Muppets Haunted Mansion Provides Delightful Halloween Fun

 I have loved the Muppets for pretty much my entire life.  I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.  I have seen all the Muppet movies - the ones made for tv and all the ones that were released in theaters.  I have watched all the tv shows.  Even though I was interested in some of the things that were exclusive to Disney +, I only signed up once Muppets Now was being released.  The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance is what got me to finally sign up for Netflix.  If the Muppets are involved, I will watch it.  I have enjoyed all of the Muppet movies and shows, though some have been better than others.  I have been looking forward to Muppets Haunted Mansion since I first heard about it earlier this year and it did not disappoint me.  I have already watched it twice and I’m sure I’ll be watching it more.

Muppets Haunted Mansion is a Halloween special that is only available on Disney +.  It became available to view on October 8, 2021.  It is short at only 49 minutes long, but it is very entertaining and well worth watching.  I would not have minded if it had been a bit longer.  The story is resolved by the end without things feeling rushed.  The special features Muppet characters and elements from the Disney attraction The Haunted Mansion.  It is the first Halloween special featuring the Muppets.

Gonzo has been invited to an event at a haunted house with ties to his favorite magician, The Great MacGuffin, on the same night that the Muppets are having their Halloween party.  Pepe the King Prawn is going with Gonzo and thinks they are going to a party full of famous people.  Once they arrive and receive a few warnings about the house being haunted, they start to realize that something else is going on.  The Host shares that Gonzo was invited to see if he could survive a night in the mansion with the ghosts.  If he can’t, he and Pepe will be trapped there forever.  Gonzo encountered several ghosts, some of which resemble their friends.  One ghost, Constance Hatchaway, sets her sights on one of them.

There are no extra scenes in the credits, but a version of Dancing in the Moonlight performed by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem plays over the credits while little bits showing the human cast singing and dancing with the Muppets is shown.  It is just fun and joyful that it had me smiling as soon as it started.  It is just delightful and makes me so happy.  It really looks like the human actors were having fun with this part. The part with the song is on YouTube and I don’t even know how many times I have watched it.  It truly fills me with joy and makes me happy.  I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this happy watching something.

Gonzo and Pepe are the main Muppet characters in Muppets Haunted Mansion.  It is not the first time for Gonzo to be in this position in one of the Muppet projects.  That started with A Muppet Christmas Carol, though he was paired with Rizzo then and in other projects after that.  It was a little odd to me for Rizzo to not be with Gonzo.  From what I have been able to find out, Rizzo was retired after Steve Whitmire was fired in 2018 instead of another performer taking over the character.  Rizzo was originally created by Whitmire and no one else has ever performed the character.  Pepe is fine, but I did miss Rizzo being with Gonzo.  The two characters have worked together well previously, so it is a bit different but it still works.

The story for Muppets Haunted Mansion is straightforward without any major surprises.  That didn’t make it any less fun or entertaining for me.  There are a few more heartfelt moments that I hadn’t expected before I started to watch.  Those bits do fit in with what is going on well and they fit with the Muppets overall as well since there is usually something like that in most Muppet projects.  It has a spooky feeling without being really scary.  There is one or two small jump scare like moments that do work with what is going on.  Those things could scare children more, but I do think this is very family friendly.  It is a fun Halloween special that is well worth watching.  There is humor throughout as well.  Some of it is a little corny, but that works too.  It is the same type of humor that turns up in most Muppet projects.  .  

Music has always been a part of every Muppet project and Muppets Haunted Mansion is no different.  A little bit of the cover of Dancing in the Moonlight plays at the very beginning.  I was a little disappointed when the whole song didn’t play at that point.  I was very happy when it played through the credits and the inclusion of the footage of the actors singing and dancing with the Muppets made it perfect.  There is also a cover of Grim Grinning Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion attraction.  There are three new original songs, Rest in Peace, Life Hereafter, and Tie the Knot Tango.  The songs fit in well and help to move the story along.

Some of the Muppets are shown briefly as themselves as the Halloween party that is briefly shown when Gonzo talks to Kermit on the phone at the beginning of Muppets Haunted Mansion.  The Muppets are wearing costumes for Halloween.  Kermit is dressed as Miss Piggy and Miss Piggy is dressed as Kermit.  That was not something I had expected and while it was a tad different, I am ok with it.  Once Gonzo and Pepe are inside the mansion, several of the various ghosts look like their friends.  The ghosts have a transparent, glowy look.  I have no idea how that was done, but I’m sure some sort of special effects were used.  The human ghosts have the same sort of look, though I think they did seem to glow a little more than the Muppet ghosts.   

There are references to previous Muppet projects, the Haunted Mansion attraction, and even a few other scary movies throughout Muppets Haunted Mansion.  The wallpaper in the mansion looks like what is in the attraction, though it is a Muppet version.  Miss Piggy shows up as Madam Pigota, a version of a character from the attraction.  There are other ghosts that are versions of ghosts from the attraction.  At one point, Muppet ghosts are dancing and telling each other bad jokes, which is like the At the Dance sketch from The Muppet Show.  Wayne and Wanda, two Muppet characters that have been rarely seen since the first season of The Muppet Show turn up.  I also spotted Johnny Fiama, Sal Minella, Lew Zealand, Nigel, Crazy Harry, and Marvin Suggs and a version of his Muppaphone briefly.  Some people who haven’t been watching the Muppets as long may not recognize all of the Muppet characters that make some kind of appearance.  It made me very happy to see so many of the characters again.

Matt Vogel now performs as Kermit.  He took over the part after Steve Whitmire was fired.  Vogel has been working with The Jim Henson Company since the 1990s, taking over several characters, including some on Sesame Street, as the original performers retired or passed away.  Vogel performed as multiple Muppets in Muppets Haunted Mansion.  His Kermit still sounds different to me, though I haven’t seen that much of his as Kermit yet.  Whitmire was Kermit for just over twenty years, so I had a lot of time to get use to his version of the character.  I thought Kermit didn’t sound right when Whitmire first took over the part as well.  I think Vogel’s Kermit sounds closer to Henson’s Kermit than Whitmire’s did.  I did watch The Muppet Movie again after watching this special, and Vogel’s Kermit doesn’t sound as different to me after doing that.  Several Muppet characters appear at least briefly.  It would have been nice if some of the characters had more to do, but it makes sense given the time limits of the special.  

Will Arnett as the Host has the biggest part of the human cast.  The other human actors just show up briefly, usually as a ghost of some kind.  Many of them are just on screen for a minute or two.  That has happened in all of the previous Muppet movies and specials as well.  There would be one or two main human characters, and the others would be in short cameos.  

Muppets Haunted Mansion is a little silly at times, but it is very fun and entertaining.  I think it is the best thing with the Muppets in many years While I enjoyed the 2015 series The Muppets overall, I didn’t like the changes to the personalities of some characters, especially Kermit.  Those changes seem to be forgotten with this special, which I think is a good thing.  It is delightful and gave me so much joy to watch.  It really reminds me of the Muppets of my childhood and that makes me so happy.  It also makes me hopeful for more good Muppet projects in the future. 

Reminiscence is a Unique Thriller

I have enjoyed most of the movies I have seen Hugh Jackman in over the years and I am usually interested in seeing his new movies.  I saw one commercial for his newest movie, Reminiscence, shortly before the release date.  That was the only promotion I saw for the movie.  I wasn’t exactly sure what it was about, but I was interested in watching it.

Reminiscence was released to theaters on August 20, 2021.  It was also available on HBO Max for a month.  I did watch the movie on HBO Max shortly before that month was up.  I think the movie will be available there again in the future, but I don’t know when at this point.  

I really didn’t know what Reminiscence was about when I watched it.  I am only going to briefly discuss the plot of the movie.

** Minor Plot Discussion**

In the not to distant future, climate changes have caused major issues.  Miami has flooded and the heat is too extreme for people to do much of anything during the day hours, so most people now live at night.  Nick Bannister has a business that allows people to relive memories.  He and his business partner Watts also sometimes work for the local prosecutor to help in questioning people.  Something happens with a client that makes Nick start to spiral out of control.

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

Reminiscence is just under two hours long.  It is rated PG-13.  There is some violence in a few scenes without it being a violent movie overall.  There are elements of a noir movie and mystery to what is going on, as well as some science fiction elements connected to the memory stuff.  I think that works for the movie.  The story is somewhat complicated, but I don’t think it is difficult to follow.  I wasn’t able to figure everything out.  The movie is definitely different.  Some people may not like that.  I did.  It is one of the more unique movies I have seen in a long time.  The movie is the directorial debut of Lisa Joy, one of the creators of the HBO series Westworld.  I have seen that the movie didn’t do well at the box office.  I think part of the reason why could be that there was not much promotion for it before it was released.  The fact that the pandemic is still going on probably had something to do with that as well.  

Memories play a big part in Reminiscence and several are shared throughout the movie.  A new type of technology has been developed that allows people to more fully visit specific memories.  It was originally developed for interrogations, but a use in the private sector was also discovered.  Nick is not the only person to have a business like his, though it seems like his may be considered a bit more run down.  His location definitely isn’t fancy and it is just him and Watts working there.  I believe there are other more high class types of businesses, though Nick is the one that the prosecutor turns to for help.  He did start doing it for interrogation purposes while he was still in the military.  Watts was in the military with him.  Neither of them talk about that time much, but things from that time do come up once or twice.  Watts has some of her own issues in her past that she hasn’t fully dealt with as well.  Most of the times when a memory is shared, it is clear that it is a memory.  There are times when it isn’t clear at first if what is happening is a memory or not, and some people may not like that aspect of the movie. There was once or twice during a memory that something is shown that the person having the memory shouldn’t have known, like something that happened when they weren’t in the room.   

The movie is mostly focused on Nick and what he is going through.  He is somewhat complicated and he makes questionable choices at times.  He is an interesting character.  Hugh Jackman is good in the part.  Watts is the woman who works with Nick.  They were in the military together.  She has some issues of her own that come up a few times.  She and Nick do work well together for the most part, but they don’t always agree on things.  Thandiwe Newton is really good in the part.  Rebecca Ferguson does a good job as Mae, a somewhat mysterious client that Nick becomes obsessed with.  A few of Nick’s other clients turn up as well as some people that are part of some of the memories.  Some of the characters aren’t developed that much, but that works for the game.

Reminiscence is a bit different, but I think it is an entertaining movie that is worth watching.  I keep hearing people say they want original movies instead of the same types of stories over and over or more remakes/reboots.  Reminiscence is definitely original and it deserves to be seen.  

Cruella - A Villain is Born

 Disney has been making live action versions of some of their more popular animated movies for years now.  Some of them I have liked and others I wasn’t interested in.  The studio has also started to make live action movies focused on villain characters.  Cruella is the latest of those movies.

Cruella was released to theaters and through Disney + with Premiere Access on May 18, 2021.   The movie became available to view without Premiere Access on August 27, 2021.  That is when I watched it.  Since I would be the only person watching it, the extra fee for Premiere Access is a bit high, though depending on the movie, I’m not saying I would never do it.  I just haven’t so far.  I do think it makes sense if multiple people will be watching.  I do like that there are other options for people, though I know that may change in the future.  

I’m only going to briefly discuss the plot of Cruella.  Really the only thing I knew about the movie before watching it was that it would show a younger Cruella before the events of 101 Dalmatians.  

**Minor Plot Discussion**  

Child Estella Miller is very creative where fashion is concerned.  She is picked on at school because of her unique hair.  She is rebellious and can be a bit cruel at times.  Her mother comes up with the name Cruella for that side of her.  Estella ends up on her own in London after a tragedy.  As a young adult, Estella still has her love of fashion and dream of somehow becoming a designer.  She starts doing things as Cruella, gaining attention for her unique fashion and antics while also working toward her ultimate goal.

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

There is a short scene during the credits that helps to further connect the movie to 101 Dalmatians.

Cruella is rated PG-13.  There is some mild swearing - the word that rhymes with luck is never used.  There are a few intense scenes that may be upsetting to younger children.  There is mild violence, but nothing excessive or explicit.  Parents should just watch the movie themselves to make the determination on if their children could handle it.  

I believe Cruella is a prequel to 101 Dalmatians, both the animated and live action versions.  The movie ends before the events of the other movies.  I’m not completely sure how much before 101 Dalmatians Cruella ends.  I’m honestly not sure if this movie is supposed to be considered a reboot or not.  There are differences to the character of Cruella in this movie from how she has been previously depicted, but there are also a lot of similarities.  Some things do give some sympathy to the character, though I don’t think she was changed so much that she wouldn’t end up as she was in the other movies.  Certain things that happen can be why the character is the way she is in 101 Dalmatians.  Little things here and there can definitely tie into the events of the other movies.   I did recently read that there are now plans for a sequel.

Cruella does cover a long time frame, from Estella’s childhood to when she is an adult and becomes Cruella.  Most of the movie is focused on a period of time when she is in London as a young adult.  I’m not sure exactly how much time passes during that part of the movie.  It covers at least several months.  Estella/Cruella goes though a lot over the course of the movie.  I did think a few things were predictable, but the movie is still entertaining.  There is a little bit of action in a few scenes without making the movie action packed.  The movie takes place in the 60s and 70s and a lot of music from then is used throughout the movie.  I did recognize most of the music and I think it worked with what was going on.  Fashion does play a huge part in the movie and a lot of it is amazing looking.  

A few important moments from Estella’s childhood are shown.  Those moments do have a lasting impact on her and influence decisions she makes as an adult.  She definitely had a rebellious side as a child that got her into trouble, though she wasn’t evil.  Once she is an adult, she is trying to be good and responsible, but she does turn more and more to her darker side as she becomes Cruella.  She does act and even speak differently as Cruella, something her friends notice and they are not as happy with the change to Cruella at times.  Emma Stone is wonderful in the part.  

Baroness von Hellman, almost always referred to as the Baroness, is a well known, successful designer in charge of a fashion house.  She a self-absorbed narcissist who treats everyone horribly.  She is willing to do anything to get what she wants.  She is a very unpleasant woman.  Emma Thompson is great in the part.  Mark Strong is in a few scenes as John, the Baroness’s valet who has worked for her for a very long time.  

Horace and Jasper are thieves who befriended Estella when they were all still children.  They worked together for years and formed a sort of surrogate family.  They do things for Cruella, though they are not happy about several things once Estella is Cruella more often.  In the previous movies, Horace and Jasper seemed to just be bumbling idiots hired to do Cruella’s dirty work.  There was no indication of a longer or different relationship between them and Cruella like there is in this movie.  They are criminals, but they really aren’t evil.  They are nicer than there have been in the previous movies.  Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser are good in the parts. Roger and Anita, the main characters in 101 Dalmatians, do show up in a few scenes each.  Artie, played by John McCrea, owns a vintage fashion shop that Estella discovers and the two become friends.   

Cruella is an entertaining movie that is worth watching.  There are a few moments that are slightly disturbing and could upset children, but the movie is still good and worth watching.  It is interesting to see a somewhat different version of the character. 

Masters of the Universe: Revelations - Return to Eternia

When I was a child, for a few years, there were some cartoons that I watched after school most days.  He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was one of those cartoons.  I always enjoyed it, but I don’t remember a lot of things since it has been years since I’ve seen it.  I’ve also seen the live action movie several times.  I heard something about another Masters of the Universe, but I didn’t know much about it.  The first part of Masters of the Universe: Revelations was released on Netflix on July 23, 2021.

Masters of the Universe: Revelations is an animated series developed by Kevin Smith.  It is connected to the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon and features many of the same characters.  The series is being released in two parts.  The first part has five episodes.  I’m not sure when the second part will be released or how many episodes it will have, but I will definitely watch it.    All five episodes were released at the same time and I did binge all of them at once.  Each of the five episodes was about twenty-five minutes long, give or take a few minutes.    

I am only going to briefly discuss the plot of Masters of the Universe: Revelations.  Several things happen in these five episodes and I don’t want to spoil things for people.  I really didn’t know anything specific about the plot when I watched the series.  

**Minor Plot Discussion**

While a ceremony is going for Teela receiving the mantle of Man-At-Arms, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn start an attack on Castle Grayskull. He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms and the rest of the Royal Guard go to deal with the situation.  Things do not go well and all of Eternia is damaged because most of the magic is lost.  Teela ends up going on a journey to ultimately try to deal with the new problems.  She is accompanied by some old friends, some new, and even an enemy or two.

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

I had not been expecting Teela to end up the main character of  Masters of the Universe: Revelations.  I wasn’t upset by it.  I just hadn’t expected it.  I guess I just figured since He-Man had been the focus of the original cartoon that would be going on in this one too even though his name is not part of the title this time.  I’m fine with Teela being the focus of the series, or at least, of these five episodes.  It was just a little different at first.  Some people may be bothered by that.  I think it works for these episodes.  There were a few things that happened that I didn’t really like, though they did fit with the story.  Some things are resolved by the end of the fifth episode, while there are still other things to be handled in the episodes that haven’t been released yet.  I didn’t think the episodes were predictable.

It has been years and years since I last saw He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, so I really don’t remember much from it.  There are some characters that I don’t remember at all even though I’m pretty sure they were in the original cartoon.  There were some characters that I believe were new for this series.  I was still able to enjoy Masters of the Universe: Revelations.  I think people who haven’t seen the original will be able to enjoy this one.  I also think fans of it who remember more than I do will be able to enjoy it too.  Some fans of the original may not like the direction this series goes in.  There is action and violence throughout the five episodes, though it really isn’t that bad.  The series has the TV-PG rating in the United States.  A few things that happen may be upsetting to younger children.  It may be a good idea for parents to watch the series first to decide if it is ok for their children even though it is animated.  The animation is very well done by Powerhouse Animation Studios.  Dark Horse Comics is releasing a four issue miniseries comic of the same name that is a prequel to the series.  The first issue was released on July 7, 2021.

Masters of the Universe: Revelations has a really good voice cast.  Somehow I had not known ahead of time that Mark Hamill was doing the voice of Skeletor, but as soon as I heard the character, I was convinced it was him.  The voice of Teela sounded familiar to me right away, though I couldn’t figure who it was while I was watching it.  Sarah Michelle Gellar did a good job with the voice.  Evil-Lyn ends up with a decent amount to do in the episodes and Lena Headey’s voice fit the character.  I did recognize Dedrich Bader’s voice for a few characters and Dennis Haysbert.  I really didn’t recognize any of the other voices.  Chris Wood as Adam/He-Man sounded different from how I remembered, which does make sense since it is a different voice actor.  I wasn’t really bothered by that.  It was just different.  

Masters of the Universe: Revelations wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but it was very entertaining and I think it is worth watching.  I will definitely watch the second half of the series once it is released.  I don’t know if there are any plans for another season of the series or not.  

The Suicide Squad (2021) is Ridiculously Bonkers and That’s a Good Thing

I like superhero movies and movies based on comic book characters, so over the years, I have seen just about all of them at least once.  Some have been better than others.  I don’t always know much background about the characters before I see a movie.  In 2016, I did see Suicide Squad (2016) without really knowing anything about the comic books it was based on.  Harley Quinn was the only character I knew anything about.  The movie was alright overall - I have definitely seen much worse - but it isn’t one of my favorite movies.  When I heard about another one being made, I figured I would see it at some point.  Then I found out that James Gunn would be writing and directing it, making my interest in it go up.  I very much enjoyed The Suicide Squad (2021) and think it is definitely worth watching.

The Suicide Squad (2021) was released to theaters and on HBO Max in the United States on August 5, 2021.  The movie will be available on HBO Max for a month.  I’m guessing it will be back on HBO Max a few months after that like the other movies that have had same day streaming releases earlier this year.  I don’t know if the movie is available legally on any streaming services in other countries or not.  I watched the movie with HBO Max.  There was a bit of buffering later in the movie that did get on my nerves.  That has happened when I’ve watched some of the other same day release movies too.  I don’t know if it was some kind of issue with HBO Max or my Wifi.  I have also had a few other issues watching other things on HBO Max at times.

I am not sharing any spoilers for The Suicide Squad (2021).  I went into watching this movie really knowing nothing about what would be happening.

**Minor Plot Discussion**

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is still using Task Force X for certain highly classified missions.  The terms remain the same for the Belle Reve inmates.  They will get a reduced sentence if they survive and the mission is a success.  Harley Quinn (Margo Robbie), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), and Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) are joined by several new teammates for a mission that has them traveling to the island of Corto Maltese.  The government there was recently overthrown by a regime that is anti American.  The team is to deal with a lab that holds something that could be used as a weapon against the United States and the rest of the world.  Unfortunately, things don’t go as originally planned and the team has to deal with new complications.  

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

There are two short scenes in the credits, one of which seems to be setting up a new series that will start airing on HBO Max in 2022.  James Gunn is also involved in that series, writing the episodes and directing most of them.

The Suicide Squad (2021) is over the top, ridiculous, and bonkers.  All of those are good things and made the movie fun and entertaining.  It probably is too ridiculous and bonkers for some people. Even the ultimate Big Bad of the movie is ridiculous, while also somehow terrifying.  After watching the movie, I did do a little research to discover that yes that villain was in DC comic books and even some DC cartoons.  I really don’t remember seeing or hearing anything about that villain before.  I can’t think of any other movies to compare it to because I’ve never seen any quite like it before.  It shares a few characters with the previous movie, Suicide Squad (2016),  has almost the same name, and has the same basic idea for the plot of a group of super villains being sent out on secret missions in exchange for reductions to their prison sentences, but it is a very different movie.  It did seem like the first one was trying to be too serious, which didn’t work overall for me.  This movie, while it does have a few moments that are more serious or even a bit poignant, does not try to be serious.  It is full out over the top ridiculous and bonkers, and that is what makes it so good.  I still haven’t seen or read any of the comics, so I don’t know if that is more true to them or not.  I just know it works in this movie.  There were a times when I was thinking “Did that really just happen?” while watching the movie.  I had similar reactions to a few things the first time I watched Slither, the first James Gunn movie I saw.  Gunn wrote and directed this movie and he is a very good fit for it.  It does have a similar feel at times to some of his other movies without being carbon copies of those earlier movies.  

The violence is just as over the top as everything else in the movie, so it definitely deserves the R rating.  This is not a movie for everyone and absolutely not a movie for children.  Several characters die (no I’m not saying who) over the course of the movie in a variety of graphically violent ways, with blood splatters galore.  Since it is so exaggerated and over the top, it isn’t realistic in anyway, which works for this movie.  Even with the extreme violence, there are absolutely beautiful visuals throughout the movie.  It starts with the amazing opening shot and continues though the entire movie.  It does seem a tad odd to say a movie this violent is beautiful, but it truly is a beautiful movie.  I haven’t seen a movie this visually beautiful in a long time.  There are some scenes and shots that I’m sure are amazing in the theater.  James Gunn is an amazing director to have created this movie.  I have heard that Warner Brothers did not interfere with this movie like they have with some others in the past.  It really does work better when the studio lets the directors make the decisions.  There is a lot of swearing in the movie, including the word that rhymes with luck.  It does said that the movie includes brief graphic nudity.  At one point, kind of in the background of a scene, there is frontal male nudity very briefly.  

I still don’t know much about the characters in The Suicide Squad (2021).  They are all from DC comic books, some more obscure than others.  I probably know the most about Harley from other movies and shows, starting with Batman The Animated Series, one of the best versions of Batman ever.  She has evolved some since the first movie and that makes her more interesting here, though she still has lingering issues. She also gets a bit of a different look that I liked.  Margot Robbie is great in the part.  Joker does not turn up at all during this movie and I’m fine with that.  I don’t really like Jared Leto’s version of Joker, so I kind like that he isn’t around this time.  I honestly don’t think Leto’s version of the character would fit in this movie very well.  There are one or two small references to him without him being identified by name.  Harley has moved on from that extremely toxic relationship and she does seem slightly less psychotic while still being violently unpredictable.  There has definitely been some changes and growth with her character, but she is still clearly Harley.

Originally, Deadshot, the character Will Smith played in the first movie, was supposed to be in this one as well.  When Smith could not do this movie because of a schedule conflict, Eldris Elba was cast and then the decision was made to change the character to Bloodsport so Smith could return in a later movie.  Bloodsport does fit in well with the story.  

Viola Davis does a good job with the role of Amanda, a character I may dislike more than any other in the DC universe.  She goes to even more extreme measures to get someone on the team.  The movie has a large cast and they all do great with their parts, even the ones that have smaller parts.  Some of them, like Michael Rooker,  I didn’t realize they were in the movie until I was watching it and say them or saw their name in the credits.   I should have expected Rooker to turn up since he is in just about everything Gunn does.  Sean Gunn, Gunn’s brother who also turns up in all of his brothers movies, also makes an appearance.  Nathan Fillion, Pete Davidson, Sylvester Stallone, Peter Capaldi, and John Cena also appear in the movie.   I had multiple moments of wondering if a character had actually been in the DC Comics while watching the movie and the answer was yes every time.  Gunn picked some very obscure characters that end up working for the movie.

The Suicide Squad (2021) is ridiculous, bonkers, and wonderfully entertaining.  It is definitely worth seeing, though it isn’t a movie for everyone.  It would be a good choice to see in the theater for people that feel comfortable doing that now.

Returning

 It has been much longer than I realized since I last posted here.  I have missed writing about movies and have intended to start again, but the last few years - even before 2020 - have been challenging in different ways that contributed to me not writing like I kept wanting to.  I also think that Epinions shutting down the way did really messed with my motivation to keep posting.

I continued going to movies in the theater, until 2020 and the arrival of Covid.  I think my local theater is open now, but I’m not comfortable going to the theater again yet for a few reasons.  I will go to the movie theater again someday.  I just don’t know when right now.

I did finally get Netflix a few years ago and I have been watching a lot of different things on there.  I did get Disney + last year because of the new Muppet show that started there.  I still love the Muppets.  I was extremely happy once all the seasons of The Muppet Show were added to Disney +.  I also have HBO Max and I have watched some of the movies on there that were streaming the same day they were released in theaters.  

Right now, I’m planning to write about movies again somewhat regularly.  There will be times when I won’t be able to be as active posting - when work gets crazy for a few months - but I hope to get back to posting regularly.  I really have missed it.

Nightcrawler - Take a Walk on the Creepy Side With Jake Gyllenhaal (Spoiler Free)

It was several months ago when I first heard something about Nightcrawler and about how good Jake Gyllenhaal was in it.  I’ve liked him in other movies, so that did get my attention even though I had no clue what the movie was about.  Even once I started to see previews, I wasn’t completely sure of the plot, but I wanted to see the movie. 

I am only going to briefly discuss the plot of Nightcrawler and I will not be sharing any major spoilers.

**Minor Plot Discussion**

Louis Bloom is doing somewhat questionable work in Los Angeles while being on the look out for something that could become a career.  By chance, he sees someone, Joe Loder, show up at the scene of an accident and start filming.  Lou learns that Joe goes to the scenes of accidents or crimes, films footage, and then sells the footage to whichever local news station will pay him the most.  Lou decides to try that type of work, gets an older video camera and scanner, and starts filming.  He gets footage his first night that Nina Romina, the night news director of a local television station likes and buys.  She says that Lou has a good eye, tells him to bring her anything else he gets, and suggests that he gets a better camera.

It isn’t long before Lou gets himself an assistant, Rick.  Lou continues to provide footage to Nina and he makes enough money to get better equipment and a new flashy, fast car.  Lou learns more about the news business in general and uses that knowledge to his advantage in his relationship with Nina.  Lou does have a talent for the work, but he starts to do questionable things to get footage at times, and that eventually lands him on the radar of the police.

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

Nightcrawler is an entertaining, though somewhat disturbing, thriller that is well worth watching.  Things do start off a little slow as Lou is introduced and the situation is set up.   The slower pace at that point works for the story, showing how Lou begins his new career.  Things do pick up in certain scenes, like when Lou is driving like a maniac through Los Angeles to try to be the first at a scene while Rick freaks out in the passenger seat.  The plot is interesting and it is entertaining even though there are disturbing elements to it.  There are some graphic things shown at times, mostly connected to the stuff that Lou records and some swearing.  The movie does deserve the R rating and it is not a movie for children.

I have no idea how accurate the work that Lou got into is depicted in the movie.  I know large cities have more crime and more accidents.  I don’t live in a big city, though I do get local stations from one and there are stories about local crime and accidents.  I honestly don’t know if those stations send their own crews to those different locations or if they get footage from a freelance journalist like Lou.  It seems believable, and I know that the paparazzi sort of does the same thing, just by following celebrities instead of crimes.  Several scenes do take place at the station where Lou sells his videos.  Nina is a bit manipulative with the stories she edits and she is willing to use stories and footage that are questionable if she thinks it will get the station better ratings.  Later in the movie, she does talk to someone else at the station about what they can legally air, but even then, she talks about being willing to get fines for airing the footage.  Some of the news broadcasts are shown.  Early in the movie, Lou is captivated by seeing his footage on the news at home.  There are at least a few real broadcasters from Los Angeles in a few scenes here and there.  It does seem like Nina is willing to show stuff that is more graphic than what can actually air, though I know some stations keep trying to push that line. 

While I think that Nightcrawler is a thriller, there really isn’t any mystery to what is going on.  Lou’s background is a complete mystery since really nothing about his past is shared.  He does mention at one point that he didn’t go to college, but he took at least one class online.  Lou does several unexpected things throughout the movie which does keep things interesting.  The movie is definitely not predictable.  I don’t think the movie is action packed, though action does turn up in some scenes, usually when Lou is driving like a bat out of you know where to get somewhere in a hurry.  Later in the movie there is definitely building tension to what is going on.  At one point, Lou is chasing other vehicles involved in a high speed chase.  That sequence is very well done.  There is a little bit of humor here and there that briefly lightens the mood, but the movie is far from being a comedy.

Most of the movie takes place during the night when Lou is working.  He is shown filming several things, though he spends more time in his car, driving around while listening to the scanner.  That may sound boring, but it truly isn't.  Just about all the interactions between Lou and Rick happen in the car.  Even the scenes that take place at the television studio take place during the night, and there is dark lighting there as well, almost as if the station can’t afford to use lights at night.  That does cause some interesting lighting to be used throughout the movie.  At times the lighting does intensify Lou’s creepy look.  I did recognize some of the street names mentioned, though I have no idea if scenes were actually filmed in those places. 

Nightcrawler revolves around Lou and he is probably the most unique character I’ve seen in a movie in a long time.  He is ambitious and willing to do just about anything to reach his goals.  He is smart and he learns things quickly, which does help him in his new career.  It also helps him to do some of the more questionable things he does as well.  He can talk the talk, and while not everyone buys his line, he does convince several people to do what he wants.  This guy could probably sell igloos to Eskimos.  Lou does have a talent for getting the type of footage that Nina wants.  He wants to be the best at his work, and when something doesn’t go his way, he can get unpleasant.  Lou remains calm and seems to be polite with people he is upset with, but that doesn’t stop him from issuing threats while still talking in a calm tone with a pleasant - for him anyway - expression on his face.  He is twisted and creepy in a whole different way because of that.  He really isn’t a likable character at all, but he is fascinating.

Jake Gyllenhaal is absolutely amazing as Lou and he makes the movie.  He has a somewhat different look for the character, with hair that is an odd length - too long to really be short, but not long enough to really be long - and a gaunt look to his face from losing twenty pounds.  The weight loss make his eyes look slightly sunken, which adds to the creepy look.  Even when he smiles, he still looks creepy.  In some ways, he is even creepier when smiling.  At times, as things happen, this sort of crazed look comes into his eyes, making him look borderline psychotic, extremely creepy, and borderline crazy.  I have no idea how he did that, but it is very effective.  I will be surprised if Gyllenhaal doesn’t get award nominations for this performance.

Nina is the news director that first buys Lou’s footage.  She likes his work, including that he gets graphic, bloody, images at times.  She seems willing to put just about anything on air if it will get ratings.  Nina does try to establish some boundaries with Lou, but that ultimately doesn’t work.  At times she seems just about as crazed as Lou.  Renee Russo is really good in the part, though I wasn’t fond of the dark eye makeup she always wears.  A few other people around the station turn up every so often, but none of them receive as much attention as Nina. 

Rick is desperate for a job when Lou hires him.  Rick is in charge of navigation to get them to the different scenes while Lou drives like a maniac.  Rick buys into what Lou tells him during the interview, though he starts to have concerns about certain things tied to the way Lou does things.  He seems nice enough, though he doesn’t get much development.  Riz Ahmed handles the part well.  Joe Loder is the freelance video journalist that ends up getting Lou interested in the work to begin with.  Joe has been doing the work for a long time.  At one point he shares plans for expanding his business.  Joe does seem to feel threatened as Lou gets better at the work.  Bill Paxton is only in a few scenes, but he handles the part well. 

Nightcrawler is a very well done, somewhat disturbing thriller.  It probably won’t appeal to everyone, but it is definitely worth checking out, especially for fans of Gyllenhaal.  I do think it is worth checking out in theaters.

The Expendables 3 Suffers From a Bloated Cast

3 Out of 5 Stars

I do like action movies and don’t even mind some that have major plot issues at times.  I have enjoyed a lot of movies that Sylvester Stallone has been in over the years.  I really enjoyed The Expendables when it came out and I enjoyed the sequel The Expendables 2 as well.  That is why I was interested in seeing The Expendables 3 even before I knew much about the plot.  I did enjoy the movie when I had the chance to see it, but I don’t like it as much as the first two movies.  This one has more issues.

Barney Ross and the team are on a mission to rescue former Expendable Doc.  He has been held prisoner for several years and is currently being moved on a train.  Doc was one of the first members of the Expendables and none of the other guys know him.  The next mission goes bad when Barney recognized Conrad Stonebanks, the man who started the Expendables with Barney originally.  Conrad went rogue and Barney has believed him dead for years.  One of the guys is injured, and feeling guilty and wanting to avoid that happening again, basically fires everyone and then recruits new, younger mercenaries.  Eventually everyone has to work together in an attempt to face Conrad.

There is no indication of how much time is supposed to have passed since the end of the second movie when The Expendables 3 begins.  There isn’t any sort of recap to anything that happened in the previous movies.  The events in this movie don’t directly build on the first two movies since there is no continuing story line.  It is kind of interesting to find out a little more about the founding of the group, but even with finding out about Conrad, there isn’t that much shared.  Barney and Conrad’s conflict works well enough as a story even though it isn’t developed as well as it could have been.  Much of what happens seems to be an excuse for more and more wild action scenes.  It just would have been nice if the story had been a little stronger.  There are attempts at humor throughout the movie, with some working better than others.

Over the top action scenes turn up throughout the movie.  There is all kinds of shooting as well as some fist fights.  Doc uses knives, much like Lee, which causes some conflicts between them.  As the movie continues, the action sequences just get bigger until there is absolutely no hint of believability to what is going on.  A handful of people with limited weapons is supposed to take out what amounts to an army, complete with helicopters and tanks.  It does get a bit ridiculous.  All sorts of nameless characters are injured or killed in some way, especially later in the movie.  Despite that, the movie is rated PG-13 instead of R like the first two in an attempt to get more younger viewers to see the movie in the theater.  It is true that there is very little if any blood shown even with all the injuries and killings, but the rating still doesn’t seem right to me with how high the body count is.

A lot of the cast has been in all three movies, but this one also has several new, younger members.   Frankly, too much time is spent with the new members at the expense of the returning characters.  The new members don’t stand out at all really.  One of them is a woman bouncer and another one is a former member of the military who doesn’t like taking orders and seems a bit moody.  I didn’t particularly like or care about any of them.  I liked the characters from the first two movies so I wanted to see more of them, not younger moody people I don’t care about.  Before seeing the movie, I didn’t realize that the younger members of the cast were going to receive the most attention, with the older members being shoved to the background for the most part while the new guys crack jokes that involve calling the older members Grandpa.  I wouldn’t have minded so much if there was just one or two younger characters added, but a whole new younger team was overkill.  That, along with adding Doc, Bonaparte, Galgo, Drummer, and having Trench around a bit more, has the cast just too big.  That results in none of the characters getting enough attention and there really isn’t any character development.  By trying to feature every member of such a large cast, it ends up with no one really featured.

The set up with Doc and how they rescue him is interesting, then in no time, that is forgotten to focus on the new team.  A big part of the appeal of the first two movies was the fact that they featured several older action stars together in one movie.  This movie went to far off track that idea by focusing so much on the new younger team.  Adding Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford would have been more than enough and would have fit in more with the original set up. 

Ronda Rousey, a mixed martial arts figher who currently has at least one title, plays Luna, the woman bouncer that Barney adds to the new team.  Really the only thing that stands out about her is that she is a woman who acts tough.  I didn’t particularly care about the character and I wasn’t that impressed with her acting.  It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either.  Kellan Lutz, who played one of the moody, sparkly, vampires in the Twilight movies is John, the kind of moody former Marine.  I do wonder if anyone involved in the casting was hoping that some of the Twilight fans would follow Lutz to this one.  Thorn is some kind of veteran who is really good with computers and Mars is a sharpshooter who has a fear of heights. 

Lee, Yin, Gunner, Toll Road, Hale Caesar, and Trench are all back, with some of them doing more than others.  They were all fine in what they were able to do.  Doc starts off looking like a bit of a wild man.  He quickly proves that he still has his work skills.  Wesley Snipes is good in the part.  Galgo is a kind of older mercenary who is desperately trying to get on a team again.  He talks a lot.  I liked Antonio Banderas in the part.  Bonaparte is someone that Barney knows who is helping find the new team.  It seems like Bonaparte has done mercenary work in the past.  Kelsey Grammar only has a few scenes.  Harrison Ford is in a few scenes as Drummer, a CIA agent that gives Barney missions.  Drummer is replacing Church, the character the Bruce Willis played in the first two movies.  Willis was originally going to be back, but then he wanted more money for only four days of shooting, so the character was removed.

Conrad started the Expendables with Barney years ago.  Somewhere along the way, Conrad starting turning more and more to the criminal side.  There was some sort of confrontation and Barney believed that he killed Conrad.  Instead, Conrad was able to become a huge arms dealer and he lives a lavish life.  He is ruthless and he decides that he is going to take out Barney and the team.  Mel Gibson does a good job with the part.  This is the first time I’ve seen him play a bad guy, but he handles it well.

Overall, The Expendables 3 is entertaining though it does have story issues and too many of the cast - the ones that many people probably want to see - are under used.  I have heard that there are plans for a fourth movie.  If that moves forward, I think it needs to return to the main cast from the first two movies and get the cast size back under control. 

Robin Williams - A Farewell to My Favorite Entertainer

I am still a bit shocked and very sad about the passing of Robin Williams.  He has been my favorite actor for most of my life and I even did a paper on him in college.  I don’t know how well I can articulate everything I have been feeling since learning about it, but I decided I needed to try.  My thoughts may jump around a bit, but that seems fitting since that is frequently what Robin did.  At this point, I have been working on this off and on for a few days because it has taken me this long to get my thoughts in some semblance of order.

I went about my day on Monday August 11, 2014, running errands and things.  I didn’t bother to watch the news - I don’t watch the news all the time because I just get tired of hearing about all the crime and negative stuff.  That night, I was minding my own business, looking through some posts on Facebook when I was stunned to read one about Robin Williams dying.  I immediately went to other sites, hoping not to find confirmation that it had happened - not that I think the friend that posted would have made it up, but I just didn’t want to believe it.  I still don’t. 

Over the years I have felt sad when different celebrities have passed away without getting too upset or crying.  I almost always end up shedding a few tears during the memorial segments on different award shows.  This time it is different.  I have cried several times over the last several days, and that will probably continue to happen for a while.  The only other time the passing of a celebrity has hit me this hard was with Jim Henson.  I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, and since Henson was responsible for so many of those characters, it was like they died too at that point.  Mork & Mindy is one of the few shows I remember watching from the early 80s, so I guess I connect Mork, and therefore Robin with my childhood as well, which may be part of  why this has hit me so hard.  It may also be because it is just so sad that such a talented and gifted man is gone.  Finding out that it was suicide and that he had been severely depressed lately makes it sadder.

I am not in any way judging him for this.  It just makes me sadder that his depression got to such a point where he felt this was his only way to deal with it.  Unfortunately, it seems like others are judging.  I have seen nasty comments left on articles and videos.  There are people who are calling Robin a coward and selfish because of this.  He is a man who spent the majority of his life making other people happy.  He has done all kinds of work for various charities, a lot of which he didn’t talk about because he wasn’t doing it for the publicity.  He did it because he cared, something a selfish person wouldn’t do.  He was suffering from an illness that still has a stigma attached to it.  Someone who seems to be a well known blogger wrote something about it that I chose not to read because just the title ticked me off.  It seems like most of the people who have been posting these rude, judgmental, and even nasty things are people who have never had to deal with the type of severe depression that Robin was battling.  They have no idea what type of torment he felt or how he suffered.  They should be glad they haven’t.  Thankfully I have never had to deal with depression, and I hope I never do.  I do understand that it is an illness that people should not be criticized for having.  Some of the things that some people have said online, or even in some of the “news” reports have the potential to be harmful to people dealing with depression.

Over the years, Robin has battled addiction and depression.  Some of that has come out in his work, with him referencing the battles in his stand up.  He has played characters that have problems with depression.  There was even an episode of Mork & Mindy in which Mork learns about loneliness, and the episode does have some serious moments.   Years ago I saw either an interview or read one in which he talked about having insecurities.  It can be hard for people to grasp that someone who was as funny as Robin was could have insecurities and suffer from depression.  It seems like many funny people, and gifted people as well, end up dealing with some form of depression.  Having money or a successful career doesn’t make a person immune to depression. 

Depression does not discriminate and it can be incredibly hard for people to overcome.  It isn’t just feeling sad and people can’t just make themselves happy.  It isn’t like a cold where a person can wait it out or get some type of medicine to deal with the symptoms until it is gone.  There is no magic cure or magic pill.  What helps one person won’t necessarily help another.  While there are medications that can help, it can take a long time to find the right balance.  A medicine that had been helping can stop for whatever reason, starting the search for the balance all over again.  If a person also has to take other medications, they could cause interactions that mess things up.  Medications interact with each other in weird ways at times that can cause complications.   The side effects for a lot of medications mention depression, including some medicine used to treat depression.  There is at least one medicine used to treat depression - I can’t remember which one, but I have seen a bunch of commercials for it - that mentions, in addition to increased depression, suicidal thoughts and actions as side effects. 

On Wednesday, I was horrified to read that some people attacked his daughter for what she has and hasn’t shared online about him, claiming that she hadn’t shared enough pictures of him or some such nonsense.  No one, no matter how famous, is obligated to share every part of their life with the world.  No one has to take pictures of their every waking moment and post them online.  Famous people have a right to privacy too.  No one should be attacked for not sharing enough about their personal life online ever, and it certainly shouldn’t happen after someone has died. 
Friends and family members of someone who has died should not be attacked or criticized for how they grieve.  I don’t understand how or why those people have been doing this.  What is the matter with people?  That is an extra special level of cruel.

Robin Williams made the world a funnier, happier place.  I feel lucky to have been able to watch his many wonderful performances over the years and to have been touched by his brilliance in that way.  I have seen recordings of some of his stand up performances that I enjoyed greatly, but I was never lucky enough to have seen him perform in person.  That would have been something very special.  It would have truly been an honor to have been able to meet him, even for a brief time.  I was thrilled when he was in a new comedy series, and then disgusted when CBS cancelled it while renewing the ever more horrible Two and a Half Men.   Now that he is gone, the world is a sadder place.

I always loved to see Robin on talk shows.  He was the most entertaining guest, bouncing from thought to thought at lightening speed.  He was greatness in action.  When he would crack up over something, his laugh was infectious.  Not all comedians can really do improv, even though many of them seem to think they can.  It takes a very special type of talent to consistently be able to do that in front of a live audience and actually be funny. Robin was the best at it.  That is very different from certain actors who think doing improv is doing take after take after take until they decide something is funny when filming a movie.  Robin was a truly gifted, talented performer.  He was a comedy genius the likes of which I don’t think we will ever see again.

Not only was he hilarious, he was also very good at more serious roles.  One of his early movies was more serious - The World According to Garp - and it was made during the time he was playing Mork.  I haven’t seen all of his movies, but I have seen a lot of them.  I traveled about an hour and a half to get to a theater to see One Hour Photo because it wasn’t at the local theater.  The main reason I wanted to see the movie was because he was in it.  Even many of his funny performances have serious, emotional or downright sad moments in them.  In Mrs. Doubtfire, he was hilarious dressing up as an elderly Scottish nanny, and those outrageous moments are probably what many people remember the most from the movie.  I remember that his character dearly loved his children and would do anything to stay a part of their lives.  Late in the movie, during a court scene, he is absolutely heartbreaking talking about how much his children mean to him. 

I have several of his movies on DVD and I will probably pick up more of them at some point.  I actually did look a few up on Amazon only to discover that they are out of stock right now so they got added to my wish list.  I do sort of feel like having a marathon, starting with the three seasons of Mork & Mindy I have on DVD - I have been hoping for years that the fourth will be released - and continuing with the movies, but I also feel like it is a little too soon for me to do that just yet.  I have watched some clips from some things I hadn’t seen before, and others I had over the last few days.  While they have made me laugh hysterically again, I have also ended up crying again and again and again for various reasons, like just that he is gone or because of something sweet or touching said or done.  I know that I will lose it at the end of Aladdin the next time I watch it, but I will watch it again, along with his many other movies.  I will laugh again, sometimes hysterically until I can’t catch my breath, and I will cry again.  What I won’t do is ever forget him or the joy he has brought me. 

Robin Williams was a very special, talented man who was able to touch his fans in ways that left an impact.  That is why so many of us are so sad right now.  Even though we never actually met him, it feels like we have lost someone close to us.  It takes a special type of person to be able to make that sort of connection to so many people. 

Robin Williams will live on . . . as a grown up Peter Pan, a dedicated English teacher, an outrageous disc jockey, Popeye, a troubled homeless man, a few psychiatrists, a Russian defector, a disturbed photo technician, a killer, animated penguins, the President, Teddy Roosevelt, various doctors, the author son of a feminist, a firefighter who moves to the Caribbean, a banker stuck in the past, a used car salesman, an animated bat, a goofy toy maker, an actor who dresses up as an older Scottish, female nanny, a boy trapped in a game for twenty-six years, a boy who ages four times faster than normal, a flamboyant gay night club owner, a distracted professor, an android, an animated robot, the twisted, corrupt host of a children’s show, a man taking a vacation with his family, a man struggling with the aftermath of loss, an eccentric minister, a father trying to protect his son after death, an advertising executive, a centuries old genie who ultimately gains freedom, and a sweet, kind, gentle, loving alien from Ork. 

Robin Williams will not be forgotten, but he will be greatly missed.

Nanu nanu.

Guardians of the Galaxy is Still Awesome on Second Viewing

When I really enjoy a movie, I will watch it multiple times.  That is why I have as many movies on DVD and Blu-ray as I do.  I usually only see a movie in the theater once, but I am willing to see some movies more than once while in the theater.  So far, the most I have gone to the theater to see a movie is four times for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.  Over the years, I have seen several movies twice at the theater.  I haven’t done it as often in the last few years, partly because of opportunity and partly because there weren’t as many movies I was interested in seeing at the theater twice.  Earlier in the week, I decided to see Guardians of the Galaxy again.

I absolutely loved Guardians of the Galaxy when I saw it on opening day.  The movie is fun and entertaining with a great soundtrack. Probably within a day of seeing the movie, I was thinking about trying to go see it again.  I ended up waiting until Tuesday because I was going to have several hours in between two work related classes and I didn’t want to make two trips into the office.  If that hadn’t been happening, I think I would have gone again on Monday. 

There weren’t as many people there the second time, but it was a decent amount for early afternoon, especially considering it was a 3D showing.  For whatever reason, there are only two show times at the local theater for Guardians of the Galaxy that aren’t in 3D.  The very first showing every day is discounted even more on top of the matinee price, so there could have been more at that time - I missed that showing because of the first class.  Everyone in the theater seemed to really enjoy the movie - all of us stayed through the credits for the extra scene.  Yes I had already seen it, but I wanted to see it again too. 

I noticed a few more things here and there that I had missed the first time I saw the movie.  I noticed how Yondu’s mohawk turns red at times, especially when he is using his whistle controlled arrow.  I paid more attention to one character when he turned up because I figured out from reading the credits the first time that Nathan Fillion did the voice for that character.  The voice really sounds nothing like Fillion.  I noticed more cool things with the special effects, including with the 3D.  Since there weren’t as many people there, I was able to hear a few lines that I had missed previously thanks to the laughter of the audience.  I did notice the one character from the scene after the credits earlier in the movie - no I’m not saying who it is.  The character in question can be seen in the background when the main characters go to see the Collector.  There isn’t a closeup of the character or anything like that.  It is really just a silhouette, but that is enough to make it clear who it is.

Guardians of the Galaxy holds up very well on a second viewing.  I enjoyed the movie just as much as I did the first time.   Honestly, I would be see it in the theater again if I got the chance.  I would even pay the higher price for a 3D showing again.  This is one of the most entertaining movies I’ve seen in a long time.  I will definitely be adding this to my movie collection.

This review is part of elvisdo’s 7th Annual Funny Pages Write off.

Guardians of the Galaxy is Awesome (Spoiler Free)

5 out of 5 Stars

Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest Marvel movie.  I have been looking forward to seeing it for months, ever since I saw the first trailer that has Hooked on a Feeling playing.  The movie is very fun and entertaining and it is definitely worth checking out.  It does build on what has happened in previous Marvel movies and sets up things for future movies while still standing alone fairly well. 

I am only going to briefly discuss the plot for Guardians of the Galaxy.  People who prefer not to know anything about the plot before seeing the movie should skip the next paragraph.

** Minor Plot Discussion **
Peter Quill is abducted from Earth in 1988, just minutes after his mother passes away.  Twenty-six years later, he is calling himself Star Lord.  He ends up in a world of trouble when he manages to find an orb that Ronan, a Kree, is trying to retrieve for Thanos.  Ronan sends Gamora, an assassin and Thanos’s adopted daughter, after Peter.  Gamora and Peter end up in prison along with Groot and Rocket, where they meet Drax.  The five decide to work together to get out so they will have a chance to stop Ronan and Thanos.

** End of Minor Plot Discussion **
There is a cute scene at the end of the movie, just as the credits are starting.  There is a scene after the credits that ties back into something that happens during the movie.  All of the Marvel movies have done this, and with most of them, the extra scenes hint at something that will be coming in some way in a future movie.  Another Marvel character is introduced in the short scene.  I did recognize the character, but I have no idea what is being planned there.  I honestly never expected to see that character show up, and I am now wondering what Marvel is planning since all the other characters introduced in this way have turned up in later movies so far.

Guardians of the Galaxy is the based on the Marvel comic book.  I have never read it, so I have no idea what has stayed the same and what has been changed.  I hadn’t even heard of Guardians of the Galaxy before Marvel announced that they were making the movie.  I didn’t know what to expect from the movie, even after seeing the first few trailers, but I still wanted to see the movie.  I’m very glad that I saw it. This is one of the best movies of the year.

Peter is first shown as a child in 1988.  The movie only spends a few minutes on that point in his life, but it is a rough few minutes.  The movie then jumps forward twenty-six years to show Peter as he is finding the orb.  From that point on, things move at a fairly good pace without feeling rushed.  The story works well overall.  It is very interesting and entertaining, blending in some touching moments with really funny things.  Some of what happens is just flat out bizarre - one of the characters is a talking raccoon and another one is a sort of tree that can only say I am Groot  - but it all works perfectly to make an awesome movie. 

All of the main characters say and do things that are funny in some way.  All the humor gives a movie a lighter feel overall even with the emotional moments.  Music also plays a part in what is going on since Peter’s most treasured possession is the mix tape his mother made for him of songs from the 70s and 80s.  Those songs actually work very well with what is going on when they are heard.  I am slightly disappointed that more of Hooked on a Feeling isn’t heard during the movie like it was in one or two trailers.  Other characters react oddly to Peter’s music, and at one point, he even uses it during a confrontation in an unexpected way.  In another scene, Peter shares the legend of Footlose and hero Kevin Bacon.  The music also serves as a connection to Earth and his mother for Peter, so it is understandable why he is so protective of his walkman and the mix tape.  I do wonder where he got batteries for the walkman over the years.

I ended up seeing Guardians of the Galaxy in 3D because of the show times.  For whatever reason, all but two of the show times are in 3D at the local theater.  I do think the 3D was pretty good and that it added to a few cool images.  I think the movie is also showing in IMAX 3D at some locations.  Everything looks wonderful throughout the movie.  Several things are created with special effects that are done well. 

There is a decent amount of action to what is going on without things getting too graphically violent overall.  A few things happen that are more violent and could be upsetting or even disturbing to some viewers.  There are different fights, including a few involving space ships, that are done well.  I think there is a decent amount of action in the movie overall.  I think of the movie mostly as a fun action adventure in space.  The movie is rated PG-13, so parents should keep that in mind when deciding on taking kids to see it.  There is some swearing, though nothing extreme and the word that rhymes with luck is not used.  Peter does make an obscene gesture at one point, though it is done in a funny way. 

Guardians of the Galaxy has an interesting group of unique characters.  Peter, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax are basically misfits who are thrown together by circumstances and end up finding a way to work together.  They ultimately become friends and discover that their individual strengths compliment each other, making them stronger together.  Peter is a bit of an outlaw who has a rather inflated view of his own reputation.  Chris Pratt is perfect in the part. 

Gamora was raised by Thanos and turned into an assassin after he killed her family.  She sees the current situation as her way of getting away from him.  She is very good at fighting and does have some trust issues.  Zoe Saldana is good in the part.  Nebula, who is part cyborg,  was raised with Gamora and the two have issues.  Nebula has issues with Thanos as well, though she seems loyal to him.  Karen Gillian is really good in the part.  I don’t think I would have recognized her if I hadn’t know she was playing the part since she looks so different. 

Rocket and Groot have been working together for a while as some sort of bounty hunters/mercenaries.   Rocket is a raccoon that has been experimented on, giving him the ability to talk.  He is very fond of large weapons.  The voice Bradley Cooper does for the character fits him very well.  Groot is basically a walking tree who is very good in fights.  Vin Diesel provides his voice even though he only says one thing.  He does say it in different ways, and it seems like Rocket is able to pick up on more other things that Groot means.  Drax is after vengeance for his family.  He wants to kill Ronan and even go after Thanos, and his need for vengeance causes him to make some stupid decisions at times.  Dave Bautista is fine in the part. 

Ronan is the main villain of the movie.  He wants revenge against enemies of the Kree, and he is determined to get it.  Most people are afraid of him since he will not hesitate to use deadly force.  Lee Pace does well with the part.  Thanos is just briefly in the movie, though it is clear that he has bigger plans.  I believe that Thanos will be playing a bigger part in future movies.  Josh Brolin performed as the character for motion capture and provided his voice. 

Yondu is a bandit that has basically raised Peter.  The two have some conflicts.  Yondu isn’t really a bad guy, but he isn’t really a good guy either.  Michael Rooker does well with the character.  Glenn Close is in a few scenes as Nova Prime, the leader of the Nova Corps who are in charge of protecting the planet Xandar.  John C. Reilly turns up in a few scenes as Rhomann Dey, a member of the Nova Corps. Benicio Del Toro is The Collector in a few short scenes.  Stan Lee makes another short appearance somewhat early in the movie.  Nathan Fillion has a small cameo, though I think, now that I figured out which character it was, that he just did the voice.  Director James Gunn has a cameo too, though I didn’t manage to spot him.

Guardians of the Galaxy is absolutely awesome and definitely worth seeing in the theater.  People who have liked the other Marvel movies will probably enjoy this one as well even though it is a bit different.  This is one of the best movies of the year.

This review is part of elvisdo’s 7th Annual Funny Pages Write off

22 Jump Street - Overload of Crude Humor

2 out of 5 Stars

I try to keep an open mind about new movies.  I tend to give most movies a chance, even when I am not particularly fond of members of the cast.  With some actors and actresses, it is a little harder for me to do that.  Originally I really wasn’t interested in seeing 22 Jump Street.  I only recently saw the first movie, and, well, it wasn’t a favorite.  I don’t really like Jonah Hill, though I have managed to like some of his movies.  I ended up going to see 22 Jump Street.  I should have followed my initial instincts and avoided it.

After somehow managing to be successful with their assignment out of 21 Jump Street that sent them back to high school looking for drug dealers, partners Jenko and Schmidt have trouble with other assignments.  They get a lead on Ghost, a drug dealer, but mess up in a big way and are sent to 22 Jump Street - across the street in a different abandoned church from 21 Jump Street.  Captain Dickson assigns Jenko and Schmidt to go undercover at the local college to find who is suppling a new drug called WHYPHY that has been linked to the death of a student.

It doesn’t take long for Jenko to start up a friendship with Zook and Rooster, fraternity brother football players.  Schmidt doesn’t fit in with them at all and he starts feeling left out.  He does manage to start a relationship with art student Maya even while being looked down on by Maya’s roommate Mercedes.  Jenko and Schmidt start to drift apart and the investigation, as well as their friendship, suffers.

During the first several minutes of the credits, there are a series of clips from fake sequels that have Jenko and Schmidt going undercover in other schools, like medical school, culinary school, and a seminary - in which Seth Rogen replaces Jonah Hill as Schmidt because of “contract negations”.   The clips are amusing.  At the end of the credits there is a short scene that ties back into something that happened earlier during the movie.  I’m guessing it was supposed to be funny, but I didn’t think it was.  It was just an attempt at a joke being taken too far yet again.

While I did laugh here and there at things happening in 22 Jump Street, I didn’t find the movie that funny overall.  Far too often, the “jokes” fell flat for me.  From very early in the movie there are a lot of jokes about movie sequels being exactly the same as the first movies, how a bigger budget doesn’t guarantee success, and how all sequels stink.  The movie is very self aware, including through the clips during the credits.  That stuff is fine at first, but it gets old fast.  The same thing happens any other time something actually funny happens.  The writers didn’t know when to quit.  Mercedes spends just about every minute she is on screen making cracks about old people and how ancient Schmidt is.  That was just stupid.

There are a lot of gay jokes tied to the relationship between Jenko and Schmidt.  There are some tied to Jenko’s growing friendship with Zook as well later in the movie.  The first few of those jokes was fine, but again, the writers didn’t know when to quit.  It got to a point where it was uncomfortable that they were resorting to that sort of joke again.  The humor would have worked better overall if there wasn’t so much overkill with certain types of jokes going on.   It is almost like someone decided that if it was funny once, then doing the same sort of joke 900 more times will be absolutely hilarious.  It isn’t.  I don’t mind dumb comedies or silly movies at times.  This one just didn’t work for me.  There some pop culture type references, including references to Batman, Robin, and Spider-man.  Sexual references, some of which are rather vulgar, are used throughout the movie.  They are something else that I think were intended to be funny that weren’t.

I don’t know if everything in the movie was actually scripted or if improvisation went on during filming.  Jonah Hill is part of a group of male actors who do a lot of improvisation during their movies.  They seem to think anything they think up on the spot is hilarious no matter how stupid it is.  Saying whatever pops into your head and then laughing doesn’t make something funny.  Some people are really, really good at improvisation, but not everyone is.  Hill - and the group of actors that includes Seth Rogen - isn’t that good at it.  I have seen extras on some DVDs that have actors going on and on and on, trying to come up with something funny by just spewing nonsense.  A lot of the stuff that Mercedes says about how old Schmidt is has that sort of feel to it. 

The few action scenes do seem a bit exaggerated and over the top.  There is sort of a chase at the beginning, and a longer chase later that has Jenko and Schmidt going after two different suspects.  The action does take a back seat to the attempts at humor.  Some violence is in a few scenes without the movie being violent overall.  The word that rhymes with luck, along with variations of it, are used by just about every character, something else that is over done.  Drugs play a part in what is going on, including when Jenko and Schmidt unknowingly ingest some and have a weird trip.  The movie does deserve the R rating, and it isn’t one that children of any age should see.

I didn’t think any of the characters were that interesting.  Jenko is good looking and becomes popular at college, but he is dumber than a box of rocks.  That makes it harder to believe him as a college student than the fact that he is older than his classmates.  Schmidt is overly needy and clingy where Jenko is concerned, but he is still somehow able to hook up with Maya, a girl well out of his league.  Jonah Hill didn’t annoy me as much as he has in other movies, but he still isn’t funny.  Channing Tatum really isn’t funny either. 

Maya is just a pretty art student who has a family member that could add complications.  Mercedes is a waste most of the time.  She and Schmidt get into a fight at one point that is just ridiculous.  Captain Dickson is only around in a few scenes.  He mostly is yelling about something.  The Ghost is a drug dealer the guys are after at the beginning who may or may not turn up again later.  Rooster and Zook are the football playing frat brothers.  Neither of them seem that bright either.  Zook is around a little more since he becomes more of a friend to Jenko.  I didn’t realize that Wyatt Russell was playing Zook when watching the movie.  Different students are around briefly without them adding anything to the movie.

22 Jump Street has a few moments here and there that work or that are funny, but overall, it just isn’t funny.  I know the movie has gotten a lot of good reviews, but I don’t understand that.  I don’t get what is so good or entertaining about it.  This is definitely not a movie for everyone.

This review is part of elvisdo’s 7th Annual Funny Pages Write off because of the references to Batman, Robin, and Spider-man.   

Tammy

3 out of 5 Stars

Melissa McCarthy has become very popular in the last few years.  I think she is very funny and have enjoyed movies she was in, so I have wanted to see Tammy, her new movie.

The day is already going bad - car issues and being fired - when Tammy arrives home and discovers that her husband is romancing another woman.  Tammy packs up a few things and heads two houses down to her parents’ home.  When her mom won’t turn over a car, Tammy decides she can take her grandmother’s car.  Pearl is willing, but only if she goes with Tammy.  The two head off on what ends up being a wild road trip, complete with drinking and a robbery.

A few short things are shown during the first few minutes of the credits, including one blooper.  There are no additional scenes at the end of the credits.  There isn’t a 3D option for this one.

Things start happening within the first few minutes of Tammy, setting up that this is just the most recent bad day that Tammy has had.  It quickly becomes clear that her life isn’t the greatest.  Some of that is her own fault and other things aren’t.  There are times when I felt really bad for her.  Pearl has her own issues that come to light during the trip.  That does sort of add a few complications to what is going on, but the plot is fairly straightforward, though it isn’t completely predictable since there are a few small surprises here and there.  Some people could be disappointed by the fairly simple plot. 

Not everyone is going to like or appreciate the humor in Tammy.  Some of it is rather crude or rude, involving obscene gestures or language.  The word that rhymes with luck, along with some variations are used repeatedly throughout the movie by just about every character.  All the foul language may offend some people.  I don’t mind if that sort of thing is done a few times, but it does get old after a certain point.  Bad language by itself isn’t funny.  I do think that Tammy is funny overall, though it could have been funnier.  There are funny things that weren’t in the trailers, but there is also something that has been in trailers that wasn’t in the movie for some reason.  A few references are used at times as well, mostly to things that a younger person will not get.  The only one I can remember now is when Tammy mentions the old tv show Falcon Crest. 

Tammy is not a family friendly movie, though when I saw it, someone decided to bring a herd of children, who ended up sitting just one seat away from me.  The movie is rated R for a reason, and young children really should not be seeing it.  The movie is probably all right for teenagers.  Parents should check the movie out first.  In addition to all the swearing, there are some sexual remarks and a few borderline sexual situations as well.  At one point, Pearl is picked up by Earl while Tammy and Earl’s son Bobby watch.  Pearl and Earle end up in the backseat of the car before locking Tammy out of the hotel room.  Pearl demonstrates more bad behavior by offering Tammy beer when Tammy is driving and spending a lot time drunk.  The two women share a few things, some of which are a bit disturbing. 

Pearl and Tammy serve as the main characters and each of them have some issues.  Pearl spends a lot of time drunk, and at least once, she is shown starting to drink really early in the day.  Pearl is a bit wild at times, especially where Earl is concerned.  Susan Sarandon is all right in the part, though she doesn’t seem old enough to have a granddaughter Tammy’s age - or daughter the age of Deb for that matter.  It is a little odd to see Sarandon in this type of part, but I think she handles the comedy well.  I do think she was funnier in the few episodes of Mike & Molly she was in last year.  Deb and Don are Tammy’s parents.  Deb is not happy about the road trip at all and she doesn’t come across as that supportive at times.  Alison Janney is fine in the part even though she isn’t old enough to have a daughter the age of McCarthy.  Don only shows up very briefly late in the movie, so Dan Aykroyd don’t get much to do.

Lenore is Pearl’s cousin who ends up helping Pearl and Tammy at one point.  Kathy Bates is fine in the part even though she doesn’t have much to do.  Sandra Oh has even less to do as Susanne, Lenore’s partner.  Earl is a drunken mess and a mostly flat character.  Gary Cole really just has to stumble around and make out with Sarandon.  Bobby is Earl’s sort of responsible son - Bobby did take Earl out drinking after all.  Bobby doesn’t get much attention either, but he seems nice enough.  Missi is the woman that Tammy’s husband Greg is seeing.  They are only in a few short scenes, so Toni Collette is wasted in the part.  Ben Falcone is good as Keith, Tammy’s jerk boss. 
Tammy, as the main character that the movie is named after, ends up with the most to do.  She has a fairly crappy life.  She tends to complain about things without doing much to try to change things.  She isn’t the brightest crayon in the box and she clearly has issues.  She usually makes bad decisions, though at one point, she does that with good intentions.  She still manages to be mostly likable even though she has some moments when it is difficult to like her.  Melissa McCarthy is fine in the part.  She, along with her husband Ben Falcone, wrote the movie and he directed it.  I do think it could have been better.  Tammy really isn’t that different from the parts she has played in Identity Thief and The Heat, so I can see why some people say they are getting tired of her doing the same thing over and over. 

Tammy has problems and could have been a lot better, but it isn't as bad as some have said.  It does manage to be funny and entertaining, but it isn’t as good as The Heat.  Fans of McCarthy will probably want to check out of the movie.

The Simpsons Movie - Homer Hits the Big Screen

5 out of 5 Stars

The animated television series The Simpsons is the longest running television show.  It became very popular from the time it began to air in 1989 on FOX.  The characters appeared on all kinds of merchandise, games, and comic books.  It was years later before I started to watch the show because I didn’t have FOX in 1989.  I quickly got hooked on the show and have been watching it ever since.  I have all the DVD sets that have been released and I went to see The Simpsons Movie on opening day in 2007.  I just watched the movie again. 

Springfield is facing a dangerous situation.  Lisa convinces everyone to do something to fix the situation.  Things start to get better until the day that Homer gets distracted by free donuts and does something that dooms the town.  He then has to try to find a way to redeem himself and possibly save the town. 

The Simpsons Movie begins showing many of the characters in a movie theater watching an Itchy & Scratchy movie.  During the credits, there are a few little bits of animation, including Maggie’s first word, but there really aren’t any actual extra scenes during or after the credits.  There wasn’t an animated short before the movie, unless you count the few minutes of Itchy & Scratchy. 

While the plot for the movie does build on things from the series, it is self contained.  There really haven’t been any continuing storylines in the series, so there wasn’t anything like that to carry into the movie.  Everything is resolved by the end of the movie.  Some things that happened in the movie have been referenced in the series since then once or twice.  When the new season started in the fall of 2007, something is shown that connects to the ending of the movie.  People who haven’t seen the series could enjoy the movie though they probably won’t know all the characters or get why certain things happen.  The movie is really aimed at fans of the show.  

Subplots turn up in many episodes of the series, some of which end up not being connected to the main plot of the episode in any way.  The Simpsons Movie has a few subplots that do end up tying back into the main plot.  For a few of the subplots, it only becomes clear late in the movie how they connect to the main plot.  Things remain true to the series and what has been established in it and no one acts out of character.  The things that happen are believable for the world of the series.     

The movie uses the same type of humor that the series uses and I think the movie is funny.  That does mean that some jokes are silly and there is some gross humor as well.  This type of humor doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I think it works for the movie just like it works for the series.  Anyone that has had a problem with the humor in the show will probably have a problem with it in the movie too.  Some of the humor relies on things that Homer says or does, again like the show.  It just wouldn’t seem right to me if Homer didn’t bumble into something and cause some sort of problem.  It would have been weird if the movie changed the humor too much from what is used in the series.   From what I remember, the trailers and previews didn’t show the funniest moments.  There are a few pop culture references without the movie being loaded down with too many of them like has happened with other movies.  Homer gets a pig at one point that he calls Spider Pig and later calls Harry Plopper, in what seem to be references to Spider-Man and Harry Potter.  Homer even makes up a Spider Pig song.

The Simpsons Movie is rated PG-13, so it is able to get away with a little more than an episode of the series is.  At one point, Homer makes an obscene gesture with each hand and there is a little bit of swearing.  The word that rhymes with luck isn’t used.  There is some animated nudity at one point that did shock me when I first saw the movie.  I hadn’t expected it to go as far as it did.  Parents should definitely check out the movie before letting their kids see it, even if their kids regularly watch the series.  Things are a little more suggestive in a few other scenes.  The movie isn’t good for all children just because it is animated. 

The animation for the movie has the same basic look as the series.  All the characters and locations look the same, though it is slightly different from how the series looked up to the point of the movie being released.  The series is now in high definition, something that started with season twenty in 2009.  The animation for the movie is done very well though it isn’t on the same level as what Pixar does. 

By the time this movie came out, the series had aired for eighteen years.   That gave it the time to have richly developed main characters and a large, fairly strong cast of supporting characters.  There isn’t much in the way of character development in the movie, but that didn’t bother me since I was already familiar with the characters.  Anyone who hasn’t watched the show may feel differently.  The movie, like the series, is mainly focused on the five members of the Simpsons family, so they end up with the most to do.   

While several supporting characters are around, none of them do as much which is a little disappointing even though it is understandable.  There are a few scenes that include large crowds, which is the only time some of the various characters are actually seen.  Some of the characters only get a line or two while others don’t have any.   Several locations, like the church, Krusty Burger, and the comic book store, turn up as well.  Comic Book Guy shows up in a few scenes and is actually attempting to help Marge figure something out at one point.  Apu, Moe, Millhouse, Chief Wiggum, and Mr. Burns briefly stand out in short scenes.  There are a few new characters, with Russ Cargill having the most to do since he is involved in the main plot.  The voices of the characters are all done by the voice actors who have done them for the series for years.  It would have just been strange if the voices had been different.  Albert Brooks, credited as A. Brooks, does a good job with the voice of Russ.  One very famous actor basically does a cameo as himself at one point. 

DVD INFORMATION

The Simpsons Movie is available on DVD and Blu-ray.  I have the DVD.  The picture quality looks beautiful on my HDTV.  There are a few commentaries that I haven’t taken the time to listen to yet.  There are five or six short deleted scenes, including a slightly alternate ending, that really don’t add much, though they would have given a few other characters some screen time.  The different trailers are included as well.  Special stuff includes little extra bits, like Homer introducing American Idol and Homer, Marge, and Lisa acting as the American Idol judges while Simon Cowell auditions.  None of them are very long, though they are cute.  Since I don’t have the Blu-ray, I don’t know what sort of extras are included with that version.

The Simpsons Movie is a very fun, entertaining movie.  I really enjoyed it and think it is true to the series.  It is definitely worth checking out for fans of the series.  People who don’t like the series should probably just skip this movie.

This review is part of Elvisdo’s 7th Annual Funny Pages Write Off because of Comic Book Guy, the reference to Spider-Man, and the fact that there are Simpsons comic books.

I posted a review of this movie on Epinions on July 27, 2007 - after seeing the movie in the theater - as dragonfire88.  When I watched the movie again recently, I decided to write a new review.