Zootopia

Movie Title-- Zootopia

Release Year-- 2016

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 48 Minutes

Director-- Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush

Cast-- Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, Shakira, Raymond S. Persi, Maurice LaMarche, John DiMaggio, Phil Johnson, Tom Lister Jr.

A rabbit follows her dreams to become a police officer and finds herself in an unlikely partnership with a con-artist fox to uncover a conspiracy in the mammalian metropolis of Zootopia.

As a young bunny, Judy Hopps (Goodwin) dreams of being a police officer in the mammalian metropolis of Zootopia. Although she is told throughout her childhood that a police officer is not the kind of profession that a prey would go into, she achieves her dream and graduates with top honors from the police academy. As she leaves home, she is gifted fox repellent (similar to pepper spray) by her parents Stu (Lake) and Bonnie (Hunt) Hopps.

She is given the job of parking duty by Chief Bogo (Elba), because he doubts that she can do the job. On her first day on the job, she is hustled by two foxes, Nick Wilde (Bateman) and Finnick (Lister Jr.) by believing that Nick is the caring father to a toddler, cleverly disguised as an elephant in order to buy a large popsicle in to melt down and resell it. The following day she is again on parking duty when she abandons her duties to chase down Duke Weaselton (Tudyk), a thief that stole a duffle bag of plant bulbs.

Although she caught the thief, Chief Bogo calls her into his office to reprimand her when they are interrupted by Mrs. Otterton (Spencer), an otter that is concerned about her missing husband, one of the 14 predators that have gone missing in previous weeks. Judy promises to find her husband and Chief Bogo reluctantly agrees with the stipulation that if she has not figured it out in twenty four hours, she has to resign.

Judy determines that Nick Wilde was the last mammal to see Mr. Otterton she gets him to help her by blackmailing him by recording him confessing to tax evasion. They soon learn that Mr. Otterton has gone “Savage” but not before ranting and yelling about something he calls the “night howlers”. This helps them to track down the missing predators only to uncover a much bigger conspiracy.

So, I adore this film. I took my 4 year old daughter to see the film in the theater back when it was released and there was no turning back for us, we had to have it when it came out and DVD and we were cheering for it to win (which it did) at the 89^th Academy Awards. I do however, think that there are two ways to watch this film; one as an adult and one as a child. My little one liked this film, she laughed at the jokes, she loved the characters and as a child was happy to see everyone working together in a society where tons of different species all work together in harmony.

As an adult you see the deeper, darker truth behind Zootopia; there is prejudice, racism (speciesism?) and fear in everyone. Even the way they talk to each other, Judy tells Clawhouser that other bunnies can tell bunnies they are cute but other animals can't; Nick constantly works on the assumption that as a bunny Judy is a dumb, weak bunny and most of the predators work on the assumption that all prey are meek and can't do the same kinds of jobs that they can.

As Judy and Nick, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman have great chemistry. I love their characters but I may be slightly bias because I am a fan of both of them. My all time favorite character in the film is Flash the slot that works at the DMV. First off, a DMV full of sloths (another stereotype fulfilled) is HILARIOUS and a sloth named Flash, that is priceless.

There are so many great references in this film. One of my favorites is Duke Weaselton, selling bootleg DVDs of Disney movies with the titles changed to reflect what they would be released as in Zootopia. Duke Weaselton is played by Alan Tudyk who also played the Duke of Weasleton in “Frozen”, which is another great Easter Egg in this film, although it is one of the more obvious ones.

I say grab your favorite little people and settle down in front of the TV for this one and Don't Forget the Popcorn!

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Movie Title-- Alice Through the Looking Glass

Release Year-- 2016

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 53 Minutes

Director-- James Bobin

Cast-- Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron-Cohen, Rhys Ifans, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Matt Lucas, Lindsay Duncan, Leo Bill, Geraldine James, Joanna Bobin, Ed Speleers, Barbara Windsor, Paul Whitehouse, Matt Vogel

After finding a magical looking glass, Alice once again returns to Underland to save her friend the Mad Hatter before his time runs out.

After spending three years following in her father's footsteps, Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) returns home to London following an expedition to China. Upon arriving home, she learns that her ex-fiance, the now “Lord” Hamish Ascot (Bill), has taken over her father's company and is set on forcing her to sell him her father's ship in exchange for her mother's home.

Angered that she has to make this decision, she goes out to the garden where she finds Absolem (Rickman), her butterfly friend from Underland and follows him through the house to a room containing a large mirror over the hearth. Absolem flys into the mirror and disappears, followed soon after by a curious Alice. Once arriving, she is met by Mirana the White Queen (Hathaway), the White Rabbit (Sheen), Bayard (Spall), the Dormouse (Windsor), the Cheshire Cat (Fry), the March Hare (Whitehouse) and the Tweedles (Lucas) and they deliver some grave news; the Mad Hatter (Depp) was acting madder than ever. It is then explained that the Hatter is in poor health after believing that his family is still alive after the Attack of the Jabberwocky, stirring up some troubled emotions for the Hatter.

After seeing the Hatter, Mirana tells Alice that she must go see Time (Baron-Cohen) to convince him to help save the Hatter. Mirana then tells Alice that she believes that Alice is the only one that can complete this task and sends her to Time's castle but not before giving her a warning; if her past self sees her future self the past, present and future will be destroyed.

Alice asks Time to please turn back time to save her friend and Time tells her that the past is unchangeable and the only thing she should do is learn from it, then sends her away. As she turns to leave, she discovers Iracebeth the Red Queen (Bonham-Carter), causing Alice to ignore Time's warning, steal his chronosphere and set off to save her friend.

So....what to say about this film? I am going to start with Mia Wasikowska. I never really thought much of her as an actress, I mean I didn't think she was bad, I just didn't really have much of an opinion about her but due to this film and a few others that I have seen recently (that I have plans to post in the coming weeks) I think she is a really strong actress. She tends to take on whatever character she plays pretty well and Alice is no exception. She is quirky enough to lose herself in the Tim Burton universe and fit nicely. Sasha Baron-Cohen is another actor in this film I liked. Not really sure what was up with the German accent but he did well I thought.

Can I please just address Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter? I HATE him. I hate him with a passion. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Johnny Depp, I have for a long time but I think his Mad Hatter is horrible. He reminds me of a big old queen with all the makeup and craziness going on with his hair. I didn't particularly like the Mad Hatter in the first Alice in Wonderland film but I really don't like him in this one.

I will say that to hear Alan Rickman's voice as Absolem did make me a little sad. I always thought Rickman was a hell of an actor and to be reminded of his loss is bittersweet.

All in all, this movie was only ok. I say, if you are a Tim Burton or Johnny Depp fan (or any other of the talented actors/actresses in this film) watch it just to say that you saw it. I honestly will probably never see this film again, to see it once was enough for me. Use your own judgment with this one and Don't Forget the Popcorn!

A brand new popcorn machine

HI EVERYONE!!!

So, it has been way too long since a post has been posted here, so I was thinking, let's get another popcorn machine and have another go! Right after the Academy Awards seems a pretty good time to start back up again, so hold on tight because there are a TON of films I can't wait to review.

I am going to try to stick with the schedule I had before with certain themes on certain days...but I think I may throw a twist in there. I will take time here and there to do weekly themes, like spotlight a director or an actor, maybe a week of war films, perhaps all comedies---you know, something like that. I will try to give a heads up when I have theme weeks planned so you know what to expect. I will start the “regular schedule” next week but for the remainder of this week, it will be all random.

To anyone that has visited regularly (although I haven't posted in over 2 years, we are still getting traffic), thank you and it is my hope that I can reward you with regular posts. Thanks for sticking with me.

Tomorrow will start the first review and after looking, I remembered that my very first review was for “Alice in Wonderland” directed by Tim Burton. Therefore, it only seems fitting that the first post back be for “Alice Through the Looking Glass”. Join me tomorrow for Alice and when you come...Don't Forget the Popcorn!!

Albert Nobbs

Movie Title--  Albert Nobbs

Release Year--  2011

Running Time--  1 Hour and 43 Minutes

Director--  Rodrigo Garcia

Cast--  Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Pauline Collins, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Mark Williams, Phyllida Law, Brendan Gleeson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Janet McTeer, Bronagh Gallagher

As a woman that identifies as a man, Albert Nobbs works as a butler in an upscale Dublin hotel to try to make a better life for himself.

Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) is a woman that lives as a man in order to get a good job so he can survive in 19th century Ireland.  Albert dresses like a man for 30 years and is working in a high class hotel in Dublin where he is known for his work ethic and keeping to himself.  He has saved all his earnings in the hopes to one day have enough to purchase a tobacco shop in order to provide himself with an extra measure of independence and freedom.

Albert feels like his secret is in jeopardy when a handsome young painter named Hubert Page (Janet McTeer) is hired for a job by the hotel owner Mrs.Baker (Pauline Collins) and is told to bunk with Albert.  On his first night there Albert's true identity is revealed to Hubert.  After some persuasion, Hubert reassures Albert that his secret is safe, however the next day Albert is still unsure and makes it a point to visit Hubert often throughout the day.  Upon the last nervous visit, Hubert reveals to Albert that he also is a woman, ensuring that he will keep Albert's secret.  Hubert is only at the hotel a few more days but before he goes, mentions that he is married to a woman named Cathleen (Bronagh Gallagher) who is a dressmaker.

The fact that Hubert is married to a woman intrigues Albert and he begins to wonder how Hubert pulls it off.  One day, after not being able to hold his curiosity in any longer, he goes to visit Hubert at his home.  There Albert meets Cathleen and sees the life she and Hubert have made for each other.  Cathleen leaves Albert and Hubert alone and Albert tells Hubert about his life saying that he was abandoned by his parents and that when he was 14 he was raped by a group of young men and left in a bad way.  After that incident he heard that there was a need in the city for waiters, so pretending to be a boy, he buys a suit and unbelievably to him, gets hired.  Cathleen then interrupts the two of them for dinner.

All the while, a new young man by the name of Joe Mackins (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) gets hired on at the hotel to work on the boiler.  He and Helen Dawes (Mia Wasikowska), a young maid at the hotel, soon hit it off and become lovers.  After visiting Hubert, Albert decides that Helen would make the perfect wife to run the counter for him at his tobacco shop and asks her to step out with him.  Helen tells him no and that she is stepping out with Joe but once she tells Joe, he encourages her to see Albert and use him for what he can give to her.  On their first outing, Helen convinces Albert to buy her two boxes of expensive chocolates.  

Joe is only marginally happy with this and tells her that she needs to get more expensive gifts from Albert.  She is uncomfortable with this idea and after telling Joe so, he tells her that the reasoning for it is to get the two of them to America.  Overcome with the idea of going to America, she turns Albert down when he asks her to marry him and work behind the counter at the shop he is going to buy.

Not long after this, typhoid breaks out in the city and some of the staff gets ill.  This drives the customers away and the hotel comes under some financial troubles.  Albert is one of the staff members that contracts the disease but soon recovers, only to learn of events that have transpired while he was ill. 

So, this film was a little strange but good in it's own way.  This film is not going to be a film for everyone but for anyone interested enough to sit through it, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Glenn close does an excellent job in this film.  She portrays the character, as well as the spirit of the character in such a way that you almost forget she is a woman.  This story of Albert Nobbs is touching and sad and inspirational all rolled together to make a film that is interesting and engaging to the viewer.  

Take a little time to view this film, alone or with a group but Don't Forget the Popcorn!

The Hundred Foot Journey

Movie Title--  The Hundred-Foot Journey

Release Year--  2014

Running Time--  2 Hours and 2 Minutes

Director--  

Cast--  Helen Mirrin, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon

When an Indian family relocates to a small town in France and opens a traditional India restaurant 100 feet across the street from a traditional French restaurant a rivalry between the two begins.

When Hassan (Manish Dayal) is young his mother (Juhi Chawla) teaches him the guidelines she has always used to cook and she teaches him to feel the spirit of the food.  When an accidental fire causes the death of his mother, his Papa (Om Puri) takes the family to settle in a new place.  They come across a small french village and are helped when their car breaks down by a young woman who is a sous chef name Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon) at the local upscale french restaurant run by Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren).

Papa decides to buy the building across the street from the french restaurant and turn it into a traditional India restaurant which causes some friction between the family and Madam Mallory.  Soon it becomes clear that Hassan is interested in learning the art of french cuisine from Madam Mallory.  After proving himself as a able student, Madam Mallory takes him as a student which changes his life completely

I thought that this film was pretty good, although it was a little long.  I feel like there are a few parts that could have been removed and the film would still have been excellent.  This is a story about growth and bettering one's self.  It shows that no matter how young or old you are, you still have room to learn new things if only you apply yourself.

Helen Mirren does a great job, as always, in this film.  I feel like she is so versatile and can pull just about any roll off.  She has great co-stars in Manish Dayal and Om Puri; the two of them are great in their own way.  Om Puri plays the older, knowledgeable (although not always right) father and Manish Dayal plays the young son, willing to learn and ready to help better their lives.  Together the three of them help hold the audience's attention the entire way though the film and it is excellent to experience.

I think this is a good film to get together with your girlfriends and watch.  As stated before it is a great story about the growth.  Sit down with a bottle of french wine and Don't Forget the Popcorn!

I Know that Voice

Movie Title--  I Know that Voice

Release Year--  2013

Running Time--  1 Hour and 30 Minutes

Director--  Lawrence Shapiro

Cast--  John DiMaggio, Kevin Conroy, Jim Cummings, Corey Burton, Gregg Berger, Dierich Bader, Jason Marsden, Mark Hamil, Billy West, Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, Edward Asner, Gary Anthony Williams, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Green

Voice actors come together to discuss their careers, their craft and some of the most beloved animated characters.

This documentary is a little difficult to write a synopsis on because instead of a story from start to finish, it is a group of people talking about something they love which also just happens to be their job.  This is a documentary that needs to just be watched and enjoyed instead of being discussed.  

There was one point where I thought that the actors in the film were being a little harsh when it comes to their fans.  Sure, I can understand that their jobs are more than just standing in front of a microphone putting on a voice, there is actual acting and performing that they do while trying to portray their character but at the same time but when their friends, family and strangers approach them claiming to be able to "do a voice", they should be a little honored that they are being imitated, not frustrated and aggravated that people think that is all there is about their jobs.  On the other hand, I completely understand where they are coming from; my job is so easy that a monkey with knowledge of computers can do it but I still get irritated when someone comes to me and tries to tell me how to do job.

I was overwhelmed by the amount of voices that I recognized but never ever knew the faces of.  I personally think that these people are amazing.  They have to connect with the script and their characters more than a live action actor does and it is amazing to see some of the antics of these guys in the studio.

To anyone looking to get into this kind of business, I think this is a good film to view.  Not only does it give a person that isn't sure what they should expect some idea of what is coming if they decide to pursue this line of work, it gives the everyday viewer a face to go along with their favorite cartoon voice.  This documentary causes the viewer to look at animated characters in a whole new light and for me, it is was a very positive and mystical kind of way.  I know that there are a few people that were in the film that I missed in the cast list and for that I apologize, I was just trying to make sure I got the most recognizable characters in the cast without overwhelming the reader.

Enjoy the stories of the people that voice your favorite cartoon characters and Don't Forget the Popcorn!

The Blue Umbrella

Title--  The Blue Umbrella

Film Type--  Animated Short

Release Year--  2013

Running Time--  7 Minutes

Director-- Sacschka Unseld

Vocal Performance--  Sarah Jaffe

In the city during an evening rain storm, two umbrellas fall in love.

At the end of a busy work day a storm rolls into the city and as the first rain drops begin to fall, the objects around the city begin to come to life.  Objects such as a mailbox, the end of a gutter, the bottom of a gutter downspout and a "Walk/Do Not Walk" sign (to name a few) begin to smile at the rain.

As the people in the buildings begin to fill the sidewalk after work they all open bland, unfriendly black umbrellas.  Suddenly in the middle of the crowd, a blue smiling umbrella opens and takes in the rain.  As the blue umbrella makes his way down the street, he is stopped by the "Do Not Walk" sign at the crosswalk.  He is glancing around and notices a red umbrella open next to him.  The two are immediately taken with each other but as soon as the sign turns to "Walk" they are taken separate ways by their owners.  Determined to get back to the red umbrella, the blue umbrella makes an attempt to get back to her.

This is the short film that made me want to sit down and start taking in animated short films.  I have watched this short film about 30 times, mainly because my two year old daughter loves it but each time it doesn't get any less cute.  The concept is great and as ever, Pixar has done a great job making inanimate objects come to life.  Things that would not typically get to show emotion get to in this short and it is fantastic.  I think one of my favorites is a building in the background that looks as if it is in shock.  If you watch the film you will see what I am talking about.

Take 7 minutes to view this short film, I will guarantee that you will enjoy it.  Even the vocals in the short will have you smiling and bobbing your head along with the beat.  Watch it with a little person and watch the wonder on their face as they enjoy this short and Don't Forget the Popcorn!