‘Spies in Disguise’ An Enjoyable Animated Farce

     Blue Sky Animation Studios is a company that gets kind of overlooked in regards to discussing big animated films. This is mostly because while they have made a couple of decent films here and there, most of their work consists of either fairly forgettable animated films or Ice Age sequels. However, things might look up for them after their newest animated feature, Spies in Disguise, a film that knows exactly what it is, a simple and fun animated comedy that is executed really well. Elevated by a straight forward story, a great duo and some fantastic animation, Spies in Disguise, ends up being one of the best films from Blue Sky Studios by far.

Refreshing Albeit Nothing Too New

     When a famous Spy known as Lance Sterling (Will Smith) gets framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he tries to get help from a young scientist named Walter Beckett (Tom Holland). Beckett offers a potion to Sterling, only for Sterling to end up turning into a pigeon. Trying to get adjusted to his new form, Sterling and Beckett end up teaming up to not only save Sterling’s career but potentially the world as well. On the surface, Spies in Disguise seems like a very standard animated movie plot, feeling like various other animated movies of the past. The basic story is very much Emperor’s New Groove with some elements of various Spy parodies and other animated films like The Incredibles. It is very much a film that has various story elements that are considered clichés from character backstory to certain dynamics. What gives Spies in Disguise a pass however is more so what the film is trying to accomplish and how it’s executed. This is a movie that isn’t meant to be taken ridiculously seriously and fortunately, the film has a lot of solid comedy to boot thanks to the characters and animation. It is a joy to watch some of these jokes unfold and while not every single one hits, some of them hit fairly hard with a good laugh here and there. Even taking the humor out of it, the story is still straightforward but never feels padded out with numerous scenes of filler, which tends to be an issue with a lot of films from Blue Sky. Not only that, but the film ultimately has a good message about embracing what makes you unique and not being afraid of being different even when it feels like you are not accepted because of that. Again, it is a message that has been seeing before in animated film, but thanks to the film really showcasing why that is important from beginning to end here, it ends up working in favors for this animated film. It leads to an incredibly entertaining experience that feels very refreshing to see from this studio even if it’s not the ground breaking animated film from this year.

A New Good Duo with Smith and Holland

     Another massive strong point of Spies in Disguise is how it handles its two leads. Will Smith is incredibly charming as Lance Sterling. Unlike most of his other films from the past few years where he played characters that really did not fit his style of acting, it was clear that the creators of this movie had Smith in mind in terms of who to play this character. Smith gives a lot of charisma to this character not only being a well-designed animated character, but one who has a decent arch and has great timing when it comes to the film’s fast paced sense of humor. He is also accompanied by a great sidekick with Tom Holland who also is very well casted as Walter Beckett. Beckett helps conveys the film’s message of embracing individuality due to how likable this character is from the start and how great of support he is when interacting with Sterling. In fact, most of the film relies on Holland’s and Smith’s dynamic and both actors play off each other incredibly well. There are a decent amount of side characters in this movie, however, unlike a lot of other Blue Sky movies where it is too over abundant with characters that don’t add much to the story, here, every side character gets enough attention. The film never loses any focuses on its leads and for what some of the side characters do, they accomplish their role in the story just fine. In reality, what really saved this movie was how it utilizes its characters making the center focus of Will Smith and Tom Holland being excellent highlights to what already is a very entertaining animated feature.

Slick and Stylized Animation

     One element that excels this movie over most other films from Blue Sky is how the film looks from an animation perspective. The film doesn’t go for a realistic style but instead an incredibly cartoony and over the top one. It works so well thanks to a ton of elements played here making this film visually impressive. The character animation itself is extremely smooth with a lot of characters giving distinct movements and designs that really help them stand out in an already stylized world they are in. The film is not afraid to use squash and stretch along with extreme expressions to their full potential, creating for some downright hilarious moments. Not just the movements, but also the colors in this film pop out amazingly. So many shots are filled with so visually appealing set pieces and a variety of different colors that help make this film stand out among other animated features. It helps add to the stylized nature that is needed in a spy film in the vein of this. The animation of Spies in Disguise really helps make it a standout and adds to the film’s overall unique approach to creating an animated film.

A Joyful Farce From Beginning to End

     Spies in Disguise is far from a groundbreaking or truly fantastic animated film, but it was never its intention. The film was meant to be a farce of the film, being one that is consistently entertaining throughout the entire runtime and it succeeds very well at that. Thanks to a great duo of actors being utilized at their best and some exceptional animation, Spies in Disguise is something to not overlook. In regards to fun family films that are worth checking out, this film in particular succeeds on that level big time and serves as a good time. It is a refreshing and energized film that, while not fully new in theory, manages to feel new thanks to some exceptional effort.

‘Star War: Rise of Skywalker’ An Underwhelming Finale to the Saga

    There is no denying the impact that Star Wars has had on pop culture, but between the last few movies, it became a needless topic of debate. The last few films have been met with very polarizing reactions all over the place with fans citing that Disney’s new direction with the franchise has either been the best or worse thing to happen to the series. Unfortunately, the polarizing nature of modern Star Wars is still continuing, this time with Rise of Skywalker set to be the final film in the entire Star Wars saga. However, unlike the previous few new Star Wars films, Rise of Skywalker provides a rather safe and hollow experience, leading to an underwhelming finale that doesn’t feel as coherent and fulfilling as it should be.

A Plot that is Rather Rushed than Thought Out

     Rise of Skywalker takes place shortly after the events of Last Jedi, where an old evil force has return in the form of Emperor Palpatine. With his return becoming more and more of a threat, it’s up the resistance and the characters of Rey, Poe, Finn and many others to stop his evil plan of taking over the galaxy. This is of course a basic premise for a Star Wars film which is fine on its own, however things feel a lot hollower when you realized, there’s not much to it than that. Elements like returning an iconic villain could have potential but the movie never gives full merit for why this is a thing and instead it feels like something that J.J. Abrams and the other writers thought of it at the last minute without being full well thought out. Even taking that element out of it, the story just feels all over the place setting up elements or having elements from the previous films set up but never having a full payoff. It truly feels like Disney and team never had a full plan for what this trilogy has to offer and they want to change things in an attempt to course correct many issues’ with The Last Jedi. If it was any other film, this would be one thing, but the problem is, this is set to be the end of a saga for a franchise that has lasted for decades and it doesn’t feel like they had an idea of where the finale needed to go. As a sendoff, this feels like a massive disappointment. It’s not to say the film doesn’t have strong moments or characters in it at points, but as a whole, the film just feels hollow and for the third in a trilogy, it shouldn’t be that way.

Characters Don’t Feel as Fleshed Out Most of the Time

     An element that is always remembered in any Star Wars movie, it is the huge cast of lovable characters the film and this film has that great cast. The downside is the film doesn’t really put some of these great characters to good use. Characters like Finn and Poe, who were introduced very well in The Force Awakens, don’t really have much development or to do here. They’re here to serve as side characters but there could have been more explored with their characters in the same way the previous few movies set up. Some classic Star Wars characters do return with some fun moments like Chewbacca, C3-PO and Lando Calrissian but those moments are very limited throughout the majority of the runtime. One of the worst aspects of this movie that makes it feel rushed from a character perspective is how the film introduces so many new characters that tie in with the previously established characters of this new trilogy. The moment some of them are introduced, they’re kind of glanced over and don’t leave much of an impact in the grand scheme of the film’s two and a half hour runtime. To mention something positive character wise, Rey and Kylo Ren still have some good character moments here and there that help dive into their past and how they’ve dealt with them and Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver deliver solid performances with the material given. Even then, some of the decisions made with these characters aren’t as fleshed out, especially when dealing with the film’s main antagonist being Emperor Palpatine. Outside of Palpatine’s design in this film, his inclusion in the plot rarely works as it feels like the writers could not have thought of any other original idea outside of bringing an older villain to the final film. It is a shame some of these great actors and characters ended up being wasted on a film that is otherwise rushed and didn’t give them more material and depth to this expansive universe of Star Wars.

Serves Fans a Typical Star Wars Experience Visually

     Regardless of quality of the story itself in these newer films, the recent Star Wars films have been pretty consistent at giving fans an aesthetically appealing movie. The film is shot fairly well and production design is pretty spot on across the board. The film has some very neat set pieces that still manage to immerse you into the world of this franchise. Not only that but the new trilogy is still on this trend of having more practical looking creatures as opposed to CGI to improve on one of the criticisms that the Star Wars prequels had. Not to mention, Rise of Skywalker still features some very enjoyable action scenes that are sometimes standards to the series but other times unique. With highlight being a pretty solid lightsaber fight on the ruins of the Death Star in the ocean being one of the most epic sequences in the entire film. Even then however, the well done aesthetics still feel rather wasted on a script that wasn’t fleshed out as much as it clearly needed to be. So even with a ton spectacle on screen, it still feels rather hollow with a script that showcases this franchise’s full potential.

Not the Worst but Nothing Special

     With all of the discourse surrounding the Star Wars franchise, it is safe to say Rise of Skywalker is far from the worst thing out there, even by Star Wars standards. It has enough creativity, decent character moments and set pieces to make for an entertaining film experience. However, outside of that, there is nothing truly impactful here that Star Wars has been known for having in the past. It is plagued by subpar writing and a rushed plot that really proved that the people behind this film didn’t have a clear direction on where this trilogy needed to go. It is a shame when there are so many decent elements here in Rise of Skywalker; it just isn’t enough to save what ultimately a poorly planned out film. Granted, it is a Star Wars movie that still has an entertainment factor to it and some fans will love it regardless for how it handles the end of the saga and that in of itself isn’t bad. However, if you’re looking for something that would truly make an impact in the same vein as the very best of what this franchise has to offer, unfortunately the force is not that strong with this one.

'Cats': Not a Film, An Endurance Test

     No film has ever brought so many questions than the announcement of a live action adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous Broadway musical, Cats. The original show itself is much divided being one of those famous musical that you either love or hate, however one would never expect a film like this to be made especially in live action with human cat hybrids. However saying this is a film would be putting it nicely, because in actuality, this is an endurance test. Cats 2019 is one of the most unsettling films to ever come out in recent memory and unlike a film like Parasite or Midsommar; this did not seem like the intention. It is a baffling mess of a film that makes you question so many different things in regards to how something like this could exist.

Proof That You Cannot Adapt Everything Into Film

     The film’s basic premise is very much similar to the original Broadway play, being about a group of cats gathering together one night to figure out which cat would be worthy enough to become the “Jellicle Choice”.  The original play did not have much of a flowing narrative, with no real act structure and it is more about introducing characters and moving on to the next one. While it seems very clunky, this structure could work for a stage production considering that a stage production is known for its spectacle for being live and in person. Cats’ fundamental issue is that translating an entire Broadway show with essentially no real story and adapting fully as a film does not work at all. The film does not do a good job making this show have a more narrative flow to it because it just adapts the moments from the play with not a real story tying it together. There is somewhat of an attempt by making one of the cats from the play a center focus as being the main one we’re supposed to latch onto and by giving a bigger role to the film’s potential antagonist. The problem lies with both of these characters don’t have much of a personality or backstory to them, making us not be able to care or latch onto them as much as we would like. It is a shame because there could have been a way of adapting the original Broadway show and changing up its narrative to be more suitable for a film however the film does not make any real attempt or put any effort to it. It leads into a film that just feels pointless and bizarre from a story perspective and not in a good way either. Even when the film does try to have some personality with its songs and characters, it doesn’t change the fact that this story as it is does not work as a film in the slightest.

Characters are Just There for Their Song and That’s It

     As mentioned earlier, the original show for Cats was not a traditional narrative and main purpose was just to introduce characters with a catchy song attached to them. However, much like the story itself, this does not work as a movie as characters are introduce and we never get a good opportunity to get to know them or have them leave a huge impact. Whatever is seen regarding some of these characters are just filled with pandering nonsense dealing with either really bad jokes or dance sequences that go on for way longer than they need to be. Not to mention we see these characters being portrayed by already hit or miss actors at their worse or talented ones that you cannot believe are doing the ridiculous acts this film requires them to do. Some may say that the songs could potentially make up for it considering the film is a musical and every song deals with these characters. While the songs themselves aren’t inherently awful as some of them do provide a catchy melody and even a not so modernized rendition for a change, it doesn’t save the lack of development and backstory these characters have in all honesty. You can’t focus on how good the songs may be if you’re focused more on how unnatural everything feels and we haven’t even discussed the main factor that ruins the entire film, being the horrifying look this film unintentional brought.

Nightmare Fuel for the Ages

     The biggest stand out for this feature film is the visual aspect but unlike movies like Blade Runner 2049 or Spider-Verse, it is not a positive for Cats. Instead of making the film a stylized animated motion picture with fun character designs of anthropomorphic cats with very energetic movements, they decided to create this as a motion capture film with ungodly human like cat people in this. Now, some may defend this statement as it’s trying to stay true to the initial play, however bringing Cats onto a film as opposed to a play is much less acceptable. When watching a Broadway play, you are already aware of the fact that you are watching live people performing the show and if they’re playing non-human characters, you are require to have the suspension of disbelief. You would have to imagine these actors on stage playing are actual cats in the show, but when it’s a movie you can’t have that suspension of disbelief because the question in your head while watching it is why isn’t this animated? Not only that, but the cats in this film look disgusting unlike the Broadway show where there was some impressive make-up, there are a ton of horrifying uncanny valley faces to these weird furry bodies for these cat people. The cats look too human like for their own good with faces that are downright unnatural and that’s not even including some of the more downright disturbing imagery this movie has. The film still tries to be one that’s made for families but between all the unsettling imagery and unintentionally disturbing moments, it becomes a film that practically appeals to no one. It is definite proof that stylized animation should never be ignored by studio execs because otherwise you get something as nightmarish as this film.

An Unforgettable Endurance of Insanity

     Cats is memorable and disturbing but for all the wrong reasons. Watching this film unfold is rough with so many moments of pure cringe and agony that it will bring so many questions to anyone watching it. Whether it is how Tom Hopper went from Academy Award winning film maker to this, how something with such a bizarre unsettling look got a PG rating and why did they simply not choose to make this an animated film when that was the better option? Either way, this film does not come recommended unless if you want a challenge to see how long you would be able to handle the madness this film has to offer. As the tagline of the film said, “You will Believe”, and by that, they mean believing that something ungodly like Cats can somehow exist.

‘Knives Out’ Rian Johnson’s Clever Retooling of A Murder Mystery

     Rian Johnson is a director who has been talked about with his line of work. Some were very mixed on his films over the years, most particularly his addition to the Star Wars franchise with Last Jedi. His track record may have been hit or miss for some, but his new film Knives Out, some of his critics may have to consider his talent now. Knives Out may very well be the best film under Rian Johnson’s name as it manages to be a very intriguing and very clever twist on the classic “who done it” type story. It takes all the elements that Johnson is good at and elevates them big time in one of the most unique and well written films of this entire year.

Twists and Turns At the Most Unique Times

     When a famous author named Harlan Thrombey gets murdered after a family gathering, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), has to figure out who has accomplished the murder of especially when every single member of his dysfunctional family is a suspect in their own right. The film has a basic set up for the classic murder mystery, however what makes this film excel even further is the execution. The film takes a turn of twists by showing the audiences a lot of answers to the key mystery at hand early on which could sound like the film is spoiling the audience too early. Yet this works for the film because the film still even more captivating as we become curious to see how these characters are involved with this crime and how some of them could get out of this situation that they are in. It throws the right amount of curve balls when it comes to how this story is structure at the right moments, making you very invested in what happens next. Not only that but the film also is enhanced by a solid script with a lot of really funny moments and a surprisingly amount of thematic depth in terms of the film being centered on racism and classism. If there’s any fault with its discussion on these themes is that sometimes it feels a little forced and heavy handed, but fortunately the film still keeps the majority of its focus on the murder mystery and even asks some very fascinating questions in regards to its theme of colonialism that makes for a very insightful commentary. It helps adds layers to what already is one of the most gripping murder mystery films to come out in quite some time in a film that is really enhanced by an incredible script attached to it.

This Year’s Most Stellar Cast

     You couldn’t name a non-blockbuster related film in 2019 with a cast as big as this even if you tried. There are so many fantastic actors and actresses here including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette and many more. To add to what already is a promising cast; every single actor in this film does a phenomenal job delivering some excellent performances that are all funny, expressive and memorable. The highlights of the cast might just well be Chris Evans who gives it his all being in his first major role since leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe being a very fun character that makes you wonder what his whole ordeal is. Other actors and actresses like Michael Shannon, Lakeith Stanfield, and Toni Collette to name a few also give it their all in their performances with many humorous and insightful moments to which they all have some great delivery to an already very well written script. Though maybe the surprising stand out performance is Ana De Armas who plays a key role in this film and her story is very enthralling with this character becoming a major player in the story in some unexpected ways. If there is any downsides to the cast is that Daniel Craig does take some getting used to in this. His character is still enjoyable being the main detective who’s very smart in his technique however; his character has a southern accent that is kind of jarring and hard to get used to at first. The accent becomes somewhat comical at points which could make some take the character less seriously than as intended, fortunately you do end up getting used to it and it ends up having a very funny joke later on relating to his accent that makes for some great pay off. The script is already pretty great on its own but the fact they got this stellar of a cast to deliver most of these great lines makes the film all the more fantastic.

Direction that Compliments the Story Choices

     If there is anything Rian Johnson is also good at, it’s creating a film that is aesthetically pleasing on a visual level. Knives Out is a very well-crafted film with most particularly the editing and the cinematography standing out. Both of these elements work so well not just because Rian Johnson can make an aesthetically pleasing cut and shot, but also just through how it helps elevates the story. Shots are connected very well to one another in a way where watching it unfold, the transitions from each shot are done very cleverly and aren’t just basic transitions from one scene to another. More often than not, Knives Out takes this style of editing and cinematography to its advantage, making a film that is so much better thought out than the average murder mystery story.

Refreshing in Every Sense of the Word

     Knives Out stands out big time as one of the most engaging and crafty films in an already fantastic year for film. Its style, characters and all around change up of famous tropes easily turns Knives Out into one of the year’s biggest surprises. Rian Johnson has shown to be very talented and can make a great original film outside of the typical studio system. Despite its faults at points, Knives Out is a must see for anyone craving for something original and entertaining this holiday season.

'Klaus': An Innovator of Traditional Animation

     2-D Animation is surely one of the most missed mediums in modern filmmaking. As advance CGI has advanced since the 90s, many have longed for a return of traditionally animated films due to a lack of them this past decade. Thankfully, Sergio Pablos decided to offer longtime animation fans a proper return to form with his new Christmas film for Netflix’s Klaus. Not only is it a beautiful return to form of an animation medium that’s lacking today but it is also stands on its own as a very creative and clever retelling of an iconic Christmas character.

The Importance of Childlike Wonder

     Klaus centers around a postman named Jesper, a spoiled man in his 20s whose father believes he needs a wakeup call. His father sends him to a little town called Smeerensburg that is filled with nothing but conflict between the citizens there. In the town however, Jesper meets up with a mysterious man named Klaus and discovers he has a knack for making toys. Knowing that Klaus’ talent can bring joy to the children of Smeerensburg, Jesper teams up with Klaus to bring peace of the town while also getting him out of there to meet his quota of delivering letters for his dad’s postal service. First of all the film works incredibly well as a new origins story for the Santa Claus mythos, taking some good creative liberties and ideas that fit very well with the iconic Christmas figure. More importantly though, Klaus understands the heart that a lot of Christmas films now a days often lack, particular the film showcases the significance one can make on doing something as simple as an act of kindness. It is a very optimistic outlook on the holiday as it shows the true spirit of how treating others with respect without expecting anything major in return can better oneself. It’s also a film that discusses how impactful the youth can have on the elderly. It shows that hatred isn’t born but it is actually taught as the adults refreshingly take note and learn a lot from the children in this film. It’s a rather mature idea to center have older audiences learn from children and while it is simplistic, it adds to Christmas magic that a ton of films often lack. It’s an over-all touching story that’s only real downside is that sometimes deals with some cliché story elements. These elements don’t harm the film too much as the film’s wonder and awe more than makes up for it, but it can lead into some predictability at points. Regardless, the film stands very well on its own as an incredible down to Earth story centered on the most iconic Holiday out there.

A Refreshing Take on Santa Claus

     Of course most people are familiar with the basic concept of Santa Claus, but in this film, they give him a very well defined origin that is fitting for the mythos of the character. Klaus himself is a very reserved and quiet character that grows to become the iconic Kris Kringle becoming one of the kindest versions of the character to exist in media. Not to mention, Klaus is voiced by the ever so talented J.K. Simmons who delivers a fantastic voice performance as well. The character is also elevated by having the real central character, Jesper being another very well defined and developed character. He is the typical character we see in other animated films like Emperor’s New Groove, where he starts out as a spoiled selfish person who grows later on as a character. However, he still is very appropriate for this type of story and unlike in other stories, you see the progression of him realizing his mistakes earlier on and what he does to improve himself making him a much more likable and sympathetic character. Jason Schwartzman provides the voice for Jesper and while his performance does make him feel more like Kuzco, Schwartzman provides a great performance that is still very fitting for this character. The rest of the cast is also very solid providing some good supporting roles that are both funny and add to the film’s importance of kindness that most of the characters have to learn in this film. It leads into a film that is very strong on characters and is a welcoming addition to the Santa mythos that everyone is familiar with.

Brings Back 2-D Animation Beautifully

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     Arguably the main and biggest appeal for this film is the way this film looks. The film is 2-D Animated which that in it of itself is an appealing factor considering the medium has been very rare for film with a majority of animated films this decade being CGI. There is something so pure about seeing the work on screen of so many talent artists who bring characters to life through there drawings but Klaus goes even further with how it looks. The way the characters and backgrounds are colored and shaded give them a ton more dimension compared to most 2-D animated films, giving the film a more three dimensional look that looks like a hybrid of traditional and CGI. Yet, the film is still traditionally animated with some CG enhancements here and there, though it still has the incredible charm of a truly great traditionally animated film from the likes of Disney. It also still has a distinct look in regards to its characters as while they move as fluidly as a Disney character, they have very unique and creative designs that scream so much personality to every single character. A movie this much charm to its story is elevated even further by how incredibly exceptional the animation in this film is as both a fantastic return to form of an rare style and a way of innovating and making 2-D animation new again.

The Most Well Crafted Animated Film of 2019

     Klaus is so refreshing and delightful in regards to animated films of the year that it might stand as the very best animated film of 2019. It may have a few clichés here and there but the amount of craft and talent put into this lovely work of art makes up for any minor shortcoming this film has. Klaus is a must see for anyone who is interested in the art of animation and filmmaking, and with it being so easily accessible on Netflix’s, there’s no excuse not to see it. If there is any film that could get anyone in the Christmas spirit in the best way possible, Klaus is that film. It is a film that should be watched not only during this Christmas but every Christmas after that as it is an instant classic for the Holiday season.

‘Frozen 2’ Disney’s Misguided Yet Ambitious and Talented Sequel

     If any property from the Disney company that has made such a huge splash within the past decade, it is without a doubt Frozen. As far as modern day animated films go, Frozen has done wonders for Disney by making millions and that success is actually warranted. The first Frozen was great update to the Disney animated fairy tale musical with some clever changes to the formula, beautiful animation, a memorable soundtrack and some very lovable characters. Now with the sequel here, there’s potential to expand on Frozen as a franchise and go further with its characters and maybe even improve on the faults of the first. Unfortunately Frozen 2 does fall short in a lot of aspects with a story that needed some more fleshing out from script perspective. Despite this however, Frozen 2 gets a ton of credit for not only making an effort to make a more mature film but also actually succeeding with some truly incredible moments that is every little bit what someone would want in terms of continuing Elsa’s story.

Mature Themes Undercut by a Rushed Story

     Taking place a few years after the first, Elsa and Anna discover this mysterious enchanted forest that they were told about through their parents when they were children. With strange magical occurrences popping up in their kingdom, it’s up to Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf to venture into the unknown forest, where they find out more about the past including their own past. The set up for the story is incredibly promising as having these characters discover more about their own selves through this journey is something that most sequels should do. This film takes characters like Anna and Elsa to darker places and attempts to expand the fantastical world of Frozen in very original ways. It seems like all the makings of one of the best sequels from Disney; however the journey there has some major missteps that make the film feel rather rushed when looking at it from a story perspective. Characters make decisions that feel a bit last minute and while some ideas and story elements are great, it feels like the story doesn’t focus on them as much as they should. Instead it has many moments of filler while cute and enjoyable kids, they feel a bit disconnected to the more mature themes the film is gravitating towards. The film still has breath taking moments that make this sequel feel more adventurous and epic than the first, but it makes you wish that the film would be more consistent in keeping up with its more serious tone. The film wants to have grand moments and it does, but the script needed a good rewrite to flesh out these moments making the audience truly feel the impact. Despite this though, it still holds on its own as an ambitious sequel and gets some respect for actually attempting to further its characters in a respectful way. It does have its shortcoming big time from a story perspective but its stories ideas still are fantastic and makes for a commendable film for not being typical cash grab sequel.

A Better Character Piece Than Anything Else

     Frozen worked because it introduce the world to a bunch of fantastic new Disney characters that have a ton of personality to them. One of the reasons why Frozen 2 works as mentioned earlier, is that it furthers its characters though some do work better than other. The film introduces a few new characters to the story however, none of them have too much development towards them and they’re mostly there to help establish the world of this story. Though fortunately, the film does take more time to focus on the first film’s main characters so the new characters not having as much to them doesn’t feel as bad. Yet this does lead to a downside with the characters of Kristoff and Olaf’s characters in this film. Their contributions to the story either feel cliché and nothing too special or obvious filler to pad out time. Kristoff’s whole story deals with the cliché trying to purpose to Anna and him struggling to find the right time and Olaf just tends to crack jokes about his existence. Even though it does feel a bit superfluous, there are some decent character moments with both Kristoff and Olaf as they do have some fun moments in the film with Olaf’s jokes landing fairly decently at certain points. Yet, the real stars of the Frozen 2 are most definitely the main two characters of the first film. Anna and Elsa are easily the most well defined and best written characters of the cast here, as in this film we get to see them learn more about themselves with both their past and learning to cope with change and their individuality. This is especially apparent with Elsa as she receives some of the film’s most powerful and breathtaking moments from a character point of view. If anything else, Frozen 2 does succeed as a character piece by expanding on a few of its already great character in very clever and unique ways.

A Film Elevated by Great Animation and Music

     Being an animated film from the most iconic animation studio of all time, Frozen 2 delivers on an aesthetically beautiful film. Coming out a couple of years after the first movie as technology progresses, it is expected that Frozen 2 looks more impressive and there are plenty of moments that are visually stunning. Everything from the characters, backgrounds and particle effects are stunning to look at and helps enhances the expansive world Frozen has to offer. This film is also of course a musical and most would hope that the soundtrack is on par with the first film in terms of memorability and well written songs. Fortunately the consistent talent from Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez still shines through as the music is just as powerful as the first at points. Some songs like Somethings Never Change and When I Am Older are decent o their own but are some of the weaker songs on the soundtrack as they feel very typical for the Frozen series. Then you have a song like All is Found, which helps sets up the mystical nature of what this sequel has to offer. Another highlight being Lost in the Woods which serves as Kristoff’s solo song and it is admittedly a bit jarring in terms of its inclusion into the series. It is more of parody of 80s rock ballads which seems unfitting at first but the song is so out there and different it kind of works in that regards, plus it does a decent job making fun of the type of 80s songs its parodying. Anna also gets a great solo number with The Next Right Thing serving as one of the song’s most emotional moments that also are elevated by some good character animation that’s very expressive and Kristen Bell giving it her all in her vocal performance. However, the real powerful performance and sequence in this film comes from none other than Idina Menzel as Elsa in regards to music. Elsa gets not one but two solo numbers and both do justice for her character very well. Into the Unknown is a great song being very catchy and a perfect set up to the adventure these characters go into. It does however fall short of being the next Let It Go as just as the song truly builds up to something great, it ends rather abruptly and felt it could have gone on longer. Fortunately, Elsa’s second song Show Yourself is by far the most jaw dropping incredible sequence in the film. It serves as an important song and true successor to Let It Go because of the raw emotion that goes into this song both in Menzel’s singing voice and Elsa’s learning of accepting herself that adds so much value to this film. Add the fact that visually this sequence is breath taking from an animation standpoint; Show Yourself is hands down one of the best moments in any animated film from this entire decade. As a whole, the entire soundtrack and visuals make this sequel immensely better than what any shortcomings the script had to offer and makes the film worth seeing on that level alone.

A Good Sequel That Is Almost A Great One

For all of the faults it has with its story being rushed, Frozen 2 still stands a fairly good sequel. The moments that have a ton of effort and care put into them show that this film has some passion and heart put into it. The character depth, visuals and soundtrack are excellent and help make this film a worthwhile sequel. The downside is when the film has the huge missteps in the writing department; it makes you feel that the film could have been easily one of Disney’s greatest films. With so much effort at points, it still stands on its own as a good Disney animated film, a good sequel and a good film in general, however it just falls a bit short from being a truly amazing one.

‘JOKER’: AN UNSETTLING BUT PERFECT CHARACTER PIECE

     Of all the major villains to appear in media throughout history, one of the most prominent and iconic figures if hands down the maniacal clown that fights Batman. The Joker is one of the fascinating and greatest antagonists in comic book history due to the character being in such perfect contrast to the hero and for having many actors take a shot at portraying the character. However, the newest film to feature this iconic film isn’t a Batman story as it just an origin tale about how the man who laughs came to be. With a concept like this, many would expect this film to be a pandering blockbuster that is made to make money to capitalize on the popularity of the Joker. In this case though, Joker is anything but that, as it is a film that is a dark and unconventional take on a comic book character. It results in  a film that is every bit ambitious and thought provoking as some of the truly fantastic films based around comic books, making Joker a phenomenal experience from beginning to end.

     Joker focuses on Arthur Fleck, a struggling comedian who has a rare condition that makes him laugh uncontrollably. After trying to strive and survive in this dark cruel world he lives in, he finds new life in becoming this mysterious clown figure and thus leads into his descent into madness. One of the elements that made fans skeptical about this Joker film is the fact that the Joker himself often tends to be appreciated more when there’s a mystery to him and not knowing his origins adds to how terrifying of a villain he can be. Some may also predict it would go a safe and typical route of how the Joker became who he really is. On the contrary, this film doesn’t really have a few of the typical origin story clichés besides from maybe one or two things and have enough of a creative twist on the Batman lore to be its own thing. Not to mention, rather than going a typical comics origin route, the film takes a different route by being a Scorsese styled drama that dives into the reasoning behind why individuals can be so terrible. Many fear this film would potentially be a glorification of violence and idolize truly evil figures, however the film is more of critique on that mentality and violence. The violent sequences are not only used sparingly but aren’t seen as cool action set pieces and instead are disturbing acts that makes you uncomfortable. However, that’s why this movie works so well as hard to watch the film may be for some at times. While, it’s not over the top and a gore fest by any means, you’re disturbed by how a man can become so vile he can be, even if the film gives you an good idea on where’s he is coming from. Its message is about the way society can treat an individual and the outcome it could have for the worse, leading into a film that more so questions people understanding others even at their most unforgivable moments. It is not without its faults with a few moments that could be seen as pretentious and some small plot conveniences, but the deep dive sociological and psychological trauma one could have makes those nitpicks more or less insignificant. It is an intriguing work that asks the tough questions and goes through with in this beautiful character study.

     The biggest thing many fans are hopeful for when it comes to Joker is the actor portraying the clown prince this time around. Many actors have done the character justice with their performance from Mark Hamill to Heath Ledger, and you might as well add Joaquin Phoenix to the list. Phoenix portrayal of the Joker works not just because he’s a talent actor but also because of the film’s style and message about mental awareness. Every moment on screen we see his already awkward demeanor turn into an immoral human being gradually and Phoenix performs this character subtly with so many nuances that give this character so much depth. As mentioned earlier, many feared Joker would turn into an empathetic glorification of psychopath, but Phoenix even during his sympathetic moments is just as disturbing and unsettling as one would imagine a real person like this. He moves, talks and over-all acts very disconcerting, to which all of this is heighten even for by one of the most unforgettable laughs to ever come out of the character.  There aren’t a whole lot of other characters featured in the film and most of them are also downright despicable in a sense, however, this was the film’s intention. Joker doesn’t waste its time on superfluous side plots and sticks the focus on the clown himself. The minor characters that also are terrible people are meant to shown that even despite their role in society, they could be just as equally to blame for Fleck’s mental wellbeing. Phoenix absolutely carries this movie perfectly and will go down as an amazing fresh new take on arguably one of the greatest villains of all time.

    Compared to so many other comic books films, Joker has none reliance on big budget special effects to create for an engaging film. The film is on a much smaller scale film but it ends up giving the filmmakers more creative freedom to be an artistic take on the character. The cinematography is dark and depressing but it is on purpose and still beautiful to look at how every shot is articulated. To elevate it even further is some excellent use of music. Some of the most memorable moments of the film are the ones that have ironic use of cheerful and upbeat songs that adds to the Joker’s worldview of horrible acts being rather comedic. When it doesn’t have that, it has a haunting score by Hildur Ingveldardóttir Guðnadóttir who’s use of the slow cello makes adds to Fleck’s dark descend being incredibly unsettling to watch. The film has no real action scenes and as mentioned earlier used its kills sparingly, but rather than feeling like a fake CGI world, it feels like a grim dark reality that still is an incredibly engaging. Director  Todd Phillips really branch out and made a film that’s unlike anything he has ever done but it shows how much he has learned over the years about filmmaking. For his first  true drama, he knocked it out of the park when it came to its over-all presentation.

     Joker is a fine example on how to properly recreate the comic book movie formula. It is a full-fledged drama that pulls no punches when it comes to depicting the clown prince of darkness, even if it is the kind of film that’s not meant for the average movie goer. Despite a few small story points that don’t work Joker still ends up being a gripping film thanks to so many elements that go above and beyond. Thanks to some deep themes, excellent production values and a phenomenal score to add to Joaquin Phoenix’s profound performance, Joker will stand the test the time as a near perfect version of one of DC’s best characters.

'Steven Universe The Movie' A Great Return to Form

     In terms of modern television shows, one that has made huge connections with audiences all over the world is Cartoon Network’s hit animated series, Steven Universe. Steven Universe is a phenomenal show not just for being a fun kids show, but more so due to the fact that it is one of the most unique and original projects to get mainstream notoriety. It is a show that really dives deeps into emotion and character depth in a way for kids to understand and connect with. Lately however, between hiatuses and weaker episodes of the series, it feels like the show hasn’t been at its prime for the past couple of years. Cartoon Network has recently released a film related to the property as a way to revitalize interest in the show and thankfully, Steven Universe: The Movie reminds everyone what makes the show so great. The film, while not flawless or the best of what the series has to offer is a great amalgamation of everything that made it so fantastic to begin with.

What Should be the Proper Series Finale

     The movie takes place years after the last season as Steven, now older, is contempt living his new peaceful life in Beach City with all of his friends now that peace are with humans and crystal gems. Things take a turn for the worst when a mysterious new foe comes in to destroy Beach City and it’s up to Steven and the other Gems to stop this horrible threat. What made the show so good when it came to its over-all story is how it manages to refreshingly original with some creative world building of the Gem world and also some true moments of heart and compassion we see from these characters as time goes on. The show is all about compassion and empathy even during harsh times based around rough pasts, and this movie clearly realizes that. The main conflict of the movie makes it there isn’t one true villain, and even who is the main antagonist in this film has their own sympathetic backstory that is honestly pretty heart breaking. Not only that but it makes you reflect on the whole series and second guess things you initially thought of as good, is that Steven himself deals with in the film. It makes for an incredibly fascinating conflict that is perfect for a show like Steven Universe. It makes for an engaging watch from beginning to end, and while it is made more for fans of the show, its story is engaging enough for newcomers of the show to be very intrigued by. If this is set to be the series finale, it should stay that way because it is unsure if a future season could top what this movie did for the series.

Returning Favorites with Unique Changes

     While the story is a crucial to the show, it is nothing without its cast. Steven Universe has one of the most memorable casts in a Cartoon Network show. From the gems and the beach city citizens, there is a huge line-up of characters that have a plethora of episodes dedicated to them. The film only really focuses on a few characters and certain fan favorites like Peridot and Lapis have smaller roles compared to how big their roles have been in the past, which could be a bit disappointing for some. The beach city and the gems that appear in the latter half of the show are mostly limited to just cameo appearances in the film, however, considering the film’s main focus that was definitely for the best. As for the main cast, we do get a bit of every main crystal gem, Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet and all still play great supporting roles in this film. Each character has a little development dealing with the major conflict that adds some depth to each character. The downside is, Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet don’t have too many sequences and development compared to Steven and the main antagonist, but given various episodes about these characters struggle, it is not a huge loss. Mainly due to how well defined Steven is in this film as not only the time skip gave Steven a more mature look but the character himself feels more mature. Despite his longing to just rest and have peace, he still tries his best to make sure everyone gets a satisfying conclusion, especially with the film’s main antagonist Spinel. Spinel is an incredibly fun villain, not only being sympathetic as previously mentioned earlier, but is a fun villain to watch with a ton of personality given to her with how she looks and moves. Steven Universe’s world of character is very vast and unique, and this film does not forget that at all when it comes to showcasing one of the best elements of the show.

As Bright and Harmonious as Ever

     The colorful characters from Steven Universe are nothing without the animation to make these characters literally as colorful as they are. The animators really gave it their all when it came to making this movie look fantastic with so many beautiful colors all throughout. Even movement wise, despite being a TV show, there is still a lot of fluidity in the way the characters move. Especially Spinel who is animated very similarly to classic cartoon style characters and every little bit of her being animated is a blast to watch. Not only is the animation a joy to watch, but the music is something that Steven Universe is incredibly well known for. The soundtrack to the original show is fantastic, with songs dealing with some of the more emotional moments to occur within the series. This movie is definitely no exception as there are tons of songs that are either entertaining, expressive, and even heart wrenching. This film definitely has one of  those soundtracks that have songs that will stick in your head long after the movie ends. The animation and music really help bring this movie to life and adds to one of the many reasons Steven Universe sticks with so many fans.

Every Bit as Strong as a Movie in the Real Way

     Steven Universe The Movie is everything someone who loves the show could ask for. It has as much heart, character and depth as many are used to by now from the original series. Even if you have fallen out of watching the show on a regular basis, the movie is still worth a watch. It reminds fans why a show like Steven Universe connected with so many others with its fantastic animation, beautiful soundtrack, likable character and clever story. Steven Universe The Movie will make you learn how to love the series again.