Walt Disney Presents: An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom (1958) - 9 stars out of 10

Walt Disney Presents: An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom (1958) - 9 stars out of 10

“Walt Disney Presents: An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom” captures a timeless snapshot of Walt Disney’s original vision for his theme park.  With a dozen parks worldwide, it’s fascinating to see how their offerings have transformed from simple dark rides and walkthroughs to elaborate experiences that utilize some of the most advanced technologies available.  Though this 1958 tv special predates many of the park’s renovations (including the Monorail, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion), I was surprised to see how much there was to do at this park.  It would have been very easy to fill a day with adventures on Tom Sawyer Island, Autopia, the Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, and any of the park’s three trains.  I was also surprised to see the film’s depiction of foreign tourists and Frontierland before our society became politically correct. Like the part where they literally encourage a bunch of children to fire guns at invading “Indians.”  This tv special was the first look at Disney's park for many people around the country and I can imagine how badly someone would want to visit after getting this taste.  The POV shots of the rides capture the magic and every guest has a huge smile on their face.  The clothing, transportation, and societal expectations have changed but Walt’s dream has not.  Disney parks continue to provide a place where parents and children can play together and “An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom” preserves an archive of where it all started.

Watch the special here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRrn_IOIIpc

[Pictured: Tinker Bell is your tour guide through the "Magic Kingdom," but not the Floridian one that initially comes to mind]

The Present (2014) - 10 stars out of 10

The Present (2014) - 10 stars out of 10

“The Present” is an animated short created by Jacob Frey and Markus Kranzler.  The term “short” is an understatement as its runtime is only 4:20, a minute of which is taken up by the credits.  The phenomenal thing about the short is its ability to tell a layered story full of emotions in less than three and a half minutes.  The film is notable for bringing critical acclaim to the work of Frey and Kranzler which quickly led to their hiring by Disney and Pixar.  We’ve already seen Frey’s work included in “Zootopia” and “Moana,” and their careers will continue to build from here.  It’s hard to discuss the short without spoiling the story since it is so short, but I will say that if you love dogs you will love it.  The animation is such a high quality that I’m surprised at the lack of an Oscar nomination.  It is definitely worth three and a half minutes of your time to experience “The Present” at the Vimeo link below!

https://vimeo.com/152985022

[Pictured: This picture says everything about why you need to watch this short]

Suicide Squad (2016) - 3 stars out of 10

Suicide Squad (2016) - 3 stars out of 10

Disclaimer: I kind of enjoyed "Suicide Squad" but I don't really have anything positive to say about it.  “Suicide Squad” was exactly what I expected after hearing what everybody else had to say.  It is a generally disappointing attempt at duplicating the success of Marvel’s “The Avengers” that falls short of a great story and well-developed characters.  One of the main issues is that the film tries to do too much.  It spends the first 20 minutes giving a textbook explanation of each character (literally sitting around a meeting room table and telling each character’s backstory).  This feels very out of place in a genre whose standard is to produce an origin story for each character (it’s okay to introduce multiple characters in each film) and then put them together later.  This film attempts to kill two birds with one stone by condensing all of the origin stories into the film’s overture and then putting them together for the rest of the film, but the end result is that we don’t feel an attachment to any of the characters.  At least “The Avengers” films (which I consider to be superhero overkill) have developed the characters enough that we like them individually.  The next issue is the one that we have heard the most: Not enough Joker!  Jared Leto’s interpretation of The Joker is a complete letdown after Heath Ledger’s iconic magnum opus in “The Dark Knight Rises.”  Leto has been on the record that most of his best moments were left on the cutting room floor.  After hearing that Leto maintained his character for every moment on set of this production, expectations were extremely high but based on the footage that was selected for the final cut, it’s hard to imagine that it could have ever compared to Ledger.  The best thing to come out of this film is Margot Robbie’s rendition of Harley Quinn.  She has turned this sidekick into a heroine (well, villainess) full of spunk that wins over the audiences’ hearts.  Harley a character that they can build a franchise off of and every moment that she is onscreen is exhilarating.  I can't wait for her spinoff, though I question how it will fare considering that every one of her lines was a one-liner.  Each is well-delivered, but one-liners nonetheless.  The rest of the characters are unfamiliar to me because I have never been a DC Comics fan, but the performances in the film certainly didn’t win me over.  Will Smith is pretty cool as Deadshot and I appreciate that he is motivated by his family.  The rest of the characters left me wondering why they were even there and the villain is so farfetched that it was hard to believe that the characters were in danger.  The pop music soundtrack is an obvious imitation of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and was overdone.  Some of the songs fit well with the story but others seem random and misplaced, especially since most songs are snippets of 30 seconds or less.  Aside from Robbie, it would seem that the Oscar win for Best Makeup and Hairstyling is the film’s only redeeming quality, but even that couldn’t compare to its competitors in the category.  This film simply failed to live up to its cool concept.  “Suicide Squad” was supposed to be a breath of fresh air, an ensemble antihero film amidst a never ending chain of superhero films, but it is just another Hollywood blockbuster with cool action sequences and two-dimensional characters.

[Pictured: I would love to watch "Suicide Squad" again if I could edit out everything but Margot Robbie's scenes.  Probably why the Harley Quinn spin-off is the only chance at saving this franchise]

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017

Disclaimer: These are the films that I personally believe should win in each category, not my prediction of who I believe The Academy will choose.  Also, I did not see Ennemis Interieurs, La Femme et le TGV, My Life As A Cucumber, or 20^th Century Women

Best Picture – 1st Pick: La La Land, 2nd Pick: Arrival (but Moonlight will win)
Best Actor – 1st Pick: Viggo Mortensen, 2nd Pick: Andrew Garfield (but Casey Affleck will win)
Best Actress – 1st Pick: Emma Stone, 2nd Pick: Meryl Streep
Best Supporting Actor – 1st Pick: Dev Patel, 2nd Pick: Mahershala Ali (will win)
Best Supporting Actress – 1st Pick: Viola Davis, 2nd Pick: Michelle Williams
Best Director – 1st Pick: Damien Chazelle (La La Land), 2nd Pick: Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)
Cinematography – 1st Pick: La La Land, 2nd Pick: Arrival
Film Editing – 1st Pick: La La Land, 2nd Pick: Hacksaw Ridge
Original Screenplay – 1st Pick: La La Land, 2nd Pick: The Lobster (but Manchester by the Sea will win)
Adapted Screenplay – 1st Pick: Arrival, 2nd Pick: Hidden Figures (but Moonlight will win)
Best Animated Feature – 1st Pick: Zootopia, 2nd Pick: Kubo and the Two Strings
Best Documentary Feature – 1st Pick: Life, Animated, 2nd Pick: 13th (but O.J.: Made in America will win even though I didn’t see it)

Best Documentary Short Subject – 1st Pick: Extremis, 2nd Pick: The White Helmets
Best Short Film (Animated) – 1st Pick: Piper, 2nd Pick: Borrowed Time
Best Short Film (Live Action) – 1st Pick: Sing, 2nd Pick: Silent Nights

Production Design – 1st Pick: La La Land, 2nd Pick: Passengers
Costume Design – 1st Pick: Florence Foster Jenkins, 2nd Pick: Jackie
Makeup and Hairstyling – 1st Pick: A Man Called Ove, 2nd Pick: Star Trek Beyond
Visual Effects – 1st Pick: The Jungle Book, 2nd Pick: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Best Original Score – 1st Pick: Justin Hurwitz (La La Land), 2nd Pick: Dustin O'Halloran and Haschka (Lion)
Best Original Song – 1st Pick: How Far I'll Go (from Moana), 2nd Pick: City of Stars (from La La Land)
Sound Editing – 1st Pick: Arrival, 2nd Pick: Hacksaw Ridge
Sound Mixing – 1st Pick: La La Land, 2nd Pick: Hacksaw Ridge

Movie Reviews for 2017 Oscar Nominees

Nominees for Short Film (Animated) - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/2016-oscar-nominees-for-short-film.html

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of the Benghazi -
13th - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/13th-6-stars-out-of-10.html
20th Century Women -
Allied - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/12/allied-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Arrival - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/11/arrival-2016-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Captain Fantastic - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/captain-fantastic-9-stars-out-of-10.html
Deepwater Horizon - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/deepwater-horizon-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Doctor Strange - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/doctor-strange-2016-6-stars-out-of-10.html
Extremis - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/extremis-9-stars-out-of-10.html

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them.html
Fences - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/fences-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Florence Foster Jenkins - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/09/florence-foster-jenkins-9-stars-out-of.html
Hacksaw Ridge - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/hacksaw-ridge-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Hail, Caesar! - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/hail-caesar-2016-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Hell or High Water - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/hell-or-high-water-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Hidden Figures - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/hidden-figures-9-stars-out-of-10.html
Jackie - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/01/jackie-2016-7-stars-out-of-10.html
The Jungle Book - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-jungle-book-2016-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Kubo and the Two Strings - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/kubo-and-two-strings-10-stars-out-of-10.html
La La Land - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/la-la-land-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Life, Animated - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/life-animated-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Lion - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/lion-2016-9-stars-out-of-10.html
The Lobster - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-lobster-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Loving - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/loving-7-stars-out-of-10.html
A Man Called Ove - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-man-called-ove-en-man-som-heter-ove.html
Manchester by the Sea - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/manchester-by-sea-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Moana - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/moana-2016-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Moonlight - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/moonlight-2016-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Nocturnal Animals - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/nocturnal-animals-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Passengers - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/passengers-2016-7-stars-out-of-10.html
The Red Turtle (La Tortue Rouge) - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-red-turtle-la-tortue-rouge-9-stars.html
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/12/rogue-one-star-wars-story-10-stars-out.html
Silence - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/silence-2016-5-stars-out-of-10.html
Star Trek Beyond - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2017/02/star-trek-beyond-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Suicide Squad -
Sully - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/11/sully-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Zootopia - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/03/zootopia-10-stars-out-of-10.html

2017 Oscar Nominees for Short Film (Animated)

2017 Oscar Nominees for Short Film (Animated)

1. “Piper” is my choice to win Best Animated Short.  From the moment that it begins, you will be questioning whether the water is computer animated or real.  The birds may be the most lifelike creatures ever animated with detailed feathers and facial expressions that feel like watching a nature documentary.  I always favor a family friendly film in this category and Pixar has managed to create a visual experience that can be enjoyed by all.  Dialogue is not necessary as the musical score takes care of the storytelling.  “Piper” will win if the voters are looking at the highest quality of animation amongst the nominees.  If they are going for storytelling, the award will likely go to #2 on my list. 

2. “Borrowed Time” is a Western Short Film (not to be confused with a short Western film, because those don't exist).  This is the most emotional of the nominees.  It tells a heartwrenching story through its great musical score, inexplicable twist, and very little dialogue.  This is my favorite Short of 2016, though the animation quality falls short of “Piper.”

3. “Blind Vaysha” gets all of the style points for this year’s group of nominees.  It’s theme of duality is brought to life through frequent use of split screen and the animation style has an ancient Mayan feel to it.  The story is a big downer but leaves us with the question of which we’d rather live in, the past or the future?

4. “Pearl” is an innovative Animated Short that makes use of trending virtual reality technology.  I was not able to view the short in this way, but it is easy to imagine how cool it would be to watch this story unfold with a 360-degree view from the passenger seat of the car.  The story is driven by a song sung by a father and his daughter as they chase their dreams.  The quality of the animation is very choppy but it is to be expected with the use of virtual reality.  In the end, this is a journey that is worth taking.

5. “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” is my least favorite short of the year.  It is a cross between a graphic novel, an acid trip, and a film noir.  It tells the true story of Techno Stypes, a young man who lives life on the edge and gladly takes the consequences that come with the lifestyle.  This edgy character comes with edgy content.  When watching a package of the five nominees, the short even came with a warning about its adult content.  Its main redeeming quality is that it paints an undesirable picture of Techno's immoral lifestyle.  In the end, I just didn’t enjoy watching this graphic novel unfold with so much strong language.