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thewlisian_afer) wrote2010-09-14 12:58 am
thewlisian_afer) wrote2010-09-14 12:58 am
[REVIEWS] Films: Kids/Family
Okay, so the last one in this set doesn't really fit the theme, but ... I wanted to watch it, dammit, and I already have too many review batches set and lined up. I couldn't make myself start a new one just for one movie that didn't perfectly fit anything I already had.
Despicable Me (2010)
Villainous Gru (Steve Carell) lives up to his reputation as a despicable, deplorable and downright unlikable guy when he hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care. Julie Andrews voices the role of Gru's malevolent mother in this comical, animated tale with Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett and Danny McBride rounding out the ensemble cast.
Cute. Not spectacular but definitely worth watching. I'm not much of a Steve Carell fan but this movie made me appreciate his talent for delivery. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times. [Rating: 3 stars]
CJ7 (2008)
Dicky (Jiao Xu) yearns for the hottest new toy -- a robotic dog -- but his poor father (Stephen Chow) gives him a strange, green ball he found in a junkyard instead. Turns out the unassuming present is actually an alien endowed with unearthly powers. Is Dicky ready for the responsibility of a pet that's capable of granting his every whim? Chow also directs, lending his off-kilter sensibility to this fable about being careful what you wish for.
Meh. This movie made me laugh out loud a handful of times and it made me cry once. But something about it just didn't work for me. It sounds weird and silly to say the problem is that the movie seemed unrealistic when it's about cute space aliens, but ... I dunno. There are some scenes where a couple of the kids have superhero-like abilities. In a superhero movie, that'd be fine. But that's not what this is, so it takes me out of the story. [Rating: 2 stars]
Ponyo (2008)
This Japanese anime feature from famed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki follows the adventures of a 5-year-old boy, Sosuke, and his burgeoning friendship with Ponyo, a goldfish princess who desperately wants to become human. After running away from and then being recaptured by her strict father, Ponyo -- with some help from Sosuke -- becomes more determined than ever to make her dreams come true. But will her wishes throw the entire earth off balance?
Well, I was utterly charmed by this. Big surprise; Miyazaki tends to have that effect on me. This wasn't my favorite of his, story-wise, but I still really liked it and I definitely adored the visuals. The story could have completely sucked and I still would have given it three stars just because of the lovely animation. Also, I loved the English voice casting. Especially Betty White, Cloris Leachman and Lily Tomlin. Old ladies FTW! XD [Rating: 4 stars]
Toy Story 3 (2010)
In this installment of the hit Pixar animated adventure, toy cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), his astronaut pal, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and their friends cope with their owner's departure for college -- and their new home in a daycare center. Lee Unkrich directs this family film that features the voices of Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Ned Beatty, Jodi Benson and Estelle Harris.
I'm not a huge Toy Story fan (I know, I know. Sacrilege.) but I liked this movie at least as much as the first one, and maybe a little more. I didn't cry, though. Everyone else I know who saw it went on about how much it made them cry. Am I soulless!? [Rating: 3 stars]
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
When a deal with the devil comes due, the immortal Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) must renegotiate the pact to save his daughter. Now, with the help of his mystical theater troupe and a mysterious stranger, Parnassus attempts to right the wrongs of his past. Terry Gilliam's quirky fantasy marks Heath Ledger's final film, with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law stepping in to complete his pivotal role.
Terry Gilliam, I do not always like or get your films but you are a genius; please never change. Guh. This film might be in the list of Gilliam stuff that I didn't entirely understand. It's also entirely possible that I did get it and am just doubting myself. That happens. XD I'm going to listen to the director's commentary to see if that helps. But, anyway, even if it turns out I didn't get it, I still loved watching it. That's part of what's so lovely about Terry Gilliam's work; there's always something wonderful to look at. And Tom Waits as the devil is simply brilliant casting. (Edit: Turns out I understood it perfectly. Or at least as well as the director himself understood it. XD I've had to raise my rating by half a star.) [Rating: 4 stars]
Despicable Me (2010)
Villainous Gru (Steve Carell) lives up to his reputation as a despicable, deplorable and downright unlikable guy when he hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care. Julie Andrews voices the role of Gru's malevolent mother in this comical, animated tale with Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett and Danny McBride rounding out the ensemble cast.
Cute. Not spectacular but definitely worth watching. I'm not much of a Steve Carell fan but this movie made me appreciate his talent for delivery. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times. [Rating: 3 stars]
CJ7 (2008)
Dicky (Jiao Xu) yearns for the hottest new toy -- a robotic dog -- but his poor father (Stephen Chow) gives him a strange, green ball he found in a junkyard instead. Turns out the unassuming present is actually an alien endowed with unearthly powers. Is Dicky ready for the responsibility of a pet that's capable of granting his every whim? Chow also directs, lending his off-kilter sensibility to this fable about being careful what you wish for.
Meh. This movie made me laugh out loud a handful of times and it made me cry once. But something about it just didn't work for me. It sounds weird and silly to say the problem is that the movie seemed unrealistic when it's about cute space aliens, but ... I dunno. There are some scenes where a couple of the kids have superhero-like abilities. In a superhero movie, that'd be fine. But that's not what this is, so it takes me out of the story. [Rating: 2 stars]
Ponyo (2008)
This Japanese anime feature from famed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki follows the adventures of a 5-year-old boy, Sosuke, and his burgeoning friendship with Ponyo, a goldfish princess who desperately wants to become human. After running away from and then being recaptured by her strict father, Ponyo -- with some help from Sosuke -- becomes more determined than ever to make her dreams come true. But will her wishes throw the entire earth off balance?
Well, I was utterly charmed by this. Big surprise; Miyazaki tends to have that effect on me. This wasn't my favorite of his, story-wise, but I still really liked it and I definitely adored the visuals. The story could have completely sucked and I still would have given it three stars just because of the lovely animation. Also, I loved the English voice casting. Especially Betty White, Cloris Leachman and Lily Tomlin. Old ladies FTW! XD [Rating: 4 stars]
Toy Story 3 (2010)
In this installment of the hit Pixar animated adventure, toy cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), his astronaut pal, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and their friends cope with their owner's departure for college -- and their new home in a daycare center. Lee Unkrich directs this family film that features the voices of Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Ned Beatty, Jodi Benson and Estelle Harris.
I'm not a huge Toy Story fan (I know, I know. Sacrilege.) but I liked this movie at least as much as the first one, and maybe a little more. I didn't cry, though. Everyone else I know who saw it went on about how much it made them cry. Am I soulless!? [Rating: 3 stars]
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
When a deal with the devil comes due, the immortal Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) must renegotiate the pact to save his daughter. Now, with the help of his mystical theater troupe and a mysterious stranger, Parnassus attempts to right the wrongs of his past. Terry Gilliam's quirky fantasy marks Heath Ledger's final film, with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law stepping in to complete his pivotal role.
Terry Gilliam, I do not always like or get your films but you are a genius; please never change. Guh. This film might be in the list of Gilliam stuff that I didn't entirely understand. It's also entirely possible that I did get it and am just doubting myself. That happens. XD I'm going to listen to the director's commentary to see if that helps. But, anyway, even if it turns out I didn't get it, I still loved watching it. That's part of what's so lovely about Terry Gilliam's work; there's always something wonderful to look at. And Tom Waits as the devil is simply brilliant casting. (Edit: Turns out I understood it perfectly. Or at least as well as the director himself understood it. XD I've had to raise my rating by half a star.) [Rating: 4 stars]