Showing posts with label cartoons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cartoons. Show all posts

Monday, December 17, 2018

Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse (2018)

Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his reality and crosses paths with his counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat to all reality (Source- Imdb.com)

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR46T7pSTvQ

Rating- PG
Genre- animation/action/adventure
Warnings- flashing lights


Well this wasn't the type of movie I was expecting this year.

When I think of Spider-Man, I would've never thought of him being together with different sorts of people from other universes. The more I think about it though, there is probably some comic in the thousands of issues out there that talk about this exact scenario, but it's still odd to think about. And also, highly intriguing. I was always fascinated with the idea that we could have alternate versions of ourselves, and the trailer for this movie was to put in the simplest of terms- so cool!

But, being the cautious person I am, I wasn't sure that an animated Spiderman movie would bode well with audiences at this time or if it would hold up to be successful like the live action Spiderman related films that recently appeared like 'Spiderman: Homecoming' or 'Avengers: Infinity War.'

I went into this movie feeling excited for it but also doing my best to not let my excitement get the better of my judgement. So, I have to ask you if you think this movie gave me a new, awesome Spiderman origin story to follow or did it just trap me in its web of lies?

The plot for 'Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse' is as follows: The audience follows Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a teenage boy from Brooklyn who is bit by a radioactive spider and discovers that he is one of many Spider heroes from multiple universes. Morales is introduced to these unique individuals, but they have to work together to stop a force that plans to destroy all of their worlds.


One of my concerns going into this film is that it would be too much. I saw the trailer beforehand, so I knew of how many characters would be introduced and it worried me that there wouldn't be enough time to explain them all. But the film provides clever ways to compensate for this. There is a clear hierarchy of importance with the characters we are introduced to, with Morales being at the top and as the movie goes on we're witnessed to new people who decrease in importance. This doesn't mean that the movie did bad in showing their new characters; in fact, this makes things better.

With that many people, if they were all shoved in with equal development it would crowd your brain and make it hard to focus on the story. So, what was needed to be said was said, and I was satisfied with that. For the characters that weren't touched upon as much, there wasn't really a reason not to change that. A sequel would be nice, but if I never saw those characters again then I wouldn't feel like I was missing anything. After all, the story was about Morales- who by the way is my favorite character.

I don't think it's often for me to like the star of a movie, but with Morales I knew I would like him once he came on screen. I had one of those moments that many children probably have where you look at the screen and think to yourself, "That is me. I am being represented." Granted, I am not a teenage boy living in Brooklyn, but certain elements reminded me of myself and home.

His character was so diverse from his cultural background to his personality. He sometimes has trouble showing emotion, but he's not dark and brooding. He has some good friends, but he's not the best with the ladies. Morales just reminds me of someone who I could just hang out with, and is not a stereotype, which elevates this movie to a whole different level.

His arc was well put together too, although sometimes really hard to watch because I felt his pain as he tried to live up to be a new Spiderman in his universe. I could sense how I would react in those situations, and it made it all the more real for me. So once the audience notices Morales started to understand his powers, it makes things all the more fulfilling because there was a lot of effort put into getting to that point.


The other spider heroes were well done too, and I've grown to like each of them by the end of the movie. They're all distinct from one another, but the story somehow makes them connected in their origin story which is a running gag in the movie that I found to be funny. A couple of spider heroes came off as really wacky, but thankfully the movie doesn't focus so much on that and as a result I was able to like them more than what I was expecting. The comic reliefs were great when needed, and certainly plays on the different types of spider heroes we've gotten over the years, but I'm glad the writers knew it was better to let the main story take its course without too much interference from side or minor characters (wherever you'd put them, if you saw the film).

The villain of the movie was a typical villain in appearance but their background showed that they too had a heart in need of mending, even though the way they go about it isn't the best. It's also someone that some people have seen in the Spiderman universe already if you're a big fan of the series, so it's no one new. Still, there are a couple of plot twists are thrown in here and there throughout the story that make sense, so they're not just thrown in for dramatic effect.


The animation was my biggest concern going into this because I wasn't used to it. I knew it was going for this comic book style, but I feared it would make the characters look more stiff in their movement or a little too cartoony to take seriously- if that makes sense. However, the film plays on the animation excellently, even blatantly including comic book panels at times to direct the plot forward as well as present how the series of events would be addressed.

My favorite play on the comic book designs was how they would write up the sound effects made in the background like "Bam" or "Chirp" or how a character would think aloud and the thought bubbles would pop up behind them. It made me feel like a kid again reading comic books in my bedroom, even though that barely happened! It just gave me this warm feeling of joy.

The soundtrack was also crazy good! A lot of the music felt reminiscent of Brooklyn too, that urban hip-hop beat. It helped me connect with the New York that was presented on screen. For those that never been to New York, particularly Brooklyn, the way that it was presented in this movie gives you a good idea of what it's like- the good and bad of it all. Also, be on the look out for some funny easter eggs when they are in New York, because they show Times Square a number of times and every time there was something new to catch.


I feel like this review was much shorter than my other ones, but I can't recall anything else that I could say about this movie. If you look in the spoiler section I mention a few things I'm not particularly fond of, but they don't overshadow how fun this was to watch. If I had to say a few complaints, I'd comment on how at times scenes that weren't involving fighting went by really quickly and some transitions felt too choppy.

I would also recommend taking precautions if you or anyone you know is prone to seizures before watching this movie as the introduction and ending has long durations of flashing and vibrant colors and the final battle scene has a ton of bright, flashing colors as well.

I don't think this is a movie that should be connected to the big Marvel universe that we are following with Tom Holland's Spiderman, but it's a great movie to share with the whole family. I would watch it again if someone asked me to do so, and buy it for DvD if there were kids roaming around my house- which there aren't. The protagonist is very likable as are the other characters, the music and animation felt innovative, and it looks like it's a great shape for a possible sequel.

I give 'Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse' a 5 out of 5 stars.

Share my Link Video that's on my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJxoClFNsOU



SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
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One expectation I have for this movie is that I want them to address Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy's relationship in his universe. I feel like it's not something that you can just brush aside. Gwen freaking died in his universe! If they don't mention that somehow I'll be upset.

The introduction is really cool, but gosh did it fly so fast with those colors. I don't know if people who are prone to seizures should see this movie.

Did I see that correctly or was Mary Jane the one upside down in the famous kissing scene? Why in the world would she be tied upside down in an alley way? The only one who could do that is Spiderman, so did he purposely put her in that position so they could have a cool kiss scene?

Miles has a Latin mom? I know his last name was Morales, but I didn't expect them to add a Latina speaking Spanish in the movie. It reminds me of my own mom how she went back in forth with English and Spanish, and in that moment I felt how many other children must have felt where they feel like the character on screen. It was a warm moment for me.

Oof, that transition where Miles is cut off while saying "In a minute" felt really choppy...

That was an awesome moment where Miles passed by his friends and you hear different languages being spoken. It feels like my own town.

Uncle Aaron, eh? If anyone's going to die in Miles' universe, it has to be the uncle. The uncles always die...

I love the tiny jokes the kids are cracking right after Miles was forced to say I love you to his dad. Very reminiscent of real life and how people are jerks.

Having your shoe untied is a trend actually. I know of someone who does that.

Miles was late again to class? Isn't this his first day?

So, is it going to be a thing where Gwen exists in Miles' universe but she also exists in another universe and Miles bonds so much with Spider Gwen that he goes on to date his Gwen?

This "Hey" exchange between Miles and Uncle Aaron feels awkward to me, but I guess that what makes it funny because everyone else was cracking up. I laughed too, but it was more to follow the crowd.

Funny moment where Miles just kills the spider nonchalantly. That would be me.

Why IS that girl so tall? (Pfft, I should talk. People talked about my height a lot growing up)

Miles freaking out is seriously a great representation of anxiety. Is this the consequences of being Spiderman (or woman)? Established anxiety?

Damn, King Pen, those shoulders are thick!

Why is Peter Parker blond? There is not one version of Peter that I've seen that has him with that blond of hair.

*Sees Peter Parker killed by King Pen* ....He's fine.

Guess Miles' dad feels like crap now that their Spider man is dead.

Stan Lee cameo! Ugh, seeing cameos of him after his death makes it more powerful.

You wonder, huh...superheroes have to save the world all the time, and one day, they will die like the rest of us. It makes you think, they are (sometimes) human too and we won't have them forever, so we should cherish them for as long as we have them. Gosh, is this foreshadowing for 'Avengers: Endgame?'

I'd probably be that person to say, "I don't think he was talking about you personally. It's more like a metaphor."

When Miles ran back down the staircase, I thought back to the movie Venom where Venom mocks Eddie for not jumping off the building.

Did you see Peter B. smash the glass in his origin story montage? He's Jewish!

I made sure to look around Times Square to find some references and here are a few I saw. They had a billboard ad of Stephen Curry, a parody of Shaun of the Dead titled something like From Death till Shaun and Bridesmaids was replaced with Baby Showers.

That's New York for you. People could drop from the sky and people wouldn't give a damn about it.

You see, I thought Peter B. Parker was the original Peter Parker from what I interpreted in the trailer.

Even though Peter B. is supposed to be the lower rate version of Peter Parker, I personally think he looks better. I think it's the stubble that gets me.

I had a feeling Miles would've gotten the power of a bigger memory since Peter B. memorized a code.

I really like that science lady's character design. It's different. Also, is she crushing on Peter B.?

Nope, she's not. She's Dr. Oct. That's so cool!

I thought Miles and Peter B. were going to smack right against a tree as they were swinging together.

Okay, so Gwen's universe has her feeling guilty over her Peter's death. But hold up, you mean to tell me that 16 year old Peter was that ripped? Maybe even younger than that, because if you remember by the end of the movie Gwen says she's older than Miles by 15 months, but not before saying that he was 15- meaning that she is 16. No 16 year old could be that ripped! Well...

Aunt May is so cool in this universe!

Nicholas Cage is the noir Spider man? Guess this makes up for him not being Superman.

Why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to like the spider pig?

That line from Noir Spider man about, "I light a match to try and feel something" is amazing.

Spider Gwen is a ballet dancer? I didn't catch that in her origin story. I thought she was in a band.

The other spider heroes pressuring Miles to get up made me really anxious and left a bad taste in my mouth. Again, a resemblance of anxiety with all of these voices yelling at you and you don't have the strength to get back up because of it.

Why are these spider heroes such jerks? Yes, the talking behind Miles' back was meant as a joke, but it just made me annoyed with them. I've truly enjoyed Miles and if anyone hurts him, I will hurt them.

Uncle Aaron is the henchman! Why else would he visit the apartment? Also, I would've found it funny if he just sat and watched tv in his costume.

I thought Dr. Oct was going to kidnap Aunt May, to which I would've reacted like, "Oh come on! Again?!"

That photo of Peter Parker on the wall in his suit and glasses is so adorable.

Why was the villain's words translated but not the mother's if they both speak Spanish? *gasp* Did they do that because it was only AFTER Miles got bit that the comic book affects started happening? If so, nice choice.

Uncle Aaron is not going go so far as to try and kill Miles. There's no way. Oh good, I was right-oh no! Well, I did say all uncles die in Spiderman films...

Uncle Aaron's final words weren't all impactful to me, but then again, when you're dying all of a sudden it's hard to conjure up this excellent speech before your last breath.

Now the father is going to try to kill Miles? This just doesn't end...

I wish there was more interaction with Miles' roommate, like how Ned was to Peter in Spiderman: Homecoming.

I hate the feeling of being ostracized by other people because you're different, which is why this whole "You're not ready, Miles" arc isn't as pleasing to watch as I think it should be. I get it, and I also get why I feel this way.

It's nice to see a big police officer like Miles' dad get emotional for the audience. Crying isn't weak, folks!

Couldn't Miles just grab one of the Spider man suits that look most like what he wants? No, because we need him to ruin a suit with spray paint to show that he's an individual. I'm reaching, I know.

I was never a fan of Mary Jane (at least the Kristen Dunst's version) but they made her likable in this one. I know, she got like two scenes of her talking, but...maybe that's what was needed? I'm sorry Mary Jane fans!

The back and forth about the "bread" was hilarious.

The other Spider heroes are going to need Miles when they're all glitching like that. I bet that will be what saves them.

I didn't catch what Peter B. said the first time when he reunited with Miles, but I managed to figure it out and he said, "Wait, do I want kids?" and that made me a tiny bit upset. I'm not the biggest fan of story arcs that involve someone who doesn't want kids learning that he actually does want kids, because I feel like it's telling people who don't want kids that, "You just don't want any because you're insecure about yourself, you don't think you can do it, and once you get this experience then you'll come around." There are people that will never want to be a parent and that doesn't make them damaged or a bad person for thinking that way, so Peter B. could have still had his issue with his Mary Jane but without the, "she wanted kids, I didn't" part.

Was it necessary for Penny's robot to die during this fight? We don't get as much time with her along with Noir Spiderman and Spider Pig, so this death feels lackluster.

*Sees Spider Gwen and Miles talking before she returns to her universe* ...Oh, just kiss why don't cha?

Is it wrong for me to think that the position Miles and Peter B. were in was romantic? NOT BETWEEN THEM! Hear me out, the way Miles literally held Peter B. over the edge to save him (and also prove a point) but I just pictured this intense rescue scene between two lovers and it was really cute to imagine. Maybe I'll draw it.

I just love how Peter B. was dead set on dying to save the universe, but Miles just flips his own words on him and Peter B. is like, "Yup, you're good." Like, no! If my math teacher said I was going to fail a test because I didn't study, and I respond like, "I just need to take a leap of faith" he won't be like, "You're right, you'll do fine by yourself." I'll still fail...I'm reaching again.

What was the point of King Pen seeing his wife and son in the train? They were holograms (or whatever you call it) but he treated them like they were real. Why? They're clearly not there. My mother commented on that scene though saying that he thought his family was re-forming into existence again, which got me thinking that the point of that scene was to reveal that even if King Pen's family returned, it would just revert back to the last time he knew them which is where he was discovered attacking Spiderman.

That face Miles made when he was hugging his dad when the eyes of his mask got all small was adorable.

So Peter Parker is really dead in this universe? That sucks.

Was that Gwen contacting Miles at the end? That was an ending that knows it wants a sequel.

I stayed for the first after-credits scene with the Stan Lee dedication which was lovely, but I left before the other one and that was a big mistake...It was amazing. If you missed it too, it's on Youtube.









Saturday, November 24, 2018

Ralph Breaks it Internet (2018)

Six years after the events of "Wreck-It Ralph", Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure. (Source- Imdb.com)

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BcYBFC6zfY

Rating- PG
Genre- animation/comedy
Warnings- none


This is one of the movies I was most excited to watch this year, and it has finally arrived. Ralph Breaks the Internet or as I like to call it, Wreck it Ralph 2, appeared in theaters on Thanksgiving week and kids and adults alike fulled the rows of seats alongside me. The concept of this movie's universe is enough to attract a lot of people with its unique interpretation on video games and the internet; I know it did for me. Coupled with the vibrant, electric-like aesthetic of the internet world and the clever easter eggs that one can spot if they have a watchful eye, this sequel has thousands of fans excited for what clever story was in store. Yet, sequels have a tendency to be lackluster compared to their predecessor and sometimes just totally irrelevant to the original storyline. 

This sequel is no exception to those risks, and while I sat and watched this Disney film I wondered if it'd actually be as great as the internet said it would be or would it break my heart?

The movie stars video game villain, Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Sugar Rush racer, Vanellope Von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) as they have become best friends since the first movie and are now going on a new adventure into the unknown referred to as: The Internet. Through this journey, they learn about the wonders of this technological world and meet some interesting characters who lead them to discover more about themselves and their desires in life. 

I went into this not thinking that anything poignant would come out of the story. From appearances, this sequel appears to be just a cash grab to sell more Disney related merchandise. I didn't think it'd be a horrible thing, but nothing as great as the one that came before it. But I was proven wrong. I almost enjoyed this sequel more than the first film. The animation is excellent and easy on the eyes and the creativity is astounding to me. 

There were a lot of fun moments that made the kid inside of me jump with joy, plus a lot of funny jokes that a lot of people would understand ranging from references to websites to comments on the internet world and jokes on other popular video game characters. My favorite thing about this sequel is that there was really no plot twist. What you see is what you get, and by that I mean that there is no secret villain or characters who are not what they seem, it's really just Ralph and Vanellope exploring the internet and themselves as characters. Somewhat like a coming-of-age movie for the leads, and it was very pleasant to watch- for the most part.


The new characters that come into this universe are all likable and more than likely already for sale in the Disney store in time for Christmas. I remembered all of them no matter how much screen time they had in total, and yet with every new character the movie lost some great ones. 

If you were a fan of Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) and Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) then this is not the sequel for you because they are barely in this at all. It's like a slap in the face because they had a lot more screen time together in the first movie and their story was really cute. I was looking forward to learn more about how they managed to grow together, and if anything we only get a snippet of that through exposition and the rest is history. If there's another sequel for this, which there probably will be, I think they will expand their characters more, and this is just the springboard to jump into something even greater, but I can't count on a third movie to this franchise. As of right now, I am disappointed in these characters' lack of involvement in the overall story.

Thankfully, Ralph and Vanellope were still strong leads to follow throughout the story and the lessons that you learn between the two of them is unlike anything I've learned before. I admired how smooth the transition was from this creative and hilarious escapade to a moral that was all too relatable and powerful. Ralph and Vanellope have two different ideas for how they want their lives to go, and because of searching the internet they discover what that is- which still differs from what the other wants, but the movie spreads the message that that is perfectly okay and is in fact healthy to have opposite dreams and allow each other to pursue them.


With that being said, Ralph was a major creep in this sequel! What he intends for himself and Vanellope is really sketchy if it were the real world. That may just be my dark mind talking, but the way in which Ralph feels about Vanellope reminds me of a man-child who can't go on without a little girl by his side. Is that what the writers wanted us to think actually? Because as I said, this felt all too relatable in a sense that I've witnessed this before.

I used to have a "friend" who would fall apart at the mention of me wanting to hang out with someone else, and another one who sent me this cruel email about how distant I've been from him and that I'm a selfish person because of my actions.

It's more common than people may realize that some people force themselves on others for their own desires without the consideration of that person they want to be with. I've even seen some movies where particularly the female has to put her dreams on hold because her boyfriend or friends are not happy that she's not with them all of the time, and that always gave me a bad taste in my mouth. So to depict that toxic relationship to children in a way they can understand was such a great thing to witness.


Ralph Breaks the Internet was amazing to watch for how funny and intelligent it was in many aspects. From the easter eggs to the morals, this is a wonderful movie to watch with the family. I would absolutely watch it again. Although some of my favorite characters disappeared, the new characters helped me overcome that sadness. I'd give this franchise a pass in being fine with one more sequel, but that's it!

I give Ralph Breaks the Internet a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Video Link on Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeJc5bJ-atE


SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
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Chun Li looks amazing! A little thin for someone with muscular legs, but not bad at all.

The way that Vanellope talks about how she craves more out of her life even though she loves Sugar Rush is the equivalent of how someone has a 9 to 5 job and is bored with how predictable it becomes and wants more outside of that.

Oh my god, it's Sonic! I am such a fan. This is making my 12 year old self so happy right now.

I spotted a zombie walking off in the background. He comes up a little later on. He's the cutest thing.

Taffyta, I thought you'd be nicer after the first movie. Do you need to be fearful of being executed again?

I see where this is going. Ralph is the one who causes the main problem in the movie because of that track he made.

So this is where Slaughter Race comes in, the players from Sugar Rush will go there.

If the characters in Sugar Rush go to other games, how will that affects the real world? Wouldn't people spot them in other games and get concerned that the games have a virus and shut down those as well?

I don't know about Feliz and Calhoun taking in the racer kids. Not because of the obvious, but more so that it seems a bit out of character, for Calhoun especially. But then again, love makes you do crazy things, like adopting 15 children.

Why was Ralph's transport bubble thing red? Does that mean he'll infect the internet? (boy, would I come to realize how on the money I was by the end of this movie. This doesn't confirm that this is why it was red though)

Those avatars are so cute. I want to make art of my own depicting how I might look as one of those avatars.

Ebay sounds so foreign to me. I've never used it in my life, and it doesn't seem like many people do according to what I see on social media.

Hah, Miranda Sings! A lot of people laughed at the scene where her avatar got crushed.

Gord is the cutest thing I've ever seen and equally the most terrifying thing as well. That arm stretch he does makes me think of the Don't Hug I'm Scared Youtube series.

Shank's hair is to die for.

What's so bad about Shank and the gang, Ralph. I would think as someone who likes to wreck it, he'd be more on board with them.

Hey, Yesss showed a Fortnite video for a second!

You know something? Ralph on a goat's body may look stupid, but it would be a meme nowadays. Look at what they did with Shrek.

I want to go to that Disney place. There's Pixar and Marvel! Oh, I see Iron Man back there. I am squealing inside.

Stan Lee! Mmh...my heart...

That moment we've all been waiting for, the princesses scene.

Why are they all so aggressive? Jesus...I mean, when you think about it, someone did just magically appear in their room and the trauma of either being kidnapped, poisoned, or otherwise made them get tougher skin.

You just know they're going to milk the hell out of those princess pajamas at Disney stores worldwide. Here are a few favorites of mine that I've spotted: Cinderella's G2G shirt, Moana's shiny shirt, Snow White's poison apple shirt, Anna's finish each other's sandwiches shirt, and Belle's Beast Friends Forever shirt.

What did Merida say? I actually want to know. *Looks it up* Ahh, according to Imdb.com, it says, quote: "I gave my mom a cake, she turned into a big bear. My old man tries to do her in. If that's not a pure mess, I don't know what is."

Never read Youtube comments. Never.

A spilled cup of water is enough to made me laugh a lot.

Yeah Ralph, you don't want to lose your best..."friend." But the way you're acting is really disturbing. A grown man angry that a little girl is not around him 24/7 and she wants to have her own life instead of spending all of her time with him? Yeah Ralph. You don't want to lose your "friend." Got ya.

I get it, okay? He was a villian all of his life so not a lot of people liked him until Vanellope did. The thought of losing her would crush him...

As long as the virus does not spread outside of Slaughter Race everything will be fine, which means everything will not be fine because the virus will spread outside of Slaughter Race. Crazy, no?

Aww, I get it...searching for insecurity. This is about our insecurities as human beings and how it can destroy us from the inside out. That's deep...

This friendship break up is not as bad as the first movie. The first movie was just chilling to me, whereas this is just...meh. Although I would be mad like Vanellope was over what Ralph did.

So Ralph is the villain of this movie all along...makes sense. He was born a villain, made into it.

Seeing the multiple Ralphs crawling up the buildings is so funny to me. Like ants!

Is this the time where Fix-it Felix and Calhoun step in to help save the day? Because where the hell are they?!

"How to find your ex-girlfriend's house" and the way that avatar looked walking away, with that serious face...yeah, he going to kill someone.

These Ralph things remind me of zombies (I can hear it now. Of course they were depicted as zombies, Jen! This isn't a surprise!) and whenever there's some zombie aspect or possession thing inside of movie I get the chills. I hate the idea of someone being controlled.

Pinterest!

I wasn't expecting the movie to go down this route of, "allow your friend to follow their dreams and don't bring them down with your toxic possessiveness," but I like it a lot. Not a lot of things depict this and I've seen movies, shows, and so on that stray off this lesson and make it seem nice that one person gives up their dreams for someone else's desires. I knew that wasn't a good thing, and those things leave a bad taste in my mouth. Good for you, Ralph Breaks the Internet, this could change many mindset's on how they treat one another.

I'm also glad that Ralph is the one who stops the monster, which as they explain in the movie, is his own insecurity.

Aww, this is like a long distance relationship now.

Sonic! You've come back, and reading in a book club with Ralph and Zangeif? That is the cutest image I've ever seen.

The advice on how to raise perfect kids was funny and cute.

There's going to be another sequel to this. Something is going to happen where Vanellope has to return to Sugar Rush and Shank drives one of the cute little cars. I bet on it.

Funny writers! They knew I'd wonder why they didn't have that famous Pancake Milkshake scene in the trailer. Also, side note, the mother in the end credits scene says, "Mo." Is that short for Moana?!





Friday, October 12, 2018

Venom (2018)

When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life (Source- Imdb.com)

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Mv98Gr5pY

Rating- PG-13
Genre- thriller/science fiction
Warnings- disturbing imagery/swearing


I'm not Marvel fanatic as much as the next guy, but I've always been fascinated by Venom.

This dark version of Spider man enthralled me when I was first introduced to him in 'Spider Man 3' (2007), at least, that's what I used to think it was: just a darker version of Spider man. This creature is so much more than that, as it says in its origin story that Venom is actually a sentient alien symbiote that has a liquid-like form and needs a host in order to survive on Earth.

According to Venom's wikipedia, its first appearance was made when it used Spider man as its host in The Amazing Spider-Man #258 in 1984. It later went on to merge with other hosts, the most notable being journalist Eddie Brock, who is the star of this latest adaptation. I'm going to focus not so much on the original Venom and Brock, and just critic the movie on its own.

Say this is a clean slate, that this is the first ever anyone has ever heard of Venom, how does it hold up? Was this movie something I could really get attached to, or was it better to split and find a better movie that night?

This film centers on Brock, who is still a hard hitting journalist in this version, as he sets out to investigate a scandal involving a powerful CEO named Carlton Drake that lands him into hot water by becoming the host of a symbiote known as Venom. Turns out the pair have a genuine connection to one another, and as the story progresses you see how this human and symbiote can work together to play by their own rules.

The first thing I want to point out is how fast this film felt to me. It's said to be 2 hours and 20 minutes long, but it felt more like an hour, and I find that to be due to two factors. One being that I enjoyed it a ton, it was an interesting story from start to finish. Albiet, the beginning was a little dragging, but once Venom gets into the picture it's so much fun and you may find yourself laughing a lot. I didn't expect to laugh because hey, an alien possessing your body doesn't sound like a laugh riot to me, but the dialogue between Brock and Venom is very quick and sassy. It's as if you're watching two friends bicker, it's hilarious to listen in on it.

The second reason for why I think the movie went so quick is because the plot points went by too fast. The more I think about it, things just seemed to happy abruptly with no real rhyme or reason. I think the beginning and middle part was good as far as taking its time to build things up, but the last 20 minutes or so, the characters' personalities just seemed to shift slightly.


One example I'll use is Venom, he's an alien with the purpose to use humans for his own selfish desires. When he forms an emotional bond with Brock, I can't really tell where that comes from. Don't think I assumed this happened either, there are a couple of scenes that clearly state that Brock and Venom felt like they got closer over time and are sincerely disheartened by not having the other in their life.

To argue against my own opinion, it could be because in order to survive a human and a symboite must be compatible with one another and when you have someone inside you 24/7, you're bound to gain some attachment to them.

Speaking of attachment, I found it hard as a viewer to feel sympathy for Brock despite him being the main character. The way that he goes about things, particularly in the beginning of the movie, isn't so admirable. In fact, they're very impulsive without any regard for other people's feelings. Yet Tony Stark was the same way. So was Dr. Stephen Strange, and I ended up liking both of them in the end. I suppose that it makes the story more exciting if the main character isn't the model of perfect behavior. Maybe with time, I'll warm up to Brock's character.

I think the conflict was done well. It may be a little predictable, but I'll let it slide because it makes sense to Brock's character to want to research into a big scandal. The way the side and minor characters are incorporated into the story is well done too. There were some moments where I was shocked that the movie would go down that route, but that's a good thing because they weren't afraid to diverge into dark material.

I noticed how the relationship between Brock and side character Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) was really reaching for a romantic storyline. When you watch the movie, you may think it's no problem, but I just was sick of it being pushed onto me.

It kind of sends a toxic message to people about how you could keep pushing something to happen and eventually your romantic interest will come around to you. To argue against that, if we're being realistic, a lot of people do this and not everyone knows how to properly pursue a romantic interest. So, I'm hoping that the sequel will address this and that this sort of behavior isn't healthy.


I'm not sure how to feel about the main villain of the story. On one hand, I liked the fact that he didn't look like a typical badass with bulging muscles and that obvious demeanor that is so obvious to the audience that he's the bad guy, but on the other hand I find him a little forgettable. I feel like in a month, when people are raving over Venom still, they'll forget about the villain and his contribution to the story.

The fight scenes were incredibly fun to watch and the design of Venom was fantastic; the symbiote looks frightening and looked like it was really sticking onto its hosts. This film is a little more graphic than previous Marvel movies with gruesome death scenes that could send a chill down your spine or induce serious nightmares. I just wish they went even further with it. For a PG-13 movie, I think they pushed some boundaries, but I know for sure that the writers could have gone even further with it.

There is also moments where certain characters use swear words that you would chastise a child for for using, so if you intend on seeing this with a child then be aware that there will be curse words and not the simple words like hell, damn, or shit. If you're not comfortable with that, then reconsider watching with the children. This is best suited for older family members or with friends. You could watch it alone, but I think this is the type of film that you'd want to watch with other people to share in the enjoyment.

Some critics have deemed this movie to be poorly made while others find it to be well done; I'm here to say that regardless of what you think of it after watching, Venom was a fun ride. Whether you joke about how terrible it is or how cool it is, I believe that it will be a memorable film that people will be excited to see the sequel for.


The beginning and ending weren't my favorite parts and some decisions made in the script are a little questionable, but the fighting was stellar, the comedy had the theater cracking up a lot, and as long as I had a good time, I think it's deserves some credit.

I give Venom a 3 out of 5 stars.

(Note: I'm practicing my video skills. Go check out my brief video on Venom at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQf7QRbHLvI. Enjoy and subscribe!)

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
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Anne's actress looks familiar, where is she from? Speaking of which, Brock's actor looks familiar too. Where was he from?

The scene with the little girl getting the pin from Carlton Drake was really cute, but since he's going to be a villain it kind of dampens it.

Both Drake and Brock's boss said, "Have a nice life." Is that phrase like...a thing? Are they working together?

I'm not really a fan of Brock right now. How can I feel bad for someone who sneaked into his fiancé's emails and deliberately and carelessly pushed someone to admit to a scandal? If this movie is trying to make me feel bad for him, it's not working.

Is it just me or is Hardy (the actor) trying too hard to make Brock sound drunk?

I too would wonder how my ex fiancé's cat is doing.

What was Brock's motivation to take Dora Skirth's advice? All he did after meeting with her was see his ex and see that someone better is dating her. Maybe it's to feel better about himself?

Brock, Dora told you not to touch anything! I know that was your friend, but if that were me, I would've left them there to get the story. Everyone for themselves when it's a matter of life or death.

Just hearing Venom say food makes me happy. I love the voice.

Poor lobsters...

I like Anne's new boyfriend, he isn't as much of a jerk as I thought he would be. Thank goodness, I hate that trope. It forces you to side with the main character.

That's sad that the symbiote is going to control the little girl, but glad to see the writers aren't holding back any punches.

I did not expect Dora to die. I thought she'd be Brock's new love interest or maybe a villain with the symbiote inside of her who will be saved. I'm going to miss her.

Don't let that sweet Latino guy die! Oh, thank goodness he'll be okay.

I think everyone's favorite part in this movie- or most memorable- will be when Venom tells Brock to jump and Brock uses the elevator instead, with Venom calling him a...I'm not quite comfortable saying it on my blog so here's a hint: calling him a cat. It's way funnier when you see it.

I am so freaking happy they made Anne scream at the sight of Venom. I've seen too many movies where something crazy happens and a character reacts very calmly to the situation. Like no, you'd be screaming or at least running away.

After just being informed that Venom is speaking to Brock, I wouldn't really accept that apology from Brock for getting me fired. Then again, Brock is in a pretty terrible situation, there's no need to bring that up.

Oh no, Brock you may have to reconnect with Venom. You got Drake to worry about with his symbiote.

Is Venom going to connect to Anne or her boyfriend to reach Brock again? No, please don't kill the dog! And he took the dog!

The dog's name is Gemini. What a cutie!

Hold up, why when Venom is controlling Anne she got to have this super curvy body? Is that really necessary to show that she has boobs and ass? It would've been more awesome if she looked like how Brock looks when he has Venom, that way the audience has a bit more suspense on who is behind the symbiote.

That kiss scene was intense. You even had Brock moaning a lot to it too, I mean...wow. That was the most sexual make out scene I've seen in any Marvel movie (unless I'm forgetting a one big one, and I feel like I am). Like...they do know Rule 34 exists, right? People are going to sexualize the hell out of female curvy Venom and that kiss scene. They might just be asking for it, since it will certainly make the movie more memorable.

If you're not compatible with a symbiote, you die, so how come Anne was just fine after Venom left her body? The point this movie is trying to make is that Venom and Brock are compatible; I thought that was just a one human thing. Now it can be more than one? Also, did the dog die after Venom left him? Did the blonde girl die?

Now I'm thinking what the heck would make Venom a loser on his own planet. It will probably be explained in the sequel.

(Probably not the accurate quote but...) "Tell me the real reason you came back" "You"
Okay, that was sending some real romantic vibes! Where did this come from?

There! Brock said "Have a nice life" to Drake. Why is that such a powerful quote for them? Like I get that Drake said it to Brock, but his boss said that to him to. Plus, I don't know, I feel like there was something stronger that could've been said.

"Venom, no!" They really are best friends now, aren't they? I'd be relieved to have the symbiote off of me.

He's grieving over Venom's death?! Oh my God, this relationship runs deep!

If Venom planned the kiss, then that's even further proof that something romantic is going on between the two (I know there isn't, but the evidence is strong), but if Anne planned the kiss (which I'm more likely to believe) then that's messed up how they just threw that in. And to top it off with Venom saying they'll get her back, that's so wrong! The boyfriend has been nothing but helpful through this entire story, and Anne would find an excuse to cheat on him like that. That's not cute or something to strive for, that's cheating plain and simple. Plus, who the heck would want to reconnect with their ex after they cost them their job, got a symbiote in their body, and could possibly kill you at any moment? That's not a moment to be like, "Maybe things could still work out."

In addition to that, why does every superhero (or anti hero in this case) needs a romantic interest? There was a trailer for Aquaman that clearly shows a romantic interest. Why? Does everything need to include romance to get the story going? Well sure it does, because you can't be a superhero or anti hero without having a romantic interest. There goes my dreams of saving the world...

Stan Lee! I was almost worried you'd never show up!

I bet that child in the begging who got the pin from Drake is feeling really good about herself now. Might be getting teased at school for being put on a pedestal by an evil man. She just wanted her question answered, poor thing.

If I didn't watch that Youtube Video Death Battle of Carnage versus Lucy from Elfien Lied, I would've been so lost on who that redhead guy was in the after credits scene. He's going to be something else in the future...












Sunday, September 2, 2018

Hershey's Great Chocolate Factory Mystery in 4D (2018)

This show takes family entertainment to a whole new dimension! The 4D Chocolate Mystery puts you inside all the fun. Through stunning digital animation and special effects, you become part of the show by interacting with the Hershey's Characters to help solve the mystery! (Source- hersheys.com)


Rating- N/R
Genre- Animation
Warnings- Flashing lights


This is an odd one to review, I know, but ever since I went to Hershey Park for the very first time on August 22, 2018 and saw this 4D movie I couldn't get my mind off of it.

Much like chocolate in general, I am a sucker for 4D movies. They're rare to find, and when I do have the chance to see one I will not rest until I watch whatever film they are playing. In this case, Hershey's Great Chocolate Factory Mystery in 4D is only available to watch live at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania and it could be hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for. When I attended the park, it wasn't until nearing the end of my trip that I found out where the movie was located.

It is located inside a building called Hershey's Chocolate World right before you enter the actual theme park, which I think is a good idea if you're going with a big group and just want to do something less hectic at the end of your fun day. It's also an advantage for the park to gain more visitors in case the weather is rainy or snowy; there's still a ton of things to do and a bunch of merchandise to sell all in that spot.


Among the other exciting activities to try including the free chocolate making tour, chocolate tasting, and creating your own chocolate bar, my only interest was to see this 4D movie. Why was I so invested in it? Well, for two reasons. One: I saw the trailer for it before attending the park and it got me curious about what was to unveil in the story. Two: I'm a movie critic.

A movie about chocolate should be a sweet experience, or was it more bitter than it was sweet?

According to the official Hershey Park website, this is a fairly short movie that only last for 30 minutes and you will never see the same movie twice. There are a lot of variables that will determine your viewing experience, so what I ended up seeing and what you may see could be two entirely different things. With that being said, I'll describe the major plot points of the story without spoiling too much (that will be for the spoiler section).

Before you enter the theater to watch the movie, you should be waiting outside of the theater with your 3D glasses along with the rest of the audience members and it is there you are introduced to the main stars of the show: Hershey, Reese, and Kiss. They'll need your help solving a mystery about who has been sabotaging their chocolate factory and why. Afterwards, you can then enter the theater where you will watch the events take place and discover the villain's identity and it is up to toy and the audience to save the day.

I thought the introduction to the film was very cute and it gives the audience an opportunity to interact with the hosts and eventually the characters themselves. If you're a fan of audience participation, then I'd recommend speaking to a host before you enter the theater. There will be a moment where they'll ask questions like, "Is this anyone's first time at Hershey Park?" which to that you will respond and may possibly be featured in the film, getting a special shout out.


If you're shy- like I am- and don't answer the questions, you'll still get a chance to participate throughout the movie. There are cutscenes where one character will ask the audience what to do next in the story and they genuinely react to your responses. They are not computer generated and they don't give you a list of options to choose from; I know for sure because in my viewing somebody said something so outrageous that I don't think a computer could've been prepared for.

Being only a short family film, the mystery wasn't that hard to solve. In fact, the more I think about it, there's was nothing to solve in the first place because the villain was revealed right away. There was no secret to it, and there's no big plot twist either; so I'd recommend not to think too deeply on the plot because it's pretty cookie cutter.

Speaking of the villain, his or her motives were incredibly confusing. When I watched it, there was a flashback scene where the villain is seen being jealous of one of the main characters for being better than him or her, but the thing that they are better than him or her at isn't chocolate making. No, it's a totally different subject that has nothing to do with chocolate and is never brought up again. I think if the flashback did not appear, the motive would've made more sense.

Hershey, Reese, and Kiss fit into the typical group stereotype with Hershey being the stoic male lead with no personality, Reese being the goofball, and Kiss being the motherly female lead with barely any personality. I wasn't looking for anything major character arc, nor do I judge the writers for making the characters as unique as a baking sheet but I could clearly see the character tropes sprinkled over the film. If I had to pick a favorite character, I'd say Reese only because when I saw the movie he was the one that spoke to the audience outside of the movie. The representative out of the trio, basically.

Here is where things get a bit tricky. I saw a photo of the entire cast of the movie, and I saw two characters that I never witnessed on screen which was Twizzler and Icebreaker Mints. I'm not sure if they appear in any other version, but the one I saw had Jolly Rancher instead who's depicted as this laidback skateboard dude who gave me a bit of the creeps when I first saw him. Didn't help that his head was purple, meaning that he was grape flavored, one of my least favorite flavors.


I'm assuming that Twizzler or Icebreaker Mints would have replaced Jolly Rancher in any other version, but if so, then all of them are likely very forgettable. In my show, Jolly Rancher just appeared half way through and I was surprised to see him still hanging around at the ending. He does do one helpful thing though that I found to be clever, and I'm sure with the other sweets they have their own unique advantage.

The 4D aspects of the film were fun and made the audience jump a few times, but none of it was frightening. I feel like any kid could watch this and not be crying out the door afterwards. The website states that the special effects include loud noise, theatrical smoke, and strobe lights which may cause epileptic seizures (though from what I recall, the lights weren't too intense and didn't go on for long). Other than that, I remember water being splashed in my face too, so if you're completely against the idea of getting your face a little wet this might not be for you.

Hershey's Great Chocolate Factory Mystery in 4D was a pleasant experience and I'm glad I got to see it. As a child, I would've loved it even more seeing my favorite chocolate personified as characters to look up to for a little bit. It's a harmless story that while may be cliche, the characters are tropes, and some moments will make you go, "what?" but  it does push the morals of being kind to people and forgiveness- which doesn't hurt to teach to children. Plus, you get a special surprise at the end of the movie and that's a treat in itself.


Would I watch it again? Sure. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, you won't find it anywhere else and if all else fails, it gives you a break from walking around the park.

I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!! (Note: This is talking about my specific experience, so if you saw a different version, some things I say may not make sense. I'll try to be as specific as I can about what I am talking about)
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One of my brothers spoke to the hosts before we entered the theater and he got a special shot out by Reese. My brother mentioned that he liked to draw nature and Reese told him that he should draw a photo of him riding a dragon, or else. My brother forgot to speak to the hosts to be able to send the drawing, so we are now trapped in our home forever, concerned over what that "or else" is...

Those yellow robot minions are so cute. I want to draw them.

Because of Kiss being nice to the robot, the robots will become good. That is my theory.

This villain seems like your typical twirl your curly mustache, maniacal laughter villain from like the 80s. He reminds me of Waluigi from the Mario Bros franchise.

I wonder what other audiences said on, "What phrase should we say to change the villain's mind?" because we had a question like that and I don't remember what triggered this, but we all said, "Yes!" So we had to chant yes whenever the villain was trying to go against the main characters. I just thought our answer was odd.

The following scene I will describe is the main reason why I decided to make this review, because I just need to vent about it. In my viewing, there is a scene where the villain describes why he wants to reek havoc on all chocolate products and it transitions into this scene where the villain is watching Hershey playing baseball on the field with an audience in the background. Hershey has a baseball cap and it being cheered for with the villain saying that everyone always admired him more than himself and it made him jealous. Instead of trying to rant for too long, I'll just put down my questions that I got from the flashback.

What does baseball have to do with making chocolate? Why is Hershey playing baseball? Why is the villain comparing himself to Hershey with baseball if he's trying to ruin chocolate? Who would put a chocolate bar on their team? Why is this not mentioned again in the story? Did the audience do something wrong to get this weird scene?

Of course, the only female character- Kiss- becomes a victim and everyone else has to save her.

Ahh! Jolly Rancher is terrifying. I could only imagine how I'd react seeing him over my bed at night.

I did like how Kiss' kindness helped save the chocolate and make the robots turn against the villain. It shows that being kind and comforting to others can go a long way instead of being mean and aggressive.

That chocolate pouring down in the back looks so good...

I was hoping the villain was associated with the chocolate in some way. Like a Twizzler in disguise give how tall and skinny he is. Or from the Mnm company.

When Reese asked the audience what we should do with the villain after he was defeated, this kid in the front screamed, "Eat him!" Mind you, the villain was covered in chocolate at this point and frozen in place. The look on Reese's face when the kid said that was so freaking funny. He was like quote, "You...you want to eat him? You do know there's a human under that, right?" and then he went to say something like, "We'll go talk to him and see what we could do." For a moment, I thought they actually had an ending where they ate him. I would've flipped.

I carried some confetti home when they shot it down from the ceiling. I threw it away days later. Why do we do that? Carry things home we know we'll never use? It is our greed. The greed to take all that could be ours, knowing the truth that we are selfish for items who don't deserve our time.






Thursday, July 19, 2018

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for the kids while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world (Source: Imdb.com)

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qOzqD9Rms

Rating- PG
Genre- Animation/Science Fiction/Action
Warnings- Flashing lights/minor language/disturbing imagery


My blogging hiatus has come to an end, and I am so happy about it!

I find myself to be one of few people who miss having to writes paragraphs and paragraphs of words, but it's such a release for me to express my way of thinking. So what better way to start with my blogging again than with a movie that has a ton of creativity, love, and passion built into it for the past 14 years?

Incredibles 2 is the long-awaited sequel to The Incredibles; both movies were written and directed by Brad Bird and are a part of wide collection of beloved films from Pixar Animation Studios. The first Incredibles film debuted in 2004, and was about a group of superheroes (or "Supers") known as the Parr family with the father, Bob (Craig T. Nelson), yearning to live a life of fighting crime after years of not doing so because of a ban on supers thanks to the collateral damage caused by crime-fighting. Bob and his wife, Helen (Holly Hunter) managed to live a simple life in a Suburban town with their three children: Violet, Dash (Sarah Vowell and Huck Milner) and Jack-Jack, but soon enough a figure from Bob's past threatens to tear him and his family's life apart.

This sequels takes place immediately after those events in the first film, and it continues on with the struggles for Supers to be accepted again in society. We see the Parr family go through the challenges of being discriminated and also more domestic issues between one another that a lot of people could relate to.

Still, it bothered me to see so much time pass for one sequel that I didn't even think needed to be created. I would've been content with The Incredibles series ending at just one film. So did I think after all of this time the sequel to one of the most popular Pixar movies was worth the wait or did this anticipation lead up to nothing super incredible?


Whereas the first film revealed more about Bob and his adventures getting back into crime fighting, this movie switches to Helen's point of view where she is persuaded to fight again to help show citizens that supers do provide more safety than damage. While Helen ventures through the city as her former alias, Elastigirl, Bob stays with the children and discovers that parenting can be just as difficult as saving the world- maybe even more so.

I think the plot provided a great avenue for the writers to expand more on Helen's character as she is no longer just the housewife- not that I found that to be the case. It was always clear that she was amazing on her own, it's just now we can see that being presented so much more as I found this movie to be like 85 percent Elastigirl and her revival in the modern world.

I enjoyed her scenes very much as they were filled with action and mystery because for me, I think from the start I had this idea of who this movie's villain would be even when it seemed clear, because I'm so skeptical of people ever since plot twists became a thing. When you do discover who the villain is, it can come off as a surprise. I did guess this person a few times but then there would be moments where I doubted myself and disregarded that theory. Do I think this villain will be more popular than Syndrome from the first movie? Judging from what I've seen on the internet, I would say yes.

Elastigirl was fun to watch while Bob and the kids' scenes were more close to home since we get to witness Violet's romantic debacle and Jack-Jack's multitude of powers being brought to life more. Dash would be the child that I would say fades in the background out of the three since I didn't find him to have any major problem or story arc, but he did act as a child typically does which is loud, talkative, and of course fast.

I was impressed with how they handled Bob's character, especially because I feared from the progression of the story that he would end up being this stubborn alpha male that can't allow his wife to do what she wants without feeling inadequate. Sure he expresses jealously over Helen being able to fight crime, but you'd be able to tell that he doesn't put her down for it nor does he try to one up her.

When I say he spends time raising the kids, that's pretty much all he does throughout most of the movie and it's not as easy as one may think. I liked that moral, that parenting is a heroic act in itself and parents should be proud of themselves for being able to handle it: single parent or not, one child or many.

The movie puts up a clear message in the beginning that there is a epilepsy warning for those prone to seizures, so that's a major warning that should be taken seriously. Other than that, personally I found some scenes to be a bit disturbing for some viewers. The movie does include hypnosis and for me that is not something I enjoy watching.

I understand why it was included, and it does work well for the storyline, it's just for me I find it scary to think of someone unwillingly losing control of their own mind, therefore if that's something that disturbs you, just be wary of it. Nothing is extremely violent, but I did find it to be reaching for what I considered to be a children's movie. Although, as Bird said in a tweet in response to a concerned mother about why there was adult language in the film, "...It is NOT a 'kid's movie'. It is animated, and rated PG." Speaking of adult language, it's not as vulgar as you think. I only heard words like, "sucks" and "crap" and it wasn't overly used at all; you can miss it easily.

I already spoke enough about my opinions on Bob's character, so I'll move right along to Helen. I always liked Helen's character and I loved it even more in this movie. I'm glad I got to see her in action, and apparently so did the side characters.

I felt some serious tension between Helen and a couple of new characters; I feel weird for saying it but I felt it very strongly. I guess that shows how well the relationships are crafted as I find only a few people behave that way while others not so much. I feel like the side characters they pushed into the forefront were really stuck there because I love them very much, but the others just seem to be there and I forgot about a couple of them after the movie was over. Regardless, there will probably be toys of them in the Disneystore and a spinoff on the Disneychannel in the works.


Now onto the kids! Violet seems to have captured everyone's hearts on the internet, and I would be one of them. Like Helen, I always liked Violet. Dare say, she was probably my favorite family member and in this sequel she appears more outspoken but also more angry. Granted, what occurs in the film would justify her anger I felt bad for her having to deal with things out of her control. Still, I think since Violet is a teenager she is the embodiment of many teens and young adults who are dealing with the consequences of the older generation and are starting to question things about people so she does not blindly follow a misguided person and group.

I don't have much to say about Dash only that he was less annoying to me this time around. Jack-Jack on the other hand had a lot more screen time because there are so many powers of his to explore that it takes him having a ball of potential up to new levels. The movie points out that this represents his unknown potential which is an interesting take on how to see babies, but what I was more impressed by was what they implied about how Bob had to handle these powers- ergo how parents show raise their children. With a child so powerful, the best way to help him is to take care of him properly and not just feed into whatever he wants. Without raising a child properly, all of that potential would go to waste.

The animation was gorgeous and I can tell a lot more time was put into making it look more effortless and sleek. Even the tiniest of details like the strands of hair and the fabric of the clothing was noticed and I loved it. The action was stellar, and the final fight scene was my favorite. I felt the build up to this intense finale and it was all that I wanted and more. When looking back on it, this movie can be interpreted in a lot of ways with various plot points that are addressed, like them mentioning feminism, the privilege rich people have to get out of doing punishment, the villain's motivation, but I'll talk only about what I interpreted from supers being banned.

I could be wrong, but I think the whole banning and why people are afraid of supers returning boils down to how many people look at police officers in America. With all of this crime going on happening because of officers killing people for no reason- majority of them African American-people have grown more afraid of them. I even know of friends who are terrified if a police car is behind them while they drive just because they think that because they are dark-skinned, they will get shot.

People are losing more and more faith in this form of authority to the point where life just seems better without any officers to protect us because lately they seem to be doing more harm than good. However, this is similar thinking to how people may see people like me: African-Americans who are just ghetto and poor or caucasians who are all racist and privileged.

Something I don't like is stereotypes being placed on people, and these stereotypes are harmful to those that don't fit it. There are people who are outside of this mold and are so much more than what people may expect of them. With that being said, I think the sequels implies very subtly how the police can still be used for good because there are great people out there who do a great job at keeping their citizens safe. There are some bad eggs, but that doesn't make up the entirety of that group. So that's what Elastigirl represents, the officer that shows a personal look into the efforts needed to protect her town so she can show that her intentions are just and different from what people feared for so long.

Did I think too much into it? Not sure, maybe watch the movie so you can decide.


Incredibles 2 took a long time to arrive, but I think it was worth the wait. The story was exciting to follow and I think I might like it more than the first one, the characters were all lovable and relatable and I would watch it again if I had the chance and buy it on DvD when it's available. It's a thrilling film for children and adults alike that can be great for a movie night.

I give "Incredible 2" a 5 out of 5 stars.

P.S There is a Pixar short before the movie called "Bao" written and directed by Chinese-Canadian American artist Domee Shi. This 8 minute story presents a woman who cares for an anthropomorphic dumpling that becomes her son. Without spoiling much, this is a beautiful short that looks into the struggles of letting go of your children in order for them to grow up and be an individual because for nearly every parent their child will always be their baby. The dumplings made in the short looked so delicious; I wish they would've served them at my theater and the dumpling baby was the cutest little thing! I'd watch this one again too.


NOTE: I'm trying to improve on my editing skills for Youtube, so I would love it if you can watch my mini videos. This is the one for Incredibles 2. Thank you!

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeU4tpZYd5E

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
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Did Tony always look that cute? He looks skinner and his hair looks darker. He reminds me of youtuber, Connor Franta.

Violet looks a lot younger. I'm glad the animation studios fixed that thing with the bags under her eyes. I always found that to be distracting.

I see Helen or Mrs. Incredible still looks amazing.

Is this going to be our villain? The guy who invited Frozone to some meeting? If so, that's very predictable.

So are they just going to disregard the fact that if The Incredibles didn't do anything The Underminer would have done more damage to the town and probably got away with even more stuff? That's like saying:

"You shouldn't have stopped that shooter, it caused a lot of damage to the building!"

"But I stopped him from shooting one person"

"That doesn't matter. You caused damage to the building"

Violet is taking a stand with her parents. Part of me likes it while another part of me is saying that that behavior could be seen as disrespectful. Although children should have a right to ask questions...

Bob is a freaking thrill junkie. He just got out of this life or death scenario that nearly killed his whole family yet he's ready to jump on the next opportunity to fight.

There has to be a plot twist somewhere...Winston and Evelyn's father didn't die, did he? Also, why would they leave the mother alive if she was right in the bed? Evelyn said she died months later, so that means she was left alive. That could be a lie though.

Is there a thing with Helen and Evelyn? Obviously Helen wouldn't take the bait, she's married but I felt something there with that look they shared.

Poor Violet, now she has to completely win over Tony's attention again. Tony has a really chill attitude though about a girl writing on his locker in permanent ink.

I read this part online: Bob's superhero ending career involved stopping a train and Helen's superhero revival began with stopping a train. That's an extra kick in the pants for Bob on why he feels so insecure.

That Jack-Jack and raccoon fight was awesome! From the powers I saw, my favorite is the multiplying one where there's more than one Jack-Jack. By the way, I'm assuming these powers aren't genetic at all since every Parr child has a totally different power from their parents. That's kind of scary, you can't really predict what they'll come out with.

I saw screenshots of Violet's freakout and I was scared that they turned her into this bratty teenager, but after seeing why she did that I think it was justified. Not to say if anyone else did that they'd get away without getting yelled at or beaten by their parent.

The message of the Screenslaver can be overshadowed by watching Elastigirl finding his headquarters and I found myself almost fading away from the message to pay attention to what was happening on screen. I don't know if it was intentional, but it was clever for Screenslaver to talk about how people using technology distracts that from the dangers in their world while people were probably distracting by what was on screen to pay attention to anything he said.

I really like how they're treating this whole Jack-Jack situation. Just because he's a very powerful child doesn't excuse him from being treated like the child that he is. It's not to say adults should demean his intelligence, but come on- he's just a baby and as a baby he should still be taught right from wrong. Without that, his powers becoming worthless to the good of mankind.

I knew it was Evelyn, kind of? I mean, I suspected her a few times but then I changed my mind. I am surprised it is only Evelyn in on this malicious route and not Winston as well.

The only time we see Bob and Helen kiss and it's when Helen is hypnotized and taking Bob off guard so he could be hypnotized too. That sucks, because the last kiss in the first movie was so touching this kind of dampens things.

So is all this build up Elastigirl being in the forefront just for nothing? This was really all about how the kids were right and they are stronger than the parents? I know that's not the case, I'm just a little upset over all of the adults being controlled.

Why do I already know that people are going to interpret Helen foolishly leaning towards Evelyn as sexual? Right, cause I found a drawing like that on Tumblr.

Why is Void scared that she'll mess up with the portals this time? She was perfectly fine throughout the movie.

I feel sad that Violet had to redo her meeting with Tony and all, but the more I think about it the more I am okay with it. After all, the only interaction they had before he lost his memory was during Dash's race so there wasn't much to lose after all.

Isn't it okay for Tony to know that Violet is a superhero now? I mean, superheroes are no longer banned so it's not an issue.

The end credits don't have any extra scenes but they do have theme songs for Mr. Incredible, Frozone, and Elastigirl that are catchy. I don't know if that's worth it enough to wait till all the credits roll.



MY HUSBAND WON'T FIT (EP. 1-5)

Check out my first installment of my 3-part breakdown of this Japanese series. Please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for updates. Thank you! https://w...