Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

I wanted to love this movie, I really really did, however, I found myself extremely disappointed in it.  When they first announced this movie I was so excited. I love Harry Potter, I love Eddie Redmayne, and I love movies set in the 1920s! What could go wrong? Johnny Depp A weak plot line and an unfortunate choice in artistic direction. It pains me that my first really negative review is going to be for something that is part of one of my favorite franchises. 

Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, just arrived in New York City for the first time when everything goes wrong.  He loses one of his magical beasts who is robbing a bank, performs magic in front of a muggle (or a "no-maj" in this movie), and is caught by an ex-auror. There is also a fanatic woman who is trying to convince people that witches are real and are causing disasters in New York and is using a child army to further her cause. There was also some guy who was jealous that his older brother would be taking over his father's newspaper company? That I didn't really understand why it had to do with anything. 

The plot is beyond weak.  It was both highly predicable and made no sense at the same time. They also tried to make the movie super dark and edgy.  There was no color in the movie. I honestly didn't care for any of the characters and I can't even tell you the girls names.  They were just "Newt" "Muggle" "Blonde" "Brunette" "Colin Farrell" and "President". In my head. I honestly didn't even bother trying to remember the people part of the 'anti-witch' brigade.  They honesty just made Americans out to be really horrible people, both muggles and wizards.  Which made me sad. I did really enjoy every moment with the magical creatures. I felt those were, well, fantastic.  They were magical and fun and what I wanted this movie to be about.  Instead the creatures were thrown on a back burner as a sub-plot. 

Now I'm going to tell you how I would have done this movie differently, spoilers ahead.  One. Drop Johnny Depp. I do not want to watch a movie franchise staring Johnny Depp. Nope. Make Eddie Redmayne the main actor. Next, cut out the horrible anti-witch "Second Salem" crap. It was horrible, also made zero sense. Ezra Miller deserves better, and so does Colin Farrell. I wouldn't want this movie to be dark.  This can be a fun, lighthearted story.  I would give it a golden book feel.  I want the magic to be wonderful and new again, not old. Having the muggle, Jacob, was a great addition because we could see the wonder and aw through him.  However, with the dark and gloomy feel the movie had throughout I didn't get to experience that through him. And as much fun as it was seeing all the creatures wreck havoc in NYC, I want to see Newt looking for and discovering new magical creatures in America. I want adventure and learning. I don't want to see American wizards killing children and saying it's for the good because they are fighting an evil British wizard.  As my friend said, I want The Great Gatsby with Witches and Wizards.

And knowing that Johnny Depp is going to be a major player in the next movie has completely turned me off from it.  I honestly do not think I will be going to see the next four films.  It is not nearly as bad as the script for The Cursed Child, but Jo (I love you but) I think you should stick to writing books.  Scripts are just not your strong suit. Now give me a prequel series about the Marauders! Haha!

Are there any movies you wish you could change because they just weren't want you were expecting them to be at all? 

Moana

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.

Moana is such a fun movie! The music is super great, the animation is wonderful, and the story is beautiful. Disney has defiantly entered a new golden era with Frozen, Zootopia, and now Moana. I was not a huge fan of the 3D animation at first, but this movie sold it to me.  Water is one of the hardest things to animate, along with hair, and there was not a scene in this movie without water in it.  Which is crazy to think about. 

Moana follows the story of the chief's daughter, Moana, voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, who has always felt the call to the sea.  However, her father forbids anyone from sailing past the reefs because of bad seas. He does everything he can to discourage Moana from sailing and focusing on helping her people.  However, after seeing her island slowly dying, and with some encouragement from her grandmother, Moana takes to the sea to find the demi-god Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and help her people. 

What I loved most about the story was that it was about Moana finding courage in herself.  She is a hard worker, willing to learn, and has a compassionate heart.  Overall, a great role model for everyone. There are jokes about her not being a princess in the movie, and well she's not.  She's as much a princess as Pocahontas and Mulan are Disney Princesses. (Trust me, when it comes to marketing, those girls are still considered Disney Princesses despite their lack of royal upbringing, or even having Princesses in their respected countries).  I know people are saying she's automatically better because she is not a Princess (and doesn't have a romantic interest in the movie) and I hate that way of thinking.  She has the same amazing qualities as the other Disney Princesses, she's true to herself and show's kindness wherever she goes. What are your favorite Disney movies? 

Here's just a taste of the amazing soundtrack:

Inside Llewyn Davis

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles—some of them of his own making.

Something a little different this week, since I haven't had the time to make it to the theater with all my school projects. I have been wanting to see Inside Llewyn Davis since I first saw a trailer for it. Coen Brothers, Justin Timberlake, and ginger cats, what more do you need in a movie? I didn't know who Oscar Issac was at the time, forgive me, I love him now. I got this movie for my birthday this month so I finally got to watch it, three years later! I fell in love. 

Inside Llewyn Davis follows the story of a folk singer, Llewyn Davis played by Oscar Issac, trying to make it on his own after a successful song with a partner.  He crashes on his friends couches, always hopping from apartment to apartment as he looks for his next gig and fix whatever problem he has gotten himself into. The movie is filled with beautiful music and heartbreak.  The acting and singing is absolutely wonderful.

It is a sad movie.  Nothing seems to go right for Llewyn, but it feels natural and not overwhelming. There is still always hope that something good will happen to him. Why do I like sad movies like this?  I loved the tone and the color palette of the movie as well.  I don't think it would have worked if it looked any different. This is probably my new favorite Coen Brother movie. What Coen Brother movies do you guys enjoy? 

This scene, honestly, got ten times funnier after both Oscar Issac and Adam Driver were cast in Star Wars. Now Justin Timberlake just needs to be cast in Episode VIII or IX:

 

 

Trolls

From the creators of SHREK comes DreamWorks Animation’s TROLLS, a smart, funny and irreverent comedy about the search for happiness, and just how far some will go to get it. This hilarious film transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, who have a constant dance in their step and a song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomachs. 

After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious curmudgeonly Branch (Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Together, this mismatched duo embarks on a rescue mission full of adventure and mishaps – trying to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.

Seeing this movie started out with my sister asking me if I wanted to see Dr. Strange, to which I responded that "I rather go see Trolls than Dr. Strange... but I guess there's nothing else out to see this week."  Which somehow lead us to this movie. I was pleasantly surprised at how, well, cute it is. 

Princess Poppy, voiced by Anna Kendrick, is throwing a celebration on the anniversary of the Trolls escaping from the evil Bergens, who eat trolls once a year to feel happy.  However, a Bergen, literally, crashes their party and kidnaps all of Poppy's friends.  Poppy has to enlist the help of the one negative Troll, Branch, voiced by Justin Timberlake, because he knows the most about the Bergens. 

The animation in this movie blew me away. One of the hardest things to animate is hair (the others are fire and water). Going in I knew this movie was going to have a lot of hair. I mean it is about Troll dolls. But ohmigod, everything was fuzzy. It looked like we were in one of Princess Poppy's scrapbooks. Everything was felt, yarn, or string. I wanted to pet everything. It was a really great, and impressive, creative decision for the movie.

I was also worried that the songs they would be singing would just be pop top 40, but I was again pleasantly surprised by all the song choices. (Which I will not spoil in case you one day watch this movie.) It had a cute story with a good message.  It was a very enjoyable children's movie overall. I also want a glittery Troll now. Why weren't there glittery Trolls when I was a kid? Why did I give away all my Trolls?

Here's a song to get stuck in your head for the rest of the day: 

Inferno

Academy Award® winner Ron Howard returns to direct the latest bestseller in Dan Brown’s (Da Vinci Code) billion-dollar Robert Langdon series, Inferno, which finds the famous symbologist (again played by Tom Hanks) on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to stop a madman from unleashing a global virus that would wipe out half of the world’s population.

Unpopular opinion: I really enjoyed this movie. Most audiences and critics are giving it a low ranking and score.  I'm glad I didn't let those cloud my judgement before I saw it.  I was excited to see the movie and I had a great time watching it. I felt that it lived up to The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons and is a great addition to the series.

The movie starts off with Robert Langdon, played by Tom Hanks, waking up in a hospital in Florence with no memory of traveling to Europe at all. He is rescued by a doctor, Sienna Brooks, played by Felicity Jones.  Together they team up to stop a plague while Robert has visions and fights off amnesia, trying to figure out friend from foe. 

The main complaint I heard about this movie was that it was confusing and convoluted.  I felt like Ron Howard did a great job of portraying how confusing and frustrating it was for Robert Langdon not to have his memories.  At one point he can't even remember the word for coffee. We are thrown into the middle of this journey with just as much memory as Robert. I enjoyed that and felt it was a great mystery and I did not have trouble following along. 

I will say I felt that the Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons had more interesting plots overall.  Those movies focuses on puzzles and using artwork to solve them.  This movie felt more like Robert trying to piece back his memory to solve a puzzle he had already started to solve before.  It did help make this movie stand out from the previous too.  Other people said they found this plot boring, and while it is a bit of a cliche following a trail of puzzles to stop the villain from doing his thing, I did not find it boring.  Maybe I'm just a positive person though. If you've seen the movie let me know what you think.

If you're interested you can check out the book that the movie is based on here : https://www.amazon.com/Inferno-Robert-Langdon-Dan-Brown/dp/1400079152

I'm Not Ashamed

“I’ve always been drawn to hands. I think it’s because it’s the way we touch people,” wrote Rachel Joy Scott in her journal. “If one person could go out of their way to show compassion, it could start a chain reaction." After praying, “Father, use my life to touch the world and let your light shine through me,” Rachel’s renewed commitment to Jesus played out compassionately and powerfully at her high school and around the world. Pure Flix presents I’M NOT ASHAMED, the inspiring true story of Rachel Joy Scott at Columbine High School. When her hopes and dreams seemed to end, God was just getting started. Opening in theaters October 21, I’M NOT ASHAMED stars Masey McLain, Ben Davies, Sadie Robertson, Korie Robertson, Jaci Velasquez, and Jennifer O’Neill. This hope-filled story reminds us that when we put our lives in God’s hands, we can make a world of difference.

I'm Not Ashamed has a great message and story.  It is sad, but also very uplifting. The overall presentation could have been much better.  The acting and filming was sub-par.  On an independent Christian film standards this movie is better than most however.  It would be a good movie for church youth groups and communities to go see together.  I'm Not Ashamed would spark a great discussion about faith and leading by example.

I'm Not Ashamed is based off of Rachel Joy Scott's diary entries and first person accounts. Doing this helped make the movie believably get into her head and see how she was feeling.  Rachel doubts herself and her faith many times throughout the movie but I believe she was a brave girl.  She may have doubted herself but she was an incredibly kind and caring person.  I loved seeing all the positive impacts her actions created. I wish she could have seen how she helped the people around her.  Something I really liked was that she was not pushy and did not try to convert people to her faith.  She was very open about being a Christian but told people she respected their beliefs and did not want to try to change them.  However, she was there to talk to if they wanted someone.  She was welcoming without being annoying.  

Here is an interview I found of Rachel Scott's brother revisiting Columbine 

Harry Potter

This week is something a little different.  I went and saw a movie I have seen many, many times.  A movie I am sure most of you have seen yourself.  IMAX played every single Harry Potter movie again for one week only to hype up Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Being a huge Harry Potter fan I had to go see at least one! As much as I would have loved to go see all the movies again in IMAX they choose the worst possible week for me and I could only see one.  I got to see one of my favorites though, The Half Blood Prince.

I know I'm a little strange when it comes to favorites with the Harry Potter movies. Most people seem to enjoy Alfonso Cuarón's movies, The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire.  Where I find those as the worst movies and I secretly hate Chris Columbus for deciding not to direct them. (I may be a little bias because those are my favorite books and it just hurts my heart that they don't feel like Harry Potter to me). The first two movies are beautiful and wonderful.  They have the same heart and soul as the books.  They are truly magical. I have always felt that the books get dark after The Goblet of Fire. (Spoilers!) Cedric is dead and Voldemort is back. Cuarón decided to suddenly get dark and grittier during Prisoner of Azkaban. I also hate that they started wearing muggle clothes more than their school robes.

David Yates luckily saved the series and I felt he made the last four movies with the right amount of darkness.  One of my favorite things about The Half Blood Prince is that we are not just focusing on Harry we finally get to see a sneak peak at Draco and what he is going through.  Also that scene with Harry is on Felix Felicis is fantastic. I am excited to see what Yates does with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, though a little hesitant that it will be five movies...

What's your favorite Harry Potter movie?

Please enjoy this embarrassing great photo from the midnight premier of Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

Queen of Katwe

Queen of Katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. Directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) from a screenplay by William Wheeler (The Hoax) based on the book by Tim Crothers, Queen of Katwe is produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher (The Darjeeling Limited) and John Carls (Where the Wild Things Are) with Will Weiske and Troy Buder serving as executive producers. The film stars Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo (Selma), Oscar® winner and Tony Award® nominee Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) and newcomer Madina Nalwanga.

I was absolutely blown away by Queen of Katwe. It is a beautiful story that is both inspiring and heartbreaking.  It makes me so upset that Disney has not been marketing this movie well, to the point where most people I mentioned it to had no idea what I was talking about. I believe this is a movie that everybody can learn a valuable lesson from, no matter who you are. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Queen of Katwe follows the story of Phiona, played by Madina Nalwanga.  Phiona and her brother, Brian, sell maize on the streets to make a living with their single mother, Harriet, played by Lupita Nyong'o.  One day Phiona and Brian came across a ministry outreach program where children who couldn't afford to go to school would play chess during the day. Their coach Robert, played by David Oyelowo, taught the children how to play chess and how to use the problem solving skills in their day to day lives.  He became an advocate for these children, taking them to chess tournaments hosted by schools and teaching them how to read and write.  He believed they could all learn and rise to better stations in life.

This movie does not shy away from difficult issues.  Queen of Katwe shows just how horrid people treated those who they believed were beneath them because they lived in the slums and could not afford an education.  It also showed the struggles that come from being homeless in Uganada.  Harriet struggles and does everything to provide for her children.  She loves her children and wants to protect them. Phiona acts like every other teenage girl.  When she starts to realize that she is better at chess then people "who having things" she starts thinking she deserves better then the life she has.

Queen of Katwe was partially filmed in Uganda, including some of the actual places where the events took place. The rest of the movie was filmed around South Africa. After the movie they show the actors with the people they portrayed, which I really enjoyed. If you stay during the credits you'll get to see a fun music video featuring the cast.  However, if you already accidentally left before you can catch an alternate version on youtube:

 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

When they first announced they were creating Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children into a movie I was a little hesitant. I felt the story and it's heart would not be easily translated into film.  However, I was excited to hear that Tim Burton was directing it, this story would work perfectly with his old style.  While this movie might not be Burton's comeback it is a step in the right direction. And better than most of his current movies. 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children starts with Jake, Asa Butterfield, witnessing his grandfather being murdered by a monster.  After some encouragement from his therapist,  Allison Janney, Jake and his father, Chris O'Dowd, go on a vacation to the island in Wales where his grandfather grew up in a children's home.  Jake's grandfather used to tell him stories of the children in the children's home and all of their unusual powers, complete with old photographs of all of them.  After arriving to find the children's home destroyed in World War II, Jake soon learns all of his grandfather's stories were real and the children still all live in the home in a time loop, hiding from the monster that killed his grandfather. 

The movie deviates from the book quite a bit.  I understood the changes to the story because it would be very hard to understand in film.  However, I was a bit confused at all of the changes to the characters. They switched Emma and Olive's powers while aging Olive and making a majority of the teenager characters young children. I do not know why they felt that being lighter than air would make for a more interesting main character than creating fire balls.  What is cooler than fighting monsters with fire? Overall, I felt the movie had the same heart as the books, which is what is really important.  The cast did a great job balancing and bringing all the characters to life.  I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it for fans of the book and Tim Burton's older films. 

The characters in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children are based off of old trick photographs that the author, Ransom Riggs,'s collects. Check out this video to find out more about his hobby:

 

Bridget Jones's Baby

Oscar® winners Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth are joined by Patrick Dempsey for the next chapter of the world’s favorite singleton in Bridget Jones’s Baby. Directed by Sharon Maguire (Bridget Jones’s Diary), the new film in the beloved comedy series based on creator Helen Fielding’s heroine finds Bridget unexpectedly expecting. 

After breaking up with Mark Darcy (Firth), Bridget Jones’s (Zellweger) “happily ever after” hasn’t quite gone according to plan. Fortysomething and single again, she decides to focus on her job as top news producer and surround herself with old friends and new. For once, Bridget has everything completely under control. What could possibly go wrong?

Then her love life takes a turn and Bridget meets a dashing American named Jack (Dempsey), the suitor who is everything Mr. Darcy is not. In an unlikely twist she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch…she can only be fifty percent sure of the identity of her baby’s father.

Bridget Jones's Baby is a great addition to the series.  My friend and I spent the whole movie screaming with laughter and cringing every time Bridget makes a mistake.  She has grown in confidence but has stayed the same hilarious character we know and love. It is hilarious and has the soul of the original Bridget Jones movie.

Bridget Jones, played by Renée Zellweger, has just turned 43 and her old gang of friends are all settling down and starting families. So her coworker, Miranda, played by Sarah Solemani, decides to take her on a girls weekend for her birthday. Where she falls, literally, for Jack Quant, played by Patrick Dempsey. Later in the week she runs into her old boyfriend Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, where they reconnect. The movie follows Bridget's struggles of being pregnant and not sure which man is the father while her job has a new boss insisting on re-branding to a younger audience. 

It was great seeing all the actors return to their original roles.  It was so much fun seeing how all the characters were doing in their lives.  It almost felt like a little mini reunion.  I feel that having almost the whole original cast return really adds to how great this sequel was. Patrick Dempsey and Emma Thompson were also great additions to the Bridget Jones series and blended in seamlessly. 

There may not have been a brawl in the street between Darcy and Daniel but Bridget Jones's Baby was filled with laughs and a new tension between Darcy and Jack.  Bridget may be happy with herself and her life but she still somehow makes a mess of everything in the most hilarious fashion. If you need a good laugh, and enjoyed the original Bridget Jones movie, I highly recommend that you go see Bridget Jones's Baby.  

If you are a fan of the series, you can check out the book, written by the screenwriter, that inspired the movies here: https://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Joness-Diary-Helen-Fielding/dp/014028009X 

Sully

From Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood (“American Sniper,” “Million Dollar Baby”) comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “Sully,” starring Oscar winner Tom Hanks (“Bridge of Spies,” “Forrest Gump”) as Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

Sully was an absolute fantastic movie and I was not expecting anything less from Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks. This movie keeps you in suspense, even though you know you already know how it ends.  This I find is something very tricky about making a movie based off a recent event. Along with Captain Sullenberger's tale we get a glimpse of what it was like from the passengers point of view. 

Sully shows the aftermath of Captain Sullenberger, played by Tom Hanks, landing a plane in the Hudson River after dual engine lost because of bird strike.  When I first saw the trailer I was shocked to find out that there was a serious investigation with the belief that he could have made it back to the airport. All the news stories I had seen and read focused on how Captain Sully was an American hero and all the lives he was able to save with his quick thinking. Tom Hanks is really able to capture the stress Captain Sully must have been going through after both a plane crash and the possibility of losing his wings so close to the end of his career. Clint Eastwood 

I greatly enjoyed how we got to see the forced water landing from other people's points of view.  It was of course interesting to see it from Captain Sully, Co-Pilot Jeff Skiles, and the passengers.  Clint Eastwood made the passengers a great part of the movie by including their personal stories before and during the flight. I loved seeing, however, how everyone in New York City came to help from the ferry boat drivers to the police.  We also got to see how it affected the crew working in air traffic control. 

During the movie we got glimpses of Captain Sully's past and how he learned how to fly.  My mother and I both stated we wish we had seen more of his past.  However, my dad who read Captain Sully's book the screenplay is based on, said that his past was relatively boring and that they included the most relevant bits. So maybe it was a good decision to cut that from the movie. Sully is one of those rare movies where I felt the length was perfect. It completely told the story without dragging.

After watching this movie I may not want to travel with Tom Hanks, or maybe he's the only person I want to travel with? He does seem to get out of all his travel problems in his movies.  I do recommend it. It has a capturing story that was told wonderfully. Make sure to stay for a mid credits scene showing a reunion between the real Captain Sully, co-pilot Skiles, and passengers from the flight.  

If you are interested, you can find Captain Sully's book that inspired the movie here : https://www.amazon.com/Highest-Duty-Search-Really-Matters/dp/0061924695 

Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Hashi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kameyo (Academy Award nominee Brenda Vaccaro). But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen - a magical musical instrument - Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara) to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny.

I cannot stress enough how much I adored this movie. It is one of those children's movies where you forget that it is a movie meant for children when you're watching it.  They do not dumb the movie down for children, I heard a few very young ones asking their parents questions during the movie, but I could tell for the most part all the children followed the movie well.  My friend and I would even lean in and go "Do you think?" "Yea I totally saw that!" from time to time, trying to figure out where the story was going. It was refreshing seeing a children's movie that did not spell everything out for the kids.

Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson, lives alone with his mother who he cares for.  He goes into town each day to tell stories with the help of his magical shamisen and origami. However, Kubo is never able to finish his stories because his mother stresses that he must never be out after sunset. One evening Kubo decides to stay out in the village after the sun sets. He then quickly finds himself inside his own stories. He travels with his monkey talisman come to live, voiced by Charlize Theron, and their new friend Beetle, voiced by Matthew McConaughey.  

One thing I really enjoyed about Kubo and the Two Strings was the focus on Eastern values. The movie shows the young taking care of the elderly and the focus on the community instead of the individual.  Overall it taught us to  have compassion for everyone.  Hollywood is very Western-centralized and children grow up watching movies about their own culture.  I think it is absolutely fantastic to have a movie that show's them a glimpse of history and how people live in other parts of the world.  Kubo and the Two Strings is a Hollywood movie with an completely original story, I think it is important to know that it is not based on an existing Eastern folklore.  

The claymation and animation blended seamlessly together to give a truly one of a kind feel that fit the movie's mood perfectly. (There is a mid-credits scene showing behind the scenes that made my jaw drop!)   I know when someone says claymation a lot of people think of the old Christmas classics like Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but the art style has greatly improved over the years.  It is extremely smooth and thinking about all the time and effort they must have put into making the movie takes your breath away. A very important part of the movie is the fact that Kubo can magically control oragami with his shamisen and it was so beautiful watching the paper come to life.  I could not get over the style the whole movie.

I really encourage people of all ages to go see this movie! Even if you are not a fan of animation I think you will enjoy it. It is beautiful to watch with a fantastic and unique story. Everyone needs to see this movie!

You can watch some of the behind the scenes of the stop motion here (I encourage you to watch the movie first before watching this video):

War Dogs

Based on a true story, “War Dogs” follows two friends in their early 20s (Hill and Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they land a 300 million dollar deal to arm the Afghan Military—a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the U.S. Government. 

I went into War Dogs expecting a Hangover -styled comedy with lots of laughs and everything that could go wrong going wrong.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with a much more serious movie.  It reminded me of a modern day American Hustle.  It also helps that Bradley Cooper looks like he walked off the set of American Hustle into War Dogs. 

David Packouz, played by Miles Teller, is a college drop out struggling to make ends meet when he finds out that his girlfriend, Iz, is pregnant.  Despite not supporting the United States being in war he decided to go work for his old school friend, Efraim Diveroli, played by Jonah Hill.  Efraim supplies guns and ammo to the United States army.  David struggles to keep what he is doing a secret from his girlfriend while making a considerable amount of money to raise is new family.  David and Efraim make the deal of a lifetime when they illegally partner with a terrorist, Henry Girard, played by Bradley Cooper.  David wants to play things safe but Efraim only sees how much money he could make, and wants to make more. 

I really enjoyed this movie, I felt the story was fresh and original and still interesting.  Like I said earlier, I was expecting this movie to be more of a bro-comedy then the drama that I got.  While the trailers showed David and Efraim partying and laughing it up the part I was really drawn to in the movie was David's home life.  While his girlfriend Iz and his daughter were more of a subplot they helped put into perspective everything he was putting on the line by living the life of a gun runner. The movie has some pretty dark turns you would not expect after such a fun marketing campaign comparing it to The Hangover. I highly recommend this film if you enjoyed American Hustle. 

If you are interested in learning more about the real life duo, you can read the Rolling Stones article that the movie is based off of here : http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-stoner-arms-dealers-20110316 

Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive

The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the sacred Crystal, and the menacing empire of Niflheim is determined to steal it. King Regis of Lucis (Sean Bean) commands an elite force of soldiers called the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king’s magic, Nyx (Aaron Paul) and his fellow soldiers fight to protect Lucis. As the overwhelming military might of the empire bears down, King Regis is faced with an impossible ultimatum – to marry his son, Prince Noctis to Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae (Lena Headey), captive of Niflheim, and surrender his lands to the empire’s rule. Although the king concedes, it becomes clear that the empire will stop at nothing to achieve their devious goals, with only the Kingsglaive standing between them and world domination.

Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive is Square Enix's third Final Fantasy movie to date preceded by The Spirits Within and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. While like the others, Kingsglaive is visually appealing with breathtaking graphics, the plot is lacking. The movie depends on how lifelike it has made it's CG characters and it's impossible and flashy fights. The movie will soon find itself dated and re-watched purely for nostalgia as graphics and technology improve.

Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive is a prequel for the upcoming video game Final Fantasy XV. The movie helps set up the plot and explain the complex political situation in the new fantasy world. While the game will focus on Prince Noctius and his friends on a road-trip to save the world, Kingsglaive is set in the capital of the kingdom of Lucis. The movie focuses' on a group of protectors called the Kingsglaive who borrow magic from their king, King Regis played by Sean Bean. King Regis's kingdom Lucis has been under attack by an empire called Niflheim. After an attack Niflheim proposes a treaty to end the war all together. A soldier from the Kingslaive, Nyx, played by Aaron Paul, is sent to rescue a kidnapped Princess, Lunafreya, played by Leana Headey, and discovers the treaty is simply a distraction before Niflheim's final attack on the capital.

My major complaint is the lack of female characters. I knew going in this might be a problem as only two females have been introduced in trailers for the video game. I was pleasantly surprised at a female Kingsglaive member appearing to be a main character at the beginning of the movie. However, she was the only one and it was soon apparent her only use in the movie was to be a little sister character to the male heroes who needed a little push. Princess Lunafreya mentioned multiple times that she wanted to help and fight and would not stand back as the males in the movie tried to rescue her. That was simply talk as she moved around doing what the men told her to do. I only hope that she will have a stronger role in the game. So far this feels like a step backwards from Square Enix who had two sisters, Lightning and Serah, as the main heroes in the Final Fantasy XIII saga. This was extremely discouraging to me throughout the movie.

The movie does a great job setting up the game Final Fantasy XV and the theatrical release is wonderful for keeping the hype up. I do not see this movie, however, standing alone. You need to go into it knowing the basic plot for Final Fantasy XV and an understanding of Final Fantasy games in general. Following the plot gets confusing between all the battles and fights and they expect you to already be familiar with the characters. As an avid Final Fantasy fan I enjoyed the movie and got excited to start playing the game when it comes out in November. The movie will be a nice companion to the deluxe edition of Final Fantasy XV but that is all I see it as. If you cannot wait to play the game I recommend going to see Kingsglaive in theaters (also stay through the credits for an extra scene), otherwise I suggest waiting till you play the game.

If you are interested you can watch the first twelve minutes of the movie below as well as a list of participating theaters:

http://www.kingsglaivefinalfantasyxv-movie.com/site/

Hello!

Welcome! I decided for my first post that I would introduce myself and tell you what I hope to accomplish with my blog. My name is Caroline and I'm currently attending Bradley University where I will graduate in December. I'm majoring in Communications - Television Arts with a minor in Social Media Marketing.

In the fall of 2015 I did a semester long internship at Walt Disney World, where I was a PhotoPass Photographer at Epcot.  I loved all my coworkers and being able to help ~make magic~ for all the guests who visited.  My coworkers felt like family and going to work felt like going to a second home.  I instantly knew that Disney was a company that I hope to work for again after I graduate.  I hope to work in post production with editing or video production for their social media outlets.

One of my favorite pastimes is watching movies.  When I am feeling down I love treating myself by going to the movie theater.  I may or may not be on first name basis with the managers at my favorite local theater.  I decided for my blog I would try my hand at writing movie reviews for whatever movie I am able to see that week.  Hopefully they will all be current theater releases, but some may just be new-to-me or old favorites on DVDs or Netflix.