Tag Archives: movie

Toy Story 4 trailer released!

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Toy Story 4 trailer released!

Pixars next animated feature, Toy Story 4, has released its first official full-length trailer today.

The fourth film in the Toy Story franchise is set to hit cinemas this June, but before this trailer was released, fans weren’t so sure a fourth film was necessary, especially considering how nicely the third film was wrapped up. But with this new trailer, it’s safe to say Pixar has turned a lot of people around.

The trailer showcases some new characters, some fan favourite characters and even some characters we haven’t seen since the second film and also showcases the setting for the film as well as hinting at what the emotional climax of this entry might be.

This trailer also makes us question what actually makes a toy, as we get properly introduced to Forky, a spork who has been turned into a toy by the child owner of the toys. So what actually makes a toy? Do all toys come alive? ARE LEGO BRICKS ALIVE???

What do you think of the trailer? Have a watch in the video below then let me know in the comments!

 

Toy Story 4 stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Jordan Peele and Keanu Reeves and is released on June 21st 2019. 

 

Marvelous Captain Marvel? – Captain Marvel Review

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Marvelous Captain Marvel? – Captain Marvel Review

Left to Right: Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Cat as Goose the Cat, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Well would you look at that, another white male reviewing this film, a film that – according to some members of the Marvel fan-base – isn’t for me, it isn’t for a white 22 year-old male living in the UK. However, to the people who truly, truly believe that, well…you can go f*ck yourself.

If you stopped yourself from going to see this movie because you think that the Studio and/or the lead actress (Brie Larson) didn’t want you to see it, then you really have missed out on another home run for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Before going to see Captain Marvel, I had heard (from critics I trust) that this film was a little bit bland, not as entertaining and that the lead wasn’t very charismatic, so I had quite low expectations, but coming out of the cinema on a wet Friday night, I thought that me and those critics must have watched a completely different movie.

So, I’ll start with what a common complaint has been. The ‘un-charismatic’ lead. Brie Larson plays Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, a role that has been cast for a few years now (since 2016) and something that was actually praised for pretty decent casting from most of the fan-base. For me, she delivered a performance that was on-par with the level that Robert Downey Jr. gave in his first outing in Iron Man 1 back in 2008. Danvers quips and makes jokes just as much as any other hero, she can fight brilliantly and has some powers that can rival that of the God of Thunder himself. So to say she couldn’t hold the film or that she is un-charismatic is doing her a real injustice. After this film, I could see no one else holding the role of Captain Marvel, and I can’t wait to see where her character goes next.

Another common criticism I saw of the film was that of it’s ‘basic’ and ‘bland’ execution, and whilst i’ll admit that the film wasn’t as extravagant as Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy, for me, it didn’t need to be. There were some stunning shots in this movie, especially towards the end, and even some parallels to other popular franchises (keep an eye out for some cinematic similarities to Independence Day). I haven’t seen any of the other films the directors (Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck) had produced before this, so I can’t speak to how this one compares, but moving forward in the MCU, if these directors are kept on, I can’t wait to see if they’re allowed any more free reign on how they create their movies.

Now for onto the things that stood out to me the most. And these are two things in particular. Firstly, Goose. If you don’t know, Goose is the cat that lives on the air force base that Danvers is from. He is a ginger cat. A very cute ginger cat and, oh boy, he absolutely steals every single scene he is in, even from great actors such as Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn. This, brings me on to my second thing…

The cast. The whole cast in this movie is brilliant, not just Brie Larson. Samuel L. Jackson does a brilliant job showing a more energetic Nick Fury (featuring some very impressive de-aging technology throughout), Clark Gregg returns in a small role as Phil Coulson – a character who hasn’t been present on the big screen since The Avengers back in 2012 – and he just brings a small amount of joy to every line he has. Finally, Ben Mendelsohn is a stand-out. I first noticed him in Rogue One in 2016 and since then I’ve loved him in everything I’ve seen him in (Ready Player One and Robin Hood) but in Captain Marvel his performance is the perfect mix of menacing, emotional and humorous, honestly one of the best aspects of this movie.

So, if you didn’t already guess, I really enjoyed this movie. I loved it’s nods to the other MCU films, I loved the twists it took during its plot and this was another MCU Score that i really enjoyed listening to but most of all, I enjoyed Brie Larson’s performance more than I thought I would. If you haven’t seen this film yet because you’re not sure if it’s your type of film, I would highly recommend seeing it.

Whilst it’s not the feminist revolution most people wanted, it sure as hell is a damn fine movie.

Captain Marvel: 4/5

The Lego Movie 2 – Can The Sequel Build On The Success?

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The Lego Movie 2 – Can The Sequel Build On The Success?

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part stars Chris Pratt as Emmet (Right) and Elizabeth Banks as Wyldstyle (Left)

 

The Lego Movie should never have been a success. It was a feature length animated movie about a toy. A toy that was quite expensive and a lot of kids demand to have. Because of this, a lot of people saw The Lego Movie as just an elongated advert that would brainwash their children into wanting more Lego, and yes, why it may have done that, it was also a success in itself. Receiving praise from critics and fans alike, The Lego Movie raked in a massive $469 million worldwide and spawned a couple of spin-offs: The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie. Whilst the latter wasn’t as successful, the Lego Movie Universe was in full swing by the time it’s sequel, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, finally hit cinemas 5 years after the original.

The story picks up after the Duplo invasion that ended the first movie, whilst our characters go about their new daily lives, a scout from the SiStar System arrives and takes captive the bulk of our heroes including Wyldstyle and Batman, leaving Emmet to go out into space and try to bring them home.

Although a seemingly simple plot at the start, towards the end of the movie the film does take a few narrative turns that might confuse a few of the younger members in the audience. But that’s not to say that they won’t have a good time. The film itself spreads the simple message of sharing and equality, something which all children (and some adults) should pay close attention to, especially in a world which is quickly becoming more divided.

Unlike the first Lego Movie, which featured more nods to the adults leading to a more well-rounded family movie, the sequel seems to be aiming more towards the younger demographic and sometimes that does hurt the movie. Some jokes seem overly simple and rely a lot on jokes previously set-up in the first feature. Not only that but the increase in musical numbers turns this movie more into a musical than a standard animated feature. Where The Lego Movie only featured ‘Everything is Awesome’, The Lego Movie 2 now features multiple songs including the new number ‘catchy song’ which is exactly what it says on the tin (honestly, if that song is not stuck inside your head when you leave the cinema, then you must have fallen asleep).

On the technical side, the film is incredibly animated. Down to the little details of scratches and fingerprints on certain Lego bricks to show that they are part of a real universe. It’s these kinds of details that make the Lego Universe different to other animated movies as it adds a sense of realism, and makes you believe that your own Lego figures could be living their own unique lives in this reality.

Finally, the cast of this movie once again do a stellar job. Returning actors such as Elizabeth Banks (Wyldstyle), Alison Brie (UniKitty) and Will Arnett (Batman) bring life to their characters once again, but the main focus is on Chris Pratt who returns as Emmet but also has his role as newcomer Rex Dangervest. The fact that Pratt can deliver both of these roles to such a high standard whilst effectively having a conversation with himself for the majority of the films run time is incredible and really shows the acting range that this man has. The other newcomers to the sequel include Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi and Stephanie Beatriz as General Mayhem and they do a great job, but they are pushed aside by the scene-stealing Richard Ayoade who plays a small role as Ice Cream Cone (literally an ice cream come with a face).

Overall, If you’ve enjoyed the previous Lego movies you will enjoy this one. Whilst it may not reach the same heights as the first, the references to pop culture (including some nice Batman and Marvel nods), brilliant art style and wholesome plot make this a worthwhile film for any member of the family, not matter what age.

 

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part – 4/5