Inside Out (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

Inside Out (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

When I walked into the theater for “Inside Out,” I did not expect that it could touch me in such a deep and poignant way.  This film has the rare distinction of being entirely unique.  Its concept is so complex and yet it is presented in a manner that can easily be understood by adults and children.  Dare I say that this is the greatest Pixar film of all time?  It is hard to give any film that title when you consider the cinematic significant of "Toy Story" and the much beloved characters of "Finding Nemo," but this film offers one of the most imaginative concepts that I have ever seen.  Ever.  Director Pete Docter has created an entirely new world to explain the inner workings of the human brain.  The world takes place inside of the mind of Riley, an 11-year-old girl whose family has just moved across the country.  Her emotions (Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust) are personified as a team that works together to control Riley’s emotions and reactions, the characteristics of her personality are physically represented as various “islands,” the Long-Term Memory is set up like a maze-like library, and we even see the “Train of Thought” that operates when Riley is awake.  The harmonious coexistence of these two worlds will have you questioning what is actually going on inside of your brain.  It will also have you rolling in the aisles because its comedy is clever and constant.  Outside of the funny moments, the film shares a similar tone Docter’s previous Pixar films, “Monsters Inc.” and “Up.”  Be prepared to cry.  Disney and Pixar have become experts at evoking tears from their audiences through the self-sacrifice of lovable characters, themes about growing up, strong family moments, and the tragically beautiful musical scoring by Michael Giacchino.  The emotional story is complimented by excellent voice acting by Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Richard Kind, Mindy Kaling, and especially Phyllis Smith (Phyllis from “The Office”) as Sadness.  It is so funny to watch each emotion react according to their definition, but the voice actors are what really sell the emotions.  Even without an incredible story, this would be one of the most beautifully animated films of all time.  You can’t take your eyes off of the Emotions’ vivid colors, their effervescent glow (especially when Joy is in the dark), and their fuzzy outlines as if they were each a grouping of particles.  The creativity of the mind world is reminiscent of “Wreck-It Ralph,” particularly the Dream Production studio, the Bing Bong character, and the abstract sequence is genius.  This movie is the complete package.  I know that an animated film has never won an Oscar for Best Screenplay but, while a nomination in this category is a no-brainer, this film deserves more than that.  I truly cannot imagine any live action screenplay surpassing this storytelling masterpiece.  It will also be interesting to see what happens in the Best Animated Feature category with this being the first time that Pixar has ever released two films in the same year; and yet, I feel confident predicting a win for this film before I even see an official trailer of "The Good Dinosaur."  This story and execution are simply too good.  I don’t know how but this film managed to exceed my very high expectations.  Savor it, because I don’t know if another animated film will ever live up to the precedent that has been set by “Inside Out.”

 [Pictured: The physical interpretation of personality through islands and the personification of the emotions create a visually astounding atmosphere for this film]

Detachment - 6 stars out of 10

Detachment - 6 stars out of 10

“Detachment” is an honest and depressing look at the state of public education, the mislead prioritizing of standardized test scores, and the frailty of human life.  It is an odd film, erratic at times and raw in its portrayal of communities with a low socioeconomic status.  The documentary feel enhances the realism of the story.  You don’t feel as if you are watching characters - you feel as if you are watching real kids with real problems.  Unfortunately, this style requires the film to move slowly and without much action, so it does turn into a very long 100 minutes.  The story centers around Adrien Brody, who plays a substitute teacher that reaches out to these kids on a level that they can understand.  Unlike “Stand and Deliver” or “Lean on Me,” Brody has his own circumstances that stand in the way of his success.  Pieces of this film are predictable because the story so accurately portrays the daily encounters of teachers in their classrooms.  The highlight of the film is Lucy Liu as she shows the frustration with misled students that teachers cannot ever reveal.  I was also quite taken with Sami Gayle, who acted beyond her years in this role.  “Detachment” moves at a snail’s pace and will likely ruin your night, but any person involved in public education will be able to relate to these characters on a deep level.

[Pictured: The chemistry between Brody and Gayle goes a long way in this film]

Jurassic World (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

Jurassic World (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

"Jurassic World" successfully fulfills our dream of returning to Isla Nublar.  We finally get an answer to the 22-year-old question of what would happen if Jurassic Park actually opened.  It has the heart of the original but it also serves as a reminder that the original story will never be matched.  I feel like the three sequels in this series are a catch-22:  we love “Jurassic Park” so much that the sequels don’t feel right when they go in a different direction, but if these films didn’t go in a different direction then we would hate them for copying the original.  I wasn't crazy about some of the themes in the film, but I believe that the writers did a good job of paying tribute to the first film while getting the series back on track.  The park is incredibly creative and somewhere that I would like to visit, even after seeing the disaster.  Everything from the petting zoo and interactive displays to the mosasaurus water show are believable because they are a reflection modern theme parks… with a dinosaur twist.  It is also an interesting commentary on our society’s need for bigger and better when there are amazing things right in front of us.  Still, I think that the writers tried to bend our disbelief a little too far.  The whole military angle was ridiculous and spoiled the realism for me.  Worst of all, it added a subplot that wasn’t really necessary and I feel like it was mainly in there to set up a sequel.  I’m not saying that I could have come up with a better plot but after 14 years of delays and rewrites, I thought that it would have a better focus.  Even with a few plot flaws, great acting helps the story to shine.  The tension between Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard immediately gives us a reason to root for the characters of Owen and Claire.  I was skeptical of them being cast as the leads but now see that they were perfect in these roles.  It was really cool to see them bring back B.D. Wong as the single link to the original park disaster and Jake Johnson was a great source of comic relief.  Also, Ty Simpkins gives an impressive performance for a preteen and I always love any film with Omar Sy and Irrfan Khan.  One of my favorite parts of this film was Michael Giacchino’s score which utilized the original theme at the all of the right moments.  When the theme plays over a pedal tone that makes it minor, it really caught my ear.  The scenery special effects are absolutely breathtaking.  These films always come with the caveat of utilizing the dinosaurs enough on screen and there were plenty of dinosaurs this time around.  I love that the raptors are as fierce as ever but that we get to see them up close and personal.  I cannot even comprehend the complexity of bringing these creatures to life in a way that we just accept that they were there with the actors.  Oddly enough, my favorite scene is one of simplicity. When Owen sits with the dying Apatosaurus, we get to see an important emotional transition in Claire and the sheer cinematic beauty of the moment is overwhelming.  My last criticism of this film is the amount of daylight.  The movie gives us the intensity that we were hoping for but the scares are at a pretty PG-level.  They all take place while the sun is out and it feels like the series has completely transitioned from “scary movie” to “sci-fi thriller.”  I would love to see another sequel in this franchise, but I worry that this film has set them up to take genetic hybrid dinosaurs into a war-zone or use them to help end world hunger.  It isn’t perfect, but “Jurassic World” was definitely worth the wait.  It really can't compare to the original but nothing ever will, which is why my rating reflects the quality of the film and not how it fares in the "Jurassic Park" universe.  People have been drawn to this concept for the past 22 years (hence setting the record for the largest opening weekend ever) and I hope that the producers will show more caution than last time when continuing this series.

[Pictured: The raptors rule “Jurassic World”]

The Lost World (1997) - 6 stars out of 10

The Lost World (1997) - 6 stars out of 10

By most standards, “The Lost World” is a very good film.  The special effects are very impressive and it vividly brings dinosaurs to life.  Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid comparisons with “Jurassic Park” and as the highly anticipated follow-up to one of the greatest science fiction films of all time, it is a big letdown.  Just like the first film, it sets the tone with the opening scene and prepares us for a scary adventure.  Not too long after that, we discover that the plot is a little thin.  Having a Sight B is way too convenient, the rationale for returning to the island is weak, and the film becomes progressively more farfetched.  The first film succeeded because we could all believe that Isla Nublar might actually be out there without our knowledge but this one definitely feels like “a long time ago on an island far, far away.”  The entire San Diego sequence turns this into a monster movie, which is exactly what the first film strived not to do.  Rather than delicately treating the dinosaurs as wildlife, they are turned into blood-thirsty monsters without personalities.  Even with this weaker story, the sophistication of “Jurassic Park” could have been maintained by keeping the dinosaurs on an island where they could be today without us knowing.  I don’t mean to hate on it because the film isn’t all bad.  The scare factor may be even better than the first as it builds intensity with the cracking glass window, raptors in the tall grass, and a more liberal use of blood.  It is great to see multiple T-Rex’s on screen and the imagery of a T-Rex in San Diego is really cool (even though it spoils the realism of the story).  Still, we could’ve done without that sentimental moment where the adult T-Rex teaches its child to kill a human predator or a young girl defeats the raptors with a gymnastics routine.  I also take issue with the casting.  If they could've chosen any actor to reprise their role, I'm not sure why Jeff Goldblum was the one.  Julianne Moore and Pete Postlethwaite are good but I couldn’t stand Vanessa Lee Chester.  Seeing Tim and Lex in danger during the first film makes you really want to see them be safe, whereas Chester  is so annoying that you're hoping that a dinosaur will eat her so that she'll go away.  It is tough to say good things about “The Lost World” when watching it back to back with “Jurassic Park.”  As a preteen, this was an awesome scary movie experience and I really loved the humor.  As an adult, it feels like a lot of the comic relief occurs before we can fully enjoy the scary moments and it is just too farfetched to believe.  “The Lost World” is lackluster in the context of the Jurassic Park series, but it is more than sufficient for those of us that crave more dinosaur thrills and I wouldn't discourage anybody from seeing it (despite this review).

[Pictured: "The Lost World" definitely ramped it up a level in some respects]

Jurassic Park (1993) - 10 stars out of 10

Jurassic Park (1993) - 10 stars out of 10

Any person would be hard pressed to deny “Jurassic Park” as one of the greatest films of all time.  Steven Spielberg took a story that was too advanced for the technology of its time and forced technology to catch up.  This film is masterful on so many different levels that it appeals to everybody in different ways.  As a young child, I was terrified of the rainy T-Rex attack and the raptors in the kitchen.  As an adult, I’m amazed by the realism of the dinosaurs and enjoy all of the one-liners.  As a movie buff, I appreciate the attention to detail and seamlessness of the story.  The genius begins with the story by Michael Crichton.  The world has always been fascinated by dinosaurs and his story brings dinosaurs to life (literally) through scientific logic and the fixation on genetic engineering that dominated the early 90’s.  The credibility of the science is what elevates this story above a standard monster movie.  Crichton’s script is a perfect blend of terror and comedy while incorporating scientific explanations into the dialogue so that we gain the scientific knowledge without feeling like we are learning.  Science fiction films are notorious for focusing so much on the concept that acting and dialogue go by the wayside.  That is not the case for this film and I would argue that it was deserving of Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay, in addition to its Oscar wins for the special effect and sound categories.  All of the actors give above-average performances, from Richard Attenborough’s denial of the park’s inferiority and Sam Neill’s heroism to Laura Dern’s emotional moments and Ariana Richards’ blood-curdling screams.  Jeff Goldblum, Wayne Knight, and Samuel L. Jackson give memorable performances in these character roles while Martin Ferrero makes a perfect “blood-sucking lawyer.”  Even with an amazing script and great actors, this film became a blockbuster because of its special effects.  You would swear that these were real dinosaurs and the combination of animatronics and computer animation makes us feel like we could reach out and touch them (whereas a lot of modern films have the appearance of video games because everything is CGI).  I can only imagine being on the set with a giant animatronic T-Rex.  You would think that all of the scary scenes would take place during the night but the adrenaline-pumping T-Rex attack sets you up to be scared throughout the rest of the film, the majority of which takes place during the day.  Even more fascinating is the story’s ability to negate our childhood notion of the T-Rex being the scariest of the dinosaurs and shift this title to the raptors.  It is chock-full of iconic moments, from the water ripples as the T-Rex approaches to the rearview mirror shot during the chase scene and Jackson's famous "Hold on to your butts."  The score by John Williams completes the film, reflecting the beauty of this realized dream through its theme while enhancing the terror of the scary scenes.  “Jurassic Park” is one of a kind, presenting dinosaurs as wild animals instead of as monsters.  The franchise has had its ups and downs, but the original has become a cinematic rite-of-passage for young viewers and the film that everybody associates with dinosaurs.  Its legacy is cemented in the fact that no other filmmaker has tried to create a modern-age story about dinosaurs since this film came out 22 years ago.  Any attempt would be pointless - “Jurassic Park” will never be matched.

[Pictured: Jurassic Park is THE dinosaur movie]