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jagardner66
Reviews
Cars 2 (2011)
This should have been direct to DVD...
I remember many years ago watching The Lion King on VHS. I was far younger then, but I could tell that there was something special about that film. Then a few years later we get The Lion King 2 and then The Lion King 1 1/2. These direct to DVD titles lacked the magic and wonder of the original film for obvious reasons; a lame retelling of the story, pushing minor characters into the spotlight, humor that just wasn't funny, and a smaller budget. Watching these DVD releases made me feel sorry for the people who worked on them.
Cars 2 should have been a direct to DVD release!
How Pixar ever let this one be released to theaters is beyond me? Cars is, by far, their most critically dismissed film. A lot of people, myself included, are not comfortable with the human-less world the Cars live in. The first one kept it simple, basing 95% of the film in a sleepy town off of the interstate, away from anything that would need to have human interaction, but this one has us globe trotting to various locations, speaking in several languages and watching cars perform a lot more human-like traits. How many American children will get the bidet joke? Or the "pistachio ice cream" bit? And what was up with the over the top violence? There were more than one torture scene in this film that were just down right nasty to have in a Pixar film. It was also a little creepy how they talk about Doc, but never try to tie up the lose end of where he is (RIP Paul Newman) during the film.
My verdict, this film has things that work: the animation is better looking than Toy Story 3, and the 3D actually works for the most part in this one.
What doesn't work is the corny one liners, the over the top violence and above all else, Mater! He was so annoying in this film! And if you enjoyed any of the other characters from Radiator Springs in the first film other than Mater, you may want to sit this one out. Even McQueen is a minor character in this film! This is strictly about Mater. Which gives the entire film a very direct to DVD feel as you watch it.
I overheard the two kids in front of me in the theater say to their father halfway into Cars 2; "this is boring, why didn't we go see Transformers?" The day that a child holds a Bay film in higher regard than a Pixar film is a sad day... A sad day indeed...
Here's hoping Brave blows us away!
All the Right Moves (1983)
So I'm at my parents house the other day.....
Ah, the classic 80's film, the big hair, the bad lighting, the lame music, everything that embodies the great American films of 1983. And "All the Right Moves" is no exception. I'm 24, and just viewed this movie for the first time last week by stumbling upon it at my parent's house while I was visiting for the weekend. Why do you care? I live in Johnstown, where this movie was filmed (as was 1977's Paul Newman classic "Slap Shot") and I had never heard of this film! So, I find this dusty VHS copy and take it home with me to view. As i pull it out of its slip sleeve, a yellowed napkin falls out; with Tom's autograph on it! Turns out when I was about 1, my parents brought me down to Johnstown to ride on the Inclined Plane, and I was introduced to Tom Cruise. I never knew?! So knowing that, I had to give the movie a thorough watching, and I must say, I have a little pride that that film was shot here. It was an enjoyable movie, although the ending was a little dry. The sad part of the film is, all the activity and energy that takes place in the movie with the steel mills is no longer here. The mills have been shut down for about 20 years, and the city is pretty much in a depressed state. It's good to watch the movie just to get a glimpse of what this area use to be. So watch it, enjoy it, heck, you can even rent it from the rental place a block from my house. That place is called "All the Right Movies." Enjoy! P.S. For the Kid's sake, It is rated R for strong language and some intense nudity.