20s Movie Review - Strange World

Director: Qui Nguyen, Don Hall
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Alan Tudyk

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 23: A DISNEY ANIMATION
 
Description: The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

Review: In “Strange World” we are introduced to three generations of the legendary Clade family, as they try to work together and navigate the unknown, treacherous land beneath their own world. Searcher is a family man who is out of his element on an unpredictable mission, he rather stays on his farm. Jaeger is Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father. Ethan is Searcher’s 16-year-old son, who secretly wants to adventure like his grandfather, much against his father’s will.

I totally missed out on “Strange World” when it first came out. It only played in theaters for a short amount of time, before it hit Disney+. And in case of “Strange World” it says something about the quality of the film. It’s one of the worst films by Disney I have seen in years. The animations are very different from what we are used to from them and the story itself doesn’t really hit any nerves. It’s all about family relationships and that has been done way too many times, and much better. The film doesn’t really connect with the viewer, because you don’t know who to sympathize with.

Strange World doesn't really connect with the viewer, because there are too many main characters, and so as a viewer you can't really choose who to sympathize with. Is it the father, the son, the grandson, mother, expedition members, etc. The out-and-out story where Strange World is now set has its origins in American and Asian cultures, but is not so familiar that it really evokes recognition in the viewer.

One thing I did like, was the LGBTQ+ representation and different ethnicities were represented as well. Kudos for Disney to bring that to the attention.

All in all, there is a reason why many people missed “Strange World”: it’s just not a very good animation, it doesn’t have a memorable story or characters and I already forgot most that happened. So you can see that even Disney has a miss ever once in a while.  

Rating: 2,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Ralph Breaks the Internet

Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill

Description: Six years after the events of “Wreck-it Ralph”, Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.

Review: With the arrival of Pixar and the incorporation of this studio by Walt Disney you would almost forget that Disney still has its own animation line. Meanwhile the canon, which started with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and includes titles like "Bambi", "Pinocchio" and "The Lion King", has over seventy titles. The latest addition is “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, the sequel to the successful animation film Wreck-It Ralph.
Disney has continued its own series despite the fact that the studio has almost completely switched to the computer as its main drawing tool. In 2012 we were able to get to know the very well-built and very strong Ralph, who acted as the main character in his own arcade game. Actually, Ralph was a bad guy whose mission was to destroy pretty much everything with his enormous fists. But Ralph was done with it to be a villain.
In the inevitable sequel, the characters from the arcade games see a new enemy looming. The internet is full of unknown secrets and temptations. Ralph's former enemy, but now best friend Vanellope, is bored to death in her richly coloured racing game in which nothing exciting ever happens again. Ralph tries to break the rut by introducing a bonus level in Vanelope's game. The daring race that follows ends hopelessly wrong and the steering wheel of Vanellope's classic arcade game breaks.
Because the game is no longer being made, there is no other option than to go deep into your pocket for a new steering wheel. The only place where the attribute is still available is on the internet. Ralph, Vanellope and their computer friends have to raise money online to get their hands on the wheel via eBay. Due to a stupid action by the impulsive Vanelope, the price has also risen considerably.
In terms of approach and set-up, this second movement, Wreck-It Ralph, is reminiscent of the hopelessly flawed “The Emoji Movie”. Here it turns out once again that everyone can animate pictures very well, but all that stands and falls with a good story and finely worked out characters. Moreover, it is wonderfully refreshing when the makers seek out contrasts. Ralph and the overly cute Vanellope suddenly end up in a very rough racing game. Exactly the fun Vanellope was looking for, but it's also an unfamiliar world where danger lies in every corner. The dark, ominous colours form a wonderful alternation with the multicoloured shades with which the worldwide web has been designed.
As in the previous film, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is full of videos, references and allusions. This is most obvious at times when Disney is taking a beating about the bush. By far the most successful scene is the one in which a whole army of Disney princesses make their appearance. Even the translation to the digital canvas is a success, and on top of that all the princess interpreters who are still alive have flown in to speak to the voices of the princesses. The makers also play with the clichéd and often unemancipated appearance of the heroines.
Precisely because of its capacity for self-mockery and its ability to address the modern digital world in which communication takes place in a very special way, this second part of Wreck-It Ralph is a successful animation adventure with layers for both young viewers and a mature audience. The main criticism is the crowded plot and the sometimes very fast action and chases. They are small blemishes on an otherwise almost undamaged blazon. It remains to be seen whether Ralph Breaks the Internet will go into the books as a classic. A plus point is a new song by Alan Menken, the man who, with his magical music, also pulled Disney out of the doldrums at the end of the eighties.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - Moana

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Genre: Fantasy/ Animation/ Musical
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Auli’I Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk, Oscar Knightley, Troy Polamalo, Puanani Cravalho, Louise Bush

Description: In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.

Review: Disney is planning to bring a lot of classic animations to life in the form of real-action. But luckily we also get to meet new heroes and heroines. We meet Moana, the daughter of a Polynesian tribe leader. She goes on a quest for demigod Maui, to save her island.
Disney explores another new cultural background and adds a new heroin to the Disney universe. Moana is a strong and independent young woman, who can easily take care of herself. She fights, sails and leads. A modern ideal in comparison with the classic princess, who simply falls hopelessly into prince charming’s arms. And talking about knights in shining armors, who is looking for romance, “Moana” is not that film. The focus is on the adventure and that’s nice for a change!
It’s not only because of the emancipation and the modern roles that makes “Moana” fit in this modern world we live in now. It also kills all the stereotypes. Moana actually has curves and is a believable character.
I’m glad Disney changes the standards from time to time. They did create heroic female leads before, like in “Mulan” and “Brave”. And “Moana” is a great addition to the list. It looks beautiful, which isn’t a surprise with Disney. It’s such a colorful and vibrant film. It has great action scenes, but it does miss a villain. The humor is also solid and the songs are catchy and well written (by Lin-Manuel Miranda).
There are some moments where “Moana” goes back to the predictable Disney territory and it does miss a bit of spirit here and there.
A great new recipe, different in a good way.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 165: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Director: Gareth Edwards
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelson, Jimmy Smits, James Earl Jones

Description: The Rebel Alliance makes a risky move to steal the plans for the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.

Review: Hollywood loves nostalgia and uses it to please movie fans. And off course “Star Wars”, mother of all fan franchises, couldn’t be left behind. With “The Force Awakens” the series got a new life and it’s ready to fascinate a new generation. But we go back in time, before the Death Star was destroyed. And if you want to know how this plan was born, you have to see “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”.
We all know what happens to the Death Star, but we never knew how much trouble the Rebellion had to go through to reach that goal. Leading character is Jyn Erso, a troubled young woman who is asked to help the rebels to find her father, Galen Erso. Galen was taken by the empire when she was very young, to help Krennic build his ‘dream of death’. Galen does manage to inform the people on the outside and that’s where Jyn comes in. Together with rebel captain Andor she is trying to find the truth behind the Death Star.
Gareth Edwards directs this movie and it looks like he was the right choice, after he reinvented the success of “Godzilla”. He gave it a darker look and he does the same with “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”. The heroes aren’t as heroic as the characters in the original films. The rebellion still has to finds its way. The film has moral depth and the characters have dimension as well. And the movie doesn’t have a dull moment.
Off course there is some nostalgia present. A cameo from R2D2 and C3PO and the seamless transition to “Star Wars: A New Hope”. But most of all Darth Vader. What a joy to see him on the big screen again.
Not knowing what to expect from this film, I was very happy to see how good “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” actually is. A must for every “Star Wars” fan.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 42: Zootopia

Director: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure/ Comedy/ Action
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Alan Tudyk, J.K. Simmons, Jenny Slate, Bonnie Hunt, Shakira, Octavia Spencer

Description: In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny (Ginnifer Goodwin) cop and a cynical con artist fox (Jason Bateman) must work together to uncover a conspiracy.

Review: In the animation “Zootopia” all animals act like humans. Hamsters wear suits, giraffes play volleyball, elephants run ice salons. It’s a sure thing that many fun things are going to happen in “Zootopia”. The city is divided in different climate areas and it looks like an utopia for animals.
The central character is Judy Hopps, a sweet and naïve small town rabbit that is excited to explore the world. Her dream is to become the first bunny cop of Zootopia. But everyone around her isn’t that happy with that dream. They rather want her to help on the carrot farm of her parents. But Judy is determined. In the intro, we see how she finishes police academy and becomes a cop.
While all her cop colleagues get exciting cases, Judy is stuck with parking duty. But Judy doesn’t let that hold her back. When Judy meets the sly fox Nick, who is a con artist, she accidentaly gets involved in a major conspiracy. Judy is forced to work with Nick to unravel this mystery.
“Zootopia” is an easy to watch animation, it’s a modern fable where typical animal charactaristics are enhanced (the brave lion, the sly fox, the scared rabbit, the gentle sheep). But these clichés are broken when nothing is at it seems. You think you know what to expect, but then you don’t. This is where “Zootopia” seperates itself from other Disney animations. There are pretty complex themes in this film, like racism and the interaction between the media and politics. It’s actually a huge enhancement of human society.
This doesn’t mean the film gets heavy, because it’s still a Disney animation. And it is mostly a happy film that is well balanced. The animations are gorgeous, detailed, creative and there is so much to discover and explore.
Off course there is a moral. You should chase your dreams and anyone can do whatever they want. But this film is made for younger viewers, so it’s forgivable. The film is filled with amazing characters. I just love Judy Hopps and I’m so happy to finally see a rabbit character shine again in an animation. Nick is also a great character and the interaction between Judy and Nick is fantastic. The funniest scene is the one with the sloths, because sloths are awesome!
“Zootopia” is definintely a film that can be enjoyed by everyone. And everyone will love it!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 3: Wreck-It Ralph

Director: Rich Moore

Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family

Runtime: 92 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, jane Lynch, Adam Carolla, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Ed O’Neill, Dennis Haysbert, Horation Sanz, Rachael Harris, Skrillex

Description: A video game villain (John C. Reilly) wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Review: Fix-It Felix Jr. is a computer game in an arcade hall. In this game Ralph has to wreck an apartment building every single day. Felix, the hero of the game, has to fix it all. Ralph is the villain in this game. He actually wants to become a hero and he has to win a medal for that. Ralph does something he is not allowed to do: he enters a different video game. He meets many new characters and befriends another outsider: Vanellope. What Ralph doesn’t know is that because of his absence, his game is in danger.

“Wreck-It Ralph” is a party for every gamer. Lots of references from famous games and heroes. Like when Ryu and Ken from Streetfighter II decide to go out for a drink after a long day of work in the arcade classic Tapper. And Q-Bert, Pac-Man and Sonic pass by as well. There were different styles used for this film. From 8-bit figures to a more realistic style of a ‘first person shooter’. It works and is recognizable. And there is a lot of humor too.

Off course there is also an emotional aspect. The friendship between Ralph and Vanellope is just adorable, believable and touching. And the moral is something we can all relate to.

“Wreck-It Ralph” has a good combination of action, tension, humor and heart. A fun Disney film.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 116: Serenity

Director: Joss Whedon

Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Adventure/ Thriller

Runtime: 119 minutes

Year: 2005

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, Ron Glass, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Krumholtz, Michael Hitchcock, Sarah Paulson, Yan Feldman, Raphael Feldman

Description: The crew of the ship Serenity tries to evade an assassin sent to recapture one of their number who is telepathic.

Review: The movie went the same direction as the TV show “Firefly”, what this film is based on. The show was hard to characterize and with that hard to promote. Ater half a season Fox cancelled “Firefly”, but when the DVD came out it sold out. That’s why Universal thought a movie would be a good idea. And it was, because the film was a success. Both fans and newcomers to it got excited fort his new world.

The characters are introduced, short and brief, and you can easily follow this film without any knowledge of the show. The storytelling is good, as for the script and the movie is easy to watch.

A spectacular chase in the beginning of the, where our heroes are chased by so called Reavers, is fresh and exciting. And the fight scenes including actress Summer Glau are also very good.

The cast is well known to the fans. Nathan Fillion is a pleasant leading man, he proofs he can carry a movie. Chiwetel Ejiofor is the most interesting in the film. The rest of the characters all add something, but they lack depth.

The film has a somewhat improbable ending, that is not consistent with the tone of the rest of the movie. It’s all been done a bit to perfect, to lead everything into a satisfying ending.

“Serenity” is not a masterpiece, but it’s definitely a movie you should watch. Especially as a sci-fi fan. I highly enjoyed it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 86: Death at a Funeral

Director: Frank Oz

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2007

Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Rupert Graves, Alan Tudyk, Daisy Donovan, Kris Marshall, Andy Nyman, Jane Asher, Peter Dinklage, Keeley Hawes, Peter Vaughan, Ewen Bremner, Thomas Wheatley, Peter Egen, Jeremy Booth, Angela Booth, Angela Curran, Kelly Eastwood, Gareth Milne, Brendan O’Hea

Description: Chaos ensues when a man tries to expose a dark secret regarding a recently deceased patriarch of a dysfunctional British family.

Review: “Death at a Funeral” is a comedy about a funeral where nothing goes according to plan. When the casket is brought to the elderly house the oldest son Daniel opens it and says: “Who’s that”? Them bringing the wrong casket is only the beginning of all the mayhem. The film is about taking responsibility. Not for yourself, but also for the people around you. Not that the main characters do that. Dad did. That’s why everyone is sad about his passing. But dad also had some secrets.

The power of the film is the script and the good ensemble cast. One by one the characters are introduced. Invalid uncle Alfie, the successful writer brother, and the other brother that wants to become a successful writer, the mom that hates her daughter in law, the hypochondriac best friend, the stoner. And then there is that little man that no one knows. What is he doing at the funeral? All this makes it to a fun, dark and enjoyable comedy.

Best roles are for Ewen Bremner, who once had a one night stand with one of the relatives. And also Alan Tudyk, who accidentally used a drug. Together with the rest of the cast, it’s a great film for a broad audience.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 31: Big Hero 6

Director: Don Hall, Chris Williams
Genre: Animation/ Action/ Adventure/ Family/ Comedy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Maya Rudolph, Abraham Benrubi, Katie Lowes, Billy Bush, Daniel Gerson, Paul Briggs, Charlotte Gulezian

Description: The special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax (scott Adsit), and prodigy Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter), who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.

Review: Not everyone was happy when Walt Disney Animation Studios took over Marvel Entertainment in 2009. But with “Big Hero 6” it has proven to be an okay choice, because it’s a heartwarming animation filled with action and adventure.
We meet whiz kid Hiro, who watches his also brilliant older brother Tadashi build robots. When Hiro also invents something and he shows it to the professor at school, something goes horribly wrong. There is an explosion and Hiro’s brother dies. But he decides to continue his brothers work. One of Tadashi’s projects was a white, inflatable robot called Baymax. A funny and very huggable robot that steals the show and wins your heart. Together with his friends and Baymax, Hiro is trying to find the man who stole his invention.
“Big Hero 6” manages to combine Japanese animation with the more traditional cartoon techniques. The movie is on a high artistic level. With that, the movie deals with strong emotions (loss and mourning) and manages to combine that with humor and action. Baymax is the biggest plus of the film, with his clumsy posture and funny sounds. Fist bumps have never been this funny. It’s amazing how a robot can be so loveable.
The scenes between Baymax and Hiro are the best, but even in the dynamic action sequences the central theme is never gone. “Big Hero 6” is again a very unique film by Disney, a definite must-see!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 2: Frozen

Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Family/ Fantasy/ Musical

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds

Description: When princess Elsa (Idina Menzel), with the power to turn things into ice, curses her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna (Kristen Bell) teams up with mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his playful reindeer Sven, and snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) to change the weather condition.

Review: In “Frozen” the winter wonderland from the famous Christmas songs, comes to life. The setting, snowy Scandinavia, looks stunning and perfect for the 3D effect. But “Frozen” isn’t just nice images. The story is timeless yet contemporary. Although the convincing bad guy is missing, the characters manage to win you over. From sisters Elsa and Anna, to Kristoff and his faithfull reindeer Sven. But it’s Olaf that is probably the most memorable (and huggable).

Kristen Bell, who voiced for Anna, has a surprisingly good singing voice. But Idina Menzel, as Elsa, blows you away with her beautiful sound.

What I found refreshing is that “Frozen” somewhat mocked other princess stories, where two people get married after just meeting. But the rest makes it classic fairytale and Disney. I can totally understand the success of “Frozen”.

With likeable characters, a vivacious story and old fashioned show stoppers, “Frozen” is a wonderfull Disney musical. Off course there is a message, but it’s not shoved in your face. The ideal animation to watch with the entire family. It’s simply heartwarming.

Rating: 4,5/ 5