The Incredibles

The Incredibles

The Incredibles was released in 2004. It is an animated superhero film directed by Brad Bird, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and was released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film shows a family of superheroes who have to hide their super powers and live a quiet life. Mr. Incredible wants to help people which draws the entire family into a battle with a former fan who now plots to destroy all superheroes.

The film was released in the United States on November 5, 2004. It did well at the box office, grossing $633 million worldwide during its original run. The Incredibles received approval from audiences, winning two Academy Awards. It was the first entirely animated film to win the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Incredibles 2 is scheduled for release on June 15, 2018.

People turn against superheroes because of the damage caused by their crime fighting. After a couple lawsuits, the government silently initiates a program, which forces superheroes to permanently uphold their secret identities.

Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and their kids Violet, Dash, and baby Jack-Jack are a “typical” family now. Bob dislikes his daily routine of a job in his little office with his business suit and briefcase he has to wear every day. With his friend Frozone, Bob relives "the glory days" by going out behind his wife’s back and finding different super hero tasks they can do. Bob was fired from his job for injuring his boss due to his boss not allowing him to stop a robbery and went home to find a message from a random woman giving him a special mission. Bob successfully completed this mission. Bob finds a lot more happiness in this new job of his. Bob finds out that this mysterious woman he got the phone call from actually works for the guy who is trying to destroy Bob due to him not hiring the guy. The boy’s intentions are to make the word “super” mean nothing at all. Mrs. Incredible finds out what Bob has been doing behind her back and gets plane to go save him. The kids, except for Jack-Jack, snuck onto the plane because they wanted to go with their mom on her secret mission. Their plane gets shot at and destroyed, but they make it to the island safely. The kids are chased down these robot things and imprisoned. They all escape and return and find out Jack-Jack was kidnapped by the evil guy. The Incredibles use their power and rescue Jack-Jack and destroy the evil villain. Three months later, the Incredibles witness the arrival of a new villain called the Underminer. They put on their superhero masks, ready to face a new threat.

I really enjoyed this movie. It really had my attention the whole time. It was a good storyline and combined lots of comedy, action, and really kept me wanting to see what was going to happen next. I  would say it is also a really good family movie. I am definitely excited for Incredibles 2 which comes out soon.

Grease

Grease

Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy film. This film is written by Bronte Woodard and directed by Randal Kleiser, the film portrays the lives of two high school seniors: Danny Zuko played by John Travolta and Sandy Olssen played by Olivia Newton-John in the late 1950s. It depicts life back in the 50s including the style, attitude, school life, etc. The songs in this film include: Grease, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Sandy, Beauty School Drop Out, Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee, Greased Lightning, It’s Raining on Prom Night, Blue Moon, Rock ‘N’ Roll is Here to Stay, Those Magic Changes, Hound Dog, Born to Hand Jive, Mooning, Alma Mater, Freddy My Love, Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Queen, There are Worse Things I Could Do, Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee (reprise), You’re the One I Want, We Go Together, Tears on My Pillow, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, and La Bamba. Grease was a very successful film. In 2003, the music in the film was the second best-selling album of the year in the United States. 

It's 1959 in California and greaser Danny Zuko and Australian Sandy Olsson are in love. They spend a summer at the beach together and fall in love. The two love birds are devastated when the summer ends because Sandy thought she would be returning to Australia at the end of summer. But when school starts again Sandy’s parents decided to stay here, what they don't know is that they both now attend Rydell High. Danny's the leader of the T-Birds, a group of black leather jacket-wearing greasers who think they are rough and tough, while Sandy joins the Pink Ladies, a group led by Rizzo. When they figure out they both go to the same school now, Danny isn't the same Danny from the beach. They run into each other at the school’s first pep rally of the year. Danny tries being all tough in front of the guys and ends up really hurting Sandy’s feelings. Danny tries to make it up to her throughout the film, and he really wants to be with her, but he is scared of what the guys will say and think. He tries to keep them a secret from the guys as long as he can. Sandy likes hanging out with her new girl friends. They try to help her through the whole Danny mess. Danny and Sandy try to be like each other at the end of the film, so they can be together.

I would absolutely recommend seeing this film. It is a very fun exciting movie. I love all the music in it. It represents the 50s so well too. I have never been too hip on musicals, but this is definitely one of my favorite movies. The music was catchy, the actors and actresses were great, and the storyline is amazing. If you have not already seen it, I totally recommend watching it.

Blade Runner

Blade Runner (1982) Review

Blade Runner is a Sci-Fi thriller that came out in 1982. It was directed by Ridley Scott and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. The film stars the legendary Harrison Ford. It was adapted from the book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K Dick. The film is set in 2019 where there are flying cars and synthetic humans called replicants. A blade runner is a person who hunts and kills the replicants because of their rebellion against the humans. Harrison Ford’s character, Rick, is hired to kill the remaining four replicants on Earth. The film has elements of film noir including a femme fatale and narration by the protagonist, Rick.

With the sequel, Blade Runner 2049, recently coming out I wanted to see the first movie. The budget for the first one was $28 million and it made $33.8 million. While the second one cost $150 million to make and made $259.2 million. I thought that the concept was interesting but the pay off was lacking. At some moments it was really cheesy with the fight scenes. The dystopian future was interesting to see because it is nothing like what we have now in 2018. I can tell that many shows and movies have been inspired by Blade Runner. For example, Altered Carbon on Netflix is set in the dystopian future of 2384 with similar technology found in Blade Runner. There are synthetic animals because their species has become extinct. It was really cool that the people spoke a mishmash of Japanese, Spanish and German. I noticed a theme of the color orange. Orange was the color of the police car lights, the head of the company’s room was orange, and there was a ring of orange light in the replicants eyes. I think that orange represented power. Overall, it was an interesting movie but, I wouldn’t really recommend it.

Taken (2008)

Taken is a 2008 film that stars Liam Neeson as he set out to find his daughter who was abducted by sex traffickers. The film made $226 million worldwide. Further after this movie, Taken 2 and Taken 3 were a continuation with the story of his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace) growing up. This movie sparked Liam Neeson’s acting career for future roles.

Taken is a movie about a retired CIA agent that must travel across Europe to find his daughter who has been abducted. He has to use his talent and skills to combat anyone who gets in his way. In the movie, his daughter Kim travels to France on a trip with her friend. Her parents were uneasy about her going, but she assured them that she would be okay.

As Kim is making a phone call to her father Bryan (Liam Neeson), Kim see’s these strange men enter the apartment in which then, Bryan tells her to follow certain steps while she lays under the bed and is quiet. The men find her hiding, and abduct her.

The movie is solely based on Bryan finding his daughter. Bryan flies to Paris, goes to the apartment in which Kim was staying, and finds the cellphone she called him on, and a lead to who abducted her. Through desperation, intelligence, searching, and clues, Bryan finds her being sold in an auction as a sex slave. A man in the name of Abil, an Arab bidder was forced to buy her by Bryan. Bryan hops onto a yacht where Kim is being held, and is later reunited with her boyfriend and her mother and Bryan.

From this movie, Taken 2 and Taken 3 were made as a continuation of their journey through bad guys and Bryans skills.

I would recommend this movie if you like suspense, action, and thrill. I really enjoyed this movie. I personally love Liam Neeson in any movie. I think he does a really great job. It’s an interesting story plot and a great thriller.

22 Jump Street

22 Jump Street is an action comedy that came to theatres in 2014. Famous actors such as Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill starred in the film and also produced it. This movie is a sequel to 21 Jump Street. It was released on January 13th, 2014. Worldwide the film made $331 million.

This film is a continuation of the 21 Jump Street program where Jenko (Channing Tatum), and Schmidt (Jonah Hill), are back chasing druggies. Their mission in this movie is to figure out who is the “Ghost” or drug dealer. Both have to play a younger character because they are put into college. Their assignment is to go undercover and figure out who is supplier of a drug called “WHY-PHY”. At college, alliances are made along with new friendships that help uncover who the supplier is. Jenko becomes friends with Zook (Wyatt Russell), and Rooster (Jimmy Tatro), while Schmidt becomes a loner and a nerd, and becomes best friends with Maya (Amber Stevens). Jenko joins the football team and Schmidt starts feeling left out while he learns poetry and acting in Theatre class. Later on, spring break commences and Jenko and Schmidt go on a chase to get the ghost. The Ghost flees, Jenko gets shot in the arm, and tries to hold onto helicopter that the Ghost is trying to escape on. Jenko falls along with Schmidt, but they are able to throw a grenade in the helicopter. The helicopter goes down along with Ghost in it. Jenko explains to Schmidt that he wants to be a police officer. The scenes later in the movie show the different trips that they take while they are undercover.

    I would highly recommend seeing the first movie, and this one. I think it’s comical and action filled. The story plot isn’t boring and it’s really entertaining. I really enjoy Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, I think they make movies better together.

Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket movie report

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 film directed by Stanley Kubrick that revolves around the Vietnam war. The movie focuses on the physical and mental aspects that the soldiers have to endure through the war. Matthew Modine plays Private Joker and the movie follows his journey from basic training through war.

The movie starts with all of the cadets lined up with R. Lee Emrey, who plays Gunnery Sargent Hartman, pretty much telling all the cadets how this training is going to be hell. He gives the cadets nicknames like, Joker, Cowboy and Gomer Pyle. Private Pyle quickly becomes the screwup of the bunch. He always is the slowest and dumbest when it comes to anything the troop does. Joker is then given the responsibility to pretty much take care of Private Pyle. As the story goes on Pyle starts to show a significant improvement in his abilities. On the last day of training they are assigned to their role, Pyle is assigned as a rifleman in the infantry division. Joker served as guard patrol on the last night. He discovered Pyle in the bathroom after lights out with an M-14 in his hand. Sargent Hartman then entered the bathroom and instructed Pyle to put the gun down. Pyle then shot Hartman and then himself.

The first part of the film then ends and it then finds Joker a year later in Vietnam working for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. As time passes Joker is finally given the chance to serve in combat. He and a few other men end up getting lost between the rubble and collapsed buildings. They then find themselves pinned down by a lone sniper. A few men get sniped then the remaining mind go looking for this sniper. They finally find who has been doing the shooting and it turns out to be a little girl. One solider shoots the girl and she ends up dying shortly after. 

I would recommend this film to anyone interested in war films. This is one of my favorite movies of all time because it is compelling with hints of dark comedy and plot. It is very interesting and unlike any war film that I have ever seen. I can also see why this movie would not be for everyone. But if you ever get a chance to watch it I would definitely take that opportunity.

Dirty Grandpa Review

In 2016, the movie Dirty Grandpa, was a famous sex comedy film. It was produced by Bill Bock, Michael Simkin, Jason Barret, and Barry Josephson. It starred famous actors Robert De Niro and Zac Efron along with a few others Zoey Deutch, Aubrey Plaza and Julianne Hough. It was released on January 22nd, 2016. It made over $105 million worldwide.

    Jason Kelly (Zac Efron), a lawyer who works for his father, Dick Kelly (Robert De Niro) begin their story with Jason Kelly’s grandmother dying. This throws Dick off edge, and he decides to become wild and unlike himself. Jason Kelly’s character has a fiance named Meredith (Julianne Hough), and are getting married in one week. But, Dick decides he needs a getaway and won’t go without Jason. They set their location at Daytona Beach Florida, where Jason’s old photography classmates Shadia (Zoey Deutch), whom he has had history with and two of her other friend Lenore (Aubrey Plaza). Dick wants to have sex with any woman that he can and he’s really interested in Lenore. At the beach, there’s a young crowd where Dick and Jason smokes crack cocaine, play beer pong, and Jason ends up not remembering anything. He is left on the beach naked the next morning with just his fanny pack on. Jason had several missed calls from Meredith (whose crazy). Long story short, Jason ends up getting thrown into jail because he was accused of being a pervert on the beach. Later that night, Jason ends up getting bailed out by Dick after many brawls and interesting and encounters. After jail, at Jason’s wedding rehearsal, Dick hacks into the computer system where there is embarrassing photos that are leaked from Jason’s behavior at the party on Daytona Beach. Later, Jason tells Meredith he cannot marry her and in return, Meredith confesses that she was having an affair the entire time of their relationship. Jason and Shadia kiss and Dick and Lenore kick it off and have a baby.

Midnight in Paris

Directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris is a masterpiece.
Every night, the main character Gil travels back in time and meet his artistic idols.
Gil is writer who is visiting Paris with Inez, his fiancee. Since the very beginning of the movie we can clearly see that Gil and his fiancee aren't right for each other. Gil is writing and struggling about a man who works on a nostalgia shop, Inez tells him that he should stop daydreaming. Gil also wants to move to Paris, Inez wants to stay in L.A.. Later by chance they meet Inez's friends: Paul, whom Gil despises, and Carol.
One night after dinner Gil decides to walk to the hotel while Inez goes with Paul in a taxi. At midnight, a 1920's car pulls up and Gil finds himself in a party with Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Gil leaves the party where he was, a moment later tries to come back but it had changed to a launderette. Was it all in his head?
He unsuccessfully tries to explain what happened to Inez but she accuses him of being drunk. That night he goes back in time again and meet even more idols and meets a lovely girls named Adriana.
 Every night Gil returns to the 20's and meets more literary heroes and gets deeper and deeper into his relationship with Adriana. While Inez spends each night with Paul and Carol.
Gil and Adriana end up traveling in time again, going to the 1890's which is Adriana's favorite era, and she wishes to stay there. 

Tempted to stay, Gil realizes that is here and now that is the best place to be. 

Required Reading - Week #11

Here is a link to this week's required reading:

Movies About Black Musical Icons

Suggested Viewings - Musicals

42nd Street (1933)

All That Jazz (1979)

An American in Paris (1951)

Cabaret (1972)

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

La La Land (2016)

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Rocky Horror Picture Show ( 1975)

Victor/Victoria (1982)

West Side Story (1961)

Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Shawshank Redemption Review

The uplifting nature of Frank Darabont's masterpiece The Shawkshank Redemption is one that not many other films can compete with. The film came out back in 1994 and takes place in 1946, but its incredible performances, beautiful cinema, and powerful message make it a timeless film that fans can always enjoy.

IMDB ranked Darabont's film at number one amongst all time movies. The biggest reason critically acclaimed film critics such as IMDB hold The Shawkshank Redemption in such high regard, starts with the incredible performances from the two protagonists, Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne, and Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding.

The adversity stricken journey in which both characters have incredible resilience, forces the audience to stay on their toes, anticipating the outcome of the two. In Freeman's case, he has one of the more distinctive and soothing voices in amongst actors.

The film takes advantage of Freeman's unique sound by having him narrate through out. There's a perfect balance of story telling done through action on screen, with periodical background information and character building provided by Freeman mixed in.

TIME Magazine's Richard Schickel summed up Freeman's complete performance in the film, bringing all the different aspects of how he impacts it to light. "Freeman, who is simply a great actor, a man who has never struck a false note in his career, both narrates this tale and anchors it with his authoritative playing," said Schickel. 

On the flip side, Darabont does a fantastic job of making the main antagonists in the film as hatable as the protagonists are likable. Bob Gunton as Warden Norton, and Clancy Brown as Captain Hadley both serve as constant obstacles for Dufresne, Red, and the other prisoners.

Captain Hadley and the other guards use excessive force toward the prisoners repeatedly in the film to assert their dominance over them. Hadley truly shows his crazed and impulsive ways when he nearly throws Dufresne off of a roof when the savvy banker suggests a way for Hadley avoid losing money for a divorce lawsuit from his ex wife. 

This incident eventually connects to Warden Norton, the other antagonist in the film. He utilizes Dufresne's financial smarts to help Norton with his illegal business schemes and keeping tabs on the prisoners investments. 

Norton realizes that Dufresne is an asset to him, and his evil nature peaks when he carries out a murder for a prisoner named Tommy Williams, who claims he has concrete evidence that Dufresne is innocent from charges of murdering his wife. Williams is insistent on setting Dufresne free because he took Williams under his wing, agreeing to tutor him because he isn't educated. 

Williams' death was an indicator to the audience that Norton will not stop at anything to continue his corrupt ways within Shawshank prison. The extremely innocent and genuine kindness of Dufresne and Red's characters, matched with the villainous and immoral tendencies of Norton and Hadley makes Dufresne's genius escape at the conclusion of the film one of the more satisfying moments in cinematic history.

Required Reading - Week 10

Here is the link to this weeks required reading:

Neo-Noir

V For Vendetta: A Review

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot."

This is the opening narration for the 2006 film V For Vendetta. V for Vendetta is a political thriller/adventure film that is set in the UK, but was written by American film directors, The Wachowskis. The Wachowskis are also known for: The Matrix series, Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending, and Sense8. The film had a runtime of 145 minutes and was produced through Warner Bros. Pictures. The plot of the film is set in a futuristic UK, the year 2027, where a corrupt and totalitarian government is in power. V, is an anarchist freedom fighter or vigilante who is working against the government in an attempt to ignite a revolution through acts of terrorism. V is played by actor Hugo Weaving. Evey, the female lead in the film, is a young woman who gets unintentionally involved in V's mission. 

As seen in the included pictures, V wears a mask with the face of Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the houses of parliament in 1605. Thus, it is only fitting that V wear the mask in this film. One striking detail, is that V’s face is never revealed throughout the entire plot. V for Vendetta follows V’s plan over a 12-month period until the night that he plans to land his final blow against the corrupt government.

The film is based on the 1988 graphic novel by authors Alan Moore and David Lloyd (also titled V For Vendetta). 

By December of 2006, ten months after its US release in March of the same year, V for Vendetta had already earned a total of $132,511,035 universally. Of this amount, $70,511,035 was from the United States box offices. The film was number one in countries such as, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea Sweden, and Taiwan. General criticisms from the film were mixed. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 73% on its ‘Tomatometer’ and it gained an ‘Audience Score’ of 90%.

V for Vendetta’s controversial story line brings forth several important issues, that are just as important now as well as when it was released in 2006. 

Issues such as: terrorism, homosexuality and homophobia, religion, and totalitarianism. These themes are constantly met throughout the duration of the film in unique and effective manners. However, there have been protests toward the film’s message in that it is ‘watered-down’ in favor of violence and special effects. This protect took effect the same year as the film’s release by the New York Metro Alliance of Anarchists. On the other hand, however, the film was praised for its depiction of the LGBTQ community.

What I believe deserves recognition is Hugo Weaving’s acting as V in the film. His masked face captivated audiences worldwide, but what I believe stood out is how he brought his role together by his body movements, mannerisms, and his velvet voice. When an actor’s face is hidden, it often withholds aspects of acting that the average audience member does not take into consideration. However, these aspects are what brings an acting performance together. The face holds emotions, reactions, and facial features that tie into the dialogue and help to ‘make’ a character. Weaving was left with other aspects to bring V together and it is my opinion that he pulls it off effortlessly.

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