aka-45316 Reviews

Open Season (2006)

An Openly Atrocious Animated Feature

[1/10 · 18 April 2023]

When it comes to if I had much of a relationship with this film, I remember seeing it on two separate occasions as a kid, as well as frequently seeing trailers for it, but it never really stood out to me or made much of an impact on my life. Regardless, I figured that it wouldn't hurt to give this movie another shot now that I'm older.

To be honest, even after I finally rewatched the whole movie, I personally consider "Open Season" to be one of the worst animated films I've ever seen!

I mean, seriously?! What's there to like about "Open Season" to begin with?

First off, the animation was openly subpar.

The visualization was cheap-looking to where it was like watching a really long Saturday morning cartoon. The humans and animals certainly weren't atrocious-looking, but they weren't appealing either. The settings were neat, but they were bland and uninspired too. The worst part is that it didn't look like the animators were putting in enough effort or commitment to really make an impression, and the signs that everything was done by computer were very easy to spot.

The direction, story, and screenplay didn't do this movie any favors either.

As a whole, everything about the movie was an uninspired Dreamworks rip-off. The buddy-comedy aspect between Boog and Elliot was strongly reminiscent of the one between Shrek and Donkey in the first "Shrek" movie, only the grouchy straight man is played by an African-American while the happy-go-lucky and eccentric individual is played by a White dude. Similar to "Over the Hedge", "Open Season" takes place in a North American setting and features a bear, skunks, porcupine, and squirrels. And just like "Madagascar", "Open Season" features an animal living in a human-populated area who's suddenly forced to live in the wild while trying to find a way back home. Basically, "Open Season" was a combination of "Shrek", "Madagascar", and "Over the Hedge", only with uninspired and messy results.

On top of this, the comedy was infuriating; the film's moments of heart, emotion, and drama were too weak and by-the-numbers; and the action sequences were incredibly lame. The morals the film had about friendship and loyalty weren't well-done either, because the movie appeared to be saying that you need to gain a friend and earn their loyalty just so that they could be your personal bodyguard, a factor that's particularly fueled by how needy Elliot often got for Boog and his actions throughout the story.

Lastly, the voice acting, characters, and character development were lackluster.

Regardless of whatever "developments" they have, every character was either uninteresting or irritating, and accompanying them all were voice performances that were straight up second-rate. Heck, not even the involvements of Patrick Warburton as Ian and Billy Connolly as McSquizzy impressed me, because not only were the two of them weirdly miscast, their performances and comedic-timings were galling compared to other voice roles they portrayed. As galling as Ian and McSquizzy themselves, if I may add.

And now, let's take a look at the main players of this picture. Boog, Elliot, Beth, and Shaw. Shall we?

Boog the Grizzly Bear certainly wasn't one of the film's most bothersome of characters, but he's hardly what I'd call an engaging focus either. The entirety of his character arc and role was too much like that of Alex the Lion from "Madagascar", in that he's an arrogant animal performer who was accustomed to living under human care that's suddenly stranded in the wild because of a misunderstanding, and it features him struggling to make a living in the woods just like when Alex and company got stranded on Madagascar. The only difference is that while Alex managed to gain control of his instincts and nature as a lion before the first film's climactic showdown, Boog suddenly embraces being a bear and follows his instincts during his fight with Shaw. To me, this openly leads towards toxic results. Wouldn't that mean he'd resort to eating his friends afterwards? And would he have any kind of control over his carnivorous nature? What can he eat if the fish will just slap him every time he goes near them?

I can tell that Martin Lawrence was at least trying to make the best of his involvement as Boog, but his performance sounded uninspired. It came across as more like Lawrence wearing a gigantic bear suit rather than him voicing a character.

Meanwhile, Elliot was one of the more unbearable of the characters. His role and character arc may not have been too similar to Marty the Zebra from "Madagascar", but both characters have a lot in common. In this case, both Marty and Elliot got their friend in trouble and caused a misunderstanding, they both wind up getting tranquilized and cast off to the wild with predatory characters, and both are happy-go-lucky and eccentric. Other parts of Elliot's arc had similarities to Donkey from "Shrek", in that both characters were saved from an antagonist by a grouchy individual and want to be the friend of their savior afterwards. Elliot himself was someone I could barely tolerate. His personality and sense of humor were frustrating, and the things he did, such as lying to Boog about knowing the way to Timberline just to get Boog "to hang out with him more and officially become his best friend" did not help me sympathize or like him in the slightest. He never did anything to make up for his mistakes or expressed any kind of genuine apology either, which only caused him to be less deserving of forgiveness or any form of companionship. And no, helping Boog during his fight with Shaw doesn't count, because all his efforts and attempts in that very time were too flat. One thing's for sure, Ashton Kutcher's portrayal did not make Elliot any more likable.

The character of Beth wasn't someone I cared for either. She's portrayed as a kind-hearted and loving individual, but to me...she came across as more like a self-righteous hypocrite. She gets onto Shaw for constantly hunting and killing animals when it's not hunting season, and she advocates for animal welfare and preservation, yet she spoils a bear to where he's nothing more than a harmless pet! Taking away any chance of him actually surviving in the wild and making him do clown tricks on a stage!

What kind of a ranger does that?!

If that's not an example of hypocrisy at its finest, I don't know what is. I'm surprised that the environmental advocates didn't go slamming on her door in protest. The fact she was the one who dumped Boog in the woods with Elliot, as well as caused him to suffer and struggle due to her spoiling him, did not help put her in a flattering light. The performance of Debra Messing only fueled my belief that Beth is an unlikable hypocrite, that's for sure.

And as for Shaw...well, he was the worst character out of everyone.

All throughout this entire film, I often rolled my eyes or cringed out of aggravation because of how infuriating Shaw was. He's literally nothing more than an idiotic, exasperating, childish joke who should be taken to the nearest asylum and kept there for life!

I don't care if everything I described Shaw as was the basic intention behind his character or if it was supposed to fit with the story, he's still nothing but an unfunny, less-than-intimidating, and one-dimensional villain-wannabe. Regardless of how often he'd come close to killing Boog and Elliot, his intentions behind why he was going after them to begin with, and his attempts in general, only fueled my belief that he's a pitiful moron. Not to mention his jokes and sense of humor were aggravating in the worst way.

On top of this, Shaw caused several notable plot deficiencies and flaws. Aside from there being no explanation for why he's obsessive over his gun and crazy about hunting animals, the film doesn't explain why Shaw disregards the law and has no respect for it or the authorities. His first scene with Beth and Gordy confirms that he broke Timberline's laws more than once, and somehow, he manages to weasel away from punishment.

And what do Gordy and Beth do?

NOTHING!!!

Despite suspecting Shaw of his illegal activities, they don't conduct so much as an investigation! And even though the evidence of his misgivings is right in front of them, they don't put him in a cell and throw away the key afterwards!

Why?!

And how did Shaw manage to evade custody in the first place? Mainly considering all he relied on was stupidity, taunts, insults, and terrible jokes?

If Shaw was a poacher, then I'd see why he's so disrespectful of the law and loves mercilessly hunting animals. If he was an animal control officer or pest exterminator, then I'd get why he hates animals so much and believes humans to be superior. And if he was a relative of a political figure, then I'd see where he gets his apparent law immunity & evasion from. Instead, the filmmakers make Shaw some deranged and brainless lunatic with literally zero sense of depth or characterization. And no matter what sort of "developments" he goes through, I could neither take him seriously nor tolerate him any further.

The performance of Gary Sinise didn't make Shaw any better, that's for sure. He was over-the-top in a maddening way, and his comedic-timings and overall portrayal were exasperating. He particularly sounded like he was giving a mediocre impression of Jim Varney or Blake Clark, drawing on the vocal ranges of Cruella de Vil & Yzma, and mixing it all with a humor reminiscent of the Joker.

In the end, "Open Season" is not only Sony Picture Animation's first movie, it's also one of their worst. I wouldn't recommend it even if a gun was pointed at my head.

My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021)

A Disappointingly Mediocre Movie

[4/10 · 12 November 2021]

Before I get down to the many problems this movie has, I'd like to point out that it wasn't without some highlights.

At first, I thought that Izzy was going to be some unicorn version of Pinkie Pie. I was surprised when I found myself charmed by her instead, because while she does remind me of Pinkie she managed to stand as her own pony regardless. A similar scenario happened with Zipp too, in that while she reminded me of Rainbow Dash she proved to be unique and different as a character. Likewise, Sunny and Hitch were the best earth ponies in this entire movie, because they both had lovable personalities that helped them be characters people can root for and give sympathy towards. The character of Pipp was another character I enjoyed, mainly because I love how she grew from a full-of-herself pop icon to a caring and supportive friend. The chemistries shared between the five characters were more enjoyable than I thought they'd be, and every moment featuring them was fun no matter what. The performances of Vanessa Hudgens as Sunny, Kimiko Glenn as Izzy, James Marsden as Hitch, Lisa Koshy as Zipp, and Sofia Carson as Pipp were amazing as well.

I would also like to add that Queen Haven and Alphabittle grew on me as the film progressed thanks to their surprising developments, and Jane Krakowski and Phil LaMarr were excellent in their respective roles.

Plus, I'm happy to say that "Glowin' Up", "Fit Right In", and Johnny Orlando's "It's Alright" are what I consider to be the movie's best songs. Unlike the rest of the songs, they were enjoyable to listen to, and the moments featuring them were fun to watch. The only thing I can't help but wonder regarding "Fit Right In" is why the song couldn't be given a different title, because there's already a song from "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" that has this title.

Aside from these highlights, though...the film as a whole just wasn't as great as people were making it out to be. To put it bluntly, it was atrocious!

The villains of this movie were incredibly generic and one-note.

Sprout in particular was the most annoying character because he was more of a nuisance with the demeanor of a pouty child, and he hardly had ANY sort of character growth despite whatever developments the story brought. Not to mention Ken Jeong was incredibly miscast, and unlike most of his work his performance in this movie lacked personality, charm, and humor.

This wasn't the case with Elizabeth Perkins, but the character of Phyllis was also lackluster because the direction taken with her was extremely poor and confusing. I mean, for a while she was a manipulative CEO of a company who wants others to let their fears control them, but then she changes simply because of how out of control Sprout was being? What's up with that?!

The story as a whole was hardly what I'd call spectacular.

Despite the Easter eggs it contained to reference the previous My Little Pony series, and the involvements of Gillian M. Berrow as co-screenwriter and Meghan McCarthy as an executive producer, the filmmakers didn't do ANYTHING to explain how both this movie and its predecessor were connected. The story opened up so many questions yet never took the time to actually answer them, leaving plot holes in the process.

Like, what caused the pony races to be divided in the first place?

I get that this movie was made to serve as the first installment of a new series, but...much of the problems relating to the story clearly came from how confident the filmmakers must've been about this leading into an all-out franchise and how reliant they were on that prospect. With all the conflicts the story contained being resolved in the end, the questions like the one I mentioned aren't even worth answering in the future.

In addition to this, the story carried too many uncanny similarities with Disney's "Raya and the Last Dragon", which came out before MLP: ANG aired. From the very time I found out what this movie's story was going to be, I had a feeling I was gonna know what would be happening from a mile away. Once I saw the MLP film...it was as predictable as I thought it'd be. It had its emotional and heartwarming moments, yet they were all weighed down by the predictableness of the story. The overall comedy aspect wasn't even as fun to watch as I hoped it'd be, because the gags fell incredibly flat among others. Because of how surprisingly quick the pacing was, the film as a whole was surprisingly underdeveloped.

On the subject of the film's themes and morals, I didn't think they were well-done either. Compared to "Raya and the Last Dragon", the way its messages were executed was reminiscent of a political lecture. It made the whole thing feel like an advocacy for socialism and other certain political ideologies rather than a story about friendship. The reasons behind why the pony races were dividing themselves from each other were also quite over-the-top, and they were hardly what I'd call believable considering they sounded like something cooked up by an amateur playwright.

And as for the animation...well, let's just say this film presented a particular example of why computer-animation isn't always the right style to use.

I get that Hasbro, eOne, and Boulder Media were wanting to use a different animation style, and I admired the fact that they were wanting to stretch themselves creatively. Compared to the film's hand-drawn animated predecessors, though, the visualization of the characters and settings didn't seem as natural as I hoped they would be. The ponies and animals looked like walking-talking stuffed toys, and the world and landscapes appeared to be based off of cheap dollhouse commercials.

The visual style certainly wasn't consistent with G4's either, and that's considering the differences in small details. I frequently noted how different in design the ponies in this movie were to the ponies in G4, from the hoof designs to that of the ponies only having cutie marks on one side of their flank rather than on both. I mean, surely I can't be the only one who took note of this, right?

Along with the film's lackluster story and animation, the prologue featuring the Main Six was absolutely useless, and the reprisals of Tara Strong as Twilight Sparkle, Tabitha St. Germain as Rarity, Ashleigh Ball as Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and Andrea Libman as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie (who are all major performers and characters from the previous series) were criminally underused. I know it was supposed to represent the imaginations of Sunny, Hitch, and Sprout as they were playing with the Main Six dolls in their childhood, but the problem is that it didn't give any meaningful contribution to the story as a whole. Right before the scene even ended, it suddenly became a savage ridicule of G4, which did not put this film in a positive light afterwards. The hand-drawn animation used for the prologue was good, but it didn't make the scene any better either.

So, want my advice?

If you want to see a movie where the kind of story and themes this movie has is done right, go see "Raya and the Last Dragon"! If you want to see a My Little Pony movie done right, check out the one from 2017! Those movies are WAY better than this hunk of junk.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)

Now THIS is a True Looney Tunes Film

[9/10 · 23 September 2021]

After watching the terribly painful "Space Jam", I knew that I absolutely wanted to review this movie next. This movie is one I watched on more than one occasion before, so I was much more personally acquainted with it than "Space Jam".

I really must say that, even today, this film was one that I found to be a non-stop enjoyable experience!

For instance, the direction by Joe Dante, the screenplay by Larry Doyle, and the story by Doyle, Glenn Ficarra, and John Requa (the latter two being uncredited) were entertaining.

Among the things I enjoyed about this movie was that it was much more true to the spirit of the original cartoons than "Space Jam" was, and it had a great sense of charm and fun that boosted the movie into something worthwhile. Plus, while there were some gags that weren't exactly funny, the overall comedy was much more sharp, laughable, well-worked, and paid great tribute to the style of the classics. It was also amazing how everything managed to tie together as a story despite how gag-driven it was, and there was some surprising heart to accompany it.

The animation by Eric Goldberg was astonishing, if I may add.

As I watched the film, I couldn't help but note that the animated characters mixed wonderfully with the live-action world, and they carried a zaniness to them that screamed pure Looney Tunes. If I had to pick what the best animated moment of all would be, I'd pick the moment where Bugs, Daffy, and Elmer were running in and out of the paintings at the Louvre.

The music by Jerry Goldsmith and (uncreditably) John Debney was entertaining as well.

The lovable thing about their work in this movie was that they captured a vibe that remarkably matched the old shorts, and at the same time...they helped the film feel as enormous as possible and have a sense of emotion. As the final film to be composed by Goldsmith before his death, I thought that this was a great sendoff for him, and Debney's material matched Goldsmith's SO WELL one could hardly tell the two apart.

In terms of character development, I couldn't exactly pinpoint too much significant growth. But, the developing romance between DJ and Kate was definitely something, and I loved that Bugs and Daffy learned to put aside their rivalry and differences in favor of working together.

Finally, the performances of the cast and characters were extremely appealing.

In terms of the human-visible cast members, I can't deny that Steve Martin STOLE THE SHOW in every scene he was featured in. Every gag revolving around Mr. Chairman was hilarious, and Martin did a wonderful job making the character someone who's not meant to be taken seriously come across as an intimidating threat as the film progressed. Plus, Brendan Fraser fit the role of DJ Drake like a glove, and the character himself was a protagonist that was both funny and lovable.

The vocal performances were fun to listen to, if I may add. Unlike in "Space Jam", the portrayals sounded much more close to the late Mel Blanc's, and the voice actors sounded like they were having a great time. To top it all off, Dante and the filmmakers successfully managed to preserve the personalities that we all know and love the characters by.

In the end, minus a gag or more that wasn't very gut-busting, "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" is a rollercoaster ride that, if put in a boxing match with "Space Jam", can beat the latter in a throw down. It's a Looney Tunes film that actually manages to BE a Looney Tunes film, and it gratefully dedicated the late Chuck Jones upon his passing.

Space Jam (1996)

DON'T Let This Movie's Significantly Large Fanbase Fool You, "Space Jam" is ALL Sorts of Terrible

[1/10 · 23 September 2021]

Ladies and gentleman, I'll come clean about this:

Coming from a guy who still remembers his time watching this movie around last year, I found "Space Jam" to be an uneventful stinker that hardly put a smile on my face, even as a Looney Tunes film. Even today, I get a headache just thinking about this dung heap.

For instance, the character development in articulation was hugely lacking, mainly because none of the characters had any kind of growth throughout the film and were rather bland. To top it all off, the human-visible cast members looked like they'd rather be doing something else more than be on the screen, especially that of Michael Jordan. The voices of the Looney Tunes and the Mon-Stars sounded kinda annoying, if I may add. A definite example came from Billy West's portrayal of Bugs Bunny, which hardly sounded anywhere close to the late Mel Blanc's portrayal of the character and was extremely squeaky.

On the subject of the film's main antagonist, Swackhammer...I never really cared for him at all. He was basically one of the most bland and forgettable villains I've ever seen. He was nothing but a one-dimensional theme park owner who had little in the ways of a personality, development, or sense of humor. His lack of ultimate motivations other than to find a way to keep his park going did not help in making him more compelling whatsoever, and the fact that he wanted to enslave the Looney Tunes just to "improve" his theme park was likewise not only ridiculous but extremely stupid. In addition to this, Danny DeVito's talents were clearly wasted thanks to getting cast as the character. Along with his performance lacking personality and humor compared to much of his other work, DeVito sounded as if he was openly restrained.

Likewise, the Mon-Stars/Nerdlucks were less-than-memorable additions, and the reasons behind that are pretty much the same as Swackhammer. Even when they absorbed the talents of the other basketball players featured in the film, they were nothing but irritating and idiotic cardboards who lacked personality and depth.

The hand-drawn animation and CGI weren't the most eye-catching either, really.

I get that this movie was made in the late 1990s, but come on! For a film of that time period, the special effects used with things like Moron Mountain and the spaceships looked extremely cheesy, especially to where you could tell it was all done by computer. Along with that, the hand-drawn animation seemed to have a vibe saying that the animators were hardly putting any dedication into their work, even in making sure it blended well with the live-action settings and elements.

Finally, the direction by Joe Pytka, and the story by Leo Benevuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, and Herschel Weingard were hardly what I'd like to call award-worthy.

The comedy that was featured wasn't very laughable, as the jokes often fell flat and were awfully cringy despite the film trying to be funny. Likewise, I couldn't help but note that the film was lacking a sense of heart and soul, with little emotional connection between the characters or morals for the characters and audiences to live by. The overall concept had also been so confusing I could hardly understand or get it, which is why I couldn't give a summary of this film before analyzing it. To put it bluntly, the story is not as simple or understandable as people make it sound due to many of the aspects the film contained.

In the end, "Space Jam" was FAR from fun. Everything about it seemed like a mindless cash-grab by Warner Bros. Just to make money off of Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes being in one film, and the way it played out was like it wasn't made by people at all.

Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)

One of the Best Comedies EVER!

[10/10 · 25 March 2021]

In all honesty, I didn't originally plan to review this movie today. But, I decided that I wanted to do so because it's a movie I grew up with. And I'm not gonna lie, I watched this movie out of a desire to have something to laugh at on the very same day I heard that Joe Biden was officially going to be President of the United States, because I got depressed upon hearing the news.

And you know what?

Seeing this movie turned out to be just what I needed! It not only entertained me, but it lifted my spirits high like a rocket ship. Why this movie ever got such a harsh reputation from film critics upon release is something I'll never know, that's for sure.

For instance, the direction by John Pasquin, and the story by Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon, were fantastic!

I really can't understand why critics deemed the film 'unfunny' when it was released in theaters, because I personally thought the comedy was hilarious. Every comedic moment was well-done and executed to a tee, and it seemed like Pasquin and the writers were particularly inspired to make the style reminiscent to classic slapstick comedies, such as the Three Stooges filmography. Along with that, the film had a vast amount of emotion that helped it be more alive than anyone could expect, which came in the form of the developing bond between Michael and Mimi, and the developing romance between Mimi and Karen.

The acting, casting, characters, and character development were terrific too.

A lot of people apparently said that the film showcased the worst of Tim Allen and Martin Short's careers, most notably Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. In my opinion, though, Tim Allen was awesome in the role of Michael Cromwell, and so was Martin Short in the role of Richard Kempster! Not only did the two of them have the funniest moments out of everyone, but they were clearly giving their all and looked like they were having a lot of fun being a part of the film. The way they captured their characters as uptight, workaholic New Yorkers was particularly fun and had a sense of realism, and both Michael and Richard had great character development too.

The rest of the cast and characters were great as well. For instance, Sam Huntington was brilliant in the role of Mimi-Siku, and the character himself was not only lovable but had wonderful growth that helped him be instantly three-dimensional. Likewise, David Ogden Stiers was fabulous in the role of Alexei Jovanovic (Russian accent and all), and Alexei was quite an intimidating force to be reckoned with.

Finally, the music by Michael Convertino was magnificent. Every melody Convertino made for the movie was not only strong enough to get audiences engaged, but they beautifully reflected the emotionality and humorous spirit that the film contained. One of the most fun moments in particular is the part where a group of street performers play music in the park, which got Mimi and Michael to dance to the music with each other and everyone else to join in. The music that was played while Michael frantically tried to avoid the Tarantula, and when he, Mimi, and the Kempster family were battling the Russians, was likewise enjoyable.

In conclusion, "Jungle 2 Jungle" is honestly one of the most underrated comedies ever. It's not only fun and worth watching, but it's a movie that can provide as a perfect distraction from real world problems and help people cut loose.

The Prestige (2006)

Not as Great as People Make it Out to Be

[4/10 · 25 March 2021]

This movie wasn't something that I planned on reviewing before, but after my parents and I saw it I couldn't help myself. The wheels in my head turned like clockwork as I saw the film.

To tell you the truth, the biggest reason behind why we saw "The Prestige" was because one of the trailers that came with it on Amazon Prime made it look so exciting! That, and the involvements of stars like Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johannsson, Michael Caine, David Bowie, and Andy Serkis got our interest hook, like, and sinker.

To the surprise of my family and I, though...the film turned out to be an enormous disappointment! And that's even in stark contrast to the positive reception it received ever since its release in theaters.

The only positives I managed to note were how impressive the performances of the cast were. I deeply admired that the performers were giving their all no matter what, and they fit their parts like a glove. The most enrapturing of the cast members were that of Michael Caine as John Cutter and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. Although I will admit that I can't help but wish that Bowie had a larger role and greater amount of screen time than what he was given.

Other than that, the film just wasn't all that great.

For instance, outside of John Cutter and Nikola Tesla, the characters were boring, unlikable, and unmemorable. Especially that of Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, and Olivia Wenscombe, who were played by Jackman, Bale, and Johansson. Several times, I noted that the three characters went through some development throughout the movie. But, the direction the film was ultimately taking Robert, Alfred, and Olivia in ultimately made their growth worthless and caused them to be all-the-more infuriating. It doesn't help that there was little to no sense of redemption from any of the three characters, because the rivalry between Robert and Alfred lasted until one magician went down and the other won.

The overall direction by Christopher Nolan, and the screenplay by him and Jonathan Nolan, weren't my cup of tea either.

As a whole, the film was openly befuddling and unexpectingly slow. It was frankly not as exciting as the trailer made it out to be, the trailer in question actually being quite misleading because it gave the impression that it was going to be about a regular magician facing off against another who was dabbling in dark magic. And because of how much of the focus was put on the petty rivalry between the two magicians, the narrative neither developed or took off. In addition to this, it felt like there was a vast potential that the movie just wasn't able to grasp, the potential in question being what my family and I were hoping the film would be based on the trailer. The ending was likewise very disappointing, because just when things were going to be heading in a likable path thanks to Robert finally seeming like he was realizing the errors he caused everything abruptly fell flat on its face thanks to Alfred killing Robert and him turning out to be alive. The themes of the movie were pretty much wasted, if I may add. The particular reason for why I'm saying this is because there were no morals for the characters to learn by in the long run. If the Nolan brothers really were trying to show that getting wrapped in your obsessions is truly a bad thing, they certainly didn't do a good job at getting that message across.

In the end, aside from the performers showcasing phenomenal portrayals, the film as a whole was a waste at the most. It was confusing, slow, and it held no moral value either.

My Little Pony: Pony Life (2020–2021)

Nothing to See Here. Just a Worthless Hunk of Junk that Should be Wiped from Existence

[1/10 · 12 September 2020]

In regards to what it's about, I hardly think that I need to explain much other than that it's a spin-off of "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" with a different animation style and tone, only the comedic side of it is much more wild than its predecessor.

In the past, I gave negative reviews on the trailers for this show, but that was before I actually saw it for myself. Watching Pony Life and making a TV show review of it became something that I found myself wanting to do and unable to avoid doing, so...I decided to do just that. And believe me, I've watched plenty of episodes to be absolutely certain about what I think of the show as a whole.

So, what do I think of Pony Life?

Honestly, this was pretty much one of the worst television programs I've ever watched. Coming from a guy who watched it, there are tons of reasons for why I openly hate it.

For instance, the animation was hardly what I would call adequate. Everything about it looked like it was done by preschoolers instead of professional animators. In contrast to FiM, the settings looked flat, unfinished, and cheaply done for a modern animated television program, like the animators either weren't putting in enough dedication into their work or were too lazy to do their jobs. The character animation wasn't very appealing either. As a matter of fact, the expressions that the characters gave off were awfully over-the-top, and their designs for this series appeared to be the result of animators doing everything mainly for the money instead of not just that.

The overall storytelling and direction for this series wasn't very pleasurable either. Despite giving the stories morals to live by the series hardly had much in the ways of emotion, heart, and meaning; the morals that were incorporated were forgettable, and I'm saying this because I can't at all recall what those morals were to begin with. Likewise, the jokes that the series had were childish, cringy, and irritating, and the execution of them felt uninspired and flat compared to that of Friendship is Magic.

Finally, the voice acting, characters, and character development were extremely lacking.

Despite the majority of FiM's cast reprising their roles (with the exceptions of Cathy Weseluck and John de Lancie, whose characters of Spike and Discord are instead voiced by Tabitha St. Germain and Peter New), their performances were overly exaggerated and annoying. The biggest description that came to my mind when hearing the voices was that the performers made their characters sound like drunks coming home from a party, and not the kind Pinkie would throw either. Having seen at least one episode featuring a new character and cast member, I can't remember off the bat who the person and his character was.

The characters themselves also lacked the heart that made them so special in Friendship is Magic, not just due to the show team changing their personalities too much but because they went awfully overboard with putting the characters's negative aspects at the forefront. A prime example being Rarity fainting a lot more than most would likely tolerate. Every step of the way, I've taken note of the show team's attempts to help the characters develop and grow. In the long run, though, the characters were pretty much hopelessly one-dimensional. And even when they learn something, it would feel like they haven't learned anything at all.

In the end, "My Little Pony: Pony Life" is nothing but an absolute hunk of junk that was obviously made by Allspark to make some quick cash. Even today, I find the very existence of it questionable and can't help but wonder why Allspark made it in the first place, because it's not only an insult to the fanbase generated by "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" but its targeted audience too. In this case, it completely insults and underestimates the intelligence of children and has none of the qualities to be a great program for them.

Sahara (2005)

A Completely Underrated and Overlooked Gem

[10/10 · 12 September 2020]

This movie is a little something that my family and I would watch together on occasion. Every time we saw it, we'd have the time of our lives and be left with feelings of happiness and joy.

When I later found out about the mixed to negative reputation this movie received, as well as discovered the lack of success it had at the box office, I was deeply surprised. The only thing I don't know is what audiences think of the film, really.

Even now, I find this movie to be an absolute masterpiece. An unexpectedly underrated one too.

For instance, the direction by Breck Eisner, and the screenplay by James V. Hart, Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, and John C. Richards, were spectacular!

What I particularly enjoyed was the filmmakers's ability to have the film acknowledge itself for what it is, but at the same time...create something that was instantly fun. At times, it may seem like the usual "treasure hunting adventure" sort of story. However, the film team created a concept that was unique and different on its own too, and it feels like a lot of passion and heart was put into it. Along with that, the story and plot line was intriguing to a tee, and everything tied together like a rope to a hook. The comedy aspect of the film was also marvelously well-done, with every joke being excellently executed and having wonderful innocence. There was powerful heart and emotion as well, the particular generators being the friendship between Dirk and Al, and the romance between Dirk and Eva. The action sequences were likewise deeply exhilarating, and the mystery aspect of the movie was grippingly engaging.

The acting, casting, characters, and character development were astounding as well. Each character had a personality that made them remarkably unique and full of life, and the performers fit their parts like a glove and looked like they were having a great time portraying their characters and being part of the movie. And while it may not seem like it at first, the characters had phenomenal growth.

It was Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, and Penelope Cruz that I thought gave the best performances, and the characters of Dirk Pitt, Al Giordino, and Eva Rojas had wonderful development and shared entertaining chemistry between one another. I would like to add that Lennie James did an amazing job portraying Zateb Kazim, and his character was not only intimidating but a deliciously classical villain; Rainn Wilson was likewise quite a scene-stealer as Rudi Gunn, and his character was a lovable guy to be around; and, William H. Macy was wonderful in the role of James Sandecker, portraying his character with a personality that was both authoritative and admirable.

Finally, the music by Clint Mansell was magnificent. Mansell gave the film so many wonderful melodies that were instantaneously memorable, and they fit perfectlywith the African settings and the movie's tone and concept, an example being the music used for the boat montage. Plus, the songs that were incorporated into the movie boosted the film all-the-more into being something fun to watch, such as Dr. John's "Right Place Wrong Time" and Grand Funk's "We're an American Band".

In conclusion, "Sahara (2005)" is an underrated gem that's all-out enjoyable. The performers and characters were incredible, the comedy was hilarious, everything!

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Daring Doubt (2019) Season 9, Episode 21

I'd Like to be Honest...

[3/10 · 4 August 2020]

I found this episode to be a mediocre end for the Daring Do saga.

Before I get into why this episode is one of my least favorites of the show, though, I'd like to point the many things I did enjoy about it.

For starters, the humor and comedic-timings revolving around the Truth Talisman and the ponies wearing it were nicely done and funny. As a matter of fact, I couldn't help but laugh SO MUCH at the part where one of the henchponies says he wants to be an opera singer.

Along with that, Caballeron's reformation and development throughout the episode was surprisingly well-worked. Even though he was one of the last villains I expected to have a change of heart, it was amazing to see how much of an impact Fluttershy's kindness had on him and his lackeys. It was also interesting to see Caballeron's henchponies be upgraded from mere minors to ponies with a sense of life and personality.

And like many episodes of the show, Fluttershy's acts of kindness throughout were a pleasant thing to see. I admired her determination and how far she was willing to go for her friends. Plus, she sure did look cute with the hat she had on after joining Caballeron on the expedition.

I'd also like to point out that the episode's message to "treat others with kindness no matter what" was definitely a meaningful one to live by.

In spite of these positives, though, the episode...was nothing but a muddled mess. Sad to say, the biggest blame for it all goes to the writing by Nicole Dubuc.

Some have told me that the other messages of the episode was to "give others the benefit of the doubt" and "listen to their side of the story". But if that really was the case, I find that the former message was done much better in Season 3's "Keep Calm and Flutter On", and the episode hardly did a great job at getting the latter message across.

In terms of the latter message I mentioned, it seemed more like the episode was saying that we should immediately trust strangers without being cautious or thinking about if the stranger can be trusted, which was completely immoral and wrong. Much of that particularly comes from how everything was playing out and how befuddling the narrative was. The reason I'm saying that the narrative was confusing is because amidst trying to prove whatever points Fluttershy and the episode were trying to make, Nicole Dubuc left behind a great many plot holes that made the story implausible and questionable.

In addition to that, Daring Do seemed to be getting painted as one of the biggest dunderheads around. I get that before she met Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Main Six, she didn't trust anyone or think to ever talk and listen, but still...Caballeron and Ahuizotl hardly gave any reason to be the trustworthy types before. The lesson regarding the whole thing even painted Daring Do's epic adventures as a list of mistakes and debts she made in the long run, which was a lot like saying she should never have been an adventurer to begin with or ever existed.

The way Daring Do's reputation was getting tainted again, especially compared to Season 7's "Daring Done?", felt completely mean-spirited and heartless, like Nicole Dubuc apparently hated the character and didn't care about how she was treating her. A prime example comes from the part involving her "kicking puppies", which was frankly a flat and cruel joke for her to incorporate.

Plus, despite the episode's references to Season 4's "Daring Don't", it carried little acknowledgement or continuity with it. In this case, it contained a lot of contradictions with its predecessor.

If I recall correctly, Fluttershy met Caballeron and Ahuizotl in "Daring Don't" and got to see firsthand what they were like outside of the books. And believe me, I studied the episode closely and made comparisons between it and this episode to know.

How could Fluttershy suddenly forget all about Caballeron, Ahuizotl, and the adventure? Or act like she hardly knew them and what happened then? Or be so careless enough as to fall for Caballeron's lies?

And yes, I thought that Fluttershy's heart was in the right place to be extending kindness and friendship to Caballeron and Ahuizotl, but still...she was WAY too naive and gullible, which was completely out of character of her. Fluttershy is a kindhearted individual, but she would never be quick to trust someone outside of her friends or without getting to know someone new for longer periods of time. Considering Caballeron was up to no good again, I'm pretty sure she'd suspect that foul play was afoot by making comparisons between both his and Daring Do's books instead of being easily duped by Caballeron's treachery.

The biggest elephant in the room, though...was when Ahuizotl said that he was a guardian of artifacts after touching the Truth Talisman.

Everything about what he said hardly tied in at all with his previous appearance in "Daring Don't" and his aforementioned intention in Season 7's "Daring Done?", each of which showed him to be a villain through-and-through. It was literally one of the biggest retconnings since the one in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 3", where the Sandman was apparently suspected and confirmed to be the one who killed Peter Parker's Uncle Ben. Especially despite the fact that there were witnesses in the first movie that saw Ben get killed by the robber from the boxing match and never saw the Sandman.

How does Ahuizotl being a guardian tie in at all to the fact that he tried to bring 800 years of sweltering heat onto Equestria in "Daring Don't"? And was mentioned to be trying to cause eternal night in "Daring Done?"? If he really was supposed to be guarding the jungle's artifacts, then why was he traveling outside of it? Wouldn't he have known that bringing eternal night and 800 years of sweltering heat would cause more harm than good and do more than just keep thieves away?

Even if he really was a guardian, there's no justification behind all that he did. None of what he did wouldn't have benefited him at all in his duties. If part of being a guardian of artifacts would literally include putting the world on the verge of destruction or endangering the lives of others...then I'm sorry to say he truly is a monster, is unfit to be a guardian, and has proven himself to be no better than the thieves who try to steal the artifacts. With all that said, I'm pretty sure his boss and co-workers (if he had any at all) would've been displeased by what he was doing.

All in all, it was like the episode was saying there's no such thing as right and wrong, and that it's okay to be doing bad things as long as you have a good reason for doing it, which is completely incorrect. There's no excuse for committing acts of villainy, no matter what one says. The worst part is that it goes against everything the show was teaching before, which is that there's such a thing as right and wrong.

In the end, there were things about "Daring Doubt" that I enjoyed, but the episode as a whole...was one of the worst I ever saw. And because of the gigantic amount of plot holes created, everything about it felt like the beginning of an incomplete story that Nicole Dubuc and Allspark were either too lazy to finish or didn't care to complete. Until they actually do something to fix what they messed up, and since there are no references and acknowledgements in any episode after it, I refuse to count "Daring Doubt" as officially canon.

Flat Foot Stooges (1938)

One of the Best Stooges Shorts to be Helmed by Charley Chase

[10/10 · 11 May 2020]

In all honesty, this episode was another one of the Stooges's funniest installments. Based on some of the reviews I found on IMDb, it's also surprisingly underrated.

Charley Chase is definitely no Del Lord or Jules White. But, helming the chairs of writer and director for this short, he created perhaps one of the liveliest Three Stooges episodes ever made. Whoever said that this episode wasn't funny must have cotton for brains, because I found it to be hilarious. The comedy landed with amazing fluency and timing throughout the short, and the plot tied together nicely. While I do admit that there may have been a sense of disorganization in the short, Chase nevertheless made it all work and actually made something fun out of it all.

The performances of the cast were as entertaining and spritely as ever, if I may say. I mean, yes, the cast often spent a majority of the time interrupting or talking over each other, sometimes the Stooges even corrected themselves with what they're saying. In the long run, though, it made their performances funny, and it enhanced them with a human sense of accuracy. The Stooges themselves still had the best moments out of everyone, and it looked like they were having great time working on this short.

In the end, "Flat Foot Stooges" was another member of the Three Stooges filmography that provided a really great time.

Uncivil Warriors (1935)

Another Stupendous Stooge Short

[9/10 · 11 May 2020]

Now if I'm gonna be honest, the only error that I can't help but note is that there was a slight hole in the plot.

The hole is this:

When the Stooges come across the first Confederate sentry shown in the picture, it was stated by both Larry and the guard that he wasn't the first one that they had to get past. I couldn't help but wonder why how the Stooges got past the unshown first sentry wasn't in the short, really.

Other than that, though, this short was another one of the most fun installments of the Three Stooges filmography I had ever watched.

The direction by Del Lord, and the story and screenplay by Felix Adler, were as entertaining as ever. The gigantic amount of humor and wit throughout the episode was so hilarious, with each gag landing with extreme fluency and timing. Along with that, the premise tied itself together perfectly.

The performances of the cast were fun as well, if I may add. The supporting characters throughout the short terrifically mixed with the presence and antics of the Stooges, and the trio themselves gave one of their most funny, witty, and energetic of performances I've noted so far.

In the end, despite having a small plot hole that I can't help but constantly question, "Uncivil Warriors" was another one of the Three Stooges's most entertaining installments, and I'm glad to finally get around to reviewing it.

Three Pests in a Mess (1945)

Flawed, but Undeniably Fun

[9/10 · 11 May 2020]

Having been wanting to review this short for quite some time, I really must say that, similar to "Uncivil Warriors", there was a slight plot hole that I can't help but be unable to overlook.

The plot hole is this:

After the Stooges try to stuff the "body" into a barrel, a cop approaches them and, thinking that it's trash, tells them to take it somewhere else, only to later discover the dummy and think that it's an actual body.

The prime problem was that it never showed how the Stooges got away from the cop after he started chasing them. That, and it was easy to tell that Curly dubbed a piece of dialogue at the last minute in the moment he was taking the body out.

Other than that, though, this short was another that I found to be nonstop fun!

Taking the chairs of both writer and director, Del Lord definitely didn't stop making himself known as one of the best Three Stooges filmmakers around. The comedy throughout the short was literally nonstop hilarious and fun, and the way Lord was able to make a ridiculous concept so entertaining was astounding. Despite how unbelievable a person mistaking a dummy for an actual body would obviously seem, the premise worked perfectly as a Stooges short.

The performances of the cast were great as well. Despite Curly not maintaining the same kind of splendor he had before, he still gave quite an energetic and funny performance. Plus, it was nice to see Moe and Larry have equal time to shine, and the trio's commitment to their material and their ability to deeply be into what they're doing hardly ceased itself from amazing me.

In the end, "Three Pests in a Mess" was another fun-filled member of the Three Stooges filmography that was absolutely hilarious and entertaining. Additionally, it's one of the very best shorts of the fourth volume set, even with the slight flaw in the plot being clear as day.

Even as IOU (1942)

EXTREMELY UNDERRATED!!!

[10/10 · 11 May 2020]

In all honesty, when I looked up what feedback this short received on IMDb, I was surprised to find how many were either neutral towards it or disliked it. I really can't understand why that's so, because I thought this was a fun one!

The direction by Del Lord, and the story by Felix Adler, were as entertaining as ever. I mean, yes, the plot may have been all over the place. But, the Stooges's goal to help the family tied everything together PERFECTLY, and it was remarkably character-driven to a tee. Plus, the comedy throughout the episode was nonstop hilarious and brilliantly executed. The jokes revolving around Curly were definitely the best ones, that's for sure.

The performances of the cast and the characters were excellent too. Even though the Stooges did start out to be con men in this short, I love the softer side they showed towards the family and their willingness to help them. Along with that, the Stooge trio once again gave some of their best performances, being so into their material to the point of where their portrayals seemed so real.

In conclusion, "Even as IOU" is another Three Stooges short that I'm proud to have analyzed and come to know, and it's one of the trio's funniest as well. Based on what I've gathered so far, it's also one of the most underrated of the Three Stooges filmography.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

A Worthless Hunk of Junk

[4/10 · 16 March 2020]

With this movie being the very first Star Trek film of my reviewing career, I'd like to start off with the positives it has.

For a film of the 1980s, especially next to that of the original Star Wars trilogy, the special effects that it had were impressive. Whoever was in charge of them was literally able to make the movie seem like it was being filmed in outer space, and the misty cloud and giant machine seemed so real, one can't help but feel like they're actually witnessing them, and inside of them.

The musical score by Jerry Goldsmith was also something that I found to be groundbreaking. It may not be able to compete with John Williams's work in the original Star Wars trilogy, but it does come strongly close thanks to having a lot of emotional resonance.

In spite of these positives, however, the film as a whole...proved to largely be a waste of time.

Much of the blame for it all especially goes to the direction by Robert Wise, the story by Alan Dean Foster, and the screenplay by Harold Livingston. Considering that producer Gene Roddenberry also contributed to the script, I'd say that he's to blame as well.

The problem with the film was that it was excruciatingly slow. In many points, it focused so much on certain details, much longer than required, that you can't help but wonder when things will be moving on. A prime example is from the moment where Kirk was seeing the Starship Enterprise after so long from a small vehicle he was riding in. It also felt sluggish because it had little to no action, and despite the mystery the crew was trying to solve regarding what they were up against, there was little to no intrigue either.

One part I can't help but particularly call out is the part where the Enterprise is stuck in the wormhole. It was not only sluggish, but painfully disorienting because of the speed of the character voices and the light that was surrounding everyone.

The film's antagonist certainly didn't do the film any favors either, that's for sure. The villain as a whole being a machine largely lacked the memorability of the franchise's previous antagonists, even ones who were also machines. Its quest on "searching for its creator" seemed to be more ridiculous than intriguing, and that's not even considering the fact that it felt like it was making fun of humanity's need for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The acting from the film's ensemble was okay at the most. However, despite the film being able to retain the original cast and characters from the show, and having some impressive new characters and cast members, every performer featured seemed rather bored with the material they were given. They just didn't seem to be putting as much energy and commitment into their performances, and they seemed to be wanting to be somewhere else more than anything. Even though Kirk was obviously having development of character and conflict throughout, one can't help but even go on to wonder what purpose and use it would serve.

The only element of the cast and characters that was able to keep things interesting was Leonard Nimoy and the character of Spock. Just like in the original TV show, Nimoy was able to make any moment he was given count and be notable, and even amongst the film's special effects, Spock's presence is so grappling one could hardly want to look away.

In conclusion, the film's special effects, Goldsmith's music, and the presence of Nimoy were definitely great, but the film as a whole was a lot more dull than fun.

Noah (2014)

Honestly, this is...THE VERY WORST ADAPTION OF A BIBLICAL STORY I'VE EVER SEEN!

[1/10 · 23 February 2020]

The first time I saw this movie was a long time ago with my family, and we hate it so much. I hated it enough that I left in the middle of it, so many thoughts about it running through my mind. Then, I saw it again for the 2nd time in preparation for making my review on this film, and when I did...my thoughts on why I disliked it became clearer.

The story and direction of the film was pretty much a dump every step of the way. It was not only completely unfaithful to the actual story, but the dark, dramatic, and depressing tone it had was so overwhelming it made things FAR from fun. It was too overbalanced from all three of those descriptions. Not only that, but the film seemed to lean too much on environmentalist values, especially because of the emphasis of animal value over humans.

For those who think that the action sequences are the most sluggish and uneventful ever seen in a film, I very much agree. Even though the characters were obviously fighting, they lacked energy and liveliness.

The CGI that was used in this movie was also something that I found to be cheesy. Much more than "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", if I may add. Every effect that was used in this film had so many obvious signs that they were done by computer, right down to the flood waters.

On the subject of the acting, I definitely don't doubt the abilities of its cast. They were okay. However, their talents and abilities were completely wasted by the film's script and direction, like they were as drowned as the wicked people in the flood. It doesn't help that the dialogue they were given for their characters was as forgettable as a forgotten memory, that's for sure.

The character development overall didn't even signify much of a great growth for each character, particularly because it wasn't clear on if the commitment of Noah and his family was diminished or not. It was almost even like saying we should throw our faith and trust in the Lord away like garbage.

In conclusion, this film is an absolute disaster. Not only due to the waste of talent, but for having too much Hollywood and too little Bible.

The Lion King (2019)

A Needless Waste of Time

[4/10 · 23 February 2020]

A prime reason for why I saw this movie was because, despite being aware of its mixed reputation and anticipating that it likely wouldn't be great, I wanted to have my own personal opinion on it. But, I'm not going to sugarcoat it, as I anticipated this was a so-so film at the most.

Before I start my berating of this movie, I'd like to start with the surprising positives that I found.

Similar to a great many others, I found myself unexpectedly pleased with the performances of Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. The same with Keegan-Michael Key and Eric Andre as Kamari and Azizi, might I add. Out of all the performers, they not only delivered the best comedic-timings, but they gave their characters outstanding life, depth, and personality.

Also, minus the characters not having facial expressions at the most, the special effects used with the animals and landscapes were quite impressive. They looked extremely realistic, that's for sure.

And as always, Hans Zimmer never ceased to amaze me when it came to making a magnificent musical score. He pretty much kept it at the same kind of level as that of the animated film, of course. But, he didn't keep himself from being creative and really throwing himself into composing for this film either, which was great.

However, like I already said, the film wasn't without its Achilles Heels.

With the exceptions of Eichner, Rogen, Key, and Andre, the performers were hardly able to bring ANY charm or life to their characters. Everyone sounded like they were a lot more bored than having a good time, and the fact that the characters were peppered by obviously recycled or creatively uninspired dialogue certainly didn't help any. At least Chiwetel Ejiofer was TRYING to make a good impression as Scar, because he definitely brought something interesting and unique to the role.

In my opinion, the person who gave the worst performance out of everyone was Beyoncé in her portrayal of Nala. One reason is because I can't help but question what director Jon Favreau ever saw in Beyonce that would prompt him into casting her as the character. The biggest reason, though, is because compared to Moira Kelly's performance as the character in the animated films, Beyonce's portrayal sounded incredibly bare and lifeless. Along with that, Donald Glover sounded like he was a lot more bored playing Simba in this movie than the opposite, and I can tell that the script was quite likely a contributing factor to it.

As I already commented, I enjoyed how Hans Zimmer was able to help his music feel inspired and creative. But, the film's musical numbers, apart from the rather short but fresh take of "Be Prepared", were the exact opposite of the words I mentioned. Unlike the highly renowned animated version, the songs hardly held the spark that made them so pleasurable in the original, and the limitations of photorealistic imagery compared to hand-drawn and computer animation appeared to be making themselves apparent thanks to the animals just walking or running around as they sang instead of dancing, which made them far from lively.

My biggest gripe, though, comes from the direction by Jon Favreau and the screenplay by Jeff Nathanson. Before I saw this movie via the free cartoon website I used, I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt because of being a fan of many of Favreau's movies and Nathanson's work in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales". In spite of this, though, I found that they were sadly unable to make the film worth something. It seemed like their creativity was completely restrained by this unnecessary need to be nostalgic, repeating the same story and providing nearly nothing new. The worst part about it was that all of the delight that made the hand-drawn animated version so spectacular...was missing. Everything mainly felt like it was just going through the motions, like it was done by a factory machine instead of people. The newly-added moments of the film also did nothing to help the story not feel like some shot-by-shot remake. For instance, I appreciated the fact that Nala's story was expanded some, but I also didn't think it helped the film not feel like some mere excuse to experiment with photorealistic effects.

Perhaps if Favreau and Nathanson had created an all-out remake of "The Lion King" instead of making a carbon copy of it, this would be something worth seeing more than once.

In the end, "The Lion King (2019)" was mainly a a needless venture at the most, and despite the positives I already mentioned, it'll never compare to the sheer awesomeness of the animated film.

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998 Video)

In All Honesty...

[4/10 · 29 January 2020]

I primarily steered clear of this movie due to thinking that it would be terrible, and because it looked too scary for my taste. Especially after seeing a trailer that pretty much seemed to give the whole rundown of it all.

However, I found myself interested in giving this movie a shot based on its popularity and the positive comments I've been reading. So, when I discovered its availability on Netflix, I couldn't resist giving it a shot.

I'm happy to say that it isn't as terrible as I expected. But, it isn't what I'd like to call the best Scooby-Doo installment either.

Among the things I enjoyed about this movie was its animation. I loved how the animators were obviously making great use of their budget and were really extending themselves, giving the film an impressive look for a direct-to-video release. I especially enjoyed the animation used with the settings, and the light that would cast itself down to bring the zombies to life.

The music composed by Steve Bramson was another one of the film's most compelling elements. It truly amazed me how Bramson was able to make his music so cinematic for a direct-to-video movie, and the song "It's Terror Time Again" was enjoyable enough to upload to your Music App.

Despite this, though, there were things about the film I was FAR from fond of.

For instance, I found myself having mixed opinions on the voice acting and characters.

I will definitely say that I enjoyed the developments of Fred, Daphne, and Velma throughout this film, and Shaggy and Scooby really put a smile on my face. For his first reprisal of Fred from the classic installments of the franchise, Frank Welker did a phenomenal job at proving that he owns the role. Plus, the film's supporting players sounded like they were having a great time portraying their characters.

But, I wasn't exactly fond of the performances of Scott Innes, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, and B. J. Ward as Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, and Velma in this film. Innes, Bergman, and Ward's portrayals sounded awfully whiny. On one hand, I grew up with Bergman's work as Daphne in "Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders" and Innes's and Ward's work in that film and "Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase", so I think it must've had something to do with the voice direction. The same can pretty much be said about Welker's performance as Fred, as unlike other installments, his performance sounded whiny too despite proving he owns the role.

Frankly, I absolutely LOATHED Billy West's portrayal of Shaggy. I thought that he certainly TRIED his best, but every time I heard Shaggy's voice I couldn't help but note that he had this extremely annoying squeak that was far from tolerable, which was enough to affect his comedic-timings too.

Snakebite Scruggs turned out to be a pointless character in the long run, if I may say. He was interesting, and Mark Hamill did a great job portraying him. But, when it turned out that he had little to do with the overall mystery, it became apparent his only purpose was to curse the heavens about tourists every time Scooby and Shaggy got in his way.

Finally, the direction by Jim Stenstrum, the screenplay by Glenn Leopold, and the story by Leopold and Davis Doi, weren't exactly what I'd call a delicious Scooby snack.

As a comedy, the film seemed to offer little in the ways of humor. Whatever jokes that the film even had seemed to fall flat, and they lacked the Hanna-Barbera touch. The movie DID have a mystery that helped keep things interesting, but at the end of the day...making the monsters real seemed to translate the film into a horror movie more than a mystery, taking away all the fun and making it less than family-friendly. It didn't help that it had a rather dark and intense premise that would give children nightmares, and despite the attempts to make things interesting, the film's narrative wasn't able to grapple any intrigue out of me. In whatever case, everything felt like the filmmakers were throwing darts at a target but were constantly unable to make a bullseye due to surprisingly flat storytelling.

In the end, "Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island" isn't what I believe to be the greatest Scooby-Doo film ever made. Everything appeared to be in place, and the team behind it was obviously quite ambitious and willing to take risks. But yet, the purpose and meaning behind the film seemed to be lost, and it did little to capture the spirit of the franchise. It's a decent film, not a great one.

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship (2018 TV Movie)

BEST EG SPECIAL EVER!!!

[10/10 · 18 November 2019]

I can definitely start by saying that this special is, in every way, worth a look. Everything about it is absolutely wonderful.

Nick Confalone's writing for this special proved to be one of the best he's done for MLP by far. The comedy aspect of the story was nicely done and funny, of course. But not only that, he did a brilliant job at extending himself by incorporating excellently dramatic and impactful moments. I like that he also incorporated an emotional resonance and heart, such as when Sunset reunites with Princess Celestia and the two call it water under the bridge.

The direction by Ishi Rudell and Katrina Hadley, along with their army of animators, likewise put great effort into this episode. They helped translate precisely what Confalone was putting into writing it, and they did it so beautifully. So beautifully, that you can't help but find your emotions getting gently tugged every step of the way.

The music that was composed by William Anderson, as well as the songs "We've Come So Far" and "Invisible", also gave a significant boost for the vision the special was aiming for. Like the writing and direction, they too had a heart and emotional resonance that gave the special a soul.

The voice acting from the ensemble, as well as the characters and character development, were terrific as always.

The addition of Wallflower Blush was quite a nice touch. Admittedly, as a villain, she certainly wasn't the most original, and neither were the outcomes involving her. However, she has an incredibly tremendous depth about her that makes her one of the most relatable characters yet. She's someone who felt neglected, unnoticed, and forgotten among others, and that's something that can cause someone to become hardened. She wanted to connect with others, but she found herself too shy and overlooked to do so, and only through the kindness and friendship of others could she truly be free and happy. As someone who often spent much of his time alone in his public school years, often very shy and invisible from less-than-friendly fellow students, I can totally relate to Wallflower. Wallflower's voice actress, Shannon Chan-Kent, likewise did a wonderful job voicing the character.

Trixie's development in the episode, from being an arrogant show off to a compassionate friend of Sunset Shimmer, was also nicely done. Unexpecting too, because for a while I thought that she was going to be the villain considering how mad she was at Sunset for not including her in the yearbook.

I'd furthermore like to add that Tara Strong's performance as Princess Twilight was amazing. So many moments with her character were really funny and cute, and I loved how Strong was able to push herself emotionally for those moments.

Sunset Shimmer was definitely the best character in this special, though. Next to her appearances in "Rainbow Rocks" and "Friendship Games", this was one of the best installments focused on her, especially because of how well it depicted her coming a long way from being a villain. Her character development throughout, such as her courage to speak to Princess Celestia and her newfound friendship with Trixie, was brilliant! Rebecca Shoichet likewise voiced her character marvelously, putting stupendous feeling into her character.

Now if I have to call out one mishap concerning the special, it would be that some moments with Pinkie and Rainbow Dash may have been slightly cringy. But that's okay, they're fairly passable.

In the end, "Forgotten Friendship" is a real winner for the Equestria Girls series, with a huge thanks going towards the amount of feeling and heart put into it.

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rollercoaster of Friendship (2018 TV Movie)

Quite Frankly a Mixed Bag of Both Good and Bad

[5/10 · 18 November 2019]

I thought this was an interesting episode. There was lots of great comedy and heart, and it was a perfectly character-driven plot if I may say. I especially enjoyed the focus on Applejack & Rarity.

However, I do think that the way everyone is interacting with each other needs to be toned down a little bit. It's nothing personal, but, there were certain things about the way each character interacted, such as Rarity & Applejack, that made me a little uncomfortable, and it made me wonder if Confalone is forgetting that everyone is supposed to be friends and nothing more. I have felt the same way with some parts of "Forgotten Friendship" & FiM's "The Break Up Break Down", as well as the book series written by Michael Vogel & Nicole Dubuc.

My only other issue comes in the form of Vignette Valencia.

As a villain, she just wasn't very original, new, different, or fresh. Like the other villains, I enjoyed how she was made as an individual character, especially her personality & comedic timings.

But...

Overall, how she came out, and the outcomes with her, especially what her intentions were, and getting reformed in the end...

Well, it gives you the feeling that it's the same thing over and over again, and it kind of makes me think that a brony like me can do a lot better than the actual show staff when it comes to storytelling & villains.

In the end, "Rollercoaster of Friendship" was at the most a rather neutral episode for me. In a way, it has a certain sense of fun about it, but...it's literally the weakest of the EG episodes. One of my least favorites, definitely.

Aladdin (2019)

A Slightly Flawed, But Excellent Film

[9/10 · 27 June 2019]

For my first noting, I'd like to start with the film's ensemble cast, casting, performances, and characters.

Mena Massoud, first off, was awesome as Aladdin! Extremely perfect for the part! I'm not sure how many people think this, but he looked so much like the character from the original film, and performed him so well, that it was like the actual character was in the building! To boot, Massoud did an excellent job at bringing in his own flair, personality, and dimensionalism to the character.

Admittedly, the Aladdin in this version certainly isn't as smart as the Aladdin in the animated film, but, he's still quick-witted, clever, and as kind as ever. The character also had some great development throughout the film, not just like in the original Disney classic, but...he developed through having to come to terms with who he is as a person, as well as trying to keep his moral compass alive.

Naomi Scott's casting and performance as Jasmine is another element of the movie I highly commend. I know that there was some early criticism about Scott's casting in the early stages of the film, but, in all honesty, she fit the role of Jasmine like a pea in a pod! She killed it! She was not only able to preserve the character's rebelliousness and desire for independence, she also gave her character a newfound sense of authority and leadership, not just for herself, but for others. Just like Massoud, she even made it seem like the real deal was actually there.

Jasmine herself even had some newfound development, building throughout the film to show the marks of a true leader.

The addition of Jasmine's best friend and handmaiden, Dalia, proved to be really fun too. So did Nasim Pedrad's performance and casting. I know that many have likely passed over Pedrad and her character, but...Pedrad did a wonderful job at portraying Dalia, giving her great personality and comedic-timings. Plus, Dalia proved to be such an essential part of the whole film, that you'd be left wishing the character was in the original animated classic.

But, perhaps the best cast member out of everyone, who also gave the most winning performance of all in this movie...is Will Smith, and his character of the Genie. Truthfully, when I found out that Smith was going to be portraying the Genie, I was a little skeptical, mainly because of how much Robin Williams truly owned the role. However, as time went on, it suddenly clicked in my head that he would fit the part wonderfully, especially after seeing his work in "Hitch" and recalling his comedic moments in "Independance Day" (both of which I deeply apologize for not reviewing yet, by the way). I was overjoyed by the announcement that he wasn't going to be directly copying Robin Williams, so it made me all-the-more interested in seeing Smith in the role.

And you know what?

Will Smith really rocked the house as the Genie!

He did such a terrific job portraying the character by making the role something of his own. He even brought fantastic energy and emotion to the character, as well as gave him comedic-timings and a personality that made his Genie all-the-more different from Robin Williams's Genie. Additionally, he did a brilliant job developing his character into someone really human.

Now if I'm going to be honest, there was one element of the casting and performances that I wasn't a big fan of:

Marwan Kenzari, and his casting and portrayal as Jafar.

I have nothing against the actor personally, he's obviously quite talented (that considering he's likely not among the most famous, such as Smith), and I was willing to give him a chance and see if he could surprise me, partly due to not wanting to judge him based on the trailers alone.

The problem, however (and that comes from after seeing the whole film), is that Kenzari was awfully miscast. He was too young for the part of Jafar, and because of Jafar's youth, it makes one question how long he was the Sultan's Royal Vizier to begin with. Additionally, it seemed like no matter how far Kenzari extended himself as an actor, he just wasn't able to make the character threatening or imtimidating enough. It is especially compared to Jonathan Freeman's portrayal in the original film, even voice-wise. Kenzari's efforts literally didn't make the character someone to take seriously in this movie, and translated him as more of a wimp than anything else.

Overall, Kenzari would've been much more suited for some other character in the film rather than Jafar, and Jafar himself should've been played by someone much older compared to Kenzari. The person that I, along with my mother and some friends of mine, thought would've fit the part of Jafar like a glove was Ben Kingsley. I know, he's white, but considering he has such as large versatility as an actor, and that he can successfully play any role he's given, Kingsley would have been a much better choice for the part of Jafar.

The next subject will be on the film's story, made by Guy Ritchie and John August, as well as the direction by the former. I will say that while they weren't able to measure up to the awesomeness of of the original, the two of them were still able to make the film great in its own right.

I get the point, Guy Ritchie is obviously quite the odd choice to some as director of this movie, but...I thought that he was perfect for the job, and that's partly coming from a guy who's a big fan of his work in the Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey Jr. (which I likewise apologize for not reviewing yet, but hope too soon). The chase and action moments were astonishingly some of the film's best moments.

The story and screenplay by Ritchie and John August was quite an eventful one, with lots of surprises to boot. It was a definite balance of both familiar and new, in that while the concept was pretty much like the animated film, there were still things about it that made the film its own thing. Examples of that include the dance scene between Aladdin and Jasmine, which wasn't in the original at all.

The only thing I wasn't completely fond of concerning the story and direction was that the recreations of scenes from the original, such as the introduction to the Cave of Wonders, were too quick-paced. They needed some fleshing out, and didn't have enough time to really breathe. I know, they obviously didn't want the film to be too long, but still.

Likewise, the film had some pretty solid humor here and there. The best jokes in the film, especially, come from that of the Genie and Dalia. For instance, in the dance scene, when Aladdin had no idea how to dance, I couldn't help but find the part where Genie was using his magic to make Aladdin do all those dance moves to be hysterical!

Admittedly, the CGI in the film certainly wasn't the best, but...it was still pretty good. The effects used with the animals were certainly great. Rajah the Tiger, Abu the Capuchin Monkey, and Iago the Scarlet Macaw (voiced by Alan Tudyk, and whose character is a regular parrot in contrast to Gilbert Gottfried's character) literally seemed like real animals. The motion capture effects used with the genie forms of Genie and Jafar were all delightfully spot-on too.

I must say that out of all of them, though, I was incredibly astounded by the CGI used with the magic carpet. I didn't think it'd be possible to have the use of him in CGI match up to his animated counterpart, but, the effects team successfully did it. My Mom, grandmother, and I could barely comprehend how they did it and if the character was even a real carpet or not.

My final noting, just like my review on the animated film, will be on the music that the movie had, done by true Disney musical genius, Alan Menken.

Menken's work in this film was astounding! That's not to say it's even better than the original's music, but still...he killed it!

I love how he was able to really extend himself for this feature, giving the music a noticeably new Arabian and Middle-Eastern feeling that was wonderful for this live-action update. The songs in this version, old and new, were enormously catchy and enjoyable to listen to, bringing in faithfulness to the original soundtrack, but at the same time, bringing a flair of its own, something that the soundtrack from the 2017 Beauty and the Beast film particularly lacked (exceptions from the latter film being "Days in the Sun" and "Evermore").

A special credit that I'd like to give in terms of the lyrics goes to the fact that much of Tim Rice's and the late Howard Ashman's work was kept, as well as towards Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (both of whom wrote the songs for "The Greatest Showman") for adding in their own brilliant creativity. The best ones, in my opinion, that were sung by the surprisingly amazing singing chops of Massoud, Scott, and Smith, were "One Jump Ahead", "Friend Like Me", "Prince Ali", and "Speechless". The music video version of "Speechless" was what I thought to be the best version of the latter song.

In the end, while the live-action Aladdin certainly won't topple the 1992 animated classic in terms of sheer awesomeness due to Kenzari's casting and performance as Jafar, and many of the recreated scenes being too quick, it's still an excellent film in its own right thanks to the music, smart direction and storytelling, CGI, and terrific casting and performances by Massoud, Scott, Pedrid, and Smith, the latter whose performance and comedic-chops would make Robin Williams extremely proud. It was a great way to pay homage to the late Williams and Ashman despite the setbacks I mentioned.

The Looney Tunes Show (2011–2015)

Uh, One Quick Question...

[1/10 · 12 April 2019]

What kind of installment to the Looney Tunes franchise is this?!

For that matter, what kind of sitcom is this?!

Okay, that's actually two questions. Still though, these questions are ones that I will happily answer in this review of this 2011-2014 waste of time "The Looney Tunes Show".

Here's what it's about:

The series revolves around roommates Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck (both played by Jeff Bergman), who live in a Californian suburban neighborhood that is also home to other Looney Tunes stars, such as Porky Pig (played by Bob Bergen), Yosemite Sam (played by Maurice LaMarche), and Speedy Gonzales (played by Fred Armisen). At the most, it depicts the misadventures of Bugs and Daffy, the latter in particular as he tries to earn some quick bucks while trying to resume a recklessly jobless lifestyle.

Before I get fully into what I think of this show, especially after honestly only seeing two full episodes and some clips, I'd like to give some clarification on what this series is.

At the most, this show is a sitcom. If programs like "Mork & Mindy" and "Home Improvement" happen to ring a bell for you, then you're on the right track. It's barely anything like the classic Looney Tunes from the old days, including that there are few visual gags. The comedy is mostly dialogue-driven with some slight adult orientation.

The intention of the show runners, as well as Warner Bros. & Cartoon Network, was to make something to introduce the Looney Tunes to a new generation of audiences, including changing the designs, personalities, and roles of each character, such as making Daffy Duck a bum, Yosemite Sam a petty thief and con artist, and Bugs Bunny a smart-alec without charm.

Now, onto my thoughts:

What do you call a situational comedy that barely has situation and comedy?

A Stinkcom!

Get it? Because it's a comedy that stinks.

Anyway, I certainly won't lie that the hand-drawn animation wasn't bad, especially when combined with computerized water and light. Although, it didn't make up for the show being a disaster, particularly because of how cheap it looked and the lack of dedication it seemed to show.

The voice-acting for the characters definitely didn't make things any better, that's for sure. The performances were awful! I mean, I can tell that the cast at least tried to make their portrayals close to that of the late Mel Blanc's, but they didn't do a good job either because their performances lacked energy and commitment. They sounded as if they were so bored with the scripts given to them they wanted to be somewhere else.

The designs for the characters were acceptable, but the personality changes...not so much, because they didn't fit the characters well, and because the changes made them rather unlikable and gave them little charm. To boot, there was little to no character development. Daffy in particular was just so annoying and one-dimensional I could barely stand seeing him on the screen.

The humor that the series had was a lot more pesky than funny, especially because there wasn't anything to laugh about whatsoever, and because it lacked innocent quality. Even the dialogue-driven jokes did little to earn a chuckle. In addition, it seemed like whenever a gag was thrown in, there was this pause or moment where a laugh track was needed. In the end, though, it was like even a laugh track barely found a reason to laugh.

As for the stories...well, there isn't really much to note about them, other than that they lacked heart and morals. Even if there was one, nobody learned from it at all. Not even audiences could learn what the moral of each story would be since the execution and concept was ridiculously terrible.

In the end, "The Looney Tunes Show" not only dishonors the source material, but earns the term of "stinkcom" because it's a disgrace to the genre. I might as well refer to it as "The Looney Tunes Sham" from this moment on.

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997 Video)

A Clearly Underrated Film

[10/10 · 5 February 2019]

I realize that in many ways, and for many people, this film isn't the best out of Disney's direct-to-video stock. But, I actually really enjoyed this movie.

Admittedly, I don't think the comedy gags in the film were the best, particularly when you compare them to the comedy of the original film. However, the creativity and timing of the comedy was definitely something that can earn smiles and chuckles.

For a direct-to-video feature, the film had impressive animation. I was especially impressed by the computer animation used on the character of Forte and the animation used with the green-magical music notes.

The story and plot line was intriguing & well-done as a plus. I loved how it further fleshed out what's been going on during the time Belle had to stay at the castle, as well as give further backstory on the curse and when it took place. All of it taking place on Christmas! And, despite being in some ways darker than the original, it keeps perfectly in tone with it as well.

The music and songs, of course, may not be anything compared to that of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's work in the original, but, they're still pretty memorable and fun. The credit goes to composer Rachel Portman and lyricist Don Black for putting in enough effort to provide a good time.

Finally, it all comes down to the voice-acting, characters, and character development.

The voicing of the old characters is still as spritely as ever thanks to the old cast members returning, the only exception coming from Bradley Pierce as Chip because of growing up years before (he was replaced by Haley Joel Osment). Anyway, the old cast members were able to perfectly keep up the great work with playing their characters, especially Paige O'Hara, who continued to imbue Belle's innocence and warmth.

The old characters were even able to retain why we all love them so much, and I loved how Belle was able to touch the lives of the others by spreading Christmas cheer and giving everyone hope in having a Christmas celebration. The Beast also continues to be one of the most complex characters I've ever seen, and he has had great development throughout just like the last film.

The new characters were also really fun to watch, and the people who played them were on the level awesome!

Bernadette Peters gave her character of Angelique such brilliant personality, and the character of Fife (played by Paul Reubens) was so lovable. He also had brilliant character development throughout the film, as he went from being a mere comic-relief and blind follower of the villain to someone who wants to do what's right and look out for others. Jeff Bennet is also someone whom I believe steals the show with his vocal talent as Axe.

The biggest standout out of all of the new cast members, obviously, comes from that of Tim Curry and his portrayal of Forte. He does often play a lot of villains in the animation industry, but, his portrayal of Forte clearly said that he was meant to play the role. Aided by the animators, he made something so brilliant out of the character. And as always, his singing was really top-notch.

The character of Forte as a plus is someone whom I find to be an excellent Disney villain. He has a certain complexity about him, as well as a sinister and manipulative nature. What drives him as a villain among other things is that he wants to be an important part of something and to be noticed by others, even if it means causing harm to another.

In conclusion, "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas " is actually a definite winner when it comes to being both a midquel to its predecessor, and as a film to watch whenever Christmas is around the corner.

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Let me Tell Something to You. Come Close *Ushers them Closer*. Don't be afraid.

[10/10 · 5 February 2019]

This film, unlike the live-action version, is a masterpiece to no end! You'll pretty much also see why this movie is so much better than the last one I reviewed.

The songs and soundtrack of this film are so moving! When you listen to the music, you can sense how much commitment & hard work was put into it by the brilliant composer, Alan Menken, and the brilliant lyricist, Howard Ashman. You'll find yourself dancing to them for what can very well be an eternity.

The characters, as well as the people who portrayed them, are extremely unique. The voices every actor & actress gave their characters fit perfectly to where you can barely single one person out as the one who stands above all others, even if they didn't sound French enough. The characters also all have a personality & a multitude of traits that make them so three-dimensional, as well as ones that you'll grow up with in a great way.

Everything about the story & plot line is so well-thought, as well as so emotionally groundbreaking! There are so many moments in it that could make you bubbly with joy, cry with tears, and laugh out loud.

The animation that the film has is truly a breath-taking experience! As you watch the movie, you feel yourself walking into an actual fairytale with the feeling that the world & inhabitants it has are so real.

To Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise: If the two of you are reading this, I want you both to know that you truly know how to bring an animated feature film to life, and help revive the magic originated by Walt Disney himself. He'd be very proud of you both for your work on this film, as well as your work on Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" & "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (both of which I have yet to review).

I deeply hope that the two of you make more of your own animated films soon, whether it's at your current working station: Dreamworks Animation, or whether it's at Disney should you decide to return there.

In the end, Beauty & the Beast (1991) is what I'd like to call a timeless classic, and in this time and age, it's even better than the 2017 live-action adaption in every way.

Beauty and the Beast (I) (2017)

Everything about this Film was a 50/50 Every Step of the Way

[5/10 · 5 February 2019]

The movie was definitely a mix of both good and bad every step of the way. An interesting movie, but, it's nothing compared to the 1991 animated version.

The score and musical numbers orchestrated by returning composer Alan Menken I thought were a definite mix of 50/50. The brand new songs Menken orchestrated, such as "Evermore" & "Days in the Sun", are the ones that I thought have been pretty well thought out and had a lot of life stored in them, but, the remakes of the old songs such as "Be Our Guest" & "Belle" felt much on the cringing side and time consumingly slow, especially with the pacing of the music and the way the performers sang them.

Another thing I couldn't help but note was that the way the background sets were made, particularly the castle & village, looked like they were props for a high school play, although, I definitely commend the cinematography for helping everything seem and feel natural.

With the direction, I think Bill Condon did fine, though, unlike his work on Mr. Holmes, I don't think it's one of his best works. Like I already said, the cinematography he gave the film was perfect. However, I felt that the action moments, particularly with the scenes of the wolf attacks, and the villagers vs the castle residents, were too sluggish and less lively, especially compared to the original.

The story and screenplay done by Stephen Chbosky & Evan Spiliotopoulos did also seem too excessively similar to the original, and I didn't think it was as ground-breakingly emotional as the animated version. But, most of all, I didn't think the story did a good job at making itself it's own instead of seeming like some sort of carbon copy. I did think that the most interesting moment came with the book where you could travel anywhere in the world, as well as the backstory about Belle's mother and what happened to her.

When it comes to the cast and their performances, I definitely have mixed opinions on which ones were great and which ones weren't great.

The casting and performances of Emma Watson & Luke Evans as Belle and Gaston were the ones that I felt seemed completely out of place. They definitely looked their parts, but the way they both moved and sounded didn't seem natural, and it looked like that because their characters are so highly renowned, they just weren't able to perform without looking like the pressure of being & living up to those characters was too great.

Also, with the exception of Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, none of the cast made their roles French enough for the town and time period the story takes place in.

The incorporation of African-American cast members and characters also didn't feel right. I'm not being racist or anything, it's just...when you look in your own history books, you'll find that the time people of certain ethnicity, like African-Americans, Spanish, and Asians, did not become prevalently widespread until much later than the time period the movie takes place in. I found that to be an example of being too unnecessarily politically correct, and when used at the wrong time, it gives inaccuracy to the setting and culture of a story.

However, when it comes to casting and performances, not everyone was terrible. As I likely said, Ewan McGregor portrayed Lumiere perfectly, and Kevin Kline...he gave his portrayal and character of Maurice a sense of innocence, tenderness, and warmth, and he took his role on like a pro compared to Watson & Evans.

Josh Gad, who portrays Lefou, was also quite the eye-catcher. Admittedly, his character did have a slight guy crush on Gaston, but really, he's not inherently gay. Even though Gad obviously kept his American accent, he was actually really fun to watch. He had the best comedic-timing out of everyone, and the singing chops he gave for every song he was in were extremely well-done. So, if you're a fan of Josh Gad, I think you should totally see this film.

But the real star of the movie comes from the guy who played the Beast himself: Dan Stevens. The performance & voice he gave the character, as well as the makeup and motion capture used on him, made the Beast so lifelike and alive. Every moment with him on the screen also makes things worthwhile, because he gives off such strength & emotion into the role.

Overall, the film isn't bad, but, it pales to the original.

My Little Pony: The Movie (2017)

Everything about this Film was Brilliant From Start to Finish (Revised)!

[10/10 · 5 February 2019]

The story and screenplay of the movie will make you say something like, "Wow! My mind is totally blown!" It's epic to the point of suspense, dramatic to where you feel like crying, and funny to the point of laughter! The writers incorporated great messages in the story involving friendship, hope, and leadership. The story was written by veteran MLP writer Meghan McCarthy, and by newcomer and fan Joe Ballarini (best known for contributing to the Blue Sky Studios films "Epic" and "Ice Age: Continental Drift", and the Dreamworks film "Turbo"). The screenplay was also done by McCarthy, but also by veteran MLP writer Michael Vogel, and newcomer Rita Hsiao(best known for her work on Disney's "Mulan" and Pixar's "Toy Story 2").

The animation was done by an entire team of animators lead by veteran MLP director Jayson Thiessen. One big thing they had to do was replace the equipment they used called Adobe Flash and instead use Toon Boom Harmony. With the new equipment, they were able to make the backgrounds of each scene look real, especially the water. The part where our heroes go underwater and meet the sea ponies is so realistic, you feel like you're in the ocean. The character designs were amazing as well, especially with the characters with fur or feathers, such as Capper and Celaeno.

On the directing, Thiessen does it again by making another winner to the franchise, and marking an excellent comeback to theatrical hand-drawn animation. The dramatic and comedy moments are also perfectly timed. The cinematography is colorful, and the camera angling to every scene is so engaging, you don't want to miss it even when you want to get more popcorn.

The characters were wonderful! Each of them had a quality and personality about them that made them so interesting and lovable. The writers kept the current characters from the show the same, and the new characters were also well thought out and in all seriousness great! The voice acting done by the people old and new were also top-notch. They played their parts well, especially to where you'd think their names would become synonymous to those characters.

But, the most intriguing performances come from Tara Strong, Emily Blunt, Taye Diggs, and Liev Schreiber. Their performances made their characters realistic with so much feeling, personality, and emotion, and even show the world why these performers are among some of the very best in the film industry. Out of all of the characters, Twilight Sparkle, Tempest Shadow, Capper, and the Storm King were the ones that particularly got my attention hook, line, and sinker.

The music and songs made by veteran MLP musician Daniel Ingram will make you joyfully emotional. The lyrics are heartfelt, and will touch you deep down into your soul.

Overall, by watching it and looking at it closely without falling into stereotypes about movies based on toy lines, you'll find that this movie and everything about it is one that is worth seeing. It delivers something that hasn't been seen for a very long time in the animation industry. A movie full of heart, passion, and commitment.