How To Train Your Dragon

I saw this movie last night and was very pleasantly surprised! I loved the animation, and I feel this is DreamWorks studios best release to date. It best competes with it's big animation rival Pixar. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The story is fun, and heart-felt. I especially liked the fact that they steered away from most pop-culture references, and came out to tell a story. It didn't try to be overly funny with lame jokes, and it didn't dumb down some of its more emotionally poignant moments because of the children in the audience. I especially loved the giant dragon at the end--Cool Stuff! A good, fun, dragon-fighting and flying romp! I recommend this movie to just about anyone! And kids will probably love it.

Grade: A-

In honor of St Patty's Day I submit the following link to a fun video I made on JibJab. Enjoy!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/vCnO2R0dRWqeqNj9

Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, and Holmes

I never reviewed AVATAR, but rest assured that I thought it was spectacular! Left the film in awe. My favorite movie released in 2009. Most everyone has seen this one already so the review on this is not entirely necessary. Still only seen it once, but am dying to see it again.

Avatar Grade: A

I never reviewed SHERLOCK HOLMES, but I can tell you that you should definitely see it when you can--dollar theater or DVD. It has wonderful/beautiful (and Oscar nominated) art direction; plus, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are entertaining throughout. You can't seem to go wrong with Robert Downey Jr. these days--it's hard to take your eyes off of his performances.

Sherlock Holmes Grade: B+

ALICE IN WONDERLAND is what I'm reviewing for now. Simply put, a waste of wonderful source material, and talent. How could a movie with the tremendous talents of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter be so ensconced mediocrity? Wasn't terrible, but wasn't memorable. Whomever wrote the screenplay drifted from the original story, and made up one of their own. A story in which Alice is older, and is returning to Wonderland only to remember nothing of it turned out to be quite un-magical, and disapointing. It is very kooky, but the charm is not there. Things just sort of happen without any real explanation...which might be good for a film based on this source material, but in this case it's bad. Some of the few upsides include a fun performance from the Cheshire Cat, a moody performance from the Caterpillar (voiced by Alan Rickman of Harry Potter Snape fame), and decent performances from Depp and Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. They got the most out of the script they could...at least that's what it felt like. The art direction was pretty good overall, but not strong enough to carry the film on its shoulders alone.

I would say worth seeing once, and although the 3D was done very well it is not worth your money, if you do see it in theaters, to go the 3D route. I would advise the dollar theater or DVD rental.

Alice in Wonderland Grade: C+

Lars and the Real Girl

I watched "Lars and the Real Girl" last night when sleep was elusive, and I found myself very effected by the movie. It is very emotionally deep and, admittedly, I felt a somewhat pathetic sympathy for the title character, Lars. The movie is about a late 20's or 30ish shy man that has reached a mental breaking point in his life, and falls in love with a life-size plastic doll. Yes, it is that kind of doll, but the fact that it is that kind of doll is a very minuscule and unimportant part of the movie. Throughout the course of the film Lars projects and relates some of his own internal problems in and through his plastic affection. He fully believes that she is real, and those around him not only cannot convince him otherwise, but must end up embracing this "woman" as real. She helps Lars cope with the difficult life that he has to deal with around him, and in him. The emotions between Lars and the plastic woman are quite poignant, and the personal effect it had on me was profound. Lars is fighting through, among other things, the difficulty to find companionship, and love. I admit to really empathizing with his struggle in those areas. When you see that he reaches that point of desperation for friendship, companionship, and love that drives him to seek out those things in something inanimate, and somewhat absurd, I could relate on a certain level. I can relate to the feeling of loneliness, and need. My own life seems to coincide with some of Lars' needs and deficiencies in a similar way right now. No, I'm not going to go buy a giant doll, but the emotions are still similar to many of our own.

I don't want to give away the ending, or any major plot points, but I will say that it is NOT a movie that will leave you depressed afterwards. I tell you this because I know, through experience, that watching a drama that ends in pure, unresolved sadness is hard to like. This movie gives hope, and is thought-provoking. The actor who plays Lars (Ryan Gosling) is superb as well. I believe he was nominated for an Academy Award for this role. The movie sounds bizarre, but it is actually easier to accept the concept and the film than you might think. I was very skeptical, but was quite impressed. A must see in my opinion.

Rating: A

Fall Movie Reviews

A couple fall movies of note:

Surrogates:
Better than I thought it would be. You can tell that some of it's ideas are stolen, or unintentionally borrowed from other sci-fi, but most of the ideas are quite original. Not an amazing Bruce Willis performance, but it's almost always fun to watch him anyways.

Grade: B

The Invention of Lying:
The opening scenes of this movie, especially some witty commentary by Ricky Gervais over the opening credits are stupendously, and unavoidably hilarious! Almost from start to finish I was laughing out-loud. It's a story about a world where nobody can lie. Everyone tells the truth, and the truth about what's on their mind all the time...very funny! I only have one true gripe with the film, and that is a scene toward the beginning where there is some uneeded, semi-prolonged sexual humor. The premise is great, and a truly original idea.

Grade: B+

Whip It:
A surpising movie for me. A story about a 17 year-old girl that joins a women's roller derby team behind her parents backs, and becomes quite good at it. Tensions rise when it's found out that she is underage, and must get her parents permission to compete. The movie has good-taste heart-felt moments; some good small town Napoleon-Dynamite-esque humor, and a very funny coach character that is played by Owen Wilson's brother Andrew. Andrew's sense of humor, and diction is amazingly close to his brother's... and hilarious.

Grade: B+