Well it has been a week and a half since I have seen the movie, I normally give myself only a few days to ponder something, my life has been hectic the past week plus so I am just now getting around to writing about the movie.
I really wanted to start by talking about my limited expectations for the movie originally. January and February is usually the dumping ground for movies that did not live up to their expectations, so even though I love Lego, it was something I had limited expectations for at best. The movie however got an enormous boost in my mind because of its elevated rating on RottenTomatoes.com, when I saw the movie it was sitting around 97% positive reviews. I don't go by ratings, but they can definitely make me more interested in a movie that I was on the fence about.
The movie really was everything I thought it would be and much much more. It had great casting of its characters, great imagination behind it, great jokes, great writing, and great twists involved in it. The Lego universe has greatly expanded since I was a kid with all sorts of branded merchandise including Star Wars and DC Comics. A lot of the things I grew up with were generic imitations of these things. The movie has characters that I definitely remember playing with as a kid as well as all sorts of newer additions.
I have to say that Chris Pratt has been on a roll with his movies, starting with being in Moneyball, he was also in Her (my favorite movie of 2013), and was now the leading role in The Lego Movie. I am also really looking forward to seeing him in The Guardians of the Galaxy this summer, which has a ridiculous cast in it!
This movie is honestly for anyone who like Lego or pop culture, its full of references, it has so many jokes, sometimes too many because the laughter has not yet subsided from the last joke, I am sure I missed a joke or two. I am an easy one to make laugh, but I still found this movie's jokes creative.
They honestly did a good job of creating a universe in this movie, as well as explaining how the universe works. The movie pays homage to all sorts of different generations of Lego builders and it even has some deeper cuts including numbers for certain parts that only the most in depth collectors would even get reference to.
I will be very honest and admit that I didn't think The Lego Movie would have a complex plot, but boy was I ever wrong. I did not see a lot of the different things and creative turns coming. My advice is that if you have somehow not seen the movie and still want to, do not read anything about it, I would hate it if any parts of the movie were spoiled for someone, because I really enjoyed some of the different reveals and twists in the movie.
I think that my favorite cameo in the movie would have to be Billy Dee Williams making a quick appearance in the movie as Lando himself. I mentioned liking the casting, and I really mean that, all the way down to the role that Jonah Hill plays in the movie. I could go down the entire cast list stating that everyone did a good job in the movie, but I won't do that. I just wanted to point out both Billy Dee Williams and Jonah Hill in the movie. Also what the movie did with Batman was quite amusing.
Well this is the first and only movie that I have seen so far in 2014, so of course it stands alone at #1:
1. The Lego Movie
Showing posts with label Star Wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star Wars. Show all posts
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Thor: The Dark World
This is the first Marvel Studios produced movie that I almost didn't go see in the theater. I didn't really like the first Thor all that much, and it didn't seem like the story was all that great, and I just didn't care about the character all that much either. If Tom Hiddleston had not been in this movie, I can only imagine how bad it would have been.
Loki provides a lot of the comedic elements in the movie as well as a lot of the general entertainment. I wish there was a way that Loki could have his own movie, but that just doesn't seem likely, but he will likely be a part of all future Thor movies, especially with how this movie played out.
I found the style and special effects in the movie to be kind of off putting, they reminded me of a combination of the style and effects from the Star Wars prequels and the Lord of the Rings movies. It was trying to be a combination of both science fiction and fantasy. I really didn't like the science fiction elements, the awkward flying ships, the laser cannons that appeared for the situation, when also they fight a normal battle without cannons or anything, just hand to hand weapons. It really just didn't work for me, I think they wanted to replicate things that were successful in other movies, but that stuff didn't work all meshed together.
I felt like Natalie Portman really phoned it in in this movie. She just seemed out of place in it. I don't know if it was just the feel of the film, or the lackluster script, but it really felt like she wasn't really caring about her performance.
I don't know if there will be another Thor movie, but I think they can do a lot better than they did with this one. I think the fact that Thor isn't that well known to people who haven't read the comics makes it a bit harder for him to carry a film. A lot of the Avengers are in the same boat, Iron Man was able to break through this in the 3 movies, now I think people will know what to expect from an Iron Man movie. I really don't know what people will expect out of another Thor movie.
I have updated my movie rankings for the year, and while I haven't seen all that many movies this year, I just couldn't put this above World War Z. I think I would much rather see World War Z again than I would Thor: The Dark World.
9. Pain & Gain
8. Thor: The Dark World
7. World War Z
6. Pacific Rim
5. Iron Man 3
4. Star Trek Into Darkness
3. This Is the End
2. The World's End
1.Gravity
Loki provides a lot of the comedic elements in the movie as well as a lot of the general entertainment. I wish there was a way that Loki could have his own movie, but that just doesn't seem likely, but he will likely be a part of all future Thor movies, especially with how this movie played out.
I found the style and special effects in the movie to be kind of off putting, they reminded me of a combination of the style and effects from the Star Wars prequels and the Lord of the Rings movies. It was trying to be a combination of both science fiction and fantasy. I really didn't like the science fiction elements, the awkward flying ships, the laser cannons that appeared for the situation, when also they fight a normal battle without cannons or anything, just hand to hand weapons. It really just didn't work for me, I think they wanted to replicate things that were successful in other movies, but that stuff didn't work all meshed together.
I felt like Natalie Portman really phoned it in in this movie. She just seemed out of place in it. I don't know if it was just the feel of the film, or the lackluster script, but it really felt like she wasn't really caring about her performance.
I don't know if there will be another Thor movie, but I think they can do a lot better than they did with this one. I think the fact that Thor isn't that well known to people who haven't read the comics makes it a bit harder for him to carry a film. A lot of the Avengers are in the same boat, Iron Man was able to break through this in the 3 movies, now I think people will know what to expect from an Iron Man movie. I really don't know what people will expect out of another Thor movie.
I have updated my movie rankings for the year, and while I haven't seen all that many movies this year, I just couldn't put this above World War Z. I think I would much rather see World War Z again than I would Thor: The Dark World.
9. Pain & Gain
8. Thor: The Dark World
7. World War Z
6. Pacific Rim
5. Iron Man 3
4. Star Trek Into Darkness
3. This Is the End
2. The World's End
1.Gravity
Monday, June 3, 2013
Star Trek Into Darkness
I really have no other way of starting this post than to say that I loved this movie. I have been thinking about it a lot since I saw it yesterday, and I think I prefer it to the first Star Trek movie in this series. It is close between the two, and I would gladly watch each of them again no question.
For me the action in this movie was amazing. Many times for me, action in movies can be be boring especially if there are many quick cuts and bright flashes of light over and over. It can almost be disorienting, and I think its one of the reasons that Michael Bay movies are just barely watchable for me, if even that. The colors are not too bright in this, the action scenes in many cases show somewhat long shots, not forcing the eyes to adjust and readjust every few seconds. I also was enthralled by the different action scenes, I have not yet heard of any news about a 3rd Star Trek, so I was not sure if any of the main characters could possible die in this one as well.
My previous knowledge of Star Trek is fairly limited, but I have watched the first two movies from the original cast. So I was able to see some of the story parallels to Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, I appreciated the homage, while also embracing the alternate universe part of it as well. There are elements that are similar to the older movie, but they have been altered in different ways from it as well.
I thought this movie really used all of the different characters to their fullest, and the chemistry between Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine really helped the movie a lot in my book. There were a few good laughs in the movie without it being an all around comedy, the laughs helped to lighten the mood, sometimes right before a big moment in the movie.
I enjoyed the appearance of Alice Eve who I have only seen in She's Out of my League, but really enjoyed the work she did in that. She was actually able to use more of her accent in this one, didn't have to try to hide it under an american accent like she did in the other movie.
I would advise people see both this and Star Trek, they have definitely done a great job of creating a new, yet similar universe for these movies.
I just wanted to also discuss the new Star Wars movies that will also be directed by JJ Abrams here as well. I really like what he has done in his movies, he has done a great job of taking a series with history, and putting his own twist on it. I hope he does something similar to this with the Star Wars movies, there are definitely existing elements in those movies, and a lot of history, but I think he can do his own thing, and he can do what the original Star Wars trilogy did so well. The action was so engaging on the originals, and I have no doubt that JJ Abrams can direct the movies well. I am cautiously optimistic about the new Star Wars series, and I hope Disney can do well with them, like they have done with the Marvel movies. I really would love to see some other Star Wars movies around the books that I loved to read in middle school. It would not be too hard to make movies like Tales of the Bounty Hunters, Tales from a Mos Eisley Cantina, or Tales from Jabba's Palace. I would love to watch them even if they are animated. I wish Shadows of the Empire could have been done with the main cast in their prime, but that is pretty much impossible now. I am looking forward to more Star Wars, and lets be honest, it would be hard to make movies as bad as the prequels again, right?
For me the action in this movie was amazing. Many times for me, action in movies can be be boring especially if there are many quick cuts and bright flashes of light over and over. It can almost be disorienting, and I think its one of the reasons that Michael Bay movies are just barely watchable for me, if even that. The colors are not too bright in this, the action scenes in many cases show somewhat long shots, not forcing the eyes to adjust and readjust every few seconds. I also was enthralled by the different action scenes, I have not yet heard of any news about a 3rd Star Trek, so I was not sure if any of the main characters could possible die in this one as well.
My previous knowledge of Star Trek is fairly limited, but I have watched the first two movies from the original cast. So I was able to see some of the story parallels to Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, I appreciated the homage, while also embracing the alternate universe part of it as well. There are elements that are similar to the older movie, but they have been altered in different ways from it as well.
I thought this movie really used all of the different characters to their fullest, and the chemistry between Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine really helped the movie a lot in my book. There were a few good laughs in the movie without it being an all around comedy, the laughs helped to lighten the mood, sometimes right before a big moment in the movie.
I enjoyed the appearance of Alice Eve who I have only seen in She's Out of my League, but really enjoyed the work she did in that. She was actually able to use more of her accent in this one, didn't have to try to hide it under an american accent like she did in the other movie.
I would advise people see both this and Star Trek, they have definitely done a great job of creating a new, yet similar universe for these movies.
I just wanted to also discuss the new Star Wars movies that will also be directed by JJ Abrams here as well. I really like what he has done in his movies, he has done a great job of taking a series with history, and putting his own twist on it. I hope he does something similar to this with the Star Wars movies, there are definitely existing elements in those movies, and a lot of history, but I think he can do his own thing, and he can do what the original Star Wars trilogy did so well. The action was so engaging on the originals, and I have no doubt that JJ Abrams can direct the movies well. I am cautiously optimistic about the new Star Wars series, and I hope Disney can do well with them, like they have done with the Marvel movies. I really would love to see some other Star Wars movies around the books that I loved to read in middle school. It would not be too hard to make movies like Tales of the Bounty Hunters, Tales from a Mos Eisley Cantina, or Tales from Jabba's Palace. I would love to watch them even if they are animated. I wish Shadows of the Empire could have been done with the main cast in their prime, but that is pretty much impossible now. I am looking forward to more Star Wars, and lets be honest, it would be hard to make movies as bad as the prequels again, right?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
My Memory
I have an amazing memory, and I remember things too well in some cases. I can vividly remember things from my fairly early childhood. Not just images, but more of videos. I can remember things with my family, that no one else can remember. Of course my short-term memory can be very iffy, and can just magically disappear, so i end up writing stuff down so I don't forget the important things.
I think my taste in movies, music, and television has a lot to do with my memory. I can remember hearing or watching things at important times in my life, and I have stuck with those things. Bands like Weezer and Barenaked Ladies remind me of happy times in my past, and have also helped shape my taste in music. I remember hearing Weezer's songs from the Blue Album on Casey Kasem's Top 40 when we were living in Austria. I am sure no one else from my family remembers that, but I happen to remember the specifics of that. I even remember hearing the song from That Thing You Do, also titled That Thing You Do, getting near the top of the charts.
My memory has made me a very nostalgic person. I still get nostalgic when I was Star Wars: A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, we used to have them taped off of an HBO free weekend broadcast, which might have been celebrating the opening of Star Tours or something related to Disneyland. We didn't have the complete trilogy, I don't think we even had both of those two in their entirety, I think we had all of Empire Strikes Back, and then we had the ending of A New Hope. I never really saw the complete trilogy til later when they were re-realeased in special edition. This did not in fact, in any way, change my love for Star Wars. I think by waiting until I was old enough to truly appreciate them, it only made my love for Star Wars stronger.
The bad part about my memory is that I tend to associate things with certain people, then when that person crushes me, the things I have associated with them kind of get dropped for a while. I know that sounds weird, but because my memory links them together so strongly, I have to take some time off from Bob Dylan, or Scrubs, or whatever other things happen to fall into this trap. I can't blame anyone but myself for this, but its not even something that I do voluntarily, it just happens.
I think the fact that I can look back and remember the misery that my depression brought to me in the past, it makes it easier to be proactive about finding ways to stop the depression from coming back. I don't ever want to go back there, I still remember exactly how it felt, and I need to work hard to avoid falling back into that pit.
My memory is what makes me so good at trivia, I can just recall random things. There are certain parts of trivia that involve logic, and if you don't know the answer you can work it out. I can recall random moments from The Simpsons without even trying. This actually came in handy during trivia a few months ago. The question was which former Beatle make an appearance in the Simpsons episode with Homer's Babershop Quartet? The answer of course was George Harrison, but we were the only group to get that right, and I knew the answer right way. What a nerd I am.
My memory has been great to me for the most part, but every once in a while it will throw me a curveball, recently it has gotten me to think about the girl that I dated back in October of last year, I have not seen or heard from her in a long time, yet suddenly I was thinking about her again. My brain has done a great job of idealizing her. Don't get me wrong she was awesome and I enjoyed just about every second with her, and even if she was right for me, I was not right for her. She was looking for someone she could get drunk at the bar with, never once did she even try to include me in this, she just ruled me out. Well maybe I would have enjoyed going out and shooting pool, but I guess we will never know. She had a lot of growing to do within herself, and she was not ready to do that. I did not intend to write much about this girl, but my mind has nonetheless brought me to it.
She loved to talk the talk, but when it came down to it she could not walk the walk. I hate being verbally led on, it is my least favorite thing to have happen in a relationship. I want someone to be honest with me. She was the one that was talking about our future and stuff like that then, less than a week later, she decided to end things. On a Monday she left me a love note taped to my door, and on a Saturday she stopped by to use my restroom and dump me, out of no where. I didn't know that communication could be that hard for someone. Nor that someone could have a change of heart that fast. I really need to stop idealizing this girl. I highly doubt that I will ever see her again, and even if I did, that she would have any interest in me. I also highly doubt that I would be able to trust a word that she says. I guess without any current crush in my life, I have nothing else for my mind to fantasize about it just defaults back to her, which is shitty.
It also is rough because I am avoiding trying to meet anyone new while i am working on myself so I may be stuck in my current state of being. I guess I need to find a way to accept it and also to move on, but i can only tackle so many things at once. I think losing weight should take priority over everything else right now. I will work on other things while I can.
I think my taste in movies, music, and television has a lot to do with my memory. I can remember hearing or watching things at important times in my life, and I have stuck with those things. Bands like Weezer and Barenaked Ladies remind me of happy times in my past, and have also helped shape my taste in music. I remember hearing Weezer's songs from the Blue Album on Casey Kasem's Top 40 when we were living in Austria. I am sure no one else from my family remembers that, but I happen to remember the specifics of that. I even remember hearing the song from That Thing You Do, also titled That Thing You Do, getting near the top of the charts.
My memory has made me a very nostalgic person. I still get nostalgic when I was Star Wars: A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, we used to have them taped off of an HBO free weekend broadcast, which might have been celebrating the opening of Star Tours or something related to Disneyland. We didn't have the complete trilogy, I don't think we even had both of those two in their entirety, I think we had all of Empire Strikes Back, and then we had the ending of A New Hope. I never really saw the complete trilogy til later when they were re-realeased in special edition. This did not in fact, in any way, change my love for Star Wars. I think by waiting until I was old enough to truly appreciate them, it only made my love for Star Wars stronger.
The bad part about my memory is that I tend to associate things with certain people, then when that person crushes me, the things I have associated with them kind of get dropped for a while. I know that sounds weird, but because my memory links them together so strongly, I have to take some time off from Bob Dylan, or Scrubs, or whatever other things happen to fall into this trap. I can't blame anyone but myself for this, but its not even something that I do voluntarily, it just happens.
I think the fact that I can look back and remember the misery that my depression brought to me in the past, it makes it easier to be proactive about finding ways to stop the depression from coming back. I don't ever want to go back there, I still remember exactly how it felt, and I need to work hard to avoid falling back into that pit.
My memory is what makes me so good at trivia, I can just recall random things. There are certain parts of trivia that involve logic, and if you don't know the answer you can work it out. I can recall random moments from The Simpsons without even trying. This actually came in handy during trivia a few months ago. The question was which former Beatle make an appearance in the Simpsons episode with Homer's Babershop Quartet? The answer of course was George Harrison, but we were the only group to get that right, and I knew the answer right way. What a nerd I am.
My memory has been great to me for the most part, but every once in a while it will throw me a curveball, recently it has gotten me to think about the girl that I dated back in October of last year, I have not seen or heard from her in a long time, yet suddenly I was thinking about her again. My brain has done a great job of idealizing her. Don't get me wrong she was awesome and I enjoyed just about every second with her, and even if she was right for me, I was not right for her. She was looking for someone she could get drunk at the bar with, never once did she even try to include me in this, she just ruled me out. Well maybe I would have enjoyed going out and shooting pool, but I guess we will never know. She had a lot of growing to do within herself, and she was not ready to do that. I did not intend to write much about this girl, but my mind has nonetheless brought me to it.
She loved to talk the talk, but when it came down to it she could not walk the walk. I hate being verbally led on, it is my least favorite thing to have happen in a relationship. I want someone to be honest with me. She was the one that was talking about our future and stuff like that then, less than a week later, she decided to end things. On a Monday she left me a love note taped to my door, and on a Saturday she stopped by to use my restroom and dump me, out of no where. I didn't know that communication could be that hard for someone. Nor that someone could have a change of heart that fast. I really need to stop idealizing this girl. I highly doubt that I will ever see her again, and even if I did, that she would have any interest in me. I also highly doubt that I would be able to trust a word that she says. I guess without any current crush in my life, I have nothing else for my mind to fantasize about it just defaults back to her, which is shitty.
It also is rough because I am avoiding trying to meet anyone new while i am working on myself so I may be stuck in my current state of being. I guess I need to find a way to accept it and also to move on, but i can only tackle so many things at once. I think losing weight should take priority over everything else right now. I will work on other things while I can.
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