Tag: film

‘Soul’ Film Review: Does it miss the Boat?

Featured

“I was born to play”

2020 may be one of the most memorable years for the wrong reasons. Many lives have been changed and for avid movie goers their routine of checking out the next blockbuster in theaters was stripped away from them.

While new movies releasing on streaming services isn’t ideal “Soul” is definitely worth a watch even if the normal Pixar audiences may not enjoy it as much as previous films.

Overview

Joe, a middle-school band teacher has a real serious passion for music specifically Jazz. He thought that by now he’d have accomplished his dream of becoming a well known Jazz artist but he’s fallen a little short.

His life takes quite a turn after he finally gets a real chance to prove himself and along the way Joe must learn what it means to have a soul.

A Visual Masterpiece

To not give attention to appearance of the film would be a huge mistake. From the characters, to the New York environments it truly puts the quick animation cash grabs that come out every year to shame.

The movie feels like it captures the nature of New York and it stands out. For a city that appears in so many films a feat such as that is remarkable.

One of the biggest complaints have is that just not enough time is spent in the city itself.

Very Thought Provoking

This may be the most mature Pixar film to date. The themes addressed require deep thought. You may even find yourself questioning your own life choices.

That is a powerful thing that a film whose designated audience is for the family can even make people think along those lines.

Too Young for the Deep End

After a rather slow start I found myself getting very invested in the story about half hour into the film. As the movie continued one thing kept popping in my head was “who is this for?” Pixar’s audience has always been family. This time I wasn’t so sure.

I don’t know what a five year old will get from this film. The slow nature is bound to turn off many children and impatient viewers. New York while visually appealing is not the only location in the film and without spoiling the other areas don’t feel filled with life.

Some of the best animation uses many colors and blends them beautifully. Because of that plenty of younger viewers can get engaged in some media even if the story is not very alluring to them.

Lastly, the comedy is not enough to keep audiences engaged if that was the deciding factor in continuing to watch the motion picture. The jokes are actually pretty good and they don’t over stay their welcome. However, they don’t come very often.

Conclusion

I feel bad for those who won’t make it through the lengthy introduction. They’re missing out on a very deep film that frankly can cause you to think about your own life.

This story feels relatable what Joe goes through many people do the same thing. It certainly gave me food for thought.

The animation is next level. I don’t believe there’s many other films where New York City has looked this good. All of the human characters have unique looks and possess depth. Most of the characters Joe deals with I wouldn’t be disappointed if they got their own specials on Disney+ they’re just enjoyable.

How many children will enjoy this? While ‘Soul’ is marketed as a family film I don’t believe kids will end up getting it. The messaging is what makes the movie as good as it is. Without it it’d still be a decent film but its maturity allows it to stand out from it’s fellow Pixar movies.

Finally, I think this film will be divisive with people either praising it or letting others know its being blown way out of proportion. I encourage you even if you don’t like traditional Pixar motion pictures to give ‘Soul’ a shot.

Verdict 7.5 out of 10 Stars

‘The Devil All the Time’ Film Review: What Was the Point of It All?

Featured

“It Wasn’t That Bad, Mama”

Have you ever invested your time into something only for you to question the reason you did it in the first place? “The Devil All the Time” is a gruesome and slow-burning film that doesn’t know how to take off.

Overview

A young man tries to protect the ones he loves in a town full of cynical characters.

A Diamond in the Rough

Arvin (Tom Holland) delivers a very solid performance so much so that he’s missed while not on screen. His casting allowed for at least one character for audiences to really root for.

Most other characters are just not great people or just aren’t very interesting.

Falling Flat

None of the “villains” in this film justify their presence. Audiences will struggle to find any antagonists that they even understand. These characters are given no motivation and practically zero backstory. They just commit horrible deeds.

The only sort of exception would be the Rev. Preston Teagardin (Robert Pattinson) and only because of the actor’s performance. Any antagonist introduced is pretty early forgotten. Admittedly most of the characters just aren’t too memorable.

Sticking to its guns

Shortly into the film, you’ll learn that no one sticks around for long. Characters drop by flies throughout the movie so much it just becomes predictable.

The creators of “The Devil All the Time” do stick to their message that evil is everywhere. In the church, the police department and, just your everyday civilians. You’re beat over the head with it so much that it gets tiresome knowing the outcome of a scene as soon as it begins.

We’re waiting…

The pacing and length alone of this film makes it a pretty difficult watch. Over an hour into the picture not many events worth mentioning even occurred.

“The Devil All the Time” spends much of the film jumping around in time. Even if you’re paying attention it wouldn’t be surprising if you end up being confused.

From time to time the narrator will jump in to give exposition and it feels overabundant. A story shouldn’t need a narrator popping in often to explain what’s happening to the viewer. However, without that exposition most would just be lost throughout.

Conclusion

What was the point of it all? That’s the question that comes to mind as I watched the credits roll. From predictable conclusions to forgettable characters this film is a mess.

Even with a superb performance from Tom Holland, not even that can save this picture. The story goes everywhere and really loses the audience. Nothing feels like it happens organically just more events occur so that the plot can continue.

Evil is everywhere and throughout you’ll see that the story was written to emphasize that. Eventually, it feels insulting because of how many times they choose to share the same message.

Finally, the movie just felt too long. The same job could’ve been accomplished in significantly less time. That also would’ve allowed for more exciting moments and maybe a more focused plot.

Verdict 4.5 out of 10 Stars

‘Midsommar’ Film Review: How Long Until the Cows Come Home?

Featured

“What if I regret it later and I can’t get her back?”

When I reached the conclusion of this film and the credits rolled for the first time ever I was filled with uncertainty. I had no idea if this movie was great or if it was just your average run of the mill creepy film. What I will say is Midsommar is a movie you should watch for yourself and generate your own opinion.

Overview

A couple at the end of their rope decides to take a trip to Sweden to visit their friend’s hometown for its midsummer festival. However, as the event continues the more the vacation turns into a abhorrent nightmare.

Something Is Off

During the course of this film something just doesn’t sit well. From the opening events you’re kind of prepared for something to happen you don’t know what exactly but you have your guard up. Which is both good and bad.

A big problem that Midsommar has is that it’s a very slow burn for not enough payoff. This is a long film but admittedly I didn’t really want it to end. Even so I never felt like enough was happening to justify the length of the movie.

Something creepy would happen then a half hour would go by and another odd event would occur making me think that the main characters would try and leave.

Instead they’d shrug it off acting like nothing too bad happened. Which made it really difficult to feel bad for anyone knowing that they stayed when they could’ve at least attempted to escape.

Bad Decisions

My biggest annoyance when it comes to horror films is when the main characters make poor choices. It disconnects me from the product because most of the time one of the people who loses their life could have easily prevented it.

Get Out is one of my favorite horror movies and one of the best aspects of the film is that the protagonist wasn’t an idiot. Anyone could’ve gotten caught in the situation he found himself in. Sadly Midsommar‘s characters feel like they are begging for the worst to happen to them most of the time.

Fitting Score & Superb Camera Work

Easily two of the best aspects of this motion picture is the camera work as well as it’s soundtrack. There’s so much foreshadowing present from very early on you could spend hours trying to find everything. Not to mention the shots compliment the film in ways that could’ve been ruined with some shoddy camera work.

Sounds are incredibly important when it comes to making a good horror film and it feels like Midsommar knew exactly what to play throughout the entire course of the film.

Conclusion

I love the setting of this movie naturally its pretty creepy and I felt uneasy from beginning to end. Sadly I don’t feel like enough happened. Watching Midsommar felt like hitting a pinata but no matter how many times I hit it the candy never came out.

Characters making stupid decisions honestly did affect how I thought about the film since they could’ve all left as soon as weird events started happening. Not to mention none of the characters are too likable.

I didn’t care who lived and who died that goes for the entire cast. I believe they’re all great actors/actresses but just the way their characters were written made me not care for them.

From a technical aspect the film is pretty much perfect the camera work is amazing and the score fit incredibly well over the course of the movie.

However, at the end of the day I feel like the film was a little too long and was just not satisfying. Sitting down for a couple hours with not many exciting moments is a lot to ask for audiences and while I liked what they were going for I feel that it could’ve been executed better.

Verdict 6 out of 10 Stars

‘The Last Airbender’ Film Review: More Than a Disappointment

Featured

“You stand alone. That has always been your greatest weakness”

Have you ever seen a film that that you had close to no expectations for and you still ended up being disappointed? Avatar not only accomplishes that feat it’s also difficult to find any redeeming qualities throughout this blundering mess of a film.

Overview

The four nations of Air, Water, Earth and Fire lived peacefully until the Fire Nation declared war on the world. Even a century after their reign began, the fighting continues with no end in sight.

The being meant to keep the peace among the land is called the Avatar but he mysteriously vanished when the world needed him most. Now 100 years later a young boy is found encased in ice and learns he must master all four elements to stop the Fire Nation from bringing the world to their knees.

Clearly No One Watched the Show

From the opening moments something just feels off. The show this film is based upon is one of the most beloved cartoons of the 2000’s era and to this day the show is held in high regard.

The Last Airbender genuinely feels like no one knew what the show was about but right before they started filming someone gave them a brief description of all the characters and the plot. The actors/actresses screw up pronunciations of just about every single character in the original show.

If that were the biggest issue I think that most people could get over the mistakes this film makes but none of the characters are the same. The show Avatar: The Last Airbender knows how to balance seriousness and comedy in the best way possible.

While the film is the most serious children’s films I have ever seen. It’s difficult to find out who this movie’s audience truly is. It’s not for the fans clearly and for people who enjoy bad movies I doubt you’d even like this.

Going Through the Motions

About 70% of this film is going through the events in season 1 which most of the time just is not a great idea. That’s an abundant amount of information to cover in a less than two hour film. Many emotional beats are lost because everything feels so rushed.

Even if the film did well enough to get a sequel the movie left out key characters. If you never watched the show I couldn’t imagine how confused you’d be since the film feels like everyone skimmed a book then attempted to give a rousing presentation.

Weird Camera Work

I’ve never seen so many awful shots in a film with a decent sized budget. There are scenes that last over a minute that are just a one-shot that consists two characters just talking. Not only is it boring which is a crime in itself but also it’s such a lazy way of giving exposition.

Conclusion

Saying that The Last Airbender is a bad film is a given the reasons behind it being bad are pretty impressive though. From the terrible acting to the god awful camera work you’ll struggle trying to defend the movie in any way.

The characters both heroes and villains are beloved by fans of the show. However, when it came to the movie adaption they all lost their character.

They are almost unrecognizable. One of the main characters Sokka is known for his sarcasm and being pretty funny both of those are some of his biggest traits. Once he went on the big screen though that part of his character was gone and the same can be said about the rest of the cast.

Effects being awful in comparison to the show goes without saying as well. Bending is one of the best aspects of Avatar: The Last Airbender so of course they have to ruin it in the adaption. At the end of day this just isn’t a quality film it wasn’t worth your money when it was in theaters and its not worth your time now.

Verdict 2 out of 10 Stars

’13 Cameras’ Film Review: An Unnerving Surprise

Featured

Have you ever seen a film that just makes your skin crawl? This particular experience was designed to make its audience feel uncomfortable and it does a pretty bang-up job at it, to say the least. The villain himself makes the outcome intriguing but other aspects tend to make going through the film a bit sluggish.

Overview

A newlywed couple gets more than they bargained for when their new landlord isn’t who they thought he was.

13-Cameras-Gerald-and-Claire

Simplicity

Many films suffer from not having an easy to follow plotline. Audiences can get confused and just uninterested if a story tries to juggle too many things at once.

13 Cameras is as straightforward as it gets in a good way. The majority of the film focuses on the new couple who have just moved in while at the same time showing their landlord who from the beginning will make your skin crawl.

He could simply be standing there and you’ll just have a chill shiver down your spine.

Mixed Focus

Although the story has a pretty good balance of focusing on different characters it doesn’t mean that everything is interesting. 10 – 20 minutes of the film could be cut out because it’s just not exciting.

010146_1280x720_325589_018

Not only is it unexciting it doesn’t add to the plot. At the end of the day, it feels like they were just padding out the film’s runtime. It’s still a fun watch with a couple of friends but it’s difficult to give it more credit than that.

Reasoning

In this film, you’ll find zero motivation behind the antagonist’s actions. In the sequel 14 Cameras, we see more of a reason behind his deeds but no one should have to watch another movie just to understand a villain’s motivation.

13cam8

Conclusion

Although 13 Cameras is not the most exciting thriller it does have it’s moments. When the film actually does try to focus on being exciting it’s pretty engaging sadly there are only a few of those moments throughout the film.

There are so many unnecessary scenes in the movie that could be cut out simply because they don’t offer anything. However, picking apart the weird scenes with a few friends will make for a fun night.

The most frustrating aspect of the film is how the protagonists could’ve avoided their dire situation if they just behaved how a normal person would.

In conclusion, don’t go into 13 Cameras with the expectation it’s going to blow your mind it’s a pretty fun film, and if you don’t have much going on just turn it on.

It’s available on Netflix currently along with its sequel.

Verdict 7 out of 10 Stars

‘Onward’ Film Review: A Heartwarming Sense of Déjà Vu

Featured

“‘I think, with a little bit of magic in your life, you can do almost anything.”

From the world-renowned Pixar comes a new adventure filled to the brim with excitement, amusement, and deep heartfelt moments. While the story itself doesn’t reinvent the wheel it still serves its purpose as an entertaining animated film.

106429141-1583509619310onward2cropped

Overview

Two teenage elf brothers Barley (Chris Pratt) & Ian (Tom Holland) must set out on an adventure to spend one more day with their late father. Along the way, Ian must practice his newfound skills while their mother Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) attempts to get them back.

Magical Chemistry

While the plot is straightforward, along the way are some memorable characters and beautiful locales to boot. Holland & Pratt have both shared the screen together before so it’s not surprising that they play off each other well. From beginning to end I believe in their relationship as people who truly care for each other.

Barley would do anything for his brother and it’s expressed without shoving it in the audience’s faces. Laurel also plays a bigger role than expected in the film, in fact, there weren’t any characters that bothered me while they were on screen.

wp4939664

Going into the film I believed it would entirely be about the two brothers but I was wrong. The movie benefits from having other characters with big roles. Even some with small roles give the film some added spectacle and its satisfying to watch play out.

World Building Done Right

From the opening shot, the audience is aware that their world is similar to ours except it’s filled with magical beasts. From unicorns digging through the trash like raccoons to centaurs riding in police cars, this magical land has been brought to the modern world.

To see these creatures placed in such an environment is refreshing it’s not where you’d expect to see them.

ONWARD

Same Old Same Old

While the overall idea for the film is fresh this isn’t an animated tale that breaks the mold. At the end of the day, it doesn’t tell a story that most audiences haven’t heard before.

However, that doesn’t make the film bad the idea of a family being able to reunite with their dead father is a story that I didn’t think I’d see from Pixar. At times the film really tugs at some heartstrings and it touched my heart. That’s a mature theme that I’m sure will leave audiences surprised that the film dealt with that.

While it’s great that most will be able to connect to the movie on an emotional level that doesn’t take away the fact that there is manufactured tension between the brothers. In most animated films at some point, the main characters will have a little bit of a falling out.

ONWARD

Everyone watching knows that they’ll make it up to each other and it’s just a matter of time before they do. I’ll love it when one day writers decide they don’t need to have something separate from the main characters in every film. It’s just exhausting at this point.

Conclusion

The idea for Onward to mix the modern world with magical characters was great. With plenty of sight gags as well as all the magic sequences the film just wouldn’t be the same if the story took place during a different time.

The film is entertaining, to say the least, and the chemistry between Tom Holland and Chris Pratt is strong from the very beginning. Their characters are both some of the best parts of the film and having them on screen together makes the movie even stronger.

Onward doesn’t tell a story that most people who have seen a film before haven’t seen. Many of the story beats are copy and pasted from other films. While I’d prefer for completely new ideas most animated films do fall into the realm of not being entirely original.

Even though the film isn’t too innovative that doesn’t make it non-enjoyable. It’s fun and adventurous you feel like you’re joining the characters on their quest. Not only that you truly support the main duo because at the end of the day who wouldn’t wanna see someone special they lost even if it was only for a day.

Verdict 8 out of 10 Stars

‘You (Season 1)’ TV Show Review: The Price of Love

Featured

“There are terrifying people in the world. It’s important to be safe, and that’s why I have to do what I’m going to do.”

Have you ever seen the world through the eyes of a person who believes they’re in the right when that couldn’t be further from the truth? Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is a loner who works at a book store that keeps to himself for the most part.

Until one faithful day when a woman named Genevieve Beck (Elizabeth Lail) walks into his store. Joe becomes infatuated with Beck, and he will stop at nothing to gain her love.

d7585a7b-63e9-4306-adf1-b4e5aab1a58d-you_103_092517_bn_0051r

Rooting for a Bad Guy?

Narration is typically considered to be lazy, mainly because it allows for the writers to give the audience information easily. Joe Goldberg, among other characters, does not go many scenes without narration, which seems like it would be exhausting. However, it suits the storytelling well.

From the outside, looking in most would have very different thoughts about the entire cast of You. Because we get to see how their minds work, we may end up understanding some motives even if we don’t agree with how they necessarily go about solving their issues.

Subverting Expectations Constantly

Audiences will be surprised by how much they actually know about the story, or should I say how little. You does an astounding job at subverting expectations, and often viewers won’t know what’s going to happen in the story next.

y1_cage_joe_12102017_bs_244-1

Superb Acting for the Most Part

A couple of the performances are astounding with how well the actors/actresses represent their characters. Penn Badgley, the actor who portrays Joe Goldberg, can act out a flurry of different emotions with incredible skill. In one scene, he can go from two extremely different moods such as anger into being at peace.

Elizabeth Lail, the actress that plays as Genevieve Beck, also holds her own throughout the show. For story purposes, her character just isn’t as exciting as Joes, but she completes her role with flying colors.

Wanting Everything to Work Out

you-show-netflix-01

One of the weirdest feelings is watching someone who you know isn’t necessarily a good person and wanting them to find happiness. It’s because of how well Joe and Beck interact with each other, not to mention everything that the audience goes through with them.

Previously I spoke about how the narration benefits the storytelling, and in terms of Joe and Beck’s relationship, it adds much-wanted depth. There are two different layers of storytelling going on, and I’ve never seen any media, for the most part, use narration in such a way that was a serious show or movie.

While they’re very different people, I believe their differences benefit the other for the most part. To put it lightly, Beck isn’t the most put-together person, and she has many personal struggles.

When she meets Joe, that begins to change, and it is a great thing to see. Pacing for relationships in media can often feel off; however, You succeeds once again with allowing Beck & Joe’s relationship to progress naturally.

you-netflix-fan-theory-feature

Conclusion

What makes someone a bad person? You forces the audience to answer that question. The cast chosen for this show does their job to the best of their abilities. Because of that, the first season of You is bursting with quality.

From Joe and Beck’s relationship to the unusual method of storytelling used, the program uses all of the tricks that it can pull out of its hat to make an exquisite show about a stalker obsessed with a woman.

Not only that, but the writers succeed at writing the story in such a way that people support the stalker. That’s incredibly impressive; however, it is not only because of the writing team. Badgley took his time in the spotlight and showed audiences his vast range of acting skills.

All of the characters in his show, for the most part, do their role to be the best of their ability based on their job. If a character is supposed to be annoying, then the actor/actress gets the job done.

Finally, the pacing is perfect; the audience will not have to spend hours watching the same plotline. Secrets that are uncovered add to the show and allow the story to progress naturally, making every episode feel fresh, especially towards the season finale.

Verdict 9 out of 10 Stars

 

‘Coach Carter’ Film Review: More Than an Athlete

Featured

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world.”

Doing what you know is right sometimes can be the most laborious task. Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) knows this all too well when he must return to his old high school to coach an undisciplined, insubordinate, and obstreperous group of young men. 

Kobe Tribute

MV5BMTM5OTg3NjA4Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDc1NTgzNw@@._V1_

The world of basketball was changed forever a few days ago in the shocking death of Kobe Bryant. While the film does not directly relate to the man, it does not change the fact that his life meant so much to the game and so many people around the planet. You will be sincerely missed.

Real-Life Issues

It’s easy to watch this film and judge the basketball team harshly. The way that they act can be rude without a doubt. However, you don’t know whatever these teenagers have been through. The world that these kids live in is not easy.

Kenyon Stone, one of the few level headed players on the basketball team, even has his own struggles. With a pregnant girlfriend in high school, along with having the chance to play college basketball, he has to decide what’s worth more to him.

Even if you can’t relate to their stories and backgrounds personally, you feel some of the pain that they experience. You know, even though some of the boys have a rough exterior that these teenagers are not bad people that they’ve just had harsh lives.

AAAABfsX5qsaqSSA6RGoIOZ9QUvwUP_4xHL4xUK5T--eFzoLZR-n4ncsXZZdvRgxHpKmQmuv4IGxzXpj7UnksXAOyOUz5E55

Feels Real

An aspect of the film that I love is the language used. High school films often feel very outdated no matter when they were released. People just don’t talk like movies assume high schoolers talk. While this film was released over 15 years ago, the slang, along with the sayings, are still used today.

Clothing styles in the film feel a little dated but that’s what people wore during the time the film took place. 

Basketball is being Played

When you have spent a vast amount of time dedicated to a specific activity, it can be scary to see it played out in a film. Because it’s hard to enjoy a movie that doesn’t go through the effort of making the situation look real. If you love basketball, then you’ll immediately love the scenes concerning basketball.

image (1)

From the games to the scrimmages it feels like actual basketball players are out there playing. Instead of some guys that don’t know about the sport. It’s honestly refreshing getting both good actors that can also at least appear to play basketball well.

Samuel L Jackson Steals the Show!

I don’t think I’ve seen a movie that had Samuel L. Jackson in it, and I didn’t enjoy his performance. Regardless if I liked the film or not, he always stands out. Here especially, it shows that he can take a serious role and perform very well.

Jackson is a coach who doesn’t act like basketball is the only thing that matters. The parents of the children who play on the basketball team have already spent their lives telling them that this sport will be the best part of their lives. So the only thing that matters to many of these kids is basketball.

Ambitions outside of that aren’t too lofty, and Coach Carter doesn’t want that to remain true. The basketball players are student-athletes, which means they should go to class and learn not just play basketball until they can’t anymore.

I truly felt that Jackson cared about the future of the teenagers that he coached. It’s a beautiful thing, and he feels so genuine.

image (2)

Conclusion

Coach Carter succeeds at one of the most challenging things for films to do, correctly and it’s to cast accurately for a movie that takes place in high school. Everything feels right from the dialogue to the clothes that the teenagers wear. Those may seem minimalistic, but it’s one of the easiest ways to get disconnected from a film.

The serious themes that the picture tackles are also grounded in realism. It may seem astonishing to some how life is for people in impoverished areas. Not everyone was born in the suburbs and had a pretty easy life. Most people don’t know what it’s like to be aware you have a baby on the way in high school, but that’s a serious issue that some must face.

Outside of that, there’s constant gang violence and it’s pretty much unavoidable depending on where you live. I really do appreciate the film for diving deep into these harsher themes.

From major to minor characters the acting is very believable. In my opinion, Samuel L. Jackson outperforms the rest of the cast simply because he crushes his role. I simply don’t know how his performance could’ve been improved.

Verdict 9.5 out of 10 Stars

‘Holes’ Film Review: A Diamond in the Rough

Featured

“It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig stealing-great-great-grandfather!”

If bad things always happened to you, would you think you were cursed? Well, our protagonist Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBeouf), doesn’t believe so but his family sure does.

When a pair of shoes worn by a famous baseball player falls into Stanley’s hands, he’s soon picked up by the police and shortly after is thrown into a boot camp straight from a nightmare. Doomed to dig holes in the blazing hot sun for hours on end.

His only hope is to live out his days doing whatever it is the Warden asks of him and one day being able to gain his freedom.

You’re Involved

Making someone feel invested in the struggle of a fictional character is the hope of any writer. Making the audience feel as the protagonists do is one of their crowning achievements and Holes does just that!

scale

You want our leads to get through their trials and tribulations with as little trouble as possible. You truly do feel for these characters, and when they are met with hostility, you feel for them.

Wanting Justice

Stanley Yelnats IV has to put up with quite a few people who will really get under the audience’s skin. The Warden (Sigourney Weaver) & Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) are the two most significant villains that Yelnats faces. While watching the film, you’ll hate both of these characters, but that’s how you know the writers did a great job.

In the beginning, you’re subjected to watching the boys suffer under the wrath of Mr. Sir, and you can’t possibly understand how it could get worse for these kids. Then a whole new level of wickedness is introduced once the Warden appears on the screen. It’s quite the sight to see.

Good Young Actors

holes

Finding a good child actor is already a dime a dozen. However, having a film full of good performances from children is lovely. I usually dread to see children on screen with plenty of speaking lines solely because more often than not they won’t be able or act as well as their castmates. When children or anyone cannot act well, it pulls the viewer out of the narrative.

Not Just a Plain Donut… It Has Sprinkles!

Who would’ve thought a film that spends more than 70% of its runtime in a desert would be a fresh, enjoyable experience. While the environment isn’t breathtaking in the slightest, the story and characters bring life to the film.

In a location that screams dry, sorrow, and boring, it goes to show how well the pacing is during the film. A new factor or detail that changes the movie is often introduced. It’s almost like you’re getting hit with a large gust of wind during the summertime. You appreciate it, and no, it’s not happening every other minute, but it is present enough for you to bask in it.

4528096_orig

Conclusion

You mix a mystery, with hard labor, and despicable people all in a desert surrounded by nothing but sand. My first thought would be that it just doesn’t sound like a captivating film, but I’d be dead wrong.

From the child actors to the adult actors/actresses, I was sold from the start. Their performances really help you dive into their world, and you feel for the characters who are punished. Whether they deserved it or not, you still have some remorse for the children.

Making an exciting movie out of a dull environment is not an easy task. However, with excellent pacing and performances, you barely notice. You will sit there scene after scene wanting to continue watching the film until it’s over, and even then, you might still not have gotten your fill.

It’s a movie you’d have to see for yourself to understand why it is still remembered to this day. No one can tell you exactly how you should feel while watching the motion picture or not. However, it is definitely up on my list of family films that everyone should give a shot.

Verdict 9 out of 10 Stars

‘Treasure Planet’ Film Review: The Best Film No One Ever Saw

Featured

Have you ever seen a film and wondered why more people haven’t seen it? In 2002, Treasure Planet released in theaters to a resounding whisper as it completely bombed in the box office. Sadly the film was lost in the wide array of Disney films however, I believe it deserves another chance at greatness.

1c1e0d214f5be408c444a01283ab26e5

Overview

15-year-old Jim Hawkens (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a rebellious teen going through a rough period in his life. All of that changed the day he found a map that leads to “the loot of a thousand worlds.” Knowing that finding the treasure will flip his life upside down Jim travels across the universe in this thrilling space voyage.

Sets the Tone Immediately

From the opening few moments of the film, you see two ships waged in battle. There’s no water to be seen both ships firing cannonballs out in space. The fight is shown in the form of a hologram being displayed by a book.

f44741075f740ab99ca79eb70f6b7e9d

I love the world this story takes place in. Filled with objects that we are used to seeing on an everyday basis however, now they have more of a futuristic take. For example, there are curtains with the flick of a button that can change the background from a flowery meadow to a monstrous volcano.

Deep Themes

When darker themes are discussed in films where the main audience will consist of children I always tend to enjoy the fact that the story was willing to dive that deep. When the writers avoid common clichés like the death of parents it’s truly special and Treasure Planet possesses no such cliché.

Colorful Cast

Right off the bat, we’re introduced to Doctor Doppler (David Hyde Pierce) a close family friend to the Hawkins family. He’s your stereotypical intelligent character who’s also kind of a goofball. However, it’s not fair to say he doesn’t stand out.

He has some of the best lines in the entire film combined with his seemingly constant act of tripping over himself he really takes this character from a forgettable role to a major player in the film.

image

John Silver (Brian Murray) is another welcomed addition to the cast. His relationship with Jim is a major contributing factor to why I enjoy the film so much. The best scenes of the movie always occur when these two share the limelight and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alluring Animation

To say the animation is enchanting is taking it lightly. Throughout a scene, there may be three or more changes to the way the scene is being captured. From using a point of view shot to changing from 3D animation to 2D animation in the matters of seconds is phenomenal.

The leaps and progression that this movie used to stand out from its competition are insane. I’m shocked that even by today’s standards this motion picture wouldn’t be left in the dust animation wise.

large-screenshot2

Conclusion

You’re thrown in the world of Treasure Planet from the start. There aren’t minutes and minutes of exposition things are just the way they are which keeps the pacing steady. You begin to just enjoy what you see instead of questioning was that a ship flying? It’s simply a fun film.

Outside of the characters I’ve already mentioned, there are numerous others that deserve just as much praise. The voice talent is immaculate and I still feel chills during tense scenes because of that fact.

treasure-planet (1)

As a child, there are themes I wouldn’t expect you to understand. However, returning to the film older and wiser I can’t help but appreciate the mature themes. Lastly, the animation is top-notch.

To this day I don’t see many animated films that make me want to replay a scene just to watch the film frame by frame to see how the creators completed their task.

Verdict 10 out of 10 Stars