SPOILERS FOR: Wolf Children

         

       
   Now I have been waiting two years to see this film. I new that I should not stream it off of the internet and sadly missed when it was in theaters. So when I was at Best Buy this past weekend and saw it I just had to buy it. The me and another anime buddy sat down and watched this film.
                     For those of you who are not avid anime watchers you probably have never heard of Wolf Children and many viewers have found someone the content rather controversial. Mainly because Hana basically has sex with a wolf and then has his children. Although they shy over those details. And instead focus on Hana's upbringing of her two cubs, Yuki and Ame. Who as you would expect are children that run around the house and always full of energy, but with the twist of turning into wolves. Which usually is triggered by frustration, crankiness or great excitement. Which makes it rather difficult to conceal when in a big city like Tokyo so moves far out into the country side where her children have plenty of space to roam and won't fall victim to prying eyes. Until Yuki and Ame are old enough to properly control their shapeshifting and can go to school.

                    So I don't want to really give away the end since it was quite a twist for me and most of the embellished features of this film is the characters. Their individual character arcs are so relatable and heartwarming that every four seconds I was practically shrieking "Cute!" Since lets face it Yuki and Ame are the cutest things known to man. Making it perfectly understandable to how a parent can put up with
the spit fire and hassle that toddlers and kids are.

                      Let's begin with Yuki our narrator and eldest wolf child, who originally was a very boisterous girl who adored the outdoors and her wolf form. Always opting for it whenever possible.  Although that changes after Yuki enters elementary school and all the kids scream and run away from her when she finds a snake. So she has her mother sew her a cute new dress and Yuki settles into a life or girlhood. The really hits its climax with the introduction of Souhei who Yuki accidentally ends up scarring with her claws and then over the years a romance of sorts blossoms between them. Which I found personally a bit unsatisfying since I loved Yuki's outgoingness that sorts of fades as the movie progresses. Yet I still understand how adamant she was about starting school and socializing with other kids.

Now as for Ame who was always very cute and timid his character development is very essential to the film's overall climax. Since Ame was always frightened by his wolf side and hated changing into it, until one snowy day when he nearly died did he begin to love his inner wolf. Which leads to Ame spending most of his time in the mountains above their home, especially once he starts skipping school due to the boys that were bullying him. Ame embodies his father both in face, wolf and prescience. He appears very unimportant, but is actually just a very reserved person.

                      Hana, she is the mother that all women are and strive to be. She not only raises wolf children singlehandedly, but also stays completely independent from rebuilding their home to creating farm plots all by herself. So its amazing to watch her reaction once she begins to receive help from her neighbors. Since Hana is a very smart and independent woman who really knew how to stay collected and take on a situation head on. Seriously she was exhausted in most of

the scenes from work and raising children, but never once did she loose it. The only time we actually see not smiling was when her husband died. I absolutely loved her. The only question that really pops up to me about her is why she didn't talk more about her husband, who is an unnamed character. Since the narrator, Yuki, never addresses him by his name nor does Hana. Since it was quite obvious she was very passionately in love with him. Although from what we did see of him her was a very reserved character who was shrouded in mystery, maybe Hana was simply respecting that when talking about that to her kids.
                   Okay final thoughts. The animation and art style in gorgeous and breath taking. And in certain scenes very whimsical or rugged. It was awe-inspiring to watch the fluidity of this film and a quick shout out to the music. Set the tone phenomenally. If you haven't seen this film I highly suggest buying it. No matter your age or preferences you can still appreciate the story telling that is Wolf Children.

                     

SPOILERS for: Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2

       

 Puns, thats the reason this film was made. There I'm done, thats all you need to really know. Now go onto netflix and watch the crap out of it.
          Obviously such a vague description does not do this film justice, but hey I'm just gonna come out and say that this year is the year of good sequels. Beginning with the muppets, then this and soon we'll have How To Train Your Dragon on June 13th.
          So for those of you who are not familiar with the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs franchise. This series follows the misadventures of aspiring scientist Flint Lockwood who is trying to finally gain acceptance from his peers on the island they live on called Swallow Falls. Where the trade is sardines, but is failing. So Flint creates this machine that can convert water into any food that is programmed. Turning this crummy town into a tourist hot spot and gaining him a girl and all the perks of being the hot item. But his machine back fires and begins creating bigger and bigger food that causes a horrid storm.

This is where the second film picks off, when the civilians are to move to San Franjose. Where Flint scores a job at his Idol's company and every six months a staff member gets a promotion to thinkonaut! Which Flint submits thousands of ideas, but fails, until his boss approaches him about returning to swallow falls that could possibly threaten Lady Liberty and the rest of the world. So Flint, his Dad, Steve, Manny, Brent and Sam Sparks. There they discover a world of foodimles that are threatened by Chester V and his company that is planning to use Flint's machine to mass produce his new power bar.

               Now you would be surprised is they failed and they don't. This film is a kids movie, but is so much fun to any pun enthusiasts like myself. Since the script and visuals are designed around them. Overall the plot wasn't to bad and I stayed engaged for the whole time it was on. With a few underlying focuses on father and son relationship dynamics, child idols/role models and a small illusion to the corruption of corporations.  I definitely suggest this film if you are in need of a laugh. Its funny, hilarious and visually pleasing. Plus the ending credits are made in three mediums and there is a great song playing. I might also mention the after credit cut seen between Barb and Steve.

Trailer Tracking: The Book of Life

                Well I already love animated movies and halloween, so a movie that puts two and two together is always a blast. Although this animated feature is not about Halloween, but the day after. The day of the dead. Where two spirits make a bet about who a girl will marry, but one sort of breaks the rules.

Now the main thing that grabbed my attention was the animation. It looks spectacular! The character designs are breath taking and there movements are fluid. Which allows me to assume that the animators and visual effects artists had quite a tedious task, but man it paid off. This film look so cute! I can not wait to see the epic misadventures of our protagonist who is determined to reunite himself with the love of his life!

SPOILERS for: G.B.F.

           

 Which is an acronym for Gay Best Friend, a trendy film the is focused around the objectification of Gay men. Which is done in such a heart warming and fun manner. Full with lovable and diverse characters that you really become attached to.
               So it begins with closeted Tanner who downloads an app called, "Gaydar" which functions like the hook-up app Hot or Not, but targeted towards gay men. Although this app is download by members of the GSA that is on the hunt for their first gay member. Thus outing Tanner, he blames his best friend Brent who pressured him into downloading the app. Giving the excuse that since he doesn't have a smart phone so he can't download it. Even though later in the fill he is using an I phone, so continuity slip up there. Which results in Tanner outing Brent to his mother, which he was planning to do in a more fabulous manner.
                  The next few days at school tanner is bullied and beaten up until the queens of the school take him under their wings so that they can become prom Queen. Or at least have him decide who deserves it. During these next few scene every possible stereotype is addressed and made fun of. We see a range of peoples reasoning to like or dislike Tanner for his sexual identify. Which reflects back onto tanner's character as he tries to fit into these social constructs that he just doesn't feel comfortable with. Leading to him being pressured into having sex with a Mormon boy who wants release before he settles down, then getting drunk at a party and making out with his best friend turned enemy.

                   In the end there is a LGBTQA inclusive prom that crowns Tanner as the first gay Prom King. He even makes up with his best friend, and they just hug it out.
                   Now I must draw attention to the amazing soundtrack that perfectly set every scene. It was fun and light, yet so fitting into today's music standards.
                    Something which I sadly find a bit rare in movies that emphasize character development is that the story seems a bit inconsistent. But G.B.F was not like that; this film feature a strong story line with a few subplots and phenomenal characters. Which sent out the message, "Yeah some people do fit within their stereotypes, but that still means that they are who they are, which is not an object." then goes, "A person is a person and not defined by there sexual identity or stereotypes surrounding them." A very powerful message that is back with characters such as Tanner the gay who doesn't fit into his social norms and Brent who does fit within such stereotypes.

                   This movie is available on Netflix and I highly suggest that you watch this film. It features so many great themes and details that you have to see to believe. Afterwards consider the reasons why this film had been given an R rating when I doesn't use any R-rated language, sex, or violence. You maybe surprised with what you find.

SPOILERS for: Abduction of Eden

               
An intense film that follows 19-year-old Hyun Jae as she is abducted and sold into human trafficking. Supposedly this is a true account of a woman who was in a brothel out in Las Vegas for two years. We witness her abduction at a gas station, first doctors appointment that extracted her braces and her first job that was starring in a porno.
               Although Eden, as she is renamed, only understood the gravity of her situation on her first attempt to escape. Where she runs into a yard where women are having a party, she is shoved onto the ground by her handler then taken away. The women did not even attempt to help her. Thats when she began to comply, through smiles and an act where she would pretend to be a Chinese girl who very little english. Aside from "I like you." and "Do you want to take control or me." She works at fraternity parties, private calls and even auctions. And when they weren't working they would usually clean houses. Her room mate is 15 and has been at the facility since she was 11 and warns Eden of the horrors of being old merchandise. There friendship blossoms and brings great comfort to Eden until she test positive on the routine pregnancy check-up. Then she is spirited away and not seen for quite some time.

               Leaving Eden to her own devices she decided to take back her graduation ring from the favorited prostitute who got it. This is when Eden and Vaughn's relationship beings to change. he threatens her and she gladly accepts the threat since she was old merchandise, preferring death over what would be in store for her as she got older. But then she offers to begin doing the books and counting money for the facility, since its something she is very talented at. Pushing of Vaughn's buttons by saying how he was losing respect from the prostitutes. So at an event Eden proves herself by calculating just how much money is owed and then finding two runaway girls. Then over the next nine months Eden is working in the office to decode orders over the phone, count the amount of money and be Vaughn's pet. Who he takes on outside jobs to deliver/receive drugs, pick up new girls, sell children and clean up after mishaps. There trust between each other changes when Vaughn teaches Eden how to drive while she is high on meth.

             Her escape is a true triumph and stroke of good luck. She answers a phone call one day and the parton asks for a price, a red flag that the person is a fed. She accepts the request and the next day they have to ship out. During the flurry Eden is taken to Vaughn's house where she takes the opportunity to spray his blunt with pest killer. Just before he takes a whiff he confides in Eden that he is proud of her stamina and thankful to have her trust. He actually seems excited to be starting his own brothel with her as his right hand. The she betrays him unwaveringly. As he chokes and cough she doesn't move to hell him or even stirs as he suffers. Eden the returns to her friend who had just given birth and rescues her.
           This movie in astonishing and eye opening into the underground crime world. One that is unforgiving and simply riddled with corruption. And yet Eden and a few other victim have been able to escape it. Which is captured so beautifully in this film, the power of perseverance. Some scenes are glossed over, but others are amplified. Allowing the actors to project their raw emotions, especially  Jamie Chung who showed so much fear, confusion, guilt, but still staid strong. Perfectly putting herself into a position that would benefit her escape. Since she wasn't expecting anyone to save her, she knew that she would have to do it herself. Which sort of makes you pity Vaughn who cherished her acquaintance and was so easily swindled by this girl. Seriously he was a veteran turned junkie and pimp, he knew that Eden would eventually try to betray him, but ignored the fact. And you couldn't say that Eden's actions we out of revenge, but done in order to save herself and her friend Janine. So if you haven't watch Abduction of Eden I highly recommend changing that.

SPOILERS for: Tomboy

             

   An excellent film that must been shown in all sex education classes! Tomboy is a French film about a transgender fourth grader who moves into a new town. When he goes out to play he introduces himself as Mikeal, instead of her given name Laure. Who plays soccer, capture the flag, water fights and even swims as a boy. Going to great lengths to act in a feminine way which would trigger the other kids to question the gender of their knew friend. From taking off her skirt when it gets hot to making a clay roll to stuff her cut up swim suit. Its quite amazing to see just how masculine this child appears and is so sure that Laure is not who she truly sees herself.
                  It appears that Laure's parents are alright with the fact that their first born dresses and acts in a masculine manner. Although his Father doesn't really give us an exact opinion. Making the climax all the more intriguing and unexpected. Since when we see the Mother's discomfort to her daughter's gender identity you would that this film would focus on parental acceptance, when we are left hanging.

The true climax is when Mikeal's mother finds out about the lie, making Mikeal wear a dress and then apologize to the boy who she had beat up and Lisa his female friend who had a crush on him. Who then tell all the other kids who chase him down to truly find out if the rumor was true. Lisa was given the honor to do so as she was forced to say that girls kissing was a disgusting act. Leaving us with the resolution of Mikeal reintroducing himself to Lisa, but saying Laure instead. So we never see the outcome, but are left to wonder how Laure's life will continue on from this point forward.

                  I could go on and on about all the different aspect which are capture about everyday struggles in transgender adults being caught in a child. Especially with the allusion to the abuse that is a constant fear for most Transgender and queer people. Although I liked when Mikeal was posed with the question of why she wants to be a boy he doesn't really think about it and just says thats what he wants. Since with every transgender, gender fluid and queer people I have met they don't have reason aside from "that just feels right." This film is sex positive and a must watch for anyone who doesn't know that much on transgender people. Most misconceptions and questions will be addressed. Honestly I am surprised that this isn't mandatory in school for sex education.

SPOILERS for: Lore

          

  To any enthusiasts of World War Two films this movie's focus is on the post war effects on Germany, especially in relation to children.
                  This is the story of Lore and her four other siblings. Who are traveling to there Grandmother's house hoping for refuge while there Mother and Father enter prison. Lore must then carry her Baby brother Peter while she watches over her sister and other two brothers who have a knack for running off in unfamiliar territory. This is how Lore first meets Thomas, a man who is posing as a Jew. Now, Lore's younger siblings are unaware of Lore's animosity towards him, but sense her unease around him. Since he is a rather stone cold character who more then once attempts to touch Lore. Although when she solicits an invitation he is repulsed and refuses. What is curious is how much she hates him, but once he tries to leave she has become so dependent on his charity that she convinces him to stay. Its not until her brother steals his wallet and his papers that he is forced to flee. Leaving Lore to her own devices. Her brother then shows her the papers and she is consumed by a frustration at learning that he had never told her the truth, after she had told him to stop lying since she saw them all. Except for his identity.
             

  What I found most interesting story wise was the moments which focused on Lore's relationship to the other characters. To see her struggle with caring for a newborn baby where she has to find a nursing woman and pay her to feed him. Then the constant panic of losing Gunter, when they were in an abandoned town riddled with Russian or American military.
                Personally I had expected a much different story then what I saw and it wasn't riveting, but still interesting and though

provoking. What was superb though was the cinematography and acting. Most of the dialogue between characters was told through hand gestures and scowls, which still got the point across about the mood of the situation. Especially from the main two actors who created this silent chemistry that just transformed throughout the entire film. Which I have to hand it to the cinematographers who created this delicate, but bold style.  Since there was this deep blue tinge added to the entire film that added this very sullen sensation. The locations where everything was shot was phenomenal and gorgeous. From the bombed village that wreaked of tar and disease, to the meadows and rivers that radiated an underlying threat which was masked in a cheery atmosphere.  Also the scene where the burnt pictures of Hitler were falling from the sky in the deep misty forest was breath taking. Might I also add the attention spent on the details was immaculate. Lore's lips appeared so chapped that they looked like an open scab. Plus her hair styles showed her progression from child to forced adulthood, then reborn to finally a true adult. I also enjoyed how each time we were shown a dead body it became more mutilated and rotten.

              All in all this film is an excellent example for how distraught Germany was after WW2 especially for children. Its beautiful to look at and pays so much attention to detail, that it is still intriguing even with a slightly understated story line.

SPOILERS for: Standing Up

         
 The life changing adventure for eleven and twelve years old's Grace and Howie. Who rock big square glasses and low self esteem. When they become "goats' a tradition at this summer camp where they are staying that has a tradition where a boy and girl are outcasted onto an island in the middle of the lake stripped and left alone all night long. While Grace weeps in a corner clutching around a blanket, Howie decides that they should swim to shore. Where they will then run away together.
           This leads the dynamic duo to breaking into an abandon cabin, stealing clothes from teenagers and spending the night in a hotel where they pretend to be Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick's. As you can imagine Grace's mother is absolutely frantic, leaving her corporate job in order to search for her. Its a wonder how she didn't go raving mad while the camp leader blamed her for her Daughter's lack of confidence that made her an easy target. Thankfully after this escapade Grace and Howie end up alright and become pen pals.

             So when I saw the trailer for this movie I was expecting something a bit less relatable. And my favorite aspect about this entire film was how realistic it was in showing dangers that kids are told to avoid. Like getting into someone's care even if they claim to be a police officer and how they promise to pay everyone back who they stole from (and they do). Which is something I rarely see exhibited in these films. Plus the two main actors were exquisite and I feel in love with there characters. Who were shown as two people who were lonely and seeking friendship, you didn't really view them as possible love interests. That sends an amazing message out to me. Another aspect that was included was in one scene Grace was being felt up by another boy, Howie put him in his place then later befriended him. Of course after he apologized to Grace for his behavior. Plus I love how the only indicator that this film took place in the eighties was because of the music.
       
 The only message that was a bit odd was that for more then half of the movie the kids don't know each other's names. they are already bonded so closely with out the exchange of names, sort of making them meaning less since the majority of all the characters are also unnamed, at least the important ones. a rather interesting detail that I can't quite make out yet.
             This movie is available on Netflix and is a great watch with your kids or by yourself. Its relatable to all ages! And appropriate. With its witty humor and poetic script.