Tangled

"Frying pans who knew, right?"


For the first time since Hercules have I felt that Disney has made me feel like a kid watching the latest Disney animated film. Don't Get me wrong Pixar was one of the greatest things to ever happen to Disney, (or movies for that matter) but call me nostalgic I like having my characters sing to me. Since Toy Story you do not get that. Now, I have yet to see this Princess and the Frog thing, but I doubt it will be as good as this movie was.

Tangled has one of the greatest scenes of all time. The lantern scene was absolutely breathtaking. It made me think of all the other great Disney love scenes like Aladdin's Carpet ride, Belle and the Beast's Ballroom Dance. The shot of the lanterns being released and the expression on Rapunzel's face when she sees the lanterns. How is it possible for a cartoons eye to express so much. You could see the wonder, amazement and the start of the bigger question, who is she really.



Tangled is the "Disney" story of Rapunzel. A girl who is locked away in a tower since an infant and her desire to get out and see the world. Her mother warns her that she should not leave, for the world is a cruel place who would take advantage of a sweet, innocent girl like Rapunzel. One day a stranger happens upon her tower and her plans to leave the tower are put into place. She convinces the young man, Flynn Rider, to take her to see the glowing lanterns that appear each year on her birthday. Then the adventure begins. Her mother comes after her and so does Flynn's past.

The humor is great classic Disney with a little pixar twist. The comic relief between Rider and the horse is fantastic. The coloring is spectacular, the best Disney has ever done. The Blu Ray looks fantastic and even the DVD as well. I'm not a big Mandy Moore fan but she does have a great voice. She does a good job as Rapunzel's voice. Rider is voiced by Zachary Levi of Chuck fame. Many great actors gave their voices for this film even Richard Kiel, the huge giant guy with a nail in his head from Happy Gilmore give a voice to one of the goons.

I could not have been more happy with this movie. Disney animation is now, in my opinion, back.

10 out of 10

The King's Speech

"How do you feel?"
"Full of hot air."
"Isn't that what public speaking is all about?"

It is official. My wife and Mother-in-Law have been saying it for years and it is true. Collin Firth is amazing. I have always like him, but he always does period pieces and since I'm a man I have a hard time admitting they are good. I thought Collin Firth gave a performance of his life. I think Geoffrey Rush was also magnificent. No wonder it was up for so many awards.

OK now, after all my praise let me tell you about this film. It is based on the True life of King George the VI, who took the throne after his brother abdicated to marry his love. George had a stuttering problem that he had been trying to overcome since childhood. A difficult predicament when you are the King of England. After getting frustrated with poor results from the leading professionals the wife Elizabeth, played by the amazing Helena Bonham Carter, goes and seeks the help of a commoner named Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. His methods are different and his ways a bit more questionable.

I kept catching myself grinning at how great Collin Firth played this tormented man. You could see in his eyes how scared he was to even speak to his wife for fear that stuttering would prohibit him to speak as he desired. He played this part so perfectly that I was glad they had an amazing cast to keep up with him. I know this was rated R, but was a very easy edit and you can also catch it in the dubbed PG-13 version. I was very happy to see this film and recommend it to anyone who wants to see and amazing cast and learn about a bit of history. King George VI lead England into and through WWII. In the extras you can hear two of the speeches he gave. One is featured at the end of the film the other at the end of WWII.

I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did. It was sure worth all the praise.

9.8 out of 10

Source Code

"Promise me you'll help him. And when you do, do me a favor: tell him everything is gonna be okay."


I have been a fan of Jake Gyllenhal since my friend sat me down to watch Donnie Darko. He has always been good at playing the one note character. In the past while he has taken on roles that showed his depth as an actor. That's right I'm talking about Bubble Boy.

On a more serious note this was a fantastic film. I had heard good things about the movie. When critics like it most people will not which left me a bit hesitant. The movie was less than two hours which is a treat in and of it's self. It was also nice that there was little to no down time in the action of this film. The opening scene starts with explosions and you get then throughout the whole movie. No I'm not talking about the Michael Bay slow motion Transformers explosions, but good ones.

Source code is about Captain Colter Stevens who is placed in the body of a stranger named Sean who was on a Chicago bound train that explodes. He is sent back to the same 8 minute time frame to find where the bomb is and who it was that placed it there. if he fails he starts over. It was a lot of the same scenario with very different outcomes. It did not get old at all like Vantage Point does, but rather you look forward to each trip to see what he will find out. This movie was over quick, but did not lack anything. There was not much fluff in the story just him taking care of business and trying to find out who he really is and why he is not flying a helicopter in Afghanistan.

He is helped/hindered on the train by a lady friend played by Michelle Monaghan (Eagle Eye/Maid of Honor.)She plays a friend, Christine, who rides the train with Sean each day. Vera Farmiga plays Goodwin, a military officer who is guiding our here on his lofty quest. She plays her part very well. You can she her emotion for this project through here eyes. It is amazing how much Jake's and Vera's characters can say just by the look in their eyes and lack of expression.

I think the director, Duncan Jones, has a thing for the lead character learning that they are not what/who they think they are (see 2009's Moon.) This was probably the best movie I've seen thus far this year. The message is a great one. The question placed by Captain Stevens to Christine sums up the message they were trying to get across:

"What would you do if you knew you only had one minute to live?"
"I would make every second count."

8.75 out of 10

Get Low

"I wonder if she would have white hair?"

Let me just start out by putting it out there. Robert Duvall is amazing. I was excited to hear about this movie based on the true story of a man, Felix Bush, who in 1938 decided to have his funeral party while he was still alive. He wanted all to come who had a story to tell about him. He hires a local Funeral Director, Frank Quinn, played by Bill Murray, to help with this undertaking (pun not intended, but well placed.)The story is told and kind of guided in a way by Buddy played by Lucas Black of Fast and Furious:Tokyo Drift fame. He is not that great in the beginning, but get batter throughout. Bill Murray does great in this movie, I would not classify this as a dark movie they way some say it is, but maybe a shadowed comedy/drama.

The story begins when Felix learns that someone he knows passes away and he realizes he could be next. There are different motives for everyone that come out through the film. Sissy Spacek play and ex-love who helps Felix with his real motives and issues. The film is set in 1938 and was filmed in the hills of Georgia giving it a Midwest feel. I don't know what it is about films that are filmed in areas like this with barren trees and vacant land, films like this Blair Witch Project, True Grit, Winter's Bone and other backwoods films, but I love the filming locations.

The story takes some turns and does not get to the real purpose of the desired funeral party until the end. I never felt like this movie was slow. There was enough humor to keep me interested in each scene. Robert Duvall's character was a bitter crotchety old man so his comments are funny, and Bill Murray is, well, Bill Murray. He could just stare at the camera and make people laugh.

This film was a gem. A good find. There was not too much publicity about this film, but I liked it a lot. It was also nice that it was just over an hour and a half long. Maybe that's why it was not nominated for any awards it was not over two hours or rated R. It is worth checking it out of you need a good film that won't take up your whole night. You will still have time to make your own bucket list after the credits.

7.35 out of 10

Gnomeo and Juliet

"I'm not illiterate! My parents were married!"


The story you about to see has been told before. A lot. This was the opening line by a Red Good Gnome. After the movie I had to explain to my oldest son about Romeo and Juliet. I had to give him the cliff notes version of the play. His response: "Oh, this movie was way better than that one."

I had to watch this one in 3D, unfortunately, since it was the earliest showing. It was not to impressive in 3d. There were a few surprises in this film that I was not expecting. I knew that Sir Elton John did the music, but was thrilled to see that many of his songs were in the film. I was also surprised to hear the voice of Ozzy as a lawn reindeer.

The story was very close to the original play. **Spoiler Alert** It was obvious that they could not have to two kill themselves at the end so they make it close.**

My favorite part had to be the advertisement of the lawnmower called the "Terrafirminator" a 400hp lawnmower/tractor/wrecking machine. I laughed so hard thing about that. A lawnmower with the same power as a suped-up Mustang GT with a supercharger. I was laughing so hard though I think I was the only one in the theatre laughing.

I liked the idea that they were able to bring the story to the younger audiences, but as the opening line said, this story has been told many, many times before. There was something for the adults with the good music, innuendos and humor; but I think it did fall short. It just did not have that "it" factor that other animated films, like How to Train Your Dragon and any Pixar film, has.
This was a pretty good film. It is good for kids to be able to get a bit of Shakespere knowledge. This was a pretty good way to do it.

True Grit

"You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God."

There is a reason this film was up for so many awards. It is fantastic for starters.
I had never seen the original True Grit starring John Wayne, but after some coaxing from a friend , and the release of this I felt it was time. The original was good. I don't think I have really ever sat through a full Wayne film. It took a while to watch this one, what with two loud boys and all. I must admit I was kind of annoyed with the original Mattie character, but the new Mattie, played by Hailee Steinfeld, was just the right balance. I thought that Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin did great in their roles. Josh brolin was great as Tom Cheney. His voice was great. I was excited to see the part of Lucky Ned Pepper played by Barry Pepper. He was also Jackson the Sharp-shooter from Saving Private Ryan.

Some people say that the original scenery was better, but I like the plain scenery of the new one. I laughed a lot in this film. The dialogue was witty. I was not surprised at the violent scenes in the new film it is a Coen Bros. film after all.
The Coen brothers said they followed the book more than the original movie, but I felt they were both very close to each other. I never thought that Jeff Bridges was playing the role of John Wayne. Jeff Bridges was playing Jeff Bridges. He is one of those actors that can play himself and the role will fit to him. I can't wait to see this film again.

9 out of 10

Eclipse

"Let's face it I'm hotter than you."

I will be the first to tell you that Twilight was pretty much one of the worst movies ever made. I thought the book was terrible too. I finally watched the second movie in the saga, New Moon, last week. It was better than the first, but still not that good. My wife kept telling me that the third was the best of all. I was sure of that. How could it have been any worse? Well she was right it was much better. I'm not sure if it was the great fight scenes or the character development of the rest of the crew, but it was much more endurable.

I enjoyed the scenery of this film as I did the other two. I like the Seattle outskirts. Even though this (like almost every other film)was filmed in BC Canada. I really like the fight scene between the new borns and the Cullens and wolves. I am confused about then shattering though. Maybe they explain that in the book. I really enjoyed how they finally explained the character of the cullen family. Now I can hate them less now that I know why they are the way they are. The story of Jasper being a civil war Colonel was very interesting.

Over all this was a much more entertaining movie and I would even venture watching it a second time.

Oh, and for the females keeping score I was team Jacob, just for name sake, but after the fighting scenes, sorry, I'm switching teams.

6.85 out of 10