100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 16: Sing

Director: Garth Jennings, Christophe Lourdelet
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Musical
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth McFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, Tori Kelly, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Hudson, Peter Serafinowicz, Beck Bennett, Jay Pharoah, Nick Offerman

Description: In a city of humanoid animals, a hustling theater impresario's (Matthew McConaighey) attempt to save his theater with a singing competition becomes grander than he anticipates even as its finalists' find that their lives will never be the same.

Review: A pig in a leotard singing a Lady Gaga song, twerking bunnies, a crooning snail, a rapping crocodile, an opera singing camel. Like many talent shows we have these days, the auditions are most often the best part of them. In “Sing” it’s animals auditioning for a new singing competition. And like many of us, they all have dreams of becoming stars.
Koala Buster Moon is the owner of a theater, that hasn’t been doing well lately. His last hope is a singing competition, but due to a mistake of his chaotic assistant (who is hilarious) the prize money is a lot higher then he wanted it to be. Lots of animals show up for the auditions.
“Sing” is filled with modern hits, but also some classics. This makes the film really easy to watch, because it somehow becomes a sing-a-long film. There are many characters in this and some of them are really funny. Kids will eat this up! The voice cast is really good and all the main characters have a purpose. But the competition element in the film was not as exciting. The story never goes out of the lines, it’s all pretty standard and solid.
“Sing” is a fun animated musical film, great for the entire family.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 33: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Adventure/ Comedy

Runtime: 116 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Sofia Boutella, Michael Caine, Sophie Cookson, Jack Davenport

Description: A spy organization recruits unrefined, but promising street kid Eggsy (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius (Samuel L. Jackson).

Review: Yeah to the spy movie! Matthew Vaughn made one of his best with “Kingsman: The Secret Service”. Pretty good for a movie I didn’t really expect much from. Vaughn, who made movies like “Kick-Ass” and “Layer Cake” really exceeds himself this time. The movie has everything you need for the next two hours: elegance, a good cast and a great script. But it’s overall its youthful character that makes this film so pleasurable. It’s like Vaughn just watched his first spy movie and jumped into this project with childlike nativity and creativity.

Based on the comic book series “The Secret Service” by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” shows us how secret agent Harry Hart recruits rebel Eggsy. Hart gets Eggsy in to a secret agency called The Kingsmen.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is full of nostalgic: the love for the spy movie genre is clearly present. But you can’t compare it to other movies in that genre. Vaughn managed to create something that stands on its own and is fresh and bold. Everything that makes a spy movie great is present: extravagant gadgets, a charismatic villain, stylish spies, beautiful women and a cool soundtrack.

Colin Firth, the face of British cinema, is good as always. Stylish and proud he shines as bad-ass spy. If you think he’s stiff, then this movie might change your mind. Who would have thought that Firth could easily overpower a pub full of rioters? Also Samuel L. Jackson is convincing as the bad guy, although I don’t know why he has that weird lisp. But it’s in fact new guy Taron Egerton, who plays Eggsy, who wins over our hearts.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” succeeds in being funny and exciting consistently, without overdoing it. It’s a real joy, from beginning ‘till end and time flies when you’re watching it. “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is cinema with balls, a movie that will give you a grin even after you left the theater.

Rating: 4/ 5