Going On Adventure Night Part IV: Monsters Roam Free Night

Tonight's marathon marks the fourth week of the epic trend of going on an adventure night theme of movies. Ranging from the great fantasy films of the 1980's to the more modern day ones with breakthrough technology, we take a different turn with the theme of going to mysterious worlds and watching some of the greatest monsters who ever lived roam free and cause havoc. These iconic films range anywhere from the era of 1933 to one of this years summer blockbusters. We have on our menu for this evening:

             King Kong 1933, Congo 1995, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 2014, Jurassic Park 1993, and Mighty Joe Young 1998

Now this is a pure monster night of epic proportions. We begin the evening with the 1933 classic King Kong. For it's time, Kong was a breakthrough in technology and great storytelling. The film resonates with audiences today as you can never look at the Empire State Building without thinking about the climax of the film, or Fay Wray's epic scream. The film was so influential to modern day filmmakers it not only inspired Peter Jackson to become a filmmaker, but it also prompted him to do a equally great remake in 2005 that ran over three hours long. The plot for King Kong deals with a film crew going on a journey to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and comes across a colossal giant gorilla who takes a liking to their female blonde star. The difference between this film and the 2005 version is the running times. This movies much faster paced and scarier running only 108 minutes compared to the epic 188 minute running time that Peter Jackson's remake possesses. There is no love story between Kong and Ann in this one compared to the triangle between Naomi Watts and Kong. What better way to open up a great monster theme than playing one of the classic films that started it all. The next movie in the lineup is Congo, based off Michael Crichton's novel. Congo deals with an expedition to the African Congo ending in disaster, forcing a new team to assemble and find out what went wrong. What they find is a forest full of killer gorillas. While not as memorable as King Kong in the realm of film history, the film offers plenty of excitement and fun in it's plot. The next film after Congo that concludes the entire story arc involving killer apes is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the 2014 blockbuster sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Taking place ten years after the pandemic disease which erupted at the climax of the last film, the apes who have survived it are drawn into battle with a group of human survivors led by legendary actor Gary Oldman. The movie feels like the Empire Strikes Back of the new Planet of the Apes story arc and fits in perfectly with the whole theme of this marathon. It is an exciting, thought provoking, and totally feeling of awe experience that builds up the anticipation for the films that come next. What comes next is foreshadowed in King Kong during the film crews search to find their blonde movie star on skull Island. What they find during their journey is an island full of species that supposedly became extinct 65 million years ago but have somehow survived. The species I'm referring to is dinosaurs. Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park remains the greatest dinosaur film to ever grace the big screen and challenges all filmmakers in the future to create an event spectacle that reaches the heights of that film in terms of pure cinematic magic. The plot for Jurassic Park takes place during a preview tour where the theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok. The film boasts a great all star cast among the likes of Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel Jackson, Wayne Knight, and Richard Attenborough in the roles of the people on the island who experience the magic, the wonder, and ultimately the terror of the dinosaurs coming back to life and roaming free throughout the park. The score by John Williams is one of the greatest ever recorded and dare I say, challenges the current national anthem for a worthy rival. The final film of the evening brings it all back to the scope of King Kong with RKO classic Mighty Joe Young. In this film, a legendary fifteen-foot tall mountain gorilla named Joe is taken to an animal sanctuary in California by a zoologist played by Bill Paxton and a young woman he grew up with played by Charlie Theron. However, a poacher from the past returns to seek vengeance on him. Not only was this a legendary gorilla story that emerged around the time King Kong came out in the 30s and 40s, but it bids the whole story arc of monsters roaming free an emotional farewell.

Overcoming Adversity Part ll-Boxing drama night

Tonight's marathon is a continuation of last weeks intro into the theme of overcoming adversity. Last week we opened up this theme with outstanding human dramas such as A Beautiful Mind, Shawshank Redemption, A Little Princess, and The Pursuit of Happyness. Tonight we continue that trend but take a slightly different approach to it dealing with the theme of boxing. There have been several amazing dramas that have revolved around this theme. For the theme of boxing drama, we have on our line up for this evening:

      Rocky 1976, Cinderella Man 2005, The Fighter 2010, and Rocky Balboa 2006

We begin with the film that started the whole theme of boxing dramas. Sylvester Stallone's 1976 blockbuster Rocky, is a timeless story about a man who starts at the bottom but is given the opportunity of a lifetime and rises to the top. It is also one of the screen's most heartwarming love stories and one of pop culture's most inspirational films. In this story, Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, a small time boxer who gets a rare chance to fight the heavy-weight champion, Apollo Creed played by Carl Weathers. During this bout, Rocky strives to go the distance for his own self-respect. It is a wonderful story about hope and aspiring to make one's dreams come true. The second film in the lineup is Ron Howard's boxing drama titled Cinderella Man. In this film, Russell Crowe plays James Braddock, a washed-up boxer who comes back to become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s to help provide for his wife played by Renee Zelwegger. As great as this film turned out to be, it was ultimately snubbed of any major Oscar recognition although it secured nominations for best film editing, makeup, and a supporting actor Oscar nomination for Paul Giamatti. The third film in the powerful marathon is The Fighter. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams. This story is centered around the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980's. All three of these actors turn in stunning performances and the film packs an emotional punch that echos the previous two films in the lineup. The fourth and final film of tonight's lineup makes everything come full circle and reverts back to its roots. Rocky Balboa is a film that can be classified as all heart and a fitting end to the popular boxing franchise. In this film, Rocky is a retired heavyweight champion now entering his twilight years as a widowed husband. About thirty years after the first fight, Rocky comes out of retirement and dons his gloves for one final fight against the reigning heavyweight champion named Mason 'The Line' Dixon. Stallone reportedly was disatisfied with the outcome of Rocky V, and wanted to give the series a more powerful ending that touches the humanity of the first film. The great thing about Rocky Balboa is that it works so well as a direct sequel to the first film, you don't need any of the other sequels in between because they connect so perfectly together.

The theme of adversity continues here but takes a different route than the one presented last night. This one focuses on the underdogs who got special chances by society to prove themselves, and ultimately succeed in the end against all odds. Rocky Balboa drives home the message that it's never too late to make your dreams come true no matter how old you are.

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
.
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