Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Vacation Kingdom at Walt Disney World (1977) - 6 stars out of 10

Vacation Kingdom at Walt Disney World (1977) - 6 stars out of 10

“Vacation Kingdom at Walt Disney World” is an 8mm reel that was commercially distributed in 1977.  While the short 9-minute segment may not hold much interest for your average person, it provides an interesting perspective for Disney fans.  We are all familiar with the parks and rides available at the Walt Disney World Resort but this film was intended to promote everything else that was available.  It captures a time before EPCOT Center was open and a trip to central Florida revolved around dinner shows, resort recreation, Discovery Island, River Country, and the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (recently transformed into Disney Springs).  A vacation for your beyond-average Disney fan still involves many of these non-park amenities but it is interesting to see that there used to be more to do OUTSIDE of the park than in.  Walt Disney World has certainly grown like a young child into a sophisticated adult over the past 40+ years and this film helps us to remember the simpler times.  “Vacation Kingdom at Walt Disney World” doesn’t provide the fun imagery of rides inside of the park that you can find from each year’s Vacation Planning DVD but for many Disney fans, this will be a great way to appreciate what once was and what we have now!

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u1tL9Gr18k

[Pictured: We’re all familiar with the image of the Monorail gliding through the Contemporary but in 1977, this view would have been an epiphany]

Monday, January 16, 2017

Rising Sun - 3 stars out of 10

Rising Sun - 3 stars out of 10

“Rising Sun” is a decent crime film.  The only reason that anybody would really seek this film out is if they are a fan of Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery, but it is good enough to hold your interest for two hours.  The content of the film is definitely geared toward adults.  The crime revolves around a murder that occurs in the middle of a sexual act, which resulted in a graphic portrayal of the act and then a consistent revisiting of the scene throughout the film.  It definitely could have been done in a more tasteful, family-friendly manner but since I haven’t read the book, I can’t judge whether Michael Crichton’s original source material necessitated it.  I definitely prefer his stories about dinosaurs to this one.  Connery and Snipes offer average performances compared to their typical output and establish an interesting buddy-cop-but-not-buddies chemistry.  This is a great example of using a diverse cast to bring the characters to life.  The white-washing of Hollywood films is always a hot topic but this film proves two things: 1. Using actors of the proper ethnicity for their character helps to create realism.  2. When you properly use actors of ethnicity, you do not have to parade it around as a victory against racism.  This film was properly cast and it isn’t necessary to turn it into a political statement.  “Rising Sun” won’t leave you feeling like you wasted your time but there are hundreds of better crime films that I would recommend before prioritizing this one.

[Pictured: “Rising Sun” isn’t good but it isn’t terrible either]

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Fences - 8 stars out of 10

Fences - 8 stars out of 10

“Fences” is an emotional expression of unfulfilled dreams, perceived (but not always present) racism, and 1950’s Americana.  It is an adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson and is impressively acted by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.  Denzel also directs the film, which is completely logical since his character drives every plot development in the film; in fact, I would estimate that there are less than 15 minutes where he is not onscreen.  His performance is full of emotion and the disillusionment of a man who is quick to blame his inadequacies in life on racism and a vindictive Grim Reaper.  He is a shoe-in for a Best Actor Oscar nomination and this is a guaranteed Best Actress Oscar win for Viola Davis, especially after she unexpectedly didn’t win for “The Help.”  She creates an amazing progression as her character passively yields to her husband, allows her silence to grow into a pensive frustration, and eventually explodes into a highlight-reel monologue that will earn a spot in the cinema hall of fame.  The film also includes impressive performances by Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, and Russell Hornsby (plus an okay performance by Mykelti Williamson as Gabriel).  The natural chemistry between the cast comes from their collective involvement in the 2010 Tony Award-winning revival of the show on Broadway (with the exception of Adepo).  The chemistry creates an energy that fuels the unexpected twists and emotional outbursts that make the film so memorable.  The conversational nature of the first 20 minutes definitely feels like a play than a movie.  It creates some confusion as it lacks the scenic visuals that we expect in a movie, but it also lacks the intimacy of a play with a small cast.  However, everything feels more organic once the film hits its stride.  The theme of baseball serves as a relatable bridge between modern times and 1955 while the allegory of the fence creating a border between a man and everyone around him teaches an important lesson about empathy.  I really appreciate the Pittsburgh setting of this story and that the production staff elected to film it in a house in the Hill District to preserve its authenticity.  “Fences” offers the raw, dramatic performances that we crave during Oscar season and will help to preserve August Wilson’s play forever.

[Pictured: The entire cast is impressive, but these two are the reason that you must see "Fences"]