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!]

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - 10 stars out of 10

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - 10 stars out of 10

“The Empire Strikes Back” is often seen as the pinnacle of the Star Wars saga.  It offers many of the greatest moments of the entire series: The battle on Hoth, the asteroid field chase sequence, Luke’s training with Yoda, “I love you”/”I know,” and one of the biggest plot twists in movie history have all found their place in the cinematic hall of fame.  While I agree that this is probably the best film of the original trilogy, it is interesting that it is also the film that most relies on the others.  The opening sequence gives little introduction to the characters, the main characters spend the majority of the film separated from one another (so there isn’t any chemistry to show the bond between Luke and his friends), Darth Vader doesn’t do anything sinister until the very end (so we don’t see why everybody is so scared of him), and the fate of every character is left completely up in the air at the film’s conclusion.  Rather than call “The Empire Strikes Back” the best Star Wars film, perhaps we should call it the most integral chapter of the original trilogy.  It is hard to view any of these films without the context of the others.  The character development picks up where the last film left off, making this the film where we truly fall in love with the characters.  Luke learns the ways of the Jedi, Han begins caring for others, Leia’s love grows, C-3PO’s love-hate relationship with R2-D2 becomes more apparent, plus we get to meet great characters like Yoda, Boba Fett, Lando Calrissian, and The Emperor.  I feel that the actors came into their own with this film and put on better performances than in Episode IV.  Whether it is acting maturity, more chemistry, or a better script, the entire film feels more real.  This episode contains another masterful John Williams score which includes the first appearance of the iconic Imperial March and the Love Theme.  Williams seems to be underappreciated for this series as he is often remembered as “that guy who wrote the music to Star Wars” but not remembered for the little gems in each individual film.  One of the most important pieces of the Star Wars series is the special effects, and they continue to stand the test of time 35 years later.  Of course, modern CGI makes everything more realistic but I find the realism of the spaceship models, go-motion animation of the Hoth battle, and the puppeteering of Yoda to be infinitely more impressive than computer graphics.  It is difficult to remove the nostalgia factor when judging this series.  It is a part of our culture and our childhoods; however, when looking at “The Empire Strikes Back” in the context of other 1980’s sci-fi films, it truly deserves this high rating and will forever be a classic.

[Pictured: One of the greatest images from all of Star Wars]

Sicario (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

Sicario (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

“Sicario” is a realistic interpretation of the drug trade in Mexico as seen through the eyes of a slightly ignorant FBI operative.  The film did not arrive with the same pomp as “The Martian” (which opened the same weekend), but it left an equally large impression on the critics.  It is dark, gritty, and the only thing more disturbing than the imagery of cadavers hanging in the streets is the idea that the residents of Juarez have accepted this atmosphere as a part of daily life.  The story seems a bit overdramatic but a little research shows this portrayal to be chillingly accurate.  Moreover, the main reason that Juarez has descended from its rank as the most violent city in the world is because one drug cartel has defeated its rivals.  One would hope that the police and military had brought order to the area, but that is simply not the case.  Director Denis Villeneuve has made a bold statement about the government corruption and drug violence that rule this area.  Most of the critical praise surrounding “Sicario” has involved the acting.  Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro turn in impressive performances through subtle but powerful moments.  I could see either of them receiving an Oscar nomination but neither performance is good enough to win.  Josh Brolin also gives the high-caliber performance that we expect from him.  I do feel that the film moves a bit too slow, especially after a riveting opening sequence, but the pace gives you a chance to reflect on the unfortunate circumstance of the area.  The film focuses on situational development more than character development so that, in the end, you feel a greater attachment to the story than the characters within.  “Sicario” accomplishes its goal of bringing awareness to the drug violence in Mexico through strong acting performances and a story that is so unbelievable that you have to believe it.

[Pictured: Blunt reminds us that she can play any role from "Into the Woods" to FBI agent]

Oculus (2014) - 9 stars out of 10

Oculus (2014) - 9 stars out of 10

“Oculus” is a psychological horror film that will have your mind spinning and your eyes second-guessing what you see in the mirror.  I hesitate to call this a horror film because it is more of a thriller with a few moments of horrific imagery, but I suppose that the ghosts with glowing eyes are enough for most to consider it horror.  And the staple remover and the lightbulb!  But a label isn’t important when you have well-paced surprises that pump your adrenaline at calculated moments from start to finish.  Prepare to be disturbed and on the edge of your seat when you watch this one.  The use of dual storylines is an excellent device to give this story depth and display the hallucinations caused by the mirror.  When the two storylines merge, the film becomes a disorienting nightmare that mixes past with present and delusion with reality.  I read that the final twenty minutes of the movie became so complex that the writers had to italicize the text of past events to keep everything straight.  I cannot imagine the intricacy of filming and editing these sequences, but the final result is stunning.  The script is brought to life by amazing acting performances.  Karen Gillan’s performance is far beyond what I typically expect from a horror film and I cannot wait to see her in more roles.  Brenton Thwaites captures the blend of disturbed child and rational adult that so perfectly contrasts his confident older sister.  I was really amazed by Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan, the child versions of the aforementioned characters.  They bring a continuity to the characters (as they act alongside the adult versions of each other) that is convincing and realistic.  The film relies on a constant sense of dread of what might happen next instead of cheap scares that fade quickly.  The film flies by because the anticipation never loses steam.  It doesn’t need to rationalize what is happening because we just accept the circumstances and hope for a happy ending.  I would love to see a sequel, but I said the same thing about “The Ring” so I’m grateful that this standalone story keeps us wondering “what if.”  In this case, it is best to just leave your jaw dropped to the floor.  “Oculus” is a true sleeper hit that will force you to look away from the screen a few times but keep you looking back to find out what happens next.

[Pictured: Gillan and Thwaites bring the intensity that drives this entire film]