Movie Review: "Young Sherlock Holmes" (1985)

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Movie: "Young Sherlock Holmes"
Director: Barry Levinson
Year: 1985
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 49 minutes

A high school-aged Sherlock Holmes unravels the mystery of a rash of apparent suicides that he believes are actually murders.

"Young Sherlock Holmes" is directed by Barry Levinson, who has helmed numerous films like "Diner," "The Natural," and the Oscar-winning film "Rain Man." It is written by Chris Columbus, who has penned the screenplays for some of our most beloved childhood films like "Goonies" and "Gremlins." It stars Nicholas Rowe as the titular teenage Sherlock Holmes, and Alan Cox as a young John Watson, who narrates the story. The film opens with a mysterious hooded person shooting a random passerby with a thorn from a blowgun. A short time later, the man begins to wildly hallucinate before jumping out of a window. The police write it off as suicide, but similar incidents continue to happen. When Sherlock's mentor Rupert T. Waxflatter, played by Nigel Stock, is targeted next, Sherlock decides to look into the case and quickly discovers these incidents likely involve foul play...but by whom and why?? Holmes begins his investigation with the help of Watson and Waxflatter's niece Elizabeth, played by Sophie Ward.

There are a lot of 80's films that have become deeply embedded in popular culture. We feel that "Young Sherlock Holmes" really had the potential to be a movie like this, but it often gets unfairly overlooked. It is a fun and engaging adventure film with rather stunning and groundbreaking special effects for 1985. The visuals of each person's hallucinations, which drive them to suicide, are done amazingly well as food and statues come to life to torment those who have been affected by the poison. This flick also marks the first time that an entirely CGI character was used in live action cinema. The computer-generated stained glass knight took Industrial Light & Magic a whopping four months to create and was only on screen for about a minute. These effects earned "Young Sherlock Holmes" an Oscar nomination, though it lost out to Ron Howard's "Cocoon," perhaps rightfully so. We believe Nicholas Rowe has just the right presence to play Holmes. He's got the right bit of arrogance and enough endearing charm to bring the character to life with great success. We also like Alex Cox and Sophie Ward as Watson and Elizabeth, though they are mostly outshined by Rowe.

Some movies that we watched and loved as kids don't age well, but upon revisiting "Young Sherlock Holmes," we feel it has really stood the test of time. Sure, it isn't a perfect film and the story is rather simple, but it is still a really good time that keeps us enthralled and interested from beginning to end.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
Do we recommend the film: Yes!

Movie Review: "Lady Bird" (2017)

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Movie: "Lady Bird"

Director: Greta Gerwig
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

A year in the life of high school senior Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, who was born and raised in Sacramento, CA, but longs to move to the east coast, preferably New York City. This is much to the chagrin of her mother, who is constantly at odds with Lady Bird.

Like many independent films, "Lady Bird" is a slice of life, coming of age character sketch that covers a year in the life of a high school senior in 2003. This is the first film directed by Greta Gerwig and is every bit as quirky as Gerwig and her past performances. The movie has a semi-autobiographical feel to it as it would appear the story is heavily inspired by Gerwig's own life given that she grew up in Sacramento. It stars Saoirse Ronan as the titular Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, a high school senior who laments growing up in boring ol' Sacramento and longs for the culture of the east coast, primarily New York City... or at least New Hampshire or Connecticut. She makes everyone call her Lady Bird because it's a name given to herself by herself. She has a loving yet contentious relationship with her mother Marion, played by Laurie Metcalf, who works hard to provide for her family but seems constantly angry with Lady Bird's lack of appreciation for what she has in life. Lady Bird goes to a private Catholic school surrounded by rich kids and resents that her family is middle class. She does typical high school activities like hanging out with her best friend Julie, played by Beanie Feldstein, dating boys, finding work, applying to colleges, and trying new things in order to find her place in this crazy world.

The one thing we can say about "Lady Bird" right off the bat is it is one of the most honest and sincere films of 2017. The acting is phenomenal, especially from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. As mother and daughter, the two of them have many tender moments of undying love and a few heated exchanges that feel very realistic, like the fights you may have had with your very own mother. As Lady Bird experiences growing pains and longs for something different over the span of her senior year, her mother is equal parts scared, heartbroken, and angry with her choices. Metcalf is fantastic as a tough but concerned mother, and Ronan is wonderful as her self-absorbed, blossoming, vulnerable and stubborn daughter. Lady Bird also has many other people in her life, including her down on his luck father Larry, played by Tracy Letts, her first boyfriend Danny, played by Lucas Hedges, and her second boyfriend, the "down with the system" Kyle, played by Timothée Chalamet. These three individuals all offer some great performances. Look out for Hedges and Chalamet, they will most certainly be around for a long while.

Excellent performances and relatability aside, one cannot deny that "Lady Bird" is a fairly formulaic coming of age story. It hits the same notes a dozen other films have hit when it comes to detailing relationships with parents, feuds with friends, finding boyfriends, and discovering one's true self. How much you like this film may have to do with how well you identify with the characters. If you've gone through anything even remotely close to what Lady Bird has gone through, chances are, it will click for you. I was personally quite moved by the film. I saw a lot of my own life playing out on the big screen as if this movie had been hijacked from my diary and written about my own personal experiences. BigJ, on the other hand, didn't get as emotionally invested in the characters as he would have liked. He didn't have much to relate to in terms of the story. It fell way short of his expectations considering the hype-train that has been out there singing this movie's praises.

With a relatable, funny, and honest emotional punch, terrific performances, and a killer (an accurate!) soundtrack, we think "Lady Bird" will resonate with many moviegoers and critics alike. Whether you're an adolescent attempting to chase your dreams or a parent who has had to let go of their child, there's something for everyone in this quirky, charming film.

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My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~100%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Mimic" (1997)

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Movie: "Mimic"

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Year: 1997
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

When a disease that is spread by cockroaches plagues New York City and kills scores of children, entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler develops a new species of bug, a predator with the ability to wipe them all out. Unfortunately, the solution may turn out to be worse than the problem.

Nature versus science is a common theme in cinema. In Guillermo del Toro's second feature-length film, he tackles that very subject with a heaping helping of fantasy and sci-fi horror to go along with it. "Mimic" opens with the children of New York City dying from a strange virus that is spread by cockroaches, and as you may or may not know, New York has no shortage of cockroaches. In response, the CDC has entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler, played by Mira Sorvino, develop a new species of bug she calls the "Judas Breed." These Judas bugs are developed to kill off the cockroach population, which will, in turn, kill the disease. They were bred to be sterile, but as we all learned from "Jurassic Park," "life, uh, finds a way." When the Judas bugs start to breed, it may turn out that the solution Susan created is far worse than the problem it was meant to solve.

Every director has their stumble, and "Mimic" is Guillermo del Toro's. This is not to say the film is a complete lost cause, but it is by far the most generic, formulaic film in del Toro's filmography. There are some good elements to like here, namely the effects work and creature design of the fully evolved Judas Breed bugs. There are a lot of neat and gross looking slimy creepy-crawlies all over the place that work well in the context of the film. Not all of the visuals in this movie are practically made. Del Toro used a lot of computer-generated effects as well which, at the time, were probably state of the art. In 2017, however, these effects are remarkably dated and look terrible. One of the other biggest downfalls of "Mimic" is the acting. It isn't good at all. Mira Sorvino's main purpose in the film is to deliver exposition and not much else despite the fact that her character is a freakin' doctor. Most the acts of heroism get passed on to Jeremy Northam's Dr. Mann, who works for the CDC. All of the other characters are simply there to be victims, to be killed off, or to serve as objects to be rescued. Outside of the intriguing general concept and the design of the creatures which can be cool looking at times, "Mimic" is probably one of the least del Toro-like films on his resume, which may be one of the reasons he has disowned the film. It is blatantly obvious studio intervention took its toll on the final product of this film. The characters and story aren't fleshed out enough, and we know from del Toro's other works that these are strong points of his. We have to wonder if his later director's cut helped improve these issues, but even still, we can't recommend this movie.

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My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~59%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review: "The Babysitter" (2017)

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Movie: "The Babysitter"

Director: McG
Year: 2017
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

A nerdy 12-year-old kid is determined to find out what his babysitter does once he goes to bed. Once he discovers the truth, it turns out to be the last thing he could have ever imagined.

If you are a 12-year-old kid and happen to have a very attractive babysitter who is super nice to you, is into geek culture, and seems too good to be true, chances are, she's up to no good and has probably made some sort of blood pact with the devil. There is also a pretty good chance you may wind up as part of some weird satanic ritual later in the night.

"The Babysitter" stars Judah Lewis as Cole, a somewhat cowardly, geeky kid with only a couple of friends. He also regularly gets bullied at school. His parents, played by Ken Marino and Leslie Bibb, frequently spend the night at a hotel as a way to spice up their relationship. Every time they go away, they leave Cole with his babysitter Bee, played by Samara Weaving. She and Cole get along swimmingly, and he even seems to have a bit of a crush on her. C'mon, what nerdy preteen kid wouldn't have a crush on their attractive yet relatable and ~*totally cool~* teenage sitter who seems to share similar interests? When Cole secretly stays up past his bedtime one night, he learns the horrifying truth about the young woman he thought he knew. The film is directed by McG, who is known for directing the "Charlie's Angels" films. It is written by Brian Duffield, who wrote screenplays for "Insurgent" and "Jane Got a Gun." Also in the film are Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Andrew Bachelor, and Hana Mae Lee, who play Bee's friends from school.

We love outrageous horror films, and "The Babysitter" tries really hard to be wild. It's a tongue-in-cheek horror comedy that uses over-the-top violence and fountains of blood as vehicles for dark humor. This is a very, very silly movie with mostly abysmal dialogue and a lot of corny jokes. Luckily, it can be somewhat fun at times when it comes to its many exaggerated death scenes. Blood springs forth from heads and gaping wounds like a pressure sprayer, dousing characters in pools of crimson liquid. It's gross but pretty damn cool and somewhat satisfying.

At its core, "The Babysitter" is a story about a young boy finding inner courage and learning to stick up for himself. The relationship between a sitter and the kid she's provides an interesting dynamic in a horror movie setting. There are plenty of people who want to do Cole harm. Some of the time, Bee is very protective of Cole, and other times, she appears to be completely okay with him being killed by her friends to protect their secret. We managed to laugh here and there while watching this movie and enjoyed seeing Cole try to find a way to make it out of his situation alive with or without help. We like the creative and sometimes unexpected ways the various deaths are handled. That being said, there's a lot missing from "The Babysitter." While it is fun and gory every once in a while, the narrative is a little weak and isn't connected very well. It doesn't bring a lot of newness to the genre, which would be forgivable if it were a better quality flick. It is not the worst thing we've seen, but it's not quite good enough or memorable enough for us to fully recommend it. It's two parts cringeworthy, two parts over-the-top, three parts predictable, one part awesome, and two parts been there, done that.

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My Rating: 4.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~71%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review: "The Star" (2017)

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Movie: "The Star"

Director: Timothy Reckart
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes

The story of the Nativity from the point of view of a donkey and other animals present at the birth of Jesus.

We have seen movies about the story of the Nativity many times. Each time we watch one of these films, we can't help but think, "you know what this story really needs?........poop jokes!"

Okay, so maybe we don't need them, but we certainly get them in Sony Pictures Animation/Affirm Film's latest animated feature "The Star." This movie tells the story of the birth of Jesus from the point of view of a donkey named Bo, voiced by Steven Yeun. Bo has always dreamt of pulling the royal carriage but is stuck milling grain for an ungrateful master. His best friend is a dove named Dave, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, and how the two of them wind up with Mary and Joseph, voiced by Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi, after Bo breaks free from the shackles of his old life. Needing to report to Bethlehem for the census, Mary and Joseph must make the trek to the city even though she is very pregnant. Bo and Dave go along in order to protect her from a hunter and his two dogs who have been tasked by King Herod to kill her so the prophesied Messiah will not be born. Also lending their voice talents to this picture are Aidy Bryant, Christopher Plummer, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias, Anthony Anderson, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Tyler Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracy Morgan, Kris Kristofferson, and Oprah Winfrey. Heck, maybe it would have been easier to list who doesn't lend their voice to this project.

"The Star" wants to be this faith-affirming film about the birth of Jesus, but it also wants to appeal to children and be something they can enjoy. Director Timothy Reckart tries to achieve this by loading the story with a bunch of slapstick and potty humor jokes to keep kids invested. Only about 15% of the jokes actually hit their intended mark. The slapstick physics are wildly inconsistent as Bo is injured severely when tangled in a rope but later falls off a cliff without so much as a scratch. But this is just a movie for kids, right? Who cares, they won't notice this kind of stuff! Our point is, we noticed, so most adults probably will as well. "The Star" also attempts to remove the more unsavory parts of the story of the birth of Jesus, such as the actual slaughter of the innocent, which isn't exactly a kid-friendly topic. C'mon, people, you can't pick and choose what parts of the Bible you want to believe...well, we guess that speaks to a larger probl.....you know what? Nevermind, it's not worth it. Mary is played as this kindhearted, perfect saint of a character, and Joseph is a lovable oaf who often winds up the butt of the joke. Much of the story is a boring 'been there, done that' tale brought to life by the laziest animation possible. There are a couple of intense moments of action, but these moments are offset and hindered by their song choices, which are usually religious Christmas carols that seem wildly out of place when played alongside the action unfolding on screen.

In the end, "The Star" tries to balance faith and fun but fails at both. Christmastime is the one time of year when all things Jesus are a-okay with us, but frankly, we wouldn't really recommend this movie to kids or adults. There are other better faith-based Christmas films out there without farting donkeys, pooping doves, and dozens of failing jokes. Though some of the voice acting is good, it's not enough to bring any real substance to this pedestrian Nativity tale. PS: Cast Steven Yeun in more things, Hollywood.

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My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 4.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~55%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

Movie Review: "Brawl in Cell Block 99" (2017)

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Movie: "Brawl in Cell Block 99"

Director: S. Craig Zahler
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

Drug mule and all-around tough guy Bradley Thomas is sent to prison after a pick-up goes wrong. Once inside, he is blackmailed to kill another inmate by the dealer whose shipment was lost.

Judging by the title, "Brawl in Cell Block 99" isn't quite what we expected, but that's not a bad thing in this instance. It's good to see Vince Vaughn tackling a different kind of role as he sidesteps away from his previous characters like "fast-talking wise ass insert name here" and "loveable goofball insert name here." He finally gets to put his towering 6'5" (196 cm) frame to good use as tough guy drug runner Bradley Thomas. S. Craig Zahler is the writer and director of this project. His previous film "Bone Tomahawk" received a lot of critical praise and has been highly regarded in the cinephile community, though we found it to be a bit slow.

"Brawl in Cell Block 99" centers around the aforementioned Bradley Thomas, a large, stoic, God-fearing individual who has the occasional outburst of rage and violence. You can tell right away he is a man not to be trifled with, but some people go about trifling anyway. When Bradley is laid off from his job as a mechanic, he takes up work running drugs for an old friend, who is trying to expand his operation. He makes a deal with another big-time drug dealer named Eleazar, played by Dion Mucciacito, and asks Bradley to make the pickup. Bradley is reluctant but agrees with the promise he will have ample time off when his wife gives birth to their baby. Of course, things go drastically wrong and Bradley winds up in jail. Eleazar blames Bradley for everything that went wrong and proceeds to blackmail him to kill another inmate. As Bradley has to make his way to cell block 99, his wife Lauren, played by Jennifer Carpenter, is left vulnerable on the outside.

As you can tell, this movie has a lot of set up. It is very apparent that as a director, S. Craig Zahler is a fan of making slow-burning action thrillers. There is quite a bit of story before Bradley even gets to prison, and then it takes more time to get to the titular "Brawl in Cell Block 99." That slow pacing didn't always work for us in "Bone Tomahawk," but it certainly works for us here because Bradley Thomas is such an interesting character. We are invested in what happens to him the moment he appears on the screen. This is a transformative role for Vince Vaughn and he performs his part extremely well. Gone are the days of goofy Teen Choice award winner™ Vince Vaughn, please welcome the looming, intimidating, gruff, badass Vince Vaughn. Don Johnson also does a fantastic job as Tuggs, the no-nonsense gives-no-flying-fucks wicked warden whose job it is to make Bradley's life as much of a living hell as possible. Once the action scenes start happening, they are brutal, intense, and gory. It is apparent that Zahler also likes ample amounts of carnage. The style of violence and effects are very reminiscent of what you might see in 70's grindhouse cinema (this is definitely not a complaint). Some of the more violent moments may take you aback. Vince Vaughn sells them completely.

"Brawl in Cell Block 99" is one of the year's best dramatic crime thrillers. The story is engaging, the brutality is captivating, and the characters are ones you connect with instantly. We wound up enjoying this methodically slow, over the top, extremely savage film.

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My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Wonder" (2017)

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Movie: "Wonder"

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes

The story of 10-year-old Auggie Pullman and his family. Auggie has Treacher Collins syndrome, which means he has facial differences. He has been homeschooled all his life and is about to start going to a public school with other children for the first time.

Hollywood doesn't often produce great live-action family dramas with universal appeal for kids and adults. Movies like this have to strike a balance between being entertaining enough for children and having more mature issues to captivate an older crowd. They can't be overly sentimental. They can't have too much low-hanging humor that only children will find funny. Some movies that meet these criteria are "My Girl," "Bridge to Terabithia," and "October Sky." "Wonder" is also a movie that falls into this category and is a timely story that deals with being "different," adversity, bullying, and kindness. It is directed by Stephen Chbosky and is based on the best selling novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio. It stars Jacob Tremblay as August "Auggie" Pullman, who looks a bit different because he was born with a genetic defect that has required him to have numerous surgeries in his young life. Joining him are Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents Isabelle and Nate, as well as Izabela Vidovic as his older sister Via. Also in the film are Noah Jupe, Bryce Gheisar, and Millie Davis, who play Auggie's classmates named Will, Julian, and Summer. Auggie is about to attend school with other students for the very first time as he has only been homeschooled up to this point. As we all know, kids aren't always so understanding and are not kind to people who are "different."

"Wonder" is an endearing and charming drama with a lot of heart, a good amount of humor, and a fantastic message. Jacob Tremblay is quite the actor and puts on a wonderful performance as Auggie Pullman. He shows a great, wide range of emotion well beyond his years. We can't say we are really surprised by this considering his past work in the film "Room." Beyond Tremblay's performance, the rest of the acting is also really good as Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Izabela Vidovic are all excellent supporting cast members. Each of them gives moving performances in different ways. The other child actors are all fantastic as well. Noah Jupe was one of the best things about the movie "Suburbicon," and here, he plays Auggie's reluctant-at-first friend Will who comes to realize Auggie is more than someone to be pitied. Millie Davis gives a splendid performance as Summer, who says she wants to have nice friends for a change instead of means ones, so she starts hanging out with Auggie one day at lunch. Finally, Bryce Gheisar plays Julian, Auggie's biggest schoolyard antagonist. Gheisar plays this part tremendously, and even though we absolutely hate his character, we become a little sympathetic to him as facts about him are revealed.

Dramatic films like this are often hokey, forced, and disingenuous. "Wonder" is the exact opposite and feels completely sincere. It is a total tearjerker, one that really earns each of its sentimental moments. The story has a wonderful, topical message that's extremely relevant to our current social climate. Bullying and treating people unkindly have been problems for centuries and these issues still persist today. We went into this film not expecting much. We didn't enjoy the trailer and thought it was very maudlin. We left the theater elated with what we had just watched. "Wonder" is an important movie for kids and adults of all ages. It teaches the importance of kindness not just to those who are perceived as "different," but to everyone at all times because we are all going through things each and every day. It has brilliant acting, great makeup work, and will hit you right in the feels.

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My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~86%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movies Lovers Holiday Gift Guide!

It's that time of year again! The weather is cooling down, the tree is ready to be decorated, and you need to start buying gifts for your friends and family! We've put together a handy-dandy gift guide for the movie lover in your life. Come check it out! (this post contains affiliate links)

*Make Your Home Just Like a Movie Theater!*
Optoma HD142X 1080p 3000 Lumens 3D DLP Home Theater. Projector: Turn your home into a theatrical experience with an HD projector capable of displaying images ranging from 66" to 107."

Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1Ch 400W 45" Sound Bar with 8” Wireless Subwoofer & Rear Satellite Speakers: What's great picture without great sound quality? Try adding a 7.1 surround sound system with wireless subwoofer and rear speakers for an easy setup! This sound bar is close to the one we have in our own home.

4K Smart TV - If you're looking to upgrade your television, invest in a 4K Smart TV and see how far technology has come from those big old bulbous television sets of yesteryear.

ALL-NEW Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote  - We LOVE our Amazon Fire Stick and will eventually upgrade to the Fire TV. Access hundreds of thousands of movies and apps with this incredible little device!

All-New Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free, 10.1" 1080p Full HD Display, 32 GB, Black - Though we don't yet own an Amazon Fire tablet, we've used the one my mom has and it's insanely fast and super efficient! Netflix and Hulu work like a lightning fast charm!

*Coveted Movies and Box Sets!*

Here are some of our favorite movie box sets. We think your loved ones will enjoy them too!

"Harry Potter": The Complete 8-Film Collection (Blu-ray | DVD)

"Game of Thrones": The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray | DVD)

"Fast & Furious" 8-Movie Collection (Blu-ray | DVD)

"The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogies (Blu-ray | DVD)

"The Dark Knight" Trilogy (Blu-ray | DVD)

"Pirates of the Caribbean" four-movie set (Blu-ray)

"Rocky" Heavyweight Collection (Rocky I-V & Rocky Balboa) (Blu-ray)

Some of the year's best movies are already out to own! Check out some of our favorites!
"Wonder Woman" (Blu-ray | DVD | 3D | 4K) - the best DCEU movie yet!

"The Big Sick" (Blu-ray | DVD) - one of the year's best films. Funny, poignant, sweet!

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (Blu-ray | DVD | 4K) - a worthy follow-up to the surprisingly great original.

"War for the Planet of the Apes" (Blu-ray | DVD | 3D | 4K) - the completion of the trilogy. AMAZING movie!

"Dunkirk" (Blu-ray | 4K) - pre-order one of the year's best war dramas!

"Your Name" (Blu-ray | DVD) - a beautiful and powerful Japanese anime!

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" (Blu-ray | 3D | 4K) - the best "Spider-Man" movie since "Spider-Man 2."

"Baby Driver" (Blu-ray | DVD | 4K)

*Funko Pop Dolls*

We absolutely adore Funko Pop dolls. We've got dozens in our collection. Here are some we think your loved ones will enjoy!

Justice League characters (Batman | Wonder Woman | The Flash | Cyborg | Superman | Aquaman)

Horror movie villains (Leatherface | Chucky | Freddy Krueger | Pennywise | Ash (Evil Dead) | Xenomorph | Carrie | Saw (Billy Puppet) | Jason Voorhees | Michael Myers)

Thor: Ragnarok characters (Thor | Valkyrie | Hulk | Loki | Heimdall | Korg | Hela)

*Miscellaneous Movie Related Merchanside*
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die hardcover book - the holy grail of cinephilia!

Star Wars Darth Vader ceramic stein  - just because you're on the dark side doesn't mean you don't deserve a sweet cup like this!

R2-D2 measuring cups set - just as amazing in real life as it looks online.

Cinelinx card game - a movie lover's take on dominoes!

Wally World t-shirt (BigJ owns and loves this shirt!)

Save Ferris

"Jaws" Quints Shark Fishing t-shirt

"Justice League" Logo shirt

"Karate Kid" Cobra Kai t-shirt

"Goonies Never Say Die" t-shirt

"Wonder Woman" t-shirt

"Stranger Things" Hawkins AV Club Sweatshirt

(This is not a sponsored post. Thank you for reading and supporting our website!)

Movie Review: "The Bachelors" (2017)

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Movie: "The Bachelors"

Director: Kurt Voelker
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

After the death of his wife, a man, along with his son, look for a change of setting in the hopes it will help them with their grieving process. Once relocated across the country, they each begin a friendship with a different woman that may help them embrace life again if they can move beyond the past.

Losing someone is one of the hardest things ever. The closer you are to the person, the harder it is. "The Bachelors" deals with the loss of a wife and mother and how her husband and son must find a way to carry on with their lives after her death. The film is written and directed by Kurt Voelker and offers a heartwrenching, honest look at grief and how hard it can be to move past it. The film stars J.K Simmons and Josh Wiggins as Bill Ponder and his son Wes. The death of their wife/mother has been a devastating blow and has hit Bill particularly hard, as one would expect. To try and help them move past their pain, Bill takes a job across the country and looks for a change of setting in order to move on. Only if it were that easy. Also in the film are Julie Delpy and Odeya Rush as Carine and Lacy, the new love interests of Bill and Wes.

"The Bachelors" is a touching, honest, and heartfelt film. J.K. Simmons is brilliant as Bill and offers a truly amazing performance that shows the grief and depression the loss of a loved one can have on an individual. We see his character's desire to move past this sorrow. We want him to be better. He sees a psychiatrist who seems to look for chemical and physical solutions with pills and shock therapy, and he blindly agrees because he hopes it will cure his melancholy. Simmons really reveals the hurt that exists deep below the surface and how numbness to all else tends to bubble up in the face of such a tremendous loss. He shows the tendency to close one's self off from others who want to help and help us move on. The rest of the cast is really good as well, though they are overshadowed by Simmons's brilliance. Julie Delpy always does a great job in everything she's in, and Josh Wiggins, who we saw in 2015's "Max," gets a few shining moments of emotion that brought us to tears since he is dealing with the loss of his mother alongside his father's loss of a wife. This film moved us massively while watching it and brought us to sobbing tears at one point. Maybe it is because we can relate to Bill and Wes's journey in some small way. In the end, some people may think this film is too familiar and too overly dramatic, but we can say from experience, it's really not. We highly recommend seeking out "The Bachelors," even if it's just to see J.K. Simmons's award-worthy performance.

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My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~82%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

PRESS RELEASE: Gaslamp Popcorn Partners with Susan G. Komen!

As you may know, we have reviewed several products from Gaslamp Popcorn in the past. We absolutely loved their popcorn, and we were thrilled to hear they have partnered with Susan G. Komen®. This year, Gaslamp Popcorn will be sampling their products at Susan G. Komen-hosted events throughout California and areas of Nevada and Texas. From the company, "the brand’s responsibility to the community aligns well with Susan G. Komen’s commitment to furthering the research toward finding a cure for breast cancer, and consciously crafted Malibu Mix is the ideal way to help amplify the message." A generous donation of 100,000 bags will be bestowed to event attendees and participants at local Race for the Cure® events, 3-Day walks, mammography events and more. It is so awesome to see a company from the Gaslamp District coming together to help do its part in advancing breast cancer research and spreading awareness in the community their delicious gluten-free snack, which is almost made with non-GMO corn and pure cane sugar.

Please be sure to check out Gaslamp Popcorn all over the internet!

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Movie Review: "Justice League" (2017)

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Movie: "Justice League"

Director: Zack Snyder
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 0 minutes

Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince must gather a team of people with superpowers in order to stop Steppenwolf from using the three 'mother boxes' to transform Earth into an environment closer to that of his home planet, which will destroy Earth and of its inhabitants in the process.

It's hard to believe we are now on the fifth film in the DC extended universe. Of the previous four entries, it is really only "Wonder Woman" that has given us hope for the future of the franchise. "Man of Steel" was okay, but it was a bit too dull and didn't quite capture the spirit of the character. "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" was too bleak and convoluted. "Suicide Squad" is a movie that is better not discussed, and "Wonder Woman" was, well, wonderful.

The question for "Justice League" is where will director Zack Snyder's latest entry in the DCEU fall? For us, it doesn't quite reach "Wonder Woman" levels, but it is definitely a lot more fun and much more entertaining than "Man of Steel," "BvS," and "Suicide Squad." This film teams up Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) to take on an invading alien army led by Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), a very powerful God-like entity. He wants to obtain three objects called 'Martha boxes,' oops, we mean 'mother boxes,' which when combined possess the power to transform Earth into a planet similar to that of Steppenwolf's homeworld. Of course, this will destroy the earth and all of its inhabitants, but that sort of thing doesn't seem to bother Steppenwolf very much. It will take the entire Justice League combining their powers and risking their lives to defeat him.

Past problems with other DCEU pictures include overly messy plots and massive lack of focus, which have often caused pacing predicaments. This film, however, may actually be a bit too simple, and as a result, the villain is left underdeveloped. Underdeveloped and mostly disposable villains are a problem in many comic book movies in general. That being said, "Justice League" is more about the heroes and finding a reason for them to come together. Steppenwolf and the 'Martha boxes' simply facilitate this happening. This movie is definitely flawed. The CGI is too busy and too chaotic at times, the dialogue is sometimes overly cheesy, it's a bit tonally inconsistent, and some of the jokes don't land. However, "Justice League" is still a ridiculously fun movie despite all of its problems. It is an exciting ride and we never found ourselves bored or annoyed at what we were watching. We really like the way the cast works together as a group. The highlight of the film for us is Ezra Miller's The Flash, who had us laughing time and time again and really got us invested in him as an integral part of the team. Jason Momoa is also an excellent new addition and he fits the part of Aquaman very well. His beefcake stature and rugged, tattooed appearance help make an often mocked character really badass. We can't wait for his solo movie. As for Ray Fisher, he is good as Cyborg, but his character is mostly relegated to delivering exposition. Luckily, he is a key element to the overall story, and we enjoyed his performance and hope to see more of his character in the future. Gal Gadot is still as charming as ever as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and continues to be an awesome beacon of hope and righteousness. Ben Affleck is an entirely different story. Though he played the part of an aging Batman very well in "BvS," it is apparent that he doesn't want to be involved in this role any longer, and this painfully comes through on screen. We don't think we'll be seeing much more of Batfleck in the DCEU.

In the end, despite its flaws, we enjoyed "Justice League." We will admit, we had all but given up on this incarnation of our beloved DC heroes and villains, so we're glad we enjoyed this film. We think it is definitely worth watching on the big screen and is a major step in the right direction for the DCEU. We left the theater excited for the future of this universe and look forward to seeing what's to come (although we won't necessarily be angry if Zack Snyder decided to step down).

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~40%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Bone Tomahawk" (2015)

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Movie: "Bone Tomahawk"

Director: S. Craig Zahler
Year: 2015
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

When a tribe of primitive cave-dwelling natives abducts two people from a nearby town, a group of locals set off on a rescue mission not fully aware of what is in store for them.

"Bone Tomahawk" is a dramatic horror western written and directed by S. Craig Zahler. This is Zahler's directorial debut, though he has another writing on the film "Asylum Blackout." This movie stars Kurt Russell as Sheriff Hunt, Patrick Wilson as Arthur, Matthew Fox as Brooder, and Richard Jenkins as Chicory. When Arthur's wife Samantha, played by Lili Simmons, and Deputy Nick, played by Evan Jonigkeit, are abducted by a primal cannibal cave tribe of Native Americans, the aforementioned four set off on a rescue mission, though they aren't exactly sure how dangerous, large, or savage this tribe may be.

We have heard a lot of positive word-of-mouth about "Bone Tomahawk" for some time. The film opens interestingly enough and has a couple gory moments early on, though the acting isn't anything spectacular and the dialogue is pretty dry. Once Samantha and Deputy Nick are abducted and the posse sets off after their abductors, the film slows to a snail's pace. The entire middle portion of the movie involves the group slowly wandering through the desert dealing with things outside their primary mission. Arthur had a bad leg injury from the start, and that becomes a major plot device as the film trudges onward with little clues foreshadowing what is to come. There are a couple of moments thrown in to make their quest a bit longer and a little more difficult. We are sad to say that this middle portion is mostly boring. From the brief appearances we see of the villains early on, they seem to be supernatural, an angle we wish Zahler would have used but failed to do so (and to his disadvantage). The cave dwellers are very reminiscent of the antagonists from "The 13th Warrior." That film at least played with the idea that the antagonists were supernatural creatures before revealing they were merely a tribe of humans using their scary facade as a battle tactic.

It is at the end of "Bone Tomahawk" where the group of heroes finally faces off with this savage foe and this is exactly when the excitement and entertainment factors ramp up. There are a couple of extremely unsettling, uber-violent scenes that are disturbingly gross. It's obvious that every other chance to show blood and carnage was purposefully avoided in order to deliver a wicked ending where all of the waiting pays off to some extent. We would like to say this movie is entirely worth it, but the final showdown isn't quite epic enough to fully justify the meandering pacing problems in the middle section. Those behind the scenes certainly could have edited a good chunk out of the second act, and they could have added some tension by showing the captives once in a while as a looming threat in order to develop the villains a bit more. In the end, "Bone Tomahawk" is a drama horror western mixed bag that never completely find a perfect balance.

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My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Claire's Camera" (2017)

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Movie: "Claire's Camera"

Director: Sang-soo Hong
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 9 minutes

A French teacher vacationing in Cannes meets a bunch of random people who have unresolved drama with each other.

It's a weird sensation with you're watching a movie and suddenly realize it's about absolutely nothing and that it's going absolutely nowhere. While watching something of this nature, one may start to question, "why in the hell am I watching this?" That's exactly what happened as we viewed writer/director Sang-soo Hong's "Claire's Camera." The film stars Academy Award nominated actress Isabelle Hubbert as the titular Claire, who is vacationing in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival. Joining her is Min-hee Kim, who we know from one of our favorite films of 2016, "The Handmaiden." She plays Jeon Manhee, who sells movies to distributors during the festival, though she had just gotten fired because her boss has an unexpressed personal issue with her. Claire roams around Cannes and strikes up conversations with random people as she goes about her days. She also asks each person she encounters if she can take their photograph. She happens to come across Manhee, her boss, and the man at the center of their conflict, So Wansoo, played by Jin-young Jung.

We watched "Claire's Camera" and initially wrote it off because we figured it was made by an inexperienced director working with a micro-budget who was lucky enough to somehow get two accomplished actresses to star in his film. We assumed this, in large part, due to the quality of its camerawork, its overly long transitions, its painful and unnatural flow, and the fact that Isabelle Huppert wears a hat with a tight stripe pattern which did not agree with the cameras used to film the picture. It turns out, Sang-soo Hong is a very capable and seasoned filmmaker. He has been working over 20 years and has 25 directorial credits under his belt. If this film is any indication of his quality of work overall, it doesn't particularly make us want to seek out more of it.

This is a slice-of-life movie, which is fine if the characters and dialogue are interesting and the overall subject is explored well. That is simply not the case here. The dialogue is banal, the characters are bland, the situation isn't remotely interesting, and there is no real insight into anything whatsoever. This is a "nothing" movie that looks like it was made in one weekend because the director wanted to kill time in between screenings and parties at the Cannes Film Festival. It's as if he decided, "hey, why not shoot a movie in my downtime? Isabelle Huppert is here promoting "Elle" and Min-hee Kim is here promoting "The Handmaiden," so let's get this going! bing-bang-boom-done." We nearly fell asleep watching "Claire's Camera." It's a pointless, ineffective, dull arthouse film that's a task to get through and is an exercise in how not to make a movie.

*We were able to see and review this movie courtesy of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. All opinions are our own.*

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My Rating: 2/10
BigJ's Rating: 2/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~69%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Movie Review: "Murder on the Orient Express" (2017)

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Movie: "Murder on the Orient Express"

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

In need of a last minute ride, detective Hercule Poirot hops aboard the Orient Express. One evening, a person is murdered aboard the train. Now, it's up to Poirot to solve the case when every passenger is a suspect.

Remakes are an age-old tradition in Hollywood. If a movie or title is even the slightest bit notable, there's a good chance a remake will eventually be greenlit. Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" is one of the latest films to be remade, this time with Kenneth Branagh at the helm as director. Branagh also fills the lead role of detective Hercule Poirot, though the real star of the show is his fabulous, outrageous mustache. Joining Branagh and his mustache is an all-star cast including the likes of Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, just to name a few. The film has a rather self-explanatory title as there has been a "Murder of the Orient Express" and now, it is up to the world's greatest detective Hercule Poirot to find the culprit.

We weren't too familiar with the original 1974 version of this film or the book on which it is based. We had seen the '74 version once many, many years ago, but had all but forgotten it. For us, this story and its mystery are relatively new. We didn't know the ending before watching this new incarnation, so we had that going for us. Overall, this is a gorgeous period piece with beautiful scenery, sets, and lavish costumes. It's a very glossy, sharp looking feature. We also think the acting is mostly excellent, and with a cast like this one, how could it not be? A couple of the characters don't get lots of screen time, but the ones who do (Ridley, Pfeiffer, Gad) are great. Being an old school story, it does have a bit of a stuffy feel to it, but the pristine look and some new humorous elements give it a bit more accessibility. There's a lot of really interesting camera work and a few truly beautiful shots that help keep it visually engaging. Kenneth Branagh's "Murder on the Orient Express" is a fine adaptation. That being said, it does feel like there is something missing, especially in the ending which was underwhelming for BigJ, though that may have been the fault of the Agatha Christie and her source material rather than Branagh's rendition itself. In the end, we enjoyed this movie overall and think it is certainly worth a watch.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~58%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "The Stanford Prison Experiment" (2015)

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Movie: "The Stanford Prison Experiment"
Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Year: 2015
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Dr. Philip Zimbardo creates an experiment to study the psychological effects of the prison system by splitting 24 Stanford University students into two groups of guards and prisoners. 

Based on true events, "The Stanford Prison Experiment" is about a study that was conducted at the prestigious Stanford University. It was created in an effort to learn about the psychological effects of imprisonment and empowerment on the average person. It is a case often covered in entry-level college psychology classes to this day as the results were much better than Zimbardo could have ever expected, though his methods were less than proper. This film offers an interesting look at the pack mentality of man, how far some are willing to go when given total authority over others, and how many people will simply and quickly fall in line like sheep.

People scratch their heads and wonder how soldiers execute innocent people just like Hitler's Schutzstaffel (SS) did. People question how the guards at Abu Ghraib were able to psychologically torture and humiliate their prisoners with such zeal. Though heavily criticized, "The Stanford Prison Experiment" itself shed some light on how quickly mob mentality takes over in a person's brain. It shows how seemingly normal college students were able to fall into sadistic tendencies and/or have psychological breakdowns within the span of just a few days. The movie is interesting because the experiment was interesting, and it's shocking because the reality of the experiment was shocking. When it comes to the movie version of these events, the technical aspects are all sort of average. The camerawork, dialogue, and cinematography are all competent, but nothing truly stands out as being incredible to us. Michael Angarano, Billy Crudup, and Tye Sheridan put on standout performances, but the rest of the acting is decent, not overly exceptional.

Outside of what is borrowed from the original experiment, there isn't anything that's going to really wow you, so "The Stanford Prison Experiment" works best if you have no idea what's coming. That being said, there is nothing particularly disappointing about this film even if you've already heard of the study because it is so fascinating. The movie itself boasts some excellent, often shocking moments and a premise you're not going to forget. It is definitely worth checking out for the insane drama of it all.

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My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 83%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "The Price" (2017)

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Movie: "The Price"

Director: Anthony Onah
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes

A young stock broker's life starts to get drastically out of control when his ambition starts to outweigh his integrity. Meanwhile, his family and personal relationships hang in the balance.

"The Price" is a movie about family drama, a son and father learning to forgive, and a mother learning to stand up for herself. No wait, it's a "Wall Street"-style finance thriller about white-collar crime. No wait, it's a romantic drama about commitment and honesty and an interracial relationship. No, actually, this is a movie about how personal drive leads to prescription drug addiction which leads to illegal drug use in an effort to stay awake and alert in an attempt gain an edge over one's competition. No, wait, that's not right...what the hell is this movie about? "The Price," originally titled "Dara Ju," is written and directed by Anthony Onah in his feature-length film debut. The story centers around a young stockbroker named Seyi Ogunde, played by Aml Ameen, whose ambitions eventually outweigh his integrity. As he works nonstop to gain money and power at his job, he has to deal with ongoing family and relationship drama outside of work.

The main thing Anthony Onah should take away from the experience of making "The Price" is that sometimes, less is more. It's better to have a movie that focuses on one fully fleshed out idea instead a bunch of little ideas combined into one project because too many plot points will make it seem messy. The character of Seyi Ogunde is all over the place. He has a contentious father/son bond where there is a big secret they refuse to talk about clouding their relationship. Seyi is also at the center of an insider trading scandal that is being investigated by the SEC. On top of that, he starts dating a woman he really likes who was already in a relationship. Because of his job and what he does to stay alert, he keeps secrets from her and is unfaithful, which leads to a bit of a hypocrisy later on. Plus, he has a pill-popping problem as he takes illegally obtained prescription stimulants before moving on to full-blown narcotics. All of this happens while his family is pushing him to visit Nigeria to reconnect with his roots. The storyline is so muddled, so unfocused, and so all over the place that the film as a whole starts to drag to a screeching halt. Instead of adding more intrigue, which we are sure was the intention, the material becomes pretty boring and overly melodramatic. We wound up not really being pulled into the story and felt that "The Price" is an ultimately forgettable piece of cinema despite a solid performance by Aml Ameen.

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My Rating: 5/10
BigJ's Rating: 4/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~70%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review: "Call Me by Your Name" (2017)

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Movie: "Call Me by Your Name"

Director: Luca Guadagnino
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

A 17-year-old young man falls for the graduate student staying with his family for a few weeks as he studies abroad.

Love stories are a dime a dozen. Most are wholly unrealistic, and others, well, others are so painfully realistic that it hurts. "Call Me by Your Name" is a coming-of-age tale about a young man's sexual awakening as he experiences his first true love. The film is directed by Luca Guadagnino, who is known for his other projects like "I Am Love" and "A Bigger Splash." It is written by James Ivory and is based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman. It stars Timothée Chalamet as Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old living in Italy with his parents, played by Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar. Elio is highly educated, open-minded, adored by his parents, and seems to enjoy a fairly privileged life. Joining him is Armie Hammer who plays Oliver, a charming, suave, handsome 24-year-old American graduate student who has come to stay at the Perlman estate for six weeks to study under the guidance of Elio's father, who is a university professor. Once he arrives, Elio seems to slowly become infatuated with Oliver, and it would appear Oliver has an affinity for Elio as well. Over the course of the next few weeks, the two of them become quite close and begin a love affair, the first of Elio's young life.

On the outside, "Call Me by Your Name" is a fairly standard, dramatic coming-of-age romance. We have seen many different movies with a similar premise. What sets this one apart from others in its genre is that it features a gay relationship. The movie focuses Elio and his sexual, sensual, and emotional awakening. This is not a movie about a 17-year-old being seduced by a 24-year-old as many misinformed troglodytes would have you believe. Instead, it is about a 17-year-old person-of-age exploring his desire and sexuality as he opens himself up to the possibility of love. Oliver is not Elio's first sexual encounter. Despite the fact that Elio has a young woman named Marzia, played by Esther Garrel, who likes him very much, he cannot escape his feelings, desire, and yearn for Oliver. The crux of the story is about the slow, sensitive, passionate development of their connection. It does not hurt that the film is set in Italy, which contains a lot of gorgeous scenery and allows for exquisitely beautiful cinematography juxtaposed with the narrative of this blossoming romance. Elio has the added blessing of having a very enlightened and open-minded family. It also helps that he has many advantages and opportunities which have given him the time he needs to explore who he is as a person.

The acting is effortless and extraordinary. While Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer are brilliant together, it is Chalamet who is truly the standout. He is able to convey such maturity, emotion, and finesse for a relatively new actor. There are no less than four scenes where Chalamet as Elio displays such raw passion that I struggled to fight back tears, only to eventually lose the battle. Michael Stuhlbarg, who we think is one of the best character actors working in Hollywood today, gets to deliver the performance of his career as Elio's father. We sat watching his performance, taking it all in until he starts giving a very specific speech, one that left me crying one of those cries you can feel all the way in the back of your throat. Stuhlbarg manages to make an in-depth, multi-layered supporting performance look easy, and his monologue is easily one of the best scenes in the film.

We saw this movie over a month ago at the San Diego International Film Festival, and I have thought about it every single day since then. BigJ was not as emotionally affected by this film as he had hoped he would have been, though that may change if we see it again. "Call Me by Your Name" is one of my favorite movies of the year. We both agree it is brilliantly acted and has a splendid, fitting, intimate musical score. It is impeccably and beautifully shot. It is moving and romantic but is also painful and heartbreaking as hell. It is about one of those loves you feel so deeply in your bones that it will shatter and crush you to think of it ending. Take a chance on the romance, the lust, the hurt, and the sorrow of "Call Me by Your Name."

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~98%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Cocolors" (2017)

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Movie: "Cocolors"

Director: Toshihisa Yokoshima
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 45 minutes

In a post-apocalyptic future where humans live underground, a group of friends dreams of what life is like above ground.

Beautiful yet bleak may be the best way to describe director Toshihisa Yokoshima's animated featurette "Cocolors." In what appears to be a post-apocalyptic world, humans have moved underground. They spend their lives shuttered away in special suits out of fear of the toxic air and the ash that fills the atmosphere that trickles down like falling snow. A group of young friends, including Fuyu and Aki, dreams of what it was once like in the world above ground, in particular, what the sky looked like before darkness and ash blanketed the atmosphere. They draw pictures of what they imagine the world above to be like. As they get older, the reality of their world becomes more apparent as they do what they can to keep hope alive even though all around them people are dying.

"Cocolors" is animated in a breathtakingly gorgeous, insanely detailed way with an industrial yet somewhat fantastical appearance. We really enjoy the concept and its themes of friendship and hope, though it may seem to lack these traits on the surface. Overall, this is a sad tale about a dystopic future and the kids who grow up never really knowing what the world looks like outside of their imagination. It is interesting that one can find hope in such a sorrowful story, but this group of friends finds a reason for joy in an otherwise depressing, cold, mechanical looking world. The style of animation and the design of the characters can only be described as dystopian steampunk. The characters dress in what appear to be bulky astronaut suits. This is our one and only complaint. It took us a little while to be able to tell all of the individual characters apart from one another and to figure out who each character was based on the differences in their outfits.

"Cocolors" is a somber animated movie that skirts the line between feature-length and short film. It is cold on the outside as it deals with pain, sickness, death, and longing, but it is also extremely intimate as friends rely on each other for happiness, joy, and imagination despite imminent death. With stellar animation, interesting relationships, and a unique premise, it is definitely worth checking out wherever and whenever it is available.

*We were able to see and review this movie courtesy of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. All opinions are our own*

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My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: ---/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ---%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!