Stars (vocally) Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand with Gwen Stefani and John Cleese Directed by Walt Dohrn and Mike Mitchell Honestly, this was EXACTLY what I expected it to be: a fluffy, silly seemingly juvenile musical little saccharine ditty that wouldn’t have much depth, based on a bunch of out-dated toys. Although to be fair, there was a little more depth than expected. I mentioned before in a separate article about how DreamWorks Animation flick have usually been about belonging more than finding oneself (the way Pixar movies are), and Trolls has that… just not for the main character, Poppy (Anna Kendrick). She’s on a very slight hero’s journey simply trying to prove herself and impose her infectious happy-happy-joy-joy point of view on everyone else, but learning a little about reality along the way. The DreamWorks Animation theme leans heavily more on Poppy’s reluctant partner, Branch (Justin Timberlake), who’s the least colorful, least happy Troll around. It’s just that for Branch to rejoin the other Trolls and be accepted, he needs to reclaim his happiness. But that is all tied with the so-called ‘bad-guys’ of the whole story, the Bergens, who found happiness in munching on the Trolls. I’ll leave it to you to figure how all that works out. While it’s no Happy Feet where the songs are concerned, they are still entertaining and semi-infectious ear-worms, featuring a mixture of popular melodies and a handful of new ones. To accompany the peppy beats, we have an almost psychedelic mixture of colours and design. The animation is as slick as you’d expect, but the character design feels… overly familiar(?). It’s hard to describe the feeling, but then, they are based on those good luck trolls, so there is a fixed idea of what they should look like. The Bergens are designed to be even more troll-like than the titular Trolls, although the desiign for Chef (Christine Baranski) feels awfully familiar, like it’s a common design for other hideous trolls. It almost feels like a lack of originality in terms of design. We even have a cloud with legs stick-like arms and legs! For some, it might test your patience. If you allow yourself to be swept along with the joyride, it is an entertaining colourful musical romp with some sing-along songs. Any negative aspects might only be derived from your own dark damp mood and refusal to enjoy the movie. It doesn’t necessarily make the movie a full classic for the ages, just for the current times. And we do need a little bit of sunshiney happiness these days. Rating: ***1/2 / 5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here.
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Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlberg and Tilda Swinton Directed by Scott Derrickson Mild spoilers hinted. Marvel movies has got their formula down, but since we were heading into Phase 3, you’d think they’d be down with the death and destruction raining down from somewhere overhead by now. Granted, they did have a nice twist to that, but it was still a little tiresome to see it happening… again. It was a little different with Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War where the scope closed in around the characters. Ant-Man still went for that grandeur scale even if it was the microverse. And then there was all that fuss over Tilda Swinton’s casting as “The Ancient One”. How everyone seemed to insists that she had been cast as some non-gender specific old asian mystic, when her character’s background was explained in one simple sentence, she was of Celtic origin. No one’s bothered to correct themselves since. At least, not in the news I was reading from before. The other, of course, was Scarlett Johansson’s casting in the upcoming Ghost in The Shell. The newly released trailer emphasises that her body was designed, so she can look however the designers decided, that includes looking like Johansson. But back to Doctor Strange, where Swinton rocks the role of The Ancient One working with Mrodo (Chiwitel Ejiofor) in training Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the ways of the mystic arts for most of the second act, with some drippy, reality- and mind-bending effects. The original comic already had a kind of psychedelic aura back in the 60s and the movie builds more on that, but relying on the digital capabilities of the CG effect designers. This is whether we’re traipsing through the mirror dimension where anything can happen without affecting normal reality, or glimpsing into the dark realm, home of the dread Dormamuu. Hearing Cumberbatch rolling out an American accent throughout his performance was strange (pun intended), but he managed to maintain it for the most part. As with the comics, you’re almost looking at a Tony Stark’s doppelgänger (can’t wait for those two to meet on screen), particularly where ego is concerned. Rachel McAdams seemed sidelined most of the time, neither a damsel in distress nor a love interest, just someone who is supposed to help keep Stephen grounded. Mads Mikkelsen’s villainous Kaecilius seems to be a temporary foil for Strange to face up to while Mordo (as comic fans know) waits in the wings to become the next major villain. It’s just that this seems to mirror the recent Green Lantern (2011) movie too. At least Mordo’s motivations are well played out here (sit through the credits!). Benedict Wong brings some humour as the humourless fellow mystic Wong, and he steals his scenes. Director Scott Derrickson almost appears to be a director for hire, channeling various other directors’ methodology. The warping reality and folding buildings are remindful of Christopher Nolan’s Inception. It’s almost hard to discern anything unique beyond the effects work, while much of the staging plays to the benefit of a 3D presentation. Coming from a mostly Horror movie background, Derrickson seems comfortable with the effects laden production. I’m not a fan of horror flicks, so I haven’t seen much of Derrickson’s work, save for the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. Even then, I can’t compare much. Despite it all, Doctor Strange is an above average romp of mystical and visual trips, aided greatly by Michael Giacchino’s score. The stars do well enough with a few solid turns, and the effects carry much of the movie. Entertaining as it is, it just doesn’t stand out as well as it could, falling back to formula when it’s obviously time to try something very different indeed. At least the post credits scene is a hoot and half, tying Doctor Strange to the rest of the cinematic Marvel Universe, and establishes his place in it. Best to catch it in 3D tho. Rating *** 1/2 / 5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. |
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