00s Movie Review - The Cat Returns

Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Drama/ Fantasy
Runtime: 75 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Judy Greer, Kristen Bell, Peter Boyle, Elliot Gould, Tim Curry

Description: After helping a cat, the seventeen-year-old Haru (Anne Hathaway) finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette (Cary Elwes) coming to life.

Review: “The Cat Returns” is one of Studio Ghibli’s lesser known films, but it is on that the real cat lovers should not skip. And it contains a lot of magic.
Don’t you ever wonder where those cats wander off to, when to go out? Well, in “The Cat Returns” it’s a secret cat kingdom, hidden behind some narrow alleys. Studio Ghibli plays with this idea, very skillfully. Th concept was conceived by Hayao Miyazako himself, but directed by Hiroyuki Morita, who worked on several other anime and Studio Ghibli films as animator.
Haru’s life is not that different from any other teenage girl. She’s regularly late for school and has a crush on one of the classmates, who unfortunately already has a girlfriend. Haru would like her life to have a little more happiness, since everything seems to go well for others but not for her.
Everything changes after she saves a cat. The cat walks on two legs and talks to her, but of course no one believes her. As if that’s not strange enough, a cat parade appears in front of her door at night. The king of the cat kingdom has come in person to thank her for saving his son, the cat prince. The gift that the cat king has brough is also quite strange… she has to marry the prince!
“The Cat Returns” is a witty film which features The Baron, who we met in “Whisper of the Heart”. This character is the star of the film. It’s a fun, magical and adventurous story that will be perfect for the entire family. Visually is looks good and the soundtrack is atmospheric and fitting. It’s not one of Studio Ghibli’s best film, but certainly one to check out.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 66: Bad Moms

Director: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jay Hernandez, Wanda Sykes

Description: When three overworked and under-appreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.

Review: The life of a young mother isn’t perfect. Besides trying to make a career in a highly underpaid and time consuming job, the kids have to go to school every day, groceries have to be done, cooking, school meetings. And if there is a husband that doesn’t lift a finger, you can understand how a mom can feel under-appreciated. That’s the fact with Amy Mitchell. When she finds out her husband has been having an online affair with a woman, she decides to be a bad mom, because everyone already thinks she is one.
There are many films where we see grown up men behave like irresponsible teens. But lately we’ve been getting some fun films with women behaving badly. Just look at “Bridesmaids” and “Trainwreck”.
Mila Kunis plays Amy, a control freak who always wants to maky everyone around her happy. Kristen Bell is a somewhat submissive stay at home mom and Kathryn Hahn is a single mom, with a love for men and alcohol. Then there is Christina Applegate, head of the PTA, who claims to be the perfect example for all the moms out there. Some characters feel like just characters, because they come off a bit cartoonish. Especially Hahn’s character is too much. And the humor is sometimes really unoriginal and vulgar, jokes that are way too easy and done way too many times.
This is all forgivable, but towards the end the film is so cliché. “Bad Moms” is a fun film for one time, very forgettable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

In the Picture: Characters from "Frozen"

I’m a big Disney fan and again they did it. They made an animation that I love. And in the old fashion way, with songs! Off course “Frozen” also has some wonderful characters that I would like to share with you. Here they are.

Elsa

Voiced by: Idina Menzel

As the queen regnant of the kingdom of Arendelle, Elsa appears calm, reserved, regal and experienced in grace. Beneath this elegant appearance Elsa is quite complex. She is troubled with her abilities.

Anna

Voiced by: Kristen Bell

Anna is, unlike her sister Elsa, eccentric, optimistic, energetic, awkward and far from elegant. She usually acts before she speaks and can be rather impulsive. Anna does holds a lot of innocents to her. She is a pure and hopeless romantic, dreaming of romance the minute the gates open.

Kristoff

Voice by: Jonathan Groff

Kristoff is a bit of an individualist and acts as a loner. He can also be rather grumpy and selfish at times, as well as a bit lazy. But with all these flaws comes a heart of gold as well. His best mate is his reindeer Sven and he brings out his loving side.

Olaf

Voiced by: Josh Gad

Olaf is a goofy and naïve snowman, but extremely lovable and caring towards his friends. Because he was built during their childhood, Olaf retains the childlike personality that filled Anna and Elsa during those yearsm appearing to be very whimsical and playful. Olaf has an odd fascination for summer, he fantasizes about what summer would be like for a snowman, completely unaware of the tad consequences.

Hans

Voiced by: Santino Fontana

At first, Hans looks the prince any girl would dream of. Anna falls for him right away. But, Hans is cold, conniving, cruel and calculating. He has a hunger for admiration, power, obedience and chivalric honor. As the youngest of thirteen siblings, Hans has spent his life being ignored.

Sven

Voiced by: -

Sven is a loyal, goofy and rather childish reindeer. He spends most of his time by Kristoff’s side. Sven is his conscience. He may not seem intelligent, he does have a strong moral character. He constantly convinces Kristoff to do the right thing.

 

 

Favorite Character: Olaf

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

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 145: Big Miracle

Director: Ken Kwapis

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 107 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, Dermot Mulroney, Tim Blake Nelson, Stephen Root, Rob Riggle

Description: In small town Alaska, news reporter Adam (John Krasinski) recruits his ex-girlfriend Rachel (Drew Barrymore)- a Greenpeace volunteer - on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Review: ‘Everybody loves whales’. This is a message given a lot in “Big Miracle”. And people have been fascinated by these giant mammals for centuries. The movie is based on a true story, about three whales who trapped in the ice in Alaska in 1988.

Lead role is for John Krasinski, who plays reporter Adam Carlson, who happens to find the whales who are trapped. Soon the whales are worldwide news. To save the whales, a path has to be created to set them free in the ocean. Adam and his ex-girlfriend Rachel, who is a Greenpeace activist, try everything to save them. But it costs money and who is willing to help out?

The story is touching, but the scenario doesn’t really succeed in that area. The base of the film is historically correct but it’s still a movie. Maybe the movie would have been a bit better if it weren’t a film. Some storyline take your attention away from the actual happenings and you really don’t care about all that.

“Big Miracle” does have enough to offer in the end. It will keep the attention of young and old and it was an enjoyable film. It would have been better to keep the focus on the whales, because everybody loves whales.

Rating: 3/ 5

Pic Spam: Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell is such a beautiful girl and so fun to watch. I loved her as Veronica Mars and how she played bitch Elle in "Heroes". So I thought it would be time to dedicade a pic spam to her. Here are Kristen Bell's best pictures.