There is nothing more destabilizing than the loss of a parent, whether that is through death or divorce. Based on Kate DiCamillo’s book, The Tiger Rising follows a young boy on his heartfelt journey following the loss of his mother, as he and his best friend Sistine discover a tiger caged behind the motel Rob's father works at. Sistine insists that the tiger be set free regardless of consequences while Rob isn't so sure.
Loss and grief are strong themes throughout the movie. Rob, obviously, is dealing with the death of his mother while Sistine is trying to come to grips with her parents' divorce. Emotions run high as the kids seek help from a maid that works at the motel (Queen Latifah) trying to figure out what to do.
The Tiger Rising will tug at your heart strings leaving you with mixed emotions. Will the children set the tiger free? Will they be able to overcome their own grief?
“Have you ever been inside a cage? Not a real one with metal bars and a lock, though I have had some experience with those. No, I’m talking about the kind of imaginary cage we build to protect ourselves. That’s the kind of cage my friend Rob and I were trapped inside when we were 10 years old, before we unearthed the key that would set us free, and before we met the magnificent creature, who would change our lives forever.” - Sistine (Tiger Rising)
• Synopsis: Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid star in this beloved tale based on the New York Times best-selling book by Kate DiCamillo. When 12-year-old Rob Horton (Christian Convery) discovers a caged tiger in the woods near his home, his imagination runs wild and life begins to change in the most unexpected ways. With the help of a wise and mysterious maid, Willie May (Queen Latifah) and the stubborn new girl in school (Madalen Mills), he navigates through childhood memories, heartache, and wondrous adventures in this heartwarming adaptation.
Want a chance to see Tiger Rising for free? Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a free digital code! Winners will be chosen Feb 15, 2022.
Last we spoke about reviews, I shared how I spent one Friday all by my lonesome as snow and ice threatened to take down my home state. Because the weather was still uncertain in the days that followed, my husband and I hollowed up inside for "movie marathon Saturday". The following is what we saw:
Passengers
Plot: Chris Pratt, as Jim Preston, wakes up 90 years too early on board the Avalon, a ship destined to take him and everyone else on board to their new home on planet Homestead II. His first day is pretty typical – he wakes up, gets dressed for the day, emerges from his room … and then discovers no one else is awake! Frustration, anxiety, and stress begin to take over when he realizes how far from Homestead II he is, and worse yet, there is not a single human he can get in touch with to find out what went wrong or how to fix it.
Despite the knowledge that he will die before the ship arrives to Homestead II, Jim decides to take advantage of his freedom on board the ship. He forces access to areas that would typically be off limits so that he can do whatever he wants – play basketball, get drunk, wake up another passenger…
The only thing Jim doesn't realize amongst his play and fun is that he was awoken for a reason. The ship is facing failure, and if it fails, thousands of people will die. Does Jim have what it takes to set things straight? Can he be the hero that Avalon needs?
my thoughts:
1. I hated Jim Preston. What guy in his right mind would wake someone else up 90 years early?! Like no. Be a man.
2. Jennifer Lawrence, on the other hand, was superb. She was emotional and strong … and just superb.
So, if you understand that I didn't like the whole premise of the movie and how Chris Pratt's character woke up another on purpose, you might understand why I hated this movie so much. Why did they have to make Jim Preston so selfish and thoughtless? … And if we are supposed to see real growth in him by the end of the movie, why don't we?
I'm struggling at sharing my thoughts on this movie, because, in my opinion, it didn't come together well. I expected a cute romance with an accidental awakening and a heroic bit at the end. What I got was a selfish character who broke the rules, "apologized" for his behavior, and was forgiven. But would he do it again? Even at the end of the movie, that question is up in the air. Luckily, there won't be a Passengers 2; this ship has sailed. Hopefully Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence will choose better movies in the future.
After my failure of a choice in movies, it was Justin's turn to choose. He opted for:
Dr. Strange
plot: Not yet a superhero, Dr. Stephen Strange decides to "text" and drive, or at least use his phone while speeding down the road. Then Bam! Next thing he knows he is in the hospital where his girlfriend is telling him he will henceforth have limited use of his hands. Angry, Stephen tells his girlfriend to get out of his life; she should never have let them touch his majestic surgeon hands. If he can't do work, then why live?
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Strange pessimistically begins physical therapy. He asks his doctor if anyone has ever recovered under his care. When the doctor says no, but one patient sought out help elsewhere and was cured, Stephen went on a mission: to seek out the patient and discover his secrets. Only the mission didn't stop there. Dr. Strange continued on and on, higher and higher up the pyramid until he found himself in Tibet learning to control his hands and the world through sorcery.
my thoughts: Plausible concept in the sci-fi realm, but the movie was really hard to follow. Dr. Strange felt really unlikable to me, but perhaps that's because the only movies I've been watching lately feature psychopathic jerks. Aside from that though, the visuals were amazing. In one sequence they were turning New York City on it's head with the scene looking like something you'd see in a kaleidoscope; truly beautiful.
So, Dr. Strange's ultimate personal mission is to visit the sorcerer, learn her secrets, and then return to the "real world" … Only that's not exactly what happens. This is where the movie could use a bit of help. Perhaps because I was tired, or maybe not, I felt like the movie didn't explain why this selfish hard-hearted person did not leave Tibet and return to his world. He just seems like the kind of guy that wouldn't care about the world and whether or not it was in trouble. The filmmakers never provided a clear answer as to why he, all of a sudden, did care. Like, what?
And then there was another issue with the girlfriend just taking him back?
No. Not in my world.
But maybe I'm mean and expect too much from the people I choose to associate with. Either way, unless they come up with a fantastic trailer for Dr. Strange 2 (which it's Marvel, of course they will!), I probably will not be following Dr. Stephen Strange through any more follow-up movies. Unless I get bored. Then who knows?
Finally, I got to watch the movie I have been waiting to see since before Christmas:
La La Land
plot: Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) have a chance meeting on a Los Angeles highway one morning as he heads off to work and she hightails it to an audition. When things don't go quite as well as planned, as Mia walks home from a girls' night out, she hears a beautiful song playing in a jazz club. Upon peeking her head in, she sees the musician being fired. That musician is Sebastian, and despite all of Mia's best intentions and attempts to tell him her pleasure in his playing, things won't work out between the two of them until months later. As it so happens, they run into one another again and this time things click. The rest of the movie is the build up of their relationship and the hard work they put into making their dreams realities with fantastic musical numbers thrown into boot!
my thoughts: La La Land is most definitely a musical, but a modern version of what you might have seen in theatres in the 30s and 40s. The actors and directors have made great strides in allowing the film to come off as natural and easy to follow. The dancing is beautiful, and you can't help but fall in love with Mia and Sebastian's passion for their work.
While I'm not sure that the film is thick with meaning, I did find it to be a beautiful, happy, and light afternoon watch.
If you remember what it was like to be in your 20s struggling to find your career path, if you have ever strived to do an art, I recommend watching this film. You will get it.
If you are looking for a film full of intensity, perhaps something more in the sci-fi or adventure genre, La La Land is not for you. Have you seen any great movies as of recently? What do you do during low-key afternoons?
If you've ever lived in the southern US, you are going to know what I mean when I claim that last Friday a "snowpocalypse" was announced. Forecasters threatened a large falling of 2-4 inches in the metro Atlanta area, and bloggers, business people, executives, and service workers all ran to the nearest 7-11 or Kroger to obtain milk and bread.
In general, the assumption is that the store will look like this by the time you are able to go:
A few things bought, for sure, but, still, plenty to go around.
On this fateful Friday though, despite the fact that recent weather had been in the 50s-70s and we hadn't seen rain for days, the threatening forecast called for some schools to be cancelled and others to be delayed, and, in the case of the kids I watch, some were let out early.
Rather than have me go pick the kids up early, the parents decided a play date was an order with the neighbors down the street. This way, if the weather did get bad, they didn't have to worry about coming home from work any earlier so that their babysitter could make it home before the ice and snow got too bad and the roads became impassable. (A nice gesture on their part, but it still left me with a free day and no pay. Thanks weather.)
However, if there is one thing I've learned in the crazy fluctuating world of service work, it is that you make the best of the time you have. Thus, I pulled out a book or two. Then cuddled up and watched a movie. Not a bad way to spend a non-snow day in. (Because despite everyone's preparation and planning, Georgia did not see a whole lot of snow that day. Perhaps a bit of ice but that was it.)
To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Collin (Buy here.)
synopsis: At the end of the 19th century the lovely widow Cait is seeking employment. Her marriage has come to a tragic end, and, as with societal norms at that time in Scotland, she had to find an appropriate way of making a living. Luckily, she finds a chaperoning job that takes her to Paris as she keeps watch over two wealthy teenagers, much younger than herself, who are also trying to find their way in the world. Alice needs to find a suitable marriage match and Jamie a strong career that will enable to care for the family he will eventually have. Only these are normal children, not, for example, the children of royalty. They are naive and not especially fond of listening to their elders; more often than not, they do what they want when they want. Then, of course, the children and Cait must suffer as a result of their actions. But the children aren't alone in their misbehavior. Midway through the book, Cait throws away a suitable marriage match to return to Paris with her charges. She has fallen in love with Émile Nouguier – the man she is supposed to be setting up with Alice, the man who supposed to be teaching Jamie the ways of the workforce. What will happen when the children discover her dark secret?
my opinion: The book is trash.
While I want to tell you only about the good things in life, I feel it's also necessary to warn you about the things I simply don't like. Maybe this type of book is one you would enjoy? I mean – the cover is beautiful! Who doesn't dream of a snowy evening in Paris?! I know that I certainly do! :) But, for me, all of the characters were simply unrelatable and, truthfully, a bit unlovable. How can I respect a woman who deceives her employer intentionally? And not only that but, without going into details, goes against societal standards setting herself up for a downfall. (Do you catch my drift?)
When I read about a woman of the late 19th century, I want to read about a respected woman of class. Even if she has no money of her own, I want to see someone who knows how to work the "system", who uses her beauty and brains (or lack thereof) to make a positive difference in the lives of the people around her. Especially if there is an image of Paris on the cover.
In the end, what I got was a woman who can't control her desires or the teens she is supposed to be watching. Everything falls apart, just as the reader expects it to. And, in my opinion, the ending is quite cliche. (I won't give it away though you may be able to infer through my review how it ends.)
I think the worst part about this book is that it felt like the author actually put some effort into telling her story, but the characters were so predictable that I never fully found myself immersed in the story. A few days ago, I heard an interview with Chazelle, the screenwriter for La La Land, where he claimed that he "learned how to convince someone to turn the page, which is really all it comes down to, you know - knowing that every page is an opportunity for someone to close the script and just, you know, stop reading it" (from the NPR interview Fresh Air with Terry Gross). I feel like, if Collin had taken that perspective, along with making her characters more likeable, this would have been an enjoyable book concept.
Oh well. I read the book based on the cover, so that's something. Maybe next time she'll get more than just the cover right. <3.
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin (Buy here.) synopsis: Based on the diaries of the real life Queen Victoria, Goodwin begins her story with Victoria awakening to the realization that her uncle, the king of England, has died and passed on the crown to her. Untrusting of her mother and her mother's advisors, the queen most assemble a group of people she can trust as she transitions from a young girl to that of a royal queen.
Quickly she learns that she needs to stand firm in her beliefs. She befriends Lord Melbourne, her prime minister who she thrills at having by her side as makes difficult decisions. Only, it is not right for her to remain unwed. Perhaps the young Prince Albert whom she met in childhood and despised could make a good match? But then again, maybe she should remain single forever?
Emotions tug at the heart of the queen as she fights for her desires and struggles with what the best options are for the country she oversees. Will she be able to find a happy median in what's right for her people as well as herself?
my opinion: meh.
I didn't like the way Goodwin approached Queen Victoria's relationship with Lord Melbourne. He comes off as a potential lover in the story, but, from what I understand about history (which isn't much. I don't know much at all about Queen Victoria or her life.), Lord Melbourne was never anything more than an advisor. Perhaps the change was made to sell books? Or to make the tv show more appealing to a larger audience?
If you want a quick beach or vacation read and love history or even the royal family, this book will probably appeal to you. Unlike To Capture What We Cannot Keep, Victoria is a quick and easy read. Victoria is also a pretty unlikeable character, but it's easier to understand why she is unlikeable. She has important decisions that affect more than just herself and, having had no real royal upbringing, she is likely to make mistakes. I especially recommend this book if you have watched and are enjoying the PBS mini-series based on this story.
The Girl on the Train (movie)
If you want to read my review of the book, check here.
synopsis: A girl on a train romanticizes a couple that she sees every day from the train window that lives just down the street from her old home. Longingly she wishes for their life. Until one day, while riding the train, she spots the woman cheating on her husband. Enraged, the woman on the train informs her friend that she will find the cheater and kill her.
Not too long after Rachel Watson spots Megan Hipwell cheating, Megan goes missing. And shortly thereafter is found killed. Rachel, attempting to help the police but not able to remember much due to a black out she experienced on the night of the disappearance caused by drunkenness, informs the police and Megan's husband that Megan was cheating. Only it gets more complicated than that. Rachel's ex-husband and new wife, who live on the same street as Megan Hipwell, have left a message on Rachel's phone indicating that they are afraid of her and what she did that night. They tell her to stay away.
Did Rachel do more than get drunk on the night of Megan's disappearance? Was she somehow involved?
my opinion: Don't read the book, then watch the movie. Or do. It's up to you. :)
My opinion of the book was meh. It was intense. Fast-moving. A bit confusing at first, but well thought out. I hated the main character. (Are you noticing a theme?)
The movie, however, was easier to follow. I don't know if it's because I had read the book and knew what to expect, or if the visuals and storyline made more sense in movie-format over book-format. There were some differences, though. Like, in the movie, Rachel was traveling on a train in New York to work and back every day instead of London. And the end, which I won't give away, also had some differences.
Overall, the movie felt contrived and pre-planned. It was like the director was just telling the story rather than encouraging you to feel the story. Perhaps if he had stuck with the main character Rachel the whole time the story wouldn't have felt so contrived? … But then the story would be breaking even further away from the way the book style.
Anyway, I'm not a movie director or screenwriter, so I don't know what needed to happen.
If you've read the book, I encourage you to see the movie. It gives you something to think about, a thing to compare and contrast, especially if you are part of a book club where you all read the book, watch the movie, and then go to dinner to talk about it. I think that would be fun. :) Otherwise, if you are just needing a film to take up time… I've seen worse. I mean – you could do better. Try watching The Accountant, for instance. But, you could also do worse – no movie has irritated more than Passengers, recently. As with everything, though, it all depends on your tastes and likes.
Have you read any good books or seen any good movies recently? Do you think people like myself are too hard to please? Is there anything you've read or seen recently that you would recommend? * Both books were received as ARCs. Reviews were given on individual websites, but I was not compensated or requested to do a blog review. These reviews are entirely my own and were not influenced in any way.
Whether or not I want to admit it, movies have played a big role in my life. It's not like I went to see movies every weekend as a child, but, even still, I have seen a lot of movies over the course of my life. Some have been pure entertainment while others have helped me to form opinions or create dreams. Movies, whether I like it or not, have influenced who I am and what I want out of life.
The questions below were originally shared on Babi a Fi's blog when she answered them. I enjoyed reading her answers and learning more about her; hopefully you will enjoy reading my answers and learning more about me. :) Or maybe, just possibly, you'll discover a movie you've never heard of before that you can add your must-see list.
Well, that's my hope anyway. :)
Enjoy!
And, please, copy the questions and share on your blog too! Or respond in the comments. I can never learn too much about my fellow bloggers and blog readers! I'd love to know if we share any commonalities … or be introduced to new movies, if there are any differences. :)
01. What Is The Last Film You Saw?
in theaters: Captain America: Civil War. It was ok.
while babysitting: Hotel Transylvania 2. (Actually pretty funny.)
02. A Film That Always Makes You Happy?
as in always, always? :-/
It'd have to be a funny one… And not stupid…
I can't think of one that always, always makes me happy.
03. A Film That Makes You Sad?
Pay It Forward. Kid makes a difference in the world, a real difference, then… #nospoilers :)
04. A Film You've Seen Countless Times?
Anything I've ever liked or with good music. Sometimes I "watch" a movie while doing something else just for the music – Dirty Dancing, Center Stage,Guardians of the Galaxy, The Martian…
05. A Film That You Love But Everyone Else Hates?
Here On Earth. Chris Klein, Leelee Sobieski, Josh Hartnett.
Moody, dark, emotional.
Yeah, I know you don't like it. (Or have never seen it.)
06. A Film You Wish You Saw In The Cinema?
Umm… I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, so I think I'm good. :) That was a fun experience. Maybe Casablanca? Or… The Breakfast Club?
Definitely The Breakfast Club. :)
07. Your Favourite Film?
No favorites. They seriously change every week.
I've kind of been loving all things Marvel recently. Ant-Man, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy. I like movies that are funny, but with a bit of action. 08. The Worst Film You've Ever Seen?
Probably Hardcore Henry.
Don't go see it. Ever. #GotPaidToSeeIt #NotWorthIt
09. Your Favourite CGI Film? Wall-E, Despicable Me, and Ratatouille.
Wall-E, because it was so dang sweet. Justin and I made a date night after he graduated college. We went out to eat and had steak then saw Wall-E at one of the nicest theaters in Atlanta. The movie was so adorable and we had so much fun! It's hard not to include it in my list.
Despicable Me was the movie I didn't want to see until I did. Who doesn't love watching adorable little girls ordering around a mean guy?
And Ratatouille… The music is awesome! The concept was fantastic! And it takes place in Paris, of all places. <3. Pixar helped me to fall in love with a rat! What else can I say? :)
10. Your Favourite Animated Film?
My favorite as a kid was Beauty and the Beast.
Ice Age was really fun though…
11. A Character You Can Relate To The Most?
Jo from Little Women (1994)…
"Late at night my mind would come alive with voices and stories and friends as dear to me as any in the real world. I gave myself up to it, longing for transformation."
Other ways I'm like her (or would aspire to be like her):
• Avoiding people at parties.
• Always thrilled about the prospect of a European vacation! :)
• Strong enough to say no to Batman!
• Defensive about my writing, but also desperate to do better.
12. A Film You'll Never Watch Again?
The Land Before TimeII, III, IV, so on and so forth… Why all of the sequels? :-/
Although I can't say I'll see the original Land Before Time again either.
13. The First Film You Saw At The Cinema?
I have no idea…
I couldn't find the opening scene for Ice Age on Youtube though, so here's the Deadpool opening credits. They are awesome too. :)
15. A Film That Takes You Back To High School? Center Stage. High schoolers having fun, being flirty, living it up, dancing. What's not to love?
Oh – and Mean Girls. It came out after I was out of high school, but it sooo fits.
16. Favourite Love Story In A Film?
The Notebook. :)
Ryan Gosling is so dark and broody, and Rachel McAdams is cute and fun! Plus, the setting is so beautiful. I <3 South Carolina. :) 17. A Film You Can And Do Quote From? Finding Nemo –
"Just keep swimming; just keep swimming…"
"Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"
"I shall call him squishy, and he shall be mine! And he shall be my squishy!"
Frozen –
"Do you want to build a snowman?"
"The sky's awake, so I am awake! I have to play!"
"Let it go!"
"Winter is a good time to stay in and cuddle, but
put me in summer and I'll be a … happy snowman!"
18. Your Favourite Book To Film Adaptation?
Breakfast at Tiffany's. I didn't like the book by Truman Capote.
19. A Film That Changed Your Opinion of Something?
The Devil Wears Prada – the idea that I could do anything I wanted with my life. That one's life is full of choices and you can handle those choices however you choose to.
"You want this life? The decision is yours."
20. Favourite Foreign Language Film?
I can't say I've seen one… 21. A Film You Would Recommend To Everyone?
Guardians of the Galaxy. It was just a fun movie. + Great music! :)
The Martian is also surprisingly optimistic, but probably geared more toward adults.
22. A Film You Used To Love But Now Hate?
According to my parents, ET. I had the weirdest ET doll. Frankly I don't even remember liking the movie enough to have a doll.
They also said I loved The Wizard of Oz. I don't remember that either.
23. Favourite Film Sequel?
Ice Age 2? Surprisingly good. :)
24. Favourite Film Villain?
Gru from Despicable Me. He makes me laugh. :)
25. Most Underrated Film? Once. That was a great movie!
Or maybe Juno. :) Every day when I go to work I drive by two loveseats outside of a house and it always reminds me of this movie! 26. The Film That Scared You Most?
The Lion King. (As a kid, that is.) *spoiler alert* I'd always fast forward through the scene where Mufasa gets trampled. :(
I also didn't like the scene where Ursula rises from the ocean at the end of the The Little Mermaid. :(
Or when Bambi's mom is killed.
27. An Actor Whose Casting Would Make You More Inclined To See A Film?
Chris Pratt. I haven't seen anything he's done badly at yet. Also Meryl Streep and George Clooney.
28. Favourite Movie From Your Childhood?
Kindergarten Cop. :) A tall Austrian saves the day!
Lassie (1994)
29. Most Ridiculous Film You Have Ever Seen?
The Gremlins. I hate that movie! 30. Your Favourite Film Franchise?
Marvel movies. Superheroes ftw! :)
* This post was shared in response to #30lists (day 29). I can't believe this month is almost over! (But there's still time to join in… 😀)
About a month ago, Justin and I had the opportunity to house sit near where I work. Instead of a commute time of an hour or more (!), my commute time became two (!!!!) minutes! (Yes, you read that correctly. I could literally walk to work.) Anyway, while we were staying there, we decided to take advantage of some of our favorite things to do in the area – mainly watching $6 movies within 10 minutes of the house. (See a movie on a work night? You can do it when you live so close and the movies cost so little!)
Anyway, here are a few of the movies we saw and my review of them:
Deadpool
Sometimes it's hard to determine what will be a good movie and what won't. I distinctly remember sitting in the theatre watching the trailer for this movie and thinking to myself: "I am never going to see this movie. Ever." Spiderman-guy with white eyes? creepy. But it's Marvel. And rated R. (Don't take your kids.) And did we mention Blake Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds is in it?
Anyway, Deadpool is the story of a guy who falls in love, proposes, then discovers he has cancer. Rather than go through chemo treatments and radiation, he decides to take up an offer to become a "super hero", leaving his super model girlfriend in the middle of the night praying he will one day be able to return to her in full health. The thing Deadpool doesn't realize is that this "becoming a superhero" business isn't all it's cracked up to be. After the loss of his beautiful facial features (he is Ryan Reynolds!), Deadpool decides that enough is enough and blows up the joint attempting to kill the "doctor" who ruined him. But the "doctor" survives coming after Deadpool and his wife-to-be. This is a superhero movie, so I won't give away who wins, but, let me tell you, this is a fun, sitting on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of movie.
Go see it.
Without the kids.
You deserve it.
Zootopia
After you get back from Deadpool, go watch it again. ;) But then you can take your rug rats to see Zootopia, which you've no doubt heard tons about every time your kids have turned on the tv. (Does Disney channel repeat the same commercials over and over a zillion times a day?)
Zootopia is the heartwarming story of the little rabbit who could. Judy Hopps grew up in a small town called Hoppville just outside of Zootopia. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a cop, but her parents discouraged it "No rabbit has ever been a cop, Judy! Don't you want to be something else?" Nevertheless, Judy followed her dreams becoming the first rabbit to ever complete cop school … only to find herself in Zootopia as a Meter Maid, not exactly her dream job. When Judy gets wind of a kidnapping ring, she decides to solve the case herself. Her boss gives her 48 hours; the end result is a wild "goose chase" full of comedy, tears, and lessons learned. Will Judy become the cop she has always wanted to be? Will she make a difference in the world?
The story is heartwarming and gives children a positive message.
Hail Caesar
I loved the Coen Brothers movie O' Brother, Where Art Thou?, so I was excited to see Hail Caesar. Would it be as uniquely styled? As funny? No matter – a movie with Scarlett Johansen and George Clooney is a must-see!
Eddie Mannix has an offer to change away from his movie studio job in California at Capital Pictures during the 1950s, and the offer couldn't have come at a better time. All of the actors and actresses under his authority seem to be finding trouble and he has to discover a way to head off the media. The company's most famous actor has been captured by communists, a singing cowboy gets placed in the acting role of a snooty ballroom dancer with money, and one of his beautiful, dancing swimmers finds herself pregnant and unwed. Can he solve all of their problems? Should he move on to a better-paying job?
Hail Caesar wasn't what I imagined it would be, but it was still good. Perhaps 3 out of 5 stars? There was comedy (Hello Clooney!) and surprises that kept me entertained throughout. Even the design of the picture was lovely. Who knows how hard it is to recreate Hollywood 1950? … But would I watch it again? … No, probably not. The story seemed to mis-mashed for me. It was hard to follow and not really believable. (How many people would be kidnapped and just accept it without trying to break free?) If you like the Cohen Brothers though, you might like this. Just give it a shot – that's the only way to know. :)
Have you had the chance to see any awesome movies recently? Have you see any of the ones I mentioned in this post? If you have, what did you think? If not, will you be seeing them any time in the near future?
Over the holidays I had the chance to see a few movies. I just thought I'd share my opinions with the world about the few movies that I saw.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
An unexpectedly fun adventure, the movie premise is that the chipmunks suspect a life change is at hand. They found a ring and believe their caretaker, Dave, is about to get married. This wouldn't be a problem since the lady in question is a fantastic, fun, cool doctor. One problem though: her son prefers to play with the furry creatures by using them as golf balls, hanging them from windmills, and getting them into every kind of predicament you can imagine. This scares Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, who think Dave doesn't see what's going on. And, as it turns out, he doesn't. Dave decides to go on a one man jaunt across the US to Miami with his lady friend while the chipmunks are forced to stay home with their potential brother as a babysitter. Oops. One thing leads to another and as the boys bond over how much they hate one another, they decide to road trip to Miami to break up their parents. Will the boys succeed at breaking up their parents? How much trouble can 3 chipmunks and a teenager find on the road?
At first I was skeptical about seeing this movie. How many Alvin and the Chipmunk movies and tv shows have there been? Could the movie producers really pull off a fun family movie so close to Christmas on a topic that has been over used? The answer, in my humble opinion, is yes! From the fun cameo appearances of Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect 2, Youtube star) and Laura Marana (Disney channel's Austin & Ally) to the … well … chipmunks, the movie comes off as fun, enjoyable, and funny. A true piece of entertainment (and note: it's just that!) to keep you busy for an hour and a half or so during the holiday weekend.
Of course, it should be noted that I did not pay for my own ticket; another family did. And even so, the ticket cost was only $4. I can't think of too many movies I'd be opposed to seeing and enjoying for $4. At a $12 ticket price, you may want to save your money. And as for the $20 dvd? Umm…
Moving on.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
What happens when good and evil collide? When a bad person chooses to be good and a good person chooses to be bad? Without any spoilers, that's what happens in the newest Star Wars. Who will win? And more importantly, is this movie the beginning of a new trilogy?
I wasn't too impressed with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There was a lot of hype, but what I came to find was that it seemed no different than any of the other Star Wars movies. Of course, I'm not exactly a diehard Star Wars fan to begin with. The movie was put together very well with terrific visual effects and it was nice to see a strong female lead. Oh – and did I mention that Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are in the movie? Because they are. They give the movie a great reunion feel without being simply about the cast and their reactions to one another 30 (40?) years later. However, the movie itself feels very re-made. I'll leave it at that to prevent any major spoilers or leakage for those of you looking forward to seeing it. I'm not sure I would pay to see it again in theatres, but it is definitely fun going to a high attendance blockbuster film … even if you are going to see a movie with the masses.
So what movies have you gotten to see over the holiday break? Anything good? Have you been to see The Road Chip or The Force Awakens yet? ** I'm participating in Susannah Conway's December Reflections. Are you? Today's post was #16 a response to "I Said Hello" to trying new movies. Duh. :)
Over the past few weeks I've had the pleasure of getting to see some awesome and not-so-awesome movies. It's been fun and it helps me to feel a little more in the loop when discussions of pop culture come up among Justin's and my friend group. The following are the 3 movies I've seen most recently, my review, and whether or not I recommend them…
The Intern
When I saw a preview for The Intern, I was excited. A Nancy Meyers comedy with Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway and newcomer (in my experience, anyway) Adam DeVine. There are definitely days when I want to see a light, humorous comedy to break up the drama that can be life.
The story begins when a fashion forward e-commerce company agrees to train seniors as part of a community outreach program. A retired executive, 70-year-old Ben Whitaker is one of many applicants after he decides retirement is boring. Jules Ostin is the hard-working CEO of About the Fit, and the person assigned to train Ben. When she initially brings him into her office, she informs him that she will e-mail him when she needs something done. Patiently waiting for days on end, Ben discovers other ways to help out around the office including cleaning up a table that Jules has on her to-do list. Finally, he makes an impression on Jules and she agrees to let him help her. His assistance starts off slow as he does small things like chauffeuring her to various events, but over time her world opens up to him; he meets her family and even goes so far as to break into her mother's house to protect Jules from having an embarrassing e-mail read by her mom. Truthfully, the shenanigans in the movie are a little bit over the top, but Jules and Ben form a close friendship that is sweet to watch as they help one another discover what it is they are most looking for in life.
If you want a plot that is easy to follow and doesn't really go anywhere, this is the movie for you. Otherwise, for comedy I recommend one of Nancy Meyer's other films … or any other film for that matter. As for a De Niro or Hathaway movie? Well, let's just say there are better options for both of those too. This movie is The Devil Wears Prada done opposite. For that matter, just go see The Devil Wears Prada; it's much better on all levels. Don't even bother with The Intern unless you are bored. In my opinion, it's not worth it. (#SorryNotSorry)
The Martian
Love. Faith. Science. :)
Botanist, Mark Watney is left on Mars when a horrific storm causes an antenna to come lose and knock him unconscious as his team boards the space shuttle for their return to earth. Unable to see in the weather but with all indications suggesting that he is dead, the crew depart the planet mourning the loss of their teammate. Meanwhile, hours later, Mark Watney awakens finding himself stranded and alone on a planet with only enough supplies to get him through 30 days. It will take 4 years for NASA to return to Mars and, worst of all, he doesn't have any way to get in touch with NASA to let them know he is alive. Through a death-defying journey, Watney enjoys upbeat music like Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" and Gloria Estefan's "Turn the Beat Around" as he "science[s] the sh*t" out of his environment for survival purposes. The combination of the music and Watney's attitude, despite his perilous experience, take this film from a gripping adventure to something a little more pleasant and uplifting.
The Martian is particularly great for science fanatics, Ridley Scott adorers, Matt Damon enthusiasts, or if you just want to see a good, fun movie. I do not recommend it if you are looking for dark, and possibly twisted, science fiction; instead check out Interstellar, which is also amazing, but on a totally different level. So – The Martian. Interstellar. See them. <3.
(Sidenote: I enjoyed The Martian so much that I just ordered the book.)
The Walk
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Walk is a historical retelling of Philippe Petit's famous walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. The story is told from Philippe's perspective as he stands atop the Statue of Liberty. It begins one year earlier when Philippe is trying to make a living as a street performer in Paris with wire walking and juggling acts. He practices after hours at the circus big top and makes plans (and dreams) for walking between the twin towers after seeing the buildings in the newspaper. Eventually he is discovered by Papa Rudy who helps him pull together his first real event – of which he fails at and ends up falling into a lake. To redeem himself, he walks a rope tied onto the Notre Dame Cathedral and succeeds! But is ultimately arrested… Finally he gathers the courage to take his act to New York City where he spends days (and weeks) researching the area, studying every crook and cranny, and collecting accomplices to help him before the big day. Will he be able to pull off the walk? (I think you know the answer.)
While not quite French, I really enjoyed Joseph Gordon-Levitt's portrayal of Philippe Petit. The story was charming and fun. It was filled with hopes and dreams and the people that helped make one man's wish come true. It wasn't incredibly funny nor was it terribly dramatic. It was just good and not in the way of "I have to see it again and own it on DVD!" – because, honestly, very few movies make that cut – but just good. I did not see it in 3D, but I imagine it would be that much better in 3D. The views from atop of the World Trade Centers were incredible! And beautiful! I recommend seeing this if you have free time on your hands; it's worth at least one viewing.
So what movies have you seen lately? Anything good? The next movie I'm hoping to see is the new Tom Hanks' movie Bridge of Spies. Have you seen it yet? Share! I'd love to hear about other good movies I may not know about. Do you know of anything that is in the theatre horizon?
Over ten years after Atlanta criminal Brian Nichols broke out of jail, went on a killing rampage, and held drug addict Ashley Smith hostage, a new movie, based on Smith's story, entitled Captive is coming out in theatres.
A few weeks ago, Justin and I had the opportunity to go see a screening of Captive in theatres. Despite the fact that I recalled the event, it was a very humbling experience when I realized the whole episode had taken place in Duluth, GA, a mere 30 minutes from where I lived, at the time, and only 15 minutes away from where I was attending college. Just like Ashley, I had disregarded my parent's caution about the killer on the streets; he was fleeing Georgia and heading to a neighboring state, right? There was no way he would stick around for punishment…
When I went to sleep that night, I wasn't the tiniest bit concerned that this guy was still in Georgia, let alone holding another person hostage. Then the news stories came on: she had read to him from The Purpose Driven Life and that had saved her. She had instilled a belief in God in a crazy criminal person, and this was amazing. God had saved her life.
Of course, much like all God stories, Justin and I didn't realize until seeing the movie that she had given Brian Nichols drugs. In fact, she had given him the kind of drugs that make you hyper and then sedate you to the point of possible depression. Was it really all God that saved this woman's life? Or was it the drugs? A believer in God myself, I'm willing to give The Purpose Driven Life a bit of credit here and suggest that possibly it was both. Without her ability to maintain her sanity and keep Brian Nichols calm, the likeliness of more deaths and people getting hurt would have been inevitable. She definitely held herself together very well despite being under a huge amount of stress.
The one thing I disliked most about the movie was the idea that Atlanta and Duluth are one in the same. This actually struck Justin as odd too. Once Brian Nichols was outside the perimeter of the city, there was no way that he or Ashley could have seen the sunrise over the city. Atlanta is just simply not that big.
Let's talk a little bit about the two cities.
When you live in Georgia, you are either ITP (inside the perimeter of I-285) or OTP (outside the perimeter of I-285). (I-285 makes a circle around the main city of Atlanta.) If you live ITP, you probably never venture OTP, and vice versa. Justin and I are the exception. ;) People who live OTP usually consider Atlanta to be scary and full or crime as well as incredibly confusing to navigate. People ITP are, crazy enough, typically (in the 2000s+) wealthy and rarely travel more than a few miles to work and back.
Does Duluth, GA look ITP to you?
Then there is Duluth in particular – an area that was rapidly declining in the early 2000s after two new malls were built in Gwinnett County: Mall of Georgia and Discover Mills (now Sugarloaf Mills). Duluth was never known as a place rife with drug addicts, but it's also not one of the wealthiest parts of town either. The decline of Gwinnett Place Mall, in Duluth, led to more Hispanics and Asians moving into the area and the elite class dispersing to other areas of the state (the older ones moving north to get away from crime and the younger ones moving back toward the city).
In other words, Duluth wasn't (and still isn't) a scary part of town where drug addicts, criminals, and losers go to hang out nor is it a place where the rich live. It's just your average run-of-the-mill suburban city (perhaps city implies it is bigger than it is? town?) where a mix of upper and lower middle class live. Plain jane and boring.
Atlanta, on the other hand, is made up of multiple "cities" that contain a wide variety of individuals – the upper, upper class in Buckhead, and the lower, lower class elsewhere. (Justin won't let me travel to areas of the city where the really poor live, so I can't really say…) Then there are the OTP people who travel ITP to work. Housing is cheaper OTP and businesses pay more ITP, so why not?
That's why when the movie producers indicated that Atlanta and Duluth were one in the same, I got all up in arms about it. In my opinion, if they want to imply that Atlanta is a scary place, don't mention Duluth at all. I'd be willing to go along with it, since there are parts of Atlanta that can be scary. If they want to imply that Duluth is scary, don't show me a sunrise over Atlanta and suggest that everything was scary last night, but today it's all good. No. It's either scary or it's not; it's either Atlanta or it's not. Pick one.
Despite all of the irritation I experienced watching Captive, by the end I was nearly in tears. The acting wasn't great and I feel like a bit more research could have gone into the making of the film, but I did recall the event taking place in Atlanta and experienced the realization that this could have happened to me or anyone else I know and love.
Shortly thereafter I got my hands on Ashley Smith's book Unlikely Angel which has since been republished as Captive. In it, she details the story through her own voice about what happened that day. Once again, unimpressed with the writing, I still felt a deep connection to the story as she described places she went that day and things she did that I was familiar with. Throughout my whole experience with both the book and movie, I found myself questioning (and thankful for) the events that took place to get Brian Nichols into the safety of her home and all that she did to prevent him from going out and killing any others.
If you live outside of Georgia, do you remember the story of Brian Nichols and Ashley Smith? If you lived in Georgia in 2005, were you afraid when you realized Brian Nichols was on the loose? Did you do anything different that day? Would you have been able to handle yourself as well as Ashley did in a hostage situation?
GIVEAWAY
Captive, the movie, is coming to the big screen on September 18th. In the mean time, if you'd like to read Ashley Smith's story, here's your chance! FlyBy Promotions has provided me with one copy of Captive, the book, to give away to a blog reader; all you have to do is enter by September 11th! Kapeesh?
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
Remember how I said I watched all of the movies this summer? I wasn't lying. Welcome to part 2 of my summer movie reviews! Today I'm reviewing Jurassic World, Minions, and Ant Man. :)
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Jurassic World –
Absolutely not my first choice ever, the kids I was watching that fateful day wanted to go see it. Having never seen more than a little of the original Jurassic Park, I was a little bit worried. Scary movies are soooo not my thing. And reptiles? Lord, help me. :) But I took the 10 and 12-year-olds like the good sport I am, because the alternative would have been to sit at their house and do nothing. Seriously, would anybody actually choose nothing over something? So, we went and we got our 3D glasses and our candy and we sat mesmerized for the next 2 hours.
So let's back up a minute…
Chris Pratt is amazing! I have not seen him in any movies recently that I haven't liked. Then, let's just pair him up with director Steven Spielberg; what have you got? A blockbuster, obviously! If you add Jake Johnson, from New Girl, you have a movie that I can't help but like. :)
Set 22 years post-Jurassic Park, brothers Zach and Gray Mitchell are sent to Jurassic World to explore and enjoy as well as get to know their well-meaning aunt and Jurassic World's operations manager, Claire Dearing. Unsurprisingly, Claire is far too busy working on and preparing for the opening of a new exhibit at the park where a new genetically modified (whatever that means) dinosaur will be unveiled and doesn't have time to spend with her nephews, so she sends a babysitter. The boys, as it turns out, are uninterested in having a babysitter and somehow manage to sneak away (read: run away) while she is distracted on her phone. (Thankfully the kids I was watching didn't get any crazy ideas!) Afer sneaking away, while on a ride, they decide, stupidly, to ignore the demands of the park overseers to return to base for safety concerns. (Why the ride doesn't automatically return I have no idea! Clearly this park's overseers have more faith in humanity than Disney's do!) At about this time, Claire, who has taken her co-worker Owen (Chris Pratt) to see the new dinosaur have discovered this dinosaur to be missing. How did he escape from his cage? they wonder. Could he have climbed the 40-foot wall and escaped? Rather than making intelligent decisions about it, Owen and friends decide to enter the cage and see what's up. (Because when you are in Jurassic movies, that's what you do, right?) As they look over what seem to be wall tracks, the dinosaur makes his appearance escaping the cage and giving everyone (dinosaurs and humans alike) a run for their money. Can the staff of Jurassic World capture the dinosaur before he kills hundreds if not thousands of people and dinosaurs? Will children Zach and Grey make it back home to their loving parents?
Grossing $208,807,270 during it's opening weekend at the Box Office, Jurassic World set a record for the biggest June opening ever, the largest ever opening weekend, and had an IMAX opening record of $20.6 million. Viewers of the movie were split evenly between men and women, those over and under age 25 (source). Clearly this was a movie for everyone.
As for me and my skepticism at viewing the dynamic between human and dinosaurs? I loved it! The opening scenes were absolutely beautiful and well-filmed, the characters and plotline were mostly believable, and there was a bit of humor in there too which was nice. The dinosaurs weren't as scary-seeming as I had previously only imagined they would be, and then there was that line about Christ Pratt being a "badass" which, for the record, he totally was. This is one movie I am not only glad that I had the chance to see, but that I very much enjoyed seeing in 3D. Yes, this is definitely a film I recommend seeing. :)
Minions –
I'll admit that I begged Justin to take me to see this on opening weekend. Thank goodness we had far too much to do as this movie would have led to disappointment and heartbreak.
This movie is the prequel to Despicable Me. For as long as the minions can remember they have strived to work for the very best villain imaginable, but keeping their masters alive is harder than you would think. Slowly over time, one by one, the masters die off and these yellow little freaks have to find new ways to spend their time. Rather than become depressed, Kevin, a minion, decides to go off on an adventure doing whatever is necessary to bring happiness to his tribe, which mainly includes finding a villain to serve. Luckily, when he, Stuart, and Bob arrive off the coast of New York City in the 1960s, they manage to find a family to travel down to Florida with as they head to Villaincon were all of the world's best villains are going. Once arriving, Kevin, Bob, and Stuart land a job with the world's best villain and fly off to London in search of Queen Elizabeth's crown, which they must obtain for Scarlet Overkill. Will they be successful? Will they land a new career working for one of the world's best villains? Or will she "huff and puff and blow their world to smithereens"? Only one way to tell… :)
While the commercials for this movie basically giving away the whole story, I was amused enough to see the movie. How would Disney pull off this prequel? Sadly, as it turns out.The minions are cute enough, but cuteness isn't enough to lead a movie. And Scarlet Overkill? Seriously? I'm sorry, but the combination of the script and Sandra Bullock's acting just didn't work for me. Scarlet Overkill seemed less of a villain than the little girls in Despicable Me. And what does her character tell young girls about positions of power? All I took from it is that women can't hold positions of power without having a husband behind them. No thanks, Disney. Try again.
In essence, take your kids to see Minions if you have to. Laugh a little. Just don't expect too much. It's not that good.
Ant Man
When Justin and I originally saw this trailer in theatres, I'm pretty sure I leaned over and said "I'm not going to see that movie when it comes out." Well, guess what? I did. You see I do something called mystery shopping, and it just so happens that the same week I was going to mystery shop the theatre was the week of the Ant Man opening. Go figure, right? But I took it in stride. Marvel makes some pretty amazing movies, and I had high hopes for Ant Man. Even if the movie was about disgusting little insects, I had high hopes that at least the superhero aspect would be fun. How could it not be?
So here's the story:
Man gets out of prison. His ex-wife is now married to a police officer and neither ex-wife nor police officer husband will let ex-prisoner see his daughter until he gets a job and has a stable living condition. Political issues aside (as blatant as they may be), ex-prisoner (from this point forth known as Scott) can't get a job. Unfortunately because he lacks a job, he also lacks a stable life. Even Baskin-Robbins won't keep him on. Enter friend. Luis (AKA friend) gets a lead on a break-and-enter job. All Scott has to do is enter wealthy man Hank Pym's home and steal whatever is in his vault. Thinking of his daughter and how much he wants to see her, he agrees. Perhaps this job will get him the extra financing he needs to afford that stable life he desires. On the day of the heist, Scott discovers there is absolutely nothing in the vault except for a stupid looking costume. He takes it anyway thinking this job was all-for-nothing. Back at the apartment, he tries the costume on, shrinking to the size of an ant, running and escaping the treacherous aspects of a normal life that an ant leads. (Ever feared going down a shower drain?) When he finally manages to get back to a normal size, his first instinct is to return the scary costume – only Hank Pym's daughter is watching and she has other plans. She calls the police on him and sends him back to jail. At this point, Hank Pym meets with Scott as his lawyer and suggests that an opportunity will come along that will help him get out of jail. If Scott accepts this opportunity, he must become the Ant Man. Without knowing what all is involved, Scott escapes jail in the ant suit and slowly learns what all is involved with being a superhero. He has a daughter to see and a future to save, and this ant suit is just the beginning…
The box office numbers for this film weren't too impressive; Justin and I got to see and experience that since we went on Sunday evening of the opening weekend where we were in a theatre of about 12 people. While some of that could be chalked up to a "work night", I still thought the number was really low given how many kids and teens are out on break for summer. The movie itself wasn't bad. Justin took issue with some of the politics and science in the film, but nothing really bothered me too much. I was surprised to see Michael Douglas performing the role of the rich Hank Pym and thought he did very well alongside Paul Rudd as Scott Lang. Overall it was a good movie that had it's ups and downs. I'm not sure it's necessary to pay for 3D experience aside from the very cool miniature effects you get a la Honey I Shrunk the Kids. However, it is nice that this film is rated PG-13, so finally you can take your kids to see an action movie without worrying! And that little girl in the film? Adorable!
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Anyway, that's my take on this summer's hottest new flicks (that I've seen). Have you been to see any of these movies yet? Would you go? Share in the comments and let me know!
Over the summer, I've had the opportunity to see a lot of movies. I'm not sure if I've gotten to see so many because the family's I babysit for pay for my tickets … or if it's because of the awesome deals available for Visa Signature card holders … or because of mystery shopping experiences. Maybe it's a bit of all 3? Either way, some great movies came out this summer… The following are my reviews for Pitch Perfect 2, Inside Out, and Tomorrowland, the first movies I saw this summer.
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Pitch Perfect 2 –
Nothing like the original, in Pitch Perfect 2, Beca has to move beyond her college singing career into the real work world without losing her friends. Will they understand when her focus transitions to a more serious make or break internship? To make matters more complicated, the Barden Bellas have a just a made a serious offense by sharing more than just their singing with President Obama on his birthday and now have only one chance to compete during the whole school year at the World Wide Championships where the world, as it turns out, hates America. Managing to get under their skin, the Germans, who are the Barden Bellas biggest competitors, are making sure these women know that. Between the girl bonding, and the singing, Beca and the other Bellas have some growing to do in this movie.
The little girl I watch, M, is crazy obsessed with the original Pitch Perfect, so I heard all about Pitch Perfect 2 for the whole month prior to the release of this movie to theatres. I didn't get to go see this movie when it first came out (we saw Chappie instead. Ick!), but it definitely made for a fun experience when I did finally get to see this movie. I really enjoyed seeing Beca grow and change into an adult especially as she worked to develop her own voice and style to prove she was capable of transitioning into a real recording artist. Plus, it was also nice seeing how complicated adult relationships can be as Beca tried to balance her personal life, school, friends, and work.
Elizabeth Banks, the director of both Pitch Perfect movies, skillfully pulled off the charged dynamic between the American Barden Bellas and the German Das Sound Machine acapella groups. By the end of the movie, I was made to feel that the Germans were evil with a harsh sound unfamiliar to me, even after my previous travels to Germany. And as for the Americans? They seemed meek and mild in comparison.
Would I recommend this movie? It's hard to say. While M suddenly lost interest in Pitch Perfect, with the movie having concepts that were a little beyond her level, I enjoyed seeing it for free. There was nothing especially groundbreaking about the script or even the acting or singing within it, but I definitely found it engaging enough for a 2-hour movie. Besides, prior to writing this review, I discovered and fell in love with Pitch Perfect 2 German actor and Youtube star Flula. Check him out if you haven't yet and be sure to watch him make spätzle with American Youtube star Hannah Hart! Totally worth it! :)
Inside Out –
Eleven year old Riley has just moved away from her hometown of Michigan to San Francisco and things are changing faster than they ever have been before. Inside her mind, Joy tries to overide all of the other emotions keeping Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust at bay. Unfortunately, as Riley begins to see more than one emotion in her memories, Joy gets worried and, as she tries to fix the mixed emotions Sadness is associating with past memories, she and Sadness both get sucked into Riley's long term memory and away from headquarters. As Joy and Sadness struggle to get back, they watch in horror and confusion as many of Riley's "personalities" fall apart. First Goofball dies, then Hockey … Can they get back in time to save the most important personality – Family?
Based on the true experience by one of the animators, the story begins when Pete Docter relocated to Denmark as a child and had a hard time adjusting to his new surroundings (source). Although he managed to eventually work through his social anxiety by the time he reached high school age, he noticed much the same experience in his pre-teen daughter's life many years later. This is when he decided to consult a psychologist about it. He quickly realized that girls between the ages of 11 and 17 often experience a lot of emotion, and thus Riley and her personified emotions were born. It took some time for Docter, the producers, and animators at Pixar to come up with the storyline of Riley moving and how that would affect her emotions, but, once completed and presented to the masses, the film grossed $3.7 million, more than any other previously made Pixar film, on it's opening weekend. The story was a success and people loved that Riley would, in her own way, show the world that it's ok to have mixed emotions or be sad.
While this wasn't one of my favorite movies, I definitely liked how Riley and her emotions were portrayed throughout the film. I felt the story was a bit confusing going back and forth between A and B storylines. Yes, we understand that Riley has moved to a new home and this has resulted in anxiety, sadness, worry, and fear, but why do Sadness and Joy get lost in Riley's long term memory? Why are the relationships among fictious emotions important to a human?
Tomorrowland –
Originally I watched this movie because of George Clooney (an amazing actor IMHO), but quickly I became immersed in this Disney adventure that has main character, Casey Newton, exploring a world that only Walt Disney could have perfectly imagined, in a desperate effort to save humanity. As it turns out, Frank, George Clooney, was sent to Tomorrowland after getting on a Disney Park ride in the late 1960s (or perhaps it was at New York's World fair…) and being transported to Tomorrowland, a place where the most imaginative are sent to create a better tomorrow. After many years working with robot girl Athena, Frank is sent back to earth as punishment for not solving the world's problems and told never to return to Tomorrowland again. The world is ending and there is nothing anybody can do to stop it. Without giving up, Athena, who was also sent back to earth separately from Frank, uses the Tomorrowland pin to recruit Casey as a Tomorrowland ambasador. Athena, Frank, and Casey will return to Tomorrowland together in a last-ditch effort to save the world. One problem though: there is nothing wrong with the world! David Nix, Hugh Laurie an all around bad guy in this movie, has manipulated the tachyon machine, that shows both the beginning and ending of the world, to dictate when and how the end of the world will occur and confuse all who touch it. Will Casey, Frank, and Athena be able to save the world through the experiments and prototypes Tomorrowland has to offer? Or will David Nix successfully sabotage their plans and end the world as they know it?
As much as I wanted to like this story, I felt it was a bit cliché. There were no real surprises and the acting was only meh. It felt like a typical Disney or Marvel storyline where the good guys have to somehow, against all odds, defeat the villans. The biggest surprise for me, however, was 1) the beauty of the opening scenes and the music I recognized from Disney rides, and 2) that Hugh Laurie was in this movie as a half villain. (Apparently acting as he did in the tv show House would have taken the Disney out of this Disney movie. Go figure.) Anyway, if you are going to see this and have the option, I recommend seeing it in 3D; the visual effects are amazing. However, don't go into the theatre or put the DVD in your DVD player (or watch on Amazon or Netflix for that matter!) expecting surprises, twists, and turns. This is a Disney movie, after all. (And not Pixar either.)
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I know this a lot of movie reviews in one post, but I hope you were able to find at least one film that interests you. And just maybe one of my reviews will help you decide whether or not to see a film you may not have previously been aware of! Anyway, next Monday I will be reviewing Minions, Jurassic World, and Ant-Man. Have you seen any of these movies (or other movies) this summer? Have you taken advantage of any awesome summer deals? Share! I'd love to hear!
