Stars (vocally) Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, Conrad Vernon with benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Annet Mahendru, Peter Stormare and Werner Herzog Directed by Eric Darnell & Simon J Smith The scene-stealing quartet of militant-minded flightless fowls get their own movie, after a few seasons on the small screen. As the tagline puts it, we get a peek into the ‘untold story’ as the movie opens when the Penguins are still small and fluffy, “some years ago.” The rest of the movie takes place post Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted as the Penguins decide to blow off the circus after too many nights of that annoying song introduced in the first Madagascar movie. What follows is pure cartoon plotting as the Penguins are soon involved with some international intrigue involving a diabolical mastermind with an absurd motive. Then there’s the North Wind, “An elite undercover inter-species task force dedicated to helping animals who can’t help themselves,” who are on a mission to take down the briny villain, Dave a.k.a Dr Octavius Brine. While the Penguins do what they normally do, providing much of the onscreen antics that would keep kids entertained, much of the humour comes from the excellent supporting cast of new characters, primarily John Malkovich as Dave the Octopus. While Dave doesn’t have much of the flimsiest motive to drive the plot (he’s the bad guy, that’s all you need, don’t ask why), Malkovich makes the most of his role, his dialogue rippling with wit and puns aimed very much at the accompanying adults and film fans, with thanks to writers John Aboud, Michael Colton and Brandon Sawyer for keeping the verbal gymnastics flowing fast and furious. As an example what to watch out for, early in the film when Dave wants his minions to capture the Penguins, he gives the order, “Nicolas, cage them!” Trying to catch them all will warrant additional viewing. Also obviously having a blast with his role is Benedict Cumberbatch as Agent “Classified”, leader of this particular North Wind task force the Penguins encounter. The animators play up the “Britishness” of his accent (even if he looks like a Husky/Wolf) by having him have a cup of tea at the oddest time, or playing the upper-class mannerisms that accompany his dulcet tones. The off-kilter genius casting extends to having Peter Stormare, known for fearsome villainous roles, as a fearsome and tough-looking polar bear who has a soft spot for the cute and cuddly as well as bagging Werner Herzog for an excellent cameo. While not as deep in terms of storytelling as DreamWorks’ more recent output (How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Croods, etc), this one is more light with some moderate attempts at character development. The Penguins are themselves as much as they’ve been with only the youngest of the lot, Private, trying to prove his worth to the team. Heading into the cinematic season of heady movies and Oscar-baiting dramas, Penguins of Madagascar is like a breather. It’s pure entertainment that knows it’s doing what it does best without really reaching for more than it needs to, much like the Penguins themselves. Rating: *** /5
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Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Willow Shields, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Sam Claflin, Jeffery Wright With Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson Directed by Francis Lawrence So, another finale that’s being split in two, Thank you Harry Potter! As much as one can be annoyed by this current practice of taking the final part of a book series and splitting it into two movies, this one has at least one little benefit. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ms Jennifer Lawrence. The annoyance, of course, is we’re waiting a full year for the second half. Not a week, like on TV, or six months for a nice early Summer blockbuster, but a year as the final instalment is scheduled for November 20, 2015. Let’s not even get started on The Hobbit being split to three butt-numbing movies. I can’t say anything about splitting the book as I still have yet to read it; decided to let the movies play out before reading it so as to not have any expectations where the story - movie-wise - is concerned. It might also beg the question if “The Hunger Games” is relevant to the overall title since the games are no more. At least, on the grand overt scale, but games are still being played. As Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) had put it in the previous instalment, and echoed here by President Snow (Donald Sutherland), “Moves and counter-moves.” The games are political this time, with the hearts and minds of the citizens of Panem being the ultimate prize. Fear vs Hope form a simple thematic standpoint. Being of science fiction stock, there are other themes at play with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) being the central figure which both sides attempt to manipulate in various ways; either to build her up to more than she is or to tear her down to insignificance. However you want to view that, it’s Jennifer Lawrence’s performance that holds the movie together as she carries the movie on her shoulders. Even though she is ably supported by a stellar supporting cast of heavyweight performers, Lawrence shines with an emotive performance that is truly remarkable and incredibly nuanced, especially given the complex emotional situations Katniss is thrown into, more than proving she is truly a cut above the rest of her generation of young actresses. Given the nature of the previous instalments, the pacing here is very different with only one central key action beat. Where we had the build up to and the games themselves before, you’re sometimes left wondering not just what’s to come - because it’s obvious - but when and how. For those who read the book, you’re probably wondering where the cut-point would be. Screenwriters, Peter Craig and Danny Strong manage to keep thing interesting while director Francis Lawrence achieves the impossible in giving us a bigger picture of the dystopian future. More of the other districts is shown while the Capitol is practically off-screen for most of the proceedings. The elaborate high-class bombarding designs that permeated throughout the previous films are replaced by bombed out war-zones, monochromatic living quarters and dank, depressive locales; all the more to emphasise the hardships of the citizens in the outlying districts. A remarkable flip of the coin from the glitz and glamour of the Capitol and yet, all part of the same world. Kudos to cinematographer Jo Willems and Production Designer Philip Messina. In all, this is a movie dense with ideas and yet, lean in how the information is delivered, keeping things fairly tight and reasonably paced without lagging. With a slew of new characters being introduced as Katniss settles into District 13, most of the returning cast gets sidelined. Sam Claflin’s Finnick sporadically appears, wheeled out as needed. While despite being in the credits, Jena Malone’s Johanna is missing for a huge majority of the movie. Liam Hemsworth finally gets some screen time with a meatier role as does Willow Shields as Katniss’ sister, Prim. Julianne Moore does well as President Alma Coin and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Plutarch stalks about the edges of almost every other scene, a grim reminder that the great actor is no longer with us. Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta appears sporadically as well, but each appearance is a remarkably nuanced and calculated performance. As mentioned before, it’s Lawrence’s show as she dominates every scene she appears in, proving exactly why Katniss is the one that everyone else has to rally around. And because of that…and another killer final scene, almost a reflection of the impressive close-up from the last instalment... it’s going to be a long year to wait for the finale. Rating: **** /5 Barnes and Noble / Amazon / Book Depository / ISBNS Net (for best deals) E-Bookshop / Lybrary / aLibris / Blackwell Stars Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki with appearances by Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Randall Duk Kim and Willem Dafoe Directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch After trying his hand at directing, Keanu Reeves settles for being directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, a couple of stuntmen he worked with on The Matrix trilogy. Reeves’ current output is interesting, moving in quite different directions. This might be the darkest character he’s taken on in a long while. As John Wick, Reeves might reestablish his action star status. The action set-pieces are truly amazing and each one sizzles with the numerous set-ups and locations, different fight styles from hand-to-hand or knife fights, and even a vehicular set-piece that is simply remarkable in its execution. Reeves proves himself more than able to carry out the stunts himself (reportedly). The story is set up within the first ten minutes of economic storytelling, giving you a sense of John’s current place in the world and what sets him off on his trail of vengeance. In terms of a story, there’s nothing completely original but what is there manages to hold everything together and string the action set-pieces coherently with some considerable skill. Reeves carries the movie well, delivering a solid performance as the titular character and he’s ably supported with a host of established stars popping up for cameo roles. Most are on-screen for very limited time, but they do help create the world that John inhabits, and what a world with its clandestine operations and rules. The cast of core characters is relatively small, but they do well without the sense of a bum note anywhere. Michael Nyqvist is solid, Alfie Allen is as weaselly as his Game of Thrones character,while Willem Dafoe is as reliable as ever. There isn’t much to expect and this is catered more to fans of action movies, and they do deliver on that front. Expect anything more, and you’ll likely be disappointed, looking for something that isn’t there. Rating: ***1/2 / 5 Barnes and Noble / Amazon / Book Depository / ISBNS Net (for best deals) E-Bookshop / Lybrary / aLibris / Blackwell Stars (vocally) Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, TJ Miller, Jaime Chung, Genseis Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Daniel Henney with James Cromwell, Maya Rudolph and Alan Tudyk Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams Despite coming from Disney Feature Animation, for me, this one had a feel of DreamWorks Animation with shades of Pixar. That’s Producer and Disney Animation guiding star, John Lasseter’s influence. Still, taken as it is, Big Hero 6 manages to pull off the impossible by putting on a Superhero Team origin story while playing with the smaller and more intimate hero’s journey of lead character, Hiro Hamada (voiced by Ryan Potter). Hiro is a young genius who finds himself thrown into unusual circumstances that leads him to create the titular team. At no point do they refer to themselves as such. We’re introduced to Hiro and his also genius brother, Tadashi (Daniel Henney), from the get go and then we spend much of the opening act getting to know them fairly intimately. Their bond is key to the overall plot. I’m not going to give to much away in this case and suggest you take the chance to let the story flow and embrace you, much like Baymax (Scott Adsit), Tadashi’s robot creation. Some may make the comparison of Baymax/Hiro to Toothless/Hiccup in DreamWorks’ How To Train Your Dragon, and therein lay my cross-company reference. Even the way Hiro gets his team together and their initial antics; it is the stuff of super-hero comics, and no surprise that the source is a Marvel mini-series even though the Marvel logo does not appear during the credits. However, if you are a Marvel fan, sharp eyed viewers may notice a particular cameo midway through the movie, and you may want to sit through the credits. The overall design of the world is truly amazing, the mixture of architectural structures that combine Eastern and Western influences truly bring San Fransokyo to vibrant life. Add to that the numerous characters and their costume designs, with the lighting and cinematography, and we have a visual feast. The flow of the story itself may test the patience of some children for the first half, and the complex emotional story of the second half may confuse them as well. In which case, this is not a movie that panders to the kids. Again, my thoughts go back to DreamWorks and their animated features that don’t aim for the younger viewers. There is a complexity in Hiro’s journey and the science fiction elements involved. Even Baymax makes scientific sense to a certain extent, not to mention the inventions of of Tadashi’s colleagues. Those are fun stuff. Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams manage to pull everything together to give us a credible nemesis with a logical motive for his actions, and having it tied to Hiro’s own experiences. The action itself is geographically logical and some are ingeniously structured. The music by Henry Jackman pulses with energy and emotion to drive the story. The humour works incredibly well with Baymax stealing every scene he’s in, which should delight the young ‘uns. If anything, it’s the supporting characters who get short-changed as their introductions are short and their appearances mainly serve Hiro’s tale. Their idiosyncrasies do shine through in their brief screen time, enough to really appreciate them. At best, do try to go for the 3D screening. The design within the movie accommodates that remarkably well and the final act pushes the 3D effects to the limit. The movie is very enjoyable and worthy of being a part of the Marvel movie landscape, even if it’s not officially a Marvel movie. Disney Animation may be giving Pixar a run for its money here. Rating: ****/5 Barnes and Noble / Amazon / Book Depository / ISBNS Net (for best deals) E-Bookshop / Lybrary / aLibris / Blackwell Many people seem to want to love this movie, while I have seen others disappointed by it. Aside from what's been seen in posters and trailers, I've tried to keep this spoiler-free. Hop on over to the Berning Along blog for a full review. Stars (vocally) Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, with Kate del Castillo, Hector Elizondo, Christina Applegate, Danny Trejo, Ice Cube and Ron Perlman Directed by Jorge R Gutierrez Taking a cue from the Walt Disney cartoons of old, The Book of Life plays out more like a fairy tale told to kids. It even begins with the titular book being opened and the words, “Once Upon A Time” appearing on the page, not that anyone actually quotes it. Instead, this particular tale is told to a bunch of kids (supposedly on detention or some school punishment) by unusual and mysterious museum guide, Mary Beth (Christina Applegate) who seems like a very old hand at handling such kids. The story itself plus out fairly simply. A long time ago in a little Mexican village, on the Day of the Dead, two rulers of the underworld - La Muerte (Kate del Castillo) and Xibalba (and excellent Ron Perlman) - make a bet revolving around the lives of three children; to see if Manolo, backed by La Muerte, or Joaquin, backed by Xibalba, would get the girl, Maria. As events play out during their childhood, Maria is soon sent away to study in Spain, while Joaquin joins the local soldiers and aspires to be like his hero father, and Manolo is trained to become the latest in his family’s line of bull fighters. While Joaquin fully embraces his position, thanks to a hidden medal given to him by Xibalba which bestows its wearer with increased strength and invulnerability, Manolo seems divided between his duty to family and following his passion in music. All that played out during an impressive montage that cuts between the two boys as the grow to adulthood. By the time Maria (Zoe Saldana) returns to the village, Joaquin (Channing Tatum) is a local hero and Manolo (Diego Luna) is about to have his first major bull-fight performance. The friendship between the three gets tested as both men begin to vie for Maria’s hand. The trailer does give away a little more as an obvious trip to the underworlds - The Land of The Remembered and The Land of The Forgotten and whatever else in between - is a highlight of the movie. While the overall designs of the worlds are quite spectacular, especially the very vibrant Land of The Remembered - a contrast to the world of the living previously envisioned in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride - the choice of character design is… rather… wooden. Perhaps this is reflective of a more traditional Mexican aesthetic, that such tales are usually done as wooden puppet theatre (I think), and maybe there might have been some intention to try making the movie with stop-motion animation techniques. There are some allusions to that as well. In any case, the main cast of characters are very vibrant in colour even if the wooden effects, ranging from smooth and polished to weathered and cracked depending on the age of the character, might take some getting used to. Especially with the traditional squash-and-stretch animation techniques employed throughout, unlike with the more recent stop-motion extravaganza, The BoxTrolls. Still, the use of colour, design and world-building lends itself very well to the nature of the story on show here, and despite not being able to catch it in 3D, the overall design of the worlds and animation would show-off beautifully in 3D, especially within the Land of The Remembered. As to the story, it’s a familiar hero’s journey that may hold the attention of some kids. We do cut back to the school kids and their reaction to the events in the story - and perhaps, some kids watching the movie may react the same way with the same questions. There are some flashes of brilliance with adequate touches of humour as well as some quite some interesting homage, particularly with the music. I thought it was quite brilliant how Manolo’s first bullfight was done to an updated version of Ennio Morricone’s The Ecstasy of Gold (from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly), but then there are this mariachi trio and their choice of ‘romantic songs’ to help Manolo win Maria’s heart… you’ll either laugh hard or cringe. The vocal performances work well with Ron Perlman’s Xibalba being a major highlight. Channing Tatum is a surprise as Joaquin (occasionally shouting his name every time he bounces into action) while Diego Luna does very well including singing the songs for Manolo. The surprises are more in the supporting characters, such as Hector Elizondo as Manolo’s father, or Cheech Marin as one of the Mariachi trio, Danny Trejo as Manolo’s grandfather or even Placido Domingo piping in. Listen hard and you just may spot producer Guillermo del Toro as well. del Toro has had a few years assisting and producing alongside DreamWorks Animation, among them Megamind, Rise of The Guardians, Kung Fu Panda 2 and most significantly Puss in Boots which some may compare to this. His influences here are noticeable. Writer and directer, Jorge Gutierrez, does a commendable job on his first major feature although for some, there may be a sense that he’s squeezing too much into the story. There are numerous themes going on, but I don’t think it feels very forced, allowing the themes to emerge organically through each of the character’s journey. It would allow for numerous viewings, and having something different to take away each time, or you can also simply sit back and be entertained; the visual aspect being an ocular feast. Rating: ****/5 Barnes and Noble / Amazon / Book Depository / ISBNS Net (for best deals) E-Bookshop / Lybrary / aLibris / Blackwell |
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