Kung Fu Panda 2

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)*

• Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• Produced by Melissa Cobb, Guillermo del Toro
• Starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman

Thoughts!

• Mini-mini review: This movie was aite.
• Mini-review: This movie definitely got me excited from the spectacular action, but failed to instill other emotions to actually make this a solid movie.
• Review (with SPOILERS): I liked the first Kung Fu Panda. It was simple, straight-forward, a little funny, and the animation was great. This one was all that too... just not as well-done. This film was about Po's identity, but the whole theme seemed to be pushed aside in favor of following the story of "getting the bad guy!". The director never really concentrated on Po's inner-conflict, so when he finally says the line "I'm your son" at the end of the movie, I was like "WHAT did I miss the entire film?! How did he come to that conclusion!?". But honestly, everyone kind of knew it was going to happen because it was SUPPOSED to happen. Which I guess makes a non-existent character arch acceptable?
• Review pt2 (no spoilers): The action was amazing - I'd even go as far to say "inspiring". But I never felt scared for the characters because everything they did was just so awesome. They were never really in danger. I also never felt worried, sad, or even elated. Just excited.
• Review pt3 (no spoilers): I think this is how Kung Fu Panda 2 was made: A bunch of awesome storyboard artists got together to make an awesome kung fu film. They added some lesson learning blahblah in there for the kids, but forgot to add compelling non-fighting scenes that showed the development of the character. What they got was a great animated movie, but not a great movie movie.
• The 2D parts were super fly.
• Gary Oldman's Peacock character was also super fly. (A pun and a fact.)
• I think the best fight scene was the first one.

Trailer!

The Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers (1980)

• Directed by John Landis (Nation Lampoon's Animal House, Trading Places, Spies Like Us Three Amigos, Coming to America, Thriller [MJ music video])
• Produced by Bernie Brillstein, George Folsey Jr., David Sosna, Robert K. Weiss
• Starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd

Thoughts!

• One of the reasons I Netflix'd this movie was because I knew the name, knew the references, but never really knew the movie (like most of my Netflix movies). And now I can finally say I've seen The Blues Brothers!.. but honestly, I thought it was a little disappointing.
• First of all, I was confused as to what genre this was. I THOUGHT it was a comedy, but the jokes were few and far between. Then there were some long musical numbers, but not enough to be considered a musical. (It turns out that this *is* a comedy, just not one with many funny parts.)
• The best scenes were when Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia) kept trying to kill the two brothers. Everything else seemed uneventful, even though things happened. The dancing/singing numbers were decent. The car chases were okay, although incredibly/stupidly and over the top. COPS DON'T JUST DRIVE THROUGH MALLS AND CRASH INTO STORES... eh maybe this film just wasn't for me. The 80s antics were too ridiculous.
• Dan Aykroyd had a great accent.
• Favorite quote I should use some day: "We're on a mission from God."
• The Illinois Neo-Nazis had a lot of potential to be funny... but nope.
• I think what really prevented this movie from just being baaad was the epic ending. The ending was really cool.

Here's the trailer. Let me know what genre you think it is...

Super 8

Super 8 (2011)*

• Directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Cloverfield, LOST, Alias, Fringe)
• Produced by Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk.
• Starring Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler

Thoughts!

• The good: Not only is this movie very well done, but the characters carry so much charm that simple dialogue scenes are such a joy to watch. It's very reminiscent of movies of yesteryear... mainly E.T. It's as if J.J. Abrams directed a Steven Spielberg movie (although that's pretty much what it is), and it's hard to go wrong with that.
• The bad: One of the main reasons this movie has the same mood as earlier films is because it shares many of the same elements. But those elements are what keep it from being completely fresh - everything feels a little TOO familiar.
• The elaboration (with a few lil *SPOILERS*): The most interesting parts were the new stuff, most notably the whole aspect of the kids filming a Super 8 horror film. Sometimes I found that more interesting than the actual alien story (maybe that's just me). But it falls into too many cliche pitholes: A guy knows something's weird but nobody wants to help him! Two best friends fight over the same girl! (Which never really gets resolved.) The kid stops the alien from messing everything up... by simply talking to it! These aspects wouldn't have bothered me as much if they were presented in a new manner. But they weren't. It's as if Abrams wanted to make old stuff new again, but without adding anything new to it other than higher definition cameras.
• But regardless: of the hackneyed elements, I still really enjoyed the ride. It was entertaining throughout, it was beautifully acted and shot, and I'd recommend it to you so long as you don't mind the pop-out kind of frights that this movie has every 10 seconds.
• (lil more *SPOILERS*):I really liked the design of the alien. It has enough whattheheckisthat's to make it look scary, but the proportions of the face are very similar to that of a chimpanzee, thus creating a humanistic quality to it.

• J.J. Abrams checklist:

1. Aliens (check)
2. Mystery (check)
3. Messed up child to father relationship (check)
4. Moody violins (check)
5. Moody violins from Michael Giacchino (check)
6. Lens flares (check)

• Steven Spielberg checklist:

1. Aliens (check)
2. A bunch of kids are the main protagonists (check)
3. Boy who looks like Elliot from E.T. (check)
4. A chubby kid (check)
5. The older siblings are kinda jerks (check)
6. Takes place during the 80s (check)
7. Nazis (not checked)

• The main kid's last name is "Lam"!! Well, "Lamb", but close enough.
• That train crash near the beginning was such an amazing train crash. Just had to point that out.
• I also want to call attention to the awesome movie poster. Even if it doesn't make sense now, it evokes a feeling of mystery by simply flipping the shot sideways (it should makes sense why it's sideways once you see the movie). It also shows that it doesn't take place in a big city, and it's an ensemble cast with what looks like a camera on a tripod. Good stuff.
• 
• I had more to say but I forgot.
• Btw, not all of my entries will be this lengthy.

Now, the trailer!

Footloose

Footloose (1984)

• Directed by Herbert Ross (Steel Magnolias, Undercover Blues)
• Produced by Lewis J. Rachmil, Craig Zadan
• Starring Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Dianne West, John Lithgow

Thoughts!

• Tractor chicken is pretty awesome.
• I thought it was interesting how quick the scenes were cut - it helped keep an "up beat" pace.
• Speaking of which, I think I was expecting this movie to be... uninteresting. I'm not that big a fan of musicals, so the plot of a "big-city kid" bringing dance to a small town sounds a bit silly. But I was wrong. This movie is very entertaining, and I think it really stands the test of time because the themes, ideas, and emotions are so real. It also doesn't hurt that Kevin Bacon and John Lithgow pull off great performances. John Lithgow was awesome.
• Notable quote #1: "You think he's some bitchin' heat!"
• Notable quote #2: "Hey! I'll lay you flat!"
• I'm a fan of out-of-date slang.

(Once you've actually seen Footloose, be sure to check out the Flight of the Concords version of Kevin Bacon's big dance number.)

X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class (2011)*

• Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Snatch)
• Produced by Gregory Goodman, Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer
• Starring James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender

Thoughts!

• Mini review: Buhgah this movie is great.
• A little longer review: There are a few corny or unbelievable parts, but there is just so much to enjoy I'm willing to look past those few scenes. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are excellent as Professor X and Magneto, and they each hold a lot of chemistry between themselves and the rest of the cast. Honestly I was a bit surprised when McAvoy first appeared on the screen because he had a PERSONALITY. Not many action movies nowadays have real characters. Speaking of which, this is the first time in a long time that the action really delivered. Ever since Iron Man 2, I got used to action movies having sparse fight scenes that end in mediocre battles. This film was an exception to the dull pattern and really "upped the ante" in the last scene. I'm starting to think that most action-movie directors don't really know how to make the third act of a film more intense than the first two... but that's another discussion. First Class is an all around entertaining movie, and definitely first rate. Wait I mean first class. Yeah that was the pun.
• Did you know Kevin Bacon is in this movie? I like to imagine he's doing his bad deeds to just have the wildest dance party ever. (Speaking of which, I think my next post will be Footloose.)

Honestly the trailer didn't excite me the first time I saw it. But now I want to watch the movie again.

Premiere

Hi. This is my third attempt at a movie blog.

There's not really a mission statement or anything to this blog, it'll be pretty much the same as my "Triple Feature" Tumblr (which you can visit if you want to look at my older posts). The only rule is that each post will be about one movie I've seen recently, and I'll probably just post my thoughts about it. The second rule is to not talk about Fight Club (unless I do end up making an entry about Fight Club).

I would now like to ask that you please silence all cell phones and babies.

Thank you.