Rango
Rango is a one of a kind film. In fact it is such a special addition to modern cinema, that assuming it is just another computer animated movie is a fallacy. The reason is because Rango isn’t the kind of animated production that is tailored to make us laugh-though there are quite a few moments that are funny. It is simply a vehicle for telling a story. This particular story happens to be about a lizard who becomes the legendary Rango.
When first we meet Rango, there is no evidence of anything but a lonely lizard who has nothing to keep him company except his frequent day dreams.
This all changes when his terrarium is flung from the back of a car and smashes to bits. Now a free lizard, Rango is told by an old armadillo that he must find the city of Dirt before he can find his destiny. Rango
arrives in Dirt after he hitches a ride with one of the locals. Rango discovers a town that is so behind that it is still in the Old West. Within the first few hours of his arrival, Rango establishes himself as a hero who killed seven outlaws with only one bullet. The tall tale earns him the admiration of the townsfolk and after he manages to dispose of a hawk that preyed on the inhabitants of Dirt he is made Sheriff.
The newly appointed law enforcement officer soon realizes that Dirt isn’t just in a drought, but doesn’t have any water at all. Determined to be the hero that he has convinced everyone he is Rango sets out to solve the water problem. Along the way he learns what a true hero is and the sacrifices he must make to be that man…or lizard.
There are a number of reasons to see Rango. One may be to hear the superb voice acting of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Bill Nighy and Timothy Olyphant to name a few. Another is two view the incredibly photo realistic CGI. Whatever your reasons, Rango is the film to see because it tells the tale of how an otherwise self absorbed individual can become the selfless hero willing to protect the weak and innocent at any cost.
Doubt
Recently I watched Doubt, which came out in theaters in December of 2008. If you have not seen this yet it is certainly worth viewing. Especially for those who like a good mystery.
The film is adapted from the play written by director John Patrick Shanley and stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The story in the film takes place during the nineteen sixties shortly after the assassination of John F Kennedy at a small Catholic school in Brooklyn, New York.
As the tale unfolds we are introduced to Sister Aloysius Beauvier and Sister James. Two nuns who are on a mission to uncover the truth concerning the relationship between one of the students and Father Flynn, the school’s priest.
The remarkable thing about this film is that it approaches controversial subject matter without spelling it out or “spoon feeding” the audience. We are instead left to our own interpretation of what has transpired, to ask ourselves; “Has Father Flynn done what Sister Beauvier suspects he has or is she paranoid?” The film even appears to be asking itself the same question. At times the answer seems clear, until a moment of compassion or a piece of dialogue pollutes your train of thought and changes your perspective.
Simply put, Doubt is a masterful work of art with visually stunning cinematography and superb acting combined with an emotionally driven story that is less about solving the mystery than it is about the line between certainty and doubt.
For those who have yet to see this film I highly recommend it.
I Am Number Four:A Refugees Tale
If any of us were
a young girl or boy far from a home we barely remember, had powers beyond our imagination and a mysterious, yet noble destiny to fulfill while being hunted by a ruthless evil intent on destroying us, what would we do? Would we stand and fight, or run away as we have for the last eighteen years?
That is the question that lies within the story of Dreamworks new film, I Am Number Four. A film in which the hero, John- played by Alex Pettyfer– is the fourth of nine children being tracked down and killed by a brutal enemy because of the powers they possess and he is the next target. For most of John’s childhood he and his protector, Henri (Timothy Olyphant) must move from one state to another to avoid being found.
When they arrive in Paradise, Ohio,John discovers the powers that were passed to him from his parents while at the same time adjusting to a new school. This makes fitting in a little difficult for John. Nevertheless, he manages to spark the interest of a local girl named Sarah (Dianna Agron) who has a passion for photography.
As the foe that hunts him draws near, John is faced with a decision. Stay and fight? Or run, and live an
other day?
I Am Number Four is more than just another science fiction film with great special effects and exhilarating action. It is a movie which tells the tale of a young man ripped from the home to which he belonged and must rise to meet his destiny head on without fear in order to protect his new home. Proving that home is not where the heart is, but where we make it or, just where all the best people are.
Gotta “Just Go With It”
Being single is tough. As you get older it is tougher. That seemingly endless game of finding your soulmate is difficult and some would rather avoid having to find that person. These individuals do so because each is afraid that the happiness they find with another is doomed to fail. Such is the case for Danny (Adam Sandler), the main character in Just Go With It that opened on Friday, February 11.
Danny is a successful plastic surgeon in L.A. who wears a wedding ring to discourage committed relationships. He spins a tale of a neglectful and abusive wife that he wants to divorce. As a result, he finds young women who are young and naive enough to pity him, offering their bodies as comfort. Danny of course, has the perfect reason not to call back-he is married after all.
The night Danny meets Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) his wedding ring plan goes awry after Palmer discovers “the ring” in his pocket. Instead of telling Palmer the truth, he tells her that he and his “wife” are getting a divorce. To his surprise, Palmer says she wants to meet his soon to be ex wife and Danny has no choice but to agree.
To set things right, Danny enlists the aid of Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) , his best friend and assistant. She reluctantly agrees and prepares to meet Danny and Palmer for dinner as Danny’s supposed near ex. Things become complicated because Palmer discovers that Katherine has children and Danny must embellish the lie. Danny is then hoodwinked into taking everyone to Hawaii, including his own cousin Eddie (Nick Swardson).
In Hawaii the situation becomes more complicated as Katherine and Danny are forced to create a lie to cover up the current one. Amidst all these lies Danny discovers a truth he cannot deny.
Just Go With It is a fun movie filled with enough jokes that nearly every kind of sense of humor should be satisfied. At least as long as you have a sense of humor. The story itself appears to send the message that there is somebody out there for everyone, even those who are reluctant to commit and that it’s best to “just go with it.”
The Green Hornet Strikes!!
In the days before television ruled the living room and the film industry was still in its infancy, radio was king and it was the radio serials of the golden age that introduced listeners to The Green Hornet
.
Created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker using the template of The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet was meant to be a hero for the modern age. Together with Kato, Britt Reid, founder of The Sentinel newspaper; moonlights as a masked vigilante to fight crime. As the character gained popularity he was featured in a number of films during the 1940’s and a television show in the 1960’s. There have also been Green Hornet comics in production since the 1940’s.
Fast forward to 2011. The Green Hornet and his sidekick haven’t changed much in the costume department, but what has changed is how the hero comes to be.
In the film, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of The Sentinel newspaper founder James Reid (Tom Wilkinson) and has little interest in his father’s business because; from Britt’s perspective, James has always looked down on his son. As a result, we are introduced to a Britt Reid who has nothing better to do than party.
The story takes a turn after a sad event which both Britt and Kato have an emotional reaction to and decide to go do something crazy. It is during this act of spontaneous chaotic deployment that Britt and Kato have an opportunity to be heroes. Unfortunately for them, the act of rebellion becomes the media focus, not the heroism.
They choose to use this misfortune to their advantage and pose as criminals infringing on the territory of the underground in hopes to eradicate that same crime syndicate. Thus, the infamous Green Hornet and his sidekick are born.
While the plot is a simple one, the action is the opposite. The fight sequences with Kato are ingeniously choreographed and the rest of the action is satisfyingly…explosive.
Seth Rogen and Jay Chou have a chemistry that is both funny and serious at the same time giving a cadence to the film that helps move the story along. Christoph Waltz is delightful as Chudnofsky, a crime boss aspiring to be scarier and more intimidating. At times Chudnofsky is oddly comedic, which gives a dimension to his persona that no other actor could have achieved. Cameron Diaz also appears in the film as Lenore Case, Britt Reid’s secretary.
In short, go see The Green Hornet. It is sure to sting you and you’ll just love that it did.
Tron:Legacy A Visual Evolution
Bruce Boxleitner as Tron in the 1982 film
If you were a child of at least six years old in nineteen eighty-two, then you may remember seeing Tron in the movie theater. You might also remember being in awe of the visual effects since they were unlike anything you had ever seen before. Over the last twenty-eight years you may have shown this movie to your children and have often wondered if there would ever be another Tron movie. Now there is and the wait is over as Tron:Legacy graced screens around the world this past weekend.
While the first Tron film was visual candy in ’82, it pales in comparison to the visual intercourse experienced while watching Tron:Legacy.
Having shot the film using a combination of 3D and traditional 2D, the filmmakers create a subtle divide between our world and the digital world, where reality is flat; lacking depth and the digital world is fully interactive and intimately engaging. If you thought the effects in the original were something, you haven’t seen anything yet. The colors are brighter and the environment is nearly absent of straight lines and polygons. All of this shows that the digital realm has truly evolved.
The legacy of the first Tron is evident from the first scene where Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) is telling his son, Sam is telling stories about his exploits on “the grid” with heroic Tron(Bruce Boxleitner), a security program and Clu; a program that Kevin Flynn designed to think like humans. After promising to take Sam to “the grid”, the elder Flynn leaves for work and never returns.
Fast forward to present day, where Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund)is now twenty-seven years old and the primary share holder in Encom- the company that Kevin Flynn took over in 1982 after successfully aiding Tron in defeating the MCP (Master Control Program) that sought to trap Kevin in the digital world-Sam, has no interest in taking control of Encom in his father’s absence. For him, the real world has little excitement to offer except when he sabotages an Encom board meeting.
Sam’s curiosity and hope is sparked after his father’s former partner, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) visits and tells him that he received a page from the office at Flynn’s Arcade, which has been closed for twenty years. The younger Flynn investigates the arcade and finds Kevin Flynn’s hidden office. After accessing the computer he finds, Sam is sucked into the digital world by the same device that originally transported his father into cyberspace.
Upon his arrival, Sam ends up on the game grid and has an encounter with Clu(Jeff Bridges)who nearly kills him, save for a daring rescue by Cora(Olivia Wilde). Cora takes Sam far from the game grid, to an isolated area of the system, where he has a joyous and unexpected reunion with his father who has been trapped in the system for twenty years. For both, it is a day they thought would never come.
Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and Cora (Olivia Wilde)
Together again, Kevin Flynn tells his son why he did not return that night and how Clu betrayed both himself and Tron and now searches for Kevin’s identity disc, which is the master key to the entire system. They decide to make a dash for the portal back to our world. A task much easier said than done as father, son and Cora must get past Clu and his garrison.
On the surface Tron:Legacy is a story of how a son must come to terms with the inheritance his father has left him. Beneath that, is the story of a man who is betrayed by his own ambitions to create a perfect contribution to the world and must be rescued by his son who is his true legacy.
This is a great film to take your kids to and share in the world of wonder and adventure that Disney began so many years ago.
Voyage of The Dawn Treader:A Journey of Discovery
If you have not seen The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of The Dawn Treader yet, it may be that you were not aware that it was released this past weekend. The film has been under advertised resulting in an opening weekend with a box office return of only $24 million. Despite this, Voyage of The Dawn Treader is at the number one spot. Perhaps this is due to the millions of fans the franchise has, or it is simply because people want to see it.
The story itself begins with Lucy and Edmund Pevensie living with their Aunt Alberta and Uncle Harold Scrubb because they are unable to join Peter, Susan and their parents in America due to the war with the Germans. Feeling somewhat abandoned, the two youngest Pevensies long to return to Narnia and all of its magic and promise of adventure. Their reminiscent behavior brings them much scorn from Eustace Scrubb, their cousin who is much more interested in solid facts than what he sees as the whimsical delusions of his relatives. Whether it be from the desires of Lucy and Edmund, or the doubting heart of Eustace, all three children are transported to Narnia.
Once there, they are reunited with Caspian who has been King of Narnia since the events that took place in Prince Caspian. He tells Lucy and Edmund that he is on a voyage to find the lost seven Lords who were banished from Narnia by his Uncle following the death of Caspian’s father, the previous King of Narnia.
One destination on this quest is the Lost Islands where the seven Lords were originally banished. Upon their arrival they learn that something is very wrong and investigate. Caspian, Lucy, Edmund and Eustace are all captured by a slave trader and learn that the citizens of Narnia who live on the island are either sold, or fed to The Mist; an entity of darkness and evil which demands the sacrifice. After a daring rescue by Reepicheep the mouse, the crew of The Dawn Treader embark on a gallant and noble quest to find the seven magical swords that will destroy the evil mist once laid on Aslan’s table.
This installment of the Narnia franchise has a slightly different feel than the first two, attributable to the fact that they are on a voyage at sea. That fact could cause some to draw comparisons to another popular sea faring franchise, but Voyage of The Dawn Treader is different in that the central theme of the story is overcoming adversity both from within and outside ourselves, not the journey or the quest. We watch Lucy struggle with self doubt and a longing to be beautiful, Edmund tempted with the desire to be the King he once was, Caspian still distraught with the loss of his father and Eustace hindered by his own inability to fathom anything more important or greater than the world he can 
see and touch. As we observe, each of them changes before our eyes, becoming better versions of themselves.
Whatever your reason for seeing Voyage of The Dawn Treader is-be it that you love the books or are an avid fan of the film franchise-the latest adventure to Narnia certainly does not disappoint. It is filled with the same splendor, magic and majesty of the first two films. There are battles fought and battles won, but none as great as the internal battles each of our heroes face, reminding us of the wars going on inside ourselves and perhaps even giving us each the hope that we can overcome our fears and doubts so that we can stand tall and unashamed before the world.
“Tangled” Isn’t Tied In Knots
If you are looking for a family movie that will warm your heart and remind you of how it felt to discover yourself and the world around you, then Tangled is the one to see.
Tangled features the vocal talents of Zachary Levi (Chuck) and Mandy Moore. The film marks Disney’s fiftieth animated feature and follows the studio’s tradition of giving fairy tales the Disney treatment. This time it is the story of Rapunzel being retold.
Those who are used to the usual Disney style of animation are in for a treat, because the film is not only presented in computer animated form, but in 3D as well! The computer animation breathes new life into the familiar Disney animation, bringing the characters to life in a way that makes them more real. Facial expressio
ns are portrayed so well that it is easy to forget that these characters are not real actors. The 3D effect only enhances the experience.
Although Tangled may seem like the typical fairy tale-A beautiful Princess held captive by the selfish and wicked old witch, only to be saved by a brave and stoic Prince-it is nothing of the sort. Yes, there are the arch types but, a few departures from the usual Disney formula, provides a unique and refreshing perspective on the tale written by the Grimm brothers.
Instead of a witch, Mother Gothel is an old woman who finds an item filled with magic powerful enough to keep her young. She hordes the healing properties for herself as centuries pass, until fate intervenes and places the item into the King’s hands who uses it to 
heal the ailing and pregnant Queen. The healing potion causes Rapunzel to be born with the magic sealed in her hair. The selfishness and vanity within Mother Gothel causes her to abduct Rapunzel and raise her as her own daughter. All the while using the magical properties of the girls hair for her own purposes.
Flynn Rider is a second character straying from familiarity, as his occupation is that of a thief. Dashing and smart he may be, though a Prince he most certainly is not. His ambitions bring him to steal a royal crown from the castle and he stumbles upon Rapunzel while attempting to hide from the castle guard in what he thinks is an abandoned tower.
Rapunzel is the only central character unchanged from the original context of the story. With the exception of her pet chameleon Leon,who provides a number of small, but memorable moments in the film.
I always looked forward to seeing Disney animated movies while growing up. Most especially those Disney films that retold a beloved fairy tale. Some of my favorites have been released within the last thirty-five years and Tangled is now part of that list. With this new addition, Disney gives us a story of wonder, sorrow, love, and hope told through music and laughter. In a word…magic-Walt Disney’s legacy.
Harry Potter 7: Darkness Before the Light
Yet another Harry Potter movie has descended upon the moviegoers of the world. Remarkably, but not surprisingly, the seventh installment to the franchise has managed to out earn the previous six episodes. In just one weekend; according to sources such as Box Office Mojo, the film has already made over $125 million in the United States alone, breaking the franchises own records for opening weekend earnings.
At any rate, this is not about how well the movie is doing, but the film itself and my response to it.
For the record, I agree with the overall consensus that Harry Potter Seven is dark because of the looming shadow that is Voldermort and his fearsome Death Eaters who seek to oppress and destroy those who stand in their way. Although there is a sense of almost overwhelming doom throughout the story, there are moments of humor and blissful reverie contrasted by the muggle murders, and disappearances of half breeds. One of which is a very sweet, tender moment between Harry and Ginny-a stark opposite to the heart wrenching trials our hero is about to endure.
For most of the film, Harry and his two best friends, Ron and Hermione are on the run from Voldemort’s followers, while at the same time they decide to hunt for and destroy the remaining horcruxes. The trio manages to commandeer the third horcrux through a brilliant infiltration of the Ministry of Magic now under Voldemort’s control. This particular part of the adventure provides much of the humor in the movie as the three literally take on the likenesses of adults who work at the Ministry. Once they have hold of the small, but ominous charm, our would be heroes soon discover that the cursed item has an affect on each of them as they wear it- not unlike a certain ring in another popular film franchise-causing each of them to experience anger or depression to a heightened degree. Thus, they hasten to find how the item can be destroyed.
Overall, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is very well put together and does an amazing job setting the stage for part 2. It is akin to the first act of a tragic play, or the first few chapters in a masterfully written novel. Whether you have read all of the books or have only watched the movies, Deathly Hallows Part 1 will have you on pins and needles waiting for the ultimate outcome after seeing the last scene. Surely, the darkness before the light.
I enjoyed the film because it gripped me from the beginning and once again brought me entirely into Harry Potter’s world as it teeters on the edge of a dark abyss. I felt for Hermione, Harry and Ron as they battled the odds, barely escaping death time and again only to watch as others perish around them. For me, Deathly Hallows Part 1 only proves that the story of Harry Potter is as intricately crafted as a tapestry on a wall to be admired for years to come.
Megamind is Mega Fun!
Getting straight to the point. Megamind is full of fun, laughs and even romance. There is also plenty of action. The film featurs the voices of Will Ferrell (Megamind), Brad Pitt (Metro Man) Tina Fey (Roxanne Ritchi), David Cross (Minion), and Jonah Hill (Hal/Tighten). While it appears to be merely a vehicle of entertainment, the motion picture gives the audience plenty of reason to be entertained with its outstanding visuals, animation and spectacular action sequences. However, the story on the screen has more than what is at its surface. Which is nearly always the case with a Dreamworks animated release.
Amidst the jokes and action is the story of a person trying to find their place or purpose in the world. In the beginning of the film, Megamind believes he has discovered that purpose as he and Metro Man consistently fight each other. Megamind is on the side of evil and Metro Man is on the side of good. All is right with the world as far as Megamind is concerned and nothing ever could; or should change.
To Megamind’s eventual dismay, things do change and he once again struggles to find his place or purpose in this world as he did while in his childhood. Being the genius that he is, Megamind comes up with a plan which unfortunately turns sour rather quickly and our misguided and somewhat reluctant hero, must decide whether to remain on the dark side so to speak, or step out into the light and be something greater than he ever dreamed of being.
In the end, Megamind is a wonderfully crafted film that entertains in a mega-fantastic way and presents us with a story of how a person can rise up out of the darkness and become a better version of themselves when faced with insurmountable odds. Go see this movie. Even if it’s to have something to do or simply to laugh. You will not be disappointed.
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