Quicky Review on: Muppets Most Wanted

                  Funny story there. I was planning on going to see The Grand Budapest Hotel, but it sold out. So my friends and I went to see Muppets Most Wanted instead, a film we all wanted to see. A golly was it the best squeal to ever grace a cinema screen. With the first musical number that broke the fourth wall and lower your expectations while sining about how ludicrous squeals are. Then bragging about how many Muppets squeals there have been! (seven)

               So the basic plot is the Dominic Badguy has proposed to the newly reunited Muppet Crew that they go on a world tour in order to become popular on an international level. Which obviously they agree to, but Kermit is arrested! Yet, nobody knows that besides animal. Although he and Tina Fey have a wonderful number together! Oh, by the way this movie is not only longer then the last, but has way more musical numbers that are catchy and really clever. So if you are not into musicals, I suggest against going to this film straight away. Now, since this film is made for younger audiences and is a muppet movie -making it known for plots that are handed over to you on a silver platter in the very beginning- some may find it a tad bit non absorbing at times. Though heres a fun game, count how many cameos there are! since there is a load, 29 to be exact.
And HUGE FLIPPING SPOILER HERE, but the sole reason why this film was made so that the could have Usher be The Usher. The pun was perfect and everyone practically suffocated from laughter. The only real thing that I found a bit bamboozling was to see most of the Muppets walking and even dancing. It took me out sometimes since it looked really odd and I'd even say awkward.

             Now, since the Grand Budapest Hotel is such a hit I totally suggest this movie as an alternative. Its light hearted and funny, with little quirky details that just keep you giggling. Now, be sure to bring friends. Since this is defiantly one of those movies you would want to whisper into there ear. Most of mine consisting of, "I love this song!" or "I love him/her!" and "That pun!" Plus the sub plots were adorable and just a blast.
              So race to the theater everybody!

Trailer Tracking: Maleficent

              A live action retelling of the famed "Sleeping Beauty".  Yet from the perspective of Maleficent played by the glorious Angelina Jolie.

               Now my thoughts on these most recent trailers are mixed. First, Lana Del Ray's version of "Once Upon A Dream" is rather haunting. In a very catchy way, but takes the happiness and spring out of it. also the CGI monsters are quite magnificent, really detailed.
              But, then things get confusing. From what I can collect from the "Dream" and "Legacy" trailers is that Maleficent is not trying to seek revenge upon the kingdom out of jealousy for not being invited to the christening of Aurora. that would be following the plot line in tow of the first film. Instead she is trying to protect her from some great force, by killing her? Or at least kidnapping her. Where they then bond over some crazy prophecy and influential/inspirational dialogue. Attempting to seize empathy from the intended audience. Though for this historic villain who is shrouded in mystery, it seems like quite a stretch. Since in the original cartoon film, Maleficent is a rather obscure and shallow character. Filling an evil witch troupe, very well. Now by expanding on her back story and reasoning for cursing Aurora reminds me of the new fad of; "If their's a tragic backstory all crimes are forgiven!" (ahem Loki ahem) Which is annoying once you realize it, but so utterly effective!

               Obviously I won't know anything for sure until I see this film, looking for this explanation. And I will be expecting one, plus a marvelous performance by Angelina Jolie. From Elle fanning not as much. Though props are due to casting and costuming for picking Aurora and Prince Phillip then making them look like the intended young age from the Grimm tale.

SPOILERS for: The Producers

       

   So I have been on a bit of a binge. Which is consisting of Space Balls, Rocky Horror and Monty Pathoon marathons. Non of which I have written a review on since I have been very lazy, but I though that The Producers deserves one. Especially since this is my first time watching the film. Though it should be noted that I am watching the 2005 remake with Will Ferrel and that guy from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I have heard that the original is better, but this all I could find on Netflix.
           For those of you who do not know what The Producers is all about, you should really go change that. But, if you couldn't guess, this film we are following the musical tale of two producers. One a Broadway know-it-all who sleeps with old women to fund him and an ex-accountant who still seeks comfort from his baby blanket. They are on the quest to make the biggest musical blunder in all of history! This way they can make two million dollars and move to Rio!  So they find the worst play in all of history, "Spring Time For Hitler" which is noted to insult every gender, race and religion known to man! But sadly falls flat in that respect, its more of just a neo-nazi's tribute to Hitler.
            Leo and AlexEven going to the lengths of hiring the worst Director with his song, "Keep it Gay" that is currently stuck in my head. Which I can only imagine that in the 1968 version had a totally different meaning, then in this remake. Also Ulla has an amazing number about if a woman's got it, flaunt it!

          Obviously this plan doesn't go accordingly. And it seems that Ulla and Leo are able to movie to Rio leaving Alex behind for jail time, that incorporates a fabulous dance number recounting the whole of the movie until that exact point. But don't fear friendship saves the day! The dup get off practically Scott free with five years at "Sing Sing" Prison. before they return to there lives as the producers!
          Totally worth a watch you guys!

After The Oscars

               Well the Oscars have been handed out and I have and opinion to Share! Sorry that it came late, I had to calm down first and study for an exam!

Best Original Screen Play
Prediction: Her
Award To: I called it! This was a gripping and provoked tale of love and technology. Bravo to Spike Jonez!

Best Adapted Screen Play
Predication: The Book Thief/ 12 Years a Slave
Award To:  Woot! 2 for 2, 12 Years a Slave was excellent and really did articulate the feelings and situation for Solomon Northup and Patty.

Visual Effects
Prediction: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug
Award To: I will give tis to Gravity for it was excellent visually. I won't doubt it.

Production Design
Predication: Book Thief/The Great Gatsby
Award To: Yay Great Gatsby! The sets were breath taking perfectly capturing flapper era New York while still holding the integrity of the novel. With a spin from the director!

Best Original Song
Predication: Probably to, "Let It Go", but "Ordinary Love" Was good.
Award To: Let it Go? What a surprise! The performance sounded really nasally, was that just me?

Best Original Score
Predication: The Book Thief
Award To: GOD DANG IT GRAVITY!!!! The Book Thief was much more deserving of this award, especially since it was there only nomination. Another example why there should be a four award limit per motion picture.

Makeup and Hairstyling
Prediction: Desolation of Smaug or Great Gatsby, but Lone Ranger
Award To: Dallas Buyers Club, I forgot that it was even nominated...Its deserving. Though Great Gatsby did receive an award for costume design so yay!

Animated Feature Film
Predication: As The Wind Rises
Award To: I am in no way surprised, but still upset! Yes, I know, that Frozen was well done. But honestly aside from a rather predictable story there was no lovable characters, or really catchy music to truly support this film. It was well done, but it strongly resembled Tangled and wasn't as spectacular as The Wind Rises. Wind Rises does have its faults, but was suburb either way, but I guess that bias for you.

Best Supporting Actress
Predication: Jennifer Lawrence
Award To: Lupita Nyong'o , the woman who breathed life into Patty and I'm surprised that I didn't think of hr when I made my predictions. Her acceptance speech was very humble to!

Best Supporting Actor
Prediction: Michael Fassbender
Award To:  Jared Leto, I really wish that I had seen Dallas Buyers Club, but no one would take me! Hopefully I can see it soon.

Best Actress
Prediction: Not Sandra Bullock
Award To: Cate Blanchette, yay not Sandra Bullock. I didn't see Blue Jasmine so I don't know how her performance was, but my Mom is familiar with her and said that she is very talented.

Best Actor
Predication:  Leonardo DiCaprio/Matthew McConaughey
Award To: Mathew McConaghey, first of all I loved his acceptance speech. He really deserved this award. I know that DiCaprio must be upset, but he should have gotten the award for best supporting in The Great Gatsby, just saying.

Best Picture
Prediction: The Butler/ American Hustle/12 Years a Slave
Award To: 12 Years a Slave, I'm glad that it went to this picture. It was well done and absolutely phenomenal. And thank the academy it didn't go to Gravity!

         Yay! Its over the ceremony was one million times better than last year and Ellen Degenerous was hilarious the entire time, glad that she hosted. She was funny and fresh, drawing in a younger viewing audience. Also it made the show seem more relaxed then it has, ordering pizza and breaking twitter, thats a party for you!
For more information on the oscars please refer to this, Buzzfeed Post.

The Wind Rises Reviewed!

             Hayao Miyazaki's final film! At least thats what we have been led to believe, there are quite of few mixed messages on the subject. Which I could go on and on and on about forever and a day, but that is not why I am here! No I am here to pay homage to the newest wonder to Miyazaki's collection.

             So for you who don't know, The Wind Rises, is film following aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi. Beginning when he supposedly shared dreams with Giovanni Battista Caproni over a fifteen year time span. He and his good friend Honjo who shares the dream of helping Japan uproot herself out of the dark age and into the industrial age. For Jiro this is mainly before World War Two, and he was the lead designer for the Zero Fighter. Which is a fact rather gleaned over and not the center of attention for this film. Instead, we focus on his trip to Germany to study there bomber planes and also meet Miss Nahoko Satomi. A girl who he saved during the earthquake several years before hand. They reconnect and fall in love, promising each other to wed once she is well again. Too Big of a spoiler?
           Then lets move forward to the rockstar cast! I watched the english dub and plan on seeing the Japanese dub later this week. Maybe I'll do an update afterwards. Joseph Gordon-levitt is phenomenal as Jiro and so is everyone else in he cast. They each perfectly articulated there characters. Also points to Levitt for speaking German and French in this film. I love multi-language films! Plus the characters themselves were so sensitive and funny, each an individual who you really came to love. 

             What is truly the most astounding part about this piece of cinematic genius, is not the fluid animation, but the sound.  Which was so mystical and daunting a feat of imagination, or rather dreams. The sound of the Earthquake early in the film, mimicked a human wale. With all sounds which resonated with destruction followed this pattern. This bothered one or two colleagues who I went to the movie with, saying that it broke the atmosphere. Though I say otherwise. Its difficult to describe it, but what these moans reminded me of very exaggerated, yet pure forms of emotion. From great sorrow with the rainy scenes, to the sighs of the snow and wrath of the rippling earthquake. If I also may butt in a nod off to Joe Hisaishi for another excellent symphony soundtrack!

              This is not to say that the animation was nothing special, believe me it was very awe-inspiring. Perfectly capturing movement if one was walking of the wing of the plane. Also the shadows of glasses on characters faces was something I have never really seen before and looked gorgeous. Plus the way everything was rose-tinted and hazy during Jiro's dream sequences reminded me very closely of the meadow from Howl's Moving Castle. Very intimate. It should also be noted that there was a very stark contrast between the backgrounds and live animation creating a more emphasized look, really drawing the focus towards the background and making the characters less important and more so narration pieces. And, as always, the food of Studio Ghibli is very appetizing.

       

 There is only on gripe that I must share with astounding picture and it would be that occasionally you may feel a few (about 3) scenes more drawn out then necessary.

          Aside from what I believe, The Wind Rises deserves around of applause and an academy award! Truly a work of art and one hell of a film to go out on!
              Its funny and a spectacle, really reaching new hights from previous films like Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service and On Your Mark. The characters a genius and beautifully brought to life and a love story you'll be in tears over.

  So go see this movie right now!

The Official movie trailer and main theme!

Predictions for the Academy Awards

       Hello! Happy Oscar weekend, will you be watching? I will be, mainly so I can see the flowing gowns and become verbally violent while the awards are being handed out. For the most part, sometimes I agree, rarely. So I thought that I would write a predictions post on who would win the awards. Mainly so I can say "I told you so" with proof from the little time stamps that come with these posts. Okay, but this is in no way a comprehensive list and I have yet to see all these movies. Although same goes for the Academy, but I'm free from the politics of it! And have way more free time...

Best Original Screen Play
Nominees: American Hustle, Blue Jasmine, Dallas Buyers Club, Her and Nebraska. 
Prediction: Now my money is on Her, its funny and something new. As much as I did enjoy and loved American Hustle it wasn't as thought provoking and I am a sucker for movies that make me think.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Before Midnight, Captain Phillips, Philomena, 12 Years A Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street. 
Prediction: Should go to "The Book Thief", but sadly was not nominated. So out of my choices I would give the Oscar to 12 Years a Slave. 12 Years A Slave was such a powerful story and really aimed for the shock factor, but not to the extent of The Wolf of Wall Street.

Visual Effects
Nominees: Gravity, The Desolation of Smaug, Iron Man 3, The Lone Ranger, Star Trek Into Darkness
Prediction: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug hands down, no contest.

Production Design
Nominees: American Hustle, The Great Gatsby, her and 12 Years A Slave
Prediction: Again, I wish that the Book Thief was nominated, but it wasn't. Although The Great Gatsby did a fabulous job and should have gotten a nob for Visual effects. Just typing...

Best Original Song
Nominees: Alone Yet Not Alone (shared title), Despicable Me 2 for "Happy", Frozen for "Let it Go", Her for "The Moon Song", Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom for"Ordinary Love"
Prediction: Thankfully these songs are available online, so I have heard all of them. Obviously its going to go to "let It Go", but I wouldn't mind "Ordinary Love."

Best Original Score
Nominees: The Book Thief, Gravity, Her, Philomena and Saving Mr. Banks
Prediction: It better go to The Book Thief.

Makeup and Hairstyling
Nominees: Dallas Buyers Club, Jackass Presents: bad Grandpa, and The Lone Ranger
Prediction: Desolation of Smaug and the Great Gatsby not nominated? Guess I would hand it off to The Lone Ranger. Why is Bad Grandpa even on this list?

Costume Design
Nominees: American Hustle, The Grandmaster, The Great Gatsby, The Invisible Woman, and 12 Years a Slave
Prediction: Oh please give it to The Great Gatsby those costumes were breath taking!

Animated Feature Film
Nominees: The Croods, Despicable me 2, Ernest and Celestine, Frozen and The Wind Rises
Prediction: If the academy even dares to give the oscar to any movie besides The Wind Rises I will personally question them on why. This is supposedly Hayao Miyazaki's last film and someone has the incapability of recognizing the marvel and wonder of his work.  But I will not be surprised in any way if it goes to Frozen.

Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Sally Hawkins in Blue Jasmine, Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle, Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years A Slave, Julia Roberts in August: Osage County, June Squibb in Nebraska
Prediction: Jennifer Lawrence is really popular right now and will probably go to her, but I'm a little caught since all these women's performance were rather spectacular.

Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips, Bradley Cooper in American Hustle, Michael Fassbender in 12 Years A Slave, Jonah Hill in The Wolf of Wall Street, and Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club.
Prediction: Please oh please give it to Michael Fassbender he was phenomenal!

Best Actress in A Leading Role
Nominees: Amy Adams in American Hustle, Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine, Sandra Bullock in Gravity, Judi Dench in Philomena and Meryl Streep in August: Osage County.
Prediction: Honestly I can't say for this category, but please do not give it to Sandra Bullock. I love her, but not in Gravity.

Best Actor in A Leading Role
Nominees: Christen Bale in American Hustle, Bruce Dern in Nebraska, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street, Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years A Slave, Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Prediction: I would be one the side of Leonardo DiCaprio if it was for The Great Gatsby, he still did a good job, but I'm gonna give it to Matthew McConaughey.

Best Picture
Nominees: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, 12 Years A Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street
Prediction: Why isn't The Butler nominated!? This is astounding, outrageous! It should defiantly win best picture. But I guess that it could go to either American Hustle, 12 Years A Slave or Her.

For the full comprehensive list of awards and nominations click here. 

Trailer Tracking: Guardians of the Galaxy

                Over a month ago Marvel and Disney released the first screen caps for there newest superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy. Which is based of the comics. Now, last night we not only got a 20 second sneak peak at the trailer, but an hour later the full first trailer was posted.

                 You could say that I have mixed feelings. Ranging from "I can't wait for this movie" to "what the heck is this trailer?" Since when I clicked on it I was expecting awesome action, but instead met the oddest protagonist Peter Quill AKA Star-Lord. Yes, Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt who is really funny and I couldn't take any of the trailer seriously thereafter. Even as we got the line up of the other characters. Including Rocket Raccoon who somehow got a movie before Wonder Woman and is played by Bradley Cooper.
                 Let is be known that I am indeed excited for this movie. It doesn't come out until August first in the United States, but I can wait. From what I do know about this project that it is happening in the Marvel Universe and along side the Avengers. What could this mean? Sadly I am not a marvel comics nerd so I couldn't tell you my personal theory. All thought the wonderful guys at Sourcefed Nerd did a video when the Screen caps were first released. They have some interesting thoughts about this film.

Quicky Review of: The Lego Movie

         

         My first impression? GO SEE THIS RIGHT NOW!  Ever since I watched the trailer months ago the anticipation for the release has been waining over my head. Sadly I didn't see it opening night, but opening weekend is alright. Fun fact that this weekend movie grossed over 69.1 Million dollars! Beating out Monuments Men which had about seven million.
          A few notable bits obviously is the impressive animation and lighting for this film, it was CGI not stop motion. Even though you can be easily fooled. Animal Logic and Legend 3D were the two main animation and special effect companies involved, but the explosive ending credits were done by Scarlett Letters. Also the very witty jokes with something for every audience member. Reaching out to both boy and girl demographics, while still retaining a spot for the adult audiences. Plus even if you are not someone who grew up playing with Legos this movie can still appeal to you. Finally the story in general. It was witty and fun with a few plot twists that I honestly did not see coming. Plus the story was rather consistent implementing a lot of adult humor, that was executed so even a child could laugh at it not fully understanding it.

         This film in no way went below my expectations, and I went into the theater with rather high expectations. Mainly for the review done by SoucreFed Nerd, a youtube channel that branches off of Sxephil and Sourcefed. They gave raving reviews, so if you want more info check out the video.
          Just in case you need any more reasons to go may I just add in the songs in this film and hilarious and ultra catchy, in the best way possible.

If you want to read up on all the awesome specs and cast click this link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490017/?ref_=rvi_tt