00s Movie Review - The Incredibles

Director: Brad Bird
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Michael Bird, Spencer Fox, Sarah Vowell, Eli Fucile, Maeve Andrews, Wallace Shawn

Description: A family of undercover superheroes, while trying to live the quiet suburban life, are forced into action to save the world.

Review: Pixar has an almost flawless reputation. It all started with “Toy Story”. And with the superhero hype, Pixar couldn’t be left behind. And “The Incredibles” is also one of the best superhero movies ever made.
The story is about a family of superheroes. The film opens with Mr. Incredible and his girlfriend Elastigirl, who manage to capture villain Bomb Voyage. But besides doing so many good things, the superhero also did some bad stuff and citizens start to complain. All superheroes have to live a normal suburban life.
For fifteen years Bob and Helen Parr live as that average married couple. Bob works at an insurance company and Helen is a stay at home mom. They have three kids. Violet is an insecure teen, Dash is hyperactive and baby Jack Jack. And the Parr kids also have super powers. All they want is to use them for the good.
As always, the film looks amazing. All the characters are just great, especially Edna Mode with her ‘no cape speech’. The film is fun, dynamic, visually stunning, humorous, inventive and pure entertainment for the entire family.  Fans of Pixar and/ or superheroes should definitely watch “The Incredibles”.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Incredibles 2

Director: Brad Bird
Genre: Animation/ Action
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Bob Odenkirk, Sophia Bush, Brad Bird, Isabella Rossellini, Samuel L. Jackson, John Ratzenberg, Barry Bostwick

Description: Bob Parr aka Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) is left to care for the kids while Helen aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) is out saving the world.

Review: “Incredibles 2” takes off where the first film ended in 2004. The ‘Underminer’ attacks the city with a giant machine. Frozone manages to make sure it doesn’t crash a monorail and the Incredibles protect a safe in a bank, rescue a helpless granny and try to catch the Underminer. But they also have to look after Jack-Jack. “Incredibles 2” is a great joy to watch and very entertaining, but it’s never as good as the first.
Even before the golden age of superhero films, director Brad Bird showed us that the ‘Fantastic Four’ kind of film works. “The Incredibles” embraced strange super powers and payed an ode to the spy film. With bombastic music, retro futuristic cities, transforming vehicles, heroes running over water and super robots.
“Incredibles 2” brings us the same kind of spectacle. This time, Elastigirl gets all the big action scenes. Highlights are the vehicle Elasticycle, a chace with a flating train and a fight with Screenlaver. Pixar did it again with amazing animation techniques.
While Elastigirl is being a hero and hunting the mysterious Screenslaver, Mr. Incredible stays at home to take care of the kids. It’s cliché, the way Bob underestimates being a stay-at-home dad, while Helen is enjoying her new freedom. Both storylines are saved by the many action sequences. And the confrontation between Jack-Jack and a stubborn raccoon is something to mention. No word is said, but the creativity put into to this sequence is fantastic.
The villain Screenslaver isn’t as interesting as Syndrome from the original. Screenslaver is a bit more predictable and the motivation is a bit superficial.
The focus is mostly on Elastigirl and Jack-Jack, the rest is overshadowed a bit.
When it comes to action, great music and excellent animation, this film is perfect. The entertainment level is very high. But the story doesn’t add much more.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 95: Get Hard

Director: Etan Cohen
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin hart, Craig T. Nelson, Alison Brie

Description: When millionaire James King (Will Ferrell) is jailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) to prep him to go behind bars.

Review: A die hard street criminial would have a tough time in San Quentin prison, but it’s really going to be hard for the softy business man James King. He is worried, after he is accused of fraude, he won’t make it in jail. James asks Darnell Lewis for help, to get him ready for jail, because he thinks Darnell went to jail. He didn’t, which of course gives us some hilarious moments. And the title, “Get Hard”, has a double meaning.
Almost every joke in “Get Hard” is based on clichés or stereotypes. And we don’t get any further then how dangerous jail is and all its gang and that men rape their celmates in jail.
The fact that this movie is funny, is because of Will Ferrell. I think he is one of the funniest actors out there. Kevin Hart, I just can’t get used to. His humor is pretty one sided, not very versatile.
“Get Hard” isn’t great, but it is funny enough to keep me entertained the entire runtime.

Rating: 3/ 5