The House With A Clock In Its Walls

I'd say it was worth the bit of grief I had to put up with.

I really thought I was not going to make it to this movie, but I'm very happy I did. This is a good movie, it's a family movie first with literal fantastic elements, and I genuinely wanted this movie to be a movie kids could watch in the future around Halloween time and it would fit the mood. Thankfully I was correct, it feels a part of that season without it explicitly being October, I think it works incredibly well with the armosphere and world it is trying to potray. So the story follows a young boy named Lewis who recently lost his parents and is taking residence in his uncle Jonathan house where he soon discovers that not only his uncle but his next door neighbor Florence are in fact magic users. The kid learns more and more magic abilities all the while a ticking clock is heard inside the walls. Good story, I like how they handled it, they set up pretty good lore and rules in this world. Anybody can learn magic if you have the right books, it's very Doctor Strange, there are unholy entities in this world, several superstitions are called as facts, this I found really interesting and got me involved. But the absolute best part is easily Jack Black and Cate Blanchett, they make this movie great. Their chemistry is beautiful and they are such fun! Owen Vaccaro also does extremely well as Lewis bringing some good heart and personality to an essential blank slate of a kid, and what really surprised me is they do a good job addressing the death of loved ones. You can have good days, you can have fun, you do form attachments to things they gave you, but sometimes you still are emotionally devastated and still reflect on the time you had with them. In fact there were a few moments where I was like, "Oh wow, that couldn't make it in just a kids movie!" hell they even pull a straight up Monster Squad and I was just as wowed as the first time seeing it in that movie! There is some terrible and crass humor but yhe good outweighs the bad and I did really like this movie. A definite go see if you have kids or just want some magic in your life!

Next time we look at a legit suspense (maybe even horror?) movie from one of the obvious studios for such entertainment. That's right, Disney!!

Kiki's Delivery Service

Oh wow, I just realized there's two movies reviewed this week that involve witches. Didn't even think about it.

You know it's funny, I've heard about this particular Studio Ghibli movie more than any other for the longest time. They had a little trailer for it on one of my old tapes, can't quite remember which one but for a good 15 years or more I've heard about this film. And only just until today I haven't seen it! I've heard some people say it's one of Studio Ghibli's lesser quality productions but I could not disagree more. Kiki's Delivery Service is such a quaint, charming, and lovely film that centers around the life of a young witch setting out from home and living a life of her own independently at the age of just 13. And that's kinda it for basic plot but it's such an interesting idea I don't even care. Not every film needs to have a complex or serious plot, it just shows the life of this young witch! That's interesting, that's cool, I greatly enjoy this movie just for that fact! It's just a sweet little film, with the same quality animation and voice acting as the other films Disney has brought over to the States from Japan. That's Kirsten Dunst as Kiki and she is a joy to watch, one thing Studio Ghibli never fails to achieve is the emotions and personality of children. She is such a nice kid, though she has moments of disappointment, attitude, and even, kinda for lack of a better word depressed. But she pulls through and still has confidence and love in her heart. Gah, the more I think about this movie the more I just friggin' love it. The animation especially during flight is amazing, I have no idea how they did it but they simulated such fluent and natural flying for a girl on a broom and I've just never seen that anywhere as good as it is here. I'm so happy I went out on a limb and bought this movie, it was completely worth it and I could not urge you more to see this movie even if I bought you a copy and watched it with you, snacks and all. Hell it even got me choked up at the end, though nothing really sad or anything happened. I'm pretty sure that's called Miyazaki Syndrome. But anyway, excellent film, 4 stars check it out, and before the week is out we go a little...darker.

In Retrospect: Power Rangers (2017)

Yep, this movie is still pretty good!

I love Power Rangers, it takes the most absurd things and pairs them together but still takes itself so seriously. It reminds me alot of the Adam West Batman show, and the movie still has that aspect. It doesn't have half of the sheer cheesy awesomeness of the original show but it does have it in small doses but still takes itself incredibly seriously. People compare this to The Breakfast Club meets superpowers, but I find that sort of unfair. True it has elements, troubled teens slowly learning more and more about each other and becoming good friends, but I find much more to the movie than a semi-Breakfast Club clone. I really enjoy these kids, and yes Billy is still the greatest in my eyes, and I can surprisingly find myself more easily attached and liking these kids than the originals from the show. Don't get me wrong, they're cool, they're nice (a little too nice), but something about the kids actually being you know....kids, teenagers with attitude and real problems just gets me very interested. I want them to become the Power Rangers and save the world. It is still great to have Bryan Cranston as Zordon even though he is mostly used for exposition but then again, isn't that what Zordon was like in the show? So I guess I can't complain too much there. I can still complain about Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa though. Just....doesn't seem like Rita to me, she still gets a bit over the top and yes I do agree she poses a real threat but, something about the casting choice doesn't rub me the right way. Also, what is up with recent movies having more organic looks and feels in movies? Now let me be perfectly clear, I LOVE the suits! They are incredible! They look just right, classic but updated. I like the Zords, they basically still look like giant robot dinosaurs so I can't complain there, but the Megazord just....no. It looks so flimsy, and stupid. It doesn't look like a robot built of smaller robots. It looks so alien, I mean I know that's the point but it just doesn't scream giant robot to me. Also, that is not Goldar. Just wrong. He's like a friggin' ape in gold armor that has wings, a flying monkey from Oz in kickass armor. Not a giant, melty, boring gold monster. But I still freaked right the hell out when I saw Tommy AND Kimberley side by side in the same scene. Like whoa dude. I love fanservice. Yeah, I'm a grown man and I am proud to own the new Power Rangers movie. If you're a fan you would probably buy it anyway, but if not you could rent it and give it a shot. It's a fun reboot to a beloved nostalgic series. What's not to love? Well the criminal underuse of the theme song makes me sad, but small potatoes! Until next week, friends.

The Lego Batman Movie

Best...movie...of the year.

What a treat this was, now you may be saying Dude how did you see this movie so early? Because I'm Batman! Nah, I just got tickets to an early screening. So The Lego Batman Movie is the epitome of a love letter to The Batman, with references galore, a great story, wonderful voice actors, and gorgeous animation. Now the plot is a little thick but still engages you so I will sum it up for you. Batman is being Batman fighting crime, saving the day, and all his usual buisness when a series of events happen both fortunate and unfortunate. Jim Gordon retires (Awww....), and his daughter Barbara takes over as the Comissioner, Bruce adopts young Dick Grayson, and the Joker has the grand schemes of grand schemes to take over Gotham. Oh my God, the sheer nautical tons of easter eggs were so vast and plentiful, my eyes were darting all over the screen, I friggin' loved it with it's sheer brilliant art direction and animation style! The characters were a blast as well, Will Arnett is hilarious as Batman and yet can still give some good serious performances, Michael Cera who I don't fully like played Robin awesomely, Rosario Dawson was fun as Batgirl, and Ralph Fiennes was a darn good Alfred. In fact I was surprised the emotion Will Arnett gave in this film, with almost Mask Of The Phantasm style scenes concerning his crimefighting and his parents. The movie was almost too good, I don't have anything to gripe about but for a hardcore Batman fan such as myself, this movie could not be more perfect. Check it out next week, and enjoy your stay in Gotham City.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Hooray, I'm back and with a really good movie!

This is easily the best work of Tim Burton I've seen in a good while. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children is a charming, very well done, and slightly nightmarish film following a young boy named Jake who after years of hearing tales of monsters and a group of peculiar people, actually discovers that shock and surprise, they actually exist. But not all is well, the monsters are on the move again and to protect the children Jake must take up arms just like his grandfather before him. First thing I got to say is, I really enjoyed the tone of this movie. It's very difficult to describe but by God it has an excellent stride in it's story, characters, setting, and dialogue. The casting is so out there it becomes genius, we have Eva Green, Dame Judi Dench, Terence Stamp, and friggin' Samuel L. Jackson! What?? Brilliant! So obviously the major players are great, but how about the kids? I love them. I wish I could adopt them all. They are kind, considerate, some gushing with adorableness, but the movie never lets their peculiarities become the character. They have moments of doubt, sadness, anger, jealousy, and love. You really believe they do exist. I love the setting in this movie from a straight up Edward Scissorhands style suburbia, to the cold and dark shores of Wales, to the eponymous home which is very beautiful and is filled with much character. The soundtrack is beautiful to listen to, combining very creepy yet lovely music which does indeed make me want to track the soundtrack down. I got to say it didn't take much for me to want to see this movie, it wasn't Eva Green, it wasn't a new Tim Burton film, it wasn't even this strange and great looking new film, it took exactly two seconds of a tv spot showing skeletons with weapons, a la Jason And The Argonauts to make me say, yep I'm going to go see this movie and I am so glad I did. It's a very good movie with a quite frankly awesome mythology, characters who I cared about, and although it got nightmarish near the end, I would recommend it to families and children, I think they'll enjoy the world and characters very much like I did and might even enjoy watching it quite often. But we all know it's great just because of Grandpa Zod. Just kidding. Have a great night everybody, see you (hopefully) next week!

Arthur Christmas

Now we start December proper.

The growing Christmas cult film that I have heard so much about and have finally watched. How was it? Pretty darn good. Arthur Christmas is a wonderful animated film done by the same folks who gave us Hotel Transylvania, follows the family of Claus as they soon discover after another flawless night of delivering presents that a child has been missed. This springs letter counter Arthur to travel across the globe to deliver the final present with the help of his grandad. Where do I start? So much to talk about. First off, the animation is great, it is fast paced, fluid, and works beautifully with the film. Sony Pictures Animation knows how to make animated movies so well! Second, I just love the idea behind it all, that there has been generation after generation of Claus delivering presents to all the children from Saint Nicholas onward, and we get three generations of Santa's. We have Grandsanta voiced by Bill Nighy as the more traditional and old fashioned Santa of them all, red suit and hat, sleigh and reindeer, the thing you think of first when it comes to Santa Claus. Then we have the current Santa voiced by Jim Broadbent, in charge who is one of the best Santa potrayals ever done in film, he is sweet, loves his job, but sadly has memory problems which is forcing him to retire, and that is truly sad because you see how much this job means to him, he tries his hardest to do good. And lastly, we have the current generation, Steve and Arthur, Steve voiced by the outstanding Hugh Laurie is more technology orientated, and militarized catapulting the elf's into becoming more like special force operatives than the elf's who just make toys. While Arthur voiced by James McAvoy, is a bit of a clutz but you can see in his eyes that Christmas is life, he answers all the children's letters to Santa, has nothing but a heart of gold, and is willing to do anything to make sure children have a perfect Christmas. This creates dynamics that mix and collide in the movie, that make it that more great. And I have to commend the fact that there is no bad guy in this movie, true you may not fully agree with people's perception of how Christmas should be done, but there is no wrong way to do it. They all state how Christmas should be done, and you can see it either way. Whether it's delivering presents in a sleigh led by reindeer, down a chimney and placed under a tree, or by a spaceship with elf's covertly placing every present in the world. I just love this movie for that kind of premise alone, not even counting the humor, the characters, and the love of Christmas present. This is a Christmas classic in my eyes, right up there with It's A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story. If you want a truly different yet familiar Christmas movie, you couldn't choose a better one than this. It's a lot of fun, and might make you look at the big guy in the red suit a little bit different.