kingdom of Rohan hope so they may fight and regain what they had before Wormtongue was kicked out. Gandalf, however, appears to have lost all hope even if he started this mission based on nothing but hope.
"Is there hope?" -Pippin
"There never was much hope." - Gandalf
That being said, Return of the King is all about finding the hope that they have slowly, collectively lost all hope in Frodo's ability to succeed as the Ring Bearer.
Anyway . . . I am madly in love with the song Pippin sings. The Steward of Gondor's careless eating, however, makes me want to throw up every time -- it's disgusting, but powerful image wise.
And speaking of the Steward, I am a terrible person for laughing as he runs of the building on fire? Because I laugh every time.
All in all, I enjoy the films -- especially the meticulousness of the details by Peter Jackson and the cast. There aren't many movies that have such a perfect casting, but Jackson's Lord of the Rings definitely fits that bill. Each actor / actress understands their character inside and out. It's beautiful and perfect and I love it.
All that's left to do is wait for The Hobbit to come out as well as try not to get bored since the rumor is that it will take three movies , , ,
WHO'S EXCITED????
And because it makes me laugh . . .
Also funny
Also funny. . .
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