tjgoalie13 Reviews

Doctor Strange (2016)

Funny, Action-Packed, and Mind-Bendingly Creative

[8/10 · 12 November 2016]

Doctor Strange, Marvel Studios newest entry in the marvel cinematic universe, is here and it is really good. Doctor Strange may not be as well-rounded as this year's Civil War, or some of the other Marvel gems, but it is a really good film on it's own merit. Doctor Strange features mind bending visuals, entertaining thrills, and a fresh look at the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU). Doctor Strange is yet another strong entry in the ever impressive MCU, which makes it harder and harder to argue, that Marvel is the premiere film studio today.

This movie described simply is like watching the avengers while on acid, and the special effects are perfect. In this film the characters dance between many different realities, and essentially within these realities everything can be manipulated by the mind. The special effects are amazing in this film, which is a true compliment, because many films this year struggled with overly digitized special effects. In this film, it's obvious that there are special effects, but they look very realistic.

The acting in this film is very good, as Benedict Cumberbatch brings his usual intense personality into his character. The action sequences are very well shot, and the film is subtly very funny. It's admirable that Marvel refuses to step away from humor, because it's become their true signature. One weak point about this film was that some of the characters were very flat, the villain especially so. Unfortunately, Mads Mikkelsen gives a great performance, but his character is yet another generic evil character, consumed by a bigger evil force, with little development as to why.

That being said this film wasn't all that original, but it didn't feel recycled either. This is most likely because this film introduced viewers to the more cosmic side of the MCU. Much like Guardians of the Galaxy took viewers off earth, this film takes viewers out of normal reality. It's impressive that Marvel can have so many characters in so many different atmospheres.

In the end this film is yet another solid Marvel film. It's not the best marvel film ever, but it's a very entertaining, funny, well-acted, and creative film that is perfect for viewers of all ages. The film struggled a little with a clichéd villain, some marvel clichés, and the occasional overly- expository dialogue. For those with children this film is perfect for them, and for those who love action or comic book film, give this film a look.

Hell or High Water (II) (2016)

Engrossing, Smart, and Filled with Relatable Characters

[9/10 · 9 September 2016]

Hell or High Water is yet another limited release gem that shows that in today's film climate, independent film is the quality standard bearer. While tentpole films are fun to see because they are events, films like Hell or High Water harken back to when filmmakers were more concerned with telling interesting stories, instead of making easy money. Hell or High Water is engrossing, tells its story with depth and smarts, and features really well-rounded characters. This film is truly a great film in almost all aspects, and will likely get a ton of recognition during Oscar season.

From the opening scene of this film, the film is gripping, using both intrigue and acting to its advantage. Much like many other great films, this film begins with a bang and holds the audience's attention throughout. Chris Pine has proved that he's a talented actor over the years, but this film is a major step up for him, that being said the show stealers are Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges. Foster has had amazing performances in the past, but this stands as one of his best, and Bridges plays a role that fits him like a glove, and he does it perfectly.

The actors are notably great, but the film is gripping because the story it tells is interesting. The story doesn't feel like a rip off of other films, and even more impressively tells it's story with depth and smarts. Nothing in this film feels like it's unrealistic or bombastic, every action in the film is well thought out and makes sense, that being said the film has a decent level of emotional depth. The impressive thing about Hell or High Water is that it's not overly sentimental, but it's the kind of film that still evokes an emotional response.

Perhaps the biggest reason that the story is interesting, and emotionally gripping is because the characters are so well developed. From the onset all characters come from relatable places, and have plenty of layers. Above that the characters are funny and at some point they simply begin to feel like real people just being captured on film. That being said every character's conflict hits even harder, because the characters feel so relatable.

Finding something wrong with this film is extremely hard, and in a day and age with so many films coming out in conjunction that's rare. Hell or High Water is well acted, gripping, funny, features great characters, shows an impressive amount of emotional depth, and never needlessly substitutes action for smarts. It seems safe to say that this film will get a lot of attention during Oscar season, especially for it's screenplay. If you're a fan of westerns, heist films, thrillers, or just in general like great films this film is a good choice.

Don't Breathe (2016)

Suspenseful and Clever, Despite a Few Plot Holes

[8/10 · 30 August 2016]

In a year with a string of impressive horror films, Don't Breathe is yet another good entry. Directed by Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, 2013), this film shows that he has a talent for horror, and may be a rising presence in the genre. Don't Breathe is hold-your-breath scary, and features a clever premise, despite a few small plot holes. It is worth mentioning that the title and posters seemed a little ambiguous as to the plot, but watching the film the title seems appropriate.

The first thing to mention about this film is that it is full of twists and turns, but does take a relatively practical approach to it's plot. The film's story is very smartly constructed, as it is full of tension from the opening moments, right up to the end. The film's biggest strength is its simplicity, as it makes the most of a very straightforward premise. That being said, the film is constructed in a way that obstacles are consistently thrown at the main characters in creative ways.

Simply put the fact that the writers and directors were able to tell a story with such a clever yet simple premise makes it easy to follow. The impressive thing about this film is within a short period of time, the characters are well established and the premise, which is quite clever, is introduced. With all of the clichéd horror films today, putting empty characters in clichéd situations, it's refreshing to see relatable characters put into a straightforward premise. However, as happens in all horror films, the characters find everything is not as they expected it, and quickly discover they're in over their heads.

The only problem with the film, is that it does cater to a few too many horror clichés and has a few glaring plot holes. While the obstacles in this film are creatively thrown at the main characters, a few of them don't make sense, with a little thought. The story at times, neglects to explain how something happened, and relies on a few Deus ex Machinas. The irony is that many of the plot holes, end up helping the villain character, as he seems almost inhuman by the end of the film. In the end, Don't Breathe does a brilliant job keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, with a combination of ingenuity and simplicity. The film offers a refreshing entry in the horror genre, which has seen a nice revival this year, from the typically clichéd horror films we get. The film isn't great, as it has a few too many plot holes, and clichés, but is still very entertaining. Horror buffs looking for a good film to get them into the Fall/Halloween season will likely enjoy this film.

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

A Truly Magical Film

[9/10 · 25 August 2016]

Kubo and the Two Strings, the next installment from the stop-go animation studio Laika is here, and I think it's an amazing film. I've stated for years that Laika could be the biggest competition for Pixar, and finally Laika has delivered a movie to prove me right. Kubo and the Two Strings is beautifully animated, conveys amazing amounts of emotional depth, and brings a true sense of magic. In the past I had been critical of some stop-go animation, but the works of Aardman and Laika have taken it to a premier level.

This film's animation is gorgeous, simply put the characters, the settings, the creatures, they all look amazing. It shouldn't come as any surprise, Laika has consistently made beautiful films, but it's always impressive when you consider the amount of time and effort that goes into animating a stop-go animation film. Above the animation the looks of the film is amazing, as the animators used color so well to give the film a look, and even more impressively the animators weren't afraid to make it dark. That has been one of the best staples of Laika, it's boldness to be willing to make an animated movie dark (but only to an extent.)

The boldness to make the film look dark occasionally, really exemplifies the film's impressive emotional depth. Much like Pixar, Laika seems to understand that the marshmallow fluff most studios give kids, are very one dimensional. While that fluff is in this film, there's elements of light horror in this film as well. Any film that can juxtapose kiddy fluff with any kind of horror tones, deserves credit for their depth and understanding of mood. It also helps make this film feel all the more magical, as if the presence of a character can change the mood of an area, which is amazing.

The entire film's look and depth help create a truly magical film, one where imagination seems to be at full capacity for the writers and filmmakers. The film's villain characters, voiced by Rooney Mara, are creepy and perfectly designed, and the main characters are very well developed as well. This film uses color amazingly, especially blue, which is a common color used in films today, but the use of it in this film both enhances the story and the mood beautifully. Above that the voice work is also incredible, especially the work of Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron.

All in all, this film is amazing, it may possibly be the best film of the year so far, although it's still early and Captain America: Civil War was pretty great as well. The story may have been a tad predictable in the end, but the magical look and feel of this animated film transcends a slightly predictable story. For those who love great movie and those who have imaginative young kids, see this in the theaters where the sense of magic can still be felt.

War Dogs (2016)

Somewhat Funny, but Riddled with Clichés

[6/10 · 23 August 2016]

War Dogs seems like a film with a ton of potential, because of the people involved in it, but lacks the spark to make it anything other than okay. The problem seems to be that the crew wanted to tell a true story and make the audience laugh but didn't fully understand, given the source material, how to do that. War Dogs is intermittently funny, but relies too much on clichés, and fails to pack any kind of a punch. If you're trying to figure out what kind of a movie this is, picture The Big Short with a slightly lesser known crew.

War Dogs did have a lot going for it, namely the talents of Miles Teller and Jonah Hill, as well as the direction of Todd Phillips (The Hangover Trilogy.) Above that the trailers for this film looked fairly funny, but note that almost all of the genuinely funny parts of the movie are contained in the trailer. That being said the film often tries to take a more dramatic approach, and fails to ever generate a hilarious moment. That being said both Miles Teller and Jonah Hill's performances are great in this film.

While Teller and Hill are great in this film it really feels too familiar, as if you've seen it before. That shouldn't be the case with a film about two men in their twenties running guns in the Iraq War. That being said it ends up making it's characters into clichés, and tells an overdone storyline about rags to riches idiots, and betrayal of best friends. It really is a shame because, as I mentioned before, this film could've been very original and interesting, but ends up being like most other films of today, more recycled than anything else.

Above that the film fails, at what it ultimately wants to do, which is pack a punch. It seems self evident watching it, that the director and writers wanted to expose a scary problem in America, and at the same time generate a few laughs. In that sense it's a lot like The Big Short, however War Dogs fails to ever do what it strives to do. Where The Big Short was informational, funny, and in the end terrifyingly honest, War Dogs is not. This movie may have a moment or two, but seems to miss it's intended mark on both ends, in that it's not as funny as it'd like to be nor is it as damning.

In the end War Dogs feels like more of an average film, which is disappointing because it had the potential to do everything wanted to. If you expect a great comedy, it's not really that, if you're expecting a great look at true and terrifying events that led to two young immature men running guns for America, it's not really that either. War Dogs is funny, well acted, and has a story to tell, but relies on clichés, stereotypes, and doesn't offer very much thought provoking material. This is a good film if you want a few chuckles but it doesn't supply a ton of laughs.

Darkness Falls (2016)

Great Cinematography, but a Weak Story

[7/10 · 18 August 2016]

Darkness Falls, the new short film by Jarno Lee Vinsencius, is pretty good. It's never easy to be critical of a short film because there's so many things to do in such a short period of time. Darkness Falls is beautifully shot, and is well crafted, but suffers from some weak writing. The major compliment of this film is that it looks gorgeous, and that Vinsencius did an amazing job lighting, and shooting this film. When addressing a short film, it's often easy to point out the bad audio, or the cheap effects, etc but this film, for the most part, avoids those mistakes and looks, sounds, and feels very clean. The only problem for me was the writing. The story does have a good amount of intrigue, but it ends up being a little too confusing at times, and flat at other times. That being said, the look of this film alone deserves recognition.

Sausage Party (2016)

If Pixar Had a Problem Child.

[8/10 · 15 August 2016]

Sausage Party, Seth Rogen's appropriately named Pixar-spoof/raunch fest, is here and it is actually pretty entertaining, if you're a sarcastic adult who enjoys shitting on everybody. Much like Deadpool did to the comic book genre earlier this year, Sausage Party takes aim at the animation genre, finally making an animation for adults. Sausage Party is as funny as it is clever, gleefully filled with profanity, but is also surprisingly thought provoking. Sausage Party never quite reaches the level of quality, of that which it pokes fun at, but does manage to do everything it set out to do.

Watching this film it's incredible the ensemble cast that Seth Rogen was able to gather for this film, featuring James Franco, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Edward Norton, Salma Hayek, and so many more. The plot of this film is actually a fairly entertaining one, but the real strength of the film is it's humor. That isn't surprising, considering the group behind it, but the film in essence jumps from one joke to another never leaving a dull moment. The main reason that the film is so funny is that the film is clever in how it pokes fun at the world of food.

Another reason that the film is so funny is that instead of trying to be politically correct, the film almost revels in it's ability to insult whoever it can. Animation has, over the years, proved to be a genre mostly directed at kids, besides a few exceptions (South Park, Family Guy, the Simpsons.) That being said the use of excessive profanity within that genre is so rare that it often elevates a raunchy animated comedy. Seeing a bunch of talking hot dogs, and buns that are animated to look like sexual images, and then swear non-stop ends up being one of the funnier elements of the film.

It seems surprising that Pixar didn't beat Sausage Party to this story though, because it could've been an even better Pixar film. By that I mean that the story of this film is actually quite clever and thought provoking, when you say to yourself, what food think if it could talk. The plot is not as focused as a Pixar film and the characters are not as emotionally involving, so Sausage Party feels more like a cheaper, raunchy Pixar film. However, this film does manage to attack a fairly thought provoking and deep storyline.

In the end, Sausage Party is a really good and often entertaining spoof of the animation genre for adults above a certain age, and of a certain mindset. The film tries to remain clear of racism, simply by insulting every group of people, without prejudice, we'll see if that method works. The film is clever, funny, thought provoking, and gleefully profane. It should be stated that not everybody will enjoy this movie, but that's partially the point.

Suicide Squad (2016)

A Talented Cast Trapped in a Rushed, Crowded Mess

[5/10 · 5 August 2016]

Suicide Squad, the next entry in the ever bleak DC Cinematic Universe, is here and frankly I was disappointed. The hype for this film was big and expectations may have been admittedly very high, but this film fails on a level deeper than just a bad movie where a good movie was expected. Suicide Squad features a great cast, but falls flat in terms of story, and rushes through its already thin story. What's so sad is that the formula for a really good movie was there and the filmmakers ignored it completely.

With a film that has so many talented stars in it, and Jai Courtney, it's not surprising that the expectations were very high for the film. Will Smith is not immune to bad decisions when it comes to his films, but he's pretty good at rising above them and making films better all on his own. Jared Leto is pretty great in this film, he'll undoubtedly be judged by comparisons to other Joker performances, but just on his own merit he was great. The entire cast did a good job, Smith, Leto, Viola Davis, and Margot Robbie were all excellent in their performances, but they were failed by a poorly crafted film.

The biggest problem is the fact that the screenwriter and director seemed to not be on the same page, when it came to what this film was about, or more precisely who this film is about. To me, it's about Rick Flag and the Enchantress. However, clearly somebody in the process missed that and felt that every character needed an appropriate amount of backstory, which they don't. The result of this confusion is two cardinal sins, the first is that the audience is given a lot of needless scenes of backstory that we don't need that waters down the story. The second and far more egregious is that the better story was very clearly sitting within this watered down, and crowded mess that we ended up with.

Without spoilers this film rushes through introducing all of it's characters and giving backstory, for almost every one of them. Frankly there are more subtle and effective ways to show us something than 5 minute flashbacks for every character. Above that we can't care about the characters, besides Amanda Waller who you will grow to hate because Viola Davis gave an amazing performance, which really hurts the film because they were on to something. The painful thing is that if the filmmakers had looked at what they had, they may have noticed that certain alternative plot points would have been far more emotionally impactful, and they just missed them.

It's easy to see how some will enjoy this film, it's not boring, or unenjoyable. This film just suffers from the same problem that Batman v. Superman did, the better film rests within the mess we were given. In the end Suicide Squad is rushed, crowded, features a weak villain, and feels like a poor man's Guardians of the Galaxy. That being said kids may enjoy this film and comic book die hards like will too, simply for the spectacle.

Jason Bourne (I) (2016)

Action-Packed, but Clichéd, and Unnecessary

[6/10 · 31 July 2016]

Jason Bourne, the next entry in the Bourne Franchise is here, but it isn't as good as the original Bourne movies. Matt Damon is back in this entry, and so is director Paul Greengrass (Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum), which means the style and feel of the original films is there. Jason Bourne is entertaining, but is riddled with clichés, and feels like a somewhat irrelevant entry in the franchise. The problem for this film is that many of the biggest plot points are featured in other modern spy films, and at this point are somewhat overdone.

Jason Bourne is action packed and offers fans of the originals more of what they love. The film is action packed, despite that some of the action has too much shaky cam, which is common within in this franchise, but annoying nonetheless. The acting in this film is one of the best parts of this movie, as Damon is great in his return to Bourne, however Alicia Vikander and Tommy Lee Jones are both also great in their roles, conveying complex people very well. The major problem with this film is that it's riddled with clichés.

If this film had been made 5 years ago, it would have been timely and groundbreaking, and while it's still timely the subject matter is somewhat worn out. Jason Bourne latches on to the same theme as various other spy films today, which is how much can we infringe upon privacy for security. That isn't to say Hollywood needs to abandon doing films about the ongoing privacy vs security argument that is plaguing our society today, but they need to make it original. If you need an example, Captain America: Winter Soldier was a far more entertaining and well-rounded version of the same film, that came out 2 years ago.

Beyond being clichéd and not really offering anything new to the privacy vs security argument, this film feels detached from the other Bourne films. By that I mean that the original 3 Bourne films had an overarching story, and they all felt as though they were necessary for that over arching story, this film isn't part of that story. The story never really feels connected to the original films, and instead feels like an unnecessary cash grab. Above that the film refuses to offer anything new to the franchise, recycling the same cinematography and themes of other films.

Jason Bourne is a fairly entertaining action/spy film, and it comes at a time when spy films are all the rage, because the public knows so much about the imperfections of the system. That being said this film piggybacks on other, better, films so as to continue Jason Bourne's storyline. The film is action-packed, well-acted, and loaded, but is also unnecessary, recycled, and frankly lacks a fresh look problem. That being said fans of the original franchise likely will enjoy this film.

Lights Out (II) (2016)

Dark, Clever, and Unnerving

[8/10 · 23 July 2016]

Lights Out, is quite possibly one of the most visually and mentally scary films in the last two years. The film is yet another in a string of horror movies that uses diseases as allegories for its premise, and this premise alone is genius. Lights Out is often unnerving and sometimes terrifying, dark in look and tone, without feeling recycled or derivative. The biggest strength of the film is that the story is constructed in a way that the audience is always wondering if something will happen.

The most genius element of the film is the look of the creature that haunts this movie "Diana." Diana is an all-black figure that lurks in the dark, and kills whoever threatens it. That being said throughout this film the audience has to fear that this character could pop out of any dark space at any given time. At 81 minutes, not a single second is calm or peaceful, because the mere sight of sight of this creature is unnerving. However, the writers and crew deserve credit for conceiving the idea of the film having a lot of darkness in it.

We often say lighting is a storytelling device, but in today's films it's become less true the more formulaic films get. In this film lighting is very much a storytelling device, and it is used perfectly. Every scene in this film contains, just the right amount of darkness and light, almost as if there are safe areas, and areas that characters should stay away from, and they're often changing. The dark look and tone of this film, create a very unnerving atmosphere, because one of the most common fears is a fear of the dark, and more notably a fear of the unknown, which exists in the dark.

The film really hit a note with me personally, because I have had nightmares in the past about all dark figures living in the dark, so the film felt that much more personal to me. That being said, the film really doesn't feel all that derivative of other recent horror films. A few moments, and scenes did feel familiar (Diana as a child), but those were few and far between. Even those moments that are a little familiar, are constructed in a way that they are still very scary.

The film does what The Babadook did a couple of years ago, and uses depression as an allegory for the creature in the film, which is turning into a very cool concept. The film is one of the few films within the system that uses lighting to tell the story, and does so in a way that is clever and terrifying at the same time. The film is admittedly dark, and relatively humorless, and not really for children, but that kinda goes without saying. For those horror buffs looking for a good scary movie, this may be your movie.

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Funny, Fast Paced, and Action-Packed

[8/10 · 23 July 2016]

Star Trek: Beyond is here, and it is truly unlike any other Star Trek movie you've ever seen. Directed by Justin Lin, who directed four entries in the Fast and Furious franchise, the film continues on the more fast paced and slightly bombastic feel of the rebooted franchise. Star Trek: Beyond is often funny, fast paced and action packed, and features a cool new villain. The film is also co- written by Simon Pegg, and thus has a lot more moments of humor, sometimes resembling the Marvel mold more than Star Trek.

Star Trek films have historically been inconsistent when it comes to humor, some like Star Trek: The Voyage Home or Star Trek (2009) have been very funny, and some like Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, forwent humor for seriousness. This film may just be the funniest Star Trek film yet, because it's not quite as silly as some of the other films, but manages to have a lot of good quips. The film's sense of humor is most likely a product of Simon Pegg co-writing the film, and that has proved to be a great decision. It should be stated that the humor does make Star Trek: Beyond feel slightly more like a summer blockbuster than a Star Trek film, and they are different.

Star Trek Beyond is structured slightly more like an action film, as the pacing grows in tempo until the end of the film when it culminates in a big finale. This is more consistent with the pacing of the rebooted franchise, however the film never quite elevates like the previous two films did. The action sequences in this film are very good, which comes as no surprise given that Lin, who is experienced in shooting action sequences was in the helm. One surprise of this film was the villain character, Krall.

The rebooted franchise of Star Trek movies has done an amazing job forming well-rounded villains. The villain in this film feels weak at the beginning, but as the film progresses his motives become more clear. Both Nero and Khan were good villains, and while Krall isn't as well rounded he is a serviceable villain. That being said the other characters in the film aren't very well developed, besides Captain Kirk, who is given some development.

All-in-all this is probably the weakest of the rebooted franchise in my opinion, but that doesn't mean it's not a good movie, it is. Star Trek Beyond is very entertaining, fast paced, action-packed, funny, and has a very good villain. The film is a very good time at the theaters, and is fairly family friendly, for those who love summer blockbusters this is a perfect summer movie for you.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)

Funny, Entertaining, but a little Clichéd.

[7/10 · 18 July 2016]

The female led Ghostbusters reboot is finally here, and I've got to say I think it's a pretty good movie. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this film, mostly from internet hacks who were clinging to the sexist chant that "women aren't funny." Ghostbusters is clever and funny, features cool special effects, but is admittedly a little clichéd. That being said this film is very good, and I would say don't let the audience reviews online sway your opinion too much.

For those who don't know anything about the Ghostbusters reboot, it's being made by the same people that made Bridesmaids. Bridesmaids is one of the funnier recent comedies, but i'll go so far as to say I enjoyed Ghostbusters more. While Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig are their reliable selves, the show stealers for me were Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. All 3 brought an unexpected level of humor and screen presence, and almost every joke delivered by Leslie Jones had me laughing out loud. Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon may have entered this film as almost exclusively SNL stars, but after this film I think you'll see them in a lot more.

The rebooted Ghostbusters, much like the original, uses a lot of special effects, in an attempt to mix big budget CGI with comedy. The original Ghostbusters, sort of broke ground by proving that comedy and big budget special effects could work together, nowadays it's commonplace as every Marvel movie uses the same approach. That being said the effects in this movie, especially the sound design, were cool and looked good. I will say that some of the effects reminded me of Star Wars, but they aren't the first and they won't be the last to copy that movie.

The only big problem I had with the movie was that it felt somewhat derivative. Many moments in the movie it felt like they were nodding to the original instead of trying to be different. That along with the reliance of Paul Fieg on the overly talkative humor, where characters refuse to ever let the audience figure a joke out for themselves, are really the only things that seemed weak in the film. That being said major fans of actions films should beware that the action sequences are nothing special, and some characters aren't all that well developed.

So in essence Ghostbusters is no masterpiece, it's really not even a great movie, but it is pretty entertaining. The cast is great in the movie, many of the jokes worked, the effects were cool, the soundtrack was nostalgic fun, and the movie even featured cameos from the entire cast of the original, that are still with us. For those who feel weary because the online fan reviews and ratings have been bad, I fear many of those reviewers never saw the movie, and instead gave the movie a bad rating out of hatred that women are in a traditionally male movie. This is a fairly entertaining comedy, and regardless of what you've heard if you like comedies check this movie out.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Ultra Dumb and Generic

[5/10 · 25 June 2016]

Independence Day: Resurgence is here, and it would seem with the direction they went that Independence Day may have been better if it hadn't had a sequel. The original film was admittedly dumb, and considering Roland Emmerich's filmography I didn't go in expecting this film to be thought provoking, but Independence Day: Resurgence lacks the impactful moments the first one had. Independence Day: Resurgence is full of clichés, features weak characters, and lacks the iconic moments of the original. It is sad to say but given the filmography of Roland Emmerich, the fact that this movie isn't very good isn't a surprise.

The original Independence Day wasn't very original, but it found a way to surpass it's generic approach with entertaining acting and storytelling. However, Independence Day: Resurgence loses some of that charm, and ends up being even more generic. The story takes a radical departure from the realistic approach of the first one, and puts the audience in a super technologically advanced earth. The film is also hurt by the lack of charismatic leads, who have been replaced by young more dull actors.

The problem is partially that the actors aren't all that good, whether that's a lack of direction or a lack of ability is up for debate. That being said the actors are only part of the problem, as even if they were great the characters are one dimensional. Another major problem is that the original film was a perfect example of dumb fun, where it was funny and frankly dumb, the sequel is just as dumb, if not more and half as funny. The end result is when a major character dies or anything happens in this film it's hard to care.

The lack of care for major moments resonates as the ultimate disappointment of Independence Day: Resurgence. Even if you hate Independence Day you can't deny that when Bill Pullman delivers his speech, everybody watching gets a little emotional, and there are various other moments from that film that resonate. There are next to none of these moments in Independence Day: Resurgence. In the end Independence Day: Resurgence is boring because it's not emotionally gripping, and just trugs along.

Independence Day: Resurgence is in essence a sequel made purely for the profit, that departs from what made the first film so special. The sequel is inferior to the original in most aspects, and in some areas doesn't even feel like a sequel to Independence Day. The characters are one dimensional, the story is generic and clichéd, the dialogue is weak, the film is incredibly dumb, but admittedly the special effects are amazing. In the end if you like action and want a release where you can go and just shut your brain off, then this is for you, otherwise you may be disappointed.

Finding Dory (2016)

Funny, Touching, and Beautifully Animated

[9/10 · 21 June 2016]

Finding Dory, the long awaited sequel to Finding Nemo is here and while it's nowhere near as good as the original it's a pretty solid follow up. It should be stated that a solid follow up by Pixar is still a great film, as they've shown that they have making amazing films down to a science. Finding Dory is funny, beautifully animated, and often touching. It should be stated up front, that Finding Nemo is a nearly flawless film, and that when comparing them, Finding Dory doesn't quite live up, but on it's own merit it is still a great film.

One major reason that Finding Dory is so good is that it's hilarious, and not just a few moments of humor, but hilarious throughout the entire film. Much like Finding Nemo the film gives voices to animals we see and throws their own wit into what those characters would say and do, much like the crabs and seagulls from the first film. It isn't as consistently hilarious as Finding Nemo and never reaches the same range of pure hilarity and heart stopping moments, but it does have quite a few of both. Above the humor of the film another major element that worked so well for the film is the animation which is gorgeous.

This is true for both the film and it's short, both were gorgeously animated, so much so that it's becoming more and more realistic. Animating people still seems to be a work in progress, and we may never get that right, but when it comes to animals, Pixar seems to have a firm grip on making them look flawless. The only problem I have with this film is the story, which is okay, but coming from such a talented studio that consistently focuses on story, the story had some liberties and plot holes that aren't common from Pixar. That is the major area where Finding Nemo was so great and Finding Dory fell a little flat.

However, Pixar's greatest strength over the years has been it's ability to make mass amounts of people feel something watching their films. This is an amazing accomplishment, because some people are easily invested in a film and get immersed easily, while some find it very hard to get immersed in films, but Pixar seems to know how to make everybody feel something watching their films. There are multiple moments in this film that do that, and convey as with many other Pixar greats an amazing amount of emotional depth. I typically say if a film can make somebody have a visceral reaction then it's a great film, I wouldn't say this film does that but it comes very close, which is impressive in it's own right.

For those who loved Finding Nemo I wholeheartedly believe you'll love this film to, but restating the obvious don't expect it to match Finding Nemo. This film is hilarious, beautifully animated, touching, well paced, and features great voice acting. The film isn't as good as Finding Nemo, as it's story isn't quite as good and frankly was probably never going to be as good. That being said for all who love Pixar films, families especially, this is a great film to go see.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

A Genuinely Scary Sequel

[8/10 · 19 June 2016]

The Conjuring 2 is one of those extremely rare horror sequels that doesn't fall victim to copying it's predecessor. While The Conjuring 2 isn't free of clichés and isn't better than it's predecessor, it's a really solid horror film separate from the original. The Conjuring 2 is chilling without relying on jump scares, features really good character development, despite being a tad familiar. This film may prove that James Wan is the modern king of horror, because every horror film he does is solid.

One thing to learn from this film is that while jump scares are a cheap way to get scares, they can be very effective when used sparingly. Many modern horror films rely solely on jump scares to scare the audience, but this film has a truly chilling tone, and many scenes are terrifying without jumping the audience. That being said there are jump scares littered throughout this film, but Wan is clever when he uses them, and is often effective when he uses them. I'm proud that most horror films don't jump me, that being said multiple times watching this film I found myself jumped.

One major reason this film succeeds is because of the character development, which really helps the audience care about the characters. Every single character in the film is well fleshed out, and given a moment of relatability. Even the ghosts in the film are generally scary and have a really good design. However, the film's characters represent one of the film's major problems, the fact that it's based on true events. After seeing this film it would seem to say that the phrase "based on true events" was only included for dramatic effect.

The story of the film is based on the actual events of the Enfield Poltergeist in England in the late 70's but the problem is that half the film uses moments from that investigation and the other half feels like an exorcist rip off. It's unfortunate because there's a terrifying story, despite the evidence that it was a hoax, in the Enfield Poltergeist that gets lost in the shuffle. Simply put if the filmmakers hadn't felt the need to match The Exorcist, the film's ending may not have felt so different from the rest of the film.

In the end for horror buffs, this may be the best horror film of the year, if nothing better comes along. For those who want to see a great horror film regardless of its faithfulness to the actual events this is a great film, but for those who want a faithful adaptation of the Enfield Poltergeist this film definitely takes some liberties. That being said this film is genuinely scary which is rare today, and above that is just a good film in general, so it's most definitely worth seeing.

Warcraft (2016)

A Rushed and Messy Film

[5/10 · 13 June 2016]

The film adaptations of video games have, up to this point, been bad but there was hope for the gamer community that Warcraft could break through, but it was, in my opinion a disappointment. The potential impact of this film was obvious, gamers who are hungry for high quality film adaptations of their favorite games, are still waiting for a film to prove that it can be done. Warcraft is clichéd, poorly written, and not as entertaining or deep as it could and therefore should have been. I don't want people thinking I hated this movie, because it did some things well and plenty of people have said they enjoyed it, I simply didn't.

The most painful thing about the movie was that it had a lot of good aspects, but as a whole the film felt a little weak. One major problem I had with this film was that it reminded me too much of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. Regardless of the agitation that statement will incur out of die hard fans, one prime example is the main antagonist of the film, the orcs, ride around on giant evil looking wolves, just like in Lord of the Rings. Above that the film as a whole looked too digitized, where in certain scenes, everything in the scene looked digitally created.

The movie was directed by the immensely talented Duncan Jones, and to be honest the world he creates, is very intriguing. However, the script was a major weakness of this film, because inside this film is a cool story worth telling but it was overcrowded with weak characters and muddled storytelling. The film leaps around so much, trying very hard to tell a dense story, that it becomes very hard to follow, and almost impossible to care about any characters. From a technical standpoint it jumps around so much, that at times the film disregards explanation.

The weak story, and rushed pacing make the film feel overcrowded, and hard to really enjoy. While some of the characters had very cool development, many of them flash through for momentary exposition and then disappear for 20 minutes. The orc villain is admittedly cool to look at, albeit a little one dimensional, but the overall evil force in the film is essentially an unexplained force. The film really never feels like it entertains or challenges like Jones' other films (Moon and The Source Code), it just trudges forward.

It isn't a terrible film, and I'm guessing many will enjoy this film, if for no other reason than that it is a good 2 hour escape from reality. That being said for those who are looking for a entertaining, witty, original film this just isn't really that, as it never allows itself to delve deeply into any scene. The film features a great amount of potential, which only serves to make the muddled end result even more depressing, as the film clearly could have been better. All-in- all I think kids will like this film, but for those who want a great film, this just isn't quite that.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

A Little Formulaic, But Admittedly Funny.

[8/10 · 8 June 2016]

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping never looked all that appealing to me, but I must say it was surprisingly better than I expected. Seeing the trailers I thought the film was another in a wave of ultra dumb comedies, but up front, it's really not. Popstar is a little formulaic, but is admittedly funny, and finds a way to even be witty. Even more impressive, although not all that surprising is that some of the songs in this movie are actually pretty catchy, albeit mock-ups.

For those who love This is Spinal Tap and other films of that nature, this film is a little derivative. That being said, it's not as if this is just a rehash of other better films, that entire genre does require modernizations every few years. Because this film is spoofing not only the musicians of today, but everybody in the entertainment world. That being said this film does list as another Judd Apatow film and does have some formulaic moments that appear in all of his films.

The most notable "Appatowism" in this film is the overdone comedy trope of today, where the film lingers on jokes far longer than they should, under the illusion that lingering over a joke makes it funnier. It's kinda like when a goofy kid makes a great joke everybody laughs, and then the kid gets confident and keeps pushing the joke until everybody around is just wishing he'd shut up and go away. That being said, the film doesn't live off the annoying lingering joke, and succeeds at being genuinely funny, all the time. It's not the funniest movie this year, and it may not even be hilarious, but the film is consistently littered with raunchy funny jokes, that often deliver.

The film was marketed poorly, in my opinion, because it came across as an ultra dumb comedy, and in reality isn't half as dumb as it comes across as. The film occasionally wanders into the dumb comedy area, but often finds it's way back into the land of witty comedies, making it somewhat of a mixed bag. For instance, the songs are catchy, they are witty reflections of our pop stars, but they are also a little too on the nose, making them come across as a little dumb. That being said, underneath the thin exterior of a dumb comedy is a really witty reflection of our current music industry, and the pressures, idiocracy, immaturity, selfishness, and chaos commonly associated with it.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is filled with cameos from famous musicians and comedy actors, some of which even lend their singing talents to the musical pieces. At times it feels like the entire music industry is in this film, as they play along on a mockumentary making fun of them. However, the film is never really mean spirited, or all that damning it just grooves along, spoofing everybody from the musicians to the fans. For those who like the lonely island, you'll love this movie, and for those who are seeking a funny comedy, regardless of rating this is also a movie you'll love, but there should be a note, this movie really isn't for kids or the weak spined.

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Disappointing from Script to Special Effects

[5/10 · 27 May 2016]

X-Men: Apocalypse, the follow up to X-Men: Days of Future Past, is finally here, and frankly i'm disappointed. The film suffers from a plethora of problems, and struggles to limp through which is shocking considering how great Days of Future Past was. X-Men: Apocalypse is entertaining, but suffers from terrible special effects and post production, and a very weak villain. The most sad thing about this film is that it had so much potential to be great, and just took a long walk off a short pier.

The biggest advantage this film has going for it is it's super talented cast, who show up and give it their all, despite a weak script. Lawrence, McAvoy, and Fassbender all make this film as entertaining as they can, and the action sequences are fun to watch. However, the script has serious problems, many of which are too hard to overcome. Put frankly the story isn't well crafted at all, it's choppily thrown together more resembling a set of disconnected scenes following each other not a story.

The film's biggest crux is it's special effects and post production. This may sound odd, but they are, in some cases, so bad that they are distracting. The dialogue is one major problem, as clearly there was a lot of ADR (Automatic Dialogue Replacement) or dubbing, and it often doesn't match the lips or doesn't sound like the actor has the rest of the movie. Above that the special effects, whether practical or digital, looks bad. The CGI isn't very good, the sets are noticeable and flat, Apocalypse's makeup is obvious, not very good, and distracting.

On that note Apocalypse, the titular character is one of the movie's biggest weaknesses. Noted as one of the comic's coolest villains with an unflinching belief in darwinism, the film's villain more represents a shell of that. Oscar Isaac isn't the problem, as he gives the performance his best effort, but the character has weak motivations at best, and isn't all that menacing or memorable. A product of a lazily crafted script where the character that binds it all together has no real dimensions and is essentially a flat shell of a cooler idea.

It's ironic that Fox spent almost 200 million making Apocalypse, and spent just under 60 million on Deadpool, a far superior film. The best way to describe X-Men: Apocalypse is a mixed bag, because it's not a terrible movie, but it's not a very good movie either, it's just mediocre. The film is obviously the product of a poorly crafted script, which is a shame, because it could have, and thus should have, been better.

Keanu (2016)

A Comedy Filled With Jokes That are Clever and Original

[8/10 · 10 May 2016]

When I first heard about Keanu, a feature film debut for the comedy duo Key & Peele I was very excited because I love the show. Key & Peele have consistently shown that they are clever comedians, and Keanu only serves as further proof of their talent. Keanu is often funny, mostly because of the infectious chemistry of it's leads, despite a few narrative weaknesses. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Keanu is the originality of the jokes, in a day and age where comedies are typically very lazily made.

A lot of comedies today are like modern horror movies, they are extremely lazily made and not very good at what they are supposed to do. Keanu features some very clever jokes that are really funny, and border on being hilarious. Some of the jokes fall flat, and this isn't the funniest comedy I've ever seen, but a lot of the jokes are funny, and original. The movie is at it's best when the two main characters are on the screen, as their chemistry is electric.

The biggest selling point of this film is Key & Peele, because those two comedians have proved to be hilarious, and are even better when they are together. The two main characters, played by Key & Peele, are the obvious focus of the film, as every other character in the film is clearly an afterthought. Given how the story progresses it's easy to care about the two main characters, but all other characters lack the same depth, making the clear focus of the film Key & Peele, but sacrificing quality in the process.

While the film is clever, somewhat original, and often funny it also has a few too many plot holes. Like most comedies today, the story of Keanu was written simply to tie a long list of jokes together, and because of that it feels weak. There are multiple moments where the cleverness that was infused in the jokes, is abandoned for the story. The film's story is also not as original as the jokes, as the story feels at least a little like Taken.

All-in-all the jokes are what matters in this film, as many, if not all, who see this movie will see it for the humor and not the story. The jokes are clever, fairly original, often funny, and don't fall short very often. For those who like Key & Peele, this movie will not disappoint, and may even exceed expectations. If you like their style, or if you like funny movies, this movie is definitely for you.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Funny, Smart, and Great Character Development

[9/10 · 5 May 2016]

Captain America: Civil War is in my opinion the best Marvel Studios film to date, I do not say that lightly. I loved Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Avengers, but Civil War does everything that Marvel has needed to do for a while. Civil War is perfectly written, crafted with care and heart, and feature brilliant character development. All things considered Civil War is a feat, because it finally shows that Marvel is willing to take some risks, all the while remaining true to what has made their films so enjoyable.

When looking at Civil War, in specific the story, it's almost perfect. The story serves as a culmination of all the events that have occurred in the ever expanding marvel cinematic universe. The great thing about this film is it's the first comic book film to intelligently address the issue of how do people respond to the seemingly endless carnage created by the main characters. Such a simple idea is perfectly applied create a thought provoking movie where every action has a repercussion.

The brilliance of this film can't be understated, because the politics within the film are fictional, but feel realistic, and are dominated by shades of grey. The film finds a way to be more brave than any of the previous marvel films by taking risks and attacking deep issues, but keeps the iconic sense of humor marvel has become known for. It should be noted that the film's not dark or anything, but it does attack complex themes, and conveys a surprising amount of emotional depth for a summer blockbuster. When you consider the density of the story and the amount of characters featured it's amazing that the film worked as well as it did.

That brings me to what I consider the most impressive element of the entire film, the character development. It's difficult to have a film with as many characters as this film has, and make every character feel well developed, but this film does that, more so it makes you feel for characters who are brawling with each other. The acting was one reason the characters feel so well developed as the actors brought small nuances that sold the characters that much more, and while Chris Evans is great in this film the real superstar is Robert Downey Jr., who brings so many emotions to his performance in this film. This is in my opinion the best portrayal of Iron Man since his original film, but the irony is that the show stealer is Spider-Man who marvel nailed.

For those who enjoy films that are funny, touching, action-packed, or just good stories this film won't disappoint. This film is what Batman v. Superman should have been, however is even more impressive because the film finds a way to juggle so many different tasks, and does it well. Captain America: Civil War is one of those great films that everybody can watch and enjoy for different reasons. If you like movies of this genre, check Civil War out because it's one of the best in recent memory.

Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

Funny, Heartwarming, and Refreshing

[8/10 · 24 April 2016]

When Barbershop came out in 2002, I felt it was a great comedy, because it was hilarious, and it had a great message, so naturally a belated sequel excited me. The cast from the old film is gone, except for Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer, who are back. Barbershop: The Next Cut is funny, contains a heartwarming message, and features a lot more depth than many would expect from a comedy. It should be noted now, I do feel that the original Barbershop was a better all around film.

Barbershop: The Next Cut as a comedy alone, isn't hilarious but is quite funny, and will have a few good moments of laughter, but nothing truly hilarious. From the comedy perspective, one character helps keep these films funny, and that's Cedric the Entertainer. Unfortunately, I watched the film comparing it to the original, and the original was clearly funnier, as the focus in "The Next Cut" was not on the comedy as much. The only problem with that is that in Barbershop the film was so funny, that when it switched to being serious, those moments resonated with the audience, where in this film they don't resonate as much.

The film does try to be serious quite often, which isn't a surprise, and in fact is one of the best elements of the film. However you take the message, it's a good message, and putting a message that we can all agree upon in a comedy makes it even better. The film does a really great job reflecting on the community structure of today, ironically though the message, while directed at poverty stricken places, isn't limited exclusively to one of place or group of people, we all can learn from this movie.

As happened with Barbershop in 2002, "The Next Cut" has an unexpected amount of emotional depth. It's refreshing in the climate of modern comedies, where many of them are mechanical, that a comedy can show so much depth. The Next Cut, much like it's predecessor is able to be both funny and serious, making the moments when it is serious even more powerful. It's also nice to see a group with so much chemistry that they feel and look like a real community, so when they fight it feels real.

In the end Barbershop: The Next Cut is a really good comedy film, that does exactly what comedy should do, makes you laugh and teaches you life lessons along the way. The film is both funny, and emotional, which is really refreshing when some comedies are neither. The only thing for those who love the original Barbershop is that "The Next Cut", in my opinion, is not quite as good, but is extremely close. For anybody that wants a good relaxing time at the theater, this movie is a perfect choice.

Hardcore Henry (2015)

An All-Out Attack on the Senses

[5/10 · 16 April 2016]

With such a focus on originality today, many filmmakers feel pressured to go out and find the next big thing. Unfortunately, the POV first person camera may be the next big fad in Hollywood, and that's not good. Hardcore Henry is very original, but has no real story, and contains a lot of nauseating camera work. The biggest problem, is us, we've encouraged things like this film to happen, and now we have it.

Today's critics seem to latch onto one critique more than any other, and that is the originality argument. Many people will tell you no film today is really original, but then a film like this comes along. Shot like a video game this film is original in both look and narrative, however, the focus on creating this video game like look lead to a weak storyline. It seems sad that our generation just craves things that are original, so much so that when we get it, we don't care about quality.

The greatest flaw of the film is the narrative, or serious lack thereof. Many, if not all, characters are grossly underdeveloped, especially the villain who is goofy and weak. The story is more of a incoherent assembly of scenes, that does little more than further the confusion. It seems that from the outset, Hardcore Henry was always about the POV feel and look. It is ironic, because the film is plot less, and the action doesn't really look good either.

The gimmick of this film is for the audience to feel like they are in the shoes of the main character. The problem is the main character bobs and weaves so much the film is more on a nauseating set of fight scenes. On top of the terribly shaky action sequences, where very little is visible, the film is poorly edited, furthering the confusing story by jumping around randomly. On top of that, the way the characters and story are presented, time in the film is totally jumbled, and nothing seems to make sense until the end of the film, at which time it's too late.

In conclusion Hardcore Henry, is an all-out attack on it's viewers senses, as they are put through a non stop set of nauseating action sequences. The film has no real story, and throws characters in and out of the film, creating a confusing mess of a story. So yes the film is original, but that doesn't make it good or worth watching, because there's a gross lack of craft in this film. I suggest you don't watch this film because the only selling point is the new POV shooting style, which alone is not enough to make a good movie.

The Jungle Book (2016)

Beautiful, Perfectly Voiced, and Modernized

[9/10 · 16 April 2016]

Disney's live action adaptation of their animated classic, The Jungle Book, is a brilliant remake that gives a different take on the well known story. Watching The Jungle Book, it's clear that Disney was trying to go for a more mature tone, while still honoring their animated film. The Jungle Book is visually stunning, features brilliant voice acting, and updates the Disney classic with a modern twist. It should be noted how impressive this film is when considering that the entire film was shot in a studio in Los Angeles.

When you think of films that are groundbreaking in terms of special effects, you may think of Avatar or Star Wars, but possibly this movie may be one of the most groundbreaking. Considering that everything in this film, except the actor portraying Mowgli, is computer generated, and that the effects are seamless is extremely impressive. The Jungle Book may open a door for other films that originally seemed impossible may become possible. Most impressive is that the film looks gorgeous, regardless of the back story, the film's look is never dull, and always impressive.

The casting department deserves a ton of credit for this film as well, because the voice cast was perfect. Perhaps the best casting was Bill Murray as Baloo, who could literally have played this character in his sleep. However, that's not to take away from the other voice cast members. Idris Elba was perfect as Shere Khan, Ben Kingsley nailed the stern Bagheera, Scarlett Johansson's voice lent itself perfectly to Kaa the snake, and even Christopher Walken as King Louie fit perfectly. It's not everyday that a cast comes together so well, but every voice cast member fit their role perfectly.

One major thing to note is that while the film honors the original film (which was quite silly) very well, the tone and look is quite different in the updated version. They still break into song occasionally, but the overall tone of the live action remake is darker overall, and more mature. That's not to say that the film isn't family friendly, it is, but the film isn't as harmless as the original was, but the film isn't afraid to scare the audience, and pulls no punches. This is simply because of the timing, in the 60's animated films weren't as dark as live action films today seem to have to be.

Overall The Jungle Book is an exciting, gorgeous, solidly crafted, and more mature entry to the growing list of Disney classic remakes. The film juggles the new audience's expectations with the classic elements of the original beautifully, and what it creates is truly amazing. The film isn't perfect, but is a great entry to the Disney live action canon. Above those who love Disney, and Disney classics, this is just in general a great retelling of this story, and should be seen in theaters, where the visual effects are showcased at their best.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Very Well Done Action, but Crowded and Rushed Story

[6/10 · 24 March 2016]

Batman v. Superman is finally here, and it's now official that DC is trying to match Marvel, but lacks the skillfulness. Batman v. Superman is probably one of, if not the most, hyped films of the year, where 2 of the most iconic comic-book characters finally come together on the big screen. Batman v. Superman is action packed, crowded, and rushed making it a true mixed bag. For those who want to enjoy a great action film, and don't care about some of the finer details, this will probably live up to expectations.

As with it's predecessor Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman handles the action sequences really well. The film's special effects are also very good, and the character designs are very well done. It seems with this film most of the positives revolve around Ben Affleck and Batman, as he seems to be the main focus of the film. Batman's characterization seems to be the not just a shining spot in the cloud of carnage that is this film, but possibly one of the best Batman characterizations ever.

On that note Batman saves this film, because the rest of the film is in a word, a mess. The film tries to do too much, which seems odd since Marvel's The Avengers was able to handle the same task perfectly. When looking at it Superman, Lois Lane, Wonder-Woman, Lex Luthor, and other various characters are underdeveloped simply because they aren't given enough screen time. Not only are they not given enough screen time, but the writers rush through shoddy plot points simply to get back to Batman, as if they know the only thing they were getting right was Batman.

The issue with that is if the focus is Batman, then they made the wrong film here, and the film comes across as a wasted opportunity. The problem is the objective of the film, which was to do too much, and therefore rush through the underdeveloped story. Looking at it they either should have done a Batman standalone film or a smaller version of this, which focuses on Batman and Superman, not Wonder-Woman, Lois Lane, Perry White, and countless other throwaway characters. This is where Marvel gets it right and DC still hasn't figured it out.

In the end Batman v. Superman is a decent popcorn flick, that contains amazing visuals and action sequences. The film isn't really bad, it just isn't great, when it really could have and therefore should have been. It should be said that while the film is rushed, crowded, paper-thin, and a little repetitive Ben Affleck and Zack Snyder did do a pretty good job getting Batman right, and that leaves potential for this franchise, but it's hanging on a thread. In the end if you're on the edge about seeing this film, it depends on what you want, if you want great action and visuals this is your film, if you want great story and characters, this is a weaker film.

Zootopia (2016)

A Great Reflection of Today's Society

[9/10 · 21 March 2016]

With Pixar being owned by Disney, there seems to have been a nice amount of bleed over between the two, Pixar is more consistent with the quality of their films, but every once and awhile a movie of Pixar's quality comes from Disney. We should remember that Disney was once, and in many ways still is the premiere animation company, but not that long ago they had been struggling to put out great films. Zootopia is smart, funny, and is mature in its storytelling and in its message. It's very nice to see a movie directed at kids that has respect and treats kids as people who can understand complex themes, not mindless creatures that need simple clichéd messages.

In that respect Zootopia is more like a Pixar film, where Pixar has shown an understanding that complex messages can be the most emotionally powerful and while being complex can be presented in a simple, and straightforward way. Much like Inside Out taught us so much about using our emotions, especially sadness, Zootopia has a great message about fear and the treatment of entire groups of people because of that fear. It's ironic, because the movie indirectly latches onto an issue that is relevant today, with an air of innocence and purity. On top of that at a deeper level, the film is witty, in that everything ties together and that the audience is forced to think as the movie progresses.

The humor is witty as well, in particular the scene about the DMV which is so funny because it's spot on. The witty humor and complex messages make this film enjoyable for everybody, not just kids. Every character in the film is given a great amount of thought and development, making it so that they all have moments to grow, and are extremely relatable. Unfortunately the film's villain has good motivations, however at the end when they reveal who the villain is they come across as campy and over the top.

The movie does a great job creating an inventive world where animals from all different habitats can coexist in one city. The film then proceeds to partially waste it's inventive world on various scenes that are plucked straight out of other films, namely the Godfather. However, those scenes are only a small takeaway from the movie as a whole, because they don't last very long and are admittedly clever. That along with the overall maturity the screenwriters used still makes the film a great accomplishment.

Zootopia never really looked like a film that would be this good, but after seeing the amazing amount of craft and effort, it seems this may be one of the better animated films of the year. The film does what every animated film should do, it tells a solid story with a lot of emotional depth, and a message that can hopefully teach kids important lessons. The film is also funny, smart, beautifully animated, filled with great characters, and features great voice work. If you have kids, and they haven't seen this film yet, it's safe to say they'd enjoy it, but they may possibly take an important life lesson away from seeing it to.