Mrs.S and I did the Imax thing tonight, to see Kung Fu Panda. Admittedly, the previews for it hooked us in... not to mention that any movie that beats an Adam Sandler movie at the box office opening weekend gets my deep appreciation.
Dreamworks animation - 'nuff said. These folks know their 1's and 0's. Special shout-out to the clever adaptation of the Dreamworks logo at the beginning.
Great story about Po the Panda and the legendary Dragon Warrior. Nice twists to the story, tons o' action, but be warned - the bad guy (snow leopard, actually) in this flick is really really bad. As in, pretty scary. At least, I still have a few nail prints from Mrs.S's reaction to a few scenes.
Wasn't Master Po in Kung Fu (the old TV series) the blind master who called Caine "Grasshopper?" Just curious...
Bottom line, seekers of fun family flicks, seekers of great animation flicks, or seekers of seeing a panda's bottom take on a snow leopard - this is your movie. We'll be seeing it at least a couple of times more, and you better believe when this puppy comes out on DVD, it'll be ours that day. Even the end credits are beautiful, and worth staying for.
Not to mention that if you haven't read the hype about who the different voices are done by, the credits where they are revealed will have you going, "whoa!"
ENDING ALERT: Yes, there is a little something at the end of the credits. Mrs.S and I were the only souls left in the theater, and thus a whole bunch of folks will never know what we know. Hee hee hee...
Ezzie goes into her signature "rear leg spin and whip tail kick" and serves up the rating:
Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails in monkey style. Mr.S adds a bowl of noodles, complete with special secret ingredient. Want to know what that is? Go see the movie - you'll find out. :-D
Monday, June 9, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Speed Racer!!
Mr.S will be the first to admit that he was never a full-tilt gung-ho must-see watcher of the Speed Racer cartoons. However, he saw enough of them to be a little geeked about the movie. Mr. and Mrs.S made their way to the IMAX last night, and what a ride it was...
Keep in mind that this movie was made by the brothers that gave us the Matrix, so the action is fast, faster, and fastest. And on the five story IMAX screen, that's a lot of fast. We liked the casting especially - some great actors doing their thing. And it walked the line well between action movie and campy animation.
The visuals are stunning, in all respects. Lots of color, lots of goodies to look at, and great integration between live actors and the environment around them. The score by Michael Giacchino (he of The Incredibles fame) is lovely (Mr.S will be picking up a copy in the near future), and overall the total package of music and movie is great.
Language? A few A-bombs dropped, one S-bomb, but nothing else. Intensity? Huge. Immense. Ridiculously big. If you saw it on the "small screen" and don't agree, go see it in IMAX. If your head is still attached, that'll take it off.
Ezzie? Race up to the finish line and take us out...
Ezzie gives this one three spinning tails, one of which is festively adorned with a checkered flag.
So, dear reader - make like Speed Racer, and GO!!!!!
Keep in mind that this movie was made by the brothers that gave us the Matrix, so the action is fast, faster, and fastest. And on the five story IMAX screen, that's a lot of fast. We liked the casting especially - some great actors doing their thing. And it walked the line well between action movie and campy animation.
The visuals are stunning, in all respects. Lots of color, lots of goodies to look at, and great integration between live actors and the environment around them. The score by Michael Giacchino (he of The Incredibles fame) is lovely (Mr.S will be picking up a copy in the near future), and overall the total package of music and movie is great.
Language? A few A-bombs dropped, one S-bomb, but nothing else. Intensity? Huge. Immense. Ridiculously big. If you saw it on the "small screen" and don't agree, go see it in IMAX. If your head is still attached, that'll take it off.
Ezzie? Race up to the finish line and take us out...
Ezzie gives this one three spinning tails, one of which is festively adorned with a checkered flag.
So, dear reader - make like Speed Racer, and GO!!!!!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Prince Caspian
Mrs. S and I went to Prince Caspian tonight, and the short review is "fabulous!" For the long review, we must pause for the following:
Mr. Simpleton's Law Of Movies Based On Books
It's like this... Yes, there is ALWAYS going to be stuff omitted from any movie that was in the book. And yes, you will ALWAYS find stuff added to the movie that wasn't in the book. News flash: they're two different forms of media!
So what the Simple One says about it is, if the movie makes sense on its own, and doesn't involve any MAJOR infractions of characters or storyline, then it's ok for it not to be the book with moving pictures.
HOWEVER, if there is stuff left out or added to that leaves one who read the book crying, "what in the name of Fats Waller are you doing???", then that's a problem.
For example, in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, let's say it out loud: CHARLIE NEVER BREAKS THE RULES!!! And that is enough to make Mr.S yell out loud and call for Ezzie to deliver a fresh load of steamy piles.
But I digress...
There is some added stuff in Prince Caspian. And some stuff left out. But, the story is coherent and works without any major character or story infractions. So it's a good one. Disagree? Tough. :-D My blog - my rules. :-D
(that last bit was joking. Really.)
Ezzie, c'mon up here and do that voodoo that you do so well...
Ezzie gives this three spinning tails, and we add a couple of newly-restored mouse tails in honor of Reepicheep.
Mr. Simpleton's Law Of Movies Based On Books
It's like this... Yes, there is ALWAYS going to be stuff omitted from any movie that was in the book. And yes, you will ALWAYS find stuff added to the movie that wasn't in the book. News flash: they're two different forms of media!
So what the Simple One says about it is, if the movie makes sense on its own, and doesn't involve any MAJOR infractions of characters or storyline, then it's ok for it not to be the book with moving pictures.
HOWEVER, if there is stuff left out or added to that leaves one who read the book crying, "what in the name of Fats Waller are you doing???", then that's a problem.
For example, in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, let's say it out loud: CHARLIE NEVER BREAKS THE RULES!!! And that is enough to make Mr.S yell out loud and call for Ezzie to deliver a fresh load of steamy piles.
But I digress...
There is some added stuff in Prince Caspian. And some stuff left out. But, the story is coherent and works without any major character or story infractions. So it's a good one. Disagree? Tough. :-D My blog - my rules. :-D
(that last bit was joking. Really.)
Ezzie, c'mon up here and do that voodoo that you do so well...
Ezzie gives this three spinning tails, and we add a couple of newly-restored mouse tails in honor of Reepicheep.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mrs.Simpleton and & have seen this twice in the theater, and a bunch o' times on DVD, and I must say, it's one of our favorites. One comment I've heard about it is that the ending is weak, and although I can understand that, there is more than meets the eye...
If you saw it once, and kind of dismissed it, I'd say rent it, watch it again, and look for the clues throughout the movie that help explain the ending. For example:
Note what Magorium says to Mahoney when he gives her the Congreve cube...
Note what Magorium says in the hospital to Mahoney about the cube...
Note what Magorium says when he uses the payphone...
If you add those up, and then add in the last chapter (Messing with the Mutant), the ending gets a lot stronger.
There are also a TON of things that you miss in just one viewing...
When Magorium turns off the music in his apartment, it looks like he scratches a needle on his old Victrola... Actually, there's an iPod sitting right next to it - and that's what made the record scratch sound.
When the shop is having it's issues with Magorium's "departure," watch for color changes. There are some really interesting clues and bits that are a part of that theme.
In general, the store is as much of a character in the movie as the people are.
Notice what Mahoney is holding at the graveside...
The office door (when Magorium is showing Henry around the store) says "Etcetera."
It's really an amazing film, with a lot more there than you might think. Very clever - almost too clever, since most folks will see it once, dismiss it, and miss a lot of the detail and clever bits. Sad, since they add a lot to the overall impact. Granted, Natalie Portman can't conduct her way out of a paper bag, which distracted Mrs. S and myself, being the music geeks that we are (not to mention watching her fingers to see if she is really playing the piano...), but it's the overall, not the specifics that make the ending pleasant. And, she does a great job as Molly Mahoney, "bless her timid heart." So, Ezzie, if you'd dance on in here...
Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails, and Mr.Simpleton adds that for most people, the first viewing might warrant one spinning tail, or even The Void, but if you watch it a couple of times, the rating goes up. :-D
If you saw it once, and kind of dismissed it, I'd say rent it, watch it again, and look for the clues throughout the movie that help explain the ending. For example:
Note what Magorium says to Mahoney when he gives her the Congreve cube...
Note what Magorium says in the hospital to Mahoney about the cube...
Note what Magorium says when he uses the payphone...
If you add those up, and then add in the last chapter (Messing with the Mutant), the ending gets a lot stronger.
There are also a TON of things that you miss in just one viewing...
When Magorium turns off the music in his apartment, it looks like he scratches a needle on his old Victrola... Actually, there's an iPod sitting right next to it - and that's what made the record scratch sound.
When the shop is having it's issues with Magorium's "departure," watch for color changes. There are some really interesting clues and bits that are a part of that theme.
In general, the store is as much of a character in the movie as the people are.
Notice what Mahoney is holding at the graveside...
The office door (when Magorium is showing Henry around the store) says "Etcetera."
It's really an amazing film, with a lot more there than you might think. Very clever - almost too clever, since most folks will see it once, dismiss it, and miss a lot of the detail and clever bits. Sad, since they add a lot to the overall impact. Granted, Natalie Portman can't conduct her way out of a paper bag, which distracted Mrs. S and myself, being the music geeks that we are (not to mention watching her fingers to see if she is really playing the piano...), but it's the overall, not the specifics that make the ending pleasant. And, she does a great job as Molly Mahoney, "bless her timid heart." So, Ezzie, if you'd dance on in here...
Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails, and Mr.Simpleton adds that for most people, the first viewing might warrant one spinning tail, or even The Void, but if you watch it a couple of times, the rating goes up. :-D
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Forbidden Kingdom
Mrs.Simpleton and I went last night to see this action/comedy/adventure/kung fu romp, and apparently so did a lot of other folks, since it did really well this weekend at the box office.
The short review? We LOVED it. The slightly longer review? Read on...
Great visuals, comedy from Jackie Chan, action from Jet Li, and enough classic kung fu moves to make a Bruce Lee fan like me smile from ear to ear. Beautiful scenery, and a GREAT score added to it. We'll be going for at least one more showing, if not a couple, 'cause it's a lot to take in in one sitting.
So, what does the Simple One say? Go. Go now. Right now...
Are you still here? GO! What? Oh - the rating. Sorry. Ezzie, would you do the honors? *woof woof*
Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails - and Mr.Simpleton throws in a new chew toy and a tub of popcorn. Now, go!
The short review? We LOVED it. The slightly longer review? Read on...
Great visuals, comedy from Jackie Chan, action from Jet Li, and enough classic kung fu moves to make a Bruce Lee fan like me smile from ear to ear. Beautiful scenery, and a GREAT score added to it. We'll be going for at least one more showing, if not a couple, 'cause it's a lot to take in in one sitting.
So, what does the Simple One say? Go. Go now. Right now...
Are you still here? GO! What? Oh - the rating. Sorry. Ezzie, would you do the honors? *woof woof*
Ezzie the Wonder Dog gives this one three spinning tails - and Mr.Simpleton throws in a new chew toy and a tub of popcorn. Now, go!
Superhero Movie
This puppy rots. It smelleth. It stinketh.
I like Leslie Nielsen. And have laughed at many of his film appearances. Not so with "Superhero Movie." Mrs.Simpleton and I went, we watched, and we left, wishing we had skipped the went and watched part of this sentence. No clever humor, no witty lines - just the gross kind of jokes and visuals you expect in a frat house on "really stupid comedy night." This one isn't even one of those that you laugh at as a guilty pleasure - unless you live for predictable, gross humor. If so, have at it. Otherwise, Ezzie, if you'd be so kind...
Ezzie drops three steamy piles on this one, and shakes her paws to get off the dirt. Yuckers.
I like Leslie Nielsen. And have laughed at many of his film appearances. Not so with "Superhero Movie." Mrs.Simpleton and I went, we watched, and we left, wishing we had skipped the went and watched part of this sentence. No clever humor, no witty lines - just the gross kind of jokes and visuals you expect in a frat house on "really stupid comedy night." This one isn't even one of those that you laugh at as a guilty pleasure - unless you live for predictable, gross humor. If so, have at it. Otherwise, Ezzie, if you'd be so kind...
Ezzie drops three steamy piles on this one, and shakes her paws to get off the dirt. Yuckers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)