Synopsis: It's the best-loved Christian song in a long time...but, do you know the story behind it? Young Bart Millard has a tough life; his dad is abusive, and his mother walked out on him. To escape his dire situation, Bart hits the road as part of a Christian band. He and his bandmates want to make it big...but, they're not having much success. When Bart writes a song inspired by his hard upbringing, he has no idea the impact it will have on his band...and the world.
Based on a true story.
The Good: As a longtime fan of contemporary Christian music, this kind of film is right up my alley. The performances were wonderful, especially by Dennis Quaid, although his character was rather despicable. Seeing a young Amy Grant and hearing names such as Audio Adrenaline made me happy. This film's story was rather inspiring, all the more so because it's true. While there's plenty of Christian songs heard here, I also liked hearing ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down"; one of my favorite mainstream tracks.
The Bad: Not necessarily bad, per se, but...this may be tough to watch for some. Seeing Bart get abused by his father and abandoned by his mother could trigger bad memories for viewers who had similar childhoods. Pretty much every scene of this flick is rife with emotional intensity; it makes the story all the more powerful...but, it could prove to be a stumbling block for sensitive people. Proceed with caution.
Conclusion: Me and the song "I Can Only Imagine" have an interesting history. I used to hear it on the way to and from church in my sister's car; she was a big contemporary Christian music fan, and she and my brother-in-law got me into the musical stylings of dc Talk, Audio Adrenaline, and the Newsboys. One time, during a communion devotional, a guy read the lyrics to "I Can Only Imagine"...only for us soon to start singing it during services. Our church was never one to use instruments, so, we sang it a cappella...and it was a tough one. One time, the song leader said just before leading it, "I can only imagine what this song would sound like if we got it right." Back in the day, I wasn't a big MercyMe fan; in recent years, my tastes in everything, including music, have seriously broadened, so, I now have many of their albums on my iPod...and I love them. So, maybe that makes me biased, but I really enjoyed this film; more than just a "behind the music" flick, it's an inspiring story of triumph over dire circumstances. However, for some, this may be too intense; if you're still haunted by childhood memories of abuse and/or abandonment, I'd think twice before watching this.
Synopsis: Young Phiona lives in the African country of Uganda, and sells corn her mother grows only because it's the only source of income her family has. When Phiona is introduced to the ancient game of chess, she finds she has an affinity for it; she learns to predict her opponents moves so far in advance, they think she is reading their minds. Phiona has what it takes to become an international chess champion...but, between the funds required for entering and traveling to the tournaments, her family losing their home, and Phiona not believing 100% in herself, the odds to reaching that dream seem insurmountable. Can she overcome them?
Based on a true story.
The Good: What an amazing film! It took me to a faraway yet real land, and illustrated its people's struggles quite vividly. It also features a main character who overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds, and challenged me to refrain from chickening out when faced with problems, whether small or big. Better yet, it portrays the Christian faith in a positive light. Though there are references to sex, they're handled with very old-school decorum. The performances, sets, and production values in general were all fabulous.
The Bad: Other than one misuse of God's name, I can't come up with any complaints. I will say one thing: Largely accented dialogue may make you want to turn on the closed captions or English subtitles in order to understand what they're saying. Also, some Lugandan dialogue, which is subtitled in English, may present a problem for those with reading issues.
Conclusion: While I've adored many of Disney's live-action productions, this is in a class all its own. Inspiring and affirming, this is the kind of cinema we need more of. If you haven't seen this, you definitely should.
Score: 5/5
Synopsis: It's the happiest day of Skylar's (Alexa PenaVega, Spy Kids) life! She and her fiancee are getting married, and they and all their friends and family are beyond happy for them! Unfortunately, the joy soon turns to sadness when, during the reception, wedding guests--including Skylar's parents--and people all over the world inexplicably drop dead. What could be causing this? Skylar, her new husband, and their friends are about to learn a hard lesson about their faith...or lack thereof.
My Review: I haven't done a longer review like this in a while, but, this film is so epic, it deserves it. Before I watched it, I thought: A Christian horror movie? Are you serious? Surprisingly, though, it's done very well, and brings home a chilling message: You never know when the end will come...so, be ready! While I don't agree with the Rapture theology--though it's presented much differently here than in the Left Behind series or any of the Pure Flix films--I have to say that, after watching this, nobody is going to want to be stuck on this Earth after Jesus returns. A gripping story, excellent performances...all in all, outstanding.
Content Concerns: Like with many Christian films of this rating, you should take the "PG-13" seriously; this is definitely not for kids. I also wouldn't suggest watching it before bed, unless you like having nightmares. Seriously, it's that creepy.
As usual, I'll start with my history with this franchise: In 2000, when I was in sixth grade, our teacher had us all read The Hobbit as it was adapted into a play in our literature textbook. Another teacher that year had copies of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in her personal collection, so, I tried it...and just couldn't get into it. The next school year, a teacher recommended that I read the actual Hobbit novel, so, I attempted to...and had the same problem. When the movie came out in 2001, me and some family members went to see it on Christmas Day...and I was quickly bored. Not only was the flick overly long--probably the longest one I'd ever seen, and definitely the longest I'd watched in a theater--but, we arrived at the theater quite early, so having to sit still that long just drove me crazy. I was used to sitcoms and quick Super Smash Bros. Melee matches; a three hour movie couldn't hold my interest.
Despite that history, thanks to DVD technology, I discovered that watching long films in more than one sitting helped me appreciate them better. For example, I had trouble sitting through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at the cinema, but watching it and the other flicks in the series on DVD over the course of two or more days was much more fun. So, since I had the Lord of the Rings flicks on my DVD rack, I figured: Why not give them a whirl? For the past couple weeks or so, I've been watching Fellowship in fifteen-minute increments; this time, my reaction has been completely the opposite. The flick that once nearly bored me to death has proved amazing, inspiring, and beautiful.
I would say that I can't wait to watch the sequels...but, before I do that, I'm going to try out the extended edition, so I can see the entire story. Plus, I'm going to give the original novels a try as well; I had them years ago, and enjoyed the first two...but never finished the trilogy, even though I meant to do so for quite a while.
If you're a fantasy fan, and haven't seen this...you need to!
Synopsis: Emmet is just an average guy. He lives his life by the same routine every day, and always follows the instructions. One day, a weird mishap leads to him being declared The Special: the one person who can stop the evil President Business' dastardly plan of unleashing the Kragle on the entire world. The only problem is: There doesn't appear to be anything special about Emmet. Will he be able to save all his fellow citizens regardless?
The Good: This movie is a wonder to behold. The animation really brings inanimate Lego bricks to life, and the humor and pop culture references are spot-on. It also brings home an excellent moral: that everyone is special and valuable, no matter who they are. All in all, a wonderful flick.
The Bad: Nothing, really.
Conclusion: Me and Lego blocks have an interesting history. My mom got me some Lego sets as a kid, but, I had trouble manipulating the small pieces due to coordination issues. I had a good friend at church who loved those building blocks so much, he dressed up as a Lego for Halloween. Toward the end of my high school days, I had fun playing Lego Star Wars on my Nintendo GameCube; since then, I've had a blast with Lego's TV series, ranging from their comedic take on Lucas' space opera to Ninjago. I've been meaning to watch this flick for a while, but just recently got around to it; it was just as good as I expected and then some. If you haven't seen this yet...what are you waiting for? Go rent or stream it, now!
Score: 5/5
Synopsis: Ricky Mathis is an overnight musical sensation! What is the key to his success? The three teenage spies are sent to investigate, posing as Ricky's opening act. When one of their own falls victim to Ricky's fame, it's up to the remaining two spies to thwart the dastardly plan...which may be more than they can handle.
The Good: Where has this show been all my life? I wasn't sure if I would like this, but I had a blast with it! Sure, I know I'm not the target audience, but I didn't fall into the demographic for Lizzie McGuire either, and look how that show changed my life! I think this is going to fill the void that was left after I completed all three seasons of H2O: Just Add Water.
The Bad: Nothing at all!
Content Concerns:
Sex: Crushing and flirting.
Nudity: The teenage spies and other females are seen wearing midriff-baring and/or off-the-shoulder tops at times, made less sultry thanks to the cartoon style.
Language: One usage each of "heck" and "what the...?"
Violence: Fantasy action violence throughout, including a flashback where a man loses an arm in a fire (not graphic).
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The crazed fans could be scary to some; emotional intensity; scary villain.
Synopsis: You know the dynamic duo of Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc....but, do you know how they first met and became friends? All young Mike (Billy Crystal) has hoped for is to be a scarer at Monsters University...but, he gets upstaged by James P. Sullivan, a member of the legendary Sullivan family. After getting kicked out of the scaring program due to lack of scariness, Mike issues the dean of the college a challenge: If he can win a competition, they must readmit him. Unfortunately, Mike and his fraternity of misfits don't seem to be well-suited to the games. Will they emerge victorious, and get readmitted?
A Pixar film.
The Good: Words can't describe how blown away I was by the animation; it was so detailed, I thought I was watching either a live-action film or stop-motion animation. The lighting, the scenery, the character designs...all incredible. It's also fun to see what happened before Mike and Sulley met Boo, and...well, you know that story. The narrative of the film is inspiring, and the content is very clean.
The Bad: Like with the other film in this series, some moments could be scary for young children; for older fans of movies like this, though, it's no big deal. That's really the only complaint I have.
Conclusion: It's been a while since I've seen it, due to us not having a DVD copy...but, Monsters, Inc. is my favorite Pixar film. It's much funnier than Finding Nemo and easier to appreciate on a small screen than The Incredibles, not that those flicks weren't great in their own right. I had my doubts on how Pixar could follow that film up...but, they did a bang-up job, especially with the animation. If Pixar keeps making movies like this, they've got my support.
Score: 5/5
Synopsis: Just after being released from an unfair prison sentence, preacher Dave (David A.R. White) names his good friend Jude as his associate minister...only for Jude to be killed in an accident caused by a brick thrown into one of the windows of the church building, which also burns the building down! Dave is bound and determined to have his church rebuilt; problem is, it's on the campus of a university, and the leaders of the college want the church removed. Not sure what to do, Dave turns to his long-lost brother, a lawyer, for help in the legal fight. Meanwhile, Christian college student Keaton (Samantha Boscarino, Nickelodeon's How to Rock) is experiencing serious doubts in her faith...which become even more complicated when she discovers her boyfriend Adam was the one who threw the brick that started the whole affair! Will Adam ever come clean? Will Dave be able to rebuild his church building?
The Good: This had some surprising plot details, especially portraying a preacher as a flawed individual who messes up in a big way. It also makes a wonderful point about what a church truly is. (Hint: It's not a building!) All of the actors did amazingly well, and the storyline had me hooked.
The Bad: The only complaint I had was with the beginning's out-of-order chronology; it would have been better if they'd shown it in order.
Content Concerns:
Sex: College co-eds briefly seen dancing at a party; kissing.
Nudity: A girl in a one-piece swimsuit; slight midriff.
Language: Name-calling, at worst.
Violence: A man is killed in an accident, which is a bit bloody; two men get into a fight, which leaves a gash on one's face; a man knocks a college student into the bushes.
Drugs: Possible drinking at a college party.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The accident scene at the beginning; emotional intensity throughout; people arguing on television news programs; a funeral; the fights.
Synopsis: Walter, a lifelong fan of Kermit, Miss Piggy and crew, dreams of visiting the Muppet studio. When he, his brother Gary, and Gary's significant other, Mary (Amy Adams), finally make the trek over there, they discover that it's been largely abandoned. Worse yet, Walter overhears an evil tycoon's plan to buy the Muppet studio only to dig up the oil reserve beneath it. The only way the nefarious scheme can be stopped is if Kermit and friends can raise ten million dollars. Kermit assembles the old crew together to put on a benefit...but, that nefarious oil baron will stop at nothing to be the owner of the Muppet studios. Will Kermie prevail in the end?
Features appearances by Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez, Emily Blunt, and several other celebrities.
The Good: After Jim Henson died, the Muppet franchise went into a downward spiral. Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets from Space were pretty good...but, after the mediocre and somewhat crude It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the absolutely horrible The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, and the inane A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa, things seemed bleak for Kermit and crew. Well, I'm happy to say that this film brings back the Muppet magic. It's a serious throwback to a time when movies were made to simply be enjoyed, not picked apart for hidden meanings. Humor abounds; the musical numbers were great; the heroes were likable; the villain was utterly despicable; and, there's many a cute moment.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the makers felt the need to add some occasional crude bits, though it's nowhere near as egregious as in the other Muppet flicks mentioned above. Without them, this movie could have scored a "G".
Conclusion: I grew up watching the Muppets in various forms: movies, both older and newer; Muppet Babies; Muppets Tonight; and, yes, even Fraggle Rock. That may make me a bit biased, but, I still had a blast with this movie. Say what you will about Disney; they brought back the Muppets to their former glory. Whereas the movies from the 2000s would have made Jim Henson turn in his grave, this would have made the late Muppet creator proud. Let's hope the next movie, Muppets: Most Wanted, continues this trend.
Score: 4.5/5
After Revenge of the Sith, the last of the prequels, came and went, it seemed that the Star Wars saga was over, as far as the films went; sure, there was the Clone Wars movie, but its box office receipts were well under the standard set for the series. Some years later, Disney bought Lucasfilm, and it was soon announced that there would be a new film in the series. People doubted the House of Mouse, but, the flick was a massive hit, and, soon, there were further films announced, the first one of which was Rogue One, another prequel to the original trilogy. The previous prequels had sort of a mixed reaction from moviegoers and critics alike, but, this one is in a completely different vein. Instead of the childishness of The Phantom Menace or the romantic aspect of Attack of the Clones, this one focuses largely on action, and answers a very big question: How exactly did the Rebels get the plans to the Death Star? Most of the characters introduced are likable, especially main heroine Jyn Erso. There are some familiar faces, though: Darth Vader makes two or so appearances, and there's even a scene with a very realistic computer-generated Princess Leia, who very much looks like a young Carrie Fisher. There's plenty of action and heroism, and no annoying characters like Jar Jar. Even the content is clean; though there's plenty of violence, as expected, it's not graphic, sexual content is absent, and language is limited to one unfinished, "What the...?"
Despite my high praise, I do have to issue some complaints: There was a pokey moment here and there, and, at times, it felt underwhelming. Still, for Star Wars fans like me, this is a blast.
I'm a sucker for a story.
Seriously, anytime I hear, read, or see a story--in any form--I always want to know what happened next. I still remember years-old incidents where somehow--flipping channels, being at a friends' house, a technical problem, etc.--I saw only part of a movie or show; to this day, I wonder what happened before or after what I saw. True, some tales are not worth telling; if it's morally offensive, I don't want to hear any part of it. However, as long as it isn't sinful, pretty much any story can grab my attention.
So, despite the critical drubbing this movie got, I found it to be a captivating tale of redemption, with a charming historical setting. The performances were wonderful, and the production values were amazing. It seems to me that the critics were just too hard on this movie because it fell into the genre of Christian cinema. I would say that we need more films--and, for that matter, television shows--like this.
Then again, I'm such a sucker for a story that I stayed up past midnight to finish watching The Witches of Oz, which had the worst special effects I've ever seen, so, maybe I'm not a fair judge. To adapt an old song lyric, "Here I am now; entertain me!" That's what this movie did; you may feel differently.
(I do want to issue a content concern: This film has a surprising amount of violence; more than I would expect in a "PG". The initial shock I had while watching this is akin to what many people felt when Prince Caspian first came out. While there's no blood or gore, the intensity of the action made me feel like this should have been "PG-13" instead.)
First off, a little personal history: All the way back in 1995, I received a computer game as a Christmas gift called Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon. My mom didn't even know what it was; I still can hear her saying, "What is that? A golf game?" Despite its title, it had nothing to do with any sport; Putt-Putt was actually an anthropomorphic purple convertible that actually gets launched on a rocket to the Moon while visiting a fireworks factory. As the game progresses, that titular vehicle does everything from save an alien from moon goo to play the arcade game Bear Stormin' to meet up with an abandoned NASA Rover...and, eventually makes it back to terra firma. I quickly got addicted to that game, and soon got my hands on not only other Putt-Putt titles, but also others from the same developer, Humongous Entertainment. One of their games, Let's Explore the Airport, I awaited owning for well over a year, playing the demo to death the whole time. Words can't describe my excitement when my mom randomly decided to purchase it for me as an end-of-school reward.
Fast forward to 2004: I hadn't touched any Humongous Entertainment games in years, but I did fondly remember playing them on my first Mac, which was long gone. That November, I went with some friends from church to see The Incredibles in theaters, where the trailer for the first Cars flick was unveiled. As you can imagine, those Putt-Putt games were the first thing I thought of; it was almost like a 3-D version of a childhood favorite. I actually didn't see Cars until well after it came out on DVD, but I enjoyed it, particularly the vehicle-themed spoofs of other Pixar films during the end credits.
That was years ago; the Cars franchise is now a trilogy, and I'm just now seeing the second outing. What did I think? Honestly, I had a blast with it; the action and intensity was on point, and Mater's triumph over dire circumstances was very inspiring. I loved the voice actors, especially the female British spy, Holley Shiftwell. As usual, the animation was excellent. Despite what some people may think, I think this is another winner from the studio that pioneered computer animation; it was vastly superior to the last one I sat through: the dreadful, nerve-grating Incredibles 2. If you like family-friendly action/adventure flicks, this one is for you.
Synopsis: There's an undersea monster that has been taking the lives of sailors, and nobody can catch it! What could it be? It's soon discovered that the "monster" is actually a submarine, captained by a man named Nemo, who uses his submersible to isolate himself from society. Professor Aronnax, his assistant, Conseil, and their cocky harpooner, Ned, believe Captain Nemo to be crazy, and try to escape...only to put the ship and its entire crew in danger. Will the professor and his associates be able to safely emerge from the clutches of the insane Captain Nemo?
Based on the book by Jules Verne.
The Good: This is the old-school kind of adventure they don't make anymore. Not only is it clean-cut and exciting, but there's nary a female character in sight. (While I don't mind a character of the fairer sex, I do mind when she becomes a Mary Sue, and starts outdoing all the males in everything, which happens far too often in modern entertainment.) While this film may be quite old, it stands the test of time quite well. It's easy to see why this continues to be revered, several decades after its release.
The Bad: The violence wasn't graphic or bloody, but some may find there to be a bit too much here, especially for a "G" film. Also, the scenes involving smoking or drinking were rather disturbing, especially when they get their pet seal to join in.
Conclusion: Believe it or not, I haven't read the original Jules Verne novel. (I know; what kind of bibliophile am I?) Still, I enjoyed this throwback to a time when films were meant to be enjoyed, not brooding with hidden meanings. If you're a fan of Disney's live-action productions, you should check this out.
Score: 4.5/5
Say what you will about this movie, but, it was very inspirational to me in high school, and watching it again recently reminded me of why. When this movie came out, a friend--a former drill sergeant, at that--glowingly recommended it to me. As a longtime fan of both Disney and Disney-esque productions, I figured I'd enjoy it...but, I had no idea the effect it was going to have on me. As soon as the credits rolled, I was ready to announce to everyone that Anne Hathaway had replaced Hilary Duff as my number one celebrity crush...and I spent the next few days telling everyone that! I also couldn't stop watching the finale, which made me smile again today, many years after watching it originally.
Why the lasting appeal? For two reasons: One, it has everything I could want in a movie: humor, action, romance, suspense, and even a great soundtrack. Second off, because the main storyline is inspirational. Even though I'm a guy, I could identify with Ella's curse because I was sort of saddled with problems from birth as well: a psychological "condition," my biological father walking out on me and my sisters, leaving me as the only male in my household, etc. However, as Chuck Swindoll once said, "Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it." Ella of Frell could have gone into hiding, and lived as a hermit so that nobody could tell her to do something ever again...but, instead, she did something about her curse of obedience...and eventually overcame it by her own will. For someone like me, the character of Ella is both a inspiration and a role model, not to mention a strong female protagonist, which I always find admirable.
So, for me, this isn't just some silly Disney film or forgettable romantic comedy; it's a big-time inspiration, even if the original novel wasn't. I've always liked stories of triumphs; I hate movies and books that end on a sad note, because I want my heroes and heroines to overcome the odds: solve the case, save the day, win the game, etc. Ella's story is a prime example of that. I do have to issue one caution, though: Some discerning viewers--especially those with "Y" chromosomes--may be bothered with the immodest wardrobe of female characters at times. You may want to avoid this if you can't watch it without violating Matthew 5:28.
Synopsis: Robin Good (Larry the Cucumber) lives in the medieval town of Bethlingham, where he and his "merry men" try to raise money for the poor of the city. When Robin witnesses a ham being stolen by the sheriff of the town by the prince's orders, he decides to do something about it...only for his friends to abandon him. Will Robin be able to save Bethlingham from the clutches of the evil prince? Also, in a bonus story, Lenny (Junior Asparagus) is excited because it's his birthday...but, nobody seems to realize it's his special day. How could they forget something that important?
The Good: What Big Idea has done well in the past, they continue to excel at here. Amazing animation; fabulous values; fun humor...this is exactly what I've come to love about this franchise. Though kids are the target audience, the moral here is one that adults should take to heart as well.
The Bad: Nothing, really.
Conclusion: I've been watching VeggieTales episodes since I was in middle school; I've had a blast with many of them, especially Jonah. This is another hit for Big Idea; I've sat through some sorry movies lately, but, this isn't one of them. Fans of Bob, Larry, and friends should check this out if they haven't already.
Score: 4.5/5
Synopsis: MacLarry lives in a Scottish village with all the Barber-barians...but, he isn't like any of them. They're all excellent pranksters, and use their skills to annoy the neighboring nation of Rome...whereas MacLarry dreams of being an inventor, like his hero Archiemedes. When things go wrong in his town, MacLarry leaves town for Greece...only to be caught by Romans, who concoct a dastardly plan that will use MacLarry's skills. Will the inventing cucumber be able to save the day, or is his village doomed? Meanwhile, Larry and friends sing a Silly Song about Scotland...and other places around the world!
The Good: VeggieTales is usually good fun, and this episode is no exception. With excellent animation, a great story, a wonderful moral, and good music, this is another hit from Big Idea. Even though kids are the target audience, this one has a message that many adults need to hear as well.
The Bad: As good as this is, I've seen better from Big Idea; as many films as they've made, it's tough to top some of them; still, though this was great, it could have been a bit better.
Conclusion: Ever since my brother-in-law showed me The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown in 2001, I've been a fan of Bob, Larry, and friends. I've had a blast with Big Idea's various productions, especially Jonah. While there have been a few missteps from the studio--and, hey, nobody is perfect!--most of the time, their creations are well-made, thought-provoking, and all-around fun...as was this one. Veggie fans who haven't seen this yet should.
My friends and family know that I've been a fan of Disney Channel for quite a while. However, I wasn't always keen on their Original Movies, also known as DCOMs. Just after discovering Lizzie McGuire, I was all excited for the telefilm You Wish!, which starred Lalaine...only to be super disappointed. After a few other bad experiences, I stuck with the sitcoms...until recent viewings of DCOMs on DVD were actually fun and entertaining, if only for one viewing. Some of my friends may also know that I've been a fan of Danielle Panabaker, this telefilm's lead actress, for years; I even named my first iPod touch after her. So, you probably would expect me to enjoy this...and I pretty much did. While it can be silly at times, it provides cutesy escapism, which is the kind of movie I enjoy the most. Gritty realism is not my thing--I watch movies and television shows and read books to get away from that--so, if it's yours, you won't enjoy this...but, for fans of innocent entertainment like me, this is a great one. There's no profanity, the violence is only comedic, and about as sexual as it gets is the main character wearing a midriff-baring outfit, which she soon changes out of. The one issue I take is with the closing credits: While I love Anneliese van der Pol and her song "Over It," it doesn't fit with the rest of the movie; it's like ending Cinderella with "Enter Sandman".
Score: 4.5/5
Synopsis: As a kid, Frank Walker (George Clooney) dreamed of being an inventor. When he showed his jet pack prototype to Governor Nix (Hugh Laurie) at a World's Fair, he ended up discovering Tomorrowland, a futuristic world featuring technology he could only dream of. A few decades later, an arrest leads to teenager Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) getting a pin that also leads her to Tomorrowland...only for the pin to run out of power. When she and now middle-aged Frank find each other, they discover what the futuristic world really is...and how it has a huge impact on our world today.
The Good: I'm not a big George Clooney fan, but, I have to hand it to him: He did an excellent job in this movie, as did the rest of the cast. The special effects were amazing, and the plot kept me involved. This kid of old-school action/adventure flick is the kind of Disney movie that I like, and I had a blast with this one.
The Bad: If only they'd kept things a bit cleaner. While I expected violence--what is science fiction without it?--I wasn't expecting at least twelve to fifteen profanities, ranging from d-words to h-words to misuses of God's name to even the British crudity "b-----ks". Also, a scene or two may frighten children.
Conclusion: When people think Disney, they usually think animation: Mickey Mouse, Aladdin, Cinderella, Finding Nemo, etc. However, I have always been more partial to their live-action productions; even before Lizzie McGuire changed my life, my favorite Mouse House flicks were ones such as Flubber or George of the Jungle. So, as you'd expect, this kind of movie is right up my alley. Profanity aside, this was a fun live-action thrill ride with a convoluted plot! I know the critics didn't like it...but, what do they know? Fans of non-animated Disney productions will enjoy this.
Score: 9/10
Synopsis: While walking home from school, Japanese teenager Haru (Anne Hathaway) rescues a cat from the middle of a busy highway. When the cat talks to her and tells her that her good deed will be greatly repaid, she is shocked...and is even more dismayed to discover that the Cat King has arranged for her to marry his son, the prince...which would mean Haru would have to become a cat. When a voice tells her to find the Cat Bureau, the felines there vow to help her out of her predicament...but, with Haru already growing whiskers and paws, they may be too late.
Produced by Studio Ghibli.
The Good: The above plot sounds weird, doesn't it? Well, as bizarre as the storyline may seem, this movie makes it work really well. It definitely kept me gripped until the end, something that other movies from this studio (Spirited Away, The Secret World of Arrietty) didn't do. The animation is excellent, and the voice work--in the English dub, at least--was spot-on.
The Bad: The only complaint I have is that this was a bit short; seventy-five minutes is rather a low runtime for a theatrically released film.
Conclusion: Back in the day, I was a big Anne Hathaway fan...but, I'm just now seeing this. While I've moved on from her and celebrity crushes in general, I still enjoyed this movie quite a bit. I need to check out other movies from Studio Ghibli; the library I work for has plenty of them!
Score: 9/10
The Hunger Games is a dystopian young adult book series that became a blockbuster film series. Usually, I don't bother much with popular movies unless they fall into the sci-fi/fantasy or superhero genres, but, I made an exception for these movies some years ago, and I'm glad I did. It's easy to see why this series has captivated moviegoers worldwide, especially given the state of our country and our planet. Modern screen legend Jennifer Lawrence excelled as heroine Katniss, and everyone else did very well; Haymitch has always reminded me of former dc Talk member Kevin Max, for some reason. There wasn't any profanity, and one brief kiss was about as sexual as it got, both of which are shocking for a "PG-13" film. I honestly wish I had the sequel on hand; I can't wait to see what happens next. By now, I would think all fans of the franchise have already seen this; if you're unfamiliar with these movies, you definitely should check them out...but, they're not for the faint of heart!
Content Concerns:
Sex: One brief kiss; a girl invites a guy to snuggle with her in bed, only for her to wake up and find that it's a dream. 4/5
Nudity: None. 5/5
Language: Nothing worse than "shut up" or "horse manure," which is shocking for a "PG-13". 4/5
Violence: People are shot dead; scenes of massively destructed towns; a bombing or two; a guy attacks a young woman, and she ends up with a neck injury as a result. 2/5
Drugs: Alcohol and prohibition are mentioned; nobody actually drinks, though. 4/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The whole tone of the movie is dark; the scenes showing destructed towns; the aforementioned attack; frankly, there's little here that isn't intense. 1/5
Score: 4.5/5
Synopsis: Lizzie is thrilled to be invited to a pool party thrown by Danny Kessler, her number one crush! Her mother is willing to let her go...until Jo discovers that it's on the same day as Lizzie's Nana's birthday. Worse yet, Lizzie's BFF Miranda is considering going without her, and "'Randa" has also been invited into the popular clique by Kate, Lizzie's former friend and sworn nemesis! Will Lizzie get to go to the pool party? Will Miranda learn the error of her ways?
The Good: This is one of the earliest Lizzie McGuire episodes; some sources say it's actually the pilot. Wherever it falls in the continuity, it's great to see where it all began. All the hallmarks of the show are here: a moral premise, someone learning a lesson, unconventional filming style, cartoon Lizzie's remarks...yeah, if you're a fan, you know.
The Bad: Despite being a Disney Channel show, this isn't quite as clean as you'd expect from the Mouse network. Remarks about teenage girls' chests may make some viewers uncomfortable, especially males. Also, the animation on the cartoon Lizzie is terrible.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Talk about teenage girls' chests.
Nudity: Teenage girls' midriffs.
Language: Name-calling.
Violence: None.
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: A scene or two of emotional intensity.
Other: A scene of bodily function humor.
Synopsis: Isadore "Izzy" Daniels (Corbin Bleu, High School Musical) is a local boxing champ; he has never been defeated in the ring. His neighbor Mary (Keke Palmer, True Jackson, VP) is on a Double Dutch team that is hoping to make it to the state championship...when one of the other girls jumps ship to another team. Izzy fills in temporarily, but finds that he has a penchant for Double Dutch. However, he is afraid of what would happen if his boxing champ father and especially his sworn enemy Rodney find out about his new hobby. Will Izzy lead them to the championship?
The Good: While I don't watch sports very much, I find that sports-themed movies, when done right, can be fun...and this is no exception. Positive elements abound: solving problems without violence, not allowing yourself to be stereotyped, honesty being the best policy, etc. The actors were great, and the sports action--both the boxing and the jumping rope--was fabulous. The soundtrack was fun as well.
The Bad: Nothing to complain about, really.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Guy and girl hold hands; guy is called a girl by a bully.
Nudity: Occasional slight midriff.
Language: Name-calling.
Violence: Some rough-and-tumble sports action in the boxing ring, but no blood or gore; a few scenes of bullying.
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Scenes of bullying; occasional emotional intensity.
Conclusion: Nobody makes telefilms quite like the Disney Channel, and this was a fun one. Even this non-sports-fan enjoyed it. You may not remember it after a while, but, you could do much worse when it comes to sports films.
Years ago, on Christmas Day 2013, my entire immediate family and I headed to the theater to see Frozen, the movie about which everyone was talking. It had been out for a while; a friend from work told me she and her kids saw it on Thanksgiving. While I had heard the song "Let It Go," and even had the Demi Lovato cover of it on my iPod, I was unfamiliar with the fairy tale The Snow Queen. (I know; what kind of avid reader am I?) The story was engaging, and the animation breathtaking, especially seeing it on the big screen. Since then, my mom and I have often referenced that movie, particularly Elsa's infamous show-stopping number; I would even think to myself about how various people I knew needed to "do an Elsa and let it go."
As big of a success as the first film was, it's no surprise that the House of Mouse churned out a sequel; thankfully, it wasn't another direct-to-video one. How does this one stack up to the original? Well, everything here looks incredible; at times, I felt like I was watching a Pixar flick instead. The story was exciting, and had plenty of twists and turns. Olaf was his usual hilarious self, and Anna and Elsa were likable and attractive heroines.
Unfortunately, the music here fell flat. As a kid, I was always a bigger fan of Disney's live-action productions--Flubber, George of the Jungle, Rocketman, etc.--than their animated fare; part of the reason why was because the cartoon characters tended to randomly break out into song, which I found annoying. I still feel that way to a degree, though I have learned to like some of the tunes from old-school Mouse movies. However, despite many people's annoyance with it, I found "Let It Go" to be rather iconic; I can see why plenty of other artists have covered it. This sequel's music is nowhere near as good. While the singing is beautiful, the tracks here lack the punch of the first film's. Of lesser note is occasional bathroom humor; was that really necessary?
In spite of its flaws, this is still a great movie; it's just not what it could have been. If they make a Frozen III, they need to bring back the style of music that the first film had. I enjoyed watching this over the past week; however, I could have enjoyed it more. Then again, that's a non-musical-fan talking; if you like your characters to break out in song, you might feel differently.
Me and this movie have an interesting history. When it came out in theaters, I had friends who were chomping at the bit to see it, but I didn't want to because I thought it was graphically violent due to some Star Wars video games having a "T" rating. (Ironically, when I became a big fan of the franchise, those guys didn't care for it anymore; they said they "grew out" of it.) I did actually see it around Easter of 2000 at a family members house, and I had fun with it. My mom bought me a shirt that had to do with the movie, but didn't want me to have one with Darth Maul on it, because she felt he looked too much like the devil. (Looking back, I can see how such an image would have been perceived by some of my friends and family, especially those who were elderly.) This film was my introduction to the Star Wars franchise; though I had played games and read books about it prior to seeing this, I didn't really understand them.
So, maybe I'm biased, but I enjoyed this movie. Even though the acting wasn't the best, the scope is appropriately epic, and it sets the stage for later events that are even more tumultuous, such as Anakin's turn to the Dark Side. Like a lot of media, I can see why some people don't care for this or the prequels in general...but I still liked it, even this time around. It may not be perfect, but it's light years ahead of the shark jump that was The Last Jedi.
Synopsis: Cassandra (Meghan Markle) has a problem: she always goes for guys who aren't willing to commit. Her current relationship isn't cutting it; when he makes her sit there bored while he is having a blast at the batting cage, she walks out in disgust. While at a friend's wedding, she meets a single guy named Robert, whom with she immediately hits it off. Soon after, she goes out on a date with another guy named George, whom she meets via her job. Cassandra's sister wants her to go by a bestselling dating handbook written by "expert" Dr. Susie and go for George, but their mother doesn't put any stock in that literature, and says Robert is the better choice. Who will she choose?
The Good: I can see why Prince Harry fell for Meghan Markle; she is definitely cute, and plays her part well. The rest of the cast does a great job, too. The plot drew me in, and the production values--sets, wardrobe, etc.--looked great. As you'd expect, the content was very clean: no violence, sex was limited to kissing, and as close as it comes to profanity is one use of the word "gosh". As a longtime Apple fan, the fact that Cassandra owned a MacBook and an iPod was a plus.
The Bad: Since most of the characters are adults, they're seen drinking alcohol; while I know it's only a sin to get drunk, I was a bit bothered by all the champagne on display, as well as one scene with beer. The biggest complaint, however, is that this feels a bit cookie-cutter; there's nothing particularly special about it.
Conclusion: Despite knowing the names and likenesses of many Hollywood celebrities, I had never heard of Meghan Markle until her romance with Prince Harry. I grew up hearing about the British monarchy--I remember waking up to news that Princess Diana had been killed in a car wreck in 1997--but, I was never all that enthused about it; then again, maybe I would have been if the late princess had beautiful daughters instead of sons. Still, with Meghan Markle becoming a household name, I had to see her in action...so, I checked this movie out, and I was glad I did. While it's nothing special, it drew me in and kept me until the end. I don't know if I'll ever watch it again, but it definitely brightened my weekend.
Synopsis: They may look like ordinary guinea pigs...but, the G-Force team is anything but! When they discover that appliance manufacturer Saber is hatching a nefarious plot to take over the world using kitchen appliances, it's up to G-Force to stop him once and for all! They hit a roadblock when the FBI shuts their operation down, and the guinea pigs end up in a pet store. Will they be able to escape and save the world?
The Good: I love movies like this: live-action, clean-cut, thrill rides. Though the premise may be silly, the film drew me in, and kept me until the end. The special effects were outstanding, and the voice work was fabulous, as were the action sequences. This is the kind of Disney film I enjoy most.
The Bad: Some crude humor was present. Also, I was disappointed in the ending.
Conclusion: Faithful readers of my reviews know that I have preferred Disney's live-action productions to their animated ones from a young age; see my earlier reviews for more on that story. So, you'd probably expect that I enjoyed something like this...and I mostly did. It's not a perfect film, and I don't think I'll watch it again, but, I enjoyed it for what it was. This is a throwback to the days of old-school escapism, not the gritty realism that we see far too much in media these days.
Score: 4/5
Synopsis: Four musically talented New York City teenage girls (Raven, Sabrina Bryan, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams) are collectively known as the Cheetah Girls, and have dreams of making it big in the music biz. Unfortunately, obstacles plague them at every turn: family issues, a music mogul who wants to turn them into some cutesy kiddie act, one of the Cheetahs who is a bit selfish, and plenty more. When it seems like the Cheetah Girls are over, will they be able to reunite and rediscover what brought them together in the first place?
As seen on the Disney Channel.
The Good: First and foremost, the musical numbers were fabulous, and not just by the title group. All of the actors do a great job, and I found the four Cheetahs to be likable. This movie is much superior to the terrible book on which it was based.
The Bad: As good as this is, it wasn't anything spectacular, and it won't change the minds of those who aren't already Disney Channel fans.
Conclusion: This movie premiered back when I was a huge fan of the Mouse network...yet, I'm just now seeing it! How can that be? (In my defense, I was a much bigger fan of the sitcoms than...well, anything else on the channel back in the day.) I had a blast with it, and it definitely brought me back to my high school days. However, I probably won't watch it again, though I'm interested in checking out the sequels.
Score: 4/5
It seems surfing is a big thing when it comes to Christian movies. This is the third flick I've watched this year that falls into that genre that also is based around that "beachy" sport. It's light years ahead of The Perfect Summer, because the Christian characters in Cutback actually act like people of the faith. It also doesn't have the main content issue--exposed skin--of Soul Surfer, though that was still a great film (in my opinion, anyway.) Cutback features great performances, a fun soundtrack, and a winning story. Fans of Christian cinema will likely enjoy it. While the production values aren't top-notch in every respect--for example, the English subtitles are easily the smallest and hardest to read I've seen in all my years of watching DVDs with them turned on, and the "accident scene" the MPAA warned about was not quite as intense as they'd have you believe--it still works very well. Unless you're a fanatic about either surfing or Christian cinema, though, I'd suggest getting this from the library. It's not something that will go down in history as one of the landmark films, even within the Christian genre, but, for what it's worth, it was fun and enjoyable.
Synopsis: Jill Young (Charlize Theron) grew up alongside gorillas in the wilds of Africa. When poachers kill her mother while Jill is still a child, Jill promises to look after the big hairy primates. As an adult, Jill is best friends with Joe, a gorilla that, due to a genetic abnormality, is several times normal size. The poachers haven't gone away, though; they're still after Joe, so, to keep him safe, she moves him to an animal sanctuary in California. When her mother's killers return in pursuit of both her and Joe, will the young woman and her primate friend survive?
The Good: I'm pretty sure this is the first movie featuring Charlize Theron that I've seen--her other films don't exactly match up with my tastes--but, she does a good job as the lead. The special effects are amazing; they really made Joe seem like a real, living animal, instead of merely a product of computer animation or puppetry. Here's the best compliment of all: The finale affected me emotionally, in ways few movies ever do; seriously, I was about to cry.
The Bad: The profanity count is somewhat high for a '90's "PG" film, especially one made by Disney. Discerning viewers may want to watch this via a filter. Also, the heroine's outfits tended to be a bit too tight.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Kissing.
Nudity: Woman in tight outfits.
Language: Three or four uses each of the d-word and h-word; about six or so misuses of God's name.
Violence: Action violence throughout: a woman is shot dead; a guy loses his finger from an animal bite; Joe is shot at with both tranquilizers and bullets; Joe goes on a rampage more than once, etc. However, no blood or gore.
Drugs: People drink at a party.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Joe goes on a rampage more than once; the finale features Joe almost dying while saving a kid from the top of the Ferris wheel.
Conclusion: It seems that Disney had jungle fever in the '90's. Between The Lion King, George of the Jungle, Tarzan, and this movie, they had several movies that were set in the wild...but, this one is the only one that didn't get any direct-to-video sequels. It may not have been the most popular Mouse flick ever, but, I still had a blast with it. Fans of Disney productions who are looking for something different will likely enjoy this; just keep in mind the content concerns above.
Like many kids of my generation, I grew up watching Disney productions on television and VHS tape...but I was always more partial to the live-action flicks. My favorites were George of the Jungle, Flubber, and My Favorite Martian, not Aladdin, The Lion King, or Beauty and the Beast. Lately, the House of Mouse has decided to go back to its roots by recreating their beloved animated classics in live action form, and, I have to say, this one was done very well. The special effects were excellent, the performances outstanding--especially by Helena Bonham Carter, whose role here was much different than in the Harry Potter flicks--and the story kept me interested, even though we all know how it ends. Better yet, an ethnically diverse cast and a stronger heroine made this an improvement on the original. All in all, great stuff.
Content Concerns: I won't do my usual listing; all I'll say is that, as you might expect, the makers kept things pretty clean here. No sex; no profanity, save for one misuse of the Lord's name; violence is limited to comedic pratfalls; all in all, usual Disney fare. The one exception is the wardrobe: Cinderella and other women wear low-cut outfits throughout. That's the only negative aspect of the film, really; it's a shame it had to be included.
Score: 4/5
