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Directed by : Jeanne McCarthy, Scott Rosenberg, Scott Rosenberg, Stella Vaccaro, Ted Field, Louise Mingenbach, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Edwards, Gyula Pados, Andrew Max Cahn

Produced by : Jeanne McCarthy, Scott Rosenberg, Scott Rosenberg, Stella Vaccaro, Ted Field, Louise Mingenbach, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Edwards, Gyula Pados, Andrew Max Cahn

Starring : Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Awkwafina, Nick Jonas, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Madison Iseman, Ser'Darius Blain

Company : Columbia Pictures, Seven Bucks Productions, HartBeat Productions, Matt Tolmach Productions, Teitler Film, Sony Pictures

Release date(s) : 2019-12-04

Running time :123 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $125,000,000

Storyline : The film is punchy, landing some great jokes that will make you laugh out loud, with an entertaining, slightly predictable story. It wasn’t as good as the first 'Jumanji', but it is a great quality sequel and is full of family fun!
- Lily Meek

Read Lily's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-jumanji-the-next-level-adventure-sequel-is-serious-family-fun
The Movie Was So Cool! I Want To Watch The Again And Again!
Fun and exciting. Highly recommended!
When it comes to constructing a successful sequel, sometimes it’s best not to mess with a proven formula. Such is the case with “Jumanji: The Next Level,” an energetic, rollicking, ridiculously amusing part two to the much-loved 2017 reboot (and surprise hit), “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” The storyline is nearly identical, but with a few twists thrown in for added amusement.

Now in college, buddies Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) are home for the holidays and can’t wait to see each other again. Spencer has been feeling a little depressed lately and, longing to feel that unbridled bravery again, decides to jump back into the game. It quickly becomes a rescue mission and the others must follow to get him out. But this time, the game has changed. Not only are the levels more challenging, the gang has unexpectedly picked up a couple of extra players — Spencer’s Grandpa Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his longtime friend Milo (Danny Glover).

The film was made for fans of the reboot, and it’s nearly impossible to be disappointed this second time around. It’s a fun reunion with likeable characters that you love spending time with. There are appropriate and enjoyable callback references to previous movie and, something that is rarely true of sequels, the quality stands up to it as well.

When the story adds a fun twist that mixes things up a bit, it allows the actors to really chew the scenery. All of the characters are out of whack, with only Martha going back into the game as her original character, the dance-fighting man-killer known as Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan). Fridge is now the overweight cartographer Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black), and Grandpa Eddie has taken over as the hunky and fearless Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson). Zoologist Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart) is now Milo, while Spencer re-enters the story as a brand new character (and one of the film’s best surprises).

It’s a given that Black will bring guaranteed laughs, but Hart and Johnson have very funny comedic timing and they play off each other so well. Their banter is consistently hilarious, especially when they are channeling their elderly avatar inhabitants. DeVito and his cantankerous shtick is a huge upgrade, as he delivers some of the biggest chortles in his all-too-brief supporting role.

There are plenty of exciting action sequences that complement the fast-paced fantasy adventure. The sense of real peril serves the film well, because it ramps up the emotional factor. So does the idea that friendship can foster a family, and by the end, this one will tug on your heartstrings.

The film gets right to the good stuff without a long or boring setup, and the story is roughly the same as its predecessor. There’s not much new plot-wise, but who cares when a movie is this much of a wild, entertaining ride?

Directed by : Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Chris Lebenzon, Bruce Berman, Richard D. Zanuck, Brad Grey, Roald Dahl, Roald Dahl, John August, Philippe Rousselot

Produced by : Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Chris Lebenzon, Bruce Berman, Richard D. Zanuck, Brad Grey, Roald Dahl, Roald Dahl, John August, Philippe Rousselot

Starring : Freddie Highmore, Johnny Depp, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, James Fox, AnnaSophia Robb, Julia Winter, Jordan Fry

Company : Village Roadshow Pictures, The Zanuck Company, Tim Burton Productions, Theobald Film Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, Plan B Entertainment

Release date(s) : 2005-07-13

Running time :115 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $150,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Bram Stoker, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mary Hidalgo, Michael McCullers, Adam Sandler, Mary Shelley, Michelle Murdocca, Robert Smigel, Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson, Joyce Arrastia

Produced by : Bram Stoker, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mary Hidalgo, Michael McCullers, Adam Sandler, Mary Shelley, Michelle Murdocca, Robert Smigel, Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson, Joyce Arrastia

Starring : Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Fran Drescher, Kathryn Hahn

Company : Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures

Release date(s) : 2018-06-28

Running time :97 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $80,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Celestia Fox, Roald Dahl, Harvey Harrison, Tony Lawson, Nicolas Roeg, Stanley Myers, Jim Henson, Mark Shivas, Dusty Symonds, Allan Scott

Produced by : Celestia Fox, Roald Dahl, Harvey Harrison, Tony Lawson, Nicolas Roeg, Stanley Myers, Jim Henson, Mark Shivas, Dusty Symonds, Allan Scott

Starring : Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Paterson, Jane Horrocks, Brenda Blethyn, Charlie Potter, Anne Lambton, Sukie Smith

Company : Lorimar Film Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company, Warner Bros. Pictures

Release date(s) : 1990-05-25

Running time :91 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget : 

Storyline :

Directed by : Arthur Coburn, Michael De Luca, Kyle Balda, Mike Werb, Craig Stearns, Rick Barker, Deborah Moore, Deborah Moore, Joe Fineman, Lisa Van Cott

Produced by : Arthur Coburn, Michael De Luca, Kyle Balda, Mike Werb, Craig Stearns, Rick Barker, Deborah Moore, Deborah Moore, Joe Fineman, Lisa Van Cott

Starring : Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Nancy Fish, Tim Bagley, Peter Greene, Johnny Williams, Peter Riegert, Amy Yasbeck, Richard Jeni, Orestes Matacena

Company : Dark Horse Entertainment, New Line Cinema

Release date(s) : 1994-07-29

Running time :101 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :svenska, English

Budget :  $23,000,000

Storyline : Fun fantasy-comedy that utilizes Jim Carrey's physicality, and comedic timing, to the extreme and while some of the jokes didn't land and the mask himself (both Stanley and Dorian) was a bit ridiculous, even within the confines of this universe, still found it to be entertaining enough, plus it is Cameron Diaz's feature debut... **3.5/5**

Directed by : Zoë Bell, Zoë Bell, Javier Aguirresarobe, Dan Hennah, David Farmer, Sarah Halley Finn, Mark Mothersbaugh, Stan Lee, Stan Lee, Kevin Feige

Produced by : Zoë Bell, Zoë Bell, Javier Aguirresarobe, Dan Hennah, David Farmer, Sarah Halley Finn, Mark Mothersbaugh, Stan Lee, Stan Lee, Kevin Feige

Starring : Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Idris Elba, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch

Company : Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

Release date(s) : 2017-10-25

Running time :131 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $180,000,000

Storyline : _Ragnarok_ is a tough one to review completely without spoiler, so I'll keep this brief:

* I was bothered by a small number of things that happened in this movie.
* I was in love with a large number of things that happened in this movie.
* _Thor: Ragnarok_ is not the MCU's best movie.
* _Thor: Ragnarok_ is the MCU's most fun movie.
* Can we **please** have a worldwide ban on putting anything that happens in the third act of your movie, in said movie's trailers?
Thank you for your time. 4 stars.


_Final rating:★★★★ - Very strong appeal. A personal favourite._
The Best CBM movie of 2017

The film is one of the most entertaining of the MCU films so far and a HUGE improvement over Thor: The Dark World. Cate Blanchett as the villainess Hela, the Goddess of Death, is a far better villain that TDW's lame Malekith. Kat Dennings' annoying Darcy and Natalie Portman's bland Jane are not missed at all. Instead, we get Tessa Thompson's badass Valkyrie, who can hold her own in a fight and isn't just there just as a love interest for Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Jeff Goldblum is hilarious as Grandmaster, who runs the gladiator fights on the planet Sakaar. But the real pleasure of the movie is watching the love-hate brother relationship between Thor and his adoptive brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). The relationship between the two men was the only redeeming feature of TDW, and it's great to see it expanded in this movie. Also great is seeing Thor buddy up with Bruce Banner/ Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). The only thing I didn't like about the movie was the fate of The Warriors Three. They deserved better than that. But otherwise, it's a great comic book movie.
From minute one, Thor Ragnarok bursts onto the screen with a new found energy, style, Jeff Goldblum, beautiful use of colours and shot compositions, an amazing 80s inspired music score, and comedy that's actually funny. Somehow, Thor Ragnarok is both the darkest film in the entire MCU given that it deals with the destruction of an entire world, and the most lighthearted.

Thor Ragnarok is very much a Taika Waititi film that uses Marvel lore and characters. It has many shocking twists, turns, witty comedy, and pleasant re-introductions (and introductions) to some of the MCU's best characters that I can't wait to see more of. Oh, and did I mention this movie has Jeff Goldblum?!
This movie sets a new bar for the MCU. It's funny, entertaining and VERY fun. It takes a completely different yet good turn from the past 2 movies and is a colourful blast.
Too bad. I loved the first two Thor movies and was expecting that the third one will hold up to the quality of the first two. But I guess today it's really hard to pull off a trilogy that'll ring throughout the years like how the Wachowskis did with the Matrix.
Marvel films are known for sneaking humor in between action sequences, but I don't know what they did with this one. The choreography was lame and I don't understand why Thor felt like he was trying too hard to be funny.
Despite all the hate surrounding this movie, I actually enjoyed it. If you're as big of a fan of "Thor" like me, then you pretty much just like everything that comes out with him on it.
Thor's character is great with the other Avengers, but he just doesn't do that well as a stand-alone character with his own storyline. It's sad because he had so much potential too.
Story could've been great but it seemed to me that the writers got lazy with the script and just opted to feed Thor some cheesy humor that made him seem like this kid who was trying too hard to be funny instead of the GOD of Thunder the first two films built him up to be.
I'm a big fan of Thor but I just couldn't bring myself to like what they did to him in this film. I get that he's going through tough times but turning him from being a thundering, huge god to a man-child who shoots lightning is such an insult to Thor.
I know not a lot of people found the humor to be funny but my family and I actually loved it!
As a big fan of stand-up comedy, I can say this one really delivered. Most of the jokes had perfect timing and executed in perfect deadpan. Would want another movie like this!
I really don't understand why everyone's hating this movie. I remember myself and everyone else in the cinema, laughing our asses off all throughout the movie.
Childish humor, the same fight scenes and although I gotta say that the plot was creative, it still didn't do it for me.
This wasn't the Thor movie I expected. Seeing as Marvel did so well with the first two Thor films, I'm surprised this turned out to be a big joke.
If you enjoy 8 year old humor and cheesy one-liners, then go ahead and watch this movie. Otherwise, go pick another film.
Meh it passed the time. I honestly didn't hate the film but didn't find it to be as entertaining as the other films Marvel has already put out.
This does it for me. I expected more from Thor as he is the God of Thunder and you could do so much with him but they weren't able to do that in this film.
Thor's soundtrack was always cool, but not on this film.
The two earlier Thor films had a more "godlike" tone to them. Why not keep that and use it with the third one? This is a huge downgrade for Thor.

Directed by : Andrew Stanton, John Lasseter, Kyrsten Mate, Darla K. Anderson, Ralph Eggleston, Harley Jessup, Bud Luckey, Angus MacLane, Jan Pinkava, Jan Pinkava

Produced by : Andrew Stanton, John Lasseter, Kyrsten Mate, Darla K. Anderson, Ralph Eggleston, Harley Jessup, Bud Luckey, Angus MacLane, Jan Pinkava, Jan Pinkava

Starring : Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Will Arnett, Julius Callahan

Company : Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures

Release date(s) : 2007-06-22

Running time :111 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $150,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Theodore Shapiro, Justin Timberlake, Wallace Wolodarsky, Nick Fletcher, Glenn Berger, Glenn Berger, Jonathan Aibel, Jonathan Aibel, Maya Forbes, Gina Shay

Produced by : Theodore Shapiro, Justin Timberlake, Wallace Wolodarsky, Nick Fletcher, Glenn Berger, Glenn Berger, Jonathan Aibel, Jonathan Aibel, Maya Forbes, Gina Shay

Starring : Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Ron Funches, Rachel Bloom, James Corden, Kelly Clarkson, Anderson .Paak, Sam Rockwell, George Clinton, Mary J. Blige

Company : DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures

Release date(s) : 2020-03-12

Running time :91 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget : 

Storyline : The 'Trolls' franchise could have been another cheap brand name recognition film, like 'The Grinch' or the upcoming 'Scoob!', but when you have a team that cares about the project at every level, you end up with not only a fun kid's film, but one with a powerful message.
- Chris dos Santos

Read Chris' full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-trolls-world-tour-poppy-and-the-gang-are-back-and-rocking-harder-than-ever

Directed by : James J. Murakami, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Trevor Albert, Danny Rubin, Danny Rubin, John Bailey, George Fenton, Howard Feuer

Produced by : James J. Murakami, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Harold Ramis, Trevor Albert, Danny Rubin, Danny Rubin, John Bailey, George Fenton, Howard Feuer

Starring : Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, Angela Paton, Rick Ducommun, Rick Overton, Robin Duke, Willie Garson

Company : Columbia Pictures

Release date(s) : 1993-02-11

Running time :101 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English, Français, Italiano

Budget :  $14,600,000

Storyline : Funny story done to fit on Bill Murray's shoes.

It is good enough and with a moral for the family but I don't get it what this is such a famous movie.
I can watch this movie again and again and again. Just trying to imagine what I would do in such a situation. And who doesn't like groundhogs?
**The Future is Not a Given**

_Groundhog Day_ sets out to accomplish the inconceivable, where few comedies, or movies of any kind, or art forms of any device dare to tread. It is determined to ultimately answer: How does one find true happiness. The kind of baby that might have been hatched by crossing Woody Allen and Dali Lama. What's truly amazing is that it pretty well achieves this without being pretentious or portentous. Its humble, pedestrian style coincides with it's charitable message. Furthermore, it's a riot!

What do you do when the snowstorm of life traps you into a place you don't want to be? Self-destructive anarchy is an option: drinking, stealing, screwing, lying, joyriding and suicide. But this is a big storm so long-term solutions are required. The good news if you're lonely and unhappy? You probably have more time to dedicate to self- improvement (music lessons, ice sculpturing).

But challenging the self must have worthwhile outcomes. Phil, believing he's magical, challenges himself to get Rita to sleep with him within 24 hours. He's being dishonest, still playing games and ends up getting slapped in the face repeatedly. It appears that Phil's obstinate pattern of narcissistic behaviour is the cause of this inert existential loop, and one that traps everyone he is in contact with. When he finally realizes that while money, sex and immediate self-gratification might have their perks, they are short-lived and vastly overrated, and a major personality overhaul will be required to escape this Kafkaesque nightmare. An endless, insanely frigid winter is bound to contain him (them (us)) unless new strategies are introduced, alternative energies adopted, the shift away from a self-serving paradigm sustained.

To his credit, Phil refuses to be cornered into the status quo and become one in a million zombies chanting “it is what it is”. Phil actually starts to recover when he gives up trying. When he dismisses the quick fixes (sex, booze, anger, lying and fighting), when he relinquishes his ego and lets go of his smarmy King Joffrey-Justin Bieber juvenility, when he learns to be himself, like himself, settle into his own skin so he can thrive in and, in turn, improve his surroundings. In a reversal of _It's a Wonderful Life_, rather than Bedford Falls being worse off from George's absence, Punxsutawney is better off with Phil's presence. Routine days require routine acts of kindness and Phil and the entire town collectively benefit from it. Phil is a born-again humanist, one who rescues himself from himself, escaping a solipsistic rotation of mutually-destructive behaviour simply by being a good Samaritan. The forecast: many rewarding days of sunshine.

I always had a bit of a problem with the ending. That the cycle of unhappiness only ends when the guy gets the girl. But now I see that getting the girl was coincidental (and symbolic). Before he gets the girl he has to get himself. That's how you put a reverse spin on a downward spiral. The girl is now able to love the boy because he is love-worthy. The boy could be anyone. A politician. A corporation. You.

Directed by : Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Richard L. Anderson, Warren Skaaren, Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins, John Warnke, Cheryl Carasik, Bob Badami, Bo Welch

Produced by : Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Richard L. Anderson, Warren Skaaren, Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins, John Warnke, Cheryl Carasik, Bob Badami, Bo Welch

Starring : Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Glenn Shadix, Sylvia Sidney, Patrice Martinez, Dick Cavett

Company : Geffen Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Release date(s) : 1988-02-29

Running time :92 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $15,000,000

Storyline : Inventive and Fun take on the Afterlife.

RELEASED IN 1988 and directed by Tim Burton, “Beetlejuice” chronicles the story of a couple (Alec Baldwin & Geena Davis) who accidently perish after moving to a quaint Connecticut town. They find themselves sentenced to “haunting” their former house where they try to scare the new wannabe swank couple out (Jeffrey Jones & Catherine O'Hara), but they find that their Goth daughter is more curious than scared (Winona Ryder). Michael Keaton plays the eponymous madcap “bio-exorcist” while Glenn Shadix is on hand as the new couple’s interior designer.

This was Burton’s debut on the silver screen and the first half is hilarious entertainment mixed with some interesting insights on the afterlife. The movie puts its best foot forward, but the second half isn’t as compelling and I think the title character is more annoying than amusing.

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour & 32 minutes and was shot in beautiful East Corinth, Vermont, and (studio) Culver City, California. WRITERS: Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson and Warren Skaaren.

GRADE: B+

Directed by : Sarah Bradshaw, Danny Elfman, Guillermo Navarro, Stephen Gaghan, Stephen Gaghan, Stephen Gaghan, Nick Moore, Craig Alpert, William M. Connor, Gary Tomkins

Produced by : Sarah Bradshaw, Danny Elfman, Guillermo Navarro, Stephen Gaghan, Stephen Gaghan, Stephen Gaghan, Nick Moore, Craig Alpert, William M. Connor, Gary Tomkins

Starring : Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Buckley, Harry Collett, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani

Company : Universal Pictures, Team Downey, Perfect World Pictures, RK films

Release date(s) : 2020-01-01

Running time :101 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English, Français

Budget :  $175,000,000

Storyline : If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @
https://www.msbreviews.com

We have all watched the Dolittle movies starring Eddie Murphy. I'm not going to lie, I was never a fan of these films. Yes, they're purposefully dumb, innocent, and feature that basic level of comedy. They never annoyed me, but they also never did anything remarkably surprising. 2020's version of the known tale is the first post-MCU role of Robert Downey Jr., it boasts an A-list cast, and… it's one of the worst movies of the year, without a single doubt. A complete disaster in every area of filmmaking.

I don't even know where to start. Maybe with RDJ since he's the most significant negative surprise. I can't believe such a charismatic and now iconic actor like him could deliver a performance this awful. His Welsh (?) accent is not only a terrible choice character-wise, but I doubt that any children can understand what he's saying. RDJ acts like a baffling caricature of himself, not helping an already flawed film. The voice work from the remaining cast might be the only positive of the whole movie, but the CGI animals are way too unconvincing.

However, as always, the most impactful issues belong to the actual story. Instead of being an entertaining and fun adventure, it's an incredibly boring, nonsensical, structure-less journey into one of the most ridiculous third acts of cinema. Even placing myself in a child's mind, I don't think I would be able to enjoy this mess of a screenplay. Like I wrote above, not even the animals look great…

Certain characters possess these unknown relationships that the audience is supposed to care about, but no background is given to any of them. Tons of plot points lack a logical explanation. The entire narrative is void of any creativity or uniqueness whatsoever, looking simply like a lazy, unimaginative piece of work. The "young queen who falls gravely ill" is just a woman sleeping in bed, not looking ill at all, which proves that not even the makeup department was interested in making an effort.

But all of the issues above are nothing compared to the film's climax. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just write that I still can't believe what I witnessed. Around ninety minutes of build-up lead to the most shocking, hilarious, utterly absurd moment. The humor is a level below childish. Dozens of fart jokes (including one during the climax), over-the-top reactions, and I don't even know what else. Between Bloodshot, Fantasy Island, and The Grudge… Let the devil come and choose!

All in all, Dolittle is a massive fail at all levels. It was meant to be one of the worst movies of the year, and it undoubtedly accomplished this goal. From the surprisingly awful performance from Robert Downey Jr. to one of the most shockingly terrible climaxes in the history of cinema, Stephen Gaghan delivers a structure-less screenplay, filled with nonsensical narrative decisions, and featuring an extremely dull adventure. The CGI animals are far from being remotely impressive, the characters lack personality (bringing an A-list actor doesn't guarantee anything), and the comedy is so astonishingly basic that I doubt kids will laugh at some of the jokes, and they laugh at everything. With a budget of 175M (!!!), it's not understandable how and why a studio would waste this much money on such an obvious flop. The voice work from the cast is good… and it genuinely could have been worse. This is the closest I can get to a positive.

Rating: D-

Directed by : Andrew Stanton, Andrew Stanton, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, John Lasseter, Ren Klyce, Randy Newman, Bob Pauley, Jean-Claude Kalache, Katherine Sarafian

Produced by : Andrew Stanton, Andrew Stanton, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, John Lasseter, Ren Klyce, Randy Newman, Bob Pauley, Jean-Claude Kalache, Katherine Sarafian

Starring : Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Madeleine McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Ally Maki

Company : Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar

Release date(s) : 2019-06-19

Running time :100 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $175,000,000

Storyline : Rather than offering an even more potent ending, ‘Toy Story 4’ ends up being an unnecessary epilogue, offering little to enrich the overall narrative of the series and never cashing in on the actual possibilities it offers. This could have worked if it had explored a new story in the 'Toy Story' universe, and Forky certainly makes it clear that such a move could have worked beautifully. Instead, we have a film that feels tired and forced, lacking in clarity or inspiration, serving neither its classic characters or its new ones, and ultimately never justifying its existence. It’s certainly an enjoyable film, but it’s hardly a necessary one.
- Daniel Lammin

Read Daniel's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-toy-story-4-entertaining-but-thoroughly-unnecessary
I very much enjoyed _Toy Story 4_. I thought it was good, and I think it doesn't at all "undo" the perfect ending that the third entry gave us, which was a legitimate fear some people had. What I will say however, is that I don't understand **just how much** most people seem to have loved it. I have seen multiple people say it's the best of the four, and I more think it's the... worst. That's not a knock! This is a **seriously** good series (and also I think it might actually be either better than or maybe as good _Toy Story 2_). But I am not quite feeling the **overwhelming** positivity that it has garnered from a lot of my peers.

_Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
Dang, is it dusty in here? After what was a near perfect conclusion with Toy Story 3, wasn't sure if this was really needed. I'm glad they did go through with it and although it's not exactly unpredictable, still was highly entertaining with some genuine emotions and a great finale for Woody. Really says a lot that as good as this was, it's still the fourth best movie of the series. **4.0/5**

Don't really want a TS5 but wouldn't mind some short Toy Story Toons with the group...
Not entirely necessary, but 'Toy Story 4' still produces goods worthy of being attached to the initial trilogy.

Tom Hanks, I'm sounding like a broken record but..., is still tremendous as Woody, I love hearing his voice in this role. Tim Allen is solid as Buzz Lightyear, but I kinda feel they don't use him - or the other originals - enough considering who they are. It is, though, cool to see an old face return in Bo Peep (Annie Potts).

There are some more new characters and yet again, like in the past films, they strike the right chords. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are, entirely unsurprisingly, funny in the roles of Ducky & Bunny. Christina Hendricks is a good Gabby, while Keanu Reeves amuses as Duke Caboom.

The film focuses on giving the viewer(s) extremely heartfelt moments and for the vast majority it hits as intended, though they do try to tug on the heart too much in parts. The animation is stunning, especially in the early scene with RC.

Is it a thing everyone wanted? Most probably not. Yet is there fun to be had? Most definitely. For a third sequel, you gotta give respect to Pixar & Co.

Directed by : Bill Pope, Laura Jean Shannon, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Ronaldo Vasconcellos, Marc Platt, Robin D. Cook, Marcus Rowland

Produced by : Bill Pope, Laura Jean Shannon, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Ronaldo Vasconcellos, Marc Platt, Robin D. Cook, Marcus Rowland

Starring : Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza

Company : Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Big Talk Productions, Closed on Mondays Entertainment, DENTSU, Scott Pilgrim Productions

Release date(s) : 2010-08-12

Running time :112 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $60,000,000

Storyline :

Directed by : Michael Uslan, Benjamin Wallfisch, Dwayne Johnson, Maxime Alexandre, Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Peter Safran, Christopher Godsick, Shane Vieau, Michael Ewing

Produced by : Michael Uslan, Benjamin Wallfisch, Dwayne Johnson, Maxime Alexandre, Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Peter Safran, Christopher Godsick, Shane Vieau, Michael Ewing

Starring : Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Faithe Herman, Meagan Good, Grace Fulton, Michelle Borth, Ian Chen

Company : DC Entertainment, DC Comics, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, The Safran Company, Seven Bucks Productions, DC Films

Release date(s) : 2019-03-29

Running time :132 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $80,000,000

Storyline : Growing up I was a regular viewer of the Shazam and Isis “Super Power Hour” on television. Back before the days of mega-budgeted Super Hero movies; we had to content ourselves with cartoons and low budget television offerings which did their best to capture the look and action of comic characters within the budget and technology limits they had to deal with.
Warner Bros. has brought their latest DC hero to the big screen with “Shazam!” and it looks to launch a new franchise for the studio and build on the success of “Wonder Woman” and “Aquaman” following some earlier disappointments with their planned hero franchise films.
The film follows the story of young Billy Batson (Asher Angel), who has grown up in and fled several Foster Homes after being lost at a Carnival years earlier and unable to find his mother. Billy has never stopped trying to find her and even takes extreme measures to try to find her that has gotten him in trouble with the law.
While trying to stick up for a family member at his latest Foster Home; Billy is forced to flee from some local goons and finds himself facing an ancient Wizard (Djimon Honsou; who tells him he will now have superior powers when he speaks his name as he is now a guardian against the forces of evil.
Billy does not believe this but upon uttering the name; he transforms into a powerful hero in adult form. Zach Levi plays the title hero and soon finds himself eager to test his new powers and his Super Hero obsessed Foster Brother is more than happy to mentor him and make all sorts of viral videos of his efforts and training.
Their efforts soon draw the attention of an evil individual (Mark Strong), who covets the power Billy has for himself as along with the Seven Deadly Sins; he looks to become an unstoppable force for evil and sets out to destroy all that stands in his way.
The film is aimed more for a younger audience as much of the humor is squarely focused on Middle School level jokes. There are more than a few references to “Big” along the way which does sum up a good portion of the backstory as when he is in hero form; the young boy without a family is a popular and dynamic adult.
In many ways this was one of the more odd aspects of the film. Billy is a dour and untrusting individual most of the time; however when he is hero form he is a jovial and goofy individual who acts like a teenager. I could see an increase in confidence but it is odd considering that they are the same person.
Levi is very energetic in the part and goes all in and he does a great job of conveying a kid in a man’s body. The biggest issue with the film is that there is mostly a lot of humor aimed at a much younger audience and large gaps with minimal action which made sitting through numerous childish antics a bit tedious at times.
Despite this; the film was entertaining and one of the better adaptions of a comic. The door is wide open for future adventures and I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.
3.5 stars out of 5
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First of all, I didn’t know anything about Shazam. What his powers were, what story did he have … Basically, I didn’t know who he was. This is what David F. Sandberg‘s movie does best: introduce the audience to a new DC superhero, by delivering an uncommonly well-structured comic-book screenplay, packed with laughter and entertaining action. Zachary Levi is undoubtedly the standout! Not only is he hilarious, but he perfectly captures the childlike personality that a kid-turned-adult would have. His expressions of absolute surprise and awe of his powers are extremely precious, and he effortlessly carries the more lighthearted tone on his shoulders.

Asher Angel is brilliant as Billy Batson. His character has a notably well-written and well-explored backstory, which eventually justifies the person he has become. It’s the most emotional and heartfelt subplot of the film (probably the only one, really), and Henry Gayden did a fantastic job writing its script. It doesn’t feel cliche or over-the-top, it actually feels grounded and quite realistic. Jack Dylan Grazer plays his best friend, Freddy Freeman, and he’s the primary source of self-aware comedy. He knows all the cliches regarding superheroes and supervillains, so his jokes constantly land and play seamlessly into the last act.

Usually, villains tend to be hollow characters with paper-thin motivations, but since a few years ago, this issue has gradually been corrected. The latest comic-book movies have incredibly well-developed villains, who carry a compelling backstory that entirely supports their beliefs, but not their actions. This type of villains work because not only the audience can understand where they come from, but in some cases, they can even connect with and care about them. Dr. Thaddeus Sivana is not exactly someone the audience ends up caring about, but his backstory is emotionally powerful enough for us to understand where his motivations originate from. Mark Strong delivers a menacing performance, and his costume/make-up looks pretty badass.

The first act is kind of a mixed bag. It starts in a very captivating way, and once you understand who’s the character at the center, it gets even better. However, the film’s tone takes long to establish itself, and the beginning of the movie struggles to find which jokes land and which don’t. The humor is on-point throughout the rest of the runtime, but those first few jokes not so much, which threw me off a little bit. The action sequences are amazing, and the sound design allows the audience to feel every punch, kick, a fall on the ground or a Superman-ish take-off. The fight sequences are seamlessly edited, and you know how much I love well-choreographed or well-edited action scenes.

Shazam‘s search for his powers provides the funniest and most entertaining moments of the film. Each test that he puts himself through is both hilarious and informative. This is another aspect of the screenplay I love so much: they had several ideas of how to approach this segment, and they nailed every single execution. From the pop-culture references to the hero-villain cliches, Sandberg did a terrific job exploring those concepts, and he executed them flawlessly. The best jokes are the ones that can be funny on different levels for different people. If people can laugh at a particular scene solely due to it, but other people can laugh even more because that moment means so much more to them, that’s when you know a joke is perfect. Shazam is not only funny for comic-book fans, everyone can leave the theater entertained and jolly.

It’s still a straightforward superhero movie. There’s still a villain to defeat, and the film goes through all of the cliches that it makes so much fun of. Everyone knows how it’s going to develop, plot point by plot point, a few minutes in. Not that I consider this a flaw, it’s just … It is what it is. The final battle drags too much, and it keeps ending and restarting every five minutes. It does have a pretty cool conclusion, but it takes a bit too long to get there. Also, and I know that this is one of those logical nitpicks that CinemaSins are known for digging, but the flashbacks and time-jumps could have received better treatment concerning the age of the characters. One thing is to think that the characters would look much older/younger than what they display on-screen, but when they make them look exactly the same in the span of 30/40 years … Not so acceptable.

All in all, Shazam is a blast! It’s the most entertaining movie I’ve seen so far this year, and it’s freaking hilarious. It continues the comic-book films trend to change how villains are written, by delivering a well-developed bad guy, menacingly portrayed by Mark Strong. Every member of the cast gives a strong performance, but Zachary Levi steals the show. His whimsical attitude, reckless personality, and rich facial expressions are guaranteed to entertain you for most of the runtime. Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer are outstanding as the young kids, and the former’s backstory carries emotional impact which passes on to the big guy he transforms himself into.

The action is packed with beautifully-edited sequences, powerful sound design, and cool, unique moments, but the supposedly climactic final battle drags too much. The first act struggles to find its rhythm and its tone, but once it gets going, it’s an exceptional journey. The best praise I can give Sandberg‘s movie is that I didn’t know anything about Shazam before entering the theater, and now I can’t wait for its sequel. Well-directed, well-written and remarkably entertaining. What more can I ask? Go see it!

Rating: B+
It's entertaining, it has heart, and it's joyful. It has been proven time and time again that these things are what is required for a good Superhero film.
After the spiderman movies, this has to be the most annoying superhero movie I've seen to date. It took nearly an hour for the movie to actually get interesting and during that whole time one is treated to 2 super annoying teenagers.

Honestly, I'm glad I didn't go to the cinema for this otherwise I'd constantly be reaching for remote to press the fast forward button. About the only redeeming quality of this film was the picture and acceptable acting from everybody involved. Pity everything else was bad.

There's no way I'd willingy watch this again. No way.
Definitely has its moments, bit in total the movie feels inconsistent which kills most of the buzz. It switches from rather serious scenes where people actually get hurt to PG-6 compatible simple humor back and forth a few times.
With ever transformation the whole character changes, Shazam acting more like a 5 Year old than the 15 Year old Teenager he's supposed to be.
Freddy sometimes acts downright malicious, which is not a problem per se except that everyone else doesn't really seem to be bothered much by it.

Still not a bad take on the comic, but it feels inconsistent and left me wondering what age the target audience is supposed to be ...
The titular Shazam and has alter-ego Billy Batson feel like completely different characters. This is not unheard of for a superhero by any stretch, but when accompanied by a change of actor, it's a pretty jarring situation. I also have a hard time figuring out who the target demographic is with this thing. Seems all over the place.

But! at the end of the day, the most important question is "Did I enjoy _Shazam!_?" and to that the answer is still somehow yes. Probably the best that the DCIThoughSheWasWithUniverse has to offer (with the glaring exception of _Wonder Woman_).

_Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
Zachary Levi is a hoot in this super-hero comedy reminiscent of the now classic Big with Tom Hanks. We get a solid first half, even two thirds, but why oh why do these movies almost always seem to revert to formula in the 3rd act? Been there, done that...
Second viewing and my feelings pretty much remain the same. Fun moments and Zachary Levi was very good in the leading role and although not terribly memorable, Mark Strong made for a fine villain, that said, some of the humor wasn't for me, although I did enjoy some of director David F. Sandberg's more horror-centric style shined through with the Seven Deadly Sins.

Directed by : Hal Gausman, Walt Disney, Robert O. Cook, Carroll Clark, Robert Stevenson, P.L. Travers, Bill Walsh, Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi, Richard M. Sherman

Produced by : Hal Gausman, Walt Disney, Robert O. Cook, Carroll Clark, Robert Stevenson, P.L. Travers, Bill Walsh, Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi, Richard M. Sherman

Starring : Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen

Company : Walt Disney Productions

Release date(s) : 1964-08-27

Running time :139 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $6,000,000

Storyline : Set in Edwardian London, Jane and Michael Banks are two children in a middle class London suburb. Their parents are distant from the children and each nanny they employ leaves in exasperation after the chaos the children cause.

The children's father is a banker who is cold towards them and their mother is too busy with the suffragette movement.They want the perfect nanny and in a sudden gust of wind, Mary Poppins drops by. She possesses magical powers such as a bottomless handbag. Mary Poppins changes the life of the children and also meets up with her friend Bert, the one man band.

Mary Poppins combines live action with Disney animation as well as some memorable songs and in Dick Van Dyke an unforgettable cockney accent.

The movie is regarded as a Disney classic but I found the animation to be below average, the film overlong and not all that amusing.

Directed by : Sonia Grande, Juliet Taylor, Woody Allen, Woody Allen, Alisa Lepselter, Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, Darius Khondji, Anne Seibel, Helen Robin

Produced by : Sonia Grande, Juliet Taylor, Woody Allen, Woody Allen, Alisa Lepselter, Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, Darius Khondji, Anne Seibel, Helen Robin

Starring : Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Michael Sheen, Nina Arianda, Carla Bruni, Maurice Sonnenberg, Thierry Hancisse, Guillaume Gouix

Company : Pontchartrain Productions, Gravier Productions, Mediapro, Versátil Cinema, TV3

Release date(s) : 2011-05-11

Running time :94 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English, Français, Deutsch, Español

Budget :  $30,000,000

Storyline : Really nice movie, done with a great delicacy.

Worth watching to get in love with Paris but it is also a great story of self knowledge and evolution.

Directed by : Dion Beebe, Francine Maisler, P.L. Travers, Sandy Powell, Michael Higham, Michael Higham, Marc Shaiman, David Magee, David Magee, Gordon Sim

Produced by : Dion Beebe, Francine Maisler, P.L. Travers, Sandy Powell, Michael Higham, Michael Higham, Marc Shaiman, David Magee, David Magee, Gordon Sim

Starring : Emily Blunt, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Dawson, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth

Company : Walt Disney Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Lucamar Productions

Release date(s) : 2018-12-13

Running time :131 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $130,000,000

Storyline : The original Mary Poppins was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid and it kind of still is. Thus I was indeed a bit worried when I sat down to watch this one with the kids yesterday. After all there is really so many ways a incompetent writer could have screwed this one up. Especially one with an agenda.

Luckily this was not the case and I have to say that I quite liked this movie. Disney actually managed to keep the ambiance of the original movie and it actually felt like a Disney movie from the good old days. The days before every easily offended retard tried to make every movie into a preaching mouth piece for their personal crusade.

I think I liked the first half of the movie best. It was an explosion of song, magic and, for me, nostalgia. Apart from the hugely improved technology this movie had available to make the magic bits it actually felt like it could have been made back to back with the original. They really managed to capture the atmosphere from back then.

If I had to compare the two directly I would still go with the original as the best one. It was more imaginative and it just felt a bit better two me.

The story is a bit of a rehash of the original. They could have come up with something more original. Also, the second movie seemed to fizzle out a bit compared to the first half. I would have liked to see some more Mary Poppins coolness and magic, like we saw in the first half of the movie, instead of, mostly, conventional stuff. Also the take down of the bad guy was a bit underwhelming.

Apart from that I think sequel was not bad at all.
I enjoyed this movie just as I love the original Mary Poppins. I think it is largely a thankless task doing sequels for beloved films: Christopher Robin and Hook had to pass through a crucible of dislike by lovers of similar original flicks. Remakes are similarly unpopular, perhaps for better reason, in my opinion. O

The makers of Mary Poppins Returns aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, just entertain by using a bit of imagination to bring the original tale to a more savvy modern audience. No reason for us to rhetorically throw our toys out of the sandbox. Okay, I may not watch this new offering as often as I have the original, but it was entertaining without being rude, profane, crude or violent. Kind of rare, that.

Directed by : John Williams, Bruce Cohen, Norman Garwood, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Michael Kahn, Frank Marshall, Elliot Scott, Dean Cundey, Gerald R. Molen

Produced by : John Williams, Bruce Cohen, Norman Garwood, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Michael Kahn, Frank Marshall, Elliot Scott, Dean Cundey, Gerald R. Molen

Starring : Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith, Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, Arthur Malet, Isaiah Robinson

Company : Amblin Entertainment, TriStar Pictures

Release date(s) : 1991-04-10

Running time :142 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $70,000,000

Storyline : What if Peter Pan grew up and forgot who he was? What if he returned to Neverland?

RELEASED IN 1991 and directed by Steven Spielberg, "Hook" stars Robin Williams as a corporate American Lawyer who must go to the island of Neverland after his two kids are kidnapped in London by Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). He has misadventures with the fairy Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts), pirates and a group of ragtag lost boys led by Rufio (Dante Basco); meanwhile hook tries to win the affections of his kids. Maggie Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow are on hand as older and younger versions of Wendy respectively.

This is a family-oriented adventure/fantasy/comedy cut from the same cloth as "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968), "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971), "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004) and "Into the Woods" (2014); it’s just not a musical like some of those flicks even though a song or two are featured. Depending on your tastes, “Hook” is no better or worse than any of these movies (although “The Wizard of Oz” is in a league of its own, of course).

While I love serious swashbuckling, Peter Pan was always too kiddie/fantasy-based for my tastes. This is ironic since I have Peter Pan Syndrome, which Spielberg also admitted to; and my wife has The Wendy Dilemma (look ’em up). Fans of Peter Pan will favor this flick more than me.

Nevertheless, it was made by scores of talented people and contains some genuinely amusing moments (I busted out laughing at least four times). Hoffman’s titular character is iconic. And Roberts works surprisingly well as Tinkerbell, but they should’ve accented her beauty further. Speaking of which, the film needs more feminine sex appeal. Even the makers of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” knew enough to include a little bit.

Both Spielberg and Williams liked the two bookend sequences, but have reservations about the long Neverland middle-piece, which is the bulk of the picture. Williams admitted he felt lost in Neverland, probably because he was thrust from one misadventure to another so briskly. But the pre-CGI sets are colorful and imaginative; it’s a fun movie with a lot of energy. Peter Pan just ain’t my thang.

THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hour, 22 minutes (overlong). WRITERS: James V. Hart, Nick Castle and Malia Scotch Marmo wrote the script based on concepts from the works of J.M. Barrie, particular “Peter and Wendy” (1911). BOX OFFICE: The movie cost $70 million (not including marketing) and made $301 million worldwide with $120 million of that domestically. While it was the fourth highest-grossing movie worldwide in 1991, it was still considered a disappointment by producers, the greedy bastages.

GRADE: B-/C+

Directed by : Lee Hall, Steven Spielberg, Paco Delgado, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Eve Stewart, Debra Hayward, Lucy Bevan, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Produced by : Lee Hall, Steven Spielberg, Paco Delgado, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Eve Stewart, Debra Hayward, Lucy Bevan, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Starring : Francesca Hayward, James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson, Laurie Davidson

Company : Working Title Films, Amblin Entertainment, The Really Useful Group, Monumental Pictures, Universal Pictures

Release date(s) : 2019-12-19

Running time :110 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget :  $95,000,000

Storyline : I was always excited for ‘Cats’, and to learn about it as a musical fan. The first trailer made me more excited, because seeing those god-awful effects only made me want to see it more. I always get excited for big-budget musicals because it means we could get more, but ‘Cats’ just fails on every level. It’s a boring musical with forgettable songs and uninteresting choreography... and then it also fails as a bad film, since it offers no batshit fun. Poking fun at the CGI is all well and good, but you can do that from the trailer, so there's no point being bored for two hours during this holiday season.

Meow, that hurt indeed.
- Chris dos Santos

Read Chris' full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-cats-no-bad-kitty-no-one-is-the-jellicle-cat
Theatrical plays or musicals will not always translate well into filmic language, that's well known and will not change, because both media are very different by nature. To question it is to deceive yourself.

Personally I've never believed that Cats is a great musical but perhaps its success says something else but even so a film adaptation in my view just could not work. I didn't see how, especially considering the costumes but it was being made so the question now was how it was going to look.

I know there's already a ''movie'' but that's basically a recording of the play.

Then the trailers appeared and what they showed looked weird, off putting and scary, but the visual work is not always everything in a movie, yet something decisive was being played here.
Eventually the defeat was inevitable.

Cats is full of good intentions but it's a failure, not only because of terrible work in CGI and how it makes you feel but because it never manages to immerse you in the world of the story and is a bizarre world and I can have fun in bizarre worlds, it's only that this one is pretty misguided.

I don't think it's that huge fiasco that a lot of film critics are saying it is and maybe eventually will find its niche and audience, after all worse films have become cults films, so that can surely happen but right now Cats is simply an idea that didn't work, that it wasn't well executed or directed and that although it's not a monumental catastrophe, it's indeed a gigantic disappointment.
Sometimes a movie struts its awfulness with such glee that it becomes an enjoyably sadistic pleasure rather than a chore to watch.

Such is the case with “Cats,” the big screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1982 musical that became one of Broadway’s longest-running shows. The stage version of “Cats” has grossed over $4 billion dollars, so of course Hollywood had to get their greedy claws in the mix and bring it to the local cineplex (where it promptly flopped). Anyone with a brain could see that all of this would prove to be a huge mistake, because when the source material is god-awful, how would you expect the film to turn out?

Let’s start with the good: the costuming and makeup artistry are both brilliant, if creepy. At first it’s disturbing and laughable to watch humans prance around and groom themselves but it doesn’t take long until you actually start to see them as cats. (And yes, it’s precisely the type of disconcerting feeling that will provide haunting nightmares for years to come). The dancing is beautifully proficient and the choreography creative, with some lovely ballet numbers. Those who enjoy classic theater and dance will find plenty to keep them engaged.

That’s where the positives end.

The movie’s plot closely follows the Broadway play, which means it’s just as awful. The gist is that a tribe of street cats all gather together on the night of the Jellicle moon and perform in a feline talent show so head cat Old Deuteronomy (Judi Dench) can decide which cat is worthy to ascend to a new life. It’s a creepy story that’s made even more disturbing when you stop and think about it.

To keep today’s idiot audiences engaged, director Tom Hooper throws in your standard issue fatty-fall-down slapstick gags and crotch hits that are sure to elicit a tornado of laughter. And although every cast member appears downright terrifying as a human/cat hybrid, the worst is the cameo from Taylor Swift as a sexed-up feline provocateur and purveyor of enchanted catnip. Yikes.

Weber’s repetitive songs are even more grating when translated to the screen (but hey, at least there’s “Memory”). The vocal performances are second-rate too. Jennifer Hudson has become a self-parody with her overacting and oversinging. Hudson’s angsty, tear-filled, snot-flying rendition of “Memory” is hilariously awful. Rebel Wilson‘s tap dance feels like an acid trip gone wrong as she trains her army of child-faced mice to dance for her pleasure (as she gleefully bites live cockroaches with human faces in half as they scream for mercy).

I’m not sure if anyone should see this movie of their own accord, but it absolutely could have legs as a midnight movie a’la Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room.”
Sometimes a movie struts its awfulness with such glee that it becomes an enjoyably sadistic pleasure rather than a chore to watch.

Such is the case with “Cats,” the big screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1982 musical that became one of Broadway’s longest-running shows. The stage version of “Cats” has grossed over $4 billion dollars, so of course Hollywood had to get their greedy claws in the mix and bring it to the local cineplex (where it promptly flopped). Anyone with a brain could see that all of this would prove to be a huge mistake, because when the source material is god-awful, how would you expect the film to turn out?

Let’s start with the good: the costuming and makeup artistry are both brilliant, if creepy. At first it’s disturbing and laughable to watch humans prance around and groom themselves but it doesn’t take long until you actually start to see them as cats. (And yes, it’s precisely the type of disconcerting feeling that will provide haunting nightmares for years to come). The dancing is beautifully proficient and the choreography creative, with some lovely ballet numbers. Those who enjoy classic theater and dance will find plenty to keep them engaged.

That’s where the positives end.

The movie’s plot closely follows the Broadway play, which means it’s just as awful. The gist is that a tribe of street cats all gather together on the night of the Jellicle moon and perform in a feline talent show so head cat Old Deuteronomy (Judi Dench) can decide which cat is worthy to ascend to a new life. It’s a creepy story that’s made even more disturbing when you stop and think about it.

To keep today’s idiot audiences engaged, director Tom Hooper throws in your standard issue fatty-fall-down slapstick gags and crotch hits that are sure to elicit a tornado of laughter. And although every cast member appears downright terrifying as a human/cat hybrid, the worst is the cameo from Taylor Swift as a sexed-up feline provocateur and purveyor of enchanted catnip. Yikes.

Weber’s repetitive songs are even more grating when translated to the screen (but hey, at least there’s “Memory”). The vocal performances are second-rate too. Jennifer Hudson has become a self-parody with her overacting and oversinging. Hudson’s angsty, tear-filled, snot-flying rendition of “Memory” is hilariously awful. Rebel Wilson‘s tap dance feels like an acid trip gone wrong as she trains her army of child-faced mice to dance for her pleasure (as she gleefully bites live cockroaches with human faces in half as they scream for mercy).

I’m not sure if anyone should see this movie of their own accord, but it absolutely could have legs as a midnight movie a’la Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room.”

Directed by : Andrew Dickler, Allison Jones, Matt Friedman, Paul C. Warschilka, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Dylan Sellers, Quyen Tran, Colin Wilkes

Produced by : Andrew Dickler, Allison Jones, Matt Friedman, Paul C. Warschilka, Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Dylan Sellers, Quyen Tran, Colin Wilkes

Starring : Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, Chris Pang, Jacqueline Obradors, June Squibb

Company : Limelight, Party Over Here, Neon, The Lonely Island, Culmination Productions

Release date(s) : 2020-08-20

Running time :90 Minutes

Country  : United States

Language :English

Budget : 

Storyline : If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @
https://www.msbreviews.com

If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm not the biggest fan of rom-coms. It's not that I don't like the genre (I appreciate and enjoy every single one), but I find its movies tremendously difficult to *really* love. The massive majority follow the genre's formulas and cliches to such an extent that I rarely end up truly loving one of these films. Some are way too cheesy. Others are way too unrealistic and dream-like. But the aspect that throws me off the most is the lack of originality. I can't remember the last rom-com I watched that didn't borrow from countless other installments. I didn't know a thing about Palm Springs: no trailers, no knowledge of critics/audience's opinion, nothing... And I'm extremely happy about that!

I usually watch the main trailer for every film I review *after* I've seen the actual movie. I ignore all other trailers, clips, images, and so on. I do this so I can have some sort of knowledge regarding how far I can take my spoiler-free reviews. This way, I'm sure that I don't write about something I shouldn't. The official trailer for this film doesn't ruin the experience in any way, but it does tell its viewers the most relevant aspect of its screenplay. So, I could address it in this review, but I won't... because I enjoyed this movie a lot more, not knowing a thing about it than if I knew how it developed its story.

Therefore, I'll keep it really vague, and just write that Andy Siara's first feature-film screenplay can easily snatch a couple of nominations when the awards season comes around. This is a rom-com like no other due to its refreshingly unique concept. It's true that it's not an entirely new method of storytelling. Many other movies also employ this idea, but Siara holds so many surprises within his narrative and so few of the genre's common traits that the whole film is elevated by his outstanding writing.

It's one of the most entertaining movies of the year. With a short runtime and a fast pace, Palm Springs is constantly being genuinely fun, engaging, and even mysteriously intriguing. Its original plot makes the viewer think and remember previous lines that take a whole different meaning a few minutes later. There are no predictably dumb narrative decisions, and its characters escape the cheesy and forced relationships that these films usually insert them in. The dialogues are hilariously captivating. Almost every single plot point packs an emotional punch, a jaw-dropping revelation that never crossed the viewer's mind.

Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti share such great chemistry. Their characters are exceptionally developed, and their relationship feels incredibly real. I'm rarely that viewer who requires the main characters to be together, kiss, fall in love, and all that, but Nyles and Sarah are two wonderful protagonists I can definitely root for. Both carry an interesting "baggage", which is also explored at a deep level. They deal very differently with the "situation" that the story puts them in, and it's so much fun to watch them go through it and evolve as characters. Oh, and J.K. Simmons (Roy)... this man doesn't know how not to be utterly remarkable!

Max Barbakow (directorial debut) demonstrates his talents as well, by allowing Siara's screenplay to shine under impeccable direction. Tonally, it never loses its balance. It keeps its comedy pretty grounded, considering the craziness of its premise. It never relies on the genre's formulas, cliches, and cheesy outcomes. It really separates itself from the majority of modern rom-coms. I don't really have any flaws to point out... The ending does have a "just accept it" narrative component, and there are a couple of unnecessary scenes, but I'm nitpicking here.

I can't believe I'm going to write this, but Palm Springs is not only one of the best rom-coms I've ever seen, but it's also one of the best (if not *the* best) movies of 2020, so far. With the help of their first-time director (Max Barbakow), Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti spread their extraordinary chemistry all over the innovative, original narrative, written by the also debutant, Andy Siara. The latter is undoubtedly the main responsible for such an entertaining film. Siara takes an imaginative concept and develops it in the most captivating, fun, hilarious, and even intriguing way possible. A surprising screenplay packed with emotionally impactful plot points, revelations, and twists that keep the enjoyment levels extremely high. The two protagonists are exceptionally developed, as well as their compelling relationship. With a fast pace and a perfect balance of its tone, Palm Springs sets itself apart from the other movies of the genre, staying away from all of the cliches, formulas, and stereotypes associated with it. J.K. Simmons also lends his awesomeness because why not? Whether you're a fan of rom-coms or not, I definitely suggest giving this one a look. You won't be disappointed!

Rating: A
If you're looking for a wholesome heartwarming movie, This is the movie you're looking for.
Great watch, will watch again, and can recommend, especially for fans of "time shifting" tropes.

Time shifting is where your mind goes back in time, but not your body. Essentially everything resets like a save point, except your have all this knowledge.

"Time shifting" was made popular by "Groundhog's Day" and there have been several movies that mainly consist of dying / sleeping and repeating like a video game, and this isn't THAT different with a few exceptions that make all the difference in the experience.

Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) finally steps up and shows everyone that he can do a somewhat serious role, and not just a straight man. Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother) does an excellent job in her lead role, with a great supporting cast, to include J.K. Simmons (Cave Johnson) leading a wonderful supporting cast, except for Tyler Hoechlin (CW Superman: "Supergirl", "Flash", etc.), who I might just not like because he was Superman, but it's supposed to be an disliked character...so....good job?

The medium of the transfer being shown is an interesting option as we saw in the "Happy Death Day" movies, but it does allow for a reasoning of how it works, can it be broken / manipulated as opposed to divine will. Most importantly, it allows for more than just one subject being affected, which is really where it gets set apart.

The trope bleeds a little when you have multiple people trapped in the loop: you have multiple people trapped in a thing: you have multiple people trapped in a prison. When multiple people are trapped in a environment together, they tend to get a little strange, and we get that sort of thing a plenty. Because we have multiple story threads to follow, we're almost seeing 3 stories all overlapping, and the movie does a great job of showing those, whether or not their in chronological order, or happening at the same time.

Whether you see it as a prison break movie, or a time loop movie, this movie has a lot of fun in it, along with deep metaphysical philosophy, so there is something for everyone.