The Rescuers (1977) - 7 stars out of 10

The Rescuers (1977) - 7 stars out of 10

I like a lot of things about “The Rescuers.”  The film has beautiful imagery, particularly the pastel skies and animal animation during “Someone’s Waiting for You.”  Madame Medusa is a pretty scary villain (probably because she feels very “Miss Hannigan”).  The use of music when the crocodiles are trying to get the mice out of the organ creates some amazing comical moments.  But this film is noticeably missing Walt's touch.  Something about it resonates “good” instead of “classic,” which is why few claim this to be their favorite Disney movie.  One reason that it doesn’t feel like a traditional Disney film is because the songs are sung as part of the narrative instead of by the film’s characters.  Shelby Flint’s voice is perfectly suited for the mellow folk songs written for the film, but perhaps the writers could have better incorporated other songs into the storyline.  I do love the way that the opening scene leads into a series of still paintings (each of which is worthy of hanging in a museum) that depict the journey of the Help bottle as it travels to New York, and these images fit well with Flint’s rendition of “Who Will Rescue Me.”  But there are other montages that drag on and seem unnecessary.  There is nothing wrong with this device - it is just overused.  It would have been reasonable to keep “Who Will Rescue Me” and “Someone’s Waiting for You” (which are both very effective) but add a ballad sung by Rufus the cat, a villainous song for Medusa, and a heartwarming song for Penny.  Another issue is the inconsistency in the animation.  Some of the backgrounds are stunning, and others reminded me of "Scooby Doo."  At first, the story seems surprisingly dark but in historical context, it foreshadows films like “The Fox and the Hound” and “The Black Cauldron” that would follow in the 80’s.  Still, shoving an orphan into a flooding cavern to retrieve a diamond is enough to scare any kid.  The voice acting meets the expectation of most Disney films.  The young Michelle Stacy (perfectly cast as Penny) got to act alongside big names like Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, and Geraldine Page.  One of the most important voice actors is Jimmy MacDonald (Evinrude), following up performances in Snow White (Dopey, yodeling Dwarfs), Cinderella (Jaq and Gus), Alice in Wonderland (Dormouse), Lady and the Tramp (howling pound dogs), and most importantly as the voice of Mickey Mouse from 1947-1977.  I would’ve liked to hear more from Pat Buttram’s character.  His voice is so distinct that it enhances any Disney movie (Sheriff of Nottingham in “Robin Hood,” Chief in “Fox and the Hound”).  The local animals feel mostly like an afterthought that we only incorporated to resolve the conflict.  “The Rescuers” contains all of the pieces for a classic Disney film, but its inconsistencies and departures from the winning Disney equation leave it lacking the spark that keeps us coming back.

[Pictured: The artistry present throughout the film is the true reason to watch]

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 9 stars out of 10

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 9 stars out of 10
1300th Review

“Mockingjay - Part 2” is everything that we had hoped it would be.  This conclusion to “The Hunger Games” completes the transformation of characters like Katniss and Peeta, brings the story to an unexpected conclusion, and serves up some of the most intense action sequences of the entire series.  One of the main criticisms of the film series was the splitting of “Mockingjay” into two parts but, now that I have seen both parts, I feel confident that this was the right decision.  Unlike several other film franchises that have elected to split their final installment into two parts, the content justifies the decision in this instance.  A one-part conclusion in excess of 3 hours would been inappropriate for the franchise’s target audience, but anything less would have required important events to be pared down or cut completely.  Probably the first things that would have been thinned out is the development of President Coin and the progressive breakdown of Peeta, both of which are vital to the ending of the series.  I agree that the events of Part 1 act mostly as a preface for the conclusion but if you rushed through them, the ending would feel ineffective.  Neither of the Mockingjay films are as good of a stand-alone film as the first two installments, hence them being called “Part 1” and “Part 2” since they work together to complete the story without feeling rushed.  Everything about this finale is great, from powerful acting performances by Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, and Donald Sutherland, to its unexpected twist and incredible special effects.  The “Pan’s Labyrinth”-esque mutts are among the most terrifying creatures that I have ever seen on-screen.  They seemed a bit out of place within the story but made for the most intense sequence of the entire series.  I also like how the main characters are placed into a figurative Hunger Games without the series saying “Hey, we’re going to make them do the Hunger Games again.”  James Newton Howard’s score soars throughout this film, enhancing every emotional moment with romanticized string melodies that capture the tragedies that have occurred in Panem.  My biggest criticism of the film is that they glossed over a very important event involving Primrose and missed a chance for Lawrence to shine even brighter; still, Lawrence continues to establish herself as one of the best actresses of this generation.  This film will always be notable as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final film and I find it appropriate that the writers allowed the performance to remain “natural” by writing his character out of scenes that were shot posthumously instead of adding him via CGI.  At every turn, the producers of this franchise have made decisions that have led to success.  Dystopian fiction is in vogue right now but few films will endure time as well as this series.  While “The Maze Runner,” “The Giver,” and “Divergent” will all drift away, “The Hunger Games” will be the series that this generation of teenagers will share with their own children someday.  “Mockingjay - Part 2” is a poignant and exciting conclusion to “The Hunger Games” franchise that has guaranteed its popularity for generations to come.

For my review of Part 1, click here: http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-9.html

[Pictured: Lawrence established a new expectation of acting quality for pop culture films]

The Kite Runner - 8 stars out of 10

The Kite Runner - 8 stars out of 10

"The Kite Runner" is a gripping drama that tackles difficult content and gives us a glimpse into modern Afghan life.  It also gives an interesting perspective into kite flying tournaments, which I never realized we're a thing.  The film's acting performances are so realistic that you will forget that you are watching fiction.  You will feel frustration and anger toward some of the actors because they are so convincing.  The story is adapted from the 2003 New York Times bestseller of the same name to deliver a combination of heartwarming moments (the childhood friendship of Amir and Hassan) and heart wrenching ones (racism against Hassan, the portrayal of the Taliban).  The highs and lows are connected by excellent character development and the theme of loyalty.  I was under the impression that this was a family movie... Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it is a foreign language film, and even more when I discovered some of the content!  A few details are suggested instead of shown to keep the film tasteful, but this is definitely a film better suited for mature audiences.  If you are in the mood to have a good cry or to have your faith restored in peoples' ability to change and do the right thing, "The Kite Runner" is for you.  If you are not in the mood for either of these things, stay far away.

[Pictured: This film will make you see Afghanistan in a new way.]

The Wiz Live! (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

The Wiz Live! (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

"The Wiz Live!" exceeded everybody's expectations.  Even with a heavy advertising campaign, nobody could have been prepared for so many dynamic performances in one show.  Then again, that is what "The Wiz" has always been - a series of vocally demanding, soulful solo songs tied together through a modern telling of "The Wizard of Oz."  The tv special attracted two categories of people.  First, a group of theater fans whose familiarity of the show made them wonder how 19-year-old Shanice Williams could possibly compare to Stephanie Mills' original performance as Dorothy.  Meanwhile, a group of curious onlookers tuned in to see what this "black Wizard of Oz" could possibly be like.  I believe that the first group was thrilled by the fearless performances by every single actor on screen.  More importantly, I believe that a new audience fell in love with "The Wiz" tonight.  The casting crew deserves an Emmy.  Elijah Kelly rocked the Scarecrow song, Ne-Yo surprised me with an amazing Broadway voice/great acting/sick dance moves, and David Alan Greer stole the show from the moment that he appeared as the Cowardly Lion.  I loved Mary J. Blige as Evillene as she captured the aggressive manner of the character, Amber Riley was funny as Addaperle, and Stephanie Mills set the tone for the entire show with a stirring rendition of "The Feeling We Once Had" in the role of Aunt Em.  I was skeptical about a female Wiz, but the singing range worked well and I think that it added to the fraudulent nature of The Wiz.  Plus Queen Latifah's energy drove the second half of the show.  The only performance that I didn't care for was Glinda, who lacked the sensitivity that I expect from a refined character.  It was more of a flaw in the vocal direction, as nobody should ask Glinda to be a screamer.  There were a few sour notes throughout the show, but that cannot be avoided in a vocally demanding live performance like this.  The one note that definitely was NOT sour was that ridiculously high note that the one guy popped out in "Ya'll Got It."  That may have been the single greatest moment of the show.  The writers took a lot of liberties with the script and orchestrations, but this is a show that is meant to be modernized and the improvisatory nature of the songs made all of the alterations feel correct.  One of the best surprises of the night was the addition of "We Got It."  It felt different due to its modern pop chord structure, but it carried a lot of emotion and I would love to hear it on mainstream radio.  The sets were nothing special, adding pressure to the performers to carry the show.  And they did.  Everything down to the choreography and ensemble were inspired.  The cherry on top was Williams' closing performance of "Home," an emotional climax with truly unbelievable vocals.  Her voice isn't my favorite, but she owned it.  I love the musical theater Renaissance that our country is experiencing and I believe that "The Wiz"found its way into many peoples' hearts with the inexplicable chemistry of this cast.

[Pictured: "The Wiz Live" is an endless series of amazing performances by amazing actors]

Left Behind: The Movie (2001) - 5 stars out of 10

Left Behind: The Movie (2001) - 5 stars out of 10

“Left Behind” is a film adaptation of the amazing Christian book series.  This imagining of the Rapture and the second-coming of Christ vividly brings the Biblical prophecies into a real-world perspective.  And it does it much better than the 2014 attempt.  The fact that they tell an actual story puts this far above the universally panned Nicholas Cage reboot.  In that version, they literally wrote the antagonist out of the story!  You could watch the two movies back to back and think that they were completely different stories.  And you would decide that this one is much better, so just skip the reboot.  The acting and special effects in a low-budget Christian film will never live up to that of a mainstream theatrical release, but this film is certainly better than a made-for-tv movie.  Kirk Cameron is the only actor of any notoriety amongst this bunch, but they all hold their own with actors from “real” movies.  The writers pour on the Christian testimony pretty strong at one point, but the entire story revolves around it so it didn’t seem out of place.  A bit overdramatic, but not out of place.  In spite of its low-budget, independent feel, I have no issue recommending “Left Behind” if you are interested in getting a glimpse of how the Rapture may unfold some day.

[Pictured: The acting isn’t great but it certainly exceeds expectation for a low-budget film]

The Dark Crystal - 1 star out of 10

The Dark Crystal - 1 star out of 10

“The Dark Crystal” is one tripped up fantasy film.  Maybe it amazed people in 1982, but this film feels very campy and seems like an ideal candidate for Mystery Science Theater 3000.  As I watched, I couldn’t figure out who it is intended for.  It is too dark for children (seriously, the entire thing is like one long nightmare) and I can’t see teens or adults taking it seriously.  I suppose that Jim Henson must have truly believed that this art form could extend beyond the realm of comedy, but that is the main thing missing from this film.  The Muppets work because they provide comical dialogue and slapstick humor.  If you put them on stage reading Shakespeare in a serious tone, nobody would watch.  Take away the Muppets’ jokes, familiarity of their characters and add non-stop disturbing imagery, and you have this film.  Not to mention that the story is entirely bizarre and the ending is so obvious that there is nothing to keep you watching.  Unless, of course, you are stubborn and looking forward to writing an unflattering movie review once it is done.  Henson learned a lesson with “Labyrinth” by adding catchy music and quirky characters to keep it from being too serious, but even that film doesn’t seem to appeal to its child audience.  I would definitely recommend passing on “The Dark Crystal.”  If you want to experience the genius of Jim Henson, stick with the Muppets and save your children from this nightmarish puppet show.

[Pictured: Creepiest.  Protagonists.  EVER.]

SlingShot (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

SlingShot (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

Contrary to popular belief, the inventor of the Segway did not die by accidentally Segwaying off of a cliff; in fact, he is making great strides toward solving the world’s water problems.  “SlingShot” examines the life of Dean Kamen, a gifted inventor who has dedicated his life to improving the world for others.  This documentary highlights several of Kamen’s contributions to the medical field, his encouragement of science in the school system, and most importantly his goal to bring SlingShot to the corners of the earth where the mortality rate soars due to a lack of drinkable water.  The story is fascinating as we see that building a cost-efficient lifesaver is not enough to save lives.  Kamen sets off on a journey to find a distributor with the resources to provide these machines to those who need it most.  “Slingshot” is not an action-packed docudrama that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but it’s a great chance to get inside of the mind (and the totally awesome hosue) of an inventor as well as seeing how he hopes to make the world a better place.

[Pictured: Dean Kamen is a fascinating character that drives this documentary]