MU 2013- A Movie Review

Like any true 90's kid who grew up with Monsters Inc, I was very curious and excited when I heard Disney/Pixar was finally making a sequel to this great movie! (I was also a bit skeptical)

Rachel took Anna, Leah and I to the theater a day after the movie came out and I was really hoping I'd come out with the normal Pixar buzz. ;)

Let's just say my hopes were raised as I watched the *amazing* short, The Blue Umbrella! This short was one of my all time favorites and the animation was almost unbelievable! :) 

But back to the feature film. The movie starts out with a tiny green monster named Mike. 

You should recognize him. :D Mike is a eager monsterling who is a little nerdy and doesn't have many pals at school. He's friendly and curious and all-around, pretty loveable. Mike's biggest dream is to attend Monsters University and become the greatest scarer out there. 

Now fast-forward 12 or so years.

This is Mike grown-up. Finally entering Monsters U!           And this is the cocky, popular guy, Sulley.

They meet each-other in scaring class, and there's immediate enmity between the two. Mike is the friendly monster who "doesn't have a chance" to become any sort of scarer, and Sulley is the cool kid who never studies, and shows off all the time. 

The rest of the movie focuses on the campus-wide Scaring Games where every fraternity competes to be the top scarers. Mike (and Sulley, too, after a series of events) belong to the "no-account group of misfits", Oozma Kappa. 

Oh, and here's one important person I forgot to mention:

The dean of Monsters University, is no push over. Dean Hardscrabble has had a problem with both Mike and Sulley, ever since the destroyed her highest ranking can of screams ever. She has it out for the two of them and they have to fight hard to stay at Monsters U. 

The animation blows my mind!!!

The boys of Oozma Kappa realize they have a lot to learn when they enter the Scare Games. Leadership and teamwork are the main weaknesses, and they have to overcome the odds to stay in the game.

I'm not going to spoil the ending for you, in case you haven't seen this yet.....but I'll just say that the story finishes very nicely, and lessons were learned. :) All us young adults who loved Monsters Inc as kids, were going into this movie with background to the story. (or foreground...) We had connected with Mike and Sulley when we were young, so I was slightly giddy when they threw in easter eggs from the first movie! (notes from Celia, "Little Mikey", "Winds of Change" poster, etc)
I really did like the story in this one, though it wasn't as touching as the first. (But with the college environment you'd figure that. ;)  And pretty much the only thing I missed was the songs! I enjoyed the bits of song in the first (Putthatthingbackwhereitcamefromorsohelpme) and even the credit song wasn't very lyrical. :P That would be my only complaint. There's great laughs, great lessons, and GREAT animation to be had at Monsters U.

Over-all Rating: * * * * * (5 stars)
-Sarah

Les Misérables 2012

Les Miserables.

This is a film I have awaited for an entire year since I first made a close acquaintance cum deep friendship with the music and story of Les Miserables. I liked the project on Facebook and Pinterest. I tried not to watch too many of the t.v. spots and clips so that it wouldn't be spoiled for me.

The grand debut day came and someone thought to check PluggedIn--our usual first choice for Christian-based movie reviews. Now, it's no surprise to me that there would be some questionable characters in the film (i.e. prostitutes), but from what PluggedIn said, it seemed that the filmmakers might have gone a bit far. The good thing about PluggedIn is that they are full disclosure--nothing hidden. The bad thing is just that: nothing hidden. Things you might not notice while watching the film are brought to light and mentioned. I appreciate this--it's been really helpful in making judgments on many films over the years. BUT, I didn't have a good handle on what this meant for Les Miserables. How much of this was what you'd expect from the story of Les Miserables? How much was unnecessary? Was it concentrated in one place or sprinkled throughout? How much of this was just the fact that the reviewer wasn't too keen on the story anyhow? (Something I picked up after the first of three or four read-throughs of the review.) I wasn't certain.

This weekend we went to see Les Miserables in theaters. (So did my friend, Liza, by the way.)

I made the choice after active conversation with myself, my family, my parents, and the group of friends we were going with. I was very familiar with the plot and musical. Enough so to hazard a guess (and hope) that the questionable material would be harbored in one or two of the musical numbers: "Lovely Ladies" and "Master of the House." The former I had already been planning to tune out, as I don't make a habit of watching that song even in the concert version. For those of you who are in the dark, "Lovely Ladies" is the song that the prostitutes down at the wharf sing to Fantine about their trade.
We decided to go, armed with this knowledge and experience with sifting through PluggedIn recommendations. Going in to the movie, I was a little apprehensive. I wanted to be able to review the film for you all, knowing that several of my friends were waiting for my review to choose whether they are going to see it or not. But most of all I wanted to enjoy the film, because the story and music of Les Miserables have entwined themselves deep in my heart, and this was the moment I'd been waiting for.

We got our seats...

I distributed tissues...

 The lights dimmed...

and the first strains of the Chain-Gang songs thrummed through the theater. From the moment I first saw Inspector Javert (Russel Crowe) overseeings the lines of straining, groaning convicts and watched him bark at convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) my heart settled cockly-warm in my chest. It was not going to disappoint. I just knew it. Now, whether I would cry remained to be seen, but I knew all was going to be okay with the film.

OKAY? 

It was amazing. Overwhelming. "Utterly." *said in my very best Dr. Harrison voice*

(Spoilers may follow, so enter at your own risk. I'll try to be careful, but you never know.)

I have never cried as much in any one film as I did in Les Miserables. Every time I thought it couldn't get any better, any intenser, any deeper, Tom Hooper's directing proved me wrong. This film is raw and deep and pithy. It's not for the faint of heart. I left the theater emotionally exhausted, still damp, heart throbbing. If you like movies that don't leave a mark on your heart and don't rip you in two and don't effect you in any way, Les Miserables is not the movie for you.

Anne Hathaway's part as the poor, pitiable Fantine is relatively brief and a good third of it I spent not-looking, as it was the "Lovely Ladies song. (Generally, folks, just get your popcorn now. Fantine goes down to the wharf, and you have about five or six minutes to be gone before hurrying back so your heart can break.) Handy Dandy Cue-Card Time: When you see Fantine go to the wharf, go ahead and close your eyes. Open when she begins singing "I Dreamed a Dream", but not before. Despite the brevity of her screentime, Hathaway brings you in beginning with "At the End of the Day" and stringing you right along till she breaks you with her heart-rending version of "I Dreamed a Dream."

That's where my tears started. I wept as Fantine wept, understanding for the very first time her misery and anguish and shame. Anne Hathaway--former Princess Mia of Princess Diaries fame--has upped the ante for all future roles of Fantine. She was perfect.

Jean Valjean, as portrayed by Hugh Jackman, was wonderful. A couple times I thought the songs were a little out of his range and prevented proper "belting," but the soul and life he threw into the part far outweighed any faint flaws in his voice. All in all, I thought he fit the part and the part fit him very very well. His relationship with young Cosette was one of the things that most delighted me about the film. It was precious, I tell you.

I am partial to Russell Crowe as an actor, so I give him grace for the fact that he's an actor, not a singer, and his part was a little high for him. I admit I was was worried about "Stars", but he did well, dear chap, and though he couldn't belt it, he inspired enough cold passion and hardness into his portrayal that you give him a nod as a decent fellow who did his part dutifully. 

And really, what more would you want from Javert? He is all rote. All black and white and nothing else. He's not a fanatic. He's a legalist.

The Thenardiers.

Great glory above. What to  say about them? You hated them. Absolutely horrid. And yet Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter played their parts fabulously. Handy Dandy Cue-Card Time:  Again, as a recommendation, I would just listen to this song rather than watch it. When Cosette leaves the inn to get water, look away. You can return to enjoying the film after "Master of the House" is finished. That's what I did, and I didn't miss anything. This couple deserves the name of villain, and I honestly think I'll never see the Red Queen the same way again when I watch Alice in Wonderland.  *Shudder.* I hate this couple. And that isn't too strong a term. Believe me.

Eponine! Samantha Barks as Eponine was just what I could have hoped it to be. 

She's always been my favorite stage Eponine so when I heard she was going to be in the film as well, I couldn't wait to see her. "On my Own" was great, of course, but my favorite was "A Little Fall of Rain." The way she and Eddie Redmayne sang it was so novel and yet fitting and beautiful that I didn't even cry...I just sat there listening and loving.

Eddie Redmayne as Marius was a person who surprised me. I have long preened myself on being a Marius-downer. I don't like his character in the book.

 But Eddie Redmayne's portrayal endeared him to me quickly, and caused me to weep unashamedly as a baby during "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." He's such a boy. There is one particular moment in the film after the barricade has dropped and it's all over and finished that had me shaking and crying. I won't tell you where, but you'll know. It involves all that valiant company and Javert and little Gavroche.

Dear Gavroche.

Daniel Huttleston's portrayal of this little Paris garmin stole the show in his very fleeting moments. His saucy "Little People" song and the sad fate that befalls him totally made me cry. (AGAIN!)

There were so many other characters I loved.

 Enjolras (Aaron Tveit) was amazing, though not Red-Vest-Of-Power-Ramin-Karimloo. He was a believable, passionate, desperate patriot and played his part well. He is also in possession of a very nice pair of lungs so he didn't disappoint in his "Red and Black" song. That made me get chills.

 I loved Grantaire (George Blagden). Seriously, he ended up one of my favorite side-characters. The barricade was impressive. And not in the way you'd think.

Cosette as played by Amanda Seyfried was very sweet and pure looking. I had a little issue inside over Cosette, as I happened to flip through a magazine at the grocery store that claimed to be interviewing her about her part in Les Miz which instead turned out to be a publicity opportunity for her new and HORRIBLE movie. So there. I couldn't believe her in the role of Cosette knowing that. But you know, her voice was very girlish and piping, she looked the part, and she acted sweetly so I think we can forgive her in the interest of the rest of you.

I won't even tell you about the ending because I am desperate not to spoil this for you, if I spoil anything else. I'm just saying, there was not a single person not crying in that theater.

Les Miserables. A film that so clearly portrays the depravity of humanity, the struggle to redeem ourselves, "I am reaching but I fall and the stars are black and cold..." the realization that we cannot win salvation--that is a gift--, the price and value of love, "To love another person is to see the face of God,"and the overwhelming knowledge of Jesus' grace. These themes are so strongly, strongly, strongly developed in the movie that I would like to personally thank Tom Hooper for keeping them so crystal clear. Ah. I am about to cry again thinking about it.

Les Miserables is a heavy movie. It's emotionally involved, it's gritty, and it's ugly in parts. But it is a good movie--I could even argue a great movie. One I think we could all stand to watch and learn from. I would not recommend it for young viewers, but keeping in mind my handy-dandy cue-cards, I say go for it. ;) You won't regret your choice.

Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
who are climbing to the light.

For the wretched of the earththere is a flame that never dies.Even the darkest night will endand the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedomin the garden of the Lord.They will walk behind the ploughshare;they will put away the sword.The chain will be brokenand all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?Who will be strong and stand with me?Somewhere beyond the barricadeis there a world you long to see?Do you hear the people sing?Say, do you hear the distant drums?It is the future that they bringwhen tomorrow comes!

The Importance of Being Earnest

I had heard much of this film (and play) but had not seen it until a few weeks ago. Then, in the posh living room of a certain house in a certain corner of North Carolina, at a certain party for a certain bride, Sarah and I (along with a bunch of other gals) watched The Importance of Being Earnest.

My first thought upon watching it was: "Wow...that was very different than I expected!"

You see, I had assumed that it was a period drama. Wrong. It's a period comedy. There's a difference. I mean, period drama means Colin Firth proposing to Elizabeth Bennet and melting hearts with a timely smile. Period comedy means Colin Firth serenading a woman by singing with a ukelele and a high-pitched voice. I mean honestly? Colin Firth is a tenor? Oy.
But once I wrapped my head around this paradigm-shift, I was able to appreciate just how witty and brilliant the film was.

Plot:

The plot revolves around two young men in England: The shiftless Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett), and the responsible-ish Jack Worthing. (Colin Firth) The two men are both tired of their individual lives, and both (unbeknowst to the other) decide to make up a second identity for themselves. Jack pretends to have a wayward brother named Ernest, and when he goes to London, poses as this brother. It is under this identity that Jack falls in love with the beautiful heiress, Gwendolyn Bracknell. (Frances O'Connor) It seems his deceptions will run smoothly enough.

Gwendolyn and Jack.

But simultaneously, Algernon decides he wants to meet Jack's ward, Cecily (Reese Witherspoon) and so runs off to Jack's country estate, posing as this self-same brother, Ernest.

Not too terrible, right?

Well, it works only if both Ernest Worthings stay a distance apart from each other, and never meet. But both Jack and Algy (Or Ernest and Ernest as Gwen and Cecily see them :P) end up at the same country house. Things just go from bad to worse as this muddle of identities begins to tell upon the individual, blossoming romances of Jack and Algy. Will it all turn right? You'll see. :D

Happy couples?

Characters:

I confess to falling in love with the sheer complimentary-ness of the characters in relation to each other. Jack and Algy each would have been nothing without the ability of playing one off the other,  but together the two make for an unforgettable duo. Not to mention the fact that Lady Bracknell (played by Dame Judi Dench) was the architypical British matriarch and thwarted destiny admirably. ;)

Cecily and Algernon

Pros:

You will be hard-pressed to find a movie with more humorous dialog, sharper wit, or a jollier cast. This movie is most definitely laughable, and most definitely destined to become a favorite. It is probably the most quotable movie I've seen come down the pike since Cranford. It was an insufferable task trying to select only a few to share with you below! :D

Having a real family is an important part of the plot. It is one of the main themes along which Jack Worthing dreams--who is he? Who were his parents? What became of them?

Cons:

The whole plot of this story revolves around deceit. Who can pretend to be whom so that they can win the woman they love and live a life of excitement. Although the truth comes out (pretty nearly) in the end, the posturing and pretending is more winked at than condemned.

For some very very odd reason, the director thought it would be hilarious to show Gwendolyn getting a tattoo of Ernest's name on her rear. During the process you see only a slightly pained expression on Gwendolyn's face. Later on, however, Gwendolyn's mind flashes back to the moment and you see the tattoo. Yeah. Just close your eyes when you see it coming. I don't even know why they put that in there.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star from the four-star rating (Five stars is stunning, four is awesome, and three is good.) because of the two cons. But this movie is definitely worth watching. With those two things in mind, you are good to go and do enjoy this funny, heart-warming film!

Quoteables:

Algy: Do you mean you couldn't love me if I had a different name?  Cecily: But what name? Algy: Well... Algy, for instance. Cecily: I might respect you, Earnest, I might admire your character, but I feel that I could never give you my undivided attention.

Jack: Lady Bracknell, I hate to seem inquisitive, but would you kindly inform me who I am? 

Algy: But why does your aunt call you her uncle? [Reading cigarette case] Algy: "From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack." There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can't quite make out. 

Jack: How you can sit there eating muffins when we're in this terrible trouble, I can't make out! It seems to me to be perfectly heartless... Algy: I can hardly eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. 

Lady Bracknell: You seem to be displaying signs of triviality. Jack: On the contrary, Aunt Augusta. I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being Ernest. 

Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland

Long, long have we held off in watching Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland for two reasons: (1) I used to feel trapped and depressed watching the Disney version as a little girl, (2) this one looked really dark. But last night Daniel rented it for us, being a large fan of Johnny Depp's acting. I am no good at synopsises, but in short, I really liked it!

Here's the scoop:

Alice (played by Mia Wasikowski) is a young lady of nineteen. Despite her epically horrible baby-powder-paleness in the first scenes, she is sweet, innocent, and girlish. She definitely does not fit in with Society.

Lady Ascot: "Imbeciles! The garden is planted with white roses when I'd specifically asked for red!"
Alice: "You could always paint the roses red!"

I loved how the movie incorporated these little familiar glimpses of Wonderland even while Alice was still up here. When she gets down there...now that is interesting! Despite my dismal predictions that everything would be just as depressing as I remembered the Disney version being, the characters redeemed the slightly (read very) odd plot.

Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum were darlings, and made me laugh. 

They were not at all as mean and cross as Disney portrayed them, and you could tell they were sweet. :)
The March Hare had us wriggling uncomfortably and laughing a lot throughout the movie. He's just so ugly! And that habit he had of staring at you with one eye! Blech!

"Spoon!" <--he was always throwing things and saying their names dreamily! :D

I loved the Cheshire Cat! He was pompous, cuddly, smooth, and yet not evil. And they dropped that annoying, cynical laugh that Disney (old version) had attached to him. Plus he has blue stripes in his fur.  Can you get better than that?

Then you have the Red Queen (Helena Bonham-Carter) Ugh! She was so horrible and cross and hilarious! The thing I loved best about her was that tantrum-note in her voice: "OFFWITHISHEAD!" It sounded so much like a little kid yelling. :) She and her knave. Ew.

The Hatter: "What a regrettably large head you have. I would very much like to hat it. I used to hat the White Queen, you know. Her head was so small."
The Red Queen: "It's tiny. It's a pimple of a head."

There are many more characters, including the Caterpillar (voiced by Allen Rickman..."The air is full of spices," anyone?) and the White Queen (complete with horrid brownish lipstick and played by Ann Hathaway) but perhaps my favorite character of all was The Mad Hatter. :)

Hatter: "Your carriage, my lady."
Alice: "A hat?"
Hatter: "Of course. Anyone can go by horse or rail, but the absolute best way to travel is by hat. Have I made a rhyme?"

My one complaint was that he had so much makeup on that I couldn't even see it was Johnny Depp. He looked pretty much hideous. I mean honestly--must you have such orange hair and pink lips? It was just kinda weird. I wished I could see more of his natural face because that would probably have made him even better. The Hatter was cheerful, valiant, entirely mad, and exceedingly loyal. But the thing that sealed him to my heart forever was the fact that for some strange reason, every time he got in a fighting mood, Johhny Depp gave the Hatter a Scottish accent. A very good Scottish accent. There are few things more perfect for slaying Bandersnatches and Jabberwockys than a good accent to keep your spirits high. :) <3

He and Alice are so sweet together and I really did almost wish Alice could stay in Wonderland for his sake. But of course it was best for her to go home after slaying the Jabberwocky. And there was the promise that she would come back someday. :)

So did I like this movie? Yes! Would I recommend it? Yes--if you don't mind a certain level of madness. ;) There was nothing remarkably reprehensible in this movie that was not dealt with. The worst thing was that Alice's brother-in-law was caught in the garden kissing someone else, but that was portrayed as being quite wrong.

Now I shall leave you with some quote-ables and the wish that you might have a Frabjous Day yourself with plenty of Futterwhacking and all that.

The Hatter: "You're not the same as you were before..you were much more "muchier."  You've lost your muchness."
Alice: "My muchness?"
The Hatter: (pointing to her heart) "In there."

*  *  *

Young Alice: "Do you think I've gone round the bend?"
Her Father: "I'm afraid so...you're mad...bonkers...off your head. But I'll tell you a secret: All the best people are!"

*  *  *

The Hatter: "Well...the entire world's falling to pieces and poor Cheshire's off his tea."

-Rachel

Movie Review: War Horse

War Horse (2011)

Starring: Jeremy Ervine, Emily Watson, and David Thewlis

This film tells the exciting story of a horse and his boy. But unlike those normal animal/man bonds, this tale is not nice and pretty. Set in 1914, it follows the journeys and trials of a thoroughbred horse, Joey through World War I. Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) lives in Dartmoor, England on his family's quiet, working farm. When his father unexpectedly buys a young, spunky thoroughbred horse, Albie gets the opportunity to train and raise it as his own. The two become inseparable buddies, but that's when the war starts. I won't spoil the movie for any of you (I know even Rachel hasn't watched it yet!) but here's a layout of the characters:

Albie Narracott: The so-called hero of the movie. He's about 17 or so when the movie starts, and learns so much about courage, bravery, and friendship through the tough surroundings of war. 

Joey (the warhorse): Just a spirited horse, he sees a lot, and befriends a special boy. Follow his trail, and experience the war through his eyes.

Ted Narracott (Peter Mullan): Albie's dad. He's a pretty heavy drinker, but is trying with all his might to keep his farm, against all odds.

Rose Narracott (Emily Watson): Albie's mother. She is a very opinionated, but very kind English lady, who's heart is to support her family. 

Andrew Easton (Matt Milne): Albie's best friend. A tad simple, but sticks with his chum through thick and thin.

Lyons (David Thewlis): I guess he'd be one of the villains in this story. The stingy, mean, and cold-hearted landlord of the Narracotts, he just has to make life hard for them.

Captain Nicholls (Tom Hiddleston) : A young cavalry officer, he's real good fellow. :) Not your average army captain---he's kind-hearted and brave.

Major Jamie Stewart (Benedict Cumberbatch): May I just say that Benedict made a great British cavalry guy? :D But really, he did a great job, and....well...I won't say more...*hint of a sniff*

Lt. Waverly, left

Lieutenant Charlier Waverly (Patrick Kennedy): A pretty minor character, but I had to stick him in here somewhere, because of the love/hate relationship I got with him through watching Bleak House. ;) 

(couldn't find a film still of him)

Sergeant Fry (Eddie Marsan): :P He's totally minor as well...but I was very surprised to see Pancks in a uniform and 

Emilie (Celine Buckens): This young French girl has lived with her "grandpere" since her father and mother's deaths. She certainly is the "boss" but crack open her slightly bold shell and you find a girl who just wants to know the truth.

Grandpere (Niels Arestrup): Emilie's grandfather, he's a pretty worried man.

By shielding his granddaughter from the ugly truths of life, he isn't quite on the right track. But the love he has for his daughter's child is quite sweet.

Haha! Sorry these are going on and on! There are just so many great characters in this awesome movie! :D 

Pros: This movie is such a fantastic, gripping and sweet story! The characters really grow on you, the plot moves along nicely, and the whole war side of things is done very tastefully. The acting is superb! A great film to watch with a middle to older audience. (It shows a realistic view of war, which means there is some violence-- some of which is off-scene, but it the content is still intense) And the soundtrack! It's soooo beautiful!

Cons: There is a little bit of language (the officer, when in the midst of battles use the "h--" word a couple times) and of course violence with the whole war subject. I wouldn't recommend it for a entire family film, but for a mid-range group (11ish up) it's a remarkably done movie.

My all over opinion is this: The film is stupendous! I've already watched it twice and won't tire of it easily. The soundtrack's been on this blog since before I even saw the movie, and will stay on. ;) I loved seeing familiar faces throughout, too!
                    Hope this was entertaining, and make sure you get a chance to watch this soon!

-Sarah

p.s. are you all interested in more movie/book reviews? Please leave a comment and let me know. :)