Friday, August 3, 2018

Christopher Robin

I don't think I've ever cried in a theater before.


It's everything I wanted and more. If this was the last movie I ever saw or reviewed, I think I would be quite happy. Curse you Disney and your hold on my childhood, this movie shouldn't be so good but it is. It takes a more deep and moving approach while still being fun, charming, wonderful, and of course perfect. Ewan McGregor is always nice to see in a movie, and he is very Mr. Banks for lack of a better term for I'd say half the movie even after meeting Pooh and going on a adventure, but he's still so nice and has that charm to him. Christopher's daughter Madeline is also quite wonderful too, and I don't think I need to say a word about our friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. They're all perfect, perfect voice, perfect character, perfect look to the point where I desperately want them all. But the movie is more than happiness, with it tugging on your heartstrings with reckless abandon and made me severely emotional. You can keep all the moments in film history, Disney or otherwise, that made you emotionally wrecked cause I think this tops even UP and that was an emotional movie. It fits that special kind of bittersweet, melancholy movie like Her or Lost In Translation, where you love it so and yet it breaks your heart. The best parts though are the sort of reflection moments, like we see at the end of the first movie, they have those moments that elevate the film from fun family movie to one of the best movies made. And a lot of that comes from how Christopher grew up, he got sent to a boarding school where soon after his father passed away, he enlists in the army and actually fights during World War 2, and returns home to his wife and 3 year old daughter. I mean dang man, that's a shock to the system! There's plenty of fun, charming, and humorous scenes but I'm so glad they decided to go a bit farther and make it more than a family movie. I won't divulge into plot because well, you probably already know how it goes from the trailer but I will tell you it ends nice. Better than nice in fact. There are some beautiful atmospheric shots, and the film couldn't look more pretty in my opinion. I'd tell you to go see it but I have a feeling you probably already have. And I will miss being here, if it's only for a little while. But I promise to be back and we'll have more movies to see and enjoy.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Winnie The Pooh (2011)

I feel so bad not seeing this movie until now because it is quite wonderful.


I'm kinda surprised the film got a theatrical release, a rare thing indeed for Pooh, but the film barely scrapes by an hour! And even more so, this was Disney's last hand drawn film which is a real shame because it looks very, very good. So we start in a very familiar way and in a familiar setting, where the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood have discovered that Eeyore has lost his tail and they all venture to find it, later finding a letter by Christopher Robin that they misunderstand as a warning against a terrible creature known as a backson leading our friends to try and trap the creature and relocate Eeyore's tail. This sounds basic, but let me tell you this was a blast to watch. The writers really must be applauded because there is so much good humor and funny moments it keeps the movie going in unique ways. There's even more fourth wall humor, way more funnier than last time which is a joy to see. It's similar in style to the original movie, yet has it's own unique look and story. Voice cast is still really good, with Jim Cummings doing great work though I have to admit Tigger kinda sounds like Bill Murray in Caddyshack. Special love goes to Kristen Anderson-Lopez who plays Kanga, I can't explain why but she is pure magic in this movie and for such a small role she brings such enjoyment for me. It's short, it's sweet, it's wonderful. And I cannot wait for Friday, but also sadly it will be the last review for a good long while, at least until late September then we come back full force. Until Friday good friends.