Review: The Lego Movie - Everything is NOT Awesome

First, let me say that the Lego Movie is cute. Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute.  However, it also marks the second animated movie in the past 3 months that has surpassed all monetary expectations and audience obsessions while simultaneously getting this response from me: meh.

Yes, as I said, this movie was downright adorable.  I loved the nostalgia of the Legos themselves and the many, MANY characters in the movie that have been created over the years in that little plastic form, like Gandolf, Wonder Woman and of course, Batman, who got all the best lines (although Dumbledore's high-pitched voice was slightly offensive as a thinly veiled reference to a bit of trivia probably only adult fans of Harry Potter know).  However, that reminiscence really only went so far for me, as the adult viewer.  On the other hand, I think Princess Uni-Kitty sustained my 10 year old daughter for the entire film.  She loved it, of course.  Warning to parents: there is a Lego character decapitation scene, second only to (no spoilers) a recent Walking Dead be-heading.

One of my favorite parts was when a Lego character attempted to use speech recognition to interact with a computer, with the usual difficulties we are all accustomed to.  The reason I particularly enjoyed it is that I work on speech systems and usually these specific theatrical moments are aimed at IVRs, but this one seemed more about Siri and I'm enjoying this trend.  The overall theme of "We're All Special!" is the mantra of Generation X and Y and drilled into the minds of their children of today, for better or worse.  Also, I know I'm supposed to love the theme song, Everthing is Awesome, but I expect better from Tegan & Sara, so, just no.

One more note: There is a nice live action sequence toward the end that was probably aimed more at making the audience buy more Legos than at actually fulfilling the storyline, but Will Ferrell sort of phoned it in and the child actor was also lackluster.  As if the opening weekend numbers didn't spell sequel already, the final moments of the movie set it up perfectly.

3.25 out of 5 stars

Review: Ender's Game (book and movie)

I saw Ender's Game last year with my daughter, mostly because we both love Asa Butterfield after Hugo, but I had not read the famous book it was based on until last week.  Now that I've seen the movie and read the book, I feel I can give a more complete review.

We both loved the movie, and more specifically, Ender, as a character, well beyond our love for Asa, which surprised us.  The character in the movie is one of the most inspirational I've seen in one so young.  He instinctively knows what the right and best thing to do is in every situation, and is able to follow through with the necessary actions more quickly and better than I could ever hope to aspire to myself, though he has not yet reached puberty.  Beyond that, the action kept us consistently involved in the spectacular battle room games, expertly designed and composed (forget Gravity), although all of it takes place in zero gravity.  I'm sure that's one reason the book never made it to screen until now.  Harrison Ford is less doddering than he has been in recent years, which was nice to see, but the talents of The Help's Viola Davis are all but wasted in her antiseptic role as a military advisor. Ben Kingsley, on the other hand seems born to play the ancient and mysterious commander who helps train Ender (hasn't he always had a tribal face tattoo?).  Hailee Steinfeld  was perky as one of Ender's only friends and one of the only girls in battle school, but I keep expecting more from her after her debut in True Grit.  (Side note: She was an early contender after that movie to play Catniss in The Hunger Games, which sounded plausible at the time, but I'm much happier with the way things turned out). Then of course, there's Abigail Breslin, who has come  along way from Little Miss Sunshine to Nim's Island, and my daughter and I have eagerly watched her all the way, but I'm not sure it's in the right direction. She's rather bland these days as she moves into womanhood and tends to blend into the woodwork in this movie as well - fact, I had to go back and add her to this review because I had forgotten about her until just now. I have to say something about Moises Arias, who plays Ender's main bully and one of the more interesting characters in the movie.  He's a former Disney kid, but never fit their typical mold on shows like Hannah Montana.  He's really starting to come into his own as an adult actor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.

I know when Ender's Game came out, fans of the book were generally not pleased with the movie and I honestly couldn't figure out why at the time.  Now that I've read the book, I think I have an idea, though I continue to be a fan of both myself.

First, Ender is MUCH younger in the book, though I think Asa is still plenty young enough to make that part of the narrative as effective as it needs to be in the movie.  However, the main complaint that I have is that their is an entire political thread happening back on Earth that takes up much of the second half of the book and really becomes essential to the ending of the entire story.  In the same way that I am now a humble devotee of Ender, the character as written/performed, I was enthralled with the political theories explored in this secondary theme of the book - this part is completely missing from the movie.  So, that is a let down, but it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the movie as separate from the book and I think such a good job was done with the rest of the story, Ender's story, that I am completely satisfied.

I have heard the following books weren't as good as Ender's Game, so I'm not sure if I'm going to read them, because the first book was very complete in itself and the ending was enough for me.  However, I would definitely go see the movie sequels if they ever come to be and I will hope to find more of the political theories brought forth as well.

4 out of 5 stars

Reform the Ratings System Already!!! (The time I saw both Gimme Shelter - PG-13 and Nebraska - R, with my almost 11 year old daughter in the same day)

So, like I said when I started this blog, we're movie people in my household.  That means that my almost 11 year old daughter has seen far more movies than most kids her age (still amazes me - it's just normal to me).  It also means that in addition to all the G and PG cartoons and family films that come out, she has also seen many PG-13 and even a handful of R rated movies (the 80s version, like Stand By Me and the modern version...).   She started asking to see more grown up movies a couple of years ago, most notably with The Help and Eat, Pray, Love (the latter wasn't even something I myself was interested in).  I look into the movies and try my best to decide which are appropriate and which are not.  Heidi and I talk about everything anyway, so when it comes to movies, I know I can help her understand things that might be a bit beyond her understanding and she enjoys learning about the world.  Although she still likes most of the kid flicks, even she couldn't stomach Madea's Christmas when she went to see it with her dad in December.

I say all of this to set you up for a story that is becoming all too common for us.  Simply put, the current rating system is completely out of wack (or maybe it's just wack!)!  Case in point:  Gimme Shelter, a movie starring Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame and so will undoubtedly attract many of that younger Disney set, is rated PG-13.  This movie is filled with adult themes from beginning to end (strung out abusive mother, teen pregnancy, abortion) that require an adult to explain and a mature younger person, whether 13, 15 or 11.  I was prepared for that, but most parents probably would not be, given that PG-13 is typically based just on how many "S" and "F" words or how many body parts are shown.  Thematically, this should have been an R rated movie.  Kids can be told not to say bad words and they know what boobies are, but adult themes (or extreme violence or the supernatural) cannot be unseen or even fully explained.  I am not complaining for myself and my daughter (we enjoy the opportunity to talk these things through), but for the system in general.

Nebraska, on the other hand, is rated R.  Why. Why?! Because the "S" and "F" words are used about half a dozen times.  There is literally NOTHING else that would prevent it from being seen by even a toddler!  I am NOT kidding here, folks.  I don't think the people setting the ratings even watch these movies.  They just do some calculation from a spreadsheet on curse words and boobs and call it a day.  This is completely irresponsible, I mean, what's the point of even doing it?  I had waited longer than usual on having her see Nebraska because I couldn't find any solid information on why it was rated R and I figured there might be something I didn't know about, whereas with Gimme Shelter, I knew she would want to see it and with its PG-13 rating, I didn't really think twice.

More examples:
We saw Guilt Trip with Barbra Streisand a couple years ago which was rated R, again for just TWO "F" words, spoken by Babs herself.  Maybe there's some sliding scale that if someone that huge says it, it counts double?  Just the commercials for Mama a couple years ago, rated PG-13 were too scary to watch, let alone the supernatural, unexplainable nature of that movie itself.  Those ratings should absolutely be reversed. 

We also watch a lot of old 70s-90s movies, from an era where the ratings system was completely different (PG-13 only came about after the "heart-wrenching" scene in Indiana Jones II).  Yes, we'll put in Stand By Me, Sixteen Candles, Bad News Bears, even Goonies and hear all kinds of curse words and an occasional boob, but that just makes everyone laugh for a minute and move on with life.  That should be the standard.  Can you get on with your child's day or are you now in for a lengthy discussion that will never end because there is no way to explain it?

Seriously, read this garbage: http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means  My favorite quote: "A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context." Oh, and this, "The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13".

I'm ready to sign a petition. Anyone else experience this type of discrepancy lately?

P.S. I will actually review Gimme Shelter and Nebraska under different posts, along with my favorite Bruce Dern movie, Silent Running, which I also watched recently with my daughter :)

Princess Bride...revisited

The Princess Bride. It's #177 on IMDB but was nominated for just one Oscar in 1987 - for Best Original Song. I love this movie for many reasons. It never gets old. I quote it on a regular basis. In fact, I quote it so often, I've forgotten their quotes at all. I've had a lifelong llove affair with both Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as a direct result of this movie. It's clever, funny and sweet without being too cute. I own a copy of the DVD and just saw it again on the big screen with my 10 year old, who also loved it. It's timeless and enjoyable at any age. I'm actually reading the book again now. My connection with it is personal. (Note: Close runner up Rob Reiner mentions would have to go to When Harry Met Sally, which I re-watch every NYE and to Stand By Me, which is the third perfect movie from that time period of Reiner's career).

RIP PSH

Received this after writing PSH a fan letter while he was doing a play in NY about 10 years ago. My favorites: Almost Famous, Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Love Liza, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Flawless, Twister, The Hunger Games, Charlie Wilson'...s War, Ides of March. Now I will have to force myself to see some of his movies that subject matter kept me away from in the past (Happiness, Doubt), but now that it's all we have left of him.

 

But this is wonderful little story to have out there in the universe: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/02/06/the-night-philip-seymour-hoffman-changed-my-life/

Outsiders - Time For a Reboot!

Sorry to all you Outsiders fans out there, but watching The Outsiders again with my daughter this weekend I realized what a horrible piece of filmmaking it really is, from music to direction, editing and most of the acting (outside of the bright lights that were just beginning to shine in Diane Lane and Matt Dillon). Time for a remake! Any takers?

Lena Dunham Defends Dylan Farrow: "Most Victims Never Speak Up"

More Hollywood types need to speak out like this. Their voices are a lot more powerful than mine and unfortunately even the victim's. When America sees actors publicly giving up the possibility of being in his movies, that they believe!

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/lena-dunham-defends-dylan-farrow-most-victims-never-speak-up-201442