20s Movie Review - Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

Director: Sam Fell
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Comedy/ Family
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Thandie Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, David Bradley, Peter Serafinowicz

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 5: AN ANIMATED MOVIE
 
Description: Having pulled off an escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger (Thandie Newton) has found a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new threat, and Ginger and her team decide to break in.

Review: “Chicken Run”(2000) was already an obvious allegory for humanity is its own enemy. With chickens seeking to escape their fate, ending up as chicken patties. Those chickens, of course, are anthropomorphic beings with a soul and a consciousness. Created by Aarman Animations, known for its quirky stop-motion films. A company I have always loved and appreciated.

“Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget:  is a sequel to the original. Ginger and Rocky are back, now with a child named Molly. After escaping from the chicken farm from the first film, they have created a paradise for themselves and all the other chickens on an island. And no humans to be found. Molly, as the curious young girl she is, wants to know more about the ‘outside world’ and escapes the island to see it for herself. Where she ends up at a strange facility, with danger on the lookout.

“Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” doesn’t really add anything to the original, because it’s much of the same. But it’s fun, entertaining and witty. Aardman’s  style still stands out and there are plenty of jokes. It feels primarily as a gesture to the fan, who may have been yearning for a sequel. It’s just a very enjoyable film, and you will enjoy it if you did the first.  

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Tangled

Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Genre: Animation/ Fantasy/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor

Description: The magically long-haired Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief (Zachary Levi) has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.

Review: With “Tangled” Disney seemed to be going for the classic Disney story, including magic, a captured princess, a thief with a heart of gold, a castle and great songs.  
“Tangled” is based on the fairytale of Rapunzel and not exactly the textbook example of a literal fairytale adaptation. The creators have rearranged and adapted elements in such a way as o create a pleasant balance between a classic fairytale and a modern adventure, seasoned with a large dose of satire.
As a baby, Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped by an old woman and locked into a tower because of the magical effects of her hair. Growing up in captivity with extremely long hair, young Rapunzel dreams of a life fir herself. That more or less offers itself when bandit Flynn Ryder comes to hide from the authorities in her tower. Together they venture to escape, where they are hunted by the royal guard, a vengeful horse, a pair of Ryder’s former colleagues and, of course, the evil ‘mother’.
The fleshing out of the characters is refreshing. Although the princess is not as otherworldly as one might expect, her innocence and girlish enthusiasm work disarmingly. The newfound freedoms drive Rapunzel to euphoria, but meanwhile she frets like a small child over her supposed betrayal of the person for whom she harbors a somewhat bizarre maternal love. The protagonist is not the usual nasty witch either, but primarily a highly narcissistic, meddlesome mother who is blind to her less beautiful traits. Observing her obsession with eternal youthfulness, it is probably no coincidence that she resembles Cher. Flynn Ryser, who is not a prince, but a thief) delightfully counterparts Rapunzel’s neuroses, but the absolute starring role is reserved for Rapunzel’s pet Pascal: a silent chameleon with a genius facial expression.
“Tangled” is not animated in the traditional way, but uses modern computer animations. Its all beautiful, very colorful and overwhelming at times. But never impose themselves in an effort to be the best in show. Because of its satirical tone and humor, the film feels more like a Pixar film, but with the fairytale theme it is most definitely a Disney movie. And it will also be a classic one over time.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Shazam!

Director: David F. Sandberg
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Djimon Hounsou, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews

Description: We all have a superhero inside us, it takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel_ case by shouting out one word – SHAZAM – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the grown-up superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi).

Review: “Shazam!” is not (yet) a part of a bigger film universe. Like Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) and Arthur Curry (Aquaman), teenager Billy Batson gets his own origin story. Off course there are lots of easter eggs and a lot of DC name dropping. But “Shazam!” mostly goes his own way. And it’s so different from the dark Snyder films.
They didn’t worry about making the magic lightning suite look realistic or create an ideal image of a superhero. “Shazam!” is a comedy, sometimes an even heartwarming family film. It had to be: a magic staff, magical words, a clumsy hero and a silly name. it wouldn’t have worked as a dark and gritty story. But with comedy and a splash of satire, it does work. Very well actually. The starting point is great: what to do when, as a teenager, all of a sudden you have the same powers as Superman? Exactly, you are going to try it all out. Jumping over buildings, by alcohol, smash things and trying to get rich. It becomes a delightful and recognizable child fantasy, where sidekick Freddy Freeman provides sassy comments. And Zachary Levi is the perfect choice to play the superhero.
Mark Strong plays Thaddeus Sivana, the villain. His name isn’t special, his look doesn’t look impressive and he has no epic backstory. But it does work surprisingly well, because he actually is a serious threat to Billy Batson.
“Shazam!” is very aware of itself and there are many references to other movies in the genre and even to “Big”, where a teenager also all of a sudden wakes up in an adult man’s body. And some things look really silly. But because of the friendly tone of the film, lead actor Zachary Levi and his dynamic with Jack Dylan Grazer, it’s a great superhero film.
“Shazam!” is lighter than “Wonder Woman”, more focused than “Aquaman” and very true to the comics. With that, it’s actually one of the better DC films.

Rating: 4/ 5

Pic Spam: Zachary Levi

"Chuck" is a fun show and I recently dedicated this pic spam to female star Yvonne Strahovski. Now it's time for the title character, played by Zachary Levi. He's so freakin' adorable! Here are his best pictures.