PXR Movie and TV Show Review Thread

[[Desolate Divine]]

I am not sure if this will work out or not, but here goes...

<I am still working on a banner XD>

Welcome to the PXR movie review thread!

A movie review thread?
No, it is a personal fan club (Does sarcasm work over text?)... Yes it is a movie review thread, like the title says.

But why do we have a movie review thread?
There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly: Have you ever gone on a piracy spree, but not known what movies to download and watch? (Kids, downloading movies illegally is bad!) I know that I trust the opinions of a lot of members here at PXR, and I am sure a few of them feel the same. If my fellow PXR members say a movie is good, I believe them.

Second: Did you just watch a movie that blew your mind, and your friends are sick of you ranting and raving about it? Or maybe it was mind numbingly boring, and you want to rant and rave about it? Maybe you should warn your fellow members of such a monstrosity so they aren't permanently scarred like you were? How noble of you!

Okay, so who can post a review?
I can post a review. You can post a review. Heck, that homeless guy at the end of my street can write a review, assuming he has an account and an Internet connection.

So how will this work?
I'm glad you asked that! The main page will have an index, with links to all the reviews, and a section reserved for movies that got 7/10 or higher. In this thread, anyone can post a review, and everyone can comment on others reviews, and discuss them. However, please remember these reviews are others opinions. You might love a certain movie, but someone reviewed it badly here. That is no reason to argue with the person. Respect people's opinions, and they will hopefully do the same.

Anyway, if multiple people like a certain users review, they will be deemed an expert reviewer, and will have their reviews stand out on the index.

There have to be rules, so what are they?
Ah yes. The rules...
Actually they aren't too strict:
~Please try and use proper spelling and grammar, and avoid abbreviation and chat speak eg
-"OMG i luv dis movie. Sooooooooooooooooooo cooooool. The speshul FX wer awesum!!!!!"
This is an example of he you shouldn't write a review. If I didn't write it myself, I would be holding a cross, throwing holy water and screaming "kill it with fire!".
-"I enjoyed the movie. So much better than I expected. The visual effects were amazing, and made the movie so much better."
This is good. Good spelling, good grammar and easy to read. Most word processing programs contain a spell check function, but if anyone needs it, I would be happy to read through a review prior, and do a spellcheck myself.

~Remember, there are kids here at PXR (I think). Even if they aren't members, how many little kids do you think search "Pokemon" on google? Anyone can find PXR, and read the forums. However since a good portion of movies aren't kid friendly it is hard to keep a movie review thread such as this completely clean. So the bottom line is this. If a decent human being wouldn't say it to their two year old cousin, or 90 year old catholic grandmother, it belongs in spoilers, with a content warning on the outside. Spoiler tags can be made with the [SPOILER] tag. If you want a quick run down on BB code, message me, and I will teach you what I know.

~Try to stay relevant in this thread. If you are moving towards irrelevant conversation/spam, I will request that you take it elsewhere.

~Some people don't like the plot of a movie being spoiled, so if an aspect of the plot is in your review, please use spoiler tags, like above.

~Not really compulsory, more just a nice gesture, but if you liked someone's review, and/or found it helpful, make a post saying that or thanking them. This will add to their reputation in the thread, and put the, closer to being an expert reviewer.

With all that being said, here is the skeleton:

Movie name: (English is preferable)
Rating: (G, PG 13+ etc) (If a high rating, please provide reason, eg violence, gore, language etc)
Genre:
Summary: (Doesn't have to give away much of the plot, but give a general idea of what the movie is about)
Your thoughts:
Pros: (What was good about the movie?)
Cons: (What was bad about the movie?)
Favourite part: (Self explanatory. Use spoilers if necessary.)
Rating out of 10: (0= Horrible, 5= Average, 10= Perfect)
Links: (Optional. Maybe you want to show a trailer?)

And with that being said, I now pronounce the PXR movie review thread, Open!

[[Desolate Divine]]

Review List

21 and Over- The Operator (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=11903&viewfull=1#post11903)
Big Daddy- The Operator (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=12494&viewfull=1#post12494)
Trance- J U Ice (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=12501&viewfull=1#post12501)
Old Boy (Korean)- J U Ice (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=12962&viewfull=1#post12962)
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance- J U Ice (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=14586&viewfull=1#post14586)
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance- J U Ice (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=19502&viewfull=1#post19502)
The Avengers- XaiakuX (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=24932&viewfull=1#post24932)
Super 8- The Operator (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1078-PXR-Movie-Review-Thread&p=30380&viewfull=1#post30380)

[[Desolate Divine]]

Reserved again to be safe.

[[Desolate Divine]]

And one more reserved.

[[Desolate Divine]]

You may now post. And to start it off, here is my first review!


Movie name: 21 and Over
Rating: R, for some violence, sexual references, nudity and language (not one to watch with Grandma)
Genre: Comedy
Summary: Three guys celebrate one of their 21st birthdays, and drink the night away, the night before a med school interview. What could possibly go wrong?
Your thoughts: Personally, I loved the movie, though movie review sites would disagree with me. The plot was simple, yet evolved into multiple sub plots that all tied in with eachother. There were scenes where I couldn't stop laughing at the coincidence that were caused by this subplots eg: (spoilers)

~Miller is told by a girl he likes (Nicole) to talk to her boyfriend Randy, who can help them get Jeff Chang home. Randy turns out to be the same guy they accidentally threw a dart at earlier that night, which went through his cheek.
~They accidentally break into a dorm building full of Latina girls, who proceed to hunt them down throughout the rest of the movie.
~Throughout the movie, there was a man dressed up as an Indian chief who was dancing around everywhere, the first place being out the front of Jeff Chang's house, the place they are trying to find. At the end, he is released from a mental hospital, and tells them that he got high and danced out the front of his house all night, making him the neighbour of the house they are looking for.

One part of the movie I liked was the trio realising how they have drifted apart and changed since high school. I like movies like the Hanover,but I loved how unlike the hangover, this had a more emotional, unwinding plot, that ended for the better. I also found that I could relate to Jeff Chang, and how he is expected to be someone he is not.
All in all I liked this movie, which had me laughing until the end.
Pros: (What was good about the movie?)
~Intertwined Subplots made for an interesting watch.
~Very funny.
~Sometimes relatable
Cons: (What was bad about the movie?)
~A little less nudity wouldn't hurt.
~One of the main characters tends to be somewhat racist and stereotypical which is slightly annoying.
Favourite part: (Self explanatory. Use spoilers if necessary.)
Probably the very last scene.
After the whole ordeal is over, the three main characters are seen partying, and one of them tells the others to not let him get too drunk, as he has a college interview the next morning. It then goes to the next morning where the guy walks into an office, obviously hungover, with new,y died red hair, crutches, the whole deal.
The interviewer turns around and is shown to be the Indian chief, who got high and danced in front of his house.
Rating out of 10: (0= Horrible, 5= Average, 10= Perfect): I would have to say 7
Links: (Optional. Maybe you want to show a trailer?)
Content warning

Trailer (http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2746459929?ref_=tt_pv_vi_2)

[[Desolate Divine]]

Movie name: Big Daddy
Rating: PG13
Genre: Comedy
Summary: (Shamelessly stolen from IMDB) A lazy law school grad adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn't go as planned and he becomes the unlikely foster father.
Your thoughts: I loved the movie. I watched it last night when it was on TV, and found myself laughing a good portion of the time. Adam Sandler is one of my favourite actors, and rarely ever lets me down. It shows the stuff that you probably have to deal with as a parent (I wouldn't know), and the clueless ways of dealing with it were hilarious eg the newspaper.
Pros:
~Adam Sandler
~Relatable, yet still a bit far fetched.
~Funny, yet still sad at some points.
Cons:
~Personally, I didn't like the ending too much, as opposed to something else that could have happened.
Favourite part:

The Halloween scene. When Sonny (Adam Sandler) takes Julian (the kid) trick or treating for the first time they go to a house where nobody answers the door. Sonny looks in the window and sees a man on the phone, who makes a hand gesture for him to go away. Sonny leaves Julian at the door, and sneaks around the back, and breaks into the mans house, and forces him to give a box of cereal, a pile of CDs, and his watch.

Rating out of 10: 8
Links:

Trailer (http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi649724185?ref_=tt_pv_vi_1)

[Wookie Mistake]

So we just post up a movie review eh? sounds good to me!


Movie Name:

Trance
389


Main Actors/Actresses:
(Links lead to Actor/Actresses IMDB page)

James McAvoy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/?ref_=tt_cl_t1)
Vincent Cassel (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001993/?ref_=tt_cl_t2)
Rosario Dawson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206257/?ref_=tt_cl_t3)


Rating:
R
sexual content, graphic nudity, violence, some grisly images, and language


Genre:
Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller


Plot
A fine art auctioneer mixed up with a gang joins forces with a hypnotherapist to recover a lost painting. As boundaries between desire, reality and hypnotic suggestion begin to blur the stakes rise faster than anyone could have anticipated. (Taken from IMDB)


The Review:
Danny Boyle, you've done it again, or have you?
If you don't know who Danny Boyle is, he's the man behind Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting and 127 Hours, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics in London (I'm not sure if he did both but I'm reasonably sure he did the opening). This time he treads into the realm of psychological thriller with Trance.

In the same vein as Inception and The Prestige, not everything is as it seems. An extremely expensive painting gets stolen, but the man tasked with protecting it (McAvoy), for lack of a better word pre-steals it before the thieves realize it's not in their possession, they go after him only to find out that due to the blow to the head he took from the thieves, he's lost all memory of the heist before the heist. So what do they do? They hire a hypnotherapist (Dawson) to retrieve the memories. From there you take a bumpy ride full of twists and turns that will either leave you on the edge of your seat, or with your head buried in your hands.

It's one of those films that leave you guessing as to what the real motives of the characters are, while some are a bit obvious, there are a few that hit you upside the head like a 10 week old bagel.

It's decently done, but nowhere near as good as some of the better psychological thrillers.


Pros:
Good Pace, and good overall story
Actors are quite believable in the roles they play,
Good twist at the climax
Visuals and cinematography are quite well done


Cons:
Some of the twists and turns are a bit contrived, the full frontal nudity scene being one of them. It's hard for me to decide whether that scene was gratuitous or a part of the character development
It's supposed to be one of those movies that make you want to watch it over and over again to pick up the little details, but you may also end up punching a few holes in the plot as well


The Best Part:
It has to be the big reveal, now I'm not new to the genre, I know that theres always some grand plot twist, and pride myself in being able to figure it out before it comes. This one though? It came out of nowhere, I had a thought as to where it would turn, but it went deeper down the rabbit hole than I thought it would.



Rating:
7.5
A good movie but in a genre where there are such great films as Inception, The Prestige, and Primal Fear, it just doesn't compare


Greenband Trailer:


http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3196102169/


Coming Soon:
In honor (more like anger but meh) of the American version of Oldboy I'll be doing the Vengeance Trilogy (Oldboy, Lady Vengeance and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance)

[Wookie Mistake]

Movie Name:

Oldboy (Korean) 2003
392


Tagline:
Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.


Main Actors/Actresses:
(Links lead to Actor/Actresses IMDB page)

Min-sik Choi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0158856/?ref_=tt_cl_t1)
Ji-tae Yu (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949167/?ref_=tt_cl_t2)
Hye-jeong Kang (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367246/?ref_=tt_cl_t3)


Rating:
R
strong violence including scenes of torture, sexuality and pervasive language


Genre:
Drama/Mystery/Thriller


Plot
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days. (Taken from IMDB)


The Review:
Let me start this review out by saying that an American remake is slated to be released October 25th 2013 and Directed by Spike Lee. I'm not one of those that generally think foreign films are better than their American Adaptations, but I do tend to think that original films tend to be better then direct modernizations/remakes. Now on to the actual review.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW! This is one of my favorite movies of all time. The only problem that I have is that I can't help but to upsell this film and possibly leave people disappointed...seems like that's the story of my life XD. I couldn't decide whether to do reviews of the Vengeance Trilogy in the order that the they were released, or in the order that I originally watched them. I decided to do the latter since if it wasn't for this film I probably wouldn't have watched the other two. The story is just one of those that sucks you in. Knowing that the whole trilogy was about vengeance made the plot just a little predictable, but the motivation and manner of revenge were so well done that it turned this film into an instant cult classic. The story isn't what makes this movie spectacular, though it's very well done. What makes this movie so great is the individual scenes, from the years of his imprisonment, to the octopus scene, to one of the greatest fight scenes of all time(IMO), the hammer fight scene (clip below). The action slows down in the middle, but that doesn't mean that the pace does. The discovery of the motivation for revenge sucks you in, and the ultimate confrontation and final twist will have most people extremely disturbed, both psychologically, and maybe if you're the squeamish sort, in your stomach as well.

If you haven't seen this film yet, and want to, you may want to watch the American release first, if only that the American remake has pretty large shoes to fill. It's possible that it can live up to expectations, like The Departed, though I personally doubt it. Regardless, If you like dark and twisted movies a la Donnie Darko, and American Psycho, this is a film you definitely have to have on your queue.




Pros:
Story was very well written.

The pacing gave you enough time to recover from the jaw dropping or stomach gagging scenes with important plot points and still not drag the movie down much, if at all.




Cons:
The means that the characters go to to achieve their goals seem unrealistic and farfetched, but then again the movie wouldn't be as amazing as it was, if all they did was kill each other.


The Best Part:
Quite a few in my opinion. Here's two of the most memorable

The Octopus Scene, you have to just see it, but if you want to know what you're getting into click the spoiler box below (Vegetarians beware!)
After having been released Dae-Su Oh ends up in a sushi restaurant, he proceeds to ask the sushi chef for something alive (not that uncommon in Asian countries, as they want to verify the freshness of the catch). He then recieves a phone call from the person who had locked him up, taunting him and his release into a "A larger prison." The Sushi Chef brings him an Octopus and asks her if he's satisfied with the Octopus when he picks it up and proceeds to eat it...not in a roll...not in a salad...ALIVE, and with the gusto of a man who is enraged by his tormentor. Now I know what your thinking, so what, it's probably just battery operated tentacles, or just added in after the fact as movies are wont to do nowadays. But you're wrong, that octopus is not CG, not some sort of weird animatronic, but a LIVE octopus, in fact seven Octopi were sacrificed in the name of making a scene as realistic as possible. Choi, who plays Dae-Su Oh, is a devout Buddhist, and prayed before every take.

Behind the scenes of the Octopus eating scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv_OxuZzIxY

And the aforementioned hammer fight scene

One Vs. a mob, One hammer, One seamless shot = Awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CKxDMOF4EI


Rating:
9.5



Fan made Trailer


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUEXu6GeRw


Red Band for American remake Trailer (R Rated Trailer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tFx_Iz_lUE


Coming Soon:
Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Lady Vengeance

Anyone have a movie they want reviewed? Let me know via PM!

[Wookie Mistake]

Apologies for the delay on this review (I'm sure you were all waiting with bated breath XD) I was working on the "How To Build A Competitive Team" if you're interested check it out here (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?1152-How-To-Make-A-Competitive-Team) and had some IRL things to deal with. Anyways, here's my next review


Movie Name:

Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance (Korean) 2002
413


Tagline:
Revenge Was Never This Sweet



Rating:
R
strong gruesome violence, strong sexuality, language and drug use


Genre:
Crime/Drama


Plot
A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant. (Taken from IMDB)


The Review:
This was the first release of the Vengeance Trilogy, and the second one that I watched, after Old Boy. Of the three, it's probably the second best. It doesn't have the awesome action of Old Boy, but the plot still moves on reasonably well. It still a little slow in some parts though.

The biggest reason this movie has stuck with me so much is the sheer amount of depression it filled me with. Maybe it's because, when I watch a movie I try to believe it's as factual as the plot will allow. Oldboy, while not that farfetch'd, it was still hard for me to grasp the machinations and depth of the vengeance. With this film it seemed very plausible. Especially given the way the economy is here in the States, I can see how someone given the extreme circumstances and the pressure that it results in would resort to some of the actions. A lot of crazier things have been going on recently with all the imprisoned people stories that are starting to pop up.

But I digress, I "enjoyed" this movie because you could relate to just about every character. The reason enjoyed is in quotes however is because this movie was extremely depressing for me to watch. In fact I think I went back and re-watched Disney's Lion King, and Aladdin just to make sure no lingering depression stuck with me. It may be necessary for you to do the same XD.



Pros:
Good story

Characters were easy to relate to and in actuality did garner some sympathy and empathy





Cons:
While the story was well written it did seem to drag at some points

The general feeling of how messed up the characters lives were was quite depressing


The Best Part:
It had to be the end. After what would normally be seen as the resolution of the plot happens, one little thread had yet to be neatly tied up. During the torture and interrogation of Cha Yeong-mi (Ryu's girlfriend) she tells Park Dong-jin that if anything happens to her, her radical terrorist friends know of him and will kill him. This just seems like bravado on her part, while she is part of a "terrorist" group I got the impression that they were just protesters and poster passers. Seems I was wrong as those terrorist buddies of hers shank him prison style in the final scene. Thus killing off just about every major and semi-major character in the film.


Rating:
7.5



Red Bandish Trailer


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhZ8xGzyASE]


Coming Soon:
Lady Vengeance, Redline (Anime)

Anyone have a movie they want reviewed? Let me know via PM!

[Wookie Mistake]

Movie Name:

Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (Korean) 2005
468


Tagline:
Coming For You



Rating:
R
Strong violent content - some involving children, and some sexuality


Genre:
Crime/Drama/Thriller/Comedy(IMDB doesn't have it listed as such, but there is quite a bit of dark humor)


Plot
After thirteen and half years in prison for kidnapping and murdering the boy Park Won-mo, Geum-ja Lee is released and tries to fix her life. She finds a job in a bakery; she orders the manufacturing of a special weapon; she reunites with her daughter, who was adopted by an Australian family; and she plots revenge against the real killer of Won-mo, the English teacher Mr. Baek. With the support of former inmates from prison, Geum-ja seeks an unattained redemption with her vengeance. (Taken from IMDB)


The Review:
The last release of the Vengeance Trilogy and my least favorite, that's not to say it's a bad movie, just odd, but let me qualify that statement by saying that the style reminded me a bit of Donnie Darko, and I wasn't that big a fan of Donnie Darko. Let me stop being J U Ice for a second and be frank, it's a weird movie. Oldboy was based on a manga, and was a bit of a martial arts action film that showcased peoples inner demons. Mr. Vengeance was a dark humanity piece, speaking to the extremes a human being is willing to go should someone they care for's life be on the line. Lady Vengeance was a trip down the rabbit hole. Granted the plot was all about vengeance, and the depravity of the actions weren't unrealistic. It was just disjointed and almost schizophrenic. Still a good movie, just weird. I've watched it a few times since it was released in trying to remember what the movie was about, and my opinion of it has gone up a bit. It doesn't have the raw feeling of Oldboy, and it doesn't have the dark well of depression that is Mr. Vengeance , but has another component of vengeance. Insanity. Not a blinding rage type of insanity, but the cold methodical calculation of someone who's been plotting revenge for a long time. The type of all consuming cold rage that can swallow a soul. It takes the phrase "A woman scorned" to a whole new level. It's pretty disturbing.



Pros:
The schizophrenic nature would keep your attention.

The cinematography was extremely well done.

The story was slow, but well written and the comedic elements were funny in a dark twisted way.




Cons:
Still a little confusing at times.

Plot was a little slow

Definitely a polarizing movie, people will either like it a lot, or not like it at all


The Best Part:
The Conclusion. The way it was done, with the drawn out and methodical way of resolving the plot was such a surreal moment. It was almost anti-climactic, but it was a novel way for the movie to end.


Rating:
7



Red Band Trailer


http://youtu.be/AZ80obLGYJ4

Anyone have a movie they want reviewed? Let me know via PM!

[XaiakuX]

So, ripping my Masters of Cinema from Pe2k, are you? I see how it is..

(loljk, I ain't care.)

Anyways, I think I'll do a review on Disney/Marvel's The Avengers just for something to do.


Movie Name:

MARVEL
The Avengers

Rating:

PG

Genre:

Action Sci-fi Adventure

Summary:

Loki, God of Mischief, and brother to Thor, God of Thunder, after being banished from Asgaard, finds himself in search of the mystical artifact known as the Tesseract (Cosmic Cube). Commanding a legion of space warriors known as the Chitauri, Loki invades Earth and threatens to rule over the citizens of Earth. In a desperate attempt to save the planet, Col. Nick Fury of S.H.E.I.L.D turns to the heroes of Earth and attempts to bring them together to protect the planet in a mission known as the Avengers Initiative. However, Col. Fury soon learns that the heroes have their own agendas, causing volatile (and rather comical) situations. Will the likes of Captain America, Iron-Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Thor, and even The Incredible Hulk be able to overcome their differences to defeat the insatiable Loki? Or Will the God of Mischief conquer the planet, and usher in an Era of Darkness?

Your Thoughts:

At first, I had my doubts that Disney would to anything good with Marvel. But, I have since been proven wrong. The Avengers turned out to be an amazing film. Any comic book junkie, or movie-goer will be pleased with it. Being an avid reader and follower of the Marvel Universe, I can safely say that Marvel/Disney have done a great job with this film. Anywhere from Casting (which I was skeptical about Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner) to Production and Story (Loved the Thanos teaser at the end credits.)

Pros:
~ Good Story
~ Good Comic Value
~ Great Visual Effects
~ Scarlett Johansson.
~ Maria Hill is totally Robin Scherbatsky from How I Met Your Mother.
Cons:
~ Lack of Antman and Wasp
~ Lack of Thanos as the Initial Villain due to the involvement of the Chitauri and the Cosmic Cube.

Favourite part:


-Lightning flashes and Loki appears to be nervous-
Steve Rodgers: What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?
Loki: I'm not overly fond of what follows.



Bruce Banner: I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him.
Thor: Have a care how you speak! Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgaard and he is my brother!
Black Widow: He killed eighty people in two days.
Thor: ... He's adopted.


Rating out of 10:

9.5 out of 10

Links:

[[Desolate Divine]]

Didnt know about that XaiakuX haha
Gonna try and get another review up this weekend.

[[Desolate Divine]]

Movie name: Super 8
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery/Sci-Fi/Thriller
Summary: During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.
Your thoughts: Personally, I love the movie. I like movies set in this era, seeing what life was like, how kids entertained themselves before the era of personal electronics coming out our *sses. I also am a huge fan of Sci-Fi movies. I saw this movie for the first in the cinemas one day with my mum and brother. We had never heard of it, but a coworker of my mums recommended it to her. We came about of the cinemas shocked at how much we enjoyed it. The characters are somewhat relatable, and the plot, thought it isn't comedy based, allows for a few laughs, which I like.
Pros:
~Set in a time I enjoy
~Unique plot
~Somewhat unpredictable
~Provides a few laughs
Cons:
Spoiler Alert

Personally I both loved and hated the ending, when Joe let's go of his mothers necklace. I like how it is symbolic of him somewhat moving on from her death, but then again, considering how little time it has been since her passing, it seems inappropriate. I wouldn't know, I have never lost a parent.

Favourite part: My favourite part would have to be any scene where the pyromaniac kid blows something up. He is one of my favourite characters, and the look on his face when he is told to make a distraction is priceless.
Rating out of 10: 8
Links: Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpzUCA5i6zY)

[Noblejanobii]

Movie name: Zootopia
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime film/action/kids film
Summary: A bunny decides to break the stereo types that the world has placed on her by becoming the first rabbit cop. She quickly realizes everyone underestimates her so when a huge case is dropped into her lap, she is quick to take the job but soon realizes she'll need some unlikely aid to help crack this case.
Your thoughts: I'm a sucker for kids films. Always have been always will be. On top of that, it also has animals, my other weakness. This movie does really well in portraying a world with issues not too far from our own and even connecting it with a huge conspiracy theory from back in the day. It teaches children a message I've been trying to convey through my children's book, don't judge. The whole scene where the kids just assume because Nick is a fox that he'll be dishonest broke my heart. It's something that happens everyday in real life and I feel like the fact that they portrayed that so realistically made it that much more impactful. It also showed that despite being drastically different, you shouldn't let your differences hinder you from being friends with someone. I thought that was a nice touch. I also loved the whole Godfather reference scene too. It's always a good idea to have a mafioso. They add a certain flavoring to a movie that is always funny. Especially when their daughters are getting married.
I have to say I was really impressed with the amount of research and design that went into this movie. On top of the fact that it references the cocaine government conspiracy, Zootopia does well in portraying the many different walks of life that inhabit the world. I admire the fact that the writers of the film took the time to ask scientists if a society like Zootopia could feasibly even exist before they started anything else about the movie. That takes dedication and hearing that really impressed me. On top of that, the creators of Zootopia also cater to the fans. There's a popular fan theory that is going around that says the movie Robin Hood takes place in the same universe of Zootopia, and the creators have even said they are totally down with that.
Overall, I think Zootopia is a masterpiece of a kid's movie. It does well in showing the variety of life that walks this earth, that everyone is different and everyone faces stereotypes. It shows how decisions about these stereotypes affect the lives of people as a whole, whether you choose to embrace or deface them can change your whole life. This is depicted very well in the difference between Judy and Nick. The creators also did well in addressing real world issues, such as how slow the DMV is. Good to know they're very slow in the animal world too and it's not just us. The movie also goes top notch in those other TV show references with spin off titles of other movies and even a Breaking Bad reference too in one of the key scenes. It was quite and adventurous story but it was so funny, creative, and unexpectedly good that I would never stop watching it if you asked me to.
All in all, Zootopia is a must see movie if you get the chance. It's heartwarming, it's funny, and has a great message behind it that needs more support that it's getting.
Pros: Plot, graphics, and humor were all strong points
Cons: a little slow on the off occasion
Favourite part: See above
Rating out of 10: 7/10

[Soulmaster]

Movie name: The Court Jester
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy/Musical Drama
Summary: Medieval movie about a rebellion and a lot of jokes and so on. Here is the little snippet that comes up on Google.
Former carnival performer Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye) and maid Jean (Glynis Johns) are assigned to protect the infant royal heir from tyrannical King Roderick I (Cecil Parker). While Jean takes the baby to an abbey, Hawkins gains access to the court by impersonating the king's jester, unaware that the jester is really an assassin hired by scheming Sir Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone). When Princess Gwendolyn (Angela Lansbury), falls for Hawkins, a witch secretly aids him in becoming a knight.
Your thoughts: It's currently my favorite movie. It came out so long ago, yet to matter how many times I watch it, it never fails to bring a smile to my face. Besides, you can't really top Danny Kaye for musical comedy.
Pros: Jesters, Princesses, Sword fights, tongue twisters, songs, a happy ending.
Cons: Uh, nothing really. A few points that are just unbelievable, but that's the comedy of it.
Favourite part: The vessel with the pestle has a pellet of poison while the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true. Yet they broke the chalice from the palace and replaced it with the flagon with the dragon. The flagon with the dragon has the pellet of poison while the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true. and I have typed that way too many times That's probably the best line/lines in the movies. However a great part is at the end when the flash the baby's bottom at just about everyone. The sword fight is also a great one at the end.
Rating out of 10: 9 easy

Danny Kaye really is just a great man when it comes to comedy. He's probably one of my favorite actors, and this I consider one of his better pieces. It really is a more obscure film, yet that doesn't detract from it's brilliance. The entire opening credits lays out the basis for the movie. As narrated by Danny in character directly to the audience. A part that I had forgotten at the moment was it first used the "Get it? Got it. Good." exchange. If you ever use that, you're quoting this movie. It was actually on the AFI's list of best comedies, so fun fact there. The songs are also great, the best one is either "The Maladjusted Jester" or "Life Could Not Better Be". Both are excellent. So if you have a chance to watch this excellent movie I highly suggest it if you like any of the above things. I can hope some of you have already, yet I greatly doubt it. As I said it isn't the most common of movies, being a box office flop at the time and 60 years old. But yeah, one of my favorite movies of all time, and has been for a while.

[Noblejanobii]

Movie name: King Arthur Legend of the Sword
Rating: PG-13 (violence, gore, and language)
Genre: Action, adventure, fantasy
Summary: It's the legend of King Arthur except Mordred is somehow alive before Arthur and Arthur has an evil uncle and there's octopus ladies?
Your thoughts: Overall I thought it was very good. The story was actually quite entertaining and while it deviates WAY off the normal path for these tales, it does really well in standing on its own in many ways. Personally I think the soundtrack is what really made the movie. I still listen to the OST constantly when I can. It's so impactful. Even though the movie does have its darker moments and themes, it does well in establishing character growth for Arthur. Also the fact that there's actually no romance in this movie whatsoever made it exponentially better too.
Pros: The music (probably the best thing the movie had going for it), the humor (well placed and well timed, candidly I wish there had been more of it because it was great), the character development and exposition (they explain stuff well and you can see obvious changes in certain characters over time. Everyone and everything is unique, which is a nice touch), and the digital effects (while not obvious they were obviously implemented, ESPECIALLY in the opening and ending scenes. They looked absolutely gorgeous, it was very easy to get drawn in).
Cons: Acting wasn't the best. Certain characters were executed well, others seemed a bit forced. And the transition scenes. While the exposition is very good, the manner in which it is used for transitions? Not so much. It can get really confusing if you aren't dedicating your full attention.
Favourite part: The music and the scene where Arthur is explaining how he got money for Lucy or the opening scene with Mordred.
Rating out of 10: 7/10

[Cleobel]

Movie name: Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Rating: G, according to this website (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028532/parentalguide)
Genre: Drama, according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachi:_A_Dog%27s_Tale)
Summary:
This heartwarming true story is an American adaptation of a Japanese tale about a loyal dog named Hachiko. This very special friend would accompany his master to the train station every day and return each afternoon to greet him after work. Sadly his master goes to work one day, but dies at work and never returns to the station. Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station that evening, and every day until the last day of his life, to wait for his beloved master. During his daily visits, Hachiko touches the lives of many who work near and commute through the train station square. He teaches the local people love, compassion and above all, unyielding loyalty. Today, a bronze statue of Hachiko sits in his waiting spot outside the Shibuya station in Japan as a permanent reminder of his devotion and love.

(This summary was found here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028532/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl).)
Your thoughts: I watched this movie (in its French version) a few months ago, after my mother and my sister recommended it to me and said that it made them cry. I was impressed with Hachi's loyalty, but I didn't cry and I knew that I hadn't understood everything in the movie. As a result, I did a Google search about the movie after watching it, so that I could understand it better, but I still didn't cry after this Google search.
Pros: Hachi's loyalty
Cons: The movie may be difficult to understand, so I suggest you to read about it before watching it
Favourite part:
All the moments when Hachi waits for his dead master at the train station, and also the moment when Hachi and his master take a bath after a skunk has farted on them.
Rating out of 10: 7
Links: Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzkCNVlhTIM)

[1709mart]

Movie name:Ready Player One

Rating:PG (Some Language may offend)

Genre:Sci Fi

Summary: In the year 2045, reality has become a bummer. Because of various things, most of the population choose to spend their time in a simulation known as the Oasis, created by a man named James Halliday. The film follows Wade Watts, as he tries to find the three keys to unlock the Easter Egg that would put him in charge of the Oasis.

Pros: Any Scene with James Halliday in it. A surprising amount of Battletoads


Cons: Well, coming right out the gate, there was a lot I didn't like about this movie. Most of it comes down to one simple idea though. The world of Oasis is something that is believable, BUT they fail in the very fundamental aspects of it being a video game. When you get right down to it, the Oasis is a broken game, with things that can make some players gods, and others total weaklings. The rules are inconsistent, for example, we are told there is an item that allows you to transform into any giant robot for a set amount of time. During one sequence a character uses a Gundam to do so, and we see the timer run out. But at the same time there are two other characters using giant robot character, The Iron Giant and Mechagodzilla. Why is it that these two characters can use what is decidedly a giant robot for as long as they wish. Another thing that makes the Oasis just seem like a broken mess is the fact that there seems to be no rules as to where you can and can't attack people. There is a scene at a club (in the game) where the main characters are ambushed and actively shot at. Wouldn't a spot like this have a no weapons limitation? A huge deal is made over how losing your avatar can be devastating, how you lose EVERYTHING you built up, but anyone would mosey in with a weapon and attack, just like that. And now just to talk about a bit towards the end, I need to spoiler tag a bit.

So there's this item that was set up, it destroys every avatar in the area, including the one that used it. So of course, the main villain uses it as part of his dastardly plan, and it seems as though the world is wiped out. BUT WAIT! Our main character has an EXTRA LIFE something that was NEVER, NOT ONCE brought up in the film. He just happened to get it from a character early on without realizing it was a 1-up. Now my problem doesn't rely on the fact that he used an Extra Life, its that it was never shown to exist in the world. A simple expository scene, where they mention the magical "extra life" that no one has ever found before. But they didn't. That part really grinds my gears.


Now for just some last little things. First, there is some clunky dialogue here. It feels really awkward in places, especially in lines like;

"You killed my mother's sister." - A person who apparently doesn't know the word aunt.


The movie is heavy with exposition that feels equally as clunky. Wade mentions at the start of the film his parents died and he now lives with his aunt. Then in the first scene with his aunt he says it again, for some reason? Then when he reveals is feelings for Art3mis AKA Samantha our love intrest and secondary main character, she dumps her whole backstory on him and how she's leading a resistance. Rather than dumping all of it at once, she could have mentioned she was the leader of this group, and then explain later why shes so passionate about it, and he reasoning for it. When its all dumped on us at once, it feels like the writers just needed to get it out of the way so they could keep the story going. Another thing with Samantha is a trope is really dislike. The whole "You wouldn't think I'm beautiful" even though the character is absolutely stunning, but she has a birthmark over her eye that can barely be scene in some shots.

There's also the whole gimmick of the film. Seeing all these pop culture icons together like this is really fascinating. But heres the thing, they really do nothing with it. There are references but none of them feel substantial. I think they could have had these characters, and do cool things with them, that doesn't feel like pandering or fan-service. So overall, I have a lot of problem with this movie, mainly because they had a interesting concept, that they didn't know how to properly use. So just wait until some Black Mirror episode comes out about this.

Favourite part:

The final scene with James Halliday talking to Wade is a legitimately touching moment that feels real. Its something that gamers can relate to, and even learn a little bit about. I'd like a whole film about Halliday honestly, he was the only character that felt like a genuine person, and not your standard 'Young Adult Novel fill in the blank'


Rating out of 10: 4.7