Hotel Transylvania 2

 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2

Title--  Hotel Transylvania 2

Release Year--  2015

Running Time--  1 Hour and 29 Minutes

Director--  Genndy Tartakovsky

Cast--  Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Asher Blinkoff, David Spade, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Fran Drescher, Molly Shannon, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Dana Carvey, Rob Riggle, Mel Brooks, Jonny Solomon

Set 7 years after the first, Mavis and Dennis have a baby and when he shows no signs of being a monster, Mavis begins to consider raising her child among humans, much to her father’s dismay.

A year after the conclusion of the first film, vampire Mavis (Selena Gomez) is marrying her human fiancée Johnny (Andy Samberg), with the approval of Mavis’ father Dracula (Adam Sandler).  With Johnny’s help, Drac has introduced the world to monsters and has integrated the hotel to accommodate both human and monster clients.  Mavis soon reveals to Drac that she is pregnant and nine months later she gives birth to Dennis (Asher Blinkoff) who is the spitting image of his father Johnny.  Drac falls in love with his grandson and begins baby proofing the hotel in order to keep the child safe.

Drac has faith that his grandson will become a powerful vampire due to his bloodline but as Dennis’ fifth birthday approaches, he knows that the window for his fangs to appear are quickly fading.  Mavis, also realizing that Dennis may not gain vampire powers, begins to see how dangerous the monster world is for humans and begins to consider raising Dennis where Johnny was raised.  Drac disapproves of this, not wanting his daughter to take his grandson away and approaches Johnny with a plan to keep Mavis at the hotel after learning that Johnny also has no interest in leaving the hotel.

Johnny takes Mavis to California with the intention of making her not want to move while Drac babysits Dennis at the hotel.  However, instead of staying at the hotel, Drac devises a plan to train Dennis to be a monster with the help of his friends Wayne the wolfman (Steve Buscemi), Murray the mummy (Keegan-Michael Key), Griffin the invisible man (David Spade), Frankenstein (Kevin James) and Blobby the blob (Jonny Solomon).

After a series of events that causes Mavis to return home angrier and more resolute to move away than ever and Dennis not gaining monster powers, Mavis decides to have one last party at the hotel for Dennis.  She plans his fifth birthday party and she invites her grandfather Vlad (Mel Brooks) who hates humans to the party to meet her son.  In an attempt to keep the humans a secret from Vlad, Drac dresses Johnny and his family as monsters to hide and protect them from Vlad’s impending wrath.

The second film in this franchise did not disappoint.  It is everything you would expect, especially after watching the first film.  We have the same cast (with the exception of Keegan-Michael Key stepping in as Murray in this film, replacing CeeLo Green from the first film) which makes for a very familiar feel going into the film.  Knowing that this is just a continuation set linearly behind the first film helps it flow into the story, almost as if we had never left it to begin with.  

There were a few times that the story got a little tedious but I think that sometimes that needs to happen a little to get the story from one plot point to the next.

Overall, it was a really good film.  Not better than the first but perhaps just a step below.  It’s a good film to get together with your little monsters and watch but Don’t Forget the Popcorn!

LONG SHOT

Title--  Long Shot

Release Year--  2017

Running Time--  40 Minutes

Director--  Jacob La Mendola

Cast--  Juan Catalan, Alma Oseguera, Melissa Catalan, Larry David, Todd Melnik, Beth Silverman, Sam Fernandez, Tim Gibbons, Kym Whitley, Robert Gajic, Eric Gagne, Tasha Boggs, Judge Leslie Dunn, Detective Martin Pinner, Detective Juan Rodriguez, Deborah Wong Yang 

In 2003 Los Angeles Dodgers fan Juan Catalan, is wrongly charged with the murder of Martha Puebla when his lawyer turns to an unlikely source to get him freed.

On May 13, 2003 Juan Catalan shows up for his job and is arrested for the murder of 16 year old Martha Puebla.  Martha Puebla testified against Juan’s brother and after being picked out of a picture lineup by a reliable witness the police arrested and charged Juan with the thoughts of revenge on their minds.  Juan, knowing that he was innocent and in trouble, remembered his cousin recommending Las Vegas lawyer Todd Melnik.  

Melnik goes to Los Angeles to meet with Juan and find out Juan’s alilby.  Juan tells Melnik that he could not have killed Martha because he was at a Dodgers game.  He then explained that he bought his mother Dodgers tickets, knowing that she was not interested in going so that he could go to the game.  He then took his daughter and two of his buddies with him to the game.  Melnik goes to Dodgers Stadium and speaks to the owner, Sam Fernandez, explaining about his client and is given access to all the video that the stadium filmed.  Melnik finds Juan and his daughter on the video but it is too grainy to use in court.

Melnik goes back to Juan and tells him about this and Juan recalls that something was being filmed at the stadium that day.  He says that he attends games all the time and he had never seen any kind of film crews there before, so he remembered that day being different.  Melnik then goes back to the stadium and contacts media relations to find that some kind of production company was there and a phone number is listed.  Melnik calls the number to find that it is HBO.  Melnik goes to the HBO studios and talks to someone to find out that an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was being filmed there.  From there Melnik gets permission to view the tapes to find out if there is anything that can save his client.

This is such a good film.  The story is compelling.  It is another story of false identification and redemption but it is different somehow.  Juan’s ability to remember that something was different about the Dodgers game that day is truly what saved his life.

My favorite part is when they are looking at the tapes and see the moment that would help free him.  Robert Gajic, the PA that allowed Juan and his daughter to return to their seats after they had gone to get ice cream is the most amazing.  From the moment the audience is shown the piece of tape and then show the look on Gajic’s face as he is being shown the tape is just so emotional.

There is one thing I did not like about this film and that is the camera.  When they interviewed the people in the film, it was only from forehead to chin in most shots that weren’t file footage of other events.  To me it is a little unnerving, that close to someone the entire time.  The other negative (not for me personally but it may be for other viewers) is that this is a Netflix only film.  So if you don’t have Netflix, you don’t get to catch this one, which really is a shame because it is pretty good watch.  It’s only 40 minutes long, so take the time to catch this one and Don’t Forget the Popcorn!

Did the theater get bigger or smaller?

Hi everyone!  It has been way too long since we have enjoyed a movie together, hasn’t it?  I have, in the three years since I last posted, had a second child making my total 2.  So for me, the theater has gotten a little smaller but has it really?  Now, in the time where the world has gone a little crazy, there is so much more streaming available.  Just look for yourself, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO/Max, Showtime, Shudder, the list goes on and on (because I am sure I have missed someone’s favorite streaming service!) and never has it been easier to watch a movie.  So, why don’t we?  Why don’t we start watching movies together again?

I learned from before that posting every day is a little challenging and it becomes a BIG job.  With two children in the single digits, there is NO WAY an every day post will be possible like before but I can try.  If I have content for you, I will post it every day but you are more likely to get one post a week and that is what I am here to say.  Come back, come back at least once a week and see what is going on.  I’ll keep a theater seat warm for you and a fresh bucket of popcorn ready.  Come see what I have been watching and maybe you will find your new favorite.  I’ve missed you and I hope you’ve missed me too, so until next time, Don’t Forget the Popcorn!

Trolls

Movie Title-- Trolls

Release Year-- 2016

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

Director-- Mike Mitchell

Cast-- Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, James Cordon, Russel Brand, Zooey Deschanel, Gwen Steffani, Jeffery Tambor, Ron Funches, Icona Pop, Kunal Nayyar, John Cleese, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Walt Dohrn

After twenty years in hiding, Princess Poppy must go on a quest to save her friends from being eaten by the Bergens, who one day a eat trolls to make themselves happy.

The Trolls are small creatures that live their lives by singing, hugging and dancing, keeping themselves always happy. One day their Troll tree is discovered by the Bergens, a race of large, ogre type creatures that are never happy but they realize that they can be happy, if only for a moment, by eating a Troll. The Bergens put a cage around the Troll tree and one day a year they celebrate “Trollstice”, where they eat a Troll to be happy.

On this particular, very special Trollistice, Bergen prince, Prince Gristle Jr. (Mintz-Plasse) is to have his very first Troll, all the Bergens gather at the Troll tree and Chef (Baranski) gives Prince Gristle a very special Troll; a princess for a prince. However, when Prince Gristle eats the Troll, they learn that it is a fake. The Bergens then go on a mad dash to find the Trolls who at that very same moment are being led by their king, King Peppy (Tambor) through underground tunnels to safety. Furious that the Trolls have escaped, King Gristle Sr. (Cleese) banished Chef from Bergentown.

Twenty years later King Peppy's optimistic and extremely happy daughter, Princess Poppy (Kendrick) is getting set to throw a large party in honor of their heroic escape, although she has been warned against it by Branch (Timberlake) a gray and grumpy Troll.   Branch believes that by throwing a large, loud party, it will attract the Bergens.

Branch's fears are realized when Chef, who has been searching for the Trolls since she was banished, sees the fireworks from the Troll's celebration and follows them to their hiding place. Chef collects a handful of trolls to take them back to Bergentown so she can be accepted back.

Poppy, feeling like the kidnapping of her friends is all her fault, is determined to follow her father's motto from 20 years previous “No Troll left behind!” and to save them, she recruits a very reluctant Branch to help her, since he knows the most about the Bergens.

Once they arrive in Bergentown, they learn that Chef has presented the once Prince Gristle, now King Gristle with the Trolls and they are preparing to have a Trollstice dinner the following night. As a show of good faith, Chef encourages King Gristle to eat one of the Trolls and she picks out Creek (Brand) at random. Poppy and Branch watch as Chef pops Creek into King Gristle's mouth.  After this, Branch believes that Creek is a goner but Poppy has hope that he is still alive and knows that they only way she can try to find him is to free the rest of her friends.

Poppy and Branch learn that the castle scullery maid Bridget (Deschanel) is guarding the remaining Trolls and when they find them, they see that Bridget is in love with King Gristle. Determined to show Bridget that happiness can be had without eating Trolls, they all work together to transform her into Lady Glitter Sparkles, in order to get her a date with King Gristle while getting close enough to find out if Creek is still alive.

This movie is GREAT!!  Let's just be serious, it is basically a movie musical and the music is just awesome. Yeah, most of it seems to be revamped versions of older songs but that doesn't matter because they are all done so well.

After being so long winded in the summary, I don't really have too much to say about this film. I have watched this more than a dozen times (that's what happens when you have a 4 year old!) and it doesn't get old. Sometimes the music gets stuck in your head (even for days...) but it gets stuck in your head in a good way. Sometimes when we need a pick me up, we will turn the soundtrack on and just dance.

I say pick this film up, it is a great watch and a great sing/dance along kind of film. Grab your favorite little people and Don't Forget the Popcorn!!!

Newtown

Film Title-- Newtown

Release Year-- 2016

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

Director-- Kim A. Snyder

Following the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, the family members of the deceased remember the short lives of their children and their attempts to move on from such a horrible tragedy.

I don't have much more to add as a summary than what the description above says. This is an uplifting documentary while being sad all at the same time. The audience is introduced to a few people, some of them parents, other friends or neighbors and they talk about their children. How full of life they were or how funny or brilliant and all of this leads to the most devastating day of their lives.

After describing their horrible loss they begin to talk about what they have done to try to move on from their tragedy, most of which have gone to D.C. To try to tighten up gun laws in this country. Don't get me wrong, I am the mother of a small child and if it were me, I have no clue how I would be able to even try to pull my life back together if I lost her but these parents have found the strength to try to move on and do good in the names of their little lost loves.

The BEST part of this documentary is that NOT ONE TIME does anyone that is being interviewed mention the name of the gunman. They do not give him the honor or the recognition that I am sure he was hoping for before he did this heinous crime (for anyone that doesn't remember this story, the gunman (I will also refuse to use his name since they did such a great job of avoiding it in the film) killed his mother, then went to the school she worked at and killed 20 children and 6 adults before killing himself). I believe that is one of the worst parts of the media and that is, most of the time, they give more attention to the person that committed the crime than to the victims and this documentary shows that the people that were affected by this crime is giving absolutely no thought to man who did this to them. They are making sure they remember everything they can about the child that was taken away and as hard as I am sure that is, it is a beautiful thing. To honor those sweet babies memory is the best thing the community can do to heal themselves, even 5 years later.

Now, let's touch on a very sensitive subject—gun control. These parents went to D.C. And helped to petition the high courts to try to tighten gun laws and unfortunately for them, stricter gun laws were denied.

In MY PERSONAL OPINION I think that people should be able to keep their guns, for protection and for hunting or whatever it is people use their guns for but I DO NOT think that ANYONE should be walking around with an assault weapon. If you are not in the military and out on missions or training, there is no reason for you to have control of an assault weapon (let's be clear, if you ARE in the military but just hanging out at the base, far from danger, you also should not have control of an assault weapon). An assault weapon is not for protection, an assault weapon is for murder and death. I don't believe that people should have their guns taken away but if that gun is an assault weapon, you are not protecting yourself, you are waiting for an attack or to attack and that isn't something that someone should just be sitting around waiting for.

This is a documentary that every parent should watch, if for nothing but to see and feel these people's strength. Watch this documentary with a box of tissues and when it is over, go squeeze your children because you are lucky enough to still have them by your side and Don't Forget the Popcorn.

Chronic-Con, Episode 420: A New Dope

Movie Title-- Chronic-Con, Episode 420: A New Dope

Release Year-- 2015

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 24 Minutes

Director-- Ryan Polito

Cast-- Doug Benson, Brian Posehn, Joe Rogan, Kevin Smith, Patton Oswald, Morgan Spurlock

In response to Morgan Spurlock's “Comic-Con: A Fan's Hope”, Pot Comic Doug Benson shows Comic Con through his hazy eyes.

On stage at a show, Doug Benson announces that he wants to make spin off documentaries that mirror the ones made by Morgan Spurlock and so far he is behind by two films. He goes on to say that he is going to rip off Spurlock's film “Comic-Con: A Fan's Hope” by going to Comic Con stoned and showing it from his own perspective and then throws out a handful of names that he would possibly call his documentary.

Benson has two soul purposes in this film; track down Morgan Spurlock and get high with someone on his superhero wish list that includes Rorschach from “Watchmen”, Darth Vader, Spider Man or the Dark Knight (but he did throw in Adam West just in case that happened to be an option).

So, there isn't much of a summary of this film but basically what I wrote sums it up perfectly. This would be a basic stoner documentary. He starts out with a mission and then it gets a little sidetracked. There were some amusing and even downright funny parts to this film but it was also a little out there. If I am going to be honest, it felt more like a long, drawn-out, rambling type of conversation.

This film is okay. Not the worst I have seen but really not the best. I am sure it would be much better if a person was high for it instead of sober but I will leave what is best for you up to you. Either way you decide to watch it, Don't Forget the Popcorn!

Boondock Saints

Movie Title-- The Boondock Saints

Release Year-- 1999

Running Time-- 1 Hour and 48 Minutes

Director-- Troy Duffy

Cast-- Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Willem Defoe, David Della Rocco, Billy Connelly, Bob Marley, David Ferry, Brain Mahoney, Carlo Rota, Ron Jeremy, Gerard Parkes

Two Irish-American brothers turn vigilante after being attacked by the Russian mob and decide to save their home city of Boston from further corruption while being pursued by the police and FBI.

Two Irish-American twin brothers, Connor (Flanery) and Murphy (Reedus) MacManus are celebrating St. Patrick's Day in their hometown of Boston, Massachusetts when three Russian mobsters come into the bar they are at and announce they are closing the bar. The brothers try to play it off, telling the mobsters that they are all having fun for the holiday but the Russians are not interested and a brawl ensues.

Embarrassed that they lost the bar fight, the Russians track down the MacManus brothers and try to get revenge but are instead killed by the brothers in self defense. When the local police learn that the men that have been murdered are connected to the Russian mob, they call in the FBI. FBI agent Paul Smecker (Dafoe) is assigned to the case and accurately profiles the events that happened there the night before. As Smecker is giving a briefing to the police force about the newly dubbed “Saints of South Boston”, the brothers come into the police station and turn themselves in. The MacManus brothers are questioned but are not charged for the crime as it has been deemed self defense.

Upon being released, the brothers decide that they should rid Boston of corruption and evil men. They learn of a meeting with the Russian syndicate bosses happening at a hotel, outfit themselves in weapons and quickly dispatch of the nine bosses quickly. Right after they finish the job there is a knock on the door and they find that their friend, Rocco (Rocco) has been sent by Giuseppe “Papa Joe” Yakavetta (Rota) as an unknowing pawn to kill the mob bosses. The next day after learning that he truly was betrayed (he had been sent in to kill nine Russian mob bosses with a six shooter gun), he decides to join Connor and Murphy's cause to rid of the city of evil. Papa Joe, thinking that he may become a target of the Saints, contacts a ruthless mercenary known only as Il Duce (Connolly) to deal with them.

Although this film is quite violent and very graphic, it is one of my favorite films. I have watched this film every year on St. Patrick's Day since it was released (hey, some people drink, I watch this film!), it has become a tradition for me, one that I have shared with many people of the last few years. And sure, the film only focuses on St. Patrick's Day for a whole half hour or so of the film but that doesn't matter either, if you can stand the violence and killing, this is a good film to sit through. It is funny, it is serious, it is sad, it has every thing a good story needs.

Let's talk about the acting...for the most part, the main characters are great. Willem Dafoe is HILARIOUS and Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus as Connor and Murphy MacManus are not only perfectly cast but their sex appeal helps to draw in female viewers because honestly with the violence and graphic nature of this film, it is really more of a dude flick. However, this is a low budget film, there fore there are a LOT of editing mistakes and some of the extras are not real great, even when it comes to just laying dead on the floor (watch it, you will see what I am talking about).

Overall, if you can stomach graphic violence, this is a great film. It has become a huge cult classic and once you see it once you quickly realize why. This film is funny and it does actually hit on a big social discussion...if you could rid your hometown of evil without consequences, would you? Ponder this question with the brothers MacManus and Don't Forget the Popcorn!!