Animation Domination

This past weekend I saw an awesome movie, it was just incredible, and was an animated movie geared towards children.  The movie was Kubo & The Two Strings.  It is the latest movie from Laika, whose films, like Pixar and Studio Ghilibi, have raised the bar in feature animation.  They’re featuring a variety of issues that can be appreciated by all ages and humor that plays to multi generations. 

Let that last point sink in for a minute as you realize that Shrek, a film that has been viewed by many children and adults alike, makes a subtle dick joke.  That’s the key that makes it all work, playing to two different levels and succeeding on both as well as the common ground.

The wave of releases in the past few years have played to both children and adults.  After all why should children have to view crap movies only like Norm of the North?  These small versions of adults are smart people who, like adults, can get something out some deeper material.  These films have been highly entertaining and continue to be successful at the box office and awards, outside of the animated feature category.  After all Up and Toy Story 3 were best picture contenders at the Oscars.

I’ve also enjoyed seeing the release of Sausage Party.  The movie was an animated feature created for adults.  It was filled with bad language, adult themes, filthy jokes, and many clever gags (which is also featured in many children based cartoon).  I enjoyed the movie, but what I really enjoyed what going to a prime time showing and having to worry much less about a baby crying somewhere in the auditorium.  This is never guaranteed (I have stories) but the odds go up during kids movies.

I have to admit that there have been some animated movies that have been highly entertaining as well as a major nostalgic trip to a younger version of myself. Chief among them are The Peanuts Movie & The Lego Movie.  Both movies are cleverly written, play well to children, and is a great watch for those who remember those aspects from childhood fondly.  Plus there just good ole fun to watch.

Yes there have been duds in the genre.  How many times can they recycle the Ice Age story to keep the franchise going?  However with releases such as Zootopia, Rise of the Guardians, and the french import April & The Extraordinary World it seems like the genre is under the right influence.  

Summer Season 2016

Hello Dear Blog Readers!

Sorry for the delay in posts, but I’ve been watching the fireworks known as summer blockbusters.  Since this is a movie blog that seems like a great excuse, right?

Now that it’s August the summer season is winding down.  There are still a few films I still want to see, before the welcome long nights of fall & winter over take the long days of summer. However there’s plenty to discuss in a summer rewind.

The big surprise for me was Green Room, starring Patrick Stewart and the late Anton Yelchin.  The trailer made the film looking intriguing but not a must see.  Boy was I wrong about the latter half of that statement.  The simple plot gave way to some great filmmaking and intense moments in film.  Plus getting to see Patrick Stewart play a villain was a stroke of genius on behave of the casting director.

May fell quickly into a routine summer with the duel super hero releases of Captain America: Civil War and Xmen Apocalypse.  Both were enjoyable films but not genre changers.  May also saw the release of The Nice Guys, which I thought was a blast to watch.

June saw the release of a quartet of sequels: Finding Dory, The Conjuring 2, Now You See Me 2, & Independence Day: Resurgence.  The Pixar release of Finding Dory, I thought was fantastic and love reading how this movie is becoming a champion film for those with developmental disabilities. The Conjuring 2 scared me and truly lived up to the original.  Now You See Me 2 was a lot of fun and works well as an Oceans 11 style heist film.  I’m two sided about Independence Day: Resurgence.  Part of me had a blast watching the movie, it plays well to a crowd.  The other half of me thinks I waited twenty years for a sequel to Independence Day and this is the best that can be made?  That was a bit of a disappointment.

Ghostbusters, Star Trek: Beyond, & Jason Bourne were other blockbusters I really enjoyed watching and recommend seeing at some point.

Some smaller films also lit up my summer season. The foreign language movie The Innocents was a powerful story with beautiful cinematography.  The civil war pic Free State of Jones told two great untold true stories. The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble was an incredible documentary.  Not only did it show case the variety of talent with in the ensemble but delved deeply into the cultures of everyone involved.  

 However the summer champion goes to Hunt for the Wilderpeople.  It’s an odd fugitive type movie from the director of What We Do in the Shadows (which is a must see).  Hunt for the Wilderpeople mixes a great since of humor with a slightly bizarre yet sweet story.  

With that said there were some duds this summer.  Love & Friendship I found to be dull.  The Secret Life of Pets tried to hard to be charming and really wasn’t while I found Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping to be unfunny.

So with all that said I look forward to the cooler nights of fall and winter and the release of movies that tend to compete for the ever exciting Oscar season.  Plus there’s the release of Blair Witch, a decent look Blair Witch Project sequel.