Rocky II - 9 stars out of 10

Rocky II - 9 stars out of 10

“Rocky II” picks up with a recap of the first fight and answers the question of “What happens next?”  The plot is well conceived as Rocky retires from boxing and must find work to support his family.  This is contrasted by Apollo Creed, who struggles with the naysayers who believe that Rocky should have been awarded the split decision.   In true Rocky fashion, The Italian Stallion must come out of retirement to make some money and defend his family’s honor when Creed launches a personal attack.  I am good with all of this (even the overemphasis on Rocky’s lack of education) and glad that there is some action in the first half of the film, but the whole coma thing is way overdramatic.  I’ve come to expect some cheesiness from this series but that was really unnecessary.  Still, it is hard to fault a film that has twice as many training montages, a better climactic fight, and an ending that will have you choked up.  In fact, the ending dialogue of this film provides my favorite moment of the entire series.  This film gives Burgess Meredith another opportunity to shine and Carl Weathers steals the show just like he did in the original.  His character transforms throughout the film and manages to make us love him and hate him at the same time.  When you combine his performance with the empathy that we develop for Stallone, there is a lot on the line in the final boxing match.  The boxing sequence is just incredible and it is impossible to tell whether they are acting or actually making contact.  “Rocky II” is very similar to the rest of the series: It has a few slow points but the final showdown is so amazing that nothing else matters.

[Pictured: Rocky running through Philadelphia and up the Rocky steps with his entire community behind him (literally) is movie magic]

Rocky (1976) - 8 stars out of 10

Rocky (1976) - 8 stars out of 10

“Rocky” is a classic, but the classics aren’t always perfect.  This movie is consistently ranked as one of the greatest sports films of all time and I agree.  From the moment that the opening fanfare plays, you will be looking forward to the ending fight.  But the exciting finale may keep you from remembering exactly what happened in the middle.  First, the acting of Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire (in her one scene where she gets to show a ton of emotion), and Burt Young is top notch as it drives the underdog story.  The most dynamic actor is Carl Weathers as the outspoken Apollo Creed.  His well-spoken nature is a stark contrast to Rocky’s uneducated manner of speaking.  This is where the script leaves a lot to be desired.  I understand that Rocky is a simple character whose lack of intellect requires simple language but, after an hour of 4-word exchanges, it feels like Stallone should have spent more than three days writing the script.  I strongly disagree with the film’s Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay but agree with the rest, particularly Best Sound Mixing, four acting nominations (though I question whether Shire would’ve been nominated if she wasn’t already well-known for her role in the Godfather series), and the win for Best Film Editing.  The boxing sequences are what make this film special and they are woven together in a way that is exciting yet easy to follow.  The film’s downfall is that there isn’t any training or boxing in the first hour of the movie.  Sometimes the character development can be more interesting than the actual fighting, but not when you have the aforementioned simple script.  “Rocky” is an iconic underdog story whose classic training montage and boxing showdown created a beloved film character and help us to forget its pedestrian dialogue.

[Pictured: Rocky's boxing sequences are vivid and bring the violent sport to life]

Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony - 7 stars out of 10

Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony - 7 stars out of 10

“Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony” is a documentary dedicated to the adult obsession with the cartoon show, “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.”  While many people find the Brony movement to be a bit odd, this documentary humanizes the trend.  It’s easy to make a blanket judgment that “Bronies are weird” but once you see their faces and hear their stories, it becomes obvious that this is a group of normal people with a common interest.  Some of them are weird, but you get that in any group of people.  The most important part of the documentary is that we meet individuals and see how their life has a Brony has helped them to find an outlet for their creativity, communicate better with their parents, find a significant other, cope with their Asperger syndrome, etc.  I like the geographical approach of this documentary, highlighting Bronies from different countries to emphasize this worldwide phenomenon.  One of the most amazing things the this documentary displays is how this group of people live out the morals of the cartoon to make the world a better place.  From charitable auctions at conventions to the actors giving their time to visit sick kids, this is a group that has been inspired by the lessons in each episode.  The tone of the film is very positive, focusing on the good that this cartoon has done for its fandom instead of the judgment of the outside world.  I’m not going to become a Brony myself, but “Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony” has opened my eyes to what this hobby is all about and the good that it can do for our society.

[Pictured: The film features original My Little Pony animations with the actual voice actors to create transitions in the movie.  Awesome]

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens - 10 stars out of 10

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens - 10 stars out of 10

There has never been a film that created more hype than “The Force Awakens.”  The seventh chapter in the Star Wars saga made over $100 million through ticket presales before it even hit theaters.  It is the fastest film to make $1 billion (it only took 12 days) and it is rare to encounter someone who did not see the movie within its first week in theaters.  Somehow, even after developing the highest of expectations for this cultural phenomenon that stopped the world on its axis, “The Force Awakens” still managed to blow my mind.  It is everything that Star Wars ever set out to be and everything that the prequels tried to achieve.  When rating this film, it is definitely on the same level of the original trilogy and I might even rank it higher than “Return of the Jedi.”  It’s tough to make a statement like that after one viewing, but I believe that time will actually strengthen my love for this film.  Most peoples’ nostalgia toward the originals will prevent them from putting this one on the same level but, even with the nostalgia factored in, I believe that this film should be included as “Part Four” when viewing the original trilogy.  The story is incredible.  One of the main criticisms that I’ve heard about this film is that it is too similar to Episode IV, but I loved every parallel.  I’ll gladly call this film “A New Hope 2.0” as it displays the cyclical nature of the universe and emphasizes the idea that we are always going to need a hero, even when all of our problems seem to be resolved.  It also seamlessly incorporates old characters and new characters to eliminate any disconnect between the stories.  I was never a big Chewbacca fan but this film has made him one of my favorite characters in the Star Wars universe.  His comedic moments are fantastic and there is something magical about seeing him and Han Solo sit in the Millennium Falcon nearly 40 years later.  All of the acting is excellent, which is a nice change of pace from the prequels.  Director J.J. Abrams followed in the footsteps of George Lucas by casting relatively unknown actors and he hit a homerun with Daisy Ridley.  She has already become the new face of the franchise as the character Rey and the success of this film will launch her career beyond a galaxy far, far away.  She displays the emotions necessary for a deep, dramatic role while having the physique and attitude for an action film.  She is perfectly complemented by John Boyega, whose storm-trooper-turned-rebel character has a great opportunity to transform throughout the story.  These characters immediately fit into the Star Wars universe through their interactions with the returning actors from the original trilogy.  Carrie Fisher is limited in her screen time but she has several incredible moments with Harrison Ford, who could make a strong case for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination this year.  It was also smart to include big names like Lupita Nyong’o and Andy Sirkis in motion-capture roles that completely disguised their appearance and didn’t distract from the story.  Visually, the film strikes a perfect balance between live-action, real sets, and computer animation.  Where Episodes I-III overused computer animation to the point that the films looked like a video game, Episode VII utilizes modern technology the way that the original would have if the technology was available. The computers are never the star and leave room for the plot to develop without distraction.  2015 was a strong year for visual effects but it is hard to imagine anything defeating this film.  My favorite visual effect is BB-8.  He is a cool droid for a new generation and factors into the story as importantly as C-3PO and R2-D2 in the originals.  I appreciate that this is a film that will allow the new generation to fall in love with Star Wars.  The tone feels darker and more adult than the original but, in spite of its PG-13 rating, "The Force Awakens" is still appropriate for families.  Younger children might need to have their eyes covered for two brief moments but it is clear that Abrams did not try to be too “edgy.”  One of the amazing things about this film was the journey to avoid spoilers.  The social media age has made it difficult to keep anything quiet but I hope that everybody has the opportunity to experience this film without spoilers.  The unexpected moments are reminiscent of the first time that you were shocked at the end of “The Empire Strikes Back” and for many, this may be their first time to have that experience.  “The Force Awakens” is the complete package and will not let you down, even after all of the hype.  It is the perfect blend of action, comedy, space battles, far-off lands, classic characters, new creatures, lightsabers, unexpected twists, and a super-villain that will be feared by a new generation of children.

[Pictured: The new faces of Star Wars are setting this series up for a long, successful future]

The Rescuers Down Under - 4 stars out of 10

The Rescuers Down Under - 4 stars out of 10

"The Rescuers Down Under" is an odd entry in the Disney Canon.  It was made during the Disney Renaissance but feels like a cheap transitional piece between "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast."  The film had a lot of potential and Disney missed the boat.  The writers already had the well-developed characters of Bernard and Bianca from 1977's "The Rescuers," the Australian outback setting was well-suited for an epic journey, and the setting also provided the animators with an opportunity to showcase never-before animated animals.  Instead, the main characters don't do much (perhaps the story would have been better without them?), the setting isn’t really utilized (the film really could have taken place anywhere), and there is less than 5 minutes of screen time for the koala and kangaroos.  The story screams "direct-to-video Disney sequel" as it is a total copycat of the bad-guy-forcing-a-kid-to-help-him-do-something-illegal plot from its 1977 predecessor.  Even though the animation is consistent with the impressive Disney Renaissance style, the story is a disappointment compared to other films from this time period.  The film boasts the voice acting talents of George C. Scott, Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, and John Candy, but that is a moot point with a weak story and script.  It is not surprising that this film underperformed at the box office and perhaps this was Disney’s wake-up call to include musical sequences and singing characters in the highly successful films that followed this one for the next 9 years.  Note that the Disney Renaissance came to a close when the studio strayed away from musicals, and also note the comeback that occurred when “Tangled’ and “Frozen” hit the scene.  Too much of this film is wasted on Frank, who may be the most annoying animated character I've ever seen.  He is like the reincarnation of Gurgi from "The Black Cauldron."  Goanna is equally annoying.  But the most annoying thing is that the film introduces characters and then they never appear again.  This includes the Rescue Aid Society members, all of the animals at McLeach’s ranch, the hospital mice, Cody’s mom, and the kangaroo that helps Cody at the beginning.  Then the film ends with very little resolution.  “The Rescuers Down Under” has a few beautiful sequences and impressive animation, but its poor storytelling and disjointedness make it feel like an incomplete direct-to-video sequel. 

[Pictured: This film has beautiful visuals but nothing to tie them together]

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - 9 stars out of 10

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - 9 stars out of 10

“Return of the Jedi’ is an incredible conclusion to the epic saga that is Star Wars.  It takes us to new lands, introduces new life forms, and completes the transformation of each character.  It is also probably the weakest stand-alone film of the original trilogy as its primary objective is to conclude the stories begun in Episodes IV and V.  There are few original plot points introduced in this chapter but, when viewed with the preceding films (as intended), it is a perfectly paced conclusion (almost).  Some of the Ewok scenes in the middle of the film go on for too long; after all, we're anxious to see the final showdown between Luke and Vader!  Even after waiting the entire film for the bit moment, the unmasking is one of the most anticipated but surprising scenes that you will ever see.  There is just something remarkable about watching such immense power crumble into nothing.  As a child, this was actually my favorite film in the trilogy.  I can’t understand why because Jabba the Hut is so gross and I was terrified of him, but I suppose that his portion of the film was trumped by the cuteness of the Ewoks and the string of comedic moments on Endor.  One of the most underrated actors in this series is Anthony Daniels, who plays C-3PO in Episodes I-VII.  His motions are so robot-like that you would assume that the character is an actual animatronic.  It is amazing that Daniels maintained so much consistency within his character over the course of 38 years.  This film is Mark Hamill’s finest performance of the series and Ian McDiarmid brings true evil to Emperor Palpatine, in spite of Family Guy’s “Something something something Dark Side” parody.  Just like the other films, the special effects in the film are astounding and still hold up today.  The puppetry used for the rancor is still scary, the slow-motion of the spaceship models creates an amazing sense of depth, and the stop-motion used for the AT-ST walkers actually gives them that erratic hydraulic motion that makes them entirely believable.  Some of the most exciting battle moments include the POV shots of the speeder bikes, which were filmed on steadycam at less than 1 frame per second to create an effect of 120 mph movement when played at full speed.  George Lucas changed the face of science fiction with the “Star Wars” trilogy.  Rather than water his film down to what was possible, he created his own special effects company and challenged it to innovate on old methods and create new technologies that would bring his desired effects to life.  “Return of the Jedi” may not receive a perfect rating but there could not be a better conclusion to this perfect series.

[Pictured: You can't have "Return of the Jedi" without ewoks!]