LA Movie Review- The Lego Movie

LA Movie Review- The Lego Movie
   The Evil Lord Business threatens to mold the Lego universe into his own vision of perfection using a viscid weapon. Ordinary construction worker, Emmett, discovers the only thing that can stop that weapon- the piece of resistance. Having made this discovery he becomes known as "the special" and is expected to lead the Lego people to victory over Lord Business. 21 Jump Street directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller helm this animated adventure.
   This is a great movie. Anyone can enjoy this film, child or adult. The story and message transcend age. That message is if you believe you can be special then you will be. It consistent throughout this fast paced and very funny movie. It has great moments which reference pop culture and brings to screen characters that you would never thought you would see in a movie together. Phil Lord and Chris Miller did a great job directing. The screenplay is a clever piece of work by  Miller and Lord. The movie goes above and beyond the extra mile, even entering uncharted territory in the world of animated movies.
   The animation in the film is unlike anything done before in any other animated feature film. It is very, very cool. The movie looks like it was made up entirely out of Legos. It's amazing to watch this blend of CGI and  stop motion. I cannot believe how good of a job they did of putting you in that world. As I was watching it, I felt like I was watching actual Legos.
   All of the actors who lend their voices do good work.  Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, and Liam Neeson were all very funny.  I also quite enjoyed Will Arnett as Batman and the 21 Jump Street reunion in the film with Channing Tatum as Superman and Jonah Hill as Green Lantern.
   On the downside, not every joke landed for me and it may take a few minutes to adjust to the animation.  Other than those petty complaints I don't see why anyone couldn't enjoy this movie which not only evokes Toy Story in similarity but in heart as well. This movie really brings it in the final act.  It catches you by surprise and starts tugging at your heart in ways you couldn't even imagine. The Lego Movie is a fun, interesting, movie that if could only be described in one word; that word would be special.
4.2/5

LA Movie Review- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

   Walter Mitty is an avid day dreamer who works for a magazine company which happens to be going under. The company receives a special picture which will be the cover for the final magazine. When the picture is lost, Walter Mitty will attempt to find it by traveling the world in search of the photographer. Ben Stiller directs and stars in this film.    

   Ben Stiller directed one of my favorite comedies of all time Tropic Thunder. Going into film I had high ecpectations. This film is beautifully shot by cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh. Every frame of the film is visually appealing. Ben Stiller tries telling a story about taking chances and going after what you want but the message is lost in this uninteresting film. Boring may be a better word. I hate to say it as I was anticipating this movie but I was ultimately disappointed by it. Unfortunately this film contains next to no laughs. The day dreaming sequences work in the movie, particularly a fight sequence with Adam Scott which was a highlight of the film. The main story is just too dull to bother caring about. 

   Stiller plays Mitty dry, without any humor. He was capable of doing more with the role and didn't. Kristen Wigg does not bring any laughs into the film either. She is Walter's love interest in the film and inspiration. Sean Penn has a small part in the movie and he is fine in it. He's actually the only interesting character.

   When a movie is bad the first person that needs to be blamed is the director. Ben Stiller is a talented enough director that he should have known that the story was not working.  He should have seen that the screenplay was dull and lifeless. It disappoints me that he didn't. Considering how good Tropic Thunder was, I am holding out hope that  his next directorial effort will be better and that this was only a hiccup.

   The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a visually appealing but ultimately boring film.

2/5

LA Movie Review- Her

   Taking place in the not so distant future, a recently divorced man falls in love with Samantha, his charming computer operating system. Spike Jonze directs this incredibly beautiful and unique love story. Spike Jonze's film is one with an unbelievable screenplay which he wrote himself, wonderful performances, and great art direction. 

   Opening with Joaquin Phoenix  reading a love letter, you can tell you are in for something special. This is a story about love and all that it can cause and all of it's effects it can have on people. After being divorced Theodore Twombly, played engagingly by Joaquin Phoenix, feeling the loss of love in his life, decides to download an operating system with a personality. They fall for each other in a story unlike any other. Along the way, they face the challenges of their relationship which include criticism from others and the limitations they face.
   Joaquin Phoenix is terrifically engaging in the film. You feel for his character in each scene, whether he's enjoying the delightful conversations he has with Samantha or is having is heart broken. You smile when he smiles and when his heart is breaking you feel it like a dagger in your own. Scarlett Joahnsson lends her voice to Samantha who is curious, understanding, and loving to Theodore. Amy Adams is good in everything she is in and I cannot fathom why she is not getting more recognition for her work here. Rooney Mara plays Theodore's ex-wife in the film and she does so much with so little lines. Chris Pratt, whose star is glowing brighter and brighter, provides comic relief in the film.
   Her, as a love story, is so different from many other romantic movies but at times it falls into the same predictable plot points they all seem to have. It is original enough that these common moments can be over looked by some, but if Spike Jonze was going to write such an original story then he should have gone the extra mile. Still, Spike Jonze did a fantastic job, especially collaborating with his art director to create such an interesting visual world.
   All of that being said, or rather read, Her is still an immensely beautiful love story that has no equal.
4.5/5

LA Movie Review- Saving Mr. Banks

   The author of Mary Poppins, PL Travers is facing financial problems and must consider allowing Walt Disney to adapt her book into a film while struggling to maintain the vision she had for it in the first place. John Lee Hancock directs the screenplay written by Sue Smith and Kelly Marcel. Emma Thompson stars as the Mary Poppins author and Tom Hanks stars as Walt Disney.

   This family friendly tale is one with two very nice performances by the lead actors. Emma Thompson is very good as the author who is disconnected from the rest of the world and is an unhappy person. Unfortunately some of her performance seems like a rehash of her work in Stranger Than Fiction, where she also played a stubborn author. Tom Hanks as Walt Disney is great but it doesn't improve the film greatly. He feels like Disney and you get to see the man that built an empire. The film does not center around him as interesting as that may have been. Most of it is Colin Farrell who plays the father of PL Travers in flashbacks. Colin Farrell plays a good father who tries to show his daughter that the world can be full of magic while struggling with his own personal demons. Paul Giamatti plays the only american that PL has ever liked, a  driver who takes PL back and forth between her meetings with Walt Disney. Giamatti is not in the film much but does make the most of his screen time. 

   John Lee Hancock is a good director and he does a good job balancing the duel story lines and handling the performances. It was an interesting film with cool insight about the making of Mary Poppins. The screenplay does get sappy at times. Every character in it seems to have a tragic back story. Regardless it is a good story about  accepting the past and not allowing it to dictate the future.

3.8/5

LA Movie Review- Out Of The Furnace

   Russell Blaze is a decent man whose life slowly begins to fall apart. When his brother Rodney gets involved in a bare knuckle boxing ring and goes missing, Russell attempts to find him. Scott Cooper directs an ambitiously realistic revenge story with dark themes terrific performances. Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, and Casey Affleck star with supporting performances by Zoe Saldana, Forrest Whitaker, Sam Shepard, and Willem Dafoe.
   Scott Cooper directs this film with a depressing touch. His script is centered around a good man going through hardship after hardship while trying hold on to the good within him. While revenge films have been done before, they have never been done quite like this. This was definitely more of a grounded approach, with more focus on the characters themselves rather than gun fights. I really enjoyed that about the film. Making it a human story really allows you connect to Russell Blaze's struggle. The film had a very gritty look and feel throughout. There were also some beautiful shots in movie courteous of  cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi.
   Christian Bale made this movie, as he becomes absorbed into the role. This is some of his best acting. Christian Bale makes you feel for his character the entire movie. He is compelling as Russell Blaze by delivering an earnest and understated performance. Casey Affleck plays a soldier going through stop-loss and returning as a rougher individual each time. How he deals with this is by taking out his frustrations by fighting in illegal bare knuckle boxing rings. Casey Affleck is awesome in this movie. He has his moments to shine and really does in this film. Woody Harrelson is gritty and unpredictable in the film. He is a slimy drug addict who enjoys cracking skulls as much as he does satisfying his addictions.
   The screenplay is a depressing one. Everything that can seemingly go wrong for Russel does. It is a reflection of the themes that are present through the film. Out of The Furnace is a story told within a somber world that has next to no little hope. It is excellent example of film making where the story takes a left turn when you expect it to go right. It is a strong film which is headlined by a great performance by Christian Bale.
4/5

LA Movie Review W/ Special Guest Reviewer Nathan K.- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

 

   Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the grey continue their quest with the dwarves to reclaim Erebor from Smaug the dragon. Peter Jackson directs the second chapter of The Hobbit trilogy.
LA: This being his fifth film in the Lord of The Rings franchise makes it an understatement to say that he is well versed in this world. This sequel is an improvement over the first in many ways. The film picks up much faster and has more entertaining action sequences. Not everything has improved however. As a viewer, you do begin to feel the 2 hour and 41 minute run time about halfway through the film. Peter Jackson films tend to run long & just like every other there is much that could have been cut out. For instance following an exciting river battle, our heroes unnecessarily spend half an hour in a town doing nothing which slows down the movie.
NK: The first Hobbit movie left us hanging with the cast being saved by the Eagles and we finally see the lonely mountain. This one starts off with the dwarves and Bilbo getting closer and closer to their destiny. The film is a great sequel and keeps you entertained throughout. Although it does run long, every scene is necessary. It shows different perspectives from each village, the elves, the wizards, the hobbits, the dwarves, the lake town citizens, and the orcs. The reason for the length is to give you a different view on a great script.
LA:  I disagree about every scene being necessary. I felt as though most of the lake town scenes could have been cut out and the film wouldn't have suffered from it. The multiple perspectives do make the film feel more interesting. I have no complaints about the acting. Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit whose role in the group is to be a thief and seemingly save them at every turn. The character has grown since the first film and Freeman has more to do with the role as Bilbo is being affected by the ring. Ian McKellen is great as Gandalf the grey but unfortunately isn't in the film much.
NK: I agree with the lake town scenes taking a while to reveal their meaning. I also have no complaints about the acting or actors. But I have to say the voice of Smaug, Benedict Cummberbatch, steals the show with his deep, dark, and hating tone. Smaug leaves you clutching your seat and wishing the third movie was already out.
LA: Smaug the dragon absolutely stole the movie. This dragon has such an huge presence in the series. You hear so much about him and he completely delivers. Benedict Cummberbatch was perfect casting for the role. Richard Armitage is also great as Thorin, leader of the dwarves. Another great aspect of the film is the special effects. I believe they blended well with the work of cinematographer Andrew Lesnie. His work along with the effects give you a great sense of scope in the film.
   Overall, I enjoyed The Desolation Of Smaug much more than its' predecessor. It seems to be another great chapter in what will hopefully be Peter Jackson's second great trilogy.
NK: To recap, this film is a great movie and if you have not seen the first one it is easy to catch onto. It runs a bit slow at times but what movie doesn't?
LA: 4.7/5
NK: 4.8/5
LA: Really? You're going to Price Is Right me?
NK: Yup.