Going On An Adventure Night Part lll-The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly of DRAGONS

Today's marathon is all about seeing the different varieties of dragons ranging from the nicest ones to the most evil. A quick recap of the previous adventure nights are the first week starting the adventure story arc with The Neverending Story, Legend, The Princess Bride, and Labyrinth. The second week was even more epic with the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, Pans Labyrinth, Avatar, and Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey. Today the stakes are raised higher with the same adventure theme occurring but this time centers around the evolutions of dragons on both sides of good and evil. We have on our menu for this one:

Sleeping Beauty 1959, Petes Dragon 1977, How To Train Your Dragon 2010, Mulan 1998, Dragonheart 1995, Dungeons and Dragons 2000 Reign of Fire 2002, and Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 2013

Now is that a kickass dragon lineup or what? I think the dragon quota is met with this spectacular lineup of films. The only way that last weeks marathon could be topped is by going all out with the theme of dragon movies. Starting with Sleeping Beauty, the dragons begin in the background of the story but slowly emerge from the reign of fire to become more prominent in the films. Sleeping Beauty begins with a malevolent fairy placing a curse on a princess which only a prince can break after being snubbed by the royal family. The prince along with the help of three good fairies work together to undo the curse on the princess. The malevolent fairy in this film ends up turning into a dragon during the climax of the film and is even more menacing than her normal bodily presence. The second film in the lineup is Pete's Dragon, with involves an orphan boy and his green/pink magical dragon coming to town with his abusive adoptive parents on pursuit. Outside of the visual presence of Pete himself, the film's score and song Candle On The Water were both nominated for Oscars. After Pete's Dragon is 2010's How To Train Your Dragon, centering around a hapless young Viking that aspires to hunt dragons but doesn't expect to ultimately become friends with a young dragon named Toothless. The end result of this story is the young Viking realizes there may be more to these creatures than he originally anticipated. The next film in the lineup is Mulan, a young maiden who secretly joins Chinas army to save her father from certain death in the army with the help of a small red dragon named Mushu. Eddie Murphy's hilarious performance along with the films memorable score makes it standout as a true Dragon movie classic. After Milan comes Dragonheart, which focuses on the last dragon cooperating with a dragonslaying knight who must corporate to stop an evil king who was given partial immortality. The next film Dungeons and Dragons deals with a tyrant named Profion who attempts to overthrow a peaceful kingdom ruled by a tough empress. Dragons play a pivotal role in the climax of the film with both sides using them in an epic battle between the forces of good and evil. The next film Reign of Fire, deals with a brood of fire-breathing dragons who rise and begin setting fire to everything in an effort to establish dominance over the planet. This action-packed drama stars Christian Bale, Gerald Butler, and Matthew Macconaughey. The final film of the evening has the greatest dragon that ever graced the big screen. His name is Smaug. The second installment in the Hobbit series, The Desolation of Smaug, has Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, and the twelve dwarfs continuing their quest to reclaim Erebor, their hometown from the villainous dragon named Smaug. If there is any dragon that lives up to his name as being truly menacing and fearful, it's him. Benedict Cumberbatch's dragon alone makes the entire movie, and worth sitting two hours to lay eyes on such a mystical creature.

   

Overcoming Adversity Part 1

Tonight's marathon is not just any ordinary marathon, its' an emotional experience. We follow the story arcs of several great characters in four great dramas that rank as some of the screens most emotional pieces of work. If one tear is not shed during this marathon nor a feeling of emotion, then you're not human. We have on our menu for this evening:

A Beautiful Mind 2001, The Shawshank redemption 1994, A Little Princess 1994, and The Pursuit of Happyness 2006

One word that can sum up this marathon perfectly is it being powerful. Each one of these films carries with them an emotional power that draws you into their worlds and live with these characters. You feel their moments of pain, fear, hopelessness but also their moments of hope that transcends into pure happiness by the end of their story arcs. There is a reason why this marathon is considered an emotional experience, each film hits you in the gut and cry tears of joy in the end, leaving you blown away by what you just endured during those several hours. Each film ends with a message of hope and happiness for the characters. Really, that is all that is needed after the experiences they all go through. The first film of the night is Ron Howard's 2001 Oscar Winner A Beautiful Mind. Winning the oscar for best picture over Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, the epic drama deals with a brilliant but asocial mathematician played by Russell Crowe, who accepts secret work in cryptography which leads to his life ultimately turning upside down. Jennifer Connolly won an academy award for playing his fearful but supportive wife who never stops fighting to cope with her husbands demons. A Beautiful Mind is hands down the greatest work of director Ron Howard's career next to Apollo 13. The film is majestic, grand, mesmerizing, tragic, and ultimately a great example of overcoming adversity with it's heartwarming ending. Nothing can prepare the viewer for the film that comes afterwards with Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption. There is a reason this film is number 1 on imdb's top 250 list. This film is so powerful that it still resonates with audiences today and has a sheer power everytime it's viewed, Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the two play imprisoned men who share a special bond over a number of years in prison together. Through their friendship, they find solace and redemption through acts of common decency they form. Shawshank is a film that enjoyed its rise to critical fame over the course of twenty years. The film was a box office flop when first released in 1994 and lost the Oscar for best picture to Forrest Gump. It is through the constant playing of the film on television and remarkable afterlife on home video that the movie became the pop cultural phenomenon that is today. It enjoys a comfortable spot as being one of the great modern day classics and is listed in AFIs top 100 best movies of all time list. You would think after Shawshank Redemption, the marathon would be finished as there is no way that film can get topped. Maybe not in quality but in terms of emotionally uplifting story arcs, there's more room for more unforgettable stories. The third film on the list is Alfonso Cuaron's remake A Little Princess. In this film, a young girl named Sarah Crewe is relegated to servitude at a boarding school when her father goes missing during the war and is presumed dead. The Alfonso Cuaron version is a remake of the 1939 classic starring Sherley Timple in the iconic role of Sarah Crewe with same plot theme. The difference between the first two films in the lineup and this one, is it introduces the theme of overcoming adversity with a young person. A child facing this issue makes the viewer sympathize with them more as they appear to be more vulnerable than the rest of the characters in this lineup. The final film of the night ties all the films together and is perhaps the most uplifting film of the evening. Will Smith's The Pursuit of Happyness, is the real life story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son as hes poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor. This film has such powerful moments with one specifically taking place in the restroom of a BART station involving Gardner and his son being forced to take refuge in a public restroom. The success of the film brought Smith critical acclaim as a serious actor and a well deserved Oscar nomination for best leading actor.

If this lineup doesn't reach into a persons soul and pulls their heart strings, then they aren't human. This is round one of overcoming adversity marathon theme of movies.

Going On An Adventure Night-Part ll

Tonight's marathon continues the trend that began last week with the theme of witnessing humble movie characters going on adventures with the stakes being raised a notch higher with tonight's lineup. Picking up right where we left off with the 80's Nostalgia of films ranging from The Neverending Story, Legend, Princess Bride, and Labyrinth, we bring it to the more modern day fantasy films that take advances in technology and storytelling to the next level. Tonight's marathon is a pure example of the word epic, and triumphs over the already strong foundation started last week. We have on our menu for this evening:
 
  The Wizard Of Oz 1939, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 2005, Pans Labyrinth 2006, Avatar 2009, and Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 2012
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Our first venture into the second week of going on an adventure night is the 1939 Judy Garland classic, The Wizard of Oz. This film is the perfect introduction for the rest of the movies and establishes the concept of someone traveling into an alternate world that's beyond mindblowing. In this film. a young girl named Dorothy and her dog named Toto are swept away into a magical land at the hands of a tornado, and end up embarking on a quest to see the Wizard of Oz, who is the only person who can help then return back to Kansas. During their quest, they meet friends and enemies ranging from a Lion, a Tin Man, a Scarecrow, a good witch named Glenda, and an evil witch who wants her red slippers and attempts to sabotage their journey. The Wizard of Oz is not only an all time family classic but it starts everything off perfectly with a character going into a new world that's visually stunning. The film Chronicles of Narnia continues this trend with four kids traveling through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learning about their destiny to free it with the assistance of a mystical lion voiced by the always great Liam Neeson. This film is the first of a three film trilogy thus far on the classic Narnia books, and what remains the most successful entry in that franchise in terms of box office and critical acclaim. Regardless of how the trilogy ended up quality wise, the first film gives audiences and fans of the book a glimpse into the world it inspired through literature. It is visually stimulating like Wizard of Oz and leaves you in complete awe, while taking you on an emotional journey with the characters. The third film Pans Labyrinth makes the visual world even more incredible with Guillermo Del Toro's artistic vision. In this story, a bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world during 1944 in falangist Spain. James Cameron's Avatar takes the visuals to the highest point of this marathon with the background of Pandora in his film. Boosting some of the greatest special effects technology ever incorporated on film, Avatar deals with a marine named Jake in a wheelchair who is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission. During so, he becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he's learned to call home. One can say that this story is essentially the same as Dances With The Wolves, Ferngully, Pocahontas, and The Last Samurai, but it's the way each film is told by other filmmakers and their distinct styles of directing which make them great. The final film in the marathon for this lineup brings the adventure theme to a fitting closure for this week with it's own little story arc being set up that spills into next weeks. The film, Hobbit: An unexpected Journey is Peter Jackson's first installment in the Hobbit trilogy that's coming to it's end on Dec 17th with The Battle Of The Five Armies. The storyline feels much like the Wizard of Oz with a reluctant Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who is summoned by Gandalf the Grey in an offer for the adventure of a lifetime. The two set out to the Lonely Mountain with a group of dwarves in an effort to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold inside it from the evil dragon named Smaug.

With all of these films being combined together, one gets the sense that the adventures have evolved from the one's shown last week, and everything is much more broader and epic in scope.

Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Part 1 Review

Finally got to see Hunger Games: Mockinjay Part 1

SPOILER FREE

At this point in time, I think it's safe to say that audiences are getting tired of the whole formula of studios breaking the final films in a series into two parts, making audiences wait a year in between parts 1 and 2 so they can see how everything ends. The first movies that started this trend where the infamous Matrix sequels in 2003 followed by the Pirates of the Caribbean films, then Harry Potter started the book turned movie trend of doing this technique. Now were stuck with the final installment in the popular Hunger Games series being split into two parts. Studios do this for two reasons, the first being to save costs by filming two films back to back in one filming schedule, and the second is to increase maximum profit by turning three films into four with the finale supposedly being so huge that they have to make two films to please the audience. This can either be a good or bad thing because while the second part of the finale is guaranteed to be the better half and draw in all the audiences that have taken a break on seeing part 1 in theaters, the first half feels like a waste of time or lacks the excitement of the final part. In the case of Mockingjay part 1, the problem lies with the first movie not really having much accomplished by its final frame.

This installment of the two part finale is not bad by any means but certainly feels like it's the least good of the first three installments thus far in the Hunger Games series. The darker and more mature atmosphere is a nice touch along with the faster pacing, but there is something genuinely missing from this movie that doesn't really get it's audience engaged in it like the other two did. I think the problem with this film lies in the fact there really isn't much that's happening in the first part of this finale. Let's review the plot of this film briefly: Jennifer Lawrence's character Katniss ends up destroying the games, and goes to District 13 after the 12th district is destroyed. It is there she meets President Coin who convinces her to be a symbol of the rebels rebellion, while at the same time trying to rescue Peeta from the capital. The storyline def has promise for this installment but it lacks action this time around, there isn't much of that in this film. A lot of information is given to the audience through the main characters in the film who sport a strong supporting cast among the likes of the always great Julianne Moore, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP), Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelsen, and Jeffrey Wright, but there isn't much action to back the moments of informative dialogue up. Perhaps they are saving all of that for the next part in the two part finale as this section feels rather dry at times. What the film ends up doing well is setting up the final act of the story with strong performances building on the emotional intensity of the conflicts presented in the film with a much darker atmosphere than the first two films, political corruption and the need to fight against it, strong acting from everyone involved, but the excitement takes a backseat in this one ultimately.

One has a strong feeling when all is said and done after the final installment is released that this will end up being the least popular film in the series. That is not to denounce it as a worthy installment, but to signify that it is the one film in the series that has no real beginning or closure to it. Will seeing both parts of the finale back to back change people's minds on their perspective of this one? Maybe a few but when the entire series is reexammined, this one is going to be the least appealing because it feels like unnecessary filler to get to the grand finale which comes next November. Much like how Harry Potter Deathly Hollows first part was solid but often quite forgettable when you look at the second part of the final story arc. That ending blew the first half out of the water, which may very well end up being the same case here. Mockingjay Part 1 is a solid entry into the Hunger Games series even though it's not quite on the same level as the previous installments. It sets out what it's primary mission is to build up the final act in the story which seems like it's going to pay off for die hard fans who've waited over two years to see how it's all going to finish. If you go into this expecting it to end on a note like the previous two did then you will be disappointed. If you go into this with the understanding that there isn't much that really happens in this installment but it's laying out the groundwork for things to come, then you should be pretty content with what you find here. Really, that's the only way you can look at this new installment and not be disappointed by it.

                                                                                                                                             7/10

Big Hero 6 Review

 

Finally got to watch Big Hero 6

SPOILER FREE

With all due respect to Legos The Movie, Big Hero 6 is hands down the best animated film of 2014 and deserves an oscar nomination in the best animated film category. If it lands a best picture nomination by some miracle regardless of the academy's bias towards comic book films, then it will become the first one in that genre to be on that list which signifies a major breakthrough for comic book storytelling. Personally, I don't understand why the Oscars don't appreciate these type of films, they are totally capable of being worthy of a best picture nominee. Big Hero 6 will likely receive a nom in the best animated film category and most likely will win it, but I think if films like Walle, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story 3 and UP can secure noms on the top 10 best pic list, then Big Hero 6 should be able to as well regardless of it being a comic book film or not. Enough on discussing it's oscar chances and more on the film itself.

Big Hero 6 is quite a unique story and one that has an emotional punch to it. The storyline deals with a special bond that develops between a large inflatable robot named Baymax, and his master Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends forming a band of high-tech heroes. It is a heartwarming story about loss, acceptance, heroism, and befriending a piece of technology. One could say this is the animated version of Terminator 2 on some level with a touch of Real Steel and Bicentennial Man to it. The film is visually stimulating with San Francisco looking quite incredible in the future with a really cool design of the future Golden Gate Bridge. One wishes that the current one went through a redesign like the one shown in the movie.  The animation is top notch with the robot Baymax looking stunning and realistic. The films pace allows it to move at a brisk pace with lots of action, great animation that comes off as brillantly put together, and touching moments where you really get to care about the characters in this film. Each major character has a backstory that's fleshed out making them come off as being sympathetic regardless of what their motives are. The character of Baymax is so appealing look wise and character that one wishes they sold big giant blow up dolls of him in toy stores. The film is not without it's dark moments where certain characters feel the loss of someone but that all serves to advance the story forward injecting moments of emotion into the film. Big Hero 6 has such a huge impact on it's audience because it has a lot of heart in it's plot. The key to a successful animated feature is to bring your audience into an alternate world for 90 minutes and make them feel young again, playing on their imaginations whether adult or child and making them feel something when exiting the theater. All the great Disney and Pixar films have followed this formula and the ones that we remember today succeeded because of those basic fundamentals of filmmaking. Big Hero 6 is no different.

In conclusion, Big Hero 6 is the years best animated film boasting action, excitement, great animated visuals, and an emotional journey about loss, acceptance, and a unique friendship between human and machine. If Legos had the humor, this movie borrows that element while adding the excitement with it. Bravo.

                                                                                                                                                   
9/10

Dumb and Dumber 2 Review

Finally got to see Dumb and Dumber 2

SPOILER FREE

One thing that people must understand before going into this movie is this: If you're not a true fan of the original film and understand the type of humor that this film is throwing at it's target audience, then you will not appreciate this one. There is no middle ground here, you either appreciate the film for what it is or will be left clueless with it. As a whole, the film is nothing to rave about but it isn't as terrible as the critics make it out to be with just a 25 percent on rottentomatoes. Its certainly better than the godawful prequel that came out in 2003, which everyone has seemed to have forgotten about. Even though this film is better than that one, that really isn't saying much as neither touches the first film in terms of quality. Now for the verdict on whether Dumb and Dumber 2 was worth the twenty year wait.

Dumb and Dumber 2 partially succeeds due to the chemistry between the two main leads Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, both who've clearly aged since the events of the first film but comfortably fit right back into the roles that made them iconic figures in the genre of comedy. The plot for Dumb and Dumber 2 has the two leads teaming up twenty years since their first adventure. The characters of Lloyd and Harry have gone on a road trip to find Harry's newly discovered daughter, who ended up being given away at adoption. The plot seems like a logical one given the sentimental aspect of it, but it's execution isn't up to standard with the performances of the two leads. The films greatest flaw is it's script which clearly needed more revisions to really make this second outing more enjoyable than what it turned out to be ultimately. Jim Carrey reportedly turned down the offer to reprise his role numerous times over the last twenty years with his reasoning having to due with the script. Looking at the one for this movie, I can't say I blame him. A sequel to a film like Dumb and Dumber or any other comedy sequel needs to have a script that allows the same joke to be told twice with just as much of a comedic punch as the previous film. Anything short of that response then the comedian has failed, which in this case is the filmmakers of this movie somewhat. One feels an underwhelming feeling while watching this film that more could've done much more with these characters if the storyline was more fleshed out. Personally, I would've liked to see Jim Carrey meet with Mary Swanson again played by Lauren Holly in the first film, in a cameo for the sequel. The problem that this film seems to be having in regards to registering with audiences is the humor possibly being outdated after twenty years. Only real die hard fans of the first movie or Jim Carrey fans from that era are going to appreciate the Farrelly brothers brand of humor that the first film introduced. It doesn't quite work on the same level in this one but that's not to say the film isn't without its funny moments.

In conclusion, Dumb and Dumber 2 is worth watching primarily for the chemistry of the two lead stars but everything outside of that crumbles with the poor script the actors are stuck with. This is one sequel that shouldn't have taken twenty years to make and if Jim Carrey was really abdament about not returning until the script was on par with the first film, then one feels he should've continued to wait. It is not a bad film per say but it feels disappointing that the wait for this was so long and what we ended up getting was a barely passable piece of entertainment. This movie doesn't warrent a full thumbs up but doesn't deserve a complete thumbs down either. It lands somewhere in the middle, and perhaps if they ever intend to do a third one, they will work much harder on trying to find a stronger script that allows Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels to really sink their teeth into.

                                                                                                                                                 6/10

Overcoming Loss and Personal Grief And Turning It Into Strength And Will.

Tonight's marathon is about experiencing loss and personal grief but transforming that grief into something more than just guilt. We follow four main story arcs involving some of the screen's most iconic heroes and witness the events that bring them large amounts of grief, watch them cope with guilt, and then ultimately transforming that guilt into something much more. Whether that grief turns into the will to survive, the will to stand up for what you believe in and fight crime, or the will to save humanity from an alien invasion, it does nothing but make the characters were following in the film much stronger than when we first see them. We have on our menu for this evening:

                    Cliffhanger 1993, Batman Begins 2005, Gravity 2013, and Aliens 1986

This is probably the most appealing way to get the message of overcoming loss and personal grief across, with the only film truly missing is The Lion King. But as Gandalf the Grey would say in Fellowship Of The Ring, "All you need is to figure out what to do with the time that is given to you." That time only allows for four films tonight, so critical decisions had to be made on which films were the most effective. There is probably no better way to begin this marathon theme than with the opening scene of Cliffhanger. In this film, Sylvester Stallone plays Gabe Walker, a mountain climber with a troubled past full of grief. During an attempt to rescue his best friend and his girlfriend, a tragic accident occurs where the girls line becomes loose and leaves her dangling over a cliff for dear life. Gabe does the best he could to save her but ultimately loses her grip when the glove she's wearing slips off. Gabe places guilt on himself for not doing enough to save her, and has to live with the notion that his best friend blames him for her death and Gabe's love Jessie tries to convince him that it wasn't his fault. The trios differences are put aside when a plane transporting three cases of 100 million dollars is intercepted by another plane full of terrorists. Their attempts to slide the money from one plane to another fails when the rope attached to the two planes breaks, forcing their own jet to crash into the snow. Making a phony distress call for help, Stallone and his buddy Hal played by Michael Rooker climb the mountain to rescue them, only to find out what the groups sinister plans are. Gabe Walker is a classic case of a hero who undergoes huge levels of loss and grief, but ends up shedding that grief through his heroic actions in the film when trying to save his best friend and the love of his life. This is one of Stallone's biggest and most iconic films as it led to a career reboot in 1993 following the trainwreck that was Rocky V.

The second film of the lineup is Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed reboot Batman Begins. The second major character who experiences transformation from grief victim to hero is Bruce Wayne, played by Christian Bale. In Batman Begins, Nolan chooses to go back and show Batman's early roots, explaining how he got to where we see him in The Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne is shown as a young boy who loves his family and has a special relationship with his father. One night while coming out of a theater performance, Wayne witnesses the brutal murder of his parents at the hands of a street criminal, which forever changes his life and fills him with guilt. Bruce thinks he is responsible for his parents death and wants vengeance for what happened. Seeking training from The League Of Shadows, Bruce Wayne turns his grief into a fight towards injustice, while facing his worst fear and using it on his worst enemies. In this case, his worst fear appears to be his fear of Bats. He uses this fear as his alter ego and becomes immersed in his crime fighting stature, who later becomes known as The Dark Knight. Of all three films in The Dark Knight trilogy, Batman Begins is the one film that deals with the issue of experiencing tragedy and the character of Bruce Wayne being reborn through his grief as Batman. By the end of the film, he understands that his parents death was not his fault, and will continue to fight crime to ensure that never happens to anyone else again.

 The third film in the marathon is Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity. The character of Ryan Stone played by Sandra Bullock is a medical engineer, who possesses personal grief in her life prior to the space mission with the tragic loss of her four year old daughter. During their mission, George Clooney's character Matt gets her to realize that what happened to her daughter is in the past, and that she needs to find the will and the strength to overcome her grief and fight for survival. Their mission takes a dramatic turn for the worst after their shuttle is destroyed by debris from a satellite, leaving them adrift in space. Gravity is much more than just an IMAX 3D space experience, it is a great story arc about a woman fighting for survival and overcoming adversity. By the end of the film, she manages to find that will to survive and move forward with far greater strength than she began with at the beginning of the movie.

This is a perfect bridge into the finale of the marathon with James Cameron's Aliens. Aliens places the timeline 57 years after the events of Alien, in which Ellen Ripley awakes upon rescue to discover that everything she ever loved or cared for on Earth is gone. Her daughter on Earth died of old age, her crew on the previous mission has been wiped out by the Xenomorph, who she still lives in fear. No one really believes her story and leaves her having nightmares that someday the alien will make it's way to Earth and wipe everyone out. Ripley's worst fears are put to the test when she is asked to lead a mission with a group of marines back to the planet where the eggs were found to rescue a group of colonists that have fallen captive to the newly discovered creatures. Ripley's transformation in Aliens is the most significant of all four character arcs because she not only has to face her worst fear head on, but gets a second chance of being a mother when she comes across a little girl named Newt, whose parents fell victim to the Xenomorph. Newt is a central figure in Ripley's life because she not only gives Ripley back her humanity, but encourages her to fight for not only their safety, but to wipe out the alien species.

It can almost be said that tonight's marathon represents a rebirth for every main character because they all experience such dramatic transformations during the course of their story arcs, making them almost entirely different people by the end of each film.