The Disaster Artist (2017)

My first encounter with "The Room" came from a Nostalgia Critic review. I laughed because the review was funny, but the clips from the itself were unbelievably bad. I did not think something that bad could exist and yet there it was. I found the full movie on YouTube and of course had to watch it. Yes it is one of the worst things ever put on film.

"The Disaster Artist" is directed by and stars James Franco as Tommy Wiseau, the man behind the worst film ever made. The film is of course, hilarious, but touching all the same. You have to admire someone who believes in their project so much regardless of what the rest of the world thinks.

The film focuses on the friendship between Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sister (Dave Franco). James Franco made the right choice in casting his younger brother in the role of Wiseau's best friend as they have undeniable chemistry. The two play off of each other well making the film that much more enjoyable.

Greg and Tommy meet in 1998 in an acting class. Greg is wowed by Wiseau's fearlessness in making a choice and committing to it no matter how odd it may seem to everyone else. Melanie Griffith plays the acting teacher and keep your eyes peeled as there are many more cameos where that came from.

James Franco is great as Tommy Wiseau. He embraces the character whole heartedly. After watching this film, Tommy is not someone I would like to work for (or with), but you can understand for the most part why he does the things he does.

Greg become good friends and eventually roommates with the only condition of their friendship being that Greg never talk about Tommy to anyone else.

After their move to LA brings about more rejections and disappointments, Tommy decides to make his own film. Tommy's film follows the all-American hero Johnny (played by Wiseau) as he discovers that his girlfriend Lisa (played in "The Disaster Artist" by Ari Graynor) has cheated on him and unintentional hilarity ensues.

Wiseau spends millions on the film's production while cast and crew of the film are bewildered by the man they are working with. When the film premieres the audience is at first shocked, then taken by fits of laughter by what they see on the screen. The film itself has garnered a cult following and repeatedly sells out midnight showings around the world. If there is something we can all learn from Wiseau it is to follow your dreams no matter what.

Before the credits start rolling audiences are treated to side by side comparisons of the original scenes from "The Room" with ones filmed for "The Disaster Artist". They are almost perfect mirror images of each other and speaks to the dedication of everyone involved in this film. Alls well that ends well as Tommy Wiseau himself has a cameo in the film. Definitely check out the original "The Room" as it is something you have to see to believe and watch "The Disaster Artist". Although you don't need to see "The Room" to appreciate "The Disaster Artist", it makes it all the more better.

Who's Holiday!

Cindy Lou Who is all grown up in this raunchy romp by Matthew Lombardo. The last time we saw Cindy Lou she was two, wearing a onesie and watching the Grinch steal her family's Christmas tree. Now she's middle aged and living quite an unexpected life.

Cindy Lou Who is now a middle aged woman living on a trailer on Mt. Crumpit.

If you have read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" then you know Mt. Crumpit is where the Grinch used to live. Here he is nowhere in sight, but Cindy Lou Who is here to tell the audience what happened to him (and to her) in the years since the events in the book took place.

Once Cindy Lou turned eighteen she and the Grinch got together. This is completely unexpected, and slightly uncomfortable especially the way it is written.

The show is 75 minutes long and Cindy Lou Who just out of jail has a lot to tell the audience and Lesli Margherita in the role of Cindy Lou Who handles it incredibly well.

Margherita has to carry the entire show on her shoulders, but she is absolutely brilliant. She is hilarious and riffs off of the audience really well. When the show does have serious moments she transitions easily and pulls at the heartstrings. She also sings and raps and does both greatly.

The show is directed by Carl Andress and he does a great job of balancing the comedic with the dramatic while keeping the spirit of Christmas.

It took a while for me to get fully invested in the show as the beginning is not really my kind of humor, but once the Grinch was out of the picture I was interested in Cindy Lou Who's story and was drawn into the life she was now leading.

Cruel Intentions: The Musical

I went into this production blind. I have heard of the film, but have never seen it as it came out when I was at an age where I would not be allowed to watch such a thing. As I grew up it was not a film I was determined to watch. All I knew was that this was a scandalous film (at least in the eyes of my family).

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that this received the musical treatment as everything these days seems to be turned into a musical, still I was unsure of how I felt about its existence.

The musical was adapted for the stage by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin (also in the role of director), and Roger Kumble (the film's director). It is currently playing at Le Poisson Rouge which is not a traditional theatre space by any means. There are minimal props and set pieces and the band rocks out onstage visible to the audience as the cast sings different 90s hits to tell the story.

Having never seen the film, I can only go off the musical which at times felt rushed causing different plot points to come across as convoluted.

The story follows step siblings Kathryn Merteuil (Lauren Zakrin) and Sebastian Valmont (Constantine Rousouli) as they play mind games with each other. Everything changes when Sebastian falls for Annette Hargrove (Carrie St. Louis).

Most of the time the transitions into the musical numbers felt clunky, but the actual performances were great.

The stand out performances of the night came from Alex Boniello (Blaine) and Jessie Shelton (Cecile).

Anytime these two were onstage you knew you were in for a laugh. The musical numbers between Blaine and Greg (Brian Muller) were also incredibly hilarious.

"Cruel Intentions: The Musical" was fun while the musical numbers were occurring. When they were not, things felt rushed and not fully fleshed out.

Coco (2017)

Sorry for the long hiatus. Moving to New York has got me adjusting to everything. I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things as I have a lot to review. Starting with Pixar's Coco!

Coco follows Miguel an aspiring musician. Music is banned in his family as his great great grandfather abandoned his family to pursue a music career.


Coco is the name of Miguel's great grandma. She is the child affected by the sudden departure of her father. Miguel's family loves and cares for him, but a music career is out of the question. Miguel finds solace in Ernesto de la Cruz. He is the most famous person to come from Miguel's village. His music speaks to the people of Mexico and especially to Miguel.

De la Cruz's motto is "Seize the Day" and Miguel decides to do just that during Dia de Muertos. There is a talent competition that he wants to participate in, but his family insists he stay home. Miguel defies their wishes and in need of a guitar, runs to the de la Cruz's mausoleum to borrow his. It is here that Miguel finds himself in the realm of the dead.

The film is gorgeous. It is spectacular to watch. There are plenty of small details to immerse yourself in.

This film is definitely a tear jerker. When Miguel sings his rendition of de la Cruz's most famous hit "Remember Me", Orlando and I lost it.

The beauty of seeing my culture portrayed on screen was also emotional. Pixar got it right on so may levels.

I have nothing to say except: watch Coco.

The Big Sick (2017)

The Big Sick is written by Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon and tells the story of how they met and fell in love. Their love story takes an unexpected turn when Emily (Zoe Kazan) ends up in the hospital in a medically induced coma as doctors try to figure out what is making her deathly ill.

The Big Sick has many wonderful aspects to it. As the screenwriters are telling their story, this film feels genuine. Yes, it is a romantic comedy and the formula remains true, but the personal aspect is what makes it stick out from other romantic comedies. Kumail and Emily endured cultural differences that they had to fight through. These very differences almost tore them apart, but it is nice to see them realize what truly matters. During the end credits, audiences are treated to pictures of Kumail and the "real Emily" which continues to add to the genuineness of the film.

It is interesting to get a glimpse into the struggles that Emily and Kumail went through as they began dating. At first, neither is truly interested in a relationship. They casually hookup, but the more time they spend together, the more they fall for each other. They become a couple and things are great at first, but their cultural differences begin to drive them apart. Emily's parents Terry (Ray Romano) and Beth (Holly Hunter) are okay with their daughter dating a muslim. Kumail's parents however want nothing more than for their son to marry a Pakistani woman.

For the majority of the film Emily is in a coma. She is admitted into the hospital shortly after she and Kumail break up as he reveals he can not be with her forever due to his family's beliefs. While she is in a coma, Kumail is able to realize what matters most to him. He also meets her parents and forms a good relationship with them.

Kumail Nanjiani does a good job, but of course he is essentially playing himself. He's charming and witty, but it is otherwise hard to measure this performance. Zoe Kazan plays her part well. She is sweet and in the more difficult moments you are able to see her struggle when making decisions. She and Nanjiani have great chemistry and play off of each other smoothly. Holly Hunter and Ray Romano also have great chemistry as Emily's parents. They are vulnerable, but funny.

The Big Sick is funny. It is also smart. Many times romantic comedies are dumbed down with the romance not being something you can root for and the comedy not being funny. More romantic comedies should be like this one. It is definitely worth checking out.

Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue by Quiara Algeria Hudes

Quiara Alegría Hudes is a poetic playwright. She has a way of capturing the beauty of the language even when the situations her characters are faced with are not happy. I just finished her play "Yemaya's Belly" and will have a review on that soon. First up is "Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue".

A fugue is a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts. This play is very much that. The play follows three generations of soldiers. It is absolute beauty. The play is fourteen scenes which are very short and make up the different aspects of the fugue.

We are introduced to Elliot. He is 18 and fighting in the Iraq war. He believes in what he is doing. The other characters in the play are his grandfather, father, and mother and they help narrate his story. His story intertwines with that of his family as their experiences in war are the same as his. The scenes layered and at times chaotic. The four characters create beautiful music without ever singing a note. They come together to tell their mutual stories and it is beautiful.

A prelude is an introductory piece of music, most commonly an orchestral opening to an act of an opera, the first movement of a suite, or a piece preceding a fugue. There are preludes within the fugue. In these moments we truly learn who the characters are. The main means of doing this is through the letters they write home. Grandpa, Pop, and Elliot all experience the same things in the war. They don't understand everything. They realize fighting in a war isn't everything they thought it would be. They try to fight the negative feelings taking them over. It is a lifelong struggle.

"Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue" is a play I would love to see live. I am also looking forward to reading more of Hudes' plays.

Beatriz at Dinner (2017)

3.5/5 Stars

Salma Hayek plays the titular Beatriz a woman who is a masseuse and a holistic healer. She came as a young woman illegally into the United States and is now a citizen who works at a cancer center and feels the pain of any living thing around her. After her car breaks down while on a home visit, the lady of the house (Connie Britton) invites her to stay for dinner. Here Beatriz clashes with Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) a rich corporate man who goes against everything Beatriz stands for.

At first Strutt believes Beatriz is a maid and from there the clashes continue. The film is directed by Miguel Arteta and while there is a lot of good material to work from some moments do not stand out as much as they should although Hayek and Lithgow do deliver solid performances. Hayek and Lithgow are both naturals in their roles and they play off of each other delightfully. Lithgow steals the show though as one of the most unpleasant men to ever grace the screen.

Cars 3 (2017)

I think most people will agree that making Cars 2 into a spy movie was a bit of an odd direction to go in making a Cars sequel. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but it was boring. The storyline was weak and it was obvious that the main reason in making the film was to sell toys. With this new installment, Disney and Pixar are washing their hands of that film and bringing back what made the first film good.

Cars has always been an odd film in the Disney/Pixar canon. The first film succeeded in the box office but never gained as much popularity as previous Pixar films before it. The second film did not fare well with critic or audiences. When news of a third Cars film was coming most people did not seem to care. In fact several of my friends on Facebook said they would be skipping this film altogether. It does have its fanbase, but overall the franchise is one people don't see a point in existing.

This film once again focuses on racing. Lightning McQueen is now an aging race car and begins losing to his younger opponents. With pressures mounting on him to retire, he knows he has to win in order to prove himself. He begins training and meets a young car with former dreams of becoming a racer. She mentors him as much as he mentors her. There are many moments in which the movie reminisces on Doc Hudson and his relationship with Lightning.

While it is nice that this film focuses more on what worked in the first film, I still do not see why these characters need to be explored. This film is a huge improvement from its predecessor it is still a little too long. The film can spread the message it is trying to send while being shortened considerably.

When the film opens up Lightening McQueen (Owen Wilson) is still the best race car there is. This changes suddenly when newcomer Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) appears on the scene. He easily beats Lightning his first time competing against him and continues to do so in all the subsequent races. The older generation of race cars are either retiring or are being fired by their sponsors. Lightning is not ready to retire and his new sponsor has him train with Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonso). Knowing he has to step up his game he also seeks guidance from Smokey (Chris Cooper) the car that trained Doc Hudson.

Most the original Cars from the first film are relegated to small roles and hardly appear in the film. The main focuses are Lightning, Cruz and all the other new cars met along the way. The new characters are likable and the voice acting is strong. Still it seems a little odd to have the original characters mainly on the sidelines.

No, there is still not really in point for this film's existence, but at least there was a lot of heart and effort put into the film. Even the animation in the second film felt sloppy, but not in this one. The animation is vibrant and colorful. There is a lot of effort put into all the little details of this world.

As with all Disney films nowadays there is a short film before the feature film. Lou is the story of lost and found items at a school and the bully who grows from those items. It is cute, but not particularly memorable.

Cars 3 is what it is. It is most certainly not a bad film, but it is still not one of the greatest films in the Pixar lineup. There is a lot more heart in this one and it does have a good message. It does its job in keeping the audience entertained.  I don't know if this will be the final Cars film. There are many franchises which have stated they are done only to continue making films. The audience won't necessarily want a fourth film, but after this venture I don't think they'll completely ignore it either.

Smurfs: The Lost Village

GENRE:

Family, Animation

RELEASE DATE:

04/07/17

RUNTIME:

90 Minutes

PERFORMERS:

Demi Lovato, Mandy Patinkin, Julia Roberts

DIRECTOR:

Kelly Asbury

MPAA:

PG

I personally never saw the first two smurfs films that came out most recently. I never had any interest. The smurfs were not something I grew up on and thus their stories were not something i needed to see. the need to make smurfs films seems a little odd to me as most kids nowadays have no inkling that smurfs have existed for a long time. still it seems that the franchise is succeeding. the smurfs are back and in this completely animated film. no live action in this one.

 This film follows smurfette (Demi lovato) as she tries to figure out her place in smurf village. created by gargamel years before to reveal the location of the smurfs, she was made good by papa smurf. this is the first children's film i have seen aimed solely for children that i have seen in a long time.  there are no adult jokes (or intentional ones at least) and there is a lot of slapstick humor that kids will get a kick out of.

i appreciate the overall message of the film. smurfette crosses into the forbidden part of the forest with some friends even after being grounded by papa smurf (mandy patinkin). Smurfette needs to know what she has to offer to the village she loves so much. anytime she tries to help she makes things worth. Smurfette and her friends come across a the lost village of smurfs. these smurfs are all female and for once smurfette feels as though she finally fits in. trouble ensues, smurfette blames herself, but is clever enough to figure out a solution on her own and ends up saving the day.  

Smurfette learns valuable lessons along the way. As do her friends Hefty (Joe Mangianello), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Genius (Chris Pudi). Smurf Willow (Julia Roberts) offers a lot of wisdom as the equivalent to Papa Smurf. This film was not meant for me and for this I respect it. Sure many animated films are aimed to please children and parents a like and I feel as though this has spoiled us. We expect every film we take our kids to engage us as well and why should it? Let kids enjoy what is theirs for it does not belong to them for very long. 3.5 stars.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Patty Jenkins's "Wonder Woman" is told as a flashback. Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) is working at the Louvre when she receives a picture from Bruce Wayne. You see a photo with Diana and four men taken during World War I. We are then transported to Diana's past.

This film is thankfully nothing like the Christopher Nolan or Zach Snyder films we've received from DC in the past. There are still dark moments, but those come naturally from the events in the film. "Wonder Woman" is the female superhero this generation needed and Patty Jenkins delivers.

"Wonder Woman" has a lot more heart than its DC predecessors. It still has all the action needed to make this a pleasing superhero film as well. The film is also genuinely funny with great jokes and deliveries. Patty Jenkins had been trying to make this film for awhile and it shows in all the detail she put into this film. It adds that Gal Gadot does a wonderful portrayal of the titular character.

"Wonder Woman" starts its flashback on the beautiful island of Themyscira. Diana is surrounded by fierce female warriors and wants nothing more than to be like them. Her mother, Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) prevents Diana from getting this training, but Diana begins training with her aunt Antiope (Robin Wright) in secret. Diana's ideal life comes to an abrupt halt as an adult when Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) flies into the zone of the island on a German warplane while being pursued by the German army. Diana learns of World War 1 and the biggest horror that is yet to come in the war: poison used as a weapon of mass destruction. Diana decides to join Steve so that she may help in ending the war.

Diana is convinced that the war will end once she kills the god of war Ares. She finds Ares disguised as General Ludendorff (Danny Huston) and she sets out to kill him. She does not understand why Steve is not as concerned as she is in defeating this one man. Gadot portrays Diana well from her fierceness to her naivete once she gets off of Themyscira.


Up until this point we see glimpses of Diana's true powers. We also see her interact with the men and women who live in London. Through out we get good laughs out of all the characters reacting to one another. Little by little we see Diana begin to fight as we head to the final battle. True to fashion things do not work out as she would like. It's awesome to see her finally fight in full Wonder Woman gear. The way the men fight alongside her is also cool to see. Diana, Steve and the rest of their team head to Ludendorff. The men want to stop the poison from being used and Diana wants to kill Ares. All the battle scenes are cool, but the one that takes place in no man's land and the village just beyond it is the best.

Seeing Diana go into battle simply because it is the right thing to do. I definitely appreciate her willingness to do what is right without expecting anything out of it. Steve Trevor knows that you cannot save anyone in this war and up until this point, this truth has prevented him from doing more. That is saying a lot as Steve already does a lot to try and save as many innocent people as he can. Wonder Woman is also filled with awful truths. Diana believes destroying Ares will bring an end to all the evil in the world. This is simply not true and Diana loses hope after this realization.

Diana's upbringing actually proves to provide more trials than advantages. She grows up being trained for battle, but her upbringing is still incredibly sheltered. Diana is also unprepared for her growing feelings for Steve. She finds this feelings wonderful, but of course, love also brings a lot of pain.

It is also cool, and unfortunate, to see how the events taking place in the past are still taking place today in many ways. There are people who see war as the only solution. You hope that defeating these evils will bring peace, but one evil is defeated another arises. It is easy to blame those who are different for the evil in the world even when those like you prove evil can live within them as well. Humans can be inherently evil, but there are many who want to do good.

Wonder Woman passes down knowledge from person to person and generation to generation.The stories we are told are meant to teach us something and will hopefully keep us from repeating history. It is a warning for us. We can all be Wonder Women if we fight for what is right for no other reason that to do good. There may not always be a reason to fight, but when that need arises take it.

Going in Style (2017)

3.5/5 Stars

Alan Arkin, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman star in this film and since they are all great actors it is a pleasure to watch them perform even if the rest of the film is a bit off. All three men in their old age are getting screwed over in many ways by their retirement. At the beginning of the film Joe (Caine), finds himself in the middle of the bank heist and after seeing how much money the crooks made off with decides to convince his friends to rob the same bank with him. The majority of the film is spent seeing the three men practice for the heist and we get glimpses into their motivations for doing this, but they are glossed over for the most part.

The script is by no means fantastic, but there are enjoyable moments. Still the jokes could have been funnier and the serious moments could have been delved into much further. For what it was though it kept me entertained. The three stars have great chemistry and deliver good performances.

The Circle (2017)

The Circle sets out to explore the consequences of a world overrun with technology. While I liked the message it was trying to send, ultimately it did not deliver as much as it could have.

The film is based on the book by the same name which I have not read so this review is based purely on the film. I do not know if the book did a better job of achieving the message it was trying so hard to send.

The Circle boasts a dynamic, star-studded cast, but this is not enough to save the film.

The story follows Mae (Emma Watson) who begins working at the Circle. There are many perks to working at the company, but there are big downfalls to it as well.


While Mae is the main character, it is unclear what her purpose in the film is. One minute she loves Eamon's (Tom Hanks) of making sure privacy is a right no one has anymore. Then she's suddenly against it and joins with her best friend Annie (Karen Gillan) and social media founder Ty (John Boyega).

I was excited to watch this film based purely on the cast, but I left the theatre feeling empty. Seeing Mae go through these transitions should ignite anger and fear, yet there is none of that.

There are things to fear about the Circle such as the need to join TruYou, the company's social media site. Every Friday the company goes to a meeting with boss Eamon and they learn about all the progress the company is bringing to the world, yet no one seems concerned about the lack of privacy.

Mae, at first, is appalled by these improvements. Then she suddenly decides to share her every moment of every day with the world. Then once again she changes her mind and there are never any clear transitions as to why she changes her mind so often.

The Circle could have been a downright scary glimpse into the future, but ultimately does not know where to focus and how to drive these fears home.

I personally would like to keep my privacy and there are others who would not mind sharing all the intimate details of their life and with social media these options are not too outrageous to think. Yet the consequences are never truly touched on in the film and this is where the real tragedy lies.

2/5 Stars

Pg-13

Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, Patton Oswalt, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Bill Paxton

1 hour, 50 minutes

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 was a smash hit. Well it was with everyone except me. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but by the time I saw it the hype had set in and flown off and I found it highly overrated.

I know I'm a total buzzkill when it comes to comic movies. Anyway, with the first Guardians film being such a hit a sequel was bound to happen. This one is just as silly as the first and those that loved the first are bound to love this one.

This film follows the standard Marvel formula, but amps it up by ten. It should be a delightful romp and I'm sure to many people it is, but unfortunately it was kind of meh to me. For the most part this will be my reaction to comic/super hero films; they are just not my thing. I will give credit where credit is due: this is unlike any of the other Marvel films and I can see why it has such a following.

Guardians 2 continues to bring a lot to the table that the majority of the other films do not. It is a lot more bright and colorful and does not try to take itself seriously in the least. Written and directed by James Gunn, it plays by its own rules. The story follows a basic story arc (beginning, middle and clear ending) and there are plenty of moments for the characters' personalities to shine through.

This feels more like a comic book than the others though they come from the same source material. Peter Quill (Bring on the hate. Not a fan of Chris Pratt, at least in this role.) meets his father, Ego (Kurt Russell). The Guardians must go their separate ways to figure out the truth and along the way their bonds grow stronger. Set to music from the eighties there are plenty of kick ass moments.

How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)

How to Be a Latin Lover is a fun romp.

The film stars Eugenio Derbez as a gigolo who is thrown out on the street after his sugar mama leaves him for a younger man. The rest of the cast includes Rob Lowe, Salma Hayek, Kristen Bell and Raquel Welch.

Maximo (Derbez) has been married to his rich wife (Renee Taylor) for 25 years until she divorces him after meeting and falling for a young car salesman (Michael Cera). The life Maximo has grown accustomed to is suddenly taken from him.

With no where to go he seeks out his estranged sister Sara (Hayek) a widow with a young son named Hugo (Raphael Alejandro). Maximo is determined to return to his lavish lifestyle after finding out that one of the rich grandmothers of Hugo's classmate is a widow.

The film is funny, but it is also heartwarming as we see Maximo bond with his sister and nephew once again.

The screenplay can be cliche at times, but it can be overlooked by the great chemistry the cast has with each other. Derbez and Hayek play off of each other seamlessly and have a genuine relationship that jumps off the screen.

Rob Lowe as Maximo's friend who lives a similar lifestyle with his sugar mama played by Linda Lavin and Kristen Bell as an overly-perky yogurt shop employee also provide plenty of laughs. The best part of the film is hands down the cast as it is apparent they are having the times of their lives on set. How to Be a Latin Lover is over the top and silly, but when the cast has great chemistry and are having fun on set, you can't help but enjoy the performances that occur as a result.

Distributor: Pantelion Films

Production company: 3Pas Studios

Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raphael Alejandro, Michael Cera, Rob Corddry, Rob Riggel, Raquel Welch, Linda Lavin, Renee Taylor

Director: Ken Marino

Screenwriters: Chris Spain, Jon Zack

Producers: Eugenio Derbez, Ben Odell

Executive producer: Mike Upton

Director of photography: John Bailey

Production designer: Marcia Hinds

Costume designer: Molly Grundman

Editor: John Daigle

Composer: Craig Wedren:

Casting directors: Deborah Aquila, Tricia Wood, Lisa Zagoria

In English and Spanish with English subtitles

Rated PG, 115 minutes

Disneynature Born in China (2017)

"Born in China" is the latest in the Disneynature series. The Disneynature films are not as graphic as other documentaries, but that does not mean that they shy away from from the harsh realities of life.

"Born in China" focuses on different species of animals that are native to China. The audience follows these different species for a year and we see them life live in the different seasons.

John Krasinki narrates and brings charm and humor to the lives of these animals.

Obviously the film is gorgeous to look at. During the end credits we get a glimpse into the filming process. It is fascinating and you can't help but appreciate the hard work these filmmakers put into delivering these stories.

Falling in love with the animals featured in "Born in China" is inevitable. Tao tao is a golden monkey who is ignored by his family once his little sister is born. Dawa the snow leopard is a mother who will do anything to make sure he cubs survive. Ya Ya is a panda who just gave birth to Mei Mei and like any mother struggles with the fact that her baby grows more and more independent each day.

Ya Ya and Mei Mei are the poster animals for this film and their storyline is adorable. The one that stuck with me the most though, was that of Dawa and her cubs. I do not want to give too much away, but it is the most difficult storyline to watch.

Disneynature films are educational. They are also full of heart. This one is no exception. You feel what the animals are feeling.You are taken to another world and what a journey it is.

13 Reasons Why (2017)

Having read the book, I instantly knew I was going to be watching this show. 13 Reasons Why follows high school student Hannah Baker after she commits suicide and her classmates deal with the aftermath. We see difficult scenes from rape, to harassment, and everything in between while not holding anything back from its viewers.

I know about the controversy surrounding this show.

It would be easy for me to say that people will not be affected negatively by this, but I am a grown woman with no history of mental health issues. It is easy for me to recommend this show without realizing I could be influencing someone in a way that I would not like to.

The characters are all affected by Hannah's suicide and the way Hannah handled life has caused a lot of people to call her a selfish character. I personally disagree with that as this is a high school girl dealing with a lot more than she could handle.

I cannot in good conscience recommend this show anymore as mental health professionals have condemned the content of this show. I can personally watch this kind of content and not be triggered by it in any way. However I understand others cannot. People either love or hate this show for the reasons mentioned above. If you have not watched it and decide to, just be aware of the controversy surrounding it and how it may affect you.

Fist Fight (2017)

Rated R - 91 Minutes

 Teachers are getting fired left and right at this school on the last day before summer vacation. Ice Cube's character challenges Charlie Day's character to a fist fight once the final bell rings as Day gets Cube's character fired. This film is over the top and silly and it did get some members of the audience to laugh. The most uncomfortable aspect of this film was Jillian Bell's character as a guidance counselor propositioning one of the male students and actually getting him in the end. Not okay.

Official Site: fistfightmovie.com
Director: Richie Keen
Producer: Shawn Levy, Max Greenfield, John Rickard, Dan Cohen, Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Samuel Brown, Dave Neustadter, Charlie Day, Ice Cube, Marty P. Ewing, Billy Rosenberg and Bruce Berman
Cast: Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan, Jillian Bell, Dean Norris, Christina Hendricks, Dennis Haysbert, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Kumail Nanjiani, Charlie Carver, Max Carver, Austin Zajur, Alexa Nisenson and Chanel Celaya

Thinner (1996)

2.5/5 Stars

Look at that poster. It looks like the film should at least give you some tingles as you watch it. Alas, this is far from it. It's one of the ill-fated Stephen King adaptations.

The film is directed by Tom Holland. He directed Child's Play. Ignoring the fact that its sequel was my favorite film as a kid (true story!), you would think some of his.... expertise? would slip into this film. Of course, it does not. The film follows Billy Haleck (Robert John Burke) an overweight lawyer. If you think the fat suit the actor is wearing it only gets worse.

Billy and his wife (Lucinda Jenney) are driving and she begins pleasuring him causing him in turn to crash into an old gypsy woman killing her instantly. Trust me when I say Thinner trying to take itself seriously. Anyway, being a great lawyer he gets off scot free making the gypsy woman's father place a curse on him. At first, everything seems okay. He begins to lose weight while eating anything he wants. As he continues to lose weight he realizes he will continue to do so until he dies.

This film is awful in more ways than what you have read so far. He blames his wife for the whole situation and wants revenge against her. There is no happy ending, but the ending is unsatisfying on so many levels especially when it comes to this douche bag. The poster has nothing to do with the film. Do not even get me started on the portrayal of Gypsies. The young women are nothing but hot and the older ones are nothing but vengeful.

This is a definite skip.

Get Out (2017)

Daniel Kaluuya as Chris in Get Out

I was not sure what to expect from this film initially, but all my friends began talking about it and instantly my curiosity grew.

Get Out begins like every other horror film out there. A young man walks down a dark suburban street as a car approaches him. The young man is black and he has a lot to fear. Suddenly the person driving the car attacks and we see the young men get dragged into the trunk of the car.

This is where the similarities to other horror films ends. The abducted young man seems unimportant until you realize the importance of the color of his skin.

Black men in horror films usually equal one thing: instant death. Here though, the use of horror is used to tell a much more important story. It is a highly political film.

It will definitely be remembered as one of the best political films out there. It also exceeded box office expectations despite starring relative unknowns.

This is a film about racial tensions although it doesn't necessarily slap you in the face with it. Yes, you start to see it as the story line goes on, but it is fantastically done.

Get Out follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Alison Williams). They have been together a few months and it is time to take the next step: meeting the parents. Rose's parents live in a perfectly white world and while she says they are not racist she admits she hasn't told them her boyfriend is black.

They arrive at Rose's parents house and immediately they try to prove how not racist they are. Chris is tolerant, but it is overwhelming. Rose's dad (Bradley Whitford) is a neurosurgeon. Her mom (Catherine Keener) is a therapist.

Her family is more than welcoming, until her brother shows his racist side during dinner. Chris assures Rose that everything is fine, but he still feels out of place especially concerning the servants working for Rose's family. The next day the family has their annual party. Chris is surrounded by people who mean well, but their comments and actions make him question who he is. He sticks out like a sore thumb and everyone makes sure he knows it.

Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out

Every one makes some sort of inappropriate comment whether they are aware of it or not. There is one other black guest at the party, but he is also oddly okay with his circumstances. Chris needs an escape and when he tries to talk to the female servant she can barely respond. Tears well up, but she smiles through it. She is hurting, but can't seem to express it fully.

Chris, who usually handles everything just fine, needs someone he can vent to. He calls his best friend played by Lil Rey Howery. He is mistrustful of the people Chris is with, and is oddly the voice of reason while also providing comedic relief.

Get Out borrows a lot of elements from classic horror films. It is creepy to watch. Of course it is also meant to offend people as the victims and villains are clearly laid out. Get Out makes you root for the black characters and deservedly so.

Many people in the United States will be able to relate to Chris and his struggles and it is easy to see why this film dominated the box office.

Everybody Loves Somebody (2017)

Romantic comedies are a genre that are hit or miss with me. Everybody Loves Somebody is just as predictable as any other one out there.

The film follows Clara (Karla Souza, who does NOT resemble one Avery Segapeli as some people I know have suggested). She is an OB-GYN and when she is not working she is usually drinking, trying to get over Daniel (Jose Maria Yazpik) the man she loved and left her eight years prior. Clara needs a date to her parent's wedding and decides to invite her co-worker (Ben O'Toole). Daniel shows up at this wedding and a love triangle begins.

We go from LA to Mexico, from English to Spanish and in that sense it is delightful. Actually, it is delightful in many ways even if the setup is cliche and you can probably guess the ending just by this review.

The film manages to throw in a lot of charm and genuine non-cliched romance between Carla's sister and brother in law. They have been married for a while, and even when it seems like their marriage is set to end, they remember why they are together in the first place and that makes it all worthwhile.

Director and Writer: Catalina Aguilar Mastretta
Starring: Karla Souza, Jose Maria Yazpik, Ben O'Toole
Rating: Pg-13

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Beauty and the Beast is the story of the importance of inner beauty. There is a beautiful woman, a prince and their romance. The original 1991 Disney film is a beloved classic. There has not been a Disney remake that has been filled with so much excitement as this one and as such has a lot to live up to. And live up to it, it does... for the most part.

This is not Disney's first trip down the remake rodeo, but this was the first one I was fully looking forward to. That being said, Disney please stop remaking your classics! Beauty and the Beast director Bill Condon wanted to make sure that he was as faithful to the original as he could be and it mainly works.

Bill Condon has stated that most of the shots were exactly like the ones from the original in order to pay homage to its greatness. Still the film is made longer because of this as he and the writers added some backstories to the characters as well as new songs. One of the main things I missed was the beauty of the original's prologue.

Instead of the story told through stained glass windows, we see it being told during one of the Prince's (Dan Stevens) dances. Not that there was anything wrong with this choice, but the stained glass was such an iconic part of the original. Still we see the Prince's transformation into a Beast with those who serve him turning into enchanted objects along with him.

In the nearby village Belle (Emma Watson) is a beautiful, bookish odd woman who dotes on her painter father Maurice (Kevin Kline) and is constantly dodging the advances of the handsome Gaston (Luke Evans). She sings of wanting more than her provincial life. Gaston is handsome and he knows it, every woman in the village (apart from Belle) and his trusty sidekick Lefou (Josh Gad) are sure to let him know. Evans is a great Gaston balancing the cartoonish side of the character with the horrible man who won't take no for an answer.

Just as in the original, Maurice ends up the Beast's prisoner and Belle dutifully takes his place. Again, here there were moments from the original that I was looking for. I missed Beast's outbursts and almost instant regret at realizing what he had done. "Be our Guest" is cool to look at, but is missing charm. The enchanted objects, of course, have gotten a makeover. Cogsworth (Ian McKellan) is the most hilarious one, but mainly due to McKellan's voice acting and not so much the design of the clock.

There is one major thing lacking: chemistry between the title characters. Dan Stevens and Emma Watson both do admirable jobs, but they do not seem to connect with each other. They go through the motions, but only seem to really connect with each other at the end when Stevens is no longer covered in CGI.

All the songs from the original are included as well as some new ones. The songs serve to add backstories to the titular characters. The musical numbers are not as memorable as their cartoon counterparts.

This was the first live-action Disney remake I was excited to see. It follows the original faithfully, but that leaves more room for comparison. Beauty and the Beast became a classic for a reason and while the remake is still good, it is not as memorable as the original. It will keep you entertained, but at the end of the day, the original is still the one that sticks in your mind.

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

My first memory of Batman comes in the form of the Tim Burton adaptations back in the nineties mixed with Batman the Animated Series. Both were darker vastly different interpretations from Batman in the sixties. They also had one thing in common. Bruce Wayne did nothing else with his life except wait for the Batman signal to turn on (okay, I know he did more than that, but that still was his main purpose in life).

The Lego Batman Movie draws on this idea and flies with it to the extreme. When Batman is not fighting crime he does not know what to do. He sits in his bat cave, talks to Alfred and occasionally looks at the portrait of his family the day his parents died. It plays on Bruce Wayne's lonely life and while funny, the joke did get old eventually.

Batman (Will Arnett) enjoys battling villains including his arch nemesis Joker (Zach Galifianakis). When he's not fighting he watched Jerry Maguire, eats his favorite lobster dish and waits for the bat signal to appear in the sky.

There has been an abundance of Batman in the past twelve years. We got Christopher Nolan's take on Batman in which he tried so hard to make it realistic we lost Batman's charm. When that was over we got Zack Snyder's take on the hero which tried to incorporate more of Nolan's style, but still trying to add an element of fun. Both vastly different takes on the sixties and late nineties cartoony Batman. Of course being a cartoon film The Lego Batman Movie goes as far from the most recent adaptations as possible. He is dark and broody and brings a new life to the character that has not been seen in a while.

The story plays off of Batman's need to be alone. The Joker declares himself Batman's arch nemesis and not wanting to put a label on it, Batman denies it. Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) is promoted to police commissioner and wants to team up with Batman rather than rely on him to do all the work, and of course Batman does not want any part in that. When Batman unwittingly adopts Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) it takes him a full week to notice.

During the course of the film, Batman has to learn to let people in. It is fun, but as I mentioned the joke gets old pretty quick. I do not know much about Batman, but my boyfriend had fun noticing all the easter eggs thrown into the film. Even so, the film ends in a good, heartwarming manner.

I have never seen The Lego Movie, but if it is anything like this one I am sure it was fun to watch. The action sequences are bright and in your face. There are great cameos and I still do not understand why Ralph Fiennes was not used to voice one said cameo. Anyway, this film is sure to delight people of many ages particularly Batman fans. Some refuse to see their hero in any light other than a dark one, but it is good to see that even the best heroes are flawed.

A Dog's Purpose (2017)

A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose knows exactly how to tug on the heartstrings of animal lovers everywhere. It is heartwarming and hear wrenching all at the same time. It starts off by killing the main protagonist immediately. It is a stray puppy captured by the town's dog catcher. From there he is reborn ready to begin a new life.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron and the idea is that dogs are constantly reincarnated. Voiced by Josh Gad we first meet the puppy killed at the pound, he is then born again as Bailey, then as Ellie the police dog, then as Tino the corgi and finally Buddy the Saint Bernard. 

Since his first true taste of life comes in the form of Bailey, that is how the dog sees himself throughout his other lives and names. He remembers every event of his past lives. This causes him to question his purpose. He wants to know why he keeps coming back to life and what his goal is meant in each. He never truly learns why, but he learns he decides that the most important thing he has learned is live in the moment. The last words of advice from Bailey before the credits roll: "Be here now". If we lived as dogs do, we would appreciate all our experiences and live life to the fullest.

The bulk of the film follows Bailey and his boy Ethan (Bryce Gheisar as a boy, K.J. Apa as a teen) during the 1950's and 60's. We see all the events from Bailey's point of view including Ethan's relationships from his first love to his alcoholic father.

Maybe because it is seen from Bailey's point of view, things do not truly develop. We do see Ethan growing older and we see his relationships change, but the more difficult moments are solved quickly and life moves on as if those moments never occurred. 

Still it is a cute film, though that's about it truly has going for it. Josh Gad voices the dog well and we are truly transported to the dog's thoughts and feelings through him, but there are many moments which are left hanging simply because the dog doesn't know what's going on. Yes I want to hear Bailey's thoughts and questions as he explores the human world, not understanding why we do certain things, but I also want to know his impact on the human world and while we see him live these lives, except for Ethan, the his owners do not grow too much by his presence.

I almost did not see this film as the recent video of the german Shepard used for the "Ellie" sequence was seemed to be forced to do something against his will and this is behavior against animals that I will simply not tolerate. After doing research it seems that the video was edited to make it look like the animal was being abused and many people involved in the film have spoken against the leaked video's validity. Be aware that when you're watching the film you are going for the pure heart and soul of the dog and his life, story wise there is not much going for it.

La La Land (2016)

I fell in love with Damien Chazelle's Whiplash when that came out and I was looking forward to watching his next film venture.

The story is set in L.A. and it follows an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and a jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) as they meet, fall in love and pursue their dreams with all the highs and lows that come with all of that. This is a film for all the dreamers out there.

This is a musical, but it is also an homage to the great musicals that came before it. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are not the best dancers or singers out there, but I thought they did a good job overall especially since I am not one to judge on those aspects. While I did enjoy it, I do think it is overrated and getting more attention than it truly deserves.

Still Chazelle proves he knows what he is doing. The cinematography is gorgeous. In fact, it is aesthetically pleasing in every way. Visually you cannot take your eyes off the screen. This is the third time Gosling and Stone have worked together so their chemistry adds a lot to the film as well. This is also a good time to remind everyone that a little (or a lot) diversity never hurt anyone.

Pete's Dragon (2016)

Pete's Dragon

Pete's Dragon premiered August of 2016 and quietly disappeared into obscurity. Of course it is a remake of the 1977 film and that one is not exactly a Disney favorite. I saw the original long ago and have absolutely no memory of it, but I did think the remake was quite endearing. I was curious about it, but it was never a film I rushed to watch. The story follows Pete (Oakes Fegley) as he lives deep in the forest with his dragon, but when a logging company begins to destroy the forest he comes in contact with park ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), her fiancé Jack (Wes Bentley), his daughter Natalie (Oona Larence) and Grace's father Meacham (Robert Redford).

Pete's Dragon

The film takes its time as it introduces each of the characters and establishes the relationship Pete has with his dragon. The dragon is real and of course when he is discovered, people only want to catch him to cash in on his existence. Elliot, the dragon, is friendly and poses no danger to anyone except those who threaten Pete's safety. The dynamic is an interesting one as Pete wants to stay with Elliot, but after reuniting with a family years after he lost his, Pete realizes how much he yearns to stay with humans. The main conflict comes from those who see a potential way to make a quick buck without truly thinking about the feelings of those affected.

Another relevant film to other issues going on in today's world. This film does not have a traditional happy ending, but it's still happy nonetheless. Goodbyes are hard and a part of life and this is not a bad lesson to learn.

School of Rock the Musical

School of Rock the Musical Poster

I admit I was skeptical when I heard School of Rock was being turned into a musical. When in New York I saw this my last night there and it absolutely rocked! Andrew Lloyd Webber knew exactly what he was doing. Seriously, what a fun night.

School of Rock the Musical is based off of the 2003 film of the same name. I have yet to see any of other of Webber's works, but I have definitely heard of them. Of course the man knows how to make a musical out of anything.

This particular musical is playing at the Winter Garden Theatre and now stars Eric Petersen (taking over for Alex Brightman). This musical is pure fun from the moment it begins to the moment it ends.

The story follows a wanna be rock star as he pretends to be a substitute at a prestigious private school. The first half follows him as he realizes the kids can play music and realizing the kids can be the band he desperately needs to compete.

It follows the film well, but of course there are changes that have to be made to accommodate for the stage. We get more of a glimpse into the kids' struggles and it adds a nice touch.

The kids are uptight and act more like adults than their substitute, but he teaches them to have fun and live to the fullest. The cast is comprised of talented young kids who actually play their instruments every single performance.

Of course it's hard to top Jack Black's Dewey Finn, but Eric Petersen takes quite a swing at it. All my respects to this man as he is clearly exhausted at the end of the performance.

I have no idea how they did it, but they made a musical out of the film and it transitioned to the stage wonderfully.

School of Rock the Musical logo

As I mentioned, the musical is faithful to the film, but of course some of the pop culture references were updated for times sake. The kids are of course insanely talented. They are singing, dancing and playing their own instruments. They are memorable. My personal favorite was Rachel Katzke as Katie. The bass was about as big as her, but she killed it. (As a tuba player, there I also have a soft spot for females who play anything with a bass clef).

Of course there is only person who truly carries the show. The one who is in it from the moment curtain rises to the moment the final encore happens.

Of course Jack Black had plenty of time off in between takes. Mr. Petersen has only intermission and as any actor knows, intermission is never nearly long enough. He never overshadows his younger counterparts, instead he balances them out perfectly.

Petersen is incredibly passionate. He lives and breathes for rock music. The children willingly join him mainly because doing otherwise would be boring.

The other adult who stands out is the Principal Mullins (Jenn Gambatese). She is slightly different that the film version, but still provides comedic relief.

This time the romance is between her an Dewey and it works. The children also get more focus and we get a glimpse into their home lives and we understand why they would be so willing to be a part of this band.

School of Rock the Musical is great mainly because is everyone having fun. Every single actor on the stage is having the time of their lives and it is infectious. You want nothing more than to stand up and rock out with them like you would at a real rock show.

Most of the songs are catchy, but the most memorable are "Stick it the Man", "You're in the Man", and of course "School of Rock" which is also in the film. As someone who loves rock music it was cool to see a show based around rock and have all the songs have a rock influence. It is different from Webber's usual stuff.

A cool Easter egg is when one of the students, Summer, sings "Memory" from Cats for her audition into the band. Sure this bit is in the film, but the fact that Webber kept this is fun.

Webber wrote Cats and is his longest running musical. Fun fact, as of this month he will have four shows running consecutively on Broadway. If you want to watch one and you're not sure which one, definitely check out School of Rock the Musical.